Englund
and an old truth
Åke Englund did, a very long time ago, take part in a game
of Stop. The point of Stop is to win the last trick. Clubs had not
been mentioned and wholesaler Englund did not have high hopes in
his eight of clubs. Much to his surprise the eight turned out to
be the master club. The eight of clubs has since this day carried
his name.
This year’s Swedish Senior Pair Champions will commence today.
Last year’s event illuminated the old truth that is enough
to take the lead at the same time that the director announces that
the tournament is finished. Bernt-Åke Jansson - Jan Sonnerstedt
battled their way to the top position overtaking Kenneth Österberg
- Fredrick Wickström, and Bodil Andersson - Johan Tobieson
on the very last board.
Dealer North. None Vul.
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ª K J 5
© A 9 3
¨ 10 7 6 2
§ K 8 5 |
ª 7 2
© 7 6 5 2
¨ A 9
§ Q J 10 9 2 |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª 10 6 3
© K 8
¨ K J 8 3
§ 7 6 4 3 |
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ª A Q 9 8 4
© Q J 10 4
¨ Q 5 4
§ A |
At all tables but one South declared 4ª and seventeen West players
led a Tom Dick or Harry queen of clubs to wrap up a score of 16
out of 46 match points. Kenneth and Fredrik dug their own grave
with the aid of their own bidding methods which cost them dearly
on this occasion
West |
North |
East |
South |
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1ª |
Pass |
2NT |
Pass |
3§* |
Pass |
4ª |
Pass |
Pass |
Pass |
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2NT showed a game forcing raise in spades and 3§ a singleton or
void in clubs. This had the effect that West lost interest in the
club suit and tried the ace of diamonds. This happened at six tables
and rendered North-South a meagre score of 7 match points.
There had, of course, been plenty of other decisive boards. This
one is from the meeting between Kenneth Österberg – Fredrik
Wickström, who were the leaders, and Bernt-Åke Jansson
– Jan Sonnerfeldt.
Dealer West. N/S Vul.
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ª -
© A 9 8 5 3 2
¨ A Q 9
§ J 10 9 3 |
ª A Q 9 5 3
© K 10 4
¨ 8 7 4 3
§ 2 |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª K J 10 8 7
© J 7
¨ 10 6 5
§ K 8 4 |
|
ª 6 4 2
© Q 6
¨ K J 2
§ A Q 7 6 5 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Jan |
Fredrik |
Bernt-Ake |
Kenneth |
Pass |
1© |
1ª |
2§ |
4ª |
5§ |
Pass |
Pass |
Pass |
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The lead of the ace of the spades was ruffed in dummy and declarer
run the jack of clubs. If Kenneth had played on the hearts he would
have collected twelve tricks but when he instead ruffed two more
spades in dummy he could not avoid losing two tricks to the king
of clubs and the king of hearts. The overtrick was only 5 match
points, but they could have been handy as Jan and Bernt-Åke
went on to collect the winner’s medals 7 match points ahead
of Fredrik and Kenneth.
Bernt-Åke became declarer in three no trumps on the second
board of the round
Dealer East. All vul, the hand has been rotated.
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ª 10 7 4
© A K 8 5 3
¨ -
§ K J 9 5 3 |
ª Q J
© J 7 4 2
¨ K Q 8 7 6
§ A 2 |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª A 8 5 3
© 9 6
¨ 10 5 4
§ 10 7 6 4 |
|
ª K 9 6 2
© Q 10
¨ A J 9 3 2
§ Q 8 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Kenneth |
Jan |
Fredrik |
Bernt-Ake |
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|
Pass |
1¨ |
Pass |
1© |
Pass |
1ª |
Pass |
2§* |
Pass |
2NT |
Pass |
3NT |
Pass |
Pass |
Pass |
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Running low on attractive leads, Kenneth placed the queen of spades
on the table. Bernt-Åke won with the king and continued with
the queen of clubs which was won by the ace. Kenneth cashed the
jack of spades and exited with a small club to the king. Declarer
cashed the jack of clubs and continued with another club to establish
the suit discarding two diamonds. West did also intend to discard
two diamonds but did accidentally put a small heart on the table.
As hearts were now breaking it was a very wise decision by East
to cash the ace of spades. Fredrik would, without the mechanical
error, have switched to a low diamond on which declarer must play
the nine to West’s queen. Kenneth could have exited a heart
and collected one down. The annoying technicality of playing the
wrong card did not cost more than 32 match points.
Vidar Wahlestedt declared the following deal in a very sloppy,
maybe even sleazy way.
Dealer East. All vul, the hand has been rotated.
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ª J 9 7 3
© J 5
¨ K 9 5 3
§ K 10 4 |
ª K Q 6 2
© A K 7 5
¨ J 8 4
§ 9 5 |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª A 10 8 4
© 4 2
¨ A 10 6
§ Q 8 7 2 |
|
ª 5
© Q 10 9 8 3
¨ Q 7 3
§ A J 6 3 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Bernt |
|
Vidar |
|
1© |
Pass |
1ª |
Pass |
2ª |
Pass |
Pass |
Pass |
South led a small diamond to the four, nine and ten. Declarer crossed
to dummy on the ace of hearts and played a small club to the seven
which was won by the jack. South did, persistently, continue with
another diamond to the king and ace. Vidar played a small spade
to dummy’s king and another club to the ten, queen and ace.
South cashed the queen of diamonds and exited a club, ruffed in
dummy and dropping the king.
At this point Vidar erred, or maybe he is not aware of the importance
of the eight of clubs. The queen of spades followed and trumps were
drawn with the aid of a finesse. He cashed the eight of clubs and
won the last trick with ace of hearts. He really should have honoured
Englund by cashing the ace of hearts before drawing trumps and win
the last trick with eight of clubs.
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