England
v Serbia/Montenegro – Juniors Round 4
The English Junior team had made a solid if unspectacular start
to the Championship, while Serbia/Montenegro are perhaps here more
for the experience than with realistic hopes of qualification. This
match tended to confirm that view as everything went the way of
England.
Board 2. N/S Vul. Dealer East.
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ª Q 3
© J 8 3
¨ Q 10 8 4 3
§ A Q 4 |
ª K 10 9 4 2
© -
¨ A
§ J 10 9 8 5 3 2 |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª J
© A Q 9 7 6 4 2
¨ J 7 5
§ K 7 |
|
ª A 8 7 6 5
© K 10 5
¨ K 9 6 2
§ 6 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
N Jurisic |
Green |
M Jurisic |
Happer |
- |
- |
1© |
1ª |
Pass |
2¨ |
2© |
3¨ |
Dble |
All Pass |
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|
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Morris |
Zakula |
Byrne |
Popovic |
- |
- |
1© |
1ª |
Pass |
2¨ |
2© |
3¨ |
Pass |
3© |
Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
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The first six calls were identical but then Nikola Jurisic doubled
with the West cards, presumably showing a penalty double of spades,
while Alex Morris wisely looked at his lack of defence against diamonds
and kept quiet. Jurisic's double ended the auction, while Morris
found himself on lead against a rather thin 3NT contract.
Against 3¨ doubled, Marko Jurisic led his spade and Ben Green
went up with dummy's ace, West following with the ten, to play a
low diamond, Nikola won the ace, of course, and cashed the ªK then
played a low spade. Green ruffed with the queen, and played a diamond
to the king then ran the ª8, punishing West for the signal at trick
one, and had nine tricks when the heart honours were both onside;
+670. Of course, declarer could have succeeded even had West not
been so helpful in the spade suit, but it was very easy for him
on the actual play.
Morris led the §J against 3NT and that held the trick. A second
club went to the queen and king and Michael Byrne switched to the
ªJ, run to the king. Morris could clear the clubs now and wait to
get in with the ace of diamonds to cash them. The contract was down
four for –400 and 14 IMPs to England.
Board 7. All Vul. Dealer South.
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ª K J 9 4 3
© 8 6
¨ K 7 6
§ K 10 7 |
ª A Q 5 2
© -
¨ 10 5 4
§ Q J 9 8 5 3 |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª 10 8
© A Q J 4 2
¨ A Q 2
§ A 4 2 |
|
ª 7 6
© K 10 9 7 5 3
¨ J 9 8 3
§ 6 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
N Jurisic |
Green |
M Jurisic |
Happer |
- |
- |
- |
Pass |
Pass |
1ª |
Dble |
2¨ |
Pass |
2© |
Dble |
All Pass |
Green opened slightly light in third seat and soon found himself
declarer in 2© doubled after Duncan Happer's transfer response.
Marko Jurisic did not find the best of starts, ace and another club,
and Green won the second round, pitching a spade from dummy, then
led the ©6 and ran it. A second heart was won by Easy's ace and
Marko played a third club, ruffed in dummy. Declarer played a spade
and Nikola Jurisic rose with the ace to play another club, ruffed
as East threw a diamond. Now Green played king and another heart
to Marko, who played a spade for the queen and king. He had to ruff
Green's next play of the ªJ and, down to ¨AQ, had to give declarer
a seventh trick at the end for just one down and –200.
In the other room the contract was 2© undoubled down two, so it
was a flat board.
Board 9. E/W Vul. Dealer North.
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ª 7 5
© A 3
¨ A Q 10 9 7
§ A 9 8 7 |
ª A 9 6 2
© K 10 9 6 4
¨ 5 4
§ 5 2 |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª K Q J 4
© J
¨ K 3
§ K Q J 10 4 3 |
|
ª 10 8 3
© Q 8 7 5 2
¨ J 8 6 2
§ 6 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
N Jurisic |
Green |
M Jurisic |
Happer |
- |
1¨ |
Dble |
2NT |
3© |
Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Morris |
Zakula |
Byrne |
Popovic |
- |
1¨ |
2§ |
2NT |
Pass |
3§ |
Pass |
3¨ |
Dble |
Pass |
4ª |
All Pass |
Happer's 2NT was a pre-emptive diamond raise and Nikola showed
her hearts but then passed Marko's 3NT bid. Maybe Nikola could have
guessed that partner held spades because he did not hold hearts,
but it was awkward. Anyway, 3NT was hopeless after the ineviatble
diamond lead; down two for –200.
I much prefer Byrne's 2§ overcall to the double found in the other
room. Morris could do nothing immediately opposite that but later
took the opportunity to make a take-out double when his opponents
got together in diamonds. Morris liked that enough to jump to game
in spades, needing little more than one ace and a little luck to
make that a playable contract. Of course, a club ruff would defeat
4ª quite easily, but Zdravko Popovic led a diamond, normally enough,
and Zoran Zakula won the ace and returned the suit to Byrne's king.
Declarer could draw trumps and knock out the §A to come to ten tricks
for +620 and 13 IMPs to England.
Board 10. All Vul. Dealer East.
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ª A J 10 8 5 3
© 10 9 2
¨ 10 3
§ 6 3 |
ª 9 7
© K J 6 4 3
¨ J 9 7 6
§ K 2 |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª K Q 6 4
© Q 8 7
¨ 8 5
§ A Q 10 7 |
|
ª 2
© A 5
¨ A K Q 4 2
§ J 9 8 5 4 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
N Jurisic |
Green |
M Jurisic |
Happer |
- |
- |
1§ |
1¨ |
1© |
1ª |
2© |
All Pass |
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Morris |
Zakula |
Byrne |
Popovic |
- |
- |
1ª |
2¨ |
Dble |
Pass |
2NT |
3§ |
Pass |
3¨ |
Pass |
Pass |
Dble |
All Pass |
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Marko opened 1§ in standard style and the heart fit was easily
found, the Jurisics stopping in a peaceful 2©. Green led a diamond
and Happer won and switched to his spade, getting his ruff a moment
later. Now he cashed a second diamond before playing a club. Declarer
won and played a heart to the queen and ace and now a diamond promoted
a heart trick for North for down one; –100.
Byrne's 1ª opening resulted in the hearts never being mentioned.
No matter – Morris first made a negative double of 2¨ then
a penalty double of 3¨, and that proved to be a very good idea for
his side. A heart went to the queen and ace and Popovic played a
spade to the ace then a club up, on which Byrne rose with the ace.
He switched to a diamond for declarer's ace and now the defence
could prevent any club ruffs in the dummy. Popovic came to just
four trump tricks and two major-suit aces for down three; –800
and 14 IMPs to England.
Board 16. E/W Vul. Dealer West.
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ª J 10 7 2
© J 9 7
¨ K 7 5 2
§ 9 2 |
ª 6
© 10 6 4 3 2
¨ A 8 6
§ K 8 4 3 |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª 9 8 5 4
© A
¨ Q 9 4 3
§ A J 6 5 |
|
ª A K Q 3
© K Q 8 5
¨ J 10
§ Q 10 7 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
N Jurisic |
Green |
M Jurisic |
Happer |
Pass |
Pass |
Pass |
1© |
Pass |
2© |
Pass |
2NT |
All Pass |
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Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Morris |
Zakula |
Byrne |
Popovic |
Pass |
Pass |
Pass |
1NT |
Pass |
Pass |
Dble |
Pass |
2§ |
All Pass |
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Popovic's strong no trump opening saw Byrne able to double, as
a passed hand for take-out, and Morris declared 2§. Once North turned
up with the king of diamonds, Morris knew where almost all the missing
high cards had to be and the play was quite straightforward for
him. He managed nine tricks for a useful +110.
Happer was playing a weaker no trump so had to open 1© in his
partnership's four-card major style. When Green scraped up a raise,
Happer went on with 2NT, where he played. The defence started with
a club to the ace, the §J to queen and king, and a third club. Happer
played a heart to the jack and ace and East cashed the winning club,
on which Happer threw diamonds from both hands, the exited with
a spade. Happer cashed the ©K, unblocking dummy's nine, then cashed
the rest of the spades. Forced to keep two hearts, West was obliged
to bare the ace of diamonds. A dimaond play now left him to lead
into the ©Q8 at trick twelve to give declarer's eighth trick; a
nicely played +120 and 6 IMPs to England.
Note that this line of play also succeeds if West has to bare
the ¨Q instead of the ace, as long as he also holds at least one
of the ¨9 and ¨8. When the diamond is led and the queen appears,
declarer ducks. If the queen holds the trick, West is endplayed,
while if East overtakes with the ace, he has to lead away from the
¨9 into the ¨K7 at trick twelve.
Board 19. E/W Vul. Dealer South.
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ª 9 6 5 4
© A J 7 5
¨ -
§ 10 7 5 4 3 |
ª A Q J 8 3
© 10 9 8 3 2
¨ 10 4
§ A |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª K
© Q 6
¨ A Q J 7 5 2
§ K 9 6 2 |
|
ª 10 7 2
© K 4
¨ K 9 8 6 3
§ Q J 8 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
N Jurisic |
Green |
M Jurisic |
Happer |
- |
- |
- |
Pass |
1ª |
Pass |
2¨ |
Pass |
2© |
Pass |
3§ |
Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
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|
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Morris |
Zakula |
Byrne |
Popovic |
- |
- |
- |
Pass |
1ª |
Pass |
2¨ |
Pass |
2© |
Pass |
3§ |
Pass |
3© |
Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
Morris's 3© bid at his third turn looks more normal than Nikola's
3NT, but that latter contract was where both pairs ended up, though
from different sides of the table.
Green led a club for the jack and ace and Nikola played the ¨10,
ducked as Green threw a club, then a second diamond. This time Green
threw a spade as Happer won the ¨K. Happer switched to a spade and
declarer judged to win the bare king then try the ©Q from dummy.
Happer won the ©K and played a second heart to Green's jack. He
put dummy in with a club and declarer drifted two down for –200.
Byrne did rather better after the lead of the §Q to dummy's bare
ace. When he ran the ¨10 it was won immediately by Popovic, who
continued with the §J, ducked, and another club, giving declarer
a third club trick. When Byrne cashed the three diamond tricks,
North pitched a spade so declarer could overtake the ªK and cash
all the spades; eleven tricks for +660 and 13 IMPs to England.
Board 20. All Vul. Dealer West.
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ª 10 8 4
© A K J 2
¨ A K 9 8 2
§ A |
ª K Q 7 5
© 10 7
¨ J 5 3
§ J 10 8 4 |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª 3
© Q 9 5 4
¨ Q 10 7 6
§ K 9 6 2 |
|
ª A J 9 6 2
© 8 6 3
¨ 4
§ Q 7 5 3 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
N Jurisic |
Green |
M Jurisic |
Happer |
Pass |
1¨ |
Pass |
1ª |
Pass |
2© |
Pass |
2ª |
Pass |
4§ |
Pass |
4ª |
All Pass |
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Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Morris |
Zakula |
Byrne |
Popovic |
Pass |
1¨ |
Pass |
1© |
Dble |
3¨ |
Pass |
3ª |
Pass |
4§ |
Dble |
Pass |
Pass |
Rdbl |
Pass |
4ª |
Pass |
5ª |
Pass |
6ª |
All Pass |
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I have no idea what was going on in the Serbia/Montenegor auction.
Suffice it to say that 6ª was too high both in theory and in practice
and it went three down for 300 to England. Meanwhile, Green showed
his diamonds, his hearts and a strong hand, then a club splinter
in support of spades. That did not impress Happer, who had already
shown at least five spades so had nothing to spare, and he signed
off in 4ª.
The lead was a heart and Happer won the ace and cashed the top
diamonds, throwing a heart from hand. He then cashed the ace of
clubs, ruffed a diamond, ruffed a club, and played ©K then ruffed
a heart low and was over-ruffed. Back came a club, which dummy ruffed.
A diamond ruff with the ace of trumps left happer with ªJ9 facing
ª10, and a club lead ensured that he would make a trump trick one
way or another for his contract; +620 and 14 IMPs to England.
The one-way traffic finally came to an end with England coming
out on top by 97-7 IMPs, or 25-0 VPs.
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