Poland v Italy – Girls Round 4 Going into their Round 3 clash, Poland were handily placed in fourth while Italy had dropped to sixth after their beating at the hands of Russia in the previous round and were in need of a quick recovery Board 2. Dealer East. N/S Vul.   ♠ K J 6 ♥ K 8 3 2 ♦ A Q 9 8 2 ♣ 5 ♠ Q 9 ♥ A Q 9 6 4 ♦ K 6 ♣ Q J 8 3 ♠ A 8 5 ♥ J ♦ 10 7 5 3 ♣ A K 9 6 2   ♠ 10 7 4 3 2 ♥ 10 7 5 ♦ J 4 ♣ 10 7 4 West North East South Baroni Szczepanska Ricciarelli Maj     1♣ Pass 1♥ Pass 2♣ Pass 2♦ Pass 3♦ Pass 3♠ Pass 3NT All Pass West North East South Jurkiewicz Marinelli Grabowska Savoca     1♦ Pass 1♥ Pass 2♣ Pass 2♠ Pass 2NT Pass 3NT All Pass     Poland took an early lead when Marta Maj found a much more challenging lead against 3NT than did Eleonora Savoca at the other table. Savoca led a heart and Ewa Grabowska could duck that and, with the ♥10 coming down, had ten easy tricks for +430. Maj led the ♠7 to queen and king, ducked. Kamila Szczepanska continued with the ♠J then her remaining spade to the ace, dummy pitching a heart. Lisa Ricciarelli ran the jack of hearts next and Szczepanska found the necessary defence when she ducked, else three heart tricks give declarer her contract. Now there is a winning line – to cross to a honour and play ace then queen of hearts – but it is not clear to play this way. Declarer cashed her clubs and played for the ♦A to be onside, hoping also for an even spade break, and that meant one down for –50 and 10 IMPs to Poland. Board 3. Dealer South. E/W Vul.   ♠ Q J 5 4 3 ♥ 3 ♦ 10 8 ♣ K Q 5 3 2 ♠ K 8 7 2 ♥ Q 9 ♦ Q 9 6 4 3 ♣ 9 7 ♠ A 10 9 ♥ J 7 6 4 ♦ K J 7 5 2 ♣ 10   ♠ 6 ♥ A K 10 8 5 2 ♦ A ♣ A J 8 6 4 West North East South Baroni Szczepanska Ricciarelli Maj       1♣ Pass 1♠ Pass 2♥ Pass 2♠ Pass 3♣ Pass 4♣ Pass 4♦ Pass 5♣ Pass 6♣ All Pass       West North East South Jurkiewicz Marinelli Grabowska Savoca       1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass 2NT Pass 3♣ Pass 3♥ Pass 5♣ All Pass   Savoca,s 2NT rebid showed a good two-suiter and her next call confirmed that the second suit was clubs. Having already shown a powerful hand, she did not feel able to go on to slam when Stefania Marinelli could only jump to 5♣; +420. Maj upgraded her hand to strong club status – 1♣ was Polish, strong, weak not rump, or 15+ with clubs in this particular version – and 2♥ confirmed the strong variety. Szczepanska showed the fifth spade then supported clubs – suggesting good support as she was prepared to go past 3NT facing a potential four-card suit. Though she signed off at her next turn, Maj trusted her to have good trumps because she had been unable to cuebid, and so bid the slam; +920 and 11 IMPs to Poland, ahead by 21-0. Board 6. Dealer East. E/W Vul.   ♠ 9 2 ♥ A K 7 ♦ Q 8 5 ♣ Q J 6 4 2 ♠ J 10 6 5 4 3 ♥ 8 6 3 ♦ 7 6 3 2 ♣ - ♠ Q 8 ♥ Q J 4 ♦ A J 10 9 4 ♣ 10 9 5   ♠ A K 7 ♥ 10 9 5 2 ♦ K ♣ A K 8 7 3 West North East South Baroni Szczepanska Ricciarelli Maj     Pass 1♣ Pass 3♠ Pass 4♣ Pass 4♥ Pass 4♠ Pass 4NT Pass 5♦ Pass 6♣ All Pass   Jurkiewicz Marinelli Grabowska Savoca Pass 1♣ Pass 2♣ Pass 2♥ Pass 2♠ Pass 3♣ Pass 3♦ Dble 3♠ Pass 5♣ All Pass   This match featured a series of close slam decisions and once again it was the Polish pair who bid to six, however, this time with less success. Six Clubs was made at a couple of tables, East having a genuine problem in the defence if she does not know South’s distribution – give South the same high cards but 3-3-2-5 shape and you will see that it becomes necessary to duck when a low diamond is led off the table. Against 6♣, Irene Baroni led the ♥6 to dummy’s ace. Maj drew three rounds of trumps, Baroni pitching ♠6, ♠3, ♦2, where the primary signal is odd card to encourage, even to discourage and the secondary signal standard count. When Maj next tried the low diamond, Ricciarelli instantly went in with her ace and the slam was down one for –50 and 10 IMPs to Italy Board 7. Dealer South. All Vul.   ♠ J 8 ♥ 9 8 6 ♦ J 9 ♣ A Q 9 7 4 3 ♠ A Q 10 9 5 4 2 ♥ Q 7 ♦ K 10 4 3 ♣ - ♠ K 7 ♥ A J 10 4 2 ♦ A 8 5 ♣ 10 6 5   ♠ 6 3 ♥ K 5 3 ♦ Q 7 6 2 ♣ K J 8 2 West North East South Baroni Szczepanska Ricciarelli Maj       Pass 1♠ Pass 2♥ Pass 3♠ Pass 4♦ Pass 5♣ Pass 5♦ Pass 6♦ Pass 6♠ All Pass West North East South Jurkiewicz Marinelli Grabowska Savoca       Pass 1♠ 2♣ Dble 3♣ 4♠ All     This looks to be a deal on which opposition bidding might actually be helpful, yet it was the pair who were given a free run who reached the cold slam. Baroni’s 3♠ rebid was well judged, as she rightly put more emphasis on her great playing strength than on the low point-count. Ricciarelli cuebid then bid diamonds again in hope of hearing a heart cuebid. When one was not forthcoming she settled for the small slam. Szczepanska found the most challenging lead, a heart, but Baroni decided that the simple line of finessing at trick one was the best and a few seconds later she had twelve tricks; +1430. Marinelli’s 2♣ overcall allowed her partner to raise and now Edyta Jurkiewicz jumped to 4♠. I find Grabowska’s pass a little surprising as she has very good cards facing a self-supporting spade suit and short clubs; +680 but 13 IMPs to Italy and the lead at 23-21. Board 8. Dealer West. None Vul.   ♠ K J 10 9 6 ♥ - ♦ K 7 6 2 ♣ K 8 4 3 ♠ Q 7 5 3 2 ♥ - ♦ A J 9 8 5 ♣ Q 7 6 ♠ 8 4 ♥ A K J 9 8 5 ♦ Q 4 ♣ J 10 5   ♠ A ♥ Q 10 7 6 4 3 2 ♦ 10 3 ♣ A 9 2 West North East South Baroni Szczepanska Ricciarelli Maj Pass Pass 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass 2♥ Pass 3♦ Pass 3♥ All Pass West North East South Jurkiewicz Marinelli Grabowska Savoca 2♠ Pass Pass 4♥ Pass Pass Dble All Pass Maj must have had difficulty in believing the auction as hearts were bid no less than three times on her right. She did not double as E/W could have had a better spot available, but you could say that she was not too displeased to be defending 3♥. The ♦10 went to the king and declarer overtook her queen on the diamond return to play another winning diamond for a spade pitch. Maj ruffed and cashed the ace of spades then played ace and another club to partner’s king. The ♠K was ruffed low and over-ruffed and Maj got out with a club. Declarer could make three trump tricks from here for down four and –200. Jurkiewicz could open 2♠ to show spades and a minor and when that came round to Savoca she jumped to 4♥ – a bit wild in my view with such a broken suit and limited values. Grabowska doubled 4♥ and beat it three after a spade lead; -500 and 12 IMPs to Poland. Board 15. Dealer South. N/S Vul.   ♠ K J 4 ♥ 9 7 4 ♦ 5 ♣ A K Q 5 4 2 ♠ 9 ♥ 6 5 2 ♦ K J 10 6 4 2 ♣ 10 8 7 ♠ Q 10 7 6 3 2 ♥ Q 10 8 ♦ Q ♣ 9 6 3   ♠ A 8 5 ♥ A K J 3 ♦ A 9 8 7 3 ♣ J West North East South Baroni Szczepanska Ricciarelli Maj       1♦ Pass 2♣ Pass 2♥ Pass 2NT Pass 3♠ Pass 3NT Pass 4NT All Pass       West North East South Jurkiewicz Marinelli Grabowska Savoca       1♦ Pass 2♣ Pass 2♥ Pass 2♠ Pass 3♣ Pass 3NT All Pass   Italy gained an IMP for an extra overtrick but the board was much more interesting at other tables where 6♣ was reached. On a diamond lead, declarer will win, cash the ♣J and try to come to hand to draw the remaining trumps. If her choice is to ruff a diamond, she will be over-ruffed. Say that East now switches to a heart; declarer still needs to get to hand. She can succeed by winning the heart and playing a spade to the king, relying on four heart winners, or indeed by ruffing a diamond high then playing on hearts, but it is tempting to play a spade to the jack, as that only requires a later heart finesse rather than both finesse and break – and down you go. On a spade lead, declarer’s spade loser disappears but there is still a problem after unblocking the club. Ace and another diamond gets over-ruffed and now a spade ruff sets the contract. Declarer is still alive if he leads a spade after the ♣J. It gets ruffed, of course, but how does he now play if West switches to a diamond? To succeed he has to ruff a diamond high, and will he have sufficient reason to play for diamonds to be six-one? The match was level with five boards to play, a fair reflection of the play perhaps. But now Poland took control. Board 16. Dealer West. E/W Vul.   ♠ A Q J 10 ♥ 9 4 ♦ 10 8 7 4 2 ♣ K 8 ♠ 9 5 4 ♥ A K J 5 2 ♦ K 6 5 ♣ Q 4 ♠ K 8 ♥ Q 10 8 ♦ J 9 3 ♣ J 9 6 3 2   ♠ 7 6 3 2 ♥ 7 6 3 ♦ A Q ♣ A 10 7 5 West North East South Baroni Szczepanska Ricciarelli Maj 1♥ Pass 2♥ Pass Pass Dble Pass 2♠ Pass Pass 3♥ 3♠ All Pass       West North East South Jurkiewicz Marinelli Grabowska Savoca 1♥ Dble 1NT(i) 2♠ 3♥ All Pass     (i) Good heart raise Three Hearts is not a great spot but it has the merit of making as the cards lie – which for many people is the definition of a good contract; +140. Curiously, where N/S had been willing to sell out to 3♥ at the table where North made an immediate take-out double, they pressed on to 3♠ at the table where North only balanced, Maj loving her three low hearts. Baroni cashed two top hearts then switched to a diamond, giving the overtrick; +170 and 7 IMPs to Poland. Italy picked up 2 IMPs on the next board for an extra undertrick, then: Board 18. Dealer East. N/S Vul.   ♠ Q 8 4 ♥ 9 ♦ 8 6 4 ♣ A 10 7 6 5 3 ♠ K 7 6 5 3 ♥ J 2 ♦ K 9 3 ♣ K 8 2 ♠ J 10 2 ♥ A K 10 4 ♦ A Q J 2 ♣ J 9   ♠ A 9 ♥ Q 8 7 6 5 3 ♦ 10 7 5 ♣ Q 4 West North East South Baroni Szczepanska Ricciarelli Maj     1NT Pass 2♣ Pass 2♥ Pass 2♠ Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ All Pass     West North East South Jurkiewicz Marinelli Grabowska Savoca     1NT 2♦(i) 3NT All Pass     (i) One major Neither game is particularly attractive but it is normal to reach game and many pairs played the five-three spade fit. Against 4♠, Szczepanska led her heart to dummy’s ace and Baroni passed the jack of spades to the queen. Szczepanska switched to a diamond, won in hand to play a spade to the ten and ace. A heart ruff and the ace of clubs meant one down for –50. In the other room it looks to be a bit of a gamble to jump to 3NT with only jack-doubleton in the suit which is surely held on your right, but it worked out fine for Jurkiewicz. Soft defence meant that Grabowska emerged with no less than eleven tricks; +460 and 11 IMPs to Poland. Board 19. Dealer East. E/W Vul.   ♠ A 6 3 2 ♥ 10 4 ♦ Q J 4 ♣ A K 7 2 ♠ J 10 9 ♥ K 9 8 6 2 ♦ 10 8 3 ♣ Q 5 ♠ 8 5 4 ♥ A Q J 7 5 3 ♦ 7 ♣ J 9 8   ♠ K Q 7 ♥ - ♦ A K 9 6 5 2 ♣ 10 6 4 3 West North East South Baroni Szczepanska Ricciarelli Maj       1♦ Pass 1♠ Pass 2♦ Pass 3♣ Pass 3♠ Pass 5♦ All Pass   West North East South Jurkiewicz Marinelli Grabowska Savoca       1♦ Pass 1♠ Pass 2♠ Pass 2NT Pass 3♣ Pass 3♦ Pass 3♠ Pass 3NT All Pass   Six Diamonds is an excellent contract and 6♣ also very good. Maybe the Poles could have got there had Szczepanska bid 4♦ over 3♠ - I am assuming that 4♦ would be forcing – as South has an easy 4♥ cuebid. Anyway, bidding the diamond game proved to be all that was required to pick up a game swing as the Italians had a disaster in the other room. I do not understand the final 3NT bid as surely South has shown decent spades by repeating that suit rather than bidding 3♥ over 3♦ and there is no reason to imagine that the hearts are not wide open. 3NT was down two for –100, going with +420 in 5♦ to give Poland another 11 IMPs. Board 20. Dealer West. All Vul.   ♠ K 10 6 3 ♥ 4 ♦ K Q 5 4 3 ♣ A 10 8 ♠ J 5 ♥ A K Q J 8 5 ♦ 8 ♣ J 7 5 2 ♠ Q 7 2 ♥ 7 6 3 ♦ A 7 2 ♣ Q 9 4 3   ♠ A 9 8 4 ♥ 10 9 2 ♦ J 10 9 6 ♣ K 6 West North East South Baroni Szczepanska Ricciarelli Maj   1♥ Dble 2♥ 2♠ 4♥ 4♠ All Pass   West North East South Jurkiewicz Marinelli Grabowska Savoca 1♥ Dble 1NT(i) 2♠ 3♥ 3♠ All Pass   (i) Good heart raise Poland closed out the match by bidding another thin game not reached in the other room. While I understand where it came from, I think Baroni’s 4♥ call was the problem – had she settled for 3♥ I suspect that Szczepanska would have bid only 3♠ and that might have ended the auction. Four Hearts gave North two ways in which a 4♠ bid might work out well – if either game was making – and from West’s perspective it was not likely that 4♥ would succeed. Anyway, both declarers made ten tricks without much pain; +170 to Italy but +620 to Poland an 10 more Polish IMPs. Their late surge gave Poland a 75-38 IMP win, converting to 23-7 VPs.

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