Round 4 In Round 4 of Group the match between a Latvia/Russian ensemble and a powerful France/USA combination caught my eye. Thanks to Sue Grenside for following the play in the Open Room. Board 1. Dealer North. None Vul.   ♠ Q 10 9 8 ♥ A 7 ♦ A Q 10 4 ♣ A J 4 ♠ K ♥ K J 2 ♦ J 9 8 7 6 3 2 ♣ 3 2 ♠ 7 6 5 ♥ Q 5 3 ♦ K ♣ K Q 10 9 8 5   ♠ A J 4 3 2 ♥ 10 9 8 6 4 ♦ 5 ♣ 7 6 West North East South Rubins Gitelman Romanovska Winestock   1NT Dble* 2♣* Pass 2♠ All Pass   East’s double promised a minor suit and South’s 2♣ asked for a major. With only a non vulnerable game at stake South decided not to invite. East led a trump and Werst won with the king and switched to a club. Declarer won with the ace and played ace of hearts and a heart, soon claiming ten tricks when hearts broke 3-3, +170. West North East South Cronier Khazanov d'Ovideo Lebedeva   1NT Pass 2♣* Pass 2♠ All Pass   Once again South made no move, so the match started with a flat board. One of my roving reporters spotted Linda Lewis go on with 3♠ on the South hand and of course North had an easy raise. Board 4. Dealer West. All Vul.   ♠ 5 ♥ Q 10 8 7 6 3 ♦ 10 5 4 2 ♣ 9 2 ♠ K 7 6 3 ♥ J 4 ♦ A 9 8 ♣ 10 8 5 3 ♠ A Q J 10 9 8 ♥ 9 5 ♦ J ♣ K Q 7 6   ♠ 4 2 ♥ A K 2 ♦ K Q 7 6 3 ♣ A J 4 West North East South Rubins Gitelman Romanovska Winestock Pass Pass 1♠ Dble 2♥* 3♥ 4♠ Dble All Pass       Two Hearts promised a good raise, so it was easy for East to bid 4♠. Notice also how North showed his hand type by bidding 3♥ rather than doubling the artificial bid. There was nothing to the play, declarer finishing one down, -200. West North East South Cronier Khazanov d'Ovideo Lebedeva ass Pass 1♠ 2♦ 2♠ Pass 4♠ Dble All Pass       South approached the hand in a different way – although for my money the double chosen at the other table is the better choice – so North was never involved. When East bid game South expressed her opinion so we had another flat board. Board 5. Dealer North. N/S Vul.   ♠ J 10 8 3 ♥ K 3 2 ♦ A Q 9 8 ♣ 10 2 ♠ 6 5 2 ♥ Q 10 7 6 ♦ J 10 7 6 ♣ A J ♠ K Q 9 7 ♥ A J 8 5 ♦ 5 4 3 ♣ Q 9   ♠ A 4 ♥ 9 4 ♦ K 2 ♣ K 8 7 6 5 4 3 West North East South Rubins Gitelman Romanovska Winestock   Pass 1NT 3♣ Pass 3NT Pass Pass Dble All Pass     Bidding 3♣ on the South hand can work spectacularly well when partner has the right cards, but that was not the case this time. East led the queen of spades and declarer won with dummy’s ace, came to hand with the queen of diamonds and played a club to the king. When West was able to win with the ace the writing was on the wall, but the defence slipped slightly. West returned a diamond to dummy’s king and when declarer then played a spade to the jack East won with the king and played a heart. Even so, it was still a painful down three for –800. West North East South Cronier Khazanov d'Ovideo Lebedeva   Pass 1♦ 2♣ Dble* Redble Pass Pass 3♦ Pass 3♥ All Pass South led the ace of spades and the critical point of the hand had already been reached for at trick two South has to switch to the king of diamonds. Given that North’s redouble had promised 10-11 points I leave you to judge how easy a play you think that was to find. When South played a second spade declarer won, played a club to the jack and ran the queen of hearts. The trump break meant nine east tricks, +140, but a big swing for the all European squad. Board 6. Dealer East. E/W Vul.   ♠ K 5 ♥ 10 7 2 ♦ A K 4 2 ♣ A 9 8 4 ♠ 7 6 3 ♥ Q 4 ♦ Q J 8 ♣ J 10 7 5 3 ♠ A 10 4 2 ♥ A 9 8 6 ♦ 9 7 5 3 ♣ 6   ♠ Q J 9 8 ♥ K J 5 3 ♦ 10 6 ♣ K Q 2 West North East South Rubins Gitelman Romanovska Winestock     Pass 1♣ Pass 2♣* Pass 2♥ Pass 3NT All Pass   Z Z Z Z     South shared a joke with your reporter, forbidding any suggestion that 2♥ was a cunning attempt to get North to be declarer. Don’t worry, it was clearly the right bid, and North was off to a good start when East led the two of spades (nothing else is better) winning with dummy’s eight and returning the suit. East took the ace and switched to the three of diamonds for the ten, jack and ace. Declarer now played a heart and when East played low he not unreasonably put in the jack. Now he was doomed for West won with the queen and played back the queen of diamonds. Declarer ducked that, won the next diamond and cashed his black winners before exiting with a heart. East could claim the last two tricks, the first with the ace of hearts, the other, trick thirteen, having cunningly unblocked the nine, with the seven of diamonds – the beer card! West North East South Cronier Khazanov d'Ovideo Lebedeva     Pass 1♣ Pass 3NT All Pass   This time East led the seven of diamonds at trick one – no beers here (!) – and declarer ducked the first round, won the second and played the king of spades. East won and played a third diamond. When declarer played a heart to the jack the hand was over, and another flat board. Board 10. Dealer East. All Vul.   ♠ A K Q 9 7 5 ♥ K J ♦ J 2 ♣ 10 6 3 ♠ 10 4 3 ♥ 5 2 ♦ A K Q 8 5 4 ♣ Q J ♠ J 6 ♥ A Q 6 4 ♦ 10 9 7 ♣ A K 9 4   ♠ 8 2 ♥ 10 9 8 7 3 ♦ 6 3 ♣ 8 7 5 2 West North East South Rubins Gitelman Romanovska Winestock     1NT Pass 3NT Dble All Pass   Facing a 12-15 notrump West’s direct jump to game was a reasonable gamble, but passing the double was not. South led the eight of spades and North took his tricks, down two, -500. West North East South Cronier Khazanov d'Ovideo Lebedeva     1♣ Pass 1♦ 1♠ Pass Pass Dble* Redble Pass Pass   2♠* Dble Pass Pass 3♦ Pass 3♥ Pass 4♦ Pass 5♦ All Pass That was a fine effort by East/West, reaching the game that would only have failed if South had held the jack of diamonds. North started with three rounds of spades, giving declarer an anxious moment, but when South could not overruff the ten he claimed, +600.

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