Open Teams: Qualification Round 3 Zimmermann v. Austria by Jos Jacobs On Saturday morning, the Open Teams were scheduled to play their third match of the round robin qualification. With four matches to be played after this one, every match could be interesting or important. So there was no obvious choice at all which match to watch, in my opinion, and therefore I decided to have a look at the Austrians playing some great names. On the first board in the Open Room, the Austrians almost pushed their opponents into slam: Board 1. Dealer North. None Vul.   ♠ A J 8 4 3 2 ♥ 4 ♦ K Q ♣ A Q 9 7 ♠ K 6 ♥ J 10 7 2 ♦ 8 7 5 4 3 ♣ 10 2 ♠ - ♥ K Q 9 8 6 5 3 ♦ J 2 ♣ K 8 4 3   ♠ Q 10 9 7 5 ♥ A ♦ A 10 9 6 ♣ J 6 5 Open Room West North East South Schifko Fantoni Wernle Nunes   1♠ 4♥ 4NT 5♥ 6♣ Pass 6♠ All Pass       Once Nunes bid 4NT the Italian pair would reach the slam. In view of the bidding, Fantoni decided to finesse the ♠K rather than play for the drop and thus succeeded in making his contract. As the Austrians did not bid it in the Closed Room, Zimmermann had their first 11 IMPs on the scoreboard. Overoptimistic bidding caused another big swing on board 5: Board 5. Dealer North. N/S Vul.   ♠ Q J 6 2 ♥ K Q 4 ♦ 10 7 6 ♣ A 8 3 ♠ A 10 9 8 7 3 ♥ A 10 9 5 ♦ 9 ♣ Q 4 ♠ K 5 ♥ J 6 2 ♦ 4 3 ♣ 10 9 7 6 5 2   ♠ 4 ♥ 8 7 3 ♦ A K Q J 8 5 2 ♣ K J Open Room West North East South Schifko Fantoni Wernle Nunes   1NT Pass 2♠ Dble 2NT Pass 3NT 4♥ Dble All Pass   Taking the vulnerability into account, a save in any major might well be a good proposition, so Schifko tried again. Luck was not with him when there happened to be no very much of a fit. Down five and 1100 to Zimmermann. Closed Room West North East South Multon Babsch Quantin Bieder   1♣ Pass 2♦ 2♠ Pass Pass 3♠ Pass 3NT All Pass   No such frivolities at the other table. Multon did not bother at all t bid a second time so ten tricks were made in peace. Zimmermann another 10 IMPs. Austria missed a great chance when Wernle doubled his opponents trying to direct partner’s lead: Board 7. Dealer South. All Vul.   ♠ A K 10 6 5 3 ♥ A ♦ Q J 3 ♣ K J 5 ♠ - ♥ 5 4 ♦ A 9 8 6 ♣ A Q 9 7 4 3 2 ♠ J 8 2 ♥ K 7 6 3 2 ♦ K 7 5 2 ♣ 10   ♠ Q 9 7 4 ♥ Q J 10 9 8 ♦ 10 4 ♣ 8 6 Open Room West North East South Schifko Fantoni Wernle Nunes       Pass 1♣ Dble 1♦ 1♠ 2♣ 3♣ Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ Dble All Pass Both the ♦A and the ♣A leads by West would in all probability have beaten the contract. A heart however did not do the job. So the operation by Wernle was successful but the patient died. Zimmermann +790. Closed Room West North East South Multon Babsch Quantin Bieder       Pass 1♣ Dble 1♥ 1♠ 2♣ 4♠ All Pass   Once again routine prevailed over imagination when Quantin let 4♠ go undoubled. Though his seven-card suit might have inspired Multon to find the club lead, he too led a heart. Austria +620 but 5 IMPs more to Zimmermann. On the last board of the match, neither side came anywhere near the cold slam in diamonds: Board 10. Dealer East. All Vul.   ♠ K 9 5 2 ♥ 9 6 ♦ 4 3 ♣ A 9 8 5 2 ♠ Q ♥ A Q J 5 ♦ A Q 10 9 6 ♣ K 7 4 ♠ A 10 8 7 4 3 ♥ 8 4 ♦ K J 7 5 ♣ Q   ♠ J 6 ♥ K 10 7 3 2 ♦ 8 2 ♣ J 10 6 3 Open Room West North East South Schifko Fantoni Wernle Nunes     2♦ Pass 2NT Pass 3NT Pass 4♣ Pass 4♦ Pass 4NT Pass 5♦ Pass 5♠ All Pass     The Austrian relays did not manage to unveal their nice diamond fit, so over 5♦ Schifko had to retreat to 5♠ which was asking just too much. Had the spades been A109xxx there would have been no story. One down. Closed Room West North East South Multon Babsch Quantin Bieder     2♠ Pass 4♠ All Pass     This auction looks almost too pedestrian, but once again routine prevailed over imagination. Zimmermann an easy +620 and 12 IMPs again to make it 39-5 or 25-5 in V.P. to them.

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