Open Teams - Denmark v England (Round 6)

England Defuse Danish Dynamite

by Mark Horton

Two ambitious teams not far from the top of the table, separated by only 3VP. However, apart from Denmark’s first round clash with France neither had faced any serious opposition, so this might be a marker as to how their respective tournaments might unfold.

Board:1. Dealer North. None Vul.
	♠ Q J 5 4 ♥ K Q 10 9 5 ♦ 9 5 ♣ Q 8
♠ A 10 7 6 ♥ - ♦ 10 8 7 6 4 ♣ J 6 5 2		♠ K 9 2 ♥ J 8 6 ♦ A 3 2 ♣ A K 4 3
	♠ 8 3 ♥ A 7 4 3 2 ♦ K Q J ♣ 10 9 7

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Armstrong	D_Schaltz	Holland	P_Schaltz
	2♦*	Dble*	3♥
All Pass

2♦ Majors Dble 13-16 balanced or any 19+ West led the six of diamonds and East took the ace and cashed his top clubs before returning a diamond. That left declarer with two losing spades, one down, -50. Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Bjarnarson	Price	Askgaard	Simpson
	Pass	1♣	Pass
1♦	Dble	Pass	3♥
All Pass

West led the six of diamonds and East took the ace and mysteriously switched to a trump. That meant declarer could dispose of a losing club and he was +140, 5 IMPs for England.

Board:3. Dealer South. East/West Vul
	♠ A K J 7 3 ♥ 10 6 ♦ 10 9 8 3 2 ♣ 5
♠ Q 8 6 ♥ A K 7 5 ♦ Q 7 5 ♣ Q 8 3		♠ 9 4 2 ♥ J 9 8 4 3 ♦ K ♣ K 7 6 4
	♠ 10 5 ♥ Q 2 ♦ A J 6 4 ♣ A J 10 9 2

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Armstrong	D_Schaltz	Holland	P_Schaltz
			1♣
Pass	1♠	Pass	2♣
All Pass

South could not rebid 1NT as that would have promised 15-17, so at this table there was no real chance of the diamond fit being located. West got the defence off to the right start by leading the ace of hearts, East playing the three, but then switched to the six of spades. Declarer won with the ace, and following the strategy advocated by Terence Reese on this type of deal, started to develop the side suit, playing a diamond to the king and ace. He then took a spade finesse and discarded his losing heart on the king of spades. He ruffed a heart and played a diamond, taken by West, who gave his partner a diamond ruff. Declarer played the nine on East’s club return and West won with the queen and played a heart. The contract was safe and when East elected to ruff with the king of clubs declarer had an overtrick.

Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Bjarnarson	Price	Askgaard	Simpson
			1♣
Pass	1♠	Pass	1NT
Pass	2♠	All pass

When South rebid 1NT, North could not offer his partner a choice of contracts by bidding Two Diamonds, as that would have been artificial. Still, on this layout Two Spades was a routine affair, indeed there was nothing the defenders could do to prevent declarer emerging with nine tricks, +140 and 1IMP.

Board: 4. Dealer West. All Vul
	♠ 6 4 ♥ K 8 4 3 2 ♦ J 6 2 ♣ A K 5
♠ A K 7 3 ♥ Q 9 ♦ A K 10 3 ♣ 7 6 3		♠ J 9 5 ♥ A J 10 7 5 ♦ 7 4 ♣ J 10 9
	♠ Q 10 8 2 ♥ 6 ♦ Q 9 8 5 ♣ Q 8 4 2

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Armstrong	D_Schaltz	Holland	P_Schaltz
1♦	Pass	1♥	Pass
1NT	Pass	2NT	Pass
3NT	All Pass

North led the ace of clubs and the defenders cashed four rounds of the suit and South then switched to the five of diamonds. Declarer won and passed the queen of clubs. When it held he appeared to be in with a shout, but his hopes were dashed on the next round when South discarded the eight of diamonds. He overtook the nine of hearts and cashed the ace. Its possible to escape for one down by endplaying South in spades, but that involves playing a high spade from dummy planning to run it if not covered, and when declarer simply cashed his top spades he was two down, -200.

Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Bjarnarson	Price	Askgaard	Simpson
1♣*	Pass	1♦*	Pass
1NT	Pass	2♦*	Pass
2♥	Pass	2NT	All Pass

As before the defenders took four club tricks and switched to a diamond. Declarer ran the queen of hearts and when that held he not unreasonably tried a low spade to the nine. South won and played a diamond, and when neither major suit divided declarer was one down, -100, but 3 IMPs for Denmark.

Board:7. Dealer South. All Vul.
	♠ A 8 ♥ K 8 5 4 2 ♦ K 8 7 2 ♣ Q 8
♠ K 9 2 ♥ Q J 3 ♦ A 10 9 6 ♣ A J 5		♠ J 7 6 4 ♥ 6 ♦ J 5 3 ♣ 10 9 7 6 3
	♠ Q 10 5 3 ♥ A 10 9 7 ♦ Q 4 ♣ K 4 2

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Armstrong	D_Schaltz	Holland	P_Schaltz
			1NT
Pass	2♦*	Pass	2♥
Pass	4♥	All pass

West could see three tricks in his hand, could he get a fourth? As the cards lie the answer is not really, but as on so many hands there is many a slip twixt cup and lip. He led the ace of diamonds and continued the suit. Declarer won in hand, played a heart to the king and a heart to the ace, East discarding the three of clubs. Declarer played a club to the queen and when that held he was in a position to make the contract by cashing the king of diamonds, ruffing a diamond and then exiting with a trump to endplay West who would be forced to give up a trick in a black suit. Indeed, declarer did cash the king of diamonds, but he discarded a club from his hand and had to go one down, -100.

Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Bjarnarson	Price	Askgaard	Simpson
			1♥
1NT	Dble	2♣	Pass
Pass	4♥	All Pass

Once again the defence started with an ace, but this time it was the ace of clubs – and that handed declarer the contract on a plate, +620 and 12 IMPs to England.

Board:9. Dealer North. East/West Vul
	♠ K ♥ K 7 6 3 ♦ K Q J 5 4 3 ♣ 9 7
♠ Q J 9 6 3 2 ♥ - ♦ 6 2 ♣ A K 8 4 2		♠ A 8 7 ♥ Q J 10 4 2 ♦ 10 9 8 7 ♣ 3
	♠ 10 5 4 ♥ A 9 8 5 ♦ A ♣ Q J 10 6 5

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Armstrong	D_Schaltz	Holland	P_Schaltz
	1♦	Pass	1♥
2NT*	3♥	3♠	4♥
4♠	5♦	Dbl	All Pass

Once East had volunteered some spade support West could happily advance to game and North sacrificed. East led his club and West won and switched to the nine of spades. East won with the ace and looking at some solid hearts he ignored the message sent by his partner’s spade and returned the suit. If declarer plays for the distribution that exists it is now possible to escape for two down – you ruff, unblock the ace of diamonds, ruff a spade, draw trumps and endplay East in hearts – but these things are never easy at the table. Declarer tried to return to hand with a heart, ruffed by West, so the contract was three down, -500.

Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Bjarnarson	Price	Askgaard	Simpson
	1♦	1♥	Dble
1♠	2♦	2♠	Dble
4♠	Pass	Pass	Dble
All Pass

South played a single note during the auction, but it didn’t pay a dividend. North led the king of diamonds and South won and switched to as spade. Declarer played low and took North’s king with dummy’s ace. He played a club to the ace, ruffed a club, ruffed a heart (South playing the ace), ruffed a club and ran the queen of hearts discarding his losing diamond – an easy +790 and 7 IMPs for Denmark.

Board:10. Dealer East. All Vul
	♠ 4 2 ♥ 9 6 ♦ A 9 7 ♣ K Q J 7 5 3
♠ A K 10 6 5 ♥ K ♦ J 10 6 5 4 3 ♣ 2		♠ 8 ♥ J 10 7 5 4 2 ♦ K Q ♣ A 10 9 6
	♠ Q J 9 7 3 ♥ A Q 8 3 ♦ 8 2 ♣ 8 4

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Armstrong	D_Schaltz	Holland	P_Schaltz
		1♥	1♠
Pass	2♣	Pass	2♠
Dble	3♣	Dble	All Pass

Overcalls have such a wide range that now and then you can get into trouble if partner is very weak. Maybe can only bid Two Clubs if it is non-forcing or you are prepared to bid Three Clubs later. Of course, you won’t get into trouble very often, and everyone would probably do as North did here – but the consequences were horrendous. East led the king of diamonds and when that held switched to his spade. That held the trick, so he played the queen of diamonds and declarer won and tried to ruff a diamond. East ruffed in with the nine of clubs and switched to the five of hearts. Declarer finessed and after winning with the king West cashed the ace of spades and followed it with the ten. (That was an error – the king of spades is best.) Declarer should discard the nine of hearts on that, but she ruffed with the jack of clubs and was not punished when East did not overruff and return a heart for West to ruff. She exited with the three of clubs and had escaped – if that is the right word – for three down, -800.

Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Bjarnarson	Price	Askgaard	Simpson
		1♥	1♠
2♦	Dble	2♥	All Pass

There was no excitement at this table, as West was not disposed to look for a penalty. Two Hearts drifted one down, -50 and 14 IMPs to England, now well ahead at 37-10 IMPs.

Board:14. Dealer East. None Vul.
	♠ 6 3 ♥ 9 7 3 ♦ 7 2 ♣ A J 10 9 8 6
♠ 7 5 4 2 ♥ J 5 2 ♦ K 10 6 ♣ 5 4 2		♠ K 10 9 ♥ K 6 ♦ A 9 8 5 4 ♣ K Q 3
	♠ A Q J 8 ♥ A Q 10 8 4 ♦ Q J 3 ♣ 7

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Armstrong	D_Schaltz	Holland	P_Schaltz
		1♦	Dble
2♦	3♣	Pass	3♥
Pass	4♥	All Pass

North/South powered into a thin game – and found it could not be defeated.

West led the six of diamonds and the defenders cashed two tricks in the suit and switched to a spade for the king and ace. Declarer pitched a spade on the queen of diamonds, ruffed a spade, played a heart to the queen and cashed the ace of hearts, +420.

Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Bjarnarson	Price	Askgaard	Simpson
		1♣*	Pass
1♦*	2♣	All Pass

Two Clubs was a comfortable spot and declarer made ten tricks, +130, but lost 7 IMPs.

Board:6. Dealer West. East/West Vul
	♠ A K Q ♥ 9 6 ♦ K 10 8 2 ♣ 9 8 5 2
♠ J 6 3 2 ♥ 10 ♦ J 9 7 3 ♣ A 10 4 3		♠ 10 9 8 ♥ A K J 8 5 2 ♦ - ♣ K Q J 7
	♠ 7 5 4 ♥ Q 7 4 3 ♦ A Q 6 5 4 ♣ 6

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Armstrong	D_Schaltz	Holland	P_Schaltz
Pass	1NT	2♦*	Dble*
2♥*	All Pass

2♦ six plus hearts or spades North cashed three spades and switched to a club, +140. Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Bjarnarson	Price	Askgaard	Simpson
Pass	1♦	1♥	3♦
Pass	Pass	Dble	Rdble
3♥	Pass	Pass	Dble
Rdble	Pass	4♣	Pass
Pass	Dble	All Pass

East’s reopening double met with an unlucky fate. West may have been tempted to convert it to penalties – but that would not have worked. Three Hearts is the best spot for East/West – the defenders need to take a club ruff to defeat it – but it was not easy for West to pass that out and he went in search of a black suit fit. One existed – but only at the four level. To get the maximum from Four Clubs South has to lead a spade, but of course he went for the ace of diamonds. Declarer ruffed and rather than play on hearts – ace, king followed by the jack, planning to pitch a spade if not covered is the way to escape for one down – declarer played a spade himself. The defenders played ping pong in the black suits for the next five tricks and the contract was two down, -500 and 12 IMPs to England.

Board:18. Dealer East. North/South
	♠ A 8 7 4 ♥ 8 6 ♦ A J 8 3 ♣ K Q 7
♠ 9 5 3 2 ♥ K 10 5 ♦ Q 10 9 ♣ A J 3		♠ - ♥ Q 7 4 3 ♦ 7 6 5 4 2 ♣ 8 6 4 2
	♠ K Q J 10 6 ♥ A J 9 2 ♦ K ♣ 10 9 5

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Armstrong	D_Schaltz	Holland	P_Schaltz
		Pass	1♠
Pass	2NT*	Pass	3♦*
Pass	3♥*	Pass	4♣*
Pass	4♦*	Pass	4♥*
Pass	4NT*	Pass	5♠
Pass	6♠	All Pass

North forced to game via the support showing 2NT and North/South cue bid their way to a slam that had no play at all, -100.

Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Bjarnarson	Price	Askgaard	Simpson
		Pass	1♠
Pass	2NT*	Pass	3♦*
Pass	3♠	Pass	4♥
Pass	4♠	All Pass

Once South denied a club control North was not interested - +650 and another 13 IMPs for England, who were in complete control.

Board:19. Dealer South. East/West Vul
	♠ J 4 2 ♥ A 9 7 3 ♦ 9 3 ♣ A J 9 5
♠ Q 8 ♥ K Q J 10 8 5 2 ♦ 10 ♣ 10 8 3		♠ A 10 9 7 5 3 ♥ - ♦ A K Q 7 6 5 2 ♣ -
	♠ K 6 ♥ 6 4 ♦ J 8 4 ♣ K Q 7 6 4 2

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Armstrong	D_Schaltz	Holland	P_Schaltz
			Pass
3♥	Pass	4♦	Pass
4♥	Pass	4♠	Pass
5♥	Pass	5♠	Pass
6♥	Pass	6♠	All Pass

You don’t get a hand like East’s every day of the week! What is more the textbooks are not exactly full of how you should develop it, not least when partner starts with a preemept. What do you make of West’s decision to bid Six Hearts? Partner has heard you bid hearts three times and is surely now asking you to either pass, raise spades or go back to diamonds. Since partner is clearly prepared for you to bid Six Diamonds maybe possession of the queen of spades is enough to justify a raise? Whatever, the contract rolled home, +1430.

Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Bjarnarson	Price	Askgaard	Simpson
			3♣
Pass	5♣	6♦	All Pass

Holding two aces it was very difficult for North to sacrifice in Seven Clubs – and if you give West South’s king of spades you might be glad you didn’t. Declarer was +1370 and lost a couple of IMPs.

Board:20. Dealer West. All Vul
	♠ 10 6 4 ♥ A Q 8 4 ♦ K Q ♣ A 8 6 2
♠ A K Q J ♥ K 2 ♦ J 9 6 4 ♣ Q 9 4		♠ 8 3 2 ♥ 10 6 5 ♦ A 8 5 2 ♣ K J 10
	♠ 9 7 5 ♥ J 9 7 3 ♦ 10 7 3 ♣ 7 5 3

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Armstrong	D_Schaltz	Holland	P_Schaltz
1♠	Dble	2♠	All Pass

North led the king of diamonds and when that was ducked continued with the queen. Declarer took dummy’s ace, cashed two top trumps and played a club to the king. When that held he drew another round of trumps and gave up a club, +140.

Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Bjarnarson	Price	Askgaard	Simpson
1♣*	Pass	1NT	Pass
2♣*	Pass	2NT	Pass
3NT	All Pass

Had South made the boring lead of a heart the hand would have been over in no time, but he selected the seven of spades and declarer won and played a club. It was hardly obvious to North to win this trick and switch to hearts, but when the jack of clubs was followed by a diamond to the nine North won with the king and promptly switched to the ace of hearts, South playing the nine, followed by a heart to West’s king. Now declarer made a very strange play – the jack of diamonds – and was two down, -200. Why strange?

Well, first of all South had followed to the club with the three – an odd number if you believe it. Secondly he had followed to the diamond with the three – and odd number if you believe it. Thirdly he had played the nine of hearts followed by the three – an even number if you believe it (ignoring the attitude situation). Finally it would have cost declarer nothing to cash three spades, discovering South had led from a three-card suit. All that would have pointed to leading a low diamond, thereby bringing home the contract.

As it was England picked up another 8 IMPs to record a handsome victory, 72-22 IMPs, 25-5 VP. They moved into second place and would be in good heart for the difficult matches to come. For Denmark it was a case of regrouping quickly – their next match would be against Italy.

Two Brilliancies for the Prize of One

by Mark Horton

Board: 15. Dealer South. North/South Vul.
	♠ 5 2 ♥ A K 3 ♦ 4 ♣ K Q 9 7 6 4 3
♠ Q 7 ♥ Q 10 6 ♦ K Q 10 8 7 6 5 ♣ 2		♠ K 9 4 ♥ J 9 8 7 4 2 ♦ 3 ♣ J 8 5
	♠ A J 10 8 6 3 ♥ 5 ♦ A J 9 2 ♣ A 10

In the match between France and Bulgaria Vladimir Marashev and Marc Bompis combined as declarer and defender to produce a story that will undoubtedly be remembered long after the Championships are over - it might even win them both a prize!

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Sainte Marie	Marashev	Bompis	Petkov
			1♠
3♦	4♣	Pass	4♦
Pass	4♥	Pass	4♠
Pass	4NT*	Pass	5♦
Pass	6♣	All Pass

In the closed room Alain Levy had made eleven tricks in Four Spades, so there were a lot of IMPs on the line. East led the three of diamonds and declarer won and played three rounds of clubs, followed by the two of spades. East played his required part in the brilliancy by putting up the king of spades - and he did it in perfect tempo. When declarer ducked he continued with the four of spades, but declarer countered by putting up the ace, landing his contract in spectacular style.