| 48th European Bridge Team Championships | Page 4 | Bulletin 5 - Thursday 17 August 2006 |
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Open Teams - Netherlands v Norway (Round 5) by Barry Rigal A comprehensive win for Netherlands, who seemed to outbid Norway and also to bring home all the contracts where an element of card-play was required.
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3NT made a comfortable 13 tricks, but where the stakes were higher Westra had a quite a problem on the lead of a low spade to the ten jack and ace. The simple heart finesse (low to the ten then back to the club jack for another low heart up, on which West did not drop the nine) left declarer with no possibility of a further finesse in the heart suit. He ran the clubs and eventually played hearts from the top and also made 13 tricks when West unguarded his spade honour. I wonder if there might have been some merit to declarer leading the diamond jack from hand at trick two? You give up on the doubleton heart king onside but do pick up quite a few positions in the diamond suit. As the cards lie, both lines work of course.
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Muller really earned this swing I think. His bid of three diamonds was a two-way shot, aimed both at perhaps reaching game his way but more to keep the opponents out of the majors,. Of course he was probably more worried about hearts than spades, but as the other room demonstrated, he had the right idea – if for the wrong reason. Both part scores took ten rather than nine tricks for 7 IMPs to Netherlands.
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Yet again the Dutch declared the contract at both tables, and yet again it was right to do so! Westra’s bid of five diamonds looks a tad unilateral but he was perhaps worried that if he doubled partner would pass rather too often… spot on! In the other room one can hardly blame Helgemo for hoping his partner would produce a defensive trick or two but dummy was a huge disappointment to the Norwegians. Another 10 IMPs to Netherlands.
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1 3card supp The doctrine of TTASL (Teach Them A Sharp Lesson) has obviously permeated its way through from the Young Chelsea Bridge Club in Earls Court – where it is a doctrine they live or die by – to Amsterdam. The basic concept is that if the opponents balance against your part score, you must bid game or slam. If they sacrifice against your game, you must bid slam or double them. Here Westra employed the philosophy to its full. It may not have gained his side IMPs but I’m sure it really irritated his opponents – which was almost more important! The point was that when his opponents announced they had an eight-card fit he now knew that his hand would offer diamond ruffs to his partner. Well bid. |
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