| 48th European Bridge Team Championships | Page 6 | Bulletin 5 - Thursday 17 August 2006 |
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Open Teams - France v Scotland (Round 9) by Jos Jacobs Handily placed Scotland against a French team in need of a change of fortune – who would enjoy their lunch more?
Open Room
East was probably pleased he was not employing Four Clubs as a conventional bid. I will leave you to decide if West was unlucky when he raised – as you can see North South have no making game - and when North doubled South had a relatively easy decision. The defenders took two spades and a club, +200. Closed Room
South was unwilling to play for a penalty – but he had to pay one. He lost three red suit tricks, -100 and France had 7 IMPs.
Open Room
West led the king of hearts and East played the eight, upside down count. (It may have been better to overtake and switch to a diamond, as if the defenders play four rounds of the suit declarer has to guess both black suits.) He continued with a second heart and declarer ruffed, drew trumps and played East for the queen of clubs, +140. A few spectators suggested that East should have bid Two Spades over the multi. The problem is that West is usually allowed to jump to Four Hearts with a maximum, and you do have quite a lot of defence. I will confess to a sneaking admiration for South’s overcall. Closed Room
This was a simple affair, +140 and another 7 IMP pickup for France.
Open Room
The opening bid promised a a good four level bid in either major. West led his diamond and East won and returned the two, declarer following with the queen as West ruffed. Rather than cash the ace of hearts he returned the jack of clubs, covered by the queen and ace. When East returned a club declarer could win, draw one round of trumps, ruff a club and discard dummy’s heart on the jack of diamonds for a miraculous +420. Closed Room
East led his heart and West won and switched to his diamond. East cashed the ace of clubs and when West played the five he switched back to diamonds, one down, +50 and 10 IMPs for France.
Open Room
West found the best lead of a club, but declarer could draw trumps and take a discard on the third round of hearts, a well bid +1430. Closed Room
The problem with the splinter was that North was unlikely to be able to do much looking at poor trumps, especially if he held wasted values in diamonds. Maybe South should make another move with such terrific spades, despite the slight risk involved. That was another 13 IMPs to France, who were in control, ahead by 42-3 IMPs.
Open Room
Declarer lost three spades, a diamond and a club, +90. Closed Room
That is not my idea of a weak two bid, and I am not sure you would find too many supporters of North’s second positive contribution to the auction. East led the four of hearts and in an attempt to make the contract declarer finessed. That meant he was two down, - 100 and another 5 IMPs for France. Scotland could make no impression over the final four boards and lost 57-3 IMPs, 25-4 VP. |
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