| 48th European Bridge Team Championships | Page 6 | Bulletin 7 - Saturday 19 August 2006 |
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Women Teams - Sweden v Denmark (Round 2) by Mark Horton Do you believe in conspiracy theories? Having decided to report on this match between the powerful Scandinavian countries I went in search of the hand records. Only one set was missing from the documents in the Press Room – you guessed it – those from this match. Muttering darkly I went in search of an official and in the finest traditions of Monty Python announced ‘I wish to register a complaint.’ My knowledgeable friend suggested that on this occasion a swan might be more useful than a parrot – and right he was, as the records can be found on their excellent web site, www.swangames.com. Anyway, as it happened I had picked a set of deals that could give you a few grey hairs – luckily the teams are far too young to be any danger of suffering such a fate! The Danes signalled their intentions by some very aggressive bidding early in the match.
Open Room
On a club lead declarer would have had to negotiate both red suits, but notwithstanding the implications of the auction North tried the five of spades. Declarer won in dummy and cashed the top hearts. When the queen appeared she could give up a diamond and claim +980. Closed Room
The same twelve tricks were made, but Denmark had 11 IMPs.
Open Room
One Heart promised 8+, and denied a five card major or six clubs. West led the ten of diamonds and declarer won with the ace and took the losing heart finesse. She ruffed the diamond return, drew trumps and played three rounds of clubs. When East ducked a low spade declarer had twelve tricks, +680. Closed Room
Over South’s relay of Two Diamonds, Two Hearts was either natural or 24-27 balanced. I can’t be sure what Two Spades meant – you won’t find it on the convention card – so its not clear what information East had to go on when she selected her opening lead. It proved to be the four of spades and declarer must have been pleased when dummy’s queen held. She finessed in hearts and when that lost it was up to East to find the diamond switch that would defeat the contract. Alas she returned a trump and declarer could set up the clubs, +1430, another slam swing for Denmark.
Open Room
South led the ten of clubs and North took the ace and switched to the six of diamonds, South winning with the queen, cashing the ace and exiting with a diamond. Declarer played a spade and South won and cashed her diamond for one down, +50. Closed Room
Here South led the seven of clubs and North took the ace. However she switched to the four of hearts and declarer won with the ace and played the king of spades, followed by the queen, South ducking both. She cashed her three club winners, and exited with a spade. South got off play with the queen of hearts and declarer won and played a diamond. South could win and cash the ace of diamonds, but had to surrender the last two tricks to declarer, +400 and 10 badly needed IMPs for Sweden, who trailed 12-38 IMPs. Unfortunately their troubles were only just beginning, as they conceded 45 IMPs over the next four deals.
Open Room
With everything save the queen of spades well-placed declarer was in no danger and when South led the three of spades declarer hardly went flat out when she recorded +420. Closed Room
South led the jack of diamond and declarer took the third round of the suit with dummy’s ace and ran the jack of spades, South winning and playing a heart to North’s ace for a fast one down, +50 and 10 IMPs.
Open Room
West led the ace of clubs and was not hard pressed to give her partner a ruff at trick two - +50. Closed Room
It was a simple affair to record +490 – and discover it was worth 11 IMPs.
Open Room
That was easy enough – we’ll return to the problem of how to play Seven Hearts in due course. +980. Closed Room
The preempt did its work when West – not unreasonably – jumped to slam. (Its becoming popular to play 4NT in this situation as showing two places to play – another possibility is to bid Five Spades with the West hand, although some might consider that should promise first round control. Plenty of scope for partnership discussion here!) North led the two of hearts and declarer won in dummy and played a diamond. If she puts in the eight or the ten the contract should be made. You cash a top diamond, spade to the ace, ruff a spade, club ace, club to the king, ruff a club, cash two hearts ending in dummy and play a black card to neutralise South’s ♦QJ9. Alas, declarer played the king of diamonds and now there was no way home, -100, 14 IMPs to Denmark. Back to Seven Hearts, a contract that was reached at more than one table. The question you are all asking is doubtless ‘What’s the best line?’ I have David Burn busy calculating, but you are probably impatient, so, subject to confirmation, probably you should win the spade lead, ruff a spade, cross to the king of hearts, ruff a spade and play the ace and king of diamonds. If they live you simply play to ruff a club high with the ace of hearts. If North can ruff the diamond you are far from dead as you have every chance of squeezing South in the minors. There will doubtless be more to say on this later.
Open Room
South cashed the king of hearts, but when diamonds behaved declarer had the rest, +920. Closed Room
Of course declare made twelve tricks for +480, but Denmark’s fourth slam swing of the set saw them win the match 84-13 IMPs. |
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