Women Teams - Sweden v Germany (Round 4)

by Mark Horton

Two countries with different aims met in Round 4 of the Women’s series. Germany, intent on preserving their position at the business end of the table, and Sweden, hoping to put a bad start behind them.

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

West	North	East	South
Von Arnim	Groenkvist	Auken	Forsberg
		Pass	1♥
Pass	3♣*	Dble	3♦
Pass	4♥	All Pass

Three Clubs promised 11+ points with three-card heart support. West led the ten of clubs for the queen and king and East switched to a diamond, queen, king, ace. When declarer played back a diamond East ruffed, West following with the jack, and East exited with the jack of clubs. Declarer had no real hope from here, one down, -100. That looks easy enough, but on a non-club lead (or a non diamond switch) declarer has chances (admittedly difficult) to make the contract.

Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Rimstedt	Hackett	Andersson	Nehmert
		3♣	Dble
3♦	3NT	All Pass

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

West	North	East	South
Von Arnim	Groenkvist	Auken	Forsberg
			Pass
Pass	1♦	Pass	1♠
Pass	2♦	All Pass

This was an easy contract and declarer emerged with eleven tricks, +150.

Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Rimstedt	Hackett	Andersson	Nehmert
			Pass
Pass	1♦	Pass	1♠
Pass	2♦	Pass	3♦
Pass	3NT	All Pass

When South, confident she was facing a six-card suit, made a gentle raise, North had enough in hand to try for the game bonus – right enough and on the lead of the three of spades she made ten tricks, +430 and 7 IMPs for Germany.

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

West	North	East	South
Von Arnim	Groenkvist	Auken	Forsberg
	1♣*	2♦*	Dble*
2♥	Pass	Pass	2NT*
Pass	3♣*	Pass	3♦
All Pass

Two Diamonds promised hearts, or the black suits. I can’t tell you what went wrong in the Swedish auction, but obviously with 18 facing 8 you want to be in game. Declarer made ten tricks, +130.

Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Rimstedt	Hackett	Andersson	Nehmert
	1♣	Pass	1♦
Pass	2NT	Pass	3NT
All Pass

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

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Von Arnim	Groenkvist	Auken	Forsberg
		Pass	Pass
1♠	2♥	Pass	Pass
2♠	Pass	Pass	3♥
Pass	Pass	3♠	All Pass

Remind me to ask Sabine if she thinks she might have raised Two Spades. There were no problems making ten tricks, +170.

Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Rimstedt	Hackett	Andersson	Nehmert
		Pass	Pass
1♠	2♥	Dble	Pass
4♠	All Pass

Board:11. Dealer South. None Vul
	♠ Q 10 7 5 ♥ 9 5 ♦ Q 9 6 3 ♣ Q 8 3
♠ 9 8 3 ♥ K Q 8 7 4 3 ♦ J 2 ♣ 5 4		♠ 6 4 2 ♥ J 10 ♦ A 10 7 4 ♣ K J 10 2
	♠ A K J ♥ A 6 2 ♦ K 8 5 ♣ A 9 7 6

West	North	East	South
Von Arnim	Groenkvist	Auken	Forsberg
			1♣
2♦*	Pass	3♥*	All Pass

All Pass

South cashed the ace of spades and switched to a low heart, declarer winning in hand and playing back a heart. South won and cashed the king of spades and played a spade. Declarer had to go two down, -100.

Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Rimstedt	Hackett	Andersson	Nehmert
			1♣
Pass	1♠	Pass	2NT
Pass	3NT	All Pass

West led the eight of hearts and after winning the second round of the suit West though for long enough to make it clear she had no certain entry before playing a third round. (Interestingly if declarer wins the second heart she can always make the contract on this layout.) Declarer won and played a diamond to the queen. When East ducked she was quickly shown the error of her ways. Declarer played a diamond back to the king, cashed four spades and exited with a diamond. East had to lead away from the king of clubs to give declarer the last two tricks and +400 was worth 7 IMPs.

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

West	North	East	South
Von Arnim	Groenkvist	Auken	Forsberg
		Pass	Pass
1♦	Dble	Rdble	Pass
Pass	2♣	Pass	Pass
3♦	All Pass

Nothing to the play, declarer losing a heart, a diamond and two clubs, +110.

Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Rimstedt	Hackett	Andersson	Nehmert
		Pass	Pass
1NT	Dble	Pass	2♣
All Pass

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

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Von Arnim	Groenkvist	Auken	Forsberg
			1NT
2♥	3♥*	4♥	Dble
Pass	5♦	All Pass

East led the three of clubs and West won with the king, cashed the ace of spades and seeing the ten from partner switched to the eight of hearts to get a spade ruff for two down, +200.

Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Rimstedt	Hackett	Andersson	Nehmert
			1♦
2NT*	4♥*	5♥	Dble
All Pass

This had no chance, South cashing the ace of diamonds and continuing the suit, +100 and a further 7 IIMPs seeing Germany run out winners 57-22 IMPs, 22-8 VP.