When a Good Reputation is a Handicap

by Patrick Jourdain (Wales)

The Wales Open team seems to have a secure place around 20th in every European in which the Principality has competed. One of the high spots this time was beating Sweden 19-11 in Round 22. Here are two boards that helped:

Open Round 22 Board 4 Dealer West; Game All

	♠ A Q 9 4 ♥ Q 10 ♦ K 10 9 5 ♣ 10 7 3
♠ J 7 3 ♥ K 6 2 ♦ A Q 7 2		♠ K 8 6 2 ♥ A J 9 8 ♦ 8 6 4
	♠ 10 5 ♥ 7 5 4 3 ♦ J 3 ♣ Q J 9 8 5

West	North	East	South
Fredin	Rees	Bjoernlund	Kurbalija F.
1♣	Pass	1♥	Pass
1NT	Pass	3NT	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Tedd	Bertheau	Salisbury	Nystrom
1NT	Pass	2♣	Pass
2♦	Pass	3NT	All Pass

Both tables reached the standard game of 3NT by West. That North holding in hearts provides a textbook opportunity for the defence (in the match between the Wales Seniors and lowly-placed Estonia when the Welsh declarer began the hearts with a low card from West, the Estonian North promptly contributed the QUEEN. Our declarer knew of the possible falsecard, but still continued by winning with the ace and running the nine to North). Tim Rees, North for Wales in the Open found a novel twist to this old trick.

Initially he was off to a poor start by leading his fourth-highest spade round to the ten and jack. Peter Fredin continued with a second spade, ducking when North contributed the nine. But when Rees now switched to the QUEEN of hearts Fredin won in dummy and, perhaps not crediting a Welshman with the switch from Q-10, ran the eight, losing to the ten. Now Rees cleared the spades and later gained the lead to cash the fourth spade. Declarer made only two spades, three hearts, one diamond and two clubs, to go one light.

At the other table Mike Tedd was at the helm for Wales. Bertheau led the ace of spades and continued with a spade to West’s jack. On the low heart lead, Bertheau duly played the QUEEN, taken by dummy’s ace. The difference here was that declarer WAS ready to credit a Swedish international with the falsecard. So Tedd proceeded to test the other suits first, and then eventually played a heart to the king to land his game. 12 IMPS to Wales.

This is the other deal:

Round 22, Board 13 Dealer North. Game All.
	♠ Q 9 5 3 ♥ K 10 3 ♦ Q 3 ♣ A 9 3 2
♠ K J 10 8 ♥ 9 ♦ J 10 7 6 2		♠ A 6 2 ♥ Q J 7 6 4 ♦ A 9 4
	♠ 7 4 ♥ A 8 5 2 ♦ K 8 5 ♣ K Q J 7

West	North	East	South
Fredin	Rees	Bjoernlund	Kurbalija F.
	1♣	1♥	2♦*
Pass	2NT**	Pass	3NT
All Pass

*4+ Clubs weak or game forcing
** 11-13 balanced

Against North’s 3NTFredrik Bjoernlund led a low heart and must have been disappointed to see this run to the ten. However, declarer still has only eight tricks, and has a problem generating the ninth. Rees began by crossing to a club in dummy and then boldly playing a spade to the ten, queen and ace. Thinking that declarer was soon setting up the game-going trick in spades, Bjoernlund switched to a low diamond, discovering that that was the play that actually gave the contract.

At the other table Wales had been allowed to play in 2♠-2 for only 200 to Sweden. The swing was a further 9 IMPs to Wales, who won 64-44.