Number 500 for Peter Schaltz

by Roland Wald

Today, Peter Schaltz reaches an amazing landmark when he makes his 500th international appearance for Denmark Open. He had 483 caps prior to the European Championships, so most Danes knew what was going to happen after his 17th match in Warsaw.

Peter Schaltz, 55, has participated in 12 European Championships, 4 Olympiads and 6 Nordic Championships since his international debut at the EC in Brighton in 1975. He won the silver medal in 1979 in Lausanne, Switzerland, and 1993 in Menton, France, was on the Danish team that won the bronze at the Olympiad in 1984 in Seattle, USA, and with his wife Dorthe as his partner he won the gold medal in the European Mixed Team Championships in Bellaria, Italy, with Sabine and Jens Auken.

Then add his 30 national titles in all kinds of domestic competitions.

In Peter's infancy, his parents Lizzie and J?rgen-Elith Schaltz, also merited Danish internationalists at the time, feeded him with bridge wisdom rather than luke warm milk. In his early career as a junior and later too, Peter Schaltz's partner was cousin Knud-Aage Boesgaard (now the president of the Danish Bridge Federation), but when Dorthe decided to focus on the open series after her gold medal in the Women Teams at the 8th World Team Olympiad in Venice, Italy, in 1988, she has been Peter's regular partner in the open team, and also away from the table.

Their two children, Anne Mette and Martin, are both capable players, especially Martin who, among other achievements, has a silver medal from the 18th World Youth Team Championship in Paris, France, in 2003.

Away from the bridge table, Peter's big passion is wine. He deals with import, wholesale and retail professionally and owns around 40 bridge shops all over Denmark.

One of the deals Peter has the fondest memory of is the following from the European Team Championships in Tenerife, Spain, in 2001.

Dealer North. None Vul.
	♠ 8 7 3 ♥ A 9 8 ♦ 10 ♣ A 10 7 6 5 4
♠ A K Q J 9 ♥ 5 4 ♦ 4		♠ 10 6 5 4 2 ♥ Q 7 2 ♦ J 9 6 3 2
	♠ - ♥ K J 10 6 3 ♦ A K Q 8 7 5 ♣ 8 2

West	North	East	South
	D Schaltz		P Schaltz
	Pass	Pass	1♥
2♥*	2♠*	4♠	5♥
5♠	Pass	Pass	6♦
Pass	6♥	Dble	All Pass

2♥ was Michaels, and Dorthe's 2♠ was a sound heart raise. Peter introduced his almost solid canape suit at the 6-level, and East meant his double of 6♥ as Lightner.

West wasn't on the same wavelength and tried to cash a top spade. Peter was in the tank for about 5 minutes before he ruffed. Even with that lead it looked hopeless. Hearts had to be 3-2, and then West could have no more than one diamond. Therefore, it wouldn't be enough to ruff a single diamond.

It was also likely that East had the guarded♥Q. Accordingly, Peter Schaltz needed to finesse, and then he would be one entry short to manage everything necessary.

However, there was one legitimate chance. If West's singleton diamond was the 9 (also known as the Curse of Scotland), the slam would roll in. So Peter entered dummy with a heart to the ace and advanced the ten of diamonds.

Can you blame East for playing low in tempo? Who would let the singleton 10 ride? He followed small, and so did Peter Schaltz! The contract was now cold. ♥8 to the 10, diamond ruffed with the 9, spade ruffed and ♥K. Only one club loser and +1210 to Denmark.

Not bad considering that the +1210 could be added to the +1210 at the other table for 6♠ doubled making by Lars Blakset - Mathias Bruun. This time it was the ace of clubs that was ruffed at trick 1. ♠A, 3 hearts pitched on ♣KQJ, heart ruff and ♦J so that only South (with no trump) could gain the lead.

West was later able to ruff his other heart loser and had 12 tricks. 20 IMPs to Denmark.

From all bridge players in Denmark, and I am sure that lots elsewhere will join in when I say:

Dear Peter. Not only are you a formidable player, but you are also a most likeable man whether you are an opponent at the table or a friend or customer away from it. Congratulations on your astounding landmark, and may you score many +1210's in the years to come.

(Thanks to Svend Novrup for the helpful statistics from his Danish Bridge Encyclopaedia)