| 48th European Bridge Team Championships | Page 5 | Bulletin 12 - Thursday 24 August 2006 |
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Open Teams - England v Italy (Round 24) by Mark Horton In former times a match between Italy and Great Britain was always eagerly anticipated but following devolution all three countries now compete against the mighty Italians. The match started with a bang.
Open Room
Not easy to decide what went wrong here – perhaps North’s jump to Four Diamonds was a little too enthusiastic given his void in partner’s first bid suit? Or maybe with three small diamonds South should have been more cautious? Barry Rigal mentioned the French idea of rebidding 3NT on the North cards, which shows a spade shortage and heart support – that looks good to me. West led the queen of diamonds and declarer won with dummy’s ace, played a club to the ace and ruffed a spade. He cashed the king of clubs pitching a diamond and played a heart to the ace. The he played on spades, discarding dummy’s diamonds. The trump position meant he was one down – but on a diamond lead even a 2-2 trump break would not have helped – that was –50. Closed Room
Here declarer won the diamond lead, crossed to the ace of hearts, cashed the ace of clubs and played three rounds of spades, coming to eleven tricks, +450 and a fast 11 IMP start for Italy.
Open Room
North knew South’s strength, but with no first round control it was not easy to go on – would you for example have bid Four Diamonds? West led the jack of hearts and declarer won with the king and cashed all his diamonds followed by three rounds of spades, squeezing West in the round suits to record all the tricks, +520. Closed Room
The opening bid promised 14+ or a good 12/13 with a five card suit. Over the game forcing Two Clubs South was able to show his powerful suit and then make some cue bids, finally bidding the laydown slam for a 9 IMP pick up. That was only the fourth swing so far – Italy leading 20-5 IMPs.
Open Room
West led a well-reasoned king of spades and continued with the four. Declarer got that wrong, putting up the queen, but it did not matter, as the contract was secure. It was a brilliant effort, but still –600. Closed Room
One Heart was a transfer to spades, but thereafter something went wrong – maybe South thought North has six spades and the final contract was dubious. East led his club and declarer won in hand and played a spade to the eight and nine. East switched to a heart for the king and ace and a heart came back, declarer trying the ten, covered by the jack and queen. East won the next spade with the ace, cashed a heart and played a diamond. Declarer could not avoid the loss of two more trumps, one via club ruff and was three down, -300 and 14 IMPs to England, suddenly ahead 24-20.
Open Room
West led the four of clubs and at trick two declarer played a spade to the jack and queen. West played the three of clubs and declarer’s next move was to duck a heart, West winning with the ten, cashing the king of diamonds and returning the queen of hearts. Declarer had lost three tricks and had to lose a club and a diamond at the end for one down, -100. Closed Room
The play to the first trick was identical, but here declarer crossed to hand with the ace of spades and played the nine of diamonds. The position in that suit meant that not only was the contract assured, but also declarer had an easy overtrick, +630 and 12 IMPs to Italy, who ran out winners 40-28 IMPs, 17-13 VP. |
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