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Swing Boards
by Jan van Cleef
Mixed Teams, qualification in groups, round 5
The final match of the first day brought together two teams which, by then, were the leaders of the pack in Group J: Vriend (Nr. 1) and Herbst (Nr. 2). The match was decided by two exciting boards. First:
| Board 12. Dealer West. N/S Vul. |
| |
♠ Q
♥ K 10 7 2
♦ K Q 9 8 6 4 2
♣ 3 |
♠ A 10 6 2
♥ Q J 6 3
♦ A 7 3 |
 |
♠ K J 7 5 4 3
♥ 8
♦ 10 |
| |
♠ 9 8
♥ A 9 5 4
♦ J 5
♣ A Q J 8 7 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Verhees |
Herbst |
Wortel |
Barr |
| Pass |
1♦ |
3♠ |
Dble |
| 4♠ |
5♦ |
All Pass |
|
Over Four Spades, North, Ilan Herbst, had a tough decision. Pass, Five Hearts and even 4NT are reasonable possibilities. Herbst opted to bid Five Diamonds. Meike Wortel led a spade to the ace of West, Louk Verhees. It is easy to see that on a spade continuation declarer has no play. Looking at dummy’s long clubs, Verhees saw no better defence then to place East with the king of hearts. He therefore switched to a low heart. Declarer won the nine and his contract.
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Barel |
Maas |
Tal |
Vriend |
| 1♦ |
Pass |
1♠ |
Dble |
| 2♠ |
4♥ |
4♠ |
All Pass |
Bep Vriend kicked off with the ace of hearts and switched to a diamond. After drawing trumps Dana Tal tested the clubs. When she discovered the 5-1 break, declarer took her last chance: the ruffing finesse in hearts. That worked. The double game swing netted 14 IMPs in favour of Herbst.
Suppose South would had led a neutral diamond or spade. In that case declarer – after drawing trumps - could (or perhaps should) make her contract by playing a low club to the nine and later take a ruffing finesse in clubs.
| Board 17. Dealer North. None Vul. |
| |
♠ 2
♥ A K Q 4 3 2
♦ K 10
♣ A 4 3 2 |
♠ Q 7 5
♥ 10 9 7 5
♦ 9 8 7 3 2 |
|
♠ A K J 10 3
♥ 8
♦ A Q 6 5 |
| |
♠ 9 8 6 4
♥ J 6
♦ J 4
♣ K Q J 10 9 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Verhees |
Herbst |
Wortel |
Barr |
| |
1♥ |
1♠ |
Pass |
| Pass |
Dble |
2♦ |
3♣ |
| 3♦ |
5♣ |
All Pass |
|
A diamond lead would leave declarer without a chance. Verhees however led a low spade and declarer was home. Afterwards Verhees was the first to admit that on the lead of the queen of spades he would still have had time for the killing shift.
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Barel |
Maas |
Tal |
Vriend |
| |
1♥ |
1♠ |
Pass |
| Pass |
Dble |
2♦ |
3♣ |
| 4♠ |
5♣ |
Pass |
Pass |
| 5♦ |
All Pass |
|
|
The final contract proved to be rock solid. Yet another double game swing to Herbst (13 IMPs).
Herbst beat Vriend by 23 – 7 VP and won the group, Vriend finishing second. |
