| 3rd European Open Bridge Championships | Page 2 | Bulletin 10 - Monday 25 June 2007 |
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Luck of the Draw by Mark Horton It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a bridge writer in search of a story must choose what he watches with care. On Saturday, I set out to report on two matches from the Open. The first one featured a series of dull, flat boards, where everyone played far too well to justify inclusion in the Bulletin. It was an altogether different story when the second one between Zia and Venetina came in for scrutiny. The first half of the match saw Zia race into a huge lead:
Open Room
North/South’s vigorous preemption did not prevent East/West from reaching a slam. Declarer ruffed the opening spade lead, crossed to the king of clubs and ran the nine, +920. Closed Room
Note the preemptive opening by South, and East’s direct jump to Six Clubs. When North decided to save East made a forcing pass and North took out insurance when West bid the grand slam. Just as well, as declarer might have divined the trump position. Declarer lost a heart, two clubs and a diamond, -800, but gained 3 IMPs.
Open Room
Four Spades has chances, but this was not declarer’s lucky day. West led the two of diamonds and declarer won in hand with the ace and played three rounds of hearts. West ruffed in with the nine of spades and played a diamond, ruffed by East. A club to the ace was followed by a second diamond ruff, the king of clubs and a heart for West to ruff. That added up to three down. Closed Room
What a difference a lead makes. When West led the eight of hearts declarer won in dummy and played a spade to the jack and queen. She won the heart return in hand and cashed the ace of spades. When the king fell she drew the last trump and claimed ten tricks, +170 and another 8 IMPs.
Open Room
If memory serves, One Heart guaranteed an unbalanced hand. Once West completed the description with a picture bid of Three Diamonds East jumped to the cold slam, +1370. Closed Room
Most of the time you will get away with a bid like 2NT, but not here. South led the four of spades and the defenders cashed their tricks, +100 and 16 IMPs. Zia was cruising, but at this game you never know what lies in store.
Open Room
A classic psychic double from Zia, who, in the manner of Themistocles Papadopoulos, selected the eight of hearts as the most devious lead he could think of. It mattered not, as declarer claimed, +1430. Closed Room
2♥ Limit or better in spades 3♣ Possible canapé 3♦ Ace or K ing– game forcing 3♥ Ace or King 3♠ Five ♠ 3NT Serious Slam try 4♦ Ace 4♥ Promises club control 4NT RKCB North/South were able to use the appliance of science, but they could not establish the inability to take care of the diamond loser. One down, -100 and 17 IMPs to Venetina, putting them back in the match.
Open Room
East’s overcall is a matter of style, but he found partner at home. When North decided to compete South had enough to go on to game. East led the six of clubs and declarer won in hand and played a spade to the jack and ace. West returned a club (It was difficult for West to appreciate that after winning the ace of spades a diamond switch is essential, East winning and returning the suit. Now when East wins the ace of hearts a third diamond ensures a further trump trick for the defence.) and declarer won in dummy and played a heart to the queen and ace. East switched to ace and another diamond, but it was too late. Declarer won in dummy, played a heart to the jack and the nine of hearts, covered by the ten and king. A spade to the eight allowed declarer to draw the last trump and claim +590. Closed Room
With no opposition to contend with declarer won the opening club lead in hand, and played a heart to the queen. When that held she played a heart to the king and had no chance for more than nine tricks, -50 and 12 IMPs, producing a final score of Zia 32 Venatina 30. |
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