Sweden vs Denmark (Juniors Round 7)

The Friday evening match between Sweden and Denmark in the Junior Series was a very quiet affair. After 15 deals, the score had reached only 6-5 in favour of Sweden. The Swedes added a couple of partscore swings to extend their lead to 15-5, then won two big swings at the end.

This early board was flat but offered scope for a major swing in either direction:

Board 4. Dealer West. All Vul.
	♠ A J 4 ♥ J 9 7 6 ♦ 10 7 2 ♣ Q J 9
♠ 10 6 ♥ A K 8 5 4 3 2 ♦ 3		♠ K 2 ♥ Q 10 ♦ Q J 9 8 6
	♠ Q 9 8 7 5 3 ♥ – ♦ A K 5 4 ♣ A K 8

I am sure that if we asked a panel of experts we would get a split decision but my personal preference is for a 3♠ overcall on the South hand – precisely because for me it is routine to pass with the North hand. Yes, 3♠ will work out very badly if North has ♥QJxx and a singleton spade, for example, but I pass these doubles out far more often than I once did and therefore double less often. Whether you agree with the decision itself, it is important that the styles of the two players in the partnership fit together in this situation.

Anyway, both our Souths doubled and both Norths passed. It was not too demanding for our two declarers to finesse the ten of hearts, so both escaped for down one and –200 when N/S were cold for game.

In the Juniors, 3♥ doubled was played five times, twice two down and three times down one; 3NT made once, 4NT failed once, 6♠ failed once, and 4♠ made 14 times. In the Girls, 3♥ undoubled went one down once, 3♥ doubled was down one twice, 3♠ was played twice, 3NT once, 6♠ failed once, and 4♠ made five times.

Board 18. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
	♠ A Q 9 ♥ A 10 9 6 5 2 ♦ 3 2 ♣ 6 4
♠ 10 8 7 6 4 ♥ Q 8 4 ♦ A 8 4		♠ K J 5 3 ♥ K ♦ Q 10 9 7
	♠ 2 ♥ J 7 3 ♦ K J 6 5 ♣ A J 9 5 2

West	North	East	South
Houmoller	Sivelind	Nielsen	Rimstedt
		Pass	Pass
Pass	2♦	Pass	2♠
Pass	3♣	Pass	4♥
All Pass

We do not have the auction from the other table but the Swedish E/W pair played 3♠-2 for 100 to Denmark.

Jonas Houmoller led a spade. Rimsetdt won the ace and played a diamond to the jack and ace. She ruffed the spade continuation, played a heart to the ace and ruffed the last spade. Now king of diamonds and a diamond ruff put her in dummy to lead the ♥10 to West’s queen. There was just a club to lose from here; +620 and 11 IMPs to Sweden.

Board 19. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
	♠ Q J 8 7 4 ♥ J 9 4 3 2 ♦ A J ♣ 9
♠ A K ♥ K 8 ♦ K 9 8 3		♠ 10 3 ♥ A 6 ♦ Q 5 2
	♠ 9 6 5 2 ♥ Q 10 7 5 ♦ 10 7 6 4 ♣ 10

West	North	East	South
Houmoller	Sivelind	Nielsen	Rimstedt
			Pass
1NT	2♦	2♥	3♥
4♣	Pass	5♣	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Thalen	Schaltz	Asplund	Broendum
			Pass
1♣	2♣	2♠	4♣
Dble	4♥	5♣	Pass
Pass	5♥	Pass	Pass
Dble	Pass	6♣	All Pass

Houmoller opened 1NT and Sivelind’s overcall showed the majors. The Danes bid comfortably to 5♣ without giving serious thought to slam; +620.

Bjorn Thalen opened 1♣ and Martin Schaltz also showed the majors, though he guaranteed a little more distribution than Sivelind – at least five-five. Karl Asplund showed clubs and Kristian Broendum showed his club splinter on the way to four of a major. Asplund seems to have followed a very strange auction now (perhaps there is something in their system of which I am unaware which would at least partially explain it). He bid 5♣ over 4♥, clearly non-forcing, and Thalen passed it. Now Schaltz, taking his partner’s 4♣ seriously, went on to 5♥ – a very dubious decision even at favourable vulnerability – and Asplund made a forcing pass. When Thalen doubled, he went on to 6♣, which seems like a double-cross.

Anyway, whatever may have been going on in the auction, Thalen had little option but to play Schaltz for the ace of diamonds in a short holding and, when that duly materialised, the slam was home for +1370 and 13 IMPs to Sweden – the perfect way to teach people not to sacrifice against your game contract. Sweden won the match by 39-5 IMPs, 22-8 VPs.

On the board above, one Junior East played 2♥ down one, N/S played 4♥ doubled down two once, and 4♠ doubled down three once, while E/W played 3NT and 6NT successfully once each, 5♣ seven times and 6♣ nine times – always making. In the Girls, 3NT, 5♦ and 6NT all made once each, 5♣ five times and 6♣ three times. Seven Clubs was doubled for one down at one table.