Question Marks All Around

by Kees Tammens

The first part of the championship already had a free day after six rounds on Saturday 14 July (probably France will have been happy to celebrate their national day) . And on Monday 16 again only one match (at 20.30, so again most of the day off). Not the best situation for juniors who are anxious to play on. This situation was caused by the low number of countries that participate in Jesolo. In previous years there have been about 25-26 countries. The first question: maybe a good solution would have been to reduce the Junior championship to eight days with seven full competition days of three matches. In the heat of Saturday, some Dutch juniors took their coach for a visit to Venice, always a nice experience.

And, of course, many of the bids and plays here in Jesolo have created more current interesting questions:

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

West	North	East	South
	1♣	1♠	3♥
Pass	4♥	All Pass

One Spade showed both black or both red suits and 3♥ was weak. West’s lead was the ♠K and declarer, Merijn Groenenboom, had a difficult decision: did East hve the red or black suits? If the latter, the ♠K was from a doubleton, so he took ♠A at trick one. A heart from dummy, East ducked, and the king from South. Now declarer realised that East also could have the red suits, but he was home. A club to the queen then the ♣A to dispose of a spade. A club ruffed, diamond to the ace and a second club ruff made the thirteenth club in dummy available for a second discard. All declarer lost were three trump tricks to East who, in fact, could have defeated the contract by hopping up with ♥A at the first trick and playing spades. But that was difficult to see. Who did find this defensive play?

In the sixth round, the Netherlands played against Scotland, who had created the first big upset of this championship by battering England in the opening round.

The Scots are enthusiastic and optimistic bidders. But they sometimes overbid:

Board 12. Dealer West. N/S Vul.
	♠ K 10 9 ♥ K 9 7 6 ♦ 10 7 ♣ K J 4 3
♠ A Q 8 7 5 2 ♥ Q 4 ♦ A 8 4 ♣ Q 7		♠ 6 4 3 ♥ – ♦ K J 9 6 5 ♣ A 10 6 5 2
	♠ J ♥ A J 10 8 5 3 2 ♦ Q 3 2 ♣ 9 8

West	North	East	South
1♠	Pass	1NT	2♥
3♠	4♥	5♥	Pass
5♠	All Pass

The 1NT response was caused by the fact that 2♠ would promise four-card support (E/W play four-card majors). But is the East hand nonetheless not a 2♠ response?

In Round Seven the East players had a nice choice of bids after a pre-emptive bid by partner first in hand. Not vulnerable against vulnerable, who does not like that position?

Board 12. Dealer West. N/S Vul.
	♠ Q 9 8 7 6 ♥ J 10 6 5 ♦ K Q 5 ♣ 2
♠ 10 5 2 ♥ 8 ♦ 10 8 ♣ K Q 10 9 7 6 3		♠ 4 3 ♥ K 9 4 ♦ A 9 7 4 3 ♣ A J 4
	♠ A K J ♥ A Q 7 3 2 ♦ J 6 2 ♣ 8 5

West	North	East	South
3♣	Pass	5♣	Dble
All Pass

Bob Drijver for the Netherlands took the obvious save in clubs right away. OK but a little dull. At the other table Jacco Hop had to be brave after the more tactical raise

West	North	East	South
3♣	Pass	4♣	4♥
All Pass

East obvious thought he had done enough, or that partner should save, but he let South, with the courage to bid on his not very impressive suit, play for eleven tricks and an 8 IMP pick-up.

What happened at the tables where East put more pressure on South with:

West	North	East	South
3♣	Pass	3NT	?

Did South bid after this sequence, and which East/West pairs were allowed to play 3NT and/or even make it?

In Round 8, the Netherlands versus Italy was the match between second and third in the rankings. The Italians played well and outgunned the Dutch for a 21-9 win to take second place. When you play well you often are lucky, as any bridgeplayer will confrim. Do you want to be in four or six on this next hand?

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

West	North	East	South
1♥	Pass	1♠	Pass
3♠	Pass	3NT	Pass
4♠	Pass	4♥	Pass
4NT	Pass	5♥	Pass
6♠	All Pass

Marion Michielsen had a good hand for 3♠ and showed her singleton diamond after the relay of 3NT. East, Meike Wortel, showed interest in slam with the cuebid of 4♥. West knew she had a lot extra and went on with Blackwood. The slam needed a 3-2 break in trumps but the girls were unlucky when Italy rested in game. So, after a lot of questions needing answers, the last one was easy. Like the famous Bob Hamman always tells you: you want to be in this slam if it makes.