A DERBY IS ALWAYS DANGEROUS
Belgium beats the Netherlands in a
spectacular match
By Jean-Francois Jourdain
Surprisingly enough, Belgium managed to
beat the top favourite Dutch team in Round 5. The Belgian players
had received as a mission to struggle for their life as hard
as possible and save a maximum of points. It started not too
well for the Belgian youth who let through an unmakable game
on Board 3. Two boards later arrived this one:
|
ª
3
© J 7 3
2
¨ K Q 5 2
§ 9 5 4
2 |
ª
A Q 8 6 5
© A 8 6
¨ J
§ K Q J 6 |
![Bridge deal](../../../Graphics/Hand/board.gif) |
ª
9
© K 9
¨ A 10 8 7
6 4
§ A 10 7 3 |
|
ª
K J 10 7 4 2
© Q 10 5
4
¨ 9 3
§ 8 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Lagas |
D.De Roos |
Schollaardt |
S.De Roos |
|
1¨ |
2ª |
Dble |
Pass |
3¨ |
Pass |
4 NT |
Pass |
5© |
Pass |
5ª |
Pass |
6¨ |
Pass |
6 NT |
All Pass |
|
|
|
The slam in no trumps is hopeless, but
fortunately, at the other table Steven De Donder found the killing
lead of the §8
against the better 6 §,
leaving East one trick short to make his contract on crossruff.
The contract went two down and Belgium saved 2 IMPS on the board.
Another two boards later came this:
|
ª
K 5 4 3
© Q J 10
9 8
¨ K 2
§ J 9 |
ª
10 7 6
© 75
¨ A 10 7 3
§ A 6 5 4 |
![Bridge deal](../../../Graphics/Hand/board.gif) |
ª
A Q J 9 8 2
© A 6 4 3
¨ 9 8
§ 2 |
|
ª
-
© K 2
¨ Q J 6 5
4
§ K Q 10
8 7 3 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Schollaardt |
S.De Roos |
Lagas |
D.De Roos |
1§ |
Pass |
1© |
2ª |
3¨ |
3ª |
5§ |
Pass |
Pass |
Dble |
All Pass |
|
This time the Dutch youngsters found themselves
playing too high. Steve De Roos led a small spade which was
ruffed by South. When declarer played a diamond to the king
and then another diamond for the queen and his ace, he promptly
switched to the ace of trumps, followed by another trump. Now
his brother cooperated by ducking the A©,
holding Schollaardt to nine tricks; -500. In the other room
Belgium just played in a partscore.
|
ª
K 10 9 4
© A Q 9
¨ 6 2
§ K J 3
2 |
ª
J 8 6 5 3 2
© 4 2
¨ -
§ Q 8 7 6
4 |
![Bridge deal](../../../Graphics/Hand/board.gif) |
ª
7
© J 10 7 6
5
¨ A J 9 8
§ A 10 9 |
|
ª
A Q
© K 8 3
¨ K Q 10
7 5 4 3
§ 5 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
S.De Roos |
Lagas |
D.De Roos |
Schollaardt |
2ª |
Pass |
Pass |
3 NT |
Pass |
4 NT |
Pass |
6¨ |
Pass |
6 NT |
All Pass |
|
The opening of Steve De Roos was Muiderberg,
promising at least five spades and an unknown minor. Despite
the vulnerability he decided to seek adventure. After the 3
NT gamble of Schollaardt, Lagas felt free to suggest a slam,
hoping partner had a strong hand. Schollaardt gambled for a
second time, but it was once too often. Daniel De Roos didn’t
have too much difficulty in finding a double and, after a club
lead for the nine, East made another club and two diamonds,
scoring 500.
In the other room Cornelis and De Donder
stopped in 4 NT and were happy to make it. So another 14 IMPS
went to Belgium.
Finally, Board 20 was the toughest of
all:
|
ª
A Q 9 7 3 2
© J 9 7
3 2
¨ 9 2
§ - |
ª
J 8 5
© K 8
¨ Q J 10 8
7
§ Q 7 4 |
![Bridge deal](../../../Graphics/Hand/board.gif) |
ª
-
© A Q 6 5
4
¨ A 4 3
§ A K J 10
3 |
|
ª
K 10 6 4
© 10
¨ K 6 5
§ 9 8 6
5 2 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
S. De Roos |
Lagas |
D. De Roos |
Schollaardt |
Pass |
Pass |
1© |
Pass |
1NT |
2ª |
3§ |
3ª |
Pass |
Pass |
4¨ |
Pass |
5¨ |
All Pass |
|
|
After he saw dummy, Daniel was afraid
he had missed a slam, but even 5¨
was not making. Daniel ruffed the spade lead, cashed the ace
of trumps and crossed to the ©Q
to ruff another spade. When he tried to pitch the last spade
on the third heart, he was ruffed by South who collected ¨K
and a spade for one down.
Even the best play of a low diamond at
trick 2 would not have been sufficient against the best defence.
South has now to duck and even if East crosses to the table
to ruff another spade with ¨A,
he would then concede a heart ruff when trying to enter dummy
a second time to draw trumps. Now all South has to do is to
take his king and cross with the suit-preference showing ª10
to collect his heart ruff for down one.
There is another funny line possible if
East enters dummy twice to ruff all the spades. This leaves
the defence with five trumps which they collect on crossruff,
for down three!
With open cards you could win by first
playing a low diamond, then cash the ¨A
and simply play all the clubs, as South must follow five times,
but of course nobody found that fancy line.
In the other room the Dutch team went
wrong
West |
North |
East |
South |
S. Brink |
Cornelis |
Drijver |
De Donder |
Pass |
Pass |
1© |
Pass |
1NT |
2ª |
3ª |
Pass |
4© |
Pass |
Pass |
4ª |
Dble |
All Pass |
|
|
Unfortunately, South could not start by
leading a trump, so he led the §A
which was ruffed by Cornelis, who led a heart to set up the
ruff. Sjoert Brink won the king and switched to a trump, but
Drijver thought his partner had a heart fit and pitched a heart
from his hand with catastrophic effect. Cornelis set up the
suit and claimed for +790, winning 12 more IMPS.
Be aware of derbies. Belgium won the match
by 53-32 IMPs, or 19-11 VPs.
|