Israel vs Austria

When Israel met Austria on VuGraph in Round 6 of the junior championship, the crowd expected fireworks, and they got them.

The players faced a number of difficult deals, and did not always emerge unscathed.

Board 4. Dealer West. All Vul.
	ª 8 6 © 9 6 3 ¨ Q 8 3 2 § Q 8 5 4
ª A 10 3 2 © 10 8 4 ¨ A 5 § K J 10 9		ª J 7 4 © Q J 5 ¨ K J 10 9 4 § A 2
	ª K Q 9 5 © A K 7 2 ¨ 7 6 § 7 6 3

Two Hearts redoubled would have been an interesting contract, and it can certainly be made if declarer takes all the right views. Still, that was of academic interest only, as there was no reason for either East or West to attempt it, unless of course you enjoy playing to the gallery!

South did not lead a heart, preferring the six of clubs. Declarer played the nine and North ducked. Now declarer was in control, and simply played on diamonds. There was no way for the defenders to arrive at more than four tricks, so Austria was +600.

This time West was the declarer, and North found the excellent lead of the eight of spades, ducked by South to West’s ten. Once again declarer went after the diamonds, playing the ace, and then finessing the jack. South had followed with the seven and six, North with the three and two. At this point declarer can, and perhaps should, play a heart, postponing the next play in diamonds. However, he cashed the king, and South discarded the two of hearts. It is still possible to make the contract by abandoning the diamonds, but with the club finesse in reserve, declarer cleared the suit. North won and played a spade, won by declarer’s ace. He crossed to dummy with the ace of clubs and cashed the jack of diamonds. When the club finesse lost the contract was two down, -200 and 13 IMPs to Austria.

That was a tough hand to play, and later on it was the turn of the South players to face a problem.

Board 10. Dealer East. All Vul.
	ª A J 8 6 3 © K Q 8 3 ¨ K 7 § 7 6
ª 2 © A 9 5 ¨ 10 9 8 5 4 § Q J 10 8		ª Q 9 7 5 4 © J 6 4 ¨ 6 2 § A 5 4
	ª K 10 © 10 7 2 ¨ A Q J 3 § K 9 3 2

West led the queen of clubs, and South won with the king, cashed the king of spades and finessed the ten. East won with the queen, and played ace and another club. One spade, three clubs and one heart meant one down, -100.

This time South ducked the opening lead of the queen of clubs, and East overtook the next one and returned the suit. Declarer won with the king, and followed the same losing line by playing on spades. The question is, should declarer play on spades? If you loose a spade trick and the ace of hearts is with West, you are sure to be down. If he has that card you can simply play towards the heart honours twice for an easy nine tricks. What if East has the ace of hearts?

If he wins the first heart and does not return the suit at once, you have time to develop your tricks in spades. If he does return the suit you can elect to play him for either the jack or the nine, and even if West has them both, you still have the chance of three spade tricks.

If the king of hearts holds the trick, you will have a decision to make, but if West has both the ace and the jack, you will still be a heavy favourite to get home. There are also other chances in the heart suit, because West might have a helpful doubleton, ©Jx or ©9x.

As we go to press, we have not found a single declarer who played on hearts after a club lead, but watch this space.

An instructive hand.

Our next deal featured one of the most amusing plays of the championship that on another day might have been in line for an award.

It certainly provides a quiz question. Playing in no-trumps how do you lose a trick with §J98542 facing §AKQ?

Board 12. Dealer West. N/S Vul.
	ª A K 9 6 © 10 6 5 4 2 ¨ 7 4 3 § 6
ª J 3 © A K J 7 ¨ 8 § J 9 8 5 4 2		ª Q 7 5 2 © 8 ¨ K J 10 5 2 § A K Q
	ª 10 8 4 © Q 9 3 ¨ A Q 9 6 § 10 7 3

North led the two of hearts, and the entry to the clubs had gone. South played the queen, and declarer won with the ace. There was only one small chance, and declarer went for it. He cashed the ace of hearts, discarding the ace of clubs from dummy. When South followed with the nine, West’s heart must have skipped a beat. If South had started with ©Q109 alone, declarer could get rid of the blocking clubs and would then only need one more miracle, a singleton ten of clubs in either hand.

The king of hearts collected the five from North and the… three from South. Three down, -150.

Readers of a nervous disposition should ignore the bidding, well, West’s at any rate. Same contract, different declarer. South led the three of hearts, and declarer put up the jack. When that held he played a club to the ace and then tried the jack of diamonds. South took the queen, and played the nine of hearts. Now declarer could get rid of the blocking clubs, and must have cursed his luck when the clubs failed to oblige. To add insult to injury, he was even one more down, -200.

Board 13. Dealer North. All Vul.
	ª A K 9 5 © 7 ¨ A 8 6 4 2 § J 7 2
ª - © K Q 10 8 5 3 2 ¨ K J 9 3 § Q 4		ª Q 3 2 © A J 9 6 ¨ 10 § K 9 8 6 3
	ª J 10 8 7 6 4 © 4 ¨ Q 7 5 § A 10 5

There was no way to defeat this contract, +850 to Israel.

Israel were pushed around by some typical Austrian aggression, but West had a rush of blood. We will never know if East would have doubled Five Spades, and even if he had +500 would still lose 8 IMPs.

The match ended with a minor triumph for more Austrian aggression.

Board 20. Dealer West. All Vul
	ª 9 3 © K J 5 ¨ Q 9 6 3 § K J 9 6
ª A J 10 4 © 10 6 ¨ 5 2 § 10 8 7 5 4		ª Q 8 5 © A Q 9 8 3 ¨ A K 7 § Q 3
	ª K 7 6 2 © 7 4 2 ¨ J 10 8 4 § A 2

South led the jack of diamonds, and when that held, he continued the suit. West won and played a spade to the jack and North’s nine. The ten of heart was covered by the jack and queen, and the queen of spades was covered by the king and ace. Now declarer played on hearts and cashed all his red winners. South held on to the ace of clubs and his spades. So in the three-card ending, declarer cashed the eight of spades, and then exited with a club, using South as a stepping-stone to the ten of spades. Plus 210.

South made the same lead as in the other room, but although he did not allow himself to be endplayed, there was no stopping ten tricks, and Austria had +630 and 9 IMPs.

Israel had the better of the exchanges to win 57-38 IMPs, 19-11VP.