Austria Waltz past Hungary - Juniors Round 18

By Henrik Røn

In Wednesday’s bulletin it appeared as though the Austrian Junior Team produces usual deals on a regular basis and I decided to check this out myself.

In the Closed Room Iris Grümm and Susanne Kriftner were playing N/S for Austria against B Kotanyi and J. Sziksal from Hungary. In the Open Room Andreas Gloyer and Martin Schifko were E/W against G. Hegedüs and T. Balasy.

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

After Grümm elected to double with her off shape hand the Austrians were never in danger of missing game as happened at a few tables. Declarer emerged with ten tricks giving Austria +620. At the other table E/W were penalised in two hearts, going one down, after West opened a weak no trump, which was penalised and followed by a run out to two hearts, which North also axed. This meant eleven imps for Austria.

A few boards later the Hungarians struck back.

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

The Hungarians reached the poor Grand Slam, which made thanks to the 3-2 trump split, the 3-2 club split, and the location of the queen of hearts. This converted into +2210 for Hungary.

As the Austrians in the Closed Room play a canapé style strong club they immediately located their spade fit and stopped in Six Spades. The opening lead was the eight of hearts, and declarer erred slightly in the plan as she drew trumps, discarded a club on the hearts and established clubs by ruffing one in dummy. After a heart lead the best plan is to draw trumps and play Ace and King of clubs and if they are 3-2 discard the last club on the hearts and establish clubs by ruffing a club. If clubs are 4-1 declarer can still make by giving up a club trick and retaining the hearts for entry to ruff a fourth round of clubs.

All this meant 13 imps for Hungary.

On the next board Kotanyi in the Closed Room revealed his penchant for bidding no trumps with off-shape hands.

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

As opposed to what happened at most tables in the Championship, Grümm did not overcall Three Clubs, so now Kriftner had to find the killing club lead, which she did, and the contract went one off. Grümm and Kriftner had hopes for a pickup, but instead lost three IMPs as the contract in the open room was Four Spades, two off.

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

Kriftner led the king of clubs and was left on lead as the Hungarian declarer hoped for some cooperation in establishing his ninth trick. He got his wish when South did not find the spade or diamond return, but shifted to a heart instead. The Hungarians however lost on the board as Schifko-Gloyer in the open room made Four Spades on careful play.

On board 15 the Hungarians had a bidding misunderstanding after an Austrian preempt:

Board 15. Dealer South. N/S Vul.
	ª A 8 6 4 © 7 ¨ 8 7 5 2 § 10 4 3 2
ª 5 © A J 9 8 6 4 ¨ A K 9 6 4 § Q		ª 3 © K Q 5 ¨ Q 3 § A K J 9 8 7 6
	ª K Q J 10 9 7 2 © 10 3 2 ¨ J 10 § 5

At a different vulnerability North might have considered a higher number of spades, but four was quite enough this time as the Hungarians had an accident as they did not agree on the meaning of 4NT.

On board 16 both declarers made no mistake, winning the club lead with the ace for a flat board.

On board 18 Kotanyi again tried an off-shape no-trump and almost got lucky.

Board 18. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
	ª K J 10 5 3 © 4 ¨ 7 2 § A J 10 9 2
ª 7 © A K J 9 5 3 ¨ K 9 4 § Q 8 4		ª A Q 9 8 6 4 © 10 8 ¨ A J § 7 6 3
	ª 2 © Q 7 6 2 ¨ Q 10 8 6 5 3 § K 5

Grümm only passed after thinking about it for a couple of minutes, so the Hungarians had to settle for a flat board.

The match ended 20-74 in Austria’s favour, which converted into 25-4 VP.

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