|
Norway
v. Netherlands
2nd Round, Open Teams
For many a bridge supporter in either of these countries, since
1993 things have not been as they were before as far as matches
against each other are involved. Late in that year, the two national
teams played in one of the few all-European finals ever of the
Bermuda Bowl. On that big occasion, the Dutch emerged winners,
but for the Norwegians there have been many successes against
the Dutch since. So with the balance between the two teams about
even, a good match could be expected even at this early stage
of the championships.
And a good and at times even instructive
match it was! On the first board, the Dutch struck a tremendous
first blow when they bid and made game at both tables, doubled
at both tables of course.
Board 1, Dealer North, None Vul.
|
| |
ª J 10 9 2
© 10
¨ K 9 4
§ Q J 9 6 4 |
ª -
© K Q 4 2
¨ J 8 7 3 2
§ K 8 5 3 |
 |
ª 6 5 3
© A J 8 7 3
¨ A 10 6 5
§ 10 |
| |
ª A K Q 8 7 4
© 9 6 5
¨ Q
§ A 7 2 |
| Open Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Ramondt |
Helness |
Maas |
Helgemo |
| |
Pass |
2© |
2ª |
| 5© |
Pass |
Pass |
Dble. |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
Maas launched the Dutch variation of the
Polish two-suited opening style, which requires a minimum of only
four cards in the second suit. After the spade overcall, Ramondt
could see that a large number of tricks was available in spades
for his opponents, so he made a bold jump to 5©!
This effectively ended the proceedings: the only thing Helgemo
could do was to double this, but the contract was unbeatable.
A good start for the Dutch: +650 with 5ª
only down one.
| Closed Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Groetheim |
Paulissen |
Aa |
Kirchhoff |
| |
Pass |
Pass |
1ª |
| Dble. |
3ª |
4© |
4ª |
| Pass |
Pass |
Dble. |
All Pass |
|
In the Closed Room, a Norwegian equivalent
of the Dutch opening toy was not available, so Aa passed.
Groetheim´s light take-out double made it difficult
for his partner, who was holding two aces himself in his
passed hand, to assess the situation. He doubled 4ª
only to find out that this could not be defeated. So a good
start for the Dutch here as well: +590 with 5©
on for the opponents.
After this 15-IMP initial swing, a
few quiet boards followed. Then came:
|
|
Terje Aa, Norway |
Board 6, Dealer East, East-West Vul.
|
| |
ª 10 9 8 6 4 3
© Q J 9
¨ A 7
§ 9 7 |
ª K 2
© 10 8 2
¨ 10 5 4 2
§ K Q 10 5 |
|
ª Q
© A K 7 6 4
¨ Q J 8 6 3
§ 6 3 |
| |
ª A J 7 5
© 5 3
¨ K 9
§ A J 8 4 2 |
| Open Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Ramondt |
Helness |
Maas |
Helgemo |
| |
|
2© |
Dble. |
| 3§ |
3ª |
All Pass |
|
Well judged by Helgemo-Helness. Just made,
Norway +140.
| Closed Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Groetheim |
Paulissen |
Aa |
Kirchhoff |
| |
|
1© |
Dble. |
| 2© |
3ª |
Pass |
4ª |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
A little too optimistic, maybe, by Kirchhoff,
but…all is well that ends well. The ©A
was led, followed by a diamond. Declarer won, cashed one top trump
and the other high diamond, then exited with a heart to the queen
and king. At this point, East must have lost the count of the
hand, as we have not yet found a good reason for him to continue
diamonds. Still, that is what he did, so suddenly the Dutch could
register +420 and 7 IMP´s more, extending their lead to
21.
On board 7, only 8 out of 34 pairs managed
to reach the grand slam. Probably, the fierce intervention was
too much for many of the others. So we just give you the two auctions
from this match to judge for yourself.
Board 7, Dealer South, Both Vul.
|
| |
ª 8
© K 10 8 7 6 3 2
¨ A
§ Q 10 7 3 |
ª Q 6 5 2
© Q
¨ K Q J 10 2
§ J 9 5 |
|
ª K 10 9 3
© 9 5
¨ 9 8 7 5 4 3
§ 6 |
| |
ª A J 7 4
© A J 4
¨ 6
§ A K 8 4 2 |
| Open Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Ramondt |
Helness |
Maas |
Helgemo |
| |
|
|
1§ |
| 1¨ |
1© |
4¨ |
Dble |
| Pass |
5NT |
Pass |
6© |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
| Closed Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Groetheim |
Paulissen |
Aa |
Kirchhoff |
| |
|
|
1§ |
| 1¨ |
4© |
5¨ |
6© |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
Certainly, both NS pairs missed their chance here in this match.
Time for Norway to come back, and they did it in great style
on two innocent enough looking hands.
Board 11, Dealer South, None Vul.
|
| |
ª 8 7
© 9
¨ 10 6 4 2
§ A K 9 5 4 3 |
ª A Q
© Q 7 5 3 2
¨ Q 8 5
§ Q 10 8 |
|
ª 10 6 4 3 2
© A 8 4
¨ J 9 7
§ J 6 |
| |
ª K J 9 5
© K J 10 6
¨ A K 3
§ 7 2 |
| Open Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Ramondt |
Helness |
Maas |
Helgemo |
| |
|
|
1NT |
| Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
|
Vincent Ramondt, The Netherlands |
|
Straightforward bidding to a straightforward
contract. Ramondt led a heart, won by Maas who returned
the suit. Helgemo went up with the king, a play that could
not possibly cost with the hearts well stopped and the ©Q
probably with West, and might induce the defence to relying
more on their routine than on anything else.
The effect was that Maas, on lead again when
Helgemo ducked a club to him, returned a heart rather than
a spade which would have beaten the contract.
|
| Closed Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Groetheim |
Paulissen |
Aa |
Kirchhoff |
| |
|
|
1NT |
| Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
|
Same bidding, same lead and return, but Kirchhoff made the ´routine´play
of the ©J to trick two. In again with a club, Terje Aa had no
trouble in finding the spade switch to beat the contract.
And:
Board 14, Dealer East, None Vul.
|
| |
ª 7 4
© A 9 8 3 2
¨ 10 9 7 4
§ Q 4 |
ª 5 3
© J 7 4
¨ A J 6
§ K J 9 8 5 |
|
ª A J 6
© K Q 10 5
¨ K Q 5 3
§ 10 6 |
| |
ª K Q 10 9 8 2
© 6
¨ 8 2
§ A 7 3 2 |
| Open Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Ramondt |
Helness |
Maas |
Helgemo |
| |
|
1NT |
2ª |
| 2NT |
Pass |
3¨ |
Pass |
| 3ª |
Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
Helgemo made the defence look very easy. He led the ªQ and when
this held, switched to his heart within a split second. Ace from
Helness, spade back, one down. Almost too easy: Norway +50.
| Closed Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Groetheim |
Paulissen |
Aa |
Kirchhoff |
| |
|
1NT |
2¨ |
| Pass |
2ª |
Pass |
Pass |
| 3ª |
Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
2¨ showed a major one-suiter. Here too, a top spade (the king)
was led and ducked, but then South went into a long huddle. He
finally emerged with the ¨8. Terje Aa won this and paused to consider
the situation before deciding to lead a club and put up the king!
When this held he had all the time in the world to revert to hearts
and establish nine tricks.
The line he chose is not 100% but stands out by a mile. What
was South´s problem? Why did he not play a heart or a club?
Why did it take so long? South would probably hold one ace, and
did not know how to reach partner. Maybe, he only held a singleton
heart and refrained from playing the suit for that reason. In
that case, one club trick will do. Well deduced and well executed
for +400 to Norway and another 10-IMP gain.
The match ended 33-36 or a 14-16 win to the Netherlands, but
both sides had kept themselves very much in the running for later.
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