Norway v Sweden

Open Series - Round 12

The VuGraph match selected by Jean-Paul Meyer for Round 12 featured two of the powerful Scandinavian countries. Apart from the fact that any local derby is usually worth watching, there was the prospect of enjoying the traditional noisy support that the Norwegian team attracts.

Before we get down to the serious business, one player missed a chance for immortality on this deal:

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Andersson	Helness	Gullberg	Helgemo
		1NT	2§*
Pass	3¨	Pass	3NT
All Pass

West led the jack of clubs and East took the ace and switched to a spade. Declarer took the ace, cashed the king of clubs and set about the diamonds. The defenders discarded lots of hearts so declarer came to twelve tricks, +690.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Brogeland	Sylvan	Saelensminde	Sundelin
		1ª	2©
2ª	3¨	Pass	3NT
All Pass

Tor Helness, Norway

This time the opening lead was a spade and when declarer did not risk the heart finesse he collected nine tricks to lose 3 IMPs. So where was the chance for immortality? Everyone knows that a jump cue bid shows a solid suit somewhere and asks if partner has a stopper. Less well known is the possibility that South missed here, to jump to Three Clubs saying 'I have a club stopper, do you have a solid suit?' Okay, enough of this frivolity.The first significant swing went to Norway.

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Andersson	Helness	Gullberg	Helgemo
Pass	Pass	1©	1NT
Pass	3¨	All Pass

East led the five of spades and declarer simply claimed ten tricks, allowin gthe defence one spade, one heart and the ace of diamonds, +130.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Brogeland	Sylvan	Saelensminde	Sundelin
Pass	Pass	1©	1NT
Dble	2§	All Pass

Was North hoping to be doubled in Two Clubs an then retreat to Two Diamonds? Anyway, East led a trump to the eight, queen and king, and declarer played the eight of hearts. West won with the ten and switched to spades. Declarer could make only one spade, one diamond and four clubs, down two, -200 and a loss of 8 IMPs.

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Andersson	Helness	Gullberg	Helgemo
			1©
Pass	Pass	2©*	Pass
3©*	Pass	4§	Pass
5§	All Pass

It is not clear from the Convention card if West knew precisely which suits East had. Whatever West was hoping East had it did not materialise. Five Clubs was far too high and was down two, -200.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Brogeland	Sylvan	Saelensminde	Sundelin
			1©
Pass	Pass	2NT*	Pass
3§	All Pass

By stopping in Three Clubs Norway scored +100 and picked up 7 IMPs

Board 8. Dealer West. None Vul.
	ª 7 4 © A K Q 9 5 3 ¨ 8 6 § Q 5 4
ª 8 6 5 © - ¨ A K Q J 2 § K 9 8 6 3		ª A J © 10 8 7 6 ¨ 9 5 4 3 § J 10 2
	ª K Q 10 9 3 2 © J 4 2 ¨ 10 7 § A 7

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Andersson	Helness	Gullberg	Helgemo
1§	1©	Pass	1ª
2NT	Pass	3¨	3©
Pass	4©	All Pass

East led the jack of clubs sealing declarer's fate at once. He had to lose a club, two diamonds and a spade, -50.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Brogeland	Sylvan	Saelensminde	Sundelin
1¨	1©	2¨	2ª
4§	Pass	4¨	4©
All Pass

Same contract, but this time the opening lead was a diamond. West took two rounds and switched to a club. Declarer put up the queen and was in a position to make the contract by playing on spades. However, he innocently played a club to the ace followed by a heart to the ace. When the 4-0 break came to light declarer played a spade but East put up the ace and returned the jack of spades. Declarer was locked in dummy. If he drew trumps he would lose a club. If he came to hand with a trump to ruff a club he would set up a trump promotion for East.
A missed opportunity.

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Andersson	Helness	Gullberg	Helgemo
	1§	Pass	1ª
Pass	2§	Pass	3§
All Pass

The Convention card of the Swedish Pair says an overcall is 7-17and a jump overcall is 3-9. When East decided his hand did not fit into either category North/South had the filed to themselves. Three Clubs quickly made the obvious overtrick - with so many deals where declarer was able to claim after a few cards the Open Room was racing ahead.

Lars Andersson, Sweden

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Brogeland	Sylvan	Saelensminde	Sundelin
	2§	Pass	2¨
2ª	Pass	3©	All Pass

Three Hearts was e

Board 11. Dealer South. None Vul.
	ª K 10 8 6 3 © A 10 8 7 4 ¨ - § A 9 8
ª A 5 2 © Q J ¨ K Q 6 § Q J 10 4 3		ª Q J 4 © 9 5 3 ¨ J 10 7 2 § K 7 2
	ª 9 7 © K 6 2 ¨ A 9 8 5 4 3 § 6 5

 

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Andersson	Helness	Gullberg	Helgemo
			Pass
1NT	2§*	Pass	2©
Pass	3©	Pass	4©
All Pass

North showed the majors and then came again. Right he was, as the position in both majors meant eleven tricks were trivial. +450

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Brogeland	Sylvan	Saelensminde	Sundelin
			Pass
1NT	2¨*	Pass	2©
Pass	Pass	2NT	3©
All Pass

There was a significant difference of opinion this time as North did not make any move, even when South showed a real preference for Hearts. The same eleven tricks, but a loss of 6 IMPs.

The small swings were adding up and Norway did it again on the next deal:

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Andersson	Helness	Gullberg	Helgemo
Pass	Pass	2¨	Pass
3¨	All Pass

Third in hand Two Diamonds was 11-16 with at least five diamonds. South led the ace of hearts and switched to a spade. North took the ace and returned the suit and declarer won and went after the clubs, soon claiming eleven tricks. They were still bidding in the other room - would Norway bid yet another thin game?

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Brogeland	Sylvan	Saelensminde	Sundelin
Pass	Pass	1¨	1©
2©	2ª	3§	Pass
3¨	3©	4¨	Pass
5¨	All Pass

No trouble at all and play followed similar lines to that in the other room, +400 and 6 IMPs. The score was 37-5 and every swing was greeted with loud cheers by the Norwegian contingent. They were about to be silenced.

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Andersson	Helness	Gullberg	Helgemo
	1¨	1©	1ª
4§*	Pass	4©	All Pass

South led a diamond and when dummy played the queen North won with the ace, cashed the jack and switched to the four of spades for a fast one down, -100.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Brogeland	Sylvan	Saelensminde	Sundelin
	1¨	1©	1ª
2¨	2ª	3©	4ª
All Pass

The play record is undoubtedly faulty at some point, but it looks as if West led a heart, ruffed by declarer who played a diamond to the jack and ran the ten of spades. That looks like ten tricks and that is what declarer made, +620 and 11 badly needed IMPs.

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Andersson	Helness	Gullberg	Helgemo
		2¨*	Pass
3©	Pass	4©	All Pass

This time Two Diamonds was 8-11 and if I interpret the Swedish hieroglyphics correctly the response was invitational with a six-card suit.
North led the king of clubs and continued with the jack. South won with the ace and switched to the queen of spades. Declarer tried the king but North produced the ace, returned the suit and got a club ruff. Down two, -100.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Brogeland	Sylvan	Saelensminde	Sundelin
		Pass	Pass
1©	1ª	Dble	2©
3©	3ª	4©	4ª
Pass	Pass	Dble	All Pass

East led the ace of diamonds and switched to a trump, covered by the queen, king and ace. Declarer ducked a heart, won the trump return in dummy and ran the queen of diamonds, discarding a losing heart. He could ruff one heart and dispose of the other on the jack of diamonds. A very useful +790 and the 12 IMPs it earned meant Sweden had reduced their margin of defeat, Norway winning 37-28, 17-13 VP.