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Netherlands
vs Austria
Ladies Series - Round 20
With two rounds to play, The Netherlands still had a remote chance
of the gold medal in the Ladies series, while Austria's form appeared
to have deserted them at a critical time and they were in serious
danger of not making the trip to Bali. A crucial match, then,
for both teams.
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Board 3. Dealer South.
E/W Vul.
|
| |
ª -
© A 10 4 3
¨ 10 7 6
§ A J 9 6 4 3 |
ª 10 7 5
© Q 6 5 2
¨ K J 3
§ Q 8 2 |
 |
ª K 9 4 3
© J 9 7
¨ A 9 8 5 2
§ K |
| |
ª A Q J 8 6 2
© K 8
¨ Q 4
§ 10 7 5 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Terraneo |
Pasman |
Erhart |
Simons |
| |
|
|
1ª |
| Pass |
1NT |
Pass |
2ª |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Vd Pas |
Fischer |
Vriend |
Weigkricht |
| |
|
|
1ª |
| Pass |
2§ |
Pass |
2ª |
| Pass |
3§ |
Pass |
4§ |
| Pass |
5§ |
All Pass |
|
Two Spades proved to be
a fairly comfortable make. Anneke Simons won the heart lead
in hand and played two more rounds of hearts, ruffing. She
continued with a club to dummy and another heart ruff, and
could not be prevented from coming to three more trump tricks
for +110.
Fischer's slightly looser style of two-over-one response got
the Austrians to game when Weigkricht invited and Fischer
could not resist bidding one for the road. Bep Vriend led
the seven of hearts to dummy's eight and Marijke Van der Pas
chose not to put in her queen. With the ©8
holding the trick, Fischer was in with a chance. She cashed
the ©K and
played ace of spades, pitching a heart, then the queen of
spades. When Van der Pas played low without effort, Fischer
ruffed in hand and played the ace of hearts, throwing a diamond
from dummy, then gave up a diamond. Van der Pas won that with
the king and returned a spade, ruffed by declarer who continued
with a diamond ruff, a spade ruff (West throwing her last
diamond) and another diamond ruff. When Van der Pas could
over-ruff the diamond and play the queen of hearts through,
that was one down, the §K
being promoted as the second defensive winner; -50 and 4 IMPs
to The Netherlands. |
|
Christian Terraneo, Austria |
|
Board 4. Dealer West.
All Vul.
|
| |
ª A Q 10 9 4
© 4 3
¨ A J 10 7
§ Q 6 |
ª 2
© A Q 5
¨ Q 9 8 4
§ A K 8 5 3 |
|
ª J 8
© J 10 7 6 2
¨ K 2
§ J 10 9 4 |
| |
ª K 7 6 5 3
© K 9 8
¨ 6 5 3
§ 7 2 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Terraneo |
Pasman |
Erhart |
Simons |
| 1¨ |
1ª |
Pass |
3ª |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Vd Pas |
Fischer |
Vriend |
Weigkricht |
| 1§ |
1ª |
Dble |
3ª |
| Dble |
Pass |
4© |
All Pass |
When Erhart, who was facing a hand that had been unable to open
with a strong club bid, chose not to make a negative double, the
Austrians were shut out of the auction by Simons' pre-emptive
spade raise. Uninspired defence led to Jet Pasman making an overtrick
for +170.
Vriend did make a negative double at the other table and that
got her side to game when Van der Pas had an easy responsive double
over the same pre-emptive raise. When Vriend got the clubs right
she had ten tricks for +620 and 13 IMPs to The Netherlands.
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Board 7. Dealer South.
All Vul.
|
| |
ª K J 6 4
© K 9 7 4 3
¨ 6 3
§ Q 8 |
ª 7
© -
¨ J 9 8 7 5
§ A J 9 7 6 5 2 |
|
ª Q 8 5 3 2
© Q J 10 8
¨ Q 10
§ 10 4 |
| |
ª A 10 9
© A 6 5 2
¨ A K 4 2
§ K 3 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Terraneo |
Pasman |
Erhart |
Simons |
| |
|
|
1¨ |
| Pass |
1© |
Pass |
2NT |
| Pass |
3§ |
Pass |
4© |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Vd Pas |
Fischer |
Vriend |
Weigkricht |
| |
|
|
1§ |
| 3§ |
Dble |
Pass |
3¨ |
| Pass |
3© |
Pass |
4© |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
| The bidding made it clear
for Doris Fischer to play the spade suit successfully for
+620. However, Pasman had not heard any opposition bidding
- which I find quite remarkable but who can argue with success?
Maria Erhart led the ten of hearts and Pasman won in dummy
and considered her play. It seems to me that it can cost nothing
to play on diamonds now - it does not do any harm that East
is over-ruffing the third round. When the 5-2 diamond break
shows up, declarer might reflect on the fact that West's first
discard was a club, suggesting that her clubs were of at least
equal length to the diamonds. Now she might have a chance
of picking the spade position correctly. But Pasman could
not imagine that anyone would have passed over 1¨
if holding such extreme distribution and cashed the ace of
spades at trick two. That meant one down for -100 and 12 IMPs
to Austria. |
|
Maria Erhardt, Austria |
|
Board 9. Dealer North.
E/W Vul.
|
| |
ª K 6
© A Q J 2
¨ J 10 9 5 3 2
§ 5 |
ª 9 5
© 9 8 7 6 3
¨ A
§ Q J 9 6 3 |
|
ª A Q 10 8 7 432
© 5 4
¨ 7
§ 10 7 |
| |
ª J
© K 10
¨ K Q 8 6 4
§ A K 8 4 2 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Terraneo |
Pasman |
Erhart |
Simons |
| |
1¨ |
3ª |
4ª |
| Pass |
5¨ |
Pass |
6¨ |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Vd Pas |
Fischer |
Vriend |
Weigkricht |
| |
1© |
3ª |
Dble |
| Pass |
4¨ |
Pass |
4NT |
| Pass |
5§ |
Pass |
5¨ |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
Terry Weigkricht was in the fortunate position of having room
to check for aces and settled for game on finding that two were
missing; +400. Would 4NT have been Blackwood in the Dutch auction?
If so, it would perhaps have been a wiser choice, but maybe the
Dutch play it as a take-out bid in these competitive sequences.
We can see why Blackwood would have been a good idea as Simons
heard her partner sign off over the 4ª bid but was then tempted
to bid the slam anyway. Still, all was not yet lost. On a club
or a heart lead, declarer makes her contract by playing three
rounds of hearts. East ruffs and is over-ruffed and now declarer
comes back to hand in clubs to play the fourth heart, pitching
dummy's losing spade.
The vugraph audience held its collective breath but Erhart's fingers
reached unerringly for the ace of spades; one down for -50 and
10 IMPs to Austria.
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Board 11. Dealer South.
None Vul.
|
| |
ª Q 8 3
© K 2
¨ Q 5 3 2
§ 10 8 5 2 |
ª J 6 5 2
© J 9 4
¨ A 8
§ Q J 9 7 |
|
ª A 9 7 4
© Q 10 6 5 3
¨ J 4
§ 6 3 |
| |
ª K 10
© A 8 7
¨ K 10 9 7 6
§ A K 4 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Terraneo |
Pasman |
Erhart |
Simons |
| |
|
|
1¨ |
| Pass |
1NT |
Pass |
3NT |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Vd Pas |
Fischer |
Vriend |
Weigkricht |
| |
|
|
1§ |
| Pass |
1© |
Pass |
2¨ |
| Pass |
3¨ |
Pass |
3NT |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
Playing from the South seat, Weigkricht received the lead of
the queen of clubs. She was a tempo ahead now and needed only
to play the diamonds in normal fashion to make her contract; +400.
Erhart led her five-card heart suit, of course. Pasman won and
played a diamond and Sylvie Terraneo won and returned a heart;
down one for -50 and 10 IMPs to Austria, who had moved into the
lead in the match.
Of course, declarer could guess to play a spade at trick two and
make her contract by then switching to diamonds, but why should
she guess to do so? Apart from its being a blind guess which missing
ace was with the long hearts (assuming that hearts were not 4-4),
that play could sometimes lose with spades 5-3.
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Board 12. Dealer West.
N/S Vul.
|
| |
ª K Q 10 9 7 6 4
© A K 5 3
¨ 3
§ Q |
ª 3
© 9
¨ A K J 9 8 7
§ A 10 9 6 5 |
|
ª 8 5
© Q J 8 6 2
¨ 10 5 4
§ K J 4 |
| |
ª A J 2
© 10 7 4
¨ Q 6 2
§ 8 7 3 2 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Terraneo |
Pasman |
Erhart |
Simons |
| 1¨ |
4ª |
Pass |
Pass |
| 4NT |
Pass |
5§ |
All Pass |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Vd Pas |
Fischer |
Vriend |
Weigkricht |
| 1¨ |
4ª |
Pass |
Pass |
| 4NT |
Pass |
5¨ |
Pass |
| Pass |
Dble |
Pass |
5ª |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
When Fischer doubled 5¨ to show a good 4ª bid, Weigkricht, whose
values were mostly in spades, had a clear removal to 5ª. That
contract had to lose one trick in each side suit for down one;
-100.
Erhart no doubt chose clubs rather than diamonds over Terraneo's
4NT bid because that way she would be declarer. If so, she had
to justify her decision by bringing home her contract. Simons
led the ace of spades and switched to a low heart to the king.
Pasman switched back to spades and Erhart ruffed in dummy, cashed
the ace of diamonds and played a low club to the queen and king.
This was the critical moment of the hand. Erhart took a couple
of seconds then led low to the seven of diamonds, drew trumps
and claimed the rest; +400 and 7 IMPs to Austria.
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Board 15. Dealer South.
N/S Vul.
|
| |
ª 9 4
© A 9 3 2
¨ 7
§ A K Q 9 8 2 |
ª A J 10 6 5
© K J
¨ A K 10 9 5 2
§ - |
|
ª Q 7
© Q 10 8 7 6 5 4
¨ 8 4 3
§ J |
| |
ª K 8 3 2
© -
¨ Q J 6
§ 10 7 6 5 4 3 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Terraneo |
Pasman |
Erhart |
Simons |
| |
|
|
Pass |
| 1§ |
2§ |
Pass |
3§ |
| 4§ |
Pass |
6© |
All Pass |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Vd Pas |
Fischer |
Vriend |
Weigkricht |
| |
|
|
Pass |
| 1¨ |
2§ |
2© |
4© |
| 4ª |
4NT |
5¨ |
Dble |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
Five Diamonds doubled proved to be no more problem to Van der
Pas. Fischer led ace and another heart for Weigkricht to ruff,
but now the third diamond was an entry to the long hearts and
declarer did not even require the spade finesse; +550.
I was surprised by Simons' simple 3§ raise in the other room,
expecting a jump to game. However, 3§ proved to be quite sufficient
to make life tough for the Austrians. Terraneo showed a big two-suiter
with her cuebid but could not have been very happy when she saw
her partner´s leap to 6©. That contract is not completely
horrible, and had actually been made at a few tables after a low
spade lead - Declarer takes the spade finesse, repeats it and
plays the ace of spades. If North ruffs, declarer can over-ruff
and afford to ruff her club in dummy as North's hearts have been
shortened. If North does not ruff, the club goes away and declarer
plays on trumps. She now switches her attention to trumps and
North is powerless. Declarer can reach hand by ruffing the fourth
spade, at the same time establishing an extra spade trick on which
to get rid of her third diamond.
But Simons led a club, forcing dummy to ruff and there was nothing
Erhart could do to neutralise North's nine of hearts. She was
one off for -50 and 12 IMPs to The Netherlands.
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Board 19. Dealer South.
E/W Vul.
|
| |
ª J 9 8 4
© 10 7 5
¨ 6 5 4
§ Q 9 3 |
ª A K Q 7 6 3 2
© 8
¨ K 7
§ K 7 6 |
|
ª 5
© A Q J 3 2
¨ A J 10
§ A J 8 4 |
| |
ª 10
© K 9 6 4
¨ Q 9 8 3 2
§ 10 5 2 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Terraneo |
Pasman |
Erhart |
Simons |
| |
|
|
Pass |
| 1§ |
Pass |
2¨ |
Pass |
| 2ª |
Pass |
3© |
All Pass |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Vd Pas |
Fischer |
Vriend |
Weigkricht |
| |
|
|
Pass |
| 1ª |
Pass |
2© |
Pass |
| 3ª |
Pass |
3NT |
Pass |
| 4§ |
Pass |
4¨ |
Pass |
| 4NT |
Pass |
5¨ |
Pass |
| 5ª |
Pass |
6NT |
All Pass |
Six No Trump is not the best spot - with a bad spade break, it
might even go down while 6ª is making, and the spade grand slam
is the percentage contract. However, 6NT was quite enough on this
particular occasion. Indeed, more than half the field was going
down in seven so that +1440 was just fine for the Dutch pair.
Weigkricht led a diamond, so declarer did not have to guess which
finesse to take for her twelfth trick - only a spade lead avoids
solving the problem, of course.
The Austrians had swapped their partnerships around and Erhart
has been playing that a 2¨ response to a strong club opening is
weak with six hearts in her other partnership. The standard Blue
Club meaning of 2¨ is to show six controls and clearly one member
of the partnership thought that these standard responses were
in use while the other thought the new version applied. You can
work out for yourself who was playing which method. Austria might
have got very lucky had the Dutch bid the grand slam, but justice
was served when their score of +200 cost them 16 IMPs.
The Netherlands won the match by exactly the swing on the above
board, 56-40 IMPs, 18-12 VPs. They were almost certainly going
to play the last match to decide the colour of their medal, while
Austria would be fighting for a qualifying place.
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