Nice Bids & Plays

On Vugraph on Thursday afternoon, in the France v. Netherlands match, a few interesting situations occurred, both in bidding and play.

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Jansma	Voldoire	Verhees	Bitran
			Pass
Pass	Pass	1§	Dble
1NT	2©	3§	All Pass

With the friendly breaks in both clubs and the red suits, nine tricks at NT are very easy. Scoring +130 only thus looked a bad score for The Netherlands, but…

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Toffier	Van Eijck	Duguet	Westra
			2§
Pass	2¨	3§	Pass
3NT	All Pass

WESTRA Berry, Netherlands

Here, Westra could open 2§ showing a weak hand with both majors. As a consequence, Van Eijck led a heart against 3NT, presenting declarer with what should have been his 9th trick. However, after winning the ©K at trick two, Duguet led the §10 from dummy and Van Eijck covered with the queen. Later, declarer crossed in spades to finesse the clubs again…two down and 8 IMPs to the Netherlands where they should have lost 11. Two boards later, Bitran found a very nice defensive play:

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Jansma	Voldoire	Verhees	Bitran
	1ª	2NT	Pass
3¨	All Pass

Well judged by Bitran to let 3¨ in peace. He might have done even better by axing it, but that's really asking too much. The defence was worth retaining it for posterity. Spade lead to the ace, heart to the jack and ace, ¨K ducked and a spade to the king. Now trumps had to be continued, and the only correct card to play now is the ¨Q. After some though, this card made her appearance on the table/the video screen. Very nice, as declarer could not ruff a club any more without completely losing control. Down three, vulnerable for a beautiful 300 to France.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Toffier	Van Eijck	Duguet	Westra
	1ª	2NT	Pass
3¨	Pass	Pass	3ª
All Pass

Westra took the more straightforward view of bidding the full support value of his hand. The contract duly made, but France had recouped 4 IMPs.

On the final board of this short report, a difference in bidding approach led to another good result for the French.

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Jansma	Voldoire	Verhees	Bitran
			1ª
Dble	2ª	3§	3¨
Pass	4ª	All Pass

When West bid 3¨, Voldoire had every reason to believe that his hand had improved considerably. In a sense he was right, but we wonder what would have happened had Verhees doubled the final contract. Would that suggest a diamond lead for two ruffs and one down? On a passive trump lead, ten tricks were quickly there for +420 to France.

VOLDOIRE Jean-Michel, France

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Toffier	Van Eijck	Duguet	Westra
			1ª
Dble	2©	3©	3ª
Pass	Pass	4§	Pass
4©	All Pass

Here, 2© was a transfer to show a good raise to 2ª, and Duguet preferred to show his heart support ahead of his clubs. With the fit established West had no reason to give any further information, so North had no idea about the value of his diamonds and left 4© alone. The contract went one down of course, but by losing only 50 here France had scored another 9 IMPs.