Juniors Round 11

Round 11 of the Junior event saw a new record set for the fewest IMPs to be exchanged in a match, just 34 in the 17-17 IMP draw between Spain and the Czech Republic. Don't be fooled into thinking that this was a dull set, however, as Turkey and Belgium scored 137 IMPs between them while Norway and Austria managed to beat even that, exchanging 148.

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

France v Croatia
West	North	East	South
G Grenthe	Praljak	J Grenthe	Kazalicki
1¨	Dble	1ª	4©
Dble	Pass	4ª	Pass
Pass	5©	Dble	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Zoric	O Bessis	Brguljan	De Tessieres
1¨	Dble	1ª	4©
Pass	Pass	4ª	Pass
Pass	5©	Pass	Pass
5ª	Dble	All Pass

The first round of the two auctions was identical but then Guillaume Grenthe found a double of 4© while Vedran Zoric did not. Perhaps the French pair have a special agreement here as otherwise to double with a minimum opening is a little odd. Both Easts bid 4ª and when that came around to North both players competed to 5©. Having heard his brother double 4©, Jerome Grenthe now doubled 5©, while Karlo Brguljan, who had not heard any encouraging noises from his partner, left the decision to him. Zoric, with a minimum and three-card support for what was known to be a very long spade suit, did the normal thing when he went on to 5ª, doubled by Olivier Bessis.

Grenthe cashed the two top diamonds against 5© doubled then switched to the ªA. It was an easy matter for Matija Kazalicki to ruff the spade and ruff two diamonds high in dummy to come to eleven tricks; +650 to Croatia.
Godefroy de Tessieres led a low heart against 5ª doubled. Bessis won and switched to a club and the defence took the first three tricks. That was all, however; down one for -100 and 11 IMPs to Croatia.

Poland v Sweden
West	North	East	South
Upmark	J Kotorowicz	Cullin	K Kotorowicz
1¨	Dble	2ª	4©
4ª	Pass	Pass	5©
Pass	Pass	5ª	All Pass
West	North	East	South

Skalski	Sivelind	Baranowski	Ericsson
1¨	Dble	2ª	3©
3ª	4©	4ª	All Pass

In this match, both East started with a weak jump shift over the double. There was a difference in judgement from the two Souths now, with Krzysztof Kotorowicz jumping to 4© while Kjell Ericsson contented himself with 3©. The difference in evaluation was carried over to the next round of bidding also. When Johan Upmark bid 4ª over 4© and that came around to Kotorowicz, he took the push to 5©, finally giving up when Per-Ola Cullin went on to 5ª. In contrast, despite hearing his partner raise to 4© in competition, Ericsson was prepared to defend 4ª<