Schools Round 13 - Poland v Israel

These two teams have had a neck and neck tussle throughout the event, well ahead of the other teams. With the leading teams in the European Junior Championship all playing matches against lower ranked teams, this report will focus mainly on the European Schools Championship. It will also briefly cover the main swings in Sweden's upset win over Italy in the Juniors, with a little bit of Finnish wizardry and Spanish excitement too.

Board 1. Dealer North. None Vul.
	ª - © A K 8 5 4 3 ¨ Q 9 5 § K J 9 6
ª K Q 9 8 6 4 © 10 9 6 ¨ J 10 8 4 § -		ª A J 7 3 2 © J ¨ A 7 6 2 § A 7 5
	ª 10 5 © Q 7 2 ¨ K 3 § Q 10 8 4 3 2

West	North	East	South
Kalita	Ofir	Sikora	O Assaraf
	1©	1ª	2©
4ª	5©	Pass	Pass
5ª	All Pass

Jan Sikora did well not to double 5©, as that would have discouraged his partner from competing to 5ª. Sikora ruffed the second heart, drew trumps, stripped out the clubs and hearts, and played ace and another diamond; 450 to Poland.

West	North	East	South
E Assaraf	Niziok	Grunbaum	Nawrocki
	1©	1ª	2©
4ª	5©	Dbl	All Pass

Grunbaum was tempted by his three aces as indeed many others were. Double game swings abounded on this hand in both Championships. 650 plus 450 was 15 IMPs to Poland.

Meanwhile in the Juniors, Sweden played diamonds differently to go down in 5ª doubled while Italy made 5ª for 11 IMPs to Italy. That was to be Italy's only gain of more than 4 IMPs in their 20 board match against Sweden.

On Board 2, West held ªJ10743, ©Q842, ¨A54 §J. Partner opened 1§, you bid 1ª, double on your left, 2ª from partner. Your call, not vulnerable? Jacek Kalita passed and made ten tricks, partner holding ªQ986 ©AK7 ¨J32 §A82. North with ªA, ©J10953 ¨Q1087 §K73 led a heart, won ªA and found the expert switch to ¨10, misread by his partner who rose with the king, then no heart ruff explains the large number of tricks. Eran Assaraf's choice was 4ª, down two; 7 IMPs to Poland who led 22-0 after two boards.

On Board 6, Poland missed a shaky game which makes when everything is friendly. 7 IMPs to Israel, trailing 8-23.

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

West	North	East	South
Kalita	Ofir	Sikora	O Assaraf
			1©
Dble	2¨	Pass	3©
Pass	4©	All Pass

The influence of the world's top bridge coach Eric Kokish is strong in Israel, where the leading Juniors receive coaching from top Israeli players as well as from Kokish. This treatment where 2¨ shows a good raise to 2© made it easy to reach the best contract; 620 to Israel. Had Sikora doubled 2¨, it would not have affected the outcome. The coaches do not force conventions like this good raise down the players' throats, but having been shown all the most modern treatments by top experts, the Israeli yougsters do seem to have chosen to adopt some useful bidding devices.

West	North	East	South
E Assaraf	Niziok	Grunbaum	Nawrocki
			1©
Dble	1NT	2¨	Pass
Pass	2©	Pass	Pass
3¨	Pass	Pass	3©
All Pass

The Poles never even got close to game. It seems that their methods after the double were inferior to the Israeli bidding. 170: 10 IMPs to Israel, now trailing 18-23.

Playing for France Schools against England, David Ancelin who had made a long suit try in clubs, correctly deduced that with §Ax his LHO would duck the ace on the first round. He therefore played for §AJ doubleton, making 11 tricks. Most declarers made only 10 tricks.

On Board 9, an Italian Junior holding ª10432 © Q652 ¨AQJ7 §A heard 1© on his left, 2NT (minors) from partner, 3ª on his right. His 5¨ call gave his opponents an easy doubled plus score when they can't make anything, 9 IMPs to Sweden, trailing 15-17 IMPs.

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

West	North	East	South
Kalita	Ofir	Sikora	O Assaraf
		Pass	Pass
Pass	2NT	Pass	3§
Pass	3¨	Pass	3ª
Pass	3NT	All Pass

The Israeli pair used Puppet Stayman, yet another useful gadget in their repertoire. 3§ asked for five card majors, 3¨ showed no five card major but at least one four card major and 3© showed four spades so that the strong hand declares the contract.

¨6 was led to the queen and king (most people would play the ace here, not that it matters). Gilad Ofir cashed §A and §Q, crossed to ªA and finessed ©J, losing to the ace. East cashed §J on which Gilad Ofir discarded ©8. East was hopelessly endplayed and tried spades; 600 to Israel. Well played.

At the other table, the apparently inferior spade lead went to the queen, declarer won §A, §Q, ªA and §K, finessed ¨J, cashed ¨A, exited in spades, to West's ten, misguessed hearts and had a diamond loser at the end. 100 plus 600 was 12 IMPs to Israel, leading 30-26 now.

In the Schools, nine of fourteen declarers made 3NT, and in the Open, eleven
declarers made 3NT, but a few pairs reached other contracts. For example, the Croatian West opened a Multi 2¨ in third seat, and was delighted when his opponents ended up in 6©, and even more delighted that his partner did not try to save in 6ª.

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

West	North	East	South
Kalita	Ofir	Sikora	O Assaraf
	Pass	1¨	1ª
Dble	2ª	Dble	All Pass

Vugraph commentator Barry Rigal pointed out to the audience of about 60 people that North has a very nice hand indeed as Yarboroughs go. Gilad Ofir took a long time to bid 2ª. As 2© would have been a good raise to 2ª (another useful treatment which can be credited to the Israeli coaching system), he had three choices: the youthfully exuberant pre-emptive raise of 3ª according to the Law of Total Tricks, a mild 2ª or pass.

Jacek Kalita took even longer to pass his partner's double. Sikora won the trump lead and cashed a second trump before realising that the lack of entries to dummy meant that the usual defence of drawing trumps against a doubled part-score was not appropriate. 200 to Poland, who conceded a normal 660 at the other table, producing 10 IMPs to Israel, who led 40-30 now.

Board 14. Dealer East. None Vul.
	ª A 9 7 6 © A 9 ¨ A K 10 9 3 § Q 7
ª 8 © K 7 5 4 2 ¨ 7 6 4 § J 10 9 2		ª Q 10 5 4 3 2 © Q 10 3 ¨ Q 8 5 § 3
	ª K J © J 8 6 ¨ J 2 § A K 8 6 5 4

West	North	East	South
Kalita	Ofir	Sikora	O Assaraf
		Pass	1§
Pass	1¨	Pass	2§
Pass	2ª	Pass	3§
Pass	6§	All Pass

Gilad Ofir correctly evaluated his three aces, suitable side suit and §Q as golden, and simply bid to the best contract without giving West any clues about what to lead. The spotlight shone now on Jacek Kalita who selected ¨6 as his opening lead. I'm from Australia, where our bridge guru Paul Marston teaches that, especially when you hold three small in dummy's suit, an attacking lead of an ace or a suit headed by the king is a must against slams. This is the third hand in these eleven Daily Bulletins on which a European has missed leading from a king to defeat a slam, so it seems that Europeans think differently.

Ory Assaraf won the diamond lead, drew three rounds of trumps pitching a spade, led another diamond on which West played the four, rose with ¨A and claimed soon afterwards. 940 less 460 (on a spade lead after 2§-2¨-3§-3NT) was 10 Imps to Israel, leading 50-30.

The Belgian Juniors did well on Board 14. Kevin Peeters found ©7 lead against 6§, 50 to Belgium. Russia's Mikhail Krasnosselski opened 3ª at the other table, South Henri Van de Velde did well to find a double, which Pieter van Parijs did well to pass, collecting 1100 and a 15 IMP swing, to Belgium. This helped Belgium hold Russia to a 15-15 draw, virtually eliminating Russia from the battle for medals.

Johan Upmark found the heart lead for Sweden against 6§, and when Stelio di Bello opened 2ª as dealer, Furio di Bello led his partner's suit against 6§; 14 IMPs to Sweden, leading 29-23. While the spade lead may seem safest once partner has bid them, West's club and spade holdings are not ideal for setting up a trick in partner's hand, so perhaps even when partner has bid spades, the heart lead is more than a double dummy possibility.

Board 16. Dealer West. East/West Vul.
	ª K 10 © A 9 8 6 ¨ 4 § Q 9 7 5 4 3
ª A 7 6 2 © K J 7 ¨ 7 5 3 2 § 8 6		ª Q 5 4 © 4 ¨ A K Q 10 8 § A K 10 2
	ª J 9 8 3 © Q 10 6 5 3 ¨ J 9 6 § J

West	North	East	South
Kalita	Ofir	Sikora	O Assaraf
Pass	Pass	1¨	2©
Dble	3©	Dble	Pass
3NT	All Pass

Grunbaum's 2© overcall would have been fairly normal in the Juniors field but this was the Schools where the bidding seems to be a little less high pressurising. Perhaps Gilad Ofir rejected the normal 4© call in favour of 3© because, having had a good result when the opponents played for penalties with four trumps at the two level on Board 13, he hoped to be doubled again. For a few seconds it looked possible, but Kalita took no time at all to bid 3NT, and Ofir went into the tank. It would look very bad to bid 3© then 4©, so he decided to hope to beat 3NT. It made 630, 1 IMP to Poland when Israel made 5¨ at the other table where North opened 2§, making the play easy on §J lead.

On Board 17, Gilad Ofir picked up ªKQ43 ©96 ¨J842 §832. He dealt and passed, none vulnerable. LHO opened 1¨. His partner overcalled a weak 2ª (on a five card suit again) and RHO negative doubled. Perhaps Ofir was affected by his bidding of Board 16, because he jumped to 4ª this time, rather than play safe with 3ª. 4ª doubled cost 800, 8 IMPs to Poland when 4© made six at the other table. 51-39 to Israel.

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

West	North	East	South
Kalita	Ofir	Sikora	O Assaraf
		Pass	Pass
1§	Pass	3¨	Pass
4NT	All Pass

When Sikora, having opened a Polish Club bid 4NT, the Israeli supporters in the vugraph auditorium thought it was Roman Key Card Blackwood so they sighed, as 6¨ will make by setting up the long club. However it was natural. North led a club to the king, which won. South switched to ªJ to the ace. Declarer ran ¨10, South won the queen and put ª4 on the table. This went to the nine, but declarer had the rest. Had South played ª10 instead of ª4, declarer would have had a nasty guess.

At the other table, declarer won the second club to run ¨10. South won the queen, which might be necessary if North has lots of clubs. A flat board in that match, but …..

West	North	East	South
Zoric	Airaksinen	Brgulan	Heikkinen
		Pass	Pass
1§	Pass	1¨	1ª
Dble	Pass	3¨	Pass
3NT	All Pass

Croatia's Vedran Zoric told me what happened at this table. Against 3NT, Finland's Janne Airaksinen led ª9, his partner having bid spades. Vedran won the queen and put ¨10 on the table. Quick as a flash, the ten had won the trick. Vedran Zoric played another diamond. The play had been so fast that he was sure that ¨Q was onside. Eventually he decided to forgo the second finesse, to avoid the scorn of his team-mates if he went down in 3NT with nine top tricks. Just as well. Vugraph commentator Chris Dixon described the idea of a smooth duck of ¨Q as spectacular, but the right adjective for Tatu Heikkinen's duck of ¨Q surely is 'awesome' (see Finnish Team Profile published in this Bulletin but written before Tatu's defence of this hand).

West	North	East	South
Perez Calisteo	Naber	Goded Merino	Tihane
		3¨	Pass
4NT	Pass	5©	Pass
5ª	All Pass

It is rather surprising that the whole field did not duplicate Gonzalo Goded Merino's 3¨ opening bid for Spain. Perhaps some youth players thought it was too strong to pre-empt?

Jorge Perez Calisteo correctly evaluated his cards as being better suited to 6¨ than 3NT, and 5© showed two key cards (without specifying about the queen of trumps). Perez Calisteo bid 5ª to ask for the queen of trumps, but as East would have opened 3NT with ¨AKQ, East decided that such an ask was impossible and that 5ª was natural.

Jorge Perez Calisteo won the club lead, ruffed a club, crossed to ©Q, ruffed another club, went to ©K, ruffed another club with ª8, over-ruffed. A heart came back to the ace, and ¨A and ¨K were followed by ¨J. South ruffed with the three (a high ruff is better) and Perez Calisteo was able to overruff with ª7 and exit in clubs at trick eleven, with ªAQ poised over the king to take the last two tricks. A thrilling 450, which would have been even more thrilling if the Spanish South had have ducked ¨Q at the other table and perhaps defeated 3NT.

The above hand is a good example of maintaining one's composure at the bridge table. A lot of older bridge players would lose their cool at the sight of dummy and not concentrate fully on the best way to play the 3-3 fit.

On Board 20, both tables made 3NT which could have been defeated by precise defence.

This made the final score 51-39, converting to 17-13 to Israel, who still trailed Poland narrowly for the overall lead in the European Schools Championship. Meanwhile Sweden found the winning defence on Board 20 to gain 12 IMPs and defeat Italy 46-24 (20-10), Sweden scoring all their 46 IMPs on just five hands.