More from Down South

By Peter Gill

Prior to the recent PABF Youth Championships in Bangkok, Australia practised against some oldies. Mark Abraham of the Australian Youth Team provided me with some hands.

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

West	North	East	South
Wilk'n	oldie	Abraham	oldie
	Pass	2©	Pass
4©	Pass	Pass	Dble
All Pass

2© didn't show five hearts and a four card minor; it was the modern red-blooded style of Weak Two. Perhaps some Souths would overcall 2ª, but then North might bid too much. South gleefully doubled 4© for penalties, thinking that his hearts were well-placed. ªQ was led to the ace, followed by a finesse of ©9 and a club to the king, ruffed. Subsequent club plays by declarer produced 590, for a 14 IMP gain when 4ª made at the other table.
This attacking style of pre-empts is all the rage nowadays, and does cause problems. The best solution on the above hand is probably for North to double 4© for takeout, with South converting to 4ª. Australia's leading bidding theorist Paul Marston believes that it is vital for the player with shortage in their suit to double for takeout as often as possible.

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

West	North	East	South
Wilk'n	oldie	Abraham	oldie
-	-	-	3©
Pass	Pass	3ª	Pass
3NT	Pass	4§	Pass
6§	All Pass

At this vulnerability, any self-respecting junior player would open 4H to put maximum pressure on the opponents, possibly leading to an uncomfortable but making 4S contract by East. Against the Australian youths sitting East/West, South opened only 3H, passed around to Mark Abraham who overcalled 3S. His partner Michael Wilkinson followed with 3NT. East judged from the advanced age of South that West was unlikely to claim honours in hearts and thus would have some minor suit cards. This made 4§ attractive, leading to the successful slam. At the other table, East passed 3NT after the same start to the auction.

The PABF Youth Championships was won by China Hong Kong, with Thailand second. Australia came 5th of 7 teams, and New Zealand lacked the financial resources to take part.

Good Judgement

Many pairs had problems in getting to a making game on Board 19 of the Sunday evening match. One pair who showed how it could be done was Israel's Eldad Ginossar and Ophir Reshef.

Board 19. Dealer South. East/West Vul.
	ª K 10 5 © Q 10 4 ¨ K 10 8 7 3 § K 5
ª A J 9 7 6 © 8 7 3 ¨ - § Q J 7 6 3		ª Q 2 © A 5 ¨ A Q J 9 2 § A 10 9 2
	ª 8 4 3 © K J 9 6 2 ¨ 6 5 4 § 8 4

West	North	East	South
Reshef		Ginossar
-	-	-	2©
Pass	3©	3NT	Pass
4©	Pass	4ª	All Pass

The 2© opening was weak and the Hungarian North made a pre-emptive raise to 3©. Ginossar had to do something with his 17-count and could hardly double when holding only a doubleton spade. He bid 3NT and the spotlight turned to his partner. Reshef did very well to judge to transfer to spades, perhaps imagining that the heart raise on his left marked his partner with something like ©Kx or ©Ax. Four Spades was always going to be comfortable as the cards lay, but the diamond opening lead made life still easier and Ginossar did not have to lose a heart trick. With Hungary playing 3NT down one at the other table, Israel picked up a very useful 13 IMP swing on the way to their 24.5-1.5 VP win.