Scotland drown in sea of Dutch IMPs

Netherlands, one of the teams expected to be challenging for a Bermuda Bowl spot, faced Scotland in Round 4 of the Open series. The Editor was on hand to see the Dutchies enjoy much the better of a lively set of boards.

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

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
DeWijs	McGowan	Muller	Baxter
		1©	2§
4§*	5§	Pass	Pass
5¨	Pass	6©	All Pass

I am not a fan of overcalling on a five-card suit at the two level, but South does have fair values that might otherwise be difficult to express. When West splintered North, perhaps unwisely, raised the ante, and the overall effect was to push North/South to a slam that they would have been unlikely to bid given a free run. It was a poor contract, but with ªQ84 in the North hand declarer could not be defeated. +980.

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Murdoch	Bertens	Piper	Bakkren
		1©	Dble
3¨	Pass	3©	Pass
4©	All Pass

I don’t care much for double either, but it did no harm this time. Declarer played safe for eleven tricks, but it meant Netherlands picked up 11 not unlucky IMPs.

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

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
DeWijs	McGowan	Muller	Baxter
		1©	Pass
1NT	2ª	3©	4ª
All Pass

Looking for a ruff, East led the two of diamonds. Declarer won with the ace and played a spade to the ace. When West showed out declarer played a heart, but East could win, put West in with the ace of clubs and ruff a diamond. One down, and slightly hard on North.

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Murdoch	Bertens	Piper	Bakkren
		1©	Pass
1NT	2ª	3©	4ª
All Pass

Looking to give his partner a ruff, East led the ace of hearts and a second heart. Now declarer could win in dummy, pitching a club, and play a club. The contract was secure and in due course declarer claimed ten tricks, +420 and another 10 IMPs.

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

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
DeWijs	McGowan	Muller	Baxter
1§	Pass	Pass	1¨
Pass	1NT	Pass	2NT
Pass	3NT	Dble	All Pass

Ken Baxter, Scotland

An undistinguished auction, where East felt an ace was enough to double. He led the six of hearts and West put in the eight, declarer winning with the king to play a club to the nine and West’s king. Back came a spade and declarer booked for three down. However, North’s false card in hearts reduced the damage as East was taken in and played back a heart, reducing the penalty to +100. However, Scotland were not yet out of the woods on this deal as you will see from the events at the other table:

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Murdoch	Bertens	Piper	Bakkren
2©*	Pass	Pass	3¨
Pass	3NT	All Pass

Facing a limited three-suiter East had no reason to bid. When South did, North was more or less forced to try 3NT. East led the six of hearts and West won with the ace and perhaps unwisely played a low club. Declarer put up the queen and when that held claimed nine tricks, +400. Netherlands by 37-2 VP was slightly flattering, and Scotland were about to hit back.

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

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
DeWijs	McGowan	Muller	Baxter
	1§*	1ª	2©
4ª	5¨	All Pass

The intervention put North under pressure. A card showing double would be my choice, and you would expect South to go on to Five Hearts. In Five Diamonds declarer managed seven tricks, -200.

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Murdoch	Bertens	Piper	Bakkren
	1¨	1ª	2©
4¨*	Dble	4ª	Pass
Pass	Dble	All Pass

South led the five of clubs and North took the king with the ace, cashed the king of hearts and played a trump. Declarer won in hand and played a club to the ten, +790 and 11 IMPs to Scotland. However, it proved to be only a temporary respite.

Board 15. Dealer South. N/S Vul.
	ª K 10 9 8 5 © 10 9 8 7 6 2 ¨ - § 9 6
ª J 7 4 3 2 © Q 4 ¨ Q 8 6 2 § 4 2		ª A © J 3 ¨ A J 7 5 4 3 § A Q J 7
	ª Q 6 © A K 5 ¨ K 10 9 § K 10 8 5 3

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
DeWijs	McGowan	Muller	Baxter
			1NT
Pass	2§*	2¨	Pass
3¨	3©	4§	4©
5¨	5©	All Pass

Perhaps South would do better to double Four Clubs, intending to bid Four Hearts over the likely retreat to Four Diamonds. Still, Five Hearts can be made with careful play. East led the three of hearts and declarer won and fatally played the queen of spades. East won and switched to the ace of clubs followed by the queen. Declarer won with dummy’s king and took a second round of trumps, followed by a spade finesse. The 5-1 break meant a second spade had to be lost, -100.

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Murdoch	Bertens	Piper	Bakkren
			1NT
Pass	2¨*	Dble	Pass
Pass	4©	Dble	Pass
4ª	Pass	5¨	Pass
Pass	5©	Dble	All Pass

I have a sneaking feeling that you might not agree with every one of the bids in this auction. East led the ace of spades and switched to the three of hearts. Declarer won in dummy, cashed a second heart, ruffed a diamond and played a club. In due course he established a club for a spade discard, +850. 14 IMPs to the Netherlands.

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

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
DeWijs	McGowan	Muller	Baxter
Pass	1¨*	1ª	2©
3§	3¨	Pass	3ª*
Dble	Pass	Pass	Rdble*
Pass	4§*	Pass	4¨
Pass	5¨	All Pass

I leave you to decide if you want to be in a slam on a finesse. If North had bid Four Hearts over Four Diamonds I suspect South would have taken a pot at it. +440.

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Murdoch	Bertens	Piper	Bakkren
Pass	1¨	2ª	3ª*
4§	4¨	4ª	4NT*
5ª	Pass	Pass	6¨
All Pass

Declarer won the opening club lead with the ace and took the diamond finesse. 13 tricks, +940, and another 11 IMPs.

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

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
DeWijs	McGowan	Muller	Baxter
			Pass
1©	Dble	Rdble	1ª
2§	Pass	4©	All Pass

	Simon de Wijs, The Netherlands

North led the two of hearts and declarer won and played a low club. North won with the queen and switched to the jack of spades. Declarer won and went back to hearts. Ten tricks could not be prevented, +420.

There is a way to defeat Four Hearts, but North is hardly likely to find it. When West plays a club, North must play the two! Declarer can win with the jack of clubs and will doubtless play a club, but now either South or North wins and plays two rounds of hearts leaving declarer with two more losing clubs. This relies on no more than partner having the nine or ten of clubs.

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Murdoch	Bertens	Piper	Bakkren
			Pass
1©	Pass	4©	All Pass

North led the queen of diamonds and declarer won and played a club to North’s queen. He took the diamond return in dummy and played a second club to the ace. The club return allowed South to ruff and the contract was one down, yet another double figure swing to the Netherlands, who had won going away, 75-33 IMPs, 24-6 VP.