Round
13 Greece vs Germany
by Jos Jacobs
Over the first four days of these Championships, Greece had been
doing quite well and were in fourth position, top of the hunting
squad though way behind the leaders, when the day started. Germany
had begun the day in ninth, 16 VPs behind Greece. In their first
match of the day, both teams had suffered a small defeat:, Germany
14 against Hungary and Greece 13 against England. So, to stay in
the hunt, a good win for either team was essential. A well-fought
match therefore could be expected, and so it turned out.
![](../Graphics/Bul07/Gre-Triandaphyllopolous.jpg) | |
Theodoros Trianthafyllopoulos,
Greece |
|
Before starting this report, I have to specifically introduce
two of the Greek players to you: Theodoros Trianthafyllopoulos and
Yiankos Papakyriakopoulos. There is in fact no special reason for
this separate introduction, except that their family names are far
too long for the paper format and size we are using in these Bulletins.
So we have to abbreviate their names for efficiency’s sake.
My apologies to their parents (etc.)
There also was another problem for this match, restricted mainly
to the Open Room, as the communication between the players had its
uncertainties due to a certain lack of fluency in English in both
camps. Maybe, this is the reason why the bidding and play of the
first board in the Open Room took a full 22 minutes. This, however,
is including the time needed by West to pick up his cards after
dropping all of them when his partner got doubled in 1NT…
Board 1. Dealer North. None Vul.
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|
ª 9 8 2
© 8 7
¨ A Q 6
§ A J 10 7 5 |
ª A K 7 3
© 10 6 3 2
¨ J 7 4
§ 8 4 |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª 4
© Q J 9 5
¨ K 10 9 5 2
§ Q 9 2 |
|
ª Q J 10 6 5
© A K 4
¨ 8 3
§ K 6 3 |
Closed Room: |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Filios |
Reps |
P'poulos |
Ludewig |
|
1NT |
Pass |
2© |
Pass |
3ª |
Pass |
4ª |
All Pass |
|
|
|
1 NT was 10-12 and 2© an invitational transfer, accepted gratefully.
East led the ©Q to dummy’s ace and Reps led a low trump from
the board, ducked by West. Declarer went on to cash the ©K and ruff
a heart before returning to trumps. West won and played a diamond
to the queen and king, and East returned the ¨10 to Reps’
ace. Reps now advanced the §J, which was quickly covered by East
to solve declarer’s problems; just made, Germany +420.
Open Room: |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Gotard |
Kannavos |
Piekarek |
Trianthafyllopoulos |
|
1§ |
1NT |
Dble |
2§ |
Dble |
2© |
2ª |
Pass |
3ª |
Pass |
4ª |
All Pass |
|
|
|
Maybe, this hand looked a trifle straightforward, taking into account
the proceedings in the Closed Room. This is probably true, but it
also makes it even more unclear why playing such a hand should take
22 minutes. As it was, the bidding was much more lively, but also
gave away much more information.
1NT showed five diamonds and a major, 8-15 HCP and, after the
double, West, once he had found back his cards, showed at least
four hearts and three spades by bidding 2§. He led a heart to declarer’s
ace and then came a low spade, dummy’s nine winning (please
note that South was the declarer here). Another trump went to the
king and a diamond came back, finessed and won by East’s king.
To make the hand, declarer has to guess the clubs. With West already
having shown the ªAK this should not have been too difficult, so
declarer called for the §10 from dummy in the fullness of time,
running it to make his contract; no swing.
The first substantial swing of the match was due to over-enthusiasm:
Board 6. Dealer East. E/W Vul.
|
|
ª 5 4
© 10 7
¨ A K Q 10 6 5
§ A 7 4 |
ª 10 8 2
© J 8 2
¨ 7 4
§ K Q 8 6 2 |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª K J 7 6
© A K 9 6
¨ 8
§ J 10 9 3 |
|
ª A Q 9 3
© Q 5 4 3
¨ J 9 3 2
§ 5 |
Closed Room: |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Filios |
Reps |
P'poulos |
Ludewig |
|
|
1§ |
Pass |
1© |
2¨ |
3© |
4§ |
Pass |
4¨ |
Pass |
5¨ |
All Pass |
|
|
|
A good and disciplined auction by the Germans saw them land nicely
on their feet for a score of +400. Please note the nice semi-psychic
1© reply from Filios.
Open Room: |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Gotard |
Kannavos |
Piekarek |
Trianthafyllopoulos |
|
|
1§ |
Dble |
Pass |
2§ |
Pass |
3§ |
Pass |
6¨ |
All Pass |
|
The problem here apparently was, according to our sources, that
Triantha made an enthusiastic double, green v red, followed by an
irresponsible cuebid. This may or may not be true, but what counted
was the +50 to Germany, good for 10 IMPs to lead by 10-2 now, a
lead they were never to lose.
The next board proved quite interesting.
Board 7. Dealer South. All Vul.
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|
ª J 2
© A J 7
¨ A J 10 7 2
§ A 10 9 |
ª Q 9 8 5
© 8 5 4 3 2
¨ 4 3
§ J 2 |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª A 10 6 3
© K 10
¨ K 9 8
§ Q 6 5 4 |
|
ª K 7 4
© Q 9 6
¨ Q 6 5
§ K 8 7 3 |
At both tables, North opened 1NT third in hand and South raised
to three.
In the Closed Room, East led a club, giving declarer four tricks
in the suit and an easy road to his contract; Germany +600.
In the Open Room, Piekarek for Germany led a spade. Declarer won
the third round of spades with the king and played the ¨Q which
went to the king. Now East crossed to his partner with the last
spade (having unblocked the 10 before) and Gotard went into a huddle.
He emerged with a very good card, a completely neutral ¨4. Had he
played a heart, declarer would no doubt have risen with the ace
and cashed his winners, squeezing East between hearts and clubs
in the process. Left to his own resources, declarer eventually decided
to go for the heart finesse. He might have done otherwise had he
believed in what he could see at the table. East had made heavy
weather of his two discards, the ©10 and the §4. So there might
have been a case for playing for the squeeze to work, but one never
knows in this sort of situations, one down, another +100 to Germany
and 12 IMPs.
On the next board, Greece recouped some points as the defence erred
in the Open Room:
Board 8. Dealer West. None Vul.
|
|
ª A K 9 7 4 3
© 10 8 6
¨ 9 7
§ Q 4 |
ª 8 5
© Q 9 5 3
¨ K Q 8 2
§ 10 8 7 |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª Q 10
© 7
¨ A J 10 5 3
§ K J 9 6 5 |
|
ª J 6 2
© A K J 4 2
¨ 6 4
§ A 3 2 |
Closed Room: |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Filios |
Reps |
P'poulos |
Ludewig |
Pass |
2¨ |
Pass |
3§ |
Pass |
3© |
Pass |
3ª |
Pass |
4ª |
All Pass |
|
2¨ was multi and 3§ showed an invitational hand. West led the ¨K
on which East played the jack. Nevertheless, West switched to a
club, which was as good as anything. The ace won the trick and declarer
cashed the ªA, noting the fall of the ten. He then crossed to the
©A and finessed the spade queen. East, on lead to his surprise,
cashed the §J and ¨A for down one; Greece +50. That’s what
the scorecard said the last time I saw it. Suggestions will be accepted.
Open Room: |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Gotard |
Kannavos |
Piekarek |
Trianthafyllopoulos |
Pass |
2ª |
Pass |
4ª |
All Pass |
|
|
|
In the Open Room, the contract was played from the other side of
the table, which made the successful defence very unlikely. East
has to lead the ¨A and continue the suit (or underlead the ace at
trick one, for the purists) and West should play a club when on
lead.
East led the ©7, however. Now declarer could win, draw trumps
and concede a heart. All the defence got more were the two diamond
tricks they were entitled to; Greece +420 and 10 IMPs back.
Two boards later, the German hopes of defeating the opponents
in 1NT, vulnerable, prevailed over their assessment of their own
chances to make a contract.
Board 10. Dealer East. All Vul.
|
|
ª A Q
© K Q 8 5 3 2
¨ J 8 6
§ 10 4 |
ª K 4
© A 10 9 7
¨ K 5
§ K J 8 7 5 |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª 10 8 6 2
© 6 4
¨ Q 7 4 2
§ A 3 2 |
|
ª J 9 7 5 3
© J
¨ A 10 9 3
§ Q 9 6 |
Closed Room: |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Filios |
Reps |
P'poulos |
Ludewig |
|
|
Pass |
Pass |
1§ |
1© |
Dble |
Pass |
1NT |
All Pass |
|
|
Here you see the point. Reps clearly was hoping for undertricks,
rather than going for a contract for his side with so many losers.
In the long run, he may well be right but, this time, holding a
double stopper in the suit, declarer had no trouble to come to two
overtricks with the clubs lying favourably for him too; Greece +150.
Open Room: |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Gotard |
Kannavos |
Piekarek |
Trianthafyllopoulos |
|
|
Pass |
Pass |
1§ |
1© |
Pass |
1ª |
Pass |
2© |
All Pass |
|
In the Open Room, Kannavos made the risky 2© bid and found a quite
suitable dummy, notably it included the priceless ©J. This card
enabled him to make his contract easily for another +110 to Greece
and 6 IMPs.
On the next board, we saw Klaus Reps ensure his contract in a
very elegant way:
Board 11. Dealer South. None Vul.
|
|
ª A K J 3
© 7 6
¨ K J 8 3
§ K 10 8 |
ª Q 10 9 4
© A 8 2
¨ A 10 9 5
§ J 4 |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª 6
© K Q J 4
¨ 7 6 4 2
§ Q 7 6 2 |
|
ª 8 7 5 2
© 10 9 5 3
¨ Q
§ A 9 5 3 |
Closed Room: |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Filios |
Reps |
P'poulos |
Ludewig |
|
|
|
Pass |
1¨ |
1ª |
Dble |
3ª |
All Pass |
|
|
|
![](../Graphics/Bul07/Ger-Reps.jpg) | |
Klaus Reps, Germany |
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Playing in a four-four fit after his unorthodox overcall, Reps
had to play well to bring home the bacon. He indeed found a very
neat way to ensure his nine tricks. Hearts were led and continued,
Reps ruffing the third. Next came a diamond to the queen and ace,
and West returned the ª4. Being down to ªAKJ bare already, Reps
reasoned that West was out of hearts and would probably have at
least four diamonds, in accordance with his opening bid. So it would
be 100% safe to win the ªA, cash the ªK as well and play for the
loss of one spade and one club trick.
If spades happened to be 4-1, there would be no problem either.
West would then hold 4-3-4-2 distribution, so declarer would be
able to could cash the top clubs ending in his hand, then cash the
two top diamonds and ruff the fourth round. Next, he would be able
to play the ©10 and score his ªJ en passant.
Had West held five diamonds after all, he would have to hold a
singleton club. In that event, playing a club from dummy towards
the king would give West the losing options of ruffing fresh air
or discarding his fifth diamond. Either way, the same coup en passant
would develop.
Nicely played and a joy to watch; Germany +140.
Open Room: |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Gotard |
Kannavos |
Piekarek |
Trianthafyllopoulos |
|
|
|
Pass |
Pass |
1NT |
All Pass |
|
No real problem here either; Greece +120 and a loss of 1 IMP to
them.
The only other sizeable swing of the match came five boards later
and went to Germany again:
Board 15. Dealer South. N/S Vul.
|
|
ª K Q 8 3 2
© 8 4 3
¨ 9 4
§ Q J 7 |
ª J 10 7
© Q J 10 5 2
¨ A 7
§ 10 4 3 |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª -
© A K
¨ K Q J 10 6 5 3 2
§ 9 8 5 |
|
ª A 9 6 5 4
© 9 7 6
¨ 8
§ A K 6 2 |
Closed Room: |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Filios |
Reps |
P'poulos |
Ludewig |
|
|
|
1ª |
Pass |
2ª |
5¨ |
All Pass |
Ludewig led the §K on which Reps dropped the queen. What does this
mean? North clearly holds the §J, but what about his count?
If South returns the §2 (or the §6 if playing a different agreement)
North may be able to work it out.
At the table, it certainly went wrong as South continued the §K
and then tried the ªA first. Greece had scored +400 and were set
for a nice swing, I thought.
This was completely wrong. Mistakes can always be improved on.
The Open Room was the scene of a horror show, even more so if you
once again take into account the huddles that were part of it:
Open Room: |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Gotard |
Kannavos |
Piekarek |
Trianthafyllopoulos |
|
|
|
1ª |
Pass |
2NT |
5¨ |
5ª |
Pass |
Pass |
6¨ |
Dble |
All Pass |
|
|
|
Five Spades would already have been a little expensive, but it
helped to push the Germans overboard. Defeating the slam was not
so easy, however, but it might have been not so difficult using
the advantage of playing five-card majors (contrary to what North/South
were playing in the Closed Room).
You lead the §A and see partner follow suit with the queen. Knowing
that partner holds at least four spades for his 2NT bid, why not
continue a low club and let partner work it out? Holding five spades
himself, he would have continued clubs for sure…
Would not partner have shown count, holding five clubs, rather
than follow suit with the queen?
At the table, South played the ªA to trick two, thus conceding the
contract; Germany +1090 and 12 IMPs to them instead of a loss of
10 IMPs.
The 22 IMPs turnover on this board was almost exactly the final
IMP difference between the teams. At the end, nothing very much
more happening on the final boards, the score stood at 45-2 to Germany,
a win by 20-10 VPs.
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