Italy v Czech Republic – Juniors Round 1

The host nation met the champions from two years ago in the opening match on vugraph. The Czechs started badly and were 27 IMPs down early on but fought back to hold the loss to 31-46 IMPs, or 11-17.5 VPs. The pick of the action came on this run of three consecutive boards.

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

West	North	East	South
Stelio	Martynek	Furio	Jelinek
1§	Pass	1ª	Dble
2§	2©	3©	Pass
4§	4©	4NT	Pass
5§	Pass	6ª	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Sigmund	Lo Presti	Poslednik	Sbarigia
3§	Pass	4ª	Dble
Pass	5©	5ª	Pass
Pass	Dble	All Pass

	Furio Di Bello, Italy

For Italy, Stelio Di Bello judged the West hand to be worth a one-level opening, after which he repeated the club suit twice until brother Furio got bored and checked on key cards, bidding the spade small slam when he did not find sufficient for seven. Stelio had the right red king so that there was no lead to threaten 6ª and Furio soon scored up +1430.

For the Czech Republic, Martin Sigmund preferred to open with a 3§ pre-empt. Premsyl Poslednik simply responded 4ª, giving up on slam, and Matteo Sbarigia doubled for take-out. When Poslednik went on to 5ª over Fabio Lo Presti's 5©, Sbarigia doubled. There were the same twelve tricks available here as in the other room, but even with the double that came to only +1050, so Italy picked up a useful 9-IMP swing.

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

West	North	East	South
Stelio	Martynek	Furio	Jelinek
-	Pass	Pass	1NT
2¨	3NT	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Sigmund	Lo Presti	Poslednik	Sbarigia
-	Pass	Pass	1NT
Pass	3NT	All Pass

Both Souths opened with a strong no trump and both Norths raised to game, the difference being that Stelio Di Bello made a transfer overcall to show his heart suit.. At both tables the lead was a low heart to the jack, ducked, and a second heart to declarer's ace. Now the paths diverged.

Sbarigia did not know that the hearts were six-two as there had been no overcall. At trick three he led a diamond to the queen and king and back came a spade, which he ran to Sigmund's queen. The hearts were cleared and Sigmund could win the next diamond to cash them for down three; –300.

Petr Jelinek also played a diamond at trick three but Stelio took his ace and cleared the hearts. Jelinek played three rounds of clubs and, as West had no further entry to cash the hearts, had nine winners for +600 and 14 IMPs to Czech Republic.

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

West	North	East	South
Stelio	Martynek	Furio	Jelinek
-	-	Pass	1©
2©	Dble	2ª	3©
3ª	Dble	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Sigmund	Lo Presti	Poslednik	Sbarigia
-	-	2©	Pass
2ª	2NT	Pass	3NT
All Pass

Poslednik could open the East hand with a weak two-suited bid and Sigmund bid his spades in response. Now Lo Presti showed the minors but Sbarigia preferred to try the no trump game rather than pick a minor. Even played by South, 3NT would have stood no chance of success unless West cashed both top spades at the start. Played by North it was defeated very quickly.

Meanwhile, Furio Di Bello passed as dealer and it was South, Jelinek, who showed the hearts. Stelio overcalled to show spades and a minor and Furio admitted to spade tolerance over Jan Martynek's double. That tempted Stelio into an indiscretion when, looking at a sixth spade and a strong suit, he competed to 3ª, where he was doubled. The bad club break gave Furio no hope of success in 3ª doubled. He managed one ruff in hand and six trump tricks in the dummy so was down two for –500. That gave Czech Republic another 12 IMPs in their fightback.