Poland v England – Juniors Round 3

(and a piece of Turkey v Sweden)

Poland and England, two teams eager to claim a top position at the end of these Championships, met in Round 3. The first big swing went to Poland.

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Strzemecki	Green	Madry	Happer
-	-	1¨	1©
Pass	1ª	2§	2ª
Pass	4ª	All Pass

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Woodcock	Araszkiewi	Levy	Buras
-	-	1¨	1©
Pass	1ª	2§	Dble
3§	4ª	All Pass

Piotr Madry did his job, presenting one suit after another. Due to the vulnerability, Wojciech Strzemecki as West stayed quiet and let North/South play in 4ª. Three Clubs would have been a sensible choice though. As the cards lie, East/West actually can make six of a minor. Madry took a deep breathe when he realized it.

In the Closed Room Ed Levy got club support but chose anyway not to take further action.

East led ¨K at both tables and there should normally be no chance for declarer to succeed. Ben Green drew one round of trumps then played a small heart to his ten and the defence collected four tricks for down one; –50. In the Closed Room Konrad Araszkiewi got some help from the defence and made his game; 10 IMPs to Poland.

On Board 8, Green and Happer stopped in the wrong game, trying 3NT instead of 4© that was played at the other table. 3NT went four down and when Araszkiewi made 4© that was 12 IMPs to Poland. The match had started nicely for Poland who were leading by 24-3 IMPs after nine boards. But there were some clouds on the horizon, because next came:

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Strzemecki	Green	Madry	Happer
-	-	Pass	Pass
3NT	All Pass

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Woodcock	Araszkiewi	Levy	Buras
-	-	Pass	Pass
1§	Pass	2NT	Pass
3©	Pass	3NT	Pass
4NT	Pass	6§	All Pass

Strzemecki bid what he thought he could make. He did make 3NT and took 11 tricks for -660.

In the Closed Room Andrew Woodcock opened with one natural club and 2NT from Levy was a good raise in clubs. Now they were on the right track and ended up in the cold slam; +1370 and 12 IMPs to England.

North/South vulnerable. Are you a coward as North due to the vulnerability and place Pass on the table when West open s4ª?

Well? You should be! See what happened to poor Araszkiewi who overcalled 5¨. This was Board 12.

Board 12. Dealer West. N/S Vul.
	ª 5 © 2 ¨ K Q 7 6 4 3 2 § K J 6 2
ª K Q 9 7 6 4 3 © 10 8 6 3 ¨ - § Q 5		ª A 2 © Q J 7 4 ¨ A J 10 9 8 5 § 9
	ª J 10 8 © A K 9 5 ¨ - § A 10 8 7 4 3

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Strzemecki	Green	Madry	Happer
3ª	Pass	Pass	4§
Pass	4NT	Dble	Pass
Pass	5§	All Pass

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Woodcock	Araszkiewi	Levy	Buras
4ª	5¨	Dble	All Pass

In the Open Room Green/Happer bid and made 5§ without any problems.

When Araszkiewi overcalled 5¨ in the other room, Levy must have thought Santa Claus comes twice a year these days. Even though the dummy showed up with two aces and a king, 5¨ was not the spot to be on this actual deal. Down four and +1100 added to +600 was 17 powerful IMPs to England.

In the match between Turkey and Sweden, Per-Ola Cullin stayed out of the auction one time but not twice and Dalkilic was the one to believe in Santa.

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Eskizara	Cullin	Dalkilic	Berg
3ª	Pass	4ª	Pass
Pass	5¨	Dble	All Pass

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Ericsson	Seker	Sivelind	Paksoy
3ª	Pass	4ª	All Pass

Seker led his singelton heart against 4ª and it went to the king, but when he shifted to a club the defence was no longer able to beat the contract. 4ª was just made but still 12 IMPs to Turkey when they had +1100 at the other table. This board didn't help Turkey to win the match since they were defeated by 21-9 VPs.

On the theme Don't save your partner we here see Mr Strzemecki as leading actor.

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Strzemecki	Green	Madry	Happer
			1NT
Dble	Pass	2©	Pass
Pass	Dble	Pass	Pass
2ª	Dble	3¨	Pass
3©	Dble	All Pass

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Woodcock	Araszkiewi	Levy	Buras
			1§
1ª	Dble	Pass	1NT
All Pass

Strzemecki made a poor decision to 'rescue' his partner from 2© doubled which took him out onto thin ice. The rescue action ended up three rounds of bidding later one level higher in 3© doubled – for down two and +500 to England. In the Closed Room Buras made an overtrick in 1NT after a spade lead; 9 IMPs to England.

The English youngsters didn't win this match by their own positive efforts. As it seemed they just relaxed, sat and waited for their opponents to err. This time that was a strategy which worked out pretty well, because England won by 19-11.