Norway v Spain – Juniors Round 8

With a completely new team here at the Juniors, compared to two years ago, I'm sure many of you are a bit surprised over Norway's success so far. In Round 8 they met Spain and fought well to remain in the lead after eight rounds.

Norway took some early partscore swings and were leading by 11-3 after five boards. Then came:

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Manes	Kippe	G.Merin	Ringseth
-	-	1©	2¨
Pass	2ª	Pass	3§
All Pass

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
P.Eide	S.Torres	Livgard	Goncalves
-	-	1©	2¨
Dble	Pass	2ª	Pass
3§	Pass	3©	Pass
3ª	Dble	All Pass

This is a kind of board on which no one should play the contract, since it's easy to reach too high a level too high level. In the Open Room Jorn Ringseth shown his minors and was left to play in 3§. Neftali Manes saw from his own hand that diamonds were split nicely and avoided to double 3§ in case the Norweigians would run to diamonds. 3¨ has some chances but would likely go down. Against 3§, West led his singelton heart and when it was over declarer was left with only five tricks; -200.

Petter Eide played 3ª as East in the other room. Pedro Concalves led the king of diamonds and Eide didn't see any reason not to grab the ace from dummy. Declarer ruffed a club, cashed two top hearts and started to crossruff, but there were only eight tricks to take. That was another 200 and 9 IMPs to the Norwegians.

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Manes	Kippe	G.Merino	Ringseth
2ª	3ª	Dble	4©
Pass	5¨	Dble	5©
Pass	Pass	Dble	All Pass

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
P.Eide	S.Torres	Livgard	Goncalves
2¨	Dble	Rble	6© (!)
Pass	Pass	Dble	All Pass

After a weak two opening in spades, Hakon Kippe's 3ª asked for a stopper in spades. When he later was asked what he would do if his partner would have bid 3NT, he simply aswered “Pass, what else?”. Well... an answer like that can make you speechless. And what about hearts, Mr Kippe, what about HEARTS? Oh dear, that suit was well controlled by his partner. What a fantastic partnership! Gonzalo Goded Merino was in the mood for doubling and when the Norwegians found out that he doubled whatever they bid they finally passed. West led ªJ to the ace and back came a spade. West won the ten but switched to a club instead of cashing one more spade trick and giving partner a ruff; only –100.

In the Closed Room Petter Eide opened 2¨ showing 0-7 HCPs and normally six cards in a major. Sunol Torres doubled for take-out. When the tray came back 6© was not at all what he wanted to see. Allan Livgard doubled on power, the defence took their five tricks and that was –800 and 12 IMPs to Norway.

Board 18. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
	ª J 7 5 4 3 © 5 3 ¨ 8 3 § A Q 8 7
ª 8 6 2 © Q 4 2 ¨ A K Q 2 § K J 2		ª A Q 9 © A 10 7 ¨ J 10 9 7 6 5 4 § -
	ª K 10 © K J 9 8 6 ¨ - § 10 9 6 5 4 3

There was no swing on Board 18 in this match; +430 at both tables in 3NT. Here's the acution in the Open Room from the match between England and Greece.

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Happer	Vroustis	Green	P.Karamanlis
-	-	1¨	1©
2©	Pass	4§	Pass
4¨	Pass	4©	Pass
5¨	Pass	6¨	All Pass

Ben Green hoped for good trumps and a helpful distribution from his partner so bid the small slam. Wasted HCPs in the club suit wasn't what he had in mind. Green received a heart lead and won the queen. Next came a small club and North erred, playing the queen. The declarer could ruff and draw two rounds of trumps then continue with a club from dummy. When North plays low declarer can pitch a spade and the slam is 100% secure as the cards lie, since South will be endplayed and either have to play a spade up to the tenace or a club fora ruff and discard. In practice, Green pitched a heart and suddenly there was still some work to do. He solved it anyway by playing a spade to the nine and later on dropping ªK under the ace.

In the Closed Room the Greeks played in 3NT just made. This board was helpful for England when they defeated the Greeks by 24-6.

Now back to our main match.

The Spaniards only had one major swing and that was:

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Manes	Kippe	G.Merin	Ringseth
-	-	-	1§
Pass	1ª	2©	Pass
Pass	3©	Pass	3NT
Dble	4§	All Pass

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
P.Eide	S.Torres	Livgard	Goncalves
-	-	-	1§
Pass	2§	3©	3NT
Pass	4¨	Pass	4©
Pass	4NT	Pass	5ª
Pass	6§	All Pass

Manes didn't believe in 3NT and doubled. Now Kippe moved to 4§ and was left to play there. West led ©A and declarer had 12 tricks; but only +170 for North/South.

Sunol-Torres/Goncalves bid and made the small slam. 4¨ and 4© were cuebids and 4NT RKCB. Due to this information, 5ª would show two aces out of five plus §Q or extra length in trumps.

Eide led ¨J and declarer chalked up 12 tricks. As you can see, a spade lead is to be preferred. The line of the play is to win the ace, take §A, cash three top diamonds (pitching a spade), ruff a diamond, ruff a heart then a diamond pitching the losing spade.

Norway was the better team and took a deserved victory, scoring 68-22 IMPs, converted to 24-6 VPs.