Austria v Czech Republic – Schools Round 1

We have not given much coverage as yet to the host nation, Czech Republic. Accordingly, we take a look at their Schools team in the opening round against Austria. The Austrian team is captained by Iris Grumm, who has just become part of the first team ever to win a European Girls Team Championship. We should get an early idea as to the likliehood of her managing an unlikely double by also winning the Schools event, albeit as an npc.

Board 1. None Vul. Dealer North.
	ª Q 6 3 © Q 10 6 ¨ A Q 7 4 § 8 7 6
ª A K © J 9 2 ¨ 10 8 3 2 § K 10 5 4		ª 9 © 8 7 4 3 ¨ K J 9 6 5 § Q J 3
	ª J 10 8 7 5 4 2 © A K 5 ¨ - § A 9 2

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Suda	Kopecky	Kautny	Hoderova
-	Pass	Pass	1ª
Pass	2¨	Pass	2ª
All Pass

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Jankova	Haidinger	Macura	Hopfler
-	Pass	Pass	1ª
Pass	2ª	Pass	4ª
All Pass

	Markus Hopfler, Austria

Austria were faster out of their blocks, bidding a cold game missed at the other table. For Czech Republic, Pavla Hoderova simply repeated her long spade suit opposite Michal Kopecky's 2¨ response – not the suit that Hoderova would have wanted to here from partner. Kopecky was too balanced to go on over 2ª so the game was missed; +170.

Dominik Haidinger raised the 1ª opening to 2ª and, with such promising distribution, Markus Hopfler took a shot at game, which proved to be quite cold even though 6 out of 10 HCP in dummy were facing the void; +420 and 6 IMPs to Austria.

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

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Suda	Kopecky	Kautny	Hoderova
-	-	1ª	Pass
2©	Pass	3©	Pass
4¨	Pass	4ª	Pass
4NT	Pass	5¨	Pass
5©	All Pass

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Jankova	Haidinger	Macura	Hopfler
-	-	1ª	Pass
2§	Pass	2©	Pass
4©	All Pass

	Jana Jankova, Czech Republic

The Austrian lead did not survive a single board as Matthaus Suda/Paul Kautny got up to the five level under their own steam here, while Jana Jankova/Milan Macura stopped at the four level.

In 4©, Macura won the diamond lead in hand and led a heart to the king and ace. Haidinger switched to ace and another spade and, with declarer's club loser going on the third diamond, there was just the ©J to be lost; +420.
Five Hearts was a hopeless contract, of course. According to the hand record, Kopecky led the ace of spades then switched to a low club and declarer rose with the ace and played a heart up without taking the club discard. Kopecky won the ©A and played king and another club and South was allowed to ruff with the ©7. That meant the contract was down three for 150 and 11 IMPs to Czech Republic.

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

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Suda	Kopecky	Kautny	Hoderova
-	-	-	Pass
1§	1©	2§	2©
3§	4©	All Pass

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Jankova	Haidinger	Macura	Hopfler
-	-	-	Pass
1§	1©	Pass	3§
Dble	3©	Dble	Pass
4§	4©	5§	All Pass

The Czechs consolidated their lead when they declared game in both rooms on Board 3. Though it was the Austrian East/West pair who found the club fit immediately, while the Czechs did not find it until later in the auction, it was the Austrians who were prepared to defend against 4©, whereas the Czechs bid on to 5§ over that contract.

The lead against 4© was the ace of clubs, ruffed by declarer, who proceeded to lead a diamond to the queen without touching the trump suit. Suda won the ¨K and cashed the two top spades but, not liking what he saw, now switched to diamonds, after which Kopecky had no further problems; +420.

Two top hearts were led against 5§, Jankove ruffing the second. She played §K and a second club to the ace then the ¨10, covered by queen, king and ace. Had Haidinger ducked the first diamond, the contract would have had to go down, as declarer cannot draw all the trumps before playing a second diamond, and now South can get a ruff. However, after the first diamond was won, the defence was powerless. Declarer won the diamond return, drew trumps and claimed eleven tricks; +600 and 14 IMPs to Czech Republic.

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

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Suda	Kopecky	Kautny	Hoderova
-	1NT	Pass	Pass
Dble	All Pass

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Jankova	Haidinger	Macura	Hopfler
-	1¨	Pass	1©
Pass	1NT	Pass	Pass
Dble	All Pass

I am looking for a polite term to describe the respective Wests' doubles on this deal. The best I have managed to come up with so far is over-aggressive. Perhaps the Austrians play double as some kind of take-out, but it still seems way too aggressive, and quite normal for East to pass with 12 HCP sitting over the opener. As for Jankova's double, she will no doubt say that it was merely balancing, but I think it should still be stronger than this hand or else partner can never afford to pass it out. Again, for me it was normal for Macura to defend 1NT doubled.

Macura led a low spade to the ten and queen and Haidinger cashed the three top diamonds, only to be diasppointed when the jack did not appear. He conceded the fourth diamond and now Macura could not read the spade situation so switched to the ©Q. Haidinger could win and play a second heart to the king. When Jankova played ªK now, she restricted the defence to only two spade tricks and that cost an overtrick; +380.

At the other table, Kautny did well not to lead a diamond at trick one. However, the actual low heart proved to be no more successful. It ran to Suda's king and back came a diamond – a little naive of Suda, I would think, as partner's failure to lead the suit surely marks declarer with long diamonds. Kopecky ran the diamond to Kautny's jack and back came a heart, which he ran to his ten. Kopecky cashed the ©A then the diamonds and came to two black tricks in the ending when the defence got into a tangle. that was nine tricks for +580 and 5 IMPs to Czech Republic. Macura/Haidinger would have been pleased to gain on the board, I think.

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

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Suda	Kopecky	Kautny	Hoderova
-	-	Pass	1NT
Pass	3NT	All Pass

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Jankova	Haidinger	Macura	Hopfler
-	-	Pass	1¨
1©	2NT	Pass	3NT
All Pass

The same contract was reached but from different sides of the table and with jankove having directed the opening lead. While Haidinger's jump to 2NT over the opposing overcall may have approximately described his range and heart stopper, it got the hand played the wrong way up, as perhaps it deserved to do when a simple 2§ bid was available. Macura's heart lead duly assured the defence of six winners; –200.

Hoderova's 1NT opening was raised dircetly to game and, fortuitously, got the contract played the right way up. Suda led a low spade rather than the obvious heart, but that did declarer no harm at all as the king beat East's ten. Hoderova played a club to the king then a diamond to queen and ace. The rather obscure choice of returning the ¨J now did not exactly paralyse declarer, who had the remainder; twelve tricks for +690 and 13 IMPs to Czech Republic.

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

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Suda	Kopecky	Kautny	Hoderova
-	-	-	Pass
1§	1¨	Dble	2¨
2ª	3¨	3ª	All Pass

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Jankova	Haidinger	Macura	Hopfler
-	-	-	Pass
1§	1¨	Dble	1NT
2ª	All Pass

I must say that I prefer Hopfler's 1NT to the 'nothing-bid' of 2¨ chosen by Hoderova at the other table, but it was the latter call which proved to be more successful as it paved the way for Kopecky to push the opposition up a level.

Haidinger led the ©K against Jankova's 2ª. She won the ace and played a diamond to the ace then led the ª10, running it when it was not covered. That was a very good start for declarer, who lost only one trick in each of spades, hearts and clubs when the defenders failed to take their heart ruff; ten tricks for +170.

Hoderova's diamond raise not only helped to push her opponents to the three level, it also got Haidinger off to a safe diamond lead. Suda won the king and played a club to the king then the ª10 to king and ace. From here he had lost control of the hand and had two losers in both hearts and clubs, as well as the trump suit to sort out. Seven tricks proved to be all that could be managed; down two for –200 and a further 9 IMPs to Czech Republic.

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

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Suda	Kopecky	Kautny	Hoderova
1§	1¨	2©	3¨
3©	4¨	Pass	Pass
4©	Dble	All Pass

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Jankova	Haidinger	Macura	Hopfler
1§	1¨	1©	2¨
2©	3¨	3©	All Pass

Kautny's weak jump shift of 2© put some momentum into the auction and Suda competed twice in hearts, finally being doubled when he bid game. Hoderova led a diamond but it really didn't matter very much. There were five top losers and none of them were going anywhere; down two for –500.

Macura's simple 1© bid resulted in a quiet auction where everyone had done their bidding by the time the three level was reached. Of course, there was no double here, and when Macura lost the obvious five tricks he was just one down for 100 but 9 IMPs to Czech Republic.

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

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Suda	Kopecky	Kautny	Hoderova
-	-	1§	Pass
1©	1ª	1NT	2¨
2©	All Pass

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Jankova	Haidinger	Macura	Hopfler
-	-	1§	1¨
1©	1ª	1NT	Pass
2©	2ª	Pass	Pass
Dble	All Pass

Both Wests took very conservative positions here when they settled for a non-forcing 2© at their second turn – quite out of charachter with most of what we had seen in the match to date. Certainly, I would be more inclined to bid game if partner had shown a weak no trump type – particularly at the table where right-hand-opponent had bid diamonds, thereby guaranteeing that the ace would be well-placed. Anyway, Suda was left to play in 2© and made ten tricks after a diamond lead to the ace and a diamond back; +170.

Jankove was given the opportunity to show her hidden values when Haidinger competed with 2ª. Of course, he did not have any extra values to justify this, but it was not unreasonable on this auction to expect partner to be a little stronger. Macura was delighted to pass his partner's double. He led king and a nother heart and Jankova won and played a third round. Macura ruffed this as Haidinger pitched his losing diamond. There were still two spades and two clubs to be lost, so that was down two for –500 and 8 IMPs to Czech Republic.

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

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Suda	Kopecky	Kautny	Hoderova
-	-	-	Pass
1§	Pass	1NT	Pass
Pass	Dble	Rdbl	2§
Pass	2©	Pass	2ª
Dble	All Pass

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Jankova	Haidinger	Macura	Hopfler
-	-	-	Pass
1§	Pass	1NT	All Pass

The first round of the two auctions was identical. Then, Haidinger, perhaps chastened by his experience on the previous deal, went quietly as North and defnded 1NT. At the other table, Kopecky doubled and, when Kautny could show his maximum with a redouble, the Czechs were in big trouble. Kopecky misunderstood his partner's run out to 2§, which should be natural until proven otherwise, and now there was no seven-card fit to be had without going back to clubs a level higher, which neither player was willing to do. Playing a three-three fit with two balanced hands and the minority of the high cards is rarely a smart idea, and this deal was no exception to the general rule.

Macura made 1NT excatly after a club lead. He ducked but won the second club to play on diamonds. The clubs were cleared but South could be kept off play until seven tricks had been established; +90.

Hoderova faced a rather more demanding task. The lead was the ¨K to dummy's ace. Hoderova tried a heart to the ten, losing to the jack, and the defence cashed two diamonds then switched to three rounds of clubs for a ruff. Hoderova won the heart switch now with the ace and ruffed a heart then played a winning club. She came to another heart ruff plus the ace of trumps for down three; –500 and 9 IMPs to Austria, for whom this swing was too little too late.

Board 20. All Vul. Dealer West.
	ª 6 5 3 © A 5 4 ¨ Q 8 § 8 7 6 4 3
ª A K Q 9 7 © 10 ¨ A K 9 5 2 § J 5		ª 10 © J 8 7 3 2 ¨ J 10 7 6 4 § Q 9
	ª J 8 4 2 © K Q 9 6 ¨ 3 § A K 10 2

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Suda	Kopecky	Kautny	Hoderova
1ª	Pass	Pass	Dble
2¨	Pass	3¨	All Pass

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Jankova	Haidinger	Macura	Hopfler
1ª	Pass	Pass	Dble
3¨	Pass	5¨	All Pass

Would you rebid 2¨, as did Suda, or 3¨ as preferred by Jankova? The 2¨ bid caught a simple raise from partner and this was not sufficient to convince suda to go on facing a passed partner. That was right in theory, of course, as there are three top losers in 5¨. And on aclub lead Kopecky/Hoderova duly took their three winners; +130.
Macura jumped to game facing the 3¨ rebid. The record states that Haidinger cashed the ace of hearts then switched to a spade. This is a very strange thing to do. Also strange is the fact that declarer is only credited with eleven tricks after this defence, when both declarer's club losers can be ruffed in dummy easily enough. Ah well, +600 was worth 10 IMPs to Czech Republic, completing an emphatic 86-22 IMP, 25-3 VP win.

The Czechs became the first leaders in the event (unless you count England, of course, who led for the first few boards in the morning because of their bye, giving them 18 VPs while all the teams who were actually playing in Round 1 started off level at 15-15 VPs.)