Italy v England – Schools Round 5

Italy and England lay fourth and sixth respectively after four rounds of the Schools series, well in contention for the medals. As it turned out, this closely fought match made little difference to either team's standing in the Championship.

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

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Andrews	Di Franco	Graham	Delle Cave
-	-	2©	Pass
3©	Dble	Pass	3ª
Pass	4ª	All Pass

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Manno	Atthey	Mistretta	MacDougall
-	-	Pass	Pass
Pass	2§	2©	Pass
4©	Dble	All Pass

Eugenio Mistretta, Italy

For England, Michael Graham could open 2©, hearts and a minor, and Philip Andrews raised pre-emptively to 3©. Massimili Di Franco doubled then raised Giuseppe Delle Cave's 3ª response to game. Delle Cave won the club lead and played a low spade away from the king, losing to the nine. Graham switched to the ©K and declarer won the ace then played diamonds from the top. The lack of an entry to hand was his problem, of course. By permitting East to get a diamond ruff, Delle cave went three down for –300, but the contract was always completely hopeless.

East passed at the other table and Jon Atthey was left to open the North hand in fourth seat with his side's strong bid of 2§. Eugenio Mistretta overcalled 2© and Andrea Manno raised to game. Being shut out of the auction did not pain Atthey unduly and he doubled the final contract. Laura MacDougall led a spade and declarer ducked to the king. Atthey played diamonds and two of those stood up, plus two aces for down two and a further 300 to England; +12 IMPs.

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

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Andrews	Di Franco	Graham	Delle Cave
-	-	-	Pass
1¨	Pass	1©	Pass
2§	Pass	3§	Pass
3NT	All Pass

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Manno	Atthey	Mistretta	MacDougall
-	-	-	2¨
Dble	2©	Dble	Pass
3©	Pass	3NT	All Pass

Both East/West pairs bid to the no trump game, though the Italians had a harder task after MacDougall's 2¨ opening, weak with at least four-four in the majors. However, the contract wa splayed from different sides of the table.

Against Andrews the lead was the jack of spades, covered all round. He played the §K to Di Franco's ace and a second spade ensured the contract's defeat. Andrews was two down for –200.

At the other table East was declaer and MacDougalls; lead of a low spade went to the jack and queen, presenting Mistretta with both a third spade trick and a third stopper in the suit. He finessed the ¨10 at trick two and that lost to the jack. Back came the ©6 heart for the king and ace and a second heart round to the ten gave declarer his ninth trick; +600 and 13 IMPs to Italy.

England led by 28-25 after 11 boards, then came the next big swing:

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

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Andrews	Di Franco	Graham	Delle Cave
2§	Pass	2NT	Pass
3ª	Pass	4NT	Pass
5§	Pass	5ª	All Pass

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Manno	Atthey	Mistretta	MacDougall
Pass	Pass	1ª	Pass
2NT	Pass	3§	Pass
3ª	Pass	4§	Pass
4¨	Pass	4NT	Pass
5¨	Pass	5ª	All Pass

Andrews opened 2§, weak with at least four spades and Graham enquired, discovered a maximum then asked for key cards. Not liking the reply, Graham signed off in 5ª. Graham won the diamond lead in hand and played a spade to the ten and ace. When Di Franco now switched to a low heart, he went up with the king, and that was eleven tricks for +450.

Mistretta/Manno also reached the five level under their own steam. MacDougall led a club and declarer won the king then crossed to the ¨K and threw the ¨A on the §A, ruffed a the last diamond and played a heart up. When Atthey played low without a flicker, Mistretta put in the ten and was one down; –50 and 11 IMPs to England.

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

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Andrews	Di Franco	Graham	Delle Cave
-	-	-	1¨
1©	Pass	1ª	2¨
Pass	Pass	2ª	Pass
Pass	3¨	All Pass

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Manno	Atthey	Mistretta	MacDougall
-	-	-	Pass
1©	Pass	1ª	Pass
1NT	Pass	3§	Pass
4ª	All Pass

The English East/West pair seriously undercompeted on this deal and left their opponents to play 3¨. Andrews led three rounds of spades and Delle cave ruffed the third round and played a low club. Andrews took his ace and switched to ace and another heart for Graham to ruff; down one for 100.

MacDougall did not open the South hand and the Italians had a free run to 4ª. MacDougall led three rounds of diamonds, Mistretta ruffing the third round in dummy. He drew three rounds of trumps then played the §J, which was ducked by both defenders! Declarer just gave up a club now and had ten tricks for +420 and 8 IMPs to Italy.

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

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Andrews	Di Franco	Graham	Delle Cave
-	-	1§	Pass
1¨	Pass	2NT	Pass
3ª	Pass	4ª	Pass
4NT	Pass	5¨	Pass
6ª	All Pass

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Manno	Atthey	Mistretta	MacDougall
-	-	2NT	Pass
3§	Pass	3ª	Pass
4¨	Pass	4©	Pass
4NT	Pass	5§	Pass
5¨	Pass	5ª	Pass
6ª	All Pass

Both East/West pairs bid smoothly and confidently to the top spot of 6ª, Italy after a 2NT opening and Stayman enquiry, England after a forcing club and 2NT rebid. Flat at +1010 when both declarers got the trumps right.

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

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Andrews	Di Franco	Graham	Delle Cave
-	-	-	Pass
1§	1ª	Pass	3ª
4§	Pass	5§	All Pass

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Manno	Atthey	Mistretta	MacDougall
-	-	-	Pass
1§	1ª	Pass	2ª
Dble	Pass	3§	All Pass

MacDougall's quiet 2ª raise allowed her opponents to play at a comfortable level. There were three loser in 3§, +130.

Delle Cave's pre-emptive jumpt o 3ª made it more difficult for the English East/West pair, who bid to game – but then would you not be happy to bid game on the position of a missing ace, particularly when the hand you require to hold that ace has overcalled? Five Clubs had to go one down for 100 and a further 6 IMPs to Italy.
The final score in the match was 40-39 to Italy, 15-15 VPs.

But what about that last board – anyone for 4©? The heart game is quite cold once trumps divide evenly, irrespective of the position of the ¨A. That may make it less good than 5§, but it is still a plausible contract. And, sure enough, 4© was played at just one table in the two Championships.

Netherlands v Turkey

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Eskizara	V Munnen	Dalkilic	Groenenboom
-	-	-	Pass
1§	1ª	Pass	2ª
3©	Pass	3ª	Pass
4§	Pass	4©	All Pass

When Turkey's Omer Eskizara rebid 3© with the West cards, Basar Dalkilic asked for a spade stop then tried 4© on his three-card support, which Eskizara was delighted to pass. No problem, +620.

It is one of those coincidences that we always notice, as opposed to all the coincidences that don't happen, which we take for granted, but the other table at which East/West reached the heart game was in the same match!

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Barendregt	Seker	Ritmeijer	Paksoy
-	-	-	Pass
1§	1ª	Pass	2ª
3©	3ª	4©	4ª
Pass	Pass	Dble	All Pass

When Netherlands' Erwin Barendregt also reversed into 3©, Basar Doga Seker competed with 3ª on the North cards and Richard Ritmeijer simply bid 4©. But now Serhat Ozer Paksoy found the 4ª save for Turkey. With the diamond onside, Seker had to lose only three hearts and a club; down one for –100 but 11 IMPs to Turkey. Netherlands had the last laugh, however, as, despite this board they ran out winners by 21-9 VPs.