Sweden v Norway – Juniors Round 17

Many neighbouring countries make jokes about each other. The Dutch make have their fun at the expense of the Belgians and vice versa. Sweden and Norway is another example. Therefore this Scandinavian derby was of extra importance, not only for the VPs to play for but there was also a lot of prestige involved. The Swedes even tried to impress their opponents by playing contracts on 3-3 fits.

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Ringseth	Cullin	Kippe	Berg
-	-	-	Pass
2§	Pass	2¨	Pass
2NT	Pass	3§	Pass
3¨	Pass	3NT	All Pass

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Malmstrom	E.Eide	Salomonsson	Lindqvist
-	-	-	Pass
1§	1NT	Pass	2§
Dble	Pass	2ª	All Pass

With 27 HCPs it wouldn't be a problem to reach game, would it? In the Closed Room Per-Erik Malmstrom opened a strong club and Erik Eide overcalled 1NT, showing a major and a minor. Despite some extra values in both East's and West's hands, the Swedes stopped at the two-level. When the spades were split 4-1 this could have been a lucky board for Sweden since declarer lost two spade tricks and one trick in each minor; +140.

At the other table sat Jorn Ringseth as declarer in 3NT. North led ©10 to dummy's queen. Ringseth played a spade to jack and queen then won the heart switch in hand. A spade to the ten held the trick and the bad news about the spade suit was revealed. Ringseth continued with a diamond up to the king, which held the trick, then ¨J won by South's ace. A heart came back and declarer won the king then played a club to the king. Ringseth cashed ¨Q and endplayed North by playing a spade. North could win two spade tricks but then had to play a club into declarer's tenace. Well done!

With all respect for Ringseth, Mans Berg could have prevented the endplay. If he refuses to win ¨A and holds it up, North can exit with a diamond to South's three winning tricks. This nicely played no trump game was worth +600 and 10 IMPs to Norway.

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Ringseth	Cullin	Kippe	Berg
Pass	Pass	1©	1ª
1NT	All Pass

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Malmstrom	Eide	Salomonsson	Lindqvist
Pass	Pass	Pass	1ª
Pass	1NT	Dble	Pass
2¨	All Pass

The Swedes seems to be fond of playing in diamonds with a 3-3 fit since it happened twice(!) in this match. But, of course, it only happened once at each table...

1NT is not a contract that gives you a hard time; Ringseth made his contract and scored +90 in the Open Room.

Per-Erik Malmstrom should have passed out 1NT doubled, which most likely will go at least one off. When he tried 2¨ instead, the 3-3 split was found again... Six tricks were to be had but that meant –200 and 7 IMPs to Norway.

Board 11. Dealer South. None Vul.
	ª A 10 3 © A Q J ¨ K J 9 § Q J 8 5
ª 7 2 © 8 7 5 ¨ A 6 3 2 § K 10 7 3		ª K Q 9 6 4 © K 10 6 ¨ 10 5 4 § 6 4
	ª J 8 5 © 9 4 3 2 ¨ Q 8 7 § A 9 2

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Ringseth	Cullin	Kippe	Berg
-	-	-	Pass
Pass	1¨	2ª	Pass
Pass	Dble	Pass	2NT
Pass	3§	Pass	3¨
All Pass

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Malmstrom	Eide	Salomonsson	Lindqvist
-	-	-	Pass
Pass	1§	1ª	Pass
Pass	1NT	All Pass

Per-Ola Cullin and Mans Berg are playing natural with four-card openings. When Cullin, for some reason, opened 1¨ instead of 1§, the auction went out of control. Hakon Kippe intervened by bidding 2ª and after a Lebensohl sequence the final contract was 3¨. One level higher than their team-mates on Board 4, but still on a 3-3 fit...
Declarer did a good job to avoid losing six tricks but there was still one undertrick; –50.

In the Closed Room Eide/Lindqvist were in a more sensible contract of One No Trump. East led a spade to declarer's ten. The §Q was run to the king and declarer won the spade countinuation with the ace. Eide established two diamond tricks and now he had his seven tricks; +90 and another 4 IMPs to Norway.

What's your bid sitting East?

ª K 9 8 6
© A
¨ A 8 7 6 2
§ A 6 2

West	North	East	South
-	-	-	Pass
3©	Pass	?

It's a matter of what style West follows for his pre-empt. Pass is the bid if partner holds this hand:

ª 7 5
© K J 9 7 5 4 3
¨ 10 5
§ 9 6

But in practise West had a solid heart suit and extra values.

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Ringseth	Cullin	Kippe	Berg
-	-	-	Pass
4©	All Pass

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Malmstrom	Eide	Salomonsson	Lindqvist
-	-	-	Pass
3©	All Pass

West's hand is somewhere in between 3© and 4©. This time the Norwegians' had the margins on their side since there are 11 tricks in hearts. Perhaps the Swedes were a bit unlycky here, but I surely have sympathy for Ringseth's 4©.

Not only the luck was not on Sweden's side, they also performed poorly. The way to a top five place seems to far away after this key match. The Norwegians are still in contention for the medals, after they beat Sweden by 64-29 IMPs, 22-8 VPs.