Poland v Germany – Round 1 Schools Will Poland, as reigning champions in the Schools, win another gold here in Riccione? The outcome will be known in a few days, nonetheless, a good start is always nice if you want to fight at the top of any competition. Board 1. Dealer North. None Vul.   ♠ Q J 8 ♥ A K 8 5 3 ♦ 8 5 2 ♣ 8 5 ♠ A 9 5 ♥ 9 6 2 ♦ A Q 6 ♣ 7 6 3 2 ♠ K 10 3 2 ♥ Q ♦ J 10 9 7 3 ♣ K Q J   ♠ 7 6 4 ♥ J 10 7 4 ♦ K 4 ♣ A 10 9 4 West North East South Rehder Machno Katerbau Igla   Pass 1♦ Pass 1NT Pass 2♦ Pass Pass 2♥ Pass Pass 3♦ All Pass     West North East South M. Sikora Guba J. Sikora Orth   Pass 1♦ Pass 1NT Pass 2♦ All Pass This board was actually passed out at three tables out of 36 – an extraordinary result taking into account that we are talking about an event for juniors… E/W are likely to play some number of diamonds, so Artur Machno tried his best to reopen 2♥, but he was not left to play there as Martin Rehder bid once again. If South leads anything but a heart declarer will have time to establish a spade trick for ten tricks in total. There were no reason not to lead a heart for Bartlomiej Igla and the defence kept on playing hearts whenever they came, in leaving declarer with nine tricks; E/W +110. Paul Orth was in 2♦, and it just made for+90, so the first IMP went to Poland. Board 4. Dealer West. All Vul.   ♠ 9 8 7 5 3 ♥ 10 3 ♦ A Q 10 3 ♣ J 5 ♠ A K 2 ♥ A 8 4 2 ♦ 9 7 6 5 ♣ 10 7 ♠ Q 10 4 ♥ 6 ♦ K 8 4 ♣ A K 9 8 4 2   ♠ J 6 ♥ K Q J 9 7 5 ♦ J 2 ♣ Q 6 3 West North East South Rehder Machno Katerbau Igla Pass Pass 1♣ 2♥ Pass Pass Dble All Pass West North East South M. Sikora Guba J. Sikora Orth Pass Pass 2♣ Pass 2♦* Pass 3♣ Pass 3NT All Pass     Igla pre-empted 2♥ and Rehder left him to play there by passing his partners take-out double. The lead was the ace of spades and on the diamond switch East was able to win the king. The defence had to win two club tricks, one more spade and the ace of trumps for –200. That would normally be a decent score for the Germans since E/W can only make a partscore. In the Closed Room Jan Sikora opened 2♣ natural and showed a six-card suit without any four-card major on the next round. One more club in West’s hand would make an enormous difference to the odds in 3NT, but Maciej had faith in the power of his three top honours (or was it the power of himself as declarer?) so he placed 3NT on the table anyway. With only seven tricks to take, declarer has to go down in theory, but in practise we saw something else happen. North was on lead and without any hints from the auction he tried his longest suit, thus he led the eight of spades. With all suits guarded Sikora only had to give up a club trick to make game; +600 and that was worth 9 IMPs for the Poles. The score had moved on to 32-17 in favour of Poland when we saw next big swing come along. Board 12. Dealer West. N/S Vul.   ♠ A Q 6 2 ♥ 7 4 3 ♦ 8 ♣ A 8 7 4 2 ♠ - ♥ A K Q 10 9 2 ♦ K 10 ♣ K Q 10 5 3 ♠ K 10 7 5 3 ♥ 5 ♦ A Q 7 6 5 2 ♣ J   ♠ J 9 8 4 ♥ J 8 6 ♦ J 9 4 3 ♣ 9 6 West North East South Rehder Machno Katerbau Igla 2♣* Pass 2♦* Pass 2♥ Pass 2♠ Pass 3♥ Pass 3♠ Pass 4♥ Pass 6♦ Pass Pass Dble All Pass   West North East South M. Sikora Guba J. Sikora Orth 1♣* Pass 1♠ Pass 2♥ Pass 3♦ Pass 4♥ All Pass     After a strong club opening the Sikora brothers didn’t have any higher ambitions on this board as they stopped in 4♥. The misfit was obvious but the general values were too good this time. All the same there was not much to the play, so two overtricks were noted for +480. The Germans in the other room were more eager to find a slam. Rehder opened 2♣ forcing, 2♦ was a relay, 2♥ was game-forcing without showing any suits and 2♠ asked for more information. Four natural bids followed and Rehder was quite satisfied that a reasonable trump suit finally had been found, even though at the six level. To make 6♦, declarer needs quite a large amount of help from the defence as there are many ways to beat the contract. For example, by leading a spade South can force dummy to ruff in order to ensure a trump trick for the defence. At the table a heart was led and that worked out well too, in consequence it immediately broke the communications for declarer – end of the story. Down two for –300 and that was 13 powerful IMPs to Poland. Board 18. Dealer East. N/S Vul.   ♠ K Q 10 7 4 ♥ J 10 9 8 7 5 ♦ J 2 ♣ - ♠ A 9 5 2 ♥ A 4 2 ♦ A Q 5 ♣ J 8 7 ♠ 8 3 ♥ - ♦ 10 9 8 4 3 ♣ A K Q 5 4 2   ♠ J 6 ♥ K Q 6 3 ♦ K 7 6 ♣ 10 9 6 3 West North East South Rehder Machno Katerbau Igla     3♣ Pass 3NT All Pass     West North East South M. Sikora Guba J. Sikora Orth     2NT* Pass 3♥* Pass 3NT* Pass 5♦ All Pass     Rehder was pre-empted by his partner, so from his point of view 3NT was a sensible spot to be in, holding 14 balanced. North led the king of spades and the declarer didn’t risk the contract, as he claimed nine tricks for +400. Maciej Sikora was in a better position to go for small slam in any minor, knowing East to be holding both suits. 3NT was explained as 5-5-2-1, West therefore gave the slam thoughts up and only bid game. Being in slam you still have to guess the trump position. Without checking the Encyclopaedia our instinct says low to the queen is the right way to handle the suit, and whether it wins or loses run the ten next. Note that if East is declarer South can lead a club, ruffed by North, but the contract still makes by playing a diamond to the queen then a major is ruffed in dummy followed by the ten of trumps. In practise North led the king of spades won by the ace. Declarer cashed the ace of hearts, pitching a losing spade, due to not being in slam he then simply played the trump ace followed by the queen, claming 12 tricks when the jack dropped. The small slam was missed; +420 but still a solitary IMP to the Poles. Poland won this match quite comfortably by 55-24 IMPs; 21-9 VPs. The Germans were not playing badly; they just didn’t have the luck on their side this time.

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