PABF Championships Only a couple of weeks after the end of the current Championships in Riccione, several of our teams will be starting play in the World Youth Championships in Sydney, Australia. Trawling the web, I came across the bulletins of the recent PABF Championships in Seoul, Korea. The PABF Youth champions are Japan, the first time they have won the title. The other qualifiers for Sydney were China Hong Kong and China Taipei. Actually, Australia finished second but they play without standing and will be playing in Sydney anyway. There was one deal, reported by Cathy Chua, featuring the Australian juniors that you might consider newsworthy Board 3. Dealer South. E/W Vul.   ♠ Q 10 7 5 4 ♥ 8 6 2 ♦ J 10 5 ♣ A 7 ♠ K 3 ♥ J 10 3 ♦ A K 9 8 7 2 ♣ 10 6 ♠ A 8 6 2 ♥ A K Q 5 4 ♦ 4 ♣ Q 8 2   ♠ J 9 ♥ 9 7 ♦ Q 6 3 ♣ K J 9 5 4 3 West North East South Dewi Feiler Wahyu Porter       3♣ Pass 3♦ Pass 4♦ All Pass       This one came in the match against Indonesia. Gabby Feiler’s psychic 3♦ response to the pre-empt succeeded beautifully, though it really should not have done so – isn’t East worth a double when 4♦ is passed by North? Now West will pass and E/W will presumably get to defend 5♣ doubled for what looks like +1100. In real life, 4♦ drifted five off for –250 and +9 IMPs as Australia chalked up +650 in 4♥ at the other table. Strip and Endplay Turkey had two good wins in the Junior series on Friday, including one over Poland. This nice endplay by Huseyin Gurcan Bakan contributed to the Turkish success. Board 1. Dealer North. None Vul.   ♠ 6 ♥ J 8 7 5 3 ♦ Q 9 8 7 3 ♣ Q 4 ♠ A J 10 9 5 4 2 ♥ 6 4 ♦ 10 ♣ 10 9 8 ♠ Q 8 ♥ K 2 ♦ A J 6 4 ♣ A 7 6 3 2   ♠ K 7 3 ♥ A Q 10 9 ♦ K 5 2 ♣ K J 5 West North East South Anter Buras Bakan Araskiewicz   Pass 1NT Pass 2♥ Pass 2♠ Pass 4♠ All Pass     For Poland, Konrad Araskiewicz made the normal lead of a low spade into the 15-17 no trump on his right and Bakan ran this to his queen then repeated the spade finesse and cashed the ♠A. Next he passed the ♣10 to South’s jack and Araskiewicz was in difficulties. He solved his problem by exiting with the king of diamonds to declarer’s king but the reprieve was only temporary. Bakan won the ace of diamonds and ruffed a diamond then led the ♣9 to queen and ace. Next came the key play, a second diamond ruff. When Bakan now played the third club to Araskiewicz’s king, South had only hearts left and had to lead up to declarer’s king to give the contract. Very nicely played.

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