Italy v France – Round 19 Juniors
This was a big match for both Italy and France. Italy didn’t want to see Poland pull away completely and France wanted to hang in there at the top. Italy was in the lead by 16-5 when this double game swing for France came along.
| Board 8. Dealer West. None Vul. |
| |
♠ A K Q J
♥ 6
♦ 9 3
♣ J 10 7 4 3 2 |
♠ 7 6 2
♥ Q 10 5 2
♦ A J 10 8 6
♣ 6 |
 |
♠ 8 4
♥ A K 9 8 4
♦ K Q 7 2
♣ Q 5 |
| |
♠ 10 9 5 3
♥ J 7 3
♦ 5 4
♣ A K 9 8 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Gaviard |
Lo Presti |
T. Bessis |
Di Bello |
| Pass |
1♣ |
1♥ |
1♠ |
| 3♦ |
3♠ |
4♥ |
All Pass |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Sbarigia |
O. Bessis |
Boldrini |
Tessieres |
| Pass |
1♣ |
1♥ |
1♠ |
| 3♦ |
3♠ |
4♥ |
4♠ |
| Pass |
Pass |
5♥ |
Pass |
| Pass |
5♠ |
All Pass |
|
Five Hearst is a very good save, being only one down. In the Open Room, Julien Gaviard/Thomas Bessis were left to play in 4♥, and that was even better for them; N/S +420.
The bidding started identically at both tables. Godefroy de Tessieres did very well in the Closed Room to take his hand further, and then Olivier Bessis judged correctly to bid once more when he hardly could see any defensive tricks in 5♥. Matteo Sbarigia was really unlucky on this board as he led his singleton club. Declarer won with the ace, drew trumps and cashed the clubs. One ruff in each hand made eleven tricks for a nice +450. So it happened that France bid and made game in both rooms, and that was worth 13 great IMPs.
| Board 13. Dealer North. All Vul. |
| |
♠ A 8 6
♥ K
♦ 8 7 5 3
♣ A K Q 9 2 |
♠ K 5
♥ J 10 7 5 4
♦ J 4 2
♣ 10 8 6 |
|
♠ J 10 9 7 4
♥ 9 6
♦ K Q 10 6
♣ 7 4 |
| |
♠ Q 3 2
♥ A Q 8 3 2
♦ A 9
♣ J 5 3 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Gaviard |
Lo Presti |
T. Bessis |
Di Bello |
| |
1NT |
Pass |
2♦ |
| Pass |
2♥ |
Pass |
3NT |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Sbarigia |
O. Bessis |
Boldrini |
Tessieres |
| |
1♣ |
Pass |
1♥ |
| Pass |
2♦ |
Pass |
2♥ |
| Pass |
3♣ |
Pass |
3♠* |
| Pass |
3NT |
Pass |
4♣ |
| Pass |
4♥ |
Pass |
4♠ |
| Pass |
4NT |
Pass |
5♥ |
| Pass |
5NT |
Pass |
6♣ |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
Fabio Lo Presti chose to pass 3NT as he had opened 1NT with the bare king of hearts. East led the jack of spades to the queen, king and ace. Declarer then cashed out for +630.
In the other room it looked as if De Tessieres was heading for the same spot when he asked for a spade stopper with 3♠. He continued, however, and made a slam try with 4♣ then checked the aces and even invited a grand. Six Clubs needs very favourable distribution which doesn’t exist here. The defence started with the king of diamonds, which held the trick, then switched to the jack of spades to the queen, king and ace. Declarer unblocked the king of hearts in the hope of discarding two spades from hand. If the trumps were divided 3-2 and both defenders would follow to three rounds of hearts, two spades and two diamonds could be ruffed in each hand. In real life, East ruffed the third heart for one light and –100. The gain for Italy was 13 IMPs.
At this moment the Italians were up by 11, leading 29 to 18. France struck back and won 5 IMPs on Board 14, then came
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Gaviard |
Lo Presti |
T. Bessis |
Di Bello |
| |
|
|
Pass |
| 1♠ |
2♥ |
All Pass |
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Sbarigia |
O. Bessis |
Boldrini |
Tessieres |
| |
|
|
Pass |
| 1♠ |
2♥ |
Pass |
Pass |
| Dble |
All Pass |
|
|
N/S were punished at many tables when North overcalled 2♥, since West reopened with a double and all passed. This was what happened in the Closed Room. N/S plays much better in diamonds, but in practise it’s difficult to reach a diamond contract after the reasonable overcall in hearts.
East led the ten of spades, which held the first trick, then played one more spade to the nine and jack. On the ace of spades declarer correctly pitched a losing club, East a diamond. Sbarigia nicely underplayed his ace of clubs to the king. Declarer ruffed the club continuation, cashed the king of diamonds, then played the jack of hearts, which held. East ruffed the ace of diamonds and North and East won every other trick from here as they played a minor which was ruffed. When the smoked had cleared declarer counted to five tricks; down three for –800.
In the other room, Gaviard didn’t want to reopen. After the same start, West cashed the ace of clubs then played a spade. Declarer ruffed in hand with the jack, East discarding his last diamond. Even though Lo Presti now was four down for -400 it was a cheap affair for the Italians; 9 IMPs to Italy.
France gained 1 IMP on Board 16 then another 5 IMPs on the next board when Lo Presti/Di Bello were a bit too ambitious to bid 3NT with only 22 HCPs.
| Board 18. Dealer East. N/S Vul. |
| |
♠ 10 9 3
♥ 8 5 3
♦ K J 8 5 3
♣ J 9 |
♠ A Q 5 4 2
♥ K Q J 10 9 4
♦ Q 10
♣ - |
|
♠ J 8 7
♥ 7 6
♦ 6 2
♣ A K Q 8 7 4 |
| |
♠ K 6
♥ A 2
♦ A 9 7 4
♣ 10 6 5 3 2 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Gaviard |
Lo Presti |
T. Bessis |
Di Bello |
| |
|
Pass |
1♣ |
| 2♦* |
Pass |
3♠ |
Pass |
| 4♠ |
All Pass |
|
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Sbarigia |
O. Bessis |
Boldrini |
Tessieres |
| |
|
1♣ |
Pass |
| 1♥ |
Pass |
2♣ |
Pass |
| 2♠ |
Pass |
3♣ |
Pass |
| 3♠ |
Pass |
4♠ |
All Pass |
Gaviard’s 2♦ was for the majors and with his powerful hand he raised to game. The crucial thing here is the opening lead. Di Bello found the killer, a diamond to the queen and king. The jack of diamonds won the second trick for the defence. If North plays a black card now he gives declarer a chance, while any red card will do the job for the defence. Lo Presti exited with a heart to South’s ace and declarer was doomed to go down. Di Bello returned the ace of diamonds for a ruff and discard, but to no use for declarer. If he wins in dummy, he is stuck there and can no longer pick up the trumps. To ruff in hand, what Bessis actually did, was no better, thus he then was down to only two spades. The trump finesse succeeded but the defence had to win one trump trick.
In the Closed Room, Sbarigia declared as West. Olivier Bessis also found the diamond lead, so it went to the ace and back came another diamond to the king. Then what? De Tessieres had returned a low diamond and, without any signal for suit preference Bessis switched to the jack of clubs. That error by Bessis gave declarer the help he needed; a winning spade finesse followed by the trump ace and there were no trump losers. The defence won a trick with the ace of hearts but that was all; +420 and that was worth 9 IMPs to Italy.
On the two last boards France closed the gap a bit. On the penultimate board came a package of IMPs for them.
| Board 19. Dealer South. E/W Vul. |
| |
♠ K 10 6
♥ Q 10 8 7 4
♦ Q 10 6 5
♣ 7 |
♠ A Q 8 5
♥ K 5 3
♦ 4
♣ J 9 8 4 2 |
|
♠ J 7 3 2
♥ 6
♦ K J 8 3
♣ K Q 10 5 |
| |
♠ 9 4
♥ A J 9 2
♦ A 9 7 2
♣ A 6 3 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Gaviard |
Lo Presti |
T. Bessis |
Di Bello |
| |
|
|
1♦ |
| Pass |
1♥ |
Pass |
2♥ |
| Pass |
Pass |
Dble |
Pass |
| 2♠ |
3♥ |
Pass |
Pass |
| 3♠ |
All Pass |
|
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Sbarigia |
O. Bessis |
Boldrini |
Tessieres |
| |
|
|
1♦ |
| Pass |
1♥ |
Pass |
2♥ |
| Pass |
2NT |
Pass |
4♥ |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
Lo Presti led his singleton club against 3♠ and a few moments later N/S had won the first five tricks. That was all for them though, so Italy +100.
Four Hearts is a struggle but not impossible. Olivier Bessis obtained redress here for his misdefence on the previous board. He won the club lead with the ace in dummy, then ruffed a club and ran the eight of hearts. West took the trick with the king, cashed the ace of spades then switched to a trump. Bessis won in hand, drew the last trump by crossing to dummy. Next came a diamond to the ten and jack. East exited with a spade, but Bessis could win the king and play the queen of diamonds, to the king and ace. Dummy’s last club was ruffed in hand and now a diamond to the seven was triumphant. Bessis claimed ten tricks for +420 and 8 important IMPs to his team. Well done!
Italy won this close match by 48-42, 16-14 VP, but nonetheless not a very uplifting result for either of the teams |
