| 3rd European Open Bridge Championships | Page 4 | Bulletin 3 - Monday 18 June 2007 |
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Round 1 - Group F by Peter Ventura In the first round we sat down to watch the transnational team Varenne, with players from the Netherlands, Monaco and the U.S., facing one of many home teams, Zenne, in group F. The big swing of the match came immediately.
Open Room:
Closed Room:
One Notrump would have been a more sensible contract on North-South’s cards but both tables reached an awful no-trump game. A low club was led at both tables and the declarer could start by winning the trick cheaply. In the Closed Room Jan Jansma discarded the three of hearts on the lead. Zafer Senguler ducked a diamond trick to see what happened next, but when diamonds didn’t split 3-3 he was down two after the smoke had cleared. Meanwhile Chris Willenken as declarer saw West play the ten of hearts at his table. Chris thought he now might establish the poor heart suit, so he played a heart at trick two to East’s king. He won the spade shift in hand and played on hearts to West, then won the spade that came back. The defence can always defeat the contract since declarer can only enter the dummy twice on his own, but a slip saw Willenken make his contract. That was 11 IMPs to Varenne and a flying start for them.
Open Room:
Closed Room:
At both tables East-West missed the opportunity to reach the diamond game. Five Diamonds can make thanks to the perfect fit, but is not really easy to reach. In the Closed Room Naran Dagseven overcalled Two Diamonds, showing a limited hand with either major, Jan Jansma doubled for points, kind of invitational. North bid Three Hearts and when Michielsen’s pass denied four spades Jansma let him to play there. The defence slipped slightly at both tables for one down and a flat board, when the spade ruff was missed.
Closed Room
Jan Jansma opened One Spade and Zafer Senguler immediately jumped to Five Diamonds. Marion Michielsen tried the jack of hearts instead of leading partner’s suit. Declarer now pitched a losing spade on the ace of hearts. Down one. At the other table Nuray Kamgozen took a different view: Open Room:
f North-South can manage to double Four Spades it could be an expensive affair for East-West. With best defense it will go three down for 800 as there are two club tricks, one diamond, one heart and two heart ruffs to collect. Chris Willenken was afraid that Four Spades would make so he sacrificed in Five Diamonds. After a spade lead he was two down and that was 5 IMPs to Zenne. Five Clubs is a far better minor game, both in theory and in practice, since it can be made. As the cards lie two diamonds have to be ruffed with South’s high clubs before drawing trumps. If you draw the trumps after the defence’s two spade tricks you will probably go down, you can only succeed by playing the ace of diamonds then a high diamond and letting it run unless East covers. Only a few more IMPs were exchanged in this match and therefore the first board was crucial for Varenne as the final score was 16-14 VPs (15-9 IMPs) in their favour. |
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