Latvia vs Poland (Schools Round 1)

The Leading Question

We sat down to have a look at the title-holders, Poland, when they met Latvia in the first round of the Schools. The Poles were E/W in the Open Room, thus N/S in the Closed Room.

The Poles had their engines going from the start and the score was 11–4 to Poland after two boards. Then Latvia struck back.

Board 3. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
	♠ 9 6 ♥ A 4 2 ♦ K J ♣ A Q J 9 4 3
♠ A Q J 5 ♥ J 9 6 5 ♦ Q 8 ♣ K 8 7		♠ K 10 8 3 ♥ Q 10 ♦ A 10 4 3 2 ♣ 6 2
	♠ 7 4 2 ♥ K 8 7 3 ♦ 9 7 6 5 ♣ 10 5

Closed Room

1NT showed clubs. East led a low spade to the ace and then West erred by switching to the queen of diamonds, covered by the king and ace. As there is only one entry to dummy, West has to play on spades (or switch to a heart). When the defence gave necessary aid in diamonds, declarer now could use his only entry to dummy to take the trump finesse; N/S +110.

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Igla	Cimins	Machno	Olte
			Pass
1♣*	1NT*	Dble	All Pass

North again showed clubs with 1NT and East’s double closed the auction. The Lettish pair clamied that South’s pass was to play 1NT. What an aggressive approach with that rubbish!

East led a diamond to the queen and king. Janis Cimins crossed to dummy with the ace of hearts and, thanks to the successful club finesse, he could take nine tricks, recording +380, and that was 7 IMPs to Latvia.

Jan Wohlin, a multiple Swedish champion and successful in the Swedish national team for many decades in an earlier bridge era, coined the phrase ‘Don’t ever lead!’ That was a useful saying in the match. Try this leading problem for example.

♠ K 10 5 3 ♥ J 4 ♦ 10 5 3 2 ♣ A Q 7

West	North	East	South
Pass	1♣*	1♥*	Pass
2♣*	Pass	2♦*	Pass
3♠	Dble*	Pass	4♥
All Pass

North opened a Polish Club, then showed 15+ with lengths in clubs and hearts, and your partner has shown spades and diamonds. Sitting West, what’s your lead? Stop reading until you have made your choice!

Board 4. Dealer West. All Vul.
	♠ 9 ♥ A K Q 9 ♦ A K 4 ♣ 9 8 6 5 4
♠ K 10 5 3 ♥ J 4 ♦ 10 5 3 2 ♣ A Q 7		♠ A Q 6 2 ♥ 10 5 ♦ Q 9 8 7 6 ♣ J 10
	♠ J 8 7 4 ♥ 8 7 6 3 2 ♦ J ♣ K 3 2

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Igla	Cimins	Machno	Olte
Pass	1♣*	Pass	1♦*
Pass	1♥	Pass	2♥
All Pass

Closed Room

In the Open Room North was declarer in 2♥, so when Arthur Machno led the jack of clubs the defence had four tricks for N/S +140.

Adrians Imsa tried a trump against 4♥, but that was not a very successful move, as declarer now could take the trick in dummy and then pitch a club in hand on the second diamond honour. On a spade lead East wins the ace, then he can beat the game by switching to a club. Did you find the winning spade lead?

After six boards the score had moved on to 28–11 in favour of Poland.

Board 7. Dealer South. All Vul.
	♠ J 9 8 5 4 ♥ 7 ♦ A 10 4 ♣ 9 8 4 2
♠ 7 2 ♥ A Q 9 5 3 ♦ 5 ♣ A Q J 10 7		♠ A Q 3 ♥ J 10 8 6 4 2 ♦ J 9 2 ♣ 5
	♠ K 10 6 ♥ K ♦ K Q 8 7 6 3 ♣ K 6 3

Open Room

Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Imsa	Jassem	Bethers	Zatorski
			1♦
1♥	Dble	4♥	All Pass

This board was flat in our match, as both declarers finessed in spades for an overtrick. However, in the Juniors, this board made a huge contribution to the Scottish victory over Romania (20-10 VPs). This was the auction in the Open Room:

West	North	East	South
Wilkinson	Stafie	Sinclair	Nistor
			1♦
2NT*	Pass	3♦*	Pass
3♥	Pass	5♥	Pass
6 ♥	All Pass

2NT showed a two-suiter and 5♥ was invitational to slam. North led the ace of diamonds and then continued the suit. Alexander Wilkinson ruffed in hand, crossed to dummy with the spade ace, and then finessed in clubs. When this line was successful he ruffed a club then played a heart to the king and ace. The king of clubs dropped under the ace, so the two losing spades could be discarded on high clubs. Just made!

The Scots were the only pair bidding and making 6♥. That was worth 18 IMPs to Scotland as the Romanian E/W pair had an unpleasant time in 4♠, which went four off.

At half time Poland was leading 35 to 11. This was Latvia’s largest swing in the match.

Board 11. Dealer South. None Vul.
	♠ – ♥ K 8 ♦ Q J 10 8 6 5 ♣ A K 10 7 3
♠ A10 9 6 4 ♥ Q 3 ♦ 9 3 ♣ 6 5 4 2		♠ 8 7 5 3 2 ♥ 10 6 5 4 ♦ A K 4 2 ♣ –
	♠ K Q J ♥ A J 9 7 2 ♦ 7 ♣ Q J 9 8

Closed Room

Jassem gave up on a minor-suit slam when partner bid no trump twice. Nonetheless, it might have been sensible to give it one more try. In any case, you can land on your feet in five in either minor. However, 3NT was just made on a spade lead; N/S +400.

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Igla	Cimins	Machno	Olte
			1♥
Pass	2♦	Pass	3♣
Pass	4♣	Pass	4♦*
Pass	4♥	Pass	6♣
All Pass

Here Karlis Olte showed five hearts and at least four clubs and that was all North needed to know to go past 3NT. Four Diamonds was explained as a cuebid at both sides of the screen, but the Latvian players had forgotten the fact they were using 4♦ in this situation as asking for key cards. When North cuebid 4♥ Olte simply leaped to 6♣. The ace of spades was led and declarer could eventually claim twelve tricks as the cards lay. That was a well- deserved 11 IMPs to Latvia, now trailing by 13 IMPs only. Poland recovered quickly, though.

By the way, try another leading question!

♠ A Q 7 ♥ 6 3 ♦ 10 4 3 ♣ 9 8 6 4 3

West	North	East	South
Pass	1♥	2♦	Pass
2♠	Pass	2NT	Pass
3♦	Pass	3NT	All Pass

North’s opens a five-card 1♥. Sitting South, what’s your lead? Again, stop reading until you have made your choice!

Board 12. Dealer West. N/S Vul.
	♠ J 10 9 5 ♥ A Q J 7 2 ♦ K 6 ♣ K 2
♠ K 6 4 3 2 ♥ 5 4 ♦ 7 5 2 ♣ A 10 5		♠ 8 ♥ K 10 9 8 ♦ A Q J 9 8 ♣ Q J 7
	♠ A Q 7 ♥ 6 3 ♦ 10 4 3 ♣ 9 8 6 4 3

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Igla	Cimins	Machno	Olte
Pass	1♥	2♦	Pass
2♠	Pass	2NT	Pass
3♦	Pass	3NT	All Pass

Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Imsa	Jassem	Bethers	Zatorski
Pass	1♥	2♦	Pass
2♠	Pass	2NT	Pass
3♦	All Pass

In the Open Room Machno took a shot at game. The defence started as expected, by leading a heart to the ace and the heart queen. From here on declarer had an easy journey as the diamond king and the spade ace were on side; N/S –400. As you probably already have spotted, the game can be beaten on a spade lead. Not easy to find after partner has opened 1♥!

Against 3♦, South led a low heart to partner’s ace and eventually declarer had nine tricks in his basket, recording –110, and that was 7 IMPs to Poland.

As you will most likely have found the wrong lead on all of the problems to this point, you will be given the opening lead and must find the defence from there on.

	♠ 10 9 8 5 ♥ 9 6 ♦ A K 7 4 ♣ J 10 8
		♠ 4 2 ♥ Q J 3 2 ♦ Q 9 8 ♣ Q 9 3 2

West	North	East	South
	Pass	Pass	2♣
Dble	Pass	2♥	Pass
2♠	Pass	3♠	Pass
4♠	All Pass

Your partner opens 2♣, showing 10-15 with at least six clubs or at least five clubs with either four-card major suit. You lead a top diamond and see dummy follow with the eight, partner with the six and declarer with the two. Your methods are to play low either as encouraging in the suit led or for suit preference. It’s your turn again – what will be your next move? Stop reading until you have decided what to do!

Board 13. Dealer North. All Vul.
	♠ 10 9 8 5 ♥ 9 6 ♦ A K 7 4 ♣ J 10 8
♠ A Q J 7 6 3 ♥ A K 4 ♦ J 5 3 2 ♣ –		♠ 4 2 ♥ Q J 3 2 ♦ Q 9 8 ♣ Q 9 3 2
	♠ K ♥ 10 8 7 5 ♦ 10 6 ♣ A K 7 6 5 4

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Igla	Cimins	Machno	Olte
	Pass	Pass	2♣
Dble	Pass	2♥	Pass
2♠	Pass	3♠	Pass
4♠	All Pass

Cimins switched to the jack of clubs after taking the first trick with the king of diamonds. This should not be too hard to work out regardless of which type of signals you use, as you have all the clues from the auction. West has denied four hearts and South has promised at least five clubs. This tells us that South must have five or six clubs and four hearts, therefore West is likely to hold 5-3-4-1, 6-3-4-0, or 6-3-3-1. With the first two hand shapes there are only two diamonds left for South, thus he can ruff the third round of diamonds. So, is the third hand shape dangerous for North? Yes, in case West has a solid spade suit aside with the two tops in hearts, then a club trick can go away. But that would not be the case here, since South has opened 2♣. Even if West holds:

giving South a poor opening hand such as:

a club trick won’t go away after three rounds of diamonds.

This was the auction in the Closed Room:

Jassem worked out the appropriate defence, thus he cashed his top diamonds and then played another diamond. A trump trick had to come, for one down and 12 IMPs to Poland.

The score had moved on to 60-26 in favour of Poland with only two boards to play.

What’s your lead, holding this hand as North?

West	North	East	South
		Pass	Pass
1♠	2♣	2♠	3♣
4♣*	Pass	4♠	All Pass

* Cuebid

Cimins had more information than his counterpart had and might have found the killing lead.

Board 18. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
	♠ A J 9 ♥ Q 10 6 3 ♦ ♣ Q 10 8 7 5 3
♠ K 10 7 6 4 2 ♥ J 7 ♦ A K Q 4 ♣ A		♠ 8 5 3 ♥ A 5 4 ♦ J 10 9 5 2 ♣ K 9
	♠ Q ♥ K 9 8 2 ♦ 8 7 6 3 ♣ J 6 4 2

Open Room

Closed Room

In the Closed Room INT was for clubs. At both tables a club was led, which gave declarer the opportunity to pitch a losing heart. On a heart lead the defence cuts off declarer from dummy, thus 4♥ is doomed to go down.

A few IMPs went the Lettish way in the last boards, but the Poles didn’t let(t) Latvia come too close, giving Poland a final winning margin of 60-31 IMPs, 21-9 VPs.