Dutch Round-Up

The future of international junior bridge is under threat, with the WBF, amongst other options, discussing the possibility of switching to a four- instead of the current two-year cycle. An interesting point about the future of Youth Championships was made by Brian Senior, the bulletin editor. He stated that in fact the threat of organising not even one youth event in any year is really endangering the development of bridge for young people. Suppose you are 23 or 24 and succeed in qualifying in your own country for an international championship. That is something every junior is looking forward to. You feel good until the EBL and/or WBF decide that there will be no tournament that year. It was your last chance because in two years time you will exceed the age limit for juniors. Maybe half the players who only qualify to play in one junior championship would find that they missed out altogether if the frequency of events was halved. This will probably decrease the enthusiasm of young people. So the hard work of many years will disappear and young boys and girls will not be inclined to take up bridge as a competitive sport. As Brian stated, an international youth event every year is what we are looking forward to.

lso, Erik Rohrberg of Denmark expressed his anxiety about the diminishing interest in junior bridge. Krister Andersson of Sweden is convinced that we must do everything to keep the big junior championships. Hartmu Kondoch of Germany already suggested that he could arrange a venue for the junior pairs in 2008. Let us all do our best and put our heads together. Maybe the closing ceremony on Saturday will provide the opportunity to put one and one together.

At last the championship really got underway with rounds 11 and 12 on Tuesday. Wednesday, with three matches, was important for all the teams in contention for the title, the medals and the qualifying places for the world teams (that is something every junior wants to reach).

Just some impressions from the rounds 7-11.

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

West	North	East	South
			3♥
Pass	4♥	All Pass

Vincent de Pagter opened vulnerable in first seat with a pre-emptive 3♥. Jacco Hop raised to game, which was easy even with the trump king offside. The commentator in the vugraph thought this a lucky one. But a classic 3♥ pre-empt promises seven tricks. So with two aces that makes nine and then the try for the vulnerable game looks all right.

Marion Michielsen and Meike Wortel did well against Italy to hold the Dutch loss to 10-20 in Round 8 of the Junior Championship.

Board 16. Dealer West. E/W Vul.
	♠ 9 7 4 ♥ Q J 10 ♦ J 9 2 ♣ K J 8 3
♠ 6 ♥ 5 3 2 ♦ K 10 6 5 3		♠ 8 5 2 ♥ A K 9 8 7 6 ♦ A
	♠ A K Q J 10 3 ♥ 4 ♦ Q 8 7 4 ♣ 10 5

West	North	East	South
Pass	Pass	1♥	1♠
2♥	Pass	4♥	Pass
Pass	Dble	All Pass

Somehow, I feel for 4♠ by South (like the Dutch did) but North went for a penalty. The spade ace did not harm declarer who could ruff two spades and dispose of a club on the diamond king

Against Hungary in Round 9, Hop/de Pagter ran into an unlucky distribution after a surprise lead:

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

With the expected lead in hearts, declarer finds out about the club distribution and uses the two aces in dummy to pick up the clubs in North, making six tricks in clubs via two finesses. Unfortunately for the Netherlands the Hungarian South chose a small spade to lead. Declarer, not being clairvoyant, now went down one.

In the match against Poland in Round 10, Bob Drijver had a tough problem where a lot of courage was needed.

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

West	North	East	South
			1♥
Pass	2♦	Pass	2♥
Pass	3♣	Pass	4♣
Pass	4♥	Pass	4♠
Pass	4NT	Pass	5♣
Pass	6♦	Dble	All Pass

Not an easy one. Personally, I would probably have bid 3NT after 3♣, but 4♣ gave North the push to go to slam even when he found out about only one ace. Bob explained that South, with ♠Axx, probably would have bid 3♠ after 3♣ and that 4♣ should be a really slam interested hand. Right he was.

After ♦A and a spade, ruffed, declarer ruffed three diamonds in dummy for +1090 and a gain of 5 IMPs when Poland reached and made 6♣ undoubled.

Against Germany in Round 11 it was what the player himself called an undisciplined action that created the 19-11 win for the Netherlands.

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

West	North	East	South
		1♠	Pass
1NT	Pass	2♠	Pass
Pass	3♥	Pass	4♥
Dble	All Pass

Jacco Hop knows that you cannot punish partner if he balances. But somehow the North hand seemed an exception. East/West could take three minor-suit tricks(for a push because the Dutch east/west pair bid and made 2♠) but East selected a small spade which made ten tricks and +590 possible.