Latvia vs France (Juniors Round 13)

France, with Thomas Bessis, Open Teams gold medallist in Antalya, was trailing in the rankings after 12 rounds. From their tenth position they needed to get some air under their wings and start climbing in the rankings. In their way was Latvia, lying in eleventh position before this match.

After three boards we had the soccer score of 1-0 to France. Then this came along:

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

Open Room

West	North	East	South
T. Bessis	Bethers	O. Bessis	Lorencs
1♦	Pass	1NT	Pass
2♦	Pass	2NT	Pass
3NT	All Pass

Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Kuldkepp	Vinay	Balasovs	Seguineau
1♦	Pass	1NT	Pass
2♦	2♥	3♣	All Pass

In the Closed Room, Adrien Vinay’s thin 2♥ overcall put the brakes on the Lettish bidding, which reasonably enough stopped in 3♣. On the heart lead declarer ran three rounds of hearts and ditched a losing diamond from hand. The defence took two trump tricks and a trick in each major suit; N/S –110.

Despite the poor diamond suit, Thomas Bessis took a shot at game when his brother, Olivier, was able to bid over 2♦. South led a spade to the ace and back came another spade to declarer’s king. Both the diamond and the spade suits split nicely for Olivier, thus he eventually could claim nine tricks; N/S +600 and 10 IMPs to France.

Did you spot the killing lead? Yes, a low club to the king. From here on declarer cannot succeed so long as North switches to a spade.

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

In the Closed Room Meelis Kuldkepp was declarer in 2♥. North led the ten of diamonds and declarer lost one spade and three minor-suit tricks; N/S –140.

A little more was at stake at the other table, as Olivier Bessis pre-empted 3♥ over his brother’s five-card One Heart opening. North led a heart, won in dummy. Declarer played a spade up and the king held the trick. Now declarer crossed to dummy in trumps and played another spade up. Martins Lorencs hopped up with the ace and played a low diamond in tempo. All of a sudden Thomas had a losing option in the diamond suit, which would not have been the case if South had exited with either of the black suits. Bessis misguessed the situation and played low. Now North could win the queen and the defence had to have another diamond trick and their two club tricks for one down. Very nicely defended by Lorencs! That defence was worth 5 IMPs to Latvia. Unfortunately for them, these IMPs were their last (in this match).

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

Open Room

West	North	East	South
T. Bessis	Bethers	O. Bessis	Lorencs
	Pass	1♠	3♣
Pass	Pass	Dble	Pass
4♥	All Pass

Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Kuldkepp	Vinay	Balasovs	Seguineau
	Pass	1♣*	2♣
Pass	3♣	Pass	Pass
3♥	Pass	4♥	All Pass

Thomas Bessis saw the defence cash two club tricks then switch to a diamond. He won the trick in dummy and then played the trump ace. Now he was down due to the nasty trump split.

Declarer in the Closed Room didn’t succeed either, so no swing here.

In the vugraph match, South’s overcall showed four spades and any minor suit. Not even here declarer found the winning line. With this information from the auction, I think declarer should consider running the ten of hearts. It is not likely that he will find South with all the hearts, so the only position you need to protect against is North holding all four.

At half-time France was leading by 25-7 IMPs and with three boards to go the French lead had increased to 43-7 IMPs. This was the last large swing in the match.

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

Open Room

West	North	East	South
T. Bessis	Bethers	O. Bessis	Lorencs
		Pass	2♦*
4♦*	4♠	Dble	All Pass

Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Kuldkepp	Vinay	Balasovs	Seguineau
		Pass	Pass
2♥*	Pass	3♥	3♠
4♦	Dble	4♥	Dble
All Pass

Over the multi, Thomas found a useful weapon: 4♦, showing the red suits. Janis Bethers believed his side could make game, but Olivier expressed a different opinion by doubling 4♠.

East led the heart ace and then continued with another heart, won by dummy’s king. Declarer played a spade to the ace and a spade towards dummy. East hopped up with the king and switched to a diamond, which was ruffed in dummy. Then declarer played the trump queen and, since West held a void in spades, it would be sensible to play for the club length to be in his hand, Bethers thought this, so he finessed through West. East could win the queen and there was a trump trick to come – one down; N/S –200. Did declarer misplay the hand by finessing through West? You be the judge!

Kuldkepp’s opening of 2♥ showed hearts and a minor suit. North led a trump and declarer had to lose a trump and four tricks in the minor suits, thus he was two down; N/S +300, and that was worth 11 IMPs to France.

That gave us the final score of 55-7 IMPs converted to 25-5 VPs.

Perhaps this was the turning point France so badly needed. This match was definately a sign of improvement, so had ‘Le Bleu’ begun their race to the top? Yes, it seems that the top teams have to be beware – as the French followed up this victory by defating Slovakia by 25-3 VPs. ‘Allons enfant de la patrie… marchons, marchons!’