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England vs Scotland
Ladies Series - Round 12
As we moved into the second half of the Women's Championship,
England were leading while Scotland were last. Perhaps that sounds
like the recipe for a massacre but local rivalry often produces
upsets - would this be another example of that phenomenon?
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Board 4. Dealer West. All Vul.
|
| |
ª -
© 7 6 2
¨ A Q 10 9
§ A K 10 7 3 2 |
ª A 8 7 3
© A J 8 4 3
¨ 6 5
§ 9 5 |
 |
ª K Q 10 6
© Q 9
¨ J 8 7 3 2
§ 8 4 |
| |
ª J 9 5 4 2
© K 10 5
¨ K 4
§ Q J 6 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Dhondy |
Outred |
Smith |
Alexander |
| 2¨ |
3§ |
3ª |
4§ |
| Pass |
5§ |
All Pass |
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| McGowan |
Brunner |
McQuaker |
Goldenfield |
| Pass |
1§ |
Pass |
1ª |
| Pass |
2§ |
Pass |
3§ |
| Pass |
3ª |
Pass |
3NT |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
 Fiona Mcquaker, Scotland |
|
Heather Dhondy's 2¨ opening was weak with at
least 5-4 in the majors. Nicola Smith competed in spades,
making it almost inevitable that the Scots would play the club
game. Smith led the king of spades and Vi Outred ruffed and,
remembering the opening bid, tried the effect of cashing one
top trump then playing three rounds of diamonds to pitch a
heart from dummy. That was not a success, as Dhondy could ruff
the third round and exit with a low spade. Outred drew the
remaining trump then led a heart for the king and ace. With
only one trump in dummy, she had to lose two more tricks for
down two; -200.
Michelle Brunner and Rhona Goldenfield had
a free run at the other table and got to 3NT. Not altogether
surprisingly on the auction, the lead was a low heart.
Goldenfield grabbed her king and cashed nine minor-suit
winners for +630 and 13 IMPs to England. |
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Board 5. Dealer North. N/S Vul.
|
| |
ª A 8
© A Q J 8
¨ A 7 6 2
§ 7 6 5 |
ª K Q 9
© 10 9 5 4 2
¨ J 9
§ Q J 8 |
|
ª 7 6 5 3 2
© 3
¨ 8 5 3
§ 10 9 4 3 |
| |
ª J 10 4
© K 7 6
¨ K Q 10 4
§ A K
2 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Dhondy |
Outred |
Smith |
Alexander |
| |
1NT |
Pass |
2§ |
| Pass |
2© |
Pass |
3§ |
| Pass |
3¨ |
Pass |
4¨ |
| Pass |
4© |
Pass |
5§ |
| Pass |
6¨ |
All Pass |
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| McGowan |
Brunner |
McQuaker |
Goldenfield |
| |
1© |
Pass |
2¨ |
| Pass |
3NT |
Pass |
4NT |
| Pass |
5¨ |
Pass |
5ª |
| Dble |
Pass |
Pass |
5NT |
| Pass |
6¨ |
All Pass |
|
Both North/South pairs bid smoothly to the top spot for a push at
+1370. Nicely bid.
|
Board 6. Dealer East. E/W Vul.
|
| |
ª A 10 4
© K 4
¨ A J 9 3
§ J 9 4 3 |
ª 9
© A Q 3
¨ K 7 5 2
§ A Q 10 8 2 |
|
ª K 7 5
© 10 9 7 6 5
¨ Q 10 8 6 4
§ - |
| |
ª Q J 8 6 3 2
© J 8 2
¨ -
§ K 7 6 5 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Dhondy |
Outred |
Smith |
Alexander |
| |
|
Pass |
2ª |
| Dble |
4ª |
5© |
All Pass |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| McGowan |
Brunner |
McQuaker |
Goldenfield |
| |
|
Pass |
2ª |
| Dble |
3ª |
4© |
4ª |
| Dble |
Pass |
5¨ |
Pass |
| Pass |
Dble |
All Pass |
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The North/South pre-emption made it difficult for East/West. Of
course, 4ª was going to go
down, while East/West could make nothing at the five level, but
East's shapely hand suggested bidding on, and that is what happened
at both tables.
Margaret Alexander led the queen of spades
against 5© and Outred won the
ace and switched to ace and another diamond to give her partner a
ruff. But now the defensive trumps were dividing evenly and Smith
could win the club switch and play ace then queen of hearts for down
two; -200.
Brunner's more gentle spade raise gave Fiona McQuaker
the opportunity to show both of her suits at the other table - much
to her regret. Brunner doubled 5¨ and here too the lead was a spade to the ace.
Brunner looked for a forcing game, returning a second spade to
McQuaker's king. Declarer ruffed her last spade then led a diamond
to the queen - ouch! McQuaker took the heart finesse and back came
another heart, picking up the jack for her. But there were still
three trump tricks to be lost and that meant three down for -800 and
12 IMPs to England.
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Board 9. Dealer North. E/W Vul.
|
| |
ª A J 6
© 9 6
¨ A 9 6 5 4
§ K 3 2 |
ª 7 2
© A 10 4
¨ 8 7
§ J 9 8 7 6 5 |
|
ª 10 9 3
© K Q J 7 2
¨ K J 10 2
§ 10 |
| |
ª K Q 8 5 4
© 8 5 3
¨ Q 3
§ A Q 4 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Dhondy |
Outred |
Smith |
Alexander |
| |
1¨ |
1© |
1ª |
| 2© |
2ª |
Pass |
4ª |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| McGowan |
Brunner |
McQuaker |
Goldenfield |
| |
1NT |
2§ |
3ª |
| Pass |
4ª |
All Pass |
|
 Heather Dhondy, England |
|
A club lead leaves declarer without recourse, but Dhondy
cashed the ace of hearts and then switched to a club.
Alexander won in hand and played a heart and Dhondy sleepily
played low, forcing Smith to win the trick. What had been a
simple defence suddenly became more difficult - indeed, if
declarer plays correctly she can no longer be defeated. Smith
switched to the ten of spades and Alexander won on table and
played a club towards her hand, hoping to ruff her last heart.
Smith ruffed in and exited with her last trump and that was
down one for -50.
At the other table, Liz McGowan led a diamond. Goldenfield
went up with the ace and played a second diamond to the king.
McQuaker cashed the king then jack of hearts before playing a
high diamond through. Goldenfield could ruff high and take her
heart ruff, unblock the spades and come back to hand with a
club to draw the last trump: +420 and 10 IMPs to England - not
much sign of an upset here. |
In the Women's match between Israel and Finland, Ritva Niemisto
for Finland led the ace of hearts against Ruth Levit-Porat's 4ª contract. Niemisto found the club
switch at trick two and now the contract must go down if the defence
is accurate. Levit-Porat won the club on table and now had an
opportunity to make life difficult for her opponents. Had she played
a heart now, Birgit Barlund would have had to duck her king, queen,
jack, playing partner for the ten. A similar situation arose when
Levit-Porat tried a low diamond off the table. Barlund went in with
her king and, after a little thought, came up with the fine play of
underleading her heart honours to put partner in to give the ruff.
Niemisto duly did so for a very well-played and defended one down;
-50 and 10 IMPs to Finland as the same contract was allowed to make
in the other room.
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Board 10. Dealer East. All Vul.
|
| |
ª 10
© K J 8 4
¨ K 10 9 6 2
§ Q 7 6 |
ª Q 9 6 5 2
© Q 7 5 2
¨ J
§ A K J |
|
ª A J 8 7
© 10
¨ Q 7 5 4
§ 10 8 5 2 |
| |
ª K 4 3
© A 9 6 3
¨ A 8 3
§ 9 4
3 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Dhondy |
Outred |
Smith |
Alexander |
| |
|
Pass |
Pass |
| 1ª |
Dble |
4ª |
Dble |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| McGowan |
Brunner |
McQuaker |
Goldenfield |
| |
|
Pass |
Pass |
| 1ª |
Pass |
2ª |
All Pass |
Outed's thin double tempted Smith to pre-empt perhaps one level
higher than her hand really justified - no doubt fearful of her
heart shortage. Alexander had an automatic double and there was no
way for Dhondy to avoid a loser in each suit after the lead of a low
diamond to the ace and a club switch; -200.
In the other room,
Brunner neither doubled 1ª
nor balanced when 2ª came
round to her. Two Spades was a comfortable make for +140 and 8 IMPs
to Scotland, who needed them.
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Board 12. Dealer West. N/S Vul.
|
| |
ª J
© A 7 4
¨ K 7 6 2
§ A K 7 5 2 |
ª Q 6 3
© K 10 9 6 2
¨ Q J 9
§ 10 9 |
|
ª 10 9 4
© J 5
¨ 10 8 5 4 3
§ Q 4 3 |
| |
ª A K 8 7 5 2
© Q 8 3
¨ A
§ J 8 6 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Dhondy |
Outred |
Smith |
Alexander |
| Pass |
1§ |
Pass |
1ª |
| Pass |
2§ |
Pass |
3¨ |
| Pass |
3© |
Pass |
4§ |
| Pass |
4¨ |
Pass |
4ª |
| Pass |
5§ |
All Pass |
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| McGowan |
Brunner |
McQuaker |
Goldenfield |
| Pass |
1§ |
Pass |
1ª |
| Pass |
1NT |
Pass |
2§ |
| Pass |
2¨ |
Pass |
3§ |
| Pass |
3© |
Pass |
3ª |
| Pass |
3NT |
Pass |
4¨ |
| Pass |
4© |
Pass |
4NT |
| Pass |
5© |
Pass |
6§ |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
Smith led the jack of hearts against Outred's game. That got
covered all round and Outred continued by leading a diamond to the
ace and a club back to her ace. She cashed the ¨ now to throw a heart from dummy, then gave up a
heart. Dhondy won and played another heart, forcing dummy to ruff as
Smith divested herself of a spade. Outred played three rounds of
spades, ruffing the third one low, and was over-ruffed. When Smith
returned the queen of clubs, Outred was left with a losing diamond
at the end for down one; -100.
What a difference a lead makes!
Against 6§, McQuaker led a
diamond to dummy's ace and Brunner played three rounds of spades,
ruffing, cashed a top club then led a low club towards the jack.
When the queen appeared, she could use the §J as an entry to cash the long spades while
drawing the last trump and had twelve tricks; +1370 and 16 IMPs to
England.
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Board 13. Dealer North. All
Vul. |
| |
ª Q J
© 10 7 5
¨ K Q J 6 3
§ 9 8 5 |
ª 9 6 5
© Q
¨ 10 7 4 2
§ A J 7 6 2 |
|
ª A 7 4 3 2
© J 8 6 2
¨ A 8
§ 10 4 |
| |
ª K 10 8
© A K 9 4 3
¨ 9 5
§ K Q 3 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Dhondy |
Outred |
Smith |
Alexander |
| |
Pass |
2¨ |
Dble |
| 2ª |
3¨ |
Pass |
3NT |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| McGowan |
Brunner |
McQuaker |
Goldenfield |
| |
Pass |
Pass |
1© |
| Pass |
2© |
All Pass |
|
It was England's turn to stop at the two level for +140 while the
Scots got to game. Again the weak majors 2¨ opening made an appearance for England.
Alexander doubled then bid 3Nt over her partner's free 3¨ bid. Dhondy led a spade, ducked,
and Alexander passed the ten of hearts to the bare queen. Dhondy
continued spades and Smith won and cleared the suit. When declarer
now tried a diamond to dummy, Smith could win and cash her spade
winners before leading to her partner's ace of clubs for down two;
-200 and 8 IMPs to England.
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Board 20. Dealer West. All Vul.
|
| |
ª 10 7 6 4
© 8 7 5
¨ J 2
§ K Q 10 3 |
ª 3 2
© J 9 6 2
¨ 9 7 6 4
§ A 4 2 |
|
ª K Q 9 8
© A
¨ A K Q 8 3
§ J 7 6 |
| |
ª A J 5
© K Q 10 4 3
¨ 10 5
§ 9 8 5 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Dhondy |
Outred |
Smith |
Alexander |
| Pass |
Pass |
1¨ |
1© |
| 2¨ |
2© |
Dble |
Pass |
| 3¨ |
Pass |
5¨ |
All Pass |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| McGowan |
Brunner |
McQuaker |
Goldenfield |
| Pass |
Pass |
1¨ |
1© |
| 2¨ |
Pass |
2ª |
Pass |
| 2NT |
Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
The match ended with a little good news for Scotland. Alexander
led the king of hearts against Smith's 5¨. Declarer won and cashed one top trump before
leading the queen of spades from hand. Alexander went up with her
ace, as she needed to do, and switched to a club. Smith ducked that
to the queen and Outred returned a heart. There was no way to avoid
a second club loser at the end so Smith was one down; -100.
Three
No Trump could also have gone down, of course, but Brunner led the
king of clubs. McGowan could win and play three rounds of diamonds
to get to hand. She led a spade to the king and ace and Goldenfield
switched to a low heart to dummy's bare ace. McGowan could cross to
hand and lead up towards the jack of clubs and that was her ninth
trick; +600 and 12 IMPs to the Scots.
England's 77-21 IMP, 25-4
VP victory confirmed their position at the top and also the Scots'
position at the bottom. |