After five matches, Denmark have opened up a 10-point lead over the Netherlands, who themselves are leading the pack by 8 VP. The luck of the draw means that every other team meets these two in consecutive matches, so the following group is slightly uneven. Poland and Estonia have that hurdle already behind them, Germany and Italy are still looking forward to this struggle.
After today, the tournament takes on a slower pace, with just three matches over the next three days.
After dinner yesterday, some Yugoslavs and Poles - with help from assorted others - set up a basketball game. In the true spirit of this championship, it is impossible to say who won, since both teams were transnational.
At the same time, the Belgian and French teams played a goulash bridge match of 10 boards.
With the French on one table and the Belgians at the other, there was no winner there either. When I suggested that they'd better put two of each country at each table, they complied and started playing in transnational partner-ships. We'll simply have to wait until Monday to know the winner of the francophonie.
Highlight of the Belgo-French encounter was a rescue of 7
against a cold 7
. Amazingly, 7NT was cold as well. Guess which
spade was missing from the 12 card fit.
Your editor found the badge of a Turkish player. Imagining this to be the team he would drag down the least, he planned turning up for their match and send the player to the bulletin room. Luckily for the Turks they were bye in that next match.
When? Thursday 8 August 19:30
Where? Hotel 't Koffieboontje
Fee? Students free
Non-Students? 10 Euro per Pair.
An editor's dilemma: should we wait for brilliancy or do we also publish mere perfection?
Bas Drijver and Maarten Schollaardt bid their way to a nice slam on board 5 of their match against France:
| Deal 5 N/NS |
Q 8 5 4
2 10 9 8 5
4 9 7 6 | |
| A K 10
7 - A 10 7 2 K Q 10 9 5 |
 |
- K Q J 2 Q 8 6 5 4 A J 8 4 |
| J 9 6 3
A 7 6 3 K J
3 3
2 | ||
| West | North | East | South |
| Maarten | - | Bas | - |
| Pass | 1 |
Pass | |
| 1 |
Pass | 2 |
Pass |
| 2 |
Pass | 2NT | Pass |
| 3 |
Pass | 3 |
Pass |
| 3 |
Pass | 3NT | Pass |
| 4 |
Pass | 4 |
Pass |
| 4NT | Pass | 5 |
Pass |
| 6 |
All Pass |
Bas took the club lead in hand, and ran the K. South did cover the Q, ruffed, and Bas now ruffed a spade, crossed to
the A, ruffed another spade
and claimed.
As an added bonus, his opponents were in 7 in the other room.
The European Athletics Championships got under way in München yesterday. Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain won the opening track event, the 10,000 meters, in a time of 30:01.09. Your editor agrees with many who believe this should be called a world record, as the only faster time ever was set under suspicious circumstances in China in 1993.
Director Guy Lambeaux came up with the following puzzle:
A man takes the same train home every day, and his wife is just in time to pick him up by car and drive him home.
One day he leaves work early and takes a train that arrives exactly one hour earlier. He cannot reach his wife by phone, so he decides to walk. The wife leaves home at the normal time, and picks him up along the road. They drive home immediately and arrive 10 minutes earlier than on normal days.
Assuming that the man walks at 5 km/h, how fast does the car drive?
Since you are all intellectuals, the challenge of the puzzle should suffice and no prizes are offered.
Why is it that when we say that men have a one-track mind, women immediately think of Sex?
When I saw our favourite editor Herman disturbing everyone to take pictures (so he could fill up the blank spaces in the bulletin), we had the idea to bring some statistics to you. So every day, we'll ask our bridge-population the "question of the day". Today, we start with the most important thing on earth (because most of us are still looking for it!). So tell us Brugge, the ideal woman is…
A few brave husbands answered "mine is" (with a big grin on their face, looking if their wife was listening?), but most men assured us: "mine isn't"! Or with the words of a Polish player: "My wife is, but look at me…"
Top answer must have been "unknown". Poor men!
What about the Belgians? One chose the Queen of spades, another took the Queen of trumps, but Kevin assured us we have to take Latin American women. They're fierier and hotter, and most important of all, if you might have a trouble with them, they're far away! All against the opinion of Claude, because he finds his perfect girl much closer: let's go with ladies in the restaurant!
Talking about the people working in the restaurant. We heard names like Madonna there, but the sweet blond guy can't live without his grandmother.
Kasper from Denmark chooses Angelina Jolie (she must be famous somewhere), but Bas Drijver from the Netherlands has his heart bouncing for Britain's Susan. We spoke to her, and she agreed, her answer was "me". So we asked her for the ideal man, but she told us that there absolutely can't exist something like that! So Bas… guess you have to change your gender.
Some answers weren't fit to print, but all fall into the category of SM (Sex & Money). But there are guys who aren't so picky. Look at Tim Prior (Great-Britain): his ideal woman only needs to be alive. (?!?)
And our Tournament Directors? Guy Lambeaux told us he's married with his ideal woman (is he henpecked?). Paul Meerbergen could only stutter "mmm, I'm picturing her", with a satisfied look on his face.
Editor Herman is with his mind still at the EC in Rotterdam last year. Danish or Irish girls, doesn't matter!
Oh, before I forget, my ideal woman is… the cleaning lady!
 |
Match of the DayDenmark - Estonia |
 |
On Wednesday morning, the leaders Denmark had to face third place Estonia
After the first half, the Estonians faced a deficit of 15 IMPs mainly due to the slamhands that had worked better for the Danish.
For the second half, the line-up was:
Open Room
N: Michael Askgaard
S: Gregers Bjarnarson
E: Leo Luks
W: Lauri Naber
Closed Room
N: Jaanus Maripuu
S: Aivar Tihane
E: Kasper Konow
W: Anders Hagen
Both teams employ a Strong Club system. As an appetizer this is the first board where North/South easily countered an opening at the 2-level.
| Deal 13 N/= |
10 9 4
3 5 A 10 9 8 5 K 10 5 | |
| 8 6
10 8 6 3 J 7 6 J 9 7 2 |
|
K
7 Q 9 7 K 4 A Q 8 6 4 3 |
| A Q J 5 2 A K J 4 2 Q 3 2
- | ||
| West | North | East | South |
| Lauri | Michael | Leo | Gregers |
| Anders | Jaanus | Kasper | Aivar |
| Pass | 2 |
4 | |
| Pass | 4 |
All Pass |
2 was natural in both
systems. Both Souths coped with it very accurately, 4 showing both majors. Both declarers played well
to take 12 tricks.
| Deal 14 E/- |
Q 8
2 8 6 3 2 10 9 A Q 7 3 | |
| A J 9
6 A 10 4 K 8 6 5 5 4 |
|
K 7
5 K 7 Q 7 2 K J 9 6 2 |
| 10 4 3 Q
J 9 5 A J 4
3 10
8 | ||
3NT was reached by East, South leading the Q in the open room and the 5 in the closed. Leo took the lead in hand, played
a spade to the J and Q. Michael switched to the 3. East put in the nine and now he had lost the
tempo, 1 down.
Kasper in the other room took the 10 and played clubs himself, also to the 9. No swing.
Board 15: 4 reached after
a Spade intervention. After the Spade lead there is a ruff, 2 down in both
rooms.
| Deal 16 W/EW |
10 9 4
3 2 Q 8 10 8 4 J 8 7 | |
| K 8 7
10 9 6 3 7 2 K 10 6 5 |
|
Q
6 K 7 5 4 K Q J 3 Q 3 2 |
| A J 5 A
J 2 A 9 6
5 A 9
4 | ||
| West | North | East | South |
| Lauri | Michael | Leo | Gregers |
| Pass | Pass | 1 |
1NT |
| Pass | 2(1) |
Pass | 2 |
| All Pass |
(1) transfer
One overtrick gave Denmark 140. In the closed room Kasper opened 1NT (12-15)
and played there. 5 to the
10 and K. Heart to North's queen. 8 for the A and diamond. Club to the 10 and Jack. North played a heart
to the Jack. 6 and declarer
ended with only 4 tricks, 3 down, vulnerable. 4 IMPs to Estonia. Vana Sokk's
eyes glistened.
On board 17 4 was made by
both sides, no story.
Then Lady Misfit struck the Estonians.
| Deal 18 E/NS |
A 7
3 8 5 2 A Q 8 4 3 5 2 | |
| K 10 8
Q J 9 7 6 4
K J 9 3 |
|
Q 9 5
4 - 10 9 7 6 2 K J 6 4 |
| J 6 2 A
K 10 3 5 A Q 10 8
7 | ||
| West | North | East | South |
| Lauri | Michael | Leo | Gregers |
| 2NT | Pass | ||
| 3 |
Pass | Pass | Dble |
| All Pass |
Non-vulnerable against vulnerable Leo ignored the presence of a spade suit and chose a risky opening bid : 2NT showing the minors and 7-12. North/South were merciless, 4 down, 800 to North/South.
| West | North | East | South |
| Anders | Jaanus | Kasper | Aivar |
| Pass | 1 | ||
| 2 |
2NT | Pass | 3 |
| Pass | 3 |
All Pass |
After a 2NT Lebensohl, here again the trump suit was diamonds. With a little help of the opponents Jaanus managed to get 8 tricks, only 1 off but 12 IMPs to Denmark. Vana Sokk winced.
| Deal 19 S/EW |
A K 6 4
3 8 4 2 10 7 J 9 7 | |
| Q
Q J 10 5 3
K 3 2 A K 5 3 |
|
10 8
2 A K 9 Q 5 Q 10 8 6 2 |
| J 9 7 5
7 6 A J 9 8 6
4
4 | ||
At both tables North/South ended up in 4 doubled. In the open room East started with a
trump. Michael now played the 10 for West's King and lost 2 hearts and a club, 1 down, -100.
In the other room declarer looked for a less simple line and finally was locked up in dummy giving East a trump promotion, -2, -300. Cost: 5 IMPs.
On to Board 20. Let's see the bidding first this time.
| West | North | East | South |
| Lauri | Michael | Leo | Gregers |
| 1 |
Pass | 1NT(1) | |
| Pass | 2(2) |
Pass | 2 |
| Pass | 2NT(3) | Pass | 3NT |
| All Pass |
(1) forcing
(2) balanced or hearts
(3) balanced.
| West | North | East | South |
| Anders | Jaanus | Kasper | Aivar |
| 1 |
Pass | 2(1) | |
| Pass | 2 |
Pass | 3NT |
| All Pass |
(1) shows hearts
| Deal 20 W/= |
A K 8 5
2 K 4 J 9 3 10 5 2 | |
|
Q 7
3 Q J 6 Q 10 6 2 9 7 3 | |
You are in East and your partner leads the 5. South takes your Jack with the Ace and plays
the J for the 4, the 2 and
your Queen. Do you play the hearts or do you switch to diamonds? Both defenders,
perhaps because they did not see the 3 and 2 of hearts, played hearts, 3NT+1. A
case for a Smith peter? High spade = please continue my suit. Low one = please
switch?
The full hand :
| Deal 20 W/= |
A K 8 5
2 K 4 J 9 3 10 5 2 | |
| 10 6 4
10 8 7 5 K 7 4 A 8 6 |
|
Q 7
3 Q J 6 Q 10 6 2 9 7 3 |
| J 9 A 9
3 2 A 8 5 K Q J
4 | ||
| Deal 21 N/NS |
5
4 K 9 J 10 9 6 K 10 8 6 4 | |
| K J 10
7 6 A 6 4 2
A 7 J 7 |
|
A Q 8
2 Q J Q 4 3 2 A 5 3 |
| 9 3 10 8
7 5 3 K 8
5 Q 9
2 | ||
In the closed room, the Danish East/West played a peaceful 4, just made. In the open room West was more
enterprising.
| West | North | East | South |
| Lauri | Michael | Leo | Gregers |
| Pass | 1NT | Pass | |
| 2 |
Pass | 2 |
Pass |
| 3 (?) |
Pass | 3 (4-2-4-3) |
Lauri asked for further information but finally he stopped in 5. South led a heart for North's King. After
a long huddle and probably fearing AQx of clubs in declarers hand, he didn't
play clubs but the 9. Now it
was declarer's turn to think a long time. Finally, he believed that North had
not played from under the King, and now he has to win: A, trumps, diamond, club by NS (too late), the
third diamond ruffed felling the King for a club discard on the Queen. Well
played, a lot of sweat and 1 imp to reward partner's optimism.
On board 22 +620 for 4 in
both rooms.
| Deal 10 E/= |
A
K K Q 4 A Q 9 3 K Q 8 7 | |
| 9 7 6
5 4 8 3 2
K 8 2 10 2 |
|
Q 10 8
2 A 7 6 7 6 A J 6 4 |
| J 3 J 10
9 5 J 10 5
4 9 5
3 | ||
| West | North | East | South |
| Lauri | Michael | Leo | Gregers |
| Pass | |||
| Pass | 1 |
Dbl | Pass |
| 2 |
Dble | 2 |
Pass |
| 3 |
Dble | Pass | 4 |
| Pass | Pass | Dble | All Pass |
The double against a strong club opening meant a red or black 2-suiter. 2 = pass or correct, North showing
each time a stronger hand. 3X would have been costly but South removed the double with his 3 jacks.
He was lucky: hearts 3-3 and K well placed brought the contract home, 790.
| West | North | East | South |
| Anders | Jaanus | Kasper | Aivar |
| Pass | |||
| Pass | 1 |
Pass | 1 |
| Pass | 2NT(22-23) | All Pass. |
In spite of his 3 points South judged well to pass. After the spade lead a misunderstanding in defence gave declarer 10 tricks, 180 but a loss of 12 IMPs.
On board 24 the Estonians played well in defence against 4 beating the contract by 1 trick while
their companions in the closed room did manage to make 10 tricks but in 5.
Result of the second half: 31-5, and of the match 23-7.
Vana Sokk was looking droopy.
.
Higgledy piggledy
Anthony Forrester,
Though he could plainly
have
Made all the tricks,
Followed a line that was
Totally crazy,
and
Incomprehensibly
Went off in six.
Danish psychic bidding was countered by a good defence and a good lead during round 4:
| Deal 2 E/NS |
Q 4 3
2 A Q Q 10 7 2 A 9 7 | |
| 9 5
J 5 4 2 6 4 Q 10 8 5 2 |
|
A K
6 K 9 8 7
3 8 5 3 K J |
| J 10 8 7
10 6 A K J
9 6 4
3 | ||
| West | North | East | South |
| - | De Loubens | - | Molina |
| 1 |
Pass | ||
| 1 (!) |
Pass | 2 |
All Pass |
North, Gregoire de Loubens led 2 for the ace. Diamond from dummy to the ace and king from South,
Philippe Molina, who continued with J for dummy's K.
K for North's ace, who plays
Q. The contract ends with
only 4 tricks for East/West.
In the other room, 4, a
more honest contract, went 1 down.