England vs France

Open Round 5

As the four countries of the United Kingdom only recently decided to become separate members of the EBL, one cannot maintain that an encounter between England and France can be considered a match between old rivals. So we will forget about this and concentrate on what happened at either table of Monday afternoon's Vugraph match. It was a good show, and, more interesting, a clash between two very different approaches of the game. Many boards to be presented below will serve as examples of these interesting contrasts.

England scored their first goal on board 1, an unexciting overtrick, so they led 1-0 when the second board came up. It was a perfect example of both the difference in opening standards and the approach to 3rd hand opening bids by both teams.

Board 2. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
	ª K J 4 © K 5 ¨ A Q J 10 2 § A 10 8
ª 9 8 7 © A 10 ¨ 9 6 5 § K J 7 6 5		ª A Q 10 6 © 9 6 3 2 ¨ K 8 7 § Q 2
	ª 5 3 2 © Q J 8 7 4 ¨ 4 3 § 9 4 3

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Bitran	Justin H.	Voldoire	Jason H.
		Pass	Pass
1§	Dble	1¨	Pass
Pass	1NT	Dble	Pass
2§	All Pass

As usual in international bridge journalism, the Hackett twins are not mentioned by their family name, but by their forenames only. Voldoire did not consider his hand worth an opening bid, not even green v. red. The point was not lost on Bitran, who made an almost classic 3rd hand opening bid. 1¨ by Voldoire was a transfer to hearts, effectively silencing South, so Justin could show his values by simply rebidding 1NT. It looks as if Bitran had nowhere to go after his partner's double, but he got away with 2§ undoubled. The twins were right, as the very favourable layout permitted West to make an overtrick. France +110.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Davies	Duguet	Armstrong	Toffier
		1©	Pass
1NT	Dble	All Pass

The difference in style did create a problem here for Duguet. He was sort of obliged to double 1NT but Toffier had no safe spot to go. On the very fevaourable layout (here as well…) declarer soon grabbed eight tricks for +280 to England, 5 more IMPs.

Two boards later, the difference in approach may well have been at the basis of a slam swing.

Board 4. Dealer West. All Vul.
	ª A K 10 6 3 © A 9 ¨ A Q J 8 6 § 5
ª Q © 10 8 7 4 2 ¨ 9 5 3 § Q J 8 4		ª 9 8 5 4 © - ¨ 7 4 2 § A K 10 9 7 2
	ª J 7 2 © K Q J 6 5 3 ¨ K 10 § 6 3

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Bitran	Justin H.	Voldoire	Jason H.
Pass	1ª	Pass	2§
Pass	2¨	Pass	2ª
Pass	4§	Pass	4¨
Pass	4©	Pass	4NT
Pass	5¨	Pass	5©
Pass	5ª	Pass	6©
Pass	6ª	All Pass

Had Voldoire been able to make a vulnerable overcall in clubs, and had Bitran supported partner's suit, Voldoire might so easily have been among the happy few who found the lead of a low club. According to Lavinthal's theory the §9 looks best as it clearly pinpoints the heart void. When he selected the A as his opening lead, the slam was quickly home when the ªQ appeared. England +1430. Please note that the better heart slam fails on the trump break. A slam in diamonds would need the same underlead in clubs to defeat it.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Davies	Duguet	Armstrong	Toffier
Pass	1ª	3§	3ª
Pass	4§	Pass	4©
Pass	4NT	Pass	5¨
Pass	5©	Pass	5ª
All Pass

When Toffier denied possession of the ªQ Duguet was not tempted. In a sense, he was right, but it cost his side 13 IMPs anyway when Armstrong did find the underlead and duly got his heart ruff.

Board 5. Dealer North. N/S Vul.
	ª 9 5 2 © J 10 ¨ K J 9 6 § A Q 10 4
ª J 8 © A 5 4 ¨ Q 8 7 4 § J 8 7 3		ª A K 7 4 © K Q 8 7 6 2 ¨ 10 § 5 2
	ª Q 10 6 3 © 9 3 ¨ A 5 3 2 § K 9 6

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Bitran	Justin H.	Voldoire	Jason H.
	1§	1¨	1ª
1NT	Pass	3©	Pass
4©	All Pass

A transfer overcall this time followed by a semi-natural 1NT and a jump rebid in hearts saw the French in game which technically speaking was too high. On a trump lead and continuation, declarer will end up one trick short, as could be seen on several score sheets all over the place. Making ten tricks was as popular a score, so much hinged on the opening lead by Jason Hackett. He did not find the killing trump lead, but led a club instead. Now Justin can win this and continue trumps, after which the defence will prevail. Instead, he led a spade after which declarer had time to ruff two spades and draw trumps, the latter being 2-2, thus landing his contract. France +420.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Davies	Duguet	Armstrong	Toffier
	Pass	1©	Pass
1NT	Pass	2©	All Pass

Once again, a difference in style. Duguet did not open, so Armstrong opened his longer suit and simply rebid a natural enough 2©. There it ended and the same ten tricks were made when the trump lead (shift) was not found. England +170 but 6 IMPs to France, their first entry on the scoresheet.

With the score at 19-7 to England we saw a misunderstanding.

Board 7. Dealer South. All Vul.
	ª 9 5 3 © A 10 9 6 3 ¨ Q § J 10 8 5
ª A K J 6 © K 5 ¨ 8 6 2 § A Q 6 4		ª Q 4 2 © Q ¨ A K 9 7 5 4 3 § 7 3
	ª 10 8 7 © J 8 7 4 2 ¨ J 10 § K 9 2

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Bitran	Justin H.	Voldoire	Jason H.
			Pass
1NT	Pass	3§	Pass
3NT	Pass	4©	Pass
4ª	Pass	5¨	Pass
6¨	All Pass

Though 6NT by West is the best contract, the French did very well to get to the slam, which was often missed. With the trumps breaking, there were no problems in the play, not even on a club lead. 3§ of course showed diamonds and 3NT showed a maximum.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Davies	Duguet	Armstrong	Toffier
			Pass
1§	Pass	1¨	Pass
2NT	Pass	3¨	Pass
3ª	Pass	4¨	All Pass

Well, in this sequence one might expect that 4¨ would still be forcing, but…England +170 only for a 15-IMP loss. The match had a new leader (22-19).

With England again leading, by 26-22 at this point, the French struck another blow.

Board 10. Dealer East. All Vul.
	ª 5 4 3 © K 7 6 ¨ 8 6 4 § A Q 10 7
ª 10 7 6 2 © Q J 10 8 4 ¨ Q 2 § 9 3		ª A 9 © 5 2 ¨ A 10 9 § K J 8 5 4 2
	ª K Q J 8 © A 9 3 ¨ K J 7 5 3 § 6

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Bitran	Justin H.	Voldoire	Jason H.
		1§	Dble
1¨	1NT	Pass	2NT
All Pass

Nine tricks on a club lead, England +150. It looks as if declarer can come to nine tricks even on a heart lead. He can win this in dummy and ducks a diamond all round. Provided he plays another diamond to the king he will always make his contract.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Davies	Duguet	Armstrong	Toffier
		1§	1¨
1©	1NT	2§	2ª
Pass	2NT	Pass	3NT

No take-out double here, but a simple overcall, followed by a rebid of South's other suit, implying a strong hand. When Armstrong understandably led his own suit declarer had no problem whatsoever. He led a spade to the king and then a low diamond from dummy. Next, he won the heart return in hand with the king and led a diamond to the king, felling the queen and thus ensuring his contract. France +600 and 10 IMPs.

With the margin still at 6 to France (39-33) this board turned up:

Board 16. Dealer West. E/W Vul.
	ª Q 10 © 4 ¨ 8 5 4 § K Q J 10 8 6 5
ª J 6 3 © J 9 7 ¨ A Q J 6 3 § A 4		ª 7 4 © A K Q 10 8 3 ¨ 10 7 2 § 9 7
	ª A K 9 8 5 2 © 6 5 2 ¨ K 9 § 3 2

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Bitran	Justin H.	Voldoire	Jason H.
1¨	1NT	Dble	Pass
Pass	2§	2©	2ª
Pass	3§	Pass	Pass
3©	All Pass

After the suit opening, Justin could launch his comic suit which effectively kept the French out of their game when the ¨K proved to be well-placed.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Davies	Duguet	Armstrong	Toffier
1NT	4§	4©	4ª
Pass	Pass	Dble	Pass
Pass	5§	Dble	All Pass

Here, Davies could open a 12-14 NT so the complexion of the auction changed completely. Duguet showed his suit, only to see Armstrong forced into bidding his suit at game level. Toffier was not to be silenced either, but Duguet just rebid his semi-solid suit as it would be of no value in a spade contract. He was down three, which would have been a good save had the game been bid, but this time it cost the French 8 IMPs, so England were back into the lead.

Two boards later, we saw a defensive slip:

Board 18. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
	ª A Q J 8 6 3 © 6 5 4 3 ¨ 10 6 § 2
ª 4 © A 9 7 ¨ 7 4 § A K J 10 9 8 3		ª 9 2 © K 10 ¨ Q J 5 3 2 § 7 6 5 4
	ª K 10 7 5 © Q J 8 2 ¨ A K 9 8 § Q

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Bitran	Justin H.	Voldoire	Jason H.
		Pass	1©
3NT	4©	All Pass

When Bitran led his singleton spade, he was bound to get his ruff sooner or later to defeat the contract. France +100.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Davies	Duguet	Armstrong	Toffier
		2¨	Dble
3§	4ª	All Pass

Against Four Spades, Davies led a top club on which Armstrong contributed the Four. Would you have found the heart switch away from the ace to create a ruff for your partner? France another +620 and again back into the lead.

Virtually speaking, they had been in the lead for a long time, as the Vugraph audience knew that their first board looked good for France.

Board 19. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
	ª 3 © 9 7 ¨ A 9 4 3 § K Q J 10 5 4
ª 7 2 © A K Q 2 ¨ J 10 5 2 § A 9 7		ª J 9 8 6 4 © 10 8 5 3 ¨ 8 § 8 3 2
	ª A K Q 10 5 © J 6 4 ¨ K Q 7 6 § 6

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Bitran	Justin H.	Voldoire	Jason H.
			1ª
Dble	1NT	Pass	2§
Pass	3§	Pass	3¨
Pass	4¨	Pass	5¨
Dble	All Pass

The bad distribution not only meant that there was no game on for NS, but also enabled Bitran to venture a double, holding four possible top tricks and a trump trick. France +300 from nearly nowhere on the first board of the Vugraph show. But did the twins not do too much bidding on this one?

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Davies	Duguet	Armstrong	Toffier
			1ª
Dble	Redble	2©	Pass
Pass	3§	Pass	3¨
Pass	4¨	All Pass

The French showed more restraint, calling it a day at the four-level. On the bad breaks, they went down one, but losing only 50 gave them a first entry on the scoresheet of 6 IMPs.

The final result of the match thus became 58-43 to France, 18-12 V.P.