Germany vs Hungary

Women Round 9

It's no secret that your Editor is a big fan of the German Women's team. (By the way Sebastian, where is my shirt?) The recent birth of Daniela von Arnim's daughter plus a pair making their debut made some people think that the team might not be so effective this time. Indeed, they have generally tended to be slow starters, getting stronger as the event goes into the second week. However, this time they have come out with all guns blazing, winning their first ten matches at an average of 21VP. Of course, their encounters with England, France and Denmark will feature in these pages in due course, but here is your first opportunity to look at the form of the Venice Cup Champions.

Before the match the German coach, Michael Yuen, told me his team were 'hungary' for points.

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Welker	Auken	Topolyi	Von Arnim
	Pass	Pass	1§*
1¨*	Pass	2©	2NT
All Pass

One Diamond promised hearts or the black suits. West led the five of hearts for the jack and king and declarer played ace and another diamond. East now played the nine of hearts covered by the queen and ace. When West now made the mistake of switching to a low club, declarer could win, cash the diamonds and take the spade finesse, +120.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Rauscheid	Hegedus	Nehmert	Tichy
	Pass	Pass	1§*
1©	Pass	3©	3NT
All Pass

The early play was identical, but South did not cover the nine of hearts, not that it would have helped, and the defenders simply cashed out for two down, +200 and 8 IMPs for Germany.

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Welker	Auken	Topolyi	Von Arnim
		1§*	Dble*
2§*	2ª	4§*	Pass
4ª	Pass	6§	All Pass

Double promised diamonds or the majors and the Hungarians overreached to the hopeless slam. Germany +100.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Rauscheid	Hegedus	Nehmert	Tichy
		1§	2©
3§	Pass	3NT	All Pass

The German pair had a natural auction, and was never in any danger of getting too high. South tried the effect of leading the three of spades and declarer took the third round of the suit, discarding a diamond from dummy. Two top clubs were followed by a heart to dummy and the marked club finesse. That was nine tricks, +600 and 12 IMPs.

Board 12. Dealer West. N/S Vul.
	ª A J 4 3 © K 8 ¨ 9 2 § K 10 9 8 4
ª K 9 5 2 © J 7 5 3 ¨ A Q J 7 § A		ª 8 7 6 © 9 4 ¨ K 8 4 § Q J 7 6 3
	ª Q 10 © A Q 10 6 2 ¨ 10 6 5 3 § 5 2

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Welker	Auken	Topolyi	Von Arnim
1¨*	Pass	1NT	Pass
Pass	2§	All Pass

Sabine wisely passed on the first round of the auction and balanced later. East led the four of diamonds to West's ace, won the diamond return with the king and switched to a heart. Declarer won with dummy's queen and played the queen of spades for the king and ace. A spade to the ten was followed by a diamond ruff, the king of hearts and the jack of spades. When declarer now played a spade East ruffed with the six of clubs and played a club to West's ace. Declarer simply covered West's exit and East was endplayed, +90.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Rauscheid	Hegedus	Nehmert	Tichy
1¨	2§	Pass	Pass
Dble	All Pass

This time North unwisely overcalled at the first opportunity, but the lie of the cards mean that you simply can't go down in Two Clubs. The defence played three rounds of diamonds, so declarer ruffed, cashed two hearts and played the queen of spades, eventually arriving at a similar ending to the one at the other table, +180 and 3 IMPs for Hungary.

Board 15. Dealer South. N/S Vul.
	ª K 8 3 © 8 7 4 ¨ 6 5 4 § A 10 9 3
ª A 7 6 2 © A J 9 2 ¨ K Q § Q 7 6		ª Q J 10 9 © Q 10 5 ¨ 10 8 3 2 § K J
	ª 5 4 © K 6 3 ¨ A J 9 7 § 8 5 4 2

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Welker	Auken	Topolyi	Von Arnim
			Pass
1§*	Pass	1NT*	Pass
2§*	Pass	2©*	Pass
4ª	All Pass

!NT promised a balanced hand, either 8-13 or 16+ and Two Clubs was a relay. When East showed four spades and the lower range West had heard all she needed to know. There was nothing to the play, Hungary +620.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Rauscheid	Hegedus	Nehmert	Tichy
			Pass
1©	Pass	1ª	Pass
2ª	All Pass

Declarer made eleven tricks for +200 but that was 9 IMPs for Hungary.

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Welker	Auken	Topolyi	Von Arnim
		Pass	1ª
Pass	2§*	Pass	2¨*
Pass	2©*	Pass	3©*
Pass	3ª*	Pass	4¨*
Pass	4ª	All Pass

Two Clubs was an artificial game force and after a series of relays the pushy spade game was reached. West led the four of clubs and East won with the queen and switched to a heart. Declarer won with the ace and ran the queen of diamonds. When that lost to the king the contract had to go two down.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Rauscheid	Hegedus	Nehmert	Tichy
		1©	1ª
Dble	2©	Pass	2ª
Pass	3¨	Pass	3NT
All Pass

Pony Nehmert's light opening bid meant her side were always going to be able to inflict serious damage on a notrump contract. West led the queen of hearts and continued with the ten when declarer ducked. A spade to the king was followed by a second spade, East's jack being allowed to hold. The hearts were cleared and it was all downhill for declarer from here and she finished three down, -300.

Germany had secured their ninth win on the trot, 36-1 IMPs or 19-11VP.