Scotland vs Sweden – Open Round 8

The high-flying host nation, Sweden met mid-table Scotland in the eighth round of the Open series, hoping to strengthen their challenge for the top spot. Early on, signs looked good for the Swedes.

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

West	North	East	South
Murdoch	Berthau	Piper	Nystrom
Pass	Pass	2§(i)	2©
2ª	4©	4ª	Pass
Pass	5©	Pass	Pass
5ª	Dble	All Pass

(i) Precision

In the other room, Sweden were left to play 4ª, which failed by a trick. Here, Peter Berthau judged to go on to 5© over 4ª and John Murdoch saw the danger of a double fit so went on to 5ª. That was doubled and Berthau led a top heart then switched to a diamond for the queen and ace. Murdoch played a club up and Berthau ruffed and played another diamond. There was still the king of clubs to come so that was two down for –500 and 9 IMPs to Sweden.

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

West	North	East	South
Murdoch	Berthau	Piper	Nystrom
	1©	1ª	2¨
Pass	3¨	Pass	3ª
Pass	4¨	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Fredin	Matheson	Lindkvist	Patrick
	1©	1ª	Dble
Pass	2¨	2ª	3ª
Pass	4©	Pass	5¨
Dble	All Pass

Fredrik Nystrom’s immediate 2¨ bid worked out better than James Patrick’s negative double. Patrick cuebid at his next turn but that committed his side to game when John Matheson responded 4ª, simply describing his hand as he was not aware of the big diamond fit, and Peter Fredin added a double to the final contract. After a spade lead there were three inevitable losers; –200. Nystrom caught a diamond raise and asked for a second spade stopper. When one was not forthcoming and Berthau could only repeat his diamonds cheaply, Nystrom was willing to stop short of game and chalked up a painless +130 to gain 8 IMPs for Sweden.

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

West	North	East	South
Murdoch	Berthau	Piper	Nystrom
		Pass	3§
All Pass

West	North	East	South
Fredin	Matheson	Lindkvist	Patrick
		Pass	3§
3¨	Pass	3NT	All Pass

It was surprising to see Murdoch pass over the 3§ pre-empt and, of course, Douglas Piper had no reason to protect. Three Clubs went a couple off for –100 but it was the fate of 3NT in the other room that really mattered after Fredin’s normal overcall and Lindkvist’s aggressive shot at 3NT. Patrick led the ten of clubs and dummy’s queen held. Lindkvist led out ace and another diamond to the king and Matheson tried a heart switch – not that a spade would have beaten the contract either. Lindkvist won the ©J, crossed to a heart and cleared the diamonds. Patrick cashed the ace of clubs and Lindkvist had the rest; +630 and 11 IMPs to Sweden.

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

West	North	East	South
Murdoch	Berthau	Piper	Nystrom
			1NT
3¨	Dble	Pass	3ª
Pass	4ª	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Fredin	Matheson	Lindkvist	Patrick
			1§
3¨	Dble	Pass	3NT
All Pass

Fredrik Nystrom, Sweden

System decided this one. Having already shown a balanced hand, it was normal for Nystrom to show his spades over the negative double. It was equally normal for Berthau to raise to 4ª but that contract was swiftly defeated when the defence began with three rounds of diamonds for a ruff. There was just the ªK to come after that; –100.

Having opened 1§, it seemed normal to Patrick to show his balanced hand and diamond stopper at the other table and he played in 3NT. Fredin led a heart and Patrick won to play ace and another spade. Lindkvist went in with the king to switch to a diamond, won by Fredin who reverted to hearts. Patrick could pick up the spades then knock out the diamond ace. He did not risk the club finesse so had nine tricks for +600 and 12 IMPs to Scotland.

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

West	North	East	South
Murdoch	Berthau	Piper	Nystrom
		Pass	1ª
Pass	2¨	Pass	4©
All Pass

West	North	East	South
Fredin	Matheson	Lindkvist	Patrick
		Pass	1ª
Pass	1NT	Pass	2ª
All Pass

Again system decided the deal, but this time in Sweden’s favour. The natural Scottish methods reached an inevitable contract of 2ª, where Patrick lost two tricks in each black suit for +140. At the other table, Berthau could respond 2¨, transfer, without promising the values for a two-over-one response. Nystrom, with a useful heart fit and sound values, could leap to the heart game. Murdoch cashed the top clubs then switched to a diamond to the queen and king. When the hearts behaved, Nystrom had eleven tricks for +650 and 11 IMPs to Sweden.

The match ended in a 51-19 IMP, 22-8 VP win for Sweden, who moved ever closer to the top of the table.