Swiss Round 2 What could be more appropriate music for a Swiss system than Rossini’s William Tell overture? It was of course the theme tune of an early Western TV series, a fact not lost on your reporter. Plans to include a free CD featuring this and other famous overtures in every copy of today’s Bulletin were vetoed by the EBL Treasurer. Once again the Lone Reporter, along with his faithful Australian companion Sue, watched the fight for qualification in Tenerife. Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear. The Lone Reporter rides again! It was Germany v Poland/France under the spotlight, but the match was very tight and there were few swings of note. Still, there were a few interesting moments. Board 9. Dealer North. None Vul.   ♠ 10 8 5 ♥ A 9 4 ♦ 9 ♣ K J 9 8 3 2 ♠ A 9 7 3 2 ♥ 7 6 ♦ K J 4 ♣ 7 6 5 ♠ Q 6 ♥ Q 8 3 2 ♦ A Q 10 7 ♣ A Q 4   ♠ K J 4 ♥ K J 10 5 ♦ 8 6 5 3 2 ♣ 10 West North East South Lesniewski Weber Harasimovicz Weber   Pass 1NT Pass 2♥* Pass 2♠ Pass   NT Pass 3NT Pass Pass Dble All Pass   North speculated on the slow nature of the auction and doubled. South led the ten of clubs and North put on the jack, declarer winning with the queen. She crossed to the jack of diamonds and tried a spade to the queen. South took the king and played back a diamond. Declarer won in hand with the ten and played a spade to the ace and a spade. South won and switched to the five of hearts. North won and played back the nine of hearts. Declarer ducked and South had to overtake. She cashed the king of hearts for one down, +100. West North East South Gromoeller Voldoire Schreckenberger Peyrot   Pass 1♦ Pass 1♠ 2♣ All Pass     East led the queen of spades and declarer was allowed to win with the king. He played a club and East won and played a second spade. West won and gave his partner a ruff, but declarer took the right view in hearts to make the contract, +90 and a push. Board 10. Dealer East. All Vul.   ♠ A 6 2 ♥ 9 8 3 ♦ A J 10 8 7 ♣ Q 2 ♠ K Q 9 3 ♥ J ♦ 9 2 ♣ K J 8 7 5 3 ♠ 10 7 ♥ K 7 6 4 2 ♦ Q 6 ♣ A 9 6 4   ♠ J 8 5 4 ♥ A Q 10 5 ♦ K 5 4 3 ♣ 10 West North East South Lesniewski Weber Harasimovicz Weber     Pass Pass 1♣* 1♦ 1♥ 2♥* Pass 3♦ All Pass   The South hand looks suitable for discussion by a bidding panel. Once partner has overcalled what should South bid? 1NT? Double? 3{? 2}? Answers on a postcard to Daily Bulletin, Tenerife. Meanwhile South found a fifth alternative with her choice of 2]. East led the ten of spades and declarer ducked, won the second spade, cashed the ace of diamonds, played the jack of diamonds to the king and a club. West hopped up with the king and played his top spades. Declarer ruffed the second of those, ruffed a club and cashed the ace of hearts, claiming his contract when the jack appeared, +9 West North East South Gromoeller Voldoire Schreckenberger Peyrot     Pass Pass   1♣ 1♦ 1♥ 1♠ ass* Pass 2♣ 2♦ 4♣ All Pass     Declarer had to lose four top tricks, -50, 4 IMPs for Weber. Board 12. Dealer West. N/S Vul.   ♠ - ♥ K 5 4 3 2 ♦ K 6 3 ♣ K 10 8 7 5 ♠ K 8 7 5 2 ♥ Q 10 ♦ J 10 7 5 2 ♣ 3 ♠ A Q 9 4 3 ♥ 9 8 7 6 ♦ 9 4 ♣ A J   ♠ J 10 6 ♥ A J ♦ A Q 8 ♣ Q 9 6 4 2 West North East South Lesniewski Weber Harasimovicz Weber Pass Pass 1♠ Pass 4♠ All Pass     South gave some thought to bidding over East’s opening bid, but with such a poor suit she was surely theoretically right to pass. Alas, the difference between theory and practice is sometimes unkind. Four Spades had to fail, but +50 was not exactly par for North/South. West North East South Gromoeller Voldoire Schreckenberger Peyrot Pass Pass 1♠ Pass 3♣* Dble 3♠ 4♣ Pass 5♣ All Pass   How unlucky was that for East/West? Who knows, if North had bid 4[ over South’s 4} they might even have bid the slam. Still it was a big swing, the only one of the match. Board 13. Dealer North. All Vul.   ♠ J 10 ♥ 4 3 ♦ A J 10 7 5 ♣ 7 4 3 2 ♠ K 9 5 4 ♥ J 6 2 ♦ K Q 6 4 3 ♣ K ♠ A 8 2 ♥ K 9 8 ♦ 8 2 ♣ A J 10 9 6   ♠ Q 7 6 3 ♥ A Q 10 7 5 ♦ 9 ♣ Q 8 5 West North East South Lesniewski Weber Harasimovicz Weber   Pass 1♣* 1♥ 1♠ Pass 1NT Pass 3NT All Pass     Assuming you would all lead a heart, which card should/would you choose? With no certain reentry the ace is surely out of the equation, so the choice is the queen, ten, or just a small card. If declarer has something like ]K9xx and dummy the jack then you will be poorly placed whatever you choose, so you should probably worry more about declarer having the king and dummy the jack. If memory serves the queen is the theoretical card but there is a lot to be said for leading a low one. Okay, having given you something to think about I’ll tell you what happened. South led the queen of hearts and declarer won in hand and played a diamond to the king and ace. North returned a heart and South won and cleared the suit. Declarer overtook the king of clubs with the ace and played the jack of clubs, hoping North would have to win. When South produced the queen the contract was one down, -100. West North East South Gromoeller Voldoire Schreckenberger Peyrot   Pass 1NT 2♣* Dble* All Pass     When South came in to show the majors and West’s double promised 10+. North/South were now in trouble and in a sense they did well to stop where they were. According to the play record West led the king of clubs and switched to a spade. East won and played ace of clubs and a club. South won and played a spade and West won and returned the jack of hearts for the three, king and ace. That looks like two down, but something – sorry I can’t tell you what – happened and declarer made a seventh trick, so was only –200, still a loss of 7 IMPs. The match score was 11-12 IMPs, 15-15 VP

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