The Women’s Final by Jos Jacobs On Wednesday morning at 10.30 hrs., the teams who had reached the Finals of their respective team events were scheduled to fight it out over 48 boards. The Women’s Final would be played between the French national women’s team: Cronier, Gaviard, D’Ovidio, Willard against a strong combination from Great Britain and Germany: James-Courtney, Brock, Weber and Gromann. With both teams consisting of four players only, tiredness might also have an effect on the outcome of the match. When looking back at the first segment of the match, however, it came to my mind that reading the report below may not be recommendable for people with a nervous disposition. The first three boards might very well show why: Board 1. Dealer North. None Vul.   ♠ A K Q 9 8 7 ♥ J ♦ 6 2 ♣ A 10 4 3 ♠ 5 4 3 ♥ 9 2 ♦ A K J 7 3 ♣ K J 8 ♠ J 10 6 ♥ Q 6 5 ♦ Q 10 4 ♣ Q 7 5 2   ♠ 2 ♥ A K 10 8 7 4 3 ♦ 9 8 5 ♣ 9 6 Open Room: West North East South Gaviard James D'Ovidio Brock   1♠ Pass 1NT 2♦ 3♠ Pass 4♥ Pass 4♠ All Pass   If partner tells you, after bidding 3♠, that she still knows better, why not trust her? Though the spades were 3-3, there were two diamond and two club losers not to be disposed of. D’Ovidio +50 Closed Room: West North East South Weber Cronier Gromann Willard   1♠ Pass 2♥ Pass 2♠ Pass 3♥ Pass 4♣ Pass 4♥ All Pass       Once Sylvie Willard decided her hand qualified for a 2-over-1 response, the French were never in trouble and scored another +420 and their first 10 IMPs. On the next board, the availability of a weak two in diamonds changed the outcome: Board 2. Dealer East. N/S Vul.   ♠ 8 3 ♥ A Q J 8 6 2 ♦ J 9 ♣ 8 3 2 ♠ A Q 10 4 ♥ 7 5 ♦ Q 7 6 ♣ A K 10 9 ♠ J 7 6 2 ♥ K 10 4 ♦ K ♣ Q J 7 6 5   ♠ K 9 5 ♥ 9 3 ♦ A 10 8 5 4 3 2 ♣ 4 Open Room West North East South Gaviard James D'Ovidio Brock     Pass 2♦ All Pass       Gaviard’s pass looks like a matter of style, but if this is really the case, then D’Ovidio, on her passed hand non vulnerable, might well have taken the risk of a balancing double. As it was, a sound enough spade game was missed. The contract made with an overtrick for +110 to Weber. An the other table, there was no adverse opening bid, so EW were given a free run: Closed Room West North East South Weber Cronier Gromann Willard     Pass   On the next board, the treatment of an adverse weak two in diamonds changed the outcome: Board 2. Dealer East. N/S Vul.   ♠ 8 3 ♥ A Q J 8 6 2 ♦ J 9 ♣ 8 3 2 ♠ A Q 10 4 ♥ 7 5 ♦ Q 7 6 ♣ A K 10 9 ♠ J 7 6 2 ♥ K 10 4 ♦ K ♣ Q J 7 6 5   ♠ K 9 5 ♥ 9 3 ♦ A 10 8 5 4 3 2 ♣ 4 Open Room West North East South Gaviard James D'Ovidio Brock     Pass 2♦ All Pass       Gaviard’s pass looks like a matter of style, but if this is really the case, then D’Ovidio, on her passed hand non vulnerable, might well have taken the risk of a balancing double. As it was, a sound enough spade game was missed. The contract made with an overtrick for +110 to Weber. An the other table, EW took the bull by the horns: Closed Room West North East South Weber Cronier Gromann Willard       2♦ 2NT Pass 3♣ Pass 3♦ Pass 3♥ Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ All Pass A simple puppet sequence saw the German pair home without much trouble for another +420 and 11 IMPs to Weber to compensate the loss on board 1. This contract easily made too for another +420 and 11 IMPs to Weber to compensate the loss on board 1. On the next board the German EW produced a better defence than their French counterparts: Board 3. Dealer South. E/W Vul.   ♠ A 7 6 ♥ 2 ♦ J 7 6 3 ♣ A K J 6 5 ♠ J 10 3 2 ♥ Q 10 8 3 ♦ 8 5 ♣ 10 9 3 ♠ Q 9 5 ♥ K 9 7 5 ♦ A 10 9 4 ♣ Q 2   ♠ K 8 4 ♥ A J 6 4 ♦ K Q 2 ♣ 8 7 4 Open Room West North East South Gaviard James D'Ovidio Brock       1♣ Pass 2♣ Pass 2♦ Pass 3♦ Pass 3NT All Pass       Gaviard led a spade to declarer’s king and the ♦K won the next trick. The ♦Q was also allowed to hold, and declarer’s next move was a losing club finesse. At this point the defence had already lost the chance to beat the contract: declarer had two diamonds already in the bag, while four clubs, two spades and the ♥A were there for the taking. Closed Room West North East South Weber Cronier Gromann Willard       1♣ Pass 1♦ Pass 1♥ Pass 2♠ Pass 3NT All Pass       At the other table, declarer won the spade lead with dummy’s ace, cashed the ♣A, crossed to the ♦K and took a losing club finesse. At this point, a heart shift would beat the contract and so it turned out when Ingrid Gromann put the ♥5 on the table. The well-timed switch earned her side another 10 IMPs to go into the lead by 11 IMPs. But the French registered another big swing on board 8: Board 8. Dealer West. None Vul.   ♠ 8 ♥ Q J 8 6 5 ♦ A K 7 ♣ K 10 5 4 ♠ K Q J 7 6 3 ♥ 10 7 3 ♦ Q 6 2 ♣ 8 ♠ 9 4 2 ♥ 9 ♦ 10 9 5 4 3 ♣ A Q J 6   ♠ A 10 5 ♥ A K 4 2 ♦ J 8 ♣ 9 7 3 2 Open Room West North East South Gaviard James D'Ovidio Brock 2♠ Dble 4♠ Dble Pass 4NT Pass 5♣ Pass Pass Dble All Pass The difference in style once again caused a swing. When Gaviard could open 2♠, NS had less room to find out what their best spot was. D’Ovidio’s double netted two undertricks for a score of +300. Closed Room: West North East South Weber Cronier Gromann Willard 2♦ 2♥ Pass 4♥ All Pass       Defending against a Multi seems to be much easier. Cronier could simply overcall 2♥ so the proper game was reached for another +420 and 12 IMPs to the French. More IMPs were to come for them on board 13: Board 13. Dealer North. All Vul.   ♠ A Q 10 8 6 ♥ A 6 5 4 ♦ K 10 ♣ A 10 ♠ 9 ♥ K Q 8 ♦ A Q 9 8 4 ♣ 8 7 4 3 ♠ 7 4 ♥ J 9 7 ♦ J 3 2 ♣ K Q 9 6 2   ♠ K J 5 3 2 ♥ 10 3 2 ♦ 7 6 5 ♣ J 5 Both teams reached the normal 4♠ played by North. When D’Ovidio led the ♣K the contract could no longer be made. At the other table East led a trump and this gave declarer a chance. She won in dummy and immediately ducked a heart, West winning the trick when she rose with the ♥Q. Next, she played ♦A and…another diamond. Curtains. D’Ovidio 12 more IMPs to lead 57-45 at the interval. The first board of the second segment made clear into which direction this match was developing: Board 1. Dealer North. None Vul.   ♠ 6 ♥ Q 8 7 ♦ Q J 4 3 ♣ K 8 7 6 3 ♠ A K J 9 8 2 ♥ 5 ♦ A K 10 8 7 ♣ Q ♠ Q 4 ♥ K 3 2 ♦ 9 6 5 2 ♣ A J 10 4   ♠ 10 7 5 3 ♥ A J 10 9 6 4 ♦ - ♣ 9 5 2 Open Room West North East South Weber D'Ovidio Gromann Gaviard   Pass Pass 2♥ 4♦ Pass 5♦ All Pass Well, on the surface of it there is nothing wrong with the leaping Michaels, except that trumps are 4-0 behind you. One down. Closed Room: West North East South Willard James Cronier Brock   Pass Pass 3♥ 4♥ Dble Pass Pass 4♠ All Pass     James’ double of 4♥ gave East the chance to pass, after which west clarified her hand with a bid of 4♠. When nobody made any further move, the French had landed safely for +420 and another 10 IMPs. They went on to win the match 139-99. Our congratulations once again to them!

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