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Norway v. Netherlands
2nd Round, Open Teams
For many a
bridge supporter in either of these countries, since 1993 things
have not been as they were before as far as matches against each
other are involved. Late in that year, the two national teams played
in one of the few all-European finals ever of the Bermuda Bowl. On
that big occasion, the Dutch emerged winners, but for the Norwegians
there have been many successes against the Dutch since. So with the
balance between the two teams about even, a good match could be
expected even at this early stage of the championships.
And a good and at times even instructive match
it was! On the first board, the Dutch struck a tremendous first blow
when they bid and made game at both tables, doubled at both tables
of course.
Board 1, Dealer North, None Vul.
|
| |
ª J 10 9 2
© 10
¨ K 9 4
§ Q J 9 6 4 |
ª -
© K Q 4 2
¨ J 8 7 3 2
§ K 8 5 3 |
 |
ª 6 5 3
© A J 8 7 3
¨ A 10 6 5
§ 10 |
| |
ª A K Q 8 7 4
© 9 6 5
¨ Q
§ A 7 2 |
| Open Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Ramondt |
Helness |
Maas |
Helgemo |
| |
Pass |
2© |
2ª |
| 5© |
Pass |
Pass |
Dble. |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
Maas launched the Dutch variation of the Polish
two-suited opening style, which requires a minimum of only four
cards in the second suit. After the spade overcall, Ramondt could
see that a large number of tricks was available in spades for his
opponents, so he made a bold jump to 5©! This effectively ended the proceedings: the
only thing Helgemo could do was to double this, but the contract was
unbeatable. A good start for the Dutch: +650 with 5ª only down one.
| Closed Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Groetheim |
Paulissen |
Aa |
Kirchhoff |
| |
Pass |
Pass |
1ª |
| Dble. |
3ª |
4© |
4ª |
| Pass |
Pass |
Dble. |
All Pass |
|
In the Closed Room, a Norwegian
equivalent of the Dutch opening toy was not available, so Aa
passed. Groetheim´s light take-out double made it difficult
for his partner, who was holding two aces himself in his
passed hand, to assess the situation. He doubled 4ª only to find out that this
could not be defeated. So a good start for the Dutch here as
well: +590 with 5© on
for the opponents.
After this 15-IMP initial swing, a few
quiet boards followed. Then came: |
|
Terje Aa, Norway |
Board 6, Dealer East, East-West Vul.
|
| |
ª 10 9 8 6 4 3
© Q J 9
¨ A 7
§ 9 7 |
ª K 2
© 10 8 2
¨ 10 5 4 2
§ K Q 10 5 |
|
ª Q
© A K 7 6 4
¨ Q J 8 6 3
§ 6 3 |
| |
ª A J 7 5
© 5 3
¨ K 9
§ A J 8 4 2 |
| Open Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Ramondt |
Helness |
Maas |
Helgemo |
| |
|
2© |
Dble. |
| 3§ |
3ª |
All Pass |
|
Well judged by Helgemo-Helness. Just made,
Norway +140.
| Closed Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Groetheim |
Paulissen |
Aa |
Kirchhoff |
| |
|
1© |
Dble. |
| 2© |
3ª |
Pass |
4ª |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
A little too optimistic, maybe, by Kirchhoff,
but…all is well that ends well. The ©A was led, followed by a diamond. Declarer won,
cashed one top trump and the other high diamond, then exited with a
heart to the queen and king. At this point, East must have lost the
count of the hand, as we have not yet found a good reason for him to
continue diamonds. Still, that is what he did, so suddenly the Dutch
could register +420 and 7 IMP´s more, extending their lead to
21.
On board 7, only 8 out of 34 pairs managed to
reach the grand slam. Probably, the fierce intervention was too much
for many of the others. So we just give you the two auctions from
this match to judge for yourself.
Board 7, Dealer South, Both Vul.
|
| |
ª 8
© K 10 8 7 6 3 2
¨ A
§ Q 10 7 3 |
ª Q 6 5 2
© Q
¨ K Q J 10 2
§ J 9 5 |
|
ª K 10 9 3
© 9 5
¨ 9 8 7 5 4 3
§ 6 |
| |
ª A J 7 4
© A J 4
¨ 6
§ A K 8 4 2 |
| Open Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Ramondt |
Helness |
Maas |
Helgemo |
| |
|
|
1§ |
| 1¨ |
1© |
4¨ |
Dble |
| Pass |
5NT |
Pass |
6© |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
| Closed Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Groetheim |
Paulissen |
Aa |
Kirchhoff |
| |
|
|
1§ |
| 1¨ |
4© |
5¨ |
6© |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
Certainly, both NS pairs missed their chance here in this
match.
Time for Norway to come back, and they did it in great style on
two innocent enough looking hands.
Board 11, Dealer South, None Vul.
|
| |
ª 8 7
© 9
¨ 10 6 4 2
§ A K 9 5 4 3 |
ª A Q
© Q 7 5 3 2
¨ Q 8 5
§ Q 10 8 |
|
ª 10 6 4 3 2
© A 8 4
¨ J 9 7
§ J 6 |
| |
ª K J 9 5
© K J 10 6
¨ A K 3
§ 7
2 |
| Open Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Ramondt |
Helness |
Maas |
Helgemo |
| |
|
|
1NT |
| Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
|
Vincent Ramondt, The Netherlands |
|
Straightforward bidding to a straightforward
contract. Ramondt led a heart, won by Maas who returned the
suit. Helgemo went up with the king, a play that could not
possibly cost with the hearts well stopped and the ©Q probably with West, and
might induce the defence to relying more on their routine than
on anything else.
The effect was that Maas, on lead again when
Helgemo ducked a club to him, returned a heart rather than a
spade which would have beaten the
contract. |
| Closed Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Groetheim |
Paulissen |
Aa |
Kirchhoff |
| |
|
|
1NT |
| Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
|
Same bidding, same lead and return, but Kirchhoff made the
´routine´play of the ©J to
trick two. In again with a club, Terje Aa had no trouble in finding
the spade switch to beat the contract.
And:
Board 14, Dealer East, None Vul.
|
| |
ª 7 4
© A 9 8 3 2
¨ 10 9 7 4
§ Q 4 |
ª 5 3
© J 7 4
¨ A J 6
§ K J 9 8 5 |
|
ª A J 6
© K Q 10 5
¨ K Q 5 3
§ 10 6 |
| |
ª K Q 10 9 8 2
© 6
¨ 8 2
§ A 7 3 2 |
| Open Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Ramondt |
Helness |
Maas |
Helgemo |
| |
|
1NT |
2ª |
| 2NT |
Pass |
3¨ |
Pass |
| 3ª |
Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
Helgemo made the defence look very easy. He led the ªQ and when this held, switched to
his heart within a split second. Ace from Helness, spade back, one
down. Almost too easy: Norway +50.
| Closed Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Groetheim |
Paulissen |
Aa |
Kirchhoff |
| |
|
1NT |
2¨ |
| Pass |
2ª |
Pass |
Pass |
| 3ª |
Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
2¨ showed a major
one-suiter. Here too, a top spade (the king) was led and ducked, but
then South went into a long huddle. He finally emerged with the
¨8. Terje Aa won this and
paused to consider the situation before deciding to lead a club and
put up the king! When this held he had all the time in the world to
revert to hearts and establish nine tricks.
The line he chose is not 100% but stands out by a mile. What was
South´s problem? Why did he not play a heart or a club? Why did it
take so long? South would probably hold one ace, and did not know
how to reach partner. Maybe, he only held a singleton heart and
refrained from playing the suit for that reason. In that case, one
club trick will do. Well deduced and well executed for +400 to
Norway and another 10-IMP gain.
The match ended 33-36 or a 14-16 win to the Netherlands, but both
sides had kept themselves very much in the running for
later. |