|
Norway
v Sweden
Open Series - Round
12
The VuGraph match selected by Jean-Paul Meyer for Round 12
featured two of the powerful Scandinavian countries. Apart from the
fact that any local derby is usually worth watching, there was the
prospect of enjoying the traditional noisy support that the
Norwegian team attracts.
Before we get down to the serious business, one player missed a
chance for immortality on this deal:
|
Board 2. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
|
| |
ª 7
© 9 5
¨ A K Q 10 9 4 2
§ 9 7 3 |
ª Q 9 6
© 10 4 2
¨ 7 3
§ J 10 8 6 2 |
 |
ª K J 10 2
© K 7 6
¨ J 8 6
§ A Q 4 |
| |
ª A 8 5 4 3
© A Q J 8 3
¨ 5
§ K 5 |
| Open Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Andersson |
Helness |
Gullberg |
Helgemo |
| |
|
1NT |
2§* |
| Pass |
3¨ |
Pass |
3NT |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
West led the jack of clubs and East took the ace and switched to
a spade. Declarer took the ace, cashed the king of clubs and set
about the diamonds. The defenders discarded lots of hearts so
declarer came to twelve tricks, +690.
| Closed Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Brogeland |
Sylvan |
Saelensminde |
Sundelin |
| |
|
1ª |
2© |
| 2ª |
3¨ |
Pass |
3NT |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
 Tor Helness, Norway |
|
This time the opening lead was a spade and when declarer
did not risk the heart finesse he collected nine tricks to
lose 3 IMPs.
So where was the chance for immortality?
Everyone knows that a jump cue bid shows a solid suit
somewhere and asks if partner has a stopper. Less well known
is the possibility that South missed here, to jump to Three
Clubs saying 'I have a club stopper, do you have a solid
suit?'
Okay, enough of this frivolity.The first significant swing
went to Norway. |
|
Board 4. Dealer West. All Vul.
|
| |
ª 7 4
© 8
¨ J 10 8 6 4 3
§ K J 10 7 |
ª Q J 10 2
© K J 10
¨ 5 2
§ Q 4 3 2 |
|
ª K 6 5
© A 7 6 3 2
¨ A 7
§ 9 6 5 |
| |
ª A 9 8 3
© Q 9 5 4
¨ K Q 9
§ A
8 |
| Open Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Andersson |
Helness |
Gullberg |
Helgemo |
| Pass |
Pass |
1© |
1NT |
| Pass |
3¨ |
All Pass |
|
East led the five of spades and declarer simply claimed ten
tricks, allowin gthe defence one spade, one heart and the ace of
diamonds, +130.
| Closed Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Brogeland |
Sylvan |
Saelensminde |
Sundelin |
| Pass |
Pass |
1© |
1NT |
| Dble |
2§ |
All Pass |
|
Was North hoping to be doubled in Two Clubs an then retreat to
Two Diamonds? Anyway, East led a trump to the eight, queen and king,
and declarer played the eight of hearts. West won with the ten and
switched to spades. Declarer could make only one spade, one diamond
and four clubs, down two, -200 and a loss of 8 IMPs.
|
Board 7. Dealer South. All Vul.
|
| |
ª Q 10 6 5 4 3
© 9 6
¨ 10 8 3
§ 7 6 |
ª A J 7
© J 10 5
¨ 5 4 2
§ K 9 5 4 |
|
ª -
© 8 4 3
¨ K Q J 9 7
§ A Q J 8 2 |
| |
ª K 9 8 2
© A K Q 7 2
¨ A 6
§ 10 3 |
| Open Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Andersson |
Helness |
Gullberg |
Helgemo |
| |
|
|
1© |
| Pass |
Pass |
2©* |
Pass |
| 3©* |
Pass |
4§ |
Pass |
| 5§ |
All Pass |
|
|
It is not clear from the Convention card if West knew precisely
which suits East had. Whatever West was hoping East had it did not
materialise. Five Clubs was far too high and was down two, -200.
| Closed Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Brogeland |
Sylvan |
Saelensminde |
Sundelin |
| |
|
|
1© |
| Pass |
Pass |
2NT* |
Pass |
| 3§ |
All Pass |
|
|
By stopping in Three Clubs Norway scored +100 and picked up 7
IMPs
|
Board 8. Dealer West. None Vul.
|
| |
ª 7 4
© A K Q 9 5 3
¨ 8 6
§ Q 5 4 |
ª 8 6 5
© -
¨ A K Q J 2
§ K 9 8 6 3 |
|
ª A J
© 10 8 7 6
¨ 9 5 4 3
§ J 10 2 |
| |
ª K Q 10 9 3 2
© J 4 2
¨ 10 7
§ A 7 |
| Open Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Andersson |
Helness |
Gullberg |
Helgemo |
| 1§ |
1© |
Pass |
1ª |
| 2NT |
Pass |
3¨ |
3© |
| Pass |
4© |
All Pass |
|
East led the jack of clubs sealing declarer's fate at once. He
had to lose a club, two diamonds and a spade, -50.
| Closed Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Brogeland |
Sylvan |
Saelensminde |
Sundelin |
| 1¨ |
1© |
2¨ |
2ª |
| 4§ |
Pass |
4¨ |
4© |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
Same contract, but this time the opening lead was a diamond. West
took two rounds and switched to a club. Declarer put up the queen
and was in a position to make the contract by playing on spades.
However, he innocently played a club to the ace followed by a heart
to the ace. When the 4-0 break came to light declarer played a spade
but East put up the ace and returned the jack of spades. Declarer
was locked in dummy. If he drew trumps he would lose a club. If he
came to hand with a trump to ruff a club he would set up a trump
promotion for East.
A missed opportunity.
|
Board 9. Dealer North. E/W Vul.
|
| |
ª 9 6
© 5 2
¨ Q 9 3
§ A K Q 9 7 4 |
ª K Q 10 8 7
© K 8 6
¨ A 8 4
§ 10 5 |
|
ª 4 2
© A Q 10 9 4 3
¨ 5 2
§ 6 3 2 |
| |
ª A J 5 3
© J 7
¨ K J 10 7 6
§ J 8 |
| Open Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Andersson |
Helness |
Gullberg |
Helgemo |
| |
1§ |
Pass |
1ª |
| Pass |
2§ |
Pass |
3§ |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
| The Convention card of the
Swedish Pair says an overcall is 7-17and a jump overcall is
3-9. When East decided his hand did not fit into either
category North/South had the filed to themselves. Three Clubs
quickly made the obvious overtrick - with so many deals where
declarer was able to claim after a few cards the Open Room was
racing ahead. |
|
 Lars Andersson,
Sweden |
| Closed Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Brogeland |
Sylvan |
Saelensminde |
Sundelin |
| |
2§ |
Pass |
2¨ |
| 2ª |
Pass |
3© |
All Pass |
Three Hearts was e
|
Board 11. Dealer South. None
Vul. |
| |
ª K 10 8 6 3
© A 10 8 7 4
¨ -
§ A 9 8 |
ª A 5 2
© Q J
¨ K Q 6
§ Q J 10 4 3 |
|
ª Q J 4
© 9 5 3
¨ J 10 7 2
§ K 7 2 |
| |
ª 9 7
© K 6 2
¨ A 9 8 5 4 3
§ 6 5 |
| Open Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Andersson |
Helness |
Gullberg |
Helgemo |
| |
|
|
Pass |
| 1NT |
2§* |
Pass |
2© |
| Pass |
3© |
Pass |
4© |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
North showed the majors and then came again. Right he was, as the
position in both majors meant eleven tricks were trivial. +450
| Closed Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Brogeland |
Sylvan |
Saelensminde |
Sundelin |
| |
|
|
Pass |
| 1NT |
2¨* |
Pass |
2© |
| Pass |
Pass |
2NT |
3© |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
There was a significant difference of opinion this time as North
did not make any move, even when South showed a real preference for
Hearts. The same eleven tricks, but a loss of 6 IMPs.
The small swings were adding up and Norway did it again on the
next deal:
|
Board 12. Dealer West. N/S Vul.
|
| |
ª A Q 10 8 7
© J 8 3
¨ 8 2
§ J 10 4 |
ª 9 5 2
© 10 9 5 2
¨ A J 6 4
§ A 9 |
|
ª K 6
© Q
¨ K Q 10 7 3
§ K 8 5 3 2 |
| |
ª J 4 3
© A K 7 6 4
¨ 9 5
§ Q 7 6 |
| Open Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Andersson |
Helness |
Gullberg |
Helgemo |
| Pass |
Pass |
2¨ |
Pass |
| 3¨ |
All Pass |
|
|
Third in hand Two Diamonds was 11-16 with at least five diamonds.
South led the ace of hearts and switched to a spade. North took the
ace and returned the suit and declarer won and went after the clubs,
soon claiming eleven tricks. They were still bidding in the other
room - would Norway bid yet another thin game?
| Closed Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Brogeland |
Sylvan |
Saelensminde |
Sundelin |
| Pass |
Pass |
1¨ |
1© |
| 2© |
2ª |
3§ |
Pass |
| 3¨ |
3© |
4¨ |
Pass |
| 5¨ |
All Pass |
|
|
No trouble at all and play followed similar lines to that in the
other room, +400 and 6 IMPs. The score was 37-5 and every swing was
greeted with loud cheers by the Norwegian contingent. They were
about to be silenced.
|
Board 13. Dealer North. All
Vul. |
| |
ª Q 10 4
© J 6 2
¨ A K J 9 2
§ 8 7 |
ª 7 6
© A 10 5 4
¨ Q 10
§ A Q J 5 3 |
|
ª K 8 2
© K Q 9 8 7 3
¨ 6 4 3
§ 6 |
| |
ª A J 9 5 3
© -
¨ 8 7 5
§ K 10 9 4 2 |
| Open Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Andersson |
Helness |
Gullberg |
Helgemo |
| |
1¨ |
1© |
1ª |
| 4§* |
Pass |
4© |
All Pass |
South led a diamond and when dummy played the queen North won
with the ace, cashed the jack and switched to the four of spades for
a fast one down, -100.
| Closed Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Brogeland |
Sylvan |
Saelensminde |
Sundelin |
| |
1¨ |
1© |
1ª |
| 2¨ |
2ª |
3© |
4ª |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
The play record is undoubtedly faulty at some point, but it looks
as if West led a heart, ruffed by declarer who played a diamond to
the jack and ran the ten of spades. That looks like ten tricks and
that is what declarer made, +620 and 11 badly needed IMPs.
|
Board 18. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
|
| |
ª A 10 9 6 5 3
© 8 7 6 2
¨ 9
§ K J |
ª K 8
© A K Q 10 4 3
¨ 2
§ 8 7 6 4 |
|
ª 7 2
© 9 5
¨ A K 10 7 5
§ Q 10 5 2 |
| |
ª Q J 4
© J
¨ Q J 8 6 4 3
§ A 9 3 |
| Open Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Andersson |
Helness |
Gullberg |
Helgemo |
| |
|
2¨* |
Pass |
| 3© |
Pass |
4© |
All Pass |
This time Two Diamonds was 8-11 and if I interpret the Swedish
hieroglyphics correctly the response was invitational with a
six-card suit.
North led the king of clubs and continued with the
jack. South won with the ace and switched to the queen of spades.
Declarer tried the king but North produced the ace, returned the
suit and got a club ruff. Down two, -100.
| Closed Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Brogeland |
Sylvan |
Saelensminde |
Sundelin |
| |
|
Pass |
Pass |
| 1© |
1ª |
Dble |
2© |
| 3© |
3ª |
4© |
4ª |
| Pass |
Pass |
Dble |
All Pass |
East led the ace of diamonds and switched to a trump, covered by
the queen, king and ace. Declarer ducked a heart, won the trump
return in dummy and ran the queen of diamonds, discarding a losing
heart. He could ruff one heart and dispose of the other on the jack
of diamonds. A very useful +790 and the 12 IMPs it earned meant
Sweden had reduced their margin of defeat, Norway winning 37-28,
17-13 VP. |