France vs Russia

Open Series - Round 29

On Wednesday evening, France had to play the first of two consecutive Rama matches. Due to the idiosyncrasies of the schedule, teams who have enjoyed a bye will have to play Russia and Italy in their next two matches. Elsewhere in this issue you can read about the outcome of the France-Italy match, but here we will restrict ourselves to some of the interesting things that occurred in the France-Russia encounter.

On the first four boards, we saw four swings, in different directions.

Session 29. Board 1. Dealer North. None Vul.
	ª A K 6 3 2 © 8 7 6 ¨ K 8 2 § Q 9
ª Q 5 © A K Q J 3 ¨ A 10 9 4 § K 8		ª J 8 7 © 5 4 ¨ J 7 6 5 3 § A 10 7
	ª 10 9 4 © 10 9 2 ¨ Q § J 6 5 4 3 2

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Petrunin	Multon	Gromov	Quantin
	1ª	Pass	1NT
Dble	Pass	2¨	Pass
2©	All Pass

Very much left to their own devices, the Russians could not find a way to bid game. Eleven tricks, +200 to Russia.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Abécassis	Kholomeev	Soulet	Zlotov
	1ª	Pass	3ª
4©	All Pass

When Zlotov found the most aggressive of spade raises, Abécassis was pushed into 4©, whether he liked it or not. Dummy turned out to be quite useful, so ten tricks were easy. France +420 and the first 6 IMP´s of the match.

Session 29. Board 2. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
	ª A 10 5 © J 6 ¨ 9 7 6 5 3 § K 10 2
ª 9 8 © K Q 10 9 7 ¨ K 8 § Q 8 7 4		ª K Q 4 3 2 © A 5 ¨ J 2 § A J 9 6
	ª J 7 6 © 8 4 3 2 ¨ A Q 10 4 § 5 3

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Petrunin	Multon	Gromov	Quantin
		1ª	Pass
2©	Pass	3§	Pass
3NT	All Pass

Quite natural bidding, and with 25 hcp between E/W the contract looks normal enough. Yet on a diamond lead declarer needs a fortunate layout, but he went for it and found what he wanted: the §K10 onside. So it went: ¨K and §Q to the king and ace. Of course, the defence had been forced to discard a diamond on the run of the hearts, so leading a spade after the five hearts would have worked as well, but as declarer could not be sure of this, he tried another club to the nine. When this held, he even had an overtrick, Russia +430.

Jean-Christophe Quantin, France

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Abécassis	Kholomeev	Soulet	Zlotov
		1ª	Pass
1NT	Pass	2§	Pass
2¨	Pass	2©	Pass
3©	All Pass

A transfer sequence saw the French ending up in what was a reasonable enough contract for ten tricks and +170 to them, but the match was level again at 6-6.

On the next board, we saw yet another partscore swing:

Session 29. Board 3. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
	ª A 7 © A 6 2 ¨ A K J 10 9 8 § 7 3
ª K 10 6 2 © K Q 3 ¨ Q § K 10 9 8 2		ª Q 8 5 3 © 7 5 ¨ 7 5 4 3 § A J 6
	ª J 9 4 © J 10 9 8 4 ¨ 6 2 § Q 5 4

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Petrunin	Multon	Gromov	Quantin
			Pass
2§	2¨	3§	Pass
Pass	3¨	All Pass

Andrei Gromov, Russia

Due to their system, E/W could not easily find the spade fit, so they sold out to 3¨. Now, Multon had to play very well to see this contract home, but he did. The defence started off with three rounds of clubs, declarer ruffing. After four more trumps, West had discarded down to three spades, all three hearts and thus no more clubs. So Multon played the ªA and another, won by West with the ten. The only safe exit card for West was the ªK, so he duly led it, but Multon ruffed and led a low heart. West won, but with nothing but hearts left, he had to surrender. France +110.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Abécassis	Kholomeev	Soulet	Zlotov
			Pass
1§	Dble	1ª	Pass
2ª	3¨	Pass	Pass
3ª	All Pass

After the natural 1§ opening, E/W easily found their spade fit and thus could compete to the three-level. No less than ten tricks were made, so France scored another +170 and 7 IMP´s.

On the next board, the French handed back these IMP´s with interest::

Session 29. Board 4. Dealer West. All Vul.
	ª 10 7 2 © K Q J 4 ¨ A § K J 10 8 4
ª A Q © 10 9 8 6 5 2 ¨ Q 6 § 7 6 5		ª J 9 8 4 © A 7 3 ¨ J 10 9 8 4 3 § -
	ª K 6 5 3 © - ¨ K 7 5 2 § A Q 9 3 2

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Petrunin	Multon	Gromov	Quantin
Pass	1§	Pass	1ª
Pass	2§	Pass	2¨
Pass	3ª	Pass	4§
Pass	4¨	Pass	6§
Dble	All Pass

Petrunin apparently doubled to draw attention to the spade situation, but it did not matter that Gromov simply led a diamond. Declarer had nowhere to go and had to concede one down. Russia +200. Only finding both major suit aces on side would have seen the slam home.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Abécassis	Kholomeev	Soulet	Zlotov
Pass	2§	Pass	2¨
Pass	2©	3¨	5§
All Pass

Upon hearing his partner bid hearts, Zlotov made the sensible move of not even enquiring any further, but simply settling for what he thought was the best contract. He was right and Russia scored +600 here, a swing of 13 IMP´s. They were back in the lead.

After two quiet boards, the French had a lucky escape:

Session 29. Board 7. Dealer South. All Vul.
	ª K © K 10 9 8 7 2 ¨ 6 4 3 § Q 7 5
ª A 9 8 6 5 432 © J 6 ¨ Q J § 9		ª J 10 © A 4 ¨ A 10 9 7 5 2 § J 10 6
	ª Q 7 © Q 5 3 ¨ K 8 § A K 8 4 3 2

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Petrunin	Multon	Gromov	Quantin
			1NT
2ª	3¨	3©	Dble
4ª	Dble	Pass	5§
Pass	5©	Dble	All Pass

After the off-shape 1NT by Quantin, 3¨ showed hearts, so the heart lead against a spade contract seemed likely. On this lead, 4ª is one off, and the French would no doubt have found this defence. Quantin however did not want to defend and settled for 5§. This would have been down one, but when Multon corrected to hearts, 5© became the final contract, two down when the club ruff was easily found after a spade lead to the ace and a club return. Russia +500.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Abécassis	Kholomeev	Soulet	Zlotov
			2§
3ª	Pass	4ª	All Pass

South led the §K but then he shifted to a low spade. Declarer now could rise with the ace and take the losing diamond finesse to get rid of his losing heart in time. A lucky +620 for France which brought them 3 IMP´s on the deal instead of a loss of 12.

For compensation, here is a board on which it seems that the French, at their turn, did not find the proper defence in the Closed Room.

Session 29. Board 11. Dealer South. None Vul.
	ª K 8 6 2 © K Q J 7 5 ¨ A K 9 § 9
ª J 9 7 5 © A 8 4 3 ¨ J 7 5 3 § 3		ª A Q 3 © 6 ¨ 8 4 2 § K Q 7 6 4 2
	ª 10 4 © 10 9 2 ¨ Q 10 6 § A J 10 8 5

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Petrunin	Multon	Gromov	Quantin
			Pass
Pass	1©	2§	Pass
Pass	Dble	All Pass

In the Open Room, Quantin did the obvious thing: he sat the double of 2§ and collected three undertricks. France +500.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Abécassis	Kholomeev	Soulet	Zlotov
			Pass
Pass	1©	2§	2©
Pass	4©	All Pass

Zlotov decided not to go for a big penalty, so Kholomeev found himself in what looks like a shaky game. On the lead of the §K, declarer can win the ace but what should he do? If he plays for spade ruffs a trump switch will probably cause his undoing. At the table, however, the contract was made when the defenders never touched trumps though declarer did go after the spades. So Russia got their +420 and France gained only 2 IMP´s.

Session 29. Board 15. Dealer South. N/S Vul.
	ª J 9 2 © 7 6 5 2 ¨ 7 2 § A K 8 4
ª 8 7 6 © K 10 ¨ Q J 9 5 § Q 9 7 6		ª K 10 © 9 8 ¨ A K 10 8 4 3 § J 10 5
	ª A Q 5 4 3 © A Q J 4 3 ¨ 6 § 3 2

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Petrunin	Multon	Gromov	Quantin
			1ª
Pass	2ª	3¨	3©
4¨	4ª	All Pass

When the save was not taken, nothing to report, France +620.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Abécassis	Kholomeev	Soulet	Zlotov
			1ª
Pass	2ª	3¨	4ª
5¨	Dble	All Pass

Here the save was taken, so the direction of the swing hinged on the defence. There are six tricks available for the defenders but they have to be very exact to get all of them. Zlotov did very well when he led the ©A. From here, it should be not too difficult any more: club to the king, spade to the queen, ªA and club to the ace, club ruff. When Zlotov did not continue on his good work but led another heart instead, the club ruff was gone, as was one of the undertricks. Down only three, Russia +500 and 3 IMP´s to France. With the match still about level, the board below was to decided the eventual outcome of it.

Philippe Soulet, France

Session 29. Board 18. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
	ª 4 © A 8 2 ¨ 10 9 8 4 § A K Q 10 4
ª K 10 7 6 © Q J 10 9 ¨ A 3 § 8 7 6		ª A 5 3 © K 6 5 4 ¨ Q 6 § J 9 5 3
	ª Q J 9 8 2 © 7 3 ¨ K J 7 5 2 § 2

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Petrunin	Multon	Gromov	Quantin
		Pass	Pass
1¨	2§	Pass	2ª
Pass	2NT	Pass	3¨
Pass	3©	Pass	3ª
All Pass

The light, but systemic 1¨ opening was more than the French could cope with. It had become virtually impossible for them to even realise that diamonds might well be a useful suit to play in. Russia +200 when 3ª was down two.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Abécassis	Kholomeev	Soulet	Zlotov
		Pass	2ª
Pass	2NT	Pass	3¨
Pass	5¨	All Pass

When Zlotov could open in 2nd position to show his twosuiter, game was quickly reached. Zlotov then guessed correctly in trumps to score his 11 tricks needed and a fine +600 to Russia. The 13 IMP´s gained here were enough to secure their 18-12 V.P. victory (43-29).