|
Netherlands vs
Austria
Ladies Series - Round 20
With two rounds to play, The Netherlands still had a remote
chance of the gold medal in the Ladies series, while Austria's form
appeared to have deserted them at a critical time and they were in
serious danger of not making the trip to Bali. A crucial match,
then, for both teams.
|
Board 3. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
|
| |
ª -
© A 10 4 3
¨ 10 7 6
§ A J 9 6 4 3 |
ª 10 7 5
© Q 6 5 2
¨ K J 3
§ Q 8 2 |
 |
ª K 9 4 3
© J 9 7
¨ A 9 8 5 2
§ K |
| |
ª A Q J 8 6 2
© K 8
¨ Q 4
§ 10 7 5 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Terraneo |
Pasman |
Erhart |
Simons |
| |
|
|
1ª |
| Pass |
1NT |
Pass |
2ª |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Vd Pas |
Fischer |
Vriend |
Weigkricht |
| |
|
|
1ª |
| Pass |
2§ |
Pass |
2ª |
| Pass |
3§ |
Pass |
4§ |
| Pass |
5§ |
All Pass |
|
Two Spades proved to be a
fairly comfortable make. Anneke Simons won the heart lead in
hand and played two more rounds of hearts, ruffing. She
continued with a club to dummy and another heart ruff, and
could not be prevented from coming to three more trump tricks
for +110.
Fischer's slightly looser style of two-over-one
response got the Austrians to game when Weigkricht invited and
Fischer could not resist bidding one for the road. Bep Vriend
led the seven of hearts to dummy's eight and Marijke Van der
Pas chose not to put in her queen. With the ©8 holding the trick, Fischer
was in with a chance. She cashed the ©K and played ace of spades, pitching a
heart, then the queen of spades. When Van der Pas played low
without effort, Fischer ruffed in hand and played the ace of
hearts, throwing a diamond from dummy, then gave up a diamond.
Van der Pas won that with the king and returned a spade,
ruffed by declarer who continued with a diamond ruff, a spade
ruff (West throwing her last diamond) and another diamond
ruff. When Van der Pas could over-ruff the diamond and play
the queen of hearts through, that was one down, the §K being promoted as the
second defensive winner; -50 and 4 IMPs to The Netherlands. |
|
 Christian Terraneo,
Austria |
|
Board 4. Dealer West. All Vul.
|
| |
ª A Q 10 9 4
© 4 3
¨ A J 10 7
§ Q 6 |
ª 2
© A Q 5
¨ Q 9 8 4
§ A K 8 5 3 |
|
ª J 8
© J 10 7 6 2
¨ K 2
§ J 10 9 4 |
| |
ª K 7 6 5 3
© K 9 8
¨ 6 5 3
§ 7
2 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Terraneo |
Pasman |
Erhart |
Simons |
| 1¨ |
1ª |
Pass |
3ª |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Vd Pas |
Fischer |
Vriend |
Weigkricht |
| 1§ |
1ª |
Dble |
3ª |
| Dble |
Pass |
4© |
All Pass |
When Erhart, who was facing a hand that had been unable to open
with a strong club bid, chose not to make a negative double, the
Austrians were shut out of the auction by Simons' pre-emptive spade
raise. Uninspired defence led to Jet Pasman making an overtrick for
+170.
Vriend did make a negative double at the other table and
that got her side to game when Van der Pas had an easy responsive
double over the same pre-emptive raise. When Vriend got the clubs
right she had ten tricks for +620 and 13 IMPs to The
Netherlands.
|
Board 7. Dealer South. All Vul.
|
| |
ª K J 6 4
© K 9 7 4 3
¨ 6 3
§ Q 8 |
ª 7
© -
¨ J 9 8 7 5
§ A J 9 7 6 5 2 |
|
ª Q 8 5 3 2
© Q J 10 8
¨ Q 10
§ 10 4 |
| |
ª A 10 9
© A 6 5 2
¨ A K 4 2
§ K
3 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Terraneo |
Pasman |
Erhart |
Simons |
| |
|
|
1¨ |
| Pass |
1© |
Pass |
2NT |
| Pass |
3§ |
Pass |
4© |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Vd Pas |
Fischer |
Vriend |
Weigkricht |
| |
|
|
1§ |
| 3§ |
Dble |
Pass |
3¨ |
| Pass |
3© |
Pass |
4© |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
| The bidding made it clear for
Doris Fischer to play the spade suit successfully for +620.
However, Pasman had not heard any opposition bidding - which I
find quite remarkable but who can argue with success? Maria
Erhart led the ten of hearts and Pasman won in dummy and
considered her play. It seems to me that it can cost nothing
to play on diamonds now - it does not do any harm that East is
over-ruffing the third round. When the 5-2 diamond break shows
up, declarer might reflect on the fact that West's first
discard was a club, suggesting that her clubs were of at least
equal length to the diamonds. Now she might have a chance of
picking the spade position correctly. But Pasman could not
imagine that anyone would have passed over 1¨ if holding such extreme
distribution and cashed the ace of spades at trick two. That
meant one down for -100 and 12 IMPs to Austria. |
|
 Maria Erhardt,
Austria |
|
Board 9. Dealer North. E/W Vul.
|
| |
ª K 6
© A Q J 2
¨ J 10 9 5 3 2
§ 5 |
ª 9 5
© 9 8 7 6 3
¨ A
§ Q J 9 6 3 |
|
ª A Q 10 8 7 432
© 5 4
¨ 7
§ 10 7 |
| |
ª J
© K 10
¨ K Q 8 6 4
§ A K 8 4 2 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Terraneo |
Pasman |
Erhart |
Simons |
| |
1¨ |
3ª |
4ª |
| Pass |
5¨ |
Pass |
6¨ |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Vd Pas |
Fischer |
Vriend |
Weigkricht |
| |
1© |
3ª |
Dble |
| Pass |
4¨ |
Pass |
4NT |
| Pass |
5§ |
Pass |
5¨ |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
Terry Weigkricht was in the fortunate position of having room to
check for aces and settled for game on finding that two were
missing; +400. Would 4NT have been Blackwood in the Dutch auction?
If so, it would perhaps have been a wiser choice, but maybe the
Dutch play it as a take-out bid in these competitive sequences. We
can see why Blackwood would have been a good idea as Simons heard
her partner sign off over the 4ª bid but was then tempted to bid the slam
anyway. Still, all was not yet lost. On a club or a heart lead,
declarer makes her contract by playing three rounds of hearts. East
ruffs and is over-ruffed and now declarer comes back to hand in
clubs to play the fourth heart, pitching dummy's losing
spade.
The vugraph audience held its collective breath but
Erhart's fingers reached unerringly for the ace of spades; one down
for -50 and 10 IMPs to Austria.
|
Board 11. Dealer South. None
Vul. |
| |
ª Q 8 3
© K 2
¨ Q 5 3 2
§ 10 8 5 2 |
ª J 6 5 2
© J 9 4
¨ A 8
§ Q J 9 7 |
|
ª A 9 7 4
© Q 10 6 5 3
¨ J 4
§ 6 3 |
| |
ª K 10
© A 8 7
¨ K 10 9 7 6
§ A K 4 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Terraneo |
Pasman |
Erhart |
Simons |
| |
|
|
1¨ |
| Pass |
1NT |
Pass |
3NT |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Vd Pas |
Fischer |
Vriend |
Weigkricht |
| |
|
|
1§ |
| Pass |
1© |
Pass |
2¨ |
| Pass |
3¨ |
Pass |
3NT |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
Playing from the South seat, Weigkricht received the lead of the
queen of clubs. She was a tempo ahead now and needed only to play
the diamonds in normal fashion to make her contract; +400.
Erhart
led her five-card heart suit, of course. Pasman won and played a
diamond and Sylvie Terraneo won and returned a heart; down one for
-50 and 10 IMPs to Austria, who had moved into the lead in the
match.
Of course, declarer could guess to play a spade at trick
two and make her contract by then switching to diamonds, but why
should she guess to do so? Apart from its being a blind guess which
missing ace was with the long hearts (assuming that hearts were not
4-4), that play could sometimes lose with spades 5-3.
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Board 12. Dealer West. N/S Vul.
|
| |
ª K Q 10 9 7 6 4
© A K 5 3
¨ 3
§ Q |
ª 3
© 9
¨ A K J 9 8 7
§ A 10 9 6 5 |
|
ª 8 5
© Q J 8 6 2
¨ 10 5 4
§ K J 4 |
| |
ª A J 2
© 10 7 4
¨ Q 6 2
§ 8 7 3
2 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Terraneo |
Pasman |
Erhart |
Simons |
| 1¨ |
4ª |
Pass |
Pass |
| 4NT |
Pass |
5§ |
All Pass |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Vd Pas |
Fischer |
Vriend |
Weigkricht |
| 1¨ |
4ª |
Pass |
Pass |
| 4NT |
Pass |
5¨ |
Pass |
| Pass |
Dble |
Pass |
5ª |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
When Fischer doubled 5¨ to
show a good 4ª bid,
Weigkricht, whose values were mostly in spades, had a clear removal
to 5ª. That contract had to
lose one trick in each side suit for down one; -100.
Erhart no
doubt chose clubs rather than diamonds over Terraneo's 4NT bid
because that way she would be declarer. If so, she had to justify
her decision by bringing home her contract. Simons led the ace of
spades and switched to a low heart to the king. Pasman switched back
to spades and Erhart ruffed in dummy, cashed the ace of diamonds and
played a low club to the queen and king. This was the critical
moment of the hand. Erhart took a couple of seconds then led low to
the seven of diamonds, drew trumps and claimed the rest; +400 and 7
IMPs to Austria.
|
Board 15. Dealer South. N/S
Vul. |
| |
ª 9 4
© A 9 3 2
¨ 7
§ A K Q 9 8 2 |
ª A J 10 6 5
© K J
¨ A K 10 9 5 2
§ - |
|
ª Q 7
© Q 10 8 7 6 5 4
¨ 8 4 3
§ J |
| |
ª K 8 3 2
© -
¨ Q J 6
§ 10 7 6 5 4 3 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Terraneo |
Pasman |
Erhart |
Simons |
| |
|
|
Pass |
| 1§ |
2§ |
Pass |
3§ |
| 4§ |
Pass |
6© |
All Pass |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Vd Pas |
Fischer |
Vriend |
Weigkricht |
| |
|
|
Pass |
| 1¨ |
2§ |
2© |
4© |
| 4ª |
4NT |
5¨ |
Dble |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
Five Diamonds doubled proved to be no more problem to Van der
Pas. Fischer led ace and another heart for Weigkricht to ruff, but
now the third diamond was an entry to the long hearts and declarer
did not even require the spade finesse; +550.
I was surprised by
Simons' simple 3§ raise in
the other room, expecting a jump to game. However, 3§ proved to be quite sufficient to
make life tough for the Austrians. Terraneo showed a big two-suiter
with her cuebid but could not have been very happy when she saw her
partner´s leap to 6©. That
contract is not completely horrible, and had actually been made at a
few tables after a low spade lead - Declarer takes the spade
finesse, repeats it and plays the ace of spades. If North ruffs,
declarer can over-ruff and afford to ruff her club in dummy as
North's hearts have been shortened. If North does not ruff, the club
goes away and declarer plays on trumps. She now switches her
attention to trumps and North is powerless. Declarer can reach hand
by ruffing the fourth spade, at the same time establishing an extra
spade trick on which to get rid of her third diamond.
But Simons
led a club, forcing dummy to ruff and there was nothing Erhart could
do to neutralise North's nine of hearts. She was one off for -50 and
12 IMPs to The Netherlands.
|
Board 19. Dealer South. E/W
Vul. |
| |
ª J 9 8 4
© 10 7 5
¨ 6 5 4
§ Q 9 3 |
ª A K Q 7 6 3 2
© 8
¨ K 7
§ K 7 6 |
|
ª 5
© A Q J 3 2
¨ A J 10
§ A J 8 4 |
| |
ª 10
© K 9 6 4
¨ Q 9 8 3 2
§ 10 5 2 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Terraneo |
Pasman |
Erhart |
Simons |
| |
|
|
Pass |
| 1§ |
Pass |
2¨ |
Pass |
| 2ª |
Pass |
3© |
All Pass |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Vd Pas |
Fischer |
Vriend |
Weigkricht |
| |
|
|
Pass |
| 1ª |
Pass |
2© |
Pass |
| 3ª |
Pass |
3NT |
Pass |
| 4§ |
Pass |
4¨ |
Pass |
| 4NT |
Pass |
5¨ |
Pass |
| 5ª |
Pass |
6NT |
All Pass |
Six No Trump is not the best spot - with a bad spade break, it
might even go down while 6ª
is making, and the spade grand slam is the percentage contract.
However, 6NT was quite enough on this particular occasion. Indeed,
more than half the field was going down in seven so that +1440 was
just fine for the Dutch pair. Weigkricht led a diamond, so declarer
did not have to guess which finesse to take for her twelfth trick -
only a spade lead avoids solving the problem, of course.
The
Austrians had swapped their partnerships around and Erhart has been
playing that a 2¨ response to
a strong club opening is weak with six hearts in her other
partnership. The standard Blue Club meaning of 2¨ is to show six controls and clearly one member
of the partnership thought that these standard responses were in use
while the other thought the new version applied. You can work out
for yourself who was playing which method. Austria might have got
very lucky had the Dutch bid the grand slam, but justice was served
when their score of +200 cost them 16 IMPs.
The Netherlands won
the match by exactly the swing on the above board, 56-40 IMPs, 18-12
VPs. They were almost certainly going to play the last match to
decide the colour of their medal, while Austria would be fighting
for a qualifying place. |