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Kiwis on The Coast
One Team, One Pair, One Player into the Finals
That’s the end result of the Kiwi efforts after the third day of Swiss Pairs. We could have added “one near miss” too.
In the Open, the team captained by Andy Hung and which included our own Michael Whibley as well as past Wellingtonian Liam Milne, continued its very successful run at the top finishing on 191.46, 21.38vps ahead of the second placed team.
Somehow, the results of the final round of a Swiss seem to take on more significance than those which preceded it. With one round left, the teams of Brown, which included Michael Ware and GeO Tislevoll, and Patterson, including John Patterson, Kate Davies and Murat Genc, lay 11th and 12th, some 4 vps out of the top 6. They clashed, one of them needing a big win to make it through. Brown achieved that (18.65) to make the top 6 and finish 22 places ahead of their final opponents.
Kiwis in the top 20 finishers were:
1st . Hung 191.46 Michael Whibley
5th. Brown 159.98 Michael Ware, GeO Tislevoll
11th. Van Der Vlught 153.14 Annette and Stephen Henry
15th. Boughey 149.92 Paula Boughey, Duncan Badley, Lorraine Stachurski, Alister Stuck
18th. Harrison 148.05 Matthew Brown
20th. Whitaker 147.51 Michael Sykes
In the Restricted, Hajmasi looked almost certain to make the top two and they did so in style, staying at the top throughout the event. Their only concern would be the team they face in the final was the only team to incur a significant victory over them.
For much of the last day, it looked like they would face another all Kiwi team in the final. With one match left, Tippett had a 7 vp lead over the third placed team but there is a well known phrase about it not being over “until the fat lady sings” and for Tippett the last match did not go their way as they scored 6.28, just a little less, 2.53vps to be exact, than what they needed. So Hajmasi will face an Australian team, Chew, in the final. Kiwis in the top 20 were:
1st. Hajmasi 168.39 Kinga Hajmasi, Andrew Michl, Barry and Jody Whale
3rd. Tippett 158.31 Gail Tippett, Paul Maxwell, Donna Upchurch, Nebojsa Djorovic
6th. Whittle 151.92 Yvonne Whittle, Francey Rolls, Nicky Bowers, Joy Watkinson
13th Haslett 140.84 Julie Haslett, Trish Patterson, Janice Willoughby
14th. Zulfiqar 138.68 Tony Jiang, Julia Zhu
Seniors
The Kiwis in the top 20 were:
8th. Palmer 135.47 Barry and Glenis Palmer, Christine Wilson, Neil Stuckey
11th.Beck 131.09 Evelyn and Bob Hurley
12th.Waldvogel 129.87 Joan Waldvogel, Joan McCarthy, Dale Lacey, Robyn Freeman-Greene
18th.Robb 125.11 Trevor Robb, Lynne and Arie Geursen, Patsy Walters, Dinnie Hall
Intermediates
10th. Stacey 144.93 Kevin Petrie
14th. Sim 141.35 Ann and Leo Sim, Pamela and Julian Glyn
TODAY’S HAND
“Downgrade, Upgrade”
How many points is KQ doubleton worth? It rather depends who holds the ace or maybe the jack but the answer is often well short of 5. You cannot ask such questions at the start of an auction.
So, stoically, you open 1NT 15-17 with a pretty uninspiring 16 count, 7 honour cards including 
KQ doubleton, a 9 and the rest being 4 and under, vulnerable and anticipating bad things to come.
Not true! Partner transferred to diamonds. That’s better. So, you show a super-accept! Now, there’s a change from your initial thoughts of calling the hand a 14 count. Partner used Key Card and within a flash you were in 6
| Board 18 East Deals N-S Vul |
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| West | North | East | South |
| Pass | 1 NT | ||
| Pass | 2 NT | Pass | 3 ♣ |
| Pass | 4 NT | Pass | 5 ♠ |
| Pass | 6 ♦ | All pass |
Well, it was partner who was in 6 and was moderately surprised at your short diamond length but thanks to the spade lead, heart discard and club finesses, there was an overtrick to be had. Whoever said KQ doubleton was a bad holding!
On then to Friday, final stages of the Teams and Swiss Pairs or Match-point Swiss Pairs for the rest.
Click here for the full results:
Richard Solomon
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