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Day 6  No Happy Ending

In the sense that New Zealand did record one win on the last day, the above statement was not true. It was their 4^th win in 21 matches, most of which had been significant losses.

Opponent	Imp Score	New Zealand vp Score
Chile	37-30	12.16
USA 2	6-47	1.47
Italy	31-43	6.52

 

These results left the Bridge Jacks in 21^st place on 112.54vp ahead and comfortably so of just Botswana. With China taking almost the maximum off Botswana in the last round, both France and Australia missed out on the top 8 despite big last round wins.

Round 19 v Chile

A too aggressive opening lead cost our opponents big time on the first board:

 

Both tables played 6 by North. The J looks a good choice of opening lead whether or not South had shown a singleton. However, Zachary chose to lead his trump, which solved one problem for the declarer but there was still a loser in each red suit. Not so for Brad when East chose to lead away from his K. A successful trump guess saw 14 imps come New Zealand’s way.

The win would have been larger had Vincent been able to make 6NT on the following:

With his opponents in game, he received a safe 10  lead:

 

Unless the K was singleton or doubleton in the South hand, declarer needs a successful spade finesse. However, why not try the club finesse first? It fails and North exits a second diamond. Two more rounds of diamonds start to make it awkward for North who has to throw two major cards. Then comes three rounds of spades followed by two high hearts and we are down to a 3-card ending, with North and East having 3 clubs each. A lot was riding on this decision but Vincent did not finesse and 12 imps were lost.

Round 20 v USA 2

The Americans were to finish a comfortable 3^rd behind USA 1 and Sweden. There was not a lot out but nothing came in. The following slam bid by Brad and Nick does not look that flash but will and did make when either a heart or club was led:

 

Brad declared 6 as North and received a non- too helpful dummy. Australia made an overtrick after the 6 lead but the passive trump lead Brad received gave him no help and he finished 2 down to lose 13 imps when the Americans played in 4.

Round 21 v Italy

What would be your choice of lead after this simple sequence:

 

where 1NT is 15-17?

What about going passive with a heart or, as we lead a major normally against such a sequence, a slightly more aggressive spade? 15 of the 22 tables declared 3NT after such a sequence and at all bar one the lead was a major. The defence are still waiting to take their first trick! 4^th highest of your longest and strongest would have worked a treat!

 

Alas, that one table was not where New Zealand were on lead and indeed the Bridge Jacks lost 3 imps when at the other table, we bid to the very safe 5 contract where West found the 8 lead. If he led it against 5, he may well have done the same against 3NT! Well bid, Brad and Nik for no reward.

However, the Italians did give New Zealand 14 imps when their trump suit at the 6 level was 9874 opposite AT3. A 7-2 fit with the long suit headed by AKJ was more appealing to most!

Alas, the event finished with 24 imps going to Italy from overbidding and then being caught for a low- level penalty…and a potential small win had become another defeat.

Despite the results, a fond farewell from Nik, Vincent, Brad and Zachary. Let's not forget Douglas
 Russell, their npc, who kept their spirits up to the end.

Conclusion

Learning the game can be a tough experience with the last 6 days being exactly that for the New Zealand team. They played some strong young teams during the week. Teams Bridge is such that the smallest mistakes will be punished…and they were. Hopefully, our players will learn quickly from the experience. They certainly kept fighting throughout.

Richard Solomon

 

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