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A day of mixed fortunes. Our Open team would be reasonably happy with three wins over the other three mid-table teams though medal prospects would have been enhanced by a larger win in at least one of their matches. They are though only 13vps behind 3^rd placed Australia. So, plenty to play for.

The Bridge Masters’ run of victories came to an abrupt end with a thumping from Australia with their dropping to 8^th by the end of the day. Nevertheless, 4^th is only 15 vps away and 2^nd 25 ahead. So, hopefully that run of victories can be repeated.

2 wins and then 2 losses for the Bridge Ferns. They have lost contact with the top group, with 3^rd placed Japan being 40 vps away.

However, 2 wins out of three matches including a win over Australia on BBO reflects a steady improvement by the Mixed Blacks. They have moved well clear of the bottom two placings and have mid-table now firmly within their grasp.

                   Bridge Ferns                                                      Bridge Masters

Korea	23-2	15.46	4th		Korea	41-16	16.21	3rd
Japan	37-11	16.38	4th		Australia A	4-53	0.62	8th
China Hong Kong	14-35	4.54	5th		Thailand	22-19	10.97	7th
Indonesia	12-43	2.81	6th		Chinese Taipei A	14-26	6.52	8th

 

             Bridge Blacks                                                                Mixed Blacks

Indonesia	16-13	10.97	6th		China Hong Kong	26-19	12.16	9th
Chinese Taipei	24-21	10.97	6th		Singapore	26.6-42	5.81	9th
China Hong Kong	33-24	12.71	5th		Australia	27-17	12.97	9th

Let’s start with that Mixed Blacks win over Australia:

It was secured in two boards, firstly when the Australians missed a 4 game and then when their West player made a strange choice of contracts on the following:

 

In the other room, Kate Davies and John Patterson bid safely to 4 which made when both major suits were well behaved. However, in the above auction, West seemed concerned her partner was bidding the heart suit she had shown but did not have and converted back to the spade game. (West’s initial aim had been to play the hand in diamonds..double then bid diamonds.)

Clair Miao led her two top clubs against 4and switched to a trump. There was no joy here for the declarer who had only one entry to dummy to take two necessary heart finesses. After two rounds of trumps were drawn, declarer was afraid of losing control if trumps broke 4-2 and end up three down losing two trumps, K and three minor tricks. That was 14 oh so valuable imps for the Mixed Blacks. 

                     
Annette Henry and Kate Davies of the Mixed               Michael Whibley and Matthew Brown...
 Blacks discuss a good result...we hope!                      somewhat unlucky in suit breaks in their
                                                                                      slams.

Bridge Blacks Fighting Back

They had to come back after two disappointing results the night before. This is one of the boards which brought that disappointment in the first place:

 

After getting a spade response to his 1 opening and after North overcalled 1,  Michael Whibley (West) checked on the missing ace and bid 7. Partner had to have some useful cards for his free bid! After a heart lead and then three rounds of trumps, Matt Brown needed clubs to be 4-3 or a very short Q. Neither eventuated causing the grand to be 1 down and 14 imps lost.

What was even more aggravating was that the slam could have been made ….but clubs must not be touched. Ruff a heart, draw trumps cashing the A when in dummy. After 3 rounds of hearts, six rounds of spades and A, North cannot keep QT9 and K, (dummy has AKJ and declarer QT and their club, a nice "Vienna Coup" ( the diamond threat must be in the East hand as the clubs are in the West)…but hardly the obvious line for which to play.

So, three narrow wins in matches where not a lot of imps were on offer. Whibley-Brown were again unlucky in the slam department when a reasonable  6 failed to a 5-0 trump break. However, in the same match and on the last board of their day, the same pair produced this good result:

 

South opened 1 with Michael (West) overcalling 1. North called 1NT which Michael reopened with a double. North redoubled for blood and Matthew retreated to 2. North passed South's take-out double. A club to the ace was followed by a second club, ruffed by Michael who exited Q to North's ace. A third club was played with Michael ruffing with A. He then played a heart to the 9 and a diamond towards his jack which scored when South ducked. A diamond ruff,A another diamond ruff with Q and K added up to 8 tricks, +470 and 12 very handy imps in.

Finally, let’s look at how our four teams fared on a competitive high level board:

                                                          Thirteen is an Unlucky Number....and again....and again!

 

Everyone did well in the above auction involving our Bridge Masters. 2 was Multi and 4 pass or correct. West’s double was take-out style with East taking out to a very reasonable spot. However, Clair Miao bid on and lost just three minor suit tricks in her doubled sacrifice.

Not only would it be unlikely that South would lead a spade against 5 but the ruff which might come after declarer ruffs the opening heart lead will help East who should make for just the loss of the ruff and a club.

In the other room, John Patterson found the spade break too tough and was 1 down in 4…5 imps to Australia.

Open

This was the board Michael Whibley reached 6 going two down while China Hong Kong stayed and made 4 to gain 13 imps.

Seniors

Another slam down with Dave Dolbel unable to make 6x. The double seemed to call for an unusual lead after which declarer still had to lose a club. Meanwhile, the Thais stopped in the less elegant 5 contract but made it to earn 13 imps.

Women

While the contract (5x) was the same in both rooms, the result was not. Alas, the Bridge Ferns did not take their club trick (the South hand was hidden) and conceded -750 along with -100 to complete a hattrick of -13s.

Hopefully, a better day will dawn on Sunday.

Richard Solomon

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