Monday 31 August 2009

Board by Board Round 6 v Italy

Round 6 England v Italy 32 - 27 imps 16 - 14 vps after 16 boards.

Board 32
S J 10 9
H A 10 7 5 2
D A 5 4
C K 6
S 7 5 4 3 2
H Q 9 3
D 10 3
C 9 8 4
DIR
S A Q
H J 8 4
D Q J 9 7 2
C A J 10
S K 8 6
H K 6
D K 8 6
C Q 7 5 3 2

Holland (west) led a club against 3NT. We don't know the auction but probably clubs had not been bid. 3NT made for -400. 3H +1 was made at the other table but that was still 6 imps back for Italy, making the final score 32 - 27, 16 - 14 in vps.

Board 31
S A 10 8 5
H 9 5 2
D Q 10 5 4
C 9 8
S J 9 7 6 2
H 10
D A 9 7 6 3
C J 5
DIR
S K Q 4 3
H 7 4
D 8
C A Q 7 6 5 2
S
H A K Q J 8 6 3
D K J 2
C K 10 3

A missed opportunity for England here. England play in 4H by south making. In the other room the Italian south is in 5H, presumably pushed there. This can be beaten on a diamond ruff privided the right lead is chosen. Holland (west) led the S6 so the contract made. 1 imp to Italy when it could have been 10 to England. England's lead reduced to 32 - 21, 17 - 13 in vps.

Board 30
S 7 5
H J 5 4
D A 9 3 2
C J 10 9 2
S K 8 4
H K 7 6 2
D K 6 5
C K Q 7
DIR
S A Q 6 3
H A 10 9
D Q 9 4
C 6 4 3
S J 10 9 2
H Q 8 3
D J 10 7
C A 8 5

For both teams East was declarer in 3NT. Hallberg for England made it on the SJ lead, the Italian East went one off on the DJ lead. 10 imps to England who are now ahead 32 - 20, 18 - 12 in vps.

Board 29
5C by West made by both teams. Another push. England still lead 22 - 20, 15 - 15 in vps.

Board 28
A push in what looks like a routine 3NT+1 by NS. Still 22 - 20, 15 - 15 in vps.

Board 27
4Hx -1 by West at both tables. England still lead 22 - 20, 15 - 15 in vps.

Board 26
3S by East at both tables, but England made an overtrick. 1 imp to England who now lead 22 - 20, 15 - 15 in vps.


Board 25
S 6 4
H A K 8
D 10 9 3 2
C A 9 5 2
S Q 9 8 5 3
H 9
D K 6
C K J 10 6 4
DIR
S K 10
H Q 6 5 4
D Q J 8 7 5
C Q 7
S A J 7 2
H J 10 7 3 2
D A 4
C 8 3

For England, Price (North) plays in 1NT making +1 for +120. The Italian North lands up in 2C. This is not a success. Down five and +250 for England. 9 imps back and England regain the lead 21 - 20, 15 - 15 in vps.

Board 24
S J 8 6 5 3
H K J 8 2
D Q
C 9 6 3
S 4
H A Q 10 5
D A K J 5 3
C J 8 7
DIR
S A Q 2
H 9 4
D 10 9
C A K Q 10 4 3
S K 10 9 7
H 7 6 3
D 8 7 6 4 2
C 2

Hallberg sitting East plays in 7C and gets a heart lead. It's makeable double dummy but most lines will fail. He goes one down, -50. Italy stop in 6C in the other room for +920. 14 imps to Italy. England now trail 12 - 20 imps, 13 - 17 vps

Board 23.
Price (North) is in 3S. His hand is SJ9873 HAQ DA64 CT73, dummy's is SKT62 HKJ97 D953 CQ9. He guests a small spade lead. We don't have play records but my guess is that he read the lead correctly and rose with the SK (the lead unlikely to be from Qxx or Qx). Made for +140, down 1 in same contract on heart lead for +100 and 6 imps to England who now lead 12 - 6, 16 - 14 in VP's

Boards 17 - 22. Score is 6 - 6 15 -15 Vps after 6 boards. I pick up the story here.