Board by Board Round 6 v Italy

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

Board 32

	J 10 9 A 10 7 5 2 A 5 4 K 6
7 5 4 3 2 Q 9 3 10 3 9 8 4		A Q J 8 4 Q J 9 7 2 A J 10
	K 8 6 K 6 K 8 6 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. 3 +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

	A 10 8 5 9 5 2 Q 10 5 4 9 8
J 9 7 6 2 10 A 9 7 6 3 J 5		K Q 4 3 7 4 8 A Q 7 6 5 2
	— A K Q J 8 6 3 K J 2 K 10 3

A missed opportunity for England here. England play in 4 by south making. In the other room the Italian south is in 5, presumably pushed there. This can be beaten on a diamond ruff privided the right lead is chosen. Holland (west) led the 6 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

	7 5 J 5 4 A 9 3 2 J 10 9 2
K 8 4 K 7 6 2 K 6 5 K Q 7		A Q 6 3 A 10 9 Q 9 4 6 4 3
	J 10 9 2 Q 8 3 J 10 7 A 8 5

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

Board 29
5 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
4x -1 by West at both tables. England still lead 22 - 20, 15 - 15 in vps.

Board 26
3 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

	6 4 A K 8 10 9 3 2 A 9 5 2
Q 9 8 5 3 9 K 6 K J 10 6 4		K 10 Q 6 5 4 Q J 8 7 5 Q 7
	A J 7 2 J 10 7 3 2 A 4 8 3

For England, Price (North) plays in 1NT making +1 for +120. The Italian North lands up in 2. 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

	J 8 6 5 3 K J 8 2 Q 9 6 3
4 A Q 10 5 A K J 5 3 J 8 7		A Q 2 9 4 10 9 A K Q 10 4 3
	K 10 9 7 7 6 3 8 7 6 4 2 2

Hallberg sitting East plays in 7 and gets a heart lead. It's makeable double dummy but most lines will fail. He goes one down, -50. Italy stop in 6 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 3. His hand is J9873 AQ A64 T73, dummy's is KT62 KJ97 953 Q9. 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 K (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.