Day 4 was a good one for team England, with three victories. The morning match against arch-rivals, the Netherlands, had a dramatic climax - see below!
One aspect of an international tournament is that of the many different systems and approaches adopted. For example, rather than being the norm as it would be in England, the "Weak No Trump" is regarded by some with a fair degree of suspicion and some players need very little excuse to double it. This can lead to some very exciting bridge!
Imagine you are Nevena Senior, at unfavourable vulnerability, holding:
S K102 H 84 D 97653 C K106
Sandra Penfold's 12-14 NT opening is doubled and so you remove to 2D, which, in turn is doubled for take-out - an anxious moment, perhaps? Your LHO decides to remove to 2S (whew!) and, suddenly, there is a chance to turn the tables as the opponents continue, trying 3NT. Nevena found a very sharp double of her own. This was vindicated when a ruthless defence resulted in defeating the contract by four tricks - +800. One up for the Weak No Trump!
In yesterday's encounter with the Netherlands, there were many swings and exciting deals.
Here is one of the big hands:
Carla Arnolds Sally Brock Martine Verbeek Fiona Brown
North East South West
1H 2C 2S
4C 5C Pass 5NT
Pass 6H Pass 7S
One aspect of an international tournament is that of the many different systems and approaches adopted. For example, rather than being the norm as it would be in England, the "Weak No Trump" is regarded by some with a fair degree of suspicion and some players need very little excuse to double it. This can lead to some very exciting bridge!
Imagine you are Nevena Senior, at unfavourable vulnerability, holding:
S K102 H 84 D 97653 C K106
Sandra Penfold's 12-14 NT opening is doubled and so you remove to 2D, which, in turn is doubled for take-out - an anxious moment, perhaps? Your LHO decides to remove to 2S (whew!) and, suddenly, there is a chance to turn the tables as the opponents continue, trying 3NT. Nevena found a very sharp double of her own. This was vindicated when a ruthless defence resulted in defeating the contract by four tricks - +800. One up for the Weak No Trump!
In yesterday's encounter with the Netherlands, there were many swings and exciting deals.
Here is one of the big hands:
| Board 22. Dealer East. E-W Vulnerable. | ||
| ♠ Q ♥ K Q 4 3 ♦ 7 5 4 ♣ T 7 5 3 2 | ||
| ♠ A J 9 7 6 4 ♥ J ♦ A Q 9 3 ♣ A 9 |  | ♠ K 8 5 2 ♥ A T 9 8 7 5 2 ♦ K J ♣ - |
| ♠ T 3 ♥ 6 ♦ T 8 6 2 ♣ K Q J 8 6 4 | ||
Carla Arnolds Sally Brock Martine Verbeek Fiona Brown
North East South West
1H 2C 2S
4C 5C Pass 5NT
Pass 6H Pass 7S
Sally's 5C bid showed a good hand with spade support and a void in clubs. Fiona and Sally have an agreement that they can bid 5NT to ask for key-cards when 4NT has been by-passed, which proved to be extremely useful on this hand. It elicited a 2 key-card response and Fiona leapt to the making grand-slam - very impressive but just a flat board!
The Dutch had opened up a 13 IMP lead when the final board of the match appeared.
| Board 32. Dealer West. E-W Vulnerable. | ||
| ♠ 8 5 ♥ Q 7 6 4 3 2 ♦ Q 7 6 ♣ T 7 | ||
| ♠ K Q J T 7 2 ♥ - ♦ K 9 5 3 ♣ A Q 9 | | ♠ A 6 ♥ J 8 ♦ A J T 8 4 2 ♣ 6 4 2 |
| ♠ 9 4 3 ♥ A K T 9 5 ♦ - ♣ K J 8 5 3 | ||
Catherine Draper Wietske Van Zwol Nicola Smith Magdalena Ticha
North East South West
1S
Pass 3D 3H 6S !
7H 7S Double !
Doubles of this kind, referred to as "Lightner", have lead-directing overtones. The rationale is that by doubling, a player can direct partner to find a lead that, otherwise, would not have been chosen. There are many variations on this theme but against slams in suit contracts, such doubles are often used to obtain a ruff at trick one.
Certainly, Catherine had been asked to find an unusual lead. In the cauldron of a World Championships, on lead to a doubled grand-slam, it is imperative to keep a clear head. Without the double, a club lead might have been indicated because, obviously, the opponents are fully prepared for a lead of the bid and agreed suit. So Catherine reasoned that Nicola was after a diamond ruff and, accordingly, led one.
One off and victory in the most dramatic fashion!
Since then we have chalked up three more wins, the last of which was an emphatic victory against the strong Chinese team this morning and we are now in a healthy third place.
After 13 rounds, the "scores on the doors" are:
North East South West
1S
Pass 3D 3H 6S !
7H 7S Double !
Doubles of this kind, referred to as "Lightner", have lead-directing overtones. The rationale is that by doubling, a player can direct partner to find a lead that, otherwise, would not have been chosen. There are many variations on this theme but against slams in suit contracts, such doubles are often used to obtain a ruff at trick one.
Certainly, Catherine had been asked to find an unusual lead. In the cauldron of a World Championships, on lead to a doubled grand-slam, it is imperative to keep a clear head. Without the double, a club lead might have been indicated because, obviously, the opponents are fully prepared for a lead of the bid and agreed suit. So Catherine reasoned that Nicola was after a diamond ruff and, accordingly, led one.
One off and victory in the most dramatic fashion!
Since then we have chalked up three more wins, the last of which was an emphatic victory against the strong Chinese team this morning and we are now in a healthy third place.
After 13 rounds, the "scores on the doors" are:
| 1 | SWEDEN | 169.41 |
| 2 | POLAND | 169.35 |
| 3 | ENGLAND | 164.14 |
| 4 | NETHERLANDS | 163.77 |
| 5 | RUSSIA | 160.32 |
| 6 | INDONESIA | 160.10 |
| 7 | CHINA | 158.33 |
| 8 | ISRAEL | 145.14 |
| 9 | FRANCE | 143.76 |
| 10 | AUSTRALIA | 138.59 |
| 11 | ARGENTINA | 135.81 |
| 12 | BRAZIL | 129.74 |
| 13 | EGYPT | 123.73 |
| 14 | USA1 | 123.72 |
| 15 | ITALY | 122.32 |
| 16 | USA2 | 121.26 |
| 17 | NEW ZEALAND | 104.22 |
| 18 | CHINESE TAIPEI | 101.23 |
| 19 | MOROCCO | 99.15 |
| 20 | CANADA | 88.99 |
| 21 | INDIA | 67.53 |
| 22 | JORDAN | 67.39 |
Derek :)
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