Day 7 - Great Bridge Links

2005 WORLD BRIDGE CHAMPIONSHIPS Estoril, PortugalBoard 9. Dealer North. E/W Vul.♠ Q 5 4 2♥ A J 7♦ 5♣ A K 7 5 4♠ J 10 7 6 N ♠ A K 9 3♥ 10 9 6 ♥ 5 3W E♦ A 7 4 2♦ K Q♣ 9 3 S ♣ Q J 10 8 2♠ 8♥ K Q 8 4 2♦ J 10 9 8 6 3♣ 6West North East SouthKriftner Cimon Terraneo Lee1♣ 1♠ Dble2♠ All PassWest North East SouthEaton Grumm Clinton Weigkricht1♠ 1NT 2♦All PassTerraneo could not bear to pass over the 1♣ opening whenholding 15 HCP but her hand did not quite suit any action.She chose the four-card 1♠ overcall and that worked verynicely as Kriftner could raise in competition to reach an excellentspot. (What would you do in the pass-out deal withthat South hand?) Despite the bad breaks,Terraneo’s contracthad too much going for it and she made eight tricks for +110.The Blue Club canapé opening style struck gold on this dealas Grumm’s opening bid stole her opponents’ trump suit.Clinton overcalled 1NT and Weigkricht competed in herlonger suit. Eaton could hardly do anything in this scenario, so2♦ was the final contract. Eaton led the ten of hearts.Weigkricht won with the jack and cashed the top clubs for aspade pitch, then played a trump to Clinton’s queen. Sheruffed the next lead of the ♣Q with the six and was overruffed,but from here there were just two top diamonds to belost; +110 and 6 IMPs to Austria.Iris Grumm, AustriaBoard 10. Dealer East.All Vul.♠ J 9♥ A 10 7 3♦ A Q J 10 3♣ K 2♠ K 10 7 N ♠ A 6 4 3 2♥ J 9 5 2 ♥ 8 6 4W E♦ 5 4 ♦ K 9 6♣ J 9 8 6S ♣ A Q♠ Q 8 5♥ K Q♦ 8 7 2♣ 10 7 5 4 3West North East SouthKriftner Cimon Terraneo Lee1♠ PassPass Dble Pass 1NTPass 2NT All PassWest North East SouthEaton Grumm Clinton Weigkricht1NT PassPass Dble Pass 2♣Pass 2♦ All PassWhen Terraneo’s 1♠ opening came around to her, Cimondoubled, then raised the 1NT response to 2NT. Lee was veryminimum for a 1NT response to a balancing double − indeed,some would play this sequence as promising more than apoor seven-count and therefore respond 2♣ with the Southcards. She quickly passed 2NT, but that was already too high.Kriftner led a club to the king and ace, and Terraneo switchedto spades.When the diamond finesse failed, the defence hadspades to cash for down two; −200.Clinton opened an 11-14 no trump, doubled by Grumm.Weigkricht took a cautious run-out to 2♣, converted to 2♦by Grumm. She won the heart lead in dummy and led a spadeto the nine and ace. Clinton returned a spade to the king andEaton switched to a club. After the two club tricks, thedefence had only a diamond to come; +90 and 7 IMPs to Austria.Thelead was up to 37-6.Canada gained an overtrick IMP on Board 12, then Austriastruck another big blow.Board 13. Dealer North.All Vul.♠ A 5 2♥ 7 6 4 3♦ Q 6♣ Q 9 7 6♠ K Q 8 6 N ♠ 10 9 7 4♥ A K 10 ♥ J 9 8 5W E♦ K J 2 ♦ A 9 5 3♣ J 10 8S ♣ K♠ J 3♥ Q 2♦ 10 8 7 4♣ A 5 4 3 222