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Daily Bulletin Number 4

The Big Match
Round 7 - Open Series
South Africa v Egypt
Part 2

Board 6
E/W Vul
Dealer East

			5 4
			10 9 7 6 2
			8
			A Q 10 9 7
	7 6 3	N W E S			K J 8
	A Q J 8 3				K
	J 7 6				Q 10 5 4 2
	8 2				K J 4 3
			A Q 10 9 2
			5 4
			A K 9 3
			6 5

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Gower	Ahmady	Mansell	Sadek
		1	1
Dbl	Pass	1NT	Pass
Pass	2	Pass	Pass
2	Pass	Pass	Dbl
All Pass

Cast you mind back to Board 4. South did not miss his chance to make a penalty double this time. He led the six of clubs and North put up the ace and switched to the five of spades. Declarer made the good play of the king but South knew his partner did not have three spades so he took the ace, cashed the queen and gave his partner a ruff.

North returned the ten of clubs and declarer put in the jack. When that held he overtook the king of hearts with the ace, cashed the queen pitching a club and played a diamond to the ten. South took the king, cashed the ace and exited with the three of diamonds, ensuring a trick for his nine. +500

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Naguib	Eber	Dagher	Donde
		1	1
Dbl	Pass	2	Pass
2	All Pass

There was no reason for anyone to double this time, indeed a double at this point by South would usually be regarded as being for takeout. Although the contract went the same two down as at the other table that was only -200 and 8 IMPs for Egypt. South Africa hit back on the next deal.

			9 7 2
			Q 8 6 5 4 3
			10 5
			J 2
	A 8 6	N W E S			Q J 5 3
	A J 10 2				K 9
	K 8 7 4				A 6 2
	8 4				K 10 9 5
			K 10 4
			7
			Q J 9 3
			A Q 7 6 3

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Naguib	Eber	Dagher	Donde
			1
Dbl	Pass	2	Pass
2	Pass	3NT	All Pass

South led the six of clubs for the four, jack and king. Declarer played the jack of spades, covered by the king and ace. Now came the eight of clubs, taken by the queen, South switching to the queen of diamonds.

When that was ducked all round he continued with the jack, collecting North's ten as declarer won in hand in order to play the ten of clubs. South won with the ace and played the three of diamonds.

This was the critical point of the hand. Restricted choice suggests that declarer should finesse but there is not much in it.

When declarer put up the king he could not recover and was one down.

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Gower	Ahmady	Mansell	Sadek
			1
Dbl	1	2	Pass
2	Pass	3NT	All Pass

The same opening lead saw declarer win trick one with the king of clubs and he returned the suit at once. South took his queen and seeing no future in the club suit switched to the three of diamonds.

When declarer allowed North to win with the ten he switched to a spade, which was covered by the queen, king and ace.

Now declarer was in a position to make nine tricks in several ways. He played a heart to the king and a heart back to the jack. North could win with the queen but had no winning continuation. +600 and 12 IMPs.

Points continued to change hands but the audience were pleased to see the next major swing go in favour of the home team.

			7
			-
			A Q 7 3 2
			K 9 8 7 5 4 2
	J 6	N W E S			Q 9 8 4 3 2
	A Q 9 6 5 3				J 10 4
	K 9 6 4				-
	J				A Q 10 6
			A K 10 5
			K 8 7 2
			J 10 8 5
			3

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Gower	Ahmady	Mansell	Sadek
2	4NT	5	Pass
5	Pass	Pass	Dbl
All Pass

North's aggressive bid saw East-West go overboard. Declarer played the hand on cross-ruff lines but had to go two down, -300.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Naguib	Eber	Dagher	Donde
1	2NT	4	5
Dbl	All Pass

When North shows a minor two suiter, one possibility on the East hand is to bid Three Diamonds to show a take out with spades. East's actual choice worked well when South bid Five Diamonds.

West led the jack of spades and declarer won with the ace and played a club for the jack, king and ace. East now switched to the jack of hearts forcing dummy to ruff.

At this point South can escape for one down by ruffing a club with the ten of diamonds. There are several variations but say West overruffs and plays back a trump. Declarer can put in dummy's seven, ruff a club high and draw trumps. He loses only one more club.

Alas the play record is silent so we cannot tell you how declarer played but he went three down for -500, a net gain of +800 for Egypt, who were now in front and went on to record an important victory.