Search MSO Worldwide

Daily Bulletin Number 5

The Decider
Round 10 - Women's Series
Tunisia v Egypt
Part 2

Board 8
None Vul
Dealer West

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

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Sfar	Maud	Ghodbane	Lily
Pass	Pass	1	4
All Pass

West led the queen of diamonds and that was covered by the king and ace and ruffed by declarer who drew trumps. As you can see, the East hand is under enormous pressure in three suits and simply cannot stand the strain. Declarer was soon recording +510.

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Morcos	Klibi	Sarwat	Klibi
Pass	Pass	1	4
Dbl	All Pass

West had not picked the right moment for a risky penalty double. Play developed along similar lines to that at the other table and it appeared to the audience that declarer had made all the tricks. However, there was a dispute and it was not possible to resolve the situation, so the result was plus two, +790 and 8 IMPs.

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Morcos	Klibi	Sarwat	Klibi
		Pass	Pass
1	Pass	1	Pass
1NT	All Pass

North led the six of clubs and South won with the queen and returned a club. North took the ace and cleared the suit.

Declarer played a diamond to North's king and after cashing the long club North switched to a spade for the jack and ace. South won the spade return and played a heart. Declarer had discarded a heart on the fourth club and she finessed. North won and played back a heart to ensure two down and +200.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Sfar	Maud	Ghodbane	Lily
		Pass	1
Pass	1	Pass	1NT
All Pass

West led the jack of diamonds and East was allowed to win with the queen. The diamond continuation was taken by declarer's ace and she played a heart to the king and a second heart.

West cleared the diamonds and declarer played a low club from dummy. East went in with the king and switched to the four of spades.

A winning view would see declarer home but when she put up the king she was two down, another -200 and 9 IMPs.

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Morcos	Klibi	Sarwat	Klibi
			Pass
Pass	1	Pass	1NT
Pass	2NT	Pass	3NT
All Pass

As the cards lie you can always make 3NT or Four Hearts on the North-South cards, but careful play is required.

West led a low spade making life very easy for declarer who could establish a second spade trick to go with four hearts, two diamonds and a club.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Sfar	Maud	Ghodbane	Lily
			Pass
Pass	1	Pass	2
Pass	3NT	All Pass

With North as the declarer life was far harder. East led the jack of hearts and declarer won and overtook the queen of clubs with dummy's ace. When she played the jack of clubs East ducked, but won the next club and switched to the ten of diamonds.

Declarer had no chance from this point and was one down, -50 and 10 IMPs.

Once East had ducked the jack of clubs declarer could have got home by coming back to hand with a heart and playing a spade to dummy's ten. That wins whenever East started with a doubleton or tripleton queen or jack. East should have taken the second club and switched to a diamond.

From declarer's point of view course this all relies on hearts being 3-3 so the card West played to trick one was important. It was the four of hearts. Judge for yourselves if declarer should have found the winning line - it was certainly not easy.

It was Tunisia who emerged victorious in this key encounter. With only two matches left they were now in the box seat.