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South Africa v Eygpt
Final - Open Series
Session 1 - Part 2

Board 6
E/W Vul
Dealer East

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Eber	Naguib	Donde	Dagher
		Pass	1
Dbl	3	3	Pass
4	All Pass

East's Three Heart bid looks questionable - after all, he would presumably not have bid Two Hearts if North had passed over West's takeout double.

On the other hand, if West knows that East will strain to bid in this situation then there is a case for not raising to game even though it is teams and you are vulnerable. Whatever, this poor contract was three down, -300.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Sadek	Mansell	Ahmady	Gower
		Pass	1
Pass	3	All Pass

With all the important cards well placed, declarer came to ten tricks, +130, but that meant 5 more Egyptian IMPs.

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Eber	Naguib	Donde	Dagher
2	2	Dbl	4
All Pass

What did East have in mind when he doubled Two Hearts? He must have been sure his partner had spades, so it may have been a cunning ploy to try and talk North-South out of a game. If East-West play in spades and someone doubles the penalty will be substantial.

Of course, Four Hearts was very easy to make, declarer scoring eleven tricks, +650.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Sadek	Mansell	Ahmady	Gower
Pass	1NT	Pass	2
Pass	2	Pass	4
All Pass

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Eber	Naguib	Donde	Dagher
			Pass
Pass	1NT	Pass	Pass
3	Pass	3NT	Pass
4	All Pass

West did well to retreat to Four Diamonds, a contract that had chances to make.

North led the ten of hearts and declarer took dummy's ace and played the king of diamonds. North ducked, won the next diamond and tried to cash a heart. Declarer ruffed, drew the last trump and realizing North was a heavy favourite to hold the queen of clubs, declarer played the jack of clubs from his hand. That was the winning view, as the subsequent fall of the nine of clubs was going to provide two discards for the losing spades.

As it happens declarer did not need that as North ducked the jack! Ten tricks and +130.

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

South led a club and North took the queen and ace and switched to the jack of hearts. Declarer had to lose a trump and a diamond, one down, -50 and 5 IMPs for South Africa.

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

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

The modern way to treat the North hand is to start with One Spade, but that carries no guarantees.
When East bid 1NT West might have simply raised to 3NT, hoping his club suit would provide enough tricks.
If South had then led a heart - as he well might, the contract would have been made.
The exact meaning of West's Two Spades is unclear, possibly showing a stopper or perhaps a psyche as East had presumably denied a four card-major.
When East bid Three Spades, 3NT was still possible but Five Clubs was way too high.
North had more than enough to double and led the king of diamonds, declarer winning with the ace as South played the jack.
Declarer drew trumps and played a heart. North took the ace and led a diamond to South's ten for a spade return, +300.

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

When East doubled to show values West wisely retired to 2NT. If North leads a diamond the contract will be defeated but his actual choice of the ace of spades presented declarer with his eighth trick.

A later inaccuracy gave declarer an overtrick, +150 and ten IMPs for Egypt. At the end of a tough set of boards, Egypt were leading by 6 IMPs, due to the carry forward of 12 IMPs.