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Daily Bulletin Number 4

Round 9 - Open Series
South Africa v Mauritius

South Africa may have been expecting an easy match, but there is no such thing these days.

Board 1
None Vul
Dealer North

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Leberton	Convery	Heny	Gower
	Pass	Pass	1
Dbl	1NT	2	Pass
4	All Pass

South led the king of hearts and it was not difficult for declarer to arrive at eleven tricks.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Donde	Gokulsing	Mansell	Theodore
	Pass	Pass	Pass
1	Pass	1	Pass
2NT	Pass	3	Pass
3	Pass	4	Pass
5	All Pass

South led the three of spades and the trick was completed by the two, five and six. Declarer played the jack of hearts covered by the queen and ace and was in no danger at all.

It was suggested in the VuGraph that a diamond lead would defeat Five Spades, but declarer can still prevail. He wins with the ace and cashes two top spades followed by two top clubs pitching a diamond. He then plays the ten of clubs, running it if North does not cover. South can ruff but that will be the last trick for the defence.

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

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Donde	Gokulsing	Mansell	Theodore
		Pass	1
2NT*	Pass	4	All Pass

South led the ace of spades and switched to the two of clubs. North took the ace and gave his partner a ruff but that was the last trick for the defence.

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Leberton	Convery	Heny	Gower
		Pass	1
2NT	Pass	3	4
4	Dbl	Pass	4
Pass	Pass	Dbl	All Pass

North/South have a good save available in diamonds and as South had clearly shown a very large number of them by bidding Four Diamonds all on his own, perhaps North should have retreated when Four Spades was doubled.

West led the king of clubs and declarer won with the ace and played a diamond. East dashed in with the ace and felled his partner's king but he continued the suit allowing West to ruff. The ace of hearts was followed by a small heart forcing declarer to ruff.
He tried a hopeful ace of spades, but when West discarded the game was up.

Despite having the KQ in his hand declarer can only prevent East from scoring three tricks with the J87 at the cost of allowing him tricks elsewhere so the contract was three down, -800 and 9 IMPs for Mauritius, giving them an early lead.

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

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Donde	Gokulsing	Mansell	Theodore
Pass	1	Pass	1
Pass	1	Pass	2
Dbl	Pass	Pass	2
Pass	2	All Pass

There is quite a good rule that says if you have an opening bid and your partner opens the bidding then you should not stay out of game.

Four Hearts will probably be defeated but 3NT can always be made by careful play, even if North is the declarer.

The opening lead of the jack of clubs gave declarer an easy ride and ten tricks were made for +170.

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Leberton	Convery	Heny	Gower
Pass	1	Pass	1
Pass	1	Pass	3NT
All Pass

West led the jack of clubs and declarer won with the queen and played a heart to the jack and East's king. East switched to the five of diamonds, covered by the six, seven and eight.

Declarer played back the two of diamonds and East went in with the king and switched to the eight of hearts.

Declarer took the ace, unblocked the ace of diamonds in dummy, came to hand with a spade to the ace, cashed the queen of diamonds and finessed the ten of spades.

East could win and cash the queen of hearts but declarer had the rest. +600 and 10 IMPs to South Africa.

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

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Donde	Gokulsing	Mansell	Theodore
Pass	Pass	1	1NT
Pass	2	Pass	2
All Pass

Facing a known strong balanced hand North was rather cautious. Two Hearts was easy enough and declarer scored and overtrick for +140.

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Leberton	Convery	Heny	Gower
Pass	Pass	2	2NT
Pass	3	Pass	3
Pass	3NT	All Pass

As you would expect the South African pair were soon in game.

West led a club and East took the ace and returned the suit. Declarer made the good play of ducking completely, discarding a heart from dummy and took a third club with the jack, this time discarding a diamond.

He played on spades, West winning the third round as East discarded a heart. When West switched to a diamond declarer put in the eight and East followed with a thoughtful two, making it clear he had the queen.

Declarer won in hand with the ace and played the king of hearts. East took the ace and played back a club but declarer played a diamond to the king, claiming when the queen appeared. Well played for 6 IMPs.

South Africa were well on top at this stage but their opponents stuck to their guns and reduced their opponents margin of victory over the closing boards.