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Forbo-Krommemie

During the last weekend of February, I was invited to play in one of the best open teams tournaments in Europe - the Forbo-Krommenie in the Hague-the capital of the Netherlands. Sixty four teams entered the competition, divided in eight qualifying groups. The top two of each group qualified for the main final after an eight boards matches round robin, while the rest were divided in different subfields. All finals were another round robin of eight boards matches with prizes down to eighth in the main event and down to second in the consolation groups.

This was an excellent event to play in, as first, many of the participating teams were invited by the organisers therefore the players were ranking from European to World Champions or at least medallists, second- the venue was superb an extremely nice hotel near the sea and third even if a team didn't do well the first day and failed to qualify for the main final, they still had their chances to win their group or finish second to get some reward during the second day.

Each day the bridge was starting early 10 A.M., but was finishing around 6.30 P.M., so we had plenty of time to socialise or explore the nearby restaurants and pubs in the evening. On Saturday night the organisers provided us with dinner, and on Sunday night with drinks and nibbles and an interesting show, so we really couldn't get bored even for a minute.

I played in a team of World and ex-European champions myself and the top Austrian Lady players- Maria Erhart, Terry Weikghricht and Doris Fischer. We didn't do well enough on the Saturday and fail to qualify for the main final, but we did better the next day, finishing second in our group and getting a prize. Here is an interesting deal from our match against a strong Danish team.

Dealer South. Love All.

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

At our table the bidding went:

West	North	East	South
	Erhart		Senior
			1
Pass	1	pass	1
Pass	1(1)	Pass	2
Pass	3	Pass	4(2)
Pass	4(2)	Pass	5(2)
Pass	6	All Pass

West led the six of spades. I finessed successfully, crossed to hand with the Ace of clubs, played the Queen of trumps for King, Ace and two, drew one more round of trumps, everybody following, cashed the King of clubs and ruffed a club, West discarding a spade. Diamond to the King, followed by another club ruff allowed me to discard a spade on the Ace of diamonds and claim twelve tricks, losing to the ten of trumps.

At the other table, South was playing the same contract after the same lead. He finessed as well, but chose to play a low heart from dummy at trick two. This lost to the King, and another spade was returned. Actually, declarer can always make this contract, but after this start he needed to know how the cards were lying. He won the Ace of spades, played a diamond to the King and a heart to the Ace, discarded his losing spade on the Ace of diamonds and tried to set up the clubs. As they were four- two, he was a trick short at had to lose his contract.

I thought my line was better, as if clubs were three-three and hearts three-two, it wouldn't have mattered how the trumps were played, but if clubs were four- two, there was the danger of dummy being overruffed, which meant I should have avoided giving up a trump prematurely.

I did have an interesting lead problem in another match. Playing South again I held:

	10 9 8 7
	A Q 9 8 2
	10 2
	4 2

And was on lead after:

West	North	East	South
1	Pass	1	Pass
2	Pass	3NT	All Pass

Having the choice between spades and hearts, I tried the eight of hearts, as declarer's jump to 3NT suggested quite a solid stopper.

This proved to be the right decision as the whole hand was:

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

Declarer couldn't do anything, as partner had two vital entries to play hearts through and had to go one down. At the other table teammates played in 4, thinking how lucky they were that the club finesse was wrong and we gained 6 IMPs. The main final was comfortably won by the Canadian team of John Carruters, Eric Kokish, George Mittelman and Drew Cannel, followed by the Russians Gromov, Petrounine, Kholomeev and Khiouppenen.