The final sixteen boards

by Nevena Senior (GBR)

With 16 boards to go, Austria was only 12 IMPs behind Netherlands in their semifinal match in the Orbis Venice Cup. They tried as much as they could, but the Dutch Ladies played extremely well, and won the right to play in the final.

Board 1. Dealer North. Love All ª A 9 8 © 8 6 ¨ K 9 2 § J 9 7 5 4 ª Q J ª K 7 6 5 2 © Q J 9 7 4 3 2 © K ¨ 10 6 3 ¨ A 7 5 § 6 § K 10 3 2 ª 10 4 3 © A 10 5 ¨ Q J 8 4 § A Q 8

Open Room West North East South van der Pas Erhart Vriend Terraneo Pass 1ª Pass 1NT(1) Pass 2§(2) Pass 2ª All Pass

(1) Forcing, unless partner has a really bad hand
(2) Could be a two card suit

Closed Room West North East South Weigkricht Pasman Fischer Simons Pass 1ª Pass 2© Pass 2ª Pass 3© Pass 4© All Pass

In the open room, Van der Pas used a Forcing no trump, and rebid 2ª over partner's 2§.

The standard way of bidding after 1© - 1NT (F) - 2§ would be, that 2© now shows a weak hand with long hearts, but perhaps, it would have been something else in the Dutch pairs system, so they stayed out of the best spot and had to concede -100, for two off in 2ª, when Terraneo led a diamond.

Weigkricht, as West in the closed room didn't want to bid 1NT, as it would have been non forcing and she chose a rather aggressive 2©, which didn't help her side to get a plus score in the board.

Had she chosen 1NT, she would have probably been left to play there without a great success, but Fischer might have rebid 2§, which would have allowed her to score +110 in 2©. Four hearts was two off for a flat board.

Board 13. Dealer North. Game All ª 9 6 3 2 © 10 5 3 ¨ K 10 8 5 § J 8 ª K Q 5 ª A J 10 © K Q 7 © A 9 6 4 2 ¨ J 4 3 2 ¨ — § 10 7 6 § A K 4 3 2 ª 8 7 4 © J 8 ¨ A Q 9 7 6 § Q 9 5

Open Room West North East South van der Pas Erhart Vriend Terraneo Pass 1© Pass 1NT(1) Pass 2§(2) Pass 3©(3) Pass 4© All Pass

(1) and (2) as above
(3) invitational

Closed Room West North East South Weigkricht Pasman Fischer Simons Pass 1§(1) Pass 1©(2) Pass 2© Pass 3© Pass 3ª Pass 4© Pass 4ª Pass 5© Pass 6© All Pass

(1)Strong Club
(2)Positive with less then three controls

There wasn't any problem in the play, as both hearts and clubs were splitting favourably, so Austria won 13 very much needed IMPs.

Board 16. Dealer West. EW Game ª 9 4 © K Q 10 5 3 ¨ J 8 2 § J 6 4 ª Q 6 3 ª A K 10 8 7 5 © A J 8 © 9 2 ¨ K 9 4 ¨ A Q 3 § A K 7 5 § 10 8 ª J 2 © 7 6 4 ¨ 10 7 6 5 § Q 9 3 2

Open Room West North East South van der Pas Erhart Vriend Terraneo 1NT Pass 3ª Pass 4§(1) Pass 4©(1) Pass 4©(1) Dble Pass Pass Rdble(2) Pass 4NT(3) Pass 5ª(4) Pass 6ª All Pass

(1)Cue bid
(2)First round control
(3)RKCB
(4)Two key cards and the Queen of trumps

Closed Room West North East South Weigkricht Pasman Fischer Simons 1NT Pass 2©(1) Pass 2NT(2) Pass 3©(3) Pass 3NT Pass 4ª All Pass

(1) Transfer
(2) Maximum with spade support
(3) Values

This time it was Netherlands turn to be rewarded with a 13 IMP gain for their accurate bidding. The match finished with a 36 IMP victory for the Dutch Ladies, who will try to win gold for Europe in the final against USA1.