England - Indonesia (D'Orsi Seniors Bowl Semifinal 4)

by Mark Horton

The fourth set featured a lot of flat deals, but there were three that produced huge swings in virtually every match and this one was no exception.

Board 21. Dealer North. N/S Vul.
	♠ A K 10 9 6 2 ♥ 5 4 2 ♦ A Q ♣ A 5
♠ 5 3 ♥ K 9 7 6 3 ♦ K 9 7 6 ♣ 10 7		♠ J 4 ♥ ♦ J 10 8 5 4 2 ♣ 9 8 6 3 2
	♠ Q 8 7 ♥ A Q J 10 8 ♦ 3 ♣ K Q J 4

Open Room

For a Precision pair, that was a remarkably imprecise auction. The 5-0 trump break added insult to injury as the contract had to go one down, -100.

Closed Room

East led the jack of diamonds, and that enabled declarer to claim after the completion of trick two, which was won by the ace of trumps. +2210 gave England a handy 20 IMPs and the lead in the match, 99.50-92.

Board 22. Dealer East. E/W Vul.
	♠ A K J 10 8 7 ♥ A 10 7 4 ♦ 3 2 ♣ 9
♠ 5 3 2 ♥ K Q 9 6 5 3 ♦ K ♣ A 6 2		♠ Q 6 4 ♥ J 8 ♦ A Q 10 6 5 ♣ K Q 4
	♠ 9 ♥ 2 ♦ J 9 8 7 4 ♣ J 10 8 7 5 3

Open Room

Warned off by East’s rebid, North attempted no heroics and was delighted to be able to double Four Hearts. North started with three rounds of spades and South ruffed and switched to a club. Declarer won in hand and played a heart to the jack, setting up a second trump trick for North, down two, -500.

Closed Room

West’s transfer to Four Hearts compelled North to bid Four Spades. South did not fancy that and went in search of a minor suit fit exactly what North must have hoped for. East led the jack of hearts and declarer won in hand and played a club. West won with the ace and switched to a spade (was it so difficult to play the king of diamonds?).

Declarer won, ruffed a heart, ruffed a club, and when he played another heart East discarded his last club. He could ruff the next club, but when he then cashed the ace of diamonds he felled his partner’s king and dropped a trick down three, -500 those 14 IMPs handing Indonesia the lead back to Indonesia.

Board 25. Dealer North. E/W Vul.
	♠ A Q 9 2 ♥ 10 ♦ Q 10 6 4 ♣ K Q 7 3
♠ K J ♥ A Q 8 2 ♦ A 8 5 ♣ A 8 5 2		♠ 7 5 4 3 ♥ K 9 7 6 5 ♦ K J 2 ♣ J
	♠ 10 8 6 ♥ J 4 3 ♦ 9 7 3 ♣ 10 9 6 4

Open Room

Declarer was not hard pressed to record eleven tricks, +650.

Closed Room

South’s psychic response produced a dramatic result. East/West still managed to play in hearts, but stayed out of the lay down game. 10 IMPs to England, back in front.

Indonesia picked up a few overtrick IMPs near the end to edge ahead, but the impetus seemed to be with England. Time would tell.