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Written by Tim
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Friday, 26 March 2010 |
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The reporter took Thursday on the final day of the round the chance of supporting the Netherlands Red in quest of a place in the semi-final. Acting as trainer of the Dutch juniors I have made a habit of writing down some questions about bidding theory on all kinds of pieces of paper (even sometimes on paper money bills); maybe we can use them for some training session. Friday morning I collected these bits and pieces and wrote them down in a questionnaire. So juniors (and all bridge players) from all countries are invited to participate in one of those training sessions in answering the next questions and discussing them with their partner.
NETHERLANDS RED RISES
After a useful 25 against Turkey the Netherlands took an 18 imp lead against Israel but lost most of that on the last two boards: 16-14, and the third place in the ranking. With Denmark, USA and England to go a tough ride, but all seemed promising.
Question 1
In multiple choice format (let your partner put in his answers without seeing yours first)
What would you – green versus green in first position - open with
♠ 2 ♥ K Q 8 3 2 ♦ 4 ♣ A K 9 4 3 2
a) 1♥, intending to rebid 2♣ over 1♠
b) 1♣ and rebid 2♣ over 1♠
c) 1♣ and rebid 2♥ over 1♠
d) Other suggestion
1a) same for green versus red: ♠ - ♥ Q 8 7 6 4 ♣ A 8 ♣ A Q 10 9 7 6
Question 2
♠ A 9 8 ♥ A Q 8 5 2 ♦ K Q 8 6 ♣ 2
Partner opens 1♥ in first position, vulnerable against not, next hand passes
a) 2NT as some form of ♥-support
b) 4♣; splinter
c) 2♦: natural 10+HCP or GF
d) Some 2♣-relay
Question 3
North/all
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
1♦ 2♠(weak) ??
SOUTH: ♠ K J 6 5 ♥ A 6 4 ♦ K 7 ♣ K J 9 5
a) Pass
b) 3NT
c) Dbl
d) Do you expect partner always to keep the bidding open when you pass?
Question 4
West/all
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
2 ♥(weak) dbl 2♠ ??
♠ 10 ♥ A K 10 2 ♦ J 8 4 3 ♣ J 7 5 2
a) pass
b) dbl
c) 2NT
d) Something else
Question 5
North/all
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
1NT(15-17) 2♠ ??
South: ♠ -- ♥ A Q J 8 6 4 3 ♦ A 2 ♣ A K 6 3
a) 3♥ (3♦ if transfer)
b) 3♠
c) Dbl
d) Another approach
Question 6
North/--
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
- 1♣ pass 1♦
1 NT(♥+♠) pass 2♠ 3♠
a) shows ♠-stop
b) asks for ♠-stop
c) ♣-fit?
d) Strong with ♦?
NETHERLANDS RED STUMBLES
In the meantime the Danish juniors (although not so good in this WHJI but usually fierce contenders an the reigning world champions from Beijing) gave the Netherlands Red a tough fight beating them 21-9. With all other contenders : France 2, Italy and USA scoring big wins ‘Red’ was 17 vips behind with two matches to go.
Question 7
Partner leads ♣K after
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
- 1♦ 1♠ dbl
2♠ 3♦ pass 3NT
pass pass pass
Dummy
♠ 4 3 2
♥ K J 2
♦ A Q J 9 6 4
♣ 2
East throws
a) count
b) encourages ♣Q
c) drops ♣Q
Question 8
North/--
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
- 1♦ 1♥ 2♥
pass 3♦ pass 3♥??
2♥ was limit or better with ♦-support. 3♦: minimum
3♥:
a) asking for a little help in ♥ for 3NT
b) asking for real ♥-stop
c) is it after 3♥ still possible to sign of in 4♦
d) slam try
Question 9
South/NS
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
- - - 1♥
pass 2♣(GF) 4 ♦ dbl
a) take-out
b) I want to bid on in ♣/♥
c) 4crd♠, max
d) Something else
Question 10
South/all
♠ K Q ♥ K 10 7 ♦ -- ♣ A K Q 8 7 5 3 2
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
- - - 2♣
pass 2♦ pass 3♦(one suited, game force0
pass 4♣ pass 4♦
pass 4♥ dbl pass(1)
pass redbl pass 4NT(2)
pass 5♥ pass ??
1: did you show second round control in hearts or can you pass to get top know if north has first round control?
2: would you have used RKCB?
3: what do you expect of the north hand?
4: what do you bid now to find out if north has ♠A?
5: what do you suggest as another bid after the redouble?
NETHERRLANDS RED FALLS
In the meantime the results of ‘Red’ against the USA (14-16) and England (17-13) were not sufficient to reach the semi final so that the Dutch juniors will have to lick their wounds in the Consolation.
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Written by Tim
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Thursday, 25 March 2010 |
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By Kees
Just kibitzing.
Day 3
You lead please:
1:
EastEW
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
- - 1♣ pass
1♦ pass 1♥ pass
2♠(4th) pass 3♣ pass
4 ♣ pass 4♥ pass
4NT pass 5♠ pass
6 ♣ pass pass pass
South: ♠ A 7 6 4 3 ♥ Q 9 2 ♦ 4 3 ♣ 6 5 3
How about the next one?
2:
West/-
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
pass 1♦ pass 1♥
pass 2♣ pass 2♠
pass 2NT pass 3♦
pass 3♥ pass 4NT
pass 5♥ pass 6♦
pass pass pass
East: ♠ A 8 7 3 ♥ 8 7 4 ♦ B 10 ♣ H V 8 6
One more to go
3:
East/--
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
- - 1♠ pass
2♣ pass 3♣ pass
4NT pass 5♥ pass
6♣ pass pass pass
North: ♠ V 6 4 ♥ V 8 5 4 ♦ B 8 5 2 ♣ 7 3
4:
Dozing away?
Sometimes I have so much compassion for one of the juniors. Picking up ♠ 9 6 4 ♥ 10 7 5 2 ♦ 6 5 3 2 ♣ 9 4 you doze away a little after a long day of intensive bridge. The 1♥ opening bid by partner is comfortable. With both sides vulnerable you assume opponents will win the bidding (from rubberbridge experience you never save vulnerable!)
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
pass 1♥ 1♠ pass
2♠ 3♦ 3♠ pass
pass pass
5:
System idea?
Partner opens a club (nebulous as ever: 2+♣)
You have ♠ 9 5 3 ♥ 6 ♦ A K 10 ♣ A K 9 6 4 2
East/NS
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
- - 1♣ pass
2♣ pass 2NT pass
??
Partner showes 12-14 NT. How to proceed?
6:
A tough one
West/NS
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
1 ♣/♦ pass 1♠ pass
1 NT(12-14) pass 2♣ pass
2 ♠ pass ??
2♠: minimum with 3crd♠.
How do you go as east with: ♠ Q J 10 4 3 ♥ A Q 4 ♦ J 7 6 ♣ Q 3?
ANSWERS TO THE TUESDAY QUIZ
1:
Your leads worked out fine?
North
♠ J 8 5
♥ K 8 7 3
♦ J T 8 6
♣ 7 4
West East
♠ K Q 9 ♠ T 2
♥ T 5 ♥ A J 6 4
♦ A K 7 5 2 ♦ Q 9
♣ A T 2 ♣ K Q J 9 8
South
♠ A 7 6 4 3
♥ Q 9 2
♦ 4 3
♣ 6 5 3
A heart will defeat the slam but after a clublead, declarer can develop a spade tricks and ruff out the diamonds for total of three heart discards.
2:
North
♠ Q 6 4
♥ K
♦ K 9 8 4 3
♣ A T 3 2
West East
♠ J T ♠ A 8 7 3
♥ J 9 5 ♥ 8 7 4
♦ Q 6 2 ♦ Q 9
♣ J 9 7 5 4 ♣ K Q J 9 8
South
♠ K 9 5 2
♥ A Q T 6 3 2
♦ 4 3
♣ 6 5 3
As you can see it is obligatory to take ♠A in the first trick.
In both lead[problems the contact stayed in game at the other table so it is easy to count how many imps you had won (or lose).
3:
North
♠ Q 6 4
♥ Q 8 5 4
♦ J 8 5 2
♣ 7 3
West East
♠ K ♠ A J 7 5 3
♥ J T 9 6 ♥ 7 2
♦ A K 9 4 ♦ Q T
♣ K Q 6 5 ♣ A J 8 4
South
♠ T 9 8 2
♥ A K 3
♦ 7 6 3
♣ T 9 2
Which choice you made ♥ or ♦; +50 or -940?
4:
North
♠ 7 2
♥ A K 9 4 3
♦ A K J 9 8
♣ Q
West East
♠ K T 8 ♠ A Q J 5 3
♥ J 6 ♥ Q 8
♦ T 7 ♦ Q 4
♣ A J T 6 3 2 ♣ K 8 7 5
South
♠ 9 6 4
♥ T 7 5 2
♦ 6 5 3 2
♣ 9 4
You feel satisfied when opponents stay in 3♠ just making. But lots of sadness when at the other table 4♥ was reached.
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
3♣ 3♥ 3♠ pass
pass 4♦ pass 4♥
pass pass pass
Of course west should have saved to limit the loss and maybe, if west has raised to 4♠ at his first turn, north would have been compelled to bid 5♦ and east-west had their plus.
5:
North
♠ K Q 4 2
♥ 9 8 7 5 2
♦ J 8 3
♣ 7
West East
♠ 9 5 3 ♠ AJ T
♥ 6 ♥ A T 4
♦ A K T ♦ Q 9 7 4
♣ A K 9 6 4 2 ♣ Q T 3
South
♠ 8 7 6
♥ K Q J 3
♦ 6 5 2
♣ J 8 5
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
- - 1♣ pass
2♣ pass 2NT pass
At this point west is even not sure about 6-3 fit in ♣, but anyway west should be able to tell in which category the hand is. In this case with 14 opposite 12-14 slam is a long shot; but 5♣ could be a lot better than 3NT. Describing a hand may be a useful gadget: so 3♦/3♥/3♠ as singleton?
North
♠ 5 2
♥ T 3 2
♦ K T 2
♣ K T 7 5 2
West East
♠ A 9 6 ♠ Q J T 4 3
♥ 8 7 6 ♥ A Q 4
♦ A 8 6 4 ♦ J 7 5
♣ A J 9 ♣ Q 3
South
♠ K 8 7
♥ K J 9 5
♦ Q 9 3
♣ 8 6 4
A very nasty one, With ♥-values in west it might be 4♠, but even 3♠ might be too high with wrong honours in west. So – after 2♠ - inviting for 4♠ with 3♠, or going on to 4♠ yourself? Or inviting for 3NT with 2NT or bidding 3NT yourself (what would that mean after using 2♣?)
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From Reno, via Paris to Amsterdam |
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Written by Tim
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Wednesday, 24 March 2010 |
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A familiar face entered Wednesday morning the Witte Huis. The White House Juniors is the event every junior wants to win. Therefore Thomas Bessis went for a training session of two weeks to Reno where he participated in the Vanderbilt Cup. And with great success, first eliminating the USA team (Meckstroth-Rodwell, Hamman-Zia and Nickell-Katz) that won the Bermuda Bowl last autumn and fierce going on to win this prestigious cup. So in a hurry he flew to Amsterdam to join his teammates in the White House. As Thomas himself stated, after missing on the nose (5th in the round robin) the semifinal in het Witte Huis in two previous years, he really did want to reach the knock-out this time (and even Thomas is reaching the retirement as a junior, so he has to be quick). And with the French team that won the European Junior Championships in Brasov(2009) qualification for the semi-final and even more should be possible.
With Israel going on strong the rest of the field closed together. The Netherlands Red had two bad results in rounds 15&16 losing 5-25 to Germany and the second French team. Meanwhile the USA climbed with three times 25 and a 23 to one vip behind the Dutch who held the fourth place.
1 Israel 308 19,25 21 14 21 8 24 19
2 Australia 293 18,31 14 20 22 16 18 21
3 France 1 293 18,31 14 20 25 18 24 25
4 Netherlands Red 286 17,88 22 12 25 19 25 25
5 USA 285 17,81 16 12 11 18 13 16
6 Poland 276 17,25 9 22 17 12 15 22
7 Italy 273 17,06 14 16 10 13 15 22
8 Netherlands Blue 267 16,69 8 25 24 25 14 17
9 France 2 265 16,56 16 17 13 14 17 23
10 Germany Yellow 259 16,19 8 12 16 16 12 8
11 WorldTeam 255 15,94 22 18 13 17 16 14
12 Norway 253 15,81
The top half of the table after 16 of 23 sessions. Still seven to go so only Israel seems somewhat sure.
The nice thing of these long round robins is that you can even afford three or more heavy loses without getting out of contention. So from now on we take it one session at a time and see what happens. Of course with an eye on the technique of the game but above all with the focus on the results. So USA versus Israel will be a ‘fourpoint’ match, the expression coming from the time when you scored two points for a victory in soccer (I wonder if it now is a sixpoint match, or in bridge a 25 point match?)
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Written by Tim
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Wednesday, 24 March 2010 |
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By Kees
Israel and France climbed on the second day of the Round Robin of White House Juniors 2010 their way to the rankings. Also Australia looked very well. The both Dutch Junior teams are hanging on but a group of about seven teams is chasing the leaders.
Some hands in quizformat.
Session 7
With no one vulnerable partner starts the first board of the second day with a natural 1♦ opening. Right hand opponent overcalls 1♠. You to decide to bid 2: invitational or better with fourcard diamond support. Partner signs of in 3♦. Are you pressing on to the non vulnerable game or are you satisfied with the partscore. And if you go on to game: 3NT, 5♦(maybe first an invitational 4♦, if possible), or something else.
The first match goes not so well and you look for a chance for some points
West/--
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
pass pass 1 ♣ 1 ♠
1 NT pass pass ??
Satisfied with 1NT or do you (south) take any action
with ♠ K Q 8 6 5 ♥ A 9 ♦ A 10 7 ♣ Q 4 2?
Session 8
East/--
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
- - pass 1NT
pass 2♦ pass 2♥
pass pass 2♠ pass
pass 3♦ pass ??
South: ♠ A J 8 2 ♥ A J 2 ♦ A 4 2 ♣ K 5 4
Enough(3♥) or are you going to the game in the rebound?
Session 9
West/NS
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
1♥ 2♥(♠+♣) 5♥ 6♣
6♥ pass(forcing) pass ??
South: ♠ 9 4 ♥ 2 ♦ A K J 9 4 ♣ A 6 5 3 2
???????
Session 11
West/NS
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
pass 1♥ 2 ♣ dbl
4 ♣ ???
North: ♠ 6 5 ♥ K Q J 9 8 ♦ A K Q 2 ♣ 4 3
Action/ And if so, which one?
Session 7
Board 1. North/None
North
♠ 8 7
♥ 8 7 2
♦ A J T 8 3
♣ A Q 5
West East
♠ Q 4 ♠ K J T 9 3
♥ Q T 5 4 ♥ J 9 6 3
♦ Q 9 7 ♦ K
♣ K T 9 7 ♣ J 8 4
South
♠ A 6 5 2
♥ A K
♦ 6 5 4 2
♣ 6 3 2
3NT is the winner, 5♦ is down one, pass results in +130 but opponents have 400.
Board 8. West/None
North
♠ J 7
♥ Q J 7 4 2
♦ Q 8 5
♣ 9 5 3
West East
♠ A 9 3 ♠ T 4 2
♥ 6 3 ♥ K T 8 5
♦ K 9 6 4 2 ♦ J 3
♣ 8 7 6 ♣ A K J T
South
♠ K Q 8 6 5
♥ A 9
♦ A T 7
♣ Q 4 2
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
pass pass 1♣ 1♠
1NT pass pass dbl
pass 2♥ pass pass
pass
Pass and you have +100 and tie the board, dbl +300 and +5 imps
In 2♥ declarer did well to go down only one.
Session 8
Board 14. East/None
North
♠ 4
♥ T 7 6 5 3
♦ K J T 5 3
♣ 8 3
West East
♠ K T 9 ♠Q 7 6 5 3
♥ K Q 9 4 ♥8
♦ Q 6 ♦ 9 8 7
♣ A T 7 2 ♣Q J 9 6
South
♠ A J 8 2
♥ A J 2
♦ A 4 2
♣ K 5 4
Aye, aye, 3♥ is made when you find ♦Q, 4♥ gets doubled by west who defends well and defeats the contract.
Session 9
Board 28. West/ North South
North
♠ A K J T 3
♥ -
♦ Q T 6
♣ T 9 8 7 4
West East
♠ Q 8 ♠ 7 6 5 2
♥ A K Q J 5 4 ♥ T 9 8 7 6 3
♦ 8 7 5 ♦ 3 2
♣ Q J ♣ K
South
♠ 9 4
♥ 2
♦ A K J 9 4
♣ A 6 5 3 2
Better take the + 800 against 6♥, partners pass suggesting a void in hearts is probably too eager.7♣ probably will bring even Zia in problems, but maybe you get an extra undertrick if west or east save with 7♥!
Session 11
Board 12. West/ North South
North
♠ 6 5
♥ K Q J 9 8
♦ A K Q 2
♣ 4 3
West East
♠ J T 7 4 ♠ A 2
♥ A 6 5 4 2 ♥ 7
♦ 8 ♦T 9 5 3
♣ T 6 5 ♣ A K Q 9 8 2
South
♠ K Q 9 8 3
♥ T 3
♦ J 7 6 4
♣ J 7
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
pass 1♥ 2♣ dbl
4 ♣ dbl 5♣ dbl
pass pass pass
Any action by north in the giving sequence is dangerous. 4♥ and 4♠ a disaster and 4♣ can be defeated only on a trump lead. And in 5♣ doubled after ♠K for the ace and a spade for your ♠Q you have to ruff out a spade trick to deny declarer eleven tricks.
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Written by Tim
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Wednesday, 24 March 2010 |
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In round 9 Hungary played Netherlands Red on VuGraph. According to the unofficial junior rules, partscores should be reduced to a minimum. If one is bid, a slam has to neutralize the 1xx score. The juniors on VuGraph even surpassed their initial goal by bidding one slam more than there were partscores: 3 to 2. Let’s see what happened.
Board 24 West/None
North
♠ 6 5
♥ Q 8 4
♦ J 9 8
♣ J 8 6 3 2
West East
♠ Q J 9 8 ♠ T 3
♥ T 9 7 3 ♥ A K 6 5 2
♦ Q 5 4 ♦ K T 7 3 2
♣ 7 4 ♣ K
South
♠ A K 7 4 2
♥ J
♦ A 6
♣A Q T 9 5
West North East South
Pass pass 1♥ 2♥(♠+♣)
2♠! 4♣ 5♦ 6♣
a.p.
E/W had a misunderstanding about 2♠. At the W/S side of the screen it was explained as either Gameforcing or weak with ♥ support. On the E/N side though, East explained it as having a ♦ suit, hence the 5♦ bid. South, thinking about a huge red hand at east and a rather solid 4♣ (as west was likely to have weak ♥ support) thought 6♣ had a very good chance of making. Au contraire, when spades were 4-2 it was doomed to fail. The Dutch South called the director after the match explaining his situation, but even if he was given the right explanation he would have been more inclined to bid the slam, wasn’t he? In that case he could have thought north had a singleton ♦…
It was a wash after all, as the closed room played 6♣ as well.
On the next board, the dutch junior pair Helmich-Hop who recently won a huge dutch butlertournament showed their skills.
Board 25. North/East West
North
♠ K Q J T 2
♥ Q J 5
♦ Q 9
♣ K 4 3
West East
♠ 9 8 ♠ 7 6 5 4
♥ A 8 6 4 3 ♥ K T 9 7 2
♦ 6 5 ♦ T 4 3
♣ Q T 9 8 ♣ J
South
♠ A 3
♥ --
♦ A K J 8 7 2
♣ A 7 6 5 2
West North East South
- 1♠ pass 2♦
pass 2♠! Pass 3♣
pass 3NT pass 4♦
pass 4♠! Pass 5♥!
pass 5♠ pass 5NT
pass 7♠ a.p.
2♠ showed a mediocre hand with not necessarily 6 spades. 4♠ showed a control in ♠ and ♦ support. This was enough for South to bid 5♥, which was not exclusion RKC as he hadn’t jumped immediately, but rather showed a 1st control in ♥ and interest in a grand slam. North, who had very few 1st controls didn’t want to exclude the grand and with 5♠ he showed a solid spade suit, but was that enough for south? He had to get rid of his clubs, so basically he had to know if north had the ♣K. 5NT asked for that. North knew enough to bid a grand slam and in 7♠ he could ruff a heart in north’s hand if that would be necessary. Also he would be declarer, which gives extra individual junior points. The extra IMP won by not bidding 7♦ but 7♠ was very well earned. +14.
Board 28. West/ North South
North
♠ A K J T 3
♥ -
♦ Q T 6
♣ T 9 8 7 4
West East
♠ Q 8 ♠ 7 6 5 2
♥ A K Q J 5 4 ♥ T 9 8 7 6 3
♦ 8 7 5 ♦ 3 2
♣ Q J ♣ K
South
♠ 9 4
♥ 2
♦ A K J 9 4
♣ A 6 5 3 2
West North East South
1♥ 2♥(♠+♣) 5♥ 6♣
6♥ pass! pass ….DBL
The last slam decision in this match was the most exciting one in my opinion. East/West put N/S to the test about their forcing pass system when East, a girl (who says they are scared?), bid 5♥ after 1♥-2♥ which again was 5+♠ and 5+♣. South obliged with 6♣ and west had an easy 6♥. Now it was up to north whether he wanted to go on to 7♣ or to play 6♥X. His mediocre clubs certainly are a red flag to bid on, but his void in ♥ was so beautiful that he elected to pass, encouraging to bid the grand. South thought for a long time and decided to flip a coin. Head’s meant to double and so he did. A good decision as 7♣ is one off. 6♠ on the other hand could have been made with this layout: ruff the first heart, play ♣A and another one, ruff the next ♥ in dummy and prey for the ♠Q to be on side. Not human to bid that. North’s decision is to pass on 6♥ is very questionable however. Wubbo de Boer, former 1993 Bermuda Bowl winner and now coach prevented a serious argument between N/S as south said he almost bid 7♣. For his 2♥ bid north already had a minimum with such bad clubs. The discussion ended immediately. The other table copied the result, so it was a wash.
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