Good Night And No Good Luck

Sydney Morning Herald

Tuesday October 30, 2007

Ron Klinger

The Australian Women's Team (Candice Feitelson-Cathy Mill, Elizabeth Havas-Barbara Travis, Rena Kaplan-Paula Schroor, Simon Hinge non-playing captain) started well enough in the 2007 Venice Cup in Shanghai.

With 65/75 Victory Points on day 3(22-8 vs South Africa, 19-11 vs Jordan and 24-6 against Brazil) Australia moved to sixth place. We finished in 16th place with 284 VPS out of 21 matches, an average of 13.5 VPS per match.

This deal comes from the 19-11 win over England, who finished eighth with 342 VPs.

North dealer : Nil vulnerable

Declarer ruffed and played the SQ, discarding a heart when North followed low. After this good start, declarer should have embarked on a cross-ruff: spade ruff, club ruff, spade ruff (dropping the ace), club ruff. When West now plays the winning SK, the defence is finished.

Whether North ruffs, low or high or does not ruff at all, declarer comes to ten tricks. (To beat 4D doubled, North had to cover the SQ.)

Instead, declarer insulted the opponents by playing a heart to the king at trick 3. Schroor took the HA, cashed the HQ and shifted to the D5. Kaplan won with the DA and played a second trump.

That was good night and three down for 500 to Australia.

At the other table:

Even though the heart finesse was working, the bad breaks in clubs and hearts meant that the limit was eight tricks. That was +50 and 11 Imps to Australia.

Open: 13-17 vs China Australia played in 3NT by South on the C4 lead nine tricks and +400. That looked a good score, but Australia also declared at the other table, in 5D doubled. The lead was the D2 and declarer was -500 for 3 Imps to China.

Seniors: 11-19 vs South Africa

This contract was no joy and went four down for -800 and 13 Imps to South Africa.

My brain seems to have a mind of its own.

Tomorrow's problem:

© 2007 Sydney Morning Herald

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