How is Oz doing in the open?

October 8th, 2008  ~  linda  ~  No Comments 

I thought I would head over to Ron Klinger’s blog to get it from the horse’s mouth, so to speak. 

Ron Klinger’s Blog

Ron is playing on the Australian open team.  There are three blog entries so I started with the most recent.  This was dated October 8th after the ninth round.  He posed this little problem.

Try this problem:

West	North	East	South
		pass	1
pass	2	pass	?

What would you do as South with:

A K 9 5 4 3

K 9 6 5 2

A 2

—

I think most of us would find the winning call of 5NT expecting to make        7 when partner has the remaining heart honours.  The call was found at both tables in the match.  Still I expect that even at this level not every team got to the grand.  Australia had been struggling at this point in the tournament much to Ron’s disgust so I am going to check and see how they are doing now.

Group D ranking

As you can see they have are in twelfth place with no real chance of qualifying.

Check out this blog entry (Blog 2) for some interesting play hands.

http://www.ronklingerbridge.com/blog/1634/beijing-blog-entry-2

Commenting on commenting on commenting

October 8th, 2008  ~  linda  ~  1 Comment 

I was reading Stacy Jacob’s blog which I always enjoy – titled commenting on commenting.

Stacy Jacob’s – Commenting on commenting

She was supposed to be commenting on BBO in the Germany v. Netherlands (Women) match but had some technical difficulties.  The very first hand from the match she discussed in her Blog is the same one I talked about a day or so ago.  This is a hand where I questioned whether a player should open 1♠ or a strong two clubs in the South chair on this hand.

This is the type of hand that is so good for the forcing clubbers since they aren’t going to get passed out in 1♠.  Stacy posed the question how did Sabine know to bid 4♥ on the North hand in this auction. This is one of those auction where everyone is making bids with “meaning” but I will do my best to see if I can answer.  Here was the auction

Daniela’s opening 1♣ showed about 16 or more points.  I don’t like playing that 1◊ shows minors.  I like to push the bidding up with a two-suiter if I am going to bid at all over a forcing club.  We used to call this type of defence “Micky Mouse” and now that I look back on it for good reason.  North’s pass likely showed 0-3 HCP with something else (probably a double) showing 4-6.

Here too I don’t like 2♠.  Why give the opposition four extra bids: pass, double, 2NT and 3♣.  Just bid 3♣.  I an sure why Danny passed 2♠.  I wonder what a double would be or a direct 3♣.   When 3♣ was passed backed to her Danny who had a great hand even over 0-3 in partner’s hand still wanted to play game if her partner had any fit at all.    The 3◊ cue bid showed a great hand, in the context of the forcing club and negative response a really powerful hand  with the majors.  I would take it that way even without discussion and I am sure Danny and Sabine have this type of auction all worked out.  Now let’s consider Sabine’s hand.  She has a great hand for the auction.  She has four trump for Daniela to an honor and a ruffing value.  It is similar to the response you would make if Daniela.  She is at the maximum of her range (0-3).  So she should and did bid 4♥ .

I look forward to hearing Stacy’s commentary on BBO.  It will be interesting to hear her perspective.  A lot of the commentators are not all that shall I say, clued in.  Stacy will have a lot to add and I am sure will not be afraid to say that she doesn’t understand something in the auction.  Something that a lot of other viewers also don’t understand.

Playing with Colin

October 8th, 2008  ~  linda  ~  No Comments 

Colin and I had another practice session yesterday on BBO and I thought I would take a quick break from talking about Beijing and writeup a few of our highlights (and lowlights).

I loved Colin’s ingenuity on this hand.  You are in fourth spot vulnerable against not and you have this rather remarkable hand

That is 26 HCP.  I did count it twice.  An opening bid of 2♣ followed by 3NT would show a balanced 25-27 and that is certainly what I might have done.  But Colin had other ideas.  He opened 2♣ and after my response of 2◊ showing some values he decided to bid his shape and responded 2♥.  He heard a natural 3◊ from me and continued with 3♠.  I bid 4♥.  I am quite likely to be 3-2 in the majors for this and Colin knows we don’t have a great fit but he also knows that we have at least about 30 HCP.  He cuebid 5♣.  Now over to me.

I knew that Colin had a remarkable hand since I had shown no slam interest and no fit.  Maybe he was 5-6-2  or even 4-6-3 with a club void?  My fear was that he wanted the diamond ace and not the king, queen, jack.  Still he had pushed past game and I felt I had to shown him my diamond feature.  When I bid 5◊ Colin carried on to 6♥ .  6♥  is quite a decent spot although a bit worse on a club lead.  On a trump lead Colin was playing for the overtrick.   At the other table a less imaginative East had the “normal” auction of 2♣ followed by 3NT and played it there.  For a 12 imp win.

Do you think my hand should bid over that?  The only choice would be 4NT.  Possibly but even if you reach 6NT it is not nearly as good a contract.  If the defence starts clubs you need both the heart break and the spade finesse.  On a club lead against 6♥ you will always make it if the hearts break and even if they don’t you still have some chances.

Here is one of the lowlights.  Let’s see if you can find the horrible lead I made against 3NT.  My hand is

This is the auction

What would you lead?

Well I led the ♠10 which gave away the who suit and the contract.  Colin has the ♠K5, dummy the ♠QJ84 and declarer the ♠A72.  In fact the hand can be made after any spade lead.  Any other suit will be the hand.  It was a little easier at the other table where Colin’s hand open 1◊.  He held

It isn’t our style to open this hand.

I rather like our result on the next deal and we got to try out a new toy.  Both red, I held

I opened 1♥ naturally and North overcalled 3♠ crowding our auction.  Colin continued with 4♥ which could be a wide range in this auction and South bid 4♠.  In out new system I can pass to suggest doubling them (usually) bid on showing extra distribution or double indicating that I had a preference to continuing but wasn’t sure.  Colin had a minimum with soft values so he left it in.   What do you think of this approach to forcing pass auctions?

The defence went well.  This is Colin’s hand and he correctly led the ♥A and when I encouraged he continued a heart.

Here is the whole hand:

After playing two hearts.  I cashed the ♣A and continued a club as Colin dropped the ♣Q.  When I got in on the ♠ A we cashed another club.  Declarer did not guess spades but it didn’t really matter because there was a trump promotion anyway.  That was 800 for our side.  At the other table our partner’s erred by bidding on to 5♠ (trust me their was no excuse in their auction) but when Colin’s hand didn’t find the heart lead they got out for 500 and we still won some imps.

The agony of defeat

October 8th, 2008  ~  linda  ~  No Comments 

The Canadian open team came in to this twelfth round match feeling pretty good.  True they were in fifth place but they had beaten Slovakia and then had a bye and were ready to take on France.  France had been having a fairly tough tournament and was in ninth place fairly far behind the field.  France must have felt that this was do or die time.  They needed a big win to get back into the race.  All the pressure was on France.

So did the rest help Canada?  Did the pressure get to France?  What do you think?

It started out nice and quietly with a flat board.  Then Board 18

Zimmermann started the bidding with a 11-13 notrump.  Why does everyone who plays this type of notrump consistently open below the range?    It happens so frequently that I am sure most of them should acknowledge that they really play 9-13 notrump.  But would they start to open 7 or 8 then?

Multon transferred to spades and North doubled.  ZImmermann completed the transfer with 2♠ probably because he didn’t want his hand to come down on the table.   I wonder what a double here by Fergani would be?  It would be lots of fun to double them for penalty but in any case it seems like he has a lot of values (and clubs) for a pass.  I guess it is sometimes right to take just take your plus and who knows maybe partner can reopen with a double.

As it turns out the  French played in 2♠ and went 3 down.  In the closed room Jacob opened one of those Muidberg two bids.  Here 2♠ shows spades and a minor.  I play them especially because I like the name and the bid is pretty effective as well.  Bompis doubled and Lebi bid 3♠.  It does look reasonable from his hand but in fact with the split the Canadians were putting their necks on the chopping block. 

I do have some sympathy for Quantin he was vulnerable.  But what is the problem with doubling 3♠?  This is going to be a plus, a big plus and you may not make 3NT.  You can hear Luke Skywalker saying not “Use the force” but  “Take the Plus”.   3NT did go down so Canada was off to a good start winning 6 imps.

Canada had an unfortunate defence which let a game in when Board 20 came up and Lebi had a tough decision.

You hand is

Both vulnerable partner opens a 12-14 notrump, do you bid or not and if so how do you plan your auction.

I don’t mind bidding Stayman and if partner doesn’t bid hearts bidding 3◊ but I know this can be wrong.  I am not really crazy about bidding Stayman and then bidding 2NT if partner denies hearts.  You are quite likely going to get too high whether he passes or bids 3NT and that’s just what happened to Lebi.  On a good day you get to the heart game and on a bad day you lose 6 imps.  Partner had a moderate hand and the cards didn’t lie all that well.

We arrive at board 23.  This is the board that tells you definitively “don’t push”.  Things are just not going to work out for you today.  Here it is

Do you want to be in 6♥?  Vote YES  or NO

Everyone around here keeps quoting Bob Hamman’s comments about slams.  “A good slam is one that makes”.  So….

you don’t want to be in this one.  Lebi got a diamond lead and lost the spade finesse and wasn’t clairvoyant enough to pick up the 4-1 heart break onside.  What a shame.  About 80% of the time or so they win a bunch of imps.  14 imps away.

That is the way things went.  Not that the Canadians were flawless, they got to some pretty bad spots but they also didn’t have the force on their side.

Round 10 Selected Hands Russia versus India World Sports Mind Games

October 7th, 2008  ~  linda  ~  3 Comments 

Bid this hand with me.  System won’t come into it but we are playing 2/1 GF with five card majors.  You are fourth to speak and we are not vulnerable against vulnerable opponents.  Everyone passes and it is your turn.  What do you open?

a) 1◊

b) 1♣

c) 2NT

d) 2♣

00000000000000000000000

I personally like 2NT.  You express your values right off and you you do have a balanced hand.  1♣ is possible since you might be able to find your club slam more easily.  There is no reason to open 1◊ on this hand since if you open 1 of a suit you can reverse into diamonds to show your shape.

Anyone who bid 2NT go to the head of the class… you can skip the rest of the bidding (you will see why later).

If you are still here I assume you opened 1♣.  I bid 1♠ and you bid 2◊ (I gave that away).  We play 2NT would show a weak hand at this point but I bid 3♣.  What do you fancy?

a) 3NT

b) 3◊

c) 3♥

d) 3♠

00000000000000000000000

Now we get into the realm of what do each of these bids mean.  It doesn’t make sense to me to bid 3NT now that you have pinpointed a heart weakness. So cross off that bid.  Does 3◊ suggest some bizarre shape?  I don’t think it should.  I think it is a diamond control.  Otherwise how do you ever get to minor suit slams (or 3NT).  I want to see if partner can cuebid hearts.  I think 3♠ should show delayed spade support so it is risky at this point.  Let say you bid 3◊ and I bid 3♥ .  What now?

a) 3♠

b) 3NT

c) 4♣

d) other

0000000000000000000000

I like 3NT here.  I would rather play 3NT from partner’s side but you can’t have everything.  This limits my hand and offers a place to play the contract.  Partner is after all a passed hand and I need a lot from him to make slam.  If you bid 3NT congratulations.  If not you are heading very rapidly to a no play 6♣ contract.  (Well maybe the heart QJ on side) and a good club break.  Here is the whole hand and the auction as it occurred in the Open Room.

The way I posed the problem suggests that Venkataram was completely at fault but that probably isn’t true.  You decide.   This cost 11 imps since the Russians were safely in 3NT.

Here is a hand where by good luck or skill the same pair found themselves on the right side of the score sheet.  I am not sure how exactly.

When Chokshi made the negative double and Venkataram showed spades,   Chokskki’s 2♥ was simply a game force.  Here Venkataram decided to try 3NT.  The weird thing about this bid is the singleton club.  I know that he has soft heart values.  Chokski was quite happy there and it worked out brilliantly when the you can’t make game in your 4-4 spade fit because of the ruffs.  11 imps to the Indian team.

This last deal (Board 27) was a push and maybe the problem can’t be avoided.  About half the field got to this no play slam.  Let’s see how the Russians handled this hand and you be the judge.

Gromov-Dubinin Convention Card

The Russians are playing Precision so the 1♠ bid was limited and he was near the top of the range.  2♣ is a game force but there is nothing special on the card about it.  3NT should six spades with a maximum. 3NT showed a maximum with six spades and 4♥ was a cuebid.  After that nothing was stopping Dubinin who bid the slam.

Whose fault was it?  It seems to me that Gromov has little chance of a slam opposite a limited partner.  In fact, that is the part of the beauty of a forcing club system it can keep you out of the bad ones.  I know the hands are mirrored in the minors but even if you switch the minors around and change the distribution the only thing that actually helps is adding clubs to the North hand so that South can get a heart discard. 

But he certainly had a lot of company.  You assess the blame, if any.

In the end Russia prevailed 46-27.

How North American Teams are doing and predictions …after 14 matches

October 7th, 2008  ~  linda  ~  2 Comments 

I haven’t read the Bulletin yet but I am sure it will say something like "it’s down to the wire" and certainly there is still a fair bit to be decided.

Both American teams should easily qualify (likely 2nd in their group).  The two Canadian teams are fighting it out with the Women having more ground to make up than the Open team.  I am still predicting that they will both qualify, optimistic that I am.

Both senior teams will qualify and the US will likely win their group

Open

Germany is well ahead in first spot in this group and should be the winner.  The USA Open team had a disappointing loss to Australia and ended up just slightly above average yesterday.  They have to work tomorrow playing Thailand Indonesia and Lebanon who are having a good tournament.    While they are 17 VP ahead of fifth it isn’t that comfortable since Indonesia is the holder of that fifth spot.  Still the USA will come through and qualify.  Did they have to make it so exciting?

The Canadian open team rocked today.  They did better than my prediction of 41 out of 50, getting 46 VP and moving back to a tie for the fourth qualifying position.  Despite some early hiccups Italy has taken over first place in this division so far ahead of second place Estonia that they would need binoculars to see each other.  After that four teams are closely bunched with Estonia out "ahead" with 248 and Denmark, Canada and France with almost identical scores.  The next four teams down the pack are also still in it.  Whose are the three qualifiers that are going to join Italy in the quarterfinals?

Estonia and Denmark play each other and Denmark also plays Canada which is Canada’s only tough match.  France has to play Italy which will be tough and Ireland which is no "gimme".  Brazil, 4 VP behind Canada has an easy schedule.  In the end if Canada can defeat Denmark and do well on their easy matches they will be in the top 4. 

In group B surprising Israel continues to exceed and have clearly got first place lined up and our planning on who they want to meet in the quarterfinals. 

Group C is in a very exciting race for the top spot with Norway and Poland within a half point of each other.  Either way they will be 1/2 and guess what they finish against each other. 

Women

I predicted 47 out of 50 VP for the Canadian women playing easy matches yesterday and they didn’t disappoint getting 45 VP and moving into ninth place 21 VP behind 5/6 with a score of 227.  This is all well and good but it is still going to be a challenge to make the top five positions.

Going through the table pretty carefully, I think 290 is the bare minimum to make the top 5 (without incredible luck in the finish). Canada must get 63 out of 75 in the last 3 matches an average of 21 VP (more would be better).  Looking ahead they have a good chance to win big in their last 3 matches are against Serbia, Australia and the Philippines.  But 21 VP a match will need some luck as well as some good play.  It can be done and the finish will be thrilling if they make it.  By the way, looking at all the groups the wildcard spot may well go to this group, giving Canada an extra chance if they come in sixth.

The USA is way ahead in second place in their group 35 VP ahead of second place.  They are 17 VP behind group leader, England.  The Americans had slightly the better of it yesterday.  Can they win the group?  Remember Paul Revere?  "The British are coming".  Their first match on Friday will be against England.  A rout of the British will likely put them in first place.  Anything less means the second spot.

In the Women’s Germany has Group C locked up with the Netherlands likely claiming second place. 

Seniors

The senior teams aren’t that exciting at this point since anyone who has fallen into their teacup is going to qualify.  The USA is still leading their group, a spot they have held since the fourth round and are likely to finish first with one of their two remaining matches against last place Kenya.

In group L Indonesia and Australia are fighting it out for first.  Canada had a mediocre day yesterday and moved back a notch to fourth place.  They have a tough match Friday against group leader Indonesia and they might slip down the table a bit more.

The story of Board 22 – when men are men

October 6th, 2008  ~  linda  ~  No Comments 

A slam hand always brings some excitement.  There are sure to be some tables that play the deal in game and perhaps some will find a way to get a minus.  Such is Board 22 of Round 9.  I have included a few excerpts from Board 22 who was very happy to chat with me (but not until after the match had completed of course).

“I couldn’t wait until the players pulled my cards from the board.  The big hand sat with North in fourth seat and I patiently waiting until the bidding arrived at the North hand.” 

Here is the north hand (white on red)

I think most North’s will find it comfortable to open this hand which is primarily a one suiter with 2♣ with the intent of following up with 2♠ if you are not playing a forcing club style system.  However that was not universally true.  As Board 22 said:

“I was proud of the strength and quality of my North hand with its beautiful prime cards, great spots and excellent spade suit.  Imagine my surprise when I found that not all players in this world championship opened North with a strong bid!”

Right! Didn’t they learn anything from Board 1 of Round 8 and this time you can expect the vulnerable opponents to keep quiet.   Let’s follow the action in the Italy-Romania closed room match after the more normal? 2♣ opening. 

Anyway as luck would have the South hand did have something to say.  Ionita (Romania) held

and responded 2◊ waiting.  When North continued with 2♠ what would you do with the South hand?  Do you like 4♣ here?  I am trying to decide.  Let’s ask Board 22.

“I loved when the South player displayed some macho spirit and splintered after his partner had shown a strong two-bid with spades.  Yee-haw!”

Back to North.  The club splinter helped a little.  He knew he had no club losers and his partner had lots of trump.  But where to go from here.  He needed to know about the king of spades and also about the heart suit.  Asking bids anyone?  Maybe a diamond cuebid would elicit a heart cuebid.  But when 4◊ brought 5◊ didn’t that suggest that the heart king was missing. 

Here is Board 22.

“I was getting very excited now.  I could see these players were headed to a spade slam and now the North player would know exactly where to play this hand 6♠.”

But somehow when the blood runs hot things happen.  Here is the whole auction

In the other room where North opened 1♠!  South showed a four card raise with 3◊ and this time when his partner did not show a heart control he didn’t bid the grand slam needing a heart miracle.

As you can see the heart loser has no where to go and  it was 14 imps to Italy. 

By the way, the Romanian North was not the only player to bid to 7♠  For example, the New Zealand auction also showed a lot of adrenaline.  I am not even going to analyze this bidding.  But here it is.

I wonder what the discussion was when the partners discussed this deal after this match.  14 imps to Norway.  But there were also some who might have been just a touch timid.  In the Bulgaria-Poland match Karakolev saw this hand differently.  After opening a Precision 1♣.  He heard a positive 1♠ from partner.  He now bid 4◊ splinter.  I do not get this bid at all.  Let’s see what Board 22 has to say; ” I was distressed when North didn’t realize the beauty and power of my North hand after he had found a spade fit.  He needed to be the captain of this auction since he could never describe it to his partner”.  Well said.  OF course South bid 4♠ and now West bid 5♣.  South had nothing to say and he bid 5♠ and North passed!  11 imps to Poland

In the Canada-South Africa Open match South Africa got to the slam but Canada played in 4♥.  Did the auction go something like 1S-1NT(!)-3♥ -4♥ ?  In any case it was 11 imps to South Africa.  A large number of teams got to 6♥ instead of 6♠  which seems to take playing in the 4-4 to an extreme.  6♥ is a lucky make with no spade ruff and only one heart loser. 

What is the best way to play the heart suit in 6♥?   There is a little problem in that they can tap you in diamonds so it does limit your ability to play for some 4-1 breaks and then again there is a strong possibility of a spade ruff.  Maybe it is right to lay down the ace to avoid the ruff possibility.  This is an interesting problem.  Any ideas anyone?

Lest you think the ladies are timid let me reassure you that in the ladies divisions most of the ladies teams ended in the top spot.  However, there were quite a few at the seven level and one or two in game.

Round 7 of the World Sports Mind Games – the story of a little deal

October 6th, 2008  ~  linda  ~  1 Comment 

Remember in the Robert Darvas book RIght Through the Pack how each playing card had a story?  Perhaps the same is true about each deal in a world championship.

I thought it might be interesting to pick out an interesting deal or two from the seventh round and just look at those deals as they played out in a number of matches.  Here is the first.  Let’s call it ” the story of a little deal”.

Board 1 of Round 7 was first and foremost about bidding (and system) but the play did factor in too.  It is one of those quiet boards that no one writes about but it figures into the result.  Here each player has to make “small” decisions and it is the result of those decisions that wins or loses the board.

Board 1 Nobody Vulnerable Dealer North

After two passes it is your turn on Board 1.  How do you handle a strong two-suiter?  Some players like to open 1♠  and then jump shift.  I have an agreement with most partners that they will always respond with and ace or a king and jack.  This hand just seems too strong to me and the high cards in the short suits suggest that it could get passed out.

Let’s see what might happen over a 1♠ bid.   You are now West.  You do have 5-5 in the minors?  Do you enter the auction?   If you passed the hand generally got passed out!  That is exactly what happened to the Dutch ladies when Pony Nehmert passed in second chair.  I remember playing a couple of quarterfinal matches against Pony last year and I noticed that she quite good at making this type of decision.

The Chinese defender in the open teams, Shi, did the same thing to the Netherland’s Ramondt and this was not unusual across the field.

If you decide to bid which bid do you make?  I think the only sensible bid is Unusual notrump or whatever you do to show a minor two suiter.  In the match between Germany and Australia in the Open Room West Wladow overcalled 2◊.  In the Closed Room Richman bid 2NT.

We will skip North for the moment and move across to the East hand.  You will see why East’s passes out 1♠ if there is no opposition bidding.

Over 2◊  East will also not act and that leaves the South hand free to bid 3♥ or perhaps 4♥?  Over 3♥ North has an easy 4♥  and North-South arrive in the prime spot.  However on hands where West showed a two suiter; some East became more aggressive and in many cases East-West saved over 4♥ in 5♣.  If North-South just take their plus then this will be a good score for them, collecting a likely 500.  Some North-South continued on to an iffy 5♥.  We will see how that fared in a minute. 

This was a good hand for those playing a forcing club system.  They don’t have the same type of problem with strong two-suiter.  In the Germany-Netherlands womens match as an example Danny Arnim opened the South hand 1♣ and they had no trouble getting to the top spot.

Of course, the bidding factored into the play.  I can see how North-South goes down in 5♥ but how do they go down in 4♥?  In the match between Russia and Sweden that is just what happened to Russia.  Here the bidding had gone

Efraimsson led a top diaomdn and Dubinin won with the ace.  He crossed to dummy in hearts and quite reasonably took the heart finesse.  Efraimsson cashed a top diamond and switched to a club won by Morath with the ace.  Now Dusinin was tight and he had to set up the spade suit.  Morath now returned the ♠ 5 when Dubinin rose with the ♠A, Efraimsson dropped the ♠10.

Examining there convention card I see that they lead second and fourth through declarer. 

Efraimsson-Morath convention card

So what does this mean?  Could Efraimsson be 5-4-2-2?  Sure, why not over a forcing club.  When I play forcing club with Colin players do far crazier things against us than that.  But… is it right to play Efraimsson for exactly the ♠Q10 doubleton because that is the only time that it is right to play the ♠K.  Sure it won’t hurt when Efraimsson has any doubleton but it isn’t needed either.  But that is exactly what Dubinin did and how he (and some others) went down in 4♥.

Without the 2NT bid he would have made it because he very likely would have dropped the ♥Q and with the 2NT bid he should have made it too.

How did some teams fare on this board?

In the Group A match between Pakistan and Estonia Canada got to 4♥  and apparently made 5 but the result in the Open Room was quite strange.  Estonia played in 2♠ making 3.  However did they get to 2♠?  I can’t find anything on their convention card to suggest some weird opening bid.  In any case this gave Canada a nice 7 imp start to their match which they won easily with huge numbers of imps changing hands 72-42.  (It looks more like a BB score).

In the closely fought Ireland-Denmark open match this board was a 1 imp victory for Denmark when both reached 4♥ but Denmark made an uptrick.  While in the Brazil-Trindad Open match Brazil went down in 4♥ but won imps when Trinidad went down 2 in the rare contract of 4♠.

In the China-Netherlands open match China bid and made 4♥ (palying Precision) while the Dutch languished in 1♠.  Despite winning 7 imps on this board the Netherlands went on to defeat china 52-41 in a swingy match.

In the open match between Austria and India, India won 5 imps the hard way defeating 5♥  by two tricks in the open room while making bidding and making exactly 1♠ in the Closed Room.  This board was the beginning of a drilling that India gave to Austria sending them minus.

Finally in the Ukraine-Belgium open match the Ukraine took the right decision and hit 5♣ while in the closed room Belgium was allowed to play 4♥ but failed to make it.  A much needed 11 imps for the Ukraine who went on to “tie” Belgium 46-44 for 15 VP.

North American Results after 9 matches and prediction for Day 4

October 6th, 2008  ~  linda  ~  No Comments 

Open Canada

In Group A of the open  Canada lies in the final qualifying position finishing up fourth as a result of getting blitzed by South Africa in the final session after getting two good scores against Kenya and Estonia.  They ended up with a total of 49 VP on the day.  I had predicted 52 and said they would hang in at or near the top 4 in their group behind Italy Denmark and Estonia.  So my crystal ball is glowing happily.  Canada is playing Slovakia and France today and have a bye.  All in all this should be a fairly easy day for the Canadian men.  A chance to sip some tea (or perhaps a stronger beverage) and reflect on their fine start.  I think they will end the day with a 58 VP which should keep them in the top 4.

Open USA

I had expected the American men to score 65 VP yesterday which was a bit optimistic, they “only” scored 62.  But this was not enough to put them in the top spot in their group.  The group leader Serbia scored 63 VP to add 1 VP to their lead.  Germany has 191 VP and the USA 183.  England and Indonesia round out the top 4. 

The USA has a tough day today, playing Belarus and Serbia who are doing quite well.  They also are going to meet group leader Germany in what could be a big match for the group lead.  This one needs some help so I am going to consult Chinese fortune telling.  Here goes: I get Hsieh (Deliverance).  Advantage will be found in the Southwest.  This sounds like a USA victory over Germany.  I think the US will end the day with about 52 VP and still be easily in a qualifying spot but maybe not at the top of the table

Women’s Canada

The Canadians beat my estimate of 52 VP getting 54.  But they are still well back in twelfth place.  They have a tough match today against the group leaders Spain and Venezuela will be tough too.  They should beat Serbia though.  The Canadians need to make a move soon.  I hope they can manage 52 VP and keep moving up in the standings.

Women’s USA

The USA ladies came out strong beating my predictions for yesterday handily and winning 63 VP.  They are near the top of their group as predicted in second place with a good score of 172, 21 VP behind a soaring English team.  They have two easy matches today against Egypt and Trinidad and while China Hong Kong is in fifth place I think they will have no trouble with them.  They have outdone my predictions for the last two days so I am going high today and estimating they duplicate yesterday’s performance with 62 VP.  England is a long way ahead and will stay that way.

US versus Turkey the exciting conclusion to this World Mind Sports Game match

October 6th, 2008  ~  linda  ~  No Comments 

When we left this match the USA had just regained the lead 18-15 in a see-saw battle and we were about to play Board 28.  Put yourself in Chris Compton’s shoes.

 Chris Compton

Vulnerable against not in second chair you have

Goksu on your left opens an 11-15 notrump.  What do you do?  You play (copied from their convention card)

Vs. 1NT: DBL= PEN, 2♣ = strong, 1 Major;2◊ = both Majors

2♥/2♠ = limited NAT;

If you are interested follow this link to their convention card:

http://www.ecatsbridge.com/documents/files/2008MindSportGamesBeijing/Systems/Open/USA/hamman-compton.pdf

Okay we have stalled enough.  It is your turn to bid.  Do you

a) pass

b) double

c) bid something else

What did Chris do?

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If you chose double you are right.  Chris made that bid.  I admit it is a tough situation and I think many would not bid, but you have a suit to lead.  1NT doubled isn’t game and these 11-15 notrumps are pesky.

Now Bedir sends it back with a penalty redouble and it is passed back to you.  This is your moment of truth.  Do you run like a rabbit or sit like a man!

Compton passed.  This is not clear to me but I have the advantage of hindsight.  Partner will not remove this without a good suit.  After all he has no idea what you have.  1NT doubled isn’t game but 1NT redoubled is game.  Bidding 2◊ though could be worse.  You are vulnerable and you know that you opponents have a lot of the remaining high cards.  Still if partner hates diamonds he can remove to a major.  He knows you don’t have a great suit or you would have played 1NT redoubled.

The hand is cold and unless you lead the ◊J or ◊10 declare makes an uptrick as happened at the table.  The score if you don’t happen to have a calculator is -560.  I calculate that 2◊ doubled is down 1 or might just make if the defence slips up a bit.

As you can see, Goksu (Rodwell) actually had only 10 not the 11 he promised.   Rodwell passed and Kandemir opened 1NT which was passed out.  Meckwell defended efficiently to beat it two treats and salvage something.  The USA lost 8 imps.  Turkey had regained the lead 23-18.

Things didn’t get all that much better on the very next board.

Bob Hammon

In the closed room Bob Hammon opened 2♠ in third chair and bought it there for a  reasonable score of +110  This time the action was in the closed room.

This time you are going to match your skills with Eric Rodwell.

All vulnerable Kolata opens 1♠ in third chair.  What do you do?  Do you

a) double

b) bid 2♥

c) pass

d) make another bid

What did Rodwell do?

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He doubled. I am not crazy about this action with a five card heart suit but I know some people hate overcalling these bad suits.  Here is what happened next.

2♣ was a transfer to diamonds.  Rodwell now bid 3♥ and that seems reasonable but doesn’t it overstate the hand a bit?  You are now about to go for a number.  Here is the rest of the auction and the whole deal.

When things are going well for Meckwell these thin games make but sometimes they get doubled and go for a number. There score of -800 was a 12 imp loss and they were suddenly down 35-18.  Board 30 was a pass out good for 2 imps for the US and a chance to catch their breath.

Turkey scored 4 more on a part score hand.  To lead 39-20 with one board to play.  The USA managed to get back 11 of them to finish 39-30 for Turkey.