First Day's Play
Round 1
Australia v Chinese Taipei 37 22 which converts to 14.19 5.81
This was a good start against a competent opponent.
The line-up was -
North was Jamie Thompson and South was Matt Smith.
East was Nico Ranson and West was John McMahon.
The BBO match pitted Thailand against China Hong Kong.
Board 12
This board clearly demonstrates the difference between possible contenders and likely also runs.
When China Hong Kong were EW, the bidding went as follows
This went one off for Thailand +50.
When Thailand were EW, the bidding went as follows
This went 5 off for China Hong Kong +1100.
The Thailand South must get into the auction here as two places to play 2NT bid or some other mechanism. Allowing your opponents an easy run is the mark of a non-confident player.
For Australia, Jamie Thompson and Matt Smith played in 4♥ making +650 and Nico Ranson and John McMahon were in 3♠ going 1 off for -50.
Board 7
This board shows the different approach that China Hong Kong player took in a competitive sense.
When China Hong Kong were EW, the bidding went as follows
This made with an overtrick Thailand +150.
At the other table, China Hong Kong made 3NT +660 on a ♥ lead.
I am not advocating that West’s 2♥ bid is a standout but with a 6 4 hand and reasonable ♥s it is not suicidal even vulnerable.
For Australia, both tables played in game for a flat board.
China Hong Kong went on to win the match 59 to 1.
The major pickups for Australia
Board 6
For Australia, Jamie Thompson and Matt Smith played in 4♠ DBL making +590 and Nico Ranson and John McMahon doubled 5♠ going 1 off for +100 (where EW vulnerable against not can make 10 tricks in 5♦ and North with no defence was more or less forced to take insurance in 5♠).
Board 12
As shown above.
All scores were as follows:
Round 1 |
Match 1 |
Chinese Taipei 22 |
vs |
Australia 37 |
Match 2 |
Indonesia 54 |
vs |
Singapore 26 |
|
Match 3 |
China 42 |
vs |
Japan 21 |
|
Match 4 |
China Hong Kong 59 |
vs |
Thailand 1 |
|
Bye |
Philippines |
Round 2
Australia v Indonesia 15 41 which converts to 3.62 16.38
The line-up was -
North was Tomer Libman and South was Andrew Spooner
East was Nico Ranson and West was John McMahon.
On exposed form, Indonesia appear to be one of the more fancied teams.
The BBO match pitted Singapore against China.
Board 21
This was a tricky board for North South.
The bidding at both tables was identical
Both North’s led the ♣A and South played the ♣7 (low encourage) and West cunningly played the ♣6.
North can see the ♣5, ♣4 and ♣3 and if West had played the ♣2 automatically, then the ♣7 now looks more like an encouraging card (this is an important aspect of declarer play to make it harder for the defence).
North must now decide what to do. What has declarer bid 3NT on? Probably the ♠K and the ♥A and the ♦A and a ♣ honour maybe or something similar.
There are 7 ♦ tricks and the defence can not afford to give declarer a cheap ninth trick.
The Singapore North cashed the ♠A and South played the ♠Q (denying the ♠K). Now North had set up the ♠K for declarer so they must cash five tricks before declarer gets in. Does declarer have the ♥K and South the ♥A so that a ♣ switch comes through. North eventually cashed the ♣K and another ♣ and they beat it 1 trick.
The China North faced with the same dilemma at trick 2 reasoned that partner had a better chance of having the ♥K and so switched to a low ♥. Declarer made their contract.
Who was right? Well Singapore had their pickup so on the scoreboard, they were.
In a low scoring match, Singapore had another swing on a choice of game contracts (which was a little unfortunate for China) but you must take the good with the bad sometimes.
Then came the following and China ate into some of their deficit.
Board 30
The bidding with Singapore as North South.
The bidding with China as North South.
Declarer played the percentages and finessed West for the ♠Q thus making the slam.
In the Australian match, this board was more or less flat in game contracts.
The major loss for Australia
Board 20
For Australia, East opened 1♦ on the following and played there.
Unfortunately, 3NT made when South led a ♥ away from the ♥A. Nobody really did anything wrong but in modern bidding, experts may consider opening 2NT on the East cards. However, this can cause trouble on some hands of course.
All scores were as follows:
Round 2 |
Match 1 |
Thailand 54 |
vs |
Philippines 31 |
Match 2 |
Australia 15 |
vs |
Indonesia 41 |
|
Match 3 |
Singapore 32 |
vs |
China 16 |
|
Match 4 |
Japan 53 |
vs |
China Hong Kong 13 |
|
Bye |
Chinese Taipei |
Round 3
Australia v China 23 16 which converts to 12.16 7.84
The line-up was -
North was Tomer Libman and South was Andrew Spooner.
East was Matt Smith and West was Jamie Thompson.
It was a fairly flat match as the scores indicate with minor imps except for the 2 boards discussed below.
The major swings in the match
Board 8
The major swing out of 12 was due to both our pairs playing in 5 of a minor X for -300 each.
Board 9
This board was 11 imps to Australia when we bid 6NT and China stopped in 4NT. In the 4 matches played 3 North South pairs got to slam and 5 stopped in 4NT.
How good is the slam?
Where ♥s break 4 – 3 (63% of the time approximately), you have 11 tricks assuming a passive lead. You need ♣s to break 3 – 3 or the ♦ finesse to work or a potential ♠ ♦ squeeze or the ♠Q and ♠T to be with East (but you can not test each individually). An estimation on a passive lead of say a ♥ is about 45%.
Where ♥s do not break 4 – 3 (37% of the time approximately), you basically need ♣s to break 3 – 3 or diamonds 3 – 3 with the ♦Q with West. It is hard to judge the odds exactly but it is no more than about 16%
This gives a total chance of 61% (but it maybe less than this if they hold up on the ♣A for two rounds).
On the hand, ♣s broke 3 – 3 and West held ♦Q and two small ones. Therefore, the slam makes on basically any line and there is the chance of them giving you a trick at trick one on a ♠ lead.
All scores were as follows:
Round 3 |
Match 1 |
Philippines 35 |
vs |
Japan 35 |
Match 2 |
Chinese Taipei 54 |
vs |
Thailand 11 |
|
Match 3 |
China 16 |
vs |
Australia 23 |
|
Match 4 |
China Hong Kong 42 |
vs |
Singapore 36 |
|
Bye |
Indonesia |
Posted by Chris on Friday, 5 April 2019 at 22:54