RR2 4 matches today

Round 3

Australia v Japan              61           40           which converts to            15.46     4.54                       

Australia still leads as China Hong Kong and Indonesia struggle to beat the lower ranked teams. However, both China and Singapore are coming into contention.

 

This match turned over 101 imps in a 14 board match.

There were seven large swings of which 4 were for Australia and 3 for Japan.

 

Australia's large swings were obtained by the following:

 

Bidding slam making on board 17.

 

Tomer Libman and Andrew Spooner were one of 3 out of 8 pairs who bid this laydown 6♣ slam.

 

On board 19, the opponents got overboard.

 

It has hard to create an auction that gets you to 4♥ on this part score hand. The result was 4♥ DBL by NS going for 1100.

 

On board 21, Australia played 3NT such that the ♥ lead was into the ♥A ♥Q and Japan played 3NT with the hand on lead able to switch to a ♥ through the ♥A ♥Q.

 

On board 23, Tomer Libman and Andrew Spooner had their bidding boots on again and bid and made 7♥ while there opponents played in 4♥

 

If the opponents defend passively and keep correctly, it appears to be on a straight ♦ finesse.

 

In addition, Australia won the part score battle on a few hands.

 

Australia's losing swings were obtained by the following:

 

Australia went down in a slam (missing a key card and the Q of trumps) when game was bid at the other table.

 

Playing in 2♠ with a 5 nil trump fit going 3 down when game in ♥s was a lucky make in a 7-2 fit.

 

Then on board 28 failing to enter the auction with a combined 25 count with game making in the other room.

 

 

After West opens 1♣ and, if North passes, then East bids 1♠ and South is a little reluctant to enter the auction. West raises to 2♠ and neither North or South feels comfortable entering the auction.

All scores were as follows:

Round 3	Match 1	China Hong Kong 37	vs	Thailand 39
	Match 2	Australia 61	vs	Japan 40
	Match 3	China 37	vs	Chinese Taipei 22
	Match 4	Singapore 47	vs	Philippines 15
	Bye	Indonesia

 

Round 4

Australia v Indonesia                      33           40           which converts to            7.84        12.16    

This was a critical round as match 2 and match 3 were matches between four of the five teams in contention (the other being China Hong Kong).

Australia slipped to second but, with both matches 2 and 3 being close, there is very little between each of the 5 top teams.

In Australia’s match, there were a few swings early on that went Indonesia’s way slightly with tight games and part score swings.

The action game on the last two boards.

 

As North South, Indonesia bid to 4♠ and made but Australia bid 3NT and went 2 off.

 

3NT was played by North in both rooms. The Australian North was the only player to make 3NT in any of the 4 matches. It is difficult to come to 9 tricks on most leads.

All scores were as follows:

Round 4	Match 1	Philippines 32	vs	China Hong Kong 58
	Match 2	Indonesia 40	vs	Australia 33
	Match 3	Singapore 29	vs	China 36
	Match 4	Japan 44	vs	Thailand 25
	Bye	Chinese Taipei

 

Round 5

Australia v Philippines                    46           38           which converts to            12.44     7.56

A small win against a team that has struggled so far in this event.

It is still very close at the top of the leader board.

 

Australia gained with significant swings and gave away 2 significant swings and various part score boards.

 

Australia’s pick ups

 

Australia gained 14 imps when the Philippines were over board and conceded 1100.

 

In addition, Australia gained 12 imps on board 22.

 

As South, John McMahon found the killing ♦ lead against 3NT.

 

A further 11 imps where gained when Jamie Thompson made a double part score on board 29.

 

He made 3♠ DBL.  The defence can possibly prevail on best defence but this is the problem doubling tight part scores, the loss far outstrips the potential gain.

 

Australia’s losses

 

On board 20, the Australian pair had insufficient system to bid slam after a weak opening by the opponents. It is a decent 6♣ slam with the ♥K ♥J exposed on opening lead but, when a ♥ is not led, one losing ♥ can be pitched on a ♠ (the opening leader had the ♥A and not the ♥Q – look out if it is ZIA on opening lead).

 

Then on board 26, the following hand was dealt.

 

It is a fairly poor game and could be off easily on an opening ♣ lead before you take a trick. Even then, there is the ♦ suit to negotiate.

Australia also dribbled a further 15 imps by overbidding.

 

All scores were as follows:

Round 5	Match 1	China Hong Kong 40	vs	Chinese Taipei 33
	Match 2	Australia 46	vs	Philippines 38
	Match 3	Indonesia 70	vs	Thailand 16
	Match 4	China 32	vs	Japan 20
	Bye	Singapore

 

Round 6

Australia v China                               30           44           which converts to            12.44     7.56

This match was first (China) versus second (Australia). However, the top 5 teams are still very close.

It was the BBO match.

There were three double digit swings. Two to China and one to Australia and in each case the contract was the same but declarer play varied.

Board 7

 

Both Easts played 4♥ and the lead was the ♦4.

For Australia, the declarer put in the ♦Q which lost to the ♦K. The !JD was returned [indicating he wants a ♠]. This was ruffed and a ♠ to the ♠A and another ♦ ruff and declarer was already down.

For China, declarer played the ♦A at trick one and led the ♠8 from dummy. North played a ♥ back which ran around to the ♥J and declarer was home free.

You can make your own decision about which play was better.

Board 10 was a little unlucky for Australia.

 

Both Norths played 4♥ on the ♦Q lead. At both tables, West won the ♦A and switched to the ♣4.

The play varied here.

Australia played the ♣J then the ♣Q and won the ♣K. A small ♣ went to the ♣A and a ruff. Now he went one off.

China played the ♣9 and it went ♣ and ♣K. This subtle difference allowed the contract to make as the ♦J came down third.

Board 13 went our way.

West played 3NT on the ♥Q lead and West won the ♥K and had to decide what to do at trick 2.

When Australia was West, North opened 1♥ and so declarer knew where the ♣K was located. Declarer played a ♣ to the A♣ and ducked around to the ♣K. That gave him 9 tricks – 2 ♥S, 3♦s and 4♣s.

When China was West, North opened 2♥ and so both black honour cards were not necessarily with North. Declarer led the ♠Q at trick 2 and North won the ♠A and cleared the ♥ suit. Declarer then played three rounds of ♦s hoping the ♦J came down and that would have been 9 tricks, When it did not, he played the ♣A and lost to the ♣K and North cashed his ♥ tricks. Declarer’s line was reasonable, playing north for the ♠A and not the ♣K and still giving himself a favourable ♦ layout. This time the Chinese declarer was unlucky.

 

All scores were as follows:

Round 6	Match 1	Singapore 15	vs	China Hong Kong 31
	Match 2	China 44	vs	Australia 30
	Match 3	Japan 51	vs	Indonesia 23
	Match 4	Philippines 35	vs	Chinese Taipei 58
	Bye	Thailand

 

Australia finishes the day third but there are still 5 teams contending for the two spots in the final with 3 rounds to play tomorrow.

Posted by Chris on Monday, 8 April 2019 at 22:28