An Norwegian Artist at Work by Jon Sveindal

                        

 

                     Dealer South. All Vul.

 

                            S  J 7 3 2

                            H  K Q J

                            D  8 7 5

                            C  J 10 8

            S  A K 9 8 5                 S  10 4

            H  A 8 6 3 2                 H  7

            D  10 6                      D  A 4 2

            C  9                         C  A K Q 6 5 4 2

                            S  Q 6

                            H  10 9 5 4

                            D  K Q J 9 3

                            C  7 3

 

          WEST         NORTH         EAST         SOUTH

           -            -             -           Pass

          1S           Pass          3C           Pass

          3S           Pass          4C           Pass

          4H           Dbl           Pass         Pass

          Rdbl         Pass          4NT          Pass

          5H           Pass          6C           All Pass

 

When this board came up in the Vugraph, it was easy to see how all thirteen tricks could be taken on a diamond lead. By taking the ruffing finesse in spades, you win four spade tricks in addition to the seven clubs and two aces.

However, after the auction above, Tor Helness received a low heart lead, which took away the entry to the spade suit. But Tor, an artist in the World Bridge Circus and on the Norwegian Open team for more than 20 years, once again demonstrated his magic skills. The ace of hearts was followed by six rounds of clubs.

North had to cling to his four spades to prevent Tor from establishing the suit by ducking a round. North's two other cards were the king of hearts and a diamond. Tor cashed his diamond ace, and the spade ten was covered by the queen and ace. A heart ruff eliminated North's last exit card, and a spade was ducked. North could take his jack, but had to give dummy the last two spade tricks. Had South played low to the ten of spades, Tor would take the ace, ruff a heart, and play the king

of spades and another. The nine of spades would still yield the extra trick - and the contract.

 

Brilliant!

 

Another Norwegian Endplay by Jon Sveindal

 

Dealer North. N-S Vul

 

                            S  K Q 8

                            H  10 8

                            D  Q 5 3

                            C  K 10 5 4 2

             S  A J 7 5                    S  10 9 2

             H  K Q 5                      H  A 7 4

             D  J 10 4                     D  K 8 2

             C  J 9 6                      C  Q 8 7 3

                            S  6 4 3

                            H  J 9 6 3 2

                            D  A 9 7 6

                            C  A

 

          WEST          NORTH          EAST          SOUTH

           -            Pass           Pass          1H

          Pass          1NT            All Pass

 

          Lead: D10

 

The Norwegian ladies have made their mark in the world of women's bridge  were in Maastricht, and should be very pleased with their performance. However, the big setbacks in the semifinal against the USA were too many. Nevertheless, good bridge is always appreciated.

Anna Malinowski's nice effort on the board above, yielded a Norwegian partscore swing when she in the North seat found a cute endplay to land her contract after Anne-Lill Hellemann had produced a rather light 3rd hand 1H opening.

The ten of spades was won by the ace and West returned another to Anna's king. A heart to West's queen, a spade to the queen, and another heart to the king was followed by the thirteenth spade. Anna and East both discarded small clubs, and dummy a diamond.

Had West led a club, the ace would have won, and a heart would have endplayed East. She would have had to play a club or open the diamond suit to declarer's advantage. A diamond switch from West would also have giver Anna two diamond tricks

Mildred Breed found the best defense when she played a heart to East, Shawn Quinn, who exited with a club. This was the end position:

 

                            S  --

                            H  --

                            D  Q 5 3

                            C  K 10

                 S  --                 S  --

                 H  --                 H  --

                 D  J 10 4             D  K 8 2

                 C  J 9                C  Q 8

                            S  --

                            H  J 9

                            D  A 9 7

                            C  --

 

Anna led the seven of diamonds off dummy, and the defense was helpless. If West plays low, East wins the eight and has to give South two minor tricks. So West played the ten, and Anna ducked. Another diamond was the only hope for the defense, but Anna read the position beautifully when she played low - and had her second diamond trick and the contract.

At the other table Soelvi Remen opened one club in fourth seat, and Siv Thoresen responded and was allowed to play 1NT in the East seat.

After a heart lead to the king, the C6 was passed to South's ace. When the opponents later gave her two diamond tricks, she surfed home with an overtrick.

5 IMPs did not prevent the American ladies from building a huge lead in the first session against the Norwegian  Bravehearts, who found it difficult to overcome their first disaster in the Olympic Bridge tournament. They still have heart, though.