Minor Fault

Sydney Morning Herald

Wednesday October 31, 2007

Ron Klinger

The Australian Seniors Team (Bill Haughie-David Lilley, John Lester-Gaby Lorentz, Zoli Nagy-Ron Klinger, David Hoffman non-playing captain) started very well in the 2007 Seniors Cup in Shanghai. After Day 1 the team was coming first with wins over Sweden (18- 12), Thailand (24-6) and Guadeloupe (21- 9). Three marginal results 17-13 vs Poland, 16-14 vs Germany and 16-14 vs NZ left us in 4th spot after Day 2.

Day 3 began with a 14-16 loss to Canada, followed by an 18-12 win over China, but a 10-20 loss to Italy saw the team drop to sixth. We were still in the top eight, just, after Day 4 with an 11-19 loss to South Africa, 16-14 win over Denmark and an 18-12 win over USA1.

Day 5 brought a 20-10 win over Argentina, then a 10-20 loss to India and an 18-12 win over USA2 to hang on to 8th spot.

That was the end of being in the quarter-final zone. Day 6 was an 11-19 loss to Brazil, a 16-14 loss to France and a 16-14 win over Japan. We were down to tenth spot, but 8 VPs behind 8th and not out of it. Any hopes of qualifying were dashed on Day 7 which began with a 7-23 loss to Indonesia and another 7-23 loss to Egypt. The final round of 25-3 against China Hong Kong kept us in tenth place, but that was 21 VPs behind 8th.

This deal arose in the Seniors match against USA2, who would go on to win the event.

West dealer : North-South vulnerable

NORTH

West North East South

Nagy Bates Klinger Sontag

1C Dble Pass 1D

Pass Pass Pass

Lead: S7

The SJ fetched the SK and was taken by the ace. Declarer drew trumps and lost one trick in each major.

N-S +150. Recommended for South's reply to the double is 1NT. When your choice is between no-trumps and a minor, prefer no-trumps. If not 1NT, then South should jump to 2D. For example:

West North East South

Stansby Haughie Bramley Lilley

1C Dble Pass 2D

Pass 3C (1) Pass 3NT

Pass Pass Pass

(1) Asking for a club stopper

Lead: S5

The SJ collected the king and ace.

Declarer tackled the diamonds, took the club finesse and then set up a spade for the ninth trick for +600 and +10 Imps, the biggest swing in the match.

Open: vs Japan (9-21).

West North East South

Peake Green

1C Dble 1H 2D

Pass Pass Pass

Lead: S7

Japan made 11 tricks for +150.

West North East South

Neill Jed'ski

1C Dble Pass 1NT!

Pass 3NT! All pass

Lead: C6

South won, set up the diamonds and then led a heart for the ninth trick.

Australia + 600 and +10 Imps.

Women: vs China (7-23).

West North East South

Travis Havas

1C Dble Pass 1NT

Pass 2C Pass 2D

Pass 2NT Pass 3NT

Pass Pass Pass

Lead: S5

China made the usual nine tricks for +600.

West North East South

Schroor Kaplan

2C (1) Pass? Pass Pass

(1) Precision 5+ clubs, 11-15 points

Lead: DA

North was certainly worth a takeout double. Declarer was three down for ?300 for 7 Imps to China.

The four rules of success: 1. Never tell all you know.

Tomorrow's problem:

West dealer : Both vulnerable

NORTH

South is in 4S, no opposition bidding. West leads the HJ, taken by the ace. The D3 went to the queen and king. East returned the C4, ducked to West?s CJ. West continued with the CK, taken by the ace. How would you continue?

© 2007 Sydney Morning Herald

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