Tuesday dawned, hot and wet as usual. Time to get this show on the road after a disappointing first day.
Match 1 India A
A strong and experienced team.
The scorecard.
Board 1: At our table, the Indians bid conservatively to 2NT and made ten tricks for plus 180. Our teammates gained six IMPs at the other table bidding game.
Board 2: George and I had a slight misunderstanding and ended up in three no-trumps, going 5 down for minus 250 after they took the first 9 tricks, mainly in the suit that they had shown! At the other table, they played 3C making ten tricks for plus 130, a conservative position given that they had 25 HCP combined but it gained them 9 IMPs.
Board 5: A painful board — we went down five in five clubs doubled for minus 1100. Fortunately it was flat, with the same result at the other table. NS could make 13 tricks with the cards very well placed for them however I suspect that they were not going to bid slam. A slightly more measured approach by me might have worked better.
Board 7: We passed this one in and picked up five imps when the other table went down. This was more conservatism by our opponents who had the majority of the strength and an 8 card spade fit. At the other table the auction got all the way to 4D which went two down.
Board 9: Our opponents played two diamonds making eleven tricks. At the other table, Joe and Fraser played three no-trumps which made on a misdefence, for a seven imp swing - more conservatism.
Board 10: Our opponents made three spades for plus 140. At the other table, Fraser went down in four spades — he thought it might have been makeable, but it was difficult. 6 IMPs to them.
Board 13: Our best board of the match. George and I bid and made 4H with not much in the way of values, ten tricks for plus 620. At the other table, Fraser and Joe went one down in 3S for minus 100. A swing of eleven imps.
Final result: Australia 34 – India A 18, 14.42 VPs. A good result against one of the contending teams. Overall it was a strange match. We were more aggressive at both tables and as so often happens this paid off.
Match 2 Bangladesh A
An unknown quantity as far as we were concerned. We played a young pair who played a complicated relay system based on a strong club.
The scorecard.
Board 17 allowed us to use a bidding gadget.
The jump to 4D showed a raise to game in spades with 5+ diamonds. Looking at good fitting cards, George checked for keycards then bid slam. With the diamond finesse working 12 tricks were easy. Obviously if the finesse had failed you would not be reading this! 11 IMPs in.
Board 21 the boot was on the other foot. Fraser and Joe bid a slightly optomistic slam which failed on a bad layout. Double dummy it was makeable but not in the real world. 12 IMPs out.
Boards 23, 24 & 25 were all possible games NS. Our opponents bid game on all three and made two of them. Uncharacteristically Fraser and Joe did not bid any of them. A net loss of 7 IMPs.
Final result: Australia 34 – Bangladesh A 29, 11.58 VPs. A slightly disappointing result with some missed chances, still a win is a win.
Match 3 Hong Kong China B
Another slightly unknown quantity.
The scorecard.
Final result: Australia 18 – Hong Kong China B 36, 5.15 VPs. A disappointing result with a lot of IMPs swinging on the slam decision.
Match 4 Korea
The scorecard.
Board 21 was an interesting declarer play hand.
Obviously if I played the DK at trick one I would have had 9 top tricks and nothing to write about! Having won his singleton Q south thought for some time then switched to the CQ. I had two main options for the ninth trick - the SK could be onside or I might make an extra club trick if both honours were onside or if they divided 3-3. I ducked this one and he continued with the T. Looking at the cards I could make by playing the A dropping the now singleton K or by playing low in which case my J would score later. Instead I tried the J which lost. North now continued a diamond. I cashed all my diamonds so south had to find 4 discards. He could not let go of a club so instead pitched 3 hearts and a spade. I now finessed the SQ and was disappointed to lose to the K. North played a heart (a spade would have been better). When I now cashed the HK south was squeezed in the black suits.
It would have been much easier to win the first diamond!
Final result: Australia 33 – Hong Kong China B 12, 15.46 VPs. A good way to finish the day with the team playing well.
End of day 2, 8th out of 15, up 4 spots from yesterday. Still a lot of work to do.
Other Australian teams:
In the Womens event out of 10 teams, Australia B are 6th and Australia A are 9th, the teams switching positions from yesterday.
In the Mixed out of 13 teams, Australia A are 12th and Australia B are 13th. Enough said.
In the Seniors out of 8 teams, Australia are 3rd, currently in a qualifying position.