Last weekend, the 16 best pairs in the country played the finals of the national imp pairs, also known as “The White House Topcircuit” at, you guessed it, the bridge-home “the White House” in Amsterdam. 2 of Holland’s most talented juniors won in a convincing way. For a report, click here. They’ll be back in the White House there in a month’s time when the place will host the White House Junior Internationals or WHJI.
For the WHJI, 24 junior teams from all over the world are invited. They will play for 5 days, 3 days of swiss and 2 days knock-out (semi-) finals. The event is arguably the strongest junior event in the world, except for the World and European championships. Play starts on Monday March 26 around 11:30 and runs until about 21:00h. For more details, here is the website with the full schedule and other information, or contact Kees Tammens, chair of the organizing committee. If you haven’t made plans for that week, go there and kibitz, you will see a lot of exciting bridge. Of course, BBO will also broadcast hands on the Internet.
3 Dutch teams will participate and one of the pairs was practicing at our club last weekend. Here the coach still has some work to do in order to get the pair ready for next month. The pair will team up with 2 pairs from a club where I’m still an honorary member (and just has a new website), so I want them to do well. The juniors were NS and have to decide for themselves if they want to disclose their names to the coach. I was playing with Trees Muts. IMP pairs.
First board. NS do play Dutch 2’s, 2♥ showing 5♥ and 4+ in a minor with less than an opening bid. The north hand has three flaws against that though; bad suits, 2 first round controls and a 3 card spade suit, so it is understandable that he passed. In the second round, he could no longer keep quiet. Double from south looks overly aggressive to me. Partner hasn’t opened, so his suits won’t be too good, the opponents know that a heart lead is likely and will be prepared for that, and the odds are against double. Down one gains only 50 points but will cost 150 when the contract makes. And you don’t expect to beat it (at least) 3 out of 4 times on a heart lead. South led the ♥Q to the 10. Declarer took a club finesse, when it held, he conceded a spade and wrapped up 9 tricks. +9 imp’s, as the game was missed a few times. Note that the contract can be defeated on a ♦K lead, but that is impossible to find once north doesn’t open with a Dutch 2.
The next board (rotated). 3NT is not a thing of beauty, but you do have 25 high card points and 2 balanced hands. Again, it can be beaten, but that would have required east to lead a heart, which doesn’t make much sense on the auction. One only needs 35% for a non-vulnerable game and the field will bid this. There is no point stopping on a dime in situations like this, 10 tricks but minus -6 imp.
And finally this one (rotated as well). Club lead, declarer claimed 13 tricks and the discussion started on why this slam was not bid. East thought that 3♥ was a limit raise and stretched to bid game, west clearly thought it was a slam try. It looks to me as if west confused the auction 1♥-1♠;2♥-3♥ which is generally played as a limit raise, with the auction 1♥-2♦;2♥-3♥ (which is indeed forcing). My suggestion was to bid 4♦ over 2♥ as a splinter raise and slam-try. East will then move on. “No”, says west, “the coach says I cannot splinter with a 3 card suit”. Even if you splinter on the second round? “Yes”, says west, and by the way 3♥ is forcing”. I said I guessed that the coach would not agree with that statement and suggested to check. He agreed, reluctantly. Again, minus a lot of imps.
So, Kees, I’m planning to come and kibitz at the WHJI next month. If you really taught them that 3♥ is forcing, please let me know and I’ll bring some extra cash to buy west a drink to apologize.