Bucuresti, 4-1-2005

First of all the best wishes for year 2005.

There has been a period without bridgestories, because we were one week to Rome.

But here’s again the first pairs from Atomic.

This year promises to be one of surprising moments.

1 N/-	North		North	East	South	West
	Q 8 5		p	p i	1	p
	K		1 ii	p	2	p
	9 6		2	ap
West Truus	A 9 8 6 5 4 2	East Louis
J 6 3		K 10 9 7 4 2
Q 5 4 2		A 7 3
K 3		J 10 4 2
K J 10 7	South	-
	A
	J 10 9 8 6
	A Q 8 7 5
	Q 3

i I decided not to open the multi, because a sidesuit A and a void is much defence against a contract from the opponents.

ii North wanted tob e in a possible 3-4 fit.

So the bidding were surprising. The defence and the play of the declarer also.

Trick 1: 4 - K - 3 - 6

East wanted the trick won by North for losing options (Example A)

Trick 2: 6 - 2 - Q - K (Another losiong option)

Trick 3: 3 - 5 - 7 - A

Trick 4: J - Q - 2 - 7

Trick 5: J - Q - K - 8

Trick 6: A everyone follows suit

Trick 7: for East

Trick 8: South ruffs

South draw trumps twice and ruffed twice.

On this moment he has 3 Tricks in trump, A en A.

South plays J and hopes that Truus winns, because Louis played low at Trick 1.

If Truus underleads K the damage is only 1 down

The reality is cruel. East takes A en plays his winning and the high .

West had to ruff the last high card from East.

-3 is a good result against all OW who play 2 +1 spelen.

Conclusion: East definitely had much defence against a contract from the opponents.

Next board: Trust the opponents.

Also an item in our bridge magazine from december 2004.

19 S/EW	North Louis			North	East	South	West
	A K J 10 5			-	-	p	1
	Q 9 5 3			1	dbl	p	1NT
	7			p	3	p	3NT
West	10 9 6	East		ap
Q 9 8 2		6 4
K 10 8		A 2
K J 8 4		A Q 10 9 6 2
A 5 3	South Truus	K 4 2
	7 3
	J 7 6 4
	5 3
	Q J 8 7

Why West opened 1 is not clear to me. Maybe 1 is more unbalanced.

The lead: A, South played the 3 (low = discouraging)

West will have a -stop, so we trust him. The problem is what to continue.

I think everything is ok, as long as it isn’t .

I played 3 - 2 - J - K.

Declarer made 3NT +1. 10 toptricks. Still there were pairs making more.

Maybe there are readers who ask themselves: what did we score the last teams tournament? After day one we were in the lowest group of 4. We battled for the first price in this group, but ended second. We didn’t take bridgelessons in Rome, because there were to many other nice things to see. Maybe you’ll become some nice boards from this tournament, I have them on several pieces of paper somewere.

Greetings from Louis, the dutch player.