Beijing - Days 3 and 4

Hello everyone,

It is now Tuesday evening 6:00 pm in Beijing.

Your Canadian Women's Team has been slowly crawling its way back into possible contention for a qualifying spot. The Team has actually won it's last six matches, dating back to a winning tie against Russia on Sunday evening. Since then here are our match results.
Monday
Canada 17 VPs vs Jordan 13, Canada 21 vs Joran 9, Canada 16 vs Indonesia 14
Tuesday
Canada 17 vs Estonia 13, Canada 23 vs Venezuela 7.
We are at this moment playing the second place Spanish team.
Canada is about 22 VPs out of a qualifying spot with six matches still to play.

It will be an uphill climb. Our team will have to do very well over the remaining days of play to reach a qualifying spot. But they are all determined to do their best and let the chips fall where they may. Although some teams might be ranked as easier opponents than others, on any given day any team is capable of beating another. The calibre of bridge keeps getting better by the year around the world. And newly participating countries will continue to improve with experience.

The schedule of play is is most civilized - with start time at 11:00 am and play for the day concluded by 7:30 pm. Compared to our own CNTC/CWTC National finals or a major NAC event this schedule is a very relaxed one. With a six-person rotation, players only play 32 boards each over a day's play. This is beneficial to all participants as fatigue should not be a factor. This kind of schedule also allows the players to have dinner at the conclusion of play each evening if they so choose without worrying about having to play a match after a big dinner and maybe a few drinks. I just wish we had Montreal's Crescent Street or Toronto's King Street with all of their resaurant choices nearby.

Pascale/Martine and Susan/Kismet had the thrill of bidding grand slams on consecutive
boards in last night's match versus Indonesia.

PASCALE
7 6
A Q 10 7 4 3
K J 6
A 2

MARTINE
A K 9 5 4 3
K 9 6 5 2
A 2
VOID

There is nothing to the play of this hand, or course, it is all in the bidding.
Martine opened 1S, Pascale responded 2H (game force). I believe that at this point
a pracical call is 5NT (Grand Slam Force), but only if you have clear agreement as
to how partner will answer. Id partner has the two missing top three honours there
will be no problem getting to seven. But if partner has the Ace only, one would
still like to be in seven. So, it is important to have graduated responses to the
GSF to reveal various holdings. Martine and Pascale had a longer auction to get to
the desired grand. That board was a push vs Indonesia. I beleive that the vast majority
of pairs reached 7H on this hand.

SUSAN
A J 10 7
A 8 7 4
K 7
A J 6

KIZ
K Q 9 6 4 2
2
A Q 10 8 5
9

Their auction.
1NT (15-17), Pass, 2H (transfer), Pass
3S (super acceptance), Pass, 4C, (control cue bid) Double
RDBL (Club Ace), Pass, 4NT, Pass
5D (0 or 3), Pass, 5NT, Pass
6D (Diamond King), Pass, 7S, all Pass
A very nice auction by Kiz and Susan.
The opening lead was the seven of clubs.
There are many lines of play to choose from. I'll leave you to analyze them.
But when you play a trump you learn that they are 3-0.
The glory of Susan's line of play was that she made seven on a double squeeze,
winning her thirteenth trick with a lowly heart in her hand.
The other team failed to reach the grand and this was a big pick up for our team.
Next time you see her, ask her about this hand.

This morning, Pamela and Karen extracted a very important 800 set against
their opponents to win the match against Estonia on the very last board of the set.
PAMELA
A K 10 3
Q J 8 7
K 9 8 7
3

KAREN
Q J 6 4
K 3 2
Q J
A J 7 2

After West's Pass, Pamela opened 1D.
East made a weak jump overcall of 2H.
Karen made a negative double.
Pamela judged well to Pass Karen's double rather than persuing
a spade contract for her side, and East was duly punished for her action.
I believe we picked up 14 IMPs on this deal.
Well done Pamela and Karen!
But a note to our intrepid East. Facing a passed partner and being VUL,
her jump overcall was ill advised.
8 7
A 10 9 6 5 4
A
10 6 5 4
With two Aces and a questionable suit, a 1H overcall would be a much more
judicious and probably would have avoided the axe. Not a good team call
at IMPs. And Pamela and Karen ensured that she paid a heavy price.

I am be leaving now to compare scores in the Spain/Canada match.
Hopefully a good result followed by a fine evening with my team members.

Good night all from Beijing.

John