Euro Teams Round 26 Finland

Board 18 East Deals N-S Vul	♠ 10 8 ♥ 10 4 ♦ 6 5 3 2 ♣ 9 7 6 4 2
♠ 9 5 4 ♥ A Q 9 8 ♦ J 4 ♣ Q 10 8 5	N W E S	♠ K J 6 ♥ K J 7 5 ♦ Q 10 7 ♣ K J 3
	♠ A Q 7 3 2 ♥ 6 3 2 ♦ A K 9 8 ♣ A

E 2N; NS 2♠; E 2♥; NS 3♦; E 1♣; Par +100: E 3♥×−1; E 3N×−1

Next up was Finland and Ireland lost an early 3 imps when Finland went to 3 ♥ and right sided it avoiding the ♠ lead for minus 50. Carroll and Garvey sold out to 2 ♠. This is no biggie and I don't know how one could know the correct level even seeing all 4 hands.

Board 20 West Deals Both Vul	♠ A Q 9 7 4 ♥ 9 8 4 ♦ 9 ♣ K 8 5 2
♠ K J 8 6 5 3 ♥ 7 3 2 ♦ J ♣ J 10 3	N W E S	♠ 2 ♥ A 10 ♦ K 7 6 4 3 2 ♣ A Q 7 4
	♠ 10 ♥ K Q J 6 5 ♦ A Q 10 8 5 ♣ 9 6

N 4♥; N 3N; S 3♥; S 2N; N 2♦; NS 1♠; S 1♦; NS 1♣; Par +620

According to the records Hanlon McGann declared 4 ♥ from the good side but the lead of the ♠ 3 indicates it was declared from the South side. Would not make much difference anyway as Carroll Garvey got caught speeding and presumably while trying to escape got run over by a large herd of angry elephants. 4 ♣X down about 5 was minus 1400 and 17 imps out.

Last night I was talking to one of the young lads I have introduced to bridge in the local boozer.
He wanted to know about REVERSE DOUBLES. Eventually I worked out he was talking about a REDOUBLE. Maybe one of our lads tried a REVERSE RESCUE DOUBLE.

Board 21 North Deals N-S Vul	♠ 10 8 6 5 2 ♥ J 6 ♦ J 8 ♣ 10 8 5 2
♠ K 3 ♥ 8 5 3 ♦ A K 10 4 ♣ A Q J 4	N W E S	♠ J 4 ♥ A K Q 7 2 ♦ 9 7 5 3 2 ♣ K
	♠ A Q 9 7 ♥ 10 9 4 ♦ Q 6 ♣ 9 7 6 3

EW 6N; EW 6♥; EW 6♦; EW 6♣; EW 3♠; Par −990

Here the stung Carroll and Garvey found their way into a seldom bid small slam and it came home. 17 opposite 13 and a double fit makes it a decent slam. The side ♣ suit for discards would have helped if ♦s were not 2-2 I think. 11 imps to Ireland.

Board 22 East Deals E-W Vul	♠ 4 ♥ K 10 6 5 4 2 ♦ J 10 9 8 ♣ 10 2
♠ 10 7 2 ♥ A 8 ♦ 6 5 3 2 ♣ J 8 7 5	N W E S	♠ A K Q 5 3 ♥ J 9 3 ♦ A K ♣ K 9 6
	♠ J 9 8 6 ♥ Q 7 ♦ Q 7 4 ♣ A Q 4 3

E 3♠; EW 2N; W 2♠; NS 2♥; EW 3♣; EW 1♦; Par −140

Buoyed up by success our two entrepreneurs bid 3 NT despite having a 5-3 ♠ fit. Both 4 ♠ and 3N are booked for 1 off due to the 4-1 ♠ break among other things. However it seems the defence failed to find safe ♦ plays and instead plated the contract for Garvey. 12 imps for Ireland.

Board 25 North Deals E-W Vul	♠ J 10 6 4 ♥ A K J 7 6 ♦ 2 ♣ J 8 6
♠ Q 5 2 ♥ 8 5 2 ♦ J 8 7 ♣ A 10 9 7	N W E S	♠ 9 8 7 ♥ Q ♦ A K 9 6 5 3 ♣ K 5 3
	♠ A K 3 ♥ 10 9 4 3 ♦ Q 10 4 ♣ Q 4 2

NS 3♥; NS 2N; NS 2♠; EW 2♦; EW 1♣; Par +140

WE gained 5 imps when Hanlon McGann stayed out of a failing 4 ♥ and both sides made 9 tricks. The Finns were in 4 ♥ so 5 imps to Ireland.

Board 27 South Deals None Vul	♠ J 8 3 ♥ Q 7 6 2 ♦ K Q 7 6 ♣ 5 4
♠ A 9 5 ♥ K 10 8 4 ♦ 9 ♣ J 8 6 3 2	N W E S	♠ K Q 7 ♥ A 5 ♦ J 10 5 4 3 ♣ Q 9 7
	♠ 10 6 4 2 ♥ J 9 3 ♦ A 8 2 ♣ A K 10

EW 3♣; EW 1N; EW 1♥; EW 1♦; Par −110

Both sides declared 1 NT on the ♦ 4 lead. Hanlon made it ..Finland went down 2 ..
5 imps to Ireland.

Board 28 West Deals N-S Vul	♠ J 9 4 ♥ 10 7 5 3 2 ♦ 5 4 ♣ A J 3
♠ Q 8 5 2 ♥ J 6 ♦ A 6 3 ♣ K 10 4 2	N W E S	♠ K 10 3 ♥ K 8 4 ♦ J 10 8 7 ♣ 9 8 7
	♠ A 7 6 ♥ A Q 9 ♦ K Q 9 2 ♣ Q 6 5

NS 3♥; NS 2N; NS 1♠; NS 1♦; NS 1♣; Par +140

The Finns stepped into a Hanlon McGann auction and got doubled in 2 ♦ for down 2.
4 imps to Ireland as Carroll Garvey stayed stum and conceded a partscore against -300.

Board 29 North Deals Both Vul	♠ K 9 4 ♥ Q 8 5 ♦ 10 8 7 6 ♣ K 10 3
♠ 10 ♥ J 9 7 2 ♦ A 9 4 3 ♣ 9 7 6 2	N W E S	♠ A J 6 5 3 ♥ 10 3 ♦ K 2 ♣ A J 5 4
	♠ Q 8 7 2 ♥ A K 6 4 ♦ Q J 5 ♣ Q 8

NS 2N; EW 2♣; NS 1♠; NS 1♦; Par +120

Finland declared a Burns Law contract of 1 ♠ and went down. Burns Law discusses the merits of having more trumps than the opposition. Garvey Carroll chose an 8 card fit in ♣ and made 2 ♣ for 7 imps to Ireland.

Board 30 East Deals None Vul	♠ Q J 9 8 6 ♥ K 10 9 8 ♦ — ♣ 9 8 5 4
♠ 10 2 ♥ A Q 5 4 3 2 ♦ A ♣ 10 6 3 2	N W E S	♠ 7 3 ♥ 7 ♦ K Q J 10 8 5 4 2 ♣ K 7
	♠ A K 5 4 ♥ J 6 ♦ 9 7 6 3 ♣ A Q J

NS 5♠; NS 4N; NS 4♣; NS 2♥; EW 3♦; Par +450

Hanlon McGann had a rare mis-step on board 30 to defend 4 ♦ for 1 off with a comfortable game on for themselves in 4 ♠. Finland might have found a small save in 5 ♦ anyway but 4 imps is less than 9 imps .. Ireland winning by 45-36 ..in a match where 22 of those imps might have been avoided. Still after a painful beginning in the first 12 matches one knew a long time ago it was not Irelands fortnight in the event.

Meanwhile in the Seniors the BJ O'Brien powered Ireland are still trundling away in 2nd place and the finish line is appearing fast.

Our Ladies team had a horrendous start after playing tough teams on day 1 but were unlikely to ever trouble the scorers as any victories they achieve are small wins. We need to wind up the Ladies Training program about 10 notches ....thats if they wish to.

England Open Team "raised the bat" after 6 boards against Scotland and eventually received the 100 imp standing ovation on board 16 .. Raising a bat is apparently a batters show of appreciation to the crowd when he/she passes 50 runs.