daily bulletin 3 − editors brian senior and cathy chua bulletin...daily bulletin 3 − editors...

Daily Bulletin 3 − Editors Brian Senior and Cathy Chua

In this issue.

You will find a long report by Brian on the first three rounds. After four rounds there are five different

countries in the lead, only China is leading in two categories. There are the rankings of the teams in so far as

possible: the Ladies section is waiting on an appeal in round 4 as we go to press. There’s a report on the

Opening Ceremony and lots of pictures.

Next issue we’ll have more in the way of scoring with which I’m having formatting issues today. Sorry!!!

NOTICES

Daily Bulletins can be found:

At the Vista restaurant to read at breakfast!

Players’ Lounge 2F

Chamonix 2F

Lost and Found: LG phone was found in the

Zeus Hall, Championship Room. It can be

claimed at the Zeus Hall.

Vegans and Vegetarians: there is an online app

called Happy Cow that will help you to find

suitable food in the area. Most conveniently, the

Bongeun Temple, directly on the way to COEX,

no more than a ten minute walk, serves vegetarian

lunch.

Wifi connection at the Riviera: there are two

possibilities.

Riviera Guest

Riviera

No password needed.

BBO matches 30 May 2017: 09:00 – 11:00 L China vs Indonesia S DJARUM ICBA vs China Hong Kong 1 11:30 - 13:30 O India vs China Hong Kong S Chinese Taipei 1 vs BHINEKA ICBA 15:00 – 17:00 O Chinese Taipei vs New Zealand L Japan vs New Zealand 17.30 – 19.30 O Japan vs China S India vs Australia 1 Vugraph: For those at the venue don’t forget that

there is a vu-graph for live viewing!

2017 APBF Championship Daily Bulletin 3 2

Opening Ceremony

The opening ceremony for this event was short, sweet and entertaining. Yoon Kyung Kim, President of the

KCBL, gave a warm and welcoming speech and Esther C Sophonpanich, President of the APBF made

everybody laugh with her stories of how crazy all Thais are for everything Korean!

Esther C. Sophonpanich, President APBF

But the highlight was undoubtedly Gianarrigo Rona, WBF President presenting the Gold Medal to Mr

Bambang Hartono, Secretary General of the ICBA for his work in getting bridge into the program of the

2018 Asian Olympics. It’s a great moment for bridge and many people were involved in achieving this goal.

Mr Rona, WBF President, presenting the WBF Gold Medal to Mr Hartono.

A magnificent buffet dinner followed the Opening Ceremony with group shots of the teams.


A huge contingent from Chinese Taipei

China Hong Kong


The play Day 1 Brian Senior

China Macau v Korea1 (Open Round 1)

And so we were underway, at the ungodly hour of

9 am, when any self-respecting bridge player

would normally still be in bed. As is traditional at

all major championships, the host nation, Korea1

in the Open series, was first up on BBO, facing

China Macau.

The teams exchanged minor swings on the first

two deals, then Korea1 jumped into a significant

lead.

Board 3

South Deals

E-W Vul

9 7 6 3

8

A 7 6

A 7 5 4 3

J 5 4

J 10 7 6

3

J 9 8 6 2

A

A Q 9 5 4

K J 9 5 4

K 10

K Q 10 8 2

K 3 2

Q 10 8 2

Q

N

W E

S

West North East South

Jang Roasario Ahn Chan

1

Pass 1 2 2

All pass


Lai Lee Lei Chun

1

Pass 3 3 Pass

4 4 5 Pass

Pass Dble All pass

For China Macau, Rosario/Chan had an odd-

looking auction in that Chan opened a Modified

Precision 1♦ on the South cards – I don't know

their system well enough to explain why this is

not a 1♠ opening. Anyway, it seemed to have

worked out well enough when he next raised to 2♠

and that ended the auction, Jang not fancying

competing on the West hand due to the low point-

count.

Two Spades had three obvious losers and one

extra at the end, making nine tricks for +140.

In the other room, Chun, for Korea1, opened

1♠ and Lee made a Bergen raise. Lei could not

show both suits without committing to the four

level so preferred a simple 3♥ overcall and Chun,

looking at a minimum for his opening bid, passed.

However, Lee bid 4♠ himself over Lai's heart

raise and now Lei took the push to 5♥, not quite

being sure which side might be making what. Lee

doubled that on the way out to end the auction.

A club to the ace followed by a club ruff and a

diamond to the ace for a third club saw Lei ruff

with the ♥Q and Chun over-ruff. That was that for

the defence; down two for –500 and 8 IMPs to

Korea1.

Board 4

West Deals

Both Vul

A 6

9 7

A K Q 7 5 3

J 6 4

Q J 10 9 8 4 3

Q

10 8 6 2

7

5

K J 8 3 2

J

A Q 10 8 5 2

K 7 2

A 10 6 5 4

9 4

K 9 3

N

W E

S


Jang Rosario Ahn Chan

3 4 Pass 4

Pass Pass Dble All pass


Lai Lee Lei Chun

2 3 Pass 3 NT

All pass

Lai's multi 2♦ opening left room for Lee to

overcall 3♦ and Chun had an easy conversion to

3NT with his 10 HCP facing a vulnerable

overcall.

Lai led the queen of spades, Chun winning in

hand with the king and playing four rounds of

diamonds. Lai won the fourth diamond and

returned the heart queen. Chun won and played a

heart back to the nine and jack and now Lei tried

the queen of clubs. Chun played the king and had

nine tricks for +600.

Jang's 3♠ opening looks normal to me, the

seven-four distribution surely making up for the

missing top spades, and it reaped a rich dividend

when Rosario judged to overcall 4♦ – surely if the

North hand is worth a bid that bid should be 3NT,

the bid with a big upside? Chun tried 4♥ over 4♦


and when that came round to Ahn he doubled,

ending the auction.

Jang led his club, Ahn winning the ace and

returning the ten. Chan played low and Jang

ruffed with the queen then returned the ♠Q to

dummy's ace. The ♥9 was ducked and a second

heart led to the jack and ace. Chan had to lose two

hearts from here so was down two for –500 and a

huge 15 IMPs to Korea1.

Board 5

North Deals

N-S Vul

K 10 9 7 3

Q 9 7 6

A K 7

6

Q 6

J 3

Q J 6 5 3

10 8 4 3

A 4 2

10 4 2

10 9 8 2

J 9 5

J 8 5

A K 8 5

4

A K Q 7 2

N

W E

S



1 Pass 2

Pass 2 Pass 2

Pass 4 Pass 4 NT

Pass 5 Pass 5

All pass West North East South

Lai Lee Lei Chun

1 Pass 2 Pass

2 Pass 2 Pass

4 Pass 4 NT Pass

5 All pass

I found it interesting that both Souths gave

preference to spades rather than choose the four-

four heart fit. North now showed his minimum

hand by jumping to the spade game but South was

not finished yet and asked for key cards. The

response showed that a key card plus the ♠Q were

missing so both stopped at the five level.

However, Chun chose the heart fit while Chan

preferred to stick to spades.

As the cards lay, there was just the ♠A to be

lost in either contract so the board was a push at

+680.

On Board 6 the two E/W pairs both bid 1NT –

3NT and found that they were off the entire heart

suit, losing six of those and another ace for down

three and another push at –300. That was hardly

an elegant result but nobody had any sensible

alternative action consistent with their methods so

it was no doubt duplicated many times around the

room.

Board 7

South Deals

Both Vul

—

A K J 8 7 6 5 2

Q 5 2

Q 3

8 4 2

9 4 3

K 10 9

K 10 8 4

K Q 10 9 5 3

Q

J 8 4 3

A 6

A J 7 6

10

A 7 6

J 9 7 5 2

N

W E

S



Pass

Pass 4 4 Dble

All pass


Lai Lee Lei Chun

Pass Pass 4 4

Dble All pass

For a second time in the young match a pre-empt

caused problems for the opposition, this time

bullying left-hand-opponent into making a bid at a

rather high level for the actual hand he held.

However, 4♥ was making for N/S so 4♠ doubled

might prove to be worth a modest swing in for

E/W.

Chun led the ten of hearts, Lee winning the ace

and continuing with the king, suit preference for

diamonds. When Lei ruffed with the nine, Chun

discarded a club. Lei played the ♠Q, which was

ducked, and continued with a low spade towards

the eight, Chun going in with the jack and playing

ace and another spade. Lei won and played a

diamond, Chun going up with the ace then

returning the suit. Lei finessed and the ♦Q was the

fifth defensive trick; down two for –500.

Chan too led his singleton heart. Rosario won

the ace and continued with the king and Ahn

ruffed with the ten. Chan discarded a diamond.

Ahn played a club to the king followed by an

optimistic low spade. However, Rosario's heart

discard swiftly dispelled any optimistic notions he

might have held. The ♠K lost to the ace and Chun

played ace and another diamond. That saw Ahn

go into a long study – this would have been the

right defence if South also held the ♦Q as it might

persuade declarer to refuse a winning finesse.

Eventually, Ahn called for the ten and lost to the


queen. Rosario could have given his partner a

diamond ruff now for an easy down three, but his

actual play of a heart proved to be just as

effective. Ahn ruffed with the nine and Chun

over-ruffed then returned a club. Ahn won the ace

and led a spade to dummy's eight but, down to the

bare queen in hand, had no way to get back to

draw the last trump without conceding another

trick to the ♠7. Down three meant –800 and 7

IMPs to China Macau.

Board 8

West Deals

None Vul

Q 7 4

K 8 3

J 10 7 6 4

Q J

9 6 5 3 2

Q 10

9

A 8 7 4 3

J

6 4 2

K Q 8 5 3 2

9 5 2

A K 10 8

A J 9 7 5

A

K 10 6

N

W E

S



Pass Pass 3 Dble


Lai Lee Lei Chun

Pass Pass Pass 1

Pass 2 Pass 4

All pass

For once a pre-empt did not cause any problems

for the opposition as Ahn's third-in-hand 3♦

opening saw Chan with an easy take-out double

and Rosario an equally easy leave in.

Double dummy, 3♦ can be held to four tricks,

but that is easier said than done. Chun led ace then

king of spades, permitting Ahn a cheap ruff. Ahn

played a heart so Chun went in with the ace and

cashed the ace of trumps to prevent any ruff in the

dummy, but again helping declarer out as regards

reducing his trump losers. Chun next played a

third spade so Ahn took a second easy ruff,

crossed to the ace of clubs and ruffed another

spade. The king and queen of diamonds brought

the total to six for down three and –500.

Lei did not open the East hand in the other

room so his opponents had a free run to the heart

game. Chan won the diamond lead and played ace

and another heart so picked up the trumps without

loss and had 12 tricks for +480 and just 1 IMP to

China Macau.

Board 9

North Deals

E-W Vul

A 2

A J 9 8 7

K J 9 3

Q J

Q 6 5

K 10 6 3 2

A 2

A 6 5

K 9 8 7 4

5

7 6 4

9 4 3 2

J 10 3

Q 4

Q 10 8 5

K 10 8 7

N

W E

S



1 NT All pass West North East South

Lai Lee Lei Chun

1 NT Pass 3 NT

All pass

Both N/S pairs were playing a 15-17 no trump so

this was a matter of judgment rather than system,

with Chun judging to jump to game while Chan

did not even invite. To be fair, I try to avoid

invitational sequences wherever possible when

partner opens 1NT, so I have a lot of sympathy

with Chun's approach of just bidding game once

he chose to bid at all – and those three tens are

very tempting.

Alas for enterprise. The defences were

identical – a spade lead to the jack, queen and ace,

win the ace of whichever minor declarer played at

trick two and return a spade, ducked by East.

When west got in with the other ace, he had a

spade to lead to his partner's king and there were

three of those to cash to hold declarer to eight

tricks. That meant +120 for Rosario but –50 for

Lee and 5 IMPs to China Macau.

On Board 10 Korea1 declared partscores at

both tables and made them both to gain 5 IMPs,

then came another pre-empt – or two, in fact – on

Board 11.


Board 11

South Deals

None Vul

J 10 6

A 10 3

8 6 5 3

J 9 7

K 7 5 4 2

K 9

Q 10 9 7 2

3

9 8 3

Q J 8 5 4

A K 4

A K

A Q

7 6 2

J

Q 10 8 6 5 4 2

N

W E

S



Pass

2 Pass 4 All pass West North East South

Lai Lee Lei Chun

3

Pass Pass Dble Pass

4 All pass

After a pass from Chan, Jang opened a weak two-

suited 2♠ and was raised to game. Given a blind

lead, Rosario picked a diamond. That was won in

dummy for a spade play but Chan went in with

the ♠A and returned a heart and Rosario gave him

a ruff with the ♠Q to beat the contract; –50.

In the other room, Chun's club pre-empt meant

that Lee did not have a blind lead when his

opponents bid to the same spade game. He had no

reason to find the diamond lead and instead led

his partner's suit. Lai won in dummy and played a

spade and again South won the ace. The club

return was won and a second spade led to the

king. When spades proved to be three-two, there

were ten tricks for +420 and 10 IMPs to China

Macau.

On the next deal the China Macau E/W missed

a thin 3NT bid and made at the other table so

Korea1 picked up 6 IMPs, and as the set wound

down, there was still plenty of action to come.

Board 13

North Deals

Both Vul

J

A 10 5 3

7 4

K J 9 8 5 2

A K 10 9 7 2

K Q 2

9 5 2

6

8 6 3

8 7 6 4

A Q J 8 6

A

Q 5 4

J 9

K 10 3

Q 10 7 4 3

N

W E

S



Pass 1 Pass

1 2 Dble 3

4 Pass 4 Pass

4 NT Pass 5 Pass

5 All pass West North East South

Lai Lee Lei Chun

Pass 1 Pass

1 Pass 2 Pass

4 All pass

Lai/Lei had the auction to themselves and bid

quickly to 4♠. There is a way to put this under

pressure, but it means a low heart lead from

North, hardly very likely. In practice, Lee led a

club. Lai won the ace and led a spade to the ace

followed by a diamond to the jack and king. Chun

returned the jack of hearts to the king and ace and

Lee switched to a diamond. Lai won the ace and

led a spade to his king. He had to concede a trick

to the ♠Q but that was all; +620.

Rosario found a 2♣ overcall and Ahn made a

support double, showing three spades. When

Chan supported the clubs, Jang was tempted to

think that his side might be playing with a 30-

point pack with just one club to be lost, so tried a

4♣ cuebid. When Ahn co-operated with a

diamond cuebid, Jang took control, using RKCB

but stopping in 5♠ on finding that both a key card

and the ♠Q were missing.

Again the lead was a club. Jang won and

cashed both top spades so, when the diamond

proved to be offside, had three losers and was

down one for –100 and 12 IMPs to China Macau.


Board 14

East Deals

None Vul

Q J 8 3 2

A K Q 9

K 3

K Q

9 6

8 6 5

A J 2

9 8 5 3 2

K 10 5 4

J 10 4 3 2

8 7 6

6

A 7

7

Q 10 9 5 4

A J 10 7 4

N

W E

S



Pass 1

Pass 1 Pass 2

Pass 2 Pass 3

Pass 4 NT Pass 5

Pass 6 All pass West North East South

Lai Lee Lei Chun

Pass 1

Pass 1 Pass 2

Pass 2 Pass 3

Pass 4 NT Pass 5

Pass 6 Pass 7

Dble 7 NT Dble All pass

This is a tough hand. I'm sure that, in theory,

the jump to 4NT should be natural and

invitational, as North can agree either minor very

conveniently then use RKCB on the next round.

However, both Souths responded to RKCB for

clubs after identical auctions to this point. Now

the respective Norths picked different minor-suit

slams – or attempted to do so.

While Chan trusted that Rosario had chosen a

final contract and passed 6♣, Chun bid 7♣ over

6♦, presumably taking it to be asking for third-

round diamond control? Now the doubling started.

Declarer would do well to get out for down

one in 7NT doubled on anything other than a

diamond lead but that is what he received, perhaps

understandably. Lai took the ace and, in the

fullness of time, Lee won the rest of the tricks for

down one and –100.

Six Clubs is by no means a sure thing on the

N/S cards, as Chan was to discover, but it had

good play and was perhaps the best slam available

to N/S. That being the case, Rosario could

consider himself a little unlucky when his choice

of contract proved to be unmakable.

Chan won the heart lead and played the king of

diamonds, Jang winning the ace and returning a

trump. Chan won and played a diamond to the

queen then ruffed a diamond and must have been

feeling pretty good about life, He pitched his

small spade on the king of hearts then crossed to

the ♠A to draw trumps then cash-out the

diamonds, only for the five-one club split to mean

that he had a second loser and was down one for –

50. That was still 2 IMPs to China Macau, but it

deserved to be so much more.

Despite the poor finish, Korea1 had kicked off

their home tournament with a 43-33 IMP win,

converting to 12.97-7.03 VPs.

Japan v Thailand (Open Round 2)

In contrast to the lively first round, Round 2

featured a very quiet set of deals and saw most

tables finish well ahead of the time limit.

Board 17

North Deals

None Vul

K 6

5 3

K Q 9 7 4 2

A Q 2

Q J 8 3

A Q J

J 6 5

10 9 7

10 5 4 2

K 10 8 2

8

K 8 6 5

A 9 7

9 7 6 4

A 10 3

J 4 3

N

W E

S


Yokoi Koomtako Furuta Chantamas

1 Pass 1


Sasibut Teramoto Danwachira Chen

1 NT Pass 2

Pass 2 Pass 2 NT

Pass 3 Pass 3 NT

All pass

Japan picked up 7 IMPs on the first board of the

match when Teramoto opened an off-centre 1NT

and got to game while for Thailand Koomtako bid

and rebid his six-card suit and stopped in

partscore.

Two Diamonds won ten easy tricks for +130.

Meanwhile, Teramoto had nine top tricks in 3NT


and took no risks, claiming +400 as soon as the

diamonds behaved as expected.

I don't think it is necessary to open 1NT to get

to this game. Holding the South hand, if partner

opened 1♦ and rebid the suit over my 1♥ response,

I would raise to 3♦, and now North could bid

3NT. South's diamond holding suggests that a low

point-count 3NT could well be possible.

Board 20

West Deals

Both Vul

J 5 3 2

A Q 9 8 6

K J

A 7

K 9 6

J 4 3 2

8 5 3

K 10 3

Q 8 7

K 7 5

Q 10 7 6

Q J 5

A 10 4

10

A 9 4 2

9 8 6 4 2

N

W E

S



Pass 2 Pass 2



Pass 1 Pass 1 NT

Pass 2 Pass 3

Pass 3 NT All pass

Koomtako's 2♥ opening, five hearts, four spades

and an opening bid with less than reversing

values, made it easy for Chantamas to give

preference to spades at a safe level. The lead was

a club to dummy's ace. Chantamas played ace of

hearts and ruffed a heart, a diamond to the king

and ruffed a heart, then ace of diamonds and

ruffed a diamond. The winning ♥Q was ruffed and

over-ruffed and another diamond ruff meant nine

tricks for +140.

Teramoto did not have the 2♥ opening

available to him so opened 1♥, as no doubt did

most of the field, but then had to find a rebid over

the forcing 1NT response. When Chen raised to

3♣, Teramoto took a stab at 3NT figuring that it

was just as likely to make and would, of course,

score considerably more. The lead was a spade to

the queen and ace. Chen ran the ♥10 and it was

allowed to hold the trick. Next he led a spade

towards the jack, Sasibut going in with the king

and leading a diamond to the jack, queen and ace.

Chen cashed the ♠10, crossed to the ♦K and

played ♥A then ♥Q, hoping to pin the jack. As we

can see, a low heart to drop the now bare king

would have been more effective. As it was,

Danwachira could win the ♥K and return a club to

set up the necessary tricks to defeat the contract,

which was down one for –100 and 6 IMPs to

Thailand.

Board 23

South Deals

Both Vul

K J 9

Q J 10 8 5

7 4

K J 2

A 10 7 6 5 4 3

A 6 4 3

10 2

—

Q 8 2

K 9 7

A K Q 8

A Q 7

—

2

J 9 6 5 3

10 9 8 6 5 4 3

N

W E

S



Pass

Pass 1 Dble Pass

2 Pass 2 NT Pass

4 Pass 4 NT Pass

5 NT Pass 6 All pass

Both E/W pairs bid confidently to the excellent

spade slam, though by somewhat different routes.

Neither West could find a sensible opening bid to

describe 7-4 in the majors and two empty suits

headed by the ace so passed and North opened 1♥,

doubled by East.

Sasibut responded 1♠ to the double, then

showed the hearts over his partner's jump to 2NT.

When Chantamas now showed spade preference

Sasibut simply blasted 6♠.

Yokoi responded with a 2♥ cuebid to the

double then attempted to show his unusual hand

by jumping to 4♠ – presumably this implied four

hearts as it surely guaranteed six spades, so why

else had he not opened 2/3♠? Anyway, Furuta had

plenty of unshown values so took control with

RKCB. The response showed two key cards plus a

void and Furuta duly signed off in the small slam.

Neither declarer had any difficulty in holding

his trump losers to one, of course, so both quickly

wrapped up 12 tricks for a flat board at +1430.


Board 26

East Deals

Both Vul

Q 10

Q 10

A K Q 10 9 6

A 8 7

8 7 3

J 9 7

J 8 4

K Q 10 4

A

8 6 5 4 3

5 3 2

J 9 5 2

K J 9 6 5 4 2

A K 2

7

6 3

N

W E

S



Pass 1

Pass 2 Pass 2

Pass 2 NT Pass 3

Pass 4 Pass 4

Pass 4 NT Pass 5



Pass 1

Pass 2 Pass 2

Pass 3 Pass 3

Pass 4 Pass 4

Pass 5 Pass 6

All pass

It was the turn of the N/S pairs to bid to a cold

slam, both following a two-over-one GF auction

in which South bid the spades three times before

North started the slam hunt with a club cuebid.

On a club lead, declarer had to take a club

pitch on the diamonds before drawing trumps but,

when that passed of peacefully, had 12 tricks and

another board flattened at +1430.

Thailand edged the match by 22-20 IMPs,

giving them 10.66 VPs to Japan's 9.34.

Kuwait v Singapore (Open Round 3)

We continue to concentrate on the Open series

with the match-up of Kuwait, playing for the first

time in an APBF Championship, and Singapore.

After two rounds the Kuwaitis were lying bottom

of the rankings while Singapore were dead

average.

Board 1 saw both N/S pairs bid to a normal

3NT which could only be defeated by an opening

lead of ace then jack (or jack then ace) from AJx

of declarer's only bid suit. Curiously, neither West

found the killing lead and Singapore picked up an

overtrick IMP. Board 2 saw a Singapore player

open 2♣ at both tables and to good effect.

Board 2

East Deals

N-S Vul

Q 9 2

9 5 3

Q J 10 6

10 8 4

A K 7 5 4 3

A 2

K 8 5

6 3

J 10

K Q 10 8 4

9 7 4 3

K 5

8 6

J 7 6

A 2

A Q J 9 7 2

N

W E

S


Lam Abdulaziz Ng Ahmed

2 3


Numan Poon Saud Loo

Pass 2

2 3 All pass

For Singapore, Ng could open 2♣ as East to show

a weak two in a major, five-plus cards and

possibly zero HCP. Ahmed made a natural

overcall and Lam competed in his own strong suit,

buying it in 3♠. Abdulaziz led a club so Ahmed

took two of those then switched to ace and

another diamond. Lam won the ♦K, cashed the top

spades and played hearts to get rid of his diamond

loser; nine tricks for +140.

In the other room, Saud did not open the East

hand but Loo, for Singapore, could open a

Precision 2♣, natural with opening values. When

Numan overcalled 2♠ and Poon competed with

3♣, Saud again passed, disliking the position of

his ♣K and having only limited spade support.

A club contract can be held to six tricks,

double dummy, but the Kuwaitis fell a long way

short of that. Numan led three rounds of spades so

Saud ruffed the queen and was over-ruffed. Loo

could now cash the ♣A and fell the king, cross to

the ten of clubs and run the ♦Q. Numan convinced

himself to duck this, though it is unclear what this

would achieve given that there was still another

club entry to the dummy. Loo continued with a

diamond to his ace followed by a low heart from

hand. When Numan played low the defence's

goose was cooked. Saud won and returned a heart

to the ace but now Numan was endplayed and

declarer had escaped with only two heart losers,


making his contract for +110 and 6 IMPs to

Singapore.

Singapore picked up two more medium-sized

swings on the next two deals to lead by 18-0, but

then Kuwait struck back:

Board 5

North Deals

N-S Vul

Q J 10 7 4 3

K J 9 6 3

—

8 3

A K 8 5

10 8 4

A 6 4

10 9 2

6 2

Q 2

K 10 9 8 7 2

A K J

9

A 7 5

Q J 5 3

Q 7 6 5 4

N

W E

S



Pass 1 2

Dble Pass 2 Pass

3 3 Pass Pass

Dble All pass West North East South

Numan Poon Saud Loo

Pass 1 Pass

1 Pass 2 Pass

2 NT All pass

The Kuwait E/W had an uncontested auction to

2NT, against which Poon led the queen of spades.

Numan won the ace and led a club to the king

followed by a diamond to his six, a nice play.

When that held the trick, he led a club to the jack,

seeking his eighth trick. Alas, that lost to the

queen and back came a club, setting up two

further winners for Loo. Numan could do no

better than cash out for down one; –50.

In the other room Ahmed made a very risky 2♣

overcall on a weak suit and not many values and

Lam made a negative double then cuebid to ask

for a club stopper at his next turn. However,

before Ng could admit to holding the clubs,

Abdulaziz competed with 3♠ and Ng could no

longer afford to bid no trump. He passed and Lam

doubled for penalty, ending the auction. Ng led

the queen of hearts, which did declarer no harm at

all. Abdulaziz won the king and led a low spade to

the nine and king. Back came a heart so he put in

the nine which held the trick, allowing him to play

the ♠10 to Lam's ace. There were just two clubs to

lose from here so Abdulaziz wrote +730 on his

scorecard and that was worth 12 IMPs to Kuwait.

If Kuwaiti supporters were hoping that this

would shift the momentum in the match they were

to be disappointed.

Board 6

East Deals

E-W Vul

K 8 7 4

Q J 10 9 8

10 6 2

9

Q J 9 6 2

7 6 5

Q 9 3

8 6

A 10 3

K 4

K 7

A K Q 10 4 2

5

A 3 2

A J 8 5 4

J 7 5 3

N

W E

S



2 NT Pass

3 Dble 3 Pass


Numan Poon Saud Loo

2 Pass

2 2 3 4

4 All pass

Ng opened the East hand 2NT and declared 4♠

after a transfer sequence in which the transfer bid

of 3♥ was doubled. Abdulaziz's double proved to

be fatal to the defence as it, of course, convinced

Ahmed to lead ace of hearts. He continued with

the other red ace before continuing with a second

heart to declarer's king. Ng played the ♠10 from

his hand, willing to give up a spade trick to retain

control of the heart situation. That worked out as

he had hoped. Abdulaziz won the ♠K and played a

third heart but Ng could ruff with the ace and lead

his remaining spade to dummy to draw trumps;

ten tricks for +620.

In the other room, Saud treated the East hand

as eight/nine playing tricks in clubs. Poon's

aggressive overcall of Numan's 2♦ relay

encouraged Loo to make a fit jump, 4♦ showing

diamonds plus heart support. With no room left to

explore, Numan took a shot at 4♠, hoping that the

opposition's red-suit bidding implied that his

partner would have spade support. That was fine

so far as it went, but of course it put North on lead

and the ♥Q to the king and ace and a heart

continuation doomed the contract. Poon won the

second heart and switched to the ten of diamonds

to the king and ace and now Loo in turn switched

to a club. Numan won cheaply in dummy and led


a diamond to the queen the took and repeated the

spade finesse. When the four-one spade split came

to light, Numan tried to cash a top club but Poon

could ruff and force dummy with a heart to

establish his ♠K for the second undertrick; –200

and 13 IMPs to Singapore.

Singapore picked up 3 overtrick IMPs on the

next deal then on Board 8 both N/Ss bid slam on a

finesse – it lost – no swing.

Board 9 was passed out in one room while

Kuwait played the wrong partscore, 2♥ down two

when 2♠ would have made, in the other room, to

lose 5 IMPs.

Board 10

East Deals

Both Vul

A Q 10 6

6 5 3

2

Q 9 7 5 4

5 2

A K Q 9 2

A K 6 5

8 3

J 8 7 4

8 7

J 9 7

K J 6 2

K 9 3

J 10 4

Q 10 8 4 3

A 10

N

W E

S



Pass Pass

1 Pass 1 Pass

2 Pass 2 All pass West North East South

Numan Poon Saud Loo

Pass Pass

1 Pass 1 Pass

3 Pass 3 NT All pass

Lam opened 1♥ then rebid 2♣, Gazzilli, either

natural or most 16+ hands. Ng's 2♥ denied the

values to drive to game facing 16+ so, with a

minimum for that hand-type, Lam passed.

Abdulaziz led his singleton diamond to the nine,

ten and ace. Lam drew trumps then led a low

diamond to the jack and queen, setting up a lter

finesse against South's eight. The defence played

three rounds of spades so he ruffed and then got

the clubs right, leading low to the jack to force the

ace. That meant nine tricks for +140.

Numan also opened 1♥ but made an over-

optimistic jump rebid of 3♦ and Saud bid 3NT,

where he played. A low diamond lead ran round

to the seven and Saud had a chance. However, he

chose to cash all the hearts then the top diamonds

before touching the black suits, thereby squeezing

himself. His chosen club play was low to the king

so he was never going to succeed, but had he

crossed to dummy at trick two then led a club to

the jack he might have brought home a very thin

and fortunate game. The actual play meant down

one for –100 and 6 IMPs to Singapore.

Board 11

South Deals

None Vul

Q 10 6

10

Q 10 6

K 9 7 5 4 3

K J 9 7 4

K 8 6

A J 9

6 2

—

J 9 7 5 4 3 2

5 4 3 2

Q 8

A 8 5 3 2

A Q

K 8 7

A J 10

N

W E

S



1

Pass 2 Pass 4

Dble All pass West North East South

Numan Poon Saud Loo

1

1 Pass Pass 1 NT

Pass 3 NT All pass

The Kuwaiti N/S had an entirely normal auction

to 4♠, only to find that the outstanding trumps

were splitting five-zero. Lam led a club to the

queen and ace and Ahmed played a spade to

dummy's ten, confirming the bad news. The ten of

hearts was covered all round and Lam cashed the

ace of diamonds then got off play with a second

club. Ahmed won and led a low spade, Lam going

in with the king and returning a heart. Ahmed had

to lose a second spade from here so was down one

for –100.

In the other room, Loo's strong club opening

saw Numan overcall 1♠ and the doomed spade

contract was avoided. Numan led a passive club

against 3NT and that did declarer no harm as the

queen lost to his ace. He led a diamond to the

queen then cashed the clubs before reverting to

diamonds, neatly endplaying poor West who, of

course, had everything. Numan was forced to

concede the overtrick but given the result in the

other room it proved to be irrelevant; +430 and 11

IMPs to Singapore.


Board 12

West Deals

N-S Vul

Q 10 7 5 2

A Q 4

J 8

J 10 4

A 9

9 6 5 3

A K 10 9 6 2

9

J 4 3

J 10 8 7

5

K 8 7 6 3

K 8 6

K 2

Q 7 4 3

A Q 5 2

N

W E

S



1 1 Pass 2

3 Pass Pass Dble

Pass 3 Pass 3


Numan Poon Saud Loo

1 Pass 1 Pass

4 All pass

Abdulaziz overcalled 1♠, which is OK with me,

though hardly compulsory on a weak suit when

vulnerable, and now Ng did not feel that he held

enough for a negative double so passed. Ahmed

made an unassuming cuebid then doubled when

Lam tried to make life difficult with a competitive

3♦. Abdulaziz responded 3♥ to that but Ahmed

converted back to 3♠ to complete his message and

that was that.

Ng's diamond lead was won by his partner's

king and Lam switched to his club, dummy's ten

being ducked by Ng. A spade went to the king and

ace and Lam played ace and another diamond,

declarer pitching a club so Ng could ruff cheaply.

He returned a club for Lam to ruff and now a

diamond return allowed Ng to get a second ruff

for down two and –200.

Poon did not overcall with the North cards so

Saud had the opportunity to respond 1♥ and did

so. Numan now raised all the way to game, an

optimistic and unsuccessful gamble – by now I

fear that the Kuwaitis might have guessed that this

was not their day to get lucky with any gambles.

Saud won the spade lead and cashed the top

diamonds for a spade pitch then played a trump.

Loo won the king and returned his remaining

trump so Poon won and cashed a third round.

Saud had nowhere to go for tricks now and was

down three for –150 and 8 IMPs to Singapore.

Board 13

North Deals

Both Vul

10 9 4

A J

9 8 6 4 3

8 6 5

2

K Q 9 8 2

K J 7

J 10 9 7

Q J 8 7 6

6 4

A 5

A K 4 3

A K 5 3

10 7 5 3

Q 10 2

Q 2

N

W E

S



Pass 1 Dble

Redble 2 Pass Pass

2 NT Pass 3 NT All pass West North East South

Numan Poon Saud Loo

Pass 1 Pass

2 Pass 3 Pass

4 Pass 5 All pass

The Kuwait E/W pair had a free run to the

contract of their choice but when Numan went

past 3NT were doomed to defeat. Three No

Trump might, with a good diamond holding and

few top cards, have been a wiser choice than 4♣.

Five Clubs was hopeless, of course, and drifted

three down for –300.

Ahmed doubled the 1♠ opening and Lam

redoubled. Two Diamonds doubled would not

have been much fun for Abdulaziz but he was

spared the struggle when Lam tried 2NT rather

than doubling. Ng raised to 3NT and Abdulaziz,

rather than lead his long suit, tried to find his

partner's source of tricks by leading the ace of

hearts and continuing with the jack. That did not,

as they say, exactly paralyze declarer. Lam won

the heart and proceeded to get the clubs right –

Ahmed had to have all the remaining high cards to

make any sense of his double – and a winning

diamond finesse brought the total up to nine for

+600 and a further 14 IMPs in Singapore's plus

column.


Board 14

East Deals

None Vul

9 7 3 2

A 5

K 8 7 4 2

8 4

8

K Q 8 7 4

A 5 3

A 10 3 2

K Q 10 4

J 10 2

Q J 10 6

K 9

A J 6 5

9 6 3

9

Q J 7 6 5

N

W E

S



1 N Pass

2 Pass 2 3

Dble Pass 3 Pass


Numan Poon Saud Loo

1 Pass

1 Pass 1 Pass

2 Pass 2 NT Pass

3 NT All pass

Ng opened a weak no trump and Lam

transferred to hearts then doubled when Ahmed

ventured in with a very dangerous overcall. Of

course, the double was not for penalty, much as

Lam might have wished it to be, so Ng showed his

heart support and Lam went on to game.

Ahmed led his singleton so Ng rose with the

ace and played on trumps. Abdulaziz went up

with the ♥A and played king and another diamond

for his partner to ruff and the ace of spades was

the setting trick; down one for –50.

Saud opened 1♦ and rebid 1♠. When Numan

used FSF, he preferred to show that he was

balanced rather than admit to the three-card heart

support and Numan raised to game.

Loo led a low club round to the nine and Saud

was well-placed for his contract. He played on

hearts, Poon winning immediately to lead the ♠9

through to the king and ace. Loo switched to a

heart so Saud won in hand to take the diamond

finesse. When that lost Poon led a second spade

but Saud could win the queen and had the rest of

the tricks for +430 and 10 IMPs to Kuwait.

Kuwait had taken something of a beating but

the game swing on the last deal prevented their

losing 20-0 VPs – just! The final score was 78-22

IMPs in favour of Singapore, converting to 19.99-

0.01 VPs.

Juniors in action Day one


Ladies Day one

In play Day one

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