View from the top

Whenever No. 1 plays No. 2, you can expect a close, hard-fought match. In that respect, the Netherlands and Germany, the top two teams after five rounds of the women's series in the IOC Grand Prix, did not disappoint. Beyond their standings in the Grand Prix, the teams represented two of the top women's teams in the world. Germany won the Venice Cup in Paris last fall, claiming the title won by the Netherlands in 2000 in Bermuda.

Fittingly, at the end of the match, the two teams were tied with USA atop the standings with three rounds to go.

Germany drew blood first when the Dutch defenders slipped and allowed Elke Weber to take nine tricks in 3§ while her teammates at the other table were minus 50 in 3ª.
The Netherlands got it back on the next deal, the third of the match.

Dealer South N/S vul
	ª Q 9 4 © J 10 9 7 4 3 ¨ 9 § J 3 2
ª J 6 5 2 © K Q 2 ¨ 10 6 4 § 7 6 5		ª K 8 © - ¨ A Q J 8 7 5 3 § A K 10 8
	ª A 10 7 3 © A 8 6 5 ¨ K 2 § Q 9 4

The bidding was the same at both tables. In the closed room, Marijke van der Pas opened 1© with the South hand and was raised to game by Bep Vriend. Pony Nehmert entered the auction with 5¨ and was doubled by van der Pas. The ©A was led and declarer soon was claiming plus 550 as declarer could not be prevented from getting to dummy to discard two spade tricks. With clubs splitting 3-3, declarer lost only a trump and a club.

In the open room, Weber also opened 1© and was raised to game by Sabine Auken. Jet Pasman also bid 5¨, which was doubled by Weber, who made the normal-looking lead of the ©A. Pasman ruffed and considered her play carefully before playing the ¨7 from hand. Now put yourself in Weber's place. Going up with the ¨K would be very embarrassing if partner had the singleton ace, and it was certainly possible to believe that Pasman would bid 5¨ with seven to the Q J 9.

Finally, Weber played low. Dummy's ¨10 won the trick, and declarer later dropped the king to make 12 tricks and plus 650. The 3-IMP gain put the Netherlands in the lead, and they added a much larger swing on the next deal.

Dealer West E/W vul
	ª K 10 7 5 4 3 © J 4 ¨ A Q 6 § K 8
ª 6 © K Q 9 ¨ 7 5 4 § A J 7 6 3 2		ª A Q J 9 8 2 © A 3 2 ¨ K 10 3 § 5
	ª - © 10 8 7 6 5 ¨ J 9 8 2 § Q 10 9 4

West	North	East	South
Rauscheid	Vriend	Nehmert	Van der Pas
Pass	1ª	Pass	1NT
Pass	2ª	All Pass

Bidding with the South hand can work out when partner rebids in a different suit, but it also runs the risk of simply increasing the number of undertricks, as it did on this occasion. Perhaps Nehmert was fearful that North-South might find a better place to play if she doubled. Still, a penalty double by East looks like a normal choice.

Saved from the hammer, Vriend posted a minus of 200 for down four. In the open room, the Germans, in a sense, took a big spill on the downhill course.

West	North	East	South
Simons	Auken	Pasman	Weber
Pass	1ª	Pass	Pass
2§	2ª	Dble	All Pass

Weber's pass seems more sensible, although her good judgment was rendered moot when Auken, taken off the hook by Anneke Simons' balancing bid, was right there with 2ª. Pasman knew what to do with that one, and when the smoke cleared Auken was also down four for minus 800 and 12 IMPs to the Dutch.

Germany trailed 17-7 when this deal gave them the opportunity to take the lead - and they didn't miss out.

Dealer South E/W vul
	ª Q J 10 2 © 7 3 ¨ K Q 8 7 § J 10 5
ª K 8 6 4 © A K 10 ¨ A 5 4 § 8 6 3		ª A 3 © Q 6 5 2 ¨ 10 9 § K Q 9 7 4
	ª 9 7 5 © J 9 8 4 ¨ J 6 3 2 § A 2

West	North	East	South
Rauscheid	Vriend	Nehmert	Van der Pas
			Pass
1NT	Pass	2§	Pass
2ª	Pass	3NT	All Pass

Play records were not available, but Andrea Rauscheid managed nine tricks after Vriend led the ªQ. That was plus 600 to Germany.

West	North	East	South
Simons	Auken	Pasman	Weber
			Pass
1§	Pass	1©	Pass
1ª	Pass	2¨	Pass
2©	Pass	3§	Pass
3NT	All Pass

Auken started with the ¨Q, Rusinow, versus the notrump game. Simons ducked, and she played low again when Auken played a low diamond to the 10 and Weber's jack. Weber thought things over carefully before switching to the ª7 to the 8, 10 and ace. Simons played a heart to her hand and a club to the king, ducked by Weber. Simons went back to hand with another high heart and led a second club toward dummy. Simons appeared to consider playing low on Auken's §10, but she finally went up with the queen, and there was no hope from there. The best declarer could do was to cash out for down two and minus 200. It was a 13-IMP swing to Germany, now in the lead.
The Netherlands got it back on the next deal when the Dutch bid a paper-thin vulnerable 3NT which came home on the favorable lie of a king (it was going to be down several had the finesse failed) while Auken and Weber played in a diamond partial. That was 10 IMPs to the Netherlands, who had forged yet another lead change.

The final swing of the evening was the most dramatic, as Auken brought home a very difficult 4© with a bit of help from the defenders. An expanded report of that deal can be found elsewhere in this bulletin.

In the end, Germany prevailed 30-27.