The China Syndrome

Sydney Morning Herald

Friday September 12, 2008

Ron Klinger

China won three of the teams titles at the 2008 Asian Cup, which was held in

Surfers Paradise and ended last Sunday.

They won each final easily in the Open, Womens and Youth divisions. China did not have a finalist in the Seniors, which was won by Australia.

China gained a large swing on Board 15 of the final where a different lead would have laid declarer low.

North dealer; N-S vulnerable

NORTH

West North East South

Zhong Prescott Zhao Bilski

--- Pass Pass 1S

Dble Pass 3C All pass

Lead: HK

Dummys ace won and the C2 to the king was followed by the C4 to the ace.

Declarer came off dummy with a spade to the jack and king. South played another heart, ruffed, and declarer exited with the S5 for ten tricks and +130.

Things were more hectic at the other table:

West North East South

Chrsen Lixin Gosney Jianming

--- Pass Pass 1S

Dble Pass 3C 3H

Dble Pass 3NT Pass

Pass 4H Pass Pass

Dble Pass Pass Pass

Lead: CA

Easts 3NT would doubtless have failed, but with good support for hearts and spades, North decided to take out insurance. The premium could have been 200, but as it turned out, the payout was huge.

West began with the CA and South ruffed. Declarer played a spade to the ace, back to the SK and a third spade. West threw the D6 on the third spade. A diamond went to the queen and ace and

West cashed the HA. He reverted to a club, ruffed. South cashed the DK and when that held, he claimed ten tricks on a spade-club cross-ruff. That was +790 and 12 Imps to China.

How could 4H be defeated? If the opponents bid well beyond their high card values, they will have good shape and expect to make extra tricks via ruffing.

The best defence then is a trump lead and more trump leads later. Here West has 14 HCP and can place East with some decent strength. It would be a surprise if North- South had as much as 20 HCP. Here West should lead the HA and continue with a second heart. The alternative of a low trump lead is also successful for the defence.

In the Seniors, the Australian N-S made 3H for +140. At the other table, E-W went -50 in 5C for 3IMPs to Australia.

In the Womens final, China declared in both rooms, scoring +130 in 2C and

100 in 4H despite the CA lead.

In the Youth final New Zealand collected 15 Imps, also by declaring in

both rooms. East made 3NT on the S10 lead to the ace and a spade return. Even though North had doubled a 3S stopper ask, South might well have started with the HK. At the other table the NZ South made 4H doubled along similar lines to the Chinese South after the CA lead.

O Lord, thou givest us everything at the price of an effort. (Leonardo Da Vinci)

Tomorrows problem:

East dealer : Both vulnerable

NORTH

West North East South

--- --- 1H (1) 2H

3S (2) 4D Pass 4H

Pass Pass Pass

(1) 4+ spades, 9-13 points

(2) 4+ spades, limit raise

West leads the SQ. Plan the defence

for East. What should East do?

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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