Bulletin

Tromsø - Seniorit (in English) author kaapo, 4.11.2006 at 13.08.
Summary: Norway's first match

As you may have noticed, two Norwegian teams hopped in to take part in the NFL. The idea was to have Norway with us from the beginning, but faulty email address prevented this. All is well now, however and the Norwegian's play in two teams representing two Northerly towns, Alta and Tromsø.

Team Tromsø had their first match on 31st of October when thay played the Finnish Seniorit. You guessed right, they mostly consist of players representing Finnish seniors in Warsaw.

Tromsø had a tough start with what looked like a bidding accident: When the bidding has gone 1!H, pass, 2NT (limit+ raise) and an overcall, does 3!H show minimum or extras? In any case, the Norwegians made an overtrick in 3!H on a 10 card fit and a combined holding of 25 HCPs. 6 IMPs to Seniorit.

A sacrifice brought another 3 IMPs to the Finns. Then Tromsø got the lead, when they managed 3NT on board 3 whilst Seniorit didn't. The Norwegians got another chance on board 6:

6       ♠ QJ8          East South West North
East    ♥ T76          pass 1♦   1♥  2♦
E-W     ♦ KT3          pass 3♣   pass 4♣
        ♣ K542         pass 5♣   all pass

        ♠ A6
        ♥ 95
        ♦ AQJ64
        ♣ AJ96

West led ♥KQ and a 3rd one to East's ♥A for South to ruff. How would you play?

This was the complete board:

6       ♠ QJ8          East South West North
East    ♥ T76          pass 1♦   1♥  2♦
E-W     ♦ KT3          pass 3♣   pass 4♣
        ♣ K542         pass 5♣   all pass
♠ KT92        ♠ 7543
♥ KQJ42       ♥ A83
♦ 7           ♦ 9852
♣ Q73         ♣ T8
        ♠ A6
        ♥ 95
        ♦ AQJ64
        ♣ AJ96

Would anyone go for a backwards finesse? If you lead ♣J, covered with Q and K, then you can finesse for the ♣10 on the way back. Is there a reason to choose this play? East had ♥Axx in support of his partner's overcall suit. Had he ♣Q too, would he find a raise to 2♥? And how about West? Considering she made a vulnerable overcall, she might well be favourite to hold ♣Q. Tromsø player opted for the normal line of a ♣ to the King, then finesse the Jack. 10 tricks but still +2 IMPs when other table was in 5♦-2.

Stopping in 4♥ and an accurate defence versus 5♥ on board 9 brought a swing of 11 IMPs and stopping in 3♦ on board 13 another 8 IMPs and a handy victory to the Norwegians: Tromsø - Seniorit: 20 - 10 (32 - 12).

Info of the Tromsø town