First set Skalman VS 3 Wrangs don’t make a right
Second set Skalman VS 3 Wrangs don’t make a right

First set Skalman VS Bananätarna
Second set Skalman VS Bananätarna

2020-05-15

Already a few days ago it seemed obvious which four teams that would make the semi-finals in the Fredin teams. Only if the Wrang’s were to beat Skalman heavily, and the Skalman were to beat Mikael Rimstedt’s ’Banana team’ the Wrang’s could advance instead of the ’juniors’. And it almost happened!

Board 4 in the match between Wrang and Skalman was interesting. At one table, Jan Selberg decided to preempt with 3D, and thereby breaking two rules. Never preempt with a four-card major as side suit, and Bennets rule never preempt with a void. Of course, that could not go unpunished, and he had to pay 500.

However at the other table, Johan Sylvan decided to open with 1H third hand, thereby saving Ahlesved-Warne from getting to the normal 4H contract. Johan, though, got the chance to revenge himself by playing very good defense.

Krister Ahlesved ducked the first diamond but had to win the second one. Johan and Mårten play four-card majors, so the obvious plan to play a small heart towards dummy wasnt safe. In the end, he will then set up a third heart trick since Johan had the two of hearts. However, Krister played the Ace of hearts, and after that Johan could beat the contract with an exact defense.

As it was, declarer had possibilities of a double-sided squeeze. Johan had to return a club in trick 6 to avoid that. A few tricks later he even ducked a heart to guard against the possibility that his partner only had two clubs, to avoid being squeezed himself. Play through the hand, and you can see what happened in detail.

The Wrang’s won the match by a mile, which meant that in yesterday’s match, the juniors could not relax, and in half-time, they, in fact, were behind by 26, Just 5 more and they would be out.

Gunnar Hallberg (Rerack) had some luck in the first half. Or should we call it experience? Check out these two boards, where he managed deceive Simon Hult.

Board 2 first half

When Gunnar led the Ace of clubs and continued in the suit, Simon obviously got the impression that the lead was from a short suit, perhaps A10 in a doubleton. Therefore, Simon decided that Gunnar didn’t have a singleton heart, and put all his money on avoiding a club over-ruff. However, as the cards laid, he had to surrender a two-trick defeat.

At the other table, the bidding was interesting, but not impressive. Ola Rimstedt opened 2C, a Multi bid with a strong hand or weak with diamonds. When West overcalled 2S, Mikael bid 2NT, showing a good raise in diamonds. Something he soon regrets when next hand bid 4S and Ola bid 5C. The result was minus 500 instead of perhaps plus 500 in 4 spades doubled.

Board 4 first half
This was a fun board to watch. Simon again was declarer in 4H, and Gunnar decided to lead his singleton club to get a ruff. However, Peter Bertheau put in the Jack and Simon won the trick. As dummy had no entry, he played the Ace of hearts and another. Gunnar took the king but didn’t know if partner had a trick or not, so he decided to try a small spade! I am sure Simon didn’t even think of the possibility, but put in the nine, hoping for a duck from Peter or just had given up.

As it was. Gunnar got his ruff and two down again. Anyway, in the second half, the Banana team woke up and took back almost everything, and thus advanced to the semi-finals.

The semifinals will be played over 48 boards. Dansk Dynamit VS Team Fredin, and Stridsvagn VS Bananätarna .