2020-05-06
Board 1-12
Board 13-24

I was setting up the match yesterday, but Mads Eyde in the Danish team was unable to log in, and it took some time, and a lot of discussion with the players to get started. I was still confused when the game started. (Always good to have an excuse!)

We were playing Askgaard-Konow at our table. Michael and Kasper is the number one international pair in Denmark. Michael is a world class player, and Kasper has grown to be one too, which, in my opinion, he wasn’t when they started to play.

At the first board I had this hand:
QTx / x / KTxx / Jxxxx

Partner opened with 2D, Multi. None vulnerable, and Kasper Konow to my right doubled. This looks like minus 500 in 2H X. I can redouble ta ask partner to bid his suit. I decided to pass and show diamonds, maybe that could work. But no, everbody passed.

Kasper led the Ace of clubs and shifted to the Jack of diamonds, to the King and Ace. Michel Askgård continued with two rounds of diamonds, and Björn drawed the last trump too. Kasper discarded a heart. The spade Queen were ducked to Kasper, who now played the Queen of hearts, small, nine and Ace. It looked as -800 from start, but more like -500 now. Perfect! Just play another heart and we will eventually score the Jack of clubs as our fifth trick. But Björn played a spade, and Michael could set up two long spades for -800.

Do you recognize it? You make a stupid bid, partner can save you, but he doesn’t. I was probably thinking of that when I got to declare the next hand in 3NT

Michael had overcalled with a four-card spade suit and, I had bid notrump without a stopper. After the Ace of spades, Michael shifted to the Queen of clubs. Looked good for me, just set up the hearts. My stupid mistake was just that thought. I forgot to cash the Jack of clubs before playing a heart to the Jack. Just when you think partner made a mistake you make a more stupid mistake yourself!

Another heart went to the nine and ten, and another club was played.

I went into a huddle. I did not believe the clubs were 3-3. And somehow I had a feeling that Michael had four hearts. I ducked the club to the Jack and played a spade to test Michaels nerves. He went up with the Jack, and when Kasper had the Queen I could endplay Michael some tricks later after cashing my diamonds.

An exiting board also at the other table where Fredin had doubled 3NT. After a spade honor Peter shifted to a diamond. Declarer played a heart to the Jack and a small club from dummy to the Jack at his hand. If Peter had found to duck the club, I am not sure declarer can make it. However, that didn’t happen, and when we lost 12 more imps at board 3, we were down 24-0 after 3 boards!!

We manage to come back, and eventually lost by 6 imps.

When you start the matches 20:00 CET, there are a lot of people logged in to BBO. When trying to start the second half, I had to try 10-15 times. BBO said ’Too many teams’. Do anyone know the reason?

See you, and stay safe!