Peggy Bayer Match 9: SBU vs Ireland

This is our penultimate match, against the strong Ireland team. Things got off to an explosive start, with over 100 IMPs exchanged in the first ten boards. I say exchanged, we didn't get many of them. I made a note of things the boys could do better, but then abandoned that and decided instead just to enjoy the two boards we did well on.

Board 5 and Board 6 were both game swings for SBU:

East opened a precision 2C but that didn't stop us from getting to 4S. It's not a great contract, but with the Club King and Diamond King onside it can make. You still have to take your chance though, and Kevin did that. He got a nice Club lead, then drew trumps and lead a Diamond to the Queen. 4S=.

On the other table Michael opened the East hand 3C. That was passed out. He got the perfect dummy - not in the sense that he can make it, but in the sense that they had game their way. 3C went two off, but that didn't matter and it was 10 IMPs in. A fine team effort.

On to Board 6:

3NT has eight top tricks. Michael got a Spade lead, and correctly went up with the Queen for his ninth. On the other table Kevin sitting South lead a low Club, and the defence took the first four Clubs. Aidan made a safe return and declarer could only come to eight tricks. 3NT-1 and another 11 IMPs in. It's an easy game when it goes well!

Unfortunately, not much else went right and we accumulated a heavy 29-104 loss. Any more than 60 IMPs difference and you get 0 VPs. The updated leader-board: 

We can theoretically catch Wales, but England are now unassailable at the top (the England team we beat in Round 2!)

Strangely in the U26 Junior Camrose the six teams are ranked in the same order.