I was up promptly for breakfast on my own at 7 am. Highlight were the little pancakes. The team joined later. I carefully explained the Estonian Strong Club system before realising that we were playing Norway first. The Norwegians play transfer responses to 1C, which is not too difficult, but we have to be careful that we don't end up passing throughout because we're confused, which is always a danger when playing against more experienced teams.
I emailed the Norwegian captain as their system card was extremely vague about their defensive signals, just saying Strength and Carding. His response wasn't very helpful, but I now think they play reverse attitude.
After breakfast we sauntered across to the venue a good 30 minutes before start time to register the team. Unfortunately, there was a massive queue of people already there, which I joined the back off with the Spanish team. The players needed to register to get their lanyards to enter the playing area, and if they wanted to leave during a match to go to the toilet.
I got a bit anxious at the queue was moving slowly and the 10am start time was approaching. Players had been advised to sit down five minutes early, with penalties if late, and I wanted some time to familiarise everyone with the bidding tablets and screens. At 0950 the staff announced that to speed things up, everyone was to have a list ready of what size t-shirts they wanted? T-Shirts?
At that point we abandoned the queue to take our seats for the match, but were rebuffed as we didn't have lanyards yet. Finally someone realised we didn't need our souvenir cups and backpacks yet and just gave us the IDs. At the table, the Norwegians were already there, looking very professional with laminated system cards with their photos on. I'll have to do that next time.
The match results are coming in here live: Results
Match 1 vs Norway
I've not given much of a team-talk, but have mentioned the importance of discipline. It would have helped on this board, the very first of the event, where we lost 8 IMPs
West opened1S. East has 9 points so should settle for 1NT, as responding in a new suit at the two level shows 10+, leading to 4H. It's actually not a terrible contract, but goes down if the defence switch to Clubs (declarer should just try and draw trumps and run Spades as quick as possible if she can).
Most tables played 2S+2 after the auction 1S-1NT; 2S.
Having raced to a 15-0 deficit, we gained our first IMPs on this one. The Norwegians overbid to 3NT from East-West. Our North correctly lead Queen of Hearts.
However we did it, we took 3NT down two (good job Rachel & Niamh), whereas on the other table West made 10 tricks in 3D+1. Well done Anya and Iris.
I'm outside the venue, kibitzing with the Scotland U31 team - non-playing captain Matthew Robb and new partnership Kevin Ren and Bahutan Bal. They tell me the Turkish team played every match in a friendly before the event and ranked them all. Scotland U31 are currently beating Spain. This is a good hand where they bid and made 4H, which I will leave as a challenge to my team.
South is in 4H. West leads Ace of Diamonds then a trump. How do you play the hand?
I'm including this hand as we have a bit of a blind spot about setting up suits in dummy. I'd also rather focus on the U31 than our team, who seem to be sliding to a heavy deficit. Every match starts tied on victory points at 10-10. In these 14 board matches if you lose by 57 IMPs or more you lose 0-20, so that's our first target.
We have just gained 4 IMPs when Norway opened 1C, and with two balanced hands both Anya and Iris found a disciplined pass, well done! I've also just seen that Iris outplayed her counterpart to make 3D=, which Niamh and Rachel took one down. A great team board. I am now daring to dream (that we don't lose 20-0).
Final score was a very respectable 21-54 IMPS, giving us a meagre 2.51 VPs. I'll take it!
Match 2 vs Estonia
When Scotland held the East West cards they had an excellent auction:
A fine stop in 3C, making 10 tricks. Artem gives his partner plenty of chance to bid game, but knows when to give up.
At the other table Estonia did get to 3NT. Our North-South pair of Rachel and Niamh were ruthless. After a small Diamond lead the defence have five Diamond tricks, plus two Spades, and found one more as declarer finished in 3NT-5.
I've just seen that the team have surged ahead! 13 IMPs for Scotland is worth looking into:
2C 2D
3NT
Shiva found a reasonable pass of 3NT, though must have been close to a natural invite with 4NT or a natural 4D. 3NT was well played by Artem to get the maximum number of tricks, making +3 when North lead a Heart. At the other table the opponents got themselves into trouble in 5NT, which could have made, but went off one, this time South leading a Heart. Perhaps declarer was annoyed at having to play 5NT.
While we are ahead in the bridge I am behind with my lunch, so will be back soon.
At the local canteen I just had a tasty broth, with sour cream, and a very hearty plate of mixed vegetables. There were two large miscellaneous fried dough balls I wasn't sure about, but I liked all the vegetables and salad. That should balance tonight's likely return to Cili Pizza.
Here's two of the victorious team off for a nap, and two trying to avoid being photographed by me.
There is only 15 minutes between matches, and just an hour for lunch. After chilling out for half of lunch break Artem popped across to the food court to order a pizza, which predictably enough arrived just 5 minutes before the next match was due to star. After a series of frantic texts I intercepted him sprinting across the plaza with his pizza in a box. He handed it over uneaten ("You can have a slice if you want!") before rushing into the playing arena.
I hope his hunger won't affect his play, but I'm afraid to say it's not a great start as we have slipped to 14 IMPs down. However, we just made it all back on this exciting board:
A great board for Team Scotland makes the match level again.
I need to go back to the hotel to recharge.
