Brilliant Poland wins European championship

Press, 19 December 1989, Page 9

Brilliant Poland wins European championship

CONTRACT BRIDGE

J.R. Wignall

Poland has produced a stream of bridge players in recent years who have competed with great success in European tournaments. They all have three things in common: unpronounceable names, indecipherable systems, and great card play.

The 1989 European Championships were held in Turku, Finland, in unusual circumstances; a heat-wave hit the city and stayed for the duration. Temperatures of 90 degrees Fahrenheit were constant and, of course, in such a northern venue there was sunlight 24 hours a day that dimmed only slightly at night. Furthermore, air-condi-tioning did not exist. The event turned into a test of physical and mental stamina.

The favourites and defending champions, Sweden, were away to a good start, but like strong contenders Austria, Great Britain and Denmark tired in the heat to fade away. Meantime France took the silver medal while the phlegmatic Poles grew stronger as the championship ground on, to take the gold. They could even withstand disasters like this.

South dealt with neither side vulnerable:

r'ciso Balicki and Zmudzinski use possibly the most unusual system in the world, but something went sadly wrong. The South Pole’s one spade showed a weakish opening bid with either very short spades or a six card suit. The North Pole’s one no-trump was forcing, showing a good hand. Four diamonds was to play, and four spades was misunderstood. The final contract was not a success, drifting down five for 250 to the opponents and a potential game swing. At the other table, however, South duly reached the good spot of five diamonds which he would have made against an uninspired defence. When the Polish West

found the diabolical opening lead of the queen of hearts, however, the king was taken by the ace, the jack was cashed and East returned the three for his partner to ruff. That was 50 to Poland who had thus restricted their loss on the deal to only 200. The Poles found another great defence on this hand dealt by West with only North-South vulnerable:

While Poland made four hearts on the NorthSouth cards, losing two tricks in spades and one in trumps, Denmark finished in five hearts. When West led a diamond the declarer won with dummy’s ace to lead a heart to the three queen and king. It looked simple for West to return a diamond at this point but Martens, one of the most experienced members of the Polish team, foresaw trouble for himself. The declarer would ruff, draw trumps and lead a low spade. If West

won the queen South would simply lead the jack and 10 of spades through the king, making two tricks in spades, six in hearts, a diamond and two top clubs.

Should West duck the first round of spades, however, to allow his partner’s king to win, he would ultimately be squeezed in this situation:

When South cashes the last heart West has nc good discard and the declarer confines his losers to a spade and a heart. Martens found the answer. After winning the second trick with the king of hearts he switched to a club. A second lead ol clubs when East won his king of spades destroyed dummy’s entry and the squeeze had been broken up. This brilliant defence beat five hearts by one trick, and put Poland firmly on the path to a ’ well-earned title.