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The New Zealand Youth Team could not repeat their 2017 victory over Australia in the Stern-Cornell Trophy Challenge Match held at the end of Australian Youth Week in Canberra.

 The match was played in two stanzas of 16 boards with Matt Brown- Andi Boughey playing throughout and Jeremy Fraser- Hoskin – Jacob Kalma and Zachary Yan – Vincent He each playing one set. They were up against a strong Australian Youth Team, Andrew Spooner- Tomer Libman and Jamie Thompson – Matt Smith with Australia winning the first stanza by 29 imps and the second by 31 for an overall 94-34 win.

Ironically, the two biggest swings went New Zealand’s  way but it’s consistency that wins such matches and that certainly was shown by the Australians. Nevertheless, great experience for the Kiwis, especially for Zachary and Vincent who were making their international debuts.

The above named Kiwis, along with Feitong Chen, Matt Hughes, Brad Johnston and Nik Mitchell took part in the Youth Week. Zachary and Vincent would have enjoyed seeing their names at the top of the ladder of the Goulash Pairs. Of greater merit, they finished 4^th in the A Final of the Australian Youth Pairs.

In the 12 team Youth Teams, Brad, Nik, Andi and Matt Brown finished 5^th in the 12 team event with Jeremy, Jacob, Vincent and Zachary 7^th.

A report on a Youth event would not be complete without a couple of exciting deals. Here are Jeremy and Jacob in action.

Partnership Trust

 One bid at the 2 level was enough for Jeremy to put his partner to game and then send the double back. Jacob was not in any trouble on the lead of 2 top clubs, with the Q making an early appearance. +880 was a good score but not nearly as good as one West who was left to play in 1NTx and  did not make a trick! Good scoring by the North-South pair.

If you thought Jeremy’s actions above were adventurous, then fasten your seat-belts!

Reaching for the Sky...

 

2 asked about the overcall with 2 showing  “medium values” (an example of a poor value overcall is available on request!). Jacob used “Exclusion Key Card Blackwood” (5) with Jeremy showing no key cards outside clubs. Jacob tried to return to 4 though Jeremy had not shown his void yet and went a level higher!

A heart or club lead would have given him no chance but West tried the unbid diamond suit. Jeremy ruffed in hand and led J and crossed his fingers. Two seconds later, he was still on lead and played a spade to the 10 and ace. East tried a club but the ace won and the outstanding Q could be drawn. “Outstanding” indeed.

Youth Bridge may not always be by the book but it sure is fun. Meanwhile Brad Johnston and Nik Mitchell’s team  started well in the South West Pacific Teams but had two big losses to end Day 2 to leave them around the half-way mark. Zachary, Vincent, Jacob and Jeremy were a very creditable  32^nd at the half-way point in the 122 team competition.Let's also remember Matthew Brown who is playing in the Cornell team and who is currently in 6th place.

Just in case you thought “youth” bidding was, shall we say, adventuresome, here is an excellent grand slam bid by Zachary and Vincent from round 5:

          West                            East

           AK653                       –

          A4                              KQJT873

           AK52                         T3

           A9                              K752

The power of aces! If West opens to show a balanced 20-22, their partner could use Gerber to discover 4 aces and the 2 missing kings opposite. What more would one need for grand? Nothing! Yet, only 24 pairs out of 122 bid it.

Richard Solomon

 

 

 

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