49th Asia Pacific Bridge Federation Championships Bulletin 9 Bulletin Editor: Mark Horton, Layout Editor: Christine Law 15 June 2013 Photographer: Pin Yuen Wai Champions! Japan at the Double and Australia Don’t forget to duck! In the Open Teams Japan, Indonesia, China and Chinese Taipei cruised into the top four places. With Japan as In this issue Champions and Indonesia already qualified as hosts Thailand Scheduled Matches 2 and Singapore also go into the playoffs. In the Ladies series Japan and Indonesia finished well clear. Today’s programme 5 By defeating Chinese Taipei and New Zealand Australia Open Teams Thailand v Chinese Taipei 6 secured third place. China held on to fourth by defeating the Servant of Two Masters 9 Chinese Taipei, who finished fifth, still good enough to earn Every Hand an Adventure 12 them a playoff spot along with China Hong Kong and Seating Arrangement 17 Philippines. Australia-Australia just pipped Indonesia to top the Results of Open Teams 20 Senior's table. Then came Chinese Taipei. Results of Ladies Teams 21 China HK - Tse, China-China Evertrust , Japan Imax Results of Senior Teams 22 and Thailand 1 will contest the playoffs. Ranking 23 Full details of the playoff schedule are in today's Bulletin. Acknowledgement 24 Meanwhile, in the Zone 7 play offs Australia meet New Zealand in all three contests. Today’s VuGraph Matches 10:00 China v Chinese Taipei (Open) 13:30 To be decided 16:00 To be decided 18:30 To be decided Regal Hongkong Hotel , Causeway Bay, Hong Kong 7 - 16 June 2013 49th Asia Pacific Bridge Federation Championships Regal Hongkong Hotel , Causeway Bay, Hong Kong 7 - 16 June 2013 49th Asia Pacific Bridge Federation Championships Regal Hongkong Hotel , Causeway Bay, Hong Kong 7 - 16 June 2013 49th Asia Pacific Bridge Federation Championships Regal Hongkong Hotel , Causeway Bay, Hong Kong 7 - 16 June 2013 49th Asia Pacific Bridge Federation Championships Today’s programme 10:00-12:15 Play-off 1-1 Xiashun APBF Open Pairs 12:00-16:00 Qualifying 1 13:30-15:45 Play-off 1-2 16:00-18:15 Play-off 1-3 Xiashun APBF Open Pairs 16:30-20:30 Qualifying 2 18:30-20:45 Play-off 1-4 Every IMP should count Why the new VIP scale? by Jan van Cleeff An introduction by Gianarrigo Rona, President of the World Bridge Federation After the 2009 World Bridge Championships in Sao Paulo the WBF was approached by a group of expert players guided by Michael Becker from the USA. We were requested to look into several items, one of those the VIP scale. The idea was to have ‘every IMP count’. We appointed a committee which designed a new scale. Basically we changed the old scale (25-5) to a new scale (20-0). To have every IMP count it was necessary to make use of decimals. It is hard to say if this new way of scoring is really better. You could discuss the subject for a week so to speak. What we do know is that the new scale – the Continuous scale – is mathematically correct. And of course the players have to get used to it. But they will be supported by sheets and computers in order to know their results fast. The bridge world is not completely new to the new scale. The ACBL has used a scale with quite a few similarities to the Continuous Scale for a long period of time. Note from the author The new scale is already in use in the round robin matches of Zonal Championships leading to the 2013 World Bridge Championships at Bali. The method was tested in this year’s Yeh Bros Cup as well and will also be used in the round robin matches of the teams events in Ostend. IMPORTANT NOTICE Please note that the play-off Open and Closed Rooms will now be in Forum 1 (B2 level). The Vu-graph remains in Victoria Rooms 4 & 5 (3/F). Regal Hongkong Hotel , Causeway Bay, Hong Kong 7 - 16 June 2013 49th Asia Pacific Bridge Federation Championships RR2 R4 Open Teams Thailand v Chinese Taipei At the start of the day Chinese Taipei was hoping to West led the ace of diamonds and switched to the jack maintain its lead as they faced the dangerous team of clubs. Declarer went up with dummy's ace and took from Thailand. A wild set of deals gave opportunities three rounds of hearts. When East discarded he played a to both sides. club and West took the king for two down, -200 and 13 IMPs to Thailand. Dealer East NS Vul In passing you might have noticed that you can make [ A K Q 9 3 6[ on the NS cards, although getting there is not exactly ] 9 8 easy. Perhaps North could bid 5{ over 4{ and then bid { 9 5[ over South's 5], but it looks a bit contrived. (To } A Q 6 5 2 make 6[ you duck the diamond lead, win the heart [ 10 4 [ J 8 5 switch, take a club finesse, and play trumps, catching ] J 7 6 5 ] 4 2 West in a three suit repeating squeeze.) { A 8 { Q J 10 7 4 3 2 } K J 10 8 3 } 7 Dealer North [ 7 6 2 NS Vul ] A K Q 10 3 [ 4 3 { K 6 5 ] A Q 6 } 9 4 { Q J 10 8 7 4 } J 10 Open Room [ K Q 9 6 5 2 [ A J 10 8 West North East South ] K 9 7 ] J 10 2 Shen Pornthep Ho Kirawat { K 3 { A 5 2 3}* 3] } 4 3 } 9 8 5 4{ 4] All Pass [ 7 ] 8 5 4 3 3} Transfer preemept in diamonds { 9 6 } A K Q 7 6 2 It's quite rare to find anyone playing transfer preempts, as they allow the next player to both Open Room double and bid the transfer suit for takeout. West North East South When West raised to 4{ North, with no room to Shen Pornthep Ho Kirawat manoeuvre, took the low road by simply raising to Pass Pass 3} game. Pass Pass Dbl Pass West led the ace of diamonds and switched to the 4[ All Pass jack of clubs. Declarer went up with dummy's ace and ran the eight of hearts to West's jack. He won the With the queen of hearts in the North hand 4[ had to diamond return in hand, played a spade to the ace and go one down, -50. drew trumps, discarding a spade from dummy. He finished with ten tricks, +620. Closed Room West North East South Closed Room Plengsap Chen Terasak Huang West North East South 2{* Pass Pass Plengsap Chen Terasak Huang 2[ Pass 2NT* 3} 3{ 3] Pass Pass 3[ All Pass 4{ 4NT* Pass 5[* Pass 6] All Pass 2{ Weak 2NT Spade raise 4NT RKCB 5[ 2 'aces' +]Q Stopping safely gave Thailand 5 IMPs. Regal Hongkong Hotel , Causeway Bay, Hong Kong 7 - 16 June 2013 49th Asia Pacific Bridge Federation Championships Dealer East Open Room EW Vul West North East South [ A K 5 Shen Pornthep Ho Kirawat ] A K Q 9 2{* 2[ 3{ { 10 7 3NT All Pass } Q 7 5 3 [ Q J 4 [ 8 2{ Multi ] 7 6 5 2 ] J 10 4 3 { A Q 9 { K J 8 6 5 With spades breaking and the diamond finesse onside } 10 9 2 } A K 4 that was +690. [ 10 9 7 6 3 2 ] 8 Not at all easy for EW. By the way, if West doubles { 4 3 2 3{ is that for penalties or takeout? } J 8 6 Closed Room Open Room West North East South West North East South Plengsap Chen Terasak Huang Shen Pornthep Ho Kirawat Pass 1[ Pass 1{ Pass 2} Pass 2[ Pass 1] Dbl 3] 3[ 3{ Pass 3[ Pass 4] Dbl Pass 4[ 3NT Pass 4} Pass Dbl All Pass 4{* Pass 4]* Pass 6NT All Pass With half his points in hearts North might have done better to pass on the first round. Still, as it went it was 4{ Cue bid clear that his second double was for penalties. On the 4] Cue bid ten of spades lead followed by a club switch 4] would be a bloody affair, costing 800. I think East did well to bid 4}, but where was South? 4[ had to go two down, -300. After his intervention on [1097632 I expected him to overcall 1[ with 3{. Closed Room When the slam rolled home Thailand had 13 IMPs. West North East South Plengsap Chen Terasak Huang Dealer West 1{ 3[ NS Vul Pass 4[ All Pass [ 3 2 ] 7 4 3 That's what I call a weak jump overcall. { K J 10 8 7 4 The same two down meant -100 but 5 IMPs to Chinese } K 7 Taipei. [ K [ Q 10 ] A J 10 9 6 5 ] K Q 8 Dealer North { 9 5 2 { Q 6 3 EW Vul } A 6 2 } Q J 10 9 4 [ J 5 2 [ A J 9 8 7 6 5 4 ] J 9 8 7 5 2 ] 2 { 3 { A } K 10 9 } 8 5 3 [ 10 8 [ A K Q 7 4 3 ] K Q 10 ] A Open Room { A Q 2 { J 8 7 West North East South } A J 7 3 2 } 6 5 4 Shen Pornthep Ho Kirawat [ 9 6 1] Pass 1NT* 3[ ] 6 4 3 Pass Pass 4] All Pass { K 10 9 6 5 4 } Q 8 Regal Hongkong Hotel , Causeway Bay, Hong Kong 7 - 16 June 2013 49th Asia Pacific Bridge Federation Championships North led the three of spades and South won with the Closed Room ace, cashed the ace of diamonds and switched to the West North East South five of clubs.