David Jones, Non-Playing Captain for the Seniors Team at the European National Team Championships writes about the team's progress at the tournament:
Welcome again to Riga where day 4 has just begun with a match against the leaders Denmark.
The team lie 9th out of 23 teams and is playing solidly yet I believe have an extra gear available.
Day 2 was up and down. We lost narrowly to France and by 39 imps to Sweden but recovered well with a 13 imp win over Israel and a 51 imp win over Spain.
Day 3 featured matches against Germany, Portugal and Ireland and we lost 20 gained 20 and beat Ireland by 5 imps.
A hand from the Ireland match:
8
74
QT976543
J5
AKQ9
AQ9
A2
AK76
A balanced 26 count facing a weak hand with an 8 card diamond suit.6d is an excellent contract and was reached at a number of tables but how to play?
It is simply a question of how to play the trumps and a safety play is available which is to lead the DT from dummy and run it if rho plays low. This enables you to pick up KJx in either hand. There is a small risk of a promotion if RHO is short in the black suit with which you enter dummy (spades). Here this play is essential with KJx on your right.
Stop press a win against the leaders Denmark in round 11 by 18 imps.