The B Group Qualifying
The teams that finish 7-12 of their group progresses to the intermediate final B. Results of the matches against teams of their own group are carried forward. You play six matches of ten boards against the teams from the other group. The winner earns the 8th spot in the Quarter Finals.
This is the schedule:
Wednesday, March 27 Intermediate finals B
11.30 - 12.55 Round 1 13.05 - 14.30 Round 2 14.40 - 16.05 Round 3 16.15 - 17.40 Round 4 17.40 - 18.40 Dinner 18.40 - 20.05 Round 5 20.15 - 21.40 Round 6
These are the carry forward scores from the Qualifying to the intermediate final B
Ireland. 73.05
Australia 69.41
Netherlands girls 56.18
Brazil 54.62
England girls 53.24
Slovakia 51.33
Netherlands schools 51.18
Austria 50.28
The rest below 40
Round 1
Australia v Croatia 20 15 which converts to 11.85 8.15
Except for one poor board for Australia, a solid performance to start this segment of the event well.
Round 2
Australia v Austria 14 0 which converts to 14.54 5.46
There was only one big swing in this match for 10 imps.
With a few upsets in this ‘B’ grouping, Australia is leading well.
Board 16.
The Australian pair pushed the boat out here and made 4♥ on a mis-defence. In the other room, the opponents played in a ♥ partial making 9 tricks.
In a lot of matches, NS played in a ♦ contract going a couple off.
Round 3
Australia v Slovakia 45 25 which converts to 15.97 4.03
The luck went the Australian way on a couple of critical boards.
The scorecard follows –
|
Board No. |
NS score |
EW score |
Imps |
|
21 |
-200 |
-50 |
-6 |
|
22 |
200 |
1370 |
17 |
|
23 |
-100 |
100 |
0 |
|
24 |
-100 |
50 |
-2 |
|
25 |
-50 |
50 |
0 |
|
26 |
1370 |
-690 |
12 |
|
27 |
50 |
110 |
4 |
|
28 |
630 |
100 |
12 |
|
29 |
-140 |
-100 |
-6 |
|
30 |
480 |
-980 |
-11 |
Board 22
Virtue was rewarded as the best slam 6♣ made where as 6♠ by the opponents was defeated.
Board 26
With ♦s 3 3, 6♦ makes. On a ♠ lead, it basically requires the ♦ break to be 3 3 or the double ♦J and ♥s no worse and 4 1. A reasonable slam. The opponents stayed in game.
Round 4
Australia v England Girls 47 4 which converts to 19.55 0.45
|
Board No. |
NS score |
EW score |
Imps |
|
1 |
480 |
-480 |
0 |
|
2 |
600 |
-600 |
0 |
|
3 |
200 |
-90 |
3 |
|
4 |
620 |
-200 |
9 |
|
5 |
90 |
-100 |
0 |
|
6 |
-50 |
-100 |
-4 |
|
7 |
790 |
620 |
16 |
|
8 |
430 |
-50 |
9 |
|
9 |
650 |
-650 |
0 |
|
10 |
-140 |
620 |
10 |
Overall a lot of bidding from Australia against not one of the strongest opponents paid dividends.
Board 4
Australia were allowed to play 4♥ doubled after East showed a strong NT. Whereas 4♠ makes NS with a finesse of the ♠Q through the strong hand.
Board 7
Australia bid and made 4♠ as East West. This is on thin values but both of West’s kings are well places as South bids aggressively.
As North South, Australia played 4♥ doubled.
The defence let it make but the defence must always be careful but should prevail.
At this stage Australia is in the box seat to make the quarterfinals as they are 26 victory points in front of second with 2 matches to play.
Round 5
Australia v Netherland Girls 37 8 which converts to 17.68 2.32
|
Board No. |
NS score |
EW score |
Imps |
|
11 |
140 |
50 |
5 |
|
12 |
600 |
-600 |
0 |
|
13 |
620 |
100 |
12 |
|
14 |
-110 |
-150 |
-6 |
|
15 |
100 |
-100 |
0 |
|
16 |
-620 |
-620 |
0 |
|
17 |
100 |
150 |
6 |
|
18 |
100 |
-170 |
-2 |
|
19 |
450 |
100 |
11 |
|
20 |
200 |
-110 |
3 |
On board 13, Australia right sided a game contract.
The luck is remaining with us.
Australia is now locked to win intermediate B and play in the quarter finals.
Round 6
Australia v Brazil 27 19 which converts to 12.83 7.17
The final 8 consists of
Netherlands
Israel
Poland
Denmark
Belgium
England
Finland
Australia
Interestingly, Netherlands choose England rather than the ‘B’ qualifier Australia.
The quarter finals are
Netherlands vs England
Israel vs Finland
Poland vs Australia
Denmark vs Belgium (where this was a forced selection)
The quarter finals are two 14 board sets commencing at 11.30 local time which is 9.30pm Australian Eastern Standard daylight time.
Posted by Chris on Thursday, 28 March 2019 at 11:50