One team failed to turn up today so they redid the four-ways and we became the highest seed in our group. I'm not sure we played like it but we did manage a six imps win this afternoon and get the evening off.
We were sixteen imps up at the half. The difference was gained on one board where Sam and Stephen made three notrump while the opponents tried to make us pay for my very light overcall. Fortunately Alex had a two-suiter and was happy to play in one (!!) of his six-card suits; when they led the second one he made an overtrick and sixteen imps.
In the second half we got another sixteen imps gain when they played in check back rather than slam; but they got the same back when a psych in the suit we could make a grand slam was successful, more so when we could not make the notrump game that we were actually in.
At the end of a wild match we made up sufficient imps on the part scores to compensate for a couple of games and conceded ten imps on the set for a narrow win.
Tomorrow we play the #9 seeds, otherwise known as the Sweden Open team with their American sponsor and his partner. Our first target in such a match is to get to the final set in contention. Our advantage is that we have warmed up today whereas they had a bye.
Bring them on!
