Junior teams representing Belgium, England, France and the Netherlands met in Utrecht at the headquarters of the NBB (Nederlandse Bridge Bond) to contest the 2023 edition of the Channel Trophy. The competition, which started in 1985, has evolved into a series of contests between young teams representing the four countries, for which they take turns to act as hosts.

When Belgium was unable to field their Girls team, England stepped in, sending a second squad.

Over the three days of the event, the teams in each category faced each other twice in a round-robin, each match comprising two 9-board stanzas. Marc van Beijsterveldt was the one-man band who acted as organiser, director, and general factotum.

Juniors (up to 25)

Photos by Yvonne Verloop

Girls U26

Photos by Yvonne Verloop

Youngsters (up to 20)

Photos by Yvonne Verloop

Here are some of the highlights from the three days of play:

Netherlands v France Juniors

In the other room the Netherlands had stopped in 4♥, declarer taking 12 tricks after North had led the ♣K and South had overtaken and switched to the ♠6, declarer finessing and cashing several trumps which saw South (who was in trouble) eventually discard a spade.

From West’s point of view, South’s delayed entry into the auction suggested that if it was missing, the ♠K would be onside.

North led the ♠2 and declarer took South’s king with the ace and played three rounds of hearts, North discarding the ♣4 and South the ♣6. On the next heart, North pitched the ♣7 and declarer erred slightly when he parted with dummy’s ♣2 rather than a spade as South contributed the ♣9. On the penultimate heart North pitched the ♣J (the ♣K might make the situation clearer to partner) and when South parted with the ♣10 declarer astutely continued with the ♣3. South won with the ace and played the ♠6 but declarer won with the queen as North discarded the ♦3. When declarer cashed the last heart North had to pitch a diamond and so did South, as dummy’s remaining spade went away. Now declarer could cash the ♠J, squeezing North in the minors, +980 and 11 IMPs for France, who won the match 62-26, 17.31-2.69 VP.

Once North has led a spade, as long as declarer retains three clubs on dummy the defenders cannot prevail, it is a classic compound squeeze, South being forced to hold on to the spades and consequently having to come down to two diamonds (or be the victim of a guard squeeze in diamonds) after which North comes under pressure, becoming party to a double squeeze.

England v France Girls U26

Open Room

If you consider that the bidding made it clear that East had at least four diamonds, then doubling 4♥, even if it was an ‘action’ double, looks very risky. Bidding 5♦ would have put the onus on NS to go on to 5♥.

East led the ♠J and declarer had 11 tricks along with +990.

Closed Room

The defenders could score only two tricks, +600 and 17 IMPs – the only ones England managed in the set as France went on to win the match 48-30, 14.39-5.61 VP.

Netherlands v France Juniors

Open Room

Everything turns on the opening lead (if only one had a euro for every time that has been the case). In one room South led the ♠K, in the other the ♣2. That was 14 IMPs for… the Netherlands!

Netherlands v France Youngsters

North led the ♣3, declarer won with the ♣J and played three rounds of hearts, South overruffing dummy’s ♠7 with the ♠9 and exiting with the ♠3. Declarer went up with the ♠K and ruffed another heart with the ♠5. If South overruffs declarer will have an easy time, but she discarded the ♣9! Declarer tried playing the ♦10 from dummy and it was here that South fell from grace, playing the ♦J rather than the ♦2. North saw no reason to overtake with the ♦A so declarer could ruff the diamond return, draw trumps and cash three clubs for +420.

Having overruffed the third heart, South must continue with a club. If declarer wins and ruffs a heart with the ♠5, South can overruff with the ♠A and continue with the ♦2. North takes the ♦A and plays another club, ensuring a trick for South’s ♠4.

If declarer changes tack and tries playing a diamond towards dummy’s king, North must go up with the ace and play a club. South ruffs and then plays two rounds of spades to leave the ♦K and ♣A stranded in dummy for two down.

Having been given a reprieve, declarer could have prevailed by playing a diamond towards the king at trick six.

Closed Room

North led the ♥2 and declarer surprisingly played dummy’s seven, won with the ♥K. He then played the ♣Q, overtaking it with dummy’s ace and playing the ♠2 for the three, king and jack. A club to dummy’s ten was followed by the ♠5 and when South followed with the four, declarer won with the ♠6 and played the ♠Q, South taking the ♠A and playing back the heart four. Declarer could have won, drawn trumps and played a diamond towards the king, but playing low allowed North to win with the ♥Q and continue with the ♥10, South ruffing and playing the ♦Q, North’s ace taking the setting trick for one down and 10 IMPs.

Once declarer had played a second club (a diamond is one way to get home), South should take the ♠A on the second round of the suit and play a diamond. If North wins and gives South a club ruff, a spade exit leaves declarer a trick short, as does returning the ♥4.

The odds line in the trump suit is to start with a low card to the king or queen, planning to play low to the ten on the next round if that holds or loses to the ace. Given that you are short of entries to dummy, you could play a to spade from hand first. When you collect North’s jack, it is safe to play another high spade and you can then play a diamond. This is perhaps easier to find after the opening bid of 2♥.

Going into the last day France was already assured of victory in the Girls event, having won all their matches. The other two contests were still in the melting pot. England held a slender lead of 0.41 VP over France in the Juniors and 5.08 in the Youngsters and the two countries were due to meet in both contests.

The key to the auction was North’s decision to bid on with 4♦.

West led the ♦J and declarer drew trumps ending in dummy and ran the ♣10, claiming when it lost, +920.

Closed Room

After a 2NT rebid, North might have marked time with a forcing 3♦.

Declarer had no difficulty taking 12 tricks, but France had an 11 IMP swing.

Open Room

South led the ♣K and declarer won and played the ♦8. South went up with the ace, cashed the ♣Q and switched to the ♥K, followed by the jack. When North let that hold South switched a diamond, North’s ruff putting the contract two down, -100.

Closed Room

West led the ♦K and when East followed with the jack, declarer ducked, won the next diamond and tried the ♥J. East took that and played the ♠2, giving the defenders the rest for eight down(!), -400 and 11 IMPs.

As an aside, 4♥ is not so bad a contract, although it can be defeated. If East leads a diamond declarer wins and plays a spade. If West takes the ♠A declarer is in control! If West switches to a trump declarer can play three rounds of the suit and then play on clubs. East has to duck twice, but then declarer ruffs a diamond and exits with a club, endplaying East.

Open Room

Having shown considerable interest in a grand slam, East assumed that if his partner held as little as the ♠J and ♥Q he would have made a ‘master bid’ in the style of S.J. Simon and settled for 6♠.

There was nothing to the play, +1430.

Closed Room

That meant the loss of 13 IMPs, so at half time England led 31-29.

By the time the last deal settled on the table France had amassed only 4 IMPs – but they were enough to lead 33-29!

Open Room

One suspects that 2♣ promised diamonds.

West led the ♥K, declarer soon claiming the rest, +680.

Closed Room

A very tough deal for both teams.

Bidding 3♠ over 3♣ might have worked better, as if West bids 4♥ North is sure to bid 4♠. Then it is a decent gamble to bid 5♣ with South’s hand and when partner bids 5♦ you can take a shot at 6♠.

A thrilling finale which saw France edge the match by 34-31 IMPs, enough for 10.86-9.14 VP and overall victory by 1.31 VP.

In the Girls U26, France lost their final match to England A, but still finished almost 10 VP ahead of their closest rivals.

Clara Boulton and Margaux Kurek-Beaulieu played every round for France and were the only pair to have a positive Butler score in all five matches.

England defeated France 16.61-3.39 VP in the Youngsters to preserve their record of winning every match, finishing 18.50VP clear.