Bulletin Saturday

Partscore swing

Jansma versus Ventin

Round 3 Board 12 Dealer West. NS Vul.
	♠ A 10 ♥ 9 7 4 3 ♦ A J 7 ♣ K J 7 2
♠ 9 6 4 ♥ A Q 8 5 ♦ 10 8 3 ♣ A 8 3		♠ K J 7 ♥ J 10 2 ♦ K 9 5 ♣ Q 10 9 4
	♠ Q 8 5 3 2 ♥ K 6 ♦ Q 6 4 2 ♣ 6 5

At both tables South played in 2♠. In the open room Michael Polowan led a LOW club, for the Jack and Queen. His partner, Chris Willenken, returned a LOW heart, for the King and Ace. West now switched to a diamond, which was ducked to East's King. With the ♣A, ♥Q and ♠K still to be lost, as well as an an uppercut (in hearts as it turned out), the contract went two down.

In the closed room West led a diamond, for East's King. The declarer, Jan Jansma, won the diamond return and played ♠A and another spade, for the Jack and Queen, and a third spade to East's ♠K. East returned his third third diamond. Declarer won, cashed all his winners, ending with a club to the King. Then another club put West on play for a return from his ♥AQ to Jansma's King: nine tricks.

An easy game

Gromov versus Sweden

Round 4 Board 4 Dealer West. All Vul.
	♠ 9 5 2 ♥ 8 5 ♦ 10 8 ♣ A K 8 5 3 2
♠ A K ♥ Q 6 3 ♦ Q J 6 4 2 ♣ 10 9 7		♠ 10 8 7 6 ♥ A 10 2 ♦ A K 3 ♣ J 6 4
	♠ Q J 4 3 ♥ K J 9 7 4 ♦ 9 7 5 ♣ Q

West	North	East	South
Kwiecien	Fredin	Pszczola	Björnlund
1 ♦	Pass	1 ♠	Pass
1NT	Pass	3NT	Pass
Pass	Pass

North led a low a club to the Queen and South returned a low spade. Kwiecin, who already had a strong hunch that the club distribution was 6-1, won and rattled off his long diamond suit, leaving ♥Qxx opposite ♥A10x. To make his game, he had to guess this suit for two tricks (whle keeping North off lead). Should he play a heart to the ten, hoping for the doubleton King in North? Easy game for Kwiecin who - fast as lightning - played a heart to the ace and a heart back, eventually scoring the Queen as his ninth trick. How could he be so sure of finding the winning line? Answer: North would have overcalled in clubs if, next to his six-bagger, he had also been dealt the ♥K.

No Escape

Modalfa/UMW versus Egypt

Round 2 Board 14 Dealer East. None Vul.
	♠ Q J 4 ♥ A Q ♦ A 8 6 3 ♣ Q 10 8 4
♠ K 10 9 8 ♥ K 10 7 2 ♦ Q 10 5 ♣ A 7		♠ 7 6 5 3 ♥ 5 ♦ K J 9 7 2 ♣ J 6 3
	♠ A 2 ♥ J 9 8 6 4 3 ♦ 4 ♣ K 9 5 2

West	North	East	South
Sadek	Borm	Hussein	Wortel
-	-	Pass	Pass
1 ♦	1NT	3 ♦	4 ♥
Pass	Pass	Pass

West led the ♦Q, won by the declarer, Meike Wortel, who then ruffed a diamond, played a heart to the Queen, cashed the ♥A, and ruffed a diamond back to her hand (stripping West of the suit). When she next led a low club, West tried to avoid the impending throw-in by rising with the ♣A and returning a club. South won and this time there was no escape for West when he was put on lead with a trump. After winning his two trump tricks, he was forced to lead away from his ♠K, giving declarer her tenth trick. Well played!

Not so academic?

Lavazza versus Robson

Round 5 Board 13 Dealer North. All Vul.
	♠ A Q 6 3 ♥ K 9 5 ♦ K 9 4 ♣ K 8 7
♠ K 9 7 2 ♥ 8 7 3 ♦ A Q 10 5 ♣ 4 2		♠ J ♥ A J 6 2 ♦ 6 3 2 ♣ J 10 9 6 5
	♠ 10 8 5 4 ♥ Q 10 4 ♦ J 8 7 ♣ A Q 3

The bidding was simple: 1NT (North) – 3NT. Who cares about Stayman anyway, with mirror 4333's and spades poorly divided?

With all cards in view, do you see the winning line on the opening lead of the ♣J?

Win in dummy, play a spade to the Queen, a heart to the Ten, a heart honor (ducked), and another heart, for East's ace. East cashes the ♥J, a diamond is pitched from dummy, West gets rid of a diamond (a spade will not make much difference) and North sheds a spade. East then switches to a diamond, which runs to declarer's King. Declarer cashes two rounds of clubs and throws West in with a diamond. The ♠10 eventually became the ninth trick.

An academic line of play? No, not in the match Lavazza versus Robson. Declarers at both tables (Andrew Robson and Agustin Madala) found the above line. In another match (Sweden versus Westra) Peter Fredin succeeded after following a similar line.

This deal should say something about the level of this tournament.

Never Mind Reputations

By now we all know the two White House Top 16 sponsors, Messrs Max Abram and Herman Drenkelford. Less known perhaps, is that both Max and Herman are excellent bridge players in their own right. Max and Herman's team, Modalfa/UMW, is one of only four Dutch teams, the others being Team Westra, Team Orange and HOK/Transfer Solutions. In fact, their team earned its qualifying spot by playing well, not by paying well! When Modalfa/UMW met Team Waterlow in the sixth round, the Dutchies won by a useful 19-11 Vips. This deal helped:

Round 6 Board 12 Dealer West. NS Vul.
	♠ A K 6 4 2 ♥ J 4 3 2 ♦ 6 ♣ A K 7
♠ 9 ♥ A K 10 9 ♦ A 4 3 2 ♣ J 10 9 5		♠ Q 10 8 ♥ Q 8 ♦ K Q 10 9 7 5 ♣ 4 3
	♠ J 7 5 3 ♥ 7 6 5 ♦ J 8 ♣ Q 8 6 2

West	North	East	South
Markovic	Alfrey	Abram	Forrester
1 ♥	1 ♠	2 ♦	3 ♠
4 ♦	4 ♠	dbl	Pass
Pass	Pass

When the bidding reqached Max, he shrugged his shoulders and thought: “Never mind reputations, DOUBLE!”. EW duly collected five hundred (two down) for a seven-imp gain, since East at the other table did not have the nerve to double the same contract.