Bulletin Sunday

Tactical Game

Angelini versus Sweden

Fulvio Fantoni showed your editor a couple of deals from the last round-robin match between Team Angelini and Sweden. It was a real tactical game.

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

West	North	East	South
Fredin	Fantoni	Björnlund	Nunes
-	-	1 ♦	Pass
1 ♠ (1)	2 ♣	Dbl (2)	Rdbl (3)
2♦	Pass	Pass	Dbl (4)
Pass	2 ♠	Pass	Pass
Pass

1) bridge is war
2) three-card spades
3) points, probably four-card hearts
4) takeout

Both teams were very much in contention to qualify for the Sunday A-finals. Fantoni-Nunes had to work really hard to buy this spade partial, especially after Fredin fooled around in the same suit. When EW did not find the heart ruff, Fantoni managed to make an overtrick: +140 to NS. At the other table Sementa-Lauria(EW) played in 3♦ and went one down. Three IMPs to Angelini, in a match where every IMP counted.

The next five deals were not that great for Angelini, so Fantoni decided to try some extraordinary action:

Board 20 Round 7 Dealer West. All Vul.
	♠ Q 4 ♥ Q J 10 ♦ K Q 5 3 ♣ K 9 8 5
♠ 6 ♥ A 9 4 3 2 ♦ 10 7 ♣ Q 10 7 6 4		♠ A K 9 8 3 2 ♥ 8 7 5 ♦ A 4 2 ♣ 2
	♠ J 10 7 5 ♥ K 6 ♦ J 9 8 6 ♣ A J 3

West	North	East	South
Fredin	Fantoni	Björnlund	Nunes
Pass	1NT (1)	2♠	Pass
Pass	?

1) 12-14

nder normal circumstances nobody in the world would so much as dream of a reopening double, Fulvio Fantoni included. However, in view of the unfavourable development of the match, he did decide to chance a double. Claudio Nunes, of course, was happy to leave the double in and collect a juicy fivehundred penalty. That meant seven IMPs to Angelini as – apart from the double - the result was duplicated at the other table.

The Hidden Suit

Semi-final Board 2 Dealer East. NS Vul.
	♠ Q 5 ♥ K 4 3 2 ♦ 10 7 6 ♣ K 6 4 3
♠ A K 4 ♥ 8 ♦ A Q J 5 3 ♣ A 9 7 5		♠ J 9 6 ♥ A J 9 7 6 ♦ 8 2 ♣ J 8 2
	♠ 10 8 7 3 2 ♥ Q 10 5 ♦ K 9 4 ♣ Q 10

At three of the four tables in the semi-finals North led a heart against West's 3NT contract (a club lead was not an option as West had bid clubs along the way). South won with the ♥10 and switched to a spade, for North's Queen. Now, declarer could no longer make his game: NS +50.

At Giorgio Duboin and Norberto Bocchi's table, West did not reveal his club suit:

1) any strong hand or weak opening with minors
2) negative (up to 7 HCP)
3) strong hand, balanced (despite the singleton heart)

All Was Clear

Sweden versus Sadek

B-final Board 23 Dealer South. All Vul.
	♠ 7 2 ♥ Q 6 ♦ A Q J 8 3 2 ♣ 6 3 2
♠ 9 4 3 ♥ A J 8 5 2 ♦ 9 7 ♣ 10 9 7		♠ A J 10 8 6 ♥ 10 9 7 3 ♦ 10 4 ♣ A J
	♠ K Q 5 ♥ K 4 ♦ K 6 5 ♣ K Q 8 5 4

1) several possibilities
2) forcing relay
3) let them bid first
4) 15-17, balanced
5) six-card minor, no shortness
6) relay
7) exactly 2-2-3-6

After the informative Swedish bidding sequence, all was clear to Piotr Tuszinski, who correctly deduced that a heart lead would do the job for him: EW +200. Notice that a spade lead would have allowed declarer to establish his clubs and make his game.

Westra versus Orange

The opening lead proved indeed all important in the semi-final match between Team Westra and Team Orange. Muller-De Wijs defended 3NT and Vincent Ramondt had to concede two down after the heart lead. At the other table:

Paulissen's double asked for a spade lead (1). Redoubling for business was certainly an option with the South hand. However Ton Bakkeren was reluctant: his partner might consider it as showing doubt about the contract. Anyway, he passed and the spade lead (and the clubs) guaranteed sufficient tricks, and 15 IMPs on the board to Team Orange.

Final: Orange versus Lavazza

First Blood on Board nr. 2

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

Agustin Madala declared 6NT with the EW cards. Although he ‘found' the ♥Q with North, he ended up down one when later the finesse against the ♥10 failed.

In the other room, Bertens-Bakkeren reached the excellent 6♦ slam, to be played by West, Huub Bertens. North led a spade and declarer won and played a trump. Declarer won the spade continuation, ruffed two hearts in dummy and made twelve tricks: 14 IMPs to Team Orange.

Dangerous Double

Ventin versus Sadek

Final Board 9 Dealer North. EW Vul.
	♠ A Q 10 9 8 ♥ A K 10 7 ♦ 10 8 5 2 ♣ -
♠ J ♥ 8 5 3 ♦ K Q 7 6 4 ♣ Q J 9 6		♠ K 2 ♥ Q J 9 6 2 ♦ 9 ♣ 8 5 4 3 2
	♠ 7 6 5 4 3 ♥ 4 ♦ A J 3 ♣ A K 10 7

1) spade fit
2) strong
3) cue
4) RKC
5) 2 key cards + trump queen

Poland versus France

1) strong splinter
2) cue
3) first-round control

Both declarers received the lead of the singleton ♦9 and won with the Ace (West giving count). Both Gawrys and Ventin refrained from finessing in trump. Instead they played a spade to the Ace, eliminated their clubs and hearts and finally put East on lead with his trump King. The forced ruff and sluff produced the twelfth trick. At both other tables in these matches, the declarer went down when he finessed against the ♠K.

Great Lead

Lavazza versus Orange

Final Board 21 Dealer North. NS Vul.
	♠ A 7 5 ♥ Q 4 3 ♦ 10 6 3 ♣ A Q 8 3
♠ Q 6 ♥ J 9 7 6 2 ♦ J 7 5 2 ♣ 7 5		♠ K J 9 8 3 ♥ 10 8 ♦ Q 4 ♣ K 10 9 6
	♠ 10 4 2 ♥ A K 5 ♦ A K 9 8 ♣ J 4 2

1) 13-15

Giorgio Duboin kicked off with the ♠Q, which left declarer without a chance. How did the Lavazza star find this brilliant lead? “They play a weak notrump. So I expected North to have (almost) opening values. At the other table East, on lead, would probably choose a spade. Since we were winning, I wanted to do the same thing as the guy in the other room.” Right he was, since Huub Bertens led a spade as East.

By the way, after a heart lead, 3NT can be made although it requires careful play (attack clubs first).