The 44th World Team Championships (XXXIII)

by Phillip Alder

These took place in Wuhan, China, from September 14 to 28 last year.

To start, a bidding question. With both sides vulnerable you pick up:

‰ K Q 7 4 2 Š K J 9 8 5 3 ‹ J Œ 3

The dealer on your right opens one spade.What would you do?

The bronze medal playoff took place over 80 boards between Norway (Terje Aa-Allan Livgard, Boye Brogeland-Espen Lindqvist and Nils Kare Kvangraven-Ulf Haakon Tundal) and USA-1 (Nick Nickell-Ralph Katz, Bobby Levin-Steve Weinstein and Jeff Meckstroth-Eric Rodwell). After two boards, Norway led by 22 international match points to 0. The next eight deals gave USA-1 4 imps and Norway 0. This was 11:

1 North Dlr: South ‰ 9 Vul: None Š K Q J 7 ‹ A K 10 Œ A K Q 8 5 West East ‰ 5 2 ‰ A K Q 6 3 Š 9 8 6 5 3 2 Š A 4 ‹ 7 3 2 ‹ 9 4 Œ 7 6 Œ J 9 4 3 South ‰ J 10 8 7 4 Š 10 ‹ Q J 8 6 5 Œ 10 2 Open Room: West North East South Rodwell Lindqvist Meckstroth Brogeland 2‹ (a) Pass 2NT (b) 3‰ Dble Pass Pass Pass (a) Weak two in either major with 0-7 points (maybe only a five-card suit nonvulnerable), or 24-plus balanced, or any 4-4-4-1 game-force (b) Inquiry

Closed Room: West North East South Tundal Katz Kvangraven Nickell Pass Pass 2Œ 2‰ Pass Pass Dble All Pass

The Norwegians defended perfectly. Brogeland led the diamond queen and shifted to the spade seven. Now declarer could take only four tricks: three spades and one heart – down five. In the other room, declarer was allowed to a diamond, so escaped for down three. Plus 1100 and minus 500 gave Norway 12 imps. After a flat board came:

2 North Dlr: North ‰ A 10 8 5 3 Vul: Both Š – ‹ K Q 8 Œ A K J 8 7 West East ‰ J ‰ K Q 7 4 2 Š 10 7 4 2 Š K J 9 8 5 3 ‹ 10 9 4 ‹ J Œ 9 6 5 4 2 Œ 3 South ‰ 9 6 Š A Q 6 ‹ A 7 6 5 3 2 Œ Q 10 Open Room: West North East South Rodwell Lindqvist Meckstroth Brogeland 1‰ 2Š 3‹ 3Š 5Š (a) 6Š Pass (b) Pass 7‹ Pass Pass 7Š Dble All Pass (a) Exclusion Roman Key Card Blackwood (b) One key card

Closed Room: West North East South Tundal Katz Kvangraven Nickell 1‰ Pass 2‹ Pass 3Œ Pass 3NT Pass 4‹ Pass 4Š (a) Pass 4‰ (a) Pass 4NT (b) Pass 6Œ (c) Pass 7‹ Pass Pass Pass (a) Control-bid (b) Roman Key Card Blackwood (c) Odd number of key cards for diamonds and a heart

Well bid by both American pairs. It was hard for the Norwegians in the Open Room to realize that they could make seven notrump. Seven hearts doubled went the obvious down five. Minus 1400 and plus 2140 gave USA-1 a valuable 12 imps. Norway now led by 40 imps to 16.

To be continued

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