The Women's Trial (XIII)

by Phillip Alder

The trials to select seven of the eight United States teams for this year's world championships were played in Schaumburg, IL, from May 10 to June 9. (USA 1 for the was decided last year.) First, here are some bidding problems.

1a. With neither side vulnerable, you pick up:

‰ A K J 9 2 Š A J ‹ 8 6 3 Œ J 5 3

The bidding begins like this:

West North East South You Advancer Partner Intervenor Pass 1Œ 1‹ 1‰ 3‹ (a) 3‰ Pass ?? (a) Pre-emptive

What would you do now?

2a. With only the opponents vulnerable, you are dealt:

‰ 9 Š J 4 ‹ A Q J 9 4 Œ K 7 5 4 3

The auction starts like this:

West North East South Intervenor Partner Advancer You 1‹ 1Š Pass 2‰ (a) ?? (a) A good hand

Would you compete with three clubs?

1b. Suppose partner opens two diamonds, showing a three-suiter short in diamonds and 11-15 points. Would you respond four spades or would you respond two notrump, asking partner for her exact hand distribution?

2b. Suppose East had jumped to four spades over one heart. Would you compete with five clubs?

1 The 120- match in the women's Venice Cup trial to select USA 2 was between Hjordis “Disa” Eythorsdottir-Linda Lewis, Cindy Bernstein-Sally Wheeler and Lynn Deas-Janice Seamon-Molson; and Cheri Bjerkan-Rozanne Pollack and Peggy Sutherlin-Pam Wittes. After the first session, Disa led by 60 international match points to 25. On Board 16, Bjerkan and Pollack bid to three notrump. At the other table, their teammates were in one notrump. Both were wrong, and Disa gained 5 imps on undertricks. Then came:

North Dlr: North ‰ 3 Vul: None Š K 6 5 4 ‹ J 10 7 4 Œ 10 8 6 2 West East ‰ A K J 9 2 ‰ Q 8 5 4 Š A J Š Q 10 3 2 ‹ 8 6 3 ‹ 9 Œ J 5 3 Œ A K Q 7 South ‰ 10 7 6 Š 9 8 7 ‹ A K Q 5 2 Œ 9 4 Open Room: West North East South Bjerkan Bernstein Pollack Wheeler Pass 2‹ (a) Pass 4‰ Pass Pass Pass (a) 4=3=1=5, 3=4=1=5, 4=4=1=4 or 4=4=0=5 distribution and 11-15 points

Closed Room: West North East South Disa Wittes Lewis Sutherlin Pass 1Œ 1‹ 1‰ 3‹ (a) 3‰ Pass 4Š (b) Pass 4NT (c) Pass 5Œ (d) Pass 6‰ All Pass (a) Pre-emptive (b) Control-bid expressing slam interest (c) Roman Key Card Blackwood (d) Three key cards

It is surprising, with those three low diamonds, that Bjerkan didn't ask her partner for her exact distri- bution, which would have been particularly beneficial if East had had a diamond . In the Open Room, North led a low heart, not that it really mattered. Disa faced a diamond lead and heart shift, but she won with her ace, ruffed a diamond, played a to hand, ruffed another diamond high and claimed. Her twelve tricks were five spades, one heart, four clubs and two diamond ruffs. Minus 480 and plus 980 gave Disa 11 imps. On Board 18, Bernstein and Wheeler climbed too high, going down one in three notrump. When Wittes made three clubs at the other table, Bjerkan recouped the 5 imps lost on the first deal of the set.

2 Then came:

North Dlr: South ‰ J 5 3 Vul: E-W Š 9 6 3 2 ‹ 8 5 Œ A 10 8 2 West East ‰ 8 6 ‰ A K Q 10 7 4 2 Š A K 10 8 7 5 Š Q ‹ K 7 6 ‹ 10 3 2 Œ Q 6 Œ J 9 South ‰ 9 Š J 4 ‹ A Q J 9 4 Œ K 7 5 4 3 Open Room: West North East South Bjerkan Bernstein Pollack Wheeler 1‹ 1Š Pass 4‰ 5Œ Pass Pass Pass

Closed Room: West North East South Disa Wittes Lewis Sutherlin 1‹ 1Š Pass 2‰ Pass 4‰ Pass Pass Pass

Quite a difference of approach by the two South players. Wheeler was happy to bid freely at the five- level, whereas Sutherlin wouldn't compete at the three-level. As a bonus for Wheeler, she was not doubled. She went the obvious down two, losing one spade, two hearts and one diamond. When Lewis had no trouble taking ten tricks (seven spades, two hearts and one diamond), Disa had another 11 imps, now ahead by 87 imps to 30.

To be continued

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