Friday, 21 January 2000 Jean Paul Meyer, Co-ordinator • Mark Horton, Editor Brent Manley & Brian Senior,Assistant Editors Issue: 14 Stelios Hatzidakis, Layout Editor Ongelooflijk!! Incredible!!

Orbis The atmosphere was electric and with the Orbis Venice Cup title on the line,the players can be excused if the bridge was sometimes less than per- fect. In what was surely one of the most sensation- al finishes to a match ever, it was The Netherlands who triumphed by the incredible margin of just 0.5 of an IMP. We salute the new holders of the title, only the fourth nation to have its name engraved on the cup. Bep Vriend & Marijke van der Pas played on the losing team in Perth in 1989. Both were making their fourth appearance in the competition. Jet Pasman &. Anneke Simons,Wietske Van Zwol & Martine Verbeek were all appearing for the second time. Ed Franken, the Captain, and Chris Niemeijer, the coach, complete the winning squad. Commiserations to the losers, USA 1, Renee Mancuso, Jill Meyers, Randi Montin, Shawn The toast of The Netherlands – the ORBIS Venice Cup Champions Quinn, Janice Molson, Tobi Sokolow, and NPC Jo Morse. Meyers, Montin and Sokolow were defending the title they won in Hammamet in 1997. Orbis World Transnational Teams Championship Teams from USA/Poland and USA/Canada are battling it out in the final.With Orbis 32 boards to go, Meltzer enjoys a lead of 17 IMPs over Milner. The Party's over, but the Show goes on. Despite the fact that they have been over- whelmed by USA I, Brazil will contest today's Orbis World Championship remaining 32 boards.That is a tribute to their for- GIB (USA) beat WBridge5 (France), 178 - 77 IMPs, to win the ORBIS World titude and fighting spirit.The American team's total Computer Bridge Championship. Play was curtailed after 48 of the scheduled of 443 IMPs is already the highest ever recorded in 54 boards had been played. a final, and there are still two sessions to play!

VICTORY BANQUET CLOSING CEREMONY 21 January 2000 N.P.C's of all 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place teams, and the winner of the Orbis World Computer Bridge Championship are requested All tickets for the banquet MUST be collected by team cap- to meet with the ceremony organizer in the Mid-Ocean Amphi- tains from the Victory Banquet Desk today,between 10 a.m. and theatre this afternoon at 4:30 p.m. for a briefing on the proce- 12 noon. dure and protocol of the event. Only teams that have registered for the banquet will be All other attendees are respectfully reminded to be seated in issued with tickets! the amphi-theatre by 6:45 p.m. 2 Issue: 14 ORBIS WORLD BRIDGE CHAMPIONSHIPS

ORBIS BERMUDA BOWL - FINAL

Carry Over 1st Set 2nd Set 3rd Set 4th Set 5th Set 6th Set 7th Set 8th Set 9th Set 10th Set Total 10.30 13.20 Brazil - USA 1 0 - 24 25 - 44 40 - 34 18 - 43 30 - 47 4- 91 11 - 69 41 - 49 35 - 42 204 - 443

ORBIS VENICE CUP - FINAL

Carry Over 1st Set 2nd Set 3rd Set 4th Set 5th Set 6th Set 7th Set 8th Set Total

USA 1 - The Netherlands 3 - 0 17 - 38 24 - 21 14 - 49 30.25-12.75 37 - 27 45 - 34 39 - 43 40 - 25 249.25 - 249.75

ORBIS WORLD TRANSNATIONAL OPEN TEAMS CHAMPIONSHIP - FINAL

1st Set 2nd Set 3rd Set Total 10.30 13.20 Meltzer - Milner 50 - 33 50 - 33 Orbis World Transnational Open Teams Championship Final Swiss Results Matches

Team’s Name Country VPs Team’s Name Country VPs Friday 21 January 2000 5 BRACHMAN USA 280 42 KIRILENKO RUS 235.5 6 O'ROURKE USA 279 43 BOJOH L. IDN 233 7 RINALDI ITA 273 44 QUINN J. USA 232 8 DE FALCO ITA 270 9 DHONDY J. GBR 268 CONTERNO PER 232 10 REIPLINGER FRA 266 46 SOUSTER W. BDA 231 MUNAWAK IDN 266 47 HICKS K. CAN 230 Orbis WTOTC 12 SOSLER G. USA 265 ROGERS R. USA 230 10.40 - Set 2 & 13.30 - Set 3 13 TERRANEO AUT 264 49 MOSES N. AUS 229 Meltzer v Milner LES AMOILS ZAF 264 50 BIZER L. RUS 227.5 15 Ms EKEBLAD USA 263 16 SHUGART R. USA 261 51 ACHTENBERG SWI 227 17 ZAKRZEWSKI POL 259 52 MARKOWICZ USA 225 JAGNIEWSKI POL 259 53 FRIEDMAN USA 223 19 KRZYSZTOF POL 258.5 54 KOUMETZ FRA 221 To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of 20 SCHIESSER GER 255 BLACSTOCK NZL 221 the Bermuda Bowl, the world's first bridge 21 ROHAN K. ISR 254 WARSHAUER USA 221 magazine, founded in 1926, is offering a ZIMMERMAN FRA 254 special rate of US$50 for a subscription. 57 GULLBERG SW 220 23 SIMPSON USA 253 The list of contributors features many RICCIARELI ITA 253 ASH M. GBR 220 of the stars present at these 59 RASMUSSEN USA 219 Championships, including Eric Kokish, 25 KATZ R. USA 250 Sandra Landy, Barry Rigal, Brian Senior, Liz 26 HAGA M. NOR 246 60 RAND R. USA 217 McGowan & Phil King. 27 NEHMERT B. GER 245 61 SILVER J. US 214 All you have do to subscribe is make your way to the Daily Bulletin office on the 28 KLAR R. USA 243 FOLDES M. ISR 214 LEVINE M. USA 243 mezzanine floor and give your details (and 63 GERARD J. US 207 your cash!) to the Editor, Mark Horton. 30 BARRETT J. USA 242 REVILL C. CAN 207 The first 50 subscribers will recieve a 31 BAZE G. USA 241 free copy of The Complete Book of Bols JABBOUR USA 241 65 KIRSH D. CAN 203 Bridge Tips by Sally Brock. 33 MELLSTROM SWE 240 66 CORNELL M. NZ 202 SAMUEL R. USA 240 67 SURIYA C. TH 202 35 ESPINOSA ARG 239 HAMAOUI VEN 202 World Transnational 36 TORNAY G. USA 238 69 HANRATTY IRE 198 DOUGLAS BDA 238 Open Teams Championship 70 CONVEREY ZA 197 38 ROUDINESCO FRA 237.5 Today’s Playing Schedule 39 SCOTT W. AUS 237 71 REDRUPP CAN 195 40 HENNINGS USA 236 72 ROSEN E. VEN 157 Friday 21st 10.30 - 12.50 Final, stanza 2 HALLEN SWE 236 73 GRAY A. ZAF 142 13.20 - 15.40 Final, stanza 3 BERMUDA Friday, 21 January 2000 3

Thanking the main ones Strong leads from strong Limerick Competition and all others suits get strong results Update I think that most of players present at the for strong players ORBIS World Championships consider Today's two limericks are from that both the VuGraph and Bulletins ran David Rodney and Virgil Anderson by Alan Truscott smoothly. It is not because, as coordinator for both, I have done anything special, in fact I had There was a young girl from Bermuda In the Transnational Teams, a player to less to do than in previous events.That means Who wanted to catch barracuda whom I am connected by marriage picked up that someone should be responsible for this A rod and canoe the following as West: achievement. As a matter of fact were many She felt sure would do and I want to pay tribute to all of them. Her fate was quite sad - the fish chewed her [ Q 9 6 4 3 ] A K J 10 Daily News There was a young girl from Bermuda {4 I am specially grateful to Mark Horton, Whose skills were known to include a } 10 9 2 the editor, present all the time and every- Knack at a guess where, writing a lot and speaking still more, Of a two-way With East-West vulnerable, the bidding having an unstoppable laugh the rest of the As kibitzers cried "She's so good - ahh" was: time. Brian Senior and Brent Manley, assis- tant editors, showed utmost competence and I still have a large supply of limericks West North East South among other things gave you full reports of the for publication. However I will share Pass 1] Pass 1NT (1) matches of the day with precise details and with you some of the attempted rhymes Pass 2} * Pass 2NT * best analysis. with 'Bermuda' which have not passed Pass 3NT All Pass Stelios Hatzidakis was responsible for the stringent quality control checks we the lay out and also for the giving the films to impose here in the Bulletin Room, the (1) A forced reply the printer in time so that the Bulletin was list includes:- sooner,Vancouver, Steen- ready every morning at 8.00am Moller, peculiar and nature. The spade suit did not seem to offer much I want to give special credit to Ron The original contest specified the future, so West chose the heart jack, quite Tacchi, English but living in France, not only first line 'There was a young girl from quickly.The complete deal was: for his good spirit in the Bulletin room, but Bermuda', however not an inconsider- also for the excellent photographs he provid- able number of people have submitted [ A 10 5 ed us with every day. limericks with a different first line and ] Q 8 7 4 2 Excellent assistance was provided by our so that they may have their brief {K Q 3 moment of glory, this is one of many Dutch friend Lex de Groot and we would }K 6 have had many more errors without the submitted by George Torney. expert proof reading from Graham Fenton. [ Q 9 6 4 3N [ 8 2 This Bermudian girl was a beaut ] A K J 10 ] 9 6 5 If everything went smoothly, it is also due W E to the quality of the material provided by the Though oft she bid the wrong suit { 4 { A 8 6 2 WBF and Bermudan Federation, and the very The men asked her to play } 10 9 2S } J 8 7 3 useful technical help given by Mark Newton. Both at night and at day [ K J 7 We got the results in time, shortly after the Just because they found her so cute ]3 play had ended, so things, in fact were very easy. { J 10 9 7 5 VuGraph } A Q 5 4 Everyone was astonished by the quality of Spread the word The play went briskly.The heart jack held, the VuGraph, and the French technique should of course.The heart ten won the next trick, of be emphasized. Perhaps praise should not The ACBL has developed a program course. A shift to the club ten followed, and come from me, but nevertheless I will! to introduce non-players to the game of when East won the diamond ace two more Thanks for the camera work to Bernard bridge. Since its release last year, Learn to heart tricks provided a 10 IMP gain. Delange, Paul Binisti and Bernadette Play Bridge has been well received. Is that the best of the Pasquier, (Zoomescope). Results came quickly, If you know of someone who might Transnational? Thank you, Dorothy. sequence, leads, details of play, running scores want to learn the game, you can take a due to Laurent Rigaud, Elisabeth Antelme, Babette Piganeau and Brigitte Piquet. diskette of the program, written by The commentators were on the spot at Canada's Fred Gitelman, home with you. Two corrections every moment. By now you will surely never Pick up your copies of Learn to Play forget Barry Rigal's voice of which you had Bridge at the Hospitality Desk or in the 1. Alan Truscott's quiz answers should the benefit for hours. He was quick, and also Daily Bulletin office. have noted that the Australian right most of the time. Thanks to the very The program is also available on the Bermuda Bowl team was not the only competent others, especially when they suc- ACBL's web site, www.acbl.org, and can team with no members born in the ceeded in uttering a word for a minute or so. be downloaded free. country represented. The Bermuda They are Bobby Wolff, witty and thoughtful, Venice Cup team had no players born Eric Kokish, systems expert and fast in analy- in Bermuda. sis, David Ezekiel to whom the audience has been most grateful for the many moments of 2. The description of the first Bermuda laughter they got. Attention Bowl in an early issue of the Daily Thanks, because of you all- and many oth- News wrongly stated that Britain fin- Hotel Checkout time is 12 noon. ers I must admit. One of them, and not least, ished second, behind the United Cashiers will be on duty on Friday being José Damiani. The Orbis Bermuda States, in a three-team field. The evening for settlement of accounts. Bowl 2000 edition is an event to be remem- European team, with two pairs from Express checkout form will be deliv- bered! Sweden and one from Iceland, had that ered to all 'departing rooms'. honour. Jean-Paul Meyer 4 Issue: 14 ORBIS WORLD BRIDGE CHAMPIONSHIPS

THE 1999 IBPA ANNUAL AWARDS

The 1999 IBPA Personality of the Year: West North East South The Sender Award for Best Defence: Cope Johnson Chu Meckstroth Marc Hodler (Switzerland) Andrew Robson (GB) 1] by Philip King (GB) Marc Hodler has a remarkable record: he 2{ 2] Pass Pass 2[ 3} Dble 3] has international significance in bridge, skiing See IBPA Bulletin 407 page 5 and the Olympic movement. All Pass From the Lederer Memorial Press Release He learned to play bridge, from his family in Berne, Switzerland, at the age of nine and read Cope led ace and another on a very Dealer West. None Vul informative auction, after Meckstroth had the first major book on the game, Culbertson's [ J 8 5 3 Blue Book, when it appeared in 1930. He rep- opened on very light values – some would use resented his country in one European harsher language than that! Meckstroth could ]Q J Championship and was President of the Swiss immediately form the picture of West's hand as { A 7 6 Bridge Federation from 1955 to 1985. having four spades and six diamonds, with a } 10 8 5 4 probable singleton club honour (no club lead) He learned to ski at the age of five, which [ K 10 7N [ A Q 9 6 4 he says was too late: future champions must and with the diamond honours split (no top ] K 9 6 5 2 ] A 10 8 W E start at two. He was President of the diamond lead). { K Q 9 8 4 { 5 At trick three he led his singleton club, International Skiing Federation for an astonish- } –S } A J 6 3 ing 47 years, from 1951 to 1998. This led him won the return of the queen of spades in into the Olympic movement, based in Lausanne dummy and advanced the queen of clubs, cov- [2 and he has been a member of the International ered and ruffed. This was the ending - what ] 7 4 3 Olympic Committee since 1963. His efforts to would you do with the sight of all four hands? { J 10 3 2 counter corruption within the movement bore } K Q 9 7 2 [7 fruit in 1998, when ABC News obtained some West North East South secret documents from Salt Lake City. ]J Mr. Hodler has worked hard to bring {J 5 Erichsen Robson Charlsen Zia bridge into the Olympics.The first step is the } J 9 6 4 1] Pass 1[ Pass international team contest now being staged 2{ Pass 3} Dble [ J 9 3N [ 8 4 annually in Lausanne.The second, he hopes, will ]– ]Q 3[ Pass 4NT Pass be a similar demonstration event in Salt Lake W E 5{ Pass 6[ All Pass City. Finally, perhaps in Turin in 2006, we can { K 9 8 7 3 { Q 6 } –S } 10 8 7 look forward to an official bridge event with Zia led the king of clubs against East's Six gold, silver and bronze medals.That is an excit- [ K 10 6 Spades, (a heart going from the table) won by ing prospect for us all. ]9 8 the ace and Charlsen played a diamond to the { A 10 4 king and ace. At every other table where this }– happened North played a second club, antici- The IBPA 1999 Award for Best Play: pating that he would then make a trump trick. South is on lead, needing six more tricks. However, the declarers succeeded on a cross- Jeff Meckstroth (USA) As you can see, playing on diamonds does not without even taking advantage of the heart position. One heart went on the good dia- by Omar Sharif (Egypt) work, East will take the trick and draw a round of trumps. Ruffing a spade in dummy brings you mond, two top hearts were cashed and when the cross-ruff followed the defence never had See Bulletin 413, June '99 to eight tricks, but not to nine. Meckstroth found the spectacular of a chance to over-ruff.The declarers made four Omar Sharif's column in the London leading the ten of spades from hand – be hon- outside winners and eight trumps. Observer on 6th June reports this deal, est, would you have thought of it? By contrast Robson counted declarer's 9, in the second session of the Cavendish Pairs If West takes the trick and leads a spade potential twelve tricks and switched to a Qualifying: back (a diamond is no better) declarer wins in trump away from Jxxx! Although it is possible to succeed Charlsen assumed that, with the It is not often that declarer makes a play hand, pitching a diamond from dummy. He switch, the trumps must be 3-2, and with two that leaves me feeling that I still have a lot to plays the ace of diamonds, ruffs a diamond, club ruffs, he needed one extra trick from learn about this game. However Jeff Meckstroth ruffs a club and leads a losing heart, to either setting up diamonds, or a squeeze. But of the US is one of those masters of the game East into leading a club at trick 12 into the who occasionally produce a coup to take your when he came to draw trumps they did not tenace in dummy. break, and the slam went two down. breath away.With that huge hint, put yourself in In fact, at this point Cope decided his best his shoes as declarer on the following deal: The others to make the shortlist were: chance was to the ten of spades, hoping B405 page 15 Oct. Steve Eginton (GB) by Mark his partner had the king. That simply let Dealer South. E/W Vul Horton (GB); B410 page 4 March Anna & Meckstroth cash [K to pitch a diamond, then Gudrun (Ice) by Barnet Shenkin (USA); B411 [A 7 take {A, and ruff a diamond. Now he scored page 3 Apr. Glowacki (Pol) by Marc Smith (GB); ] J 6 3 }J and ruffed a club for nine tricks, and put in B414 page 12 Jul. Popov (Bulgaria) by Malta Staff. an for the Best Played Hand of the Year. {J 5 IBPA Editor: When West did not cover [10 } Q J 9 6 4 2 declarer can make 10 tricks by following the [ Q J 9 3N [ 8 4 2 line described earlier of an end-play on East. Bermuda Shorts ]A 4 ]Q 10 2 Presumably Meckstroth did not wish to take W E There is an interesting little footnote on { K 9 8 7 3 2 { Q 6 any risks once his contract was secure. page four of the programme of the original 1950 } KS } A 10 8 7 3 Others on the shortlist were: B410 P11 Bermuda Bowl - 'All playing cards used during [ K 10 6 5 March Henrik Ron (Den) by Ib Lundby (Den); this week are presented by the Phoenix Rexall B411 P10 Apr. Brown (Australia) by Ron ] K 9 8 7 5 Drug Store, Hamilton, Bermuda.' If you check the Klinger (Aus); B415 P7 Aug. Seamon (USA) current telephone directory you will find that { A 10 4 second hand by ACBL staff; B415 P10 Aug. there is still a Phoenix Drug Store in Bermuda. }5 Piotr Tuszynski (Pol) by Krzysztof Jassem (Pol). BERMUDA Friday, 21 January 2000 5

The Romex Award for Best Auction: Dorthe and Peter are still competing in the Danish first division, but their chances to rep- Press Conference Geir Helgemo and Tor Helness resent Denmark again maybe have decreased a (Norway) little. No problem at all - the third generation Following the IBPA awards ceremony, is ready to take over! Meet 14 years old Martin José Damiani, Jaime Ortiz-Patino, Panos by Patrick Jourdain (GB) Schaltz in this fascinating hand from a recent Gerontopoulos and Marc Hodler were club evening. invited to the platform for a press confer- See Bulletin 409 Page 2, February ence.These were the highlights: From the Macallan Daily Bulletin Dealer South. None Vul Mr. Hodler was asked if there would be problems in Salt Lake City for bridge jour- Board 21. Dealer North. N/S Vul [ Q 8 4 nalists. He said there is a problem of num- [J 8 ]Q 6 bers. At the Winter Olympics there are ] Q 10 3 { A K 10 7 2 9,000 to 9,500 people from the media.There } Q 10 2 are problems both of accreditation and { J 4 2 accommodation for journalists and those } Q 9 8 3 2 [ J 10 7 3N [ A 6 ] K 9 7 4 3 2 ] 10 who plan to attend should get in touch with [ K Q 10 5 3N [ A 9 7 W E the Press section of the IOC in Lausanne, ]7 4 ]A 5 { 8 { J 9 5 4 3 who will be happy to help. W E S { K 8 7 5 3 { A Q 9 6 } J 8 } K 9 7 4 3 With full consultation with the IOC, the }6S }A J 10 5 [ K 9 5 2 WBF constitution and by-laws will be changed in Maastricht to be in accordance [ 6 4 2 ] A J 8 5 {Q 6 with the Olympic rules. At present only ] K J 9 8 6 2 sports played on snow and ice are eligible {10 } A 6 5 for the Winter Olympics, so the IOC also } K 7 4 South West North East has to change some rules to allow for the 1NT Pass 3NT All Pass inclusion of Mind Sports. Whereas if other West East sports moved it would entail the building of Helgemo Helness West led his fourth best heart, won by extra stadia, Mind Sports can be played in 1} dummy's queen, and after a diamond to the existing facilities, out of season, such as con- 1[ 2NT queen the next diamond trick told Martin that ference centers, hotel ballrooms and cine- he had to work for it. So he did! mas. 3{ 4{ Asked about changes to the WBF 4[ 4NT The {K took trick 3, and a heart to the 8 end-played West on the 9. He elected to play Constitution, Panos Gerontopoulos con- 5{ 5NT the [J which was taken by the [K, and a spade firmed that we are ready to follow the IOC 7{ Pass went to the 8 and the bare ace. Now it was Code. 28 players willingly co-operated with East's turn to be thrown in! A low club went to the drug testing procedure, and many more 4NT was Key Card Blackwood. 5{ the jack and queen, and before Martin cashed are happy to do so when necessary. showed one keycard. 5NT guaranteed all first the [Q this was the picture: José Damiani said the WBF must be will- round controls and no trump loser. Helgemo ing to accept the IOC Court of Arbitration. realised any heart losers would disappear. Also there will be close co-operation This effort gains in stature when you [Q between all Federations and the IOC on the realise that three pairs stopped in game. ]– choice of teams. Others on the shortlist were: B410 page { A 10 7 An important decision was taken by the 14 March Bettina Kalkerup – Charlotte Koch- } 10 2 WBF to make a new zone of Africa, Zone 8, Palmund (Den) by Svend Novrup (Den); B413 an area which has many IOC members.Also [ 10 7N [ – page 7 June Titkin-Deloney (USA) by Harvey ] K 7 3 ] – it means that the zones now cover the Bernstein (USA); Lille Special page 10, Sabine W E whole world. Auken & Daniela v Arnim (Ger) by Tony { – { J 9 5 S Mr. Damiani was asked how many teams Gordon (GB); B411 page 7 Apr Collins & }8 }K 9 7 would play in Salt Lake City and how they Cusworth (Australia) by Dick Cummings [9 5 would be picked. Originally it was to be six (Aus). ]A J Open teams and two Women's teams, the {– latter being USA and Europe. He hopes to }A 6 visit the site, which is reported to be mar- The Levendaal Award for Best Play by a Junior: velous, to see if the numbers can be Look what happens to East when the [Q increased.The ideal would be eight teams so Martin Schaltz (Denmark) is played. If he throws a diamond, declarer will as to represent every zone; that is, to have six Women's' teams, but also to have two by Ib Lundby (Denmark) cash the {A and continue with a diamond, thereby making his third end-play. Therefore Junior teams as they are the future of East had to throw a club, but it didn't help him bridge: - sixteen teams in total if they can all See Bulletin 408 page 7, January '99 be accommodated. Third generation very much. Instead Martin played a club to his ace, discarded a diamond on the ]A and threw Mr. Damiani was asked to comment about the Transnational teams which is the Lizzi and Jørgen-Elith Schaltz were some of East in with the }K. Dummy's A-10 in dia- monds took the two last tricks. 3NT made toughest that has ever been contested.The the hot bridge names I read about and learned concept was close to his heart and he with an overtrick. from, when I was a junior player. Lizzi won the invented it for two reasons. We have the Two end-plays and a throw-in squeeze in European Ladies Team title several times, and prestigious VuGraph and are lucky to have the same hand... I guess that we will meet her husband played on our national team as CCTV covering the event but it needs peo- Martin at the international scene very soon. well. For a couple of years my partner was ple around.Also, the competition associates Peter Schaltz, their son, and in 1970 I was his people from different countries. It was Others on the short list were: B403 page 11 captain when he and his team won the started in Rhodes with 86 teams, and there Aug. Julien Geitner (Fra) by Hervé Pacault (Fra); European Junior title in Dublin. Since then were 76 in Hammamet and here also 76. In Peter has for many years played on our nation- Lille Special page 16 Sep. Gavin Birdsall (GB) by view of the difficulty and the cost of getting al team with different partners, among them Lille staff; B404 page 6 Sep. Oglobin (Poland) by into Bermuda, that is very good, and the his wife Dorthe and his cousin Knud-Aage Krzysztof Piatkowski (Pol); B416 page 3 Sep. 99 competition has proved very attractive. Boesgaard. Eric Greco (USA) by Florida staff. 6 Issue: 14 ORBIS WORLD BRIDGE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Orbis Venice Cup - Final Set 3 USA 1 v The Netherlands

USA1 had won the second set of the Orbis No Trump bid had a lot to do with creating an West North East South Venice Cup final, but still trailed by 15 IMPs auction in which her opponents would not get Simons Meyers Pasman Montin going into Set 3. The deficit was increased to to game. 21 when Meyers/Montin missed a normal but 1} moderate game on Board 1 that was bid and Board 6. Dealer East. E/W Vul. 1[ 2{ 3[ 3NT made at the other table.And on Board 4 they All Pass again stayed out of a game which was bid at the [ A J 8 other table. ] 9 5 3 Five Diamonds is unbeatable if played by {J 5 South, as the defense can never get at their Board 4. Dealer West.All Vul. heart trick. That is, perhaps, a little fortunate, } 8 6 5 4 2 but it would have taken more than good for- [ 10 5 2 [ K Q 5 4N [ 10 7 6 tune to make either of the contracts actually ]K ]A 8 2 reached. Both were one down; no swing. ] 6 5 2 W E { A Q J 10 5 { A 10 8 7 6 4 { K Q 9 3 2 S Board 9. Dealer North. E/W Vul. }A 5 }J 9 }A K [6 3 [ K Q 3 [ 9 8 4 [ 9 3 2 N ] J 9 8 ]3 ]A Q 9 ] Q J 10 7 6 4 W E { A 9 7 2 { K 9 4 2 { 8 7 6 {– } 10 9 4 3 } K J 10 8 2S } Q 9 7 4 } Q 10 7 3 [ A J 9 8 2 [ 7 [ A J 7 6 N West North East South ] 4 ] A K Q 10 7 6 5 2 ] K J 10 8 7 4 W E Quinn Verbeek Mancuso v Zwol { K 10 8 { J 4 {3 1NT 3] } A K Q 8S }J 2 }6 3 Dble 4] 5{ Pass [ K Q 10 5 4 West North East South 6{ All Pass ]3 Quinn Verbeek Mancuso v Zwol { Q 6 5 3 Six Diamonds is a decent spot on the 1{ Pass 1NT 2] East/West cards. Though the pre-emptive } 7 6 5 3} 3{ 3NT 4] may suggest that the spade ace will be West North East South Dble All Pass offside more often than not. Even with the Quinn Verbeek Mancuso v Zwol spade offside, there might have been a double- Pass 4] Pass Martine Verbeek's Three Diamond bid promised ton jack. Not today; -100. heart support and Wietske van Zwol bid game 4NT Pass 5[ Pass over Renee Mancuso's Three No Trump.A club West North East South 6] All Pass Simons Meyers Pasman Montin lead is the most challenging for declarer, but West North East South Shawn Quinn led a trump, expecting declarer to 1NT Pass Simons Meyers Pasman Montin need ruffs to fulfill her contract. But the trump 2} Pass 2{ Pass lead opened up declarer's communications and Pass 4} Pass 3NT All Pass she was able to get to hand with a heart to take 6] All Pass the diamond finesse,creating a winner on which The Dutch pair did not explore the hand to pitch her club loser. Declarer had to lose a Justice turned a blind eye on this one, also. very thoroughly and stopped off in Three No heart and two spades; +790. While Quinn/Mancuso reached the good slam Trump without even discovering the diamond from the wrong side and made all 13 tricks on West North East South fit.Three No Trump made 11 tricks, of course, a spade lead, the Dutch pair got it played with Simons Meyers Pasman Montin and the Netherlands had another big pick-up. the diamond position protected. Pasman Would you feel that they deserved to gain 13 opened Four Clubs, showing a good Four 1} 1{ 1NT 2] IMPs? Well, you are entitled to some good for- All Pass Heart opening with a strong suit and Simons, tune in a long match. after a lot of thought, jumped to Six Hearts - a good effort which deserved a better fate Anneke Simons opened her longer minor, Board 7. Dealer South.All Vul. leading to a quite different auction. Jill Meyers than to lose 1 IMP, as Meyers led ace and could overcall immediately, and so had bid [8 another diamond. most of her hand before Randi Montin intro- ] Q 10 5 Board 10. Dealer East.All Vul. duced her heart suit. Meyers might have raised { Q J 10 7 6 2 [ J 8 5 2 the hearts, but she had a with } A K 2 no heart honour and her partner was limited ] A 7 6 2 by the failure to double. Meyers passed and the [ Q 9 5 3 2N [ J 10 7 6 4 {K ] K J 7 ] 9 4 3 2 thin game was missed; +170 but 12 IMPs to the W E } J 5 3 2 Netherlands. {A {K 9 [K 3 [Q 7 6 By the way, what do you think of Jet S N } 10 8 5 4 } 7 6 ] K Q ] 10 9 8 5 Pasman's diamond stopper? Certainly, her One W E [A K { A 10 9 8 7 { Q 4 2 ] A 8 6 } A K 8 6S } 10 9 4 Bermuda Shorts { 8 5 4 3 [ A 10 9 4 } Q J 9 3 Could it be that the 'Royal Gazette' is ] J 4 3 using the same proof reader as the Daily West North East South { J 6 5 3 News.The headline in that illustrious jour- Quinn Verbeek Mancuso v Zwol }Q 7 nal on page thirty-one of the January 19 edition reads thus: 'THE BERMUDA 1{ What should you open the West hand CALDENDAR'. Dble 2} 2[ 3NT after two passes? Simons opened One 4[ 6{ All Pass Diamond and was left to play there. She lost a BERMUDA Friday, 21 January 2000 7 trick in each suit to score +110. Quinn led a diamond and now it is possible Four No Trump for the minors. It would have Quinn tried a 20-22 Two No Trump and to make Three No Trump if declarer guesses been plausible on this auction for Pasman to was raised to game via a Stayman sequence. correctly how to play.However,it seemed to be lead the ace of diamonds, thinking to give her Verbeek led a low heart to the ten and duck convenient to take a first-round spade finesse partner a ruff. Had she done so, she would (well done). After this start there was no way and when that lost and the spades proved to be surely have continued with a second diamond, to come to nine tricks and the contract was 4-1 the contract drifted two down. however, letting the contract through. The actually two down; -200 and 7 IMPs to the heart lead was just too tough and Pasman Netherlands. West North East South actually led her partner's suit. Meyers pitched Simons Meyers Pasman Montin two hearts on the top spades and soon had 11 Board 11. Dealer South. None Vul. Pass 1] Pass 1[ tricks; 10 IMPs to USA1. [ J 10 8 7 5 3 Pass 2[ Pass 4[ Board 15. Dealer South. N/S Vul. ] 9 7 2 All Pass { K J 10 [ K 9 4 }9 To beat Four Spades, the defense must ] 10 7 4 make dummy ruff a club with the jack of { K 8 6 4 2 [ A Q 6N [ 9 2 spades. Simons found the lead of the queen of ] 3 ] J 10 8 6 4 }A 3 W E clubs and Pasman took the ace and returned { A Q 7 5 4 { 9 8 6 the suit. Montin won the club king and ruffed [ A Q J 6N [ 10 8 7 5 3 S ] K Q 8 6 2 ] 3 } Q 10 8 2 } A K 3 her last club immediately. There were two W E [K 4 spades and a heart to lose from here; -100 but { – { J 10 9 7 S ] A K Q 5 3 IMPs to USA1, who needed them. } J 9 7 2 } K 6 5 Montin might have tried a heart towards {3 2 [2 the king at trick three, but it would not have ] A J 9 5 } J 7 6 5 4 been difficult for Simons to rise with the ace { A Q 5 3 West North East South and play the jack of clubs. At least by playing } Q 10 8 4 Quinn Verbeek Mancuso v Zwol the third club herself, Montin knew she would make if trumps divided evenly, while playing the West North East South 1} heart might have led to complications if the Quinn Verbeek Mancuso v Zwol 1{ 2[ All Pass ace was offside. 1{ Verbeek stole the contract with her weak- Board 14. Dealer East. None Vul. 1] 2[ Pass 2NT jump response. The play was easy and she [ A K 9 6 3{ 3NT 4[ Pass made an overtrick; +140. ] Q 5 2 Pass Dble All Pass West North East South {K West North East South Simons Meyers Pasman Montin } A Q 10 5 3 Simons Meyers Pasman Montin 1} [ Q 8 7 3 2 [ J 10 5 4 N 1{ 1{ 1[ Dble Pass ] A K 9 3 ] J 8 7 W E Dble 3{ All Pass 1NT 2[ 3{ 3[ { 8 5 { A J 10 9 6 4{ 4[ All Pass }7 6S }4 There were some interesting competitive [– decisions to be made on this deal. Firstly, There was much more action here where should West overcall One Heart, or should she Meyers bid a simple One Spade bid. It seemed ] 10 6 4 { Q 7 4 3 2 make a take-out double, losing the 5-3 heart that the bidding was never going to end as each fits but getting all three suits into the game. side in turn competed in diamonds beyond the } K J 9 8 2 Simons was a doubler and Meyers made a limit level to which they might have been expected West North East South raise in diamonds. Now, what about the East to go.The deal proved to be a poor advertise- Quinn Verbeek Mancuso v Zwol hand? Many players would have bid Three ment for the . Four Pass Pass spades over Three Diamonds but, had Pasman Diamonds would have been unbeatable and done so, I suspect that Simons would have Meyers had nine tricks in Four Spades, making 1[ 1NT 3[ 4} raised her to game and she might then have her -50 the best result possible for her side. Pass 5} All Pass been doubled by Meyers. So the cautious pass Alas, that was still 5 IMPs to the Netherlands. West North East South worked out OK. Three Diamonds was com- Board 12. Dealer West. N/S Vul. fortable enough despite the 4-0 trump split. Simons Meyers Pasman Montin Montin emerged with an overtrick for +130. [ A K J Pass Pass In the other room, Quinn chose the heart ] K 10 6 3 2 1[ Dble 4[ 4NT overcall. Verbeek showed a constructive dia- { K 10 9 Pass 5} All Pass mond raise and van Zwol her heart stopper }9 6 and minimum. Now Quinn bid Three [ 10 9 7 3 [ Q What is your choice with the North hand Diamonds to get the black suits into the game. N When Verbeek tried Three No Trump, ] A 8 ] Q J 7 5 4 when West opens One Spade in front of you? W E Nothing is ideal, but both double and One No Mancuso bid Four Spades with some hopes of { 8 7 4 3 { 6 2 making it. S Trump are perfectly reasonable calls. On this } Q J 4 } A 8 5 3 2 layout, the double worked much better. Van Zwol led her trump, which was the [ 8 6 5 4 2 Where Verbeek had overcalled One No best start for the defense as it began the ]9 Trump, van Zwol did not have a convenient process of cutting down declarer's potential { A Q J 5 way of showing both minors without commit- for taking ruffs. Verbeek continued playing } K 10 7 ting her side to the five level, which she did not trumps and the contract drifted two down; - want to do. Unfortunately, when she bid her 300 and 5 IMPs to the Netherlands. West North East South clubs and was raised to game, the hand with This was an excellent set for the Quinn Verbeek Mancuso v Zwol the top hearts was on lead and she had to go Netherlands, who gained 35 IMPs to extend one down; -50. their lead to 108-58.There was still a long way Pass 1] Pass 1[ Where Meyers had made a take-out dou- to go, but the Americans would want to pull Pass 2[ Pass 2NT ble, Pasman raised all the way to Four Spades, back a few points in the last set of the day to Pass 3NT All Pass and now it was convenient for Montin to bid help them to sleep more easily. 8 Issue: 14 ORBIS WORLD BRIDGE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Orbis Venice Cup - Final Set 5 USA 1 v The Netherlands

At the half-way stage of the Orbis Venice Board 5. Dealer North. N/S Vul. Cup final, the Netherlands led by 32.5 IMPs. However, USA1 struck on the first deal of the [ Q 5 3 new day. ] K 9 3 { J 9 8 5 3 2 Board 1. Dealer North. None Vul. }8 [7 3 [ A K 8N [ J 10 9 6 4 2 ] J 6 ] 10 8 7 ] 6 5 2 W E { A 10 6 3 { K 10 6 { A 4 } Q 9 3 2 } A Q 9 6 2S } J 5 [7 [ A K Q 10N [ 6 5 4 ] A K 3 ] Q J 10 8 7 ] A Q 5 4 2 W E { K Q 8 7 2 { – {Q 7 } 7S } A 10 8 6 4 } K 10 7 4 3 [ J 9 8 2 West North East South ]9 4 Simons Mancuso Pasman Quinn { J 9 5 4 Pass 2{ 2] } K J 5 Jet Pasman,The Netherlands Dble Pass 2[ Pass West North East South 4[ All Pass Simons Mancuso Pasman Quinn draw trumps and claim; +980. That was 11 IMPs to USA1. The lead was the queen of diamonds. Jet Pass 2] Pass Pasman resisted any temptation to finesse the 2NT Pass 3] Pass Board 4. Dealer West.All Vul. diamond ten. Instead she set about getting her 4] All Pass [ A 9 5 2 heart ruff and eventually took the club ruff for her contract; +420. Two Hearts was weak with hearts and a ] 10 9 6 minor and the Three Heart response to the { A J 6 5 West North East South enquiry showed a maximum with clubs. }5 4 Sokolow Vriend Molson v d Pas Anneke Simons settled for game, expecting [ K Q 10 7 6 [ J 3 Pass 2{ Dble wasted club values; +450. N ] K Q 2 ] A J 8 5 2NT Pass 3] Pass W E West North East South { 8 3 { Q 10 7 4 4[ All Pass Sokolow Vriend Molson v d Pas } Q 10 8S } J 9 7 Molson opened a multi and van der Pas Pass Pass Pass [8 4 doubled, take-out of spades. Sokolow enquired 1{ Pass 1] Pass ] 7 4 3 and bid Four Spades on hearing that her part- 2[ Pass 3} Pass { K 9 2 ner held a weak two in the suit.Vriend led her 3] Pass 4} Pass } A K 6 3 2 singleton club and now declarer could not play the simple heart ruff line as she would be in 4NT Pass 5{ Pass West North East South 6] All Pass danger of conceding two club ruffs.The open- Simons Mancuso Pasman Quinn ing lead ran to declarer's nine. Sokolow cashed Janice Seamon-Molson did not open the 1[ Pass 1NT 2} the ace of spades then crossed to the diamond East hand, not having a two-suited option in Pass 2NT All Pass ace to run the jack of clubs.Vriend ruffed and her armoury. Tobi Sokolow was able to show led a low heart to the ace. Now the contract her strong hand and delayed heart support. The Two Club overcall is ugly and got the is defeated if van der Pas leads a club for When Molson could cuebid Four Clubs, she fate it deserved when Renee Mancuso tried Vriend to ruff, or cashes the heart queen and took control with RKCB, assuming her partner Two No Trump, hoping that her partner might then gives the ruff. But van der Pas erred by to hold the heart queen or some other com- be better for a vulnerable overcall. The spade returning a low heart. Vriend could win but pensation. Right she was.The lead was the two lead held Mancuso to her five top winners; - there was no longer a club ruff; +420 and a of spades. Molson won the ace and played ace 300. push, but a missed chance by the Netherlands. Declarer also erred. Had she cashed both of clubs and a high club ruff. Molson came back West North East South to hand with the ten of trumps and ruffed top spades before crossing to dummy to play another club. Now she called for a low dia- Sokolow Vriend Molson v d Pas the club jack, she would have been OK. mond. Bep Vriend thought for a while then 1[ Pass 1NT Pass Board 11. Dealer South. None Vul. went up with the ace, and Molson could ruff, 2} Pass 2[ All Pass [9 Here it was West who bid the clubs oppo- ] J 10 6 Prize Giving site a forcing no trump response. Vriend led the ten of hearts to the king, van der Pas play- { Q J 9 7 3 The prize-giving ceremony will begin ing a discouraging four (odd-even signals). } A 10 7 6 promptly at 19.00 in the VuGraph Sokolow played a spade to the jack and a sec- [ Q 5 3N [ A 8 4 Auditorium. We request that everybody ond spade to the king and ace.Vriend switched ] Q 7 4 ] A 9 5 3 2 be seated by 18.50. W E to a club to the king. Van der Pas continued {A 8 {K 4 2 The teams who are to receive medals with the ace and two of clubs. Vriend ruffed S will be assigned seats. } Q 8 5 4 3 } K J and switched to the five of diamonds. Sokolow [ K J 10 7 6 2 The Ceremony will be followed by played low from dummy and van der Pas played dinner and dancing in the Atlantic Room a dangerous nine. She returned the low dia- ]K 8 (the playing area). mond for one down; -100 and 9 IMPs to the { 10 6 5 Netherlands. }9 2 BERMUDA Friday, 21 January 2000 9

West North East South Vriend started with a strong jump shift Simons Mancuso Pasman Quinn then repeated her spades. When van der Pas bid Four Clubs, it seems that she was cuebid- 2[ ding for spades, rather than bidding out her Pass Pass Dble Pass shape.Vriend cuebid diamonds then redoubled 2NT Pass 3NT All Pass to show first-round control. Though van der West North East South Pas signed-off in Four Spades,Vriend was happy to continue with RKCB and more RKCB. Sokolow Vriend Molson v d Pas When van der Pas denied a side king and Six 2{ Clubs got doubled,Vriend must have been a lit- Pass 2[ 2NT Pass tle worried that there would be two clubs to 3NT All Pass lose. However, she had little option but to bid Six Spades. As it turned out, there was no Effectively, both Souths opened a weak Two problem; +980 and 11 IMPs to the Spades. The two East players chose different Netherlands. actions over this. Pasman went for a take-out double, and that led to Simons playing Three Board 16. Dealer West. E/W Vul. No Trump from the West seat. Mancuso led [ A K 7 5 her stiff spade and Simons ducked in dummy. When Shawn Quinn won the spade king, she ] A 10 7 5 wasted no time in switching to a diamond (the {A 7 ten) and the contract was defeated; down two } Q J 7 for -100. Tobi Sokolow, USA 1 [ J 10 9 4N [ 8 3 2 Molson preferred to overcall Two No ] 9 3 2 ] Q J 8 6 4 Trump, raised to game by Sokolow. Vriend's response to her partner's encouraging five on W E the first trick (it looks as though the five was { 10 6 3 2 { K Two Spade response to the multi suggested S spade shortage and interest in a heart con- just intended to show count). Molson could } K 6 } 10 9 8 3 tract. Van der Pas led the king of hearts, rea- put in the diamond ten for a club pitch, draw [Q 6 sonably enough. Molson won the ace and trumps and set about the hearts.Another club ]K played the club king. Vriend won the ace and went on the king of diamonds; +620 and 12 { Q J 9 8 5 4 IMPs to USA1, pulling closer. switched to a diamond but it was too late. } A 5 4 2 Declarer unblocked the club, crossed to the Board 14. Dealer East. None Vul. queen of hearts and cashed the club queen. West North East South When the clubs did not break, she gave up a [ K Q 10 9 5 4 3 Simons Mancuso Pasman Quinn heart and had nine tricks; +400 and 11 IMPs to ]A USA1. Pass 1} Pass 1{ {A Pass 2NT Pass 6} Board 13. Dealer North.All Vul. } 10 5 4 2 All Pass [ J 6 2 [ 8 [ 9 7 3 2 N West North East South ] 9 6 2 ] K Q 10 5 ]A 7 W E Sokolow Vriend Molson v d Pas { K J 9 7 5 { Q 10 8 6 4 3 { 9 7 6 5 }K 6S }J 3 Pass 1} Pass 1{ } J 10 3 [A 7 Pass 2NT Pass 3{ [ Q 8 5 [ K J 10 6 4 N ] J 8 7 4 3 Pass 3NT Pass 4} ] 10 8 6 ] Q J 3 W E {2 Pass 4{ Pass 4] { K 10 4 2 { A } A Q 9 8 7 Pass 4[ Pass 5} } K 5 4S } A 8 6 2 Pass 5] Pass 6} [A West North East South All Pass ] K 9 5 4 2 Simons Mancuso Pasman Quinn { Q J 8 3 Pass 1] Both North/South pairs reached the poor } Q 9 7 Pass 1[ Pass 2} club slam. Quinn's leap to Six Clubs looks unnecessary. No doubt Mancuso expected a West North East South Pass 2{ Pass 3} genuine minor two-suiter for this sequence. Pass 4} Pass 4[ Simons Mancuso Pasman Quinn Six Diamonds is better but also fails. After a All Pass Pass 1[ Dble heart lead, Mancuso drifted three down; -150. The Dutch had a more exploratory auc- 2[ Pass 3} Pass It is possible for South to hold weaker tion, and it was a surprise that they too ended 4[ All Pass clubs and stronger hearts, making slam a less up in clubs rather than diamonds.The lead was attractive proposition , but it still seems a little West North East South a spade to declarer's queen.Van der Pas played timid of North not to go on facing a five-card a low club towards the queen, jack and Sokolow Vriend Molson v d Pas club suit.There was only a club to lose; +480. Sokolow took the king. She switched to a low Pass 1[ Dble West North East South diamond. Had van der Pas taken the ace, she 2] Pass 3} Pass Sokolow Vriend Molson v d Pas could have made the hand on a spade/diamond 4[ All Pass squeeze against West. But playing for a stiff dia- Pass 1] mond king would have been well against the Both Souths led the queen of diamonds to Pass 2[ Pass 3} odds.Van der Pas finessed and lost to the bare the bare ace. Declarer played a spade and Pass 3[ Pass 4} king. A heart was returned, knocking out the South won. Quinn switched to a low heart and Pass 4{ Dble Pass entry to hand while the clubs were still three rounds of that suit gave Mancuso a ruff. Pass Rdbl Pass 4[ blocked. Unable to draw the last trump, declar- The defense slopped a trick from here but the Pass 4NT Pass 5] er also conceded a diamond ruff for two contract was already down one for -100. down; -100 but 2 IMPs for the Netherlands. Van der Pas won the ace of spades at trick Pass 5NT Pass 6} USA1 won the set by 37-27 and trailed by two and continued with a low diamond in Dble 6[ All Pass 22.5 IMPs with 48 boards to play. 10 Issue: 14 ORBIS WORLD BRIDGE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Orbis Bermuda Bowl - Final Set 4 USA 1 v Brazil Pouring it on Entering the Orbis Bermuda Bowl final match would be interesting after all. The big Board 5. Dealer North. N/S Vul against Brazil, USA 1 had the psychological swing was this one. advantage of having thrashed their opponents, [ Q 10 9 7 6 3 74-4, in the round-robin. On a more practical Board 4. Dealer West. Both Vul ]A 6 front, USA 1 had a 24-IMP carryover, the max- {8 imum allowed from their head-to-head match. [ 7 6 4 3 } A J 7 6 Entering the fourth set, Brazil was down by 62 ] A J 4 3 [ J 5N [ A K 8 4 IMPs, not a signficant margin with 112 boards { Q 6 2 ] Q J 10 4 2 ] K 5 left to be played. Supporters of Brazil had hope }A 10 W E that they could close the gap somewhat. { Q 10 9 3 { K J 5 4 2 [ Q J 8 5 2N [ K 10 9 }4 2S }9 5 It didn't happen. By the end of the session, ]Q 5 ]9 7 2 USA 1 had increased their lead to 79 IMPs, a W E [2 { A J 9 8 { 7 5 4 3 precursor to the avalanche of IMPs that was to S ] 9 8 7 3 come in sessions five and six. } 9 8 } 7 4 2 { A 7 6 The trouble for Brazil started immediately. [A } K Q 10 8 3 ] K 10 8 6 Board 1. Dealer North. None Vul {K 10 West North East South } K Q J 6 5 3 Campos Meckstroth Villas-Boas Rodwell [ A 9 4 1[ Pass 1NT ] 7 5 4 West North East South Pass 2[ All Pass { 8 4 3 Campos Meckstroth Villas-Boas Rodwell Rodwell had no trouble bringing home this } 10 6 5 2 Pass 1{ Pass 2} [ Q 10 3 2 [ 8 7 6 contract with an overtrick. Plus 140 for USA 1. N Pass 2] Pass 3{ The auction was radically different in the Open ] A K 10 ] Q 9 8 6 W E Pass 3] Pass 3[ Room. { 6 2 { A 9 5 S Pass 4} Pass 4] West North East South } J 7 4 3 } A 9 8 All Pass [ K J 5 Hamman Chagas Soloway Branco ] J 3 2 Despite Jeff Meckstroth's opening bid, he 1[ 2{ Dble { K Q J 10 7 and Rodwell didn't sniff at slam. Miguel Villas- 4{ 4[ All Pass }K Q Boas led the {7, and Meckstroth finished with Soloway's diamond suit is not exactly 11 tricks for plus 650. robust, but entering the auction reaped divi- West North East South West North East South dends for his side. Hamman put pressure on Campos Meckstroth Villas-Boas Rodwell the Brazilians with his weak jump raise, and Hamman Chagas Soloway Branco Pass Pass 1NT (1) Chagas responded by taking the aggressive Pass Pass Pass 1} All Pass view.Actually,Chagas was a [8 away from mak- 1[ Dble Redble 4] ing the optimistic contract. Since Soloway held (1) 14-16 HCP. Pass 5} Pass 5{ that card, however, Chagas was due to fail bar- ring a serious defensive lapse. Hamman and Joao Paulo Campos started with a low Pass 5] Pass 6] All Pass Soloway did not err, however, and Chagas spade, taken by Eric Rodwell with the jack. He recorded minus 50.Another 6 IMPs to USA 1. played the {K to East's ace and played low on Hamman and Soloway did a lot of bidding the shift to the ]9. Not reading the situation, Branco and Chagas had a great auction to slam – all Branco had to do was make it. Since on the next deal, but the proof was in the pud- Campos won with the ]10 and played the [Q. ding as Soloway reeled in nine tricks. Rodwell cashed his diamonds and knocked out Paul Soloway's redouble showed a spade the }A. The defenders took two more heart honor, Hamman led a low spade to the king Board 7. Dealer South. Both Vul tricks. Plus 120 to USA 1. and ace. Obviously, Branco had to somehow figure the right way to play trumps. [ A J 5 4 2 West North East South The camera work from the VuGraph staff ]Q 2 Hamman Chagas Soloway Branco was superb, zeroing in on Branco's hand as he { 7 5 3 Pass Pass 1{ shifted cards around and strained to find some } K Q 5 clue that would help him with his decision. [ K 10 9 8 [ Q 7 6 3 Pass Pass Dble Redble Hoping to learn something about the oppo- N ] A K 4 3 ] 10 9 8 5 1[ All Pass nents' hands, Branco played the {K from hand. W E Hamman won the ace and played another { A 8 6 { 10 2 It seems strange for Gabriel Chagas and spade. Branco ruffed and went back into the }A 6S }J 10 8 Marcelo Branco to sell out to 1[, especially tank. [– Branco, with the good diamond suit. The play At one point, Branco had the ]8 at the far also had a curious side. ] J 7 6 right of his hand. He looked very much like a { K Q J 9 4 Chagas led the {3, ducked. Hamman won man who was going to misguess trumps.Again the continuation and misguessed in spades, and again, Branco had a card nearly pulled from } 9 7 4 3 2 playing low from dummy to his queen – but his hand, only to put his cards on the table and West North East South Chagas ducked! Bob Hamman then cashed his his head in his hands. Campos Meckstroth Villas-Boas Rodwell top hearts and played a heart to dummy's Finally, Branco chose the ]K and another Pass queen. He ruffed dummy's diamond, played a heart, ending the suspense and gaining 13 IMPs 1NT (1) Pass Pass Dble club to the ace and the good ]9. Plus 110 and for Brazil. Pass 2} (2) Pass 2{ 6 IMPs to USA 1. At that point, Brazil was down 48 and seemed On Board 2 through 4, Brazil mounted a to have momentum.Their run ended abruptly All Pass small rally, outscoring USA 1 20-0. Perhaps the when Chagas bid too much on the next deal. (1) 16-18 HCP. (2) Forced. BERMUDA Friday, 21 January 2000 11

Chagas and Branco bid the North-South cards to 3NT, finishing with 10 tricks for plus Israeli Chutzpa 430. There were fireworks in the Closed Room. Pinhas Romik of Israel, a successful comput- er engineer, returned to International Bridge competition here in Bermuda in the Orbis West North East South World Transnational Teams Championship. Campos Meckstroth Villas-Boas Rodwell Romik, founder and CEO of the E-Bridge 1{ (1) Pass 1] Company, used to partner the famous Sam Lev Pass 1NT Dble Redble playing for Israel in the seventies and eighties, twice winning European silver medals, and 2} Dble All Pass Bermuda Bowl bronze medals in 1976 and 1985. (1) Precision. Romik's Israel-Austrian team did very well until the tenth round of the Transnational Villas-Boas was unlucky to find his partner event. In the ninth round, Pinhas exhibited with 1 high-card point, but when you slip up great courage, in a match against one of the against Meckstroth and Rodwell, they usually favourites, a team of Champions comprising make you pay. Sabine Auken, Daniela Von Arnim, Bobby Wolff The cost for East-West on this deal was and Dan Morse. minus 800 and a 9-IMP loss. Board 1. Dealer North. Love All There was a rare occurrence on the next deal: Chagas misplayed a makeable game. [ J 7 5 2 ] K Q 10 6 2 Joao Paulo Campos, Brazil Board 13. Dealer North. Both Vul { 10 8 Rodwell scrambled home with eight tricks. [4 }A 5 Campos led the top two hearts, switching to ] A Q J 8 7 [A 10 [3 the [10. Rodwell ruffed and played a club to N { A 9 6 5 ] J 9 7 4 ] 3 the king. Rodwell played a diamond to his king, W E ducked by Campos. Another club lead put } K 8 6 { A K 7 { J 9 6 5 3 2 S Campos on play, and he continued with spades. [ A 10 9 8N [ Q 5 } Q 8 6 4 } J 9 7 3 2 Rodwell won the ace, pitching a club, and ] 9 4 2 ] 10 6 [ K Q 9 8 6 4 W E played another diamond. Campos won and { 4 { K Q 10 7 3 2 ] A 8 5 tapped Rodwell again in spades. Rodwell could } 10 9 7 4 2S } A 5 3 {Q 4 pick up trumps and cash the ]J, but there was a losing spade in dummy. Plus 90 to USA 1. [ K J 7 6 3 2 }K 10 ] K 5 3 Open Room West North East South {J 8 West North East South Hamman Chagas Soloway Branco }Q J Wolff Rohan Morse Baratta Pass Pass Pass 1[ 1} (1) Pass 1{ (2) 1NT West North East South Dble Redble 2{ 3[ Pass 2{ Pass Pass Campos Meckstroth Villas-Boas Rodwell Pass 4[ All Pass Dble Pass 2] Pass 1] 2{ 2NT (1) Declarer lost a spade and two diamonds to Pass Dble 2[ 3{ Pass 4] All Pass 3] All Pass record +420. (1) Heart raise. (1) Strong. Closed Room (2) Negative. Villas-Boas led the {K to Meckstroth's ace. West North East South Meckstroth cashed the ]A, then played his sin- Rand Auken Romik Von Arnim Branco led the {K, ducked. Soloway won gleton spade to dummy's king. In with the [A, the next diamond and ruffed a diamond. He Campos played a club to his partner's ace, 1] Pass 1[ then played a spade from hand. Branco threw a which was followed by the {Q and the {2. Pass 2[ 2NT 4[ low club, and Chagas took the [K with the ace Meckstroth ruffed with the ]K and ruffed a 5} Dble All Pass and gave Branco a spade ruff.Alas, the ruff was spade to hand. When the [Q fell, Meckstroth with Branco's natural trump trick, so when had a parking place for his losing diamond and Auken opened boldly with One Heart, and Branco exited with a club, Soloway went up an entry in clubs to cash it. Plus 620. when Von Arnim responded One spade, West with the ace and picked up trumps, claiming for had no obvious way into the auction. However, plus 140. 6 IMPs to USA 1. when North showed her spade support, Brazil suffered another loss on this deal. West North East South Romik decided to show his minors! Hamman Chagas Soloway Branco South's bid of Four Spades did not deter Board 9. Dealer North. E/W Vul 1] 2{ 2[ West from bidding Five Clubs, and although this was doubled, the defence was limited to [ K 5 2 Pass 2NT Pass 3] Pass 4] All Pass three tricks, a heart and two clubs.That meant ]9 5 a swing of 8 IMPs to the Israeli team, en route { Q J 10 4 Chagas also got the {K opening lead. to an impressive win. } A K 10 2 Perhaps Chagas was tired – he and Branco [ 9 8 7N [ A Q 6 4 have played nearly every set for two weeks – ] J 8 7 4 3 ] K 2 or he may have had a blind spot. In any case, W E { 3 2 { A 8 3 he played three rounds of trumps, ending any Calling all Journalists } 9 7 5S } Q 8 6 3 chance for making the contract. Chagas played Don't forget to pay your fax/tele- [ J 10 3 a spade to the jack and ace, but Hamman put phone bill before you leave! Soloway in with the }A. Two winning dia- ] A Q 10 6 monds followed for plus 100 and 12 IMPs to Elly Ducheyne { K 9 7 6 USA 1, who finished the session ahead by Chief, Pressroom }J 4 79 IMPs. 12 Issue: 14 ORBIS WORLD BRIDGE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Orbis Transnational Open Teams Championship / Semi-Final Milner v Mihov Disappointed again The young Bulgarian team was disappoint- West North East South however, and he scored up plus 620. ed to have been knocked out of the Orbis Stamatov Levin Popov Jacobus Bermuda Bowl, but they have continued to play West North East South well, earning a semifinal berth in the Orbis 1] 1[ Gitelman Mihov Moss Nanev World Transnational Open Teams against an Dble Pass 1NT 2[ 2[ Pass American-Canadian squad. 3{ Pass 3NT Pass 4[ 5] All Pass The two teams played virtually even in the 4{ Pass 5{ All Pass first of two sets, but the team led by Reese Mihov had less information, but he bid 5] Milner prevailed, 85-70, to advance to the final After the spade lead, Jerry Stamatov was as a two-way shot: it might make, and if it did- against the American-Polish squad captained by able to pitch his losing heart on the [K. He n't perhaps the opponents could make their Rose Meltzer-Johnson. gave up a club trick for plus 420. game. He was right, so Bulgaria scored 11 IMPs. Playing on VuGraph, the Milner squad drew West North East South Milner got it back and more on the next blood on Board 1. deal, when Jacobus and Levin bid to 6} and Gitelman Mihov Moss Nanev Board 1. Dealer North. None Vul while Nanev and Mihov stopped in 5}. 1NT 2[ The Bulgarians recovered 8 IMPs on the [ J 6 3 3{ Pass 3NT Pass next deal when a weak two-bid by Gitelman ]5 4} Pass 4NT Pass preempted the wrong side. { 9 7 5 2 6{ Pass Pass Dble Board 8. Dealer West. None Vul } J 8 7 6 5 All Pass [K Q [ K Q 10 7N [ A 9 5 4 2 ] Q J 9 2 ] K 10 8 4 Ivan Nanev hoped his double would result ]K W E {Q J {K in a heart lead since it forbad the lead of his { A K J 10 7 5 3 suit or a trump. Vladimir Mihov selected the } A K 3S } Q 9 4 } K 10 4 }10, however, removing any difficulty Fred [ 10 8 7 4 [ A J 6 5 2 [8 Gitelman might have had. He covered with the N ] A Q J 5 4 2 ] 3 ] A 7 6 3 queen, took the }K with the ace and pulled W E trumps. He could then claim, unblocking the { 2 { Q 8 6 4 { A 10 8 6 4 3 S } 10 2 [A, crossing to the }9, taking the heart dis- }J 5 }A Q 2 card and finessing the }7 to land the over- [9 3 West North East South trick. ] 10 9 8 7 6 Stamatov Levin Popov Jacobus Gitelman could have succeeded after a {9 Pass 1[ 2{ heart lead, but the correct line might not have } 9 8 7 6 3 2NT (1) 4{ Pass Pass been worked out. To make the slam after a heart lead, Gitelman would have to win the 4[ Pass Pass 5{ West North East South likely spade return, play a diamond to the ace, Stamatov Levin Popov Jacobus Dble All Pass followed by the }Q. South would have to (1) Spade raise. cover, allowing Gitelman to drop the }10 with Pass 1{ 1[ Pass his jack to make his contract. 2{ 2NT Pass 3} Marc Jacobus lost four tricks for -300. Plus 1190 was good for a 13-IMP pickup. 4[ All Pass West North East South Bulgaria got back into the match on this deal. Gitelman Mihov Moss Nanev Popov took 11 tricks with ease, losing only Board 6. Dealer East. E/W Vul a diamond and a spade. Pass 1[ 1NT Dble Redble Pass 2{ [K 8 West North East South 3{ Dble 3NT Pass ] A K J 8 5 2 Gitelman Mihov Moss Nanev 4} Pass 4[ All Pass { K Q 8 2] Dble Pass 2NT (1) }6 5 Boris Popov could have defeated the con- Pass 3{ All Pass tract with the lead of the ]A, but there was no [ 7 6 4 3 2N [ A Q J 10 5 (1) Relay showing a bad hand. ] Q 7 6 ] 3 particular reason to do so. Brad Moss scored W E up plus 450 for a 5-IMP gain. { J 4 { 9 5 3 After Gitelman's weak 2] bid, he and Moss had no chance to find their spade fit. Mihov An even bigger swing went Milner's way on } A K 7S } Q 9 4 the next deal. took the seven tricks he started with for minus [9 100 – and an 8-IMP gain. Board 2. Dealer East. N/S Vul ] 10 9 4 With three boards to go, Bulgaria had { A 10 7 6 2 pulled to within 4 IMPs with another 8-IMP [ 6 5 2 } J 9 3 2 ] 10 8 7 2 { 10 7 4 2 West North East South Message from Norway } 10 2 Stamatov Levin Popov Jacobus [A [K J 3 Please thank everyone over there for N Pass Pass an excellent and fast results service. Of ] 5 ] K J 6 4 3 W E Pass 1] 1[ 2] course one should like to ask for more { K Q J 9 8 6 3 { A 5 2NT (1) 4] 4[ All Pass VuGraph matches and maybe on-line, but S } A J 7 5 } Q 9 4 (1) Spade raise. this was a big step towards what I need [ Q 10 9 8 7 4 as a journalist not able to be present at ] A Q 9 Robert Levin might have considered saving, the Championships.TX ALL! {– but he may also have fancied his chances Ib Lundby } K 8 6 3 against 4[. Borislav Popov was not tested, BERMUDA Friday, 21 January 2000 13 gain (Nanev made plus 120 in 1NT while Levin West North East South Blackjacked - Twice! went down two in 3NT). Gitelman Mihov Moss Nanev Bulgaria pulled to within 2 IMPs on Board by Sam Leckie - Scotland 14 by taking 11 tricks in 4[ while Gitelman Pass Pass 1NT Pass managed nine tricks in 3NT.But for stellar play 3NT All Pass This spectacular defense by Poland's Balicki by Gitelman, Bulgaria would have recorded a Zmudzinski occurred in the final qualifying double-digit swing. Nanev led the ]K, which was ducked. Moss round of the Transnational Teams when ducked again when Nanev continued the suit. Meltzer met Hackett. Board 14. Dealer East. None Vul Nanev got off lead with the [7. Moss won in dummy and played a club to his king.When the Dealer West.All Vul [ K 6 3 }10 popped up on the next round of the suit, [ Q 10 9 ] 10 9 6 Moss was in control. North won the }A and { K Q 10 9 3 got out with the {9. Moss won and followed ] 10 9 }Q 9 with the ]A and another heart. He had his { 6 4 2 nine tricks via two hearts, three clubs, two dia- } A K Q 7 3 [ A Q J 9 8N [ 10 2 ] 7 ] A K 5 4 3 monds and two spades. [ K 8 5 3N [ J 2 W E ] Q 4 2 ] K J 8 7 3 {A 5 {8 7 2 West North East South W E } A J 8 6 4S } K 5 2 Stamatov Levin Popov Jacobus { A 9 3 { Q 10 5 S [ 7 5 4 Pass Pass 1] Pass } 10 9 8 } J 6 2 ] Q J 8 2 1NT Pass 2} Pass [ A 7 6 4 { J 6 4 2] Pass 2NT Pass ] A 6 5 } 10 7 3 3NT Pass Pass Dble { K J 8 7 }5 4 West North East South All Pass West North East South Stamatov Levin Popov Jacobus Jacobus, listening to a tentative-sounding Zmudzinski Justin Balicki Jason Pass Pass auction and wanting a heart lead, doubled the Pass 1} Pass 1[ 1[ Pass 2] Pass final contract. Levin led the ]6, ducked to Pass 2[ Pass 2NT 3} Pass 3[ Pass Jacobus's jack. Instead of continuing hearts, Pass 3NT All Pass 4[ All Pass Jacobus switched to the [9. Stamatov went up with the ace and played a club to the king and another club to the 10, queen and ace. Levin Adam Zmudzinski led the ten of clubs on Stamatov lost only to the [K and the }Q which Cezary Balicki played the jack, suggest- for plus 450. played his other heart, ducked to the queen.A second spade was returned, and Stamatov ing that he had a strong holding in hearts. Jason West North East South played low. Levin won his [Q, and Stamatov Hackett, having won the trick in dummy, played the ten of spades, but Balicki covered with the Gitelman Mihov Moss Nanev was finished. He could not get nine winners before the defenders got five. Plus 200 was jack, forcing declarer to win with the ace. Pass Pass When declarer continued with a low spade, 1[ Pass 2] Pass good for a 13-IMP gain, and a ticket into the TNOT final for the Milner squad. Zmudzinski hopped up with the king and 3} Pass 3{ Pass It was small consolation to the Bulgarians switched to a low heart – the contract was 3NT All Pass in the Open Room that defeating 3NT would now doomed. not have changed the result of the match. Plus If Declarer ducks hearts twice, then West Gitelman's 3NT contract was in deep 100 would still have been a 3-IMP loss, and would be able to set up the eight of spades trouble after the lead of the {K and the dia- they needed a 3-IMP gain – not possible with while still holding the ace of diamonds. mond continuation, but he played according to the cards they held. If declarer takes the heart ace earlier, he the textbooks and brought the nerve-wracking only has eight tricks. contract home. Gitelman won the second If East had not covered the ten of spades at round of diamonds perforce and played a club trick two and West withholds the king, declar- to the king. His plan was to cash the top clubs. SPECIAL OFFER! er could have continued with the queen of If the }Q did not fall, the spade finesse would spades, thereby ensuring three spade tricks. be next with the added hope that South held World Championship Book Now it would be possible to duck two rounds no more than three to the king. Bermuda 2000 of hearts and later finesse the jack of diamonds Gitelman was gratified and more than a lit- for the ninth trick. tle relieved when the }Q came tumbling The official book of these champi- Declarer could have made the contract by down. His team still lost 2 IMPs, but it could onships will be published during the sum- cashing his club winners after taking the ace of have been 11. mer (probably June). spades. No matter how the defenders discard, That brought Bulgaria to within 2 IMPs at Principal analysts will be: declarer always has a counter. Editor 72-70. Board 15 was a push, so Bulgaria still Eric Kokish (The Final) In the other room North-South scored had a chance on the final board. Brian Senior (The Semi-finals) +110 in Two Clubs to gain 5 IMPs. Despite this, Barry Rigal (The Quarter-finals) the Hackett team won the match 18-12VP. Board 16. Dealer West. E/W Vul Both teams reached the last four, and met with guest contributors in yesterday's semifinals. [ Q 8 4 2 including Henry Francis. ]6 3 {9 7 There will be a wealth of good hands, Championship } A 6 5 4 2 including every deal from the finals and semi-finals, photographs and statistics – Bags For Sale [ A K 6N [ J 10 5 including a complete listing of all partici- ] 9 7 ] A 10 5 4 2 pants in all four events. W E There is a limited supply of the magnificent { 10 6 5 3 { A K 2 On publication, the price will be $30 Orbis World Championship Bags for sale.These } Q J 9 3S } K 8 plus p&p. For the duration of these cham- may be purchased from the Hospitality Desk pionships, buy at the special price of $25 from 10.30 a.m. this morning at the bargain [ 9 7 3 with free postage and packing. ] K Q J 8 price of $35.They make a great reminder of the Please see Elly Ducheyne in the Press wonderful time we have spent in Bermuda, so { Q J 8 4 Room to place your order. hurry as stocks will not last for long. } 10 7 14 Issue: 14 ORBIS WORLD BRIDGE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Appeal Case 8

Appeal 8 South should not be permitted to override his part- By all accounts, North's 6} bid was made with- ner's decision. in (approximately) the 15 seconds specified by the Event:WTOTC, Round 5 When asked again about the timing of North's COP.Thus, there should be no finding of unautho- Teams: Bulgaria (N/S) versus Poland (E/W) 6} bid East affirmed that it took 15-20 seconds rized information. While the Committee was con- ("No more, no less."). North told the Committee cerned that the COP has not been formally Committee: Bobby Wolff (chairman, USA), that his 6} bid was slow but perhaps was not as announced to the players in this event, according to Rich Colker (scribe, USA), Jean-Paul Meyer slow as East suggested -maybe 10 seconds or so. the WBF's stated intentions and the Chief (FRA) N/S further denied that 5NT could have been Tournament Director (William Schoder), the COP is nonetheless presumed to be in effect in all events Board 1. Dealer North. None Vul Josephine. First, it was not a jump (their partnership requirement for Josephine). South would have here. (Plus, it was noted that the COP has been [ Q 4 3 2 jumped to 5NT after his 4] bid was doubled if he available on the Internet for some time now and has ]9 had wanted to bid Josephine. Second, 5NT made no been disseminated by the WBF to all NCBOs well sense as Josephine in this auction. South cue-bid 4[ before the tournament began.) { Q 8 5 More generally, even had the Committee found } A K J 4 3 only to hear North sign off in 5}. Since South learned nothing from North's signoff that would that the COP was not in effect, the fact that this was [ 9 7 6 5N [ K J 10 8 have suggested investigating a Grand Slam - in fact, the eighth round of a complicated (and competitive) ] K Q J 8 ] 7 5 4 2 slam auction suggested being more lenient about W E quite the opposite - 5NT could only be a "Choice { 9 6 { J 7 4 of Slams" at the six level. Finally, N/S pointed out breaks in . Second, it is not clear that there } 10 9 2S } 7 5 that had West not been negligent with his 1] bid, was a true break in tempo here. Much of the previ- North would have had a 4] cue-bid available over ous auction (prior to North's 6} bid, especially [A after things turned competitive) had to have been ] A 10 6 3 South's 4} to unambiguously show heart shortness. (As it was, it could have suggested a 4] contract.) conducted at a deliberate pace.Thus, the putative 15 { A K 10 3 2 seconds for the 6} bid may not have been signifi- } Q 8 6 The Committee Decision: The Committee cantly slower than the rest of the auction.While the West North East South noted several important points regarding both the act of North's thinking may have been obvious to East (perhaps from his facial expression, body lan- Puczynski Karaivanov Chveski Trendafilov bridge issues involved in the situation and the infor- mational considerations from the tempo. guage or other indicators), that is not a considera- (1) (2) 1} Pass 1{ Regarding the bridge issues: First, two suits tion behind screens (where such information is not 1] (3) Pass (4) 1[ 2[ (5) were bid and raised by N/S during the auction so transmitted to one's partner).A call cannot be taken Pass 3} Pass 3{ that, from South's perspective, the appropriate in isolation and judged "out of tempo" merely because the player thinks for a time before calling Pass 3[ (6) Pass 4} (7) strain was unclear. Second, N/S's assertions that 5NT made more behind screens.The time to return the tray must be Pass 4{ Pass 4] significantly longer than normal and expected with- logical sense as "Pick a Slam" (rather than Josephine) Dble Pass Pass 4[ in the context of the auction (and must be unam- were accurate, although this argument was some- Pass 5} Pass 5NT (8) biguously attributable to a specific player). what self-serving and had to be viewed with appro- (9) For these reasons the Committee was not con- Pass 6} Pass 7} priate scepticism. vinced that a break in tempo occurred (either in All Pass Third, had South wished to investigate a Grand fact or under the COP). Moreover, even if it did (1) Slam the path he chose (first asking North to choose Clubs or certain balanced hands. occur it seemed unlikely that it conveyed useful (2) Transfer, showing 4+ hearts. the proper strain; then raising his choice to seven) information to South that was not obvious from the (3) Takeout (see The Appeal, below). would be a logical one while other paths (such as re- authorized information from the auction itself. The (4) Showed clubs. cue-bidding 5[) would have been more ambiguous. Committee therefore restored the table result of (5) Cuebid. Fourth, North showed clubs four times in the 7} by North making seven, plus 1440 for N/S. (6) Likes diamonds. auction (by passing 1], then by bidding 3} and 5}, The Committee wishes to make two further (7) Likes clubs. and finally by choosing 6} when offered a choice of points regarding this case and its implications. First, (8) Choice of suits (clubs or diamonds). slams), for which AKJxx seems likely to be a mini- the TDs' adjustment of N/S's score seems out of (9) Break in tempo. mum holding. Given this, South can easily count thir- keeping with the conditions of contest (in particular, teen tricks - one spade, one heart, five diamonds the COP). In addition, their decision to adjust the Result: 7} by North made seven, plus 1440 for (assuming that North either holds the {J or, if not, score to plus 920 rather than plus 940 seemed N/S. the suit splits three-two or the jack drops), five rather odd. Wouldn't North make thirteen tricks clubs and at least one spade ruff in the South hand. without any jeopardy to the contract? Second, even The Facts: The TD was called to the table at Fifth, the North club holding in the previous though no score adjustment was made by the the end of the auction. East stated to him that it had point is made even more likely by North's failure to Committee in the present case, players should be taken North about 15-20 seconds to bid 6} over bid 3NT over 3{ as he would have with a denser aware that hesitations in slam auctions always involve 5NT.The TD adjusted the result to 6} by North spade holding (e.g., [KQxx and correspondingly some risk.While it is rarely possible to make difficult made six, plus 920 to N/S. weaker clubs). calls quickly, it is always possible to make easy calls Sixth, North had minimum high-card values, more slowly and deliberately.This has the beneficial The Appeal: N/S appealed the TDs' ruling. In club length and fit for South's suits which made it effect of giving one's screenmate less useful informa- reviewing the auction for the Committee West stat- unlikely in the Committee's eyes that he would have tion regarding the ease of one's calls and additionally ed that, although he had been Alerted to both the thought seriously about bidding a Grand Slam - and produces a more even tempo which avoids transmit- 1} and 1{ bids, he bid 1] without asking about thus was more likely to have been deciding between ting unauthorized information across the to their meanings - intending it as natural.After passing the minors for the six level.And seventh,West's neg- partner.(It works even better without screens!) Also, the tray he finally inquired about the Alerted bids' ligence with his 1] bid contributed to some in their COP the WBF states that it "considers it meanings and learned that 1{ showed hearts. He (unknown) extent to N/S's problems in the auction. desirable that players should vary the tempo ran- then explained to his screenmate (South) that his Regarding the tempo issue: First, all WBF events domly when returning the tray under the screen." 1] bid was intended as natural but would be are supposed to be conducted under the new This acts effectively to further reduce the possibility explained as takeout on the N-E side of the screen. (1999) WBF Code of Practice.This provides, in part, of transmitting unauthorized information to partner. E/W told the Committee they believed South's that behind screens, "It is considered there can be As we enter the 21st century, players must 5NT bid could have been interpreted as Josephine no implications if a tray returns after 15 seconds or develop good playing habits which will make bridge (Grand Slam Force) and that North's hesitation sug- less.This period may be extended in the later stages not only a more enjoyable game but one which will gested the 7} bid. Given that this was essentially a of a complicated or competitive auction without be decided at the table and not by Appeals Hesitation Blackwood auction, they believed that necessarily creating implications." Committees. Isn't that the Olympic Spirit? BERMUDA Friday, 21 January 2000 15

Ladies on the Front Line

The faces at the work – tables outside the playing area must be very familiar by now because a group of three ladies have been there every single day throughout the Championships! Mary Jane Coelho, Greta Marshall and Jean Bath have manned their posts diligently and mar- shalled a great troop of volunteers to keep things running smoothly. They've recruited the necessary recorders, caddies and assistants for the Operations Director – many working on a daily basis – as well as handling innumerable inquiries.Also on hand without respite has been Tony Saunders,Ton's full time volunteer assistant.Thanks to them and their legion of helpers for a job very well done. So many people have commented on the above effort that we feel it is very important to acknowledge this.Thanks The next ?

Furio diBello,Andrea Mallardi, Giagio Rinaldi (npc), Gianarrigo Rona (President of the ), Bernado Biondi, Mario d'Avossa, Stelio diBello, Riccardo Intonti.

In August last year, Italy won the World Junior Team Championship for the first time. To mark that victory, the Italian Bridge Federation invited the team to come to Bermuda to play in the Orbis World Transnational Teams Championship. This talented group of youngsters showed they are more than capable of carrying on the proud traditions of Italian Bridge by finishing seventh in the Championship. Gianarrigo Rona, the President of the European Bridge League, is confident that the success of the team will persuade many more young people in Italy to study bridge, espe- cially as Bridge can now be taught as a school subject in Italy. 7th World Junior Teams Championship 9-18 August 1999 Ft.Lauderdale Florida • USA 9-18 August 1999 Ft.Lauderdale Florida • USA 16 Issue: 14 ORBIS WORLD BRIDGE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Orbis World Computer Bridge Championship Orbis World Transnational Open Teams Championship Yes, computers can PLAY bridge, even though the bidding is still quite spotty from Round Robin Final Results time to time – the human touch, perhaps. Witness this hand from the final match Team Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Total Rank between GIB (USA) and WBridge5 (France). 1 Meadowlark Bridge n 10 0 0 9 0 3 6 28 8 Board 16. Dealer West. E/W Vul 2 Blue Chip Bridge 10 n 5 13 9 0 1 11 49 7 [ K Q 9 3 Micro Bridge 9 20 15 n 1 15 18 9 13 91 3 ] A Q J 4 WBridge5 20 7 19 n 16 13 6 18 99 2 { 9 6 4 3 2 5 Q-Plus Bridge 11 11 5 4 n 8 13 14 66 5 }8 6 6 Bridge Buff 20 20 2 7 12 n 4 5 70 4 [ 10 6N [ 8 7 3 2 ] 10 9 2 ] 7 5 3 7 GIB 17 19 11 14 7 16 n 16 100 1 W E { 10 { A K Q J 8 5 8 Bridge Baron 14 9 7 2 6 15 4 n 57 6 } A J 10 9 5 3 2S } – [ A J 5 4 ] K 8 6 4 East cashed the {A and shifted to the ]3 for the ]4, 9 and Q. Declarer now cashed the Bermuda Bowl {7 ]J and led the }6, which was incorrectly ruffed } K Q 7 4 by East.The return of the {K was ruffed with West North East South the [J after which the [A and [K were cashed, leaving this position with North on GIB Wbridge5 GIB Wbridge5 lead, needing five tricks: Pass 1{ Pass 1] Pass 1NT Pass 3NT All Pass [Q ]A After the 10{-lead, overtaken with the {J, the contract is ice-cold because of the 7-0 club { 9 6 2 break when East cashes his diamonds. South }8 simply discards three clubs. In actual play he [–N [8 discarded a major-suit card and had to go one ]– ]7 W E down: +50 to GIB. { – { Q J 8 5 } A J 10 9 5 3S } – At the other table, the bidding was: [5 West North East South ]K 8 Wbridge5 GIB Wbridge5 GIB {– Pass 1NT (1) 2{ 3{ (2) } K Q 4 (3) Pass 3[ Pass 4[ Copies of this definitive record of the Pass Pass Dble All Pass North now ruffed a diamond, crossed to world's greatest Championship, written by Henry Francis & Brian Senior,are on sale at the (1) 11-14, no 4-card major unless 4-3-3-3 the ]A, cashed the [Q and endplayed West in Island Embroidery stand in the lobby, priced (2) Stayman, no stopper clubs who had to give South the last two $25.00. (3) Stuck! tricks. Pretty neat, what? INVESTING IS OUR STRONG SUIT A daily column on investing by Orbis Investment Management Limited

We hope that everybody has enjoyed these Championships. Being able to help host the event in Bermuda has been a privilege for us. We are also grateful for the many individual expressions of thanks that we have received both from you in person as we have met you and from all the bridge fans around the world who have been avidly observing these events on the Internet. It has been delightful to meet so many people who are so passionate about their sport. Hopefully you found our daily articles on investing interesting and informative. If you would like to receive a package of information about our funds or be placed on our mailing list we would be delighted for you to contact us using any of the methods listed below.You will also find contact forms that you may complete and leave at the Hospitality desk. How to contact us: By mail: Orbis Investment Management Limited By telephone: +1 (441) 296 3000 34 Bermudiana Road By facsimile: +1 (441) 296 3001 Hamilton, HM CX By e-mail: [email protected] Bermuda Web site: www.orbisfunds.com ORBIS

Attention: Geoffrey Gardner, Director of Fund Management