The Alt Mixed Teams V October 19 - 23 2020
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
ALT Mixed V BULLETIN 2 • Wednesday October 21 2020 • editor Christina Lund Madsen • [email protected] THE ALT MIXED TEAMS V OCTOBER 19 - 23 2020 WORLD CLASS ONLINE BRIDGE EVENTS Winter is Coming More than half a year has passed since many of us began to live our lives in isolation, and this weekend the countries in Europe enter the winter time (or at least our clocks do). However from 2021 it is up to each country in Europe if they want to have permanent winter- or summer time. I know what I prefer, but unfortunately I am no sure the weather follows the time. Luckily bridge does. The colder the weather, the more we enjoy bridge. Alpert has climbed 15 VPs ahead of Silla and Wilson. Alpert is yet to play her pursuers, but not until the last two matches, so hop- efully we have an exciting finish in sight. We are only one match passed the halfway point, so the field is still open. All players should enter BBO 10 Today’s Schedule minutes before the beginning of a Wednesday October 21 match. TD Denis Dobrin will instruct you where to sit. All players must 10:00 EDT / 16:00 CET RR 6 (20 boards) have their name in their BBO-profile. 13:00 EDT / 19:00 CET RR 7 (20 boards) Private isn't allowed for the sake of 16:00 EDT / 22:00 CET RR 8 – 1st half opponents and kibitzers. (10 boards) - 1 - Leaderboard Draw R6 Draw R7 Link to results Draw R8 Alt Mixed Results Link to previous and future Alts & bulletins Alt.bridgeresults.org - 2 - Results RR 3 RR 4 RR 5 - 3 - Rixi was Right By Mark Horton The legendary Rixi Markus was the first woman to become a WBF Grand Master. Rixi Markus One of her books was Bid Boldly, Play Safe - she was never afraid of the former and extremely good at the latter. Having read yesterday's Editorial I thought you might like to see this little gem from Round 2. I'm sure Rixi would have enjoyed it. Board 4. Dealer West. All Vul. ♠ A K 8 7 ♥ K Q 8 3 2 ♦ A 5 2 ♣ K ♠ 4 3 2 ♠ J 9 6 5 ♥ 5 ♥ J 9 7 6 4 ♦ K J 10 9 7 4 3 ♦ Q ♣ 7 5 ♣ Q 10 3 ♠ Q 10 ♥ A 10 ♦ 8 6 ♣ A J 9 8 6 4 2 Open Room WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH When South showed a good hand with 4♦ Fuglestad Michielsen Brekka Cullin North's 5♦ showed significant extra values 3♦ Dble Pass 4♦* for her initial double. When South then bid Pass 5♦* Pass 6♣ 6♣ North drew the correct inference that it must be based on a pretty decent suit. All Pass There was nothing to the play. That is a tremendous sequence to a con- Closed Room tract that cannot be defeated. Aluf and WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Sanus also managed to reach 6♣ with 6 Rimstedt Eide Donner Blågestad rounds of bidding after West opened 2♦ (it was worth 17 IMPs as NS tried 7♠ in the 3♦ Dble Pass 5♣ other room). All Pass - 4 - Ida Grönkvist knows So does Sjoert Brink when to finesse Photo: ACBL South's 5♣ was not bold enough and it cost 13 IMPs. WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Berkowitz S Brink Campanile Chediak The events at two other tables are also worth recording: Pass 1♥ Pass 2♣ 2♦ 2♠ Pass 4♥ WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Pass 4NT* Pass 5♥ Zack I Grönkvist D Tal Grönkvist Pass 5♠* Pass 6♥ 3♦ Dble Pass 4♦* All Pass Pass 5♦* Pass 6♣ Pass 6♥ All Pass Declarer won the diamond lead, unblocked the ♣K, played a heart to the ten, cashed North could not bring herself to pass 6♣, the ♥A, took the ♣A, ruffed a club, cashed so the dubious heart slam was reached. the top hearts and played a spade to the ten. East led the ♦Q and declarer won with the ace and played a heart to the ten! One more thing; If you play in 6NT you When it held she played a club to the king, can make it as long as you win the first a heart to the ace, ruffed a club, cashed the diamond and then do the right thing in ♥KQ and played a spade. For the second one of the majors. What you can't afford time she played a ten from dummy. to do is duck when West overtakes the When that held she could cash the ♣A and ♦Q as you will then be in trouble - unless continue the suit for +1430. It was worth East is king enough to pitch a heart on the 13 IMPs against the 5♣ reached in the second round of diamonds! (Yes, it really other room. did happen.) - 5 - A Game of Two Halves By Mark Horton This was what might be called a day-night bids 1NT West might be less inclined to match, or perhaps it should be the other double. In practice South might prefer to way round, as the first half was played on double to show a strong balanced hand. Monday evening. True, NS might not find the relatively safe haven of 2♥ (which one doubts West Alpert held a small lead against the Alt would double) but the ball is still in play. Stars at half-time, 11-4. West led a spade and East won and returned the ♠6. Declarer won, cashed Board 2. Dealer East. NS Vul. the ♥A and continued with the queen, ♠ 8 2 followed by the ten, West winning as East ♥ J 6 4 2 pitched the ♣6. West exited with a spade ♦ K 9 8 3 and declarer won and crossed to dummy ♣ 8 4 3 with the ♥J. There is a strong case for ♠ 10 5 3 ♠ A 9 7 6 4 cashing the ♣A, settling for one down, but ♥ K 9 8 ♥ 7 5 declarer continued with a club to the nine ♦ Q 10 6 2 ♦ A J 4 and queen. ♣ K Q 5 ♣ 7 6 2 If West had been able to read yesterdays ♠ K Q J Bulletin she would have appreciated the ♥ A Q 10 3 necessity of playing a 'pusher' in dia- ♦ 7 5 monds - the ♦Q look simplest - but she ♣ A J 10 9 went with the six and declarer could have saved a trick by ducking in dummy. Open Room However, no doubt hoping that West held the ♦A and East the ♣K she went up with WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH dummy's king and that was two down, S. Molson Roosmalen Hoyos Gast -500. — — Pass 1♣ Pass Pass 1♠ 1NT Closed Room Dble All Pass WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Vergoed Versace Topiol Alpert — — Pass 1NT This was an instructive deal in a number Pass Pass 2♠ All Pass of ways. First North might have responded to 1♣. On this layout 2♠ was a doddle, +140 but a After say 1♣-Pass-1♦-1♠ even if South loss of 8 IMPs. - 6 - Board 6. Dealer East. EW Vul. Carlos Hoyos ♠ A Q J ♥ A 9 5 2 ♦ A K 9 3 2 ♣ K ♠ 8 2 ♠ 10 6 5 3 ♥ J 7 6 4 ♥ K Q 8 ♦ Q 10 8 6 5 ♦ J ♣ J 3 ♣ A 10 9 5 4 ♠ K 9 7 4 ♥ 10 3 ♦ 7 4 ♣ Q 8 7 6 2 WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH S. Molson Roosmalen Hoyos Gast — — Pass Pass Pass 1♦ Dble Pass Retaining the ♣A and exiting with a 1♥ Dble Pass 1♠ major suit would have left declarer short Pass 1NT Pass 2♣ of ammunition - indeed almost everyone Pass 2NT Pass 3NT who attempted 3NT finished two down. All Pass Closed Room I can't say I'm a fan of East's double, which WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH might turn out to be of more use to the Vergoed Versace Topiol Alpert opponents than to partner, but in the — — Pass Pass modern game everyone likes to bid. Pass 2♣* Pass 2♦* East led the ♣5 and declarer took West's Pass 2NT* Pass 3♣* jack with the king, cashed the ♦A and Pass 3♦* Pass 3♥* continued with the ♦2, East pitching the ♣4. West won with the eight and switched Pass 3NT All Pass to the ♥4, East winning with the queen and continuing with the king. When that held East decided to cash the ♣A before 2NT 22-23 exiting with a club. Not only did that gift 3♣ Puppet declarer a club trick, but it also allowed 3♦ 1/2 majors him to come to hand with a spade, cash a 3♥ Spades second trick in the suit and then take his red winners, squeezing East in the black East led the ♥Q and when West followed suits for +600. with the seven she switched to ♦J. - 7 - When that held she went back to hearts, playing the king, and then turning to the ♠6. Declarer won and played the ♣K, East taking the ace and playing a second spade. Declarer won, cashes two diamonds and the ♥A overtook the ♠J with dummy's king and exited with a spade, finishing two down, -100 and a loss of 11 IMPs. To escape for one down declarer must win the second spade in hand, overtake the next one in dummy, cash the ♣Q and then play three rounds of diamonds. West will win, but then have to lead into declarer's ♥A9. Ricco van Prooijen got close to making 3NT, managing, with a little help form the Ricco van defenders to reach this position: Prooijen ♠ Q ♥ A 9 However, declarer cashed the ♥A first and ♦ 9 3 now East can ensure the demise of the ♣ — contract by unblocking the ♥K.