The Spring North American Championships II

by Phillip Alder

The Spring Nationals begin on March 10 in Reno, NV. We are looking at last year's battle in New Orleans for the premier event, the Vanderbilt Knockout Teams. Assael (Mustafa Cem Tokay, Antonio Sementa, Josef Piekarek and Alexander Smirnov) had a come-from-behind win in the quarterfinals against Monaco . In the semis, they faced Lavazza (Norberto Bocchi, Agustin Madala, Giorgio Duboin and Zia Mahmood) over 60 boards.

First, here is an problem. With only your side vulnerable, you hold:

‰ K 5 4 Š 7 3 ‹ K 9 4 Œ 9 8 6 5 4 The auction proceeds:

West North East South Responder Partner Declarer You 1Š Pass 4Š Pass Pass Pass

East's opening bid is limited to about 16 high-card points, so West's response is undefined, except that he has a hand with which he thinks a slam is impossible. It could be a “weak freak” or a relatively balanced game-force with three or more hearts. What would you lead? The full deal will be given later.

1 The tone of the match was set early. This was 3: North Dlr: South ‰ 9 4 Vul: E-W Š 10 8 7 ‹ A K J 9 8 7 Œ 3 2 West East ‰ A Q 2 ‰ 10 8 6 Š A Q 9 4 Š K 6 3 2 ‹ Q 10 3 ‹ – Œ 9 6 5 Œ Q J 10 8 7 4 South ‰ K J 7 5 3 Š J 5 ‹ 6 5 4 2 Œ A K Table 1: West North East South Sementa Bocchi Tokay Madala 1‰ Dble 2Œ (a) Dble 3‹ Pass Pass 3Š Pass Pass 4‹ All Pass (a) Diamonds I assume East's double showed clubs, and South's jump-raise was limited. North gambled slightly with his four-diamond bid because he might have pushed West into bid- ding four hearts, which was unbeatable. However, West, with 4-3-3-3 distribution and no club honor, decided against raising to four hearts. Also, North probably felt that if West had not bid four hearts on round two, he was unlikely to on round three. Four diamonds went down one, the defenders taking two spades and two hearts.

Table 2: West North East South Duboin Piekarek Zia Smirnov 1NT (a) Dble Pass 3Œ Pass Pass 3‹ 3Š 3‰ 4Š Pass Pass Pass (a) 10-13 points

I am guessing that if East had passed on the first round, South would have had to redouble. But when East opted to show his long suit, then North revealed his diamond length. East continued the descrip- tion of his hand, and South mentioned his five-card spade suit, simultaneously promising diamond sup- port (otherwise, he could not risk its being a misfitting deal). Finally, West bravely bid four hearts, which North contemplated doubling, but eventually he passed. South cashed his two club winners before shifting to a diamond. East ruffed, played a heart to dummy's queen, ruffed another diamond, cashed his heart king, led a spade to the ace, drew North's last , and claimed an overtrick. Zia took one spade, four hearts, four clubs and two diamond ruffs in his hand. Minus 50 and plus 650 gave Lavazza 12 international match points. At the end of the session, Lavazza led by 58 imps to 22.

2 The next two quarters were quiet, but Lavazza gained another 19 imps to lead by 55 with 15 boards to go. After two flat results, this was Board 48:

North Dlr: East ‰ A 8 7 6 2 Vul: N-S Š A 8 6 ‹ J 10 8 6 2 Œ – West East ‰ Q J 10 3 ‰ 9 Š Q 10 9 Š K J 5 4 2 ‹ 7 ‹ A Q 5 3 Œ K Q 10 7 3 Œ A J 2 South ‰ K 5 4 Š 7 3 ‹ K 9 4 Œ 9 8 6 5 4 Table 1: West North East South Smirnov Bocchi Piekarek Madala 1Š Pass 4Š Pass Pass Pass

Piekarek's opening bid was limited to about 16 high-card points, so Smirnov's response was undefined, except that he had a hand with which he thought a slam was impossible. Madala found the killing lead: a club (the four: low from an odd number). North ruffed and, enjoying control with the trump ace, shifted to a low spade. South won and delivered a second . North tried to cash the spade ace, but East ruffed and conceded a trick to the heart ace: down one.

Table 2: West North East South Duboin Tokay Zia Sementa 1Š Pass 2‰ (a) 3Š (b) 4‹ 4‰ Dble Pass Pass Pass (a) Limit raise in hearts with four trumps, or a limit raise or better with three trumps (b) At least 5-5 in spades and either minor

North bravely waded into the auction despite the unfavorable vulnerability. East then wisely showed his second suit to allow partner to judge what to do should South bid four spades. And when he did, West was very happy to double. West led the heart ten, ducked to East's king. East cashed the diamond ace and continued with a low diamond. South put in his nine, and West ruffed. When West led the spade queen, South won with his king, played a heart to dummy's ace, ruffed the heart eight in his hand, and led the diamond king. West ruffed and played his last trump, so East took a trick with his diamond queen for down two. Plus 50 and plus 500 gave Lavazza 11 imps on the board. Lavazza completed the sweep, out- scoring Assael by 53 imps to 20 to win all four quarters of the match. The final score was 157 imps to 69.

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