Winners of the Under 16 bronze medal at the World Youth Team Championships in China: Michael Hu, Arthur Zhou, Harrison Luba, NPC Jim Munday, Michael Xu, Jonathan Yue and Rory Xiao

Panda-monium BY JIM MUNDAY Photo by Vivian Yan USA under 16 team brings home bronze medal from China

In late December immensely helpful with logistics. One they needed to be aware of. 2017, the U.S. Bridge went so far as to organize a tour for a The WBF has the players submit Federation held the Junior trials large group of U.S. and Canadian team convention cards (CCs) in advance in each of four divisions for the members. Our hotel was first-rate: to allow others to prepare for these opportunity to participate in the 17th spacious rooms with lots of ameni- methods. The WBF is admirably strict World Youth Team Championships ties, perhaps the most important being in requiring all players to have a copy in Wujiang, China, Aug. 8–18. I was U.S.-compatible power outlets near of their CCs as well as imposing severe honored to be the captain for the the bed and sink. Meals were provided, penalties for any electronic devices at under 16 team winners: Michael Hu, if so desired, in a huge buffet setting the table, so checking that the players Harrison Luba, Rory Xiao, Jonathan with plenty of seating. The staff was had their CCs and not their phones Yue and Arthur Zhou, with Michael Xu universally friendly and worked hard became another element of my role. being added to the squad. to overcome any communication dif- The U16 division had 18 teams, more The United States also sent two ficulties. than anticipated. Each team played teams in the U26 category, one in the To all those who aided our group four 12- matches during the U21 category and one in the Rona Cup during the tournament, I say xie’xie qualifying stage – a grueling schedule. for Young Women under 26. Canada (thank you). The top eight teams would advance to had one team in each of the U26, U21 The tournament kicked off on a the knockout stage. and U16 divisions. All told, 76 teams Wednesday evening with the opening The tournament started inauspi- from 33 countries attended. ceremonies. It was inspiring to see all ciously for us on Thursday. One of our Not being an experienced interna- the players from different countries players took ill and was unable to play. tional traveler, I did not know what take part. As captain, my role started a It made my lineup decisions easier, but to expect, but my experience was bit sooner. I would be responsible for put pressure on the other two pairs. wonderful. Some of the players and setting our team’s lineups and prepar- This deal helped us to an early win in their parents spoke Chinese and were ing our players for opposing methods our round-one match against France:

16 Bridge Bulletin November 2018 Dlr: South ♠ A 9 more IMPs: a dinosaur. Board 4 was Without a diamond lead to prema- Vul: Both ♥ A K 10 8 downright Jurassic. turely remove an to dummy’s Bd: 7 ♦ K 2 heart suit, you’d like your chances in ♣ K Q 10 9 3 Dlr: West ♠ 8 7 6 5 4 7♠. ♠ K J 7 6 5 2 ♠ 10 8 3 Vul: Both ♥ J 9 7 6 2 The USA South knew North held a ♥ J 9 ♥ 5 3 2 Bd: 4 ♦ Q 8 4 good hand with long spades and asked ♦ A J 9 4 ♦ Q 10 8 7 5 ♣ — for key cards. All the key cards were ♣ 7 ♣ 6 5 ♠ 10 ♠ K 9 accounted for, but when opener did ♠ Q 4 ♥ A K Q 10 8 5 4 3 ♥ — not show a red king, South signed off ♥ Q 7 6 4 ♦ — ♦ A K J 3 in 6♠. At the other table, the Canadian ♦ 6 3 ♣ A J 10 2 ♣ K Q 9 8 7 6 3 North was the player who asked for key ♣ A J 8 4 2 ♠ A Q J 3 2 cards and facing four, bid seven. ♥ — In 7♠, East has a natural diamond West North East South ♦ 10 9 7 6 5 2 lead, which limits declarer’s chances. Hu Zhou ♣ 5 4 Hearts need to split 3–3 (or an unlikely Pass IMPs flew both in the auction and ♥K Q doubleton) and declarer has to 1♠ Dbl Pass 3♥ tackle that suit immediately after win- Pass 3♠ Pass 4♣ on lead. At most tables, West opened a strong 2♣. Sometimes North–South ning the ♦A. The Canadian declarer, Pass 4♦ Pass 4♥ Hao Dong, duly recorded 1510 by play- (1) (2) competed, sometimes not. Many times, Pass 4NT Pass 5♣ ing ♥A, heart , ♠A K, heart ruff, (3) (4) East drove to a grand. Other times, Pass 5♦ Pass 6♥ ♠Q and claimed when hearts were All Pass West thought his heart suit was good enough to play slam, and a number of 3–3. That was 11 IMPs to Canada. This (1) Roman key card Blackwood those times North disagreed. All told, deal gave them momentum and they (2) One or four key cards 28 grands were bid in clubs, hearts and recorded a big win. (3) ♥Q? notrump. Eleven of those were made, Still, it was a good day overall for our (4) ♥Q, no side king particularly when in 7♣ doubled. Sev- squad, and we moved up to the fifth : ♣7 eral Norths, hearing their right-hand spot and within shouting distance of opponents bid hearts strongly, figured Canada, who still led. A typically exuberant Junior auction partner was doubling on a heart Day three would be critical for our propelled North–South to 6♥. The and led a heart. The operation was chances, with two of our opponents mirror distribution gave declarer an successful, but the score was 2330 in sitting in the top three spots. I had onerous task. Arthur saw a glimmer of those cases (once redoubled for 2660). noticed that our players were losing hope, but would need a defensive slip. The final tally was eight swings of 17 or swings late in matches and late in the The bidding placed West with the ♠K more, including a 22-IMP swing in the day. The playing site offered water and and ♦A. Declarer won the opening U26 Israel vs. India match. tea, but not really much in the way of lead in hand and led a diamond at trick After the first day, Canada led the snacks. I decided to get something for two, before the defenders had a chance U16 field by a wide margin, with the the team to eat during the afternoon to . West could hardly win this USA in eighth. matches to help them keep their energy trick, as declarer could have held On day two, this was a key deal up during the later sessions. ♦Q x x, and dummy’s king won. from our round-seven matchup with There was a wonderful shopping Declarer then drew trumps, ran clubs Canada: center with many different shops, and finally cashed the last . West including an everything-in-one could have avoided the endplay by Dlr: West ♠ A Q 10 9 8 6 5 Walmart-type grocery store. Many pitching his ♦A, but when he did not, Vul: None ♥ 7 of the players from the tournament he found himself endplayed with it to Bd: 8 ♦ 10 6 wandered over between matches or lead away from the ♠K. That was 13 ♣ K Q 5 during sitouts, and we drew quite a bit IMPs on the USA’s side of the score- ♠ 4 ♠ J 7 2 of attention in our uniform jerseys. As I card for plus 1430. ♥ Q 10 4 ♥ K 5 2 was looking through the snack choices, Short matches combined with ♦ J 9 4 3 ♦ K Q 8 7 2 a familiar orange packaging caught my uneven play can lead to wild match ♣ J 10 8 4 2 ♣ 9 3 eye. Sure enough, I’d found the Cheetos results, especially when you throw in ♠ K 3 that would become our daily routine. a hand like Board 4 from the fourth ♥ A J 9 8 6 3 Sponsorship, anyone? round-robin match – the hand of the ♦ A 5 Again, the people were extremely tournament. There is a nickname for ♣ A 7 6 nice, including a young boy who deals that result in swings of 17 or November 2018 Bridge Bulletin 17 wandered up to me after I’d checked troublesome ♣10 lead. That tangled we had maintained our hold on the top out. He waved to get my attention, and communications by removing the spot. With not much to go on, I chose when he had it, he unleashed a huge convenient late entry to the heart our bracket based on the teams we had beaming smile, which I happily re- suit, so declarer could no longer ruff a defeated in the round-robin. Thus we turned. There was no language barrier diamond profitably. would face China 1 in the quarterfi- in that exchange. It was easy to get careless here, nals, and if we advanced, the winner Our team started well, though we lost taking the heart suit for granted, but of France–Israel. The other half of the the last two matches to Germany and Chen found an exciting solution. He bracket had Canada facing Sweden and Poland despite the Cheetos. Our oppo- drew trumps in three rounds; East China 3 facing Norway. nents were tough, bidding aggressively able to spare a low club. A fourth spade The quarterfinals consisted of three throughout with great success. followed (club pitch from dummy), 12-board segments. Our team started With the round-robin two-thirds of but what could East do? He elected to in promising fashion, jumping out to the way complete, the standings were pitch a diamond, hoping partner had a 23–0 lead, but China fought back. A becoming critical. China 3 seized the the ♦J. Chen then unblocked the couple of aggressive games our way did lead and, despite our up-and-down day, ♥A Q and crossed to the ♦A. Bad not come in, and China bid a touch- we moved into the fourth spot. Canada news in hearts, but the damage had and-go slam that came home. We was in second. been done. Declarer pitched his losing found ourselves trailing 37–25 after 12 The team did well on day four, and in club and a low diamond on the ♥K J, boards. the final match of the day, we wound up ruffed a club back to hand, and with the The second segment was a wild affair facing China 3 in a matchup of the top ♦Q now falling, the ♦J took trick 13. with slam swings, game swings, and two teams in the standings. China’s Tie A well-earned plus 1510. As it hap- penalty doubles (some gone awry). At Chen shone on this deal: pened, no fewer than eight of 18 pairs the end of it all, we had moved ahead recorded 1510 in the U16 event. Due to 81–70. As wild as our second segment ♠ Dlr: North Q 10 8 the schedule, they were the only group was, the third was a low-scoring nail- ♥ Vul: E–W K J 7 6 4 to play this deal. It is hard to imagine a biter. A failed game and some overtrick ♦ A more exciting outcome than making a exchanges saw our lead cut to 1-IMP ♣ A 7 6 3 grand slam on a triple squeeze. with two boards to play. ♠ ♠ 4 3 2 6 5 In a seesaw affair, we squeaked out a As a frequent kibitzer on BBO, I can ♥ ♥ 3 10 9 8 5 2 narrow victory and moved to the top of say that watching close matches like ♦ ♦ 8 6 5 3 2 Q 10 9 the leader board with one round-robin this are tremendously exciting. As the ♣ ♣ 10 9 8 4 K 5 2 match to play, Canada close behind in captain of a team with a 1-IMP lead, it’s ♠ A K J 9 7 third. not quite as enjoyable. ♥ A Q Day five would be an unusual sched- We got some breathing room when ♦ K J 7 4 ule for us: We would complete both we made a tight game on the penulti- ♣ Q J the round-robin and our quarterfinal mate deal. The last deal was a potential West North East South match (given that we had secured a swing, but both pairs recorded the Zhou Dai Hu Chen quarterfinal berth). normal field result and we survived 1♥ Pass 1♠ The team that finished first in the 91–82. France, Sweden and China 3 Pass 2♣ Pass 2♦(1) round-robin got the right to choose also advanced, so it would be France– Pass 2♠ Pass 3♠ their quarterfinal opponent, as well USA and Sweden–China 3 in the Pass 4♣(2) Pass 4♦(2) as their potential semifinal opponent. semis. There would be four segments Pass 4♥(2) Pass 4NT(3) There would be no carryover, but if of 12 boards in these matches, starting Pass 5♠(4) Pass 5NT(5) teams ended in a tie, the winner of the the next day. Pass 6♥(6) Pass 7♠ round-robin match would advance. The morning sessions had been All Pass The current top eight teams in the pretty good for us throughout, and the round-robin had a working margin semis were no exception. There were (1) Fourth-suit game forcing over the next group but a handful of a couple of slam swings in each direc- (2) Control bid teams could move up, including our fi- tion; we had the better of the partscore (3) Roman key card Blackwood nal opponent, Denmark. It was a back- swings and capitalized when the op- (4) Two key cards and the ♠Q and-forth match, decided on the last ponents had an accident to lead 42–21 (5) Grand slam try deal, with Denmark recording a narrow after the first segment. (6) ♥K, no minor-suit king victory, but not enough for them to The second segment was the advance to the knockout stage. of the first. France took advantage of Fifteen-year-old Chen, sitting When all the scores were tabulated, an error for a big swing and narrowed South, found himself in 7♠ on the 18 Bridge Bulletin November 2018 our lead to 55–46 at the halfway mark. den to set up a 48-board gold medal Dlr: West ♠ J 8 In the third segment, France found matchup against France; Sweden and Vul: Both ♥ A K 4 the killing lead to win a game swing USA would battle over 36 boards for Bd: 4 ♦ K 5 3 and bid a nice slam that came home to the bronze. ♣ K 9 8 7 2 take over the lead 72–71. While our team was disappointed in ♠ Q 10 9 6 4 3 ♠ 2 France did extremely well on the the tough loss in the semifinals, I was ♥ 10 8 7 ♥ J 9 6 5 2 slam hands in our match and the fourth pleased to see that they bounced back ♦ J ♦ Q 8 7 4 quarter was no exception, striking an quickly and were ready to go against ♣ 6 5 4 ♣ Q J 3 early blow with a difficult-to-reach Sweden the next day. Sweden got off ♠ A K 7 5 6♦. Our team battled back and were to a good start when a difference in ♥ Q 3 leading by 4 IMPs with three boards to notrump ranges got a favorable lead for ♦ A 10 9 6 2 go. Board 10 was the critical deal: their side and they made a tight game ♣ A 10 that was defeated at the other table. Dlr: East ♠ 7 5 Then there was this hand. As North, West North East South Vul: Both ♥ A Q you deal at favorable vulnerability: Rory Jonathan Bd: 10 ♦ A K J 8 7 4 Pass 1♦ Pass 2♦ ♣ 8 7 3 ♠A J 10 9 ♥A Q J ♦8 7 ♣10 6 5 2. Pass 2NT Pass 3♠ ♠ 10 8 ♠ A J 2 West North East South Pass 3NT Pass 4NT ♥ K 9 6 4 3 ♥ J 10 5 2 1♣ 1♦ 1♥ Pas 6NT All Pass ♦ 10 6 5 ♦ 9 1♠ Dbl (1) 2♠ 4♥ Opening lead: ♥2 ♣ 10 5 2 ♣ A Q J 6 4 4♠ ? ♠ K Q 9 6 4 3 (1) Three-card heart support Rory, North, started with a Precision ♥ 8 7 1♦. Jonathan, South, showed a game- ♦ Q 3 2 How do you like your chances forcing diamond raise, followed by a ♣ K 9 against this contract? Your second natural spade bid and a natural 4NT double ends the auction, and while you invitation, which Rory accepted. Both tables reached 3NT after a 1♣ are counting the vulnerable under- Seeing both hands, 6♦ would have opening bid by East. France declared tricks on your fingers, you have to find been a much better slam, but 6NT was from the South side and received a a lead. What shall it be? the contract. heart lead. Declarer had no choice but If it’s anything other than the ♠A, Rory saw that establishing either to , and when that worked, had you’re recording minus 790 on your minor for four tricks would get him to no trouble recording nine tricks. scorecard. The opponents each had 11, but the 12th would take some good The USA declared from the North a void and only cutting down the fortune. The best hope was to take side to protect the heart tenace, and crossruff works on the layout. Swe- five tricks in one of the minors. With received the ♣Q lead. When the king den judged to pull the double with the more diamonds than clubs combined, held, declarer had a couple of options, distributional South hand: that suit would provide the best hope, based on whom he believed held the ♠— ♥10 6 5 4 3 2 ♦Q 9 5 ♣K Q J 7. so declarer won the ♥Q and led a low ♥K: if West, take the heart finesse; This was wrong double-dummy, but diamond from dummy, capturing the if East, run the diamonds to apply jack with the king. He then took the pressure to East, who cannot keep the right in practice. Despite those set- backs, the team gave up little else and by leading a diamond guarded ♥K, the ♠A and enough clubs to the 9. When that held, he was home to set the contract. The latter line has trailed 21–17. The second segment was a comedy of with five diamonds, three hearts, two the advantage of being down only one spades and two clubs: 13 IMPs to the if wrong, in addition to the slight extra errors from both sides in the Sweden– USA match. Wrong games, telephone USA. chance that clubs are 4–4. Declarer That fortune was returned on the opted to play opener for the ♥K and numbers and doubled partscores making. At the end of the half, Sweden next deal when Sweden reached a run the diamonds, but that line failed pushy game that came home on a here; 12 IMPs to France, who took an led 60–52. Many of the swings that went against favorable lie. The next deal was tricky 8-IMP lead. The last deal held some – 33 combined HCP and an eight-card swing potential, but it went France’s us were of the slam variety. We bid our share to be sure, but the opponents major fit, but mirror distribution left way as well, and they won the match East–West with two inescapable los- 110–94. seemed to have a knack for bidding the ones that came home and avoiding ers. Both Sweden and China stayed out China 3 continued their strong play of slam to win 13 IMPs for their teams. and won convincingly against Swe- those that didn’t. Fortune smiled on Board 4 to give us a short-lived lead: The lead continued to ping-pong

November 2018 Bridge Bulletin 19 back and forth in nerve-wracking plays , a 2♦ opening bid tough opponent and we were fortunate fashion. With one board to go, Sweden showing 11–15 points with four spades to win the bronze medal. led by 3 IMPs. This was the fateful and five hearts. After a 1♥ opening by China used a big third quarter to last deal: East, West responded with 1NT rather overcome a slow start and beat France than 1♠. This resulted in 3NT being 114–87 to claim the U16 gold medal. Dlr: West ♠ K J 9 declared by West. The U16 medal ceremony was later Vul: N–S ♥ 10 6 3 After North’s club lead, declarer that evening and the team was excited, Bd: 12 ♦ 8 7 4 played on hearts, and when South having won our match in such dramat- ♣ 9 8 5 3 opted to switch to diamonds, declarer ic fashion. The room was filled with ♠ Q 8 6 2 ♠ A 5 3 emerged with 10 tricks. At the other players, coaches, administrators, par- ♥ Q ♥ A 9 8 7 5 4 table, East declared 3NT, and on a low ents and even a news crew, which did ♦ J 9 3 ♦ K Q diamond lead, had to rely on clubs, several interviews throughout. When it ♣ K Q 7 6 2 ♣ A J choosing to play for the ♠Q as an entry was time for the medals to be present- ♠ 10 7 4 rather than relying on a 3–3 club break. ed, we all stood on the podium with ♥ K J 2 Neither line would have worked on this the teams from China and France, and ♦ A 10 6 5 2 layout and the contract was defeated. set a record for the number of pictures ♣ 10 4 10 IMPs to the USA gave our team taken. It was a memorable conclusion As it happened, our East–West pair a 95–88 victory. Sweden was a very to a memorable trip. ◾

The final results of the other divisions: Category Gold medal Silver medal Bronze medal U26 Sweden Singapore Netherlands U21 Sweden Israel France Rona China Poland France

20 Bridge Bulletin November 2018