The 44th World Team Championships (IV)

by Phillip Alder

These took place in Wuhan, China, from September 14 to 28. We are looking at the progress of the only American team to win a medal, USA-1 in the mixed event: Cheri Bjerkan-Allan Graves, Christal Henner-Uday Ivatury and Jill Meyers-Howard Weinstein. In the 96- semifinal, they played against England: Sally Brock-Barry Myers, Fiona Brown-Michael Byrne and Frances Hinden-Graham Osborne. First, though, here is a four-question quiz.

1a. With only the opponents vulnerable, you are dealt:

‰ J 6 Š A J 6 5 ‹ J 7 4 Œ A 7 5 2

The auction goes thus:

West North East South Opener You Responder Partner 1Œ Pass 1‰ Pass 1NT (a) Pass 3NT All Pass (a) 15-17 points

What would you lead?

2. With only your side vulnerable, you pick up:

‰ Q Š 9 8 7 6 2 ‹ A Q J 6 2 Œ K 9

The bidding starts like this:

West North East South Responder Partner Opener You Pass Pass 1Π??

What would you do?

1 3. Both side are vulnerable. Your hand is:

‰ A K Q J 5 Š Q 8 4 ‹ K 6 Œ Q 10 5 West North East South Partner You 1‰ Pass 1NT (a) Pass 2NT (b) Pass 3‰ (c) Pass 3NT Pass 4Œ Pass ?? (a) Semiforcing (b) Balanced game-force (c) Clubs

What would you do now?

1b. ‰ J 6 Š A J 6 5 ‹ J 7 4 Œ A 7 5 2

Suppose the auction goes like this:

West North East South Opener You Responder Partner 1NT (a) Pass 3Œ (b) Pass 3‹ (c) Pass 3Š (d) Pass 3NT Pass Pass Pass (a) 15-17 points (b) Puppet Stayman (c) No five-card major (d) Four spades

Would your change?

After nine boards, USA-1 led by 42 international match points to 18. Over the last seven deals of the first set, England gained 6 imps (9-3) on six of them. This was Board 12:

2 North Dlr: West ‰ A 10 9 3 Vul: N-S Š K J 4 3 ‹ 10 9 5 Œ 7 3 West East ‰ J 8 5 2 ‰ K 7 6 4 Š A 10 5 Š Q ‹ 7 4 ‹ K 8 3 Œ 10 6 5 4 Œ A Q J 8 2 South ‰ Q Š 9 8 7 6 2 ‹ A Q J 6 2 Œ K 9 Open Room: West North East South Meyers Brown Graves Byrne Pass Pass 1Œ 2NT (a) Pass 4Š All Pass (a) At least 5-5 in the red suits

Closed Room: West North East South Brock Ivatury Myers Henner Pass Pass 1Œ 1‹ Pass 2‹ Pass Pass Dble Pass 2‰ All Pass

The moral of this deal is never to ignore a five-card major, however weak. Against four hearts, East led the queen, which was ducked to declarer's king. North played a club, East winning the trick and exiting with a second club. Declarer played a heart up, West taking the trick and shifting to a spade. But North won, drew the missing trump and took the diamond to end with an overtrick. Yes, two spades went down two, but that was 11 imps to England. The session ended with USA-1 ahead by 45 imps to 38. In the second set, six boards were flat, on eight others, England gained 11 imps (24-13), and there were two big swings:

3 North Dlr: South ‰ 3 2 Vul: Both Š 6 ‹ Q J 8 5 Œ A K J 8 6 2 West East ‰ 10 7 6 4 ‰ 9 8 Š J 10 7 5 3 Š A K 9 2 ‹ 9 2 ‹ A 10 7 4 3 Œ 9 7 Œ 4 3 South ‰ A K Q J 5 Š Q 8 4 ‹ K 6 Œ Q 10 5 Open Room: West North East South Weinstein Hinden Bjerkan Osborne 1‰ Pass 1NT Pass 2NT (a) Pass 3‰ (b) Pass 3NT Pass 4Œ All Pass (a) Balanced game-force (b) Clubs

Closed Room: West North East South Myers Ivatury Brock Henner 1‰ Pass 3Œ (a) Pass 3NT Pass Pass Pass (a) Game-invitational

Hinden was thinking about six clubs, but Osborne got nervous. However, Osborne should have remem- bered that you don't run from three notrump undoubled to four of a minor. He should have continued with four spades and hoped for the best. Then North might well have passed, but if she had continued with five clubs, that contract would have made. Ivatury was a tad stronger than he might have been, especially vulnerable at imps, when one bids game with the faintest of excuses. But his partner had him covered. Well, looking at only the North-South hands, you would much prefer to be in four spades or five clubs. Against three notrump, West led the heart five. East won with her ace and returned the heart deuce, but South put up her queen, then claimed! Minus 150 and plus 690 gave 11 imps to USA-1. This was the last board of the set:

4 North Dlr: West ‰ J 6 Vul: E-W Š A J 6 5 ‹ J 7 4 Œ A 7 5 2 West East ‰ A Q 3 ‰ K 10 8 4 Š 10 4 3 2 Š K Q 8 ‹ A 3 ‹ 10 9 5 2 Œ K Q 8 6 Œ J 3 South ‰ 9 7 5 2 Š 9 7 ‹ K Q 8 6 Œ 10 9 4 Open Room: West North East South Weinstein Hinden Bjerkan Osborne 1NT Pass 3Œ (a) Pass 3‹ (b) Pass 3Š (c) Pass 3NT Pass Pass Pass (a) Puppet Stayman (b) No five-card major (c) Four spades

Closed Room: West North East South Myers Ivatury Brock Henner 1Œ Pass 1‰ Pass 1NT Pass 3NT All Pass

Hinden started with the heart five, at double-dummy the only losing lead. Weinstein won on the board, played the club jack and continued with another club to his king and North's ace. North exited with a heart, taken by dummy's queen. Declarer ducked a diamond, won the diamond return and cashed out, aided by the nice splits in the black suits. Weinstein took four spades, two hearts, one diamond and three clubs. In the Closed Room, Ivatury did better, leading the spade jack. West won with his ace and played a heart. Now, at double-dummy, North had to win with his ace and shift to a diamond – a very tall order. When North played second hand low, declarer won with dummy's king, ran the club jack and played a spade to his queen. Now declarer had to lea a club royal or his last spade. However, he played another heart. Again North needed to win the trick, but again he ducked! Now surely a club was the right continuation, but declarer tried a heart, hoping for a 3-3 split. (Henner had played high-low, which showed an odd number if giving count, but she was trying to suit-preference for diamonds.) North won with his jack and immediately shifted to a diamond. Now Myers had only eight winners: four spades, two hearts, one diamond and one club. Plus 630 and plus 100 gave another 12 imps to USA-1. The Americans won this set by 36 imps to 24 to take the lead by 19 imps (81-62) with 64 boards to be played.

To be continued

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