| 1st World Mind Sports Games | Page 5 | Bulletin 8 - Sunday 12 October 2008 |
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Open Teams R16-1 - USA v Poland Top Draw by Mark Horton The draw brought together two of the world’s top bridge playing countries, and allowed the BBO audience to continue the ongoing debate as to who are currently the best pair in the world. Whoever you think that may be there is little doubt that Meckwell consistently draw the biggest crowds – not least because of their exceptional derring-do in the bidding.
Open Room
The Polish pair had an excellent auction to the top spot. They key was North’s decision to bid Four Clubs – surely right with such prime cards. When West led the nine of spades declarer was soon claiming +1010. Closed Room
The fourth suit auction did not prove to be as effective as the natural one at the other table. The lead was the same, so declarer was +510, but that cost 11 IMPs.
Open Room
South led the three of diamonds (low from a doubleton) and declarer won in dummy and set about the trump suit. He had to lose three trump tricks and the ace of spades, but that was all, +140. Closed Room
Four Hearts was far too high. South led a spade and North took the ace and continued the suit, forcing declarer to ruff. A diamond to the jack was followed by a heart to South’s jack. Declarer could have escaped for one down by continuing to play on trumps, but he abandoned the suit and played diamonds. South ruffed the third round with the ace of hearts and forced declarer with a third spade to ensure two down, -200 and 8 IMPs to the USA.
Open Room
When East doubled 1NT North/South had nowhere to go. East cashed the ace of spades and switched to a club. That ran to dummy’s ten and declarer played three rounds of diamonds, East discarding a club as West won with the jack. West switched to the three of hearts and East won with the queen. He played back the four of hearts and if West had ducked this trick then the contract would have been three down. Obviously uncertain of the exact position West took the ace of hearts, cashed the queen of diamonds and played a spade, leading to two down, -300. Closed Room
The 4-3 fit proved to be a comfortable spot. Declarer won the spade lead with the ace and played a diamond to the queen and ace. When North played a second spade declarer ran it to his ten and exited with a diamond. He won the club return with dummy’s ace, cashed the king of spades discarding a club and played on cross ruff lines, emerging with nine tricks, +140 but losing 4 IMPs.
Open Room
Two Diamonds promised 9+ points and was forcing for one round. When West, who might have had as little as a singleton honour, showed some diamond support East made the obvious advance to game. North cashed the ace of hearts, getting the ten from South, and switched to the two of spades to ensure a one trick set, -50. Closed Room
Four Clubs surely implied diamond support, so East’s decision to double looks questionable. East led a hopeful club, but declarer took West’s queen with the ace and claimed ten tricks, +790 and 12 IMPs.
Open Room
1NT was 14-16. Declarer won the ten of hearts lead with dummy’s queen, knocked out the ace of diamonds and cashed out for ten tricks and +180. Closed Room
North led the five of hearts and declarer, who could not afford to have South win and switch to spades, made the excellent play of going up with the ace and playing on diamonds. South won the second round and played back the ten of hearts, but when the queen won declarer claimed +630 and 10 IMPs. Poland won the first set 27-25 – and it was already clear that the match was likely to go right down to the wire. |
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