| 1st World Bridge Games | Page 2 | Bulletin 3 - Monday 6 October 2008 |
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Beijing Tea Party by Mark Horton Although they do not take place on a regular basis, Bridge matches between the USA and England have had a special significance ever since the day’s of Ely Culbertson Anglo/American encounters of the 1930’s. Here in Beijing, having enjoyed comfortable victories in their first two matches, both sides were seeking to maintain a 100% record. First blood went to the USA.
Open Room
At this level of play you would not give South much chance of emerging with nine tricks – and you would be right, for when West, clearly ignorant of Barry Crane’s famous dictum – ‘When God deals you AK of a suit it’s so you don’t have a lead problem.’ - found the extremely obscure lead of the ten of spades declarer quickly racked up eleven for +150. Closed Room
Had South been favoured with a similar lead to that made against his opposite number his aggression would have been rewarded. However, West started with the ace of clubs and when East followed with the nine he made the ‘obvious shift’ (apologies, but who could resist such an opportunity) to the four of hearts. That should have given the defence the first nine tricks, but they muddled the club suit and declarer ‘escaped’ for three down and lost 7 IMPs.
Open Room
With nothing terribly attractive South went for a passive seven of clubs. That solved one problem for declarer and it presented him with an eighth trick. How to find one more? The jack of spades lost to North’s king and the return of the jack of diamonds was covered by the king and ace. A low diamond went to dummy’s seven and declarer cashed out for +400. Closed Room
Here too South led a club, and declarer won and ran the jack of spades. This time North gave up on the idea that South might hold ♦AQ10x and switched to the nine of hearts. Declarer won in hand and advanced the nine of spades. When he guessed to run that North took the ten and was not slow to get the jack of diamonds onto the table. That was one down, -50, and the match had a new leader.
Open Room
East/West’s vigorous preemption could not deflect North from his chosen path, but South, perhaps recalling the words of Proverbs 28.1 – ‘The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, But the righteous are bold as a lion.’ – thought he knew better. North would hardly have been ecstatic when he saw the dummy, but with diamonds 3-1 and the heart position as it was fate had decreed that the contract was destined to make. Declarer won the spade lead and played all his trumps, which was more than East/West could stand. I think you could call that a not unfortunate +2140. Closed Room
Here North/South were given a free run, bid accurately to the best contract – and lost 13 IMPs.
West led an uninspired spade and East took the ace and found the best shot of laying down the king of diamonds and following it with the seven of hearts. Declarer fell for that and West won with the ten of hearts. Now the defenders could cash their red winners and collect a couple of ruffs for one down, +100. Closed Room
East led the king of diamonds, but then failed to find the essential switch to a heart, preferring the five of clubs. Declarer won with the king and played on trumps. East won the second round and might still have given declarer a problem with a switch to a low heart. No, he played the ace and declarer was home, +110 giving England 7 IMPs.
Open Room
When West doubled Five Diamonds North know his holding in that suit was well placed and he jumped to the good slam. (As the diamond ruff was a minor possibility there is perhaps a case for North preferring 6NT.) East led a diamond, but when he could not ruff the second diamond declarer was soon home with +980. Closed Room
The English pairs auction fell short of the mark and cost 11 IMPs.
Open Room
England stopped at a what appeared to be safe level and the defence started with the ace of spades and a spade to the king, North switching to the seven of diamonds. Declarer won, and surprisingly ignoring the trump suit, played a club to the queen and king. If North had now found the not impossible play of returning a club South would have ruffed and played a spade for North to ruff with the jack of hearts, thereby promoting a second trump trick for South. When he tamely played a second diamond declarer won and set about the trump suit, rapidly claiming nine tricks, +140. Closed Room
When East/West pushed on to the reasonable game South led his club. With little choice, declarer finessed and North won and returned the seven of clubs for South to ruff. After the ace of spades, a spade to the king and another club, ruffed by south declarer was two down, -200 giving England 8 IMPs. That was the last significant swing and the USA won 45-31 IMPs, 18-12 VP. |
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