Canada v Italy, Round 2

by Brent Manley

Despite a change in personnel, the defending champions from Italy rank among the favorites in the event formerly known as the Olympiad.

The lineup change put Antonio Sementa as Giorgio Duboin’s partner instead of Norberto Bocchi. In round two, the Italians faced the team from Canada and got their money’s worth from the North Americans, who won a close, come-from-behind match 25-22. It was all Italy in the beginning. This deal did not represent a big IMP swing, but it helped Italy to a 5-1 lead early.

Board 20. Dealer West. All Vul.
	♠ J 3 2 ♥ K 9 6 5 ♦ Q 7 6 4 3 2 ♣
♠ K 8 7 6 ♥ J 7 ♦ J 10 ♣ J 9 5 4 2		♠ A 4 ♥ A Q 10 2 ♦ K 5 ♣ K 10 7 6 3
	♠ Q 10 9 5 ♥ 8 4 3 ♦ A 9 8 ♣ A Q 8

Duboin started with the ♦A and a diamond to declarer’s king. With the heart finesse working, L’Ecuyer lost only the two club tricks for plus 130. At the other table, Dan Jacob had reason to be thankful he wasn’t doubled.

Fulvio Fantoni started with the ♠A and continued with a spade to Claudio Nunes’ king. Nunes switched accurately to the ♥J, which went to the king and ace. Two more high hearts were cashed, and the fourth round of hearts made sure the defenders had two trump tricks coming. Jacob could ruff low and be overruffed, followed by a spade ruff for Fantoni, or he could ruff with the trump ace and give up two trump tricks a different way.

Plus 200 was just 2 IMPs, but the momentum was with the Italians. They gained another IMP on the next deal when they made an overtrick in 6♦ that was not made in the same contract at the other table. The big swing of the first half for Italy occurred on Board 24.

Board 24. Dealer West. None Vul.
	♠ 4 2 ♥ A Q 8 6 ♦ 6 4 3 2 ♣ 9 6 4
♠ J 7 6 5 3 ♥ 9 7 4 ♦ K J ♣ A K 3		♠ A K 10 9 ♥ ♦ A Q 9 7 5 ♣ J 7 5 2
	♠ Q 8 ♥ K J 10 5 3 2 ♦ 10 8 ♣ Q 10 8

Commentators noted that Nick L’Ecuyer could not make a splinter bid of 4♥ because his hand was “too good” for that shortness-showing bid. The upshot was that the great fit of the two hands was never really explored, so only one stab at slam was made. The problem was that West, who knew partner had a slam try and no club control, had bad trumps no heart control and no convenient way to advance unless 4♥ was played as Last Train. At the other table, Fantoni and Nunes got there despite a weak 1NT opening.

The same position in the auction was reached as in the other room, the difference being that the 1NT opening had limited West’s shape and high-card points, so effectively he had a non-minimum in context.

Thirteen tricks were easy after the opening lead of a low diamond. Nunes won and played dummy’s top trumps, claiming when the queen fell. Plus 1010 was an 11-IMP swing for Italy, leading now 16-1. Canada began their comeback on Board 26 when Kamel Fergani made an inspired decision at his second turn to bid.

Board 26. Dealer East. All Vul.
	♠ Q J 4 ♥ A 8 7 ♦ K Q 5 4 3 ♣ 8 3
♠ A K 5 ♥ Q 10 9 6 5 4 ♦ 6 ♣ A Q 6		♠ 9 7 6 ♥ ♦ A J 10 9 7 ♣ J 10 7 5 2
	♠ 10 8 3 2 ♥ K J 3 2 ♦ 8 2 ♣ K 9 4

Jacob started with the ♠Q. Nunes won the ♠A and played the ♥10 from hand. Lebi won the ♥J and played a diamond to the queen and dummy’s ace. Nunes took a successful club finesse to the queen (as opposed to running the jack, which would have worked), then got out with a heart to North’s 7 (he had played the 8 on the first round). Jacob played the ♦K, ruffed, and a third round of hearts put Jacob on lead again. He cleared the spades, and when South gained the lead again in trumps, he could cash a spade and put declarer back in his hand for plus 100.

Fergani’s choice of rebid worked out extremely well for his side. Sementa got off to the best lead of a low trump, but Fergani merrily crossruffed for 10 tricks, plus 130 and 6 IMPs.

Canada gained another 3 IMPs when Robert Lebi managed three down in a 3♠ contract, while Sementa went off five tricks, both declarers suffering from a miserable adverse trump split in a 4-3 trump fit. Canada trailed 22-10 when this intriguing deal came along.

Board 30. Dealer East. None Vul.
	♠ Q J 10 ♥ Q 5 4 2 ♦ K J ♣ A J 5 3
♠ A 8 3 2 ♥ J 8 7 3 ♦ 10 8 6 4 ♣ K		♠ K 9 7 6 ♥ A K 10 6 ♦ A Q ♣ 9 7 2
	♠ 5 4 ♥ 9 ♦ 9 7 5 3 2 ♣ Q 10 8 6 4

Sementa started with a low trump from his queen. Fergani won the ace, played a spade to his ace and took the diamond finesse. He cashed the ♦A, then played a club to his king and Sementa’s ace. Fergani won the trump continuation with dummy’s king, ruffed a club in hand, played a spade to dummy’s king and ruffed dummy’s last club with the ♥J. Now when he exited with a spade to Sementa’s jack, Sementa could cash the ♥Q and punch out declarer’s last trump with the ♣J. Still that was plus 140 for Canada.

At the other table, the Italians were more ambitious.

Nunes’ 1♦ bid showed hearts, and with his 16 high-card points, Fantoni was happy to accept the game try.

Lebi started with a low club to the king and Jacob’s ace, and Jacob got out with the ♠Q. Fantoni won in hand, ruffed a club, played a heart to his ace, then ruffed his last club with the ♥J. When Fantoni played a diamond from dummy, Jacob put up the king, which appeared to deceive declarer. Fantoni won the ♦A and played the ♠7 to Jacob’s jack. Jacob got out with the ♦J. Fantoni cashed the ♥K and played the ♥6 to Jacob’s queen, but Jacob won and punched out declarer’s last trump. That was one down and 5 IMPs to Canada. Fantoni could have made the contract from this end position:

	♠ ♥ Q 5 4 ♦ ♣ J
♠ 3 ♥ 8 ♦ 10 8 3 ♣		♠ 6 ♥ K 10 6 ♦ ♣
	♠ ♥ ♦ 9 7 5 ♣ Q 10

If Fantoni plays his winning spade, North can ruff, but then he must play a heart, allowing Fantoni to run it to dummy’s 8, or play a club. In the latter case, Fantoni would ruff in hand with the 6 and overruff in dummy with the 8, leaving him in position for a trump coup for his ninth and 10th tricks. Fantoni should have followed this line. North was known to have three spades and the play of the diamonds looked a lot like a doubleton. Further, North could not have five clubs or the third- and fifth- lead of the ♣4 from South would have been anti-systemic. Therefore, he had four clubs and four hearts.

The Canadians finished the comeback on the next-to-last deal, earning a 10-IMPswing for getting to 6♦ while the Italians at the other table played in 3NT, taking 10 tricks.