Open Teams final - 1st - Italy v england
A real donnybrook
by Brent Manley
Donnybrook is a district of Dublin, Ireland, and home to the Donnybrook Fair, where disorderly conduct (translation: fighting) was so common that the name became synonymous with a fracas or brawl.
Ireland did not make it to the final of the Open series, but the first set put up by Italy and England had many of the characteristics of a slugfest.
Italy jumped ahead on the first board when a feather-light opener by Justin Hackett led his brother, Jason, to a serious overbid in a competitive auction.
| Board 1. Dealer North. None Vul. |
| | ♠ J 10 7 6 5 2
♥ A 6
♦ A 9 6
♣ 9 8 |
♠ K 9
♥ 10
♦ 10 8 4 3 2
♣ K Q J 10 4 |  |
♠ A 8 3
♥ 8 7
♦ K Q J 7 5
♣ 7 3 2 | | | ♠ Q 4
♥ K Q J 9 5 4 3 2
♦
♣ A 6 5 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Nunes | Justin H. | Fantoni | Jason H.
|
| | 1♠ | Pass | 2♥
|
| 2NT | Pass | 5♦ | 6♥
|
| All Pass
| | | |
It would have taken a monumental screw-up by the defense to let even 5♥ through, and the slam was quickly down two for minus 100. The auction was short and sweet at the other table, just what Italy needed.
| West | North | East | South
|
| Townsend | Lauria | Gold | Versace
|
| | Pass | Pass | 4♥
|
| All Pass
| | | |
It was a lot more difficult for Tom Townsend, West, to get involved when the bidding started at the four level, so England went quietly and Alfredo Versace took his eight hearts and two aces for plus 420 and 11 IMPs to Italy.
The Italians stole the pot on the next deal for another big gain.
| Board 2. Dealer East. N/S Vul. |
| | ♠ A 6 5
♥ K
♦ K 5 3 2
♣ K 9 7 6 5 |
♠ 9 4
♥ Q J 8 7 5 3
♦ 8 7
♣ A 8 4 | |
♠ K Q J 7 3
♥ 10 6 4
♦ Q 9 6
♣ J 2 | | | ♠ 10 8 2
♥ A 9 2
♦ A J 10 4
♣ Q 10 3 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Nunes | Justin H. | Fantoni | Jason H.
|
| | | Pass | Pass
|
| 2♥ | All Pass
| | |
Double-dummy defense could have led to two down, but the Hacketts did manage plus 50. It was still a big loss.
| West | North | East | South
|
| Townsend | Lauria | Gold | Versace
|
| | | Pass | 1♦
|
| 1♥ | 2♣ | Dble | 3♣
|
| Pass | 3♦ | Pass | 3♥
|
| Dble | 5♣ | All Pass
| |
Lorenzo Lauria ducked the opening lead of the ♠K and took the heart switch in hand with the king. He ran the ♣9 to West’s ace and took the heart continuation in dummy, pitching a spade. He played a spade to the ace and another club from hand, taking the jack with dummy’s queen. The last trump was picked up and Lauria cashed the ♦K and played a diamond to dummy’s jack, claiming when it held. Plus 600 was good for another 11 IMPs. Italy was ahead 22-0.
England picked up 2 IMPs when Tom Townsend made 3♣ in the open room while Jason went one down in 3♦ in the closed room.
The first haymaker landed by England was on the next deal.
| Board 4. Dealer West. All Vul. |
| | ♠ Q 9 8 5 3
♥ Q 9
♦ A 9 8 7
♣ Q 10 |
♠ 6
♥ 5
♦ 5 2 | |
♠ A K 7 4 2
♥ K J 8 7
♦ Q 10 6 4 | | | ♠ J 10
♥ A 10 6 4 3 2
♦ K J 3
♣ J 7 |
The auction was the same at both tables – and opening bid of 5♣ by West.
In the closed room, Justin started with the ♦A, switching to the ♥9 a trick two. Nunes went up with the ♥K, taken by South with the ace. Correctly diagnosing the situation, Jason cashed the ♦K for down one.
At the other table, Lauria also started with the ♦A and the ♥9 at trick two. Townsend also went up with the ♥K. Versace, however, tried a second heart. Townsend ruffed and was home with plus 600, pitching his losing diamond on the ♠K. That was 12 IMPs for England.
Another 6 IMPs went England’s way on a routine 1NT that was made at one table and defeated at the other.
| Board 5. Dealer North. N/S Vul. |
| | ♠ Q 8
♥ 8 4 3
♦ 10 8 7 5
♣ A J 6 3 |
♠ 10 9
♥ K J 10 9
♦ Q 9 4 2
♣ K 10 4 | |
♠ A K 7 5 4
♥ 7 5 2
♦ J 6
♣ Q 8 2 | | | ♠ J 6 3 2
♥ A Q 6
♦ A K 3
♣ 9 7 5 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Nunes | Justin H. | Fantoni | Jason H.
|
| | Pass | Pass | 1♠
|
| Pass | 1NT | All Pass
| |
Fulvio Fantoni started with the ♠4. Justin took West’s ♠9 with the queen and played a diamond to the ace. He cashed the ♦K and played a third round. Claudio Nunes won the ♦Q and exited with the ♠10. Fantoni won the ♠A and switched to a heart, ducked by declarer and taken by West with the 9. Nunes got out with a diamond to declarer’s 10, East and South pitching spades.
Justin then played a low club from hand and Fantoni erred by playing the queen. He cashed the ♠K and played a heart. Justin went up with the ace, took the club finesse and cashed the ♣A, claiming eight tricks when the suit split 3-3.
| West | North | East | South
|
| Townsend | Lauria | Gold | Versace
|
| | Pass | Pass | 1♣
|
| Pass | 1♦ | 1♠ | Pass
|
| Pass | 1NT | All Pass
| |
David Gold also led a spade, and Lauria duplicated Justin’s play with three rounds of diamonds. Townsend took the ♦Q and returned a spade to his partner’s king. Townsend won the heart continuation with the 9, but instead of exiting with a diamond, he played the ♣K. Lauria won the ♣A, cashed the ♦10, pitching dummy’s ♥Q, and played a low club from hand. The ♥A was declarer’s last trick – one down and 6 IMPs to England, now trailing by only 2 IMPs. They took the lead on the next board.
| Board 6. Dealer East. E/W Vul. |
| | ♠ A 9 6 2
♥ Q 9 8 5 4
♦ 8 5 4
♣ 3 |
♠ 5 4
♥ J 10 3 2
♦ A J 10 6
♣ Q 8 7 | |
♠ 8 7 3
♥ A K 7 6
♦ K 7
♣ A 9 5 4 | | | ♠ K Q J 10
♥
♦ Q 9 3 2
♣ K J 10 6 2 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Nunes | Justin H. | Fantoni | Jason H.
|
| | | 1NT | 2♦
|
| Dble | 3♠ | Dble | Pass
|
| 4♦ | Pass | Pass | Dble
|
| 4♥ | Dble | All Pass
| |
Jason’s 2♦ indicated possession of the spade suit, and Justin took advantage of the vulnerability to put pressure on the opponents. The double of 3♠ was East-West’s last chance at a plus score, and when they ran from their 4-2 diamond fit to the 4-4 heart fit, declarer caught a 5-0 break.
Justin started with the ♠A and a spade to Jason’s jack. Nunes ruffed the third round of spades and played the ♥J, covered by the queen and ace. Declarer played a low club from dummy, won by Jason with the king. He gave his brother a club ruff, and there was still a trump trick to come. Plus 500.
| West | North | East | South
|
| Townsend | Lauria | Gold | Versace
|
| | | 1♣ | Pass
|
| 1♦* | Pass | 2♥ | Dble
|
| Pass | 2♠ | Pass | Pass
|
| 3♣ | Pass | 3♥ | All Pass
|
The defense started with three rounds of spades, the third ruffed in dummy. Gold ran the ♥J, not covered by Lauria, abandoning trumps when South showed out. Guided by Versace’s takeout double, Gold played a club to his ace, following with the ♦K and a diamond to dummy’s 10. He pitched a club on the ♦A and another club when he played the ♦J and Lauria ruffed in with the 8. Lauria was down to hearts and a spade at that point, so he got out with his spade, ruffed in dummy. Gold had his nine tricks for a well-earned plus140 and 12 IMPs to England, now in the lead 32-22.
Italy regained the lead, however, on the next deal.
| Board 7. Dealer South. All Vul. |
| | ♠ Q J 10
♥ J 9 5 2
♦ A 2
♣ 8 7 6 2 |
♠ A K 8 4
♥ 10 6 3
♦ J 10 3
♣ K 9 4 | |
♠ 7 2
♥ A K 7 4
♦ K 9 8 7
♣ A 10 5 | | | ♠ 9 6 5 3
♥ Q 8
♦ Q 6 5 4
♣ Q J 3 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Nunes | Justin H. | Fantoni | Jason H.
|
| | | | Pass
|
| Pass | Pass | 1NT | Pass
|
| 2♣ | Pass | 2♥ | Pass
|
| 2♠ | Pass | 3♦ | Pass
|
| 3NT | All Pass
| | |
Jason started with the ♣Q, presenting declarer with his ninth trick. Fantoni won the ♣A. Assuming he had three club tricks, Fantoni needed only two from diamonds to go with his four top tricks in the majors. Not willing to open himself to an attack in a major, he simply played a low diamond from hand at trick two. Jason ducked and his brother won the ace. The fate of the contract was revealed at the next trick when Justin played back a club: 10, jack, ace. Fantoni had only to play a diamond to the king and a diamond to score up plus 600.
| West | North | East | South
|
| Townsend | Lauria | Gold | Versace
|
| | | | Pass
|
| Pass | Pass | 1NT | Pass
|
| 3NT | All Pass
| | |
Versace gave away nothing with his opening lead of a low spade. Declarer won in dummy and played the ♦J to South’s king. Another spade went to declarer’s ace. In with a second diamond, Lauria cashed the ♠10 and played a heart. Gold did the best he could by playing a diamond to dummy, then exiting with the ♠8, hoping South would have to break the club suit. All Versace had to do, however, was get out with his diamond and Gold was left a trick short. That was 12 IMPs to Italy, back on front 34-32.
It was 38-32 for Italy when this deal came along.
| Board 12. Dealer West. N/S Vul. |
| | ♠ K 9 8 2
♥ K J 10 5
♦ K 8 7 6 5
♣ |
♠ A Q 6
♥ 7 6 4 3
♦ J 4
♣ J 8 5 4 | |
♠ 10 7 5 4 3
♥ A 9 8
♦ 9
♣ A K 7 6 | | | ♠ J
♥ Q 2
♦ A Q 10 3 2
♣ Q 10 9 3 2 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Nunes | Justin H. | Fantoni | Jason H.
|
| Pass | 1♦ | 1♠ | 3♣*
|
| 3♠ | Pass | Pass | 4♦
|
| Pass | 5♦ | All Pass
| |
Fantoni tried the ♣A, but Justin ruffed and played a heart from hand. Fantoni studied the card briefly before rising with the ace and playing a spade. The two major-suit aces were it for the defense. Plus 600.
| West | North | East | South
|
| Townsend | Lauria | Gold | Versace
|
| Pass | Pass | 1♠ | Pass
|
| 2♠ | Pass | Pass | 2NT
|
| Pass | 3♠ | Pass | 4NT
|
| Pass | 5♦ | Dble | All Pass
|
The same two tricks were available to Gold and Townsend, who wrote minus 750 in their scorecards, a loss of 4 IMPs.
Two deals later, England came up with another big punch.
| Board 14. Dealer East. None Vul. |
| | ♠ K Q J 9 5 4
♥ K 6 5
♦ Q 6 3
♣ 4 |
♠ 6
♥ 10 7 4 2
♦ 9 7 4
♣ K 9 8 3 2 | |
♠ A 10 2
♥ A Q J
♦ K 2
♣ A Q 10 7 6 | | | ♠ 8 7 3
♥ 9 8 3
♦ A J 10 8 5
♣ J 5 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Nunes | Justin H. | Fantoni | Jason H.
|
| | | 1♣ | 1♦
|
| Pass | 1♠ | 1NT | Pass
|
| 2♣ | 2♠ | 3♣ | Pass
|
| Pass | 3♦ | Pass | 3♠
|
| All Pass
| | | |
Nunes didn’t know about the big club fit because the bidding indicated only that Fantoni had a strong, balanced hand.
Fantoni started with the ♣A, continuing with the ♥A and ♥Q. Justin won the ♥K and played the ♠Q, ducked by Fantoni. He took the next high spade with the ace and cashed his ♥J, but that was it for the defense. Plus 140 to England.
| West | North | East | South
|
| Townsend | Lauria | Gold | Versace
|
| | | 2NT | Pass
|
| 3♣ | Pass | 3♦ | Pass
|
| 3NT | All Pass
| | |
Versace led the ♦J to Gold’s king. He played a club to the king and a heart to the jack, following with the ♣A, ♣Q and a club to dummy’s 8. A second heart finesse followed, and when the suit proved to be 3-3, Gold had 11 tricks with five clubs, four hearts, a spade and a diamond for plus 460. The 12-IMP gain put England back on top 44-42.
Italy scored a big blow on the next deal to go back ahead, however.
| Board 15. Dealer South. N/S Vul. |
| | ♠ J 9 8 7 6 3
♥ 5 2
♦ 8
♣ 10 8 6 4 |
♠ 10
♥ 7 6
♦ A 10 7 4 2
♣ Q 7 5 3 2 | |
♠ A 5 2
♥ K J 9 3
♦ Q 6 3
♣ A J 9 | | | ♠ K Q 4
♥ A Q 10 8 4
♦ K J 9 5
♣ K |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Nunes | Justin H. | Fantoni | Jason H.
|
| | | | 1♥
|
| Pass | Pass | Dble | Pass
|
| 2♦ | Pass | 2NT | Pass
|
| 3♣ | Pass | 3♦ | Pass
|
| 3NT | All Pass
| | |
Jason led the ♥A, continuing with a low heart at trick two in hopes partner had some card that would help establish his suit. It was bad news when Fantoni won trick two with the ♥9, then played the ♣A, felling Jason’s king. The ♦Q was next, ducked all around, and when Jason played the ♦K on the second round of the suit, Fantoni played low. Too late, Jason switched to the ♠K. Fantoni won the ♠A, played a diamond to dummy’s 10 to finished with 10 tricks for plus 430.
| West | North | East | South
|
| Townsend | Lauria | Gold | Versace
|
| | | | 1♥
|
| 2NT | Pass | 3♣ | All Pass
|
With fits in both partner’s suits and a strong holding in opener’s suit, Gold’s bid of 3♣ seems very conservative (some would take a shot at 3NT). Versace led the ♣K, but Gold did not have to strain to come to nine tricks for plus 110 – but a loss of 8 IMPs.
Italy had taken the first round 50-44.
|
