USA1 v USA2

Orbis Bermuda Bowl - Semifinal

USA2 had led after two sets of their Orbis Bermuda Bowl semi-final against their compatriots, USA1, but a big third set saw USA1 take a 26 IMP lead at the half. And it was USA1 who started Set Four the better.

Board 1. Dealer North. Love All ª A K 4 2 © 9 7 6 4 ¨ A 4 § 6 4 2 ª Q 5 ª J 6 3 © J 5 © K Q 10 ¨ K Q 9 6 3 2 ¨ J 8 7 § A J 9 § K Q 5 3 ª 10 9 8 7 © A 8 3 2 ¨ 10 5 § 10 8 7

West North East South Rodwell Rosenberg Meckstroth Zia 1NT Pass 2§ 2¨ Pass 2NT Pass 3NT All Pass

Rosenberg/Zia's style is to run from One NO Trump with any hand of less than 5 HCP before the opposition's double. Hence, Two Clubs promised neither points nor a major.

When Eric Rodwell overcalled Two Diamonds, Michael Rosenberg therefore took the opportunity to pass, knowing that Zia Mahmood would bid again if they had a contract their way. Jeff Meckstroth bid a natural and invitational Two No Trump, and Rodwell raised him to game.

The opening lead was all important. On a spade lead, the defense can establish five winners immediately to defeat the contract.

However, Zia followed the old rule by leading fourth highest of his longest and strongest. The heart lead allowed Meckstroth to win and knock out the ace of diamonds. He took ten tricks for +430.

West North East South Stansby Hamman Martel Soloway 1ª Pass 2ª 3¨ All Pass

Bob Hamman opened his strong four-card major and Paul Soloway raised. When Lew Stansby overcalled, Chip Martel did not try for game - a good decision. There were four top losers but that was all; +110 but 8 IMPs to USA1.

Board 3. Dealer South. EW Game ª 7 3 © 5 3 2 ¨ Q 4 3 2 § A K Q ª J ª A Q 10 9 6 5 4 2 © A K Q 9 8 6 © — ¨ 7 6 ¨ A K J 9 5 § J 10 8 3 § — ª K 8 © 10 7 4 ¨ 10 8 § 9 7 6 5 4 2

West North East South Rodwell Rosenberg Meckstroth Zia Pass 1© Pass 1ª Pass 2© Pass 3¨ Pass 3© Pass 3ª Pass 3NT Pass 4¨ Pass 4ª All Pass

West North East South Stansby Hamman Martel Soloway Pass 1© Pass 1ª Pass 2© Pass 3¨ Pass 3© Pass 3ª Pass 3NT Pass 4ª All Pass

There is no way to defeat Six Spades on this freak deal but it is impossible for anyone to know how good or bad the contract will be until dummy comes down. Both teams showed great discipline in stopping at the four level - can you imagine putting this deal into your local club drive?

On vugraph, Meckstroth received a club lead, which he ruffed. He cashed the ace of diamonds and the eight fell. Now the contract could be defeated if he played the other top diamond and it was ruffed and the king of spades played. However, his diamond spots were all equals against the ten and queen. Meckstroth played ace then queen of spades, planning to give up one or two diamonds to establish the suit, as necessary. The super safety play had held him to 11 tricks, but when Zia won the spade he switched to a heart, so all the small diamonds could be discarded; back to 12 tricks and a flat board.

Board 7. Dealer South. Game All ª K 5 3 2 © J 8 5 ¨ K 7 5 4 § 7 2 ª — ª A Q 10 9 8 7 6 © K Q 7 3 © 10 9 4 ¨ A Q J 10 9 3 ¨ 6 2 § Q 10 6 § K ª J 4 © A 6 2 ¨ 8 § A J 9 8 5 4 3

West North East South Rodwell Rosenberg Meckstroth Zia     1§ 1¨ 1ª Pass 2§ Dble Pass 4ª All Pass

When Rodwell showed his extra values by doubling Two Clubs, Meckstroth leaped to Four Spades, treating Rosenberg's spade call with contempt. Zia led his stiff diamond. There is a winning line - go up with the ace of diamonds and lead a club. That establishes a discard for the losing diamond and there is a heart entry to cash it. With North lacking a quick entry, the defense is powerless. However, all that seemed to be a lot to hope for, and it was Zia who had led the diamond, so there was no guarantee that the finesse would lose. Meckstroth stuck in the queen and Rosenberg won his king. He could have given his partner a diamond ruff now, but thought it safer to lead a club. Zia won and cashed his other ace before exiting with a second heart. Meckstroth won and ruffed a club to hand then played ace and queen of spades; one down for -100.

West North East South Stansby Hamman Martel Soloway     2§ 2¨ Pass 2ª Pass 3¨ Pass 3ª Pass 3NT All Pass

The natural Two Club opening led to a quite different auction in the other room. Three No Trump looks to be an awkward contract but it played very well. Hamman led the seven of clubs to the ace and Soloway switched to a low heart to declarer's king. Stansby played ace then queen of diamonds to Hamman's king. The heart continuation did not exactly paralyze declarer, who now had nine tricks; +600 and 12 IMPs to USA2.

Board 9. Dealer North. EW Game ª 6 2 © Q 9 8 7 ¨ A 8 2 § K 10 4 2 ª Q 5 ª A K 10 9 8 3 © 5 4 © 10 6 3 ¨ K Q J 10 6 5 4 ¨ — § A 7 § J 9 5 3 ª J 7 4 © A K J 2 ¨ 9 7 3 § Q 8 6

West North East South Rodwell Rosenberg Meckstroth Zia Pass 3© Pass 4ª All Pass

West North East South Stansby Hamman Martel Soloway Pass 2ª Pass 3ª All Pass

Martel opened a weak two bid and Stansby contented himself with a pre-emptive raise. The defense started out by cashing two hearts, but declarer took the remainder for +200.

Meckstroth liked his 6-4 distribution enough to open at the three level, despite the vulnerability. The transfer pre-empt convinced Rodwell that he was worth a shot at game. Rosenberg led a low club to the nine, queen and ace. Rodwell took a while to think it through then led the king of diamonds, to the ace and ruff. Then he played ace of spades and a spade to the queen. He continued with the diamond queen then the ten, hoping to slip that past a sleeping North if he held only a doubleton diamond plus the last trump. But diamonds were 3-3 so that small deception was not necessary. A club towards the jack completed Rodwell's plan and saw him to ten tricks; +620 and 9 IMPs to USA1.

Board 10. Dealer East. Game All ª J 8 3 © 8 4 2 ¨ 7 5 4 2 § A J 4 ª A 5 4 ª Q 9 © K Q 10 5 © 7 ¨ 10 9 8 6 ¨ K Q 3 § Q 3 § K 10 9 7 6 5 2 ª K 10 7 6 2 © A J 9 6 3 ¨ A J § 8

West North East South Rodwell Rosenberg Meckstroth Zia   2§ 3§ Dble 3ª Pass Pass 3NT All Pass

West North East South Stansby Hamman Martel Soloway   1§ 2§ Pass 2© Pass Pass Dble Pass 3§ Pass 3NT All Pass

When the Closed Room result came through to the vugraph theatre, Stansby's three down for -300 looked to be a good position for his opponents.

However, Rosenberg's decision to bid Three Spades rather than leave it back round to his partner worked very well. Rodwell was not comfortable to double with only ace to three trumps, not knowing that declarer also had three little hearts so that he would not see his heart winners ruffed out. He tried Three No Trump but the first trick settled his fate.

There were those in the audience who suggested that, having bid spades, Rosenberg would lead hearts. However, he had bid his stronger major and he duly led his stronger major - which looks right in theory as well as practice. The spade queen was covered by the king and ducked. Rodwell won the third spade and played a diamond to the king and ace.

Zia cashed his spade winners then played a low club. Rosenberg thought about that for some time (but then he thinks about most things for some time) before coming to the correct conclusion, winning the ace and switching to a diamond through the queen, three. Rodwell finessed, and that was four down; 400 and 3 IMPs to USA2.

Board 12. Dealer West. NS Game ª Q J 4 © K 9 5 4 3 ¨ 8 § A J 8 2 ª A 9 6 ª 5 © J 10 8 7 © A Q 6 ¨ K 4 3 ¨ A J 10 9 7 6 2 § K Q 9 § 4 3 ª K 10 8 7 3 2 © 2 ¨ Q 5 § 10 7 6 5

West North East South Rodwell Rosenberg Meckstroth Zia 1¨ 1© 2¨ Pass 2NT Pass 3NT All Pass

West North East South Stansby Hamman Martel Soloway 1NT Pass 3§ Pass 3¨ Dble Rdble 3ª Pass Pass 3NT Pass 4¨ Pass 5¨ All Pass

Six Diamonds is good if North has overcalled and mediocre otherwise. Stansby shut out the overcall by opening One No Trump, and Martel responded Three Clubs, transfer. They had a look, but when neither felt able to cuebid they stopped in the safe game; +420.

Rodwell opened a loose diamond and that did attract an overcall. Two Diamonds was forcing and Rodwell described his hand by bidding Two No Trump. Meckstroth simply raised to game. Rosenberg led the queen of spades and continued the suit when it was ducked. Rodwell won the second spade and played a diamond to the ace athen a diamond back to the king. He led the heart jack and Rosenberg played low smoothly. That brought a serious huddle from Rodwell. You always feel very foolish if you go down in a game contract by going for an overtrick, but these 2 IMP swings add up over the course of a match and North was a big favourite to hold the king. Eventually, Rodwell finessed and came home with 11 tricks; +460 and 1 IMP to USA1.

Board 15. Dealer South. NS Game ª Q 9 © K Q J 8 5 3 ¨ 10 6 5 2 § K ª A 10 ª J 7 4 2 © A 10 9 4 2 © 7 6 ¨ K 4 ¨ A 9 3 § Q 6 5 2 § 10 9 7 3 ª K 8 6 5 3 © — ¨ Q J 8 7 § A J 8 4

West North East South Rodwell Rosenberg Meckstroth Zia     1ª Dble Rdble Pass 2¨ Pass 2© Pass 2ª All Pass

Rosenberg's redouble gave Zia an awkward problem. He could see a continuation in which Rosenberg would double Two Hearts, and he didn't fancy defending that contract. Yet if he passed now and then pulled the double, he would be showing a sound hand. Zia decided to bid now to show his weakness and guessed well to show his diamonds. Now Two Hearts was forcing and Zia repeated his weak spade suit. Now Rosenberg went into a long huddle before eventually passing. Rodwell led a low club to the king and ten. Whatever route declarer follows seems to get to only seven tricks. Zia tried the ruffing heart finesse, pitching a club. Rodwell won and played king and another diamond - the instant gratification defense - and Meckstroth won and gave him a ruff. Rodwell cashed the ace of trumps and had to decide how to get off play. If he exits with a heart, it looks as though declarer can win, throwing the club jack, ruff a heart, and cross to the queen of spades to lead hearts through West to trump coup him. However, Rodwell accurately exited with a club and Zia had no entry to dummy to shorten himself to allow the coup to work. Meckstroth took the setting trick with a spade for -100.

West North East South Stansby Hamman Martel Soloway     1ª 2© Pass Pass 3§ Pass 3ª All Pass

Soloway also opened One Spade but Stansby preferred the heart overcall to a take-out double. When that came back to Soloway he knew that his partner would pass a reopening double and didn't like the notion. He bid Three Clubs instead and Hamman gave preference to Three Spades, no doubt cursing under his breath.

Three Spades looks to be hopeless but Stansby made the disastrous opening lead of the ace of hearts. Soloway ruffed and played a club to the king. He cashed a heart, pitching a diamond, then played another heart winner, ruffed with the seven and over-ruffed. Ace of clubs and a club ruff was followed by another winning heart. Again the heart was ruffed and over-ruffed. Soloway ruffed his last club and took a fourth heart ruff and that was nine tricks; +140 and 6 IMPs to USA1.

USA1 gained 3 IMPs on the set and ended the day up by 29. There were 32 deals to play.