USA1 v Brazil

Orbis Bermuda Bowl - Final

Pouring it on

Entering the Orbis Bermuda Bowl final against Brazil, USA 1 had the psychological advantage of having thrashed their opponents, 74-4, in the round-robin.

On a more practical front, USA 1 had a 24-IMP carryover, the maximum allowed from their head-to-head match. Entering the fourth set, Brazil was down by 62 IMPs, not a signficant margin with 112 boards left to be played.

Supporters of Brazil had hope that they could close the gap somewhat.

It didn't happen. By the end of the session, USA 1 had increased their lead to 79 IMPs, a precursor to the avalanche of IMPs that was to come in sessions five and six.

The trouble for Brazil started immediately.

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

West North East South Campos Meckstroth Villas Boas Rodwell Pass Pass 1NT(1) All Pass

(1) 14-16 HCP.

Joao Paulo Campos started with a low spade, taken by Eric Rodwell with the jack. He played the ¨K to East's ace and played low on the shift to the ©9. Not reading the situation, Campos won with the ©10 and played the ªQ. Rodwell cashed his diamonds and knocked out the §A. The defenders took two more heart tricks. Plus 120 to USA 1.

West North East South Hamman Chagas Soloway Branco Pass Pass 1¨ Pass Pass Dble Rdble 1ª All Pass

It seems strange for Gabriel Chagas and Marcelo Branco to sell out to 1ª, especially Branco, with the good diamond suit. The play also had a curious side.

Chagas led the ¨3, ducked. Hamman won the continuation and misguessed in spades, playing low from dummy to his queen -- but Chagas ducked! Bob Hamman then cashed his top hearts and played a heart to dummy's queen. He ruffed dummy's diamond, played a club to the ace and the good ©9. Plus 110 and 6 IMPs to USA 1.

On Board 2 through 4, Brazil mounted a small rally, outscoring USA 1 20-0. Perhaps the match would be interesting after all. The big swing was this one.

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

West North East South Campos Meckstroth Villas Boas Rodwell Pass 1¨ Pass 2§ Pass 2© Pass 3¨ Pass 3© Pass 3ª Pass 4§ Pass 4© All Pass

Despite Jeff Meckstroth's opening bid, he and Rodwell didn't sniff at slam. Miguel Villas-Boas led the ¨7, and Meckstroth finished with 11 tricks for plus 650.

West North East South Hamman Chagas Soloway Branco Pass Pass Pass 1§ 1ª Dble Rdble 4© Pass 5§ Pass 5¨ Pass 5© Pass 6© All Pass

Branco and Chagas had a great auction to slam -- all Branco had to do was make it. Since Paul Soloway's redouble showed a spade honor, Hamman led a low spade to the king and ace. Obviously, Branco had to somehow figure the right way to play trumps.

The camera work from the VuGraph staff was superb, zeroing in on Branco's hand as he shifted cards around and strained to find some clue that would help him with his decision. Hoping to learn something about the opponents' hands, Branco played the ¨K from hand. Hamman won the ace and played another spade. Branco ruffed and went back into the tank.

At one point, Branco had the ©8 at the far right of his hand. He looked very much like a man who was going to misguess trumps. Again and again, Branco had a card nearly pulled from his hand, only to put his cards on the table and put his head in his hands.

Finally, Branco chose the ©K and another heart, ending the suspense and gaining 13 IMPs for Brazil.

At that point, Brazil was down 48 and seemed to have momentum. Their run ended abruptly when Chagas bid too much on the next deal.

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

West North East South Campos Meckstroth Villas Boas Rodwell 1ª Pass 1NT Pass 2ª All Pass

Rodwell had no trouble bringing home this contract with an overtrick. Plus 140 for USA 1. The auction was radically different in the Open Room.

West North East South Hamman Chagas Soloway Branco 1ª 2¨ Dble 4¨ 4ª All Pass

Soloway's diamond suit is not exactly robust, but entering the auction reaped dividends for his side. Hamman put pressure on the Brazilians with his weak jump raise, and Chagas responded by taking the aggressive view. Actually, Chagas was a ª8 away from making the optimistic contract. Since Soloway held that card, however, Chagas was due to fail barring a serious defensive lapse. Hamman and Soloway did not err, however, and Chagas recorded minus 50. Another 6 IMPs to USA 1.

Hamman and Soloway did a lot of bidding on the next deal, but the proof was in the pudding as Soloway reeled in nine tricks.

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

West North East South Campos Meckstroth Villas Boas Rodwell     Pass 1NT(1) Pass Pass Dble Pass 2§(2) Pass 2¨ All Pass

(1) 16-18 HCP.
(2) Forced.

Rodwell scrambled home with eight tricks. Campos led the top two hearts, switching to the ª10. Rodwell ruffed and played a club to the king. Rodwell played a diamond to his king, ducked by Campos. Another club lead put Campos on play, and he continued with spades. Rodwell won the ace, pitching a club, and played another diamond. Campos won and tapped Rodwell again in spades. Rodwell could pick up trumps and cash the ©J, but there was a losing spade in dummy. Plus 90 to USA 1.

West North East South Hamman Chagas Soloway Branco Pass 1ª(1) Pass 1¨(2) 1NT Pass 2¨ Pass Pass Dble Pass 2© Pass Pass Dble 2ª 3¨ 3© All Pass

(1) Strong.
(2) Negative.

Branco led the ¨K, ducked. Soloway won the next diamond and ruffed a diamond. He then played a spade from hand. Branco threw a low club, and Chagas took the ªK with the ace and gave Branco a spade ruff. Alas, the ruff was with Branco's natural trump trick, so when Branco exited with a club, Soloway went up with the ace and picked up trumps, claiming for plus 140. 6 IMPs to USA 1.

Brazil suffered another loss on this deal.

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

Chagas and Branco bid the North-South cards to 3NT, finishing with 10 tricks for plus 430. There were fireworks in the Closed Room.

West North East South Campos Meckstroth Villas Boas Rodwell 1¨(1) Pass 1© Pass 1NT Dble Rdble 2§ Dble All Pass

(1) Precision.

Villas-Boas was unlucky to find his partner with 1 high-card point, but when you slip up against Meckstroth and Rodwell, they usually make you pay. The cost for East-West on this deal was minus 800 and a 9-IMP loss.

There was a rare occurrence on the next deal: Chagas misplayed a makeable game.

Board 13. Dealer North. Game All ª 4 © A Q J 8 7 ¨ A 9 6 5 § K 8 6 ª A 10 9 8 ª Q 5 © 9 4 2 © 10 6 ¨ 4 ¨ K Q 10 7 3 2 § 10 9 7 4 2 § A 5 3 ª K J 7 6 3 2 © K 5 3 ¨ J 8 § Q J

West North East South Campos Meckstroth Villas Boas Rodwell 1© 2¨ 2NT(1) Pass 4© All Pass

(1) Heart raise.

Villas-Boas led the ¨K to Meckstroth's ace. Meckstroth cashed the ©A, then played his singleton spade to dummy's king. In with the ªA, Campos played a club to his partner's ace, which was followed by the ¨Q and the ¨2. Meckstroth ruffed with the ©K and ruffed a spade to hand. When the ªQ fell, Meckstroth had a parking place for his losing diamond and an entry in clubs to cash it. Plus 620.

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

Chagas also got the ¨K opening lead. Perhaps Chagas was tired -- he and Branco have played nearly every set for two weeks -- or he may have had a blind spot. In any case, he played three rounds of trumps, ending any chance for making the contract. Chagas played a spade to the jack and ace, but Hamman put Soloway in with the §A. Two winning diamonds followed for plus 100 and 12 IMPs to USA 1, who finished the session ahead by 79 IMPs.