Milner v Mihov

Orbis Transnational Open Teams - Semifinal

Disappointed again

The young Bulgarian team was disappointed to have been knocked out of the Orbis Bermuda Bowl, but they have continued to play well, earning a semifinal berth in the Orbis World Transnational Open Teams against an American-Canadian squad.

The two teams played virtually even in the first of three sets, but the team led by Reese Milner prevailed, 85-70, to advance to the final against the American-Polish squad captained by Rose Meltzer-Johnson.

Playing on VuGraph, the Milner squad drew blood on Board 1.

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

West North East South Stamatov Levin Popov Jacobus Pass 1ª 2¨ 2NT(1) 4¨ Pass Pass 4ª Pass Pass 5¨ Dble All Pass

(1) Spade raise.

Marc Jacobus lost four tricks for minus 300.

West North East South Gitelman Mihov Moss Nanev Pass 1ª 1NT Dble Rdble Pass 2¨ 3¨ Dble 3NT Pass 4§ Pass 4ª All Pass

Boris Popov could have defeated the contract with the lead of the ©A, but there was no particular reason to do so. Brad Moss scored up plus 450 for a 5-IMP gain.

An even bigger swing went Milner's way on the next deal.

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

West North East South Stamatov Levin Popov Jacobus   1© 1ª Dble Pass 1NT 2ª 3¨ Pass 3NT Pass 4¨ Pass 5¨ All Pass

After the spade lead, Jerry Stamatov was able to pitch his losing heart on the ªK. He gave up a club trick for plus 420.

West North East South Gitelman Mihov Moss Nanev 1NT 2ª 3¨ Pass 3NT Pass 4§ Pass 4NT Pass 6¨ Pass Pass Dble All Pass

Ivan Nanev hoped his double would result in a heart lead since it forbid the lead of his suit or a trump. Vladimir Mihov selected the §10, however, removing any difficulty Fred Gitelman might have had. He covered with the queen, took the §K with the ace and pulled trumps. He could then claim, unblocking the ªA, crossing to the §9, taking the heart discard and finessing the §7 to land the overtrick.

Gitelman could have succeeded after a heart lead, but the correct line might not have been worked out. To make the slam after a heart lead, Gitelman would have to win the likely spade return, play a diamond to the ace, followed by the §Q. South would have to cover, allowing Gitelman to drop the §10 with his jack to make his contract.

Plus 1170 was good for a 13-IMP pickup. Bulgaria got back into the match on this deal.

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

West North East South Stamatov Levin Popov Jacobus   Pass Pass Pass 1© 1ª 2© 2NT(1) 4© 4ª All Pass

(1) Spade raise.

Robert Levin might have considered saving, but he may also have fancied his chances against 4ª. Borislav Popov was not tested, however, and he scored up plus 620.

West North East South Gitelman Mihov Moss Nanev   2ª Pass 4ª 5© All Pass

Mihov had less information, but he bid 5© as a two-way shot: it might make, and if it didn't perhaps the opponents could make their game. He was right, so Bulgaria scored 11 IMPs.

Milner got it back and more on the next deal, when Jacobus and Levin bid to 6§ and while Nanev and Mihov stopped in 5§.

The Bulgarians recoved 8 IMPs on the next deal when a weak two-bid by Gitelman preempted the wrong side.

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

West North East South Stamatov Levin Popov Jacobus Pass 1¨ 1ª Pass 2¨ 2NT Pass 3§ 4ª All Pass

Popov took 11 tricks with ease, losing only a diamond and a spade.

West North East South Gitelman Mihov Moss Nanev 2© Dble Pass 2NT(1) Pass 3¨ All Pass

(1) Relay showing a bad hand.

After Gitelman's weak 2© bid, he and Moss had no chance to find their spade fit. Mihov took the seven tricks he started with for minus 100 -- and an 8-IMP gain.

With three boards to go, Bulgaria had pulled to within 4 IMPs with another 8-IMP gain (Nanev made plus 120 in 1NT while Levin went down two in 3NT).

Bulgaria pulled to within 2 IMPs on Board 14 by taking 11 tricks in 4ª while Gitelman managed nine tricks in 3NT. But for stellar play by Gitelman, Bulgaria would have recorded a double-digit swing.

Board 14. Dealer East. Love All ª K 6 3 © 10 9 6 ¨ K Q 10 9 3 § Q 9 ª A Q J 9 8 ª 10 2 © 7 © A K 5 4 3 ¨ A 5 ¨ 8 7 2 § A J 8 6 4 § K 5 2 ª 7 5 4 © Q J 8 2 ¨ J 6 4 § 10 7 3

West North East South Stamatov Levin Popov Jacobus   Pass Pass 1ª Pass 2© Pass 3§ Pass 3ª Pass 4ª All Pass

Stamatov lost only to the ªK and the §Q for plus 450.

West North East South Gitelman Mihov Moss Nanev   Pass Pass 1ª Pass 2© Pass 3§ Pass 3¨ Pass 3NT All Pass

Gitelman's 3NT contract was in deep trouble after the lead of the ¨K and the diamond continuation, but he played according to the textbooks and brought the nerve-wracking contract home. Gitelman won the second round of diamonds perforce and played a club to the king. His plan was to cash the top clubs. If the §Q did not fall, the spade finesse would be next with the added hope that South held no more than three to the king.

Gitelman was gratified and more than a little relieved when the §Q came tumbling down. His team still lost 2 IMPs, but it could have been 11.

That brought Bulgaria to within 2 IMPs at 72-70. Board 15 was a push, so Bulgaria still had a chance on the final board.

Board 16. Dealer West. EW Game ª Q 8 4 2 © 6 3 ¨ 9 7 § A 6 5 4 2 ª A K 6 ª J 10 5 © 9 7 © A 10 5 4 2 ¨ 10 6 5 3 ¨ A K 2 § Q J 9 3 § K 8 ª 9 7 3 © K Q J 8 ¨ Q J 8 4 § 10 7

West North East South Gitelman Mihov Moss Nanev Pass Pass 1NT Pass 3NT All Pass

Nanev led the ©K, which was ducked. Moss ducked again when Nanev continued the suit. Nanev got off lead with the ª7. Moss won in dummy and played a club to his king. When the §10 popped up on the next round of the suit, Moss was in control. North won the §A and got out with the ¨9. Moss won and followed with the ©A and another heart. He had his nine tricks via two hearts, three clubs, two diamonds and two spades.

West North East South Stamatov Levin Popov Jacobus Pass Pass 1© Pass 1NT Pass 2§ Pass 2© Pass 2NT Pass 3NT Pass Pass Dble All Pass

Jacobus, listening to a tentative-sounding auction and wanting a heart lead, doubled the final contract. Levin led the ©6, ducked to Jacobus's jack. Instead of continuing hearts, Jacobus switched to the ª9. Stamatov went up with the ace and played a club to the king and another club to the 10, queen and ace. Levin played his other heart, ducked to the queen. A second spade was returned, and Stamatov played low. Levin won his ªQ, and Stamatov was finished. He could not get nine winners before the defenders got five. Plus 200 was good for a 13-IMP gain, and a ticket into the TNOT final for Milner squad.

It was small consolation to the Bulgarians in the Open Room that defeating 3NT would not have changed the result of the match. Plus 100 would still have been a 3-IMP loss, and they needed a 3-IMP gain -- not possible with the cards they held.