Poland v Brazil

Orbis Bermuda Bowl - Round 8

On the Rebound

The Round 8 match between Poland and Brazil in the Orbis Bermuda Bowl figured to be a good one - both teams had been defeated rather smartly in the previous round. Poland had fallen to Italy, 50-19, and Brazil lost to Pakistan, 35-8.

It seemed a reasonable expectation that the teams would be trying to make amends and protect their places in the round-robin standings. The rebounding was done almost entirely by Poland, who took advantage of the seemingly distracted Brazilians for a 67-40 victory.

Poland was out front, 32-0, after four boards. The onslaught started with the first deal.

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

West North East South Kwiecien Chagas Pszczola Branco 1§ 1¨ Dble 5¨ Dble All Pass

The only lead to defeat the contract is a diamond. Marcelo Branco led the §4 and watched in misery as Micahl Pszczola made five trump tricks in each hand, stopping along the way to cash the ªA. Plus 550 to Poland. At the other table:

West North East South Campos Romanski Villas-Boas Kowalski 1§ 2NT Pass 3§ Pass Pass 3¨ 4¨ 4© 4NT Pass 5¨ Dble All

Had Apolinary Kowalski been able to see his partner's hand, he certainly would have allowed Joao Campos to play in his 5-0 trump fit. When Kowalski came to his rescue, Campos found the correct denomination, at least.

Unfortunately for Brazil, Jacek Romanski knew just what to do against the minor two-suiter - he led a trump. From there, Campos could scramble only ten tricks for minus 100 and 12 IMPs to Poland.

Poland struck for another 4 IMPs on Board 2, pushing the Brazilians to an unmakeable part score. This deal was next:

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

West North East South Campos Romanski Villas-Boas Kowalski     1ª Pass 1NT Pass 2© Pass 4© All Pass

Kowalski's only losers were a club and a diamond. Plus 450 to Poland. At the other table:

West North East South Kwiecien Chagas Pszczola Branco     1ª 1NT 2§(1) Pass 2¨ All Pass

Kwiecen's 1NT overcall seemed to take the steam out of Chagas, who made a rather conservative decision to pass 2¨ rather than mentioning his hearts. Branco made 11 tricks when Kwiecien discarded spades as Branco played diamonds, but it was still a 7-IMP loss for Brazil.

On the next deal, Kwiecien misplayed the trump suit in a 4ª contract, but his team still gained a swing.

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

West North East South Campos Romanski Villas-Boas Kowalski Pass Pass Pass 2§(1) 2ª 3¨ Pass Pass 3© Pass 4© Pass Pass Dble All Pass

Campos and Miguel Villas-Boas found their 4-4 heart fit, but Campos could manage only eight tricks and went down two for minus 500. At the other table:

West North East South Kwiecien Chagas Pszczola Branco 4ª All Pass

Chagas led two rounds of clubs, the second ruffed by Kwiecien, who entered dummy with the ¨A to lead a trump. When Branco followed with the 10, Kwiecien erred by putting up the king. Even if he had put in the ªJ, Kwiecien might still have gone down. The only correct play on this deal at that point would have been a heart to the ace - cashing the king first would have meant no second dummy entry. A first-round heart finesse, of course, would have been equally disastrous.

Anyway, Kwiecien could not avoid three trump losers from that point, finishing down one. Despite the mistake, it was a 9-IMP gain for Poland, now leading 32-0.

Brazil finally got on the scoreboard with a 10-IMP gain on Board 6 when Chagas talked the Polish players out of their cold notrump game.

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

West North East South Campos Romanski Villas-Boas Kowalski   1¨ Pass 1ª Pass 2¨ Pass 2© Pass 3¨ Pass 3NT All Pass

Romanski collected his four spade tricks on opening lead, but that was it for the defenders, and Campos scored up plus 600 with a successful guess in diamonds. Chagas threw a spanner in the works at the other table.

West North East South Kwiecien Chagas Pszczola Branco 1¨ Pass 1ª Pass 2¨ Pass 2© Pass 2NT Pass 3NT Dble Pass Pass 4¨ All Pass

Chagas couldn't be sure his side could take more than four spade tricks, but he knew he wanted the lead, hence the double. It's not difficult to imagine Kwiecien's thinking with his anemic spade holding. Pszczola thought for a long time before passing 4¨, and the VuGraph panelists were noting that if declarer in 5¨ pulled trumps and stripped out the major suits, Chagas would have to be alert enough to insert his §7 when a low club was led off dummy, otherwise South would find himself endplayed and the game made. Alas, in the relevant position, Pszczola played the §9 from dummy, covered by the jack, and declarer had to lose two club tricks. He scored plus 130 but still lost 10 IMPs.

Poland recovered 13 IMPs on the next deal when Kowalski and Romanski had a short and quick auction to a heart slam (making with a correct guess in trumps), while Chagas and Branco used six rounds of bidding to get to 5©.

A subtle but important choice of cards made a difference of 12 IMPs on this deal.

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

West North East South Campos Romanski Villas-Boas Kowalski   1§ Pass 1ª Pass 2© Pass 3¨ Pass 3NT All Pass

Kowalski got off to the lead of the ªJ, but dummy's ª9 kept the defenders from running the suit. When he got in, Campos made a play that would be made at many tables and often does not cost - the § 10. This time, Campos paid dearly. North covered the §10 with the queen, and all of a sudden, South had a club stopper. Campos could do no better than down one. At the other table:

West North East South Kwiecien Chagas Pszczola Branco   1§ Pass 1ª Pass 2© Pass 3NT

Chagas led the ª5 to the 8, 10 and queen. At trick two, Kwiecien made the key play - he put the §6 on the table. When the queen popped up, Kwiecien had 10 tricks and another swing for Poland.

On this deal, the Polish declarer seemed on his way to down one in a game contract made at the other table, only to be rescued by a strange play by Branco.

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

West North East South Campos Romanski Villas-Boas Kowalski Pass Pass 1¨ Pass 1ª Pass 2NT Pass 3ª Pass 4§ Pass 4ª All Pass

North led a low heart, ducked to South's king. With the 3-3 split in hearts, Campos had a parking place for his losing diamond. He made an accurate guess in clubs to land the game and plus 420. At the other table:

West North East South Kwiecien Chagas Pszczola Branco Pass Pass 1§(1) Pass 1ª Pass 2NT(2) Pass 3§ Pass 3ª Pass 4ª All Pass

(1) Polish Club: balanced minimum or any strong hand.
(2) 18-19.

Chagas led the ¨6, taken in dummy with the ace as West followed with the 3. Declarer when played the ªK and a spade to his ace, discovering that he had a trump loser. When Kwiecien next played the ¨10, VuGraph commentators were certain he was going down, since he would now have to lose one trick in each suit. Something strange happened, however.

Kwiecien went up with the ¨K and played the ¨2 from dummy. Branco, apparently believing West had started with a doubleton diamond, played the 8. Kwiecien covered with the ¨9 and Chagas had to ruff with a natural trump trick. Chagas got out with a low heart, and Kwiecien was at the crossroads again. If he ducked, Branco would win the ©K and play the ¨Q - and Chagas would get his trump trick back with a promotion.

Kwiecien got it right, however, rising with the ©A, pulling North's last trump and getting out with the ©Q. Branco won the king and played the ¨Q, ruffed by West. Kwiecien cashed the ©J and played a club, ducked by Chagas. Kwiecien actually ended with an overtrick, putting up dummy's §K and pitching his other club on the good ©9. A curious path to a 1-IMP gain.