Sweden v Poland

Orbis Bermuda Bowl - Round 11

No jinx this time

At the start of the Round 11 Orbis Bermuda Bowl match between Sweden and Poland, Vugraph commentator Barry Rigal noted that Bjorn Fallenius, of the Swedish team, has a remarkably successful record against Poland in high-level competition. "I hope," Rigal said, "that I didn't just put the kibosh on Sweden."

For much of the match, it appeared that, indeed, Sweden was headed for a loss in the well-played match. Near the end, however, Sweden came up with two big swings to pull out a 33-20 victory.

Poland jumped into the lead after the first board.

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

West North East South Romanski Nilsland Kowalski Fallenius Pass Pass 1ª 1NT All Pass

Mats Nilsland led the ª6 to he queen and ace, and Jacek Romanski followed with the §K. Fallenius won the ace and switched accurately to the ©2. Romanski put up the ©Q, covered and ducked. The ©10 was returned, ducked and overtaken by Fallenius with the jack for a third round of the suit.

Romanski tried the ªJ, ducked, and then played a club. Nilsland considered his play for some time before putting up the queen and getting out with the ¨10 to the 4, queen and ace. On the run of the diamonds, Nilsland had the foresight to unblock his ¨9 and ¨8 to avoid being thrown in to concede the final two tricks in clubs. After Romanski cashed his good ¨6, he had to lead from the ª10 2 into Fallenius' K 9. Well defended for minus 90.

Unfortunately for Sweden, Peter Fredin and Magnus Lindkvist bid up to 3NT with the East-West cards and, although Lindkvist took one more trick than Romanski, it was still down one and 4 IMPs to Poland.

Poland gained an overtrick IMP on the next board for a 5-0 lead, and there was very little scoring for several boards after that. On this deal, Fallenius and Nilsland did well to overcome interference from Romanski and Kowalski to earn a push.

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

West North East South Fredin Tuszynski Lindkvist Jassem Pass 1NT Pass 2© 3© 3ª Pass 4§ Pass 4¨ Pass 4NT Pass 5§ Pass 6ª All Pass

Piotr Tuszynski and Krzysztof Jassem had a virtually free run at the spade slam once Fredin passed in first seat. Romanski and Kowalski made it much more difficult for Nilsland and Fallenius, but they landed on their feet nonetheless.

West North East South Romanski Nilsland Kowalski Fallenius 3© Dble 4© 5© Pass 6§ Pass 6¨ Pass 6ª All Pass

There was little to the play after an opening heart lead -- Nilsland took two spade finesses to bring home the contract for plus 1430.

A 6-IMP swing to Sweden on Board 12 changed the low-scoring affair from 6-3 Poland to 9-6 Sweden. Poland struck back on Board 13 for a 9-IMP swing to regain the lead.

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

West North East South Romanski Nilsland Kowalski Fallenius 4ª Pass Pass Dble All Pass

Had Kowalski bid his long suit, no doubt he would have made it, losing only two spades. Even a third round of spades would not have hurt so long as Kowalski made the routine play in hearts. As it was, 4ª could have been defeated two tricks for plus 500 (Kowalski can get a diamond ruff), but Romanski overtook Kowalski's lead of the §Q and played two more rounds, allowing Nilsland to ruff, pull trumps and drive out the top diamonds. Plus 200 to Poland.

This might have been a 10-IMP gain for Sweden, but it didn't work out that way.

West North East South Fredin Tuszynski Lindkvist Jassem 3ª Pass 4ª Dble Pass 5© Pass 6© All Pass

The bidding left Fredin no way to ask about spade control, so he took the reasonable chance that Lindkvist was short in spades. Besides the two spade losers, Lindkvist also lost a trump trick for minus 200 and 9 IMPs to Poland, now leading, 15-9.

Poland gained another 2 IMPs thereafter and were leading, 17-9, when this deal came up.

Board 17. Dealer North. Love All ª Q J 9 7 3 2 © J 10 3 ¨ 6 4 § 8 4 ª A 10 8 4 ª 6 © A 9 4 © K Q 6 ¨ K J 10 5 ¨ A Q 9 7 § 10 2 § A 9 7 5 3 ª K 5 © 8 7 5 2 ¨ 8 3 2 § K Q J 6

West North East South Romanski Nilsland Kowalski Fallenius Pass 1¨ Pass 1ª Pass 2§ Pass 2©(1) Pass 3NT All Pass

(1) Fourth-suit forcing.

Romanski considered moving over 3NT, but after long thought he passed. Fallenius started with clubs, and Kowalski had to settle for nine tricks and plus 400. At the other table, Fredin and Lindkvist had an impressive auction to the optimum spot.

West North East South Fredin Tuszynski Lindkvist Jassem Pass 1¨ Pass 1NT(1) Pass 2§(2) Pass 2¨(3) Pass 2©(4) Pass 2ª(5) Pass 3¨(6) Pass 3ª(7) Pass 4ª(8) Pass 6¨ All Pass

(1) Forcing relay.
(2) Showing 1-4-4-4, 4-1-4-4 or canape in the minors
(3) Which?
(4) 4-5, diamonds and clubs.
(5) Shape ask.
(6) 1-3-4-5
(7) Setting diamonds as trumps and asking for keycards if opener is not minimum.
(8) Maximum with two keycards and the trump queen.

Lindkvist duly took 12 tricks to record plus 920 and earn his team an 11-IMP swing. Sweden had regained the lead, 20-17. The Swedes added another double-digit swing on the next deal.

Board 18. Dealer East. NS Game ª K Q 4 2 © 8 3 ¨ A 10 9 3 2 § A 10 ª A J 6 5 ª 9 8 3 © Q J 5 2 © 10 9 4 ¨ Q 8 4 ¨ K 7 § Q 3 § J 9 8 7 2 ª 10 7 © A K 7 6 ¨ J 6 5 § K 6 5 4

West North East South Fredin Tuszynski Lindkvist Jassem   Pass Pass 1§ 1¨ Pass 1© Pass 1ª Pass 1NT All Pass

Fredin's opening in third seat was sufficient to slow down North-South, and they didn't even try for game. Jassem got he ©Q lead from West, but he managed nine tricks for plus 150 without undue strain. At the other table:

West North East South Romanski Nilsland Kowalski Fallenius   Pass 1¨ Pass 1ª Pass 1NT Pass 3NT All Pass

Despite the shortage of high-card points and dull shape, Fallenius liked his hand. Once he opened, the Swedes were almost certain to get to game, which they did.

Romanski led the ©2, to the 2, 10 and ace. Fallenius led a low diamond to dummy's 10 and Kowalski's king. The ©10 was ducked, and the heart continuation was taken by Fallenius with the king. When the ¨J held the trick, Fallenius led a spade toward dummy. Romanski hopped up with the ace and cashed his heart trick, but that was it for the defense -- and for Poland in the match.

Poland gained 3 IMPs when Romanski opened a gambling 3NT and played it there for plus 690, while Fredin and Lindkvist settled in 5§ for plus 600. The match was still within reach with a board to go -- Sweden's lead was 10 IMPs -- but Tuszynski had to make a well-judged bid to hold the loss to 3 IMPs.

Board 20. Dealer West. Game All ª 7 4 © A 9 7 2 ¨ A K Q 10 6 4 § 9 ª 10 3 2 ª K Q J 8 6 5 © Q 10 8 © K 5 4 ¨ 7 5 3 ¨ — § Q J 5 3 § A 10 8 6 ª A 9 © J 6 3 ¨ J 9 8 2 § K 7 4 2

West North East South Romanski Nilsland Kowalski Fallenius Pass 1¨ 1ª Dble Pass 2ª Dble Pass Pass 3¨ Pass 3NT All Pass

On the low spade lead, Fallenius had no legitimate chance for nine tricks, and the Poles did not slip on defense. Plus 100 to Poland. At the other table:

West North East South Fredin Tuszynski Lindkvist Jassem Pass 1¨ 1ª 2¨ Pass 2ª 3ª 3NT 4ª 5¨ Pass Pass Dble All Pass

Had Lindkvist been allowed to play 4ª, he would have had excellent chances to make it. Double dummy, the contract can be defeated with a low club lead (South wins the first round of spades and gives partner a club ruff and still gets his §K) or a heart lead to North's ace followed by a club switch. Whether either lead is likely is debatable -- and academic, since Tuszynski took the push to 5¨, doubled by Fredin.

It looks as though 5¨ should go down two tricks, but Tuszynski managed to get out for down one and minus 200, still a 3-IMP gain for Sweden.