USA2 v Bulgaria

Orbis Bermuda Bowl - Round 13

Bul (garian) Market

The match between USA 2 and Bulgaria in Round 13 of the Orbis Bermuda Bowl was a wild affair, won by Bulgaria 60-55. On the following deals, reported by Barry Rigal, Bulgaria earned 34 IMPs by right-siding one contract and with daring play on two others.

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

West North East South Karaivanov Martel Trendafilov Stansby     Pass Pass 1§ Pass 1© Pass 3© Pass 4© All Pass

Kalin Karaivanov led a low spade. Rumen Trendafilov took the ªJ and ªA before switching to the ¨J. Stansby had no reason not to play trumps in the normal way, so West won the ©Q to defeat the contract one trick. In the other room:

West North East South Zia Nanev Rosenberg Mihov     1NT Pass 2NT Pass 3§ Pass 3¨ Pass 3ª Pass 4© All Pass

Rosenberg led the ¨J, ducked all around. Rosenberg played another diamond to Nanev's ace, and the Bulgaria followed with a club to dummy's king and a club to the ace. When the §Q dropped, Nanev cashed the top two hearts, and when the queen dropped, he pulled trumps and claimed, recording plus 420. Even if the ©Q had not dropped, Nanev would have had great chances for his contract.

After playing two top hearts, ending in hand, Nanev could have ruffed a club low, ruffed a diamond, felling the king, and played winning clubs. If East held the ©Q, Nanev could ruff his last club and pitch a losing spade on the good diamond queen. Of course, if East ruffed in at any point, he would be endplayed, faced with the choice of leading a spade from his ace or playing a diamond to dummy's queen. Plus 420 was good for 10 IMPs to Bulgaria.

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

In one room, Karaivanov and Trendafilov stopped in 4© making five for plus 450. In the open room:

West North East South Zia Nanev Rosenberg Mihov Pass 1§ Pass 1ª Pass 2NT Pass 3§ Pass 3© Pass 4¨ Pass 4ª Pass 5© Pass 6© All Pass

If anyone could appreciate Nanev's opening lead, it would be Zia, who has conjured up some corkers himself over the years. Nanev, perhaps asking himself what Zia would have led, put the ¨7 on the track.

Zia played low, winning the 9 with the queen. He followed with the ©K and ©Q, then the top spades in his hand. In dummy with the ©A, Zia cashed the ªQ. At this point, if he had cashed the ¨A, he would have brought home the slam. Once Zia got over the shock of seeing Nanev's king fall under the ace, he could have ruffed a spade in his hand, establishing the suit, pitched a club on the good diamond in his hand and claimed, giving up a club.

As it was, Zia ruffed a spade low and played a diamond from hand to the king (!!!) and ace. Zia now had a good diamond in his hand but no way to get to it. His only choice then was to hope that South had the §A. Not this time, as Bulgaria put 11more IMPs in the bank.

Finally:

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

In one room, Stansby and Martel stopped in a sensible 6§, making six, for 1370. In the other room:

West North East South Zia Nanev Rosenberg Mihov Pass 2§(1) Pass 2¨(2) Pass 2© Pass 3§ Pass 3©(3) Pass 3ª(4) Pass 4¨(4) Pass 4NT(5) Pass 5NT(6) Pass 7§ All Pass

(1) Precision style.
(2) Forcing relay.
(3) Confirming 4-6 in hearts and clubs.
(4) Cuebid.
(5) Roman Keycard Blackwood.
(6) Two keycards and a void.

Rosenberg led the ¨K, ruffed in hand by Nanev, who immediately swung the §J through East. When that card held and trumps proved to be 3-2, the Bulgarians happily scored up plus 2140, good for 13 IMPs and a narrow win in a wild match.