USA2 v Italy

Orbis Bermuda Bowl - Round 15

At this stage of the Championships, every match is important and the clash between two of the pre tournament favourites in Round 15 of the Orbis Bermuda Bowl was no exception. If you subscribe to the theory that the bidding is the key area of the game this match offered a number of deals to support that view.

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

Closed Room West North East South Zia De Falco Rosenberg Ferraro 1¨ Pass 3¨ Dble 5¨ All Pass

Zia bid what he hope he could make. We wonder if it crossed his mind to bid 3NT? Notice that despite their lack of aces, North-South can make Four Hearts, but they are hardly likely to bid it.

North led the king of spades, a perfectly reasonable choice in view of his partner's take out double. It also meant there was no chance of him being endplayed later, a fate that befell more than one player, some of them have paid the Daily News enough to ensure anonymity!

The Italian pair plays odd/even signals, and South discouraged with the two of spades. However, North continued with a second spade and now declarer was home. He could cover the nine of spades, and after winning the trick with the ace, draw trumps and give up a spade, establishing a parking place for the club loser. +400.

Open Room West North East South Duboin Stansby Bocchi Martel 1¨ Pass 2¨ Dble 2ª Pass 3¨ All Pass

All you can say is that the Italians sort of won the bidding battle, but lost the war. They made ten tricks for +130, but lost 7 IMPs.

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

Closed Room West North East South Zia De Falco Rosenberg Ferraro 1§ 2§ 2© Pass 2NT Pass 3© Pass 3ª Pass 3NT Pass 4NT All Pass

There was nothing to the play, declarer quickly claiming eleven tricks for +660. On a 3-2 heart break, Six Hearts is just about laydown, and so for that matter is Seven Clubs. Could the American pair in the open room avoid the trap of playing in hearts?

Open Room West North East South Duboin Stansby Bocchi Martel 2§ Pass 2© 2ª 2NT 3ª 4© Pass 4ª Pass 5NT Pass 6§ All Pass

The key to the auction was North's bid of 5NT, almost certainly inviting South to pick a slam. When South suggested that clubs might be the place to play, North eventually decided to agree. The contract still had to be made, but Martel made no mistake, winning the opening diamond lead in hand and ducking a spade. He could win the return, cash the ace of spades and ruff a spade, +1370 and 12 IMPs.

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

Closed Room West North East South Zia De Falco Rosenberg Ferraro Pass Pass 2¨ Pass 2© Pass 3© Pass 4¨ Pass 4© Pass 4NT Pass 5§ Pass 5¨ All Pass

Two Diamonds showed either 9-12, with at least a six card major, or as here, 4-4-4-1 with 17+. Two Hearts was pass or correct and Three Hearts showed the singleton spade and 21+. Should North now have bid 3NT? With a spade lead a virtual certainty that is not at all clear. On this layout the nine trick game is clearly better, but Five Diamonds was a reasonable spot. Of course, Ferraro had no reason to divine the trump position and he went one down, -50.

Open Room West North East South Duboin Stansby Bocchi Martel Pass Pass 2§ Pass 2¨ Pass 2NT Pass 3NT All Pass

Martel's decision to treat his hand as balanced was a winning one. West led a spade that went to declarer's king, and Martel cleared the diamonds. East played back a spade to West's ace, but declarer had ten tricks and a matching number of IMPs.

USAII had put a big dent in the European Champions hopes of qualifying.