Australia v USA1 (Seniors)

USA1 were the senior champions in Monte Carlo two years ago but only two of the team, Roger Bates and Garey Hayden, are here defending their title in Estoril. Round One saw the holders face an experienced team representing Australia.

Board 2. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
	♠ 8 7 4 ♥ Q 10 8 4 ♦ K Q 9 ♣ A Q 5
♠ Q 6 5 3 2 ♥ K 7 ♦ 7 ♣ 9 7 4 3 2		♠ A 10 ♥ A 6 5 ♦ 5 3 2 ♣ K J 10 8 6
	♠ K J 9 ♥ J 9 3 2 ♦ A J 10 8 6 4 ♣ -

West	North	East	South
Sontag	Haughie	Weichsel	Nagy
-	-	1♦	3♦
All Pass

West	North	East	South
Klinger	Bates	Neill	Stansby
-	-	1♣	1♦
Pass	2♣	Pass	2♥
Pass	4♥	All Pass

Peter Weichsel's 1♦ opening was precision, not promising real diamonds, and Zoltan Nagy’s methods permitted him to make a weak jump overcall in that suit, buying the contract. After a spade lead to the ace and spade return, Nagy could win with the ♠K, draw trumps and take a spade pitch on the ace of clubs before knocking out the top hearts; +130.Bruce Neill's 1♣ showed either a balanced 11-14, or a one-suited hand with six or more clubs (10-17) or a major (14-17). Lew Stansby made a simple overcall, then showed his hearts in response to Roger Bates' unassuming cuebid. The defence has to be spot on to defeat 4♥. Ron Klinger led a spade to the ace and Neill returned a spade. Stansby rose with the king, crossed to a diamond and pitched his spade loser on the ace of clubs, then played a heart to the nine and king. Klinger smoothly switched to the ♠6 and Neill equally smoothly ruffed with the ♥A and gave his partner a diamond ruff for down one; -100 and 6 IMPs to Australia.

Board 3. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
	♠ 7 6 ♥ Q J 3 ♦ J 10 6 4 ♣ K 10 5 4
♠ - ♥ A 6 5 ♦ A K Q 9 2 ♣ Q 8 7 6 2		♠ 10 9 8 5 4 ♥ 10 9 8 4 2 ♦ 8 7 ♣ 3
	♠ A K Q J 3 2 ♥ K 7 ♦ 5 3 ♣ A J 9

West	North	East	South
Sontag	Haughie	Weichsel	Nagy
-	-	-	1♠
2♦	Pass	Pass	2♠
3♣	Pass	3♦	3♠
All Pass

West	North	East	South
Klinger	Bates	Neill	Stansby
-	-	-	1♠
2NT	Pass	3♦	3♠
4♦	All Pass

How would you handle the West cards after a 1♠ opening on your right? Apart from the two actions chosen in this match, a take-out double is plausible, as is a 2♦ overcall followed by a double or, I suppose, 2NT followed by a double to show the extra values. In our match, Alan Sontag's choice of overcalling 2♦ then showing the clubs worked out better than Klinger's 2NT followed by a diamond raise in competition.

Board 4. Dealer West. All Vul.
	♠ A 8 4 2 ♥ A K 4 ♦ A 8 5 ♣ Q 3 2
♠ 7 5 3 ♥ J 7 2 ♦ K J 9 2 ♣ K 8 5		♠ Q J 9 ♥ Q 10 9 6 5 3 ♦ 7 ♣ 10 6 4
	♠ K 10 6 ♥ 8 ♦ Q 10 6 4 3 ♣ A J 9 7

West	North	East	South
Sontag	Haughie	Weichsel	Nagy
Pass	1NT	Pass	3NT
All Pass

West	North	East	South
Klinger	Bates	Neill	Stansby
Pass	1NT	Pass	3♥
Pass	3NT	All Pass

While Nagy took the simple approach of raising Bill Haughie's 1NT opening directly to game, Stansby could show game values with 3-1-5-4 or 3-1-4-5 shape and chose to do so in case there was a trump fit and partner had weak hearts. With no five-card minor, Bates judged to trust in his double heart stopper and tried 3NT.With no reason to believe that declarer would hold particularly strong hearts, Weichsel made his natural lead of the ♥9, zero or two higher, and that held the trick. Haughie won the next heart and played ace and another diamond, getting the bad news. Sontag won and cleared the hearts, and Haughie tried the club finesse. In the fullness of time, the defence had to come to five winners now; down one for -100. At the other table, Neill had good reason to picture declarer with strong hearts and decided to try the effect of the lead of the queen of spades. The effect was to present declarer with his ninth trick. Bates won the ace and played ace and another diamond to the queen and king. Klinger switched to a heart to the king, and Bates played a spade to the jack and king, Neill trying to conceal the fact that there were four spade tricks to be had. Then came the ♣J off the table. Klinger ducked that but won the low club continuation and played a second heart. Bates won, cashed the ♣Q and crossed to the ♠10 to cash the ♣A; +600 and 12 IMPs to USA1.

Board 7. Dealer South. All Vul.
	♠ 8 6 2 ♥ J 8 7 4 2 ♦ A 4 2 ♣ J 7
♠ A Q 7 5 3 ♥ A ♦ Q 7 ♣ K Q 8 4 3		♠ J 10 9 4 ♥ Q 6 ♦ K J 9 5 ♣ 10 9 6
	♠ K ♥ K 10 9 5 3 ♦ 10 8 6 3 ♣ A 5 2

West	North	East	South
Sontag	Haughie	Weichsel	Nagy
-	-	-	2♦
2♠	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Klinger	Bates	Neill	Stansby
-	-	-	Pass
1♥	Pass	2♠	Pass
4♠	All Pass

Nagy's multi 2♦ opening saw Sontag make a slightly heavy overcall, not liking the texture of his suits for a two-suited bid, and there the matter rested. When declarer got the clubs right he had eleven tricks for +200.

Klinger did not have to contend with an opposing opening bid. He was able to open 1♥, showing an unbalanced hand with at least four spades, frequently canapé. The 2♠ response showed 6-10 with four or more spades (no shortage if maximum), and Klinger had an easy raise to game. Stansby led a heart, so Neill won and played dummy's low diamond. Bates won with the ace and returned the suit, Neill rising with the king to get the entry to hand he wanted to take a trump finesse. That, of course, proved not to be necessary. Neill drew trumps and ran the ten of clubs so made only ten tricks; +620 and +9 IMPs to Australia.

Board 9. Dealer North. E/W Vul.
	♠ J 9 5 2 ♥ 9 7 2 ♦ K 10 9 5 3 ♣ A
♠ A Q 10 7 ♥ 10 5 ♦ J 8 6 4 ♣ Q J 5		♠ K 8 4 3 ♥ K Q 8 3 ♦ Q ♣ K 10 8 2
	♠ 6 ♥ A J 6 4 ♦ A 7 2 ♣ 9 7 6 4 3

West	North	East	South
Sontag	Haughie	Weichsel	Nagy
-	Pass	1♦	Pass
1♠	Pass	2♠	Pass
2NT	Pass	3♥	Pass
3♠	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Klinger	Bates	Neill	Stansby
-	Pass	1♦	Pass
1♥	Pass	1NT	Pass
3♠	Pass	4♠	All Pass

Weichsel opened 1♦, Precision, then raised the 1♠ response to 2♠. Sontag made a game-try and Weichsel showed his heart values. That did not excite Sontag, who was minimum for his previous bidding, so the Americans stopped in a partscore. Haughie led the ten of diamonds to the queen and ace, and Nagy returned the ♦7 to eight, nine and ruff. A club to the queen lost to the bare ace and back came a low diamond, which Sontag ran to his jack. He cashed two top spades, played a heart to the king and ace, won the club return as Haughie declined to ruff, and ruffed his last diamond; nine tricks for +140.

Neill's 1♦ opening showed an unbalanced hand with four or more hearts and 1♥ was 10+ artificial. 1NT showed at least four spades and 3♠ was natural and invitational. Against 4♠, Bates cashed the ace of clubs and switched to a heart for the king and ace. Stansby cashed the ace of diamonds then gave his partner a club ruff. Back came a heart to the queen. Kliger still had a lot of diamonds to get rid of and, twist and turn as he might, could not avoid another loser; down two for -200 and 8 IMPs to USA1.

Board 11. Dealer South. None Vul.
	♠ Q J 8 4 3 ♥ A ♦ A ♣ A Q J 10 7 6
♠ 7 ♥ 5 3 ♦ K Q 10 8 7 6 3 2 ♣ 3 2		♠ 65 ♥ K J 8 2 ♦ J 9 4 ♣ 9 8 5 4
	♠ A K 10 9 2 ♥ Q 10 9 7 6 4 ♦ 5 ♣ K

West	North	East	South
Sontag	Haughie	Weichsel	Nagy
-	-	-	1♥
4♦	Dble	Pass	4♠
Pass	4NT	Pass	5♥
Pass	5NT	Pass	6♦
Pass	6♠	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Klinger	Bates	Neill	Stansby
-	-	-	1♠
4♦	4NT	Pass	5♦
Pass	6♠	All Pass

Neither N/S pair managed to bid the cold grand slam. Nagy opened one of his longer suit and Haughie made a negative double of the pre-emptive overcall. Upon hearing of the spade fit, he continued by asking for key cards then, when Nagy showed both top spades, made a grand slam try with 5NT. The one-king response did not solve his problem. All those who show specific kings here will be feeling smug, no doubt; +1010.

Stansby started well by opening 1♠, simplifying the auction as Bates could bid 4NT immediately. Alas, he thought the response was to RKCB, meaning that a top spade was missing, while Stansby was confident that they had agreed to play simple Blackwood in this situation; +1010 and a push.

Board 12. Dealer West. N/S Vul.
	♠ 6 4 3 ♥ 9 8 4 3 2 ♦ J 6 5 ♣ K 6
♠ A 9 7 2 ♥ K J 10 ♦ A 8 7 2 ♣ 10 9		♠ K Q J 5 ♥ A Q 7 ♦ 10 4 ♣ 7 5 4 2
	♠ 10 8 ♥ 6 5 ♦ K Q 9 3 ♣ A Q J 8 3

West	North	East	South
Sontag	Haughie	Weichsel	Nagy
1♦	Pass	1♠	Pass
2♠	Pass	2NT	Pass
3♠	Pass	4♠	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Klinger	Bates	Neill	Stansby
1♣	Pass	1NT	All Pass

After a diamond lead and continuation, Weichsel made an easy ten tricks for +420.

Klinger's 1♣ opening was multi-meaning as before and the 1NT response showed 11-12 balanced, including any 5-3-3-2. Stansby led the ♣Q then continued clubs from the top to claim the first five tricks; +120 but 7 IMPs to USA1. Australia gained a couple of small swings on the remaining boards to leave a final score of 32-24 IMPs in favour of USA1, converting to 17-13 VPs.