| 37th World Team Championships | Page 6 | Bulletin 4 - Wednesday 26 October 2005 |
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USA1 v USA2 (Bermuda Bowl) Brothers in Arms Mark Horton was on hand to interview Jeff Meckstroth and Geoff Hampson before their Bermuda Bowl match. After revealing that the match had generated so much excitement that it was being beamed live to the Oval Office at the White House, Horton asked Jeff who would win the World Series? ‘Houston Astros 4-2’ – (you read it here first!) Then a key question - Have you visited the Casino yet? ‘Not yet – but they are keeping my seat warm.’ Finally – with a prize for giving the answer I have in mind – Who is England’s best player? After considerable thought Jeff replied, ‘I would have to say Tony Forrester.’ ‘Well, Tony will be very pleased – but I’m afraid it was a trick question and the answer I was looking for was Wayne Rooney (England’s football star who was celebrating his twentieth birthday).’ Then it was Geoff’s turn. Do you have any good stock market tips? ‘Several tips, but no good ones.’ Do you read bridge books – and what’s your favourite? ‘Victor Mollo’s collection of characters.’ Geoff’s prize-winning question was: Do you have a favourite Bridge Magazine? ‘International Popular Bridge Monthly.’ An excellent choice, now incorporated into Bridge Magazine but the answer Mark was looking for – in deference to our editor - was The ACBL Bridge Bulletin. The sixth-round match between the two American teams attracted considerable interest, in no small measure because USA2 were comfortably in qualifying position early in the round-robin, while USA1, the defending champions, were not among the top eight in the standings. Both teams expected to be among the qualifiers at the end, however. After a quiet first board, USA2 earned swings on the second and third boards, and both swings involved decisions by Bob Hamman of USA1.
Eric Rodwell ruffed the second round of hearts, cashed the high spades and put North in with his trump winner. After a club switch, Rodwell played the ♣A and ♣K, then threw Geoff Hampson in with the choice of breaking diamonds or providing a ruff-sluff. That was minus 300, and Rodwell could only hope that the phantom save was taken in the other room as well. East-West, as you can see, have four tricks against 4♥ so long as they don’t play diamonds for declarer.
Soloway’s 1♣ was strong, artificial and forcing. The 2♣ bid showed a two-suiter. Soloway’s pass of 4♠ was forcing, but Hamman apparently didn’t see it that way. The resulting plus 100 provided USA2 with a 5-IMP swing. Hamman was also involved in the swing on the next deal.
With the source of tricks in the diamond suit, Eric Greco had an easy decision to raise his partner’s 1NT response to the takeout double. Rodwell started with the ♠Q, taken in hand by Hampson. He played a low diamond to the 10 and queen, and won the spade return with the king. A second low diamond from hand fetched the king. Hampson won and returned to hand with the ♦J, playing a club next. When the ♣K popped up, Hampson was home with an overtrick.
Hamman might have cuebid spades to see if Paul Soloway had a spade stopper, but he went quietly, chalking up 10 tricks in diamonds for a 7-IMP loss. USA2 had jumped out in front 12-0. USA1 picked up an overtrick IMP on the next deal, then pulled closer with a useful score on board five.
Ron Rubin’s 2♦ showed diamonds and a major. Russ Ekeblad checked to see which major in case it was hearts but he preferred diamonds, when Rubin revealed his second suit. Hamman started with the ♣10, won in dummy. Rubin played a second high club to discard a heart from hand, and he overruffed when Soloway ruffed the ♣Q low. The ♠A was followed by a low spade. Soloway overtook Hamman’s ♠10 to return a diamond. Rubin won in hand with the queen, ruffed a spade, ruffed a club low and ruffed another spade. He had eight tricks in with the trump ace still to come. Plus 110 for USA2.
At unfavourable vulnerability, Hampson’s 1NT overcall with minimum values was dangerous to say the least. Further, one of the vugraph commentators noted Hampson’s possession of both majors, making a takeout double of 1♦ his preferred call with the South hand. As it was, North-South landed in Meckstroth’s best suit (the Precision 1♦ opener often features short diamond and a five-card club suit). Rodwell started with the ♥10, which went to South’s ace. Declarer played the ♣J from hand, taken by Meckstroth with the queen. He switched accurately to the ♦J, covered by the king and ace. The ♦Q was next, and a third round was taken by Meckstroth with the nine. He then played the ♠7 to the king and Rodwell’s ace. He considered his next play for some time before continuing with the ♠J. That was not optimum for the defense – Rodwell’s fourth diamond would have produced three down. If Hampson ruffs high in dummy, Meckstroth could discard his other spade, while if Hampson discarded from dummy, Meckstroth could ruff with one of his low trumps for an extra trick. As it was, USA1 came out plus 500 for a 9-IMP gain. They trailed by only 2 IMPs at that point. Both North-South pairs overcame interference to reach their slams on the following deal.
Hampson and Greco play a version of Precision with similarities to the Meckstroth-Rodwell system, so 1♣ was strong and artificial, the rest of their bids natural. Over 6♣, Hampson appeared to be considering one more bid, but he finally passed, providing sighs of relief for the USA2 partisans in the vugraph theatre.
Ekeblad started the barrage one level higher than Meckstroth did, but it did not slow down Soloway, who knew there was a slam in some strain, as indicated by his 5NT bid. He was happy with Hamman’s choice. It is worth noting, as Paul Chemla of the vugraph panel pointed out, that 6NT is the best contract for North-South, the strength of the diamond suit allowing for even a 4-0 club split (provided diamonds don’t also break horribly, that is). USA1, trailing 15-14, took the lead for the first time on Board 18.
Greco's double showed the majors, and Rodwell's 1NT rebid showed a better hand than the 1NT opener (14-16). With his five-card diamond suit, Meckstroth did not hesitate in bidding the game. Greco started with a low heart, taken by Rodwell with the king in hand to keep the entry to dummy intact. On the low diamond from Rodwell, Greco played the ♦A and cleared the heart suit with the ace and another. Rodwell ran diamonds, discarding the ♠J from his hand and watching South's discards. On the play of the last diamond, Rodwell discarded a club from his hand. Holding the singleton ♠A and ♣A Q 7 5, Rodwell knew South was down to one spade a four clubs. Based on the bidding and the play to that point, Rodwell knew North had a most one club. Making sure of his contract. Rodwell played a spade to the ace, removing South's last spade, and then played the ♣A. Even if North followed low, Rodwell could be sure of another club trick by playing a low club from hand. South could win and cash the ♣K but would have to play a club to Rodwell's queen on the final trick. As it happened, Greco's ♣K fell under the ace and Rodwell could claim a very well-played game contract. At the other table, Rubin and Ekeblad were less ambitious – and less successful in the play.
Soloway started with the ♥8, and the defense came to five tricks with the ♥A, ♦A, a heart ruff and two black-suit kings. Minus 50 meant 10 IMPs to USA1, now leading 24-15. The final margin was increased to 29-15 when both USA1 pairs scored plus 90 on the final board of the set – 2♣ making two by Meckstroth and 1NT making one by Hamman. The loss did not hurt USA2 in the standings, but the win did move USA1 closer to a qualifying spot in the round-robin. |
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