Brazil v Australia (Bermuda Bowl)

By Mark Horton

An important match was in prospect. Brazil, still thirddespite their heavy loss to Egypt on Monday, would be hoping to get back to their winning ways, so too their opponents, Australia, who had dropped out of the qualification zone after successive defeats by Italy and Argentina.

The match got off to an explosive start.

Board 1. Dealer North. None Vul.
	♠ 10 9 8 7 5 4 2 ♥ 5 4 ♦ J 4 2 ♣ 9
♠ 3 ♥ K J 10 7 3 ♦ 9 6 ♣ A K 7 3 2		♠ A Q ♥ A Q 8 6 ♦ A K 10 8 7 ♣ J 10
	♠ K J 6 ♥ 9 2 ♦ Q 5 3 ♣ Q 8 6 5 4

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Villas Boas	Marston	Chagas	Thomson
	Pass	2NT	Pass
3♦*	Pass	4♥	Pass
4NT*	Pass	5♣*	Pass
5♦*	Pass	5♠	Pass
6♣	Pass	7♥	All Pass

South led the two of hearts and declarer won in hand and, after a few moments of thought, cashed the top diamonds and ruffed a diamond high, claiming +1510 when the suit divided 3-3. (Subsequently an e-mail correspondent suggested that this line of play could only be explained by an urgent need to go to the toilet!)

Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Nunn	DeMello	Hans	Janz
	Pass	2NT	Pass
3♦*	Pass	4♦*	Pass
4NT*	Pass	5♦*	Pass
5♠*	Pass	6♦	Pass
7♥	All Pass

North led the ten of spades and declarer put up dummy’s ace, crossed to the king of hearts, cashed the ace of clubs … and continued with the king. North ruffed to give Brazil17 IMPs.

The best line? If clubs can be 5-1 then so could diamonds, so Chagas’s line was certainly the luckier choice. Discussion surrounded the drawing of a second trump. If they are 2-2 you are in very strong position, and if they are 3-1, you can make a decision about drawing the last trump or immediately starting to ruff things. The trouble with that is that a 3-1 break will be awkward whichever way round it happens. Chip Martel popped into the office to indicate his approval for the losing declarer’s line, and we have had e-mails on the subject supporting declarer’s line. Our conclusion is that the operation was a success but the patient died.

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

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Villas Boas	Marston	Chagas	Thomson
		1NT	3♠
All Pass

North thought about going on, but that was hardly automatic. Declarer won the opening diamond lead and played a heart. East went up with the ace and played the king of diamonds. Declarer ruffed and drew trumps for ten tricks; +170.

Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Nunn	DeMello	Hans	Janz
		1♣	1♠
3♣*	3♦	Pass	4♠
All Pass

Here the tempo of the auction was completely different and when North showed some values South took a shot at game. West led the ten of hearts; East won and returned the suit. Declarer finessed and had eleven tricks for 10 IMPs. Brazil,led by 27-0 after two boards.

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

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Villas Boas	Marston	Chagas	Thomson
		Pass	2♠
Pass	2NT*	Pass	3♣*
Pass	4♠	All Pass

West led the king of clubs. Declarer won and cashed the top spades – the defenders quickly took their tricks thereafter for +50.

Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Nunn	DeMello	Hans	Janz
		Pass	1♠
Dbl	Rdbl	Pass	Pass
2♥	3♠	Pass	4♠
All Pass

West led the king of clubs and continued the suit when it was ducked. Declarer won and played the jack of spades, putting up the king when East played low. He went to dummy with the king of hearts and ran the ten of spades – paying due note to West’s revealing double; +420 and 10 more Brazilian IMPs.

Australia badly needed a wicket (just checking to see if my readers are awake) – some IMPs – and they arrived onBoard 8.

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

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Villas Boas	Marston	Chagas	Thomson
1♦	1♠	Pass	4♠
5♦	All Pass

It is difficult to see how West could do any more on this auction. There was nothing to the play; +420.

Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Nunn	DeMello	Hans	Janz
1♦	1♠	2♦	4♠
5♦	5♠	Pass	Pass
6♦	Dble	All Pass

Do you agree with East’s simple raise? (I know at least one player who bid Two Clubs, making it easy for West to bid Six Diamonds.) Or North’s Five Spades?

Whatever, Australia at last picked up a meaningful swing. My favourite story concerning this deal comes from the match involving the Austrian Women. West opened One Heart (possible canapé) – and when the bidding tray got back to her she bid Six Diamonds. No prizes for guessing who it was! It still appeared Brazil was headed for a decent win, but Australia hit back hard over the closing deals.

Board 17. Dealer North. None Vul.
	♠ K Q 9 3 2 ♥ 4 ♦ K 10 9 6 ♣ A 9 5
♠ 7 4 ♥ J 10 6 3 2 ♦ Q 8 4 2 ♣ K 3		♠ J 6 ♥ A Q 9 5 ♦ A 5 ♣ J 10 8 7 4
	♠ A 10 8 5 ♥ K 8 7 ♦ J 7 3 ♣ Q 6 2

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Villas Boas	Marston	Chagas	Thomson
	1♥*	1♠*	2NT*
3♥	4♠	All Pass

One Heart showed spades and East’s bid was the equivalent of a take-out double.

East cashed the ace of hearts and switched to the jack of clubs, covered in turn by the queen, king and ace. Declarer drew trumps ending in dummy, pitched a club on the king of hearts and advanced the jack of diamonds. He was going to run it but West covered, saving a little time; +420. Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Nunn	DeMello	Hans	Janz
	1♠	Dbl	Rdbl
3♥	Pass	Pass	3♠
Pass	4♠	All Pass

Here East led the jack of clubs, again covered all around.Declarer cashed a top trump … and then played a heart. East won, cashed the ten of clubs and gave his partner a club ruff. For the second time in this match a player who failed to draw trumps paid a fearful price. 10 IMPs from nowhere for Australia – a strange echo of Board 1.

Board 18. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
	♠ K J 4 ♥ 7 3 2 ♦ 9 7 6 ♣ A 8 7 6
♠ 8 5 3 ♥ A 8 ♦ J 8 5 4 2 ♣ Q 9 2		♠ A 9 7 ♥ Q J 6 5 4 ♦ 10 ♣ J 10 5 4
	♠ Q 10 6 2 ♥ K 10 9 ♦ A K Q 3 ♣ K 3

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Villas Boas	Marston	Chagas	Thomson
		Pass	1♣*
Pass	1♥*	Pass	1NT
Pass	2♠	Pass	3NT
All Pass

North showed 5-9 balanced with four clubs. West led the eight of spades, East taking the ace and switching to the five of hearts. Declarer put in the ten and was assured of nine tricks; +600.

A club lead would put the defenders ahead, but it would have to be nine or queen with West on lead. So too would ace and another heart – both impossible to find at this table.

Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Nunn	DeMello	Hans	Janz
		2♥	2NT
Pass	3NT	All Pass

East’s opening bid made life very easy. West led the ace of hearts and continued the suit – one down, +100 and 12 IMPs.

When Australia picked up 7 IMPs on the final board of the match, they had pulled off a remarkable comeback, outscoring Brazil 47-6 over the last 8 boards to win by 60-50 IMPs, 17-13 VPs.