Indonesia v Canada (Seriors Bowl)

It is time to take a look at the team that is leading the Seniors Round Robin, Indonesia. In Round 13 the Indonesians faced a mid-table Canadian side in search of a little momentum to kick-start their fight for a
top-eight spot.

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

West	North	East	South
Sacul	Cummings	Sawiruddin	Lindop
	1♠	Pass	3♣
Pass	4♠	All Pass

West	North	East	South
B. Bowman	Lasut	J. Bowman	Manoppo
	1♠	Pass	2NT
Pass	3NT	Pass	4♠
All Pass

David Lindop’s 3♣ response showed a limit raise. Munawar Sawiruddin led a heart to the king and ace, and Denny Sacul switched to a low diamond, round to the queen. Michael Cummings played ace and another spade and had ten tricks for +420.

Four Spades is defeated by an initial diamond lead or a heart followed by a club to the ace and a diamond switch. Would one of these defences be found at the other table? Eddy Manoppo showed at least a limit raise. John Bowman led a low club, a dangerous start for the defence. Henky Lasut won the nine and returned the ♣Q to the ace. Now Bowman found the diamond switch to the queen, king and ace. Lasut led a heart to the king and ace and Bill Bowman cashed hisdiamond winner; one down for -50 and 10 IMPs to Canada.

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

West	North	East	South
Sacul	Cummings	Sawiruddin	Lindop
Pass	1♥	Pass	1♠
Pass	3♠	Pass	4♠
All Pass

West	North	East	South
B. Bowman	Lasut	J. Bowman	Manoppo
Pass	2♥(i)	Pass	4♠
All Pass

(i) Flannery

Both Wests led their singleton club and both Easts ducked it to declarer’s king. At both tables declarer led the ♠10 and East won with the ace. That was where the two pathsdiverged. Bowman cashed the ♣A and ♦A, then gave his partner a club ruff for one down; -100. Sawiruddin chose to play his partner for ♣J10x and underled the ace of diamonds in the hope of getting him in for a second club lead. Lindop put up the king of diamonds and drew the remaining trumps, then knocked out the ace of clubs; +620 and 12 IMPs to Canada.

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

West	North	East	South
Sacul	Cummings	Sawiruddin	Lindop
	1♦	Pass	1♥
Pass	1♠	Pass	2NT
Pass	3NT	All Pass

West	North	East	South
B. Bowman	Lasut	J. Bowman	Manoppo
	1♦	Pass	1♥
Pass	1♠	Pass	1NT
Pass	2NT	Pass	3NT
All Pass

The opening lead was crucial on this deal. Sacul led a spade and Lindop rose with the ace then played ace, and another club to the king. A second spade was won by the king anddeclarer had time to try a third spade towards the jack before eventually falling back on the diamond finesse for his ninth trick; +600.

Bill Bowman led a heart. Manoppo could have succeeded by winning the first or second round of hearts, leaving the suit blocked, then playing on clubs. However, he ducked twice then won the third round. He tried the spade finesse, which lost and a club came back. Manoppo took the ace and tried to split the spades. When they did not oblige, he took the diamondfinesse but was two down for -200 and 13 IMPs to Canada.

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

West	North	East	South
Sacul	Cummings	Sawiruddin	Lindop
		Pass	1♦
1♠	Dble	4♠	Dble
All Pass

West	North	East	South
B. Bowman	Lasut	J. Bowman	Manoppo
		Pass	1♣
1♠	Pass	4♠	Pass
Pass	Dble	Pass	5♥
Pass	Pass	Dble	All Pass

Cummings made a very aggressive negative double and passed the responsive double from Lindop, who did not wish to commit to the five level, which would have required a minimum of two aces from partner. Alas for Lindop, when partner turned up with only one ace, 4♠ doubled proved to be an easy make. Sacul ducked the heart lead and Lindop switched to his trump. Sacul won and drew trumps ending in dummy, then played a club. Lindop rose with his king, which could have been right if declarer had an unlikely low singleton and never rated to cost. Here it was irrelevant; +990.

Lasut did not make the negative double, which would have promised 5+ opposite Manoppo’s strong club opening. He did, however, double when 4♠ came back to him, and Manoppo made a very good decision as it turned out when he converted to 5♥, where he was doubled. Bill Bowman led two top spades. Manoppo ruffed, then played the ♥K, ducked, and a second heart, won with the ace. A third spade forced declarer to ruff and established a trick for the ♥10. When East ruffed in on the diamonds, he played the fourth spade and declarer could ruff and cash the remaining diamonds for just two down, losing only one club at the end; -500 but 10 IMPs to Indonesia.

Board 14. Dealer East. None Vul.
	♠ A Q 2 ♥ 6 2 ♦ A 2 ♣ A J 10 9 7 6
♠ K 5 4 3 ♥ J 4 ♦ 10 9 4 3 ♣ K Q 5		♠ 9 7 ♥ A Q 8 7 5 ♦ Q J 8 7 6 5 ♣ –
	♠ J 10 8 6 ♥ K 10 9 3 ♦ K ♣ 8 4 3 2

Both Norths played in 3NT after East had shown the red suits. Lasut won the heart lead with dummy’s king, took a club finesse followed by a spade finesse, and had eleven tricks for +460.

Cummings put in the nine on the heart lead, losing to the jack, and back came a low diamond to the bare king. He led a club to the jack, then ace and a third club to the king. Sacul cleared the diamonds. Sawiruddin had thrown one spade and two hearts. Declarer had the choice of crossing to the eight of clubs to take the spade finesse, or of cashing the clubs and playing to endplay East, who surely had the ♥A, to lead from the ♠K at the end. Cummings was tempted by the endplay line but, after serious thought, crossed to dummy and ran the ♠J, making ten tricks for 1 IMP to Indonesia. Canada ran out winners by 45-14 IMPs, 22-8 VPs, moving them up the table as the former leaders slipped to third.