Indonesia v Portugal (Seniors Bowl)

Midway through their 96-board quarter-final encounter, the Indonesian Seniors team led the host nation, Portugal, by127-96, useful but not yet decisive. The Portuguese struck early in the fourth session.

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

West	North	East	South
Debonnaire	Lasut	Teixeira	Manoppo
	1♦	Pass	1♠
Pass	1NT	Pass	2♦
Pass	3♣	Pass	3NT
All Pass

West	North	East	South
Sacul	Barbosa	Sawiruddin	Pinto
	1NT	Pass	2♥
Pass	2♠	Pass	3♦
Pass	4♣	Pass	4♥
Pass	5♦	Pass	6♦
All Pass

Henky Lasut opened 1♦, Precision, then rebid 1NT, over which Eddy Manoppo made a game-forcing enquiry and discovered North’s club suit. Had he now tried 3♦, slam might well have been reached, but he was facing a weak no trump and had weak diamonds, so contented himself with a raise to the no trump game. Lasut ducked the opening heart lead but won the second round, perforce. He tested the spades, then unblocked the clubs. When he next played a low diamond, the appearance of the king meant twelve tricks for +490.

Juliano Barbosa opened a 12-14 no trump and Rui Pinto transferred then bid his second suit, game-forcing. When Barbosa not only raised diamonds but did so via a 4♣ cuebid, Pinto drove to slam. In spite of the bad breaks in spades and diamonds, twelve tricks were comfortable; +920 and 10 IMPs to Portugal, closing to 106-127.

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

West	North	East	South
Debonnaire	Lasut	Teixeira	Manoppo
		Pass	3♠
Pass	4♠	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Sacul	Barbosa	Sawiruddin	Pinto
		Pass	1♠
Pass	2♣	2NT	4♠
Pass	4NT	Pass	5♦
Pass	5♠	All Pass

Manoppo’s 3♠ opening looks normal to me, as does Lasut’s raise - 3NT is too dangerous, requiring either a second diamond stopper or the ♣A from partner. Jose Antonio Debonnaire led a low diamond and Manoppo chose to play low, losing to the king. Back came the singleton club. Manoppo won in dummy and correctly cashed the top hearts, throwing the ace of clubs from hand to avoid the risk of a ruff. Now he played a spade to the queen and ace, when I would have thought low to the nine might be better, won the diamondreturn in dummy, ruffed a heart to hand and led the ♠J, pinning the ten; +620.

Pinto opened 1♠ then jumped to 4♠ at his next turn. It is hardly surprising that this combination convinced Barbosa that it would be worth his while to look for a slam, but 5♠ was, of course, one too high; -100 and 12 IMPs to Indonesia. The lead was back up to 139-106.

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

West	North	East	South
Debonnaire	Lasut	Teixeira	Manoppo
Pass	2♦	Dble	2♥
Pass	Pass	3♠	Pass
4♠	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Sacul	Barbosa	Sawiruddin	Pinto
Pass	3♥	Dble	Pass
4♣	Pass	4♠	All Pass

What would be your choice with the North hand? You are vulnerable and 7-2-2-2, both of which suggest the more cautious option, but I like the strong heart suit sufficiently that I would opt for a 3♥ opening, as did Barbosa. It didn’t matter, as both Easts eventually declared 4♠.

Both Souths led their singleton heart to the jack and ace. Munawar Sawiruddin immediately played a diamond to the king, back to the ace and a third diamond. Barbosa ruffed his partner’s winner to play two rounds of hearts, but declarer could ruff high, cash a top trump, ruff his last diamond with the ten and play a spade to hand. After drawing the last trump, he led towards the ♣K for his contract; +620. Carlos Spinola Teixeira played a club at trick two. Manoppo took the ace and switched to a trump for the nine and queen. Teixeira played a diamond to the king then a diamond back to the … nine. Manoppo won and gave his partner a diamond ruff. Lasut cashed a heart for down one; -100 and 12 IMPs to Indonesia, stretching the lead to 152-106.

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

West	North	East	South
Debonnaire	Lasut	Teixeira	Manoppo
	Pass	Pass	1♣
Pass	1♦	2♠	Dble
Pass	3♦	Pass	3♥
All Pass

West	North	East	South
Sacul	Barbosa	Sawiruddin	Pinto
	Pass	Pass	2♣
Pass	2♦	Pass	2♥
Pass	2NT	Pass	3NT
All Pass

Neither East could stomach a weak 2♠ opening in second seat, even at favourable vulnerability, but Teixeira was happy to make a weak jump overcall after the strong-club opening and negative response. Manoppo’s double then 3♥ combination sounds stronger than an immediate 3♥ call, but Lasut hated his lack of either a heart fit or a spade stopper more than he liked his 5 HCP so passed out 3♥. Manoppo lost two black aces and the ♥Q; +170.

Pinto’s strong and artificial 2♣ opening meant that there was less pre-emptive value to a call with the East cards, so the Portuguese pair were left unmolested and reached theinevitable 3NT. Sawiruddin tried to find his partner’s suit by leading a club, won in the strong hand as Denny Sacul, West, ducked. Pinto tried the queen of spades and Sacul took the ace to continue with a low club to dummy’s queen. Pinto passed the ten of hearts to the queen, so Sacul cashed two club winners but declarer had the rest; +600 and 10 IMPs to Portugal. That made it 152-116 in favour of Indonesia.

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

West	North	East	South
Debonnaire	Lasut	Teixeira	Manoppo
		2♥	3♦
3♠	Pass	4♥	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Sacul	Barbosa	Sawiruddin	Pinto
		1♣	4♦
4♠	5♦	5♥	All Pass

Pinto jumped on Sawaruddin’s strong-club opening by pre-empting a level higher than is probably technically correct. Sawiruddin could hardly not go on to 5♥ over 5♦ but that contract had no chance of success. Pinto cashed a top diamond then switched to a spade to Barbosa’s queen. Back came a diamond, ruffed. Sawiruddin tried three rounds of clubs but Pinto could ruff in with the ten in front of dummy for one down; -100.

Teixeira could open with a strong but not game-forcing natural two bid, and now there was little point in Manoppo over-pre-empting, even were that his style. Teixeira was allowed to play in 4♥ and Manoppo had to find the defence to flatten the board. No problem! Manoppo cashed a top diamond then switched to the five of hearts. Teixeira won in hand and played three rounds of clubs. Manoppo ruffed with the ten and switched to the nine of spades to Lasut’s queen. The trump return left declarer with a club to lose at the end; very nicely defended for down one, -100 and a flat board.

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

West	North	East	South
Debonnaire	Lasut	Teixeira	Manoppo
Pass	1♠	2♥	2♠
Pass	4♠	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Sacul	Barbosa	Sawiruddin	Pinto
Pass	1♠	2♥	2♠
3♣	4♠	Dble	All Pass

Sacul’s 3♣ bid tempted Sawiruddin to double the final contract of 4♠. He led a club, so Barbosa won with the ace, pitching a heart from hand, then ran the ten of diamonds to the king. This was the last chance for the defence. Alas forIndonesia, Sawiruddin did not find the heart switch, instead returning a second club. Barbosa ruffed and played a trump. Sacul won with the ace of spades and played back a diamond, but Barbosa could finesse the nine, draw trumps and play a heart towards the king; ten tricks for +590.

Lasut also threw a heart on the ace of clubs at trick one, then played a spade to the king, followed by a second spade to the ace. Debonnaire returned the ♦6 and Lasut, aware of the danger of a heart ruff, rose with the ace to take out the last trump. He cashed an extra round of trumps then led a heart up. Teixeira took the ace of hearts and exited with a club. Lasut ruffed, crossed to the king of hearts, and led the ♦10 off the table. When Debonnaire covered with the jack, Lasut played for that to have been a serious misdefence and played low from hand, hoping to drop a doubleton king on his left. That cost him a second undertrick as the jack held the trick and his last trump was forced out, leaving Teixeira with the last two tricks; -100 and 12 IMPs to Portugal, who trailed by 129-152 midway through the set.

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

West	North	East	South
Debonnaire	Lasut	Teixeira	Manoppo
			Pass
1♠	4♦	4♠	5♦
5♠	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Sacul	Barbosa	Sawiruddin	Pinto
			Pass
1♠	5♦	5♠	6♦
Pass	Pass	Dble	All Pass

Lasut’s 4♦ pre-empt was sufficient to push his opponents to the five level when Manoppo could compete with 5♦. Lasut led his heart and Debonnaire won in dummy, picked up the trumps, then cashed the hearts and gave up a club; +480.

Barbosa pre-empted a level higher and his partner went on to 6♦ over 5♠. Sacul left the decision to Sawiruddin who, with such a lack of controls, had no reason to imagine that his side could make twelve tricks. He doubled and normal defenceresulted in down three for -500 and 1 IMP to Indonesia; 154-130.

Board 13. Dealer North. All Vul.
	♠ Q 10 9 ♥ J 4 ♦ 10 8 6 4 ♣ K 6 4 3
♠ A K J 3 ♥ 9 8 ♦ K Q 9 5 ♣ A Q 9		♠ 8 6 5 4 2 ♥ A K 5 3 2 ♦ A 2 ♣ 10
	♠ 7 ♥ Q 10 7 6 ♦ J 7 3 ♣ J 8 7 5 2

West	North	East	South
Debonnaire	Lasut	Teixeira	Manoppo
	Pass	1♠	Pass
2NT	Pass	3♣	Pass
3♦	Pass	3♥	Pass
4NT	Pass	5♥	Pass
5NT	Pass	6♦	Pass
7♠	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Sacul	Barbosa	Sawiruddin	Pinto
	Pass	1♠	Pass
3♣	Pass	3NT	Pass
4♣	Dble	Pass	Pass
Rdbl	Pass	4♦	Pass
5♦	Pass	5♥	Pass
6♦	Pass	6♠	All Pass

Seven Spades is a little below par, and Portugal were heavily punished for their optimism when there proved to be an unavoidable trump loser; +1430 and +100 to Indonesia and17 IMPs to stretch their lead to 171-130.

Board 16. Dealer West. E/W Vul.
	♠ J 3 ♥ 8 7 3 2 ♦ K 9 8 7 5 ♣ 10 6
♠ 8 ♥ K Q J 10 6 4 ♦ 6 ♣ A Q J 8 4		♠ K Q 10 6 5 4 2 ♥ 9 ♦ A J 4 ♣ K 7
	♠ A 9 7 ♥ A 5 ♦ Q 10 3 2 ♣ 9 5 3 2

West	North	East	South
Debonnaire	Lasut	Teixeira	Manoppo
1♥	Pass	1♠	Pass
3♣	Pass	3♦	Pass
3♥	Pass	3♠	Pass
4♣	Pass	4♠	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Sacul	Barbosa	Sawiruddin	Pinto
1♥	Pass	1♠	Pass
3♣	Pass	4♠	All Pass

Pinto led a diamond to the king and ace, and Sawiruddin ruffed a diamond then played three rounds of clubs, pitching his heart loser when Barbosa ruffed in with the jack. Thedefence could only come to one diamond and one trump from here; +620.

At the other table Manoppo led the ace of hearts then switched to a club. It was open to declarer to follow essentially the same line as we have just seen, but Teixeira chose what certainly looks to be an inferior alternative - quite apart from the result. He won the ♣Q and played a spade to the king and ace. Manoppo’s club return ensured the defeat of the contract. Teixeira won the ace and tried to take a pitch on the ♣J. When Lasut ruffed in with the jack, he over-ruffed and so was left with two diamonds and a trump to lose; two down for -200 and 13 IMPs to Indonesia. The Indonesians won the set by 61-34 and would go into the final 32 deals with a healthy 188-130 advantage.