Indonesia v USA1 (Seniors Bowl)

USA1 had come back well in the third session, but Indonesia still led overnight by 104-88 IMPs. The morning session started very well for the Americans as they pulled even closer.

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

West	North	East	South
Sontag	Lasut	Weichsel	Manoppo
	1♣	3♣	3NT
All Pass

West	North	East	South
Sacul	Hayden	Sawiruddin	Meltzer
	1NT	Dble	2♣
Pass	2♥	Pass	2NT
Pass	3NT	All Pass

Peter Weichsel pre-empted over Henky Lasut’s strong-club opening and Eddy Manoppo made the practical call of 3NT, ending the auction. Alan Sontag led the eight of clubs to the six, jack and ace, and Manoppo led a diamond to the queen and king. Had Weichsel woodenly returned a club, the contract would have been secure, but he could see that he would have no way to get to the established winners, so instead tried the effect of switching to the queen of spades. When that held, Weichsel continued with a low spade for the king and ace. Manoppo cashed the king of clubs then the diamonds, ending in dummy. He led the queen of hearts off the table but Weichsel showed out, so Manoppo rose with the ace and exited with a heart; down one for -50.

Garey Hayden opened 1NT and Munawar Sawiruddin showed a single-suiter by doubling. Rose Meltzer used Stayman then invited game in no trump, Hayden going on to 3NT. Sawiruddin led the queen of clubs and that proved fatal to the defence. Hayden won with the king and played ace and another diamond. Sawiruddin won with the king of diamonds and switched to a spade but it was too late, the finesse of the ten of clubs providing declarer’s ninth trick; +400 and 10 IMPs to USA1.

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

West	North	East	South
Sontag	Lasut	Weichsel	Manoppo
	2♣	Pass	2♦
3♦	Pass	Pass	Dble
Pass	4♣	Pass	4♦
Pass	4♥	Pass	4♠
Pass	6♣	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Sacul	Hayden	Sawiruddin	Meltzer
	1♣	Pass	1♥
2♦	Pass	Pass	Dble
Pass	3♣	Pass	3NT
All Pass

Lasut opened a Precision 2♣ and limited his hand by passing over the 3♦ intervention after Manoppo’s 2♦ relay. When Manoppo cuebid twice in search of slam, Lasut sufficiently liked his strong trumps and outside ace to jump to slam. Alas, after the diamond lead, there was no way to bring this home; one down for -100.

Garey Hayden and Rose Meltzer were never in the hunt for a slam and stopped off safely in 3NT. After a diamond lead, Meltzer took her ten top tricks for +630 and 12 IMPs to USA1, who moved into the lead.

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

West	North	East	South
Sontag	Lasut	Weichsel	Manoppo
		2♣	Pass
2♦	Pass	3♣	Pass
3♦	Pass	3♥	Pass
5♣	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Sacul	Hayden	Sawiruddin	Meltzer
		2♣	Pass
2♦	2♠	3♠	4NT
Pass	5♠	Pass	Pass
Dble	All Pass

Sontag/Weichsel had a free run to 5♣ after the Precision 2♣ opening and enquiry. Manoppo led a spade so Lasut took two of those, then switched to a diamond. Weichsel rose with the ace, drew two rounds of trumps and ruffed his spade loser before running the trumps. There was a show-up squeeze against South; +600.

After an identical start to the auction, Hayden overcalled 2♠ at the other table. Appreciating that her opponents were in the middle of a strong auction, Meltzer bid 4NT both to take away their bidding space and to help herself to count defensive winners should E/W continue to bid. Hayden was doubled in 5♠, ending the auction. Sawiruddin cashed a top club then switched to his singleton heart. Denny Sacul won with the ♥J and switched to a diamond. Sawiruddin won with the ace and returned a second diamond, which Hayden ran to his jack. It was now a simple matter to ruff the club loser in dummy, draw trumps and cash two diamonds for down two; -300 but 7 IMPs to USA1.

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

West	North	East	South
Sontag	Lasut	Weichsel	Manoppo
			1♦
1♠	Dble	Pass	1NT
Pass	2♥	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Sacul	Hayden	Sawiruddin	Meltzer
			1♦
1♠	Dble	2♣	All Pass

Manoppo’s 1♦ did not promise real diamonds, but Weichsel still could not bid the suit in a natural sense so passed. Manoppo rebid 1NT, converted to 2♥ by Lasut, where he played. Weichsel cashed a top diamond, then switched to his spade. Lasut rose with the ace of spades and drew three rounds of trumps, then knocked out the king of spades; +140.

Meltzer’s 1♦ opening was standard and Sawiruddin also could not bid his long suit in a natural sense; where the 2♣ bid came from, only he will know - there is nothing obvious on their convention card to explain it. Meltzer started with the ace and another heart and Hayden took a third winner in the suit then switching to a trump. Meltzer won and returned a second trump. Sawiruddin could win in hand to play a spade up, and a spade ruff in hand was his eighth trick; +90 and 6 IMPs to Indonesia.

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

West	North	East	South
Sontag	Lasut	Weichsel	Manoppo
1♠	Pass	1NT	Pass
2♣	Pass	2♦	Pass
2♥	Pass	4♥	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Sacul	Hayden	Sawiruddin	Meltzer
1♠	Pass	1NT	Pass
2♣	Pass	2♥	All Pass

Sacul/Sawiruddin had a natural auction to 2♥, Sacul being limited by his failure to open with a strong 1♣. Sawiruddin made a comfortable nine tricks for +140.

East’s two-diamond rebid was multicolored: with hearts or a maximum with either two spades or club support. West said he was happy to make hearts trumps, and East aggressively jumped to game. Lasut led the jack of hearts. This piece of mild deception may or may not have been successful on another day, but not when declarer had this trump holding. Sontag crossed to the ace of spades and led the jack of clubs, Manoppo rising with the ace and switching to the jack of diamonds, which held the trick, then a trump. Sontag ruffed a spade, drew the last trump, and took his ten tricks; +420 and 7 IMPs to USA1.

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

West	North	East	South
Sontag	Lasut	Weichsel	Manoppo
	Pass	1♦	Pass
1♥	1♠	Pass	4♠
5♦	Pass	Pass	Dble
All Pass

West	North	East	South
Sacul	Hayden	Sawiruddin	Meltzer
	Pass	1♦	Pass
1♥	1♠	Dble	4♠
5♦	Dble	All Pass

Both E/W pairs did too much on an inadequate trump fit - particularly embarrassing as 4♠ had four top losers. This sort of deal is the price you pay every now and then for having to open three-card minors, I guess.

Manoppo led a spade and Weichsel won in hand, throwing a heart from dummy, then played the ten of diamonds, which was allowed to hold the trick. Now Weichsel led to the ace of clubs then played a low heart towards his ten. Lasut went in with the jack of hearts and returned a spade. Weichsel won the spade, throwing a club from dummy, then played a heart. Lasut won and cashed his third heart winner then led a club. Declarer won the ♣K and had just the two top trumps to lose; down three for -800. Meltzer started with a top trump but switched to a heart. Hayden won with the jack, then played ace and queen of hearts. Meltzer could ruff but there was only the other top trump to come; again three down for -800 and a push board.

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

West	North	East	South
Sontag	Lasut	Weichsel	Manoppo
Pass	Pass	1♣	Pass
1♦	Pass	2NT	Pass
3♣	Pass	3♦	Pass
3NT	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Sacul	Hayden	Sawiruddin	Meltzer
Pass	Pass	2NT	Pass
3♣	Pass	3♦	Pass
3♥	Pass	3NT	All Pass

Both Easts played in 3NT but on different leads. Manoppo looked no further than his own long suit, the ♦2 going to ten and ace. Weichsel tried the ten of hearts, which was allowed to hold the trick, then ducked a club to Lasut’s jack. Back came a diamond to the king and Weichsel continued with the ace of clubs, on which Lasut correctly unblocked the king. Manoppo could now win the next club and had four diamond winners to cash for down two; -100.

Meltzer tried to hit her partner’s suit by leading the singleton heart. Sawiruddin put up the ♥Q and this was covered by the king and ace. He cashed the ♥10, discovering the five-one split, then ducked a club. Hayden won with the ♣J and cleared the hearts, but Sawiruddin was in the right hand to duck the second club to South. He had ten tricks now and an eleventh appeared when the defenders discarded inaccurately on the run of the clubs; +460 and 11 IMPs to Indonesia.

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

West	North	East	South
Sontag	Lasut	Weichsel	Manoppo
	1♣	1♠	1NT
Pass	3NT	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Sacul	Hayden	Sawiruddin	Meltzer
	1♣	2♠	All Pass

Sawiruddin’s weak jump overcall bought the contract when Meltzer was unwilling to get involved facing what would often be a weak no trump. Meltzer led a club and Hayden won with the ace, then switched to a low trump, ducked to the jack. The queen of diamonds was covered by the king and ace, and Hayden returned a low club, Sawiruddin putting in the jack. He played ace and another trump and was grateful to see the even break, but there was still one trick to be lost in each side suit; down two for -200.

Weichsel made a simple overcall of the strong-club opening, allowing Manoppo to describe his hand with a 1NT bid, raised to game by Lasut. Sontag led a low diamond to dummy’s bare ace and Manoppo started by cashing the ace of clubs, then playing a low spade to the queen, followed by a second club, losing to the jack as West threw a heart. Weichsel returned a low spade now and Manoppo erred by playing low from hand and winning with dummy’s king. Had he won with the ♠J, he could have ensured the contract by playing to establish a diamond then getting the hearts right. Meanwhile, Sontag discarded a harmless-looking diamond. Harmless-looking, perhaps, but actually a fatal error. See what happens if declarer now crosses to the ace of hearts and plays the ♦Q. West’s best defence is to return the queen of hearts. Declarer must win and cross to the ten of hearts to cash the diamond winner. Then he can get out with his losing diamond and use West as a stepping stone to the fourth heart trick. Now see the difference if West has kept an extra diamond, throwing a heart on the second spade. Again, declarer crosses to the ace of hearts and plays a diamond honour. West wins and exits with the queen of hearts, forcing declarer to win with the ace, cross to the ♥10 and cash the diamond winner. But now, when he puts West on lead with a diamond, the defender has sufficient winners to defeat the contract. All very pretty, but all rather academic, as Manoppo won with the ♠K and played a heart to his ten, after which he had no way to come to nine tricks. The contract was two down for -200 and 9 IMPs to USA1, when it could so easily have been 9 IMPs the other way.

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

West	North	East	South
Sontag	Lasut	Weichsel	Manoppo
		Pass	Pass
1♦	Dble	3♦	Pass
Pass	Dble	Pass	3♠
All Pass

West	North	East	South
Sacul	Hayden	Sawiruddin	Meltzer
		Pass	Pass
1♦	1NT	3♦	All Pass

There is no ideal call on the North hand when right-hand opponent opens 1♦. Hayden overcalled 1NT, but that left him badly placed for further competition when 3♦ came back to him. Hayden cashed the ace of clubs, then led a second round to the king. Sacul ruffed dummy’s last club and tried the jack of diamonds from hand. When that was ducked he had an overtrick for +130.

Lasut preferred to double the opening bid, as would I, and was prepared to double a second time, despite his less than ideal distribution, when the pre-emptive diamond raise came back to him. Should South now bid his longest suit or stretch a very little to cuebid 4♦? Certainly, had North been three-four in the majors, the four-four fit might have played a good deal better than the five-three with the long trump holding getting forced. And four of a major could easily be making if North does not have many wasted values in diamonds. Anyway, Manoppo chose to bid 3♠ and played there. Sontag led his club, and Manoppo rose with the ace, crossed to hand with a diamond ruff and led a spade to the queen and king. Two rounds of clubs gave Sontag his ruff and there was a heart to come; +140 and 7 IMPs to Indonesia. Had the spade game been bid via a 4♦ cuebid, it would have been played by North and surely successful. USA1 won the set and now led by 135-129 with 32 boards to play. There was still everything to play for.