Italy v USA1 (8th Segment)

The Thirty-Year Itch - By Mark Horton

The last session of the final delivered a thrilling set of boards, and the American team scored more than enough IMPs to overcome their deficit. However, they gave away too many - especially on these two deals:

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

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Versace	Meckstroth	Lauria	Rodwell
			1♦*
2♦*	2♥*	4♥	All Pass

South cashed the ace of clubs and the ace of diamonds before switching to a spade. Declarer put up dummy's ace and played a spade, ruffing when North played the king. He ruffed a club and played a trump, claiming ten tricks, +420.

Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Soloway	Fantoni	Hamman	Nunes
			2♣*
Pass	2♦*	Pass	2♠*
Pass	3♣	All Pass

In the other room South's opening bid had made it easy for West to enter the auction. That was not the case here, and although several pundits on BridgeBase suggested West should bid, none of them actually suggested how West could show his suits.

North/South stole the pot, and declarer was not hard pressed to make his contract for +110 and 12 IMPs.

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

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Versace	Meckstroth	Lauria	Rodwell
	1NT	Pass	2♣*
Pass	2♠	Pass	3♦*
Pass	3♥*	Pass	3♠*
Pass	4♣	Pass	5♣
All Pass

South expressed interest in a club slam, but when North showed a minimum, he stopped in game. West led the jack of diamonds, and East won and switched to the queen of hearts for a fast one down, -100.

Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Soloway	Fantoni	Hamman	Nunes
	1♣*	Pass	2♣*
Pass	2♠*	Pass	3♣
Pass	3♠	Pass	4♣
Pass	4♦*	Pass	4♥*
Pass	5♣	All Pass

Sorry, no time to discover the exact inferences that were available to East from the auction, but he led the seven of hearts. Declarer put up the king and West took the ace. When he switched to the five of spades declarer was home, +600 and 12 IMPs to Italy.

For the Azzura the long wait was over - Italy had won the Bermuda Bowl - and it will take a very good team to take it away from them.