Round
9: USA v Poland – Women
Board 4. Dealer West. All Vul.
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ª A 8
© A K 3 2
¨ K 5
§ A Q 10 4 3 |
ª Q 10 9 3
© Q J 6 4
¨ 6
§ K 8 7 5 |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª K 7 5
© 9 7 5
¨ Q 10 8 7 2
§ J 9 |
|
ª J 6 4 2
© 10 8
¨ A J 9 4 3
§ 6 2 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Miszewska |
Meyers |
Banaskiewicz |
Montin |
Pass |
1§ |
Pass |
1ª |
Pass |
2© |
Pass |
2NT |
Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
|
West |
North |
East |
South |
Sokolow |
Brewiak |
Molson |
Sarniak |
Pass |
1§ |
Pass |
1ª |
Pass |
2© |
Pass |
2NT |
Pass |
3¨ |
Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
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Two similar auctions saw the respective Souths declare 3NT with
all of West’s suits having been bid by her opponents. Ewa
Miszewska chose the best lead of the ª3, which ran to the king and
back came a second spade to dummy’s ace. Randi Montin played
a diamond to her ace then a club to the ten and jack. Back came
a diamond to dummy’s king and, with no entry to hand, Montin
was obliged to play ace and another club to West’s eight.
She eventually established the long club but that gave only seven
tricks for down two; -200.
Tobi Sokolow preferred the lead of a low heart and, when running
that to the ten proved to be successful, Anna Sarniak was much better
placed. She too finessed the §10 and back came a heart. She won
in dummy and played ace and another club and back came a third heart.
Sarniak won, gave up a heart and, after Sokolow had cashed the heart
winner, back came a diamond. Sarniak rose with the king, cashed
the long club and took the diamond finesse for her ninth trick;
+600 and 13 IMPs to Poland.
Board 7. Dealer South. All Vul.
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ª Q 10 3 2
© 10 6 4 3
¨ J 10 2
§ 10 7 |
ª 7 6
© 9 2
¨ A Q 6 3
§ 9 8 6 5 4 |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª A K 5 4
© A Q J 7 5
¨ 9 7
§ J 3 |
|
ª J 9 8
© K 8
¨ K 8 5 4
§ A K Q 2 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Miszewska |
Meyers |
Banaskiewicz |
Montin |
|
|
|
1NT |
All Pass |
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|
|
West |
North |
East |
South |
Sokolow |
Brewiak |
Molson |
Sarniak |
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1NT |
Pass |
Pass |
Dble |
All Pass |
Janice Seamon-Molson ventured a double of 1NT where Ewa Banaskiewicz
did not have that systemic option.
Against Montin, Miszewska led a club to the ten, jack and king.
Montin passed the ª9 to the king and Banaskiewicz switched to a
low heart, run to dummy’s ten. The ¨J was run to the queen
and back came a club. Montin won and played a diamond to the ten
then a diamond to the king and ace. Miszewska plugged away with
another club and Montin won, cashed the established diamond, and
conceded the rest for down one; -100.
Sokolow also led a club, the nine, which lost to the queen. Sarniak
led the ª9 to Molson’s king and she switched to a low heart
to declarer’s king. The ª8 was ducked and now Sarniak cashed
the top clubs before exiting with the ªJ and hoping that someone
would have to give her a diamond trick. It was not to be. Molson
won the ªA, cashed the hearts and played a diamond through and that
was down two for –500 and 9 IMPs to USA.
Board 9. Dealer North. E/W Vul.
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ª A K Q 10 9 3
© -
¨ A 6 2
§ 8 7 4 2 |
ª 8
© K 10 9 8 7 4
¨ J 10 3
§ J 9 6 |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª 7
© A Q 6 5 3
¨ K 8 5 4
§ K Q 3 |
|
ª J 6 5 4 2
© J 2
¨ Q 9 7
§ A 10 5 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Miszewska |
Meyers |
Banaskiewicz |
Montin |
|
1ª |
2© |
3ª |
4© |
4ª |
Pass |
Pass |
5© |
5ª |
Dble |
All Pass |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Sokolow |
Brewiak |
Molson |
Sarniak |
|
1ª |
Dble |
2NT |
3© |
4ª |
All Pass |
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Banaskiewicz’s 2© overcall put a lot more momentum into the
auction than did Molson’s take-out double. Despite the big
heart fit, Sokolow was only prepared to go as far as 3© at this
vulnerability when facing what might have been only a three- or
four-card heart suit, so Grazyna Brewiak was allowed to play 4ª.
Brewiak ruffed the heart lead, cashed a top trump and played ace
and another club. Molson won the §Q, cashed the §K, and had to give
the eleventh trick with her next lead; +450.
Facing an overcall, Miszewska was happy to compete first to 4©
then to 5© over 4ª. Now Jill Meyers, who had big spades and relatively
little defence, misjudged the hand by going on to 5ª, where she
was doubled. She too ruffed the heart lead and cashed a top spade
but now she saw a different possibility for success. She played
a low diamond now and Banaskiewicz hopped up with the king and played
§Q to dummy’s ace. Meyers ruffed the heart then cashed two
diamond winners before exiting with a club, hoping that the trick
would be won by a hand that had begun life with a doubleton honour.
Not this time, as the defence took club tricks for down one; -100
and 11 IMPs to Poland.
Board 11. Dealer South. None Vul.
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ª K J 10 3
© A 9 5 2
¨ -
§ A K J 6 3 |
ª 9 6 2
© -
¨ K Q 10 9 8 5 3 2
§ 10 2 |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª A 8 7 4
© K 8 3
¨ 6 4
§ 9 8 7 4 |
|
ª Q 5
© Q J 10 7 6 4
¨ A J 7
§ Q 5 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Miszewska |
Meyers |
Banaskiewicz |
Montin |
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|
|
1© |
3¨ |
5¨ |
Pass |
5ª |
Pass |
6© |
All Pass |
|
West |
North |
East |
South |
Sokolow |
Brewiak |
Molson |
Sarniak |
|
|
|
1© |
4¨ |
5¨ |
Pass |
5© |
Pass |
6§ |
Pass |
6© |
All Pass |
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There would have been two disappointed North/South pairs when it
came to score up this deal with their teammates. Sokolow made the
normal 4¨ pre-emptive overcall and Brewuiak cuebid 5¨ then went
on to slam over Sarniak’s sign-off, making a grand slam try
along the way. Perhaps, if North’s bidding is to be trusted,
there is a case for a spade lead now, who knows? Sokolow led a diamond
and Sarniak could win, lead the queen of hearts to the ace and play
four rounds of clubs to discard the spade loser; +980.
Miszewska underpre-empted with 3¨ and that left room for Meyers
to wheel out Exclusion Key Card. Alas, the 1430 response meant that
the Americans were too high, at least in theory. Surely, after the
use of EXCB, West should choose a black-suit lead? No, Miszewska
led a diamond and the same line of play produced the same twelve
tricks and ‘just another dull flat board’ at +980.
Board 13. Dealer North. All Vul.
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ª -
© Q J 2
¨ A Q 10 9 8 6 3 2
§ 9 2 |
ª 10 9 5 3
© 7 6 5
¨ 5
§ A K 5 4 3 |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª A K J 8 7 6 4
© 8 4 3
¨ K
§ Q 6 |
|
ª Q 2
© A K 10 9
¨ J 7 4
§ J 10 8 7 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Miszewska |
Meyers |
Banaskiewicz |
Montin |
|
3NT |
4ª |
5§ |
Dble |
5¨ |
Pass |
Pass |
5ª |
All Pass |
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|
West |
North |
East |
South |
Sokolow |
Brewiak |
Molson |
Sarniak |
|
4¨ |
4ª |
All Pass |
Meyers/Montin use a 3NT opening to show a four-level pre-empt in
an unspecified minor and that North hand seems to fit the bill nicely.
When Banaskiewicz overcalled 4ª, Montin bid 5§, pass or correct,
and Miszewska first doubled then went on to 5ª over Meyers’
conversion to 5¨. Three rounds of hearts followed by the ace of
diamonds meant a quick two down for –200.
Brewiak opened with a natural 4¨ pre-empt and Sarniak allowed Molson
to play 4ª. Again, three rounds of hearts followed by the top diamond
meant down one; -100 but 3 IMPs to USA.
Notice that if declarer is going to drop the ¨K, it takes three
rounds of clubs to defeat 5¨. Maybe that is easy if West is on lead,
but certainly not if 5¨ is played by North.
Board 14. Dealer East. None Vul.
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ª Q
© 10 8 5
¨ K 9 8
§ A J 10 4 3 2 |
ª J 9 8 5 3
© J
¨ A J 7 6
§ 8 7 6 |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª A 10 7 4 2
© K 9 6
¨ Q 10 4 3
§ 5 |
|
ª K 6
© A Q 7 4 3 2
¨ 5 2
§ K Q 9 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Miszewska |
Meyers |
Banaskiewicz |
Montin |
|
|
Pass |
1© |
Pass |
1NT |
Pass |
2© |
Pass |
4© |
All Pass |
|
West |
North |
East |
South |
Sokolow |
Brewiak |
Molson |
Sarniak |
|
|
Pass |
1© |
Pass |
2NT |
Pass |
4© |
All Pass |
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Sokolow led a spade to the ace and Molson switched to her singleton
club. Sarniak suspected that, with the ªA already seen to be in
the East hand, the ¨A would be onside more often than not. In that
case a club ruff was the big danger and she therefore played ace
and another heart. Alas, Molson won, put her partner in with the
diamond, and duly received her club ruff for down one; -50.
Miszewska led a club and now declarer could not be sure who had
the shortage in the suit. Also, she did not know about the ªA and
so had less reason to feel good about the diamond position. While
the play of ace and another heart is still tempting, it appears
to be less attractive than at the other table. Nonetheless, Montin
put in dummy’s §J, led a low heart off the dummy then, after
a few moments pause, went up with the ace and followed the same
line a sat the other table. That was a chance missed for USA; down
one for –50 and a flat board.
Board 15. Dealer South. N/S Vul.
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ª 8
© A 5 2
¨ A Q 6 2
§ K J 7 5 4 |
ª 10 9 4 2
© 9 8 4
¨ J 7 5 3
§ A 9 |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª Q 7 6 3
© K J 6
¨ K 8
§ 10 8 6 3 |
|
ª A K J 5
© Q 10 7 3
¨ 10 9 4
§ Q 2 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Miszewska |
Meyers |
Banaskiewicz |
Montin |
|
|
|
1¨ |
Pass |
2§ |
Pass |
2© |
Pass |
3¨ |
Pass |
3NT |
Pass |
4§ |
Pass |
4NT |
All Pass |
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|
West |
North |
East |
South |
Sokolow |
Brewiak |
Molson |
Sarniak |
|
|
|
1§ |
Pass |
2§ |
Pass |
2© |
Pass |
3¨ |
Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
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I am sure that Sarniak’s 2© rebid was systemic facing the
2§, two-over-one response. Certainly, the Poles had no trouble in
stopping at a safe level. Sokolow led the ten of spades to the queen
and ace and Sarniak played the §Q. Sokolow took her ace and switched
to a low diamond, which was run to the eight (an interesting play
from Molson) and nine. Sarniak cashed a top spade, throwing a diamond
from dummy, then took the ‘marked’ diamond finesse,
losing to the king. Back came a spade to her jack and she played
three rounds of clubs, establishing the fifth card in that suit
while losing a club and a spade; nine tricks for +600.
I am less sure if Montin’s 2© rebid was systemic, though
my main evidence to the contrary is the fact that Meyers went on
over 3NT, which she might not have done had she been aware of her
partner’s handtype. Anyway, Montin bid a firm 4NT and there
matters rested.
Here the lead was the ª9 to declarer’s jack. Montin led the
¨10 now and Miszewska broke a basic rule of defensive signalling
when she followed with the seven, a card she could not afford. Banaskiewicz
won the ¨K and returned a spade to declarer’s ace. Montin
played the queen of clubs and Miszewska won the ace and returned
a club, keeping declarer out of her hand. Montin won the club and
cashed the other club winner, cashed the ¨A, then exited with a
club, establishing the fifth card in the process. The play of cashing
the ¨A had removed East’s safe exit in that suit, but all
she needed to do now was to exit with a spade and declarer would
be a trick short. But Banaskiewicz erred badly by switching to a
heart and there was no losing option for declarer who suddenly had
a second heart trick, an entry to the spade winner, and ten tricks
in all; +630 and 1 IMP to USA instead of 12 the other way.
Poland won the match by 36-20 IMPs, 10.25-18.25 VPs, after a slow
play penalty. Both teams were still looking good for the knockout
stages.
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