Vivendi Rosenblum Cup


Cronier vs. Seguin

Eight boards were pushes in the first match we watched today. Philippe Cronier's team scored 4 IMPs each on the other two boards to win, 17-13 in Victory Points and 8-0 in IMPs. Their opponents were captained by Patrick Seguin. Interestingly enough, the most exciting board was a push.

Board 1. Dealer North. Love All
ª A K Q 10 6 3
© 10 7 6
¨ J 8
§ 10 6
ª 9 ª 7 5 2
© K J 9 8 5 4 3 © A 2
¨ K 5 4 ¨ 9 7 6 3
§ K 5 § A Q 7 3
ª J 8 4
© Q
¨ A Q 10 2
§ J 9 8 4 2

West North East South
de Sainte Marie Pignot Bompis Buba

2ª Pass 4ª
5© Pass 6© All Pass

It's quite amazing that the swing on this deal was only 4 IMPs. André Buba raised his partner's weak two-bid to game, but that didn't stop Thierry de Sainte Marie from coming in - he tried 5ª. D. Pignot had two aces, so he raised to slam. But there were still two aces missing, and the defence took them to set the contract one trick.

West North East South
Moussa Lebel Drouet Cronier

1ª Pass 2ª
All Pass

The bidding here does not seem as if it can be on the same hand. Michel Lebel decided his hand was worth an opening bid, and Cronier raised to two. And that was the end of the bidding! Once again declarer had to lose only two aces, so Lebel was plus 200. That was 4 IMPs to CRONIER, a truly strange result. But it wasn't as strange as the bidding on the following deal.

Board 5. Dealer North. NS Game
ª
©
¨ Q J 8 7 6 5 3 2
§ K 10 7 6 5
ª A 10 7 ª Q J 5 3
© 9 5 3 © A K Q 7 6 4 2
¨ K 10 ¨ 9
§ A 9 4 3 2 § Q
ª K 9 8 6 4 2
© J 10 8
¨ A 4
§ J 8

West North East South
de Sainte Marie Pignot Bompis Buba

Pass! 1© 1ª
2© Pass!! 4© Pass
Pass Pass!!!

The bidding diagram is NOT in error. North NEVER bid with his 8-5. It appears that 5¨ will go down only one trick for a good save. Clearly it was the unfavourable vulnerability that convinced Pignot to pass - but would you have been able to maintain silence throughout the auction? Certainly the auction must have been different at the other table.

West North East South
Moussa Lebel Drouet Cronier

Pass! 1© Pass
2© Pass!! 4© Pass
Pass Pass!!!

It was! South didn't even bid 1ª! Otherwise it was the same for a push. Michel Lebel also decided the North hand was not worth a bid.

Board 8. Dealer West. Love All
ª A 9 8 5 3
© Q J 6 4
¨ 6 2
§ K 8
ª K Q 7 6 ª 10 2
© A © K 8 5
¨ K J 5 3 ¨ Q 10 9
§ Q 10 5 3 § A 9 7 6 2
ª J 4
© 10 9 7 3 2
¨ A 8 7 4
§ J 4

West North East South
de Sainte Marie Pignot Bompis Buba

1¨ 1ª Dble Pass
1NT All Pass

After a spade opening lead, declarer had time to knock out the ¨A and set up the clubs, so he took 10 tricks - plus 180.

West North East South
Moussa Lebel Drouet Cronier

1¨ 1ª All Pass

Moussa, with his good spade holding, decided to let Lebel play in 1ª. He and Didier Drouet managed to defeat this contract one trick, but that still was 4 IMPs to CRONIER.

Board 10. Dealer East. Game All
ª K Q 4 3
© 7
¨ 8 7 6
§ A K 8 4 3
ª A 10 8 6 ª 9 2
© K 5 © A Q J 10 6 4 3
¨ J 9 4 3 2 ¨ Q
§ 10 9 § J 5 2
ª J 7 5
© 9 8 2
¨ A K 10 5
§ Q 7 6

West North East South
de Sainte Marie Pignot Bompis Buba

3¨(1) Pass
3© Dble Pass 4¨
All Pass

(1) Transfer to hearts.

Pignot wasn't willing to let his opponents play in a heart partial - he doubled and Buba bid 4¨. This went down one trick because of the 5-1 split of the outstanding trumps.

West North East South
Moussa Lebel Drouet Cronier

1© Pass
1ª Pass 2© All Pass

Lebel and Cronier were silent throughout, so Drouet was allowed to play unmolested in 2©. He took the obvious eight tricks for a push.

Results Contents
Rosenblum Cup
McConnell Cup
Junior Teams J6, J7, J8, J9, J10
Continuous Pairs
Vivendi Rosenblum Cup
Louis Vuitton Mc Connell



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