Viventi Rosenblum Cup
Final / 2nd Quarter


Chagas v Angelini

At the start of the second session of the final Brazil were hoping to make inroads into the Italian lead. Alas, it was not to be, as points flowed steadily in the direction of their rivals.

Board 19. Dealer South. EW Game
ª 9 4
© K 10 9 7 3
¨ J 4 2
§ Q 6 5
ª K Q 10 7 6 2 ª 8
© Q J 8 6 5 © A 2
¨ 8 ¨ A K Q 10 5 3K J 4 3
§ 8 §
ª A J 5 3
© 4
¨ 9 7 6
§ A 10 9 7 2

West North East South
Buratti Villas Boas Lanzarotti Campos

Pass
3§ Pass 3¨ Pass
3ª Pass 3NT All Pass

3§ was weak with clubs or both majors. Over the 3¨ relay West was able to show the nature of his hand. Having done so there was no temptation for him to do anything other than pass 3NT.

South led the §10 to declarer's jack. Declarer needed something good to happen in diamonds. When that suit obliged declarer needed only for South to hold the ªA to be home. Although declarer could not get to dummy, South was obliged to present declarer with a ninth trick in either major or clubs. +600 for Italy.

West North East South
Branco Lauria Chagas Versace

2ª Pass 3NT Pass
4© All Pass

Alfredo Versace (Italy){short description of image}

4© was not what Chagas was hoping to see and he considered for a long time before he passed. As to West's action, you could argue that if partner was interested in what you had apart from your spade suit he could have bid something else but its easy to see why he bid 4©. He did not have the gadget that was available at the other table so perhaps he should have passed initially, hoping to be able to describe his hand later. These things are often a matter of luck and this was not Brazil's day. North led a low club for the jack and ace and South returned the §10 taken by dummy's king as declarer discarded a spade. West played the ª8 and South took his ace and forced declarer with a club. West ruffed and played the ªK which North ruffed with the ©3!

If declarer now discards something he will set up a two trick penalty which might turn out to be enough for him to make the contract but of course Branco had no reason to suppose that North had revoked and he overuffed with the ©A. He could not avoid going two down and the revoke was only worth one trick.

We are sorry that we don't have a picture of the moment when Lauria produced the ª9 but we can assure you that the reaction of Marcelo Branco was priceless. Still it meant Italy had gained 12 IMPs.

Chagas had not been displaying his usual sparkling form when handling the dummy but he did well on this deal.

Board 25. Dealer North. EW Game
ª J 8 7 4 2
© K
¨ 10 7 3
§ J 10 8 4
ª A ª Q 10 9 5
© 6 5 3 © A Q 9 7 4
¨ K J 4 2 ¨ 9 8 5
§ A Q 7 3 2 § K
ª K 6 3
© J 10 8 2
¨ A Q 6
§ 9 6 5

West North East South
Buratti Villas Boas Lanzarotti Campos

Pass Pass Pass
1§ Pass 1¨ Pass
1© Pass 1ª Pass
2¨ Pass 2ª Pass
2NT Pass 3NT All Pass

East's first response was a transfer and thereafter the Italians elected to try for the nine trick game. With such a friendly lie, especially in spades and diamonds it proved to be an easy task.

West North East South
Branco Lauria Chagas Versace

Pass Pass Pass
1§ 1ª 2© 2ª
Dble Pass 3NT Pass
4© All Pass

South decided to attack with the ¨A on which North played a deceptively encouraging three. That might have persuaded South to continue the suit trying to convince declarer he had led from ¨A 6 but he switched to a club, which ran to the king. East played a spade to the ace and continued with a heart to the king and his ace. East now made the good play of a diamond, catering for the possibility of South's ace having been a singleton. When South followed he went up with the king and discarded a diamond on the §A. A spade went on the §Q and he ruffed a club with the ©9. South overruffed and played a heart but East could win in hand, ruff a spade and discard his last spade on the good club. He lost only two trumps and a diamond to record +620 and pick up 1 IMP for Brazil.

Board 26. Dealer East. Game All
ª 5 2
© A Q 6
¨ Q J 10 4 3 2
§ 9 6
ª K 10 8 6 4 3 ª A Q J 9
© 10 5 3 © J 9 8
¨ A K ¨ 7
§ J 4 § A K 8 5 3
ª 7
© K 7 4 2
¨ 9 8 6 5
§ Q 10 7 2

In the Closed room Italy had recorded +620 when their system caused East to become the declarer in 4ª.

West North East South
Branco Lauria Chagas Versace

1§ Pass
1ª 2¨ 3ª 4¨
5¨ Pass 5ª All Pass

The VuGraph commentators did not think much of South's bid of 4¨. Surely it made it easy for West to devalue his diamond honours opposite his partner's obvious shortage?

Although we are inclined to agree, as usual it is always easier away from the table. North lost no time in leading the ©A and when South encouraged he carefully led the ©6. So next time you encounter this situation and your partner follows the ace with the queen at trick two you will remember to overtake and give them a ruff won't you?

12 more nails in the Brazilian coffin.

Although the match was one-sided the audience had the chance to admire a fine piece of card play by Branco which earned him a deserved round of applause.

Board 28. Dealer West. NS Game
ª K 7 3
© Q 8 7 6
¨ 8 6 4 3
§ Q 3
ª A J 10 ª Q 9 8 5 4
© A K 10 9 5 © 4 2
¨ Q 10 2 ¨ 9
§ K 2 § A 10 7 6 5
ª 6 2
© J 3
¨ A K J 7 5
§ J 9 8 4

In the Closed room Italy recorded +420 from 4ª.

West North East South
Branco Lauria Chagas Versace

1© Pass 1NT Pass
3ª Pass 4ª All Pass

The 1NT response promised five or more spades, so West became declarer. North led a low diamond and South won with the king and switched to a trump. West finessed. North won and played a second trump, declarer winning in hand with the ace. He now cashed the ©AK and when the jack appeared he drew the remaining trump with the ªJ before running the ©10 through North. He then ruffed a heart, cashed the last trump and came back to hand with the §K. The ©9 was too much for South and like a chess player facing the inevitable he resigned by returning his cards to the board.

As Barry Rigal remarked, 'Brazil were having to work very hard for their IMPs in this match'. Yes indeed for at half time the score was Italy 101 Brazil 26. The fat lady was beginning to warm up.


Results Contents
Rosenblum Cup F
Open Pairs SF3, SF4, Z3, Z4
Ladies Pairs SF3, SF4
Senior Pairs Q3
Continuous Pairs
Vivendi Rosenblum Cup Final I
Vivendi Rosenblum Cup Final II
Zia at his Best


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