Going into Thursday morning's vugraph
match, USA were lying second in Group B, while their opponents,
Finland were eighth and in need of a solid result to keep their
qualification hopes alive. The vugraph show started with Board
19, and it was soon clear that this was not to be Finland's
day.
Board 19. Dealer South. E/W
Vul. |
|
ª
A Q 5
© K 9 8
¨ K Q 6 4
2
§ K 4 |
ª
10 7 6 3
© 7 6 5 2
¨ J
§ Q 8 7 2 |
![Bridge deal](../../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª
J
© A Q 10
¨ A 8 7 5 3
§ A J 9 3 |
|
ª
K 9 8 4 2
© J 4 3
¨ 10 9
§ 10 6 5 |
In the Closed Room, the Americans played
in 2ª down two for -100. There was more action in the Open Room:
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Weinstein |
Koistinen |
Garner |
Kiema |
|
|
|
Pass |
Pass |
1§ |
1¨ |
Pass |
3§ |
Pass |
Pass |
3ª |
Pass |
Pass |
Dble |
All Pass |
Garner's 1¨ over Kauko Koistinen's strong
club opening showed either both majors or both minors, and Weinstein's
3§ was pass or correct, guaranteeing not only clubs but also
support for at least on of the majors. When Osmo Kiema balanced
with 3ª, Garner made a take-out double on his good hand and
Weinstein judged correctly to convert for penalties.
Weinstein led his diamond and Garner won
the ace and returned the three, asking for a club switch. Weinstein
duly led a low club after ruffing the diamond and declarer played
a hopeful king. Garner won the §A and returned a club to the
king. Now came a heart switch. Garner took two hearts then played
a third diamond, forcing Kiema to ruff high in hand. There was
no way to avoid another loser from here. Kiema had unblocked
the ©K to give himself an entry to hand but, if after a spade
to the ace and a heart to the jack he played the ª9, Weinstein
could cover and now the queen of diamonds could not be cashed
for a club pitch. The contract was down three for -500 and 9
IMPs to USA.
Board 20. Dealer West. All
Vul. |
|
ª
10 7 6 5
© 9
¨ A 9
§ A 10 9
6 4 3 |
ª
A 9
© K 2
¨ K J 10 5
3
§ K Q 8 5 |
![Bridge deal](../../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª
K Q J 4 2
© 10 6 5 4
3
¨ 7 6
§ J |
|
ª
8 3
© A Q J
8 7
¨ Q 8 4 2
§ 7 2 |
The Finnish East/West pair bid to 3¨,
which failed by a trick; -100. Howard Weinstein and Steve Garner
were more optimistic:
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Weinstein |
Koistinen |
Garner |
Kiema |
1NT |
Pass |
2§ |
Pass |
2¨ |
Pass |
2ª |
Pass |
2NT |
Pass |
3© |
Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
|
|
Garner's
sequence to 2ª
was invitational with five spades, saying nothing about hearts.
Two No Trump was non-forcing but allowed partner to show a second
suit and when Garner showed hearts Weinstein had rather endplayed
himself into playing 3NT. The lead was a low club to dummy's
jack. Weinstein played a diamond to the jack and Koistinen ducked
smoothly. Not having second sight, declarer could not play a
low diamond to drop the ace now, but had to run the spades.
He threw two diamonds and a club on the spades then led a second
diamond to the ten and ace. Koistinen cashed the ace of clubs
then took his only chance of breaking the contract, leading
his heart in the hope that Kiema would hold the AKJ instead
of his actual AQJ. That meant that Weinstein had an overtrick;
+630 and 12 IMPs to USA. The Americans picked up another 5 IMPs
on Board 1 when Weinstein/Garner stopped in 3©
making while Leskela/Kurko were down one in the hopeless game.
Board 3. Dealer South. E/W
Vul. |
|
ª
7 4 3
© 10 4 3
¨ Q 7 5 3
§ K Q 5 |
ª
5 2
© A K J 7
2
¨ 9 6 2
§ J 4 2 |
![Bridge deal](../../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª
K Q J 10
© 9 8 6
¨ 4
§ A 10 8 7
6 |
|
ª
A 9 8 6
© Q 5
¨ A K J 10
8
§ 9 3 |
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Leskela |
Cohen |
Kurko |
Berkowitz |
|
|
|
1¨ |
Pass |
1NT |
All Pass |
|
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Weinstein |
Koistinen |
Garner |
Kiema |
|
|
|
1¨ |
1© |
Pass |
3¨ |
Pass |
3© |
Pass |
4© |
All Pass |
A low club lead meant that 1NT made exactly
in the Closed Room. In the open room, Weinstein's normal, to
these eyes, 1© overcall led to his declaring a thin game. The
lead of the king of clubs puts declarer under serious pressure.
He cannot win and draw all the trumps as he then has no control
of the diamond suit. If declarer wins and draws two rounds of
trumps to prevent the defensive club ruff, they can duck the
next round of each black suit to cut his fast communications
to his winners. North can then play a third trump when the defence
does get in, leaving declarer with too many diamond losers.
Weinstein found the answer, ducking the opening lead. Koistinen
continued with the five of clubs but Weinstein had committed
himself to a line of play and followed it, running the club
to his jack. He played three rounds of hearts then ran the clubs,
throwing tow diamonds away, and could establish a spade for
his tenth trick; +620 and a further 12 IMPs to the American
lead, up to 38-0.
Board 4. Dealer West. All
Vul. |
|
ª
5 2
© K Q 6
3
¨ 5 3
§ 9 8 7
4 3 |
ª
8 7 6 4
© 9 8 5 4
¨ K Q 8
§ Q 2 |
![Bridge deal](../../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª
A K J 10 9
© 7
¨ 10 6 4 2
§ A J 10 |
|
ª
Q 3
© A J 10
2
¨ A J 9 7
§ K 6 5 |
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Leskela |
Cohen |
Kurko |
Berkowitz |
Pass |
Pass |
2ª |
Dble |
3ª |
All Pass |
|
|
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Weinstein |
Koistinen |
Garner |
Kiema |
Pass |
Pass |
1ª |
Dble |
3© |
Dble |
4ª |
All Pass |
Finally Finland got on the scoreboard.
Jarmo Kurko opened with an intermediate 2ª
bid, promising five or more spades plus at least four cards
in any other suit, and Paavo Leskela made a pre-emptive raise
over David Berkowitz's take-out double. Kurko did not waste
much time over the play and soon chalked up +170.
Garner had a normal one-level opening
and Weinstein showed a four-card raise with a decent 6-10 points.
Koistinen's double of the heart bid probably helped Garner to
his decision to try the game. Kiema led ace and another heart
and Garner ruffed and laid down the ace of trumps. After the
take-out double, garner wanted to play North for ªQxx, but he
could see that he was in danger of being forced to ruff three
rounds of hearts, which would make that impossible. Accordingly,
his next play was the jack of clubs from hand. Kiema won his
king and led a third heart. Garner ruffed and cashed the clubs,
throwing dummy's remaining heart loser. Now he was ready to
play a diamond up. Kiema won the ace and exited with a diamond,
and now Garner took the spade finesse. Well played, but alas
the patient died and he was one down; - 100 and 7 IMPs to Finland.
Board 5. Dealer North. N/S
Vul. |
|
ª
9 7 5 2
© K 4 3
¨ 10 9 7
2
§ 7 4 |
ª
8 6 4 3
© A J 10 2
¨ A
§ A K 10 3 |
![Bridge deal](../../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª
A Q 10
© 9 7 6
¨ J 8
§ Q J 8 6
5 |
|
ª
K J
© Q 8 5
¨ K Q 6 5
4 3
§ 9 2 |
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Leskela |
Cohen |
Kurko |
Berkowitz |
|
Pass |
Pass |
2¨ |
Dble |
3¨ |
Pass |
Pass |
Dble |
Pass |
4§ |
All Pass |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Weinstein |
Koistinen |
Garner |
Kiema |
|
Pass |
Pass |
1¨ |
Dble |
Pass |
3§ |
Pass |
3¨ |
Pass |
3ª |
Pass |
4¨ |
Pass |
5§ |
All Pass |
Berkowitz's weak two opening made life
a little more difficult for his opponents than the one-level
opening in the other room. Still, it seems strange that Weinstein
was making a slam try, while Kurko's pessimistic evaluation
of the East hand in the Closed Room resulted in his side missing
game. After South's weak opening bid, Kurko took two spade finesses
so held himself to ten tricks; +130. Garner had no difficulty
in coming to 11 tricks, expecting as he did that south would
hold the bulk of the missing high-card values for his 1¨
opening. He won the diamond lead and drew two rounds of trumps
then led a low heart to the ten and king. Back came a spade,
on which garner played the ten. Kiema could win the ªJ
and give dummy a diamond ruff, but Garner simply cashed the
ace of spades, expecting to develop a show-up squeeze if the
king did not fall and South held four hearts as well as the
ªK. When the
ªK did fall,
Garner took the heart finesse immediately for his contract;
+400 and 7 IMPs to USA.
Board 6. Dealer East. E/W
Vul. |
|
ª
K 9 8 7 6
© 10
¨ 8 5
§ Q J 10
7 5 |
ª
5 4
© A K Q 8
6 5
¨ Q 10 2
§ 9 2 |
![Bridge deal](../../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª
Q 2
© J 7 3 2
¨ A K 9 6 4
3
§ A |
|
ª
A J 10 3
© 9 4
¨ J 7
§ K 8 6
4 3 |
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Leskela |
Cohen |
Kurko |
Berkowitz |
|
|
1¨ |
Pass |
1© |
1ª |
3© |
4ª |
4NT |
Pass |
5© |
Pass |
6© |
All Pass |
|
|
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Weinstein |
Koistinen |
Garner |
Kiema |
|
|
1¨ |
Pass |
1© |
1NT |
3© |
4ª |
5§ |
5ª |
Dble |
All Pass |
I have to confess to feeling a little
sorry for Leskela in the Closed Room. He took a route to slam
that suggested that he was prepared for a spade opening lead
and Larry Cohen led a spade anyway to take the first two tricks
and defeat the slam, when many would have tried a club lead
instead. Well done, Cohen; -100.
In the Open Room, Weinstein's 5§ bid was
a non-specific general slam try, a bit like Last Train. Garner
doubled the 5ª save and the defence proceeded to take the maximum.
Weinstein led the king of hearts and promptly switched to the
two of diamonds. Garner won the king and cashed the ace of clubs
then underled in diamonds to get his ruff, trusting that the
¨2 must promise the queen; three down for -500 and 12 IMPs to
USA.
Board 8. Dealer West. None
Vul. |
|
ª
J 10 8 5
© A K 9
5
¨ 10 5 2
§ A J |
ª
Q 3 2
© 8 3
¨ Q 9 8 3
§ Q 9 6 3 |
![Bridge deal](../../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª
A 9 7 6
© J 10 6
¨ A J 4
§ 10 5 2 |
|
ª
K 4
© Q 7 4
2
¨ K 7 6
§ K 8 7
4 |
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Leskela |
Cohen |
Kurko |
Berkowitz |
Pass |
1¨ |
Pass |
1© |
Pass |
2© |
Pass |
2ª |
Pass |
3§ |
Pass |
4© |
All Pass |
|
|
|
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Weinstein |
Koistinen |
Garner |
Kiema |
Pass |
1© |
Pass |
2NT |
Pass |
3§ |
Pass |
3© |
Pass |
4© |
All Pass |
|
In
the Closed Room, Berkowitz managed 11 tricks after a diamond
lead and continuation - he took the club finesse to get rid
of a diamond; +450.
Garner led a low trump in the Open Room
and Koistinen won cheaply in hand and immediately led a low
spade to the king and a spade back for the jack and ace. It
seemed to be a dull board from here, with declarer bound to
succeed, and the vugraph audience and commentators' attention
wandered a little. However, Koistinen found a losing line of
play. He won the trump return in hand and ruffed a spade, bringing
down the queen, then played a club to the ace and cashed the
ten of spades to pitch a diamond from dummy - the heart plays
had made it clear that the remaining trump was with East, along
with the last spade. Now Koistinen seems to have convinced himself
that the ace of diamonds was offside. He led a low diamond and,
when Garner played low, ducked it to West. Had West really held
the ¨A, he would have returned a club to the king and declarer
would have led the ¨K to the ace, ruffed the club return and
ruffed his diamond loser to make his contract. In real life,
he looked extremely foolish because Weinsten could win the first
diamond and lead back to Garner's ace. Garner then played the
last trump and there was no longer a trump in dummy to take
care of the diamond loser; down one for -50 and 11 IMPs to USA,
ahead now by 68-8.
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Leskela |
Cohen |
Kurko |
Berkowitz |
|
2© |
Dble |
3§ |
Pass |
3¨ |
3ª |
All Pass |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Weinstein |
Koistinen |
Garner |
Kiema |
|
3© |
Dble |
4© |
Pass |
Pass |
4ª |
All Pass |
A cow must have flown by in the Closed
Room because for some reason 3ª went one down; -100. The 3©
opening, of which I quite approve, forced Garner to bid game
in the open Room. Obviously, there are four losers in a spade
contract, but that requires accurate defence. Kiema led a heart
and Koistinene won two hearts then, perhaps seduced by the fact
that his partner played his lower remaining heart at trick two,
switched to a club. When garner put in the queen, Kiema took
his ace and now Garner could get to the long clubs and did not
have to lose a diamond trick; +620 and another 12 IMPs to USA.
Board 10. Dealer East. All
Vul. |
|
ª
A Q 2
© J 6 4
¨ A Q 8 6
§ 9 6 5 |
ª
5 3
© A
¨ K 10 9 4
2
§ A Q 10 8
3 |
![Bridge deal](../../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª
10 9 7 4
© 10 7 5 3
2
¨ J 3
§ 7 4 |
|
ª
K J 8 6
© K Q 9
8
¨ 7 5
§ K J 2 |
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Leskela |
Cohen |
Kurko |
Berkowitz |
|
|
Pass |
1¨ |
Dble |
Rdbl |
Pass |
Pass |
2§ |
Pass |
Pass |
Dble |
Pass |
Pass |
2© |
Dble |
All Pass |
|
|
|
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Weinstein |
Koistinen |
Garner |
Kiema |
|
|
Pass |
1© |
2NT |
Dble |
Pass |
Pass |
3§ |
All Pass |
|
|
I am not sure that the world is yet ready
for methods that require a double of a Precision-style 1¨ opening
on the West hand. One Diamond redoubled might just have scraped
one down, but even had it been let through, that would have
been much cheaper than the final contract which East/West scrambled
into. Two Hearts doubled went four down for -1100 in the Closed
Room.
Meanwhile, Kiema's methods allowed a 1©
opening on the South cards. Weinstein overcalled an unusual
2NT and Koistinen doubled. Looking at his hand, it seems that
Koistinen thought that his double had established a force on
his side, as he could hardly pass 3§ otherwise. Kiema saw things
differently and passed out 3§. Koistinen led a trump to the
king and ace. At trick two, Weinstein led a low diamond from
hand and Koistinen ducked it, allowing the jack to win. Weinstein
took a trump finesse and, when the trumps divided evenly, could
establish and cash the diamonds for +110 and 15 IMPs to USA.
USA made partscores in both rooms on the
next deal and were blowing the Finns completely away at 101-8.
Finland were looking at zero Victory Points but salvaged a point
over the remaining few deals.
Board 16. Dealer West. E/W
Vul. |
|
ª
A K Q 8 4
© K Q 10
4
¨ 10
§ K 10 3 |
ª
10 5 3 2
© J 8 6
¨ Q 8 6 5 2
§ 4 |
![Bridge deal](../../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª
9 7 6
© 7 5 2
¨ A 9 3
§ Q 9 7 5 |
|
ª
J
© A 9 3
¨ K J 7 4
§ A J 8
6 2 |
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Leskela |
Cohen |
Kurko |
Berkowitz |
Pass |
1§ |
Pass |
2§ |
Pass |
2ª |
Pass |
2NT |
Pass |
3§ |
Pass |
4¨ |
Pass |
4NT |
All Pass |
|
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Weinstein |
Koistinen |
Garner |
Kiema |
Pass |
1§ |
Pass |
1© |
Pass |
1ª |
Pass |
2§ |
Pass |
2ª |
Pass |
3¨ |
Pass |
3NT |
Pass |
4NT |
Pass |
6§ |
All Pass |
|
Berkowitz/Cohen stopped in 4NT after Berkowitz
had used 4¨ Roman Key Card Kickback and found that one key card
plus the trump queen were missing. After a diamond to the ace
and a diamond back, Berkowitz made an overtrick; +460.
The Finns bid the slam after Kiema made
an invitational raise to 4NT. Garner led ace and another diamond
and Koistinen won the king and followed the percentage line
in trumps, leading low to the king then running the ten; -920
and 10 IMPs to Finland.
Board 18. Dealer East. N/S
Vul. |
|
ª
Q 7 4
© K J 8
7 5
¨ 8 6
§ J 8 7 |
ª
J 2
© Q 10 9 3
2
¨ A 9 7
§ A 10 9 |
![Bridge deal](../../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª
A K 9 8 6
© 6
¨ Q 5 3 2
§ K Q 4 |
|
ª
10 5 3
© A 4
¨ K J 10
4
§ 6 5 3
2 |
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Leskela |
Cohen |
Kurko |
Berkowitz |
|
|
1ª |
Pass |
2© |
Pass |
2NT |
Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
|
|
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Weinstein |
Koistinen |
Garner |
Kiema |
|
|
1ª |
Pass |
1NT |
Pass |
2¨ |
Pass |
2NT |
Pass |
3§ |
Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
|
|
Three No Trump was easy in the closed
Room because Berkowitz led the jack of diamonds round to declarer's
queen. Kurko played on spades and soon had nine tricks; +400.
It was much tougher for Weinstein who,
not strong enough for game-forcing two-over-one response, was
playing the same contract from the West side. Koistinen led
a low heart to the ace and back came a second heart to the ten
and jack, dummy throwing a spade. Cashing the king of hearts
would have established two heart tricks for declarer and brought
his total up to eight. Best would have been a diamond switch,
but Koistinen actually switched to the queen of spades, imagining
that declarer was not interested in the suit for his discard.
Weinstein won the ace of spades and led a spade to his jack
then, after some thought, played the queen of hearts to North's
king. Koistinen switched to a diamond now - eight, three, ten.
The commentators were concerned that Weinstein might expect
spades to be 4-2 and might try for a diamond endplay to force
South to lead into dummy's spade tenace at trick 12. This line,
of course, would lead to defeat. Weinstein saw deeper into the
hand than that, however, and ducked the diamond, dropping the
nine to tempt South to lead another diamond away from his king.
Kiema did not fall for that one, but exited passively with a
club. Weinstein cashed the clubs and ©9 then tested spades.
Had South actually held four spades plus the ¨KJ10, he would
have been squeezed, so there was no reason to risk the endplay
line.
A flat board, but nicely played by Weinstein.
Perhaps it would have been tougher had Kiema played the ¨J rather
than the ten, but Weinstein looked like a man who was going
to get it right whatever happened.
Finland picked up 20 IMPs over the last
six boards, holding their loss to 28-101, 1-25 VPs. USA were
looking very good for the knock-outs, while Finland looked in
need of a miracle.
|