Missed chances

Going into round 13 of the Olympiad Open series, Iceland sat fourth in Group D, with a chance to move up if they could put a dent in the Italian bridge machine. Italy was atop the standings, well clear of second place. Iceland had their chances, but failed to stop the Italians, falling, 40-23. The good news for the Scandinavians is that they were able to hold on to fourth place at the end of the round-robin to move into the next stage.

The first swing of the match occurred in an unexpected way.

Board 2. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
	ª 3 © K 5 2 ¨ A 10 8 3 2 § A K 4 3
ª A 7 6 © J 10 7 6 ¨ K Q J 7 5 § J		ª K Q J 10 4 2 © 9 3 ¨ 9 6 § 10 9 5
	ª 9 8 5 © A Q 8 4 ¨ 4 § Q 8 7 6 2

Matthias Thorvaldsson and Thorlakur Jonsson maneuvered Lorenzo Lauria and Alfred Versace into a tenuous 4© contract, and on the line of play Versace took, he could have been defeated, but the defense slipped.

Thorvaldsson led the ¨K, taken by the ace, and Versace immediately played a spade, aiming for a ruff in the short hand. Jonsson went in with the ª10 and continued with the ¨9, threatening to critically weaken Versace's trump holding. Versace ruffed and played a club to the jack and ace, continuing with the §K. Thorvaldsson ruffed and, after long thought, exited with the ©7. Versace was due to fail, but Jonsson inexplicably played the ©3. A surprised Versace won the 8 and then was able to ruff a spade in dummy with the ©K, pull trumps and run the clubs for 10 tricks and plus 620.

Throstur Armannsson and Adalsteinn Jorgensen reached a better contract, but the contract ended up down one.

Guido Ferraro led the ¨Q, won by the ace. Armannsson played a club to the queen and a club to the ace, followed by a diamond ruff, the ©Q, a heart to the king and a heart to the ace, Dano De Falco discarding instead of ruffing. On the ©8 from hand, Armannsson discarded dummy's spade. Ferraro, in with the ©J, played the ªA, on which dummy played a diamond. Armannsson attempted to change the play to a trump, but the director was called and the change was not allowed. A diamond at that point promoted the §10 for the setting trick.

Iceland could have gained 12 IMPs by defeating 4© in one room while making 5§ in the other, but it came out just the opposite and Italy led, 12-0.

Iceland got all but one IMP of it back on the next deal, however, when Lauria went down in a game made at the other table.

Board 3. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
	ª 3 © A K 10 4 2 ¨ A Q J 8 § A 4 3
ª 9 8 5 4 © Q ¨ 10 9 6 4 3 § Q J 10		ª A Q 7 6 © J 8 6 3 ¨ K 5 § 8 6 5
	ª K J 10 2 © 9 7 5 ¨ 7 2 § K 9 7 2

East got off the to best lead for the defense, starting with a low club, but Jorgensen won in hand and played a spade at trick two. De Falco won the ªA and continued clubs, but Jorgensen had his club discard and he was not unduly troubled by the bad split in trumps. He took the losing diamond finesse, ruffed the club return, cashed the ©A and the ¨A, ruffing a diamond in dummy and a spade to hand, followed by the ¨J, to which East had no answer. Plus 420.

Jonsson also got off to a club lead, but Lauria won in dummy and immediately took the diamond finesse. When that lost and a club came back, there was no chance for the contract, and in practice he went down two. That was 11 IMPs to Iceland.

Iceland went ahead on the next deal when they managed to buy the contract in both rooms, making three in 2¨ at one table and two in 2© at the other for a 6-IMP gain. After several small gains on both sides, the Italians went back in front when light action by the Icelanders backfired.

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

Jorgensen and Armannsson bid to 3NT with the North-South cards in the closed room, emerging with 10 tricks and plus 630 after West led a spade. East held off the ace for two rounds, but with diamonds breaking 3-3, the tricks were there.

The 1© overcall does not have a lot to recommend it, with dull shape and an emaciated suit. When Jonsson bid 2§ and Versace doubled for takeout, Lauria was happy to convert. Versace started with the top three diamonds, allowing Lauria to discard a heart. The ©A was next, followed by a heart ruff and a switch to spades. When the smoke cleared, Jonsson was three down for minus 800 and a 5-IMP pickup for Italy, back in the lead, 20-19.

Another aggressive action by Thorvaldsson worked out poorly on this deal.

Board 12. Dealer West. N/S Vul.
	ª 8 6 3 2 © K 8 2 ¨ K 4 § K J 9 3
ª 9 4 © Q 6 4 ¨ Q 10 9 6 2 § Q 5 2		ª K 10 © A J 5 3 ¨ A 8 5 § A 10 7 4
	ª A Q J 7 5 © 10 9 7 ¨ J 7 3 § 8 6

Armannsson led the ªQ to the king, and De Falco played the ¨A and the ¨8, letting it ride to North's king. A spade came back, but, with the heart finesse working, the defenders could collect only four spades and a diamond. Plus 120 to Italy.

Weak two-bids on such collections as the West hand have grown more popular, and they do make life difficult for the opponents. Thorvaldsson's 2¨ bid produced no dividends, however.

Versace led a low spade to Jonsson's 10, and he played the ¨A and 8, just as De Falco had. When Versace played low, however, Jonsson went up with dummy's queen, and the situation was worse than grim. Jonsson lost four spades, two diamonds a heart and a club for down four and minus 200.

Italy put the icing on the cake with this bidding triumph.

Board 18. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
	ª Q 8 3 © 8 6 5 3 ¨ J 7 § K 6 5 3
ª K 10 9 © A K 9 7 ¨ 5 2 § Q 8 7 2		ª A J 7 © 4 ¨ A K Q 9 8 6 § A 9 4
	ª 6 5 4 2 © Q J 10 2 ¨ 10 4 3 § J 10

Thorvaldsson thought for a long time before passing. Versace led the ©Q to dummy's ace, and Jonsson cashed six rounds of clubs, pitching down to a doubleton §Q in dummy. He then played a club to the 10, queen and king. When Jonsson rose with the ace on the club return, the §J fell and 12 tricks were in.

De Falco took the trump lead in his hand and played two more rounds of trumps. He then played the §9 to the 10, queen and king. A club came back and once again, the jack fell under the ace. Plus 920 and 10 IMPs to Italy, still standing at the top of Group D.

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