Pouring it on

After one round in the semifinal of the Olympiad Open series, USA led Poland 41-27. The George Jacobs team, hoping to claim a second straight world title for USA, saw their lead dissolve early in the second set - and things got worse from there as Poland won 54-7 to take an 81-48 lead going into Wednesday's play.

USA lost 11 IMPs on the first deal, but it could have been a gain of 11 if one black king had been better placed for declarer.

Board 17. Dealer North. None Vul.
	ª K 7 5 © A 7 6 5 3 ¨ 9 8 4 § 5 3
ª A Q J 6 © 9 2 ¨ K Q 5 § Q 9 6 2		ª 9 4 3 © -- ¨ A 10 7 6 2 § A J 8 7 4
	ª 10 8 2 © K Q J 10 8 4 ¨ J 3 § K 10

How annoying it is to give the errant opponents another shot at their missed game. Krzysztof Jassem must have been concerned that he and Piotr Tuszynski had missed slam - and was mightily relieved to see that both black kings were wrong for slam. Plus 400 for Poland.

David Berkowitz problably knew from the bidding and the opening lead of a the §3 that the slam was in trouble. Indeed, he could not avoid two black losers and finished minus 50. The USA lead was down to 3 IMPs.

Poland went ahead when Michal Kwiecen brought home a vulnerable 3NT that went down one in the other room.

This following deal involved only a 3-IMP swing, but it shows how well the Polish team has been playing.

Board 23. Dealer South. Both Vul.
	ª A 7 6 5 3 2 © K 3 ¨ K 7 § 9 6 4
ª Q 8 4 © 7 5 ¨ A 10 9 8 4 § A K J		ª J © 10 9 8 6 4 ¨ J 5 2 § Q 10 5 2
	ª K 10 9 © A Q J 2 ¨ Q 6 3 § 8 7 3

Cohen started with the ¨J, and Jacek Pszczola played low. As you can see, Berkowitz can defeat the contract by going up with the ace and cashing three clubs, but he put in the eight, and Pszczola had a chance for the vulnerable game.

He won the king and played a spade to the jack and king and a spade to the ace. This has two ways to win: the spades might be 2-2, in which case he could claim - or the hand with the master spade would have to follow to three rounds of hearts, allowing declarer to shed two of his minor-suit losers.

The cards were not favorably placed, but there were some anxious moments after Berkowitz ruffed the ©Q and Pszczola discarded a club. It was imperative for Berkowitz and Larry Cohen to communicate on the layout of the clubs so that Berkowitz didn't try to cash three of them. Cohen had played his hearts up the line, so Berkowitz was sure that Cohen had something in clubs, so he started with the §J, followed by the king. Cohen echoed to show four, so Berkowitz, after tantalizing the vugraph audience for several minutes, finally played the ¨A for down one and plus 100.

That was still a loss, however, because Jassem and Tuszynski defended with deadly precision.

Tuszynski led the ¨5 and, after the double of 2¨ revealed some length in the suit in the East hand, Jassem had no problem going up with the ace to switch to clubs. Jassem played the §K, §A and the §J, overtaken by Tuszynski to play the 13th card in the suit. This doomed Steve Garner to down two.

No matter what he did, Garner had to lose another trick. If he refused to ruff in dummy, West's §8 would force the ªA, creating a trump trick for the defense. In practice, Garner ruffed with the ª10 and Jassem discarded. This also served to create a trump trick for the defense and a well-earned plus 200.

It's a cliché that it's a bidder's game, and the Poles lent further credence to the notion on this deal.

Board 30. Dealer East. None Vul.
	ª 9 5 3 © K Q 8 5 ¨ 9 5 4 § 10 9 2
ª J 7 6 © A 3 ¨ A J 8 2 § A K Q 5		ª 10 8 4 © 6 2 ¨ Q 10 7 3 § J 7 6 3
	ª A K Q 2 © J 10 9 7 4 ¨ K 6 § 8 4

Cohen's 2NT no doubt was intended to show the minors. Who can blame him for taking a dim view of his hand. True, Berkowitz had doubled twice, but he didn't have to have as much as he did. With mirror distribution in the minors, Berkowitz had to lose four tricks, but he scored plus 110.

It is interesting to note that Pszczola's decision to take it easy with the North hand (as opposed to preempting with a bid of 3©) left Berkowitz and Cohen room for signing off, which Cohen did. In the other room, the Poles were more or less pushed into the game.

Tuszynski might also have meant his bid to indicate the minors, but Jassem, with his good hand and flat shape, decided to take his chances at 3NT, which had the virtue of being cold on the lie of the cards. Katz cashed the first four spade tricks and exited with a heart, but Tuszynski rose with the ace, cashed clubs, ending in hand, and played the ¨Q. When this was covered by the queen, East was able to claim for plus 400 and another swing to Poland, looking like making a serious run at a world championship.

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