BRAZIL - CAC

Our featured match from the opening round saw the teams confronted by a number of challenging deals, so, as you would expect there were several swings.

Board 1. Dealer North. None Vul.   ª Q 10 4 © 9 6 3 2 ¨ J § Q J 8 5 2 ª K J 3 © K J 8 4 ¨ Q 8 6 5 3 § 9 ª A 9 6 2 © A ¨ A K 10 9 7 4 § A 6   ª 8 7 5 © Q 10 7 5 ¨ 2 § K 10 7 4 3

The commentators thought it was possible that East/West might reach the Grand Slam that would have failed, but once West had bid Three Diamonds East needs to find his partner with very specific cards to be able to count thirteen tricks.
When the spade finesse proved to be wrong declarer claimed +920.

East's rebid led to a totally different auction, but once again there was no danger of seven being reached. Both East/West pairs had passed their first test with flying colours. Elsewhere at least one declarer made Seven Diamonds because South pitched a heart while declarer was cashing a few diamonds.

Paulo Barros, Brazil

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Yhap	Brum	Tessieres	Machado
		Pass	Pass
1¨	1ª	1NT	Pass
2¨	All Pass

Two Diamonds was a reasonable spot, but declarer could not find a way to escape the loss of two spades, one heart, one diamond and two clubs, so finished one down, -50.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Brum	Diaz	Oliveira	Rondon
		Pass	Pass
1¨	Dble	3¨	Dble
Pass	3©	Pass	4©
All Pass

North's decision to double facing a passed hand would not be everyone's choice and here it led to a hopeless game. At least no one doubled, but it still cost CAC 6 IMPs as the contract failed by two tricks.

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Yhap	Brum	Tessieres	Machado
			1©
2¨	2©	All Pass

Facing a known five card major North was a bit good for a simple Two Hearts. West led the jack of spades and when declarer ducked East could have switch to a diamond. The third sees East being able to ruff with the jack of hearts. However East elected to play back a spade and declarer quickly recorded +170.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Brum	Diaz	Oliveira	Rondon
			1©
2¨	3¨	Pass	4©
All Pass

CAC restored equality by bidding and making the thin game.

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Yhap	Brum	Tessieres	Machado
Pass	1ª	2¨	3§
Pass	4§	Pass	4¨
Pass	4NT	Pass	5¨
Pass	6§	All Pass

Once South admitted to having a diamond control North decided a slam was a live possibility and resorted to Blackwood. It was certainly the right time and it was easy enough to record +1370.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Brum	Diaz	Oliveira	Rondon
Pass	1ª	2¨	3§
Pass	3¨	Pass	3NT
Pass	4§	Pass	4¨
Pass	5§	All Pass

By removing 3NT to Four Clubs North clearly showed interest in a slam and South co-operated by showing the diamond control. However, it was not so easy for him to find another bid when North simply bid Five Clubs. It cost CAC 13 IMPs to give brazil the lead, 19-6.

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Yhap	Brum	Tessieres	Machado
	1©	Pass	2©
Dble	Pass	2ª	Pass
4ª	All Pass

When East bid spades West made an aggressive raise to game, but his partner backed up his decision in the play. Declarer won the opening heart lead, ruffed a heart and played a spade to the jack and queen. North returned a trump, and East took the queen and tried the losing diamond finesse. North exited with a trump and declarer won and played the king of clubs. The fall of the jack on the next round of the suit was a happy sight, +420.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Brum	Diaz	Oliveira	Rondon
	1©	Pass	2©
Dble	Pass	3§	3©
All Pass

This time East/West missed their spade fit. West might have doubled again and East might have bid Three Spades. Oh well, life is full of might have beens. CAC picked up 8 IMPs to reduce their deficit to just 5 IMPs.

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Yhap	Brum	Tessieres	Machado
		1§	Pass
1¨	1ª	Pass	Pass
3NT	All Pass

Once East had opened the bidding game was certain to be reached. North led the five of spades for the queen and king. As the cards lie, declarer's best chance is to play on hearts, as if North fails to discard the two of diamonds on the third round the contract can be made provided declarer avoids the club finesse. Rather double dummy, and when declarer crossed to a top heart to take the club finesse he had no further chance and a slight misplay at the end saw him go two down, -200.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Brum	Diaz	Oliveira	Rondon
		Pass	Pass
1¨	1ª	Dble	Pass
1NT	All Pass

East passed and then did not raise the weak no-trump rebid. It was enough to give Brazil back the 8 IMPs they had lost on the previous board.

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Yhap	Brum	Tessieres	Machado
			1NT
2©	All Pass

You simply cannot afford to pass with the North hand facing a strong no-trump. To make matters worse, West was allowed to make Two hearts for +110.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Brum	Diaz	Oliveira	Rondon
			1NT
Pass	3NT	All Pass

There was no intervention this time, but given North's jump to game it probably would not have mattered. West led a heart and declarer won with North's queen and took a losing diamond finesse. When West, hoping for a blockage in diamonds, switched to the king of spades, declarer could speed up the play. 12 IMPs for Brazil, who led 44-14 at half time.

However, CAC fought back strongly in the second half to escape with a narrow 14-16VP defeat.