36th World Team Championships, Monte Carlo, Monaco Wednwsday, 5 November 2003

Taking a punch

In the opening round of the Bermuda Bowl, USA I faced Australia. After two boards, the Aussies had a lead of 27-0, thanks to two slam swings. There were still 14 boards to play, however, and the Americans proved themselves resilient enough to come back for a 45-37 victory.

These were the first two deals of the match.

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

In the closed room, Richard Freeman and Nick Nickell conducted a short auction to a no-play grand slam. There was once chance – a singleton §K – and the suit did not cooperate. Down one for minus 50.

West North East South
Thomson Nickell Richman Freeman
  Pass Pass 2§
Pass 2NT Pass 3ª
Pass 6ª Pass 7ª
All Pass      

In the open room, Ishmael Del Monte and Rob Fruewirth took their time and a dozen bids to find the right spot. There was nothing to the play, and Fruewirth scored up plus 980 for a 14-IMP gain.

West North East South
Hamman Del Monte Soloway Fruewirth
  Pass Pass 2§
Pass 2¨ (1) Pass 2NT
Pass 3§ (2) Pass 3ª
Pass 4¨ Pass 4©
Pass 4ª Pass 5§
Pass 5© Pass 5ª
Pass 6ª All Pass  

(1) 5-8 HCP balanced, or 9+.
(2) Asking for a five-card major.

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

West North East South
Thomson Nickell Richman Freeman
    1¨ (1) Pass
1ª 4ª All Pass  

(1) Four or more hearts.

 
 
Nick Nickell, USA

On the second board, Nickell and Freeman again made quick work of the auction, arriving at their game contract with one bid. As you can see, Bobby Richman’s decision to open the bidding with the East hand – plus Matthew Thomson’s response of 1ª -- made it very difficult for Nickell and Freeman to reach the excellent slam. As you can see, the only possible loser looking at the North-South cards is in the trump suit. Indeed, that is the only trick Nickell lost.

 

 

West North East South
Hamman Del Monte Soloway Fruewirth
    Pass Pass
Pass 2§ 3¨ Pass
Pass 4ª Pass 5¨
Dble Pass Pass Redbl
Pass 5© Pass 6©
Pass 6ª All Pass  

 
 
Ishmael Del Monte, Australia
In the open room, Paul Soloway did not consider the East hand an opener, clearing the way for another good auction by the Australians. Soloway’s 3¨ bid did not hamper Del Monte and Fruewirth, although the Aussie partisans in the vugraph audience had an anxious moment when Fruewirth bid 6©. That contract in one match was down four tricks. Del Monte was never going to play anything but spades with his hand, however. He won the opening diamond lead with the ace and took a spade finesse, claiming for one loser when Soloway showed out. That was plus 1430 and another 13 IMPs to Australia.

The Americans started their comeback on board 3 when Fruewirth and Del Monte overbid to 3ª, going down three, while their teammates scored plus 110 in 2©.

Australia had a chance for a another big swing on board 4, but Del Monte and Fruewirth missed a chance for a big number against Hamman and Soloway.

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

In the closed room, Thomson opened a weak 1NT and managed only five tricks for minus 200. In the open room, Del Monte let plus 800 slip through their fingers.

West North East South
Hamman Del Monte Soloway Fruewirth
Pass 1¨ Pass 1ª
Dble Redbl 2§ Dble
Pass 2ª All Pass  

Del Monte’s redouble showed three-card spade support. His removal of his partner’s double of 2§ is mysterious. Soloway was headed for minus 800 on any kind of reasonable defense. Instead of gaining 12 IMPs, the Australians lost 2.

Australia lost another 2 IMPs when Fruewirth made an unsuccessful guess at trick one in 3NT, the result being down two compared to down one at the other table.

A vulnerable game swing sent another 12 IMPs to USA I, pulling them to with 10 at 27-17. The next board brought the Americans even closer.

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

In the closed room:

West North East South
Thomson Nickell Richman Freeman
Pass Pass 1ª (1) Pass
1NT Pass Pass Dble
All Pass      

(1) Four or more diamonds.

Nickell led the ©9 and the defenders quickly had the contract two down for plus 300.
Del Monte had a dhance to minimize the damage, but it didn’t work out.

West North East South
Hamman Del Monte Soloway Fruewirth
Pass Pass 1¨ Pass
1ª Pass Pass Dble
Pass 2© 2ª 3©
All Pass      

 
 
Bob Hamman, USA
Soloway started with the top two clubs, continuing to Bob Hamman’s queen. Hamman continued with the ª7, ducked to Soloway’s 10. Soloway played a low diamond, and Del Monte went up with the ace. He played a spade to his ace, ruffed a spade, cashed the ¨K and ruffed a diamond. When Del Monte played his fourth spade, Soloway pitched the ¨Q. Del Monte ruffed and played the ¨J, misguessing by ruffing with the ©K in hand. Hamman had a trump trick coming and declarer was minus 50. That was 8 IMPs to USA I, now trailing 27-25.

The next three boards were relatively flat, although USA I picked up a couple of overtricks IMPs to pull into a 27-27 tie. They took the lead on board 13.

Board 13. Dealer North. All Vul.
  ª J 7 6 3
© A 9 7
¨ Q 8 3
§ A J 9
ª A
© 10 5 3 2
¨ A 10 9 7
§ K 7 6 5
Bridge deal ª 10 9
© K Q J 8
¨ K 6 4
§ Q 10 4 3
  ª K Q 8 5 4 2
© 6 4
¨ J 5 2
§ 8 2

West North East South
Thomson Nickell Richman Freeman
Pass 1NT Pass Pass
Pass      

Richman was lucky to get out for down one in his weak 1NT after Freeman got off to the normal spade lead. At the other table:

West North East South
Hamman Del Monte Soloway Fruewirth
  Pass Pass Pass
1© Dble 2NT 4ª
All Pass      

Soloway’s 2NT was a heart raise.

Fruewirth didn’t deem his hand worthy of a weak two-bid, but he liked it better after partner’s takeout double. He combined the luck of avoiding a penalty double with a nice play to hold the loss to minus 200.

Hamman started with a heart, taken with the ace at trick one. He played a spade to the queen and ace, and Hamman played a heart to Soloway’s jack. A low club was returned to the king and ace. Fruewirth then cashed the ªJ and played dummy’s ©9, discarding his losing club on that trick as Soloway covered, no doubt wishing he had unblocked the suit. Fruewirth’s play forced Soloway to open diamonds or surrender a trick to dummy’s §J. As you can see, if Fruewirth had ruffed the heart, he was due to lose a club and three diamonds. It was strictly a moral victory, however, as USA I gained 7 IMPs to pull ahead at 34-27.

The next-to-last deal sealed the victory for the Americans.

Board 15. Dealer South. N-S Vul.
  ª 10 9 4
© 10 7 4 3
¨ K 9 7 2
§ K 7
ª K Q 7 5
© J 5 2
¨ A Q 5
§ Q J 2
Bridge deal ª A J 8
© A K Q 9 6
¨ J 6
§ 10 9 8
  ª 6 3 2
© 8
¨ 10 8 4 3
§ A 6 5 4 3

Hamman opened the West hand with a strong 1NT and was soon in 3NT, taking 11 tricks for plus 460.

At the other table, Thomson and Richman got way overboard.

West North East South
Thomson Nickell Richman Freeman
      Pass
1§ Pass 2¨ Pass
2© Pass 2NT Pass
3NT Pass 6© All Pass

1§ was artificial and strong (15+). Unfortunately, he had a bare minimum. Barring a calamity for the Americans on opening lead, which wasn’t going to happen, the contract had zero chances. Indeed, it wasn’t long before Thomson was recording minus 50. That was 11 IMPs to the Americans.


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