France v USA1

Senior Bowl Round 15

Going into the final round of the Senior Bowl USA1 led by 7 VPs from France. The random draw had worked out perfectly as the two teams met in the last round of the event. Meanwhile, third-placed USA2 were facing fourth-placed Israel, with both teams having a mathematical if improbable possibility to snatch the title if the top match ended in just the right result.

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

West	North	East	South
Mari	Baze	Leenhardt	Kasle
		Pass	1¨
Pass	1©	Pass	1NT
Pass	3NT	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Woolsey	Adad	Robinson	Aujaleu
		1§	Pass
1ª	Dble	Pass	2NT
Pass	3NT	All Pass

Kit Woolsey, USA1

What are the chances of making 3NT? Where Steve Robinson had opened 1§ as dealer, Kit Woolsey judged that he rated to actually have clubs as the opening appeared to have been made on minimal high-card values. Woolsey led king and another club and Robinson won and played two more rounds to establish the fifth card. Maurice Aujaleu won the fourth club and played the ©8 to the ace then cashed the jack. He was not paying sufficient attention to the spot cards, because his next play was the ©2 to Robinson’s five when the jack-six were actually equals to knock out the queen. That just meant two down instead of one; -200.

With no opening bid from partner, it was normal for Christian Mari to lead a spade at the other table. That went to the jack and ace and Gaylor Kasle led the ©8 to the jack and queen. Back came a spade to the king and now Kasle finessed the jack of diamonds – he would always need a third diamond trick even if hearts divided evenly, and this was the best time to play the suit to allow for making four tricks in it. This time, however, it would have been better to cash out first because when the finesse lost Francois Leenhardt could switch to a low club and the defence had three clubs and three spades to go with the two red queens; down four for –400 and 5 IMPs to France.

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

West	North	East	South
Mari	Baze	Leenhardt	Kasle
			1NT
Pass	Pass	3§	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Woolsey	Adad	Robinson	Aujaleu
			1©
Pass	1ª	2§	Dble
2¨	2©	Pass	2NT
Pass	3NT	All Pass

Aujaleu opened 1© – it is not normal French style to open 1NT with a five-card major – then made a support double at his next turn before showing the extra values by bidding 2NT, raised to game. The diamond lead went to the queen and ace and Aujaleu crossed to a spade to play the ©10 to king and ace. He cashed out the spades then took another heart finesse and led a diamond towards the jack; eleven tricks for +460.

Kasle opened 1Nt and Grant Baze passed, leaving it to Leenhardt to overcall 3§. Baze went quietly, leaving Leenhardt to play 3§. The defence took everything that was their due. Kasle started with the ace of diamonds and switched to ace then a low spade. Baze won and switched to the ten of hearts for the jack and queen and Kasle played another spade. Leenhardt ruffed and played ace then queen of clubs but Kasle exited safely with his last trump and there were still two hearts to come; down four for –400 but 2 IMPs to France. It seemed a little hard on Kasle that he lost IMPs after getting the defence just right.

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

West	North	East	South
Mari	Baze	Leenhardt	Kasle
Woolsey	Adad	Robinson	Aujaleu
	1¨	1ª	Pass
2NT	Pass	3NT	All Pass

The auctions were identical but the opening leads were not. Pierre Adad made the lead of the king of diamonds and the contract could no longer be defeated; nine tricks for +400.

Baze found the excellent lead of a low diamond to Mari’s ten. Now the defensive communications were still open and the contract could have been defeated. Mari played the ª8 at trick two and Kasle ducked the king. Then Mari played a low spade and Kasle ducked again. When the ªJ scored Mari could run for home; +400 and a push board. A little tough on Baze this time after his fine lead.

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

West	North	East	South
Mari	Baze	Leenhardt	Kasle
		Pass	1¨
Pass	1ª	Pass	4§
Pass	4ª	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Woolsey	Adad	Robinson	Aujaleu
		Pass	1¨
Pass	1ª	Pass	3NT
Pass	4§	Pass	4¨
Pass	4©	Pass	4NT
Pass	5¨	Pass	6ª
All Pass

The French methods showed to good effect on this deal. It looks normal for Baze to sign off facing the club splinter – after all, he has both weak trumps and a wasted §K. When the key suits behaved nicely there were twelve tricks for +480.

Aujaleu could rebid 3NT as a strong 4ª bid and now it was convenient for Adad to start cuebidding. After Adad had cuebid twice Aujaleu took control and checked for key cards then bid the slam; +980 and 11 IMPs to France, who led by 19-1 IMPs.

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

West	North	East	South
Mari	Baze	Leenhardt	Kasle
3¨	Dble	3ª	4©
4ª	Pass	Pass	Dble
All Pass

West	North	East	South
Woolsey	Adad	Robinson	Aujaleu
3¨	Dble	Pass	4©
All Pass

Aujaleu made the borderline but normal jump to 4© but was quickly down. Woolsey led a spade and Robinson took three tricks there then switched to a diamond for queen and ace. Declarer cashed the top hearts but had to lose a diamond as the clubs were blocked even if he played them successfully; down two for –100.

You can make up your own minds about the advisability of Leenhardt’s 3ª response to the opening pre-empt. It looks unsound but perhaps it did not deserve to be quite so expensive as actually proved to be the case when Mari saved in 4ª over 4©. Kasle led the ©J to the king and Baze switched to a trump. Leenhardt won the ªA and cashed the king then judged to play for the suit to break four-two so switched his attention to diamonds. Baze allowed the ¨K to score but had to win the diamond continuation. Now Baze returned his last spade and Leenhardt thought a long time before finally putting in the nine and losing to the jack. Probably he was hoping to find that spades were four-two as then there was the possibility that 4© was making and getting out for three down would be the only way to avoid disaster on the board. Kasle switched to ace then jack of clubs and Leenhardt covered. The defence could cash a third club but then had to lead a heart so declarer made his queen; down four for –800 and 14 IMPs to USA1, back to 15-20.

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

West	North	East	South
Mari	Baze	Leenhardt	Kasle
	Pass	Pass	Pass
1NT	Pass	2§	Pass
2ª	Pass	3NT	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Woolsey	Adad	Robinson	Aujaleu
	Pass	Pass	Pass
1ª	Pass	2§	Pass
4ª	All Pass

Woolsey took the simple approach when Robinson’s Drury response promised a decent spade raise. The lead against 4ª was the ¨J to the ace and Woolsey led ace and another spade to minimise the risk of conceding a heart ruff. That was his idea, but this was exactly the wrong layout for that line of play and Aujaleu’s switch to ace and another heart led to a swift one down; -100.

Mari opened 1NT despite holding five spades – most un-French – and soon found himself in 3NT. The lead was a low diamond to the queen and ace and Mari too led out ace and another spade. Of course, there was no ruff to worry about here and Mari had ten tricks for +630; 12 IMPs to France. The lead was back up to 32-15.

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

West	North	East	South
Mari	Baze	Leenhardt	Kasle
		1ª	3§
Pass	3NT	Pass	Pass
Dble	4§	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Woolsey	Adad	Robinson	Aujaleu
		1ª	2§
2ª	Dble	Pass	3§
Pass	3NT	All Pass

It is hard to quarrel with Adad’s driving to game when facing a vulnerable two-level overcall, but a heart lead to the queen and king meant that 3NT had to fail. Adad tried a diamond but Robinson won and switched to a spade to get a heart through; down two for –200.

It is less clear that North must commit to game facing a weak jump overcall, but he does have plenty of high cards and the contract rates to have good chances whenever partner has a decent seven-card suit. However, when Mari doubled 3NT, Baze thought better of it and ran to 4§. There was nothing to the play of 4§ after a heart lead to the jack and ace; +130 and 8 IMPs to USA1.

France led by 32-23 IMPs at half-time, needing to increase that advantage to at least 20 IMPs to move ahead of their opponents in the standings. The second half saw some good tight bridge but virtually no swings. Indeed, there were ten flat boards out of twelve and just two 3-IMP swings to USA1. France won the match 16-14 but had to settle for the silver medal as USA1 took the title. Meanwhile, USA2 defeated Israel to take the bronze medal, just 0.5 VP behind France.