On the Offensive

Norway v Italy

With only 32 deals left, Norway needed swings a plenty to get back into their match with Italy. The boards co-operated and they mounted a mighty charge that gave their supporters plenty to cheer about.

Both North/South pairs did very well to reach a slam on the first board, but both wished they hadn’t as the trumps broke 4-0 and the contract had to go down.

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

West	North	East	South
Versace	Saelensminde	Lauria	Brogeland
		1ª	Pass
1NT*	Pass	2§*	Pass
2NT	Pass	3NT	All Pas

The Italians reached the top spot and nine tricks rolled home, +400.

West	North	East	South
Helgemo	Fantoni	Helness	Nunes
		4¨*	Pass
4ª	All Pass

The defence started with two rounds of hearts and South switched to a diamond, ending all speculation. One down and 10 IMPs for Italy, stretching their lead to 62 IMPs. Was the match over?

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

West	North	East	South
Versace	Saelensminde	Lauria	Brogeland
			2¨*
Dble	4ª	5¨	All Pass

Norway had a weapon of mass destruction for the South hand and it caused East/West to go astray. Five Diamonds was hopeless, two down, -200.

West	North	East	South
Helgemo	Fantoni	Helness	Nunes
			Pass
1§	1ª	Dble*	3ª*
3NT	All Pass

When North led the two of diamonds declarer may have had an anxious moment waiting for the dummy, but there was no danger. He put up the queen of diamonds, but nine tricks were safe, 13 IMPs for Norway, but still 49 IMPs behind.

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

West	North	East	South
Versace	Saelensminde	Lauria	Brogeland
		Pass	1NT
2¨*	Pass	2ª	Pass
2NT	Pass	4©	Pass
4NT*	Pass	5©*	Pass
5ª*	Pass	7©	All Pass

Well bid, but were North/South not likely to repeat the performance at the other table?

West	North	East	South
Helgemo	Fantoni	Helness	Nunes
		Pass	1§*
Pass	2©*	Pass	2NT*
Pass	3ª	Pass	4§*
Pass	5§*	Pass	6©
All Pass

Close, but no cigar. 11IMPs to reduce the margin to 37.

On Board 7 the East/West pairs bid to a routine Four Hearts. The trump suit was:

© A Q 5

© K 10 8 6 2

When South led a trump Paul Chemla recounted how he had gone down in a slam with a similar holding when, needing a ruff in the short hand, he had played low from dummy, finding North with a singleton jack and therefore promoting a trick for South’s ©9743. Still, that was 26 years ago.

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

West	North	East	South
Versace	Saelensminde	Lauria	Brogeland
Pass	1NT	2§*	Dble
Redble	3NT	Pass	Pass
Dble	All Pass

Nine top tricks, and +550.

West	North	East	South
Helgemo	Fantoni	Helness	Nunes
1¨	2§	Dble	2NT
Pass	3NT	4§*	Pass
4¨	Dble	Pass	Pass
Redble	Pass	4©	Pass
Pass	Dble	All Pass

Helness did well to go on, ensuring Norway would gain more points.

South led the king of clubs and declarer ruffed, crossed to dummy with a diamond and played a trump, perhaps hoping to slip past a doubleton ace in North. When the king won he played the queen of spades. South gave that a look and ducked, so North won with the ace and played a club, forcing declarer to ruff. He now played the two of spades and South won and made the terrible mistake of playing a trump. Declarer could win, cross to dummy with a diamond to draw the last trump and take the winning spades. +590 and a massive 15 IMPs to Norway, now only 22 down.

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

West	North	East	South
Versace	Saelensminde	Lauria	Brogeland
	Pass	Pass	1¨
Pass	1NT	Pass	2ª
Pass	3¨	Pass	3NT
All Pass

Norway looked to have every chance of another huge gain here, as a low club lead from East would give declarer ten tricks. However, East led the two of hearts and West won and switched to a club, a very fast four down, -200.

West	North	East	South
Helgemo	Fantoni	Helness	Nunes
	Pass	Pass	1¨
Pass	3¨	Pass	3ª
Pass	4¨	All Pass

A very good stop by the Italian pair to pick up 8 badly needed IMPs.

The Italians may have dodged a bullet on this deal, but the Norwegians were not out of ammunition.

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

West	North	East	South
Versace	Saelensminde	Lauria	Brogeland
Pass	Pass	Pass	1NT
Pass	2§*	Pass	2¨*
Pass	3NT	All Pass

West led a spade, making declarer a present of his ninth trick, for what one might describe as a miraculous +600.

West	North	East	South
Helgemo	Fantoni	Helness	Nunes
Pass	Pass	Pass	1NT
Pass	2NT*	Pass	3§*
Pass	3¨	Pass	4ª
Pass	5¨	Pass	Pass
Dble	All Pass

A wheel came off here. Helgemo might have doubled Four Spades, but he was probably expecting Helness to lead that suit anyway. No, he led the queen of clubs, but declarer was still no play and the 13 IMPs they picked up here saw Norway close to just 18 IMPs. There were some very nervous Italians in the audience, and they didn’t have to wait long for another shockwave.

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

West	North	East	South
Versace	Saelensminde	Lauria	Brogeland
	1§	1¨	1©
1ª	3§	Pass	4¨
Pass	4ª	Pass	5§
All Pass

That looked good, +600.

West	North	East	South
Helgemo	Fantoni	Helness	Nunes
	1§*	2¨	2©
4ª	5§	5ª	6§
Dble	All Pass

The bold bidding of the Norwegians saw the Italians go overboard. Fantoni-Nunes were probably hoping this set would come to an end without any further disasters – this one had cost yet another 13 IMPs.

Only 5 IMPs now remained of that massive Italian lead, but after a couple of overtrick IMPs, Italy gained a small amount of comfort to take into the final session.

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

West	North	East	South
Versace	Saelensminde	Lauria	Brogeland
			1§
Pass	Pass	Dble	Pass
Pass	Redble	Pass	1ª
Pass	Pass	2ª	Pass
2NT	Pass	3NT	All Pass

East/West did well to reach a game that could not be defeated, +400.

West	North	East	South
Helgemo	Fantoni	Helness	Nunes
			1NT
Pass	2§*	Pass	2ª
Pass	Pass	Dble	Pass
3§	All Pass

There was speculation that West should have bid 2NT to show some values, but of course it may well have been a conventional bid. Whatever, the game had been missed and Italy had 7 IMPs, and just a little breathing space.

With one session to go, Norway had the momentum, but with Bocchi & Duboin due to come back Italy were still favourites.