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		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		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		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		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		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		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.