France v USA2
Senior Bowl Round 10
Two of the top teams in the Senior Bowl met in Round 10 and, with
the event reaching two-thirds of the way through, this match could
have a major effect on the destination of the title.
| Board 2. Dealer East. N/S
Vul. |
| |
ª 10 9
© K J 7 5 4 3 2
¨ K 5
§ Q 8 |
ª A 8 2
© 10 8
¨ 9 6 4
§ 10 7 6 5 2 |
 |
ª Q 6 5 3
© A
¨ A J 10 8 3 2
§ K J |
| |
ª K J 7 4
© Q 9 6
¨ Q 7
§ A 9 4 3 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Sutherlin |
Poizat |
Mohan |
Lasserre |
| |
|
1¨ |
Pass |
| 1ª |
Pass |
3ª |
All Pass |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Mari |
Fisher |
Leenhardt |
Jabbour |
| |
|
1¨ |
Pass |
| Pass |
1© |
1ª |
2© |
| 2ª |
3© |
Pass |
3NT |
| Pass |
4© |
All Pass |
|
| |
 |
| |
Guy Lasserre,
France |
Facing what would usually be either long diamonds 11-13 balanced,
John Sutherlin tried a tactical response of 1ª
on his ace to three, thinking perhaps to steal a contract that belonged
to his opponents or even talk them out of game. John Mohan raised
to 3ª and, of course,
Sutherlin declined the invitation. The opening lead was a heart
to dummy’s ace and Sutherlin played ace then jack of diamonds
to Philippe Poizat’s king. Poizat switched to the eight of
clubs and Sutherlin got that wrong, rising with the king. Guy Lasserre
won the §A and returned
a club to the queen and now Poizat led the ©K,
forcing dummy to ruff. Sutherlin was in trouble now and played a
hopeful ace then low spade to the queen. Lasserre won that and cashed
the jack of spades then led a low club. Sutherlin got that wrong
too, putting up the ten, and that was his last trick; down four
for –200.
At the other table Christian Mari did not respond but raised in
competition when Francois Leenhardt rebid 1ª. The Americans reached
4© but that was hopeless on a spade lead to the ace and a club switch
through the queen. Declarer could take the spade finesse to create
a discard for his club loser – except that he had no quick
entry to hand to take the finesse; down one for –100 and 7
IMPs to France.
| Board 5. Dealer North. N/S
Vul. |
| |
ª 10 9 4
© A K Q J
¨ -
§ A 10 9 8 5 3 |
ª A 7 6 5 3
© 10 2
¨ 7 5
§ K Q J 4 |
|
ª Q J 8
© 9 6 4
¨ A Q J 9 3 2
§ 2 |
| |
ª K 2
© 8 7 5 3
¨ K 10 8 6 4
§ 7 6 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Sutherlin |
Poizat |
Mohan |
Lasserre |
| |
1§ |
1¨ |
1© |
| Dble |
4¨ |
Dble |
Pass |
| Pass |
Rdbl |
Pass |
4© |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Mari |
Fisher |
Leenhardt |
Jabbour |
| |
1§ |
1¨ |
1© |
| 1ª |
3© |
3ª |
All Pass |
Poizat’s splinter raise was not exactly music to Lasserre’s
ears as half his values were immediately shown to be useless. Sutherlin
led the ©10 against 4© and Lasserre ducked a club to the jack. Back
came a diamond and Lasserre pitched a spade, Mohan winning the ace
and switching to the queen of spades for the king and ace. Sutherlin
led the §4 to the ace, ruffed, and Mohan cashed the ªJ before playing
a trump – maybe another spade would have been better. Declarer
could establish the clubs now but was down two for –200.
The French bought the contract at the other table also, in 3ª.
After three rounds of hearts, it appears that this contract should
fail by a trick but one got away somewhere and it just made for
+140 but 2 IMPs to USA2.
| Board 6. Dealer East. E/W
Vul. |
| |
ª 10 9 7 3 2
© Q 9 6 5
¨ A Q 3
§ 4 |
ª A 5
© J 8 3
¨ 10 7 6 4 2
§ 8 6 3 |
|
ª J 6 4
© A 4
¨ K 9
§ A K J 9 5 2 |
| |
ª K Q 8
© K 10 7 2
¨ J 8 5
§ Q 10 7 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Sutherlin |
Poizat |
Mohan |
Lasserre |
| |
|
1NT |
Pass |
| Pass |
Dble |
Rdbl |
2NT |
| Pass |
3ª |
All Pass |
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Mari |
Fisher |
Leenhardt |
Jabbour |
| |
|
1§ |
Pass |
| 1¨ |
Pass |
3§ |
All Pass |
Leenhardt treated the East hand as a good one-suiter and played
3§, where there was just one loser in each suit; an easy +110. Mohan
preferred to open a strong no trump and Poizat doubled, his 3ª rebid
showing the majors with longer spades. The cards lie quite well
for North/South and things did not get any worse when Mohan cashed
a top club then switched to the king of diamonds. Poizat picked
up the trumps for one loser then successfully picked the hearts
so made an overtrick; +170 and 7 IMPs to France.
| Board 7. Dealer South. All
Vul. |
| |
ª A K J 3
© A J 7
¨ 7 5
§ Q J 10 5 |
ª 4
© 10 9 8 4 2
¨ J 9 8 6 2
§ 4 3 |
|
ª 9 8 7 6 2
© K Q
¨ A
§ A K 8 6 2 |
| |
ª Q 10 5
© 6 5 3
¨ K Q 10 4 3
§ 9 7 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Sutherlin |
Poizat |
Mohan |
Lasserre |
| |
|
|
Pass |
| Pass |
1NT |
2ª |
Dble |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Mari |
Fisher |
Leenhardt |
Jabbour |
| |
|
|
Pass |
| Pass |
1NT |
All Pass |
|
 |
|
Francois
Leenhardt, France
|
|
Both Norths opened 1NT. Leenhardt passed as East and led a spade.
Leenhardt won the king and played a diamond up, the ace winning.
Leenhardt switched to a low club but declarer was in complete control
and came to nine tricks for +150.
Mohan came in with 2ª, showing spades and a minor, and Lasserre
doubled for take-out. Poizat passed and Lasserre led the king of
diamonds to declarer’s bare ace. Mohan played three rounds
of clubs and Lasserre ruffed in front of dummy and switched to a
heart to get a spade through. Unfortunately for the defence, Poizat
cashed the ªA rather than leading a low card and this left the defensive
trumps blocked, which was to cost them a trick in the endgame. After
the ªA, Pouzat played a diamond which Mohan ruffed then conceded
a club. He won the heart return and exited with a trump and Lasserre
won the queen but then had to lead a red card, creating a trump
trick for Mohan. Down two was not a bad effort but –500 still
meant 8 IMPs to France.
| Board 8. Dealer West. None
Vul. |
| |
ª A J 2
© A J 9 3
¨ K
§ A K 10 7 6 |
ª Q 6 4
© K Q 8 6
¨ Q 10 9 7
§ 9 4 |
|
ª K 10 7
© 10 5 4 2
¨ 6 5 4 3
§ Q J |
| |
ª 9 8 5 3
© 7
¨ A J 8 2
§ 8 5 3 2 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Sutherlin |
Poizat |
Mohan |
Lasserre |
| Pass |
1§ |
Pass |
1ª |
| Pass |
2© |
Pass |
2NT |
| Pass |
3ª |
Pass |
5§ |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Mari |
Fisher |
Leenhardt |
Jabbour |
| Pass |
1§ |
Pass |
1ª |
| Pass |
2© |
Pass |
2NT |
| Pass |
3ª |
Pass |
4§ |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
It really looks as though the Americans stopped off in the middle
of a forcing auction. Both declarers made the normal twelve tricks
for +420 to France and +170 to USA2; 6 IMPs to France.
| Board 10. Dealer East. All
Vul. |
| |
ª A 2
© K 9 8 5 4
¨ 6 3
§ J 10 7 4 |
ª J 4
© J
¨ K J 9 8 7 5
§ Q 9 8 3 |
|
ª Q 10 7 5 3
© A 6 3 2
¨ 2
§ 6 5 2 |
| |
ª K 9 8 6
© Q 10 7
¨ A Q 10 4
§ A K |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Sutherlin |
Poizat |
Mohan |
Lasserre |
| |
|
Pass |
1¨ |
| Pass |
1© |
Pass |
2NT |
| Pass |
3§ |
Pass |
3ª |
| Pass |
3NT |
Pass |
4© |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Mari |
Fisher |
Leenhardt |
Jabbour |
| |
|
Pass |
1¨ |
| Pass |
1© |
Pass |
2NT |
| Pass |
3§ |
Pass |
3© |
| Pass |
4© |
All Pass |
|
 |
|
John Sutherlin,
USA 2 |
|
Mohan led his singleton diamond and Poizat finessed, losing to
the king. Sutherlin returned a diamond for his partner to ruff and
now Mohan switched to a club. Poizat won the club and played a heart
to the jack, king and ace. He won the heart return, cashed the §A
and crossed to the ace of spades to take a club ruff. Now he could
ruff a diamond, draw the last trump and cross to the ªK
to cash the ace of diamonds; +620.
At the other table the lead was a spade to the jack and ace. Declarer
played a diamond for the queen and king and back came a second spade.
I was unable to find the details of the play from here but the contract
failed by a trick. Poizat’s line would have been unavailable
as dummy’s late spade entry had been removed. That was –100
and 12 IMPs to France, who led by 43-6 at the half. It was more
of the same in the second half, France running out convincing winners
by 81-24 IMPs, 25-5 VPs, to strengthen their challenge for the title
and seriously damage the prospects of a major rival.
|
