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.
|