Fergani v Miroglio
Transnationals Round 5
Round 5 of the Transnational Teams saw a heavyweight clash between
FERGANI and MIROGLIO, the latter fielding a Brazilian/Polish foursome.
Fergani struck on the first board, though the swing could have gone
the other way.
Board 11. Dealer South. None
Vul. |
|
ª 8 7
© K Q 9 3 2
¨ 10 5 4
§ Q J 3 |
ª Q
© J 10 8 7 6
¨ Q 6
§ 10 9 7 5 2 |
|
ª J 10 9 5 4 2
© A
¨ J 9 2
§ A 8 6 |
|
ª A K 6 3
© 5 4
¨ A K 8 7 3
§ K 4 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Kowalski |
Czyzowicz |
Tuszynski |
Wolpert |
|
|
|
1¨ |
Pass |
1© |
1ª |
2NT |
Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
|
West |
North |
East |
South |
Fergani |
Chagas |
L'Ecuyer |
Brenner |
|
|
|
1¨ |
Pass |
1© |
1ª |
1NT |
Pass |
Pass |
2ª |
Dble |
All Pass |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Apolinary Kowalski,
Poland |
When Nicolas L’Ecuyer competed for a second time in spades,
Diego Brenner doubled for penalty. There was little to the play
and L’Ecuyer came to four spade tricks plus one trick in each
side-suit; down one for –100.
Gavin Wolpert jumped to 2NT at his second turn and Jurek Czyzowicz
raised to game, preventing Piotr Tuszynski from suffering any temptation
to bid again on the East cards. Apolinary Kowalski led the singleton
spade and, when that was allowed to hold the trick, switched to
a low heart for the king and ace. Tuszynski returned a spade to
the ace and declarer played §K and a second club for the jack and
ace. Tuszynski cleared the spades and now Wolpert cashed a top diamond.
This was the key moment in the play; if Kowalski unblocks the queen,
the contract is defeated as Tuszynski has a diamond entry to the
spade winners. But Kowalski hung on to the ¨Q and now Wolpert led
a low diamond and the queen scored. Kowalski could do nothing and
Wolpert had the rest for an excellent +400 and 7 IMPs to FERGANI.
Board 15. Dealer South. N/S
Vul. |
|
ª 8 6
© Q 10 9 8 5 2
¨ K
§ K 9 5 3 |
ª A K 10 7 4
© 3
¨ J 5 4 3 2
§ Q 10 |
|
ª -
© K 7 4
¨ A Q 9 8 6
§ A J 6 4 2 |
|
ª Q J 9 5 3 2
© A J 6
¨ 10 7
§ 8 7 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Kowalski |
Czyzowicz |
Tuszynski |
Wolpert |
|
|
|
Pass |
2ª |
Pass |
2NT |
Pass |
3¨ |
Pass |
4§ |
Pass |
4© |
Pass |
4ª |
Pass |
4NT |
Pass |
5¨ |
All Pass |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Fergani |
Chagas |
L'Ecuyer |
Brenner |
|
|
|
2ª |
Pass |
Pass |
Dble |
All Pass |
|
|
|
Diego Brenner,
Brazil |
Brenner opened a weak two bid – and one with which his partner
did not agree at this vulnerability and with such a good holding
in the other major. Naturally enough, when that ran around to L’Ecuyer
and he doubled for take-out, Kamel Fergani converted for penalties.
After the lead of the singleton heart, Fergani came to all five
of his trumps and there were also three minor-suit losers; three
down for –800.
That might have been a modest gain for MIROGLIO had the Poles
managed to bid the diamond slam at the other table, but why should
they? Kowalski showed spades and a minor, at least five-five, then
diamonds. Four Clubs was a diamond slam try and the next two bids
were cuebids. Four No Trump was an encouraging noise but denied
the ability to cuebid in clubs. From Tuszyinski’s point of
view, there was surely an ace missing plus both minor-suit kings.
After a low club lead, Kowalski made all thirteen tricks for +440
but 8 IMPs to FERGANI.
Board 17. Dealer North. None
Vul. |
|
ª K 6
© K Q 9 7 4 3
¨ A 8 4
§ K 5 |
ª Q J 5 3 2
© J 6 2
¨ Q J 10 5 3
§ - |
|
ª 10 9 8 4
© A 10
¨ K 9 6 2
§ J 4 3 |
|
ª A 7
© 8 5
¨ 7
§ A Q 10 9 8 7 6 2 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Kowalski |
Czyzowicz |
Tuszynski |
Wolpert |
|
1© |
Pass |
2§ |
2© |
Dble |
4ª |
5§ |
Pass |
Pass |
5¨ |
Pass |
Pass |
Dble |
All Pass |
|
West |
North |
East |
South |
Fergani |
Chagas |
L'Ecuyer |
Brenner |
|
1© |
Pass |
2§ |
Dble |
Rdbl |
2¨ |
Pass |
Pass |
3© |
3ª |
4§ |
Pass |
4¨ |
Pass |
4NT |
Pass |
5© |
Pass |
7§ |
Pass |
Pass |
Dble |
Pass |
Pass |
7© |
Dble |
Pass |
Pass |
7NT |
Dble |
All Pass |
North/South are cold for 6§ but getting there in face of the opposition
bidding proved to be rather difficult. When Kowalski showed the
two unbid suits with his 2© cuebid, Tuszynski jumped to 4ª, taking
away a lot of bidding space. Wolpert bid 5§ and Czyzowicz thought
a good while before passing. Now Tuszynski saved in 5¨ and Wolpert
made a forcing pass. Czyzowicz had another chance and must have
been very tempted to bid on but finally decided to take the money.
That money proved to be just +300 after a heart lead.
Fergani’s double of 2§ did not guarantee quite the distribution
of the cuebid at the other table and East/West did not take away
the same amount of bidding space. The Brazilians were on their way
to the small slam but, unfortunately, Chagas was playing with every
member of his team during the course of the tournament and Brenner
was the only one with whom he was using traditional Blackwood. He
responded as if playing with any other team member - showing two
key cards – and Brenner jumped to 7§. The Brazilians wriggled
from one doomed grand to another as each in turn got doubled. The
final contract was down two for –300 and 12 IMPs to FERGANI.
Board 19. Dealer South. E/W
Vul. |
|
ª A 8
© A 4
¨ 9 7 3
§ A Q J 9 7 6 |
ª 3
© K J 9 7 3 2
¨ Q 10 6 4
§ 5 3 |
|
ª Q J 10 7 5 4 2
© Q
¨ A K J 8
§ 10 |
|
ª K 9 6
© 10 8 6 5
¨ 5 2
§ K 8 4 2 |
Both Easts declared 4ª doubled and both Souths led a low club to
the ace. Czyzowicz continued with a second club and Tuszynski ruffed
and played on trumps; down one for –200. Chagas switched to
a diamond at trick two and Brenner won the first trump to play a
second diamond so received a ruff when Chagas won the next trump;
down two for –500 and 7 IMPs to MIROGLIO.
FERGANI won the match by 28-8 IMPs, converting to 21-9 VPs, to
stay at the top table.
|