Fighting back
After being stunned in the first two sets of the Bermuda Bowl final
by a collective score of 88-46, USA I had been rocked back on their
heels. They needed some good news in the third segment. Although
they lost again, the score was close.
The first significant swing of the third set went to the Americans.
Board 4. Dealer West. All
Vul. |
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ª A 8 5 2
© K 10 6 4 3
¨ Q
§ 10 5 3 |
ª 9
© A Q 7 5
¨ A 9 7 6 4
§ K Q 8 |
|
ª K Q J 10 7
© J 9
¨ K 8 5 2
§ 7 4 |
|
ª 6 4 3
© 8 2
¨ J 10 3
§ A J 9 6 2 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Versace |
Rodwell |
Lauria |
Meckstroth |
1¨ |
1© |
Dble |
Pass |
2¨ |
Pass |
2ª |
Pass |
2NT |
Pass |
3¨ |
All Pass |
Jeff Meckstroth and Eric Rodwell let a trick slip away on a low
heart lead, and Alfredo Versace finished with plus 130.
West |
North |
East |
South |
Hamman |
Bocchi |
Soloway |
Duboin |
1© |
Pass |
1ª |
Pass |
2¨ |
Pass |
3¨ |
Pass |
3NT |
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Bob Hamman, Italy |
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Bob Hamman and Paul Soloway open four-card majors with some canapé
rebids, so Bocchi did not overcall. Against the notrump game, Norberto
Bocchi led a low heart. Dummy’s ©9
held, and Hamman continued with the ªK
Bocchi could see there was no point in ducking, so he won the ace
and switched to a club to Giorgio Dubon’s ace. Hamman had
no trouble nine more tricks for plus 630 and an 11-IMP gain.
Part of that swing went back to Italy when Bob Hamman and Paul
Soloway stopped in 3ª, making four, while Versace and Lauria got
to game.
Another 8 IMPs were scored by Italy on the following deal.
Board 9. Dealer North. E/W
Vul. |
|
ª Q 9 6
© 10
¨ K Q 9 3
§ K Q J 6 2 |
ª K 8 7 5
© A 9 3
¨ A 10 7 6
§ 9 4 |
|
ª J 10 4
© K J 8 7 6 2
¨ 8 2
§ A 5 |
|
ª A 3 2
© Q 5 4
¨ J 5 4
§ 10 8 7 3 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Versace |
Rodwell |
Lauria |
Meckstroth |
|
1¨ |
1© |
1NT |
Dble |
2§ |
Pass |
Pass |
2© |
3§ |
3© |
All Pass |
Lauria, with Meckstroth’s 1NT bid to guide him, managed nine
tricks for plus 140. Hamman and Soloway got way overboard.
West |
North |
East |
South |
Hamman |
Bocchi |
Soloway |
Duboin |
|
1§ |
1© |
Pass |
2§ |
Pass |
2© |
Pass |
3© |
Pass |
4© |
All Pass |
There would a variety of opinions as to which bid – Hamman’s
3© or Soloway’s 4© – would win the booby prize. Even
he had guessed the trump suit – he did not – Soloway
had four losers against any competent defenders. The result was
minus 200 and 8 IMPs to Italy.
Soloway had a chance for a 10-IMP gain on the following board,
but it didn’t work out.
Board 12. Dealer West. N/S
Vul. |
|
ª A 8 7 6 2
© 6 2
¨ 7 6 4 3 2
§ A |
ª J 5 4
© K 9 7 5
¨ Q J 5
§ K Q 6 |
|
ª K 9
© A J 10 8
¨ A 8
§ J 8 5 3 2 |
|
ª Q 10 3
© Q 4 3
¨ K 10 9
§ 10 9 7 4 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Versace |
Rodwell |
Lauria |
Meckstroth |
1§ |
1ª |
2§ |
2ª |
Pass |
Pass |
3© |
Pass |
4© |
All Pass |
|
|
Lauria took the normal view in hearts – king, then low to
the jack – so he had a loser in each suit for minus 50.
West |
North |
East |
South |
Hamman |
Bocchi |
Soloway |
Duboin |
Pass |
Pass |
1NT |
Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
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Alfredo Versace,
Italy |
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Hamman didn’t consider Stayman with his dull hand pattern,
and Soloway was in a maker, if he could work out how to play hearts
successfully.
Duboin led the §10, and Soloway passed the first test by playing
low from dummy. He now had four club tricks. Bocchi switched to
a low spade, ducked to Duboin’s queen. Bocchi ducked to maintain
communication when his partner returned the ª10. Soloway had to
figure out the heart suit, but first he ran some winners. After
dummy’s clubs were cashed, the ¨Q (in case North had the king
and was tempted to cover) went to Soloway’s ace, and Soloway
played the last club. On each club, Bocchi discarded diamonds, giving
Soloway a count of his hand.
Soloway had seen five diamonds, one club and, by inference, five
spades with the North hand. Bocchi had, therefore only two hearts.
With three hearts to North’s two, South was more likely to
have the queen. Soloway was apparently suspicious of Bocchi’s
willingness to give so much information about his own hand, so after
considerable thought, Soloway played the ©J to the king and a low
heart to the 10. Duboin scooped up the ©Q, cashed the ¨K and played
a spade to Bocchi’s ace for two down and a 2-IMP gain for
Italy.
Italy dropped 6 IMPs on a game swing on the final deal or the
margin would have been worse. As it was, Italy were leading after
three rounds 107-79.
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