They would slay giants

When you go against the world champions, you know your work is cut out for you. Even if you lose, of course, it's still fun to play against the best.

An American team - Janet and Mel Colchamiro, playing with Betty and Steve Bloom - drew the Olympiad champion Italian team in the second session of the Rosenblum Knockout Teams round robin.

Halfway through the 20-board match, the Americans could look optimistically to the second half, trailing only 14-7.
On this deal from the first half, the best spot was missed at both tables.

Board 8. Dealer West. None Vul.
	ª A 8 7 6 5 2 © J 10 5 4 ¨ J § 10 5
ª Q © A 7 ¨ A 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 § Q 6		ª 10 9 © K 8 3 ¨ 2 § A K J 9 8 3 2
	ª K J 4 3 © Q 9 6 2 ¨ K Q 3 § 7 4

Against the Colchamiros in the "open" room, the Italians reached 5¨ after an opening 1¨ by West, a 2ª overcall by North, 3§ by East and 4ª by South. The contract had to go down one. The auction was different in the "closed" room.

West	North	East	South
Betty	Lauria	Steve	Versace
1¨	1ª	1NT (1)	2NT (2)
5¨	Pass	Pass	Dble
All Pass

(1) Clubs.
(2) A good spade raise.

Lorenzo lauria's 1ª overcall was somewhat thin, but it was enough to persuade Alfredo Versace that the opponents were too high when they got to the five level in diamonds. In fact, Lauria had two very important cards - the ªA, which he cashed at trick one, and the ¨J, which assured the defenders of two trump tricks. That was 2 IMPs to Italy.

In the second half, the Americans had a 10-IMP gain on Board 2, which was of interest beyond the swing for the way Giorgio Duboin played it.

Board 2. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
	ª 7 2 © J 5 ¨ A 9 4 § A J 8 6 3 2
ª Q J 9 © K 6 3 2 ¨ Q J 10 6 § 9 4		ª 10 6 5 4 © A Q 8 ¨ 8 3 2 § Q 10
	ª A K 8 3 © 10 9 4 ¨ K 7 5 § K 7 5

West	North	East	South
Betty	Bocchi	Steve	Duboin
		Pass	1§ (1)
Pass	3§ (2)	All Pass

(1) Any 12-14 balanced hand; a hand with clubs; any game-forcing hand.
(2) Limit bid with six or more clubs.

Betty Bloom led a low club to the 10 and king. Duboin then played a club to the ace, felling the queen. He then played the ©5 to the 8, 9 and king. Betty switched to the ¨Q, taken by dummy's ace. The ©J was taken by Bloom's queen, and he could avoided the coming double squeeze by playing the ©A, but he returned a diamond to declarer's king.

Duboin then ran trumps, reaching this position as the last club was played:

	ª 7 2 © --- ¨ 9 § 6
ª Q J 9 © --- ¨ 10 § ---		ª 10 6 5 © A ¨ --- § ---
	ª A K 8 © 10 ¨ --- § ---

Steve had to hold the ©A, so he was forced to part with a spade. Duboin tossed his ©10 and it was Betty's turn to feel the pressure. When she threw a low spade, Duboin was able to take his 11th trick with the ª8.

It was a well played contract to be sure, but it was still a loss because the Colchamiros reached the unbeatable notrump game at the other table.

Things didn't go as well for the underdogs from there on out, as the formidable Italians won by more than 40 IMPs.

Here's an opening lead problem for you. You, West, hold

ª Q J 10 7 3 2
© K 8 6
¨ 7 2
§ K 2

Both sides are vulnerable and your partner, the dealer, starts with 2§, natural and limited (you are playing Precision). South overcalls 2¨, you bid 2©, a transfer to spades, and LHO bids 2ª, a cuebid in support of South. Partner doubles 2ª and RHO leaps to 4©, which is converted to 5¨ by LHO. Partner doubles, ending the auction.
What is your lead?

See if you can tell what's right by viewing the entire deal.

Board 10. Dealer East. All Vul.
	ª 9 6 5 4 © 2 ¨ A 8 6 4 § A 6 5 3
ª Q J 10 7 3 2 © K 8 6 ¨ 7 2 § K 2		ª A K © A 10 5 4 ¨ 3 § Q J 10 9 7 4
	ª 8 © Q J 9 7 3 ¨ K Q J 10 9 5 § 8

A diamond is best, but a spade works out well as long as partner, upon winning the spade perforce, finds the trump switch. He must also find the tough play of ducking when declarer leads a low heart from dummy - necessary so that partner can get in and put a second round of trumps on the table.

The contract was 5¨ doubled at both tables - and a push at plus 750 for North-South.

Now here's a bidding problem for you.

You are East, no one vulnerable, and partner, the dealer, opens 2©. This is your hand:

ª A 10
© A 10 9 8 5
¨ 10 3
§ A K 6 5

RHO doubles for takeout and you bid 4©. LHO bids 4ª, which comes around to you. What is your decision?
Against Bocchi and Duboin, Steve Bloom went to 5©, which was doubled. This was the entire deal:

Board 8. Dealer West. None Vul.
	ª K Q J 7 © Q 3 ¨ Q 9 5 § Q 7 3 2
ª 9 4 2 © K J 7 6 4 2 ¨ 8 6 2 § 10		ª A 10 © A 10 9 8 5 ¨ 10 3 § A K 6 5
	ª 8 6 5 3 © --- ¨ A K J 7 4 § J 9 8 4

As you can see, if West gets off the lead of her singleton club, which would be a popular choice, the defenders can take five tricks for two down. Even on a heart lead, East would have a chance for down one with a club ruff upon winning the trump ace.

Betty Bloom could do no better than claim down one in 5©, an 11-IMP loss since the Italians were allowed to play 4© at the other table.