Into the breech
Things have been tough for some of the Junior teams, all of which
were thrust into the Power Rosenblum Knockout for lack of a larger
turnout among the younger players. They have made the most of their
opportunities to learn from the more experienced players while taking
a few lumps along the way.
In the first session of the final day of round robin play, a local
squad of Juniors faced a team captained by former world champion
Ron Rubin, lying fourth in their bracket and anxious to solidify
their position as qualifiers for the knockout phase.
The Juniors - Donald and Sebastien Lachance (not related), Martin
Funk and Emilie Gauthier - acquitted themselves well despite losing
the match.
In the open room, Donald and Funk faced Rubin and Matt Granovetter,
a veteran player and editor of Bridge Today magazine.
This board seemed like a poor result for Funk and Lachance, but
it turned into their only gain of the first half.
Board 3. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
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ª A 5
© 9 4 2
¨ K J 3
§ A 9 5 4 2 |
ª 10 7 6
© 10 8
¨ A 10 9 8 7 6 4
§ 3 |
![Bridge deal](../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª K Q 9 8 3 2
© A Q 5
¨ Q 5
§ J 8 |
|
ª J 4
© K J 7 6 3
¨ 2
§ K Q 10 7 6 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Funk |
|
Donald L. |
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|
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Pass |
3¨ |
Pass |
4ª |
All Pass |
Ignoring the vulnerability, Funk charged right in with his diamond
preempt. That did not dissuade Lachance from bidding the spade game,
however. Rubin led the §K, overtaken by Granovetter with the ace,
followed by the ªA and another spade. Lachance might have done better
to run the ¨Q at trick four. Granovetter's only winning play then
would have been a club, taking out dummy's entry before the diamonds
could be established.
Instead, Lachance ruffed his club and played a low diamond. Granovetter
grabbed the king and returned the suit, forcing Lachance to overtake
so that he could take the heart finesse. He finished two down for
minus 200.
At the other table, West was more cautious, giving Sebastien Lachance
and Gauthier room to find their best spot.
West |
North |
East |
South |
|
Sebastien L. |
|
Gauthier |
|
|
|
Pass |
Pass |
1§ |
1ª |
2© |
2ª |
3© |
3ª |
4© |
All Pass |
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|
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West could have defeated the contract by leading his singleton
club, assuming East reads it and gives him his ruff after coming
in with the ©A on
the first lead of trumps. A spade exit would then assure the defenders
of four tricks. West started with the ¨A,
however, and Gauthier made it home with 10 tricks. Gauthier won
the diamond continuation with the king, discarding her losing spade,
and ran the ©9 to
West's 10. A club went to dummy's ace and another heart was played
from dummy. East went up with the ace, but that was the last trick
for the defense. Plus 420 was good for a 6-IMP gain for the youngsters.
In the second half, Sebastien Lachance played well on this deal
to earn a small swing for his side.
Board 8. Dealer West. None Vul.
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ª K Q 6 5
© 9 8 7
¨ A Q J 5
§ Q 7 |
ª J 10
© K 10 4 2
¨ 4 2
§ A 10 9 6 2 |
![Bridge deal](../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª A 8 7
© A Q 6 3
¨ 10 8 7 3
§ J 5 |
|
ª 9 4 3 2
© J 5
¨ K 9 6
§ K 8 4 3 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Gauthier |
|
Sebastien L. |
|
Pass |
1¨ |
Pass |
1ª |
Dble |
2ª |
3© |
All Pass |
Rubin led a low spade to the jack, queen and ace. Lachance played
a club to the 9 and queen, and Granovetter played the ¨Q,
overtaken by Rubin with the king. Rubin continued with the §8,
which Lachance won with dummy's ace. He then played a diamond to
Granovetter's jack. Granovetter cashed the ªK
and forced dummy to ruff with a third round of spades.
When Lachance led a club from dummy, Granovetter did his best to
promote a trump trick in partner's hand by ruffing in with the 9,
but Lachance overruffed with the queen and ruffed a diamond low.
On the fourth round of clubs, Granovetter tried again with the ©8,
but Lachance overruffed with the ace and played a heart to the 10.
The ©K was trick
number nine for plus 140 and a 3-IMP gain. At the other table, Donald
Lachance and Funk played 3ª,
down one for minus 50.
On this deal, Rubin played expertly to land a heart game, but he
didn't get the most testing defense.
Board 3. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
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ª K 10 9
© A Q
¨ J 8
§ A K J 8 7 2 |
ª J 7 5
© 4
¨ K Q 9 7 4 3
§ 6 5 3 |
![Bridge deal](../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª A 8 2
© J 8 3 2
¨ A 6 2
§ Q 10 4 |
|
ª Q 6 4 3
© K 10 9 7 6 5
¨ 10 5
§ 9 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
|
|
|
2© |
Pass |
4© |
All Pass |
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Gauthier started with the ¨K
and continued with the ¨Q.
She switched to a low spade at trick three and Sebastien Lachance
won the ace to return a trump. Rubin won the ©A
and cashed the queen, finding out about the bad break, then set
about reducing his trumps. He cashed the §A,
ruffed a club, played a spade to dummy's 10 and ruffed another club.
Back in dummy with the ªK,
he was poised to play a winning club at trick 11, shedding his good
spade if East discarded. The lead would still be in dummy at trick
12 and Rubin would be sitting with the ©K
10 over East's ©J
8.
Lachance would have done better to play low on
the spade at trick three. Rubin could still make the contract, but
only if he started his trump reduction after cashing only one high
trump (he needed the other one as a dummy entry. A world-class player
such as Rubin would be a favorite to find the correct line of play,
but even world champions have been known to take their eye off the
ball now and then. Ducking the ace would have given the defense
at least a small chance.
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