Fall of Eagles

In the last round of the McConnell qualifying contest the match between Bessis and Wei-Sender was winner take all as the loser would be eliminated, meaning that at least one potential winner would have fallen at the first hurdle.

It was the number one seeds from France who eventually prevailed, but both sides failed to cope with this deal:

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

West	North	East	South
Sokolow	D'Ovideo	Molson	Bessis
Pass	Pass	2¨*	Dble
2©*	3©	Pass	3NT
Pass	4ª	Pass	4NT
All Pass

Everyone knows the French style is conservative but it is taking a good thing too far to pass on the North cards. Our expert panel - all world champions - were strongly in favour of opening One Club. However, it did not look to have done any harm - until North passed what was surely Blackwood. Could the Americans do better:

West	North	East	South
Willard	Picus	Cronier	Blanchard
Pass	Pass	2©	Dble
4©	4ª	All Pass

Here One Club would have been strong, so the problem for North was different. However our panel were in favour of Two Clubs. West's raise took away space but North should have done rather more. The two bids suggested were Five Hearts (the top vote) and a practical Six Clubs.

A swing on this deal would have given the American team a lead at half time and might have altered the course of the match.

It pays to look ahead

Two former WBF Daily Bulletin editors had one of those rare matchpoint gems yesterday in the regional afternoon session. Henry Francis, editor from 1977 to 1998, and his wife Dorthy, his assistant for many years in the Seventies and Eighties, compiled a 77.98% game.

Dorthy saw the problem on this deal and found the answer. It's a fine illustration of how important it is to make a plan before playing the cards.

	ª 9 4 © 10 7 5 2 ¨ K J 9 4 § K 8 5
ª 10 6 5 © K 8 3 ¨ A 7 3 2 § 9 6 3		ª A Q J 8 7 3 © 9 ¨ Q 8 § A Q J 7
	ª K 2 © A Q J 8 4 ¨ 10 6 5 § 10 4 2

West	North	East	South
Henry		Dorthy
Pass	Pass	1ª	2©
2ª	3©	4ª	All Pass

South cashed the heart ace on opening lead and continued with the heart queen to dummy's king as Dorthy pitched a diamond. She led the spade ten and carefully followed with the seven, losing to the king. South shifted back to hearts, and Dorthy ruffed with the eight, carefully preserving the three.

Now Dorthy was ready. She cashed the ace of spades, crossed to dummy with the ace of diamonds.and took a successful club finesse. Her early care paid off paid off handsomely here - she was able to get back to dummy by leading the spade three to the six so that she could take a second club finesse. Then when she cashed the club ace, the suit broke, and she took the 13th club for her 11th trick and a tie for top on the board.

We've heard it said that those who can't play edit daily bulletins. Dorthy's play provides a good retort to such a statement. (Silly us for thinking it was so the rest would have a chance. Editors)

Dupuis Team

Round of 64 was supposed to be played in 64 boards , schedule was much more pleasant when it was decided to play only 56 boards .Dupuis team managed to go through in only 42 boards, when their opponents Nader Brazilian team shook hands when down 104 with 14 boards to play.

Part of this lead came from brilliancy by Jean- François Allix on board 7

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

West	North	East	South
Allix		Mauberquez
			2©
Pass	Pass	Dble	Pass
2NT	Pass	3§	Pass
3¨	Pass	3NT	Pass
Pass	Double	All pass

3§ was a Stayman .The lead was ©10 to king and ace .Back came the ©J to the queen, North discarding a spade.
To bring his contract home ,West needed ace and queen of spades to be on side.

Jean-François Allix found a little improvement by playing a spade to the king .Down came the queen the rest was easy : 3 club tricks , 3 spade tricks , finessing the ten, and after ace and jack of diamond North was forced to let East score the ¨Q : a grand total of 9 tricks and 750 for a 13 IMP swing. This "safety" play of the ªK deserved full credit 600 but for which side ?

.At another table an unnamed French players went down 6 on the same lead playing a Spade to the Jack - we must admit that would be the right play if the 10 of spades would be the stiff spade South had. When comparing score : he announced '600 '…but had to admit...'for them'

Note also that a diamond switch by East at trick would have beaten the contract whatever the declarer skill is .So perhaps the best would be to play low from dummy at trick one ,though East beats the contract by taking the ©A and playing a diamond .Not that easy