Windshields and Bugs

As the Mark Knopfler song says, sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug. After the second set of the round of 32 in the Power Rosenblum, the Seymon Deutsch squad knows what it feels like to be the bug, going from 3 IMPs down after 14 boards to 70 IMPs down at the halfway point in the match with the Wojtek Olanski team from Poland.

The 67-0 rout was not apparent to those who observed play in the open room, as Roger Bates and Jaggy Shivdasani faced Olanski and Wlodek Starkowski in a relatively quite set. Just about nothing went right for Fred Chang and Chris Willenken at the other table, however, as the Poles romped.

Despite the lopsided score, there were a couple of interesting deals.

Board 27. Dealer South. None Vul.
	ª 5 © Q 9 8 7 2 ¨ A J 9 3 § 8 6 3
ª K Q J 7 © K 10 5 ¨ Q 10 § A Q J 10		ª A 10 9 © A 4 3 ¨ K 7 5 2 § K 5 4
	ª 8 6 4 3 2 © J 6 ¨ 8 6 4 § 9 7 2

West	North	East	South
Olanski	Bates	Starkowski	Jaggy
			Pass
1§	1©	3ª (1)	Pass
3NT	All Pass

(1) Relay to 3NT.

In the closed room, Chang and Willenken landed in 6NT, which Olanski must have been considering in the time it took him to bid 3NT after Starkowski's 3ª bid.

On the lie of the cards, North must lead a black suit to keep declarer from taking 12 tricks.

Bates started with the ©7, fourth best, which went to the 2, jack and king. Next came the ¨10, covered by Bates with the jack. Declarer won the king and ran his spades and clubs. This was the end position as Olanski cashed with four tricks to go:

	ª --- © Q 9 ¨ A 9 § ---
ª J © 10 5 ¨ Q § ---		ª --- © A 4 ¨ 7 5 § ---
	ª 8 6 © --- ¨ 8 6 § ---

On the play of the ªJ, Bates had to discard the ¨9, and Olanski had only to exit with the ¨Q. Bates won and was forced to lead hearts, giving the last two tricks to declarer.

The details of the play at the other table were not known, but the result was 6NT down one - and 11-IMP gain for the Polish team.

Bates and Jaggy did well to stop in 2ª on this deal, and Bates played well to emerge with an overtrick, but it was yet another loss.

Board 23. Dealer South. All Vul.
	ª A K 8 6 5 © K 10 9 4 3 ¨ 7 § Q 8
ª J 10 3 2 © 2 ¨ A 10 8 5 4 § J 6 3		ª 9 7 © A J 8 5 ¨ K J 2 § K 7 5 4
	ª Q 4 © Q 7 6 ¨ Q 9 6 3 § A 10 9 2

West	North	East	South
Olanski	Bates	Starkowski	Jaggy
			Pass
Pass	1ª	Dble	Redbl
2¨	2©	Pass	2ª
All Pass

Warned by the takeout double, Bates made no move despite the fact that partner showed some life with his redouble.

Starkowski started with the ª9, taken by Bates with the queen. He played a low heart to his king and Stakowski's ace, and continued with the ¨J. Bates covered with the queen and ruffed the diamond continuation after West won the ace. He then played the ©10, covered by the jack and queen and ruffed by West. A third round of diamonds was ruffed by Bates, who then cashed his spades, picking up trumps, before playing the ©9 and a heart to East's 8. With nothing but clubs left, Starkowski had to lead away from the king and Bates was home with nine tricks.