Power Rosenblum Quarter-final
Set One
Lavazza v Kowalski
The pick of the quarter-final matches in the Power Rosenblum looked
to be the encounter between the powerful Lavazza team from Italy
and Kowalski's Polish squad. The first session on vugraph featured
some excellent bridge, particularly from Bocchi/Duboin for Italy.
Board 1. Dealer North. None Vul.
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ª K Q 10 9 4
© 8
¨ K Q 5 2
§ J 6 4 |
ª A 7
© 9 3 2
¨ J 9 7
§ A 9 8 5 2 |
![Bridge deal](../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª J 8 6 3 2
© K J 10
¨ A 8 4
§ K 7 |
|
ª 5
© A Q 7 6 5 4
¨ 10 6 3
§ Q 10 3 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Szymanowski |
Bocchi |
Romanski |
Duboin |
|
1ª |
Pass |
1NT |
Pass |
2¨ |
Pass |
2© |
All Pass |
|
|
|
West |
North |
East |
South |
Versace |
Tuszynski |
Lauria |
Kowalski |
|
1ª |
Pass |
1NT |
Pass |
2¨ |
Pass |
2© |
Pass |
2ª |
Pass |
3¨ |
All Pass |
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|
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We clearly play a different game as both Norths gave serious consideration
to bidding over 2©
and Piotr Tuszynski actually did so, when in normal style pass is
completely routine. It appears that 2©
is a much better spot than 3¨,
which drifted two off in the Closed Room, but Szymanowski/Romanski
defended beautifully to flatten the board.
Marek Szymanowski led the §5
against 2© and Jacek
Roamnski won the king and returned the seven. Though Giorgio Duboin
falsecarded twice with the ten and queen, Szymanowski judged correctly
to give his partner a club ruff. Now it was essential to take the
diamond entry out of dummy to prevent declarer's third diamond going
away on a spade. Sure enough, Romanski switched to the ¨8
for the ten, jack and queen. Duboin played a heart to the queen
then cashed the ©A
before leading a spade up. Szymanowski went up with the ace and
led the ¨9 and the
defence took two diamond tricks for down two; no swing.
Board 2. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
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|
ª K Q J 2
© 9 6
¨ 10 6
§ A K 10 9 3 |
ª 9 5 3
© J 8 7 3
¨ J 9 5 4
§ J 2 |
![Bridge deal](../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª A 10 4
© A K Q 10 4
¨ A 2
§ 8 5 4 |
|
ª 8 7 6
© 5 2
¨ K Q 8 7 3
§ Q 7 6 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Szymanowski |
Bocchi |
Romanski |
Duboin |
Versace |
Tuszynski |
Lauria |
Kowalski |
|
|
1© |
Pass |
3© |
Dble |
4© |
All Pass |
That looks like a pre-emptive raise to me, but the problem with
raising on such weak hands is that partner is sometimes tempted
to go on in case you just have a little more. That is what happened
at both tables. For the Poles, Apolinary Kowalski led a spade, and
now there was no way to avoid down two for -100. Duboin led a diamond
honour. Romanski won the ace and drew trumps before playing his
remaining diamond towards the dummy. Duboin got it right, playing
low, so the defensive diamond winner was lost but there were still
four black winners to come; down one for -50 but 2 IMPs to KOWALSKI.
There were one or two tables at which 4©
was let through after the lead of a diamond honour when South failed
to duck at trick four.
Board 5. Dealer North. N/S Vul.
|
|
ª A J 9 7 6 4
© 8
¨ 8 7 4 3 2
§ 4 |
ª 10
© 10 9 6 5 2
¨ K 10 6
§ Q 9 7 6 |
![Bridge deal](../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª Q 8 5 3
© K Q 7
¨ A J
§ A K 3 2 |
|
ª K 2
© A J 4 3
¨ Q 9 5
§ J 10 8 5 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Szymanowski |
Bocchi |
Romanski |
Duboin |
|
2ª |
Dble |
Pass |
3© |
Pass |
4© |
All Pass |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Versace |
Tuszynski |
Lauria |
Kowalski |
|
2ª |
2NT |
3§ |
Pass |
3¨ |
Pass |
Pass |
3© |
All Pass |
|
|
Tuszynski's 2ª
opening was weak with spades and another, so Kowalski competed with
a pass or correct 3§
over Lorenzo Lauria's 2NT overcall. Alfredo Versace waited to see
which second suit was held on his left then competed in turn with
3©, where he played.
Tuszynski led his singleton club to the ten and queen. Versace led
a heart to the king and ace and Kowalski, needing something very
good to happen if he were to beat 3©,
cashed the ªK then
switched to the ¨Q.
From here Versace could arrange to pitch a club on the ¨10
and take a club ruff in dummy; +170.
Norberto Bocchi's 2ª
was simply a weak two bid in spades. Szymanowski's response to the
double showed some values, so Romanski raised to 4©.
The lead was again the four of clubs to the ten and queen. Szymanowski
led a heart to the king but Duboin allowed that to hold. From there
is seems that the contract cannot be made. Even supposing that declarer
gets the diamond position right to allow a club discard, he cannot
do everything without letting the defence in, and now South can
simply play ace and a low heart to prevent the ruff, without giving
up his second trump trick. In practice, Szymanowski played ¨A
then ¨J, covered.
He continued with a heart to the queen and ace and was one down
for -50 and 6 IMPs to LAVAZZA.
Board 9. Dealer North. E/W Vul.
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ª J 10 9 7 4
© 8 2
¨ 7 3
§ J 9 6 2 |
ª Q
© A Q 9 7 6
¨ J 10 8 6
§ K 8 4 |
![Bridge deal](../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª A K 8 6 3
© K 5 3
¨ K 9 4
§ Q 3 |
|
ª 5 2
© J 10 4
¨ A Q 5 2
§ A 10 7 5 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Szymanowski |
Bocchi |
Romanski |
Duboin |
|
Pass |
1ª |
Pass |
2© |
Pass |
3© |
Pass |
4© |
All Pass |
|
|
West |
North |
East |
South |
Versace |
Tuszynski |
Lauria |
Kowalski |
|
Pass |
1ª |
Pass |
2© |
Pass |
2NT |
Pass |
3§ |
Pass |
3¨ |
Dble |
Pass |
Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
The entirely normal looking Polish auction to 4©
left the fate of the contract in the hands of the opening leader.
Bocchi found the diamond lead and three rounds allowed him to ruff.
He switched to a club to Duboin's ace and now came the fourth diamond
to the ©8 and ©K.
Szymanowski had to finesse against the ©J10
now and, not surprisingly, failed to do so, and was down two; -200.
Lauria/Versace started naturally but 3§
and 3¨ were artificial.
When Kowalski doubled 3¨,
Lauria saw an advantage in becoming declarer to protect his diamond
holding. The low club lead gave a trick away but 3NT was always
secure. Lauria made ten tricks for +630 and 13 IMPs to LAVAZZA.
Board 10. Dealer East. All Vul.
|
|
ª
A 9 6
© J 8 5
¨ A 3
§ Q J 8 6 4 |
ª
K J 4 3 2
© K 10 9 2
¨ K 8 7
§ 3 |
![Bridge deal](../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª
-
© Q 7 6 4
¨ Q J 6 5 4
§ A K 10 5 |
|
ª
Q 10 8 7 5
© A 3
¨ 10 9 2
§ 9 7 2 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Szymanowski |
Bocchi |
Romanski |
Duboin |
|
|
1¨ |
Pass |
1ª |
Pass |
2§ |
Pass |
2¨ |
All Pass |
|
|
West |
North |
East |
South |
Versace |
Tuszynski |
Lauria |
Kowalski |
|
|
1¨ |
Pass |
1ª |
Pass |
2§ |
Pass |
3¨ |
Pass |
3© |
Pass |
3NT |
Pass |
5¨ |
All Pass |
Natural methods do not handle this combination well, as we can
see from the fact that neither E/W pair were able to get to a heart
contract. Facing a limited opening, Szymanowski chose a cautious
2¨ preference over
the 2§ rebid and
hearts were never mentioned at all. After ace and another heart
lead, Romanski played a trump to the king and ace. Duboin got his
heart ruff and returned his remaining trump, restricting declarer
to one club ruff in dummy and nine tricks in all; +110.
Versace made an invitational jump to 3¨
in the other room and Lauria tried 3©
but, of course, that was fourth-suit-forcing. When Versace showed
his heart stopper, could Lauria have bid 4©
on the way to 5¨
to complete his pattern, or would that have been a cuebid? In practice
he jumped to the diamond game and that seemed doomed to failure
when Kowalski cashed the ace of hearts. However, he did not like
what he saw and switched to the ten of spades for the jack, ace
and ruff. Now Lauria could play to ruff one club in the dummy and
discard one on the ªK;
+600 and 10 IMPs to LAVAZZA.
Board 12. Dealer West. N/S Vul.
|
|
ª A K 8 6 4
© 3
¨ A K 10 5
§ A 4 3 |
ª Q 10 7 5 2
© 6 5
¨ Q 9 6 4 2
§ 5 |
![Bridge deal](../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª 9
© K 10 9 2
¨ J 7 3
§ K J 8 7 6 |
|
ª J 3
© A Q J 8 7 4
¨ 8
§ Q 10 9 2 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Szymanowski |
Bocchi |
Romanski |
Duboin |
Pass |
1ª |
Pass |
1NT |
Pass |
2§ |
Pass |
2¨ |
Pass |
3§ |
Pass |
3¨ |
Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
|
West |
North |
East |
South |
Versace |
Tuszynski |
Lauria |
Kowalski |
Pass |
1§ |
Pass |
1© |
1ª |
Pass |
Pass |
3© |
Pass |
4© |
All Pass |
|
The Italian auction was artificial, with 2§
showing either clubs or a good hand and 2§
being a relay which promised game values facing the latter type.
Three Clubs showed four diamonds and 3¨
was a further relay. When Bocchi now bid 3NT to show his exact shape,
Duboin left him to play there. The lead was a low spade, run to
the jack, and Duboin basically made the hand with his play to the
next two tricks - §A
and a club to the nine. He crossed to the ªA
to play a third club to the king. Romanski returned a club and Duboin
cashed out for nine tricks; +600.
In the other room, the 1§
opening was Polish, often a weak no trump but this time the artificial
strong version. One Heart showed four hearts and normal responding
values and Tuszynski passed over that as he had no good descriptive
call available. Kowalski jumped to 3©,
invitational facing a weak no trump type, and Tuszynski judged to
raise to game rather than try 3NT from his side. When Versace led
his singleton club, declarer's first play was critical. Ducking
would have led to a ruff and one down, as there are also two trump
losers. But Kowalski rose with the §A
and took the heart finesse. After cashing the ©A
he could use his dummy entries to lead up to the clubs and had ten
tricks for +620 and 1 IMP to KOWALSKI. Well done.
The set ended with LAVAZZA ahead by 48-10 IMPs
after a strong display in both rooms.
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