USA II v England

Venice Cup - Round 8

By Tony Gordon (England)

England were third and USA II were seventh going into this match. The boards were fairly dull, but USA II lost their way and suffered a heavy defeat.

Board 1. Dealer North. None Vul.
	ª Q 4 © A 10 7 ¨ A Q 7 4 § K Q 7 4
ª K 7 2 © J 6 5 ¨ K 9 6 3 § 10 9 3		ª A 10 9 6 © K Q 9 8 2 ¨ - § 8 6 5 2
	ª J 8 5 3 © 4 3 ¨ J 10 8 5 2 § A J

West	North	East	South
Quinn	Dhondy	Breed	Smith
	1¨	Dble	1ª
1NT	Dble	All Pass

It seems surprising that Mildred Breed did not show her heart suit during the bidding and Shawn Quinn's 1NT could have been defeated by three tricks; however, after the ªQ lead she escaped for two down, which would be a good result if her teammates reached game at the other table.

West	North	East	South
Goldenfield	Jackson	Brunner	Hamman
	1NT	2§*	2¨
Pass	3¨	All Pass

* Majors

However, Joan Jackson and Petra Hamman stopped in 3¨and made eleven tricks after the lead of the ªK. +150 to USA II, but 4 IMPs to England.

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

West	North	East	South
Goldenfield	Jackson	Brunner	Hamman
			Pass
2NT	Pass	4©*	Pass
4NT	Pass	5¨**	Pass
5©	All Pass

* Mild slam try ** 0/3 key cards

Rhona Goldenfield and Michelle Brunner stopped safely in 5©and duly scored +650.

West	North	East	South
Quinn	Dhondy	Breed	Smith
2NT	Pass	3¨*	Pass
4©	Pass	4NT	Pass
5§**	Pass	5©	Pass
6§	Pass	6©	All Pass

* Transfer **0/3 key cards

In the other room, USA II seemed headed for the same safe haven, but Quinn carried on over 5©, presumably expecting her partner to have at least one key card. Heather Dhondy began with the ¨A and when Nicola Smith followed with a suit-preference ¨J she continued with a spade to her partner's ace. -100 meant 13-IMPs to England who led 25-1 at this point.

Board 12. Dealer West. N/S Vul.
	ª A J 9 5 3 © K 6 ¨ K 10 6 2 § K 5
ª 10 8 6 © Q 8 5 3 ¨ Q J 8 § A J 4		ª 4 © A J 4 2 ¨ A 7 4 § Q 10 9 8 6
	ª K Q 7 2 © 10 9 7 ¨ 9 5 3 § 7 3 2

West	North	East	South
Goldenfield	Jackson	Brunner	Hamman
Pass	1ª	Dble	2ª
Dble	Pass	3§	Pass
3©	All Pass

Goldenfield followed her partnership's strongest route to 3©, but Brunner could not envisage game facing a passed partner and passed 3©. Declarer made eleven tricks losing a spade and the §K for +200 to England.

West	North	East	South
Quinn	Dhondy	Breed	Smith
Pass	1ª	Dble	3ª
4©	All Pass

A familiar scenario unfolded in the other room where the extra level of preemption pushed the opponents into a contract they might not have reached under their own steam. Smith falsecarded with the ©9 on the first round of trumps, so Quinn lost a trump trick when she subsequently tried to pin the ©10, but she still scored +420 and USA II gained a much-needed 6 IMPs.

Board 13. Dealer North. All Vul.
	ª K 8 6 4 3 © A 7 3 ¨ Q 5 § 6 5 2
ª J 5 © 5 ¨ A K J 10 7 3 2 § 10 9 7		ª 10 9 2 © Q 10 9 6 2 ¨ 4 § K Q 8 3
	ª A Q 7 © K J 8 4 ¨ 9 8 6 § A J 4

West	North	East	South
Goldenfield	Jackson	Brunner	Hamman
	Pass	Pass	1NT
Pass	2©*	Pass	2ª
Pass	2NT	All Pass

* Transfer

It seems dubious to pass 2NT with the South hand, and Goldenfield's silence in the auction was rewarded when she was able to cash her seven diamond tricks against 2NT for +200 to England.

West	North	East	South
Quinn	Dhondy	Breed	Smith
	Pass	Pass	1NT
3¨	3ª	Pass	4ª
All Pass

The defence began with three rounds of diamonds against Dhondy's 4ª, and declarer discarded a club from hand on the third round. Declarer's prospects were not promising, but she would doubtless have made the contract by squeezing East in hearts and clubs, so although Quinn made her task easier by continuing with a fourth diamond, this did not materially affect the outcome. +620 and 13 IMPs to England who now led 49-12.

Both teams reached the good 6¨on board 18, and both declarers successfully located the §J to bring home the contract.

Board 19. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
	ª Q 10 2 © Q J 8 ¨ J 7 § Q 10 8 6 2
ª A K 8 5 © K 10 7 ¨ 10 8 6 § J 9 5		ª J 9 6 3 © A 4 2 ¨ A K 5 4 3 § 4
	ª 7 4 © 9 6 5 3 ¨ Q 9 2 § A K 7 3

West	North	East	South
Quinn	Dhondy	Breed	Smith
			Pass
Pass	Pass	1¨	Pass
1ª	Pass	2ª	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Goldenfield	Jackson	Brunner	Hamman
			Pass
Pass	Pass	1¨	Pass
1ª	Pass	2ª	Pass
2NT	Pass	4ª	All Pass

With both pointed suits breaking 3-2 there is nothing to the play as long as declarer is careful to win an opening heart lead in hand, and both declarers duly made ten tricks. However, that was another 10 IMPs to England who won the match 59-17 IMPs, 24-6 VPs, and were now in second place just 5 VPs behind France.