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Welcome to
Ron a Rama
Poland vs Italy
Bermuda Bowl - Round
15
The VuGraph presentation is splendid, with more screens than
most multiplex cinemas. The commentary is expert, but with so many
nationalities being represented in the audience it is not so easy
for the commentators to inject a note of humour that can be universally
understood.
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We'll try to do it for them in this report, using ideas
suggested by our photographer Ron Tacchi.
Some sporting contests are considered to be of extra special
significance. England v Germany at football and Australia
v New Zealand at Rugby are just two examples. Ever since the
final of the Maastricht Olympiad matches between Italy and
Poland have carried the weight of expectation. These two juggernauts
met in Round 15 and attracted a capacity crowd.
Bocchi & Duboin have been tinkering with their system,
not necessarily the best idea before a major championship.
Still, the first deal does not look too testing:
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Bocchi Norberto, Italy |
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Board 1. Dealer North. None Vul.
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ª K Q J 8
© 10 2
¨ 7 5 3
§ Q 9 7 4 |
ª 5 2
© A 9 7 6 5
¨ A K 9 8
§ K 3 |
 |
ª 10 4
© K J 3
¨ J 10 6
§ J 8 6 5 2 |
| |
ª A 9 7 6 3
© Q 8 4
¨ Q 4 2
§ A 10 |
| Closed Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Versace |
Balicki |
Lauria |
Zmudzinski |
| |
Pass |
Pass |
1ª |
| Dble |
2NT* |
Pass |
3ª |
| All Pass |
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Not everyone would be happy with the idea of having to bid Two
Hearts on the West hand over a possible response of Two Clubs, but
you have to do something with those cards.
The defenders have made a slight error, allowing declarer to
escape for one down.
| Open Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Martens |
Bocchi |
Lesnewski |
Duboin |
| |
Pass |
Pass |
1ª |
| 2© |
2NT* |
3© |
3ª |
| 4© |
4ª |
Pass |
Pass |
| Dble |
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Balicky Cezary, Poland |
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Marten's overcall represents the other side of the coin on
this deal. Kokish said 'you hate to do it but I guess you
have to'.
Martens took his partner's raise seriously (although perhaps
East would double 2NT with a decent hand) and looked headed
for a minus (Four Hearts is not hopeless, but you would not
exactly be a favourite). However, Bocchi also took his partner's
raise at face value (in some partnerships South could double
to make a game try) and gave the Poles the chance to collect
a number.
He's here The Phantom of the Opera.
West led the ace of diamonds and when East played the jack
he switched to the ace of hearts and a heart to the king.
Back came a diamond and declarer was booked for -500 and 9
IMPs to Poland.
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Board 3. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
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ª 6
© K 9 7
¨ A Q 9 7 6
§ A 7 5 4 |
ª A 9 3 2
© J 10 6 2
¨ J 2
§ 9 8 3 |
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ª K Q J 7 5 4
© 8
¨ 10 3
§ Q J 10 6 |
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ª 10 8
© A Q 5 4 3
¨ K 8 5 4
§ K 2 |
| Closed Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Versace |
Balicki |
Lauria |
Zmudzinski |
| |
|
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1© |
| Pass |
2¨ |
Pass |
2© |
| Pass |
3§ |
Pass |
3¨ |
| Pass |
4© |
All Pass |
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Six Diamonds is obviously excellent, and certainly better than Six
Hearts this time.
We don't know if South considered bidding Four Diamonds rather
than three, but getting to a slam with perfect cards is frequently
difficult.
Even in Vaupillon they would bid Two Spades with that East hand.
| Open Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Martens |
Bocchi |
Lesnewski |
Duboin |
| |
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1© |
| Pass |
2§* |
2ª |
Dble |
| 3ª |
4§ |
Pass |
4¨ |
| Pass |
4© |
Pass |
4NT |
| Pass |
6© |
All Pass |
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This time the auction made it clear that North/South had nothing
wasted in spades, but they picked the wrong slam. -50 and 11 IMPs
to Poland, now ahead 20-0.
Vaupillon, twin city Warsaw.
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Board 4. Dealer West. All Vul.
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ª -
© K Q J 9 7 6
¨ A K J
§ A 10 9 2 |
ª J 6 5 3
© A 8 5
¨ 4 3
§ Q 6 5 4 |
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ª K 10 8 2
© 4 3
¨ Q 10 9 8 5
§ K 3 |
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ª A Q 9 7 4
© 10 2
¨ 7 6 2
§ J 8 7 |
| Closed Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Versace |
Balicki |
Lauria |
Zmudzinski |
| Pass |
1§* |
1¨ |
1ª |
| Pass |
2© |
Pass |
2ª |
| Pass |
3§ |
Pass |
3© |
| Pass |
4¨ |
Pass |
4© |
| Pass |
4ª |
Pass |
5© |
| All Pass |
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When North rebid Two Hearts he was showing a strong hand. However,
the Poles got too high - North's void in South's suit was a critical
factor. East led the three of hearts, but when declarer played low
from dummy West carefully withheld his ace to ensure one down, +100.
| Open Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Martens |
Bocchi |
Lesnewski |
Duboin |
| Pass |
1© |
Pass |
1NT* |
| Pass |
2§ |
Pass |
2© |
| Pass |
4© |
All Pass |
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1NT promised spades and Two Clubs was a relay, promising either
clubs or any 16-18. South's Two hearts was weak, so Bocchi had no
qualms in settling for game. He came to eleven tricks, for +650
and 11 Italian IMPS.
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Board 6. Dealer East. E/W Vul.
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ª J 10 9 5 2
© 8
¨ Q 8
§ K 6 5 4 3 |
ª -
© A 6 4 2
¨ A J 9 7 6 2
§ 10 8 7 |
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ª A K Q 8 7 3
© J 10 7 5
¨ K 10 4
§ - |
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ª 6 4
© K Q 9 3
¨ 5 3
§ A Q J 9 2 |
| Closed Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Versace |
Balicki |
Lauria |
Zmudzinski |
| |
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1ª |
1NT* |
| 2¨ |
Pass |
2© |
Pass |
| 3¨ |
Pass |
4§ |
Dble |
| 4© |
Pass |
6¨ |
Pass |
| Pass |
7§ |
Dble |
All Pass |
South's 1NT overcall is a popular convention in Poland, promising
8-15, at least 4-5+, major+minor.
There is no obvious way in which one can determine the merits of
North's action in deciding to save.
He's back, The Phantom of the Opera.
The contract failed by five tricks, -1100.
| Open Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Martens |
Bocchi |
Lesnewski |
Duboin |
| |
|
1ª |
2§ |
| Dble |
5§ |
Pass |
Pass |
| Dble |
All Pass |
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Having to double twice with the West hand is hardly descriptive.
Five Clubs was less expensive, so Italy took the lead for the first
time.
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Board 15. Dealer South. N/S Vul.
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ª K Q 8 5
© 8
¨ J 7 5 3
§ J 9 7 4 |
ª 6 3 2
© K 7
¨ K Q 10 6 2
§ A K Q |
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ª A J 9 4
© J 9 6 5 4
¨ A 9
§ 10 6 |
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ª 10 7
© A Q 10 3 2
¨ 8 4
§ 8 5 3 2 |
Both sides went in search of nine tricks. The bidding was different
but the play was identical.
| Closed Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Versace |
Balicki |
Lauria |
Zmudzinski |
| |
|
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Pass |
| 1NT |
Pass |
2¨ |
Pass |
| 2© |
Pass |
3© |
Pass |
| 3ª |
Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
| Open Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Martens |
Bocchi |
Lesnewski |
Duboin |
| |
|
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Pass |
| 1NT |
Pass |
2¨* |
Pass |
| 2© |
Pass |
2ª |
Pass |
| 3NT |
All Pass |
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Duboin Giorgio, Italy |
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After winning the opening club lead with the queen Martens
spent a very long time considering his play to trick two.
To some it appeared he was meditating but to others he was
clearly trying to remember if he had turned the gas off
at his home in Warsaw.
Eventually he played a diamond to the ace and a heart. South
put up the ace and played back a club. Martens won with the
ace and now played a low diamond from his hand - a fine safety
play to guard against a bad break. North played low so the
nine won and declarer had ten tricks, +430.
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Board 16. Dealer West. E/W Vul.
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ª Q 9
© 10 8 7 6 3
¨ Q J
§ A K J 2 |
ª A J 6 4 2
© 5
¨ A K 9 7 4
§ 8 3 |
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ª 3
© A K Q J 9 4 2
¨ 6 5 3
§ 7 6 |
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ª K 10 8 7 5
© -
¨ 10 8 2
§ Q 10 9 5 4 |
The bidding in both rooms saw East/West reach the optimum contract.
| Closed Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Versace |
Balicki |
Lauria |
Zmudzinski |
| 1ª |
Pass |
2© |
Pass |
| 2ª |
Pass |
3¨ |
Pass |
| 4¨ |
Pass |
4© |
All Pass |
| Open Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Martens |
Bocchi |
Lesnewski |
Duboin |
| 1ª |
Pass |
2© |
Pass |
| 2ª |
Pass |
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The defenders started with two rounds of clubs and switched to
a diamond. Declarer won, and expecting to be able to table his hand,
played a heart to the ace. He crossed to the ace of spades, ruffed
a spade, went back to dummy with a diamond and ruffed another spade.
Now he could claim, a perfect example of elopement.
In Vaupillon the only kind of elopement they have heard of is when
the farmer's daughter runs off with squire's son.
It was Italy who ran away with this match, defeating Poland 18-12VP.
We call that an overture in Vaupillon.
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