| 9th World Youth Team Championship | Page 2 | Bulletin 3 - Thursday 21 August 2003 |
| |
||
Round 2 - Italy
vs Norway
Not that many IMPs were exchanged in this match between “Gli Azzurri” and “De Norske Gutterne”. Mazzadi found the way to defeat 3NT on the first Board, but when Lo Presti misjudged the situation it turned out to be a flat one. The Italians won 4 IMPs on next Board, defeating 3§ since Kvangraven/Hakkebo came too high after a conventional two suits opening. The Di Bello brothers simply stopped in 1NT. The following two Boards were flat when both tables had no problem reaching game twice.
Souths 3§ in the Open Room showed diamonds and spades and even though N/S were vulnerable North hardly could let E/W play a heart contract at a high level since it might be made. Lo Presti bid 5ª without hesitation and perhaps Hakkebo thought Kvangraven’s Pass was forcing, so he doubled. A sacrifice in 6© could have been successful, unless N/S choose to bid 6ª. In 6© South can give his partner a diamond ruff, but the contract will at worst case scenario go three off for only –500. Kvangraven tried to defeat the contract and led an offensive §K and shifted to ªQ at trick two. Lo Presti had enough trump establishing the club suit making 12 tricks for a very good score +1050, but erred and lost another trick; +850. That missed overtrick was worth 4 IMPs when Sundklakk scored +1190 for Norway in the Closed Room. 8 IMPs to Norway, who now was ahead by 4 IMPs. Benjamin Maldonado–Jose Maldonado playing for Chile had a huge income on the same Board, when USA 2 doubled them in 6ª just made for 1660. Chile gained 14 IMPs when the auction stopped in 5ª in the other room – but lost the match anyway. After two flat Boards Italy won the auction at both tables. Both contracts were made, so Italy won 7 IMPs. Norway made an overtrick on Board 9 and this was the layout for Board 10.
Stelio di Bello made his 4© for –620. In the Open Room Lo Presti/Mazzadi gave us some brilliancy. Lo Presti led ¨10 to declarers king. Hakkebo gave away a club trick, won by South. Now Mazzadi found the narrow way to beat this solid contract. He continued with the ace of spades – Lo Presti dropped the jack – and another spade, which declarer won on hand. The declarer cannot afford loosing two heart tricks, which could be the case if North had started with K-J-4 in hearts. Hakkebo took a couple of minutes thinking over the situation. He didn’t think Lo Presti’s would drop ªJ with only two, so Hakkebo let the ©10 run. Mazzadi said ‘Mille Grazie’, took the trick with his bare king and gave his partner a spade ruff. +100 and 12 well earned IMPs for Mazzadi and Italy. The score had moved on to 23–9 in Italy’s favour in halftime. On Board 12 Norway reached the best contract.
4© reached by Lo Presti/Mazzadi didn’t have a chance, as declarer must loose two spades and a trick in each minor. Gunnar Harr had the pleasure of playing a game that appears to be lay up. Furio di Bello led his partner’s suit, ¨9. Harr won in hand with the ten (jack on the dummy would have been better) and continued with a diamond to the jack, which held the trick. Now he had to come back to the hand, so he entered in hearts playing another diamond. Now Stelio di Bello took the ace and played another diamond, establishing his fifth diamond. Harr won the trick and played a heart before continuing with a spade to the ten and West’s king. Playing a spade would make the contract for the declarer, so there was only one option beating the contract, and it was playing a club. When Harr misjudged the club honours, putting on the queen, the defence should have a club trick beside two spade tricks and two diamond tricks. One off and a flat Board. As the layout was, Harr could have made his contract establishing a spade trick at once. On Board 14 Norway won the auction at both tables. This time both contracts went off, giving Italy another 4 IMPs. Norway struggled back, winning 2 IMPs on Board 15 and another 9 IMPs on the following Board.
Here the Bello brothers had a misunderstanding. Instead of bidding 3§, showing fit in spades and limit, Furio bid 3¨ showing hearts. 3© was lead directive and West went for the game in hearts. East, however, bid 4NT as a try in spades. After a couple of cue bids the brothers landed on their feet, but were now one level too high. Stian Sundklakk gave his partner the heart ruff; +100. In the Open Room, Mazzadi went for the sacrifice. Maybe Hakkebo was the one who should double, warning East from continued auction, but with defensive values in diamond Kvangraven was going for penalties rather than an uncertain 5ª. Hakkebo led ªK and continued with §A and more clubs. Now the diamond ruff wasn’t there any longer. Not that well considered by Hakkebo, when he knows that East hardly don’t have any HCPs in either hearts or clubs, after making a 4§ cue bid. But on the other hand, Kvangraven could have showed the way playing ªA over ªK cashing ace, king in diamonds and giving Hakkebo his ruff. Three flat Boards came and with only one Board more to play, Italy was ahead by 27 to 20. But the match isn’t over until Paul Chemla sings. And here the song came.
3§ seems to be a perfect contract for E/W, even though they some lucky day can make 5§. But 6§… hrmm… Hakkebo/Kvangraven lost control when West didn’t try 3NT; instead he continued with 4©. Kvangraven tried to rescue the equipage bidding 5§, but Hakkebo put up some more hearts from the bidding box. Paul Chemla chuckled: - Ohhh… Un grande erreur! On this very last board Norway could have gain 12 IMPs, playing
3NT, instead of loosing 14 IMPs… |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |
| Page 2 |
