italy   v   brazil    -    BB Round 9

Brazilian Samba Beat(s) Italy

by Mark Horton

The VuGraph audience is sure to be entertained when one of the game’s legendary superstars, Brazil’s Gabriel Chagas, is at the table. His partnership with Miguel Villas Boas is a formidable one, as the reigning World Champions soon discovered.

Board 2. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
	♠ K Q J 8 7 6 3 ♥ 10 7 ♦ 6 ♣ K 10 2
♠ ♥ J 8 6 5 2 ♦ A K J 8 2 ♣ Q 4 3		♠ 9 4 ♥ K Q 9 3 ♦ 4 ♣ J 9 8 7 6 5
	♠ A 10 5 2 ♥ A 4 ♦ Q 10 9 7 5 3 ♣ A

Open Room

When Chagas jumped all the way to 4♠, his partner decided to gamble that there would not be two losers – and right he was.

It was clear to West that he was doubling for a diamond lead – the first suit bid by dummy – but East led the nine of clubs, hoping that East would be able to ruff.

As you can see, no lead would have helped as declarer has a parking place for dummy’s second heart in the form of the king of clubs.

+1660 was not a bad way to start the match, especially since 7♥ is a very good save for East/West.

Closed Room

2♥ was a transfer that South was happy to complete, but that ended the auction and Brazil collected 14 IMPs.

Board 4. Dealer West. All Vul.
	♠ A 8 4 3 ♥ 9 3 ♦ A K Q J ♣ Q 9 5
♠ Q 2 ♥ 7 6 ♦ 8 7 5 ♣ A K 10 8 7 2		♠ J 10 9 ♥ A K Q 8 4 2 ♦ 9 6 3 ♣ 4
	♠ K 7 6 5 ♥ J 10 5 ♦ 10 4 2 ♣ J 6 3

Open Room

2♦ One major
2♥ Pass or correct

North led the ace of diamonds and continued with the king. South, who had signalled with the two on the first round, now played the ten, so when North cashed a third diamond it was clear that South had something good in spades.

Chagas switched to the three of spades, South winning with the king and returning the five to North’s ace.

Everyone was expecting Chagas to complete a perfect defence by playing the last diamond, promoting a trump for South, but he switched to a spade and declarer was soon claiming, +110.

Closed Room

With six possible tricks East was prepared to let 1NT go by and that proved to be a good decision. The defence started with six rounds of hearts, West discarding two diamonds and both spades. East switched to a club and that was two down, -200 and 3 IMPs to Brazil.

Board 8. Dealer West. None Vul.
	♠ K Q 8 5 4 2 ♥ 7 5 ♦ Q 10 6 ♣ 3 2
♠ A J 7 3 ♥ 10 ♦ A K 7 3 ♣ A K 7 5		♠ 6 ♥ A K Q 8 ♦ J 8 4 ♣ Q J 10 8 4
	♠ 10 9 ♥ J 9 6 4 3 2 ♦ 9 5 2 ♣ 9 6

Open Room

1♣ 10-22, 2+♣

Versace gave a lot of though, to bidding one for the road, and when dummy was displayed, he immediately engaged his partner in an animated discussion, at the same time returning his cards to the board.

The players were happy to go on to the next deal, but that does not work in this electronic age. The board had to be returned to the table and declarer had to complete a trick before being allowed to claim +940.

Closed Room

West was content to abandon any exploration at an early stage producing a flat board.

Board 11. Dealer South. None Vul.
	♠ 4 ♥ 6 4 3 2 ♦ K J 10 7 ♣ J 10 4 2
♠ 8 6 ♥ 8 7 5 ♦ 9 6 4 3 ♣ 9 8 7 5		♠ A J 10 9 3 ♥ K Q 10 ♦ A Q 8 5 ♣ 3
	♠ K Q 7 5 2 ♥ A J 9 ♦ 2 ♣ A K Q 6

Open Room

The odds against getting a Yarborough are 1827-1, so Versace will be hoping that it will be a while before he sees another.

Chagas picked a good moment to ignore a certain Bols Bridge Tip, and when East doubled, his side was in some trouble.

If East/West had located their diamond fit, North would certainly have doubled, but it is hard to beat it by more than a trick. (South has to lead his singleton trump.)

The defence against 1NT was easier.

Four rounds of clubs saw declarer discard two diamonds and a spade, then a spade through declarer followed by a diamond exit meant two down, +300.

Closed Room

3♠ 5-3-1-4 19+

Once North responded, it was hard to stop at a safe level.

Even so, 3NT had some chances.

East led the king of hearts, and when that was ducked, he switched to the three of spades. (I saw one commentator on BBO suggest the jack of spades, but that would give declarer a chance to make the contract! He can win in dummy and play four rounds of clubs to East’s discomfort.)

Declarer won in dummy and if he had now played on clubs, East simply would keep his spade holding intact and the contract would fail. Instead declarer tried a diamond to the jack. East won with the queen and played the jack of spades. Declarer won and might have cashed out for one down, but he exited with a spade and was two down, -100 and 9 IMPs for Brazil.

Board 15. Dealer South. N/S Vul.
	♠ 7 ♥ A K J 9 8 ♦ A Q 10 4 ♣ A 9 2
♠ A Q 10 9 2 ♥ Q 10 3 ♦ 8 7 5 ♣ 8 4		♠ K J 8 5 4 ♥ 6 ♦ K J 9 2 ♣ K 10 6
	♠ 6 3 ♥ 7 5 4 2 ♦ 6 3 ♣ Q J 7 5 3

Open Room

South led the seven of hearts. North won with the jack and played the king. Declarer ruffed, played the jack of spades to the queen, led a club to the king, drew trumps, and played a diamond to the jack. When that held he soon claimed +170.

Closed Room

South led the four of hearts. North won with the jack and switched to ace and another diamond. Fearing South would be able to win with the queen and give North a ruff, declarer put up the king and had to go one down.

Despite that missed opportunity, Brazil had won 36-20 IMPs, 19-11 VP.

I have a correction to yesterday’s report on Italy v Norway. Giorgio Duboin dropped by to point out that the play record on Board 11 was wrong. Holding ♦1075 he did (as suggested) play the ten of diamonds on the first round of the suit and followed that with the seven. (See page 20.)

So, gentle readers, don’t believe everything you read/see on BBO!