italy   v   canada    -    sb Round 13

Quiet Time

by Brentk Manley

At the start of play on Thursday, Canada and Italy stood atop the standings in the Senior Bowl. The Canadians were ahead by only 2 victory points, so when they met in round 13, the Italians were hoping to change places with their opponents when the 16 deals were concluded.

The match will not go down in the annals of bridge as terribly exciting – two of the 16 deals were passed out – but the players were more interested in IMPs than thrills. Ultimately, Canada emerged more pleased than the Italians. Italy got the first big swing on the second board.

Board 18. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
	♠ Q 9 ♥ 6 3 ♦ A J 7 6 5 2 ♣ A 10 6
♠ A K ♥ 5 4 2 ♦ Q 4 3 ♣ Q J 4 3 2		♠ J 8 6 5 4 ♥ A Q 7 ♦ K ♣ K 8 7 5
	♠ 10 7 3 2 ♥ K J 10 9 8 ♦ 10 9 8 ♣ 9

West	North	East	South
Piafsky	De Falco	Hoffer	Resta
		1♠	Pass
2♣	Pass	3♣	Pass
3♠	Pass	4♠	All Pass

Guido Resta started with the ♦10. Dano De Falco rose with the ♦A and switched to the ♥6. Fred Hoffer had no choice but to try the finesse, which lost. He won the return of the ♥J with the ace, then played a spade to dummy, cashing both honors, then discarding his losing heart on the ♦Q. He still had to lose a trump and the ♣A, so minus 50 was the best he could do.

West	North	East	South
Mariani	Silver	Burgay	Carruthers
		1♠	Pass
1NT	Pass	2♣	Pass
2♦	Pass	2♠	Pass
3NT	All Pass

Joe Silver started with a low diamond, and dummy’s king held. Carlo Mariani had to hope the ♣A was with North, and his wish was granted. When Silver ducked two rounds of clubs, Mariani played a spade to the ace and cashed the king. The fall of the ♠Q meant he was home. Silver switched to a heart when in with the ♣A, but it was too late. Mariani went up with the ♥A, cashed the ♠J, overtook dummy’s last club and claimed his nine tricks. Plus 400 and 10 IMPs to Italy.

Board 21. Dealer North. N/S Vul.
	♠ Q 8 5 ♥ A K 8 6 3 2 ♦ Q 6 5 ♣ A
♠ A 10 9 6 3 ♥ ♦ 8 3 2 ♣ Q J 10 3 2		♠ K 7 4 2 ♥ Q J 10 4 ♦ K 10 9 ♣ K 7
	♠ J ♥ 9 7 5 ♦ A J 7 4 ♣ 9 8 6 5 4

West	North	East	South
Piafsky	De Falco	Hoffer	Resta
	1♥	Pass	2♦
2NT	Dble	4♠	All Pass

Resta’s 2♦ was a weakish heart raise or natural and game-forcing. Don Piafsky showed his two-suiter, and Hoffer bid what he thought he could make.

West	North	East	South
Mariani	Silver	Burgay	Carruthers
	1♥	Pass	2♥
2♠	4♥	4♠	Pass
Pass	Dble	All Pass

Silver started with a high heart, ruffed. Declarer played a club at trick two. Silver played the ace perforce and exited with a low diamond. Mariani misguessed by playing the king, and the defenders took three tricks in the suit. Mariani lost a trump trick from there and finished at minus 300 for 6 IMPs to Canada.

Board 24. Dealer West. None Vul.
	♠ K Q 4 3 2 ♥ Q 10 9 ♦ 10 5 2 ♣ Q 5
♠ A J 9 8 ♥ 8 6 ♦ Q J 9 8 ♣ K 4 3		♠ 10 7 ♥ 4 3 2 ♦ A 7 6 4 3 ♣ J 9 2
	♠ 6 5 ♥ A K J 7 5 ♦ K ♣ A 10 8 7 6

West	North	East	South
Piafsky	De Falco	Hoffer	Resta
Pass	Pass	Pass	1♥
Dble	2♥	All Pass

Perhaps De Falco was hoping the opponents would get in trouble in spades after his gentle raise to 2♥. Resta considered making a move, but he passed after long thought. Ten tricks are available, but Resta managed only nine – not that it mattered a lot considering the missed game.

West	North	East	South
Mariani	Silver	Burgay	Carruthers
1♣	1♠	Pass	2♥
Pass	3♥	Pass	4♥
All Pass

Mariani led the ♦J (Rusinow) to Leandro Burgay’s ace. The ♠10 was returned to the ace, and John Carruthers won the spade continuation with the king. Carruthers played a club to his ace and a club to Mariani’s king. He ruffed when Mariani continued with a club, then claimed when two rounds of trumps revealed the 3-2 split. That was plus 420 and 7 IMPs to Canada.

Board 26. Dealer East. All Vul.
	♠ A 6 3 ♥ 9 5 ♦ A 6 5 2 ♣ K Q 4 3
♠ 10 8 5 4 ♥ 10 7 6 ♦ 9 3 ♣ A 10 8 6		♠ Q 9 2 ♥ A K 4 3 ♦ K Q 10 ♣ 9 5 2
	♠ K J 7 ♥ Q J 8 2 ♦ J 8 7 4 ♣ J 7

The contract in both rooms was 1NT by East, and South at both tables led a low heart.

In the open room, Hoffer played dummy’s 10 at trick one. When it held (De Falco playing the 9), declarer played a spade to his 9 and Resta’s jack. A heart went to declarer’s ace. Resta won the ♠Q with the king and continued with a third round of hearts. Hoffer persisted in spades, and when De Falco won with the ♠A he played a low diamond. Hoffer went up with the king and played a low club to the 8. De Falco won with the ♣K and tried his luck again in diamonds, but Hoffer put up the queen and was soon claiming his seventh trick for plus 90.

It seems that the defenders should have been attacking the entry to dummy’s long spade, but North-South can lead clubs only twice without giving up an extra trick in that suit.

In the closed room, Carruthers also started with a low heart. Burgay played low, ducking when Silver played the 9. Silver shifted to the ♦5 at trick two, and Burgay played the king. Now a club went to dummy’s 8 and Silver’s queen. When Silver played another diamond, Burgay put in the 10. Carruthers won with the ♦J and played a diamond to his partner’s ace. When the smoke cleared, declarer had two heart tricks, one in diamonds and one in clubs for three down and 9 IMPs to Canada.

In a match that featured so little in the way of fireworks, it was fitting that the last deal was passed out. The final score was 34-22 for Canada, who had solidified their hold on first place – at least to that point – in the Senior Bowl.