italy   v   south africa    -    bb qf session 1

by Brian Senior

italy came into their 96-board quarter-final with South Africa as hot favourites to progress to the next stage. While the South Africans had battled through the round robin, only sneaking back into the eighth as described on page 6, Italy had headed the qualifiers in their usual imperious fashion.

The first set did not quite follow the script, as South Africa extended their 5.7 IMP carry-over lead to 41.7, taking the set by 43-7. Much of the South African lead came from three deals on which Glen Holman and Tim Cope failed to show many-time world champions, Alfredo Versace and Lorenzo Lauria, the respect that they would believe to be their due, doubling them for significant penalties while their teammates produced sound results from the other table.

Board 1. Dealer North. None Vul.
	♠ 9 5 4 ♥ K Q J 10 4 ♦ 7 4 ♣ Q 7 4
♠ A 10 8 6 ♥ 8 5 ♦ 8 6 ♣ A K 10 9 8		♠ Q 7 3 ♥ 9 7 2 ♦ A J 10 3 ♣ 6 5 3
	♠ K J 2 ♥ A 6 3 ♦ K Q 9 5 2 ♣ J 2

West	North	East	South
Eber	Fantoni	Bosenberg	Nunes
	Pass	Pass	1NT
Pass	2♦	Pass	2♥
Dble	Pass	3♦	Pass
Pass	3♥	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Versace	Cope	Lauria	Holman
	2♥	Pass	3♥
Dble	Pass	4♦	Dble
All Pass

Claudio Nunes opened 1NT, 12-14 balanced but sometimes including a singleton. Fulvio Fantoni transferred and Nunes completed the transfer. Neville Eber now doubled with the West hand and Chris Bosenberg bid his four-card diamond suit. Three diamonds would have gone for a significant penalty but that was not easy for North/South to appreciate, and Fantoni competed to 3♥, ending the auction.

Eber cashed the ace of clubs and switched to a low spade for the queen and king. When Nunes played the ♣J, Eber won with the king and played a diamond to his partner’s ace. A spade through gave Eber two winners there; nicely defended for one down, -50.

Holman raised Cope’s weak-two opening to the three level and, in a position where several other players went quietly, Versace chose to double. When Lauria responded 4♦, Holman suspected that his opponents had misjudged and thought it only fair that they should be given the bad news as quickly as possible. He doubled, ending the auction.

Holman led the jack of clubs. Lauria won with the king and played a heart, which Cope won with the jack to push a diamond through, the ten losing to the queen. Holman switched back to clubs and Lauria, needing something good to happen, finessed the ten, losing to the queen. Now Cope gave his partner a club ruff, and Holman played ace of hearts, then a spade. That was not best, of course, but neither North nor South realised what the trump position was. The contract went four down for -800 and 13 IMPs to South Africa - the perfect start.

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

West	North	East	South
Eber	Fantoni	Bosenberg	Nunes
1NT	Pass	Pass	2♣
2♦	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Versace	Cope	Lauria	Holman
1♦	Pass	1♥	1♠
2NT	Pass	3NT	Pass
Pass	Dble	4♦	Pass
Pass	Dble	All Pass

Eber opened a strong no trump and, when Nunes overcalled to show the majors, introduced his diamond suit. Two Diamonds ended the auction. Fantoni led a club, so Eber cashed three rounds, pitching a heart from hand, then led a diamond to the king and ace. Fantoni led a heart to the ace, and Nunes switched to a low spade for declarer’s ten. Eber played a low diamond, losing to the eight, ruffed the heart return and played another diamond. He had to lose a spade at the end for down one; -50.

Versace opened 1♦ then rebid 2NT, showing 16-18 with a long diamond suit. When Lauria raised to game, Cope doubled because of his diamond holding. Lauria ran to 4♦ and Cope was even happier to double that contract, ending the auction.

Cope led his singleton spade to Versace’s ace. Versace played three rounds of clubs to get rid of a heart loser but, like other declarers in diamond contracts, found that there was no way to avoid the loss of four trump tricks, a heart and a spade; down three for -500 and 10 IMPs to South Africa.

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

West	North	East	South
Eber	Fantoni	Bosenberg	Nunes
			Pass
1♠	2♠	Pass	3♣
All Pass

West	North	East	South
Versace	Cope	Lauria	Holman
			2♦
3♦	Pass	3♠	Pass
4♠	Pass	Pass	Dble
All Pass

Nunes had no systemic option available to him to open the South cards, so Eber was left to open 1♠ and Fantoni overcalled 2♠, showing hearts and clubs. Nunes gave preference to clubs. Against 3♣, Eber cashed the ace of clubs and ace of spades, then switched to the king of diamonds. Nunes won with the ♦A and played a heart to the jack and queen. Bosenberg’s trump return left him a trick short; -50.

Holman opened an off-centre weak 2♦, in a generally constructive style. Versace showed his major two-suiter, then raised Lauria’s spade preference to game. The 2♦ opening had made East/West guess and Holman now took the view that perhaps they had guessed wrongly. He doubled, ending the auction.

Holman led the ten of clubs to dummy’s ace, Cope dropping the king. Lauria played a heart towards his queen, but Cope went in with the king and gave Holman a heart ruff. Lauria ruffed the club return and led the nine of hearts, throwing a diamond from hand. Holman ruffed and played ace and another diamond. Cope ruffed with the ♠K and gave Holman another heart ruff; down three for -500 and 11 IMPs to South Africa.