trananational open teams final session - 3
Zimmermann v Russia
by Brian Senior
The final of the World Transnational Open Teams Championship, between the France/Italy/Switzerland Zimmermann team and the Russia/Poland team Russia, was played in three sets of 16 boards each, 48 boards in all, one set on Friday and two on Saturday. The first set was a lively affair, beginning with:
| Board 17. Dealer North. None Vul. |
| | ♠ A 10 4 2
♥ A 7 5 4
♦ 10 4 2
♣ A 9 |
♠ K Q
♥ K 9 3
♦ A 9 3
♣ Q J 8 5 2 |  |
♠ J 8 5 3
♥ Q 10 8
♦ J 8 5
♣ 6 4 3 | | | ♠ 9 7 6
♥ J 6 2
♦ K Q 7 6
♣ K 10 7 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Nunes | Dubinin | Fantoni | Gromov
|
| | 1NT | Pass | Pass
|
| Dble | Pass | 2♣ | Pass
|
| Pass | Dble | Rdbl | All Pass
|
| West | North | East | South
|
| Ponomareva | M. Bessis | Gromova | T. Bessis
|
| | 1♦ | Pass | 2♦
|
| All Pass
| | | |
Where Michel Bessis opened a better-minor 1♦, son Thomas raised to 2♦, natural and limited, and that ended the auction. Victoria Gromova led the eight of diamonds to the king and ace, and Tatiana Ponomareva switched to the king of spades, ducked, then spade queen to the ace. Michel led the ♠2 to Gromov’s jack, Ponomareva pitching the ♣8, and Gromova played the fourth spade, dummy throwing a heart as West ruffed. Ponomareva returned a low heart to the queen, and the heart continuation went to the jack, king and ace. Declarer ruffed a heart, cashed the queen of diamonds, and played three rounds of clubs for a ruff in hand. Gromova had the last trick, however, so that was down one; –50.
Alexander Dubinin’s weak no trump opening led to more action at the other table, Claudio Nunes doubling on the West cards. That did not appeal to Fulvio Fantoni and he removed to 2♣, redoubling for rescue at his next turn, which left Nunes in an ugly situation that he solved by passing. Andrei Gromov led the king of diamonds, which was ducked, then switched to the two of hearts to Dubinin’s ace. Dubinin returned a second heart to Nunes’ king, and he played the ♠K to North’s ace. Dubinin played a third heart to declarer’s queen, and Fantoni cashed the queen of spades, then played the queen of clubs, Dubinin taking his ace. He returned a diamond, costing the defensive trick in that suit but locking declarer in dummy to concede two more club tricks; down one for –200 and 6 IMPs to Russia.
| Board 18. Dealer East. N/S Vul. |
| | ♠ A 3
♥ 10 8 2
♦ A 10 6
♣ A J 10 7 2 |
♠ K Q 9 7 5 4 2
♥ J 4
♦ K Q
♣ K 3 | |
♠ J 10
♥ 9 3
♦ J 5 4 3 2
♣ Q 8 6 4 | | | ♠ 8 6
♥ A K Q 7 6 5
♦ 9 8 7
♣ 9 5 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Nunes | Dubinin | Fantoni | Gromov
|
| | | Pass | 2♦
|
| Dble | Rdbl | Pass | 2♥
|
| 3♠ | 4♥ | 4♠ | Pass
|
| Pass | Dble | All Pass
| |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Ponomareva | M. Bessis | Gromova | T. Bessis
|
| | | Pass | 2♥
|
| 2♠ | 4♥ | All Pass
| |
Again, the French North/South had a very straightforward auction, Thomas opening a weak 2♥ and Michel brushing aside Ponomareva’s overcall and raising to game. Gromov’s Multi led to a more complex auction, Nunes doubling and Dubinin redoubling to show values. Nunes jumped in spades at his next turn and that was sufficient to convince Fantoni to go on to 4♠ over 4♥, doubled by Dubinin.
Ponomareva led the king of spades against 4♥. Thomas won with the ace and drew trumps in two rounds, then led the nine of clubs, running it when Ponomareva played low. Gromova won with the ♣Q and returned her remaining spade, which Ponomareva overtook to switch to the king of diamonds. Thomas won and crossed to hand with dummy’s last trump to take a second club finesse, claiming when West’s king appeared; +650.
Dubinin led a heart against 4♠ doubled. Gromov won and switched to a trump, so Dubinin won with the ace and continued with a second trump. Nunes lost the obvious five tricks for –300 but 8 IMPs to Zimmermann.
| Board 19. Dealer South. E/W Vul. |
| | ♠ K 9
♥ K 10
♦ K 8 7 3 2
♣ K 10 6 5 |
♠ A 8 7 3
♥ A J 9 8 7
♦ 5
♣ A Q 8 | |
♠ Q 6 5
♥ Q 4 3
♦ A Q 10 4
♣ 7 4 2 | | | ♠ J 10 4 2
♥ 6 5 2
♦ J 9 6
♣ J 9 3 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Nunes | Dubinin | Fantoni | Gromov
|
| | | | Pass
|
| 1♥ | Pass | 2♣ | Pass
|
| 2♦ | Pass | 2♥ | Pass
|
| 3♣ | Pass | 3NT | All Pass
|
| West | North | East | South
|
| Ponomareva | M. Bessis | Gromova | T. Bessis
|
| | | | Pass
|
| 1♥ | Pass | 1NT | Pass
|
| 2♣ | Pass | 2NT | Pass
|
| 3NT | All Pass
| | |
Both Easts declared 3NT, the Russians after a forcing no trump auction. Fantoni’s 2♣ response was game-forcing with clubs, balanced, or heart support, and 2♦ showed spades. Three Clubs completed the picture of the West hand and 3NT the logical conclusion from a hand that had already shown its heart support.
Thomas led his fourth-best spade, which Gromova ducked to the king. Michel switched to the ♦8, declarer putting in the queen and playing a heart to the jack and king. Gromova won the diamond continuation and cashed the hearts, then judged it wise to cash out for +600.
Gromov also led the ♠2, ducked to the king, and Dubinin too switched to the ♦8. Nunes rose with the ace of diamonds and led the queen of hearts to Dubinin’s king. Dubinin played a low diamond and Nunes guessed wrongly, his ten losing to the jack. Gromov found the club switch now and Nunes rose with the ace then cashed the hearts, but had no ninth tricks, so was down one for –100 and 12 IMPs to Russia.
| Board 20. Dealer West. All Vul. |
| | ♠ 8 7 4
♥ 10 9 7 5 4
♦ J 10 8
♣ K 8 |
♠ A K 9 6 2
♥ A 3
♦ 5
♣ Q 9 6 5 3 | |
♠ J 5
♥ J 6
♦ A K Q 4 3 2
♣ J 4 2 | | | ♠ Q 10 3
♥ K Q 8 2
♦ 9 7 6
♣ A 10 7 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Nunes | Dubinin | Fantoni | Gromov
|
| 1♠ | Pass | 2♦ | Pass
|
| 2♠ | Pass | 3♦ | Pass
|
| 3NT | All Pass
| | |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Ponomareva | M. Bessis | Gromova | T. Bessis
|
| 1♠ | Pass | 2♦ | Pass
|
| 2♠ | Pass | 2NT | Pass
|
| 3♣ | Pass | 3♠ | Pass
|
| 4♥ | Pass | 4♠ | All Pass
|
Fantoni forced to game with a natural 2♦ response, then rebid his suit, and Nunes bid the obvious 3NT, ending the auction. Dubinin led the ten of hearts to the jack and queen, ducked, but Nunes had to win the heart continuation. The contract depended on the diamonds and, when they split evenly, Nunes had nine tricks for +600.
Gromova rebid 2NT as East, 3♦ being non-forcing, and Ponomareva showed her second suit. Gromova could see that the heart position must be quite delicate for no trump, so showed spade tolerance, and Ponomareva took her seriously, making a heart cuebid. Gromova quickly signed off in 4♠ and Michel led the ♥4 to the queen and ace. Ponomareva cashed two diamonds to get rid of her rheart loser, then led the ♣2 to the nine and king. Michel returned his remaining club and Thomas gave him his ruff. There was a trump loser to come for down one; –100 and 12 IMPs to Zimmermann.
| Board 22. Dealer East. E/W Vul. |
| | ♠ 10 2
♥ A 10 6 3
♦ Q 9 7 6
♣ A 10 4 |
♠ A J 7
♥ K J 4 2
♦ A J 8 2
♣ J 6 | |
♠ 9 8
♥ Q 9 8 7
♦ 10 5
♣ Q 9 8 5 2 | | | ♠ K Q 6 5 4 3
♥ 5
♦ K 4 3
♣ K 7 3 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Nunes | Dubinin | Fantoni | Gromov
|
| | | Pass | 1♠
|
| Dble | Rdbl | 2♥ | 2♠
|
| Pass | Pass | 3♣ | Pass
|
| 3♥ | All Pass
| | |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Ponomareva | M. Bessis | Gromova | T. Bessis
|
| | | Pass | 1♠
|
| 1NT | Dble | 2♣ | Pass
|
| Pass | Dble | All Pass
| |
What would be your choice as West over the 1♠ opening? Nunes chose to double for take-out and Dubinin redoubled, showing strength. With a minimum opening, Gromov rebid 2♠ over Fantoni’s 2♥ and that was passed around to Fantoni, who competed with 3♣ then passed the preference to 3♥. The play record is missing, but we know that Gromov led the king of spades and Fantoni was one down; –100, which looks about right on this lay-out.
Ponomareva preferred to overcall 1NT and Michel doubled. Gromova ran to what she perceived to be the relative safety of 2♣ and Michel doubled again, ending the auction.
Thomas led his singleton heart. Michel won the ace and returned the ♥3, suit preference for diamonds.
Thomas ruffed and switched to the ♦3 to Michel’s queen. After taking a second ruff, Thomas switched to the ♠K to dummy’s ace. Gromova played the jack of clubs round to Thomas’s king, and he cashed the ♠Q then played a diamond. Declarer won with the ace and played a club up, losing to the ace; down two for –500 and 9 IMPs to Zimmermann.
| Board 23. Dealer South. All Vul. |
| | ♠ A Q 10
♥ J 10 8 4
♦ 10 7 3 2
♣ A 5 |
♠ 9 7 5
♥ A K 3 2
♦ Q 4
♣ 10 9 8 6 | |
♠ J 6 3 2
♥ Q
♦ A 9 6
♣ Q 7 4 3 2 | | | ♠ K 8 4
♥ 9 7 6 5
♦ K J 8 5
♣ K J |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Nunes | Dubinin | Fantoni | Gromov
|
| | | | Pass
|
| Pass | 1♦ | Pass | 1♥
|
| Pass | 2♥ | All Pass |
|
| West | North | East | South
|
| Ponomareva | M. Bessis | Gromova | T. Bessis
|
| | | | Pass
|
| Pass | 1♦ | Pass | 1♥
|
| All Pass
| | | |
You might not think that the decision to pass or to raise to 2♥ was a big deal, but the swing on the board was a significant one.
Ponomareva led the ♣8 against 1♥, and Thomas won in hand with the jack. He played a heart to the jack and queen, and Gromova played ace and another diamond. Thomas went up with the king, probably imagining that there was ace-doubleton on his right. When the queen fell on his left, he was comfortably placed. Thomas played a second heart, Ponomareva taking the king and switching to the ♠7. Thomas won in hand and played another heart to the ace, and could then win the return and cash the remainder of the tricks; making nine for +140.
Nunes led the ♣10 against 2♥, and Gromov went up with dummy’s ace to lead a heart, Fantoni winning the queen. Fantoni led a second club to declarer’s king, establishing some defensive winners in the process. Gromov played a second round of trumps to West’s king, and Nunes cashed the ace of hearts before playing the fourth round. That exhausted everyone of trumps so that when Gromov now played a diamond off the dummy Fantoni could grab his ace and the defence could cash three club winners; down two for –200 and 8 IMPs to Zimmermann.
| Board 32. Dealer West. E/W Vul. |
| | ♠ 8 6 5 3 2
♥ 6 5 4
♦ A K Q
♣ 10 6 |
♠ A K 9 7
♥ A K 10 9 8
♦ J
♣ K 9 2 | |
♠ J 4
♥ Q 2
♦ 8 5 3 2
♣ A Q J 7 3 | | | ♠ Q 10
♥ J 7 3
♦ 10 9 7 6 4
♣ 8 5 4 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Nunes | Dubinin | Fantoni | Gromov
|
| 1♥ | Pass | 2♣ | Pass
|
| 2♦ | Pass | 2♥ | Pass
|
| 3♣ | Pass | 4♣ | Pass
|
| 6♣ | All Pass
| | |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Ponomareva | M. Bessis | Gromova | T. Bessis
|
| 1♣ | Pass | 2♥ | Pass
|
| 2♠ | Pass | 3♣ | Pass
|
| 3♥ | Pass | 3NT | Pass
|
| 4♣ | Pass | 5♣ | All Pass
|
I don’t have the Russian methods to hand, but 1♣ was strong and 2♥ some sort of minor-suit positive, over which 2♠ presumably enquired, 3♣ showed clubs, and 3♥ was natural. Ponomareva showed her club support but, holding a minimum with nothing to cuebid, Gromova felt unable to do other than sign-off in 5♣.
Nunes showed five plus hearts and 14+ HCP (or the equivalent in playing strength) and 2♣ was a natural game-force, or strong balanced, or strong with hearts. Two diamonds was a relay, and Nunes showed his club support at his next turn. Fantoni had nothing more to say, but Nunes could see that slam would have play facing nothing more than a good club suit and jumped to 6♣.
As the cards lay, there was nothing to the play. Both defences took their diamond winner then played a second round, and both declarers ruffed, drew trumps and played on hearts, having the possibility to ruff them out had they divided four-two. That meant +620 for Ponomareva but +1370 to Fantoni and 13 IMPs to Zimmermann.
Zimmermann won the set by 61-21 to lead overall by 61-27, Russia having a 6-IMP carryover advantage.
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