BRAZIL v CHILE
The first round of the Championship saw many matches involving local geographical rivalries. The two South American teams are not expected to feature in the latter stages of this Championship, but they would hope to create a few upsets along the way and this first round encounter was of considerable significance to both teams
| Board 2. Dealer East. N/S Vul. |
| | ♠ 9 7 6
♥ 7 3
♦ K 8 4 3
♣ J 10 6 5 |
♠ Q J 5
♥ K Q 10 9
♦ Q 7
♣ A 7 4 2 |  |
♠ A K 4 3
♥ 8 6 5
♦ A 9 5 2
♣ 8 3 | | | ♠ 10 8 2
♥ A J 4 2
♦ J 10 6
♣ K Q 9 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Robles | Barbosa | Pacareu | Brum
|
| Levy | Smith | Rossi | Riedel
|
| | | 1♦ | Pass
|
| 1♥ | Pass | 1♠ | Pass
|
| 2♣ | Pass | 2♥ | Pass
|
| 3NT | All Pass
|
Both declarers received the lead of a low club to the queen. They ducked two rounds of clubs then won the third round and played the king of hearts from hand. Now the play at the two tables diverged.
For Brazil, Jose Roberto Brum ducked the heart, leaving declarer, Benjamin Robles, awkwardly placed. Robles continued by cashing four rounds of spades, throwing the last club from hand as Brum pitched a heart. Robles played a heart next but Brum could win the ace and switch to the jack of diamonds and there was no way for Robles to get home; down one for –50.
For Chile, Paula Riedel won the ace of hearts at trick four and now it was natural for declarer, Viana Levy, to use the two dummy entries to finesse twice in hearts and claim nine tricks for +400 and 10 IMPs to Brazil, giving that country an early lead.
| Board 3. Dealer South. E/W Vul. |
| | ♠ Q 10 5
♥ Q 8 7 3
♦ 8 4
♣ 9 8 7 3 |
♠ 8 7 6
♥ K
♦ K Q 10 3 2
♣ K 5 4 2 | |
♠ A 9 3 2
♥ A 9 6 5 4 2
♦ 5
♣ Q 10 | | | ♠ K J 4
♥ J 10
♦ A J 9 7 6
♣ A J 6 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Robles | Barbosa | Pacareu | Brum
|
| | | | 1NT
|
| Pass | Pass | 2♣ | 2♦
|
| Dble | All Pass
|
| West | North | East | South
|
| Levy | Smith | Rossi | Riedel
|
| | | | 1♦
|
| Pass | Pass | 1♥ | Pass
|
| 1NT | Pass | 2♥ | All Pass
|
Chile struck back immediately when Brum made an injudicious second call on the South cards over the 2♣ (both majors) overcall. Robles was happy to double and led a spade to Joaquin Pacareu’s ace. Pacareu switched to the queen of clubs to declarer’s ace. Brum played ace then jack of diamonds in hope of pinning the doubleton ten – no good news there. Robles won the diamond, cashed the ♦10 to give partner the good news in that suit, then cashed the king of hearts before playing a spade. It appears that declarer should get out for down one now, eventually getting a heart away on the fourth club, however, he did not read the position correctly. Brum won the spade in hand to play a diamond to the king but threw a club from dummy. Robles played two rounds of clubs and in the fullness of time Pacareu had to make his ace of hearts; down two for –300.
Meanwhile, Riedel’s 1♦ opening kept her out of trouble at the other table as there was no temptation to take a second bid once partner, Jack Smith, had passed. Eduardo Rossi played 2♥ on a trump lead to dummy’s bare king. Rossi ducked a spade to the jack and Riedel tried theeffect of switching to the jack of clubs. That ran to declarer’s queen and Rossi cashed the ace of hearts then played adiamond up. When Riedel did not find the spade switch, not easy after declarer’s early spade play, two spades went away on the minor-suit winners and Rossi was home with eight tricks for +110 but still 5 IMPs to Chile.
| Board 4. Dealer West. All Vul. |
| | ♠ A 7 6 2
♥ 10 8 5
♦ J 10 9 5 2
♣ 9 |
♠ 10 4 3
♥ 7 6 4
♦ 7 6
♣ A K 8 4 3 | |
♠ Q J
♥ K Q
♦ 8 4 3
♣ Q J 10 7 5 2 | | | ♠ K 9 8 5
♥ A J 9 3 2
♦ A K Q
♣ 6 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Robles | Barbosa | Pacareu | Brum
|
| Pass | Pass | 3♣ | Dble
|
| 5♣ | Pass | Pass | Dble
|
| All Pass
|
| West | North | East | South
|
| Levy | Smith | Rossi | Riedel
|
| Pass | Pass | Pass | 1♥
|
| Pass | 1♠ | Pass | 4♣
|
| Dble | 4♠ | All Pass
|
Would you take action in third seat with the East cards? I know a lot of players who would open 3♣, as did Pacareu, but I am not convinced that it is sound with such unattractive distribution when vulnerable and with so many points in the majors.
It was inevitable that Levy would raise to 5♣ when Brum doubled – he has to take away the maximum amount of space in case partner does not have all that potential defence. Brum’s second double ended the auction and there were five automatic losers for –800.
Rossi passed in third seat, with which I have more sympathy as a 1♣ opening hardly looks likely to achieve very much, and Smith became declarer in 4♠ after a splinter raise from Riedel. With both majors favourably divided, there was little to the play so that was +620 but 5 IMPs to Brazil.
| Board 5. Dealer North. N/S Vul. |
| | ♠ 10
♥ 7
♦ A Q J 10 6 3
♣ A 10 9 8 3 |
♠ 9 7 5
♥ 8 5 4 3
♦ 9 8 5
♣ K 4 2 | |
♠ A 8 2
♥ A K Q 10 6 2
♦ 7 4
♣ Q J | | | ♠ K Q J 6 4 3
♥ J 9
♦ K 2
♣ 7 6 5 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Robles | Barbosa | Pacareu | Brum
|
| | 1♦ | 1♥ | 2♥
|
| 4♥ | 4NT | Pass | 5♣
|
| Dble | Pass | Pass | 5♦
|
| Pass | Pass | Dble | All Pass
|
| West | North | East | South
|
| Levy | Smith | Rossi | Riedel
|
| | 1♦ | 1♥ | 1♠
|
| 3♥ | 4♣ | 4♥ | 4♠
|
| Pass | Pass | 5♥ | Pass
|
| Pass | Dble | All Pass
|
Brazil got to the five level at both tables and were doubled in both contracts.
Roberto Oliveira Barbosa’s 5♦ received a trump lead from Pacareu. Barbosa won in hand to preserve the ♦K as an entry to the spades. He played the ♠10 at trick two and that held the trick. Now he crossed to the king of diamonds and ducked a club, eventually losing two clubs and a heart for down one; –200.
Had the ace of spades been taken and a heart cashed, there would still have been two clubs to lose so Barbosa would have felt not too bad about things, even though he could see that there was no game on for his opponents.
Riedel led the king of diamonds against 5♥ doubled and that broke the defensive communications so that a spade loser could go away on the king of clubs. Smith overtook the diamond to switch to his spade but declarer could win, draw trumps and play on clubs for down two; –300 and 11 IMPs to Chile.
| Board 6. Dealer East. E/W Vul. |
| | ♠ 5 2
♥ K Q 8 7 5 4 2
♦ A 8
♣ 10 6 |
♠ A K Q 4
♥ A 6 3
♦ 10 9 4
♣ 9 7 4 | |
♠ J 9 7 6 3
♥ J
♦ Q 6 3
♣ A K Q 5 | | | ♠ 10 8
♥ 10 9
♦ K J 7 5 2
♣ J 8 3 2 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Robles | Barbosa | Pacareu | Brum
|
| | | 1♠ | Pass
|
| 2♣ | 2♥ | Pass | Pass
|
| 4♠ | All Pass
|
| West | North | East | South
|
| Levy | Smith | Rossi | Riedel
|
| | | 1♠ | Pass
|
| 2NT | 4♥ | 4♠ | 5♥
|
| Dble | All Pass
|
Robles’ 2♣ response allowed Barbosa a cheap way into the auction and his simple overcall did not encourage Brum to get involved over 4♠. This was a comfortable contract which actually made an overtrick when South slipped up late in the play; +650.
Levy’s game-forcing spade raise via 2NT persuaded Smith to pre-empt with a jump to 4♥ and now Riedel felt it worthwhile to save in 5♥ over 4♠. Right she proved to be as the defence could take only two tricks in each black suit plus one trump for –500; 4 IMPs to Chile.
| Board 7. Dealer South. All Vul. |
| | ♠ A 8 6 5
♥ Q 5 3
♦ 5
♣ A K 7 5 3 |
♠ Q 10 9 7 4
♥ A 8 2
♦ K J 8 3
♣ 2 | |
♠ –
♥ J 10 7 4
♦ Q 10 6 4
♣ Q J 10 9 8 | | | ♠ K J 3 2
♥ K 9 6
♦ A 9 7 2
♣ 6 4 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Robles | Barbosa | Pacareu | Brum
|
| | | | Pass
|
| Pass | 1♣ | Pass | 1♠
|
| Pass | 2♠ | Pass | 3♦
|
| Pass | 4♠ | Pass | Pass
|
| Dble | All Pass
|
| West | North | East | South
|
| Levy | Smith | Rossi | Riedel
|
| | | | Pass
|
| Pass | 1♣ | Pass | 1♦
|
| 1♠ | 2♣ | Pass | 2NT
|
| All Pass
|
The swings kept coming. Brum’s 1♠ response to the opening bid silenced Robles and ensured that Brazil would get to the spade game, which Robles was happy to double. Robles led his singleton and Brum won the ace to lead adiamond to the ace then a club up. That careful play allowed the club king to score as Robles pitched a heart and now a heart went to the king and ace. Robles played back a heart to the queen and declarer tried a spade to the king, getting the bad news. He ruffed a diamond then conceded a heart, after which a club was ruffed and over-ruffed and a diamond returned for dummy to ruff. There were two more trumps to be lost from here for two down and –500.
Riedel’s 1♦ response left room for Levy to overcall his five-card spade suit, thereby keeping his opponents out of the doomed spade game. Instead, Riedel declared 2NT on the helpful lead of a spade to her jack. She ducked a club and back came a low diamond, ducked to the eight, followed by a low diamond return for the queen, again ducked. Riedel won the next diamond and led a heart to the queen then tested the clubs. Though clubs broke badly, cashing them put pressure on West, who had no way to avoid allowing declarer a second heart trick in one way or another; +120 and 12 IMPs to Chile, who were building up a useful lead.
| Board 8. Dealer West. None Vul. |
| | ♠ Q 6 5
♥ 10 3
♦ A Q 10 5 4
♣ J 10 8 |
♠ A 9 8 7 4
♥ A Q 8 5
♦ J 7 6
♣ 6 | |
♠ K J 3 2
♥ 2
♦ K 3 2
♣ A K Q 9 5 | | | ♠ 10
♥ K J 9 7 6 4
♦ 9 8
♣ 7 4 3 2 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Robles | Barbosa | Pacareu | Brum
|
| 1♠ | Pass | 2♣ | Pass
|
| 2♥ | Pass | 2♠ | Pass
|
| 4♠ | All Pass
|
| West | North | East | South
|
| Levy | Smith | Rossi | Riedel
|
| 1♠ | Pass | 2♣ | Pass
|
| 2♥ | Pass | 2♠ | Pass
|
| 4♠ | Pass | 4NT | Pass
|
| 5♥ | Pass | 6♠ | All Pass
|
Chile’s lead increased yet again when Brazil bid a thin and unsuccessful slam here. With everything else lying well for E/W, a winning spade view would have seen Levy home, but there was no good reason to take the finesse after Smith had led ace and another diamond and he was one down for –50 and 11 IMPs to Chile.
Things quietened down for a while and the next significant swing did not come until Board 14.
| Board 14. Dealer East. None Vul. |
| | ♠ 9 6
♥ K 10 6 4 3
♦ 9 8 7 5
♣ 6 3 |
♠ 5
♥ 7 2
♦ A 10 6 4
♣ A J 9 5 4 2 | |
♠ A Q J 8 3 2
♥ 9
♦ Q 3
♣ K Q 10 7 | | | ♠ K 10 7 4
♥ A Q J 8 5
♦ K J 2
♣ 8 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Robles | Barbosa | Pacareu | Brum
|
| | | 1♠ | 2♥
|
| Dble | 4♥ | 4♠ | All Pass
|
| West | North | East | South
|
| Levy | Smith | Rossi | Riedel
|
| | | 1♠ | 2♥
|
| Dble | 3♣ | 3♠ | All Pass
|
Barbosa made a normal pre-emptive raise to 4♥ and Pacareu had little option but to try 4♠, ending the auction. He ruffed the second heart and played ace then queen of spades to the king. There was no winning defence now, of course, but Brum took his best shot when he switched to the king of diamonds; ten tricks for +420.
Presumably Smith’s 3♣ bid over the negative double was just a psyche and, if so, it was a very effective one. It left room for Rossi to show his extra values with a comfortable 3♠ bid and, lacking spade support, Levy could hardly go on to game; +170 but 6 IMPs to Chile.
| Board 16. Dealer West. E/W Vul. |
| | ♠ 5 3
♥ 6
♦ 8 6 4
♣ K Q J 10 8 7 2 |
♠ A Q 9 6
♥ 9 7
♦ A Q J
♣ A 9 6 5 | |
♠ J 8
♥ A K 8 4 3 2
♦ 10 5 2
♣ 4 3 | | | ♠ K 10 7 4 2
♥ Q J 10 5
♦ K 9 7 3
♣ – |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Robles | Barbosa | Pacareu | Brum
|
| 1NT | 3♣ | 3♥ | Pass
|
| 3NT | All Pass
|
| West | North | East | South
|
| Levy | Smith | Rossi | Riedel
|
| 1NT | 2NT | 4♥ | Pass
|
| Pass | 5♣ | Dble | All Pass
|
Barbosa made a natural 3♣ overcall and was then content to let his opponents play 3NT. He led the king of clubs and switched to the singleton heart in response to Brum’s spade discard when Robles ducked. That was ducked to Brum’s ten and he had an awkward play to the next trick. Brum chose to switch to a low diamond, declarer finessing the queen and leading a heart to the ace. Robles continued by playing two more rounds of hearts, clearing the suit. There is no winning defence from this point but Brum’s low spade switch cost an overtrick as it ran to dummy’s eight and provided the necessary entry to cash the hearts; +630 as South was squeezed in the ending.
Smith could not show the clubs directly at his first turn and, when his opponents bid to the heart game, felt obliged to show the suit at a dangerously high level. After a heart lead and diamond switch, West eventually got endplayed to give a seventh trick; four down for–800 and5 IMPs to Brazil.
| Board 19. Dealer South. E/W Vul. |
| | ♠ A 9
♥ K 8 6 4 2
♦ K 10
♣ A 4 3 2 |
♠ K Q J 5 4
♥ 7 5
♦ 4
♣ Q 10 9 8 7 | |
♠ 10 7
♥ A Q J 10
♦ A 9 7 6 5 3
♣ 5 | | | ♠ 8 6 3 2
♥ 9 3
♦ Q J 8 2
♣ K J 6 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Robles | Barbosa | Pacareu | Brum
|
| | | | Pass
|
| Pass | 1♥ | Pass | 1♠
|
| 2♥ | Pass | 2♠ | Pass
|
| Pass | Dble | Pass | 3♦
|
| Pass | Pass | Dble | All Pass
|
| West | North | East | South
|
| Levy | Smith | Rossi | Riedel
|
| | | | Pass
|
| Pass | 1♥ | Pass | 1♠
|
| Pass | 1NT | 2♦ | Pass
|
| Pass | Dble | Pass | 2♥
|
| All Pass
|
Robles made a two-suited overcall despite one of his suits having already been shown on his right. That worked out just fine because Pacareu showed spade tolerance and Barbosa (North) doubled for take-out. Brum, whose spades were very weak, had no hesitation in taking out thedouble, and Pacareu must have been delighted by this turn of events. His double ended the auction and Robles led the king of spades to dummy’s ace. Badly placed, Brum tried a low heart off the table but Pacareu was under no pressure and won with the ten then played ace and another trump to the king. He won the next low heart play and cashed the ♠10 then exited with a trump. Brum won, cashed hisremaining trump winner and played two rounds of clubs. Pacareu could ruff but had to concede a trick to the king of hearts so Brum escaped for down three; –500.
Levy did not come in with the West cards after the same start from his opponents. Rossi, who might have overcalled at his first turn, did so at his second instead, and Smithdoubled to compete the partscore. Had Riedel passed with her ♦QJ82 sitting over declarer, Brazil might have played a doubled diamond contract at both tables. Two Diamonds doubled would have gone one down on careful defence but Riedel preferred to go back to 2♥, ending the auction. Rossi led two rounds of diamonds for a ruff but his second diamond was the three and Levy read a lot into this and switched to a club round to the jack rather than a moreeffective spade. Smith ducked a heart and, when a spade now came back, threw his spade losers on the established diamonds. There were still three more trumps to be lost but that was only one down for –50 and that gave Chile 10 IMPs.
Chile won the match by 61-22 IMPs, converting to acomfortable 22-8 VP victory. Whatever the rest of the tournament may hold for these two teams, Chile had earned the South American bragging rights.
|
