USA 1 v CANADA
After four rounds, Canada led the way with 94 VPs out of a possible 100, an impressive start to the tournament, particularly as that included a maximum against the strong French team. Round 5 would be a serious test for the Canadians, as they faced fourth-placed USA1, the pre-tournament favourites.
| Board 3. Dealer South. E/W Vul. |
| | ♠ A 10 9 4 2
♥ 4
♦ 10 8 7 5
♣ J 10 8 |
♠ Q 3
♥ A J 9 8 5
♦ Q
♣ K Q 7 6 3 |  |
♠ K 7 6
♥ K 10 7
♦ A K J 9 6 2
♣ A | | | ♠ J 8 5
♥ Q 6 3 2
♦ 4 3
♣ 9 5 4 2 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Demuy | Grue | Wolpert | Kranyak
|
| | | | Pass
|
| 1♥ | 1♠ | 2♠ | Pass
|
| 4♥ | Pass | 4NT | Pass
|
| 5♣ | Pass | 5♦ | Pass
|
| 5♥ | All Pass
| | |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Wooldridge | Grainger | Hurd | Lavee
|
| | | | Pass
|
| 1♥ | Pass | 2♦ | Pass
|
| 3♣ | Pass | 3♥ | Pass
|
| 4♥ | Pass | 4♠ | Pass
|
| 4NT | Pass | 5♣ | Pass
|
| 5♥ | All Pass
| | |
There were a number of pairs in various slams in other matches the trick is to avoid playing in hearts, where there is a trump guess, as either 6♦ or 6NT has twelve tricks once the diamonds break reasonably. Both our pairs got locked into hearts and discovered that a key card plus the heart queen were missing, so stopped in five. In both cases it was East who took control, Hurd’s 4♠ doing the same job as Wolpert’s 4NT, and both continuations asking for the ♥Q.
After a club lead, Wolpert just lost a heart, while David Grainger cashed the ace of spades then switched to a club in the other room and Joel Wooldridge played hearts from the top to make just eleven tricks; 1 IMP to Canada.
| Board 5. Dealer North. N/S Vul. |
| | ♠ A K Q 8
♥ K J 6 4
♦ J
♣ K Q 7 4 |
♠ 9 6 2
♥ Q 10 9 7 5 3
♦ Q 7
♣ A 3 | |
♠ J 10 7 5 4 3
♥ A 2
♦ 8 6 5 3
♣ 6 | | | ♠
♥ 8
♦ A K 10 9 4 2
♣ J 10 9 8 5 2 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Demuy | Grue | Wolpert | Kranyak
|
| | 1♣ | 2♠ | 3♦
|
| Pass | 3NT | Pass | 4♣
|
| Pass | 4♥ | Pass | 6♣
|
| All Pass
| | | |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Wooldridge | Grainger | Hurd | Lavee
|
| | 1♦ | 2♠ | 4♣
|
| Pass | 6♣ | All Pass
| |
Joe Grue’s 1♣ opening was Precision, 16+, and John Kranyak’s 3♦ followed by 4♣ showed a game-forcing minor two-suiter. Six Clubs was the practical man’s bid it was just a little unfortunate that there happened to be two aces missing. With West on lead 6♣ might well have made on a spade lead, but Gavin Wolpert laid down the ace of hearts and that was that; down one for 100.
Grainger’s 1♦ was either 10-21 with diamonds, unbalanced, or an 18-19 no trump. It looks as though this may be just a problem hand for their methods, a 1♣ opening being any 22+, 15-17 balanced, or 15+ with clubs but no doubt more than just a four-card suit in the last case. Daniel Lavee’s 4♣ catered to both partner’s handtypes and Grainger knew where he thought he wanted to play but the confidence of the leap to slam convinced Joel Wooldridge that a spade lead would not do the trick. He led a heart and that meant the same one down for a flat board.
| Board 7. Dealer South. All Vul. |
| | ♠ 7 3
♥ Q 8 5 4 3 2
♦ 9 7 6
♣ K 4 |
♠ 9 4
♥ A K
♦ A J 8 5
♣ Q 8 7 5 2 | |
♠ A Q 8 6 5
♥ J 7 6
♦ K 4 2
♣ 10 3 | | | ♠ K J 10 2
♥ 10 9
♦ Q 10 3
♣ A J 9 6 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Demuy | Grue | Wolpert | Kranyak
|
| | | | 1♦
|
| Pass | 1♥ | Pass | 1♠
|
| 1NT | Pass | 3NT | All Pass
|
| West | North | East | South
|
| Wooldridge | Grainger | Hurd | Lavee
|
| | | | 1NT
|
| Pass | 2♦ | Pass | 2♥
|
| All Pass
| | | |
Vincent Demuy’s delayed 1NT overcall was presumably intended to suggest the minors, but it appears that Wolpert may have misunderstood his intent. Three No Trump went very badly indeed for Demuy. Grue led a heart to the king then played low (Reverse Smith) to suggest a heart continuation when Demuy led a spade up. The ♠9 ran to Kranyak’s jack and back came a heart. Demuy won and led his remaining spade then thought for quite some timebefore putting in the eight, playing for ♣AK onside, when he might still have play for his contract. Kranyak switched to a low club to the queen and king and now the defence cashed the hearts followed by the clubs to hold declarer to just three tricks; six down for 600.
At the other table Lavee opened 1NT and Grainger transferred him into 2♥. Wooldridge’s club lead ran to the ten and jack and he played a second club on winning Lavee’s heart play. Lavee won the ♣K and, wanting to lead the second heart from hand, tried a diamond to the ten and jack. A third club allowed John Hurd to ruff as dummy pitched a diamond loser and now a diamond to the ace put Wooldridge in to play a fourth club. This time Lavee ruffed with the queen then played a heart to drop the jack and ace together but there was still a spade to lose; down one for 100 and 12 IMPs to USA1.
| Board 9. Dealer North. E/W Vul. |
| | ♠ 8 5 3
♥ A 9 5
♦ 10 9 8 3
♣ 10 8 2 |
♠ 7
♥ K Q J 8 3
♦ K 7 6 4
♣ A 9 3 | |
♠ K J
♥ 10 7 4 2
♦ Q J 5 2
♣ K Q 7 | | | ♠ A Q 10 9 6 4 2
♥ 6
♦ A
♣ J 6 5 4 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Demuy | Grue | Wolpert | Kranyak
|
| | Pass | 1♦ | 4♠
|
| 5♦ | 5♥ | Dble | 5♠
|
| Pass | Pass | Dble | All Pass
|
| West | North | East | South
|
| Wooldridge | Grainger | Hurd | Lavee
|
| | Pass | 1♦ | 4♠
|
| 5♦ | All Pass
| | |
Both Souths overcalled 4♠ and both Wests competed with 5♦. Grainger now went quietly and the Canadians soon had their three aces for one down; 100. Grue took the push to 5♠ but showed his heart card on the way. Kranyak picked up the trumps OK but there was nowhere to get rid of any of the club losers; another down one for 100 and 5 IMPs to Canada.
Up to now the match had been pretty low scoring and it continued that way until the three-quarter point, whenfinally we started to get some serious action.
| Board 16. Dealer West. E/W Vul. |
| | ♠
♥ A J 10 9 5
♦ A J 7 3
♣ 9 7 4 2 |
♠ K 9 3
♥ Q 7 6 4 2
♦ 4 2
♣ 10 5 3 | |
♠ A Q J 7 6
♥ K 8
♦ 10 9
♣ A Q J 6 | | | ♠ 10 8 5 4 2
♥ 3
♦ K Q 8 6 5
♣ K 8 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Demuy | Grue | Wolpert | Kranyak
|
| Pass | 1♥ | 1♠ | Pass
|
| 2♠ | Dble | Rdbl | 3♦
|
| Pass | Pass | 3♠ | All Pass
|
| West | North | East | South
|
| Wooldridge | Grainger | Hurd | Lavee
|
| Pass | 1♥ | 1♠ | 1NT
|
| Pass | 2♦ | Pass | 4♦
|
| Pass | 5♦ | Dble | All Pass
|
The Canadian East/West pair did their job when they competed to 3♠ over 3♦. On a good day even 4♠ might be making, but this was not a good day, with bad breaks in the majors plus a losing club finesse. Wolpert had to lose two diamonds, a club, a heart and a ruff for down one; 100.
In the other room, Lavee first showed a spade stopper then a huge diamond fit and little wastage. Grainger’s raise to 5♦ looks very aggressive facing a limited hand that must still include something resembling a spade stopper, but the diamond game could have been made. Hurd led a trump, which Grainger won in hand to play a club up. Hurd rose with the ace and tried the ace of spades, which Grainger ruffed. Now he crossed to the king of clubs and ruffed a spade, after which there was no way home; down one for 100 and 5 IMPs to USA1.
But suppose that declarer does not take a spade ruff but instead plays ace then ruffs a heart, bringing down the king. A diamond to hand draws the remaining trumps and now it is simply a matter of giving up a heart, establishing two winners in the process. Admittedly, this all needs a rather favourable lie, but it works.
| Board 17. Dealer North. None Vul. |
| | ♠ A K J 10 5
♥ Q 9 2
♦ Q J 10
♣ Q 9 |
♠ 9
♥ A 10 6 5
♦ K 8 7 4
♣ A K 6 3 | |
♠ Q 8 2
♥ 7 4
♦ 3 2
♣ J 10 8 7 4 2 | | | ♠ 7 6 4 3
♥ K J 8 3
♦ A 9 6 5
♣ 5 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Demuy | Grue | Wolpert | Kranyak
|
| | 1NT | Pass | 2♣
|
| Pass | 2♠ | Pass | 3♣
|
| Pass | 3NT | Pass | 4♠
|
| Dble | All Pass
| | |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Wooldridge | Grainger | Hurd | Lavee
|
| | 1♠ | Pass | 3♥
|
| Pass | 3NT | Pass | 4♣
|
| Dble | 4♠ | All Pass
| |
There is an inescapable loser in each suit and so Demuy’s double gained 2 IMPs for his side, right? Wrong! Grainger was given no chance to make his 4♠ contract when Hurd led the ♣J to Wooldridge’s ace and back came the ♠9. Grainger won the ♠K, ruffed his club loser and played a second spade to the ace. Seeing that he had a spade to lose, he tried the diamond finesse and was one down for 50.
Wolpert led a heart against 4♠ doubled and Demuy ducked it to Grue’s nine. To trick two Grue led the jack of spades from hand, trusting that the spade had to be offside to justify Demuy’s double. Had Wolpert gone in with his queen he could then have collected a heart ruff for down two, but he played low, not believing that anyone could play this way from Grue’s actual holding. When the ♠J scored and West followed suit, Grue happily cashed the top spades and simply conceded one trick in each side-suit; a wonderful +590 and 12 IMPs to USA1.
| Board 19. Dealer South. E/W Vul. |
| | ♠ A K Q 6
♥ K 7 6 4
♦ 3
♣ K Q 10 3 |
♠ 10 7 4
♥ 9
♦ K Q 10 8 4
♣ 9 7 6 4 | |
♠ 9 8
♥ Q 10 2
♦ J 9 6 5 2
♣ J 5 2 | | | ♠ J 5 3 2
♥ A J 8 5 3
♦ A 7
♣ A 8 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Demuy | Grue | Wolpert | Kranyak
|
| | | | 1NT
|
| Pass | 2♣ | Pass | 2♥
|
| Pass | 3♠ | Pass | 4♣
|
| Pass | 4♠ | Pass | 4NT
|
| Pass | 5♣ | Pass | 5♦
|
| Pass | 6♥ | All Pass
| |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Wooldridge | Grainger | Hurd | Lavee
|
| | | | 1♥
|
| Pass | 4♦ | Pass | 4NT
|
| Pass | 5♥ | Pass | 5NT
|
| Pass | 7♥ | All Pass
| |
Grue used Stayman then agreed hearts. Four Spades asked for key cards and 5♣ for the queen of trumps. Grue was unwilling to play seven off the trump queen so settled for the small slam. Kranyak won the diamond lead andactually guessed the trumps right to claim the overtrick; +1010.
Grainger splintered, intending to go on even opposite a sign-off, but Lavee liked his controls sufficiently to make a very aggressive RKCB call and, on discovering that all the key cards were present, looked for the grand. With all those spare values, it was impossible not to bid seven with the North hand and Grainger duly did so. The grand slam is around 50% but here Lavee had no good reason to take the finesse after the diamond lead. One down meant 50 and 14 IMPs to USA1.
| Board 20. Dealer West. All Vul. |
| | ♠ J 10
♥ A Q 8 7 4 3 2
♦ 8 4 3 2
♣ |
♠ K 7 5 3
♥ 9 5
♦ A J 7
♣ 9 7 6 3 | |
♠ A 9 8 4
♥ K
♦ K 6 5
♣ A J 10 8 4 | | | ♠ Q 6 2
♥ J 10 6
♦ Q 10 9
♣ K Q 5 2 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Demuy | Grue | Wolpert | Kranyak
|
| Pass | 4♥ | Dble | Pass
|
| 4♠ | All Pass
| | |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Wooldridge | Grainger | Hurd | Lavee
|
| Pass | 3♥ | Dble | Pass
|
| 3♠ | All Pass
| | |
Grue pre-empted one level higher than did Grainger and, with 4♠ doomed to fail by a trick, that was the right thing to do, wasn't it? Wrong again! Wooldridge managed to bring home 3♠ for +140. Grainger cashed the ♥A and switched to a diamond to the queen and ace. Declarer started normally enough but dangerously as the cards lay when he played a club at trick two. Grainger ruffed and forced dummy with a heart. Wooldridge ruffed with the eight, cashed the ace of spades, then came the key play when he ran the ♠9.
Grue had been brilliant already in the set and now he tried for a second brilliancy by leading the ♥2 in search of his club ruff. Dummy was not what he was hoping for. The ♥K scored and Demuy could draw two rounds of trumps then play on clubs, eventually losing just two clubs and a spade; +620 and 12 IMPs back to Canada.
Grue's two pieces of imagination had given USA1 +12 when it might have been 2, and 12 IMPs when it might have been +6 you have to admire his nerve in making the two plays though. USA1 still ran out comfortable winners, by 60-19 IMPs, converting to 24-6 VPs. The favourites were a lot closer to the top now. |
