HUNGARY v USA 2
by Ron Klinger
A number of East/West pairs encountered trouble on the first board. Hungary was one of them.
| Board 1. Dealer North. None Vul. |
| | ♠ K J 6 5
♥ A 5 2
♦ A J 10 8
♣ J 7 |
♠ A Q 10 9 8 7 4
♥
♦ Q 9 6 5 2
♣ 6 |  |
♠ 3
♥ K J 10 7 6
♦ K 3
♣ Q 10 9 5 2 | | | ♠ 2
♥ Q 9 8 4 3
♦ 7 4
♣ A K 8 4 3 |
Datum: N/S +140
| West | North | East | South
|
| Szabo | Crank | Riesz | A Hurd
|
| | 1♦ | 2NT | Dble
|
| 3♠ | Dble | 4♣ | Dble
|
| 4♠ | Dble | All Pass
| |
East might have saved a little by passing 3♠ doubled. The ♣J was led and in the fullness of time declarer lost two spades, three diamonds and a club for three down; 500.
At the other table:
| West | North | East | South
|
| J.Rice | Minarik | M.Rice | Marjai
|
| | 1NT | 2♥ | Pass
|
| 2♠ | All Pass
| | |
This went one down for 50 and 10 IMPs to USA2. The other exciting results were North 2NT doubled, making, +490; South 4♦ doubled, 500, and North 3NT doubled, making, +550.
Board 5 also proved expensive for Hungary:
| Board 5. Dealer North. N/S Vul. |
| | ♠ K Q 10 7 5 4 3 2
♥
♦ J 10
♣ A K 4 |
♠ A J 9 6
♥ A K J 9
♦ 9 7 2
♣ Q 6 | |
♠
♥ 10 8 5 4 3
♦ A 8 6 4
♣ 9 7 5 2 | | | ♠ 8
♥ Q 7 6 2
♦ K Q 5 3
♣ J 10 8 3 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Szabo | Crank | Riesz | A Hurd
|
| | 1♠ | Pass | 1NT
|
| Dble | 4♠ | 5♥ | Dble
|
| All Pass
| | | |
A significant requirement for winning is patience. West’s double looks like an impatient action. Had he passed, he might have had the same result as in the other room.
South led the ♠8, which East ruffed to lead a club to the queen and king. The ♦J came back, taken by the ace. East played another club and North overtook South’s ten to play the ♠K. East ruffed and was over-ruffed. South cashed the diamonds and the outcome was N/S +800.
At the other table:
| West | North | East | South
|
| J.Rice | Minarik | M.Rice | Marjai
|
| | 1♠ | Pass | 1NT
|
| Pass | 4♥ | Pass | 4♠
|
| All Pass
| | | |
The jump to 4♥ was a splinter with a self-sufficient spade suit. East led the ♥4 and North ruffed West’s jack. With no inkling of the spade break, North naturally enough started with the ♠K. West took the ace and shifted to the ♣6.Declarer could not avoid losing two more spades and the ♦A for one down; 100, and 14 IMPs to USA2.
Hungary struck back on Board 9 with a slam versus game swing:
| Board 9. Dealer North. E/W Vul. |
| | ♠ A Q 8 3 2
♥ K 3
♦ A 9
♣ K 9 4 3 |
♠ 5 4
♥ 10 8 7
♦ 7 6 4 3 2
♣ Q 10 2 | |
♠ 10 7 6
♥ A J 6 2
♦ Q J
♣ 8 7 6 5 | | | ♠ K J 9
♥ Q 9 5 4
♦ K 10 8 5
♣ A J |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Szabo | Crank | Riesz | A Hurd
|
| | 1♠ | Pass | 2♦
|
| Pass | 3♣ | Pass | 4♠
|
| All Pass
| | | |
Datum: N/S +550 Lead: ♦Q +480
| West | North | East | South
|
| J.Rice | Minarik | M.Rice | Marjai
|
| | 1♠ | Pass | 2♣
|
| Pass | 3♣ | Pass | 4♠
|
| Pass | 4NT | Pass | 5♥
|
| Pass | 6♠ | All Pass
| |
Lead: ♦J
The favourable layout meant it did not matter whether declarer went for club ruffs or cashed the ♦A. That was +980 and 11 IMPs to Hungary.
A slam swing went to Hungary on Board 16:
| Board 16. Dealer West. E/W Vul. |
| | ♠ K 10 8 4 2
♥ 10 8
♦ K 3 2
♣ Q 6 5 |
♠ A Q 6 3
♥ K 5
♦ A 10 8 5
♣ K 9 2 | |
♠ 9
♥ A Q
♦ Q 9 7 6 4
♣ A J 10 8 3 | | | ♠ J 7 5
♥ J 9 7 6 4 3 2
♦ J
♣ 7 4 |
At both tables West began with 1♦. At one table North overcalled 1♠, at the other N/S were silent. Both ended in 6♦. Crank, who had overcalled 1♠, led the ♥10. Declarer won and played ♦A and another diamond. North took the ♦K and exited with the ♦3. Although there was a case for placing the club length with South (North had shown up with three diamonds and presumably five spades), declarer judged that the ♣Q was more likely to be with the one who bid. He cashed the ♣K and finessed against North for +1370.
At the other table the lead was also the ♥10 and, with no guidance from N/S, declarer went one down. That was 16 IMPs to Hungary, who won the match 48-38, 17-13 VPs. |
