CANADA v USA 2
by Ron Klinger
Try this problem:
West | North | East | South
|
| | | Pass
|
2♥ | 2♠ | Pass | ?
|
What would you do as South with:
| ♠ 9 7 3 ♥ A 7 4 ♦ J 3 ♣ A 9 8 5 4 |
(See Board 19 later)
The excitement started on the first board with a possible slam and a sacrifice:
Board 1. Dealer North. None Vul. |
| ♠ 10 ♥ A K J 7 ♦ K 5 4 2 ♣ A 8 6 5 | ♠ A K 9 7 3 ♥ 6 ♦ Q 7 ♣ 10 9 7 4 3 | ![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) | ♠ Q J 8 6 4 2 ♥ Q ♦ 10 9 8 3 ♣ J 2 | | ♠ 5 ♥ 10 9 8 5 4 3 2 ♦ A J 6 ♣ K Q |
Datum: N/S +570
West | North | East | South
|
Capes | M.Rice | Grainger | J.Rice
|
| 1♦ | 2♠ | 3♥
|
4♠ | 5♥ | All Pass
| |
Lead: ♠A; 12 tricks, +480
West | North | East | South
|
Hurd | Wolpert | Crank | Demuy
|
| 1♣ | 2♠ | Dble
|
4♠ | Dble | All Pass
| |
Lead: ♣K
Declarer lost the obvious five top losers for two down, 300, and 5 Imps to USA2. Both sides bid the slam in the Chile vs USA1 match:
West | North | East | South
|
Robles | Grue | Pacareu | Kranyak
|
| 1♦ | 2♠ | 3♥
|
4♠ | 4NT | Pass | 5♦
|
Pass | 6♥ | All Pass
| |
West | North | East | South
|
Wooldridge | Smith | Hurd | Riedel
|
| 1♥ | 2♠ | 3♠
|
4♠ | Dble | Pass | 4NT
|
Pass | 5♣(i) | Pass | 5♥(ii)
|
Pass | 6♥ | All pass
| |
(i) 0 or 3 key cards
(ii) In case it is 0
Then USA2 took a phantom sacrifice, but picked up IMPs anyway:
Board 2. Dealer East. N/S Vul. |
| ♠ 9 7 2 ♥ K Q 10 9 7 2 ♦ ♣ A 7 6 2 | ♠ J 6 5 ♥ J 6 ♦ 10 9 5 3 2 ♣ J 10 4 | ![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) | ♠ A K Q 8 3 ♥ 5 3 ♦ K 6 4 ♣ K Q 5 | | ♠ 10 4 ♥ A 8 4 ♦ A Q J 8 7 ♣ 9 8 3 |
Datum: N/S +170
West | North | East | South
|
Capes | M.Rice | Grainger | J.Rice
|
| | 1♠ | 2♦
|
Pass | 2♥ | Pass | 3♥
|
Pass | 4♥ | All Pass
| |
Lead: ♠A
East continued with ♠Q. West had played ♠6, then ♠5. A club switch will defeat the contract, but East played the SK, ruffed in dummy. Next came the ♣A, club discard, and the ♦Q, club discard, run to the ♦K. East shifted to the ♣K, too late, taken by the ace. After ♥K, heart to the ace, declarer threw his remaining club loser on the ♦J for +620.
West | North | East | South
|
Hurd | Wolpert | Crank | Demuy
|
| | 1♠ | Pass
|
1NT | 2♥ | 3♠ | 4♦
|
4♠ | Dble | All Pass
| |
Lead: ♥4
North won and shifted to the ♣6. East’s ♣K held and he drew trumps, then exited with a heart won by North, who played a third heart. East ruffed and played the ♣Q. North took it and played a fourth heart, ruffed. As South was down to only diamonds East was bound to make a diamond tricks and escape for 300. 8 IMPs to USA2. In Chile versus USA1 both tables reached 4♥ after East opened 1♠. Smith for Chile made his game, not so Grue at the other table. Pacareu led the ♠A and switched at trick 2 to the ♣K, West playing a helpful ♣J. Perhaps the club switch can wait till trick three, but where else could thedefence collect four tricks in all? Grue took the ♣A, played a heart to the ace, pitched a spade on the ♦A and another on the ♦Q. The defence collected two club tricks for one down and 12 IMPs to Chile. It was the same outcome in France versus Israel, where both Norths played in 4♥ after East had opened 1♠ and both Easts led a top spade. The French declarer succeeded, while at the other table O. Bessis also switched to the ♣K at trick two and the contract went one down.
Board 3. Dealer South. E/W Vul. |
| ♠ Q 7 3 ♥ 10 6 ♦ A Q 6 4 3 ♣ J 4 3 | ♠ K J 10 6 ♥ A K 9 4 3 ♦ 7 ♣ 10 8 6 | ![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) | ♠ A 9 8 2 ♥ J 8 5 ♦ 10 5 2 ♣ 9 5 2 | | ♠ 5 4 ♥ Q 7 2 ♦ K J 9 8 ♣ A K Q 7 |
Datum: N/S +200
In Canada vs USA2 both sides played in 3♣ for +110. There was far more excitement in the other BBO matches.
Chile versus USA1:
West | North | East | South
|
Robles | Grue | Pacareu | Kranyak
|
| | | 1NT
|
2♣(i) | 3NT | All Pass
| |
(i) Majors
West led the ♥A: six five seven and continued with the ♥3. Ten tricks to South, +430.
West | North | East | South
|
Wooldridge | Smith | Hurd | Riedel
|
| | | 1NT
|
2♣(i) | 2♠ | Dble | 2NT
|
Pass | 3NT | All Pass
| |
(i) Majors
No doubt North regrets that 2♠ bid now, but the aftermath was not easy to foresee. West led the ♠J to give the defence four tricks there and when East switched to the ♥J, they had five more tricks. Down five, -250, and 12 IMPs to USA1.
France versus Israel:
West | North | East | South
|
Hoffman | T.Bessis | Ofir | Gaviard
|
| | | 1NT
|
Dble* | 3NT | All Pass
| |
*Majors
West led the ♥4; ten tricks and France +430.
West | North | East | South
|
De Tessieres | Ginossar | O.Bessis | Reshef
|
Wooldridge | Smith | Hurd | Riedel
|
| | | 1NT
|
2♣(i) | 2♦ | 2♠ | 3♦
|
3♠ | All Pass
| | |
(i) Majors
South began with three rounds of clubs and switched to the ♦K, followed by the ♦8, ruffed with the ♠6. Declarer cashed the ♥A and ♠SK and continued with the ♠J, seven, eight, five. The next spade drew North’s trump. As South had a doubleton spade, declarer played South to have started with ♥Q-x-x and led the ♥J. This pinned North’s ♥10 and gave declarer nine tricks for +140 and 11 IMPs to France.
Things were quiet for the next ten boards, then:
Board 13. Dealer North. All Vul. |
| ♠ 6 4 ♥ 9 5 2 ♦ J 10 5 4 3 2 ♣ 9 8 | ♠ A 9 3 2 ♥ K Q 10 4 ♦ 9 6 ♣ K J 3 | ![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) | ♠ K 8 7 5 ♥ 6 ♦ K Q 8 7 ♣ Q 6 4 2 | | ♠ Q J 10 ♥ A J 8 7 3 ♦ A ♣ A 10 7 5 |
Datum: N/S -140
West | North | East | South
|
Hurd | Wolpert | Crank | Demuy
|
| Pass | Pass | 1♥
|
Pass | Pass | Dble | Pass
|
2♠ | All Pass
| | |
Lead: ♣9
Declarer made nine tricks for +140.
West | North | East | South
|
Capes | M.Rice | Grainger | J.Rice
|
| Pass | Pass | 1♥
|
Pass | Pass | Dble | Pass
|
2NT | Pass | 3NT | All Pass
|
Lead: ♥9
South ducked the lead to West, who continued with the ♦9: two eight! ace. South played a low heart, West winning to play ♦6, ten, queen, five of clubs. A club to the jack was followed by the ♣K. South won and cashed the ♥A for the third and final trick for the defence. +630 and 10 IMPs to Canada. A like gain ensued on the next board:
Board 14. Dealer East. None Vul. |
| ♠ A K ♥ Q 9 ♦ 9 7 5 3 2 ♣ A Q 10 8 | ♠ 8 7 6 5 3 ♥ 7 5 3 ♦ A J 8 4 ♣ 9 | ![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) | ♠ Q 9 4 ♥ A 10 4 2 ♦ 10 6 ♣ K 6 4 2 | | ♠ J 10 2 ♥ K J 8 6 ♦ K Q ♣ J 7 5 3 |
Datum: N/S +40
West | North | East | South
|
Hurd | Wolpert | Crank | Demuy
|
| | Pass | Pass
|
Pass | 1NT | Pass | 3NT
|
All Pass
| | | |
Lead: ♥4
This was a helpful lead and declarer made nine tricks for +400.
West | North | East | South
|
Capes | M.Rice | Grainger | J.Rice
|
| | Pass | Pass
|
Pass | 1♦ | Pass | 1♥
|
Pass | 1NT | Pass | 3NT
|
All Pass
| | | |
Lead: ♣2
The auction made a heart lead unattractive and East started with the ♣2, three, nine, queen. The ♥Q was taken by the ace and East shifted to the ♦10, king, ace. Back came the ♦4 to the ♦Q. Declarer now played a club to the ace and another club. East took the ♣K and exited with his last club. Declarer cashed the ♠A, ♠K and went one down for 50 and 10 IMPs to Canada. In Chile vs USA1, a similar ending was reached. This was the auction:
West | North | East | South
|
Robles | Grue | Pacareu | Kranyak
|
| | Pass | 1♦
|
Pass | 2♦(i) | Pass | 2♥
|
Pass | 3NT | All Pass
| |
(i) Forcing
Lead: ♣4
The lead went to the ♣9 and ♣Q and North played the ♦2 to the queen and ace. West shifted to the ♠7, king, four, two. North led the ♥Q, ace, six, seven, and East reverted to a low club, won by North, who continued with the ♣A and another club. East exited with a diamond to dummy’s king, leaving this ending:
| ♠ A ♥ 9 ♦ 9 7 5 ♣ | ♠ 8 ♥ 5 3 ♦ J 8 ♣ | ![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) | ♠ Q 9 ♥ 10 4 2 ♦ ♣ | | ♠ J 10 ♥ K J 8 ♦ ♣ |
Grue produced a very pretty stepping-stone endplay via ♠10 to the ace, ♥9 to the ♥K and the ♠J exit. East won and played the ♥4. Grue finessed the ♥8 to score a well-deserved 400. That was worth 10 IMPs to USA1 when 3NT went one down at the other table.
Board 17. Dealer North. None Vul. |
| ♠ K Q 5 2 ♥ J 5 2 ♦ Q 4 ♣ A K 8 2 | ♠ 9 8 4 3 ♥ 4 3 ♦ A K 6 ♣ 10 7 5 4 | ![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) | ♠ ♥ A Q 8 7 6 ♦ J 9 3 2 ♣ Q J 9 6 | | ♠ A J 10 7 6 ♥ K 10 9 ♦ 10 8 7 5 ♣ 3 |
Datum: N/S +350
West | North | East | South
|
Capes | M.Rice | Grainger | J.Rice
|
| 1♣ | 1♥ | 1♠
|
Pass | 2♥ | Pass | 3♦
|
Pass | 4♠ | All Pass
| |
Lead: ♦A
It needs a trump lead to defeat 4♠ by South. West shifted to the ♥4 at trick 2 and East took the ♥A. West won the diamond return and now switched to the ♠3. South won, ruffed a diamond and drew trumps, overtaking the ♠Q en route. Dummy’s second club winner allowed South to ditch his remaining diamond loser and the heart finesse was ten tricks for +420.
West | North | East | South
|
Hurd | Wolpert | Crank | Demuy
|
| 1NT | Pass | 2♣
|
Pass | 2♠ | Pass | 4♠
|
All Pass
| | | |
Lead: ♣Q
Declarer can succeed (play ♣A, ♣K pitching a heart and lead a heart), but this is not obvious with no opposition bidding and declarer went one down for 50 and 10 IMPs to USA2.
Board 18. Dealer East. N/S Vul. |
| ♠ 10 7 6 4 2 ♥ Q J 8 5 4 3 ♦ ♣ A 10 | ♠ J ♥ 10 2 ♦ 10 7 5 4 2 ♣ 9 7 6 3 2 | ![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) | ♠ A 9 ♥ A K 7 6 ♦ A K Q 8 3 ♣ J 8 | | ♠ J 10 2 ♥ 9 ♦ J 9 6 ♣ K Q 5 4 |
Datum: N/S +80
West | North | East | South
|
Hurd | Wolpert | Crank | Demuy
|
| | 2♣ | Pass
|
2♥(i) | Pass | 2NT | Pass
|
3NT | All Pass
| | |
(i) Artificial, negative
South led the ♠5 and declarer’s ninth trick appeared early. +400 to USA2.
West | North | East | South
|
Capes | M.Rice | Grainger | J.Rice
|
| | 2♣ | Pass
|
2♥(i) | Dble | 2NT | All Pass
|
(i) Artificial, negative
Lead: ♥9
The double stopped South from leading a low spade, but it did not prevent nine tricks.
Declarer covered the ♥9 with the ♥10, ♥J,♥A. Declarer played his top diamonds, followed by a fourth diamond to dummy to play the ♥2: eight, king. The ♥7 was taken by the ♥Q, leaving the ♥6 high. Nine tricks, +150, but 6 IMPs to USA1.
Board 19. Dealer South. E/W Vul. |
| ♠ A K Q J 4 ♥ Q 2 ♦ A 9 4 ♣ J 6 3 | ♠ 8 2 ♥ K J 9 6 5 3 ♦ K 10 7 ♣ 7 2 | ![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) | ♠ 10 6 5 ♥ 10 8 ♦ Q 8 6 5 2 ♣ K Q 10 | | ♠ 9 7 3 ♥ A 7 4 ♦ J 3 ♣ A 9 8 5 4 |
Datum: N/S +260
West | North | East | South
|
Capes | M.Rice | Grainger | J.Rice
|
| | | Pass
|
2♥ | 2♠ | Pass | 3♠
|
Pass | 4♠ | All Pass
| |
Lead: ♥10
This was ducked to West’s king and, wishing to remove the entry to the ♥A, West shifted to the ♣7: three, ten, ace. Declarer continued clubs and East won with the ♣Q and cashed the ♣K. West played the ♥9 on this and so Eastexited with a heart. North took it with the ♥Q and played the ♠A, ♠K, praying for an opponent to hold ♠10 doubleton. It was not to be. North now played a low diamond. East rose with the ♦Q and played the ♠10 to take the contract two off; +100 to Canada.
West | North | East | South
|
Hurd | Wolpert | Crank | Demuy
|
| | | Pass
|
2♥ | 2♠ | Pass | 2NT!
|
Pass | 3NT | All Pass
| |
Lead: ♣7
Declarer made ten tricks for +430 and 11 Imps to Canada, who won the match by 41- 35, 16-14 in VPs. Eric Kokish, commentating on BBO made two salient points about the auction. After (2♥) 2♠ (Pass) ?, 2NT should be played as forcing and if you bid 2NT you can still finish in 4♠, but if you bid 3♠, you will not play 3NT. |