Brazil v Egypt
The Amazon and the Nile - by David Lusk
Neither Brazil nor Egypt are in contention at this stage of the event. This is not evident as the teams settle down to play. All players are obviously keen to play well for their respective countries. The conversations between partners are in native tongues, communication between opponents is in good English. Aly Tawfik asks his Brazilian opponent if he would like a cup of water. After a second’s hesitation, Marcelo replies ‘Yes, please’. Paula David looks a little nervous; the other players are relaxed. During the play, her slender fingers move over to the board or her played card, drumming slowly or walking in a spider like movement.
“Shall we start?” was the simple request and Board 1 was placed on the table. La Revere made a reasonable third hand pre-empt on Board 1, only to discover that the hand was a misfit.
Board 1. Dealer North. None Vul. |
| ♠ A J 9 8 7 ♥ Q J 5 3 ♦ J 7 4 ♣ J | ♠ 10 6 3 2 ♥ A 9 7 ♦ K Q 9 2 ♣ 4 3 | ![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) | ♠ Q 5 4 ♥ K 8 6 4 ♦ A 3 ♣ Q 10 6 5 | | ♠ K ♥ 10 2 ♦ 10 8 6 5 ♣ A K 9 8 7 2 |
After two Passes, Rovere opened 3♣. No one had any further desire to bid. West led the ♦K and continued with the two when that held. East won and played a heart to West’s ace. West played queen and another diamond, ruffed and over-ruffed. Declarer could no longer avoid three light and 150. Never pleasant but predictably flat.
Board 8. Dealer West. None Vul. |
| ♠ A K 10 4 ♥ A 9 4 ♦ Q ♣ K Q 10 9 7 | ♠ Q 9 7 6 5 ♥ 3 2 ♦ A 10 4 ♣ 8 5 2 | ![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) | ♠ J 8 3 ♥ K Q J 5 ♦ K J 9 8 6 ♣ 4 | | ♠ 2 ♥ 10 8 7 6 ♦ 7 5 3 2 ♣ A J 6 3 |
Open Room
West | North | East | South
|
Tawfik | David | Noshy | La Rovere
|
Pass | 1♣ | Dble | 1♥
|
2♠ | Dble | Pass | 3♣
|
Pass | 3♠ | Pass | 4♣
|
Pass | 4♥ | All Pass
| |
North had a powerful hand and said so more than once. Whether she thought that South had shown five hearts or whether she was offering a choice of contracts is unclear but there is no game available. West led his top diamond and shifted to a spade. Declarer ducked a heart and ruffed the diamond return in dummy. He then cashed the ace of hearts and returned to hand with the club ace. A third round of hearts was not a success and the contract went four light.
In the Closed Room, Hammad/Nabil stopped in 4♣ for + 130. This was 8 IMPs to Egypt.
The Brazilians harassed their opponents in this next auction to earn a good plus.
Board 19. Dealer South. E/W Vul. |
| ♠ K 6 ♥ Q 8 7 6 5 4 ♦ 3 ♣ 6 5 4 2 | ♠ A J ♥ J 10 9 ♦ A K Q 10 4 2 ♣ K 9 | ![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) | ♠ Q 9 3 ♥ 3 2 ♦ J 9 8 6 5 ♣ A 8 7 | | ♠ 10 8 7 5 4 2 ♥ A K ♦ 7 ♣ Q J 10 3 |
West | North | East | South
|
Tawfik | David | Noshy | La Rovere
|
| | | Pass
|
1♦ | 2♥ | 3♦ | 4♥!
|
5♦ | All Pass
| | |
Four Hearts would have been two light on best defence but +600 looked more attractive. Five Diamonds looks the most likely game, needing only the spade finesse. That didn’t work and, whilst declarer actually played on squeeze lines, it was still +100 to Brazil.
At the other table, the Brazilians had a slice of good fortune when 3NT proved to be cast-iron with the heart suit blocked; +600 and 12 IMPs to Brazil.
Board20. Dealer West. All Vul. |
| ♠ A 10 7 3 2 ♥ J 8 5 3 ♦ Q J 10 ♣ 3 | ♠ 8 ♥ 4 2 ♦ 6 | ![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) | ♠ K 9 6 ♥ A 10 7 6 ♦ A K 9 7 5 4 | | ♠ Q J 5 4 ♥ K Q 9 ♦ 8 3 2 ♣ K Q 8 |
Both Rooms
West | North | East | South
|
5♣ | Pass | Pass | Dble
|
All Pass
| | | |
North led the ♦Q and now the contract can be made if declarer plays two top diamonds, pitching a spade on the second round. By ruffing a third round of diamonds, declarer will establish the suit and can play ace and another club for the overtrick. Even when clubs don’t break, declarer has a heart discard on any diamond as South takes a ruff with his winner.
At trick two, Tawfik ruffed a diamond in hand and played ace and another club. A spade lead will still beat the contract and should be the logical choice, given that the diamond suit is known to be running. South played a heart and Egypt chalked up +750.
The same lead was made in the Closed Room and, curiously, the Brazilian West also ruffed a low diamond at trick two. When given the same opportunity, South did not waste the second opportunity to lead a spade. +200 to Egypt for a 14 IMP swing.
Final Score: Egypt 49 Brazil 42 (16-14 VPs). |