No Need for a Penalty Shoot Out

By Mark Horton

It is impossible to ignore that there is another major sporting contest being staged at the moment, so I make no apologies for using a few analogies and metaphors in this report from Round 5 of the Rosenblum round robin between two teams who needed to start scoring heavily, especially as goal difference might play a part in the qualification process.

Board 3. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
	♠ K 8 4 ♥ A 9 7 6 3 ♦ J 8 2 ♣ 9 3
♠ A 9 3 2 ♥ 5 4 ♦ K Q 4 3 ♣ Q 10 5		♠ Q J 10 5 ♥ K 10 8 ♦ 10 9 7 5 ♣ J 2
	♠ 7 6 ♥ Q J 2 ♦ A 6 ♣ A K 8 7 6 4

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Meltzer	Kokten	Larsen	Aluf
			1♣
Pass	1♥	Pass	3♣
Pass	3♠	Pass	4♥
All Pass

In the Open Room the goal was wide open but after a perfect build up the Meltzer team put the ball wide of the net.

East led the queen of spades and West went up with the ace and found the only switch to trouble declarer, the king of diamonds. Declarer won, East playing the seven, and returned a diamond, West winning the queen as East followed with the five. If West now reverts to spades declarer wins with the king and may well try a low heart. So long as East is alert and goes in with the king to play another spade declarer has no chance. However, West played a third diamond and now declarer was in control, playing a low heart to the queen and a heart to the ace, +420. @Room:Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Aluf	Helness	Eskinaz	Helgemo
			1NT
Pass	2♦*	Pass	2♥
Pass	2NT	Pass	4♥
All Pass

With West on lead declarer’s prospects are only marginally better as the king of diamonds is a winning lead, and a club also works. However West gave the ball away to his opponents by leading a low heart. East won with the king and switched to the nine of diamonds. Declarer won with the ace and played three rounds of clubs, ruffing high. He then drew trumps and came to eleven tricks, +450 and 1 IMP.

Board 4. Dealer West. All Vul.
	♠ 9 7 4 2 ♥ 10 7 ♦ A K Q ♣ A 7 6 4
♠ A 5 3 ♥ A 5 2 ♦ J 5 4 ♣ 10 9 5 2		♠ K 6 ♥ K Q 9 8 6 4 3 ♦ 10 2 ♣ K J
	♠ Q J 10 8 ♥ J ♦ 9 8 7 6 3 ♣ Q 8 3

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Meltzer	Kokten	Larsen	Aluf
Pass	1♣	1♥	Dble
2♦*	2♠	4♥	All Pass

South ignored her spade sequence and led the three of clubs. With that guess eliminated the contract was secure and when North failed to cash two diamonds declarer could set up a club for a discard, +650.

Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Aluf	Helness	Eskinaz	Helgemo
Pass	1♣	1♥	1♠
2♦*	2♠	4♥	All Pass

Although the build up was identical, the outcome was not. South led the queen of spades and declarer won in hand, drew trumps and exited with a diamond. North took the queen, cashed the ace and continued with the king. Declarer ruffed, crossed to the ace of spades and played a club to the jack. One down, -100 and a loss of 13 IMPs.

Perhaps declarer thought it was suspicious that North had been kind enough to show possession of the all the top diamonds, but it was still a strange view.

Board 9. Dealer North. E/W Vul.
	♠ A 9 3 ♥ 5 ♦ A K 10 8 6 5 3 2 ♣ 5
♠ 10 4 2 ♥ J 8 7 2 ♦ J 9 ♣ J 10 4 2		♠ – ♥ 10 9 6 4 3 ♦ 7 4 ♣ K Q 9 8 7 6
	♠ K Q J 8 7 6 5 ♥ A K Q ♦ Q ♣ A 3

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Meltzer	Kokten	Larsen	Aluf
	4NT	Pass	6♣
Pass	6♦	All Pass

Route 1 is not always the best way to attack and North might have been better to have attempted to control the ball rather than kicking it so far up the field.

The opening bid promised a good preempt in a minor – and when someone enquired if it asked for specific aces I speculated that in some countries it might show two aces and ask partner if they have eleven tricks.

Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Aluf	Helness	Eskinaz	Helgemo
	1♦	2NT	4NT
Pass	5♥	Pass	5NT
Pass	7♦	Pass	7NT
All Pass

South brushed aside East’s attempted tackle and a lightning fast attack saw the ball swept into the net.

Neither defence managed to cope with the next attack:

Board 12. Dealer West. N/S Vul.
	♠ 8 7 3 2 ♥ 8 ♦ Q J 5 ♣ 10 8 4 3 2
♠ Q ♥ Q 9 7 6 3 ♦ A 7 3 2 ♣ K 7 5		♠ A K 10 6 ♥ A J 10 ♦ 10 9 ♣ A Q J 6
	♠ J 9 5 4 ♥ K 5 4 2 ♦ K 8 6 4 ♣ 9

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Meltzer	Kokten	Larsen	Aluf
Pass	Pass	2NT	Pass
3♦*	Pass	3♥	Pass
3NT	Pass	4♥	Pass
5♦	Pass	6♥	All Pass

Hard to lead a diamond – but if you hope your king of hearts is a trick then the queen of diamonds in partner’s hand will be enough – and it conforms to the advice of the great Benito Garozzo.

South tried a spade and declarer was soon claiming.

Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Aluf	Helness	Eskinaz	Helgemo
1♥	Pass	2♣*	Pass
2♦	Pass	2♥	Pass
4♥	Pass	4♠	Pass
5♣	Pass	6♥	All Pass

Even harder to lead a diamond here with West having shown the suit naturally. Once again a spade lead led to an early claim.

Just before stoppage time Meltzer almost conceded a consolation goal.

Board 13. Dealer North. All Vul.
	♠ A J 10 ♥ 8 7 6 4 ♦ 10 7 6 5 4 ♣ J
♠ – ♥ 9 5 3 ♦ J 9 8 3 ♣ A Q 10 9 6 2		♠ Q 5 4 3 2 ♥ K Q 10 ♦ A K 2 ♣ K 3
	♠ K 9 8 7 6 ♥ A J 2 ♦ Q ♣ 8 7 5 4

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Meltzer	Kokten	Larsen	Aluf
	Pass	1NT	Pass
2NT*	Pass	3♣	All Pass

A good stop or a lucky one? The diamond position means that there are eleven tricks in Five Clubs and play was speeded up when South led the queen of diamonds; +150.

Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Aluf	Helness	Eskinaz	Helgemo
	Pass	1♠	Pass
1NT*	Pass	2NT	Pass
3NT	All Pass

North led the four of diamonds and declarer blasted the ball over the bar into Row Z by playing low. South won with the queen and switched to a spade giving the defenders four spades and a trick in each red suit; down two, -200 and another 8 IMPs.

At the final whistle Meltzer had run away with the match, 40-0 IMPs, 25-5 VP. The American’s supporters were over the moon, while the Turkish ones were sick as a parrot.