Final Countdown

By Mark Horton

Although Steiner was 18 IMPs ahead, with fifteen deals still to go the question of who would become the new owners of the McConnell Trophy was clearly in doubt.

After the dramas of the previous session the bridge gods relented and delivered a much calmer set of boards.

Board 21. Dealer North. N/S Vul.
	♠ Q 9 7 6 3 ♥ A Q J ♦ J ♣ Q 10 9 7
♠ A J 10 8 4 ♥ 9 3 2 ♦ Q 6 ♣ K 3 2		♠ K 5 ♥ 8 7 6 ♦ A 8 7 5 4 2 ♣ A J
	♠ 2 ♥ K 10 5 4 ♦ K 10 9 3 ♣ 8 6 5 4

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Ponomareva	Rosenberg	Gromova	Stansby
	1♠	2♦	Pass
2NT	All Pass

North led the ten of clubs and dummy’s jack took the trick. A low diamond went to declarer’s queen and when she saw North’s jack she abandoned the suit, running the jack of spades and then exiting with a heart. North won, exited with a club, won the next heart with the ace and played a spade. On this trick South inexplicably discarded the ten of hearts so declarer cashed the ace of diamonds and exited with a diamond. South could take her red suit winners but then had to give declarer the last two; +120. Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Meyers	Sololow	Levin	Seamon-Molson
	1♠	2♦	Pass
3NT	Pass	Pass	Dble
All Pass

Knowing she had the diamonds under control South doubled, not worrying about her singleton spade. North led the jack of diamonds and South won with he king and switched to the four of hearts. North won with the jack, cashed the ace and played the queen. Four heart tricks meant one down and in the fullness of time North took a trick with the queen of spades; +300 and 9 IMPs.

Both sides did well to reach game on this deal – it was missed at three of the four tables in the Rosenblum.

Board 24. Dealer West. None Vul.
	♠ 4 2 ♥ 7 2 ♦ K Q J 10 6 3 ♣ A J 2
♠ Q 10 9 3 ♥ 10 6 ♦ 9 5 4 ♣ 10 9 8 7		♠ K J 8 7 5 ♥ A K 8 4 ♦ A ♣ K 4 3
	♠ A 6 ♥ Q J 9 5 3 ♦ 8 7 2 ♣ Q 6 5

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Ponomareva	Rosenberg	Gromova	Stansby
Pass	1♦	Dble	1♥
Pass	2♦	2♠	3♦
3♠	Pass	4♠	All Pass

This ‘old fashioned’ auction saw East show a powerful hand and with four-card support West did not hesitate to raise.

Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Meyers	Sololow	Levin	Seamon-Molson
Pass	1♦	1♠	Dble
Pass	2♦	Dble	3♦
3♠	Pass	4♠	All Pass

This ‘modern auction’ saw East show significant extras at her second turn – no swing.

Steiner was maintaining her lead and with time running out there was finally a swing in favour of the chasing team:

Board 25. Dealer North. E/W Vul.
	♠ A 9 5 ♥ 10 8 6 ♦ K 8 6 ♣ K 9 8 5
♠ Q 10 8 3 ♥ 7 5 ♦ Q 10 9 5 2 ♣ 7 6		♠ K 4 2 ♥ A K Q 2 ♦ A 4 3 ♣ Q 10 2
	♠ J 7 6 ♥ J 9 4 3 ♦ J 7 ♣ A J 4 3

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Ponomareva	Rosenberg	Gromova	Stansby
	Pass	1♣	Pass
1♦	Pass	1NT	Pass
2♣	Pass	2♥	Pass
2♠	All Pass

North led the eight of hearts and declarer played three rounds of the suit, discarding a club. She continued with ace of diamond and a diamond, covered by the jack, queen and king. North found the essential switch to a club, but she chose the king rather than a small one. (On a small club South wins and switches to the jack of hearts.) When the king held North played a diamond and South ruffed and played the jack of hearts. If declarer discards a diamond on this trick the friendly spade position will lead to eight tricks, but she ruffed with the eight and North overruffed and played a club. Declarer ruffed, ruffed a club with the king of spades and ruffed a club. That was seven tricks, but the defenders had the last two for –100.

Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Meyers	Sololow	Levin	Seamon-Molson
	Pass	1♣*	Pass
1♠	Pass	2NT	Pass
3♣*	Pass	3♦	All Pass

South led the jack of diamonds, picking up the trump suit for declarer, who followed three rounds of diamonds with three top hearts for a club discard. The favourable spade position meant eleven tricks, +150 and 6 IMPs.

However, those points were soon recovered:

Board 27. Dealer South. None Vul.
	♠ 10 6 3 2 ♥ Q 9 6 ♦ J 6 5 3 ♣ A 2
♠ Q 9 ♥ K 8 7 5 ♦ Q 10 7 ♣ Q 10 8 7		♠ A 5 ♥ A J 10 2 ♦ A 8 4 2 ♣ 9 5 3
	♠ K J 8 7 4 ♥ 4 3 ♦ K 9 ♣ K J 6 4

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Ponomareva	Rosenberg	Gromova	Stansby
			1♠
Pass	3♠	All Pass

West led the seven of clubs and declarer won in hand with the jack, crossed to the ace of clubs and played a spade to the king. She discarded a heart on the king of clubs and ruffed a club. East overruffed and declarer still had to score two hearts, one diamond and a trump for down one; –50.

Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Meyers	Sololow	Levin	Seamon-Molson
			1♠
Pass	2♠	Dble	Pass
2NT	3♠	All Pass

The play to the first three tricks was identical but then declarer played a second spade. The 2-2 break meant she lost only three more tricks; +140 and 5 IMPs.

The outcome was finally put beyond doubt on the penultimate deal:

Board 29. Dealer North. All Vul.
	♠ 7 2 ♥ K 4 ♦ A K 6 2 ♣ A K Q 3 2
♠ K 8 6 4 ♥ 8 7 3 ♦ J 7 ♣ J 9 8 5		♠ Q J 9 5 3 ♥ J 10 9 6 5 ♦ 10 8 4 ♣ –
	♠ A 10 ♥ A Q 2 ♦ Q 9 5 3 ♣ 10 7 6 4

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Ponomareva	Rosenberg	Gromova	Stansby
	1♣	Pass	1♦
Pass	3NT	Pass	4♣
Pass	4♦	Pass	4NT
Pass	5♦	Pass	7♣
All Pass

You would certainly not mind reaching this grand slam, but the cruel 4-0 trump break was a killer; –100.

Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Meyers	Sololow	Levin	Seamon-Molson
	2NT	Pass	4♠*
Pass	5♦	Pass	6♦
All Pass

A comfortable +1370, 16 IMPs – and a World title!