| 37th World Team Championships | Page 6 | Bulletin 2 - Monday 24 October 2005 |
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Portugal v Chinese Taipei (Bermuda Bowl) Juggernaut Players from both teams had to face the ordeal of being interviewed by Mark Horton before the start of the match. Patrick Huang revealed his team had already discovered an excellent Chinese restaurant, that if he had to play with another partner he would like it to be a beautiful girl, and his team hoped to improve on their fifth placed round robin finish from Monaco. Sofia Pessoa thought the early start would be a problem for her team, doubted she would follow in the footsteps of Rose Meltzer, would like to be shipwrecked on a desert island with her husband (Rui Santos) and dreams of reaching the quarter finals. The bridge proved to be every bit as entertaining as the interviews, with points flying in both directions. It was Chinese Taipei who made all the early running.
Open Room
Given that North did not want to rebid 1NT with her singleton spade she had to choose between Two and Three Clubs and she went for the more aggressive option. West led the four of clubs, and declarer, in order to preserve an entry to hand, put up the queen. His next play was a diamond, and had it been the king he would have been sure of the contract. West won with the queen and switched to a spade. Declarer won and played the king of diamonds. East ducked as (West discarded the six of clubs), won the next diamond and switched to the king of hearts. Declarer's goose was cooked and he had to go one down, -50. Closed Room
The Precision auction saw North become declarer and East lead the nine of clubs. Declarer now had four tricks in that suit and when he advanced the king of diamonds he was in complete control, eventually recording +460 to win 11 IMPs.
Open Room
Three Clubs was an intermediate raise, which North took very seriously. East led the four of spades; declarer won and laid down the ace of diamonds. Her hopes must have soared when the king appeared, but the club finesse failed and the contract was one down, -100. Closed Room
On the lead of the king of hearts, declarer won in dummy, unblocked the ace of spades and played a low diamond. That led to ten tricks, +630 and 12 IMPs.
Open Room
For the second board in a row North/South went overboard, with North taking a very rosy view of her cards. West led a spade and East cashed his aces, +50. Closed Room
Once again the Precision auction had no trouble hitting the right spot, +600 and another 12 IMPs to Chinese Taipei.
Open Room
Although it is not alerted on the Bridgebase record I suspect that North's double denied spade values. With West as declarer North could have defeated the contract with a club lead, but the seven of spades saw declarer duck the queen and subsequently take the spade finesse for his ninth trick, +600. Closed Room
This time it was East/West pair who went overboard, bidding a slam that was hopeless on the lie of the cards. It cost Portugal 13 IMPs and they trailed 48-5, leaving their opponents just short of a maximum after only six deals. However, to their credit, the Portuguese players started to hit back.
Open Room
West led the nine of clubs. East took the ace and switched to a diamond, which was allowed to run to dummy's king. The contract was secure and declarer emerged with ten tricks, +170. Closed Room
Perhaps North should have doubled Four Hearts? As it was, when South took out insurance it was East who produced a red card. West led the king of hearts; and East overtook and switched to a trump. Declarer had to go one down, -200 and 9 IMPs to Portugal.
Open Room
2NT looks dubious, despite the chunky spades, and it led to a contract that needed a huge amount of luck. Declarer ducked the lead of the queen of spades, won the next spade and cashed the top diamonds. When the queen failed to oblige it was simply a question of how many undertricks and that number proved to be two, -200. Closed Room
After North's Multi East made a take-out bid and West relayed to what he hoped was a playable spot. Indeed it was. Declarer won the spade lead, ruffed a spade, crossed to a diamond and ruffed another spade as South discarded. Then East cashed the ace of hearts and ruffed a heart. In due course he arrived at ten tricks, +130 and 8 IMPs. The rally continued on the next deal:
Open Room
If East had led a low spade, declarer would have had no chance, but he went for the queen of hearts. Declarer won in hand and played a club. East put up the king, but declarer could win and clear the clubs; he could not be denied a ninth trick, +600. Closed Room
Two Hearts was no fun for declarer - but with no double, two down and -200 proved to be worth 9 IMPs.
Open Room
That was twelve easy tricks, +990. Closed Room
If North's 2NT guaranteed a hand that was better than minimum, then South might have bid 4NT. Whatever, Portugal had another 11 IMPs and had come back to 49-56.
Open Room
South led the jack of spades. East won and played a club to the queen and king. When North returned a heart it speeded up the play and declarer was soon claiming, +400. Closed Room
North led a heart. Declarer took South's queen with the king and cashed three rounds of diamonds ending in dummy. He then played a club to the queen and king, won the heart return in dummy and led another club. He had to go one down from this point, -50 and 10 IMPs to Chinese Taipei, who had won a blood - and - thunder encounter by 66-55. |
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