No Way Back - USA2 v Netherlands (Bermuda Bowl)

By Mark Horton

There were only two close matches when the final session of the quarter-finals got under way and after much deliberation (and perhaps even a coin toss) it was the Seniors match in which the Netherlands led USAII 189-174 IMPs that was presented to the vugraph audience.

Anyone who was hoping for an exciting finish was disappointed, as the boards gave little scope for swings - or so it seemed.

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

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Klaver	Mohan	Ramer	Zia
	Pass	Pass	1♦
Pass	1♠	Pass	3♣
Pass	3NT	All Pass

The perfect fit allows you twelve easy tricks in no trumps, but it’s not easy for a natural system to discover that - and a spade lead would give declarer an anxious moment.

East led the four of hearts and declarer claimed twelve tricks; +690. Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Lev	Trouwborst	Eisenberg	Doremans
	Pass	Pass	1♦
1♠!	Pass	Pass	3♣
Pass	3NT	All Pass

West’s cute overcall might have been a big IMP winner if the slam had been reached at the other table - but of course there was no swing.

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

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Klaver	Mohan	Ramer	Zia
		1♥	Pass
2♦*	Pass	2♥	Pass
2NT	Pass	3♦	Pass
3♥	Pass	3♠	Pass
4♦	Pass	4NT*	Pass
5♥*	Pass	6♥	All Pass

I can’t tell you if East knew that West didn’t have the king of diamonds in addition to his other values, but played by East the slam was a good bet. Declarer won the lead of the five of clubs in hand, took four rounds of trumps and ran the queen of diamonds. When that held he played a spadetowards the queen and claimed when South went in with the king, +1430.

Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Lev	Trouwborst	Eisenberg	Doremans
		1♥	Pass
2♦*	Pass	2♥	Pass
3♥	Pass	3♠	Pass
4♥	Pass	4NT*	Pass
5♠*	Pass	6♥	All Pass

Here South led a trump. Declarer again played four rounds before advancing the queen of diamonds. When South covered, declarer ducked and claimed the rest.

If USA2 had started the session with a greater deficit they might have pushed harder on this type of deal.

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

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Klaver	Mohan	Ramer	Zia
			Pass
1♣	Dble	Pass	1NT
Pass	2NT	Pass	3NT
Pass	Pass	Dble	All Pass

You can debate the merits of doubling the opening bid rather than overcalling One Spade, or responding 1NT on the South hand with no stopper, but the combination of those two actions led to a disastrous final contract.

If West had simply led a club the defenders would have taken the first eight tricks for +1100, but West mysteriously preferred the seven of hearts. All declarer could do was cash his red suit winners and hope for a miracle, and when the defenders got their wires crossed he ended up making a spade trick at the end, so was only one down; -200. Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Lev	Trouwborst	Eisenberg	Doremans
			Pass
Pass	1♠	Pass	1NT
2♣	2♦	3♣	3♠
Pass	4♠	All Pass

West’s wait and see approach meant that the only question concerned the ability of opponents to get to the spade game. They passed that test - and there was no way to defeat the contract. The defenders did their best by leading clubs at every opportunity, but with spades 3-2 there was nothing they could do; +620 and 13 IMPs that put the Netherlands in a very strong position.

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

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Klaver	Mohan	Ramer	Zia
		Pass	Pass
3♥	4♥	Pass	4♠
All Pass

With time running out this was the last opportunity for a big swing, but it’s hard to think of an alternative to Four Spades that does not risk your side going overboard.

West led the ace of diamonds and continued the suit.Declarer discarded the four of hearts, won the next diamond discarding a club and played ace of spades and a spade, claiming ten tricks and +620. Closed Room

West	North	East	South
Lev	Trouwborst	Eisenberg	Doremans
		Pass	Pass
4♥	4♠	All Pass

Here East led the jack of hearts and the queen was allowed to win, declarer played ace of spades, spade and claimed ten tricks for a flat board, Netherlands going on to win without ever coming under serious threat.

The Great Shuffler had not given the chasing team much of a chance - or had he?