usa 2   v   china smeg    -    bb  Round 15

by Mark Horton

Before I report the action from this match between two of the favourites, I can reveal that there is a rumour that Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber is writing a new musical about Bridge. Those who watched this match on VuGraph will understand why he has chosen to call it ‘Eric and the Amazing Technicolour Dream Shirt’.

Both teams were looking for a good result, but for different reasons. China SMEG to wanted to consolidate their qualifying position whilst USA 2 desperately needed to move up the table.

Board 17. Dealer North. None Vul.
	♠ 9 8 7 6 4 3 2 ♥ ♦ A J 2 ♣ 8 7 6
♠ A Q J 10 ♥ K Q 10 9 3 ♦ K ♣ J 10 5		♠ 5 ♥ J 6 ♦ 10 7 6 5 ♣ A K 9 4 3 2
	♠ K ♥ A 8 7 5 4 2 ♦ Q 9 8 4 3 ♣ Q

Open Room

When North passed, East put the ball into play and South could not resist dipping a toe into the water, only to discover that there was a shark waiting to bite.

Playing in either major would have been a real bloodbath, but 4♦ was no picnic either.

West led the jack of clubs (there must be some case for leading the king of diamonds when you know you have the other three suits totally controlled). East won and switched to a trump, which went to the king and ace.

Declarer ruffed a club and cashed the ace of hearts. If he had now played to ruff two hearts in dummy he could have scored eight tricks, but worried that a second heart might see East overruff, after which a trump return would leave declarer going for a fortune, he played the king of spades.

West won and played the queen of spades, enabling East to get rid of his remaining heart. Now there was no way to avoid three down, -500.

Closed Room

In the stone age West could have doubled 3♠ for penalties, but that quaint idea went out around the time they invented the wheel.

Board 18. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
	♠ J 8 7 ♥ K 10 5 4 ♦ A Q 2 ♣ K 10 9
♠ A K 4 ♥ Q 6 3 ♦ 10 8 5 4 ♣ Q 4 3		♠ Q 10 9 6 5 ♥ J 9 8 ♦ K 9 6 3 ♣ 8
	♠ 3 2 ♥ A 7 2 ♦ J 7 ♣ A J 7 6 5 2

Open Room

2♠ 4-10, 5♠

When East was able to open with a gadget, South, perhaps a wiser man after the previous board, was not tempted to overcall and West’s defensive raise ended the auction.

South led the jack of diamonds. Declarer won with the king and drew trumps, quickly going two down, -100.

Closed Room

I’m not sure what to make of South’s total inactivity on this deal, and when he elected to lead the two of hearts, declarer had been presented with his eighth trick, +110 and 5 IMPs to China SMEG.

Board 19. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
	♠ 6 3 ♥ K 8 6 ♦ A Q 6 5 2 ♣ 9 6 4
♠ K J 9 4 2 ♥ Q 4 ♦ 9 4 ♣ K 10 5 2		♠ A Q ♥ A 7 3 2 ♦ K J 10 3 ♣ Q J 8
	♠ 10 8 7 5 ♥ J 10 9 5 ♦ 8 7 ♣ A 7 3

Open Room

2♥ Weak, both majors

You can make 3NT on the East/West cards – but only if West is declarer – and the combination of South’s opening and North’s raise made that impossible.

(Amusingly enough 2♥ can be made on this deal – but by East/West.)

South led the jack of hearts and declarer had no chance, -100.

Closed Room

Once again South led the jack of hearts and the contract had to fail.

It says that declarer went three down – don’t ask me how – I have no idea.

5 IMPs to USA 2.

Board 20. Dealer West. All Vul.
	♠ J 10 6 ♥ K 7 6 2 ♦ A K 6 4 ♣ A 3
♠ Q 8 7 5 ♥ A Q ♦ Q 3 ♣ K 10 9 6 2		♠ K 4 3 ♥ J 9 8 4 3 ♦ 7 2 ♣ 7 5 4
	♠ A 9 2 ♥ 10 5 ♦ J 10 9 8 5 ♣ Q J 8

Open Room

Over West’s 14-16 NT there was no reason for North to get involved and East/West were able to play in 2♥.

North led the king of diamonds and, when South dropped the jack, he cashed the ace, getting the ten from South. If that was meant to have any suit-preference overtones, they were not evident to North, who switched to the ace of clubs – a possible three down was reduced to two down.

Declarer won the club continuation and played ace of hearts, queen of hearts and, when North ducked, he continued with the ten of clubs. When North ruffed two down was reduced still further to one down – luckily play was completed before any further disaster could ensue – declarer was –100.

Closed Room

West led the ace of hearts and continued with the queen, East following with the jack. When that held, he switched to the five of spades for the ten, king and ace. Declarer ran the jack of diamonds and, when that held, he ran the queen of clubs. Now the contract was assured, and as the cards lie declarer could have made an overtrick, but he was happy to record +600 and pick up 11 IMPs.

Board 22. Dealer East. E/W Vul.
	♠ 4 3 ♥ A 4 ♦ K 9 7 6 ♣ A K Q 6 2
♠ 10 2 ♥ K 10 9 ♦ A Q 8 4 2 ♣ J 5 4		♠ A Q 9 8 6 5 ♥ Q 8 7 3 ♦ 10 3 ♣ 9
	♠ K J 7 ♥ J 6 5 2 ♦ J 5 ♣ 10 8 7 3

Open Room

East found the lead to hold declarer to his contract when he put the three of hearts on the table. Declarer won the first heart, played a spade to the jack and a diamond to the king. Five club tricks saw declarer home, +120.

Closed Room

Playing with a man who has made a living out of bidding 3NT at every available opportunity, South found a great moment to pay his partner a compliment. Played by South 3NT cannot be defeated, even if West leads an inspired heart.

However, North, who had seen his partner pass over 2♠ and perhaps deciding he was a club short of his previous bid, removed himself to 4♣.

Declarer ducked the heart lead, won the next round and played a spade. East took the ace and played a third heart, ruffed by declarer, who cashed a top club, played a spade to the king, and led a diamond. When the king held, he exited with a diamond and in due course was able to ruff two diamonds in dummy, +130 and a flat board.

Board 23. Dealer South. All Vul.
	♠ 9 8 6 5 ♥ 9 5 3 ♦ Q 6 3 ♣ Q J 3
♠ A J 4 2 ♥ A K Q J 7 6 ♦ A 10 ♣ 8		♠ 7 ♥ 10 8 2 ♦ K J 8 5 ♣ K 10 7 6 5
	♠ K Q 10 3 ♥ 4 ♦ 9 7 4 2 ♣ A 9 4 2

Open Room

2♦ promised 5-7 with a fit for hearts, but the potential for slam never came to light.

North led the queen of clubs, and when that held, switched to a diamond.

Declarer was not hard pressed to take twelve tricks, +680.

Closed Room

Here North switched to a trump at trick two and declarer, not going flat out, scored +650 to lose an IMP.

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

Open Room

2NT 20-21

North led the eight of diamonds. Declarer won in dummy and played a heart to jack. When that held, he played the ace of diamonds, discarding a spade from dummy. South ruffed and returned a club. Declarer won with the ace, cashed the ace of hearts and claimed +650.

Closed Room

When South led the three of clubs, the contract depended on no more than avoiding the loss of a trump trick. Declarer won the diamond return and played a heart to the jack, +1430 and 13 IMPs to China SMEG.

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

Open Room

South thought he had enough to double 4♥ – and the length of time he took to make a decision would not have been lost on declarer even had he passed.

North did very well to lead his trump, the only chance for the defence.

If South takes the ace and switches to his spade, which removes a vital entry from the dummy, declarer should not make more than nine tricks, but South let declarer win with the seven.

West took a club finesse, cashed the ace of clubs, ruffed a club, played a spade to the ace and ruffed dummy’s last club. Now he played the jack of diamonds.

At the time I thought North made a mistake by covering, but I had forgotten that declarer had not yet lost any tricks. Even if he ducks and South wins, cashes the ace of hearts and exits with a heart, declarer can win and cash the last trump to catch North in a strip squeeze.

Once North had covered, no heroics were required and declarer had an easy route to ten tricks, +590.

There was some discussion as to the general wisdom of doubling with the South hand, especially when you are playing Meckwell.

Well, as someone remarked, they play the cards better than most – but they often have less material to work with!

Closed Room

West took a good decision when he passed his partner’s double.

East led the king of hearts. Declarer won in dummy and ran the nine of clubs. East won and played a heart, ruffed by declarer, who exited with the jack of clubs. East won and now does best to play a club. However, he decided to exit with the king of diamonds, which cost his side a trick as now declarer had to come to seven winners, -300 but still 7 IMPs to USA 2.

That was an important victory, 36-19 IMPs, 19-11 VP that kept USA 2 in the hunt.