Swiss cheese

For the last weekend in San Diego, I played the North American Swiss Teams with my Canadian friends-Jonathan Steinberg, Toronto ON; Daniel Korbel, Waterloo ON and Maurice de La Salle, Edmonton AB.

Michael, Jonathan, Daniel and Maurice.

The NA Swiss had a large-145 teams and strong field. It was two qualifying, two semifinal and two final sessions over three days. Only 36 teams made the cut into the final. On the third day, the huge ballroom playing area at the Manchester Grand Hyatt looked like a Swiss cheese after so many teams had been eliminated. 

It was tough going in the final and we finished in 19th place.

There were bright spots. Here is a hand Maurice and I bid to the grand slam in hearts.

Board 2. Dealer East. N-S Vulnerable.

I was West and held. ♠ 8 ♥ A987 ♦ K953 ♣ A642

This was the auction.

*3NT was slam try.

4♣ and 4♦  cue bids, 4♠ was kickback-RKC for hearts.

Maurice bid the grand after he found out I held A♥ K♦ and A♣ .

These are the hands. 

Dealer: East Vul: N-S		North
		♠	762
		♥	62
		♦	Q62
		♣	J8753
West Michael				East Maurice
♠	8			♠	AQ54
♥	A987			♥	KQJ1043
♦	K953			♦	A107
♣	A642			♣
		South
		♠	KJ1093
		♥	5
		♦	J84
		♣	KQ109

South made the best lead of a heart but it was to no avail. Maurice won in dummy with the seven, crossed to the spade ace, ruffed a spade then used two club ruffs as entries to ruff the rest of the spades. Only then used the diamond ace to draw trumps. Discarded the diamond loser on the club ace. Well played.

* click on Next to see the movie.

Making thirteen tricks for +1510 to win 11 imps. Our opponents stopped in the small slam.

The high power team of Carolyn Lynch, Scottsdale AZ; Mike Passell, Las Vegas NV; Cezary Balicki, Smolec Poland; Andrew Gromov – Aleksander Dubinin, Moscow Russia; Adam Zmudzinski, Katowice 40-479 Poland. Won the event running away. They started the final day of play with a carry over of 40 VP! Everybody else spent the day playing for second.

Big Thank You to Maurice, Jonathan and Daniel for the game and a nice weekend.

The Blues

I was in balmy San Diego for the Fall North American Bridge Championships last week. So it was a shock to my systems when I came home to a very cold Vancouver. The temperature was a freezing -3C when my flight landed! 

Played the Blue Ribbon Pairs with my friend Maurice De La Salle from Edmonton. It was a gruelling three day event with a cut each day. After two days of play, a large field of 173 tables were cut down to the 39 table final. We made the cut with an average of 54% each day.

I noticed in the second session of the final, most pairs did not “stay in the box”.  Many pairs were very active, trying their best to generating swings in order to move up the leader board.

Here is the round we played against the number one seed in our section. Zia (North) and Boye Brogeland (South).

It was a three ring circus at Zia’s table. We had to climb over kibitzers to get to our seats. Lots of people around the table were looking for actions and we didn’t disappoint.

Board 21. Dealer North. N-S Vulnerable.

I was West and held ♠ A9 ♥ K653 ♦ KJ75 ♣ QJ6

This was the auction.

* South-break in tempo before passing.

As Zia made his lead of the ♥ Queen. He said to Maurice “Sounded like your partner is waiting for a reopening double” Yes I was licking my chops while waiting.

After Maurice put his hand down, Zia turned over a few of dummy’s cards and pretended to look for some more face cards. Amidst the laughter, I turned to Zia and said in jest “He just read your book” that really broke up the crowd.

These were the hands. 

Dealer: North Vul: N-S		North Zia
		♠	105
		♥	QJ10874
		♦	963
		♣	52
West Michael				East Maurice
♠	A9			♠	KQ8642
♥	K653			♥	A92
♦	KJ75			♦
♣	QJ6			♣	10743
		South Boye
		♠	J73
		♥
		♦	AQ10842
		♣	AK98

I proceeded to make my contract. We got 34 match points on a 38 top.

Turned out 4♠ our direction was down off the top, the defense getting both club and heart ruffs! At some tables South even got doubled in 3♦ making!!

The second board was then put into play.

Board 22. Dealer East. E-W Vulnerable.

As West I held. ♠ QJ8 ♥ AJ109832 ♦ 6 ♣ 92

This was the auction.

When Maurice jumped to six hearts, Zia decided to take the sacrifice. He was hopeful the vulnerability would make it a good save.

These were the hands.

Dealer: East Vul: E-W		North Zia
		♠	K96432
		♥	7
		♦	10953
		♣	53
West Michael				East Maurice
♠	QJ8			♠	5
♥	AJ109832			♥	K5
♦	6			♦	AJ82
♣	92			♣	AKQJ64
		South Boye
		♠	A107
		♥	Q64
		♦	KQ74
		♣	1087

The lead was the club ace. We slipped a trick, defeated six spades four tricks for +800. Lucky for us that was enough, at other tables a spade lead beaten six hearts. This time we got 33 match points.

When the dust settled, Bart Bramley, Dallas TX and Bjorn Fallenius, New York NY won the event and we were in 33 place. It was fun playing against good competitions. My thanks to Maurice for the nice game.

Later on in the week, when the smoke cleared, Zia playing on the Nickell team won The Reisinger B-A-M Teams.

For results and bulletins http://www.acbl.org/nabc/index.php?a=2009&b=Fall&c=daily_bulletins

The kirkwood Trophy

The Kirkwood Trophy was established in 1966 to honor the bridge player in D19 (Washington, British Columbia and Alaska) who did the best during each calendar year thereafter. For the first few years it was awarded to the player from District 19 who won the most points without regard to what tournaments were included. However, when the District welcomed World Champion Paul Soloway as a resident of Washington State, it was soon decided that the trophy should be awarded based solely on performances at D19 Regionals. 

This year’s contest was decided at the Vancouver Regional this November. Pat Dunn, Bellevue WA. clinched the trophy when he and I, won the Open Pairs on Friday. It is the second year in a row that Pat has won this trophy! That is quite an achievement, considering the large numbers of good players that lives in this area. 

The following hand contributed towards Pat’s success.

Open Pairs. Afternoon session. Board 33. Dealer North. None Vulnerable. 

West Michael				East Pat
♠	Q106			♠	A875
♥	Q96			♥	A10
♦	J			♦	AKQ10732
♣	KJ8542			♣

This was the auction.

When South found the low spade lead, Pat was on his way to making five no trumps for a great score. Making eleven tricks, +460 was good for 24- match points out of 26.

These were the hands.

Dealer: North Vul: None		North
		♠	K2
		♥	KJ743
		♦	64
		♣	AQ76
West Michael				East Pat
♠	Q106			♠	A875
♥	Q96			♥	A10
♦	J			♦	AKQ10732
♣	KJ8542			♣
		South
		♠	J943
		♥	852
		♦	985
		♣	1093

Congratulations Pat, for a great year and wish you many more to come. Thanks for the enjoyable game.

Simple Pleasures

Last week I played with Brad Bart at the local sectional. He played this hand rather well.

Dealer South. North-South Vulnerable.

I was East and held ♠ AKJ7 ♥ 2 ♦ 943 ♣ Q10543

This was the auction.

2♣*was stayman.

Brad held the west hand, even though South had doubled my two clubs bid, he shown partnership trust by passing three no-trump.

The opening lead was the queen of diamond. Brad read the hand well and at Trick 11, North was throw in with the nine of diamond, end-played into leading from eight, six of spade into dummy’s jack, seven. Very nice.

Answers to what is it all about?

Here are the comments from those who took time to share.

Problem 1. Teams. Dealer West. East-West Vulnerable.

As South. You hold ♠ AKQ762 ♥ Void  ♦ AQ43 ♣ K107 

The auction so far and what would you bid?  

Action             Score                Votes

Double            100                   14

2 ♥                  80                     3

1♠                   20                     1

I am not convinced double with a void is the stand out bid. The concern for most is how to tell partner the strength of their hand. Understandably most doubled.

John Carruthers : “Double. If partner has a penalty pass, it’s ok with me at this vulnerability. If not, I expect to get close to game – we may not make it, but we’ll get to game or close to it.”

David Granger (with Daniel Korbel, Doug Fraser) : “Starting with double.  Good hand, boss suit, no other choice really. Intend bidding spade later or cue bid heart.”

Karen Cumpstone : “good problem. Too strong for spade overcall, partner is not going to pass the double unless with good trumps. vulnerability is right for this action.”

Is comforting to see long time partners and friends bid the same.

Bryan Maksymetz (with Keith Dowdall, Dan Jacob) : “Double is the obvious choice – it is hard to see any option” 

Others worried that they may have missed a bigger catch with the double.  

Walter Fontaine : “Think double is best. The probability of partner converting to penalties is extremely remote and if he does I expect 800 minimum. In the more likely event that he bids a minor we can cue bid next.  Slam is possible in spades or either minor with a useful 6-9 points that had no call over one spade ”

Robert Lebi : ” Double, double, double!!! Maybe cold for a Grand in any suit but if partner passes, they are going for a big number”

John Rayner : “Cannot imagine doing anything but double. At this vulnerability, if partner leaves it in I’m thrilled. Otherwise my hand is most suitable for play in the other three suits, not just spades. We could have a slam in one of the minors. Perhaps the more difficult problems will follow, but I double for now.”

Surprise! you lost 5 imps as they bid and made 6 ♠ at the other table. Worse, they bid and made 7 ♠  or 7 ♣ .

How about the intermediate overcall, good hand with six card suit?

Bob Todd (with Nader Hanner) : “Double, too strong for intermediate 2S overcall and they are vulnerable.”

If you don’t double, then what is the alternative? So far nobody address the pitfall of doubling with a void in trumps.

Nicolas Lecuyer : “This is an awkward situation. 1. love to double but partner is likely to leave it in, which may lead to a bad result since I have no trumps to lead through declarer. It is however tempting with the colors. 2. love to jump in spades but no guarantees we can make anything. 3. could try a” tactical slow approach” of 1S with the small risk of playing in 1S when wrong. My final answer 1S.”

Not taking any chances that partner may covert their takeout double. All the people with first name that starts with B thinks big and alike! 

Boris Baran: “2H – not Michaels in this position.”

Wishing he is playing with Edgar, who said ” Takeout doubles are for takeout!”

Brad Bart : “2H-think there is a slam in these cards but OK with double as long as partner does not sit for it”

Bob Crosby : “I would bid 2H ( Goren Q bid ) As I do not want 1H doubled converted by partner. Make a bid that prevents partner from making a mistake.”

Covering all bases. Will let the Koach have the last word.

Eric Kokish: “Double. Other choices include 2H (some strong two-suiter) and 3H (a strong one-suiter lacking a stopper, intending to convert to 4S) As both of the other choices are sufficiently flawed and the bad guys are vul. I can live with a penalty pass. The main downside in doubling.

Problem 2. Teams. Dealer West. East-West Vulnerable.

As North. You hold ♠ 8 ♥ 1097543 ♦ K10 ♣ AQ65

What is your bid?

Action                Score              Votes

Pass                  100                    8

2 ♣                    80                     5

3 ♣                    70                     1

1NT                    20                     1

What can we expect a takeout double to look like? Normal expectation is a balanced or semi balanced, stronger hand, five card suit is possible.

Some chose to pass but not without reservations. Understandably most converted partner’s takeout double, seduced by the vulnerability, they were willing to exchange a big penalty for the possible game bonus. Something about a bird in hand is better then two in the bush.

Guy Coutanche: ” Pass, hope there is no overtricks.”

Stephen Brown: “I pass. I expect to beat the contract at least 1 trick vul. Game is some what unlikely on our side. Opponents likely have a 4-4 spade fit. +200 and if we are lucky maybe +500 is better than whatever we will likely contract for. It is a long way to 5C. 3NT may be down off the top. Who knows maybe partner has a stiff that is useful. Vulnerability is the key. Even is the opponents make 1H – big deal.”

Sabine Auken : ” Pass- can’t think of a convincing reason why not.” 

Some suspected there was a lead problem. There was, only if you lead a low trump.

Laurence Batts : ” Is this a lead problem?”

Ross Taylor : ” I suspect I should bid naturally and affirmatively in clubs, and see where we get to. At least I won’t be guessing (or making a unilateral action) nearly as much as if I pass the double.
I suspect at the table I would pass the double; lead a low trump and hope to score between 200 and 500, and expect if I am wrong – it is a partial at worse a game in clubs (or even NT) our way. Pass - maybe the instinctive response, but no guarantees of course. If our trump lead does not find the 8 or stiff honour with partner, declarer is en route to five trump tricks eventually (six on a very bad day), plus perhaps an Ace.”

John Duqutte : “Pass, best chance for a plus as they are vulnerable. Wonder how bad ace of club lead will be?”

Joan Eaton : ” Pass and lead a trump. Worry about making game in club and expecting to beat it at least 500.”

Deja vu for one. Can we expect partner to have at least one trump for his takeout double?

George Mittelamn : “It is interesting that Zeke Jabbour had a hand similar to this against me but he had 109876 passed 1H doubled. Led the 10 of heart, Dummy had Jx I foolishly played the J and went for 1100. So remembering that I pass at that vulnerability.

Mazal Tov. Congratulations are in order, just home from the hospital Roy Hughes reported that both mother-Erika and son-Evan are well.

Roy Hughes: “1NT. it is a little mis-directed, since we might have four top losers in the heart suit and belong in a trump suit, but 3C on a four card suit is not appealing. 2C is reasonable if can be this strong. 1NT is safer if there is no discussion.”

“I can see clearly now” by Johnny Nash.

Fred Gitelman : “In match point I probably pass. In imps I might also pass. I could see bidding 2C instead.”

Pony Nehmert : ” 2C. Where are the spades? RHO hasn’t got them and LHO didn’t bid them. Got the strong suspicion partner is sitting on a very good hand with spades. Will make another move if I bid now. Also partner may have some clubs with a void in heart. We might make 6C and if I pass, they might make 1H on a terrible day”

Bernard Ludewig : “Interesting problem. I bid 2C, I am a coward. I don’t think I can beat 1H more then 1 trick, if at all. Opposite a normal takeout double (4144 10-15) They may find spade if I pass. Second choice 1NT.”

Kiz Fung : “I bid 2C because I don’t see beating one heart opposite most balance double and we could be cold for six club if partner has a good hand. If there is a chance in balancing, we prefer to double.”

David Turner: “‘Simple’ 3C. Should have more clubs to jump opposite 4th seat double but here you have a good idea that partner’s shape will be classic or big in spade. Hate to miss game opposite a minimum KJxx x Axx Kxxxx.”

Ever the good partner.

David Lindop : “2C, perhaps 3C. Don’t want to punish partner for balancing. Trumps not good enough.”

You be warned, if David ever double you for penalty, run like the wind.

Here is the board in question. Lederer 2009. Match 7. Board 32. 

Dealer: West Vul: E-W		North gold
		♠	8
		♥	1097543
		♦	K10
		♣	AQ65
West Carroll				East Garvey
♠	J104			♠	953
♥	AKQ82			♥	J6
♦	J76			♦	9852
♣	43			♣	J982
		South Townsend
		♠	AKQ762
		♥
		♦	AQ43
		♣	K107

What is it all about?

This was an interesting hand, for me, as I watched the Lederer match between Ireland-Tommy Garvey, John Carroll, Adam Mesbur and Nick Fitzgibbon against England Premier League-Espen Erichsen, Tom Townsend, David Gold, Nick Irens and Norman Selway.

Match 7. Board 32. East-West vulnerable.

As South you hold AKQ762 Void AQ43 K107

You hear this auction, what is your bid?

At both tables, South doubled and all passed. West got only his four trump tricks, went down three for -800. It was a pushed board.

Oh, in case anyone is interested, Ireland won the event.

Here is board 32. 

Dealer: Wesy Vul: E-W		North
		♠	8
		♥	1097543
		♦	K10
		♣	AQ65
West				East
♠	J104			♠	953
♥	AKQ82			♥	J6
♦	J76			♦	9852
♣	43			♣	J982
		South
		♠	AKQ762
		♥
		♦	AQ43
		♣	K107

You may have noticed, North-South is cold for seven spades or seven clubs but both tables defended one heart doubled.

So that beg the questions. 

1. Is double a good bid with the south hand? 

2. Is it normal for North to convert partner’s takeout double into a penalty double?

Tom Gandolfo

Sorry to inform you our good friend Tom Gandolfo has passed away on the 19 th October 2009 after a lengthy illness. He will be greatly missed. My condolences to Leslie and family. 

From the Edmonton Journal.

GANDOLFO, Thomas (Tom) Albert June 22, 1943 – October 19, 2009 Thomas (Tom) Albert Gandolfo of Edmonton passed away at the age of 66 years after a valiant struggle with ALS. He leaves to remember him; his partner, Leslie; his children, Trevor, Tracy (Shane), Kyla (Wayne); his friend and the mother of his children, Diane; his daughter, Margaret (Mark); his grandchildren, Alix, Corbin, Nathan, Sydney, Marina and Shawn; mother, Ivy Gandolfo; sister, Margaret “Midge” (Brian). Predeceased by his father, Bert Gandolfo. Memorial Service Wednesday, October 28 at 3:30 p.m. at Park Memorial Chapel, 9709 – 111 Avenue. Cremation has taken place in the Park Memorial Crematorium. In lieu of other tributes, memorial donations may be made directly to the ALS Society of Alberta, Suite 410, Jasper Centre, 11456 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton, AB T5K 0M1. To send condolences, visit www.parkmemorial.com Park Memorial Edmonton 780-426-0050 Family Owned Funeral Home, Crematorium, Reception Centre.

This article about Tom is reprinted from Edmonton Bridge Club site.

Tom was born in Vancouver B.C. but has lived in Edmonton for a long time, now with his significant other, Leslie Pettie. Tom was a successful businessman in the lumber business; he still runs a mill part-time but has essentially retired from the work force.  

Tom’s main hobby is bridge. As for activists outside bridge, he says “Not much now.  Golf once a year. Used to curl and play hockey a lot.”  Tom describes his start in bridge: “I played one game of bridge around 1975.  It was a regional at the Macdonald Hotel.  I knew this guy, Jack Smith, from one of the construction sites I worked on.  He was a bridge player and needed a partner for the Saturday game.  He knew I played a lot of cards and he talked me into playing.  On the way to the tournament he taught me Stayman, Blackwood and NT requirements.  I had no idea how we were doing but he was excited as hell. We actually qualified. That was it for my involvement in bridge until 1982 when I just walked into Peter Jones’s club.” 

As for his attitude or philosophy towards bridge Tom says, “As far as club games go, I’m not very serious.  I laugh and have a few drinks.  Other games such as CNTC, GNT, I try to play well.”  And play well he does.  Bob Crosby recalls playing with Tom in the 2003 CNTC in Pentiction. “Tom held ♠xx ♥x ♦KQ10xxx ♣KQJx.  I opened 2♣, vulnerable.  Tom replied 3♦ and I bid 3NT; Tom bid 4♣ and I responded 4♦, followed by Tom taking control of the hand and placing the contract in 7NT.  After the opening lead by Paul Thurston, Bob claimed 13 tricks without playing a card.  Paul’s teammates were in 3NT at the other table, so we won 17 IMPS.  Tom’s hand evaluation and judgment impressed Paul so much that he wrote up the hand in his bridge column in the National Post.”  Tom has had numerous successes at the national level, has won countless regional and sectional events, and is a very popular partner.  He says, “My favourite partners are Piotr Klimowicz, Kiz Fung, Maurice de la Salle, Susan Culham, Doug Deschner, Bob Crosby, and Debbie Corse, to name a few.”  Nobody would be surprised if Tom was on anyone’s list of favourite partners. Tom has a reputation of playing the hands “double dummy”.  In club games, you can often tell Tom’s pair number by the results on the score sheet: everyone is scoring -630, except for one -660.  That pair had the bad luck to defend the hand against Tom! 

Tom recently returned from the Detroit Nationals where he and his partner, Kiz Fung, were leading the NAOP at half time.  They eventually were 10^thoverall, which attests to Tom’s skill at match points.  He recently returned from a regional in Lethbridge where he won 76 master points, plus funds to compete in the GNT super flight finals at Las Vegas this summer, having been on the winning zone team. Tom is a treasured member of the Edmonton bridge family.  His bridge skill and love of the game has no equal in these parts. 

To anyone contemplating learning the game of bridge, Tom says, “Just get in there and play.”  Tom lists his favourite tournaments as Victoria and Penticton.  Tom offers this advice to bridge players: “If you want to improve at a faster rate, work with the director and come down on weekends to play rubber bridge.  He will find you a suitable game at your level.  You play many more hands and when you’re sitting out you can watch the better players.  When I started, I just watched for a couple of months.  That was Peter Jones’s advice.  It worked.  Thanks, Peter.”    Boy, did it ever work!

Lederer 2009

The Lederer Memorial Trophy is an annual event for eight invited teams from England and abroad.  This year It takes place from 17th to 18th October, at the Young Chelsea Bridge Club, in London England.

They play a complete round robin. Matches are broadcast live on BBO Vugraph.

Zia Mahmood, fresh from winning his first Bermuda Bowl in Sao Paulo, Brazil, is playing with English experts David Bakhshi, Andrew Robson and Alexander Allfrey on the Holder’s team-last year’s winners, with Zia replacing Tony Forrester.

Zia (South) playing with David (North) demonstrated good technique on this hand. For this match their opponents were the Young Chelsea Knockout-Richard Hillman (East), Jon Green (West), Keith bennett, Paula Leslie and Niel Rosen.

At trick eleven, Zia played the diamond nine from dummy, East was squeezed between spade and heart. If East discard a spade, Zia would discard the heart two, then his spades would be good. If East discard the heart queen then Zia’s heart two would be good.

Zia made twelve tricks for +490 and won 2 imps for his side. The other declarer made only ten tricks for +430. Alas, all this was for nought, The Holders lost the match, Zia won the battle and lost the war.

For more information about this tournament please see

http://www.metrobridge.co.uk/

Champion’s Cup

For those of us that appeciate good bridge on BBO-Vugraph, we are in for a treat. The 8th European Bridge Champion’s Cup is being played in Paris, France from the 15th to 18th October 2009. Thanks to BBO we can watch the action from the comfort of our homes.

For up to date results, detail information and bulletins please visit http://eurobridge.org/competitions/09Paris/Paris.htm

Here is an excerpt from the site.

The European Champions’ Cup is a competition between the elite teams of European bridge, i.e. the national team champions of the top ten coun­tries at the most recent European Team Championships. The defending champions and the host country representatives are also invited, but no country may send more than two teams.

Accordingly, this year, the top ten contenders of the 49th European Team Championships 2008, held in Pau, France, are invited to participate in the European Champions’ Cup: Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia and Sweden. Italy’s’Tennis Club Parioli Angelini’, the defending champions, and the host team, bring the total number of contesting teams to 12. The format will be a round-robin qualifier, followed by semifinals, a final and playoffs.

The winning team takes home gold medals and 5,000 Euros.

Round robin Group B Round 2. In the match between Bamberger Reiter-Germany and Allegra Torino-Italy. This hand caught my eye.

Board 19. Dealer South. East-west vulnerable.

You hold as East ♠ J107542 ♥ A ♦ QJ96 ♣ A8 

What is your bid?

In this match both East bid four spades and were doubled by North. 

 This were the hands. 

Dealer: South Vul: E-W		North Gromoeller
		♠	KQ63
		♥	83
		♦	AK84
		♣	J42
West Duboin				East Sementa
♠	A			♠	J107542
♥	72			♥	A
♦	732			♦	QJ96
♣	Q1097653			♣	A8
		South Haeusler
		♠	98
		♥	KQJ109654
		♦	105
		♣	K

The German declarer got the club king lead, saved him the club guess. After setting up diamonds went down three for -800.

The Italian declarer got the heart king lead, won that with heart ace. Also went after diamonds with queen, five, two, North won with diamond king, forced declarer with a heart, East ruffed with spade two, heart four, seven. Played diamond jack, ten, three and Ace. North give south a diamond ruff. South played heart queen, club six, North discarded diamond eight and declarer ruffed. Crossed to dummy with spade ace, He now had the south hand counted out, ran the club queen-catering to the possibility of south having the singleton club jack, lost that and got tapped again. Ended down four for -1100. Got full style points but lost 7 imps for his efforts.

After the hand was over, someone in the peanut gallery commented about the four spade call ” They are making bids a novice wouldn’t.”

That got me interested in finding out if anybody else made the four spade call in this championship. So I went to the match records. 

This is what I found.

Group A.

Host-France vs Iceland. Both East bid 4S. France was doubled, got club king lead and went down two for -500. Iceland was only team not doubled, got club king lead and went down two for -200. Winning 7 imps.

Netherlands vs Sweden. Swedish East was doubled in four spades, got club king lead and went down two for -500. The Dutch East bid four spade, got doubled, West pulled to five club, also got doubled. The lead was the diamond king and went down two for -500. They pushed the board.

Russia vs Angelini-Italy. Italian East bid four spades, was doubled got the lead of club king, went down two for -500. The Russian East played four spades doubled, got the lead of heart king. he went down only one! Lost -200 and won 7 imps.

Group B.

NC-France vs Denmark. The Danish West pulled to five clubs doubled. Got the diamond ace lead and went down one for -200. French East played four spades doubled, got the lead of heart king, went down two for -500. 7 imps to Denmark.

Norway vs Bulgaria. The Bulgarian West also pulled to five clubs doubled. Got the club two lead and went down one, -200. Norwegian East played four spades doubled, got the lead of club king and went down two for -500. 7 imps to Bulgaria.

Germany vs Allegra-Italy. Italian East played four spades doubled. Got the lead of heart king and went down four, -1100. The German East played four spades doubled, got the lead of club king, went down three for -800. 7 imps to Germany.

Of the six matches, to a man, all the East took action over four hearts. The four spade call is normal at this level of competition. Nice to know there is pretty good field protection.

Youth Bridge

According to World Bridge Federation, the new definition for under 26 youth players-formerly Juniors are players born in 1984 or later. Under 21 youth players-formerly School Players are players born in 1989 or later.

Youth bridge is alive and well on the Internet. Most days there are many young players having fun on BBO. Canada’s own Daniel Lavee-The kid1 has been holding games on the net for interested juniors.

I watched this exciting hand at his table yesterday. 

Imp pairs. Board 23. Dealer South. Both sides vulnerable.

As South, you hold ♠ AKQJ6432 ♥ Void ♦ J876 ♣ J

What is your bid?

Snystrom-Samantha Nystrom opened one spade. She had a side four card diamond suit and as she own the boss suit, not worried about any heart or club preempts.

As West, you hold ♠ Void ♥ AJ107542 ♦ 1032 ♣ 1054

What is your bid?

Zind-Gordon Zind bid three hearts. Nothing wrong with making a book bid. Holding a seven card suit and no defense, jammed the auction.

As North, you hold ♠ 95 ♥ K98 ♦ KQ954 ♣ 987

What is your bid?

The Kid1-Daniel Lavee passed. Holding a good-bad hand for the auction, he decided to wait for more development.

As East, you hold ♠ 1087 ♥ Q63 ♦ A ♣ AKQ632

What is your bid?

Sabourin-David Sabourin made the great bid of five hearts! He could see their partnership may have a slam if Gordon held reasonable hearts and a spade control.

So far so good. What happened next was exciting to watch, well worth the price of admission.

Unlucky for David, that message got lost. Gordon passed five hearts.

Daniel, not in on the joke, made a speculative double. Can’t blame him, his partner opened the bidding. He had the king of trump behind the heart bidder and a possible trick in diamond.

David looking at the best hand at the table, not wanting to stampede the opponents into a five spade save with the blue card, passed. This was Imps after all.

The spot light was on Sam and she came to the rescue with a five spades bid. She must have remembered Kokish telling her repeatedly-never defend with a eight card suit and zero defensive tricks or maybe she picked up a tell-that five heart bid.

When this got back to David, he doubled five spades. He was right in a way, this was their hand for six hearts.

Sam, in five spades doubled, made eleven tricks for plus 850 and 10 imps.

Those that are interested in International competition, please check out this site. http://www.wbfyouth.org/