Bulgaria vs Russia

Open Series - Round 20

In the middle session on Sunday, the Rama match was Greece v. France. This was an important match for both teams, but at the same time the Bulgaria v. Russia match was scheduled, a match of particular importance to Bulgaria, even more so in view of their forthcoming encounter on Rama with Italy. As it turned out, the Eastern Europeans provided us with a highly entertaining and spectacular match, so will we concentrate on that one, but also have a few short looks at the Rama proceedings.

Boards 1 and 2 seemed routine games for N/S but in fact were not. On Rama both Greece and France went wrong on one of them so their score stood at 7-6 to Greece when board 3 hit the table and the wall:

Session 20. Board 3. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
	ª K 10 2 © K J 7 ¨ A J § Q 8 7 6 3
ª Q 9 5 © A 9 2 ¨ 8 7 3 § J 9 5 4		ª J 8 7 4 © Q 10 8 3 ¨ Q 6 5 § A 2
	ª A 6 3 © 6 5 4 ¨ K 10 9 4 2 § K 10

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Karaivanov	Gromov	Trendafilov	Petrunin
			Pass
Pass	1¨	Pass	2¨
Pass	2NT	Pass	3NT
All Pass

For systemic reasons, Gromov could not open 1NT. As a consequence, the normal contract of 3NT had to played from the North seat. When East led a heart, West won the ace and returned the suit. Declarer won the third round with his king and played ¨AJ. Next, he played a club to the §K and when this held, cashed the diamonds. When the queen appeared, he had nine tricks. Russia +400.

Open Room