The Final
Two of the strongest pre-championship favourites had made it into
the Finals: LAVAZZA, the six-player squad from Italy, aided by Austrian
Maria Erhart, would play STOPPA, the very experienced French team.
They would meet in a relatively short match of 32 boards only, and
from the pace they ran through the first 16 of them, one might think
there only were 24 boards to play. Looking at the halftime score,
however, the conclusion could only be that the match already was
all over
So below you will find a rather one-sided report of the one-way
traffic that dominated the first half of the match.
On the first board, there was no swing, but it did not look a good
omen for the French.
Board 1. Dealer North. None Vul.
|
|
ª K J 9 5
© A Q 7 5 2
¨ Q 9
§ J 8 |
ª Q 8 4 3
© 8 6 3
¨ A K J 10 7
§ 4 |
![Bridge deal](../../../graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª 7 6
© K 9
¨ 6 4 2
§ Q 10 9 6 3 2 |
|
ª A 10 2
© J 10 4
¨ 8 5 3
§ A K 7 5 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Stretz |
Versace |
Serf |
Cuzzi |
|
1© |
Pass |
2§ |
2¨ |
Pass |
Pass |
2© |
Pass |
2ª |
Pass |
4© |
All Pass |
|
|
|
Serf led the ¨2, so after cashing two tricks Stretz could switch
to his singleton club, thus ensuring the ruff necessary to beat
the contract. STOPPA +50.
At the other table, we saw a completely different picture:
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Duboin |
Stoppa |
Lavazza |
Avon |
|
1© |
Pass |
3NT |
Pass |
4© |
All Pass |
|
Avon's practical bid of 3NT shut out West and also induced East
to lead a spade, thus solving one of declarer's problems. Stoppa
might have continued the ©A and another, which would have been a
successful line, but when he chose to cross to dummy's §A to take
the heart finesse, not an irrational line at all, he was unlucky
to go one down when Lavazza returned a club after winning her ©K.
LAVAZZA +50 and no swing.
On the next board, STOPPA opened his account when the hand distribution
proved too much for the Italians at both tables.
Board 2. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
|
|
ª A
© Q 6 5
¨ Q 8 6 5 4
§ Q 6 4 3 |
ª Q 10 7
© 7
¨ A K J 10 9
§ J 10 8 5 |
![Bridge deal](../../../graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª K J 6 5
© J 10 9 4 2
¨ 2
§ A 9 7 |
|
ª 9 8 4 3 2
© A K 8 3
¨ 7 3
§ K 2 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Stretz |
Versace |
Serf |
Cuzzi |
|
|
Pass |
Pass |
1¨ |
Pass |
1© |
Pass |
2§ |
Pass |
2© |
2ª |
All Pass |
|
|
|
Though Monica Cuzzi did well to go only one down, she had not chosen
the right moment to balance. STOPPA +100.
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Duboin |
Stoppa |
Lavazza |
Avon |
|
|
Pass |
Pass |
1§ |
Pass |
1© |
Pass |
1NT |
Pass |
2§ |
Pass |
2¨ |
Pass |
2© |
Pass |
2NT |
All Pass |
|
|
Playing strong diamond, Duboin had to open 1§ which could conceal
a good diamond holding. When Lavazza enquired further with 2§, there
was no safe spot left. On a diamond lead to his jack, Duboin would
easily have made his contract had he played spades first, as the
ace comes down much more quickly than one would expect. As he could
not see through the cards he finessed a club first, won the diamond
return, took another club finesse and cashed the §A before tackling
the spades. Now the defence had six tricks established. STOPPA another
+50 and the first 4 imps of the match.
On board 4, both teams missed a chance, as both 6© and 6NT are
cold (but 6ª fails on the heart ruff).
Board 4. Dealer West. All Vul.
|
|
ª 10 8 5
© 4
¨ K 10 7 6 5 4 2
§ 10 3 |
ª K Q J 6 4 2
© A Q 2
¨ Q J
§ K 5 |
![Bridge deal](../../../graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª 9 3
© K J 6 5 3
¨ A 9 3
§ A 9 7 |
|
ª A 7
© 10 9 8 7
¨ 8
§ Q J 8 6 4 2 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Stretz |
Versace |
Serf |
Cuzzi |
1ª |
Pass |
2© |
Pass |
3© |
Pass |
4§ |
Pass |
4ª |
Pass |
4NT |
Pass |
5¨ |
Pass |
5© |
All Pass |
It looks as if West should have taken over the initiative at any
time. All he needs is a reasonable heart suit and two aces. STOPPA
+680.
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Duboin |
Stoppa |
Lavazza |
Avon |
1§ |
Pass |
1© |
Pass |
1ª |
Pass |
2§ |
Dble |
3ª |
Pass |
4ª |
All Pass |
Duboin showed 16-18 hcp. with six spades and three hearts, but
apparently this message did not reach his partner in time. LAVAZZA
+680 when Stoppa led a club rather than a heart.
A routine play to trick 1 created a swing on board 6:
Board 6. Dealer East. E/W Vul.
|
|
ª A 8
© K J 8 6 4
¨ 5 3 2
§ A 8 3 |
ª K 5 3
© A 10 9 7 2
¨ 7
§ K 10 6 4 |
![Bridge deal](../../../graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª Q 10 2
© Q
¨ A J 8 6 4
§ J 9 7 2 |
|
ª J 9 7 6 4
© 5 3
¨ K Q 10 9
§ Q 5 |
At both tables, West was in 3§ and North led a trump. Duboin played
low from dummy and Avon inserted the queen. Now Giorgio could win
and set up a complete cross-ruff to get to eight tricks. As the
defence had to give one spade trick in the end, he just scrambled
home.
Stretz inserted dummy's nine on the club lead, but Cuzzi rightly
played low. Now she could overruff the third round of hearts and
play a spade to partner who could then play §A and another. One
down. +110 and +100 meant 5 imps to LAVAZZA to level the match at
this stage.
Then, the Italians launched an offensive. Here is board 7:
Board 7. Dealer South. All Vul.
|
|
ª Q J 8 4
© 8 7 4
¨ Q 8 7
§ Q 7 5 |
ª 10 6 2
© K Q
¨ K 10 6 2
§ J 10 9 3 |
![Bridge deal](../../../graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª A K 9 7 5
© A 6 5 3
¨ A J 4
§ 6 |
|
ª 3
© J 10 9 2
¨ 9 5 3
§ A K 8 4 2 |
At both tables East was in 4ª and both Souths led a top club. When
Stoppa gave count with the five, Avon switched to a diamond, so
Lavazza's problems had disappeared. She lost two trumps and scored
+620.
At the other table, Versace also gave count with the §5, but the
Italian pair play reverse count. Holding four trumps, he wanted
Cuzzi to continue clubs rather than give away the diamond position.
So Cuzzi continued the §K ruffed by Serf. Dummy's hearts were unblocked
and two top trumps followed, declarer discovering the bad break.
Next came the ©A for a club discard and the last heart, ruffed and
overruffed. North cashed his winning trump and had a safe exit now
with the §Q, ruffed by declarer who then proceeded to misguess the
diamonds for one down. A surprise 12 imps to LAVAZZA.
Three boards later 3NT was reached at both tables, but the outcome
was quite different.
Board 10. Dealer East. All Vul.
|
|
ª 8 7 6 3
© A 10 6 5 3 2
¨ 10 3
§ 5 |
ª A Q 9
© 9 8 7
¨ J 9
§ Q J 10 8 6 |
![Bridge deal](../../../graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª K 10 5 4
© K Q
¨ A K 7 6 4
§ K 7 |
|
ª J 2
© J 4
¨ Q 8 5 2
§ A 9 4 3 2 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Stretz |
Versace |
Serf |
Cuzzi |
|
|
1¨ |
Pass |
2NT |
Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
North led a straightforward low heart for two undertricks. LAVAZZA
+200.
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Duboin |
Stoppa |
Lavazza |
Avon |
|
|
1¨ |
Pass |
1ª |
Pass |
1NT |
Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
|
|
The strong diamond did the job for the Italians here. 1ª showed
two controls and the rest was natural. South led a straightforward
low club for two overtricks. LAVAZZA +660 and 13 imps.
Then, a serious error at both tables.
Board 11. Dealer South. None Vul.
|
|
ª K J 10 9 8 7
© A K 9 6 3
¨ 3
§ 9 |
ª A 6 3 2
© 8 7 5
¨ Q 8 6
§ 5 4 2 |
![Bridge deal](../../../graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª 5
© Q
¨ A K 10 7 2
§ A K Q J 10 6 |
|
ª Q 4
© J 10 4 2
¨ J 9 5 4
§ 8 7 3 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Stretz |
Versace |
Serf |
Cuzzi |
|
|
|
Pass |
Pass |
1ª |
2NT |
Pass |
3¨ |
3© |
3ª |
4© |
4ª |
5© |
6§ |
All Pass |
This looks an easy enough contract. You win the spade lead, draw
TWO rounds of trumps and check the diamonds. Maybe, the hand with
the last trump also holds four diamonds. This routine play cannot
cost when diamonds are 3-2, and wins the contract for you if they
are 4-1 with the last trump in the same hand as the long diamonds.
As this was the case, the contract was cold, but the French declarer
still managed to go down as she drew three rounds of trumps
LAVAZZA
+50.
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Duboin |
Stoppa |
Lavazza |
Avon |
|
|
|
Pass |
Pass |
1ª |
2NT |
Pass |
3¨ |
3© |
5§ |
All Pass |
Far less bidding than at the other table. In fact, Duboin considered
bidding the slam on the basis of his ªA, but he eventually passed.
Lavazza, in 5§, did not bother to make the routine play of checking
the diamonds after two rounds of trumps, but the difference was
that she could not go down. LAVAZZA another +400 or 10 imps, instead
of an 11-imp loss
And on the very next board, once again an advantage gained and
thrown away:
Board 12. Dealer West. N/S Vul.
|
|
ª 9 2
© J 7 3
¨ K 9 3
§ A K 10 8 3 |
ª Q 7 5 3
© 10 5 4
¨ A J 8 7 6
§ 9 |
![Bridge deal](../../../graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª K 8 6 4
© A 9 6
¨ 5 2
§ Q 5 4 2 |
|
ª A J 10
© K Q 8 2
¨ Q 10 4
§ J 7 6 |
Both teams in a stretched 3NT. Duboin had overcalled in diamonds
as west, Stretz had not. The difference this time was that Duboin
(West) decided to lead his own suit, diamonds, after which declarer
made her contract by first knocking out the ©A and then taking the
club finesse. Serf (East), on the other hand, led a spade as once
again the contract was played from the other side of the table.
Now declarer should go down if the defenders establish their spades
as quickly as possible, but Stretz won the first spade with the
queen and returned
a diamond. Curtains.
The score stood at 40-9 to LAVAZZA now, but worse was to happen
when Stoppa forgot about a convention on the last board of the set.
Board 16. Dealer West. E/W Vul.
|
|
ª 6 5
© Q 8 5 2
¨ 10 7 3
§ A 5 4 3 |
ª K 8 4
© A J 9 6
¨ K J 5 4
§ Q J |
![Bridge deal](../../../graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª 9 7 2
© K 7 4 3
¨ A 9 8 6
§ 10 6 |
|
ª A Q J 10 3
© 10
¨ Q 2
§ K 9 8 7 2 |
Open Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Stretz |
Versace |
Serf |
Cuzzi |
1NT |
Pass |
Pass |
2¨ |
Pass |
2© |
Pass |
2ª |
All Pass |
|
|
|
2¨ showed one major only, so Versace corrected to 2© as he had
no preference. Cuzzi thus had to recorrect, but there were no further
problems and one overtrick. LAVAZZA +140.
Closed Room |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Duboin |
Stoppa |
Lavazza |
Avon |
1NT |
Pass |
Pass |
2© |
All Pass (?!) |
|
|
|
Here, 2© was clearly meant as a transfer to spades, but Stoppa
was not connected. The contract went down three for another 7-imp
gain to LAVAZZA.
At halftime, the score stood at 51-9. It looked
all over, and so it turned out.
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