Poland vs Italy

Open Round 27

The VuGraph auditorium was crowded with spectators when two giants of modern bridge, Poland and Italy, played against each other at the end of Tuesday. We pick up the match at board number 3:

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

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Bizon	Lauria	Kowalski	Versace
			1¨
Pass	1©	Pass	3¨
All Pass

Lauria-Versace in the Closed Room did well to stay low in spite of the promising diamond suit and duly made their 3¨ contract. Italy +110.

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Duboin	Lesniewski	Bocchi	Martens
			1¨
Pass	1©	Pass	3¨
Pass	3©	Pass	3NT
All Pass

BIZON Piotr, Poland

In the Open Room Marcin Lesniewski felt he had another bid over 3¨. Thus, an impossible 3NT was reached, against which a club was led to the jack and queen. Norberto Bocchi returned a beautiful ©6 for queen and king. With the heart suit wide open, the good defence resulted in 3NT going down three. Italy 6 IMP's. On Board 5 the Poles got back some points:

Board 5. Dealer North. N/S Vul.
	ª A Q 10 9 6 4 © K 6 ¨ Q 10 6 § 6 4
ª K 8 2 © A Q 9 ¨ 3 2 § K Q 10 5 2		ª 3 © 8 5 4 2 ¨ K J 9 5 § A J 9 7
	ª J 7 5 © J 10 7 3 ¨ A 8 7 4 § 8 3

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Bizon	Lauria	Kowalski	Versace
	1ª	Pass	2ª
3§	Pass	4§	All Pass

In the Closed Room Bizon-Kowalski went one down in 4§, when declarer took the wrong view in diamonds.

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Duboin	Lesniewski	Bocchi	Martens
	1ª	Pass	2ª
3§	3ª	Dble	Pass
3NT	All Pass

Open Bocchi-Duboin reached the highly ambitious 3NT played by West, against which North had to find a lead. Lesniewski, afraid to give the ninth trick, didn't lead his long suit. He kicked off with a neutral club. Dummy's nine won, followed by a heart for nine and king. North returned a low diamond and declarer inserted the king in dummy. When South returned the ªJ, Duboin had to accept down five, 5 IMP's to Poland. The score at this point: 12-10 to Italy.

Board 10 turned out to be a big gain for Poland:

Board 10. Dealer East. All Vul.
	ª Q © A ¨ A 8 7 3 2 § A Q J 10 3 2
ª 10 6 4 © 9 6 5 4 ¨ K Q § K 8 7 4		ª J 5 3 © Q 10 8 3 2 ¨ J 10 9 5 § 6
	ª A K 9 8 7 2 © K J 7 ¨ 6 4 § 9 5

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Duboin	Lesniewski	Bocchi	Martens
		Pass	1ª
Pass	2§	Pass	2ª
Pass	3¨	Pass	3NT
Pass	4§	Pass	4©
Pass	5§	All Pass

When Lesniewski, on his way to slam, learned that his partner had no diamond control, the bidding rested in 5§ in which eleven tricks were made easily. Poland + 600.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Bizon	Lauria	Kowalski	Versace
		Pass	1ª
Pass	2§	Pass	2ª
Pass	3¨	Pass	3NT
Pass	4§	Pass	4NT
All Pass

KOWALSKI Dariusz, Poland

In the Closed Room the Italians faced a rare disaster ending up in 4NT, which proved to be an interesting contract, especially when Piotr Bizon found the good lead of the ¨K. The first trick was ducked by declarer. He took the next diamond, unblocked the ©A, overtook the ªQ with the ace, finessed twice in clubs, played §A and gave a club to West. Bizon returned the ª10 for declarer's king. South exited with a third spade. East won and cashed another two diamonds and Versace had to accept two undertricks. 13 IMP's to Poland. But what would have happened had Versace decided to win the ¨A immediately, unblock the ªQ and the ©A and lead a diamond? With the spades 3-3, the defence would not be able to prevent him making ten tricks. When the spades are not 3-3 the defenders will have to allow declarer access to his hand anyway to take a couple of club finesses.

Board 19 was the last big swing of the match:

Board 19. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
	ª A Q 10 8 2 © 9 7 ¨ 8 5 3 § 9 6 2
ª K 5 3 © K 8 5 2 ¨ K Q J 6 4 § 8		ª 6 © A Q J 10 4 ¨ A 9 7 2 § J 10 4
	ª J 9 7 4 © 6 3 ¨ 10 § A K Q 7 5 3

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Bizon	Lauria	Kowalski	Versace
			1§
1¨	1©	Dble	4ª
Pass	Pass	5¨	All Pass

In the Closed Room the 1© bid of Lauria showed a spade suit, but not necessarily five. Probably that's the reason why Versace didn't bid spades once more at the five level. So Poland scored +600 when declarer only lost two black aces.

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Duboin	Lesniewski	Bocchi	Martens
			2§
Dble	2ª	3ª	4ª
4NT	Pass	5©	5ª
Pass	Pass	Dble	All Pass

In the Open Room Martens knew that his partner had at least five spades. This enabled him to find the excellent save of 5ª which was down just one. 11 IMP's to Poland.

The final score of the match: 56-30 or 20-10 V.P. to Poland, an excellent result that consolidated the qualifying spot they were in at the time the match was played.