Rose’s
consolation
Rose Meltzer, the first woman to win the Bermuda Bowl, will not
return to the event to defend the championship she won in Paris
in 2001, but she is able to keep things in perspective, and she
has brought her team to Menton to try to win another prestigious
title.
Going into the final round of the qualifying for the Mixed Teams,
the Meltzer team was in first place in their group but was taking
nothing for granted against the Almirall squad, which was in second
place in the same group.
The Meltzer team made the most of their opportunity, defeating their
opponents 41-6 to cruise into the Swiss teams segment of play on
Sunday.
The Americans took the lead on the first board of the set.
Board 11. Dealer South. None Vul.
|
|
ª 10 9 7 5
© K J 2
¨ Q J 6
§ A J 7 |
ª Q 8 6
© 4 3
¨ 10 9 5 4
§ 9 8 5 4 |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª J 4
© Q 10 9
¨ A K 7 3 2
§ K Q 10 |
|
ª A K 3 2
© A 8 7 6 5
¨ 8
§ 6 3 2 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Lanzarotti |
Weichsel |
Gianardi |
Sanborn |
|
|
|
1© |
Pass |
1NT |
Pass |
2§ |
Pass |
3© |
All Pass |
|
Kerri Sanborn had nothing in reserve, and even if she had known
about the double fit in the majors, she likely would have declined
Peter Weichsel’s invitation to game.
Massimo Lanzarotti started with a low spade to the jack and ace,
and Sanborn played a heart to the jack and queen at trick two. A
spade came back to Sanborn’s king and she pulled trumps, ending
in her hand.
Next came the ¨8
to the queen and king, and East (Carla Gianardi) was endplayed.
She tried the §K,
but Sanborn ducked, then ruffed the ¨A
and gave up a spade to West for plus 140.
At the other table, North-South were more ambitious.
West |
North |
East |
South |
L. Stansby |
Ventin |
J. Stansby |
Almirall |
|
|
|
1© |
Pass |
1ª |
1NT |
2ª |
Pass |
3NT |
Pass |
4ª |
All Pass |
|
|
|
The natural 1NT by Jo Anna Stansby did not slow down Ventin and
Almirall, who reached the reasonable game that, on the lie of the
cards, had no play.
Jo Anna started with the ¨K,
switching to the §K,
ducked, at trick two. She played a low spade at trick three, and
declarer played low, losing to the queen. A club was returned to
declarer’s ace, and the ¨A
was ruffed out for a club pitch, but there was no way to pick up
the heart suit without a loser, so North was one off for minus 50
and a 5-IMP gain for Meltzer.
Two pushes followed, and then Meltzer won a part score battle
for another gain.
Board 14. Dealer East. None Vul.
|
|
ª K 9
© 10 8 6 5 4 3
¨ A 8 3
§ J 9 |
ª J 10 5 2
© Q 7
¨ K Q J 10
§ 5 3 2 |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª A Q 7 4
© A 9 2
¨ 7 4
§ Q 8 7 4 |
|
ª 8 6 3
© K J
¨ 9 6 5 2
§ A K 10 6 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
L. Stansby |
Ventin |
J. Stansby |
Almirall |
|
|
1NT |
Pass |
Pass |
2© |
Pass |
Pass |
2ª |
All Pass |
|
|
The Stansbys play 1NT openers as 12-14, which made it slightly
more difficult for North-South to compete. When 2© came back around
to him, Lew Stansby took a chance that if the opponents had a fit,
his side did, too.
North started with a low heart, ducked to South’s king. A
spade was returned to the jack , king and ace. Lew lost three clubs
and a diamond from there, but he had plus 100 in 2ª.
West |
North |
East |
South |
Lanzarotti |
Weichsel |
Gianardi |
Sanborn |
|
|
1§ |
Pass |
1¨ |
1© |
Pass |
1NT |
Dble |
Pass |
Pass |
2© |
All Pass |
|
|
|
The interference was enough to cause Lanzarotti and Gianardi to
lose their spade fit, which was unfortunate for them. 1NT was going
down at least two tricks, so Sanborn did well to pull to her partner’s
suit.
East started with the ¨7,
and Weichsel won the ace, following with the §J
to the queen and ace. Weichsel at that point had four club tricks
but he could not untie them, so he settled for cashing dummy’s
three winners, pitching a diamond, and throwing his third diamond
on the losing §6.
East won and continued with the ¨4,
ruffed by Weichsel. He then played a heart to the king and a second
round, giving up two hearts two spades and a club for plus 110 and
a 6-IMP gain.
Sanborn and Weichsel missed a pretty good game on the next deal,
but they ended up with a profit anyway, thanks to accurate defense
by their teammates.
West |
North |
East |
South |
Lanzarotti |
Weichsel |
Gianardi |
Sanborn |
|
|
|
1ª |
Pass |
1NT |
Pass |
2ª |
All Pass |
|
|
|
Lanzarotti started with the §A,
switching to a low spade at trick two. Sanborn won in dummy perforce
and played a heart to her king, ducked by Lanzarotti. Sanborn then
played the top two spades from her hand, claiming 12 tricks when
the suit proved to be 3-3. She had six spades, five clubs and one
heart.
There was a lot more bidding at the other table.
West |
North |
East |
South |
L. Stansby |
Ventin |
J. Stansby |
Almirall |
|
|
|
1ª |
Pass |
1NT |
Pass |
2§ |
Pass |
3§ |
3¨ |
3ª |
4¨ |
4ª |
All Pass |
|
Lew started with the §A,
as Lanzarotti did, but with more urgency to find an entry in partner’s
hand, continued at trick two with the ©A.
This was followed by the ¨8
to partner’s ace, and Jo Anna had no difficulty putting a
club on the table for a ruff and down one. That was 8 IMPs to the
Meltzer team.
Good bidding at both tables helped the team to a 10-IMP gain on
board 18.
Board 18. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
|
|
ª A 9 5
© K Q 7 6 2
¨ 2
§ K Q 4 2 |
ª K Q 6
© J 9 5 4
¨ K Q 6 5
§ 6 5 |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª 7 2
© 10 3
¨ A J 10 8 7 4
§ J 10 7 |
|
ª J 10 8 4 3
© A 8
¨ 9 3
§ A 9 8 3 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
Lanzarotti |
Weichsel |
Gianardi |
Sanborn |
|
|
Pass |
Pass |
1¨ |
1© |
3¨ |
Dble |
Pass |
4¨ |
Pass |
4ª |
All Pass |
|
|
|
Gianardi’s 3¨
was weak. Sanborn’s double indicated the black suits (or enough
values to manage the auction). Weichsel appreciated the value of
his hand on the bidding, so he gave his partner a choice of games.
Sanborn had no trouble in 4ª,
losing a diamond and two trump tricks for plus 620.
At the other table, North-South were never in the auction.
West |
North |
East |
South |
L. Stansby |
Ventin |
J. Stansby |
Almirall |
|
|
3¨ |
Pass |
5¨ |
All Pass |
|
|
This contract was down three for minus 150 and a 10-IMP gain for
Meltzer. The last board of the set produced another setback for
Almirall.
Board 20. Dealer West. All Vul.
|
|
ª J 5 3
© Q 8 7 6
¨ 9 2
§ 9 6 4 3 |
ª Q 10 6 2
© K 10 9
¨ 7
§ A Q J 10 2 |
![Bridge deal](/Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª 8 7 4
© A J 2
¨ Q 10 8 5 4 3
§ K |
|
ª A K 9
© 5 4 3
¨ A K J 6
§ 8 7 5 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
L. Stansby |
Ventin |
J. Stansby |
Almirall |
1§ |
Pass |
1¨ |
Pass |
1ª |
Pass |
1NT |
All Pass |
Almirall started with the ¨A,
switching brilliantly at trick two to the ª9.
Jo Anna was taken in, inserting dummy’s 10 and losing to the
jack. Back came the ¨9,
and the defense had the first six tricks. That was it, however,
and Jo Anna scored up plus 90.
At the other table, East-West bid too much and Sanborn made them
pay.
West |
North |
East |
South |
Lanzarotti |
Weichsel |
Gianardi |
Sanborn |
1§ |
Pass |
1¨ |
Pass |
1ª |
Pass |
3¨ |
Pass |
3NT |
Pass |
Pass |
Dble |
All Pass |
|
|
|
Weichsel duly led the ¨9 and it was over quickly as Sanborn won
three diamonds and two spades for plus 200 and a 7-IMP gain.
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