By Mark Horton

Monday’s opening match on VuGraph featured two powerful teams, either of which was easily capable of going all the way. There was a good crowd and they witnessed a number of interesting deals.

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Garner	Fallenius	Weinstein	Welland
			Pass
Pass	1ª	Pass	2ª
3§	4ª	All Pass

East led the ace of diamonds for the four, eight and two. When he continued with the king of diamonds the hand was soon over. Declarer won the third diamond and alerted by the bidding played West to be short in spades. +420.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Weinstein	Chagas	Levin	Brenner
			Pass
Pass	1ª	Pass	2ª
3§	4ª	All Pass

It was the same story here, as East could not read the diamond position. The play followed an identical course to that at the other table, so there was no swing.

Is this an insoluble defensive problem?

I recall the late Terence Reese writing that there was always some small clue which might guide you to the winning action. Perhaps here it lies in the auction. North’s jump to game allied to West’s bid of Three Clubs surely suggests that East may well be void in spades, so even if he has only two diamonds he will have no spade to deal with the third round of the suit. That points East to the winning defence of switching to a club at trick two.
While we are on this deal, note that many players lead the ace for attitude and the king for count, and also have an agreement that if you lead the king and then switch it may well be to a singleton.

If that were to happen here West should not go wrong – but you never know.

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Garner	Fallenius	Weinstein	Welland
Pass	1ª	2ª*	Pass
4©	All Pass

East was not afraid to enter the auction and he reaped a rich reward as West had an obvious action at his second turn. Declarer lost two tricks, +650.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Weinstein	Chagas	Levin	Brenner
Pass	1ª	Pass	1NT
Pass	Pass	2§	All Pass

I imagine East would have liked to double at his second turn, intending to remove a response of Two Diamonds to Two Hearts. However he may well have been playing that a double in this position was for penalties, requesting partner to bid a spade.

Two Clubs was easy enough, declarer emerging with nine tricks, but it represented a loss of 11 IMPs.

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Garner	Fallenius	Weinstein	Welland
	1NT	Pass	2§
Pass	2¨	Pass	3©
Pass	3NT	All Pass

East led the three of diamonds and declarer won with ace and attacked hearts. East took his ace on the third round and played a second diamond. Declarer won in dummy, cashed his two red winners and played a club to the queen. When that lost he was restricted to eight tricks.

According to the play record, East had discarded a diamond on the fourth round of hearts and that might have suggested that East had awkward holdings in the black suits. If Declarer had taken that view he might have played a club to the ace and then exited with a low club, ensuring his ninth trick. Not easy.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Weinstein	Chagas	Levin	Brenner
	1NT	Pass	2§
Pass	2¨	Pass	3ª
Pass	4ª	All Pass

Declarer won the opening club lead with the ace and went after hearts. East took his ace on the second round and played the king of clubs. Declarer ruffed and played a spade to the ace and a spade. When he regained the lead he played a third spade and claimed, +620 and 12 IMPs.

Board 13. Dealer North. All Vul.
	ª - © A Q 10 8 6 5 4 3 ¨ 4 3 § A 8 6
ª K 9 8 7 5 © K ¨ Q 7 2 § J 4 3 2		ª 10 6 4 2 © 7 2 ¨ J 9 5 § K Q 10 7
	ª A Q J 3 © J 9 ¨ A K 10 8 6 § 9 5

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Garner	Fallenius	Weinstein	Welland
	1©	Pass	1NT*
Pass	2©	Pass	2ª
Pass	4§*	Pass	4¨*
Pass	4©	All Pass

This was the first board to be played on VuGraph. After North’s jump to Four Clubs the commentators predicted a slam would be bid, but they were quickly proved to be wrong.

With Chagas holding the North cards it seemed long odds that they would not miss it in the replay.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Weinstein	Chagas	Levin	Brenner
	1©	Pass	2¨
Pass	2©	Pass	2ª
Pass	4©	All Pass

With an eight card suit and three first round controls I have no idea why Gabriel jumped to Four Hearts.

At half time team Chagas enjoyed a 14 IMP lead.