Israel v Spain – Women Round 18

Israel was the hot team in the Women’s series after a disappointing start to the tournament, and with four rounds to go were right on the edge of the qualifying places. They needed to keep piling on the points, however, if they were to make it to Estoril.

Board 1. Dealer North. None Vul.
	ª J 7 4 © A 8 7 6 ¨ 7 § K J 8 5 3
ª K 10 9 3 © Q J 4 ¨ Q 5 3 § A 9 6		ª A 8 2 © 9 3 ¨ A K 10 8 § Q 7 4 2
	ª Q 6 5 © K 10 5 2 ¨ J 9 6 4 2 § 10

West	North	East	South
Matut	Z-Campanile	Santos	Poplilov
	Pass	1¨	Pass
1ª	Dble	Rdbl	2©
2NT	Pass	3NT	All Pass

West	North	East	South
L-Porat	C. Viola	Birman	M. Viola
	Pass	1§	Pass
1ª	Pass	1NT	Pass
3NT	All Pass

	Migry Zur-Campanile, Israel

East’s choice of opening bid probably settled the outcome of this first deal. Where Carmen Santos had opened 1¨, North was able to make a two-suited take-out double and West became declarer. Had East played the hand, the lead would have been a heart on this auction, just as was the actual case. The defence played three rounds of hearts and Marisa Matut threw a spade from dummy. She tried a club towards the queen and, had Migry Zur-Campanile ducked this, a switch to spades would have netted nine tricks. But Zur-Campanile did go in with the §K and cashed the heart trick before exiting with a spade to dummy’s now bare ace. There was no squeeze and declarer’s spot cards were not quite good enough in either minor so the contract had to fail by one trick; 50.

In the other room, East was declarer having opened 1§. It was natural for Margarita Viola to lead a diamond but that was the ninth trick. Daniela Birman won cheaply and played ace of spades then a spade to the ten and jack. Carmen Viola switched to hearts but the defence had only two tricks to cash there. A slight defensive lapse permitted an overtrick for +430 and 10 IMPs to Israel, the perfect start for them.

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

West	North	East	South
Matut	Z-Campanile	Santos	Poplilov
		1©	Pass
2¨	Pass	2ª	Pass
3¨	Pass	3ª	Pass
4NT	Pass	5©	Pass
6¨	All Pass

West	North	East	South
L-Porat	C. Viola	Birman	M. Viola
		1ª	2©
3¨	Pass	3NT	Pass
6¨	Pass	7¨	All Pass

Santos opened 1© then reversed and bid out her major-suit shape. Matut checked on key cards then settled for the small slam, making all thirteen tricks after a spade lead by rising with the ace, pitching her spade loser on the ©A and ruffing the two low clubs; +940.

Birman preferred to open 1ª, thereby misleading partner about the relative lengths of her majors but not about her strength. When Ruth Porat-Levit could jump to slam, Birman looked at her three first-round controls and raised to seven. On a heart lead the play was quite straightforward for +1440 and 11 IMPs to Israel, leading by 21 IMPs after only two deals. But it is a pity that trump leads against grand slams are rather out of fashion these days, because there does not appear to be a way home if North does lead a trump, as declarer needs to pitch a club on the ©A so is dependent on the losing spade finesse for her contract.

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

West	North	East	South
Matut	Z-Campanile	Santos	Poplilov
	Pass	1¨	Pass
2§	Pass	3§	Pass
4NT	Pass	5©	Pass
6§	All Pass

West	North	East	South
L-Porat	C. Viola	Birman	M. Viola
	Pass	1§	1¨
1©	Pass	1NT	Pass
2¨	Pass	2NT	Pass
3§	Pass	3©	Pass
3ª	Pass	4§	Pass
4¨	Pass	6§	All Pass

On Board 4 both East/West pairs suffered the misfortune of bidding a good 6ª which only failed because there was a singleton on lead facing the ace. The same fate awaited East/West on this deal and, sure enough, Zur-Campanile led her singleton diamond and received a ruff for down one; 50. The Israeli East/West pair might have judged to play in no trump, I suppose, after the 1¨ overcall, but it was perhaps difficult to count twelve tricks without heart ruffs, and they too alighted in the club slam. However, system had put the declaration in the East hand and South led a heart, letting the contract through for +940 and another 14 IMPs to Israel; 35-1.

The deals quietened down for a while and the score had moved on to only 40-1 at the half-way point, but then the action began again:

Board 11. Dealer South. None Vul.
	ª K Q 10 4 © 6 ¨ Q J 10 8 4 § A 3 2
ª A J 9 7 5 2 © 7 ¨ 5 3 § 9 7 6 5		ª 8 6 3 © A Q J 10 3 ¨ K 7 § Q J 8
	ª - © K 9 8 5 4 2 ¨ A 9 6 2 § K 10 4

West	North	East	South
Matut	Z-Campanile	Santos	Poplilov
			1©
2ª	Pass	Pass	Dble
All Pass

West	North	East	South
L-Porat	C. Viola	Birman	M. Viola
			Pass
2¨	2©	Dble	Pass
Pass	3¨	Pass	3NT
All Pass

Matilda Poplilov opened the South hand then did well to reopen with a double when the weak jump overcall came back to her. Zur-Campanile passed, of course, and led the queen of diamonds, which was allowed to hold the trick. She switched to her heart and Matut rose with the ace and returned the ©Q, covered, ruffed and over-ruffed. Now North should play a diamond because she knows that it is standing up (South would not have reopened with a double if six-five and with such a weak hand) and she does not want to risk partner playing for a trump promotion. When Zur-Campanile actually switched to ace and another club, that is exactly what happened. Poplilov won the king and played a heart through and declarer’s remaining diamond went away. South’s defence would have been correct had declarer been three-three in the minors and North needed a trump promotion. This allowed Matut out for just one down; 100.

	Carmen Viola, Spain

In the other room, Viola did not open as South and Levit-Porat opened a multi. North’s 2© overcall was for take-out of hearts and Birman doubled for penalty. Carmen removed herself to 3¨ and Margarita converted to 3NT. The heart lead went to the ten, ducked, and the ©J was won with the king. Margarita crossed to the ace of clubs to run the queen of diamonds and subsequently knocked out the ªA for her ninth trick; +400 and 7 badly-needed IMPs to Spain.

Israel got those IMPs back straight away when Zur-Campanile/Poplilov stayed out of a thin and unsuccessful game bid at the other table; 7 IMPs to Israel for +110 and +200, then picked up another major swing on the next deal.

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

West	North	East	South
Matut	Z-Campanile	Santos	Poplilov
	Pass	Pass	Pass
1§	Pass	1©	Pass
2NT	Pass	3©	Pass
4©	All Pass

West	North	East	South
L-Porat	C. Viola	Birman	M. Viola
	Pass	Pass	Pass
1NT	Pass	2¨	Pass
2©	Pass	2NT	Pass
3NT	All Pass

Matut did well to rebid 2NT rather than support hearts but, when Santos repeated her hearts, it was difficult not to raise to the heart game. Alas, there were four unavoidable loser as the cards lay, despite the spade lead permitting declarer to pitch one diamond from hand; 100.

Levit-Porat opened 1NT and Birman showed an invitational raise with five hearts. Now Levit-Porat did well to appreciate that nine tricks might be easier than ten. She chose to ignore the nine-card heart fit to play in 3NT and that proved to be an inspired decision as there were nine trick in 3NT courtesy of the club finesse; +600 and 12 IMPs to Israel.

Board 14. Dealer East. None Vul.
	ª A Q 10 4 © K 10 ¨ K 10 9 2 § A J 10
ª J 9 8 5 © 6 4 ¨ 8 5 4 § K Q 9 7		ª 6 3 © A 9 5 3 2 ¨ A Q § 8 6 4 2
	ª K 7 2 © Q J 8 7 ¨ J 7 6 3 § 5 3

West	North	East	South
Matut	Z-Campanile	Santos	Poplilov
		1©	Pass
1ª	1NT	All Pass

West	North	East	South
L-Porat	C. Viola	Birman	M. Viola
		Pass	Pass
Pass	1NT	Pass	2§
Pass	2ª	Pass	2NT
Pass	3NT	All Pass

Santos found a shaded opening with the East cards and, though Zur-Campanile had a natural 1NT overcall available, Poplilov was just short of what was required to raise. The heart lead went to the king and declarer played the ¨10 from hand, losing to the queen. Now Santos switched to a spade for the jack and queen and declarer cleared the diamonds. A second spade was won in hand with the ten and Zur-Campanile played the ©10, ducked, then crossed to the ªK to play another heart. East switched to clubs but it was way too late; +180.

Birman did not open the East hand and the Violas bid freely to the no trump game. The lead was a heart and Carmen won and returned the suit, overtaking in dummy to run to the jack of diamonds. The hearts were cleared but she knocked out the ace of diamonds and West could not guard both black suits on the run of the reds so it was an easy +400 and 6 IMPs to Spain.

Board 15. Dealer South. N/S Vul.
	ª Q 10 8 3 © K 4 2 ¨ 10 9 3 § A 5 4
ª A J © A J 10 8 6 3 ¨ J 4 § J 10 7		ª 9 © Q 9 7 5 ¨ K Q 6 5 § Q 9 8 3
	ª K 7 6 5 4 2 © - ¨ A 8 7 2 § K 6 2

West	North	East	South
Matut	Z-Campanile	Santos	Poplilov
			1ª
2©	2ª	4©	4ª
All Pass

West	North	East	South
L-Porat	C. Viola	Birman	M. Viola
			Pass
1©	Pass	3¨	3ª
All Pass

Again Poplilov opened a hand that was passed in the other room. Indeed, this South hand is remarkably similar to that on Board 11, where the same difference in style was shown. When East/West bid to 4©, Poplilov had to go on to 4ª, not knowing whether this might be making or just a good save. On the lead of the ace of hearts, the answer was that 4ª was making in comfort, the ©K providing a parking place for the club loserª +620.

In the other room Margarita passed as dealer then overcalled at the three level when her right-hand-opponent showed a limit heart raise. With a ©K of dubious worth, Carmen could not find a raise to game and, as it turned out, she was correct not to do so as there were only nine tricks after a club lead; +140 but 10 IMPs to Israel.

Board 17. Dealer North. None Vul.
	ª K 7 © 8 4 2 ¨ K Q 2 § K J 10 6 3
ª Q 9 6 5 3 2 © Q 10 7 6 ¨ A 7 § 8		ª A J 10 8 4 © J ¨ 9 8 6 5 3 § 4 2
	ª - © A K 9 5 3 ¨ J 10 4 § A Q 9 7 5

West	North	East	South
Matut	Z-Campanile	Santos	Poplilov
	1NT	2¨	3©
4ª	Pass	Pass	5§
5ª	Dble	All Pass

West	North	East	South
L-Porat	C. Viola	Birman	M. Viola
	1§	1ª	2©
4ª	Dble	All Pass

When Zur-Campanile opened a weak no trump, Santos overcalled to show spades and another suit and Poplilov forced in hearts. Matut jumped to 4ª, of course, and Poplilov showed her second suit when Zur-Campanile passed it round to her. When Matut bid a fifth spade, Zur-Campanile did the right thing when she doubled, not liking her lack of aces, three low hearts and wasted ªK for slam purposes, despite the five-card club support. She led a heart and Poplilov won and switched to ace and another club. Matut ruffed then forgot about the bidding and played a trump to the ace. Oops! She was two down for 300.

Carmen’s 1§ opening allowed Birman to overcall 1ª at the other table. Margarita bid her hearts and Levit-Porat jumped to 4ª, which Carmen doubled. Clearly the double is a warning that North does not want to hear partner bid 5©, but should South pass with her spade void and big club support (North must surely have real clubs if she dislikes hearts and the opposition are willing to play 4ª)? Rightly or wrongly, Margarita passed and led a top heart switched to the jack of diamonds. Birman won the ace and led the ªQ to tempt a cover. There was none forthcoming but Birman played low from hand in tempo, having clearly decided that trumps had to be two-zero for the double. That was +590 and 13 IMPs to Israel.

Board 18. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
	ª Q J 8 © A K Q 3 ¨ K 9 8 § 9 8 5
ª 10 5 4 © J 9 5 ¨ A 6 4 2 § K 7 4		ª A 9 7 © 10 6 4 ¨ Q 10 5 3 § J 6 2
	ª K 6 3 2 © 8 7 2 ¨ J 7 § A Q 10 3

West	North	East	South
Matut	Z-Campanile	Santos	Poplilov
		Pass	Pass
Pass	1§	Pass	1ª
Pass	1NT	Pass	3NT
All Pass

West	North	East	South
L-Porat	C. Viola	Birman	M. Viola
		Pass	Pass
Pass	1NT	Pass	2§
Pass	2©	Pass	3NT
All Pass

Both declarers did very well on this one and might have been entitled to hope for a swing in. At both tables, East led a diamond to the ace and a diamond came back. Zur-Campanile won and played the –J to East’s ace and the defence cashed the diamonds then played a club through the ace-queen. Carmen ducked the second diamond but won the third round, perforce. She too played the ªJ to the ace and again the defence cashed the diamond winner then played a club through.

The odds surely suggest finessing the §Q but, after some considerable thought, both declarers judged the situation correctly, rising with the ace and cashing out the majors, playing for both suits to break or perhaps that they might recover with a squeeze should East have begun with §Kx and a 4-3-4-2 distribution, or maybe that East held both club honours and four spades with hearts splitting. It was flat at +600.

That was a nice way to end the match. Israel had done what they needed to do, winning by 84-14 IMPs, 25-2 VPs, and were still very much alive in the race for Estoril.