Wales - Italy

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Versace	Thomas	Lauria	Denning
	Pass	3©	5¨
All Pass

When East opened Three Hearts, South took the simple route and bid a direct Five Diamonds. There were eleven winners – until the trump break came to light, -50.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Tedd	Fantoni	Salisbury	Nunes
	Pass	3©	Dble
Pass	3ª	Pass	4©*
Pass	4ª	All Pass

When East led the king of hearts and continued with the seven, declarer simply discarded a losing club from dummy. West won and switched to the king of clubs. Declarer won, played a spade to the ace, cashed the ace of diamonds, then drew trumps and claimed, +420 and 10 IMPs.

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Versace	Thomas	Lauria	Denning
	Pass	4ª	All Pass

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Tedd	Fantoni	Salisbury	Nunes
	Pass	3ª	Dble
Pass	4§	All Pass

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Versace	Thomas	Lauria	Denning
1§	Dble	Pass	1¨
Pass	1ª	All Pass

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Tedd	Fantoni	Salisbury	Nunes
1NT	Dble	2¨	Pass
Pass	Dble	All Pass

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Versace	Thomas	Lauria	Denning
1§*	Pass	1©	Pass
1NT	Pass	2§*	Pass
2¨*	Pass	3©	Pass
3ª	Pass	3NT	Pass
4©	All Pass

1§ 10-22, 2 or more clubs
2§ Relay

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Tedd	Fantoni	Salisbury	Nunes
1NT	Pass	2¨*	Pass
2©	Pass	4©	All Pass

Nobody Rings a Bell

Just imagine how easy bridge would be for all concerned if a bell were to sound every time a critical moment was reached. West would certainly have been grateful on this deal from the Round 6 match between Germany & Russia.

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

West	North	East	South
Petrunin	Wladow	Gromov	Elinescu
		Pass	2©*
Pass	Pass	Dble	All Pass

West was more than happy to pass his partner’s reopening double, but it requires a very careful defence to defeat Two Hearts. The first move was easy, as West led the ace of clubs. The appearance of the dummy made it clear that West must prevent diamond ruffs, even at the cost of some potential trump tricks, so West switched to the ace followed by the nine of hearts. Declarer won in hand and played three rounds of spades, first discarding his losing club and then ruffing the third round.

When declarer advanced the ace of diamonds another critical point had been reached. It is essential for West to retain the three of diamonds in order to retain communications with East. When he failed to do so declarer was home. After cashing his other diamond winner he exited with a diamond and in due course West was forced to ruff one of his partner’s winners and lead into the trump tenace.

Born to Blush Unseen

Barry Rigal

It would be invidious to single out who are the best VuGraph commentators – and also who are the worst. But it is clear who are the best members of the audience, those who out-analyse the commentators, but then tell them quietly and in private what the right answers are.

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

In the Sweden – Israel match PO Sundelin had made Four Hearts on a misdefence.

West	North	East	South
Liran	Lindqvist	Livanger	Fredin
			Pass
1§	Pass	1¨	Pass
1©	Pass	4©	All Pass

When North led the three of diamonds there was an inference that the ace of spades might be wrong. Declarer won with the king and led a heart to the eight and a heart to the queen and ace. North played back a heart, as South pitched a club.

If North had both major suit aces then the ace of clubs had to be with South. So, if you play for the following position, as declarer very nearly did, you can assure yourself of a degree of immortality.

	ª A Q 9 © - ¨ - § Q 8 3
ª K 4 © J ¨ - § K 10 6		ª 10 6 5 2 © 10 ¨ 8 § -
	ª J 8 © - ¨ - § A J 9 7

On the last diamond South must pitch a club, West a spade and North a club. (Declarer actually threw a club from hand and went down.) Now declarer leads a spade to the blank king and ace and if North plays a club he simply discards from dummy. So north plays a low spade to South’s jack and this time declarer discards from hand, leaving South on lead and endplayed.

Well spotted Bryan Maksymetz, and even more congratulations for only telling us about it discreetly after the session.

So, is there a defence? Yes, and it was found in the match Wales-Italy by Fulvio Fantoni. At trick four North must exit with a club, defeating the contract by force. Well defended!