| 4th European Champions Cup | Page 2 | Bulletin 5 - Sunday evening 16 October 2005 |
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The Final: Parioli v. Schaltz
The big question this morning, before the first board was played, surely was once again if any other team in Europe would (finally) be able to beat the Italians. It was generally thought that Parioli would win this match too, but an extra overtrick on board 1 immediately gave Schaltz the lead. This lead was not to last very long, as this was board 3:
Open Room
Had Bruun been obliged to respond 1NT it would have been even easier for Lauria to enter the auction. Versace could see that the hand would probably belong to his side, so he made a forcing reply, after which Bruun accepted the consequences of his bidding. Down two, Parioli +300, but still a good save. Closed Room
The weak NT worked well here, as Dorthe Schaltz had far less information to guide her when 3♣ came back to her. She did not know about South’s five-card heart suit and thus a double was far less attractive from her point of view. It cost her side 9 imps. Two boards later we saw a remarkable difference in judgement:
Open Room
It almost looks as if Versace did not mind if 4♠ would make or not. As he could be pretty sure of Lauria’s heart shortness his jump to game was fully justified after all. Right he was too, as so often. Parioli +420. Closed Room
Opposite a weak two made in second position a pass looks a shade conservative to me, even non-vulnerable. It’s a matter of style as well but with 10 tricks for the taking without the help of any finesse Peter Schaltz’ view led to another swing to Parioli, 6 imps this time. The score stood ad 15-1 now. Nothing very much happened until the last board arrived with the score at 18-3:
Open Room
Warned by the spade overcall, Bruun carefully rebid just 2♥ and played there. On the ♠K lead he made 10 tricks easily enough with the help of the club finesse. Closed Room
Fantoni did not mind too much about the spades being stacked behind him; he doubled 1♠ and later bid 3♥ all on his own. Of course Nunes raised to game, but then something went wrong in the play when the ♣K proved to be under the ace instead of in the overcaller’s hand. Fantoni ducked the ♠K which probably is not best, but nothing yet was lost. East continued a top spade, ruffed by West who returned a trump. Declarer won in hand with the eight and played ♣A and another, no doubt expecting to get East on lead again. When West won the trick he could return a club on which Fantoni threw a losing spade, only to see East ruff the trick. One down. Had clubs been 4-3 declarer would have been a high favourite to make his contract: if West returns a trump, the defenders’ trumps are gone and if West does not, the last spade can be ruffed in dummy. In real life Schaltz thus gained 7 imps to make it 18-10 to Parioli after 12 well-played boards. An interesting afternoon was still very much in prospect.
| Board 3. Dlr: South/EW | ||
| ♠ 8 ♥ 7 6 ♦ Q 5 4 3 ♣ K Q J 10 8 3 | ||
♠ A 10 9 5 ♥ K 10 3 2 ♦ J 10 7 ♣ 6 2 |  | ♠ K Q 6 4 2 ♥ 8 5 ♦ K 9 8 6 ♣ A 4 |
| ♠ J 7 3 ♥ A Q J 9 4 ♦ A 2 ♣ 9 7 5 | ||
Open Room
| est | North | East | South |
| Versace | Bruun | Lauria | Fredin |
| 1♥ | |||
| Pass | 2♣ | Dbl | 3♣ |
| 3♥ | 5♣ | Dbl | All pass |
Had Bruun been obliged to respond 1NT it would have been even easier for Lauria to enter the auction. Versace could see that the hand would probably belong to his side, so he made a forcing reply, after which Bruun accepted the consequences of his bidding. Down two, Parioli +300, but still a good save. Closed Room
| West | North | East | South |
| Schaltz P | Fantoni | Schaltz D | Nunes |
| 1NT | |||
| Pass | 2NT | Pass | 3♣ |
| All pass |
The weak NT worked well here, as Dorthe Schaltz had far less information to guide her when 3♣ came back to her. She did not know about South’s five-card heart suit and thus a double was far less attractive from her point of view. It cost her side 9 imps. Two boards later we saw a remarkable difference in judgement:
| Board 5. Dlr: North/NS | ||
| ♠ J ♥ 8 3 ♦ J 9 8 4 2 ♣ A J 10 7 5 | ||
♠ K 10 5 ♥ J 9 7 6 ♦ A Q 6 5 ♣ K Q | | ♠ A Q 9 8 3 2 ♥ 10 2 ♦ K 10 3 ♣ 4 2 |
| ♠ 7 6 4 ♥ A K Q 5 4 ♦ 7 ♣ 9 8 6 3 | ||
Open Room
| West | North | East | South |
| Versace | Bruun | Lauria | Fredin |
| Pass | 2♠ | Pass | |
| 4♠ | All pass |
It almost looks as if Versace did not mind if 4♠ would make or not. As he could be pretty sure of Lauria’s heart shortness his jump to game was fully justified after all. Right he was too, as so often. Parioli +420. Closed Room
| West | North | East | South |
| Schaltz P | Fantoni | Schaltz D | Nunes |
| Pass | 2♠ | Pass | |
| Pass | 2NT | Pass | 3♣ |
| 3♠ | All pass |
Opposite a weak two made in second position a pass looks a shade conservative to me, even non-vulnerable. It’s a matter of style as well but with 10 tricks for the taking without the help of any finesse Peter Schaltz’ view led to another swing to Parioli, 6 imps this time. The score stood ad 15-1 now. Nothing very much happened until the last board arrived with the score at 18-3:
| Board 12. Dlr: West/NS | ||
| ♠ A 9 4 3 2 ♥ A K Q 10 8 5 ♦ ♣ A 2 | ||
♠ 6 ♥ 6 3 2 ♦ Q 7 3 2 ♣ K 7 5 4 3 | | ♠ K Q J 10 8 ♥ 9 4 ♦ A K 8 6 ♣ 9 8 |
| ♠ 7 5 ♥ J 7 ♦ J 10 9 5 4 ♣ Q J 10 6 | ||
Open Room
| West | North | East | South |
| Versace | Bruun | Lauria | Fredin |
| Pass | 1♥ | 1♠ | Pass |
| Pass | 2♥ | All pass |
Warned by the spade overcall, Bruun carefully rebid just 2♥ and played there. On the ♠K lead he made 10 tricks easily enough with the help of the club finesse. Closed Room
| West | North | East | South |
| Schaltz P | Fantoni | Schaltz D | Nunes |
| Pass | 1♥ | 1♠ | Pass |
| Pass | Dbl | 2♦ | Pass |
| 3♦ | 3♥ | Pass | 4♥ |
| All pass |
Fantoni did not mind too much about the spades being stacked behind him; he doubled 1♠ and later bid 3♥ all on his own. Of course Nunes raised to game, but then something went wrong in the play when the ♣K proved to be under the ace instead of in the overcaller’s hand. Fantoni ducked the ♠K which probably is not best, but nothing yet was lost. East continued a top spade, ruffed by West who returned a trump. Declarer won in hand with the eight and played ♣A and another, no doubt expecting to get East on lead again. When West won the trick he could return a club on which Fantoni threw a losing spade, only to see East ruff the trick. One down. Had clubs been 4-3 declarer would have been a high favourite to make his contract: if West returns a trump, the defenders’ trumps are gone and if West does not, the last spade can be ruffed in dummy. In real life Schaltz thus gained 7 imps to make it 18-10 to Parioli after 12 well-played boards. An interesting afternoon was still very much in prospect.
