|
The Rabbi’s Polished Performance
by Mark Horton
A Bulletin with no bridge in it would be unthinkable, but play only starts today - what to do? Luckily there was a major tournament in Poland a couple of weeks ago and by pure chance I happened to be playing.
Despite the obvious attractions of Chicago the world’s most celebrated bridge playing Rabbi, Leonard Helman, decided to take a trip to the delightful Polish seaside town of Sopot at the end of June. His target was the Teams Championship of Poland and he had enlisted three Bulgarians (Valio Kovachev, Vladislav Isporski & Victor Aronov) and a Brit to aid him in his quest.
The weeklong tournament involved a round robin where the teams were split into groups after which the qualifiers would play a series of knock out matches. Four teams would qualify from each of the groups, with the top two only being eliminated from the knock out if they lost twice.
After four of our eight matches in the round robin the situation was bleak: only one win and the number two and three seeds still to play. The cavalry, in the form of Valio Kovachev, flying in from Chicago, arrived just in time (and more importantly three hours early!) and three victories were enough to secure third place. However, with only one life there was no margin for error over the next six days.
The Rabbi’s strategy was simple – he left his front four to build up a lead so he could play the second half of each match without feeling under any pressure. This worked to perfection and the teams seeded four, three and two were disposed of to set up a final against a Polish team on a roll (here designated Vitas) – recent runners up in the Yeah Bros Cup and the Bonn Nations Cup.
It proved to be a thrilling contest although it didn’t look to be going that way early on as the Polish team exploited their opponent’s errors to build up a commanding lead:
| Dealer East North/South Vul |
| | ♠ 9 6 3
♥ 7 3
♦ J 9 3
♣ J 10 5 4 3 |
♠ K Q 10 8 2
♥ 10 5 4 2
♦ A Q
♣ A K |  |
♠ A J
♥ Q J 8 6
♦ K 10 8 6 4 2
♣ Q | | | ♠ 7 5 4
♥ A K 9
♦ 7 5
♣ 9 8 7 6 2 |
Open Room
| West | North | East | South
|
| Aronov | Gawrys | Horton | Chmurski
|
| | | 1♦ | Pass
|
| 1♠ | Pass | 2♦ | Pass
|
| 3♣ | Pass | 3NT | Pass
|
| 4♦ | Pass | 4♠ | Pass
|
| 5♦ | All Pass
| | |
West rejected the obvious bid of Two Hearts as he was afraid it might not be construed as forcing. It led to an undistinguished sequence and a contract that was quickly defeated when South played three rounds of hearts.
Closed Room
| West | North | East | South
|
| Golebiowski | Isporski | Winciorek | Kovachev
|
| | | 1♦ | Pass
|
| 1♠ | Pass | 2♦ | Pass
|
| 3♣ | Pass | 3NT | Pass
|
| 4NT | All Pass
| | |
The same Three Club bid did less damage this time as East/West were able to investigate their slam potential and at the same time stop in a sensible contract. An easy 11 IMPs for Vitas.
Dealer South All Vul |
| | ♠ Q 3 2
♥ Q 10 5 3
♦ 9 7 2
♣ 10 8 7 |
♠ A J 6 5
♥ K 7
♦ A J 3
♣ J 9 5 2 | |
♠ K 10 8 7 4
♥ A J 8
♦ 6
♣ A Q 6 4 | | | ♠ 9
♥ 9 6 4 2
♦ K Q 10 8 5 4
♣ K 3 |
Open Room
| West | North | East | South
|
| Aronov | Gawrys | Horton | Chmurski
|
| | | | Pass
|
| 1♣ | Pass | 1♠ | Pass
|
| 2♠ | Pass | 4♦* | Pass
|
| 4♥ | Pass | 6♠ | All Pass
|
South led the six of hearts and there was no compelling reason to do anything other than cash the top spades – and that was one down when declarer had to lose a club as well.
Closed Room
| West | North | East | South
|
| Golebiowski | Isporski | Winciorek | Kovachev
|
| | | | 3♦
|
| Pass | Pass | Double | All Pass
|
I can’t tell you if it is theoretically correct to pass out the double with the West hand, but it worked very well on this deal, producing +800 and another 14 IMPs for Vitas. After just eight deals the Poles were threatening to run away with the match as they had built up an impressive lead of 59-13 IMPs. However, the tide now turned in favour of Helman.
| Dealer South None Vul |
| | ♠ A K 8 3
♥ 8
♦ A 10 8 2
♣ A 10 7 2 |
♠ 9 5
♥ A Q 6 5
♦ Q 7 6 5
♣ J 8 3 | |
♠ 10 7
♥ 9 4
♦ K 9 4 3
♣ K Q 9 5 4 | | | ♠ Q J 6 4 2
♥ K J 10 7 3 2
♦ J
♣ 6 |
Open Room
| West | North | East | South
|
| Aronov | Gawrys | Horton | Chmurski
|
| | | | Pass
|
| Pass | 1♣ | Pass | 1♥
|
| Pass | 1♠ | Pass | 4♠
|
| All Pass
| | | |
With West having both heart honours it was simple to record 12 tricks via the ruffing finesse.
Closed Room
| West | North | East | South
|
| Golebiowski | Isporski | Winciorek | Kovachev
|
| | | | 1♥
|
| Pass | 2♣* | Pass | 3♣*
|
| Pass | 3♦* | Pass | 3NT*
|
| Pass | 4♥* | Pass | 4♠*
|
| Pass | 6♠ | All Pass |
|
After South opened the bidding North used a series of relays to discover that his partner held a 5-6-1-1 hand with no slam interest. This time those same 12 tricks delivered 11 IMPs.
| Dealer West North/South Vul |
| | ♠ J 2
♥ -
♦ Q J 10
♣ Q J 10 8 5 4 3 2 |
♠ 6
♥ K Q 8 7 6
♦ A K 8 7 6
♣ 7 6 | |
♠ 10 9 5 3
♥ A 9 4 3 2
♦ 4 2
♣ K 9 | | | ♠ A K Q 8 7 4
♥ J 10 5
♦ 9 5 3
♣ A |
Open Room
| West | North | East | South
|
| Aronov | Gawrys | Horton | Chmurski
|
| 1♥ | 3♣ | 4♥ | 4♠
|
| 5♥ | Pass | Pass | Double
|
| All Pass
| | | |
North led the jack of spades and when that held he switched to the queen of clubs. Declarer ducked and was delighted to see South produce the ace. He ruffed the ace of spades and cashed a top heart. The 3-0 break was annoying, but when the diamonds behaved declarer could claim +650.
Closed Room
| West | North | East | South
|
| Golebiowski | Isporski | Winciorek | Kovachev
|
| 1♥ | Pass | 3♣* | 4♠
|
| 5♥ | All Pass
| | |
Mixed raise
The defence started in the same way, but this time declarer covered the queen of clubs. South won with the ace and tried a top spade. Declarer, with no idea of the distributional storms ruffed that high and had to go one down, -50 and a 12 IMP loss.
Vitas recovered those IMPs over the next three deals but then gave them back on the last board of the half:
| Dealer West East/West Vul |
| | ♠ A K 8 6 4
♥ A 10 7 6 2
♦ 3 2
♣ 6 |
♠ Q 7 5 3 2
♥ 9
♦ Q 10 9
♣ A K Q 9 | |
♠ J 10
♥ K 8 5 3
♦ A K 8 6
♣ J 3 2 | | | ♠ 9
♥ Q J 4
♦ J 7 5 4
♣ 10 8 7 5 4 |
Open Room
| West | North | East | South
|
| Aronov | Gawrys | Horton | Chmurski
|
| 1♠ | Pass | 2♦ | Pass
|
| 3♦ | Pass | 3♥ | Pass
|
| 3NT | All Pass
| | |
North led the six of hearts and South won with the jack and returned the queen. Declarer won in dummy and had no reason other than to play for diamonds to break – one down, -100.
Closed Room
| West | North | East | South
|
| Golebiowski | Isporski | Winciorek | Kovachev
|
| 1♠ | Pass | 2♣ | Pass
|
| 2♠ | Pass | 3♠ | Pass
|
| 4♠ | Double | All Pass
| |
After a natural response of Two Clubs East invited game and despite his poor trumps West decided to accept. North knew what to do to that and he led the ace of hearts and a heart. Declarer could not avoid being forced and was three down, -800 for a loss of 12 IMPs.
Although Vitas led 71-48 the momentum was with Helman, and they won the third quarter 35-0 to take the lead.
| Dealer North None Vul |
| | ♠ K 8 6 5
♥ A K 8 6 5 2
♦ 10
♣ 9 5 |
♠ Q 4 2
♥ Q J
♦ A 8 7 5 3
♣ A Q 7 | |
♠ A J 10 9 7 3
♥ 7
♦ 2
♣ J 10 8 6 4 | | | ♠ -
♥ 10 9 4 3
♦ K Q J 9 6 4
♣ K 3 2 |
Open Room
| West | North | East | South
|
| Aronov | Chmurski | Horton | Gawrys
|
| | 1♥ | 2♥* | 3♠*
|
| 4♠ | Double | Pass | 5♥
|
| Double | All Pass
| | |
East found the dubious lead of the two of diamonds and West won and returned the three. Declarer ruffed with the eight and when that held he was in a position to make the contract. However, after drawing trumps he had a blind spot and played a club and was one down, -100.
Closed Room
| West | North | East | South
|
| Golebiowski | Isporski | Winciorek | Kovachev
|
| | 1♥ | 2♥* | 4♦*
|
| 4♠ | 5♥ | Pass | Pass
|
| Double | All Pass
| | |
Once again East found the disastrous diamond lead. West won and returned the suit but declarer ruffed high, cashed the other top trump and ruffed a spade in order to play winning diamonds, discarding dummy’s losing clubs, +650 and 13 IMPs.
| Dealer East East/West Vul |
| | ♠ 10
♥ 10 5 3
♦ 10 8 2
♣ K 10 9 7 5 3 |
♠ K 4
♥ A K Q 8
♦ A 7 6
♣ J 8 6 2 | |
♠ A Q J 9 8 6 3
♥ 7 2
♦ K 3
♣ Q 4 | | | ♠ 7 5 2
♥ J 9 6 4
♦ Q J 9 5 4
♣ A |
Open Room
| West | North | East | South
|
| Aronov | Chmurski | Horton | Gawrys
|
| | | 1♠ | Pass
|
| 2♣* | Pass | 4♠ | Pass
|
| 6♠ | All Pass
| | |
When East jumped to Four Spades over the game forcing Two Clubs West reckoned their would be 12 tricks somewhere, so rather than give away any further information he simply bid the slam. South led the queen of diamonds and in due course declarer took 12 tricks. Notice that if North had held four hearts and both club honours he would have been squeezed!
Closed Room
| West | North | East | South
|
| Golebiowski | Isporski | Winciorek | Kovachev
|
| | | 1♠ | Pass
|
| 2♣ | Pass | 4♠ | All Pass
|
West was possibly right in theory, but certainly wrong in practice as Helman posted another 13 IMPs.
| Dealer West North/South Vul |
| | ♠ K 3
♥ A Q 9 5
♦ Q J 9 7 3 2
♣ A |
♠ A Q 7 2
♥ 4 3
♦ A 8 5
♣ K J 10 5 | |
♠ J 9 6 5
♥ 8 6
♦ 10
♣ Q 9 8 7 4 2 | | | ♠ 10 8 4
♥ K J 10 7 2
♦ K 6 4
♣ 6 3 |
Open Room
| West | North | East | South
|
| Aronov | Chmurski | Horton | Gawrys
|
| 1♣ | 1♦ | 1NT! | 2♦
|
| Pass | 2♥ | Pass | 4♥
|
| All Pass
| | | |
East’s whimsical bid did not prevent North/South from discovering their heart fit. There was something to be said for sacrificing in Five Clubs but having made his bed East was prepared to lie in it and he led his singleton diamond. West took the ace, returned the eight for East to ruff and the spade return enabled West to deliver a second diamond ruff for one down.
Closed Room
| West | North | East | South
|
| Golebiowski | Isporski | Winciorek | Kovachev
|
| 1♣ | 1NT* | Pass | 2♣*
|
| Pass | 2♥* | Pass | 4♥
|
| Pass | Pass | 5♣ | Pass
|
| Pass | Double | All Pass
| |
1NT promised four of a major and a longer minor and when South asked for the minor North’s Two Hearts promised a strong hand. This time East did sacrifice and lost the obvious four tricks, -300 and 9 IMPs.
With time running out Vitas needed something to happen:
| Dealer North All Vul |
| | ♠ A Q 5
♥ J 10 9 6 2
♦ K 10 7
♣ 10 2 |
♠ K 10 8 4 3 2
♥ A K 8 4
♦ 9 8
♣ 3 | |
♠ 9 6
♥ Q 7 5
♦ Q 6 5 3 2
♣ Q 7 5 | | | ♠ J 7
♥ 3
♦ A J 4
♣ A K J 9 8 6 4 |
Open Room
| West | North | East | South
|
| Aronov | Chmurski | Horton | Gawrys
|
| | Pass | Pass | 2♣
|
| 2♠ | Double | Pass | 3♣
|
| Pass | 3NT | All Pass
| |
East led the nine of spades and declarer won in hand with the queen and played three rounds of clubs. East won and switched to the queen of hearts – nice try but no cigar – and declarer was +600.
Closed Room
| West | North | East | South
|
| Golebiowski | Isporski | Winciorek | Kovachev
|
| | Pass | Pass | 3NT*
|
| Double | Pass* | Pass | 4♣
|
| All Pass
| | | |
3NT was to play and when West doubled North’s pass promised some values. Rather than risk a disaster South decided to run, but in the post mortem it was agreed that its best to redouble expressing doubt. North would usually run to Four Clubs 80-90% of the time after the redouble, but this would have been a rare exception!
Vitas had 10 IMPs and trailed by just 0.5 IMP.
The teams traded 4 IMPs before the last deal settled on the table:
| Dealer West East/West Vul |
| | ♠ 10 9 7 5
♥ 8
♦ J 10 9 7 3
♣ J 8 7 |
♠ A J 4
♥ A Q 6 2
♦ A K Q 2
♣ Q 5 | |
♠ 8 6 3
♥ 10 7 5 4 3
♦ 8
♣ A K 9 2 | | | ♠ K Q 2
♥ K J 9
♦ 6 5 4
♣ 10 6 4 3 |
Open Room
| West | North | East | South
|
| Aronov | Chmurski | Horton | Gawrys
|
| 2NT | Pass | 3♦* | Pass
|
| 4♥ | Pass | 5♣ | Pass
|
| 5♦ | Pass | 5♥ | Pass
|
| 6♥ | All Pass
| | |
Once West broke the transfer it was easy enough to make a move on the East cards and that was enough for West to bid the slam. Declarer won the diamond lead, cashed the ace of hearts, crossed to the king of clubs and played a heart, claiming when South produced the king.
Closed Room
| West | North | East | South
|
| Golebiowski | Isporski | Winciorek | Kovachev
|
| 1♣* | Pass | 1♥ | Pass
|
| 2♦* | Pass | 2NT* | Pass
|
| 4♥ | All Pass
| | |
After the Polish club and response West enquired and discovered East had five hearts and 7-9 points, but that was not enough for him to explore the possibilities of a slam.
That produced a final score of 107-93.5 IMPs in favour of the Rabbi – the new Champion of Poland! |
