|
Shanghai Countdown (continued)
by Mark Horton
Any mention of the fat lady were dispelled by the next set.
| Board 77; Dealer North; Both Vul. |
| | ♠ 9 7 4
♥ J 7 2
♦ A K J 10 6
♣ 9 4 |
♠ K 10 8 2
♥ A Q 6
♦ Q 2
♣ A K 6 2 |  |
♠ A J 3
♥ 10 9 8 3
♦ 4 3
♣ Q 8 7 3 | | | ♠ Q 6 5
♥ K 5 4
♦ 9 8 7 5
♣ J 10 5 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Rubin | Freeman | Ekeblad | Nickell
|
| |
Pass |
Pass |
Pass |
| 1♣* | 1♦ | Dble | 2♦
|
| Dble | Pass | 3♦* | Pass
|
| 3♠ | Pass | 4♠ | All Pass
|
North cashed two diamonds and switched to the seven of spades. That solved declarer’s major problem and he was soon in a position to claim, +620.
| West | North | East | South
|
| Rodwell | Moss | Meckstroth | Gitelman
|
| |
2♦ |
Pass |
3♦ |
| Dble | Pass | 3♥ | All Pass |
Declarer made ten tricks for +170, but lost 10 IMPs, making the score 189-127.
| Board 79; Dealer South; NS Vul. |
| | ♠ K 8 7 6 5 3
♥ –
♦ A Q 3
♣ K Q 5 3 |
♠ A 10 4
♥ A K 6 5 3
♦ 9 8
♣ 9 8 6 |  |
♠ Q J
♥ Q J 10 4
♦ J 10 6
♣ J 10 4 2 | | | ♠ 9 2
♥ 9 8 7 2
♦ K 7 5 4 2
♣ A 7 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Rubin | Freeman | Ekeblad | Nickell
|
| | | | Pass |
| 1♥ | 1♠ | Dble* | Pass
|
| 2♣* | 2♠ | Pass | Pass
|
| 3♣ | All Pass |
| |
East’s cunning double and subtle pass saw his side in a contract that was three down, -150. However, there was an obvious chance of a big pick up if North/South could do the business at the other table.
| West | North | East | South
|
| Rodwell | Moss | Meckstroth | Gitelman
|
| | |
| Pass |
| 1♥ | 1♠ | 3♥ | Pass
|
| Pass | 3♠ | Pass | 4♠
|
| All Pass |
| | |
Yes they could!
Declarer ruffed the heart lead, crossed to the ace of clubs and played a spade to the king and a spade for a fast +650 and 11 IMPs. Ekebald was getting closer at 144-189.
| Board 84; Dealer West; Both Vul. |
| | ♠ 7 4 3
♥ 7 3
♦ A 3
♣ A K 9 8 7 2 |
♠ J 2
♥ Q 8 6
♦ Q J 9 6 2
♣ J 10 3 | |
♠ 9 6
♥ K 9 4 2
♦ K 10 7
♣ Q 6 5 4 | | | ♠ A K Q 10 8 5
♥ A J 10 5
♦ 8 5 4
♣ – |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Rubin | Freeman | Ekeblad | Nickell
|
| Pass | 1♣ | Pass | 1♠
|
| Pass | 2♣ | Pass | 2♥
|
| Pass | 2♠ | Pass | 4♣!
|
| Pass | 4♦ | Pass | 4♥
|
| Pass | 5♣ | Pass | 5♠
|
| Pass | 6♣ | Pass | 6♠
|
| All Pass |
|
Declarer won the diamond lead in dummy and got rid of his losing diamonds on the top clubs before playing a heart to the jack and queen. West played another diamond and declarer ruffed and played two rounds of hearts, ruffing. When the king did not appear declarer was one down, -100.
| West | North | East | South
|
| Rodwell | Moss | Meckstroth | Gitelman
|
| Pass | 1♣ | Pass | 1♠
|
| Pass | 2♣ | Pass | 2♥*
|
| Pass | 2♠ | Pass | 3♠
|
| Pass | 4♦ | Dble | Pass
|
| Pass | Rdble | Pass | 4♥
|
| Pass | 4♠ | All Pass |
|
Eleven tricks and 13 IMPs – making the score 189-158.
| Board 87; Dealer South; Both Vul. |
| | ♠ Q J 7
♥ –
♦ A J 10 6 5
♣ K 6 5 4 3 |
♠ 10 8 6 4 2
♥ A J 2
♦ K Q 2
♣ Q J | |
♠ –
♥ K Q 9 8 6 3
♦ 9 8 7 3
♣ 10 7 2 | | | ♠ A K 9 5 3
♥ 10 7 5 4
♦ 4
♣ A 9 8 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Rubin | Freeman | Ekeblad | Nickell
|
| | |
| 1♠ |
| Pass | 2♦ | Pass | 2♥
|
| Pass | 2♠ | Pass | 3♠
|
| Pass | 4♠ | All Pass
| |
West led the queen of clubs and declarer won in hand and promptly played two more rounds of clubs, East winning the third as West discarded the two of diamonds. A diamond went to the king and ace and declarer now ran the jack of diamonds to West’s queen. West switched to the ace of hearts and declarer could not arrive at more than nine tricks, -100.
| West | North | East | South
|
| Rodwell | Moss | Meckstroth | Gitelman
|
| |
|
| 1♠ |
| Pass | 2♦ | Pass | 2♥
|
| Pass | 2♠ | Pass | 3♣
|
| Pass | 4♣ | Pass | 4♠
|
| All Pass |
|
| |
West led a devious two of diamonds and declarer won with dummy’s ace and ruffed a diamond, West following with the king. He ruffed a heart, cashed two clubs ending in hand, ruffed a heart and ran the jack of diamonds to West’s queen, discarding a heart. He won the trump return in dummy and played a winning diamond to dispose of his last heart, +620 and yet another 12 IMPs to Ekeblad, right back in it at 170-189.
| Board 90; Dealer East; Both Vul. |
| | ♠ K 9 8 7 6 5 3
♥ 9
♦ A K J 10
♣ 8 |
♠ –
♥ J 8 6 3
♦ 5 3
♣ K Q J 9 7 6 5 | |
♠ A Q 10 2
♥ K 2
♦ 9 7 6 4
♣ A 10 3 | | | ♠ J 4
♥ A Q 10 7 5 4
♦ Q 8 2
♣ 4 2 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Rubin | Freeman | Ekeblad | Nickell
|
| | |
1♦* |
1♥ |
| 2♣* | 4♠ | Dble | All Pass
|
East cashed the ace of clubs and continued the suit. Declarer ruffed and played a trump. East went up with the queen and when West discarded declarer conceded one down, -200.
| West | North | East | South
|
| Rodwell | Moss | Meckstroth | Gitelman
|
| | |
1♦* |
2♥ |
| 3♣ | Pass | 3NT | All Pass
|
South had no reason to lead anything other than a heart and declarer claimed +600. Those 9 IMPs were the only crumb of comfort for Nickell as they lost the set 10-60. They still led 199-171, but the momentum was with Ekeblad.
| Board 91; Dealer South; Nil Vul. |
| | ♠ 10 7 6 4
♥ J 6 5 4
♦ K Q 5
♣ 7 3 |
♠ A K 5 3
♥ K Q 9 3
♦ 8 3
♣ 9 8 2 | |
♠ Q 2
♥ A
♦ J 7 4 2
♣ A K Q 10 5 4 | | | ♠ J 9 8
♥ 10 8 7 2
♦ A 10 9 6
♣ J 6 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Gitelman | Hamman | Moss | Soloway
|
| | | | Pass |
| 1♣ | Pass | 2♣* | Pass
|
| 2♥* | Pass | 3♦ | Pass
|
| 3NT | Pass | 6♣ | All Pass
|
When North led the four of hearts declarer was soon in a position to claim +920.
| West | North | East | South
|
| Rodwell | Ekeblad | Meckstroth | Rubin
|
| | | | Pass |
| 1♦* | Pass | 2♣* | Pass
|
| 2♥* | Pass | 2♠* | Pass
|
| 2NT | Pass | 3♠* | Pass
|
| 3NT | All Pass |
| |
On a spade lead declarer made twelve tricks, but lost 10 IMPs – the score was 199-181.
| Board 95; Dealer South; NS Vul. |
| | ♠ 9 6 2
♥ 7 5
♦ 10 9 5 4
♣ Q 10 6 5 |
♠ J 5
♥ K Q J 10 8 2
♦ J
♣ A J 8 7 | |
♠ A Q 10 3
♥ 4
♦ A K Q 7 6 3 2
♣ 2 | | | ♠ K 8 7 4
♥ A 9 6 3
♦ 8
♣ K 9 4 3 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Gitelman | Hamman | Moss | Soloway
|
| | | | Pass |
| 1♥ | Pass | 2♦ | Pass
|
| 2♥ | Pass | 4♦ | Pass
|
| 4♥ | Pass | 4NT | Pass
|
| 5♣ | Pass | 6♦ | All Pass
|
South led the four of spades and declarer put up dummy’s jack. When that held he played the king of hearts and South took the ace and switched to a club. Declarer won with the ace, pitched a spade on the queen of hearts, cashed the ace of spades and ruffed a spade. He ruffed a club and must have been hopeful, but the 4-1 trump break was a cruel blow, -50.
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Rodwell |
Ekeblad |
Meckstroth |
Rubin |
| |
|
|
Pass |
| 1♥ |
Pass |
2♦ |
Pass |
| 2♥ |
Pass |
2NT |
Pass |
| 3♥ |
Pass |
4♦ |
Pass |
| 4♥ |
All Pass |
|
North led the six of clubs and declarer took South’s king with the ace, unblocked the jack of diamonds, ruffed a club, and played the ace of diamonds. South ruffed with the six of hearts and declarer overruffed and played the ten of hearts. South took the ace and played the nine of clubs. Declarer had to lose two clubs and a spade and was one down, -50.
It seems to me that if declarer ducks the first club he is in control of the hand, but maybe its too esoteric a play to find.
| Board 97; Dealer North; Nil Vul. |
| | ♠ 4
♥ J 10 8 4 3 2
♦ 9 8 4
♣ J 8 3 |
♠ K Q 10 6
♥ 7 5
♦ A K 7 5 3
♣ 5 2 | |
♠ A J 8 5
♥ K 6
♦ Q J 10
♣ A K 6 4 | | | ♠ 9 7 3 2
♥ A Q 9
♦ 6 2
♣ Q 10 9 7 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Gitelman | Hamman | Moss | Soloway
|
| |
Pass |
1♣ |
Pass |
| 1♦ | Pass | 2NT | Pass
|
| 3♠ | Pass | 4♠ | All Pass
|
North led the jack of clubs and declarer won in dummy, cashed the king and queen of spades and then played to ruff a club, +480.
Played by East Six Spades is excellent – could Meckwell reach it – and from the best side?
| West | North | East | South
|
| Rodwell | Ekeblad | Meckstroth | Rubin
|
| |
Pass |
1♣* |
Pass |
| 2♣* | Pass | 2NT* | Pass
|
| 3♣* | Pass | 3♦* | Pass |
| 3♥* | Pass | 3♠* | Pass
|
| 3NT* | Pass | 4♣* | Pass
|
| 4♦* | Pass | 4NT | Pass
|
| 5♠ | Pass | 6♦ | Pass
|
| 6♥ | Pass | 6♠ | All Pass |
Of course they could!
Meckwell cooked up a superior auction.
Two Clubs was a transfer to diamonds and once East showed a balanced hand West used puppet Stayman to locate the spade fit at the same time making East declarer. After that the recipe was completed by a little serious no trump, a couple of cue bids and a dash of RKCB.
The same line of play gave Nickell 11 IMPs and a little daylight, ahead 216-181.
| Board 102; Dealer East; EW Vul. |
| | ♠ A 7 5 2
♥ A K 9 7
♦ Q 10 8 3
♣ K |
♠ 10
♥ 8 6 3 2
♦ K 9 6 5 2
♣ A 7 5 | |
♠ K Q J 8 4 3
♥ 10 5
♦ 7 4
♣ J 9 3 | | | ♠ 9 6
♥ Q J 4
♦ A J
♣ Q 10 8 6 4 2 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Gitelman | Hamman | Moss | Soloway
|
| | |
2♠ |
Pass |
| Pass | 2NT | Pass | 3NT
|
| All Pass |
| | |
Declarer won the opening lead of the king of spades and played the king of clubs. When that held he crossed to the queen of hearts and played the queen of clubs, collecting the ace and nine. He won the heart return in dummy and tried a hopeful ten of clubs but East produced the jack and cashed his spades – three down, -150.
| West | North | East | South
|
| Rodwell | Ekeblad | Meckstroth | Rubin
|
| | |
Pass |
Pass |
| Pass | 1NT! | Pass | 3NT
|
| All Pass |
| | |
Declarer ducked the king of spades, won the second spade and played a diamond to the jack and king. He won the heart return in dummy, unblocked the ace of diamonds and played a club. That was nine tricks, +400 and 11 IMPs to Ekeblad, now only behind 203-216.
| Board 103; Dealer South; Both Vul. |
| | ♠ 10 8 6 3
♥ A K Q
♦ 10 7
♣ K 10 4 3 |
♠ Q J 7 2
♥ 8 7 6 4 2
♦ 5 3
♣ A J | |
♠ 9 5
♥ 10 5
♦ A Q J 8 4
♣ 9 8 6 2 | | | ♠ A K 4
♥ J 9 3
♦ K 9 6 2
♣ Q 7 5 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Gitelman | Hamman | Moss | Soloway
|
| | |
|
1♦ |
| Pass | 2NT | Pass | 3NT
|
| All Pass |
| | |
East led the four of diamonds and declarer won in hand with the ten and played a club to the queen and ace. West switched to the queen of spades and declarer won with dummy’s ace, crossed to hand with a heart and played a diamond. East took the ace and exited with a spade, ducked to West’s jack.
Declarer took the rest, +630.
| West | North | East | South
|
| Rodwell | Ekeblad | Meckstroth | Rubin
|
| | |
|
1♦* |
| Pass | 2♣* | Pass | 2NT*
|
| Pass | 3♣* | Pass | 3♦*
|
| Pass | 3NT | All Pass |
|
Here South was the declarer and West led the eight of hearts. Declarer won in dummy perforce and played a club to the queen and ace. Now West switched to the two of spades, covered by the six, nine and king. Declarer played a club to the jack and king and ran the eight of spades, losing to West’s jack. He won the heart return and tried a spade. There was no luck in that suit, and no joy in clubs either. The contract was two down, -200 and 13 massive IMPs for Nickell, who finished the set ahead 233-203.
| Board 108; Dealer West; NS Vul. |
| | ♠ 10 9 6 4 3
♥ J 6 5
♦ Q 7 4 2
♣ 10 |
♠ 8
♥ 8 2
♦ A 9 6 5
♣ A 9 6 5 3 2 | |
♠ K J 2
♥ K Q 10 7 4
♦ 10 8 3
♣ 8 4 | | | ♠ A Q 7 5
♥ A 9 3
♦ K J
♣ K Q J 7 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Stansby | Soloway | Martel | Hamman
|
| Pass | Pass | 2♥ | Dble
|
| 3♣* | Pass | 3♥ | 3NT
|
| Pass | 4♥ | Pass | 4♠
|
| All Pass |
| | |
West led the eight of hearts and declarer allowed East to win the first heart, took the second and tried a sneaky seven of clubs. West was wide awake and went in with the ace. He cashed the ace of diamonds and played a second diamond. Declarer had unblocked the king, so he was in dummy. The winning play is to run the ten of spades, but presumably there were not enough clues and declarer played a spade to the queen and had to go one down.
Interestingly, if West plays a second club after taking the ace, declarer does not even have this slender chance of bringing home the contract.
| West | North | East | South
|
| Rodwell | Moss | Meckstroth | Gitelman
|
| Pass | Pass | 1♥ | Dble
|
| 1NT* | 2♠ | Pass | 4♠
|
| All Pass |
| | |
East led the eight of clubs and West took the ace and returned the suit. Declarer ruffed with the nine of spades and then played a spade to the queen. When that held he cashed the ace and could claim ten tricks.
It was hard for West to find the essential heat switch at trick two.
That gave Ekeblad 12 IMPs, behind 215-235.
| Board 112; Dealer West; EW Vul. |
| | ♠ K 5
♥ A Q 10 4
♦ A K 5 4 3 2
♣ K |
♠ 7 6 3 2
♥ J 9
♦ Q 10 9 7
♣ 9 7 4 | |
♠ A Q J 8
♥ 7 6 5
♦ J
♣ A Q 8 6 3 | | | ♠ 10 9 4
♥ K 8 3 2
♦ 8 6
♣ J 10 5 2 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Stansby | Soloway | Martel | Hamman
|
| Pass | 1♣* | 1♦* | Pass
|
| 2♦* | Pass | 2♠ | Pass
|
| Pass | Dble | Rdble | 3♥
|
| All Pass |
| | |
West led the four of clubs and East won the ace and returned the six of clubs. Declarer won, discarding a spade from dummy, took two rounds of trumps with the queen and king (did he notice the fall of the nine and jack?) and played a diamond to the ace. He then tried to cash the king, but East ruffed and played ace of spades, queen of spades. Declarer had to go one down, -50.
Declarer could have played differently, discarding a diamond on the second round of clubs, or by playing a low diamond on the second round of the suit.
| West | North | East | South
|
| Rodwell | Moss | Meckstroth | Gitelman
|
| Pass | 1♦ | Dble | Pass
|
| 1♠ | 2♥ | 2♠ | 4♥
|
| All Pass |
| | |
East led the five of hearts and declarer won and set about the diamonds, playing the ace and then the king. East ruffed and returned a heart. (It was impossible to appreciate the importance of cashing the ace of clubs first.) Declarer won with the queen, ruffed a diamond with the king of hearts and played a club to the king and ace. East could cash the ace of spades, but declarer had the rest.
10 IMPs to Ekeblad, still in the hunt at 225-244.
However, time was running out and Nickell clinched the match just before the end:
| Board 118; Dealer East; EW Vul. |
| | ♠ 8 7 5 4
♥ -
♦ J 8 7 5
♣ A Q 10 9 6 |
♠ Q 9 6 3
♥ K Q J 10 9 8
♦ K Q 2
♣ – | |
♠ A K J
♥ A 7 5 3
♦ 3
♣ J 8 5 4 3 | | | ♠ 10 2
♥ 6 4 2
♦ A 10 9 6 4
♣ K 7 2 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Stansby | Soloway | Martel | Hamman
|
| | |
1♣ |
Pass |
| 1♥ | Pass | 2♥ | Pass
|
| 2♠* | Pass | 2NT* | Pass
|
| 3♣* | Pass | 3♥* | Pass
|
| 3♠* | Pass | 4♣* | Pass
|
| 4♥ | All Pass |
| |
That was an easy +480.
| West | North | East | South
|
| Rodwell | Moss | Meckstroth | Gitelman
|
| | |
2♦* |
Pass |
| 2NT* | Pass | 3♠* | Pass
|
| 4♣ | Dble | Pass | Pass
|
| 4♦ | Pass | 4♥ | Pass
|
| 4♠ | Pass | 5♦ | Pass
|
| 6♥ | All Pass |
| |
Two Diamonds was a three suited hand, but we have temporarily misplaced our notes on the Meckwell system (all 400 pages of it), so any interpretation of the rest is inevitably imbued with a certain amount of uncertainty. Once West knew East’s shape perhaps Four Clubs set hearts as trumps. I’ll ask Eric in Nashville next month.
That gave Nickell 13 IMPs and they ran out winners 271-225.
They will be on the road to Shanghai!
These are the other U.S. teams that will compete in Shanghai:
Bermuda Bowl
USA 1 – George Jacobs, Ralph Katz, Zia Mahmood, Michael Rosenberg, Howard Weinstein, Steve Garner. USA 2 – Nick Nickell, Richard Freeman, Jeff Meckstroth, Eric Rodwell, Bob Hamman, Paul Soloway.
Venice Cup
USA 1 – Hansa Narasimhan, Irina Levitina, Jill Meyers, Jill Levin, Debbie Rosenberg, JoAnna Stansby. USA 2 – Shawn Quinn, Hjordis Eythorsdottir, Sue Picus, Rozanne Pollack. This team likely will add another pair for the World Championships. |
