Roman Holiday

Rome, the eternal City, conjures up magnificent images in the mind of every tourist, but those of the bridge player may vary slightly from the ones contemplated by most travellers. For Romulus & Remus read Belladonna & Averelli, for Caesar & Anthony think Forquet & Garozzo. The best action is not at the Coliseum, rather here at the Tennis Club Parioli!

In the years to come those names which have already passed into legend and history will be joined by new ones, perhaps those of the players competing here?

The obvious place to go in search of excitement was the VuGraph, where Benito Garozzo was on duty – alas his impeccable italian was too fast for your reporter, so you will have to rely on my thoughts rather than those of the maestro.

Board 1 - N/-
	ª K 2 © J 8 7 6 5 4 ¨ A 10 5 § 9 6
ª Q J 10 6 5 © 9 2 ¨ J 8 7 § A 7 5		ª 8 7 4 3 © A Q ¨ K 4 3 § K Q J 4
	ª A 9 © K 10 3 ¨ Q 9 6 2 § 10 8 3 2

West	North	East	South
Kalish	Ausberg	Podgur	Helgemo
	2¨*	Pass	2ª*
Pass	4©	Dble	Pass
4ª	All Pass

East was perhaps unlucky to find his partner with such a suitavble hand for spades, as with a little less he would probably have passed the double and earned a plus score. It was also annoying to discover that the king of hearts was with South, although declarer would still have needed some luck in the diamond suit. North’s heart lead led to a very swift one down.

West	North	East	South
Furunes	O herbst	Aa	I Herbst
	Pass	1NT	Pass
2©*	Pass	3ª	Pass
4ª	All Pass

I am not a fan of breaking transfers – you aleways seem to end up at least one trick too high, which is what happened here. No swing.

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

West	North	East	South
Kalish	Ausberg	Podgur	Helgemo
		1§*	Pass
1¨	1©	Pass	Pass
4ª	5§	Dble	All Pass

North was flying solo here, and it was a bumpy ride. West overtook his partner’s jack of spades with the ace and switched to his trump. East won and played a second round. Declarer won, cashed a top heart and ruffed a heart. Then he ruffed a spade, drew the last trump and advanced the king of diamonds. West had discarded the six of diamonds at trick three, and East thought for a while before taking the ace. Down two, -500.

West	North	East	South
Furunes	O herbst	Aa	I Herbst
		1NT	Pass
2©*	2ª	3ª	Pass
4ª	All Pass

Four Spades stood no chance after the heart lead, -50 and 11 IMPs for the team from Haifa.

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

West	North	East	South
Kalish	Ausberg	Podgur	Helgemo
	Pass	1¨	Pass
1ª	Pass	2¨	Pass
3§	Pass	3¨	Pass
3ª	Pass	3NT	All Pass

The bidding suggests aheart lead, but West had taken a long time to bid Three Clubs and that was not lost on Helgemo, who led the five of clubs. Declarer put up the king and North took the ace and continued with the ten of clubs, ducked by declarer. Would Helgemo overtake ans switch to a heart? No, and when North played a third club the game was home, +400.

West	North	East	South
Furunes	O herbst	Aa	I Herbst
	Pass	1¨	Pass
1ª	Pass	2¨	Pass
3§	Pass	3NT	All Pass

This time South put the nine of hearts on the table and that was that – another double figure swing for the men from Israel.

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

West	North	East	South
Kalish	Ausberg	Podgur	Helgemo
		1©	1ª
4©	All Pass

West bid what he hope his partner could make, but he would have liked another trump. Helgemo led a heart and declarer won in hand with the nine and after fingering various cards, tried the jack of spades. South took the ace and could tell that North’s spade was a singleton. He gave his partner a ruff and waited for the setting tricks.

West	North	East	South
Furunes	O herbst	Aa	I Herbst
		1©	1ª
2©	3¨	Pass	3NT
Dble	4¨	All Pass

Notice the different evaluation from West.
3NT would have been an unlucky contract because of the 3-0 diamond split, so North did well to retreat. (In the match between the Italian and French teams the declarer from Annecy stood his gound when doubled and lost 800 – bridge can be a cruel game.) Four Diamonds went one down when declarer lost a diamond trick.

The Israeli’s were playing well, and they produced an excellent defence on this deal:

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

The contract at both tables was Three Hearts. The Haifa declarer made it but in the reply East led a diamond and West won the queen and switched to a club. East won and returned the suit and declarer won in dummy and took a heart finesse. East won and played a diamond, so West could win and give his partner a club ruff for one down.
The first half finished with a very difficult defensive problem. Would you have solved it?

Board 12 - W/NS
	ª J 8 7 3 © A 10 6 ¨ Q J 6 § J 8 3
ª K 10 9 4 © K ¨ K 10 3 2 § 9 7 5 4		ª 2 © Q J 9 8 7 3 2 ¨ 8 7 § A K 10
	ª A Q 6 5 © 5 4 ¨ A 9 5 4 § Q 6 2

West	North	East	South
Kalish	Ausberg	Podgur	Helgemo
Pass	Pass	4©	All Pass

South led a low club and declarer took the jack with the ace and played a spade. Helgemo put up the ace and switched to a low diamond. I asked him if the jack of spades from North would have helped and he said that it would, but it was an unlikely play and he should have switched to a heart in any event, as he had a count in spades.

West	North	East	South
Furunes	O Herbst	Aa	I Herbst
Pass	Pass	4©	All Pass

The contract was the same and South led a heart. Now, North can win his ace and switch to a club, solving any defensive problems. One down.