Final – Session 1

by Peter Ventura

Computerland AZS PWR Wroclaw, Poland, had to face reigning champions Tennis Club Parioli Angelini Roma, Italy in the final. Parioli were held as small favourites but a Polish team is always difficult to handle.

After a 48 boards long semifinal the first session of the final started 9.30 pm on Saturday evening. This could be an advantage for a team with good condition.

And what a board to start with! 7NT can be made, but would any of the two E/W-pairs reach the grand?

Board 1. Dealer North. None Vul.
	ª 9 7 © 9 4 2 ¨ 4 3 2 § 10 9 7 6 2
ª A J 8 6 4 © - ¨ A 9 8 6 5 § A Q		ª K Q 10 5 2 © A 5 ¨ Q J 10 § K J 5
	ª 3 © K Q 10 8 7 6 3 ¨ K 7 § 8 4 3

Open Room:
West	North	East	South
Olanski	Angelini	Starkowski	Sementa
	Pass	1ª	3©
4©	Pass	4NT	Pass
5¨	Pass	5©	Pass
5ª	Pass	6ª	All Pass

Closed Room:
West	North	East	South
Versace	Kwiecinski	Lauria	Golebiowski
	Pass	1ª	3©
4©	Pass	4ª	Pass
5§	Pass	5©	Pass
6ª	All Pass

The auction was almost the same at the two tables and both pairs stopped in 6ª. ‘When a slam needs a finesse to succeed you should not bid it, and you will be a winner in the longer run’ is an advice from grande Garozzo and here the ¨K had to be on side.

Sementa led ©K and Starkowski had an easy way to 13 tricks. In the Closed Room Golebiowski put Lauria on some pressure immediately by leading an innovative ¨7. Lauria did not want to take any risks of course and he rose with the ace and later gave away a trick to a satisfied Golebiowski. Nice lead!
This trick gave Computerland the lead in the final by 1-0.

Board 4. Dealer West. All Vul.
	ª 3 © A K Q 10 9 ¨ 9 7 6 4 2 § 6 2
ª A Q 8 6 5 4 © 8 ¨ K Q 5 3 § K 8		ª K J 10 9 © J 7 6 4 3 ¨ A J § 9 5
	ª 7 2 © 5 2 ¨ 10 8 § A Q J10 7 4 3

Open Room:
West	North	East	South
Olanski	Angelini	Starkowski	Sementa
1ª	2©	4ª	All Pass

Closed Room:
West	North	East	South
Versace	Kwiecinski	Lauria	Golebiowski
1ª	2©	3NT	4§
4¨	4©	Dble	5§
Dble	All Pass

Parioli won back an overtrick-IMP on board 3 but here on the next deal came a small swing for the Polish, when Kwiecinski/Golebiowski sacrificed nicely. Lauria’s 3NT gave Golebiowski the possibility to overcall 4§ and that was the key for N/S to find a handy sacrifice in 5§; two down and +500 to Parioli.

In the Open Room it was more difficult for Sementa to take action since he had to introduce the clubs on the five level. The shape of the hand was not the best and he passed safely; +650 and Computerland gained 4 IMPs.

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

Open Room:
West	North	East	South
Olanski	Angelini	Starkowski	Sementa
		Pass	Pass
1§	2NT	Pass	3©
Pass	4©	All Pass

Closed Room:
West	North	East	South
Versace	Kwiecinski	Lauria	Golebiowski
		Pass	3§
All Pass

Angelini overcalled 2NT after a Polish club opening, showing two (or three) suits except clubs. Over Sementas 3© Angelini hunted for game bonus. West led ªK to dummy’s ace. Sementa ruffed a spade then finessed in diamonds. Everything had worked out smoothly so far and he continued to cross-ruff by cashing ¨A, ruff a diamond, ruff a club, ruff a spade and ruff another club. Now declarer had 8 tricks in his basket and since trump ace and king had to give tricks the game was just made; Parioli +420.

Golebiowski opened 3§ in the Closed Room and he was left to play there. Despite the lack of trumps 3§ was just made, thanks to a bunch of other powerful cards in dummy; Computerland +110 but 7 IMPs to the Italians.

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

Open Room:
West	North	East	South
Olanski	Angelini	Starkowski	Sementa
			1©
Pass	1ª	Pass	2©
All Pass

Closed Room:
West	North	East	South
Versace	Kwiecinski	Lauria	Golebiowski
			1©
Pass	1ª	1NT	2©
3NT	All Pass

This board could have been a big swing for Parioli, but since ªK was off side and clubs were split diabolically Lauria was doomed to go two down in 3NT; Parioli –200. Sementa’s 2© just made in the Open Room but Computerland still gained 3 IMPs.

The result after 8 boards: 8 IMPs to Parioli, 8 IMPs to Computerland!

On board 9 Starkowski opened a strong 1NT and he was left to play there. The contract went as many down as four and that was worth 7 IMPs to Parioli.

Parioli gained an IMP on the last board of this segment which gave us the score 16 to 8 IMPs in Parioli’s favour after the first session – and a good night’s sleep for everyone.