Final Session - Parioli v. Computerland AZS

At the end of the third quarter, the score stood at 62-43 to Parioli.

For the last quarter of the final, Balicki-Zmudzinski would again play Lauria-Versace in the Closed Room, but Fantoni-Nunes would replace Angelini-Sementa for Parioli to face Kwiecinski and Golebiowski in the Open Room.

Right on the first board of the second half, the Italian lead went up by another double-figure swing:

Board 13. Dealer North, All Vul.
	ª A 8 © Q J 10 9 2 ¨ A K 4 3 2 § J
ª K J © 6 3 ¨ Q 8 5 § A 10 9 7 6 3		ª Q 10 6 5 4 3 © K 8 7 4 ¨ 7 6 § 2
	ª 9 7 2 © A 5 ¨ J 10 9 § K Q 8 5 4

Closed Room:
West	North	East	South
Versace	Balicki	Lauria	Zmudzinski
	1©	1ª	Dble
2§	3¨	Pass	3ª
Dble	Redble	Pass	4©
All Pass

To make 4© on the marked spade lead, you need some luck. The ©A is the only entry for the diamond finesses, but you cannot get off dummy safely as the clubs are 6-1. If you duck the first spade, the defenders will play §A and another, and if you win the first trick the defensive communications will stay open. So after winning the ªA Zmudzinski played two rounds of hearts followed by three rounds of diamonds finessing the queen through West in the process, East ruffing with the ©8 to set the contract. Parioli +100.

Open Room:
West	North	East	South
Kwiecinski	Fantoni	Golebiowski	Nunes
	1©	2ª	3§
Pass	3¨	Pass	3ª
Dble	Redble	Pass	4¨
Pass	5¨	All Pass

At the other table, the spade lead looked marked as well, but East led his singleton club to partner’s ace. Kwiecinski quickly switched to the ªK, but Fantoni won the ace and led the ©Q to the ace when East understandably did not cover. Next came two rounds of diamonds with the help of a successful finesse. After that, the §KQ could be safely cashed by Fantoni to get rid of the losing spade as well as a possible losing heart. The ©K proved the only other defensive trick, so Fantoni could finally chalk up +600 and 12 IMPs for his team. The adverb “finally” needs a special stress here, as the play of the hand took a full 25 minutes, which, according to our Grand Master, Vugraph commentator and guest of honour Benito Garozzo, who has seen it all, over the years, represents a world record.

So Parioli were in the lead by 31 now, and this lead was down to 29 when board 18 arrived to end the Polish hopes.

Board 18. Dealer South, All Vul.
	ª Q J © 9 4 ¨ A Q J 10 9 8 7 2 § A
ª A 9 7 6 © A K 8 7 3 ¨ - § J 10 9 5		ª 10 8 © Q 6 5 2 ¨ 4 § K Q 8 6 3 2
	ª K 5 4 3 2 © J 10 ¨ K 6 5 3 § 7 4

Closed Room:
West	North	East	South
Versace	Balicki	Lauria	Zmudzinski
		Pass	Pass
1©	4¨	4©	5¨
5©	Dble	All Pass

Though Balicki did his best by leading the §A and switching to a low diamond for a possible club ruff, there was nothing in this hand for the defence. Versace ruffed, drew trumps and cashed the clubs, losing a spade in the end. Parioli +650.

Open Room:
West	North	East	South
Kwiecinski	Fantoni	Golebiowski	Nunes
		Pass	Pass
1©	2¨	4§	Dble
Pass	5¨	Pass	Pass
6©	Dble	All Pass

Strangely enough, the quiet 2¨ overcall made it more difficult for EW to land on their feet. Nunes’ double showed support as well as spades. Kwiecinski, well aware of the double fit, jumped straight to slam but that was really too much. Fantoni made the good lead of the ªQ rather than one of his aces, but it did not matter as the spade loser could not go anywhere. Parioli another +100 and 13 IMPs to lead by 41 now.

On one of the last boards, Versace-Lauria gave a wonderful demonstration of their technique, From the Butler scores, we all know that they have been the outstanding pair here in Barcelona, and the board below can be considered a special tribute to their great performance here and to the flawless squeeze technique displayed by Versace to land his slam.

Board 22. Dealer East, EW Vul.
	ª K 10 7 © Q J 9 5 3 ¨ 9 6 § Q J 4
ª 4 © K 10 8 ¨ K Q 10 8 5 4 § A 10 9		ª A 8 3 2 © A 7 6 2 ¨ A 2 § K 8 2
	ª Q J 9 6 5 © 4 ¨ J 7 3 § 7 6 5 3

Closed Room:
West	North	East	South
Versace	Balicki	Lauria	Zmudzinski
		1NT	Pass
2NT	Pass	3§	Pass
3ª	Pass	3NT	Pass
4NT	Pass	5§	Pass
6¨	All Pass

Once the diamond fit became established Lauria realised that his four controls should suit Versace very well, so they reached a hair-raising slam. Balicki made the best lead of a spade, but dummy’s ace won and a spade was ruffed in hand. Next came three rounds of trumps (Balicki discarding his ªK) and the ©8, covered by Balicki with the nine and ducked in dummy. Balicki next played the §J, but Versace won dummy’s king, ruffed a spade and led the last trump, completing the squeeze on North. He threw a club, but Versace simply cashed the §A first and thus was never tempted to take the losing option of a club finesse. Very well done for a magnificent +1370 to Parioli, the apotheosis of what had once again been a great tournament for them.

At the other table, they were less inspired:

Open Room:
West	North	East	South
Kwiecinski	Fantoni	Golebiowski	Nunes
		1NT	Pass
2NT	Pass	3¨	Pass
3ª	Pass	3NT	All Pass

When East did not show signs of a diamond fit, the possibility of a slam was lost. On a spade lead, declarer just cashed out for +660 to lose another 12 IMPs.

The final score in the match: 107-52 to Parioli, a winning margin of 55 over the 48 boards played.