Round 23
Italy vs France
With only three matches to go time was running out for these two
teams. The winning team in this battle would have a slightly easier
way to a qualification spot. The losing team would most likely not
have time to make up the lost ground.
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Board 2. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
|
| |
ª A K Q 3
© A 7 6 2
¨ A Q 8
§ 7 3 |
ª J 8 7
© 8 4
¨ 9 7 6 2
§ Q 10 9 2 |
 |
ª 10 6
© Q 9 3
¨ K J 3
§ A K 6 5 4 |
| |
ª 9 5 4 2
© K J 10 5
¨ 10 5 4
§ J 8 |
| Open Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Sbarigia |
T.Bessis |
Lo Presti |
Gaviard |
| - |
- |
1§ |
Pass |
| Pass |
Dble |
Pass |
1© |
| Pass |
2§ |
Pass |
2© |
| Pass |
3© |
Pass |
3ª |
| Pass |
4ª |
All Pass |
|
| Closed Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Tessieres |
F. di Bello |
O.Bessis |
S. di Bello |
| - |
- |
1§ |
Pass |
| 1¨ |
Dble |
Pass |
1ª |
| Pass |
2¨ |
Dble |
2© |
| Pass |
4ª |
All Pass |
|
4ª was reached at both tables and the Italians played nicely both
as declarer and defenders. Matteo Sbarigia's lead was the first
key to the success in the Open Room. He led ¨7 and Thomas Bessis
let Fabio Lo Presti win the first trick with ¨J as he played low
from hand. Lo Presti cashed §A then made key play number two –
as he continued with a low club to West's queen. Sbarigia once more
could play a diamond and declarer was doomed to go down. Very nicely
defended by the Italians; –100.
In the Closed Room, Stelio di Bello was declarer. Godefroy de Tessieres
led §10 to Olivier Bessis' ace and he switched to a spade. Di Bello
draw the trumps then finessed dummy's ten of hearts. When it held
the trick he played two more rounds of hearts then played §J from
dummy. De Tessieres correctly rose with his queen to play a diamond
through declarer. Di Bello played the queen but when Bessis won
the trick with ¨K he was at the same time endplayed. He had no hearts
left to play, while a club would be for a ruff and discard, so he
exited with a diamond. Di Bello won the ten and made his game for
+620 and 12 very well deserved IMPs to Italy.
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Board 3. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
|
| |
ª K 6
© J 3
¨ A Q 9 7 6 5
§ A K 3 |
ª 10 8 5 4
© Q 4
¨ J 8 4 3
§ Q 8 6 |
|
ª 9 2
© K 10 9 7 5
¨ 10 2
§ J 10 5 2 |
| |
ª A Q J 7 3
© A 8 6 2
¨ K
§ 9 7 4 |
| Open Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Sbarigia |
T.Bessis |
Lo Presti |
Gaviard |
| - |
- |
- |
1ª |
| Pass |
2¨ |
Pass |
2© |
| Pass |
3¨ |
Pass |
3ª |
| Pass |
4§ |
Pass |
4¨ |
| Pass |
4ª |
All Pass |
|
| Closed Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Tessieres |
F. di Bello |
O.Bessis |
S. di Bello |
| - |
- |
- |
1ª |
| Pass |
2NT |
Pass |
3§ |
| Pass |
3© |
Pass |
3ª |
| Pass |
4§ |
Pass |
4© |
| Pass |
4ª |
Pass |
5© |
| Pass |
7¨ |
All Pass |
|
North/South can make 7ª. All the declarer has to do is to establish
the diamonds. One ruff is all he can afford but that is all that
is needed. Julien Gaviard hesitated for a long time before he passed
over 4ª. On a club lead Gaviard only had eleven tricks and when
it was over that was +450 to N/S.
At the other table the di Bello brothers almost succeeded since
they made it all the way to the seven level. Unfortunately for them
and Italy, they picked the wrong suit as trumps since diamonds this
time were split 4-2. East was happy even though he gained only one
trick for –50; France gained 11 IMPs on the board.
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Board 13. Dealer North. All Vul.
|
| |
ª 8 7 3
© K 10 9 7 6
¨ Q 10 6 4
§ 7 |
ª 10 9 6 5
© Q 8 4 3
¨ 9
§ 6 5 4 3 |
|
ª A K Q J
© J 5 2
¨ K J 2
§ Q 9 2 |
| |
ª 4 2
© A
¨ A 8 7 5 3
§ A K J 10 8 |
| Open Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Sbarigia |
T.Bessis |
Lo Presti |
Gaviard |
| - |
Pass |
1NT |
2NT |
| Pass |
4¨ |
Pass |
5¨ |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
| Closed Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Tessieres |
F. di Bello |
O.Bessis |
S. di Bello |
| - |
Pass |
1NT |
Dble |
| Pass |
Pass |
Rdbl |
Pass |
| 2§ |
Pass |
Pass |
Dble |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
Thomas Bessis bid 4¨ over Gaviard's 2NT that showed both minors.
Gaviard raised and the French were too high. Two tricks in each
of diamonds and spades were given to the defence and that was –200.
When Olivier Bessis in the Closed Room opened 1NT he was immediately
in trouble. De Tessiere's pass was forcing to redouble and when
West bid his lowest suit the French could be caught in 2§. I'm sure
Stelio di Bello was not too sad over the final contract. Furio led
his singleton club and Stelio drew four round of trumps, leaving
declarer void in the suit. He then cashed ©A and exited with a spade.
Dummy's top spades won the following four tricks since Stelio refused
to ruff. Stelio had sooner or later to be endplayed to give a diamond
trick to dummy, but that was still three downfor –800 and
a nice 14 IMP swing to Italy.
The French won the match by 75-44 IMPs, 21-9 VPs, and had moved
a step closer to securing a ticket to Australia.
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