Round of 16
Goldberg on their way to the final
By Ace Ventura
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Ulla Goldberg, Sweden |
When the French team Levy prevailed over Team Goldberg, USA, it gave Goldberg from Sweden the chance to take the price for Best Goldberg. To do that, the Swedes first had to win over Passarinho, a German/Portuguese/Spanish constellation
This match was very tight and initially there were no swings of note. Only a few overtricks here and there were recorded in the early stage of the match. Goldberg lost 6 IMPs on board 9 when Bengt-Erik Efraimsson/Helena Svedberg were in 3NT with five losers, and that gave us the match score 8-5 in Passarinho’s favour. Both tables found 6♠ on board 10, but when both declarers located the missing trump queen, the defence only got one trick – no swing. The German pair Pony Beate Nehmert/Entscho Wladow gambled on board 11 when they doubled 4♠, but there were 10 easy tricks; 5 IMPs to Goldberg. That gave Goldberg the lead by 10 to 8 IMPs. Then came:
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Board 12. Dealer West, N/S Vul.
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♠ K 7 5
♥ 5 4 2
♦ K 5 3
♣ A 10 6 3 |
♠ 10 6 2
♥ K Q 10 8
♦ 10 9 8 7
♣ 7 4 |
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♠ A Q J 8 3
♥ 9 7 6 3
♦ A Q
♣ J 2 |
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♠ 9 4
♥ A J
♦ J 6 4 2
♣ K Q 9 8 5 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Efraimsson |
Passarinho |
Svedlund |
Panadero |
| Pass |
Pass |
1♠ |
Pass |
| 1NT |
Pass |
2♥ |
Pass |
| 3♥ |
Pass |
4♥ |
All Pass |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Wladow |
L. Goldberg |
Nehmert |
U-B. Goldberg |
| Pass |
Pass |
1♠ |
Pass |
| 1NT |
Pass |
2♥ |
All Pass |
In the Open Room Wladow/Nehmert produced an auction most pairs would copy. The auction started the same way in the Closed Room but here the Swedish pair played new suits as forcing on the second round. Bengt-Erik Efraimsson, regretting he had bid anything at all on the first round, knows what can happen if you don’t obey your lady, so he followed orders and raised reluctantly to 3♥. Helena Svedlund was unstoppable and therefore got the opportunity to play in game with only 19 HCPs. As you can see, the guess in the heart suit was easy to solve and there were no problems with the finesses in the pointed suits; 4♥ just made and a not unlucky 6 IMPs for Goldberg.
The first half’s big swing came on the last board.
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Board 14.Dealer East, None Vul.
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♠ Q 7 6 5 2
♥ 4
♦ J 9 2
♣ J 9 7 6 |
♠ K 10 4 3
♥ 10 8 7 5
♦ K Q 3
♣ K 4 |
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♠ A J 9 8
♥ K Q 6
♦ A 8 6 5
♣ A 3 |
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♠ -
♥ A J 9 3 2
♦ 10 7 4
♣ Q 10 8 5 2 |
The action in the Open Room:
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Wladow |
L. Goldberg |
Nehmert |
U-B. Goldberg |
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2♦* |
2♥ |
| Dble |
Pass |
2NT |
Pass |
| 3NT |
All Pass |
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Nehmert’s 2♦ showed 15+ and when she then described her hand as balanced, Wladow bid 3NT without checking if there was a spade-fit. Ulla-Britt Goldberg did her best by leading a club. However Nehmert found the way to handl the spades correctly, thanks to Souths intervention.
In the Closed Room East/West had their eyes on higher things.
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Efraimsson |
Passarinho |
Svedlund |
Panadero |
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1♠ |
2♥ |
| 2NT* |
Pass |
3♦ |
Pass |
| 4♠ |
Pass |
4NT |
Pass |
| 5♦ |
Pass |
5♥ |
Pass |
| 5♠ |
All Pass |
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Efraimsson/Svedlund pushed the cards towards a small slam but stopped in time due to lack of an ace and the trump queen. However, they were already too high. 2NT showed trump support and at least an invite to game, 3♦ extra values without any singleton.
To make even 4♠ you need to guess the trumps. With South’s 2♥ in mind declarer is likely to place North with longer spades. Svedlund started with the trump ace, though, so she was down two; -100 and that was 11 IMPs to Passarinho.
Passarinho was up 2 IMPs when the second half kicked-off.
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Board 15.Dealer South, N/S Vul.
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♠ A 10 9 7 2
♥ K Q 4
♦ 10 9 8 5
♣ 6 |
♠ K J 6 4
♥ 10 8 7 5 2
♦ 2
♣ 7 4 3 |
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♠ Q 8
♥ A 9 6
♦ A J 6
♣ A 10 8 5 2 |
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♠ 5 3
♥ J 3
♦ K Q 7 4 3
♣ K Q J 9 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| fraimsson |
Wladow |
Svedlund |
Nehmert |
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1♦ |
| Pass |
1♠ |
Dble |
Pass |
| 2♥ |
2♠ |
Pass |
Pass |
| 3♥ |
Pass |
4♥ |
Pass |
| Pass |
Dble |
All Pass |
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A second set of boards was on the table. In the Closed Room Nehmert/Wladow had an excellent start. Efraimsson/Svedlund blaimed themselves for an expected loss and I can understand why… This auction was not a beautiful work of art. West’s 3♥ is acceptable – 4♥ is bold, or rash if you prefer. When the smoke had cleared declarer was down three for –500. The Open Room:
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Passarinho |
L. Goldberg |
Panadero |
U-B. Goldberg |
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1♦ |
| 2♦* |
Pass |
3NT |
Pass |
| Pass |
Dble |
Pass |
Pass |
| 4♣ |
Pass |
4♥ |
Pass |
| Pass |
Dble |
All Pass |
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Neither auction is something a mother would be proud of. Even if the style of West’s 2♦ is weak, showing majors, the suits are simply too bad to even consider taking any action. Passarinho did not agree, and as soon he chirped, he was in trouble. North went for penalties when East, with three aces, took her partner seriously. Down three here too – and no swing!
Your partner opens 3♣ and your right hand opponent passes. What’s your bid with the following hand?
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♠ A K 6 5
♥ A K J 9 6 3
♦ A
♣ J 2 |
Nehmert’s performance gave Passarinho a nice swing.
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Board 16.Dealer West, E/W Vul.
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♠ 10 7
♥ -
♦ K 9 8 6
♣ A Q 9 8 7 4 3 |
♠ 9 8 4 2
♥ 10 8 4
♦ J 10 7 2
♣ K 6 |
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♠ Q J 3
♥ Q 7 5 2
♦ Q 5 4 3
♣ 10 5 |
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♠ A K 6 5
♥ A K J 9 6 3
♦ A
♣ J 2 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Efraimsson |
Wladow |
Svedlund |
Nehmert |
| Pass |
3♣ |
Pass |
4♣* |
| Pass |
4♦ |
Pass |
6♣ |
| All Pass |
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Nehmert was the one who was preempted by her partner’s jump. She did well asking for aces (4♣) and bid slam when one ace was found. There was nothing much to the play and with the trump king on side she made an overtrick.
In the Open Room Ulla-Britt and Lars Goldberg did not have the methods – or judgement –to land on their feet.
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Passarinho |
L. Goldberg |
Panadero |
U-B. Goldberg |
| Pass |
2♣ |
Pass |
3♥ |
| Pass |
3NT |
Pass |
4♦ |
| Pass |
4♥ |
Pass |
4NT |
| Pass |
5♦ |
Pass |
5♠ |
| Pass |
6♥ |
All Pass |
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North opened with a Precision-styled 2♣ and 3♥ promised 17+ with quite a solid suit. North, not especially in high spirits to hear 3♥, thought 3NT was the spot to be at. South, even stronger than promised, continued with 4♦. North took the cheap exit by bidding 4♥ but South asked for aces. South could see that North’s 5♦ marked him with the ace of clubs, so she invited to the grand by asking for the trump queen. North did not find the queen, nor a heart at all and had at this point only one thing to do, to bid 6♥. I wonder if 4♣, instead of 4♦, on the second round would have solved the problem?
Despite only six trumps there is a winning line. Declarer was put to the test directly when West found a tricky club lead. Declarer can’t afford the club finesse not to succeed, must let the club run to the jack. Ulla-Britt Goldberg did so, then came ace and king of trumps. The winning line now is to play the jack of hearts, under which West’s ten will drop. Ulla-Britt Goldberg was hoping for either defender to be left with the bare queen and played a low heart at this point – one down.
With these 14 IMPs Passarinho had taken a grip of the match. Goldberg struck back immediately, though.
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Board 17.Dealer North, None Vul.
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♠ J 4
♥ 8 6 2
♦ A K 5 4 2
♣ K J 4 |
♠ A 9 7 3
♥ 10
♦ Q 10 9 8
♣ Q 9 8 6 |
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♠ K Q 8 6 5
♥ Q J 5 4
♦ J 7 3
♣ 10 |
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♠ 10 2
♥ A K 9 7 3
♦ 6
♣ A 7 5 3 2 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Efraimsson |
Wladow |
Svedlund |
Nehmert |
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1NT |
2♣ |
2♥ |
| 2♠ |
Pass |
Pass |
3♣ |
| 3♠ |
4♦ |
Pass |
4♥ |
| Dble |
5♣ |
Pass |
Pass |
| Dble |
All Pass |
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| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Passarinho |
L. Goldberg |
Panadero |
U-B. Goldberg |
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1♦ |
1♠ |
2♥ |
| 3♥ |
4♥ |
Pass |
Pass |
| 4♠ |
Dble |
All Pass |
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In the Closed Room Wladow opened a weak no trump, 9-12 HCPs, and Svedlund overcalled 2♣ for the majors. Nehmert bid 2♥ and when she was asked about the meaning, she answered ‘natural – I hope!’ North was afraid of the heart suit and corrected to 5♣ when 4♥ was doubled. 4♥ is likely to go one off but in 5♣ the defence had four tricks: N/S –300.
At the other table West thought a wise thing to do was to take the sacrifice. South led the ace of hearts and eventually got a diamond ruff for two down; –300 to Goldberg & Co and that was worth 12 IMPs.
With 17 boards played Passarinho was still in the lead, by a scanty 33-29. They won one IMP on the next board then 5 IMPs went to Goldberg. On board 22 Passarinho/Pandero missed an easy game in no trump while the Swedes at the other table didn’t have any problems reaching it. Goldberg had turned the match around, and were now in the lead by 11 IMPs. Passarinho narrowed the gap here:
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Board 23.Dealer South, All Vul.
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♠ K 5
♥ 10 8 7 2
♦ 8 5
♣ A 7 5 4 3 |
♠ 9 4 2
♥ K J 9 5 3
♦ K
♣ K 10 6 2 |
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♠ A Q J 7 6
♥ 4
♦ A 7 3 2
♣ Q J 9 |
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♠ 10 8 3
♥ A Q 6
♦ Q J 10 9 6 4
♣ 8 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Efraimsson |
Wladow |
Svedlund |
Nehmert |
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Pass |
| Pass |
Pass |
1♠ |
2♦ |
| Dble |
All Pass |
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East/West needed eight tricks to win the board, since 4♠ was played with one overtrick at the other table. East won the spade lead and played her singleton. Declarer played the queen and the king held the trick. Efraimsson now could have made things easy for the defence by playing the king of trump. He knew East was out of hearts but didn’t find it meaningful to continue in hearts, so he exited with the king of clubs. The dummy won with the ace then a spade to East. Svedlund didn’t want to give dummy any spade ruffs. She made a sensible choice by cashing the trump ace in order to play another one, but she wasn’t happy to see the trump king drop on the ace. The defence had to win another heart and a spade trick; N/S –200 meant 10 IMPs to Passarinho. With five boards to play the margin was only 1 IMP in Goldberg’s favour. Passarinho only won two more IMPs in those five deals but Goldberg made the margin a bit wider on the last swing of the match.
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Board 25.Dealer East, E/W Vul.
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♠ K Q 5
♥ K 10 9 5
♦ K 7
♣ Q 9 5 4 |
♠ A 6
♥ Q 8 7 2
♦ A 9 3 2
♣ A K 6 |
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♠ 9 4 3
♥ J 6 4 3
♦ Q J 4
♣ J 7 3 |
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♠ J 10 8 7 2
♥ A
♦ 10 8 6 5
♣ 10 8 2 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Efraimsson |
Wladow |
Svedlund |
Nehmert |
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1♦ |
Pass |
1♠ |
| 1NT |
All Pass |
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Ulla-Britt Goldberg had made nine tricks in 2♠ in the Open Room. Efraimsson declared 1NT in the Closed Room. On a spade lead declarer would not have been favourite to make the contract but when Wladow led a slightly surprising ten of hearts everything changed. South won the first trick with the ace, then came a diamond to the king. More diamonds came then a heart to queen and king. North tried a club, but Efraimsson put up the jack and unblocked the queen of diamonds. Declarer entered his hand in clubs then ran the eight of hearts. Efraimsson was quite satisfied with his two overtricks.
This board added the finishing touch to this close match, won by Goldberg 54-46 IMPs.
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