The Mixed Teams Quarterfinal
The match between Erichsen and Gitelman was decided by three consecutive deals in the second half that each provided a double figure swing for the Norwegian-British team (don’t forget Espen Erichsen is now a British resident and married to British-born Helen, his bridge partner here).
Board 17 provided the opportunity for Defence of the Year so Barry Rigal has reserved the deal for reporting elsewhere. Here are the two less beautiful swings:
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Board 18. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
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♠ 3
♥ J 7
♦ Q 4 2
♣ A K 10 9 8 6 3 |
♠ A 10 8 6 4 2
♥ 5 3
♦ A J 6 5
♣ 7 |
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♠ K Q 9 7 5
♥ A K Q 9 4 2
♦ -
♣ 5 2 |
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♠ J
♥ 10 8 6
♦ K 10 9 8 7 3
♣ Q J 4 |
Full Diagram
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Cronier |
Brogeland B. |
D'Ovidio |
Brogeland T. |
| |
|
1♥ |
Pass |
| 1♠ |
2♣ |
3♣ |
Dble |
| Pass |
4♣ |
4♠ |
Pass |
| 4NT |
Pass |
5NT |
Pass |
| 6♦ |
Pass |
7♠ |
All Pass |
There was nothing to the play once Boye Brogeland unkindly led the ace of clubs, so the debate centred on the bidding. Both agreed that 6♦ was West’s only grand slam try (6♣ would ask for the queen of trumps). East’s argument was that had she held a club void her bid over 2♣ would be 4♣, therefore her partner should know the void was in diamonds, and 6♦ must imply all key cards present, so her solid hearts and excellent trumps made the grand a near-certainty. West clearly was not sure which void his partner held and thought over 6♦ East would not progress to a grand unless the void was in clubs. At the other table Mr & Mrs Helness had stopped in 6♠ so the swing was 17 IMPs to Erichsen.
And here was the last of the trio:
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Board 19. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
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♠ K 8 5
♥ -
♦ K Q 10 9 8 6 2
♣ 6 5 4 |
♠ Q 6 2
♥ A J 10 9 5 3 2
♦ -
♣ A 10 8 |
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♠ 7 4
♥ K 8 4
♦ J 7 4 3
♣ J 9 3 2 |
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♠ A J 10 9 3
♥ Q 7 6
♦ A 5
♣ K Q 7 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Cronier |
Brogeland B. |
D'Ovidio |
Brogeland T. |
| |
|
|
1NT |
| 3♥ |
5♦ |
Pass |
Pass |
| Dble |
All Pass |
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East gave due consideration to pulling the double to 5♥, but this contract was doomed to go at least one off and may be more, and she decided to take her chances in defence.
The lead of the king of hearts was ruffed, and Boye Brogeland looked a happy man until a trump to the ace revealed he had a trump loser.
Brogeland now went into one of those lengthy pauses that makes one wonder whether he is analysing in great depth or merely summoning up the courage to do what his instinct tells him is right. Anyway dummy eventually produced some body language that indicated the decision could not be put off until the morrow and Boye duly ran the jack of spades, to feelings of relief when it held. There was a further delay while Boye worked out that he could not afford a second finesse for if the suit was 4-1 East would ruff, put West in with a club and obtain a second ruff. Having checked that he drew trumps and played the king of spades, and claimed. As the contract at the other table was 6♦ doubled down two the swing was 13 IMPs to Erichsen. Erichsen had won 76-41 with the whole margin arising in those three deals.
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