Deals From The Bermuda Bowl And Venice Cup In Paris
Sydney Morning Herald
Saturday November 17, 2001
The following deal is from last month's Bermuda Bowl round robin match between Norway and USA1:
West North East South
- - 1C* 1H
Dble** 4H 5D Pass
Pass 5H Dble Pass
Pass Pass - -
* Viking Club, artificial
** artificial, negative?
Opening lead: H8
Norway had the best of the auction, although North can scarcely be criticised for taking the push to five hearts, it not being at all clear that five diamonds could have been defeated by one trick. Unfortunately for his side, West failed to lead partner's suit, preferring a risky trump lead and paying a high price for so doing. Declarer was able to draw trumps and obtain two discards on dummy's spades, to make 11 tricks, +650. At the other table, the USA1 pair judged correctly to bid five diamonds over four hearts and the Norwegian pair returned the compliment by doubling that and scoring +200. Well bid by both pairs, but Norway dropped 10 imps on the board.
As evidenced by this Venice Cup deal in a match between England and USA1, the use of two-suited, weak-two openings is not all beer and skittles:
West North East South
2D* Dble** 2S Dble
Pass Pass Pass -
* 5-9 points, both majors
** penalty double of both major suits
Opening lead: S7
South accurately led a trump against two spades doubled, restricting East for England to four winners, down four, -1100. North-South can make 11 tricks in clubs or no-trumps and scored +660 at the other table, for a loss of 10 imps on the board.
© 2001 Sydney Morning Herald