Mexican Jumping Bean Time At Us Team Trials
Sydney Morning Herald
Wednesday September 26, 2001
If the following deals from the US Team Trials are any guide, the Nickell team, to play in the Bermuda Bowl next month in Bali as USA1, will need to work on its slam bidding.
Exhibit 1: Biff and Bash
West North East South
Pass Pass 1C Dble
3C* 3H Pass 6H
Pass Pass Pass --
* preemptive
North, a passed hand, had a reasonable competitive three-heart bid, but South's jump to six was crude. To be fair, the right cards in North's hand could produce slam, but a multiple world champion could be expected to attempt a more scientific systemic solution. Declarer could not avoid a loser in each major suit, and was one down. At the other table, the auction began the same way, but South (Peter Weichsel) made a slam try by bidding four clubs over three hearts, and passed when North signed off in four hearts.
Exhibit 2 : More Biff and Bash
West North East South
-- Pass 1D 2D*
4D 4S 5D 5H
Pass 6S 7D Dble
Pass Pass Pass --
* Michaels Cue-bid
North had another attack of the jumps, but this time got away with it, thanks to an outbreak of sponsor's syndrome when East felt that he had to bid his partner's hand as well as his own. True it is that East must lead a club to beat six spades, but on this auction, what else could any sane person lead? Five diamonds makes as the cards lie (it did so, doubled, at the other table), so five spades would have been a good save.
It has now been announced that teams from the USA and Canada
will not be playing in the world championships in Bali. The WBF is currently considering whether the championships should be held at all, with a decision due later this week.
© 2001 Sydney Morning Herald