When Clubs Are Trumps
Sydney Morning Herald
Saturday January 5, 2002
Italy was rated highly to win the 2001 Bermuda Bowl but their run came to an end in the semi-final match against Norway. Italy was leading 62-37 when Board 27 arrived.
With Norway East-West
West North East South
-- -- -- Pass
1C 1D 1S Dble*
2C 2D 4D** 5D
6C Pass Pass Pass
*Takeout, showing hearts
**Splinter, club support and short diamonds
With clubs dividing and the SK onside, there was no problem in the play. Norway +920.
At the other table, Geir Helgemo, South, bid 2S (a strong diamond raise) rather than double and West did not repeat his clubs. Italy reached 5C for +420. 11 Imps to Norway.
Two boards later:
With Italy East-West
West North East South
-- 1C 1S Dble
2S Pass Pass Dble*
Pass 3C Pass 5C End
With Norway East-West
West North East South
-- 1C 1S Dble
3S Pass 4S Dble End
The pre-emptive 3S raise is much more attractive than the modest 2S, but East ought to have passed 3S. The cost in 4S doubled was 500.
In 5 clubs Tor Helness avoided the need for the diamond guess. He won the spade lead, played a club to the ace and ruffed the spade queen. The hearts were cashed and East was in a bind. If he ruffed in, he would be forced to play a diamond or concede a ruff-and-discard. If he did not, he would be thrown in with a club to the same effect. +600 and +3 Imps to Norway who went on to win the semifinal 194-189.
"Do you believe in clubs for men?"
"Only if reasoning with them fails."
Trumps Festival of Bridge results:
Bridge Shop Teams: 1st Murray Green, David & Linda Stern, Berri Folkard. 2nd Geoff Coales, Ron Hutchison, Ellie Urbach, Paul Sherman.
Friendly Teams: 1st Marika Pogany, Eve Solomon, Johanna Hunter, George Lasonci. 2nd Tony & Ros Howes, Peter Boulton, Angie Macheski.
Australian Bridge Teams: 1st Theo Antoff, Leiv Bornecrantz, Sartaj Hans, George Kozakos. 2nd Julian Foster, Damon Woodhead, Dagmar Neumann, Ben Chosid.
Pairs Final: 1st Marilyn Chadwick & Kim Morrison, 2nd Stephen Bock & Inez Glanger.
Plate: 1st Debs Moir & Marlene Watts, 2nd Bev Peters & Janet Rowlatt.
Teams: 1st Marlene Watts, Debs Moir, Frances Lyons, Scott Smith. 2nd Sue Ingham, Simon Andrew, Judy Mott, Judy Frazier.
© 2002 Sydney Morning Herald