The W.c. Book

Sydney Morning Herald

Monday January 17, 2005

Ron Klinger

The World Championship Book for 2003 is now available and makes for engrossing reading. It includes all the deals from the semi-final and finals of the Venice Cup (Women?s Teams) and Bermuda Bowl (Open Teams), plus heaps more from the qualifying rounds, the Seniors Cup and the Trans-National, as well as an account

of the dramatic finale to the Bermuda Bowl. In past years the proof-reading for this annual has been sloppy. It is better this time, but improvement in that area is still possible.

What action would you take as dealer, only your side vulnerable, with these cards:

WC Book, pages 256-257. Some like 1C, but the majority of experts prefer 1S to make sure the major suit is not lost if the bidding becomes competitive. In the VC and BB final three opened 1S and the other passed (a strange view).

How about this for a deja vu experience (WC book, pages 191- 192)? In the semi-finals East held on Board 42:

This was followed by Board 43, where East held:

Looks like the computer fell in love with that hand.

Just in case you think the top players never blunder, take a look at this deal (Venice Cup qualifying, Germany vs USA2, WC book, pages 70-71):

West dealer; Nil vulnerable.

With USA2 North-South:

West North East South

Pass Pass 4H All pass

Lead: D4

Although North was a passed hand, it was timid of South to pass 4H. Some would double and others would take a stab at 4S. Still, 4S is not there and 4H is not on either. At least that is what you would think, but this is what happened.

South had a tough lead and the low diamond did not cost. North won and switched to the C8, jack, ducked (why?). East now led the S5 and South ducked again!! East now drew trumps, crossed to the H8 and repeated the club finesse for a lucky

+420. All right, let him who is without sin cast the first aspersion against South.

At the other table, with Germany

North-South:

West North East South

Pass 1NT (1) 4H 4S

Pass Pass Pass

Lead: H3

East won and, after some thought, switched to the CJ. With the CQ in dummy, South could not believe that East would shift to a club if holding the CK as well. Thinking the CJ was probably a singleton (although the long think before East?s play to trick 2

might have persuaded her otherwise), she rose with the CA and played SA and another spade. West won and returned a club. One down for -50.

That was still 9 Imps to Germany, but it might have been 13.

The 2003 World Championship Book (336 pages) is available from

The Bridge Shop, (02) 9967 0644 or bridge@bridgeshop.com.au or from

Paul Lavings Post-Free Books, (02) 9388 8861 or postfree@bigpond.net.au for email.

The book is pricey, but worth it, and makes a sensational gift.

Bridge players do it with a king or a queen.

Tomorrow?s problem:

South dealer : Both vulnerable

West North East South

--- --- --- 4C

Dble (1) ?

(1) For takeout

What would you do as North with:

© 2005 Sydney Morning Herald

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