None Too Good
Sydney Morning Herald
Thursday November 17, 2005
In the final of the 2005 Bermuda Bowl (world open teams), Italy (the Makybe Diva of the bridge world) beat USA1 by 268 - 250, after USA1 had started with a 20-Imp carry-forward. In the semi-finals Italy walloped Sweden 205 - 131 and USA1 beat USA2 211 - 172. The bronze medal went to USA2, beating Sweden 91-76.
The Australian Open Team's results against the top four were 7-23 vs Italy, 14-16 vs USA1, 15-15 vs USA2 and 11-19 vs Sweden.The final of the Venice Cup (world women's teams) went to France by 191 - 136 against Germany. In the semi-finals France crushed USA1 262 - 150 and Germany downed the Netherlands by 241 - 164. Third place was taken out by the Netherlands by 85 - 80 against USA1.The Australian Women's Team's results against the top four were 4-25 vs France, 7-23 vs Germany, 11-19 vs the Netherlands and 4-25 vs USA1.The Seniors Bowl was won by USA1, who beat Indonesia 213 - 190 in the final. In the semi-finals USA1 smashed the Netherlands 223 - 117, while Indonesia just held off Denmark 168.5 - 156. Denmark defeated the Netherlands 107 - 90 in the playoff for third place.The Australian Seniors' results against the top four were 13-17 vs USA1, 16-14 vs Indonesia, 16-14 vs Denmark and 14-16 vs the Netherlands.To say that the results of the Australian teams was disappointing would be quite an understatement. Woeful might be more appropriate. None made the quarter-finals. One would have hoped that it was not beyond us to reach the final eight in a field of 22.The Open team came 15th with 312 VPs, an average of 14.9 VPs per match and 22 VPs behind eighth place. Italy finished first on 368, averaging 17.5 VPs.The Women's team finished 11th on 303, averaging 14.4 VPs per match and 9 VPs behind eighth. France led the field on 423, a massive 20 VPs per match.The Seniors finished 10th on 323, average 15.4 VPs, and 13 behind eighth. USA1 was top qualifier on 394, average 18.8 VPs per match.Not the slightest comfort can be taken that all our teams finished ahead of New Zealand (16th in the Open, 13th in the Women's, 20th in the Seniors).Sartaj Hans - Tony Nunn were the top performing Open Pair (as they were last year in the Olympiad), finishing ninth on butler ranking with an average of +0.38 Imps per board. They stopped off in London en route to Estoril to compete in the Lederer Memorial Teams (eight teams by invitation). With team-mates David Horton-Phil Markey they started poorly to lose the first three matches, but recovered somewhat to finish fifth.However, Hans - Nunn did receive the award for the Best Bid Hand for their effort on this deal:Having denied 4+ spades with the 2C rebid, Hans was able to use the 3S 'raise' of the fourth-suit to say, 'No stopper in spades, but better than a minimum opening'. Nunn jumped to 5NT to ask partner to pick a slam. Hans had already shown five diamonds and four clubs by bidding 2C and so his 6D bid showed a strong holding in diamonds. The 3S bid coupled with 6D was enough to persuade Nunn to bid the grand slam. As you can see, the play presented no problems.?The other seven North-South pairs stopped in a small slam, one in diamonds the others in 6NT. At most tables the first four bids were the same as in the Nunn-Hans auction, but no other South bid 3S over 2S. The common rebid by South was 3D and North sooner or later jumped to 6NT.Bridge, like love, like music, has the power to make you happy. (Estoril Daily Bulletin #8) Tomorrow's problem:
© 2005 Sydney Morning Herald