Minor Relief

Sydney Morning Herald

Thursday June 15, 2006

Ron Klinger

The Italian Team are the World Champions not only in the Bermuda Bowl, but also in the Olympiad. Their competitive bidding methods are excellent and we can all learn a thing or two from them. This deal arose in the 2005 Bermuda Bowl match against Sweden.

East dealer: North-South vulnerable

NORTH

West North East South

Versace Lindkvist Lauria Fredin

--- --- 1S 2H

Dble (1) 4H Dble (2) Pass

4NT Dble Pass Pass

5D Pass Pass Pass

(1) Takeout for the minors

(2) For takeout

Lead: SK

Note West's double for the minors. If East were to bid 2S, West could remove to 3D

without any pain.

East's double was also for takeout. Many of us with the West cards might doubt that

East has a takeout double based on heart shortage. After all West has a singleton heart.

How likely is it that East is also short? Still, unless you have untapped wealth in

their trump suit, you should take out the takeout double. Note West's use of 4NT to

show significant length in both minors. West chose 4NT to cater for a situation where

partner had four cards in one minor and not as many in the other.

When North doubled 4NT, East was happy to pass to show equal length in the minors and let partner choose the longer minor suit.

West naturally chose 5D and North led the SK.

Versace took the SA and played a low spade. He ruffed high on South's SJ and

continued with the DJ, diamond to the king and the DA. Then came the S10, on which he discarded his heart loser. Dummy now had three spade winners, on which he could ditch three club losers. Making twelve tricks for +420.

At the other table:

West North East South

Nystrom Fantoni Bertheau Nunes

--- --- 1C (1) 1H

Pass 2NT (2) 3S Pass

4D Pass 4H (3) Pass

4NT Pass 5C (4) Pass

6D Pass Pass Pass

(1) Artificial, strong

(2) Strong heart raise

(3) Cue-bid, supporting diamonds

(4) 1 or 4 key cards for diamonds

Lead: H4

No doubt West was hoping for East to have perhaps one heart more and one club

less. That would make the slam a very good chance. Once the defence had taken their heart trick, declarer had to hope for spades 3-3 or a very lucky position in clubs. Neither of these eventuated and declarer finished one down. 10 Imps to Italy, who won this match 59-53, 16-14 in Victory Points.

You will gather some idea of the disparity of possible results by looking at what

happened in the match between Australia and Jordan, who finished last in the round robin.

Against Sartaj Hans - Tony Nunn, Jordan reached 5C and this was doubled. There is no defence to 5C and Jordan chalked up +550.

At the other table David Horton - Phil Markey sold out to 4H doubled. As a spade

ruff would give the defence five tricks and +500, it is best to draw a veil over what took place, since declarer made the doubled game with an overtrick for +990. That meant 17 Imps to Jordan, who won the match 24-6.

One of the worst things you can do as a bridge player is to point out your own mistakes.

You are never forgiven for this, since partner and other players consider this their

prerogative.

Tomorrow's problem:

West dealer: Both vulnerable

West North East South

2H (1) Pass 2S (2) Pass

3D Dble (3) Pass 4S

Pass Pass ?

(1) Weak two in spades or weak with hearts

and a minor

(2) Pass or correct

(3) For takeout

What should East do with:

© 2006 Sydney Morning Herald

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