And The Winner Is ... Sidney

Sydney Morning Herald

Friday June 29, 2007

Ron Klinger

In yesterday's column about the Victor Champion Cup we saw Justin Howard take a worthwhile sacrifice at the seven-level even though he held an ace and his partner had opened with a normal one-bid. Another impressive save occurred on the following deal, which arose in the semi-finals of the 2007 United States Trials to select the team to represent the USA in the Bermuda Bowl (World Open Teams) later this year.

West dealer; Nil vulnerable

NORTH

Sidney Lazard

WEST EAST

Eric Rodwell Jeff Meckstroth

SOUTH

Bart Bramley

West North East South

1S 2NT (1) 4D (2) 5C

6S 7C!!! Pass Pass

Dble Pass Pass Pass

(1) Both minors

(2) Splinter: 0-1 diamond, 4+ spades

Lead: HK

What a performance! East-West have only 16 HCP and find their making slam in three bids (making if declarer picks the trump position). North has 20 of the partnership's 24 HCP and despite AKQ in two suits, he takes the seven-level save and is right to do so. In fact, the loss of 500 is less than the value of game for East-West.

A surprise to me, aside from East's splinter with a 4-count, was East's pass of 7C, a pass that was surely forcing.

Meckstroth's pass sounds like a void in diamonds and invites partner to bid seven.

To avoid that, East should double 7C.

At the other table:

West North East South

Kranyak Freeman Deutsch Nickell

1S 2NT 4S 5C

5S 6C All pass

Lead: HK

West shifted to the SA and another spade and the defence collected 300. That was 5 Imps to NICKELL, who went on to win the match by 226 Imps to 200.

In the other semi-final:

West North East South

Gitelman Cohen Moss Berkowitz

1S 2NT 4S 5C

5S Dble All pass

Lead: DK

North switched to the CK, ruffed.

Declarer crossed to the SK and played a spade to the jack. That lost, but West had the rest for +650.

West North East South

Becker Stansby Schwartz Martel

1S 2NT 3S 5C

Pass Pass Pass

Lead: HK

The contract was one down for -50.

That meant 12 Imps to EKEBLAD, who won their semi-final by 294-240.

Note incidentally that every North chose a 2NT overcall despite the great strength.

He who hesitates is the one with the missing queen.

Tomorrow's problem:

North dealer : North-South vulnerable

NORTH

West North East South

--- 1S Pass 2H

4C (1) 4NT Pass 5S (2)

Pass 7H All pass

(1) Pre-emptive

(2) Two key cards for hearts and the HQ

West leads the C6: eight - five - king.

You play the DA (9, 4,3) and the D2 (D8, H6, D6). You cash the SA (2, 10, 5) and continue with the CA (D7, D5, C4), followed by the CQ (D10, S9, C3).

What do you do now?

If you choose the H9 next, East follows with the H3 and you play ...

© 2007 Sydney Morning Herald

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