Brazil Nuts

Sydney Morning Herald

Friday August 3, 2007

Ron Klinger

In the semi-finals of the 2007 South American Open Teams (to select two teams to compete in the Bermuda Bowl in Shanghai), Argentina defeated Uruguay easily, but the Brazil and Chile match was close all the way. With one board to go,

Chile led by 226-217. The last deal:

Bd. 96: East dealer : Nil vulnerable

NORTH

With Chile North-South

West North East South

--- --- 1S Pass

1NT Pass Pass Pass

Lead: H7

North might have made a takeout double, but on another day this could work out badly. The opening lead was won by the HQ and declarer tackled spades next. After taking the SA, North switched to a low diamond. The result was eight tricks for +120 to Brazil.

Even if North-South at the other table bought the hand in 2H or 3H and scored +140, that would be only 6 Imps, not enough to reverse the positions. This is what took place:

West North East South

--- --- 1S Pass

3S (1) Dble (2) Pass 4H

Pass Pass Dble All pass

(1) 3-card limit raise

(2) For takeout

Lead: SK

West did well with the opening lead to try to hold the lead and decide on the next move. Declarer, Gabriel Chagas, ducked and West had to choose his next play. He continued spades and Chagas took the SA, ruffed a spade and led the CJ. West should have ducked this, but in fact covered with the queen. Dummy's king was played and this time East might have ducked, but he took the CA and returned a club.

Chagas won and this was the position:

Chagas led the HJ: two - four - This was the last chance for the defence. East needed to duck the HJ, but when he won with the HK, declarer was in control. East returned a heart: ten - queen - ace. A heart to hand drew the last trump and the C9 removed the missing clubs. Declarer shed the D2 on the C9 and the other losing diamonds on the C5 and C3.

That gave declarer ten tricks and +590 for 12 Imps to Brazil, who won the match and the berth to Shanghai by 229-226.

There are a number of ways that the defenders might have prevailed, but there is a very easy way.

Yesterday's column included this tip. If you are known to hold a 5-card or longer suit and partner leads, say, the ace or dummy wins the trick, a good idea is to play that an odd card encourages the suit led, while an even card is suit-preference.

When declarer played low on the SK, East could tell that a diamond switch was wanted and that a spade continuation was futile. If East plays the S10, high even card to ask for a switch to the higher suit other than trumps, West should have no trouble playing a diamond at trick 2.

The sooner you learn who's boss in this partnership, the sooner you can tell me what methods we should play.

Tomorrow's problem:

South dealer : Nil vulnerable

NORTH

West North East South

--- --- --- 4D

Pass 5D All pass

West leads the SK. Plan the play.

© 2007 Sydney Morning Herald

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