Russia v USA – Women’s Final Set 1

It was no surprise to see USA in the Women’s final, of course, as they were probably favourites before the tournament began. The fact that their opponents were the team from Russia was something of a surprise as the Russian women have not shown form in previous championships to suggest that they would be finalists here. Nonetheless, a team that is playing in such form cannot be discounted and nobody expected them to be a pushover in the final.

Board 4. Dealer West. All Vul.
	ª 10 4 3 © J 8 5 ¨ J 9 8 § 10 8 7 3
ª Q 9 2 © 10 4 2 ¨ Q 10 7 § A Q J 5		ª A 8 5 © Q 9 7 ¨ A K 6 5 4 § 9 4
	ª K J 7 6 © A K 6 3 ¨ 3 2 § K 6 2

West	North	East	South
Sokolow	Gromova	Molson	Ponomareva
Pass	Pass	1¨	Dble
Rdbl	1©	Pass	Pass
1NT	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Galaktionova	Letizia	Lebedeva	Steiner
Pass	Pass	1¨	Dble
Rdbl	1©	1NT	Pass
2NT	Pass	3NT	All Pass

Russia picked up a couple of single IMP swings in the first three deals then came something rather more substantial on this one as Olga Galaktionova/Maria Lebedeva reached the thin game while Tobi Sokolow/Janice Seamon-Molson stopped in partscore.

Against Sokolow, Viktoria Gromove led the §8 to the king and ace. Sokolow played ¨Q the another diamond to dummy and cashed out the suit. Next she played ace and another spade and had ten tricks for +180.

Against 3NT, Carlyn Steiner led the ª6. It looks better to me for declarer to go up with the queen but, in practice, Lebedeva played low and the ten forced her ace. She took the club finesse then led a low diamond to hand (perhaps cashing the queen first is better to cater to a bare jack), to allow a second club finesse. She too eventually had ten tricks for +630 and 10 IMPs to Russia.

Board 5. Dealer North. N/S Vul.
	ª K 9 © Q 8 4 3 ¨ 6 2 § A K J 9 4
ª J © K 9 7 ¨ A Q 9 8 7 5 3 § 8 7		ª A 10 7 5 4 3 2 © 10 6 5 ¨ 10 § 10 3
	ª Q 8 6 © A J 2 ¨ K J 4 § Q 6 5 2

West	North	East	South
Sokolow	Gromova	Molson	Ponomareva
-	2§	Pass	3NT
4¨	Pass	Pass	Dble
All Pass

West	North	East	South
Galaktionova	Letizia	Lebedeva	Steiner
-	1¨	Pass	3NT
All Pass

Gromova’s Precision-style 2§ opening saw a practical 3NT response from Tatiana Ponomareva. Now Sokolow did a good thing for her side when she saved in 4¨, where she was doubled. Gromova led the ace of clubs and received an encouraging signal from partner. She underled the other top club to put Ponomareva in with the queen and South switched to a low heart. Sokolow put up the king, crossed to the ace of spades and led the ¨10 to her queen. From there she had eight tricks for –300.

Marinesa Letizia’s 1¨ opening was Precision and again the response was 3NT. A 4¨ overcall was less attractive in this scenario and Galaktionova passed it out then led a low diamond to the ten and jack. Steiner crossed to a top club to take a heart finesse and now Galaktionova won the king, cashed the ace of diamonds, and switched to the jack of spades. This was ducked to declarer’s queen and she had eleven tricks for +660 and 8 IMPs to USA.

Board 6. Dealer East. E/W Vul.
	ª 6 © A K 10 5 4 2 ¨ 6 4 § K Q 8 6
ª A K J 10 9 8 7 © 8 6 ¨ 3 § 7 4 2		ª Q 2 © Q 7 ¨ K J 9 5 § A J 10 9 5
	ª 5 4 3 © J 9 3 ¨ A Q 10 8 7 2 § 3

West	North	East	South
Sokolow	Gromova	Molson	Ponomareva
-	-	1¨	Pass
1ª	2©	Pass	Pass
2ª	Pass	Pass	3©
3ª	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Galaktionova	Letizia	Lebedeva	Steiner
-	-	1¨	Pass
4ª	All Pass

Sokolow bid her spades three times but left the decision about game to her partner, while Galaktionova just blasted 4ª immediately. Against Sokolow, Gromova led the king of clubs to dummy’s ace. Sokolow drew trumps and gave up a club; +140 when the defence cashed out.

Letizia cashed the heart ace and king, getting the nine and three from Steiner, who was trying to discourage (reverse attitude), but Letizia read these plays as showing a doubleton (standard count) and continued with a third heart. Suddenly, the no-play game had become cold, as Galaktionova ruffed high in dummy while discarding the losing diamond from hand; +620 and 10 IMPs to Russia.

Board 7. Dealer South. All Vul.
	ª 10 8 6 4 3 © A 7 3 ¨ A Q 3 § A 4
ª A K J 7 5 2 © J 5 ¨ 8 4 2 § 9 8		ª - © K Q 10 9 8 6 2 ¨ 9 7 § K J 10 6
	ª Q 9 © 4 ¨ K J 10 6 5 § Q 7 5 3 2

West	North	East	South
Sokolow	Gromova	Molson	Ponomareva
-	-	-	2NT
Pass	5¨	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Galaktionova	Letizia	Lebedeva	Steiner
-	-	-	Pass
2¨	Dble	2©	Pass
2ª	Pass	3©	All Pass

Ponomareva showed 5-10 with at least five-five in the minors and Gromova blasted the no-play diamond game. Five Diamonds looks too much but maybe the Russians have no way to invite game opposite this opening bid). Anyway, Molson led the king of hearts and Gromova won the ace and played ace and another club. Molson won that and forced dummy with a heart. Declarer ruffed a club high and drew trumps; down one for –100.

Steiner did not have a toy for the South hand so Galaktionova got to open a multi as West. Lebedeva responded 2©, pass or correct, then showed hearts at her next turn. Steiner led the jack of diamonds to the ace and Letizia returned the ¨3 to the ten. A third diamond was ruffed and declarer tried the ©K, ducked, then another heart to the jack and ace. Letizia switched to ace of clubs, on which Lebedeva dropped the ten, and another club, run to the queen. The club ruff meant down two for –200 and 7 IMPs to USA.

Board 10. Dealer East. All Vul.
	ª K 10 9 © 7 ¨ J 9 6 2 § A 9 8 7 6
ª A 7 6 4 3 2 © A J 9 ¨ A Q § 5 2		ª J 8 5 © K Q 10 2 ¨ 10 5 4 3 § Q 4
	ª Q © 8 6 5 4 3 ¨ K 8 7 § K J 10 3

West	North	East	South
Sokolow	Gromova	Molson	Ponomareva
Galaktionova	Letizia	Lebedeva	Steiner
-	-	Pass	Pass
1ª	Pass	2ª	Pass
4ª	All Pass

Both defences began with a heart to declarer’s ace and both declarers played ace and another spade to North’s king. Both Norths duly switched to clubs on seeing their partners’ discards on the second spade. Steiner gave Letizia a ruff for down one; -100. Ponomareva won the low club switch with her ten, cashed the §K and switched to a diamond. Oops! That was +620 and 12 IMPs to USA.

Board 12. Dealer West. N/S Vul.
	ª K 9 8 5 2 © K Q 10 7 ¨ 10 § A 8 6
ª A Q J 10 © 8 3 ¨ A 9 8 2 § Q J 7		ª 6 © J 6 2 ¨ Q J 7 6 4 3 § K 4 2
	ª 7 4 3 © A 9 5 4 ¨ K 5 § 10 9 5 3

West	North	East	South
Sokolow	Gromova	Molson	Ponomareva
1NT	2¨	5¨	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Galaktionova	Letizia	Lebedeva	Steiner
1NT	Pass	2NT	Pass
3¨	All Pass

Gromova overcalled Sokolow’s 1NT opening to show both majors and Molson just blasted 5¨, fearing an opposing spade game. Of course, there are three top losers, but Ponomareva led a spade and Molson could win the ace and continue with the queen. That was covered so she ruffed, drew trumps by way of a finesse, then took two heart discards on the spades; +400.

If North does not cover the ªQ or the ªJ continuation, declarer gets rid of two heart losers. But there is a danger here that if she lazily plays a heart or club now North will win two tricks then play a spade and the ¨K will score. So declarer has to play the last spade and throw her last heart as the king wins. Now she has an entry to hand to pick up the trumps without loss.

Letizia did not come in over 1NT at the other table and Lebedeva transferred to diamonds. After a heart lead, Galaktionova took nine tricks, not bothering with the trump finesse; +110 but 7 IMPs to USA, who were on a bit of a roll.

Board 14. Dealer East. None Vul.
	ª A J 10 8 © 7 5 4 3 ¨ 3 § J 7 5 4
ª K Q 9 7 3 2 © Q ¨ K 8 2 § A 3 2		ª 6 5 4 © A 9 6 2 ¨ 9 7 § Q 10 9 6
	ª - © K J 10 8 ¨ A Q J 10 6 5 4 § K 8

West	North	East	South
Sokolow	Gromova	Molson	Ponomareva
-	-	Pass	1¨
1ª	Pass	2ª	3¨
3©	Pass	3ª	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Galaktionova	Letizia	Lebedeva	Steiner
-	-	Pass	1¨
1ª	1NT	2ª	3¨
3ª	Dble	All Pass

Letizia doubled 3ª where Gromova was willing to let it go. Letizia led her diamond to the ace and the ¨K was ruffed out. A heart switch went to the ace and Galaktionova played a spade to the king and ace, won the spade return and ruffed her diamond loser in dummy. Now she played a club to the ace and gave up a spade. A club misguess meant down two for –300.

The play began in the same fashion in the other room but North had not been active in the auction and so declarer had less reason to play her for values. Sokolow duly got the club guess right in the ending to hold herself to down one. That was only -50 for Sokolow and 6 IMPs to USA.

Board 15. Dealer South. N/S Vul.
	ª K 9 4 © A K Q 10 2 ¨ A 8 6 § 6 2
ª A 10 8 2 © J 5 ¨ Q J 4 § A K J 10		ª 6 5 © 9 7 6 4 ¨ 7 § Q 9 8 5 4 3
	ª Q J 7 3 © 8 3 ¨ K 10 9 5 3 2 § 7

West	North	East	South
Sokolow	Gromova	Molson	Ponomareva
-	-	-	Pass
1NT	Dble	Rdbl	2¨
Pass	2©	Pass	2ª
Pass	3¨	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Galaktionova	Letizia	Lebedeva	Steiner
-	-	-	Pass
1NT	All Pass

Galaktionova’s 1NT opening passed off peacefully and Letizia led out five rounds of hearts. Steiner threw two diamonds (high-low) then a spade, and Letizia switched to the ¨6. Steiner clearly misread the situation because she put in the nine and declarer won the jack. Galaktionova had the rest now; +120.

Gromova doubled 1NT and Ponomareva bid her diamonds over the rescue redouble. Eventually, Ponomareva declared 3¨, where she had three losers after a club lead; +130 and 6 IMPs to Russia.

Board 16. Dealer West. E/W Vul.
	ª 9 2 © Q 9 7 3 ¨ J 9 § K Q J 4 2
ª 8 5 4 3 © K 8 5 4 ¨ 2 § A 10 6 3		ª A K J 10 © J 10 6 ¨ 7 6 5 4 § 9 7
	ª Q 7 6 © A 2 ¨ A K Q 10 8 3 § 8 5

West	North	East	South
Sokolow	Gromova	Molson	Ponomareva
Pass	Pass	Pass	1¨
Pass	1©	Pass	3¨
All Pass

West	North	East	South
Galaktionova	Letizia	Lebedeva	Steiner
Pass	Pass	Pass	1NT
Pass	2§	Pass	2¨
Pass	2NT	Pass	3NT
All Pass

Ponomareva treated her hand as invitational with long diamonds, within the context of a non-strong club opening. Gromova passed out 3¨ and the defence led two round sof spades then switched to hearts; +110.

Steiner opened a strong no trump and it was routine to reach 3NT. On a heart lead Steiner hopped up with the queen and played a top club. When that held she ran for home; +400 and 7 IMPs to USA.

The favourites led by 54-33 after the first session, but there was a lot more bridge to be played in this match before we would know the destiny of the gold medals.