Defending the Bridge

(With apologies to Thomas Babington, Lord Macaulay)

USAI – Italy

Sydney Lazard of Dallas
By the Nine Gods he swore
That the great house of Meckwell
Should suffer wrong no more.
By the Nine Gods he swore it,
And named a trysting day,
And bade his players ride forth,
East and West and South and North,
To summon his array.

In the annals of bridge history Italy v USA is always the classic contest. USA 1 started with 13 IMPs by virtue of the carry over, but Italy were heavy favourites, at least judging by the many wagers being struck on Internet betting sites. They struck at once, when they bid 4ª on these two hands on the first deal.

ª J 10 8 3 © Q 7 2 ¨ Q J 9 2 § 10 5

ª K 9 6 4 © A 5 4 ¨ A 5 § A K 9 6

South had both red kings, North the queen of spades, and ten tricks rolled home for 7 IMPs.

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

West	North	East	South
Rodwell	Fantoni	Meckstroth	Nunes
		1¨*	Pass
2ª*	Pass	4ª	All Pass

A straightforward +420, and not a deal where you would expect a swing.

West	North	East	South
Versace	Nickell	Lauria	Freeman
		1§*	Pass
1ª	Pass	3ª	Pass
4§*	Pass	4©	Pass
4ª	Pass	5§	Pass
6ª	All Pass

With North on lead this contract was without hope, and declarer was two down, -100 and 11 IMPs for USA1.

On Board 3 neither East/West pair attempted Six Hearts on these cards:

ª 8 © A K Q 9 7 5 2 ¨ J 4 § K 10 6

ª J 9 5 3 © J 10 4 ¨ A Q 8 7 § A 9

The king of diamonds was onside.

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

West	North	East	South
Rodwell	Fantoni	Meckstroth	Nunes
Pass	1ª	Pass	2§*
Pass	2¨	Pass	2ª
Pass	3¨	Pass	3ª
Pass	4§	Pass	4¨
Pass	4©	Pass	4ª
Pass	5¨	Pass	6ª
All Pass

After the game forcing response of Two Clubs, North/South had plenty of time to explore and they reached a slam that was unlikely to be defeated. East led the ace of clubs and declarer was soon able to claim, +980.

West	North	East	South
Versace	Nickell	Lauria	Freeman
Pass	1ª	Pass	2NT*
Pass	3¨	Pass	3©
Pass	4§	Pass	4ª
All Pass

The on line commentary team were expecting North to move on, but when he passed Italy had gained 11 IMPs.

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

West	North	East	South
Rodwell	Fantoni	Meckstroth	Nunes
	1NT	Dble	Pass
Pass	Rdble	Pass	2§
Dble	2¨	Pass	Pass
2ª	Pass	3ª	All Pass

There was a suggestion that South’s pass was forcing North to redouble, but more likely was that when North did that he was promising a five card suit. Now North/South were out of danger the interest lay in how high East/West would go. They had a look, but stopped short. Declarer got everything right, +170.

West	North	East	South
Versace	Nickell	Lauria	Freeman
	Pass	1ª	Pass
2NT	Pass	3NT	Pass
4ª	All Pass

	Claudio Nunes, Italy

South led a heart for the queen, king and ace. Declarer cashed the ace of spades and played a club to the jack. North won and played back a heart. Declarer won in dummy and finessed in spades. He could draw the last trump and play two more rounds of spades before committing himself in clubs. Lorenzo got them right, and although we were following on the internet we suspect he may have got some applause in the VuGraph theatre, even though he was not ‘live’.

On board 10 Nunes doubled the opening bid of One Heart with:

The online comment was that ‘They like to be busy in the bidding.’

On Board 12 Rodwell and Versace had to lead against an enemy 3NT, their side having bid and supported hearts, with:

Versace led the ace, Rodwell the ten. It didn’t matter, as partner had three small, and the other four were 2-2, but if they had been 3-1 with a singleton honour, Versace would have been on to a winner.

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

West	North	East	South
Rodwell	Fantoni	Meckstroth	Nunes
		Pass	1©
Pass	2ª	Pass	3§
Pass	3¨	Pass	3NT
Pass	4NT	Pass	6NT
All Pass

No problem, and you would expect a flat board.

West	North	East	South
Versace	Nickell	Lauria	Freeman
		Pass	1©
Pass	1ª	1NT	Dble
Redble	Pass	2§	Dble
All Pass

The late Terence Reese would have had plenty to sat about the pointless nature of bidding with the East hand, but the modern way is not to miss any opportunity to enter the fray. Well, Two Clubs was carnage, and the penalty was -1400.

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

West	North	East	South
Rodwell	Fantoni	Meckstroth	Nunes
Pass	Pass	1§*	Pass
1¨*	1ª	1NT	Dble
3§	Pass	3NT	Pass
4§	All Pass

The defenders found the spade ruff, but that was only to hold declarer to his contract, +130.

West	North	East	South
Versace	Nickell	Lauria	Freeman
Pass	Pass	1©	2¨
Pass	5¨	All Pass

With West having no trump for the third round of hearts this was +400, and USA 1 had just managed to keep their nose in front.