Hands From USA1

We have featured a couple of beatings for the young USA1 team so it is with pleasure that we take this opportunity to show some of their successes.

Round 4 v Canada

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

West	North	East	South
Pahk	Grainger	Beck	Lavee
			Pass
Pass	1ª	2§	2©
5§	5©	All Pass

The decison by Meredith beck to overcall 2§ allowed USA1 to find the good save and, indeed, to push North/South to the five level, where they had to fail. Meanwhile, East’s choice of a take-out double in the other room, was not so successful, failing as it did to disclose the ten-card club fit.

West	North	East	South
			Pass
Pass	1ª	Dble	2©
3§	3©	4§	4©
Pass	Pass	Dble	All Pass

Round 5 v Australia

This match saw USA1 pick up a couple of big swings on the opening lead. First West:

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

West	North	East	South
Burton	Wilkinson	Pearlman	Abraham
			1NT
Pass	2§	Pass	2©
Pass	2NT	Pass	3ª
Pass	4ª	All Pass

The opening lead of the four of diamonds gave the contract; +620 to USA1.
In the other room the auction was rather different:

West	North	East	South
			1§(i)
Pass	1©(ii)	Pass	2ª
Pass	3NT	Pass	4ª
All Pass

(i) 14+
(ii) 7-10 HCP, four or more spades

After this auction Lisa Burton found the safe lead of a heart and the contract eventually drifted one off, when East won and switched to a club, creating on eloser in each suit.

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

West	North	East	South
Burton	Wilkinson	Pearlman	Abraham
		Pass	1NT(i)
Pass	2¨(ii)	Pass	2©(iii)
Pass	3ª(iv)	Pass	3NT
Pass	4ª	All Pass

(i) 11-15
(ii) Transfer to spades
(iii) Three-card support
(iv) Invitational

Lindsay Pearlman found the killing lead of a low diamond, after which declarer had to lose two spades and two minor-suit kings for down one.

In the other room East opened the bidding:

West	North	East	South
		2©	2NT
4©	4ª	All Pass

The opening heart lead allowed declarer to put in the queen and have two discards for his diamonds, losing only two spades and a club for +420 and 10 IMPs to USA1.

Round 10 v Egypt

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

West	North	East	South
Rabie	Glickman	Yousry	Yuan
		Pass	1ª
Pass	2NT(i)	Pass	4ª(ii)
Pass	5¨(iii)	Pass	5ª(iv)
Pass	6¨(v)	Pass	6ª
All Pass

(i) Forcing raise
(ii) Minimum and denies a shortage
(iii) Exclusion Key Card
(iv) One key card excluding the ¨A
(v) Cuebid, looking for the ©K for seven

This wasa nice use of Exclusion Key Card Blackwood, which even allowed Rob Glickman to make a try for the grand slam before sttling for six. Yuan won the club lead and discarded dummy’s remaining clubs on the top diamonds then finessed the heart queen. That lost but the spades behaved so that was +980.
In the other room, North/South stopped in 5ª so USA1 picked up 11 IMPs.