Bulgaria - Germany (Bermuda Bowl Quarterfinal 4)

by Brian Senior

At the half-way point in their Bermuda Bowl quarter-final with Germany, Bulgaria led by 130-97. However, Germany came out strongly on Monday morning and four boards into the new day they had taken the lead.

Board 18. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
	♠ Q 9 6 5 2 ♥ A 3 ♦ 9 ♣ K 9 7 6 5
♠ J 10 8 ♥ K 8 2 ♦ K Q 8 7 2 ♣ A 10		♠ A K 3 ♥ J 7 5 ♦ A J 6 5 4 3 ♣ 2
	♠ 7 4 ♥ Q 10 9 6 4 ♦ 10 ♣ Q J 8 4 3

Josef Piekarek’s 1♦ was natural, either five cards or perhaps four in a 4-4-4-1 hand, and the 2♦ response inverted. Two Spades showed strength in spades and Alexander Smirnov closed proceedings with a jump to 3NT. Georgi Karakolev led a club and Smirnov managed an overtrick from somewhere for +430.

Roumen Trendafilov’s 1♦ opening could have been a doubleton in a weak no trump type and the 2♣ response was GF, either balanced or with clubs. Trendafilov confirmed real diamonds and now Entscho Wladow came in with a light 2♥ overcall. Whether Kalin Karaivanov intended his double for penalties is unclear certainly it looks a strange choice if so with so much length in diamonds but it ended the auction.

Michaelo Elinescu only gave his partner doubleton trump support, but he also gave him a great club fit.

Karaivanov led the king of diamonds, overtaken by Trendafilov who switched to his singleton club. Karaivanov won the ♣A and gave his partner a ruff. Now Trendafilov cashed one top spade then switched to a diamond. Wladow threw his remaining spade while ruffing in dummy, cashed the ace of hearts, ruffed a spade to hand, and placed the queen of hearts on the table. When the jack fell he had the rest for a great +670 and 15 IMPs to Germany; 112-130.

Board 19. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
	♠ A J 2 ♥ K Q ♦ Q 10 9 3 ♣ A 10 6 5
♠ K Q 10 8 3 ♥ 9 8 2 ♦ A J 6 5 ♣ 4		♠ 7 6 5 ♥ J 7 6 4 ♦ 8 7 4 ♣ K 7 2
	♠ 9 4 ♥ A 10 5 3 ♦ K 2 ♣ Q J 9 8 3

Diyan Danailov opened a light Precision 1♦ as dealer and became dummy in 3NT, while Wladow passed as dealer and became declarer in the same contract after Karaivanov had opened a weak 2♠ as West.

Trendafilov led a spade to the queen, ducked by Elinescu, who won the spade continuation with the jack. He led a diamond to the king and ace and won the spade continuation but, with the West hand out of entries, could afford to overtake the king of hearts to get to dummy for the club finesse. Though that lost, he had nine tricks for +400.

Piekarek also led a spade but Smirnov put in the king and Karakolev won the ace, overtook a heart and took the club finesse. Piekarek won the king and played a spade and Smirnov cleared the suit then waited to win his diamond ace and cash the spades; down one for 50 and 10 IMPs to Germany, 122-130.

Board 20. Dealer West. All Vul.
	♠ A J 10 6 ♥ J 9 7 5 3 ♦ J 9 6 4 ♣
♠ 7 4 ♥ K 2 ♦ K 10 ♣ A 10 9 7 5 4 3		♠ K Q ♥ A Q 10 4 ♦ Q 5 3 2 ♣ J 6 2
	♠ 9 8 5 3 2 ♥ 8 6 ♦ A 8 7 ♣ K Q 8

Smirnov’s 1♣ opening was three way, natural, a weak no trump or any strong club type, and Piekarek ended the auction very quickly with a leap to 3NT. Naturally enough, Danailov led his partner’s suit, the ♥8. Piekarek won the ace and led the nine of clubs. Danailov won and switched to a spade but it was too late. Piekarek took the heart finesse for the extra overtrick; +660.

Karaivanov’s 1♣ opening was also three way, natural or balanced but both of these options outside the 15-17 range, or any GF hand. The 1NT response was either weak with clubs or GF, and 3♣ merely showed long clubs, with 3NT confirming the strong version. Here, North had not overcalled so Wladow had no reason to consider a heart lead. He led the eight of spades. Elinescu won the ace and returned the ten to declarer’s king. Trendafilov led the jack of clubs to the king and ace then cleared the clubs but the defence had three spades plus the ace of diamonds to cash for down two; 200 and 13 IMPs to Germany, who were in the lead at 135-130. Germany picked up two small swings on the next two boards to increase the lead to 140-130, then Bulgaria came back:

Board 23. Dealer South. All Vul.
	♠ J 7 ♥ K Q 10 9 ♦ K 10 9 8 4 3 ♣ J
♠ A ♥ A 4 ♦ Q J ♣ A 10 9 8 7 6 5 2		♠ K Q 9 8 6 5 ♥ 7 2 ♦ A 7 5 2 ♣ Q
	♠ 10 4 3 2 ♥ J 8 6 5 3 ♦ 6 ♣ K 4 3

The Germans had an essentially natural auction to 4♠, against which Danailov led his singleton diamond. Karakolev let dummy’s queen win the trick and Piekarek was awkwardly placed. He chose to play ace and ruff a club, Karakolev ruffing in with the jack to force the queen, then a spade to the ace and a second club ruff. Piekarek crossed to the ace of hearts to pitch his heart loser on a winning club but Danailov could ruff and there were still two diamonds and a spade to be lost; down one for 100.

Karaivanov opened with a Precision 2♣ and Trendafilov’s 3♥ was a transfer. When Trendafilov continued with a cuebid, Karaivanov expected a bit better hand and was prepared to go past game on a slam hunt despite having only singleton spade support.

Elinescu led the king of hearts and 6♠ was surely doomed? Or was it? Karaivanov won the ace of hearts and led the ♦Q. Ducking this would have beaten the slam but Elinescu covered so Karaivanov was where he wanted to be to lead the queen of clubs. Ducking this would have defeated the slam but Wladow covered and the jack also appeared from North. Karaivanov won the ♣A and led the ♣5 from hand and ruffing this would have beaten the slam Elinescu discarded a diamond and dummy a heart. That was the last chance for the defence. Karaivanov cashed the ace of spades, ruffed a club and played king, queen and another trump. That lost to the ten but he now had two red aces and a string of club winners for an incredible +1430 and 17 IMPs to Bulgaria, back in the lead at 147-140.

Board 24. Dealer West. None Vul.
	♠ J 9 7 ♥ A 7 5 3 ♦ 8 5 ♣ 6 4 3 2
♠ 8 6 5 ♥ Q J 9 ♦ A 7 6 ♣ J 10 9 5		♠ 4 3 2 ♥ 10 8 6 4 ♦ J 10 ♣ A K Q 7
	♠ A K Q 10 ♥ K 2 ♦ K Q 9 4 3 2 ♣ 8

Now it was the Bulgarian North/South pair’s turn to produce a great result. While Elinescu/Wladow played quietly in 2♦ for +150, Danailov got to 4♠ after opening a strong club then showing both his suits.

Smirnov led the jack of clubs and a second round when that held the trick. Danailov ruffed with the queen and crossed to the ace of hearts to lead a diamond to the jack, king and ace. It might have been better for Smirnov to duck that trick, giving declarer a losing option in diamonds. Anyway, Smirnov led another club and declarer ruffed with the king and cashed the ♦Q, seeing the ten fall.

Danailov had a choice of lines now. He chose to play for trumps to be 3-3 by cashing the ace of spades then overtaking the ♠10 to cash the ♠9; +450 and 7 IMPs to Bulgaria, 154-140. It looks better to play for the eight of spades to be with West, when the spade break will not matter. Ruff two diamonds and two hearts high, then lead a diamond through West to make the ♠8 en passant. The point of taking the high ruffs first would be to go down less if East has the ♠8 and could over-ruff and return a trump should the low ruff be taken first.

Board 25. Dealer North. E/W Vul.
	♠ 10 ♥ Q J 10 9 8 ♦ 10 9 7 2 ♣ Q 5 2
♠ K J 7 4 ♥ 7 5 3 ♦ K J 6 ♣ A 8 6		♠ A 8 5 3 2 ♥ K 6 ♦ A Q 8 5 ♣ 10 9
	♠ Q 9 6 ♥ A 4 2 ♦ 4 3 ♣ K J 7 4 3

Elinescu passed as dealer but came in later with a 2♥ overcall, definitely a partnership style thing as we have already seen a similar action from Wladow. Trendafilov played 4♠ and saw no compelling reason to do other than play spades from the top; down one for 100.

Karakolev opened with a multi 2♦ and Danailov’s 3♥ response was pass or correct. When Piekarek balanced with 3♠, Smirnov raised to game. With South marked with some support for both majors, it took Piekarek no time to all to win the diamond lead and play ace of spades then a spade to the jack; ten tricks for +620 and 12 IMPs to Germany, 152-154.

Board 27. Dealer South. None Vul.
	♠ 8 7 5 4 ♥ 9 ♦ K 7 5 3 2 ♣ 10 8 5
♠ K Q J ♥ J 10 7 ♦ 8 6 ♣ A K Q J 6		♠ A 9 ♥ K Q 8 5 ♦ A J 10 9 ♣ 9 4 3
	♠ 10 6 3 2 ♥ A 6 4 3 2 ♦ Q 4 ♣ 7 2

Karaivanov opened the three-way club and Trendafilov showed a game-force, usually balanced. 2NT was 15-20 balanced and Trendafilov made one try then settled for game when no fit came to light. Elinescu’s diamond lead meant that the defence had two tricks; +460.

Smirnov opened his version of a three-way club, Baltic/Polish style, and 1♥ could have been three cards. The 2♦ rebid was a GF relay, 18+ and 2♠ confirmed the fourth heart while also showing 10+ HCP. Smirnov had a minimum for his bidding to date so bid 3NT but Piekarek, with substantial extra values, raised to 5NT, a strong invitation to six. Smirnov accepted the invitation, but suggested 6♣ as an alternative contract. That would have been quickly defeated by a heart ruff but Piekarek could see no benefit in playing in clubs so converted to 6NT.

We all know to make attacking leads against six-of-a-suit, but leading from a king into a strong balanced hand against 6NT is another matter. With 22 IMPs at stake, Karakolev did well to find the diamond lead for down one; 11 IMPs to Bulgaria who now led by 165-152.

Board 28. Dealer West. N/S Vul.
	♠ Q 7 5 3 ♥ K Q 10 ♦ Q 8 6 4 ♣ 7 3
♠ 4 2 ♥ 9 5 3 2 ♦ J 3 ♣ K Q 10 8 5		♠ K J 9 8 ♥ J 8 7 6 4 ♦ 2 ♣ 9 6 4
	♠ A 10 6 ♥ A ♦ A K 10 9 7 5 ♣ A J 2

Trendafilov chose to make the lead-directing opening of 1♠ in third seat. Wladow doubled then jumped to 3NT when Elinescu doubled the club-transfer 1NT and Trendafilov removed to 2♣. Karaivanov led the king of clubs against 3NT. Wladow ducked but Karaivanov switched to a spade, holding the contract to 11 tricks for +660.

Piekarek opened 2♥, weak with both majors, and Smirnov made a pre-emptive raise to 3♥ over the double. Karakolev freely bid 3NT so it was clear for Danailov to go on with 4♦. Karakolev raised that to game and Danailov thought for quite some time before going on to slam. Though Karakolev could not cuebid over 4♦, he had to have some useful values for the free bid of 3NT and, looking at all five key cards himself, Danailov could understand why his partner could only raise to game.

Smirnov led the king of clubs. Danailov won and drew trumps and just lost one club, the spades going away on dummy’s hearts; +1370 and 12 IMPs to Bulgaria, 177-152.

Germany pulled back 5 IMPs on Board 29 when Bulgaria went one down in 1NT at one table and 3NT at the other; 157-177.

Board 30. Dealer East. None Vul.
	♠ J 10 ♥ K 5 4 3 ♦ K 2 ♣ A K Q J 6
♠ 4 3 2 ♥ J 10 9 7 ♦ 7 4 ♣ 9 8 7 3		♠ K Q 6 5 ♥ 8 6 ♦ J 10 3 ♣ 10 5 4 2
	♠ A 9 8 7 ♥ A Q 2 ♦ A Q 9 8 6 5 ♣

Karakolev / Danailov comprehensively outbid Elinescu / Wladow on this one. The Germans bid naturally after the strong club opening, up to the point where Elinescu judged to use FSF with 3♠. From there things were not sufficiently clear and the auction subsided in 5♦, making only 12 tricks as declarer made a lazy claim; +420.

Danailov also opened with a strong club and the auction reached the same point at which Elinescu had bid 3♠. Karakolev supported diamonds at this point then took control when Danailov could cuebid hearts. Five Hearts asked for the queen of trumps and 5NT said yes but no side-suit king. Karakolev could see the possibility of there being 13 tricks even on a bad diamond break so jumped to 7NT. With diamonds 3-2, there was no problem; +1520 and 15 IMPs to Bulgaria that missing thirteenth trick at the other table actually cost an IMP.

The set score was 60-60, leaving Bulgaria ahead by 190-157 with 32 deals to play.