China Long Zhu - Argentina (Bermuda Bowl Round 9)

The Intercontinental Shadow Boxing - by Phillip Alder

The Vugraph match that ended play on Tuesday afternoon was between China Long Zhu and Argentina. Some fireworks were anticipated, but a quiet set of boards saw just 45 IMPs change hand. There were only two big swings, one in each direction.

China gained on the deal.

Board 3. Dealer South. East-West vul.
	♠ 6 ♥ A K Q 7 2 ♦ K J 7 5 ♣ J 3 2
♠ A J 8 4 3 2 ♥ J 6 5 ♦ 3 ♣ Q 7 5		♠ K 10 7 5 ♥ 10 8 ♦ Q 9 8 4 ♣ K 10 9
	♠ Q 9 ♥ 9 4 3 ♦ A 10 6 2 ♣ A 8 6 4

(a) Drury-fit

In the Open Room, the vulnerability dissuaded Juan Carlos Ventin (East) from jumping straight to four spades, a contract that goes down only one if declarer finds the club jack.

Against four hearts, East led the spade seven, Pablo Lambardi (West) winning with his ace. We can see that a spade continuation is best, after which declarer can establish a long club, but must also find the diamond queen. However, that will be trivial when West shows up with three hearts and three clubs to go with his known six spades.

Here, though, West reasonably shifted to his singleton diamond, hoping his partner had a high trump instead of the club king.

Declarer won in the dummy, drew trumps, ducked a couple of rounds of clubs, and was home.

At the other table, Wang Weimin (West) decided not to open two diamonds (a weak two in either major), instead entering the auction on the second round, which is usually more dangerous.

Carlos Pellegrini (North) made a three-diamond game-try and four hearts was again reached.

This time the defense did begin with two rounds of spades. Declarer ruffed and should have immediately attacked clubs, keeping trumps in the dummy to handle a third round of spades. But he made the mistake of drawing trumps. Then he cashed the diamond king and continued with his diamond jack, covered by the queen and ace. When West discarded a spade, declarer ducked a club. But Zhuang Zejun (East) established a diamond trick that he cashed when back in with the club king.

Plus 420 and plus 50 gave China 10 IMPs.

This was the final deal:

Board 16. Dealer West. East-West vul.
	♠ 2 ♥ 10 9 6 ♦ Q J 9 7 5 2 ♣ 10 7 5
♠ A K 8 ♥ Q J 8 7 5 2 ♦ A 3 ♣ K Q		♠ J 10 9 4 ♥ K ♦ K 10 8 6 ♣ A J 9 2
	♠ Q 7 6 5 3 ♥ A 4 3 ♦ 4 ♣ 8 6 4 3

(a) Natural or a strong hand
(b) Game-forcing
(c) Roman Key Card Blackwood
(d) Two key cards and the heart queen

(a) 16-plus points

A lot of pairs got to six hearts and went down in ruffing flames.

At first glance, six notrump looks as though it needs hearts 3-3 or spades coming in for four tricks. But the communications are not good.

In the Open Room, Zhao Jie (South) defended well. He led a club to dummy's queen, ducked smoothly the heart to declarer's king, and again ducked without a pause after declarer returned to dummy with a club and called for the heart queen. Ventin, though, had no choice but to play a third heart.

Plus 1440 and minus 690 gave Argentina 13 IMPs and victory by 27 IMPs to 18, or 17-13 in victory points.

If hearts had been 4-2, China Long Zhu would have gained 13 IMPs and won by 19-11. What a lot one card can mean.