England - Indonesia (D'Orsi Seniors Bowl Semifinal 2)

The Boys from Bali - by Mark Horton

In 2001, the World Championships had to be moved at the last moment from the Indonesian island of Bali to Paris (one of José Damiani’s greatest triumphs).

Road to Bali is a 1952 comedy film starring Bing Crosby, Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour. It was released by Paramount Pictures and is the sixth of the seven Road to... movies. It was the only such movie filmed in color and was the first to feature surprise cameo appearances from other well-known stars of the day.

Road to Bali was the first ‘Road to...’ picture since 1947's Road to Rio.

As with the other Road movies, Bob Hope sometimes makes side comments to the audience. For example, as the music for a song sung by Bing Crosby begins, Hope looks to the camera and says, ‘He's gonna sing, folks. Now's the time to go out and get the popcorn.’ (As they say on VuGraph, ‘It’s Muller to lead, time for a coffee.’)

Indonesia has a fine record in the Senior events and they were hoping to extend it in their semi final against England.

Where different systems are in opposition, swings can be generated on very innocent looking deals:

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

Open Room

1♦ Precision

Three Diamonds was a straightforward affair, declarer losing a spade, a diamond and a club, +130.

Closed Room

North tried to cut out the majors, but West came again and his side bought the contract. There was no defence that could take more than five tricks, +110 and 6 IMPs to Indonesia.

Board 21. Dealer North. N/S Vul.
	♠ 7 5 ♥ A K 9 5 ♦ A 7 ♣ Q J 4 3 2
♠ 10 6 3 ♥ 10 7 3 2 ♦ 6 5 ♣ A K 7 5		♠ J 9 8 4 2 ♥ Q J 6 4 ♦ 10 9 2 ♣ 6
	♠ A K Q ♥ 8 ♦ K Q J 8 4 3 ♣ 10 9 8

Open Room

2♣ Precision
2♦ Relay

By rebidding Two Hearts North denied solid clubs. When he elected to show support for diamonds on the next round rather than bid Three Spades his side went overboard.

Three rounds of clubs meant declarer was quickly two down, -200.

Closed Room

1NT 14-16

For my money South simply bid too much by going past 3NT. He was unlucky that there was a club ruff, but it represented a missed opportunity.

Board 26. Dealer East. All Vul.
	♠ 4 3 ♥ 8 5 4 ♦ K Q 9 ♣ K 10 6 3 2
♠ K Q 7 ♥ Q 9 7 6 2 ♦ 8 6 4 ♣ A Q		♠ A J 10 8 6 ♥ K J ♦ 10 7 3 ♣ J 8 5
	♠ 9 5 2 ♥ A 10 3 ♦ A J 5 2 ♣ 9 7 4

Open Room

North led the two of clubs and declarer won with the queen and played on hearts. When South ducked twice declarer simply claimed nine tricks, +150.

Closed Room

The Indonesian pair overreached, but it was by no means clear that North should lead a top diamond and like his counterpart at the other table he chose a club. Declarer won with the queen and played a heart to the jack. South took the ace and played back a club and that was that, +660 giving Indonesia 11 IMPs.

For the moment I can’t think of any obvious reason for South to switch to a diamond can you?

The set was going very well for Indonesia, and they picked up some useful points as the session drew to a close:

Board 29. Dealer North. All Vul.
	♠ 8 ♥ K 8 6 4 ♦ 9 8 6 2 ♣ 10 8 5 4
♠ J 9 7 5 4 3 2 ♥ J 10 ♦ 7 5 4 ♣ A		♠ K Q 6 ♥ Q 9 5 3 2 ♦ Q J ♣ Q 6 3
	♠ A 10 ♥ A 7 ♦ A K 10 3 ♣ K J 9 7 2

Open Room

The East hand is very mouldy, but the modern style is to try to bid if it’s your turn, so East’s opening was routine. Three Spades was one too high, -100, but with North/South able to take twelve tricks in either minor (not without a certain amount of luck) that might have been a good result.

Closed Room

Two Spades was the perfect spot, +110 and 5 IMPs.

Board 30. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
	♠ 10 7 6 4 ♥ A J 10 5 3 ♦ 8 ♣ 6 5 3
♠ 9 8 3 ♥ Q 8 4 ♦ A J 10 7 ♣ Q J 9		♠ A J 5 ♥ 9 6 ♦ K Q 9 6 5 ♣ A 10 2
	♠ K Q 2 ♥ K 7 2 ♦ 4 3 2 ♣ K 8 7 4

Open Room

East/West had the values for game, and when South led the king of spades declarer only needed the club finesse. When it was wrong he was three down, -150.

Closed Room

The Precision auction delivered 6 IMPs as declarer could not be prevented from scoring five diamonds and two aces for +90.

Board 31. Dealer South. None Vul.
	♠ 10 6 4 2 ♥ Q 6 5 ♦ 4 3 ♣ K 10 5 4
♠ J 9 8 ♥ A 7 4 3 ♦ 10 9 5 ♣ A J 7		♠ A 7 ♥ 2 ♦ A K J 8 7 2 ♣ 9 6 3 2
	♠ K Q 5 3 ♥ K J 10 9 8 ♦ Q 6 ♣ Q 8

Open Room

2♥ Flannery or 4414

South led the jack of hearts and declarer won with dummy’s ace, played the ten of diamonds to the ace, a club to the ace and the nine of diamonds. With 5431 being a more likely distribution than 5422 that was perhaps a little unlucky. Declarer emerged with seven tricks, -100.

Closed Room

Indonesia stopped in a comfortable part score and declarer was not hard pressed to collect ten tricks, +130 delivering 6 IMPs.

Indonesia, perhaps enjoying a degree of good fortune, had won the set 40-3 IMPs and led 78-34 IMPs.