Poland - USA2 (D'Orsi Seniors Bowl Semifinal 3)

The Match Lead Flip-flops - by Phillip Alder

After 32 of the 96 boards in this match, Poland led by 84 IMPs to 73. But before getting to the deals, here are two problems:

1. The bidding goes (Pass)-Pass-(1NT strong)-All Pass. You are on lead with ♥ A J 5 3 and ♦ K 7 6 5. Which suit would you pick?

2.

Dealer West. East-West vul.
		(You) ♠ 2 ♥ A J 4 3 ♦ J 10 8 6 2 ♣ K 10 5
	(Dummy) ♠ A K 3 ♥ K Q 8 6 5 ♦ 7 ♣ J 8 4 3

(a) Fourth suit game-forcing

You lead the diamond jack: seven, five (low encouraging), king. Declarer (North) now leads the heart ten. How would you plan the defense?

Poland gained 10 IMPs on the first board of the session when Mike Passell misguessed the heart jack in four spades.

The United States regained 5 IMPs on the second deal, and did better on this one:

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

(a) Natural and game-forcing
(b) Minimum opening bid

(a) 14+-17
(b) Transfer
(c) Offering a choice of games

After Jacek Romanski opened very light and Apolinary Kowalski made a game-forcing response, David Berkowitz sensibly stayed quiet. He knew his side was outgunned, the vulnerability was unfavorable, and he did not want to help his opponents place the cards.

Against four hearts, Berkowitz led the diamond queen. Declarer won with dummy's ace and took a spade finesse, losing to East's king. Now Berkowitz found the club shift, North ducking the first round and taking the second. Declarer discarded a club on the diamond king, then played a heart to dummy's nine. West won with his jack, cashed his club winner and returned a trump. The contract was down two, declarer losing one spade, two hearts and two clubs.

Passell, in four spades, won with dummy's diamond ace and also took a losing spade finesse. East, though, returned a diamond. Declarer took his king, cashed the spade ace (getting the bad news), and played a heart to dummy's nine. West took the trick and surprisingly did not shift to the club king, which would have defeated the contract. Instead, he returned a spade. Declarer drew trumps, cashed the heart ace and played a heart, establishing his suit while he still had the club ace as an entry.

Plus 100 and plus 420 gave 11 IMPs to USA 2.

Next came the opening-lead problem set at the beginning. Against one notrump, would you lead from

Romanski selected a diamond and Sutherlin chose a heart. Partner had five hearts to the ten (the suit was 2-2) and three low diamonds. Berkowitz had time to collect an overtrick, but Lasocki was down one without the option. The 6 IMPs gave USA 2 the lead by one point.

Poland regained the lead immediately, catching Lair in two spades doubled with trumps 5-0. And Poland scored 6 IMPs more two boards later when Lair and Berkowitz bid four spades, which required a lot.

But on Board 9 USA 2 retook the lead when Lasocki-Russyan bid to six hearts off the ace and king of clubs, which were in the opening leader's hand.

Over the last seven deals, USA 2 scored 20 IMPs to Poland's 1 to lead by 22. But Poland missed an opportunity on the last deal:

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

(a) Fourth suit game-forcing

(a) Fourth suit game-forcing

In the Open Room, where Lair doubled two spades, North passed without a spade stopper, so the contract was played by South.

After Lair led a spade, declarer Romanski was not under pressure. Since West had not bid spades at either of his first two turns, South was confident that East held the heart ace and club king. So declarer won the first trick in his hand, led a club to dummy's ace, and played the heart ten to his king. South continued with the club jack and another club, establishing nine tricks: two spades, one heart, two diamonds and four clubs.

Against Passell, East found the apparently killing lead of a diamond. North took the trick with the king and led his singleton heart. When East ducked, declarer won with dummy's king, then played a club to his queen. East took the trick and led another diamond, but Passell had the same nine tricks as Romanski.

Did you notice East's error? He needed to play diamonds three times: twice to knock out declarer's ace-king and once to cash his established winners. And he had three chances: the lead at trick one and when in with his two entries: the heart ace and club king. At trick two, he should have taken his heart ace and led another diamond. This would have defeated the contract.

The board was flat instead of 10 IMPs to Poland.