Italy - USA2 (Bermuda Bowl Final 6)

by Brian Senior

After five sets of the final of the 2009 Bermuda Bowl, USA2 led Italy by 76.33 IMPs. While there were still 48 boards to play, it was important for Italy to pull some points back in Set Six so that they could sleep a little easier and look forward to the morrow with confidence.

Six fairly quiet boards saw USA2 ahead by 6-1 in the set, just what they were looking for. Then came the first major swing:

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

Essentially, the respective Wests were in the same position when they had to make their final decision. Both had shown constructive spade raises and both Easts had passed rather than follow the principle of fast arrival by bidding 3♠ in front of them. Giorgio Duboin took a shot at game while Eric Rodwell settled for partscore.

Against 4♠, Zia led ace, king and a third club for Bob Hammaan to ruff. Hamman switched to the queen of hearts, which Duboin won with dummy’s ace. He ran the queen of spades to the bare king and Hamman continued with hearts, Zia taking the king. That was two down for 200.

Alfredo Versace too led three rounds of clubs for Lorenzo Lauria to ruff and Lauria returned the ♥Q to dummy’s ace. Jeff Meckstroth led a low spade to the ace then threw his heart loser on the established jack of clubs and came to an overtrick for +170 and 9 IMPs to USA2. Of course, Meckstroth was only in 3♠ so the spade finesse was an unnecessary risk, with the actual line of play ensuring the contract whenever it could be made.

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

Both Souths opened 1♥ and both Wests doubled. Hamman bid 1♠ on the North hand so Antonio Sementa passed as East, while Lauria bid passed the North hand so Meckstroth bid the spades. It didn’t matter, with both Wests rebidding 1NT and being raised to game.

Hamman led the six of clubs to the seven, queen and king. Duboin played ace of spades followed by the ten. Hamman won the king and cashed the ace of clubs then switched to his heart, the two being covered by the nine, ten and queen. Duboin returned a low heart to the jack and Zia ducked, but that meant that Duboin could cash dummy’s spade winners and take the diamond finesse; ten tricks for +630.

Lauria also led a low club but Rodwell ducked the queen! Versace returned the suit to the ace and Lauria played a third round. Rodwell won and played ace and ten of spades. Lauria won the king and cleared the clubs. Rodwell led a heart to the jack and king and Versace returned the ♥10, pinning the nine. Rodwell had to lose one more trick from here, simply winning the heart and playing three more rounds to leave Versace to take the diamond finesse for him at the end; down one for 100 and 12 IMPs to Italy, who needed them.

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

Both Easts opened 1♥, doubled by South, and both Wests showed a Mixed Raise with a jump to 3♦. North competed with 4♣ and East bid the obvious 4♥. Versace saw no reason to bid again as South but Zia bid 5♣, a far from obvious choice on a minimum double with only three-card club support. That was doubled by Sementa, ending the auction.

Sementa led the five of spades against 5♣ doubled, not the best start for the defence. Hamman ran that to his ten and led a diamond up. Sementa rose with the ace and switched to the ten of hearts. Duboin won the ace and played back a spade. Hamman won in dummy and ran the queen of clubs to the king; down one for 200.

Five Clubs doubled would have been a good save had 4♥ been making, but it did not. Versace led a club to Lauria’s ace and Lauria returned the ten of spades to the jack and queen. Versace played ace and another spade and came to a diamond in the endgame; down one for 100 and 7 IMPs to Italy.

Board 32. Dealer West. E/W Vul.
	♠ J 3 ♥ A Q 10 6 4 2 ♦ K 5 ♣ K J 7
♠ Q 6 2 ♥ K J 8 5 ♦ A Q 9 6 ♣ 6 3		♠ 8 7 5 ♥ 3 ♦ J 7 3 2 ♣ Q 10 9 8 2
	♠ A K 10 9 4 ♥ 9 7 ♦ 10 8 4 ♣ A 5 4

The Italians had a well-controlled auction to 3NT. Lauria overcalled 1♥ over the Precision 1♦ opening then cuebid 2♦ at his next turn to show a decent hand. When Versace cuebid in turn, showing game values with no clear direction, Lauria ended the auction with 3NT.

Meckstroth led the nine of clubs round to the jack and Lauria passed the jack of spades, Rodwell taking the queen and returning the six of diamonds. Lauria won the king of diamonds and cashed the spades and clubs then the ace of hearts, taking no risks; nine tricks for +400.

Hamman/Zia had a less well-controlled auction. Sementa’s diamond raise obliged Zia to introduce his spades a level higher than Versace. When Hamman cuebid 3♦, Zia in turn cuebid 4♦ and now Hamman tried for 4♠. But Zia seems to have expected primary spade support and a good hand for this combination and went on with a club cuebid. Hamman quickly signed off in 5♠ but it was already too late.

Duboin cashed the ♦A then switched to the five of hearts. Zia called for the queen then led the ♠J off the dummy. When that was not covered, he rose with the ace and playe dtwo more rounds to Duboin’s queen. Duboin returned a diamond to dummy’s king. Zia cashed the ♥A with some hopes for his contract but, when Sementa showed out, he knew he was doomed unless the club finesse was working. He ruffed a heart then led a club to the jack. When that lost to the queen, Sementa returned a diamond and that was two down for 100 and 11 IMPs to Italy.

Italy won the set by 36-28 to trail by 167-235.33. With only 32 boards to play the next day, the match was still alive but the Italians needed a very good day if they were to prevail.