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District 25 News for March 2007
Buzz from Cromwell
New England held its premier Knockout Regional in Cromwell CT February 14-19 2007. Director Peter Marcus and I experimented with a new results procedure and format this year, and we welcome suggestions, criticism, kudos or comments. Cromwell recaps and overalls were posted on this web site daily, and for the first time, hand records are online. We remind players that directors cannot accept corrections by phone or email. Report scoring mistakes in person.
A raging winter storm on the opening Wednesday dampened initial turnout, but then the skies cleared and attendance improved, with 1267 table-sessions (1207 in 2006), and 965 different players winning 6668 master points (897 won 6252 in 2006). This year the tournament attracted several touring pros, including a Michael Rosenberg team, a Jim Krekorian team, and a team containing Geoff Hampson, Gavin Wolpert, and Joe Grue. We hope more national stars will put Cromwell on their lists for 2008. Come on up! It's not that cold.
I was unable to attend this regional, but I thank my friends for reporting deals from the weekend's fierce 21-team Flight A Knockout.
Let's start by laughing at West, an oblivious declarer in 4H on the lead of the diamond queen:
. West East S-xx S-Axx H-AJ109xxx H-x D-Kxx D-Axx C-A C-KQxxxx
West won the DK to play HA, HJ. No good - North won the doubleton HK, South ruffed dummy's DA with HQ, and a spade switch severed the dummy for down one. Even though dummy seems to be bristling with entries, it was necessary to cash the CA before losing the lead, after which the contract cannot fail.
Pick a lead as West with S-Axx H-9xxx D-K C-Jxxxx after:
. South West North East 1S P 2D P 2H P 4C P 4H P 4S P 4NT P 6H P P P
The actual player led a low spade. Dummy had S-Kxx, declarer S-Jxxxx, and partner S-Qx. Declarer didn't put up the king, and went down 2. With the diamonds coming in, and the teammates only in game, this was a swing.
Suppose you hold S-AJ109x H-10xxxxx D- C-xx, and hear:
. East South West North 1D P 1H P 1S 2C 4S 5C P P ?
Do you bid 5S? If not, what do you lead?
.
North
S-x
West H-QJxx East
S-AJ109x D-KQx S-KQxx
H-10xxxxx C-Axxxx H-Kx
D- D-Axxxxxx
C-xx South C-x
S-xxx
H-A
D-Jxxx
C-KQxxx
If you bid, South cashes HA and puts North in with a club for a ruff. If you defend, you better underlead the spade ace or they make 5C.
You're South, with S-KJxxx H-KJxx D-Kxx C-x.
. East South West North P P 1C P 1D ?
One South doubled, the other overcalled 1S. In both cases, West played 3NT on a club lead:
. West East S-AQ98 S-10xx H-10x H-Qxx D-Jxx D-AQ10xx C-AKxx C-QJ
Where South overcalled, declarer won in dummy and ran the spade ten, for nine tricks. Where South doubled, West took a diamond finesse and the defense cashed four hearts for down one.
A player whose six-handed team survived till Sunday evening sat out the first half and then came into a close final match. Let's kibitz. He has a Grand Master sitting opposite playing two-over-one, but they're only an occasional partnership.
He dealt himself S-AQJ10xxx H- D-AKx C-Kxx. Would you open 2C? The playing strength is there, but not the point count. 2C risks partner overvaluing strong hearts. He decided to open 1S. With silent opponents, his partner bid a forcing 1NT. Now what? It would be great if 4H was a self splinter, showing a 4S bid with short hearts, but you can't invent that at the table and expect partner to read it. Manufacturing a jump shift risks a misunderstanding. He reluctantly settled for 4S.
Lose. Partner had a perfect S-xx H-xxx D-Qxxx C-AJxx, and at the other table the opponents were playing a fancy 2NT force over 1NT, with a follow-up to show the heart void, and bid the slam.
S-Jx H-KQxxx D-AKQxx C-x.
. East South West North P 1H P 2C P 2D P 2NT P ?
How hard would you drive this red five-five? He decided to stay in second gear, bidding a forcing 3D and then passing 3NT. Alas, partner held S-AQx H-xx D-J10x C-AKxxx, and those luscious minor diamond honors meant 6D was a cooler. Push, and an opportunity missed.
He opened 1NT with S-Jxx H-AQxx D-Kx C-AKxx, and partner bid 2NT, transfer to diamonds. Would you preaccept? He didn't, but partner made no further tries, holding S-Ax H-Kxx D-AJ10xxx C-Qx. 6D would have made (6NT would not - the spade lead is obvious and diamonds don't come in). Since the other auction was a lackluster 1NT-3NT, this was another push.
S-Axxx H-x D-AQxxx C-98x.
. East South West North P P P 1H P 1S P 2C P 2NT P 3C (forcing, by agreement) P ?
Again, how hard do you push? My informant just bid 3NT. This was right in theory. Partner held S-Jx H-AQ10xx D-x C-AKJ10x, and slam was anti-percentage. But H-Kxx, C-Qx, and the diamond king were all onside, so today 6C would have made however partner played it. Perhaps our hero should have bid it, having missed the other three slams.
How would you play this 4S game on a low club lead (third and fifth)?
. S-AJxx H-Qx D-Ax C-A10xxx S-K10xxx H-Axx D-Jxx C-9x
It's awkward to win the club ace because you have so few hand entries. Declarer ducked to the jack, and back came a heart. Fearing a ruff, he rose the ace and tried two top spades.
.
North
S-AJxx
West H-Qx East
S-x D-Ax S-Qxx
H-KJxx C-A10xxx H-xxxx
D-Q10x D-Kxxxx
C-KQxxx South C-J
S-K10xxx
H-Axx
D-Jxx
C-9x
No luck - he now had one inescapable loser in each suit. If he'd ducked the heart return, West would have given East a club ruff just as declarer feared. But now the contract makes.
At the other table, North opened a strong notrump and became declarer at 4S. East led a diamond, and declarer had no reason to guess trumps. A push for down one.
The upshot was that my correspondent lost the final. To win, he would have had to get any two of the five deals I've shown right. Bid any two of the four slams, or any one of them if he made four spades.
District 25 Grand National Teams Update
District 25 Grand National Teams trials were held January 20-21, 2007 in Sturbridge, MA. Only the C team (Lieberman, Asarina, Ring, Koon Kam King) was chosen that weekend. In a recent match I didn't cover, McCaw-Gammerman, Inglia-Pavlu won the B's. I predict both these teams will do well in Nashville. As of this writing, the Championship Flight final hasn't been played.
On Sunday, March 4, 2007, I kibitzed the 32-board Flight A District finals between the Gorsey team
of (left to right in the picture) Charlie Polay, Carole Weinstein, Neil Montague, and Bob Gorsey, whose 64-board semifinal I reported last month, and the McIntyre team of
Glenn McIntyre, Bill Wood, Brett Adler, and Bob Virgile, who started off trailing by six imps carried over from way back in the round-robin. Direct all inquiries as to why we use silly carryovers, and why the final was 32 boards when the semis were 64, to our GNT coordinator Mark Aquino, whose conditions of contest so specified. Thankfully, the players agreed to let me name names, and to use my boards, so we have true hand records. The playing conditions were excellent and the snacks were tasty. For the first half, I kibitzed McIntyre-Virgile vs. Polay-Weinstein. Board 1 (none vul, N deals):
.
North
S-K8643
West H-106 East
S-5 D-A74 S-AQJ10
H-AKJ2 C-Q98 H-9874
D-J1083 D-KQ5
C-A1073 South C-62
S-972
H-Q53
D-962
C-KJ54
North East South West
McIntyre Polay Virgile Weinstein
P 1D P 1H
P 2H P 4H
P P P
Gorsey Adler Montague Wood
P 1D P 1H
P 2H P 4NT
P 5C P 5H
P P P
Wood chased moonbeams with his Keycard 4NT. Both Norths led trumps, for a push at 450. A club lead might require the 5H declarer to guess who had the spade king for contract.
Board 2 (NS vul, E deals):
. North
S-J86
West H-K107 East
S-AK4 D-K92 S-Q109752
H-85 C-J1032 H-94
D-QJ875 D-6
C-AQ4 South C-K876
S-3
H-AQJ632
D-A1043
C-95
East South West North
Polay Virgile Weinstein McIntyre
P 1H Double 2H
2S 3D Double Redouble
3S P 4S P
P P
Adler Montague Wood Gorsey
2S 3H 4S Double
P P P
Would you open a weak two as East at favorable? The declarers lost two hearts, but won the club shift with the king and immediately led diamonds, risking a club ruff. Then they were able to use dummy's four entries to ruff three diamonds and get back to the fifth for the tenth trick. Well done. 590 to 420, 5 imps to McIntyre.
Board 3 (EW vul, S deals):
. North
S-AJ10
West H-K6 East
S-K2 D-KJ65 S-Q87
H-108543 C-9642 H-972
D-1073 D-A82
C-Q108 South C-AJ73
S-96543
H-AQJ
D-Q94
C-K5
South West North East
Virgile Weinstein McIntyre Polay
1S P 2D P
2NT P 3NT P
P P
Montague Wood Gorsey Adler
1S P 1NT P
2D P 4S P
P P
Montague's 4S was cold with the club onside and the spades coming in. McIntyre put Virgile in jeopardy in 3NT. Weinsten led a fourth best H4 to the nine and queen. On winning the spade queen, Polay didn't find the killing low club shift. Is this Weinstein's fault for not leading the heart eight, or Polay's fault for lack of imagination?
Board 4 (Both vul, W deals):
. North
S-A9542
West H-2 East
S-J8763 D-Q943 S-Q10
H-Q6 C-1042 H-AK7
D-107 D-AJ652
C-A983 South C-KJ7
S-K
H-J1098543
D-K8
C-Q65
West North East South
Weinstein McIntyre Polay Virgile
P P 2D P
2S P 2NT P
3H P 3S P
3NT P P P
Wood Gorsey Adler Montague
P P 1D 2H
Double P 3NT P
P P
Both pairs for the Gorsey team employ a modified Mexican 2D for one-and-a-half notrump hands, but this deal was everybody's 3NT in any system. After heart lead, spade, heart, spade, North had no way to prevent game. In fact, both declarers made five on misdefense. Push at 660.
Board 5 (NS vul, N deals)
. North
S-J
West H-AQ10754 East
S-A6 D-AQ75 S-Q754
H-983 C-98 H-KJ2
D-1032 D-J986
C-KQ654 South C-J2
S-K109832
H-6
D-K4
C-A1073
North East South West
McIntyre Polay Virgile Weinstein
1H P 1S P
2H P 2S P
P P
Gorsey Adler Montague Wood
1H P 1S P
2D P 3S P
P P
Gorsey-Montague flirted with a vul game that can make only on misdefense given this lie of cards, but then thought better of it. Both East-Wests allowed only nine tricks. Push at 140.
Board 6 (EW vul, E deals):
. North
S-KQ
West H-AQ96 East
S-J10753 D-75 S-A94
H-KJ752 C-J10642 H-843
D-AK10 D-92
C- South C-AK753
S-862
H-10
D-QJ8643
C-Q98
East South West North
Polay Virgile Weinstein McIntyre
P P 1S P
2C P 4S P
P P
Adler Montague Wood Gorsey
1C 2D 2S P
3S P 4D P
4S P P P
Adler, who has a New Zealand accent, opened an old-fashioned Acolish quick trick hand, then fought off the dreaded slam try. Polay passed and used Drury. Pity poor Montague, who threw in a nuisance 2D bid at favorable vulnerability, and payed off in blood. After North led the D7 to DJ and DK, Wood went to the spade ace, pitched hearts on the clubs, hooked in diamonds, pitched one of dummy's hearts, and then eventually ruffed his third heart with dummy's nine for 620. The uninformative auction and passive club lead at the other table left Weinstein with no practical chance. She pitched two hearts and crossed to the DK for a spade to the queen and ace. When she played DA, D, McIntyre 'signalled' by discarding the heart nine! Could she now make the contract? No. When she played hearts, McIntyre gave Virgile a ruff. If she had played trumps instead, repeated club plays tap her out, so long as McIntyre discards another heart on the third trump. -100 and 12 imps to McIntyre.
Board 7 (Both vul, S deals):
. North
S-AK8
West H-Q98752 East
S-J106 D-Q2 S-943
H-AJ3 C-Q8 H-106
D-J1086 D-94
C-J92 South C-1076543
S-Q752
H-K4
D-AK753
C-AK
South West North East
Virgile Weinstein McIntyre Polay
1D P 1H P
2NT P 5H P
6H P P P
Montague Wood Gorsey Adler
2D P 4D P
4H P 4NT P
5D P 6H P
P P
The values for slam were there, but the trump combination proved inadequate. (Yes, 6S makes with trumps 3-3. Thanks for peeking.) Gorsey gave Montague no mercy after the Mexican 2D, using Texas and Keycard. McIntryre made a thoughtful 5H bid, asking Virgile about trumps, but Bob rather liked his king. Do you sympathize? A push at -100.
Board 8 (None vul, W deals):
. North
S-AKJ52
West H-973 East
S-10 D-KQ2 S-76
H-AKQ865 C-Q5 H-104
D-43 D-A10986
C-AK42 South C-8763
S-Q9843
H-J2
D-J75
C-J109
West North East South
Weinstein McIntyre Polay Virgile
1H 1S P 2S
3H 3S P P
4C P 4H 4S
Double P P P
Wood Gorsey Adler Montague
2D 2S P 4S
Double P P P
4H is cold for 420, so the matching 300's were par results. Bill Wood's conventional 2D didn't lead to the auction of his dreams, so he doubled on general principles. If McIntyre had refrained from bidding 3S, Polay might have passed 3H and lost 4 imps, but then again maybe not.
Board 9 (EW vul, N deals)
. North
S-A975
West H-2 East
S-843 D-AKQJ94 S-QJ6
H-A1093 C-AJ H-KQJ85
D-86 D-72
C-10743 South C-K82
S-K102
H-764
D-1053
C-Q965
North East South West
McIntyre Polay Virgile Weinstein
1D 1H P 3H
3S P 4D P
P P
Gorsey Adler Montague Wood
1D 1H P P
Double P 2D 2H
3D 3H P P
3S P 4D P
P P
Both vulnerable East-Wests dangled 500 in front of North's moose, but the non-vul North-Souths neither doubled 3H nor pressed on to 5D. To beat 5D legitimately, West has to overtake the first round of hearts and put a club through. Although this defense wasn't found, both Norths failed to strip and endplay East for 11 tricks. Push at 130. Yes, 4S can be made against any defense. You peeked again.
Board 10 (Both vul, E deals):
. North
S-Q9
West H-742 East
S-A10 D-AQ974 S-64
H-J1086 C-532 H-KQ53
D-K1053 D-86
C-AKJ South C-Q9876
S-KJ87532
H-A9
D-J2
C-104
East South West North
Polay Virgile Weinstein McIntyre
P 3S P P
P
Adler Montague Wood Gorsey
P P 1NT P
2C 2S 3H P
4H P P P
Bob Virgile stole the pot with a vulnerable Raggedy Ann 3S preempt, and made his contract via the diamond finesse. Adler stretched for a thin vul game, but with the spade queen lead and the diamond ace wrong, Wood had no way home. -100, an imp to McIntyre.
Board 11 (None vul, S deals):
. North
S-109
West H-109874 East
S-AQJ5 D-863 S-K863
H-A5 C-K54 H-KQ6
D-J94 D-AQ1072
C-J987 South C-10
S-742
H-J32
D-K5
C-AQ632
South West North East
Virgile Weinstein McIntyre Polay
P 1C P 1D
P 1S P 4S
P P P
Montague Wood Gorsey Adler
P P P 1D
P 1S P 3S
P 4S P
Polay wanted to splinter 4C, but feared a misunderstanding. Bill Wood's pass and failure to cuebid 4H seem out of character, but all's well that ends well. The diamond king was offside, for matching 450's.
Board 12 (NS vul, W deals):
. North
S-AQ109
West H-AJ6 East
S-J5432 D-109 S-K6
H-K92 C-KJ109 H-874
D-KJ D-AQ8743
C-Q42 South C-73
S-87
H-Q1053
D-653
C-A865
West North East South
Weinstein McIntyre Polay Virgile
P 1NT Double P
2C P 2D P
P P
Wood Gorsey Adler Montague
P 1NT 3D P
P P
If East passes 1NT and runs his diamonds while West pitches four spades, Declarer is squeezed and can't make 7 tricks. Instead, Polay doubled (both majors or one minor). McIntyre-Virgile made no mistake on defense and all Charlie scored was six diamonds and the spade king, for down one. Gorsey-Montague made no mistake either, so Adler was down two and lucky that nobody doubled. Two imps to Gorsey.
Board 13 (Both vul, N deals)
. North
S-107
West H-AK2 East
S-K96 D-Q976 S-AQ852
H-10765 C-K864 H-J3
D-AK42 D-J10853
C-72 South C-3
S-J43
H-Q984
D-
C-AQJ1095
North East South West
McIntyre Polay Virgile Weinstein
P P 1C 1D
2D 3C 4C P
5C P P P
Gorsey Adler Montague Wood
1D 1S Double 2D
P 4S 5C Double
P P P
McIntyre passed his 12-count and Weinstein tried an offshape overcall. After both sides exchanged customary cuebids, Polay, who has seen Weinstein's overcalls before, elected not to take a 500 save against a 600 game. Of course, Gorsey opened at the other table, but Montague still sounded like he was saving, so Bill Wood gave 5C a whack. Alas, his ace-king of diamonds proved worthless. 750 versus 600, 4 imps to Gorsey.
Board 14 (None vul, E deals):
. North
S-QJ9
West H-AK974 East
S-84 D-AK9 S-A1062
H-Q C-43 H-106
D-Q1054 D-8763
C-AJ10652 South C-Q97
S-K753
H-J8532
D-J2
C-K8
East South West North
Polay Virgile Weinstein McIntyre
P P 3C Double
P 4H P P
P
Adler Montague Wood Gorsey
P P 3C 3H
3NT 4H P P
P
Montague ignored Adler's comic 3NT. Neither East took a 500 dive against a 420 game. Pushing 420's.
Board 15 (NS vul, S deals):
. North
S-953
West H-Q73 East
S-AKQJ7 D-K2 S-862
H-K5 C-J10876 H-864
D-873 D-Q1065
C-A94 South C-Q53
S-104
H-AJ1092
D-AJ94
C-K2
South West North East
Virgile Weinstein McIntyre Polay
1H Double 2H P
P Double P 3D
P P P
Montague Wood Gorsey Adler
1H Double 2H P
P 2S P P
P
Since North-South make 3H on good play, Bill Wood had a chance for a pickup in 2S, but he didn't guess the clubs. Down one. Polay was abandoned in the vacuum of deep space. Down 4, -200, four imps to McIntyre.
Board 16 (EW vul, W deals):
. North
S-653
West H-A9 East
S-J94 D-A6 S-AK7
H-K1053 C-AQJ1085 H-8642
D-1084 D-QJ732
C-932 South C-6
S-Q1082
H-QJ7
D-K95
C-K74
West North East South
Weinstein McIntyre Polay Virgile
P 1NT P 3NT
P P P
Wood Gorsey Adler Montague
P 1C Double 1S
P 3C P 3NT
P P P
Montague out-matchpointed McIntyre in everybody's 3NT, 11 tricks to 10, an imp to Gorsey. The McIntyre team won the half 22-9, to take the lead by seven counting the carryover. After a short break, all eight players reclaimed the same chairs, but I switched tables so as to kibitz Gorsey-Montague vs. Wood-Adler. Board 17 (None vul, N deals):
. North
S-KJ9532
West H-4 East
S-AQ1064 D-Q3 S-8
H-QJ8 C-AJ103 H-A10965
D-A94 D-K8765
C-Q5 South C-98
S-7
H-K732
D-J102
C-K7642
North East South West
McIntyre Polay Virgile Weinstein
1S 2S P 4H
P P Double P
P P
Gorsey Adler Montague Wood
1S 2S P 4H
P P P
Both Norths led low spades, but it did the Wests no good to win this cheap trick and pitch a club, because South ruffed the spade ace, and still had a club, a diamond, and the king of trumps to win. So Virgile gained 2 imps for McIntyre by doubling.
And then came Board 18 (NS vul, E deals):
. North
S-A974
West H-KJ7632 East
S-J2 D-84 S-83
H- C-Q H-AQ105
D-AKQ9 D-J1032
C-K876542 South C-AJ3
S-KQ1065
H-984
D-765
C-109
East South West North
Polay Virgile Weinstein McIntyre
1D P 3H Double
Redouble P 4NT P
5H P 7D Double
P P P
Adler Montague Wood Gorsey
1D P 2C P
3C P 5H P
5S Double 6D P
P P
Voids often lead to big swings, and so it proved. Bill Wood despaired of finding out what he needed to know to stay out of slam, so he tried 5H exclusion so as not to miss 7 opposite black aces. It's a good thing Neil doubled 5S to tell himself to lead the suit for +50.
At the other table, and I do mean other, Weinstein thought that 4NT after splintering was exclusion, so she leaped to seven. McIntyre, who had doubled 3H, now desperately tried to cancel the message by doubling the grand. Pity Bob Virgile! What were Weinstein-Polay doing? What was Glenn up to? Should he lead a club, expecting Glenn to be void? A farmer's spade king? Or should he stolidly lead the heart Glenn had asked for in the first place? Virgile led a heart, for minus 1630, 17 imps and the lead went back to Gorsey.
When a team suffers a catastrophe such as Board 18, in my experience one of two things happens - either they collapse into a black hole, or they rally. At least in this case, all four McIntyre players knew what just happened was bad. I sensed a change in the tension level during Board 19 (EW vul, S deals):
. North
S-K654
West H-J10973 East
S-10872 D-2 S-J
H-K C-A105 H-AQ852
D-K87654 D-103
C-Q8 South C-96432
S-AQ93
H-64
D-AQJ8
C-KJ7
South West North East
Virgile Weinstein McIntyre Polay
1NT P 2C P
2S P 4S P
P P
Montague Wood Gorsey Adler
1NT P 2D P
2H P 2S P
4S P P P
Gorsey won the D10 lead with dummy's ace, and led the DQ, covered and ruffed. He played SK, SA, D ruffed, but then misguessed in clubs. Down 1, losing a club, two hearts, and a spade.
Playing 4S from the South side at the other table, Virgile won the diamond lead with the jack and led a heart to the king. Weinstein tried the club queen, and that was 420, 10 imps to McIntyre.
Board 20 (Both vul, W deals):
. North
S-Q1054
West H-653 East
S-98 D-96 S-A7
H-AQJ94 C-A865 H-K1072
D-K107 D-J8542
C-Q93 South C-J4
S-KJ632
H-8
D-AQ3
C-K1072
West North East South
Weinstein McIntyre Polay Virgile
1H P 2H Double
P 2S 3H P
P 3S P P
P
Wood Gorsey Adler Montague
1H P 3D 3S
P 4S Double P
P P P
McIntyre-Virgile stopped in 3S making, leaving Polay-Weinstein no chance at a plus score. Adler's Bergen 3D pressured Gorsey-Montague into game. Adler doubled 4S, and put a diamond through upon winning the ace of trumps, down 1 and 8 imps to McIntyre.
Board 21 (NS vul, N deals)
. North
S-95
West H-875 East
S-AQJ84 D-109842 S-K7632
H-10 C-Q109 H-AJ6
D-K653 D-AQ
C-K87 South C-A42
S-10
H-KQ9432
D-J7
C-J653
North East South West
McIntyre Polay Virgile Weinstein
P 2D P 2S
P 2NT P 3H
P 4S P 4NT
P 5C P 6S
P P P
Gorsey Adler Montague Wood
P 1S P 4H
P 4NT P 5S
P 5NT P 6S
P 7S P P
P
The Mexican 2D auction resulted in West using Keycard. Weinstein found the four missing keys, but she didn't know enough about the interior of the minor suits, and settled for six.
At the other table East got to use Keycard, which rated to work out better. However, Wood showed, in order, a game raise of spades with short hearts, two key cards plus the spade queen (miscounting by one), and no side kings (miscounting by two). A normal deck doesn't contain 6 key cards, so Adler knew Wood was off his feed, but what was he drinking? Trusting the moose he was looking at, he contracted for all the tricks. There was nothing to the play, and 11 more imps went to McIntyre.
Board 22 (EW vul, E deals):
. North
S-10
West H-K10853 East
S-AK7654 D-J843 S-J
H-7 C-J106 H-QJ96
D-K76 D-Q95
C-A93 South C-K8752
S-Q9832
H-A42
D-A102
C-Q4
East South West North
Polay Virgile Weinstein McIntyre
P 1S P P
P
Adler Montague Wood Gorsey
P 1S P 1NT
P 2D 2S P
P P
After complex play, the McIntyre team went down one in spade partials in both rooms, 4 imps to Gorsey.
Board 23 (Both vul, S deals):
. North
S-J1097
West H-96 East
S-AK4 D-KQ10987 S-82
H-KQ43 C-Q H-J10875
D-63 D-42
C-AJ65 South C-9872
S-Q653
H-A2
D-AJ5
C-K1043
South West North East
Virgile Weinstein McIntyre Polay
1C 1NT P 2D
P 2H 3D P
P 3H P P
P
Montague Wood Gorsey Adler
1C 1NT 2D 2H
3D 3H P P
P
McIntyre led his club and Virgile gave him his ruff on winning the trump ace, for down one. Gorsey's 2D bid made Adler declarer, and Montague led a spade rather than ace and a diamond. Now Adler knocked out the trump ace and eventually ran the club nine to make three, 6 imps to McIntyre.
Board 24 (None vul, W deals):
. North
S-A3
West H-QJ104 East
S-J108 D-K43 S-K964
H-K6 C-A632 H-9752
D-AQJ2 D-65
C-Q1094 South C-KJ5
S-Q752
H-A83
D-10987
C-87
West North East South
Weinstein McIntyre Polay Virgile
1D P 1H P
1NT P P P
Wood Gorsey Adler Montague
1D 1H Double 2H
P P P
Against Weinstein's 1NT, McIntyre's HQ rode to declarer's king. Club to CJ, D to DQ ducked smoothly, C to CK, diamond to DJ and a cruel DK, CA, S3 ducked to SQ, cash hearts for down 1 and 50. Gorsey did well in 2H - D to DA, DQ to DK. C to Adler's CJ (should Wood overtake?), unfortunate low spade shift won by dummy's SQ, CA, C ruff, SA, C ruffed with H9 overruffed with HA, and H8 to make 140, 3 imps to Gorsey.
Board 25 (EW vul, N deals)
. North
S-K7
West H-K9873 East
S-Q642 D-10874 S-J87
H-Q4 C-J4 H-J10652
D-A9 D-62
C-AK1053 South C-976
S-A1053
H-A
D-KQJ53
C-Q82
North East South West
McIntyre Polay Virgile Weinstein
P P 1D 1NT
P 2D Double P
P 2H 2S P
3D P P P
Gorsey Adler Montague Wood
P P 1D 1NT
P 2D Double P
P 2H P P
P
Virgile played a normal 3D partial, making 4. Adler, lucky to escape a double in 2H, won the diamond lead in dummy. The next trick was interesting: HQ, HK, H2, HA! However, Montague shifted to a club and in the fullness of time, declarer lost 2 spades, a diamond, a club, and 3 trumps, for down 2, -200, 3 imps to Gorsey.
Board 26 (Both vul, E deals):
. North
S-QJ3
West H-Q109 East
S-A97 D-1042 S-K854
H-KJ8542 C-A942 H-763
D-Q8 D-KJ7
C-KQ South C-J73
S-1062
H-A
D-A9653
C-10865
East South West North
Polay Virgile Weinstein McIntyre
P P 1H P
2H P 4H P
P P
Adler Montague Wood Gorsey
P P 1H P
2H P P P
Quite a difference in evaluation by the Wests! Wood made his 2H. Maybe he could make 3. In 4H, Weinstein went down 2, when maybe she could go down one. 7 imps to McIntyre.
Board 27 (None vul, S deals):
. North
S-J105
West H-AK6543 East
S-8432 D-AQ3 S-AK6
H-Q10 C-A H-J872
D-K742 D-8
C-K105 South C-QJ973
S-Q97
H-9
D-J10965
C-8642
South West North East
Virgile Weinstein McIntyre Polay
P P 1H P
P P
Montague Wood Gorsey Adler
P P 1H 2C
P 3C Double P
3D P P P
1H made 2, 3D made 3, a push at 110.
Board 28 (NS vul, W deals):
. North
S-AK2
West H-A108 East
S-Q943 D-9764 S-J87
H-J976 C-842 H-5
D-10 D-KQ832
C-QJ107 South C-AK95
S-1065
H-KQ432
D-AJ5
C-63
West North East South
Weinstein McIntyre Polay Virgile
P 1D P 1H
P 1NT P P
P
Wood Gorsey Adler Montague
P P 1D 1H
Double 2D 3C P
P P
This time, McIntyre opened light. The defense cashed 4 clubs and switched to hearts, so Glenn had eight tricks. Against Adler's 3C, Montegue led HK, H to H10, ruffed. When Adler led a low diamond, Montague won the jack and tried the S10. No good. Declarer took a ruffing finesse in diamonds and set up spades for 110. I think declarer can always make 3C if he guesses spades. 120 and 110 meant six imps to McIntyre.
Board 29 (Both vul, N deals)
. North
S-87
West H-J6542 East
S-AKJ52 D-KJ107 S-1064
H-87 C-Q10 H-AK9
D-A852 D-9643
C-K9 South C-732
S-Q93
H-Q103
D-Q
C-AJ8654
North East South West
McIntyre Polay Virgile Weinstein
P P 3C 3S
P P P
Gorsey Adler Montague Wood
P P 1C 1S
Double 2S 2NT 3D
P P P
Montague's 2NT was good-bad, the corollary to Mexican 2D. Adler passed Wood's 3D game try, but Wood used the top hearts to take a spade finesse and lead towards the club, for +110. Weinstein could have done the same in her 3S contract, but after the club queen was ducked to her king, she eschewed the spade finesse and went down one, five more imps to McIntyre.
Board 30 (None vul, E deals):
. North
S-8654
West H-10 East
S-AQ76 D-K95 S-10
H-AKJ972 C-Q10854 H-Q83
D-4 D-QJ1086
C-32 South C-J976
S-KJ93
H-654
D-A732
C-AK
East South West North
Polay Virgile Weinstein McIntyre
P 1NT 2H P
P P
Adler Montague Wood Gorsey
P 1NT 2H 2NT
P 3C 3H P
4H P P P
Wood's 2H showed majors, and Gorsey's 2NT relayed to 3C. To defeat 4H, the defense has to play trumps before West establishes transportation back to hand. Montague won the club lead and cashed another. It was probably too late already, but he still didn't play trumps, so declarer merrily crossruffed ten tricks. At the other table, North led a diamond, so declarer easily made 4, but Weinstein was only in 2H. Six more imps to McIntyre.
Board 31 (NS vul, S deals):
. North
S-AK964
West H-J1092 East
S-Q72 D-J S-J1083
H-K65 C-J94 H-3
D-K108 D-Q75432
C-Q865 South C-K10
S-5
H-AQ874
D-A96
C-A732
South West North East
Virgile Weinstein McIntyre Polay
1H P 1S P
2C P 2D P
2NT P 4H P
P P
Montague Wood Gorsey Adler
1H P 3D P
4H P P P
Montague managed to set up dummy's long spade for an overtrick to gain 1 imp for 650 vs 620.
Board 32 (EW vul, W deals):
. North
S-1085
West H-93 East
S-KQ4 D-764 S-32
H-KQJ5 C-QJ942 H-107642
D-QJ932 D-K8
C-7 South C-8653
S-AJ976
H-A8
D-A105
C-AK10
West North East South
Weinstein McIntyre Polay Virgile
1D P P Double
1H 2C 3H 3NT
P P P
Wood Gorsey Adler Montague
1D P P 2NT
P 3C P 3S
P P P
In 3S, Montague won the HA and played ace and a trump. Wood didn't find the diamond shift, instead cashing his other trump and continuing hearts. Making four, when even 3S can be defeated. The other table's 3NT had 8 tricks and no chance for a ninth, 6 imps to Gorsey.
The McIntyre team won the second half 59-33, and the match by 33 imps. Thank you all for letting me watch, and good luck to McIntyre-Virgile and Wood-Adler in Nashville this summer.
Boston Nationals News
|
The Fall 2008 Boston NABC has selected a turkey as its logo, an appropriate choice for a Thanksgiving tournament in the district the Mayflower came to shore in. Look for the logo on documents and memorabilia. As the time approaches, I'll provide links to Boston NABC information here.
District 25's 2008 fall nationals co-chairs, Kathy Benjamin and Frank Lombardo, are filling the various committee chairs. I'll post these when I get them. |
Other News
The Senior Regional will be held in North Falmouth, MA April 25-29, 2007. The District 25 tournament committee is making some schedule changes for 2007. The biggest is game times of 10 AM and 3 PM for senior events. There will be Compact Knockouts at the Summer Regional. Don't assume 2007 tournament schedules will be the same as 2006.
The webmaster solicits New England bridge-related written matter of suitable quality for posting. District 25 web site material is volunteer only, but you'll see your name in lights. Short is best.