Italy vs Bulgaria

Open Round 36

When this match was played, on Friday late afternoon, nothing very much was at stake for either team. Italy, of course, had long before sealed their 5th consecutive title, and Bulgaria looked pretty well fixed on 3rd place. So the main objective of the players was to make it a good show, and so they did. Here are a few of the dishes they served us.

Board 2. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
	ª 10 8 3 © Q 3 ¨ J 8 3 § Q 9 6 3 2
ª 6 © A J 6 4 ¨ 10 5 4 2 § A J 7 4		ª K 9 5 4 © K 9 8 5 2 ¨ A 7 6 § 8
	ª A Q J 7 2 © 10 7 ¨ K Q 9 § K 10 5

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Nanev	Sementa	Mihov	Versace
		1©	1ª
3ª	Pass	3NT	Pass
4©	All Pass

Once East elected to open his hand, EW were in game. Bulgaria +420.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Duboin	Stamatov	Bocchi	Karaivanov
		Pass	1NT
Pass	Pass	2§	Pass
2©	All Pass

When Bocchi passed in first seat, South could open a 15-17 NT this time. Of course, Bocchi showed his majors when this ran to him, but as he could be much weaker (remember he did not open) Duboin did not make any forward move, non vulnerable. So game was missed, Italy +170 and Bulgaria the first 6 IMPs.

Board 3. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
	ª A K J 10 9 © J 7 5 ¨ J 7 6 § A 10
ª 7 5 3 2 © - ¨ K 9 5 4 § K Q 9 6 4		ª 6 © K Q 10 9 8 3 2 ¨ A § 8 7 5 3
	ª Q 8 4 © A 6 4 ¨ Q 10 8 3 2 § J 2

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Nanev	Sementa	Mihov	Versace
			Pass
Pass	1ª	3©	3ª
All Pass

Once East led his suit, the contract was doomed. ©K to the ace and ruffed, followed by a trump. Declarer drew three rounds of trumps and played a diamond to East's ace. Mihov next cashed his ©Q and exited with a club, establishing two more defensive tricks. One down. Bulgaria +50.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Duboin	Stamatov	Bocchi	Karaivanov
			1NT
Pass	2ª	3©	Pass
Pass	Dble	Pass	3ª
Pass	4ª	All Pass

Bocchi made the good lead of the ¨A, which should have set up a defensive cross-ruff. When Duboin contributed the ¨A, Bocchi read this as a club preference signal, so he continued a club. Now declarer was able to draw trumps and establish the diamonds for his contract, losing just two diamonds and a club.

On a heart continuation, three down would have been the outcome, but as it was, Bulgaria had another +420 and led 16-0.

The Bulgarian lead had gone up to 29-15 when the match came to its closing stages.

Board 14. Dealer East. None Vul.
	ª A K J 5 © K 10 9 8 ¨ 10 6 4 § K 5
ª 10 8 7 © A J 4 3 ¨ Q 8 7 2 § 8 7		ª 2 © Q 7 5 ¨ A K 9 5 3 § A J 6 2
	ª Q 9 6 4 3 © 6 2 ¨ J § Q 10 9 4 3

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Nanev	Sementa	Mihov	Versace
		1¨	1ª
Dble	2NT	Dble	4ª
All Pass

As the Bulgarian 1¨ did not locate the EW fit in the suit, NS were allowed to try 4ª undoubled in the end. Versace had little trouble in losing only the three obvious tricks. A fine +420 to Italy, mainly due to Versace's very light overcall.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Duboin	Stamatov	Bocchi	Karaivanov
		1¨	Pass
1ª	Pass	2§	Pass
3¨	Pass	4¨	Pass
5¨	Dble	All Pass

Here, Ivo Karaivanov did not bother to overcall, so the Italians could discover their fits and values, finally settling for the diamond game that proved too high. To underline this, Stamatov had the last word in the auction. Bulgaria +100 alright, but little compensation for the lost game. Italy 8 IMPs.

Board 16. Dealer West. E/W Vul.
	ª 7 4 © J 10 4 ¨ Q 8 7 § A 10 9 8 6
ª A K Q 2 © 9 6 ¨ K 5 2 § J 7 4 3		ª 9 3 © K Q 8 2 ¨ A 10 9 4 3 § K 2
	ª J 10 8 6 5 © A 7 5 3 ¨ J 6 § Q 5

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Nanev	Sementa	Mihov	Versace
1¨	Pass	1©	1ª
Pass	Pass	2ª	Pass
3NT	All Pass

SEMENTA Antonio, Italy

A perfectly normal contract, but look at the defences displayed. The §10 was led to South's queen, but Versace immediately opened the attack on declarer's communications by returning a spade. Declarer won and ducked a diamond to Versace who persisted with spades. Now Nanev was cut off from his hand: he could not establish both a club and a heart trick and cash the third top spade any more without the risk of going down. He played a club to North's ace and a diamond came back. Nanev next took his diamond winners but now had to lead hearts from dummy, so the contract was easily defeated on this nice defence. Italy +100.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Duboin	Stamatov	Bocchi	Karaivanov
1§	Pass	1¨	Pass
1NT	Pass	3NT	All Pass

Same contract, same lead, but Karaivanov continued clubs after winning his §Q at trick 1. Now declarer had all the time in the world to establish the diamonds as well as the one heart trick he needed, as North would never again gain the lead to cash his clubs. Italy another +600 and 12 IMPs to go in the lead for the first time in the match: 40-29.

Another Italian victory was sealed two boards later:

Board 18. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
	ª 10 5 © Q J 7 ¨ A K 7 3 2 § J 10 9
ª Q 8 7 6 3 © 6 3 2 ¨ J 6 4 § 6 2		ª A K J 9 4 2 © 9 8 4 ¨ Q 9 8 § 4
	ª - © A K 10 5 ¨ 10 5 § A K Q 8 7 5 3

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Nanev	Sementa	Mihov	Versace
		1ª	Dble
4ª	Dble	Pass	6§
Pass	Pass	6ª	Pass
Pass	7§	All Pass

When Mohov opened 1ª only, it was relatively easy for NS to reach their proper contract. Please note Versace's courageous Pass of 6ª holding two quick losers in diamonds but confirming his spade void. Sementa of course had no trouble in raising to seven with his ¨AK. Italy +2140.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Duboin	Stamatov	Bocchi	Karaivanov
		1ª	1NT
3ª	4©	4ª	5§
Pass	6§	All Pass

Here,. NS lacked the tools to fully cope with the unusual South hand and, left to their own devices as the opponents remained silent after 4ª, could not get beyond the six-level. Bulgaria +1390 and another 13 IMPs to Italy.

The final score: 53-30 or 20-10 VP to Italy. Bulgaria had consolidated their bronze medal.