Lauria Restores Order

All the declarers clashed with the 3NT on board 20 from Round 2, exiting from it with broken bones, even if they got a little help from the opposition. Did I say all? Wrong. One came out of this clash without any damage.

Board 20. Dealer West. All Vul.
	ª A K © 9 4 ¨ A 8 5 3 2 § A Q J 4
ª 5 © J 6 2 ¨ K Q J 10 4 § 10 9 6 2		ª J 10 9 6 4 2 © K Q 8 7 ¨ 9 6 § K
	ª Q 8 7 3 © A 10 5 3 ¨ 7 § 8 7 5 3

West	North	East	South
	Lauria		Versace
Pass	2¨*	2ª	Dble
Pass	2NT	Pass	3NT
All pass
* 18/20 balanced

Lorenzo Lauria, Italy

East made the quite natural lead of the ªJ, just like everybody else in the room. Lorenzo Lauria won the ªK in hand and played a low diamond. Est went up with the nine and now the crucial moment for the defence had come. A red suit would throw sand into declarer´s machinery, but who can blame East, at this early stage of the hand, for continuing a spade? OK, forget it. Lauria won the ªA as West threw a heart, and next cashed the §A (oops) becoming aware of the club situation. Now you should concentrate on the finale which is a little masterpiece. Lorenzo exited with another low diamond to West, who returned the suit, ducked again by declarer. Lauria won the fourth round of diamonds with the ace and crossed to dummy with the ©A. The situation was:

	ª - © 9 ¨ 8 § Q J 4
ª -- © J ¨ 10 § 10 9 6		ª 10 9 © K Q 8 ¨ -- § --
	ª Q © 10 ¨ - § 8 7 5

On dummy´s ªQ West´s choices were remarkably restricted. To put it briefly, all his options would induce him to quickly fold his cards and move to the next board, but being a fighter till the end, he preferred to discard his last heart. When Lauria next led the §8 from dummy, West was forced to split his intermediates, but Lauria won in hand and put West on lead with the last diamond. This was the fourth trick for the defence, but also the end of the story and of the defence, as west was forced to lead into the split tenace in clubs. Quick, Watson, the needle!

When Your Choice is Restricted

This deal from Round 5 gave one declarer a chance to show his skill.

ª K Q © A K Q J 9 ¨ A K Q § 4 3 2

ª A 8 6 4 2 © 5 ¨ 7 5 3 § A Q 9 7

West	North	East	South
D Yadlin	Borevkovic	I Yadlin	Tesla
			1ª
Pass	2©	Pass	3§*
Pass	3¨	Pass	3ª
Pass	4NT*	Pass	5©*
Pass	5NT*	Pass	6§*
Dble	7ª	All Pass

West leads the ª10 and rather than dwell on the auction you win and cash the other top spade in dummy, West following with the nine. Recalling some ancient advice you decide to place East with ªJ753 and cash four rounds of hearts, discarding clubs from your hand. A club to the ace is followed by a diamond to dummy, a club ruff and a diamond. If East cannot ruff you play the master heart intending to discard a diamond. You make your Grand Slam via a trump coup and wait to collect your prize for the best played hand of the year from the IBPA.
Not quite, for this was the full deal:

	ª K Q © A K Q J 9 ¨ A K Q § 4 3 2
ª J 10 9 © 10 7 2 ¨ 8 6 2 § K 10 6 5		ª 7 5 3 © 8 6 4 3 ¨ J 10 9 4 § J 8
	ª A 8 6 4 2 © 5 ¨ 7 5 3 § A Q 9 7

As you can see, West was able to ruff the fourth heart for one down. Full marks to him for his cunning choice of lead.
(Imagine West's trumps were say ª1095. If you did not lead a trump it would be a good idea to follow with the nine and ten on the first two rounds. Editor)

Busman's Holiday

Teams of people from different professions go for a holiday where they have to work.

The EBL Executive has to work extra hard at a major Championship and it was a treat when several of its members were able to compete in a light hearted match. This was the biggest swing:

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

West	North	East	South
Magerman	Borusiewicz	de Pauw	Kielbasinski
		1¨	1ª
Pass	2ª	All Pass

West led the ten of diamonds, covered by the jack and queen and East decided to switch to the three of spades. Declarer naturally put up the ace and played on clubs. He ended up losing two clubs, two spades, two diamonds and one heart for two down, -100.

West	North	East	South
Stobiecki	Tynianker	Wachowski	Rand
		1NT	2ª*
Pass	Pass	2NT	Pass
3§	Pass	3NT	Dble
All Pass

With a maximum for 1NT, East decided to contest the part score further. West did not like the idea of no-trumps but with South having promised spades and a minor Three Clubs look dubious. When East bid for a third time South had heard enough. He led the ten of spades and East won with the queen and tried the heart finesse. When that lost and North played a spade he ended up losing four spades, one heart and two clubs for down three, -800.

Page 4