Slambition

By Mauren Dennison

The spotlight for my story focuses on the pairing of England's Sally Brock and Margaret Courtney playing North-South respectively against Japan in Round 2 of the Venice Cup. On Board 3, they bid to a slam missing two aces. Having made that error this was the very next deal and Courtney was faced with a very tough decision. This was the layout:

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

West	North	East	South
1§	1©	5§	Dble*
Pass	5¨	Pass	6¨
All Pass

West opened 1§, possibly a three card suit in the context of a strong NT-five card major system and Brock overcalled 1©. East raised the ante to 5§ which South doubled, showing values. West passed and Brock decided to bid 5¨. Faced with this poser Courtney did what her coach would have done:- she raised to six!
Probably West should have doubled (certainly she should. Editor) and possibly East should have led a spade anyway. When she led a club the slam rolled home.
Four boards later came this deal:

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

Whilst Brogeland - Saelensminde bid the hands to 4ª, the French pair Abecassis and Soulet languished in 3ª!
Not so our girls!

West	North	East	South
Pass	1NT	Pass	2©*
Dble	Pass	3©	4§
4©	6§	All Pass

In her system, Brock had two choices of opening bid. She could treat the hand as a 12-13 NT rebid and open 1§ or upgrade to a 14-16 1NT opening. Looking at her five-card suit and with the only card in her hand not likely to pull its wait by force the fifth club, she imaginatively opened 1NT. Courtney transferred with 2© and West doubled. Brock passed denying three spades and East bid 3hx. South introduced her club suit and West unwisely rised hearts to the four level. Now Brock knew South was void of hearts and bid the fine, genuinely making 6§. (Were they the only pair to bid it?)

First Round Grands

The first round of the Venice Cup saw Israel face Venezuela. Israel have a new pairing in Migri Tsur-Campanila and Matilda Poplilov, both highly experienced international players but with other partners. Israel won the match by 19-11 VPs, so these two grand slams, bid by the new partners but missed at the other table, were crucial.

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

West	North	East	South
Poplilov		Tsur-Campanila
		2NT	Pass
3¨	Pass	3©	Pass
4§	Pass	4¨	Pass
4NT	Pass	5¨	Pass
5ª	Pass	6©	Pass
7§	All Pass

Three diamonds was a transfer and 4§ a second suit. When Tsur-Campanila could cuebid, Poplilov asked for key cards. When two suits have been shown opposite a balanced hand, they play that there are six key cards, and the 5¨ response showed four of them. Now Poplilov asked for key queens and heard that she was facing both, allowing her to bid the grand slam, making an easy +2140.

Board 12. Dealer West. N/S Vul.
	ª 8 4 3 © K Q 2 ¨ 8 7 5 4 § Q 10 2
ª J 9 5 © A 10 3 ¨ A 6 § A K J 9 3		ª A K Q 10 6 2 © J 6 ¨ K J 3 § 8 5
	ª 7 © 9 8 7 5 4 ¨ Q 10 9 2 § 7 6 4

West	North	East	South
Poplilov		Tsur-Campanila
1§	Pass	1ª	Pass
2NT	Pass	3ª	Pass
4§	Pass	4¨	Pass
4©	Dble	Pass	Pass
Rdbl	Pass	4NT	Pass
5§	Pass	5NT	Pass
6©	Pass	6ª	Pass
7ª	All Pass

Three Spades was forcing and Poplilov was happy to cuebid on the way to 4ª. When her next cuebid was doubled, Tsur-Campanila passed it back around to find out whether first- or second-round control was held, the redouble promising the ace. Four No Trump asked and the response showed three key cards. Five No Trump invited seven and asked for any extra feature. Poplilov showed the king of clubs with her 6© response and Tsur-Campanila had to settle for the small slam. Now, however, Poplilov realised that she could have bid seven at her previous turn and went on to the grand slam; +1510.

Nicely bid.