Egypt vs Russia

Bermuda Bowl - Round 14

It's fair to say one of the surprises of the Bermuda Bowl has been Egypt, who entered play on Friday in sixth place, higher than expected. It's also a fair statement that Russia was a bit of a disappointment. Expected to contend, they began the fifth day of round-robin play in the 11th spot, although not that far away from the top eight and qualification for the knockout phase. The two teams met in round 14 with more than a little at stake for both. It was a close match, and in the end Russia prevailed, 29-24, to keep their hopes alive.

Too much bidding by the Russians at both tables produced the following swing that put Egypt in front.

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

West	North	East	South
El Ahamadi	Gromov	T. Sadek	Petrunin
			2ª
Pass	2NT	Pass	3§
Pass	3ª	All Pass

Sadek Ashraf, Egypt

The lighter-than-air preempt actually looks beefy compared to some of the weak two-bids on exhibit at this tournament. Even so, North's inquiry of 2NT seems overly optimistic. Perhaps he was hoping South would show some high cards in diamonds. At any rate, the Russians were one level too high. Waleed El Ahamadi started with a heart. East, Tarek Sadek, won the ace and returned the suit to South's queen. Declarer tried a diamond to the queen and East's king, and a club came back, to the 2, jack and ace. Alexander Petrunin played the ªA and a spade to West's king. The heart ruff was next and East took the setting trick with the §K for plus 50.

West	North	East	South
Kholomeev	A. Sadek	Zlotov	Naguib
			Pass
1©	Dble	2§	2ª
Pass	Pass	3§	All Pass

Dmitri Zlotov finished two down in this inelegant contract for minus 200 and 6 IMPs to Egypt.

The Russians lost 2 IMPs on the following deal, but it would have been worse if not for Petrunin's good judgment in the auction.

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

In the closed room, Zlotov and Vadim Kholomeev bid their way to 4ª on the East-West cards, were doubled and were one down for minus 200. In the open room, the Egyptians put pressure on the Russians, but they survived.

West	North	East	South
El Ahamadi	Gromov	T. Sadek	Petrunin
		Pass	1§ (1)
1¨ (2)	Dble (3)	3ª	Pass
Pass	4¨	All Pass

(1) Precision. (2) Red suits or black suits. (3) 5-7 HCP. Regardless of which two suits West held, East liked his hand, even at unfavourable vulnerability. Gromov didn't have a great hand, but he wasn't going to be shut out. Over his partner's 4¨, Petrunin had to consider whether game was a possibility. After some thought, he made the correct decision to pass. East led the §10. Gromov went up with the ace, played two rounds of trumps, ending in hand, and led a spade toward dummy. When East produced the ace, Gromov conceded two club tricks to make his contract. On this deal, it was the Egyptians who bid too much.

Petrunin Alexander, Russia

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

West	North	East	South
Kholomeev	A. Sadek	Zlotov	Naguib
1§ (1)	1ª	Pass	Pass
Pass

(1) Precision.

When Ashraf Sadek bid his first suit, Kholomeev saw no reason to disturb the contract, particularly if his partner could make no noise at all over the 1ª overcall. Sadek managed six tricks for minus 100.

West	North	East	South
El Ahamadi	Gromov	T. Sadek	Petrunin
1ª	Pass	Pass	Dble
2©	Pass	3©	Pass
4©	All Pass

Had East held four or more hearts, a raise would seem reasonable - but not with three low trumps. There are quite a few losers in that East hand. Still, it was a vulnerable game they were trying for, and South might have had only three hearts. On the lie of the cards, West had no chance. North led the ¨K and West eventually lost a club trick and three heart tricks for one down. Egypt was minus 100 at both tables for a 5-IMP loss.

The first double-digit swing went to Russia on this deal.

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

West	North	East	South
El Ahamadi	Gromov	T. Sadek	Petrunin
		Pass	1ª
Pass	1NT	2¨	2ª
3¨	Pass	Pass	3ª
All Pass

With the major-suit jacks lying right for declarer, South could not be prevented from taking nine tricks to record plus 140. Petrunin had six spades, two hearts and a club trick.

West	North	East	South
Kholomeev	A. Sadek	Zlotov	Naguib
		1¨	2ª
3NT	All Pass

Zlotov's decision to open the East hand paid off handsomely for his side. Against 3NT, North led the ªQ, but South could not afford to overtake. It is easy to see that a heart switch would have defeated the contract - if declarer ducks, South wins the king and clears the spade suit while he still has the §A as an entry. If declarer rises with the ©A, the defenders can cash four heart tricks when they come in with the §A. When declarer ducked the ªQ lead, however, and South followed with the 2, North interpreted the card as suit preference, so he switched to a club. That allowed declarer to get home with 10 tricks for plus 630. That was 13 IMPs to Russia, who had taken the lead 22-11.

The rest of the set was fairly dull and, although Russia prevailed, it was not by a decisive margin.