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Welcome to Ron a
Rama
Poland vs Italy
Bermuda Bowl - Round 15
The VuGraph presentation is splendid, with more screens than
most multiplex cinemas. The commentary is expert, but with so many
nationalities being represented in the audience it is not so easy
for the commentators to inject a note of humour that can be
universally understood.
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We'll try to do it for them in this report, using ideas
suggested by our photographer Ron Tacchi.
Some sporting contests are considered to be of extra
special significance. England v Germany at football and
Australia v New Zealand at Rugby are just two examples. Ever
since the final of the Maastricht Olympiad matches between
Italy and Poland have carried the weight of expectation. These
two juggernauts met in Round 15 and attracted a capacity
crowd.
Bocchi & Duboin have been tinkering with their
system, not necessarily the best idea before a major
championship. Still, the first deal does not look too
testing: |
|
 Bocchi Norberto,
Italy |
| Board 1. Dealer North. None Vul.
|
| |
ª K Q J 8
© 10 2
¨ 7 5 3
§ Q 9 7 4 |
ª 5 2
© A 9 7 6 5
¨ A K 9 8
§ K 3 |
 |
ª 10 4
© K J 3
¨ J 10 6
§ J 8 6 5 2 |
| |
ª A 9 7 6 3
© Q 8 4
¨ Q 4 2
§ A
10 |
| Closed Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Versace |
Balicki |
Lauria |
Zmudzinski |
| |
Pass |
Pass |
1ª |
| Dble |
2NT* |
Pass |
3ª |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
Not everyone would be happy with the idea of having to bid Two
Hearts on the West hand over a possible response of Two Clubs, but
you have to do something with those cards.
The defenders have made a slight error, allowing declarer to
escape for one down.
| Open Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Martens |
Bocchi |
Lesnewski |
Duboin |
| |
Pass |
Pass |
1ª |
| 2© |
2NT* |
3© |
3ª |
| 4© |
4ª |
Pass |
Pass |
| Dble |
|
|
|
 Balicky Cezary, Poland |
|
Marten's overcall represents the other side of the coin on
this deal. Kokish said 'you hate to do it but I guess you have
to'.
Martens took his partner's raise seriously (although
perhaps East would double 2NT with a decent hand) and looked
headed for a minus (Four Hearts is not hopeless, but you would
not exactly be a favourite). However, Bocchi also took his
partner's raise at face value (in some partnerships South
could double to make a game try) and gave the Poles the chance
to collect a number.
He's here The Phantom of the Opera.
West led the ace of diamonds and when East played the jack
he switched to the ace of hearts and a heart to the king. Back
came a diamond and declarer was booked for -500 and 9 IMPs to
Poland. |
| Board 3. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
|
| |
ª 6
© K 9 7
¨ A Q 9 7 6
§ A 7 5 4 |
ª A 9 3 2
© J 10 6 2
¨ J 2
§ 9 8 3 |
|
ª K Q J 7 5 4
© 8
¨ 10 3
§ Q J 10 6 |
| |
ª 10 8
© A Q 5 4 3
¨ K 8 5 4
§ K 2 |
| Closed Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Versace |
Balicki |
Lauria |
Zmudzinski |
| |
|
|
1© |
| Pass |
2¨ |
Pass |
2© |
| Pass |
3§ |
Pass |
3¨ |
| Pass |
4© |
All Pass |
|
Six Diamonds is obviously
excellent, and certainly better than Six Hearts this time.
We don't know if South considered bidding Four Diamonds rather
than three, but getting to a slam with perfect cards is frequently
difficult.
Even in Vaupillon they would bid Two Spades with that East
hand.
| Open Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Martens |
Bocchi |
Lesnewski |
Duboin |
| |
|
|
1© |
| Pass |
2§* |
2ª |
Dble |
| 3ª |
4§ |
Pass |
4¨ |
| Pass |
4© |
Pass |
4NT |
| Pass |
6© |
All Pass |
|
This time the auction made it clear that North/South had nothing
wasted in spades, but they picked the wrong slam. -50 and 11 IMPs to
Poland, now ahead 20-0.
Vaupillon, twin city Warsaw.
| Board 4. Dealer West. All Vul.
|
| |
ª -
© K Q J 9 7 6
¨ A K J
§ A 10 9 2 |
ª J 6 5 3
© A 8 5
¨ 4 3
§ Q 6 5 4 |
|
ª K 10 8 2
© 4 3
¨ Q 10 9 8 5
§ K 3 |
| |
ª A Q 9 7 4
© 10 2
¨ 7 6 2
§ J 8 7 |
| Closed Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Versace |
Balicki |
Lauria |
Zmudzinski |
| Pass |
1§* |
1¨ |
1ª |
| Pass |
2© |
Pass |
2ª |
| Pass |
3§ |
Pass |
3© |
| Pass |
4¨ |
Pass |
4© |
| Pass |
4ª |
Pass |
5© |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
When North rebid Two Hearts he was showing a strong hand.
However, the Poles got too high - North's void in South's suit was a
critical factor. East led the three of hearts, but when declarer
played low from dummy West carefully withheld his ace to ensure one
down, +100.
| Open Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Martens |
Bocchi |
Lesnewski |
Duboin |
| Pass |
1© |
Pass |
1NT* |
| Pass |
2§ |
Pass |
2© |
| Pass |
4© |
All Pass |
|
1NT promised spades and Two Clubs was a relay, promising either
clubs or any 16-18. South's Two hearts was weak, so Bocchi had no
qualms in settling for game. He came to eleven tricks, for +650 and
11 Italian IMPS.
| Board 6. Dealer East. E/W Vul.
|
| |
ª J 10 9 5 2
© 8
¨ Q 8
§ K 6 5 4 3 |
ª -
© A 6 4 2
¨ A J 9 7 6 2
§ 10 8 7 |
|
ª A K Q 8 7 3
© J 10 7 5
¨ K 10 4
§ - |
| |
ª 6 4
© K Q 9 3
¨ 5 3
§ A Q J 9 2 |
| Closed Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Versace |
Balicki |
Lauria |
Zmudzinski |
| |
|
1ª |
1NT* |
| 2¨ |
Pass |
2© |
Pass |
| 3¨ |
Pass |
4§ |
Dble |
| 4© |
Pass |
6¨ |
Pass |
| Pass |
7§ |
Dble |
All Pass |
South's 1NT overcall is a popular convention in Poland, promising
8-15, at least 4-5+, major+minor.
There is no obvious way in which one can determine the merits of
North's action in deciding to save.
He's back, The Phantom of the Opera.
The contract failed by five tricks, -1100.
| Open Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Martens |
Bocchi |
Lesnewski |
Duboin |
| |
|
1ª |
2§ |
| Dble |
5§ |
Pass |
Pass |
| Dble |
All Pass |
|
|
Having to double twice with the West hand is hardly descriptive.
Five Clubs was less expensive, so Italy took the lead for the first
time.
| Board 15. Dealer South. N/S Vul.
|
| |
ª K Q 8 5
© 8
¨ J 7 5 3
§ J 9 7 4 |
ª 6 3 2
© K 7
¨ K Q 10 6 2
§ A K Q |
|
ª A J 9 4
© J 9 6 5 4
¨ A 9
§ 10 6 |
| |
ª 10 7
© A Q 10 3 2
¨ 8 4
§ 8 5 3 2 |
Both sides went in search of nine tricks. The bidding was
different but the play was identical.
| Closed Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Versace |
Balicki |
Lauria |
Zmudzinski |
| |
|
|
Pass |
| 1NT |
Pass |
2¨ |
Pass |
| 2© |
Pass |
3© |
Pass |
| 3ª |
Pass |
3NT |
All Pass |
| Open Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Martens |
Bocchi |
Lesnewski |
Duboin |
| |
|
|
Pass |
| 1NT |
Pass |
2¨* |
Pass |
| 2© |
Pass |
2ª |
Pass |
| 3NT |
All Pass |
|
|
 Duboin Giorgio, Italy |
|
After winning the opening club lead with the queen Martens
spent a very long time considering his play to trick two. To
some it appeared he was meditating but to others he was
clearly trying to remember if he had turned the gas off at
his home in Warsaw.
Eventually he played a diamond to the ace and a heart.
South put up the ace and played back a club. Martens won with
the ace and now played a low diamond from his hand - a fine
safety play to guard against a bad break. North played low so
the nine won and declarer had ten tricks,
+430. |
| Board 16. Dealer West. E/W Vul.
|
| |
ª Q 9
© 10 8 7 6 3
¨ Q J
§ A K J 2 |
ª A J 6 4 2
© 5
¨ A K 9 7 4
§ 8 3 |
|
ª 3
© A K Q J 9 4 2
¨ 6 5 3
§ 7 6 |
| |
ª K 10 8 7 5
© -
¨ 10 8 2
§ Q 10 9 5 4 |
The bidding in both rooms saw East/West reach the optimum
contract.
| Closed Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Versace |
Balicki |
Lauria |
Zmudzinski |
| 1ª |
Pass |
2© |
Pass |
| 2ª |
Pass |
3¨ |
Pass |
| 4¨ |
Pass |
4© |
All Pass |
| Open Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Martens |
Bocchi |
Lesnewski |
Duboin |
| 1ª |
Pass |
2© |
Pass |
| 2ª |
Pass |
|
|
The defenders started with two rounds of clubs and switched to a
diamond. Declarer won, and expecting to be able to table his hand,
played a heart to the ace. He crossed to the ace of spades, ruffed a
spade, went back to dummy with a diamond and ruffed another spade.
Now he could claim, a perfect example of elopement.
In Vaupillon the only kind of elopement they have heard of is
when the farmer's daughter runs off with squire's son.
It was Italy who ran away with this match, defeating Poland
18-12VP.
We call that an overture in
Vaupillon. | 
