The story of Board 22 – when men are men

A slam hand always brings some excitement.  There are sure to be some tables that play the deal in game and perhaps some will find a way to get a minus.  Such is Board 22 of Round 9.  I have included a few excerpts from Board 22 who was very happy to chat with me (but not until after the match had completed of course).

“I couldn’t wait until the players pulled my cards from the board.  The big hand sat with North in fourth seat and I patiently waiting until the bidding arrived at the North hand.” 

Here is the north hand (white on red)

North

♠ AQ10963

♥ AQ87

◊ —

♣ AK2

I think most North’s will find it comfortable to open this hand which is primarily a one suiter with 2♣ with the intent of following up with 2♠ if you are not playing a forcing club style system.  However that was not universally true.  As Board 22 said:

“I was proud of the strength and quality of my North hand with its beautiful prime cards, great spots and excellent spade suit.  Imagine my surprise when I found that not all players in this world championship opened North with a strong bid!”

Right! Didn’t they learn anything from Board 1 of Round 8 and this time you can expect the vulnerable opponents to keep quiet.   Let’s follow the action in the Italy-Romania closed room match after the more normal? 2♣ opening. 

Anyway as luck would have the South hand did have something to say.  Ionita (Romania) held

Ionita
♠ KJ742
♥ J543
◊ K65
♣ J

and responded 2◊ waiting.  When North continued with 2♠ what would you do with the South hand?  Do you like 4♣ here?  I am trying to decide.  Let’s ask Board 22.

“I loved when the South player displayed some macho spirit and splintered after his partner had shown a strong two-bid with spades.  Yee-haw!”

Back to North.  The club splinter helped a little.  He knew he had no club losers and his partner had lots of trump.  But where to go from here.  He needed to know about the king of spades and also about the heart suit.  Asking bids anyone?  Maybe a diamond cuebid would elicit a heart cuebid.  But when 4◊ brought 5◊ didn’t that suggest that the heart king was missing. 

Here is Board 22.

“I was getting very excited now.  I could see these players were headed to a spade slam and now the North player would know exactly where to play this hand 6♠.”

But somehow when the blood runs hot things happen.  Here is the whole auction

Coldea	Ionita
2♣	2◊
2♠	4♣
4◊	5◊
5♥	6♠
7♠	all pass

In the other room where North opened 1♠!  South showed a four card raise with 3◊ and this time when his partner did not show a heart control he didn’t bid the grand slam needing a heart miracle.

	Coldea
	♠ AQ10963
	♥ AQ87
	◊ —
Briciu	♣ AK2	Ghigheci
♠ 8		♠ Q7653
♥ K109		♥ 32
◊ A987		◊ 93
♣ 109743		♣ A1065
	Ionita
	♠ KJ742
	♥ J543
	◊ K65
	♣ J

As you can see the heart loser has no where to go and  it was 14 imps to Italy. 

By the way, the Romanian North was not the only player to bid to 7♠  For example, the New Zealand auction also showed a lot of adrenaline.  I am not even going to analyze this bidding.  But here it is.

 

Tom Jacob	Malc Mayer
2♣	2♠
3♠	4NT
7♠	all pass

I wonder what the discussion was when the partners discussed this deal after this match.  14 imps to Norway.  But there were also some who might have been just a touch timid.  In the Bulgaria-Poland match Karakolev saw this hand differently.  After opening a Precision 1♣.  He heard a positive 1♠ from partner.  He now bid 4◊ splinter.  I do not get this bid at all.  Let’s see what Board 22 has to say; ” I was distressed when North didn’t realize the beauty and power of my North hand after he had found a spade fit.  He needed to be the captain of this auction since he could never describe it to his partner”.  Well said.  OF course South bid 4♠ and now West bid 5♣.  South had nothing to say and he bid 5♠ and North passed!  11 imps to Poland

In the Canada-South Africa Open match South Africa got to the slam but Canada played in 4♥.  Did the auction go something like 1S-1NT(!)-3♥ -4♥ ?  In any case it was 11 imps to South Africa.  A large number of teams got to 6♥ instead of 6♠  which seems to take playing in the 4-4 to an extreme.  6♥ is a lucky make with no spade ruff and only one heart loser. 

What is the best way to play the heart suit in 6♥?   There is a little problem in that they can tap you in diamonds so it does limit your ability to play for some 4-1 breaks and then again there is a strong possibility of a spade ruff.  Maybe it is right to lay down the ace to avoid the ruff possibility.  This is an interesting problem.  Any ideas anyone?

Lest you think the ladies are timid let me reassure you that in the ladies divisions most of the ladies teams ended in the top spot.  However, there were quite a few at the seven level and one or two in game.