Triumphs and Disasters: Day 4

I was doing commentary on the 12th round match between Poland and Brazil.  Brazil played very well but it just wasn’t Poland’s day.  In events like this although the caliber of play in the Bermuda Bowl is very high players walk the edge trying to push for the best result possible.  They are under pressure all the time and as a result things go wrong.  So let’s look at a couple of disasters I witnessed in today’s play.  Please understand that I understand how these things happen.  They happen to everyone, even the best.

Here is a complete disaster from the Polish Brazil match to start.  

Buras opened a 13+ to 16 1NT in third chair and Campos doubled (good hand).  While I am not certain of their methods I believe that the pass over the double forced redouble.  Buras redoubled and Markiewicz bid 2♣  which I think showed clubs and another suit.  Villas-Boa doubled.  What do you do with this hand?

Do you sit or do you bid?  The problem with bidding is of course that partner is quite likely to have spades.  This was passed out and this was the entire deal.

Dealer: North Vul: E-W	Narkiewicz♠ 84 ♥  J732 ♦ 752 ♣ 8432
Campos♠ QJ103  ♥ AQ ♦  AJ1084 ♣ QJ		Villas-Boa♠ A9652 ♥ 965  ♦ 6  ♣ A1095
	Buras♠ K7  ♥ K1084  ♦ KQ93  ♣ K76

The defense was perfect.  The ♣ Q was allowed to hold and Buras won the ♣ J with the ♣ K.  He tried a heart. Campos winning the ♥ Q.    The ♠ Q went to the ♠A and Villas-Boa drew the remaining trump.  Spades were continued and Campos unblocked the ♠ 10.  Declarer could eventually take a diamond trick and that was it.  Down 5 was 1100.  This was “only” a loss of 10 imps as +650 in the spade game was made by East-West at the other table.

I also was fortunate enough to do commentary in a well played Israel-USA 1 match in the eleventh round.  Although Israel won the match Levin and Weinstein had a triumph on Board 16 when they bid a great diamond slam.  Try it yourself.

West started with a pass and after that E-W passed throughout.  Levin opened 1D and Weinstein bid 2♠  showing 5+spades 4 hearts and limit raise strength.  Convenient.  Levin continued with a forcing 3♦ .  Weinstein cuebid 4♣  and Levin bid 4♥ Blackwood.  4♠  showed an ace and Levin was able to bid 6♦ .  Nice.  This was worth 10 imps when the other table failed to find the diamond slam.