Brother versus brother

At the midway point Canada and USA 1 are in a fairly close battle with USA 1 leading by 28 imps. Italy leads China by 53 and Monaco leads England by 37.

One interesting aspects of the Canada-USA 1 all North America match is that it features two brothers one on each team. With their mother Hazel as NPC of Team Canada.

As it happens both brothers were at the same table in their second round match. Darren for Canada sitting East and Gavin for USA 1 sitting South.

Going into Board 28 the USA led Canada by 7 imps, 45-38.  Gavin does often make bold bids and most of them work. But not on this board. This was Gavin’s hand:

 

The auction had started with Darren showing a 3NT raise and a spade stopper.

Can you guess Gavin’s call?

4 ♥ 

Did you guess? Now I know he has 7-4 which in someways is better than 6-5 (and other ways not). And the auction suggests things are likely splitting not too badly for him. The problem is that partner’s spades are not all that likely to be helpful.

 

I think when Gavin looks back on it (whether he wins the match or not) he will agree that the vulnerability was wrong for being quite this aggressive. I imagine not much thought will be given to this flight of fancy if he wins and maybe more if by some chance Canada prevails in the end.

Gavin is an exciting and highly imaginative player with flair and technical excellence but even the great ones get it wrong some of the time.

Whatever happens in this match Captain Hazel is going to be proud of her boys.