Day 7 - Great Bridge Links

2005 WORLD BRIDGE CHAMPIONSHIPS Estoril, Portugalroom. Once again a spade was led.This time declarer put upthe king and advanced the jack of clubs. When that held hecleared the clubs. Now West could return either a spade ora diamond, but his partner, who had led the eight of spades,had discarded the six on the third club and, for whatever reason,when West switched to the ace of hearts declarer washome, another push where both sides had missed an easychance.There was a lot of discussion about Smith Peters during theplay of this deal. It reminded me of something Groucho Marxsaid to one of his partner when he was asked how theyshould signal:‘Smile if you like my lead.’Board 6. Dealer East. E/W Vul.♠ K Q 10 5 3♥ 9 7 2♦ K♣ 8 7 6 2♠ A 9 8 6 N ♠ 7♥ Q 5 ♥ A K J 10 8 6 3W E♦ 9 6 3 ♦ 5 2♣ A K 4 3 S ♣ Q J 10♠ J 4 2♥ 4♦ A Q J 10 8 7 4♣ 9 5Both Easts opened Four Hearts. If you decided to make a trywith the West cards what should you do? Perhaps a bid ofFive Clubs, expecting partner to show a diamond controlwould be best. Of course, if he has three low in diamonds youwill look foolish.Neither South led the ace of diamonds, so it was a push at+680.Now for a deal where Fu & Zhao put up a brilliant defence– surely one worthy of consideration for an IBPA award.Board 8. Dealer West. None Vul.♠ Q 6 4 2♥ K Q J 3 2♦ 10 6 3♣ 3♠ K J 10 7 3 N ♠ 5♥ A 8 5 ♥ 9 7W E♦ K 7 ♦ Q 9 4 2♣ Q 8 6 S ♣ A K J 10 7 2♠ A 9 8♥ 10 6 4♦ A J 8 5♣ 9 5 4Open RoomWest North East SouthCastanheiro Fu Pessoa Zhao1NT Pass 3NT All PassNorth led the king of hearts and continued with the queen,West ducking twice. Now Fu realized there was no future inhearts, so he switched to the two of spades. South took theace and was not tempted to go back to hearts, returning thenine of spades.West put in the jack and cunningly discarded the two ofclubs. North won with the queen and completed a spectaculareffort by switching to a diamond. One down, +50 andthunderous applause from the appreciative audience.Closed RoomWest North East SouthDai Paz Yang Luis1♠ 2♥ Dbl 2♠*Pass 3♥ 4♣ All PassEast/West stopped in a safe contract. South led a heart,declarer winning in dummy and playing the king of diamonds.North won, cashed a heart and switched to a trump. Declarerwon, cashed the queen of diamonds, ruffed a diamond,ruffed a heart, ruffed a diamond and claimed +130, which wasworth 5 IMPs.Portugal led 44-18, but China were not finished.Board 17. Dealer North. None Vul.♠ 3♥ Q 8 6 3♦ J 10 3♣ J 7 6 5 4♠ Q J 10 9 8 7 6 2 N ♠ 5 4♥ K 10 9 4 ♥ A 7 2W E♦ – ♦ K 9 6 5 4 2♣ 10 S ♣ 8 3♠ A K♥ J 5♦ A Q 8 7♣ A K Q 9 2Open RoomWest North East SouthCastanheiro Fu Pessoa ZhaoPass Pass 1♣*4♠ Pass Pass DblePass 5♣ All PassJianming Dai, China8