USA II vs. USA I

Bangkok, Thailand
2006 World Youth Bridge Team Championships
IMPs
USA II vs. USA I

1.	J 4 2 J 6 5 A 10 6 4 2 Q 5
K 10 10 7 4 3 2 5 3 A J 10 3		A Q 9 7 6 3 A 8 Q 9 8 7 4
None Vul	8 5 K Q 9 K J 9 8 7 K 6 2

Greenberg West Dbl 4

Gill North Pass 3 All Pass

Lall East 1 3

Shore South 2 Pass

4 by East
Made 4 — EW +420 — EW +6
Total: USA I 6 to 0

I had an interesting choice of how high to raise as North, and I guess I got it wrong. If I happen to bid 4D, it will buy the contract and shut out the opponents. I'm not sure what happened at the other table - they didn't bid 4D either, maybe because south doubled 1S instead of bidding 2D. This seemed sort of like a random swing, I don't think that not bidding 4D is a "mistake," although I certainly would consider it one at matchpoints. I didn't think we could make 4D and I wasn't sure if they could make anything. I thought that 3D might buy the contract, but I was wrong I suppose.

2.	J 7 6 3 10 8 7 A K J 10 8 2
8 4 2 Q 9 5 9 6 5 4 9 8 7		K Q 10 A K J 4 Q 7 3 K J 6
N-S Vul	A 9 5 6 3 2 2 A Q 10 5 4 3

Greenberg West Pass

Gill North Dbl

Lall East 1 All Pass

Shore South Pass

1 x by East

Trick 1. S

Lead 2

2nd

3rd

4th

Down 1 — NS +100 — NS +5
Total: USA I 6 to 5

This board could have been a bigger win, since East at the other table bid 1NT over the double and played in 1NT making. Unfortuantely I have to cash my other big diamond at trick 2, playing partner for a singleton 2 of diamonds rather than switching to a trump, which seemed completely obvious. This seemed like it would really cost if partner had, say 5 trumps and Qxx of diamonds and I'm letting declarer make his small trumps, and since I can no longer get in, I can't lead a trump for partner.

3.	A 5 4 A J 9 2 A 8 5 4 6 4
J 9 8 6 2 10 J 7 6 3 2 K 7		K Q 7 Q 8 6 3 Q 9 A 10 3 2
E-W Vul	10 3 K 7 5 4 K 10 Q J 9 8 5

Greenberg West Pass 2

Gill North 1 ¹ All Pass

Lall East Dbl

Shore South Pass 2 ²

1. 11-15, 0-5 each minor
2. negative free bid

2 by West
Made 4 — EW +170 — EW +7
Total: USA I 13 to 5

This board was not a good result for our side, although as only about 1/2 of the N/S pairs in the event managed a positive score. Noble thinks he should have reopened with a double rather than let the opponents play in 2S. Unfortunately the negative free bid stifled our side from competing.

4.	A Q J 7 5 A Q 4 Q 9 7 3 Q
K 6 2 — K J 5 A K 10 9 6 4 2		10 9 8 4 10 7 6 5 A 10 J 8 7
Both Vul	3 K J 9 8 3 2 8 6 4 2 5 3

Greenberg West 1 2 Pass

Gill North 1 Dbl Pass

Lall East Pass 3 Dbl

Shore South Pass 4 All Pass

4 x by South
Down 1 — EW +200 — EW +13
Total: USA I 26 to 5

This was our other bad board of the set, and maybe should have been a small win. Very few pairs in the event bid to 4H on this hand, and I think there are several instructive points. Firstly, note East's raise of clubs. It could get them to their making 5C contract (making if declarer guesses how to endplay North), and also helps them on defense. When West leads a top club, East can drop the 7 to show interest in a diamond shift. This on top of the double (which is a good double, since he knows trumps are breaking poorly and we have very limited values), should pinpoint the diamond shift for West to put the contract down off the top. At the other table, East chose not to raise even after West jump reopened with 3C. This made the defense harder. At our table, West switched to the 6, and now declarer has to guess what's going on, and take the spade finesse. Probably this is what he should do, but it's far from clear, and unfortunately he chose to hop the A.

5.	A J 9 J 6 3 K Q 10 5 9 8 3
8 2 9 8 2 A 8 4 3 2 5 4 2		10 6 5 3 4 J 9 6 A K Q 7 6
N-S Vul	K Q 7 4 A K Q 10 7 5 7 J 10

Greenberg West Pass All Pass

Gill North Pass 2 NT²

Lall East Pass Pass

Shore South 1 ¹ 4

1. 8-16, light only if shapely
2. 3-card limit raise

4 by South
Made 4 — NS +620 — Push
Total: USA I 26 to 5

There wasn't much to this one

6.	A Q J 8 A K Q 8 6 4 A Q 4
10 7 4 3 2 J 4 Q 9 7 3 K 10		K 6 10 7 6 3 A 2 9 8 5 3 2
E-W Vul	9 5 9 5 2 K J 10 8 5 J 7 6

Greenberg West Pass 1 ¹ All Pass

Gill North 1 2 NT²

Lall East Pass Pass Pass

Shore South Pass 1 3 NT

1. spades or minors
2. 22-23 balanced

3 NT by North
Made 5 — NS +460 — NS +2
Total: USA I 26 to 7

Nice suction bid by Ari. Well, he got Justin to lead the K, which didn't work out so well. After that, making 11 tricks wasn't so hard.

7.	A J 8 A Q 2 Q 10 4 10 7 6 5
K Q 10 J 7 4 3 A J 3 K J 3		9 7 6 4 3 10 6 K 5 2 A 9 2
Both Vul	5 2 K 9 8 5 9 8 7 6 Q 8 4

Greenberg West 1 NT 2

Gill North Pass Pass

Lall East 2 ¹ 2 NT

Shore South Pass Pass All Pass

1. transfer

2 NT by West
Made 3 — EW +150 — EW +1
Total: USA I 27 to 7

We can get 5 tricks against this, but it's difficult, and I failed to switch to hearts early enough, and they took 9 before we got 5. Against 3NT I probably would have gotten this right I imagine.

8.	A 6 5 Q 8 2 K 5 4 7 6 5 2
K 10 8 7 K 5 A J 10 8 3 J 9		Q 3 2 A J 6 3 Q 6 2 A Q 8
None Vul	J 9 4 10 9 7 4 9 7 K 10 4 3

Greenberg West 1 1

Gill North Pass Pass

Lall East 1 3 NT

Shore South Pass All Pass

3 NT by East
Made 5 — EW +460 — EW +2
Total: USA I 29 to 7

Not much to do here, we managed only 2 tricks on defense, which seems like one fewer than we should, and our teammates managed only 9 on offense, which seems like one fewer than they should. At our table, Lall won the J on the board, and immediately led a spade to his Q, a nice avoidance play. This held, and now he finessed the diamond and I returned a club, knocking out the A. Declarer ran his diamonds, and noble threw a heart to keep his club winners, and Lall took the heart finesse to get 4 hearts, 4 diamonds, 2 clubs and 1 spade.

9.	A K 6 5 2 8 4 3 A 9 J 4 3
9 4 A Q 10 5 2 Q 10 5 3 9 5		Q J 9 K J 6 4 2 A K Q 7 6
E-W Vul	J 10 8 7 3 K 7 6 8 7 10 8 2

Greenberg West All Pass

Gill North 1 ¹

Lall East 2 NT²

Shore South 4

1. 8-16, light only if shapely
2. minors

4 by North
Down 4 — EW +200 — EW +2
Total: USA I 31 to 7

We really thought we had stolen this board, since they're ice for 4H, 5C or 5D, but they stole it at the other table, too when Grue opened the North hand a 14-16 NT. East bid 2NT, and West bid only 3D, which bought the contract for 150 and lose 2. Only 3 tables in the event failed to get at least +600 with the EW cards here, so somebody needs to find a way.

10.	5 A 9 4 3 Q 7 3 A K 9 7 2
K J 9 6 3 Q 8 6 K J 10 8 3		A Q 7 J 7 2 A J 10 9 4 6 4
Both Vul	10 8 4 2 K 10 5 8 6 5 2 Q 5

Greenberg West 1 2

Gill North Dbl All Pass

Lall East 1 Rdbl¹

Shore South Pass Pass

1. 3 spades

2 by West
Made 3 — EW +140 — EW +6
Total: USA I 37 to 7

This board our teammates didn't get to their 8-card spade fit, since they don't play support doubles or redoubles, so they sold to 2H making for a poor score. Somebody on their side needs to get them to 2S somehow.

11.	K 10 9 3 K 9 4 Q 7 4 9 7 2
Q J 5 A 5 2 9 8 5 Q 8 4 3		A 8 7 2 Q J 10 7 6 3 2 J 5
None Vul	6 4 8 A K J 10 6 3 A K 10 6

Greenberg West Pass Pass All Pass

Gill North 1 ² 3

Lall East 3 Pass

Shore South 1 ¹ Pass 4

1. 16+, ART
2. GF, flat or reds

4 by South
Made 4 — NS +130 — EW +7
Total: USA I 44 to 7

This is a hand where I really don't know what's right again. Partner's pass of 3H doesn't really say that much. Lall tanked before bidding 3H and I knew he didn't just have KQJxxxx or some obvious preempt. With my 1S response, I had denied a 5-card spade suit, so I could bid 3S showing exactly 4. This seemed like it was only wrong if partner had enough running tricks and no heart stopper, and not 4 spades either. As it turns out partner had all these things and couldn't bid 3NT over 3S, and so we lost on the board. I'd be willing to believe that given my stopper, I just have to shut my eyes and bid 3NT, but it seems like partner could have the same hand with the A of diamonds in spades, and they lead a heart, and we have only 5 top tricks without the diamonds... and meanwhile 4S could be cold if partner has 4. I really don't know about this one, all I know is I chose the wrong thing this time.

12.	J 10 6 5 2 A 9 A J 2 A K 8
A 8 7 8 5 3 Q 10 9 8 Q J 6		Q 4 J 7 6 4 2 K 5 3 10 3 2
N-S Vul	K 9 3 K Q 10 7 6 4 9 7 5 4

Greenberg West Pass 2 4 Pass

Gill North 1 ¹ 2 3 NT

Lall East 2 ² Pass All Pass

Shore South Dbl³ 2 NT

1. 16+, ART
2. hearts or blacks *vomit*
3. GF
4. P/c

3 NT by South
Made 4 — NS +630 — NS +1
Total: USA I 44 to 8

Nice suction bid, Justin. Both tables played this in NT, and West was convinced to lead a heart on the bidding, so we made the overtrick.

13.	A J 6 Q 4 K Q 6 4 9 4 3 2
K Q 10 8 5 8 2 9 5 K 8 7 5		9 4 3 2 A K 5 3 A J 8 2 10
Both Vul	7 J 10 9 7 6 10 7 3 A Q J 6

Greenberg West 2

Gill North 1 ¹ Pass

Lall East Dbl 4

Shore South 1 ² All Pass

1. 11-15 0-5 diamonds
2. not forcing

4 by West
Down 1 — NS +100 — Push
Total: USA I 44 to 8

This was another pretty common result. You sort of have to be in game here and both tables were.

14.	A Q 9 K 8 7 2 Q 7 5 J 5 3
K J 10 3 9 A K J 4 3 10 6 2		7 4 2 J 6 5 10 8 2 K Q 8 4
None Vul	8 6 5 A Q 10 4 3 9 6 A 9 7

Greenberg West 1 3

Gill North Pass All Pass

Lall East Pass 1 NT

Shore South Pass 2

3 by West
Down 2 — NS +100 — EW +1
Total: USA I 45 to 8

I chose to pass the north hand over 3D, thinking we might not make 3H and they probably weren't making 3D. We actually were making 3H, so lose 1. Could have been a win if 3H were going down, though.

15.	7 4 A J 10 7 A 6 5 3 10 9 8
Q 9 8 Q 9 6 5 3 K 8 2 A 4		J 3 2 4 2 Q 9 7 4 K J 6 3
N-S Vul	A K 10 6 5 K 8 J 10 Q 7 5 2

Greenberg West Pass Pass

Gill North 1 NT 2

Lall East Pass All Pass

Shore South 1 ¹ 2

2 by North
Down 1 — EW +100 — EW +9
Total: USA I 54 to 8

West led a heart at our table, and the J held on dummy. Noble decided to try and take 4 red suit tricks, pitching a diamond, then ruff a diamond, which would virtually guarantee the contract when hearts were 4-3. Unfortunately they were 5-2 and he went down. At the other table, our teammate decided to stir up the waters with a 2H overcall on the West cards, which went for 300, so lose a bundle.

16.	K 10 7 — J 10 9 8 K Q 10 9 3 2
A Q 8 6 5 10 7 5 K 6 4 J 6		4 A K J 8 6 4 2 A Q 3 8 5
E-W Vul	J 9 3 2 Q 9 3 7 5 2 A 7 4

Greenberg West Pass 4 5

Gill North 3 Pass All Pass

Lall East 4 5

Shore South Pass Pass

5 by East
Down 1 — NS +100 — Push
Total: USA I 54 to 8

The aggressive 3C preempt at both tables worked well here, getting the opponents to push themselves to the 5-level. The auction was nearly identical at both tables.

17.	K 10 9 3 9 8 5 2 10 7 Q 9 8
8 7 6 5 K Q 10 A 9 6 5 3 7		Q 4 J 6 4 4 2 K J 10 5 4 3
None Vul	A J 2 A 7 3 K Q J 8 A 6 2

Greenberg West All Pass

Gill North Pass

Lall East 3

Shore South 3 NT

3 NT by South
Made 4 — NS +430 — NS +11
Total: USA I 54 to 19

We came to rest peacefully in 3NT after the 3C preempt. A low diamond was led, and Noble won in hand and played another diamond, Greenberg winning with the A and switching to the K, ducked. At this point, West exited with a club to the A. South cashed his two diamonds, and the A, and when West failed to unblock, threw West in with the 3rd heart to take his heart and lead a spade to give away the location of the Q. At the other table, Grue and Kranyak had a misunderstanding and got to 4S down 1.

18.	J 6 5 K 7 5 4 8 7 J 9 5 2
K Q 9 7 3 2 Q Q 9 6 3 A Q		A 4 J 8 6 3 2 A K J 5 10 7
N-S Vul	10 8 A 10 9 10 4 2 K 8 6 4 3

Greenberg West 1 3 ¹ 4 4 NT² 6

Gill North Pass Pass Pass Pass All Pass

Lall East 1 2 3 4 5 ³

Shore South Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass

1. 4th suit forcing
2. keycard
3. two without the Q

6 by West
Made 6 — EW +980 — EW +2
Total: USA I 56 to 19

I could have made life harder for declarer in 6S, but with the club K onsides, nothing really matters. Our teammates bid the better 6D contract, which doesn't need spades to split 3-2, and lost 2 IMPs for their troubles.

19.	K 9 7 8 7 4 A J 2 Q 9 4 3
A Q J 10 3 Q J 6 2 Q 10 5 8		5 4 A K 10 5 9 7 6 K J 6 5
E-W Vul	8 6 2 9 3 K 8 4 3 A 10 7 2

Greenberg West 1 2

Gill North Pass Pass

Lall East 1NT 4

Shore South Pass Pass All pass

4 by West
Down 2 — NS +200 — Push
Total: USA I 56 to 19

Not much to this. Virtually every table in the room was in 4H down 2.

20.	10 9 J 6 3 9 3 A Q J 10 8 3
K Q 5 4 3 2 10 5 8 6 5 4 9		8 6 K 9 8 7 2 K 10 2 7 6 5
Both Vul	A J 7 A Q 4 A Q J 7 K 4 2

Greenberg West 2 All Pass

Gill North Pass

Lall East Pass

Shore South 3 NT

3 NT by South
Made 7 — NS +720 — Push
Total: USA I 56 to 19

I sort of wanted to bid over this 3NT, but I really don't have that good a hand. Turns out everything is onsides. Only two tables in the event managed to bid a slam here, so I don't feel very bad about it.