USA II vs. Hungary

Bangkok, Thailand
2006 World Youth Bridge Team Championships
IMPs

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

Gill West Pass Pass² Dbl

Szabo North Pass 1 NT¹ 4 All Pass

Shore East Pass 2 Pass

Honyek South 1 2 Pass

1. Forcing
2. Vaguely wondering if I should be doubling
3. Toughest double ever

4 x by South
Down 2 — EW +300, win 5
Total: USA II 5 to 0

I'm not sure why North didn't open this hand. Apparently it was good enough to force game opposite a 3rd seat opener, but not good enough to open. At the other table, our teammates found their way into 3NT, which unfortunately didn't make. Amazingly 4S was bid and not doubled at several tables.

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

West 1 ¹ 2 ³ All Pass

North Pass 2

East Pass 1 ² Pass

South Pass Pass 4

1. 16+, art
2. 0-7 usually
3. 6+ , 16-19

4 by North
Down 1 — EW +100, win 4
Total: USA II 9 to 0

Maybe I could have doubled here and picked up a few more points. Our teammates sold to 4H by West, which seems risky given the prospect of a vulnerable game, but was right here for a 4 IMP gain - maybe their auction made game seem to be obviously out of their reach.

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

West Pass Pass

North 1 2

East Pass All Pass

South 1 ¹ 1

1. 11-15, 0-5

2 by West
Made 5 — EW +200, win 2
Total: USA II 11 to 0

Maybe North could have doubled 1H with his hand, but it's by no means clear. At the other table, our pair somehow got themselves into 1S by South (which means that West let them play 1S holding 7 hearts), and this contract is not a thing of beauty, and went down 3 for a small win.

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

West Pass 2 ²

North Pass Pass

East 1 NT¹ 2

South Pass All Pass

1. 14-16
2. Transfer

2 by East
Down 1 — NS +100, win 3
Total: USA II 14 to 0

2S was made at 4 tables in the event, but most E-W pairs were getting negative scores of varying degree. Our teammates beat 2NT at the other table, as opposite a 15-17 NT, West has to invite. I felt comfortable just transferring, planning to bid again if partner superaccepted. Noble thought that he could have made the contract, but I can't see any obvious way to do so.

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

West Dbl³

North Pass 2 4

East 1 ¹ Dbl

South 1 NT² All Pass

1. 16+, art
2. two non-touching suits
3. GF
4. pass or correct

2 x by North
Down 2 — EW +500, win 11
Total: USA II 25 to 0

On this hand, South decided to interfere with our strong club at unfavorable on a borderline hand, and he paid the price. We took our two spades, two diamonds, A of hearts, and two heart ruffs for 7 tricks and a nice happy 500 points. Most of the tables were making 420 in 4 spades, but our teammates beat this contract a trick on a trump lead, so kudos to them.

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

West

North

East 1 NT

South All Pass

1. 14-16

1 NT by East
Made 1 — EW +90, win 6
Total: USA II 31 to 0

They led the 3, and North won the A and continued. I played a small heart towards the Q, and South has to hop to beat the contract, but he reasonably played small, not knowing I had 5 diamond tricks hidden. Our 14-16 NT made it more difficult for the opponents to get in the auction, as at the other table, our teammates found spades for +140 and a pickup. Note, I think we played this upside down, beucase I was definitely west and I remember playing this hand as East.

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

West Pass

North 4

East All Pass

South 1 NT¹

1. 11-14

4 by North
Made 5 — NS +650, push
Total: USA II 31 to 0

I was a little tempted to bid with the West hand here, but at all red, there really wasn't anything I could reasonably do. This was pretty much a flat board around the room.

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

West Pass Pass Pass

North Pass 2 3 NT

East 1 ¹ 2 All Pass

South 1 NT Pass

3 NT by South
Down 1 — EW +50, lose 11
Total: USA II 31 to 11

I led the T and Noble put up the A before finding the correct defense of switching to AK clubs and a club. It seems like East should be able to find this play since there really isn't any room for West to hold the Q after he encourages in clubs, so there's no danger that East needs to play a low club on the second round. +50 was a very good score for East-West, but unfortuantely our teammates made the poor decision to double 2H by East in a similar auction, failing the "don't double a partscore unless you're destroying it" rule.

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

West 3

North Pass All Pass

East 2

South 3

3 by East
Made 3 — EW +140, win 3
Total: USA II 34 to 11

Noble chose to open the East hand with 2H because of his terrible suit quality. This enabled us to compete to the 3-level easily and win the partscore (not to mention keeping our opponents out of a making 3NT). We were one of the few tables E-W to compete to 3H, and our teammates took the push to 4C and only went down 1 for a small win.

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

West 4

North 4

East 2 ¹ All Pass

South 2

1. 10-15, 6+ clubs

4 by South
Made 5 — NS +650, lose 13
Total: USA II 34 to 23

We were able to preempt the auction fairly high here, but got to the right spot without too much trouble - I don't remember the exact auction. Unfortunately, at the other table South opened and rebid hearts, and the opponents bid and raised clubs, and North decided to bid 3NT instead of raising hearts, which resulted in -200 and a big loss.

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

West 1 ¹ Pass

North 2 NT 4

East Pass All Pass

South Pass 3

1. 11-15, 0-5 diamonds

4 by North win
Down 2 — EW +100, lose 12
Total: Hungary 36 to 34

Our system put Noble in a tough position here, and he made the wrong decision. Because I opened 1D (instead of 1C at every other table), North was able to bid 2NT to show clubs and hearts. This forced Noble to decide whether to bid 3S by himself, and he chose to pass. Bidding here seems safe white, since he could bid 3H to show a good hand with spades, and I'm very likely to have spade support. As it happens, we got a plus score here, which was what most E-W pairs attained. However, our teammates bid up to 5HX, and did not play to best advantage, as they went down 4. All of the other tables in this contract got out for -100 with one going for -500. This was another big loss. We could have held this to a lose 9 or so by bidding our making 4 spades.

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

West Pass 1 ² 3 NT

North Pass Pass All Pass

East 1 ¹ 1 NT³

South Pass Pass

1. 16+, art
2. 0-7 usually
3. 17-19

3 NT by East
Down 1 — NS +50, lose 10
Total: Hungary 46 to 34

It seems like that South has an obvious lead of the A here, and upon finding partner has an odd number, should be able to continue and set up his 5 tricks. Our teammate chose to lead a heart, which ended the defense, for another big loss.

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

West

North 1

East All Pass

South

1 by North
Made 1 — NS +80, win 11
Total: Hungary 46 to 45

South at our table made a poor decision to pass over 1S, since his side could easily have a heart game, not to mention the fact that he might find a better part score contract. Our teammates bid successfully to the making 5D contract and won us back a nice swing. Most of the tables in the event found a way to one game or another here.

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

West 2 All Pass

North Dbl

East 1 ¹ Pass

South 2 3

3 by South
Down 2 — EW +100, win 2
Total: USA II 47 to 46

North made a very suspect double here, which I suppose he intended as penalty, but fortunately for him his partner took out the double. We beat the contract an extra trick at our table by forcing declarer many times, and picked up a small gain.

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

West Pass All Pass

North 2

East Pass

South 1 NT¹ 2

2 by South
Down 2 — EW +200, push
Total: USA II 47 to 46

On the same defense as the other table here, we took the same number of tricks to beat the contract by two on yet another forcing defense.

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

West Pass All Pass

North Pass

East Pass

South 1

1 by South
Made 3 — NS +140, push
Total: USA II 47 to 46

Not much to do here, as South has a clear 1S opening and nobody else has a bid. 1S was the contract at all but 3 of the tables.

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

West 1 NT¹ 2

North Pass Pass Pass

East Pass 2 ² 2

South Pass Pass All Pass

2 by East
Made 3 — EW +140, push
Total: USA II 47 to 46

Our invitation after our 1NT opening here kept us at the two-level, whereas the other table got to the 3-level. Unfortunately, this didn't matter, as the cards are lying favorably for declarer. This could have been a swing, but instead just a push.

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

West 3

North Pass

East 1 4

South 2 All Pass

4 by East
Made 5 — EW +450, win 6
Total: USA II 53 to 46

We bid to the normal 4S contract here, but our teammates managed to get doubled in 3H, and only went for 200 for a medium swing.

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

West Pass Pass All Pass

North 2 3 NT

East Pass Pass

South 1 NT¹ 2 4

1. 11-14

4 by South
Made 4 — NS +420, push
Total: USA II 53 to 46

Our opponents got to 4S from the other side because of their weak NT, but it didn't matter as the board was a push.

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

West 1 ¹ 4

North Pass All Pass

East 1 ²

South Pass

1. 16+, art
2. 0-7 usually

4 by West
Made 4 — EW +620, lose 5
Total: USA II 53 to 51

The West hand was unusual because it's the first time I've held a hand where every card was either a trump or an honor. When partner responded 1D to my strong club, I decided there was no way I could find out if partner held an A (below game anyway), so I just bid game. South believed me enough not to double. At the other table, our teammate didn't believe them and doubled, resulting in a small loss for us. Game was reached at about 1/2 of the tables, but only doubled at 3.