|
 Commonwealth
Nations Bridge Championship 2002
by
Judith and Nicholas Gartaganis
Gold
Medal Match
After a good night's sleep and a light breakfast we walked to
Manchester University for an early morning delegates' meeting
to discuss the future of the Commonwealth Nations Bridge Championship.
Fortunately everyone in attendance was enthusiastic about the
event and were in favour of it becoming a permanent competition.
If the Australian Bridge Federation is able to make the necessary
arrangements, the next event will take place in Melbourne, Australia
in 2006.
The Commonwealth gold medal would be decided in a 48-board match.
Both teams had a playing style that was sure to entertain the
Vugraph audience. On the first board Judith played in a 22-HCP
3NT after an overcall in spades. She badly misguessed West's distribution
and went down. Our partners bought the contract at the other table
and also failed to make – Wales took the early lead by 4
IMPs. On Board 2 Canada again captured the contract at both tables
– Wales scooped an IMP for defeating a vulnerable 3NT by
two tricks against –170 in the other room. On Board 3 Campbell/Balcombe
got overboard in 3NT and went down two tricks while their counterparts
settled for a 2
partscore – Wales in the lead by 14 IMPs. Wales gained another
3 IMPs for doubling and defeating 1NT one vulnerable trick when
Balcombe misguessed the play, while we were scoring +110 in a
diamond partscore. Wales had increased its lead to 17 IMPs. Finally
Canada got on the scoreboard on Board 6:
West
Gary J |
North
Nocholas G |
East
Dafydd J |
South
Judith G |
| - |
- |
2 ! |
3 |
| 3 |
Double
(1) |
Pass |
3NT |
| All
Pass |
|
|
|
(1)
+
with some values |
Sitting
East was 22-year old Dafydd Jones playing with his father, Gary
Jones. Their partnership constantly put pressure on us. This time
the aggressive 2
opening backfired when it drove us to 3NT. The favourable situation
in the club suit allowed Judith to score nine tricks and win 6
IMPs for Canada when our counterparts settled for a 3
partscore. We evened up the match on the very next hand:
West
Gary J |
North
Nicholas G |
East
Dafydd J |
South
Judith G |
| -
|
-
|
-
|
Pass
|
| Pass |
1 |
Pass |
4 |
| All
Pass |
|
|
|
West
Campbell |
North
Kurbalija |
East
Balcombe |
South
Rees |
| -
|
-
|
-
|
Pass
|
| Pass |
1 |
Pass |
1 |
| Pass |
1NT |
All
pass |
|
The
Kurbalija/Rees auction buried the spade suit. We reached the magic
spade game and made ten tricks after the 10
was led. Wales quickly struck back when Balcombe was unable to
find the Q
in 3NT - Wales now leading by 10 IMPs. Canada lost another 6 IMPs
when we were three levels too high in 4
(mercifully undoubled) while Kurbalija/Rees played in a sensible
2
that should have been defeated. Canada closed the gap on Board
10:
West
Gary J |
North
Nicholas G |
East
Dafydd J |
South
Judith G |
| - |
- |
Pass |
1NT
(1) |
| 2NT
(2) |
Pass |
3 |
Double |
| 3 |
Pass |
3 |
Pass |
| 4
|
All
Pass |
|
|
(1)
11-13 HCP
(2) game-forcing 2-suiter |
West
Campbell |
North
Kurbalija |
East
Balcombe |
South
Rees |
| - |
- |
Pass |
1 |
| 1 |
1 |
2
(1) |
Pass |
| 5
(2) |
Pass |
5
(3) |
Pass |
| 6
|
All
Pass |
|
|
(1)
good raise in
with 3-card support
(2) Exclusion Keycard Blackwood
(3) one keycard excluding A |
Campbell
felt unlucky to not find diamond values after East's cuebid, with
the opponents bidding spades and clubs. Had North led a heart,
the slam would have been defeated. As it was, with the opponents'
diamonds dividing 3-3, Canada won a lucky 13 IMPs to trail by
just 3 IMPs. The last two boards involved an exchange of overtricks.
Wales won the first set of 12 boards 35-31.
The second set continued with a heavy exchange of IMPs. Board
13 set the tone:
West
Rees |
North
Nicholas G |
East
Kurbalija |
South
Judith G |
| - |
1NT
(1) |
Pass |
2 |
| Pass |
2 |
Pass |
2
(2) |
| Pass |
3NT
(3) |
All
Pass |
|
(1)
11-13 HCP
(2) invitational with 4+
(3) maximum with 2 s |
West
Campbell |
North
Goodman |
East
Balcombe |
South
Dunn |
| - |
1 |
Pass |
1 |
| Pass |
1NT |
All
pass |
|
|
We
reached a highly optimistic 3NT on the lead of the J.
With the A
well placed and a good guess in the club suit, we scored +600 for
a 10-IMP gain after Goodman/Dunn played in 1NT for +120. Over the
next three boards Canada picked up an overtrick IMP. Board 17 saw
Wales buy the contract at both tables:
West
Rees |
North
Nicholas G |
East
Kurbalija |
South
Judith G |
| - |
1(1) |
2 |
2 |
| Double
(2) |
Pass |
2 |
Pass |
| 3 |
Pass |
4 |
Pass |
| 4 |
All
Pass |
|
|
(1)
11-16 HCP with 0+ diamonds
(2) values plus spades
|
West
Campbell |
North
Goodman |
East
Balcombe |
South
Dunn |
| - |
3NT
(1) |
All
Pass |
|
(1)
gambling with a long minor |
4
failed by two tricks while 3NT went down five! Canada now led
by 15 IMPs, but couldn't stand the prosperity. On the next board
we reached 3NT that required declarer to bring in six tricks in
diamonds with KQ98763 opposite a small singleton. Nothing good
happened and the contract was down two. At the other table Goodman/Dunn
played in a diamond partscore to gain 7 IMPs for Wales. On Board
19 Wales had a great result reaching 6
with J5
AK
AKQ92
AJ106
opposite K1092
Q87
10873
K3.
We languished in 3NT with the same cards. The weak diamond hand
was declarer and, although the slam is not cold, a spade lead
solved all of declarer's problems. Wales scored 10 IMPs to take
the lead once again. The Welsh lead of 3 IMPs didn't survive the
next exciting board.
West
Rees |
North
Nocholas G |
East
Kurbalija |
South
Judith G |
| 1
|
2
(1) |
4
|
4NT
|
| Pass |
5 |
Pass |
Pass |
| 5 |
Pass |
Pass |
6 |
| Double
|
Pass |
Pass
|
Pass
|
(1)
5-5+ hearts plus a minor |
West
Campbell |
North
Goodman |
East
Balcombe |
South
Dunn |
| 1
|
2
(1) |
4 |
4NT
|
| Double |
5 |
Pass |
Pass |
| 5 |
Pass |
Pass |
Pass |
(1)
5-5+ hearts plus a minor |
Judith's
decision to bid 6
was hugely successful as we scored +1540. At the other table Campbell/Balcombe
bought the contract for 5
making twelve tricks after the A
was led (Campbell ruffed the opening 2
lead, drew trumps and, drawing the correct inference from the
lead, ran the J).
A devastating 19 IMPs for Canada, who now took 16-IMP lead. Two
boards later Canada picked up another 4 IMPs for defeating Welsh
contracts at both tables. Then on Board 23 both sides reached
4.
West
Rees
Campbell |
North
Nicholas G
Goodman |
East
Kurbalija
Balcombe |
South
Judith G
Dunn |
| -
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
| Pass |
4 |
All
Pass |
|
At
both tables West led the K,
but then the play diverged. Judith ducked and West switched to the
5.
Judith won the Ace and played the K.
West won the A
and continued the Q.
Judith took the A
and played the J.
East slipped by covering with the K
allowing declarer to draw trumps and score her 10th trick in diamonds.
At the other table Dunn won the A
at trick two and started trumps. Campbell switched to hearts and
Dunn won the Ace
and played the J.
Unsure of the club count, Campbell switched to diamonds; no swing.
Note that, to legitimately secure the contract, declarer must use
both of dummy's entries to play diamonds.
On the last board of the second set with neither side vulnerable
Nicholas held --
K10982
8
Q1098432
and bid 2
(5-5+ hearts and a minor) over RHO's 1.
When the opponents reached 4
Judith doubled with QJ102
A74
QJ653
K
thinking Christmas had arrived early! We managed to beat the contract
one trick for +100. At the other table Goodman evaluated his hand
a bit differently, bidding 3
over 1.
Campbell/Balcombe stopped in 3,
just making, for +140. Canada added 6 IMPs to its total. At the
midway point Canada led by 27 IMPs having dominated the second
set 48-17.
The third set followed the pattern of the first 24 boards –
a flurry of IMPs exchanged at every opportunity! On Board 25 Wales
bought the contract at both tables.
West
Gary J |
North
Nicholas G |
East
Dafydd J |
South
Judith G |
| - |
Pass |
Pass |
1NT
(1) |
| Double
(2) |
2
(3) |
Pass |
Pass |
| Double
(4) |
2 |
Pass |
Pass |
| 3 |
Pass |
3 |
Pass |
| 3NT
|
All
Pass |
|
|
(1)
14-16 HCP
(2) Good Hand
(3)
and
(4) takeout |
West
Campbell |
North
Goodman |
East
Balcombe |
South
Dunn |
| - |
2
(1) |
Pass |
2 |
| Double
(2) |
Pass |
Pass |
2 |
| Double
(3) |
All
Pass |
|
|
(1)
and ,
3-9 HCP
(2) Takeout
(3) Penalty
|
Over
Gary Jones' second double Nicholas prudently fled to 2,
dodging the certain penalty pass by East. He led the 8
against 3NT. Judith won the Queen and switched to the K.
Declarer played the A
and knocked out Judith's A.
When Judith continued with the Q,
Nicholas jettisoned the J
and the defense took six tricks for +200. Against Campbell/Balcombe,
2
doubled almost made, but careful defense resulted in down one.
Canada's lead increased to 34 IMPs. The result on Board 26 was
influenced by system.
West
Gary J |
North
Nicholas G |
East
Dafydd J |
South
Judith G |
| - |
- |
Pass |
1
(1) |
| 4 |
Pass
(2) |
Pass |
Double |
| Pass |
5 |
Double |
6 |
| All
Pass |
|
|
|
(1)
16+ HCP, artificial
(2) 3+ controls (A=2, K=1)
|
West
Campbell |
North
Goodman |
East
Balcombe |
South
Dunn |
| - |
- |
Pass |
1 |
| 4 |
5 |
All
Pass |
|
|
West's
4
preempt took up room and gave Goodman few options. Judith's strong
club opening made it easier for North to take more aggressive
action. The slam meant another 13 IMPs for Canada. Wales won 2
IMPs on Board 27 when 2
made in one room and 5
went one down in the other room. Then Canada recouped 6 IMPs for
bidding and making partscores at both tables to lead by 51 IMPs.
Canada's momentum continued on Board 29.
West
Campbell |
North
Goodman |
East
Balcombe |
South
Dunn |
| - |
2
(1) |
2 |
3 |
| Pass |
4NT |
Pass |
5NT |
| Pass |
6 |
All
Pass |
|
| (1)
game force or weak two in |
Goodman/Dunn
had a confused auction to reach 6
rather than 6.
The spade slam is better than 50%, but the diamond distribution
doomed both slam contracts. The 13 IMPs won increased Canada's
lead to 64 IMPs. This turned out to be Canada's high point. Wales
started a comeback that turned the match into a nailbiter.
Over the next four boards Wales clawed back 6 IMPs for reaching
a game that we missed with Q83
5
AK1074
J752
opposite KJ1097
QJ7
32
AQ4.
We recouped those 6 IMPs when Nicholas found a passive trump lead
to defeat a 3
contract that Campbell made at the other table. The next two boards
were big gains for Wales. On Board 34:
West
Gary J |
North
Nicholas G |
East
Dafydd J |
South
Judith G |
| - |
- |
- |
1 |
| Pass |
1NT
(1) |
Pass |
3 |
| Pass |
3NT |
All
Pass |
|
|
(1)
Forcing One Round
|
West
Campbell |
North
Goodman |
East
Balcombe |
South
Dunn |
| - |
- |
- |
1
|
| Pass |
1NT
(1) |
Pass |
4 |
| All
Pass |
|
|
|
| (1)
Forcing |
Dunn's
4
bid turned out to be effective. He actually made eleven tricks
when the A
was not taken in time. Nicholas played in 3NT after Judith decided
the strength of her hand outside spades made 3NT a reasonable
prospect. The lead was the 5
which declarer won in hand to play a spade to the King. At this
juncture 3NT can be made provided declarer reverts to diamonds.
However, Nicholas led another spade to the Ace (pitching a diamond
from his hand) and West exited the J,
covered by the Q
and the A.
West continued hearts and declarer lost to East's 10.
East cleared the suit. Had declarer retained the 5th diamond,
the contract would still be makeable. However, with hearts 5-3
and West holding the Q
entry to the long hearts, declarer went two down for –200.
This was an important 13-IMP pickup for Wales. On Board 35 Jones/Jones
bid to 6
with AJ754
AQ1095
KQ
7
opposite KQ82
642
A53
KJ3.
Both heart honours were onside so Wales added another 13 IMPs
to their total. Board 36 was a 1-IMP overtrick gain for Wales.
Canada won the set 45 – 35 to lead in the match by 37 IMPs;
nevertheless Wales had run off 27 IMPs over the last three boards
and were still in the match with twelve boards remaining.
In the last set, Gary and Dafydd Jones faced us in the Closed
Room while Kurbalija/Rees squared off against Campbell/Balcombe
in the Open Room. On Board 37 Judith jumped to 4
with a balanced 14 HCP opposite a limited 1
opening. Gary Jones at favourable vulnerability made a takeout
double with K1094
4
J1092
A982
that was passed by his partner with J7
QJ65
8653
653.
The auction provided the right clues to allow declarer to find
the winning line of play for +790. At the other table, against
a blind auction of 1NT – 3NT, Balcombe led hearts and the
Welsh declarer was able to score +630. This still meant a loss
of 4 IMPs for Wales.
On Board 38 Wales recovered 3 IMPs for defeating 1NT at one table
and making 1
at the other table. Then Wales scored heavily on Board 39:
West
Campbell |
North
Kurbalija |
East
Balcombe |
South
Rees |
| - |
- |
- |
1NT |
| Pass |
2
(1) |
Pass |
2 |
| Pass |
Pass |
Pass |
|
| (1)
transfer to spades |
Judith's
1
opening allowed Gary Jones to compete. The opponents reached 4
making ten tricks despite the club ruff managed by the defense.
At the other table Campbell, who felt constrained at having no suitable
system bid over the 14-16 HCP 1NT opening, conservatively passed
throughout, and Kurbalija/Reese bought the contract for 2,
making nine tricks. Canada's lead was down to 25 IMPs with nine
boards left to play. Board 40 temporarily slowed the Welsh onslaught.
West
Campbell |
North
Kurbalija |
East
Balcombe |
South
Rees |
| Pass |
2 |
Pass |
Pass |
| 3 |
Pass |
Pass |
3 |
| All
Pass |
|
|
|
| |
Against
3NT Judith started the Q
and the contract failed by three tricks. A less thoughtful lead
of a low spade would have allowed the ambitious Welsh contract to
succeed. Campbell/Balcombe defeated 3
and Canada's lead was back up to 30 IMPs.
Board 41 proved to be another significant gain for Wales when
Jones/Jones reached 3NT with A1062
KJ86
AJ9
A5
opposite 954
42
62
KQ7632.
Campbell conservatively settled for 3
so Wales slashed Canada's lead to 20 IMPs. The next two boards
were game contracts bid and made by both teams. Wales scored an
extra overtrick to reduce Canada's lead to 19 IMPs. Board 44 turned
out to be a ghastly lead problem. As North you hold 1094
8762
J843
J6.
West opens 1
and the opponents have the following unopposed auction:
1
- 2
3
- 3NT
4
- 4
4
- 5
6
- 7
7
- Pass
This is not the auction you want to hear when it feels (wrongly,
as it turns out) as if the match is under control. After considerable
thought Nicholas led the 8.
The classic lead against a grand slam is a trump, but Nicholas
felt that hearts might offer the best prospects. Any lead but
a heart turns out disastrously for Canada. The opponents held
AKQJ872
Q
97
A72
opposite --
953
AK1052
KQ983.
We won 11 IMPs when Campbell/Balcombe stopped in 5.
Canada's lead was back up to 30 IMPs. 25 IMPs swung on the heart
lead since Wales would have scored 14 IMPs on a different lead!
Board 45 clearly sent the message that the match was not over.
West
Gary J |
North
Nicholas G |
East
Dafydd J |
South
Judith G |
| - |
Pass |
1 |
Pass |
| 1 |
Pass |
1NT
(1) |
Pass |
| 2
(2) |
Pass |
3 |
Pass |
| 3 |
Pass |
4 |
Pass |
| 5 |
Pass |
5 |
Pass |
| 5NT
(3) |
Pass |
6
|
All
Pass |
(1)
15-17 HCP
(2) artificial check back Stayman
(3) looking for help in the minors |
West
Campbell |
North
Kurbalija |
East
Balcombe |
South
Rees |
| - |
Pass |
1 |
1 |
| 2 |
2NT
(1) |
Double
(2) |
3 |
| 4 |
Pass |
4 |
All
Pass |
(1)
4-card spade support, limit raise values
(2) 3-card heart support, game force |
Against
6
Nicholas led a spade. Declarer pitched a diamond on the K
and established diamonds for his 12th trick. The most effective
lead for the defense is a trump, but declarer can still prevail
by leading a low diamond towards the dummy intending to play the
10
if West does not play an honour. Wales added 13 IMPs to their
score, reducing Canada's lead to 17 IMPs with three boards remaining.
On Board 46 Wales reached game while Canada played in a partscore.
West
Gary J |
North
Nicholas G |
East
Dafydd J |
South
Judith G |
| - |
- |
1NT
(1) |
3 |
| All
Pass |
|
|
|
(1)
12-14 HCP
|
West
Campbell |
North
Kurbalija |
East
Balcombe |
South
Rees |
| - |
- |
1NT
(1) |
4 |
| All
Pass |
|
|
|
(1)
12-14 HCP
|
Even
with spades 3-3, only nine tricks are available. West led the K
and switched to the 8.
East ducked to Judith's 10.
East had two chances to break up the impending squeeze (when in
with the Q
and again with the A),
but both times failed to switch to the
K. Judith scored ten tricks. In the other room the defense started
the same way, but Balcombe misjudged and flew with the A
when Campbell switched to the 8.
Rees now scored ten tricks without having to take the marked finesse
of the J
(Balcombe was squeezed and had to retain clubs in the end position).
Wales scored 6 IMPs shrinking Canada's lead to 11 IMPs with two
boards remaining. Board 47 was passed out at our table, but our
Welsh counterparts played in 1NT and managed to scramble home with
seven tricks. 3 IMPs to Wales and Canada's lead was down to 8 IMPs
with one board to go. On Board 48 Kurbalija/Rees did well to score
+130 in diamonds. At our table, in a competitive auction Jones/Jones
landed in 2,
a 5-2 fit rather than in 2,
a 5-3 fit. We defeated this contract one trick for +100 so Wales
won only 1 IMP on the last board. The final score in the match:
Canada 144, Wales 137. We had won by the slim margin of 7 IMPs.
Thankfully Wales had run out of boards. No doubt the match was exciting
for the Vugraph (and Internet) audience but, for us, it was too
close for comfort.
Canada had won the gold medal and we were ecstatic. Our celebration
began immediately, even though we knew that one match remained.
The Patron Team had defeated the Maple Team in the other match,
overwhelming their opponents by 92 IMPs. Canada was to play a
shortened exhibition match of 36 boards against the Patron team
the following day.
The next day came too soon, following a long night of celebration.
After the first 24 boards the match was close with Canada leading
narrowly 47-43. Over the last twelve boards the Patron team had
a great set winning 59-28 to take the match 102-75. We wish that
our level of play had been better for this match; however, there
were a few highlights. Judith played and made the following contract
that all three Vugraph commentators predicted would fail.
West
NicholasG |
North
Forrester |
East
JudithG |
South
Armstrong |
| 1
(1) |
Pass |
1 |
Pass |
| 2
(2) |
Pass |
2NT
(3) |
Pass |
| 3
(4) |
Pass |
3NT |
Pass |
| 4
|
All
Pass |
|
|
(1)
11-16 HCP could be short in
(2) 4 s
with a balanced 14-16 HCP or 11-14HCP with shortness somewhere
(3) what type of hand do you have?
(4) balanced 14-16 |
At
the other table, the auction was a simple 1NT – 3NT that made
nine tricks after the lead of a spade. Against Judith, Armstrong
led the Q.
Declarer won the K
and played a spade to hand to lead a heart. Armstrong played the
King and declarer won the Ace. Judith played the K
and discovered the 4-1 split in trumps. She continued with the J.
Forrester won with the Q,
to avoid a later endplay, and returned a heart. Judith's last heart
was worth a trick, but it appeared stranded unless the A
was onside. Declarer neatly solved the problem by finessing the
10,
playing the A
and ruffing her last club in the dummy. Judith now played dummy's
8.
Forrester ruffed (otherwise this is declarer's 10th trick) while
Judith pitched a diamond and he was endplayed into giving declarer
the K
as her 10th trick. Canada scored a hard-fought 1 IMP.
The closing banquet that night, at the Yang Sing, was the crowning
glory of a spectacularly well-organized tournament. Formal wear
was the requirement, and deservedly so. The Yang Sing is a famous
oriental restaurant located in downtown Manchester, occupying
an entire building (five floors). Unlimited champagne awaited
the guests and this was only the beginning. Dinner was an 18-course
meal and each guest received a personalized menu. Red and white
wine (or champagne) came with the meal in unrestricted quantities.
To close off the dinner everyone had the option of 25-year old
cognac or Baileys Irish Cream. Following the award ceremonies
and the dinner, a disco had been arranged at the same location.
Fortunately the host hotel was only a 5-minute walk from the restaurant
so we only had to remember in which direction to go – not
a straightforward task by the end of the evening!
The award ceremonies were extraordinary. Wales received the silver
medal and India captured the bronze by winning the secondary event.
Proudly holding the Canadian flag we received gold medals, beautifully
inscribed, and the organizers presented each of the medal winners
with signed limited edition prints by a local Manchester artist.
A special bonus for us was a written invitation to attend the
2003 NEC tournament in Japan.
There is no doubt that, for us, the 2002 Commonwealth Nations
Bridge Championship was a tournament in a category all its own.
It is a pity that it will be four years before the next edition
of the Championship.
|
