August 2010 - 16

US Team Trials

ever, Rodwell knew that his partner
was looking at a solid heart suit: What
else could justify such an action when
Rodwell had such a powerful hand
himself? Rodwell guessed to bid 7NT,
and was relieved when the J appeared doubleton later in the play.
Plus 2220 for a push, yet had diamonds not behaved (swap the J
with a low diamond in the East-West
hands) and the preempt would have
done its job.
Fleisher maintained a modest lead
for the first 90 boards, but pulled
ahead significantly in the seventh segment with a 49-18 set. A deal from
that set:
Dlr: West
Vul: E-W

 A Q 10 9
A986
3
AKQ3
7
6532
N
 Q 10 5 3
KJ74
W E
 Q 10 8 5 2
J
S
J84
9652
KJ84
2
AK9764
 10 7
West
Rodwell
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
All Pass

North
Martel
1
1
3
5

East
Meckstroth
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass

South
Stansby
1
1
4NT
6

Stansby took control of the auction
with a key card sequence and contented himself with a small slam after
discovering three key cards. Declarer
made exactly 12 tricks for plus 980.
The bidding at the other table,
however, stunned the online commentators:
West
Fleisher
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass

North
Hamman
1
1
3
6

East
Kamil
Pass
Pass
Pass
All Pass

South
Zia
1
1
5

Hamman and Zia had seemingly
16 Bridge Bulletin August 2010

agreed to spades. When the opening leader asked for an explanation,
however, Zia said the auction was
completely natural. Perhaps Zia
thought Hamman was 3=4=1=5
(3=4=0=6?) and that the 5-2 club fit
would be easier to play than a supposed 4-3 spade fit. Whatever the
reason, the club slam offered no play,
and Hamman finished down two for a
loss of 14 IMPs.
Nickell mounted a charge in the last
segment, winning it 46-8, but it was
not enough. Fleisher held on to win
the semifinal match 244-231.
The final between the Fleisher and
Diamond teams began with Diamond
winning the first set 45-28. This freak
deal put 16 IMPs in Diamond's pocket:
Dlr: North  -
Vul: N-S  A K Q J 10 8 5 3 2
4
654
 10 9 7
AKQJ643
N
96
-
W E
 A 10 8 7 2
963
S
KQ2
J97
852
74
KQJ5
 A 10 8 3
West
North
Fleisher Diamond
4
Pass
5
5
Pass
Dbl
All Pass

East
Kamil
4
Pass
Pass

South
Platnick
Pass
Pass
6

Although a club lead will defeat
the slam, East naturally led a top
spade. Declarer ruffed, drew trumps
and knocked out the A. Making six
doubled, plus 1660. At the other table,
Hampson and Greco took the "save"
in 6 and finished down two (doubled) for minus 300.
Fleisher struck back hard in the
second segment, winning it 51-6. A
disagreement over the interpretation
of a redouble was expensive for the
Diamond squad on this board:

Dlr: East  Q 7
Vul: None  J 9 6
87642
 A 10 7
J84
K96532
N
A7
 10 3 2
W E
AKQJ
53
S
KQJ2
65
 A 10
KQ854
 10 9
9843
West
Moss

North East
Martel Gitelman
Pass
2NT Pass
4 (1)
Redbl Pass
Pass
(1) Texas transfer.

South
Stansby
Pass
Dbl
Pass

Stansby, South, doubled the transfer for a heart lead. Moss redoubled,
believing it sent the message that
East should bid 4 and become declarer. It's easy to see why this could
be a useful treatment with this sort
of hand: With no tenaces or unprotected kings, there is little advantage
to the West hand declaring. Gitelman,
however, believed that redouble was
natural, denying a spade fit and showing heart length and/or concentration.
With 10-x-x in the suit, he thought he
had good trump support and passed.
Down four, minus 1600.
In the replay, 4 by West failed by
one trick, but Fleisher gained 17 IMPs.
Diamond picked up 13 IMPs in the
third segment, reducing Fleisher's
lead to 15. Brad Moss bid a nice grand
slam on this deal to help reduce his
team's deficit:
Dlr: North  10 6 4
Vul: E-W  J 10 7 3
976
965
KJ753
AQ82
N
4
A82
W E
K83
AQJ4
S
AK83
 J 10
9
KQ965
 10 5 2
Q742
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of August 2010
