Daily Bulletin

----- Saturday, February 15, 1997 -----
Bulletin Number 7 - 2

When we left you yesterday, Hisatomi was clinging to a 7-imp lead after sixteen deals, 46-39.
Bd: 17 NORTH DLR: S Q72 VUL: E/W A10743 J1062 3 WEST EAST AK10654 3 K QJ86 43 A5 K1098 QJ7654 SOUTH J98 952 KQ987 A2	Open Room WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Paul H Abe Armstrong Chen Pass 1 2 3(fit) Pass 4 Pass 4 Pass 5 All Pass Closed Room WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Hara Jason H Tatai Justin Pass Pass 1 1 2 3 Pass 3 Pass 3NT DBL 4 All Pass
Opening the East hand is a good start toward reaching 5, but it's easy to see why you might not do this. When Tatai passed in second seat, the Hackett twins did a nice job of feigning strength. However, had they simply passed out 3NT, they would have gone plus. Hara might have thought that his 4, after cue-bidding, was forcing, but Tatai saw it differently; plus 150.

The Hackett-Armstrong methods were perfect for this E/W combination, Paul being able to show six spades, an opening bid, and a primary club fit; plus 400. 6 imps to Great Britain, 45-46.
Bd: 18 NORTH DLR: E Q86 VUL: N/S 42 AK86 AK74 WEST EAST 10972 K3 KQ965 A1083 7 1094 QJ2 9653 SOUTH AJ54 J7 QJ532 108	Open Room WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Paul H Abe Armstrong Chen Pass Pass 2 DBL 4 4 All Pass Closed Room WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Hara Jason H Tatai Justin Pass Pass 2(1) 2NT Pass 3(2) Pass 3(3) Pass 3(4) Pass 4 All Pass (1) Multi; (2) 5M-Stayman; (3) No 5-card M
Please note that the West hand has become a standard third-seat weak two-bid in the nineties. Whether natural, or in the form of a Multi 2, its general effect on Board 18 was to jockey (or were they happy to be pushed into it) N/S into 4 on a thin four-three fit. Jason got a neutral club lead against his short-side 4 ("I was worried about the hearts, Justin"), led a trump to the ace and a trump to the queen, playing for three-three spades or for the weak two-bidder to hold king-and-one and have the defenders fail to play three rounds of hearts. As you can see, this was not a success. One down; minus 100. In the other room, where the natural preempt (as usual) got its users to their optimum dare level in a hurry, Paul Hackett led the K against Chen's 4. He continued with the Q, which John Armstrong overtook to play a third heart. Chen lost control and finished three down; minus 300. 5 imps to Great Britain, ahead now 50-46.

Bd: 19 NORTH DLR: S AK VUL: E/W 2 K8743 J9764 WEST EAST Q64 J5 J764 KQ10953 Q96 A2 1082 Q53 SOUTH 1098732 A8 J105 AK

Open Room WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Paul H Abe Armstrong Chen 1 Pass 1NT 2 2 Pass 4 All Pass Closed Room WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Hara Jason H Tatai Justin 1 Pass 2 2 DBL(1) Pass 3 Pass 3 Pass 4 All Pass (1) Support

Both N/S pairs pushed to the close 4 and got a heart lead. Justin won, cashed the ace-king of clubs, crossed to a trump, and ruffed a club. Bingo. With clubs three-three, he could return to the other high spade and discard his heart loser on a club. The defenders stuffed up the diamonds so Justin made five,plus 450. At the other table, Chen crossed to a trump before playing clubs and could no longer make the contract; minus 50. 11 imps to Great Britain, 61-46.

Bd: 20 NORTH DLR: W AJ965 VUL: Both AJ97 --- AJ85 WEST EAST 8742 Q103 K85 62 A854 J10963 62 K103 SOUTH K Q1043 KQ72 Q974

All Pass Open Room WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Paul H Abe Armstrong Chen Pass 1 Pass 1NT Pass 2 Pass 4 Closed Room WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Hara Jason H Tatai Justin Pass 1 Pass 2 Pass 2 Pass 4 6 All Pass (1) Many meanings Twelve tricks were not difficult after a diamond lead from East so the swing came in the bidding. 13 imps to Great Britain for the reasonable slam, 74-46.

Bd: 21 NORTH DLR: N J4 VUL: N/S A1052 K75 K963 WEST EAST A10 9632 K87 J AQ6 J1098432 J10754 A SOUTH KQ875 Q9643 --- Q82

Open Room WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Paul H Abe Armstrong Chen Pass Pass 1 DBL RDBL 4 Pass Pass DBL All Pass Closed Room WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Hara Jason H Tatai Justin 1 3 4 5 DBL All Pass The auction came up brilliantly for Armstrong, who got himself doubled at 4. The play wasn't so bad either: low heart, eight, ten, singleton jack. He lost a spade, got two spade ruffs, and lost only to the K for a doubled overtrick; plus 610.

Opening the North hand worked well for Jason. He was able to double 5 and have Justin sit for it since he had bid out his hand (well, more or less). Jason won the heart lead with the ace, and switched to a club. Tatai won, led a spade to the queen and ace, ruffed a club, and played a trump, thinking he might make the contract. Oops.Now Jason could come in with the J and play king and another trump. Down 300. 14 imps more to Great Britain, who had run off 49 unanswered imps on the first five deals of the second set to take an 88-46 lead.

Bd: 23 NORTH DLR: S 9843 VUL: Both Q863 AKJ4 K WEST EAST AK105 QJ7 AJ1094 52 96 Q2 A10 875432 SOUTH 62 K7 108753 QJ96	All Pass Open Room WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Paul H Abe Armstrong Chen Pass 1 Pass 1NT Pass 2NT Pass 3 Closed Room WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Hara Jason H Tatai Justin Pass 1 Pass 1 Pass 2 All Pass
3 was a fair spot with those doifficult E/W cards, but it was down 200 on the poor trump break. Meanwhile, some fancy bidding by Hara-Tatai got them to the best contract - 2, for plus 110. That 7-imp gain stopped the bleeding for Hisatomi, 53-88.

Bd: 24 NORTH DLR: W Q1062 VUL: None J6532 Q4 AJ WEST EAST AJ9 54 AKQ10 987 1097 62 KQ5 1098432 SOUTH K873 4 AKJ853 76

Open Room WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Paul H Abe Armstrong Chen 2NT Pass Pass 3 All Pass Closed Room WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Hara Jason H Tatai Justin 1(1) Pass Pass 1 1 1 Pass 3 Pass 4 Pass Pass DBL All Pass (1) many hand types, ostensibly forcing

If that's a 2NT opening, I'm getting too old for this game. But Paul tells us that's in his range (as opposed to on his range) and here his effort stole the pot, in a way, making it impossible for his opponents to find spades. 3 made four; plus 130. At the other table, Hara-Tatai left the twins all the room they needed to find both spades and game. Not that 4 was such a bargain. It wasn't, but it made easily enough. Heart to the queen, A to force dummy, K, taken, switch to the K, ace. Jason returned the J to Hara's queen, and Hara played the K. Jason ruffed, led a spade to his ten, drew the last trump and claimed; plus 590. He had not expected to make that one. 10 imps to Great Britain, 98-53.

Bd: 30 NORTH DLR: E AQ107 VUL: None 952 Q9632 2 WEST EAST K42 J96 K1084 AQ7 1087 J5 J73 AKQ104 SOUTH 853 J63 AK4 9865

Open Room WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Paul H Abe Armstrong Chen 1 Pass 1 Pass 2NT Pass 3NT All Pass Closed Room WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Hara Jason H Tatai Justin 1(1) Pass 1(2) Pass 1NT Pass Pass 2(+M) All Pass (1) 15-17 HCP BAL; (2) Puppet to 1NT

Armstrong's 2NT rebid showed about 17-19 HCP, and Hackett raised hopefully to game. Chen had to lead a pointed suit to beat this, but instead he led the J, dummy's suit. Armstrong claimed nine tricks; plus 400. When Hara-Tatai stopped sensibly at 1NT in the other room, Jason boldly protected with 2, hoping Justin would read it as diamonds and a major, the method they use over notrump openings. Yes. Plus 90. 10 imps to Great Britain; 108-60 now. And, finally ...

Bd: 32 NORTH DLR: W AK5 VUL: E/W AJ532 73 A92 WEST EAST Q84 J10 Q984 K AJ92 Q86 Q7 KJ106543 SOUTH 97632 1076 K1054 8

Open Room WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Paul H Abe Armstrong Chen 1 1NT DBL 2 Pass Pass 3 3 DBL 3 All Pass Closed Room WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Hara Jason H Tatai Justin Pass 1 2 2 DBL(1) 2 3 Pass Pass DBL(2) Pass 3 All Pass (1) Cards; (2) Competitive

Papa Hackett's 1 opening at unfavourable vulnerability wouldn't win any beauty contests, but it worked well here, picking off one of the opponents' prime fits and creating a senario in which it was not unreasonable for them to reach the three-level. On the lead of the Q, declarer had a lot of work to do and finished one down; minus 50. At the other table, where Hara did not open the creature, Jason finished as declarer at 3. He got a club lead, won the ace, ruffed a club, led a heart to the ace, felling the king, and elected to ruff his remaining club (which might not have been the best play on this lie of the cards). Hara overruffed with the queen (which also seems less than best). and exited with the nine of trumps. Jason won, cashed ace-king of spades, and threw Hara in with his eight of trumps. He could cash the Q but then had to concede a trick to the K, and Jason was home with plus 140. 5 imps to Great Britain, who won the segment 75-14. At the halfway mark in the 64-board match, Great Britain led comfortably by 54 imps, 114-60.

After a flat Board 33, Board 34 created a stir, leading to an appeal which you can read about elsewhere in our daily rag. The upshot was a 4.5 imp gain to Great Britain, which we'll raise to 5 imps for convenience. Great Britain, 119-60. It was 121-65 when Board 38 came up ...

Bd: 38 NORTH DLR: E Q987 VUL: E/W AJ1094 --- AJ73 WEST EAST 6543 2 --- Q873 A984 KJ763 K9842 Q106 SOUTH AKJ10 K652 Q1052 5	Open Room WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Justin H Abe Jason H Chen Pass 1 Pass 1 Pass 3 Pass 4 Pass 4 Pass 6 All Pass Closed Room WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Hara Armstrong Tatai Paul H Pass 1 Pass 4(SPL) Pass 4 Pass 5 Pass 5 Pass 6 All Pass
Both N/S pairs evaluated their cards aggressively and drove to a pretty good 6. The bad breaks in the majors killed them, and Abe went three down, Papa Bear two down. 2 imps to Great Britain. If you're looking for a turning point in the match, you might keep your eye on our next offering ...

Bd: 39 NORTH DLR: S A9 VUL: Both 65432 AQJ763 --- WEST EAST K5 QJ8732 J107 8 85 K109 QJ9876 A105 SOUTH 1064 AKQ9 42 K432

Open Room WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Justin H Abe Jason H Chen 1(1) Pass 1 1 2 3 5 Pass 6 All Pass Closed Room WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Hara Armstrong Tatai Paul H 1 Pass 5 Pass 7 All Pass (1) Precision

This turns out to ba a five or seven hand on a spade lead, and in that respect, perhaps Papa Hackett's grand slam was a reasonable place to be. But why must the defenders lead a spade? Jason led the A and scored only the K thereafter. Plus 1430 for Abe-san. Haras led the J from the other side against 7, which had to go one down; minus 100 for Hackett-Armstrong. 17 imps to Hisatomi. A big breath of life, 82-123.

Bd: 43 NORTH DLR: S AQ4 VUL: None 85 J973 AK64 WEST EAST K8 J AQ3 KJ109742 AK10 Q542 98732 J SOUTH 10976532 6 86 Q105

Open Room WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Justin H Abe Jason H Chen 2(Multi) 2NT DBL 4 Pass Pass 4 5 Pass Pass DBL Pass 5 DBL All Pass Closed Room WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Hara Armstrong Tatai Paul H Pass 1(1) Pass 2() 2 3 3 4 All Pass

5 doubled was one down on a diamond lead; minus 100. 4 made five on a spade lead; plus 450. 8 imps to Hisatomi, 91-124. You must decide for yourself whether you can afford to pass the South hand as dealer because there are several scenarios in which you won't be able to bid later. Perhaps Armstrong should have bid 4, but even if he had, neither her nor Paul would have bid 5 over 5. The Abe-Chen auction looks a bit hit-and-miss, but it certainly got the job done.

Bd: 44 NORTH DLR: W AJ109 VUL: N/S 964 863 J32 WEST EAST Q874 5 2 KQ10753 Q1074 J2 A1095 K874 SOUTH K632 AJ8 AK95 Q6

Open Room WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Justin H Abe Jason H Chen Pass Pass 3 3NT All Pass Closed Room WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Hara Armstrong Tatai Paul H Pass Pass 2(1) 3(T/O) 4 All Pass (1)4+ plus 5+M

Jason's third-seat 3 opening drove his opponents into a game they would not have bid on their own. Heart to the queen, ducked. Jason switched to a club, and it was all over for the defense. Chen could build a ninth trick in clubs, to go with four spades, two hearts, and two diamonds; plus 600. In the other semifinal, you masy recall, the great CH Kuo, in Jason's position, shifted to the 2, which defeated the contract. At the other table, Tatai-Hara's high-powered obstructive methods propelled them to 4, which was not easy to double. Down 100. 11 imps to Hisatomi, 102-124.

Bd: 45 NORTH DLR: N KQ VUL: Both 108752 1073 842 WEST EAST A 9532 AK4 J6 AKJ2 Q84 AJ953 Q1076 SOUTH J108764 Q93 965 K It's rare that a pair will do worse constructively if left to their own devices than they would if they were harrassed by their opponents. But so it was here. 3NT made seven, but so did 6. 12 imps more to the streaking Hisatomi, 114-124.

Open Room WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Justin H Abe Jason H Chen Pass Pass Pass 2 Pass 2 Pass 2(1) Pass 2(2) Pass 2NT Pass 3(3) Pass 3NT All Pass (1) FG, or 25+ BAL; (2) Relay; (3) Puppet to 3NT Closed Room WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Hara Armstrong Tatai Paul H Pass Pass 2 DBL Pass 2NT(1) Pass 3 Pass 4 Pass 6 All Pass (1) Relay to 3, usually weak

Bd: 46 NORTH DLR: E AKQ4 VUL: None J6 AK652 52 WEST EAST 63 10872 AQ10983 --- 73 Q1094 AK8 109763 SOUTH J95 K7542 J8 QJ4

Open Room WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Justin H Abe Jason H Chen Pass Pass 1 DBL Pass 1NT 2 DBL All Pass (1) FG, or 25+ BAL; (2) Relay; (3) Puppet to 3NT Closed Room WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Hara Armstrong Tatai Paul H Pass 2 Pass 2NT Pass 3 All Pass (1) Poor hand

You would not have guessed it when you first examined this deal, but all the Hacketts played in hearts on Board 14. Justin got out for one down at 2 doubled, playing ace-queen of trumps. At the other table, Papa Bear added new meaning to the word "weak" in weak two-bid, and he too finished in hearts. Hara liked that too much to double it, but here he would have defended 3 doubled. Three down; minus 150. 6 imps more to Hisatomi, 120-124. And, finally ....

Bd: 48 NORTH DLR: W 87 VUL: E/W AJ532 A2 AK102 WEST EAST 1094 AKJ6532 1064 Q Q1086 K95 J97 85 SOUTH Q K987 J743 Q643

Open Room WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Justin H Abe Jason H Chen Pass 1(Prec) 1 DBL Pass 2 2 4 All Pass Closed Room WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Hara Armstrong Tatai Paul H Pass 1 4 All Pass 4 made five, plus 450; 4 made three; minus 100. To the brave went the spoils on this one. 8 imps to Hisatomi, who had outscored their opponents 63-1 over the last ten deals to reclaim the lead in the match, 128-124. Hisatomi won the third quarter 68-10, erasing all those bitter memories from the previous segment.