DAILY BULLETIN 6 - c
Friday, February 13, 1998	Editors: Eric Kokish, Richard Colker Special thanks for Internet edition: Mr. N. W. Pedersen

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SECOND QUARTER (Boards 17-32): Seiya Shimizu-Takahiko Hirata came in for HISATOMI, replacing Hisatomi-Teramoto in the Open Room against Gawrys-Lesniewski. Bd: 17 North Dlr: North AK964 Vul: None 3 AK975 97 West East QJ 873 AK875 QJ4 J2 1083 Q1082 AJ64 South 1052 10962 Q64 K53 CLOSED ROOM WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Lesniewski Ino Gawrys Imakura 1 Pass 1NT Dbl. 2 2 2 Pass 3 All Pass OPEN ROOM WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Hirata Lev Shimizu Polowan 1 Pass 1NT Pass 2 Pass 2 Pass 3 Pass 3 Pass 4 !!! The fresh set started badly for the trailing team when Ino-Imakura missed a reasonable game that was bid by Lev-Polowan in remarkable fashion. With both trumps and diamonds dividing three-two, the queen-jack of trumps dropping doubleton, and the A onside (note that South had a mountain opposite this North hand since his king was working), Lev made five; plus 450. Given that Imakura would hold three trumps on the auction at his table (what do you think of Lesniewski's bold takeout double? And Gawrys's swashbuckling 3 ), Ino's 3 pretty much described the same sort of hand as Lev's 3, but Imakura thought he had done enough. On their auction, game was a big underdog, and three might have been too high. Plus 200 for Ino, but 6 IMPs for POLAND-USA, who led now by 40 IMPs, 76-36.

Bd: 19 North Dlr: South AQ1032 Vul: E/W 104 QJ3 K87 West East - J65 J75 AKQ82 K98542 1076 AQJ4 62 South K9874 963 A 10953 CLOSED ROOM WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Lesniewski Ino Gawrys Imakura Pass 1 1 Dbl. 4 Pass Pass 4NT Pass 5 Pass 5 All Pass OPEN ROOM WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Hirata Lev Shimizu Polowan Pass 1 1 Dbl. 4 Pass Pass Dbl. Pass 5 Pass 5 Pass Pass Dbl. All Pass It is just possible that the Closed Room auction was not the one depicted in our diagram, but whatever it was, the bottom line is that Lesniewski was not doubled in 5 while Hirata was. And to make matters worse for HISATOMI, Hirata went two down when he ruffed the opening spade lead and led the K from hand, a very reasonable play that worked very unreasonably. That was minus 500, while at the other table Lesniewski got a heart lead, won in dummy, and led a trump down, losing only two trumps and a club for minus 100. 9 IMPs to POLAND-USA, who led by 48 IMPs, 85-37. The match was threatening to get away from HISATOMI, but they stopped the bleeding on the next deal and launched a rally of sorts . . .

Bd: 20 North Dlr: West 106 Vul: Both K103 AQ8754 65 West East J97 AQ8532 42 J75 KJ96 3 QJ104 A72 South K4 AQ986 102 K983 CLOSED ROOM WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Lesniewski Ino Gawrys Imakura Pass Pass 1 2 2 4 (1) Pass 4 Pass Pass 4 Dbl. All Pass (1) fit OPEN ROOM WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Hirata Lev Shimizu Polowan Pass Pass 1 Pass 2 3 3 Pass 3 All Pass It's easy to see that North/South might never bid on this layout, but at both tables they made their presence felt. In the Open Room, where Polowan did not overcall, Shimizu-Hirata came to rest at 3 after an improvised game try by Shimizu. The defense was not fierce. Polowan led the 10 to the jack and queen, and Lev switched to a club, ducked to the king. Shimizu won the club continuation in hand and played A, spade, Lev following six-ten, as he would have from queen-ten-six. Polowan decided that he could afford to defend passively, but he was wrong. Shimizu won the club return in dummy and took a ruffing finesse against the A, returned to dummy with the J, and threw two hearts on the 9 and long club; plus 140. I am not sure what Gawrys was doing at the other table, when he waited for Imakura to convert to 4 before bidding 4, but I don't think it mattered; he was going to get doubled in either case. In practicve, it was the bold 2 overcall that won the board for HISATOMI. Imakura's 10 was covered by the jack and queen, but here it was not complicated for Ino to switch to the K. Imakura encouraged to denuy a singleton diamond, so the defenders got their two hearts and came to a club and a trump later for two down, minus 500. 12 IMPs to HISATOMI, 49-85.

Bd: 21 North Dlr: North QJ4 Vul: N/S J107 KJ3 9843 West East 75 A1096 KQ8632 A5 964 AQ10 Q2 AK65 South K832 94 8752 J107 CLOSED ROOM WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Lesniewski Ino Gawrys Imakura Pass 1 Pass 1 Pass 2NT Pass 4 All Pass OPEN ROOM WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Hirata Lev Shimizu Polowan Pass 2 Pass 2 Pass 2NT Pass 4 (1) Pass 4 Pass 4 (2) Pass 5 (3) Pass 6 All Pass (1) s (2) RKCB (3) 1/4 Board 21 is a pretty good 6 since you're not down even if the trumps go four-one as long as you are not forced to commit yourself in diamonds prematurely. We can't help but wonder whether everyone was on firm ground about East's range because neither Lesniewski's signoff in game nor Hirata's slam drive look at all convincing. The West hand is worth a slam try, but only a try. It is a good slam because East is rich in controls and holds the kicking ten of diamonds. Pretty or otherwise, HISATOMI won the board 1010 to 510 to gain 11 IMPs and close to within 25 at 60-85. Three boards later, however, POLAND-USA were back in business . . . Polowan's 3 proved to be more effective than Imakura's 2 on this deal, but it was very close indeed.

Bd: 24 North Dlr: West KQ4 Vul: None 1053 K5432 72 West East J109652 A87 A62 4 Q76 AJ8 K AQ10543 South 3 KQJ987 109 J986 CLOSED ROOM WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Lesniewski Ino Gawrys Imakura Pass Pass 1 2 2 Pass 3 (1) Pass 3 Pass 4 Pass 5 Pass 6 Pass 6 All Pass (1) Forcing OPEN ROOM WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Hirata Lev Shimizu Polowan Pass Pass 1 3 3 4 4 All Pass In 4, Hirata got a heart lead, took two heart ruffs in dummy, and eventually lost two trump tricks for plus 450. In 6, Lesniewski got the attacking lead of a low diamond from Ino. He judged to play low from dummy, and was pleased to win his queen. When he continued with the jack of trumps, Ino relieved him of any minor doubts he might have entertained by covering with the queen. He won the ace, drove out the K, and soon claimed, plus 980. 11 IMPs to POLAND-USA, ahead now by 36, 96-60. POLAND-USA won 3 IMPs on both 27 and 28 to build their lead to 42 IMPs, but once again, the underdogs struck back with a strong result to stay within hailing distance.

Bd: 29 North Dlr: North 105 Vul: Both 4 10743 J108653 West East J743 AK962 AKJ832 Q65 982 J - A972 South Q8 1097 AKQ65 KQ4 CLOSED ROOM WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Lesniewski Ino Gawrys Imakura Pass 1 2 2 4 (1) 4 5 5 All Pass (1) PRE OPEN ROOM WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Hirata Lev Shimizu Polowan Pass 1 Dbl. 2 (1) Pass 3 Pass 4 Pass 4 Pass 6 All Pass (1) s Taken on its own, 6 is a reasonable contract that will make a bit more than half the time, but at the table where it was bid, South (Polowan) had made a takeout double, so there was some chance that Hirata would go wrong in the trump suit. He did not, however, so HISATOMI won the board, 1430 to 680 to gain 13 IMPs at a time when they dearly needed them. The margin was down to 29, 73-102. On Board 30, the Closed Room passed out a deal on which North/ South could make at least eight tricks in hearts, and Lev-Polowan duly scored plus 140 at 2 in the Open Room to bring in 4 IMPs for POLAND-USA. The set ran out with a couple of exchanged overtricks, and HISATOMI won the second stanza 38-37. At the halfway mark, POLAND-USA led by 33 IMPs, 107-74. Significant, but hardly beyond HISATOMI's capabilities.

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