Bulgaria vs Russia

Open Series - Round 20

In the middle session on Sunday, the Rama match was Greece v. France. This was an important match for both teams, but at the same time the Bulgaria v. Russia match was scheduled, a match of particular importance to Bulgaria, even more so in view of their forthcoming encounter on Rama with Italy. As it turned out, the Eastern Europeans provided us with a highly entertaining and spectacular match, so will we concentrate on that one, but also have a few short looks at the Rama proceedings.

Boards 1 and 2 seemed routine games for N/S but in fact were not. On Rama both Greece and France went wrong on one of them so their score stood at 7-6 to Greece when board 3 hit the table and the wall:

Session 20. Board 3. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
	ª K 10 2 © K J 7 ¨ A J § Q 8 7 6 3
ª Q 9 5 © A 9 2 ¨ 8 7 3 § J 9 5 4		ª J 8 7 4 © Q 10 8 3 ¨ Q 6 5 § A 2
	ª A 6 3 © 6 5 4 ¨ K 10 9 4 2 § K 10

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Karaivanov	Gromov	Trendafilov	Petrunin
			Pass
Pass	1¨	Pass	2¨
Pass	2NT	Pass	3NT
All Pass

For systemic reasons, Gromov could not open 1NT. As a consequence, the normal contract of 3NT had to played from the North seat. When East led a heart, West won the ace and returned the suit. Declarer won the third round with his king and played ¨AJ. Next, he played a club to the §K and when this held, cashed the diamonds. When the queen appeared, he had nine tricks. Russia +400.

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Kholomeev	Stamatov	Zlotov	Karaivanov
			1NT
Pass	2NT	Pass	3¨
Pass	3NT	All Pass

Here, 1NT was the (in)famous Bulgarian 9-12 NT and 2NT showed a minor. 3¨ accepted the transfer if for clubs and 3NT thus became the obvious final contract, this time played by South, however. West made the good lead of a spade which ran to the jack, declarer ducking. The next spade went to dummy´s king. Declarer then led the ¨A and continued the jack, covered by East. After cashing all the diamonds, Karaivanov then led the §K, won by East with the ace. A spade came back to the ace. With seven tricks in the bag and the §Q still in dummy, declarer now had to establish just one heart trick for his contract. When he led a heart and put in dummy´s jack, East could take the quen, cash the 13th spade and exit with a heart to partner´s ace. One down. Russia +50 and the first 10 IMP´s of the match. In the Rama match, at both tables 3NT was played by North and made the same way as in the Open Room of this match on a heart lead.

Ivo Karaivanov, Bulgaria

Session 20. Board 4. Dealer West. All Vul.
	ª K 7 6 © K Q 8 6 5 2 ¨ 6 4 § A 3
ª A J 10 9 5 2 © A 4 ¨ 9 7 § J 5 4		ª Q 8 © 9 7 3 ¨ K 3 2 § Q 9 8 7 2
	ª 4 3 © J 10 ¨ A Q J 10 8 5 § K 10 6

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Karaivanov	Gromov	Trendafilov	Petrunin
2¨	2©	Pass	3¨
Pass	3©	Pass	4©
All Pass
2¨ was Multi

On the ªQ lead won by the ace and a spade back, declarer won the king and immediately took the diamond finesse. When this held, ten tricks were always there. Russia +620.

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Kholomeev	Stamatov	Zlotov	Karaivanov
1ª	2©	Pass	3¨
Pass	3ª	Dble	Pass
Pass	4©	All Pass

Here, there was a variation in the play. The lead of the ªQ ran to declarer´s king. Stamatov´s next move now was to play a diamond to the ACE, followed by the ¨Q. East could win the king and, with the communication lines with partner still open, return a spade. West won the ace and continued spades, ruffed with dummy´s jack. The ©10 now went to Kholomeev´s ace, and a fourth spade promoted Zlotov´s ©9 into the setting trick. Well defended, fully exploiting the chances given. Russia another +100 and 12 IMP´s more.

In the Rama match, at both tables West opened 1ª and North overcalled 2©. Whether East doubled or not, South would bid 3¨ and there it rested. A missed chance (game) for both sides.

The Bulgarians opened their account with yet another double-figure swing on the very next board:

Session 20. Board 5. Dealer North. N/S Vul.
	ª J © J 9 5 4 ¨ 10 6 4 2 § Q 8 7 3
ª K Q 10 7 6 5 © A 7 ¨ A Q 5 3 § 10		ª A 4 © K Q 10 6 2 ¨ 8 7 § K 6 4 2
	ª 9 8 3 2 © 8 3 ¨ K J 9 § A J 9 5

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Karaivanov	Gromov	Trendafilov	Petrunin
	Pass	1©	Pass
1ª	Pass	2©	Pass
3¨	Pass	3ª	Pass
4NT	Pass	5¨	Pass
6ª	All Pass

2© showed hearts and clubs, so 3¨ was in fact 4th suit. The play was interesting. The ªJ was led and won by the ace. Trumps were drawn, followed by the §10 to the king and ace. South now returned the ©3, but Karaivanov won the ace and simply led a heart to the ten. When this held, there were 12 tricks and +980 to Bulgaria.

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Kholomeev	Stamatov	Zlotov	Karaivanov
	Pass	1©	Pass
1ª	Pass	2§	Pass
2¨	Pass	2ª	Pass
4§	Pass	4ª	All Pass

Natural enough bidding to a sound contract. Twelve tricks, but only +480 to Russia and 11 IMP´s back to Bulgaria.

On the next board to be shown, the play and defence were the only points of interest. 3NT will be reached by almost every pair in the world, and North will lead, let´s say, a spade, as in fact happened at many tables. A few Norths led a club, which immediately led to the same situation.

Session 20. Board 7. Dealer South. All Vul.
	ª 10 9 7 © J 10 7 ¨ A 9 6 § J 8 6 4
ª A K Q © 9 8 2 ¨ K 7 2 § 10 9 7 3		ª 6 5 2 © A K Q 3 ¨ 10 5 4 § A Q 5
	ª J 8 4 3 © 6 5 4 ¨ Q J 8 3 § K 2

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Karaivanov	Gromov	Trendafilov	Petrunin
			Pass
1§	Pass	1¨	Pass
1©	Pass	1ª	Pass
1NT	Pass	3NT	All Pass

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Kholomeev	Stamatov	Zlotov	Karaivanov
			Pass
1§	Pass	1©	Pass
1NT	Pass	3NT	All Pass

Dmitri Zlotov, Russia

At both tables, South found the good return of the ¨J after winning his §K. This is the textbook situation and the jack is the textbook falsecard to play. On this layout, the defenders cannot cash their diamond tricks, but declarer has a nasty guess anyway. He might either cover with the king, hoping for the ¨AQ to be on his left, or he may duck, thus postponing the nasty guess to the next trick. At one table, the jack was allowed to hold, but then declarer went up with the king when South continued a low diamond. One down. At the other table, declarer covered the ¨J immediately, enabling the defenders to cash four tricks in the suit straight away. One down as well, no swing. Of course, there will have been instances of declarers guessing right at the first or second diamond trick even after South has led the ¨J, but this situation will remain everybody´s guess for many millennia of bridge to come. After a series of rather quiet boards, on which Bulgaria did pick up 18 IMP´s in fact to take the lead by 7 IMP´s, it was action all over again when the match drew to its close:

Session 20. Board 13. Dealer North. All Vul.
	ª 3 © 7 6 5 3 ¨ A J 9 4 § A Q 10 9
ª 10 7 6 5 2 © A ¨ Q 5 2 § 7 5 3 2		ª K Q J 4 © K J 9 8 ¨ 10 3 § J 8 6
	ª A 9 8 © Q 10 4 2 ¨ K 8 7 6 § K 4

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Karaivanov	Gromov	Trendafilov	Petrunin
	1¨	Dble	Rdbl
2ª	Pass	Pass	3¨
All Pass

This was a very safe contract, made with an overtrick. Russia +130. Please note that the hearts were lost as soon as South redoubled.

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Kholomeev	Stamatov	Zlotov	Karaivanov
	1¨	Pass	1©
Pass	2ª	Pass	4©
All Pass

When East did not intervene, South could show his hearts. 2ª was a splinter for hearts and 4© the logical conclusion. Even with the hearts 4-1 the play did not present any real problems. There are many ways to make the hand, but in yet another match Ophir Herbst for Israel, playing against Poland, showed his skill.

After two passes Ilan Herbst opened 1¨, Ophir responded 1© and Ilan raised to two. Now Ophir made a psychic trial bid of 2ª, asking for some help in that suit. Ilan signed off with 3©, but Ophir still went on to game. There would have been no story had he been allowed to just play the contract, but East, no doubt expecting a few tricks in spades as well, doubled. He led a club, which gave declarer four tricks in the suit. The ten won, a club went to the king and next he took the diamond finesse, being convinced it would work. After the ªA and a spade ruff Ophir led top clubs, throwing dummy´s last spade on the first and overruffing East´s ©8 with the ten on the second. Next came a low heart from dummy to West´s ace. West could give his partner a diamond ruff, but the ©Q was still there to score the game-going trick. A nice variation in the play for a fully deserved +790.

On Rama, we saw a similar type of swing. At one table, North opened and the hearts were missed; at the other table North passed, so East passed as well, after which South opened 1¨ and North responded 1©. So 4© was duly reached and France had won 10 IMP´s.

It was time for Russia to recoup some points: at this stage they were 21 down. The next two boards were helpful to them:

Session 20. Board 15. Dealer South. N/S Vul.
	ª 8 © A K J 8 ¨ A K 10 7 6 4 § 9 8
ª K 9 6 4 3 2 © 10 7 5 ¨ - § A 10 4 3		ª Q 7 © Q 6 4 3 ¨ J 9 8 3 § 7 5 2
	ª A J 10 5 © 9 2 ¨ Q 5 2 § K Q J 6

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Karaivanov	Gromov	Trendafilov	Petrunin
			1NT
2ª	2NT	Pass	3§
Pass	3ª	Pass	3NT
Pass	4¨	Pass	4ª
Pass	4NT	Pass	5§
Dble	5¨	All Pass

1NT was 12-14, 4ª was a cuebid and 5§ showed 1 keycard with diamond set as trumps earlier on. The play was easy enough, Russia +600.

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Kholomeev	Stamatov	Zlotov	Karaivanov
			1¨
2ª	3§	Pass	3NT
Pass	4¨	Pass	4ª
Pass	6¨	All Pass

After the seminatural 1¨ opening, Stamatov made a transfer raise first and upon hearing the spade cue simply bid six. This only goes down because of the unlucky trump break. Russia +100 and a lucky 12 IMP´s back.

Compare these auctions to what happened on Rama: both N/S pairs playing quietly in 3NT for 10 tricks…

Session 20. Board 16. Dealer West. E/W Vul.
	ª A 9 8 7 4 © Q J 9 5 ¨ 8 7 3 § 7
ª 10 © A 8 7 4 3 ¨ Q J 10 4 § A J 6		ª Q 6 3 © - ¨ K 9 6 5 2 § 10 8 5 3 2
	ª K J 5 2 © K 10 6 2 ¨ A § K Q 9 4

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Karaivanov	Gromov	Trendafilov	Petrunin
1©	Pass	1NT	Pass
2¨	Pass	Pass	Dble
Pass	2ª	3¨	Pass
Pass	3ª	4¨	4ª
Pass	Pass	Dble	All Pass

As you can see, the Russians were carried to a game they might or might not have reached on their own. Apparently East thought he could defeat 4ª nearly on his own, but as it happened there were not enough heart ruffs available. On a diamond lead, Gromov easily made an overtrick for a juicy +690 to Russia.

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Kholomeev	Stamatov	Zlotov	Karaivanov
1©	Pass	1ª	Pass
2¨	Pass	Pass	Dble
Pass	2ª	3¨	Pass
Pass	3ª	All Pass

A nice little psychic by east did not at all deter North from introducing his best suit. It is difficult to understand that South did not go one to game after partner´s 3ª, holding such a strong and well-fitting hand. Twelve tricks were made, +230 for Bulgaria but a loss of 10 IMP´s. Had they reached game, the loss would still have been 5 or 6 IMP´s.

So the match was about level again, and there was more to come:

Session 20. Board 17. Dealer North. None Vul.
	ª K 10 7 5 3 © K 8 ¨ 7 § A 6 5 3 2
ª 9 8 6 4 2 © Q 6 5 ¨ K 9 § Q J 9		ª J © A J 9 4 ¨ Q J 10 6 5 3 2 § K
	ª A Q © 10 7 3 2 ¨ A 8 4 § 10 8 7 4

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Karaivanov	Gromov	Trendafilov	Petrunin
	1ª	2¨	Dble
Pass	3§	All Pass

When Trendafilov did not repeat his seven-card suit, the final contract was one of the lowest over the playing rooms. Eleven tricks were made due to a few defensive mistakes: Russia +150.

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Kholomeev	Stamatov	Zlotov	Karaivanov
	1ª	4¨	Dble
All Pass

A marked difference in approach this time between the two Easts. Stamatov might have bid 5§ but that would not have been a success either. Even a trump lead will not beat 4¨ as declarer can take the heart finesse immediately and the king will drop under the ace in the next round of the suit. So Russia scored another +510 or 12 IMP´s and were back in the lead.

On the last board, once again the lead changed hands:

Session 20. Board 20. Dealer West. All Vul.
	ª K 8 7 6 5 4 © Q 9 ¨ K 10 8 7 § 10
ª A © 8 7 6 5 3 2 ¨ 9 6 4 2 § 7 3		ª 3 2 © A 10 4 ¨ 5 § K J 9 8 6 5 4
	ª Q J 10 9 © K J ¨ A Q J 3 § A Q 2

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Karaivanov	Gromov	Trendafilov	Petrunin
Pass	2¨	3§	Dble
All Pass

Petrunin apparently thought that with his 20 hcp. he could defeat 3§. He was quite right, even after the unlucky lead of the ©K. Declarer wins the ace and what can he do? If he plays a heart, North wins and leads a trump. South takes his §AQ and exits with a spade. Declarer cannot come back to his hand and thus loses a heart, a diamond, a spade and two clubs.

If declarer plays a diamond immediately, North wins and plays a trump. After two rounds of trumps, South exits with a spade. Five tricks for the defence again.

When declarer played a heart after winning the ace and North led a diamond instead of a trump, that was the end of the defence. Now the communication back to declarer´s hand is open and the defenders cannot remove dummy´s trumps in time. Contract made, Bulgaria +670.

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Kholomeev	Stamatov	Zlotov	Karaivanov
Pass	2¨	3§	4©
Pass	4ª	Pass	4NT
All Pass

Here, there was a misunderstanding. Stamatov first thought 4© was convertible, but when his partner bid 4NT realised he might have been wrong. If 4© shows hearts only, then 4NT is the only way out now away from an unwanted contract, so Stamatov hoped for the best. At the other end of the table, Karaivanov was simply asking for aces upon hearing his partner´s conversion to spades, but the message did not quite get through.

When West led his partner´s suit, clubs, instead of his own hearts, all was well in the end for the Bulgarians. Eleven tricks and +660, just not enough to beat their teammates´ score at the other table. Bulgaria +16 IMP´s to win the match 63-56 or 16-14 V.P. They would remain in the race, going into their match with Italy.

On Rama, this hand was a revenge for Greece, who had lost a slam swing on the hand before, getting to 6NT off the §AK (like so many other pairs did, in fact). After North opened 2ª, he finally became declarer in 5ª. Against this voluntarily bid contract East could lead his singleton diamond. As his partner happened to hold the ªA, the ensuing ruff set the contract.