The end of Italian bridge supremacy

Press, 8 July 1976, Page 18

The end of Italian bridge supremacy

By

J. R. WIGNALL

In the opinion of many observers in Monte Carlo in May, the 1976 Contest for the Bermuda Bowl, the symbol of International Bridge supremacy, marked the end of an era. The great Italian Blue Team, who had been practically invincible for 16 years, finally showed that they were only human and lost the final to an American team that had left the United States with more hope in its supporters’ hearts than confidence. In fairness, it must be said that the Italians played much of the time under handicaps of one sort or another. The proceedings open with a hearing before the World Bridge Federation executive at ■which it was reported that an unsuccessful contender for the Italian team had released tape recordings which could only be described as compromising. It purported to be a record of a conversation between him and his partner, a former member of the Blue team, in which they were alleged to have discussed various methods of cheating involving signalling with cigarettes, and cigarette smoke. The Italian Bridge Federation had treated this as an internal disciplinary matter and were having tests carried out to establish the authenticity of the tape, but the World Bridge Federation decided that they should have been advised previously. No matter what the rights and wrongs, the discussion of the sordid affair just prior to the opening games of the championship undoubtedly had an unsettling effect on the whole Italian team. They felt that they were directly or indirectly implicated, and were understandably bitter at the American-dominated executive. Naturally the news media had a field day with the incident, but many of us thought that the concept was so fanciful as to defy credence. Having personally played against two of the Italians who may have been implicated, in a match in which they were playing badly and losing points, I would have no hesitation in rejecting any suggestion of cheating methods being used. When the championship began, at least one of the Italians was playing well below his normal form, and

a second player in a manner that indicated that he wished to take on the whole world. his opponents. team-mates, partner. and spectators. The normal crushing consistency of the Blue Team was sadly lacking and although it returned in spurts, there was no smooth rhythm. Matters were not helped by the presence at all sessions of an American member of the appeal committee, for there was naturally a feeling that he was there with more suspicion than impartiality. Finally, on one or two occasions, legitimate protests that the Italians lodged were rejected, no doubt properly so. Eventually Italy qualified to meet the United States in the final, and most of us expected the usual resurgence, but it was not to be. America went ahead early, and hardly ever looked likely to be beaten. One can never be sure of these things, but it now seems unlikely that the Blue Team will continue for Forquet had completely lost confidence, Belladonna had lost his usual easygoing affability, and Garozzo and Franco were at loggerheads more or less continually. To replace the champions of the Old World, we saw the final emergence during the tour’ney of the Brazilians. Having been very close to qualifying for the final of the Bermuda Bowl, they proceeded to reproduce their best form throughout the ensuing two-week tourney to win the championship in the very last round. Occasionally they play with real luck and flair. The’ following shows clearly the unpredictable effects of a pre-emptive bid. Its purpose, of course, is to disrupt the bidding, especially for the opponents who must make an uncomfortable guess at a high level. Sometimes, however, the pre-emptive bid backfires. This hand arose in a match between Brazil and the United States. N. A Q 8 V Q 7 ♦ .198 7 4 A KB6 5 W. E. A AK963 A 742 V 5 V K .1 10 ♦ K 10 3 2 ♦ A 6 A AQ J A 10 9432 S. A J 10 V A 986432 ♦ Q 5 A 7

After a pass from Fast the dealer, the American South opened proceedings with a call of three hearts. West doubled, not really caring whether his partner called or passed for penalties, and after a pass from North, the Brazilian East bid three no trumps. There was no room for any scientific manoeuvring and. as it happened, he had been pushed into the best contract. South led the six of hearts to the five queen and king. East led. a club to the. jack and king, and North returned a heart. After winning with the ace. South switched to spades but there was no effective defence. The declarer won in dummy, cashed the ace aid queen of clubs, came to hand with the ace of diamonds, and made his last two clubs. That was seven tricks, and the good heart, diamond king and top spade gave him his contract with an overtrick. In the other room there was no pre-emptive bid: W. N. E. S. — — No No 1A No IV No 1A No 4A The opening bid of one club was artificial and forcing after which EastWest had no difficulty m bidding four spades. North Jed the queen of hearts to the king and ace, and South returned his singleton club. In the absence of any opposing bidding, West had to guess the adverse distribution. He decided that his best line of play was to take the ace of clubs, across to the ace of diamonds and cash the jack and ten of hearts on which to discard his two remaining clubs. But North ruffed the third round of hearts and continued with a diamond. West won with the king, drew one round of trumps, then tried to ruff a diamond in dummy, but South over-ruffed and returned his last trump so the declarer eventually lost another trick in diamonds. He therefore was down, one and although he might have made his game contract, the fact remains that at the other table the preemptive bid had driven the Brazilians into a game contract that could not be defeated. Boxing.— .toe Bugner. the former British and European heavy-weight champion who announced liis retirement six months ago. intends to make a come-back to fight the current European title-holder. Richard Dunn, Bugner’s manager said in London.