Brazil to the fore again

Press, 5 July 1978, Page 17

Brazil to the fore again

CONTRACT BRIDGE

By

J.R.Wignall

The Fifth World Pairs Olympiad began on June 18 in New Orleans, the first time this event has been staged by the American Contract Bridge League. Each national association affiliated to the World Federation was invited to enter a number of pairs based on its total membership. After four qualifying rounds the top 112 pairs out of the original 192 entered went into a two session semi-final, part only of their scores being carried forward. Having sorted .out the top 40 pairs, a four-session final, with no carry-over, decided the winner. New Zealand was not

represented by an offical team but several pairs took part on an unofficial basis. The field over-all was probably of the highest standard to have played in a major world championship at any time, the qualifiers for the final reading like a Who’s Who of modern bridge. Before this, however, there was a popular result in the first qualifying session when 75-year-old Oswald Jacoby, playing with the young professional, Mike Passell — at 31 years less than half his age — headed the list. Jacoby was participating by special invitation from the World Bridge Federation, for he has one of the

most outstanding records of any player in the history of the game. As well as partnering Sydney Lenz in the grudge battle with Ely Culbertson in the early 1930 s he subsequently represented America in the first world championship. Since then he has had an enviable tournament record, and, although he now no longer plays as much as he used to, he is still a most formidable opponent. This hand showed him at his best. West was the dealer with neither side vulnerable: N.

W. N. E. S. Pass 1A Dbl. 4 A Dbl. All Pass After a pass from the dealer Jacoby opened one spade and East doubled for take .out. Passell, recognising the probable lack of

defensive values in his partnership’s hands, jumped obstructively to four spades. West, with a difficult decision, found the right answer when he doubled for penalties. In fact, East and West could have made game in hearts, losing tricks only to the ace of spades and ace and king of clubs, but five hearts would have been .one too many. With a very hard hand to lead from East finally chose his singleton trump on which dummy’s eight was played and allowed to win. Quick as a flash Jacoby led a low club from dummy to the five, nine and 10. East returned another club and the declarer took the jack with the ace. The top trumps were made and Jacoby led the four of clubs. When the six appeared on his left he finessed dummy’s eight and when this worked the king of clubs allowed him to discard a small diamond. By thus holding his losers to four, a heart, two diamonds and only one club, he had saved against his opponents’ game contract at the price of an insignificant 100 points. The top qualifying pair after the semi-final rounds was Assumpcao and Chagas, from Brazil. They were two of the team which took the world championship in Monaco two years ago, but has subsequently been rather eclipsed. That the Brazilians will come again was clearly shown when, at the end

of the final rounds, the winners were their team mates Marcelo Branco and Gabino Cintra. If they could not take the world soccer title they made up for it in the world of bridge. At the same time as the open pairs, the world women’s pairs were contested under similar conditions. Mrs G. A. Nutt and Mrs J. Marshall, of Christchurch, enjoyed a brief moment .of glory by finishing the first qualify ing round in sixth place, a magnificent achievement considering the illustrious names below them. Inevitably, however, they slipped away as the tournament progressed. In the open pairs R. P. Kerr and P. H. Marston, of Christchurch, not a regular partnership, found the going very rough. When they played against two Australians however it gave Alfred Sheinwold the chance to reveal his knowledge of geography by referring to their “downunder” origin. Commenting that he saw the four of them playing upside down he went across to watch the play and saw this deal:

The auction was soon over when, after a pass from West, Marston opened three spades and everyone passed. Kerr’s pass on the South hand is worth noting for while many would be tempted, it is unlikely that a partner who has announced a very weak hand has sufficient values for game. After cashing the ace of diamonds East switched to the singleton club. This was won in dummy, a diamond was ruffed in hand and North made the ace of spades. He then led the eight of spades. East hesitated, which was reasonable; then followed small, which was not. Without going into a long analysis the only time this play is right is when North started with a sevencard suit and West with the queen, 10 and another spade. Still, Marston’s deception had worked and he continued with a third round of trumps won by East’s king. That was the second trick for the defenders who could make only the ace of hearts to hold North to 10 tricks. If, of course, East had taken the second round of spades with the king he could have put his partner on lead and would then have been given a club ruff to win one extra trick for the defence. Turning himself the right way up Sheinwold went away to write up the deal.