New Zealand competes at another World Cup

Press, 14 July 1982, Page 10

New Zealand competes at another World Cup

CONTRACT BRIDGE

J.R. Wignall

The New Zealand soccer team has had its moment of glory competing in Spain for the World Cup. Back in 1974 the New Zealand bridge team had a similar experience when it won the right to play for the World Championship in Venice. Like tbe footballers, it found itself out of. its class against the much more experienced and more professional teams of Europe and the Americas. But it too had its successes even in defeat. In a high scoring match New Zealand defeated the United States to produce one of the upset results of the tournament.' Here are two deals'which were of great assistance. The first was dealt by South with only his side vulnerable:

, ■■ ' N. ♦ K 7 5 V ♦ 10 8 65 + AQ 105 4 2 W. e. ♦ 10983 *6 JT Q 10 9 7 V A K 6 5 4 3 2 ♦ KQ742 ♦ AJ9 ♦ * J 9 S. ♦ A Q J 4 2 V J 8 ♦ 3 ♦ K 8 7 6 5

When the Americans held the North-South cards the auction was:

All Pass . The first few calls were unexceptional. South opened one spade. West passed, and North bid two clubs. East now began the barrage by jumping all the way to four hearts. South showed his big Club fit,, and West produced one of the more imaginative bids of the,championship, a leap to six hearts.

This gave North a terrible problem, for his partner may have started with only a four card spade suit. It seemed highly unlikely on the other hand that the opponents could make 12 tricks, so he doubled firmly but not altogether confidently. His doubts were justified. There was in fact no defence, and when South chose his singleton diamond as his opening lead, the declarer quickly claimed seven tricks in hearts, five in diamonds and one club ruff in dummy to make his doubled slam with an overtrick. When the deal was replayed with New Zealand North-South, the auction was

6* All Pass Here again- East-West reached six hearts, but the opponents pushed on to six spades, a brave decision when vulnerable against nonvulnerable opponents. Nevertheless, it needed a pretty good defence to beat South’s contract. An opening lead of a heart, for example, would have been fatal. Dummy would ruff, and the declarer would quickly take five rounds of spades plus .six tricks in clubs to make the slam. West, however, found the' brilliant lead of the two of diamonds, and when 'East won with the ace he gave the matter some thought. His partner must have- a five card suit to bid it at the four

level, so the lead of his lowest card must request the return of the lowest suit. So thinking. East switched to a club. West ruffed and though South made the rest of the tricks the slam had been defeated. This was still a big swing to New Zealand, and more points came in a few boards later. West was the dealer, with neither, side vulnerable:

N. 4 4 V Q 7 ♦ K 97543 ♦ 8 7 5 3 W. E. ♦ AK9S 4 10 7 V A 109 632 VJS4 ' ♦ 2 ♦ A ,J 8 ♦ 96 ♦ KJ1042 S. 4 Q J 8 6 3 2 V K 8 4 Q 106 4 A Q

After the American West had opened. one heart, and his partner had responded two clubs.. South for New Zealand came in with two spades. West doubled for penalties and everyone passed. Though the contract should have been defeated. East-

West made a terrible mess of the defence and South scrambled eight tricks together. Two spades doubled scored a game bonus plus 120 for the tricks and 50 for the insult. When the hand was replayed with New Zealand East-West, they judged much better and reached the fine contract of four hearts. Against this the defenders could make only two tricks in clubs and one in trumps so the contract was made. The Kiwis had bid and made a game at both tables, and were well on their way to a meritorious victory.

s. W. N. E. 1* No 2* 4V 5* 6V Dble

more prolonged: N. ' 2* E. 2V S. 1* W. No 4* 4f 4V , 5* No 5V 5* 6V