LEARNING CENTER

This was Board 64 of 64 of the Grand National Team Finals played in Philadelphia (July, 2012).

At the time, the Florida team trailed the New York team by 4 IMPS.

At one table, the New York team did very well.  They bid the North-South cards below to 6 and made it. Given that they had a 4-IMP lead and this was the last board, it was hard to see how they couldn't win the event.

Vul: E-W Dir: South	K 6 5 K J 9 K Q 9 7 3 K 2
9 8 10 4 A J 5 4 A Q J 10 3		Q 10 4 8 10 8 6 2 9 8 6 5 4
	A J 7 3 2 A Q 8 7 6 5 2 -- 7

As the spectators watched (this match was broadcasted live on BBO), this was the auction that unfolded at the other table:

West	North	East	South
			1
2	3	4	4
Pass	4	Dbl	Rdbl
Pass	5	Pass	5
Pass	5	Pass	5
Pass	5NT	Pass	7
Pass	Pass	Pass

 The North-South pair from Florida (I won't name them since they are good friends of mine), bid as shown to 7.  There was heated debate after as to which one of them had lost his mind. But, they didn't lose the match. West led a trump. Declarer drew trumps and ran spades (with a finesse), throwing dummy's clubs. A club ruff in dummy provided the 13th trick for +1510. Florida won 11 IMPs on this board to win the match and the event by 7.

 The second sensational summer deal comes from the World Championships in France.

 prev next