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Bridge Report from Salt Lake City - a Canadian
Point of View
By Linda Lee
February 3, 2002
Some players had a difficult journey arriving in
Salt Lake due to weather-related flight delays. The biggest problem
was a computer problem at US immigration in Toronto which made
the wait to get through up to 3 hours. But once you deplaned at
the SLC airport you could not help being excited - being here
makes you part of the Olympics, even in a small way.
The event started off with Opening Ceremonies on
Saturday. I have to say that the Canadian teams looked very spiffy
in our distinctive red uniforms. Two exciting pieces of news.
First, the ladies team asked me to help out as NPC and second
Canada would play the first two Vugraph matches. The men would
play the US team first and then the ladies would take on the US
ladies team.
We had a modest rooting section in the Vugraph as the match began
- small but vocal. And there was a lot to cheer about. The Men's
Team had a super session, playing near flawless bridge and easily
won their set. Nick Gartaganis and Peter Jones played in the closed
room and kept producing plus results against Richard Freeman and
Nick Nickell. Fred Gitelman and Joey Silver began with a bit of
a hiccup on what otherwise was a great set. Let's see how you do.
Joey was looking at:
SKJ72 HK973 DQJ85 C10
Here is the auction when you have to make your decision (neither
side vulnerable):
West North East South
2D(1) Pass 3C Pass
Pass ?
(1) 3 suited hand with short diamonds.
What do you do now?
If you pass you win a whole bunch of IMPS since
your partners have a good plus in 5CX making. If you bid you will
wind up duplicating the result at the other table! The auction
continues redouble, 4H by Fred. Cohen Īsaves' in 5C which your
partner doubles to push the board. The whole hand:
S A 9 64
H 10 5 2
D 2
C A K 8 6 4
S A 9 6 4 S K J 7 2
H 10 5 2 H K 9 7 3
D 2 D Q j 8 5
C A K 8 6 4 C 10
S A 9 64
H 10 5 2
D 2
C A K 8 6 4
Board 3 put Canada on the scoreboard.
S 10 5
H 6
D J10 9 5 4 2
C J 8 7 5
S Q 9 4 3 2 S A J
H Q H A J 9 8 7 4 3
D K 6 3 D VOID
C A 9 4 3 C K Q 10 2
S K 8 7 6
H K 10 5 2
D A Q 8 7
C 6
In the closed room Nick and Peter had a good result North South:
+100 in 6C down one. Fred and Joey capitalized by making 5H doubled.
Canada was up 14 imps.
S 10 7 5 3 2
H J 5 4 3
D 10 4 2
C 8
S 9 8 S A Q J
H A K Q 9 7 H 8 6
D A K Q 6 5 D 9 3
C Q C A K J 10 4 2
S K 6 4
H 10 2
D J 8 7
C 9 7 6 5 3
Canada scored an impressive win on this board when Fred and Joey
had a good auction to arrive in 7NT. It would have been unbeatable
from Joey's side but even from Fred's side it was a much better
contract than 7C, which was the contract at the other table. The
commentators mumbled something about the hand requiring some play
but every Canadian knew that Fred would play the hand carefully
and make the contract. With the bad club break the Americans went
down in 7C after a spade lead. It is possible to make 7C double
dummy but the normal play is to play for trumps to be no worse
than 4-2 by playing clubs from the top after the spade lead knocks
out your re- entry to dummy. Gitelman also received a spade lead,
and carefully cashed his red suits before touching clubs; once
diamonds broke, the club position became irrelevant.
Finally the Americans broke the schneider on Board 8 when they
scored an imp by making an an overtrick. In the end the Canadian
men trounced the Americans 34 - 5. An impressive win. The men
continued to shine in the second and third matches and after thre
rounds were leading the field by an impressive 16 Victory Points.
The Canadian women suffered a small loss to a good Great Britain
team in the first round The second match they did better on Vugraph
to win by 7 IMPS against the American ladies. It was quite a good
match to watch with all pairs playing well. The most exciting
hand from a Canadian point of view was Board 20, the eighth board
of the match.
Here is another one to try. This time you get to be Dianna Gordon.
You are sitting South in the Open Room and hold:
S J 7 5 H 6 D K Q 9 6 5 C A K 9 7. This is the auction:
West North East South
Shuman Thorpe Myers Gordon
4C(1) Pass 4D(2) Pass
4H 4S 5H ?
If you are a passer than you will do very well. Dianna decided
that in this very complex auction East West had probably lost
their way and she passed. The auction continued with 5S on her
left and 6H on her right. She now knew exactly what to do. Katie
found the good diamond lead and they beat the hand three tricks
for a fine score of +800. In the other room meanwhile Gloria Silverman
and Judy Gartaganis had bought the hand in 5H doubled making,
for a big swing of 16 imps. The match continued with some swings
each way but Canada emerged the victors by 29-22.
S K Q 9 6 4 3 2
H void
D 8 7
C A K 9 7
S A S 10 8
H AQ J 10 7 5 3 2 H K 9 8 4
D J 10 D A 4 3 2
C Q 4 C J 3 2
S J 7 5
H 6
D K Q 9 6 5
C A K 9 7
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