12th Cap Gemini World Top Tournament 1998
An Invitational Pairs Tournament of Bridge 15-18 January 1998
----------------------------------------------------------------------
DAILY BULLETIN 2
Editors: Jos Jacobs, Mark Horton, Marco Ex Saturday, 17 January 1998
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STANDINGS AFTER THE FIRST 6 ROUNDS
1 Mahmood - Forrester 364
2 Jansen - Westerhof 360
3 Buratti - Lanzarotti 355
4 Helness - Helgemo 337
5 Chemla - Perron 320
6 Chagas - Branco 319
7 Martens - Szymanowski 318
8 Hackett - Hackett 310
9 Berkowitz - Cohen 307
10 Sun - Wang 301
11 Meckstroth - Rodwell 278
12 Lauria - Versace 269
13 LÈvy - Mari 265
14 Blakset - Christiansen 250
15 Leufkens - Westra 238
16 Berkowitz - Letizia 206
The best score on Friday was recorded by Zia Mahmood and Tony
Forrester. They managed 206 and moved to the top of the standings,
just 4 VP ahead of Jansen-Westerhof who recovered well after a bad
start to score 176. It also was a great day for one of the Italian
pairs: Buratti-Lanzarotti posted a score of 195, which might have been
enough to win the session, but this time only saw them move from 5th
to 3rd. The first day leaders, Helgemo-Helness, mustered only 147 and
drop to 4th spot, but they are still very much in contention with this
decisive Saturday ahead. Chagas-Branco also managed only 148, going
down from 3rd to 6th, just 1 VP ahead of Martens-Szymanowski who with
their 185 rose from 12th to 7th. Honourable mention also for Sun-Wang:
their 182 saw them rise from 14th to 10th, just 1 VP over average now.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yesterday's Results
ROUND 4
Lauria-Versace - Sun-Wang 25 - 75
Meckstroth-Rodwell - Berkowitz-Cohen 38 - 62
Berkowitz-Letizia - Helness-Helgemo 35 - 65
Hackett-Hackett - Jansen-Westerhof 65 - 35
Buratti-Lanzarotti - Chagas-Branco 83 - 17
LÈvy-Mari - Martens-Szymanowski 27 - 73
Mahmood-Forrester - Leufkens-Westra 74 - 26
Chemla-Perron - Blakset-Christiansen 64 - 36
Last night's first round was a really remarkable one: all winning
pairs scored at least 60, and four winners managed more than 70. The
round was easily won by Buratti-Lanzarotti, who beat last year's
winners Chagas-Branco 83-17. Sun-Wang staged a come-back with 75
against Lauria-Versace, and Zia-Forrester and Martens-Szymanowski won
74-26 and 73-27 respectively against Leufkens-Westra and
LÈvy-Mari. Chemla-Perron were on 80 with two boards to go, but
Blakset-Christiansen reduced the margin to only a 64-36
loss. Helness-Helgemo held on with 65, but Jansen-Westerhof lost 35-65
against the Hacketts to drop to fifth place.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ROUND 5
Sun-Wang - Martens-Szymanowski 45 - 65
Jansen-Westerhof - Helness-Helgemo 63 - 37
LÈvy-Mari - Lauria-Versace 52 - 48
Chagas-Branco - Blakset-Christiansen 90 - 7
Meckstroth-Rodwell - Mahmood-Forrester 37 - 63
Leufkens-Westra - Berkowitz-Cohen 37 - 63
Berkowitz-Letizia - Hackett-Hackett 33 - 67
Chemla-Perron - Buratti-Lanzarotti 34 - 66
After their setback in the previous round, Chagas-Branco struck back
immediately with an over-maximum 90-7 win against poor
Blakset-Christiansen. As a result, they rocketed back to 5th spot,
having fallen from 3rd to 11th the round before. Jansen-Westerhof
staged a recovery, beating the leaders 63-37. With Buratti-Lanzarotti
winnng 66-34 against Chemla-Perron, we greeted the Italians as the new
leaders. The Hacketts continued to do well with another 67, and both
Zia-Forrester and Berkowitz-Cohen merrily marched on with 63
each. Down the table, a gap separated the last three pairs, all under
- 50 V.P., from the rest of the field
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ROUND 6
Sun-Wang - LÈvy-Mari 58 - 42
Chagas-Branco - Chemla-Perron 41 - 59
Meckstroth-Rodwell - Leufkens-Westra 53 - 47
Mahmood-Forrester - Berkowitz-Cohen 69 - 31
Hackett-Hackett - Helness-Helgemo 55 - 45
Blakset-Christiansen - Buratti-Lanzarotti 54 - 46
Martens-Szymanowski - Lauria-Versace 57 - 43
Berkowitz-Letizia - Jansen-Westerhof 22 - 78
A 78-22 win against Berkowitz-Letizia gave the victory in last night's
last round to Jansen-Westerhof who as a result find themselves back in
the runner-up position they held when the day started. The second best
score of the round was Zia-Forrester's 69-31 against
Berkowitz-Cohen. As Buratti-Lanzarotti managed just 46 against
Blakset-Christiansen (who badly needed a recovery), we see new leaders
again: the familiar figure of Zia Mahmood, this time partnered by Tony
Forrester. The Hacketts just had the edge on Helness-Helgemo,
Chemla-Perron beat Chagas-Branco and Sun-Wang kept up their previous
good work. ----------------------------------------------------------------------
"BID 'EM UP!"
Waiting for the entrance of the gladiators at the
start of Round 3, the tables, devoid of players but
surrounded by spectators, reminded me of the
occasion when England were playing Scotland in an
International match. The English Captain told us
to go to the Open Room. When we arrived, there
were several spectators but no opponents. I
innocently enquired: "Which way's North?" and on
being pointed in the right direction, duly sat in
the South seat. Whereupon a helpful lady advised
me: "Oh, you can't sit there, that's where the
players sit!"
Right, enough attempted humour, on with the bridge.
The leaders were playing the fifth placed pair and
the match started with a series of deals on which
excessive aggression would have paid dividends. Event: 12th Cap Gemini World Top Tournament 1998
Site: Hotel Des IndesÝ- The Hague, Netherlands NLD
Date: 1998.01.16
Board 21 
A Q 8
N/NS 
Q 6 5
A 5 4
K 10 6 2
K 6 5 4 2 J 9 7
10 8 A K 9 2
K 10 8 7 6 3 J 2
- A J 7 5
10 3
J 7 4 3
Q 9
Q 9 8 4 3
Annotator: Jos Jacobs:Mark Horton:Marco Ex
Round: 3
Score: NS 170
Score (IMP): -3
|
Board 21 NS Vul. Dealer N Helgemo |
Meckstroth A Q 8 Q 6 5 A 5 4 K T 6 2
| Helness |
|
K 6 5 4 2 T 8 K T 8 7 6 3 - |
Rodwell |
J 9 7 A K 9 2 J 2 A J 7 5
|
|
T 3 J 7 4 3 Q 9 Q 9 8 4 3 |
| North | East | South | West |
| Meckstroth | Helness | Rodwell | Helgemo |
| 1 NT | Pass | Pass | 2 1 |
| Pass | 2 |
Helness contented himself with a simple 2
| Pass | 2 | ||
When his partner showed a two-suiter, he gave some consideration to going on. However he could have been facing a four card suit and it was only a non-vulnerable game.
| Pass | Pass | Pass |
1: hearts or spades and a minor; could be quite minimum in this position
| North | East | South | West |
| Meckstroth | Helness | Rodwell | Helgemo |
| 5 | A |
North led a heart and declarer won,
| 3 | 8 | ||
| A | J |
and played the
| Q | K | ||
| Q | K |
Meckstroth continued the heart attack, but declarer was in control.
| 4 | T | ||
| 5 | 2 |
He won and played a second diamond.
| 9 | T | ||
When the nine came up he won,
| Q |
North went in with the queen,
| 7 | 3 | 4 |
and played a low spade.
| 6 |
and pressed on with a heart (playing his remaining diamond gets the defence one more trick because of the spade position).
| 2 | 7 | 2 | |
| - | - | - | 5 |
Now declarer had an easy road to ten tricks, +170. Four pairs made game so that was 3 imps for the Americans.
It looks as if 4
| * |
Contract made with 2 overtricks
At yet another table, LÈvy-Mari were playing Blakset-Christiansen. The French started the set by making what looked like a highly improbable game when dummy went down. This had been the auction, livened up by the Danish methods:
Event: 12th Cap Gemini World Top Tournament 1998
Site: Hotel Des IndesÝ- The Hague, Netherlands NLD
Date: 1998.01.16
Round: 3
Score: NS 420
Score (IMP): 4
|
Board 21 NS Vul. Dealer N LÈvy |
Christiansen A Q 8 Q 6 5 A 5 4 K T 6 2
| Mari |
|
K 6 5 4 2 T 8 K T 8 7 6 3 - |
Blakset |
J 9 7 A K 9 2 J 2 A J 7 5
|
|
T 3 J 7 4 3 Q 9 Q 9 8 4 3 |
| North | East | South | West |
| Christiansen | Mari | Blakset | LÈvy |
| 1 1 | Double | 1 2 | Double |
| 1 NT | Pass | Pass | 3 |
| Pass | 3 NT |
Not surprisingly, LÈvy and Mari had no detailed agreement as to whether 3
| Double | 4 | ||
When 3NT got doubled they knew to run to the 5-3 fit.
| Pass | Pass | Pass |
1: clubs or 15-19 balanced
2: 0-5 hcp!
| North | East | South | West |
| Christiansen | Mari | Blakset | LÈvy |
| 6 | 5 | 8 | 2 |
On the lead of the
| 8 | J |
Christiansen ducked, but not smoothly enough to fool LÈvy, who put up the Jack.
| 3 | 4 | ||
| A | J |
Now he led the
| Q | K | ||
| T | A | 4 | 3 |
| 5 | 2 | 9 |
and the fall of the
| T | |||
| Q | 7 | T |
The defence can prevail by winning the
| 5 | |||
| * |
Contract made
Event: 12th Cap Gemini World Top Tournament 1998
Site: Hotel Des IndesÝ- The Hague, Netherlands NLD
Date: 1998.01.16
Board 22 J 5
E/EW K 9 6 5 2
K 2
8 6 3 2
10 9 6 4 A 2
Q 8 7 4 A J 10 3
8 4 3 Q J 9 7 5
9 4 A Q
K Q 8 7 3
-
A 10 6
K J 10 7 5
Round: 3
Score: NS 150
Score (IMP): 0
|
Board 22 EW Vul. Dealer E Helgemo |
Meckstroth J 5 K 9 6 5 2 K 2 8 6 3 2
| Helness |
|
T 9 6 4 Q 8 7 4 8 4 3 9 4 |
Rodwell |
A 2 A J T 3 Q J 9 7 5 A Q
|
|
K Q 8 7 3 - A T 6 K J T 7 5 |
| East | South | West | North |
| Helness | Rodwell | Helgemo | Meckstroth |
| 1 | 1 | Pass | Pass |
| Double | 2 | Pass | Pass |
| Pass |
Meckstroth was close to a raise, but with only one point in Rodwell's suits he knew the chance of a game was remote.
| West | North | East | South |
| Helgemo | Meckstroth | Helness | Rodwell |
| 3 | K | 5 | 6 |
| 4 | 5 | 2 | K |
| 6 | J | A | 3 |
| 4 | 2 | Q | A |
| 8 | 2 | 7 | T |
| 4 | 3 | A | 5 |
| 4 | 2 | A | 7 |
| 9 | 6 | Q | K |
Of course, the cards were lying perfectly for declarer and eleven tricks were easy. No swing as no one was pushing hard at this early stage.
| * |
Contract made with 3 overtricks
Event: 12th Cap Gemini World Top Tournament 1998
Site: Hotel Des IndesÝ- The Hague, Netherlands NLD
Date: 1998.01.16
Board 23 10 9 8 5 4 2
S/ALL 9 5
Q 4
K 10 9
Q A J 7
K J 8 6 4 Q 7 2
K 8 7 2 J 10 9 3
8 3 2 Q 6 4
K 6 3
A 10 3
A 6 5
A J 7 5
Round: 3
Score: NS 150
Score (IMP): 0
|
Board 23 Both Vul. Dealer S Helgemo |
Meckstroth T 9 8 5 4 2 9 5 Q 4 K T 9
| Helness |
|
Q K J 8 6 4 K 8 7 2 8 3 2 |
Rodwell |
A J 7 Q 7 2 J T 9 3 Q 6 4
|
|
K 6 3 A T 3 A 6 5 A J 7 5 |
| South | West | North | East |
| Rodwell | Helgemo | Meckstroth | Helness |
| 1 NT | Pass | 2 | Pass |
| 2 | Pass | Pass | Pass |
I recall reading somewhere that when you have a six-card suit facing a strong no-trump you should try for game. Of course, there was no reason to do that here, but 4
| West | North | East | South |
| Helgemo | Meckstroth | Helness | Rodwell |
| 2 |
The opening lead of a club did declarer no harm,
| 9 | Q | A | |
| 7 |
Helgemo gave it a look, but played low, so the queen scored.
| Q | 3 | 6 |
and he was in hand at trick two to play a low diamond.
| Q | T | 7 | K |
Now Rodwell called for the
| 4 | 9 | J | 3 |
| 2 | 4 | T | A |
| * |
Contract made with 3 overtricks
Board 24 might be called a routine game. It was missed at only one table, and double-dummy there were always nine top tricks. Jansen-Westerhof had a chance, however, to defeat Forrester, but it turned out to be a position where one defender managed to fool both declarer and his partner simultaneously.
Event: 12th Cap Gemini World Top Tournament 1998
Site: Hotel Des IndesÝ- The Hague, Netherlands NLD
Date: 1998.01.16
Board 24 Q J 4 3
W/- A Q 10
J 6 3
J 4 3
10 7 6 5 2 A K 9
K 9 4 6 3 2
A 7 2 K 8
Q 5 A K 8 7 6
8
J 8 7 5
Q 10 9 5 4
10 9 2
Round: 3
Score: NS 400
Score (IMP): 0
|
Board 24 None Vul. Dealer W Mahmood |
Jansen Q J 4 3 A Q T J 6 3 J 4 3
| Forrester |
|
T 7 6 5 2 K 9 4 A 7 2 Q 5 |
Westerhof |
A K 9 6 3 2 K 8 A K 8 7 6
|
|
8 J 8 7 5 Q T 9 5 4 T 9 2 |
| West | North | East | South |
| Mahmood | Jansen | Forrester | Westerhof |
| Pass | Pass | 1 | Pass |
| 1 | Pass | 2 NT | Pass |
| 3 NT | Pass | Pass | Pass |
| South | West | North | East |
| Westerhof | Mahmood | Jansen | Forrester |
| T |
On a diamond lead 3 NT looks easy enough. (Only Paul Marston, with his theory of Canap leads, would have had a chance here, and one heart lead from down under (South) is not enough). Westerhof led a more normal diamond,
| 2 | J | K | |
| 8 | 2 | 3 | A |
and declarer first tested the spades to find the bad news,
| 5 | 5 | 4 | K |
| 4 |
then played a third spade, won by Jansen's Jack. Westerhof threw away two diamonds, but Jansen played a diamond nevertheless. At this point Forrester decided that clubs were a favourite to be 4-2 (though the defence might have shifted to a heart if this were the case) so he played a fourth spade. Jansen won as Forrester threw a club, and played a third diamond to his partner, as Forrester threw a heart. Now Westerhof had to decide whether to play his partner for the top clubs or the top hearts, and he thought the suit preference overtones in spades suggested his partner might have club cards. The problem with that is that Forrester's discard of a heart suggests the contrary: and if Jansen had taken the
| 6 | J | 9 | |
| * |
Contract made
Event: 12th Cap Gemini World Top Tournament 1998
Site: Hotel Des IndesÝ- The Hague, Netherlands NLD
Date: 1998.01.16
Board 25 9 4
N/EW A 9 7
Q J 10 6 5
A J 9
J 10 3 2 6 5
5 K Q 4 3 2
A K 9 7 3 8 4
K 7 6 10 5 4 3
A K Q 8 7
J 10 8 6
2
Q 8 2
Round: 3
Score: NS -100
Score (IMP): -5
|
Board 25 EW Vul. Dealer N Helgemo |
Meckstroth 9 4 A 9 7 Q J T 6 5 A J 9
| Helness |
|
J T 3 2 5 A K 9 7 3 K 7 6 |
Rodwell |
6 5 K Q 4 3 2 8 4 T 5 4 3
|
|
A K Q 8 7 J T 8 6 2 Q 8 2 |
| North | East | South | West |
| Meckstroth | Helness | Rodwell | Helgemo |
| 1 | Pass | 1 | Pass |
| 1 NT | Pass | 2 |
Rodwell relayed with 2
| Pass | |||
| 2 | Pass | 2 |
and his 2
| Pass | |||
| 2 NT | Pass | 3 NT | Pass |
| Pass | Pass |
| East | South | West | North |
| Helness | Rodwell | Helgemo | Meckstroth |
| 4 | 2 | 6 |
East led a club and Helgemo wisely withheld his King,
| 9 |
declarer winning with the nine.
| 5 | A | 2 | 4 |
| Q |
East won and switched to his remaining spade.
| J | |
He crossed to dummy with a spade and ran the
| 5 | 7 | ||
| 6 | K |
Meckstroth won and went for his first shot, spades 3-3, by cashing the
| 3 | 9 | ||
| 2 | Q | T | 5 |
| 3 | 6 |
No joy, so he tried the second string to his bow,
| 3 |
When West failed to follow suit he had run out of ammunition and was two down. -100 translated to 5 imps.
| A | |||
| K | 8 | 7 | 9 |
| 8 | 2 | K | 6 |
| 4 | 7 | J | T |
| 4 | 8 | A | J |
| 3 | T | 9 | Q |
| 5 | 8 | 7 | A |
| T | Q |
Helgemo's play of a low club to trick one makes it nearly impossible for declarer to succeed, but on this hand the defence was not always at its best, nor was the declarer play.
| K |
When Mari led a low club against S¯ren Christiansen's 3 NT, declarer put up dummy's Queen as he badly wanted to be in dummy to play hearts. It is doubtful, however, if this is the correct line of play. At the table, LÈvy covered the
When Chagas-Branco were defending against Lauria- Versace, Alfredo ducked the low club lead round to the King and his ace, then led a low heart from hand and retained complete control of the hand, making nine tricks without difficulty as the cards lay. Still, this is not a 100 130844398ne - in fact it is difficult to find one. Maybe, ducking a spade at trick two is reasonable, but the defence can counter that by shifting to a heart on some lies of the cards.
| J |
Contract was set 2 tricks
Event: 12th Cap Gemini World Top Tournament 1998
Site: Hotel Des IndesÝ- The Hague, Netherlands NLD
Date: 1998.01.16
Board 26 A K 10 4 3
E/ALL 10 7 5
3
Q J 8 7
Q 7 5 9 6
A K 9 6 3 J 2
K Q A J 10 9 7 4 2
10 5 2 6 3
J 8 2
Q 8 4
8 6 5
A K 9 4
Round: 3
Score: NS -100
Score (IMP): 0
|
Board 26 Both Vul. Dealer E Helgemo |
Meckstroth A K T 4 3 T 7 5 3 Q J 8 7
| Helness |
|
Q 7 5 A K 9 6 3 K Q T 5 2 |
Rodwell |
9 6 J 2 A J T 9 7 4 2 6 3
|
|
J 8 2 Q 8 4 8 6 5 A K 9 4 |
| East | South | West | North |
| Helness | Rodwell | Helgemo | Meckstroth |
| 3 | Pass | Pass | Double |
| Pass | 4 | Pass | 4 |
| Pass | Pass | Pass |
| East | South | West | North |
| Helness | Rodwell | Helgemo | Meckstroth |
| 6 | A | 5 | 7 |
| 6 | J | Q | A |
| 9 | 2 | 5 | K |
| 2 | 8 | 7 | 4 |
| 3 | K | 2 | 8 |
| 4 | 4 | T | Q |
| 2 | Q | K | 5 |
| 7 | 5 | K | 3 |
| 9 | 6 | Q | 3 |
| J | 4 |
Declarer could not avoid the loss of three hearts and a club and there was no swing. The real interest in this deal lay at another table.
| 3 | 7 | ||
| * |
Contract was set 1 trick
Event: 12th Cap Gemini World Top Tournament 1998
Site: Hotel Des IndesÝ- The Hague, Netherlands NLD
Date: 1998.01.16
Round: 3
Score: NS 680
Score (IMP): 11
|
Board 26 Both Vul. Dealer E Westra |
Hackett A K T 4 3 T 7 5 3 Q J 8 7
| Leufkens |
|
Q 7 5 A K 9 6 3 K Q T 5 2 |
Hackett |
9 6 J 2 A J T 9 7 4 2 6 3
|
|
J 8 2 Q 8 4 8 6 5 A K 9 4 |
| East | South | West | North |
| Leufkens | Hackett | Westra | Hackett |
| 3 | Pass | 3 | Pass |
| 4 | Pass | Pass | Pass |
| North | East | South | West |
| Hackett | Leufkens | Hackett | Westra |
| K | 6 | 2 | 7 |
| 5 | 2 | 8 | 9 |
| 7 | J | 4 | A |
| T | 2 | Q |
Since we have no desire to make anyone appear foolish (and having already received a suitable amount!) we will only say that J. Hackett led the
| K | |||
| * |
Contract made with 2 overtricks
There was only one more swing in our featured match and again it went to the Norwegians.
Event: 12th Cap Gemini World Top Tournament 1998
Site: Hotel Des IndesÝ- The Hague, Netherlands NLD
Date: 1998.01.16
Board 27 A 3
S/- A 3 2
A 8 7 3 2
Q 6 2
9 8 6 4 K Q J 10 7 5
Q 6 4 J 9
10 9 5 4 6
A 3 10 9 5 4
2
K 10 8 7 5
K Q J
K J 8 7
Round: 3
Score: NS -50
Score (IMP): -9
|
Board 27 None Vul. Dealer S Helgemo |
Meckstroth A 3 A 3 2 A 8 7 3 2 Q 6 2
| Helness |
|
9 8 6 4 Q 6 4 T 9 5 4 A 3 |
Rodwell |
K Q J T 7 5 J 9 6 T 9 5 4
|
|
2 K T 8 7 5 K Q J K J 8 7 |
| South | West | North | East |
| Rodwell | Helgemo | Meckstroth | Helness |
| 1 | Pass | 2 1 | 3 |
But Helness took away his opponents' room to manoeuvre with his leap to 3
| 4 | 4 |
Things got worse when Helgemo raised the ante.
| Double | Pass | ||
| 5 | Pass | 6 | Pass |
| Pass | Pass |
It wasn't easy for the Americans to evaluate their assets and they ended up in a slam that required a lot of good things to happen.1: 2D was game forcing
| East | South | West | North |
| Helness | Rodwell | Helgemo | Meckstroth |
| K | 2 | 4 | A |
| 5 | J | 6 | 3 |
| 6 | Q | 4 | 2 |
| 7 | K | 5 | 3 |
| - | 7 |
They didn't and declarer finished up one down for -50 and a loss of 9 imps, making the final score 60-40 to the Norwegians.
| A | - | ||
| * |
Contract was set 1 trick