Last week I was glued to BBO, watching the US trials to select the two teams who will represent America in the Bermuda Bowl in Bali later this year. All the best players were competing and it was fascinating to see the extraordinary events unfold. USA 1, and outright winners, is the relatively unknown Kranyak team, average age around 30, who stormed their way to victory on a four-man team, crushing the mighty Nickell, Fleisher and Diamond teams along the way. What was the secret of their success? The consensus is that it is due in some part to their relative youth. They are absolutely fearless!
This hand came up in the final against Fleisher and earned them a vulnerable game swing:
In the closed room South overcalled 2NT with a bare minimum and an inflexible spade holding. His partner raised to 3NT and the 22-point game was reached. West chose to lead ♦6 rather than his partner’s suit, and declarer won it in hand with ♦J. When the club finesse lost and East switched to a heart, there was only one possible distribution that would allow the contract to make. Wolpert won with the ♥A and banged down the ♠K, collecting West’s singleton Queen and giving him two spade tricks, two hearts, one diamond and four clubs. Amazing, eh?
In the open room, an older and more circumspect South chose to double the weak 2♠ opener. His partner, on his pile of rubbish, bid 2NT showing a weakish hand and 3♠ became the final contract, which, played by South, was cold. Ten hefty IMPs to Kranyak! So — are you a youngster or an oldie? 2NT or double? At the time of writing, the USA 2 team is still being decided.
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