Bermuda Bowl: USA 2 and Norway battle to the last

The final of the world championship, the Bermuda Bowl, came down to the wire. At one stage Norway were a long way ahead of USA 2 but, just like those gaps of miles in cycle races, as the finishing line got closer, the lead melted away. It was all level with 32 deals to go. It was just two IMPs to the Europeans after half of those.

These situations are fraught with sports psychology; how often to tennis players claw their way back from two sets down to lose in the fifth? The Americans came out fighting, this deal was one of the most remarkable I have ever seen.

NS Vul.
Dealer North
  • 6
  • 10987
  • AK65
  • A864
  • 105
  • KQ62
  • J1043
  • 1053
N
W
E
S
  • KQ8743
  • AJ
  • 87
  • KQ2
  • AJ92
  • 543
  • Q92
  • J97

Put yourself in North's seat. You can't open one heart for that promises a five card suit and anyway, what's the attraction? One diamond is possible but in your system that doesn't mean very much (one club is strong and with the five card majors that means one diamond picks up a lot of hands). So you pass. The opponents open their strong club, usually 16+ HCP. That leaves you on the side lines? Not a bit…

West
North
East
South
Groetheim
Weichsel
Aa
Sontag
—
Pass
1*
Pass
1*
Pass
1
Pass
1NT
X
2
Pass
Pass
X
Pass
2NT*
X
All Pass

Peter Weichsel saw it through – vulnerable against not – taking two bids in an auction where most players on the planet would consider nothing but passes. His partner's reluctant two no-trumps was a run-out and with West doubling and North passing – surely no five card suit to offer – the hand must have been clear. South toughed it out in his accidental contract.

Except it wasn't as bad as it looked. The defence led spades, South hearts. East won and played more spades, South more hearts. South accumulated three spade tricks and reached this position.

NS Vul.
Dealer North
  • ---
  • 10
  • AK65
  • A8
  • ---
  • KQ
  • J1043
  • 10
N
W
E
S
  • 87
  • ---
  • 87
  • KQ2
  • ---
  • 5
  • Q92
  • J97

And suddenly, South had this crazy contract in his sights. Needing five more tricks, the precise distribution in diamonds existed to take four tricks. Indeed, Sontag had an inkling of this from West's pained discards. But eventually he relented – the consequences of erring were considerable – he played diamonds from the top for –200 and a minor loss of 3 IMPs for the escapade. Norway could take nothing for granted – it was clearly going to be a struggle all the way.

Published Saturday 24.Nov.2001