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By GeO Tislevoll, Auckland, New Zealand
THE TEAMS EVENTS
The Teams events were played over two days with a final between the two top teams in the Open category on the third day. In total 76 teams participated, 48 of them in the Open Teams.
The top seeded McManus team consisted of two non-regular partnerships, Irish international Hugh McGann ‒ Justin Mill and James Coutts ‒ Matt McManus. They got onto it immediately with some huge wins and continued winning their matches till two of eight matches remained. A couple of lost matches in the end didn’t matter much, Team McManus won the qualification. The hunt for top-2 and a spot in the final was a tight battle. The four top teams finished up playing one of the other candidates for the final, and both matches ended with a 1 IMP difference. So only a few VPs separated the three teams behind McManus. Coles emerged second and earned the right to play McManus in the 56-board final. For Coles, IPBA Editor Brad Coles partnered David Appleton and their teammates were George Kozakos ‒ Frazer Rew.
THE FINAL
McManus did not slow down after their qualification success and took an early commanding lead in the final. The very first board gave a swing due to marginal decisions.
Board 1, Dealer North, none vul.
“The five-level belongs to the opponents” is kind of a rule. But it is not always true. As for many things in bridge and elsewhere, "never" and "always" are not the right words to use.
With Rew-Kozakos as N/S and McGann-Mill E/W, the bidding went:
Mill (East) doubled 2♠ to get the Heart suit into the picture as their side could easily own this hand. When the opponents bid 4♠, McGann was placed in 5♦. Not unreasonably, Rew-Kozakos followed the above-mentioned “rule” and took the money in 5♦, not being certain they could make 5♠. There were only three losers in 5♦ doubled, Coles +100.
At the other table where McManus ‒ Coutts sat N/S against Coles ‒ Appleton, the bidding went:
When West bid 5♦, McManus (North) fancied the chances in 5 Spades and broke the so-called rule. Against 5 Spades, West led the Diamond King which was ruffed in dummy. Coutts played a Heart, low from East and the Queen won the trick. Now the second Diamond was ruffed. With a stiff trump 10 remaining, the trump suit gave a loser, but as the Club suit behaved nicely declarer escaped with one Heart and one Spade loser, eleven tricks. So, that was McManus +450 which gave them an immediate lead, 8 IMPs.
Another contribution to the early lead came a few boards later: Board 5, Dealer North, N/S vul.
North became declarer in 3 No-Trump at both tables. This normal contract will go down if East leads a Spade. In an ideal world East would lead the Spade Queen but of course a more normal low Spade led to the 10, and for example a Diamond switch would do.
As South had shown a Heart suit in the bidding, both East players chose their lead between the three other suits. For Coles, Appleton tried an aggressive Diamond King lead with no success. McManus won the Ace and played another Diamond to the 10 and West’s Queen. Now declarer was home free, nine tricks from top and the Spade King protected. McManus +600.
At the other table North had opened a natural 1♦ before becoming declarer in 3 No-Trump. Justin Mill (East) led the 7 of Clubs, low, 9, Jack. With eight top tricks, declarer Frazer Rew had to go for the Hearts to establish the ninth. In the third and fourth rounds of Hearts, McGann (West) pitched the Heart 7 and the Club 8, helpful discarding for his partner. When Mill won his Heart trick, he accurately switched to the Spade Queen and the contract was doomed.
After three of four sets, McManus were up by 51 IMPs and seemed to be in control in this final. Coles did not give up, though, and gave them a good fight on the last 14 boards. Chasing a big lead, you must step on it, and they did!
Coles started by picking up some IMPs early in the last stanza and then came this hand:
Board 22, Dealer East, E/W vul.
With McManus E/W, the contract was 4 Spades. Declarer misguessed Diamonds and eventually got a minimum number of ten tricks, but still won his game, +620.
At the other table Coles ‒ Appleton had bigger ambitions. The bidding went:
The 2♣ response did not promise Clubs, but he could have had a Club suit, of course. Appleton (East) liked the idea of suggesting 6♣ which could have been a nice spot if his partner had a Club suit. Coles did not like that suggestion and corrected to 6♠.
A bad slam is not a bad slam before it has gone down and there were some chances. The trump suit could be without a loser if South held the ♠K doubleton. If not, as here, a trick to the trump King had to be conceded, declarer needed luck in both Diamonds and Clubs. Appleton tried his chances in turn. He won the K♥ lead with the Ace and played the ♣Q. North covered and the Ace won, followed by a Spade to the Queen. No luck there, but it was not over. Successful Diamond finesse was needed, but which way to take it?
When having bid tough, you must play and guess well. And Appleton did pick the Diamonds for a massive +1430 and 13 IMPs to Coles.
Coles won the last set by 69-32 but it was too little too late.
McManus 140 ‒ Coles 126.
TEAMS PRIZE WINNERS
STEPBRIDGE UNDER LIFE MASTER TEAMS
1st GEORGESON: Tony Georgeson ‒ Tina Hesketh, Caprice Davey ‒ Alice Handley
2nd CLARK: Julie Clark ‒ Julie Roberts, Keith Walshe ‒ Claire Geller
STEPBRIDGE UNDER GRAND MASTER TEAMS
1st ELLICE-FLINT: Catherine Ellice-Flint ‒ Helen Gray, Anthony Gibbs ‒ Ray Dohnt
2nd TAYLOR: Vicki Taylor ‒ Sally Fraser, Bev Crossman ‒ Mary Tough
TBIB OPEN TEAMS
1st McManus: Matthew McManus ‒ James Coutts, Justin Mill ‒ Hugh McGann
2nd Coles: Brad Coles ‒ David Appleton, Fraser Rew ‒ George Kozakos
The Autumn Nationals was played in excellent, spacious playing conditions in the Adelaide Showground. The organizing was very good as usual in Australian events. Having been to Congresses in many parts of the world, I claim the way Australian events are run is second to none.
Over the years a good number of foreign players have come to Aussie bridge events from all over the world. To combine a dream holiday Down Under with participating in one of the Australian Congresses is highly recommended.
