Win Lose or Draw

The 2024 Reisinger, perhaps the toughest of all the NABC Championship events, attracted 40 teams. Half of them would qualify for the semifinals on day two and the top ten would advance to the two-session final.

This year the ACBL launched a new concept, where, powered by BBO, the semifinals and final would be presented live on YouTube. The presentation was augmented by numerous celebrity commentators. There were some technical issues during the first session of the semifinals, but as compensation, Simon de Wijs and Boye Brogeland were on hand to offer some terrific advice about the strategy involved in this most demanding of formats, which offers three possible outcomes on every deal, win, lose or draw.

It remains a work in progress, but was certainly popular, with more than 11,000 people viewing the final days play.

Board 17. Dealer North. None Vul.

Open Room

Declarer ruffed the lead of the ♠K, crossed to dummy with the ♣K and advanced the ♥J. When it was covered he drew trumps and was soon claiming all the tricks, +1010.

Closed Room

Declarer ruffed the spade lead, drew trumps, played four rounds of clubs, ruffing, and then led the ♥J, putting up the ♥A, which meant he had twelve tricks, +420 but a loss.

Board 21. Dealer North. N/S Vul.

Open Room

East led the ♦J and declarer won and ran the ♠10 in an attempt to salvage the board. That meant he finished with 11 tricks, +650.

Closed Room

West led the ♦K and declarer took dummy’s ♦A, cashed the ♥A and cashed his back suit winners for +1470 and a win.

Board 12. Dealer West. N/S Vul.

Open Room

Even at this form of scoring, South’s decision to convert to 6NT looks dubious, as the diamond void might be opposite some badly placed or potentially worthless honours.

However, help was at hand, as East led the ♦A and once the spades behaved declarer could claim, +1440.

Closed Room

East led the ♦A and declarer ruffed in dummy, unblocked the spades, ruffed a diamond, cashed the ♠K and played four rounds of hearts. There was no squeeze, +1430 meaning the board was lost.

Board 14. Dealer East. None Vul.

Open Room

South led the ♠J and declarer won with the ♠Q, cashed two hearts and claimed all the tricks, +1020.

Closed Room

Here too South led the ♠J and the play was quickly over, +1510 and a well deserved win.

The leaders met at the start of the second session of the final:

Board 21. Dealer North. N/S Vul.

Open Room

Despite the vulnerability, NS might have gotten involved at some point, perhaps North venturing 2♦ being the safest way to enter the auction.

North led the ♦J and having won perforce with dummy’s ♦A, declarer cashed the ♥K. At this point declarer’s best move is to play two rounds of spades, but with no indication from the auction he played a club and North ruffed, as South followed with the ♣10. Switching to a spade honor would now be a killing blow, but when North exited with the ♦9 declarer could ruff, cash the ♥A and collect ten tricks for +420.

Closed Room

Declarer took the diamond lead and played the ♣K, South taking the ace as North pitched the ♦2. A second club and a spade switch would be the best move now, but when South switched to the ♥9 declarer won with dummy’s ♥K. When declarer continued with the ♣Q North ruffed and played the ♠K, declarer taking the ♠A and continuing with the ♠2. South ruffed and played another club, one down, -50 and a loss.

Who would have thought NS would score three trump tricks?

After 7 rounds it was Amoils 30.71, Rosenberg 30.67, Fleisher 30.67.

In the penultimate round Amoils faced Rosenberg, while Fleisher took on Zimmermann.

Board 23. Dealer South. All Vul.

Open Room

North led the ♠2 and declarer ruffed, played a heart to the ace and claimed when South followed to the next round, +1430.

Closed Room

Stopping short meant a loss.

It was also a win for Rosenberg, Zhang and Li bidding 6♥ while they stopped in game in the other room.

The Rosenberg team were on fire in the second session of the final. They would face Fleisher in the final round leading by 2.50.

On Board 25 EW held ♠KJ ♥AKJ8 ♦K975 ♣J82 opposite ♠A83 ♥Q32 ♦AQ3 ♣AQ105. Zhang and Li bid 1♣*-1NT-3NT-6NT to tie the deal which was enough to ensure victory.

The next deal was also tied, so the only remaining issue surrounded the Player of the Year contest. To overtake Oren Toledano, Marty Fleisher had to finish second. Could his team win the final deal?

Board 27. Dealer South. None Vul.

Open Room

West led the ♠5 and declarer won with the king, played a club to the ace and ducked a club, East switching to the ♠4. Declarer won, cashed the ♦A, took two clubs ending in dummy and the ♠Q gave him his seventh trick, +90.

Closed Room

West led the ♠7 and declarer won with the ♠K and played the ♦5, West winning with the ♦Q and switching to the ♣9 for the ace, seven and five. The ♦J lost to the ♦K and declarer appeared to be booked for two down. However, there was a twist in the tale as West continued with the ♣Q!! Now declarer had nine tricks for +400 and a win that was icing on the cake, consigning Fleisher to third place in the Reisinger and runner-up in Player of the Year.

The podium: