Reports from the Spring 2025 NABC Memphis

In this year’s edition of the Vanderbilt Trophy, the top three seeds received a bye into the round of 32, a number of three-way matches reducing the field to 32 teams.

What’s in a Name

There cannot be many bridge players who are unaware that the inventor of Contract Bridge was Harold Vanderbilt. In 1928 he donated the trophy that bears his name to be awarded to the winners of the major team championship at the ACBL’s Spring Nationals. Less well known perhaps is that his name is inscribed on the trophy as a winner in 1932 and again in 1940.

In the first round of the 2025 edition (where for the first time everyone played the same hands), this was the standout deal:

Open Room

East led the ♣Q and declarer won in dummy and continued with the ♣4. When that slipped past the ♣K declarer won, played a spade to the jack and the ♥8, West winning with the ♥J and cashing the ♦A, +790.

Closed Room

North led the ♦4 and declarer won and played a club for the queen and ace, South switching to the ♥8. Declarer let that run to dummy’s ♥10, played a club to the king, ruffed a club and advanced the ♦Q, covered and ruffed. A spade to the ace allowed declarer to pitch two clubs on diamonds and a heart finesse meant an overtrick, +1050 and 18 IMPs.

The Big Guns

In the Vanderbilt round of 32, the top three seeds ‒ the holders Nickell, along with Zimmermann and Fleisher ‒ entered the arena, all having received a bye the previous day.

The number 2 seeds had a tough draw against a powerful French team.

Here is a spectacular deal from the match:
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East led the ♥K and when declarer pitched the ♣8 he continued with the ♣7, declarer ruffing, pitching a heart on the ♦A and then running the ♦Q. He ruffed a diamond with the ♠3 and West overruffed and cashed the ♠A for two down, -300.

Closed Room

What adjective do you imagine West would use to describe East’s 4NT?
South led the ♠Q and declarer won with dummy’s ace and played the ♥A, North discarding the ♦9. Declarer cashed the ♣A and continued with the ♣K which meant he was six down, -1700 for a 19 IMP loss. Dennis Bilde also overcalled 4NT and was raised to 7NT by Agustin Madala. He too went six down – but North did not double!

After some adventures, it was Zimmermann who advanced to the round of 16.

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