Reports from the Spring 2025 NABC Memphis

The last four teams standing in the 2025 Vanderbilt were Dinkin, Wolfson, Zimmermann and Fleisher, the original seeding meaning that the latter two would meet at this stage.

Where the IMPs are

There is no doubt that making a slam always brings with it the possibility of a significant swing. These two deals from the first quarter of the Vanderbilt semifinals are a perfect illustration:

Zimmermann vs Fleisher
Open Room

East led the ♠10 and declarer took 11 tricks, +660.

Closed Room

When South showed some sign of life with 3♠, North invited him to select a slam. He didn’t like the idea of playing in clubs, so offered an alternative that South was happy to accept.
East led the ♠10 and declarer won with the ♠Q, cashed the ♦A, played a diamond to the ten and two rounds of clubs. West won and declarer was soon claiming, +1370.

Dinkin vs Wolfson
Open Room

East led the ♣A, +1430.

Closed Room

That was three down, -500, but 14 IMPs were gained.

Zimmermann v Fleisher
Open Room

Once again, the higher preempt left little room for maneuver. One way to approach this situation is to ask yourself at what level you might like your opponents to play. That is the attraction of opening at the five-level. South was left with a guess, and he opted to stay low, +680.

Closed Room

That was +1430 and another slam swing for Fleisher, this time to the tune of 13 IMPs.

The match between Fleisher and Zimmermann was always close, but after falling behind during the last session it was Fleisher who finished the stronger, winning 128-119.

Midway through the final session, Dinkin led by 13 IMPs, but then Wolfson added 33 IMPs over five deals and went on to win 128-119.

See more articles from NABC Memphis