ORBIS WORLD BRIDGE CHAMPIONSHIPS DAILY NEWS JANUARY 7-21 BERMUDA 2000 JEAN PAUL MEYER, CO-ORDINATOR / MARK HORTON, EDITOR BRENT MANLEY & BRIAN SENIOR, ASSISTANT EDITORS JUDE GOODWIN-HANSON, TEXT LAYOUT EDITOR ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Issue: 15 Friday (evening), 21 January 2000 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Simply the Best! Orbis Bermuda Bowl After the drama of yesterday, it was almost an anti-climax when USA I finally posted its inevitable triumph in the Orbis Bermuda Bowl. The American team, who were most peoples favourites before the event, were irresistible once they had survived their quarter-final against Italy. Their total of 506 IMPs is a record since the modern scale was introduced, as is their margin of victory, 218 IMPs. Bob Hamman & Paul Soloway are winning the Bermuda Bowl in partnership for the first time, but they both have previous victories. Hamman, the world's number one ranked player since 1985 clearly intends to hang on to his position for a long time! He now has nine wins in the Bermuda Bowl. Soloway is capturing his fourth title, his first since 1979. Jeff Meckstroth & Eric Rodwell are now three time winners. After winning their first title in1981 it took them fourteen years to secure their second. They will be hoping that number four comes along a little faster! Nick Nickell & Richard Freeman are capturing the ultimate prize for the second time, their first victory coming in 1995. The Captain, Sidney Lazard was a member of the team that lost to Italy in the 1959 Bermuda Bowl. Orbis World Transnational Teams Championship The team captained by Rose Meltzer, trailing by 5 IMPs going into the final set, rallied for a 104-93 victory over the squad led by Reese Milner. Meltzer, new to the international scene, is from California. Her teammates include former Bermuda Bowl winners PeterWeichsel and Alan Sontag, who renewed their partnership not long ago after more than a 15 years. Their teammates are Polish stars Adam Zmudzinski and Cezary Balicki. Milner played with former Bermuda Bowl winner Robert Levin, Marc Jacobus, Brad Moss and Canada's Fred Gitelman. Bronze medalists are the Bulgarian sextet of Vladimir Mihov, Kalin Karaivanov, Ivan Nanev, Jerry Stamatov, Borislav Popov and RumenTrendafilov. The other semifinalists were Paul, Justin and Jason Hackett, John Armstrong, Bridget Mavromichalis and American Mark Lair. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- José Damiani's Closing Speech Here we are -- at the end of one of the most famous Championships ever, if not the most famous. Indeed, the Orbis World Bridge Championships have been very well received by the players and spectators who have attended the event on this marvellous island of Bermuda. Furthermore, we know that all the people who have watched on the bermudabowl.com website throughout the event have really enjoyed the coverage and felt that they, too, have been a part of this great tournament. This makes the World Bridge Federation very proud and happy, but none of this would have happened without the outstanding co-operation of the Bermuda Bridge Federation, its dynamic President, Sheena Rayner and the Organising Committee, Jack Rhind, Barbara Huntington, John Hoskins, Edna Clay and Tony Saunders. Our thanks also go to the Bermuda Ministry of Tourism, represented here tonight by the Minister, The Honourable David Allen. We promise you that we will come back to Bermuda as often as we can, now that we have discovered your delightful island and have made so many friends here. We must also show our very sincere appreciation to Orbis Investment Management Ltd and in particular to its Chief Executive Officer, Allan Gray. They were so much more than "just" a sponsor, giving us tremendous support both before and during the Championship and we thank them very much for everything they have done. Indeed, we are so confident that we will be investing with Orbis ourselves! So many people worked very hard behind the scenes and they all deserve our thanks for their efforts which ensured the smooth running of the tournament. The Bermudian Bridge Federation found some wonderful volunteers to assist them for the Championship. Working in the playing rooms, moving hundreds of boards were the caddies, under their supervisor, Mary Jane Coelho. Greta Marshall co-ordinated all the recorders. Kevin Comeau was in charge of Public Relations and Janet Evans orchestrated the Opening and Closing Ceremonies which I know you will agree were magnificent, with Wendy Gray organising all the receptions. Penny Harvey handled the transport to and from the airport with enormous efficiency. Each team had an attachÈ arranged by Julia Beach. The superb flower arrangements for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies were provided by a team supervised by Debbie Burville and Liz Parker. Your Hospitality team, led by Jean Bath, did a wonderful job of looking after everyone and ensuring their comfort. David Ezekiel was a most entertaining Master of Ceremonies. I know that I speak for all of you in thanking the Bermudian Bridge Federation and its many friends for everything they have done for the Orbis World Bridge Championships. In the background were the duplication team of Annie Checkroun, Helene Vivier and Simon Wiersema who dealt a staggering number of boards over the two weeks. Scoring and results were handled so efficiently by Claude Dadoun, Christiane Le Turdu and Brigitte Piquet. Ensuring the smooth running of the VuGraph were the Bridge Vision team, Elisabeth Antelme, Elisabeth Piganeau and Laurent Rigaud, together with the Video team of Bernard Delange, Paul Binisti and Bernardette Pasquier. The Systems Desk was run with great efficiency by Chris Diment and Jan and Corrie Louwerse kept all the team captains in order at the Line Up Desk. Jean-Paul Meyer co-ordinated a very distinguished panel of Commentators for the VuGraph -- David Ezekiel, Eric Kokish, Barry Rigal and Bobby Wolff and I know everyone enjoyed the show. Working hard on the Mezzanine Floor was Elly Ducheyne, managing a very high-tech Press Room. Next door, the Daily Bulletin Editors, coordinated by Jean-Paul Meyer, produced an excellent Daily News and our thanks go to the Editor, Mark Horton, with his Assistant Editors, Brent Manley, Brian Senior and guest-editor Lex De Groot with Graham Fenton proof reading for them. Ron Tacchi took the excellent photographs, Stelios Hadjidakis undertook the layout and Tony Saunders rushed the film to the printers at midnight every night so that you had your Daily News in time for breakfast every day. The Internet Site, www.bermudabowl.com, was edited by Thanassis Matziaris, and Koen Gijsman, Onno Eskes and Rob Donkersloot put up the VuGraph coverage. We had many e-mails complimenting us on the service provided, and I am sure many of you will find additional material about the Championships when you return home and log on. The Orbis World Computer Bridge Championship was staged and co-ordinated by Al Levy. Mark Newton as IT Manager ensured that the computers and Internet worked properly and that there were no problems with the technology. On the "floor" the team of Tournament Directors under the leadership of Bill Schoder, assisted by Max Bavin did a truly sterling job as I am sure all the players will agree. Thanks go to them and to the rest of the team: Bertrand Gignoux, Richard Grenside, Guillermo Poplawski, Antonio Riccardi, Jack Rhind and Sol Weinstein. Of course, there are always times when the Tournament Directors have their decisions appealed, although there were fewer than usual because of our new policy. Here we had a distinguished Appeals Committee chaired by Bobby Wolff. Thanks go to Joan Gerard, Jens Auken, John Wignall, Richard Colker, Ernesto d'Orsi, Grattan Endicott, Betty Ann Kennedy, Eric Kokish, Jean-Paul Meyer and Nissan Rand. Every department was watched over by the Operations Director, Ton Kooijman, who in his own inimitable way kept an eye on everything to make sure that these Orbis World Championships will take their place as one of the greatest events in the history of the WBF. No Championship would exist, however, without you, the players -- these are your events, and we salute the winners... but indeed you are all winners, because to take part in such a great sporting event must be a winning play. We could not have dreamt of a better 50th Anniversary than this, the Orbis Bermuda Bowl Championship. We will long remember the exciting quarter-final, and the final in the Orbis Venice Cup meant that the vu-graph was just as crowded as it normally is for any spectacular sport event. The field for the Orbis World Transnational Open Teams was so big and so strong that it has clearly found its place as one of our major WBF tournaments. So, my dear friends, we have come to the end, but believe me it is not the end of the love story between us and Bermuda. I promise you that we will come back for the 75th Anniversary. Thank you all. Thank you very much for what has been such a tremendous success. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Royal Mail! This communication was received this morning. PRIVATE SECRETARIAT OF HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN AND HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE CLAUS OF THE NETHERLANDS NOORDEINDE PALACE P.O. BOX 30412 2500 GKTHE HAGUE TEL: (31 70) 3 62 47 01 FAX: (31 70) 361 5214 TO: Mr. E. Franken c/o Southampton Princess Hotel BERMUDA DATE: 21 January 2000 CONCERNING: Congratulations from Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness Prince Claus of The Netherlands To the Dutch Women's Bridge Team c/o Southampton Princess Hotel BERMUDA We congratulate you most cordially on winning the bridge world title for national teams in Bermuda! We share your enjoyment in this success. BEATRIX/CLAUS Noordeinde Palace ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank You Bermuda! I would like to thank the organisation for a wonderful tournament with a tremendous atmosphere. A very special thanks for my part-time assistant Gloria Dismont, without whom I could not have managed it. Thanks to Sheena Rayner for finding her for me. Sheena: It has been great!!!!! Elly Ducheyne Chief Pressroom ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Going Bermudian Thursday evening before the tournament started I had a meeting with more than 60 Bermudian volunteers. I explained to them in detail what had to be done. Many of them couldn't believe that the job was that hard and demanding and more than a few felt worried about their tasks to be accomplished. We are more than two weeks later now and I want to congratulate them all for the wonderful and dedicated job they did. There was just one drive: to make this event an unforgettable one for the participants as well as for the Bermudians themselves. Is there anything nicer than contributing to a championship that will go into our record book staying there forever? I must mention a couple of them. Of course, Sheena Rayner who was everywhere all the time and controlled it all with a smile and an encouraging tranquility. And Mary Jane Coelho, conducting an endless reservoir of lovely and firm caddies, instructing them charmingly and with great patience and humor, never complaining when I introduced a new job to be done. My advice to Bermuda is to keep her before she decides to go abroad to make a living as a bridge organizer. She knows her 'good mornings'. Tony Saunders, my right hand in the technical organization (or was I his?), who denied a severe pain in his knee and kept running, working and thinking. But even a bigger quality: he appeared to be one of that rare specimen for which the word gentle-man originally was invented. Thank you, sir. Let me not forget to mention the hotel staff, which was more helpful than I have ever met. I take Steve Darrell as its symbol, with his imperturbable 'understood' on any request I had. The difference was that within minutes he proved that he indeed had understood. It still exists: service. Bermuda deserves all emphasis, which is a pity for my regular staff, who did a marvelous job as well. But they wouldn't have been here otherwise. The surprise came from this beautiful island. We are lucky that 25 years go by in a flash. Ton Kooijman Operations director ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 14th CAP GEMINI, March 23-26, 2000 The World Bridge Federation has requested that the CAP GEMINI World Top be moved back from its usual date (the third week in January) because of this Bermuda Bowl. After checking the international bridge agenda, the new dates selected are March 23-26. These have been published regularly in the IBPA's International Bridge Agenda. Subsequently, the EBL agenda showed that there would be some overlap with the mixed pairs event in Italy. Nevertheless, the CAP GEMINI World Top will have a very strong roster, including of course some of the Bermuda Bowl and Venice Cup winners, and also pairs like Berkowitz-Cohen, Chagas-Branco, Buratti-Lanzarotti, Lauria-Versace, Mahmood-Robson, Leufkens-Westra, the Hackett brothers, etc., etc. The organization has increased the prize money to 50,000 Dutch Guilders, to be divided amongst the top six finishers. For more information, please e-mail: henk.van.dalen@capgemini.nl ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Mello's Marvel by Patrick Jourdain (GB) Brazil might have been far behind USA I in the Bermuda Bowl Final but they were still able to produce great plays, as Bob Hamman reported. This was Board 9 from Session 8, featuring Roberto Mello: Dealer North;. S A K 4 H A T 6 5 4 D 4 3 C K T 9 S 6 2 S Q J 9 5 3 H 2 H Q J 9 7 3 D A J 8 6 5 2 D K 9 7 C J 8 6 5 C - - S T 8 7 H K 8 D Q T C A Q 7 4 3 2 West North East South Soloway Ganz Hamman Mello - 1H 1S 2C 2D Pass Pass 3C Pass 3S Pass 4C Pass 5C Pass Pass Dble All Pass At the other table USA I had gone two light in Five Clubs, so Mello faced a tough task when doubled. Soloway led his singleton heart. Mello won in hand, and started with a key play, finessing the nine of trumps on the first round. He was now able to draw trumps in four rounds. Hamman, East, began by discarding two spades and a diamond, but was already in trouble on the fourth trump. He could not afford another spade, and a heart discard would enable declarer to set up the suit, so he had to throw another diamond. He chose to throw a small diamond, leaving himself with the bare king. Reading the position perfectly, Mello exited with a low diamond to East, who was endplayed for the first time. Hamman exited with a high spade, won in dummy. Now came the coup de grace. Mello exited from dummy with a low heart! Hamman was forced to win with the jack and concede a trick with his return. Declarer's other diamond went away on dummy's extra winner. The players later analysed what would have happened if, on the fourth trump, Hamman had unblocked his diamond king. Mello had the answer: "I know the ending. I cash my top spades, and exit with a diamond to West. He can only run diamonds, and then East gets squeezed." 12 IMPS to Brazil. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Generali Masters Individual This invitation event will be held in Athens, Greece, from 13-15 April 2000. This year the field will include a number of Junior Champions. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- OrbisTransnational OpenTeams Championship / Final - Set 1 Milner v Meltzer Two USA teams met in the final of the Orbis Transnational World Open Teams Championship, though Milner included Fred Gitelman of Canada and Meltzer, Cesary Balicki and Adam Zmudzinsnki of Poland, making for a true transnational ending. Milner gained an overtrick IMP on Board 1, but Meltzer took the lead two boards later. Board 3. E/W vul. Dealer South. S 9 H K J 9 4 2 D K J 5 C K T 6 2 S T 6 5 4 S A Q J 7 H A 8 7 3 H - - D 4 3 D A Q 8 6 C 9 8 7 C A Q J 5 3 S K 8 3 2 H Q T 6 5 D T 9 7 2 C 4 West North East South Jacobus Weichsel Milner Meltzer - - - Pass Pass 1H Dble 2S Pass 3H Dble Pass 3S Pass 4S All Pass We have no information about the meaning of South'sTwo Spade bid. Maybe it was a fit-jump, or maybe some kind of mixed raise. Anyway, Peter Weichsel signed-off in Three Hearts and Reese Milner doubled for a second time. When Mark Jacobus bid his spades, Milner raised to game. The 4-1 trump split and shortage of entries to the West hand meant that there was too much work to do in Four Spades and Jacobus drifted one off; -100. West North East South Zmudzinski Moss Balicki Gitelman - - - Pass Pass 1H Dble 4H Pass Pass Dble All Pass Fred Gitelman made a big pre-emptive raise to Four Hearts. Again, East doubled, but Adam Zmudzinski passed the take-out double, expecting to beat Four Hearts while the fate of Four Spades was somewhat problematical. Cesary Balicki had an unattractive opening lead and chose the ace of clubs, the suit in which someone was most likely to hold a singleton and therefore establishing the king would be least significant. Balicki switched to ace then queen of spades. Brad Moss won the king, throwing a diamond, then played a diamond to the jack and queen. He had to lose the two red aces but could manage the rest; two down for -300 and 9 IMPs to MELTZER. Board 5. N/S vul. Dealer North. S 8 6 5 3 H 5 3 D A T 9 C Q J 7 6 S A T 7 4 S 2 H A T 2 H Q 9 8 6 4 D 8 5 4 2 D J 7 C 5 2 C A T 9 4 3 S K Q J 9 H K J 7 D K Q 6 3 C K 8 West North East South Jacobus Weichsel Milner Meltzer - Pass Pass 1D Pass 1S 1NT Dble Pass Pass Rdbl Pass 2H Pass Pass 3S All Pass West North East South Zmudzinski Moss Balicki Gitelman - Pass 2H 2NT 3H Dble Pass 4S All Pass I guess that you would want to be in game on the North/South cards, though only because you are vulnerable. The bad trump position meant that nine tricks were the limit this time. That was +140 to Rose Meltzer-Johnson but -100 for Gitelman; 6 IMPs to Meltzer. Board 6. E/W vul. Dealer East. S Q 8 5 4 H 3 D A K J 8 6 2 C T 4 S A 9 2 S K H A J 9 8 H K Q 7 5 4 2 D 3 D 4 C A K 7 3 2 C Q J 9 8 6 S J T 7 6 3 H T 6 D Q T 9 7 5 C 5 West North East South Jacobus Weichsel Milner Meltzer - - 1H Pass 2C 3D 4C 5D 6C All Pass West North East South Zmudzinski Moss Balicki Gitelman - - 1H Pass 2C 3D 3H 5D 5NT Pass 6C 6D 6H All Pass North/South have a double fit, of course, providing a very cheap save. Both pairs found the diamond fit, but neither tried spades, and the East/Wests were allowed to play the slam of their choice; +1370 for Jacobus and +1460 for Balicki (after a club lead), for 3 IMPs to Meltzer. Board 8. None vul. Dealer West. S K 7 6 4 H A J 7 4 2 D 9 8 3 C 3 S - - S A J T 9 5 H Q 9 5 H 8 3 D A 4 D 7 6 C A K 9 8 7 6 5 2 C Q J T 4 S Q 8 3 2 H K T 6 D K Q J T 5 2 C - - West North East South Jacobus Weichsel Milner Meltzer 1C 1H 1S 2D 3NT All Pass West North East South Zmudzinski Moss Balicki Gitelman 1C 1H 1S 2D 3C 3D 4C 4H 5C Pass Pass 5D Dble All Pass Jacobus's Three No Trump rebid stole the pot. He would have been defeated by a heart lead, but Meltzer had not had time to show her heart support, so it was natural forWeichsel to lead a diamond. Jacobus had ten tricks; +430. Zmudzinski's Three Club rebid allowed Moss to get his diamond support in at a comfortable level. Gitelman was never going to defend Five Clubs now. When he bid Five Diamonds, Zmudzinski doubled. He led the nine of hearts, thinking that Balicki might have a singleton. That solved the heart problem for Gitelman. He won the heart ten and tried the queen of diamonds. Zmudzinski took his ace and led the nine of clubs, looking for a spade ruff. When Gitelman ruffed the club, Zmudzinski smiled ruefully and shortly afterwards wrote down -550 on his scoresheet; 14 IMPs to Milner. Board 10. Both vul. Dealer East. S J 8 4 H K Q T D T 9 8 6 5 2 C K S K 9 7 6 5 3 S A T 2 H A 8 6 2 H 5 D K J 7 D Q 4 C - - C Q J 8 7 6 4 3 S Q H J 9 7 4 3 D A 3 C A T 9 5 2 West North East South Jacobus Weichsel Milner Meltzer - - 3C All Pass West North East South Zmudzinski Moss Balicki Gitelman - - 2C Pass 2D Pass 2S Pass 3S Pass 4S All Pass Do you like that vulnerable 3C opening? The suit isn't great but it was the action chosen at four of the six tables in the various finals. Each time, Three Clubs was passed out for -200 or -300. Milner conceded the latter score. You may like Balicki's Precision-style Two Club opening no better, but it was a lot more successful. Zmudzinski enquired and discovered that his partner had a minimum with no four-card major. That was not great news, but after a while he decided that he might as well see it through and bid 3S. Balicki raised to game and there was no real problem in the play after a low heart lead; +620 and 14 IMPs to Meltzer. Board 11. None vul. Dealer South. S A K T 9 H T 8 7 5 D A 5 C T 8 7 S - - S Q J 8 6 2 H K Q J 4 3 H 9 2 D 8 2 D T 7 6 4 3 C A Q J 6 4 3 C 5 S 7 5 4 3 H A 6 D K Q J 9 C K 9 2 West North East South Jacobus Weichsel Milner Meltzer - - - 1D 2NT Pass 3H Pass 4H All Pass Surprisingly, Weichsel never joined in the auction, despite his partner's 1D opening bid. 4H looks as though it could be quite a struggle, but Milner got out for only one down after the lead of the king of diamonds; -50. West North East South Zmudzinski Moss Balicki Gitelman - - - 1D 2NT Dble 3H Pass Pass 3S Pass 4S Pass Pass Dble All Pass Moss got himself to Four Spades and Balicki informed him that this was not going to make. Balicki led his club to the jack and Zmudzinski continued with two more rounds of clubs. Balicki ruffed and switched to a heart. Moss won the ace of hearts and played a spade to the ace, confirming the bad trump break. He continued with four rounds of diamonds then exited with a heart. Balicki could be endplayed now to get only one more trump trick; two down for -300 and 8 IMPs to Meltzer. Board 12. N/S vul. Dealer West. S A K Q J 9 5 4 H 4 3 D 8 4 C A 9 S T 8 2 S 6 H T 7 5 H A K 2 D K Q 6 3 2 D A J T 7 C 3 2 C K Q 8 6 5 S 7 3 H Q J 9 8 6 D 9 5 C J T 7 4 West North East South Jacobus Weichsel Milner Meltzer Pass 1S Dble Pass 2D 3S 4D All Pass West North East South Zmudzinski Moss Balicki Gitelman Pass 1S Dble Pass 2D 3S 4D Pass 5D All Pass East has bid Four Diamonds under pressure so should West bid on to game? Probably the answer is yes, but it is obviously less clear than if east had had the opportunity to jump to Four Diamonds. The play is a little awkward in Five Diamonds from declarer's point of view, but the favourable positions in both minors mean that the problems are all in his mind and 11 tricks are always made; 6 more IMPs to Meltzer. They led by 50-16 at this point but Milner finished the set strongly, though they needed some good fortune on this next deal. Board 13. Both vul. Dealer North. S 2 H K 8 7 6 D K T 7 5 2 C Q J 3 S K Q J 9 5 4 S A 7 6 H Q 9 H J 5 4 2 D 9 6 D A 4 3 C A 9 8 C K 7 4 S T 8 3 H A T 3 D Q J 8 C T 6 5 2 West North East South Jacobus Weichsel Milner Meltzer - Pass 1C Pass 1S Pass 1NT Pass 4S All Pass West North East South Zmudzinski Moss Balicki Gitelman - Pass 1C Pass 1S Pass 1NT Pass 2C Pass 2S Pass 2NT Pass 3NT All Pass Balicki/Zmudzinski did very well to reach the cold Three No Trump when Zmudzinski enquired, found that his partner was minimum with three spades, and asked again with Two No Trump. When Balicki showed that he was completely balanced, Zmudzinski passed Three NoTrump and that was +600. A club lead and continuation beats Four Spades, but even on the actual diamond lead it takes the finesse of the nine of hearts to create a parking place for the club loser. Jacobus duly brought home his game to pick up a fortunate IMP for Milner. The next deal saw Balicki make a shaded opening that got his side to a poor game, which duly failed by a trick, while Milner passed and subsequently played a partscore, making; 6 IMPs to Milner. Board 15. N/S vul. Dealer South. S Q 8 7 5 4 2 H 7 2 D 5 C J 8 7 3 S A T 6 S K J 9 H A 9 8 5 H Q J T D 7 6 4 3 D A K T 9 8 2 C A 6 C K S 3 H K 6 4 3 D Q J C Q T 9 5 4 2 West North East South Jacobus Weichsel Milner Meltzer - - - Pass 1D Pass 2D Pass 2NT Pass 4D Pass 4H Pass 4S Pass 5D Pass 6D All Pass The inverted raise led to a smooth auction to the top spot; +940. West North East South Zmudzinski Moss Balicki Gitelman - - - Pass 1C Pass 2D Pass 2H Pass 2S Pass 3D Pass 3H Pass 3S Pass 4C Pass 4D Pass 5D All Pass Zmudzinski opened a Polish Club, either a weak no trump or a strong club, and Two Diamonds was natural and forcing. The whole auction was very unclear from here and neither player felt confident to bid the slam; +440. That was 11 IMPs to Milner, who trailed by 33-50 after 16 of the 48 boards of the final. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- OrbisVenice Cup - Final Set 8 USA 1 v The Netherlands History in the making Never in the history of the world championships has a title been decided by a margin as small as that in the Orbis Venice Cup, won by the Netherlands, 249.75-249.25, over USA 1 in a riveting final set onVuGraph. It was a heart-breaking loss for USA 1, who had clawed their way back from a 15-IMP deficit and seemed to have momentum halfway through the set. The Dutch women mounted their own rally, however, to seal the championship. The set started well for the Americans. Board 1. None vul. Dealer North. S T 5 H J 9 5 D T 9 4 2 C T 6 5 3 S A K J 8 6 S 9 3 2 H Q 8 2 H T 6 D K 8 5 D A 7 6 C Q 8 C A 9 7 4 2 S Q 7 4 H A K 7 4 3 D Q J 3 C K J West North East South Simons Sokolow Pasman Molson - Pass Pass 1NT All Pass Janice Seamon-Molson stole the board with her 1NT opener, and Anneke Simons helped declarer's cause with the lead of a low spade. Molson won the SQ and played the DQ. Simons won the king and cashed four spade tricks, then switched to the CQ. Jet Pasman won the CA and played a heart, but Pasman took the DJ with the ace, letting Molson out for down one. West North East South Meyers Vriend Montin Van der Pas - Pass Pass 1H 1S Pass 2S Pass 2NT Pass 4S All Pass Bep Vriend could have defeated the contract with the double-dummy lead of a diamond, but she did the normal thing by leading her partner's suit. It was too late, then, as Jill Meyers had time to set up her HQ for a diamond discard. A diamond ruff gave her the dummy entry she needed to take the spade finesse. Plus 420 and 9 IMPs to USA 1, who had cut the margin to 6.5 IMPs on the first deal. The Netherlands struck back on the next deal, scoring 5 IMPs when they defeated 4S doubled two tricks for plus 300 in one room while Simons was allowed to escape for one down. USA 1 earned 7 IMPs on Board 3 when Vriend in the Closed Room went minus 50 in 3NT, while Sokolow sat for a balancing double of 1H, defeating the contract by a trick for plus 200. The Americans managed a 1 IMP gain in a most unusual way on this deal. Board 5. N/S vul. Dealer North. S T 7 6 2 H K 7 D J 8 7 5 C A K 7 S A K J 5 4 3 S 9 H 4 2 H A Q J T 6 5 3 D 6 4 2 D K Q 9 C T 9 C 6 5 S Q 8 H 9 8 D A T 3 C Q J 8 4 3 2 West North East South Meyers Vriend Montin Van der Pas - Pass 1H Pass 1S Pass 4H All Pass With the heart finesse working, Montin easily took 10 tricks for plus 420 West North East South Simons Sokolow Pasman Molson - 1C 4H 4NT (1) Pass 5D Pass 6C All Pass (1) Alerted on Molson's side of the screen as a non-forward-going raise to 5C. Sokolow apparently forgot the meaning of 4NT and the Dutch were in a position to collect 1100, but they, too, seemed confused about the auction, so they let Sokolow play it without a red card. Pasman started with the HA and a heart to declarer's king. Sokolow pulled trumps, ending in dummy, and played a spade off. Simons won the SJ and the SA before switching to a low diamond. This ran to the queen and ace. Sokolow could have claimed for minus 300, but she played a low diamond from dummy and inserted the 7. That gave the defense two more tricks and plus 400, but it was still a 1 IMP gain for USA 1. The Netherlands got the IMP back on the next board, followed by a push. The Dutch women were clinging to a 4.5-IMP lead. They upped the lead to 9.5 IMPs when Vriend and van der Pas defeated 1 NT by a trick for plus 100 while Sokolow and Molson let the same contract through for minus 90. USA 1 gained another 2 IMPs when Sokolow and Molson nailed Pasman for 500 in 2H doubled while Vriend and van der Pas picked up plus 420 in the other room. The Netherlands were ahead, 235.75-228.25. The Netherlands missed an opportunity to increase the margin on the following deal. Instead, they suffered a loss that reduced their lead to 0.5. Board 9. E/W vul. Dealer North. S A K 4 H A T 6 5 4 D 4 3 C K T 9 S 6 2 S Q J 9 5 3 H 2 H Q J 9 7 3 D A J 8 6 5 2 D K 9 7 C J 8 6 5 C - - S T 8 7 H K 8 D Q T C A Q 7 4 3 2 West North East South Meyers Vriend Montin Van der Pas - 1H 1S 2C 2D 3C 3D 4C All Pass The diamond bid and raise made it obvious 3NT was not going to make, and the Dutch judged that they didn't have enough assets for game in clubs. As the cards lie, 5C can be made via a major-suit squeeze against East provided the defenders cash their diamond tricks first and declarer manages to maintain communication between the two hands (if the defenders play a heart at trick two, declarer must finesse in clubs on the first round). Meyers led a spade, and van der Pas finished with 10 tricks for plus 130. West North East South Simons Sokolow Pasman Molson - 1H 1S 2C Pass 3C Pass 3S Pass 3NT All Pass Unaware that the diamond suit was wide open, Pasman made the normal lead of the SQ. Sokolow won the SA and played the C10 to the ace. She finessed the C9 on the way back, cashed the CK and returned to dummy with the HK to run clubs. At trick nine, Pasman had discarded down to jack and a spade, the singleton HQ and the D7. Sokolow, believing Pasman had no diamonds left, attempted to throw Pasman in with the heart to effect an endplay in spades. Pasman won the HQ and played a diamond, allowing Simons to claim the rest of the tricks and hold declarer to her contract. Plus 400 was good for a 7-IMP gain for USA 1, now needing only 1 IMP to take the lead. They did so on the next deal. Board 10. Both vul. Dealer East. S K Q H A 8 7 D 9 C Q J T 8 7 4 2 S A 7 S J 9 8 6 5 3 2 H K 6 3 2 H J T 9 5 D Q 4 3 2 D 7 C A 9 5 C 3 S T 4 H Q 4 D A K J T 8 6 5 C K 6 West North East South Meyers Vriend Montin Van der Pas - - Pass 1D Pass 2C 2S 3D Pass 5C All Pass Vriend finished minus 300 in her game contract after the lead of the S2. Meyers won the SA and switched to a low diamond. Vriend's D9 held the trick and she played low from dummy. Apparently seeking to create an entry to dummy, Vriend played a club to the 6. Meyers won a surprise trick with the C9, cashed the trump ace and exited with a trump. Vriend still had to lose two heart tricks for minus 300. West North East South Simons Sokolow Pasman Molson - - Pass 1D Pass 2C Pass 3D Pass 3NT All Pass Sokolow's no trump game was due to fail on the lead of the HJ, but Pasman started with her seventh-best spade. Simons went up with the ace and made her only safe exit with a low spade. Sokolow won and played the D9 to dummy's jack. Simons thought a long time before winning the queen, and more time after that before continuing the suit. Sokolow finished with 10 tricks for plus 630 and a 14 IMP gain. USA 1 was now in front by 13.5 IMPs. The Dutch women wasted no time getting back on the board. Board 11. None vul. Dealer South. S Q H Q J 8 6 5 4 D Q 9 8 3 C Q T S 8 7 6 5 3 S K J 2 H A K 9 7 2 H T D 4 D K T 7 6 5 C 4 2 C J 7 6 5 S A T 9 4 H 3 D A J 2 C A K 9 8 3 West North East South Meyers Vriend Montin Van der Pas - - - 1C 2C (1) Pass 2S All Pass (1) Majors. The bad splits in the majors doomed this contract to down three. Montin could only reflect that it was lucky she wasn't doubled. Plus 150 to the Netherlands. West North East South Simons Sokolow Pasman Molson - - - 1C Pass 1H Pass 1S Pass 2H Pass 3H Pass 4H Pass Pass Dble All Pass Throughout the set, the Dutch had been somewhat conservative in the bidding, but Simons was not reluctant to put the axe to Sokolow's optimistic contract. The defense slipped a trick, but Sokolow had no real chance to make the contract and she finished down one. Plus 100 was a 6-IMP gain for the Netherlands. The Netherlands gained 3 IMPs on the next board, but it could have been more. Board 12. N/S vul. Dealer West. S Q 6 4 3 2 H A 9 5 D 5 C K J 7 2 S 9 7 5 S K J T H K H J T 8 7 4 D A K T 3 2 D J 9 C A 9 6 5 C Q 4 3 S A 8 H Q 6 3 2 D Q 8 7 6 4 C T 8 West North East South Meyers Vriend Montin Van der Pas 1D 1S Dble Pass 2C Pass 2D All Pass Meyers managed eight tricks despite the bad trump split for plus 90. West North East South Simons Sokolow Pasman Molson 1D 1S Dble 2S All Pass Pasman led the DJ, which was allowed to hold. Sokolow ruffed the diamond continuation and played a low heart from hand. She made the correct play of ducking, but now the defense got a crossruff going. Simons played the DA, ruffed and overruffed, followed by a heart ruff. Had Simons then played the DK, Pasman could have overruffed again, given Simons a heart ruff and completed the slaughter by winning her SK. The defenders would still have the CA to come for plus 300. Simons, however, played the D10, and Sokolow gratefully discarded the HA, saving a trick. Pasman ruffed and returned a heart, but Sokolow overruffed Simons' S7 with the queen, pulled trumps and had only to make a successful guess in clubs to finish at minus 100 for a push. She rode the C10, however, and was back to down two for minus 200 and a 3 IMP loss. The Netherlands had moved to within 4.5 IMPs. The next deal settled the issue. Board 13. Both vul. Dealer North. S T 8 4 H A 3 D A K T 7 3 C A T 7 S A Q 6 2 S J 7 H K 7 H Q J 9 6 2 D J 6 5 4 D 2 C 8 4 3 C K Q J 9 2 S K 9 5 3 H T 8 5 4 D Q 9 8 C 6 5 West North East South Meyers Vriend Montin Van der Pas - 1NT All Pass Vriend had no trouble coming to seven tricks once she discovered the diamond division. Plus 90 to the Dutch. West North East South Simons Sokolow Pasman Molson - 1NT 2H All Pass Molson's lead of a low spade seems reasonable, but it worked out badly on this occasion. Pasman ducked to the jack, played a spade to the queen and discarded her singleton diamond on the SA. From there, she managed three diamond ruffs, a high heart and a high club for plus 110. That was 5 IMPs to the Netherlands, who had taken the lead by half an IMP. The next two boards were pushes -- North-South were down one in 3NT at both tables on Board 14 and plus 660 in 3NT on Board 15. On the last deal of the event, USA 1 still had a chance to win, but the team's fate depended on an opening lead. Board 16. E/W vul. Dealer West. S A J T 5 H K T 5 3 D Q 7 5 C 9 6 S 2 S Q 9 7 4 H 4 H A Q 2 D J T 4 2 D A K 6 3 C A K T 8 7 4 3 C Q J S K 8 6 3 H J 9 8 7 6 D 9 8 C 5 2 The auction was short and sweet at both tables -- 3C by West, 3NT by East. In the Closed Room, van der Pas led a low heart and Montin wrapped up 11 tricks for plus 660. It was clear to the VuGraph audience that a spade lead by Molson would hold declarer to 10 tricks and earn USA 1 the IMP that would give them the gold medal. There was no compelling reason for Molson to find a spade lead, however. A heart seemed the normal lead and much more likely. When Molson put the H7 on the table, the Dutch partisans in the room erupted in wild applause. The final score in the Orbis Venice Cup was yet to be made official, but they knew that the trophy belonged to the Netherlands for the first time. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Inside Stories If you want to find out what was going on behind the scenes at these Championships, why not pay a visit to the site www.msworld.com and take a look at the articles in the Mindzine section written by Mark Horton -'Ratty on Bridge' and Harvey Fox. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- GERM REBUTTALS REBUTTED By Alan Truscott As I expected, there have been reactions to my article about systemic germs. Many have told me that they agreed with me. A few have written on the subject, angrily defending their right to use their favourite germ. I would welcome a poll of all the players here. Are they pro-germs or anti-germs? The Dutchman who complained on the Internet that the ladies in his club will not give up their Multi can relax. There is no suggestion that any regulation would apply to anything other than world championships. What I recommended was that any initial action by a partnership must have EITHER at least four cards in a known suit OR at least nine high-card (4-3-2-1) points. The best answer comes from David Lusk. He is right -- in theory. In practice, the players who use germs automatically gain an unfair advantage. Many of them will admit this; if pressed, I'll explain. In all germ situations the degree of disclosure is insufficient, and will always be insufficient. What the opponents need to know is the actions of the germy partnership if the bidding becomes competitive. They know this from experience, but it is never provided in advance because it would require many extra pages. First, my rule would, as he says, bar Lusk from using a natural 1NT opening with eight points. I think I am doing him a favour, but if he tells me he wishes to use this we will negotiate an exception. I doubt if he or anyone else will want it. This is not what we are concerned with. Second, consider the two-spade opening used by one Polish pair. It shows 3-10 points with one six-card minor or two five-card majors. The continuations are described if the opponents are silent, but there is no description of the developments if the opponents double or bid. Do they do this at unfavorable vulnerability? I doubt it, but we are not told. Third, consider the canapé overcall used by one Italian pair and defended vigorously by its inventor, Carlo Mosca. There would be no objection to this, under my rule, if the overcall showed a four-card suit with a longer side-suit. There would be no objection if the overcall showed overcalling values with 2-4 cards in the suit bid and a long suit somewhere else. But what the system sheets show are: over one club or one diamond overcalls are highly conventional with 3/4 cards (sometimes two). Sometimes the suits are 4-4. The strength described is "aggressive" or "possibly with a weak hand". The players no doubt know how weak, but the opponents do not. The players, I am told, use this because they gain against opponents who are insufficently prepared -- which is probably most of them. Fourth, and most contentiously, the multitudinous Multis. They are almost all different. Many do not say whether the bid shows five cards, six cards, or either, or is affected by vulnerability. Hardly any mention actions after interference. Bermuda. 6-10 Weak major or 20-22 bal.; Brazil. 6-11 weak major or 23-24 bal.; Bulgaria (#1) 8-11 5+ major, or 0-12 5S, or 9-12 4414 or 4441; Bulgaria (#2) weak 2 major or strong 44 majors; China (2 pairs) weak 2 major; Chinese Taipei weak 2H or 5S and 5 minor; Indonesia weak 2 in major or 22-27 bal; Norway 3-9 weak 2, 6-major; Poland (2 pairs) 3-10, any 5-5 except minors; South Africa, 2 pairs, Weak 2 in major or strong in D; U.S.A. 5-7 cards in one major, no strength given. The Chinese and American pairs get credit for attempting to describe interference sequences. Two Italian pairs have a 9-12 Multi that passes my rule. Even with the best of intentions, which are not always present, the users of Multi and other germs will always have an unfair advantage. This is partly because full disclosure is inevitably lacking. With the best will in the world, partnerships cannot explain all their understandings on the second round when the auction becomes competitive. They have a partnership history, and are more aware than the opposition about their procedures after, for example, 2D P 2S 3D. Everyone knows that regular psychic bids are unfair to the opponents because the psychic bidder's partner remembers the previous occasions and understands the possibilities. Regular psychic bids, which used to be a plague many years ago, have therefore disappeared. The same should now be true of Multi and other germs. Let us stop inventing conventions to gain an unfair advantage, and level the playing field. The President of the World bridge Federation, José Damiani, states that he and his Executive members are also very concerned about the spread of artificial and complex conventions. This is not simply because of the effect on the opponents, but also the effect on the public at large. If we wish the public to be able to follow the bidding and play in VuGraph theatres, in magazines, newspapers and on television, we must make sure that what they encounter is not the equivalent of Ancient Greek. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Limerick Competition Update Unfortunately, due to pressure of space, not all the wonderful limericks I have received have had the chance to be published. For the final day I have chosen two limericks, the first by Sidney Lazard and the second by Sean O'Lubaigh. There was a young girl from Bermuda Who slept with a male barracuda The child that she had Looked just like his dad And could scare off most any intruder There was a young girl from Bermuda Who surprised a nocturnal intruder Because dressed in her nightie He became a bit flighty The intruder denuder and knewder And finally we have a marvellous submission from Gabriel Chagas of the Brazilian team, who played here in Bermuda in 1975. When recalling my old Bowl in Bermuda. Being one of a few who pursued her Back in seventy-five With a lot more of drive Well, I'm happy that Orbis renewed her I am hopeful that we will be able to publish a more complete list in the Internet Edition of the Bulletin. Thanks to everyone who was kind enough to submit limericks and start looking for rhymes of Maastricht! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- INVESTING IS OUR STRONG SUIT A daily column on investing by Orbis Investment Management Limited Orbis Investment Management Ltd. congratulates all the winners at the Orbis World Bridge Championships! Orbis Bermuda Bowl -- USA; Orbis Venice Cup -- Netherlands; Orbis Transnational Open Teams -- USA/Poland; Orbis World Computer Bridge Championship -- USA. We hope that everybody has enjoyed these Championships. Being able to help host the event in Bermuda has been a privilege for us. We are also grateful for the many individual expressions of thanks that we have received both from you in person as we have met you and from all the bridge fans around the world who have been avidly observing these events on the Internet. It has been delightful to meet so many people who are so passionate about their sport. Hopefully you found our daily articles on investing interesting and informative. If you would like to receive a package of information about our funds or be placed on our mailing list we would be delighted for you to contact us using any of the methods listed below. You will also find contact forms that you may complete and leave at the Hospitality desk. How to contact us: By mail: Orbis Investment Management Limited 34 Bermudiana Road Hamilton, HM CX Bermuda Attention: Geoffrey Gardner, Director of Fund Management By telephone: +1 (441) 296 3000 By facsimile: +1 (441) 296 3001 By e-mail: info@orbisfunds.com Web site: www.orbisfunds.com ======================================================================