Here’s another interesting hand, fresh from the pros at the World Bridge Series open pairs event.  Our defending champions, Fu Zhong and Jack Jie Zhao, demonstrated that China has skills far beyond their manufacturing skills.  In pairs games, every extra trick can make a huge difference in the scoring.  So when partnership’s do not have an 8 card major fit, pairs regularly stretch to enjoy the trick score benefits of playing in a notrump contract.   Accordingly, on this hand Jack, playing North’s hand, thoughtfully rebid 1 Notrump rather than 2 Hearts with his 5=4=2=2 shape.  Do you see why he chose this approach?

Take a second look at North’s honors – with non-working honors that are spread in every suit, rebidding 1 Notrump seems reasonable (although on the downside the partnership might miss a 5-3 Spade fit).  At this point it’s easy sailing for Fu, ultimately winning 3 Clubs, 4 Diamonds 1 Spade and 1 Heart for 150 points.  So while many other players holding the pair’s 5=4=2=2 and 2=2=5=4 shape tended to rebid their shape, Fu and Jack scored high marks for analyzing their spread honors.

You can see this and another of their interesting hands here as well as a link to the bulletins of the entire 16 day session here.

So after two weeks of grueling Bridge play, the 2010 World Bridge Series Championship Finals are in with Bobby Levin and Steve Weinstein taking home the gold.  And while Zia Mahmoon and Eric Rodwell didn’t fare quite so well, leave it to Zia keep Bridge as exciting as ever.

At first it looked like Zia would bid like a mortal, opening 1 Diamond and actually passing South’s double in passout seat.  But after North responded 1 Heart and partner Eric bid 1 Spade with East’s cards, things started getting interesting.  South responded 3 Hearts and in Zia’s true form he actually bid 4 Spades!  No, that’s not a misprint. Yes, we know, we know, Zia has a Spade void – but you forget, this *IS* Zia after all.  Next went 5 Hearts by North so what do you think Zia bid next?  Would you believe 5 Spades?  Well, we didn’t think so either but that’s what the recorder shows.  So now we’re in utter disbelief, too!  Of course, South just couldn’t resist the urge to double 5 Spades – could you?   Well after South’s (Louk Verhees) double, Zia was able to complete his “rapier psyche” (thrust and retreat), rebidding 6 Diamonds – promptly doubled by South.   And the lead was… drum roll please… the lead is the… low Club 6.  Zia inserted the winning 10 from the dummy, pulled trump, playing three more rounds of Clubs and pitching Hearts in dummy to make 13 tricks for 1190 points (69 of 70 matchpoints).  Who said Bridge is a boring game.  And our sympathies to Ricco van Prooijen sitting North.  Leading a Heart will keep the declarer from making an undeserved overtrick, ensuring a much sounder sleep.  Just ask us – been there, own that tee shirt.
http://www.bridgehands.com/Tournaments/WBF/2010_World_Bridge_Championship/Bul_15.pdf

In addition to the prestigious Rosenblum Cup Knockouts, competion included: World Mixed Pairs, World Women Knockout Teams (for the McConnell Cup), World Senior Knockout Teams (for the Rand Cup), GENERALI World Open Pairs, GENERALI World Women Pairs, World Senior Pairs (for the Hiron Trophy), World Mixed Swiss Teams, and World Junior Championship.  To see the daily bulletins, see:

http://www.bridgehands.com/Tournaments/WBF/2010_World_Bridge_Championship/index.htm

Saturday, October  2, 2010       Sunday, October 3, 2010          Monday, October 4, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010         Wednesday, October 6, 2010   Thursday, October 7, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010             Saturday, October 9, 2010       Sunday, October 10, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010     Tuesday, October 12, 2010      Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010     Friday, October 15, 2010        Saturday, October 16, 2010
Saturday Evening, October 17, 2010

Many thanks to the WBF for running a great tournament and sharing their exciting bulletins.   For more details, please see the WorldBridge website

On Friday, October 15, 2010 Bridge professionals duked it out in the World Bridge Series Rosenblum Cup tournament. Check out how you would bid hands in comparison to Eric Rodwell – Jeff Meckstroth, Fred Gitelman – Mike Moss, Geoff Hampson – Eric Greco, Bob Hammon – Zia Mahmood. And to amuse yourself, compare variance how THEY bid and played some challenging hands – beginning at page 6:

http://www.worldbridge.org/bulletin/10_1%20Philadelphia/pdf/Bul_14.pdf