mayb19

English 2019 מאי 189 גיליון 55 The Spring Nationals were held recently in Memphis, Tennessee. The main event, the Vanderbilt knockout teams was won by Wolfson over Nickell in the final. However, I was interested in two teams which included former Israeli internationals. Both Rosenthal and Mittelman reached the quarter- finals, where they lost to Levine and Lavazza. I picked up two hands from the Rosenthal- Levine match, connected by the same theme. Before the first deal, Levine led 31:8. Board 15. Dealer South. Vul N/S AJ83 A8543 Q6 94 Q2 5 K97 QJT AKJ52 98 Q76 AKJT853 KT9764 62 T743 2 West North East South Pratap Ginossar Koneru Willenken Pass 1NT Pass 2♠* Dbl 2NT 3♠ 3NT All Pass * transfer to clubs After South doubled East’s transfer bid, what didWest mean by 2NT? Did he show a stopper, taking the double into account, or did he just show a club fit (preaccept) while ignoring the double? East had to decide over North’s three spades bid, and Pass was not an option, because his transfer bid did not promise any HCP. Eventually he bid 3NT. Unimpressed by his opponents’ enthusiastic NT bids, Ginossar led the spade three, and the defense took the first seven tricks. E/W minus 150 while they were cold for five clubs. At the other room: West North East South Berkowitz Levine Campanile Kriegel Pass 1NT Pass 2♠* Dbl Pass Pass 3♠** Pass 3NT Pass Pass Pass * transfer to clubs ** asking for a stopper (East’s interpretation) At this table West Pass ed the lead-directing double. Berkowitz might have thought that he denied a stopper by failing to bid 2NT. Evidently, East-West were not on the same wavelength, since East asked for a stopper while West thought he was required to bid 3NT with a half-stopper. This time North believed his opponents and concluded that spades were not the killing lead. He tried to surprise his opponent with a heart lead (how could North, holding 11 HCP expect his partner to hold heart honors and still double two spades?!). This bold idea did Don’t Believe Your Opponents! // Ram Soffer