The 1961 World Championship (contesting the Bermuda Bowl) in Buenos Aires, North-America vs. Italy. From what happened on the following board two conclusions can be drawn.
The first one is that at the time views on the bidding were very different from today's views.
The second is that the then ruling Italian Blue Team obviously overawed the opponents. How else to explain this botching-up by the Americans?
| W/NS | ♠ | 9 7 6 5 2 | | | | ♥ | Q 10 7 5 3 | | ♦ | 9 6 | | ♣ | 2 | | ♠ | A 10 8 4 |  | ♠ | Q 3 | | ♥ | A 9 8 2 | ♥ | 6 | | ♦ | Q 10 7 3 | ♦ | A 8 2 | | ♣ | 4 | ♣ | K 10 9 8 6 5 3 | | | ♠ | K J | | | ♥ | K J 4 | | ♦ | K J 5 4 | | ♣ | A Q J 7 |
| West | North | East | South |
|---|
| Schenken | Avarelli | Leventritt | Belladonna | | pass | pass | 3♣ | 3SA | | pass | pass | pass | |
Normal bidding. After Leventritt's 3♣ opening third in hand Belladonna could little else than try for 3NT. After Avarelli put down a disappointing dummy it turned out to be a poor contract.
But EW came to south's rescue. East played ♣K on west's ♣4 lead, presenting the declarer with an extra club trick (obviously east believed west had three clubs including an honour card, which is unlikely enough; but even then ♣K is only necessary if west has ♣Q74 or ♣A74, which is even more unlikely).
After taking with ♣A south played ♠K, which held the trick. Then ♥K, with the same result (understandably west wanted to keep dummy off lead). When west therefore ducked ♥J as well, Belladonna overtook in dummy and played a diamond to the jack. West took with ♦Q.
EW now could have made six tricks. But west cashed ♠A, bringing down his partner's ♠Q. Now EW could only make five tricks. But west played ♥A and another heart (!).
Belladonna gratefully cashed dummy's hearts and played a diamond to his ♦K. An unlikely result: nine tricks for NS. Italy +600.
In the other room the bidding was quite different. | West | North | East | South |
|---|
| Forquet | Silodor | Garozzo | Kay | | pass | pass | pass | 1♣ | | double | pass | pass | pass(!) |
A remarkable pass from Garozzo third in hand. After that, things could not have gone better for him. Forquet 'found' a light take out double on 1♣ and everyone passed!
EW played trumps whenever possible and the declarer ended up with four tricks. +800 to Italy. It is difficult to pinpoint the biggest blunder but arguably it is Kay's pass after having been doubled in 1♣. Nowadays bridge players almost automatically escape this kind of contract. Certainly against Garozzo!
South can do this by bidding a second suit or by an 'SOS-redouble': 'Partner, please bid your longest suit.' |