1 | Page ZIMMERMANN - Piotr GAWRYS, Michal KLUKOWSKI, Geir HELGEMO, Tor HELNESS, Franck MULTON, Pierre ZIMMERMANN LAVAZZA - Alejandro BIANCHEDI, Dennis BILDE, Norberto BOCCHI, Giorgio DUBOIN, Agustin MADALA, Antonio SEMENTA, Maria Teresa LAVAZZA captain, Massimo ORTENSI coach 1 PAVLICEK 14 36 3.61 16.39 3.61 82 1 ZHAO 44 13 18 2 18 7 2 SKY BRIDGE CLUB 20 26 7.82 12.18 11.43 85 2 MIXED UP 3 17 5.46 14.54 23.46 34 3 ROSENTHAL 14 5 13.14 6.86 24.57 70 3 NETHERLANDS JUNIORS 18 16 10.77 9.23 34.23 30 4 DALLEY 37 17 15.97 4.03 40.54 51 4 ORG 9 30 3.82 16.18 38.05 59 5 EMERALD 23 2 16.18 3.82 56.72 31 5 1W3M 42 8 18.44 1.56 56.49 32 6 ZIMMERMANN 13 29 4.95 15.05 61.67 42 6 LAVAZZA 29 13 15.05 4.95 71.54 21 7 PDC 12 9 11.14 8.86 72.81 39 7 ERA 1 43 0.56 19.44 72.1 43 8 SPECTOR 16 7 13.14 6.86 85.95 33 8 SPUDS 12 24 6 14 78.1 59 9 ZHAOHENG 34 21 14.28 5.72 100.23 27 9 CHINA XHJT 10 20 6.57 13.43 84.67 63 10 SPUDS 26 33 7.49 12.51 107.72 34 10 COACH K 17 9 12.83 7.17 97.5 55 Round of 64 ZIMMERMANN 40 24 27 53 144 Round of 64 LAVAZZA 67 27 44 0 138 ZHAO 22 45 51 17 135 GILLIS 5 35 16 0 56 Round of 32 JUSTER 33 20 7 17 77 Round of 32 MOSS 50 14 5 31 100 ZIMMERMANN 16 46 35 44 141 LAVAZZA 28 35 26 48 137 Round of 16 CONNECTOR 16 13 7 8 44 Round of 16 PSZCZOLA 22 32 5 44 103 ZIMMERMANN 11 35 26 38 110 LAVAZZA 39 26 23 35 123 Qtr-final ZIMMERMANN 43 32 16 19 110 Qtr-final LAVAZZA 28 45 13 31 117 TEXAN ACES 19 9 46 9 83 CHAGAS 31 15 57 8 111 Semi-final ZIMMERMANN 12 31 39 39 121 Semi-final ALLFREY 11 33 27 20 91 SPECTOR 53 19 33 12 117 LAVAZZA 54 36 16 43 149 As we see above, the two finalists, Lavazza from Italy and Zimmerman (playing out of Monaco) had a similar run up: both alternated solid wins with struggling fortunes. In the end, the 2018 Rosenblum was a most grand final, pitching two teams of fine tradition against each other. Three members of Lavazza have previously won the event - Sementa in 1998 and Bocchi-Duboin in 2002; Gawrys-Klukowski are current title holders, and Helgemo-Helness won it in 2006. 2 | Page Board 1 North Deals None Vul ♠ K J ♥ K 8 7 6 ♦ Q 8 6 4 ♣ 10 7 5 ♠ A 9 5 3 ♥ A 9 5 ♦ 10 9 3 ♣ J 6 2 N W E S ♠ 10 7 ♥ J 10 4 2 ♦ A J 7 2 ♣ Q 9 8 ♠ Q 8 6 4 2 ♥ Q 3 ♦ K 5 ♣ A K 4 3 West North East South MADALA GAWRYS BIANCHEDI KLUKOWSKI Pass Pass 1♠ Pass 1NT Pass 2♣ Pass 2♠ All pass 2♠ by South Lead: ♦10 Made 2 — NS +110 West North East South HELGEMO BOCCHI T HELNESS SEMENTA Pass Pass 1♠ Pass 1NT Pass 2♣ Pass 2♦ Pass 2♠ All pass 2♠ by South Lead: ♦3 Made 2 — NS +110 The first hand illustrates one technical point: The Italians play the very well-known Gazilli method to show most hands able to reverse or, as in this case, a minimum hand with clubs(a method invented by Leo Gazzilli from Milan some decades ago). The Polish pair, playing Polish Club (a system where one club shows either 11-14 balanced or any 17+), do not. Both pairs signed off safely in two spades, and with clubs splitting, both declarers had no trouble coming to the requested eight tricks. Flat board at +110. 3 | Page Board 2 East Deals N-S Vul ♠ 10 ♥ Q J 9 8 3 ♦ 7 ♣ A 10 9 7 4 2 ♠ 9 8 2 ♥ 10 ♦ K 9 6 5 4 2 ♣ J 8 6 N W E S ♠ K Q J 6 4 ♥ K 5 2 ♦ Q 10 3 ♣ 5 3 ♠ A 7 5 3 ♥ A 7 6 4 ♦ A J 8 ♣ K Q West North East South MADALA GAWRYS BIANCHEDI KLUKOWSKI 1♠ Dbl 2♠!1 4♥ Pass 4♠ Pass 4NT Pass 5♦!2 Dbl 6♥ All pass 1. Bad raise 2. 3 keycards 6♥ by North Lead: ♦3 Made 7 — NS +1460 West North East South HELGEMO BOCCHI T HELNESS SEMENTA 1NT Dbl 3♦ 4♥ All pass 4♥ by North Lead: ♠K Made 6 — NS +680 The spectators didn't have time to yawn: different systems played no role in the second, very interesting hand. This board was all down to judgement, and Klukowski's proved better than Sementa’s on this occasion. However, East/West’s auction in the Open Room may have given the young Polish player a crucial hint: he knew his partner held a singleton spade. On the other hand, Sementa had not promised a heart suit, so he should have taken his partner's jump to game more seriously. For one reason or another or another Sementa, in a similar position, passed 4, while Michal Klukowski invited to slam, and Gawrys accepted most happily. +13 IMPs to Monaco. 4 | Page Board 3 South Deals E-W Vul ♠ K Q 10 9 ♥ K Q 10 9 ♦ Q 10 5 ♣ 8 5 ♠ J 6 4 2 ♥ J 7 4 2 ♦ A 8 ♣ A Q 10 N W E S ♠ — ♥ 6 5 3 ♦ 7 6 4 ♣ K J 9 7 6 4 2 ♠ A 8 7 5 3 ♥ A 8 ♦ K J 9 3 2 ♣ 3 West North East South MADALA GAWRYS BIANCHEDI KLUKOWSKI 1♠ Pass 2NT Pass 3♣1 Pass 4♠ All pass 1. minimum 4♠ by South Lead: ♥4 Made 6 — NS +480 West North East South HELGEMO BOCCHI T HELNESS SEMENTA 1♠ Dbl 3NT 4♣1 4♦ Pass 4♥ Pass 4♠ All pass 1 Balanced raise 4♠ by South Lead: ♣A Made 5 — NS +450 In typical partnership style, Helgemo found an aggressive double, which might have cost his side 1 or 2 IMPs had Bocchi jumped to four spades, because Helness would have been more or less compelled to bid five clubs, where the price is -500. But it was not to be, and when Madala didn't cash his ace of clubs after winning the ace of diamonds, Monaco scored another IMP. 5 | Page Board 4 West Deals Both Vul ♠ K 9 6 ♥ Q ♦ A 7 6 4 3 ♣ 8 7 5 3 ♠ A J 7 5 ♥ 8 6 4 3 ♦ 10 8 2 ♣ K 9 N W E S ♠ Q 10 3 ♥ K 10 9 5 2 ♦ J 9 ♣ A Q J ♠ 8 4 2 ♥ A J 7 ♦ K Q 5 ♣ 10 6 4 2 West North East South MADALA GAWRYS BIANCHEDI KLUKOWSKI Pass Pass 1♥ Pass 2♣1 Pass 2♦!2 Pass 2♥ All pass 1. drury 2. opening 2♥ by East Lead: ♦K Made 2 — EW +110 West North East South HELGEMO BOCCHI T HELNESS SEMENTA Pass Pass 1♥ Pass 2♣!1 Pass 2♥ All pass 1. support ♥ 2♥ by East Lead: ♣4 Made 2 — EW +110 Another small technical note: Helness simply signed off, while Bianchedi showed opening values before passing two hearts. Neither NS pair found a way to compete in a minor, an action which would have been crowned with success here: either minor can come to nine tricks. Neither South could act, but while Gawry clearly didn't have the option - Bianchedi was still unlimited - Bocchi had a slight chance. Certainly risky when vulnerable and at the dawn of the match. Flat board. 6 | Page Board 5 North Deals N-S Vul ♠ K 10 8 6 5 3 2 ♥ K ♦ K Q 6 3 ♣ J ♠ A Q 9 7 ♥ A 8 4 ♦ 10 9 7 ♣ K 10 8 N W E S ♠ 4 ♥ Q 7 5 3 2 ♦ J 8 2 ♣ A 6 3 2 ♠ J ♥ J 10 9 6 ♦ A 5 4 ♣ Q 9 7 5 4 West North East South MADALA GAWRYS BIANCHEDI KLUKOWSKI 1♠ Pass 1NT Pass 2♠ All pass 2♠ by North Lead: ♥2 Made 2 — NS +110 West North East South HELGEMO BOCCHI T HELNESS SEMENTA 1♠ Pass 1NT Pass 2♠ All pass 2♠ by North Lead: ♥2 Made 2 — NS +110 Another part score, played in two spades for another flat board. 7 | Page Board 6 East Deals E-W Vul ♠ Q 7 6 5 4 ♥ K 3 ♦ K Q 5 ♣ K 8 2 ♠ A 10 3 2 ♥ J 10 7 6 ♦ J 2 ♣ 9 7 6 N W E S ♠ 9 ♥ Q 9 8 2 ♦ 9 8 ♣ A Q J 10 5 4 ♠ K J 8 ♥ A 5 4 ♦ A 10 7 6 4 3 ♣ 3 West North East South MADALA GAWRYS BIANCHEDI KLUKOWSKI Pass 1♦ Pass 1♠ 2♣ Dbl!1 Pass 4♠ All pass 1. 3♠ 4♠ by North Lead: ♥8 Down 1 — NS −50 West North East South HELGEMO BOCCHI T HELNESS SEMENTA Pass 1♦!1 Pass 1♠ 2♣ 2♠ 3♣ 4♠ All pass 1. unb. 5♦ 4♠ by North Lead: ♣A Made 4 — NS +420 Lavazza soon joined the scoreboard. Playing the same four spade contract in both rooms, Helness's lead immediately gave away the contract in one room, while in the other Gawrys did not find the winning continuation. Actually, Helgemo's raise makes Helness' lead looks more than reasonable, but it proved fatal, for it put Bocchi in total control. In absence of a raise, Bianchedi led a heart, and Gawrys started well by winning in hand and switching to a trump. Madala ducked dummy's king which put Gawrys at the crossroad. If he had given full value at Bianchedi's nine of spades, he could have found the solution, continuing with three rounds of diamonds. Madala would have ruffed, but with two trumps and the ace of hearts still in dummy he would be left without defence. At first glance, this play looks right even if trumps split 3-2, but there are complications indeed: a) if either defender ruffs the second round and trumps were originally 3-2, after the heart continuation declarer simply plays a trump, and with the communications in diamond still open he will come home easily; b) If West has a singleton diamond and four trumps, he will ruff the second round, put his partner in with a club for a second ruff; c) if West ruffs the third round (East pitching) and continues with a heart, declarer is dead if East started with A109 of spades, but either way he is still put to a guess: if he plays for West’s original holding to be four trumps, he must continue with a diamond, going down if East started with the doubleton 109 and has been clever enough not to ruff the third diamond. That is, with West long in spades continuing a trump is fatal: West would win the jack to continue the suit, or win the eight to switch to a club. However, Gawrys spared himself the headache by playing for trumps to split evenly, and led dummy's jack of spades. BBO reports that Madala ducked again (Bianchedi 8 | Page pitching the ten of clubs), and if he had really done so, Gawrys's contract would have become unmakeable. However, I spoke to Madala, who claims to have done better: he won the second spade to table the nine of clubs! Actually, though ducking is lethal, it might cost the contract if partner, holding AQJ10xx, fails to unblock on the second or third round of trumps. So quite brilliant Madala and hats off to your style! Bianchedi cooperated: the nine of clubs was overtaken by the king and ace, and another club honour. Gawrys ruffed it, but created another trump loser. Resulting in 10 IMPs to Lavazza. Board 7 South Deals Both Vul ♠ K Q J 9 7 5 3 ♥ A 10 ♦ 9 ♣ J 10 5 ♠ 8 2 ♥ J 7 6 5 2 ♦ K 5 3 ♣ 7 4 2 N W E S ♠ A 4 ♥ Q 9 4 ♦ A Q 8 6 4 ♣ A Q 8 ♠ 10 6 ♥ K 8 3 ♦ J 10 7 2 ♣ K 9 6 3 West North East South MADALA GAWRYS BIANCHEDI KLUKOWSKI Pass Pass 1♠ Dbl Pass 2♥ 2♠ Dbl Rdbl 4♥ 4♠ Dbl All pass 4♠× by North Lead: ♠A Made 5 — NS +990 West North East South HELGEMO BOCCHI T HELNESS SEMENTA Pass Pass 1♠ Dbl Pass 2♥ 2♠ Dbl Pass 4♥ All pass 4♥ by West Lead: ♦9 Down 2 — EW −200 For the second time in this young match, Klukowski took a different decision to Sementa, and for the second time his team scored mightily. The bidding proceeded the same until East's second double, which Sementa passed, while the Pole chose a much more effective redouble, making it easy for his partner to find the winning bid. Bianchedi might have spared himself the third double and could have cashed his winners. However, most of the damage was done at the other table: four spades just making was already worth 9 IMPs, so the double cost only 2 IMPs, plus two more for the doubled overtrick. However, had the same contract been played in the open room, the double risked losing at least 5 IMPs, and the overtrick four more, yet could net not more than a 3 IMP gain ie +200 instead of +100 as two down was clearly impossible. Not a good bet. Monaco 27 - Lavazza 10. 9 | Page Board 8 West Deals None Vul ♠ K J 8 5 ♥ 10 8 ♦ J 9 8 2 ♣ J 7 2 ♠ Q 10 6 ♥ A Q 6 ♦ A K 4 ♣ Q 10 9 6 N W E S ♠ A 9 4 ♥ J 7 5 4 3 2 ♦ Q 10 7 ♣ A ♠ 7 3 2 ♥ K 9 ♦ 6 5 3 ♣ K 8 5 4 3 West North East South MADALA GAWRYS BIANCHEDI KLUKOWSKI 1NT Pass 4♣!1 Dbl 4♥ All pass 1. ♥ 4♥ by West Lead: ♣7 Made 6 — EW +480 West North East South HELGEMO BOCCHI T HELNESS SEMENTA 1NT Pass 2♦ Pass 2♥ Pass 4♥ All pass 4♥ by West Lead: ♦9 Made 5 — EW +480 A run of the mill hand: +680 to both teams Next >