The real facts....(kind of)...

The comments to my previous post referred to the datums in the Bowl final.

Instead of banking on datums derived on the results of a match between two teams that were 100 imps behind with a set to play to the two big monsters of bridge, I've spent an hour summarizing the cause of 6+IMP swings and some potential swings in the final at a high level.

I do not claim to be exhaustive and completely accurate. Perusing through this write-up might be illuminating. Am happy to accomodate any dissenting opinions and change (parts of) this review.

Set1
1.Fantoni-Nunes bid a light vulnerable game that goes three off.
2.Fantoni-Nunes miss a 25 HCP game on a misfit that Meckwell make.
3.Nickell misdefends a slam that Fantoni was probably going to go down in.
Meckwell bid the same not-so-hot slam and go down
4.Katz makes a tight 3NT on a favourable lead. Meckwell defeat game on a different lead. The choice of lead had an element of randomness due to system issues.

Set 2
1. Nickell Freeman miss a vulnerable game
2. Sementa revokes as declarer in vulnerable game after taking a winning view earlier. Unclear whether Katz should find the winning line at the other table.
3. Nickell Katz have a bidding accident resulting in defending a doubled making partscore
4. Sementa Duboin bid a light NV game that comes home.
5. Katz takes a rash action to bid a noplay slam.
6. SementaDuboin and NickellKatz miss a cold slam that is hard to reach in a competitive auction.
7. Meckwell steal at favourable with combined 17 HCP. No game makes other way despite a good fit and a shortage.
8. Meckwell overstretch to vul game

Set 3
1. Meckwell make a slam after Fantoni Nunes get active,not unreasonably so. Hamman Zia pass and declarer does not have the vital clue.
2. Meckwell make a winning competitive decision while Sementa Duboin flounder
3. Meckwell bid a light vulnerable game that goes two off
4. Complex 1NT hand that Versace makes versus Meckwell while Zia goes down

Set 4
1. Lauria mis-saw partner's bid and bids a noplay slam.
2. Katz makes a daring lead directional bid that pays off winning a vul game swing. Fantoni Nunes go down while Meck makes against Versace Lauria on a random lead decision.
3. Meckwell bid to superior game contract knowingly so while Fantoni Nunes dont.
4. Versace opts not to make a light takeout double leading to Meckwell stealing a hand where the opponents could have made a game.


Set 5
1. Zia makes a reckless bid leading to a vulnerable penalty.
2. Zia-Hamman miss a light nonvul game that Fantunes bid and make versus Meckwell.
3. Meckwell and ZiaHamman both go plus on a partscore deal when Duboin opts not to make a light takeout double.
4. Fantoni fails to double an invitational vulnerable auction with bad splits while Zia-Hamman do.
5. Duboin misdefends a vulnerable game versus Zia
6. Fantunes "heavy"weak NT style leads to missing vulnerable game.

Set 6
1. Sementa takes a losing view in a light vulnerable game that Meckwell stay out of.
2. Rodwell takes a losing line of play in game that Duboin gets right.
3. Zia makes a rash bid (that Versace avoids vs Meckwell) leading to a phantom sacrifice.
4. Hamman Zia defeat a touch and go vulnerable game that Meckwell stay out of.
5. Zia-Hamman drive to the 5-level, down one, all on their own after a bidding accident

Set 7
1. Zia makes an unfortunate lead caused by Hamman's misguided bid. Then makes a questionable play to let through a game. Good play by Nunes.
2. Nunes takes a losing line of play that Meck gets right.
3. Fantunes miss a game due to systemic issues that Meckwell bid.
4. Meckwell bid the better game while Fantunes go down in their choice.
5. Lauria Versace bid a cold light slam that Hamman Zia miss
6. Meckwell are overboard in a vulnerable game.
7. Versace Lauria play superior game. Hamman Zia bid the more natural game that hamman takes a losing view in.

Set 8
1. Lauria Versace catch Meckwell speeding for a penalty
2. Meckwell miss a light vulnerable game that Duboin Sementa bring in.
3. Hamman Zia bring in a marginal slam that Versace stays out of.

The winner takes it all...

Winners of the 2009 Bermuda Bowl
Zia Mahmood, Bob Hamman, Eric Rodwell,Eric Kokish, Jeff Meckstroth, Donna Compton, Nick Nickell, Ralph Katz (photo courtesy daily bulletin)

USA2 took home the trophy with a convincing 36 IMP win over Italy. Having watched almost all of the final and the rest via the vugraph archives, I can say with certainty that Meckstroth and Rodwell, who played throughout during the knockouts, were the standout best pair in the tournament.

They demonstrated exemplary technique, tremendous mental toughness and a solid system to show their worth. On the other hand, the Italians played in a weak manner with (to my mind) obvious psychological weaknesses in their camp.

Lauria mis-saw his partner's bid, Sementa revoked as declarer, Versace made a zero percent play, Nunes failed to count his tricks, Duboin played a winner on a loser....

Bridge, as usual, was all about delivery.

The chief reason the match was not a blowout was because the other USA2 pairs were not exceptional either. Perhaps I am being unfair to the rest of the USA2 team but the truth of competitive bridge is that "Winning absolves you of all your sins."

The party is over

Party is over for some of my picks for the Bermuda Bowl. We seem headed towards another USA vs Italy final, the two teams having battled it out recently in 2003 and 2005.


The usual suspects after their 2003 win



Italy with their first bermuda bowl win since mid-1970s.

Meanwhile, Australia struggled. Perhaps they will be well warmed up for the Spring Nationals.

If we were able to clone Delivera-Robinson , and have all three pairs return 0.15 imps/board, Australia would have moved up to 12th in the overall standings, about 30 VPs off qualifying for the quarters. Wouldn't that be kool ?

Its the.........Bermuda Bowl

The Norwegian team with the Bermuda Bowl Trophy - 2007


The Bermuda Bowl starts this weekend. I am looking forward to some vugraph matches at crazy hours. Around 12 tables will be telecast at once so there will be plenty of action. Any missed matches can be caught in the newly refurbished BBO archives section.

There is an extensive summary of the bidding system design of participants here. All convention cards can be perused here. There will be a post soon about an officially-WBF-disliked-system that did not make it to the list.

My predictions
Italy versus Netherlands in the final
USA2 lose in the semifinal
USA1 lose in the quarterfinal
Quarterfinalists : Italy, Netherlands, USA2, USA1, Brazil,China, Norway, Bulgaria
Australia struggles

Happy Clicking !