FunBridge.com World Computer Bridge Championship
ACBL's fifth annual World Computer Bridge Championship
Al Levy - coordinator

Three hands from the Computer-Bridge World Champions...
The first two are from the final 64-board KO match between Jack and Micro Bridge.
The third hand is from the Pszczola-Gawrys-Lev-Romik versus Jack-Jack-Micro Bridge-Micro Bridge match.

1. Final KO match: Jack - Micro Bridge Bridge

 

Dlr: North

Vul: N-S

 

                        ª A 7

                        © A

                        ¨  8 3

                        §  A J 8 7 6 4 3 2

 

ª  K J 9 2                          ª  10 64

©  10 9 5 3                         ©  K 8 7 2

¨  Q 2                                ¨  A J 9 7 6

§  Q 10 5                           §  9

 

                        ª Q 8 5 3

                        © Q J 6 4

                        ¨  K 10 5 4

                        §  K

 

West      North     East        South

Jack       Micro B Jack       Micro B

-             1§         1¨         Dbl

Pass       2§         Pass       2NT

Pass       3NT       All Pass

 

West led ¨Q and now east should have overtaken with the ace to play a heart to remove a vital entry. Jack did not solve this problem so Micro Bridge could develop the clubs and still reach dummy.

The bidding at the other table:

 

West      North     East        South

Micro B  Jack       Micro B  Jack

-             1§         Pass       1¨

Pass       3§         Pass       3NT

All Pass

The 3§-rebid gives the north-hand more credit than the timid 2§ above. Since there was no overcall west had no clue what to lead and chose a reasonable heart. That killed an entry and because of the bad club break Jack could no longer make use of the club suit. Micro Bridge won 14 IMPs on the deal. This was one of the few heavy (i.e. more than 10 IMPs) losses Jack had in the tournament.

2) Final KO match: Jack - Micro Bridge

 

Dlr: North

Vul: N-S

 

                        ª A K 4

                        © 8

                        ¨  K 9 8 3 2

                        §  10 8 7 4

 

ª  Q 6                                ª  J 9 5 3

©  K 10 9 6 2                     ©  J 4 3

¨  10 7 4                            ¨  A 5

§  Q 5 3                             §  A 9 6 2

 

                        ª 10 8 7 2

                        © A Q 7 5

                        ¨  Q J 6

                        §  K J

 

West    North   East      South

Micro B  Jack       Micro B  Jack

-             Pass       Pass       1§

Pass       2§         Pass       2NT

Pass       3¨         Pass       3NT

All Pass

 

1§ = 2+ card

2§ = inverted

2NT = 13-14 balanced, not forcing, but not a bad minimum

 

Lead: ©10. Won by ©Q. Jack played ¨Q and ducked the next two hearts. Since 3NT would be down if west had §A Jack later played up to §K. In the other room the bidding stopped at 1NT (Jack won 10 IMP).

 

3) Pszczola-Gawrys-Lev-Romik  versus Jack-Jack-Micro Bridge-Micro Bridge

 

Dlr: East

Vul: E-W

 

                        ª 10 6

                        © 8 4

                        ¨  A Q J 10 4 2

                        §  J 7 3

 

ª  K 9 5 4                          ª  A 7

©  A K 7 3                         ©  Q J 10 9

¨  K                                   ¨  9 7 5 3

§  K Q 8 6                         §  10 9 5

 

                        ª Q J 8 3 2

                        © 6 5 2

                        ¨  8 6

                        §  A 4 2

 

West      North     East        South

Pszcola   Jack       Gawrys   Jack

-             -             Pass       Pass

1§         3¨         Pass       Pass

Dbl         Pass       4©         All Pass

 

At favorable vulnerability Jack showed his "new school" approach. That didn't stop Pszczola-Gawrys, who were playing the Standard Yellow Card, from showing their winning style...or maybe Gawrys thought he could take advantage of his opponents in the play. Of the four times the board was played they were the only pair to reach game. Five made easily and 10 IMPs scored up.