Chat log of Bridge Base Online session for vugraph37 starting at: Mon Aug 02 19:52:57 2004 Walddk2 (Broadcast): Live broadcast from Australia about to begin Walddk2: Good morning/afternoon/evening and welcome to Melbourne for the 2004 Australian Interstate Teams. 24 boards to be played ... Walddk2: in this match from round 3 of the event Walddk2: And good evening to Nick Fahrer from Australia, one of your commentators vugraph37: starting now NickF: hello hello vugraph37: =========================22 NickF: can you confirm which of the two systems chua is playing ? NickF: thye submitted 2 cards. Walddk2: Our operator is Dave Thompson (vugraph37), also known as mrdct on BBO. Good evening to you Dave Walddk2: The format is a double round-robin of 8 teams (each Australian state and territory) followed by a 60-board final (6 ... Walddk2: segments of 10 boards) Walddk2: Information about the Australian National Championships and this event, including system cards, can be found at: ... Walddk2: http://www.abf.com.au/events/anc/index.html Walddk2: QLD = Queensland ...... VIC = Victoria vugraph37: ===================23 Walddk2: Victoria is playing at home and is the pre-tournament favourites Walddk2: Nick Fahrer seems to have problems with his connection Walddk2: We will get comparisons from the closed room after the first 3 boards Walddk2: Pairs in the closed room please Dave? Walddk2: Seems strange that Mopren didn't cover !SJ vugraph37: he didn't cover vugraph37: closed room auctions, play and players available in movie vugraph37: =====================24 Walddk2: In the closed room Jacobs - Fruewirth are NS for Victoria against Kamalarasa - Janzekovic Walddk2: Please welcome Tim Bourke, one of Australia's top class players and analysts Walddk2: Good evening to you timb: good evening everyome timb: Hinge-Chua did well here, stopping in a comfortable 1NT vugraph37: ==============1 Walddk2: Our first comparison timb: A good result as a heart lead beats holds it to 2NT Walddk2: Slam is on a finesse that fails vugraph37: no alerts NickF: back now... ISP meltdown Walddk2: First blood to Victoria. I have been in worse slams Walddk2: 10 IMPs to VIC NickF: If you mouse over the team names under Hinge you can see a handy IMP table. NickF: Seems Moren claimed on the !d finesee vugraph37: claimed on !H finesse NickF: !H vugraph37: ================2 NickF: Not a fun hand for either side, no-one has an eight card fit. timb: Only a fun hand if you defend Walddk2: We can't see the auction from the closed room, but I have a feeling that it was the same. No other way to explain that ... Walddk2: EW ended up in 3!C Walddk2: I can't say that I like 3!C much NickF: I'd prefer a 1!C opening with that suit. Walddk2: Too much outside strength NickF: but down three in the other room takes some effort. timb: looks like down 3 here too vugraph37: ===================3 Walddk2: It was Walddk2: He can't have cashed !CA Walddk2: He had 2 certain winners if he exited with a diamond timb: a routine 3NT for NS; make two spades, two hearts a diamond and four clubs - at least timb: Bill is in his favorite contract NickF: plus 3 hearts tricks if he wants them. timb: Many years ago Bill played transfers when he opened 1NT but not when partner opend 1NT Walddk2: We are being joined by spectators from the European Youth Championships now (today's first match is over there) timb: He has a reputation for wanting to eb declarer Walddk2: This is a broadcast from the Australian Interstate Teams Walddk2: We are in Melbourne, Victoria timb: West is about to be triple squeezed! Walddk2: The format is a double round-robin of 8 teams (each Australian state and territory) followed by a 60-board final (6 ... Walddk2: segments of 10 boards) NickF: We'll have a match this time for the next few days then complete coverage of the finals on Saturday. Walddk2: Information about the Australian National Championships and this event, including system cards, can be found at: ... Walddk2: http://www.abf.com.au/events/anc/index.html Walddk2: QLD = Queensland .... VIC = Victoria NickF: plus we havea webcam at http://members.iinet.net.au/~mrdct/ NickF: but it looks fuzzy unless you press your nose against the monitor, then the picture is surprisingly clear. Walddk2: Looks like they skipped board 3 in the closed room Walddk2: They played board 4 and 5 already timb: the Australian National Championships were first held in Melbourne in 1934 vugraph37: =================4 vugraph37: brd 3 got out of sequence and has returned to the closed room - will be played there next NickF: Victoria are the defending title-holders. timb: They are also known as the interstate championships because teams from the Walddk2: Same contract here I predict NickF: I think it was 1933 Tim timb: six Australian states (New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia) NickF: Qld have not won since 1988. NickF: When Bill Hunt was also in that team. Walddk2: And 2 territories then timb: No Nick 1934 - there were interstate challenge matches between NSW and Victoria in 1932/33 timb: but the first ANC was in 1934 Walddk2: Northern Territory and ACT Walddk2: Please tell us what ACT stands for NickF: In fact that was Qld's only win in the event over 70 years. NickF: Australian Capital Territority. NickF: it's a vast wastleland where our capital Canberra is vugraph37: ==================5 NickF: sort of like the District of Columbia Walddk2: And Darwin is in NT? NickF: yes. timb: Nick - you don't live here. Canberra is OK, not as good as Melbourne but OK Walddk2: Didn't they play a test match for the first time there recently, against Sri Lanka Walddk2: Darwin I mean NickF: yes.. a few weeks ago. NickF: Roland seems to know more about cricket than I know about....is it Curling that is the Danish national sport? Walddk2: Was the 2nd test match in Darwin I am told. Australia played against Bangladesh in Darwin last year NickF: this looks like 800 Walddk2: No, football (soccer) is Walddk2: Curling is way down the list NickF: that H loser will run away now. vugraph37: ================6 Walddk2: Board 3 still not scored vugraph37: just checking on that timb: I;m looking at the November 1934 issue of "The Australian Bridge Player" timb: It shows six teams competed in the 1st ANC; two in the Ladies series (althougn the Tasmanian open team contained four ... timb: women!) NickF: affirmative action in 1934! timb: Victoria beat NSW in the 120 board final of 1934 by 7920 points timb: and won the Ladies challenge over NSW by 500 points vugraph37: ===================7 Walddk2: Good evening to Wayne Burrows from New Zealand cascade: Hi Roland Walddk2: Hi Wayne timb: Has Bill got a spade in with his clubs? cascade: maybe his hearts NickF: I wonder if Chua could have bid 2!H naturally here ? cascade: Anyone overcall 2!h with Cathy's hand cascade: snap NickF: I would if I could. timb: I'd be there, at least over 2!C NickF: 100% i nthe balancing seat timb: Makes 8 tricks it seems NickF: with 2!c failing a trick cascade: I think 2!h natural over 1!h is a good agreement to have timb: should've play a diamond before the club timb: ruffs I mean NickF: a wag in the audience tells me 2!h is automatic for a non-Victorian...but perhaps we shouldnt go down that road. timb: as an ex-Victorian, I bid 2H now and I'd have bid 2H when I lived in Melbourne too cascade: it does seem a pity to be talked out of your six-solid when they might have bid 1!H on four-small NickF: oh dear...this is too confusing. NickF: I bet he makes it now. NickF: another lost bet. vugraph37: there was a concession of a trick he couldn't lose vugraph37: players didn't notice vugraph37: have gone for a break NickF: So far Queensland have lost both their matches and VIC one win and one loss. vugraph37: had to scroll back to get to a point where i could enter that claim vugraph37: =====================8 vugraph37: bill complaining about the light - we are moving the table slightly NickF: players are coming back timb: 4!S by East looks normal cascade: who will win the bad break ? vugraph37: we are having a problem with the results from the closed room - 3, 6 & 7 have been played - other operator about to ... vugraph37: manually enter the results NickF: I think 4!s is making EW cascade: they will get some compensation here NickF: 1 off I suppose. timb: Perhaps h!7 would have been better. NickF: ruffing higher would have been better timb: !H7 I mean NickF: snap ->cascade: closed and open rooms have stopped syncing timb: he should make 8 tricks NickF: but that careless low ruff will cost 200 cascade: nine now cascade: pitch NickF: now he discards timb: !HA would've been safer vugraph37: ==============9 vugraph37: for some reason we have lost synchronisation with the closed room - can any "yellow" investigate? timb: routine 4!S for Bill and Magnus NickF: looks like a routine 4S that will be held to 10 tricks on a !HA lead if found cascade: the score is 22-3 after 8 boards cascade: good discard but it doesnt help here vugraph37: ====================10 timb: two diamonds and a club to lose in spades on this board NickF: NS can make 4!s but can they bid it? timb: If MM goes for the throat, yes! timb: he did! well done. NickF: they play Pottage over a strong NT NickF: IS pottage the same as Hamilton or cappaletti? cascade: Pottage is equivalent to Cappelletti timb: 2C a one-suiter, 2D majors (as I recall) cascade: yes and Hamilton NickF: even 4/4 ? cascade: 4/4 is a matter of style ->cascade: can you keep the audience posted on the running score pls? NickF: good result for QLD on this board. timb: Well Bill Hunt is a creative player. He was on the ACT team that won the open in event in 1981 cascade: I will I am talking with Mike NickF: tim....how many players have won the ANC representing 2+ states? NickF: Cathy Chua is one. cascade: we are having problems with the automatic update of the score ... vugraph37: =====================11 cascade: the score is currently 23 Victoria 3 Queensland after 10 boards NickF: Chua has represented Australia in both bridge and chess timb: Jim Borin, Bobby Richman, Chris Hughes are three I can think of immediately. timb: Paul Lavings too of course timb: I think Zoli Nagy and David Anderson may have done so too NickF: Bill Hunt vugraph37: ===================12 timb: ACT and Qld cascade: after 11 boards the score is 23-5 cascade: Brd 12 in the other room 4!H West made 10 tricks cascade: Simon Hinge is fond of 3NT when I have played against him NickF: you wonder how he can bid 3NT opposite a hand that can only bid 2!H the first time. cascade: low club would have been better - is there any advantage in the !cK NickF: retains more entries to double finesse in hearts cascade: did board 3 score ever come up correctly Dave? ->cascade: nope vugraph37: ==================13 cascade: 23-16 Victoria lead after 12 Boards cascade: Board 13 result from the other room is 4!s W down one timb: will they surprise us by not reaching 4!S here? NickF: all EW game contracts likely to fail on this one cascade: double dummy this is cold but is anyone finessing for the !sJ timb: 4!S makes only if you finesse !S10 NickF: sometimes Deep Finesse is too clever NickF: of course now he doesnt need the spade finesse timb: oops NickF: good hand for accurate defensive cont signals. NickF: ...count... vugraph37: ================14 cascade: 12 Imps back to Victoria cascade: 35-16 Victoria Lead NickF: I dont think Victoria will misdefend that in the other room. Expect 13 IMPs for Vic cascade: Board 14 3NT North making 11 tricks in the other room cascade: the other room closed ->cascade: yes cascade: this contract will make comfortably NickF: Hunt can place almost all the missing hcp with Chua vugraph37: ===================15 vugraph37: closed room scores are now coming through with the valued assistance of some BBO yellows - thx guys cascade: Board 15 in the other room is 4!s X by West minus two cascade: whoops wrong black suit cascade: 4!c X -2 of course NickF: this will be 1 off it looks. NickF: unless Hunt ruffs low on the next club. timb: looks natural to play a spade and lead a LOW heart. timb: from hand NickF: the CQ may have given the game away though cascade: !hQ is a little odd when he knows he may have to ruff high again in dummy NickF: 352 kibs cascade: the score is upto date now - thx to Booze I think timb: or paying Cathy Chua a compliment for not overruffing with !HK NickF: 3 more losers timb: yup 11 to Victoria cascade: ok scores are thanks to deanrover - thx Dean vugraph37: ===============16 cascade: splinter in diamonds rather than showing her five-card heart suit ->cascade: pls send closed room results to vugraph131 cascade: interesting psychic timb: Bill Hunt is a creative bidder. Fun to play against because he is always giving you something to think about. NickF: 6!c is making EW cascade: in NZ there is a rule that you cannot psyche more than twice per session - Bill has psyched three times on this board - ... cascade: he would get sent home NickF: and so is 6!H - but its scary timb: This is like a scene from a 1940s and 1950s tournaments. deanrover6: 6!hs went down one when this board was playing in the Closed Room NickF: I recall Zia once pyched 3 suits on the one hand until his partner got the gig. timb: The heart suit is interesting. Lead low to !HQ then, when !H9 appears, run !HJ next NickF: I think you can even afford to play H to the Ace. timb: Bobby Richman was one of the players I last saw do the suit bidding shuffle timb: Chua must play !HJ to !HK and !HA before two rounds of clubs timb: The 4!S bid has her worried. NickF: all over now. NickF: I expected Chua to make that - she's a classy declarer cascade: I am puzzled by the bidding - when did they show a heart fit? vugraph37: ===================17 timb: I'd prefer 5NT, pick a slam from West, rather than 6!D. Any thoughts? cascade: didnt 4!d agree clubs? NickF: The scores for each match are not converted to VPs - if you win by eg 20 IMPs your score in the table increases by 20 NickF: and your opponesnts lose 20 cascade: I thought 4!d had agreed clubs - so I was surprised by 6!d NickF: so winning by 20 IMPs is effectively 40 over you opponent NickF: but there is a maximum you can gain or lose. Walddk2: Our live broadcast from the European Youth Championships in Prague will resume in about 45 minutes. Looks like they will ... Walddk2: finish in Melbourne around that time, perfect timing with 4.5 boards to go in this room NickF: perhaps he thought 4!d was both majors. timb: Only the first 30 imps count fully; the next 50 are multiplied by 0.1, as I recall; the winners can score a max of 32.5 ... timb: but the losers can get -35 vugraph37: =========================18 Walddk2: Do you all raise to 3NT with that hand? timb: but I've not played in an ANC since 1997 (and I've not tried too) NickF: a typical Hinge aggressive 3NT raise on a grubby 8-count. cascade: does that affect the tactics when you are down a long way Walddk2: I think it's some stretch, non vulnerable timb: even though it is the best event on our National Calendar NickF: we are in the middle of two weeks of bridge in Melbourne cascade: I tell you Simon Hinge loves 3NT Walddk2: Yes, but he is dummy, and Chua doesn't like it timb: Tactics are affected. I played for Victoria in 1986 against NSW (in the last match of the 1st round robin) timb: we lost by 55 with some swinging at the end NickF: Hunt needed to play a spade then rather than persits futiley with clubs timb: Sorry 85 not 55. First macth the next day we had to play NSW again timb: We won by 55 so the net result was -2.5 to Victoria timb: it's an exciting VP scale vugraph37: ==================19 deanrover6: 53-0 over the past 6 boards. timb: NS should make 4!S here, even if declarer gets the clubs wrong timb: All declarer has to do is manage spades; lead one from table and cover West's likely !S7 NickF: hhhm. Hunt's not having a good match. I bet he tkaes the finesse of the Q cascade: there is the 7 cascade: earlier than expected timb: True and it's a tough lead. When you'r playing well, you don't let leads throw you cascade: that was a good guess timb: ducking is right. Hinge wouldn't lead a spade from !SK107 timb: as it's too likey to cost a trick vugraph37: ================20 timb: I admit I would've led !H10 from West, making declarer's play easy cascade: So well played by Hunt cascade: 1NT is described as 11 1/2 - 14 1/2 cascade: Hunt chose not to Stayman is that his style or is he trying for a swing knowing he is behind? timb: if Moren ducks this and finesses !SQ next he is in clover timb: making 10. Now he probably makes 9 timb: he could have tried a practice finesse of !H9 vugraph37: ===================21 vugraph37: last board for this table - still comparison to come for 22, 23 & 24. i'll keep the room open as they come in timb: a good point about 3NT rather than stayman, wayne NickF: tomrrow night...that is in 22 hours...we'll be showing Westerna australia and Victoria. timb: Bill Hunt is a very competitive player. cascade: 6:00 am New York, 11:00 am London, 12:00 Paris, 8:00 pm Sydney is the start time tomorrow somewhere near you NickF: QLD will get a few IMPS back but it will still be close to a maximum win for Vic cascade: This is the last board tonight ... NickF: thanks all. NickF: see you tomorrow night. cascade: thx to our operator Dave Thompson cascade: and in the closed hidden room Mike Phillips cascade: and to the commentators here Tim Bourke and Nick Fahrer vugraph37: thx again for the help of our yellow to get over the technical problem we had with the comparisons timb: When the matches were increased from 20 to 24 boards, timb: the cut-off was increased to 35 before scores were reduced timb: so a 60 imp win counts as 37.5 deanrover6: Board 23 was 11 IMPs to Vic deanrover6: Chua declared 4!s+1 here, but the CLosed Room EW stopped in 3!c cascade: they are just starting the bidding on brd 24 in the closed room vugraph37: 1NT by east on 24 in the closed room vugraph37: 1ne+1 on 24 in the closed room deanrover6: So 1 IMP more to VIc? deanrover6: 88-22 vugraph37: OK all boards now scored - i'll quickly cross check the score with the captains b4 closing the room for all you LIN file ... vugraph37: enthusiasts vugraph37: the scoring error on brd 7 was detected and corrected to -1 Walddk2 (Broadcast): Live broadcast from Prague resuming now vugraph37: so final agreed score is 86-23 to the Mighty Vics! vugraph37: goodnight everyone