Table Presence

This sometimes mysterious art is an ‘indefinable something’ that denotes just about every attribute of an expert player: ‘instinct’; ‘the drawing of correct inferences from any departure of rhythm by the opponents’; ‘the ability to coax maximum performance from partner’; a ‘poised demeanour that does not give away anything’… and so on.

In the Round 9 match between Israel and Sweden, Matilda Poplilov demonstrated that she has a sharp eye for what is going on.

Board 14:

 

Dealer: East Vul: None	North ♠ AK10732 ♥ AQ ♦ 653 ♣ K4
West ♠ 9 ♥ 852 ♦ A874 ♣ AQ752		East ♠ Q5 ♥ K109763 ♦ 109 ♣ J83
	South ♠ J864 ♥ J4 ♦ KQJ2 ♣ 1096

 

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Levit-Porat	Rimstedt	Poplilov	Sivelind
		2♦ *	Pass
2♠ *	All Pass

 

2♦ Multi

2♠ Pass or correct

When the tray came through with West’s bid of 2♠ , East noticed a reaction from North before she passed, so she decided to try an unusual move by passing! (When Jan Van Cleeff and I were writing The Mysterious Multi we decided against mentioning this type of gambit, as we want to encourage players in North America to use the method and this type of thing might be frowned on by some lawmakers!) Declarer managed 3 tricks, -250, which looked quite a decent result.

Closed Room

 

West	North	East	South
Larsson	Tal	Andersson	Tal
		2♦ *	Pass
2♠ *	Pass	3♥ *	Pass
4♥ *	All Pass

 

2♦ Multi

2♣ Pass or correct

3♥ Minimum

4♥ Maybe they can make a lot of tricks in spades

Although 4♥ was one down North/South could indeed make a lot of tricks in spades, so West’s excellent decision not only prevented a serious loss, it brought in 5 IMPs.

(In Passing we recommend that with this type of hand North should bid 3♠ to avoid the problems that arose at both tables.)