For those of you that are interested in what happens on the world bridge scene I can bring you the results of the recently concluded European Bridge Championships which took place in Budapest, Hungary.

France won the Open Teams, England won the Women’s Teams and Israel won the Seniors Teams. All of these teams will qualify for the next Bermuda Bowl World Championship in 2017 to be held in Lyon, France. The top six teams (plus France as the host) qualify and the qualifiers are:

Open: France, Sweden, Netherlands, Monaco, Germany, Italy, Bulgaria.

Women’s: England, France, Poland, Russia, Israel, Netherlands, Sweden

Seniors: Israel, Sweden, Poland, Turkey, Italy, France, Austria. More qualifiers will come from the USA and the rest of the world including the Caribbean bloc, where Bermuda will compete for a place.

This week’s column continues the focus on the Bermuda Youth Team that will represent us in the Under 21 division of the World Youth Bridge Championships in Salsomaggiore next month.

Over the last two weeks the column carried profiles on Mike Viotti, who has been the inspiration for this initiative, and on Team Members Ruskin Cave and Liam Peniston, and this week we conclude with profiles on the other two team members, Gianluca Cacace and Tyler Irby.

Gianluca Cacace

Age: 17

Siblings: Older brother and sister

School: Saltus

School activities, other interests: Math, Science

When did you first play bridge?: Two-and-a-half years ago with my friends

Who introduced you to it?: Mike Viotti, John Burville, and Ellen Davidson

Are you good at maths?: Yes

Do you have a good memory?: Yes. When I have a subject that needs work, I like to cram, and that seems to be a good way for me to understand a subject best.

Do you like other card games?: I haven’t played much cards before

Do either of your parents play bridge?: No

Who is the bridge player you most admire, if there is one?: John Burville, Mike Viotti, and Roman Smolski

What interests you most about the game?: The vast extent of memorisation, and learning, and logic and reasoning.

Also the partnership relationship is a lot of fun.

To be able to play with a regular partner and develop an understanding is satisfying.

How often do you play?: Once or twice a week at the club, but also play hands on funbridge.

What skills do you think you most need for the game at a competitive level?: Memorisation, understanding what has been played, counting the cards, and knowing why certain things are played or bid.

Tyler Irby

Age: 18

Siblings: Sister

School: Saltus

School activities, other interests: Tennis, tennis coaching, various other sports

When did your first play bridge?: Roughly two-and-a-half to three years ago

Who introduced you to it?: Mike Viotti and John Burville.

Are you good at maths?: Yes

Do you have a good memory?: Yes

Do you like other card games?: Not really. I guess I’m pretty decent at crazy eights.

Do either of your parents play bridge?: No

Who is the bridge player you most admire, if there is one?: Not sure.

What interests you most about the game?: Bridge is challenging, mentally stimulating, and features a great deal of variety.

It isn’t really possible to play perfectly, and mistakes will be made frequently. Nearly every time I play, I encounter a situation that I have never dealt with before.

How often do you play?: Twice per week at the club. Constantly playing online.

What skills do you think you most need for the game at a competitive level?: Good memory, knowledge of probability, teamwork, appreciation for vulnerability when bidding. Again, good answers by both players and it is interesting that all for players get most animated and interested when they describe what it is about the game that interests them and it is there that those who are trying to increase participation in the game should pay most interest. Next week I’ll talk a bit on what the team can expect in Salsomaggiore. This week’s hand is in essence quite simple, but is a classic in terms of good declarer play.

Dealer South, Both Vul

North

S: J54

H: 105

D: K864

C: Q1074

West

S: K97

H: 105

D: K864

C: Q1074

East

S: 108632

H: 86

D: J97

C: A52

South

S: AQ

H: A732

D: AQ2

C: KJ93

South opened 2NT and North had an easy raise to 3NT.

West led the Heart and both West and South noted East’s 8 which looked like the start of an echo (downwards play) showing a doubleton.

Declarer ducked another Heart just to play safe and won the third Heart, dummy throwing a Club and East a Spade. Declarer soon saw that if West had the Club Ace there was no chance of success but Clubs had to be played and at trick four declarer led a low Club to the Queen and East’s Ace. East switched to a Spade and after a lot of thought declarer played the Queen — two down, as West won the King and cashed two more Hearts!

“That was unlucky, taking the finesse was the right play,” moaned declarer.

“The Spade finesse is a 50 per cent chance and Diamonds breaking three-three is only about 33 per cent so I did the right thing and got penalised. Hmmm. A little knowledge.”

My partner was having none of this though! “You weren’t unlucky, in fact you were lucky in more ways than one but you just didn’t see it!

“Firstly you were lucky that East had the Club Ace and secondly you were lucky that Diamonds broke 3-3 even though you chose not to investigate that.

“The correct play is to first try the Diamonds and when they break 3-3 that is your ninth trick! Now when East shifts to a Spade after winning the Club you don’t have to risk the finesse and just go up with your Ace and chalk up your contract! If Diamonds had broken 4-2 then the Spade finesse becomes necessary and you would be right to try it — but not on this hand!”

Don’t you just love partners who tell it like it is!