Hand records from GIB-GIB vs Zia-Rosenberg, 28 July 1998 GIB loses by 6.31 IMPs in 14 boards (Note: these are the same hands that GIB played against Meckstroth-Rodwell on 29 July 1997. See http://www.desjardins.org/david/gibmatch1.) =============================================================================== IMPs east Demo-IMP Board 1 Dlr: West zia Vul: Both S KT642 north east south west H K gib1 zia gib2 nod D KJ6 C A632 2D north south X XX 2NT pass gib1 gib2 3C 3S pass 4D S AQ73 S J985 pass 5D (all pass) H A863 H QJT74 D T7 D 3 Opening Lead: D7 C K98 C Q74 Result: -1 west Score: -100, NS IMPs: +4.43 nod Playing time: 12:15 S H 952 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 D AQ98542 N D7 7 A-DT Q 8 9-H3 3 H8 C JT5 E J-S2 K K-S4 2 3 D6-S6 ST S 3 8 4 HQ 9 Q-C4 7 5 C7 W 2 D9-H2 4 DQ-CT 5 5 D5-DA gib2's 2NT bid was Lebensohl; it essentially ignored Zia's redouble. Rosenberg loses the predictable heart and two clubs to go off a trick. =============================================================================== IMPs west Demo-IMP Board 2 Dlr: North nod Vul: N-S S AK86 south west north east H 986 gib2 nod gib1 zia D 764 C KT9 pass 1NT south north pass 3NT (all pass) gib2 gib1 S JT953 S 4 Opening Lead: SJ H J52 H 43 Result: +3 D AT D QJ8532 Score: 400, NS IMPs: -5.14 C Q84 C AJ53 Playing time: 16:42 east zia S Q72 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 H AKQT7 S SJ 2 5 9 J S3 C4 5 D K9 W 8 9 6 K-H8 D6 D4 6-SA C 762 N 4 4 3 D5 C5 D2 D8 C3 E Q-HA-HK-S7 Q-HT-H7-S2 Michael and Zia get full marks here for staying out of the doomed 4H game. (Zia learned in a practice session that GIB wouldn't expect him to open 1N holding 5 hearts, so he did just that. The fact that he and Michael even *wanted* a practice session is an indication of just how far GIB has come over the past year.) GIB makes a normal opening lead of the SJ and then, when Zia leads the S7, covers. On a double dummy basis, this play is immaterial; GIB assumes Zia will hook the spade. In practice, Zia probably would have, assuming that he trusts GIB not to lead the SJ from JTxx. =============================================================================== IMPs east Demo-IMP Board 3 Dlr: East zia Vul: E-W S AK6 north east south west H AK7 gib1 zia gib2 nod D K2 C KQJ63 2C pass 2D north south X pass pass 2S gib1 gib2 pass 3C pass 3D S J85 S 7 X 3S pass 4C H 3 H J98652 pass 4D pass 4NT D AQT854 D 973 pass 5D pass 6S C T98 C 752 pass 6NT (all pass) west nod Opening Lead: CT S QT9432 Result: +7 H QT4 Score: 1470, NS IMPs: -2.60 D J6 Playing time: 11:29 C A4 1 2 N CT 5 E 3 A S 2 7 W A-S2 Zia and Michael bid the slam, although Michael bids both S and NT first so that they can't play it from the safe side. GIB1's double of 2D is reassuring in that regard, though. Anyway, gib1 selects a safe lead and 6N makes 7. =============================================================================== IMPs north Demo-IMP Board 4 Dlr: South gib1 Vul: None S AT92 west north east south H Q nod gib1 zia gib2 D A987 C J954 pass west east 3D pass 3S 4D nod zia 4H 5D (all pass) S Q5 S J74 H JT8642 H AK973 Opening Lead: HJ D T D J4 Result: -3 C Q876 C AK2 Score: -150, NS IMPs: -1.05 south Playing time: 6:28 gib2 S K863 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 H 5 W HJ 8 6 Q-C7 T Q-S5 D KQ6532 N Q 4 5 9 J A-S2 T C T3 E K-CK-CA-C2 DJ 4 4 7 S 5 3 T S8 DQ-D2 6 3 3D is a bad preempt in a major, but the GIB's don't know that. They nevertheless find the 5D sac over the cold 4H game, but then misplay the hand to go down 3 (the preempt confuses the card play as well). Nevertheless, the field lets them down -- par is 5DX by N/S, down 2 for -300. =============================================================================== IMPs south Demo-IMP Board 5 Dlr: North gib2 Vul: None S 3 east south west north H AQ96 zia gib2 nod gib1 D KQT5 C T852 1C east west 1H 2H 2S 2NT zia nod pass 3NT (all pass) S QJ82 S AK7654 H 732 H T85 Opening Lead: SQ D 8743 D 96 Result: -4 C A4 C QJ Score: -200, NS IMPs: -5.86 north Playing time: 5:31 gib1 S T9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 H KJ4 E SQ-SJ-S8 2 D3 D4 A-C4 7 D AJ2 S 3 H9 DT C2 C5 C8 T HQ 5 C K9763 W 7 4 K-SA-S6-S5-CQ J-D9 N 9 T C3 C9 HJ D2 K 6 J A bad board for the GIB's. 2H is a limit raise in clubs (yes, Zia is operating a bit more than usual here) and gib1 doesn't realize it can just pass 2S and await developments. Not knowing what to bid, the Borel simulation indicates that partner is likely to have a spade stop (because of his presumed weak hearts!), and it's important to keep the HKJ protected. So it bids 2N somewhat presumptively, and gib2 raises. Down 4 is not a great result, to say the least. =============================================================================== IMPs west Demo-IMP Board 6 Dlr: East nod Vul: E-W S QT98765 south west north east H 53 gib2 nod gib1 zia D 74 C 96 2NT south north pass 3H pass 3S gib2 gib1 pass 4S (all pass) S A2 S J4 H QJT97 H 86 Opening Lead: HQ D 86 D A9532 Result: -1 C AK83 C T742 Score: -100, NS IMPs: +1.35 east Playing time: 6:00 zia S K3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 H AK42 S HQ 8 K-CA-HJ 3 2 A-HT D6 D KQJT W 5 7 6 9 3 ST-S5 Q S7-S6 C QJ5 N 8 A-C2 4 6 7 J 4 D3 D2 E A-DK J Q K-C5 K-S3 4 DQ The gib's lose a few imps here by bungling the defence after a good start. Rosenberg decides to try to steal his contract by setting up the diamonds, but the gibs cash the clubs and then return to hearts. Rosenberg decides to play the spades by leading up to the K, but this will let gib2 win the SA and then promote the SJ by leading another H. Unfortunately, gib1 doesn't figure this out and plays the SJ prematurely. Down 1 is good, but down 2 would have been about 3 IMPs better. =============================================================================== IMPs east Demo-IMP Board 8 Dlr: West nod Vul: N-S S J52 north east south west H AK gib1 nod gib2 zia D A95432 C K4 1NT north south pass 3C pass 3D gib1 gib2 pass 4NT pass 6NT S QT986 S 4 (all pass) H Q652 H J987 D 87 D KT6 Opening Lead: D8 C J3 C T9762 Result: +6 west Score: 990, NS IMPs: -2.76 zia Playing time: 5:58 S AK73 H T43 1 2 3 4 5 D QJ N D8 7 T 3 SQ C AQ85 E 2 3 J K-D9 S T K-S4 2 6 W Q-DJ A-C5 H3 Zia and Michael bid the good slam. =============================================================================== IMPs east Demo-IMP Board 9 Dlr: East nod Vul: N-S S K96 north east south west H AJ872 gib1 nod gib2 zia D QT84 C 8 pass pass 1NT north south X XX 2D pass gib1 gib2 pass X pass 2H S Q8432 S JT pass 3H (all pass) H T5 H 963 D AK D J7652 Opening Lead: DA C AQ64 C K75 Result: +3 west Score: 140, NS IMPs: -2.50 zia Playing time: 10:09 S A75 H KQ4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 D 93 N DA-DK-SQ 4 H5-S4 T S2 C6 C JT932 E 4 T 6 8 8 K-H7 A-HJ S 2 7 J K-D6 T 3 6 9 W 3 9 A-C2 S5 7 Q-HK 4 I have no idea why Zia opened 1N here; I think he forgot that he and Michael had agreed to swith from their usual variable NTs to strong throughout. Anyway, Michael doesn't pick up on it and they stagger into 3H - which can't be touched. GIB1's bizarre play of the SQ is based on assumptions about Zia's strong NT (won't it ever learn?), but Zia doesn't know what to make of it and decides to just take a pitch on one of dummy's diamonds. GIB1 ruffs, however, and the defence gets a club, two diamonds, and a trump. =============================================================================== IMPs west Demo-IMP Board 10 Dlr: South zia Vul: E-W S K south west north east H T9543 gib2 zia gib1 nod D AT96 C A83 pass pass pass 1NT south north pass 2D pass 2H gib2 gib1 pass 3NT (all pass) S T9542 S J876 H 762 H KQ8 Opening Lead: H2 D J D Q85 Result: +6 C QT96 C K42 Score: 690, NS IMPs: -2.69 east Playing time: 12:59 nod S AQ3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 H AJ S H2 7 J S2 CT 6 4 C6 9 S5 CQ 9 T D K7432 W 3 4 A-DT 9-HT K-H9-CA-D6 C3 C8 H5 C J75 N Q 8 5 Q 8 K-S6 S7 2 S8 SJ C4 CK E A-HJ-D2 K-D3 C5 3 C7 J 7-D4-SA-SQ The spectators were very harsh on GIB for not leading a spade here, but in a situation like this, with an auction that it (for a change!) understands, the simulation is very likely to lead it to make a lead that is right (however odd it looks). The spades may set up but are presumably very unlikely to cash. In any event, if Rosenberg plays the diamonds by leading to the A (as he did) and then hooking on the way back (as he presumably will, not that GIB gave him a chance), any line that doesn't involve an early defensive attack on clubs will leave E/W with 12 tricks. =============================================================================== IMPs west Demo-IMP Board 11 Dlr: West zia Vul: Both S AJ9 south west north east H 73 gib2 zia gib1 nod D KQJT853 C K 1D pass 1H south north pass 3D pass 3H gib2 gib1 pass 3S pass 4D S T762 S KQ4 pass 4H (all pass) H J64 H AT D 72 D 96 Opening Lead: S2 C AT93 C 876542 Result: -2 east Score: -200, NS IMPs: +8.38 nod Playing time: 8:12 S 853 H KQ9852 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 D A4 S S2 7 6 A-D2 T 4 7 HJ-CT C QJ W 9 J-H3 K 3 J 7 A-DK D5 N Q-D6 T 8 9 K-HA-S4 C5 7 E 3 4 K-CJ A-S5 2 8 H9 Q Nice defence by the GIBs beats this hand two tricks. They start with a spade through, and then switch passively to diamonds. Rosenberg sets up a club trick, but it probably doesn't help to discard a spade at this point because you won't manage the communication involved in ruffing a spade in dummy. So he tries hooking the spade J, losing to the K. GIB1 cashes the HA and locks Rosenberg in dummy with another diamond, promoting partner's HJ. =============================================================================== IMPs north Demo-IMP Board 12 Dlr: North gib1 Vul: N-S S Q953 west north east south H AJT4 zia gib1 nod gib2 D K92 C JT pass pass 1H west east 2C 3C X 3H zia nod (all pass) S A8 S KJ742 H 87 H 92 Opening Lead: C8 D J63 D Q87 Result: -1 C K87543 C A62 Score: -100, NS IMPs: +0.35 south Playing time: 6:47 gib2 S T6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 H KQ653 W C8 K-SA-S8 H8 7 C3 3 C4 D AT54 N J T 5 Q 9 J-H4 9 3 C Q9 E A-C6 7 K-S4 9 2 Q-SJ S 9 Q T 6 HQ-H3 6-D5 H5 3H down one by N/S seems fairly natural here, the defence taking two black AK's and an eventual diamond trick. =============================================================================== IMPs south Demo-IMP Board 13 Dlr: East gib2 Vul: E-W S KT942 east south west north H AK nod gib2 zia gib1 D AQJ74 C 2 pass 1S pass 1NT east west pass 3D pass 3NT nod zia (all pass) S A S QJ8653 H J872 H 953 Opening Lead: C4 D 9532 D 6 Result: +5 C J984 C A76 Score: 460, NS IMPs: +1.12 north Playing time: 4:29 gib1 S 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 H QT64 E C4 A-H7 5 8 2 D KT8 S 2 9 A-D4 S2 K C KQT53 W A-S3 3 6 7 9 N 3 7 T T-CK-H6 Another normal result, GIB taking the obvious 11 tricks after E/W cash the black aces. =============================================================================== IMPs west Demo-IMP Board 14 Dlr: South zia Vul: Both S 9864 south west north east H QJ2 gib2 zia gib1 nod D KJT5 C Q7 pass pass pass 1C south north pass 1D pass 1NT gib2 gib1 (all pass) S AKQT S 32 H 7654 H KT9 Opening Lead: D8 D 87 D 9432 Result: +1 C T42 C AJ63 Score: 90, NS IMPs: -1.17 east Playing time: 6:08 nod S J75 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 H A83 S D8 7 7 2 T-SA-SK-SQ-ST-H6 4 H5 H4 D AQ6 W T-HQ-D5 Q 7 4 6 8 9 2 HJ DK J C K985 N 9 9 2 A-C3 3 2 C6 D4 T J D3 HK E 6 3 A-C5 9 5 7 J H8 A-CK-C8-DQ Once again, GIB finds a strange opening lead. And once again, it doesn't matter. Declarer always has 7 tricks, and the defence always has 6. =============================================================================== IMPs west Demo-IMP Board 15 Dlr: North zia Vul: E-W S KT63 south west north east H A42 gib2 zia gib1 nod D T83 C AQ3 1D 1H south north pass 2D X 2H gib2 gib1 pass 3H pass 4H S J9742 S A85 (all pass) H Q8 H 5 D 97 D AKQJ5 Opening Lead: D9 C 9642 C KT87 Result: -1 east Score: -100, NS IMPs: +1.83 nod Playing time: 6:20 S Q H KJT9763 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 D 642 S D9-D7 2 S7 4 8 Q C J5 W 3 8 T T K-H2 A N 5 J-SA-DA-S8 5 CT E 2 4 Q 6 C5 K-HJ The last hand of the match, and when Rosenberg bid 4H, I thought that the GIBs might have a chance to win it. On this slow invitational auction, gib1 might realize that the apparent bad breaks, together with its fast cards, warranted a double. But no. And then the gibs pitch a possible trick on defence (although if Rosenberg had the CK and a Sx instead of the CJ and SQ, gib1 has to cash the SA or lose it). +100 picks up a couple of imps, but not enough to win the match. As last year, I had a great time, and everyone involved did a great job. Michael and Zia on the human side, Matt Clegg and company for OKBridge, Billy Miller and Jeff Goldsmith providing the commentary, and Alan Jaffray running the "OKBots" -- my thanks to all of you! GIB has come a long way since last year (when it lost by 33 IMPs or so to Meckwell on -- apparently -- these same deals), and I hope it makes as much progress again in the months to come. If you want to know more about the GIB project, you can find it on http://www.gibware.com. Matt Ginsberg