Import 9F19 Main

Pavlicek Team Wins Exhibition

by (writer unknown)

Central Florida Trumpet — January, 1974

The kick-off Exhibition Team match on Wednesday night drew a large attendance, both for the bridge and the President’s reception at half-time to honor Unit 240 President Pat Stump, and past President Bob Rothlein. Champagne punch and refreshments were served throughout, as kibitzers were treated to 36 exciting deals.

Representing Unit 240 were Bob and Margaret Rothlein, Armand Barfus, Marilyn LeBoy and Phyllis Spitz. Challengers were Richard Pavlicek, Allan Cokin, Carol and Bruce Ohman, also all Floridians but not from Unit 240.

The match was hotly contested with Rothlein trailing by 11 IMPs at the quarter, and 2 IMPs at the half. In the third quarter Bob Rothlein and Barfus put together a near perfect session against Pavlicek and Cokin, surging into a 19-IMP lead. Alas, in the final quarter the Pavlicek team came back with a 45-6 margin to win the match by 20 IMPs. The spirited competition made it touch and go for both teams, right down to the last card.

One of the more fascinating situations arose on the following deal. Pavlicek and Cokin reached an excellent slam, which as the cards lie had no play, but strange circumstances gave Pavlicek a chance to make it.

South deals	A 2		West	North	East	South
E-W vul	10 5 4 3					1
	A Q 9 8 4		Pass	2 1	Pass	2
	K 9		Pass	3	Pass	4 2
K J 8 7 6 5 3		10 9	Pass	4 2	Pass	5 3
Q 6 2		—	Pass	6	All Pass
10		K J 7 6 2
8 6		Q J 7 4 3 2	1. game forcing
	Q 4		2. cue-bid
	A K J 9 8 7		3. bid slam if you have spade control
Lead: 7	5 3
6 South	A 10 5

Pavlicek rode the spade lead to his queen, then cashed the heart king to get the bad news. He next won the heart ace, club king, spade ace and club ace to reach this position:

win 6/7	—		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	10 5		7. S	10	5	5	?
	A Q 9 8 4
	—
K J 8 6 5		—
Q		—
10		K J 7 6 2
—		Q 7
	—
	J 9 8 7
	5 3
South leads	10

Pavlicek led the club 10, West sluffed a spade, dummy ruffed, and East? Oops! Instead of following suit, East played the two of diamonds, but quickly noticed and dutifully changed it to a club. However, the diamond two had now become a penalty card, essentially giving Pavlicek a two-way finesse for the king of diamonds: If East had it, he could lead the queen from dummy, on which East would be required to play the penalty card. But how would you explain going down to your teammates if the diamond king were onside all the time?

Not wanting any part of that scenario, Pavlicek led the trump from dummy, allowing East to release the penalty card, and eventually took the normal diamond finesse. Down one.

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© 1974 Central Florida Trumpet