Phoenix 2013 Two Kehoane Slams by Fernando Lema

Diego Brenner and Carlos Pellegrini, Gran Southamerican Masters, won the Keohane North American Swiss Teams, in the NABC; Phoenix 2013. Talking with them they told me two hands they fee that were key on their way to victory.

Hand Nº 1:

Diego Brenner: » The tournament began with 196 teams, the cut was after the first 8 rounds,  only the first 92 teams qualified to the semifinal stage.

 It was in that instance that we face the Tulin squad. At our table we played against two great champions: Bob Hamman and Samuel Lev, everything was normal until this hand appeared: «

 Deadler: South, None Vulnerables

The bidding:

West	North	East	South
—	—	1	Pass
2	2	3	4
Pass	Pass	5	Pass
5	Pass	5	Pass
6	The End

Final Contract: 6

Lead: K

Diego: » After Bob Hamman 4, Carlitos passed showing he had not wasted honors in spades; so I decided to show my club suit and that helped us to found the good Slam.

I ruffed the lead, played the A to be sure that the suit wasnt 4-0, and as both defenders followed the suit, the slam was cold, my tricks were: 1 spade ruff, six hearts, one diamond and four clubs.  You can see that the heart slam is always down, losing two diamonds.

At the other table game our opponents played a heart game, so the hand and gave us 11 IMPs to continue accumulating valuable victory points.

Carlos Pellegrini: «During the 46 teams final, in one of the rounds we played against the Compton squad; Diego and me played against Daniel Korbel & David Grainger:

Board 13 Deadler: North All Vulnerable.

	Q 10 8 3 2 5 3 10 8 7 3 10 9
A J 9 A 9 8 7 6 2 Q 8 6 4		K 7 6 4 K 10 4 A J 9 6 4 A
	5 Q J K 5 2 K Q J 7 5 3 2

West	North	East	South
—	Pass	1	2
2	Pass	3	Pass
3	Pass	4	Pass
4	Pass	4NT	Pass
5	Pass	6	Fin

Final Contract: 6

Carlos Pellegrini: » This is a real good slam!. At the other table the player sitting in East opened his hand with a 1NT bid and they could not find the slam. 13 IMPs that were very important to achieve our victory in the event. «