BAND Blog

After two very long weeks and a hard-fought battle verses Italy, USA II are the CHAMPIONS!  68.33 imps was enough to hold off the great Italian comeback.  With just 16 boards to go in the final segment, Italy was within 40 imps of winning the 2009 Bermuda Bowl. With 7 hands to play, Italy cut the lead to 25 imps, however, with three boards to go, Hamman and Zia bid and made 6D when the Italian pair only bid to 5D.  This was enough imps to ensure a USA II victory!

After the photographs, interviews, texts, emails, and phone calls, there was a two hour lull before the victory banquet so what do you think we did?  Yep!  You got it!  We watched a victory episode of “2 1/2 Men” and dressed for the prize giving ceremony and victory banquet where we danced the night away…well, until it was time to finish season 4 of “2 1/2 Men.”  

Another World Championships in the books.  This one a little sweeter than others.  However, USA II has already made plans to meet in Philidelphia to watch seasons 5 & 6 of “2 1/2 Men” while pursuing a victory in the 2010 World Championships!

USA II showed why they are the best in the world during yesterday’s play.  Katz-Nickell played lights out while Meckstroth-Rodwell and Zia-Hamman played their usual high-level game.  USA II won segment four 57-14 to extend their lead to 52.33 imps.  Having a 52 imp lead sounds like a lot but against the strong Italian team – no lead is safe so I sent the guys back in for another 20 during segment five and they came back plus 24 imps.  USA II was now up 76 imps with 48 hands to play.  Needless to say, our strategy was to hold the lead and hope for flat hands.  Well flat boards they were not but USA II extended their lead to 90 imps on the first 8 hands only to see Italy come back with 24 unanswered points to win the segment 36-28.  

USA II finished the day up 68.33 imps with 32 hands to play.  Understanding that Italy is capable of wiping out this lead in one segment if there are swingie hands, USA II is cautiously happy with the lead.  Not wanting to change the routine at this point, it was time for the dinner buffett in the hotel.  A few of us opted for the  peanut butter sandwiches in the team suite so that we could fit in a fourth “2 1/2 Men” episode to ease the tension.

It is a sunny day in Sao Paulo.  Thank you all for your warm wishes and for cheering USA II to this point.  In the Venice Cup, USA I finished with the Silver.  So now the only question is whether or not the USA will win Gold at the 2009 World Championships.  The final two segments are at 9am and 12:30pm (Dallas time) and will be shown on BBO.  Please join us for the last stand against Italy and hopefully see us to the GOLD!

Day 1 of the Finals is in the books and oh how I wish the next page read “The End” because USA II is leading Italy 102.33 to 93.  The .33 is an interesting number because if the match should end in a tie, then USA II would win by .33.  Now that would be a story!  A previous match up of these two teams in the finals resulted in USA winning with the carryover from the Round Robin match.  Could it happen again?  We will have to wait and see since there are 80 more hands of bridge to be played over the next two days.

USA II had a great start in yesterday’s first segment (46-19 imps) increasing the 8.33 carryover lead to 35.33.  Then came the second segment in which Italy had their way with USA II winning the segment 57-1.  This segment will soon be erased from the American history books.  Suddenly, USA II found themselves down 21 going into the last segement of the day.  After a quick pep talk and a sushi snack, I sent Meckstroth/Rodwell and Zia/Hamman out to collect  our lost imps and they didn’t let me down.  When the third segment ended, USA out scored Italy 47-17 to take back the lead by 9.33 imps.  It is always good for the morning bulletin to show your team in the lead.  It helps to erase any nightmare hands a player may have had from the previous day. 

USA II is pyched about this match and ready to play going into Day 2 of the Finals.  The history between USA and Italy tells us that this match will be a photofinish.  So with 80 hands to play, the key is to keep the intensity and play every hand like it is THE HAND because it just may be THE HAND that determines the match.  As an aside, the players in this match are being watched by over 8,000 people live on BBO.  Oh, and if you happen to miss a hand on BBO, jounalists around the would are writing up all of the hands (good and bad) as they happen.  So the pressure is immense.  This is exactly why our team eats the dinner buffet in the hotel and ends the night on a light note with “2 1/2 men” episodes.  We watched three last night!  We might need to watch a fourth tonight to get them ready for the last 32 hands on Saturday.

Other USA Results

A very sad ending for the other USA teams.  In the Venice Cup, USA II lost to France in the bronze playoff while USA I is down to china 121-78.  Now USA II is certainly capable of coming back from down 43 with 80 hands to go but it will be tough against the Chinese women.  Equally as sad is USA 2 lost it’s bronze medal playoff against Indonesia so this will be the first year in the history of the Senior Bowl that a USA team does not win a medal. 

USA will win two medals this World Championship – will it be two gold, two silver or a gold and silver?  Stay tuned to your BBO at 9am, 12:30pm, and 3:20pm (Dallas time) and find out!

And then there were TWO!  The 2009 Bermuda Bowl will see USA vs. Italy in the finals once again.  The greatest World Championship finals over the last 50 years have involved teams from USA and Italy and this will not be an exception. 

Both USA II and Italy had relatively easy matches in the Semifinals where both opponents withdrew with one segment (16 boards) to go.  Italy beating Bulgaria by 105 imps and USA II topping China by 101 imps.  China and Bulgaria will playoff for the Bronze medal in a 48 board match today.

The team celebrated their victory over China with the – you guessed it – dinner buffet in the hotel but we still managed to fit in three episodes of “2 1/2 Men”.  Coach Kokish (Kokes) and Eric Rodwell looked over the match between Italy and Bulgaria to see if they could gleem any insight as to how the Italians think about the game.  I don’t know if any great mysteries were solved by this mental exercise but they eventually succumbed to laughing along with the rest of us at 2 1/2 Men! 

As you may recall, USA II won the Round Robin Match against Italy by 22 imps.  However, since Italy finished higher than USA II in the Round Robin, USA II gets only 1/3 of the imps which is 8.33 carry over.  But hey – against this Italian team we will take all the points we can get including the .33!   

The Final has 8 segments (instead of 6) and will be played over the next three days – three segments a day Thursday and Friday with the final two segments to be played on Saturday.  Times are the same – 9am, 12:30pm and 3:20 pm (Dallas time).  All segments will be shown on BBO so grab your laptop, make room on your couch and have plenty of snacks and drinks to munch on while you cheer USA II to victory!

Other USA Results

In the Venice Cup: USA II withdrew with two segments to go against USA I.  USA I will face China in the finals for the gold while USA II will play France in the bronze medal playoff.

In the Senior Bowl: USA II lost to Poland in their Semifinal matchand will face Indonesia for the bronze today.  England plays Poland for the gold.  If memory serves me (which after two weeks in Sao Paulo may be a little faulty) this will be the first Senior Bowl without a USA team competiting for the gold.  Wow!

Wow!  What an exciting set of boards for Day 1 of the Semifinals.  USA II began the day with an 11 imp lead over China from the Round Robin carryover.  As you may recall, USA II beat China by 22 imps in the qualifying round.  Since USA II finished ahead of China in the overall rankings, USA II receive 50% of the total imps.

USA II won the first segment of the day 38-23; adding 15 imps to the 11 imp carryover.  Then came the second segment where their were five slam hands in 16 boards!  The good news about lots of slam hands is that the segment can create BIG scores. USA II was on the receiving end for the most part and won the segment 68-11.  So after two segments USA II was up 84 imps and hoping that the hands would be flat (balanced) for the remaining 64 hands.  Unfortuanately, segment three had its own set of crazy hands including a single hand where 27 imps were swung on an opening lead.  UGH.  Can you guess who won those imps?  Instead of winning 13 imps…USA II lost 14!  As a result of this hand, USA II did not reach the century mark and instead ended the day up 56imps with 48 hands to play.

BREAKING NEWS:  certain members of USA II declined the dinner buffett and enjoyed peanut butter sandwiches in the team suite while watching THREE (not two) episodes of “2 1/2 Men.”  These shows were particularly funny and I think my sandwich was the best sandwich I have ever had!

USA II called it an early night.  One might think 56 imps is a big lead but with 48 hands to go and the potential for a swingy set…USA II is all business!  Segment 4 which starts at 9am Dallas time is on the China version of BBO.  Go to http:/worldbridge.ourgame.com and download the software.  It takes about 2 minutes and you are there!  Segments 5 and 6 are TBD.

Other USA Results

In the Venice Cup: USA I has taken a large lead over USA II – 146.5 – 69.  USA II is looking for flat boards while USA II is looking for swingy boards.

In the Senior Bowl: USA 2 took the lead over Poland 128-106. 

Go USA!

And then there were FOUR and USA II survived a comback by Netherlands in the final segment to face China in the Semifinals.  Italy plays Bulgaria in the other Semifinals match.  It’s almost like we are in the movie “Ground Hog Day” where we wake up in the same hotel room, eat the same buffett breakfast (i am in a rut with waffles, watermellon and orange juice), play the same schedule of three segments of 16 boards, eat the same buffett dinner (i am in another rut with risotto, watermellon and water), watch “2 1/2 Men” and go to sleep in the same hotel room to only start a new the next day.  Today, however, feels different.  USA II is in the Semifinals of the 2009 Bermuda Bowl and the team is two matches away from the GOLD! Wow.  What a different a day makes.

After USA II’s nail-biter ending last night, the players, captain, coach, and cheering section were exhausted and called it an early night.  It is amazing the further along these World Championships USA II gets, the earlier we go to sleep.   The weather turned stormy last night so everyone slept late this morning and are ready to take on China for the next two days.

Other USA Results

In the Venice Cup: Spain withdrew against USA I and USA II beat Germany.  The conditions require that the two USA teams play oneanother in the Semifinals so that is today’s matchup.  This is a very even match up so it should be interesting to see who comes out on top.

In the Senior Bowl: USA I withdrew against USA II.  USA II plays Poland in the Semifinals today.  My question is why aren’t our opponent’s withdrawing against us? hmmm…

USA II is on BBO throughout the day today.  Be sure to take a look and cheer USA II to victory.  Matches are on at 9am, 12:30pm and 3:20pm Dallas Time.

What an exciting day of bridge in Sau Paulo!  I hope you all had a chance to watch on BBO.  With the Quarterfinals starting…the tension builds.  USA II was relaxed and ready to go for the 11am start.  Facing 6 segments of 16 boards against Netherlands – the strategy was to get a jump start by scoring big the first few sets.  At the end of segment one USA II led Netherlands 46-26 and when you add the 5 Victory Point carry over – USA II was off to a great start – up 25 Victory Points.  Understanding that there were a lot of boards to play, USA II was happy but wanted more.  Netherlands is known for having explosive sets so a cushion lead is always a good thing against this team.  USA II added 11 Victory Points to their total bring the lead to 36 Victory Points with 1/3 of play completed.  The third segment, however, saw a “run on the bank” – USA II’s Victory Point Bank – leaving USA II with a three Victory Point lead going into Day II of the Quarterfinals.

USA II spent a quiet evening dining at the hotel buffett (day 8 of the same food!) and ended the evening watching the television show “2 1/2 men”.  Laughing together as a team does wonders for team comrodery.  We are through season 3 now…hoping to be together in Sau Paulo long enough finish the remaining 6 seasons!  You are probably thinking – wow world class bridge during the day and canned sitcoms at night – what a life! Well, it is pretty sweet.

A last word on the Round Robin Butler scores: USA II pairs finished 13th (Zia & Hamman), 21st (Katz & Nickell) and 25th (Meckstroth & Rodwell).  It’s always good to have all three pairs in the top 25 but again, the Butler score is only a slight indication of how the pairs are playing.

USA II will be on BBO for all three segments today – 9am, 12:30pm and 3:20pm (Dallas Time).  Please take some time out of your busy day and log on to BBO.  USA II needs your energy to pull off the win against Netherlands and advance to the Semifinals!

Other USA Teams

In the Venice Cup: USA II is down 20 Victory Points to Germany.  Remember, this is usually a final matchup so this should be a great match to follow to the end.  In the other USA match, USA I is leading Spain by 8 Victory Points. 

In the Senior Bowl: USA I and USA II are pitted against each other and USA II has the best of USA I by 20 Victory Points at halftime. 

Have a great Monday and I hope you get to watch some bridge today!

The Qualifying Round Robin is now in the books and USA II accomplished our first goal which was to QUALIFY!  The last day of a qualifying round is always interesting.  It’s the seventh day of bridge (and stress) and many of the teams are “out” of the event.  This combination of events results in a lot of strange bidding, play and defense which leaves you scratching your head and wondering how many of the teams got to this point!

USA II got off to a great start against New Zealand in the first match of the day.  Katz-Nickell has fifteen plus scores for the match and on the one minus score, the team won 7 imps!  USA II netted 24 Victory Points. 

Then came Japan – a team out of the event but playing to beat USA II in any event.  Every team takes great pride in beating USA II even if it is irrelevant to their standings.  Japan got the best of USA II which resulted in only 11 Victory Points for USA II.

The final match against Russia was labelled ”The Match of the Day” by many because of the seeding rights in the Quarterfinals.  USA II got out of the box early in the match and never looked back.  When the dust cleared, USA II won 40-19 and collected 20 Victory Points. 

For all of this effort, USA II still finished in fourth position which meant that USA II didn’t have a choice of opponents.  USA II would play the best of the bottom four teams in the quarterfinals.  The final standings for the Bermuda Bowl Qualifying Round was Italy, Norway, Bulgaria, USA II, Netherlands, Germany, Russia and China.  The Quarterfinal matchups are Italy vs. Russia, German vs. Bulgaria, USA II vs. Netherlands and China vs. Norway.  The winner of the  Italy/Russia match will play the winners of the Germany/Bulgaria match and the winners of the USA II/Netherlands match will play the winners of the China/Norway match.  This all means that the USA II can not play Italy until the finals. 

The Quarterfinals are two days long.  The teams will play 96 boards (three segments of 16 per day).  The schedule is the same 9am, 12:30pm, and 3:20pm Dallas time.  USA II is on BBO for the first segment today.  The remaining two segments are TBD.  So log on and cheer USA II to victory!

Other USA Teams

In the Venice Cup Quarterfinals: USA II is playing Germany.  This is a tough draw for the Round of 8.  Usually you see these two teams in the finals.  USA I is playing Spain and should have no problem reaching the Semifinals.

In the Senior Bowl Quarterfinals: USA I and USA II are playing each other.  The way the conditions are set up, the USA teams must play one another in the Semifinals so that there cannot be an all USA final.  In the past, USA I and USA II generally take home the gold and bronze.  In other words, the Semifinal match between the two teams determines who will win the gold.  This was the case when I was captain of USA II in Shanghai in 2007.  Unfortunately, my team lost to USA I who went on the win the gold.  My team did win the playoff for the bronze.  This year, however, the two USA teams drew one another in the Quarterfinals so there will be only one USA team in medal contention in the Senior Bowl.

Log on to BBO and watch all of the exciting bridge.  There are lots of great matches going on today!

Opps!  Going into the day, USA II was anticipating gaining on the field but in the end…we gained no ground.  Frustrating might be used to describe the matches against Australia, Argentina and Egypt.  Losing all three matches by a close margin (28-24, 35-39 and 29-30).  USA II is still in good postition to take over third but will have to have better luck (and better play) today.

For those of you who like to compare scores, go to

http://www.worldbridge.org/tourn/SaoPaulo.09/Results.htm

Click on “Bermuda Bowl” directly under Running Scores.  Click on “Table Number” for the match you would like to follow.  This will bring up the scorecard for the match.  The scorecard is updated as soon as the information is typed in at the table.  If you would like to see how everyone in the event performed on a particular board, click on “Board Number”.

USA II’s final three matches of the day are against New Zealand, Japan and Russia.  The first two matches are no on BBO but again, you can follow along by using the “scorecard” link above.

USA II needs everyone to sign on at 3:20 Dallas time and cheer for the team against Russia.  I hope to see you online!

Checking the Butlers through 18 matches USA II’s pairs are in 6th (Zia and Hamman), 21st (Meckstroth and Rodwell) and 39th (Katz and Nickell).  The Butlers do not take into account what your opponents do to you…so it is not a true indication of how the pairs are playing.

Other USA Scores

In the Venice Cup: USA I is in second position with 344.5 Victory Points while USA II is in fourth with 302 Victory Points.  Both are in good standing to qualify for the Knock Out round because the team in ninth position has only 283 Victory Points.

In the Senior Bowl: USA II is in fourth position with 313 Victory Points while USA I is in sixth with 309 Victory Points.  Both teams will qualify – it is just a matter of seeding position for the Knock Out Round.

Have fun watching bridge today!  Remember 3:20 Dallas time…log on to BBO and cheer USA II to victory over Russia!

What a finish!  But let’s start at the beginning…USA II began Thursday by drilling Pakistan.  Zia thought this might happen so he opted out of playing against his countrymen and old friends.  As a result of collecting 25 Victory Points (out of 25) against Pakistan, USA II finally broke into the top five teams.  With raised hopes, USA II entered match two against Chinese Taipei only to be beaten 32-15 giving USA II only 11 Victory Points. 

Still in the top five, USA II sent in their front line against Italy.  Labeled “The Match of the Day” there were over 7,000 onlookers (kibitzers) watching this match on BBO.  USA II got off to an early lead against Italy and kept the petal to the metal (as Meckstroth would say) finishing the match ahead 28-4.  This was a key match for USA II due to the carry over given in the Knockout Round.  If the two teams should meet in the KO portion of this event, then USA II will start off  against Italy with a lead.

The carry over will be half or one-third of the IMP different in the match depending on which position the two team finished in the round robin ranking.  If Italy finished ahead of USA II, then USA II will have an eight-point lead to start the match (1/3 of the imp difference).  However, if USA II finishes ahead of Italy in the round robin ranking, then USA II will have a twelve-imp lead to start the match (1/2 of the imp difference).   

At the end of the day…USA II is now 2.25 Victory points out of second place.  Remember – strategy wise - USA II would like to be in the top three.  Norway is leading the pack and is 21.25 Victory Points ahead of USA II.  This is a wide gap and it will be difficult to catch Norway; however, second and third position is well within site.

In today’s matches, USA II plays Australia, Argentina and Egypt.  Of the three matches, only Argentina has a hope of qualifying.  This is USA II’s second match of the day and will be shown on BBO starting at 12:30 Dallas time.  You can follow the other two matches with the Running Scores found on the WBF website at

http://www.worldbridge.org/tourn/SaoPaulo.09/Results.htm.

When you click on “Bermuda Bowl” under running scores, click on the table number beside USA II’s match and it will take you to the scorecard for the match.  (You can also find the running results on Swan Games; however, their site was down yesterday.) 

Other USA Results 

In the Bermuda Bowl, it is still mathematically possible for USA I to qualify but highly unlikely. 

In the Venice Cup, USA I and USA II are third and fourth, respectively.  These two teams just want to ensure that they do not finish in postions four and five because this will result in them playing one another in the quarterfinals.  It looks as though USA I has a lock on the third position so this is unlikely to happen.

In the Senior Bowl, USA II is in third while USA I is in 7th.  USA II is a lock to qualify at this point and it is looking really good for USA I holding a 22 point cushion between them and 9th  place.