Unforced errors

As we drift from the Spingold back to bidding discussion, let's look at two of the unforced errors made by the Italians in the semis.

First we have:

Spingold - semi final - board 49

Dealer N Vul - Scoring Imp Lead	♠ JT6 ♥ 73 ♦ 98 ♣ KT9743
♠ Q983 ♥ AJ62 ♦ AT54 ♣ 2		♠ 7 ♥ T9854 ♦ KQJ32 ♣ A6
	♠ AK542 ♥ KQ ♦ 76 ♣ QJ85

Fantoni opens 2♥ in 2nd seat, showing 5+♥s, (9)10-13, and if just 5 will have a 4 or longer minor with a singleton. Garner overcalls 2♠ and now it is up to Nunes - he has four card trump support, a singleton, 11 HCP, and is opposite a shapely hand. He picks 3NT, which is down 1, against 4♥ making 5 in the other room - lose 11 IMPs. Did 3NT show a raise, or was it just a low percentage gambling action?

Later, we see Lauria and Versace in action:

Spingold - semi final - board 56

Dealer W Vul - Scoring Imp Lead	♠ 7 ♥ KQJ63 ♦ A72 ♣ AK83
♠ A865 ♥ A4 ♦ KJ954 ♣ J4		♠ 932 ♥ T9872 ♦ Q ♣ T652
	♠ KQJT4 ♥ 5 ♦ T863 ♣ Q97

West	North	East	South
1♦	X	p	2♦
p	3♥	p	3♠
p	4♣	p	4♠
p	p	p

This was down 2, against 3♠ making in the other room - 3NT was cold.

A ♥ overcall would have worked better, but since Lauria-Versace overcall on junk, Lauria decided to start with double. However if one is doubling offshape, one can't allow cuebids with 8 HCP, albeit that Versace upgraded his hand since the spade suit was semi-solid. North jumped to show the 17/18+ hand, with hearts, South bid his suit, and now I don't like Lauria bypassing 3NT on a likely misfit auction. Still I give most of the blame to Versace, for cuebidding when 2♠ was available to advance the double without trouble.