leggi in italiano »
A new idea has sprung up in the programs of the candidates to the Italian federal election: the next selection to World and European championships have to be by trials, no longer by call. Many pounced upon it, however some experiences of the past advise do not afford to this. In 1962 Italy lost nothing less than Forquet-Garozzo; they were recovered only because the captain Carl’Alberto Perroux had beforehand reserved to himself the right to call one pair. In 1970 Perroux resigned, thus in that year none saved Italy from sending the weaker team ever seen in Bermuda Bowl.
But we are now in 2012, throughout a new age: by trials, the American found a wonderful young team who went straight to the final in 2011 Bermuda Bowl, losing only against Holland which had beat Italy too. Then it’s clear that we have to forget the past and look forward: we have to have trials; the only doubt is whether the Italian Trials should be by teams or by pairs.
Teams trials look the logic selection for a team event: the way to play differs from team to pair tourney; it differs in auction, it differs in declaring and defending playing, so a pair strong in pair events often is not as strong in team ones. But there is a problem. A team trials in Italy would sure be won by Lavazza; that’s the strongest one, nevertheless they have not the best three pairs: Lauria-Versace aren’t in that team, nor their one is strong enough to prevail over the other. Because this, the sentence “We want Team Trials” must be translate in Italian as “We don’t want Lauria Versace” That’s the difference between Italy and the Usa: they have players enough to build four strong team at least; we have only three great pairs, and aren’t in the same team.
For what hitherto said, it is seemingly ought to make pair trials. It is not the same game, but, the scholars say, in the long times all statistically goes to the due course. Maybe this is true, but need to be verified. Let’s suppose that each of the three best pairs has the 75 per cent of probability to enter the first three places of such a pair event; it’s an optimistic valuation, but for sake of simplicity be that the probability. Thus the probability that all the three best pairs enter within the first three places is the 42 per cent; the figures lead to an unquestionable fact: by pair trials, Italy would have won a little more that one a third of what she won.
No pair, nor team trials are thus the right way to “Italian Trials”. What now? Must we accept that a great nation as Italy, full of natural and artistic beauties – think to Gran Paradiso mountain, to Cappella Sistina, to Ascoli Piceno’s Piazza del Popolo – should be short of arranging Bridge Trials?
Luckily, Neapolitan Club found the solution. It is in two stages: in the former, Maria Teresa Lavazza gathers three pairs according to her valuation; in the latter, another team will challenge her. The winner will go on to the championship; the loser will pay the journey.
***
Paolo Enrico Garrisi
July 01, 2012