Whilst making our master plan for coverage of the first session of the Mixed Pairs Championship, the Editor revealed that he intended to write in the style of Mike Lawrence. If you are not familiar with the work of the great American player/writer, this involves far more than just a dry account of what happened at the table. This seemed like an excellent idea, so good that I immediately adopted it as my own.

With so many great champions talking part, it was difficult to decide whom to watch, but as Sabine Auken was the first girl to kiss me in the morning, I decided to repay the compliment by starting the event at their table.

I invite you to follow the action 'Over my Shoulder' (one way to plug a fellow Editor's book) as we take our seat behind one of the World's top women.

After an unusually short delay, play gets under way. Hard to believe, but West is already looks unhappy. Perhaps he is a smoker, or maybe he is missing his mobile phone? As there are only eleven Directors to cover 228 tables, divided into 15 table sections, I conceive the idea of getting 30 close friends to all call for one at exactly 15.11. I eventually decide against it, as Max Bavin offers to buy me a drink - outside the playing rooms of course.

Board 1. Dealer North. Love All ª Q 8 2 © A 6 3 ¨ 4 3 § K 10 7 5 3 ª K 10 ª A J © K 8 7 4 © J 10 9 2 ¨ J 9 7 5 ¨ A K 8 § J 6 4 § A Q 9 2 ª 9 7 6 5 4 3 © Q 5 ¨ Q 10 6 2 § 8

1§ was strong, 1NT showed 8+, balanced and 2§ was a Stayman.

It is axiomatic that you need more than your fair share of the cards if you are going to do well at pairs. If you are always defending, you need your opponents to go wrong to get good results.

Sabine's hand is not a great portent for the session, and it is hardly great news to see the opponents bid a slam, because you know if they make it you are likely to be starting with a below average board in such a big field.

Still, maybe your queen of hearts will be a trick, and you await the opening lead and a sight of the first dummy of the event.

North leads the four of diamonds, and declarer does not look impressed. Neither are you, because if Three Hearts showed extra values, then East has surely bid too much when partner made no positive move over that bid.

Declarer eventually goes up with the ace of diamonds, and runs the nine of hearts, which holds. He continues with the ten of hearts, and this time partner produces the ace and plays the three of diamonds. Your prospects are good now, as unless declarer can get rid of the losing diamond, he is going down. What is more, you can tell from declarer's body language at this point that he is certainly going down. He tries a hopeful king of diamonds, but is soon conceding one down.

This is a great start, the sort of luck that you need to do well in any event of this type. You give yourself a slightly conservative eight.

Board 2. Dealer East. NS Game ª Q J 8 © J 9 6 2 ¨ K 10 4 3 § A K ª 7 6 5 ª A K 10 9 3 2 © 5 © Q 8 7 4 ¨ A J 8 ¨ 9 6 § J 10 6 5 3 2 § Q ª 4 © A K 10 3 ¨ Q 7 5 2 § 9 8 7 4

Your hand is a little better this time, but the opponents are in game in double quick time. You have an easy lead, but when you see the dummy, you have two thoughts; what to lead next, and have we been robbed?

There is no point in worrying about the latter, and after rejecting the idea of forcing the dummy, you have to choose between a trump switch and a diamond. You decide to go with a diamond, and when declarer plays the jack, partner produces the king and returns the suit. You are reasonably confident, and as the cards lie there is nothing declarer can do, so you achieve one down, for +100.

This is reasonable, as you cannot make Four Hearts, and they will usually buy the hand in Three Spades, especially as Two Spades will hardly be the universal choice of opening bid. You estimate a six, but hope for more.

The next pair to arrive look sharp but at least West has less hair than your reporter does.