Before the start of the last qualifying session, an interesting problem arose. Which pairs to follow? Which horses to bet on? It would be difficult for the leading pairs from overnight to drop out of the qualification zone, but one or two of the world's best mixed pairs started the day in great danger of NOT qualifying. Take for example the world's Mixed Pairs Champions, Enza Rossano and Antonio Vivaldi, who won their title in the 1998 World Championships in Lille. As they are an Italian pair, an intriguing side problem came along as well. If the Bulletin were to report about them, would it be in Italian or in a more generally understood language and why?

The first board looked very quiet:

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

Of course, 1§ showed 16+ hcp. And 1¨ was negative. On the lead of the ¨Q, Rossano made a quiet overtrick. She ruffed a diamond, ran the ©10 and led up to her §K. East could win her ace and give her partner a diamond ruff, but that was all for the defence. Plus 110 was an excellent 334 m.p. for NS.

On the next board, NS missed the chance to wipe out the rest of their overnight deficit:

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

West made the very normal lead of the §Q, ducked all round. South won the heart continuation in dummy and led a low diamond, on which East, after only a slight consideration, nearly invisible for South at the other side of the screen, played her ace! When she next missed the chance to beat the contract by switching to a low club but led a spade instead, declarer suddenly had a chance. All she neede to do was to win the spade in dummy and lead another diamond intending to go up with the queen. When East followed suit with the nine, she played low from her hand and thus changed a possible score of 395 into a meagre 63 for one down.

It did not hurt them very much, however. On the next board, East heard her opponents bid 1ª-(Pass)-4- and decided she was not to be bluffed away from the table. Holding ªKJ10985 ©K5 ¨ J103 § 75 she overcalled 4ª only to go down 800 for a score of just 0.01 m.p. Vivaldi-Rossano were back on schedule with 413.99 m.p. their way.

More disasters were to follow for their opponents. With too much aggression, falling for a Chinese finesse and forgetting Blackwood they created bad results for themselves really out of nothing.

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

Well, 4ª is not such a good contract at first sight, but after this bidding sequence most of the missing high cards will be well placed. For this reason, 3¨ went no less than three off for +500 to NS and a quite satisfactory score of 373 m.p. - ample compensation for the "missed" vulnerable game.

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

West made the second best lead of a low trump away from his ace. Declarer won in hand, crossed in clubs and presented the Q. When this held (!), another diamond went to the jack and the ¨A took care of dummy's losing heart. Now the scene was set for a nice little cross-ruff. Declarer just conceding her last heart and the ªA in the end. Eleven tricks were worth 331 more m.p.

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

Here, 1§ was (possibly) strong and 3ª was an obvious preempt. We will never know why East did not take the trouble to politely enquire about any possible aces in partner's hand. As it was, they could not run away, so the Italian horses had another 405 m.p. in the bag.

Time for a costly mistake again.

You have just taken a phantom save on the previous board when this nice little bite is being served to you:

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

South found the best lead: a low trump. This should open the way to down two or even three, vulnerable. Declarer wins and plays on clubs. You win the second round and continue trumps. Declarer wins and cashes a good club, throwing a spade. You ruff, and play ªA and another. Partner wins his king and continues a club to promote your last trump and give you a club, two trumps, two spades and the two remaining diamonds, if declarer throws a diamond on the fourth round of clubs. This defence was missed at the table as the contract went only down one. The m.p. difference was enormous. Down one was just average, 201 m.p., but down two would have netted 343 m.p.

However, after this reasonable enough start, Vivaldi-Rossano went on to score over 60% for the session and rise to the 78th qualifying spot.

Results	Contents
Mixed Pairs 2nd Final/Consolation Session	Final Session I How to Qualify Final Session II