There will be many big match-ups during the course of the Mixed Teams Championship, but one of the biggest came in the first round when Paul Chemla's French squad met the strong Italian team led by Dario Attanasio. It proved to be a match full of swings, as you will see.

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

One Club was strong and One spade showed 8+HCP with either a balanced hand or at least four diamonds in an unbalanced hand. Catherine D'Ovidio led the two of hearts to the four, queen and king. Enrico Guerra played back the heart eight, covered by the jack and ace, then ran the jack of diamonds to the queen. D'Ovidio switched to a spade to the king and Guerra played the ©7, running it when D'Ovidio played low. Next he played the ¨K to Paul Chemla's ace. Chemla switched to the queen of clubs to the ace, declarer unblocking dummy's ten. When declarer cashed his red winners, Chemla was squeezed in the black suits so that the ªQ fell under the ace and there was no need of the club finesse; 11 tricks for +460.

What a difference a lead makes! Gabriella Manara selected the eight of spades, which went to the ten and king. Jean-Christophe Quantin crossed to the ace of hearts to run the jack of diamonds to the queen.

Manara played a spade to the jack and queen and Dario Attanasio cleared the suit. Now Quantin played a diamond to the ace and Attanasio switched to a low club without cashing the spade winner.

From declarer's point of view, the spades were 5-3 and he could not afford to let East into the lead. He rose with the ace of clubs and crossed to dummy with a diamond to lead a low heart. When the queen came up he ducked it, hoping that the suit was dividing evenly. Alas, Attanasio now cashed the spade which he was not supposed to have for one down; -50 and 11 IMPs to ATTANASIO.

A classical deceptive play had beaten an unbeatable contract. If West cashes his spade earlier, declarer has no hope other than the double club finesse as he has already lost two diamonds and two spades, and, of course, the club play succeeds. What a way to start a European Championship!

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

One No Trump was 12-15 and redouble was a transfer to clubs. Guerra led a spade against Four Hearts. Chemla won, drew trumps and cashed the spades. He fiddled around for a while but the defence did not crash the diamond honours so he was held to ten tricks: +420.

Quantin made a negative double of Four Hearts - a good decision if South could be relied upon to remove it. Alas, Anne-Fred Favas held a balanced minimum and thought that she was more likely to go plus on defence than if she bid. The defence took their diamond winners but that was all; +590 and 5 IMPs to CHEMLA.

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

Three Diamonds has quite a wide range, particularly in the balancing seat, but Three No Trump is just the sort of bid we all have to make, and hope that partner has sufficient to allow it to make. Chemla duly did so and, on the king of hearts lead, was well pleased with the sight of dummy. He won the heart immediately, cashed the queen of diamonds and, when everyone followed, claimed a slightly lazy nine tricks; +600.

Favas did not consider her hand to be suitable for a weak two bid - the French style is much sounder than that in some other countries - leading to a slightly different auction. Quantin opened with a weak two bid in his suit and, of course, Manara overcalled. Attanasio asked for a heart stopper and was happy to hear his partner show one. Favas led a heart against Three No Trump and Manara ducked. Quantin could see that he would have no entry if he established his suit so switched to a club. That gave Manara ten tricks; +630 and 1 IMP to ATTANASIO.

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

Two No Trump showed both red suits and double and redouble just some general values. Clearly, Guerra intended his Double then Three Heart combination to be invitational, but Simonetta Paoluci did not think she had anything to spare for her two-suited overcall so passed. Guerra won the spade lead, took the diamond finesse, played ace and ruffed a diamond, then passed the jack of hearts; 11 tricks for +200.

Given a free run, The French pair bid their game. Favas won the club lead and played a diamond to the queen, cashed the ace, on which the king dropped, and ruffed a diamond with the jack. She had two trump losers now but her contract was safe; +620 and 9 IMPs to CHEMLA.

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

Double showed three hearts and Redouble some values. Paoluci followed up her Redouble by competing with Three Diamonds and D'Ovidio left the Italians to play there despite her 18 HCP, seeing nowhere to go once Chemla had denied a fifth heart. D'Ovidio led a heart and the defence came to their five tricks easily enough for -100.