A first look at table 1

After their big win in round 2, the transnational; Capucho team had gone up to the top of the table. There, at table 1, they were to meet the Italian favourites: World Mixed Pairs Champions Vivaldi-Rossano together with European Mixed Pairs Champions Mariani-Buratti and Fornaciari-Cittolin to complete the team. This time, Mariani-Buratti were sitting out, so Capucho-Lara would face Rossano-Vivaldi and Yuen-Nehmert would play against Fornaciari-Cittolin.

On the first board, Lara tried the effect of a light opening.

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

Enza Rossano made a 'pairs style' double of 1NT on her passed hand, but it worked out very well. Antonio Vivaldi composed a double of 2§ because he could rely on a decent club holding with his partner, but also because he really wanted to have a go at 2ª. At the table, it was all too clear that Rossano was not completely happy with the turn things had taken, but there was nowhere to go.

Vivaldi led a top heart and continued the suit, ruffed by declarer. A club went to the queen and the ¨Q was won by East's ¨A. Rossano continued a heart, ruffed by declarer's ª5 and overruffed by Vivaldi with the seven. Now it was time to lead the ªA and another. Declarer could ruff her losing diamond in dummy but there was no way to avoid down two, 300 to the Italians and an almost invisible sigh of relief by Rossano.

No exceptional things here. A quiet start and a quiet contract. Just +110 to Capucho for a loss of 5 IMP's.

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

The IMP's went back to Capucho's team with interest on the very next board:

The only thing to note here was that Rossano made a further move after her partner's strong bid. Nothing special, one might say, but for less experienced players the East hand can be used as a nice example of how to deal with this type of situation. The Italians +430.

Here, the weak notrump backfired. Two Clubs showed at least four clubs with either a 4-3-3-3 or another suit. It would have been best had South passed the double of 2§, but when she did not, West was there with the axe again. Four down for a loss of 800 and 9 IMP's back to the Transnationals.

The score stood unchanged at 9-5 when another 'wash' came along, but an amusing one.

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

After her strong club, Rossano could not believe her ears. From her point of view, it might be seven! Everybody was polite enough not to double, so two down meant a loss of only 100 for the Italians. As it happened, Vivaldi simply had taken a save against the unbeatable 4ª, but would this be your first thought when you open a strong club and see the developments when the tray comes back?

Here, 4NT was Roman Keycard Blackwood and 5© enquired about the trump queen. For Nehmert too, it was far from obvious what was going on, so she also did not bother to double the final contract. No swing, but great fun to watch.

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

Once again, Rossano bid her hand up to the maximum, but this time she really held the wrong high cards. What is more, Capucho doubled. Not only had his opponents reached game where his partner could have decided to let them play in 2©, but holding 7 hcp. and some useful-looking defensive values in clubs, prospects looked good enough. In fact, the contract could easily have gone down two with a little more imagination. On the lead of the ªK and another, it is probable that declarer holds a third spade. So why not play the ª3 for partner to ruff in front of dummy and at the same time suggesting a club return?

When South continued the §Q instead, the extra chance had gone and Vivaldi escaped for one down, 200 to the Transnationals.

Well, there seem to be five top losers, unless the defence manage to let a loser win an undeserved trick. That is exactly what happened. The ©A was led and a trump came next. Declarer won the ªQ and presented the §Q which was allowed to hold. Verba desunt. The Italians recovered 140 of their Open Room deficit for a loss of just 2 IMP's more. The score: 11-5.

After a system mishap which cost the transnationals 7 IMP's the Italians had taken the lead, 12-11, when the next board hit the table:

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

Twelve tricks were easy when the hearts broke. As far as we know, it has not yet been established who was mostly responsible for the slam being missed. Whoever it was, the simple point that 3© possibly uses up too much bidding space was proved at the other table.

Once you know that 4¨ was Roman Keycard Blackwood in diamonds and that 4ª thus showed 0 or 3 aces, understanding this bidding sequence is as easy as producing it. As you can see, this effectiveness would have been impossible without the help of the initial Two Hearts response. The slam was not vulnerable, so the exchanges amounted to 10 IMP's only.

As the final two boards produced no swings, the final score was 21-12 to Capucho or 17-13 VP's.

Results	Contents
Mixed Teams Swiss R5, R6, R7, R8, R9	Mixed Teams Round 2 Mixed Teams Round 3 Mixed Teams Round 5 Early in the Morning