Over the last years we have been more or less used to see the Bulgarian players creating better and better results. They did great in Malta at the European Championships and in Bermuda at the Bermuda Bowl just to mention two late examples. Now they are here in Sorrento playing in the open pairs. Their NT is zone variable depending in what position they are.

Board 9. North dealer. East - West vulnerable   ª 9 5 © Q 3 ¨ J 10 4 § A K 9 8 7 5 ª A K Q 6 © 10 9 8 5 ¨ K 6 § 6 4 2 ª J 8 7 2 © K J 7 6 ¨ A 8 7 3 § Q   ª 10 4 3 © A 4 2 ¨ Q 9 5 2 § J 10 3

West		North	East South
	Trendafilov		Karaivanov
	1NT*	Pass	2§*
Pass	3§		All pass

Roumen Trendafilov

Here Trendafilov opened with a "mini-NT" (green against red), 9-12 hcp. East would have an easy bid if it were a regular one-two or three opening in clubs in the first position, now he had nowhere to go with that hand and passed. South found an interesting bid in two clubs showing a "maximum invitational hand", i.e. an game try. What should East believe? Did they have a contract here or not? East surely didn't want to get trapped so he simply bid pass. North showed his club suit and where left to play in three clubs, E-W where cold for game in both majors.

In the 6th session we saw a real Bulgarian battle between Mihov - Nanev and Trendafilov - Karaivanov.

6th Session. Board 7. South dealer. All vulnerable   ª K 9 7 6 2 © A J 6 5 4 2 ¨ J 4 § -- ª Q 10 4 © K 7 3 ¨ 10 2 § Q 7 6 5 2 ª A © 10 9 ¨ A K Q 8 7 6 5 § KJ3   ª J 8 5 3 © Q 8 ¨ 9 3 § A 10 9 8 4

West	North	East	South
Karaivanov	Nanev	Trendafilov	Mihov
			Pass
Pass	1ª	3NT	Pass
Pass	4©	Pass	4ª
Dbl	All pass

Nanev just knew that Trendafilov was loaded in 4th seat after two passes and that he needed to do something since they both play a very aggressive systems, opening on almost everything. He made the correct choice opening with 1 spade.

Trendafilov could most probably overlook eight tricks and just jumped to his no-trump game. As you can see the game cold, even on the lead of the queen of hearts, since the dummy appears to have the seven of hearts! Declarer just cover and the suit are blocked. Nanev however had more strings on his guitar and now bid is second major, hearts. Mihov now give his preference to play in spades, and when Karaivonov doubled to tell that this has to be it, all passed!

The defence did right to collect their two diamond tricks. Trendafilov then exited with the three of clubs, declarer won it in dummy and started attacking the trump suit. The three of spades went to the four, six and East's ace. It would have been better to use this entrance to finesse in hearts since the king was onside. However declarer ruffed the king of clubs in the next trick and topped his hearts when the king still was out there was he booked for two down.

On board 8 they got to prove that they had methods to defend against their own weak "Mini-NT".

6th Session. Board 8. West dealer. None vulnerable   ª Q 7 6 5 © 9 8 ¨ A 8 2 § K 8 6 5 ª K 8 © K 10 5 ¨ K 10 9 7 6 § 10 3 2 ª A J 10 9 © A Q J 6 4 2 ¨ J § J 9   ª 6 3 2 © 7 3 ¨ Q 5 4 3 § A Q 7 4

West	North	East	South
Karaivanov	Nanev	Trendafilov	Mihov
Pass	1NT*	2§*	Pass
2©	Pass	3©	Pass
4©	All pass

Nanev opened with 1 NT, 9-12, Trendafilov now showed their own methods against the "Mini-NT" overcalled 2 clubs showing both majors. Now it was Karaivanovs turn to make is preference, East then invitated West for game which was accepted.

The defence started collecting three tricks in the minors, Ace, king in clubs and the diamond ace, when the game was over. Declarer ruffed the club continuation and played two rounds of trumps, when all followed it was a claim.

Be prepared against the "Weak Bulgarian NT" as they are!