Commentators Beware!

On Board 2 of the famous 25-2 win by San Marino over Russia, the commentators stated that San Marino's lucky 6© contract was certain to make.

Board 2. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
	ª K Q J 5 4 © Q 10 ¨ Q J 3 § J 7 2
ª - © A J 9 5 4 3 ¨ A K 9 8 7 § K Q		ª A 8 3 2 © K 2 ¨ 10 5 § 10 9 8 6 3
	ª 10 9 7 6 © 8 7 6 ¨ 6 4 2 § A 5 4

On a spade lead, a club was pitched from declarer's hand and, after a diamond ruff, the declarer will drop the queen of trumps for twelve tricks. But Willie Coyle, the Scottish Coach, spotted that if North dropped the queen and jack of diamonds under the ace, king, then declarer would take the losing percentage play in trumps by finessing on the second round, and go one down.
The diamond play cannot lose because North knows that the suit is breaking three-three and will therefore ruff out.
Black mark, gentlemen!
Sam Leckie.
It is also worth pointing out that the fact that North drops the ten on the first round should not dissuade declarer from taking a second round finesse. Though it is true that declarer cannot pick up queen to four with South, the ten is a standard falsecard from ten-small and, as there are more small cards that North could hold than specifically the queen, the odds still favour the finesse.
Of course, if North could know that declarer held the ©9, he should drop the QUEEN under the king, completing a fine triple honour-drop, and now declarer would surely finesse against South's assumed ten-to-four.

Revenge is Sweet

By Nissan Rand - Israel

Few people know that besides the official championship matches being held here there are some prestigious official's contest, which always involve Poland.
In the first contest Poland lost to an Israel/Belgium combination by 20 IMPs.
When Poland faced Israel both sides put out their big guns:
Poland: Stobiecki, Siwiec, Latala and Kielbasinski
Israel: Engel, Greenberg, Tymianker, Romik & Rand
Poland led by 6 IMPs at half time. By the time the last deal of the match settled on the table Israel had overturned that and led by 13 IMPs.

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Greenberg	Latala	Tymianker	Kielbasinski
Pass	1§	Pass	1ª
Pass	2ª	2NT*	4ª
All Pass

Declarer was allowed to make four spades when West rejected the obvious lead of the ace of diamonds. Poland +650.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Stobiecki	Romik	Siwiec	Rand
Pass	1§	Pass	1ª
Dble	2ª	3©	4ª
Pass	Pass	5©	Dble
All Pass

A spade or trump lead would have defeated Five Hearts doubled but South not unreasonably led the king of clubs. Declarer took the ace, disposing of his losing spade, unblocked the ace of diamonds, ruffed a spade and ruffed a diamond. He now played a trump to North's ace, ruffed the club return, ruffed a diamond to establish the suit and came to hand with the king of hearts to play winning diamonds. All North/South could take were two trump tricks. Poland were +850 at this table and the 17 IMP swing saw them home by 4 IMPs.

The best players are always ready to tell a story that shows their opponents in a good light.
European Seniors Champion Göran Mattsson reported a neat defence by England's Tony Sowter, a European Champion himself ten years ago in Killarney in 1991. It happened on this deal from the Round 13 encounter between Germany I and England II.

Board 9. Dealer North. E/W Vul.
	ª A J 6 © 9 6 ¨ A 9 6 5 4 § K 3 2
ª 7 2 © A 10 4 ¨ 8 7 § J 9 8 7 6 5		ª 10 9 3 © K Q J 7 2 ¨ K J 10 2 § 10
	ª K Q 8 5 4 © 8 5 3 ¨ Q 3 § A Q 4

West	North	East	South
Rue	Humburg	Sowter	Mattsson
	1¨	1©	1ª
2©	2ª	Pass	4ª
All Pass

West led the ace of hearts and when East played the two he switched to the five of clubs. Declarer, who needed a heart ruff, won in dummy with the king and played a second heart.
East contributed the seven, allowing West to win with the ten and deliver the fatal club ruff.
When Göran asked Tony what his reaction would have been if South had been dealt the ten of hearts he suggested a small giggle would have been in order!

Suicide Squeeze in the Seniors

By Alex Montwill - Ireland

It is usually a good sign when opponents try to kill each other at the bridge table but sometimes one can encourage mutual suicide by more conventional means. In the 14th Round Senior's match between Ireland and Lebanon Greer MacKenzie succeeded in doing just that.

Board 8. Dealer West. None Vul.
	ª A 10 7 2 © K 6 5 ¨ Q 9 7 4 § Q 10
ª Q 8 5 3 © J 7 ¨ J 10 3 2 § J 9 8		ª 9 6 © A Q 9 8 3 ¨ 8 6 5 § K 6 5
	ª K J 4 © 10 4 2 ¨ A K § A 7 4 3 2

West	North	East	South
Eidi	MacKenzie	Merhy	Montwill
Pass	Pass	Pass	1§
Pass	2NT	Pass	3NT
All Pass

Playing in 3NT Greer got a heart lead and took the trick with his king. He took the first correct view by leading a spade to the king and returning the jack of spades covered by the queen and ace. He now had eight tricks and decided to enlist the help of the defenders to find the ninth.
Since East had not opened a weak two he was unlikely to hold six hearts. Greer cashed the ace and king of diamonds and presented East with a 'Greer Gift' of a little heart.
East knew he would not regain the lead and had no option but to take the remaining hearts thereby slowly forcing his partner to suicide. West could not release a diamond or a spade and three club discards only postponed the inevitable. Declarer's ace of clubs turned the screw further and the forced spade discard completed the suicide with a show up squeeze for Greer's ª107.

A good story, which would have been spoilt if declarer had relied on a second spade finesse. Editor