Paul Chemla was not happy after getting another good result. What went wrong?

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

West	North	East	South
Chemla	Wasik	D'Ovidio	Pilar
Pass	Pass	1§	1¨
Pass	1ª	Pass	2NT
All Pass

When Paul Chemla found the heart lead, prospects for the defence were very good. Declarer took the nine with her queen and drove out the ¨A, East discarding high clubs. This induced Chemla to switch to spades, but one down still was a rare plus score for EW on the deal, most pairs playing in a diamond partial for 130.

Good defence brought a good score to Eva Harasimowicz.

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

East opened Three Hearts and West raised to four. Eva led a low club, removing an entry to dummy. Declarer went on to cash the ¨A and played a spade up. Without a moment's hesitation Eva won the ªK and played ©A and another to put the contract one down. Nine or even ten tricks were made at many tables where game was not bid.

Four Spades was the popular spot on this one, but at a few tables, they beat this by a mile:

Board 14. Dealer East. None Vul.
	ª A K 9 7 2 © Q 10 9 4 ¨ - § Q 9 4 3
ª J 8 © K 5 2 ¨ A J 10 9 § A K 10 2		ª 6 4 © J 3 ¨ K Q 7 4 3 2 § J 8 5
	ª Q 10 5 3 © A 8 7 6 ¨ 8 6 5 § 7 6

When West opens 1NT, North can show both his majors and 4ª should be reached as South knows about the double fit. EW can save in 5¨ if they wish, going only two down.

Much more effective for West is to open 1¨. Now, if North does not double but overcalls just 1ª, East can jump all the way to 5¨ and might well be allowed to play there. We saw it happen…

Board 17. Dealer North. None Vul.
	ª A K J 8 7 6 3 © 3 ¨ J 6 2 § J 4
ª Q 10 9 5 2 © 9 5 ¨ K 10 8 7 § 8 5		ª 4 © A Q J 8 6 4 ¨ 9 4 3 § 10 9 7
	ª - © K 10 7 2 ¨ A Q 5 § A K Q 6 3 2

Another practical bid by Eva Harasimowicz was not followed by the maximum play. Marcin Lesniewski opened One Spade as North, East overcalled in hearts and 3NT closed the auction. West led a diamond, dummy's jack winning. Now there are ten tricks, beating all those men who are in 4ª, but an 11th trick will emerge if a heart is played now. Content with 430, Eva just cashed out.

To end this partial review of the session, a funny story from Poland.

Board 20. Dealer West. All Vul.
	ª Q J 7 5 © K J 9 8 6 ¨ 2 § A J 8
ª A 8 4 2 © 5 3 2 ¨ 10 9 § 10 9 5 2		ª K 10 6 © Q 10 7 ¨ Q J 7 5 § Q 7 3
	ª 9 3 © A 4 ¨ A K 8 6 4 3 § K 6 4

West	North	East	South
	Winciorek		Sarniak
Pass	1©	Pass	2¨
Pass	2NT	Pass	3§
Pass	3ª	Pass	4ª
All Pass

A wheel had come off, it looks, in this Polish Club auction, but the explanation is easy. South thought for a moment that North had opened 1ª and rebid 2©. East led a club to the jack. Next came the ©AK and a heart ruff, followed by the AK and a diamond ruff. Two more clubs brought the tally to nine and with the lead in dummy, North's trumps were good enough to score one more trick, beating the popular 600's in 3NT.

We still have one problem to solve. Is this hand going to be nominated for a bidding or a declarer play award, or even both?