The most interesting match drawn for Round 5 seemed to be the encounter at table 6, where the defending champions from Denmark were to face a strong team from the Netherlands. As two (grand) slams came along in these 10 boards, it proved to be an excellent match to watch.

First blood went to the Dutch when the weak NT put the Danish off the right defensive track.

Board 11. Dealer North. None Vul.
	ª K J 10 © 10 8 5 4 ¨ 8 7 § J 10 8 4
ª A Q 6 4 © 9 6 ¨ 5 4 § A Q 7 3 2		ª 3 2 © K J 3 ¨ A Q J 10 9 3 2 § 6
	ª 9 8 7 5 © A Q 7 2 ¨ K 6 § K 9 5

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Van Prooijen	Schaltz	Hoogweg	Schaltz
			1NT
Pass	Pass	3¨	Pass
3NT	All Pass

As you can see, a heart lead followed by a spade switch will easily beat 3NT, but with nothing to guide him, who can blame Peter Schaltz for selecting the §J as his opening lead? When the §Q scored the first trick, the rest was easy when South, having opened 1NT, had to win her ¨K at the first attempt.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Auken	Maas	Auken	Vriend
			1©
2§	2©	3¨	All Pass

After a natural 1© opening bid, the Aukens did not come anywhere near to bidding 3NT and settled for a more normal 110. VRIEND +7 imps.

With very little in the next few boards, we had to wait till near the end for something substantial.

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

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Van Prooijen	Schaltz	Hoogweg	Schaltz
	Pass	1NT	Pass
6NT	All Pass

A sensible, swift auction to the best contract, one would say. VRIEND +990.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Auken	Maas	Auken	Vriend
	Pass	1NT	Pass
2ª	Pass	3¨	Pass
4¨	Pass	4©	Pass
4NT	Pass	5©	Pass
5NT	Pass	7¨	All Pass

2ª showed (among others) a strong balanced hand and 5NT confirmed the aces and asked for extra values. Both the fifth diamond and the ©J proved sufficient extras, even more so when a low heart to the jack at trick three saw the contract home. AUKEN +1440 and 10 imps to take the lead 16-7. This also was the final score of the match.

The next two boards were flat, but by no means without interest.

Board 18. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
	ª Q 8 6 4 © 10 6 5 3 ¨ A 10 7 § A 7
ª 9 2 © A K J 8 ¨ Q 9 5 § K J 10 4		ª A J © Q 9 7 ¨ K J 6 2 § Q 5 3 2
	ª K 10 7 5 3 © 4 2 ¨ 8 4 3 § 9 8 6

One would expect most pairs to end up in 3NT on the EW cards and go two down. This is what happened in our match, but anyone for 4© in the Moysian fit?

The next board was another grand slam, and this time a good one, very well bid at both tables.

Board 19. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
	ª K Q 2 © Q 9 7 2 ¨ K Q J 9 6 2 § -
ª 10 © J 5 3 ¨ 8 5 § K J 9 8 7 5 2		ª J 9 8 5 © 10 8 6 ¨ 10 7 § A Q 10 6
	ª A 7 6 4 3 © A K 4 ¨ A 4 3 § 4 3

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Van Prooijen	Schaltz	Hoogweg	Schaltz
			1ª
Pass	2¨	Pass	2NT
Pass	3§	Pass	3NT
Pass	4¨	Pass	4©
Pass	5§	Pass	5¨
Pass	5©	Pass	6¨
Pass	7¨	All Pass

This auction needs much explanation. 2NT showed a balanced 15-18. 3§ enquired and 3NT was the minimum range, 15-16. 4¨ set trumps and 4© was a cuebid. 5§ then was a Danish asking in clubs, 5¨ denying any club control (very useful information in view of North's void). 5© then was another asking bid and 6¨ showed second-round control as well as three aces. That's all North needed to know. Well bid!

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Auken	Maas	Auken	Vriend
			1ª
Pass	2¨	Pass	3§
Pass	3ª	Pass	4¨
Pass	4NT	Pass	5¨
Pass	5NT	Pass	6¨
Pass	7¨	All Pass

Schaltz Dorthe, Denmark

A much more natural auction in which the 4¨-cue denied club control. So Maas could check the aces and ask for kings with 5NT, the one king shown by 6¨ being the much needed king of hearts. Now Anton could count at least 13 tricks with diamonds as trumps. Well bid too.

Needless to say that a few pairs managed to reach the grand slam, but in the wrong denomination. With the spades not behaving, 7ª has no play. Unlucky?

For the second round of the morning, we chose a match at table 4. Here, yet another Italian team would play a transnational team from Bulgaria and Israel. It might have been a spectacular match, but the boards this time did not cooperate very well. Still, there were some interesting problems for the players.

Board 22. Dealer East. E/W Vul.
	ª Q 6 5 2 © K 5 ¨ 5 § A J 9 7 4 2
ª J 10 9 © 8 4 ¨ A K J 9 7 6 § 10 6		ª 8 7 3 © A J 7 2 ¨ Q 4 3 2 § 8 5
	ª A K 4 © Q 10 9 6 3 ¨ 10 8 § K Q 3

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Mariani	Gumev	Buratti	Popova
		Pass	1©
2¨	Dble	3¨	Dble
Pass	5§	All Pass

The play presented no problems. POPOVA +400.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Zobu	De Falco	Haramati	Olivieri
		Pass	1©
Pass (!)	1ª	Pass	1NT
Pass	2§	Pass	2NT
Pass	4©	All Pass

When Zobu did not judge his hand worth a vulnerable two-level overcall, the Italians soon were in trouble. For systemic reasons, they could not show the clubs as a natural suit, so De Falco could think of nothing better than having a shot at 4©. This is not a bad contract, but with the hearts not behaving, declarer got fatally shortened on continued diamond leads. POPOVA another +50 and 10 imps.

The difference in approach between the sides might have created another swing.

Board 25. Dealer North. E/W Vul.
	ª 5 © Q J 10 9 6 4 ¨ K Q 9 5 § 4 3
ª 8 4 © A 7 ¨ J 10 8 7 4 § K J 5 2		ª 9 7 3 © 8 ¨ A 6 3 2 § A 9 8 7 6
	ª A K Q J 10 6 2 © K 5 3 2 ¨ - § Q 10

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Mariani	Gumev	Buratti	Popova
	Pass	Pass	4ª
All Pass

West led the ¨J, covered and ruffed. From then on, there was no defence. Of course, a club lead and heart shift beats 4ª with 4© cold. So the Italians had lost a chance. POPOVA +420.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Zobu	De Falco	Haramati	Olivieri
	2¨	Pass	2NT
Pass	3§	Pass	3ª
Pass	4¨	Pass	4©
All Pass

After the Multi, 3§ showed a minimum hand with hearts, and 3ª did not necessarily show a willingness to play in that suit. 4¨ was a feature and 4© then became the correct final contract for a flat board.

Popova led 14-1 which also became the final score, when this board arrived:

Board 29. Dealer North. All Vul.
	ª J 2 © A J 10 4 ¨ A 10 4 § J 9 7 4
ª A 10 8 5 © K 9 3 ¨ Q 9 5 3 2 § 2		ª 6 4 © Q 8 6 ¨ K J 7 § A K Q 8 3
	ª K Q 9 7 3 © 7 5 2 ¨ 8 6 § 10 6 5

Dano de Falco, Italy

3NT by East was the contract at both tables and both Souths led a spade. Both Norths won the jack and returned the suit, but from there the paths diverged.

In the Open Room, Buratti ducked in dummy, giving up her chance to make the contract. The loss of two red aces and a club can no longer be avoided.

In the Closed Room, Haramati gave herself a chance by winning the ªA and leading two rounds of diamonds.

North has to duck these, and now declarer can play four rounds of clubs, leaving North on play. She played a third diamond to North, however, who returned the §7. If declarer wins this and plays off three more rounds, North will be in again, having to open up the heart suit to present declarer with her contract. When declarer ducked the §7 instead, she could no longer recover. So no swing, but another missed chance…