The unforgettable final in the Women's World Championship in Paris last year found its perfect continuation when Germany and France met in round 15. A lot of difficult boards and a number of "big points" made watching an entertaining pleasure.

Germany had the better start:

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

West	North	East	South
Bessis	Auken	d'Ovidio	Weber
			Pass
1NT	Pass	2§*	Pass
2¨	Pass	3ª *	Pass
3NT	All Pass

* five hearts and four spades

Sabine Auken led ¨5 to declarer's king. After ©J to the queen, king and ace and another diamond to the ace, Veronique Bessis laid down ©10. To her disappointment North showed out. Next came a spade to the ace and a spade back to jack and queen. When North cleared the diamonds, there was no way to score more than seven tricks; Germany +200.

In the other room Rauscheid - Nehmert for Germany bid 3NT as well. Again, a diamond was led, but Andrea Rauscheid was more suspicious when her ©10 was covered by North's queen. When a heart came back she took the trick and turned her attentions to spades. The winning move now was to play the ªJ as North erred by not covering. South won with the king and cashed a heart, before she shifted back to diamonds. Declarer took ¨A, played a spade to the ten and established a heart trick; Germany: +600 and 13 IMPs in.

The German lead was extended to 29-0, when France bid an all-to-ambitious slam in the Closed Room:

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

West	North	East	South
Rauscheid	Cronier	Nehmert	Willard
Pass	1§	1©	2¨
Pass	3NT	Pass	4§
Pass	4¨	Pass	4©
Pass	5¨	Pass	6§
All Pass

Unfortunately for France the board was over soon. Declarer lost trump control and finished four down; Germany: +400.

At the other table, North/South settled for game in no trumps, when they heard that their hands didn't fit well:

West	North	East	South
Bessis	Auken	d'Ovidio	Weber
Pass	1NT	Pass	2NT *
Pass	3¨	Pass	3© **
Pass	3NT	All Pass

* transfer to diamonds, ** shortness in hearts

East led a heart to the jack and king and North had an easy ride when East's §K fell on the first round; Germany +630 and 14 IMPs.

On the next eight boards some smaller swings reduced Germany's lead to 36-14, when board 13 hit the table to bring France well back into the match:

Board 13. Dealer North. All Vul.
	ª Q 10 6 4 © K Q 8 7 ¨ Q J 10 § 5 2
ª K J 7 © 9 5 2 ¨ 9 2 § K J 10 9 3		ª A 9 © A 10 4 3 ¨ K 7 5 4 § A 8 4
	ª 8 5 3 2 © J 6 ¨ A 8 6 3 § Q 7 6

Pony Nehmert had to play 3NT from the East seat and received ª5 lead. She won with the ace and let §8 run. Then she cashed §A and - hoping for the best - finessed in spades to come to nine tricks. As this manoeuvre lost to North her only chance later on was a diamond to the king, which didn't work as well. Declarer was therefore held to eight tricks; France +100.

In the Open Room Catherine d'Ovidio took the ª2 lead with the ace and played §A and a club to the jack. Now she tried a small diamond, North played the queen and East ducked. North switched to ©K, which held, and another heart to South's jack, who switched back to a small spade. Declarer took some time, a deep breath and finally called for the king, putting her money on a successful heart finesse to the 10. Nine tricks, France: +600 and 12 IMPs to close the gap with Germany still leading 36-26.

More IMPs were at stake, when a slammish hand followed immediately.

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

West	North	East	South
Rauscheid	Cronier	Nehmert	Willard
		1NT *	Pass
2§	Pass	2ª	Pass
4ª	all Pass

* 11-13

In the Closed Room Rauscheid - Nehmert stopped in 4ª making six; Germany: +480.

At the other table Bessis - d'Ovidio were soon on the way to six:

West	North	East	South
Bessis	Auken	d'Ovidio	Weber
		1§	Pass
2§*	Pass	2NT	Pass
3©**	Pass	3ª	Pass
3NT***	Pass	4¨	Pass
4©	Pass	4ª	Pass
4NT****	Pass	5ª	Pass
6ª	All Pass

* game forcing, ** four spades, *** asking for controls, **** Roman keycard

Once again twelve easy tricks, France: + 980 and for the first time in the match in the lead by 1 IMP, 37-36. Three boards and an overtrick-IMP to Germany later, the match stood at the razor's edge, 37-37.

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

In the Closed Room, the bidding was short and sweet … for Germany:

West	North	East	South
Rauscheid	Cronier	Nehmert	Willard
		1ª	All Pass

Pony Nehmert was left to play on the one-level, where she came to four spade tricks and §A; France: +100.

Could North/South in the Open Room do better and reach game?

West	North	East	South
Bessis	Auken	d'Ovidio	Weber
		1ª	1NT
Pass	2¨*	Pass	2NT**
Pass	3¨**	Pass	3©
Pass	4©	all Pass

* hearts, ** maximum, 4-card support, *second transfer attempt

Elke Weber chose the right moment for a nice little experiment, treating her 4-4-4-1 as balanced and Sabine Auken took the chance to transfer her hearts. When her partner showed a maximum hand, North transferred again and finally raised South to game.
West led a spade to the queen and ace. South decided to play this one safe: Heart to the ace and a heart to the queen and king. Back came a club to the ten and another club. South ruffed, drew the outstanding trump and claimed for ten tricks; Germany: +620 and 11 IMPs ahead.

Two boards to go and the match was far from over:

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

Here is the Closed Room bidding:

West	North	East	South
Rauscheid	Cronier	Nehmert	Willard
			1¨
Pass	3¨	Dble	3©
3ª	3NT	All Pass

Pony Nehmert proved to be up to the task not to lead her partner's suit and went for ©K instead. Now, declarer could only take eight tricks and finished one down; Germany: +50.

There was more action in the other room, where Sabine Auken had to face three difficult bidding problems:

West	North	East	South
Bessis	Auken	d'Ovidio	Weber
			1¨
1ª	2ª*	3¨**	3©
Pass	3NT	4ª	Pass
Pass	5¨	Dble	all Pass

* forcing, ** spade fit

South could have made life easier for her partner, had she doubled 4ª on her own. When she passed and left the decision to North, Sabine had to guess whether her partner held ©A - a card that would ensure heart ruffs to defeat 4ª. After a long trance she went for the "cheap" solution and bid 5¨, which could have been either a makeable game or a non-expensive save.

West led a club and South could do no better than come to ten tricks; France: +100 and 2 IMPs.

Another 5 IMPs on the last board to France saw Germany win this prestigious encounter 48-44, 16:14 respectively, in an exciting match that definitely makes journalists and readers look forward to more Paris re-matches in the future.