By Stefan Back

As you all know, Daniela von Arnim of the German Women's team is here in a double function: a) as a player and b) as mom of a two month-old daughter. It is no understatement, that Lara is not the quietest baby on earth, so Daniela and her husband, Klaus "Rops" Reps (npc of the German Open Team) have a lot to do cuddling her, calming her down and carrying her around.

As Klaus sometimes thinks Daniela is "over-concerned" about her little girl, he invented a new and slightly ironical nickname for his wife: "Super Mom". Daniela on the other hand lives in a continuous fear, that Klaus might take her daughter to "TV soccer and beer" or lose her in the dark of the VueGraph.

Here is a typical dialogue from a couple a days ago, when Klaus tried to walk away with Lara. Daniela: "Do you take her with you?" Klaus: "Well, she will not implode if I do, will she?"

After a match Daniela is always eager to leave the table and have a look for her daughter to see if she is all right or in need of some "food". Fortunately all this positive stress leaves her with enough concentration to prove that "Super Mom" is super at the table as well.

In round no. 16 against Iceland she had to play the following "Mini 3 NT":

	ª K 10 8 4 © A Q 8 6 4 ¨ J 8 3 § Q
	ª 6 5 2 © 7 5 ¨ A 4 2 § A K 7 4 2

West	North	East	South
	Auken		von Arnim
Pass	1ª	pass	2NT *
Pass	3NT	all pass

* invitational (probably a minimum, the aggressive style of their opening bids given)

West led ªQ, which holds the trick, and switches to a small club to the queen. What now?
Daniela called for a small heart and must have been happy to see East win with ©10 and return another club. Now she finessed successfully in hearts and cashed ©A to find the suit 3-3. After two more rounds of hearts, she still is in dummy. What now?

	ª K 10 8 © ¨ J 8 3 §
	ª 6 5 © ¨ A 4 § K 7

Daniela now tried the effect of a small spade and the board was over soon. Here is the full deal:

Board 12. Dealer West. N/S Vul.
	ª K 10 8 4 © A Q 8 6 4 ¨ J 8 3 § Q
ª Q J 9 3 © K J 2 ¨ K 7 § 10 9 8 3		ª A 7 © 10 9 3 ¨ Q 10 9 6 5 § J 6 5
	ª 6 5 2 © 7 5 ¨ A 4 2 § A K 7 4 2

East had to take the ace and was left helpless to concede all the tricks but one to "Super Mom", who scored a good-looking 3NT +1.

Eight boards later a hasty comparison confirmed that scoring the vulnerable game had significantly helped to win the match 25:4. But "Super Mom" still looks very focussed and maybe, but only maybe, a little concerned: "By the way, has anyone seen Rops with the baby?"