Perfect start for Harazimovicz By Ace Ventura Many players have taken the opportunity to set up transnational teams in the Mixed Teams event. In the first round we sat down to follow two of them; Gitelman (Canada and France) vs Harazimovicz (France and Poland). Dealer North, None vul Board 1   ♠ A J 10 8 ♥ 10 9 8 6 ♦ 7 2 ♣ K 5 2 ♠ 7 2 ♥ K J 4 3 2 ♦ K 5 ♣ Q 9 8 7 ♠ 5 4 ♥ Q 7 ♦ A 10 9 4 3 ♣ A J 6 3   ♠ K Q 9 6 3 ♥ A 5 ♦ Q J 8 6 ♣ 10 4 West North East South Gitelman Voldoire Winestock Peyrot   Pass 1♦ 1♠ Dble 2♠ Pass Pass Dble Pass 3♣ Pass Pass 3♠ All Pass   West North East South Lesniewski Cronier Harasimowicz Ovidio   Pass 1♦ 1♠ Dble 2♠ Pass Pass 3♥ 3♠ All Pass   4♣ will make with the king of club on side. Fred Gitelman Sheri Winestock were on their way to a nice club contract, but neither of them wanted to march on to the fourth level. Therefore 3♠ was the final contract at both tables and with five obvious losers there should not be any IMPs exchanging on the first deal of the Championships. In the Closed Room Fred Gitelman led the diamond king then switched to the queen of clubs – one down. After the same lead at the other table, declarer started to get some hope when Marcin Lesniewski continued with a diamond. Ewa Harasimowicz now had to return a diamond, in order to force a ruff from West and dummy, which leaves declarer with only one club discard in dummy. - I just wasn’t on my toes… it was the very first board, Ewa commented with a smile. And she had her reasons to smile, since her team took a solid victory in this match by 24-7 IMPs, converted to 20-10 VPs. Team Harasimowicz lost 5 IMPs on the first board, but should only give away 2 IMPs more. Three flat boards followed and even though this one also was flat, it was exciting when Gitelman/Winestock were walking on thin ice. Dealer North, NS vul Board 5   ♠ 8 7 4 3 ♥ 7 6 5 ♦ 10 7 2 ♣ 10 8 6 ♠ A K J 2 ♥ Q 4 ♦ K 9 8 4 ♣ A 9 2 ♠ Q 9 5 ♥ A J 9 8 3 2 ♦ A 5 3 ♣ K   ♠ 10 6 ♥ K 10 ♦ Q J 6 ♣ Q J 7 5 4 3 West North East South Gitelman Voldoire Winestock Peyrot   Pass 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass 2♥ Pass 2♠ Pass 3♥ Pass 4♣ Pass 4NT Pass 5♠ Pass 6♠ (!) All Pass West North East South Lesniewski Cronier Harasimowicz Ovidio   Pass 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass 2♥ Pass 2NT Pass 3♠ Pass 4♣ Pass 4♦ Pass 4♥ Pass 5♣ Pass 6♥ All Pass     Lesniewski/Harasimowicz reached sensible 6♥ after a perfectly controlled auction. 2NT was game forcing relay and 3♠ showed the distribution 3-6-2-2 or, as here, a singelton king in a minor. 4♣ and 4♦ were cuebids and when Ewa went on with 5♣ over 4♥, Marcin nicely judged that small slam was the spot to be at. For a moment Gitelman/Winestock were headed towards the same contract. 2♠ was artificial game forcing, 3♥ showed six hearts and three spades. Fred’s 4♣ was cue for hearts, he then informed about two aces and the trump queen. Fred now thought everything in the garden was lovely, right to the tray came back – with 6♠! The Canadian pair was lucky this time, since the play was quite straight forward with spades and hearts behaving. No swing! Half of the boards were played and Gitelman & co were still in the lead; 5 to 0. Then came: Dealer East, EW vul Board 6   ♠ J 3 ♥ K 4 ♦ 9 ♣ Q J 10 9 8 6 5 3 ♠ 9 8 2 ♥ 10 8 5 3 ♦ A K 7 3 ♣ A 4 ♠ 10 7 6 4 ♥ A Q J 7 ♦ Q J 8 ♣ K 7   ♠ A K Q 5 ♥ 9 6 2 ♦ 10 6 5 4 2 ♣ 2 West North East South Gitelman Voldoire Winestock Peyrot     1♦ Pass 1♥ 4♣ Pass 5♣ Dble Pass 5♥ Dble All Pass       West North East South Lesniewski Cronier Harasimowicz Ovidio     1♣ Pass 1♥ 4♣ All Pass   Both North players put maximum pressure on East/West with a smart 4♣-bid. Philippe Cronier was left to play there and when the defence ‘forgot’ to attack the heart suit, declarer’s hearts were pitched on spades: contract just made. There were more fireworks at the other table, where Nadine Peyrot took an immediate sacrifice. Sheri Winestock was warned to continue the auction, but when she did the punishment came. North led his singleton diamond and Fred Gitelman didn’t want to gamble with a heart finesse, so he cashed the ace of hearts instead to avoid threatening diamond ruffs, and he was two down: -500 and 9 IMPs to Harazimovicz. Later on a part score gave Harazimivicz 5 IMPs and on the following deal a helpful lead in 3NT resulted in another 10 IMPs.

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