Both Sweden 1 and Austria 1 were near the top of the standings in the Senior Teams when they faced each other yesterday. Halfway through the match Austria had a one-point edge, but Sweden came back to out-IMP Austria, 27-19, for a 17-13 victory.

Seven high card points isn't very many opposite a minimum opening - unless there's a good fit. Sweden found that fit on the first board. In fact Lars Backstrom checked out the possibilities for slam!

Board 13. Dealer North. Game All ª A 7 4 © 8 5 4 ¨ Q J 8 5 § A K 7 ª K 2 ª 10 9 3 © A Q J © 10 9 7 3 2 ¨ A K 10 6 4 2 ¨ 9 7 3 § Q 6 § 4 2 ª Q J 8 6 5 © K 6 ¨ — § J 10 9 8 5 3 West North East South Wernle Hallen Thomasberger Backstrom 1NT(1) Pass 2§ 3¨ Pass Pass 3ª Pass 3NT Pass 4§ Pass 4ª Pass 5§ Pass 5ª All Pass (1) 13-15 HCP

Hans-Olof Hallen, looking at two likely stoppers in diamonds, went for Three Notrump when Backstrom mentioned his spades. Backstrom then proceeded to show his 6-5 hand, but Hallen felt he was not quite good enough and stopped at Five Spades.

When Ingeborg Wernle led the ace of hearts, Backstrom was in great shape. He ruffed the diamond ace continuation, cashed the ace of trumps and gave up a trick to the trump king. He won the heart return and played the top clubs, dropping the queen and making 11 tricks.

At the other table, Carl Rapf and Gerhard Schmidt found their spade fit but stopped at the three level, making four for a 10-IMP loss, the biggest swing of the match. Most of those IMPs flowed back to Austria on the next deal.

Board 14. Dealer East. Love All ª Q 9 8 © A Q J 8 ¨ A 9 8 4 § K 2 ª K 5 4 2 ª J 7 6 3 © K 4 2 © 9 7 3 ¨ J 7 2 ¨ Q 3 § A Q J § 10 8 7 5 ª A 10 © 10 6 5 ¨ K 10 6 5 § 9 6 4 3 West North East South Alfredsson Rapf Ekberg Schmidt Pass Pass 1NT Dble All Pass

Sture Ekberg had no place to go after his partner, Lars Alfredsson, opened One Notrump and Rapf doubled. Alfredsson escaped for down three - minus 500 - but that was 8 IMPs to Austria. Sweden actually played in One Notrump at both tables because Wernle, at the other table, opened One Spade instead of One Notrump, and Hallen overcalled One Trump. He took 10 tricks, but that was only plus 180.

Both North/Souths got to Four Hearts on Board 15, and of course East doubled.

Board 15. Dealer South. NS Game ª K Q 10 8 © 9 7 6 3 ¨ K J 9 § A 9 ª 3 2 ª A 6 5 4 © — © Q J 10 4 2 ¨ 7 6 5 3 ¨ 10 4 § K Q J 7 5 4 3 § 10 2 ª J 9 7 © A K 8 5 ¨ A Q 8 2 § 8 6 West North East South Wernle Hallen Thomasberger Backstrom 1NT 2ª(1) Dble 3§ 3© Pass 4© Dble All Pass (1) Shows clubs

Backstrom took the club king with the ace and led the heart 9, covered by the 10 and won with the ace. He led to the diamond king and cashed the jack. When he led a third diamond, East ruffed. Thomasberger switched to the club 10, and Wernle overtook to lead another diamond, ruffed and overruffed. The defense still had to get the ace of spades, so Backstrom was down one - minus 200.

At the other table the defense managed to get an extra trump trick - down two. 7 IMPs to Sweden. Hellen and Backstrom went for the game on Board 16, but there was no way to avoid four losers.

Board 16. Dealer West. EW Game ª Q 6 © Q 7 4 2 ¨ Q 9 8 § A Q J 5 ª A K J 4 3 ª 10 9 5 2 © A 9 © 8 6 5 ¨ K J 3 ¨ 5 4 § 10 7 4 § 9 8 6 3 ª 8 7 © K J 10 3 ¨ A 10 7 6 2 § K 2 West North East South Wernle Hallen Thomasberger Backstrom 1ª Dble Pass 3© Pass 4© All Pass

The defense quickly cashed two spades, and they had to come to the king of diamonds as well as the ace of trumps. Rapf and Schmidt stopped in Three Hearts, making, for 5 IMPs.

After a push on Board 17, Rapf opened his 20-point hand with One Spade on Board 18.

Board 18. Dealer East. NS Game ª A J 8 3 2 © A K ¨ A 8 7 § A 8 7 ª Q 10 9 5 ª K 4 © J 6 5 4 2 © 9 8 ¨ Q ¨ K J 5 3 § Q 6 4 § K 10 5 3 2 ª 7 6 © Q 10 7 3 ¨ 10 9 6 4 2 § J 9

Schmidt passed, of course, and Rapf managed to take eight tricks - plus 110. Hellen took a different view of the North hand, opening Two Clubs. He rebid Two Notrump over the negative Two Diamond response, and played it there. Thomasberger led her long suit - clubs. Hallen won the third round. When he led a spade, Thomasberger rose with the king and cashed her good clubs. She switched to a heart, and declarer won. West had pitched a spade on one of partner's clubs, so declarer was able to set up his spades by cashing the ace and giving up a trick to the queen. That was down one and 5 IMPs to Austria, now ahead, 18-17.

Sweden regained the lead on the next board when they made two overtrick IMPs. After two pushes, they picked up 7 IMPs on Board 22 when Wernle and Thomasberger hit a snag in their bidding.

Board 22. Dealer East. EW Game ª Q J 6 5 © 9 6 2 ¨ 10 8 7 5 § A 8 ª A 9 8 2 ª 10 7 4 © 5 © K 10 8 4 3 ¨ A K Q 6 2 ¨ J 4 § 10 7 4 § K J 9 ª K 3 © A Q J 7 ¨ 9 3 § Q 6 5 3 2 West North East South Wernle Hallen Thomasberger Backstrom Pass 1§ Dble Pass 2© Pass 3¨ Pass 3NT All Pass

Wernle's takeout double was offshape, and she had a problem when partner jumped in hearts. She showed her good diamond suit, and Thomasberger, perhaps expecting more from partner, carried on to game in notrump. The opening club lead went to the ace, and Wernle rose with the king on the club return. She cashed her five diamond tricks, but when she led a heart, Backstrom won and cashed three clubs. She still had to lose a spade so was down two.

At the other table Alfredsson overcalled instead of doubling, playing the hand for plus 90 in diamonds. The last two hands were simple overtrick swings, one each way, so Sweden became the 17-13 victor.