43rd GENERALI EUROPEAN BRIDGE CHAMPIONSHIPS DAILY BULLETIN Editor: J.-P. Meyer • Co-Editor: M. Horton • Web Editor: Th. Matziaris No.: 8 • Saturday, 21 June 1997

Results	Contents
OPEN Round 15, Round 16, Round 17 LADIES Round 7, Round 8, Round 9 SENIORS TEAMS, Round 1 BUTLER scoring, Open Round 16 BUTLER scoring, Ladies Round 8	Match of the Day, by Henry Francis Open Teams, Italy v Spain by Brian Senior Open Teams, Sweden v Spain by Henry Francis

Italy had a rather low total for the day - 2VP points below average, but they still have a respectable advantage of 27VP over France, who has moved into second place. Iceland retained third place, just in front of Great Britain and Norway.

Great Britain surge into the lead

Great Britain surge into the lead In the Ladies Series, the British team steamed up to take the lead from Israel and France, the latter having had a hard task yesterday. Spain and Austria hold a tiny part of their possible tickets for the Venice Cup.

France is the early leader

France is the early leader In the Seniors, only one match was played yesterday, and the French outfit took the lead with a 25-4 victory over Poland B.

New Technology

We may shortly be witnesses to a historic moment in the way in which technological progress is applied to the work of the Appeal Committee. In the past, videotape evidence has been available, but only in the Open Room. In Montecatini, the computers recording the bidding and play are programmed to register the exact delay for a bid or play of a card, as soon as the period of time exceeds ten seconds. In an appeal, which will be reported later, such evidence was placed before the committee in a case involving an alleged break of tempo.

by Henry Francis

It was a case of Greeks bearing gifts and Brits bearing gifts, but the Greeks offered more gifts and found themselves trailing at the halfway mark, 55-21. The Brits scored their first gain on the very first board. This one was not a gift - Justin Hackett earned the 6 IMPs with his aggressive double.

Board 1. Dealer North. Love All A Q 8 4 3 K 4 3 A 10 6 4 2 10 K J 5 2 A Q 10 9 5 6 7 3 J 9 5 A K 10 8 5 Q J 9 7 6 9 7 6 J 8 7 2 K Q 8 2 4 3 Open Room West North East South Lambrinos Hackett Ju. Filios Hackett Ja. 1 Pass 2 2NT Pass 3 Pass 3 Pass 3NT Pass Pass Dble All Pass

Justin's opening spade lead rode to the 10, and Lambrinos proceeded to cash his five clubs. Justin and Jason were careful with their discards, giving nothing away. Eventually they took four diamonds, the A and the K for plus 300.

Closed Room West North East South Calderwood Militsopoulos Shek Kannavos 1 Pass 2 3 Pass 3NT All Pass

Here the Brits averted the double, and the defense slipped a trick on the defense - minus 50 - 6 IMPs to Great Britain. The next board gave no appearance of being a swing deal, but once again appearances were deceiving.

Board 2. Dealer East. N/S Game A Q 10 7 9 7 6 A K 10 7 10 5 J 5 2 6 3 8 5 3 A K Q 9 8 5 3 Q J 6 2 Q 3 2 J 9 6 4 K 9 8 4 J 10 4 2 4 A K 8 7 Open Room West North East South Lambrinos Hackett Ju. Filios Hackett Ja. 1 Dble Pass 3NT All Pass

A normal contract and a reasonably normal result - plus 630 at 3NT. After cashing the A at trick one, Filios guessed the wrong switch, leading a diamond, which gave declarer the extra trick.

Closed Room West North East South Calderwood Militsopoulos Shek Kannavos 1NT Pass 2 Pass 2 All Pass

Kannavos had no good action over the weak notrump, and Calderwood decided he'd better run out with his bust of a hand. Shek showed no major suit, and Calderwood passed, hoping nothing catastrophic was going to happen. Nothing did - both South and North quietly passed. Of course Shek didn't make his bid, but going down two still was worth 11 IMPs. And now we come to a couple of British gifts.

Board 3. Dealer South. E/W Game A 8 K 10 9 6 4 3 6 10 8 7 5 6 K J 9 7 5 2 8 2 Q 7 5 10 9 7 5 4 A A K 9 4 3 Q 6 2 Q 10 4 3 A J K Q J 8 3 2 J Open Room West North East South Lambrinos Hackett Ju. Filios Hackett Ja. 1 Pass 2 2 3 Pass 4 All Pass

After winning the A, Filios switched to a club, won by Lambrinos with the king. Justin ruffed the A continuation with the jack. He led a top diamond, pitching a spade, but Filios ruffed and got out with a trump. Declarer won, crossed to the A and drew the last trump. As predicted by commentator Guido Ferrara, he then led the 10, the more spectacular play - a "must" on Rama. This up the second undertrick.

Closed Room West North East South Calderwood Militsopoulos Shek Kannavos 1 2 1 1 2 Pass 2 All Pass

The Greeks took the same eight tricks, but they gained 5 IMPs by stopping at the two level. The Brits were conservative on Board 7, and it paid off - in reverse.

Board 7. Dealer South. Game All K Q J 9 4 10 7 2 A 7 10 5 2 6 5 3 8 7 Q 8 A J 9 6 5 3 K J 9 6 3 2 Q 8 5 4 K J A A 10 2 K 4 10 Q 9 8 7 6 4 3 Open Room West North East South Lambrinos Hackett Ju. Filios Hackett Ja. 1 1 1 2 Dble Pass 3 4 All Pass

The auction was spirited up to a point, but Justin decided against game on his second turn - although he showed some extras with his jump bid. Then Jason had the opportunity to go on to the spade game (his earlier double was a support double showing three spades). He felt he didn't have enough in reserve, so he passed. Lambrinos lost the expected four tricks for down one, a very good result for Greece.

Closed Room West North East South Calderwood Militsopoulos Shek Kannavos 1 1 1 3 Pass 4 4 5 Pass Pass Dble All Pass

Militsopoulos had no problem - he drove directly to the spade game. Shek did the best he could - he took the diamond save, but that still was a 9-IMP loss when this was set 500.

There was a strange result at Sweden's table where they made 4 at one table and 4 at the other for a 15-IMP pickup on the pair of 620s.

Greece made another gain on the next deal.

Board 8. Dealer West. Love All A Q 9 5 4 2 K 7 10 7 A K 7 10 7 6 8 3 A 10 9 5 4 3 A K 4 3 Q 8 5 10 9 8 5 2 Q J 6 K J K 4 Q J 8 6 2 4 3 Open Room West North East South Lambrinos Hackett Ju. Filios Hackett Ja. 1 1 Dbl Pass 2 2 All Pass

The Hacketts were uncharacteristically conservative here. Justin bid only 2 at his second turn, probably because Jason had passed on his first turn. Jason had reasonable support for Justin's six-card suit, but did not move. Plus 170.

Closed Room West North East South Calderwood Militsopoulos Shek Kannavos 1 Dble 1 Dble 2 2 Pass 2NT Pass 3NT

Kannavos acted on his first turn, echoing his partner's takeout double. When Militsopoulos tried 2, Kannavos corrected to 2NT and was raised to game. There was nothing to the play - Kannavos took 10 tricks for a 6-IMP gain. The only slam swing of the first half occurred on Board 11.

Board 11. Dealer South. Love All 9 6 3 7 4 3 A J 5 4 A J 5 A K Q J 8 5 10 7 2 A Q J 10 6 2 — K 8 6 3 10 4 K Q 6 3 2 4 K 9 8 5 Q 10 9 7 2 9 8 7 Open Room West North East South Lambrinos Hackett Ju. Filios Hackett Ja. Pass 1 Pass 2 Pass 4 Pass 4 Dble Redble Pass 4 All Pass

Lambrinos and Filios did a little investigating but finally settled in game. But this is how Calderwood and Shek handled the East-West cards.

Closed Room West North East South Calderwood Militsopoulos Shek Kannavos Pass 1 Pass 1 Pass 2 Pass 2NT Pass 3 Pass 3 Pass 4 Pass 4 Pass 4NT Pass 5 Dble 5 Pass 6 All Pass

That double of 5 has little to recommend it, and in fact it convinced Militsopoulos to lead his A. Calderwood of course ruffed and immediately attacked clubs. Militsopoulos rose with the ace - not best under the circumstances - and continued with the J to the queen. Calderwood got rid of one heart on the K, then was able to crossruff for 12 tricks and an 11-IMP gain.

We saw an unusual tally on the scoreboard when Czech Republic played in 6 Redoubled, making, for plus 1620 - good for a 15-IMP gain.

Board 12. Dealer West. N/S Game A J 2 A 9 8 6 A J 9 4 5 4 K 5 3 10 9 8 6 4 10 2 K 5 Q 7 6 5 2 8 Q 9 8 A K J 7 3 Q 7 Q J 7 4 3 K 10 3 10 6 2 Open Room West North East South Lambrinos Hackett Ju. Filios Hackett Ja. Pass 1NT 2 Dble Pass 2NT Pass 3 Pass 4 All Pass

This was another 11-IMP gain for the British. The Hackett brothers had only 22 high card points between them, but they found their way to game. This was by no means a sure thing, but the opening spade lead made it a little easier when Jason allowed it to run to his queen. Later he was able to finesse spades and throw a diamond on the ace, thereby avoiding the diamond guess. The bidding was not available in the Closed Room, but Greece wound up in 3, going down one trick.

First versus second on viewgraph. Italy started the match over 30 VPs clear of the field but the first half of the match suggested that Spain might make significant inroads into that lead.

Board 4. Dealer West. Game All A 8 7 6 3 2 A 10 8 3 K 7 4 5 4 Q J 10 9 7 2 K Q J 5 8 6 3 A J 10 9 6 5 2 K Q 7 3 K J 9 6 5 4 A Q 10 9 4 2 8 Open Room West North East South Torres Buratti Frances Lanzarotti Pass 1 Pass 2 Pass 2 Pass 3 Pass 3 Pass 3NT Pass 4 All Pass

Given a free run, the Italians had no difficulty in stopping at a safe level. Lanzarotti got the trumps right for +650.

Closed Room West North East South Duboin Goded Bocchi Lanteron 2NT 3 Pass 4 Pass 4 Pass 5 Pass 5 All Pass

Duboin's 2NT opening, showing a bad pre-empt in an unspecified minor, made life much tougher in the other room. Goded bid 3 for takeout and Lanteron showed at least two places to play by cuebidding in response. Each player in turn bid his long suits and finally they alighted in 5, stopping just in time. There was no danger of getting the trumps wrong after the 2NT opening so Lanteron made the same eleven tricks as Lanzarotti; +650 for a push.

Board 8. Dealer West. Love All J 5 4 2 Q 2 10 8 5 A K J 8 Q 9 A K 10 8 7 5 3 J 10 8 7 9 6 4 2 J 7 Q 10 9 7 5 3 6 2 6 A K 9 6 5 4 3 A K Q 3 4 Open Room West North East South Torres Buratti Frances Lanzarotti Pass Pass 2 Dble 3 Dble Pass 4NT Pass 5 Pass 7 All Pass

On viewgraph, Bocchi struck a well-timed blow for Italy by opening 3 in third seat. Lanteron had a lot more than he might have had for a simple 4 overcall but could see nothing better. That ended the auction and he just had to lose a spade; +480. There was more action in the other room:

Closed Room West North East South Duboin Goded Bocchi Lanteron 2NT 3 Pass 4 Pass 4 Pass 5 Pass 5 All Pass

So much for the good Italian result on viewgraph! Whatever 5 meant to North, it clearly meant something different to South. The spade lead resulted in a quick one off for -50 and 11 IMPs to Spain.

Board 12. Dealer West. E/W Game 10 7 5 A 7 4 7 5 3 10 8 5 3 8 6 3 2 K Q J J 9 5 8 6 3 A 9 K J 10 2 K 9 7 2 J 6 4 A 9 4 K Q 10 2 Q 8 6 4 A Q

Lanzarotti opened 1 and rebid 1NT over Buratti's 1 response, while Lanteron opened 1NT. Both played there on a spade lead.

Lanzarotti ducked but won the second spade and exited with a third round. Frances switched to J, ducked, and a second diamond to the ace. Torres cashed the thirteenth spade, dummy pitching a club and Frances a heart. Declarer thought he had no legitimate line from here, perhaps, and pitched Q, hoping that West would play him for A Q J and not switch to the suit. Now he could lead towards the Q for his seventh trick.

But Torres did switch to a club and Frances played low, leaving Lanzarotti no option but to cash out for one off; -100. Lanteron did rather better, though it took the viewgraph audience a long time to see that he was going to succeed. He won the third spade and exited with a low diamond and Duboin was allowed to win the nine. He cashed the last spade - club, heart and diamond discard. Now Duboin cashed A to avoid a later endplay, to the applause of the audience, and switched to a heart. Lanteron began to cash the hearts and suddenly it dawned on one or two of the watchers that the contract was going to come home.

What was East to pitch on the fourth heart? Obliged to keep the K, Bocchi had to throw a club and now Lanteron could play ace and queen of clubs, pinning the jack, and dummy's ten made the last trick. A nicely played +90 and 4 IMPs to Spain who led 24-0 at half-time.

Spain missed a great chance to extend their lead on Board 15 when Goded had a complete blind spot to go down in a trivial game which had not been reached at the other table. That turned +11 into -4 IMPs and his anguish when he realised what he had done was plain to see.

It seemed that this board had changed the momentum of the match because two boards later the Italians had a big slice of luck.

Board 17. Dealer North. Love All J 9 6 4 2 A Q 6 J 7 6 J 7 Q 8 7 5 3 9 7 2 J 8 5 4 3 A K 8 2 Q 10 3 A 8 3 2 10 5 A K 10 K 10 9 5 4 K Q 9 6 4

4 is a pretty dreadful contract and Goded/Lanteron got it played by South after a 1NT opening and transfer sequence. That put the ace,king of diamonds on lead and three rounds of those followed by a club switch meant that Lanteron was down before he even got to the spade guess. Of course, he now had no reason to get spades right and was two down; -100.

Bocchi/Duboin play very light opening bids as a matter of system and the North hand qualified as a 1 opening for Bocchi. Not surprisingly, he soon found himself in 4, but with the crucial difference that he received a heart lead. That gave Bocchi an opportunity to play three rounds of hearts to pitch a diamond from the dummy, but more good fortune was required because, of course, he had to knock out the A and the defense could then force dummy to ruff a diamond.

So there was no spade guess at this table, the queen had to be doubleton and also not in the same hand as a doubleton club. Sure enough, the spades were just as Bocchi needed them to be and he scored up a fortunate +420 and 11 IMPs, bringing Italy a lot closer.

But the next swing was to Spain and it completely wiped out the Italian gain.

Board 20. Dealer West. Game All J 8 6 K Q A Q 6 J 10 8 4 3 K 9 4 7 5 2 A 6 3 J 10 9 4 K 8 7 9 5 4 3 2 Q 9 7 6 5 A Q 10 3 8 7 5 2 J 10 A K 2

Both Norths declared 3NT but there was a crucial difference in the auctions. Lorenzo Lauria had opened 1 with the West cards while José Torres had passed. Both Easts led J to the ace and the 6 was returned to the king. Now the roads diverged.

Bocchi led a spade to the queen at trick three and Torres ducked smoothly. Bocchi played three rounds of clubs and Torres won and switched to 8. Can Bocchi be blamed for rising with the ace and relying on the spade finesse? After all, that finesse had already scored once and to take the diamond finesse would only be correct when West had passed a 12-count and found this devilish defense. In fact, Frances had thrown enough spades on the clubs that Bocchi knew not to finesse again so was only one down; -100.

Of course, Bocchi would probably have gone down even had Torres taken the spade and led his last heart. He must discard twice from hand on the hearts and has to commit himself to either the diamond finesse or bringing in the clubs and is likely to plump for the latter, losing option. Goded, who had seen Lauria open the bidding remember, tried a different line. At trick three he played a club to dummy then led a diamond. Lauria made life as awkward as he could by covering, leaving the suit blocked. Now Goded played a spade to the queen. In practice, Lauria took the K and led a heart and declarer had the communications to unravel the diamonds for nine tricks; +600 and 12 IMPs to Spain.

Suppose that Lauria ducks the spade. On the actual lie, it is good enough to unblock the diamond and lead a low spade towards the jack. West can take the king and the defense takes its heart tricks but the J is an entry to the diamond and the K to the A. But if clubs are 3-2 that is not good enough as East can play a club through after cashing the hearts. Now declarer can cash either A or Q but not both and is one down. Instead, if the Q scores declarer must play three rounds of clubs. Again the defense take their hearts but now declarer needs only two diamond tricks to go with two spades, four clubs and a heart, so can overtake the jack with the queen to get to hand.

Board 21. Dealer North. N/S Game 6 2 A J 7 6 A K 10 K 9 8 5 A Q J 3 9 4 9 Q 5 3 2 9 6 3 J 5 4 2 A Q 10 7 4 J 6 2 K 10 8 7 5 K 10 8 4 Q 8 7 3 Open Room West North East South Torres Buratti Frances Lanzarotti 1NT Pass 2 Dble Redble Pass 2 Pass 3 Pass 4 All Pass

With three top losers and unfavourable breaks in both majors, 4 is doomed to fail. But the auction convinced Torres to try the A and after this opening lead careful play duly saw Duboin home for a great +620.

Closed Room West North East South Duboin Goded Bocchi Lanteron 1 Pass 1(1) Pass 1NT Pass 2 Pass 3 All Pass (1) Spades

With declarer having shown a spade suit, there would have been no temptation for Lauria to lead A so the Spanish pair did the best they could by stopping in 3, but even that proved to be too high when Lanteron misjudged the play. Lauria led a diamond and declarer won on table to play a spade to the king and ace. The diamond continuation was also won in dummy and a second spade played to the ten and queen. Lauria played a third diamond and Lanteron won and led 7, ruffing low when the three appeared. Versace did well now, pitching a club. Lanteron was in the wrong hand now and led a low club off the dummy. Versace went in with the jack and switched to a low trump for the nine and jack and declarer ruffed a club to hand and led another spade.

When he again ruffed low, Versace could over-ruff and play another trump and the contract was one light; -100 and 12 IMPs to Italy. While it was likely that West had the Q because Versace had been unable to over-ruff earlier, the actual position was surely more likely than that West was now void in clubs as that would have given East A Q J 10 6 2 and he might have bid at some point. That being the case, ruffing the spade high and playing to ruff a club with 10 would ensure the contract.

Board 23. Dealer South. Game All K 10 8 9 7 6 Q 6 2 A 9 3 2 9 4 A 6 5 3 A 8 K Q 5 2 A K 7 5 3 J 9 Q J 7 5 K 8 4 Q J 7 2 J 10 4 3 10 8 4 10 6

Both East-West pairs had a free run to 3NT by East and both Duboin and Lanteron led 2 to the king. Frances and Versace both ducked two rounds of spades and won the third round to play a 8 to the queen and ace. Perhaps North should duck the club but the position was awkward enough when he won and returned a low club.

Frances ran the club to dummy's jack and played a third round to his king. Now his sights were clearly set on a squeeze as he exited with his last spade. Duboin won and in turn exited with a diamond to dummy's ace. Frances cashed the other top diamond and would have been home had either defender held four hearts along with the 9 or sole guard of the diamonds. When neither of those eventualities materialised, he had to concede one down; -100.

Versace won the club return in hand. The winning play now is to pass the J to North but versace tried the 9 instead. Lanteron was alert enough to cover with the ten, forcing Versace to win the ace. Now he cashed the other top diamond and Goded threw his queen, leaving Lanteron with the eight as an entry if Versace tried to establish the suit. Versace now played four rounds of hearts, hoping to find North winning the fourth round and obliged to lead into dummy's J 7 at trick twelve (note the importance of unblocking the 8 at trick four). But South had the long heart along with two winners so Verscace was two down; -200 and 3 IMPs to Spain.

A nicely played and defended hand but what if Versace, instead of cashing the hearts, had cashed dummy's J, playing for a different squeeze? South would not be able to keep four hearts and both the master diamond and spade. Whatever he discarded would have seen the contract home. At the end of a fascinating set of deals Italy had fought back well to lose by only 37-39, a 15-15 draw in Victory Points.

Spain had much the better of it during the first half of their match against Sweden yesterday. The very first board was going to be a swing one way or the other - it all depended on the position of the K.

Board 1. Dealer North. Love All A K J 10 9 Q 9 6 4 A 8 A 2 Q 7 6 5 4 3 2 5 2 K 7 6 5 3 K J 10 9 2 K 10 7 6 5 Q 8 8 A J 10 8 7 3 Q 4 J 9 4 3 Open Room West North East South Wasik Nilsland Knap Fallenius 1 Dble 1 2 4 Pass 4 All Pass

Closed Room West North East South Fredin Goded Eriksson Lanteron 1 Pass 1NT Pass 2NT Pass 3 Pass 5 Pass 6 All Pass

Another triumph for aggressiveness! The K was in the gate, so it was child's play to take all 13 tricks at both tables. This gave Spain a great start - 11 IMPs.

Commentator Peter Lund said there was blood on the table on Board 3.

Board 3. Dealer South. E/W Game 4 2 10 7 4 3 2 Q 9 4 J 10 3 K 9 5 10 6 A J 5 K Q A 8 6 5 K J 10 7 Q 7 2 A K 8 6 5 A Q J 8 7 3 9 8 6 3 2 9 4 Open Room West North East South Wasik Nilsland Knap Fallenius 3 Pass 4 Dble All Pass

Fallenius decided on a three-level preempt, and Nilsland, with no defensive prospects whatsoever, carried on to 4. Knap expressed doubt that Fallenius could make 10 tricks. Wasik led a club to the king, and Knap quickly cashed the K and the A before switching back to the Q. Wasik overtook with the ace and led the jack. East ruffed this with the 10 to lead a club back, ruffed by declarer with the 3. Fallenius took the ace of trumps, then led the J to the king. West took his A and led to partner's king. Now Knap added the coup de grace - he led another club, setting up partner's 9 for the sixth undertrick. That's right - Fallenius took four trump tricks and that's all - minus 1400.

Closed Room West North East South Fredin Goded Eriksson Lanteron 2 Pass 2 2NT Pass 3NT All Pass

With the minor suits behaving, declarer had no trouble racking up 12 tricks - up 690 and +12 IMPs. Spain gained another good swing on Board 5.

Board 5. Dealer North. N/S Game Q J Q 8 5 J 6 A J 10 9 7 6 9 4 K 10 7 5 K 9 4 3 2 J 6 A 7 K 8 5 4 3 2 Q 5 3 2 8 A 8 6 3 2 A 10 7 Q 10 9 K 4 Open Room West North East South Wasik Nilsland Knap Fallenius 1 Pass 1 Dble 2 Pass 3NT All Pass

The opening heart lead went 8, jack, ace. Everyone in vugraph thought Fallenius would go after clubs, but he surprised the crowd by attacking spades. The jack was taken by the king, and Knap fired back a second heart to partner's king, and Wasik cleared the suit.

Continuing with his original plan, Fallenius won the Q, crossed to the K and was sorely disappointed when the A failed to drop the suit. When he then led a club, the vugraph audience was surprised again when Fallenius went up with the ace instead of finessing. Down two on a hand that could have been made with an initial attack on the clubs. Even though a club must be lost, declarer still would have a heart left to get back to the good clubs.

Closed Room West North East South Fredin Goded Eriksson Lanteron Pass Pass 1 Pass 1NT 3 Pass Pass Dble All Pass

The defense slipped a trick here and inflicted only a one-trick defeat. But that translated into a 7-IMP gain. At this point Spain led, 30-4. Sweden got six of those Imps back on the next board.

Board 6. Dealer East. E/W Game Q J 9 5 3 2 K 4 A 9 K 6 3 K 10 6 4 8 7 A J 9 8 5 J 3 2 K 10 8 7 5 4 8 4 A Q 10 9 A Q 10 7 6 3 2 Q 6 J 7 5 2

Nilsland arrived in 2 in the Open Room with Knap interjecting a diamond bid along the way. Nilsland eventually caught Knap in an endplay to rack up his partscore. But the gain came because Fredin and Eriksson were a bit more aggressive in the Closed Room

Closed Room West North East South Fredin Goded Eriksson Lanteron 2 Pass 3 3 All Pass

There's a rarity - an opening 2 bid that really means diamonds! Fredin raised the preempt, but Godad wasn't going to be talked out of bidding. He lost two trumps, two hearts, a diamond and two clubs and suffered a three-trick set.

Four more IMPs came back on the next deal.

Board 7. Dealer South. Game All K J 10 7 6 5 K 9 5 K Q 3 2 A Q 8 4 2 9 9 5 4 2 A Q J 10 Q 8 A K 10 6 3 2 J 9 10 7 3 8 7 6 3 J 7 4 A 8 6 5 4 Open Room West North East South Wasik Nilsland Knap Fallenius Pass Pass 1 2 Pass Pass 2 Dble All Pass

In the Closed Room Fredin and Eriksson quickly arrived at 4 and moments later claimed 11 tricks when the K came down on the first round of trumps. But in the the Open Room the bidding was different.

This was going to be a good save - the only question was how many tricks could declarer find? Well, the bad trump break of course gave him a problem, and clearly three minor suit tricks had to be lost. But the defense was strong, forcing him to ruff early, and he was able to score only one club and four five trumps - down 500. The remainder of the first half of this match produced little of interest.

Return to Top of page

To List of Bulletins