43rd GENERALI EUROPEAN BRIDGE CHAMPIONSHIPS DAILY BULLETIN Editor: J.-P. Meyer • Co-Editor: M. Horton • Web Editor: Th. Matziaris No.: 9 • Sunday, 22 June 1997

Results	Contents
OPEN Round 18, Round 19 LADIES Round 10, Round 11 SENIORS TEAMS, Round 2, Round 3 BUTLER scoring, Open Round 18 BUTLER scoring, Ladies Round 10	Match of the Day, by Brian Senior Open, Sweden v Denmark by Henry Francis Analysis Gone Mad by Sam Leckie The Jack that came from the cold by Valery Sedov Seumon Deutsch to quit bridge by Henry Francis

The host team had a tough day but stayed firmly in front with a 20VP lead. There is a fierce battle going on behind with no less than eight teams covered by just 17VP. Norway is second, France and Iceland share the third place and Poland are fifth. Don't imagine for a moment that any of them are safe from their pursuers, Spain, Great Britain, Netherlands and Denmark.

Ladies: France go back to the top.

As we approach the half way mark of the championship, France confirmed their aspirations by recapturing first place from Great Britain. Israel is not far behind and Austria is also very close. Like their Open team, the Polish ladies occupy fifth place.

Seniors: Netherlands leads the way.

After three of the thirteen matches to be played, Netherlands A hold a narrow advantage. France and Germany follow them.

by Brian Senior

This was an important match with the leaders facing one of their main challengers. Great Britain took the lead on Board 1. As dealer at Love All, would you open:

	K J 9 3
	J 4
	A 9 8
	Q 7 6 4

Justin Hackett did for Britain, and his systemic bid was 1, making it easy to reach game opposite:

	A Q 8 7 5
	9 6 2
	7
	A J 8 5

Alfredo Versace did not open and then showed a balanced limit raise when Lorenzo Lauria opened 1 in third seat. Lauria did not go on but the perfect fit made game easy; 6 IMPs to Great Britain.

Both East-West pairs bid efficiently to the excellent 6 on Board 5, Bocchi/Duboin taking 15 bids, the last one being the first time the final trump suit was bid; no swing. But the next deal defeated both North/South pairs.

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

It seemed that Bocchi had done something good for his side when he did not raise to 4 as this rather took the sting out of Jason's reopening double. As the Hacketts play negative doubles at this level, South might have had a suitably shaped minimum. But when Justin bid only 4, Jason cuebid 4. When he followed up with 5 over 5 it was clear that he had made a slam try for diamonds and it was a little surprising that Justin did not go on; +420.

Closed Room West North East South Tredinnick G Versace Tredinnick S Lauria Pass 1 3 Pass 4 Dble Pass 4NT Pass 5 All Pass

Here, Lauria's double was known to be strong. The meaning of 4NT is unclear as if it showed both minors Lauria would surely have bid diamonds, while if it was an attempt to show a good hand he might have tried a slam. Anyway, the bottom line was that they stopped in 5 and the lead of 4 to the ace got Gerald Tredinnick a diamond ruff to save the overtrick; +400 but 1 IMP to Great Britain.

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

Jason's canape opening worked badly here as the Italians were happy that they had spades stopped and were not too worried about diamonds. After a spade lead, Duboin unblocked the clubs, crossed to K and cashed out; +600.

Closed Room West North East South Tredinnick G Versace Tredinnick S Lauria Pass Pass 1 1 Pass 2 2 Dble Pass 2 Pass 3 Pass 3 Pass 4 All Pass

The 1 opening worked much better. The Tredinnick twins soon spotted that they didn't have a sound diamond stopper and reached the 6-2 major-suit fit. There was insufficient reason to play for the actual heart position and Gerald was one down, losing two diamonds and two trumps; -100 and 12 IMPs to Italy.

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

Both Norths played 3NT after West had overcalled 1. Stuart Tredinnick led his spade and Versace won the ten with his queen and led a club to the king then the the Q off the table. Stuart won and switched to J to the queen and Versace passed the 10 to Gerald's king. He ducked the K return and now came a club to dummy's jack. Versace now made the key play of the losing club from dummy to West's nine. Now came a heart to dummy and a spade to the ace at trick ten. That squeezed East in the red suits and Versace had nine tricks. Nicely done.

Bocchi led a low diamond and Justin ducked but won the second round. He played a club to dummy then a spade, winning the queen when Duboin split his honours (it might be better to duck the J to improve communications and leave West on play). Now Justin led his low heart to the queen and king and Duboin promptly returned a heart. When that was covered with the jack, forcing dummy's ace, Justin had no dummy entry and no chances. He was one down for a second consecutive 12 IMP swing to Italy who led by 30-12 at the half. Great Britain crept a little closer early in the second half, then came three interesting play hands to end the set.

Board 21. Dealer North. N/S Game Q 4 2 10 8 6 Q 6 3 2 A J 2 K 9 5 J 10 7 6 K 5 2 Q J 9 4 3 K 10 8 4 A 9 Q 10 4 K 3 A 8 3 A 7 J 7 5 9 8 7 6 5

The Tredinnicks stopped safely in 3, making exactly. Buratti was in game in the other room. He opened 1 in second seat and Lanzarotti responded 1, either natural with 3-7 or 12+ HCP or 3-11 with three spades. When Buratti rebid 2, showing five hearts and four spades, Lanzarotti raised aggressively to 4. The British supporters in the viewgraph theatre were pretty happy with this turn of events as it seemed certain that 4 must fail.

Then Jason led a slightly surprising low diamond and suddenly there was danger. The diamond went to the queen and ace - Justin could not afford to duck as this is certainly a partnership which is prepared to underlead aces. Buratti led J, ducked, and a second heart. When Jason took the ace perforce, it seemed that declarer's chance had gone as he failed to unblock dummy's king. But Jason now switched to 9, low from dummy and a long trance from Justin. Finally, he took his ace and got off play with a heat to the king. Buratti crossed to K and had only to finesse the diamond to make his contract. But he had never really believed in the diamond position, jack to three being such an unattractive lead, and he decided to bank on the spade finesse instead; one down and Great Britain had dodged a bullet, gaining 5 IMPs when it might have been 7 IMPs to Italy.

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

Bocchi and Jason played 3NT but there was a very important difference as Bocchi was sitting North and Jason South. Stuart led a spade against Bocchi and this ran round to the jack. Bocchi returned a spade towards the queen so had three spade tricks. With both minor-suits well-placed, that meant nine tricks; +600.

Justin had opened 1 so Lanzarotti led a low diamond. Jason rose with dummy's king, crossed to a heart and led a spade to the jack and king. The defence took their diamond tricks now and we could all see that East would be squeezed in the majors. But Jason had no clue as to the club split and thought it more reasonable to play for the major-suit lengths to be split - which looks with the odds to me. Instead of the simple squeeze against East he played for the double squeeze with East having spades and West hearts and clubs the pivot suit.

Accordingly, he pitched a heart and a club from dummy on the diamonds, won the heart return and played A, spade to the queen and cashed his other heart honour. Had the cards been as he hoped, either one or both majors would have come in or the clubs would now have been 2-2. Alas, on the actual layout there was no pressure and he had to go one down; -100 and 12 IMPs to Italy.

Board 24. Dealer West. Love All K 8 7 3 2 4 3 K 7 4 A K 4 A 9 6 Q J A 8 7 K Q 10 9 A 8 6 5 2 9 3 3 2 Q J 10 7 5 10 5 4 J 6 5 2 Q J 10 9 8 6

Both East-West pairs bid this collection to 3NT, the Tredinnicks after a 1 overcall from North, the Italians after a free auction. Both Norths led a low spade to dummy's jack, leaving declarer in the wrong hand to play clubs to best advantage.

Lanzarotti crossed to hand with A to lead a club up and Justin won the king to play K. There was potential for an embarrassing defensive mix-up here but Jason did not unblock the ten. Now the winning play was for Lanzarotti to win the spade and clear clubs while the spades were blocked. But he ducked and Justin cleared the suit, won the next club and claimed one off. That seemed like a bit of an insulting play by Lanzarotti. Surely Justin would not have won the first club had the honours been split.

Stuart Tredinnick decided that life would sometimes be tough for South if he led the first club off the table ( it might not be easy to play the king from some holdings). Bocchi won the ace, leaving open the possibility that Duboin had failed to rise with the king in second seat, and continued with K. Stuart perhaps had more reason than Lanzarotti for ducking now and hoping there had been a mis-defence. But in practice that just meant the same one down for a push.

There is a point which I suspect did not occur to either declarer. Both Souths Smith-petered at trick two. Would they have done so had they held three small spades, or did this suggest possession of the ten? Not clear, perhaps, but a point worth remembering next time you find yourself in a similar situation.

Anyway, after all the chances for each side, the final result was a 48-35 win for Italy, converting to 17-13 VPs. A satisfactory morning's work for the Azzuri.

Board 2. Dealer East. N/S Game 9 7 5 10 4 A K 9 7 6 3 K Q J 6 A 8 3 2 Q J 7 6 5 K 9 8 3 2 Q 8 5 A 7 5 2 J 10 8 K Q 10 4 A J 10 4 2 9 6 4 3 Open Room West North East South Fredin Koch-Palmund Eriksson Auken Pass Pass 1NT Pass 2 Pass 2 Pass 4 All Pass

Fredin decided on a psychic opening notrump bid in third seat - their usual opening notrump range is 14-16. This worked out very well when Erikssen Staymaned and then raised the heart response to game. This didn't make, of course, but minus 100 got Sweden started on the right track, as the action in the Closed Room shows.

Closed Room West North East South Andersen Nilsland Schaeffer Fallenius Pass Pass 1 2 4 5 All Pass

Andersen started with a third-hand 1, and Nilsland had no trouble finding a diamond overcall. Schaeffer tried to block any further action with his jump to 4, but Fallenius liked his singleton A and four-card support, so he carried on to the diamond game. Nilsland lost just two aces to earn Sweden 11 IMPs

Denmark went for a penalty instead of a game on the next board, and that did not work out well.

Board 3. Dealer South. E/W Game A K J 3 2 8 6 3 9 K Q 7 3 10 9 Q 7 5 A 7 5 2 K Q 8 5 3 2 10 6 10 6 4 A J 9 8 5 2 8 6 4 J 10 9 4 A K Q J 7 4 — Open Room West North East South Fredin Koch-Palmund Eriksson Auken 1 Pass 1 2 Dble All Pass

Closed Room West North East South Andersen Nilsland Schaeffer Fallenius 2(1) Pass 2 Pass 4 All Pass (1) Shows four hearts and a longer minor.

Even though there are four losers in spades, the defense can't taken them because of the heart blockage. West can overtake the second heart and give partner a ruff, but that costs East his trump trick. As a result Nilsland scored his game. But in the Closed Room Auken doubled 2 and Koch-Palmund decided to gamble it out there.It was a bad gamle - the defense was able to take only two tricks each in spades, diamonds and clubs for a one-trick set - plus 200. That sent another 6 IMPs Sweden's way.

On the following board, the difference involved four-card and five-card majors.

Board 5. Dealer North. N/S Game K 4 3 A Q 10 9 7 K J 8 6 3 A Q 9 8 2 4 6 5 3 A Q 10 8 6 2 9 5 4 Q J 9 5 A K 10 2 J 10 7 6 5 K J 8 2 7 3 7 4 Open Room West North East South Fredin Koch-Palmund Eriksson Auken 1 Pass 2 3 All Pass

Closed Room West North East South Andersen Nilsland Schaeffer Fallenius 1 Pass 3 4 Pass 5 All Pass

The Swedes play five-card majors, so Fallenius knew Nilsland had five hearts and so he made a preemptivejump to 3. Certainly Andersen was well-heeled, and he came in with a diamond overcall. And who can blame Schaeffer for thinking that his three trumps plus his clubs would be enough for game? But it wasn't - down one.

The Danes play four-card majors, so Auken did not feel free to make the jump preemptive bid - he merely raised to 2. Fredin found the diamond overcall, of course, but Eriksson did not move - his partner had overcalled at the three-level, not the four. Even if he had raised, chances are Fredin would have passed. As it was, Fredin took his 10 tricks and chalked up a 5-IMP gain. Sweden now had scored 22 unanswered IMPs.

Commentator P.O. Sundelin of Sweden asked Commentator Peter Lund of Denmark if he was ready to toss in the towel. "This match has hardly started," was Peter's response - and subsequent results indicated just how true this was

Board 8. Dealer West. Love All A 9 5 4 A J 6 3 A J 9 4 J J 2 Q 8 7 6 Q 4 2 10 7 5 7 5 10 K Q 10 9 8 3 A 7 6 5 2 K 10 3 K 9 8 K Q 8 6 3 2 4 Open Room West North East South Fredin Koch-Palmund Eriksson Auken Pass 1 Pass 2 Pass 4 Pass 4 Pass 5 Pass 6 All Pass

Is this a good slam? Not according to percentages - it needs precisely three hearts to the queen onside. But the world's top player, Bob Hamman of the United States, says it best: "Any slam that makes is a good slam." According to that statement, this was a good slam.

Closed Room West North East South Andersen Nilsland Schaeffer Fallenius Pass 1 Pass 2 3 4 5 5 All Pass

Nilsland and Fallenius were not as aggressive - they stopped in game. Maybe that was just as well, since they took only 11 tricks - but if they had been in slam, there's no question about it - they would have made it. Denmark had now scored their first IMPs, 11 of them.

Board 9. Dealer North. E/W Game 9 6 3 A Q 2 J 7 5 3 K 7 2 J 10 8 2 A K 7 5 8 7 6 4 3 K J 10 9 5 A Q 8 4 6 A Q J Q 4 — K 10 9 6 2 10 9 8 5 4 3 Open Room West North East South Fredin Koch-Palmund Eriksson Auken Pass 1 1 1 2 4 5 Dble 5 5 All Pass

Koch-Palmund and Auken were a bit conservative on this one. They explored for the slam but signed off in 5. It's not much of a slam, but it really comes down to guessing the spades since the trumps are so well placed. Koch-Palmund wound up with 12 tricks.

Closed Room West North East South Andersen Nilsland Schaeffer Fallenius Pass 1 2 Pass 2NT Dble 3 3 Pass 3 Pass 4 Pass 4 Pass 4 4NT Dble 5 Pass Pass 5 6 Dble All Pass

Lots of North-Souths took the save on this board, usually to their sorrow. Fallenius had to lose six tricks for minus 1100, and Denmark had closed the gap to a single IMP, 22-21 Sweden.

In other matches, Poland and Norway racked up 1400 against the club save, but Monaco got the biggest result - they set their opponents seven tricks in 7 for plus 1700. And the deluge continued on the next board.

Board 10. Dealer East. Game All A J 2 A 10 9 8 6 J 6 10 9 2 Q 8 6 5 4 10 9 7 K J 4 5 Q 5 A K 10 9 8 7 A Q J K 8 7 K 3 Q 7 3 2 4 3 2 6 5 4 3 Open Room West North East South Fredin Koch-Palmund Eriksson Auken 1 Pass 1 Pass 2 Pass 4 All Pass

This seems to be a normal contract. The Swedes found their 5-3 major-suit fit and arrived in what seemed like the most likely game - 4. But it didn't work - there was no way to avoid losing three trump tricks, and the A guaranteed plus 100 to Denmark.

Closed Room West North East South Andersen Nilsland Schaeffer Fallenius 1 Pass 1 Pass 2 Pass 2NT Pass 3 Pass 3NT All Pass

Instead of raising spades, Schaeffer rebid in clubs. With his balanced hand Andersen of course tried notrump, and Schaeffer went on to 3NT, buoyed by his six-card diamond suit and unworried by his singleton heart. This proved to be the ideal contract - there are nine top tricks. That was another 12 IMPs to Denmark, and they pulled into the lead for the first time, 33-22.

Sweden made small pickups on the final two boards of the first half and went into the break down by 6 IMPs, 33-27.

In yesterday session the following hand appeared:

J 10 2 K 8 K J 10 8 K J 7 3 A K 8 7 6 Q 3 A 10 4 Q J 9 5 3 2 A Q 9 7 6 Q 6 9 8 2 9 5 4 7 6 5 4 3 2 A 10 5 4

The contract was Four Hearts by East and a small diamond was led. P.O. Sundelin and his fellow commentators mates suggested playing ace of diamonds, then three rounds of spades, leaving the heart finesse until later on. As you can see there is no problem making ten tricks on this line. Let us assume that the spades are 4-2 and trumps 2-2 or 3-1. When North holds two spades you will go down when he holds the following trump holdings:

K6 K7 K8 K87 K86 K76

Because he will ruff low, put his partner in with a second club and by playing the fourth spade his king of hearts will be promoted. Add to this collection a bare king with North and you will agree that the heart ace is best at trick two by the proverbial mile! The only compliment I can pay P.O. is that he saw the finesse in trumps offside yet still wrongly wanted to take it!

In case you are sceptical, this analysis was verified by 'Goren in a Box.'

Ladies Series Round 9 & Open Series Round 17

Board 24. Dealer West. Love All 10 8 5 2 K 10 3 2 Q 5 J 3 2 A J 7 K 9 6 3 8 5 J 9 7 6 8 7 6 3 K 9 2 Q 8 6 4 7 5 Q 4 A Q 4 A J 10 4 A K 10 9

At most of the tables 3NT was was played from the South hand. Declarers who received a diamond lead were in no difficulty, being able to set up three club tricks to go with a similar number in both red suits.

For example, Russia's Helena Maitova simply played the nine of clubs from hand. It held of course.

It was rather different when her compatriot, Andrew Choudnev was playing against Portugal. He selected as his opening lead the jack of spades! Frightened that West held Jx declarer ducked and it was now a simple matter for the defenders to take three more tricks in the suit. East, Gromov, exited with a club and declarer was helpless. +50 went well with the +430 recorded at the other table.

The Bermuda Bowl in Tunisia will be Seymon Deutsch's last chance to complete the world team championship cycle. He already has a Rosenblum (1994) and an Olympiad (1988) to his credit. No player in history ever has won all three of the major world team championships.

Seymon plans to stop playing high-level bridge after Tunisia - at least for a while. "I have three grandchildren in Florida who are now in school, so I don't get to see them as often as I used to. And don't forget I still have a business to run." At present Seymon takes off about two months a year to play high-level bridge - the three North American championships, the United States Trials and the Cavendish - sometimes a world championship. He wants to spend at least two months a year with his grandkids. "And I can't handle the business if I stay away that much. Something has to give, and it's going to be bridge."

Seymon calls Zia the greatest coach possible. Zia has prepared a list of commonsense rules, and Seymon goes over them every time he plays. Seymon says, "Really, I'm not a very good bridge player. I have some good sessions and I have some bad sessions. But I have a great team. I have two wonderful partners in Michael Rosenberg and Zia. And our other pair, Chip Martel and Lew Stansby, have proved over the years that they are one of the best in the world."

Zia fully agrees that this is a fine team. "The Deutsch team is a great United States team with the courage of the PATHAN, the legendary warriors of the Northwest frontier in Pakistan."

After the Bermuda Bowl, both pairs will join new teams. Zia and Rosenberg will become part of Rita Shugart's team, and Martel and Stansby will be added to the Richard Schwartz's team.

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