Norway was lying third and Turkey fifth when the teams met on VuGraph in Round 12. A bidding misunderstanding led to the first big swing:

Board 3. Dealer South. EW Game ª A 5 © A Q 6 ¨ J 10 9 8 6 5 § 10 6 ª K Q 10 9 7 ª 8 6 4 3 2 © 10 7 © K J ¨ A 4 3 2 ¨ — § J 2 § A K 9 8 7 4 ª J © 9 8 5 4 3 2 ¨ K Q 7 § Q 5 3 Closed Room West North East South Bakan Kvangraven Serim Harr 2© 2ª 3© 5¨ All Pass!

In the Closed Room Bakan made a light overcall on the West cards which made his partner think, quite rightly, of slam, though there was a risk of two heart losers. We do not know whether East's call of Five Diamonds was intended as Exclusion Blackwood, or a splinter, and it didn't seem wise to ask, as his partner's Pass had left him in a difficult spot. Five Diamonds went only six light but against 4ª+1 at the other table it was 15 IMPs to Norway.

The next big swing hinged on the signalling methods used at trick one. Looking at South's spades what card would you play on your methods if partner led the king of spades and declarer played low from dummy? And on your methods would your partner then know whether it was safe to continue the suit?

Board 6. Dealer East. EW Game ª K Q 10 9 © J 9 ¨ J 10 8 3 2 § Q 3 ª 8 7 3 ª A 6 5 © A K Q 10 6 3 2 © 8 7 ¨ 4 ¨ K Q 9 § K 4 § 9 7 6 5 2 ª J 4 2 © 5 4 ¨ A 7 6 5 § A J 10 8 Closed Room West North East South Bakan Kvangraven Serim Harr Pass Pass 4© All Pass

Both tables reached Four Hearts and North led the king of spades. Both Souths played the two, but in one case, for Turkey, it gave normal count, whereas for Norway it was reverse attitude. Kvangraven duly continued spades ensuring the contract's defeat, whereas Uz, who did not know who held ªJ, made a disastrous switch to a diamond. Brogeland had no need to finesse the nine. He put up the king, which lost to the ace, won the spade switch by South, threw his losing spade on the good diamond, and led a club from dummy to take advantage of the favourable position of the club ace. This meant Four Spades succeeded for a further 12 IMPs to Norway.

On Board 8 Brogeland picked up as dealer at love all:

ª 8643 © J753 ¨ Q72 § Q9

He opened the dreaded Norwegian Two Diamonds showing both majors and a weak hand (0 to 8 is the published range). This kept the opponents out of a slam which Kvangraven & Harr had bid and made at the other table. 10 IMPs to Norway.

The following deal was only a small swing, but both teams had their chances to gain. The bidding was the same at both tables:

Board 6. Dealer East. EW Game ª Q © K 10 6 5 ¨ Q J 5 3 § 10 8 7 4 ª 10 9 8 7 ª A J 5 3 © Q J 8 4 2 © A 7 ¨ K 8 ¨ A 9 7 6 § 6 2 § K Q 9 ª K 6 4 2 © 9 3 ¨ 10 4 2 § A J 5 3 West North East South Bakan Kvangraven Serim Harr Brogeland Uz Saur Alper 1¨ Pass 1© Pass 2NT Pass 3© Pass 3ª Pass 4ª All Pass

In the Closed Room South for Norway, Harr made the risky but very effective lead of a low club to the ten and king. Declarer began with ace and another heart, taken by North, who continued clubs. Declarer ruffed the third round in dummy, and then led a trump covered by queen and ace. The next trump was taken by the king and South exited with a trump, won by dummy's last trump. Declarer had no way home now. When he tried to cash the jack of hearts, South ruffed, and the defence still had a trick to come for 200 to Norway.

On VuGraph South made the much less succesful lead of ©9 covered by queen, king and ace. Declarer, Saur, crossed to the heart jack and ruffed a low heart in hand with the jack of spades. If South over-ruffs the contract makes easily, but Alper rightly discarded a diamond. Declarer erred by continuing with a low trump to North's queen, and a club came through. The defence took the ace of clubs and played a second club. Declarer could no longer cope with the 4-1 trump break and had to go one off.

Declarer can actually make an overtrick if, after the heart ruff he continues with ace of trumps. But the main credit goes to South for not over-ruffing.

Board 12. Dealer West. NS Game ª K 10 8 3 © A 10 3 2 ¨ K 6 § 8 7 5 ª 7 2 ª J 5 © J 8 7 6 5 © K Q ¨ Q 9 7 2 ¨ A J 10 5 4 § 4 2 § K Q J 3 ª A Q 9 6 4 © 9 4 ¨ 8 3 § A 10 9 6 Closed Room West North East South Bakan Kvangraven Serim Harr Pass Pass 1NT Pass 2¨ Pass 2© All Pass

North-South can make a spade partscore so the Turkish East-West in the Closed Room looked to have a small gain for making Two Hearts. However, on VuGraph, Brogeland, who obviously thought he had the opponents on the run, opened an exceptionally light Two Hearts (officially 3-points). Saur had obviously been there before as he passed with 17 points and heart support! The opponent duly came in, but could not stop. Saur felt safe in doubling when they reached game. And Four Spades doubled went two off, for 500 to Norway.

The match was effectively over already. Norway eventually won 72-9 or 25-3 in victory points. When, on Sunday, we look back, this may well be seen to be a key result.