A key result for Israel, which moved them up to third place, was the 82-23 or 25-4 VPs win over the world champions, Denmark in Round 17. Yaniv Zack was wideawake on this deal from the first half:

Board 7. Dealer South. Game All ª A 9 6 © Q 9 8 5 2 ¨ 9 5 3 § Q 4 ª J 5 3 ª K 10 8 2 © 10 © A K 6 4 ¨ A J 10 ¨ K 7 6 § K J 10 9 8 3 § 5 2 ª Q 7 4 © J 7 3 ¨ Q 8 4 2 § A 7 6 Closed Room West North East South Nøhr Amit Kristensen Zack Pass 1§ Pass 1© Pass 2§ Pass 3NT All Pass

The Danish reached a typically aggressive Three No-Trumps by East. Zack, in the South seat, led the two of diamonds. Declarer let the ten win in dummy. This was an error, given what happened later. The fact that he was stuck in the wrong hand did not matter too much, but when he led the king of clubs it held the trick. (Editor: If you must start the clubs from dummy, then communications are improved by starting with the jack, as the defence cannot afford to let it hold.)

The next club was won by North who switched to a heart. Declarer won and played a low diamond. If South sleepily plays low, declarer will finesse the jack, clear the clubs and have the ace of diamonds as entry to reach the good clubs. The contract will then depend only on guessing the spades. However, when declarer led a low diamond from hand, Zack, as South, put on the queen! This killed the second entry to dummy. The game could no longer succeed as the defence had time to set up their heart tricks.

Editor: Declarer does indeed do better to win the opening diamond lead in hand. He then takes the club finesse which loses, and wins the heart switch. Now he clears the clubs. The defence cannot afford to play a second heart or declarer has nine easy tricks with the diamond finesse, so they put dummy on lead with a second diamond. Now declarer leads a spade. Even if he guesses wrong, finessing to South's queen, he will still succeed. South can clear the diamonds, but declarer takes his clubs, and leads another spade. North wins and must concede a ninth trick to declarer either in hearts or spades.

The two big swings came right at the end on Boards 18 and 19. Both hinged on decisions at the five level.

Board 18. Dealer East. NS Game ª A J 10 7 6 2 © 10 5 ¨ 6 3 2 § 7 4 ª 9 8 ª Q © A Q 4 © K J 9 8 7 3 2 ¨ K Q 10 8 5 4 ¨ A 9 7 § Q J § 10 8 ª K 5 4 3 © 6 ¨ J § A K 9 6 5 3 2 Closed Room West North East South Nøhr Amit Kristensen Zack 4© 5§ 5© 5ª All Pass

As you can see from the diagram there was little in the play. Five Spades just lost the two red aces to make in comfort, whereas Five Hearts lost one spade and two clubs to go only one light. The swing was 600 or 12 IMPs to Israel. This was the very next deal:

Board 19. Dealer South. EW Game ª 8 6 4 2 © A 7 6 3 2 ¨ A K 4 § 2 ª K J ª A Q 10 9 7 5 © K 10 © Q 8 ¨ 9 3 2 ¨ 5 § A J 9 8 6 4 § Q 7 5 3 ª 3 © J 9 5 4 ¨ Q J 10 8 7 6 § K 10 Closed Room West North East South Nøhr Amit Kristensen Zack Pass 1§ 1© 1ª 4© Pass Pass 4ª Pass Pass 5© Dble All Pass

2NT was the weak way of bidding 3§
3¨ showed shortage in the suit

Five Hearts doubled lost the two black aces and a trump trick for one down, and 100 to Denmark. Five Clubs was made, losing only the two red aces for 600 to Israel, a swing of 11 IMPs to Israel. Editor:

On these two boards the BOLS Tip "The Five Level belongs to the opponents" was not such good advice!