They don't come much bigger than Italy versus France, two giants of the game. Their meeting in Round 21 drew a large audience to the VuGraph theatre. Although the boards were testing play proceeded at a rapid pace as our first offering ably illustrates.

Board 3. Dealer South. EW Game ª A Q J 9 7 6 3 2 © — ¨ 6 2 § 10 7 5 ª 10 5 ª K © K Q J 8 5 4 © A 10 6 2 ¨ Q 5 ¨ J 10 8 3 § K 4 3 § Q 9 8 6 ª 8 4 © 9 7 3 ¨ A K 9 7 4 § A J 2

East led the ace of hearts and declarer ruffed and cashed the ace of spades. He then went through the motions before arriving at eleven tricks.

In response to the helpful Three Club bid East lead the suit and West took the two with the king and switched to the king of hearts. Multon ruffed and played the ace of spades. While the commentators were explaining that East would now be subject to a show up squeeze - declarer draws the outstanding trump, cashes the {AK, ruffs a diamond and runs the trumps - Duboin, like a good chess player, had already resigned and returned his cards to the board. A quick IMP for France.

A defensive error gave France a rather more significant swing on the very next board.

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

Three No-Trumps is the normal contract but looking at the disposition of the defender's cards it appears to have little chance. In the Open Room that certainly proved to the case.

Multon led the two of clubs for the eight, ten and ace. Bocchi played a spade to the queen and when that held he turned his attention to the diamond suit. If it had behaved he would have been able to cash his winners in the suit and exit with a spade, forcing North to make him a present of the ninth trick.

When the finesse lost Mari switched to the queen of hearts and declarer had no way to arrive at more than eight tricks. France +100.

This time North led the four of spades - it must have been a close decision between that and a club - and West headed South's ten of spades with the king. Declarer attacked diamonds at once and South won the second round with the queen. A heart switch was clearly indicated but South played the six and that ran round to the jack. Declarer was in control now and simply played the queen of spades. When that held he took his minor suit winners for nine tricks. Another 600 points for France and 12 IMPs.

Board 7. Dealer South. Game All ª A J 8 2 © K 10 9 7 4 ¨ 9 5 § 8 4 ª Q 6 5 4 ª K 10 9 7 3 © A J 2 © 8 ¨ A 8 6 3 ¨ K J 7 4 § J 10 § 7 6 3 ª — © Q 6 5 3 ¨ Q 10 2 § A K Q 9 5 2

Perhaps worried that South might have a quick discard on the clubs West attacked with the ace of diamonds. East encouraged with the seven and when he won the second round with the king he continued the suit. Declarer ruffed and played a heart to the queen and ace. West returned the two of hearts and although declarer was doubtless suspicious he went up with the king and when the jack failed to appear he conceded one down.

The lower level opening gave West a chance to get into the bidding but that worked to declarer's advantage.

Multon ruffed the opening lead of the ten of hearts and knowing that the hearts were unlikely to be 2-2 he played three top clubs. West ruffed with the two of hearts and declarer overruffed. He ruffed a spade and played a winning club, pitching a diamond as East ruffed with the eight. Multon was in complete control, losing only one more trick to the ace of hearts. That gave France a swing of +890 and 13 IMPs.

France appeared to in control of the match but then they suffered a total disaster in the Closed Room.

Board 11. Dealer South. Love All ª 9 8 © J 8 5 ¨ 8 5 § K Q 10 4 3 2 ª A 7 5 3 ª Q 10 6 4 2 © Q 10 7 4 © A ¨ Q 10 9 ¨ K J 7 4 3 2 § 7 5 § ª K J © K 9 6 3 2 ¨ A 6 § A J 8 6

East simply bid his two suits, while we suspect Mari's second round Double was a game try in hearts. Four Spades did not take long.

Declarer won the first trick with the ace of hearts and played two rounds of spades, claiming ten tricks when the suit divided.

One No-Trumps was a transfer to clubs so East though he was showing a two suiter. West took the bid as natural and North was not kind enough to double! The contract failed by five tricks - a horror story of a type we have seen many times before and although sad for France it was somehow appropriate that it should happen to the country that gave the world Ghestem.

France repaired the damage three boards later when they comprehensively outbid the Italians.

Board 14. Dealer East. Love All ª 9 7 3 © Q 8 7 5 ¨ 10 8 7 6 4 2 § — ª A Q 4 2 ª J © A K 10 4 2 © J 9 6 ¨ K Q 3 ¨ A 5 § 6 § K Q J 10 9 5 3 ª K 10 9 6 5 © 3 ¨ J 9 § A 8 7 4 2

When East rebid his clubs West took the bull by the horns and wheeled out Blackwood. Hearing of only one ace opposite he took his chance in 6NT. Agricultural maybe, but highly effective. Twelve tricks were claimed as soon as the ace of clubs was dislodged, +990.

West's Two Diamonds was a game forcing transfer promising hearts but even so East's jump to Four Hearts looks precipitate. After East's Four Spades perhaps a jump to Six Clubs would have got across the nature of East's hand?

When North doubled Six Hearts Duboin had a lifeline. He thought for a short while and then made to pick up, his bidding cards from the tray. Then there was a pause and perhaps a question - was the double lead indicating?

Eventually he stood his ground. It would have been interesting if he had changed his mind - would the film have been produced in evidence if France had appealed? There was nothing to the play and France collected another +100 to give them 14 huge IMPs.

Board 15. Dealer South. NS Game ª A J 5 2 © 8 6 3 ¨ 8 7 4 § A 10 7 ª 4 ª 10 8 7 © 10 9 5 4 © A K J 7 ¨ A J 3 ¨ K Q 10 2 § 9 8 6 5 2 § Q J ª K Q 9 6 3 © Q 2 ¨ 9 6 5 § K 4 3

Here the Italian pair bid an ambitious game, not reached by the Italians in the Closed Room. The question still open, could it be made? Well, it wasn't to be. West did not locate the doubleton ©Q offside, so he went one down, and must have been surprised that he still won 2 IMPs, when Italy went two off in the inferior contract of 1 NT, losing five spade and three club tricks.

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

In both rooms the declarer's showed good technique to score their slam after a diamond lead as they went for a ruffing finesse-manoeuvre in hearts.

After three rounds of trumps East played a heart to the ace and tried to let the ©Q run. When North covered, declarer ruffed and re-entered dummy to throw a diamond on the ©J. Now he could have afforted to lose a club if they were not breaking 3-3. Had North played a small card, East would have discarded the diamond loser as well. South might have scored the ©K on that play, but once again, the contract is safe, as the promoted ©J would take care of the possible club loser.