A tournament is measured not merely by the number of participants but also by the quality of the players taking part. With such a vast entry we have not yet been able to calculate the exact number of World, European and National Champions who are taking part but rest assured we are looking at an exceptional event here in Warsaw, described by one commentator as 'Stronger than the field in Lille'.

Amongst this vast array of Champions you will find Germany's Sabine Auken & Danielle von Arnim, unquestionably one of the strongest women's pairs in the world.

We had time to catch a couple of their boards from the first session, neither particularly exciting but both containing a point of interest for the pairs player.

Board 15. Dealer South. NS Game ª J 10 8 5 © 6 3 ¨ Q 9 5 4 § 10 7 4 ª A K 7 ª Q 6 4 © 10 5 4 2 © A K J 7 ¨ J 10 7 6 ¨ A 3 2 § K J § Q 8 3 ª 9 3 2 © Q 9 8 ¨ K 8 § A 9 6 5 2 West North East South von Armin Mettem Auken Mehves Pass 1NT Pass 3NT All Pass

The vulnerability allowed von Arnim to open with a 10-12 No-Trump and with her shapeless hand Auken followed the sound policy of forgetting about a potential heart fit in favour of a direct raise to game.

North led the jack of spades and declarer won in hand, played a heart to the ace and a club to the king. Next came the losing heart finesse. South simply cleared the club suit and waited to get in with the king of diamonds. That restricted declarer to nine tricks.

If you take the view that the pairs playing in hearts will mostly come to ten tricks then there is a case for making that your target in the nine trick game. One way to achieve that aim is to win the opening lead in dummy and play a low diamond. Of course there are risks involved but perhaps it is gamble worth taking.

Board 16. Dealer West. EW Game ª K 3 2 © 10 9 6 3 2 ¨ 8 3 § Q 10 5 ª 10 5 4 ª 8 7 6 © Q 8 5 © A K 4 ¨ A 6 5 2 ¨ K Q J 4 § A 8 4 § K 3 2 ª A Q J 9 © J 7 ¨ 10 9 7 § J 9 7 6 West North East South von Armin Mettem Auken Mehves Pass Pass 1NT Pass 2§ Pass 2¨ Pass 2NT Pass 3NT All Pass

Two Clubs asked about East's hearts but on this occasion the final contract was pre-ordained. The interest was in South's opening lead. As it happens declarer is unlikely to ever take more than nine tricks but the choice of the queen of spades resolved the matter at once. With a strong no-trump on your right we suspect many players would go passive and lead a diamond.