Leading Ladies The leading ladies pair after two sessions are not, as some might expect, from Germany, but from right here in Mother Poland. Indeed, Ewa Sobolewska and Jolanta Krogulska trailed only three of Europe's finest mens pairs as the third session began. The Bulletin paid them a flying visit during the third session to see how it was going. The first opponents were a pair of young Polish players, Szymon Kapala and Mariej Czajkowski.

Board 23. Dealer South. Game All ª A 7 © 5 3 ¨ A J 3 § A K J 10 7 2 ª K 10 9 3 2 ª Q 8 5 © A K Q J 4 © 10 6 ¨ - ¨ Q 10 8 7 4 2 § Q 9 8 § 5 3 ª J 6 4 © 9 8 7 2 ¨ K 9 6 5 § 6 4 West North East South Krogulska Kapala Sobolewska Czajkowski Pass 1ª 3NT Pass Pass 4© Dble 4ª Pass Pass Dble All Pass Pass

South and East were virtual spectators on this deal, their only contribution being whether they would hold useful cards for their partner. Like all the best partners Sobolewska did, while Czajkowski's hand failed to justify his partner's bidding.

Krogulska was not to be talked out of her good hand and her partner tabled a suitable dummy. Not that Kapala tested her declarer play - his first four cards were §K, §A, ªA, ª7 at which point declarer claimed ten tricks and E-W +790.

However, the boys struck back with a vengeance on the companion board.

Board 24. Dealer West. Love All ª J 7 © K 9 8 7 3 ¨ J 8 4 § A 6 4 ª A 9 6 ª K Q © J 6 © A 5 4 2 ¨ K 6 3 ¨ Q 10 7 2 § Q 9 8 3 2 § K J 10 ª 10 8 5 4 3 2 © Q 10 ¨ A 9 5 § 7 5 West North East South Krogulska Kapala Sobolewska Czajkowski Pass Pass 1NT Pass 3NT All Pass

Sobolewska opened a routine strong notrump and was duly raised to game. Judging by the row of E-W +600s on the traveller, few Souths found the same opening salvo as Czajkowski - the queen of hearts. With the long hearts and §A in the same hand, declarer was quickly two down for very few matchpoints. E-W -100.

Next up were the J.M.Weston World Mixed Pairs champions Antonio Vivaldi and Enza Rossano from Italy, who would presumably provide a tough test for our featured pair…

Board 1. Dealer North. Love All ª 9 3 2 © 8 ¨ K Q J 7 4 § K 7 4 2 ª K 8 7 6 ª Q 5 © K Q J 9 5 3 © A 10 4 ¨ A 3 ¨ 9 6 5 2 § 3 § A Q 8 6 ª A J 10 4 © 7 6 2 ¨ 10 8 § J 10 9 5 West North East South Krogulska Rossano Sobolewska Vivaldi Pass 1§(1) Pass 2© Pass 3© Pass 4§(2) Pass 4© All Pass (1) Polish (2) Splinter

Rossano led ¨K against Four Hearts. Krogulska took her ace and played a spade to queen and ace. The defence played two rounds of diamonds, declarer ruffing. She then cashed two high trumps and found them 3-1. Now she had to make a decision. If she took a losing club finesse, then Vivaldi would be able to return his third trump and she would lose her spade ruff and the contract. However, to eschew the club finesse and settle for ten tricks was potentially disastrous if the king was onside. After considerable thought, Krogulska played a club to the queen and was soon claiming eleven tricks.

It seems that there were two safer ways to arrive at the same result. Either to take the club finesse before playing the second trump or, having reached the position above, to ruff a spade, ruff a diamond, draw trumps and then take the club finesse at trick twelve. This was sure to be safe as by then Vivaldi (who had thrown a spade on the third diamond) would be known to have only clubs left.

Board 2. Dealer East. NS Game ª Q 9 7 3 © J 8 4 2 ¨ 5 2 § 9 3 2 ª J 2 ª K 5 4 © K 6 © A 9 5 ¨ A 8 7 6 ¨ Q J 10 3 § A J 10 8 4 § 7 6 5 ª A 10 8 6 © Q 10 7 3 ¨ K 9 4 § K Q West North East South Krogulska Rossano Sobolewska Vivaldi Pass 1© 2§(1) Pass 2NT Pass 3NT All Pass (1) Alerted as denying a 4-card Major

Although Sobolewska was a passed hand, Krogulska took only a short while to raise to game. Vivaldi led a spade to the jack, queen and king. Declarer led ¨Q, covered by king and ace, and then returned to hand to play a club. Vivaldi played an honour perforce, so Sobolewska won and continued with §J. Vivaldi won and cashed spades, but when they proved to be 4-4 declarer claimed nine tricks. E-W +400.

This was yet another above-average round; can the momentum last?