DailyDaily NewsNews 44th GENERALI European Bridge Championships

Thursday, 24 June 1999 Issue: 12

Jean Paul Meyer, Executive Editor • Mark Horton, Editor • Stefan Back, Co-Editor Stelios Hatzidakis, Layout Editor Italy Still Lead Open

Italy lead the Generali Open Teams Championship from France, but the big movers on the day were Israel who have charged through the field to take third place.Yesterday the Israelis scored three big wins to add 67 VPs to their total to move up four places in the standings. Israel have now won eight Starting straight matches despite playing four-handed and are the form team of the field at the moment. Just one point behind Israel come Norway, then a 14 VP gap to Poland, Spain and Sweden.A further 17 Playing Times VPs separates the top eight from the Netherlands and then Russia and Belgium, all of whom could still make the top six if they can put together a good run. Open Teams Round 31 10.00 Round 32 14.15 Austria Increase Their Lead in the Ladies Round 33 18.00 Austria extended their winning run to nine matches and stretched their lead over second placed Ladies Teams France to 8.5 VPs.Austria scored 42 VPs from their two matches yesterday while France could only 1st 2nd manage 36. Great Britain had two big wins to move up to third, only 2 VPs behind France. The Round 17 10.00 12.20 Netherlands are fourth, then there is a 22 VP gap to Germany, who have found their true form Round 18 15.10 17.30 at last, then Denmark and Turkey.The big match of the day came in the morning when Germany Round 19 20.30 22.50 blitzed Denmark 25-2. Seniors Teams Round 23 10.00 Round 24 12.20 France 1 Under Pressure Round 25 15.10 France 1, the holders of the Seniors title, are still in the lead despite scoring only 39 VPs from Round 26 17.30 their three matches yesterday, but Poland 1 scored 66 despite having their bye round and are only 6 VPs behind.Third comes the President Emeritus France team captained by José Damiani.They are 3 VPs behind Poland. France 2 come fourth, 15 VPs further back. Airport Victory Banquet Transfers The Victory Banquet will be held in the a ticket from the Victory Banquet Desk Corinthia San Gorg Hotel on Saturday 26 before 1.30 on Thursday. The cost of each In order to ensure a smooth May at 7.30 p.m. at LIDO LOWER DECK. ticket is LM 16 – please come with the right transfer to the airport for your departure it is imperative that The invitations will be distributed at the money. Victory Banquet Desk in the Radisson Hotel. Registered journalists may obtain their you complete a Bridge Malta Departure Time Form. No more invitations will be issued invitations from Mrs Ducheyne in the Press If you have not received a after Thursday lunch-time. Room. form in your hotel room they are Would any Teams leaving before the The following people will be entitled to available at the Hospitality Desks receive free invitations: Victory Banquet please inform the Vic- tory Banquet Desk as soon as possible. in the San Gorg Corinthia and Players, Captains & Coaches. Team cap- SAS Radisson Hotels. Don’t forget your invitation card. No entry tains must collect the tickets for the team. Please return the completed without your invitation. Presidents/Delegates (one per country). form to one of the Hospitality Desks thereby ensuring transport Anyone else (wives, companions etc.) The Victory Banquet Desk will be open to the airport will be available. wishing to attend the banquet may purchase today: from 09.30 - 13.30. 2 Thursday, 24 June 1999 44th GENERALI European Bridge Championships

OPEN TEAMS - RESULTS Round - 28 Round - 29 Round - 30 Country Imps Vps Country Imps Vps Country Imps Vps 1 Bye Slovenia 00 018 1 Monaco Bye 0018 0 1 Bye Croatia 00 018 2 Iceland Yugoslavia 56 8 25 5 2 Austria Estonia 51 19 22 8 2 Russia Turkey 81 5021 9 3 Malta Portugal 2098 1 25 3 Italy Switzerland 81 2025 3 3 Germany Cyprus 35 708 22 4 Croatia Spain 47 44 16 14 4 Israel Czech Rep 64 33 21 9 4 Bulgaria Ireland 49 23 2010 5 San Marino Lithuania 51 79 9 21 5 Netherlands Hungary 36 44 14 16 5 Finland Portugal 37 35 15 15 6 Turkey Sweden 14 81 2 25 6 Lithuania Norway 37 53 12 18 6 Hungary Iceland 98 24 25 1 7 Russia Cyprus 74 1025 3 7 France Great Britain 45 48 14 16 7 Malta Greece 36 5012 18 8 Czech Rep Italy 41 35 16 14 8 Ireland Germany 2040 11 19 8 Liechtenstein San Marino 107 29 25 1 9 Switzerland Norway 2067 6 24 9 Cyprus Iceland 29 62 8 22 9 Great Britain Austria 87 8 25 1 10Denmark Netherlands 59 26 22 8 10Yugoslavia Finland 49 52 14 16 10Estonia Luxembourg 41 25 18 12 11 Ireland France 35 61 1020 11 Liechtenstein Malta 65 36 21 9 11 Poland Italy 31 3015 15 12 Hungary Bulgaria 67 36 21 9 12 Portugal Romania 42 49 14 16 12 Switzerland Belgium 25 68 6 24 13 Lebanon Great Britain 29 41 13 17 13 Sweden Greece 71 46 2010 13 Norway Spain 37 27 17 13 14 Poland Austria 29 33 14 16 14 Lebanon Russia 35 57 1020 14 Sweden France 57 51 16 14 15 Estonia Israel 1041 9 21 15 Turkey Bulgaria 51 69 11 19 15 Lithuania Romania 36 57 11 19 16 Germany Finland 66 13 25 5 16 San Marino Luxembourg 16 37 11 19 16 Netherlands Slovenia 52 35 19 11 17 Greece Liechtenstein 33 68 8 22 17 Spain Poland 43 42 15 15 17 Czech Rep Lebanon 36 708 22 18 Luxembourg Monaco 31 38 14 16 18 Slovenia Croatia 83 14 25 2 18 Monaco Israel 25 86 3 25 19 Romania Belgium 35 43 14 16 19 Belgium Denmark 66 41 2010 19 Denmark Yugoslavia 79 34 24 6

OPEN TEAMS - PROGRAMME ROUND - 31 ROUND - 32 ROUND - 33

1 Israel Bye 1 Bye Bulgaria 1 Bye Romania 2 France Lithuania 2 Malta Hungary 2 Italy Portugal 3 San Marino Great Britain 3 Netherlands Greece 3 Finland Spain 4 Romania Liechtenstein 4 Belgium Poland 4 Denmark Lebanon 5 Luxembourg Switzerland 5 Slovenia Cyprus 5 Monaco Great Britain 6 Portugal Austria 6 Switzerland Russia 6 Cyprus France 7 Italy Spain 7 Germany Czech Rep 7 San Marino Ireland 8 Poland Netherlands 8 Lebanon Finland 8 Sweden Luxembourg 9 Greece Russia 9 Spain France 9 Czech Rep Malta 10Turkey Slovenia 10Lithuania Monaco 10Hungary Croatia 11 Lebanon Germany 11 Sweden San Marino 11 Norway Netherlands 12 Cyprus Denmark 12 Great Britain Yugoslavia 12 Greece Estonia 13 Iceland Czech Rep 13 Austria Ireland 13 Russia Liechtenstein 14 Norway Malta 14 Iceland Italy 14 Austria Germany 15 Hungary Belgium 15 Portugal Denmark 15 Switzerland Yugoslavia 16 Finland Monaco 16 Luxembourg Croatia 16 Slovenia Israel 17 Ireland Sweden 17 Liechtenstein Norway 17 Poland Iceland 18 Croatia Bulgaria 18 Israel Romania 18 Bulgaria Belgium 19 Yugoslavia Estonia 19 Estonia Turkey 19 Turkey Lithuania

SENIORS TEAMS - PROGRAMME ROUND 23 ROUND 24 ROUND 25 ROUND 26

1 Spain Lithuania/Poland 1 Lithuania/Poland Lebanon 1 Lithuania/Poland Yugoslavia 1 Austria 1 Lithuania/Poland 2 Czech Republic Italy 1 2 Turkey Spain 2 France 2 Lebanon 2 Israel Yugoslavia 3 France 1 Poland 2 3 Great Britain 1 Sweden 3 3 Sweden 2 Belgium 3 Austria 2 Great Britain 2 4 Netherlands 2 Israel 4 Ireland Germany 4 Poland 3 P.E./France 4 Great Britain 3 Italy 2 5 Great Britain 1 Yugoslavia 5 Sweden 2 Austria 1 5 Austria 2 Portugal 5 Czech Republic Netherlands 2 6 Great Britain 3 P.E./France 6 Bye Italy 2 6 France 1 Sweden 1 6 Great Britain 1 Poland 1 7 Sweden 1 Austria 2 7 Poland 1 Czech Republic 7 Poland 2 Turkey 7 Sweden 3 France 2 8 Netherlands 1 Italy 2 8 Italy 1 Sweden 1 8 Spain Poland 1 8 Lebanon Poland 2 9 Austria 1 Bye 9 Portugal France 1 9 Netherlands 2 Great Britain 1 9 Ireland Sweden 2 10Poland 3 Sweden 2 10Great Britain 3 Austria 2 10Bye Czech Republic 10France 1 Turkey 11 Germany Poland 1 11 P.E./France Poland 2 11 Italy 2 Sweden 3 11 Sweden 1 Belgium 12 Lebanon Portugal 12 Yugoslavia Netherlands 2 12 Austria 1 Ireland 12 Portugal Poland 3 13 Sweden 3 Great Britain 2 13 Belgium Netherlands 1 13 Great Britain 2 Italy 1 13 Netherlands 1 Spain 14 Belgium Ireland 14 Great Britain 2 Poland 3 14 Netherlands 1 Great Britain 3 14 Italy 1 Bye 15 Turkey France 2 15 France 2 Israel 15 Israel Germany 15 Germany P.E./France Malta, 1999 Thursday, 24 June 1999 3

OPEN TEAMS - RANKING LADIES TEAMS - RESULTS AFTER 30 ROUNDS ROUND 15 ROUND 16 1 Poland Bye 0018 0 1 Bye Turkey 00 018 1 Italy 561 2 France Israel 57 66 14 16 2 Great Britain Greece 77 36 23 7 2 France 553 3 Norway Hungary 4083 7 23 3 Denmark Iceland 59 302010 3 Israel 544 4 Greece Croatia 35 71 8 22 4 Poland Netherlands 19 36 12 18 4 Norway 543 5 Spain Italy 54 56 15 15 5 Finland Hungary 69 46 19 11 5 Bulgaria 529 6 Iceland Great Britain 25 85 4 25 6 Israel Sweden 26 45 12 18 7 Austria Russia 77 31 24 6 7 Italy Austria 46 63 12 18 6 Poland 528 8 Netherlands Turkey 44 66 11 19 8 Germany Belgium 64 41 19 11 7 Spain 527 9 Finland Czech Rep 56 61 14 16 9 Russia Spain 44 55 13 17 8 Sweden 527 10Denmark Germany 24 97 2 25 10Croatia France 41 76 8 22 9 Netherlands 510 11 Sweden Belgium 21 501020 11 Czech Rep Norway 8060 19 11 10Russia 509 11 Belgium 503 LADIES TEAMS - PROGRAMME 12 Portugal 491 13 Great Britain 485 ROUND 17 ROUND 18 14 Hungary 479 15 Greece 479 1 Bye Belgium 1 Norway Bye 16 Ireland 478 2 Sweden Poland 2 Czech Republic Turkey 17 Germany 476 3 Croatia Israel 3 Netherlands Greece 18 Austria 468 4 Turkey Germany 4 Belgium France 5 Russia Iceland 5 Austria Israel 19 Lebanon 460 6 Greece Czech Republic 6 Poland Spain 20Iceland 453 7 Hungary Italy 7 Iceland Hungary 21 Croatia 451 ½ 8 France Norway 8 Great Britain Denmark 22 Denmark 437 9 Austria Finland 9 Italy Russia 23 Slovenia 430 10Netherlands Great Britain 10Germany Sweden 24 Finland 430 11 Spain Denmark 11 Finland Croatia 25 Turkey 427 ½ 26 Romania 427 ROUND 19 27 Czech Rep 411 Mobile Phones 1 Bye Denmark 28 Monaco 399 2 Spain Belgium Mobile phones may not be 29 Estonia 393 3 Germany Poland brought into the playing area and toilets. 30Switzerland 380 4 Norway Great Britain 31 Yugoslavia 371 Any player bringing a 5 Italy Greece mobile phone into the play- 32 Lithuania 371 6 Turkey Finland ing area and toilets will 33 Luxembourg 347 7 Israel Iceland result in his team being fined 34 Liechtenstein 337 8 Sweden Croatia 2VP. This penalty is automatic. 35 San Marino 331 9 Hungary Austria Don't get caught smoking whilst using your 36 Cyprus 266 ½ 10France Czech Republic mobile phone!! 11 Russia Netherlands 37 Malta 227

SENIORS TEAMS - RESULTS ROUND 20 ROUND 21 ROUND 22

1 Great Britain 2 Lith/Pol 27 59 7 23 1 Netherlands 1 Lith/Pol 45 23 21 9 1 Lith/Pol Italy 1 27 55 8 22 2 Great Britain 1 Belgium 23 41 1020 2 Sweden 2 Great Britain 2 17 11 16 14 2 Austria 2 Netherlands 1 19 24 14 16 3 Poland 3 Italy 2 15 56 4 25 3 Great Britain 3 Sweden 1 35 16 2010 3 Bye Poland 1 00 018 4 Yugoslavia Czech Rep 24 35 12 18 4 Austria 1 Turkey 31 42 12 18 4 Portugal France 2 11 505 25 5 Great Britain 3 Italy 1 2 42 5 25 5 Bye Spain 00 018 3 France 1 Lebanon 9 36 8 22 6 Netherlands 2 France 2 37 56 1020 6 Ireland Israel 14 31 1020 6 Poland 3 Germany 23 31 13 17 7 Germany France 1 24 25 15 15 7 P.E./France Great Britain 1 38 4 24 6 7 Italy 2 Sweden 2 27 17 18 12 8 Pres/Swe Israel 35 45 12 18 8 Belgium Germany 15 21 14 16 8 Great Britain 2 P.E./France 19 409 21 9 Spain Ireland 12 36 9 21 9 Lebanon Poland 3 23 25 14 16 9 Yugoslavia Great Britain 3 11 33 9 21 10Portugal Bye 0 0 18 0 10Netherlands 2 France 1 14 19 14 16 10Ireland Great Britain 1 20 24 14 16 11 Turkey P.E./France 4018 21 9 11 France 2 Italy 2 7 1014 16 11 Israel Sweden 1 35 29 16 14 12 Netherlands 1 Lebanon 42 4 25 5 12 Italy 1 Yugoslavia 72 19 25 2 12 Spain Austria 1 15 25 12 18 13 Sweden 1 Poland 2 15 52 5 25 13 Poland 1 Pres/Swe 53 6 25 3 13 Poland 2 Belgium 23 3013 17 14 Poland 1 Austria 1 38 7 23 7 14 Poland 2 Portugal 63 4 25 1 14 Pres/Swe Netherlands 2 52 27 22 8 15 Sweden 2 Austria 2 38 22 19 11 15 Austria 2 Czech Rep 2 39 5 25 15 Czech Rep Turkey 16 33 1020 4 Thursday, 24 June 1999 44th GENERALI European Bridge Championships

LADIES TEAMS - RANKING Meet a Captain AFTER 16 ROUNDS Joseph Engel from Israel 1 Austria 302 ½ 2 France 294 He has an MBA and is a manager of a bank in Tel Aviv. 3 Great Britain 292 Apart from being a business man, what is you 4 Netherlands 288 bridge role? 5 Germany 266 I played a lot of bridge more or less suc- cessfully, but what I am most proud of is to 6 Denmark 259 have been the captain of Ladies team in 7 Turkey 250 Rhodes and Montecatini when our team did very well. 8 Norway 243 This year the Israeli Federation asked me to 9 Finland 238 be the captain of the Open team and I accepted with pleasure. 10Belgium 235 ½ 11 Czech Rep 235 Which is more difficult, to be captain of the Ladies team or the Open team? 12 Israel 233 In my country being the captain of the 13 Sweden 232 ½ Ladies team is much more difficult. 14 Poland 232 Here I have some problems because one of our players had to go home and two pairs are playing, it is easy to complete the line up! But it is very hard work for the players. 15 Russia 230 16 Italy 225 Israel is fielding a new team, why? 17 Hungary 213 SHOFEL, LEVITT, HOCHZEIT, FRIEDRICH the old-timers did not play in the trials, whileBIRMAN and SELIGMAN played with young players. BIRMAN finished third, but 18 Spain 211 broke up his partnership, so we took the pairs who finished first, second and fourth in 19 Croatia 209 the trials. 20Iceland 189 This team has not much international experience. In Israel we are distant from other European bridge countries. My team is doing well and I am sure they will finish in the 21 Greece 179 first six but hope for better.

How is bridge doing in Israel? Well enough, we have about 7000 registered members including quite a few young SENIORS TEAMS - RANKING ones.We try to introduce bridge in our high schools but it is not an easy task. As a result of Bridge obtaining Olympic status and the European Pairs Championship AFTER 22 ROUNDS being held in 2001 in Jerusalem we would get support and assistance from within the country. Four newspapers run bridge columns every Friday. Internet will be a great help in our 1 France 1 423 Hi-Tec country where 50% of all families own a computer. Most of our bridge books are 2 Poland 1 417 in English, there are too few books in Hebrew.There are bridge teachers who graduate 3 P.E./France 414 from the Federation. Bridge professionals do not exist in Israel. I wish to add that I am 4 France 2 399 very proud of the results in the past few years of the Israeli Ladies and Junior teams. 5 Czech Rep 384 6 Italy 1 381 What is your opinion of the organization? 7 Poland 2 379 It is very good, playing times are splendid and it is good thing to be able to play full 8 Germany 370 matches without interruption. 9 Italy 2 369 10Poland 3 367 Let us have a word about the political situation. 11 Sweden 1 366 ½ We have never refused to play any other team. We have played in several champi- 12 Israel 346 onships versus Egypt and Jordan. We are sure Lebanon will play Israel soon. I was sorry 13 Turkey 341 our Ladies team could not come to Tunisia, a country with which we have a good rela- 14 Netherlands 1 340 ½ tionship, but at least it was able to get special protection for the Venice Cup. 15 Great Britain 3 340 16 Austria 1 328 17 Great Britain 2 323 18 Netherlands 2 313 EBL Press Conference 19 Sweden 2 312 20Belgium 303 21 Spain 302 The EBL Press Conference will be held 22 Pres/Swe 282 on Friday 25th June, 11 a.m. 23 Lith/Pol 275 at the Corinthia Marina Hotel 24 Great Britain 1 274 Room 2 (4th floor) 25 Portugal 273 26 Lebanon 257 27 Ireland 256 Drinks will be served after the Press Conference 28 Austria 2 244 All Journalists are kindly invited to participate 29 Yugoslavia 160 Malta, 1999 Thursday, 24 June 1999 5

Swedish Discovery Double Trouble for Ireland by Olivier Beauvillain In Round 24 of the Generali European Open West North East South Teams Championship Ireland ran into trouble McGann Van Middelen Hanlon Engel Everybody knows Hans-Olof Hallen, who is against Belgium when the teams met on VuGraph. 1NT Pass 4] 4[ the "Grand Manitou" of tournament movements. Dbl All Pass He is sure to know hundreds (thousands?) of Board 8. Love All. Dealer West. movements, you probably have never heard of. [ Q J 8 4 3 Once again West started with his top spades. But does he know about "moving the cards" as This time he switched to a cunning }J. well? Just have a look at this board he played in ]107 Declarer won and crossed to dummy with the Seniors series against fairly strong opposition: { A 10 9 3 }8 3 the ace of hearts. If West thought his 'Greek gift' was about to bear fruit he was disappointed. Board 5. N/S Vul. Dealer North. [ 6 2 [ A K 7 5 N Declarer ruffed a heart and played king of clubs, ] Q 9 5 4 ] A K 3 [ A 10 7 5 3 W E club ruff. If the queen of clubs had not appeared ]K Q { 7 6 4 2 { Q J 8 declarer would have needed a squeeze or a lucky {7 4 } 10 9 2 S } 7 5 4 position in diamonds but in any event he had } K 10 9 7 [109 +790 and 14 IMPs. [ Q 6 4 [ 9 ] J 8 6 2 N Board 13. Game All. Dealer North. ] 7 5 ] 10 9 8 4 3 2 {K 5 W E { Q J 8 3 { A K 6 2 } A K Q J 6 [ K J 4 } A J 3 2S } Q 4 West North East South ] K Q 9 [ K J 8 2 { A K J 2 Labaere Walshe Carcassone Toibin ] A J 6 } A 7 5 Pass Pass 1NT Pass { 10 9 5 [ 8 5 N [ A Q 9 3 2 } 8 6 5 Pass 2[ All Pass ] 10 6 ] A 8 3 2 W E West North East South { Q 8 { 9 7 North was not deterred by the strong no- S Sharif Hallen Chemla Backstroem } Q J 10 6 4 3 2 } K 9 trump and he was rewarded with an excellent [ 10 7 6 1[ 2] 2[ dummy.The defence started with three rounds of ] J 7 5 4 Dbl Pass 3{ 3[ hearts and declarer ruffed and cashed two top { 10 6 5 4 3 All Pass clubs before playing three rounds of diamonds, }8 ruffing the last one in dummy.When a third round The defenders started with three rounds of of clubs passed off peacefully declarer had nine West North East South diamonds, so Hallen had to restrict himself to tricks; +140. Labaere Walshe Carcassone Toibin two club losers and he had to locate the queen West North East South 2{ 2[ Pass of trumps as well. He played three rounds of Pass Dbl Pass 2NT hearts looking like a man who desperately need- McGann Van Middelen Hanlon Engel Pass 3} Pass 3{ ed an early discard in his hand.West ruffed in to Pass 2[ 2NT Dbl All Pass prevent him from doing so, Hallen overruffed and All Pass had a clear picture of the hand. He cashed two Three diamonds played by North was not more rounds of trumps and played a small club to The Irish were caught out by North's sys- exciting and on a trump lead declarer arrived at the nine. East was endplayed and had to give him temic opening bid. eleven tricks because when East came in with the the }K or a ruff and sluff. Engel cashed five rounds of clubs in the order ace of hearts he switched to a low spade. One could ask, was 3[ made a good board }JQKA6 and saw his partner discard the [4, ]7 then? No, just a push. Unfortunately we do not West North East South and [3. He switched to the king of diamonds and know what happened in the other room, but it is McGann Van Middelen Hanlon Engel when it held he continued with the {5. Declarer a bit more difficult if West doesn't ruff. He should claimed the rest; two down, -300 and 4 IMPs to 2NT Pass 3} know that North is likely to be 5-2-2-4, so a dis- Belgium. Dbl Pass Pass 3{ card doesn't help. If declarer e.g. was 6-2-2-3 he Pass 3NT Dbl 4{ probably would have tested his ten-card trump Board 12. N/S Vul. Dealer West. Pass Pass Dbl All Pass suit before cashing three rounds of hearts, as Hans-Olof knows to "move the cards" as well. [ 7 4 3 2 As you can see,Three No-Trumps cannot be ] A 10 5 defeated but there was no way Engel could know { A 10 4 3 that. When East doubled again the spotlight was }9 3 on West.He simply had to guess which major suit [ A K Q [ – to lead.The audience held its breath.A card went Bridge N ] J 7 6 ] K Q 9 8 3 2 face down on the table.When it was revealed as { 8 7 6 2 W E { Q J 5 the ten of hearts there were cheers from the Bel- Rama S gian supporters; +710 and 11 more IMPs to Bel- } Q J 5 } 8 6 4 2 gium who won the match 69-30 IMPs, 23-7 VPs. [ J 10 9 8 6 5 Radisson Hotel - 5th floor ]4 {K 9 Icelandair (10.0 0OPEN ROUND 31 (10.00h) } A K 10 7 and the Icelandic Poland - Netherlands West North East South Bridge Federation Labaere Walshe Carcassone Toibin 0OPEN ROUND 32 (14.15h) 1{ Pass 1] 1[ Welcome you to Spain - France Dbl 2[ 4] 4[ Dbl All Pass 19th ICELANDAIR OPEN

(10.0 0OPEN ROUND 33 (18.00h) West cashed his top spades and switched to 18-21 February 2000 Italy - Portugal the six of hearts. Declarer won with the ace and At Hotel Loftleidir ran the nine of clubs.That 25% shot failed and the Reykjavik - Iceland contract was one down; -200. 6 Thursday, 24 June 1999 44th GENERALI European Bridge Championships

OPEN - Round 26 Greece v France Board 7. Game All. Dealer South. West led the four of diamonds and declarer won with dummy's jack and played the queen of [103 spades getting the bad news. West won and ] Q J 9 8 4 3 switched to a heart. Declarer won and ruffed a {Q 4 heart. He crossed to dummy with the ace of clubs } Q 6 4 and ruffed another heart before exiting with the [ A Q 6 5 2 N [ K J 8 4 ten of clubs. He was able to escape for two ] K ] A 7 6 5 2 down; -200. W E { 10 9 2 { J 8 6 3 West North East South S } J 10 8 7 } – Mari Liarakos Multon Kapayannides [9 7 1[ ]10 Pass 2] Pass 2[ { A K 7 5 Pass 3} Dbl 3[ } A K 9 5 3 2 Pass 4[ Pass Pass West North East South Dbl All Pass Filios Bompis Papa De S.Marie Giankos Papakiriacopoulos, Greece 1} Should North have paid heed to East's warn- 1[ Dbl 4} Dbl ing double? There was plenty of excitement for the 4[ Pass Pass 4NT Mari led the jack of clubs and East overtook VuGraph audience when the leaders, France, met Dbl Pass Pass 5} it with the queen when declarer played low from tenth placed Greece.The Commentators solved Dbl All Pass dummy. He switched to the three of diamonds the problem of pronouncing the name Papakiria- and Mari won with the king when declarer copoulos by shortening it to 'Papa the Greek', South had an awkward decision when East- finessed. He continued with his remaining club well know to readers of Victor Mollo's menagerie West bid to game. Pursuing the usually sound and declarer won and set about reducing his books. policy of bidding on when in doubt he showed trumps, playing the ace of hearts and ruffing a the nature of his hand via 4NT. heart. He played two rounds of diamonds ending Board 2. N/S Vul. Dealer East. West led the ace of spades against Five Clubs in dummy and ruffed another heart. When he doubled and continued with the queen before exited with a spade he had arrived at a position [ K 10 6 5 3 switching to the jack of clubs. South won in hand ]7 where he too could escape for two down. Well and played the ten of hearts, taken by the king. played but still -500 and 7 IMPs to France. { A K 9 7 Declarer won the diamond switch with the } A Q 3 queen and ran the queen of hearts. West ruffed Board 17. Love All. Dealer North. [ Q 8 N [ 9 7 4 2 and declarer claimed the rest; two down, -500. ] K 10 9 8 6 4 ] Q J 5 That would be okay if France could make Four [ J 6 5 4 3 W E { 10 4 { J 3 Spades in the replay. ] A J 6 } J 10 4 S } K 8 7 5 {Q 9 West North East South } Q 10 7 [A J Mari Liarakos Multon Kapayannides ] A 3 2 [ A 10 7 N [ K 1} ] 7 ] K Q 10 3 { Q 8 6 5 2 1[ Dbl 3} 3{ W E { A K 8 5 3 2 { J 10 7 6 } 9 6 2 Pass 3] 4[ Dbl S All Pass } 9 5 4 } A K J 8 West North East South [ Q 9 8 2 Filios Bompis Papa De S.Marie North found the telling lead of the queen of ] 9 8 5 4 2 Pass Pass diamonds and the defenders played four rounds {4 2{ Dbl 3] 3NT of the suit, forcing Mari to ruff high. He cashed } 6 3 2 All Pass the king of hearts and played a spade to the jack. When he played the five of hearts South ruffed in West North East South Mari Liarakos Multon Kapayannides West led the nine of hearts and declarer won with the seven of spades. Declarer could arrive at the third round of the suit discarding a club from nine tricks but not ten. One down was -200 and Pass 1{ Pass dummy. He played the queen of diamonds to 12 IMPs to Greece. 2} Pass 3} Pass cater for West having {J1043 and eventually came It was soon Greece's turn to run into a double. 3{ Pass 3] Pass to ten tricks when the queen of spades showed Board 15. N/S Vul. Dealer South. 3[ Pass 3NT All Pass up; +630. West North East South [Q That was a bad miss by the French pair. Declarer made twelve tricks; +490. Mari Liarakos Multon Kapayannides ] A J 10 9 3 { J 10 6 Could Greece do better? Pass Pass } A 7 3 2 2] Dbl 4] Dbl [ K J 10 8 4 [ – Pass 4[ All Pass N ] K 7 5 ] Q 8 6 4 W E { K 8 4 { 9 7 3 2 Four Hearts doubled would have been only S three down if declarer takes a winning view in } J 5 } K Q 9 6 4 clubs. Declarer won the opening lead with the [ A 9 7 6 5 3 2 ace of hearts and played the ace and jack of ]2 spades. That solved all possible problems and { A Q 5 eleven tricks were made; +650 and 1 IMP to }108 Greece. West North East South Six Diamonds by North is where you would like to play this deal and even with South as Filios Bompis Papa De S.Marie declarer it has good chances. 1[ On our next deal France were doubled in Pass 2] Pass 2[ game at both tables. Pass 3} Pass 3[ Pass 4[ All Pass Aris Filios, Greece Malta, 1999 Thursday, 24 June 1999 7

West North East South West North East South Filios Bompis Papa De S.Marie Filios Bompis Papa De S.Marie Super technique Pass 1} Pass Pass by Krzysztof Jassem (Poland) 1{ Pass 3{ Pass 1{ Pass 1] 1[ 4NT Pass 5} Pass Pass 4[ 5} All Pass You should always learn from the older - we 6{ All Pass had to admit it when Julian Klukowski of Polish The French pair soon found the good save Seniors reported us a board from the Senior The answer was an emphatic yes! but 'Papa' was having none of that. His bid of Five match Poland 1 - Austria 2. +920 and 10 IMPs. Clubs struck gold and when South led a trump he In the following board North was to play six claimed twelve tricks and +620. spades after a one-way auction (Board 24, Board 18. N/S Vul. Dealer East. West North East South Round 6). [ 8 7 4 2 Mari Liarakos Multon Kapayannides [ A K J 7 ] 6 4 2 Pass ] A 6 5 { 8 6 3 1{ Pass 1] 1[ {102 } A 7 4 2} 3[ Dbl Pass } A J 4 3 [ Q 10 5 3 [ A K 9 N 4] Pass 4NT Pass [ 5 3 [ 9 8 ] Q 8 ] 9 7 N W E 5{ Pass 6} All Pass ] 4 3 2 ] K J 10 8 7 { A K Q J { 10 9 5 W E { Q J 8 7 6 5 3 { 9 } Q J 10 S } K 9 8 5 2 When East showed one key card in response } 10 S } Q 9 8 7 6 [J 6 to West's enquiry Multon decided to take his [ Q 10 6 4 2 ] A K J 10 5 3 chance in Six Clubs, hoping that West held an ace ]Q 9 { 7 4 2 rather than the king of hearts and that the con- { A K 4 }6 3 tract would be on the heart finesse. South did not double but he cashed his aces; } K 5 2 West North East South +100 and 12 IMPs to Greece.They led 41-19 with Let's take it as a quiz. Filios Bompis Papa De S.Marie only one board to go. What line of play would you choose after a Pass 2] Board 20. Game All. Dealer West. passive spade lead? Dbl Pass 3} Pass You receive a bad mark if you play for a 3] Pass 3[ All Pass [ A 10 6 2 finesse in clubs or a 3-3 break in that suit. ]Q 6 2 You get a sufficient mark if you start by play- This is a tough hand for East-West as the only {9 6 ing a heart to the queen and only when this does game with a chance is Four Spades on the 4-3 fit. } Q J 10 9 not work trying the finesse in clubs. The defenders took the first three tricks with [ K N [ Q J 8 5 4 You get a good mark if after drawing trumps two top hearts and the ace of clubs and declarer ] A J 9 ] K 10 5 4 you decided to play three rounds of diamonds W E took a winning view in trumps and claimed the { 8 7 3 2 { A K 10 5 ruffing the third round - East would discard a club rest. } A 8 6 5 4 S } – and a heart. After a similar start at least one declarer [ 9 7 3 You deserve a very good mark if you are able went down by finessing the nine of spades. ] 8 7 3 to draw proper conclusions from the discards That was unlucky but relied on North having and drive the contract home independent of the { Q J 4 misdefended as with [Jxxx a third heart after the location of the honors in clubs in hearts. ace of clubs ensures a trump trick. } K 7 3 2 First, it is absolutely sure that West started West North East South West North East South with at least five clubs. You cannot imagine a Filios Bompis Papa De S.Marie bridge player discarding a maybe crucial club pos- Mari Liarakos Multon Kapayannides sessing six or seven useless hearts. On this 1} Pass 1[ Pass Pass 2{ assumption the contract is safe.You draw spades, Pass 2] Pass Pass 1NT Pass 2} Pass coming to the ending: Dbl Pass 3] Dbl 2{ Pass 3NT All Pass Pass Pass 4} Pass [– According to the records, Declarer ducked 4[ All Pass ]A 6 the opening club lead and won the second round {– with the ace. He played the king of spades and North led the two of hearts and South took North won and switched to the six of diamonds. } A J 4 3 the ace and king and would have made life easy At this point it is suggested by the computer that [–N [– for declarer by playing a third round, taking away declarer finessed the ten but sources close to the ] 4 3 2 ] K J any guess in the trump suit. Instead he switched W E Greek team indicate that declarer won with the {Q J {– to a club and when declarer played the queen king and misguessed in hearts. In any event the } 10} Q S 9 8 7 North ducked. Mari thought about it for a while contract went one down; -100. [Q but then cashed the ace and king of spades and ]Q 9 played a club to the jack. North ducked but now West North East South {– declarer could draw trumps and claim ten Mari Liarakos Multon Kapayannides } K 5 2 tricks. 1} Pass 1[ Pass Board 19. E/W Vul. Dealer South. 1NT Pass 3] Pass On the last spade you discard a heart from 4] All Pass the dummy and East is helpless. Suppose he dis- [ K 10 7 5 2 cards a heart.You play the ace of hearts, not wor- ] 8 7 6 2 For the second time in the match the rying what East contributes (it does not matter {104 'Moysian fit' proved to be a good resting-place. whether it is the king or not).You play a club to }106 Multon won the opening lead of the queen of the king and if the king of hearts did not show yet [Q 4 [6 diamonds with the ace and played a spade to the you run a club for an endplay on East. N That's exactly how Klukowski played the ] K 5 ] A Q J 9 3 king and ace. He won the diamond switch and W E cashed the two top spades, discarding dummy's board. After hearing the story the "junior" Polish { K Q 8 6 5 { 7 3 S remaining diamonds. Now he ruffed a spade, players immediately started checking the possibili- } K 9 8 5 } A Q J 4 2 cashed the }A and ruffed a club. He ruffed a dia- ty of incorporating Klukowski in the younger Pol- [ A J 9 8 3 mond with ]A and ruffed another club. He made ish team. None of us has had a declarer play of ]104 eleven tricks for +650 and 13 important IMPs close to that standard in the whole Championship. { A J 9 2 that left Greece in front 41-32, converting into I will not reveal the marks received by the }7 3 17-13 VPs. Polish "juniors" who were tested on the board. 8 Thursday, 24 June 1999 44th GENERALI European Bridge Championships

OPEN - Round 27 Sweden v Portugal A Comedy of Errors In the Seniors series the following board was Do the right thing worth an enormous 16 IMP swing. Three times the Swedish players in the Open West North East South Board 20. Game All. Dealer West. Room gave their supporters a reason for stand- Andersson Monteiro Gullberg Santos ing ovations. [ Q 6 3 1} 2} ]5 A lot of IMPs were at stake when Sweden Pass Pass 2[ Pass { A K Q 9 5 reached a slam on board 3. In the Closed Room Pass 3} All Pass Portugal had stopped in 4] making five; in the } 10 6 4 2 other matches many declarers had gone down in In the Closed Room the Portuguese defend- [ 8 7N [ K J 10 5 2 6], when they did not find the queen of trumps: ers played spade to the ace, spade to the king and ] A 10 9 8 7 2 ] 6 3 W E heart to the jack and king. When the declarer { J 10 8 5 4 { 7 6 Board 3. E/W Vul. Dealer South. misguessed the trump suit, he was one down; +50 } –S } K Q J 9 [ 10 8 2 to Portugal. [ A 9 4 ]8 In the Open Room East/West started with ] K Q J 4 three rounds of spades. Declarer ruffed and mis- { J 10 5 3 {2 guessed the clubs as well. Had East not found the } A 8 7 5 4 } J 10 9 8 4 heart switch now, South's heart loser would have [ 5 3 [ A K Q 7 6 4 N gone on dummy's fourth diamond. If you check the hand carefully, you will start ] A 10 6 4 3 ] K J 7 2 W E But Gullberg did the right thing again. He wondering how this could happen, as neither side {6 2 {K 9 tabled the ]K! Santos had to lose a heart and has game on. East/West are far from winning 4] S } A 7 6 3 } K another trump now, the board being a push and North/South will go at least two off should [J 9 instead of a 4 IMP pick-up for Portugal. they try to play in 5}. So where did the big num- ] Q 9 5 And Swedish defense shone once more: bers come from? { A Q 8 7 4 For unknown reasons, North/South in one Board 10. Game All. Dealer East. } Q 5 2 room bid up to 4[. East found a double, so that [ J 9 6 5 was +800 and a good start to go for a "sixteen- Sweden's East player,Tommy Gullberg, did not ] K 9 6 er". But the better story is yet to come, as this like the idea of an unprotected {K in dummy and { A 9 7 4 3 was the senario at the other table: went for another denomination: }Q West North East South West North East South [ Q 7N [ 10 4 3 Pass (!) Pass (!) Pass (!) 1} ] A 7 3 2 ] 10 5 4 2{ All Pass Andersson Monteiro Gullberg Santos W E 1] Pass 2NT (1) Pass { K J 6 2 { 5 S 3} Pass 3{ Pass } A J 10}We 8 are happy to report 6that at least South 5 4 3 2 3] Pass 3[ Pass [ A K 8 2 thought that he had an opening bid. West’s 2{ was alerted as a two-suiter in the red suits and 3NT Pass 4} Pass ]Q J 8 everybody seemed to be pleased to play there. 5} Pass 6NT All Pass { Q 10 8 } K 9 7 North led a club to the king and ace. Declar- (1) Heart support er ruffed, cashed ]A and played another heart. Portugal bid up to the normal 4[ game: South won and returned his stiff trump. West played low, North took the trick with {9 and After a couple of inquiries, East found out that West North East South his partner was semi-balanced. He therefore rattled off four more rounds of trumps! Then Andersson Monteiro Gullberg Santos knew that the spades would probably bring in six North tried a small spade. West misguessed (!) tricks, so he bid 6NT. North decided to lead the Pass 1NT and called for the [K. South gratefully took the (1) [J and the Swedish supporters were already tak- Pass 3} Pass 3[ ace to reach this ending: Pass 4[ All Pass ing bets that Gullberg would finesse in hearts [Q 6 now, analyzing that there must a be reason for (1) Three-suiter with short clubs ]– South not to lead a heart if he only had three small ones but a much more risky doubleton jack Lars Andersson (and quite a few other West {– instead. Gullberg took [A and cashed five more players) led the [7, which proved to be an awk- }106 rounds in that suit.After throwing three diamonds ward trap for the declarer, who now expected to [7N [J 10 find the [Q on his right. He played small from ] 9 8 7 ] – it took South a little longer to let go a club. Maybe W E that was another hint that he possessed a valuable dummy, took East's ten with the king and crossed {– {– holding in hearts. Whatever his reasons were, in to dummy in diamonds to take the spade finesse. }–S }Q J the end, Gullberg did not let his fans down. He To his surprise he lost that trick to West, who [9 cashed the }K, played the ]K and let the ]J run. cashed }A, ]A and {K and gave his partner a dia- ]K Q That was +1470 and 13 IMPs to Sweden. mond ruff for two down. {– In the Closed Room West led the [Q. Then it needed very good defense to tie a }5 board: Declarer won and played a club. West took the trick and returned another spade. South drew South cashed his remaining top hearts, and Board 6. E/W Vul. Dealer East. trumps in two rounds, played the queen of dia- dummy was squeezed in the black suits! Finally monds to the king and ace and was home, only West called for a spade and North scored the [ 9 7 4 losing a diamond and two aces. Sweden collected last two tricks with [Q6. Down six vulnerable! ] A J 8 6 another 13 IMPs and held on to win a rather one- You don't believe this has really happened? { Q J 4 3 sided match by 53-6, 24-6 VPs. Well, go and ask the Turkish seniors }Q 3 [ K 5 2N [ A Q J 10 3 ] Q 10 4 2 ] K 7 5 W E Apocryphal? { 9 8 7 5 { 10 6 } 7 4S } A J 8 by Grattan Endicott [8 6 Responding to the Minister's invitation, I spent one and a half hours today with Mr. Jesmond Mugliett, ]9 3 the Maltese Parliamentary for Youth, Sport, Culture and the Arts. During my visit I met what appeared to { A K 2 be the star striker of a local football team.At least, the banner on his car informed me: "Only Jesus saves". } K 10 9 6 5 2 Malta, 1999 Thursday, 24 June 1999 9

The Tenace The Bidding Sparkling bidding that was no Menace of the Tournament by Adad Aujaleu

In the Seniors match between Turkey and by Hans-Olof Hallen Pierre Adad and Maurice Aujaleu, playing for Poland 3, won by Poland 19-11, one hand created France 1 in the Seniors teams, are the current a problem for the defenders, when one of them In the Seniors event you are not allowed to title holders and in a very good position to retain did not realize that dummy's cards weren't worth play HUM or brown sticker. Some players play their title. the paper they were printed on: very natural indeed: You will not be surprised to see how precise their bidding is. Board 18. N/S Vul. Dealer East. Board 7. Game All. Dealer South. Board 23. Game All. Dealer South. [ A K Q 10 ]K 9 [ J 5 3 [ J 5 3 { J 10 8 5 2 ]8 6 ]8 6 }108 { A J 8 6 3 { A J 8 6 3 } Q 9 6 [ J 7 2N [ 6 }Q 8 6 ] – ] A Q 10 8 6 5 2 [ K Q 10 8 6N [ A 7 4 [ K Q 10 8 6 [ A 7 4 W E ] A K Q 7 ] 5 4 2 N { A 7 { Q 6 4 3 W E ] A K Q 7 ] 5 4 2 } A Q J 9 7 6 4 3 S } 2 { – { 10 5 2 W E S { – { 10 5 2 [ 9 8 5 4 3 } A 10 9 4 } K J 5 2 } A 10 9 4 S } K J 5 2 ] J 7 4 3 [9 2 [9 2 {K 9 ] J 10 9 3 ] J 10 9 3 }K 5 { K Q 9 7 4 { K Q 9 7 4 }7 3 West North East South }7 3 Sarimsakci Korkut West North East South West North East South Milovic Kostic 3] Pass 2{ (1) Pass 2] Pass Pass 3[ Pass 4[ Pass 2[ (2) Pass 2NT Pass 5} Dbl All Pass 1[ Pass 2[ Pass 3} (3) Pass 3{ Pass 5[ Pass 6[ Pass 3[ (4) Pass 4} (5) Pass North led [A and switched to a trump, to 7[ All Pass 4{ (6) Pass 6} All Pass prevent declarer from taking a spade ruff. Left with not much of an alternative West played out North led the {A. Declarer took three rounds The first three East bids were just relays of spades, three rounds of hearts and then picked all his trumps, discarding two diamonds and five (1) Strong, forcing one round, any distribution hearts from dummy. In a moment of confusion up the queen of clubs. He lost the last trick to the (2) South discarded all his spades and came down to ]J. Unluckily, the hearts had not been 3-3! Three-suiter ]Jx and {Kx in the four-card ending Declarer could have done slightly better by (3) Short in diamonds West assumed that he had presented South taking only two rounds of trumps followed by (4) 5-4-4-0 with five spades with a tough defensive problem, playing him for three rounds of hearts. If a defender with four (5) How good is your club suit ]Kx and {Kx, and exited with {A and another hearts has three trumps as well declarer will suc- diamond. As South had no spade left he was ceed. At the other table East/West played 6[ (6) Bad clubs, but A10 is the minimum require- forced to lead into East's hearts to give declarer making. ment in any suit for showing a strong three- two more tricks and +550 Turkey. Seeing all 52 cards, it seems that 6} is the top suiter, whether you believe it or not spot, as here you could handle a 4-1 break of the spade suit as well (see Sparkling Bidding by Adad/Aujaleu in the Seniors event). Just for the So 6} was the obvious contract since the 6[ Non-Smoking record, Sweden held on to score a victory 77-1, bidders would have a problem with hearts and 25-0 VPs. locating the }Q. Smoking in the playing area and toilets is pro- hibited. No presents today? No player may leave Sometimes clever ideas come to you as a ever, he was able to collect four diamond tricks the players’ area in boomerang. In one of the Seniors' matches,West later on when his partner came in with the ]K defending against a 3NT contract tried to give and returned his suit. order to smoke. away as little as possible, make partner's life as In the other room, West was not willing to Any player smoking easy as possible, and was hit by an incredible give South such a nice diamond present in the during or after the backdraft. beginning and opted for the ]J instead. It went queen, king, ace and another heart to the eight round in the playing Board 15. N/S Vul. Dealer South. area or toilets will result in his team and nine. East found the perfect switch and put being fined ½ VP. Constant violation of [ K 9 3 the {10 on the table. West thought he had a problem now. He this regulation will result in the player ] Q 10 8 6 3 {8 wanted partner to play another diamond and being prohibited from playing. thought a discouraging 9 would confuse him too } A K 9 4 much.What he did not realize was that scoring a [ 10 7 6 [ Q 5 4 2 N trick with the ten was probably good enough for ]J 5 ]K 9 4 W E East to simply continue that suit. { A Q J 9 2 { 10 7 3 Finally West decided that an encouraging {2 S Journalists } J 5 3 } Q 7 5 would help partner more than a discouraging [ A J 8 nine, so played his smallest diamond. This had a Please do not forget to pay your bill ] A 7 2 terrible effect on the defense, as it blocked the for telephone and fax before leaving. { K 6 5 4 diamond suit. East played {7, West had to over- } 10 8 6 take it with the nine, and East/West could no Elly Ducheyne longer come to five diamond tricks.When declar- Press Room At one table the Turkish West player, Halit er finessed in spades after regaining the lead, he Bigat, gave declarer the {K by leading {Q. How- had nine tricks to score 12 IMPs. 10 Thursday, 24 June 1999 44th GENERALI European Bridge Championships

LADIES - Round 15 Denmark v Germany by Tony Gordon (GB) With Denmark in fifth place and Germany 15 VPs Katrin Farwig had no reservations about opening Open Room behind in seventh place, this was an important 2} whereas Kirsten Steen-Møller settled for a rather West North East South encounter for both teams. heavy 1[ opening.That left Farwig better placed as the von Arnim Drøgemüller Auken Steen-Møller The first half, which Germany won by 40-18 IMPs, auction developed since she knew she was facing at was notable for an enterprising Danish opening lead on least a five-card heart suit and she simply checked on 1[ Board 3: the }K before bidding the grand, whereas Steen- Pass 2] Pass 4] Board 3. E/W Vul. Dealer South. Møller settled for twelve tricks; 11 IMPs to Germany, Pass 4[ All Pass putting them in the lead by 35 IMPs. [ K Q 8 3 2 Closed Room ] 9 5 4 Board 17. Love All. Dealer North. West North East South {K Koch-Palmund Stawowy Kalkerup Farwig } J 9 7 5 [ 10 7 4 ] 10 9 7 5 2 1[ [ 10 7 6 N [ 9 5 4 ] K 6 ] A J 10 7 2 { K J 9 Pass 2] Pass 4] W E { Q J 7 4 2 { 10 8 3 }K 9 Pass 4[ Pass 5] } K 4 2 S } 6 3 [ J 8 5 3N [ A K Q 6 2 All Pass ]8 ]A K 4 [A J W E { A Q 6 { 8 7 Both Norths intended 4[ as to play, but the Ger- ] Q 8 3 man pair were not on the same wavelength in the } A Q 8 5 4 S } 7 6 2 { A 9 6 5 Closed Room and got a level higher; however, Dame } A Q 10 8 [9 Fortune was about to smile on them. 4[ lost the obvi- ] Q J 6 3 West North East South ous four tricks in the Open Room, but in the Closed { 10 5 4 3 2 Koch-Palmund Auken Kalkerup von Arnim Room Kalkerup had listened to the bidding and led a } J 10 3 1} spade since she knew her partner had a singleton. Bar- Open Room Pass 1[ Pass 1NT bara Stawowy won with the ace and led a heart Pass 2} Pass 2{ West North East South towards dummy, but Kalkerup, following through with her plan, rose with the ace and gave her partner a Pass 2[ Pass 3} von Arnim Drøgemüller Auken Steen-Møller spade ruff with the ]K! Suddenly, three trump losers Pass 3NT Pass 4[ (1) Pass 1} Pass had turned into two and the losing diamond went away All Pass (2) 2} Pass 2[ Pass on a long spade; 11 extremely fortunate IMPs to Ger- After the strong club opening and 1[ positive, 3[ Pass 4] Pass many who were now 67 IMPs in the lead. 4NT Pass 5{ Pass three relays followed which showed that the North Board 21. N/S Vul. Dealer North. hand had 8-10 points with a 5-3-1-4 distribution.All of 5] Pass 5NT (3) Pass which left Bettina Kalkerup to find an opening lead 6[ All Pass [K against Sabine Auken's 4[ contract. She unerringly ] K J 10 4 (1) Strong club chose the ]2, and two heart tricks, a ruff and later the { A K 10 5 3 (2) Several possibilities including the actual 5+ }K meant Auken was one down, whereas 3NT had clubs and 4+ major } K Q 3 been a comfortable make in the other room. (3) [Q & ]K [ A Q 10 9 6 4 N [ J 7 2 However, there was to be little Danish joy in the ] 8 5 3 2 ] Q 9 7 W E second half which was almost all one-way traffic in the Closed Room { 8 6 { J 9 7 4 opposite direction. S West North East South } 8 } 5 4 2 Board 14. Love All. Dealer East. [ 8 5 3 Koch-Palmund Stawowy Kalkerup Farwig [5 3 ]A 6 Pass 1[ Pass {Q 2 ] K J 7 5 2 (1) 2NT Pass 3{ Pass } A J 10 9 7 6 { J 5 4 2 (2) 3NT Pass 4] Pass Open Room }K 6 5[ Pass 5NT (3) Pass [ 8 2N [ Q 7 6 4 6[ All Pass West North East South ] 9 8 6 ] Q von Arnim Drøgemüller Auken Steen-Møller W E (1) { Q 10 9 6 3 { 8 7 Game-forcing raise 1{ Pass 2} (2) } Q J 4S } 9 8 7 5 3 2 Singleton heart 3[ Dbl Pass 4} (3) [ A K J 10 9 [AKQ Pass 5} All Pass ] A 10 4 3 {A K Two different routes to the apparently doomed Closed Room slam, but what should South lead? In the Closed Room, }A 10 West North East South Open Room Farwig found a diamond lead and declarer had no chance. However, in the Open Room, Steen-Møller Koch-Palmund Stawowy Kalkerup Farwig West North East South chose the }J. Sabine Auken rose with the ace, drew 1{ Pass 2} von Arnim Drøgemüller Auken Steen-Møller trumps ending in hand and then ducked a club; +980 2[ 3] Pass 3[ Pass 1[ and 14 IMPs to Germany. Pass 4} Pass 5} Pass 1NT Pass 3] Pass 6} All Pass Pass 4] Pass 4NT Board 19. E/W Vul. Dealer South. Pass 5} Pass 6] Daniela von Arnim's jump to 3[ was more effec- All Pass [ A 6 2 tive than Charlotte Koch-Palmund's simple 2[ as the ] 10 7 5 4 3 Danish pair, with less room to manoeuvre, stopped in Closed Room {9 6 game while the German pair reached the cold slam for }A K 9 a 12-IMP gain. West North East South [ 9 [ 10 5 4 3 So far Denmark had not scored any IMPs in the Koch-Palmund Stawowy Kalkerup Farwig N ] K J ] A 9 8 second half, but a total whitewash was averted when Pass 2} W E { K 8 7 5 4 2 { Q 10 3 Germany missed a game on the last board to give Den- Pass 2{ Pass 2[ S mark 6 IMPs. It made no difference to the match score, Pass 3] Pass 4NT } J 10 4 2 } 8 7 5 [ K Q J 8 7 however, since Germany had convincingly triumphed Pass 5{ Pass 5NT by 73 IMPs (97-24) and had won the match by 25-2 (1) ] Q 6 2 Pass 6{ Pass 7] VPs, a result that put them into the top six for the first All Pass {A J time since Round 5 and dropped Denmark down to (1) }K but no {K } Q 6 3 seventh. Malta, 1999 Thursday, 24 June 1999 11

The EBL Seniors Delegates Meeting Malta, 20th June 1999

EBL Representatives: Chair, EBL Seniors: Dr. Mr. Hackett said it was important to publish N. Rand; G. Rona EBL President elect; J. Dami- the exact start and finish times of the whole event, Se capite questo annuncio vuol dire ani & N. Jensen President Emeriti; Dr. Fleis- in good time for travel arrangements to be made. che dovete abbonarvi a 'Bridge d'Italia'. chmann, Vice-President Seniors Committee; J. It would not matter if the event started a couple Amate il bridge, capite l'Italiano, cosa Oliveira, J-C Beineix & Mrs A-M Torlon- of hours later, but could be serious if it started volete di più? Per 50,000 Lire (US$30) tano, Members EBL Executive. early. Mr. Beineix agreed this could be done. avrete tecnica, cronaca, umorismo e opin- In addition, some forty delegates and team Discussing the format for the next EBL ioni 10 volte all' anno. Non esitate, affret- captains. Seniors teams, it was agreed that the event could tatevi a contattare: Mr. Rona welcomed delegates and, as the not be extended by more than one day, that it new EBL President, gave the Seniors Committee was highly desirable to play the same boards as FIGB his backing. either the Open or the Ladies, that a Round Via Ciro Menotti 11 Robin was preferred, and that it should be rare Mr. Damiani reported that he was impressed 20129 Milano that there was play in the evening (voting 20-4 in by the success of the Seniors. He had expected Tel +3902 70000483 favour). Possibly up to 34 teams could be accom- Fax +3902 70001398 more players of average standard, but many modated without changing the format. world and European champions were competing Dr. Rand reported on the new Bermuda If you don't understand the words in the Senior teams in Malta.The Senior Pairs in Bowl for Seniors (suggested by Mr. Novak).The above it means that it's time to subscribe Warsaw had also been a success. He was there- EBL and ACBL would certainly supply a team to 'Bridge d'Italia'. If you love good bridge fore nominating Dr.Rand as Chairman of the new next January. Mr. Ernesto d'Orsi hoped to have a and want to improve your Italian don't hes- WBF Seniors Committee. A Bermuda Bowl for team from South America. Mr. Hackett reported itate. Contact: Seniors would be held next January in Bermuda, that Central America was interested in sending a with at least one team each from Europe and team. Dr. Rand would be happy if there were up FIGB North America. He would seek increased partic- to six teams, but Mr.Beineix and Mrs. Gudge said Via Ciro Menotti 11 ipation from the other Zones, and perhaps extra there was no spare room in the main hotel. Dr. 20129 Milano teams from the two major Zones. Rand said a venue would be found if necessary. Tel +3902 70000483 Dr. Rand thanked Mr. Beineix for the excel- Dr. Rand said it was planned to have a Fax +3902 700001398 lent playing conditions and arrangements in Seniors Teams event in Maastricht alongside the Malta.The entry of 29 teams was a record. Olympiad. It might well be restricted to ten 10 issues per year for only 50,000 Lire Paul Maris then reported on the new EBL (US$30) teams and therefore nations would have at most Masterpoint rankings for Seniors. Only points 'Bridge d'Italia' The best Italian Bridge one team. If the EBL had a quota and more won in major (WBF, EBL and EUBL) Senior Magazine. nations wishing to play, then it was possible that events, pairs and teams since 1990, had been results in Malta would determine who had pref- included. erence. If so it would be the NCBO that Dr. Rand said he was delighted to have the received the priority and not the players. Mr. World Senior Pairs champions, Boris Schapiro & Harry von der Pepple, Chairman of the Organis- GRAND SLAM Irving Gordon in Malta. He also thanked Andrezj ing Committee for the Olympiad, said he looked Orlow for the work he had done for Seniors forward to welcoming a Seniors event. BOOKS bridge in Eastern Europe. Dr. Rand reported that in the EBL Mixed A NEW British publishing company, Grand Dr. Rand then reported on Malta and how Championships next March in Bellaria there Slam Books, is producing top-quality bridge the field of 29 teams had been created.This met would no separate event for Seniors, but a spe- books. The first three titles will appear in the with the approval of the meeting. Dr. Rand cial prize for the leading Senior team and Pair. middle of October. All the books have a large regretted the rise in entry fee from 1500 Swiss The next EBL Pairs and Senior Pairs in Jerusalem page size (similar to the current world champi- Francs to 1800. Mr. Rona reported that it was an in March 2001 would be a fine combination of onship books) and contain plenty of pho- bridge and tourism. It would contain a match tographs.The titles are: error that the price was shown as 1500 in the Regulations booklet. (The increase in price had between an over 55 and an under 55 team rep- THE HISTORY been decided in Warsaw.) Mr.Jourdain said it was resenting Europe. OF THE BERMUDA BOWL undesirable to change published fees at the Discussing matters outside championships, (£15.99) venue, and felt the new price was high, given that Dr. Fleischmann gave some ideas to encourage by Henry Francis & Brian Senior many Federations did not pay their Seniors' lesser players to participate. An event for such A year by year account of the most impor- entry fees, and that the Ladies were playing a players would be investigated along the lines of tant tournament in International bridge. third more boards for less than a third more in the Ladies Jamboree. Senior events were popular fees. Mr. Hebak also reported that the fee was in Poland. England had a very popular Seniors THE BEST OF GRAY too high. Dr. Rand expressed the wish that he Congress and was launching another; Mr. Jour- (£13.99) could arrange for no increase in fee the next dain had launched a Seniors Congress in Cardiff Edited by Raymond Brock time. for Wales. An updated and totally modernised version Mr. Hebak raised the matter of trans-nation- Elections: Mr. Rand reported that the EBL of the classic 'Country Life Book of Bridge' by al teams. Dr. Rand stated that the intention was Executive had already elected himself as Chair- Maurice Harrison Gray only to help where a small country could not man with Mr. J-C Beineix, Mrs. Torlontano, Mr. raise a full team without players from another Oliveira, and Mr. Kielbasinski as members. From THE BIG GAME country, and the regulation sought to reflect this. the Chair he nominated Dr. Fleischmann as Vice- (£9.99) On the number of teams from each country, Mr. President, Mr. Orlow and Mr. Jourdain. These by Robert Sheehan Otvosi preferred the Rosenblum pattern, but Mr. were agreed with acclaim. Nominations were Hackett supported the current situation where opened to the floor and the names of Mr. Novak What it's like to play Rubber Bridge for high (Poland); Mr. Mattsson (Germany); Mr. Hackett stakes with (amongst others) Zia and Bob countries were restricted to two teams with the Hamman. Chairman having discretion to allow one more (Britain); Mr. Schonberg (Italy); Mr. Hendrix (Bel- where space permitted. gium) were accepted. Anybody who would like to purchase any Mr. Hebak wanted less restriction on sys- Mr. Mario Dix and Mrs. Anna Gudge also or all of these titles can put in an advance order tems, but this was not the view of the Meeting served on the Committee. (20% discount) at the Daily News office (7th floor).All currencies accepted! that applauded the current restrictions Dr. Rand thanked all delegates for attending described by Dr. Rand and Mr. Damiani. and declared the meeting closed. 12 Thursday, 24 June 1999 44th GENERALI European Bridge Championships How to lead Twenty Years Ago… from a doubleton Priday Slips a Mickey to a Finn This was the end position: by Hans Werge by Claude Rodrigue [ 7 5 4 ]– Tony Priday raised Britain's hopes (mine too, {– For sure, it's a question of partnership agree- as we were in the Closed Room) when he land- }Q ment - and maybe religion - which card you lead ed a finely played Four Hearts in the match [– [9 away from a doubleton. But Sweden's Lars Ander- N against Finland, at the same time setting a stan- ] K 5 4 ] J 6 sson earned a well deserved applause from the W E dard that will take some beating for the Bols Bril- {– {K VuGraph audience - and his team 13 IMPs - by liancy Prize). S not playing the old fashioned version; you know, }9 }– when people were told that you do better by Game All. Dealer West. [– leading the highest from two cards. ] 9 8 7 3 [ A K 7 5 4 3 {– ]– }- Board 10. Game All. Dealer East. { 8 6 5 [ J 9 6 5 } Q 8 7 3 Tony now applied the final turn of the screw ] K 9 6 [ Q 6N [ 9 8 2 by playing the winning nine of spades. South split ] A K 5 4 ] J 10 6 2 his trump equals and the nine of clubs went from { A 9 7 4 3 W E }Q { Q 10 9 { A K J 3 dummy! Laine conceded gracefully.He was left on S lead with ]983 and could not take a trick with [ Q 7 [ 10 4 3 } 9 5 4 2 } A K N them. ] A 7 3 2 ] 10 5 4 [J 10 { K J 6 2W E { 5 ] Q 9 8 7 3 } A S J 10} 8 { 7 4 2 6 5 4 3 2 [ A K 8 2 } J 10 6 ] Q J 8 West North East South { Q 10 8 Rodrigue Manni Priday Laine } K 9 7 Pass 2] Dbl Pass In the 1979 Championships only two teams qualified for the Bermuda Pass 2[ Pass Pass Bowl.The rankings looked like this: 3[ Dbl 4] All Pass West North East South Open Series 13 out of 21 Rounds completed: Gullberg Monteira Anderson Santos Two Hearts was multicoloured. Pass 1NT South's lead of the jack of spades was cov- 1 Ireland 189 Pass 2} Pass 2[ ered by the queen and king and the [A was 2 France 181 3 Italy 169 Pass 4[ All Pass cashed. Declarer won the club switch and tried a sneaky ]10. The alert Laine covered this, 4 Norway 163 5 Austria 162 To make things easier - for his partnership - dummy's ace winning the trick as the bad trump trick was disclosed. 6 Great Britain 161 Lars Andersson kept silent during the bidding: With South known to hold six cards in the 7 Poland 158.5 Who can blame South for the following play, minors it was crucial that these should include 8 Denmark when West to the first trick put the seven of three or four diamonds and that Tony should spades on the table? read the distribution correctly. Accordingly, Tony Ladies Series 7 out of 15 cashed the king of clubs and the ace of diamonds Rounds completed: Small from the dummy, spade ten from East and continued with the three of diamonds to the and the king from declarer. It seemed to poor I Great Britain 120 ten and a third diamond from dummy, the queen. South that West might have led away from a 2 Italy 99 Had North shown out on the third round of dia- small doubleton in the trump suit, so why not 3 Ireland 96 monds declarer would have overtaken the queen start to establish the diamond suit? 4 Netherlands 88 of hearts with the king in order to cash the jack Austria 88 The diamond queen was covered by West's of diamonds before leading his established nine of 6 Poland 80 king and, when dummy had taken the diamond spades. When North followed to the queen of 7 Sweden 74 ace, Santos played a spade to his eight - and the diamonds, dummy was allowed to retain the lead 8 France 71 roof came down.West could now take his spade in order to play a club for East to ruff. queen and defeat the contract by taking one trick in each side suit - and finish his show by giving his partner a diamond ruff! From our London At the other table, V. Diegues as West also found the spade lead against the same contract. correspondent But unluckily enough, his choice was the higher Second day of Wimbledon marked by card from two. +200 + 620 from the other room arrival of monsoon. Wimbledon fortnight - as at most tables - meant 13 IMPs for Sweden. now relaunched as Henley Week with Hen- After a brilliant match Sweden ended up with a man and Rudseski felt to have a good chance score of 53-6, which was worth 24-6 in VPs. for top honours in the coxless pairs. Millen- Just to warn other opponents: Gullberg- nium Dome hastily rebranded as The Under- Andersson normally lead the highest card from a sea World Experience. Circle Line closed doubleton. By the way a total of seven players due to wrong kind of water.Venetian gondo- tried the lead of the seven of spades. Three liers flown in to provide a shuttle service on declarers were not fooled and took their +620, the Wimbledon branch of the District Line. probably because West had shown strength over Following a dramatic coup d'etat the gov- ernment has been taken over by the Thames South's 1NT opening bid. Water Authority. At three tables South did not guess the spade You read it here first. situation and they all went one down. Tommy Gullberg, Sweden