The 44th World Team Championships (XXXVII) by Phillip Alder These took place in Wuhan, China, from September 14 to 28 last year. To begin, here are two bidding problems. 1. With only your side vulnerable, you are dealt: ‰ A J 8 7 2 Š 8 6 ‹ K Q 10 9 3 Œ 7 The bidding starts like this: West North East South You Responder Partner Opener 3Š ?? What would you do? 2. With both sides vulnerable, you pick up: ‰ A 10 5 Š J 10 4 2 ‹ K Q 3 Œ A 10 7 The bidding begins thus: West North East South Partner Opener You Responder Pass 1‹ Pass 1‰ Dble 2‰ (a) ?? (a) Four-card support Do you agree with your initial pass? What would you do now? The Bermuda Bowl bronze medal playoff took place over 80 boards between Norway (Terje Aa-Allan Livgard, Boye Brogeland-Espen Lindqvist and Nils Kare Kvangraven-Ulf Haakon Tundal) and USA-1 (Nick Nickell-Ralph Katz, Bobby Levin-Steve Weinstein and Jeff Meckstroth-Eric Rodwell). After two of the five sessions, Norway led by 81 international match points to 42. Over the next two deals, USA-1 gained one overtrick imp. Then came: 1 North Dlr: South ‰ K 5 4 Vul: E-W Š 2 ‹ A J 7 5 2 Œ A 9 8 2 West East ‰ A J 8 7 2 ‰ Q 10 9 Š 8 6 Š A Q 7 4 ‹ K Q 10 9 3 ‹ 8 4 Œ 7 Œ Q J 10 4 South ‰ 6 3 Š K J 10 9 5 3 ‹ 6 Œ K 6 5 3 Open Room: West North East South Katz Lindqvist Nickell Brogeland 3Š Pass Pass Pass Closed Room: West North East South Tundal Weinstein Kvangraven Levin 3Š 3‰ Pass 4‰ All Pass Note the expert policy these days – at favorable vulnerability, pre-empt one level higher than recom- mended in the textbooks. The swing was caused by West's decision. Katz passed, but Tundal overcalled three spades. It is unusual to act with only ten high-card points, but with two five-card suits, you can understand Tundal's desire to enter the auction. However, he did not overbid even more by making a four-heart Michaels Cue-Bid, which would probably get a vote or two from an expert panel. Three hearts went down one, declarer losing one spade, two hearts and two clubs. Everything lay badly for four spades. After North led his heart, South played a suit-preference three under dummy's ace. When West played a diamond to his king, North took the trick and shifted to a low club. South won, gave his partner a heart ruff and received a diamond ruff. North still had the spade king to come for down two. Plus 50 and plus 200 gave 6 imps to USA-1. This was the next board: 2 North Dlr: West ‰ J 8 7 6 Vul: Both Š K 5 ‹ A J 10 8 6 Œ Q 2 West East ‰ 9 2 ‰ A 10 5 Š A 9 8 7 Š J 10 4 2 ‹ 9 5 ‹ K Q 3 Œ K J 5 4 3 Œ A 10 7 South ‰ K Q 4 3 Š Q 6 3 ‹ 7 4 2 Œ 9 8 6 Open Room: West North East South Katz Lindqvist Nickell Brogeland Pass 1‹ Pass 1‰ Dble 2‰ (a) 4Š All Pass (a) Four-card support Closed Room: West North East South Tundal Weinstein Kvangraven Levin Pass 1‹ Dble Pass 1Š Pass Pass 1‰ 2Œ 2‰ Pass Pass Dble Pass 3Š All Pass I do not like 4-3-3-3 takeout doubles unless having a lot of high-card points. So, I approve of Nickell's auction – an initial pass followed by a jump to game when partner showed four hearts, four-plus clubs and some values. Tundal underbid with one heart; two hearts was the value advance. He hoped his subsequent actions painted an accurate picture, but his partner did not go for game. In the Open Room, South led the spade king. Declarer won and played a heart to the nine. North took that trick, cashed the diamond ace and spade jack, then played another diamond. Declarer took a second heart finesse, drew South's last trump and had no trouble guessing clubs, because North had opened the bidding. The play was similar at the other table. Plus 620 and minus 170 gave a valuable 10 imps to USA-1. The match score was now Norway 81 USA-1 59. To be continued 3 .