Two long sessions of twenty-six boards would test the stamina of even these great players, as the Men's section of the Generali World Masters got under way.

I can recall one expert telling me that if he could be granted just one wish, it would be to always make the best lead. He was certainly onto something if this hand is anything to go by.

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

North led a club, and that was that. Forrester won in hand, cashed the ace of clubs and played on diamonds to record the same nine tricks that were made at all the tables but one. The unlucky declarer who only made seven tricks did not get a club lead, and you cannot make the contract without one.

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

Forrester led the threatening club, but Martens was not hard pressed to run the nine of hearts at trick two. When that fetched the king, the play was over very quickly, declarer claiming nine tricks.

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

This was a good hand to be certain of the methods in use!

According to the convention card, Two Clubs was game forcing, Two Diamonds a one round force.

As ten tricks are easy thanks to the trump break and the location of the king of spades, the pairs who reached game generally scored well.

Here, declarer made ten tricks, but +170 only collected 9/24, another good result for Gawrys.

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

Richard Freeman, reigning Bermuda Bowl Champion, resisted the temptation for a scientific bid of Three Diamonds, preferring to let his partner know he would be happy with a spade lead against a possible 3NT. Westra, perhaps with the previous board on his mind, was not going to be denied, and he tried for the ten trick game. No luck, the hearts did not break, and the club finesse was wrong. Down one, -50 but a slightly surprising 16/24 for North-South. That was enough to drop Gawrys below Baldursson, by just six points.

Board 12. Dealer West. NS Game ª 2 © K 8 6 5 ¨ J 9 8 5 4 2 § Q 9 ª J 9 7 4 ª A 10 8 3 © A 9 4 3 © Q J 10 7 2 ¨ 6 ¨ A Q 7 § A 7 6 3 § J ª K Q 6 5 © — ¨ K 10 3 § K 10 8 5 4 2

Fredin hit upon the devilish lead of the five of spades. Declarer put up dummy's nine, and when North produced the two, he overtook it with the ten and played the queen of hearts. When South discarded a club, Multon ran the trick to North's king. If North plays a trump back, declarer can get home by winning, and playing to ruff two diamonds in the dummy. Ace of diamonds, ruff a diamond, ace of clubs, ruff a club, ruff a diamond, and play a spade.

North preferred a diamond, and although it should have been plain sailing from here, declarer lost his way and went one down. It was an expensive lapse.

Board 13. Dealer North. Game All ª Q 9 8 7 6 5 © 9 6 3 ¨ A Q 8 § 8 ª A 2 ª K 4 © A 10 8 2 © K Q J 5 4 ¨ K J 9 7 4 ¨ 10 3 § J 7 § A Q 5 2 ª J 10 3 © 7 ¨ 6 5 2 § K 10 9 6 4 3

South led the jack of spades, and declarer won in hand and played the three of diamonds to the king and ace. North switched to the eight of clubs, and declarer was faced with a typical match point problem. He finessed, and South won and returned the ten of clubs for North to ruff. One down, and another solid result for the leader.

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

North led the king of spades, but the commentators had quickly noticed that North was bound to come under pressure in the ending, and so it proved.

Declarer ducked the first spade, won the second, and played on trumps. South took the third round and exited with a spade.

North won and switched to a diamond, but declarer won in hand, and ran his trumps, cashing the ace of clubs along the way. There was nothing North could do. Only three declarer's recorded +420, so it was worth 22/24.

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