Multinational

By Mark Horton

It can take quite a bit of work forming your squad for the Transnational event, especially when half your original team decides to go home.

That was the fate that befell the Israeli Senior team when three of their members departed at the end of the Senior Bowl. The notional captain, Nissan Rand, found an Egyptian pair, Ahmed Hussein & Tarek Sadek, but there was a price to pay, the captaincy being taken over by Hussein. However, their team of five quickly became four, when one of the Israelis withdrew. Undaunted, the search went on and in the fullness of time, South Africa's Craig Gower was added and, then linked to Canada's Ralph Cohen. This hotchpotch squad proved to be rather formidable, and after twelve rounds they were in second place. Here are a few examples of how they have been scoring their points:

Board 5. Dealer North. N/S Vul.
	♠ A K 5 4 ♥ K 5 ♦ J 6 4 3 ♣ J 9 7
♠ J 9 7 ♥ Q 4 3 ♦ A Q 10 9 7 ♣ Q 2		♠ 10 8 6 2 ♥ A J 8 6 ♦ 8 2 ♣ K 5 3
	♠ Q 3 ♥ 10 9 7 2 ♦ K 5 ♣ A 10 8 6 4

Both tables reached 1NT via the same sequence, 1♦ - 1♥ - 1♠ - 1NT, and in the Open Room West led the seven of spades. Declarer won in dummy and played the jack of clubs, covered by the king and ace. East won the next club and exited with a diamond. Declarer won and claimed seven tricks; +90.

In the other room Nissan Rand led the ten of diamonds and declarer won in hand, East playing the eight. Declarer played a spade to the king and played the jack of clubs, covered by the king and ace. When declarer led another club East won and played the nine of diamonds. When declarer ducked West cashed his diamond winners and South was in trouble; the defenders finished up taking four heart tricks as well, for down three and +300.

Board 12. Dealer West. N/S Vul.
	♠ K Q 8 ♥ K Q J ♦ A K Q ♣ 9 6 5 2
♠ 10 7 5 2 ♥ 10 9 6 ♦ 8 3 2 ♣ Q J 3		♠ A J 3 ♥ A 8 4 2 ♦ 10 4 ♣ K 10 7 4
	♠ 9 6 4 ♥ 7 5 3 ♦ J 9 7 6 5 ♣ A 8

Both tables reached 3NT. When East led a low club at trick one declarer had no chance and was two down; -200.

In the replay East led the two of hearts and declarer won with the jack and unblocked the diamonds. He then played the queen of hearts and when East ducked that, he could establish the game-going trick in spades.

Board 19. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
	♠ Q 4 3 ♥ Q J 6 2 ♦ J ♣ A J 10 5 4
♠ K 8 6 5 2 ♥ K ♦ 7 5 ♣ Q 9 8 7 3		♠ A J 9 7 ♥ A 10 3 ♦ A K 9 8 4 3 ♣ -
	♠ 10 ♥ 9 8 7 5 4 ♦ Q 10 6 2 ♣ K 6 2

West	North	East	South
Cohen		Levit
			Pass
Pass	1♣	Dble	Pass
2♠	Pass	6♠	All Pass

North led the ace of clubs. Declarer ruffed in dummy, cashed the ace of diamonds, came to hand with the king of hearts and played a diamond towards the king. North discarded a club, so declarer won and ruffed a diamond with the six of spades. North found the excellent play of not overuffing, instead discarding a heart. However, declarer found an excellent counter by playing a spade to the jack, after which the contract was assured.