In Round 8, the Australian pair of Nic Croft and Luke Matthews seemed to be experimenting with all the different ways to score plus 650.

Board 1. Dealer North. Love All ª A J 9 8 7 © K J 10 8 4 2 ¨ K 6 § — ª Q 3 ª K 10 2 © 7 © 3 ¨ Q 4 2 ¨ A 10 9 7 5 § A Q 10 9 4 3 2 § K J 8 6 ª 6 5 4 © A Q 9 6 5 ¨ J 8 3 § 7 5

It certainly doesn't look like 650, but Luke ruffed the club lead, drew trumps while stripping clubs, and played a spade to 7 and 10. East erred by continuing with the ªK, resulting in plus 650. Two of dummy's diamonds were pitched on the spades. This was a 13-IMP gain since the same contract was defeated a trick at the other table.

The next 650 was of the undoubled variety.

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

A heart was led, producing a score of plus 650. Perhaps West should have bid 5¨, but the partnership's preemptive style seemed to be very aggressive, making 5¨ less attractive to West.

At the other table, Kylie Robb overcalled 4¨ over North's strong 1§, South doubled, and Leigh Gold correctly upped the ante to 5¨. This was passed to South who bid 5©, a contract that was defeated after the lead of the §K. Another 13 IMPs to Australia.

The third variety of 650 arrived on the very next board.

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

Croft's 5¨ bid showed his keen eye for the vulnerability. The unlucky West chose to lead the §K, resulting in an overtrick and another plus 650. This one was worth 15 IMPs when the bidding was the same up to 4ª at the other table. But South did not bid 5¨, which looks like a sensible risk at the vulnerability.

Eric Kokish said later that he almost commented on vugraph that some poor West might lead an unfortunate §K against the 5¨ save. How right he was! (Editor's note: Matthews and Croft didn't have the opportunity to score 650 the hardest way - you know, down 13 undoubled, not vul.)