The Israeli players didn't know it, but they were in a good position to qualify for a semifinal berth as this match got under way. They thought their chances were minimal - the announcement concerning the ineligibility of Chinese Taipei had not yet been made. Israel actually was already in fourth place and needed only to maintain that position. But many teams, especially Norway, still were in the running.

Things looked bad for Israel at the start - after three boards they were trailing by 19. This was Board 2.

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

Amir Levin, West, with an ace and a fit probably should have raised partner to game. Eran Shaham had bid to the four level alone, and it was clear he had a highly distributional hand. He took 12 tricks.

Here Hong Kong was pushed to the five level as a result of Asaf Amit's highly aggressive 4ª bid. Chi Kwong Wong took the push and was immediately doubled by Yaniv Zack. Hon also made 12 tricks for a 10-IMP pickup.

Both teams got to 3NT on the next board - Hong Kong made it and Israel did not.

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

In the Open Room Chi Keung Poon won the opening lead of the §Q with the king and led the ªK, taken by the ace. East led the §9, ducked to the 10, and the diamond return also was ducked to the king. East continued diamonds to the ace, and declarer cashed dummy's top spades. Then a diamond to the queen let him claim 10 tricks - plus 430.

The opening lead again was the §Q in the Closed Room, and Zack immediately knocked out the ªA. Wong led the §9, ducked, then continued with the §3, taken by declarer. He took a heart finesse to the 9 and cashed the ªQ. He was not at all happy when West showed out - now he couldn't overtake the 10 without setting up a trick for East. He cashed the ©A and ©K, but the queen did not drop. Now he went into the tank for several minutes, finally getting out with a heart to the queen. Hon cashed his good clubs for down one and another 10-IMP pickup.

Israel got 10 back when Hong Kong got too high and was set in 6ª.

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

Poon had to lose a heart of course, so it all came down to the spades. Poon decided to finesse to the jack and went down one.

Amit's pass of 5§ was quite surprising in as much as Zack had bid spades first. However, it worked out well - Zack guessed the spades by letting the jack ride through West and made an overtrick.

Hong Kong got another 6 on Board 9 when they stopped in a partscore while Israel went to the spade game and were beaten a trick. The next major swing occurred on Board 12.

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

The auction in the Open Room was incredible -1© by East, 2© by West, all pass. Plus 110 to Israel. North remained quiet throughout despite the aggressive black-suit distribution.

As you would expect, things went differently in the Closed Room. Amit, North, opened the bidding with 1ª and Wong overcalled 2©. Hon raised to 3© and Zack reopened with a double. Amit sat for the double. The defense got their three trump tricks, two clubs and a spade for plus 300 and 9 IMPs.

Israel picked up eight more on the next board.

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

Hong Kong was a bit aggressive bidding the E/W cards.

Clearly Wing Hon thought his partner had more for his 3ª bid. He thought his two honors would be a major help to Wong. They were - but they weren't enough. He had to lose a heart, two diamonds and two clubs - 500 to Israel.

The auction was much more subdued in the Open Room.

Poon took 10 tricks, but that still was an 8-IMP loss.

After a small loss on Board 14 and small pickups on 16 and 17, Israel scored up the last major swing on Board 18.

Board 18. Dealer East. NS Game ª J 7 5 © J 7 6 2 ¨ 10 6 5 2 § K 8 ª Q 9 4 2 ª K 10 © K 10 © A Q 9 8 5 ¨ A 9 3 ¨ K 4 § A Q 10 9 § J 7 5 2 ª A 8 6 3 © 4 3 ¨ Q J 8 7 § 6 4 3

Both Easts played in 3NT. In the Closed Room Wong won the opening diamond lead with the king and led the ªK to drive out the ace. Zack took his ace and continued diamonds, Wong winning the third round. He cashed the king, ace and queen of hearts, but the jack didn't fall. Next he tried the club finesse, losing to the king. Amit cashed his good heart and gave his partner the setting trick with a diamond.

In the Open Room Shaham ducked the opening diamond lead and won the second perforce. He foresaw the problem of going after the spades first, and he was reasonably sure the diamonds were splitting 4-4. So he went after clubs first, finessing the jack. This lost and the ¨A was dislodged. Shaham took his top hearts, but when the jack failed to drop he led the ª10 to the queen. When this held, he cashed the good clubs for his game and 10 IMPs.

This increased Israel's victory margin to 20-10. The Israelis were overjoyed when they learned that, because of the action against Chinese Taipei, they had now qualified to play in the semifinals.