Norway, Denmark face off for the gold

The 96-board gold medal final match which starts today will be between Norway and Denmark. Norway, the 1993 silver medallists, will have to overcome a 13.7 IMP deficit from the round-robin to beat Denmark, who took the bronze medal in 1995.

Norway took a comfortable lead into the last quarter of their semifinal against Canada R., and withstood a late charge from the host country to win by 171-137 IMPs. By contrast, the Denmark-Russia semifinal was a cliffhanger, with the lead changing hands several times in the last set. Denmark were hanging on to a fragile 5-IMP lead with two boards left to play, and needed to bid a tough slam to stay ahead. Indeed, had they gone down in Three Diamonds on the last hand, instead of making it, they match would have ended in a dead tie.

The bronze medal playoff will feature Canada R. and Russia; Canada will have a 10 IMP carryover.

Russia took a 12 IMP carryover into their semifinal match with Denmark, while Canada R. had a 0.7 IMP advantage, which will be treated as 1 IMP for the purposes the running score.

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

Denmark v Russia

Closed Room West North East South Kristensen Khokhlov Nøhr Sazonov Pass Pass 1 Pass 1NT All Pass

Open Room West North East South Khiouppenen Røn Petrounine Brøndum 1NT Pass 2 Pass 2 Pass 3NT All Pass

Canada v Norway

Closed Room West North East South Roberts Mathisen Sutherland Kristoffersen Pass Pass 1 Pass 1NT All Pass

Open Room West North East South Brogeland Blond Saur Levy 1NT Pass 2 Pass 2NT Pass 3 Pass 3NT All Pass

The teams were divided on whether or not to open the North hand. Røn and Blond decided to, while their counterparts did not. Røn's 3NT did not fare well after a spade lead and a diamond shift, and Russia gained 6 IMPs. Blond had a chance to do better when West won the Q at trick one and returned a low spade; he guessed wrong however, and the result was identical.

Score

Boards 2 and 3 were routine part-scores, on which Russia picked up a further 4 IMPs, and Norway another 1 IMP.

Board 4. Dealer West. Game All 6 4 10 4 K J 8 7 J 7 6 5 3 10 8 7 2 A Q J 9 5 Q 8 5 2 A K J 9 6 3 4 3 A A Q 4 K K 3 7 Q 10 9 6 5 2 10 9 8 2

Denmark v Russia

Closed Room West North East South Kristensen Khokhlov Nøhr Sazonov Pass Pass 2 2 Dble 3 4 Pass 4 Pass 4NT Pass 5 Pass 5 Pass 6 All Pass

Open Room West North East South Khiouppenen Røn Petrounine Brøndum Pass Pass 1(1) 2 Dble Pass 3 Pass 4 Pass 4NT Pass 5 Pass 5 Pass 6 All Pass 1 Polish Club, revealed as strong by later auction

Canada v Norway

Closed Room West North East South Roberts Mathisen Sutherland Kristoffersen Pass Pass 2 Pass 2NT Pass 3 Pass 4 Pass 4Nt Pass 5 Dble 5 Pass 6 Pass 6 All Pass

Open Room West North East South Brogeland Blond Saur Levy Pass Pass 1 Pass 2 Pass 4NT Pass 5 Pass 5 Pass 6 All Pass

Everyone reach the heart slam on this deal, although the routes varied slightly. Saur was the only player to select 1 as his opening, doubtless feeling that he would have difficulty describing his two-suiter after opening 2. Well-placed if the auction continues, as Mr. Roth is fond of saying. After the first round, the partnerships proceeded with varying amounts of accuracy, and interference to investigate grand slam possibilities. All discovered the missing K, and settled at the six level for no swing.

Score

Board 5 cost Russia 6 IMPs when Khiouppenen and Petrounine stopped to double 2 on the way to 4, and collected only 200. Board 6 was another part-score hand, delivering 1 IMP each to Denmark and Canada.

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

Denmark v Russia

Closed Room West North East South Kristensen Khokhlov Nøhr Sazonov Pass Pass Pass 1 Pass 2 Pass 2NT Pass 3NT All Pass

Open Room West North East South Khiouppenen Røn Petrounine Brøndum Pass Pass Pass 1 Pass 2 Dble Pass Pass 2 Pass 3 Pass 3 Pass 4 All Pass

Canada v Norway

Closed Room West North East South Roberts Mathisen Sutherland Kristoffersen Pass Pass Pass 1 Pass 1NT All Pass

Open Room West North East South Brogeland Blond Saur Levy Pass Pass Pass 1 Pass 1NT All Pass

This board produced very different pairs of results in the two matches. While both the Canadian and Norwegian pairs were content to play 1NT, in the other semifinal both teams pushed on to game.

Nøhr got the natural spade lead against 3NT, so he won the ace, and immediately led the Q off the dummy, having no difficulty thereafter. At the other table, Petrounine was playing 4, and failed to guess diamonds, playing up to the Q after drawing trumps. 13 IMPs to Denmark.

Score

Board 8 saw another small part-score swing to Canada, and 1 IMP to Denmark in the other match.

Board 9. Dealer North. E/W Game Q 8 4 A 7 6 3 9 7 6 Q 9 7 A 6 5 3 2 10 5 2 K 8 4 A K Q J 2 10 3 4 3 A K J 10 5 2 K J 10 9 7 Q J 9 8 5 4 8 6

Denmark v Russia

Closed Room West North East South Kristensen Khokhlov Nøhr Sazonov Pass 1 1 2 2 Pass Pass 3NT All Pass

Open Room West North East South Khiouppenen Røn Petrounine Brøndum Pass 2 Pass 3 Pass 3 Pass 3NT All Pass

Canada v Norway

Closed Room West North East South Roberts Mathisen Sutherland Kristoffersen Pass 1 1 2 2 3 Pass 3 Dble 4 Pass 4NT Pass 5 Pass 6 All Pass

Open Room West North East South Brogeland Blond Saur Levy Pass 1 1 2 2 3 Pass 3NT All Pass

This hand was the first big move for Canada, as Sutherland and Roberts were the only pair to push to the club slam, which from the East seat is a reasonable contract. Possibly the vigorous opposition spade bidding contributed to their decision not to play no-trumps. In fact, they judged well, since after a spade lead, both 3NT and 6 need the club finesse. 12 IMPs to Canada.

Score

Board 10. Dealer East. Game All 9 8 3 6 4 2 9 5 3 K J 6 4 A 10 7 J 5 4 2 K Q 3 9 7 10 6 2 A J 8 7 4 A 7 5 2 Q 3 K Q 6 A J 10 8 5 K Q 10 9 8

Denmark v Russia

Closed Room West North East South Kristensen Khokhlov Nøhr Sazonov Pass 1 Pass 1NT Pass 2 Pass 2 All Pass

Open Room West North East South Khiouppenen Røn Petrounine Brøndum 2 Pass 3 Pass 3 Pass 3NT All Pass

Canada v Norway

This hand promised to be another dull part-score when it appeared on the VuGraph screen, but pretty defensive cooperation by Røn and Brøndum turned it into a 9-IMP gain for Denmark. Defending 2NT, they led a small heart to declarer's king, and he immediately played a diamond to the eight which Brøndum took with the king. The 10 went to declarer's Q, and then under declarer's 10, Røn alertly deposited the 9. Certainly he looked like a man who had started with Q93, and declarer duly let the ten ride to go down one. Meanwhile, the Khoklov and Sazonov had bought the hand in 2, which they came to regret as they went down three, vulnerable.

Score

More part-scores on Board 11, where Denmark picked up 2 IMPs by passing the board out.

Board 12. Dealer . Game All — 9 7 6 4 A J 10 9 5 3 9 8 2 A J 10 2 K 6 5 3 K Q 10 A J 3 2 K Q 8 2 A Q 5 10 7 6 4 Q 9 8 7 4 8 5 7 6 4 K J 3

Denmark v Russia

Closed Room West North East South Kristensen Khokhlov Nøhr Sazonov 2 2 Dble Pass 2NT Pass 3 Pass 3 Pass 4 Pass 4 All Pass

Open Room West North East South Khiouppenen Røn Petrounine Brøndum 1 2 Dble 3 Dble Pass 3 Pass 3NT All Pass

Canada v Norway

Closed Room West North East South Roberts Mathisen Sutherland Kristoffersen 2NT Pass 3 Pass 3 Pass 4 All Pass

Open Room West North East South Brogeland Blond Saur Levy 2NT Pass 3 Pass 3 Pass 4 Pass 4 Pass Pass Dble Redble All Pass

Why do they call it duplicate bridge, when the same thing never happens twice, we muse? Four tables, four results. 3NT is the easiest contract here, but we are conditioned to find those 4-4 major fits; Khiouppenen and Petrounine were the only pair to play no-trumps, and made an easy ten tricks. Nøhr seemed to panic when he got the bad news in trumps; he avoided playing spades again, and lost a club, a diamond, two spades, and 10 IMPs.

Levy has clearly been admiring Brogeland's successes in doubling on just such a hand as South has here, but there was no joy in Mudville. Brogeland taught him a sharp lesson in respect by sending it back, and wrapping up ten tricks. Getting a club lead to his queen, he played a spade to the king, and a diamond to the king and ace. Ruffing the J return in dummy, he played a spade to the ten, drew two more round of trumps and went about cashing his side suit winners. The defence scored only a spade, a diamond, and a club.

Score

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

Denmark v Russia

Closed Room West North East South Kristensen Khokhlov Nøhr Sazonov 2 Pass 4 Dble 4 Dble All Pass

Open Room West North East South Khiouppenen Røn Petrounine Brøndum 2 Pass 2 Pass 2 Pass 4 All Pass

Canada v Norway

Closed Room West North East South Roberts Mathisen Sutherland Kristoffersen 3 Pass 4 All Pass

Open Room West North East South Brogeland Blond Saur Levy 2 Pass 2NT Pass 3 Pass 4 All Pass

The strange result in the Closed Room in the Russia-Denmark match seemed to stem from a bidding misunderstanding. It certainly seems as though Kristensen's double was interpreted as showing cards rather than hearts, and Nøhr must have been unpleasantly surprised to see the dummy. 11 IMPs to Russia.

Board 14 saw two pairs take slightly unoptimistic views of their cards and miss a non-vulnerable game, so Denmark and Norway each picked up 6 IMPs

Score

Board 15. Dealer South. N/S Game A 7 A K Q J 8 8 7 6 3 10 2 8 J 10 9 5 4 9 7 6 5 4 3 — K A Q 10 9 4 2 Q J 8 5 3 7 6 K Q 6 3 2 10 2 J 5 A K 9 4

Denmark v Russia

Closed Room West North East South Kristensen Khokhlov Nøhr Sazonov 1 Pass 2 Pass 2 Pass 3 Dble 3NT Pass 4 All Pass

Open Room West North East South Khiouppenen Røn Petrounine Brøndum 1 2 Dble 3 Dble All Pass

Canada v Norway

Closed Room West North East South Roberts Mathisen Sutherland Kristoffersen 1 Pass 2 Pass 2 Pass 2NT Pass 3 Pass 3 Pass 3NT Pass 4 Pass 4 Pass Pass Dble 4NT Dble All Pass

Open Room West North East South Brogeland Blond Saur Levy 1 Pass 2 3 Pass Pass 3 Pass 4 Dble All Pass

Now came the trouble hand of the set. Blond and Levy reached a normal-looking 4, and Brogeland demonstrated the right kind of hand for a speculative penalty double. This was never quite making, but Blond could probably have held the damage to -200, as Sazonov did in the other match. It mattered little, however, because in the other room, Sutherland had doubled 4, and Roberts had hit the runout to 4NT. Given the East hand as a lead problem, we wonder how many players would find the A, which would have scored a quick 800. Sutherland led the 10, and with no way back to his hand, declarer had ten toppers. 16 IMPs to Denmark to extend their lead. Meanwhile Khiouppenen and Petrounine had arrived in 3 doubled, a spot from which they were allowed to escape with eight tricks, but the 7 IMP swing to Denmark had virtually eliminated the carryover.

Board 16 was a routine game contract at all tables, so the final scores after the first quarter were:

Score

Score (start of 3rd quarter)

It proved to be by far the most interesting set of hands of the tournament so far.

Board 18. Dealer East. N/S Game Q 7 6 5 3 2 — A J 7 6 2 3 2 A 9 K J 10 4 K 3 2 Q 8 7 6 5 K 8 4 Q 9 3 A Q 9 7 4 K 8 A J 10 9 4 10 5 J 10 8 6 5

Denmark v Russia

Closed Room West North East South L. Madsen Chour M. Madsen Lobov Pass Pass 1 2 Dble Pass 2NT Pass 3NT All Pass

Open Room West North East South Petrounine Røn Khiouppenen Brøndum 1 Pass 2 Pass 2 Pass 3 Pass 3 Pass 3NT Pass 4 Pass 4 Dble 4 All Pass

Canada v Norway

Closed Room West North East South Blond Mathisen Levy Kristoffersen Pass 2 2NT Pass 3 Pass 3NT All Pass

Open Room West North East South Brogeland Roberts Saur Sutherland 1 Pass 2 Pass 2 Pass 3 Pass 4 Dble All Pass

Two declarers tried 4, which was not a success given the bad trump break. At two tables South's weak two bid simply warned his opponents away from their 8-card fit. Madsen's 3NT failed by three tricks after a spade lead when declarer persisted in trying to set up heart tricks, and eventually the defenders got diamonds going. When Jeff Blond tried the same contract, North led a diamond, and declarer ended up with two diamonds, three spades, a heart, and three clubs.

Score

Board 21. Dealer North. N/S Game 10 8 K 4 K J 10 9 4 A 10 3 2 K 7 2 A Q 5 4 10 8 7 2 A Q J 5 A 3 5 2 8 7 6 4 Q J 5 J 9 6 3 9 6 3 Q 8 7 6 K 9

Denmark v Russia

Closed Room West North East South L. Madsen Chour M. Madsen Lobov 1 Dble 2 2 Pass 3 Pass 4 All Pass

Open Room West North East South Petrounine Røn Khiouppenen Brøndum 1 Dble 2 2 Pass 4 All Pas

Canada v Norway

Closed Room West North East South Blond Mathisen Levy Kristoffersen 1 Dble 2 2 Pass 3 All Pass

Open Room West North East South Brogeland Roberts Saur Sutherland 1 Dble 1 2 All Pass

Here was another contrast in styles. While both Norway and Canada Red were content to play part-score, both Russia and Denmark drove to game. This looked unlikely to be a major swing, but Jacob Røn had other ideas. In very little time, the 2 was on the table, Brøndum had his ruff, and Petrounine was one down. Nicely done!

Score

Board 22. Dealer East. E/W Game 9 8 7 5 A 10 4 10 5 K Q 6 2 J 10 3 K Q 4 K 6 Q 3 A K 6 4 2 Q J 9 3 8 4 3 A J 10 7 A 6 2 J 9 8 7 5 2 8 7 9 5

Denmark v Russia

Canada v Norway

Open Room West North East South Brogeland Roberts Saur Sutherland 1NT Pass 2 Pass 2 Pass 3NT All Pass

After a slow start to the session, the IMPs were now starting to flow in the direction of Denmark, who took the lead in the match for the first time on this hand. Every East played 3NT, and every East got a heart lead. This was a pretty basic test of your lead and carding methods, and three out of four pairs had no trouble reading the situation and continuing hearts at trick two from the North seat. Lobov led the fourth-best 7, however, which must have looked to Chour like top of nothing. He duly switched to the 5 at trick two, and declarer had no difficulty scoring up 13 IMPs.

Score

Board 23. Dealer South. Game All 10 2 K 9 2 K 10 8 3 2 7 6 3 A K Q 8 9 4 3 Q J 6 A 10 8 7 6 4 Q 9 5 Q 9 5 2 A 10 4 J 7 6 5 5 4 3 A J 7 K J 8

Denmark v Russia

Closed Room West North East South L. Madsen Chour M. Madsen Lobov Pass 1 Pass 1 Pass 1 Pass 2NT Pass 3NT All Pass

Open Room West North East South Petrounine Røn Khiouppenen Brøndum Pass 1 Pass 1 Pass 1 Pass 1NT All Pass

Canada v Norway

Closed Room West North East South Blond Mathisen Levy Kristoffersen Pass 1 Pass 1 Pass 1 Pass 2NT Pass 3 All Pass

Open Room West North East South Brogeland Roberts Saur Sutherland Pass 1 Pass 1 Pass 1 Pass 1NT All Pass

Again the Danes pressed to a tight game, and Lobov had a lead problem. With nothing attractive, he tried the J, and declarer had no further problems. Curiously, he was close to picking what may have been his only chance on this lie of the cards: the J. North would have to win the K and fire back the 3, just as though he had started with AKxxx. Would East get it right? We'll never know. 11 more to Denmark.

Score

Board 24. Dealer West. Love All 5 9 2 Q 10 4 2 A 9 8 7 6 2 K Q 3 4 2 K 6 A Q J 8 5 4 3 A J 9 8 6 5 3 7 10 J 5 3 A J 10 9 8 7 6 10 7 K K Q 4

Denmark v Russia

Closed Room West North East South L. Madsen Chour M. Madsen Lobov 1 Pass 1 1 2 Pass 2 2 3 Pass 4 All Pass

Open Room West North East South Petrounine Røn Khiouppenen Brøndum 1 3 3 3 4 Pass 4 4 Dble All Pass

Canada v Norway

Closed Room West North East South Blond Mathisen Levy Kristoffersen 1 Pass 1 3 Pass Pass 4 All Pass

Open Room West North East South Brogeland Roberts Saur Sutherland 1 Pass 4 All Pass

This hand looked to be a fairly straightforward 4 game, but two declarers found it anything but. Saur had little trouble: he won the K lead, and played a club off dummy. North won, and switched to a spade to get his ruff, but declarer now had a pretty good picture of the distribution. He ruffed a diamond back to hand high, ruffed a club, cashed the K, then the K throwing a club, returned to hand with another high diamond ruff, and claimed ten tricks.

Levy is probably still having nightmares about this one. The defence started K, A, spade ruff, and then switched to a trump. Declarer won the A, played a diamond to the ace, and ruffed a diamond in hand - low! Down one when South produced the 10.

At the other table, Saur was uncharacteristically careless too. After an identical start, the defenders played a diamond at trick four, which went to the king and ace. Saur played the K before a round of trumps, and so North was able to ruff in with the 9. Now Saur was trick short without club ruffs, and in attempting to get them he was forced to promote the 10 in South's hand for a one-trick set.

An undeserved 3 IMPs to Canada, and a well-deserved 3 IMPs to Denmark for making the game in one room, and finding the save in the other.

Score

Board 26. Dealer East. Game All 4 4 Q J 10 6 5 3 A 10 8 6 4 8 3 2 6 5 J 8 6 3 2 K Q 10 9 7 4 2 A K 9 8 7 J 9 5 7 A K Q J 10 9 7 A 5 — K Q 3 2

Denmark v Russia

Closed Room West North East South L. Madsen Chour M. Madsen Lobov 1 Dble 3 5 Pass 6 All Pass

Open Room West North East South Petrounine Røn Khiouppenen Brøndum 1 2 Pass 2NT Pass 3 Pass 5 Pass 5 All Pass

Canada v Norway

Closed Room West North East South Blond Mathisen Levy Kristoffersen 1 Dble 3 4NT Dble 6 Pass Pass 6 6 Pass 7 All Pass

Open Room West North East South Brogeland Roberts Saur Sutherland 1 Dble 3 5 Pass 5 Pass 6 All Pass

How often do you bid a grand slam after the opponents have opened the bidding? Mathisen and Kristoffersen had stopped in 6, but Levy attempted to take the 6 save. This gave Kristoffersen a chance to demonstrate his confidence in his spade suit by bidding 6, and his partner drew the correct inference and pushed on to 7. According to the director, the auction took hours, and the play a few seconds!

Canada R. were lucky to recover from Roberts' 5 call, which risked all on having picked the right minor if South passed; 4NT certainly seems a more flexible bid. The removal to 5 endplayed Roberts into bidding 6, and Sutherland had no way to know if the A was missing or not.

Brøndum and Røn seemed to encounter a similar problem, and ground to a halt in 5, neither apparently certain what values lay across the table. This board was worth 13 IMPs for Russia and 13 for Norway.

Score

Board 27. Dealer South. Love All K A K Q 10 8 7 K Q 8 2 9 5 J A 8 3 2 9 5 2 J 6 3 J 10 6 4 3 J 8 7 4 3 A K Q 10 2 Q 10 9 7 6 5 4 4 A 9 7 5 6

Denmark v Russia

Closed Room West North East South L. Madsen Chour M. Madsen Lobov 2 Pass 2NT Pass 3 Pass 4 Pass 5 Pass 5 All Pass

Open Room West North East South Petrounine Røn Khiouppenen Brøndum 3 All Pass

Canada v Norway

Closed Room West North East South Blond Mathisen Levy Kristoffersen 4 All Pass

Open Room West North East South Brogeland Roberts Saur Sutherland 3 Pass 4 All Pass

Game in spades is easy to come by on this hand, but Brøndum and Røn paid the price for their ultra aggressive pre-empt style when North felt unable to raise to game.

They must have been surprised to find they had won 7 IMPs on this hand when it came time to compare scores. To Lobov, the South hand was weak 2-bid, and over his partner's inquiry he showed good spades. Chour's 4 was probably intended for play, but was interpreted as a cue bid, and they landed in the wrong suit at the five level. The defence led a club, cashed the A, and took their second club trick for down one.

Score

Board 28. Dealer West. N/S Game A Q 9 3 2 K 7 10 A J 8 7 3 K 8 6 4 7 Q 9 5 2 A J 10 6 4 3 Q 9 7 5 3 J 8 2 — 6 4 2 J 10 5 8 A K 6 4 K Q 10 9 5

Denmark v Russia

Closed Room West North East South L. Madsen Chour M. Madsen Lobov Pass 1 Pass 4 All Pass

Open Room West North East South Petrounine Røn Khiouppenen Brøndum Pass 1 3 4 5 6 Pass 6 Dble All Pass

Canada v Norway

Closed Room West North East South Blond Mathisen Levy Kristoffersen 1(1) Pass 1 Pass 2 Pass 4 Pass 4 Pass 4 Pass 5 Pass 6 All Pass 1 Bid out of turn

Open Room West North East South Brogeland Roberts Saur Sutherland 2 2 4 4NT Pass 5 All Pass

This hand could have been even worse for Canada than it was. Mathisen and Kristoffersen got to the excellent club slam, while Sutherland and Roberts stopped in 5. If Saur had found the club lead, this would have been defeated, but the auction had given no hint of the 10-card side suit fit, and the A was a reasonable choice. Interestingly, Morten Madsen led a club against 4, and would have had an excellent matchpoint score! However, Brøndum failed to do maximum damage to 6 doubled when, after leading the A, he failed to read his partner's 10, and switched to spades, allowing declarer to escape for -300.

Score

Board 29. Dealer North. Game All 8 Q J 10 8 6 2 9 8 5 4 3 2 Q J 5 3 2 A K 9 7 6 4 9 6 4 A J 10 K 3 A Q 10 K J 7 6 10 A K 8 7 5 3 2 Q 9 7 5 4 —

Denmark v Russia

Closed Room West North East South L. Madsen Chour M. Madsen Lobov Pass 1 3 4 Pass 4NT Pass 5 Pass 6 All Pass

Open Room West North East South Petrounine Røn Khiouppenen Brøndum Pass 1 4 4 Pass Pass 5 Dble 5 Pass Pass 5 All Pass

Canada v Norway

Closed Room West North East South Blond Mathisen Levy Kristoffersen Pass 1 4 4 Pass Pass 5 5 6 6 Pass Pass 7 Dble All Pass

Open Room West North East South Brogeland Roberts Saur Sutherland Pass 1 4 4 5 Pass Pass 5 Pass Pass 6 6 Pass Pass 7 Dble All Pass

Would this diabolical set of hands ever end? Here was the worst yet. It's easy to see that 6 goes down if South leads what the VuGraph commentators described as the 'automatic' 2. We suppose you would if you subscribe to Eric Kokish's theory about 'the Great Shuffler'. After all why did he deal you the two of hearts if not to make it clear you wanted to ruff a club? Well, it wasn't automatic for Lobov, who led the A, while Khiouppenen was being allowed to play in 5 in the other room.

Sutherland and Kristoffersen made identical misjudgments in taking the phantom 7 save; both can be forgiven for refusing to believe that a round of hearts would live, but both must have been ecstatic to push the board.

Score

Board 30. Dealer East. Love All K Q 2 Q 6 5 3 K 7 J 9 4 3 8 6 5 3 9 8 4 K J 10 9 2 8 4 2 J 9 6 5 3 A 8 5 2 K Q A J 10 7 4 A 7 A Q 10 10 7 6

Denmark v Russia

Closed Room West North East South L. Madsen Chour M. Madsen Lobov Pass 1 Pass 2 Dble Redble 2 Pass Pass Dble Pass 3NT All Pass

Open Room West North East South Petrounine Røn Khiouppenen Brøndum 2 2 Pass 3 Dble Pass Pass 3 Pass 3NT All Pass

Canada v Norway

Closed Room West North East South Blond Mathisen Levy Kristoffersen Pass 1NT Pass 2 Pass 2 Pass 3 Pass 3 Pass 4 Pass 4NT All Pass

Open Room West North East South Brogeland Roberts Saur Sutherland 1 1 Pass 2 Pass 4 All Pass

Why does no-one want to open one of a major any more? Is it the pernicious influence of matchpoints, or do they just want to play all the hands? Be that as it may, with nine top tricks, 3NT is clearly the best North-South contract, but the Canadian and Norwegian pairs failed to find it. Arriving quickly in 4, Sutherland ran afoul of the 4-1 trump break, and went one down. Meanwhile at the other table the wheels had come off for Mathisen and Kristoffersen, and they ended up in too many no-trumps to register a plus score on Blond's heart lead.