The second half of Round 4 contained some of the liveliest deals of the event so far.

Board15. Dealer South. North-South Game
	ª 9 8 4 © A 8 4 3 ¨ Q 9 8 § 9 4 3
ª 10 6 3 © K J 10 7 6 5 ¨ 4 2 § K 10		ª A K Q 2 © 2 ¨ A K 7 § A Q J 8 2
	ª J 7 5 © Q 9 ¨ J 10 6 5 3 § 7 6 5

6§ is clearly a good contract, making whenever declarer can make a winning guess in hearts if one is available, or if the spades play for four tricks. However, it is not clear how it can be reached, especially when West starts with a weak two or multi. Even if West passes, or East was the dealer, it is still not so easy to construct a sequence to the slam, although a strong club pair might have the means to do it.

Cao was able to bid a forcing 3§, but it was asking a lot for Yang to raise with only a doubleton, even though they were obviously useful cards. Cao could not sensibly bid 3ª, as that would risk taking the partnership past 3NT. Declarer got the hearts right to score twelve tricks.

If a forcing 2NT had asked for a feature, Hamman might have used it, but here it would have been Ogust. His jump to game was the practical bid.

Board 19. Dealer South. North-South Game
	ª 10 6 4 © A 8 4 ¨ K Q 9 5 3 § K 3
ª K J 8 5 © Q 10 9 7 5 2 ¨ A § 9 6		ª Q 9 7 3 2 © K J 6 ¨ J § Q 8 7 5
	ª A © 3 ¨ 10 8 7 6 4 2 § A J 10 4 2

After an automatic opening bid in the Meckwell style, North's 2¨ promised five or more diamonds, and values, so it was easy for South to jump to game as a two way shot. Of course, it was possible that North had the right cards for a slam, but going slowly would risk allowing East-West to discover their double fit and take what would surely be a good save. West's very agressive double meant North-South recorded +650.

After South started with a disciplined pass, Paul Soloway's 2¨ was Flannery, promising 4+ spades and longer hearts, 11-16. When Hamman crowded the auction, South had little room left to investigate, and settled for game. From Hamman's point of view, 5¨ might have been bid as a save, so he doubled on the way out, for a flat board.

Board 21. Dealer North. North-South Game
	ª K 4 © 7 5 ¨ Q 8 7 5 4 § K 8 7 2
ª A Q J 9 3 © A K J 9 3 ¨ A § Q J		ª - © Q 10 6 4 ¨ K J 10 3 § 10 9 5 4 3
	ª 10 8 7 6 5 2 © 8 2 ¨ 9 6 2 § A 6

After the strong club and negative, West's 1© was a relay promising 19+ and the reply showed a maximum negative. Four natural bids followed, and then Yang bid what he hoped he could make. There was no reason for North to lead a club, and after the diamond lead, Yang was able to get rid of one club on the ¨K, and the other as he took a ruffing finesse in diamonds. The friendly disposition of the major suits meant he had no further problems in recording +1430.

The strong club and negative response were followed by a game forcing 2ª. When East agreed hearts by cue bidding 4¨ it was obvious to Soloway that a club control was missing. Not however to North, who led a diamond, allowing declarer to record twelve tricks by following the same line as at the other table.