The boards in the second half offered many opportunities, but whilst the other two matches saw points flying in all directions, there were virtually no swings in our featured match.

Board 15. Dealer South. NS Game ª A Q © J 8 7 6 ¨ 2 § A Q J 9 8 6 ª K 9 8 2 ª 10 7 5 4 © 10 9 4 3 2 © 5 ¨ K 10 5 4 ¨ 9 8 7 § — § 7 5 4 3 2 ª J 6 3 © A K Q ¨ A Q J 6 3 § K 10

Four Hearts was a transfer to clubs.

Seven Clubs played by North is a decent proposition, especially for a team looking for points. A reasonable trump break would give declarer time to test the diamonds before falling back on the spade finesse.

Do you think that either of these auctions explored the possibility of thirteen tricks being 'on top'?

I think they demonstrate how difficult it is to bid facing a strong balanced hand.

China collected 13 IMPs when they bid and made 7NT. I expect most of you would have done so as well.

Board 20. Dealer West. Game All ª 8 6 4 © J 10 4 3 ¨ 10 9 6 § 9 4 2 ª 9 ª K 3 2 © Q 9 8 7 6 © A 5 2 ¨ Q 3 ¨ K J 4 2 § A K J 6 3 § Q 10 8 ª A Q J 10 7 5 © K ¨ A 8 7 5 § 7 5

Four Hearts by West was the popular contract. Let's say North leads a spade and South wins and switches to a club. Declarer wins and plays a heart to the ace. When the king appears it is time to abandon trumps and play on diamonds. The plan is to reach a position where North is reduced to three cards, ©J104.

Declarer will have ©Q9 and a club in hand and the three cards in dummy will include the ©52. Playing the club from hand will demonstrate the power of the five of hearts. To arrive at this ending you need to work out the distribution, and no declarer managed it.

Sainte Marie was one of them, but he faced the diabolical lead of the eight of spades and naturally played for North to be 2-4-4-3.

Quelle domage!

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

Should North-South be able to make 3NT?

On a spade lead one variation is for declarer to duck, and assuming West wins with the king and plays a second spade, to win with the ace of spades and play ace and another diamond, ducking when the queen appears. Declarer wins the spade continuation in hand and after cashing one top club just in case the queen is singleton, plays off the winning diamonds. West is squeezed, but declarer may well go wrong by taking the club finesse.

If North is allowed to win the first spade, an interesting alternative, pointed out by Anna Gudge, is to play the jack of hearts, trying to force out West's entry.

Say East covers and the king draws the ace. The spade continuation is taken by the ace and declarer plays a low diamond, intending to let East win. West has to prevent this and goes in with the queen. Declarer wins and can now finesse the ten of diamonds and then play on hearts.