George Mittelman and Dianna Gordon, World Mixed Pairs champions at Biarritz in 1982, usually put on a good show, and they lived up to their billing during the first half of the second session yesterday. The most exciting was Board 8.

Board 8. Dealer West. Love All ª J 5 2 © 10 9 ¨ A 7 4 § A 9 8 7 6 ª 9 8 7 4 ª K Q © A K 7 6 © Q J 8 4 ¨ 3 ¨ 9 8 5 4 § K Q 10 5 § 4 3 2 ª A 10 6 3 © 5 3 2 ¨ K Q J 10 6 § J West North East South Mittelman Gordon 1§ Pass 1© Dble 2© 2ª Pass Pass 3© Dble Pass 3ª All Pass

Mittelman's double of 3© showed some values - it was not a penalty double, although Gordon was at liberty to pass if she wished. The prospects of making were not bright, but it was clear that East-West could make quite a few hearts, probably even four. The defence started with two heart tricks, then West shifted to a diamond. Mittelman won with the ace and pushed the ªJ through East. He won the queen with the ace and ruffed his last heart. Another spade lead brought forth the king, and West ruffed and led the §K, but Mittelman could claim after claimed after drawing the last trump.

This was a superb result even though 3© can be beaten - club to ace, club ruff, diamond to ace and a second club ruff, and the ªA. This was a good round for Mittelman and Gordon for this is what happened on Board 7.

Board 7. Dealer South. Game All ª 8 3 © J 9 6 ¨ A 8 6 § K Q 10 9 5 ª 9 5 ª Q J 6 © A Q 5 © K 8 7 3 ¨ K J 10 9 7 5 4 ¨ Q 3 2 § 8 § J 7 2 ª A K 10 7 4 2 © 10 4 2 ¨ — § A 6 4 3 West North East South Mittelman Gordon 1ª 2¨ Dble 3¨ 3ª Pass 4ª All Pass

It's clear that this contract can be set - three losers in hearts plus a trump. It is equally clear that the opening lead must be a heart - otherwise a heart will be ditched on the ¨A. But can there be a more unattractive lead than West's hearts? After considerable soul-searching West decided to lead his singleton club. Gordon won this in dummy and quickly disposed of one of her heart losers to score up her game. Strangely enough, 5¨ is a reasonable save, even though it's a phantom. Once North-South get to the spade game, chances are they're going to make it, so minus 200 or 500 is an improvement on the likely result. Board 5 had an interesting point.

Board 5. Dealer North. NS Game ª K 10 4 © 5 4 ¨ A J 6 § A K J 6 3 ª Q 9 6 5 ª A J 8 © 9 7 3 © J 10 6 ¨ K 8 7 2 ¨ Q 9 5 3 § 5 2 § 10 8 4 ª 7 3 2 © A K Q 8 2 ¨ 10 4 § Q 9 7 West North East South Mittelman Gordon 1NT Pass 2¨(1) Pass 2© Pass 3NT All Pass

(1) Transfer to hearts.

The opening diamond lead went to the king and ace, and Mittelman immediately set up his second diamond trick by leading the 6. East went in with the queen and shifted to the ©J. When the hearts split 3-3, Mittelman had no problem taking 12 tricks.

Easts who cashed their ªA after winning their diamond trick scored very well here. But the play is marked. East knows the hearts will run - North opened 1NT so should have two hearts. The clubs also look good, even if partner has the queen. So cashing the ªA seems marked, but many defenders failed to find the play.

Board 13 was another Canadian success.

Board 13. Dealer North. Game All ª A J 8 6 © K Q J 6 3 ¨ 7 § 10 8 4 ª 10 9 7 2 ª K Q 4 3 © A © 9 8 ¨ K J 8 6 4 2 ¨ 10 5 3 § K 5 § A J 7 3 ª 5 © 10 7 5 4 2 ¨ A Q 9 § Q 9 6 2 West North East South Mittelman Gordon 1© Pass 4© All Pass

The key of course is to avoid three club losers. One way is to take the diamond finesse - if it works one of declarer's clubs can go on the ¨A.

Mittelman won the ªK opening lead and knocked out the trump ace. He covered the ª10 return and ruffed the queen in dummy. After drawing the last trump with the jack, he led the §8 and let it ride. When this forced the king he let out a sigh of relief - making game. Once again East-West have a good save in diamonds. North-South can get the ªA and a ruff plus the ace of trumps, but that's all unless West misguesses the trump situation.

Board 10. Dealer East. Game All ª 6 5 2 © Q ¨ A 8 6 § A 10 8 4 3 2 ª A K 9 8 4 ª Q © 10 8 7 6 5 2 © K J 9 ¨ Q 2 ¨ K J 10 5 4 § — § K Q 6 5 ª J 10 7 3 © A 4 3 ¨ 9 7 3 § J 9 7 West North East South Mittelman Gordon 1¨ Pass 1© 2§ Dble 3§ 5©!!! Pass 6© All Pass

Bizarre is the best way to describe what happened on Board 10.

Mittelman was understandably upset with himself after leading the §A and seeing it ruffed with two top clubs now set up in dummy. He felt no better when declarer crossed to the ªQ and quickly got rid of his two diamonds on the good clubs. Declarer than passed a high diamond, and Mittelman had his diamond trick after all. He led another club, ruffed by declarer. Next came a trump and Mittelman wasn't happy as he contributed his queen. Declarer covered with the king - and Dianna was thinking! Could she have the ace? No, that didn't seem possible.Finally she followed low. But when declarer started leading good diamonds, she showed declarer her ace of trumps! Down went the slam.

What happened? Apparently West liked his hand and bid 5©, asking partner how good her heart support was. Not having any idea how much she needed to have good support, under the circumstances, naturally she went to slam. One thing's for sure - West was NOT a pessimist.

Did you notice that declarer actually can make his slam after the lead of the §A? At the point where declarer passed the ¨K, let's assume he ruffed a club. Next ruff a spade, ruff a diamond and ruff a spade. Now the lead of the trump king smothers the queen, and declarer has the rest. Not everything went the Canadian way.

Board 12. Dealer West. NS Game ª A K 6 4 © J 7 3 ¨ A J 9 6 § 9 7 ª Q 10 8 5 3 2 ª J 7 © A 10 © 8 4 2 ¨ K 5 3 ¨ 10 8 4 2 § A K § Q 6 5 3 ª 9 © K Q 9 6 5 ¨ Q 7 § J 10 8 4 2 West North East South Mittelman Gordon 1ª All Pass

Mittelman eventually got his club ruff, so declarer was held to seven tricks, just making his contract. But this was small solace for missing their heart contract. Ten tricks are there for the taking, but getting to game wasn't all that easy. They were fixed on Board 14.

Board 14. Dealer East. Love All ª 5 2 © J ¨ J 10 9 3 § A K 9 8 5 2 ª K Q ª J 9 7 © K 8 7 5 © A Q 9 4 3 ¨ A K 8 5 ¨ 4 2 § Q 6 4 § 10 7 3 ª A 10 8 6 4 3 © 10 6 2 ¨ Q 7 6 § J West North East South Mittelman Gordon Pass 2ª 2NT 3§ 3© All Pass

West had a maximum for his notrump overcall and four-card support for his partner - but he passed 3©! The vast majority of the field got to the heart game and went down on the obvious defence - singleton club lead for two clubs and a ruff, plus the ªA.