Here are some highlights from the second half of the second qualifying session of the Mixed Pairs Championship. Our reporter took the opportunity to check out the form of some of the World Champions taking part.

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 Buchlev Soroldoni Rauscheid Tremolada 1© Pass 2© 3¨ Pass Pass 3© Pass Pass Dble Pass 3ª Pass 4ª Pass Pass Dble All Pass

When South timidly raised to only 2©, West did not hesitate to enter the auction. Venice Cup Champion Andrea Rauscheid was not going to let North-South buy the hand cheaply and not only did she reopen the bidding she also went on to game when she discovered her side had a spade fit.

North probably thought he was on to a good thing, but the cards were well placed for declarer.

Nedu Buchlev took the opening lead of the king of hearts and played a spade to the queen. He knew spades must be 4-1 so he turned his attention to the diamond suit, playing the ten from dummy. South went up with the ace and returned the ¨9. Declarer finessed and although North was able to ruff there was only one more defensive trick to come.

+790 was clearly a huge result for the German pair. They did well on the companion board as well.

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 Buchlev Soroldoni Rauscheid Tremolada Pass 2¨(1) 2NT All Pass

(1) Multi

North led the §5 to the three, jack and queen. The contract was safe because declarer knew that if North had the ªA and the §AK he might have doubled 2NT. Declarer played a heart to the queen and a spade to his king. When that held he ran his winning hearts. North discarded a couple of diamonds so South was endplayed in that suit to concede a spade trick and that was +180. A British pair found a neat defence on the same deal.

Marc Smith started with the ace and king of diamonds and then played the eight of diamonds. His wife Charlotte ruffed and returned the ©9. Marc played his remaining diamond and when East was able to ruff with the ªJ West's trumps were promoted for down two. The British pair were also involved in an interesting part score battle on this deal.

Board 16. Dealer West. EW Game ª K 9 2 © K 6 3 2 ¨ J 6 § 10 5 4 3 ª Q J 3 ª A 10 8 5 4 © A 10 7 4 © Q 9 8 ¨ 8 7 4 3 ¨ Q 10 9 § J 7 § K 8 ª 7 6 © J 5 ¨ A K 5 2 § A Q 9 6 2 West North East South M. Smith Cedolin C. smith Canes Pass Pass 1ª 2§ 2ª 3§ All Pass

The defence started with three rounds of spades and declarer ruffed and played three rounds of diamonds, ruffing the third one in dummy. She now took the club finesse and West smartly dropped the jack under the queen! His idea was that if declarer now played a heart, trying to get back to dummy for another club finesse he could win with the ©A and play a diamond, promoting partner's king of clubs. However, declarer reasoned that with a singleton club West might well have contested further with 3ª and she laid down the ace of clubs. Well defended and well played!

At another table Klaus Reps and Daniela von Arnim were doing battle with France's Marc & Franck. They had an identical auction except East-West unwisely went on to 3ª.

After two top diamonds and a diamond ruff North switched to a club and after two tricks in that suit there was still a heart to come. -200 did not secure the French pair many points.

The German pair's system netted them a huge result on the next deal.

Board 17. Dealer East. Love All ª Q 8 6 3 2 © 2 ¨ A K 8 6 5 § Q 9 ª K 10 ª A J 7 5 © Q 10 9 8 7 © 6 4 ¨ 10 7 2 ¨ Q J 3 § A 10 4 § J 8 6 3 ª 9 4 © A K J 5 3 ¨ 9 4 § K 7 5 2 West North East South Becker Reps Kivel von Arnim 1ª Pass 2¨ Pass 2© All Pass

Two diamonds promised at least invitational values in hearts and it enabled North-South to stop at a low level. East led the queen of diamonds and North won and played the §Q. West won and it was understandably too difficult to switch to a trump. When he played a diamond declarer was able to win and cash the king of clubs followed by a club ruff. He then ruffed a diamond and could not be prevented from scoring three more trump tricks. +110 was worth a considerable share of the matchpoints. As so often seems to be the case in a match pointed event, the next board was all about bidding.

Board 18. Dealer East. NS Game ª Q J 8 5 © Q J 10 ¨ 8 5 3 § 8 7 4 ª 10 9 7 4 ª A K 6 3 2 © K 9 7 6 5 © 4 2 ¨ Q J 9 ¨ 10 7 6 2 § J § K 6 ª — © A 8 3 ¨ A K 4 § A Q 10 9 5 3 2 West North East South Becker Reps Kivel von Arnim Pass 1§ Pass 1¨ 1ª 2§ 3ª Pass Pass 4§ All Pass

One Club was strong and Klaus Reps soon found himself with a couple of bidding problems. Should he bid 3NT at his second turn? Then should he raise 4§ to 5§? Neither contract can be defeated, so failing to bid game was quite expensive. Both the German pairs and the British had solid sessions to leave them all well placed to qualify for the final.