It seemed to be a good idea to check out the form of our hosts in the Women's series, especially as they just happen to be the reigning Venice Cup Champions. By the time your reporter had located the correct VuGraph theatre, the match was entering into its ninth deal, and the Netherlands led 17-1 IMPs.

The board that was on the screen did not look exciting, but it served to illustrate a few points of bidding philosophy.

Round 2. Board 9. Dealer North. E/W Vul
	ª Q J 10 9 5 3 © 8 5 4 ¨ 9 8 7 § 4
ª A 6 © J 7 6 ¨ Q 10 6 2 § A 8 5 3		ª 8 7 4 2 © A 10 3 ¨ 5 § K Q 10 6 2
	ª K © K Q 9 2 ¨ A K J 4 3 § J 9 7

Perhaps the theoretical range of North's weak two made it essential for South to investigate, but the resulting contract had no chance on the layout, and drifted two down.

Having reversed, and facing a passed partner, South might have passed Two Spades. Still, Three Diamonds was a reasonable spot, but the trump position was more than declarer could cope with. She only failed by one trick to add a couple of IMPs to the home team's score.

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

A betting man (or one who had been able to locate a copy of the systems) would suggest that South showed slam interest with a diamond suit, and North was happy to go along. There was nothing to the play, and declarer recorded a painless +1370.

North did not make a try facing what she knew was a weak two in diamonds. East led a club, so you could argue that declarer was lucky the hearts provided four tricks. The result gave South Africa their first significant swing, and made the score 21-14 in favour of the Netherlands.

Board 11. Dealer South. None Vul
	ª Q 4 © J 10 9 8 6 5 2 ¨ - § K J 10 8
ª A 9 © A K Q 4 ¨ K 10 9 5 4 § A 9		ª 8 7 6 2 © 3 ¨ 8 7 6 3 2 § 7 5 4
	ª K J 10 5 3 © 7 ¨ A Q J § Q 6 3 2

West must have been tempted to hit Three Hearts, but it was only going one down for -50.

Here West considered a move over Three Diamonds, but wisely passed. South led her singleton heart, and declarer should not have had a problem. She can afford to lose three trumps and one trick in a black suit. That means getting rid of two clubs from her hand, so the simple line is to continue with a high heart, discarding a club. South can ruff and switch, but it is too late, as declarer wins and discards another club on a top heart.

However, declarer, finding it hard to believe that North had a seven card suit, played the four of hearts and ruffed it, hoping to be able to play a diamond towards the dummy. South overruffed and switched to a spade. Declarer won and played a diamond. South won, and gave declarer an unexpected reprieve by cashing her other trump winner. Contract made for +110 and 2 IMPs.

Board 15. Dealer South. N/S Vul
	ª K 3 2 © 10 9 6 5 ¨ J 9 7 § 8 6 2
ª 5 © Q 4 2 ¨ 10 6 3 2 § K Q 10 5 4		ª A 9 6 4 © A 8 ¨ A K 8 § J 9 7 3
	ª Q J 10 8 7 © K J 7 3 ¨ Q 5 4 § A

A comfortable contract that made eleven tricks for +150.

This time East did not think raising clubs did justice to her hand. There is something in this, as if West had as little in high cards as §AQ1054, game would be on a finesse through the opening bidder. Here South led a spade and 3NT was quickly one down.

Board 17. Dealer North. None Vul
	ª A J 6 © K 10 6 5 ¨ Q 3 2 § K 10 6
ª K Q 8 © Q 9 8 ¨ A 10 7 4 § 9 8 2		ª - © A J 7 2 ¨ K J 9 8 § J 7 5 4 3
	ª 10 9 7 5 4 3 2 © 4 3 ¨ 6 5 § A Q

South aggressive sequence by did not collect the dummy she was hoping for, and the contract went two down,

There was no danger that North-South would get to game at this table, but they were pushed to the three level. West led the eight of clubs - a heart looks more natural on the auction - and declarer took the ace and queen and led a spade, West naturally following with the eight. The audience knew it was right to put in the jack, and East had doubled, but it was simply too tough for South to get it right. She put up the ace, and had to go one down. It was still worth two IMPs to the Netherlands, who led 32-16.

Board 18. Dealer North. N/S Vul
	ª J 9 4 2 © K Q 7 4 ¨ 10 8 3 § A Q
ª A 8 6 © J 9 8 5 ¨ A J 3 2 § K 3		ª 10 5 © A 10 6 3 2 ¨ 9 7 6 4 § 6 4
	ª K Q 7 3 © - ¨ K Q § J 10 9 8 7 5 2

When North elected to ignore all the bids between 1§ and her selection, she doomed her side to a poor result. East led a heart, and declarer won and played the ace and then the queen of clubs. West won and fired back a high heart. According to the screen declarer managed only five tricks, for -400.

West led the ace of diamonds - nothing else would have worked any better - and declarer was in control. She was able to win the next trick, finesse in clubs, cash the ace, and play trumps. 10 IMPs extended the Netherlands lead to 46-16.

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

We have seen the Two Club bid in action before, albeit at the other table. North South brushed it aside easily enough, and reached a game that needed a little bit of luck. West led the queen of spades, and South was soon claiming her contract, and +620.

This cost only 500 points, so South Africa picked up 5 IMPs at the death. That left the World Champions ahead 47-21 IMPs, or 20-10VP.

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