With three rounds to play in the World Seniors'Cup, England lay second and France third, both well in touch with the leaders, USA. Their Round 21 clash was likely to be crucial in deciding what colour of medal, if any, the two teams would take home with them.

Board 16. Dealer West. E/W Vul.
	ª 10 9 6 5 © 7 ¨ A K 8 7 6 § K J 5
ª K J © A K 4 ¨ J 2 § A 10 8 6 4 2		ª A Q 4 2 © Q J 9 8 ¨ Q 9 § 8 7 3
	ª 8 7 3 © 10 6 5 3 2 ¨ 10 5 4 3 § Q

Keith Stanley and Bill Townsend outbid Pierre Adad and Maurice Aujaleu to reach the playable 4© game rather than the hopeless 5§. Alas for the English, 4© was also hopeless on the lie of the cards. The 5-1 trump break and 3-1 club split meant that 4© was the same two down as 5§, when a 2-2 club break and 4-2 or better trump split would have seen 4© coming home for a big English gain.

England might still have gained on the deal, had Graham Jepson risked a double of 5§.

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

Would you get involved on the West cards, facing a passed partner? Keith Stanley was happy to defend 1ª so passed it out. The contract was three down for 150 to England.

In the other room, Peter Littlewood opened an 11-13 no trump and Aujaleu could bid 2§ to show both majors.

Jepson doubled to show clubs, and Adad was happy to invite a heart game.

Littlewood led the ten of clubs to declarer's ace. Adad led the queen of spades to the king and ace, then played three more rounds of spades, throwing both his diamonds away.

Jepson won the fourth spade and, having nothing very attractive to lead, tried the ace of diamonds.

Adad ruffed and took the heart finesse.

From here he cross-ruffed the minors and came to an overtrick; +450 and 7 IMPs to France.

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

In the Closed Room, Stanley/Townsend got to 2NT, making exactly on the East/West cards.

Perhaps discretion is sometimes the better part of valour, but I am sure that I too would have bid a second time with Littlewood's hand. Aujaleu doubled 2¨ and led the queen of spades followed by a second spade, ruffed by declarer. Littlewood played ace and ten of clubs and Aujaleu won the king to play a third spade. Littlewood ruffed again and ruffed a club low. Next, he ruffed a spade with the ace of trumps while Aujaleu threw a heart then led a winning club. If Aujaleu pitches another heart on this trick, declarer can ruff with the jack and play ace and another heart, discarding from hand. Left with nothing but trumps, West is endplayed, obliged to ruff and lead into the ¨Q9 to give declarer his eighth trick. But Aujaleu had seen this sort of position before. He ruffed the fourth club and, when Littlewood tried the suggested line anyway, had a heart with which to follow to the second round. Adad had the lead and could push a trump through for one down; -200 and 2 IMPs to France.

Board 21. Dealer North. N/S Vul.
	ª J 7 2 © A 10 ¨ 8 3 2 § K Q J 9 4
ª A Q 10 9 © 9 7 6 ¨ J 10 7 § 6 3 2		ª 8 4 © Q 8 4 3 ¨ 9 6 5 4 § 10 7 5
	ª K 6 5 3 © K J 5 2 ¨ A K Q § A 8

Christian Mari opened 2NT and Francois Leenhardt transferred to clubs then, when Mari said that he was not interested, made a natural invitational raise to 4NT.

Mari passed that and made a peaceful +660.

Jepson's 3¨ response in the other room was the Flint convention, usually an attempt to play in three-of-a-major, but also possibly a diamond slam try.

Littlewood said that he wanted to play game opposite either major and 4NT was Blackwood. Over the two-ace response, Jepson bid 6NT. As he put dummy down, he told declarer that he didn't have what he was expecting - a fair comment!

The opening lead was a heart to the ten, queen and king.

Littlewood played ace and another club then a spade to the king, hoping that even if the ace were offside a second spade might not be returned, leaving some prospects in the endgame.

Aujaleu, of course, cashed a second spade for down one; -100 and 13 IMPs to France.

Board 22. Dealer East. E/W Vul.
	ª 5 © A K Q 9 2 ¨ K 9 7 6 4 § 6 4
ª J 10 8 2 © J 8 ¨ J 10 5 § J 9 5 2		ª A 9 4 © 10 6 5 3 ¨ 8 2 § Q 8 7 3
	ª K Q 7 6 3 © 7 4 ¨ A Q 3 § A K 10

Again Mari/Leenhardt stopped in 4NT. Leenhardt showed both his suits and Mari said that he was not interested; +460.

Rather than show his diamonds, Jepson raised to 4NT. Littlewood accepted the invitation by showing his aces as if 4NT had been Blackwood, and now Jepson suggested 6¨ as a possible spot. There was no problem in the play; +920 and 10 IMPs to England.

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

Both Wests declared 4© after North had made a take-out double. Leenhardt led a diamond against Stanley. Declarer put in dummy's ten and there was no recovery. With Mari able to win the defensive club trick and switch to a spade, the defence was in control and came to three spade tricks and a club for down one; -100.

In the other room, Jepson started with the ace of clubs and switched to the nine of diamonds. With his communications opened up, a winning diamond view would have seen Aujaleu home. However, like Stanley, he thought that the finesse was the better shot. The ten was covered by the jack and king. Aujaleu drew trumps and ruffed a low club. Then he played three rounds of diamonds, ruffing the last one, and confidently led the queen of clubs, expecting to be able to discard a spade and have North winning and forced to lead a spade up to his king. Alas, the king of clubs was not where it was supposed to be. When Littlewood covered the club, Aujaleu ruffed and led a low spade from hand. He had to lose three spades for one down and a flat board.

Board 24. Dealer West. None Vul.
	ª Q J © 8 7 5 4 ¨ A 8 7 3 § Q 5 3
ª 5 3 © Q 10 ¨ Q 9 6 5 2 § A K 9 7		ª 9 8 7 2 © A K J 9 3 2 ¨ J § J 4
	ª A K 10 6 4 © 6 ¨ K 10 4 § 10 8 6 2

Stanley/Townsend stopped in 3©, where a defensive slip allowed declarer to make an overtrick; +170.

In the Open Room, Adad was in game after Littlewood had overcalled 1ª and Jepson raised to 2ª in competition. Littlewood led a top spade and Jepson dropped the queen, promising the jack. A trump switch would have beaten the contract easily enough, but Littlewood was afraid that his partner would have ©Jxxx and that this should be the fourth defensive trick. He underled the king of spades to the jack. Now Jepson switched to ace and another diamond. That might have been correct if Littlewood had held a singleton diamond, but couldn't he then have switched to it himself? As it was, Adad could ruff two diamonds to establish the suit and come to ten tricks; +420 and 6 IMPs to France.

The final score was 29-15 IMPs to France, converting to 19-11 VPs. France had moved into second place with two matches to go, but USA had chalked up a big win and were looking good for the gold medal.

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