Round thirteen saw England in sixth place in Group A take on runaway leaders Norway.

England got off to a poor start when the wrong part-score on board 1 cost them 6 IMPs and systemic differences effectively cost them a combined 13 IMPs on boards 5 and 6. In between these losses both teams had misdefended 3NT on board 4, but the same pairs then redeemed themselves by reaching the grand slam on board 7. All of which left England trailing 22-0 when board 10 arrived.

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

At both tables South played in 3NT. In the Open Room, Sandra Penfold, for England, received the lead of the ©7 and decided to play on clubs. She won the first trick in hand and played two rounds of clubs. Ase Langeland won the second and third rounds of clubs and continued hearts each time. Declarer was up to 8 tricks by now, and since the hearts seemed to be 4-4 she established her ninth trick by knocking out the ¨A.

In the Closed Room, Solvi Remen, for Norway, received the lead of the ©3 and decided to play on diamonds. She won the first trick in dummy and ran the ¨7 to Michelle Brunner's Jack. Brunner continued hearts and Remen continued diamonds. When Brunner won the third round of diamonds with the Ace and exited with a third heart, Remen was also up to 8 tricks and had to decide on the best way to establish a third spade trick. With hearts seemingly 4-4 at this table as well, Ace, King and a third spade seems best, but declarer crossed to the ªK and finessed the ªJ. That route led to one down and England had recovered 12 IMPs.

Both teams missed an easy 6© on board 11 and then came the fireworks of board 12.

Board 12. Dealer West. N/S Vul.
	ª - © Q J 8 7 ¨ J 3 § K Q J 10 7 5 2
ª A K Q 10 4 © 2 ¨ 10 6 5 2 § 8 6 3		ª 8 7 © K 6 5 3 ¨ A K Q 9 8 7 4 § -
	ª J 9 6 5 3 2 © A 10 9 4 ¨ - § A 9 4

This hand caused large swings around the room and this match was no exception.

In the Open Room, England were allowed to play in 6§ doubled. There was no way to stop declarer making all thirteen tricks and England scored 1740.

In the Closed Room, South's raise to 4§ seems somewhat conservative and North's double of 5¨ seems overly reliant on her partner finding a spade lead. Possibly South, holding two Aces herself, should find the spade lead, but when she actually tried the §A, England made an overtrick in this room as well for +650 and a 20-IMP gain that put them in the lead by 32-22.

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

In both rooms, East opened 1©, South overcalled 1NT and was raised to 3NT by North. Both Wests led the ¨J, won on the table with the Queen, but then the play diverged.

In the Open Room, Penfold played a spade to the Jack and Queen at trick two and could no longer make the contract. Langeland continued diamonds and Penfold won and finessed the ©8 losing to the King. Eva Lund Heitmann now played Ace and another spade and had a good spade to cash when she later won her club trick.

In the Closed Room, Remen played a club at trick two covered by the Queen and Ace and Rhona Goldenfield won the next round of the suit and exited with a diamond. A heart to the eight followed and when this drew the King declarer had no further problems. 10 IMPs to Norway.

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

After the aggressive 1ª opening by North, Langeland played in 3NT on the lead of the §5. She won the Queen and finessed the ©Q losing to Penfold's King. A club continuation will defeat the contract, but Penfold switched to the ª6 and declarer now had nine tricks.

After the same start to the auction in the Closed Room, Siv Thoresen was not finished and came again with 4§ over 3NT. Goldenfield naturally competed with 4© and Remen bid 4ª. That contract would probably fail by two tricks, but Brunner decided to try 4NT rather than double and Remen felt she had enough to double that at her turn. Brunner won the club lead with her Queen and finessed the ©J, and hope seemed to dawn when it held the trick. However, when the King failed to drop when she cashed the Ace she knew she was doomed. She played a third heart and Remen won and played a second club, so Brunner was two down. +300 and 12 IMPs to Norway putting them ahead 46-32.

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

Remen overcalled the weak 2© with 2NT and Thoresen transferred to spades. Goldenfield doubled the 3© bid to show a good suit and although this gave Remen some extra options Norway still stopped in 3ª. Brunner led a heart and Remen duly made her contract for the loss of three diamonds and a heart. +140 to Norway.

In the other room, Lund Heitmann opened 1© and Penfold doubled and then jumped to 3NT over Nevena Senior's 2ª response. Langeland led the ¨4 and Penfold came to nine tricks for +600 and 10 IMPs to England. This was enough for England to salvage a 15-15 draw as it left the final score 46-44 in Norway's favour.

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