‘Flash I love you but we only have 16 boards to save the Venice Cup.’

Few comic strips have captured readers' imaginations like Flash Gordon." Originated in 1934 by legendary comic-strip artist Alex Raymond, Flash set the standard for science-fiction adventure, even inspiring such modern-day classics as "Star Wars."

Flash Gordon was an All-American athlete who was kidnapped from Earth and thrust into the middle of a raging war on the distant Planet Mongo. Caught between the forces of Prince Barin, the rightful ruler of Mongo, and Ming the Merciless, self-proclaimed emperor of the universe, this ordinary man became a hero by displaying extraordinary courage. Under Flash's leadership, the oppressed people of Mongo were finally able to rise up and escape Ming's long reign of terror.

We accept that this has absolutely nothing at all to do with bridge, but Tacchi plays the tune at least once a day on his computer and the inspiration for the by-line comes from the cult movie Flash Gordon that included a song by Queen which included the line ‘‘Flash I love you but we only have 14 hours to save the Earth.’)

In the last session of the Venice Cup Round Robin, Sweden faced England in a match that was sure to see one team eliminated (and possibly both depending on how Italy and Indonesia performed.) At the start of the match England powered ahead, helped by boards like this:

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

West	North	East	South
Brunner	Andersson	Goldenfield	Larsson
			Pass
1NT	Pass	2§*	Pass
2©	Pass	4§*	Pass
4¨*	Pass	4©	Pass
6©	All Pass

There was some confusion as to the meaning of Four Clubs, splinter or natural, but the English pair drove to a slam that would have been very good if trumps had been 2-2. On the actual layout a club lead from North would have been very testing for declarer, who would have had to decide at once between the double club finesse and the possible 2-2 trump break. As it was, it was a tremendous result for the English pair.

West	North	East	South
Forsberg	Smith	Gronkvist	Dhondy
			Pass
1¨	Pass	1©	Pass
2©	Dble	4©	All Pass

When North showed some black suit values with her second round double East might have considered a forward going move, but when she bid the final contract England had picked up 13 IMPs and were looking very good as they quickly built up a lead of 30 odd IMPs.

Meanwhile Italy were more than 40 IMPs down to Brazil, and therefore out of contention, but Indonesia were winning their match and still in with a shout.

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

West	North	East	South
Brunner	Andersson	Goldenfield	Larsson
1©	Pass	2NT*	Pass
3©	Pass	4©	All Pass

This was one of those hands where it is often difficult to diagnose that you have a perfect fit. So it proved at this table, +510 when declarer picked the spade suit.

West	North	East	South
Forsberg	Smith	Gronkvist	Dhondy
1¨	Pass	1©	Pass
2NT*	Pass	3§*	Pass
3©*	Pass	4¨*	Pass
4ª*	Pass	4NT*	Pass
5¨*	Pass	6©	All Pass

Once East cue bid in diamonds West realised that her controls were all important. Declarer played to ruff her club losers in dummy and gave up a trick to the king of spades, +980, putting Sweden back into the match. With just four boards to go the audience was on the edge of its seats. England were in the lead, but not enough to relax.

Board 13. Dealer North. All Vul.
	ª A 6 2 © A 9 5 4 ¨ A 5 2 § 8 5 3
ª K Q 8 5 4 © K 3 ¨ 9 7 4 3 § A 6		ª 10 3 © Q J 8 ¨ K 8 6 § K Q J 10 4
	ª J 9 7 © 10 7 6 2 ¨ Q J 10 § 9 7 2

West	North	East	South
Brunner	Andersson	Goldenfield	Larsson
	1¨	Pass	Pass
1ª	Pass	2§	All Pass

A conservative auction saw England stop in a comfortable spot, +130.

West	North	East	South
Forsberg	Smith	Gronkvist	Dhondy
	1§*	Pass	Pass
1ª	Pass	3NT	All Pass

An aggressive auction saw Sweden reach a game that could not be defeated. +600.
The points Sweden gained on this board meant we had one of those scenarios where a swing in either direction would determine who qualified – unless Indonesia could pick up some more points in their match. For the moment Sweden were in pole position.

Board 14. Dealer East. None Vul.
	ª 8 3 2 © Q 7 ¨ A Q 8 6 § A J 9 8
ª A J 10 6 © 9 6 2 ¨ 9 7 5 § K 7 2		ª Q 4 © A K J 5 3 ¨ K J 3 § Q 6 4
	ª K 9 7 5 © 10 8 4 ¨ 10 4 2 § 10 5 3

West	North	East	South
Brunner	Andersson	Goldenfield	Larsson
		1©	Pass
1ª	Pass	1NT	Pass
2NT	Pass	3©	Pass
4©	All Pass

Not a great game, despite the points. However the cards were lying so well that declarer made eleven tricks.

West	North	East	South
Forsberg	Smith	Gronkvist	Dhondy
		1©	Pass
2©	Dble	Pass	2ª
Pass	Pass	3©	All Pass

The Swedish pair gave no though to the possibility of a game or a sizeable penalty and the England cheering section were in action as their favourites posted an important gain that saw England move back into the eighth qualifying spot.

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

West	North	East	South
Brunner	Andersson	Goldenfield	Larsson
3¨	3©	4¨	4©
All Pass

East’s decision to bid only Four Diamonds and then fail to save was the subject of some discussion, but it left the Swedish declarer in a precarious contract that should have been defeated. East led the ace of diamonds and continued with a second diamond, ruffed by declarer. In an effort to retain control she played the queen of hearts and West won. A spade or heart now would ensure the defeat of the contract, but West played the two of clubs. It was asking a lot for declarer to play low, and she tried the queen, losing to the ace. It was now vital for East to return a club, removing a vital entry to declarer’s hand, but she played a spade. Now declarer could win in hand, draw trumps and run the eight of spades for a stunning +620.

West	North	East	South
Forsberg	Smith	Gronkvist	Dhondy
3¨	Dble	5¨	Dble
All Pass

Declarer could ruff a club in dummy and was –300. Sweden were still behind in the match but ahead where it mattered. When the result from the Closed Room on Board 16 flashed onto the screen, a cold game bid by Sweden, it was clear they would be the ones to take the quarterfinal spot barring a late surge by Indonesia, which did not materialise.