By Stefan Back

As Daniela von Arnim is expecting a baby and therefore following her doctor's advice not to undertake long-distance flights, the German women's team has a new member in the person of Elke Weber, a former German Junior champion.
In the first round match again South Africa - the polite person she is - Elke 'introduced' herself to the opponents with a competent declarer play on Board 10.

	ª K 9 7 © 6 ¨ K J 10 7 2 § A K Q 5
ª A © K J 10 9 8 7 2 ¨ 8 5 § 10 6 3		ª Q 8 5 4 © A 5 ¨ 9 6 3 § J 8 4 2
	ª J 10 6 3 2 © Q 4 3 ¨ A Q 4 § 9 7

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
	Auken		Weber
		Pass	Pass
2©	Dble	Pass	3ª
Pass	4ª	All Pass

	Elke Weber, Germany

West led a small club, won by dummy‚s ace. Now declarer continued with a small trump to West's ace, who returned a second club. Elke won again in dummy and was up to the task of playing another small spade. When East hopped in with the queen to play the ace of hearts and another, declarer was in control. She ruffed, got back to her hand, drew trumps and claimed; Germany: +620.

In the other room the same contract was reached:

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Rauscheid		Nehmert
		Pass	Pass
3©	Dble	Pass	4ª
All Pass

Here Andrea Rauscheid led the jack of hearts to partner's ace, who duly returned another heart to shorten dummy's trumps immediately. Declarer now ordered the king of spades, which Andrea won with her bare ace to play a third round of hearts. Declarer had to ruff and was at the crossroads. She played a diamond to the ace, and put the jack of spades on the table. From here there is no way to win anymore. Pony Nehmert took the queen of spades, exited in diamonds and scored another trump trick in the end; Germany: +100 and 12 IMPs.

To shorten herself in trumps and still make Four Spades, declarer double dummy could have played four rounds of clubs, ruffing the fourth in hand, before laying down the jack of spades. Now East may take or refuse to take the queen of spades, but declarer can always reach dummy in diamonds to score one more trump trick en passant.

President in Waiting

Continuing our theme of Bridge being played in every corner of the World, just before this event, ACBL President George Retek was playing in a semi final of the KO teams at the ACBL Bermuda Regional when this problem came along:

West	North	East	South
2¨*	Pass	2©*	Dble
Pass	2NT	3¨	All Pass

Two diamonds was a Multi and Two hearts was pass or correct.

North led the ten of clubs and this was the position as George saw it:

		ª Q 7 4 © A Q J 7 4 2 ¨ Q § Q 7 3
	ª K J 9 6 2 © 3 ¨ A J 8 4 § A J 5

Declarer won the first trick with the king of clubs and played a diamond to the queen and South's ace. It looked like a good idea to play for heart ruffs, so South switched to the three of hearts. Alas, he never received his wish, as North ruffed!!