AUSTRALIA v FRANCE

Before this round France were a close second and Australia sixth. France had the better of the first deal:

Board 1. Dealer North. None Vul.
	♠ J 7 ♥ A K 7 6 5 3 ♦ A K 2 ♣ 6 5
♠ 8 5 ♥ J 2 ♦ Q		♠ A K 9 6 ♥ 10 ♦ J 9 7 5 4
	♠ Q 10 4 3 2 ♥ Q 9 8 4 ♦ 10 6 3 ♣ A

Datum: N/S +340

West	North	East	South
Gaviard	Geromboux	T.Bessis	Ware
	1♥	2♦	2NT(i)
5♣	Pass	Pass	Dble
All Pass

(i) Good heart raise

West	North	East	South
Williams	O.Bessis	Krochmalik	De Tessieres
	1♥	Pass	4♣
5♣	5♥	All Pass

Lead: ♠A
East cashed the top spades, but declarer had the rest for +650 and 8 IMPs to France. After two 5 IMP swings to Australia, O.Bessis/De Tessieres bid neatly to the grand slam here:

Board 6. Dealer East. E/W Vul.
	♠ A J 8 7 2 ♥ A Q 9 6 5 3 ♦ ♣ 7 4
♠ K Q 9 6 4 3 ♥ 10 ♦ A K 5 2 ♣ A 10 9 8 7 4		♠ 5 ♥ 7 2 ♦ Q 10 9 7 6 4 3 ♣ 9 6 5
	♠ 10 ♥ K J 8 4 ♦ J 8 ♣ A K Q 10 8 2

Datum: N/S +1080

West	North	East	South
Williams	O.Bessis	Krochmalik	De Tessieres
		Pass	1♣
1♠	2♥	Pass	3♥
3♠	Pass	Pass	4♣
Pass	5♦(i)	Pass	5NT
Pass	6♦(ii)	Pass	7♣
Pass	7♥	All Pass

Lead: ♣8
(i) Voidwood (ii) Grand slam invitation, all key cards held There was nothing to the play; +1510 to France.

West	North	East	South
Gaviard	Geromboux	T.Bessis	Ware
	Pass	1♦	3♥
4♥	5♥	Pass	Pass
6♦	All Pass

Lead: ♥5

West	North	East	South
Williams	O.Bessis	Krochmalik	De Tessieres
		Pass	1♣
1♠	Pass	Pass	Dble
Pass	Pass	2♦	Pass
Pass	2♥	Pass	4♥
Pass	5♦	Pass	6♥
All Pass

That was +1010 and 11 IMPs to France. In other matches two pairs played in 4♥, eight were in 6♥, one in 6♣, one E/W pair in 2♠ doubled 500, while 7♥ was reached by Brazil, Israel, Norway and USA1.

Board 9. Dealer North. E/W Vul.
	♠ A 10 9 8 5 ♥ K ♦ K 10 9 ♣ 10 6 5 3
♠ J 4 3 2 ♥ A 8 ♦ A Q 4 ♣ J 7 4 2		♠ 7 ♥ J 6 5 4 3 2 ♦ 6 ♣ A K Q 9 8
	♠ K Q 6 ♥ Q 10 9 7 ♦ J 8 7 5 3 2 ♣

Datum: N/S +140

West	North	East	South
Gaviard	Geromboux	T.Bessis	Ware
	Pass	1♥	Pass
1♠	Pass	2♣	Pass
3NT	All Pass

Lead: ♠5
N/S took their five spade tricks and came to a trick in the end for +200.

West	North	East	South
Williams	O.Bessis	Krochmalik	De Tessieres
	Pass	1♥	2♦
Dble	2♥	3♣	3♦
3NT	Pass	Pass	4♦
Dble	All Pass

Lead: ♥A
West switched to a club, ruffed, and South ran the ♦J. West could not take more than the ♦A and so the contract made with an overtrick for +610 and 9 IMPs to France, who led 29-10 at the half-way mark. Australia clawed back 12 IMPs to trail 22-30 when this deal came along:

Board 16. Dealer West. E/W Vul.
	♠ 9 8 3 2 ♥ 7 5 ♦ 10 5 3 ♣ A 7 5 4
♠ J 6 5 4 ♥ A Q J 8 ♦ A 6 ♣ K 8 6		♠ A K Q ♥ K 10 3 ♦ K 9 2 ♣ Q 10 9 3
	♠ 10 7 ♥ 9 6 4 2 ♦ Q J 8 7 4 ♣ J 2

Datum: N/S 950

West	North	East	South
Gaviard	Geromboux	T.Bessis	Ware
1♣	Pass	1♦	Pass
1♥	Pass	1♠*	Pass
2♠	Pass	3♣	Pass
3♦	Pass	3NT
All Pass

Lead: ♥6
Declarer made twelve tricks for +690.

West	North	East	South
Williams	O.Bessis	Krochmalik	De Tessieres
1♥	Pass	2♣	Pass
2NT	Pass	3♥	Pass
3NT	Pass	6NT	All Pass

Lead:♠8
Declarer unblocked the spades, cashed the hearts and played a club to the queen. When the ♣J appeared on the next club, he had twelve tricks for +1440 and 13 IMPs to Australia. In other matches, eight pairs played in 3NT, six made 6NT, one failed in 6♣ and one failed in 6NT. France regained the lead two boards later:

Board 18. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
	♠ 8 7 3 ♥ A K ♦ A K 9 7 3 2 ♣ A 2
♠ Q J ♥ Q J 10 5 4 ♦ J ♣ K J 9 6 4		♠ 10 9 2 ♥ 7 6 3 ♦ Q 4 ♣ Q 10 7 5 3
	♠ A K 6 5 4 ♥ 9 8 2 ♦ 10 8 6 5 ♣ 8

Datum: N/S +680

West	North	East	South
Gaviard	Geromboux	T.Bessis	Ware
		Pass	Pass
1♥	2♦	Pass	2♠
3♣	3NT	5♣	Pass
Pass	Dble	All Pass

Lead: ♦A
North continued with the ♦K, ruffed. When West led the ♣J and North played low, declarer escaped for 800. North can collect 1100 by unblocking the hearts early (trick two, perhaps), putting South in with a spade and receiving a heart ruff.

West	North	East	South
Williams	O.Bessis	Krochmalik	De Tessieres
		Pass	Pass
1♣	2♦	Pass	3♠(i)
Pass	4♣	Pass	4♦
Pass	6♦	All Pass

(i) Nice fit-showing bid