Brazil v Egypt

The Amazon and the Nile - by David Lusk

Neither Brazil nor Egypt are in contention at this stage of the event. This is not evident as the teams settle down to play. All players are obviously keen to play well for their respective countries. The conversations between partners are in native tongues, communication between opponents is in good English. Aly Tawfik asks his Brazilian opponent if he would like a cup of water. After a second’s hesitation, Marcelo replies ‘Yes, please’. Paula David looks a little nervous; the other players are relaxed. During the play, her slender fingers move over to the board or her played card, drumming slowly or walking in a spider like movement.

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

After two Passes, Rovere opened 3♣. No one had any further desire to bid. West led the ♦K and continued with the two when that held. East won and played a heart to West’s ace. West played queen and another diamond, ruffed and over-ruffed. Declarer could no longer avoid three light and 150. Never pleasant but predictably flat.

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

Open Room

West	North	East	South
Tawfik	David	Noshy	La Rovere
Pass	1♣	Dble	1♥
2♠	Dble	Pass	3♣
Pass	3♠	Pass	4♣
Pass	4♥	All Pass

North had a powerful hand and said so more than once. Whether she thought that South had shown five hearts or whether she was offering a choice of contracts is unclear but there is no game available. West led his top diamond and shifted to a spade. Declarer ducked a heart and ruffed the diamond return in dummy. He then cashed the ace of hearts and returned to hand with the club ace. A third round of hearts was not a success and the contract went four light.

Board 19. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
	♠ K 6 ♥ Q 8 7 6 5 4 ♦ 3 ♣ 6 5 4 2
♠ A J ♥ J 10 9 ♦ A K Q 10 4 2 ♣ K 9		♠ Q 9 3 ♥ 3 2 ♦ J 9 8 6 5 ♣ A 8 7
	♠ 10 8 7 5 4 2 ♥ A K ♦ 7 ♣ Q J 10 3

West	North	East	South
Tawfik	David	Noshy	La Rovere
			Pass
1♦	2♥	3♦	4♥!
5♦	All Pass

Four Hearts would have been two light on best defence but +600 looked more attractive. Five Diamonds looks the most likely game, needing only the spade finesse. That didn’t work and, whilst declarer actually played on squeeze lines, it was still +100 to Brazil.

Board20. Dealer West. All Vul.
	♠ A 10 7 3 2 ♥ J 8 5 3 ♦ Q J 10 ♣ 3
♠ 8 ♥ 4 2 ♦ 6		♠ K 9 6 ♥ A 10 7 6 ♦ A K 9 7 5 4
	♠ Q J 5 4 ♥ K Q 9 ♦ 8 3 2 ♣ K Q 8

Both Rooms

West	North	East	South
5♣	Pass	Pass	Dble
All Pass

North led the ♦Q and now the contract can be made if declarer plays two top diamonds, pitching a spade on the second round. By ruffing a third round of diamonds, declarer will establish the suit and can play ace and another club for the overtrick. Even when clubs don’t break, declarer has a heart discard on any diamond as South takes a ruff with his winner.