When these two teams met on Vugraph in Round 12, Poland were looking good for a qualifying place, but time was running out for Brazil who had fallen well down the table. The first significant swings were generated by deals which presented problems in the bidding.

Board 1. Dealer North. Love All 8 4 K 8 3 2 Q J 6 3 Q 6 3 Q 10 9 5 7 6 2 10 5 A 9 4 2 K 10 8 J 10 9 7 5 A K 8 4 2 A K J 3 Q J 7 6 4 A 9 7 5 — Closed Room West North East South Kowalski Branco Romanski Cintra Pass 1NT 2 Pass 2 All Pass

Open Room West North East South Branco Szymanowski Chagas Zakrewski Pass 1NT Dble Rdble Pass 2 2 Pass 4 All Pass

Jacek Romanski (Poland)

Cintra showed hearts and another suit with his two diamond bid. Perhaps South should make a try as he would have a play for game if North had a s little as Kxxx.

In the Open Room Andrzej Zakrzewski, perhaps less well known than his illustrious colleagues, preferred to double.

That might have turned out badly on a different layout, but as the auction went he was able to introduce his main suit on the next round and North had an easy raise to game.

Both declarers made eleven tricks, +200 and +450, 6 IMPs for Poland and a nice start for the new face on the team.

Board 5. Dealer North. N/S Game 2 Q 10 8 7 6 3 Q 8 6 K 8 4 A Q 10 9 5 3 J 7 6 4 5 A 9 4 2 5 3 A 9 Q 10 7 3 J 6 2 K 8 K J K J 10 7 4 2 A 9 5 Closed Room West North East South Kowalski Branco Romanski Cintra 1NT 2 4 4 Pass Pass Dble All Pass

Open Room West North East South Branco Szymanowski Chagas Zakrewski 2 Pass 4 4 All Pass

The Poles picked up another five points here when Branco felt obliged to double four spades. In the other room the auction again developed differently and although Zakrezewski gave it some thought, he eventually decided to go quietly.

As you can see, there is nothing to the play, although it was surprising to see South covering the jack of spades when it was led from dummy. These two gains were wiped away on the very next deal.

Board 6. Dealer East. E/W Game J 9 7 3 K A Q J 6 10 6 3 2 Q 6 K Q 4 A J 10 8 6 5 3 2 K 10 8 3 2 9 5 K Q 7 4 A 8 A 10 8 5 4 2 9 7 7 4 J 9 5 Closed Room West North East South Kowalski Branco Romanski Cintra 1 2 Dble 4 5 All Pass

Open Room West North East South Branco Szymanowski Chagas Zakrewski 1 Pass 2 Pass 2 Pass 2NT Pass 4 All Pass

You simply can't afford to go quietly on the South hand at this vulnerability. The Polish pair in the Closed Room got pushed to the five level. That might have been okay, but Cintra cashed the ace of spades and switched to a diamond. +100. That went very nicely with the result from the other table. When South inexplicably passed East's opening bid, the Brazilians were given a free run. South led a club so that was eleven tricks and 13 IMPs, giving the match a new leader.

Board 7. Dealer South. Game All 8 8 5 3 10 6 2 J 9 8 6 3 2 9 7 4 2 A J 6 3 J 9 6 K Q 7 4 K Q J 7 5 A 9 3 7 10 5 K Q 10 5 A 10 2 8 4 A K Q 4 Closed Room West North East South Kowalski Branco Romanski Cintra 1 1 4 Dble 5 Dble All Pass

Can four clubs really be the right action on the North hand? It looks as if South was bidding five clubs to make - give North the ace of spades and he would have at least ten tricks.

West led the king of diamonds and East overtook with the ace and played the king of hearts, West playing an upside down nine as declarer ducked. East switched back to diamonds and West took the jack, at which point the play record ceases and nine tricks were recorded. Presumably West tried to cash another diamond or East ducked the ace of spades, both unlikely, but the score was -500.

Open Room West North East South Branco Szymanowski Chagas Zakrewski 1 1 Pass 1 Dble Pass 2 3 4 Pass 5 All Pass

South's one club was Polish, so his second round double promised a strong hand. With so little in the way of distribution, four clubs looks dubious and North was clearly expecting a totally different hand when he went on to game. Mercifully there was no double. Once again West led the king of diamonds and East overtook to play the king of hearts. Declarer took his ace at once, after which the defence made no mistake, collecting all the tricks they were due. +300 but 6 IMPs away. The lead had changed hands again. Poland 16 Brazil 15.

The Brazilians had missed the opportunity for a juicy penalty but they did not have to wait long for another chance - just the time it took for the next board to be placed on the table.

Board 8. Dealer West. Love All 9 8 6 7 A Q J 6 5 3 10 6 3 A K Q J 7 2 A K Q 6 4 J 8 2 K 10 7 4 A J 8 7 Q 5 4 2 10 5 4 3 10 9 8 5 3 2 9 K 9 Closed Room West North East South Kowalski Branco Romanski Cintra 1 2 Pass Pass 2 Pass 3NT All Pass

Open Room West North East South Branco Szymanowski Chagas Zakrewski 1 3 Pass Pass Dble All Pass

The Poles turned down the chance of a substantial penalty in the Closed Room. Doubtless annoyed, declarer contented himself with 10 tricks, +430.

The Brazilians were not so generous in the replay. Szymanowski was one of several players who got their fingers burnt on this deal. East led the jack of hearts and switched to the two of clubs. Branco cashed the king and ace of spades and continued with the two of diamonds. Hoping that was away from the ten, declarer played low, so Chagas won with that card and cashed the queen of spades. His next card was the four of clubs and after winning the trick West played the ace of hearts. Declarer threw his losing club and ruffed the next heart with the queen of diamonds. Chagas overruffed and played the jack of spades which West ruffed with the eight of diamonds, promoting partner's seven. +1400 and 14 big IMPs.

Board 9. Dealer North. E/W Game K 8 4 2 J 9 8 3 10 3 7 4 2 J 7 6 5 3 Q 10 7 A K 5 A 4 2 Q J 8 7 K J 8 A 10 9 6 3 A 10 9 Q 6 4 2 K 9 6 5 Q 5 Closed Room West North East South Kowalski Branco Romanski Cintra 1 Pass 1 Pass 2 Pass 3 Pass 3NT All Pass

Open Room West North East South Branco Szymanowski Chagas Zakrewski 1 Pass 1 Pass 2 Pass 3 Pass 3NT All Pass

Both East/West pairs reached 3NT. In the Closed Room South led a diamond for the two ten and queen. Declarer could now pick up a 4-1 club break in either hand, but naturally played a club to the king and took a losing club finesse. South continued with the king of diamonds. Curtains! Declarer emerged with ten tricks, +630.

In the Open Room South led the two of hearts for the ten jack and ace. Chagas, with one entry to hand gone had no choice and he followed the same line in clubs. Worried about the location of the nine of hearts, South found the strange switch to the ten of spades. North couldn't read that card and when he withheld the king Chagas had got his ninth trick. +600.

Neither South could have been feeling very happy after that board and the potential for a similar disaster was just around the corner.

Board 11. Dealer South. Love All A 10 9 5 4 K 5 2 A Q 6 5 3 J 7 6 2 3 A 5 Q 10 9 8 6 4 2 A J 3 K 10 9 4 K 8 7 2 10 K Q 8 J 7 3 Q 8 7 6 J 9 4 Closed Room West North East South Kowalski Branco Romanski Cintra Pass 1 1 2 2 Pass 3 3 3 Pass 4 All Pass

Open Room West North East South Branco Szymanowski Chagas Zakrewski Pass 1 1 4 All Pass

The auction in the Closed Room gave South an easy chance to show his hand. The black suit breaks gave declarer no chance of more than nine tricks, which he duly made, -50.

In the Open Room Chagas gave South no room to manoeuvre, although he gave some thought to bidding four spades before passing. This did not go unnoticed on the other side of the screen and Szymanowski unhappily passed.

Would declarer locate the queen of diamonds?

South took the first trick with the king of spades and continued with the queen, ruffed by declarer. Chagas played a heart to the ace and when the king appeared followed with two more rounds, putting South back on lead. He chose to exit with a diamond. A delighted declarer put up the jack and when it held he returned to hand to repeat the finesse. The 9 IMPs gained here made the score Brazil 39 Poland 17.

The Poles hit back with two game swings in the second half of the match but Brazil ran out winners 53-41 IMPs, 17-13VP.