Every Championship contains a number of noteworthy hands, but rarely do we see anything like the scintillating session of play which took place in the fourth stanza of the match between USA1 and China. Those who were privileged to be in the VuGraph will remember it as perhaps the greatest ever exhibition of the game at this level.

Board 49. Dealer North. Love All J 10 9 7 A 6 5 10 8 Q 10 9 5 K 3 Q 8 6 5 2 K 9 7 J 8 4 2 A 6 3 K 5 2 J 7 6 4 2 3 A 4 Q 10 3 Q J 9 7 4 A K 8 Closed Room West North East South Li Soloway Wang Deutsch Pass Pass 1NT Pass Pass 2 Pass 2 Pass 2 Pass Pass Dble All Pass

Wang's decision to compete the part score did not turn out well. Against two spades doubled South led the king of clubs, North playing the ten, and switched to ace and another spade. At this point the play record ceases and declarer came to six tricks for -300.

After the match Seymon Deutsch mentioned in passing that his side should have collected +500. Perhaps this can be achieved by forcing declarer at trick two.

Open Room West North East South Mahmood Wang X. Rosenberg Fu Pass Pass 1 Pass 1 Pass 1NT Pass 2 Pass 2 Pass 2NT All Pass

The Chinese pair produced a straightforward Precision Club auction to 2NT.

Zia led the four of clubs which was taken by dummy's nine. He won the eight of diamonds with his ace and switched to the king of hearts. That did declarer no harm at all. He won and overtook the ten of diamonds when West ducked and cleared the suit. On the heart return he finessed the ten and claimed ten tricks. +180, but 3 IMPs for USA1.

Board 51. Dealer South. E/W Game 8 6 5 A 10 8 5 J 8 5 A K 2 A J 10 9 4 Q 7 2 Q 9 6 4 K 7 3 2 7 3 Q 10 9 J 5 9 8 7 K 3 J A K 6 4 2 Q 10 6 4 3 Closed Room West North East South Li Soloway Wang Deutsch 1 1 Dble 2 3 Pass 3 Pass 4 Pass 4 Pass 5 All Pass

South had an awkward decision to make at his third turn. He had a spade stopper, but there were certainly layouts where five of a minor would be better than 3NT, so he elected to bid out his shape.

It looked as if he was destined to go one down, but West led the ten of spades and after winning with the king and cashing the ace and king of diamonds declarer claimed his contract. +400.

Open Room West North East South Mahmood Wang X. Rosenberg Fu 1 1 Dble 2 3 Pass 3 Pass 3NT All Pass

After a similar start South preferred the nine trick game. He would have made it at most tables, as West led a spade, but Zia was not prepared to give a trick on the lead and he selected the four of hearts.

There was nothing declarer could do, he had eight tricks and no more. +50 and 10 IMPs for USA1.

Zia had drawn a round of applause for his lead and on the next board it was the turn of his partner to wow the audience.

Board 52. Dealer North. Game All K 10 6 2 Q 10 9 7 8 3 A J 7 9 7 4 A Q J 8 A 6 2 J Q 9 4 2 A 6 5 6 3 2 K 10 8 5 4 5 3 K 8 5 4 3 K J 10 7 Q 9 Closed Room West North East South Li Soloway Wang Deutsch Pass Pass 1 Pass 1 Dble 1 2 Pass Pass Dble Pass 3 All Pass

South led the four of hearts and declarer won with the ace and played a club to his king. He exited with a club and North overtook his partners queen and drew a third round of trumps with the jack. It looks as if declarer can arrive at eight tricks via three trumps, two spades, one heart and two diamonds, but he only collected seven, so USA1 scored +200.

Open Room West North East South Mahmood Wang X. Rosenberg Fu Pass Pass 1 Pass 1 Pass 1 Pass 2 Pass Pass 2 Pass Pass 3 All Pass

Rosenberg won the opening lead of the three of hearts with the ace and took a winning spade finesse. He led the five of clubs from hand and South won with the nine. He played another heart which was ruffed with the eight of clubs. Now Michael Rosenberg played the five of diamonds and South instantly played the jack. When the queen of diamonds held the trick, declarer took another spade finesse and followed it with the ace of spades which South ruffed. He played another heart but declarer could not be denied. He ruffed with the four of clubs, cashed the ace of diamonds and ruffed his last spade in dummy. He then exited with the nine of diamonds and showed his cards. +110, 7 IMPs and another burst of applause.

The next board was just a push, but it featured the same brilliant defence at both tables.

Board 53. Dealer North. N/S Game 10 6 5 3 A K Q J 2 Q K 5 4 Q J A 2 9 7 6 10 5 3 K 9 8 6 4 10 7 5 10 8 3 A Q 9 7 2 K 9 8 7 4 8 4 A J 3 2 J 6 Closed Room West North East South Li Soloway Wang Deutsch 1 Pass 1 Pass 3 Pass 4 All Pass

Open Room West North East South Mahmood Wang X. Rosenberg Fu 1 Pass 1 Pass 3 Pass 4 All Pass

Both teams reached a normal four spades. Li led the three of clubs and in no time at all Wang had cashed the queen and ace and played a third round. He went up with the ace of spades on the first round of the suit and played another club to promote his partners jack of spades. Fantastic!

Seymon joked afterwards that once West had dropped the queen of spades under the ace he would have finessed on the next round! Of course he knew East would not have played the ace from AJ2.

Zia led….the eight of clubs! Rosenberg took the queen and cashed the ace, Zia playing the three. Of course he followed to the next round but just as in the other room the contract was now defeated by the promotion. The audience could hardly wait for the next board, for it was already clear they were watching something special.

Board 55. Dealer South. Game All 7 6 3 Q J 8 5 6 4 3 9 8 6 9 8 5 K Q 10 K 4 2 9 6 A 8 7 K J 10 9 2 K 7 5 3 A J 10 A J 4 2 A 10 7 3 Q 5 Q 4 2 Closed Room West North East South Li Soloway Wang Deutsch 1 Pass Pass 1NT Pass 2NT Pass 3NT All Pass

South led the two of spades against 3NT. Declarer needed to find the queen of diamonds and when he played the jack from hand he was happy to see the queen appear on his left. He won with the ace and played a club to the ace. His contract was already secure and he finally arrived at eleven tricks. +660

Open Room West North East South Mahmood Wang X. Rosenberg Fu 1NT Pass 2 Dble 2 2 All Pass

North tried an interesting manoeuvre over his partner's 13-15 notrump, pretending he had a five card heart suit. It didn't keep East/West out of the auction, but it did enough to keep them out of game. Zia made ten tricks but lost 11 IMPs.

The very next board saw China pick up another 6 IMPs by reaching a game not attempted in the Open Room

Board 56. Dealer West. Love All 6 5 3 10 8 5 4 A 9 6 3 Q 10 K Q 10 7 4 2 A K J 3 A Q 7 2 10 8 K Q 5 4 7 4 9 5 3 2 J 9 8 9 6 J 7 2 A K J 8 6 Closed Room West North East South Li Soloway Wang Deutsch 1 Pass 2 Pass 2 Pass 2NT Pass 3 Pass 4 All Pass

Open Room West North East South Mahmood Wang X. Rosenberg Fu 2 Pass 2NT Pass 3 Pass 3 Pass 3 Pass 3 All Pass

You pay your money and you take your choice. Do you open 1 or 2? This time it worked better to open one, but maybe next time someone will have Jxxx. There was no time for anyone to relax - the next board featured one of the most interesting play problems of the championships.

Board 57. Dealer North. E/W Game 8 3 A Q J 9 4 3 Q J 6 5 4 A J 9 7 4 Q 6 5 8 K 10 5 10 7 4 3 9 8 J 9 7 Q 10 8 3 2 K 10 2 7 6 2 A K 2 A K 6 5 Closed Room West North East South Li Soloway Wang Deutsch 1 Pass 2 Pass 2 Pass 3 Pass 4 Pass 4 All Pass

East led the five of spades and West won with the nine, cashed the ace and played a third spade. Soloway ruffed with the nine of hearts and soon collected +420.

Open Room West North East South Mahmood Wang X. Rosenberg Fu 1 Pass 2NT Pass 3 Pass 3 Dble 4 All Pass

Zia got in a lead directing double so Rosenberg led the queen of spades. Declarer covered with the king, so Zia won, cashed the jack and played a third spade. Without pause for thought declarer once again ruffed with the nine and he too was home. Of course he may have suspected what was going on, but if East really has only two spades then ruffing with the queen or jack appears to be the normal play - one that was made at other tables. We'll run the hand on GIB to check it!

Now it was the turn of the USA to gain a swing in the bidding.

Board 60. Dealer West. N/S Game 6 2 K J 8 K Q J 9 8 6 4 2 J 8 3 A 10 7 5 4 10 6 A 7 3 A 6 7 5 4 A K J 8 7 5 Q 3 K Q 9 Q 9 5 4 2 10 3 2 10 9 Closed Room West North East South Li Soloway Wang Deutsch 1 1 1 2 Dble Pass 4 All Pass

South led the two of diamonds and declarer took it with the ace and tried a spade to the ten. That lost to the queen and South continued with the ten of diamonds. North won and switched to a heart. That ensured one down, +50.

Open Room West North East South Mahmood Wang X. Rosenberg Fu 1 1 1 2 2 Pass 3 Pass 3NT All Pass

Rosenberg thought for a while over Zia's 3NT but eventually he came up with the winning answer. Declarer claimed with a flourish as soon as everyone followed to the first round of clubs. 10 IMPs for USA1.

Zia played the next hand beautifully - of course it was to flatten the board!

Board 62. Dealer East. Love All 10 Q 8 6 K J 10 7 3 2 A 9 2 A Q 7 5 J 6 4 2 3 2 A K 10 5 4 A 9 8 6 5 K J 10 7 5 3 — K 9 8 3 J 9 7 4 Q Q 8 6 4 Closed Room West North East South Li Soloway Wang Deutsch 1 Pass 1 Pass 3 Pass 4 All Pass

Open Room West North East South Mahmood Wang X. Rosenberg Fu 1 Pass 1 Pass 3 Pass 4 Pass 4 All Pass

Zia won the opening lead of the six of hearts and cashed the ace of diamonds, noting the appearance of South's queen. He ruffed a diamond, South discarding a club, ruffed a club, and cashed the ace of hearts. He ruffed a heart, ruffed a club and then ruffed a heart with the ace of spades. He ruffed a club with the jack of spades and then played a diamond, ensuring that the queen of spades would be his game going trick.

No doubt exhausted by some of their earlier efforts, the players contrived to produce a final board that was totally out of keeping with the rest of the match.

Board 64. Dealer West. E/W Game 10 8 5 3 2 Q 7 4 3 J 8 4 2 A 7 K 6 4 2 9 5 3 K Q J 10 8 2 A 9 5 10 9 6 3 A K 7 5 Q J 9 A K J 10 8 7 6 4 6 Q Closed Room West North East South Li Soloway Wang Deutsch 1 Pass 2 4 5 Pass 6 6 Dble All Pass

Give West the queen of clubs and six clubs is not bad, but might still be beaten by two rounds of hearts, depending on the lie of the trump suit. Of course if he had the queen, West might go back to diamonds. That was all academic here, as South was sufficiently impressed to save.

Li led the king of diamonds and switched his attack to spades. After getting a spade ruff there was still a club trick to come, so that was +800.

Open Room West North East South Mahmood Wang X. Rosenberg Fu 1 Pass 2 4 5 Pass 6 All Pass

Rosenberg's response of two clubs was forcing to game. Zia explained after the session that he made two errors on this board. The first was to bid five clubs, which promised a better hand than the one he actually had. Systemically he should have passed and then removed his partner's likely double to five clubs, which would have been more in accordance with his actual values. His other error was in not converting six clubs to six diamonds - he would still have gone down on this layout, but six clubs would have failed even if Rosenberg had held AKQ75 - there would still have been no way to prevent North scoring his jack of clubs after the defence start with two rounds of hearts.

China had won the segment 37-32, leaving them ahead 156-127, with 32 boards to go. For all of the evening and most of the following day there was only one topic of conversation - did you see 'the boards?' Those who did will remember them for a long, long time.