Friends of Edgar Kaplan, who died in early September, gathered yesterday morning to pay tribute to their friend. And the World Bridge Federation flag will be flown at half mast in his honour throughout this tournament.

"The bridge world won't be the same without him," said Jaime Ortiz-Patino, President Emeritus of the World Bridge Federation. "His death is a huge loss to the World Bridge Federation and to bridge in general. And I have lost a close and valued friend." Patino told how he first met Kaplan at the 1964 Olympiad, where Kaplan's expertise resulted in Patino's team finishing fifth instead of in the medal group. "Edgar, his wife Betty and I spent much time together, but it was later that I really got to know the man."

During the Bermuda Bowl Championship in Guaruja, Brazil, in 1973, Patino, Kaplan and WBF President Julius Rosenblum got together and decided that it was time to do something about improving bridge ethics at the world level. "We went from strength to strength," said Patino, "but we couldn't have done it without Edgar. Our plan was to get all players to tell their opponents what they were playing - a new concept. "

There was an immediate objection from an Italian pair. "We've been working on our system for 10 years, and we're not about to tell everyone what we're doing," said Benito Garozzo. But after listening to Kaplan and Patino for a while, Garozzo was totally convinced that full disclosure was the way to go. "Edgar was the ultimate expert on the Laws," said Patino. "He had so much to do with the Laws as they are today that perhaps they should be called Kaplan's Laws."

Patino recalled the pleasure he had playing as Kaplan's partner. "He was the greatest and the easiest ever to play with. Along with being a true friend, he was a wonderful partner. My world is not the same without him."

Joan Gerard, a member of the WBF Executive Council from the United States, told of her friendship with Kaplan that began in 1968. "I quickly memorised Edgar's phone number because I called him whenever I had a problem. I hope the memory of Edgar will help me in the future." Joan recalled an incident involving Edgar that offers a good insight. "The auction had gone 2NT - 3NT, and the lady sitting over the 3NT bidder hesitated a long time before passing. Her partner then led her singleton and found the hesitator with six to the ace-king-jack. Down two, followed by an appeal. The decision was a cancellation of this result, changed to 3NT making three. This upset the opening leader considerably. She insisted that she frequently led short suits in an attempt to find partner on such auctions. Here's how Edgar handled this: "'I have no doubt that you frequently lead a singleton when such an auction occurs. However, your partner's hesitation has made it impossible for you to be brilliant any longer.' " This explanation pleased the lady, and she still plays regularly at our tournaments."

Bobby Wolff of the United States, former WBF president, told what a major role Edgar played in the development of the Aces. "Jim Jacoby and I were having a serious problem with out system, so we called Edgar for help. He came all the way to Dallas to help us out. He taught us Neapolitan, forerunner of the Blue Team Club. Whenever we had a system problem after that, naturally we called Edgar. When I took over as WBF president in 1993, one of the first things I did was to call Edgar for advice. I miss him - it's hard to realise how much."

"No one ever has been able to say so much with so few words with such humour," said Ernesto d'Orsi of Brazil, former WBF president. "Edgar has left a legacy that will always be remembered. A person only really dies if he is forgotten. Edgar will never die. I especially recall the dinners at his home. We always had wonderful wine, and there always was fine music. I had many discussions with Edgar - and it never took more than five minutes for him to convince me I was wrong."

Bill Schoder of the United States, chief tournament director at this tournament, said that he became a better director by spending so much time talking to Edgar in airport lounges. "Edgar had a unique ability to listen, then letting you hear yourself. He was a passionate, wonderful human being." Schoder told about the time he packed for himself and discovered he had forgotten cufflinks while dressing for a formal dinner. He tried the shop downstairs, but was set back a bit when he discovered the price was $165 - for each cufflink! He told his plight to Edgar, and Edgar said, "No problem. I have another set of cufflinks." So Schoder wore the cufflinks lent to him by Edgar - and he noticed at the dinner that Edgar was wearing paper clips!

Edgar's incredible sense of humour was uppermost in the memory of José Damiani, president of the WBF. "He had a wonderful sense of humour, and it was never offensive." Damiani pointed out that Edgar's contributions to the WBF were enormous. "And it never took him as long as five minutes to convince me I was wrong," he said. "He was a man of great culture. "In honour of Edgar Kaplan, the World Bridge Federation flag will be flown at half mast during this tournament."

First match up on vugraph was the meeting of the two USA teams, both full of past and present world champions (indeed, USA2 are the holders) and both among the favourites for the title here in Tunisia. As usual, with Meckstroth and Rodwell at the table, there was plenty of action right from the start.

Board 1. Dealer North. Love All Q 8 9 6 2 7 3 A Q J 8 6 2 K 4 2 A J 5 3 Q 4 K J 8 3 A K Q 9 8 4 2 6 5 7 10 9 4 10 9 7 6 A 10 7 5 J 10 K 5 3 Closed Room West North East South Zia Nickell Rosenberg Freeman Pass Pass Pass 1 2 Dble Rdble 3 All Pass

Was there some doubt about the strength of the 3 rebid here or did Zia underbid? Whatever went wrong, the excellent 5 was missed, giving an early chance to USA2. But it was not accepted and it was USA1 who won the board.

At the other table Jeff Meckstroth opened 3NT in fourth seat and played there, losing the first seven tricks for -150 on the lead of the Q. Zia's +150 was worth 7 IMPs to his side.

Board 2. Dealer East. N/S Game A 8 A 10 6 10 5 4 A Q 9 6 3 Q J 2 10 7 3 5 4 2 Q J 9 8 7 A J 2 K Q 6 3 10 7 5 2 4 K 9 6 5 4 K 3 9 8 7 K J 8 Closed Room West North East South Zia Nickell Rosenberg Freeman Pass Pass Pass 1 1 1 2 Pass Pass 3 Pass 3NT All Pass

If anything, the East/West interference actually helped game to be reached. There was nothing to the play and Nickell soon chalked up +600.

In the Open Room, the East hand matched Eric Rodwell's idea of a weak two bid so he opened 2, weak with either major. Meckstroth responded 3, pre-emptive in partner's suit, and that caught Chip Martel with a fair hand but not enough to shoot out 3NT. Martel passed and Meckstroth played 3 down two for -100 but +11 IMPs; 11-7 to USA1.

Board 3. Dealer South. E/W Game 10 9 7 4 A Q K 5 3 K Q 6 2 A Q J K 8 5 7 5 2 K 8 A 10 2 Q J 9 7 6 4 J 9 7 5 8 3 6 3 2 J 10 9 6 4 3 8 A 10 4

On vugraph, Lew Stansby opened 2 and played there, making exactly. They play a sounder style than Meckwell so game was possible but Martel played the odds by not making a try. Just as well, as there are five unavoidable losers.

In the other room the South cards did not match-up to Dick Freeman's vision of a weak two bid.

Closed Room West North East South Zia Nickell Rosenberg Freeman Pass 1 Pass 1 1 Pass 2 3 All Pass

This contract also made exactly so a pair of +110s meant 6 IMPs to USA1, ahead by 13-11. The lead did not last long.

Board 4. Dealer West. Game All 7 6 — K Q 9 7 5 3 J 10 9 7 2 A 8 3 K J 5 4 K Q 5 4 10 8 6 3 A J 10 8 4 6 8 K Q 4 3 Q 10 9 2 A J 9 7 2 2 A 6 5 Closed Room West North East South Zia Nickell Rosenberg Freeman 1 Pass 1 Pass 3 Pass 4 Dble All Pass

Freeman led his singleton diamond and Rosenberg won the ace and led 8 to the nine, king and ace. Freeman returned a club, ruffed in dummy, and Rosenberg played K to the ace. Another club ran to the queen and declarer ruffed his last club with dummy's last small trump while South pitched a spade. Rosenberg cashed the top spades and Q then threw South in so made his 10 for two down; -500.

Open Room West North East South Meckstroth Martel Rodwell Stansby 1 Pass 1 Dble 2 3 Dble 3 4 4 Dble All Pass

1 was precision, only promising two cards, and Stansby's double was therefor a double of hearts rather than of diamonds and hearts. 2 showed a heart raise with an unspecified shortage and Martel chose to show his excellent diamonds, though it was almost certain that Meckstroth had genuine diamonds for his 2 call. When Rodwell doubled 3, Stansby bid his spades but Martel thought that showed long spades and a hand too good for a 1 overcall.

4 doubled was not a pleasant spot. The lead was the singleton club to the queen and ace and Stansby led his diamond, also to the ace. Now Meckstroth underled the A and Rodwell won the king and played king and four of clubs for him to ruff. Best is now to cash A and exit with a diamond - the defence get the J and two heart tricks for four down. In practise, Meckstroth did not cash the spade but switched to K, ruffed in dummy. The K was ruffed and over-ruffed and when Stansby exited with a low spade to the bare ace Meckstroth was endplayed to lead hearts again. Declarer won, drew the last trump and played two more rounds of hearts and had to make the last trick; three down for -800 and 16 IMPs to USA2, back in the lead at 27-13.

Board 7. Dealer South. Game All 10 A Q 10 8 6 5 K Q J 10 6 4 K 9 6 Q J 8 7 5 2 J 6 4 7 3 K 10 4 Q 7 2 7 5 3 2 A 8 A 4 3 K 9 5 2 A J 9 8 3 9

In the Closed Room, Freeman/Nickell had a free run: 1 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 3 - 4. Nickell made eleven tricks after a spade lead for +650. Competition from Meckwell put some momentum into the Open Room auction.

Open Room West North East South Meckstroth Martel Rodwell Stansby 1 Pass 2 2 Pass 3 4 Pass 4 Pass 4NT Pass 5 Pass 6 All Pass

2 was natural but game-forcing and Rodwell's overcall shut Stansby out for a while but, when Martel could introduce his hearts at the four-level, Stansby had a goos hand, particularly with his partner marked with spade shortage. He made a try and martel took control and bid the slam.

It takes a diamond lead to defeat 6 but it is very tough to find and, of course, Rodwell led a spade. Martel won the A and played 9 to the ace. With trumps 3-2 there was no defence from here and Martel scored +1430; 13 IMPs to USA1 who trailed 26-32.

Board 9. Dealer North. E/W Game J 5 K 10 9 8 9 8 10 8 7 6 5 10 3 Q 2 A Q 7 4 3 5 2 Q J 10 K 7 6 5 2 A Q 9 K 4 3 2 A K 9 8 7 6 4 J 6 A 4 3 J

In the Open Room, Stansby opened 1 in third seat and eventually played in 3, making an overtrick for +170.

Freeman opened 4 and Zia doubled for takeout, left in by Rosenberg - a close decision as he might have hoped to make five of a minor. Zia led Q and, at first sight, the contract appears to be making, as indeed it did at many tables around the room. Freeman ducked the diamond and Zia switched to a 3 to the five, queen and ace. Now Freeman took his diamond ruff and led a low club off the table and Rosenberg went in with K to play a fourth round of diamonds, promoting Zia's 10 for the setting trick. Nicely defended and 7 IMPs to USA2 instead of nine the other way had the contract got home.

Board 12. Dealer West. N/S Game 5 4 3 2 10 4 Q 9 8 2 A 10 5 K Q 6 9 8 K Q 5 3 9 7 2 5 K J 10 6 4 3 K Q 4 3 2 J 7 A J 10 7 A J 8 6 A 7 9 8 6 Closed Room West North East South Zia Nickell Rosenberg Freeman 1 Pass 1 Dble Pass 1 2 All Pass

A club was led to the jack and Rosenberg played a spade up, dummy's king winning. Now he played a diamond to the jack and ace and Freeman switched to a low heart to dummy's king. Declarer played K to the ace and Nickell returned a club to the queen, declarer pitching his second spade. There were two diamonds and a heart to lose from here but that was all; +90.

Meckstroth opened the West hand 2, showing the old Precision 2 type, 11-15 three-suiter with short diamonds. With no way to get to 3 even if he had wanted to play there, Rodwell passed and that was that. The lead was 4, ducked to Meckstroth's queen. He played a diamond for the jack and ace and back came a low club to the jack. Meckstroth returned a club to the ace and now Martel played 10 to the ace and another heart went to the king. Meckstroth started cashing winning clubs but Stansby could ruff and switch to 10 and had to make two spades at the end for one down; -50 and 4 IMPs to USA1, ahead 43-32.

2 makes if declarer plays a spade when in dummy with J. South must duck the spade so the king scores and now declarer plays K to the ace. If the play now follows the same lines as before South finds himself endplayed when he makes his last heart trick, obliged to either lead a diamond to dummy or a spade, enabling declarer to make a second spade trick.

Your opponents bid 2NT - 3NT, or the equivalent, and you hold:

K 10 5 A K 7 6 5 10 9 4 6 4

Presumably you lead a heart, but which one?

Meckstroth led a low one and that plus the fortunate diamond position meant eleven tricks for Stansby and +660. Zia led K, got the four from Rosenberg and continued with the ace. After five rounds of hearts, Zia switched to the 4 and Freeman wasted one of dummy's honours under the bare king. That meant two off for a great +200 for Zia/Rosenberg and 13 IMPs to USA1, stretching their lead to 56-32.

Board 15. Dealer South. N/S Game 10 6 2 Q 7 3 K J 10 9 4 3 8 A J 4 K Q 9 7 3 A K 6 5 4 J 2 — A Q A 7 5 4 3 Q 10 9 2 8 5 10 9 8 8 7 6 5 2 K J 6 Closed Room West North East South Zia Nickell Rosenberg Freeman Pass 1 Pass 1 Pass 3 Pass 4 Pass 5 Pass 5 Pass 6 Pass 6NT All Pass

Personally, I would rebid only 2 with the West hand but if Zia thinks 3 is correct who am I to argue? When Rosenberg raised the clubs Zia used Exclusion Keycard and discovered that partner had no keycards. Zia tried to play 6 now, a contract in which he rated to fail but at least had a chance, but Rosenberg converted to 6NT, which had to fail. He won the heart lead and played ace and another club and was two down; -200.

Meckwell took six rounds of artificiality to get to 6 after a strong club opening. 6 is the best contract as you have the extra chance of hearts 3-3 before falling back on the club guess and the extra chance duly rolled in to give them a well-deserved 14 IMPs, pulling closer at 46-56.

Board 19. Dealer South. E/W Game Q A Q J 3 K 5 3 A Q 7 6 5 K 8 6 5 4 3 A J 10 7 K 10 2 9 8 7 6 4 7 2 10 3 2 J 10 8 9 2 5 A Q J 9 8 6 4 K 9 4 Closed Room West North East South Zia Nickell Rosenberg Freeman Pass Pass 1 Pass 2 Pass 2 Pass 3 Pass 5 All Pass

It doesn't look impossible to get to slam even after South passes as dealer. If North can make one more forcing bid over 3 and hears about South's K, that should do the trick. As it was, perhaps Nickell had shown his spade shortage by bidding around it but the position was not sufficiently clear for Freeman and the slam was missed - and why must North hold A anyway on the above auction?

There was more action in the other room:

Open Room West North East South Meckstroth Martel Rodwell Stansby 1 1 2 3 4 Pass 4 Pass 5 Pass 5 Pass 6 All Pass

Once Stansby had both opened the South hand and bid 4 freely, slam was always going to be reached. 11 IMPs to USA1 who had started with a useful 20-10 VP win over one of their main rivals. And particular credit to Martel/Stansby who had a bad start to the match but who came through strongly as the set progressed.

Bermuda Bowl candidates Canada and Australia squared off in Round 2. The match was close, but the bridge was not always top-flight.

Bob Richman found the best switch on Board 3, which resulted in a 6-IMP gain for Australia.

Board 3. Dealer South. E/W Game 8 2 Q 10 8 7 Q J 10 10 6 5 4 7 6 Q J 9 4 K J 6 5 4 3 K 8 4 3 2 A 7 5 K 8 2 A 9 7 A K 10 5 3 A 9 2 9 6 Q J 3 Open Room West North East South Roche Burgess Fraser Richman 1 Pass Pass 1NT Pass 2 Pass 2 Pass 2NT All Pass

The contract was the same in the Closed Room, just making.

In the Open Room, Stephen Burgess led a spade to Richman's ace, and he stopped for a minute to think things over. Finally he found the killing switch - he led the 2. This set up three heart tricks for the defence to go with their two top spades - and declarer had to give up a diamond trick to set up the suit.

Australia got overboard on Board 5 while Canada was content to rest in game. That was 11 IMPs to Canada, their first major gain.

Board 5. Dealer North. N/S Game J 8 6 3 10 8 Q 10 8 7 6 2 A A Q 9 5 4 7 A 6 4 K Q J 3 A J 9 5 K 3 6 K Q 10 9 7 3 K 10 2 9 7 5 2 4 J 8 5 4 2 Closed Room West North East South C. Rothfield Delogu J. Rothfield Thurston Pass 2 Pass 2 Pass 3 Pass 3 Pass 3NT Pass 4 Pass 5 Pass 5NT Pass 6 All Pass

Carole Rothfield felt that her outside strength made up for her lack of length in clubs, but it was the club division that defeated the slam - down two, minus 100. The auction was altogether different in the Open Room.

Open Room West North East South Roche Burgess Fraser Richman Pass 1 Pass 1 Pass 2 Pass 2 Pass 2 Pass 3NT All Pass

Roche had no problem taking 11 tricks to earn 11 IMPs.

Board 11 was most unusual. Every North-South pair in both the Bermuda Bowl and the Venice Cup arrived at the cold grand slam - sometimes in clubs, sometimes in hearts and a few times in notrump. The vugraph audience voted that at least one pair would fail to bid the grand, but they were wrong.

Canada was well ahead when Board 13 came along, but this time Australia picked up a game swing.

Board 13. Dealer North. Game All J 9 6 4 7 5 A Q 6 5 7 6 3 5 3 A K Q 8 A 9 8 6 2 J 10 3 K J 9 10 8 7 3 J 8 4 A K 10 7 2 K Q 4 4 2 Q 10 9 5 2

The contract was 4 by West at both tables. In the Closed Room Mrs. Rothfield made her contract when South failed to cover when she led the J off dummy at trick two. Now she lost only one heart and two spades.

In the Open Room, Roche won the spade opening lead and led the J. Richman covered and Roche took his ace. He continued with a second heart to Richman's queen, and Richman quickly switched to a diamond. Fraser won the queen and ace and then gave Richman a ruff for the setting trick and 12 IMPs.

Board 14. Dealer East. Love All J 9 8 Q J 6 2 10 8 A Q 8 2 A K 10 7 6 5 8 7 5 K 9 4 5 3 Q J 9 7 10 9 7 6 J 5 4 3 Q 4 3 2 A 10 3 A K 6 4 2 K

Both teams arrived in 3NT, Canada gaining an IMP by scoring an overtrick. But the interesting point about this hand is the defence that would have beaten the contract.

After declarer allows the opening lead of the Q to hold, the killing defence is to lead a club directly into dummy's holding. That kills an all-important entry to dummy. Yes, declarer can pick up the K - but he can't get back to dummy to cash the long heart. And he can't cash the second club without setting up two clubs for the defence. He can take the heart finesse and knock out the diamond stopper, but in doing so will lose at least five tricks.

Board 16. Dealer West. E/W Game 9 3 8 3 Q 7 5 3 2 Q 10 9 6 A Q 10 8 6 4 7 5 K J 4 A Q 10 9 6 5 A 4 6 7 5 A K J 2 K J 2 7 2 K J 10 9 8 8 4 3

This board stood out in a negative way. Almost every pair in both contests bid a heart slam - indeed United States I in the Bermuda Bowl went all the way to the grand. But both pairs here were ultra conservative, stopping at 4, then taking all 13 tricks for a strange push.

On the next-to-last board, Canada bid a slam that was somewhat against the odds - but it made, and that's what counts in the long run.

Board 19. Dealer South. E/W Game 8 5 Q 9 6 3 6 5 J 9 8 7 2 J 7 2 A Q 6 3 K 10 8 4 2 J 7 5 J 10 9 7 Q 8 4 3 2 K 6 K 10 9 4 A A K A Q 10 5 4 3 Closed Room West North East South C. Rothfield Delogu J. Rothfield Thurston 1 Pass 1 Pass 2 Pass 3 Pass 3 Pass 5 Pass 6 Pass

The fall of the K is fortuitous, or course. After it falls, declarer can enter dummy and lead toward the K. When the ace turns out to be onside, declarer has his slam.

This was the auction in the Open Room.

Open Room West North East South Roche Burgess Fraser Richman 1 Pass 1 Pass 2 Pass 3 Pass 3 Pass 4 Pass 5 All Pass

Canada emerged the victor, 19-11.

Sometimes, the most potentially disastrous opening leads work out well for strange reasons. Put yourself in South's shoes here:

West North East South Zmudzinski Balicki 1 Pass 1 Pass 2 Pass 2 Pass 2 Pass 4 Pass 6 All Pass

You have to find a lead from:

8 5 10 9 8 8 7 6 5 2 K J 6

Well, nothing stands out, does it? Giorgio Duboin decided to attack and led 6. Had he been told that dummy had the ace and declarer the queen, he would no doubt have snatched it back and tried something else, but he was not blessed with this extra information at the time. Was it a disaster? Not at all!

This was the full hand. As you can see, the 5-3 spade fit offers an extra chance over the 5-4 club fit, namely a 3-3 heart break.

10 6 2 Q 7 3 K J 10 9 4 3 8 A J 4 K Q 9 7 3 A K 6 5 4 J 2 — A Q A 7 5 4 3 Q 10 9 2 8 5 10 9 8 8 7 6 5 2 K J 6

Cesary Balicki would have made 6 easily by combining his chances in hearts and clubs on a passive lead. However, he was confident enough when he received what looked like a singleton club lead. He rose with dummy's ace, unblocking the nine, drew trumps ending in dummy and led a club towards his queen. Alas, the deceptive lead had done its work and he had to go one down.

Marcelo Branco found the same lead with the same result against Chinese Taipei and Michael Roche of Canada against South Africa.

The progression of bridge to the level of Olympic sport is moving well, according to Mazhar Jafri, chairman of the International Olympic Committee Liaison Committee and a vice president of the World Bridge Federation.

"The IOC General Committee met in Switzerland in September, and recognition of the WBF was confirmed by the IOC," said Jafri. The next step, according to Jafri, is to get the WBF accepted as a sports federation and to make bridge an Olympic sport. "Hopefully this will be accomplished in the next few years," said Jafri.

"It's going to be tough to get into the Summer Olympics because so many other sports are already waiting, but we have a much better chance to make it to the Winter Olympics." Another major step - bridge has been recognised as a sport by the Olympic Council of Asia.

That means bridge is a sport in all nations that are associated with this organisation. Bridge is likely to be included as a demonstration sport at the Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand, in December 1998.

"This will be our chance to show the Olympic people what a sport bridge is," said Jafri. "We will make our presence in Bangkok a showpiece. We plan to highlight our Junior players. This could easily be a stepping stone to the Olympic Games." Jafri also noted that a major effort is being made to get individual countries associated with national Olympic committees. "A substantial number of NBOs already have formulated associations with their national organisations," said Jafri.