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DAILY BULLETIN ISSUE No 3 Editor: Mark Horton Journalists: David Bird, Jos Jacobs, Ron Tacchi Lay-out & Photographer: Francesca Canali BBO Schedule Today R10 Serbia vs. England — Romania vs. Sweden R11 Latvia vs. Spain — Ireland vs. Belgium R12 Austria vs. England — France vs. Norway R13 Sweden vs. Netherlands — Italy vs. Turkey Schedule R10 10.00 — 11.40 R11 12.10 — 13.50 R12 14.50 — 16.30 R13 17:00 — 18:40 Sunday, 24 February 2019 THEN THERE WERE NONE At the end of day one, only three teams were undefeated, Denmark, England and Italy. Denmark fell to Sweden in Round 7 and in Round 8 the other two were in opposition. En- gland prevailed and looked set to go into day three without a single blot on their escutche- on until they lost 20 IMPs on the last two deals of the day against Scotland. Meanwhile Sweden were winning their local derby against Norway to open up a commanding lead at the top. They are followed by England, Romania, Latvia, Italy, Denmark, Croatia, Poland and Norway. One of the biggest surprises so far has been the relatively poor performance of the favourites, France who are languishing in 18th place. The playing area Contents Draw & BBO Schedule p. 2 Championship Diary p. 3 What Alert? p. 4 Sweden vs Poland Spain vs Belgium p. 5 Latvia vs Bulgaria p. 8 Russia vs Switzerland p. 11 Turkey vs Czech Republic Israel vs Switzerland p. 14 Results p. 18
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Sunday, 24 February 2019 THEN THERE WERE NONEchampionships.eurobridge.org/EMTC2019/Bulletins/Bul_03.pdfR10 Serbia vs. England — Romania vs. Sweden R11 Latvia vs. Spain — Ireland

Sep 26, 2020

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Page 1: Sunday, 24 February 2019 THEN THERE WERE NONEchampionships.eurobridge.org/EMTC2019/Bulletins/Bul_03.pdfR10 Serbia vs. England — Romania vs. Sweden R11 Latvia vs. Spain — Ireland

DAILY BULLETIN ISSUE No 3

Editor: Mark Horton Journalists: David Bird, Jos Jacobs, Ron Tacchi Lay-out & Photographer: Francesca Canali

BBO Schedule TodayR10 Serbia vs. England — Romania vs. SwedenR11 Latvia vs. Spain — Ireland vs. BelgiumR12 Austria vs. England — France vs. NorwayR13 Sweden vs. Netherlands — Italy vs. Turkey

ScheduleR10 10.00 — 11.40R11 12.10 — 13.50R12 14.50 — 16.30R13 17:00 — 18:40

Sunday, 24 February 2019

THEN THERE WERE NONE

At the end of day one, only three teams were undefeated, Denmark, England and Italy. Denmark fell to Sweden in Round 7 and in Round 8 the other two were in opposition. En-gland prevailed and looked set to go into day three without a single blot on their escutche-on until they lost 20 IMPs on the last two deals of the day against Scotland. Meanwhile Sweden were winning their local derby against Norway to open up a commanding lead at the top. They are followed by England, Romania, Latvia, Italy, Denmark, Croatia, Poland and Norway. One of the biggest surprises so far has been the relatively poor performance of the favourites, France who are languishing in 18th place.

The playing area

ContentsDraw & BBO Schedule p. 2Championship Diary p. 3What Alert? p. 4Sweden vs PolandSpain vs Belgium p. 5Latvia vs Bulgaria p. 8Russia vs Switzerland p. 11Turkey vs Czech RepublicIsrael vs Switzerland p. 14Results p. 18

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1st European Mixed Teams Championship Lisbon, Portugal • 22 - 28 February 2019

2

ROUND 10ROUND 10

Draw & BBO Schedule Day 3 AUSTRIA vs IRELAND

NORWAY vs CZECH REP

ISRAEL vs DENMARK

PORTUGAL vs SPAIN

GREECE vs NETHERLANDS

HUNGARY vs ITALY

GERMANY vs SCOTLAND

BELGIUM vs ESTONIA

SERBIA vs ENGLAND

POLAND vs SWITZERLAND

ICELAND vs LATVIA

RUSSIA vs CROATIA

BULGARIA vs TURKEY

ROMANIA vs SWEDEN

FINLAND vs FRANCE

AUSTRIA vs ENGLAND

SWITZERLAND vs BELGIUM

LATVIA vs SCOTLAND

RUSSIA vs ITALY

NETHERLANDS vs TURKEY

PORTUGAL vs SWEDEN

ISRAEL vs FINLAND

FRANCE vs NORWAY

IRELAND vs ROMANIA

CZECH REP vs BULGARIA

DENMARK vs CROATIA

ICELAND vs SPAIN

GREECE vs POLAND

HUNGARY vs SERBIA

ESTONIA vs GERMANY

AUSTRIA vs CROATIA

ICELAND vs BULGARIA

POLAND vs ROMANIA

SERBIA vs FRANCE

FINLAND vs ESTONIA

SWEDEN vs GERMANY

TURKEY vs HUNGARY

GREECE vs RUSSIA

LATVIA vs SPAIN

SWITZERLAND vs DENMARK

ENGLAND vs CZECH REP

IRELAND vs BELGIUM

SCOTLAND vs NORWAY

ITALY vs ISRAEL

PORTUGAL vs NETHERLANDS

AUSTRIA vs GERMANY

HUNGARY vs ESTONIA

GREECE vs SERBIA

SPAIN vs POLAND

ICELAND vs DENMARK

CROATIA vs CZECH REP

BULGARIA vs IRELAND

NORWAY vs ROMANIA

FRANCE vs ISRAEL

FINLAND vs PORTUGAL

SWEDEN vs NETHERLANDS

ITALY vs TURKEY

RUSSIA vs SCOTLAND

LATVIA vs BELGIUM

ENGLAND vs SWITZERLAND

ROUND 12

ROUND 11

ROUND 13

BBO

BBO

BBO

BBO

BBO

BBO

BBO

BBO

DisclaimersAll material published in the Bulletins is the responsibility

of its author.Nothing published in these

Bulletins may be reproduced without the express permission of

the European Bridge League.

Jardim BuffettYou can enjoy a terrific three course Buffet lunch

here in the hotel (and the menu changes every day!) It specializes in seafood, including several of the cod dishes for which Portugal is famous. It also includes water and wine - ideal for non-playing captains, coaches and supporters. A snip at Euro 23.

Tump Leaves SoupSea Bass and TomatoRoast Duck with Orange

SUNDAY 24/02

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1st European Mixed Teams Championship

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Lisbon, Portugal • 22 - 28 February 2019

Championship DiaryThe President of the PBF, Inocêncio Araújo, told me that a researcher at RTP (Radio and Television Portugal) discovered fascinating footage of a bridge tournament played in Portugal in 1960.

These glimpses into the past not only show the prestige associated with playing bridge in that era, but they also helped to identify the first President of the PBF, Francisco de Sousa Botelho e Albuquerque, Count of Mangualde.

Prepare to be fascinated at:https://arquivos.rtp.pt/conteudos/torneio-de-bridge/https://arquivos.rtp.pt/conteudos/final-do-torneio-de-bridge/

It is no surprise that RTP is providing media coverage of the Championships - go to:www.rtp.pt/antena1/apoios/campeonatos-europeus-de-equipas-mistas-de-bridge_10644

Using the bar code built into their badges, players can print out scorecards from each match which show the contract, lead and result from both rooms as well as calculating the IMPs and VPs. That's not new, but now the bar code also reacts when a player visits the rest-rooms. The technology means that if another member of your team happens to try to go at the same time, access is denied!

Professor Sam Punch offers huge thanks to Ireland for being the first team to come forward with a very generous donation to Keep Bridge Alive. Paul Porteous said on behalf of the team: "Absolutely delighted to support any initiative to convince the wider world of the benefits of Bridge".

We have an excellent team of voice commentators at the BBO tables, Roland Wald, David Bird, Martin Cantor, Marc Smith and Peter Lund.

At the end of day one three teams were undefeated - Denmark, England and Italy, while three were still awaiting an initial victory - Finland, Israel and Serbia.

No doubt you are all aware that you can set your phone to have different ring tones for people who call you a lot. Apparently a popular choice for your life partner is the theme tune to Mission Impossible.

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1st European Mixed Teams Championship Lisbon, Portugal • 22 - 28 February 2019

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What Alert?Written by Jose Curado

Board 16. Dealer West. E/W Vul. [ — ] Q 10 5 { A K Q J 6 4 3 } 9 7 5 [ Q 5 3 2 [ K 9 8 6 ] 2 ] K J 9 8 3 { 10 9 8 { 5 } J 10 6 4 2 } A 8 3 [ A J 10 7 4 ] A 7 6 4 { 7 2 } K Q

Open RoomWest North East SouthG Saeversson I Teinemaa B Thorsteinsdottir H Nigul

Pass 1{ Dble 1]*

1[ 3{ 3[ Dble All Pass

1] 4+[

You might recognise this board from Round 2 featured in yesterday’s bulletin, but only a few players and the TDs will recognise the auction.

After going down four in 3[X West discovered that South’s 1] bid showed 4+ spades as he hadn’t seen an Alert and because of that he decided to bid 1[ (natural) instead of passing. A Tournament Director was called and was able to establish that South didn’t do everything that he could to make sure his screen-mate understood his attempt to Alert. The TD could also establish that on the other side the 1] bid was correctly explained that E/W didn’t have specific agreements about what the 1[ bid by West should show over a 1] (4+ spades) bid.

The TD deemed that no proper Alert was made on SW side of the screen. After consulting, it was decided that had the correct procedure been followed West would never bid 1[,

and therefore the result should be adjusted. 3NT is the normal contract, played either by North or by South, making 10, 11 or even 12 tricks.

A weighted score of the probable outcomes would lead to the same result in IMPs as 3NT+2.

One might argue that, on this vulnerability, East’s 3[ bid wouldn’t be everybody’s first (or second) choice, but could this be the case of an “extremely serious error (unrelated to the infraction)” contributing to E/W’s bad result as the wording in Law 12C1(e) puts it? The TDs didn’t think so, because without the 1[ bid East would never consider bidding 3[, and the final adjustment was the same for both sides.

The correct procedure of alerting is described in 3.2. of the Bidding Boxes, Bridgemates and Screens Regulations:

“3.2 Alerts and Explanations a) (…). The alert must be made by placing the

Alert Card over the last call of the screen-mate, in his segment of the bidding tray; the alerted player must acknowledge by returning the Alert Card to his opponent. A player may, by written question, ask for an explanation of an opponent’s call; the screen-mate then provides a written answer.”

You can use different procedures (at your own risk) provided you make sure the opponents see and acknowledge the Alert. But do you really want to take the chance of scoring a big number, just to hear the opponent ask: “What alert?”

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1st European Mixed Teams Championship

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Lisbon, Portugal • 22 - 28 February 2019

Written by Jos Jacobs

For the final round on the first day of these new European Mixed Team Championships, the boards

had decided to be friendly to the players, i.e. not too wild which, for our poor readers would mean not too spectacular.

Well, maybe this was not quite true as this happened to be the first board of the set:

Board 13. Dealer North. All Vul. [ 8 7 5 ] A 10 7 3 { A 9 2 } Q 10 7 [ 9 4 2 [ K Q J 10 ] — ] 8 5 2 { K J 7 4 { 10 8 6 5 3 } J 9 6 5 4 3 } 8 [ A 6 3 ] K Q J 9 6 4 { Q } A K 2

As you can see, E/W are entitled to two defensive spade tricks but on the score sheet, I found three scores of +1430. The slam makes when West leads a low diamond and South runs this to his (her) blank queen…but it went down 15 times so 60% of the N/S pairs were in it…

In our two featured matches this board was a push at +650. On the next board to be shown, some E/W pairs were living dangerously:

Board 16. Dealer West. E/W Vul. [ J 7 6 ] Q 8 { A Q 9 5 3 } K 5 2 [ A K Q 5 [ 9 3 ] A 4 ] J 10 7 6 5 3 { 10 { J 4 2 } Q J 10 9 6 4 } 7 3 [ 10 8 4 2 ] K 9 2 { K 8 7 6 } A 8

Open Room West North East South Kazmucha Clementsson Tuszynski Ekenberg

1} 1{ Pass 3} Dble Pass Pass 3{ All Pass

Over the Polish Club, South could show a good diamond raise but nobody was tempted. Just made, Sweden an easy enough +110 when West led the }Q rather than four rounds of spades.

Closed Room West North East South M Gronkvist Zmuda I Gronkvist Zatorski

1} 1{ Pass 3} 3[ Pass 4} All Pass

In the other room, the same start to the auction had a different meaning but N/S were not in a good position to double and collect +500 rather than their

ROUND 4

Sweden vs PolandSpain vs Belgium

Simon Ekenberg

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1st European Mixed Teams Championship Lisbon, Portugal • 22 - 28 February 2019

6

actual +200. Still, Poland gained 3 IMPs in this low-scoring match.

In the Spain v. Belgium match, they produced the same swing via an entirely different route:

Open Room West North East South V Labaere Bordallo A Labaere Wichmann

1} 1{ Pass 1NT 2[ Pass 3} 3{ 4} All Pass

When Wichmann bid only 1NT over partner’s overcall, he thus gave E/W the chance to climb too high all by themselves. No double, no trouble here as well: Spain +200.

At the other table, North did not overcall:

Closed Room West North East South Gonçalves Dewasme Matut Dehaye

1} Pass Pass Dble 1[ 2} Pass 2{ 3} 3{ All Pass

This way, West could show his black two-suiter at a very low level, which enabled the Spaniards to sell out to 3{, losing 110 when Dehaye ruffed the 4th round of spades high to continue {A and a diamond to the eight. Spain thus won 3 IMPs.

Three boards from the end of the set, both N/S pairs in the Spain v. Belgium match overbid a little:

Board 22. Dealer East. E/W Vul. [ K 9 8 3 ] A 9 6 5 { Q 8 7 } Q 9 [ 7 [ Q 10 5 ] J 4 ] 10 7 2 { K 9 6 4 3 2 { A J } J 10 7 3 } A K 8 4 2 [ A J 6 4 2 ] K Q 8 3 { 10 5 } 6 5

Open Room West North East South V Labaere Bordallo A Labaere Wichmann

— — 1NT 2} 2{ 3] Pass Pass 3NT 4] All Pass

Over 1NT, South showed his majors so North became declarer in the heart game. The defence was easy enough: East cashed his top clubs and continued {A and another…Belgium +50.

In the Closed Room, West was on lead after a more natural auction:

Closed Room West North East South Gonçalves Dewasme Matut Dehaye

— — 1} 1[ 2} 3} Dble 3] Pass 4] All Pass

When West led his singleton, he not only solved declarer’s problem in the suit but also gave away the contract. Please note that the 4-4 fit here is clearly superior as a club loser can go on the 5th spade, thus enabling declarer to make his heart game. In a spade game, there is no way to get rid of the minor suit losers. Belgium thus added another +420 and wrote 10 IMPs to their credit.

The Sweden v. Poland match was finally decided on the last board of the day.

[[

Cristina Bordallo

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1st European Mixed Teams Championship

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Lisbon, Portugal • 22 - 28 February 2019

Board 24. Dealer West. None Vul. [ 6 4 ] J 9 8 7 { A J 10 8 7 4 } 2 [ A Q J 8 7 3 [ 9 2 ] 10 5 2 ] K Q 6 3 { Q 6 2 { K 5 } Q } K J 8 5 4 [ K 10 5 ] A 4 { 9 3 } A 10 9 7 6 3

Open Room West North East South Kazmucha Clementsson Tuszynski Ekenberg

1[ 3{ Dble Pass 3[ Pass 3NT All Pass

Four Spades by E/W would normally go down but 3NT seems impossible to defeat because the defenders have no communication whatsoever once declarer ducks the first round of diamonds: North has the good suit but South has the entries.

South led a club to dummy’s blank queen but it did not really matter: heart to the king and ace, {9 to declarer’s king and a first successful spade finesse. Heart to hand and another spade…nine tricks, Poland +400.

Closed Room West North East South M Gronkvist Zmuda I Gronkvist Zatorski

2[ Pass 2NT Pass 3} Pass 3[ All Pass

With 2[ showing 10-13 hcp and a six-card suit, West had to show his minimum over the 2NT enquiry so the Swedes came nowhere near bidding game. As it happened, even 3[ was already too high on the actual unlucky layout for declarer.

North led her singleton club to partner’s ace and the }10 came back, declarer throwing a diamond. North ruffed, much to declarer’s astonishment, cashed the {A and returned a heart to dummy’s king and partner’s ace. When declarer ruffed the next club with the [Q, he later had to lose a trump trick as well for one down, -50 and 10 IMPs to Poland to win the match 14-11 or 11.05 – 8.95 VP.

Spain v. Belgium:Open Room West North East South V Labaere Bordallo C A Labaere Wichmann

1[ Pass 2} Pass 2[ Pass 2NT Pass 3] Pass 4[ All Pass

The Belgians even managed to reach game in spades on a basically natural auction. The play went the same as in the Closed Room above, so Valerie went two down. Spain +100.

Closed Room West North East South Gonçalves Dewasme Matut Dehaye

2{ Pass 2[ All Pass

When Pedro Gonçalves opened a Multi, the pair ended up in a good partscore. With East the declarer, they also avoided the club lead so it did not really matter that South scored a diamond overruff with his semi-natural trump trick. Belgium +140 and 6 IMPs to them to win the match 17-15 or 10.71 – 9.29 VP.

}} 2222

Sanna Clementsson

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1st European Mixed Teams Championship Lisbon, Portugal • 22 - 28 February 2019

8

Written by David Bird

Latvia headed the leaderboard after the first day’s play, and I was keen to see their team in action. There

was plenty of interest in the boards. So, without any further waffle from me, let’s enter the playing arena:

Board 1. Dealer North. Neither Vul. [ A K Q ] 3 2 { J 10 8 7 6 4 } A J [ J 5 [ 4 3 2] Q 9 8 7 6 4 ] J 10 5 { 5 { Q 9 3} K 10 6 3 } Q 9 7 2 [ 10 9 8 7 6 ] A K { A K 2 } 8 5 4

Open Room West North East South Nanev Romanovska Nikolova Lorencs

— 1{ Pass 1[ Pass 3{ Pass 4{ Pass 4[ Pass 6{ All Pass

This Latvian pair uses the Polish Club, where the heavily-loaded 1} opening includes hands of 18+ points. North’s 3{ rebid showed six diamonds, three spades and fewer than 18 points. Lorencs then bid boldly to 6{. Well done, indeed!

The ]J lead was won in dummy. Two rounds of trumps revealed a loser there, but declarer turned to the spade suit and was able to ditch her club loser. As you see, the contract would be made on a club lead, too. East has to follow to the [AKQ and the club goes away on the next spade.

Closed Room West North East South Rubins Karakolev Alfejeva Mitovska

— 1NT Pass 2] Pass 2NT Pass 3] Pass 3[ Pass 4[ All Pass

Karakolev chose a less descriptive path. His 1NT is described as: ‘14-16 points (could be 5-card major or 6-card minor)’. He broke the 2] transfer, but Mitovska had no reason to do any more than re-transfer and allow partner to play at the game level. Twelve tricks were made and Latvia picked up 10 IMPs.

We will hop over some boards that have been deservedly brushed under the carpet of my computer room. This was the next big swing:

Board 5 Dealer North N/S Vul. [ K 7 5 ] 10 9 8 6 { A 6 4 } J 8 5 [ Q J 8 6 4 3 [ A 9 2] 3 ] 5 4 { K 8 5 3 2 { Q 10 9 7} 4 } A 10 6 3 [ 10 ] A K Q J 7 2 { J } K Q 9 7 2

Open Room West North East South Nanev Romanovska Nikolova Lorencs

— Pass Pass 1] 3[ 4] 4[ 5] All Pass

You can imagine that club players might be nervous of bidding 4] on the North cards. There would have been no defence against 4[, but of course South was happy to bid 5].

Nanev led his singleton club. Nikolova winning with the ace and delivering a club ruff. The [A was ten the setting trick. In a large field you would expect the same result at many tables.

How about the Closed Room of this particular match? Let’s see...

ROUND 5

Latvia vs Bulgaria

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1st European Mixed Teams Championship

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Lisbon, Portugal • 22 - 28 February 2019

Closed Room West North East South Rubins Karakolev Alfejeva Mitovska

— Pass Pass 1} 3[ Dble 4[ 4NT Pass 5{ Pass 5] All Pass

Mitovska opened with a Precision Club and the opponents were in 4[ before her side had bid any suits naturally. If 4NT meant ‘two places to play’, 5{ would be a clever response by North. It would be as good a place to play as 5} when South held the minor suits. Meanwhile, it would get the contract to hearts when South held hearts and clubs. My fellow voice commentator, Marc Smith, and I had just finished praising 5{ on this account when we noticed that it was marked on the screen as conventional. So, 4NT may have been ace-asking.

If West had led a club for one down, I would probably not have rated the deal as worthy of inclusion in this report. No, he led the [Q. The only threat to the contract was a club ruff, and if anyone held a singleton club it was likely to be West. Declarer should perhaps have covered with dummy’s [K to prevent West being on lead at trick 2. She called for the [7, followed onto the table by the 9 and 10. West then had a second chance to lead his singleton club. He preferred to continue with the [J and the contract was made. It was 13 IMPs for Bulgaria.

Board 6 presented a bidding problem for North:

Board 6 Dealer East E/W Vul. [ A K Q 8 3 ] 3 { 2 } J 10 7 5 4 2 [ 5 [ J 9 7 6 2] Q 9 8 7 6 5 4 ] — { K J 10 6 { Q 9 7 5 4} 3 } A K 8 [ 10 4 ] A K J 10 2 { A 8 3 } Q 9 6

Open Room West North East South Nanev Romanovska Nikolova Lorencs

— — 1[ 2] Pass 2NT Pass 3NT All Pass

What action would you have taken opposite your partner’s 2] overcall? 2NT did not look right to the learned occupiers of the commentators’ box. South raised to 3NT and a diamond lead put the game two down.

Closed Room West North East South Rubins Karakolev Alfejeva Mitovska

— — 1[ 2] Pass 3} Pass 3[ Pass 4{ Pass 5} All Pass

Karakolev’s 3} response looks very much better to me. The club game was reached and Alfejeva found the only lead to give the defenders a chance - a diamond. When declarer won with dummy’s ace and played a trump to the jack and ace, two more rounds of trumps from East would have beaten the contract. East persisted with a second diamond, ruffed by declarer.

As the cards lay, declarer now needed now to play the [AK, ruff a spade and lead the }Q from dummy. East would then have had nothing good to do when she won with the }K. Declarer instead led a second round of trumps. East could then have beaten the contract by rising with the king and playing a third trump (or a diamond). No, she played low and dummy’s }Q won. Three rounds of spades and a heart towards dummy then landed the contract. After a see-saw ride, it was 11 IMPs to Bulgaria.Georgi Karakolev

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1st European Mixed Teams Championship Lisbon, Portugal • 22 - 28 February 2019

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Latvia struck back on the next board:

Board 7. Dealer South. Both Vul. [ Q 8 5 4 ] 5 { J 10 7 6 5 } 8 3 2 [ A 7 [ J 10 6 2] A 10 9 7 4 ] Q J 8 6{ Q 8 4 3 2 { —} J } A K Q 6 4 [ K 9 3 ] K 3 2 { A K 9 } 10 9 7 5

Open Room West North East South Nanev Romanovska Nikolova Lorencs

— — — 1} 1] Pass 2NT Pass 4] All Pass

East’s 2NT, showing a 4-card sound raise, did not get the job done. The slam was missed and 680 entered on the card.

Closed Room West North East South Rubins Karakolev Alfejeva Mitovska

— — — 1{ 1] Pass 4{ Pass 4[ Pass 4NT Pass 5] Pass 6] All Pass

Alfejeva preferred a splinter bid (slightly aided perhaps by South’s different opening bid). West judged well to cooperate with a 4[ control-bid and RKCB completed the job. It was +1430 and 13 well-deserved IMPs to Latvia, who now trailed by 25-29.

The match ended with another slam-bidding battle.

This time it was the Bulgarians who emerged as victors:

Board 12 Dealer West N/S Vul. [ A 9 ] A Q 10 3 { A K J 10 6 } A 3 [ Q 10 3 2 [ J 7 6 4] 9 5 2 ] K J 6 4{ 5 3 2 { 9 8 4} J 6 4 } 8 5 [ K 8 5 ] 8 7 { Q 7 } K Q 10 9 7 2

Open Room West North East South Nanev Romanovska Nikolova Lorencs

Pass 1} Pass 3} Pass 6} All Pass

North’s Polish 1} might have been a weak 1NT, a 15+ hand with 6 clubs, or any 18+ hand. A 2} response by South would have been natural and game-forcing. The 3} response is not explained on their card and is ‘as you see it’, perhaps a game-try opposite the weak 1NT type. North was not feeling in a scientific mood and took a reasonable stab at the best final contract.

The Bulgarians would now have a chance to end the match strongly at the other table:

Closed Room West North East South Rubins Karakolev Alfejeva Mitovska

Pass 1} Pass 2} Pass 2{ Pass 3} Pass 4} Pass 4[ Dble 4NT Pass 5} Pass 5{ Pass 5NT Pass 7} All Pass

Bravo! North opened with a Precision 1} and South’s two-level positive response left them more room than at the other table. Clubs were agreed and over his partner’s 4[ control-bid North bid RKCB, finding one key-card. The 5{ continuation asked for the }Q and 5NT may have said ‘yes, and extras’, with Mitovska hoping that the {Q would prove to be a good card.

It was a fitting climax to a well-played match, enjoyed by just over 1000 kibitzers at our table. Bulgaria won by 50 IMPs to 32.

Karlis Rubins, Jelena Alfejeva and Maija Romanovskarelaxing at the opening ceremony

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1st European Mixed Teams Championship Lisbon, Portugal • 22 - 28 February 2019

GO TGO TGO TGO TGO GO GO TGO TGO GO TGO TGO TGO TTGO TGO TGO TGO TO TTGOGO TGO TGO TOGOGOGGOGO TGOG O PAO PAO PAO PAO PAO PAO PAO PAO PAO PAO PAO PAO PAO PAPAO PAO PAPAPAO PO PAAPO PAO POO PAPAAPAAOOO POO GEGEGE:GE:GGE:GE:GE:GE:GE:E:EGE:E:GEE:GE:GE:GGGE:GE:E:E:GEE:EGGGGEGGG 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 11 11 111 1 11 1 1 111111111 1111 1111111 222 22 22222 22 22 2 2 22 222 222 2 2222 2 2 2222222222222222 3 33 3 3 3 333 33 33 3 3333 3 3 3333 3 333 3333 44444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444 44444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444 4444444444444444444444444444 4444444444444444 444444444444444444 4 4 4444444 4 4444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444 4 444444 555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555 6666666 66 66 66 666 6 6666 6 66666666 6666666666666 66666666666666 77 777 77 7 777777 7 7777 77 777777777 8888888888 888 8 8 8888888 8 88888 88888888888888888888888 888 888888888888888 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99 99999999999999999999999999999 9 999999999999999 99999 9999 99999999999 9 9999999 1010110101010101001010110011100001010110101111101111111011111111111101101111111111011111111111111111111111111111100111110000 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 11112112121112122222222111111111111111111111121111111121111111111111111221111111111111111111211211111121221111111112112111221111111111111111111111 11111111111111111111111111113 333333333333 333333333 333 333 3 33 33 1111111111141414441444414141414144414141411114414444141444141144444411444414111111114141411111141111111144111111111111111111141111111411111111111111111111111111111114111111111111111111 111111111111111115 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 555555 555 5555555555555 1616111611616161161111111666666666666666161611161616116666666111666161666666161616161666666666116666666616666666666666666666666666166666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111177777777777777 7 7 777777777777777 7 7 7777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777 777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777 7777777777777 7 181818181818181818188188181818181881818118181818181811818811181881888188888 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111199999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999

Written by Ron Tacchi

After five rounds our two antagonists are languishing adjacent in the bottom quartile with Russia

one and a half VPs ahead of Switzerland. I must confess to bias here as Russia are in my pick for qualification. I can only hope commentator’s curse does not come into play. Both teams need to start on an upward trend if they are to have any chance of qualification for China.

Our first board certainly has scope for a swing.

Board 13. Dealer North. All Vul. [ A Q 10 7 5 3 2 ] 6 { 7 6 5 3 2 } — [ J 6 [ K 9 ] K 10 9 7 4 ] A Q J 8 5 3 { Q 4 { — } K Q 9 7 } A 10 8 6 5 [ 8 4 ] 2 { A K J 10 9 8 } J 4 3 2

Open Room West North East South Catzeflis Gromov Grey Gulevich

— 4[ 4NT 5[ 6} 6[ 7} Dble All Pass

North applied maximum pressure with his four-level pre-empt, which as you can see was continued throughout the auction. East’s 7} requires a lot for it to be the correct bid, either it must make or 6[ must make, neither seems likely to this casual observer but then I have the benefit of seeing all four hands. The former requires no major suit loser and the second needs the ace of spades to be in the South hand and your aces not to stand up.

The lead was a diamond ruffed in dummy and then inexplicably declarer failed to ruff a second diamond and so finished two light and -500.

Closed Room West North East South Dubinin Saesseli Ponomareva Zikovic

— 3[ 4}* 4[ 4NT Pass 5NT Pass 6] All Pass

4} Leaping Michaels – clubs and hearts

In this room North and South were less forceful. Additionally East had a Michaels bid available to get across her shape. After the lead of the ace of spades declarer was able to claim twelve tricks for a massive 18 IMP swing.

ROUND 6

Russia vs Switzerland

Alexander Dubinin

Irene Saesseli

Tatiana Ponomareva Gojko Zivkovic

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1st European Mixed Teams Championship Lisbon, Portugal • 22 - 28 February 2019

12

Board 15. Dealer South. N/S Vul. [ Q 10 2 ] K 8 7 3 { J 6 5 2 } K 4 [ 3 [ K 9 6 5 4 ] 10 9 4 2 ] A 6 5 { K Q 9 { 8 7 3 } Q J 10 8 2 } 7 5 [ A J 8 7 ] Q J { A 10 4 } A 9 6 3

Open Room West North East South Catzeflis Gromov Grey Gulevich

— — — 1}* Pass 1NT* Pass 2}* Pass 2[* Pass 3NT All Pass

1} Precision1NT 8+Balanced2} Relay

The convention card is not forthcoming on the meaning of 2[ but game was reached. East led the five of spades won by the seven in dummy. The jack of hearts was taken by East who switched to a diamond and after a low card from dummy West won with the queen. The queen of clubs was taken by the ace in dummy and declarer unblocked the queen of hearts, cashed the ace of diamonds and exited with the ten to West’s king. West exited with a club to declarer’s king, who cashed his top hearts and led the queen of spades whereupon East surrendered an overtrick by not covering with her king. East could have got into the bulletin if she had found the double dummy lead of a club to break the contract.

Closed Room West North East South Dubinin Saesseli Ponomareva Zikovic

— — — 1NT Pass 2} Pass 2[ Pass 2NT

The consensus in the bulletin room was that North’s bid of 2NT was conservative. Declarer played safely to garner eight tricks but lost 11 IMPs.

Board 17. Dealer North. None Vul. [ A Q 8 4 ] 9 7 6 { 9 2 } A 8 6 3 [ J 5 3 2 [ 9 ] K J 8 4 ] Q 5 3 2 { A 6 4 { 8 5 3 } J 4 } K Q 7 5 2 [ K 10 7 6 ] A 10 { K Q J 10 7 } 10 9

Open Room West North East South Catzeflis Gromov Grey Gulevich

— Pass Pass 1{ Pass 1[ Pass 2[ All Pass

Both parties were hesitant in the auction, South showed a minimum by only bidding 2[, she could have bid 3[ to show a maximum, even though a point or two light for the bid her hand has only five losers and those diamonds must be worth more than their six points. North also has two aces and we all know these are worth more than just eight points. Well over half of the field bid and made the spade game.

Closed Room West North East South Dubinin Saesseli Ponomareva Zikovic

— Pass Pass 1{ Pass 1[ Pass 2[ Pass 3] Pass 4[ All Pass

After the natural 1{ opening and minimum raise of the 1[ response South needed no further encouragement to bid game after the trial bid from North. In spite of the 4-1 trump split the power of the diamond suit gave declarer no problem in bringing him his contract and six IMPs.

}} KKKK 44 }}}} AA 88 66 33

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1st European Mixed Teams Championship Lisbon, Portugal • 22 - 28 February 2019

GGGGGGGGGGGGO TGO TGO TGOGOGO TO TGO TGO TGO TGO TGO TGO TTGO TTTTTO TGO TTO TGGGGGGGO TGO TGO TTTGO TGGGGOGOGO TGO TGO TTGO TTTGO TO TGGGGGOGO TO TTGO TGGGGGO TOGO TTGO TGGGGO TTTGGGGGO TTTGO TTGG TTTGO TTGGGGO TTTGGGG TGG TTTTTGGGGG TTTTGGO TTGG TGGGGGGGGG TTTTGGG TO PAO PAO PO POO PAO AOOOOO PAAPAPAPAPAO PAO PAPAAAO PAOOOOOOOO PAPPAAOOOOOOOOOOOOO PAO PAOOOO PAO PAOOOOOOO PAO PAO PAO PAOO PAOOOOOOO PAPAAO PAO PO POOOO PAO PAPPAAO PAO PAO PAO PO PAO PAO PO PAO PAOOO PAPAPAAAAO PAO PAOOO PAPAPAPAPAPAO PAO PAO PAOOOOO PAO PAO PAOO PAPAPAAO O PAPAPAAAAO PAP GEGEGEGGGEGE:EGE:GEGGGEEGEGGE:GGEGGEGEGGEGGGE:GE:GE::GGGGGGEGGEGE:EGEEEGE:::::GGGGGGEGGEEGE:GE:GE:GE:E:::GGEGEGEGGGGEGEGEEEEEE::GGGEGEEEE:GE::GGEGEEEE:E::GGGGEEGEGEE:EGE:GEGEEEGEGE:GEGE::: 1313333133333313333331333313133333333333333331313333333313131333333331311133313111133111113311111133311111111331311313111111333313131111133311131111113333131111111133311111313111311111111111111111111 111 1 1 11111 1 111111111111111111111111 1 1111 11111 22222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222 22 22222222222222222 22222222222 22222222222 33333333 33333 33 333 33 333333 33333333333 444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444 4 44444444444444444444444444444444444 44444444 444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444 444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444 555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555 666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666 6 666666666666 6 6666666666666666666666666666666666666 7777777777 77777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777 7777777777777777777777777777777777 7 77777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777 777 77 8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 88888888888888 88888888888888888888888888 8888888888888888888888 8 8 888 9 9999 99 9 9 9 99 999999 9 111111111111000000000000000000011000000000001111000000000111100000111000000011000000011000000100111001110011100010000001000111001111001100001000000001000101000010000 11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 12121212121222222222221221222222122212122122222212212111 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111333333 3 33333333 333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333 141414141141414141414141441414141141414141414 11111111111111111111111111111111555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555 555555555555555555 55555555 5 555555555555555555555555555 55555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555 11116161116161111616166161666666666611616616616661166616616666166616161616161616611111616161111616616166166111616611661611116161116661161661161661666661116666116166666661111161616611111166666611661111661666111116111116661116161666111111666661111116111666111111661661166611611116666666 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111777777777 7777777777777777 777777777777777777777 77777777777777 1818181181811111818111188881888888888888888881811818111181811181881888888888888181811818181818818888888888818181818181818818181818888888818181881818888888811881818888888881118181888881188881888888181811818188181888181818881818818888811818181888181818888181818181888818111888881181811881111818118888888881181818811118181881881188881811888188811881118118181111181111111181111111811111888888 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111119999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999

Board 22. Dealer East. E/W Vul. [ 7 ] A K 6 3 2 { J 5 4 3 2 } Q 10 [ A J 8 5 2 [ K Q 10 6 4 3 ] J 8 ] 10 9 { A Q { 7 6 } A J 5 3 } 8 4 2 [ 9 ] Q 7 5 4 { K 10 9 8 } K 9 7 6

Open Room West North East South Catzeflis Gromov Grey Gulevich

— — 2{* Pass 4}* Pass 4]* Pass 4[ All Pass

2{ Multi4} What’s your major?4] Spades

The defence started with two top hearts and switched to a diamond. Declarer cashed the other diamond and drew trumps finishing in dummy. The contract now hinges on not losing two club tricks and it seems to me that there are two possible plays. Firstly, play South for the king and queen of clubs, roughly 24% a priori or secondly play North

for doubleton honour, plus the legitimate chance of South holding the KQ, K10 or Q10 which I make to be slightly in excess of 21%, but of course there is also the chance that South might be asleep at the wheel and fail to unblock with a doubleton honour, especially if the first lead of the club suit is from dummy. How to estimate that I am not sure but both are practical chances. Here declarer simply led a small club from dummy and ducked, I am not sure for what he was hoping but it failed along with the contract.

Closed Room West North East South Dubinin Saesseli Ponomareva Zikovic

— — 2{* Pass 4}* Pass 4]* Pass 4[ All Pass

2{ Multi4} What’s your major?4] Spades

The defence started with two top hearts and continued with…. the queen of clubs. This did not exactly paralyse declarer who ducked the trick. When she continued with the ten, declarer was home and dry, holding his club losers to one. That was 12 IMPs to Russia who finished 55-22 or 17.86-2.14 VPs which moved them up to fourteenth spot, less than 17 VPs behind eighth place, thus giving them hope for the matches to come.

}} QQQQQQ 1100

Andrey Gromov

Hedy Grey

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1st European Mixed Teams Championship Lisbon, Portugal • 22 - 28 February 2019

14

Written by Jos Jacobs

In Round 7, our two featured matches were by no means involving top-of-the-table teams. Probably, we

will have more than enough opportunities to report about those teams as the championship progresses. Another aspect of most of our Bulletin reports, however, should be their amusement value: is it worth reading about what happened on any particular deal and if so, for what reason?

Take, for example, the opening board of Round 7 as it was played in the Turkey v. Czechia match.

Board 1. Dealer North. None Vul. [ K J 9 8 7 3 ] K 10 9 4 { 7 5 3 } — [ Q 6 4 2 [ 5 ] 8 ] A J 7 6 5 { K J 10 4 { A Q 8 } 8 7 6 5 } K J 9 4 [ A 10 ] Q 3 2 { 9 6 2 } A Q 10 3 2

Open Room West North East South Macura Kutuk Hnatova Kolata

— Pass 1] Pass 1[ Pass 2} Pass 2NT Pass 3} All pass

East’s 2} showed 15+ and that’s why West did not pass quickly over it. Due to the unlucky trump break, declarer just failed to get to 9 tricks. Turkey +50.

Closed Room West North East South Kokten Kohutova T Aluf Schanka

— Pass 1] 2} All pass

South had what looks like a not too unreasonable overcall opposite a passed partner. It might have gone for a number but in that case, the opponents might well make game of their own. As it happened, nobody had anything to add so the Czechs played in clubs at both tables. Never a good idea…down four for another +200 and 6 IMPs to Turkey to open their account.

The next board looked like a simple push and so it proved in one of our two matches. In the Israel v. Switzerland match, however, something interesting happened.

Board 2. Dealer East. N/S Vul. [ Q 6 4 ] 6 5 3 2 { K 4 2 } A 10 6 [ K 7 2 [ J 10 9 5 ] J 8 ] 7 { Q 10 7 { A J 9 8 6 3 } J 8 4 3 2 } K 5 [ A 8 3 ] A K Q 10 9 4 { 5 } Q 9 7

Open Room West North East South Catzeflis Engel Grey Molho

— — Pass 1] Pass 3} 3{ 3] Pass 3NT Pass 4] All pass

West led his partner’s suit and declarer easily enough came to ten tricks when the [K was well placed for her. Israel +620.

Closed Room West North East South Loonstein Saesseli Lidor Zivkovic

— — Pass 1] Pass 2] Dbl 4] All pass

ROUND 7

Turkey vs Czech RepublicIsrael vs Switzerland

}}

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1st European Mixed Teams Championship Lisbon, Portugal • 22 - 28 February 2019

GO TGO TGO TGO TGO TGO TGO TGO TGO TGO TOOGO TGO TGO TGO TGO TTTTTTTTTTGO TGO TGOGOGOGO TTTTTGO TGOO TGO TTTTTO TTTO TTGOO TGO TTGO TTGOOOOGO TO TGO TGO TO TTGOOO TGGG OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO PPPPPPPPPAPAPAAPAPAPAAOOO PPPPPOOO OO PPPPPPAOOO PPPPO PPOOO PO PPPPPPPAOOO PPPPPPPO PPPPPAAOO PPPPPPPOO PPOO PPPPAOO PPPPPPAAO PPPPPPPPOOO PPPPPPAOO PPPPAOO PPAOO PPPPPPAPAPO PPPAOO PPAPA PPPPAAAOO GGEGEGGGGEGGGEEEE:E:E:E:GGGGEEEE:GEGGGGGEGEGGEEEEGGEGEEEEE:GEGEEEGGGGGEEEGGEEE:GEEGEEE::GEEEEE:EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE 151515151515115151511551151511515111151 1111 11 1 111 11 1 11111 2222 2 22 222222 2222222 3 3 33 3 3 33 3333 4 4 4 444 4 444444444 555555555555555 6 6 6 6 66 6 666666666666666 77 7777 7 7 777777777777 8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 8 8888888 8888888888888888888888888888888888888 9999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 10101011010111011010101010101010000001110100100110000101000100010100000000000010000001011000001000010100 11111111111111111111111111111111111111111 121212121212221222121212121112211 11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111133 3333 33 33333 333 33333 33333 333333333333333333333 141414141414141414141414141414141414141411414114114441414114114414114111 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111115 55555555555555555555555555555555555 555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555 11161616161616161616161616616666111116161616666666116166661616616661616661666666666166666611666666666166666666666166616111661666661116661661616111166116111111111166111111161616116111611116161616116111161161161611166116161616666666666166661161161616666666666661111111161616666666661111161166611161616666166666666 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777777777 7 7777777 7777777 7777777777777777 7777777777 7777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777 18181811181118181818181818181818188181818181881818181881818181818118818881818888181818181111811111811181111118118118181111118811111118181111811811111181111111881111111881111118118888811111111111111181888888888888 11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111199999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999

The same contract was reached in the other room after North’s constructive raise but here, West led a low spade. Declarer did not expect a lead away from the king so she ducked East’s [9 and ducked again when East continued the suit. As there was no way back from here, one down thus was the outcome. Israel another +100 and 12 IMPs to them.

Board 3. Dealer South. E/W Vul. [ A K 10 9 ] A { K Q 6 } A 8 6 5 4 [ J 8 7 4 2 [ Q 6 ] K Q J 8 5 ] 7 6 2 { 7 { A J 10 9 8 2 } 7 2 } J 3 [ 5 3 ] 10 9 4 3 { 5 4 3 } K Q 10 9

Open Room West North East South Macura Kutuk Hnatova Kolata

— — — Pass Pass 1} Pass 1] Pass 2[ Pass 3} Pass 3{ Dbl Pass Pass 3NT All pass

After an easy, natural auction the Turkish N/S pair ended up in the second best contract for ten tricks and +430.

In the replay, the system proved a disadvantage.

Closed Room West North East South Kokten Kohutova T Aluf Schanka

— — — Pass Pass 1} 1{ Dbl Pass 1[ Pass 2} Pass 3NT Pass Pass Dbl Pass Pass 4} All pass

North’s 1} was announced as balanced and 1[ was forcing one round. For once, the Czechs, too, were in 3NT but when West found a double (one wonders whether this would have required a heart lead), South had every reason to run, or so he thought. Czechia +150 but 7 IMPs to Turkey.

In the other match, reaching game also was not so easy.

Open Room West North East South Catzeflis Engel Grey Molho

— — — Pass 2] Dbl 3] Pass Pass Dbl Pass 4} Pass 5} All pass

When West launched an pre-empt in both majors and East raised it, it was easier for N/S to get to their proper contract. Well done, Israel +400.

Closed Room West North East South Loonstein Saesseli Lidor Zivkovic

— — — Pass 2] Dbl Pass 2NT Pass 3} All pass

The Lebensohl response over East’s pass opposite the same pre-empt made the situation far less clear for N/S. As 2NT did not necessarily show clubs, N/S were in the dark. Eleven tricks but only +150 to Switzerland, 6 IMPs to Israel.

Christian Catzeflis

Rejan Molho

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1st European Mixed Teams Championship Lisbon, Portugal • 22 - 28 February 2019

16

A typical mixed teams misunderstanding came by on the next board.

Board 4. Dealer West. All Vul. [ 6 5 ] A 6 { K J 8 } A K 10 8 7 2 [ K J 10 7 4 2 [ A Q 9 ] 9 4 ] K J 10 2 { A 5 3 { 10 9 6 4 2 } J 6 } 5 [ 8 3 ] Q 8 7 5 3 { Q 7 } Q 9 4 3

Open Room West North East South Catzeflis Engel Grey Molho

2{ Pass 2NT Pass 3] Pass 4[ All pass

Too many losers opposite the Multi. Two down, Israel +200 in what should have been a hand without history.

In the other room, North intervened over West’s Multi.

Closed Room West North East South Loonstein Saesseli Lidor Zivkovic

2{ 3} 4} Pass 4] All pass

Without the overcall, 4} would have asked opener to transfer to her suit. This time, it was intended as a strong bid but this message got lost in the process. We don’t know who was to blame (if at all) but the contract went down five for +500 and a useful 7 IMPs back to Switzerland.

After some flat boards, board 8 should have been flat as well:

Board 8. Dealer West. None Vul. [ 5 2 ] A J 10 7 2 { Q 7 } A K 7 2 [ A K 6 4 [ J 3 ] 8 6 ] Q 5 { A 10 9 2 { K J 8 6 5 4 } Q J 3 } 6 5 4 [ Q 10 9 8 7 ] K 9 4 3 { 3 } 10 9 8

Open Room West North East South Macura Kutuk Hnatova Kolata

1} 1] Pass 4] All pass

Simple and straightforward. One overtrick, Turkey +450.

Closed Room West North East South Kokten Kohutova T Aluf Schanka

1NT Pass 3NT All pass

When North did not overcall, East was quick to find the sacrifice. Well, 3NT might even make on a good day but when North led the ]A, it soon became clear that this was no such day. Down three, Czechia +150 but 8 IMPs to Turkey.

On the next board, all our four tables were in diamonds. At three tables, declarer had been in 3{ and had made his contract. At the fourth table the Turks were in 4{ but here, Macura showed us how to defeat 3{.

7777

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1st European Mixed Teams Championship

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Lisbon, Portugal • 22 - 28 February 2019

Board 9. Dealer North. E/W Vul. [ Q J 6 5 3 ] A Q 7 { K J 9 8 } 10 [ K 9 8 2 [ 10 4 ] 10 2 ] K 9 4 { 10 7 2 { A 3 } A 7 6 5 } K Q 9 8 3 2 [ A 7 ] J 8 6 5 3 { Q 6 5 4 } J 4

Open Room West North East South Macura Kutuk Hnatova Kolata

— 1[ 2} Dbl 3} 3{ 4} 4{ All pass

East led the }K but Macura overtook with the ace and led a heart through, thus ensuring a ruff for himself later on. It was worth only 5 IMPs for his team but it definitely was a fine defence.

On the penultimate board, South was faced with a difficult decision. The correct solution was not always found.

Board 11. Dealer South. None Vul. [ 5 ] Q J 10 4 3 { J 10 9 8 } A K 7 [ A K Q 6 3 2 [ 10 8 7 4 ] 7 ] K 9 5 { A 6 5 3 { — } J 8 } Q 10 6 5 3 2 [ J 9 ] A 8 6 2 { K Q 7 4 2 } 9 4

Open Room West North East South Catzeflis Engel Grey Molho

— — — Pass 1[ 2] 4[ All pass

Just made, Switzerland +420.

This looked like a good result for the Swiss but it was not quite:

Closed Room West North East South Loonstein Saesseli Lidor Zivkovic

— — — Pass 1[ Dbl 4[ Dbl All pass

We don’t know whether South’s double was intended for take-out or not but to me, it looks that 4NT would have been more appropriate. Israel +590 and another 5 IMPs to them.

The Turkish N/S found a useful enough alternative.

Open Room West North East South Macura Kutuk Hnatova Kolata

— — — Pass 1[ Dbl 4[ 5{ 5[ All pass What can you do over 5{? The only possible thing

is to reduce your loss by bidding on. One down, +50 to Turkey, about the par score on the board, I think.

Par was not often reached: nearly half the tables were in 4[ or even in 4[ doubled.

Among those tables was the other table in this match:

Closed Room West North East South Kokten Kohutova T Aluf Schanka

— — — Pass 1[ Pass 3} Pass 4[ All pass

When North did not act over 1[ and East produced a Bergen raise, E/W were left to score +420 in peace, good for another 10 IMPs to them.

The final scores in our two matches:Turkey v. Czech Republic 43-7 or 18.28 – 1.72

VPIsrael v. Switzerland 24-18 or 12.01 – 7.99 VP.

Page 18: Sunday, 24 February 2019 THEN THERE WERE NONEchampionships.eurobridge.org/EMTC2019/Bulletins/Bul_03.pdfR10 Serbia vs. England — Romania vs. Sweden R11 Latvia vs. Spain — Ireland

Results — Day 21 HUNGARY PORTUGAL 41 37 11.38 8.622 LATVIA BULGARIA 32 41 7.10 12.903 NORWAY SPAIN 30 26 11.38 8.624 ISRAEL GREECE 29 18 13.45 6.555 AUSTRIA CZECH REP. 19 53 2.00 18.006 GERMANY NETHERLANDS 18 20 9.29 10.717 ESTONIA ITALY 38 47 7.10 12.908 SCOTLAND SERBIA 45 7 18.54 1.469 POLAND BELGIUM 26 22 11.38 8.6210 ICELAND ENGLAND 24 32 7.39 12.6111 CROATIA SWITZERLAND 35 6 17.24 2.7612 IRELAND DENMARK 32 41 7.10 12.9013 ROMANIA RUSSIA 39 32 12.31 7.6914 FRANCE TURKEY 43 38 11.70 8.3015 SWEDEN FINLAND 60 12 19.64 0.36

1 TURKEY CZECH REP. 43 7 18.28 1.722 ISRAEL SWITZERLAND 24 18 12.01 7.993 ESTONIA CROATIA 29 25 11.38 8.624 GERMANY BULGARIA 9 28 4.63 15.375 ROMANIA HUNGARY 18 18 10.00 10.006 FRANCE GREECE 19 44 3.45 16.557 FINLAND SPAIN 29 10 15.37 4.638 DENMARK SWEDEN 20 48 2.92 17.089 AUSTRIA POLAND 23 6 14.93 5.0710 RUSSIA IRELAND 51 15 18.28 1.7211 LATVIA NORWAY 24 15 12.90 7.1012 SERBIA ICELAND 32 10 15.99 4.0113 ENGLAND PORTUGAL 22 14 12.61 7.3914 BELGIUM NETHERLANDS 20 5 14.46 5.5415 ITALY SCOTLAND 24 18 12.01 7.99

1 RUSSIA SWITZERLAND 55 22 17.86 2.142 DENMARK ESTONIA 23 10 13.97 6.033 TURKEY ENGLAND 10 52 0.98 19.024 SWEDEN BELGIUM 32 6 16.73 3.275 SCOTLAND FINLAND 33 27 12.01 7.996 ITALY FRANCE 28 18 13.18 6.827 NETHERLANDS ROMANIA 18 27 7.10 12.908 BULGARIA PORTUGAL 23 38 5.54 14.469 ISRAEL CROATIA 32 33 9.64 10.3610 NORWAY ICELAND 45 4 18.90 1.1011 IRELAND POLAND 9 53 0.76 19.2412 SERBIA CZECH REP. 16 37 4.21 15.7913 AUSTRIA LATVIA 22 47 3.45 16.5514 SPAIN GERMANY 35 24 13.45 6.5515 HUNGARY GREECE 37 25 13.71 6.29

1 ENGLAND ITALY 33 25 12.61 7.392 SCOTLAND BELGIUM 29 46 5.07 14.933 GERMANY ICELAND 55 21 18.00 2.004 HUNGARY CROATIA 27 47 4.42 15.585 BULGARIA GREECE 34 18 14.70 5.306 ROMANIA SPAIN 46 17 17.24 2.767 FRANCE DENMARK 6 43 1.59 18.418 CZECH REP. FINLAND 9 49 1.22 18.789 SWEDEN IRELAND 35 29 12.01 7.9910 TURKEY NORWAY 42 27 14.46 5.5411 RUSSIA ISRAEL 18 15 11.05 8.9512 PORTUGAL LATVIA 21 23 9.29 10.7113 SWITZERLAND NETHERLANDS 2 25 3.82 16.1814 AUSTRIA SERBIA 19 24 8.30 11.7015 ESTONIA POLAND 14 1 13.97 6.03

1 CROATIA GREECE 44 8 18.28 1.722 NORWAY SWEDEN 19 27 7.39 12.613 SWITZERLAND ITALY 7 23 5.30 14.704 LATVIA NETHERLANDS 23 14 12.90 7.105 PORTUGAL RUSSIA 8 24 5.30 14.706 ISRAEL TURKEY 17 37 4.42 15.587 ENGLAND SCOTLAND 16 27 6.55 13.458 FINLAND IRELAND 20 20 10.00 10.009 CZECH REP. FRANCE 28 27 10.36 9.6410 DENMARK ROMANIA 3 12 7.10 12.9011 SPAIN BULGARIA 26 30 8.62 11.3812 AUSTRIA BELGIUM 38 14 16.37 3.6313 HUNGARY ICELAND 10 26 5.30 14.7014 GERMANY POLAND 27 33 7.49 11.5115 SERBIA ESTONIA 13 63 0.17 19.83

ROUND 5

ROUND 7

ROUND 6

ROUND 8

ROUND 9

RANK AFTER ROUND 91 SWEDEN 127.57

2 ENGLAND 117.94

3 ROMANIA 116.08

4 LATVIA 114.98

5 ITALY 111.13

6 DENMARK 108.74

7 CROATIA 108.46

8 NORWAY 104.39

9 TURKEY 103.13

10 RUSSIA 102.74

11 POLAND 102.45

12 BULGARIA 100.58

13 ESTONIA 99.06

14 GERMANY 96.52

15 AUSTRIA 95.46

16 SCOTLAND 86.97

17 NETHERLANDS 84.65

18 FRANCE 81.71

19 BELGIUM 80.74

20 FINLAND 80.27

21 CZECH REP. 77.39

22 HUNGARY 76.74

23 IRELAND 74.18

24 SPAIN 71.14

25 PORTUGAL 69.81

26 ICELAND 69.51

27 ISRAEL 62.16

28 GREECE 60.82

29 SWITZERLAND 58.53

30 SERBIA 55.15

Page 19: Sunday, 24 February 2019 THEN THERE WERE NONEchampionships.eurobridge.org/EMTC2019/Bulletins/Bul_03.pdfR10 Serbia vs. England — Romania vs. Sweden R11 Latvia vs. Spain — Ireland

9th European Open Championships15 – 29 June 2019 – Save the dates for Turkish Delight!

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• In an ancient city that has become one of the most advanced in this part of the world, you can join the many visitors to take in the wonderful sights of Istanbul that

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• visit the microsite for the Championships on the following: http://db.eurobridge.org/repository/competitions/19Istanbul/microSite/Participants.htm

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EUROPEAN BRIDGE LEAGUE

http://db.eurobridge.org/repository/competitions/19Istanbul/microSite/Information.htm#Fees