Day 7 - Great Bridge Links

2005 WORLD BRIDGE CHAMPIONSHIPS Estoril, PortugalMinus 500.Egypt pulled even on Board 12 when the two East/Westpairs took vastly different views of their cards.Board 12. Dealer West. N/S Vul.♠ 6 5♥ K J 8 5♦ A J 10 6 5♣ 10 4♠ Q 9 8 N ♠ A 10 3 2♥ Q 10 4 2 ♥ A 6W E♦ Q 3 ♦ 9 7♣ Q J 9 8 S ♣ A K 7 6 3♠ K J 7 4♥ 9 7 3♦ K 8 4 2♣ 5 2West North East SouthVersace El Ahmady Lauria SadekPass Pass 1♣ Pass1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass1NT Pass 2NT Pass3NT All PassEl Ahmady could have settled the issue by starting fourthbest from his longest and strongest suit, but his opening leadwas a low heart.Versace won with his ten and ran five clubtricks, but the defenders discarded accurately to hold declarerto eight tricks.That was Minus 50.West North East SouthDagher Fantoni El Kourdy NunesPass Pass 1♣ Pass1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass2♣ All PassThe contract made on the nose for Plus 90 and 4 IMPs toEgypt.Another swing went to Egypt when Dagher made anAdel El Kourdy, Egyptinspired play in the trump suit on this deal.Board 15. Dealer South. N/S Vul.♠ J 8 6 5♥ Q♦ A 9 5 3♣ 10 9 6 4♠ 10 9 7 4 N ♠ A K 2♥ K J 8 3 ♥ 10 9 6 5 2W E♦ J 4 ♦ K Q 10 6♣ J 8 5 S ♣ 2♠ Q 3♥ A 7 4♦ 8 7 2♣ A K Q 7 3West North East SouthVersace El Ahmady Lauria Sadek1NTPass Pass 2♥ Pass3♥ Pass 4♥ All PassSadek started with the ♣A, continuing with the king. Lauriaruffed and played a low diamond to the jack and North’s ace.He won the spade return with the ace and played the ♥10from hand, running it when Sadek played low. That was thethird trick for the defense with the ♥A still to come. Egyptwas Plus 50.West North East SouthDagher Fantoni El Kourdy Nunes1♣Pass 1♥ Dble Pass3♥ Pass 4♥ All PassFantoni’s 1♥ bid showed four or more spades.The ♣10 went to South’s queen, and Nunes made thesneaky play of a low spade from the doubleton queen. Dagherplayed the nine, covered by the jack and ace, and he continuedwith the ♥10. Nunes played low and, after considerablethought, Dagher went up with his king, collecting the singletonqueen and earning a 10-IMP swing for his team, now inthe lead 40-30.Italy got 6 IMPs back when Fantoni and Nunes bid 3NT onBoard 16 while Sadek and El Ahmady got no further than 1NT.Another swing went to Egypt on the penultimate board ofthe match when El Ahmady was relieved of a guess in thetrump suit.Board 19. Dealer South. E/W Vul.♠ 5 3♥ K 10 9 5 4 2♦ K Q♣ A 7 4♠ A K J 9 8 6 2 N ♠ 7 4♥ 3 ♥ A J 7W E♦ 9 3 ♦ 10 8 7 4 2♣ K 9 6 S ♣ J 5 2♠ Q 10♥ Q 8 616