              Marlboro Bermuda and Venice Cup
                       Beijing, China
                  October 8th - 21st, 1995
            Issue 6, Friday, October 13th, 1995
           Editor: Henry Francis and Brian Senior
********************************************************

                      Appeals Committee

                           Friday
                        Jens Auken
                        J.C. Beineix
                        Richard Colker
                        John Wignall
                        Mazhar Jafri

                          Saturday
                        Jens Auken
                        J.C. Beineix
                        Richard Colker
                        Joan Gerard
                        Barbara Nudelman
                        Becky Rogers
********************************************************
                       Appeal Case 2
                      by Becky Rogers

         Venice Cup: Israel (N-S) vs.Canada (E-W).
                  Round-robin I, Match 6.
              Board 12. N/S Vul. Dealer West.

                           Saxon
                           S 9
                           H J832
                           D KJ32
             Eaton         C AJ62       Clinton
             S AJT752                     S K86
             H KQ6                        H 54
             D T                          D 98764
             C KQ4           Dan          C T93
                           S Q43
                           H AT97
                           D AQ5
                           C 875

               West    North    East    South
                1S      Pass    Pass     Dbl (1)
                2S      3H       3S      Pass
               Pass    Dbl (2)  Pass      4H
               Pass    Pass     Pass

(1)  Shows 10-12 HCP or 15+ HCP
(2)  Agreed long hesitation; eventually alerted by North as
     takeout; not alerted by South

Committee members:  Jens Auken (Chair), Jean-Claude
    Beineix, Mazhar Jafri, Kathie  Wei, Barbara Nudelman,
    Becky Rogers

Facts:  West called the Director at the conclusion of the
auction. All agreed there had been a lengthy hesitation on
the other side of the screen at North's double.

The director instructed that play proceed. 4H failed by one
trick : EW +100.

EW requested an adjustment saying the hesitation might
suggest bidding over passing , and since South thought this
was a penalty double, passing was an alternative.  South
told the Director that she had thought this was a penalty
double, but on the basis of her S Qxx, she decided it may
have been meant as takeout.  North said their partnership
agreement was that in a competitive auction such as this
one when the opponents bid and raised a suit, a double was
never penalty.

Director's ruling:  Contract returned to 3S Dbl ; +530
awarded to EW.

Committee's ruling:   The committee found that any
information from the hesitation, although unauthorized, was
available as well through the auction.  South's 4H call and
the bridge result of EW +100 were reinstated.

The committee then considered South's failure to alert and
her indication to West that the double was for penalty.
This misinformation removed the opportunity for West to
chance making 4S.  The committee ruled that the IMP
difference on this board was to be adjusted by adding 3IMPs
for EW.

********************************************************
                       Appeal Case 3
                       by Rich Colker

   Bermuda Bowl: Argentina (N-S) versus Indonesia (E-W).
              Board 12. N/S Vul. Dealer West.

                     (Lambardi, Pablo)
                            S 82
                            H 75
                            D AJ98543
                            C 94
        (Lasut, Henky)              (Manoppo, Eddy)
             S QJT6                      S K54
             H T963                      H AQJ842
             D 2                         D QT
             C J753                      C A6
                      (Lucena, Carlos)
                            S A973
                            H K
                            D K76
                            C KQT82

              WEST    NORTH    EAST     SOUTH
              Pass    Pass      1C (1)   Dbl
              Pass     2D       2H        3D
               3H      4D      Pass      Pass
               4H     All Pass

               (1) Precision.

Committee members: Jens Aukem (Chair), Ernesto d'Orsi,
    George Retek, Jean-Louis Derivery, Richard Colker,
    Jean-Claude Beineix.

Facts: The bidding tray remained on the North-East side of
the screen for a lengthy time before being returned with
North's 4D bid and East's Pass.  The Director was called at
that point.

Director's ruling: After determining that there was no
evidence to apportion the time between North and East the
Director ruled no unauthorized information.  The result at
the table stood (4H making four, +420 for E-W).  This
ruling was appealed by N-S.

Testimony: All players agreed to the facts as presented,
and estimated the delay at something in excess of one
minute.  Neither South nor West claimed to have had any
tangible clues as to who was responsible for the delay, but
after some questioning East confirmed that the delay had
been his.  West claimed that he always intended to bid 4H
if N-S competed to 4D and that the hesitation had no
bearing on his action.

Committee's decision: The Committee discounted West's last
statement as self-serving.  It next considered whether it
was possible to attribute the time in question to one or
the other of the North or East players.  North's 4D bid
arguably showed no more than extra diamond length
unsuitable for preempting at this vulnerability, given the
strength already shown by East and South.  North's 4D bid
was thus not likely to have required long consideration
after South's raise to 3D.

On the other hand the combination of extra values,  no
opportunity to describe his hand more completely (possibly
holding a sixth heart, or a secondary spade or club suit
which would be awkward to show) before the auction reached
the four-level, and the announced danger of the opponent
behind him having most of the adversely held values,  were
all reasons why East was likely to have had a problem over
4D.

Thus, it was agreed that East was likely to have taken the
preponderance of the extra time, and West could have known
this.  Still,  4H on the West cards was an attractive bid
which might very well have been taken by many players on
the previous round of bidding, and there was strong
sentiment for allowing the match to be determined by what
happened at the table--especially if there was any
uncertainty as to whether or not there had been
unauthorized information.

This combination of factors, coupled with the time pressure
the Committee was working under (the appeal had not been
lodged at the end of the seventh match, and the event was
being held up for the Committee's decision which was needed
to form the rankings for the pairings in matches 8 through
14), led to a decision to assign a score of zero on the
board at that table, to be IMPed against the result at the
other table.

Error corrected: Unfortunately, when the Committee's
decision was conveyed to the Directing staff a
miscommunication occurred, for which the Committee assumes
full responsibility.  As soon as this was discovered,
members of the Committee went before the Laws Commission
and asked for the ruling to be voided.

Since part of the miscommunication involved characterizing
the Committee's decision as "throwing the board out," an
act which by Law is not within either a Director's or a
Committee's purview, the Laws Commission properly vacated
the first ruling.  The case was then sent back to the
Committee for a new result to be assigned.  The Committee
instated the result which had been their original intent,
as described above.  The team captains were immediately
informed of this change, and apologies were extended for
any inconvenience which might have been caused by the
error.
********************************************************
               A Dilemma for Top-Level Bridge
                       by Rich Colker

Whether we realize it or not, a dilemma exists for the top-
level game, and we are no closer to solving it now than we
were last week, last month, or last year.  The problem I am
referring to is that Appeals Committees cannot decide top-
level bridge cases in a way that is satisfactory for those
who must live with the consequences of those decisions.

A primary reason for this is that the people who serve on
such Committees must, of necessity, be drawn from the ranks
of those who are not competitors at that level of play (or
they themselves would be contesting the event and would not
be eligible to serve).

It is not that they are not good, or even expert, players
(which they often are), and it is not merely a matter of
technical skill.  Rather, it is that they do not possess
the same cutting-edge judgment and evaluative abilities
which distinguish the very top players in the world from
the rest of us.  Take Appeal Case 3 from this tournament as
a case in point.  (See the report on page 8 for details.)

Who can determine, with any degree of certainty, whether
the excessive time taken by the North and East players on
the third round of the auction was more likely to have been
attributable to East rather than North?

I have discussed this case with a number of the world's top
players and appeals people, and the variety of perspectives
on this case has surprised even me.  Could North have been
thinking about bidding 5D [w1](opposite a hand strong
enough to double a Precision 1C opening)?  Could North have
been worried about going for a number at the four-level
(vul vs not)?  Could East have been thinking about bidding
a second suit, or doubling?  Could East have been worried
about pushing N-S into a making 5D game?

Many of the people I've talked to claim that one or another
of these assessments is the only possible one (although
they don't agree on which), while others claim there is no
way of telling who might have been thinking what.  People
sitting on Committees simply cannot be expected to divine
the truth in such situations with any appreciable
reliability, even if they themselves are top-level players.
And certainly not given their status as mere mortals.

So what, then, is the solution to this dilemma?  The
answer, although far from obvious to most people, is
embarrassingly clear once you think about it.  It is, quite
simply, to stop the hesitations in the first place.  Having
done that, the problem will go away.

And how do we stop them?  By insuring the swift and certain
punishment of those who hesitate unduly, and their partners
who take advantage of these situations.  Players at the top
level fully realize the consequences of their actions and
are capable of behaving accordingly.  Those who can't or
won't assume their proper responsibility will not survive
for long.

It is important to remember that we are talking here about
the top-level game, and only the top-level game.  None of
this applies to the vast majority of bridge players
(although it wouldn't hurt if they too heeded this call and
became more sensitive to their responsibilities in such
situations).

Note also, that thinking is definitely a part of the game
of bridge.  However, breaks in tempo in sensitive
situations (such as the competitive auction in Appeal Case
3) carry with them special requirements for top players to
control their tempo, and for their partners to bend over
backward to be ethically responsible whenever breaks in
tempo do occur (as they will, invariably).

Until we all expect and demand the best of those capable of
delivering it, the game is doomed to suffer problems such
as those we have seen here.
********************************************************
    Don't Cry For Argentina (They Are Doing Rather Well)

One of the surprise teams of these championships so far are
Argentina in the Bermuda Bowl. Roughly two-thirds of the
way through the qualifying stage they are leading Group W.
One of the Argentine pairs, Pablo Lambardi and Carlos
Lucena were good enough to call in at our office to show us
a few hands where they had contributed to this success.
First a defensive hand which we have seen before but on a
different lead.
         Round 5.  Board 19. E/W Vul. Dealer South.

                           S T63
                           H T42
                           D K8
                           C QT763
              S K74                    S AJ95
              H 98                     H KJ76
              D QJT653                 D A9
              C 85                     C AJ4
                           S Q82
                           H AQ53
                           D 742
                           C K92

After three passes, East opened 1C and rebid 2NT over
West's 1D response. West went on to 3NT and Lucena had to
find an opening lead. A major suit gives the ninth trick
immediately but, despite West's diamond bid, Lucena led the
D2.  Declarer played low from the dummy and Lambardi
inserted the eight.

Looking at all four hands, it is easy to see that declarer
can take all six diamonds by winning with the nine but it
was almost impossible for him to read the position.

He won the ace, returned a second diamond and Lambardi was
in.  He switched to the C10 for the jack and king and
Lucena returned the C9. Lambardi overtook that and declarer
ducked. Now Lambardi found the heart switch to defeat the
contract; an excellent defense.

Note that if North simply plays a third club declarer can
play a strip squeeze, coming down to S AJ and H K and
throwing South in with the HA. Of course, there is no
guarantee that declarer will read the ending correctly,
though he should at least be on the lookout for some
similar position given the slightly unusual opening lead.
---------------------------------------------------------
        Round 6.  Board 13. Game All. Dealer North.

                          S Q8
                          H AQ
                          D AJ8752
                          C KQ7
               S AT6                 S J7543
               H T92                 H J543
               D KT43                D Q9
               C 982                 C J4
                          S K92
                          H K876
                          D 6
                          C AT653

                   North           South
                   Lambardi        Lucena
                    1C    (i)       2C  (ii)
                    2D  (iii)       2S  (iv)
                   2NT  (iii)       3D   (v)
                    3H  (iii)       4C  (vi)
                    4D  (vii)       4H (vii)
                    4S (viii)      4NT  (ix)
                    6C             Pass

                   (i)  Strong
                  (ii)  Four controls
                 (iii)  Relay
                  (iv)  Five clubs
                   (v)  Four hearts
                  (vi)  3-4-1-5
                 (vii)  Cuebid
                (viii)  In theory, a cuebid
                  (ix)  SK

Few pairs reached this thin but good slam. Having
discovered that partner had four controls plus his precise
shape, Lambardi started cuebidding.

Over 4H, he could not be completely sure that Lucena did
not have the bare DK instead of the SK, in which case there
would be two quick losers in 6C. Accordingly, he invented a
spade control to leave room for partner to bid 4NT, showing
the SK. Sure enough, that was exactly what Lucena did bid
and Lambardi jumped to the slam.

Even opposite the actual South hand, with no extra value at
all, 6C is a decent contract, but adding any jack would be
enough to greatly increase its chance of success. There is
no lead to break the slam, but the actual choice of a low
spade to the two, six and eight made life very easy for
Lambardi.
---------------------------------------------------------
        Round 9.  Board 17. Love All. Dealer North.

                          S 42
                          H K9862
                          D Q7643
                          C 5
             S J3                 S AKT876
             H AT753              H Q4
             D T85                D K
             C A97                C QJ32
                          S Q95
                          H J
                          D AJ92
                          C KT864

               West    North    East    South
                      Lambardi          Lucena
                       Pass      1S     1NT(i)
               Pass     2C      Pass     2S
                2NT     3S      Pass     4S
              All Pass

                (i) F1

In the other room, the same contract was reached and South
led his singleton heart. Declarer went up with the HA but
had no real chance from there and was one down.

Lucena also led his singleton, but here declarer ducked to
Lambardi's king. The easy way to defeat the contract is to
switch to the singleton club now, as this eliminates the
late dummy entry to the hearts, or if declarer ducks, sets
up a cross-ruff.  But it was not clear to Lambardi what was
required.

Partner did not have to have a natural trump trick for one
thing.  He dealt Lucena his heart ruff and now their was
only one defense and Lucena rose to the occasion. He cashed
the DA and exited with the CK. Though declarer had three
club tricks now, he again had no entry to dummy to cash the
HA and had to concede a club at the end for one down. A
dramatic but essential switch.

********************************************************
             France v Argentina (Round 11 Open)

Overnight leaders, Argentina had suffered a severe beating
in their morning match against the Netherlands. They now
faced the new leaders of Bermuda Bowl Group W, France in a
match which had become a test of character as well as
skill.  There was little in the play in this match, it
being largely decided in the bidding.

               Board 2. N/S Vul. Dealer East.

                           S J97
                           H 8432
                           D 843
                           C KJ7
               S KQ5                S T86
               H AKQ976             H J5
               D AT                 D KQJ92
               C 95                 C AT4
                           S A432
                           H T
                           D 765
                          C Q8632

Open Room

              West      North      East   South
            Monsegur  Reiplinger  Mooney  Soulet
                                    1D     Pass
               2H       Pass       2NT     Pass
              4NT       Pass        5D     Pass
               5H     All Pass

Closed Room

             West     North    East    South
            Perron   Muzzio   Chemla  Villegas
                                1D     Pass
              2H      Pass      3D     Pass
              3S      Pass      4C     Pass
              4D      Pass      4H     Pass
             4NT      Pass      5D     Pass
              6D     All Pass

The French pair explored the hand much more thoroughly than
their counterparts and deserved their swing; Monsegur was
just guessing at the end in the Open Room. There was
nothing in the play, both contracts making twelve tricks.
That was 10 IMPs to France.
---------------------------------------------------------
              Board 3. E/W Vul. Dealer South.

                          S J
                          H Q43
                          D AJ9874
                          C Q96
              S 53                  S KT9642
              H AK95                H T876
              D Q2                  D 3
              C KT843               C 52
                          S AQ87
                          H J2
                          D KT65
                          C AJ7

Open Room

             West      North      East    South
           Monsegur  Reiplinger  Mooney   Soulet
                                           1NT
             Pass       3C        Pass      3D
             Pass       3S        Pass     3NT
           All Pass

Closed Room

            West       North     East     South
           Perron     Muzzio    Chemla   Villegas
                                           1D
            Pass        3D      All Pass

Reiplinger's 3C response was a diamond transfer and 3S
showed the shortage. After a club lead, Soulet had ten
tricks; +430.  The 1D opening and limit raise didn't get
the job done in the Closed Room. Villegas could not see how
there could be a good game available with his uninspiring
pattern so he passed. That was +130 and 7 IMPs to France.
This seemed like a continuation of their morning match for
Argentina and it was to get worse over the next few boards.
---------------------------------------------------------
              Board 5. N/S Vul. Dealer North.

                         S T54
                         H 53
                         D AKT98653
                         C ---
              S A9863                S 7
              H T4                   H AKQ87
              D ---                  D J4
              C KJ7653               C AT942
                         S KQJ2
                         H J962
                         D Q72
                         C Q8

Open Room

               West     North      East    South
            Monsegur  Reiplinger  Mooney  Soulet
                         3D         3H    All Pass

Closed Room

              West      North      East    South
             Perron    Muzzio     Chemla  Villegas
                         3D         3H     Pass
               3S       Pass        4C     Pass
               4D       Pass        4H     Pass
              4NT       Pass        5H     Pass
               6C     All Pass

Monsegur's pass of 3H in the Open Room seems an extremely
deep position to take and it proved a costly one. Mooney
was slightly casual about the play and emerged with just
nine tricks; +140.  Perron responded 3S in the Closed Room
and when Chemla bid his clubs slam was always going to be
reached. A slower approach might have found the grand slam
but auctions of this type can often get murky and Perron's
practical bid of 4NT made sure of 13 IMPs for his side.
---------------------------------------------------------
               Board 6. E/W Vul. Dealer East.

                          S AQT93
                          H Q32
                          D K
                          C A864
               S 42                 S J7
               H KT976              H J5
               D AJ763              D T852
               C T                  C KQ753
                          S K865
                          H A84
                          D Q94
                          C J92

Open Room

               West      North      East    South
             Monsegur  Reiplinger  Mooney  Soulet
                                    Pass    Pass
                2D        2S        Pass     3S
             All Pass

Closed Room

               West     North     East    South
              Perron   Muzzio    Chemla  Villegas
                                  Pass    Pass
                1H       1S       Pass     2H
               Pass      3C       Pass     4S
             All Pass

Perron's simple 1H opening left room for Muzzio to make a
natural game try, which Villegas accepted, while Monsegur's
multi opening left the French less room at the other table
and they stopped in 3S.  Both Easts led the HJ.

Reiplinger won, drew trumps and led towards his HQ.
Monsegur won and exited with a heart and Reiplinger won and
played the DK.  Monsegur ducked that so Reiplinger made ten
tricks; +170.  Muzzio ducked the heart lead and won the
continuation in hand. He drew trumps and played a diamond
towards his king but Perron rose with the ace and switched
to the C10, ending his hopes. One down meant 6 IMPs for
France who led 36-0.
---------------------------------------------------------
              Board 7. Game All. Dealer South.

                           S 9742
                           H ---
                           D AQ76
                           C A8754
                 S QJ63              S T85
                 H KT83              H AJ952
                 D K32               D T4
                 C J9                C QT6
                           S AK
                           H Q764
                           D J985
                           C K32

Open Room

               West      North      East    South
             Monsegur  Reiplinger  Mooney  Soulet
                                              1D
               Pass       1S        Pass     1NT
               Pass       2C        Pass      2D
               Pass       3D        Pass     3NT
               Pass       4C        Pass      4S
               Pass       5D     All Pass

Closed Room

               West     North    East    South
              Perron   Muzzio   Chemla  Villegas
                                           1D
               Pass      1S      Pass     1NT
               Pass      2C      Pass      2H
               Pass      3D      Pass     3NT
             All Pass

This was another bidding test for the North/South pairs.
Both rebids showed weak no trump types, possibly up to a
poor 15-count, and 2C was an enquiry.  Soulet merely showed
a minimum with less than three spades while Villegas was
also allowed to show his four card heart suit. That made an
important difference later as Muzzio was willing to pass
3NT while Reiplinger preferred to look for a minor-suit
game.  3NT was hopeless after a heart lead and Villegas
ended up two down; -200.

Monsegur also led a heart against 5D.  Soulet ruffed and
led a diamond to the queen then ducked a club. Back came a
second heart, forcing dummy to ruff and guaranteeing West's
trump trick. Soulet cashed the DA, played a club to hand
and gave up a diamond. Monsegur played hearts so this
contract was also two down for a flat board.  The game
which looks as though it will make is 5C, but that is
pretty tough to reach.  After two flat boards, Argentina
finally got on the scoreboard.
---------------------------------------------------------
              Board 10. Game All. Dealer East.

                          S 83
                          H T87
                          D QJT82
                          C A52
              S T2                 S AK97
              H AK95432            H J6
              D A64                D 9
              C T                  C KQJ987
                          S QJ654
                          H Q
                          D K753
                          C 643

Open Room

               West    North       East    South
            Monsegur  Reiplinger  Mooney  Soulet
                                    2C      Pass
               3H      Pass         3S      Pass
               4H      Pass        4NT      Pass
               5C      Pass         6H     All Pass

Closed Room

              West     North    East     South
             Perron   Muzzio   Chemla   Villegas
                                 1C       Pass
               1H      Pass      1S       Pass
               2D      Pass      3C       Pass
               4H     All Pass

Mooney's 2C was natural, less than 17, and 3H a natural
force. When Monsegur repeated his hearts, Mooney took
control and drove to slam. Reiplinger led a spade and a
second round when in with the CA but Monsegur could draw
two rounds of trumps with the ace and jack and take two
diamond pitches on the clubs; a rather fortunate +1430. It
takes a diamond lead and continuation to break the slam,
creating a trump trick for North.

Slam was never really in the picture in the Closed Room and
Perron chalked up an easy +650 but Argentina picked up 13
badly needed IMPs.
---------------------------------------------------------
              Board 12. N/S Vul. Dealer West.

                          S AKT84
                          H KJ8
                          D Q
                          C Q643
               S J62              S 97
               H 932              H Q54
               D A97643           D JT82
               C A                C KT87
                          S Q53
                          H AT76
                          D K5
                          C J952

Open Room

               West       North     East    South
             Monsegur  Reiplinger  Mooney  Soulet
               Pass        1S       Pass     2C
                2D         3C       Pass     4S
             All Pass

Closed Room

              West       North      East    South
             Perron      Muzzio    Chemla  Villegas
              Pass        1S        Pass     2S
               3D         Dbl        4D    All Pass

Soulet's chosen route got his side to game very easily.
Not that 4S is much of a contract but it has one important
thing going for it - it makes. Mooney led DJ and Monsegur
won his ace, cashed the CA and exited with a diamond.
Shortly afterwards, Reiplinger claimed ten tricks; +620.

Villegas's simple raise did not get his side to game.
Though Muzzio showed extras with his double of 3D, the DK
looked of dubious value and Villegas decided to defend 4D.
This drifted a couple off for +100 to Argentina but that
meant 11 IMPs to France.

Argentina picked up a couple of minor swings on the next
two boards then it was France's turn again.
---------------------------------------------------------
              Board 15. N/S Vul. Dealer South.

                           S A95
                           H 632
                           D Q9
                           C AKJT8
                  S 87               S JT3
                  H K4               H QJT8
                  D JT742            D AK853
                  C 7642             C 3
                           S KQ642
                           H A975
                           D 6
                           C Q95

Open Room

               West      North      East    South
             Monsegur  Reiplinger  Mooney  Soulet
                                             1S
               Pass       2C        2NT      3C
                3D        4S      All Pass

Closed Room

              West       North     East    South
              Perron    Muzzio    Chemla  Villegas
                                             1S
              Pass        2C       Dbl       3C
               4NT       Dbl        5D      Pass
              Pass       Dbl    All Pass

The double fits meant that the diamond save was a cheap
one; -300. As Soulet made an overtrick in the Open Room,
that was 8 IMPs to France.
---------------------------------------------------------
              Board 16. E/W Vul. Dealer West.

                          S J
                          H 76
                          D QT863
                          C KQ972
               S T8643              S KQ975
               H 83                 H AKQJT92
               D KJ74               D --
               C J3                 C A
                          S A2
                          H 54
                          D A92
                          C T8654

Open Room

               West     North      East    South
            Monsegur  Reiplinger  Mooney   Soulet
               Pass     Pass        1C      Pass
               1D       1NT         3H      5C
               Dbl      Pass        6H      Dbl
            All Pass

Closed Room

              West      North      East    South
             Perron    Muzzio     Chemla  Villegas
              Pass      Pass        2C      Pass
               2D       Pass        6H    All Pass

The book on how to bid that East hand hasn't been written
yet and probably never will be. Chemla just closed his eyes
and rebid 6H when he heard that Perron had no ace. Villegas
led the SA and, on seeing his partner's jack, a second
spade. A great lead and a tremendous result for
Muzzio/Villegas.

Mooney started slowly, hoping to hear something useful, but
the opposing preemption left him guessing and, predictably
he guessed to bid 6H. Soulet decided that that might be
going down after all it was clear that Mooney was guessing.
And when Soulet led the SA it looked as though he was
right. But at trick two Soulet tried to cash his other ace,
a dubious decision given that declarer has over-ruled his
partner's double in a clear forcing pass situation and has
jumped to a slam. I guess Soulet just couldn't visualize
Mooney's actual hand. Anyway, instead of picking up 3 IMPs,
France lost 18. Suddenly, Argentina were back within
striking distance.
---------------------------------------------------------
              Board 18. N/S Vul. Dealer East.

                           S AT7
                           H 4
                           D A98642
                           C A52
             S K962                    S QJ543
             H QT8                     H K65
             D 7                       D QJ
             C T9876                   C QJ3
                           S 8
                           H AJ9732
                           D KT53
                           C K4

Open Room

               West     North      East    South
            Monsegur  Reiplinger  Mooney   Soulet
                                    1S       2H
                3S       4D        Pass      5D
             All Pass

Closed Room

              West      North      East    South
             Perron    Muzzio     Chemla  Villegas
                                   Pass     1H
              Pass        2D       Pass     3D
              Pass       4NT       Pass     5H
              Pass        6D     All Pass

Either you open hands like that East one or you don't. As
12-counts go it is pretty disgusting and I'm sure that all
the teachers present would tell their pupils to pass,
whatever they might do themselves. Here it was good to
open. Left to themselves, Muzzio/Villegas reached the
excellent 6D when Muzzio launched into RKCB on discovering
the diamond fit. The play was straightforward; +1390.

Soulet might have cuebid 4S on the way to 5D in the Open
Room but he had convinced himself that East/West would have
too many high cards for slam to be likely. Many of us would
play the 3S raise as pre-emptive after the overcall but
sometimes, as here, an old-fashioned limit raise can be
more effective if based on shape as the opposition may
assume it includes more high cards.  Argentina gained 13
IMPs to close to 51-56.  But the French were not done yet.
---------------------------------------------------------
              Board 19. E/W Vul. Dealer South.

                           S 652
                           H Q
                           D AJT65
                           C K654
                  S A4              S QT9873
                  H AK72            H J9853
                  D K872            D ---
                  C AQJ             C 32
                           S KJ
                           H T64
                           D Q943
                           C T987

Open Room

               West      North      East    South
             Monsegur  Reiplinger  Mooney  Soulet
                                            Pass
                1C         2C        2S      5D
                Dbl    All Pass

Closed Room

              West      North       East     South
             Perron    Muzzio      Chemla  Villegas
                                             Pass
               2NT       Pass        4D      Pass
                4H     All Pass

In the Closed Room, the natural 2NT opening shut
North/South out of the auction. Chemla's 4D asked Perron to
pick a major and he duly did so. After a heart lead, Perron
had twelve tricks; +680.

Reiplinger came in over the strong club in the Open Room,
2C showing at least five diamonds. Mooney showed his spades
but when Soulet jumped to 5D it was difficult to introduce
the hearts with any confidence. A shortage of entries to
hand made it awkward for Soulet to pick up the trumps and
lead up to the CK so he eventually lost a trick to the DK
as well as the obvious four tricks in the side suits.
Still, -500 was worth 5 IMPs to France.
---------------------------------------------------------
              Board 20. Game All. Dealer West.

                           S J754
                           H 94
                           D KT72
                           C T65
                 S T8               S AKQ2
                 H AQJT87           H 5
                 D A54              D Q963
                 C Q7               C 9842
                           S 963
                           H K632
                           D J8
                           C AKJ3

Open Room

               West      North      East    South
             Monsegur  Reiplinger  Mooney  Soulet
                1H       Pass        1S      Pass
                2H     All Pass

Closed Room

              West       North      East    South
             Perron     Muzzio     Chemla  Villegas
               1H        Pass        1S      Pass
               2H        Pass       2NT      Pass
              3NT     All Pass

Passing 2H could easily have been the winning action but
there is a sizeable bonus for bidding and making vulnerable
games at IMPs and I suspect Chemla's 2NT would be the
majority decision here. Monsegur made nine tricks in 2H for
+140. What about 3NT?

Villegas led a top club against 3NT and continued with the
other on seeing dummy. Now he switched to the DJ and Chemla
ducked to Muzzio's king. He cashed the C10 and exited with
a low spade. Unwilling to play for a miracle in hearts,
Chemla now made the key play of running the spade round to
dummy's ten. He cashed the rest of the spades then took the
heart finesse and cashed the HA. When the HK didn't fall,
Chemla played DA and a diamond to his nine for a great +600
and 10 IMPs to France.

Their little flourish at the end brought the French lead up
to 71-51 or 19-11 VPs, a fair result as they had certainly
had the better of the match and only Board 16 had brought
Argentina so close.  The result left France well placed at
the head of the group while Argentina were still in touch
but in need of good results to get back into a qualifying
place.
********************************************************
                      China vs. Italy
                       By Barry Rigal

China had some early lucky escapes in their 12th-round
Vugraph match against Italy.

               Board 2. N/S Vul. Dealer East.

                          S K865
                          H AKJT7
                          D K
                          C J83
                 S QJ3             S T742
                 H 42              H Q96
                 D A43             D QJT976
                 C KQ962           C ---
                          S A9
                          H 853
                          D 852
                          C AT754

Italy bid the pretty fair heart game given that West had
opened a weak notrump -- 11-14). However, with the HQ and
the C K-Q wrong, they lost 8 IMPs instead of winning 10.
They were beaten two vulnerable tricks while China played
in a heart partial, making three.
---------------------------------------------------------

On Board 4 China misplayed in 2H to go down a trick.

         Round 12.  Board 4. Game All. Dealer West.

                          S J5432
                          H AQ4
                          D KJT3
                          C 6
               S KT8              S AQ6
               H 86               H KJ952
               D AQ42             D 96
               C 9832             C KQ7
                          S 97
                          H T73
                          D 875
                          C AJT54

Once again Italy got to game, and this time they had a real
chance to make 3NT. The opening lead of the C10 to the
queen was helpful. However, Buratti took a wrong view in
hearts, leading the 8 and letting it ride to the 10. He
could have picked up four heart tricks if he had inserted
the jack. That would have been enough for the game. He
actually wound up going down two for a 3-IMP loss.
---------------------------------------------------------

              Board 5. N/S Vul. Dealer North.

                          S KT543
                          H J
                          D A765
                          C Q62
                 S A82             S Q97
                 H 62              H AQT985
                 D QT82            D 43
                 C T873            C J4
                           S J6
                           H K743
                           D KJ9
                           C AK95

Here China again misplayed, this time in 2S to go down one
-- some declarers were making 10 tricks in spade contracts
on a heart lead and a minor suit squeeze on West.

Once again the Italians got to 3NT on the N-S cards, and
the opening lead was a heart to the jack and queen, and
Lauria ducked. The H10 also was allowed to hold, and Wang
switched to diamonds -- a very good action. As a result
Italy suffered another two-trick defeat.
---------------------------------------------------------

              Board 8. Love All. Dealer West.

                          S J93
                          H K
                          D AQ5432
                          C AT6
                  S T752           S ----
                  H A92            H QJ543
                  D J96            D KT7
                  C Q85            C 97432
                          S AKQ864
                          H T876
                          D 8
                          C KJ

6S is a reasonable slam, and the Italians were there.
Versace got the helpful opening lead of the HA followed by
a club to his jack. He ruffed a heart and then had to
decide what to do next. Leading the CK then ruffing a heart
goes down when the clubs are 6-2. Playing a low spade to
his queen works whenever trumps are not 4-0. And even when
they are, as here, you can still make if you can guess what
to do next.
********************************************************
                Brazil vs. United States II

This match was Brazil's for the taking -- but they didn't
take it. Two hands that appeared to be notrump games making
-- one doubled -- somehow all of a sudden went down -- and
so did Brazil, 17-13.

The set of hands in this match must rank with the dullest
in history. Board after board, the Vugraph show was dull.
Oh sure, there were a few electrifying deals, but in
general the bridge was ho-hum.

But it didn't start out that way -- the very first board
was one of the most interesting of the set.

              Board 1. Love All. Dealer North.

                          S Q9764
                          H J5
                          D 9543
                          C J5
                S AJ85             S T32
                H 2                H QT9843
                D AQ               D JT2
                C AKQ862           C T
                           S K
                           H AK76
                           D K876
                           C 9743

                West    North     East    South
               Cintra   Hamman   Aranho   Wolff
                        Pass      Pass      1H
                Dbl     Pass      Pass     1NT
                Dbl      2D       Pass    Pass
                3NT   All Pass

Cintra doubled for takeout the first time, doubled for
penalty the second time and finally bid 3NT. It appeared he
was on the way to making it, but strange things can happen.
The first trick proved to be a key play. Hamman led his
fourth best diamond, and Wolff had a problem -- should he
go up with the king or duck? As you can see, the duck
works, but after some thought Wolff went up with the king.

Cintra took two top clubs, cashed the DQ, took another club
and led a fourth club to Wolff's 9. Wolff hated having the
lead, but he decided the SK was the least of evils. When
Cintra took his ace, of course he had two good clubs to run
-- but what was he going to discard from dummy? This was
the position:

                            S Q976
                            H J5
                            D --
                            C --
                    S J85          S T
                    H 2            H QT98
                    D --           D J
                    C 62           C --
                            S --
                            H AK76
                            D 87
                            C --

Cintra had no problem on the first club -- he pitched a
heart. But he erred on his second discard -- he threw the
diamond when the spade would have been better. Then he
could have led a heart and put in the 10, and Wolff would
have had to give him his ninth trick with the DJ. But he
threw the diamond and then led a spade. Hamman won and led
a heart so that Wolff could take the rest with his top
hearts and good diamond. Down one.

This was a push because 3NT also was set at the other
table. But declarer had far fewer chances because Branco
played low on the opening diamond lead so that declarer
never had a chance to get a third diamond trick.

Cintra and Aranho got a bit carried away on Board2 and
climbed two tricks too high. Meckstroth and Rodwell managed
to stop dead in 3C, making, while the Brazilians were in
the club game, off two. So the Americans scored first blood
-- 5 IMPs.
---------------------------------------------------------
The next three boards were uneventful pushes, but Board 6
was interesting -- strange things often happen when there
are eight-card suits around.

               Board 6. E/W Vul. Dealer East.

                            S --
                            H 83
                            D AKQJ5432
                            C J84
                 S KJ8764               S 95
                 H T964                 H AKJ2
                 D 6                    D T97
                 C 53                   C AQ96
                            S AQT32
                            H Q75
                            D 8
                            C KT72

              West     North    East     South
              Cintra   Hamman   Aranho   Wolff
                                 1C        1S
              Pass      3D      Pass      3NT
           All Pass

As was pointed out by the commentators, the most
devastating opening lead was also the most unlikely -- a
diamond. Declarer would have to find seven discards from
the South hand. But the club opening lead made it easy.
East won and returned a heart -- but Wolff had no
alternative -- he had to put up the queen.  He cashed the
SA, then ran the eight diamonds. East came down to the lone
CQ, so Wolff wound up with 12 tricks.

At the other table, Rodwell opened 1NT and Branco bid 2D,
showing spades and a second suit. Chagas decided diamond
was a good place to play, so he passed, and Branco took 10
tricks but suffered an 8-IMP loss.
----------------------------------------------------------
The next four boards were pushes, but Board 8 was
interesting from a play point of view.

              Board 8. Love All. Dealer West.

                            S J9
                            H AKT
                            D A87532
                            C Q7
                   S K6               S Q542
                   H 63               H 98542
                   D JT96             D KQ4
                   C AKJ94            C 6
                            S AT873
                            H QJ7
                            D --
                            C T8532

              West     North     East    South
             Cintra   Hamman    Aranho   Wolff
               1NT      Pass      2C     Pass
                2D      Dbl      Pass     2S
            All Pass

Cintra led the CA and switched to the SK. This was allowed
to hold, so he led another and the jack held. Now Wolff
played the DA and ruffed a diamond. He went back to a heart
and ruffed another diamond. He led to another heart, cashed
a third heart and led another diamond, making his last
trump en passant.  That was plus 140, offsetting the three-
trick set suffered by Meckstroth in 3C in the Closed Room.
----------------------------------------------------------
And now -- the hand that decided the match -- Board 11.

             Board 11. Love All. Dealer South.

                           S KQ654
                           H KT64
                           D T
                           C 843
                  S 32              S AJT97
                  H A75             H QJ2
                  D A9765           D K82
                  C QJ9             C KT
                           S 8
                           H 983
                           D QJ43
                           C A7652

              West     North     East    South
             Cintra   Hamman   Aranho    Wolff
                                          Pass
              Pass      1S       Pass     1NT
               Dbl      2H       Dbl      Pass
                3D     Pass      3NT     All Pass

Wolff led the H9, and Hamman won the king. Hamman switched
to a club, and Aranho overtook the 10 with the queen to
begin his attack on spades. Hamman couldn't afford to
split, so the jack won. Declarer went back to dummy with
the DA to lead another spade, and again Hamman played low
as the 7 won. Aranho played the CK, ducked, then took two
heart tricks, ending in dummy.

He led a diamond to his king and now had eight tricks in
the back -- two spades, two hearts, two diamonds and two
clubs. If he cashed his SA, he would score up plus 550 for
making his doubled contract. But apparently declarer had an
aberration -- he thought he needed TWO more tricks. So he
got out with a spade to Hamman's king, and the defense had
the rest of the tricks for down one.

Since Chagas had suffered a two-trick defeat in 2H doubled
in the other room, the Americans gained 9 IMPs instead of
losing 6 -- a 15-IMP swing. And Brazil lost the match by
only 10.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Each team earned a small swing and a push on the next three
deals, but Brazil made their biggest gain of the day on
Board 15.

              Board 15. N/S Vul. Dealer South.

                            S A9
                            H KQJT93
                            D Q2
                            C A85
                 S 532              S KJT64
                 H 6                H A4
                 D 763              D T854
                 C K97643           C T2
                            S Q87
                            H 8752
                            D AKJ9
                            C QJ

Hamman and Wolff stopped in the heart game, and it was just
as well they did. In order to make 12 tricks, you have to
guess which black king is right after getting a spade
opening lead. Wolff, believe it or not, opened that South
hand with 1H, which occasioned Edgar Kaplan to observe,
"Notice that Wolff has the 8-7 of hearts, which allows for
a certain degree of solidity." Wolff ducked in dummy, so
made only 11 tricks.

But Chagas and Branco got to the slam, and when the CK was
captured, they scored up 1430 for a 13-IMP pickup.
----------------------------------------------------------
Another series of small exchanges and pushes followed,
leading to the final board.

              Board 20. Game All. Dealer West.

                           S KQJ6
                           H KT8
                           D 7
                           C AK875
                  S AT5              S 8743
                  H AQ3              H J7
                  D AT632            D KJ85
                  C 32               C JT6
                           S 92
                           H 96542
                           D Q94
                           C Q94

In the Closed Room, Meckstroth opened 1NT and played it
there. The defense was unrelenting -- they took the first
five tricks in clubs and shifted to a spade. When
Meckstroth failed to guess the diamond situation, he was
limited to his four top tricks and was beaten three
vulnerable tricks.

At the other table, Hamman doubled Cintra's opening bid of
1NT, but Wolff didn't think was strong enough to sit for
the double. He ran to 2H and made three, but that was 4
IMPs to Brazil.

That brought Brazil's total to 22, so they lost the match,
17-13, with an IMP score of 32-22.
********************************************************
                     Hasi Bare Strikes
                       By Mark Horton

Who are the best women's pair in the World? Germany's
Sabine Auken and Daniela Von Arnim would be certain to
receive a lot of votes.Take a look at this deal from the
seventh match of the Venice Cup round-robin:

             Board 17. Love All. Dealer North.

                          S J732
                          H KJT632
                          D J85
                          C ---
                S KT               S 96 54
                H Q84              H 7
                D 973              D AK64
                C A9764            C JT52
                          S AQ8
                          H A95
                          D QT2
                          C KQ83

This hand was reported in yesterday's bulletin. In the
Bermuda Bowl encounter between USA II and Canada,
neither declarer could manage to make 4H. In the match
between Germany and South Africa in the Venice Cup,
Von Arnim was sitting South and showed the men (not
for the first time) how it should be done.

West led the CA, to the obvious annoyance of East.
This was not lost on Danny, who reasoned East must be
looking at the D AK. She ruffed the club,cashed the HK and
came to hand with the trump ace. She discarded two diamonds
on the C KQ and then found the very fine play
of the S 8 which left West without resource.

If you want to know the meaning of Danny's nickname,
hasi bare, I suggest you ask the German captain, Klaus
Reps.
********************************************************
             Defensive Deception by Barry Rigal

Henry Mansell found a fine defense to give declarer a
losing option on this deal from the Round 6 Bermuda Bowl
clash between South Africa and the Netherlands.

              Board 1. Love All. Dealer North.

                          S J
                          H KQ9754
                          D 43
                          C Q876
               S Q95432            S AKT76
               H AJ2               H T8
               D A6                D Q72
               C K4                C AJ9
                          S 8
                          H 63
                          D KJT985
                          C T532

            West      North     East       South
            Westra    Mansell   Leufkens   Cope
                        2H       2S         3H
             4H        Pass      4S        Pass
             5C        Pass      5D(i)     Pass
             6S        All Pass

            (i) 'Last Train' slam try

The opening lead of the H6 was ducked to North's queen.  It
looks as though declarer has no legitimate play other than
the club finesse; but Mansell found the devious switch to
the C8. This went to the nine, ten and king.

Now Leufkens, who knew South had significant length in
diamonds, ruffed the heart loser in hand and ran the
trumps.  This was the ending:

                            S -
                            H K
                            D -
                            C Q7
                     S -           S -
                     H -           H -
                     D A6          D Q
                     C 4           C AJ
                            S -
                            H -
                            D KJ
                            C 5

The D6 was known to be a menace so when the DQ went to
the king and ace Leufkens played to drop the CQ offside.
One down!
********************************************************
         THE INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE PRESS ASSOCIATION

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some 500 of the world's bridge journalists and media
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regular contributors, but Associate Membership is available
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Bulletin contains bridge news from around the world, hands
which are selected for their suitability for members to use
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exchange views and receive information.  There are special
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The cost of membership is $52 per annum, with a joining
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All members are invited to attend the Annual Awards Meeting
on Monday morning (see notice below).

********************************************************
                  Watching on the Internet

We have always received submissions from various
journalists present at the World Championships, but now
that Internet is here, we are getting submissions from
faraway places --like Israel. Both Pamela and Matt
Granovetter offered some comments on the report of the
France vs. United States I match that appeared in the Daily
Bulletin.

         First we'll hear from Pamela Granovetter.

I think Paul Chemla should not have gotten the blame on
this deal from the U.S. I vs. France match.

               Board 6. E/W Vul. Dealer East.

                           S 83
                           H 64
                           D AK7
                           C AK7543
                 S KQ942              S AJT75
                 H 32                 H KQT9
                 D Q843               D T9
                 C J6                 C Q2
                           S 6
                           H AJ875
                           D J652
                           C T98

The Bulletin writes that against Cayne's five club
contract, Chemla, East, led the HK, won by the ace. A spade
was led, won by Chemla's 10. Now Chemla was blamed for not
playing the HQ and another heart for an uppercut. But with
the CQ as a potential trick, he was not going to be happy
to see his partner ruff with a lower card than the jack,
exposing the location of the trump queen.

Shouldn't his partner have hopped up with a spade honor to
lead a second heart himself? This would make it clear to
East that West held a trump honor for a possible promotion.
I think West was asleep at the switch.
-------------------------------------------------------
And now let's hear from Matt Granovetter. He pointed out
another case where Chemla should not have been blamed for
his defense -- Board 9. However, Barry Rigal already has
exonerated Chemla.

Matt also noted that a number of swings in this match were
based on sound vs. light opening bids. Here's his report:

Watching on the Internet, I noticed that a number of swings
in the USA I - France match were based on sound vs. light
opening bids. I quickly perused the opening bids and found
the following:

Board 3.
Lebel opens 1NT on 14-count and six clubs, minus 200.
Burger 1C, plus 100.

Board 4.
Perron opens on 12, plus 100.
Lair opens on 12, minus 200.

Board 6.
Chemla opens on 12, minus 400.
Passell opens on 12, minus 200.

Board 12.
Perron opens 11, plus 200.
Lair passes 11, plus 420.

Board 13.
Cronier opens 2C on 18, minus 100.
Cayne opens 1H, plus 800.

Board 14.
Burger passes 11, plus 50.
Lebel opens 11, minus 150.

The only winning light opening was a 10-12 1NT by Passell
on Board 5, which doesn't count in my book because that's a
specific convention. Besides, it was the fact that Cayne-
Burger play a sound opening-bid structure that allowed
Cayne to make a winning jump to 4D:

              Board 5. N/S Vul. Dealer North.

                           S K97
                           H T632
                           D JT75
                           C K5
                  S T6532         S AJ8
                  H KQ85          H J974
                  D 86            D 43
                  C T3            C A987
                           S Q4
                           H A
                           D AKQ2
                           C QJ642

               West     North     East    South
               Perron   Cayne    Chemla   Burger
                         Pass     Pass     1D
               Pass      1H       Pass     2C
               Pass      2D       Pass     3C
               Pass      4D !     Pass     5D
             All Pass

Playing light openings, Cayne could never have made that
4D call. Light opening bids are very much in fashion and
perhaps my short study here proves nothing. But 32 IMPs on
these six examples in favor of sound opening bids is the
type of statistic that often goes unnoticed. So your man on
the Internet is pointing it out.
********************************************************
                     BEST EVER PLAYED ?
                     By Jean Paul Meyer

It is difficult to say  a hand is the best ever played.
What I can say is that  Michel Lebel said it was the best
hand HE had ever played. When such an experienced player
says this, it means something.

Let's have a look at Board 11 from Round 10,  France vs.
United States I.

             Board 11. Love All. Dealer South.

                          S KQ654
                          H KT64
                          D T
                          C 843
                 S 32             S AJT97
                 H A75            H QJ2
                 D A9765          D K82
                 C QJ9            C KT
                          S 8
                          H 983
                          D QJ43
                          C A7652

               West    North   East    South
                                        Pass
               Pass      1S    Pass      1NT
               Pass     Pass   Dbl        2C
                3NT   All Pass

So Lebel, West,  was declarer in 3 NT. A club  was led and
the  king was allowed to hold. Lebel played the DK and let
the  D 8 ride. A third round went to the DA, and  a fourth
round of diamonds was played, North having discarded a
heart and two spades.

In hand with the  DQ, South exited with a small club. West
had six tricks in the bag when he played his last diamond:

                           S KQ6
                           H KT6
                           D --
                           C 8
                   S 32           S AJT9
                   H A75          H QJ2
                   D 5            D ---
                   C J            C ---
                           S 8
                           H 983
                           D ----
                           C A76

On the D5 North discarded a spade, as did East, and South
has to discard a heart. Now came a brilliant CJ:

                           S KQ
                           H KT6
                           D ---
                           C 8
                   S 32           S AJT
                   H A75          H QJ2
                   D --           D --
                   C J            C --
                           S 8
                           H 98
                           D --
                           C A76

South took the CA and another high club, but in the final
position:

                            S KQ
                            H KT
                            D --
                            C --
                     S 3           S AJ
                     H A75         H QJ
                     D --          D --
                     C --          C --
                            S 8
                            H 98
                            D --
                            C 6

SOUTH HAS THE CHOICE FROM AMONG THREE EQUALLY BAD ACTIONS!

A club squeezes his partner.

A spade allows East to throw North in hand to play a heart
away from his king.

A heart is ducked and declarer makes two heart tricks.

Yes, educated readers would have found a pedestrian way of
winning the contract by taking the first trick in hand and
playing a spade, which has to be ducked by North, and then
attacking diamonds.  But Lebel's play is  so much nicer.
********************************************************
       Many crucial matches as teams fight to qualify

Only two more matches remain in the round-robin, so you'd
think there would be a fair number of teams who already are
quite certain of qualifying for tomorrow's quarterfinals in
the Marlboro Bermuda Bowl and the Marlboro Venice Cup. But
that's not the case at all -- most positions in all groups
are up for grabs.

Perhaps the most exciting is Group W of the Marlboro
Bermuda Bowl. France, South Africa and Indonesia are well
enough ahead that they should qualify unless they fall on
their faces. But all five of the remaining teams have a
chance at the fourth qualifying position. Last-place
Australia is only half a match behind defending champion
Netherlands, who stand fourth.  Argentina, which started
the day in first place, had a really bad day, scoring only
23 points in three matches and dropping all the way to
fifth place.

In Group E, Sweden and China seem safe for qualification,
but not so certain that they can afford to let down today.
It's a four-way battle for the other two spots among
Canada, United States II, Brazil and Italy. A 25-4 loss to
Sweden dropped the Americans from first to fourth, and they
are now in imminent danger of not qualifying. Italy, with
three single-digit losses, also fell well off the pace. But
Brazil, which ran into considerable difficulty in the early
going -- they lost their first four matches -- now is only
two points out of fourth.Brazil had strong wins against
Italy and Colombia yesterday, but they lost a close one to
the Americans.

Not even the first-place team is sure of qualification in
Group W of the Marlboro Venice Cup. United States I is on
top, but they are only 8.1 points ahead of South Africa,
who stand fifth. Canada still has an outside chance of
reaching the quarterfinals, but the battle seems to be
among U.S. I, China, Germany, Brazil and South Africa.

In Group E France and United States II are the closest
things to shoo-ins in the field. Both are about two matches
ahead of fifth place. Japan also is well-placed, 19 points
ahead of fifth-place Australia. The only real battle is for
the fourth spot, and three teams still have a chance --
Great Britain, Australia and Venezuela.
******************************************************
                    Facts, not research
                      by Phillip Alder

This report will cover three deals. However, as I cannot
find out the results at all the tables, it is possible
other pairs duplicated these feats. Also, since I am  non-
playing captain of the USA II Venice Cup team, you will
have to accept that this article features only players on
my team.

First, try these problems.

                 1. Dealer North; Vul None.

                           S J965
                           H AKQT6
                           D A5
                           C A6

                           S A7
                           H 74
                           D K73
                           C KJT732

               West    North   East   South
                        1H     Pass    2C
               Pass     2S     Pass    3C
             All Pass

West leads the D2. What is your basic plan?

2. With only the opponents vulnerable, you pick up
            S AQ  H 97  D A  C AKQ97652.

You deal and open 1C, Precision. With the opponents
retaining a respectful silence, your partner responds 2D,
a natural positive with at least eight high-card points and
five or more diamonds. You rebid 3C; partner continues with
3D; you bid 4C; and she is still there with 4D. What now?

3. Dealer South; Vul N/S.

                           S Q83
                           H 8752
                           D K753
                           C Q7

                           S KT6
                           H AKT63
                           D 6
                           C KT54

               West    North   East    South
                                        1H
               2H (a)   3H     Pass     4H
             All Pass

  (a) Michael's cuebid: at least 5-5 in spades and a minor

West leads the DA and, in answer to partner's queen,
continues with the D9. Over to you.

Returning to the first problem for a moment, when you lead
a trump to dummy's ace, West shows out. What difference
does that make, if any?
-------------------------------------------------------
Now to the solutions.

The first deal was declared by Amalya Kearse, who took full
advantage of the non-spade lead. This was the layout:

                   Dealer North; Vul None

                            S J965
                            H AKQT6
                            D A5
                            C A6
                   S K8432           S QT
                   H 9832            H J5
                   D QT42            D J986
                   C --              C Q9854
                            S A7
                            H 974
                            D K73
                            C KJT732

Playing in 6C, Kearse won the first trick in hand with the
DK, played a club to dummy's ace and ran the C6 when East
didn't cover (not that that matters). Now came three top
hearts, East ruffing the last and declarer over ruffing.
Kearse cashed the CK, led a club to East's remaining queen
and claimed. There were two winning hearts in the dummy for
declarer's losing spade and diamond.

The second deal was embarrassing for several pairs, both
North-South and East-West. This was the full distribution:

                   Dealer South; E/W Vul.

                           S JT93
                           H J2
                           D KQJT96
                           C 3
                 S 8542              S K76
                 H AKT               H QJ86543
                 D 7532              D 84
                 C JT                C 84
                            S AQ
                            H 97
                            D A
                            C AKQ97652

               West    North   East    South
                       Morse           Lilie
                                         1C
               Pass     2D     Pass      3C
               Pass     4D     Pass     4NT (a)
               Pass     5D   All Pass

                (a) Roman Key Card Blackwood

Most pairs stopped in 5C. Some went down, but others were
saved when the defense couldn't resist switching to spades
after a couple of heart tricks.

How many pairs other than Jo Morse and Joyce Lilie reached
5D, the one game contract North-South can make?

Lilie used RKC in case Morse had the same hand with the HA
extra. She could see the blockage in diamonds might cause
problems if clubs were trumps. Well done!

Finally:
                   Dealer South: N/S Vul

                           S Q83
                           H 8752
                           D K753
                           C Q7
                  S AJ942           S 75
                  H Q               H J94
                  D A9              D QJT842
                  C AJ932           C 86
                           S KT6
                           H AKT63
                           D 6
                           C KT54

Jo Morse was playing in 4H, knowing West was 5-5 in the
black suits from the bidding and early play.

After the DA and a diamond, Morse won with dummy's king,
discarding the S6. She guessed to played a heart to her
ace, dropping West's queen. This was followed by a club to
dummy's queen, a heart to the ten and the HK, West being
squeezed in the black suits.

When West discarded two spades, Morse led the S10 from
hand. West couldn't afford to rise with the ace, so covered
with the jack. After winning with dummy's queen, declarer
continued with a spade to her king and West's ace, giving
this end-position:

                            S 8
                            H 8
                            D 75
                            C 7
                    S 9            S --
                    H --           H --
                    D --           D JT84
                    C AJ93         C 8
                            S --
                            H 63
                            D --
                            C KT4

West exited with the S9, but Morse ruffed and played the
CK, end-playing West into conceding a trick to the C10.

If West discards one spade and one club, this is the seven-
card end-position:

                          S Q83
                          H 8
                          D 75
                          C 7
                S AJ94          S 75
                H --            H --
                D --            D JT84
                C AJ9           C 8
                          S KT
                          H 63
                          D --
                          C KT4

Declarer calmly plays the CK from hand, end-playing West.
Whichever black suit she returns generates the tenth trick
for declarer.

At the other table, West made the imaginative lead of the
HQ, declarer winning with the ace and cashing the HK. Even
though South now sneaked her singleton diamond past West's
ace, the contract still couldn't make, giving USA II 12
IMPs.
********************************************************
           Danger! Pedants At Work by Barry Rigal

Paul Chemla is a sufficiently imposing, not to say
assertive, personality that one accuses him of a misdefense
at one's peril. So on the following board, featured on page
four of Bulletin 7, I think it only fair to point out that
5D is cold after the opening lead of the SA.

              Board 9. E/W Vul. Dealer North.

                          S 2
                          H KQJ976
                          D K763
                          C A7
                 S K9643           S AJT85
                 H 85              H AT42
                 D T95             D Q4
                 C 863             C K9
                          S Q7
                          H 3
                          D AJ82
                          C QJT542

The passive defense of a spade continuation does not work
if declarer reads everything correctly. Declarer ruffs the
spade, plays DK and a second trump to dummy, then a heart
to the king and ace. If East ducks the heart declarer
simply draws the last trump and gives up a club.  This is
the ending:

                            S --
                            H QJ976
                            D 7
                            C A7
                    S 964           S T85
                    H 8             H T42
                    D T             D --
                    C 863           C K7
                            S --
                            H --
                            D J8
                            C QJT542

A club or a heart is tantamount to instant concession. On
the play of a spade you ruff in hand, pitching a club, ruff
a heart to dummy, draw the last trump and your hand is
high!

********************************************************
                   Bermuda Bowl, Group W
                          Round 10
  Team         VP    IMP      Team         VP    IMP
Netherlands    25   (71)    Argentina       3    (10)
France         22   (58)    USA I           8    (25)
Indonesia      21   (47)    Venezuela       9    (17)
South Africa   23   (62)    Australia       7    (21)
----------------------------------------------------------
                          Round 11
France         19   (72)    Argentina      11    (51)
USA I          15   (55)    Netherlands    15    (53)
Australia      16   (67)    Indonesia      14    (59)
South Africa   24   (70)    Venezuela       6    (23)
----------------------------------------------------------
                          Round 12
South Africa   21   (49)    Argentina       9    (20)
Indonesia      18   (51)    USA I          12    (38)
France         19   (62)    Australia      11    (42)
Venezuela      23   (63)    Netherlands     7    (25)
----------------------------------------------------------
                  1    France         203
                  2    South Africa   196.5
                  3    Indonesia      193
                  4    Netherlands    176
                  5    Argentina      171
                  6    Venezuela      165.5
                  7    USA I          164
                  8    Australia      161
**********************************************************
                   Bermuda Bowl - Group E
                          Round 10
  Team         VP    IMP     Team          VP    IMP
USA II         17    (32)   Brazil         13    (22)
Canada         25    (77)   Italy           4    (23)
China          23    (62)   Colombia        7    (23)
Sweden         24    (63)   Egypt           6    (20)
----------------------------------------------------------
                          Round 11
USA II         16    (44)   Canada         14    (41)
Brazil         21    (49)   Italy           9    (18)
China          19    (47)   Egypt          11    (29)
Sweden         25    (93)   Colombia        1    (16)
----------------------------------------------------------
                          Round 12
Sweden         25    (85)   USA II          4    (29)
China          22    (64)   Italy           8    (28)
Canada         19    (49)   Egypt          11    (28)
Brazil         25    (85)   Colombia        3    (33)
----------------------------------------------------------
                    1    Sweden    210
                    2    China     206.7
                    3    Canada    194
                    4    USA II    190
                    5    Brazil    188
                    6    Italy     183.8
                    7    Egypt     131.5
                    8    Colombia  117.5
**********************************************************
                    Venice Cup,  Group W
                          Round 10
  Team         VP    IMP     Team          VP    IMP
Brazil         18    (77)   South Africa   12    (62)
Canada         16    (42)   USA I          14    (38)
China          20    (70)   Israel         10    (44)
Germany        25    (91)   Colombia        3    (28)
----------------------------------------------------------
                         Round  11
Brazil         22    (64)   Canada          8    (30)
USA I          19    (52)   South Africa   11    (33)
China          24    (81)   Colombia        6    (38)
Germany        16    (72)   Israel         14    (65)
----------------------------------------------------------
                          Round 12
Germany        19    (59)   Brazil         11    (42)
China          21    (53)   USA I           9    (26)
Canada         19    (63)   Colombia       11    (44)
South Africa   21    (70)   Israel          9    (42)
----------------------------------------------------------
                 1    USA I          202.1
                 2    China          199
                 3    Germany        198
                 4    Brazil         197
                 5    South Africa   194
                 6    Canada         178.5
                 7    Israel         155.6
                 8    Colombia        98.8
**********************************************************
                    Venice Cup, Group E
                          Round 10
  Team         VP    IMP     Team          VP    IMP
France         18   (45)    Australia      12    (31)
USA II         16   (46)    Venezuela      14    (39)
Great Britain  18   (39)    Argentina      12    (26)
Japan          17   (48)    India          13    (38)
----------------------------------------------------------
                          Round 11
France         25   (74)    Venezuela       3    (13)
Australia      16   (47)    USA II         14    (44)
Great Britain  24   (64)    India           6    (17)
Japan          17   (51)    Argentina      13    (42)
----------------------------------------------------------
                          Round 12
Japan          16   (44)    France         14    (40)
USA II         25   (83)    Great Britain   4    (28)
Venezuela      19   (52)    India          11    (34)
Argentina      15   (40)    Australia      15    (40)
----------------------------------------------------------
                  1    France         227
                  2    USA II         220.5
                  3    Japan          192
                  4    Great Britain  175
                  5    Australia      173
                  6    Venezuela      168
                  7    Argentina      147
                  8    India          116.5
**********************************************************
