Walddk

The winning line, as some rightly pointed out, is to duck at trick 1. If East continues diamonds, win the ace in the dummy and advance ♠J. East is now caught. If he covers, you let him hold the trick, and if he follows small, you rise with the ace and play another spade to put East on lead. Later you can play four rounds of hearts and pitch your losing diamond and club. The trick is to keep West off lead. Not sure many would have found the line at the table, but no declarer was tested. In the final, Fulvio Fantoni got a club lead, and the same happened in the playoff match against Denmark's Jacob Røn. That gave the declarers the tempo to cash ♠A and play another. Too late for a diamond switch. Italy gained 13 IMPs against Germany (3NT down one in the other room), and the same 13 IMPs went to Denmark vs. Sweden when the Swedes decided to play 4♥ at the other table. Also one down. The reason I gave you this hand, although a diamond was not led at either table, is that some commentators claimed that 4♠ is a sure one off on a diamond lead. I don't blame them. It just goes to show how difficult it is to analyse some hands instantly. Roland

[hv=d=e&v=b&n=sj2hak1073da109cj53&w=sq105h654dkj532c97&e=sk6h982dq8ckq10864&s=sa98743hqjd764ca2]399|300|Scoring: IMP S: 4S Lead: D3[/hv] This was a most interesting deal in the final and playoff match of the European Champions' Cup over the weekend. After an uncontested auction you (South) have arrived in a shaky 4♠ contract. West leads the 3 of diamonds. Over to you. Do you want to declare, or do you want to switch seats and defend? It is a tough one, even with all cards in view. Hidden text welcomed if you prefer. Roland

Not quite. Jacki from our Customer Support deals with vugraph accounts. The organisers send me a schedule and request accounts. I convert to GMT and send the e-mail to Jacki for listing on our vugraph schedule web page. In that mail I also ask her to send x accounts to yy. Roland

Another big event will be presented in our vugraph theatre this week, Thursday through Sunday. The European Champions’ Cup is a competition between the national team champions of the top ten coun­tries at the most recent European Team Championships. The defending champions and the host country representatives are also invited. Accordingly, this year, the top ten contenders of the 49th European Team Championships 2008, held in Pau, France, are: Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia and Sweden. Italy's 'Tennis Club Parioli Angelini', the defending champions, and the host team, bring the total number of contesting teams to 12. The format will be a round-robin qualifier, followed by semifinals, a final and playoffs. This is the eighth event of the competition which was revived in 2002 in Warsaw, Poland, with the above format. The winners of that first event were Italy, followed by Israel and Norway. Italy has been more than successful ever since, as it has won all titles held so far, except in 2006 when the gold medal went to Germany. After the inaugural event, the tournament travelled to Rome, Barcelona, Brussels, Rome for the second time, Wroclaw and Amsterdam. This year, France will host the Champions' Cup for the first time, in the beautiful city of Paris, at the Headquarters of the French Bridge Federation in Saint Cloud. This rates to be top quality bridge. Don't miss it! Full schedule to be found at our vugraph schedule web page. Roland

Breaking News, just in. We will be broadcasting all of it starting tomorrow (Monday) at 08:40 GMT, ending on Friday the 9th. With some luck we will have the event listed on our vugraph schedule web page later today. 21 rounds of 10-board matches. http://eucbridge2009.vuka.hr/ Roland

14 actually. Anyway, thanks everyone :) Roland

All I can say is that the organisers have not approached us about the possibility of vugraph coverage. BBO will be delighted to host the championships, but the initiative must come from the people who organise the event. We do not charge a fee for using our software, and all commentators are volunteers. There are expenses of course, and there are some practical issues. I can't know if this is too much for the organisers to handle. Roland

Indeed, but it's worth more than 22. The Kaplan & Rubens Hand Evaluator (nice tool) says 23.7. http://www.jeffgoldsmith.org/cgi-bin/knr.c...J+AKJ9+A8+AJ432 Aces do not get what they deserve on the 4321 scale. Roland

No, you have a 19 count, but you seem to think that there is a limit to a reverse. There is not, other than it is not as strong as a 2♣ opening. 2♦ shows (16)17-21 hcp with at least five clubs and four diamonds; an excellent description of your hand. Roland

Our matches in the first segment of the semi-finals Tuesday are: Italy v Bulgaria (BB) China v USA2 (BB) USA1 v USA2 (VC) England v Indonesia (SB) Poland v USA2 (SB) 96 boards over two days.

Our segment 4 matches in the quarter-finals Monday (Bermuda Bowl unless stated): USA2 v Netherlands Germany v Bulgaria Italy v Russia China v Sweden (VC) Italy v France (VC) Segments 5 and 6 to be decided.

The pairings for the quarter-finals have been decided. They are: Bermuda Bowl: Italy v Russia* Norway v China Bulgaria v Germany* USA2 v Netherlands Venice Cup: China v Sweden* France v Italy USA1 v Spain USA2 v Germany* D'Orsi Senior Bowl: England v Egypt* Belgium v Indonesia* Poland v Sweden USA1 v USA2 * denotes same bracket for the semi-finals. However, in the Venice Cup, USA1 and USA must meet in the semi-finals if they both qualify. Our matches, Bermuda Bowl unless stated, in the first segment Sunday are: Bulgaria v Germany USA2 v Netherlands Italy v Russia France v Italy (VC) Belgium v Indonesia (SB) The rest to be decided depending on scores after 16 boards.

I now have 13 of our 15 matches for Saturday, the last three rounds of the round-robin. Matches 4 and 5 in Round 21 to be decided, depending on rankings. Bermuda Bowl unless stated. Round 19: Argentina v Netherlands Italy v Brazil Spain v Germany (VC) Egypt v USA2 (VC) Canada v USA2 (SB) Round 20: China v Norway Russia v Bulgaria USA1 v Italy China v Denmark (VC) Japan v Sweden (SB) Round 21: USA2 v Russia Bulgaria v Netherlands Germany v USA2 (VC) Match 4 to be decided Match 5 to be decided

Our matches Friday (Bermuda Bowl unless stated): Round 16: Bulgaria v Argentina Russia v USA1 Brazil v Germany Spain v Italy (VC) Poland v Belgium (SB) Round 17: USA1 v Netherlands Argentina v USA2 Germany v Chinese Taipei New Zealand v Denmark (VC) Italy v France (VC) Round 18: Norway v Germany Russia v Argentina Germany v Denmark (VC) France v China (VC) Indonesia v Japan (SB)

We passed 20,000 around 19:30 GMT Wednesday. A day to remember, for sure. Roland

Our matches Thursday (Bermuda Bowl unless stated): Round 13: Italy v Bulgaria Germany v Netherlands Argentina v USA1 Egypt v USA1 (SB) Italy v USA1 (VC) Round 14: Netherlands v Italy Russia v Brazil Bulgaria v Norway Poland v England (SB) Sweden v Egypt (VC) Round 15: USA2 v Italy China v Germany Bulgaria v Brazil Italy v Germany (VC) England v USA2 (SB)

Our matches Wednesday (Bermuda Bowl unless stated): Round 10: Italy v Norway Germany v USA2 India v Russia Germany v Egypt (VC) USA2 v Italy (VC) Round 11: Netherlands v USA2 Argentina v Italy India v Germany England v Belgium (SB) Egypt v Spain (VC) Round 12: Brazil v Argentina USA2 v China Russia v Netherlands China v Italy (VC) USA2 v Egypt (VC)

Our matches Tuesday (Bermuda Bowl unless stated): Round 7: Chile v Italy Netherlands v Chinese Taipei Russia v Norway Argentina v India Indonesia v USA1 (VC) Round 8: Bulgaria v USA2 Germany v Argentina Norway v Netherlands France v USA2 (VC) England v Indonesia (SB) Round 9: China v Argentina Chinese Taipei v Italy Bulgaria v Germany USA1 v France (VC) Denmark v Spain (VC)

Our matches Monday (Bermuda Bowl unless stated): Round 4: Italy v Russia Brazil v USA2 Chinese Taipei v Bulgaria New Zealand v USA1 USA1 v USA2 (SB) Round 5: Netherlands v China Norway v Argentina Bulgaria v USA1 Italy v India USA2 v Denmark (VC) Round 6: Norway v USA2 Brazil v Netherlands Italy v China USA1 v Sweden (VC) Germany v France (VC)

I now have our matches for Sunday, i.e. rounds 1, 2 and 3. We will 'only' be broadcasting from five matches (10 tables) in every round, but I think we will survive. Lots of quality matches to choose from. Bermuda Bowl unless stated. VC = Venice Cup (women). Round 1: Norway v Brazil Russia v Germany USA1 v Australia Netherlands v India Germany v Sweden (VC) Round 2: China v Russia New Zealand v Italy Morocco v Bulgaria Australia v Norway USA1 v Germany (VC) Round 3: USA1 v USA2 Germany v Italy Chile v Netherlands Brazil v Italy (VC) USA1 v USA2 (VC)

Hjerteligt til lykke!

A couple of bidding problems: 1. [hv=d=e&v=n&s=sa5432hj43d53ca65]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv] East opens 5♣ passed to your partner who doubles. What do you bid? --- 2. [hv=d=e&v=n&s=sa5432hj43d53ca65]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv] LHO opens a weak 2♠, partner overcalls 3♥, and 4♠ to your right. You? Roland

After the defeat in the Ashes, Australia are now ranked 4th. Blame it on the Poms and Billy Bowden who also officiated in the last test at The Oval in 2005. Next time you must insist that no test can be played in Kennington, south of the Thames. And bring back Langer, Hayden, Martyn, Warne, Gilchrist and McGrath. Oh, I nearly forgot that they were in the losing team four years ago :rolleyes: I am dying to hear which excuses NickF has this time round. I was laughed at when I, ten months ago, predicted that England would stand a good chance of regaining the urn. Meanwhile, I claim that it was very strange that Nathan Hauritz, Australia's front-line spinner, was given five days off. Baffling decision by Ponting, and you have to say he was out-captained in this series. Roland

Would that be Bulgaria 1 losing in the Quarterfinals and Bulgaria 2 in the Semi's :) :) edited.

Bermuda Bowl: QF: Brazil, Norway, China, Japan SF: Bulgaria, Netherlands 2: USA2 1: Italy Venice Cup: QF: Sweden, Denmark, Italy, USA2 SF: France, Germany 2: USA1 1: China Senior Bowl: QF: USA2, England, Australia, Italy SF: USA1, Japan 2: Poland 1: Indonesia