THE Generali World Bridge Championships will be held in beautiful Monte Carlo from 2nd – 15th November 2003 under the auspices of the Société des Bains de Mer, of the Principality of Monaco and the Compagnie Monégasque de Banque. They will include the prestigious World Transnational Open Teams, the brainchild of the President of the World Bridge Federation, José Damiani.

Would you like a round of golf with Tiger Woods? Or perhaps a game of tennis with Anna Kournikova? Well, you might be able to arrange it if you won your National Lottery, but otherwise it’s just a pipe dream. Part of the beauty of Bridge is that players at every level can compete with the Champions – and sometimes record victories to set alongside the greatest sporting upsets.

Such opportunities arise at events all around the world the whole year long, but the best of these occurs in the World Transnational Open Teams, which is staged during the second week of the World Bridge Championships. The field will include an awesome array of World, European and National Champions and no bridge player should miss the opportunity to pit their wits against them.

Play will start at the Sporting d’Hiver on Tuesday 11th November (late afternoon) and fifteen ten board Swiss matches will be followed by the Quarter Finals with the Semi Final being played on the evening of 14th November, with the Final on Saturday 15th November.

You apply to your Union or Federation for nomination to play in the event, while at the same time having the opportunity to enjoy all the atmosphere and excitement of the final stages of the Bermuda Bowl & Venice Cup.
The easy way to travel is to fly to Nice and then take the train.

Special rates have been negotiated at some hotels. See table below.

The entry fee for the World Transnational Open Teams is US$ 800 per team.

The 2001 edition of the World Transnational Teams featured players of all ages, the stars of the future brushing shoulders with those of the present and past. On this deal Argentina’s Agustin Madala, already a seasoned International at the ripe old age of 15 takes on one of BRIDGE Magazine’s most famous contributors.

	ª Q 10 9 7 3 © - ¨ 8 7 4 § K 10 8 7 2
ª 4 © A K J 9 6 ¨ Q J 9 § Q J 9 4		ª A K 6 5 © Q 10 7 5 ¨ A 5 3 § A 6
	ª J 8 2 © 8 4 3 2 © K 10 6 2 § 5 3

WEST	NORTH	EAST	SOUTH
Madala	Gidwani	Ravenna	Jourdain
-	Pass	1NT	Pass
2¨*	2ª	3©	Pass
3ª*	Pass	4§*	Pass
4NT*	Pass	5¨*	Pass
5ª*	Pass	5NT*	Pass
6©	All Pass

Once East had shown a maximum by bidding over North’s overcall West went in search of a slam. A couple of cue-bids followed by RKCB revealed that East held the three missing aces. Still toying with the idea of a grand slam, West asked for more information and discovered that East held the queen of trumps and the king of spades (East would have bid Six Clubs/Diamonds with that king), so it was time to settle for Six.

South led a spade and declarer won and went to the king of hearts. When North showed out Ravenna took the winning club finesse and then a losing one in diamonds. He could ruff one club high and then discard one on a top spade.

A REPORTER will never be short of a story if he follows the exploits of the mercurial Zia, as witness the following deal:

	ª J 2 © J 10 ¨ K Q 8 5 4 3 2 § K 6
ª 4 © K 9 8 7 4 3 2 ¨ 9 6 § A 7 4		ª Q 9 7 5 © A 5 ¨ J 7 § J 10 9 5 2
	ª A K 10 8 6 3 © Q 6 ¨ A 10 § Q 8 3

=WEST	NORTH	EAST	SOUTH
	Rosenberg		Zia
2¨*	Pass	2©*	2ª
Pass	3¨	Pass	3©
Pass	3ª	Pass	4ª
All Pass

The defence appeared to get off to a good start when they took the first two tricks, West leading a low heart to his partner’s ace and winning the return. Declarer won West’s club switch with dummy’s king and played the jack of spades, covered by the queen and king.

If declarer now makes the mistake of playing a second top trump the contract will fail, as East will ruff the third round of diamonds and leave declarer with two losing clubs. However, Zia had noticed that East had found it very easy to cover the jack of spades and adding that to the fact that he had not jumped to Three Hearts, he decided to play East to be 4-2 in the majors.

Accordingly he played diamonds at once. East ruffed the third round but declarer overruffed and exited with the queen of clubs. West could win but could not prevent declarer ruffing his losing club.

Notice that an initial diamond lead would have upset declarer’s timing and he would have been bound to lose four tricks.

THE YOUNGSTERS are not the only ones to shine as you will see from this deal which features the legendary Henri Szwarc and Pinhas –Mr e-bridge – Romik.

	ª A 9 8 © Q 6 3 ¨ A 10 4 § K 9 4 2
ª K 5 2 © K J 10 4 ¨ J 8 3 § 10 8 3		ª Q 10 7 6 3 © 9 8 2 ¨ Q 5 2 § J 7
	ª J 4 © A 7 5 ¨ K 9 7 6 § A Q 6 5

WEST	NORTH	EAST	SOUTH
Zia	Szwarc	Rosenberg	Romik
	1§	Pass	1¨
Pass	1NT	Pass	3NT
All Pass

Rosenberg led the six of spades to the jack and when Zia played the king declarer ducked. Attempting to persuade declarer the spades were 4-4 Zia returned the two of spades. Declarer took the bait and went up with the ace of spades. Now he cashed four rounds of clubs, West discarding a heart and East the two of hearts and then fatally the two of diamonds. Now declarer exited with a spade, expecting the suit to be divided. Although East proved to have three winners to cash Zia was squeezed in the red suits on the last spade.

	ª - © Q 6 ¨ A 10 4 § -
ª - © K J ¨ J 8 3 § -		ª - © 9 8 ¨ Q 5 § -
	ª - © A ¨ K 9 7 § -

With East and North still to play whichever red suit Zia discards from North chooses the other. Zia tried the jack of hearts but now the ace felled his king.

However, if East keeps all his diamonds, discarding a second heart then Zia can safely discard a diamond on the last spade.

Of course, if declarer ducks the first two spades and then ducks a diamond to West there would be no story!

Rest assured that there will be plenty of stories in Monaco – by competing you might just provide the best of them!

In 2001 it was the squad captained by Malcolm Brachman – Eddie Wold, Mike Passel, Michael Seamon, Geoff Hampson, Diego Brenner & Gabriel Chagas who were crowned as Champions. This year it could be you!
For more information, including the hotel registration form, please go to www.worldbridge.org or www.ecatsbridge.com, or contact Anna Gudge, The Old Railway Station, Long Melford, Sudbury, Suffolk C010 9HN, England, or fax her on +44 1787 881339.

* The rates will include buffet breakfast, taxes and service
** Reservations must be made through the SBM using the Reservation form for the purpose. SBM will not accept reservations unless they are made using this form