Section winners in the Round Robin were awarded 8 V.P. before the start of the Swiss part of the qualification phase, which meant that section winners would have to meet in the first round. Two of them were Kalish from Israel and Welland from the States, two six-player squads that had done well enough during the Round Robin. Those who were hoping for a spectacular match were not to be disappointed, though (or because?) the bridge was not always in accordance with the possibilities offered by the cards. Take for example the first board:

Board 11. Dealer North. None Vul.
	ª K Q 8 7 2 © K Q 10 8 ¨ J 9 6 § 8
ª A J 9 6 © A J 7 5 ¨ A 10 3 2 § 10		ª 5 © 9 4 ¨ K 8 4 § A K Q 9 5 4 3
	ª 10 4 3 © 6 3 2 ¨ Q 7 5 § J 7 6 2

Without a heart lead, 6§ will make if the trumps break, but would you really want to be in it? In the Open Room, they certainly would not:

Open Room:
West	North	East	South
I. Herbst	Fallenius	O. Herbst	Welland
			Pass
1¨	1ª	2§	Pass
2NT	Pass	3ª	Pass
3NT	All Pass

As East never bothered to really show his good suit, the Israelis stayed on firm ground and scored +430.

Closed Room:
Zia	D. Yadlin	Rosenberg	I. Yadlin
			Pass
1¨	1ª	2§	Pass
2NT	Pass	3ª	Pass
3NT	Pass	4§	Pass
4¨	Pass	4ª	Pass
6§	All Pass

Here, Rosenberg wanted to make the best of his nice suit, but this was the wrong moment. When there was a trump loser, the contract had no play. Kalish another +100 and 11 IMP’s.

Or:

Board 14. Dealer East. None Vul.
	ª 9 6 4 © Q 10 8 6 2 ¨ K 8 2 § A J
ª A K Q 10 7 5 3 © A 7 3 ¨ 4 § K 5		ª - © K 5 ¨ A 9 6 5 3 § 10 9 8 7 4 2
	ª J 8 2 © J 9 4 ¨ Q J 10 7 § Q 6 3

Open Room:
West	North	East	South
I. Herbst	Fallenius	O. Herbst	Welland
		Pass	Pass
1ª	Pass	1NT	Pass
4ª	All Pass

Well, maybe, a slam is on when partner has exactly the right cards, but never play him for that, the old thumb rule states! Another safe contract for the Herbsts and Kalish scored another +420.

Closed Room:
Zia	D. Yadlin	Rosenberg	I. Yadlin
		Pass	Pass
2§	Pass	2¨	Pass
2ª	Pass	3¨	Pass
3NT	Pass	4§	Pass
4ª	Pass	5§	Pass
5©	Pass	5NT	Pass
6ª	All Pass

The light 2§ opening did not work well for Zia and Rosenberg. Apparently, the latter expected a much better hand, but the contract really had no play. When the §A was offside Zia was down two for another +100 to Kalish, 11 more IMP’s to them.

And:

Board 15. Dealer South. N/S Vul.
	ª 10 5 © J 10 8 7 6 5 2 ¨ 5 3 § J 3
ª A K J 7 4 3 © 4 ¨ K Q 10 9 § A 10		ª Q 9 6 © K ¨ A 8 § Q 9 8 7 5 4 2
	ª 8 2 © A Q 9 3 ¨ J 7 6 4 2 § K 6

Open Room:
West	North	East	South
I. Herbst	Fallenius	O. Herbst	Welland
			Pass
1ª	Pass	2§	Pass
2¨	Pass	4ª	Pass
4NT	Pass	5¨	Pass
6ª

Closed Room:
Zia	D. Yadlin	Rosenberg	I. Yadlin
			Pass
1ª	Pass	2§	Pass
2¨	Pass	2ª	Pass
4NT	Pass	5§	Pass
6ª	All Pass

Both rooms reached the same contract, which is not so good. About the only legitimate chance is to find a singleton §K somewhere (or the §J bare with North). When this did not come off, the slam was one down. No swing.

Several declarers made the slam, however. They simply called for the §Q from dummy, intending to run it. As a few South players failed to cover, a few North players felt really unhappy…

The slams thus ended up 2,5 – 0,5 for Kalish. Over now to the lesser hands:

Board 18. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
	ª Q 8 4 © A K 8 ¨ K J 8 § A K 10 9
ª K J 10 © 10 7 4 ¨ Q 10 9 6 2 § J 6		ª A 9 7 5 3 © J 6 3 ¨ 7 § 7 5 4 2
	ª 6 2 © Q 9 5 2 ¨ A 5 4 3 § Q 8 3

Open Room:
West	North	East	South
I. Herbst	Fallenius	O. Herbst	Welland
		Pass	Pass
1¨	Dble	1ª	2©
Pass	3¨	Pass	3NT
All Pass

West led the ªK from his KJ10, which held, and continued the jack. After giving it some thought, Welland covered this with the queen from dummy, and that was the end of the defence. His explanation was that he could not believe East to bid only 1ª, holding A10xxxx. Right he was, and his team scored +630.

Closed Room:
Zia	D. Yadlin	Rosenberg	I. Yadlin
		Pass	Pass
1¨	Dble	1ª	2©
Pass	3NT	All Pass

Here, East was on lead but he preferred to lead the ¨7, partner’s suit, instead of a spade. So Doron Yaldin had a easy ride to 11 tricks and 1 IMP more.

Finally, Welland recorded a favourable swing of any size too:

Board 19. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
	ª Q © A Q 9 7 5 ¨ A 6 4 § Q 9 5 4
ª A J 8 7 © K 4 2 ¨ 9 7 5 3 § 10 7		ª 10 9 5 3 2 © 8 ¨ K Q J 10 8 § A 8
	ª K 6 4 © J 10 6 3 ¨ 2 § K J 6 3 2

Open Room:
West	North	East	South
I. Herbst	Fallenius	O. Herbst	Welland
			Pass
Pass	1©	2©	4©
4ª	5©	Dble	All Pass

Ophir Herbst was unaware of the double fit that made his defensive assets less valuable. To make things worse, West ducked the low spade led from dummy halfway through the hand, so an overtrick was born. Welland +750.

Closed Room:
Zia	D. Yadlin	Rosenberg	I. Yadlin
			Pass
Pass	1©	1ª	4©
4ª	5©	All Pass

Nothing special here; as Rosenberg had overcalled just 1ª he was not tempted as he could leave the final password to Zia. Kalish +450 here so 7 IMP’s to Welland.

On the last board, Kalish increased their lead substantially:

Board 20. Dealer West. All Vul.
	ª J 4 © Q 3 2 ¨ Q 7 6 3 § 10 9 7 3
ª 9 6 5 3 © K 10 ¨ A J 8 2 § Q 8 6		ª A K Q © J 9 8 6 5 ¨ 10 5 § K J 2
	ª 10 8 7 2 © A 7 4 ¨ K 9 4 § A 5 4

Open Room:
West	North	East	South
I. Herbst	Fallenius	O. Herbst	Welland
Pass	Pass	1NT	Pass
2§	Pass	2©	Pass
2ª	Pass	3ª	Pass
3NT	All Pass

2ª enquiered about the shape and 3ª showed the 3-5-2-3. When Welland made the rather unlucky lead of the ¨9, play was easy enough. The ten was allowed to win the trick and declarer just had to establish the hearts to ensure his contract. Kalish +600.

Closed Room:
Zia	D. Yadlin	Rosenberg	I. Yadlin
Pass	Pass	1©	Pass
1ª	Pass	2ª	All Pass

The NT range made it impossible for EW here to find their game contract, so they settled for 2ª.

Which made with an overtrick. 10 IMP’s to Kalish who had won 33-15 or 20-10 V.P.