Fatigue – Or An Entry For The Most Ugly? By Christer Andersson ( Sweden) Coming back to the hotel after the last match on Wednesday afternoon, the Portuguese team were twittering like spring-happy birds. It turned out they had won their match in Round 15 against mighty Italy. Not much, but a win, 16-14. Mainly because the Italians had some mistakes, they explained modestly. What happened I inquired? This was the main board: Board 9. Dealer North. E/W Vul.   ♠ K J 10 4 3 ♥ K 10 9 7 4 ♦ 8 ♣ 9 5 ♠ 9 7 6 ♥ 6 5 2 ♦ J 7 6 3 ♣ 10 4 3 ♠ A Q 8 5 2 ♥ A J 8 ♦ 5 4 ♣ K Q 8   ♠ - ♥ Q 3 ♦ A K Q 10 9 2 ♣ A J 7 6 2 West North East South Sangiorgio Barbosa Ferrari Palma   2"* 2NT Dble Rdbl Pass 3 Dble 3" Pass Pass Dble All Pass       Francesco Ferrari intervened with 2NT, although he had eight cards and 11 of his 16 points in the opponents’ suits. This was surely a bid caused by fatigue. Antonio Palma had a clear penalty double. Sangiorgio now redoubled to request Ferrari to bid 3 § . This too was doubled for penalty. Sangiorgio bid his longest and strongest, and Ferrari trusted his partner. Antonio doubled, even more convinced than earlier. Barbosa led the ª J and the declarer played the ace from the table. This was ruffed by Antonio, who drew three rounds of trumps then played a small club to declarer’s ten. Sangiorgio, recognising the poor prognosis of his contract, tried a spade towards the table. Barbosa went up with the king and Antonio discarded his low heart. A club followed to the queen and ace, and another club to the king on the table. This was declarers second trick. The queen of spades was ruffed by Antonio, who continued with his high clubs. Sangiorgio ruffed with his only remaining trump, threw his counting abilities in the bin, and tried to ‘save’ a trick by finessing in hearts through North. That resulted in all the remaining tricks going to Antonio who happily entered +1700 on his scorecard. The Italians tried 3 ¨ also in the Closed Room, but this time undoubled. As the contract could not be set the over-optimistic bidding in the Open Room resulted in 17 Portuguese IMPS.

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