The Seniors Final

USA II vs Poland

Set One

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

For USA2, Grant Baze and Gene Freed got all the way to 1ª on the North/South cards, making a trick more than they were entitled to for +170. For Poland, Jerzy Russyan and Wit Klapper bid it 1§ - 1¨ - 4ª - Pass, where 1§ was Polish - natural, a weak no trump type, or strong and artificial - and 1¨ was 0-6 or some stronger hands with one or more minors. Gary Hayden led the eight of hearts to the ten and jack, ducked by Russyan. John Onstott returned his remaining heart to declarer's ace and Russyan cashed all six trumps. The pressure had the desired effect, as Hayden threw away all his diamonds and Onstott came down to ¨AJ doubleton. All that Russyan had to do was to cross to the king of hearts to play a diamond up but he carelessly played a low diamond from hand instead and there was no recovery; down one for -50 and 6 IMPs to USA2 when it might have been 9 IMPs to Poland.

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

It looked as though Klapper had got back the points given away on the previous deal when he made a big winning decision on this one. He opened a Polish 1§ as North and it went 1ª - Dble - 2ª back to him. Despite the strong probability of a 4-4 heart fit, he jumped to 3NT. After a spade lead into his tenace, Klapper played on hearts. Onstott won and switched to the ¨10 and Hayden cashed out the diamonds for +400 to Poland. With 4© losing the three diamonds, a ruff and the ©A, that looked like 11 IMPs in for Poland but Baze and Freed also managed to find their way to 3NT and came home with an overtrick; +430 and 1 IMP to USA2.

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

West	North	East	South
Hayden	Klapper	Onstott	Russyan
		Pass	Pass
1§	1ª	Dble	Rdbl
2©	Pass	Pass	2ª
3©	3ª	All Pass

Onstott cshed the ace of clubs and switched to a low heart to Hayden's ace. Hayden cashed the queen of clubs and continued with the §K, which Klapper ruffed with the ten as Onstott discarded a diamond. Klapper played on trumps and Onstott won the second round to play a diamond. Klapper could cross to the king of hearts, draw the last trump and get back to dummy with a diamond to pitch his heart loser on a club; +140.
It looks as though the defence can do better. Firstly, if Hayden plays back a small club instead of the king, declarer still has to ruff high but now the suit is not established. If declarer now plays on trumps, Onstott wins the first round and plays a heart, and how is declarer to avoid another major-suit loser?. But even after the clubs have been established, if Onstott wins the first spade, leaving a blockage, and returns a heart to the king, declarer cannot draw trumps without losing a fifth trick.
However, the fate of 3ª hardly mattered, as at the other table Stefan Szenberg and Andrzej Wilkosz had bid the East/West cards to 4© and brought it home for +620 and 13 IMPs to Poland.

Board 12. Dealer West. N/S Vul.
	ª Q 6 5 3 © A Q J 8 ¨ A Q 8 6 § A
ª K 8 © K 6 4 3 ¨ J 9 7 3 § 10 7 6		ª 7 4 2 © 10 9 7 ¨ 10 4 2 § K Q 5 4
	ª A J 10 9 © 5 2 ¨ K 5 § J 9 8 3 2

This was the first of a run of three consecutive boards featuring a borderline slam contract. Baze/Freed duly bid to 6ª for +1430. Could the Poles match that?

West	North	East	South
	Klapper		Russyan
Pass	1§	Pass	1ª
Pass	2¨	Pass	2©
Pass	4ª	All Pass

One Club was Polish and 1ª a natural positive response. Two Diamonds was artificial and game-forcing and 2© showed up to 11 HCP, balanced and with only four spades. Klapper took the slightly cautious view to settle for game and that was 13 IMPs to USA2.

Board 13. Dealer North. All Vul.
	ª 8 5 4 © Q 7 6 5 4 ¨ 9 7 6 § Q 9
ª A 10 3 © K 8 ¨ A K 5 § K 10 8 5 2		ª K Q J 2 © J 2 ¨ J 10 8 4 2 § A J
	ª 9 7 6 © A 10 9 3 ¨ Q 3 § 7 6 4 3

Szenberg/Wilkosz stopped in 3NT, scoring +690, so there was an opportunity for another big swing to USA2.

West	North	East	South
Hayden		Onstott
	Pass	1¨	Pass
2§	Pass	2¨	Pass
2NT	Pass	3NT	Pass
Pass	Pass

Two Clubs was game-forcing, usually natural but possibly the start of a strong diamond raise. When Onstott showed a minimum semi-balanced hand with his third call, Hayden called it a day, when I would have been tempted to have one try with 4¨. With both minors coming in, that was another +690 and a push board.

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

Perhaps concerned at having just missed a making slam, Szenberg/Wilkosz promptly bid to 6ª on this one and found that they had to lose two diamond tricks; -50. Another chance then for USA2 and one that they gladly took. Hayden opened 1ª and Onstott simply raised to 4ª over Klapper's 2§ overcall. Hayden gave that a look but did the right thing when he passed; +450 and 11 IMPs to USA2. They ended the first set ahead by 41-16 IMPs.

Set Two

Board 17. Dealer North. None Vul.
	ª 8 6 3 2 © 8 ¨ J 10 9 8 6 § Q 10 2
ª K Q 4 © A 5 4 3 ¨ A 4 2 § 6 4 3		ª A 10 © K Q 10 7 ¨ K Q 5 3 § A J 8
	ª J 9 7 5 © J 9 6 2 ¨ 7 § K 9 7 5

West	North	East	South
Russyan	Baze	Klapper	Freed
	Pass	1§	Pass
1©	Pass	2¨	Pass
2NT	Pass	3§	Pass
3NT	Pass	4§	Pass
4NT	Pass	6©	All Pass

One Club was polish and 2¨ showed a game-force. Two No Trump promised extra values but only four hearts in a balanced hand. Two further relays elicited the information that Russyan was 3-4-3-3 and had two key cards for hearts. Alas, the 4-1 trump split left declarer with no chance; one down for -50.
The good news for Poland was that Chris Larsen and Joseph Kivel also bid to the good but doomed slam for the same -50 and a push.

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

West	North	East	South
Russyan	Baze	Klapper	Freed
			2¨
2©	5¨	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Larsen	Wilkosz	Kivel	Wala
			Pass
1©	1ª	3©	Pass
Pass	Dble	Pass	4ª
All Pass

The weak two in diamonds worked perfectly for the Americans when Baze could raise straight to game. Russyan led the ten of hearts to dummy's ace and Freed tried a diamond to the queen and king. He ruffed the heart continuation, played a diamond to the ace and led the jack of spades. Had the club finesse been offside, Russyan's failure to cover the spade might have been expensive but not on the actual deal. Freed established the spades, gave up a diamond and claimed; +400.
Not having a weak 2¨ in his armoury, Wlodzimierz Wala passed as dealer and the auction followed very different lines. When Wilkosz could make a competitive double of 3©, Wala felt that he had more than sufficient to jump to game. However, after a diamond lead, Wilkosz could not find a way home; down one for -50 and 10 IMPs to USA2.

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

West	North	East	South
Russyan	Baze	Klapper	Freed
Pass	Pass	1¨	Pass
1©	Dble	Pass	2§
All Pass

West	North	East	South
Larsen	Wilkosz	Kivel	Wala
Pass	Pass	Pass	1¨
Pass	1©	Pass	2NT
Pass	3NT	All Pass

With no opposition bidding to help him with the lie of the cards, Wala did not find a winning line in 3NT and was down two for -200. At the other table, Klapper opened in third seat and Russyan scraped up a response. When Baze doubled for take-out, Freed allowed his lack of a trump fit to outweigh the high-card strength of his hand and bid a quiet 2§, where he played for +130 and 8 IMPs to USA2. Of course, with the benefit of the East/West contributions to the auction, the Americans would have been very likely to bring home 3NT had they reached it.

Board 22. Dealer East. E/W Vul.
	ª J 9 7 6 2 © K 10 ¨ 9 8 6 § 6 4 3
ª A K Q 10 © 5 ¨ A K 10 3 § A Q 8 2		ª 4 3 © Q J 8 3 ¨ 7 4 2 § K 10 9 7
	ª 8 5 © A 9 7 6 4 2 ¨ Q J 5 § J 5

West	North	East	South
Russyan	Baze	Klapper	Freed
		Pass	2©
Dble	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Larsen	Wilkosz	Kivel	Wala
		Pass	2¨
Dble	2©	Pass	Pass
3©	Dble	Pass	Pass
Rdbl	Pass	3NT	All Pass

Russyan doubled Freed's natural weak two bid for take-out and Klapper passed for penalties. Russyan cashed two top spades then switched to his trump. That went to the ten, jack and ace, and Freed exited with the jack of clubs. Russyan put the queen on that, though it is very unlikely that declarer actually has the king-jack for this play. Still, that need not have mattered, because clearly Klapper could have afforded to overtake to push a diamond through. The combination of defensive plays to this trick cost a doubled undertrick. Russyan exited with ace and another club, ruffed by Freed, who this time exited with the jack of diamonds. Russyan could do no better than play three rounds of diamonds. Freed won, crossed to the king of hearts and took a ruff; three down for -500.
Larsen doubled the multi opening then cuebid on the next round - presumably a second double would have shown greater heart length. Kivel played 3NT, where he made an overtrick for +630 and 4 IMPs to USA2.
With 6§ eminently playable on the East/West cards, the weak two bids had done their work well, allowing neither set of opponents to explore the hand at all.

Board 23. Dealer South. All Vul.
	ª 10 2 © 9 7 5 2 ¨ A J 10 § Q 8 7 4
ª 6 © K Q 8 6 ¨ K Q 9 3 § A J 10 6		ª K J 8 3 © A 3 ¨ 8 5 4 § K 9 5 2
	ª A Q 9 7 5 4 © J 10 4 ¨ 7 6 2 § 3

West	North	East	South
Russyan	Baze	Klapper	Freed
			2ª
Dble	All Pass

Having just been doubled on the previous deal, Freed mimed fear of another penalty double as he put the 2ª card onto the bidding tray and, sure enough, another take-out double was left in by Klapper. Russyan led the king of diamonds to dummy's ace and Freed led the ª10 to the jack and queen then played a diamond up. Russyan found the best defence now when he switched to a low heart to his partner's ace. Two more hearts allowed Klapper to pitch his remaining diamond. The ensuing ruff not only gave the defence a trick but also took out the dummy entry for the second spade finesse. The contract was two down for another 500 to Poland.
Alas, the bidding record from the other table is missing, but the contract was 3NT by East/West, failing by a trick for 100 to Poland and 12 IMPs.

Board 24. Dealer West. None Vul.
	ª A K J 9 8 7 4 © 7 3 ¨ 2 § A 10 7
ª 10 5 © Q 9 8 4 ¨ Q 7 6 § K 6 5 4		ª Q 3 © K J ¨ A J 10 9 4 § Q 8 3 2
	ª 6 2 © A 10 6 5 2 ¨ K 8 5 3 § J 9

West	North	East	South
Russyan	Baze	Klapper	Freed
Pass	1ª	2¨	Dble
Pass	3ª	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Larsen	Wilkosz	Kivel	Wala
Pass	1ª	2¨	2©
3¨	4ª	All Pass

Unfortunately for the Americans, Freed misread his partner's second call and thought that it had been only 2ª, hence his pass. When Klapper led a low club, Russyan did not put up his king, so Baze made an eleventh trick for +200.
There were no such difficulties at the other table, where Wilkosz blasted into 4ª. He did not get the present in the club suit but +420 was still worth 6 IMPs to Poland.

Board 25. Dealer North. E/W Vul.
	ª J 10 6 5 © J 9 ¨ Q 4 3 § Q 10 9 2
ª A K Q 7 2 © A 10 3 2 ¨ K 9 6 § K		ª 9 © Q 8 6 5 ¨ A 10 7 2 § A J 5 4
	ª 8 4 3 © K 7 4 ¨ J 8 5 § 8 7 6 3

West	North	East	South
Russyan	Baze	Klapper	Freed
	Pass	Pass	Pass
1§	Pass	1©	Pass
2¨	Pass	2NT	Pass
3§	Pass	3¨	Pass
3©	Pass	4§	Pass
4¨	Pass	4©	Pass
5©	Pass	6©	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Larsen	Wilkosz	Kivel	Wala
	Pass	Pass	Pass
1ª	Pass	2¨	Pass
3¨	Pass	3©	Pass
4©	All Pass

In the Polish auction, 1§ was Polish and 2¨ game-forcing. Two No Trump showed extras but only four hearts in a balanced hand. Klapper showed his 1-4-4-4 shape then accepted Russyan's slam invitation. The American auction never got close to slam - not that you would worry too much about not being in it, until you found that it had been bid and made at the other table.
Klapper won the spade lead and played ace and another heart, covered all round. Freed guessed to try a diamond now but it didn't matter; +1430 and 13 IMPs to Poland.

Board 26. Dealer East. All Vul.
	ª K 9 3 © Q 8 5 3 2 ¨ K J 9 § 4 2
ª 8 5 4 2 © A K J ¨ 8 4 2 § A 9 5		ª A Q J 10 7 6 © 9 ¨ A Q § K Q 8 7
	ª - © 10 7 6 4 ¨ 10 7 6 5 3 § J 10 6 3

West	North	East	South
Russyan	Baze	Klapper	Freed
		1§	Pass
1ª	Pass	2¨	Pass
2NT	Pass	3§	Pass
3NT	Pass	4§	Pass
4NT	Pass	6ª	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Larsen	Wilkosz	Kivel	Wala
		1ª	Pass
2§	Pass	4©	Pass
4ª	Pass	4NT	Pass
5©	Pass	6ª	All Pass

In the by now familiar Polish methods, Russyan showed his shape and extras, then two key cards for spades. The Americans got to slam just as confidently via a splinter raise of clubs by Kivel. However, they soon got back into spades. Both declarers played ace and another spade to avoid any possibility of a defensive ruff; a push at +1430.

Board 32. Dealer West. E/W Vul.
	ª A K Q J © J 9 8 5 ¨ A 10 5 § K Q
ª 9 6 5 © A 10 6 2 ¨ 9 6 2 § A 5 2		ª 4 © K 4 3 ¨ Q 8 7 4 3 § J 9 8 4
	ª 10 8 7 3 2 © Q 7 ¨ K J § 10 7 6 3

West	North	East	South
Russyan	Baze	Klapper	Freed
Pass	2NT	Pass	3©
Pass	3ª	Pass	3NT
Pass	4ª	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Larsen	Wilkosz	Kivel	Wala
Pass	1§	Pass	1ª
Pass	2NT	Pass	3§
Pass	3ª	Pass	4ª
Pass	5§	Pass	5ª
All Pass

Baze/Freed stayed safely at the four level and Baze came home with an overtrick; +450.
I am not at all convinced that Wilkosz was entitled to make another move over Wala's 4ª sign-off, having already shown his big balanced hand and spade support. With three top losers, Wilkosz had put his side in some jeopardy, and when Larsen led a club to his partner's ace the defenders had made a good start to cashing them. However, Kivel could not see that his partner held the ©K and not instead the ©Q. He switched to a diamond, giving Wala three tricks in that suit and a pitch for one of his hearts. Wala won, played a spade to dummy, then unblocked the diamond, crossed to the king of clubs and took his pitch on the ace of diamonds. Now he played a heart and the defence went wrong when Larsen ducked, forcing Kivel to win the ace. Back came a spade and Wala won, ruffed a heart and crossed back to dummy with another spade. Now came the critical moment in the hand. A small heart lead would have brought down the king and the Poles would have survived their little adventure, but Wala tried the effect of leading the jack to try to pin the ten. That meant that he had to concede a heart at the end for down one and 11 IMPs to USA2.
With 16 boards to play, USA2 held a useful but not insurmountable lead of 88-51 IMPs.

Set Three

Board 33. Dealer North. None Vul.
	ª A K Q 7 5 © K Q J 5 ¨ Q 10 9 6 § -
ª 3 2 © 10 8 6 4 2 ¨ A 5 4 2 § 8 5		ª J 9 © A 3 ¨ 8 7 3 § A Q 10 4 3 2
	ª 10 8 6 4 © 9 7 ¨ K J § K J 9 7 6

West	North	East	South
Russyan	Kivel	Klapper	Larsen
	1ª	2§	Pass
Pass	Dble	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Hayden	Wilkosz	Onstott	Szenberg
	1ª	2§	2ª
Pass	4ª	All Pass

When partner opens a five-card 1ª bid and right-hand-opponent overcalls 2§, which is the more significant feature of the South hand, the four-card trump support for partner, or the juicy club holding? Larsen liked the club holding enough to pass and then pass again when the reopening double came around to him. In contrast, Szenberg gave a simple spade raise, after which Wilkosz raised himself to game.
Four Spades was easy and Wilkosz soon chalked up +450. Which way the swing would go would be decided at the other table, with the defence favourite to come out on top.
Larsen led a spade against 2§ doubled and Kivel won the queen and switched to the ©K. Klapper won the ace and exited with the jack of spades. Kivel won, cashed the jack of hearts, and switched to the nine of diamonds to the jack and ace. If the ¨9 was top or third highest, as it looks to be, then Larsen might have divined the diamond position when declarer played low without a flicker. In that case, he would have done better to play the king on the first round. As it was, the diamonds were blocked and there was no way back to the North hand. Klapper ruffed a heart and was over-ruffed, but after cashing the king of diamonds Larsen had to lead a spade for a ruff and discard. Klapper ruffed in dummy while throwing his losing diamond from hand then ruffed a diamond and was over-ruffed. The timing was such that he had another endplay on Larsen and escaped for just two down; -300 and 4 IMPs to Poland.

Board 36. Dealer West. All Vul.
	ª K 8 6 5 2 © A 8 ¨ 6 § K Q 10 7 4
ª - © Q 10 9 5 3 ¨ K J 10 9 4 3 2 § 9		ª J 9 7 4 © 6 2 ¨ Q 5 § J 8 5 3 2
	ª A Q 10 3 © K J 7 4 ¨ A 8 7 § A 6

West	North	East	South
Russyan	Kivel	Klapper	Larsen
2©	2ª	Pass	3©
4¨	Pass	Pass	4NT
Pass	5©	Pass	6ª
All Pass

West	North	East	South
Hayden	Wilkosz	Onstott	Szenberg
Pass	1ª	Pass	2NT
3¨	4¨	Pass	4NT
Pass	5ª	Pass	6©
Pass	6ª	All Pass

Russyan opened 2© to show a weak hand with at least 5-5 in hearts and any other suit then came again to show his exceptional distribution. Hayden, who did not have such a weapon in his armoury, passed as dealer then contented himself with a simple 3¨ overcall, implying hearts also to explain the lack of an earlier pre-empt. Both Norths declared 6ª on the lead of the queen of diamonds and both, sadly, were found wanting.
Kivel won the diamond, cashed the ace of spades then played a spade to the king and drew the remaining trumps. He continued with ace and another club and loked distinctly unhappy when Russyan showed out. Kivel ducked the club but nothing good developed for him and he was one down for -50. Wilkosz, who had slightly less information from the auction, went down in similar fashion at the other table.
When spades show up to be 4-0, declarer should immediately play to ruff a club and can then come back to hand once with the ace of hearts and once with a diamond ruff to take the spade finesse and draw the last trump.

Board 38. Dealer East. E/W Vul.
	ª Q J 6 3 © A 6 2 ¨ 9 § A 9 8 3 2
ª 8 2 © K 9 8 3 ¨ A Q J 10 8 3 § 5		ª K 9 5 4 © Q J 10 7 ¨ 6 5 4 § Q 6
	ª A 10 7 © 5 4 ¨ K 7 2 § K J 10 7 4

West	North	East	South
Russyan	Kivel	Klapper	Larsen
		Pass	Pass
1¨	Dble	1©	3NT
All Pass

West	North	East	South
Hayden	Wilkosz	Onstott	Szenberg
		Pass	1§
2¨	Dble	Pass	3§
All Pass

Kival and Larsen would have been a little concerned that their lead was shrinking, having collected only +300 on Board 33 and then gone down in a slam that should have been made. They settled their nerves a little by bidding to the low point-count 3NT on this deal, missed by the Poles at the other table. After the lead of the queen of diamonds to his king. Larsen came to eleven tricks for +460 and 7 IMPs against the Poles' +150 from the other room.

Board 39. Dealer South. All Vul.
	ª 3 2 © 9 7 4 2 ¨ J 8 7 6 5 § 9 5
ª 9 8 © 6 5 ¨ A Q 10 9 4 § A 8 3 2		ª Q J 7 5 4 © 10 8 ¨ K 3 § K J 10 6
	ª A K 10 6 © A K Q J 3 ¨ 2 § Q 7 4

West	North	East	South
Russyan	Kivel	Klapper	Larsen
			1©
2¨	Pass	2ª	Dble
Pass	3©	All Pass

West	North	East	South
Hayden	Wilkosz	Onstott	Szenberg
			1©
Pass	1ª	Pass	4¨
Pass	4©	Pass	4ª
Pass	5©	All Pass

This was a great opportunity missed by Poland. The Americans stopped in partscore, where they made ten tricks after a spade lead to the queen and ace; +170. All Wilkosz/Szenberg had to do was to bid to 4© and make it for a big gain and, sure enough, given a free run they did get to game - but then went a level too high. Perhaps, if South cannot bear to pass over his partner's 4© sign-off, then the 4¨ splinter is not the best approach to take. Certainly, it looks foolish to go on to the five level and find that you have there top losers; -100 and 7 IMPs to USA2 instead of 10 to Poland.

Board 41. Dealer North. E/W Vul.
	ª A K J 9 3 © K 7 ¨ A 2 § A K J 7
ª Q 7 4 © 10 9 8 ¨ 10 7 6 5 § 8 4 3		ª 8 6 5 2 © J 5 3 ¨ Q 8 4 3 § 9 5
	ª 10 © A Q 6 4 2 ¨ K J 9 § Q 10 6 2

West	North	East	South
Russyan	Kivel	Klapper	Larsen
	2§	Pass	2©
Pass	2ª	Pass	3§
Pass	4§	Pass	4NT
Pass	5¨	Pass	7§
All Pass

West	North	East	South
Hayden	Wilkosz	Onstott	Szenberg
	2§	Pass	2©
Pass	2ª	Pass	3§
Pass	4§	Pass	4¨
Pass	4©	Pass	4ª
Pass	4NT	Pass	5¨
Pass	7§	All Pass

Two smooth auctions effortlessly reached the excellent and cold grand slam. Where Larsen took a simple approach and asked for key cards as soon as he found a fit, Szenberg preferred to start a cuebidding sequence, but with the same end result; +1440 and a push.

Board 43. Dealer South. None Vul.
	ª Q J 9 5 2 © Q 9 ¨ Q J 10 4 2 § A
ª 7 3 © 7 5 4 3 ¨ K 9 7 5 § 7 4 3		ª K 10 8 6 4 © K J 10 ¨ 6 3 § 9 8 5
	ª A © A 8 6 2 ¨ A 8 § K Q J 10 6 2

West	North	East	South
Russyan	Kivel	Klapper	Larsen
			1§
Pass	1ª	Pass	2©
Pass	3¨	Pass	3NT
Pass	4NT	Pass	6§
All Pass

West	North	East	South
Hayden	Wilkosz	Onstott	Szenberg
			1§
Pass	1ª	Pass	2©
Pass	3NT	All Pass

I am sure that facing a different South hand North could regret not going more slowly, but on the actual deal Wilkosz's terminal jump to 3NT was much more successful than Kivel's slower approach. It is surely impossible for South not to bid the club slam facing an invitational sequence in the American auction.
In 6§, Larsen won the spade lead and tried a heart to the queen. That lost to the ace and back came a club. He was two down from here after ruffing out the ªK; -100.
Meanwhile, 3NT was quite secure and that is all that Wilkosz made; +400 and 11 IMPs to Poland.
But the boards were running out and the Poles had wasted the best of their opportunities. USA2 won the set by 21-20 and the match by 108-70 IMPs. Grant Baze, Gene Freed, Gary Hayden, John Onstott, Joseph Kivel and Chris Larsen were Seniors Champions of the World!

As soon as the match result was confirmed, the happy American players were called to the podium and introduced to the waiting audience. It was an emotional moment for the Americans, after all that has happened in the last few weeks, and after being presented they, along with the whole crowd including WBF President Jose Damiani, gave an enthusiastic rendition of 'God Bless America'. I am sure that we detected a few tears amongst all the smiles.