Bridge | 24 September 2022

Wroclaw, in Poland, played host to the Open World Championships in August this year. The Open Teams, the first event to be played and arguably the most prestigious (and the most fun), is known as the Rosenblum Cup.

Eighty teams entered and played for a week before two emerged as the finalists. They were an all-American squad of superstars, captained by Nick Nickell, and the Argentinian/Swedish team captained by Juan Carlos Ventin. Ninety-six boards were played over two days, which made riveting viewing on BBO for anyone who was interested.

Today’s hand shows Sweden’s Frederic Wrang, playing with Antonio Palma for Ventin, finding an unusual and interesting defence against 4♠ (see diagram).

In the closed room, 4♠ had made, but here in the replay, East, Frederic Wrang, and West, Antonio Palma, put up a sterner defence.

West led the King of Clubs, won in dummy and East unblocked the ten. Declarer came to hand with a trump and started setting up his side suit by playing a low Heart. Antonio ducked this, allowing East to win the Jack. Frederic played back his remaining Club, which West won with the seven and continued with the nine in the hope that partner could overruff the dummy. Today there was no trump promotion, but when South ruffed with the ♠Q, Frederic elegantly jettisoned the Ace of Hearts! As declarer could not avoid West getting in with the next Heart, he could no longer avoid the loss of either a top Club or an overruff by East. One down and 11 IMPs to Ventin. Alas for them it wasn’t enough this time; Nickell took Gold, and many congratulations to them. It was a great final.