The French Women's team had performed heroics in the Round Robin stage of the competition, moving from last to first over the nine rounds. After two sessions of their semi-final they enjoyed a 12 IMP lead over The Netherlands. The third session proved to be decisive.

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

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Willard	Pasman	Cronier	Simons
			1ª
Pass	2NT*	Pass	3©
Pass	4ª	All Pass

West led the five of spades and declarer put up the queen, covered by the king and ace. The queen of diamonds lost to the king and East returned a spade. Declarer won in dummy and ran the jack of diamonds, discarding a heart from hand. She still had to lose a trump, a heart and a club, two down, -100.

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Van der Pas	D'Ovideo	Vriend	Bessis
			1ª
Pass	1NT*	2©	Pass
Pass	3ª	Pass	4ª
All Pass

North/South can collect an easy 500 from Two Hearts, but in the present era it is very difficult to make a low level double that is penalty orientated. West led the ten of hearts and East took the ace. A red suit continuation will defeat the game, but the cunning switch to the four of spades put declarer in with a chance. She won the trick with dummy's jack and played a diamond (playing a low spade first and then the queen of diamonds leaves the defenders without recourse). East could have saved the day by going up with the king of diamonds and playing the king of spades, but that was a difficult play to find and when she played low the queen forced out the ace. Declarer had to lose a club, but that was all, as their was no trump loser and the ruffing diamond finesse was a winner. +420 and a big swing to France.

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

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Willard	Pasman	Cronier	Simons
	Pass	Pass	1©
2§	Dble	2©	2ª
Pass	4ª	5§	Dble
Pass	5ª	All Pass

Was North wrong to pull the double? It was certainly wrong in practice, as Five Spades had no play at all. West led the four of clubs and declarer finished one down, -100.

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Van der Pas	D'Ovideo	Vriend	Bessis
	Pass	Pass	Pass
1§	1ª	3§	3ª
4§	4¨	Pass	4ª
All Pass

East led the seven of hearts, and when West put up the ace, North dropped the queen, which may have been a mistake. After some thought Van der Pas switched to the king of diamonds and had saved the day, as the defenders took the next three tricks. Well done!

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

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Willard	Pasman	Cronier	Simons
		1ª	Pass
2©	Pass	3¨	Pass
3©	Pass	4ª	All Pass

You would obviously like to play the East/West cards in Four Hearts, but how should you get there?

South led the six of hearts and North won with the king and played a club. South took the ace and returned the suit. Eleven tricks are possible now, but declarer played safely for ten, ruffing one diamond in dummy and giving up a diamond at the end, +620.

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Van der Pas	D'Ovideo	Vriend	Bessis
		1ª	Pass
2©	Pass	3¨	Pass
4©	Pass	4ª	All Pass

For my money Four Hearts suggests that you are not interested in partner's suits, but the final contract was the same, as was the opening lead. North won with the ace and switched to the eight of spades. Declarer won in hand with the ten, ruffed a diamond and played the queen of hearts. (The king of clubs is a plausible alternative). When North declined to cover the obvious thing to do is discard the jack of clubs and declarer had almost detached that card from her hand when she changed her mind and preferred a diamond. South could ruff, and the defenders still had to come to a club and a diamond for one down. -100 and another double figure swing to France.

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

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Willard	Pasman	Cronier	Simons
			1§
Dble	1ª	2©	2ª
All Pass

Two Spades was a simple affair and declarer emerged with eleven tricks, +200.

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Van der Pas	D'Ovideo	Vriend	Bessis
			1§
Dble	1ª	2©	2ª
3©	4ª	All Pass

Joey Silver was at the commentators table when this deal came up and he pointed out that the Meckwell approach is to bid game when you have a nine card fit. It was certainly the right thing to do this time and declarer did not find it difficult to arrive at the same number of tricks as her counterpart at the other table. However, their was a significant difference in the score, +620 and the lead was up to 50 IMPs.

Dealer North. East/West Vul
	ª Q 7 4 3 © - ¨ K Q 8 6 § 10 9 8 4 2

Suppose you held these North cards and saw the auction go like this:

West	North	East	South
	Pass	Pass	Pass
1©	?

You would double wouldn't you?
Take a look at the full deal:

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

North/South have a paying save in spades, but you won't find it if North passes on the second round. It proved to be academic, as the board was fouled at the other table.

France had put the match out of reach.