When Great Britain faced Austria in Round 8, both teams were running out of time. There were some big swings, but neither team could establish any real ascendancy, Austria eventually winning 31-25 IMPs, 16-14 VP.
Here are the highlights:

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

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Weigkricht	Goldenfield	Fischer	Brunner
		1¨*	Pass
3¨*	4©	5§	Dble
Pass	Pass	5¨	Dble
All Pass

Some typically aggressive bidding from the Austrian pair saw them land in some very hot water (we refuse to say they were skating on thin ice!). In a sense it was a pity as it would have been interesting to see if Goldenfield would have made her contract - our guess is yes, as she would probably have picked the spade position.
Five Diamonds cost -800.

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Smith	Erhart	Dhondy	Terraneo
		1§	Pass
1ª	3©	All Pass

Missing game was very expensive, as East might well have led the king of spades. More to the point, South might have bid 3NT, a contract that would have been unlikely to be defeated.

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

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Weigkricht	Goldenfield	Fischer	Brunner
1§*	Pass	1©*	1ª
2©	3ª	Pass	Pass
4©	Pass	4ª*	Pass
5©	All Pass

Five Hearts can be defeated, but it is far from easy. After cashing the ace of spades, South must switch to a heart. Do you see why?
Well, at the table, South switched to a club. Declarer won with dummy's jack, cashed the king of spades to pitch a club, and played two more clubs, ruffing the third one high. Now she exited with a heart. North had to win and play a diamond and Doris had not come this far to go wrong. She played the ten of diamonds and scored up +650.

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Smith	Erhart	Dhondy	Terraneo
1©	Pass	3©	3ª
4©	4ª	Pass	Pass
5©	All Pass

This time West was declarer, but North led a spade to South's ace, and without apparent thought Sylvia switched to the two of hearts! She said afterwards that it didn't seem to be so difficult! Well done indeed, and +100 for a huge swing to Austria.

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

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Weigkricht	Goldenfield	Fischer	Brunner
1¨*	Dble	Redble	1ª
Pass	Pass	2ª*	Pass
2NT	Pass	4¨	Pass
4©	Pass	4NT	Pass
5©	Pass	5ª	Pass
5NT	Pass	7¨	All Pass

Doris Fischer must have been reasonably confident that One Diamond redoubled would prove to be a making contract. In some systems Four Diamonds would not only agree the suit, but also be RKCB. It was a fine effort to get to the Grand Slam after the intervention.

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Smith	Erhart	Dhondy	Terraneo
Pass	1©	3©*	Pass
6¨	All Pass

Three Hearts asked West to bid 3NT with a heart stopper. Despite the fact that she was a little heavy for her bid, Dhondy was facing a passed partner, so it was very long odds against a slam being available, let alone a grand. However, this time she caught her partner with some very good cards. Nicola Smith had quite a problem. She considered Four Hearts and 4NT, but rejected them both in favour of a direct Six Diamonds. There is a strong case for East adding the seventh, but it is always easier to do that from the comfort of your seat in the VuGraph theatre.