Finals - Last Board

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The last board of the finals has been interesting - here it is in the China-England womens final - West led a heart against 3NT, East won the ace, and returned the seven, which West ducked to retain communication - I'm certain that East did communicate after the contract made! At the other table with the same auction and lead, West did cover the heart queen - it appears England will win by just one IMP 223-222!

In the Seniors, USA had a 1 IMP lead heading into this board (the vugraph score was off by an IMP) - the USA NS auction was P-3D-P-3S;-P-4H(cuebid)-P-4S for down 3 -150. Japan bid P-3D-P-3S;-P-4S, and the undertricks were key. Both Wests led a small club into the AKJ - both declarers played heart queen, won by East with the ace. Now the Japanese East played a spade to stop ruffs, while the USA East played a club - Japan finished only down 1 for 3 IMPs gain and the championship 202-200!

In the Open, GoldTown bid P-3D-P-5D, while the Italians NS had P-P-1H-1S;-2NT(raise)-3D-P-3H;Pass-4H-Pass-5D. Both declarers started spades by playing up to the 8, taken with the king. Gold, perhaps looking for a swing, played the spade ace on the next round and went down 2, while the Italian finessed the spade jack and they had a 200-170 victory for the world championship.