The round robins of a World Championship offer a feast of bridge. The race to qualify for the knock-out stages of a World Championship can produce plenty of drama, especially as they conclude, with teams desperately trying to secure a spot in the top eight.

Norway topped the table in the Bermuda Bowl, while Germany led the field in the Wuhan Cup. Poland scored a great double, finishing on top in the Venice Cup and the d’Orsi Trophy.

After the excitement surrounding Sweden’s record-breaking run of 18 consecutive wins in the Venice Cup, interest centred on the last round of the qualifying competition.

In the Bermuda Bowl there was a tremendous tussle involving USA1, China, India and Netherlands which was only decided near the end, the latter two being the unlucky ones.

The d’Orsi Trophy saw Argentina, Sweden and Netherlands continuously change places. Netherlands had a big win to ensure they advanced but Argentina could only draw which meant that Sweden could overtake them with a good result on one of the last two boards. It arrived in the guise of a +1190 for making 4 Hearts doubled plus two (it could have been defeated!).

Belgium, Argentina and Chinese Taipei battled for eighth in the Wuhan Cup, and it was the team from the low countries who delivered a brilliant last round performance to secure the final place.

The Venice Cup was the only event that was lacking in drama.

Here is a selection of deals from the qualifying rounds:

The One that (almost) got Away

This deal from Round 1 of the Bermuda Bowl was almost overlooked:

Closed Room

West led the ♥3 and declarer won with the ♥5, took two more rounds of the suit ending in dummy and played a Spade for the Queen and King, West switching to the ♦10. Declarer won in hand, drew the outstanding trump and played a Spade to the 9, establishing a tenth trick when that forced the ace, +420.

Open Room

West led the more challenging ♦10 and declarer won with the king and cashed the ♥Q disclosing the 4-0 break when East discarded the ♦4. Appreciating that drawing trumps would mean that the contract would probably rest on the location of the ♣K, declarer turned his attention to Spades, leading the Queen, which West won to play a second Diamond. Declarer won in dummy, played a Heart to the Ace and a second Spade, putting in the 9 which saw East take the Ace and return the ♦J. Declarer ruffed with the ♥J, West pitching the ♣2, crossed to dummy with the ♥K, cashed the ♠J and ruffed a Spade. He could then exit with a Heart, forcing West to lead a Club into the ♣AQ.

Bravo!

Many pairs went down in 4 Hearts. As a small aside, on the auction at this table, there is a case for North to bid 3NT over partner’s double. Although no-one reached that safe harbour in the Venice Cup, two pairs managed it in each of the other three events.

The Top One

Opinions differ as to what constitutes a brilliant piece of play or defence, but for me, one indicator that something special has occurred is if that result is achieved at only one table.

Welcome to Board 4 from Round 7 of the Wuhan Cup and the match between USA2 and Italy.

Closed Room

In the Open Room, North led the ♦8 against 4 Spades and declarer took eleven tricks for +650.

Meanwhile in the Closed Room, Alessandro Gandoglia made the same opening lead as his counterpart. Declarer won and immediately played a Heart to the Jack, which held the trick! It is hard to blame declarer for what followed. She cashed the ♠AK, came to hand with a Diamond and played a Heart to the Queen. South won and played the ♦Q, forcing declarer to ruff. With only one entry to dummy she tried a Heart to the Ace, ruffed a Heart and exited with a Spade, but North won and exited with a Club, South winning and cashing a Diamond for one down – the only occasion across the four events on which fewer than ten tricks were recorded.

I’m not saying that’s the most brilliant defensive play I have ever seen, but it’s in the top 1.

Labyrinth

This deal from Round 16 of the Championships was a potentially tough play problem for NS should they reach 4 Spades.

Suppose South is declarer and West leads the ♣2?

Having won perforce in dummy, it looks natural to cross to hand with the ♥K and play a Spade to the King. When that holds declarer must come to hand with a Diamond, ruff a Club, repeat that process and then play a Spade. If West overtakes East’s Queen, cashes the ♠J and exits with a Club declarer ruffs but can then play a Diamond, securing the last two tricks with dummy’s ♥A and a Diamond.

You can change the order of play, leaving the trump suit till last, but with the ♠A onside you should be able to negotiate your way out of the maze to get home.

Across the four events 49 pairs reached 4 Spades, 31 recording ten tricks.

Chess & Bridge Combined

The Chess World Cup tournament was taking place at the same time as the World Championships. On this deal from Round 17 of the Bermuda Bowl, declarer brought home his contract by utilizing a term that is well known in that game:

In the Open Room, Percario and Donati had bid 2NT-3♣-3♥-6NT, but declarer had relied on both major suit finesses being right and went one down.

6 No-Trump can be made – but is difficult. After two rounds of Clubs, declarer plays two rounds of Hearts finessing and then ducks a Diamond. If South exits with the ♥Q, declarer wins in dummy and plays a Diamond and North, down to ♠Q96 ♥10 ♣J10, is in trouble. On the third round of Diamonds, a Club discard is out of the question, but whichever major he discards from will allow declarer to continue with that suit in what is effectively a repeating squeeze. Across the fields, 48 pairs went down in a slam, while 5 made 6 Clubs and 13 made 6 No-Trump. Remarkably in the Bermuda Bowl only Singapore and UAE made the latter – and they were playing each other!

Closed Room

South led the ♦Q and declarer won with the Ace, played a Club to the Ace and Club to the King, South discarding the ♦9. Declarer cashed the ♥K, took the Heart finesse and cashed the ♥A discarding a Diamond. He ruffed a Heart, cashed the ♣Q and the Diamond King and then played the top Spades ending in dummy. He could then play the ♦10 to score the ♣7 en passant for a splendid +920 and 14 IMPs.

Sinking the Ship

The standard defensive strategies in bridge are well-known, but nevertheless it is extremely satisfying to execute one at the table. This deal from Round 19 of the Bermuda Bowl is an example of one of the most famous:

Open Room

It looks like 2♦ was a transfer to Hearts. Whatever, 3 No-Trump had nine top tricks, +600.

Here West’s double might be showing Hearts. If that is the case, West could have considered bidding 3NT on the next round to show the Diamond stopper.

South led the ♦5 and declarer took dummy’s Ace, drew trumps and then played the ♥8 for the 3, 10 and Queen. Now there is only one card in North’s hand that will scuttle declarer’s contract. Back came the ♠K!

A Merrimac Coup for 12 IMPs.

Qualifiers for the quarter finals

Bermuda Bowl

Venice Cup

D’Orsi Trophy

Wuhan Cup