EUROPEAN

14TH14TH
EUROPEAN
SMALL FEDERATION GAMES
SMALL FEDERATION GAMES Larnaca, Cyprus • 1 - 3 November 2022

DAILY BULLETIN
Larnaca, Cyprus • 1 - 3 November 2022
Editor: Brian Senior [ Lay-out Editor: Francesca Canali [ Photographer: Arianna Testa
DAILY BULLETIN
Issue No 1. Wednesday 2[ [ [
Editor: Mark Horton November,
Co-Editor:
2022
Jos Jacobs Journalists: David Bird, Brian Senior, Marc Smith, Ron Tacchi
[Brian
Editor: Senior [ Lay-out
Photographer: AriannaEditor: [ Layout
TestaFrancesca Canali
Editor:
[ Francesca Canali
Photographer: [ Testa
Arianna

IssueIssue
No 3.No 1. Wednesday 2 November, 2022
26.06.2024
UNDERWAY!
The 14th European Small Federations Games is underway in Larnaca, Cyprus. Fifteen national teams will play a complete round robin

UNDERWAY!
Changing Places
over three days, each day comprising 5 x 10-board rounds, including one bye round per team. And that will be that; no qualification, no
knock-outs, just a pure round robin with the top teams at the end of three days taking home the medals, the glory, and the satisfaction
of a job well done.
Serbia leads the way at the end of day one, closely followed by Croatia and the Faroe Islands, but no team is tailed off at the bottom
of the rankings, and any that have a good run over the next two days can still contend at the top.
The 14th European Small Federations Games is underway in Larnaca, Cyprus. Fifteen national teams will play a complete round robin
over three days, each day comprising 5 x 10-board rounds, including one bye round per team. And that will be that; no qualification, no
knock-outs, just a pure round robin with the top teams at the end of three days taking home the medals, the glory, and the satisfaction
of a job well done.
Serbia leads the way at the end of day one, closely followed by Croatia and the Faroe Islands, but no team is tailed off at the bottom
of the rankings, and any that have a good run over the next two days can still contend at the top.

CYPRUS CROATIA CZECH REPUBLIC ESTONIA

CYPRUS
FAROE ISLANDS HUNGARY CROATIA LATVIA CZECH REPUBLIC
LITHUANIA ESTONIA

On the second day of the Women’s Pairs Poland’s Cathy & Sophia Baldysz topped
the qualifiers forMALTA
the semifinal. Denmark’sROMANIA
Nadia Bekkouche & Trine SANBinderkrantz
MARINO BBO SERBIA
Schedule
and Lone Bilde and Helle Rasmussen occupied the next two places.
FAROE ISLANDS HUNGARY LATVIA LITHUANIA
In the Senior Pairs Poland’s Michal Kwiecien & Wlodzimierz Starkowski lead the ROUND 6 Denmark vs France
way, followed by Netherlands Jan Kolen & Jan Verhees, while another Polish Israel vs Scotland
pair, Piotr Bizon and Marek Blat and Belgium’s Guy Van Middelem & Tanguy de Sweden vs Croatia
Liedekerke are tied for third. Romania vs England
Day 2 in the Open saw some significant changes take place. Denmark stormed to
the top of the table with three big wins while
SLOVAKIA Sweden advanced to second,
SLOVENIA UKRAINEahead ROUND 7 Belgium vs Spain
of Netherlands. These three are followed by Belgium, France, England, Italy and Italy vs Netherlands
Germany. Some big guns are right behind, Switzerland, Poland and Norway. Turkiye vs Poland
The previously undefeated
MALTA teams, Netherlands, France Italy
ROMANIA and Germany, all lost SAN MARINO England SERBIANorway
vs
in Round 5.
ROUND 8 Turkiye vs Greece
Wednesday 26th Schedule Netherlands vs Faroe Islands
Finland vs Lithuania
10:00 Women’s (SFA, SFB)/Seniors’ Pairs (Qualifier 7) France vs Israel
Open Teams (Round 6)
13:10 Women’s (SFA, SFB)/Seniors’ Pairs (Qualifier 8)
13:15 Open Teams (Round 7) LoveBridge are broadcasting a match
15.35 Women’s (SFA, SFB)/Seniors’ SLOVENIA
Pairs (Qualifier 9) in every round.
SLOVAKIA UKRAINE
16:00 Open Teams (Round 8) Just go to: https://vugraph.lovebridge.com

Nordic Bridge Supply

ORDIC
N
BRI

www.nordicbridgesupply.com
PL

D
GE SUP
 Prize Giving
The Prize-Giving Ceremony of the Women’s & Seniors’ Pairs and the Online Women’s Team

Championship and the Opening Ceremony of the Team Championships will take place in the

Theater Hall of the Venue at 7 PM on Thursday 27 July (entrance ground floor)

Afterwards, drinks and food can be purchased from the vendors around the pyramid.

Dinner Dates
The Teater Restaurant located in the basement of the venue will be open for both

• lunch (12.00 - 14.00)

• dinner (18.00 - 22.00)

every day until the end of the Championships.

The lunch time buffet includes a free drink and coffee.

16TH WORLD BRIDGE GAMES

Buenos Aires, Argentina - 22 October - 3 November, 2024

3 EVENTS
open to all players

Warm up with the

1-day BAM on 28 October
6 guaranteed days of play in either
the National Pairs or the Transnational Teams
from 29 October through November 3
 56th European Team Championships — 12th National Women’s Pairs Championships — 10th National Seniors’ Pairs Championships
14TH EUROPEAN
SMALL FEDERATION GAMES

Editor’s Log
Larnaca, Cyprus • 1 - 3 November 2022

DAILY BULLETIN
Editor: Brian Senior [ Lay-out Editor: Francesca Canali [ Photographer: Arianna Testa

Issue No 1. Wednesday 2 November, 2022

UNDERWAY!
The 14th European Small Federations Games is underway in Larnaca, Cyprus. Fifteen national teams will play a complete round robin
over three days, each day comprising 5 x 10-board rounds, including one bye round per team. And that will be that; no qualification, no
knock-outs, just a pure round robin with the top teams at the end of three days taking home the medals, the glory, and the satisfaction
of a job well done.
Serbia leads the way at the end of day one, closely followed by Croatia and the Faroe Islands, but no team is tailed off at the bottom
of the rankings, and any that have a good run over the next two days can still contend at the top.

CYPRUS CROATIA CZECH REPUBLIC ESTONIA

FAROE ISLANDS HUNGARY LATVIA LITHUANIA

MALTA ROMANIA
Mark Horton SAN MARINO SERBIA

Star date 26/06/24

SLOVAKIA SLOVENIA UKRAINE

Having alerted you to the potential problems

about dining on 29 June and 1 & 3 July we
can now offer a solution. The Teater Restaurant
located in the basement of the venue will be
open for both lunch and dinner every day until
the end of the Championships. They will be
open until 22.00 each evening! The lunch time
buffet includes a free drink and coffee.

The VuGraph theatre is in Room 5A on the

first floor. Hans Werge is on hand to provide
commentary and may get help as the event
progresses.

Close by is Room 4B, which offers you the

chance to compete in the side games being
offered each weekday afternoon by the DBF.
You should arrive at 13.50 so that play can start
promptly at 14.00.
There are also events at the weekend.

LoveBridge is broadcasting a match in every

round.
Just go to:
https://vugraph.lovebridge.com

3
 56th European Team Championships — 12th National Women’s Pairs Championships — 10th National Seniors’ Pairs Championships
14TH EUROPEAN
SMALL FEDERATION GAMES
Larnaca, Cyprus • 1 - 3 November 2022

DAILY BULLETIN

Mostly Majors
Editor: Brian Senior [ Lay-out Editor: Francesca Canali [ Photographer: Arianna Testa

Issue No 1. Wednesday 2 November, 2022

UNDERWAY!
The 14th European Small Federations Games is underway in Larnaca, Cyprus. Fifteen national teams will play a complete round robin
over three days, each day comprising 5 x 10-board rounds, including one bye round per team. And that will be that; no qualification, no
knock-outs, just a pure round robin with the top teams at the end of three days taking home the medals, the glory, and the satisfaction
of a job well done.
Serbia leads the way at the end of day one, closely followed by Croatia and the Faroe Islands, but no team is tailed off at the bottom
of the rankings, and any that have a good run over the next two days can still contend at the top.

CYPRUS CROATIA CZECH REPUBLIC ESTONIA

FAROE ISLANDS HUNGARY LATVIA LITHUANIA

MALTA ROMANIA SAN MARINO SERBIA

SLOVAKIA SLOVENIA
Mark Horton UKRAINE

There was time for a quick visit to the third session East returning the [7. Declarer won, cashed another
of the Women’s pairs on Monday afternoon. I arrived spade and then rattled off dummy’s hearts. At trick 11
just in time for the second round: East discarded the }A but declarer decided not to take
the diamond finesse. +660 was worth 17.06/14/94
Board 4. Dealer West. All Vul. – the extra overtrick would have been a complete top.
[ 6
] A K Q J 10 9 8 Board 6. Dealer East. E/W Vul.
{ K 10 3 2 [ 865
} 5 ] KJ93
[ 10 9 8 5 2 [ Q74 { J7
] 7 2 ] 643 } J962
{ 7 5 4 { AJ6 [ 10 9 4 [ QJ7
} K 10 4 } A832 ] Q 4 ] 10 8 7 5 2
[ AKJ3 { K 4 2 { 983
] 5 } A K 10 8 3 } Q4
{ Q98 [ AK32
} QJ976 ] A6
{ A Q 10 6 5
West North East South } 75
Bagge Oras Nordgren Iher
Pass 1]* Pass 1NT* West North East South
Pass 2}* Pass 2{* Bagge Oras Nordgren Iher
Pass 2NT* Pass 3}* — — Pass 1}*
Pass 3NT* All Pass 2} Pass Pass 2{
Pass 2NT Pass 3[
1] (9)11-16 Pass 3NT All Pass
1NT Game forcing relay
2} Maximum 1} 17-19or 22+ balanced

The Estonian pair play a version of Relay Precision. When East elected to lead the ]2, declarer played
From the whispered conversation between North and dummy’s ]6, took West’s ]Q and played a heart
East it was clear that South knew the approximate back to the ace followed by a diamond. West correctly
nature of her partner’s hand, whilst revealing nothing ducked and having won with the {J, declarer cashed
about her own. the ]J and continued with a diamond for the queen
West led the [10 and declarer took East’s [Q and king. West cashed the }K, but was never going
and played a diamond for the seven, king and ace, to continue with a low one and after she had taken

Championship specials
The new dealing machines used to duplicate
the boards during these championships are
sold for €2650. The offer is on so long as
supply lasts, but no longer than July 4.
Playing cards (not used) are €0.85/deck in
conjunction with purchase of a machine.
Shipping possible.
Email [email protected] to order

4
 56th European Team Championships — 12th National Women’s Pairs Championships — 10th National Seniors’ Pairs Championships
14TH EUROPEAN
SMALL FEDERATION GAMES
Larnaca, Cyprus • 1 - 3 November 2022

DAILY BULLETIN

the }A declarer had the rest, +430 and 31.94/0.06. Assuming partner’s lead was fourth best, this had to
Editor: Brian Senior [ Lay-out Editor: Francesca Canali [ Photographer: Arianna Testa

Issue No 1. Wednesday 2 November, 2022

UNDERWAY!
The 14th European Small Federations Games is underway in Larnaca, Cyprus. Fifteen national teams will play a complete round robin
over three days, each day comprising 5 x 10-board rounds, including one bye round per team. And that will be that; no qualification, no

The East players who led the }Q and continued the be her only unknown card, so ducking it meant only
knock-outs, just a pure round robin with the top teams at the end of three days taking home the medals, the glory, and the satisfaction
of a job well done.
Serbia leads the way at the end of day one, closely followed by Croatia and the Faroe Islands, but no team is tailed off at the bottom
of the rankings, and any that have a good run over the next two days can still contend at the top.

CYPRUS CROATIA

suit collected 29.81/2.19.

CZECH REPUBLIC ESTONIA

4.31/27.69 for EW.

FAROE ISLANDS HUNGARY LATVIA LITHUANIA

At the end of the round Charles Pedersen handed

MALTA ROMANIA

Board 7. Dealer South. All Vul.

SAN MARINO SERBIA

me a note, reporting that Alma Rasmussen had

SLOVAKIA SLOVENIA

UKRAINE

[ 86 opened the South hand 5[ (when I was a lad that

] Q 10 asked partner to bid 6[ with one of the [AK and
{ KQJ98 7[ with both). West led a club and declarer scored a
} KJ75 heart ruff in dummy for 11 tricks, worth 23.44/8.56.
[ — [ 10 7 Jos has a good story about this deal from the Seniors.
] J 9 4 2 ] A865
{ 7 4 3 2 { A65 Board 9. Dealer North. E/W Vul.
} 9 6 4 3 2 } A Q 10 8 [ AK97
[ AKQJ95432 ] K
] K73 { A 10 2
{ 10 } A 10 7 4 2
} — [ 5 2 [ Q
] Q 7 6 5 ] J93
West North East South { 9 7 4 3 { KJ65
S Rosthoej Koch-Palmund A Rosthoej T Bilde } Q 9 3 } KJ865
— — — 2}* [ J 10 8 6 4 3
Pass 2{* Pass 4[ ] A 10 8 4 2
All Pass { Q8
} —
2} 20-21 or strong with }/]/[
2{ Relay West North East South
S Rosthoej Koch-Palmund A Rosthoej T Bilde
West led the ]2 and East won with the ]A and — 1}* Pass 1[
switched to the [7. Declarer won, West discarding Pass 3]* Pass 3NT*
the }6, cashed another spade and played the {10. Pass 4}* Pass 4]*
Pass 4NT* Pass 5}*
Pass 5{* Pass 5NT*
Pass 6[ All Pass

1} 2+}
3] Splinter
3NT Slam interest
4} Control
4] Control
4NT RKCB
5} 1 keycard
5{ [Q?
5NT [Q, no kings

When North asked for keycards South did not

bid 6} to show 1/3 keycards and a void, perhaps
considering that a void in partner’s suit was not that
useful.
On this layout it was not difficult for declarer to
collect all the tricks, +1010 being worth 26.63/5.38.
6 pairs reached 6[, but no one diagnosed the perfect
fit that delivered all the tricks.

Charlotte KOCH-PALMUND, Denmark

5
 56th European Team Championships — 12th National Women’s Pairs Championships — 10th National Seniors’ Pairs Championships
14TH EUROPEAN
SMALL FEDERATION GAMES
Larnaca, Cyprus • 1 - 3 November 2022

DAILY BULLETIN

Italy v Poland RR2

Editor: Brian Senior [ Lay-out Editor: Francesca Canali [ Photographer: Arianna Testa

Issue No 1. Wednesday 2 November, 2022

UNDERWAY!
The 14th European Small Federations Games is underway in Larnaca, Cyprus. Fifteen national teams will play a complete round robin
over three days, each day comprising 5 x 10-board rounds, including one bye round per team. And that will be that; no qualification, no
knock-outs, just a pure round robin with the top teams at the end of three days taking home the medals, the glory, and the satisfaction
of a job well done.
Serbia leads the way at the end of day one, closely followed by Croatia and the Faroe Islands, but no team is tailed off at the bottom
of the rankings, and any that have a good run over the next two days can still contend at the top.

CYPRUS CROATIA CZECH REPUBLIC ESTONIA

FAROE ISLANDS HUNGARY LATVIA LITHUANIA

MALTA ROMANIA SAN MARINO SERBIA

SLOVAKIA SLOVENIA
Marc Smith UKRAINE

Half a dozen teams came into these championships Board 18. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
with high expectations of contending for a medal, and [ AJ7
two of those teams met on the opening day. ] 10 9 3 2
In their opening match, Poland trailed the Irish { Q84
25-6 at the midway point but rallied to a 26-25 win. } 984
Meanwhile, Italy’s match against Belgium was a high- [ K Q 9 8 6 [ 10 5 4 3 2
scoring shoot-out than ended in a 40-40 tie. Both ] J 6 5 4 ] —
sides will be looking to finish the opening day in the { J 10 9 { K2
top half of the table, but one of them will have to } 7 } AKQJ65
begin their medal quest looking up at most of the field. [ —
Which will that be? We will find out over the next 16 ] AKQ87
deals. { A7653
As usual, we begin with a couple of problems. } 10 3 2
Firstly, with only your opponents vulnerable, you are
East holding: Closed Room
West North East South
[ 10 5 4 3 2 Versace Jagniewski Sementa Gawel
] — — — 1} 1]
{ K2 Dble* 2] 3]* Pass
} AKQJ65 3NT Pass 4[ All Pass

West North East South Wojciech Gawel overcalled a simple 1] on the

— — 1}* 2{* South hand and Alfredo Versace’s double then
2[* 4] 4[ 4NT showed four or more spades. Rafal Jagniewski
Pass 5] ? decided that his hand was worth no more than a
simple raise to the two-level, and thus the Italians
You start with a multi-way Polish Club. South’s 2{ climbed to their spade game with no further
shows both red suits and partner’s 2[ is natural and opposition.
non-forcing. What action, if any, do you take over Antonio Sementa ruffed the opening heart lead
North’s 5]? and played a spade to the king, revealing that he
had two losers in that suit. When Jagniewski chose
Finally, with both sides vulnerable, you are sitting in to duck the first round of trumps, Sementa needed
the South seat with: no second invitation. He began cashing clubs, and
dummy’s diamonds had all disappeared by the time
[ KJ82 North could ruff in. There were two trump losers,
] 43 but that was all, E/W +450.
{ A53 The action at the other table was high-octane and
} K Q 10 4 he auction quickly became a rapidly-spinning merry-
go-round. The key question was, “Who would be left
West North East South with their feet to the fire when the music stopped?”
— — 1{ Pass
1] 1[ Pass ? Open Room
West North East South
You can show an invitational four-card raise or you Janiszewski Manno Strzemecki Di Franco
can simply bid game. How do you evaluate this hand? — — 1}* 2{*
2[* 4] 4[ 4NT*
While you consider those, we begin with the second Pass 5] 5[ Pass
deal of the match. Pass Dble All Pass

6
 56th European Team Championships — 12th National Women’s Pairs Championships — 10th National Seniors’ Pairs Championships
14TH EUROPEAN
SMALL FEDERATION GAMES
Larnaca, Cyprus • 1 - 3 November 2022

DAILY BULLETIN

Wojciech Strzemecki opened a Polish (three- Closed Room

Editor: Brian Senior [ Lay-out Editor: Francesca Canali [ Photographer: Arianna Testa

Issue No 1. Wednesday 2 November, 2022

UNDERWAY!
The 14th European Small Federations Games is underway in Larnaca, Cyprus. Fifteen national teams will play a complete round robin

West North East South

over three days, each day comprising 5 x 10-board rounds, including one bye round per team. And that will be that; no qualification, no

way) Club and Massimiliano Di Franco began the

knock-outs, just a pure round robin with the top teams at the end of three days taking home the medals, the glory, and the satisfaction
of a job well done.
Serbia leads the way at the end of day one, closely followed by Croatia and the Faroe Islands, but no team is tailed off at the bottom
of the rankings, and any that have a good run over the next two days can still contend at the top.

CYPRUS CROATIA

acceleration process with a jump to 2{ (alerted).

CZECH REPUBLIC ESTONIA

Versace Jagniewski Sementa Gawel

FAROE ISLANDS HUNGARY

Their system card says that (1})-2} and (1})-2{

LATVIA LITHUANIA

— — — 1}
MALTA ROMANIA

both show Majors, but that is clearly a misprint, and

SAN MARINO SERBIA

Dble 4] 4[ All Pass

SLOVAKIA

Andrea Manno knew that his partner held hearts, as

SLOVENIA UKRAINE

he jumped all the way to game over West’s non-forcing It is hard to argue with any of the bids in this
2[. East bid the obvious 4[ but Di Franco had now auction, but the contract was still no play and the ‘red
been encouraged to continue to the five-level. That save’ a phantom. Gawel opened the defence with
left Strzemecki was the first of the problems posed two top clubs, but Jagniewski took control, ruffing his
above. partner’s winner at trick two. He cashed the {A and
If it was presented to an expert bidding panel, I then played a heart for his partner to ruff. The {K
suspect that the 5[ bid chosen at the table would be was the fifth defensive trick. Two down: E/W -200.
a popular selection. It was, though, a 19-IMP disaster. The auction in the replay began in similar fashion
Manno’s lead of the {4 gave declarer no chance, but, for the second board in a row, South elected to
and the Italians duly came to the {A and two trump deploy his 4NT card without asking for aces.
tricks for one down. E/W -100 and 11 IMPs to Italy.
Defending 5] doubled would have netted the Poles Open Room
at least +800 (and +8 IMPs) even if declarer guesses West North East South
the diamonds. Janiszewski Manno Strzemecki Di Franco
— — — 1}
Board 19. Dealer South. E/W Vul. Dble 4{* 4[ 4NT*
[ 62 Dble 5] Pass Pass
] Q 10 9 7 5 4 3 2 Dble All Pass
{ A7
} 5 The Italian North also jumped to game in hearts at his
[ 10 7 4 [ AKJ953 first turn, although here it was via a Texas-style transfer.
] A K J 6 ] 8 Despite the void in his partner’s suit, Massimiliano Di
{ Q J 9 4 { 10 8 Franco apparently still hoped to find his partner with
} Q 9 } 10 6 4 3 some support for one of his suits. This time, his decision
[ Q8 to show his minors with 4NT was questionable at best.
] Having allowed their opponents to escape unscathed
{ K6532 at the five-level on the previous deal, the Poles were not
} AKJ872 prepared to allow history to repeat itself. Przemyslaw

Wojciech GAWEL
Antonio SEMENTA

Alfredo VERSACE

Rafal JAGNIEWSKI

7
 56th European Team Championships — 12th National Women’s Pairs Championships — 10th National Seniors’ Pairs Championships
14TH EUROPEAN
SMALL FEDERATION GAMES
Larnaca, Cyprus • 1 - 3 November 2022

DAILY BULLETIN

Janiszewski doubled 4NT to let his partner know he Massimiliano Di Franco decided that the South hand
Editor: Brian Senior [ Lay-out Editor: Francesca Canali [ Photographer: Arianna Testa

Issue No 1. Wednesday 2 November, 2022

UNDERWAY!
The 14th European Small Federations Games is underway in Larnaca, Cyprus. Fifteen national teams will play a complete round robin
over three days, each day comprising 5 x 10-board rounds, including one bye round per team. And that will be that; no qualification, no

wanted to defend. Andrea Manno had nowhere to go was worth only 5{ after East’s pre-empt to 4[. Here,
knock-outs, just a pure round robin with the top teams at the end of three days taking home the medals, the glory, and the satisfaction
of a job well done.
Serbia leads the way at the end of day one, closely followed by Croatia and the Faroe Islands, but no team is tailed off at the bottom
of the rankings, and any that have a good run over the next two days can still contend at the top.

CYPRUS CROATIA

other than his eight-card suit, and West knew exactly

CZECH REPUBLIC ESTONIA

too, West joined in with 5[ despite his balanced hand

FAROE ISLANDS HUNGARY

what to do with that. 5] doubled finished three down:

LATVIA LITHUANIA

but, on this North hand, Manno was surely bidding slam

MALTA ROMANIA

E/W +500 and 12 IMPs to Poland, ahead by 1 IMP

SAN MARINO SERBIA

whatever West did. Here, though, Wojciech Strzemecki

SLOVAKIA SLOVENIA

after the early exchanges.

UKRAINE

trusted his opponents bidding to the extent that he was

The Great Dealer looked kindly upon those kibitzers sure slam was making. With at least six trump tricks
who had come along on the opening day of these guaranteed, the worst that could happen was that he
championships, and the excitement continued with a would lose an IMP with -1400 against -1370, so he took
slam bid in the face of fierce enemy pre-emption… the save at the six-level. With his partner producing the
[A in dummy, declarer had seven trump tricks. That
Board 21. Dealer North. N/S Vul. was all, and he duly lost four clubs and two hearts to go
[ 4 five down, but he was still in profit: N/S +1100 and 7
] A2 IMPs to Poland.
{ AJ985 A series of small pickups put the Italians back ahead,
} AKQJ9 but then came a question of evaluation. Both South
[ A 10 8 [ KQJ9632 players had to answer the second of the problems
] K 5 4 ] 10 3 posed at the top of this article:
{ 10 3 2 { —
} 7 6 4 3 } 10 8 5 2 Board 26. Dealer East. All Vul.
[ 75 [ A 10 7 6 4
] QJ9876 ] Q97
{ KQ764 { Q
} — } J763
[ 3 [ Q95
Closed Room ] J 10 8 6 5 2 ] AK
West North East South { J 10 8 { K97642
Versace Jagniewski Sementa Gawel } A 8 2 } 95
— 1{ 4[ 4NT [ KJ82
5[ 6} Pass 6{ ] 43
All Pass { A53
} K Q 10 4
What do you make of South’s 4NT bid? Is it Blackwood,
showing two places to play, or a slam try in diamonds? Closed Room
(Would your regular partner give the same answer as West North East South
you – something worth checking, perhaps?) Standard Versace Jagniewski Sementa Gawel
in this type of auction is for 4NT to show the two unbid — — 1{ Pass
suits but it looks as if Gawel intended to bid 5{ over 1] 1[ Pass 4[
his partner’s likely 5}, thus showing an invitational All Pass
5{ bid. Whatever 4NT meant, Jagniewski’s 6} bid
seemed a reasonable reaction after West’s spade raise. For the Poles, Wojciech Gawel chose to raise to game
The defence began with two rounds of spades, with the South hand. East cashed both of his high hearts
declarer ruffing. Trumps were drawn in three rounds and then switched to the }9. West won with the }A
and the fall of the }10 then allowed declarer to and switched to the {J. Yes, East might have opened
discard five hearts from dummy, thus avoiding the with only the ]AK and {K, but Gawel played a spade
need to find the ]K onside. N/S +1370. to the ace and finessed on the way back. When West
discarded, declarer had the rest: N/S +620.
Open Room
West North East South Open Room
Janiszewski Manno Strzemecki Di Franco West North East South
— 1{ 4[ 5{ Janiszewski Manno Strzemecki Di Franco
5[ 6} Pass 6{ — — 1{ Pass
Pass Pass 6[ Pass 1] 1[ Pass 3{*
Pass Dble All Pass Pass 3[ All Pass

8
 56th European Team Championships — 12th National Women’s Pairs Championships — 10th National Seniors’ Pairs Championships
14TH EUROPEAN
SMALL FEDERATION GAMES
Larnaca, Cyprus • 1 - 3 November 2022

DAILY BULLETIN
Editor: Brian Senior [ Lay-out Editor: Francesca Canali [ Photographer: Arianna Testa

Issue No 1. Wednesday 2 November, 2022

UNDERWAY!
The 14th European Small Federations Games is underway in Larnaca, Cyprus. Fifteen national teams will play a complete round robin
over three days, each day comprising 5 x 10-board rounds, including one bye round per team. And that will be that; no qualification, no
knock-outs, just a pure round robin with the top teams at the end of three days taking home the medals, the glory, and the satisfaction
of a job well done.
Serbia leads the way at the end of day one, closely followed by Croatia and the Faroe Islands, but no team is tailed off at the bottom
of the rankings, and any that have a good run over the next two days can still contend at the top.

CYPRUS CROATIA CZECH REPUBLIC

Wojciech STRZEMECKI
ESTONIA

FAROE ISLANDS HUNGARY LATVIA LITHUANIA

Massimiliano DI FRANCO
MALTA ROMANIA SAN MARINO SERBIA

SLOVAKIA SLOVENIA UKRAINE

Andrea MANNO

Przemyslaw JANISZEWSKI

In the replay, Di Franco decided that his hand was that they had no reason to enter the auction, so
worth only a game invite, his jump cue-bid showing a Versace was allowed to go down a couple of 50s
four-card spade raise. Having already come into a live whilst his teammates were making an overtrick in 4[
auction on that North hand, it is hardly surprising that at the other table.
Manno did not think he had any extras, and thus the A hard-fought match finished in a 42-30 win for
Italians stopped out of game. They made the same ten Italy, so both of these teams finish the opening day
tricks: N/S +170 and 10 IMPs to Poland, who retook not far from the middle of the pack. I think we can
the lead. be sure that they will both improve on those positions
The match finished with a success for the mini no- over the forthcoming days. Indeed, I’d bet that they
trump. Versace opened his balanced 10-count in will both be amongst those competing for a World
first seat at green, and found his opponents with 12 Championship qualifying place next week, if not for
opposite 12 and a 5-4 spade fit. Both Poles decided a medal.

16TH WORLD BRIDGE GAMES

Buenos Aires, Argentina - 22 October - 3 November, 2024

3 EVENTS
open to all players
Warm up with the
1-day BAM on 28 October
6 guaranteed days of play in either
the National Pairs or the Transnational Teams
from 29 October through November 3

9
 56th European Team Championships — 12th National Women’s Pairs Championships — 10th National Seniors’ Pairs Championships
14TH EUROPEAN
SMALL FEDERATION GAMES
Larnaca, Cyprus • 1 - 3 November 2022

DAILY BULLETIN

Open Teams – Round 2

Editor: Brian Senior [ Lay-out Editor: Francesca Canali [ Photographer: Arianna Testa

Issue No 1. Wednesday 2 November, 2022

UNDERWAY!
The 14th European Small Federations Games is underway in Larnaca, Cyprus. Fifteen national teams will play a complete round robin
over three days, each day comprising 5 x 10-board rounds, including one bye round per team. And that will be that; no qualification, no
knock-outs, just a pure round robin with the top teams at the end of three days taking home the medals, the glory, and the satisfaction
of a job well done.
Serbia leads the way at the end of day one, closely followed by Croatia and the Faroe Islands, but no team is tailed off at the bottom
of the rankings, and any that have a good run over the next two days can still contend at the top.

CYPRUS CROATIA CZECH REPUBLIC ESTONIA

FAROE ISLANDS HUNGARY LATVIA LITHUANIA

MALTA ROMANIA SAN MARINO SERBIA

SLOVAKIA SLOVENIA
Brian Senior UKRAINE

The early deals of Round Two featured some very went away on the fourth club as North ruffed, but now
lively distributions leading, of course, to a number of there was only one more spade trick to come and both
swings in many matches. declarers came to 11 tricks. That was worth +450 to
Drijver but +650 to Grude, and 5 IMPs to Norway.
Board 18. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
[ AJ7 Estonia v Germany
] 10 9 3 2 West North East South
{ Q84 Alter Kurig Gotard Aava
} 984 — — 1} 1]
[ K Q 9 8 6 [ 10 5 4 3 2 Dble 2] 4[ All Pass
] J 6 5 4 ] —
{ J 10 9 { K2 West North East South
} 7 } AKQJ65 Naber Auken Luks Welland
[ — — — 1[ 2[*
] AKQ87 4[ 5] 5[ Dble
{ A7653 All Pass
} 10 3 2
For Germany, Gotard opened 1} and Aava
Norway v Switzerland overcalled a simple 1]. Though Kurig raised to 2],
West North East South Aava went quietly over Gotard’s 4[ so that ended the
Brink Bakke Drijver Brogeland auction.
— — 1} 2NT* Aava led a top heart, which was ruffed, and Gotard
Pass 4] 4[ All Pass led a spade to the king and ace. Kurig returned the
four of diamonds but Gotard got that right, playing
West North East South low. He lost to the ace of diamonds and there was a
Helgemo Kalita Grude Klukowski second spade to lose also but that was all; +420.
— — 1} 2NT* Playing Precision, Luks did not have a natural 1}
Dble 4] 4[ 5] opening at his disposal and didn’t like to open 2}
Pass Pass 5[ Pass (Precision-style) with five spades, so instead opened
Pass Dble All Pass 1[. Welland cuebid to show his two-suiter and Naber
had an easy raise to 4[. Auken had a much less easy
Both Easts opened 1} and both Souths overcalled 5] bid as she did not know was her partner’s minor
2NT to show the red suits. Helgemo now doubled, and much of her strength was in the opposition’s suit.
suggesting spades, with the West hand, while Brink Her brave bid created an opportunity to gain as Luks,
passed. This made no material difference to either with such a shapely hand, went on to 5sx, which
North or East, who had fairly automatic bids of 4] Welland doubled. Welland led a heart, which was
and 4[ respectively. Drijver was allowed to play there, ruffed, and Luks played a spade at trick two. Auken
but Klukowski went on to 5] over 4[ and, when won that and returned a diamond and, though Luks
that came around to Grude, buoyed by that double of got that right, this was for down one and –100, so 11
2NT, felt able to take the push to 5[, which Kalita IMPs to Germany.
doubled on the way out.
With the spades badly placed for E/W, there are France v Austria
three top losers, but our two declarers showed that West North East South
the defence would have only one chance to cash the Scheberan Bessis Wadl Lorenzini
third trick. — — 1} 2NT*
Brogeland and Klukowski both led a top heart, which Dble 4] 4[ 5]
declarer ruffed. Drijver and Grude both ruffed and Dble All Pass
immediately played on clubs. Dummy’s last diamond
10
 56th European Team Championships — 12th National Women’s Pairs Championships — 10th National Seniors’ Pairs Championships
14TH EUROPEAN
SMALL FEDERATION GAMES
Larnaca, Cyprus • 1 - 3 November 2022

DAILY BULLETIN

West North East South Board 19. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
Editor: Brian Senior [ Lay-out Editor: Francesca Canali [ Photographer: Arianna Testa

Issue No 1. Wednesday 2 November, 2022

UNDERWAY!
The 14th European Small Federations Games is underway in Larnaca, Cyprus. Fifteen national teams will play a complete round robin
over three days, each day comprising 5 x 10-board rounds, including one bye round per team. And that will be that; no qualification, no

[ 62
knock-outs, just a pure round robin with the top teams at the end of three days taking home the medals, the glory, and the satisfaction

L Rombaut Knob J Rombaut Wanha

of a job well done.
Serbia leads the way at the end of day one, closely followed by Croatia and the Faroe Islands, but no team is tailed off at the bottom
of the rankings, and any that have a good run over the next two days can still contend at the top.

CYPRUS CROATIA

— CZECH REPUBLIC ESTONIA

— 1} 2NT* ] Q 10 9 7 5 4 3 2
FAROE ISLANDS HUNGARY

Dble LATVIA LITHUANIA

3] 4[ All Pass { A7
MALTA ROMANIA SAN MARINO SERBIA

} 5
SLOVAKIA SLOVENIA

For France, Jerome Rombaut opened 1} and

UKRAINE

[ 10 7 4 [ AKJ953
Wanha overcalled 2NT to show the red suits. Leo ] A K J 6 ] 8
Rombaut doubled and Knob contented himself with { Q J 9 4 { 10 8
3] as North. When Jerome jumped to 4[, he was } Q 9 } 10 6 4 3
allowed to play there. He ruffed the heart lead and [ Q8
led a spade to the king and ace. Back came the four ] —
of diamonds but he played low so lost only to the ace { K6532
plus a later spade trick; +420. } AKJ872
For Austria, Wadl opened the East hand with 1}
and Lorenzini overcalled 2NT, red suits. Scheberan Norway v Switzerland
could double and Bessis jumped to 4], over which West North East South
Wadl bid 4[. When Lorenzini took the push to 5], Brink Bakke Drijver Brogeland
he was doubled by Scheberan, and that concluded the — — — 1}
auction. Dble 3] 4[ All Pass
Wadl cashed three top clubs then led a low spade
to the queen and ace. Bessis cashed a top heart, West North East South
getting the bad news, then switched his attention to Helgemo Kalita Grude Klukowski
the side-suit, playing ace and another diamond. When — — — 2}*
Scheberan followed with the nine then ten, Bessis got Dble 4] 4[ Pass
the suit right by playing low from hand and bringing Pass Dble All Pass
down the king. There was, however, still a trump to
be lost, so the contract was down three for –800 and Brogeland opened the South hand with 1} and
9 IMPs to Austria. Brink doubled. A natural pre-emptive 3] from Bakke
Out of 30 tables, three N/Ss declared heart contracts: did nothing to cause Drijver any problems and he
5] doubled minus three twice and 6] doubled minus jumped confidently to 4[, where he played.
four once. Eleven E/Ws were allowed to play in 4[ Drijver may have had no problems in the auction,
for either +420 or +450. Six Spades doubled was but as soon as dummy appeared he knew that he was
beaten two by a diamond lead the only time it was doomed in 4[. However, the defence added a little
played, as was 5[, once doubled, once not. Of those wrinkle to the play when Brogeland cashed the two
who played 5[, doubled or not, on a heart lead, six top clubs and Bakke discarded the seven of diamonds,
made it, eight were down. As we have seen, 11 tricks meaning that the king could no longer be cashed. Not
are made on a heart lead by playing four rounds of to worry; Brogeland switched to the six of diamonds
clubs for diamond pitches. and Bakke won the now bare ace and returned the

Tor Eivind GRUDE

Michal KLUKOWSKI

Geir HELGEMO

Jacek KALITA
11
 56th European Team Championships — 12th National Women’s Pairs Championships — 10th National Seniors’ Pairs Championships
14TH EUROPEAN
SMALL FEDERATION GAMES
Larnaca, Cyprus • 1 - 3 November 2022

DAILY BULLETIN

]10. Brogeland ruffed then gave Bakke a diamond bidding 5]. Naber, of course, was delighted to double
Editor: Brian Senior [ Lay-out Editor: Francesca Canali [ Photographer: Arianna Testa

Issue No 1. Wednesday 2 November, 2022

UNDERWAY!
The 14th European Small Federations Games is underway in Larnaca, Cyprus. Fifteen national teams will play a complete round robin
over three days, each day comprising 5 x 10-board rounds, including one bye round per team. And that will be that; no qualification, no

ruff, but Drijver ruffed high on the next heart then laid that.
knock-outs, just a pure round robin with the top teams at the end of three days taking home the medals, the glory, and the satisfaction
of a job well done.
Serbia leads the way at the end of day one, closely followed by Croatia and the Faroe Islands, but no team is tailed off at the bottom
of the rankings, and any that have a good run over the next two days can still contend at the top.

CYPRUS CROATIA

down the ace of spades, so that was that; down two

CZECH REPUBLIC ESTONIA

Gotard cashed the ace and king of spades then

FAROE ISLANDS HUNGARY

for –200. LATVIA LITHUANIA

switched to the ten of diamonds, which Kurig won

MALTA ROMANIA

Klukowski opened a natural but limited 2} and

SAN MARINO SERBIA

in hand with the ace. He played the seven of hearts,

SLOVAKIA SLOVENIA

Helgemo doubled. Kalita jumped to 4] and Grude

UKRAINE

losing to Gotard’s bare eight, and there were still three

bid 4[. When that came around to Kalita he doubled, more heart tricks to come for the defence; down four
suggesting that they should do something, and for –800 and 11 IMPs to Germany.
Klukowski, of course, left it in.
Klukowski also cashed the top clubs but Kalita France v Austria
pitched the ten of hearts. Klukowski switched to the West North East South
six of diamonds and Kalita won the ace and recognised Scheberan Bessis Wadl Lorenzini
the suit-preference element in his partner’s play so — — — 1}
switched to a heart. Klukowski ruffed and cashed the Dble 4] 4[ All Pass
king of diamonds for down two, but this time that cost
–500 so 7 IMPs to Switzerland. West North East South
L Rombaut Knob J Rombaut Wanha
Estonia v Germany — — — 1}
West North East South Dble 1] 4[ Pass
Alter Kurig Gotard Aava Pass 5] Pass Pass
— — — 2}* Dble All Pass
Dble 2] 4[ Pass
Pass 5] Pass Pass We have seen this before – getting the eight-card
Dble All Pass heart suit off your chest in one go, thereby leaving to
temptation to bid it again, works out a lot better than
West North East South starting with a simple bid in the suit.
Naber Auken Luks Welland Bessis bid 4] at his first turn and could then pass
— — — 1}* in comfort when 4[ came back to him. Lorenzini led
Dble 4{ 4[ 5} out the top two clubs and Bessis ruffed the second
Dble All Pass round the cash the ace of diamonds. When he got
a discouraging two from Lorenzini, he switched to a
Welland opened 1}, natural or balanced, and Auken heart and Lorenzini took the ruff then cashed the {K
jumped to 4{, showing hearts, over Naber’s double. for down two and –200.
When Luks bid 4[, Welland ignored the misfit and Knob started with 1] and felt obliged to bid again
went on to 5}, which Naber doubled. Welland ruffed when 4[ came around. Five Hearts was, of course,
the heart lead and played three rounds of diamonds, doubled. Jerome cashed the top spades then switched
ruffing and being over-ruffed. That was fine as the to the ten of diamonds, Knob winning in hand and
over-ruff came with a natural trump trick. Luks played playing the five of hearts. He lost to the bare eight so
ace, king, then jack of spades. Welland ruffed the third had four trump losers and was down four for –800
spade and gave up a diamond to establish the fifth and 14 IMPs to France.
card in the suit. Luks ruffed his partner’s winner, which Starting hearts with the queen would have been
would have been a good idea had he then returned a more effective, gaining in the actual case but also
spade to promote a trick for Naber’s queen of clubs, when the jack is bare. Of course, it costs a fourth trick
but Luks just returned a trump, and Welland won the when it is the ace or king which is bare, but that is less
ace and played clubs from the top so was down two likely after east has turned up with both ace and king
for –300. of spades.
That was no triumph for N/S with 4[ fated to be Three Diamonds made once by N/S, and both 3[
down two had Luks been left to play there. However, and 4[ made once each by E/W. Everyone else was
the Estonian N/S would have been glad to concede down. Four Spades was down one or two 12 times.
only –300. Four Hearts undoubled drifted off five times, and 5]
For Estonia, Aava opened a Precision-style 2}, was doubled four times; there were three pairs down
Alter doubled, and Kurig bid a simple 2]. When in 5} doubled, one down five in 5{ doubled, and
Gotard’s jump to 4[ came back around, Kurig had one down five in 5{ undoubled.
two or three hearts still unbid, and could not resist

12
 56th European Team Championships — 12th National Women’s Pairs Championships — 10th National Seniors’ Pairs Championships
14TH EUROPEAN
SMALL FEDERATION GAMES
Larnaca, Cyprus • 1 - 3 November 2022

DAILY BULLETIN

Board 20. Dealer West. All Vul. discarded two spades and a diamond, Klukowski a
Editor: Brian Senior [ Lay-out Editor: Francesca Canali [ Photographer: Arianna Testa

Issue No 1. Wednesday 2 November, 2022

UNDERWAY!
The 14th European Small Federations Games is underway in Larnaca, Cyprus. Fifteen national teams will play a complete round robin
over three days, each day comprising 5 x 10-board rounds, including one bye round per team. And that will be that; no qualification, no

[ Q8652 heart. The position was marked, and Helgemo next

knock-outs, just a pure round robin with the top teams at the end of three days taking home the medals, the glory, and the satisfaction
of a job well done.
Serbia leads the way at the end of day one, closely followed by Croatia and the Faroe Islands, but no team is tailed off at the bottom
of the rankings, and any that have a good run over the next two days can still contend at the top.

CYPRUS CROATIA

CZECH REPUBLIC

] A7 ESTONIA

played the two of hearts, bringing down the ace.

FAROE ISLANDS HUNGARY

LATVIA

{ Q742 LITHUANIA

There were only two diamonds to cash, so Helgemo

MALTA ROMANIA

SAN MARINO

} Q8 SERBIA

had nine tricks for +600 and 12 IMPs to Norway.

SLOVAKIA SLOVENIA

[ 7 4
UKRAINE

[ A J 10 9 Kalita could have pitched a third spade to keep the

] K 3 2 ] Q 10 8 4 fourth diamond, but Helgemo would still have had
{ K 8 5 { 10 9 3 nine tricks – nicely played.
} A J 9 6 5 } K 10 Nobody else managed to both bid and make 3NT,
[ K3 with several declarers going down in 1NT, 2NT or
] J965 3NT.
{ AJ6
} 7432 Board 21. Dealer North. N/S Vul.
[ 4
Norway v Switzerland ] A2
West North East South { AJ985
Brink Bakke Drijver Brogeland } AKQJ9
1} 1[ Dble Rdbl [ A 10 8 [ KQJ9632
Pass Pass 2NT All Pass ] K 5 4 ] 10 3
{ 10 3 2 { —
West North East South } 7 6 4 3 } 10 8 5 2
Helgemo Kalita Grude Klukowski [ 75
1} 1[ Dble Pass ] QJ9876
1NT Pass 3NT All Pass { KQ764
} —
Both auctions started the same way, but Brogeland
could redouble to show a strong doubleton spades Norway v Switzerland
while Klukowski passed the South hand. West North East South
Drijver invited game by jumping to 2NT at his Brink Bakke Drijver Brogeland
second turn but, holding a minimum, Brink declined — 1{ 4[ 4NT*
the invitation. Brogeland led the king of spades, which Dble 6} 6[ Dble
Drijver won. Drijver played the jack of spades back All Pass
at the defence Bakke ducked. Not wishing to give
his opponents the opportunity of setting up the fifth West North East South
spade, Drijver now switched his attention to clubs, Helgemo Kalita Grude Klukowski
playing king then ten, overtaking with the jack. That – 1}* 4[ 4NT*
lost to the queen and Bakke returned a low diamond Dble 5NT* Pass 6{
to the jack and king. Drijver could cash three club 6[ Pass Pass Dble
tricks but now the defence had three diamonds, the All Pass
[Q and ]A to cash for down one and –100.
When Helgemo rebid 1NT, simply showing a weak Bakke opened 1{ and Drijver overcalled 4[. Four
NT type and not promising a spade stopper, Grude No Trump showed two places to play, and Bakke had
liked his spade holding so much that he raised all more than enough to jump to 6}, which Brogeland
the way to game. Having bid spades, Kalita led the would have converted to 6{, had Drijver not saved in
two of diamonds, Klukowski putting in the jack over front of him in 6[. Lacking control cards, Brogeland
dummy’s ten. Helgemo won the king and led the three doubled to discourage Bakke from going on to Seven,
of hearts from hand, putting up the queen when Kalita and that was that.
played low. Next, Helgemo cashed the king of clubs Brogeland led the queen of diamonds. Drijver ruffed,
followed by leading the }10 to his ace, Klukowski led the king of spades to the ace and ruffed a second
following with the two, a Smith signal to say that he diamond. A spade to the eight was followed by a ruff
liked diamonds. That brought Helgemo up to eight of the third diamond, and Drijver was in a position
tricks and, as the old saying goes, where there’s eight, to exit with a club and, after Bakke had cashed four
there’s nine. He cashed the rest of the clubs, throwing of those, he would have been endplayed to hold
one card from each suit in dummy. Meanwhile, Kalita declarer to one heart loser. But, having gone through

13
 56th European Team Championships — 12th National Women’s Pairs Championships — 10th National Seniors’ Pairs Championships
14TH EUROPEAN
SMALL FEDERATION GAMES
Larnaca, Cyprus • 1 - 3 November 2022

DAILY BULLETIN

the elimination process, Drijver now decided to lead with a diamond, there were two hearts to be lost for
Editor: Brian Senior [ Lay-out Editor: Francesca Canali [ Photographer: Arianna Testa

Issue No 1. Wednesday 2 November, 2022

UNDERWAY!
The 14th European Small Federations Games is underway in Larnaca, Cyprus. Fifteen national teams will play a complete round robin
over three days, each day comprising 5 x 10-board rounds, including one bye round per team. And that will be that; no qualification, no

a heart to the king, so was down five for –1100 – still down five and –1100.
knock-outs, just a pure round robin with the top teams at the end of three days taking home the medals, the glory, and the satisfaction
of a job well done.
Serbia leads the way at the end of day one, closely followed by Croatia and the Faroe Islands, but no team is tailed off at the bottom
of the rankings, and any that have a good run over the next two days can still contend at the top.

CYPRUS CROATIA

a good save against the cold 6{.

CZECH REPUBLIC ESTONIA

Auken could open 1{ and, facing a genuine suit,

FAROE ISLANDS HUNGARY

Kalita had to open the strong variety of the Polish

LATVIA LITHUANIA

Welland just bid 5{ over Luks’ 4[. Naber bid 5[,

MALTA ROMANIA

Club, so had yet to show a suit when the auction came

SAN MARINO SERBIA

Auken showed her second suit, and Welland signed-

SLOVAKIA SLOVENIA

back to him at the five level. If Klukowski could commit off in 6{. He left the final decision to Auken when
UKRAINE

to the five level, then surely Kalita could commit to a Luks saved in 6[, and Auken settled for whatever
level higher, and he showed his two-suiter by bidding penalty would come their way.
5NT. Both North and South had shown two-suiters Luks ruffed the diamond lead and drew trumps,
and, of course, they settled in 6{, but now Helgemo, eliminating diamonds in the process. Next he exited
who had been quite happy to defend against a five- with the ten of clubs and Auken could win and cash
level contract, saved in 6[. Kalita left that round to three more of those, but was then endplayed and Luks
Klukowski in case he fancied a shot at the grand slam had only one heart loser. Down four cost –800 but
but Klukowski doubled to conclude the auction. that was worth 7 IMPs to Estonia – well played, Luks.
Klukowski too led the queen of diamonds, ruffed by
Grude. Clubs had not been bid in a natural sense at France v Austria
this table and Grude played a club at trick two. It still West North East South
looks an odd thind to do, and it allowed Kalita to cash Scheberan Bessis Wadl Lorenzini
four club winners the get out with a diamond and wait — 1{ 4[ 5{
to collect two hearts at the end; down five for –1100 5[ 6{ All Pass
and a flat board.
West North East South
Estonia v Germany L Rombaut Knob J Rombaut Wanha
West North East South — 1{ 4[ 5{
Alter Kurig Gotard Aava Pass 6{ Pass Pass
— 1} 4[ 5] 6[ Dble All Pass
5[ Pass Pass Dble
Pass 6} Pass 6{ Scheberan saved in 5[ over 5{, but was then
6[ Dble All Pass willing to defend 6{. When clubs provided five tricks,
Bessis didn’t even need the heart finesse; +1370.
West North East South Leo took the opposite view, beings prepared to let
Naber Auken Luks Welland his opponents play at the five level, but then saving
— 1{ 4[ 5{ when they went on to slam. Wanha solved all the
5[ 6} Pass 6{ play and defence problems on the board by leading
Pass Pass 6[ Pass the queen of hearts, so there were two hearts and
Pass Dble All Pass four clubs to be lost for down five and –1100. That,
however, was worth 7 IMPs to France.
Kurig had to open a strong club with the North Exactly half the field were allowed to play in 6{,
hand and when Gotard overcalled 4[ Aava took the always making, of course. Which means that exactly
big position to bid 5] rather than show a two-suiter. half the field played in 6[ doubled. Two received the
Kurig passed over Alter’s 5[ then bid 6} when lead of the queen of hearts, so could not avoid being
Aava doubled. Aava converted to 6{, and the correct down five for –1100. Of the other 13, six found the
trump suit had been found at the six level. When Alter line for down four, seven did not.
saved again in 6[, Kurig doubled, ending the auction. In the three matches which we have followed,
Aava led the king of diamonds, which Gotard ruffed. Norway beat Switzerland by 29-10 IMPs, Germany
He drew trumps in two rounds then played a club, so beat Estonia by 34-25 IMPs, and France beat Austria
lost four of those and, when Kurig next exited safely by 55-14 IMPs.

14
 56th European Team Championships — 12th National Women’s Pairs Championships — 10th National Seniors’ Pairs Championships
14TH EUROPEAN
SMALL FEDERATION GAMES
Larnaca, Cyprus • 1 - 3 November 2022

DAILY BULLETIN
Editor: Brian Senior [ Lay-out Editor: Francesca Canali [ Photographer: Arianna Testa

Issue No 1. Wednesday 2 November, 2022

UNDERWAY!
The 14th European Small Federations Games is underway in Larnaca, Cyprus. Fifteen national teams will play a complete round robin

Seniors’ Pairs, 3rd Qualifying Round

over three days, each day comprising 5 x 10-board rounds, including one bye round per team. And that will be that; no qualification, no
knock-outs, just a pure round robin with the top teams at the end of three days taking home the medals, the glory, and the satisfaction
of a job well done.
Serbia leads the way at the end of day one, closely followed by Croatia and the Faroe Islands, but no team is tailed off at the bottom
of the rankings, and any that have a good run over the next two days can still contend at the top.

CYPRUS CROATIA CZECH REPUBLIC ESTONIA

FAROE ISLANDS HUNGARY LATVIA LITHUANIA

MALTA ROMANIA SAN MARINO SERBIA

SLOVAKIA SLOVENIA
Jos Jacobs UKRAINE

For this final session on Monday, I will stick to On to the next deal:
reporting about two sets of three boards. The seniors
had to play only 12 boards, so my choice was pretty Board 2. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
restricted. However, the deals I eventually chose [ Q 10 8 6 2
were among the most interesting (or spectacular, ] 2
for that matter) of the day, I feel. On the first three, { A 10 4 3
the then leaders, Helmertz-Jordestedt from Sweden, } AK5
were facing Jan Kolen and Jan Verhees from The [ 9 7 [ AK
Netherlands. The latter pair turned out to have ] Q J 10 8 6 3 ] A75
become the overnight leaders so they must have { K Q { 872
registered a few good scores against the Swedes. } J 9 2 } Q7643
Here are the deals they played against each other [ J543
in full. ] K94
{ J965
Board 1. Dealer North. None Vul. } 10 8
[ 98765
] J872 West North East South
{ AQ75 J. Verhees Jordestedt Kolen Helmertz
} — — — 1} Pass
[ — [ A Q 10 4 2 1] 1[ Dble 2[
] A Q 6 ] K 10 9 5 3] 4[ Dble All Pass
{ K J 10 9 8 4 3 { 2
} Q 9 4 } 853 Had North contented himself with 3[, he might
[ KJ3 have collected all the matchpoints had he been allowed
] 43 to play there. If E/W bid on, they might get themselves
{ 6 a bad score if anyone would take the trouble to double
} A K J 10 7 6 2 them in 4]. At the table, however, Kolen had an easy
enough double and the Dutch collected another 19 MP
West North East South when the contract went the obvious one off.
J. Verhees Jordestedt Kolen Helmertz
— Pass Pass 1}
3{ Dble Pass 4}
Pass 4{ Pass 5}
All Pass

When you look at the E/W hands only, 3{ does not

look a good proposition but at the table, the defensive
communication in the black suits was non-existent.
This would have enabled E/W to make nine tricks
in diamonds easily enough. In fact, there were a few
-110’s and even a -470 on the scorecard. Still, -200 to
N/S, when 5} went down two, happened to be the
next best score for E/W on the board, so the Dutch
collected 18 MP.

Jan KOLEN, the Netherlands

15
 56th European Team Championships — 12th National Women’s Pairs Championships — 10th National Seniors’ Pairs Championships
14TH EUROPEAN
SMALL FEDERATION GAMES
Larnaca, Cyprus • 1 - 3 November 2022

DAILY BULLETIN

The next deal was a typical matchpoint partscore

Editor: Brian Senior [ Lay-out Editor: Francesca Canali [ Photographer: Arianna Testa

Issue No 1. Wednesday 2 November, 2022

UNDERWAY!
The 14th European Small Federations Games is underway in Larnaca, Cyprus. Fifteen national teams will play a complete round robin
over three days, each day comprising 5 x 10-board rounds, including one bye round per team. And that will be that; no qualification, no

hand but also a matter of finding the best rebid:

knock-outs, just a pure round robin with the top teams at the end of three days taking home the medals, the glory, and the satisfaction
of a job well done.
Serbia leads the way at the end of day one, closely followed by Croatia and the Faroe Islands, but no team is tailed off at the bottom
of the rankings, and any that have a good run over the next two days can still contend at the top.

CYPRUS CROATIA CZECH REPUBLIC ESTONIA

FAROE ISLANDS HUNGARY

Board 3. Dealer South. E/W Vul.

LATVIA LITHUANIA

MALTA ROMANIA

SAN MARINO

[ Q6 SERBIA

SLOVAKIA SLOVENIA

UKRAINE

] 876
{ AK9
} K J 10 3 2
[ A K 8 7 [ 10 5 4
] Q 9 ] AJ43
{ 10 4 3 2 { 875
} 9 8 5 } AQ4
[ J932
] K 10 5 2
{ QJ6
} 76

West North East South Barbara GOTARD, Germany

Jordestedt Kolen Helmertz J. Verhees
— — — Pass Over now to the 3rd round of the session.
Pass 1} Pass 1] On the deal below, one or two Easts could not believe
Pass 2] All Pass their eyes:

The old story: would you prefer rebidding 1NT over Board 7. Dealer South. All Vul.
partner’s 1] or would you support partner with 2]? ] 86
If you choose 1NT, you would play there and probably ] Q 10
make your required seven tricks for a decent score { KQJ98
but if you don’t, you will end up in a shaky 4-3 fit in } KJ75
which you are likely to go down. That is exactly what [ — [ 10 7
happened to the Swedes here. This way, the Dutch ] J 9 4 2 ] A865
collected another 18 MP and thus registered a table of { 7 4 3 2 { A65
well over 90%, enough to take the overall lead at the } 9 6 4 3 2 } A Q 10 8
end of the day. [ AKQJ95432
] K73
{ 10
} —

At one table, East decided to double the opponents

in 4[ only to find out that N/S were extremely cold
for eleven tricks. Curiously enough, two N/S pairs
managed to reach even 6[ without any adverse bidding
but this time, both Easts refrained from doubling: “a
top is a top, isn’t it?”
The really spectacular auction occurred at yet another
table:

West North East South

Elsinen B. Gotard Viitasalo T. Gotard
— — — 1[
Pass 2{ Pass 3[
Pass 4[ Pass 4NT*
Pass 5}* Dble 5[
Pass Pass Dble Rdbl
Jan VERHEES, the Netherlands All Pass

16
 56th European Team Championships — 12th National Women’s Pairs Championships — 10th National Seniors’ Pairs Championships
14TH EUROPEAN
SMALL FEDERATION GAMES
Larnaca, Cyprus • 1 - 3 November 2022

DAILY BULLETIN

Once partner could produce a 2-over-1 response, Well, “What’s the purpose of including a
Editor: Brian Senior [ Lay-out Editor: Francesca Canali [ Photographer: Arianna Testa

Issue No 1. Wednesday 2 November, 2022

UNDERWAY!
The 14th European Small Federations Games is underway in Larnaca, Cyprus. Fifteen national teams will play a complete round robin
over three days, each day comprising 5 x 10-board rounds, including one bye round per team. And that will be that; no qualification, no

she must hold some decent values somewhere, Tomasz straightforward board like this in the Bulletin,” you
knock-outs, just a pure round robin with the top teams at the end of three days taking home the medals, the glory, and the satisfaction
of a job well done.
Serbia leads the way at the end of day one, closely followed by Croatia and the Faroe Islands, but no team is tailed off at the bottom
of the rankings, and any that have a good run over the next two days can still contend at the top.

CYPRUS CROATIA

Gotard reasoned. Hence his redouble which was quite

CZECH REPUBLIC ESTONIA

might think. The answer is simple. Only one pair

FAROE ISLANDS HUNGARY

right and brought him the unusual score of +1200 as

LATVIA LITHUANIA

managed to reach this good 3NT on a combined 23

MALTA ROMANIA

well as all the matchpoints, needless to say.

SAN MARINO SERBIA

count. I was particularly impressed when I saw that two

SLOVAKIA

Next came: half-stoppers can combine very well into a full one. Of
SLOVENIA UKRAINE

course, N/S scored +430 because West was on lead

Board 8. Dealer West. None Vul. and could not avoid being endplayed later on. These
] Q65 20 matchpoints did N/S a lot of good so it was only
] J6 normal to see them in the runner-up position at the end
{ AKJ863 of the day.
} KJ Then a grand slam to finish it off:
[ K 10 6 2 [ J93
] A K Q 3 2 ] 87 Board 9. Dealer North. E/W Vul.
{ Q 5 { 10 4 2 ] AK97
} 10 7 } Q9652 ] K
[ A74 { A 10 2
] 10 9 5 4 } A 10 7 4 2
{ 97 [ 5 2 [ Q
} A843 ] Q 7 6 5 ] J93
{ 9 7 4 3 { KJ65
West North East South } Q 9 3 } KJ865
Derivaz Kwiecien Zivkovic Starkowski [ J 10 8 6 4 3
1] 2{ Pass 2]* ] A 10 8 4 2
Pass 3]* Pass 3NT { Q8
All Pass } —

West North East South

Derivaz Kwiecien Zivkovic Starkowski
— 1}* Pass 1[
Pass 2{* Pass 3{*
Pass 3[ Pass 4{*
Pass 4]* Pass 5]*
Pass 7[ All Pass

This looks like a straightforward Polish Club auction.

The 2{ rebid shows any strong hand. South produces
a transfer and a retransfer but North sets trumps and
knows what to do when South confirms his 5-5 or
more and the ]A.
Only one other pair managed to reach 7[ and it
certainly was a pleasure for me to see that this pair
was Blat-Bizon, also from Poland. In an earlier story, I
already showed you their sequence to become the only
pair to reach a diamond slam on the hand where 7{
was probably the best contract and 7] failed on the
losing club finesse.
The two Polish auctions to the grand were good for
19 MP each. At the end of the day, the Dutch Kolen-
Verhees, as said, were leading the field and Kwiecien-
Starkowski were lying second. Two more Polish pairs
are in 3rd and 4th place overnight, one of them not
surprisingly being Bizon-Blat.
Michal KWIECIEN, Poland

17
 56th European Team Championships — 12th National Women’s Pairs Championships — 10th National Seniors’ Pairs Championships
14TH EUROPEAN
SMALL FEDERATION GAMES
Larnaca, Cyprus • 1 - 3 November 2022

The 90th Anniversary

DAILY BULLETIN
Editor: Brian Senior [ Lay-out Editor: Francesca Canali [ Photographer: Arianna Testa

Issue No 1. Wednesday 2 November, 2022

UNDERWAY!
The 14th European Small Federations Games is underway in Larnaca, Cyprus. Fifteen national teams will play a complete round robin
over three days, each day comprising 5 x 10-board rounds, including one bye round per team. And that will be that; no qualification, no
knock-outs, just a pure round robin with the top teams at the end of three days taking home the medals, the glory, and the satisfaction
of a job well done.
Serbia leads the way at the end of day one, closely followed by Croatia and the Faroe Islands, but no team is tailed off at the bottom
of the rankings, and any that have a good run over the next two days can still contend at the top.

Championship der
CYPRUS CROATIA CZECH REPUBLIC ESTONIA

FAROE ISLANDS HUNGARY LATVIA LITHUANIA

International Bridge League

MALTA ROMANIA SAN MARINO SERBIA

SLOVAKIA SLOVENIA UKRAINE

Wien, 7.-12. juni 1934

Shireen Mohandes

Ninety years ago, players from 10 countries in teams and dignitaries, there were 80 people involved
Europe played the equivalent of the European in the organisation.
Teams Championship. At the venue for today’s Hungarian history enthusiasts (source: bridzs.hu)
championship in Herning, there is a display of have told us that Geza Ottlik attended the event, and
photos and information from this event, on the he said:
ground floor near the registration desk. “The entire ground floor of the Grand Hotel was
occupied by the bridge game for a week. The national
The venue and the format teams of ten European countries have been fighting
of the championships for the championship since Thursday. In the lobby
of the prestigious hotel, huge boards announce the
The tournament was results of the competition, the program, the draws,
held in Vienna with 10 the placement of the tables, you really need a map
participating countries: to navigate the maze of rooms and tables.
Belgium, Denmark, the During the tournaments, the two wings of the
UK, Norway, Sweden, building were so to speak blocked off from each
Hungary, Yugoslavia, other – as a result of many years of experience – so
Czechoslovakia, Austria, that not a single spectator could pass the cards they
and the Netherlands. have already seen to the duplicate table where the
(The country names opposing pairs are playing. Of course, this is a strict
were a little different measure, the biggest fun of the “kids” was taken
then, as you can see in away with it, and the fact that all the game rooms
the photo in this article). are still packed proves that Vienna is the real home
And what a venue! of bridge.”
The magnificent Grand
Hotel, in Vienna. Apart The exhibition is produced
from the 10 competing and sponsored by RealBridge

18
 56th European Team Championships — 12th National Women’s Pairs Championships — 10th National Seniors’ Pairs Championships
14TH EUROPEAN
SMALL FEDERATION GAMES
Larnaca, Cyprus • 1 - 3 November 2022

DAILY BULLETIN
Editor: Brian Senior [ Lay-out Editor: Francesca Canali [ Photographer: Arianna Testa

Issue No 1. Wednesday 2 November, 2022

UNDERWAY!
The 14th European Small Federations Games is underway in Larnaca, Cyprus. Fifteen national teams will play a complete round robin

Seniors’ Pairs, 4th Qualifying Round

over three days, each day comprising 5 x 10-board rounds, including one bye round per team. And that will be that; no qualification, no
knock-outs, just a pure round robin with the top teams at the end of three days taking home the medals, the glory, and the satisfaction
of a job well done.
Serbia leads the way at the end of day one, closely followed by Croatia and the Faroe Islands, but no team is tailed off at the bottom
of the rankings, and any that have a good run over the next two days can still contend at the top.

CYPRUS CROATIA CZECH REPUBLIC ESTONIA

FAROE ISLANDS HUNGARY LATVIA LITHUANIA

MALTA ROMANIA SAN MARINO SERBIA

SLOVAKIA SLOVENIA
Jos Jacobs UKRAINE

My previous story about the Seniors’ qualification a disappointing 15 MP to the Dutch, due to accidents
started with the three boards when the then leaders with doubled contracts making elsewhere.
played against each other. Believe it or not, I can On to the next deal:
begin this story, too, by reporting the three deals the
leaders had to play against each other. How lucky can Board 2. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
one be… [ J7
Here is the first (remember a top is 20MP): ] Q J 10
{ J 10 5 2
Board 1. Dealer North. None Vul. } A976
[ 10 9 7 2 [ K Q 8 6 3 2 [ A954
] Q J 10 ] 4 ] A986
{ 72 { 7 { AQ98
} AQ95 } Q 10 5 4 3 } 8
[ A K Q 6 [ J8 [ 10
] 6 3 2 ] K87 ] K7532
{ K 10 5 { A83 { K643
} K J 2 } 10 8 7 6 4 } KJ2
[ 543
] A954 West North East South
{ QJ964 Starkowski Kolen Kwiecien J. Verhees
} 3 — — 1{ Pass
1[ Pass 3[ Pass
West North East South 3NT Pass 4} Dble
Starkowski Kolen Kwiecien J. Verhees 4NT Pass 5{ Pass
— Pass Pass 2}* 6[ All Pass
2NT Pass 3NT All Pass
The comments I wrote about the E/W general
When South opened 2} in 3rd position, a bid approach certainly came to light on this deal. It was a
that (among other things) would show a weak two pleasure to see how they bid the slam in an effortless,
in diamonds, E/W had to take action and thus yet controlled way. Two more E/W pairs also did well
could hardly stay out of game, even less so in their by bidding the slam but their auctions both lacked
controlled aggressive style of which we have already just that extra shade of control showed by the Poles.
seen a few fine examples. North had no difficulty in Scoring +980 thus was worth 18 MP.
finding the best lead of the {7 but for declarer, it was And then came:
trouble all the way. When the smoke had cleared, the
contract had gone down three. N/S +150, good for Board 3. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
[ J 10 8 6 5
] A Q 10 5
{ 97
} K7
[ A 9 4 2 [ K3
] K J 2 ] 963
{ Q J 4 { A K 10 8 2
} Q 3 2 } J54
[ Q7
] 874
{ 653
} A 10 9 8 6

19
 56th European Team Championships — 12th National Women’s Pairs Championships — 10th National Seniors’ Pairs Championships
14TH EUROPEAN
SMALL FEDERATION GAMES
Larnaca, Cyprus • 1 - 3 November 2022

DAILY BULLETIN

West North East South The good slam was only reached once but it needed
Editor: Brian Senior [ Lay-out Editor: Francesca Canali [ Photographer: Arianna Testa

Issue No 1. Wednesday 2 November, 2022

UNDERWAY!
The 14th European Small Federations Games is underway in Larnaca, Cyprus. Fifteen national teams will play a complete round robin
over three days, each day comprising 5 x 10-board rounds, including one bye round per team. And that will be that; no qualification, no

a very light opening at the one-level.

knock-outs, just a pure round robin with the top teams at the end of three days taking home the medals, the glory, and the satisfaction

Starkowski Kolen Kwiecien J. Verhees

of a job well done.
Serbia leads the way at the end of day one, closely followed by Croatia and the Faroe Islands, but no team is tailed off at the bottom
of the rankings, and any that have a good run over the next two days can still contend at the top.

CYPRUS CROATIA

— CZECH REPUBLIC ESTONIA

— — Pass
FAROE ISLANDS HUNGARY

1} LATVIA LITHUANIA

1[ 2NT Pass West North East South

MALTA ROMANIA

3NT SAN MARINO SERBIA

All Pass Olanski Fitzpatrick V.Vainikonis Curran

SLOVAKIA SLOVENIA UKRAINE

— — — 1[
On this, the next board at this table, the Polish pair Pass 2} Pass 2{
showed that their basic style is not always successful. Pass 3{ Pass 5{
Statisticians would not be surprised upon hearing this, Pass 6{ All Pass
I guess. South had an easy lead of the [Q and with
the hearts all wrongly placed for declarer, the contract North had little trouble to go on after partner could
soon was down two. This result was duplicated a few jump to 5{ straight away. His three aces and a void
times so N/S scored only 14 MP for their efforts. The should be more than enough – and so it proved. Still, I
match between these two leaders thus ended in a near was a little disappointed to see that simply bidding the
draw: 31-29 to Poland. slam was worth all the matchpoints. In all probability,
Later on in the morning session, the overnight the Irish slam bidders will not share this opinion, and
leaders would have to face another well-placed Polish rightly so…Well done by them!
pair, our “slam experts” Bizon and Blat. I already The last board of the session was a N/W freak. This
published a few nice slams from them and that’s why time, our Dutch overnight leaders were facing another
I bet they once again would have had little trouble in Polish pair that was doing well in the rankings. The
reaching a slam on this one. Alas for them, they were deal below illustrates why, I think:
sitting E/W…
Board 15. Dealer South. N/S Vul.
Board 11. Dealer South. None Vul. ] Q8532
] - ] 10
] A732 { —
{ A 10 3 2 } KJ97543
} AQJ87 [ A K 9 6 4 [ 7
[ 10 8 3 [ AK972 ] K 3 ] Q87542
] K J 10 9 5 4 ] Q86 { J 10 9 8 5 2 { AQ3
{ Q 8 { J6 } — } 10 8 2
} 5 2 } 964 [ J 10
[ QJ654 ] AJ96
] — { K764
{ K9754 } AQ6
} K 10 3
West North East South
West North East South J. Verhees A. Kowalski Kolen Sielicki
Blat Kolen Bizon J. Verhees — — — 1NT
— — — 2[ 2[* 3[ Pass 4}
Pass 2NT* Pass 3}* Pass 5} All Pass
Pass 5{ All Pass
2[ Spades and 4+}/{
2NT Forcing relay
3} 4+{ This was the proper contract but it scored no less
than 17 mp out of the 20. How come? Well, one
Had the Dutch N/S been using Polish two suited pair was doubled in 5} for the top score but only one
opening bids, they might have had a chance of getting other pair, a Polish one, reached 5}. The rest of the
to the slam but even for the Polish pairs present here field either got to slam or missed game.
who were in fact using their 2[ opening as a two At the end of the session, Kwiecien-Starkowski had
suiter, getting to slam proved too difficult. taken the lead. Kolen-Verhees were still second, and
two other Polish pairs were in 3rd and 4th place.

20
 56th European Team Championships — 12th National Women’s Pairs Championships — 10th National Seniors’ Pairs Championships
14TH EUROPEAN
SMALL FEDERATION GAMES
Larnaca, Cyprus • 1 - 3 November 2022

DAILY BULLETIN
Editor: Brian Senior [ Lay-out Editor: Francesca Canali [ Photographer: Arianna Testa

Issue No 1. Wednesday 2 November, 2022

UNDERWAY!

Pro Bridge Digest

The 14th European Small Federations Games is underway in Larnaca, Cyprus. Fifteen national teams will play a complete round robin
over three days, each day comprising 5 x 10-board rounds, including one bye round per team. And that will be that; no qualification, no
knock-outs, just a pure round robin with the top teams at the end of three days taking home the medals, the glory, and the satisfaction
of a job well done.
Serbia leads the way at the end of day one, closely followed by Croatia and the Faroe Islands, but no team is tailed off at the bottom
of the rankings, and any that have a good run over the next two days can still contend at the top.

CYPRUS CROATIA CZECH REPUBLIC ESTONIA

FAROE ISLANDS HUNGARY LATVIA LITHUANIA

MALTA ROMANIA SAN MARINO SERBIA

SLOVAKIA SLOVENIA
Mark Horton UKRAINE

When I opened the June 2024 issue of the to go back to the }J before coming to hand with the
ACBL’s Bridge Bulletin I couldn’t help but notice a {K. That would be enough to get him up to the 13
full-page advert for Pro Bridge Digest, a new online tricks required.
instructional venture in which England’s Ben Norton
shares a daily hand from his international adventures Closed Room
using Baron Barclay’s BridgeBee platform. West North East South
Round 4 of the Open Series delivered several Mihov Gold Stefanov Robson
dramatic deals, none more so than this one in the — Pass 1[ Pass
match between Bulgaria and England, which I have a 2{* Pass 3} Pass
feeling Ben might use at some point: 3]* Pass 4{ Pass
4NT* Pass 5]* Pass
Board 21. Dealer North. N/S Vul. 5[* Pass 6}* Pass
[ J 10 7{ All Pass
] J 10 2
{ 982 2{ 2/5{ game forcing
} 10 9 8 7 4 3] Fourth suit forcing
[ A K [ Q7632 4NT RKCB
] A K 7 4 ] 5 5] 2 keycards
{ A Q J 5 3 { K4 5[ Asking
} J 2 } AK653 6} }K
[ 9854
] Q9863 North led the {9 and declarer won with dummy’s
{ 10 7 6 {K, played a heart to the ace, ruffed a heart, came
} Q to hand with a spade, drew trumps and claimed,
+1440 and 16 IMPs.
Open Room
West North East South
Norton Zahariev Tommasini Kermedchie
— Pass 1[ Pass
2}* Pass 2{* Pass
2]* Pass 3NT* Pass
4}* Pass 4{* Pass
4NT* Pass 5}* Pass
5{* Pass 5]* Pass
7NT All Pass

2} Game forcing relay

South led the ]6 and when declarer took dummy’s

]A North followed with the ]J. Having unblocked
the [AK, declarer came to his hand with the {K and
cashed the [Q, discarding the ]4. North matched
it with the }4 and declarer cashed his red winners,
hoping for a miracle, which did not materialise, one
down, -50.
Having cashed the [AK declarer should have
played a club to one of his honours. The unexpected
appearance of South’s }Q would have allowed him

21
 56th European Team Championships — 12th National Women’s Pairs Championships — 10th National Seniors’ Pairs Championships
14TH EUROPEAN
SMALL FEDERATION GAMES

Results - Open Teams

Larnaca, Cyprus • 1 - 3 November 2022

DAILY BULLETIN
Editor: Brian Senior [ Lay-out Editor: Francesca Canali [ Photographer: Arianna Testa

Issue No 1. Wednesday 2 November, 2022

UNDERWAY!
The 14th European Small Federations Games is underway in Larnaca, Cyprus. Fifteen national teams will play a complete round robin
over three days, each day comprising 5 x 10-board rounds, including one bye round per team. And that will be that; no qualification, no
knock-outs, just a pure round robin with the top teams at the end of three days taking home the medals, the glory, and the satisfaction
of a job well done.
Serbia leads the way at the end of day one, closely followed by Croatia and the Faroe Islands, but no team is tailed off at the bottom
of the rankings, and any that have a good run over the next two days can still contend at the top.

CYPRUS CROATIA CZECH REPUBLIC ESTONIA

FAROE ISLANDS HUNGARY LATVIA LITHUANIA

MALTA ROMANIA
ROUND 3 SAN MARINO SERBIA
RANKING AFTER R. 5
SLOVAKIA SLOVENIA
1 UKRAINE
HUNGARY SWEDEN 15 35 5.00 15.00 1 DENMARK 78.35
2 ITALY ENGLAND 35 17 14.60 5.40 2 SWEDEN 74.79
3 TURKIYE ISRAEL 52 20 17.03 2.97 3 NETHERLANDS 73.13
4 IRELAND DENMARK 5 51 1.23 18.77 4 BELGIUM 68.67
5 NORWAY ROMANIA 23 12 13.04 6.96 5 FRANCE 68.55
6 POLAND FAROE ISLANDS 62 18 18.55 1.45 6 ENGLAND 65.55
7 NETHERLANDS AUSTRIA 58 9 19.07 0.93 7 ITALY 63.00
8 PORTUGAL WALES 37 44 7.97 12.03 8 GERMANY 62.57
9 GERMANY LITHUANIA 47 4 18.34 1.46 9 SWITZERLAND 61.40
10 GREECE LATVIA 46 44 10.61 9.39 10 POLAND 60.62
11 FRANCE ICELAND 49 31 14.60 5.40 11 NORWAY 60.55
12 FINLAND BELGIUM 27 39 6.72 13.28 12 SPAIN 56.08
13 SWITZERLAND BULGARIA 8 32 4.26 15.74 13 CROATIA 51.99
14 CROATIA SPAIN 43 32 13.04 6.96 14 TURKIYE 51.53
15 SCOTLAND ESTONIA 26 40 6.25 13.75 15 IRELAND 49.48
16 LATVIA 47.81
17 LITHUANIA 46.23
18 ESTONIA 45.36
19 ISRAEL 42.16
20 AUSTRIA 41.64
ROUND 4 21 GREECE 39.71
1 IRELAND NORWAY 27 19 12.29 7.71 22 FINLAND 38.03
2 BULGARIA ENGLAND 54 63 7.45 12.55 23 BULGARIA 35.74
3 PORTUGAL SWEDEN 5 48 1.56 18.44 24 PORTUGAL 34.43
4 GERMANY SPAIN 48 48 10.00 10.00 25 ROMANIA 32.92
5 ROMANIA SWITZERLAND 11 82 0.00 20.00 26 SCOTLAND 31.38
6 LATVIA TURKIYE 19 28 7.45 12.55 27 WALES 31.18
7 HUNGARY ITALY 24 55 3.12 16.88 28 ICELAND 31.05
8 ISRAEL ESTONIA 14 63 0.93 19.07 29 HUNGARY 30.16
9 POLAND CROATIA 41 50 7.45 12.55 30 FAROE ISLANDS 25.34
10 FRANCE SCOTLAND 63 40 15.56 4.44
11 GREECE DENMARK 25 45 5.00 15.00
12 LITHUANIA ICELAND 67 31 17.59 2.41
13 WALES BELGIUM 37 34 10.91 9.09
14 NETHERLANDS FINLAND 45 38 12.03 7.97
15 FAROE ISLANDS AUSTRIA 50 33 14.39 5.61

ROUND 5
1 SPAIN FRANCE 44 22 15.38 4.62
2 ICELAND POLAND 9 45 2.41 17.59
3 ISRAEL NETHERLANDS 39 16 15.56 4.44
4 NORWAY GERMANY 26 24 10.61 9.39
5 ENGLAND FINLAND 40 26 13.75 6.25
6 IRELAND TURKIYE 32 34 9.39 10.61
7 SWEDEN FAROE ISLANDS 59 18 18.21 1.79
8 CROATIA AUSTRIA 14 44 3.27 16.73
9 BELGIUM ESTONIA 60 18 18.33 1.67
10 SCOTLAND HUNGARY 27 20 12.03 7.97
11 LATVIA SWITZERLAND 19 58 2.03 17.97
12 PORTUGAL GREECE 31 32 9.69 10.31
13 ITALY LITHUANIA 27 33 8.24 11.76
14 DENMARK WALES 69 1 20.00 0.00
15 BULGARIA ROMANIA 7 65 0.15 19.85

22
 56th European Team Championships — 12th National Women’s Pairs Championships — 10th National Seniors’ Pairs Championships
14TH EUROPEAN
SMALL FEDERATION GAMES

Results - Women’s Pairs

Larnaca, Cyprus • 1 - 3 November 2022

DAILY BULLETIN
Editor: Brian Senior [ Lay-out Editor: Francesca Canali [ Photographer: Arianna Testa

Issue No 1. Wednesday 2 November, 2022

UNDERWAY!
The 14th European Small Federations Games is underway in Larnaca, Cyprus. Fifteen national teams will play a complete round robin
over three days, each day comprising 5 x 10-board rounds, including one bye round per team. And that will be that; no qualification, no
knock-outs, just a pure round robin with the top teams at the end of three days taking home the medals, the glory, and the satisfaction
of a job well done.
Serbia leads the way at the end of day one, closely followed by Croatia and the Faroe Islands, but no team is tailed off at the bottom
of the rankings, and any that have a good run over the next two days can still contend at the top.

CYPRUS CROATIA CZECH REPUBLIC ESTONIA

FAROE ISLANDS HUNGARY LATVIA LITHUANIA

MALTA ROMANIA
1 SAN MARINO
BALDYSZ Cathy
SERBIA
BALDYSZ Sophia POL - POL 58.81
SLOVAKIA SLOVENIA

2 UKRAINE

BEKKOUCHE Nadia BINDERKRANTZ Trine DEN - DEN 57.21

3 BILDE Lone RASMUSSEN Helle DEN - DEN 57.18
4 ERKKILA Pia TUOMI Raija FIN - FIN 55.40
5 PIIBELEHT Ines TAUBE Aire EST - EST 54.92
6 BILDE Trine KOCH-PALMUND Charlotte DEN - DEN 54.72
7 ORAS Maarja IHER Mirjam EST - EST 53.53
8 ROSSARD Martine TARTARIN Anne-Laure FRA - FRA 53.31
9 ARNOLDS Carla KOLEN Sandra NED - NED 53.07
10 PLAKIDA Iro SALEM Nantia GRE - GRE 52.45
11 BILDE Dorte Cilleborg BUUS THOMSEN Anita DEN - DEN 51.79
12 DRINOVEC DRNOVSEK Barbara DRNOVSEK Tina SLO - SLO 51.66
13 HESKJE Torild HAUGEN Tove NOR - NOR 51.00
14 FRYDENLUND ROSTHOEJ Annette ROSTHOEJ Susanne DEN - DEN 50.90
15 DRAPER Catherine GROSS Susanna ENG - ENG 50.57
16 AGHEMO Monica MARCELLI Cristina ITA - ITA 50.29
17 BROCK Sally NETTLETON Diana ENG - ENG 50.10
18 CHEDIAK Virginia SIVERTSVIK Ranja NOR - NOR 49.77
19 ZORANOVIC Jovana PEPIC Selena SER - SER 48.36
20 PEDERSEN Clara Brun RASMUSSEN Alma Ertbjerg DEN - DEN 48.25
21 WIECZOREK Ewa ROBINSON Claire ENG - ENG 47.22
22 SIGSGAARD Julie Marina ROSTHOEJ Ella DEN - DEN 47.06
23 SJODAL Elisabeth Grasholt SJODAL Sofie Grasholt NOR - NOR 46.80
24 CAMPBELL Beryl FORSYTH Joan SCO - SCO 46.38
25 HEMBERG Leise RINDAHL Nell DEN - DEN 46.38
26 VINCENT Christine SAESSELI Irene SUI - SUI 46.03
27 JENSEN Pia Nielsen BUNE Amalie Rosa DEN - DEN 45.73
28 REITER Kate NIELSEN Ellen DEN - DEN 45.64
29 DI BACCO Victoria BAUMGART Charlotte GER - GER 45.56
30 MADSEN Christina Lund VAINER Anette DEN - DEN 45.15
31 POLITOU Angeliki CHRISTAKI Artemis GRE - GRE 43.84
32 NORDGREN Maria BAGGE Nina FIN - FIN 43.67

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 56th European Team Championships — 12th National Women’s Pairs Championships — 10th National Seniors’ Pairs Championships
14TH EUROPEAN
SMALL FEDERATION GAMES

Results - Seniors’ Pairs

Larnaca, Cyprus • 1 - 3 November 2022

DAILY BULLETIN
Editor: Brian Senior [ Lay-out Editor: Francesca Canali [ Photographer: Arianna Testa

Issue No 1. Wednesday 2 November, 2022

UNDERWAY!
The 14th European Small Federations Games is underway in Larnaca, Cyprus. Fifteen national teams will play a complete round robin
over three days, each day comprising 5 x 10-board rounds, including one bye round per team. And that will be that; no qualification, no
knock-outs, just a pure round robin with the top teams at the end of three days taking home the medals, the glory, and the satisfaction
of a job well done.
Serbia leads the way at the end of day one, closely followed by Croatia and the Faroe Islands, but no team is tailed off at the bottom
of the rankings, and any that have a good run over the next two days can still contend at the top.

CYPRUS CROATIA CZECH REPUBLIC ESTONIA

FAROE ISLANDS HUNGARY LATVIA LITHUANIA

MALTA ROMANIA
1 SAN MARINO
KWIECIEN Michal
SERBIA
STARKOWSKI Wlodzimierz POL - POL 57.68
SLOVAKIA SLOVENIA

2 UKRAINE

KOLEN Jan VERHEES Jan NED - NED 54.11

3 BIZON Piotr BLAT Marek POL - POL 52.56
4 VAN MIDDELEM Guy DE LIEDEKERKE Tanguy BEL - BEL 52.56
5 KALISH Avi GRINBERG Nir ISR - ISR 52.50
6 VIITASALO Pekka ELSINEN Antti FIN - FIN 52.08
7 BROK Erik DAHL Otto DEN - DEN 51.90
8 KOWALSKI Apolinary SIELICKI Tomasz POL - POL 51.73
9 VAN GLABBEEK Hedwig MAAS Willem jan NED - NED 51.55
10 TJARNEMO Hakan CARBONNIER Pierre SWE - SWE 51.31
11 PETERSEN Henrik Kruse TEISEN Peter DEN - DEN 50.65
12 WITEK Marek LICHAWSKI Kazimierz POL - POL 50.12
13 HELMERTZ Per-Inge JORDESTEDT Arne SWE - SWE 49.64
14 INGASON Haukur JONSSON Skafti ISL - ISL 49.11
15 VAINIKONIS Vytautas OLANSKI Wojtek LTU - LTU 47.92
16 COLLAROS Pierre CATZEFLIS Christian SUI - SUI 47.74
17 GOTARD Barbara GOTARD Tomasz GER - GER 47.32
18 HASHIMOTO George ANDERSSON Thomas SUI - SUI 47.26
19 MILASZEWSKI Miroslaw FILIPOWICZ Karol POL - POL 46.85
20 KJELDSEN Jens KJELDSEN Kjeld DEN - DEN 46.85
21 ZIVKOVIC Gojko DERIVAZ Jean-Pierre SUI - SUI 46.61
22 FITZPATRICK Anne CURRAN Harold IRL - IRL 41.37

Oldies & goldies

World championship books contain a lot

of good bridge. Previous years are now
sold for only €10 at the Jannersten stall.

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