Board by Board news from São Paulo

Round 3 England v India

Final score England won 46 - 7 imps, 24 - 6 vps.

Round 3 England v India 46 - 7 imps 24 - 6 vps after 16 boards. 1st on 64 vps, USA 2 2nd with 61 vps.

Board 9. For both teams North declared 4 just making for another push. Another pretty common result. Still 25 - 2 to England, 20 - 10 in vps.

Board 8. For both teams East declared 1NT and was down one for a push. A pretty common result. Still 25 - 2 to England, 20 - 10 in vps.

Board 7. For both teams East declared 4. 7 can make due to a very fortunate lie of the cards but even 6 is a poor contract. India made 2 more overtricks than England, so picked up their first imps of the match. 25 - 2 to England, 20 - 10 in vps.

Board 6. Price (North) held T AQ42 964 A9743 while Simpson (South) held K753 KJT65 Q87 J. They bid to 4 doubled played by Simpson. AK were both right, as was A and diamonds broke so the contract made, +590 to England. At the other table the board was passed out. 11 imps to England who now lead 25 - 0 imps, 21 - 9 in vps.

Board 5. EW for England made 3 on their 5 - 3 fit while India just made 1 on a 5 - 2 fit. 2 imps to England who move ahead to 14 - 0 imps, 18 - 12 in vps. Overall score 58 vps.

Board 4. EW for England made two overtricks in 3NT whereas Indian EW only made one. One imp to England who now lead 12 - 0 in imps, 18 - 12 in vps. Overall score 58 vps.

Board 3. 1NT just made by N at both tables. Another push so England still lead 11 - 0 in imps, 17 - 13 in vps. Overall score 57 vps.

Board 2. Both teams made 4 vul with the NS cards. By no means a gimme, game went down in many of the other matches. A push so England still lead 11 - 0 in imps. 17 - 13 in vps. Overall score 57 vps.

Board 1. Price/Simpson sitting NS for England bid to 6 missing AK which are cashable but the Indians don't find the spade lead so the slam makes. In the other room India stop in 5. 11 imps to England. 17 - 13 in vps. Overall score 57 Vps.

Round 2 England v Egypt

Final score England won 25 - 1 imps, 21 - 9 vps.

Board 20 was a push in 4 up 1 by NS. England still lead 3 - 1 imps, 15 - 15 vps.

Board 19. Hackett/Harper took their Egyptian EW opponents 2 off in a 3 contract that most pairs were making, while Hallberg/Holland sitting EW for England were in 4 doubled down 1 for a push. England still lead 3 - 1 imps, 15 - 15 vps.

Board 18. Both teams played in a fairly normal 4. Hallberg's more aggresive Q lead picked up the suit for an extra overtrick imp to Egypt. England now lead 3 - 1 imps, 15 - 15 vps.

Board 17. Hallberg/Holland defended 1 doubled by the Egyptian North and took a +500 penalty, meanwhile Hackett/Harper defended a routine non-vul 3NT for -400. 3 imps to England who lead 3 - 0 in imps, 16 - 14 vps.

Round 1 England v Japan

Final score England won 47 - 30 imps, 19 - 11 vps.

Board 4. Flat in 5 +1 by S. Six is makeable but only because East has to guard KQJT and QJT and can be squeezed. England still trail 12-13 imps 15-15 vps.

Board 3. West has J AJ74 A984 9643. East has A K862 KJ AKQJ87. 6 looks excellent while 6 is good provided hearts don't break nastily. South has Q953 so double dummy 13 tricks are possible in clubs, hearts or even no trumps although of course you wouldn't want to be in a grand slam on this. Ohno/Yamada for Japan bid it to 6 while Hallberg/Holland for England only reach 5. 13 imps back to Japan who take the lead. England now trail 12-13 imps 15-15 vps.

Board 2. 4 +1 by South at both tables. England still lead 12 - 0 in imps, 18 - 12 vps.

Board 1 Price (North) is doubled in 2. His hand is J9 KQ9 A92 AJT94. In dummy is K8753 43 J3 Q853. He gets a diamond lead and makes it for +470. Holland (West) makes 3 in the other room for +130. 12 imps to England. England lead 12 - 0 in imps, 18 - 12 vps.