OUCHI, THE FINAL FRONTIER
Bd: 25 Dlr: North Vul: E/W North Q104 J1074 954 J95 West J76 K3 Q73 KQ842 East AK832 952 KJ102 A South 95 AQ86 A86 10763	With one match remaining in the Flight A Final, there were only four teams with a realistic chance to win. The leaders HISATOMI (Hisatomi/Teramoto, Ino/Chen), on 164 VP, had to face CHINA (Fu/Ju, Li/Zhang), longshots on 139 VP. Meanwhile, second-ranked YAMADA (A Yamada/Ohno, Takahashi/K Yamada, M Hirata), on 163 VP, drew hard-charging USA (Cappelletti/ Lipscomb, Itabashi/Masumara/Colker/ Kokish), who had climbed back into contention after losing their first two matches. The first deal, Board 25, was flat in both matches, East/West losing two red aces and a trump trick in 4 for plus 620.
	On to Board 26.

If Akihiko Yamada had been able or willing to redouble 1NT for business or reopen with a takeout double, his side might have collected some large number ending in 60 or at least 500 points, but as it went, the intrepid Mark Itabashi was able to record minus 170 instead. Deep sigh. While every action at the other table is understandable, the truth is that Takahashi/Kaz Yamada had escaped a fate similar to Masumara/Itabashi. Shannon Lipscomb was plus 130 in 3 and YAMADA was on the board with a 1-imp gain. In the other match, Hisatomi/Teramoto were plus 130 in 3 while Fu/Ju finishged plus 120 in 2NT. Still no score. "How can we lose with our new mascot, Eric, at the table?"

Bd: 26 Dlr: East Vul: Both North A1084 10 10987 AQ109 West J9 KQ93 A654 KJ8 East Q732 8642 J32 52 South K65 AJ75 KQ 7643 USA vs YAMADA TABLE 1 West North East South Masa A Yama Itabashi Ohno Pass 1NT Dbl. Pass 2 Pass Pass 2 All Pass TABLE 2 West North East South Takah Capp K Yama Lipscomb Pass 1 1 Dbl. * Pass 1NT Pass Pass 2 Pass Pass 3 All Pass

Bd: 27 Dlr: South Vul: None North J1054 K9 AJ965 K6 West AK9763 J86 8 AQ7 East 8 A7543 Q42 J1053 South Q2 Q102 K1073 9842

At all four tables, West declared 2 uncontested: 1-1NT; 2-All Pass. The North hand is not an easy one to lead from. Akihiko led the A against Masamura, and continued with the jack. Masamura ruffed, cashed two high trumps, and ducked a heart. In with the nine, Akihiko craftily refrained from cashing the high trumps, continuing with a third diamond. Masamura ruffed, went to the A, and ran the J. Akihiko won, drew trumps (Ohno unblocking the 10), and took two high diamonds for two down; minus 100. Cappelletti led the K against Kaz, who ducked in dummy. He ducked again when Mikey continued with the 9, and a third heart was ruffed with a natural trump trick. The defense played on diamonds now but got only one diamond, one more trump trick, and the K for one down; minus 50. 2 imps to YAMADA, ahead 3-0. In the other match, both Norths led ace-jack of diamonds, but declarer took the club finesse early on and so got out for one down; minus 50. A third successive push. Time was running out for China.

The wonderful lie of the North/South cards makes it possible for East/West to take at least ten tricks in hearts (even if both defenders withhold their red aces twice after declarer ruffs a heart in East, the spades come in for one loser), but surely no one would bid it. Right? West North East South Masa A Yama Itabashi Ohno 1NT Pass 2 Dbl. 2 3 Pass Pass 3 ! Pass 4 All Pass Yuichi Masamura assumed that Itabashi would not have a weak hand with only one major, and so competed to 3. He soon discovered that he was wrong, but his serendipitous contract was cold. Club lead, club ruff, trump to the jack, ducked, 10 to the jack and ... ace, spade to the queen, diamond queen overtaken for a second trump lead; plus 450. No one else reached game but everyone took eleven tricks. 6 imps to USA, who took the lead 6-3. Still no score in CHINA vs HISATOMI. Two boards left in the event.

Bd: 28 Dlr: West Vul: N/S North 854 A76 85 KJ432 West AQ73 KJ104 Q104 A5 East 1092 9532 KJ976 10 South KJ6 Q8 A32 Q9876 "This could be the start of a beautiful friendship."

Bd: 29 Dlr: North Vul: Both North Q9873 Q7 KJ64 J10 West A1052 K94 85 KQ52 East - J10853 A9732 874 South KJ64 A62 Q10 A963 TABLE 1 West North East South Masa A Yama Itabashi Ohno Pass Pass 1NT Dbl. 2 3 3 Pass Pass 4 Pass 4 All Pass TABLE 2 West North East South K Yama Capp Takah Lipscomb Pass Pass 1 Pass 1 Pass 2 Pass 2NT Pass 3 Pass 4 All Pass

The activities of certain North/West members of Team USA give new definition to the word "aggressive" but perhaps there is more to it than meets the eye. Itabashi was down 200 in 4, which figured to be a small loss against the normal plus 140 North/South at the other table. However, Mikey had just reclaimed his PARTIALS ARE FOR SISSIES sweatshirt from the hotel laundry and fetched up in game. He got a heart lead, ducked to the king, and the unfriendly switch to the K, tangling his communications while the hearts were blocked. He followed with the jack, won the ace, and tried the K, ducked by Kaz Yamada. A low spade to the nine won, and a third trump went to the jack and ace. Katsumi Takahashi's carding (discouraging club, heart, 7, club) apparently convinced Yamada to switch to diamonds. Even if the defense does not take the club trick, the contract is beaten if Takahashi pays A, diamond because hearts are still blocked, but Takahashi won the A and played a heart. Oh no (pardon the pun). Q, Q, diamond to dummy, A to throw the club; plus 620. 10 imps to USA where it was going to be 7 to YAMADA. 15-3 for the Americans. In the other match, Hiroshi Hisatomi passed Tadashi Teramoto's raise to 2. He made four after a heart lead to the king when Qiang Zhang continued hearts; plus 170. At the other table, Fu/Ju drove to game (sorry, no auction available) and were permitted to make it; plus 620. 10 imps to China, the first swing in the match.

"Brigitte, see what we've won for answering the skill-testing question correctly."

"There is absolutely no truth to the rumor that we will allow only 5 minutes per board tomorrow."

Bd: 30 Dlr: East Vul: None North Q854 AQ62 AK Q92 West K103 1073 43 AJ875 East A6 J984 J985 K43 South J972 K5 Q10762 106	At one table in each match, North's strong notrump was passed out. Cappelletti and Hisatomi both took eight tricks; plus 120. At the other two tables, North/South found spades. The weak notrump style worked well for Akihiko/Ohno, who could bid 1-1; 2/// but Fu/Ju reached 3 after a strong club opening by North, South trying for game after Stayman hit a fit. As it happened, both declarers in spades took lots of tricks on neutral leads, Ohno 10 (plus 170) and Ju nine (plus 140). YAMADA gained 2 imps, but lost the match, 5-15, 6-24 in VP, finishing with 169 VP. CHINA gained another imp to win 11-0, 25-5 over HISATOMI. That moved CHINA up to 164 but still 5 VP behind HISATOMI, whose 169 VP tied them with YAMADA for second. All of those things were particularly good for USA, who finished with 175, making them kings of the hill. Quite a parlay.
The key to success in Victory Point Swiss events, dear readers, is to lose early but not by too much, get a good draw in the process, drop any extraneous journalists for the home stretch, and contrive to play for the win on the last round. Not to mention enjoying a heavy dose of good fortune.
"Let's see if I can touch my nose to the table without leaving a wet spot."	"And when I produced another diamond he almost fell off his chair."