Bridge

THE Italian team has seen a few changes lately. Fantoni/Nunes, along with Helgemo/Helness have controversially signed with Zimmermann to play for Monaco. Bocchi/Duboin have split after playing together for 15 years; Duboin's new partner is the talented Sementa; and Bocchi has paired with a young Argentine, Agustin Madala. The only partnership to participate in their entire winning streak is Lauria/Versace.

On this deal from last year's Rosenblum Scotland's expatriate, Barnet Shenkin, showed that even the Italians are not infallible. Versace opened a Weak 2H, and, over the 2NT enquiry, showed a suit headed by two top honours. Shenkin's Dutch partner found a good lead in the two of clubs, through the hand known to be strong. Declarer naturally misguessed, playing low from dummy, but Shenkin won his queen, confident that declarer could not have the ace of clubs as well as good hearts. He returned a club to partner's ace, and North played a third club ruffed with the eight of hearts and overruffed with the jack. Versace crossed to a spade to take a heart finesse, but when that lost he was doomed. North led his last club, Shenkin ruffed with the nine, and declarer overruffed with the ace. This promoted North's 105 into two winners over West's remaining 743, so North actually made all three of his trump for two down. A handy 11 imp gain when Shenkin's team-mates bid and made a somewhat fortunate 3NT.