The last set of the Mixed teams was action packed. With three deals remaining Manfield led 109-81. Wilson must have suspected they were behind and both pairs were pushing hard.
On Board 26 both teams reached 6[C] with [S]KQ3 [H]KJ10964 [D]J64 [C]J opposite [S]A87 [H]A [D]A83 [C]AK10762, but West held [S]106 [H]Q53 [D]10972 [C]Q853 and the essential diamond lead was found at both tables – one down and no swing.
On 27 North-South’s combined holding was [S]965 [H]10732 [D]KJ862 [C]2 facing [S]AQ1083 [H]A9 [D]A [C]AK864. Chip Martel made an interesting observation on BBO. After 2[C]*-2[D]*-2[S]North jumped to 4[C],a splinter in support of spades. Chip pointed out that it is possible to use 3NT to show an unspecified splinter with three-card support ,so that a jump to the four-level always has four card support.
On a good day clubs will behave and East will hold a doubleton spade king, but this time West held [S]K42 [H]KQ4 [D]Q7 [C]QJ1093 and the 6[S] reached in the Closed Room was hopeless, so Manfield collected 11 IMPs by stopping in game.
6[C] was unbeatable.
When the opponents overcall your Roman Keycard ask, you can use double to show 0/3/5 keycards, with Pass promising 1/4 and the next two cheapest suits to show 2 keycards, the higher also promising the trump queen.
6[D] was a great save, and although declarer lost two trump tricks, one via a ruff, the other by failing to drop the then singleton king, it was still a great way to finish for the new World Mixed Team Champions.
