A hotter day for Day 3 of the 2025 APBF Championships with our first view of a blue sky. Last match of the first round robin in the morning followed by a free match then the first two matches of the second round robin.

Match 7 vs New Zealand (David & Maurits, Hugh & George)

New Zealand are one of our main competitors with two strong experienced pairs and a less experienced pair who I believe are playing for the first time at this level. Not unexpectedly we faced the two stronger pairs. There were some exciting boards that resulted in a 14 IMP loss (27-41) for 6.04 VPs.

The first three boards were flat then George and I bid a vulnerable grand slam. This was a reasonable but aggressive choice which paid off when one of the two winning options worked. At the other table the NZ pair had an accident and played only in game. This felt like a double- digit win at both tables but ‘only’ resulted in 16 IMPs to us.

The next board was a high-level competitive decision. At our table we bid 5S which was making and they bid 6H which was going one down, we pushed on to 6S and went one down. At the other table NZ were allowed to play in 5S. 13 IMPs to the bad guys.

Then we defended 5D. George held AK9x of hearts and at trick two the declarer led a small H from the dummy from JT8xxx – what would you play? George played the A which failed when declarer had started with a small singleton (they were now able to trump a small one felling my Q then take a ruffing finesse against his K for the discard that they needed). 5D making against 5SX down 1 at the other table – another 13 IMPs to the Kiwis.

A disappointing end to the first round robin but still finished in fourth position with everything still to play for at the one third point in the event.

Match 1 RR2 vs China (Hugh & George, David & Maurits)

Having been flogged to 0 by the host nation in the first RR this was an opportunity for revenge.

A swingy match that we won by 11 IMPs (50-39) for 13.23 VPs.

We had a good start leading by 33 IMPs after 3 boards. The first board I opened 2S as dealer on a flat 10 count with 5 spades (a system bid, 8-11 with exactly 5 spades). The Chinese pair had a questionable auction that resulted in 3H down 2 in a 5-1 fit when they were cold for 3NT.

The second board Maurits opened a hyper-aggressive 3C pre-empt on a 5-card suit (the squeamish amongst you should not look at this hand!). David saved in 5C over 4S and the defence slipped slightly to allow Maurits to escape for 300 against our vulnerable 4S for 620.

The third board we had an uncontested auction to 3H which they misdefended to allow us to make 10 tricks. At the other table teammates did well to bid to 4S which was doubled. They then did well to make the contract for another 14 IMPs.

Board 25 was my worst board for the event so far. Looking at the hand record you may wonder how I managed to go down in a contract where I had 11 easy tricks and only managed to take 9 of them! My only defence is that it was a thoughtful blunder. The auction went 1S by me, 2H natural GF by George, 3D by the vulnerable Chinese guy. Against 4S they led a small D to the Ace and switched to a club. I played low which lost to the Q and a C came back to the A and a third C to my K. Now all I had to do was draw trumps and claim. Unfortunately, I managed to persuade myself that the bidding and the defence suggested that the trumps were breaking badly so I crossed to the SK then came back to my hand with the DK and ran the ST losing to the J. I was right that the hand was 6331 unfortunately the singleton was a H not a S.

On board 28 the Chinese bid 6S at the other table which was a poor contract but made when the trumps broke 3-2 and the H finesse worked.

A much better result than the first RR but some missed opportunities to rue.

Match 2 RR2 vs Chinese Taipei (David & Maurits, Phil & Terry)

Another of the teams that beat us in the first RR so again an opportunity for revenge.

A small win by 13 IMPs (28-15) for 13.72 VPs.

This match included the first redoubled contract of the event for our team on board 4. Maurits and David found their way to 4S with 97xx opposite Qxxx as the trump suit. This was doubled by the hand in front of the Q and David sportingly redoubled. When the doubler had only AKx and defended rather softly, Maurits emerged with an overtrick for the unusual score of 1480 and +13 IMPs. Maurits later said that after seeing the dummy he had visions of -1600!

A funny story from the match between New Zealand and Korea recounted in the bar by one of the victims. Have a look at Board 8. The Korean West opened 3D and his partner bid 3NT which ended the auction. The NZ South led a small C which was won by the declarer. They cashed the AK of diamonds and now had to find a way to the dummy. The legitimate chance was to play the HA hoping for a singleton K. Instead they played the HQ. The NZ South picturing some different hand where their partner had the HA ducked. Now the HA dropped the K and the Korean declarer had an unlikely 12 tricks!

The day finished with us still in fourth place but still very much in the hunt.

The hotel in which we are playing is a very large modern hotel in the Chinese style with some interesting features.

There are two Segway robots that wander the corridors and lifts. Sometimes your lift will stop at a floor and the robot will roll in and start talking to you. Unfortunately they only seem to speak Chinese so I’m not sure what they are saying.

After a couple of days, we worked out that they are delivering the Chinese equivalent of Uber Eats to rooms. The drivers put the delivery in a compartment of the device and enter some sort of code. The robot does the rest! I am tempted to work out how to order something so I can experience the delivery.

All the scores and hands are available here.