Norway Thomas Charlsen, the Norwegian "Charlie Brown", is well known for never letting the opponents get away with indiscretions. In the match against Austria he earned 9 IMPs in spite of a terrible Norwegian result in the other room.

Dealer North. EW Game ª K J 6 4 3 © A J 9 4 ¨ 8 § A J 7 ª 5 ª A Q 9 © 7 5 3 © K 2 ¨ A J ¨ K Q 10 4 3 2 § K 10 8 6 5 4 2 § Q 3 ª 10 8 7 2 © Q 10 8 6 ¨ 9 7 6 5 § 9 Open Room West North East South 1ª 2¨ 3ª 4§ Pass 4ª Pass 5§ Dble All Pass

In the Open room it was Saur against Saurer. The double of the final contract was not a good one, and Bernd Saurer (West) took advantage of it.

A spade was led. After taking the first trick with the ace Saurer ruffed a spade. Then followed the trump ten, finessing through North and dropping the club nine from South. One club loser and the heart ace were everything the Norwegians could get, +750 for the Austrians.

To beat Five Clubs it seems that North needs to lead a somewhat spectacular small heart. Declarer will be in trouble, and the defense can get three tricks, two in hearts and one in clubs or the opposite. Instead North may get a diamond ruff if declarer tries to get to his own hand in that suit (the defence have communications in hearts).

For sure the result was great for the Austrians, but you can never be sure of anything when "Charlie" is playing in the other room. He was sitting East, partnering Christer Kristoffersen.

The bidding went:

Tough bidding by Kristoffersen. South led a spade and Charlie could see he was in a doubled contract that probably would make. After taking the first trick he led a diamond to the ace and a club from dummy. North played low, and the queen held the trick. Most people would at this stage be very happy and grab their nine tricks, but Charlie always look for more.

A diamond was played to the jack, and a heart from dummy ensured ten tricks. And on top of that E/W in their frustration discarded to many spades, and declarer could collect his eleventh trick with the spade nine. Plus +1150, and nine imps to Norway, a big surprise for everyone in Open room.