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English 57 Israeli Mixed Team Trials Yossi Engel The inaugural European Mixed Teams bridge championship is going to take place in Lisbon (Portugal) during February 2019, so the IBF organized a team trial to pick the team that would represent Israel. Five teams, includingmany Israeli internationals, registered for the event. At the end of 212 exciting boards, the winners were Oren Lidor – Ilana Loonstein – Rejan Molcho – Yossi Engel. The following two boards had a common thread: in both cases the big swing went in favor of the team which preempted more aggressively. From the semi-final stage: Dealer South, Vul E/W ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ 9 72 KQJ3 T98643 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ QJ62 985 T842 A7 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ AK8 KQT6 A975 KJ ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ T7543 AJ43 6 Q52 This deal was played at four tables. South and West Passed everywhere. At two tables the North played Passed politely and East was allowed to open 2NT. East-West reached a natural 3NT contract without intervention, and South led a natural spade which allowed the contract to make by careful play, developing two diamond tricks and one heart trick in addition to six top tricks in the black suits. In the other two tables North noticed the favorable vulnerability and did not hesitate to open three clubs. The auction went: West North East South Pass Pass 3♣ Dbl Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ All Pass Of course, East could bid a direct 3NT over North’s preempt, but once South leads a club, that contract is doomed. At the table East-West avoided 3NT and reached four spades on a 4-3 fit, but in view of the bad breaks this was not a success either. The two teams which did not preempt at the North seat suffered losses of 12 and 13 IMPs respectively, and were eventually eliminated. From the final match, final segment: Dealer South, Vul None ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ AJ 853 AJT9 A732 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ 2 AKQ42 K54 QJT9 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ K6 JT96 872 K864 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ QT987543 7 Q63 5