IN last week’s column I brought some news on the events in Verona and I set out below some more from Andrew Robson’s excellent column in the London Times. The column highlights the excellent performance of the US team and the hand shows some great defence from Bobby Levin and Steve Weinstein. Here is Robson’s column:

Fittingly in the week of the Fourth of July, we reflect that the USA highlighted their dominance of world bridge at the recent World Championships in Verona. Only the Italian Open team have threatened their supremacy in recent years (and they performed disappointingly this time).

The USA won the gold medal in all the major events bar one, the Open Pairs (won by China’s Fu and “Jack”). There were plenty of USA silver medals, too. One New York couple alone, Jill and Bobby Levin, won silver medals (together) in the Mixed Pairs and (separately) in the Open Pairs and Women’s Teams. I hope they have a large mantelpiece. Today’s Verona deal sees Bobby at his best.

Dealer North

Vul: E/W

Teams:North

[spade]K 10

[heart]A J 8 6

[diamond]A Q J 9 8

[club]J 6

West East

[spade]9 <$f"ZapfDingbats">|0xab|A 7 6

[heart]K 10 4 3 [heart]Q 9 7 5

[diamond]6 5 4 3 [diamond]10

[club]A K 5 4 [club]Q 10 9 7 2

South

[spade]Q J 8 5 4 3 2

[heart]2

[diamond]K 7 2

[club]8 3

South West North East

- - 1[diamond] Pass

1[spade] Dbl (1) 2[heart] 3[club]

3[spade] Pass 4[spade] Dbl1. Take-out — for hearts and clubs

Contract 4[spade]

Opening lead: A[club] / 3[diamond]

At one table, East-West defeated Four Spades using an “alarm-clock signal”. This involves playing an unusual card to make partner wake up and find an unusual play.

On West’s ace of clubs lead, East signalled with the queen (key play). This could not be a singleton, so had to be a request for the most unusual switch. Looking at dummy, that was surely diamonds.

West switched at Trick Two to a diamond, and East, after grabbing his ace of trumps immediately, led a second club over to his partner’s king and received a diamond ruff. Down one.

Bobby Levin (East) and partner Steve Weinstein went one better. East doubled the Four Spade contract and West deduced that this was based on the hope of ruffing diamonds. West therefore led a diamond at Trick One.

Now the defence has a great start — as declarer played trump East grabbed his ace, led a club to West for a diamond ruff, another club and another diamond ruff meant two down!! And doubled to boot!!

Great defence and total trust from Weinstein who resisted leading a club at Trick One , and this allowed the two-trick defeat and a big gain.LATEST RESULTS

Bermuda Bridge ClubMonday morning, June 26, N/S<$>: 1. Peggy Thompson-Lisa Burland, 2. Joan Sims-Aida Bostelmann, 3. Bea Williams-Gillian Gray. E/W: 1. Vera Petty-Roman Smolski, 2. Jean Bath-Sally Godet, 3. Alice Palmer-Charles Gambrill.

Monday evening, N/S: 1. David Pereira-Tony Saunders, 2. Alice Palmer-Nea Willits, 3. Gertrude Barker-Jane Smith. E/W: 1. Stephen Ball-John Hoskins, 2. Michael Bickley-Margaret Way, 3. Vera Petty-Roman Smolski.

Wednesday afternoon: 1. Bea Williams-Mary Arton, 2. Michael Bickley-Charles Gambrill, 3. Vera Petty-Roman Smolski.

Wednesday evening: 1. George Ogden-Sandra Ogden, 2. Alex Moir-Dorothy Moir, 3. Judy Patton-Rosie Smith, 4. Michael Pupko-Sharon Pupko, 5 (jt.) Jim Ramsey-Eileen Taylor and Peter Adhemar-Susan Adhemar.

Friday, N/S: 1. Alan Douglas-Ruby Douglas, 2. Craig Hutton-Rachael Gosling, 3. Kevin Comeau-Margaret Way. E/W: 1. Vera Petty-Roman Smolski, 2. Michael Bickley-Harry Kast, 3. Jim Leitch-Donna Leitch.