From Sweden nearly 36 years ago
In 1994, Bob Hamman wrote his autobiography with Brent Manley. Called “At the Table” (DBM Publications), it contains several deals from the 176-board final of the 1983 Bermuda Bowl world team championship in Stockholm. I was there, and it was one of the most exciting matches ever. A large audience watched the action on a screen, with a team of commentators led by Edgar Kaplan. Most spectators supported Italy, represented by Giorgio Belladonna-Benito Garozzo, Dano De Falco-Arturo Franco and Lorenzo LauriaCarlo Mosca. The American team was Michael BeckerRonnie Rubin, Bob HammanBobby Wolff and Alan SontagPeter Weichsel.
This was Board 66. First, let's look at the Open Room. East's opening bid was limited to 16 points, hence West's aggressive bidding. South's two-no-trump advance was for takeout and suggested limited values. However, if Franco (South) had passed out three no-trump, that contract would have made easily. Still, he played five clubs beautifully.
Franco won the spade lead in his hand and ducked a diamond to East's jack. Declarer won the next trick with dummy's spade ace, ruffed a diamond, played a club to the ace, ruffed another diamond (bringing down the ace), cashed his heart king, crossed to the heart ace, discarded a heart on the diamond king and, with three trumps and one heart in each hand, exited with a trump to West's queen. West had to return a spade or a diamond, permitting Franco to ruff on the board and sluff his last heart, or vice versa. Italy plus 600.