In the 17th round of the European Teams Championship France took on Hungary. Barczy arrived in a doomed doubled three spades contract after overcalling his five card suit rather than his seven card one. He escaped the trump lead as Christian Mari (World Champion) led the queen of clubs. Barczy ruffed and played ace and jack of the diamonds ducked to Volcker who trumped it.

At this point Marc Smith wrote the usual nonsene one would expect from a commentator that a trump would hold declarer to 4 tricks. Three more. Anyway Volcker who should have known at this point South’s distribution continued with two rounds of hearts. Barcy ruffed and carefully played the ten of diamonds (to conceal the diamond position) covered ruffed and…overruffed. The contract was making know. There was nothing poor East could do. He should have remembered the famous Hamman board where he won the selection for his team by not overruffing dummy with a small trump.

This not overruffing theme is in every variation. Even in the Smithian one (trump instead of two rounds of hearts) East should not overruff the next ruff to hold declarer to seven tricks.

Even cashing one heart before the trump allows declarer to escape for one down but I leave this one for you to work out.

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