
Wikipedia: The Blue Team (Italian: “Squadra azzurra“) represented Italy in international contract bridge tournaments, winning sixteen world titles from 1957 through 1975. From 1964 to 1969 and during a 1972 comeback, the team comprised three regular pairs: Walter Avarelli–Giorgio Belladonna,Pietro Forquet–Benito Garozzo, and Massimo D’Alelio–Camillo Pabis Ticci. Eugenio Chiaradia and Guglielmo Siniscalco played in early years; Dano De Falco, Arturo Franco, and Vito Pittalà in late years. The spiritual father, long-time coach, and non-playing captain through 1966 was Carl’Alberto Perroux.
32nd European Bridge Championships 1975, Brighton
Wednesday, July 16 1975
This was Board 31 of the match between Italy and Belgium , and I think you will agree that with Arturo Franco in the driving seat the hand was complete handled. (He has been made South for convenience).
Dealer South. None Vul
| West | North | East | South |
| 1NT | |||
| Pass | 2 |
Pass | 2 |
| Pass | 2NT | Pass | 3NT |
| Pass | Pass | Pass |
West led a low spade which was allowed to run to East’s
J, and East returned a heart won by North’s
Q. A low club went to the queen and King, and the
8 was taken by the
A.
East exited with another heart and franco entered dummy with the
J (East discarded a heart) in order to lead a diamond to the
Q and
A.
A second spade lead came from West and Franco showed his quality going up with the
A, cashing the last club, exiting with a spade to force East to lead away from his
J to the
10 on the table. Franco thus made one spade, three hearts, two diamonds, three clubs and his contract.
In the other room the final contract was 2NT , just made.





















