The Denmark-Italy match divided into two totally separate phases - indeed it was hard to believe the same players were playing in both halves. Board 1 for example started a spectacular run by Italy.

Board 1. Dealer North. Love All ª J 2 © 9 4 ¨ Q J 10 3 2 § 10 9 6 2 ª Q 10 9 8 7 6 4 3 ª K 5 © 2 © A Q 7 ¨ 4 ¨ K 8 7 6 § K 7 5 § Q J 8 4 ª A © K J 10 8 6 5 3 ¨ A 9 5 § A 3

After the auction:

North passed and led the ©9. Declarer won and carefully avoided the trap of ruffing a heart to hand to lead a spade toward the king (the only way to go down). Instead he led a low spade from dummy. Kaspar Konow took the ace and cashed the §A Now he had to take the ¨A to hold declarer to 590. He did not.

In the other room (playing weak notrumps), it went 1§ - 4© - 4ª -- P - P - Dbl - P - P back to Mikkel Nohr. Fatally he ran to 4NT. A few rounds of bidding later his side conceded 1100 in 6§ doubled - 18 IMPs to Italy.

Board 5. Dealer North. NS Game ª K 9 7 2 © K 10 7 6 4 2 ¨ 8 5 § K ª A Q 5 ª 8 6 © — © Q 9 8 ¨ A 10 7 6 4 3 ¨ K Q J 2 § A 9 8 5 § J 10 6 2 ª J 10 4 3 © A J 5 3 ¨ 9 § Q 7 4 3

The Italian surge crested at this board as a result of a 2¨ opening by Riccardo Intonti (both majors, 5-10 HCP) led to his playing 4© and making 620 for a huge result. Meanwhile at the other table Andrea Mallardi opened 1¨ in fourth seat, leading to this auction:

Nice evaluation by Mario d'Avossa for another 14 IMPs. At this point Italy led 38-0. Board 8 (see page 00) reduced the margin somewhat, and Denmark got firmly back in the match with Board 12.

Board 12. Dealer West. NS Game ª J 10 9 © A J 5 2 ¨ 8 7 2 § A 10 5 ª A 8 2 ª K 7 6 5 4 © 10 8 7 © K 4 3 ¨ 4 3 ¨ Q 6 § K 9 8 7 4 § J 3 2 ª Q 3 © Q 9 6 ¨ A K J 10 9 5 § Q 6

Morten Madsen and Konow had an unopposed sequence when Konow as South treated the hand as a 1¨ opening and 1NT rebid (15-17). He reached 3NT on a club lead and made 660.

Who was at fault in the other room?

Should North or South show their half stopper by redoubling to reach 3NT? It is not clear - but 11 IMPs to Denmark closed the gap to manageable proportions.