It was nice to see the Australians back on vugraph. Whereas they had been playing poorly and in bad luck a couple of days ago, this time they had a huge following and they took full advantage of it.

Small partscore swings on Boards 1 and 2 gave them 8 IMPs. Then Board 3 saw a paradoxical result.

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

Joel Wooldridge-Tom Carmichael played 5¨ doubled. On a heart lead Carmichael, North, misguessed clubs and lost 300. Kylie Robb in the other room sacrificed in 6¨ over the non-making 5© (it's only the ª8 away from being laydown) and got Leigh Gold, South, to be declarer. When Eric Greco (who thought the contract might make) led the ªA, declarer guessed clubs - and escaped for minus 100!

USA 2 was held scoreless while Australia racked up the IMPs (including bidding a less than 10% vulnerable game that came in), and USA 2 missed their chances too.

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

Both tables declared 3NT on a heart lead. Both declarers won and led a club to the king, then set up a diamond and took a spade finesse for the contract. But if the two Wests rise with the §A at trick two to play hearts, the contract is down one by force.

USA 2 finally started to score in the second half. In fact, on Board 16 they got into double figures when they judged a competitive auction better.

Board 16. Dealer West. EW Game ª J 8 5 3 © 10 ¨ 9 7 § J 9 7 6 5 3 ª A Q 10 7 4 2 ª 6 © 9 5 © A J 7 6 3 2 ¨ Q 3 ¨ J 8 6 5 4 § A K 4 § 10 ª K 9 © K Q 8 4 ¨ A K 10 2 § Q 8 2

Paul Brayshaw knew he was buying a ruffing value in dummy, but he hoped for two or three spades. As it was the defense had a trump promotion to doom 4ª doubled for 800. The loss of 100 in the Open Room still meant 12 IMPs to USA 2.

There was more than a touch of good fortune in Australia's pickup a couple of boards later.

Board 18. Dealer East. NS Game ª A 7 5 © 10 ¨ J 10 3 § K Q 10 7 6 5 ª 10 6 4 2 ª Q 9 © K 4 2 © A J 9 8 6 5 ¨ 8 7 4 2 ¨ A 6 5 § 9 4 § J 3 ª K J 8 3 © Q 7 3 ¨ K Q 9 § A 8 2

Wooldridge simply needed the ©A-K to his right. Bad luck - minus 300 to boot.

Gold's raise of 4§ to five might have been hard to justify - and indeed it needed the ªQ onside (which it was not a favorite to be) the way Robb played it. In fact, on the lead of the ©A and the ¨A followed by the ©J, declarer had a 100% line. Duck, run all the diamonds and clubs, and the hand counts out perfectly. The spades are known to be 4-2, so on the last trump, pitching a spade from dummy, catches West in a major suit squeeze.

USA 2 got the luck back - and then some - on the final deal.

Board 20. Dealer West. Game All ª K J 3 © 9 8 7 ¨ 10 6 4 3 § 10 9 5 ª Q 10 8 7 2 ª A 5 © Q 6 3 © A K J 10 5 ¨ 7 ¨ 8 5 2 § K Q 8 3 § A J 7 ª 9 6 4 © 4 2 ¨ A K Q J 9 § 6 4 2

4© is where most pairs would play. Although 6© on a diamond lead is absolutely laydown, repeated trump leads will beat the slam. USA 2 played it in 4©, but Australia bid 2ª-2NT (relay)-3ª (5 spades and four clubs)-3NT-Pass.

Put your hand up if you would lead anything but the ¨J - you know, fourth best from your longest and strongest. 13 IMPs closed the margin to a 20-10 victory for Australia.