Not much happened in the first few deals, although the Italians broke on top and increased their 13.5-point carryover lead.

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

Both tables made 4ª, but Mallardi had the tougher task. He reached 4ª after Amir Levin-Eran Shaham had the chance to double an artificial club call. On a club lead to the ace and the ¨J shift, declarer won in hand and drew two rounds of trumps. Since South, a passed hand, apparently had six decent clubs and the ¨J, he had no room for the ©A. So Mallardi led a heart to the king for his 10th trick. Israel's one big pickup came on Board 9.

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

Bernardo Biondo-Riccardo Intonti, who had a generally excellent set in the Closed Room, stopped in 2NT (1ª - 1NT - 2§ - 2NT) - quite high enough in theory. With all the red-suit cards onside and diamonds breaking 3-3, nine tricks were available although Intonti collected only plus 120. In the other room after 1ª - Dbl - Redbl - 1NT - Dbl -Pass, the defense cleared spades and collected 800 in comfort. Italy got it all back on the next deal.

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

After East passed, Biondo opened a 2¨ multi. Intonti bid a pass-or-correct 2© and Biondo corrected to 2ª. Levin's decision to pass twice with the West cards looks amazingly cautious - especially for a Junior. Biondo made 2ª with an overtrick. In the other room Mario D'Avossa opened 1§ with the East cards and now E/W reached 3NT, played by East. He managed 10 tricks for 13 IMPs to Italy. Intonti opened the door for Israel in the Closed Room on Board 12, but Mallardi managed to hold the losses very well.

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

Both tables bid 1ª - 1NT - 3ª - 4ª. Intonti doubled, rather randomly, and on the ©J lead he decided to duck (probably an error though nothing mattered now). Declarer could finesse in clubs and when Intonti won the trick, a low spade was his only slim chance. He actually led the ¨A and then the ©A, conceding 590.

Against the undoubled 4ª, Shaham avoided the heart lead, but his shot of the ¨10 was equally unsuccessful. Declarer answered with the ¨J and guessed well to put in the 9 on the way back. Now he had tricks for plus 420, a loss of only 5 IMPs.

The final swing to Italy came on Board 14.

Board 14. Dealer East. Love All ª A Q 10 2 © Q 9 6 ¨ Q 7 3 § A Q 4 ª J 8 6 5 ª — © A K 5 © 7 4 3 2 ¨ J 5 ¨ A 10 9 8 6 § 9 8 3 2 § J 10 7 6 ª K 9 7 4 3 © J 10 8 ¨ K 4 2 § K 5

Again both tables reached 4ª. Levin reasonably enough led a top heart, giving declarer a critical tempo to make winning 10 tricks look easy. Mallardi led the ¨J, ducked to the king. Declarer had to draw four rounds of trumps, and had the §A-K-Q on which to throw a diamond loser. Mallardi took the first heart and forced declarer with a club. When he won the next heart, he led a diamond, and East had the last two tricks for down one.

By the end of the first set, Italy had increased their lead to 21.5 IMPs.