The first few boards were fairly routine, but Board 20 produced a double game swing and 16 IMPs for the Italians.

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

Where Zack showed a bad competitive hand with clubs, Mallardi showed rather more by bidding at the three-level. Whether d'Vossa was bidding to make or save is a moot point. There were 11 easy tricks for Mallardi.

The next board of interest, Board 22, was a push at 3NT making at both tables. It is, however, a very instructional play hand and both declarers got it right.

Board 22. Dealer East. EW Game ª K Q J 8 3 © K J 5 2 ¨ K 7 § 9 3 ª A 7 5 2 ª 9 4 © A Q 8 © 9 3 ¨ Q 9 4 ¨ A 8 5 3 § K 10 8 § A Q 6 5 4 ª 10 6 © 10 7 6 4 ¨ J 10 6 2 § J 7 2

In both rooms the ªK was led. In the Open Room Zack won the third round with Intonti showing heart interest by his carding. The club suit was run and Intonti pitched two hearts and a diamond, all in perfect tempo. Zack thought for some time and played the ¨A felling the king. Intonti was done for. If he pitched a spade, declarer could play the ¨A and another for an endplay on North.

Mallardi did it a bit differently. The first spade trick had the same spots played as in the other room -- ªK, low, ª10, but Mallardi won the first one. On the run of the clubs Levinger, North, pitched two hearts and a spade, declarer a heart and a spade and South a spade and a heart. Mallardi could now guarantee his contract by putting Levinger with a spade. He got his spade tricks but had to give up a red suit king for a push.

Board 26 was a bidding triumph for Israel in the Open Room.

Board 26. Dealer East. Game All ª J 5 © 10 9 6 2 ¨ J 7 4 3 § A 5 3 ª A 7 5 2 ª 9 4 © A Q 8 © 9 3 ¨ Q 9 4 ¨ A 8 5 3 § K 10 8 § A Q 6 5 4 ª 10 6 © 10 7 6 4 ¨ J 10 6 2 § J 7 2

The Israelis bid to 4ª and made it, losing only one spade and the two minor suit aces. The Italians missed this one as did the two pairs in the other match. That was 10 IMPs to Israel.

Board 28 was defended beautifully by Israeli's Amit and Zack.

Board 28. Dealer West. NS Game ª K 5 3 © 9 5 ¨ K 7 6 2 § K J 8 3 ª Q 8 4 2 ª J © A 8 2 © K 10 4 3 ¨ J 8 4 3 ¨ 10 5 § Q 2 § A 10 9 7 5 4 ª A 10 9 7 6 © Q J 7 6 ¨ A Q 9 § 6

The auction was Pass - Pass - 3§ - Dbl - Pass - 3NT. Seems like a reasonable auction from North's point of view. The §7 went to the queen and king. The spade suit offered the chance for the most tricks so Intonti led one - low from his hand, jack and ace, followed by the ª10, ducked and a spade to the king. Then a diamond to the ace and another spade. East had pitched two hearts and the ¨10. The §2 went through declarer, 8 and 9. Amit worked out the squeeze on the dummy and played the §A. He was conceding a club trick to Intonti but at the same time took one of dummy's tricks away. Declarer still only had eight tricks. It wasn't good enough for Amit to work this out. Zack had to go along with the plan -- and it was hard to do looking at the ©Q-J in the dummy. But his partner was forcing him to throw ALL of his hearts away. He was up to it -- when Amit played the §10 Zack let go of his last heart, the ACE, and they beat the contract as a result.

Such a great defense should garner more than 4 IMPs but that's all they got. In the other room the Italian pair climbed all the way to 2§, played it there and went off a trick. Their auction of Pass - Pass - l§ - Dbl - Redbl - 1¨ - Pass - 1NT - Pass - 2§ was much less spirited than the one in the other room.

The last board of real interest was Board 31.

Board 31. Dealer South. NS Game ª 8 5 © K Q J 10 6 5 4 3 ¨ 9 4 § 6 ª A K 10 6 4 2 ª J 7 © 8 2 © A 7 ¨ A K 3 ¨ 8 7 2 § A 3 § K Q 9 8 5 2 ª Q 9 3 © 9 ¨ Q J 10 6 5 § J 10 7 4

Amit - Zack got to an aggressive spade slam, made it and for this effort were rewarded with 11 IMPs because their counterparts stopped in game in the other room.