Italy started the final with a 24-point carryover, the result of the blitz they scored against USA 2 in their round-robin match. Italy picked up another 2 on the first board, but the Americans cut 11 off the lead on Board 2.

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

This contract was not a success. Bernardo Biondo had to lose two trumps, two clubs, a heart and a diamond - minus 200.

Mario d'Avossa had no more success in this contract - clearly this is a board where it was better to defend than to declare. Chris Willenken led his singleton heart to the ace, and a club went to the king and ace. Willenken cashed two top spades. He switched to a club to the jack and queen as declarer pitched a diamond from dummy. Next came the ¨9 to the king. Greco played the ¨Q to the king, and dummy won the ¨A. He led the ¨J and let it ride, pitching a club. He ruffed a diamond, but he still had to lose two trumps - Greco had the 10-7 over dummy's 8-3. Italy minus 300 - a swing of 500 to USA 2 worth 11 IMPs.

That was the end for USA 2 till near the end of the set. On Board 3 Mallardi and d'Avossa got to 4¨ making while the Americans rested in a partscore. This actually was a lucky pickup for the Italians - the ¨A and both the §K and §J were onside. 10 IMPs to Italy.

Italy set American contracts at both tables on Board 4 for 9 more IMPs.

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

The defense carefully took all their tricks. The opening heart lead and continuation drove out the ace, and Tom Carmichael led a diamond. Intonti won, and the Italians cashed three spades and a heart for down two.

When Greco led low to the 7 the first time around in trumps, he had to lose three diamonds, two clubs and a heart - down two once again. Both tables got to 3NT on Board 6.

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

In the Open Room West led a heart to the jack, king and ace. Willenken tried a club to the 9, losing to the king. A heart back forced the ace, and he crossed to dummy with a diamond. He guessed wrong in clubs, leading the jack, covered by the king and won with the ace. Eventually he had to give up a trick to the §10, and the good hearts put him down a trick.

In the Closed Room North was the declarer, and East led a heart. Intonti finessed the queen successfully, cashed the §A and gave up a club to the king. He won the heart return and cashed out his 10 tricks for 10 IMPs.

Board 8 showed quite a contrast in styles.

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

Intonti's rebid of 1NT promised 16-19 high card points. Biondo took a negative view and passed with his 7 points. Intonti managed eight tricks - plus 120.

Greco's 2NT rebid showed 18 to 19 HCP, and Willenken went on to game, not at all surprisingly. The §9 opening lead went to the jack, queen and ace. The first two diamonds were allowed to hold, but Mallardi took the third and switched to the ªJ, ducked. But Greco put up the king on the second spade lead, losing to the ace. D'Avossa cashed the ªQ and pushed another club through. Greco took a finesse to the ¨10, Mallardi took the jack and cashed two spades and a good club - down four for an 8-IMP loss. Board 11 was a total disaster for USA 2.

Board 11. Dealer South. Love All ª A K J 10 © 10 7 ¨ — § Q J 9 6 4 3 2 ª 5 ª Q 9 7 © A K J © Q 9 6 5 4 2 ¨ A K J 10 9 8 4 2 ¨ 5 3 § 10 § K 7 ª 8 6 4 3 2 © 8 3 ¨ Q 7 6 § A 8 5

The action was interesting in both rooms. First the Closed Room.

Carmichael told Intonti he wasn't sure that 4NT was Key Card Blackwood, but he answered it anyway, showing zero or three controls. Wooldridge signed off in 5¨, but Intonti doubled. Intonti told Carmichael that this might be a Lightner double. Biondo took it as such and made an usual lead - a diamond. Intonti was happy to ruff this, and he carefully checked Carmichael's answer to Blackwood. Then he cashed the ªK and led a club to partner's §A. Biondo sent another diamond through, and Intonti ruffed again for down two - plus 300 for Italy.

This contract is cold for down one as long as the defense collects their two black aces. Greco led the ªK and then attempted to cash the ªA. Curtains! Mallardi ruffed and had the rest of the tricks for plus 1090. That was 16 IMPs to Italy instead of five if Greco had shifted to a club.

The swing was small on Board 13, but the play in the Closed Room was interesting.

Board 13. Dealer North. Game All ª 5 2 © K 10 7 4 2 ¨ K 10 7 4 § 6 3 ª A 9 4 ª 8 7 6 © J © A 9 3 ¨ Q 9 8 5 ¨ J 6 3 § A Q 10 7 5 § K 9 4 2 ª K Q J 10 3 © Q 8 6 5 ¨ A 2 § J 8

3¨ was made in the Open Room, so Carmichael could gain an IMP if he could hold his losses to down one. Carmichael won the second spade and drew two rounds of trumps. Then he cashed the ¨A and ruffed a heart. He felt reasonably sure Intonti had both top diamonds, so he led a diamond to his jack and was not happy when Mallardi won the ace. Now he had to go two down.

Perhaps it would have been better if he had led ace and another heart before drawing trumps. After the ruff, he could draw trumps ending in hand and ruff his last heart. Then he could get out with a spade, and whoever won it would be endplayed into opening diamonds or offering a sluff-ruff.

At this point Italy was 72 IMPs ahead, but the Americans closed the gap a bit over the last three boards.

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

Both tables played in 4ª, the Americans making and the Italians going down. In the Closed Room Wooldridge led a diamond to Carmichael's 10, and declarer won the ¨Q return with the king. Biondo led a second diamond, losing to the king, and another heart knocked out the ace, Wooldridge refusing to ruff a loser. Declarer played a club to the king to ruff a diamond, cashed the §A and led a third club. Carmichael ruffed with the 7 and led a heart. Declarer ruffed this with the 10 and Wooldridge produced the jack for the setting trick.

The defense was not as exacting in the Open Room. D'Avossa led the ¨Q, and Greco took the king and led a second heart. Mallardi discarded a club so dummy's ace won. A third heart was ruffed by declarer with the 10 and overruffed by West. A diamond rode to the 10 and East led the ¨K. West overtook with the ace, playing partner for king-10 tight. When declarer played the queen he knew he was wrong, but he tried to get it past Greco. That didn't work. Greco pitched a club from dummy and won with the ¨9. Declarer ruffed the fourth diamond and cashed the ªA. He ruffed his last heart with dummy's king, then drew trumps and claimed. This was one of the few times that an Italian defender erred. 10 IMPs flowed back to the Americans.

Wooldridge and Carmichael got too high on Board 15, climbing to 3NT and going down two. Italy gained 5 IMPs by stopping in 1NT and making it in the other room.

On the last board the Americans again got to game when the Italians didn't, but this time the game made. 7 IMPs to USA 2 cut Italy's lead to 60, 91-61.