Except for one board, this segment was all USA 2. Italy picked up 15 IMPs on Board 61 while the Americans won three or more IMPs on seven boards. This cut Italy's margin to 61.

This was the one negative on an otherwise positive USA 2 card.

Board 61. Dealer North. Game All ª K Q 10 9 5 © A 10 9 8 4 2 ¨ 4 § 7 ª 8 4 2 ª J 6 © K Q 5 3 © — ¨ — ¨ Q J 9 8 7 5 4 2 § A 10 9 6 4 3 § Q 8 2 ª A 7 3 © J 7 6 ¨ A K 10 6 § K J 5

Eric Greco's double did not work out well at all. His opening lead was the §A and he switched to a spade. Bernardo Biondo led the ©6 and let it ride - making 11 tricks for plus 990.

It wasn't good for the Americans in the other room either.

Andrea Mallardi led the ©K, so Joel Wooldridge had to go down. He had to give up a heart trick to set up the suit, and of Course Mallardi cashed the §A for a 15-IMP gain.

The Americans scored their own plus 990 on the last board.

Board 64. Dealer West. EW Game ª A K 10 6 © Q 5 ¨ Q J 10 § A 7 6 2 ª 5 ª Q 8 7 2 © A K J 10 9 6 4 3 © 2 ¨ 3 ¨ A 7 6 5 § Q 5 3 § K J 10 8 ª J 9 4 3 © 8 7 ¨ K 9 8 4 2 §

Intonti's double was for takeout, but Biondo left it in. Making five was easy - Greco lost the two black aces.

At the other table:

The defense started with a heart, and Mallardi switched to his singleton diamond. D'Avossa won and Mallardi scored a ruff with his singleton trump. Wooldridge still had to lose a club, a trump and another heart, so he was down three - minus 500. But that still represented a 10-IMP gain.

The biggest gain of the set occurred on Board 55.

Board 55. Dealer South. Game All ª 10 9 © 9 8 2 ¨ 9 8 4 3 § K 7 5 4 ª A J 7 6 ª K Q 8 5 3 © A K 10 3 © J 7 4 ¨ J 5 2 ¨ A Q § A 8 § Q 3 2 ª 4 2 © Q 6 5 ¨ K 10 7 6 § J 10 9 6

Willenken didn't think he had enough to make a slam try and signed off in 3NT. Greco got a friendly spade opening lead, so he cashed the ©A and took a losing finesse in diamonds. When the heart finesse worked later on, he racked up 12 tricks.

At the other table:

Wooldridge found the killing lead of the §10. D'Avossa ducked to Carmichael's king, and he shifted to a diamond. Declarer finessed and was immediately down one - 13 IMPs to USA 2.

The only other double-digit swing occurred on Board 63.

Board 63. Dealer South. NS Game ª K © 10 8 7 5 2 ¨ A 7 6 4 § K 7 6 ª A 8 7 6 3 2 ª J 9 5 4 © A J 9 © Q 6 4 3 ¨ J 5 3 ¨ 10 8 § Q § A 5 4 ª Q 10 © K ¨ K Q 9 2 § J 10 9 8 3 2

Both Wests played in 4ª. When Greco was the declarer, North led the ©8, completely clearing up the heart situation. He then picked up the other singleton king when he cashed his ace of trumps. Now he had to lose only two diamonds and a trump for plus 420.

North started with a club in the other room. Mallardi rose with the ace and then ruffed a club and cashed the ace of trumps, happy to see the king fall. He gave up a trump to the queen and the defense collected their two diamond tricks. But declarer had no hint of the situation in hearts, so led the queen for a finesse and went down one - 10 IMPs to USA 2.

USA 2 had cut the margin to 61 IMPs, but that still was a very steep mountain to climb in only 32 boards.