In Round 3, the USA met Italy, and the boards were anything but dull!

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

Duboin gave it some thought before passing, and Rodwell recorded a painless +450 when he got the clubs right. Bocchi showed his sense of humour by depositing the queen under the ace.

Freeman's well intentioned double - his side have a cheap save in diamonds - backfired, as when South redoubled, neither American felt constrained to bid. A pity, because it would have been interesting to see if South would have gone on to 5ª. Italy were +1080, when declarer also got the clubs right, for 11 IMPs.

Those points went back with interest on the very next deal:

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

South cashed the ªA, and faced a critical moment at trick two. Switching to the ¨10 will defeat the contract, as it breaks up any possible endplay on North, and in some situations leads to South securing a ruff. He passed the test by putting the ¨10 on the table, and the trick was completed by the ¨J, ¨Q and ¨A. Declarer ruffed a spade, came to hand with a club, and ruffed a spade with the ace of hearts. On this trick, North made the fatal discard of the four of diamonds. If he retains that card, he can win the first round of hearts with the king, give his partner a diamond ruff, and wait for the setting trick in diamonds. That was no longer possible , and declarer lost only two more tricks, one in each red suit.

            Lorenzo Lauria

Over the 9-12 no-trump, 2© promised that suit and a minor. Rodwell put the pressure on, and with a difficult decision, Duboin took a sensible, but losing view. South cashed the ªK and switched to the ©8. Declarer played low from dummy, and North took the king and returned the suit. That was taken in hand, and declarer ruffed a spade, and played the king and then the jack of diamonds. Meckstroth covered, and in due course made both his remaining trumps. Two down, and 13 well earned IMPs to the USA.

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

Both teams reached game via a simple sequence, 1NT-3NT. However, while Nickell opened 1NT on the East cards, at the other table it was West who was declarer. Meckstroth led the §Q and the defenders continued the suit, declarer winning the third round. He played a spade to the ace, a diamond to hand and a second spade, ducking when North produced the jack. North cashed his long club, and in due course declarer had to lose another trick. One down.

In the replay, South led a spade, and declarer won with the ace, crossed to dummy with a diamond and ducked a club to North.He played a second spade to South's ten, and he fatally switched to the ©Q. 9 tricks and 10 IMPs for the USA.

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

West led the ace of diamonds, but declarer was not hard pressed to record eleven tricks, +650.

South's initial double promised hearts, but might have been based on only three cards if he had extra values. Rodwell dropped the king of clubs, therby making ten tricks, but this accident cost 11 IMPs, and left Italy with an 8 IMP lead.