The first half of this match was full of missed opportunities.

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

When South led the two of spades everything in the garden looked rosy, but declarer contrived to go one down to give North-South +200.

Holding three aces it looks reasonable for South to pass, but Versace knew his partner must have a very distributional hand, and with Four Hearts likley to make he had actually made a good decision.

Woolsey starterd with the queen of hearts and declarer discarded a diamond from the dummy and won with the ace. He played a club to the ace and the jack of clubs. East played low without a flicker and in due course declarer went up with the ace.

East could have ensured the defeat of the contract by covering the jack of clubs as he will subsequently be able to force the dummy twice in hearts and promote the nine of clubs. From Versace's point of view the position was not so clear, and it was perfectly possible that West held the queen of spades. Whatever, it represented 9 IMPs to the USA.

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

East led the ten of spades. The 5-0 trump break certainly complicates matters, but even so, you would expect declarer to find a way home. No, he went one down to give Italy the potential for a significant gain.

With no room to manœuvre the Italians did well to find their diamond fit. Once again the opening lead was the ten of spades.

Imagine that declarer, expecting bad breaks because of West's jump to Four Spades, lays down a top diamond. When West discards declarer may be able to find a winning line. Needing four club tricks, he cashes the king of clubs and finesses the ten. Now he takes a heart finesse and discards a spade on the ace of hearts. The five of diamonds to the eight is followed by two winning clubs. A spade is ruffed with the ten of diamonds and the last three tricks are scored on a cross ruff. How much this smacks of double-dummy I'm not sure, but Lauria cashed the ace of hearts at trick two and then ruffed a heart. He finished two down so USA picked up 3 IMPs.

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

Declarer scored a fast +480. Could Italy get to Six Spades? Would they make it?

That must be one of the strongest Four Spades bids in history. Mind you, at one of the other tables declarer went down in Six Spades doubled by finessing in trumps, as well you might. Here it was one of several flat boards that saw Italy narrowly ahead at half time.