It was American time on vugraph early in Wednesday's second session. On Boards 3 and 4 Ralph Katz and Chris Compton opposed Larry Cohen and David Berkowitz. Compton found his way to nine tricks in 3NT on Board 3.

Board 3. Dealer South. EW Game ª 10 9 8 5 © 7 5 4 ¨ 10 6 5 § 7 4 3 ª K J 7 6 4 3 ª Q © K 8 6 © A J 3 ¨ 9 8 2 ¨ K J 4 3 § J § A K 10 9 6 ª A 2 © Q 10 9 2 ¨ A Q 7 § Q 8 5 2 West North East South Katz Cohen Compton Berkowitz 1¨ 2ª Pass 3NT All Pass

Berkowitz started with the ©10 to the jack. Compton played the ªQ and Berkowitz withheld his ace. Compton transferred his attention to clubs, leading low from hand. Berkowitz rose with the queen and continued the attack on hearts. Compton won with the ace and cashed his clubs. Then he crossed to the ©K and led the ªK. Berkowitz was able to win this and cash his good heart, but then he was forced to lead diamonds, giving Compton his ninth trick with the ¨K.

Cohen and Berkowitz play a 1NT response to a major as usually forcing, but Cohen decided on Board 4 that 1NT might be the best place to play the hand.

Board 4. Dealer West. Game All ª A Q 8 4 © K Q J 8 6 ¨ 8 2 § Q 4 ª 10 9 7 3 ª K 2 © 7 2 © A 10 5 4 3 ¨ Q J 5 4 3 ¨ K 9 § A 6 § K 7 5 3 ª J 6 5 © 9 ¨ A 10 7 6 § J 10 9 8 2 West North East South Katz Cohen Compton Berkowitz Pass 1© Pass 1NT Pass Pass! Pass

At times it appeared that Berkowitz was going to make his contract - at other times it looked as if he was going down. Katz led a diamond to the king and ace, and Berkowitz decided his best chance was in clubs, so he led low to the queen and king. Back came a diamond to the 9, 10 and jack, and the vugraph commentators thought Katz would cash the ¨Q and lead another diamond to set up his fifth diamond. Now the defence would take three diamonds, two clubs, one heart and most likely a spade as well.

But Katz switched to the ª10, ducked to the king. Compton returned a club to Katz' ace, and now Katz could see nothing to do but play a heart. Compton won this for the sixth trick for the defence, but Berkowitz had the rest for a good matchpoint result.

Now two more American pairs took their places in the vugraph room - Zia and Bob Hamman against Doug Simson and Eric Rodwell.

Board 5. Dealer North. NS Game ª Q 5 © K 10 9 4 3 2 ¨ A Q 4 3 § 9 ª A J 10 6 2 ª K 8 7 4 © J 8 © 6 5 ¨ K 10 9 6 5 ¨ 8 7 2 § 7 § Q J 4 2 ª 9 3 © A Q 7 ¨ J § A K 10 8 6 5 3 West North East South Hamman Rodwell Zia Simson 1© Pass 2§ 2NT 3© 3ª Dble Pass 4¨ 4ª 5© All Pass

Simson was faced with a tough decision at his last call. Defeating 4ª should be easy, but would the penalty be sufficient to make it worthwhile if his side had a vulnerable game for the taking? And that was the other question - did his side have sufficient strength to win 11 tricks at hearts? He finally decided his hand was primarily offensive and bid 5©. The defence started with spades, then switched to a club. Rodwell took the ace and led a low club to ruff. Soon he was claiming his contract. Doubling 4ª probably would have been worth only 500, so bidding on paid off.

On the next board N/S can make 2© and E/W can make 2ª. So it makes sense for N/S to go on to 3© and for E/W not to go on. And that's exactly what happened.

Board 6. Dealer East. EW Game ª 8 5 3 © K J 10 6 ¨ J 4 2 § Q 5 3 ª J 10 6 4 2 ª K 7 © 8 2 © Q 7 ¨ Q 9 7 ¨ A 10 8 6 3 § A 6 4 § K J 9 2 ª A Q 9 © A 9 5 4 3 ¨ K 5 § 10 8 7 West North East South Hamman Rodwell Zia Simson 1¨ 1© 1ª 3© All Pass

The defence collected three clubs, a spade and a diamond for a one-trick set. N/S did well to go to the three level, and E/W did well to stop.