England led by 6 IMPs overnight but a very dull set of boards saw Italy gradually overhaul them and move into the lead in session three.

Board 2. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
	ª 8 7 5 © 4 3 ¨ Q J 9 4 § Q 10 7 3
ª A 4 3 © J 10 ¨ A 10 3 2 § A 9 5 2		ª Q J 10 6 © K Q 9 8 6 2 ¨ 5 § 8 6
	ª K 9 2 © A 7 5 ¨ K 8 7 6 § K J 4

Would you open the East hand and, if so, with what? Joe Fawcett, for England, opened a weak 2©. The partnership pre-empts very aggressively and Glyn Liggins was not really close to moving on the West cards. Fawcett made 11 tricks for +200.

If I were to open the East hand, I would open 3©, but it would be difficult to criticize a pass, and that is what Lorenzo Lauria chose in the other room.

One Diamond was Precision. After Lauria's balancing overcall, the Italians bid easily to the excellent game; +450 and 6 IMPs to Italy, levelling the match.

Board 5. Dealer North. N/S Vul.
	ª - © Q 10 9 8 5 4 3 ¨ A 6 § Q 10 7 4
ª K J 8 5 3 © K J ¨ Q 10 8 7 § A 6		ª Q 10 9 6 4 © 2 ¨ 4 3 § K 9 5 3 2
	ª A 7 2 © A 7 6 ¨ K J 9 5 2 § J 8

Bocchi and Burn both opened 3© as dealer and Duboin and Callaghan both raised to game. What should West do? Even pass could easily be the winning call, but most of us would do something at the table.

Liggins overcalled 4ª and played there. After a heart lead to the ace, it was not difficult for Giorgio Duboin to find the killing diamond switch; down one for -50.

Alfredo Versace preferred to make a take-out double, so it was Lauria who declared 4ª in the Closed Room. Brian Callaghan led the ace of hearts and David Burn followed with the eight, a middle card which suggested that Callaghan make his own arrangements. In a suit preference situation, as this presumably is, a middle card suggests either that the player has a very good suit of his own and therefore little of value in either side suit, or that he has a poor suit and something useful in both side suits. With values in only one side suit he would signal for it. After opening at the three level on a queen-high suit, it was surely likely that Burn had a high card in both minors, in which case a diamond switch is indicated. However, it is not as easy as when the East hand is exposed as at the other table, and Callaghan continued with a second heart. Lauria threw a diamond on the heart and had ten tricks; +420 and 10 IMPs to Italy.

Board 14. Dealer East. None Vul.
	ª Q 10 9 7 © 10 6 5 4 ¨ A 6 § A K 3
ª K 3 2 © A J ¨ K Q 10 5 2 § J 9 8		ª J 8 5 © 7 3 2 ¨ 9 8 7 4 § 6 5 2
	ª A 6 4 © K Q 9 8 ¨ J 3 § Q 10 7 4

Italy led by 12 IMPs going into this deal. While North/South have a 4-4 heart fit and 25 HCP, game rates to fail most of the time on the lie of the cards. Sure enough, in the Closed Room, Callaghan/Burn had the unopposed sequence: 1¨ - 1© - 2© - 3ª (choose between 4© and 3NT) - 4© - Pass. After a low club lead, declarer got both majors wrong to go two down; -100.

In the Open Room, the Italians were given a clue in the auction to help them to stay low:

One No Trump showed 9-12 and the double was for penalty. Bocchi's pass could have hidden a variety of hand-types, including his actual one, a hand that wished to play 1NT redoubled. Fawcett did not wish to play 1NT redoubled so started to scramble. Both Norths doubles were more take-out than anything, typically showing two or three cards in the suit doubled. With East/West known to hold at least an eight-card fit, Duboin removed to 2© and Bocchi did not try for game.

Liggins led the king of diamonds to dummy's ace and Duboin played a heart to the king and ace. Liggins cashed the ¨Q then got out with a spade. Duboin put up dummy's queen and played a heart to his queen. When the jack fell, he could draw the remaining trump and claim ten tricks; +170 and 7 IMPs to Italy.

Board 16. Dealer West. E/W Vul.
	ª 6 4 © 7 ¨ J 8 6 5 2 § A K Q 10 6
ª A Q 9 7 © A K 10 8 4 ¨ 3 § 9 5 3		ª 10 5 3 © 6 3 ¨ A 10 7 4 § J 8 4 2
	ª K J 8 2 © Q J 9 5 2 ¨ K Q 9 § 7

What is North's best action after a 1© opening on his right? If you put the deal into my local club game I am sure that almost everyone would opt for the unusual 2NT overcall to show both minors, but both Burn and Bocchi preferred to stress their strong club suit - certainly better if partner ends up on lead to the final contract. Callaghan responded 2NT on the South hand and played there, going one down when the diamonds failed to behave.

Duboin responded 2¨, a transfer cuebid, and Bocchi had to repeat his clubs. That is the downside of overcalling 2§, of course, that it will frequently be impossible to get the diamonds into the game. Fawcett led a heart against 3§. Liggins won the queen with his king and switched to the singleton diamond. Not surprisingly after this auction, Fawcett did not appreciate that he was supposed to be dealing his partner a diamond ruff. He ducked so the trick was won by dummy's nine. Bocchi cashed three rounds of trumps, throwing a heart and a spade from dummy, then played a diamond. Fawcett won the ace of diamonds and cashed the jack of trumps. This squeezed dummy awkwardly. Hoping that the ªQ would be onside, Bocchi threw a second spade and Liggins carefully threw the ten of hearts to make certain that his partner would switch to spades. Fawcett duly led a spade and three rounds of those forced Bocchi to ruff. Declarer could throw the blocking king of diamonds from dummy but still had to give East his ¨10 and there was a heart to come also; three down for -150. The nice defence helped England to a 3 IMP pick-up on the deal, but Italy ended the set with a 104-88 IMP lead. There were still 48 deals to play.

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