Going into the final 16 boards, USAI held a narrow 9-IMP lead over Italy. However, on what turned out to be a fairly dull set of boards, Italy did not seriously threaten to extend their unexpected participation in the event as far as the semifinals.

Board 81. Dealer North. Love All A K Q 10 8 K Q 7 5 A J 3 2 9 3 6 4 J 2 A 10 9 8 A K 8 6 4 3 J 10 9 7 K 9 7 Q 10 5 J 7 5 2 6 5 4 3 Q 2 8 6 4 Open Room West North East South Sokolow Gianardi Breed Rovera 1 Pass Pass 2 Dble 2NT 3 3NT Dble 4 All Pass

Closed Room West North East South de Lucchi Letizia Rosetta Berkowitz 1 Pass 1 2 Dble 2NT Pass 3 All Pass

In the Open Room, the Americans competed over the doomed 3 and went one down in 4 for +50 to Italy.

In the Closed Room, Marinesa Letizia had to start with a strong club on the North hand and then had to decide whether to double or show her spades on the second round. She elected to double and found herself faced with a similar problem on the next round. This time she decided to go quietly. 3 made easily for +110 and 4 IMPs to Italy, reducing the deficit to 5 IMPs. However, the next three swings went to USA I.

Board 82. Dealer East. N/S Game Q 2 10 A Q 7 5 A Q J 5 4 3 9 7 6 5 A K 4 3 J 8 4 3 K 9 7 6 5 2 K 9 8 3 6 9 10 2 J 10 8 A Q J 10 4 2 K 8 7 6 Open Room West North East South Sokolow Gianardi Breed Rovera 1 Pass 2 3 3 3NT 4 Pass Pass Dble All Pass

Closed Room West North East South de Lucchi Letizia Rosetta Berkowitz 1 Pass 2 3 Pass 3NT All Pass

Lisa Berkowitz (USA1)

In the Open Room, the Italians quickly reached the cold 3NT, but the Americans sacrificed for two down and +300 to Italy.

In the Closed Room, Francesca De Lucchi's 2 in response to Annalisa Rosetta's 1 was either natural or weak with heart support or 9-11 with 2 or 3-card heart support. It would appear that this ambiguity made it difficult for the Italians to judge whether or not to compete further and they sold out to 3NT. Lisa Berkowitz made 11 tricks on a heart lead for +660 and 8 IMPs to USA I.

A 2-IMP gain on Board 85 stretched the American's lead to 15 IMPs and 5 more came on board 87 when Italy went one down in both rooms. Two boards later Italy recovered some badly needed IMPs.

Board 89. Dealer North. E/W Game J 10 5 2 A 9 6 3 A 4 K 8 6 A K 8 6 9 4 3 J 5 4 10 7 K Q 3 J 10 8 7 6 5 10 7 2 A J Q 7 K Q 8 2 9 2 Q 9 5 4 3 Open Room West North East South Sokolow Gianardi Breed Rovera 1 Pass 1 Dble 2 3 3 All Pass

In the Open Room, the 1 opening allowed the Italians to find their heart fit and the Americans to find their diamond fit. Tobi Sokolow led the K against 3 and Laura Rovera won the ace, crossed to hand with a trump and led a club to the king and ace. This would seem to lead to one down, but the records show that the contract made so the defence must have lost one of their tricks. +140 to Italy.

In the Closed Room, the 1NT opening won the auction for USA I and they seemed to be booked for two down after a diamond lead to the queen and ace. However, Rosetta ducked the club lead that followed and Letizia cashed out for one down. -50 meant 5 IMPs to Italy.

Board 91. Dealer South. Love All K 6 — K Q 10 9 8 6 2 10 9 7 4 A Q J 9 8 5 3 2 10 4 10 6 4 9 7 5 — A J 5 4 3 8 5 A K J 7 A K Q J 8 3 2 7 Q 6 3 2

In the Closed Room, Berkowitz opened 4 showing a good 4 opening and De Lucchi overcalled 4. Letizia chose to double this, but De Lucchi had ten top tricks and came to an eleventh by squeezing Berkowitz in hearts and clubs. Repeated club leads would have broken up the end position, but Letizia naturally led a diamond. +690 to Italy.

In the Open Room, Rovera opened 4 and Sokolow overcalled 4. Mildred Breed cuebid 5 but quickly signed off in 5 after a 5 cuebid from Sokolow. Sokolow found the same squeeze as De Lucchi to bring home her contract, but that was another 6 IMPs to Italy and the deficit was back down to 9 IMPs.

However, Board 93 virtually killed off Italy's hopes.

Board 93. Dealer North. Game All J 9 3 8 A K 10 7 5 4 3 2 4 Q 10 8 6 4 2 A K K Q 9 5 A J 10 4 2 Q 8 J 6 2 10 8 6 3 7 5 7 6 3 9 A K Q J 9 7 5 Open Room West North East South Sokolow Gianardi Breed Rovera 3 3 Pass 4 All Pass

Closed Room West North East South de Lucchi Letizia Rosetta Berkowitz 3NT Pass 4 Pass 4 All Pass

In the Open Room, the 3 opening proved no deterrent to the Americans and they quickly reached 4. Breed lost the obvious three tricks for +620 to USA I.

In the Closed Room, Letizia's 3NT was a four-level pre-empt in an unspecified minor. This time, the opponents were silenced and she was left to play in 4. Rosetta cashed AK and A and then paused for breath. She needed to play a club now to defeat the contract, but when she continued with a second heart declarer was home. +130 and 13 IMPs to USA I increased the lead to 22 IMPs with only three boards left.

Two IMPs for overtricks on Board 94 and a double partscore swing on Board 95 finally closed the door on the Italians. Their 7-IMP gain on the last board when USA I stayed out of game merely reduced the overall deficit to 24 IMPs. The Americans had won the set 37-22 and the match 214-190 and could look forward to facing their compatriots in the semifinal.