The fourth session of the semi-final saw the players confronted by a very quiet set of boards. The few significant swings were generated in the bidding.

Board 50. Dealer East. N/S Game Q 9 8 7 6 4 K 9 3 A 8 4 4 J 5 3 10 7 6 2 A 10 8 4 K 10 7 5 J 9 6 3 Q 9 8 A K 6 3 A K 2 Q J 5 Q 2 J 10 7 5 2 Closed Room West North East South Stansby Hamman Martel Wolff 1 Dble 2 4 All Pass

Bobby Wolff's decision to double the opening bid paid off when Bob Hamman had an easy jump to game. East led the ace of clubs and switched to a trump, taken in dummy by the king. Declarer played the queen of diamonds and when it was covered by the king he let that card win. West played a second spade but declarer won in dummy, played a diamond to the ace and ruffed a diamond. Its clear that declarer now has the contract made, but the play record now ceases and the result was posted as one down. Perhaps there had been a revoke? It was only the following day that we were able to discover the truth - Bobby Wolff had entered the wrong result! So, +620.

Open Room West North East South Rodwell Rosenberg Meckstroth Mahmood 1 Pass 1NT 2 2NT Dble 3 Pass Pass 3 Pass 3 All Pass

Zia preferred to pass at his first turn and he subsequently doubled for penalties. His three heart bid was clearly some sort of game try, but with such a weak hand for his initial overcall it was difficult for Rosenberg to bid more than 3. Perhaps Zia should have taken the bull by the horns and simply bid game himself. In any event, it was 10 IMPs away.

USA11 outbid their opponents again a few boards later.

Board 57. Dealer North. E/W Game 9 4 3 A 8 6 2 K Q J 7 5 3 K 2 A 8 6 5 K 10 5 3 2 Q J 7 4 A Q J 8 4 10 9 6 10 9 2 Q J 10 7 9 6 K 7 5 3 A 8 4 Closed Room West North East South Stansby Hamman Martel Wolff 2 Pass 2 Dble Pass Pass 3 All Pass

Once Stansby elected to double Wolff's relay bid it was always likely that East/West would miss their heart fit. Three clubs could be defeated in several ways and after the opening lead of the ten of diamonds there was no chance of a defensive mistake. -50.

Open Room West North East South Rodwell Rosenberg Meckstroth Mahmood 1 Pass 1 2 Pass 4 All Pass

There was no problem at the other table as Rodwell was able to show his red two suiter. Declarer lost only to the two aces, +650 and 12 IMPs.

Board 59. Dealer South. Love All A 9 4 3 J 5 A 10 9 7 5 9 3 10 8 5 K Q J 6 9 6 K 4 8 4 K J 3 Q J 8 7 6 2 A 10 5 4 7 2 A Q 10 8 7 3 2 Q 6 2 K Closed Room West North East South Stansby Hamman Martel Wolff 1 Pass 1NT Dble 2 Pass 3 All Pass

This is the sort of game you want to be in when it makes, but on a bad day you might even go down when the heart finesse is onside. +170

Open Room West North East South Rodwell Rosenberg Meckstroth Mahmood 1 Pass 1 1NT 2 2NT Dble 3 3 Pass 4 All Pass

No problem here in reaching game. West led the eight of diamonds so Zia went up with the ace and played the jack of hearts. East covered, so he played a few trumps and then went to dummy to play the ten of diamonds. +420 recovered 6 IMPs.

Board 63. Dealer South. N/S Game 9 7 6 3 A 8 3 A Q 10 7 4 3 A 10 2 Q 5 4 Q J 10 7 6 K 9 8 5 3 K 5 2 A Q J 10 8 6 4 K J 8 5 4 2 K J 9 6 2 9 7 Closed Room West North East South Stansby Hamman Martel Wolff Pass 1 2 3 3 4 All Pass

Make what you will of the North/South bidding. Once again the play was dull, declarer losing two spades, two hearts and a club, -200.

Open Room West North East South Rodwell Rosenberg Meckstroth Mahmood 1 Pass 2 Pass 2NT Pass 3 Pass 3 Pass 4 All Pass

As the Vugraph commentators predicted, Rodwell opened the bidding. Meckstroth's response was game forcing and (we think!) the rebid of 2NT promised a minimum and any 5-3-3-2. Another relay established 3-5-2-3, so with 3NT not looking appealing, Meckstroth decided to try for the ten trick game.

Rosenberg led his singleton club and after long thought declarer won in dummy and played the king of hearts. When that was ducked he played the nine of hearts. North won and cashed the ace of diamonds. Zia encouraged with the nine and Rosenberg played a second diamond, putting his partner in to get his club ruff. Well defended and another half dozen IMPs.

USA11 had won this low scoring session 31-16 and led 172-113 overall.