France consolidated their position in the sixth session of the final. There were few swings, but all the important ones went in their direction.

Board 84. Dealer West. Game All K 10 9 Q 10 8 6 4 3 7 6 10 7 A 4 2 8 6 5 3 A J 9 2 7 8 3 K 10 9 4 2 A 9 6 2 K J 3 Q J 7 K 5 A Q J 5 Q 8 5 4 Closed Room West North East South Freeman Perron Nickell Chemla 1 Pass 1 Pass 1 Pass 1 Pass 1NT Pass 2 All Pass

North led the 10 for the jack, queen and ace and when declarer played a diamond to the king South won and played a second trump. Declarer won in dummy with the king and played ace of hearts and ruffed a heart. He came to seven tricks and was -100.

Open Room West North East South Levy Meckstroth Mari Rodwell 1 1 1 1NT Pass 2 Dble 2NT Pass 3 Pass Pass Dble All Pass

Christian Mari (France)

When Meckstroth overcalled, Mari introduced his spades. He showed a distributional hand on the next round, although he was perhaps a little short of values for that action. Levy resisted the temptation to double 2NT, but could not resist taking a shot at 3 on the next round. He was probably hoping for +500 but as it was things were not so simple.

Mari led the three of clubs and Levy won with the ace and cashed the ace of spades. He then went back to clubs and Mari won and switched to the ten of diamonds. Meckstroth won and could now have got home by playing a low heart from dummy and finessing the eight. He then returns to dummy with a diamond finesse and ruffs a club. He takes two spades ending in dummy and ruffs his last club. Now a heart to the king leaves West endplayed.

It was not to be. He ruffed a club, and played a heart to the king and ace. Levy won and returned a diamond which prevented any possible trump reduction. One down, -200 and 7 Imps to France.

Board 86. Dealer East. E/W Game J 9 7 5 K Q J 5 3 2 K 7 10 K Q 10 8 6 A 4 3 10 7 6 4 A 9 8 8 4 A 10 9 6 5 A 3 J 6 2 — Q J 3 2 K Q 9 8 7 5 4 2 Closed Room West North East South Freeman Perron Nickell Chemla 1 4 Dble Pass 4 All Pass

Four diamonds was not a happy contract.

South led the king of clubs and declarer took the ace and ran the eight of diamonds. South won and cashed the queen of clubs. He then played the seven of ruffed by the four of diamonds and overruffed by the king and ace. Declarer tried the ten of diamonds, but South won and forced declarer with a club. That meant five down, -500.

Open Room West North East South Levy Meckstroth Mari Rodwell 1 5 Dble All Pass

Rodwell went the whole hog at his table but his luck was out. Levy doubled and led the eight of diamonds. Mari withheld his ace when declarer played low from dummy and that ensured two down, -300 and 13 more IMPs for France, beginning to move away again.

Board 90. Dealer East. Game All A 7 A Q 10 5 4 K 7 5 2 Q 6 3 K J 10 6 5 7 K J 9 2 A Q 8 3 10 6 A K J 10 7 4 3 8 5 Q 9 8 4 2 8 6 3 J 9 4 9 2 Closed Room West North East South Freeman Perron Nickell Chemla Pass Pass 1 1 1 Pass 2 Pass 2 Pass 3 Pass 3NT All Pass

South led the 3 and North took the ace and returned the five. Declarer put in the jack and went after the clubs. He emerged with ten tricks, +630.

Open Room West North East South Levy Meckstroth Mari Rodwell Pass Pass 1 1 1 Pass 2 Pass 3NT All Pass

Rodwell also led the 3 and Meckstroth took his ace and cashed the ace of spades before exiting with the queen of clubs. Given his partnerships' style of overcalls, there is a chance Mari would have gone wrong if Meckstroth had switched to the seven of spades, but now he was able to cash all his clubs and play a low diamond to the ten and jack. When South returned the four of diamonds, declarer could play the queen and claim. One IMP for USA11.

Board 95. Dealer South. N/S Game A K Q 9 7 K 5 4 J 10 A 6 4 J 6 8 4 3 2 10 7 — 8 7 6 5 2 A K Q 9 4 J 10 9 8 K 5 3 2 10 5 A Q J 9 8 6 3 2 3 Q 7 Closed Room West North East South Freeman Perron Nickell Chemla 4 Pass 5 Pass 5 Pass 5NT Pass 6 Pass 6 All Pass

Five clubs was looking for a diamond control and when Chemla showed one, 5NT was Blackwood. A very useful convention on this hand! +1460 when West led the jack of clubs.

Open Room West North East South Levy Meckstroth Mari Rodwell 3 Pass 4 4 4 5 6 All Pass

Three diamonds promised 0-10 points and hearts. Meckstroth also went in search of a slam but as the auction was a level lower it was easier for East/West to get involved. We are guessing that 4 promised second round diamond control but whatever, it was too difficult for the French pair to find the save.

Of course they gained one IMP as they took the ace of diamonds. This was just about the only opportunity that Levy and Mari had missed and France won the set 26-4 to lead 192-154. Not decisive, but not a comfortable position for USA11, especially against their bogy team.