France had taken a healthy 38-IMP lead during the previous set, and they increased that margin on the very first board.

Board 97. Dealer North. Game All Q J 10 8 6 4 K 10 9 5 4 3 8 K 7 A 5 4 Q J 9 8 6 3 10 5 2 A J 2 8 6 2 K Q J 9 4 3 9 3 2 A K 7 Q 7 6 A 10 7 5

At both tables there was a competitive auction, N-S bidding diamonds and E-W bidding hearts. France finally bought the contract at one table for 4 doubled -- +590. At the other table they went on to 5, and the Americans carried on to 5, also doubled. They took the same 10 tricks, but that was minus 200 - 12 IMPs to France for a 50-IMP lead.

Board 98. Dealer East. N/S Game A Q 10 2 A 4 2 J 9 7 6 4 3 7 5 3 K 6 4 Q 8 7 4 K J 10 6 2 Q J 6 5 3 K 8 8 Q 10 5 J 9 8 9 5 3 A 10 9 7 A K 2 Open Room West North East South Hamman Perron Wolff Chemla 1 Pass 3 All Pass

Closed Room West North East South Levy Nickell Mari Freeman 1 Pass 2 Pass Pass Dble Pass 4 All Pass

USA II bought the contract in both rooms, but they were set both times. There were five natural losers in 3, so Wolff was down one.

In the Closed Room Nickell won the opening heart lead led a club to the king and took a losing finesse in spades. On the heart continuation he got rid of a club, and he pitched a diamond on the next heart. He won the diamond switch and led the K, ruffed by West. The play report ended here, but the final result was minus 200 for another 6 IMPs to France.

Board 99. Dealer South. E/W Game — J 8 7 6 2 A J 5 4 K Q 8 5 A 7 6 Q 9 8 3 K Q 5 4 9 3 Q 8 6 10 9 7 3 A 6 3 10 7 2 K J 10 5 4 2 A 10 K 2 J 9 4 Open Room West North East South Hamman Perron Wolff Chemla 1 Dble Rdble Pass Pass 1NT Dble All Pass

Closed Room West North East South Levy Nickell Mari Freeman 1 Dble Rdble Pass Pass 1NT Dble 2 Pass Pass Dble All Pass

Both North-Souths refused to let their opponents escape here. Hamman and Mari both found themselves down three tricks - minus 800 for a push.

Board 104. Dealer West. Love All 7 6 2 6 4 3 A Q 5 J 10 3 2 — A J 10 9 8 3 J 10 9 7 K Q K 10 9 8 6 3 J 4 2 Q 7 4 6 5 K Q 5 4 A 8 5 2 7 A K 9 8 Open Room West North East South Hamman Perron Wolff Chemla Pass Pass 1 Pass 1NT Pass 2 Pass 3 Pass Pass Dble Pass 4 All Pass

Perron considered passing 3 doubled, but finally he went for 4. He lost the obvious four tricks - minus 50.

Closed Room West North East South Levy Nickell Mari Freeman Pass Pass 1 Pass 1NT Pass 2 Dble All Pass

The Americans made their first gain of the set here. The defence was able to take two diamonds and a ruff, two trumps, a heart and two clubs - plus 500. 11 IMPs to USA II.

Board 106. Dealer East. Game All 10 6 3 A 9 2 10 9 8 7 6 Q 10 — K 9 8 7 5 4 K Q 10 6 5 4 J 3 K Q 2 5 3 A J 9 3 7 5 2 A Q J 2 8 7 A J 4 K 8 6 4 Open Room West North East South Hamman Perron Wolff Chemla Pass 1NT 2 Pass 2 Pass 3 All Pass

Hamman's 2 showed a good hand with an unidentified major suit. On his second turn he felt his hand was worth a jump, so he played in 3. He ducked the Q opening lead. A club continuation would have worked out well, but Perron shifted to a trump. Hamman knocked out the trump ace, and ruffed the spade return. After drawing two rounds of trumps, he misguessed the clubs by leading the 9, losing to the 10. Perron led another spade for Hamman to ruff. In the end game, Hamman lost a diamond and another club for down two. France bought the contract at 2 in the Closed Room and scored up nine tricks for an 8-IMP pickup. France's lead now was up to 59.

Board 108. Dealer West. N/S Game A 10 5 4 Q J 6 2 10 9 5 4 9 8 6 3 J 2 9 8 5 A 7 J 7 6 2 A K Q 3 K Q 4 8 7 6 3 2 K Q 9 7 K 10 4 3 8 A J 10 5 Closed Room West North East South Levy Nickell Mari Freeman Pass Pass 1 Dble Pass 2 Dble Pass 4 Pass Pass 4 All Pass

Open Room West North East South Hamman Perron Wolff Chemla Pass Pass 1 Dble Pass 1 Pass Pass 2!! 2 3 3 Pass 4 Pass 4 All Pass

America had a chance for a big gain here. Nickell and Freeman found their game, but Perron and Chemla were about to play in 1. But Hamman, who had not raised diamonds on his first turn, decided to reopen with 2, certainly a questionable decision. Now Perron and Chemla were able to sort out their strengths and shortages - and suddenly they had found their way to their vulnerable game for a push.

The Americans got only their second plus of the set - a 1-IMP pickup - on the last board of the set. That left them in a bad position - down 64 IMPs, 231-167.