In Round 3, China and Indonesia swopped a huge number of IMPs in the first half.

Board 6. Dealer East. East-West Game
	ª 10 7 3 © 10 7 5 ¨ 8 4 3 2 § 7 6 2
ª K Q J 4 © Q 6 2 ¨ A Q § A Q J 3		ª A 5 2 © A J 9 8 3 ¨ J 6 § 8 5 4
	ª 9 8 6 © K 4 ¨ K 10 9 7 5 § K 10 9

China bid the East-West cards to 6NT to pick up 13 IMPs. Obviously with both minor suit kings onside, their is no losing line of play.

Board 7. Dealer South. Game All
	ª A 9 8 © 6 4 2 ¨ Q 5 4 § K Q J 5
ª J 7 4 © K J 9 5 3 ¨ K 8 § 8 4 3		ª Q 10 6 © 10 8 7 ¨ J 9 6 2 § 7 6 2
	ª K 5 3 2 © A Q ¨ A 10 7 3 § A 10 9

Those 13 IMPs went straight back on the next board, as China attempted 6NT on the North-South cards. That drifted two down.

Board 10. Dealer East. Game All
	ª 7 3 © K J 9 2 ¨ Q 8 § A K J 8 7
ª A K Q 10 © A 10 8 6 4 ¨ 10 6 § 9 5		ª J 9 2 © - ¨ A K 9 7 5 4 3 2 § 4 2
	ª 8 6 5 4 © Q 7 5 3 ¨ J § Q 10 6 3

In the match betwen the USA and Italy, both East-West pairs bid 4¨-5¨, and made 11 tricks. It was hard work elsewhere, with two pairs recording +150 for 3¨+2. Of course, if you play South African Texas, or Namyats, you can't open 4¨, which makes life a little more difficult.

Indonesia hit China with more than 30 IMPs over the last three boards, scoring heavily here when they made eleven tricks in an excellent 4ª. This was the auction:

The second half of the match between the USA and Italy was a low scoring affair, the only major swing coming on this deal:

Board 22. Dealer East. East-West Game
	ª A K Q © K Q J 10 6 ¨ 9 8 6 4 § 2
ª 8 2 © 2 ¨ A 7 3 2 § Q J 9 8 7 3		ª 10 7 5 © A 9 7 3 ¨ K Q J 10 5 § 5
	ª J 9 6 4 3 © 8 5 4 ¨ - § A K 10 6 4

A simple enough auction to a sensible contact. East led the ¨K, but declarer was not under any pressure, and recorded ten tricks for +420.

I saw Eric Rodwell have some red meat for dinner, and he was certainly in an agressive mood on this deal. Jeff Meckstroth thought for quite a long time before he bid the slam, but you can hardly blame him. Just one more small heart in the South hand would make 6© almost laydown. Rodwell ruffed the diamond lead, crossed to a spade and ruffed another diamond. He cashed the ace of clubs, but when he played the king, East ruffed, cashed the ace of hearts and a diamond for two down. That was enough to move Italy into a lead they maintained to the end of the match.