Third placed Great Britain had a tough day on Thursday with matches against the teams ranked 4th, 6th and 8th, respectively. First up were the Netherlands who were only 4 VPs behind Great Britain. After a quiet first half which left Britain leading 15-10 IMPs, the second half started with a bang.

Board 13. Dealer North. Game All ª Q J 9 3 © A 3 ¨ 5 3 2 § K 7 5 4 ª K 8 5 2 ª 10 6 © K J 9 8 2 © Q 10 7 6 4 ¨ — ¨ Q 9 7 4 § A J 9 2 § Q 3 ª A 7 4 © 5 ¨ A K J 10 8 6 § 10 8 6

The Dutch misjudged things badly in the Open Room with Marijke van der Pas' takeout double of 3© on her essentially one-suited hand seemingly the culprit.

With no clear-cut resting place and with her side holding the majority of the points, Bep Vriend decided to pass, however, Nicola Smith had no problems in making an overtrick after a spade lead for +930 to Great Britain.

As the Netherlands scored +170 in the other room, Britain began the second half with a 13-IMP gain.

Board 16. Dealer West. EW Game ª J 10 7 2 © Q J 8 ¨ K J 8 5 § K 5 ª 9 5 ª Q 8 © 6 3 © A 9 7 5 ¨ A Q 10 6 4 3 ¨ 9 7 2 § Q J 4 § 10 7 3 2 ª A K 6 4 3 © K 10 4 2 ¨ — § A 9 8 6

In the Open Room, van der Pas opened 1ª fourth in hand and Smith overcalled 2¨. Vriend raised to 4ª and that ended the auction. The lead was the §Q, but there was only the ©A to lose; +480 to the Netherlands.

Opening the East hand did not turn out well for the Dutch in the Closed Room since Sandra Landy had an automatic takeout double of 2¨ and Abbey Walker had an obvious penalty pass. This contract went three down for +800 and 8 IMPs to Great Britain, now ahead by 25 IMPs.

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

Smith was not encouraged to move over the 1NT rebid with her motley nine-count, and van der Pas led the ©J taken by declarer with the Ace. A club to the Queen and Ace followed and Vriend switched smartly to a low spade to hold Pat Davies to seven tricks.

The stakes were higher in the Closed Room where the Dutch pair reached game. Since declarer was clearly short in spades, Landy decided to lead a spade, but she began with the ª8 to avoid potential blocking problems. Unfortunately, instead of solving a problem it created one for her partner who could not envisage the actual layout.

Jet Pasman covered the ª8 with dummy's ª9 and Walker won with the King and switched to a diamond. Pasman won in hand and led a club to the Queen and Ace and when Walker, who was still under the impression that declarer held the ªQ, did not find the spade switch, declarer was safely home. 11 IMPs to the Netherlands who now trailed by 17 IMPs.

Board 23. Dealer South. Game All ª 8 3 2 © A K J 10 7 ¨ A 10 4 § A 10 ª 9 ª A 10 7 4 © 6 4 2 © 8 ¨ Q 9 7 6 2 ¨ K J 8 5 § J 8 5 2 § Q 6 4 3 ª K Q J 6 5 © Q 9 5 3 ¨ 3 § K 9 7

2© was game forcing and 3ª was a relay. I believe 4¨ showed the shortage, but when van der Pas showed no Aces, Vriend stopped in 5©. Since a spade ruff defeats 6©, that was perhaps just as well, but Davies led her trump and Vriend score +680.

The British pair were quickly in 6© and 26 IMPs hinged on Pasman's opening lead. Unfortunately for the Netherlands, but fortunately for Great Britain, she led a diamond and the slam made. The 13-IMP gain gave Britain a winning margin of 30 IMPs (53-23) and victory by 21-9 VPs. One hurdle overcome, two to go.