?
...............876432
...............A10984
...............----
...............Q7
J9...............................AKQ105
Q63............................752
AK97..........................8654
AJ54..........................9
...............----
...............KJ
...............QJ1032
...............K108632
?
What a hand with which to begin! I saw?four different opening bids; 2S from North (I hope nobody reading this was eating; the East hand is a much more likely 2S opening bid), 1D from South, 1C from South and 3C from South. I expect there may have been a 2S opening bid from East as well and perhaps even 1NT from West. We could have seen a 2NT opening bid from Erik to show the minors, but he did not get a chance to open. Auctions could have gone so many different ways. Perhaps the strangest contract was the lowest - 1NT W, as any of the other three players could have acted. One East was in the happy position of passing a 2S opening bid from North and actually seeing the reopening double from partner for which she surely had been wishing - how often does one have the perfect hand to pass a reopening double only for partner to bid instead? 2Sx N was played twice; the contract might also have resulted from the auction P-P-1C-1NT; 2S-X. South on the auction 2S-P-P-X could have come in with 2NT for the minors. 3C S was played once, as were 3Cx S and 3Cx N. 3Cx S came after South opened 3C, East reopened with a double and West decided to try leaving it in. North's declaring could have resulted from 2S-P-P-X; P-P-2NT-X; 3C-P-P-X; my best second guess would be a rather light 1S opening bid from East followed by 2NT from South. Then came the plurality contract of 3NT W, played five times. This is quite reasonable; I would rather drive to game with the East hand than invite; the spade ten may be enough to tip the balance. Rounding out the rainbow were the two red-suit contracts, 4D W and 4Hx N. 4D W suggests that West opened 1D; 4Hx N seems a bit high; I could see 3Hx a couple of different ways. I suppose after a 1D opening from South and a 1NT overcall from West, N-S might wander around trying different resting spots eventually settling on 4H, perhaps with an optimistic raise from South.
?
The old adage that when declarer is two-suited is an excellent time to lead a trump really came through here. If E-W begin with two rounds of clubs, declarer can do no better than take eight tricks. Any other lead allows declarer to take the double ruffing finesse through West in diamonds and take either nine or ten tricks depending on what happens in hearts. This allowed Marie and Bob to come away with the two top N-S scores in 3Cx S +1 and 3Cx N =. 4D looks as if it will have play on a non-heart lead but is doomed by the nasty trump split. Declarer can do no better in 4D W than take eight tricks by force, which would be seven if the hearts didn't block. Garbot began with 4D -3. 4H can be held to six tricks by an immediate club ruff but Troward were happy enough with -3. The heart blockage makes the second undertrick against 2Sx easy; E-W have six top tricks but can even draw North's trumps and pick up two of the three tops in the minors. Pharah picked up a third undertrick to tie Troward for E-W top. But the blocked hearts really help 3NT, which?can still be set but only by a major lead. A heart lead establishes the suit while North still holds the guarded club queen for an entry. A spade lead works well enough as West must win the first round in hand, but South has to play precisely. Louise made 3NT and Lee even took eleven tricks after the opening lead of the club queen, which allows a forced make, the overtricks coming from South's surrendering the diamonds.
?
3Cx S +1
3Cx N =
4D W -3
3C S =
3NT W -1 (3)
2Sx N -1
1NT W +1
3NT W =
3NT W +2
2Sx N -3; 4Hx N -3
?
2:
?
...............AQJ865
...............108
...............AQ
...............Q108
102............................K7
AQ7...........................J9432
86543........................J972
762............................95
...............943
...............K65
...............K10
...............AKJ43
?
After that wild opening hand we needed something a little more tame to follow up and got a hand that went almost entirely one way. The main question on the deal seemed to be whether N-S would be able to stop safely in 4S. Particularly if South upgraded the hand to a 1NT opening bid it seemed that North might at least look for slam; 6NT S is about as close to having exactly a 50% chance of success as one is likely to get (5-0 clubs and 4-0 spades will lead to a set. The five-level ought to be all right, although one would rather not risk it if not necessary. Fortunately nine pairs stopped in 4S N. One South had a little whoopsie and passed North's 1S response. One pair opted for 3NT S. Only one pair ventured all the way to slam, opting for the oh-so-nearly-50/50 6NT S. Our last auction featured an E-W pair who must be friends of Bill's, or if they aren't they should be. The auction was P-1C-2D-2S; 5D-X. Favourable vulnerability and a passed partner will loosen up one's bidding, but at that extent the difference between brilliance and buffoonery can be difficult to distinguish.
?
Needing only the spade ace onside, 2-2 trumps and pinning North's doubleton ten in hearts (perhaps North led a heart, making the task much easier), 5Dx finished -3 to show a profit. The spade contracts were in the ten-trick or-twelve category. With both finesses wrong, declarer took ten tricks when East won the trump king and found the heart switch, twelve otherwise (if the lead was a club, there was a case for a club return. William's RHO missed the heart return that would have held him to nine or ten tricks and he made 6NT S for N-S top. Against 3NT we saw the importance of stifling a high intermediate in dummy. When East won the spade king and switched to a low heart, Phoebe was able to duck and take ten tricks for a score of 9/12. Switching to the jack would have nullified the power of the ten. Covering the jack would have led to -2 and a bottom; ducking would have let East keep the lead and let to nine tricks and a score of only 2/12.?
?
6NT S =
4S N +2 (2)
3NT S +1
4S N = (7)
5Dx W -3
1S N +3
?
3:
?
...............J42
...............J93
...............K9832
...............AQ
65.........................A9873
A54......................Q10762
105.......................7
KJ8732................95
...............KQ10
...............K8
...............AQJ64
...............1064
?
N-S had a nice and easy 1NT-3NT, 3NT being easy to reach even if West came in with clubs one way or another. There was a potential advantage to methods using a double to show a single-suited hand; North might redouble and let East do something to show majors along the way. Contracts were 2D S, 3D S and 3NT S eleven times.
?
3NT all rides on the lead. A heart lead sets 3NT because declarer's spade winners are too slow. The normal club lead lets declarer establish two spades for a total of nine tricks; a diamond lead technically allows declarer to pick up an overtrick in hearts, but one would not expect that outcome. Ken, like almost every other declarer, took nine tricks in 3NT after a club lead. Ten declarers took nine tricks; Eric took a tenth for the N-S top. The diamond partials took ten or eleven tricks for what could have been the top scores but ended up on the bottom.
?
3NT S +1
3NT S = (10)
3D S +2
2D S +2
?
4:
?
...............43
...............K9
...............Q10987
...............AQ63
A962.....................J1087
Q10875.................AJ2
543........................K2
9............................10752
...............KQ5
...............643
...............AJ6
...............KJ84
?
It did not seem to matter much whether or not North opened the bidding, as 3NT seemed predestined. One would rather have North declare, although here it makes little difference. 3NT S was played six times and 3NT N once. That almost half the contracts were partials was curious. Partials were 2C S, 2H W and 3C S four times. The auction P-1C; 1D-1NT; 3C makes some sense; despite the maximum HCP count South might not want to carry on without a heart stopper. Or West might overcall in hearts, which would likely lead to 3C if North doesn't go for no-trumps.
?
A heart lead sets 3NT S at once. 3NT N can also be defeated with a spade lead and heart switch. Larbot defeated 3NT N three tricks. The usual result was -2, but Larry (St) took ten tricks after a heart lead, spade switch and spade continuation. Judy took her ten tricks in 3C. Don's 2H contract could not have been defeated by force; he took nine tricks for the middle score.
?
3NT S +1
2C S +2; 3C S +1
3C S = (2)
3NT S -1
2H W +1
3C S -2; 3NT S -2 (4)
3NT N -3
?
5:
?
...............KQ5
...............J95
...............10742
...............A87
8.........................A109763
10642.................A73
653.....................AQ
Q10654...............93
...............J42
...............KQ8
...............KJ98
...............KJ2
?
1S from East generally passed around to North unless South doubled. If North came in it was with 1NT but that was never left in (1S was played five times). East likely came in again; higher contracts were 2S E four times, 2NT N twice, 3Sx E and 3NT N.
?
Spade contracts can take six tricks, seven if the lead is a diamond. No-trumps can take eight tricks, seven if the lead is a spade. Two of the three declarers in no-trumps were held to six tricks, giving Paun E-W top defending 3NT -3. Harold was among three declarers who made 1S, although the helpful diamond lead did not come until trick six. Larry (Sh) even made 2S. The other contracts were all defeated, with Milliam E-W top defending 3Sx -3.?
?
3Sx E -3
2S E -2
1S E -1 (2); 2S E -1 (2)
1S E = (3)
2NT N -1
2S E =
2NT N -2
3NT N -3
?
6:
?
...............A6532
...............10
...............8
...............AKJ764
J84............................KQ97
J97............................AK83
A532.........................J96
1098..........................52
...............10
...............Q6532
...............KQ1074
...............Q3
?
1D from East, perhaps 1H from South and then likely 2D from West or 1NT if South passed. North likely comes in with some vigour. We emerged with contracts?of 1H S, 3C N six times, 3Dx E, 3NT S, 4C N, 4Hx S, 5C N and 5Cx N.
?
Club contracts took anywhere from seven to eleven tricks, with nine being the usual result. The layout allowed ten if declarer finessed the first diamond; luckily the diamond jack and nine dropped in three rounds and East, with three diamonds, also held only two trumps. Lark had the best defensive trick result in 3C -2, Paun the best defensive score in 5Cx -2 and Dave the best offensive result in 3C +2. Milliam picked up one trick beyond what they could force, scoring +1400 for 3Dx E -5. Troward tied for E-W top again, defending 4Hx -2, the expected trick outcome. 3NT had a wide range of different outcomes, taking ten tricks after a diamond lead and seven otherwise. Ken ended up making 3NT. He took two rounds of clubs and then led a diamond; West then returned another diamond and the contract was made - any other suit would have led to a set. Had Ken led a diamond after winning the first club in hand, West would have had to find a spade switch to force a block in one of the minors.
?
3Dx E -5
3NT S =
3C N +2
3C N +1
3C N = (2)
1H S -1; 3C N -1; 4C N -1
3C N -2; 5C N -2
4Hx S -2; 5Cx N -2
?
7:
?
...............KJ85
...............----
...............KJ93
...............AK762
A10962...............Q3
KQJ986..............A2
65.......................AQ8742
----......................Q103
...............74
...............107543
...............10
...............J9854
?
Here we had a hand almost as dramatic as Board 1, only with rather better-looking fits for both sides. West is the first player with a difficulty. What to open? The playing strength is fine but the high cards prohibit a reverse unless one were playing a One Club system with limited one-bids in the other suits. West's options are to open 1S and hope East has better spades than hearts, to open 1H and reverse, hoping East won't get overheated, to open 1H with the plan to rebid 2H and hope not to miss a spade fit, or (if playing the convention) to open Flannery and improvise if East replies with 2NT asking for more information. If West opens 1H the auction looks like fairly smooth sailing; North doubles, East redoubles and South bids 2C. West certainly doesn't stop and North is good enough to raise the clubs. Over a 1S opening, those Norths who cannot bear to stay quiet with opening count will bid 2C and the others will pass. East bids 2D and South may then go as high as 5C. After P-1S-P-2D; P-2H, North will probably pick up on South's heart length and weak hand and be glad, especially when East does not raise hearts, to be quiet. Contracts were 3Cx N, 3D E, 3NT E thrice, 4H W four times, 4Hx W, 4S W twice and 5Cx N.
?
Looking at only either pair of hands and the offensive potential for either side seems fantastic. 5C looks to have play and becomes quite attractive should the opening lead be the queen of spades, although in the end the 3-0 trumps prevent a make. Declarer can easily, however, acquire two diamond winners with a ruffing finesse and finish with ten tricks or at least nine (after the lead of the heart ace ruffed, club ace, diamond to queen, heart ruff, ruffing finesse in diamonds and then an attempt at a third heart ruff instead of a spade). Both declarers underperformed. Pharah were a little lucky to be above average defending 3Cx -1; Manda were E-W top defending 5Cx -4. Connie scored well taking the expected nine tricks in 3D E =. 4H can force an overtrick because North comes under great pressure when trumps are drawn and may even have to part with the high clubs to hold declarer to eleven tricks, but all the 4H contracts were defeated, the 5-0 trumps and shaky clubs scaring declarers and giving Garbot the N-S top defending 4Hx -2. 4S could also make, though without any overtricks; our guest Semi proved his capacity by making 4S and being the only declarer to make a suit game. 3NT E offered North the chance to try the old falsecard of winning a club lead with the ace and returning a low club - if East finesses the ten, the clubs run. The optimal defence is not to continue clubs at all, the only way to force a third defensive trick. North has just enough room on the run of the hearts to discard three clubs, one diamond and two spades. Mark took eleven tricks on the easy squeeze when enough clubs are played, Kevin took ten and Paul nine, all for good scores.
?
4Hx W -2
4H W -2 (2)
4H W -1 (2); 4S W -1
3D E =
3Cx N -1
3NT E =
4S W =
3NT E +1
3NT E +2
5Cx N -4
?
8:
?
...............K
...............876
...............J10973
...............AQ54
AQJ7......................542
Q1094....................A53
K72........................85
J7...........................K10986
...............109863
...............KJ2
...............AQ6
...............32
?
Of our three rainbow hands, both #1 and #7 made sense; this one was a much less likely starter. I expected 1D-P-1NT to be the auction most of the time and it nearly was, being played six times. Jeff, I knew would open 1H, which led to 2H W (North might have balanced with 2NT for minors, leading to 3D S). One South was courageous and came in with 2S, playing the hand there. What I did not take into account was how many Wests would open 1C on the 4=4=3=2 pattern. A 1C opening bid opens up the possibility of North's making an unappealing 1D overcall and of East's raising clubs. West declared thrice in clubs, 2C once and 3C twice. One North declared 3D and the last auction ended in 2H E; perhaps West made some sort of takeout double of diamonds?
?
1NT E can take eight tricks, but it seems reasonable to assume that requires dropping the offside singleton spade king. This is not likely unless South leads the spade ten with the agreement of showing zero or two higher spades. Then one might well play the ace and be on the way to a good result. Sarah, Hank (V) and Marian all delivered eight tricks. A losing spade finesse and diamond switch with South unblocking the queen led to sets for Jorry, Jerik and Garbot. All the club contracts made on the number, although declarer could have been held to eight tricks by a spade lead, Don received a spade lead against 3C but after a spade and a club North followed up with a diamond instead of a heart. Gene picked up one extra trick in 3D N -1, worth one matchpoint. E-W could take eight tricks in hearts, which Jeff, used to playing 4-3 fits, did. Lark took everything they could force for the E-W top defending 2S -3; -2 would have been below average. Matchpoints.
?
1NT E -1 (3); 2H E -1
3D N -1
2C W =
2H W =; 3C W = (2)
1NT E +1 (3)
2S S -3
?
9:
?
...............Q
...............765
...............AK863
...............J832
J1075.................A8632
1084..................93
----.....................J1042
KQ10654...........97
...............K94
...............AKQJ2
...............Q975
...............A
?
This was the tragic hand for Jerik. They were the only pair to reach the fine 6H contract, on the auction P-1C; 1S-2H; 3D-3H; 4H-6H. (At better vulnerability, E-W might have kept Jerik out of 6H, perhaps with an ill-fated sacrifice in 4S.) Jim's 3D bid was the key; Erik knew Jim to hold one ace and one king from the 1S response and would probably have been content with 4H had Jim raised to 3H at once. The diamond holding became much more inspiring after 3D and 6H was a considerable favourite to make. Not many other pairs went looking and only two get beyond game. Contracts were 3H S, 4H S nine times, 4NT S, 5H S and 6H S.
?
The 4-0 diamond split holds declarer in hearts to eleven tricks on the hand. Surprisingly half the Souths were careless and only took ten, It is easy to duck the second or third diamond to preserve the eleventh trick. Even if the defence begins with two rounds of spades, South's low spade can be ruffed in dummy. William was fortunate to be above average taking the nearly inevitable ten tricks in 4NT.
?
4H S +1 (3); 5H S =
4NT S =
4H S = (6)
3H S +2
6H S -1
?
10:
?
...............KQ
...............7643
...............AK983
...............42
J9742........................1065
AK10.........................QJ82
Q5.............................1074
J75............................863
...............A83
...............95
...............J62
...............AKQ109
?
It ought not to have mattered whether or not South upgraded the hand to a 1NT opening bid, but 3NT became the final contract only six times, four by South and two by North. A curious number of?Souths?avoided no-trumps not only on the opening bid but on the rebid as well and multiple pairs stopped out of game. Contracts were 2C S, 2D N, 2S N, 2NT S, 3C S twice, 3NT N twice, 3NT S four times and 5C S.
?
Declarer gets extremely lucky in 3NT, which might have been defeated had neither minor behaved. A heart lead from either side holds declarer to nine tricks, but nobody led a heart. Against any other lead all the tricks can be taken if the winners are cashed in the correct order - after a spade lead, say, the diamonds must be taken first, then North's second spade after the diamond jack and then cross to the South had in clubs, with the clubs good and the spade ace. Ken and Wendy both posted +720 to tie for N-S top. One declarer took twelve tricks, either stranding the spade ace or discarding a winner. Three declarers took eleven tricks, reasonably enough if South thinks the chance of the diamond queen's dropping too low to bother taking the diamonds first. Ten tricks would have been possible had the diamonds been started by running the jack, but that line of play would have made little sense as declarer?would not have been planning to finesse anyway. 5C made for the middle score after a heart lead. The one diamond contract was 2D +5, but a heart lead would have held declarer to ten tricks, as forcing South to ruff the third heart promotes a trump winner for the defence.
?
3NT S +4 (2)
3NT S +3
3NT N +2 (2); 3NT S +2
5C S =
2NT S +5
2D N +5
2C S +3; 3C S +2
3C S +1
2S N =
?
?
11:
?
...............AJ7642
...............A10
...............75
...............AQ6
Q53........................K98
J.............................KQ63
A863......................KJ9
K10943..................J87
...............10
...............987542
...............Q1042
...............52
?
1S from North and I suspect more Easts doubled than not. West declared 3C only once, perhaps via P-P-1S-X; P-3C; East seemed unlikely to want to go to 3NT opposite a passed hand. If East passed, West might have been careful of balancing because N-S likely had a heart fit. If West were a little weaker, balancing would have a lot going against it. Only Larry (Sh) left 1S in as West. Contracts were 1S N, 2H E, 2H S, 2S N twice, 2NT W twice, 3C W, 3D W, 3S N twice, 3NT E and 3NT W - our fourth rainbow hand.
?
Only in heart or clubs could declarer take more than book. Clubs could be held to seven tricks if North led the spade ace and South got two ruffs; otherwise declarer could force eight, the result in 3C -1. West took the expected six tricks playing 3D -3 against Phoebot. Haorge defended 2H -3 to tie that result; Wendy made 2H S, which is easily forced after a spade lead and hard for the defence to avoid after other leads. Spades can be held to six tricks by the opening lead of the low diamond or a low heart. The goal for E-W is to avoid leading clubs for North and allowing the finesse. A club opening lead brings eight tricks into the picture. Marcia made 3S, the best declaring result on the hand, when a diamond was led at trick eight (allowing the discard of her heart loser) instead of a spade or heart. Milliam and Garbot both took the expected seven tricks defending 3NT to create a four-way tie for N-S top on +150.
?
2H E -3; 3D W -3; 3NT E -3; 3NT W -3
3S N =
2H S =
2NT W -2
1S N =
2NT W -1; 3C W -1
2S N -1 (2)
3S N -2
?
12:
?
...............Q532
...............63
...............1093
...............KQ42
K987....................6
102.......................AQJ4
AQJ82..................76
76.........................AJ9853
...............AJ104
...............K9875
...............K54
...............10
?
1C from East and then South either overcalls 1H or doubles. A 1H overcall seems likely to end in 2C E or 3C E. N-S may play in spades after a double, or E-W may go on and play in a minor. Contracts were 2C E six times, 2D W, 2S N, 3C E thrice, 3Sx N and 4S N.
?
E-W could have made 3NT thanks to the ideally situated diamonds. Spade contracts can be held to six tricks, the result at all three tables, giving Lark E-W top for their 3Sx -3 and +800 score. All the minor contracts made, with 2D +2 doing one trick better than could have been forced. Clubs get lucky despite the 4-1 split; if declarer leads a spade before letting North in with a high trump, eleven tricks can be taken as North cannot lead a heart through East in time. But declarer must also guess the trumps; Paul was the only E-W declarer to take the possible eleven tricks, which deserved a better score than 9/12 behind the pairs that got to defend spades. Linbot were N-S top defending 2C = when East finessed the club nine on the first round, losing to Linda's ten.?
?
2C E =
2C E +1; 3C E = (3)
2C E +2 (3); 2D E +2
2C E +3
2S N -2
4S N -4
3Sx N -3
?
13:
?
...............K64
...............A94
...............J6
...............A7432
AJ975.....................1032
32...........................107
K2...........................AQ10983
J985.......................KQ
...............Q8
...............KQJ865
...............754
...............106
?
This became a classic Battle of the Majors (usually won by N-S with the hearts despite the 20-20 HCP divide) after the probable 1C-1D-1H-1S.?Two auctions ended in 2H S and another in 2S E (did West start with some sort of double; was the auction P-1D-2H-X; P-2S?) but usually it got at least to 3H with nine trumps against eight. Higher contracts were 3H S five times, 3S W and 4H S four times.
?
E-W should come to four tricks even if they don't start the clubs. Hank (B) was one of two declarers in 4H =; E-W led two rounds of diamonds and then East shifted to a spade on which West played the ace. Ken joined Han's +620 to tie for N-S top. Ritold were E-W top defending 4H -2. Both spade contracts took nine tricks. A club lead allows the defence a fifth trick; either South can overruff the third club or declarer must play ace and another spade for two trump losers. Of the seven heart partials, two took ten tricks and five took nine.
?
4H S = (2)
2H S +2; 3H S +1
2H S +1; 3H S = (4)
4H S -1
2S E +1; 3S W =
4H S -2
?
14:
?
...............Q95
...............QJ542
...............J32
...............Q4
3...........................K1076
K73.......................A108
A1087...................Q96
AK1098................765
...............AJ842
...............96
...............K54
...............J32
?
West opens 1C or 1D. After 1m-1H-X-P or 1m-P-1S-P; does West rebid 1NT? 1NT W was played six times. Higher contracts were 2C W, 2D W, 2NT E, 3C W, 3D W twice and 3NT E.
?
Against no-trumps, a spade lead holds declarer to eight tricks. The suit establishes and then West has to take the top clubs first to keep North from winning the queen and then declarer cannot pick up a ninth trick without North's getting in. After any other lead declarer can go after clubs and then diamonds and come to at least nine tricks. After a heart lead and continuation, Jeff, Phyllis and Semi all emerged with eleven tricks in 1NT. Two others took nine tricks and one took eight. Both Easts declaring in no-trumps took eight tricks. Four of the five minor partials took ten tricks, Dandy's 3D W -1 and Jurcia's 3NT W -1 tied for N-S top.
?
3D W -1; 3NT E -1
1NT W +1; 2NT E =
2C W +2; 2D W +2; 3C W +1; 3D W +1
1NT W +2 (2)
1NT W +4 (3)
?
15:
?
...............98652
...............AJ97
...............J3
...............105
QJ4........................A10
1083.......................65
K72........................AQ965
AKJ2......................9643
...............K73
...............KQ42
...............1084
...............Q87
?
One East responded 1NT to 1C and played the hand there. 1C-1D; 1NT was the auction seven times. It seems a little pessimistic of East to let 1NT sit with two aces and an AQ9xx suit; 2NT or 3C feel better than passing. Other contracts were 3C W, 3NT W twice, 4C W and 5C W.
?
The behaving clubs allow either 5C or 3NT to make, although declarer must pass up the spade finesse in either contract. Three declarers took eleven tricks in no-trumps, though, after a spade lead and continuation. A heart switch would have held declarer to eight. Semi emerged with +460 and the E-W top. Phyllis may have begun the same way and then spurned the club finesse to finish with nine tricks, or else her opponents began with four rounds of hearts and then she took the rest. Dandy were N-S top defending 5C -2 (declarer presumably finessing in spades and not in clubs); -150 was the other N-S score above average.
?
5C W -2
1NT W +2 (4); 3C W +2; 4C W +1
1NT W +3 (2)
1NT E +4; 1NT W +4
3NT W =
3NT W +2
?
16:
?
...............K10
...............J64
...............K2
...............A108763
Q74.............................863
1032............................Q75
J987............................AQ543
K92..............................54
...............AJ952
...............AK98
...............106
...............QJ
?
That only seven pairs reached game on this hand seems strange. North may open, which leads to game. But even after a pass, P-1S; 1NT-2H; 2NT seems to lead clearly to 3NT from South. Of the six partials, half were 3H S, a strange outcome. Why North would want to raise South's hearts instead of rebid 2NT I cannot imagine. One North passed 2H, one South passed 2NT and another North bid 3C instead of 2NT, ending that auction. Games were 3NT N thrice, 3NT S, 4S S twice and 5C N.
?
3NT S is tricky. The contract is wrong-sided but the diamonds block if dummy ducks a diamond spot lead. But declarer is unlikely to find that duck. Wendy made 3NT S; I did not see how. North declaring ought to make the contract; if the lead is a diamond one might as well try clubs. On any other lead playing clubs keeps the diamond king protected. But playing East for the spade queen instead of playing on clubs leads to a set; Selan defeated 2NT after North played the spade king at trick two. That no North in 3NT took more than nine tricks is rather strange. N-S top was a tie between 4S S = by George (the defence can force three tricks by leading a diamond) and 5C N +1 by Alice, which can also be forced by declarer. The best score in a partial was 3H S +2 by Judy.?
?
4S S =; 5C N +1
3NT N = (2); 3NT S =
3H S +2
3H S +1
3H S =
3C N +1
2H S -1; 2NT N -1; 4S S -1
3NT N -2
?
17:
?
...............953
...............KQ64
...............7542
...............73
A10..........................J72
J75...........................8
AKJ9.......................Q10863
A1052......................KQJ9
...............KQ864
...............A10932
...............----
...............864
?
E-W had the points for game, but no heart stopper for 3NT. The five-level looks all right for either minor. There is a chance of taking twelve tricks in clubs; on a heart lead there is a good chance of being able to ruff two hearts in the East hand. South might open 1S in third seat, as there is a decent chance of a plus score with 5-5 majors. If South passes, West opens 1NT and likely ends in 3NT, as few pairs play minor suit Stayman or respond 3M as a splinter. If East has to invite game with 2NT after Stayman, South might try coming in, which may be how one contract was 2Sx S, along with 2S S undoubled. Almost all other contracts were games: 3NT W five times, 4D E, 5C E, 5D E thrice and 5Dx E.
?
The drawback of opening 1S this time turned out to be that it likely directed the wrong lead against 3NT, which made three times of the five it was attempted. Jurcia posted the expected -1 and Jorry even managed -2. 2S could not have been set by force; Ken took a ninth trick and Wendy was N-S top making 2Sx. 5D took eleven tricks if East ruffed both hearts or by finding both spade honours in the South hand. 5C E should make whether South gets a diamond ruff or not - the diamond ruff allows trumps to be drawn in two rounds so that West's spade loser goes away on the fifth diamond and the major cards can be cross-ruffed. 5C W can be defeated because South can ruff two diamonds. Linbot were allowed 5C -1. All the 5D contracts made, with 5Dx = giving Mark the E-W top.
?
2Sx S =
2S S +1
3NT W -2
3NT W -1; 5C E -1
4D E +1
3NT W =; 5D E = (3)
3NT W +1 (2)
5Dx E =
?
18:
?
...............Q1043
...............632
...............1098
...............1094
7..............................A52
AQ85......................K109
AQ74......................J62
K852.......................AJ76
...............KJ986
...............J74
...............K53
...............Q3
?
North has the wrong vulnerability to try anything after 1C-1S-X. East likely rebids 1NT and then West almost certainly drives to game. One pair stopped in 4C E; games were 3NT E nine times, 4H E and 4H W twice. 6C has decent chances but is very hard to reach unless perhaps West jumps to 3S over East's 1NT rebid.
?
If declarer has the good luck to drop the offside club queen, 4H can take twelve tricks by force. Taking the losing finesse still ought to have resulted in only ten tricks, but Gel and Kelice both set 4H W to tie for N-S top. Haorge were next defending 4C +2. 3NT did not necessarily reward best play. After three rounds of spades, declarer should try to drop the club queen before playing on diamonds, either after or before the hearts. When the queen drops, declarer has ten tricks without risking the diamond finesse. If the diamonds are finessed first, declarer has nine safe tricks when both red suits behave and cashing out resulted in eleven tricks. Eleven tricks were also possible after dropping the club queen if, after cashing out, East led the diamond jack just in case South covered, and if South did. Eleven tricks outnumbered ten as the result by a 5-4 margin, making E-W top a five-way tie between Connie, Alan, Louise, Kevin and Sarah.
?
4H W -1 (2)
4C E +2
3NT E +1 (4)
4H E +1
3NT E +2 (5)
