1:

?

...............97642

...............AQ65

...............85

...............105

J5.........................AQ10

42.........................K87

1074.....................AKJ2

K98742................AQJ

...............K83

...............J1093

...............Q963

...............63

?

We began with everyone in 3NT E. East generally opened 2C and rebid 2NT; West was not quite strong enough to have good play for slam; make the spade jack the king and 6C E would be quite nice. Even Jerik's auction, starting with 1C, turned out very similar to most: 1C-1D; 2NT-3NT.

?

This is a good example of a defender coming under pressure. Both the spade and diamond finesses lose; a heart lead allows N-S to hold declarer to eleven tricks. Best defence turns out to be for North to duck the heart lead with an encouraging signal. South then avoids trouble and can keep control of both spades and diamonds while retaining a heart with which to reach North. The best declarer can do is cash out ten winners. If North takes the first heart, declarer can come to eleven tricks through either a squeeze or an endplay. Jim and Louise tied for E-W top with twelve tricks. N-S top wet to Gel for holding declarer to nine, despite North's winning the first heart and returning a second. Del planned the discards early and calmly blanked the diamond queen while East came down to the spade ace and the four diamonds. Del's gamble paid off handsomely when East took the diamond finesse. Nine tricks and the N-S top.

?

3NT E =

3NT E +1 (5)

3NT E +2 (6)

3NT E +3 (2)

?

2:

?

...............106

...............Q9

...............K10983

...............QJ62

KQ5.........................A9873

J8752......................A43

74............................QJ6

A104........................53

...............J42

...............K106

...............A52

...............K987

?

I think I probably expected more than three passouts on this hand. East might open light or might be playing Precision. South will only open if N-S open 1NT on a range including eleven-counts. West has ten HCP and a five-card major, although it really is not a good idea to open light in third seat on a poor suit. North has not only the weakest hand at the table but also the discouraging holding of 2-2 majors. The three passouts had an interesting cast of characters: Phoebot-Carthurl, Lark-Heve and Haorge-Anbot. The opening bid was usually 1H by West; contracts were 1S E, 2HW twice, 2S E thrice, 3S E twice, 4Cx S, 4H W and 4S E, East's opening the bidding leading to most of the higher contracts.

?

All contracts took eight tricks double dummy. Paun took the E-W top defending 4Cx -2. Howard made 4S and Erik made 4H; against Erik N-S began with two rounds of diamonds, allowing the club loser to be discarded, then crashed the king and queen on the second round of hearts. Boric were the one defending pair to better par, posting 2H -1 to tie for N-S top with the expected 3S -1 of Pharah and Glotin.

?

2H W -1; 3S E -1 (2)

Passed Out (3)

1S E +1; 2S E = (3)

2H W +2

4H W =; 4S E =

4Cx S -2

?

3:

?

...............52

...............KQ654

...............K764

...............53

73..........................KQ10864

10..........................A32

AQ983..................10

KQ862..................AJ9

...............AJ9

...............J987

...............J52

...............1074

?

It looked as if this might be a fairly simple auction, but North must have come in with a good many 1H overcalls. Left alone, E-W are likely to bid 1D-1S; 2C-2H; 3C-3S; 4S unless East gets ambitious for a slam in clubs (if West can be relied upon to hold 5-5 minors; if West would take the same path with, say, x xxx AKJx Kxxxx, then one might be glad just to find any game that makes). 4S E was played seven times. It seemed reasonably likely to end up there even if North overcalled 1H and South raised to 3H. 3NT E was played four times; I had an account from one West that Eastbot did not repeat the spades after fourth Suit Forcing. The other three contracts were 3S E, 5C E and 5Hx N.

?

Declarer is lucky to be able to scramble together eight tricks in no-trumps and seven is likely. Three declarers managed to make 3NT, Larry (Sh) after South discarded the spade jack on a club. Jurcia were N-S top defending 3NT -2. Both 4S and 5C have interesting timing considerations. In 4S East wants to ruff hearts right away; otherwise South can draw West's trumps and pick up a heart trick with careful defence. Twelve tricks can be taken in clubs, but only on an off-percentage line. Declarer must establish diamonds with two ruffs, which in this case requires running on the second or third round, pinning South's Jxx. Two low ruffs have a better chance of success, gaining when either opponent holds Kxx. That is not quite enough, though. As West will have to ruff twice in hearts to get everything done, it is necessary to play a spade after a diamond ruff or the spade winner will disappear later. Five of the seven declarers in 4S picked up the overtrick but Gel managed a set. Kunbot were E-W top taking their expected seven tricks for a +1100 against 5Hx -5.

?

3NT E -2

4S E -1

3S E +2

3NT E = (3); 5C E =

4S E=

4S E +1 (5)

5Hx N -5

?

4:

?

...............J1087

...............QJ3

...............Q98

...............AQ10

943.....................AK5

1097654.............8

742.....................J1063

J.........................98763

...............Q62

...............AK2

...............AK5

...............K542

?

N-S found this hand surprisingly difficult. South ought to have a fairly easy time of it; the hand is worth a slam invitation, which North will presumably decline. But nobody played in the contract I expected - 4NT N. That contract could have been reached after either an inverted raise of North's opening bid or a manufactured response of 1D. If North does not open, then we should finish in 3NT S. Contracts were 2NT S, 3NT N twice, 3NT S four times, 4S S, 5C N, 6NT N twice, 6NT S twice and 6NTx S.

?

Multiple Souths went immediately into an asking auction. The 5C contract was an attempt to stop short of slam after the auction 1C-2C; 2NT-4NT; 5C. South presumably intended 4NT as invitational and passed 5C in an attempt to avoid getting too high. Alas the 5-1 trumps proved too much, although at least three matchpoints. Jevin were the only pair to double 6NT, even though the hand with the cashing ace-king was not on lead.

?

3NT N +2 (2); 3NT S +2 (2)

4S S +1

3NT S +1

3NT S =

2NT S +3

5C N -1; 6NT N -1 (2); 6NT S -1 (2)

6NTx S -1

?

5:

?

...............102

...............Q763

...............943

...............KJ96

A3.........................KJ65

AKJ82..................95

AQ62....................KJ87

104.......................875

...............Q9874

...............104

...............105

...............AQ32

?

This looked like a good trap hand - could E-W find 4H or 5D instead of 3NT? Much may depend on whether East responds 1S or 1NT. If E-W play Flannery East may choose 1NT. West is more likely to advance with 2NT after 1H-1NT; 2D-2H (the hand is not quite up to 3D) than after the same auction with a response of 1S. But 1H-1NT; 2D-2H; 2NT-3NT may well come out all right, as South will probably lead a spade. Contracts were 2D W, 2H W, 3NT E four times, 3NT W twice, 4H E, 4H W and 5D W four times. 4H E was the contract for Jerik, whose auction began artificially with a 1C opening bid and 1H response.

?

In 3NT declarer has good luck that clubs split 4-4 but neither major queen drops or sits right for a finesse, nor is there a squeeze. Paul made 3NT E and Shan 3NT W; -1 and -2 both occurred twice, Ibot and Mom tying with Conndy for N-S top. 4H makes easily enough even with the finesse off and the suit 4-2. The ten drops; the only consideration is that, if West must ruff a club right away, the trump finesse must occur on the first round, not the second. Jeff made 4H W for the E-W top. 5D makes if declarer takes a ruffing finesse in hearts after drawing trumps or if declarer draws two trumps and then ruffs out the hearts; trying to take ruffs before drawing trumps doesn't work with the ill-placed shortages. Only Larry (Sh) made 5D, with Conndy posting -2 to tie for N-S top while two pairs posted -1. Phoebot posted its set when declarer finessed the heart jack.?

?

3NT E -2 (2); 5D W -2

3NT E -1; 3NT W -1; 4H E -1; 5D W -1 (2)

2D W +1

2H W +1

3NT E =; 3NT W =; 5D W =

4H W =

?

6:

?

...............1096

...............7

...............QJ72

...............AKQJ4

Q82..............................A543

Q9542..........................----

8...................................K1096543

10985...........................76

...............KJ7

...............AKJ10863

...............A

...............32

?

For a hand with such good distribution we ended with surprising uniformity of contract, with 4H S played eleven times and 5H S thrice. South might bid 4H over a 2D or 3D opening bid. If South bids hearts at a lower level North likely bids 3NT and South corrects. If East passes N-S may get beyond game after South opens 1H, North responds 2C and South makes a jump rebid in hearts. E-W have the wrong vulnerability for a sacrifice.

?

The play turns out to be remarkably simple. The 5-0 trumps offside will give West two tricks. If West leads a spade South will be held to ten tricks. On any other lead South can discard all three spades on the clubs when West turns up with the perfect length of four cards in the suit. West ruffs the fifth club but that just cancels one of West's trump tricks. It seems likely that very few Easts opened, or else too few declarers went right to the clubs after finding out that hearts were 5-0. Only Cindy, Del and George took eleven tricks to share the N-S top. Ten declarers took ten tricks and one was held to nine, creating a three-way tie for E-W top between Glynneth, Carthurl and Kunbot.

?

4H S +1 (2); 5H S =

4H S = (8)

4H S -1; 5H S -1 (2)

?

7:

?

...............1072

...............J72

...............J

...............AK10872

QJ954......................K8

654...........................AKQ10

9853.........................KQ72

J................................965

...............A63

...............983

...............A1064

...............Q43

?

This hand looks overwhelmingly likely to be played either in 2S E after a 1NT opening bid and a transfer or in 3C N after either a third-hand 3C opening bid or a balance over the transfer. 2S was played six times by East and once more by West, along with 3S W once (if East upgraded the hand the auction could have begun 1D-1S; 2NT and then West found a way to stop in 3S, 3D perhaps being impossible; indeed, 3S W makes more sense than 2S W). North declared 3C twice and 4C twice. I did not see any 3C opening bids but they might have occurred. What does East do over 3C - pass with 17 HCP? bid 3NT without a stopper? double with only two spades (another way to reach 3S W)? overcall 3H on a four-card suit? unplug the computer and let a bot handle the problem? Possibly one East chose the fourth option, as there was one contract of 3H E and that seems the most likely way to get there. The most curious contract was 3D W, but, as that was Jerik, I shall guess the auction to be something like P-P-P-1C; P-1D-2C-2H; P-2S-P-3D. Having shown 17+ HCP, East can pass 2C and West can then bid the spades anyway as a balance, but 2H is the most likely way for East to bid the diamonds later. I would have had admiration for the fighting spirit of any South who, after P-P-3C-P/X, took a shot at 3NT.

?

Play potential was remarkably similar. N-S have eight top tricks and no more in either clubs or no-trumps, and nothing better defending either major than three top tricks and two diamond ruffs. The most interesting contract is 3D, where nine tricks can be forced. Eight tables produced the par number of tricks, giving Troward and Kunbot a tie for E-W top defending 4C -2. Only five of the spade contracts and one club contract varied, with three declarers taking nine tricks while Gareth and Leigh Ann took ten. Gareth was sure of a ninth trick after a low trump opening lead (South can lead any other suit and still hold declarer to eight) and picked up a tenth when N-S did not grab their club trick. Irene was N-S top in 3C =, a result that would have needed less help had trumps split 2-2, making an endplay possible had East kept the spade king too late.

?

3C N =

3H E -1

3C N -1

2S E = (3); 3D W =

2S E +1; 2S W +1; 3S E =

2S E +2 (2)

4C N -2 (2)

?

8:

?

...............43

...............AQ75

...............64

...............109753

J652...............................AQ109

J983...............................1062

J9...................................K2

Q62................................AK84

...............K87

...............K4

...............AQ108753

...............J

?

The results of these auctions were either fairly tame or quite wild. Eight auctions ended tamely in 2D S or 3D S. But the other six auctions produced four doubled contracts, each in a different denomination, and both sides declaring in one suit. The auction began quietly enough with a 1NT opening bid from East, after which South will show a single-suited hand with diamonds in one way or another. One South doubled 1NT and the double was left in; whether N-S were on the same page or not I cannot guess. Five Souths played quietly in 2D. One South played 2Dx, E-W not being on the same page about balancing/takeout doubles. One East played 3C - perhaps after a 1C opening bid instead of 1NT? 3D was played thrice, twice by South and once by North (likely after a 2C overcall after 1NT to show a single-suited hand and a relay to 2D). One West played 3H, again likely after competition from East. Two auctions got a bit out of hand, one on each side, ending in 4Sx E and 6Hx N.

?

With the spades and diamonds behaving, N-S can make 3NT or take the first ten tricks against 1NTx E in the red suits. Kevin received the opening lead of a low diamond to the jack. Had he been in 1NT undoubled he might have cashed out for -2, as -100 may well turn out to be a good score. But -300 was a different prospect. He finessed in spades, and even when the finesse lost there was the chance that South would switch to a club and allow a make. South continued with the ace of diamonds and disaster loomed, but then, after the diamonds were run, South missed the heart switch and Kevin escaped with -1 and -100 after all, saving 11.5 matchpoints, making a difference of just under 5% in the overall score. In diamonds declarer can take eleven tricks but only Cindy did. Unless E-W lead trumps, which solves one of declarer's problems by taking the trump finesse for her, if E-W lead a club the discard of a spade loser is a mirage. After, say, a club lead and heart switch, taking a discard on the third heart will leave declarer unable to take finesses in both spades and diamonds. Winning the heart lead with the queen for a spade lead works, as, without trump leads, ruffing the third spade will be the entry for the diamond finesse. E-W could take seven tricks in either black suit but Ritold were allowed to post 3C -4 for a good score. The top scores were 4Sx E -4 and 6Hx N -5. Phyllis scored 12/13 playing 2Dx S +1.

?

4Sx E -4

2Dx S +1

3C E -4

3H W -3

2D S +3; 3D S +2

2D S +2 (3); 3D S +1

2D S +1; 3D S =

1NTx E -1

6Hx N -5

?

9:

?

...............AJ9875

...............J85

...............J87

...............3

Q103.......................4

AK3........................Q72

K5...........................A1043

K9865.....................A10742

...............K62

...............10964

...............Q962

...............QJ

?

North opens 2S, which ended the auction at one table, West feeling disinclined to a balance. 2S-P-3S shuts up West and became the contract five times, but there was still the chance of a balance from East. 3NT W became the contract four times, walking directly into the trap. Could E-W find 6C? Had West gotten to open 1NT, just maybe. Given an uncontested auction, Minor Suit Stayman might get them there if they played the convention. The other four contracts were 4C W, 5C E, 5C W and one pair in slam, but 6NT W.

?

This hand reminds me of a hand from 1991 when Pat Rooney and Jean Pyne had a top board defending 3NT -2 when everyone else played 6NT -1 on 32 HCP combined when a finesse loses. Against 6NT nobody made the risky lead away from K10xxxx in diamonds. In 3NT after a diamond lead declarer only had eight top tricks and took a losing finesse, leading to -2. Here 6NT finished -1 after North presumably led the spade ace and then a spade to the king. A low spade lead gave N-S the first six tricks. Haorge and Jurcia posted 3NT -2 to tie for N-S top, but two Norths were scared away from a spade lead, allowing Larry (Sh) and Andrea to take ten tricks and tie for E-W top. The club contracts all took twelve tricks. All the N-S spade contracts finished -2, all the declarers in 3S doing one trick better than par.

?

3NT W -2 (2)

6NT W -1

2S N -2; 3S N -2 (5)

4C W +2

5C E +1; 5C W +1

3NT W +1 (2)

?

10:

?

...............AK103

...............Q8

...............653

...............QJ65

Q6...........................J984

AK53.......................1064

KQ87.......................104

K94..........................A1073

...............752

...............J972

...............AJ92

...............82

?

We just missed having another sweep of contract and declarer across the board. West opened 1NT and the auction ended. Erik varied, as their 1NT opening range does not go to 17; their auction was P-P-1C-P; 1D-P-1H-1S.

?

Par in 1NT W was eight tricks for declarer. An opening lead of the club queen lets declarer force a ninth trick. The table results were five tricks once, six tricks once, seven tricks twice, eight tricks seven times and nine tricks twice. Jeff and Shan took nine tricks, Shan after South led a third spade when in, allowing dummy's fourth spade to take a trick that would not have happened. A spade contract would have been held to five tricks by a diamond lead or even a low trump but Surabhi escaped for -1 and 9/13 matchpoints.

?

1NT W -2

1NT W -1

1NT W = (2)

1S N -1

1NT W +1 (7)

1NT W +2 (2)

?

11:

?

...............K93

...............A98

...............K1086

...............1085

86542.....................10

762.........................J43

73...........................AQ542

K72........................Q964

...............AQJ7

...............KQ105

...............J9

...............AJ3

?

We got everyone into the same contract, but not from the same side of the table. Sarah, Mark and Gene were the three declarers from the North side, probably responding 1NT to South's 1C opening bid. At the other tables South either opened 1NT on a range going to 18 or rebid 2NT after 1C-1D. Everyone reached 3NT without incident.

?

The play was quite simple. With the hearts behaving declarer had eight tricks in the majors and could always establish two winners in diamonds for a potential eleven tricks. The hand can switch to a club after winning the first diamond, but, if North declared after a diamond lead, West would have to return a diamond after winning the king of clubs. It was easier to find the club switch when South declared, besides which the natural lead was a diamond after 1C-1NT; 2NT-3NT. Sarah and Gene took eleven tricks from the North side, Cindy from the South. Kunbot and Glynneth were allowed a fourth trick on defence to tie for E-W top.

?

3NT N +2 (2); 3NT S +2

3NT N +1; 3NT S +1 (8)

3NT S = (2)

?

12:

?

...............10972

...............Q7

...............Q84

...............AQ104

K64...........................J853

AJ54.........................986

9762.........................AJ

83.............................9765

...............AQ

...............K1032

...............K1053

...............KJ2

?

This time we got everyone into 3NT S, presumably after some form of Stayman. Even the pair playing a weak 1NT opening arrived in 3NT S. Although a 1NT opening often leads to a less revealing auction leading to 3NT than when the auction starts with 1m, here the weak-1NT-opening auction will likely be 1D-1S; 1NT-3NT, about as revealing as 1NT-2C; 2H-3NT.

?

The play looked as if there could be a wide range of results. It was tricky for both sides. That ten declarers took exactly nine tricks seems about right. Par was nine tricks after a minor lead, ten after a major, although it helps for the first diamond to be led from dummy. Louff were E-W top posting 3NT -2 and Kunbot second with 3NT -1; ten tricks were taken as declarer by George and Jatin, Jatin after a diamond lead and return (East had to switch to a spade).?

?

3NT S +1 (2)

3NT S = (10)

3NT S -1

3NT S -2

?

13:

?

...............AJ53

...............----

...............QJ107652

...............K2

872............................K96

J97632......................85

A................................K93

A86............................J10543

...............Q104

...............AKQ104

...............84

...............Q97

?

North has the values to open 1D, after which South really ought to get to game. Eleven games and three partials seems a little on the low side. One South rebid 2H and was left there; two other Souths left North in 3D. The contract was usually the expected 3NT S, which was played nine times, along with 4S N and 5D N.

?

3NT comes down to whether West does or doesn't lead a club in time. An opening club lead is deadly; North has to win the trick with the king and West can even play ace and another club at once if declarer starts the diamonds right away. West may even be able to lead a club after the diamond ace is out. If the spade king has been taken or established then E-W will cash five tricks in high cards before N-S can cash the diamonds. Only two declarers in 3NT succeeded; Del took nine tricks and Eric ten. When clubs were established early enough for East to run the fourth and fifth cards of the suit, -3 even came into the picture, giving Puan and Jevin a tie for E-W top. They tied with Kunbot, who defended 4S -3. Par in spades was nine tricks for declarer, but, on receiving a heart lead, North took the short-term view and discarded three clubs on the top hearts. East ruffed the third heart and North was very short of tricks, finishing with only seven. Mark and Irene both made 3D to score 10.5/13.

?

3NT S +1

3NT S =

3D S = (2)

3NT S -1 (4); 5D N -1

2H S -2; 3NT S -2

3NT S -3 (2); 4S N -3

?

14:

?

...............AQ542

...............Q4

...............AJ8

...............Q83

J9.........................1076

AKJ2....................108

KQ9762................1054

10.........................K7654

...............K43

...............97653

...............3

...............AJ92

?

Except for one West who opened 1NT (the board was adjusted to give N-S an average-plus after North in particular read West for a proper distribution and dropped a couple of tricks), West opened 1D and then North overcalled either 1S or 1NT. A 1NT overcall led to a contract of 2H N twice. Two Wests pushed on and eventually played 3D and 4D; the other contracts were all in spades declared by North: 3S seven times and 4S twice.

?

4S makes in relative comfort even if East gets a trump trick with a promotion on the third round of hearts. Irene and Gene made 4S to tie for N-S top. The 3S contracts were spread out with trick counts, one declarer taking seven tricks and two each taking eight, nine and ten, Paun taking the E-W top defending 3S -2 when declarer won the diamond lead, ruffed a diamond and then led a low club away from the ace. Both diamond contracts took the expected eight tricks resulting in good declaring scores for -1 and -2. Heart contracts could not come to ten tricks if E-W led a club early enough; had a round of clubs been played declarer would not have had the entries to hand to draw trumps and West would have scored the deuce. Harold took ten tricks in 2H while Larbot held declarer to nine.

?

4S N = (2)

2H N +2; 3S N +1 (2)

2H N +1; 3S N = (2)

Average+/Average

4D W -2

3D W -1

3S N -1 (2)

3S N -2

?

15:

?

...............Q52

...............K43

...............A873

...............K96

K4...........................A8

Q.............................J1098765

KQ1065...................J2

A10542....................QJ

...............J109763

...............A2

...............94

...............873

?

If South does not open 2S, West opens 1D, East responds 1H and the most likely outcome of the auction seems to be 2H E or 3H E. East played eight times in hearts: 2H thrice, 3H twice and 4H thrice. After a 2S opening bid from South West usually came in and thrice declared 3NT, once after making a 2NT overcall for the minors that East raised to 3NT, which does not make a great deal of sense however East took 2NT. A 2S opening bid raised to 3S twice kept East silent and ended the auction. The singular one-off contract was 3C W.

?

Against hearts South has two chances to lead a club and hold declarer to nine tricks. This never happened against 4H, with Paul, Kevin and Louise all taking ten tricks. 3NT fluctuated wildly. Par was -2, duly recorded by Mom. Lark defending bounced between = and -2 as play progressed; after West persisted in clubs instead of starting diamonds -4 was in play and the end result was -5. Carl finished on the plus side of the fluctuations and took ten tricks for the E-W top. Only one of the heart partials saw declarer taking ten tricks; the rest took nine.?

?

3NT W -5

3NT W -2

3S S -1 (2)

3C W +1

2H E +1 (2); 3H E = (2)

2H E +2

4H E = (3)

3NT W +1

?

16:

?

...............9832

...............K64

...............Q7

...............KQ42

4..........................QJ765

AQJ753...............102

K42.....................J106

976......................AJ10

...............AK10

...............98

...............A9853

...............853

?

West opened 2H, ending the auction seven times. Half the Souths balanced. Double led to 2S N and 3S N. 3D ended the auction twice, while also leading to 3NT N twice and 4D S.

?

N-S have a fighting chance of defeating 2H. If South leads a low diamond before trumps are drawn, a misguess from declarer allows North a diamond ruff. At the tables this never occurred, with four declarers taking the par eight tricks and three making an overtrick. All the N-S contracts failed, with a four-way tie for N-S top between Mark, Connie, Ruth and Gloria for scoring -100 - Mark in 2S, Gloria in 3D, Connie in 3S and Ruth in 4D, Connie and Ruth taking the par number of tricks. Jerik bettered par by two tricks defending 3D -3. 3NT N was never in with a chance despite the good luck in the spades. Troward posted the par -3; Heve were E-W top posting -4 for +200 when North, after finally winning the heart king, led the diamond queen instead of a spade.

?

2S N -2; 3D S -2; 3S N -2; 4D S -2

2H W = (4)

2H W +1 (3)

3D S -3; 3NT N -3

3NT N -4

?

17:

?

...............K42

...............KJ7

...............J9753

...............K3

QJ10965..................A873

54.............................96

AK............................Q62

QJ6..........................A1054

...............----

...............AQ10832

...............1084

...............9872

?

South opened in third seat and the object for N-S was to keep E-W out of 4S. It seems that the most effective sequence would be P-P-2H-2S; 3H, over which East has to guess between 3S and 4S and West might take a conservative view over 3S and pass. A 3H opening bid will elicit 3S from West, which East will raise. If North passes 2H or South chooses any lower call, East gets to show a limit raise and West should accept. The final margin was 9-5 in favour of 4S over 3S.

?

With both finesses in the black suits working, declarer had eleven tricks available in spades. Conndy were N-S top when West erroneously played for the drop in spades with ten trumps. Eleven declarers took the expected eleven tricks. Two Norths did not lead a heart. This allowed Erik a twelfth trick. Kunal took all thirteen when South discarded a club and allowed a second discard.

?

3S W +2 (5)

4S W =

4S W +1 (6)

4S W +2

4S W +3

?

18:

?

...............A5

...............KQJ4

...............AK94

...............1032

Q3...........................9874

A653.......................987

Q8762.....................103

74............................AK96

...............KJ1062

...............102

...............J5

...............QJ85

?

We closed with yet another hand on which nearly everyone opened 1NT. 1NT ended the auction once. One contract was 2S S after some different opening bid. Otherwise, though, North transferred into 2S. Four Souths passed 2S. The rest bid 2NT; one North passed and seven carried on to 3NT.

?

Ten tricks are available in no-trumps if the spade queen is dropped offside. Even losing the finesse declarer should still come to nine tricks, as E-W cannot establish a fifth trick anywhere. Declarer should be able to reach dummy with a club. If a club has been played early by E-W declarer can switch tack, establishing the three heart winners in hand to go with two clubs and the four top tricks in spades and diamonds. After a low club lead Bob knocked out the heart ace, finishing with eleven tricks when East switched to a diamond, although the cost was only one matchpoint (only two of the other Souths in 3NT made an overtrick. Carthurl were E-W top for setting 3NT. Of the other seven no-trumps contracts, four took nine tricks and three took ten. Spade contracts could have been held to nine tricks with a club ruff or a losing trump finesse; four of the five spade contracts took nine tricks and one took ten.?

?

3NT N +2

3NT N +1 (2)

3NT N = (3)

2NT N +2

2S N +2

1NT N +2

2S N +1 (3); 2S S +1

3NT N -1

1:

1:

?

...............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

?

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

?

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

?

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

?

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

?

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

?

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

?

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

?

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

?

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..................J8

...............10

...............987542

...............Q1042

...............52

?

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

?

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

?

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

?

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

?

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

?

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

?

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

?

4H W -1 (2)

4C E +2

3NT E +1 (4)

4H E +1

3NT E +2 (5)

Some quick observations:

?

1: Despite all the failing finesses, 3NT +1 could not have been stopped by force. John was the only declarer to post 3NT +1; Jim, Connie and Larry played 3NT =, which seemed heroic enough.

?

6: West held QJ107 KQ1043 42 J4 opposite (often) a 2H opening bid from East and usually some number of diamonds from South. At the unfavourable vulnerability there are various possible strategies for West. Had South passed West might have tried 2NT in hopes of scaring N-S out of the auction completely. Rich passed 2H-3D, hoping the auction would stay low, though N-S reached 5D = anyway. At other volnerabilities one would be more willing to sacrifice at the five-level. Three pairs did here opposite East's xxxx Axxxxx ---- KQx; it could have cost more than game but N-S never found their spade ruff.

?

8: Everyone played 4S N, usually with East having overcalled diamonds on AKQ763 in the suit. South and West held doubletons, allowing the chance of a trump promotion on the suit layout:

?

..........AJ1084

Q3......................62

............K975

?

Only three declarers (Paul, Hank [B] and Connie) made the possible overtrick, ruffing the third spade with the king and finessing West for the queen. Particularly with a diamond overcall from East, this seems a worthwhile line. Obviously if East had held Q, Qx or Qxx East would want dummy to ruff high. I don't see any sensible case for a double bluff unless we get deep into Mollo territory.

?

10: E-W had a possible slam:

?

AK10

75

AKQ64

KJ8

?

J862

AJ8

J92

A32

?

East opened 2NT and eight Wests were content with 3NT. Twice West invited with 4NT, left there both times. Had I been East I likely would have ended in 6D after 2NT-4NT, although the suit turns out to offer no practical advantage. One pair who shall go nameless reached 6NT after West responded with (shudder) Gerber.

?

6NT has close to a 40% chance of success after a heart lead and a good deal better against anything else. South held Q7543 43 1075 765. The South on lead against 6NT was good enough not to lead away from an unsupported honour (ruling out the spade lead) and a diamond from 10xx might have helped declarer as well. The club lead did not give declarer anything in the suit that was not coming naturally, but it gave declarer the timing to lose a spade and still make the contract. Paun set 3NT; Don found the heart lead and declarer got confused and ran the club jack with the hearts established.

?

11: Two Norths passed in third seat holding Q84 K942 K84 KJ7. Unfortunately they got very unlucky: South held J103 A10753 32 A42 and every other N-S pair went plus.

?

12: Would N-S play 3NT N or 4H S?

?

542

97

AK853

AQ9

?

QJ106

AKQ1054

2

54

?

Maybe a little surprisingly the margin was 7-3, with one pair stopping in 3H S. With spades 3-3 all the declarers in 4H took eleven tricks, enough to beat 3NT even if East led a club from the king. Connie took eleven tricks in 3NT for the top board after a club lead when West did not adhere to the principal of saving the entry to the established suit. Down to only one more club in hand, West did not rise with the spade ace on the first round.

?

13: N-S had 6-3 spades and 2-6 hearts, playing in hearts only when East came in with 2NT over 1S and N-S were playing four-card majors.?

?

AK10986

A6

863

42

?

QJ5

K109875

74

AJ

?

Gareth, Jim and Connie all played 4S N +2 after East lead the low singleton heart, which set up the ruffing finesse while there were still entries enough to get the benefit (after a club lead West could duck the first heart and even winning low would not let declarer run the suit.

?

14: This time it was N-S's turn to have an iffy slam after a 2NT opening bid:

?

AJ106

54

A432

Q63

?

KQ3

KQ97

K75

AK8

?

Again 20 HCP opposite 11, although this time responder has the good shape while opener is flat. With a hand a good deal closer to opening than the responding hand on Board 8, slam was reached five times instead of once, although part of that came from misunderstandings about the auction 2NT-3C; 3H-4NT. Multiple Norths bid an invitational 4NT after Stayman, but the only South to leave it in was playing Puppet and knew it was not a key card ask with hearts as prospective trumps. Slam prospects were poorer than on #8; East would need to hold AJ10 tripleton in hearts or there would have to be some sort of squeeze in the red suits. 6S (which was played once from each side) had slight extra chances (my favourite being that East, holding Axxx in hearts, likely cannot duck twice) but never made.

?

17: 4H had a chance of two overtricks if the lead were not one of the two missing aces. Only George produced +480 for the top score.

Due to the in-person game tomorrow and my father's rapid decline, it may be some time before I can resume analyzing the hands. Instead we have a round-by-round recap:

?

Round One

?

Haorge d Wendric

Mahn d Diarcia?

Glynneth d Marudy?

Cozin d Karleta?

Ritold d Sandnot?

?

Round Two

?

Glynneth(1-0) d Ritold(1-0)?

Haorge(1-0) d Mahn(1-0)?

Cozin(1-0) d Sandnot(0-1)?

Diarcia(0-1) t Karleta(0-1)?

Marudy(0-1) d Wendric(0-1)?

?

Round Three

?

Glynneth(2-0) d Cozin(2-0)

Haorge(2-0) d Marudy(1-1)

Ritold(1-1) d Wendric(0-2)

Mahn(1-1) d Karleta(0-1-1)?

Sandnot(0-2) d Diarcia(0-1-1)

?

Round Four

?

Diarcia(0-2-1) d Glynneth(3-0)

Haorge(3-0) d Karleta(0-2-1)?

Marudy (1-2) d Ritold(2-1)?

Sandnot(1-2) d Mahn(2-1)?

Cozin(2-1) d Wendric(0-3)?

?

Round Five

?

Haorge(4-0) d Ritold(2-2)?

Marudy(2-2) d Cozin(3-1)?

Mahn(2-2) d Glynneth(3-1)?

Sandnot(2-2) d Karleta(0-3-1)?

Diarcia(1-2-1) d Wendric(0-4)?

?

Round Six

?

Haorge(5-0)?d Sandnot(3-2)?

Wendric(0-5) d Mahn(3-2)?

Ritold(2-3) d Cozin(3-2)?

Diarcia(2-2-1) d Marudy(3-2)?

Glynneth(3-2) d Karleta(0-4-1)?

?

Round Seven

?

Cozin(3-3) d Haorge(6-0)?

Ritold(3-3) d Diarcia(3-2-1)?

Mahn(3-3) d Marudy(3-3)?

Sandnot(3-3) d Glynneth(4-2)?

Karleta(0-5-1) t Wendric(1-5)?

?

Round Eight

?

Mahn(4-3) d Ritold(4-3)?

Haorge(6-1) d Glynneth(4-3)?

Cozin(4-3) t Diarcia(3-3-1)?

Sandnot(4-3) d Wendric(1-5-1)?

Marudy(3-4) d Karleta(0-5-2)?

?

Round Nine

?

Diarcia(3-3-2) d Haorge(7-1)?

Mahn(5-3) d Cozin(4-3-1)?

Ritold(4-4) d Karleta(0-6-2)?

Sandnot(5-3) d Marudy(4-4)?

Wendric(1-6-1) d Glynneth(4-4)?

?

Mahn 43, Sandnot 42, Ritold 41.5, Haorge 41, Cozin 40, Diarcia 36.5

1:

?

...............1042

...............10985

...............AKQ102

...............9

K753............................AJ86

KJ3..............................AQ42

974...............................J86

875...............................AJ

...............Q9

...............76

...............53

...............KQ106432

?

East usually opened 1NT and South usually competed in clubs. How South got into the auction depended on the side's agreement. A couple of Easts did not open 1NT - Jim (U) opened 1C and at least one East opened 1D; both those auctions ended in 3H, played once from each side (Erik's response to 1C was a control-showing 1H. 1NT was left in once. North played 2C once after South doubled to show a single-suited hand and left in North's relay to 2C allowing South to show the suit. Some Souths chose or had to bid a direct 3C over 1NT; West might have come in with a double to reopen after P-1NT-X-P; 2C-P-P. Contracts were 1NT E, 2C N, 2H E, 3C S eight times, 3H E twice and 3H W.

?

E-W have five top tricks against clubs if they take them. Pheileen took a sixth trick against a misclick, but the other club contracts had a 3-3-2 split between eight, nine and ten tricks, ten being nearly as unlikely as seven, although 2C N +2 makes a bit more sense. Unable to see the high diamonds, East might well get the cashout wrong. Howard and NJ posted +130 to tie for N-S top.1NT can be held to eight tricks by a diamond lead. Phoebe played 1NT +1, an unlikely result if a diamond is not led. Declarer is inclined to cash out to make the contract and the fortunate dropping of the spade queen gives two overtricks. E-W can take the same nine tricks in hearts as in no-trumps; if North begins with four diamonds the defence can promote a trump trick, but the East hand can discard the club loser on that trick. Hank (B) made 3H for the E-W top but all the other declarers in hearts finished -2. Against Nary declarer ducked the first round of clubs and then finessed in spades later.

?

2C N +2; 3C S +1

3C S = (3)

2H E -2; 3H E -2; 3H W -2

3C S -1 (3)

3C S -2

1NT E +1

3H E =

?

2:

?

...............AK96

...............A103

...............AQ104

...............97

J1073.....................4

8762.......................J94

9.............................KJ73

AQ54......................KJ1062

...............Q852

...............KQ5

...............8652

...............83

?

Looking at only the N-S hands it appears that the object of the deal is for N-S to find a way to reach 4S, although the trap turns into a bullet dodged. A 1NT opening bid from North was left in six times. The North hand really qualifies for upgrading out of the 1NT opening class; Mr Bergen and the one N-S pair to reach 4S would certainly agree. There was a surprising amount of competition; the East hand is well suited to DONT but less so to other conventions. The seven middle contracts were 2H N, 2S S, 3C E four times and 4Cx E.

?

No-trumps, spades and clubs all?could have taken eight tricks. Spades look good but the 4-1 split and the badly placed diamonds make a set of 4S sure, even if declarer is allowed to endplay East in diamonds. Eric posted 2S +1 after the lead of ace and a low club; West was not able to lead the first diamond and a profitable endplay was made. All the 1NT contracts took seven tricks, as declarer's only particular reason to play for 4-1 spades would come from comparing the play in 1NT to how spade contracts would play and looking to take the same number of tricks if at all possible. It also seems likely that some Wests might have led the spade jack, surrendering a trick that declarer returned by taking the diamond finesse.

?

4Cx E -2

2S S +1

1NT N = (6)

3C E -1 (4)

4S S -2

2H N -4

?

3:

?

...............K107652

...............965

...............A

...............KJ10

83...............................Q94

K104...........................A32

K1053.........................J874

Q865...........................A43

...............AJ

...............QJ87

...............Q962

...............972

?

North opened 1S in third position, although 2S seems acceptable as well opposite a passed hand. Two Souths were left in a 1NT response; otherwise North declared in some number of spades: 2S eight times, 3S twice, 4S and 4Sx.

?

With the club queen onside and the hearts not providing a ruff, ten tricks in spades will result if declarer finesses East for the queen and does not lead a club to the king. One declarer somehow only took eight tricks in 2S, but the others all took either nine or ten, ten winning out over nine by a 6-5 margin. There is a tiny advantage before the suit is played in?planning to play West for the queen; declarer cannot cater to Qxxx in either hand without a loser or a singleton queen with West, but playing West for Qx/Qxx also picks up singleton queen with East. However, when one leads a spade from the North hand and East lays low, that singleton queen is already not a possible position. Shoan were joint E-W top defending 4Sx -1 (ted with Ritty's 1NT S -2), likely largely because it was West who doubled. Eugenie finessed East for the queen and made 4S for N-S top.

?

4S N =

2S N +2 (3); 3S +1 (2)

2S N +1 (4)

2S N =

1NT S =

1NT S -2; 4Sx N -1

?

4:

?

...............J86

...............A103

...............K54

...............AK87

A73..........................Q1095

QJ62........................K85

J2.............................Q83

QJ93........................542

...............K42

...............974

...............A10972

...............106

?

For the first and only time all day everyone played the same contract - 1NT N. I did not see whether all fourteen Norths opened 1NT. There is a chance that the auction could have proceeded 1C-1D; 1NT as well.

?

A diamond lead gives declarer a ninth trick; any other lead results theoretically in eight. A spade lead makes eight tricks fairly straightforward. It gets interesting after a heart lead; West gets squeezed on the last diamond but declarer still has to read the situation correctly; leading a low spade from the king would then be required for the eighth trick. The trick count went on a 2-9-3 split, with Stellie and Ritty holding declarer to seven tricks while Gloria, James (S) and George (W) took nine. Gloria had already banked eight of the first ten tricks when West gave her a ninth by leading a club at trick eleven instead of a heart, which would have allowed East to cash out.

?

1NT N +2 (3)

1NTN +1 (9)

1NT N = (2)

?

5:

?

...............Q10764

...............102

...............KJ96

...............AJ

3...........................AKJ82

AKQ865...............J4

83.........................Q752

Q1094...................53

...............95

...............973

...............A104

...............K8762

?

Even if North opens the bidding, after 1S-P-1NT-2H, it's hard to see N-S getting back into the auction, let alone declaring the hand. East may likely move, and then it will be up to E-W to avoid getting too high. Contracts were 2H W thrice, 2Sx N, 2NT E, 3H W thrice, 3NT W and 4H W five times.

?

N-S have four top tricks against heart and it appears that the pair should not need to cash out to take them. But West's clubs are just good enough to be ablet to take ten tricks in hearts against a trump lead, although not a spade lead, as then declarer cannot cash the third spade. Erik, Phyllis (H) and Phoebe all played 4H = to share the E-W top. In the end there was a 5-5 split between nine and ten tricks, with one declarer taking eight. A diamond lead in time holds no-trumps to seven tricks with accurate defence, but George (L) played 3NT W = after a passive heart lead. Randi took the expected six tricks against 2Sx. Larbot and Troward defeated 4H to tie for N-S top.

?

4H W -1 (2)

2H W =

2NT E =

3H W = (3)

2H W +2 (2)

2Sx N -1

3NT W =

4H W = (3)

?

6:

?

...............Q5

...............10532

...............Q

...............KJ7654

AK82........................J10963

A987.........................QJ

72..............................J1053

Q82...........................109

...............74

...............K64

...............AK9864

...............A3

?

This turned out to be a rainbow hand. I thought the auction might be P-1NT-P-3NT; one South did play 3NT. Otherwise we start 1D-X, with perhaps a 2C bid from North, spades from East if North passes and likely more diamonds from South. One North bid 1H over West's double and eventually declared 3H. Two Norths declared 3C, which might be reached in a variety of ways. Spades and diamonds were the most popular denominations, with contracts of 2D S, 2S E thrice, 3D S thrice, 3S E twice and 4D S.

?

3NT S could have seen E-W take the first seven tricks, but George (W) received the opening lead of a low heart. Diamonds did not behave but clubs did and George had stolen the N-S top. Spade contracts could be held to eight tricks via a trump promotion for North's spade queen on a third round of diamonds. Jim (U) took ten tricks; the other four declarers were evenly divided between eight and nine. Howard finished the expected -1 in 2H. Diamond contracts can be held to eight tricks, seven if declarer ends up losing both a trump and three hearts. Cinbot and Ritold defended 3D -2; the other diamond declarers took eight tricks. Clubs yielded seven tricks against a heart lead, eight otherwise.

?

3NT S +1

2D S =

3C N -1; 3D S -1; 3H N -1

3C N -2; 3D S -2 (2); 4D S -2

2S E = (2)

3S E = (2)

2S E +2

?

7:

?

...............AQ54

...............K5

...............J986

...............1084

KJ107....................82

A874......................J1096

AQ5........................K103

KJ...........................9632

...............963

...............Q32

...............742

...............AQ75

?

Here we had thirteen contracts at the one-level and one contract of 4H W. Jerik played 1NT W after a forcing 1C opening bid; the other two 1NT contracts apparently resulted from a 1NT opening bid, although 1D-P-P-X; 1NT is also possible, though it feels less likely. Two Wests opened 1C on the 4=4=3=2 hand pattern (I hope they Alerted; there was no complaint that either did not) and were left there; a 1D opening bid was left in eight times. The 4H W contract presumably occurred after a bit of competition when West took an aggressive position.

?

4H was just too high; Eubot was joint N-S top for a two-trick set. -1 was possible if declarer used the diamond king for the first heart finesse and then played to ruff the third spade for the second. For the one-level contracts, 1D or 1NT could make, while 1C could have been -1 by force. Troward set 1NT when dummy did not duck on the third round of clubs when North led the eight-spot with South holding Q7 behind East's 96; South did not have an outside entry and would not have scored both clubs. Mattbot even managed 1NT W -2 to tie for top but Erik tied for E-W top in 1NT W =. Shan overperformed by one trick to make 1C. Phyllis (B) tied for E-W top in 1D W +1, while Larbot and Boric overperformed defensively to produce 1D -1.

?

1NT W -2; 4H W -2

1C W -1; 1D W -1 (3); 1NT W -1

1C W =; 1D W = (4)

1D W +1; 1NT W =

?

8:

?

...............97

...............1052

...............KQ94

...............Q864

32...........................AKQ1065

J64.........................AK983

AJ1032...................6

A53.........................7

...............J84

...............Q7

...............875

...............KJ1092

?

East has the playing strength for a 2C opening bid. The downside is that, if South can compete, aggressive pre-emption may deny East the chance to bid both suits. The plus is that a 2C opening bid may make it easier to find a slam. The opening bid was always 1S except for Jim (U)'s 1C forcing, which led to 6NT W. Another auction ended in 7H E. Shoan had the top auction of 1S-1NT; 3H-3NT; 4S-5NT; 6S. Shan nicely realized that his minor aces would be just what partner needed and bid 5NT asking East to pick a slam; Joan chose 6S. The other contracts were 4H E twice and 4S E nine times.

?

Five games contracts saw declarer take only twelve tricks, most likely due to declarer's not dropping the heart queen, the line with the highest chance of success. Sarah made 7H by dropping the queen of trumps, which Erik also dropped in 6NT +1 and Joan in 6S +1. At IMPs declare in 6S or 6H would not take all the tricks because, after one high heart, leading the other top heart would risk losing two hearts when low to the jack would be a safe play for four tricks with one loser, as we saw a couple of weeks ago in the case of a similar hand.

?

4H E +2; 4S E +2 (4)

4S E +3 (6)

6S E +1

6NT W +1

7H E =

?

9:

?

...............Q973

...............107

...............KQ753

...............73

85...........................AK2

K953.......................AJ4

108..........................J942

J9542......................AQ8

...............J1064

...............Q862

...............A6

...............K106

?

After nine contracts of 1D W on Board 7, we had seven 1D E contracts here, surely enough combined for a record. Jerik again had the good luck of the hand's fitting their system, allowing a 1C forcing opening bid followed by 1NT. One other pair also reached 1NT E, possibly after a light takeout double from South. Higher contracts were 2S N, 2NT E thrice (a likely outcome if West responded) and 3C E.

?

1D can be set if West's trumps are drawn and a spade ruff prevented, but that requires a trump lead. Rich was one of the five declarers in 1D = after a different lead (his was a heart); only Larbot and Jaz produced the set. Any higher contract fared better. Joan made 3C and nine tricks were available in no-trumps, although eight were more usual due to nine requiring a backwards finesse in hearts. Louise and Jim (U) tied for E-W top in 1NT +2, likely after a heart lead instead of a spade.

?

2S N =

1D E -1 (2)

1D E = (5)

3C E =

2NT E = (3)

1NT E +2 (2)

?

10:

?

...............KJ6

...............84

...............1084

...............AJ642

98542..................Q1073

AK1065................92

----.......................AKQJ652

1075.....................----

...............A

...............QJ73

...............973

...............KQ983

?

It was a good thing that East did not open with a Gambling 3NT. The auction would have been 3NT-P-4C-P; 4D and the spades would never have gotten into the bidding. It seemed unlikely that spades would be kept out: if South were to overcall 2C West could double and over a pass West would respond 1S. Contracts were all at the three-level or higher: 3C N (West must have responded 1H), 3S E, 4D E, 4S E four times, 4S W, 5Cx N, 5D E, 5Dx E, 5H W and 5S W twice. Not often that e see all four suits declared at the five-level.

?

East can make 5D but with a bit of a trap. If the opening lead is a heart, East must ruff a club and draw trumps, then lead the first spade low from hand. Otherwise, heart, spade, heart means that trumps cannot be drawn and then the second spade led from dummy. This line is superiour to leading the spade queen from hand first for practical reasons (singleton ace or king with South and singleton jack in either hand are equally likely), as a spade lead is not likely from a singleton king, though J, A or AK6 are all quite plausible. Of the three declarers in diamonds only Hank (B) took eleven tricks. There is also a trap in spades, where eleven tricks are also possible. If N-S lead clubs, East must discard two clubs from dummy before starting the trumps; otherwise a second round of clubs locks East out of hand. Eubot were N-S top defending 4S -3 and Geoel posted 4S -2. Two declarers took ten tricks in spades, two took eleven and Louise even managed twelve for the E-W top when North rose with the king on the first spade. This may make up to Louise for the hand from the mid-2000s when Arlene and Fredda bid to 6S missing four trumps including ace and king and Muriel Lipman?crashed honours with Louise. 5H took the expected nine tricks. Clubs by North could have been held to eight tricks; Bob was lucky in 5Cx not to finish -3 and bottom; -2 escaped for a middle score.

?

4S E -3

4S E -2; 5Dx E -1; 5H W -2

3C N -1

4D E =

3S E +1

5Cx N -2

5D E =

4S E =

4S E +1; 4S W +1; 5S W =

5S W +1

?

11:

?

...............76542

...............A3

...............KQ93

...............J9

AJ9........................K3

98752....................K64

J106.......................754

107.........................KQ653

...............Q108

...............QJ10

...............A82

...............A842

?

1C-1S; 1NT from N-S began the auction. 1NT ended the auction eight times. Six Norths went beyond 1NT. 2S N was played twice, along with 2NT S, 3S N twice and 4S N. If North shows invitational values, South can show three spades in a minimum and North can subside as low as possible.

?

A heart lead holds 1NT to seven tricks, largely because the entries are wrong to squeeze out a surprise second club trick. 2S can take nine tricks, as either clubs or hearts can provide a discard for the loser in the other suit. Matt was the only declarer in spades to take ten tricks, while declarers in 1NT S were even divided between taking seven tricks and eight. Tracy was one of the declarers to take eight tricks, which he did when West discarded a spade on the fourth diamond. +120 was the lowest above-average score for N-S. E-W top was Giselaine's, defending 4S N -1.

?

3S N +1

2S N +1; 3S N =

1NT S +1 (4)

2S N =

1NT S = (4)

2NT S -1; 4S N -1

?

12:

?

...............83

...............Q96532

...............QJ

...............862

762............................J10

K74............................8

A73............................98542

AKJ5.........................Q10943

...............AKQ954

...............AJ10

...............K106

...............7

?

1NT from West and then South came in one way or another, usually playing the hand, although a few E-W pairs took the bid. Contracts were 1NTx W, 2S S five times, 3C E, 3S S four times, 4C E, 4C W and 4Sx S, that last after the auction 1NT-P-3D-3S; 4D-P-P-4S; X.

?

Play was mostly straightforward, with only two declarers not taking the double dummy number of tricks. 4S takes ten tricks with east, losing only one club, one diamond and one heart. Matt was allowed an eleventh trick, probably getting to discard all his diamonds on the hearts. Linda was N-S top in 4Sx =. Club contracts had eight tricks and 1NT six; Shan, Harold and Elaine all took the expected number of tricks to score 11/13. Richard was E-W top in 3C E =, although -1 would have done just as well.

?

4Sx S =

3S S +2

2S S +2 (5); 3S S +1 (3)

1NTx W -1; 4C E -2; 4C W -2

3C E =

?

13:

?

...............A107

...............Q643

...............Q7

...............10865

KQ62.....................J843

K2..........................J85

AJ86......................952

A92........................KQJ

...............95

...............A1097

...............K1043

...............743

?

Again we have an eight-count facing a 1NT opening bid (except for Jerik, who had a 1C opening bid and 1NT rebid with 17 at the low end instead of the high end). Seven 1NT W opening bids were left in. One East bid Stayman and then left West in 2S. The other six contracts involved a game invitation from East, accepted by West, who played 4S twice and 3NT four times (counting Jerik).

?

The layout was on the favourable side for E-W, with both red suits behaving.4S can only be defeated by the lead of the diamond queen, which allows N-S to force a diamond ruff. Declarer may not play the diamonds correctly, though; Geoel defended 4S -1 and Carthurl 2S +1, but Shan made 4S W to score 12/13. E-W top was Erik's in 3NT +1. After a club lead to East and a diamond finesse to North, North returned the other diamond instead of the heart that would have allowed the set. The other 3NT contracts were all defeated. Louise took nine tricks in 1NT for a good score; 1NT +1 was middle.

?

3NT W -2

3NT W -1 (2); 4S W -1

1NT W + 1 (5)

2S W +1

1NT W +2 (2)

4S W =

3NT W +1

?

14:

?

...............A82

...............AQJ98

...............654

...............93

3.............................QJ1054

K1072.....................3?

AQ72......................K1083

KQ85......................A72

...............K976

...............654

...............J9

...............J1064

?

P-P-1D-1H; 1S?to start. Then if South squeezes out a raise 2Hx comes into play as a possible contract or even higher if North is goaded into a higher level. East generally invited but most Wests declined, not liking the position of the heart king and the lack of help in spades. Contracts were 2NT W, 3D W seven times, 3Hx N, 3NT W thrice, 4D W and 5D W.

?

3Hx can be set three tricks by force; Shoan extracted the maximum for the E-W top. 3NT almost makes but, after a lead of the heart queen or jack to the king, declarer has only seven tricks in the minors and then runs out of steam. Erik took ten tricks again in 3NT - after a heart, club and spade, North led the heart ace, the only card in the hand to allow the make. 5D has a lucky make available with Hxx in North's hand and Hxxx in South's. West wins the opening lead and plays the low spade. If North wins, a ruffing finesse through South establishes the suit. If South wins, the ace comes down in two ruffs. Four declarers took ten tricks in diamonds but four took only eight and one took nine. N-S top went to Jonj defending 3NT -2.

?

3NT W -2

3D W -1 (3); 3NT W -1; 5D W -1

3D W =

3D W +1 (3); 4D W -1

2NT W +1

3NT W +1

3Hx N -3

?

15:

?

...............Q853

...............KQ72

...............9832

...............A

64.....................KJ2

63.....................AJ98

Q64..................AJ107

KQ10965..........J3

...............A1097

...............1054

...............K5

...............8742

?

Some?Wests began with 3C, occasionally taken to 3NT by East if the pair tends to be on the Sound side in their pre-empts, although no partner of Bill's would dare bid 3NT after one of his 3C opening bids at favourable. It may not matter much, though, if West passes, as East overcalls 1NT whatever suit North opens. Contracts were 1NT E five times, 2H N, 2NT E, 3C W twice, 3D E and 3NT E four times.

?

Club contracts can take nine tricks by force, although a diamond lead must be won by the ace to prevent N-S's being able to force a diamond ruff. 3NT gets remarkably lucky that the club ace is singleton, but declarer doesn't have enough fast tricks. Rich made 3NT when South discarded a spade on one of the clubs. Cindy and Louise in 1NT did even better after a 1D opening bid from North and a lead of the diamond king from South. N-S top went to Geobot for defending 3D E -2.

?

3D E -2

3NT E -1 (3)

2H N -1

3C W = (2)

1NT E +1 (2); 2NT E =

1NT E +2

1NT E +3

1NT E +4

3NT E =

?

16:

?

...............K1093

...............AJ98

...............542

...............QJ

A8...........................42

K754.......................Q10632

AQ8........................KJ3

K873.......................542

...............QJ765

...............----

...............10976

...............A1096

?

1NT from West, a transfer from East and then does South come in? If South passes and West bids only 2H rather than 3H South has a second chance and may balance with either 2S or a double. Possibly we might have had more N-S pairs declaring than the 10-4 margin favouring E-W; maybe North's good hearts influenced the decision to defend. Contracts were 2H W five times, 3H W four times, 3Hx W and 3S S.

?

Both spades and hearts take eight tricks. Three of the four declarers in spades took ten tricks when E-W did not cash their diamond winners in time. Dane were the only pair defending 3S to go plus. Most declarers in hearts took the expected eight tricks, with two Wests overperforming and two underperforming. Nary and Janda both defended 3H -2 to tie for N-S top with Boric and their 3Hx -1. Sandi and Phyllis (B) were the two declarers to post 2H +1, likely on some version of an endplay, although it requires help from N-S to come about.

?

3H W -2 (2); 3Hx W -1

3S S +1 (3)

2H W -1; 3H W -1 (2)

3S S -1

2H W = (2)

2H W +1 (2)

?

17:

?

...............J10

...............KQJ6

...............AQ6

...............J765

Q95.........................A63

852..........................1073

J1094......................8753

A92..........................KQ8

...............K8742

...............A94

...............K2

...............1043

?

After a whoopsie from one North, we had a passout between Janda and Dane. Yet again it came down to a question of whether a hand on the edge opted to invite game or stop low, this time after 1C-1S; 1NT. 1NT N was left in six times. Some Souths were only slightly more active; 2S S was played twice. The remaining five auctions saw a game invitation with two contracts of 2NT N and three of 3NT N.

?

No-trumps can be held to eight tricks in a bit of an unusual way. Declarer has the timing to establish the spades before E-W have diamonds ready to run. But as soon as the spade queen becomes a winner E-W have five tricks ready to cash. Four pairs extracted the defensive maximum against no-trumps, with Pharah, Shoan and Ritold posting -120 while Haorge were the only pair to defeat 3NT. Spade contracts were also held to eight tricks if E-W cashed their clubs before declarer got in. Jatin took nine tricks after a red-suit lead; Randi were allowed a set, which took a bit of help from declarer given the mirror distribution of the E-W hands. John and Eugenie tied for N-S top in 3NT +1.

?

3NT N +1 (2)

1NT N +3 (2); 2NT N +2

1NT N +2 (2)

2S S +1

1NT N +1 (2); 2NT =

Passed Out

2S S -1; 3NT N -1

?

18:

?

...............J85

...............1042

...............K954

...............876

AK643.................1092

KQ863.................----

Q..........................AJ10632

A9........................J1043

...............Q7

...............AJ975

...............87

...............KQ52

?

Here at least two Wests took a good opportunity they were presented. When East opened 2D and South overcalled 2H without much to spare, West had a fine opportunity to make a penalty double. 2Hx was played twice, but 2H S was left in undoubled four times, a sadly missed opportunity. Higher contracts were 2NT W(!), 3NT W(!!), 4S W five times and 4Sx W, West having a reasonable 2S response if South passes.

?

Declarer can force six tricks in hearts (Eric did but to little effect) but usually took five. Randi held declarer to four with two bits of help. Dummy covered the diamond queen at trick two; later in the end position South led the heart ace and gave away another trick when West could have been thrown in. 4S can also make, but is a little tricky, especially if North leads a trump. Declarer wins and leads the diamond queen. North cannot cover (which allows an eleventh trick); after North ducks declarer must be careful to ruff a heart, cross to the club ace, ruff another heart, discard the club nine on the diamond ace, ruff the second club, cash the spade king, then lead a high heart and declarer with eight tricks in the bank is left with two trumps and a high heart against North's one high trump. Eubot were N-S top defending 4Sx -2 but 4S undoubled was only set twice, with Phyllis (B), Phyllis (M) and Shan making 4S to score 10/13 behind Ritold's +800 and Jerik's +500.

?

4Sx W -2

4S W -1 (2)

3NT W -1; 4S W -1 (2)

2H S -3 (3)

2H S -4

4S W = (2)

2Hx S -2

2Hx S -3

1:

?

...............A92

...............107632

...............A3

...............A42

Q87654................K3

4...........................Q95

8...........................1097542

K10873.................J9

...............J10

...............AKJ8

...............KQJ6

...............Q65

?

1H from North and likely 2NT from South. If E-W enter the auction they may reach a 4S sacrifice. The only West to bid 4S, though, had the rather different auction of 1H-4H; South pressed on to 5Hx, East likely thinking that West bid 4S to make. Another pair stopped in 4NT S after South decided to look for slam but North bailed out. Heve, who usually only play 3NT with eight-card fits in a major, extended it to nine and stopped in 3NT.

?

Harob were very lucky to set 5Hx. Declarer should have played East for the heart queen rather than try to drop Qx in the West hand, and even then that would just turn twelve tricks into eleven; declarer dropped a trick somewhere. Declarer in 4NT also dropped a trick, although it is much more reasonable that that should have happened in no-trumps than in hearts. Heve were N-S top in 3NT +2, with no reason not to play for the drop in hearts.

?

3NT S +2

4NT S =

5Hx N -1

?

2:

?

...............964

...............Q9

...............AK107

...............8753

AKQ107..............J53

32........................KJ1086

5..........................J63

KJ1096................AQ

...............82

...............A754

...............Q9842

...............42

?

East opened 1H and West got to 4S. A classic auction was 1H-1S; 1NT-3C; 3S-4S. Had West dealt, the auction might have been 1S-2H; 3C-3S; 4S, with a slightly higher chance of West's looking for slam, as the Loser Count is about right for it.

?

Play was simple. Declarer had five winners in each black suit and an overtrick if the hearts were guessed correctly. Everyone made the overtrick for a flat board.

?

4S W +1 (3)

?

3:

?

...............1032

...............952

...............543

...............A842

J76.........................AK985

10973.....................AK

KJ76.......................A10982

73............................10

...............Q4

...............QJ64

...............Q

...............KQJ965

?

After 1C from South, two of the three E-W pairs were unable to reach game. The one exception came about after the auction 1C-P-1NT-X; 2C-2H-3C-3S; 4C-P-P-X; P-4S. Would West have carried on to 4S had South not bid 4C? I suspect not but we'll never know. The other auctions ended in 1S E and 2D E.

?

The cards lie kindly for E-W. Spades will rarely come in without at least one loser. Playing for a doubleton queen (or singleton with South) has the highest chance of success and here it works. Both spade contracts tok twelve tricks, giving Kokbot the E-W top for bidding game. Heve were N-S top because their opponents played in diamonds.

?

2D E +3

1S E +5

4S E +2

?

Leaders: Heve 5. Harob-Kokbot 4

?

4:

?

...............9764

...............Q76

...............K2

...............J432

K...........................QJ85

10984...................AKJ2

Q8765...................J93

1085......................AQ

...............A1032

...............53

...............A104

...............K976

?

With 18 HCP, East likely opens 1D planning 2NT on the next round. One actions appeared to have gone 1D-2D; 2H, left in by West. Another East somehow ended in 3NT. Jerik began artificially 1C-1D and then finished in 4H E after a 1NT rebid and Stayman.

?

The object of the hand for the defence is to keep declarer from reaching dummy to finesse in hearts. Against either hearts or no-trumps a diamond lead is required, specifically the ten-spot against no-trumps to extract the maximum number of tricks. Jim was E-W top making 4H aftr the reasonable opening lead of a trump; he had time to knock out the spade ace, discard dummy's losing clubs and then establish the diamonds, although it was important not to cash the spades before leading the first diamond/ Phoebot were N-S top defending 3NT -2.

?

3NT E -2

2H E =

4H E =

?

5:

?

...............A76

...............J873

...............96

...............9865

1083.....................Q4

A1064...................Q9

J107......................KQ5432

J74........................AK3

...............KJ952

...............K52

...............A8

...............Q102

?

If East opens a semi-balanced 1NT that ends the auction. Otherwise it goes something like P-1D-1S-X; 2S-3D. 1NT E was played once and 3D E twice.

?

Declarer has nine tricks in diamonds; South cannot lead clubs or get enough clubs led through from North before a discard can be taken on the established ten of hearts. Both declarers in diamonds took nine tricks. 1NT yields declarer seven tricks on a squeeze. East cannot discard a heart on the spades or a switch to the heart king gives N-S at least a seventh trick and likely more. East comes down to:

?

.....................

A10..............Q9

J107.............KQ54

J74...............AK

?

After the spades, South can lead a club and another club after East knocks out the diamond ace. The last diamond squeezes South in hearts and clubs. Harob defeated 1NT one trick, but would have been N-S top even if it had made.

?

1NT E -1

3D E = (2)

?

6:

?

...............5

...............A82

...............KQ105

...............QJ942

K1083...................J64

K6.........................Q9543

AJ86.....................9742

873........................A

...............AQ972

...............J107

...............3

...............K1065

?

The hand could have been passed out, depending on whether North uses the Rule of Fifteen with all minimum hands in fourth seat or only with marginal ones. West probably opened 1D at all three tables. If North overcalled 2C, the auction ended in 3C N, played twice. The third auction was likely P-P-1D-P; 1H-1S-P-1NT. East might have tried 2D, especially if the pair were in agreement that 1D would not be on junk.

?

Once again there were nine tricks in the minor but this time 1NT yielded eight tricks to declarer. Mary managed a ninth for the N-S top; East lead a diamond to the ace rather than the jack and that was all she needed. Harold took a tenth trick in 3C, leaving Kokbot E-W top for defending 3C =.

?

1NT N +2

3C N +1

3C N =

?

Leaders: Heve-Kokbot 7.5, Harob 7

?

7:

?

...............1062

...............J1062

...............52

...............Q962

Q7...........................K9543

A864.......................KQ

AK93.......................Q10864

1087.........................K

...............AJ8

...............975

...............J7

...............AJ543

?

Unless South opened light it seemed as if E-W would reach game without much trouble. But two auctions fizzled out rather early and ended in 2D W. Jerik got into a bit of a prolonged auction with even some sort of a slam try before finishing in 5D W. At least E-W avoided the bad luck of reaching 3NT W after 1D-1S; 1NT. 3NT E gets lucky because the hand with the club ace is on lead, and we don't have Owen around to lead the ace. West declaring has eight top tricks once in; 3NT is -2 off the top if North leads a club but still -1 after a lead of the heart jack unless North discards a heart or perhaps a club on the run of the diamonds. 3NT E has the luck of the hand with the club ace being on lead and therefore likely leading a low club, although N-S can still get a plausible set of 3NT if South leads a heart.

?

Diamond contracts are held to eleven contracts by a black-suit lead. Hank saved the middle score, taking twelve tricks after a heart lead. Erik was E-W top in 5D =.

?

2D W +3

2D W +4

5D W =

?

8:

?

...............K2

...............K83

...............KJ62

...............8753

954.......................A10

7...........................109652

Q107543..............98

962.......................AKJ10

...............QJ8763

...............AQJ4

...............A

...............Q4

?

West is too weak for a 2D opening; East opens a reluctant 1H in third seat, South overcalls 1S and then North is mildly encouraging, though less so with what looks like a poorly-placed heart king. Contracts were 3S S, 3NT N and 4S S.

?

Spade contracts are held to eight tricks by heart ruffs. Maurie properly set 4S two tricks. Against Phoebe the defence picked up the first heart ruff but then West led the last spade instead of returning a club to East for the second ruff. As the club queen drops, East can cash out four club tricks when in with the heart ace, which resulted in the expected -1 for the middle score.

?

3S S +1

3NT N -1

4S S -2

?

9:

?

...............KJ63

...............983

...............1086

...............J83

1074.......................AQ85

KQ..........................A742

AJ42.......................K975

Q1076.....................9

...............92

...............J1065

...............Q3

...............AK542

?

1D from East. If South overcalls 2C West likely just bids 3NT. If? South passes West may make an inverted raise to 2D. One auction ended in 2D E; possibly West intended an inverted raise and East thought it was a normal single raise. The other two auctions finished in 3NT W.

?

Diamond contracts can take eleven tricks; if N-S do not lead trumps there is even a decent chance of twelve after a successful spade finesse, discard of a spade loser on the third heart and cross-ruff. It is just important to ruff the heart with the diamond jack. It didn't really matter; as 3NT was making Kokbot were going to be N-S top no matter what. Declarer finished with ten tricks. West can force 3NT +1 with the favourable lie of the cards; there is either a trick for the club queen or a third spade winner. It looks as if N-S are more likely to overperform, but one West in 3NT took ten tricks and Erik took eleven after a spade lead for the E-W top.?

?

2D E +2

3NT W +1

3NT W +2

?

Leaders: Kokbot 11.5, Harob 10, Heve 9.5

?

10:

?

...............953

...............A973

...............1098

...............Q32

AKQ62.................J87

J6.........................852

AJ74.....................K65

K10.......................A984

...............104

...............KQ104

...............Q32

...............J765

?

It looks like 1S-2S; 4S. West might take a conservative view and invite with 3D, but even then East will likely accept. One West apparently opened 1NT and was left there. Another West stopped in 3S and the third went to 4S.

?

In spades, West does well to take the diamond finesse early, then draw two trumps and play the third round of diamonds before drawing the last trump. This caters to either opponent's being short in both spades and diamonds. Of course, with the diamonds lying perfectly spades will take eleven tricks without a serious error. In 1NT everything hinged on the lead. For once, the often-maligned lead from Axxx would have paid off. When North chose the reasonable diamond ten instead, Hank took eleven tricks for the middle score.?

?

3S W +2

1NT W +4

4S E +1

?

11:

?

...............QJ

...............A106

...............852

...............KQ862

A94......................1087652

KJ9874................Q3

6...........................10973

J93.......................7

...............K3

...............52

...............AKQJ4

...............A1054

?

If the ghost of Fredda is watching over our games, this board must have pleased her. After 1D-2C game forcing, South can raise to 3C, which might then elicit 3H and 3NT. If 2C is not game-forcing, South's only noncommittal action is a jump to 3D. If South makes a jump raise to 4C, North likely wants to show the heart ace just in case, as 5C will not score well against 3NT; 6C -1 may not lose much. We finished with contracts of 5C N, 5C S and 3NT S, reached after a 1NT opening bid which I cannot approve. The hand is too good with five solid diamonds as well as the maximum HCP count.

?

Slam in either minor makes; whichever is the side suit provides a discard or two and takes care of the heart loser. With only one declarer in 3NT it did not matter whether E-W found the heart lead to hold declarer to eleven tricks. That did not happen; Kok took twelve tricks.

?

3NT S +3

5C S +1 (2)

?

12:

?

...............1075

...............J94

...............63

...............QJ1054

AQJ842................K9

A10.......................K753

QJ4.......................A9752

A9.........................76

...............63

...............Q862

...............K108

...............K832

?

For the second time in the game everyone reached the same contract, and again it was 4S W. 1S-1NT; 3S-4S looks as likely as anything.

?

Declarer has eleven tricks after the natural club lead. Two declarers posted +450. Laurie received a diamond lead, which gave her the time needed to draw trumps and establish diamonds to take care of her club loser for the E-W top.

?

4S W +1 (2)

4S W +2

?

Leaders: Kokbot 17, Maurie 14, Heve 12.5

?

13:

?

...............105

...............J842

...............Q76

...............K853

J976......................K82

A109......................Q53

953........................AKJ8

A92........................J76

...............AQ43

...............K76

...............1042

...............Q104

?

Finally everyone in the same contract but not 4S W. This time everyone played 1NT E, presumably after 1D-1S; 1NT.

?

On lead with spades having been bid by dummy, a club looks more appealing than a heart, as Q10x can do well with any honour in partner's hand and does not have so many losing layouts as the heart lead, which rates to give away a trick if partner holds jack or queen unsupported. Kok took nine tricks after a heart lead, the only lead to allow a ninth trick. Phoebot held declarer to seven tricks for N-S top; the third declarer took the expected eight tricks for the middle score.

?

1NT E =

1NT E +1

1NT E +2

?

14:

?

...............10

...............9

...............AK842

...............QJ10642

Q8............................AK9654

AJ83........................10742

J10............................Q96

K8753.......................----

...............J732

...............KQ65

...............753

...............A9

?

Had East opened 1S, the auction might have begun 1S-P-1NT-2NT. A 2S opening bid shut out the diamonds as well as the hearts. All three auctions were competitive to differing extents. Contracts were 3C N, 3S E and 4C N.

?

Either clubs or spades could have taken nine tricks. In 3S declarer loses a spade, a heart and two diamonds. In clubs North takes the red winners and starts ruffing, losing one trick in each suit. The bad trump splits were enough to cause a slight discombobulation to all three declarers, resulting in eight tricks for all three contracts. This altered the scores to N-S top for Jerik and E-W top for Harob instead of those tops going to Phoebot and Kokbot.

?

3S E -1

3C N -1

4C N -2

?

15:

?

...............5

...............105

...............KJ92

...............K98764

K6.............................Q1094

KJ98.........................A73

10876........................Q543

A102..........................QJ

...............AJ8732

...............Q642

...............A

...............53

?

1S-1NT; 2S seemed likely to be an uncontested N-S auction. One South rebid 2H instead of 2S and North, under duress, left it in.?One North starte with a 2C response and had to play 3NT. At the third table West made a light double, resulting in 3NT E.

?

Phoebe ended up N-S top, escaping in 2H -1 after a diamond was led to queen and ace when a heart had to be led to save one trick and East had to duck to save the other. 3NT N could have finished -5 but declarer got out for -3. Harold made 3NT E, but a club lead could have led to a set.

?

2H S -1

3NT N -3

3NT E =

?

Leaders: Kokbot 20, Harob 15.5, Maurie 15

?

16:

?

...............102

...............A97

...............AK97

...............AQ103

QJ54........................K8763

QJ643......................K52

86.............................2

97.............................KJ84

...............A9

...............108

...............QJ10543

...............652

?

1NT from North. Did South leave it there, switch to a diamond partial or show interest in game? 3NT was absolutely there but everyone missed it. One South left 1NT in and another pushed the auction into 3D N. The third South showed some sort of interest in game but that convinced North, who had an absolute maximum for diamonds, to drive all the way to 6D S.

?

Everyone took the nine tricks that could have been forced by either side. This gave Maurie the N-S top on +150 and Jerik the E-W top, also on +150.

?

1NT N +2

3D N =

6D S -3

?

17:

?

...............9875

...............8432

...............KJ10

...............72

Q104...................62

AKQ6..................J10

A87.....................96542

KQ8....................J1064

...............AKJ3

...............975

...............Q3

...............A953

?

South opens 1C. With 20 HCP West doubles and likely follows with 2NT on the next round. This ended one auction; the other two auctions ended in 5D E and 3NT W.

?

Both diamonds and no-trumps could have had a forced result of eight tricks for declarer. Maurie took their five tricks against 5D and were N-S top. The two declarers in no-trumps both took nine tricks after three rounds of spades when a heart or diamond return would have held declarer to eight tricks, although for rather different reasons. A diamond return would have established a fifth winner for N-S; a heart return would have disrupted the entries for declarer's three club tricks. South could then have returned a diamond after winning the third round of clubs and at least one winner would have ended up stranded. Bob was E-W top in 3NT =.

?

5D E -3

2NT W +1

3NT W =

?

18:

?

...............7

...............KJ752

...............9872

...............AQ4

9...........................AK10843

A10943.................Q6

AK104...................65

872........................KJ10

...............QJ652

...............8

...............QJ3

...............9653

?

Two Wests responded 2H to East's 1S and the auctions finished in 3NT E. The third auction was 1S-1NT; 2S-2NT.

?

The declaring Easts both made the nine tricks they could have forced. The spade split was grim but South never had an entry to take the queen and jack; declarer had a sufficiently good layout to come to three diamond winners and two in each other suit. Phoebot were always going to be N-S top defending 2NT; at trick eight West led the heart queen to the king when ducking would have endplayed Northbot.

?

2NT W -1

3NT E = (2)

?

Final: Kokbot 21.5, Maurie 19.5, Harob 18.5