1:

?

...............K1085

...............KQ874

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

...............65

J42............................7

963............................J5

AKJ5.........................109876

A109..........................J8743

...............AQ963

...............A102

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

...............KQ2

?

Whether South opens 1S or 1NT the side ought to reach game; one partner or the other can be on the conservative side but partner can easily go on. After 1S, North can be content with 2S or use Drury; after 1NT North can begin with a transfer or Stayman and then either drive to game or invite. Contracts were 4H S, 4S N, 4S S seven times and 4Sx S when one West just couldn't resist temptation.

?

E-W have three top tricks and that is all. Hearts could be a trickier trump suit against a 4-1 split but the suit split 3-2 as usual. George was N-S top in 4Sx =. Hank made an overtrick in 4H S when West did not cash both diamonds. Geoff scored 8/9 in 4S +2 after a heart opening lead.

?

4Sx S =

4S S +2

4H S +1

4S N =; 4S S = (6)

?

2:

?

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

...............Q63

...............A1086

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

AQJ.......................K6

7.............................KJ1092

KQ4.......................J953

AJ9852..................K3

...............109843

...............A854

...............72

...............Q6

?

E-W seem bound for 3NT from one side or the other. If East opens it may be hard for West to stop. Otherwise it seems nearly a sure thing, even if West thinks the club suit is not good enough for a 3C jump after P-1C; 1H. How two pairs stopped in 3C W I cannot say. 3NT was played thrice by East and four times by West along with one contract of 6NT W.

?

With the clubs behaving declarer can take eleven tricks in no-trumps with ease. When the clubs behave right away, before cashing out declarer should play for the two diamond tricks before cashing out. Against Keianne declarer won a diamond lead with the king and then cashed all the black winners, allowing N-S to hold declarer to ten tricks. Twelve tricks are possible, especially if a diamond lead gives declarer three winners in the suit by letting the nine win a trick, as North must then find a heart lead when in with the diamond ace, unlikely if the diamond ace is knocked out as soon as the clubs behave. Cliff was the one West in 3NT to take twelve tricks; four declarers took eleven tricks and two took ten. Troward defeated 6NT for the N-S top, with the pairs defending the partials tied on -150.

?

6NT E -1

3C W +2 (2)

3NT W +1 (2)

3NT E +2 (3); 3NT W +2

3NT W +3

?

3:

?

...............K

...............AK43

...............Q984

...............9862

QJ8.........................A5432

J87..........................965

J1073.......................A6

A105........................KQ7

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

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

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

...............J43

?

North might open either 1D or 1H in third seat (I favour 1H) although either way East overcalls 1S. Whatever South does West raises to 2S and usually that ends the auction. 2S E was the contract nine times with the tenth contract 2NT S.

?

This time the short side of the odds came up. Many declarers made the natural-looking play of running the spade queen first. If the suit splits 3-2 declarer wins five tricks when South holds the doubleton 109 (about a 3.4% chance) and four tricks otherwise, along with only three tricks if the suit splits 4-1. At matchpoints declarer may decide that the slight chance of the overtrick justifies being able to cater to some 4-1 splits for one loser, even though holding the trumps to one loser is what makes the contract. At IMP scoring the best line is to lead a low spade from the East hand in case South holds king-fourth or the singleton king, about a 14% chance. Here, though, the play with the highest trick expectation is beaten by leading the ace first, which holds the suit to one loser on a 4-1 split only when the king in singleton, as is the case here, about 5.6% because the king can drop from either hand. Had West's third spade been the seven or six, running an honour from the West hand would be nearly a clear mistake, as it would only gain if North were to duck from Kx. If North does duck from Kx on the actual layout, South with 109x can make up for the error by false-carding a drop of the nine or ten, which may well induce a misguess. If the queen is run and ducked there is nothing to do but lead low next. 2S -1 was the usual result, posted six times, Jerbot one of many defending pairs against whom declarer ran the queen. Betty took nine tricks in 2S (probably after a diamond lead when N-S did not cash their heart winners on getting in) and Arthur eight. After the natural lead of the spade queen, South finished -1 instead of -3 in 2NT. Geal were N-S top defending 3S -2.

?

2S E -2

2S E -1 (6)

2NT S -1

2S E =

2S E +1

?

4:

?

...............KQJ7

...............754

...............J54

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

6542.........................9

K862........................Q

A8............................KQ1096

A104........................KQJ962

...............A1083

...............AJ1093

...............732

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

?

At least two Wests opened the bidding 1C, leading to the highest and the lowest contracts. At one table East made an inverted raise to 2C which West passed, ending the auction. If the pair plays that the single raise is invitational only and therefore nonforcing, that should be part of the explanation, although the bid was correctly Alerted. The other auction with a 1C opening bid was the only one to end in game after 1C-P-1D-1H; P-2H-5C. Two Souths declared the hand in 2H and 3H; the remaining contracts were 3C E and 4C E thrice each.

?

With the diamonds behaving E-W have eleven tricks in either minor, although one declarer took only ten and two were allowed twelve, both about equally unlikely. Geof (B) had E-W top in 5C W = for being the only declarer in game. Heart contracts can be held to seven tricks by force if E-W cash their diamonds right away. After ace and another club Geoff (L) was home for N-S top in 3H -1; after ruffing and cashing the heart ace, he could cash all four spade winners and come to four tricks in each major. Three immediate diamonds allow West to discard the fourth spade. Glotin picked up the sixth trick they could force and added a seventh against 2H -2 for a good score.

?

3H S -1

3C E +1

2C W +3; 4C E +1 (3)

3C E +3 (2)

2H S -2

5C W =

?

5:

?

...............108754

...............86

...............Q54

...............KJ4

AK6........................Q932

AQJ52....................104

109..........................K872

852..........................A103

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

...............K973

...............AJ63

...............Q976

?

Does South open in third seat? If so, West overcalls 1H and either South or East is likely to declare 1NT, depending on what East does over North's 1S. If South passes, East or West might well declare 1NT. Contracts were evenly divided between 1NT and 2M: 1NT E thrice, 1NT S, 1NT W, 2H W twice and 2S E thrice.

?

E-W can take nine tricks in no-trumps by force; porr South gets squeezed right away on the spades and will have to part with a minor winner to keep the four hearts. 1NT E proved to be the top contract, netting nine tricks for Arthur and Deborah, ten for Connie. When either South or West declared E-W took only seven tricks. Par is eight tricks in both majors, but those tricks are much easier to take in hearts than spades. Against hearts N-S have to get their clubs established early. Marie took nine tricks in 2H after a diamond lead to the ace instead of the jack. Jonathan also took nine tricks in 2H W; Heve, Pharah and Jerbot all defended 2S E -1. To make 2S, declarer has to get the diamond trick fairly early to go with the club winner, two hearts and four spades.?

?

2S E -1 (3)

1NT W =

1NT S -1

2H W +1 (2)

1NT E +2 (2)

1NT E +3

?

6:

?

...............AKQ

...............AK62

...............J7542

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

952..........................J104

9854........................----

K8...........................Q1063

QJ104.....................A98632

...............8763

...............QJ1073

...............A9

...............K7

?

N-S had no trouble reaching 4H at almost every table. Even a 3C opening bid from East at one table (despite the vulnerability) made no difference; North reopened with a double and South played 4H along with eight other declarers. At least one North made a splinter raise of 4C after 1D-1H, which was useful in keeping the auction low; a raise to 4H might end in slam, but the splinter warns South off thinking the club Kx will be of value. One auction ended in 2H S. Oops.

?

Eleven tricks were taken at every table but one. Jerry took twelve in 4H when East ducked a club led from dummy. Carthurl were E-W top when N-S stopped in 2H. Everyone playing or defending the par 4H +1 scored 50%.

?

4H S +2

4H S +1 (8)

2H S +3

?

7:

?

...............K10986

...............642

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

...............K85

5...............................AJ2

A987.........................KQ5

AQ964......................1032

J103..........................A976

...............Q743

...............J103

...............K85

...............Q42

?

It looks as if E-W slip into 3NT. 1D-3NT is a plausible auction. If West does not open, we get P-1C; 1R-1NT and then probably 2NT-3NT or some other invitational sequence accepted by opener. It is worth discussing with partner what one does should North overcall 1S. Contracts were 1H W, 1NT E, 2D W and 3NT E seven times.

?

If North has passed throughout after a response of 1D, does South lead a spade or a heart? The heart is somewhat safer, being from a partial sequence instead of an unsupported honour, but the likelihood of hitting partner with a big enough holding for success is less likely - North did not overcall 1H and South has eight HCP. The heart lead is much more attractive without the two minor honours - when North rates to hold perhaps 10-12 HCP opposite South's three. A heart lead lets declarer take ten or eleven tricks in comfort. A spade lead puts declarer to the test. First, East must decide whether to play South for the diamond king or to place the card with North and play for South to hold six spades by ducking the first two rounds. Even if the auction was 1D-3NT South still had the chance to open 2S as dealer but might have been too weak for the bid. If East wins the first spade with the ace this becomes a textbook case of playing to keep the lead out of the Danger Hand. The normal play of the double finesse in diamonds should be avoided. As South can gain the lead with no threat, the plan is to lead a diamond to the queen, return to the East hand in hearts and lead another diamond, ducking if South plays the king and winning the ace otherwise. If South plays the king on the first round, declarer ducks in case it is from Kx; taking the king gives North a diamond entry. I think some declarers must have ducked the spade lead, as 3NT failed more often than not. Against Heve declarer took the double finesse in diamonds in the usual way and finished -2, a result also posted by Pharah. Jerik and Jerbot were allowed to set 3NT one trick as well. Betty was E-W top taking eleven tricks while Connie and Deborah took ten. Ten tricks are the limit unless South cashes the spade queen when in with the diamond king. Phoebot's opponents justified stopping in 1NT by taking only seven tricks. Declarers in the suited partials both took the eleven tricks that the kind layout allowed.

?

3NT E -2 (2)

3NT E -1 (2)

1NT E =

2S W +3

1H W +4

3NT E +1 (2)

3NT E +2

?

8:

?

...............KQ965

...............J10984

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

...............Q86

4........................J1072

A2......................753

AKQ7642...........9

952.....................J10743

...............A83

...............KQ6

...............J10853

...............AK

?

Unless E-W play that a Gambling 3NT may have an outside stopper (or two) West opens 1D. North likely bids 2D to show the majors. One South bid 3D, after which West earned North's eternal gratitude by doubling and allowing North to pass back around to South. Readers of Mr Simon's old book Why You Lose at Bridge may recall the Unlucky Expert's not only cue-bidding opposite Mrs Guggenheim but even redoubling after Mr Smug declined to let UE play in an undoubled cue-bid. Our South took no chances and returned to 4H. N-S were in game mode all around. Contracts were 3NT S twice, 4H S, 4S N thrice, 5S N (probably after a sacrifice, much to South's annoyance) and two doubled sacrifices, 4Dx W and 5Dx W.

?

Both diamond contracts finished -4 against the ghastly trump split, allowing Louff and Jerik to tie for N-S top. E-W top was a tie between Nary and Cliborah, both of whom had no trouble cashing four tricks against 3NT S. The major games had eleven tricks on offer when the spades split badly and eleven tricks were taken every time. In spades, North could be forced twice in diamonds and East could overruff the second round, but that just took out the natural trump trick the hand had anyway. Declarer in 4H had a chance to take twelve tricks when West did not force North in diamonds a second time. This gave declarer the opportunity to play two rounds of trumps and then play two spades, an extra chance catering to the actual layout. West would have discarded on the second spade and declarer could have ruffed a spade in hand, ruffed a diamond in dummy after clearing the clubs, then drawn trumps and come to twelve tricks. This line would have been impossible had West forced North a second time in diamonds; declarer would not have had enough trumps and the club blockage would have kept declarer from returning to hand in that suit.

?

The last table had the adjustment. West opened 3NT, it evidently being the partnership's agreement that a Gambling 3NT did not deny an outside ace or king. West did not Alert (the Gambling 3NT is Alertable) and when asked explained "to play", not a good explanation. While one could reasonably say that South probably ought to double anyway, if told that the basis of the bid was a long running minor then South had an obvious double, presumably leading to 4Dx -4. South passed, presumably expecting West to hold almost all the outstanding values; 3NT finished -5. As South would surely have taken different action on being properly informed, that was half the adjustment. Judging that "to play" was intended as a proper explanation I decided to give both sides Ave+, a bit on the generous side to E-W but I will bear this in mind if anything similar happens another time.

?

[After I wrote up this board, I was directing in the ACBL games when a player listed as World Class had an auction 1C-P-1S-2H; 3C-P-3H-P; 3NT and, asked by his opponents to describe 3H, replied "cuebid" - a worse answer than "to play" in meaning nothing while still potentially misleading opponents - and defended the explanation when I said it was not helpful. I worked out that "game force; says nothing about hearts" would have been most accurate. When in doubt, go with Full Disclosure.]

?

4Dx W -4; 5Dx W -4

Ave+/Ave+

4H S +1; 4S N +1 (3); 5S N =

3NT S = (2)

?

9:

?

...............AQJ973

...............982

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

...............Q63

42...........................K106

KQ1054..................A76

84...........................KQ653

10542......................87

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

...............J3

...............AJ972

...............AKJ9

?

2S from North might get East to bid 3D; as South was not inclined to go for game it should be fine to leave this in. Without hearts one might as well avoid the double. One East declared 3D. The remaining contracts were all in spades, with an even 3-3-3 distribution between the two-level, three-level and four-level. Going for game seems a bit optimistic with only a doubleton trump and 14 HCP.

?

3D could have been held to five tricks but anywhere between five and seven would have come to the same matchpoint score. Keianne defended 3D -3 for what could have been the N-S top. In spades, this was a hand with a fine defensive problem. It was possible for E-W to hold spades to nine tricks by drawing South's trumps. But there is a snag. E-W need to be sure of getting the lead in order to cash their heart tricks. In order to do this, East must not win the first round of trumps, whoever leads it. The only defender who found the winning line as East was Arthur. Steve, Bob and Jim all made 4S to tie for N-S top; -140 gave Carthurl the E-W top.

?

4S N = (3)

3D E -3

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

3S N =

?

10:

?

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

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

...............1097643

...............A742

KJ.............................Q103

KQ764.......................J985

J8..............................K52

Q863.........................K105

...............A876542

...............A10

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

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

?

1S from South looked as if it had a chance to go around but that never happened. Only one South did not go to 2S or higher later in the auction; the lowest contract was 2S W, an accident. A 2H overcall from West, raised to 3H, had a chance to push South out of the auction and did so once. 3S S was played half the time. Three auctions got pushed higher, to 4H W, 4Hx W and 4S S.

?

All the spade contracts but one resulted in nine tricks for N-S. The exception was Hank, who played 3S +1. After a heart lead, he played two rounds of trumps. West switched to the diamond jack, on which East played the king. Unfortunately, this was not N-S top, as the hand played horribly for E-W in hearts. Declarer could have been held to six tricks had N-S found the club ruff as well as the spade ruff, but -3 was quite good enough for Troward against 4Hx and Keianne against 4H.

?

4Hx W -3

2S W -4

4H W -3

3H W -2

3S S +1

3S S = (4)

4S S -1

?

11:

?

...............K108754

...............AKQ

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

...............A109

Q3........................J62

J9.........................105432

A1086542.............----

QJ.........................85432

...............A9

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

...............KQJ73

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

?

After 1D from South, west might have made a natural jump cue-bid of 3D if the partnership has that agreement. That could run into trouble if North were able to double, but North has a 3S bid, leading to 3NT N, 3NT S twice and 4S N twice. One-offs were 3S N, 4C N, 5Hx E, 5S N and 6NT S.

?

All the contracts in spades and no-trumps took the expected eleven tricks, except against Jurcia, whose opponent in 6NT twisted and turned hard enough to finish -4. 4C finished -2. Phoebot had a chance at scoring +2000 but settled for -6 and +1400 when South led a heart at trick six instead of a spade.

?

5Hx E -6

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

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

3S N +2

4C N -2

6NT S -4

?

12:

?

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

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

...............A9

...............AK108742

1042.........................KQ3

AQ9732....................J1064

J8.............................10632

93.............................J5

...............AJ865

...............8

...............KQ754

...............Q6

?

2H from West and then I have a fair amount of admiration for any North who bids 3NT at matchpoints. It's certainly the easiest contract to make and likely to outscore clubs.?Will 3NT keep East from bidding 4H? It might. 3C probably won't. There seems to be a chance of slam if North bids 3NT and South carries on. All auctions reached game: 3NT N thrice, 4H W twice, 4Hx W and 5C N four times.

?

Hearts can be held to six tricks; Jerbot picked up an extra trick defending 4Hx (East ducked a spade lead at trick eight) to get the penalty into four figures, although +800 would also have been N-S top. Almost all the contracts in clubs and no-trumps took twelve tricks, an easy result after a heart lead. After a minor lead declarer can lead up to the heart king. A spade lead is tricker, but declarer can still take twelve tricks by force. South wins the spade lead and then North runs the clubs. In order to keep the spade and diamond guards East has to discard all the hearts, after which South discards down to Jx in spades and KQx in diamonds. Then North leads a spade to establish the jack and East has nothing to return but diamonds.

?

4Hx W -5

3NT N +3 (3)

5C N +1 (3)

5C N =

4H W -4 (2)

?

13:

?

...............A942

...............AK97

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

...............AK73

KQJ7.......................103

Q5............................86432

Q97..........................K843

QJ86........................109

...............865

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

...............AJ1062

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

?

This would have been an interesting hand for a pair playing the Blue Club, as North would open 2D to show three four-card suits and 17-24 HCP. South could either ask for the singleton and play 3NT when it turns out to be in diamonds (2D-2H; 3C-3NT) or anticipate short diamonds and respond 2S to play, which North would leave in holding four spades in the minimum range. At our tables it proved almost impossible for N-S to avoid game. 1C-1D; 1H-1NT; 2NT seems possible or perhaps even 1C-1D; 2NT (yuck) if the pair bypasses diamonds to bid a major. One pair stopped in 2NT N; 3NT was played eight times, four from each side, and one pair found themselves in 4H N.

?

3NT should be held to eight tricks with both black suits splitting poorly, even though the hearts produce four tricks with the successful finesse. But there was a saving grace in the spades, particularly when South declared. Phoebe was one of four declarers to make 3NT (she and two others from the South seat). West followed up the lead of the spade king with the queen. When East's ten crashed, Phoebe could establish a second spade winner by force for her ninth trick. Other declarers in 3NT = were Eric, Sarah and Ken, and Louise took nine tricks in 2NT N, although she'd have much preferred taking eight had West's spades been KQJ10 and nobody had made 3NT. Jorry were E-W top defending 3NT S -2, although overall South averaged 8.5 tricks in no-trumps to North's 8.4. 4H finished -1; the contract can be set two tricks by force but only with a heart lead. The ninth trick for declarer against any other lead is a club ruff in the South hand.

?

3NT N =; 3NT S = (3)

2NT N +1

3NT N -1 (2); 3NT S -1; 4H N -1

3NT S -2

?

14:

?

...............76432

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

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

...............A74

J1098........................AK5

K983..........................AJ65

107.............................J4

Q62............................10953

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

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

...............KQ98532

...............KJ8

?

The auction reasonably starts 1C-1D-X-1NT. If the double promises 4-4 majors East can go to 2H; if North has bid 1NT South can continue in diamonds. 3D S, played five times,?could have been a reasonable majority contract. Other contracts were 2D S, 3H E, 4D S, 4Dx S and 4S W.

?

Diamond contracts can be held to nine tricks by an opening lead in a major. E-W have to avoid breaking clubs, East's winning the first heart with the ace, or leading a third round of spades while dummy still has two aces. In the end, four pairs of defenders held diamonds to nine tricks while three declarers took ten and Phyllis took eleven. Eric was N-S top playing 4Dx =. Jerik defended 4S -3, one trick better than par; the extra undertrick was worth 5.5 matchpoints. Larry bettered par playing 3H =, although that only gained one matchpoint; he received a spade opening lead instead of a diamond. The frozen club suit features importantly in contracts played by either side; with best defence declarer can be forced to break the suit.

?

4Dx S =

2D S +3; 4S W -3

3D S +1 (2)

3D S = (3)

4D S -1

3H E =

?

15:

?

...............A43

...............K92

...............AJ987

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

KJ865...................72

Q8.........................10754

54..........................63

10974....................A8632

...............Q109

...............AJ63

...............KQ102

...............KJ

?

This was the one hand on which we got everyone into the same contract. All ten tables played 3NT S. West might just have crept into the auction. After a DONT 2C from West East might sacrifice in 4C but otherwise all roads seem to leave to 3NT S.

?

A club lead holds declarer to ten tricks by force, also the likely result after a spade lead for different reasons. After the club lead, declarer cannot afford to lose the lead and cashing out drops the doubleton queen of hearts. Against a spade lead declarer might still come to ten tricks by leading a heart to the king and then finessing the jack, though playing the ace and then the king to increase the chance of three tricks will give South an eleventh. Jerry took twelve tricks for N-S top; he received a spade lead and ran the diamonds; East discarded down to two clubs and ducked the first round. That allowed twelve tricks by force. Tracy, Phyllis and?Ken took eleven tricks; everyone else took ten.

?

3NT S +3

3NT S +2 (3)

3NT S +1 (6)

?

16:

?

...............J53

...............AK6

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

...............10953

Q7.......................K10642

Q875...................932

AQ1063..............85

AJ.......................KQ4

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

...............J104

...............J97

...............8762

?

Does West open 1D or 1NT? E-W had an uncontested auction. Six auctions went 1D-1S; 1NT. When West opened 1NT, East transferred into spades. One East left 2S in; the other three invited with 2NT, passed by West.

?

2S =, the par result, was pretty straightforward and easily posted. N-S have three heart tricks and a diamond winner but the trumps behave perfectly and with the N-S mirror distribution there is no ruff. In 1NT it seems to be mostly the same but N-S will likely need to pursue their red winners in time; declarer can theoretically take eleven tricks if N-S simply push clubs at every opportunity. Cindy and Judy took nine tricks in 1NT to tie for E-W top, a reasonable result after a club lead, spade queen to ace, club and then diamond to ten and king; if North does not cash the heart winners, East can win all the rest of the tricks. Geof (B) also took nine tricks in 2NT after a diamond lead. Nobody in 1NT took eight tricks; two declarers each took nine, seven and six, the last against Troward and Jerik, who tied for N-S top. But the other two declarers in 2NT took eight tricks for a pretty even distribution of results.

?

1NT W -1 (2)

1NT W = (2)

2S W =

2NT W = (2)

1NT W +2 (2); 2NT W +1

?

17:

?

...............A74

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

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

...............AQ875

63............................KQJ109

J85..........................A3

AQ108.....................KJ72

KJ103......................96

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

...............KQ1072

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

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

?

E-W seem likely to have an uncontested auction. 1S-1NT and then North may get into trouble by coming in with 2C, although these days not that many pairs may treat P-1S-P-1NT; 2C-P-P-X as penalty. If North passes 1NT, East rebids 2D and then West has a choice between 2S, 2NT and 3D. 2NT is likely to be raised to 3NT; 3D probably not. Contracts were 2D E, 2S E, 2NT W twice, 3C N, 3D E thrice and 3NT E twice. One 3NT auction was 1S-2C; 2D-3D; 3NT.

?

Diamond contracts are held to nine tricks by a heart or club lead and the correct follow-up, although all the declarers in diamonds took ten tricks. Spade contracts take nine tricks more consistently, N-S having a little more time to establish their heart trick. North in clubs can be held to six tricks by a spade or diamond lead. Dianne had a big escape in 3C N, finishing -2 for the N-S top and saving five matchpoints against the par -3. The opening lead in no-trumps caused a huge swing of three or four tricks in the result. South's natural heart lead when East declares gives declarer nine or ten tricks; North's natural club lead gives West ten. But (a club lead from South followed by) a heart lead from North lets N-S establish and cash four hearts, two clubs and the ace of spades. Yet Jonathan and Mary in 2NT W both took ten tricks after a club lead, while in 3NT E Gareth took nine tricks and Betty ten for E-W top, the auction making the heart lead even more probable.

?

3C N -2

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

2S E +1

2NT W +2 (2)

3NT E =

3NT E +1

?

18:

?

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

...............1087

...............A7632

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

KQ1096..................A75

Q943.......................652

J..............................9854

K65.........................J87

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

...............AKJ

...............KQ10

...............AQ1092

?

As Marudy were not playing (to open 2D) and nobody upgraded the South hand to a 2NT opening bid, we started with P-1C-1S and nobody finished in no-trumps. If East passed South had a clear reopen, usually with a double. Some Easts competed to 2S, likely later in the auction, and were passed there, but South might well have doubled a direct raise to 2S. Contracts were 2C S, 2S W thrice, 3C S thrice, 3D N twice and 3Sx W.

?

Clubs can be held to eight tricks if E-W get a diamond ruff, although declarer may pick up a trick if West's exits in spades are used up early. Carthurl were next to E-W top defending 3C -2. Jorry defended 3C -1; Phoebe and Geoff (L) took nine tricks in clubs. Geoff's opponents began with a diamond, a club and then a heart (a spade instead would have been on track for -2). Par in diamonds was nine tricks - a spade force of South establishes a trump trick for East. Conndy set 3D but Jerry made it to tie Phoebe and Geoff for N-S top. Par in spades was seven tricks, as West has only one entry to the East hand and cannot lead hearts to hand twice. None of the declarers in spades took seven tricks. Pharah avoided giving declarer any help at all and posted 2S -2. Cliff and Marie made 2S while Geof (B) pulled off the last-board top of making 3Sx. He was headed for going down for most of the hand until South discarded one club too many on trick ten.

?

2C S +1; 3C S =; 3D N =

2S W -2

3C S -1; 3D N -1

2S W = (2)

3C S -2

3Sx W =

We'll do our best.

?

?

Thanks for letting me know. If you have to drop out it won't be the end of the world.

?

Your table host will be Malcolm Lewis (hknavish).

?

Rick

?

Yes; it will be six team matches, each match scored in IMPs and converted to Victory Points to determine the final total outcome.

?

1:

?

...............4

...............AKQ107

...............KQ103

...............KQJ

AJ86........................K1052

32.............................65

96.............................AJ8542

A8543.......................6

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

...............J984

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

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

?

At least one North opened 2C, a marginal decision. One South was left in a 1H opening bid when West decided not to balance. The usual destination of the auction was 4H, played twelve times.

?

The final auction could have come right out of a story by Mr Mollo. North accidentally opened 1S instead of 1H. South made a weak raise to 3S and North then tried to get out of spades, which was going to be tricky with South always putting the contract back into spades. First North tried 3NT, returned to 4S. Then North tried 5H, returned to 5S. E-W doubled 5S. Finally North ran from 5Sx to 5NT, passed around.

?

This hand in hearts could come straight out of an intermediate-level lesson on defence. East leads the singleton club to West's ace. The best card declarer can play is the queen as it turns out; West would then have to decide whether East led a singleton or from KJ6. East would not have led the six-spot from either KQ6 or QJ6. If West knows or guesses the six to be a singleton, the return is obviously the club eight. East ruffs and has been given a clear signal to return a spade. West wins the spade ace and gives East a second club ruff; declarer finishes with only eight tricks. But only four pairs held declarer to eight tricks and three more to nine; five declarers made 4H. But this was not N-S top, as 5NT happened to make. E-W's minor aces were taken early. North discarded her singleton spade on the fourth club in the South hand and then ran the hearts with the diamond Q103 as her last three cards. By that point it was clear that something odd had happened, but East was still - naturally enough - stuck on the 1S opening bid and kept Kx in spades, blanking the diamond jack and giving declarer eleven tricks and the N-S top.

?

E-W could have escaped in 4Sx for -2, better than a making game, but that result would have been lucky to emerge with the near-average -300 would have scored.

?

5NT N =

4H N = (5)

1H N +2

4H N -1 (2)

4H N -2 (4)

?

2:

...............AK7654

...............4

...............K7

...............KJ64

2.................................QJ83

K83............................1062

J8432.........................A965

Q972...........................85

...............109

...............AQJ975

...............Q10

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

?

All the N-S pairs got to game, but to three different games - 3NT, 4H and 3S. South opens 1H and North responds 1S. The next bids are 2H and 3C, which puts South a bit on the spot. 3H might be tried, as the heart nine helps the suit a fair amount, increasing the chance that there will be only one loser opposite a low singleton to over 50%. 3NT is out with no diamond stopper, as is 3S with only a doubleton. 3D could theoretically work if it shows either a partial stopper or nothing else to bid. If South does bid 3H, does North try 3NT, raise to 4H or rebid 3S on the six-card suit? If North does bid 3S South can raise to 4S on 109 doubleton. Contracts were 3NT N thrice, 3NT S thrice, 4H S and 4S N six times.

?

One of the puzzling things was why 3NT did better from the South side than from the North, as West had a more natural diamond lead, though there was no reason for either hand not to keep going in diamonds after West gains the lead with the heart king. There is an outside chance that West might lead the diamond jack on the third round and East might not unblock the nine, but the three Souths in 3NT (Margarita, Venky and Bill) all took eleven tricks to share the top board. Against Bill West switched to a club when in with the heart king, even though two rounds of diamonds had already been played. North declaring took eight, seven and six tricks, all depending on how desperate declarer got after two rounds of diamonds. Glotin's +300 was E-W top, followed by Pally's +200. 4H makes easily; West has to lead the singleton spade to hold declarer to ten tricks. 4S will require a correct guess in either clubs or hearts when the 4-1 trumps give declarer a second loser in the suit. Rita did take eleven tricks in 4H; 4S made thrice and was -1 against Cliborah and Paun.

?

3NT S +2 (3)

4H S +1

4S N = (3)

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

3NT N -2

3NT N -3

?

3:

?

...............K94

...............AKQ95

...............865

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

103........................762

J1064....................87

4............................A1032

KQJ532.................A1084

...............AQJ85

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

...............KQJ97

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

?

Here we had the one hand on which everyone played the same contract (of 4S S). North can make a 2/1 response in hearts and then support spades. South might initiate control showing (North could easily hold Kxx AKxxx Axx xx or such) but the side can stop in 4S, as South will not go beyond 4S.

?

Today must have been National Lead Your Singleton Day, as a diamond lead here nets West two ruffs and results in 4S -1. Inexplicably only two pairs, Linj and Matty, found the relatively easy set. Two pairs scored remarkably we for holding declarer to ten tricks, while an astonishing nine Souths posted +450 in 4S +1. Vulnerability prevented 5C from being a worthwhile sacrifice, although, as was the case with Board 1, the game wasn't making anyway.

?

4S S +1 (9)

4S S = (2)

4S S -1 (2)

?

4:

?

...............AQJ954

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

...............6

...............J865

K732..........................106

A842..........................KQ1076

10972.........................AJ

Q................................K1042

...............8

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

...............KQ8543

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

?

North opened 2S. Most Easts overcalled 3H; when East did bid 3H only one West passed; the others all raising to 4H. Contracts were 2S N four times, 3H E and 4H E eight times.

?

We had yet another singleton lead, although at least this time it was not necessary and there weren't any ruffs in the case. But if South did lead a spade against hearts, North?should have returned a spade at once. Otherwise declarer would have had a shot at an endplay, although South could have circumvented that later by giving East an extra club winner, which would not have been enough to discard all the spade losers from the West hand. Larry (Sh), Linda and Rich all made 4H to share E-W top; Glynneth were N-S top when East finessed the diamond jack at trick two, resulting in 4H -2. Half the declarers in 4H finished the regulation -1. 2S could have been held to six tricks, with the four spade contracts evenly divided between six and seven.

?

4H E -2

4H E -1 (4)

2S N -1 (2)

3H E =

2S N -2 (2)

4H E = (3)

?

5:

?

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

...............K10632

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

...............K8

A10985..................KQJ

Q............................A9

AKJ104..................952

Q3..........................A9764

...............62

...............J8754

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

...............J1052

?

East opens the bidding and West is very close to a slam inquiry once the 5-3 spade fit is uncovered. Move either of the minor queens into diamonds and slam would be fine. As it was a minority of Wests moved for slam, but everyone who did so bid it. Contracts were 3S W, 4S W eight times, 6S E and 6S W thrice. Perhaps the East to declare opened 1NT.

?

Against 6S W North has to avoid giving away a trick. Fortunately if the E-W hands are shown to be balanced North might find the trump lead. Larry (Sh) made 6S W after a spade lead; he drew trumps and finessed in diamonds, after which North switched to a low heart, after which Larry had the presence to run it to his singleton queen, a play which could not cost and in this case gained. More impressively Phyllis (H) made 6S E, as South does not have a bad lead and it's easy for North to find a good continuation when in with the diamond king. Except for an inexplicable 4S -1 against Leighry that gave them a three-way share of N-S top with Bota and Rurry, both of whom set 6S, all the other E-W pairs took eleven tricks.

?

4S W -1; 6S W -1 (3)

3S W +2

4S W +1 (6)

6S E =; 6S W =

?

6:

?

...............J109843

...............AQ1097

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

...............J6

Q6.............................2

82..............................KJ6

K7543........................Q10862

KQ103.......................9842

...............AK75

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

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

...............A75

?

1NT from South and then N-S had a nice slam if they could find it, even with the diamond duplication. Give South AKxx KJx xxx Axx and 7S would be an excellent contract. Only Conndy found the slam after the sequence 1NT-2H; 2S-4H; 6S; if South took 4H as a self-splinter then slam would have been a breeze opposite a fitting hand (Qxxxxx ---- KQxxx Jx, anyone?). Almost everyone else stopped in 4S, with one 3S S contract and the rest all 4S, twice by North (a 3S response showing both majors? although that ought to show some slam interest, so that South must have really disliked the heart holding?) and nine times by South.

?

Except for Pheileen's posting 3S +1 (irrelevant, as they were scoring 11/12 either way) everyone took eleven tricks when the double finesse in hearts failed both times. Alas! It seems to be a sort of justice that Conndy won despite their bad luck on this board.

?

4S N +1 (2); 4S S +1 (9)

3S S +1

6S S -1

?

7:

?

...............1076

...............J76432

...............A93

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

96543......................KJ8

A9............................K5

J42...........................K1086

J95...........................A863

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

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

...............Q75

...............K10742

?

We finally got a hand without a game contract. N-S seem likely to bid 1C-1H; 1NT-2H. Reverse the black suits and East would likely have doubled 1H; the hand as is might double 2H with both opponents limited and a fit likely. West could also balance with 2S once 2H is left in; as the hand has already declined too opportunities to enter the auction East should not expect too much. Three tables with intrepid players got the auction to the three-level, though usually it stopped on the two-level. Contracts were 1NT S, 2H N seven times, 2S W twice, 3H N twice and 3S W.

?

2H is at least moderately right-sided when played by North; a lead of either minor lets declarer take ten tricks. The spade lead is interesting; declarer runs out of entries to dummy. Spade to queen, club to queen and ace, spade to ace, club king, club ruff, spade ruff, club ten ruffed and overruffed and now there is no re-entry to the South hand to discard the second diamond loser on the fifth club. Results declaring in hearts were mixed, with two declarers taking eight tricks, four taking nine, two taking ten and Ken taking eleven. Spade contracts can be held to seven tricks if N-S get their club ruff. Louff, the only pair defending 3S, picked up an extra and unnecessary third undertrick when declarer mismanaged a ruff-and-discard late in the hand. Sandi was E-W top in 2S =, a feasible result if a club is not led, as South is unlikely to find the club switch after winning the first spade and all that remains is for declarer to play North for Qxx or 10xx in trumps instead of Axx, easy enough when South has opened the bidding. 1NT S can be held to eight tricks but Erik took nine for a good score instead of a middle.

?

3S W -3

2H N +3

2H N +2; 3H N +1

1NT S +2

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

2H N = (2)

2S W -1

2S W =

?

8:

?

...............J4

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

...............AK1062

...............AK

10965.......................Q82

1054.........................K8

J9.............................7543

J1098.......................Q543

...............AK73

...............J976

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

...............762

?

N-S had a good slam here if they could find it. It appears that a clear majority of the field opened with 2NT rather than 1D, as contracts were 4H N seven times, 4H S thrice, 5D S (a rogue 2C opening bid that seems to have gotten what it deserved), 6H N and 6H S. The slams were reached in completely different ways: 1D-1H; 4NT-5C; 6H (brave with the spades wide open) and 2NT-3C; 3H-3S; 4C-4H; 5C-6H, produced by Rabbot. Note Bill's 3S bid followed by 4H to put the question of slam into the air. Northbot had almost all prime cards - aces, kings, the trump queen and even a strong five-card side suit into the bargain. Bill's 4H denied a diamond control but Northbot's 5C not only showed the second-round club control but implied diamond control and showed a hand worth going beyond game.

?

Everyone took twelve tricks; the heart finesse lost but the suit split 3-2, allowing for either opponent to hold Jxxx in diamonds. The doubleton jack's dropping gave 5D the same twelve tricks but Randi were already going to be E-W top just for N-S's choice of contract.

?

6H N =; 6H S =

4H N +2 (7); 4H S +2 (3)

5D S +1

?

9:

?

...............108

...............872

...............8642

...............J1072

954......................AKJ2

AJ1096................K4

AK3.....................Q1097

Q3........................AK9

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

...............Q53

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

...............8654

?

After East's 2NT opening bid West is sure of slam but should not expect grand slam to be in the picture, although it is possible opposite something like AKxx KQxx xx AKx or even the ideal 17-count of Axx KQxx xx AKJx. But finding an ideal hand is unlikely when it will entail partner's holding the right doubleton. At IMP scoring West might just raise directly to 6NT, which should be safe even from a nasty heart split, but at matchpoints the could be hands with enough of a good play for thirteen tricks in hearts to make 6H preferable. The auction should reach 6NT when East has no heart support; 6NT E was played eight times. One West kept the hand in hearts for a contract of 6H E while two pairs each went both higher and lower than par to 3NT and 7NT, the latter always a possibility when a side holds all the aces and kings.

?

Steve and Howard both made 7NT, giving their opponents reasonable grounds for being a little salty. The normal way to finesse the hearts was through South, although West's holding the nine-spot greatly reduced the advantage of doing so, for with AJ10xx one could not score five tricks after catching North with Qx. Eleven declarers took all the tricks. Only against Marbot (-1440) and Glynneth (+100) did declarer fail. Against Glynneth in 6NT the diamonds and club queen were played first and then declarer went up with the ace on the second round of hearts, being left after that with no way to recover.

?

6NT E -1

3NT E +4 (2)

6NT E =

6H E +1

6NT E +1 (6)

7NT E = (2)

?

10:

?

...............A1063

...............QJ6

...............Q1086

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

KQ85.......................9742

K10732....................5

AJ3..........................942

A..............................87432

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

...............A984

...............K75

...............QJ1096

?

If South opens, we could have something like 1C-X-XX-P; P-1H-P-1S; P-P-X-P and then South may or may not take the double out with a disappointingly low amount of defence. Otherwise West opens 1H which South may leave in (I suppose North might double playing Equal Level Conversion but I cannot recommend it). South may balance with 2C, likely to be doubled by West; E-W may play in either major while N-S may play in clubs or no-trumps. Contracts were 1H W twice, 2S W, 2NT N, 2NT S twice, 2NT W(the outlier?), 3C S, 3Cx S, 3S W, 3NT N and 3NT S twice.

?

?With their favourable distribution E-W can scramble together seven tricks in spades (and both declarers in spades did, although I would not have expected that, especially given North's being positioned to overruff the third club. No-trumps can take nine tricks for N-S. If East begins with a heart to West's king declarer has three heart winners to go with four clubs and comes to a ninth trick before E-W can come to a fifth; if E-W attack spades declarer has time to start diamonds. Only Judy made game in no-trumps, however; Heve posted 3NT -1 and Linj 3NT -2, Linj after declarer did not finesse in diamonds in the middle of the hand. Clubs similarly offered nine tricks as par, Dianne taking ten in 3C but Cliborah managing to defend 3Cx -1. A club lead holds West to four tricks in hearts, mainly because it's important to set up South's being able to ram good clubs through West for overruffs. Conndy produced 1H -3, matched by Louff's defending 2NT W -3, to score 10.5/12.

?

3NT S +1

1H W -3; 2NT W -3

2NT S +3

3S W -2

2NT S +1

3C S +1

2NT S =

1H W -1; 2S W -1

3NT S -1

3Cx S -1; 3NT N -2

?

11:

?

...............A875

...............AK42

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

...............Q109

32..............................J9

10986........................QJ5

AJ3............................KQ102

K632..........................Q854

...............KQ1064

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

...............9854

...............A7

?

Every South played in spades. I thought there might be more than one pair in 4S. Bill got there after opening 2S and then not accepting Northbot's signoff (he was in a mood for action after being on the receiving end of the grand slam the round before): 2S-2NT; 3C-3S; 3NT-4S. Three pairs played in 3S and nine stopped in 2S. Had I been South I'd have inclined to an invitation with 3D after a raise to 2S from North. With the low doubleton North would have accepted the invitation.

?

With 2-2 trumps everyone took ten tricks. Nobody led a club from the king as West - or, if any West did, declarer did not rise with the queen.

?

4S S =

2S S +2 (9); 3S S +1 (3)

?

12:

?

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

...............1064

...............K94

...............K432

AQ542..................J10963

AQ2......................93

AQ........................J1063

J108.....................Q6

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

...............KJ875

...............8752

...............A875

?

1S from West and then East might have bid 4S, bid 2S or possibly even passed. The last seems the most sensible way to reach the contract of 2S W, which was played once after the auction 1S-P-P-2H; X-P-2S. Everyone else played in 4S W; if East responded 4S West did well to recognize the lack of slammishness about the hand; it would take Kxxxx Kxxxx xx x or something similar to make 6S.

?

4S fails against normal defence. Had declarer been allowed to choose which of the three finesses would succeed, hearts would not have been selected, as declarer has a chance to discard a heart from the East hand on the third club. Larry (Sh), NJ, Don and Geof were allowed to make 4S, almost surely on an underlead from North of the diamond king.

?

4S W -1 (8)

2S W +1

4S W = (4)

?

13:

?

...............J109

...............AJ1083

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

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

632..........................Q84

7652........................Q9

A7............................Q1064

K1065......................AQJ8

...............AK75

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

...............KJ93

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

?

East opens 1D and South may upgrade the 14-count based on the presumably well-positioned diamond honours. If South passes East presumably plays 1NT. If South overcalls 1NT it appears that South will likely play 2H. A 1C opening bid instead may have West take the contract back into clubs, which ought to be an eight-card fit after 1C-1H; 1NT. The last and least likely possibility is that South will overcall 1S, perhaps over a 1C opening bid, leading to 2S. Contracts more or less fell in line: 1NT E seven times, 2C E, 2H S thrice, 2S S and 3C E.

?

E-W were favoured to beat par in 1NT and perhaps in 2H. We could not expect anyone to find the lead of the doubleton heart king against 1NT. A club or high spade could lead to -2, although after a spade South had to be careful not to give East a sixth trick with the queen, which usually happened. Playing standard signals, North's dropping the jack on trick one would deny the queen; the danger would be that South might read it as being from J109x and try to drop the queen doubleton. 1NT -1 was the popular result and became part of an eight-way tie for E-W top with the two declarers in clubs. Only Conndy posted 1NT -2, which was good for N-S top at the vulnerability. In 2H declarer could take ten tricks by dropping the offside heart queen. This could become easier in a couple of ways. If East's heart nine is not from 9xx declarer might play the ace next trusting East not to toss the nine indiscriminately, but the more likely hint may be from the high cards. If West leads the diamond ace and switches to a club, East's play of the club ace and queen may clue South in to West's holding the king. With the play's implying seven HCP for West in the minors, East becomes a strong favourite to hold the heart queen. West's leading ace and another diamond would even allow for a possible eleventh trick. Henry was the only South to take ten tricks in hearts. Against Larbot South was on the path to ten tricks but discarded the fourth spade from hand late in the play rather than a diamond. 2S took the expected nine tricks for a good score.

?

1NT E -2

2H S +2

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

1NT E -1 (6); 2C E -1; 3C E -1

?

14:

?

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

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

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

...............AKJ943

J92.......................A765

K953.....................J

KJ10843...............AQ965

----........................862

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

...............A10762

...............2

...............Q1075

?

Someone please tell me that the heart jack did not convince any Easts to open the hand. I can live with a pair's deciding to open seven-loser hands with 2.5 Quick Tricks but anyone who opened "because the heart jack made the hand 11 HCP" is more than I can bear. As East declared more often than West I must presume several 1D opening bids but I am going to cling to the belief that they would all have been opened had the jack been the ten or even the deuce. If the auction starts 1D-1H it seems unlikely to stop below game whatever West does. 1D-P seems likely to lead to clubs if West is willing to sell out. Otherwise we start P-P-2D-3C and the hearts can come into the auction if East leaves South room. Contracts were 3D E, 3H S twice, 4D E twice, 4D W, 4H S, 4Hx S, 5C N, 5D E twice and 5Dx W twice.

?

Club contracts should lose one spade, one diamond and one heart; diamond contracts one heart and two spades. All the minor contracts took ten tricks except for Cliff's making 5Dx W, most likely after South's letting the heart jack run to the king. Hearts can be held to eight tricks if East wins a diamond or spade lead and finds the club switch to give West two ruffs. Trying a forcing attack will promote a trick for the heart nine but South can get out of serious trouble by forcing West in clubs at any point. Phyllis (B) took ten tricks in 3H for the N-S top but the declarers in 4H and 4Hx both finished -1. 4H -1 was interesting.?When I began watching one diamond and two spades had been played, West's jack being high.?South then began the hearts with the ace. When this dropped East's jack, the follow-up was a?heart towards dummy (jack from J9 would have made for an interesting falsecard had that been East's holding), taken by West's king. West then had a chance to cash the spade jack and then lock declarer in the North hand with a heart to the queen. Dummy would have had to lead a club, allowing West a ruff. West led the low heart instead, which gave South a chance to out West on lead with the third spade, forcing an entry to the South hand with a diamond ruff and allowing the last trump to be drawn.

?

3H S +1

3H S =

5Dx W -1

5D E -1 (2)

4H S -1; 5C N -1

4Hx S -1

3D E +1; 4D E = (2); 4D W =

5Dx W =

?

15:

?

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

...............QJ98

...............J102

...............9654

AQ92.....................1064

1072.......................AK43

AQ6........................743

J108.......................AQ7

...............KJ73

...............65

...............K985

...............K32

?

This seemed to be mainly a question of whether, after 1C-1H; 1S, East would bid no-trumps with the flat hand or 2D to allow West to show the stopper. 3NT was reached ten times, with a 6-4 margin favouring East. One West stopped in 2NT and one North, after (apparently) a second-round double from South, was left in 2C. The last auction ended in 1NT E after an unfortunate loss of connection from West at the start of the auction, which began P-1C-P-1H; X-XX before West returned and was reseated. I did point out that the replacing Robot had opened 1C and redoubled in hopes of avoiding any misunderstanding, but to no avail. The redouble simply showed three hearts, but East likely assumed it showed extra values, hence the 1NT rebid that ended the auction.

?

The E-W hands do not look terribly appealing despite the 26 HCP and fair share of intermediates. Two flat hands opposite each other will have to play many suits. Fortunately for West the spade honours and diamond king were onside to counter the 4-2 heart split and offside club king, allowing a par result of nine tricks. Maybe a little surprisingly nobody was held to only eight tricks. Eight declarers took nine tricks and four - Eileen, Larry (Sh), Steve and Paul - took ten. Larry's overtrick came when South led the spade trey to East's six-spot on the third round of the suit when leading high would have let the trey overpower the deuce on the fourth round. Jean had the happy escape on the hand, playing 2C -3 and being extremely grateful not to be doubled.

?

2NT W =

1NT E +2

2C N -3

3NT E = (4); 3NT W = (2)

3NT E +1 (2); 3NT W +1 (2)

?

16:

?

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

...............KQ10

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

...............Q98643

K843.........................AJ1052

82..............................9763

AJ106........................5

KJ7............................A52

...............Q96

...............AJ54

...............KQ832

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

?

After 1D-P-1S-P; 2S, North may come in with 3C, which ended the auction twice. When North passed, three Easts and Souths let that end the auction. When East valued the hand as worth an invitation or exploratory look, 3S E was played thrice and 4S E five times. Rich was among those in 4S after using a Spiral ask and deciding that four-card support was enough to provide play for game. Another possibility, similar to that of Board 11, would have been for an invitation with 3H, accepted by opener with a low doubleton.

?

4S can be made by force if declarer finds the queen of trumps, although it is unlikely, as declarer will probably expect to need two heart ruffs. An opening lead of the diamond king could help, as declarer can then lose a diamond trick to get rid of one heart and one club loser, thus requiring one less ruff in dummy. 4S was defeated one trick every time, by Bota, Louff, Jenky, Conndy and Glynneth, to share the N-S top. Indeed all the spade contracts yielded exactly nine tricks. Rita made an interesting falsecard as South, playing the diamond king on the first lead rather than the queen; had declarer wanted to avoid a loser in the suit that could have been a convincing factor. Ruth and Jim both had good escapes in 3C, finishing in the middle with seven and eight tricks when aggressive pursuit of diamond ruffs would have let E-W hold declarer to six tricks.

?

4S E -1 (5)

3C N -1

3C N -2

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

?

17:

?

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

...............109764

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

...............J643

Q8753.....................K

AJ............................KQ82

1032........................AK86

AK7.........................10952

...............AJ964

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

...............QJ54

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

?

I expect Harold would have opened 1NT had he been playing and sitting East; without him that only seems to have happened once, as the contract was almost always 3NT W, played eleven times, probably after 1D-1S; 2C-2H; 3H-3NT or perhaps a direct 3NT from West on the second round. One East declared 3NT and one West an inexplicable 1NT (misclick on the response?).

?

Declarer can take ten tricks in no-trumps, with eight top tricks, one easily established in spades and another in clubs when the queen drops doubleton. Nobody was defeated in 3NT, although there was a 5-5 division between nine and ten tricks in 3NT. Jerik were assured of the N-S top simply for defending 1NT. Marie and Hank split the E-W top in 3NT W +2, Marie coming to eleven tricks when South led a spade at trick four instead of any other suit.?

?

1NT W +3

3NT W = (5)

3NT E +1; 3NT W +1 (4)

3NT W +2 (2)

?

18:

?

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

...............QJ7652

...............AQ5

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

A10863..................QJ972

98...........................A

102.........................KJ96

J932.......................K85

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

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

...............8743

...............764

?

1S-P and then much depends on whether West raises to 2S, 3S or 4S by partnership agreement. If West raises to 2S only, North comes in with 3H, which will push West to 3S and then may not stop there. Contracts were 3S E four times, 4H N, 4H S, 4S E four times, 5H N, 5Hx N and 5S E.

?

Spade contracts always have the variable of whether declarer takes the anti-percentage play of trying to drop the king of trumps. Assuming East goes with the percentages and finesses, then a club lead holds East to ten tricks by establishing the third defensive trick before the entry is gone while other leads allow eleven. Heart contracts take a fairly normal eight tricks, with a chance of a ninth if East ever leads a diamond or just possibly gets endplayed, although West should be able to help prevent that. Spade contracts took nine tricks twice, ten tricks five times and eleven twice, Joel and Phyllis (H) taking eleven (Joel after a diamond lead). Rurry defended 5S -2 for the N-S top. In hearts three declarers took eight tricks, with Paun collecting E-W top defending 5Hx -3.

?

5S E -2

4H N -1

3S E =

3S E +1 (3)

4H S -2; 5H N -2

4S E = (2)

4S E +1 (2)

5Hx N -3