1:

?

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

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

...............KQ76542

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

10942.........................J75

Q1087........................A963

----.............................A1098

AK432.......................Q7?

...............AKQ83

...............J542

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

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

?

3D opened by North seems likely to end the auction unless West finds a reopening double that risks being taken as showing a bigger hand. Had West been dealer and passed reopening with a double would have been a low-risk move, the hand clearly being limited by not having opened the bidding. One North opened 3D and played the hand there. One North not only passed as dealer but passed South's 1S. The other two N-S pairs somehow found themselves in 3NT S, a huge overbid.

?

3NT could have been set five tricks but Jamob and Ritold were both content with -4 to tie for E-W top. Breta bettered par by a trick in 1S S -1. Kevin made 3D N; he could have been defeated but E-W began with three rounds of clubs instead of cashing their heart trick off the top or after either of the first two clubs. The third club gave East a choice between ruffing high and surrendering a trump trick or allowing South to ruff and letting declarer cash the high spades at once.

?

3D N =

1S S -1

3NT S -4 (2)

?

2:

?

...............AKQ1053

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

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

...............QJ9

?642.............................987

J952............................A73

AQ83...........................K10642

108..............................62

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

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

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

...............AK7543

?

One South opened 3C, probably making it a bit too difficult to find the winning spot of 4S, even at the vulnerability. North raised to 4C, ending the auction. The other Souths opened 1C, all auctions leading to 4S N.

?

All contracts provided a straightforward ten tricks, with three top losers in the red suits. N-S could run twelve tricks after any deviation. As i turned out only Ritold held declarer (in 4S) to eleven tricks. The other three declarers all took twelve. Karlene played 4S +2 (as did Kevin); East found the diamond lead but West made the reasonable trump switch in case North had begun with king to three or more. Jamob were E-W top defending 4C +2.

?

4S N +2 (2)

4S N +1

4C S +2

?

3:

?

...............10432

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

...............Q2

...............AQ765

AKJ7........................Q86

Q874........................K53

K986........................J103

9...............................K1032

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

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

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

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

?

P-1D-P-1NT seemed like ending the auction but that only happened twice. One East somehow got all the way up into 3NT. At the fourth table North was lured by the vulnerability into a 2C overcall in the balancing position. Neither vulnerable would have been more appealing, as then the chance of a good score from defending would have gone down. East, with a maximum 1NT response and good clubs, doubled for penalty; West left the double in.

?

2Cx can make by force; declarer threatens to discard a red loser on the other red suit and ruff the third and fourth spades. E-W can force their two red tricks only by giving up a trump trick; diamond to king, heart to king and ace, diamond to queen is followed by a club and either East must let South in with the jack or East has to win the king prematurely at the cost of a trump trick. Ritold posted 2Cx -1 when declarer decided to play Harold for K109x (x) and finessed the eight on the first club. Par in no-trumps was seven tricks. Haorge held 1NT to seven tricks for a good score; Jevin were N-S top defending 3NT -1. Gareth was E-W top in 1NT +2. The key play came at trick six when North ducked a diamond led from dummy; playing the queen would have led to -1 as N-S would have still had time to work on the clubs.

?

3NT E -1

1NT E =

2Cx N -1

1NT E +2

?

Leaders: Jevin 8.5; Ritold-Jamob 6.5; Karleta-Garbot 4.5

?

4:

?

...............KJ106

...............A652

...............K1075

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

Q4............................983

KQ107......................J984

J9642.......................A3

Q9............................10654?

...............A752

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

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

...............AJ8732

?

N-S have the values for game. Two pairs reached the expected 4S, both declared by South. The other two pairs played 3NT N, possibly rebidding 2NT after 1D-2C. Jevin were one of the pairs in 3NT. Even playing four-card majors there was still a chance of reaching 4S after 1H-2C; the follow-up could have been 2D-2S Fourth Suit Forcing, raised to 3S by North to show four in the suit. It is possible, though, that North might anticipate a spade lead and bid no-trumps to give the holding a good position.

?

A heart lead holds declarer to nine tricks in no-trumps. Ritold did so for the E-W top, but Kevin, having opened 1H, avoided heart leads. After a club lead from East and a duck when Kevin continued with a diamond he had eleven tricks. Declarer could force twelve tricks in hearts with a successful guess in trumps. Haolrge held declarer to eleven tricks but Bob took his twelve for N-S top; there is time to ruff a club in the North hand to establish the suit and establish a diamond trick as well.

?

4S S +2

3NT N +2

4S S +1

3NT N =

?

5:

?

...............AJ103

...............K942

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

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

K862......................Q75

73...........................108

KQ942...................J10

Q8..........................K106543?

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

...............AQJ65

...............765

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

?

North opens 1NT and can easily jump to 3H when South transfers with 2D, That led to 4H N thrice. The other contract was 2NT N, which does not make a lot of sense, although North might pass if South raises 1NT to 2NT.

?

4H makes if declarer begins with the simple expedient of ducking the first trick if East gets off to the best opening lead of a diamond. With careful defence the spades provide only one discard. But with the first diamond ducked West never gains the lead to cash the second diamond winner and South's third diamond is discarded on a spade. Even without a diamond lead declarer did not always find a winning line of play. After a club lead Leighry still defeated 4H when, on the third round of spades, North took a ruffing finesse and lost to West's king. Garbot also defeated 4H, which was made only by Jamie. In 2NT Karlene needed only to play safely for eight tricks to score 2/3, although ten tricks were possible.

?

4H N =

2N N =

4H N -1 (2)

?

6:

?

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

...............AJ6

...............864

...............K732

K9...........................QJ7652

K872.......................43

Q2...........................J953

A8654.....................10

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

...............Q1095

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

...............QJ9

?

A 2S opening bid from East may have ended the auction; this happened once. Twice South opened 1D, leading to 3NT N, although 2NT N seems quite possible. At the last table, North opened 1C and passed South's response of 1H.

?

Technically declarer can force ten tricks in no-trumps by finessing the diamonds twice through East, not a realistic line to expect declarer to find. Jamie took nine tricks with three tricks each in hearts and clubs to go with the other three top winners. Leighry defeated 3NT after a spade lead put declarer under pressure and the timing was mishandled. 2S -1 was possible but Harold made it for E-W top: after two diamonds and two hearts North led the heart ace instead of getting rid of West's trumps. Declarer could force nine tricks in hearts even against a club lead and ruff, followed by a spade. A diamond to the ace is followed by a repeated trump finesse. Having ruffed, East discards on the second heart. Then South's club winner is cleared, followed by a third heart to the ace, a discard of the spade loser on the fourth club, then a spade ruff and the diamond king for nine tricks. George did not need the ninth trick; 1H +1 still scored 2/3.

?

3NT N =

1H S +1

3NT N -1

2S E =

?

Leaders: Jamob 15.5, Ritold 13.5, Jevin 12, Garbot 10

?

7:

?

...............K6

...............J1082

...............KJ5

...............J985

J10432.................Q87?

Q74.......................K53

AQ4......................1093

74.........................Q1063

...............A95

...............A96

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

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

?

This seemed headed for 2NT S after a 1NT opening bid and an invitation after Stayman. But this only occurred once. One North went on to 3NT, impressed by the intermediates. Another South opened 1C, producing 1C-1S-X-2S. The incomprehensible contract was 3H S.

?

Declarer can force nine tricks in no-trumps, but needs to finesse the clubs twice through East in order to do so; after a spade lead the is insufficient time to play both red suits. But risking the finesse's losing to West is unappealing; in both 2NT and 3NT declarer took eight tricks. Declarer in hearts has one extra stopper in the form of the fourth trump and eleven tricks are unstoppable with the divided heart honours, the 3-3 hearts, the diamond ace and queen both onside, the 3-3 diamonds, and the onside queen-ten of clubs. Gareth took nine tricks, still good enough for N-S top. 2S could have been three tricks down for what would have been N-S top, but Jeff emerged with nine tricks for E-W top after four bits of help - an opening diamond lead, a misclick crashing the spade honours and then South's leading each of the top two clubs.

?

3H S =

2NT S =

3NT S -1

2S W +1

?

8:

?

...............J82

...............QJ97

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

...............Q1065

A103........................Q

AK103.....................852

J963........................AQ82

43............................AJ872?

...............K97654

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

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

...............K9

?

This hand seemed headed for 3NT: 1D-2C; 2NT-3NT or perhaps after an inverted raise in diamonds from East. 3NT W was played twice; West also declared both 3D and 5D. Had South had a chance to bid 2S things might have been different.

?

3NT W yields nine tricks. Declarer finesses the diamond queen and leads the ace, dropping the king, and North is squeezed on the fourth diamond, being forced either to allow East's clubs or West's hearts to establish or to block the spades even harder by discarding the eight-spot. Diamonds are trickier; declarer can be held to ten tricks by a spade or club lead. After a heart (or trump) lead, the key is to duck a club and, while drawing trumps, ruff the third club and then discard a heart on the fourth, saving the diamond jack to draw the ten. A spade lead lets N-S force East to ruff a spade too early; a club lead forces the ruff of the third club to come too soon. Rita made 5D after a heart lead; all other three declarers matched par. Jamob were N-S top defending 3D +1.

?

3D W +1

3NT W = (2); 5D W =

?

9:

?

...............KJ3

...............AJ93

...............KQ3

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

Q9..........................108642

64...........................Q72

AJ654.....................1097

K975.......................AQ

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

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

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

...............J1083

?

Does East or West ever get into the auction? Usually it happened, although it can happen in different ways. East might come in with 1S on the first round or with 2S after 1m-1H; 2H. West might balance with either 3D or 2NT leading to 3D. One South was left unmolested in 2H; the other three N-S pairs all took the push to 3H.

?

The Law was on target. N-S can take nine tricks in hearts; E-W can take seven in diamonds or six in spades. This would have made defending profitable rather than accepting the push on only eight trumps. All four declarers in hearts took eight tricks. Against Study declarer guessed the trumps correctly but either miscounted or misclicked, leading the third round low to the queen instead of dropping it. Breta, the declarer in 2H, also had nine tricks well in sight for much of the hand but did not need the ninth and settled for eight for the N-S top.

?

2H S =

3H S -1 (3)

?

10:

?

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

...............AJ83

...............A642

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

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

KQ76........................952

J53...........................KQ107

Q65..........................A87?

...............K1087

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

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

...............KJ943

?

This one was finally universal. 1D-1H; 1NT across the board.

?

Declarer can take eight tricks by force, but it is unlikely. After a club lead dummy's queen much win and declarer must start spades at once - indeed even playing the third spade if South ducks the second. But declarer can hardly know that this is the only way to erase South's entry to the good clubs. Harold was E-W top in 1NT +1, although presumably not on that line. Two declarers took the more usual seven tricks. Jamob defeated 1NT for the E-W top on a club lead when both dummy and declarer ducked the opening lead.

?

1NT E -1

1N E = (2)

1NT E +1

?

11:

?

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

...............KJ876

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

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

A76......................K42

32........................AQ104

AQJ1052.............87

A3........................J765

...............Q10953

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

...............K6

...............Q942

?

This hand was confusing as only one pair reached game. Three of the four Wests seriously undervalued the opening hand. After P-P-1D-1H; 1NT-P, one West passed and another rebid only 2D, ending the auction. At a third table North did not overcall and West apparently rebid 1NT over East's 1H response, also ending the auction. Only one pair produced the expected auction P-P-1D-1H; 1NT-P-3D-P; 3NT. The key is West's holding seven almost sure winning tricks, which generally merits a jump rebid. Consider how little is needed for game - 3NT is a claimer if East holds the ace of hearts and the diamond Kx.

?

The success of all the finesses in the red suits lets declarer take twelve tricks in either diamonds or no-trumps. Jeff took twelve tricks in 1NT W to save a score of 2/3. The other declarers all settled for eleven tricks, giving Ritold the E-W top for being the only pair in 3NT.

?

2D W +3

1NT E +4

1NT W +5

3NT E +2

?

12:

?

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

...............Q985

...............AJ73

...............QJ104

A10982.................KJ765

AK63.....................107

109........................Q8

63..........................K972?

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

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

...............K6542

...............A85

?

After 1S from West, East had a choice between 3S and 4S. This one was evenly divided, two of each contract.

?

The duplication in diamonds with the two doubletons and the wastage of the queen (give East KJxxx xx xx KQxx and 4S goes from about 44.5% to nearly 89%) hurts chances in 4S, although it is still all right if the club ace is onside. With the ace offside, the 3S bidders won out, giving Rita and Jeff a tie for E-W top in 3S =, Study and Jamob a tie for N-S top defending 4S -1.

?

4S W -1 (2)

3S W = (2)

?

Leaders: Jamob 30, Jevin 25, Ritold 24, Garbot 20

?

13:

?

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

...............AK108

...............A952

...............K86

AQ86......................1095

J7432......................Q

----..........................KJ10876

AJ92.......................743?

...............K732

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

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

...............Q105

?

1NT opened by North was left in once. Two Easts showed the diamonds, resulting in 2D E and 2S W. One North opened 1D, curiously resulting in the highest contract of 3D E when East entered the auction later.

?

Karleta were E-W top defending 1NT =; declarer can take eight tricks by force with a correct guess of the hearts; West gets endplayed and has to allow four heart tricks to go with two diamonds and one trick in each black suit. 2S goes one down - declarer cannot quite take two ruffs in each hand and lead clubs through South twice even if N-S do not lead two rounds of spades. Jevin took the par six tricks defending 2S -1 for the middle score. Declarer can take eight tricks in diamonds but has to be very careful to get enough ruffs in hand not to get stuck losing a trick to North's diamond nine, which means not taking heart ruffs too early (allowing N-S to force a ruff. South cannot be kept from scoring the spade king; the key is to force that before it can do North serious good to discard a club). The ideal end position is not to start the trumps until trick ten when East is down to KJ108 in trumps and N-S will have to allow declarer a finesse of the eight-spot. Both declarers in diamonds took seven tricks, giving Haorge N-S top defending 3D -2 when declarer let Hank win the first spade with the jack.

?

3D E -2

2D E -1; 2S E -1

1NT N =

?

14:

?

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

...............75

...............AQ96

...............KQJ543

Q107..........................AJ9652

1082..........................KQ3

K832.........................75

976............................102

...............K84

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

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

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

?

2S from East potentially discombobulates N-S a little.?The trap is that the auction could start 2S-3H; if North cannot bid 3S as a generic force then the hand will have to bid 4C and it will become virtually impossible to play game in no-trumps. Will N-S get to game after 2S-P-P-3C? Perhaps not, although South might bid 3NT over 3C. Contracts were 3H S, 3NT S twice and 4H S. Fortunately West resisted any temptation to sacrifice in 4S, which would have been down one trick too many.

?

Curiously, heart contracts are held to ten tricks by a spade lead (either E-W are able to force North to ruff or will be able to cash a second spade trick when in with their trump winner), but against 3NT it takes a heart lead to hold declarer to eleven tricks because there are four diamond winners available to go with the six clubs. At IMPs declarer would likely be content to cash out for nine tricks after a spade lead but at matchpoints declarer likely takes the diamond finesse. George was N-S top in 3NT +3 after a spade lead. Judy was next in 3NT +2. Jevin were E-W top holding 3H to ten tricks, as did Jamob against 4H.

?

3NT S +3

3NT S +2

4H S =

3H S +1

?

15:

?

...............AQ7542

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

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

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

6..............................K108

KQ8.........................76

KQ1064...................932

A1096......................J8543

...............J93

...............J1053

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

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

?

P-1D-1S-P starts the auction. When South passed, West doubled and East took the chance of defending. When South raised North looked for game, whether or not West came in over 2S. A 3H bid might have led to 4H N. One North stopped in 3S. The other two N-S pairs went to 4S, playing there once and drawing a sacrifice in 5Cx W once.

?

A heart contract would have worked out terribly unluckily; with no entry to dummy to take the trump finesse, declarer would have had to play hearts from hand, eventually coming to eight tricks at most. Declarer cannot take the trump finesse in spades, but that does not hurt as the finesse fails anyway. Spade contracts take nine tricks, although North must duck if the lead is a heart to the queen; ducking forces East to lead to the club ace to score the heart ruff and then North's diamond loser goes away on the second club. Jamob defeated 3S after a diamond lead and club continuation by North instead of a spade; Leighry were E-W top defending 4S -2. The club sacrifice turned out to be a phantom; Ritold bettered par by one trick, although 5Cx -2 would have scored the same 2/3 as the actual -3. Steve was the only spade declarer to take the par nine tricks and he needed the second overtrick to score +560 for 1Sx +2 to beat the +500 defending 5Cx -3.

?

1Sx N +2

5Cx W -3

3S N -1

4S N -2

?

Leaders: Jamob 35.5, Jevin 30.5, Ritold 27.5, Garbot 23.5

?

16:

?

...............KQ7542

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

...............10963

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

J...............................10963

1074.........................Q62

A8742......................Q

AJ102......................Q9764

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

...............AJ85

...............KJ5

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

?

If North passes we finish in 4S S after a 1NT opening bid and a Texas transfer, but it appears that never happened. 4S N was played three times after a 2S opening bid. At the fourth table South opted for 3NT instead.

?

A club lead CAN set 3NT but that is unlikely to happen. The key is for West to lead an intermediate club, after which, if South wins, the bad spade break prevents declarer from cashing more than eight top tricks. If South ducks the first club then West must lead the club deuce to East's nine, forcing South to win so that E-W can cash four clubs on gaining the lead. Declarer in 3NT took nine tricks when West shifted to a heart after winning the first trick with an intermediate club, but that was good enough to give Jamob E-W top. 4S looks good for the defence after the diamond queen/king/ace and a ruff but then when East follows West's suit preference signal and leads a club North ruffs. As there is a sure trump loser it turns out not to matter whether or not E-W even take the diamond ruff. Hank, Henry and Steve all took eleven tricks in 4S to score 2/3.?

?

4S N +1 (3)

3NT S =

?

17:

?

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

...............AK9

...............432

...............A832

----..........................8764

108753....................Q42

AK8765...................J109

105..........................KQ4?

...............AK9532

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

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

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

?

Left to themselves, N-S would seem headed to 4S, apparently making on the 3-2 club split. West can provide effective interference: 1C-P-1S-2NT (unless that shows specifically the minors, as some pairs use the bid, since one can double and some pairs use 1NT for takeout in that situation at all). As the Support Double is generally not used beyond a 2H overcall North will pass. East bids 3H and then it is not quite clear how forward-going or competitive South's 3S bid is, as there is no room. South likely will not want to do more not knowing there is a fit and North may not divine South's invitational values. Contracts were 3S S twice, 4Dx W and 4S S.

?

Diamond contracts take nine tricks if South gets a heart ruff. Bob played the par 4Dx -1 to score 2/3. Spades can take ten tricks but declarers were spooked by the 4-0 trump split after a diamond force. It turns out that, if South ruffs the second diamond, draws trumps, loses a club and then takes a second diamond force, the second club loser can be surrendered and East will be out of diamonds, but the threat was enough to convince both declarers in 3S to settle for nine tricks, which still gave Leigh Ann and Judy a tie for N-S top. Jevin defeated 4S when declarer cashed the hearts too early, setting up a trick for East's queen when in with the third club and giving Jevin the E-W top.

?

3S S = (2)

4Dx W -1

4S S -1

?

18:

?

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

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

...............AKJ76

...............KJ108

AJ9642................1053

K85......................AQ432

9...........................1084

AQ7......................65?

...............KQ

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

...............Q532

...............9432

?

1S from West and North either overcalls 2D at once or balances with 3D over 1S-2S. West pushes on to 3S, which became the contract three times. The last contract was 4D N. West is really close to an invitation (it would be reasonable for West to invite after East's raise to 2S; the ninth trump will usually be quite useful) and the secondary fit in hearts makes 4S a great spot, as difficult as it is to divine when responder has only the values for a single raise of a major despite the strong side suit.

?

It takes a low diamond lead (the only way for South to push a club through before the trump winner is gone) to hold spades to ten tricks; Breta and Bob took eleven tricks after a high diamond lead.?Par in diamonds was nine tricks; declarer mismanaged entries and finished -2 against Jevin, giving Jevin a tie for E-W top with Bob and Breta. Study finished their big comeback with N-S top holding 3S to ten tricks.

?

Final: Jamob 42.5, Jevin 36.5, Ritold 29.5

?

3S W +1

3S W +2 (2); 4D N -2

1:

?

...............KQ9863

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

...............KQ3

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

107............................4

A1042.......................KQJ7

1095..........................82

Q542.........................KJ10873?

...............AJ52

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

...............AJ764

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

?

We began with a simple enough game with only a question of whether or not E-W would sacrifice. 1S-2C-3C may have kept West quiet, as only two N-S pairs were pushed to the five-level. It is possible if 3C shows a limit raise or better that bidding 4C will help North accept the invitation, and if North is not going to accept then an immediate 5C could be precipitate. North might have high hopes. Slam is cold opposite Axxx x Axxxx xxx and one may be able to steal 6S opposite something like Jxxx Ax AJxxx xx; North may show the club control with 4C and then retire to 4S over 4D. South will pass with no control of hearts. Contracts were 4S N eight times and 5S N twice.

?

It surprised me that four of the ten declarers took twelve tricks. Even without the road map of N-S's showing controls, East has a perfectly natural heart lead from KQJx . I can only suppose that having a suit bid and raised hypnotizes some people on opening lead. Connie, Kent, Larry (St) and Marcia were the lucky Norths not to receive a heart opening lead. Laurie, Gareth, Sarah, Betty, Rich and Harold found the winning lead and held declarer to eleven tricks. Note that, if the North hand were changed to KQxxxx Axx KQx x, declarer would take twelve tricks against either lead and we might be sending the hand in to a bidding contest; North would need KQxxxxx Ax KQx x for the club lead to gain a trick and with that holding I hope every North would have been in 6S.

?

4S N +2 (3); 5S N +1

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

?

2:

?

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

...............KQJ105

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

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

J10863......................AKQ7542

7632..........................A

A106..........................J54

Q................................J9?

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

...............984

...............Q873

...............K107653

?

1S from East (the hand is a trick short of a 2C opener) likely keeps South quiet at this vulnerability and then 4S from West likely does the same to North. That is too bad as, even at the adverse vulnerability either 5C or 5H can only be set one trick and E-W have to dance around a bit to find the ruff for the third trick; East must lead a club against 5Hx while against 5Cx the defence must find a heart lead and diamond switch. Only one N-S pair found the five-level and pushed East to 5S; everyone else was able to play 4S.

?

While E-W have to manoeuvre to hold a N-S contract to ten tricks, all N-S have to do is avoid either breaking the diamond suit or either defender discarding down to three cards in the suit. Here South has no clear-cut lead, alas. A heart is the most passive lead, least likely to give anything away, but the E-W hands could be something like:

?

Axxxx.....KQxxx

Jxxxx......KQx

xxx..........Axx

----..........xx

?

when a diamond lead would be the only way to prevent declarer from taking twelve tricks. A 1M-4M auction is less likely to reward passive leads than an auction with a splinter raise, but this time that was just what happened. South led a diamond against Ken, Jim and Betty and gave those three declarers an eleventh trick, especially helpful to Jim, who had been pushed to 5S. Three tricks were banked by Louff, Heve, Kerry, Jurcia, Gel, Boric and Marudy.

?

4S E = (7)

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

?

3:

?

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

...............KQJ5

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

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

10986.....................KQ4

3.............................A10987

AKJ........................5

10984.....................K765

...............AJ75

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

...............9876

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

?

I did not get to check but suspect that Bob borrowed a page from Jevin and opened 1H in third seat. He ended up declaring 2H, a highly likely contract if Eric replied with Drury, and I don't see North's playing the hand in 2H if East opens 1H. Three Easts opened 1H and left in West's response of 1S. Three other Easts rebid 2C and played the hand there. That left three one-off E-W contracts of 2H E, 3C E and 3NT W.

?

Neither side can make any contract in hearts by force. The opening lead allows the defence to take seven tricks. Against 2H N, a diamond lead leads to -2 if West avoids giving East a diamond ruff and instead leads a heart through North so that East's ace will take an honour and East can draw trumps for two losers before North can organize a ruff of the third club. When East declares a spade lead allows N-S two ruffs, one in each black suit. The spade ruff can be prevented by cashing the top diamonds for a discard but then North gains control of the hand by forcing East in diamonds. Lernot were one of only two N-S pairs to go plus defending 2H E -1; Bob also bettered par as a trick by declarer to score 7/9 playing 2H N -1. Black-suit leads help N-S against spades or no-trumps as well. No-trumps can be held to six tricks, spades to seven. Vioebe did not extract the maximum but still tied for N-S top defending 3NT -1. Kerry scored well holding 1S to the par seven tricks. In club contracts par was nine tricks. Harold, Laurie and Jim took nine tricks declaring in clubs to tie Carol and Sandi in 1S +1. Ken was E-W top in 2C +2 when South trumped trick eleven instead of letting North do so.

?

2H E -1; 3NT W -1

2H N -1

1S W =

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

2C E +2

?

4:

?

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

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

...............AKJ84

...............A97

92...........................KJ854

K762.......................AQJ1043

932..........................6

J1064......................8?

...............AQ3

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

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

...............KQ532

?

After 1D-2D South might bid 2H to show a good hand with clubs or 2S to show an invitational-or-better raise if the pair plays Unusual-Over-Unusual, or perhaps 2S to show good values with that suit stopped. With the extra distributional values, East is likely to keep going, potentially making the auction tricky for North. Several auctions had unfortunate conclusions for N-S, with contracts of 3Hx W, 3S S, 4D N twice, 4H E, 4H W, 4Hx W and 5D N thrice.

?

In diamonds N-S have an easy twelve tricks by establishing clubs with a ruff; the double spade stopper allows declarer to use the thirteenth club. Connie and Gene played 5D +1; Larry (St) dropped a trick but still scored well just for being in 5D =. E-W have nine tricks in hearts and everyone took them, giving Marie E-W top in 3Hx W =. 3S was always going down, Keianne eventually finishing with -2, although anything from -1 to -7 would have scored 8/9.

?

5D N +1 (2)

5D N =

4Hx W -1

4D N +2 (2)

4H E -1; 4H W -1

3S S -2

3Hx W =

?

5:

?

...............A10964

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

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

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

QJ73............................852

1054.............................KJ9876

A1073...........................52

105...............................A9?

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

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

...............KQJ8

...............QJ876432

?

South would likely much rather have East open the bidding than North. One South doubled a 3H overcall and North left the double in. One other East declared, playing 4Hx. At the other tables South declared in either 4C or 5C, 5C winning out by a 5-3 margin.

?

Against hearts, N-S can take six tricks just by not letting declarer lead trumps enough times from the West hand, winning the ace if the ten is led and ducking if West leads low. Both declarers in hearts finished -2, although 4Hx -3 would still have beaten 5C =. Clubs can be held to ten tricks but West has to find the opening lead of a low diamond to allow East to force a ruff. Only Jerik were able to take three tricks on defence for the E-W top defending 4C =. 5C = split the N-S top between Geoff, Larry (Sh), Gernot, Eric and Martin.?

?

5C S = (5)

3Hx E -2; 4Hx E -2

4C S +1 (2)

4C S =

?

6:

?

...............K982

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

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

...............AQJ76

AJ76...........................543

Q102...........................AJ654

QJ85...........................AK1072

K4............................... ----

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

...............K73

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

...............1098532

?

Even if E-W make 2NT raises on three-card support, if anything that only encourages North to overcall 3C, allowing a 5C sacrifice. Otherwise, one way or another E-W seem headed for 4H if they don't get pushed to the five-level - quite the theme of the early rounds. Most auctions did reach the five-level this time and all ended in game; contracts were 3NT W, 4H E thrice, 5Cx N twice, 5D W, 5H E twice and 6H E when one partner thought the other was encouraging slam rather than just taking a push.

?

The spade blockage allows declarer an eleventh trick in diamonds but no more than ten are available in hearts as North will eventually have to come to a second spade trick. Everyone in hearts took ten tricks (4H = for Harold, Ken and Medvigy) while Marie played 5D W =. Finessing in trumps would have taken nine tricks for N-S but both declarers played the ace first, sharing the middle score on -500. Vioebe took their par six tricks against 3NT W when the heart finesse failed to tie Kerry's 6H -2 for N-S top.

?

4H E = (3)

5D W =

5Cx N -3 (2)

5H E -1 (2)

3NT W -2; 6H E -2

?

7:

?

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

...............AK532

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

...............Q932

Q754.........................K108632

86.............................Q94

K976.........................QJ5

AKJ...........................4?

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

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

...............832

...............108765

?

P-1D-1H-1S; P-2S and then North almost certainly pushes the auction up higher and it is just a question of how high North pushes or East in particular goes. Contracts were 2S E, 3S E five times, 4S E thrice and 5Sx E.

?

Par in spades was nine tricks. Nobody took more. Gel were N-S top defending 5Sx -2. Three pairs of defenders held declarer to eight tricks, Boric by starting with three rounds of hearts against 3S. Had East's heart queen been a lower card declarer would likely have come to nine tricks anyway by leading a low spade from West after ruffing the third round. But when East won the queen, declarer let the queen win, then led a spade to queen and ace, letting Bob push through a fourth heart and promote Eric's spade jack. Remembering North's showing almost all the strength of the defence might have convinced declarer to save West's spade queen. Sarah, Betty and Ken shared E-W top in 3S E =.

?

5Sx E -2

3S E -1 (2); 4S E -1 (3)

2S E =

3S E = (3)

?

8:

?

...............AK64

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

...............K952

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

QJ2.......................10

Q...........................KJ6543

AQ73.....................J10864

AQJ104.................3?

...............98753

...............A1072

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

...............8765

?

West opens 1C; North may overcall 1S, which likely sees South going directly to 4S. Eight auctions ended in games, with contracts of 3NT W thrice, 4D W twice, 4H E twice, 4S N twice and 4S S (North beginning with a double rather than 1S).

?

A club lead holds spade contracts to eight tricks - even if declarer reads West for the remaining three trumps after the ruffing finesse declarer cannot draw trumps anyway. Bob escaped with 4S N -1; the other 4S declarers were the par 4S -2. None of the games should have made. With hearts 4-2, East in 4H should lose two trumps, one spade and a diamond. Jim made 4H for E-W top. The second heart loser goes away in 4D =, posted by Rita for a 7/9 score. A spade lead holds 3NT to six tricks, which is where Lynn was headed for most of the hand until suddenly at trick nine North led a club when her three winners in the suit were stranded. Conndy and Marudy both posted 3NT -2 to share N-S top.

?

3NT W -2 (2); 4H E -2

4D W -1

4S N -1

4S N -2; 4S S -2

4D W =

3NT W =

4H E =

?

9:

?

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

...............KJ53

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

...............J106

53.............................108

10964.......................AQ872

J7.............................KQ43

AKQ85.....................93?

...............A9762

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

...............A9852

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

?

North might well open 1S in third seat or East might violate the Rule of Fifteen in fourth seat at one's own peril. Lernot/Keianne passed out. When anyone did open the bidding most of the auctions ended in game. Contracts were 2S S, 3H E, 3S S, 4H E, 4S N four times and 4Sx S. North might have declared in spades either by opening 1S rather than 1C, or if East opened 1H and South made a Michaels cue-bid.

?

The 3-3 clubs hold spade contracts to nine tricks and declarer takes ten only if East leads a heart. Hearts take ten tricks if East takes the double finesse though North, although finessing the queen first offers a slightly better chance of drawing trumps without a loser in the suit. Laurie played 4H E = for the E-W top; Rich scored well playing 3H E =. Kent received the opening lead of the heart ace and made 4S for a double game swing. All of the other three 4S N contracts finished -1. Two declarers in spades took eight tricks, giving Mirol a score of 8/9 defending 4Sx S -2. Medbot produced the best defensive trick result of six, posting 3S -2 when North on lead at trick seven made a lurker check and followed with a heart instead of a diamond.

?

4S N =

2S S =

Passed Out

4S N -1 (3)

3S S -2

3H E =

4Sx S -2

4H E =

?

10:

?

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

...............AK742

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

...............Q1084

KJ743.......................Q82

J85............................----

108............................AQ9432

962............................A753

...............A96

...............Q10963

...............KJ5

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

?

1D-1H-1S and then it became a Battle of the Majors. The most common contract was only 3H S, with the other six contracts all at game - 4H S twice, 4S W thrice and 4Sx W. Most of the 4H bids from North that occurred pressured East into 4S.

?

A spade lead holds heart contracts to ten tricks; declarer does not have the time to establish the clubs. Declaring results ranged from nine tricks to eleven, Gernot and Martin both making 4H. Spade contracts can be held to seven tricks. This was only done once, but to maximum effect when Kerry defended 4Sx -3 for the N-S top. 4S -2 was posted twice for the middle score. Phyllis made 4S to create another double game swing. The play went: heart ace ruffed, diamond ace, diamond to jack, spade ace, spade, leaving the club ace in dummy as the entry to the good diamond after Phyllis ruffed the third round.

?

4Sx W -3

4H S = (2)

3H S +2 (2); 4S W -2 (2)

3H S +1

3H S =

4S W =

?

11:

?

...............AK1072

...............K73

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

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

6.............................J9

A4...........................QJ62

A543.......................K9872

AK5432...................Q7?

...............Q8543

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

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

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

?

This deal turned out to be far more difficult than it looked. After P-1C-1S-X 3S may strike the right balance as one wants to let E-W have the bid in 4m. If West bids 4C East likely passes; 4D is a little more encouraging as East has well-fitting cards in the minors but the lack of control of either major is a concern. Contracts were 3D W, 3S N thrice, 4C W thrice, 4D W twice and 5C W.

?

With 2-2 diamonds and 3-2 clubs there are twelve tricks in either minor; especially with West declaring and the chance of a heart lead from South to give declarer a guess well down. Diamonds would score higher in a bidding contest, being perhaps able to cope with 4-1 clubs. Heve held declarer to eleven tricks; all the other Wests took twelve. Par in spades was seven tricks, losing one spade, one heart and two tricks in each minor. All three declarers bettered par, almost surely with a ruff-and-discard in diamonds, although it made almost no difference. Larry (St) was N-S top in 3S -1; Medbot were the only E-W pair in game after P-1C-1S-X; 3S-4C-P-5C.

?

3S N -1

3S N -2 (2)

3D W +3; 4C W +2 (3); 4D W +2 (2)

5C W +1

?

12:

?

...............J10986

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

...............1053

...............987

A7...............................KQ5

873.............................AQ6

A762...........................984

A532...........................KQJ4

...............432

...............J10942

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

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

?

Easts managed to restrain themselves and not look for slam even when West opened the bidding at most tables. One pair played 1NT E on the auction 1D-1NT. Everyone else played 3NT, with East declaring eight times and West once.

?

A heart lead is required to hold declarer to ten tricks. When East declared South led a heart every time and declarer took the par ten tricks. Connie had to lead from the North side and understandably did not lead a heart. However, declarer perhaps forgot that the game was matchpoints - top was available by ducking two diamonds and deriving the benefit of the 3-3 split but West cashed out for nine tricks and Conndy scored 8/9.

?

1NT E +3

3NT W =

3NT E +1 (8)

?

13:

?

...............KJ3

...............QJ1097

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

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

A93..........................Q87

K8............................54

974...........................AKJ1063

Q8743......................96?

...............10642

...............A632

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

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

?

1H-2D-3H likely ends the auction; South's raising to 2H should not; either East or West might compete. With nine-card fits for both sides, 3H seemed likely to be the most popular contract and it was - 2H N thrice, 3D E, 3H N five times and 4D E.

?

The Law turned out to underperform, with eighteen total trumps and par of only seventeen tricks. That each side held 2-2 in the other side's suit and that N-S in particular had practically identical hand patterns presumably made most of the difference. Everyone in hearts took the par eight tricks, creating a three-way tie for N-S top between Kent, Bob and Judy (P). Louff took ther par four tricks against 4D to score 6/9. Harold was going to be E-W top in 3D = anyway but made an overtrick when North, down to QJ10 in hearts and AJ10 in clubs, led a heart for a ruff-and-discard when N-S needed to cash two club winners.

?

2H N = (3)

4D E -1

3H N -1 (5)

3D E +1

?

14:

?

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

...............AKJ10

...............KJ65

...............K107

9872........................KJ64

43............................Q985

10874......................32

J94..........................A62?

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

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

...............AQ9

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

?

3NT was played at nine tables out of ten. Perhaps a little surprisingly North declared five times and South four, Marduy appropriately comprising the casting vote with a 2D opening bid and transfer response. The last auction was P-2NT; 4C-4S; 6NT. North's decision to upgrade the hand to a 2NT opening bid would have been approved by Mr Bergen. The hand had three aces and no queens, with strong intermediates. South's Gerber was just an overvaluation of the hand.

?

Eleven tricks can be taken regardless of which hand declares, even if West leads a spade, as the clubs behave perfectly. Bob and Judy (P) took twelve tricks as North; after a spade lead from East there is a squeeze if declarer establishes club s first and East does not duck two rounds, which would make it impossible to cash the minor winners ending in the South hand. Mirol were E-W top taking their par two tricks against 6NT -1. Connie also took eleven tricks in 3NT N +2. Four declarers took ten tricks, two from each side, and two Souths declared 3NT =. Against Matty, after spades from the beginning, declarer finessed in hearts instead of playing clubs and nine tricks were all that could be forced. Ritold and Randi tied for E-W top on -400.

?

3NT N +3 (2)

3NT N +2

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

3NT S = (2)

6NT N -1

?

15:

?

...............KJ1096

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

...............AQ984

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

AQ753........................84

5.................................QJ98

K75.............................10

K852...........................AJ10763?

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

...............AK10432

...............J632

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

?

South usually opened 2H, and West usually overcalled 2S, although 2H was left in once. 2S ended the auction four times. One North broke tempo to pass, over which South bid 3H. West found the action dubious, but was quite pleased after getting a look at the substantial trump holding in dummy. One East bid clubs, eventually playing 5C. The other three auctions ended at the four-level, 4D S, 4H S and 4Hx S.

?

Despite North's fearsome trump holding West can escape with seven tricks in a spade contract; North gets endplayed and the forces eventually work in West's favour over North. The table results, though, were less happy for declarer in 2S, with -2 the best result. Marudy and Heve posted 2S -4 and Conndy 2S -5 for the N-S top. Against Marudy West led the club king at trick five instead of a low club, then made the fatal error of leading a spade at trick nine when a club would have led to -2 and a diamond to -3. Par in hearts was nine tricks, with declarers in the partials taking nine and ten while the declarers in game took seven and eight. This gave Keianne E-W top defending 4Hx -3. In club declarer could lose one trick in each side suit for -1 but Louff managed -3. 5D can make but declarer has to play East for the heart queen-jack to do so; 4D N = was a reasonable result for Bob.

?

2S W -5

2S W -4 (2)

3H S +1

5C E -3

2H S +1

4D N =

2S W -2

4H S -2

4Hx S -3

?

16:

?

...............K9854

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

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

...............AQJ75

Q............................A107

A972......................QJ1063

Q8632....................AJ109

642.........................K

...............J632

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

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

...............10983

?

This was another Battle of the Majors. E-W may find 4H if East has a chance to make a trial bid in either spades or diamonds; if North opens 1S the bidding reaches 3S quickly but that may push West into 4H and North then into a 4S sacrifice. Contracts were 2Sx N, 3H E twice, 3S N thrice, 4H E twice, 5H E and 5Sx N.

?

In spades North may get lucky due to the lack of entries to the South hand. Perfect defence can bring in six tricks for E-W; East leads the club king as opening lead or a shift after the diamond ace and then West can be given the lead twice in hearts for ruffs. Only Randi produced the best line of defence, necessary for them defending 2Sx -1. The three 3S contracts all finished -1 and 5Sx -2 against Conndy. Par in hearts was eleven tricks, losing a diamond and a club. Four of the five declarers in hearts took eleven tricks, with Michele and Laurie scoring +650 to share E-W top. Marudy defended 4H -1; the diamond queen was run to the king at trick seven, blocking the suit; then at trick nine West ruffed instead of East, which would have allowed the heart finesse.

?

4H E -1

3S N -1 (3)

2Sx N -1

3H E +2 (2)

5Sx N -2

4H E +1; 5H E =

?

17:

?

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

...............K1072

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

...............J9432

AQ54......................K873

QJ96.......................A83

J102........................A654

AQ...........................K7

...............10962

...............54

...............KQ8

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

?

With 30 HCP and a 4-4 spade fit between them E-W might have been in danger of overextending and looking for slam. Fortunately 14 HCP for opener and 16 for responder was much better than 15-15 would have been. As it was only one pair ventured to 6NT after West channeled Pat Ardolino and went to Gerber on the second round. The main contract was 4S E, played six times. Two Easts declared 3NT after a 1NT rebid instead of 1S, according to partnership style, when West decided to stay in no-trumps rather than check back for a spade fit. One West declared 4S after a 1NT rebid as well.

?

The club wastage and bad trump split put 4S in jeopardy. East declaring can force ten tricks, taking two hearts and clubs along with one spade, won in dummy. West then runs the diamond jack to South. A ruff-and-discard or diamond return gives up the tenth trick easily. A high spade return lets declarer draw trumps but that is a trap. West has to win the queen to follow with ace and a third diamond, the only way to reach the fourth and winning diamond. South is on lead with declarer needing three tricks:

?

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

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

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

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

54......................K8

96......................8

----.....................6

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

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

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

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

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

?

Now the ruff-and-discard works as before and a low spade leaves East on lead rather than West after the fourth round - to be able to cash the thirteenth diamond.

?

4S W can be sunk by a diamond lead; South can then be endplayed only once instead of twice and a high spade leaves declarer unable to draw trumps and cash the last diamond. Louff duly defeated 4S W. Heve were the only pair to defeat 4S E despite the endplay's being hard to find, largely because South has the natural opening lead of a diamond. Sarah, Betty, Rich, Ken and Laurie all made 4S to score 6/9. In 3NT against a club lead declarer has to pull together three heart tricks to come to nine before the clubs are ready to go. Conndy held 3NT to nine tricks for a good score but Harold was E-W top in 3NT +2 after a diamond lead instead of a club.

?

6NT E -3

4S E -1; 4S W -1

3NT E =

4S E = (5)

3NT E +2

?

18:

?

...............J1073

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

...............984

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

Q965.....................AK4

KQ104...................8

52..........................AKJ763

QJ7........................K94

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

...............J9752

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

...............10863

?

Everyone ended in 3NT. East might have rebid 3D after 1D-1H, which would likely have elicited 3NT from West. East might have upgraded the suit to a 3NT rebid or possibly rebid 2NT. Everyone finished in 3NT, with a surprisingly close 6-4 margin of West's declaring.

?

Looking at just the E-W hands one would want West to declare; heart leads through from South could be uncomfortable but with North on lead there is a solid double stop. With no chance of a length winner in hearts or clubs establishing in time, declarer has ten or eleven tricks depending on whether the diamond finesse is taken or the queen is dropped. Betty and Carol dropped the queen to tie for E-W top; -430 scored 5.5/9 for Conndy, Louff, Heve, Lernot, Gel, Vioebe, Boric and Marudy.

?

3NT E +1 (3); 3NT W +1 (5)

3NT E +2; 3NT W +2

1:

?

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

...............AK53

...............A54

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

A10........................QJ6

QJ1082..................6

862........................KQJ1097

753.........................A98

...............K97532

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

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

...............J62

?

1NT from North and then often competition from East. If the diamond suit were spades and N-S were vulnerable, I would likely opt for a pass at matchpoints, as defending 1NT would be appealing with so many tricks in hand and one can always come in with 2S if 1NT is pulled. Waiting is often dodgy, but many is the +200 I have recorded defending for a fine score. One East let North declare 2S. 3D was played twice (doubled once). One South began with a Texas transfer, an optimistic valuation; the contract was 4S N. The last auction saw both sides pushing and N-S took the final push to 5S N.

?

E-W have nine tricks in diamonds. N-S can remove the club ace from the East hand or draw two rounds of trumps, but not both. The spade finesse succeeds and the third spade is ruffed with dummy's eight-spot or six-spot - two spades, the club ace and six tricks with trumps. Ritold dodged a bullet against 3Dx - Rita led a spade and declarer played dummy's ace, finishing -1. Spade contracts are held to eight tricks by a?heart lead; even if declarer guesses to duck in trumps West has the entries and timing to pull off a ruffing finesse in hearts and win the third round of the suit. Judy (P) was N-S top for being left in 2S =; Elott were E-W top for taking their five defensive tricks against 4S. Louise saved a matchpoint by salvaging 5S -1.

?

2S N =

3Dx E -1

3D E -1

5S N -1

4S N -2

?

2:

?

...............K984

...............A96

...............1082

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

63...........................AQJ2

Q83........................K104

AKJ6......................9543

10873.....................A6?

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

...............J752

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

...............KJ95

?

1D from East and then either 2D or 1NT from West. Both 1NT W and 2D E were the contract twice. The last contract was 2NT W after East came in over 1NT for some reason and there were a few more bids.

?

In no-trumps declarer can take ten tricks with the spades and diamonds both so kind. South gets squeezed on the fourth diamond, but it is not an easy read and the three declarers in 1NT and 2NT still all scored 75% for taking nine tricks. This gave the declarers in 2D a chance for a flat board, as South gets squeezed in diamonds for eleven tricks but the squeeze was missed again, giving Wendric and Marudy a share of N-S top on -130 while Lynn, Henry and Elizabeth shared the E-W top on +150.

?

2D E +2 (2)

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

?

Leaders: Marudy 7.5, Elott 7, Glynneth 6, Wendric 5.5, Ritold-Leighry 4

?

3:

?

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

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

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

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

954.........................AQJ10

1064.......................K52

10873.....................KJ42

Q95.........................76?

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

...............AQJ9

...............A95

...............KJ103

?

This looked like 1NT from South, settling into 2NT after Stayman and a declined invitation. That happened four times. The last auction was 1C-P-1S-3NT, East apparently misreading who opened the bidding.

?

Wendric could have posted 3NT -6 but set their sights on -2, which was still quite good enough at the vulnerability to give them the top board. The suits are evenly divided, spades and diamonds favouring E-W, clubs and hearts favouring N-S. A diamond lead holds South to nine tricks with a good club guess; declarer has to cash out. Paul, Lynn and Rita all made 2NT for the middle score. Study were E-W top defending 2NT -3 after a diamond lead to the ace and then a club to the ace as well.

?

3NT E -2

2NT S = (3)

2NT S -3

?

4:

?

...............K105

...............A6432

...............864

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

Q3..........................A9874

Q1087....................J

Q1093....................AK52

Q103......................K92?

...............J62

...............K95

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

...............AJ754

?

P-P-1S-P; 1NT-P-2D (if South overcalled 2C West made a negative double. Did West leave 2D in or give a false preference to 2S? 2D won out by a 4-1 margin.

?

The par score was +110 in both suits. It is slightly easier in diamonds; South has to lead a club, which threatens a ruff for North and forces declarer to draw trumps at once, after which the spades cannot be established and cashed. The club ruff cannot be prevented against 2S, in which contract there si a second spade loser with that suit as trumps. Judy (P) made 2S as expected for the middle score, even with Leigh Ann and Steve in 2D +1. Jeanne took a tenth trick in 2D after a trump lead for the E-W top; Glynneth held Elott to eight tricks for N-S top.

?

2D E =

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

2D E +2

?

Leaders: Glynneth 12, Wendric 11.5, Leighry 11, Marudy 9.5, Elott 9, Jeanj 8.5

?

5:

?

...............K10

...............Q97543

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

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

965..............................8732

AJ8..............................2

6532............................Q1084

A87..............................KQ102

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

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

...............A97

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

?

Two Norths opened 2H and declared 4H when South found North with a hand in the upper range. Two Souths opened 1NT and eventually declared 2NT and 3NT, North opting to treat the hand as balanced. At the fifth table South opened 1m and passed North's 1H response, a deep position.

?

With North's holding the bad luck to hold doubletons in spades and diamonds rather than a shortage in clubs game had no play. With a heart guess nine tricks were possible in hearts, eight in no-trumps. All three games finished -2 when declarer tried to drop the heart jack on the second round. This gave Elott, Jeanj and Marudy a tie for E-W top. Breta matched their 75% score playing 2NT -1. Gareth was the lucky North left in 1H; he even took ten tricks after a spade lead for N-S top.

?

1H N +3

2NT S -1

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

?

6:

?

...............AKJ1074

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

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

...............AKQ1083

82............................Q953

KQ8654...................J32

J1075.......................AK

6...............................J974?

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

...............A97

...............Q986432

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

?

North as dealer would have opened 2C, very likely bidding spades and then 6C to give South a choice of the two contracts; slam has play opposite a Yarborough with low doubletons in the black suits or three-card support in either. Unfortunately both South and West had a chance to speak before North, making the auction more complicated. Two Norths tried to force with 3S and were left there and two played 4S. The only slam auction was P-2D-2H-6C.

?

With South's heart ace working either 6C or 6S has a fine chance of making. The club jack should drop over 70% of the time and the spades have a fine chance of coming in for one loser at worst. On this layout even with the 4-1 trumps declarer can make 6C by taking the ruffing finesse in spades after drawing one trump. Unfortunately declarer did not find this line, which had potential downsides (if East held xx in spades and Jxx in clubs the ruffing finesse in spades would lead to a set when the contract would have made by more straightforward play); Marudy posted 6C -2 for E-W top. Declarer had enough control of the hand to take eleven tricks in spades. Gareth was in danger of going down in 4S but took twelve tricks after East switched to a club after taking the spade queen. Louise played 4S N +1; in 3S one declarer took the par eleven tricks and one took nine.

?

4S N +2

4S N +1

3S N +2

3S N =

6C N -2

?

Leaders: Glynneth 20, Marudy 16.5, Wendric 15.5, Jeanj 13.5, Elott 13

?

7:

?

...............A962

...............AQ53

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

...............AJ4

KQ83.....................J104

K10982..................J74

A103......................42

6.............................108732?

...............75

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

...............QJ9876

...............KQ95

?

2D from South. One West tried to use Mihaels with 5-4 majors but got passed by East in 3D. Another West doubled and North did not redouble. This was not fatal but the auction 2D-X-P-3C; P-3H-4D was not enough; that ended the auction. One North finished in 3C by some obscure path; the other two tables played in the nice, normal 3NT N.

?

A spade lead would have held 3NT N to nine tricks but Leigh Ann received a club lead and Scott the heart jack rather than the spade jack; they both took twelve tricks. +690 was bettered for the N-S top by the +700 scored by Ritold defending 3D -7 (it could have been -8 but they did not need it). Declarer took the par twelve tricks in 4D S (if the lead is a spade eleven are safe and twelve a risk; a non-spade lead allows declarer to take the heart finesse essentially for free); Jeanj bettered par by one trick defending 3C N = for E-W top.

?

3D W -7

3NT N +3 (2)

4D S +2

3C N =

?

8:

?

...............Q9743

...............QJ8

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

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

52...............................----

A10.............................K9743

K543...........................QJ87

A9742.........................QJ106?

...............AKJ1086

...............652

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

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

?

South likely bids 2S whether West opens or not. In first or second seat the hand can open 1S but, opposite a passed partner, 2S is more obstructive in third seat and shows more than usual values in fourth. Whatever happens North is almost sure to raise to 4S. Once North overcalled 1S when West opened 1C and South raised to 4S. One North thought the hand belonged to E-W and left in 4C W; the other contracts were 4S N, 4S S twice and 5S S.

?

N-S are trump-rich but poor in having almost identical hand patterns and no singleton in either hand. Leading the heart ace lets E-W take six tricks, the result posted by Jeanj and Study against 4S. After the lead of ace and another club, Henry was only two down in 5S to score 75%. Rita was N-S top, making 4S after the same start when East gave her a ruff-and-discard later in the hand. Despite holding only 20 HCP between the East and West hands, the onside club king and lack of diamond ruff gives declarer in clubs twelve tricks. -170 beat par for N-S, but, as nobody doubled spade contracts, playing 4C +2 gave Wendy the E-W top.

?

4S S =

5S S -2

4S N -3; 4S S -3

4C W +2

?

Leaders: Wendric 22.5, Glynneth 21, Jeanj 20, Marudy 19, Elott 17, Leighry 16.5

?

9:

?

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

...............J8762

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

...............KJ10965

K1032........................A854

1094...........................AKQ5

K862..........................A74

A4...............................Q7?

...............QJ976

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

...............J1095

...............832

?

Marudy began with the Mexican 2D. Another pair began with 1C from East. 1D-P-1S gives North a chance to bid 2NT for hearts and clubs. East unfortunately has a raise to 4S. Contracts were 3NT E, 3NT W and 4S W thrice.

?

3NT W is right-sided, as North cannot lead a club with profit; a club lead from South against 3NT forces declarer to guess the hearts and cash out nine tricks; 3NT W against a red-suit lead can lead to ten tricks, although both declarers finished with nine, a third spade trick exchanged for the fourth heart trick. The 5-0 trump split sinks 4S if North avoids a club lead. A club lead from South picks up a defensive trick in that suit and N-S must come to either a diamond trick or two ruffs and a natural spade trick. Two pairs posted 4S -1; Glynneth were N-S top defending 4S -2; after a heart to the ace declarer led a spade to the king and that was that. The two Judys tied for E-W top making 3NT.

?

4S W -2

4S W -1 (2)

3NT E =; 3NT W =

?

10:

?

...............10872

...............Q2

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

...............K10863

----.........................AKJ965

A10974..................J63

K97643..................Q10

42...........................QJ

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

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

...............J82

...............A975

?

1S-1NT; 2S for E-W. Does West move? Four Wests did not and East played 2S. One West tried 3D and East went to 3NT.

?

3NT is down off the top with five club tricks; eventually declarer can force no more than six. Marudy eventually posted 3NT -4 for N-S top. A heart ruff lets N-S hold 2S to seven tricks. Otherwise declarer can draw trumps for one loser by guessing that the queen will crash on the third round rather than the ten. Marudy were second N-S defending 2S -1. Steve and Karlene made 2S; Harold even made an overtrick when N-S never established their heart trick and he was able to run the diamonds.

?

3NT W -4

2S E -1

2S E = (2)

2S E +1

?

Leaders: Glynneth-Wendric 25, Jeanj 24.5, Elott-Marudy 22.5, Leighry 20.5

?

11:

?

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

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

...............KQ973

...............J542

A1087.......................KJ64

A953.........................K1087

AJ.............................8542

A93...........................6

...............Q95

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

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

...............KQ1087

?

East had the right pattern to try 2C over 1NT despite not holding invitational values if West rebid 2D. One East left 1NT in; the other four all responded 2C. Wendric were the only pair to reach game after 1NT-2C; 2H-3H; 4H. The other contracts were 2H W, 2S W and 3H W.

?

East can easily ruff both club losers in any major contract. Declarer takes eleven tricks with a correct guess in spades, ten otherwise. Wendy made 4H for E-W top. Elott were N-S top defending 2H +2. Declarers in 2S and 3H guessed the spades correctly and took eleven tricks, particularly easy to do in 4S after two ruffs in the East hand. A club lead holds 1NT to eight tricks but Breta took ten after a diamond lead to save a matchpoint.

?

2H W +2

1NT W +3

2S W +3; 3H W +2

4H W =

?

12:

?

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

...............Q87

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

...............AJ98643

KJ987........................A543

K................................J1064

10753.........................984

K105..........................Q2?

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

...............A9532

...............AKQJ2

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

?

North opened 3C, a little light perhaps at unfavourable vulnerability. It was likely this vulnerability that convinced South to go looking. 3H led to 4H twice. One South went directly to 3NT. The other two contracts were 5C N, once after a 3D response and a 4C rebid from North.

?

Passing 3C was the last chance N-S had for a plus score; the heart losers go away on diamonds. Spade leads are the way to go against any contract; declarer is held to eight tricks in no-trumps, nine in hearts or clubs. NJ and Henry declared 4H -1 to tie for N-S top. 3NT finished -2 when declarer did not drop the heart king. One declarer in 5C finished -2; Wendric were E-W top defending 5C -3 when the heart opening lead was ducked.

?

4H S -1 (2)

3NT S -2; 5C N -2

5C N -3

?

Leaders: Wendric 33, Jeanj 31, Glynneth-Elott 28, Marudy 27.5, Leighry 25.5

?

13:

?

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

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

...............54

...............K106432

Q1063.......................AJ952

Q32...........................7

1097..........................AQJ8632

AQ5...........................----?

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

...............AKJ1094

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

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

?

Every E-W pair finished in 4S. Some Easts began with 1S; after 2H from South West was on the edge, but, even if West showed an invitational hand with 3H and East bid the club void, West's denial of control of either red suit lets East stop comfortably in 4S. I like a 1D opening bid better; the playing strength of the hand is sufficient for a reverse and, requiring so little to make game in one suit or the other, it's important to describe the distribution accurately. Everyone stopped in 4S, thrice by East and twice by West, although East's always declaring would have been no surprise, as 1D-1H-X probably leads to East's declaring as well.

?

There is a sure loser in each major. Will declarer drop the offside diamond king? Nobody did. Four declarers posted 4S =. Harold made an overtrick when South led a heart and switched to the diamond king.

?

4S E = (3); 4S W =

4S W +1

?

14:

?

...............K983

...............KQ

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

...............J10654

A1074....................Q652

76..........................10982

QJ1052..................63

93..........................K72?

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

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

...............K874

...............AQ8

?

It looked as if everyone would end up in 3NT. 1H-1S or 2C; 2D-3NT would have done well enough, but 3NT was declared four times by South. The fifth contract was 4H S.

?

The hand is a sufficient double fit to take twelve tricks in either no-trumps or hearts, although an opening diamond lead has to be won in the South hand. North's hearts are cleared, then the clubs. In hearts there is the further complication that the trumps must be drawn after the second club. Rita was the only declarer to negotiate all the pitfalls in 3NT +3. Against Leighry South ran the heart jack at trick five and even went down in 4H. Karleta took four tricks against 3NT; the other defenders took three.

?

3NT S +3

3NT S +1 (2)

3NT S =

4H S -1

?

Leaders: Jeanj-Wendric 36, Glynneth-Marudy-Leighry 31, Elott 30.5

?

15:

?

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

...............AK76

...............KJ763

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

AK64....................983

Q10952.................J84

52..........................A10

K2.........................Q8654

...............QJ75

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

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

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

?

Flannery would have worked well this time for E-W, as 2D-P-2H would not have confirmed a fit. South or North might have acted but action was much more clear after P-1H-P-2H (a 2D overcall would naturally have been raised). In the end contracts were 2H W, 3D N twice and 3H W twice.

?

The spade spots are just good enough to defeat 2H, but 3D makes comfortably, losing two spades and one trick in each minor. All three pairs defending against hearts took six tricks, giving Breta the E-W top playing 2H -1. Judy (P) took her nine tricks in 3D to score +110 against +100. Eric was N-S top taking an overtrick; after two rounds of diamonds and a spade to West, West missed the last chance to establish the club trick and played a heart instead.

?

3D N +1

3D N =

3H W -2 (2)

2H W -1

?

16:

?

...............76543

...............K953

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

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

----...........................AQ

AJ64........................Q2

A1032......................KJ8654

J10762.....................Q54

...............KJ10982

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

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

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

?

The auction is most likely to start P-P-1D-2S; X-4S. Then what? Do E-W defend 4Sx or keep going in diamonds? Contracts were 4D E, 4Sx S, 5D E twice and 6Dx E after N-S went on to 5S and E-W took the push.

?

Declarer in spades takes nine tricks; in diamonds, ten. Spades has four straightforward losers - one spade, two hearts and one diamond. In diamonds N-S get two club and either the heart king or a club ruff, but not both. Gareth was E-W top in 4D =; Pauise were N-S top defending 6Dx -2. Ritold scored 75% choosing to defend 4Sx -1 instead of pushing on to 5D.

?

6Dx E -2

5D E -1 (2)

4Sx S -1

4D E =

?

Leaders: Wendric 41, Jeanj 40, Glynneth 36, Leighry 35, Elott 34.5, Marudy 34

?

17:

?

...............AJ74

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

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

...............QJ10983

Q92.................................K8653

7......................................AJ4

QJ962.............................K1084

AK52...............................6?

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

...............KQ1098652

...............75

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

?

After 1C-1S, South bids 4H if that is not a splinter and West likely bids 4S. This was left in once and doubled once. Three Souths pushed on to 5H, which was left in once, doubled once and redoubled once.

?

Declarer makes 4S easily enough. One heart is discarded, another is ruffed, and after the first trump goes to ten, queen and ace, declarer leads low to the nine and jack to avoid a third loser. Leigh Ann made 4Sx and Jeanne made 4S. If E-W established a diamond in time there were four losers in hearts. Breta was always N-S top in 5H undoubled and bettered par by a trick after play began club, heart heart. The other declarers in hearts took nine tricks. This gave Ritold E-W top defending 5Hxx -2 for +600, just bettering Leigh Ann's +590 in 4Sx =.

?

5H S -1

5Hx S -2

4S E =

4Sx E =

5Hxx S -2

?

18:

?

...............Q1095

...............J10652

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

...............976

J4...........................82

K4..........................A98

K9743....................Q652

KQ104....................AJ32?

...............AK763

...............Q73

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

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

?

West usually came in over South's 1S opening bid and the vulnerability appears to have scared North off competing to 3S for the most part, if East would even have let that sit. Contracts were 2D W, 3D W twice, 3S S and 4D W.

?

E-W need to find a heart ruff before losing the lead to hold spades to eight tricks. In diamonds declarer can take ten tricks by finessing in trumps. Breta made 3S after a club lead and trump switch for N-S top. The declarers in 3D both took ten tricks; those in 2D and 4D took nine. Leighry and Elott tied for E-W top in 3D +1; Pauise scored 75% defending 4D -1.

?

3S S =

4D W -1

2D W +1

3D W +1 (2)

?

Final: Jeanj 44, Wendric 42.5, Leighry 41.5, Elott 39, Marudy 37.5, Glynneth 36

1:

?

...............AQ1063

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

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

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

542..........................J8

105..........................KQ983

AQJ65.....................K7

Q86.........................K754

...............K97

...............AJ742

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

...............A932

?

We began with a hand that almost became a Battle of the Majors. Left to themselves, E-W will bid 1H-1NT; 2C-2H; that contract was played six times. North may have come in with spades; 2S N was played four times. Two auctions pushed t the three-level, ending in 3C E and 3S S, the latter perhaps after North chose a cue-bid.

?

N-S get a nice layout with nine easy tricks. If declarer is allowed seven winners with spades (and the shortages are favourably place) then ten tricks come in at a canter. West may be just well enough positioned with two hearts and three clubs to be able to trump South's winner on the third round of clubs and keep the trick total down without a trump opening lead. Whatever happened, though, all Norths in spades except one took ten tricks. This scored 8.5/11 for Marian, Cindy, Gareth and Jim. Declarer underperformed against Pally and posted 2S =. E-W could force only six tricks in either hearts or clubs. Half the declarers in 2H matched par and posted -2 to score 8/11. Declarer has a sure trick in each minor and, between the fourth club and the trumps, picks up four more. Sarah and Ruth tied for E-W top playing 2H -1. Two East declarers underperformed, with Lernot defending 2H E -3 and Mally on N-S top defending 3C E -4. -3 was par in 3C but East ruffed a diamond in hand instead of discarding a heart on it at trick eight.

?

3C E -4

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

2H E -3

2S N =

2H E -2 (3)

2H E -1 (2)

?

2:

?

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

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

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

...............1096542

AKJ..........................6532

J10876.....................53

J3.............................Q74

KQ7..........................AJ83

...............Q987

...............AKQ9

...............AK1098

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

?

South has a lovely hand and keeps going after P-1D-1H-P; P. Unfortunately North has an awful hand and will want out as quickly as possible. The lowest contract, 1S S, resulted from Jerik's Big Club system. West might well have stayed out of the auction; if so then South's 1S rebid after 1C-1D was unfortunate. Higher contracts were 2D S twice, 2H W twice, 3D S six times and 3NT S after South began with a three-suited 2D underbid, as that opening bid is limited to hands below the strength of a reverse.

?

Declarer can force nine tricks in diamonds but has to change tack to do so. Assume West starts with a club force; declarer cannot just alternate rounds of spades with club forces but must lead the top three hearts at once, discarding a spade from dummy. East ruffs and has nothing better to do than return a trump. South wins and now needs to duck a spade to West, keeping the chance of establishing spades in play. Dummy declines to ruff West's fourth heart, leaving West on lead (E-W having taken three tricks) with:

?

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

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

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

...............10965

AK..........................65

J.............................----

J.............................Q

Q7..........................AJ8

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

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

...............K109

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

?

The threat is to score all five of the remaining N-S trumps. If West leads a trump, South wins, ruffs a spade and a club, then gives West the third spade and is left with two winners. If West leads the heart and East ruffs, South overruffs and can crossruff the next four tricks. East can discard a spade on the heart jack; South then ruffs, ruffs a spade and then draws the last two trumps and surrenders the spade as before.

?

This seems hard to find, but defenders are so wary of a forcing defence that only one declarer took fewer than nine tricks with Eric taking ten and Dib eleven for the top two N-S scores. Paun scored 10/11 in a three-way tie for E-W top defending 3D -2 when declarer kept leading diamonds instead of majors. In hearts E-W can force seven tricks but both declarers were held to six, though it made no difference. In spades N-S can take seven tricks off the top after a club lead. West can draw two rounds of trumps and then force South in clubs to hold 1S S to six tricks. Declarer tried to cash the top three hearts, losing control of the hand and allowing Ritold to post 1S -2. Cinbot could have been outright top defending 3NT (which can be -4; there are seven top trick and if South does not discard a spade a winner in one of the red suits can be established) but still managed -2 and the three-way tie with Paun and Ritold.

?

3D S +2

2D S +2; 3D S +1

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

2H W -2 (2)

1S S -2; 3D S -2; 3NT S -2

?

3:

?

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

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

...............KQJ72

...............10854

KQ852...................J764

Q1092....................KJ75

A6..........................94

Q9..........................KJ7

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

...............864

...............10853

...............A632

?

One West played 2S, showing timidity from North; the hand can surely balance even after an original pass. If North overcalls South likely raises and E-W reach at least 3S. East is on the heavy end of a single raise. N-S pushed on and played 4D thrice, 5Dx once as a sacrifice. 3S W was played six times and 4S W once. The relative merits/demerits of competing to 4m over 3M with nine trumps opposite nine would make for an interesting article if I can convince Bill or perhaps Adam Parrish to write it. It is rather less clear-cut than three-over-two with eight-against-eight.

?

The Law underperforms here because nobody has a singleton; both sides hold a 5-4-2-2 hand opposite 4-4-3-2 with 5-4 in one suit and 2-2 in the opponents' suit. A diamond lead meant that E-W took nine tricks in spades every time. Diamonds should have yielded eight tricks to declarer. Matty picked up a third undertrick to score 10/11 when declarer in 4D indulged in a lurker check at trick eleven (or else misclicked). Sarip were E-W top defending 5Dx -3; Jerik N-S top defending 4S -1.

?

4S W -1

4D N -2 (2)

2S W +1; 3S W = (6)

4D N -3

5Dx N -3

?

4:

?

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

...............Q954

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

...............KJ7652

A842........................Q9653

AK73........................J86

AJ7...........................1085

109...........................43

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

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

...............KQ942

...............AQ8

?

West opened 1NT and declared in spades at every table but two. Contracts were 2S W four times, 3S W six times (the hand is fine for pre-acceptance), 2H W after an opening bid other than 1NT when West got to bid 2H as a "reverse" on the second round and 4H E once after some sort of misunderstanding, I'll guess within a competitive auction.

?

N-S could have made 3C had they ever played that contract. West can force eight tricks in spades by bringing about a ruff-and-discard. The ace of trumps is cashed after a diamond. West can then eliminate both minors and cash two hearts at leisure before giving South the second trump. However, there is no particular reason to play the hand that way, and declarers in spades took seven tricks instead of eight eight times out of ten. Sally and Rich both played 2S =. Par in hearts was only six tricks. Mallys picked up an extra undertrick for 4H E -5 and N-S top; E-W top was Phoebe's playing 2H W +1. At trick four North ruffed a spade that South was going to win, turning -3 into +1 in one fell swoop as the ruff was with the queen (misclick?).

?

4H E -5

3S W -2 (6)

2S W -1 (2)

2S W = (2)

2H W +1

?

5:

?

...............Q64

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

...............9864

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

10985.....................K2

AKJ6......................1072

K2..........................QJ753

K32........................J98

...............AJ73

...............Q985

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

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

?

Some Souths opened light in third seat, and indeed a gruesome 1C at least once. Otherwise West opened 1C; the auction 1C-1NT occurred in both directions! 1NT was declared by every player but South, although 1C-1D (denying a four-card major); 1NT could also have been bid in both directions. Contracts were 1NT E twice, 1NT N twice, 1NTx N, 1NT W thrice, 2D E, 2NT W, 3C S and 3D E.

?

The black suits in particular are so favourable to N-S that they have an easy seven tricks regardless of declarer; I am almost surprised that par is not eight, but after N-S get their diamond ace and six black tricks they have to give E-W something helpful, especially as North has all the black winners and cannot stick West on lead with the fourth spade. Four declarers matched par, most notably Jim in 1NTx N = for the N-S top. For N-S overperformers, Carthurl defended 1NT W -3, John played 1NT N +1 and Heve defended 1NT E -2. Heve rallied on the hand; declarer was on the way to eight tricks when a diamond lead at trick nine gave up two tricks and another was ceded when dummy unguarded the spades a trick later. E-W overperformances were Cindy (X)'s 1NT E = and Sarip's 1NT N -1, Sarip tying for E-W top. Declaring in a suit worked poorly; both Easts in 2D could have taken seven tricks but managed only six, while Ruise took their par five tricks against 3C to tie for E-W top.

?

1NTx N =

1NT W -3

1NT N +1

1NT E -2; 2D E -2; 2NT W -2; 3D E -2

1NT W -1 (2)

1NT E =

1NT N -1; 3C S -1

?

6:

?

...............AKQ10

...............AK872

...............Q2

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

8642.......................J7

9.............................J1054

864.........................A107

J9843.....................AK65?

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

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

...............KJ953

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

?

East opened 1C and a good many Norths balanced with 1H rather than a double. This led to 1H N five times, neither South nor West thinking it wise to continue. 4H N was reached four times; one auction being 1C-P-P-1H; P-2H-P-4H. Other contracts were 2H N and 3H N twice, likely after a double. How much North devalues the doubleton queens has considerable effect on the result of the auction.

?

With East having opened 1C North has no qualms about establishing the diamonds before drawing trumps, the plan being to discard the spade ten on the third diamond after reaching dummy with the heart queen on the third round. East should not hold five diamonds and West cannot hold the ace, eliminating the chance of an unpleasant surprise in the diamond suit. Unfortunately there is nothing to be done about the 4-1 hearts with East holding the four. Everyone took the par nine tricks; with the spades behaving there was no logical alternative outcome.

?

1H N +2 (5); 2H N +1; 3H N = (2)

4H N -1 (4)

?

7:

?

...............AJ9874

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

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

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

K5.............................32

10754........................AKJ86

J732..........................AK6

1072..........................A54?

...............Q106

...............Q2

...............954

...............QJ963

?

I expected P-P-2S-3H or possibly double planning to follow with 3H and then perhaps 3S from South. One North in an auction I saw opened 1S; I have no idea why. East bid 2S and told N-S later that it was a mistake - but at least did not say so in table chat. That auction ended after South raised to 3S. 3H by East tended to end the auction. When East doubled it was tough after West bid 3H, even if the pair used a 2NT relay to show a poor hand. Contracts were 3H E thrice, 3S N twice, 3Sx N, 4H E twice and 4H W four times.

?

4H E sinks under a spade lead through the king. 4H W turns out to be unstoppable because the North hand is too good! Toughest defence is a trump lead. West takes the ace and king and then has to play North for Kx in clubs and the diamond queen by coming back to hand in trumps to lead a club through. North unblocks the king - dummy ducks and wins the second club with the ace. Then follow the three diamonds from the top. If North unblocks the queen, the thirteenth diamond takes care of one black loser and West loses only dummy's remaining two black cards and the club king. If North keeps the queen, it wins the third round but then North must lead spades and East's third club is discarded on the diamond jack. Sandi and Leigh Ann were the only Wests to make 4H, tying for E-W top. Sandi almost got the play exactly right; she played the diamonds after drawing trumps but then North thought clubs were the threat and exited in spades, not a bad declaring effort at the table. Betty was the only East to take ten tricks in hearts; most declarers took nine and Garbot defended 3H -1. Perfect defence against spades keeps declarer out of dummy and forces North to lead trumps from hand and lose six tricks; Pally produced the optimal defence against 3S to tie Dibian's 3Sx -1 and score 8.5/11.

?

3H E -1; 4H E -1 (2); 4H W -1 (2)

3S N -1

3H E =

3H E +1

3S N -2; 3Sx N -1

4H W = (2)

?

8:

?

...............Q975

...............A97653

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

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

1086432...............KJ

K8.........................QJ4

106........................AQJ985

KQ2.......................A10?

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

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

...............K743

...............J97654

?

If West opens 2S with this Marge Fiedler Special it seems hard to keep East out of 4S. If West passes North might open 2H despite the poor trumps and four-card spade suit. East overcalls either diamonds or no-trumps, presumably diamonds from the way the contracts went. If the auction begins P-P, East starts with 1D and then 2NT seems a natural follow-up, with 3D second choice. Contracts were 3D E twice, 3NT E, 3NT W, 4D E, 4S W six times and 5Cx S.

?

The ill-fated 4S ran into three trump losers to go with the heart ace and losing diamond finesse; a diamond lead holds declarer to eight tricks and Pheileen managed even better defending 4S -3 for the N-S top. Two declarers got to discard the diamond loser on the third heart and go only -1 for a middle score. Against diamonds South can pick up a spade ruff to hold E-W to nine tricks; Raden even defeated 3D one trick when declarer did not overruff a club on trick six. Ritold were E-W top taking their par seven tricks against 5Cx for +1100. E-W are best off in 3NT, which has ten easy tricks that were taken by Sarah and Jatin.

?

4S W -3

4S W -2 (3)

3D E -1; 4D E -1; 4S W -1 (2)

3D E =

3NT E +1; 3NT W +1

5Cx S -5

?

9:

?

...............AQJ96

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

...............K9

...............A53

108754.......................K32

AK..............................9853

A6...............................10

J842...........................KQ1097

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

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

...............QJ875432

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

?

Three Souths passed North's 1S opening bid and ended the auction. Four Souths responded 1NT forcing and were able to declare 2D - very low for a hand with a rare 8-4-1-0 hand pattern! One South played 2NT, declining to take it out after North went there, perhaps on the third round of the auction. Two souths played 3D. Higher contracts were 4S N and 5Dx S. It's hard to generalize about auctions with freak hands. South might bid 1S-3D playing weak jump shifts, or North might upgrade to a 1NT opening bid and probably get into trouble.

?

Diamonds yield a straightforward ten tricks, although Ruise held declarer to nine - heart ruff? Par in either no-trumps or spades was five tricks. Ritold matched par defending 4S -5 for the E-W top. Pally were second defending 1S -3 when declarer led the spade queen at trick five instead of a club or heart. 1S -1 and 2NT -1 scored 7/11 for the defence.

?

2D S +2 (5)

3D S =

1S N -1 (2); 2NT S -1

5Dx S -1

1S N -3

4S N -5

?

10:

?

...............Q73

...............A4

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

...............10954

K95.........................10864

QJ93.......................1086

J4............................K86

AK87.......................632?

...............AJ2

...............K752

...............Q975

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

?

P-1D-X-XX? That is followed by two more passes, 1H from West and then perhaps a double from South. Maybe East will bid 1S; N-S may declare in diamonds or no-trumps and will probably be able to stop below game. Nobody played in hearts as it happened; contracts were 1NT N twice, 2D S four times, 2S E, 2NT S, 3D S twice, 3NT N and 3NT S.

?

E-W can establish either major against no-trumps to hold declarer to seven tricks. Ray made 3NT when West won a spade lead with the king and then took the top two clubs, each dropping one trick. Jim took nine tricks in 1NT N and John eight, but Glotin took their par six tricks to post 3NT S -2 for the E-W top. Dibian scored 10/11 taking their par eight tricks against 2S E -3; at least not doubling only cost them one matchpoint. Par in diamonds was nine tricks. East may not have to find the spade switch when in with the king of diamonds, but it certainly helps. Phyllis (H) and Gareth took ten tricks; the other four declarers in diamonds matched par.

?

3NT N =

2S E -3

1NT N +2

2D S +2 (2)

1NT N +1

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

2NT S -1

3NT S -2

?

11:

?

...............AQ7432

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

...............AQ103

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

8.............................6

10764.....................Q853

654.........................972

108763...................AKQJ5?

...............KJ1095

...............AKJ2

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

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

?

How many pairs would reach the slam? It turned out to be exactly half - 6S S six times, 4S S five times and one sad 4H N, adding to our list of unrecognized splinters. The North hand is too good for a splinter raise when South opens 1S anyway. 2NT is much better. East overcalls 3C (the Jacoby raise positively invites overcalls, especially 3m; with the opponents committed to 4M they are hardly likely to be able to double 3m for profit and likely have a hard time finding the double when they can defend. Here the E-W mirror distribution lets N-S take eight tricks defending clubs, but not enough for 3Cx to be worth defending) and then N-S may regret it if they have not discussed what to do over Jacoby and interference. I like agreeing that passing an overcall shows shortage in that suit and that 4M shows a minimum without control of it. There are various ways to go from there.

?

Glotin picked up the easy E-W top defending 4H -2. Everyone else took twelve tricks in spades except for Mallys, who took all thirteen. Their auction had been 1S-2NT; 3C-3D; 3H-4H; 4NT-5C; 6S, Phyllis showing the club shortage followed by various controls before the key card ask and signoff. Note the lack of a 3C overcall, resulting in West's making a different opening lead. The other auction I noted was Conndy's: 1S-P-2NT-3C; 4NT-P-6S. Connie liked the opening hand enough to ask directly over 3C, clearly implying an honour control or singleton in the suit; with a hand such as KJxxx AKQJ KJ xx she could have jumped to 5S to ask for control of clubs. Cindy was able to go to 6S over the 5C raise (yes, 5Cx could have been set more than slam but with a known eleven-card fit); Connie had to hold enough for slam to be worth 4NT. Connie, Phyllis (H), Gernot, Eric and NJ all scored 8/11 in 6S =.

?

6S S +1

6S S = (5)

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

4H N -2

?

12:

?

...............AJ109832

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

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

...............Q753

654................................K

1094..............................QJ82

1072..............................AJ98

KJ84.............................A1092

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

...............AK7653

...............KQ53

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

?

3S from North, raised to 4S by South. 4S N was played nine times. East might have doubled, leading to trouble if South redoubled, as North might then have made a penalty double of 4C for profit despite the vulnerability. One double of 3S went around; another led to 4Dx E. The last contract was 5S N after a push.

?

4Dx W would have a good theoretical chance of declarer's taking seven tricks but with East declaring North could get a heart ruff and then switch to a club. Dibian managed -5 but were denied N-S top when John picked up eleven tricks in 3Sx. This cannot be prevented, although most declarers took the spade finesse and lost a third trick. The play holds a slight trap for declarer; if a heart is led and declarer discards two diamonds on the heart ace-king and leads a club, a spade from West finessed leaves declarer only able to ruff one club and 4S is set, losing three clubs and the trump king. Paun defeated 4S for the E-W top. Cindy played 5S = and saved 8.5 matchpoints.

?

3Sx N +2

4Dx E -5

5S N =

4S N = (8)

4S N -1

?

13:

?

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

...............KQ975

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

...............KQ

KJ9...........................Q1086

J4..............................A63

8742..........................AQ6

J964..........................1075?

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

...............1082

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

...............A832

?

1H from North and almost certainly only 2H from South, whether or not East doubled. Seven times 2H was left in. Against Randi, Paun, Ritold, Sarip and Leighry the contract was 3H with a balance from East if N-S did not get to that level after Southern optimism. The balance might be 2S, East having already declined to overcall 1S over 1H.

?

A trump lead should allow N-S to hold 2S to six tricks for a profit, although with both vulnerable South might try a sporting penalty double. The spade lead is also right for E-W against a heart contract, establishing the defensive winner in that suit before North can unblock the clubs. This holds declarer to nine tricks. Against a club lead declarer does not want to take the discard right away, as that loses a tempo and allows a profitable spade force. The discard can be taken after E-W have to lead spades themselves. All declarers went plus, with a trick distribution of 2/7/2/1 from eight to eleven, more than half the tables matching par. Mark, N-S top in 3H +2, picked up one trick from the club lead, then the other overtrick when let the diamond nine-spot sneak past at trick eight. John and Jim scored 9.5/11 for +170; Pally and Vioebe tied for E-W top on -110.?

?

3H N +2

2H N +2 (2)

2H N +1 (3); 3H = (4)

2H N = (2)

?

14:

?

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

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

...............A1076

...............AK85

987.....................AQ4

AJ10542.............K87

5.........................KJ43

964.....................Q32?

...............KJ102

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

...............Q982

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

?

All the Easts except Paul opened 1NT. One South came in with 2D and what perhaps was intended as a Stolen Bid double was left in. One North somehow ended up in 4C. One West liked the suit enough to start with a Texas transfer leading to 4H E but only one other West liked the hand enough to go to 3H, leaving 2H E seven times.

?

The layout is mixed. A club lead holds declarer to eight tricks because North wins and shifts to a spade; then N-S get their five tricks before a discard on a diamond can be organized. Of the ten contracts in hearts, four declarers took eight tricks, five took nine and Henry took ten after a spade lead. Dib played 2Dx +1 for the N-S top, bettering par by one trick. Ruise took their par six tricks against 4C -3 to score 10/11 for +150.

?

2Dx S +1

3H E -1; 4H E -1

2H E = (3)

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

4C N -3

2H E +2

?

15:

?

...............Q762

...............A1096532

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

...............103

1084..............................AK93

KQ4...............................87

643................................1098

K764..............................J985?

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

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

...............AKQJ752

...............AQ2

?

South has the first choice in the auction after 1D-1H. The most likely calls are 3C, 3D and 3NT; North might pull any of the above to 4H. Contracts were 3NT N, 3NT S, 4H N seven times, 5D S twice and 7NTx S after the auction 1D-1H; 3D-3S; 4NT-5C; 7NT-P-P-X.

?

Louise may have remembered the hand on which, against Shirley Fruchter, she raised her partner's 1NT opening bid to 6NT only to run to 7D when Shirley doubled and make it when opening leader did not lead the suit in which Shirley held the ace-king. Fortunately her choice of lead against 7NTx made no difference; Ruise scored the +1100 that made their day against 7NTx -4. North got a lucky break in hearts; West had to hold a doubleton honour or both honours to two or three and 4H just made for all seven declarers in the contract. Connie was N-S top in 3NT S +2 after a spade lead. East continued with a second and then a third spade, each surrendering a trick. Jurcia took their par of four tricks against 3NT N to score 8/11. As was the case with hearts, par in diamonds was ten tricks, though a difficult ten tricks; Sarip and Paun both posted -2 to score 9.5/11.

?

3NT S +2

4H N = (7)

3NT N =

5D S -2 (2)

7NTx S -4

?

16:

?

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

...............KQ82

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

...............AJ108

86............................Q974

109643....................5

K42..........................965

K32..........................Q9764

...............KJ1052

...............AJ7

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

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

?

2NT from North; would South move? The answer was almost unanimously no. 3NT N was played ten times, after either a transfer or Puppet/Muppet Stayman. One South insisted on spades, ending in 4S N. Only Connie ventured beyond game, inviting slam with 4NT, but the auction ended there.

?

With the kind diamond position and the spade Qxxx with East, North had twelve tricks in either spades or no-trumps. The opening lead of a low club allows declarer to take all thirteen tricks on a squeeze of East. However, as that requires the first diamond led from dummy to be the jack, the squeeze never materialized. John was N-S top in 3NT +4 after a low club lead and some extra help. Eileen, Marian, Mark, Gareth and Steve all took twelve tricks. 4S +2 scored 6/11 for the defence. The two declarers in no-trumps took eleven tricks, two took ten and one took nine when declarer was cashing out and accidentally led the losing spade jack at trick eleven.

?

3NT N +4

3NT N +3 (5)

4S N +2

3NT N +2; 4NT N +1

3NT N +1 (2)

3NT N =

?

17:

?

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

...............Q974

...............Q106

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

QJ9652..................43

J2...........................K10865

9875.......................----

6.............................AK10975

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

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

...............AKJ432

...............Q842

?

1D from North and possibly 2NT from East. If so, South has to choose between bidding game and offering to defend with a double of 2NT. If South doubles, North can double a 3H or 3S bid from West for penalty; if 2NTx is passed to East for a 3C removal, South doubles. If East merely overcalls 1H or 2C, South drives to game in diamonds or no-trumps. Contracts were 3NT N thrice, 3NT S, 4D N twice, 4D S, 4NT S, 5Cx E and 5D N thrice.

?

In no-trumps by North, East needs to lead a spade to cut communications. If East begins with three rounds of clubs, South wins the club queen, then declarer runs diamonds and finally cashes North's two spades, squeezing East before South has to discard. Arthur took eleven tricks in 3NT N after East began with three rounds of clubs; the other three declarers in 3NT and the one declarer in 4NT all still scored 8/11 taking ten tricks. In clubs East can be held to six tricks, so that 3Cx -3 will outscore game. Defending 5Cx Jerik bettered par by one trick to collect the biggest penalty of the day, -6 for +1400. Par in diamonds was eleven tricksif right-sided; North declaring must be able to ruff two clubs. If South declares, West can lead a trump and ruff the second club to lead a second trump, after which South ruffs the third club but has no way to run the trumps in hand without spoiling the squeeze. Paun held 4D N to ten tricks for E-W top.

?

5Cx E -6

3NT N +2

3NT N +1 (2); 3NT S +1; 4NT S =

5D N = (3)

4D N +1; 4D S +1

4D N =

?

18:

?

...............K9

...............J109872

...............J2

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

Q42......................J8653

----........................54

K95.......................AQ1043

AKQJ983..............6

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

...............AKQ63

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

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

?

We closed with a monster fit. P-1H-2C-4H (the lack of a shortage at most tables, although two partials (3H and 4C) were played. The auction never ended in 4H. One West doubled 4H. 5C W was played five times along with 5Cx W twice and 5H S twice.

?

The play was simple in hearts - N-S had four losers and a ll the heart contracts yielded nine tricks. In 5C and 5Cx everything rode on whether North was in IMPs mode or concentrated on matchpoints. The opening lead of the spade king was high risk and high reward. It has the best chance of setting 5C as, opposite a minimum of five hearts, the heart lead is unlikely to accomplish much. At the tables nobody ventured the spade king and all the declarers in clubs took twelve tricks. Cindy (X) and Marie tied for top in 5Cx +1; NJ was N-S top playing 3H S =.

?

3H S =

4C W +2

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

5C W +1 (5)

5Cx W +1 (2)

1:

?

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

...............103

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

...............AK973

AKJ982................6

A82......................KQ7

4...........................AJ87652

865.......................Q10

...............10743

...............J9654

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

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

?

A fair amount may seem to depend on whether North opens 1C or 1D. East will come in with 1D over 1C, but West bid spades with considerable vigour and declared in spades at every table, 2S twice and 4S four times.

?

West can take ten tricks in spades by scoring six trump tricks to go with three hearts and a diamond. This requires trumping diamonds in hand three times along with the complication of not being able to cash three hearts. The layout is interesting; if N-S force East to ruff a club West will drop the spade queen perforce. Will West spurn the finesse if N-S ostentatiously avoid the force? Marudy and Jamob shared N-S top defending 4S -2 but all four other declarers took at least ten tricks. Mary was E-W top in 4S +1; South trumped an early diamond after North began with two clubs; discarding South's third club would have kept the result at =.

?

4S W -2 (2)

2S W +2

2S W +3

4S W =

4S W +1

?

2:

?

...............QJ74

...............A752

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

...............KQJ2

52.........................63

Q8........................K643

Q109762..............AK3

976.......................10543

...............AK1098

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

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

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

?

1S from South and North has a maximum hand for a splinter raise of 4D. This is good news for South in that South has no big wastage in diamonds but the hand is still a balanced minimum. Cinbot reached 6S on the auction 1S-4D; 5C-5H; 5S-6S. Four pairs stopped in 4S S and one in 3S S.

?

With spades 2-2 and North's holding four clubs, twelve tricks always come in if there is no declaring error. A heart lead, however, forces declarer to draw trumps first before playing clubs. Had trumps split 3-1 a heart lead would have given the defence an excellent chance to prevail but a diamond lead allows 6S to make even if trumps split 4-0. One declarer in 4S took only eleven tricks but everyone else took twelve, giving Cindy's +1430 the N-S top and Ritold's -230 the E-W top.

?

6S S =

4S S +2 (3)

4S S +1

3S S +3

?

3:

?

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

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

...............QJ108

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

83..........................Q742

1086......................QJ542

K72........................A54

Q8762....................9

...............A965

...............K97

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

...............AJ5

?

Surprisingly only two N-S pairs reached game here. Showing the danger of changing one's mind in mid-auction, one South opened 1C but then passed North's response of 1D. One auction apparently was opened by North who then passed South's 1NT response. Another pair opted to defend 2Hx E and one auction ended in 2NT N - possibly a misunderstanding about the auction 1C-2NT? That just left two Norths in 3NT.

?

A heart lead against no-trumps puts declarer in a bit of a crunch. There is no time to set up the diamonds; declarer needs seven tricks from the black suits. At least the clubs can be misguessed but East must be played for the queen of spades. Wendric were E-W top defending 1NT S +1 but the other declarers in no-trumps took nine or ten tricks, ten if West unguarded the clubs of the run of the spades. Zia saved 2Hx -1 for 2/5 matchpoints; the contract was headed for -3 and -800 but after a diamond lead and club switch South played another club and gave declarer a big lead in timing. Ten tricks in diamonds was the par result; declarer took eleven to tie 2NT +1.

?

3NT N +1 (2)

2Hx E -1

1D N +4; 2NT N +1

1NT S +1

?

4:

?

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

...............AKJ62

...............106542

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

J632........................AK4

984..........................Q7

Q..............................J983

KQJ86.....................A982?

...............Q987

...............1053

...............AK7

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

?

One pair ended in 2S W, quite likely after a support double by East: P-P-1D-P; 1S-2H-X and West will return to 2S. Had East opened 1C instead West might likely have chosen 3C over the double rather than trying a seven-card fit with a weak four-card suit. Everyone else finished in some number of no-trumps: 1NT E thrice, 1NT W(!) and 3NT W, though I imagine more Norths would have been willing to interfere over a 1C opening bid when both five-card suits would have been unbid.

?

3C would have been an easy make; 2S also makes, although with a little more difficulty. There are three top losers in the red suits; if declarer trumps the third heart there are two spade losers and trying to draw trumps loses a third heart. Bob played 2S W = for a 60% score. Against no-trumps N-S can cash seven tricks off the top with the heart Qx in the East hand dropping. That result was easily obtained when West declared, giving Pave the N-S top defending 3NT -3. When East declared 1NT Harold took seven tricks, Eric and Laura eight to tie for E-W top. Eric received a heart lead to North, but North, fearing South would not unblock the queen from Qxx, returned a low heart at trick two.

?

3NT W -3

1NT W -1

1NT E =

2S W =

1NT E +1 (2)

?

5:

?

...............Q863

...............AK10963

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

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

J10542.......................K

87...............................J542

J953...........................Q1074

K8..............................Q732?

...............A97

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

...............A862

...............J10964

?

After 1H-1NT; 2H, South usually liked the singleton queen enough to raise with it, resulting in 4H N at three tables. One pair stopped in 3H N and one South misclicked and passed 1H, leaving only one to try a 2NT rebid, leading to declaring 3NT.

?

In hearts declarer can park the low club on the diamond ace. The spades, despite the 5-1 split, behave kindly enough to hold losers in the suit to one - the ace drops the king and then declarer leads through West. After a club lead declarer takes?a different tack and establishes the clubs; after a heart lead declarer comes to hand in diamonds and draws all the trumps. If the lead is a spade declarer just clears the diamond king, crosses back to the heart queen, discards the losing club and then leads a spade through West, finessing if West plays low. Eleven tricks, but nobody took them except for the declarer in 1H.. Karlene and Judy (P) took ten tricks in 4H N to tie for top. In no-trumps a diamond lead holds declarer to ten tricks; declarer does not have time to lose a heart and a black-suit trick. Judy (R) took nine tricks for a 60% score. E-W top went to Tombot defending 4H -1.

?

4H N = (2)

3NT S =

1H N +4

3H N =

4H N -1

?

6:

?

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

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

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

...............AJ10972

874............................K9

Q87642.....................10953

432............................Q76

8................................KQ64

...............AJ1053

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

...............K10985

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

?

I'm fairly sure Jevin would have reached the reasonable 6S here. The key is that South has solid intermediates and a good Losing Trick Count. Only one pair ventured beyond 4S, due entirely to North, on the auction 1S-2C; 2D-4NT; 5H-5S; it would have helped had North bid 2S first to set the trump suit before asking. South can give at least mild encouragement.

?

With both diamonds and spades behaving South can take all thirteen tricks in spades - club ace, heart ace, diamond ace, heart king, then probably a spade finesse and then either drawing trumps and guessing diamonds or ruffing the third diamond before leading another spade. Thirteen tricks. We ended with four declarers - Judy (R), Mary, Breta and Martin - taking twelve tricks for a 70% score. Tombot held declarer to eleven tricks and Laubot to ten for the E-W top.

?

4S S +2 (3); 5S S +1

4S S +1

4S S =

?

7:

?

...............842

...............Q10543

...............J732

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

97............................QJ10

J7............................AK62

K98.........................10654

QJ8753...................102

...............AK653

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

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

...............K964

?

What does South do after 1S-2S? We saw it all - pass, 3C, 3S and 4S. 3C seems best and then North surely accepts. Contracts were evenly divided - 2S twice, 3S twice and 4S twice.

?

Unfortunately for N-S their assets are badly meshed. AKxxx Kx AQ xxxx for South or Qxx xxxxx Jxxx A for North would give a much stronger chance of ten tricks; as is, declarer needs the diamond finesse and 3-2 trumps. The trumps behave; the diamonds do not. The E-W doubletons in clubs and hearts make things interesting. If a club is led, declarer likely takes the diamond finesse, losing, and then three rounds of hearts will establish at least a fifth trick for E-W. Breta was N-S top in 3S =. Three declarers took eight tricks and two took seven; E-W top was shared between Wendric and Laubot defending 4S -2; -1 scored 60% for N-S.

?

3S S =

2S S -1 (2); 3S S -1

4S S -2 (2)

?

8:

?

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

...............7532

...............J64

...............KQ65

----............................Q10872

AJ84.........................K106

Q752.........................K3

AJ842.......................1093?

...............AKJ654

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

...............A1098

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

?

South may be able to overcall a natural 2S after 1D-P-1Sl partnerships ought to clarify the meanings of X, 1NT, 2D, 2S and 2NT on this auction. Quite a few pairs play both 2D and 2S as natural, in which case South can overcall 2S comfortably enough; RHO's holding four trumps holds no terrors. One South passed and West rebid 1NT, playing the hand there. Another West rebid 2D and was left there, although 1D-1S; 2C-2D is another possible auction. One South overcalled 2S and was left there; another 2S overcall was doubled by West for takeout and East opted to defend. Higher contracts were 3Sx S and 3NT W.

?

Defending 2Sx looks great. A diamond lead from West puts E-W on the track for two heart winners, one diamond, one club, two diamond ruffs and still a spade, Against Breta in 2S undoubled, however, the defence began well enough - club ace, diamond to king and ace, diamond to queen. But then West led a second club, allowing Breta nine tricks. Mary took nine tricks in 2Sx for the N-S top. Cinbot produced close to optimal defence for the E-W top defending 3Sx -2. The two E-W no-trumps contracts finished -1 and -3 but declarer took four and eight tricks, not six and six; 1NT -3 against Ritold and 3NT -1 for Tommy; par was seven tricks after a spade or diamond lead. Declarer's read of the heart suit was significant. Nobody matched par in any contract; Laura scored 60% in 2D -2 when she could have been -1.

?

2S x S +1

1NT W -3

2S S +1

2D W -2

3NT W -1

3Sx S -2

?

9:

?

...............9652

...............AJ75

...............8542

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

K3..........................AQJ4

KQ62.....................1093

QJ1076..................9

Q3..........................K10972?

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

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

...............AK3

...............J8654

?

I thought we might see at least one 2NT contract after P-P-P-1D; P-1S-P-1NT; P-2NT, but we never did. Three Easts passed 1NT; two Wests went on to 3NT. The sixth contract was 2D W after a 2D rebid; East might have tried 2NT.

?

Declarer in diamonds takes seven tricks; neither side can quite do everything needed to force a different result. In this case, though, Pave defended slightly too actively and allowed 2D to make but they were still N-S top. Declarer is held to eight tricks in no-trumps with reasonable defensive care; when in with the first diamond, South leads a heart and North ducks; then comes another heart when South is in with the second diamond and N-S have five tricks. But only Tombot held declarer to eight tricks; the other four declarers all took nine, likely after a heart lead, as was the case for Wendy, who shared E-W top with Bob.

?

2D W =

1NT W +1

1NT W +2 (2)

3NT W = (2)

?

10:

?

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

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

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

...............AJ1054

KJ42............................Q10985

J5.................................K

AK984.........................QJ107

86.................................KQ9?

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

...............AQ109432

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

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

?

If East passes, N-S might steal the bid in 4H via P-3H-P-4H. After a 1S opening bid from East West gets to 4S. P-3H-P-P leads to 3S from East (or a double) and again E-W reach 4S.

?

Neither 4H nor 4S quite makes. 4H has below even chances, needing the hearts and clubs to behave. 4s depends on whether or not South can get a diamond ruff. The natural lead of or even switch to the singleton diamond seems likely to lead to -1, but only Study and Ritold achieved that result. Cindy made 4S after the defence began with two rounds of hearts; 4S = scored 70% for Cindy, Laura, Judy (P) and Karlene.

?

4S E -1 (2)

4S E = (4)

?

11:

?

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

...............AQ10632

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

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

J63..............................AQ852

K985...........................74

AK2.............................Q7

K107............................Q985

...............K74

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

...............J864

...............A6432

?

We start P-1C-2H and then likely 2S or possibly double from East. One South raised to 3H on the singleton jack, ending the auction. Other contracts were 2NT W, 3S E twice and 4S E twice.

?

The layout is brutal to spade contracts. With optimal defence N-S get two club ruffs and six tricks total, but this requires South to ruff a heart that can be won by North, although declarer can go wrong. The four results in spades averaged out at par, with Wendric's 4S -3 and Zibot's 3S -3 tied for E-W top. 4S -2 and 3S -2 shared the middle score. Cindy?finessed the ten on the first club for 2NT -1 instead of +1 but still scored 80%. The play is most interesting in hearts. One West ducked the heart jack, giving North an opportunity to score all six trumps separately and finish with eight tricks. Declarer was headed for 3H -1 but eventually led the heart ace. Even -1 would still have given Pave the E-W top for defending instead of declaring on this nightmare hand.

?

3S E -3; 4S E -3

3S E -2; 4S E -2

2NT W -1

3H N -2

?

?

?

12:

?

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

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

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

...............K10985432

AQJ5................................K7632

10852...............................KQ9

Q6....................................AK108

Q76...................................J?

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

...............J764

...............J9754

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

?

Does North open 3C or 4C? 3C elicits either a double or a 3S overcall from East and then E-W get to 4S. 4C ended the auction once and was doubled, also ending the auction, once. East played 4S thrice and West once.

?

Eric was the lucky North to play 4C undoubled -2 for N-S top, losing four tricks in the side suits and one trump. Judy (P) was the East to double 4C and Martin the West to pass, collecting +500 and E-W top. Declarer can take eleven tricks in spades, although South has a chance at an overruff after club ace, heart ace and club back. Study scored 80% against 4S = when East ruffed the second club low; the other three declarers in 4S all took eleven tricks.

?

4C N -2

4S E =

4S E +1 (3)

4Cx N -2

?

13:

?

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

...............109874

...............AKJ43

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

K87............................AQ9542

Q62............................KJ3

Q105...........................98

8632...........................Q9?

...............J106

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

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

...............AK1054

?

After 1S-2S from E-W North might make a responsive double if South overcalled 2C and do something (3D? 2NT? double?) if South passed. Nobody played at the two-level; contracts were 3C S, 3S E, 3Sx E, 4H N and 4S E twice. Pushing East to 3S ought to be enough.

?

E-W have five top losers in spades; all four spade contracts yielded eight tricks. Clubs can take ten tricks, although declarer may need to be careful about keeping control. 3C = was a reasonable result for the one declarer there and +1 would not have scored any better. 4H is defeated if E-W force North twice in hearts before trumps are drawn. North then cannot afford to draw the third trump. Harold made 4H when East led a diamond in the middle of the hand instead of forcing with the third round of spades, which would have forced Harold to allow the last to E-W trumps to score separately.

?

4H N =

3Sx E -1; 4S E -2 (2)

3C S =

3S E -1

?

14:

?

...............KQ8

...............103

...............J105

...............K8432

A9643........................1072

AJ75...........................K982

AK7............................86432

J.................................6

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

...............Q64

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

...............AQ10975

?

West likely overcalls 1S over a possible 1C opening bid and doubles a 3C opening bid. One West got to declare 3Sx after 1S-2C-P-P; 2H-P-2S-3C; 3S-X (a downside of the 1C opening bid on iffy top values) but South declared in clubs at all the other tables: 2C, 3C twice, 4C and 4Cx.

?

In spades (or hearts) with the hearts behaving the 1-1 clubs stop N-S from any effective forcing defence and allow declarer nine tricks. Cindy duly made 3Sx for E-W top. South has five top losers in clubs, and eight tricks was the result every time except that Zia escaped in 4C -1 to score 60%. Being allowed to play 2C = gave Tommy N-S top.

?

2C S =

3C S -1 (2); 4C S -1

4Cx S -2

3Sx W =

?

15:

?

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

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

...............108742

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

----..........................Q832

K94.........................85

AKQ5......................J96

AQ8753...................KJ96

...............AJ1095

...............AQ1063

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

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

?

The auction appears likely to start 1S-X-3S-P. If South passes West may well double again (or bid 4C) and then East has to resist the temptation to pass. N-S appear to hold nine trumps; this hand is not going to be able to do much if the opponents can cross-ruff. Contracts were 3Sx S (West doubled after having starte with 2C, making East's pass rather worse), 4C W thrice, 5C W and 5Cx W. The South who doubled 5C complained, thinking that E-W were colluding, but the auction had had a 2C overcall from West and a raise from East; West, with a Losing Trick Count of three, could hardly do less than go to game.

?

Spades took nine tricks; clubs took twelve. Boric were N-S top in 3Sx =. Only one table deviated from par; one South let the first heart go through to the king allowing 4C +3, but -190 just scored 60% instead of 80%.

?

Spades

?

3Cx S =

4C W +2 (2)

4C W +3

5C W +1

5Cx W +1

?

16:

?

...............QJ94

...............K107

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

...............Q10975

105..........................AK762

J432........................AQ95

A10753....................J4

43............................J2

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

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

...............Q9862

...............AK86

?

1S from East ended the auction thrice when West passed and North saw no reason to try to improve the contract, a wise decision. When West responded 1NT East rebid hearts and the auction got dragged to the three-level, with contracts of 3C N and 3H E twice.

?

Ten tricks are perfectly possible in hearts; declarer can ruff two spades in dummy while drawing trumps and lose only two clubs and a diamond. Judy (P) duly took her ten tricks in 3H for E-W top but Ritold were allowed to defeat 3H for an 80% score. E-W have five top tricks against clubs but have to get a heart lead from West. Eric made 3C when East began with the top spades and then switched to the heart ace. In spades declarer lacked the entries for two heart finesses and could only force seven tricks, the result at two tables but an assist from the defence allowed Nancy an eighth.

?

3C N =

3H E -1

1S E = (2)

1S E +1

3H E +1

?

17:

?

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

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

...............A862

...............KQ932

AJ942....................1053

865........................AJ932

QJ..........................1073

J54.........................86

...............K86

...............KQ4

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

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

?

1C-3NT or P-1NT; 3NT. Everyone played in 3NT S.

?

West's spade lead allows a relatively simple forced set but the entire field was caught up in Last Round Madness. NOBODY set 3NT. Declarer has nothing to stop E-W; if dummy wins the spade lead with the queen East gets in with the heart ace or diamond ten and pushes another spade through the king. If declarer ducks the first spade in both hands West ducks a second spade. East has to rise with the heart ace on the first round to prevent declarer from running nine tricks. Judy (R) took eleven after sneaking a heart trick when East unguarded the diamonds on the running clubs. Laura also took eleven tricks to tie for N-S top; allowing 3NT = was actually E-W top for Karleta, as the other three declarers all took ten tricks.

?

3NT S +2 (2)

3NT S +1 (3)

3NT S =

?

18:

?

...............KJ873

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

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

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

2........................10954

QJ10974............A652

KQ3...................98

Q82....................K43

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

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

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

...............J9765

?

After P-1C-2H, North may try 2S or may double. Had North been a passed hand 2S would have been fine. East likely goes to 4H, perhaps not being sure whether the hand wants to push N-S into 4S or not. Contracts were 2S N, 3S N, 4H W, 4S N twice and 5H W.

?

With a correct guess in clubs (which should happen unless N-S open 1C on doubletons, giving declarer a guess which opponent to play for Ax) declarer takes nine tricks in hearts; Jamob and Laubot scored 70% defending 4H -2 and 5H -2. The 4-1 trump split and diamond ten trapped most of the declarers in spades. Suppose East leads ace and another heart. Declarer discards the losing club and then will be tempted to draw trumps and play on diamonds but doing that will lose control of the hand and declarer will finish with eight tricks. Playing ace and another diamond will let declarer force ten tricks, as West has nothing useful to do when winning the second round of diamonds. A third heart is ruffed in dummy; then dummy's spades are cashed and the third diamond is led. A club opening lead prevents the discard but lets declarer draw trumps and establish clubs. A diamond lead does not kill the discard but, if declarer takes it, the timing gets mangled and the diamonds will not establish in time because South must lead the low spade to North at trick two. If declarer ducks a diamond to West, E-W can pick up a club trick along with the heart and two diamonds; East discards a club on the third diamond and then a club through from West promotes a trump trick. All the declarers in spades other than Tommy were defeated; Zibot were E-W top defending 4S -2. Tommy took ten tricks after a heart lead in 2S for the only declaring success on the hand and N-S top.

?

2S N +2

4H W -2; 5H W -2

3S N -1; 4S N -1

4S N -2

1:

?

...............AKQ732

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

...............A96

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

954..............................J106

10987..........................J

J105............................K872

A73..............................QJ982

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

...............AQ65432

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

...............K10

?

This was a Battle of the Majors but intra-partnership instead of inter-. North opens 1S and South (if playing 2/1) has to choose between 2H and 1NT. North might jump to 3S; South might keep the contract in spades or go to hearts. One pair stopped in 3S S but everyone else got to game: 4H S eight times, 4S N twice and 5H S.

?

Hearts are right-sided declared by South. Despite there being a trump loser that happens not to exist in 4S, the ability to enter the South hand with ease means that hearts play better. West has to lead a diamond or the club ace to hold declarer to eleven tricks. If East is allowed to win the diamond king a club shift holds declarer to nine tricks; South must thus win the first diamond in dummy, cash the heart king and discard two diamonds on the spades at once, then finally discard a club on the fourth spade to come to eleven tricks. After a major lead declarer takes the heart king and discards clubs on the spades, then ruffs a club and draws trumps, with the diamond ace as an entry to the long spades. Of the nine declarers in hearts the trick results went 2/5/2 between nine, ten and eleven, eleven tricks taken by Don and Cindy. Against spades the key is to lead a heart before declarer can get organized. A trump lead robs North of the time to lead to the diamond queen but allows North to draw trumps and then discard a club before surrendering the lead. A heart keeps North from drawing trumps and taking an immediate discard. If North draws trumps and tries to reach dummy in clubs, E-W get three club tricks and East gets the diamond king? as well. If North takes a discard at once, East ruffs and the defence still have three winners in the minors. Playing in spades Gareth managed to tie for N-S top in 4S +1; the defence began well but in the middle of the hand East led a diamond instead of cashing the club queen and then forcing Gareth to ruff. As nobody set 4S, defending 4H -1 gave Pharah and Gel a tie for E-W top.

?

4H S +1; 4S N +1; 5H S =

4H S = (5); 4S N =

3S N +2

4H S -1 (2)

?

2:

?

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

...............AQ109832

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

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

AQJ104......................K75

J.................................764

943.............................J652

A832..........................KJ4

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

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

...............AKQ108

...............Q1095

?

P-1D-1S and then North has to choose between 2H, 3H, 4H and pass. The bidding is sure to reach at least 2S whatever North does. A weak and natural 3H seems likely to be as high as N-S will go unless perhaps East goes to 3S and North decides to take the push, encouraged by the holding of three low spades. Contracts were 2S W, 3H N twice, 3S W twice, 4H N five times, 4S W and 5C S, occurring on the auction P-1D-1S-4H; P-5C. Some people just did not have good luck jumping to 4H this week.

?

Heart contracts play simply. E-W have to cash their four tricks off the top and either they do or they don't. The six heart contracts were evenly split between nine and eleven tricks for declarer, Rich and Judy (P) tying for N-S top in 4H +1. After two rounds of spades, Rich received a diamond continuation rather than the necessary club. Melen were E-W top defending 5C -4. Spades are interesting. If N-S start with two hearts or a trump, West has five trump and two club winners and can manage an eighth by cashing the top clubs and leading the third club off the top to score a ruff with the spade king. Early diamonds allowing North to discard the clubs are required; N-S can take the first six tricks, or North can wait to ruff the club ace. If West draws trumps there will be two club losers to go with the four red losers. Top defence came from Cliborah (3S -2) and Lourene (2S -1), Cliborah scoring 10/11 right behind Melen.

?

4H N +1 (2)

3H N +2

3H N =

3S W -2; 4S W -2

2S W -1; 3S W -1

4H N -1 (3)

5C S -4

?

3:

?

...............AQ109872

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

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

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

----...............................KJ653

A9542..........................K10

J54...............................KQ87

AKJ82..........................Q9

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

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

...............A10932

...............76543

?

West opens 1H. How many spades does North bid opposite a passed partner at favourable vulnerability? I saw nine of the twelve overcalls: 1S thrice, 2S, 3S four times and 4S once. There may have been a second 4S overcall but no more than one, as only two auctions reached 4S. East would likely have left in more doubles had the vulnerability not been adverse. Contracts were 2Sx N, 3S N, 3Sx N twice, 3NT E five times, 4H W, 4Sx N and 5H W.

?

Declarer has a secure ten tricks in hearts. The 7-1 spade split is helpful as it eliminates the chance of declarer's losing control of the hand. Even if South is allowed to ruff a spade in an attempt to promote another trump winner, that attempt does not succeed. Both declarers in hearts took ten tricks. Declarer in no-trumps can also force ten tricks. A major lead makes it easy, as does a diamond. If North leads a club the psychic path is to win the queen, lead a diamond through which South must duck, then follow with three rounds of hearts. North gives East a spade, then declarer runs the clubs and throws North in again in hearts to get another spade winner for East. The are other possible routes; the key is just to avoid letting N-S score both aces and two hearts. The four declarers in 3NT E posted +630 thrice and Jane was E-W top on +660; after a spade lead North switched to a diamond when only a heart would do. Defending against spades, the simple way to seven tricks would be for East to lead hearts and then ruff both the third and fourth heart with the five-spot and six-spot of spades over dummy's four-spot, then wait to score the trump king-jack. Paul escaped for a crucial 4Sx -3 when West did not follow with the third heart but switched to a club. All the lower spade contracts finished -2; Paul had to avoid -4 and the dreaded -800, which would have been bottom; saving -3 scored 6/11 for him.

?

5H W -1

3S N -2

2Sx N -2; 3Sx N -2 (2)

4Sx N -3

3NT E =

4H W =

3NT E +1 (3)

3NT E +2

?

4:

?

...............Q964

...............J1084

...............J92

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

1083.........................AJ75

76532.......................AKQ

K...............................Q107

10874....................... AJ2

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

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

...............A86543

...............Q965

?

2NT from East. West might pass 2NT, leave in a transfer to 3H or bite the bullet and carry on with 3NT to offer a choice of games. East declared at every table; the distribution was 4/5/2/1 among 2NT, 3H, 3NT and 4H.

?

A red-suit lead (presumably diamonds) holds no-trumps to eight tricks; there is a chance of nine if West wins a diamond and leads a low club towards East. If South wins one of the first two clubs East has nine tricks. Two declarers in 2NT took only seven tricks against Cliborah and Randi. It gets interesting if South leads ace and another diamond; East leads the top three hearts and South is squeezed out of a diamond winner; East then cashes the third diamond and follows with ace and another spade. Eventually South has to break the clubs and give declarer two tricks there. 3NT -2 gave Linj the N-S top but Jane finished off a perfect round with 3NT E = when North unguarded the spades, allowing a ninth trick. Heart contracts had a placid nine tricks with one loser in each suit; Jurcia were allowed to defeat 3H one trick but all the other declarers in hearts took nine.

?

3NT E -2

2NT E -1 (2); 3H E -1; 4H E -1

2NT E = (2)

3H E = (4)

3NT E =

?

5:

?

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

...............K8652

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

...............K84

AQ10743..............KJ2

Q..........................AJ94

A52......................J63

Q73......................J96

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

...............1073

...............KQ1094

...............A1052

?

How good are East's jacks? That is the burning question. West opens 1S or overcalls spades if South opens - is East content with a single raise or does East invite? If East invites West probably accepts. West declared in spades at every table: 2S five times, 3S twice and 4S five times. Not vulnerable it would be an error from South to allow 2S to go through.

?

Even without a diamond bid from South North usually found the right lead. Declarer needs a very favourable heart lie and happens to get it. West wins the diamond ace and leads the heart queen. If North covers one heart ruff affords declarer three heart tricks. Erik played 4S +1 after the heart queen was covered for the E-W top. If North ducks declarer can only come to ten tricks; after the heart queen cash a trump from hand and one in dummy, then lead the heart ace and jack, discarding two diamonds or just take one discard on the ace and guess the clubs. Declarer will probably go wrong guessing the clubs, as the most likely play is to finesse the ten, but declarer can force a club trick with a backwards finesse by running the nine to ten-queen-king, then finessing North for the eight-spot. In the end the distribution of tricks from eight to eleven was 1/6/4/1, with N-S top defending 4S -1 shared between Cliborah, Lernot and Marudy.

?

4S W -1 (3)

2S W =

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

2S W +2 (3)

4S W =

4S W +1

?

6:

?

...............KQJ986

...............K97

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

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

3...............................1075

Q4............................532

AK854......................Q9

AJ654.......................107532

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

...............AJ1086

...............10732

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

?

At least two Wests overcalled 2NT over a 1H opening bid from South. North might downgrade the hand for wastage in the minors but most pairs reached game. Contracts were 3H S twice, 3S N, 4H S twice, 4S N five times, 5C E and 5Cx E.

?

E-W have three winners in the minors and then declarer has to guess the queen of hearts, which most declarers ought to get wrong with East holding twice as many cards in the majors as West, or, if spades are trumps, three hearts to two if West has bid 2NT - an occasion on which giving declarer distributional information helps the defence. Only three N-S declarers made game: 4H S = for Marie, 4H S +1 for Martin and 4S N +1 for Paul after E-W began with three rounds of diamonds, hoping for a trump promotion that did not occur. Four declarers were down in game. 3S provided an overtrick; 3H did not, declarer finessing East for the heart queen. Against clubs North's doubleton queen insured a trump winner to go with the three top winners in the majors, giving Cliborah the N-S top defending 5Cx -2.

?

5Cx E -2

4H S +1; 4S N +1

4H S =

5C E -2

3S N +1

3H S = (2)

4S N -1 (4)

?

7:

?

...............A9732

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

...............AJ93

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

J104.......................K86

10...........................QJ842

K875......................642

97542.....................A3

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

...............A9763

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

...............KJ86

?

N-S seem destined to play 3NT from one side or the other. South does not have the most comfortable rebid if the auction begins 1H-1S; 2C-2D without three spades, six hearts, a diamond stopper or five clubs. North might bid 3NT on the second round. If South passes, North opens 1S and rebids 2D over 1NT; then South likely invites with 2NT and North can accept. In the end everyone arrived in 3NT, with North favoured over South by a 7-5 margin. P-1S; 2H-2NT seemed the most likely auction to finish in a partial but we avoided it.

?

With spades and diamonds both sitting beautifully declarer has buckets of tricks; E-W can only force three tricks on defence with a heart lead, either West's singleton ten or a low heart from East. Betty was one of four declarers in 3NT +2 (three from the North side, one from the South); East led the heart queen. Eric was N-S top in 3NT S +3 after a club lead when East unguarded the hearts; West also had to cover a diamond for that to happen but it is still on East. E-W top went to Dane for defending 3H S =. In the end, the seven Norths declaring took 73 tricks total, the five Souths 52, a miniscule edge to North, appropriately enough.

?

3NT S +3

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

3NT N +1 (4); 3NT S +1 (2)

3NT S =

?

8:

?

...............Q106

...............J7543

...............1053

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

AK85.....................732

AKQ62..................98

KQ84.....................72

----.........................AJ10874

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

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

...............AJ96

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

?

How does West stop in time on this hand? Is it at all possible? Carl, Steve and Vicki managed to stop in partials after opening 1H, finishing in 2NT W (I don't think I want to know how), 1H W (no balance from South?) and 2H W. 2Cx S would have been an interesting contract to see but we never saw it. After a 2C opening bid game was assured. One East played 3NT, six Wests played 4H and two Wests wandered all the way up to 6H, which would have had some play had East held the diamond ace instead of the club ace.

?

It did not save them much in the way of matchpoints but the two Wests in 6H bettered par by two tricks and were only -1. A club lead to the ace followed by a diamond to the ace?almost produces eleven tricks. In the end North's heart seven is just high enough over West's six to allow North a high ruff at trick nine over dummy's remaining spot and then South's ten promotes North's seven; had North held J10543 and South the singleton seven then a club to the ace, diamond to the ace and no trump switch would have allowed declarer eleven tricks by force. Conndy, Lourene and Glynneth took the par four tricks to defeat 4H; the game was made by Erik, Sarah and Del. The only defending pair to better par against hearts was Linj, defending 2H W =. Par in no-trumps was eight tricks. Declarer gets locked in dummy and needs the club ace in the East hand to keep N-S playing diamonds. Dianne was E-W top in 3NT +2; North ducked a heart at trick three, allowing her a surprise entry to hand, and then South led a c lub for her later in the hand instead of a spade or diamond.

?

4H W -1 (3); 6H W -1 (2)

2H W =

2NT W =

1H W +2

4H W = (3)

3NT E +2

?

9:

?

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

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

...............KJ5

...............AQJ9432

K865...........................QJ9

KJ97............................Q1086532

A963............................7

5...................................107

...............A1072

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

...............Q10842

...............K86

?

This hand was Vioebe's triumph of the day. South went comatose and passed both times during the auction: 1C-3H-P-4H. Otherwise we had N-S choosing between 5C and 3NT, with two partials and one slam bid. Contracts were 3C N twice, 3NT S twice, 4H E, 5C N five times, 5Hx E and 6C N.

?

This came down entirely to the opening lead when N-S declared. Against 3NT West forces declarer to cash out by leading a heart. Why N-S were allowed to declare 3NT is another question, but we shall let that pass; both declarers in 3NT took nine tricks. When North plays 5C it is?easier, as either a spade to establish the second winner or a diamond and a ruff will give the defence two tricks. NJ posted 5C +1 for the N-S top after the unlucky opening lead of a heart. One declarer in 3C received a diamond lead and West did not continue with a second round. Boric did the best they could defending 5Hx -1 to score 4/11. Vioebe's cold 4H = was E-W top.

?

5C N +1

3NT S = (2); 5C N = (4)

5Hx E -1

3C N +3

3C N +2

6C N -1

4H E =

?

10:

?

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

...............Q964

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

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

83............................4

KJ7..........................A108

K64..........................A8532

109764.....................A853

...............AKQ975

...............532

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

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

?

Most Norths apparently were content with a 2S raise after 1D-1S and whatever West did (pass? double? 2D?). Five Souths were allowed to play 2S. Six went on to or were pushed to 3S. The final auction was 1D-1S-P-2S; X-P-3C, N-S showing great restraint in avoiding the three-level. Jerik were E-W there and Jim was able to feel more free to force the auction to the three-level because of his HCP-limited 1D opening bid.

?

The club duplication is brutal. If E-W negotiate the two-way heart finesse they can take the first six tricks. This was done only by Pheileen, whose 2S -1 tied them with the 3S -1 posted by Keianne, Pharah and Heve. The final distribution of tricks from seven to nine was 1/6/4. +140 split the N-S top between Marie, Eric, Lynn and Louise. Erik had nine tricks in 3C and took them for the E-W top, but N-S could not have forced a better result. Change North's club and heart holdings and 3S is a probable make.

?

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

2S S = (3)

2S S -1; 3S S -1 (3)

3C W =

?

11:

?

...............J985

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

...............9542

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

KQ.........................A107

KQJ6.....................1084

KQJ6.....................10

Q87........................KJ9632

...............6432

...............A95

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

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

?

1D from South and West presumably doubles before bidding no-trumps, although this is a poor 19-count. If East bids only 2C in reply to the double, the hand can easily raise to 3NT. That there were?seven contracts of 3NT W and one of 3NT E seemed a bit low. The one-offs were 1NT W, 2H W, 2NT W and 4C W (?).

?

In all three denominations N-S could take South's aces and nothing more. Helen and Erik both took ten tricks as declarer. Helen's play began with the club ace, another club and a diamond to the ace. South then had to cash the ace of hearts but led a spade instead. Conndy were N-S top defending 4C W =.

?

4C W =

2H E +2

1NT W +3; 2NT W +2

3NT W +1 (6)

3NT E +2; 3NT W +2

?

12:

?

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

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

...............KQ108742

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

KJ107..........................53

105..............................KQ98763

J93..............................6

Q1092.........................K87

...............Q9864

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

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

...............A654

?

1D from North and then East bids some number of hearts from 1H to 4H. South will bid 1S or 2S, likely double 3H or 4H. Best outcome for N-S will be to play 3NT, but 4H removes that possibility and P-1D-3H-X is a tricky one for North. Bob was the only North who found a 3NT reply to a negative double of 3H and be left there. Contracts were 3H E, 3S S, 3NT N, 4D N five times, 4S S, 5D N twice and 5Hx E.

?

North has ten tricks in no-trumps and only ten in diamonds despite not having to fear a running suit. One declarer in 4D took twelve tricks and Bob was N-S top in 3NT +2 on a low heart lead when an honour would not have allowed him to score the jack. An opening lead of a minor allows North to get a club ruff and hold hearts to eight tricks; Matty posted the par 5Hx -3 to score 10/11. Spade contracts get ugly, held to seven tricks by a heart or club lead. Keianne took their par six tricks against 4S for E-W top.

?

3NT N +2

5Hx E -3

4D N +2

4D N = (4)

3H E -2

3S S -1; 5D N -1 (2)

4S S -3

?

13:

?

...............AQ94

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

...............AK9

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

K8..............................J2

AK97..........................J8652

8763...........................QJ102

643.............................87

...............107653

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

...............54

...............Q1052

?

This was similar to Board 4 in reverse except that opener is a bit stronger and has even better support?while responder has a side Q10xx instead of a singleton king. The opening bid is 2C with a 2NT rebid instead of 2NT. 2NT N was left in thrice. Two Norths did not pre-accept a transfer and South opted to let 3S go. Strangely two Norths declared 3NT. Four Norths declared 4S. One West got into the bidding (presumably thinking it would do no harm to throw in a lead-directing 2H after 2C-P-2D) and ended declaring 4H - undoubled.

?

No E-W pair took their five tricks against no-trumps. The usual lead was the diamond queen; trick counts were nine, ten, eleven twice and twelve (N-S top) for Connie. Spades take eleven tricks with the trumps behaving. At IMPs, with exactly two losers in the other suits, declarer should play the ace first to avoid losing two tricks when East holds a singleton king. At matchpoints, if one thinks 4S is likely to be played at most tables, the finesse is more than three times as likely to produce an extra trick and may well gain in score over the long run. Paul, Rich and Larry all posted +650; Judy (G) +620. Jatin got very lucky; not only did he avoid the double but two leads from North each dropped a trick and allowed him to scape for -2 and a score of 10/11 thanks to declarer's overperformance in no-trumps.

?

3NT N +3

4S N +1 (3)

4S N =

3NT N =

2NT N +3 (2)

3S N +2 (2); 4H W -2

2NT N +2

?

14:

?

...............KJ97

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

...............A1092

...............K1096

5................................AQ1032

AQ543.......................9

K6543........................QJ8

A4..............................8752

...............864

...............KJ10762

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

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

?

2H from South should silence both West and North. East will probably balance with either 2S or a double. West may be tempted to leave the double in, although it would be nice if the trump spots were better. West might bid no-trumps or diamonds over a double or an overcall. Contracts were 2H S twice, 2S E twice, 2NT E(!), 2NT W twice, 3D W, 3Hx S, 3NT W twice and 4D W.

?

The E-W hands fit well enough that the best defence against diamonds is for North to sacrifice the probable second trump fit and lead the ace and another, holding declarer to nine tricks. Steve took eleven tricks in 3D but Conndy were able to defend 4D -3. No-trumps can be held to eight tricks because the diamonds do not establish easily.?Three of the four declarers in no-trumps held themselves to seven tricks (Matty's 3NT -3 tied Conndy for N-S top), reasonable without getting the diamond position right. A club lead holds spades to seven tricks; the diamond ruff helps declarer more than it hurts. Declarer can duck in dummy but the South switches to a spade and eventually N-S get two spade tricks, three clubs and the diamond ace. Paun defended 2S -2 but Gene made 2S, one of only three successful contracts. Hearts can be held to five tricks after a spade lead. Ritold were E-W top defending 3Hx -3 for the E-W top. NJ scored 9/11 for a surprising 2H =. West led the club ace instead of a spade, switched to a spade and then East returned a heart.?NJ was then able to draw trumps and score four heart tricks, three clubs and the diamond ace.

?

3NT W -3; 4D W -3

2H S =

2S E -2; 2NT W -2; 3NT W -2

2NT E -1; 2NT W -1

2H S -2

2S E =

3D W +2

3Hx S -3

?

15:

?

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

...............KQ

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

...............A109652

Q1098643..........A5

53.......................AJ1076

Q10.....................KJ5

84.......................J73

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

...............9842

...............A962

...............KQ

?

South opens 1D and then West bids 2S, 3S or 4S. One West passed, leading to the auction 1D-P-3D-3H. One South ended in 3NT, likely after 1D-3S-X-P; 3NT. At every other table West played in spades: 2S, 3S thrice, 4S thrice and 4Sx thrice.

?

It was unfortunate that South opened 1D, as a club or heart lead is required for N-S to collect their five tricks against spades. Declarer in 2S and five of the six declarers at the four-level took eight tricks but all three 3S contracts were made by Ken, Del and Carl, while Rita posted 4S -1. Par for hearts was seven tricks; it did not matter how many tricks Jurcia set 3H (in the end it was three). NJ made 3NT, which could have finished -3. The defence began with two rounds of spades (it was necessary to switch to a heart; a low heart both establishes the suit and prevents declarer from enjoying the blocked clubs).

?

3NT S =

4Sx W -2 (3)

3H E -3

4S W -2 (2)

4S W -1

2S W =

3S W = (3)

?

16:

?

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

...............K10932

...............Q932

...............J2

J6532......................K

A..............................QJ876

KJ75........................A4

AQ10.......................98643

...............A10974

...............54

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

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

?

East was lucky to hold so many HCP, as at least it was possible to choose a rebid of 2NT after 1S-1NT; 2D. Make the heart queen the deuce and East would have not even close to a good call. Curiously, however, 3NT E was only reached once. Two Wests left 1NT E in. Over 2D, one East passed, two bid 2H and were left there and another gave a false preference back to 2S. One North got into the auction and got stuck in 2Hx. West declared in no-trumps four times, 2NT and 3NT thrice. A 1NT opening bid and a 2H response from East both seem rather unlikely.

?

A diamond lead (or spade ace and diamond switch) holds East to seven tricks in no-trumps even if declarer guesses the clubs correctly; West always has eight tricks declaring with good guessing. But East declaring overperformed while West had a mixed bag - six, seven, eight and nine tricks, Erik playing 3NT W =. Gene was E-W top in 3NT E +1; both South and North helped by leading a heart when a diamond or spade would have been in order. A trump lead holds spades to seven tricks; Rita played 2S W =. Linj took their par five tricks to score 8/11 defending 2D W =. The pleasant surprise for East is how well 2H plays; if anything North's holding five trumps helps as South can never overruff. A diamond or spade lead allows East to score four ruffs and come to nine tricks total; a club or heart lead removes a vital entry to the West hand for that ninth trick. Helen took nine tricks in 2H E; Conndy held declarer to eight.

?

2NT W -2; 3NT W -2

3NT W -1

2D W =

2H E =; 2S W =

1NT E +1

2H E +1

1NT E +2

3NT W =

3NT E +1

2Hx N -4

?

17:

?

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

...............1082

...............KQ108543

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

J94.................................KQ863

Q43................................AK9

AJ2.................................----

6532 ..............................KQ1087

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

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

...............976

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

?

Over 3D from North, does East double or bid 3S? Does South come in? West might pass a double, bid 3NT or even 3H, which occurred at least thrice. 3S might be passed or raised. Contracts were 3Dx N twice, 3S E, 3NT W thrice, 4D N, 4H W twice and 4S E thrice. The longest auction was 3D-X-P-3H; P-3S-P-3NT; P-4H-P-4S; although it does not work I prefer 3NT.

?

The cards lay ideally for N-S against 3NT. North leads a diamond and switches to a club; South returns a diamond to establish the suit and North still has an entry in the spade ace. As the clubs do not run, -4 is possible and was recorded by Lourene. But Ken made 3NT W when North, after winning the first diamond, continued with a heart. Jatin also made 3NT W. Keeping as much control as possible will let West escape with eight tricks in hearts, but players are so unused to games in 3-3 fits that Cliborah posted 4H -3 and Boric 4H -4, tying Boric with Lourene for N-S top. In diamonds declarer had a striaghtforward five losers; Linda and Larry were above average playing 3Dx -1 but Carthurl bettered par by one trick to score above average defending 4D -3. The spade declarers took ten tricks (giving Jim and Sarah a tie for E-W top) except against Matty; declarer erred by cashing the heart king at trick eleven:

?

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

..........10

..........108

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

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

4..................K

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

65................108

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

..........J7

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

..........J

?

3NT W -4; 4H W -4

4H W -3

4S E -1

3Dx N -1 (2)

4D N -3

3S E +1

3NT W = (2)

4S E = (2)

?

18:

?

...............9543

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

...............AK10752

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

AK............................J86

A10753.....................Q862

J94...........................Q6

J105..........................A943

...............Q1072

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

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

...............K762

?

West played in hearts at every table. After P-P-1H-2D, East raised to 2H or 3H. 2H was left in five times, North being scared out of a clear balance by the vulnerability. Six Wests played 3H and one 4H.

?

Hearts had a straightforward nine tricks, losing one trump, two diamonds and one club. Marudy held 2H to eight tricks, while N-S top went to Lernot for defending 4H -3; every other N-S pair scored -140. 3D would have finished -1. Had North or South played 2S, eight tricks would have been par. E-W must force North to ruff to kill off the diamond suit. A club force means using East's only entry early while a heart force has to come from West and lets South discard a loser from North to set up the jack.

?

4H W -3

2H W =

2H W +1 (4); 3H W = (6)