1:
?
...............KJ10986
...............Q83
...............865
...............9
AQ.............................7532
J62............................975
K432.........................Q107
Q843.........................1062
...............4
...............AK104
...............AJ9
...............AKJ75
?
North's 2S opening bid blunts South's enthusiasm. Game is still likely, but with the misfit it is far from certain. If N-S are playing an asking system that has North indicate suit quality over a 2NT ask from South, that may be the way to go, as 3NT may well be the better try opposite a weak spade suit and 4S opposite a good suit, especially as, the better the suit, the less North will hold on the outside. Contracts were 2S N, 2NT S, 3NT S thrice and 4S N twice.
?
The spade layout is remarkably fortunate for N-S; there is only one spade loser and spades can be established and run in no-trumps. Eleven tricks can be forced in either denomination, although both 3NT and 4S look like making with more normal spade splits. The internal solidity of the spades makes 4S look better. Mayne began well with E-W top defending 3NT -1 when South ducked the opening diamond lead and then played out hearts rather than spades. Jeff was N-S top in 3NT S +3, with Leigh Ann next in 4S N +2.
?
3NT S +3
4S N +2
4S N =
3NT S =
2S N +4
2NT S +1
3NT S -1
?
2:
?
...............AKJ2
...............97
...............Q4
...............KJ1087
107..........................543
A2...........................QJ863
KJ5.........................8732
A95432...................Q
...............Q986
...............K1054
...............A1096
...............6
?
West pens 1C and North passes, although pairs that eat up the whole one-level might overcall 1S. West likely bids to at least 2C. 2C W was the contract once. A few Souths came in with a double. Venturing past 2C was dangerous for West, as 3Cx W was the contract twice, once after the auction P-P-1C-P; 1H-X-2C-2S; P-P-3C-X, West going on once too often.? 3S N was the contract thrice and 4S N once.
?
West could be held to five tricks in clubs, which was the result in both the 3Cx contracts, giving both Rekenee and Leighry a score of +800 and a tie for N-S top. All the declarers in spades took ten tricks, as East could not lead both a diamond and a heart on the first trick. 4S S might have had a chance of eleven tricks, as East can likely be kept off lead entirely. Marudy picked up an extra trick which they desperately needed to turn a bottom score into the middle; declarer led the club ace at trick eight instead of a low club or a diamond.
?
3Cx W -4 (2)
4S N =
2C W -4
3S N +1 (3)
?
3:
?
...............Q875
...............AQ2
...............AK8
...............K86
AK63....................J42
J10........................7654
QJ6.......................1075
AJ43.....................1075
...............109
...............K983
...............9432
...............Q92
?
West opened 1NT and put North on the spot. One West opened 1C, letting North overcall 1NT. Five Norths had no option but to pass and defend 1NT. The last North doubled and then passed South's reply of 2C, likely indicating some sort of misunderstanding.
?
The heart ace or a high diamond allow N-S a three-trick set of 1NT W, although Rekenee and Jamob tied for N-S top defending 1NT -2. Kevin took an extra trick in 1NT N +3. Rita, Mark and Lynn all made 1NT W, Lynn after South discarded a heart and then North ducked the second diamond when Lynn led from J6 to the 107 in dummy, the ten proving to be the crucial entry for a club finesse.
?
1NT W -2 (2)
1NT N +3
1NT W = (3)
2C S -1
?
4:
?
...............32
...............742
...............AJ964
...............QJ9
AQ976...................J85
K6..........................QJ53
87...........................KQ2
K1063.....................A74
...............K104
...............A1098
...............1053
...............852
?
1S from West and then it was just a question of whether E-W ended in 4S or 3NT. East would like to be able to show three spades and a no-trumpish hand; West would likely choose spades.
?
West can always take eleven tricks in spades if diamonds are played before hearts, although that also entails playing South for the king and ten of spades.?Rita and Judy (R) both took eleven tricks in spades, but the trio of Jevin, Rekenee and Jamob all defeated 4S one trick, Rekenee after a club was led at trick nine, allowing a ruff, when either a spade or a heart would have saved the make. 3NT E can be held to ten tricks by a club lead, allowing N-S to force three tricks. But that still entailed bringing in the spades without a loser. Wayne took the ten tricks that could have been forced in 3NT; Elott held declarer to nine.
?
4S W -1 (3)
3NT E =
3NT E +1
4S W +1 (2)
?
5:
?
...............7
...............109643
...............Q
...............QJ8763
K.............................108532
AQ82......................K5
AJ83.......................K972
A952.......................K10
...............AQJ964
...............J7
...............10654
...............4
?
This time South opened 2S in third seat on an unimpeachable suit and West doubled. Over to East. Three Easts were lured by the vulnerability to take a shot at defending 2Sx. The others all bid diamonds finishing in 3D thrice and 4D as well. Nobody took a crack at the cold 3NT, alas.
?
The key on defence is for E-W to draw North's singleton trump. West can even lead the singleton king of spades into South's AQJ964. E-W can then pick up their seven tricks in the side suits, as South's diamonds are all losers as soon as North's trump is gone, and then East gets a trump trick for an extra undertrick. Only Filma took their eight tricks defending 2Sx, although the three 2Sx contracts took the top three E-W scores. Breta had the best result of the 2Sx declarers; after the aces of clubs and then diamonds, West led another club and she had a safe -1 when either the spade or a heart would have served. Diamond contracts had ten tricks; declarers were evenly divided between ten and nine. More than ten tricks would have been possible had the clubs split 5-2 instead of 6-1 and had the North and South hands been swapped.
?
3D E = (2)
3D E +1; 4D E =
2Sx S -1
2Sx S -2
2Sx S -3
?
6:
?
...............AJ9632
...............AQ
...............102
...............843
Q1075......................8
9...............................K10752
8763.........................KQJ94
QJ105.......................A7
...............K4
...............J8643
...............A5
...............K962
?
East opened 1H and it appears that most Wests responded 1S, later leaving East in diamonds. If West passed, North entered the auction in spades. Contracts tended to stay low, with one notable exception: 1S N, 2D E thrice, 2S N, 3D E and 3NT W.
?
Jevin always had a three-trick set of 3NT and picked up a fourth undertrick when declarer led the club queen to the king at trick five instead of a diamond; West got locked in dummy. Diamonds could have been held to eight tricks by a low heart lead. Steve and Wayne took ten tricks in diamonds, one declarer took nine and one took eight. N-S could force nine spade tricks with careful play but were almost sure to underperform, with Karlene's eight tricks in 1S +1 a reasonable result while Loubot managed to post 2S -2 after declarer lost control of the trumps.
?
3NT W -4
1S N +1
2S N -2
2D E =
3D E =
2D E +2 (2)
?
7:
?
...............1082
...............73
...............Q107532
...............K5
AKQ5........................974
842............................QJ65
94..............................K6
J764...........................A983
...............J63
...............AK109
...............AJ8
...............Q102
?
The main decision here seems to lie with North. South opens 1NT; does North drive to 3D or leave 1NT in? Without the club king one would move in a flash. With it no-trumps might well score better. We'll have to leave aside the chance that South will have the golden hand Jxxx Axx AKx Axx; there really is no clear way to ask for both maximum and good fit. 1NT S was left in three times and 3D N was played once. 2NT S and 4D N were both played, along with the strange 2H S.
?
North took nine tricks in diamonds. As so often happens, no-trumps ought to have suffered due to lack of entries. But here East must be charged with careless defence. West often began with four spades and switched to a club. With the doubleton king in diamonds and North's holding doubleton king in clubs. East has no reason to play the ace on the first club when holding the ace guarantees that South is locked out of dummy. As the ace will drop the king on the next round, there is not even any possible loss in clubs. But Jeff, Henry and Bob were allowed eight tricks and a score of +120. Only Ritold held declarer to seven tricks; East's holding the club ace leaves South with nothing better to do than lose a diamond and hope no opponent holds Kxx. Loubot set 2H two tricks for E-W top.
?
1NT S +1 (2); 2NT S =
3D N =
1NT S =
4D N -1
2H S -2
?
8:
?
...............632
...............K852
...............943
...............863
1054.....................AKJ98
J109763...............----
Q8........................AJ7
Q4........................AJ1097
...............Q7
...............AQ4
...............K10652
...............K52
?
Multiple Wests opened 2H (matchpoints; I would not open a weak two-bid with a Losing Trick Count of ten) and then we had nearly a repeat of Board 1. East has a slightly weaker hand and less in partner's suit but a major. If East can hit three-card support or even Qx, 4S has good chances. East came in over 2H and played in spades at every table but one, 2S along with 4S five times. At the seventh table, South misread the auction and "supported" North by bidding 4C, playing there doubled.
?
Loubot dropped a trick defending but posted 4Cx -7 for the highest score of the game at +1700. Spades usually began well as South generally led a minor, although there was the counterpoint that East often received a second entry to dummy that allowed two finesses and took the losing trump finesse. Nancy was the only declarer to drop the spade queen after she found herself in dummy for the only time with both clubs and spades still to play. Her twelve tricks scored 5/6. Jevin were N-S top for getting to defend 2S E +3; the others all posted +450 in 4S +1.
?
2S E +3
4S E +1 (4)
4S E +2
4Cx S -7
?
9:
?
...............93
...............94
...............AKQ1073
...............763
82...............................AKJ654
Q65.............................KJ7
9864............................J52
K942............................10
...............Q107
...............A10832
...............----
...............AQJ85
?
2D-2S and then what? One East passed and North also left in South's 2H response (Alertable if non-forcing). 2S was left in twice and left in doubled once. Multiple pairs had other meanings for a 2D opening bid and had to open 3D or 1D. 3D N was left in twice; the highest contract was 3S E.
?
2S always makes because North never gets in to take the diamonds. If N-S could cash three diamonds first, declarer would be -1 at best. A diamond contract would be held to eight tricks by a club lead but would still require ensuring West gains the lead in hearts before trumps can be drawn; the club ruff is E-W's fifth trick. Leighry were N-S top posting 2S -3; after ace and another heart declarer finessed in trumps allowing a heart ruff and the cashing of the diamonds. Louise completed a triumphant round by playing 2Sx +1 for E-W top.
?
2S E -3
3S E -2
3D N = (2)
2H S -2
2S E =
2Sx E +1
?
10:
?
...............85
...............A8643
...............A93
...............K62
1043........................AKQ73
KQJ5.......................109
Q5............................KJ1072
9854.........................3
...............J96
...............72
...............874
...............AQJ107
?
1S-2S to start. North might bid 3H over 2S non-vulnerable, especially if South is not an avid balancer, but vulnerability invites discretion. East has invitational values due to distribution; the hand is likely to make 4S opposite either the queen or ace of diamonds and probably not at all opposite three small in the suit unless West has something like the aces in both clubs and hearts. If East gets to invite game with 3D, West should accept with the doubleton queen. If North bids 3H directly over 2S, East can show an invitational hand with a Maximal Double, which West can joyfully convert to a penalty double by passing. Contracts were 2S E twice, 3H N and 3S E four times, a little disappointing.
?
Spades always take ten tricks. Even if South finds the inspired club lead, declarer can draw trumps, establish and cash the diamonds, and there can only be two club forces as North holds both red-suit entries. A set would require 4-4 clubs and a club lead. All declarers in spades took ten tricks. Much rode on how Ken fared in 3H. E-W must get the diamonds going early; if North is allowed to draw two rounds of hearts then declarer gets four club tricks and escapes for -1, necessary for a good score given the vulnerability. E-W did establish the diamonds in time but East led a third spade at trick six instead of the diamond king, letting Ken out with -100 and the N-S top.
?
3H N -1
2S E +2 (2); 3S E +1 (4)
?
11:
?
...............3
...............93
...............AKJ10982
...............1076
AKQJ9.....................872
AQJ8765..................104
Q...............................7654
----............................AKQ5
...............10654
...............K2
...............3
...............J98432
?
West opened 1H, 2C or a silly 4H. The hand is not quite ideal for the old Vanderbilt 2D opening bid to ask for specific aces, then kings (and then queens), as East could hold xxxxx x xxx xxxx with fine play for 6S. I suppose the 1H openers wanted to be sure of getting the spades into the auction; there was little chance of the auction's ending in 1H. The bad luck of the club duplication meant that E-W would get too high: one auction was P-2C-3D-X(?); P-6H. The query after the double is because East has no particular desire to defend; all doubles by the partner of a 2C opening bidder should be penalty-oriented. I like playing that a double of an immediate overcall denies an ace or king in any other suit. Contracts were 4H W thrice, 4S W, 6H W twice and 6S W.
?
Fortunately for N-S there was no question North would make the disastrous opening lead of a club! The heart contracts all took eleven tricks except that Leighry were allowed a third trick; this was the most tragic case of Lack of an Entry, as the heart finesse would have worked could declarer but have taken it. East's club honours were irrelevant in heart contracts but the ace mattered very much in spades. North forced West in diamonds, but then declarer could draw?even only some of the trumps and then concede the first heart to South, who could not prevent West's taking eleven tricks. 6S was duly -1 as was 6H but Jamob set 4S when declarer, having drawn trumps, let dummy win the second heart with the 10, blocking declarer out of hand.
?
4S W -1; 6H W -1 (2); 6S W -1
4H W =
4H W +1 (2)
?
12:
?
...............7653
...............A95
...............A75
...............J74
KQ1098............AJ4
KJ4...................10862
KQ3...................982
K3......................1062
...............2
...............Q73
...............J1064
...............AQ985
?
One West opened 1NT and played it there. After 1S, one East passed, leading to 1S-P-P-X; P-2H. All other auctions reached game(!): 3NT E twice, 3NT W and 4S W twice. West's lack of aces argued for a slightly more conservative tack.
?
West as declarer had the good luck of North's not having any really attractive opening lead. East declaring 3NT received a club lead and then both declarers could have been thankful to escape for -1, tying 4S -1, although that could have finished -2 as well. Mary was the one successful declarer in game, playing 3NT W +1 after the helpful opening lead of a heart gave her the make. Mark took ten tricks in 1NT W as well, but anything from seven to ten would have scored the same. Study could have taken eight tricks against 2H N but reasonably aimed for -2 and +200 for the same score.
?
3NT E -1 (2); 4S W -1 (2)
1NT W +3
2H N -2
3NT W +1
?
13:
?
...............KQ1042
...............KQ4
...............K1093
...............10
7.............................A93
832.........................AJ1097
QJ4.........................A
KJ8643...................Q975
...............J865
...............65
...............87652
...............A2
?
North opens 1S and East wants to do something. Two-level overcalls on five-card suits are not ideal but the extra strength makes passing dangerous as well. South raises to 2S or perhaps with some form of Bergen to the three-level. Does West stretch to come in with 4H after 1S-2H-3S? Contracts were 2S N twice, 3H E, 3S N thrice, 4S N and 4Sx N.
?
4H can make despite the club ruff; 5C (however hard to reach, but just perhaps possible rather than 5H if N-S compete to 4S) can make if declarer prevents the heart ruff. Spades come to nine tricks if North avoids leading a diamond to the king; West never gets on lead for the defensive ruffing finesse. Spade contracts all took nine tricks, creating a four-way tie for N-S top between Kevin, Ken, Leigh Ann and Jamie. E-W top was a tie between Wayne's 3H +2 when N-S did not find the club ruff and Linn's defending 4Sx -1.
?
2S N +1; 3S N = (3)
4S N -1
3H E +2; 4Sx N -1
?
14:
?
...............3
...............KJ873
...............KQ
...............AQ832
AJ2..........................K10965
A109........................Q6
A73..........................J982
10754.......................K6
...............Q874
...............542
...............10654
...............J9
?
P-P-1C-1H; 1S-P and it is back to West. If 1S shows five, West raises to 2S and then North has a Now or Never chance. If 1S does not promise more than four West likely rebids 1NT. 1NT was played once and 2S thrice. Higher contracts were 2NT W, 3Hx N and 4Hx N.
?
Spades can take nine tricks with a loser in each suit (East can draw trumps but will then lose a second diamond). 1NT can also take nine tricks if declarer finesses South for the spade queen. Happily the clubs block if North leads a club instead of a heart. Hearts can take eight tricks; after a spade force, club to the king and another spade force, North crosses to the club jack, then leads a heart to the king, the blocking suit preventing E-W from a sixth trick and it does not help West to win the ace; a club lead to let East ruff with the queen lets South discard a spade to protect from a third force of North. Loubot defended 4Hx -3 for E-W top. Ken managed to get everything he had coming to him for 3Hx -1 and N-S top. Leighry were second N-S defending 2NT =; Nancy played 2S +2 and everyone else took nine tricks; a bit surprising as it seemed E-W declarers would underperform.
?
3Hx N -1
2NT W =
2S E +1 (2)
1NT W +2
2S E +2
4Hx N -3
?
15:
?
...............QJ6
...............32
...............A972
...............K753
A943.....................1052
Q1054...................J6
Q3.........................J10865
QJ8.......................A62
...............K87
...............AK987
...............K4
...............1094
?
Were N-S playing 1NT forcing? If not, 1H-1NT ended the auction. If so, we saw 1H-1NT; 2c and then North had to choose between 2H, 2NT and 3C. 2H looks to be the prudent choice, especially if partner would upgrade a 14-count with a strong heart suit to a 1NT opening. Any of those ended the auction. Contracts were 1NT N thrice, 2H S, 2NT N twice and 3C S.
?
1NT takes a fairly straightforward seven tricks if neither side gives the other significant help. 2H comes down to which side can force the other to break the frozen club suit; E-W can win that little battle and force a sixth trick. Club contracts can take eight tricks by force because the clubs can be saved for after declarer banks the six tricks in the side suits. Then almost any ruff will allow declarer to force two winners from trumps one way or another. Declarers in 3C and 2NT along with one declarer in 1NT took the expected number of tricks. Martin made 2H after the natural opening lead of the club queen. Scott and Karlene played 1NT +1 to tie for N-S top.
?
1NT N +1 (2)
2H S =
1NT N =
2NT N -1 (2); 3C S -1
?
16:
?
...............54
...............84
...............AK9854
...............A62
KQ9762..................AJ108
J95..........................Q3
63............................QJ7
104..........................KQJ3
...............3
...............AK10762
...............102
...............9875
?
West opens 2S and North has a light but reasonable 3D overcall. East has a lot of points but a lot of quacks, not the best honours to have opposite a weak two-bid. If the clubs were AQxx, I'd be tempted to take a shot at 3NT, but with only one diamond stopper and no fast tricks outside of spades that rates unlikely to succeed. One benefit of interference from North is that East cannot bid 2NT to look for game and may well just go to 4S on the ten trumps, although 3S looks likely to be enough on the strength of the hand. I have some admiration for both North if the bidding goes 2S-3D-3S-4H; both North and South know the value of a six-card suit headed by ace-king.
?
N-S have five top tricks against spades (but note; give East AQ32 of clubs and North KJ6, and 3NT breezes in on the lead of either red suit). Declarer gets nine tricks in diamonds; if E-W prevent the?spade ruff declarer has time to establish hearts. Hearts can be held to eight tricks by a club lead or switch - two rounds of spades lets South draw two trumps and ruff the third diamond, drawing the last trump if West does not overruff. Bob in 4H and Henry in 3H both took eleven tricks on that line. Three of the four declarers in spades took the expected eight tricks; Marudy managed to post 4S -3 for 5/6 matchpoints. Any set of 5D would have been E-W top for Mayne; they actually posted 5Dx -3.
?
4H S +1
4S W -3
3H S +2; 4S W -2 (2)
3S E -1
5Dx N -3
?
17:
?
...............A62
...............AQ84
...............Q9
...............A832
KQ104..................95
752.......................KJ963
A1084...................K3
Q4.........................9765
...............J873
...............10
...............J7652
...............KJ10
?
1NT N could well have gone around and did so five times. Two Easts were able to come in, doubtless hoping not to have to declare the hand in clubs. South came out well not competing over 2H either with a lebensohl 2NT followed by 3D or a negative double for those pairs playing that over 1NT. Of 2S N, 3C N or 3D S, none look very appealing.
?
1NT can be set by an obscure line but on the natural heart lead declarer can lead a diamond to the nine and come in with seven tricks. Ritold managed to set 1NT for the E-W top. Leigh Ann took nine tricks for N-S top; East lead a heart at trick three and then West ducked the first round of diamonds when it was necessary to preserve East's king. 2H could have taken eight tricks, but declarer would have needed to lead a heart to the jack first; both declarers took a reasonable seven tricks.
?
1NT N +2 (2)
3H E -2
1NT N = (2)
2H E -1
1NT N -1
?
18:
?
...............Q6
...............J854
...............965
...............Q762
752.......................A1083
72.........................Q96
KQJ32..................8
K94.......................AJ1053
...............KJ94
...............AK103
...............A1074
...............8
?
This was the only hand with contracts in four different denominations. East usually opened 1C, South doubled and West came in with 1D or perhaps 1NT. North sometimes came in with hearts and East occasionally with spades. One East passed, producing P-1D-P-P; X, West liking defensive chances despite not holding most of the honour strength between the side and North showing good courage in sitting. East's opening led to 1NT E, 2D W, 2H N, 2H S, 2S E and 3H N.
?
1Dx can be held to six tricks through the usual line of drawing trumps; West draws North's trumps and reverts to clubs; South never even gets to the North hand for a heart finesse and finishes with two winners each in spades, hearts and diamonds. But after a non-trump lead Breta made an overtrick in 1Dx for the N-S top. Eight tricks were available in hearts but Jeff and Leigh Ann both took nine, Jeff after East led a trump at tick three instead of a club. Lin took her expected eight tricks in 1NT E for E-W top. 2S E was the expected -1.
?
1Dx S +1
2H S +1; 3H N =
2H N =
2D W -2
2S E -1
1NT E +1
