1:
?
...............QJ1032
...............----
...............AKJ6
...............J987
85.............................AK974
K532.........................AJ106
7543..........................109
1054..........................62
...............6
...............Q9874
...............Q82
...............AKQ3
?
North's 1S opening bid shuts East out of the auction. South responds 2H and then it's hard to avoid 3NT unless somehow the pair manages to finish in 5C.
?
3NT can be defeated but was made all three times. Against Louise, West found the heart lead but East played the ten and Louise had her nine tricks. Against Harry and Erik East just missed the heart switch despite two chances to find it. It looks as if 5C can just make thanks to the ruffing finesse in spades even against trump leads. Declarer will be able to ruff two clubs and draw trumps, losing just two spades.?
?
3NT S = by Harry, Louise and Erik
?
2:
?
...............A108
...............J73
...............Q108542
...............J
Q964........................732
K1052.......................A4
AK9...........................7
Q10...........................AK98542
...............KJ5
...............Q986
...............J63
...............763
?
East opens 1C and West eventually breezes into 3NT. Everyone arrived in the same contract again.
?
The play was quite simple. Unless N-S cashed three spade tricks declarer could run eleven tricks. As nobody led a spade declarer took at least eleven tricks. Bob scored all thirteen when both opponents unguarded the hearts.
?
3NT W +2 vs Lourene and Jerik
3NT W +4 by Bob
?
3:
?
...............AK8
...............10982
...............82
...............AK73
Q1072...................93
A53.......................764
K97.......................QJ543
865........................J104
...............J654
...............KQJ
...............A106
...............Q92
?
This looked like our third consecutive hand with everyone in 3NT. But one North responded 1NT to 1D and another pair had a long auction finishing in 3H N. Even the one auction that did reach game could have stopped too low: 1C-1H; 1S-2C; 2H-2S; 3NT.
?
Declarer could take ten tricks in 3NT even after a diamond lead as East had no entry. Louise only took nine tricks but had won the hand in the auction. 1NT and 3H both took ten tricks.
?
3NT S = by Louise
1NT N +3 by Jim
3H N +1 vs Harob
?
Leaders: Harob 5, Lourene 4.5, Jerik 3.5
?
4:
?
...............J8542
...............A82
...............K96
...............AQ
Q10763...................K
KQ65......................J973
Q5...........................AJ872
92............................KJ4
...............A9
...............104
...............1043
...............1087653
?
North opened 1S. When East passed, that ended the auction. The other two Easts doubled, the auction ending in 2H W both times.
?
With the diamonds splitting beautifully, heart contracts can be held to nine tricks if the opening lead is a spade or the ace of clubs. 1S can be defeated one trick by a major lead. Zeerry and Heve produced the expected defensive results against 2H and 1S; Erik took ten tricks in 2H after a trump switch gave him time.
?
1S N -1 by Harold
2H W +1 by Gareth
2H W +2 by Erik
?
5:
?
...............653
...............J42
...............K10972
...............Q4
Q107.......................KJ94
Q7...........................AK93
AQ43......................J5
AK63......................982
...............A82
...............10865
...............86
...............J1075
?
It looked as if West would get to 3NT, although some Wests might think of more if East opened the bidding. One auction did go higher: 1C-1D; 1H-1S; 2S-6NT. The other two auctions ended in 3NT W.
?
Ten tricks in no-trumps seemed the limit. Declarer in 6NT pressed for more against Zeerry, who posted -3 for the N-S top. Hank and Erik took the expected ten tricks.
?
6NT W -3 vs Zeerry
3NT W +1 by Hank and Erik
?
6:
?
...............54
...............A8753
...............853
...............765
8............................AKQ103
KQ102...................J
KJ976....................A
AK10......................QJ9843
...............J9762
...............964
...............Q1042
...............2
?
Here was a rather better slam. One auction sputtered and ended in 3NT E after a 1S opening bid, which started almost all the trouble. Jerik knew early on they were in the slam zone and just had to find a denomination, eventually producing 1C-2C; 3C-3D; 3S-4NT; 5D-6NT. A natural 1C opening bid produced 1C-1D; 2S-3NT(!); 4S-6NT.
?
Declarer had twelve easy tricks in no-trumps. Erik was E-W top in 6NT +1 when North underled the ace of hearts, which gave declarer twelve top tricks and almost gave declarer a legitimate squeeze for the thirteenth. That could not have been accomplished because of entries (there was no way to cash all the other winners and have West on lead when East was down to AKQ10 in spades) but South helped Erik by unguarding the spades anyway.
?
6NT W +1 by Erik
6NT W = by Gareth
3NT E +3 vs Harob
?
Leaders: Harob 9.5, Jerik 9
?
7:
?
...............AJ543
...............A1075
...............J72
...............J
K86.......................7
3............................K84
K1065....................843
A9874....................KQ10532
...............Q1092
...............QJ962
...............AQ9
...............6
?
I was a little surprised all the auctions got to game, although after a 1H opening bid from South North is good enough for a splinter raise. So is South if North opens in third seat, although an opening bid from North gives East a chance to overcall. Whatever the auction a splinter raise from either side give either East or West a chance to double and find the decent sacrifice in 5C, which is down either one or two tricks depending on whether N-S can start the diamonds in time. We finished with two contracts of 4S N and one of 4H S.
?
Either major game can take ten tricks, but 4S was defeated when West was able to switch to the singleton heart and declarer opted for a finesse. Bob took eleven tricks in 4H when the defence never managed a diamond winner.
?
4H S +1 by Bob
4S N -1 vs Heve and Jerik
?
8:
?
...............Q973
...............73
...............AJ5
...............AK72
J1065........................A2
KQ.............................J10986542
86..............................3
QJ1093......................84
...............K84
...............A
...............KQ109742
...............65
?
If East stays quiet N-S are likely to stop in game. The auction I saw on which East did nothing but pass finished in 3NT S. I did not see the second auction, which ended in 5D S. The third auction was P-1C-3H-5D; P-6D, the sort of raise only a Robot would be likely to find. I think I prefer 4D from South and then 6D over a 5D raise; South has the loser count to expect to make slam opposite diamond support.
?
Bob took eleven tricks in 3NT after a non-heart lead. In diamonds the key to a twelfth trick was finding one opponent with the spade ace singleton or doubleton. Fortunately for Gareth in 6D East had pre-empted in hearts and was therefore going to be the opponent likely to be short in spades. After a heart lead Gareth even had the chance of an endplay: heart ace, club ace, heart ruff, club king, club ruff, diamond jack, club ruff, diamond ace, spade to the king. On this hand there is little practical chance of deriving benefit from an endplay but it is a useful technique to keep in mind. Gareth made 6D when East rose with the ace on the first spade, but I shall assert that of course he was going to play low from both hands on the second round and crash the ace anyway.
?
6D S = by Gareth
3NT S +2 by Bob
5D S = vs Heve
?
9:
?
..............32
..............1062
..............Q1053
..............K985
KQJ7....................108654
87.........................543
8742.....................KJ6
J102.....................Q4
..............A9
..............AKQJ9
..............A9
..............A763
?
One South opened 3NT, ending the auction. The others both opened 2C, reaching 4H by slightly less expeditious means.
?
3NT was the IMPs choice with nine unstoppable top tricks. Alas we were playing matchpoints. 3NT ran off nine tricks as expected against Jerik but 4H also made when the clubs split 3-2. Declarers poked around in diamonds but could not get anything worth an overtrick, although that would have been possible if the East and West hands had been reversed.
?
4H S = by Harry and Bob
3NT S = vs Jerik
?
Leaders: Harob 14, Jerik 12.5
?
10:
?
...............Q1062
...............KJ10932
...............6
...............J9
3...............................K985
A54...........................7
J832.........................KQ10
K10754.....................AQ863
...............AJ74
...............Q86
...............A9754
...............2
?
We had an attempt here on a double game swing: two of the auctions got quite high. One auction was 1C-X-P-2H; P-2S-3C-4S. Jerik got to use their natural and limited 2C opening bid: 2C-X-3C-3H; 3S-P-5C. The third auction ended in 3C.
?
5C was a?good contract but could have been defeated. Had North been on lead there would have been two diamond ruffs. Without a diamond lead or switch Jim was able to make the contract. In 4S S declarer got into trouble with control of the trump suit right away when E-W began with a club force. In the end declarer finished -2 for the middle score.
?
3C E +2 vs Heve
4S S -2 vs Harob
5C E = by Jim
?
11:
?
...............98642
...............K
...............A102
...............KJ43
7...........................QJ3
A642....................J983
QJ87.....................954
Q1052...................876
...............AK105
...............Q1075
...............K63
...............A9
?
The auction should have been simple: 1NT followed by a transfer, ending in 4S with or without pre-acceptance. Two auctions went as expected. The third North missed partner's opening bid and passed 1NT.
?
A psychic declarer could have taken twelve tricks in spades but there was no reason to expect any declarer to pick up QJx in trumps with East. Eleven tricks are a reasonable expectation; declarer can take the club finesse basically with impunity, as the king will provide a discard of the diamond loser whether the finesse wins or loses. Gareth took eleven tricks in 4S for the N-S top.
?
4S S +1 by Gareth
4S S = by Hank
1NT N +3 vs Jerik
?
12:
?
...............K94
...............AKQ10
...............95
...............A652
AJ876...................10
962.......................J8543
KQ104..................762
10..........................Q943
...............Q532
...............7
...............AJ83
...............KJ87
?
Here's another hand that could have seen all three pairs in the same game. 1NT from North led to 3NT N twice; it ought not to matter whether or not West opened 1S. But one 1S opening bid was left in.
?
3NT could have taken either ten or eleven tricks. Both declarers were content with nine, one after taking a heart finesse and the other after ducking a spade. 1S W finished -2, for an easy E-W top for Jerik.
?
3NT N = by Steve and Gareth
1S W -2 by Erik
?
Leaders: Jerik 18.5, Harob 15.5, Heve 12.5
?
13:
?
...............102
...............AK4
...............7653
...............K1082
AJ9.........................KQ873
Q82.........................J76
A109........................J4
A965........................Q73
...............654
...............10953
...............KQ82
...............J4
?
E-W should apparently come up just short of game. It looks as is West will open 1NT, East will transfer to spades and continue with 2NT and West will likely pass or just possibly go to 3NT. One West liked the hand enough to go on to 3NT, another passed 2NT and the third was left in 1NT.
?
The margin is quite thin here. 3NT makes largely because West has seven fast tricks. With K109 opposite Q4 in diamonds instead, that lacking a fast trick in diamonds could make all the difference if, for instance, North began with three rounds of hearts. It was important if one did play game to choose 3NT; 4S would have had no chance. Louise made 3NT for the E-W top; Jerik held 2NT to eight tricks for N-S top.
?
2NT W = vs Jerik
1NT W +2 by Gareth
3NT W = by Louise
?
14:
?
...............109843
...............J97
...............Q97
...............32
AKJ........................Q652
AKQ.......................108643
A42.........................65
KQ107.....................A6
...............7
...............52
...............KJ1083
...............J9854
?
With 26 HCP, West can open 2C and rebid 3NT or even open 3NT if the pair plays the opening bid that strong. East has a good enough hand to move over 3NT, but is a bit hampered by lack of bidding room. Change the hands to KJ2 K43 A42 KQ107 opposite AQ65 AQ1086 65 A6 and it becomes quite easy to reach slam. One auction was 2C-2D; 3NT and East did not budge. Jerik got to use their Unusual 2NT opening bid to good effect: P-2NT-X-3D; 3H-P-4H. The third auction was 2C-2D; 3NT-4D; 6H, perhaps a bit much from West but at least the auction reached slam.
?
All three declarers took all thirteen tricks.
?
4H E +3 vs Jerik
3NT W +4 by Louise
6H W +1 by Gareth
?
15:
?
...............98
...............7642
...............A106432
...............9
Q3......................J10765
J5.......................AKQ10
5.........................K7
AKJ86532..........104
...............AK42
...............983
...............QJ98
...............Q7
?
Erik was surprised that nobody bid game. All three auctions were long and contested, all ending in 4C W. The contract showing true machismo would have been 3NT E, but I don't think anyone tried to go there.
?
N-S have three top tricks against any contract. But how easy is it to cash them? Two Norths led a spade and South ventured a third round of the suit in hopes of a trump promotion. But allowing eleven tricks scored well. Bob received a lead of the diamond ace, followed by a second diamond, allowing him to take twelve tricks and pick up the E-W top.
?
4C W +1 vs Zeerry and Heve
4C W +2 by Bob
?
Leaders: Jerik 22.5, Harob 17.5, Heve 15
?
16:
?
...............9853
...............A
...............AQ10
...............65432
KQ2........................A10
K1084.....................J9653
542..........................K9763
Q97.........................A
...............J764
...............Q72
...............J8
...............KJ108
?
This one rode on the power of distribution. East opened 1H in third seat and West likely resorted to some form of Drury. East's 5-5 distribution is enough to accept any game invitation, especially if West shows four-card support. Two Easts played 4H; the third played 2H.
?
As West turned out to have a good deal of wastage in the black suits, declarer needed a little luck but usually got it. Ten tricks in hearts were there if declarer finessed South for the queen. Zeerry defeated 4H when declarer led a heart to the king; Steve took the finesse and made 4H.
?
4H E -1 vs Zeerry
2H E +1 by Gareth
4H E = by Steve
?
17:
?
...............AJ9
...............AQ10752
...............8
...............732
742.....................Q10853
6.........................J98
AKQJ9743.........65
5.........................AQ8
...............K6
...............K43
...............102
...............KJ10964
?
West was generally inclined to slow-roll the hand, resulting in two longish auctions ending in 4D W. One West competed to 5D at once and South took the push to 5H despite knowing that North had limited values (a double would have been wiser).
?
4D could have been defeated had N-S found the spade ruff, but it is not surprising that neither pair of defenders did so. Bob and Gareth both posted +130. 5H could also have been defeated by the easier to fins club switch, although, as 4D was allowed to make, it made no difference that Erik made 5H.?
?
5H N = by Jim
4D W = by Bob and Gareth
?
18:
?
...............10
...............K1074
...............KQ653
...............Q106
Q9432...................AJ765
A85.......................Q92
74..........................A92
AKJ.......................92
...............K8
...............J63
...............J108
...............87543
?
Nobody opened as East but one way or another all three auctions ended in 4S W.
?
One finesse succeeded; one failed. There was little to the play. Had North led a heart declarer could have take the club finesse for a free shot at an overtrick if dummy rose with the queen on the first trick. But everyone took ten tricks for a finish as flat as the beginning.
?
4S W = by Bob, Gareth and Hank
?
Final: Jerik 25.5, Harob 20, Heve 18
