1:
?
...............Q43
...............Q2
...............AJ65
...............QJ74
A95......................1082
AKJ10983............754
2...........................K7
K2........................A10863
...............KJ76
...............6
...............Q109843
...............95
?
It appears that North almost always opened the bidding and then the side had the usual problem of not being able to stop in time. It's hard to blame South; one certainly thinks partner ought to be able either to defeat 4H or make 5D worth bidding. Unless one is strict about opening every twelve-count, however poor, I'd rather pass and hope West doesn't bid 4H. The one upside is that the 5D bid when it came usually worked. Two pairs were able to get out in 3H W; three played 4H W. Four of the seven 5D bids went undoubled, two were doubled and one pushed E-W to 5H. From the West point of view if the auction gives any hint that East has a high card or two West ought not to let 5D play undoubled - on a hand with this much offence -400 is not going to be close enough to average to make one fearful of scoring -550. Bidding 5H doesn't work but makes more sense than passing. The longest auction was 1D-P-1S-2H; P-P-3D-3H; P-P-4D-4H; P-P-5D-P; P-X. South's first balance was impeccable; the second and third are largely dependent on opening bid standards.
?
Against hearts an opening lead of the diamond ace allows declarer to take eleven tricks while a lead of or shift to the club queen allows twelve. Unfortunately for declarer against a spade lead, there is the legitimate try to make the contract by finding clubs 3-3, which permits twelve tricks. Eleven can be forced - duck the first spade, win the second and then run all the trumps. North has to keep three clubs and the diamond ace and must discard the last spade. East can then discard the third club, West leads a diamond and North has nothing but clubs left, no way to cash the third spade. This line is very double dummy, and fails if South holds three clubs with at least one honour or if North holds Q9 or J9 doubleton. Jeina found the spade lead to give declarer a chance to go down in 5H and declarer did so; the other heart declarers took eleven or twelve tricks. Sarah saved a few matchpoints getting out for -2 in 5Dx but the other E-W pairs had no trouble taking five tricks and many regretted not doubling.
?
5H W -1 vs Jeina
5D N -3 by Gernot, Louise, Jane (M) and Eric
3H W +2 vs Randi
3H W +3 by Lee
5Dx N -2 vs Owbot
4H W +1 by Dee and Steve
4H W +2 by Tom
5Dx N -3 vs Phyleen
?
2:
?
...............J7
...............J97
...............AKJ42
...............QJ4
Q104.......................95
1063........................KQ2
Q1098.....................653
K53.........................109872
...............AK8632
...............A854
...............7
...............A6
?
After a 1S-2D beginning N-S were sure to go to game and it was just a question of spades or no-trumps. This time the no-trumps won out by an 8-4 margin, with 3NT N played five times, 3NT S twice and 4NT N along with four contracts of 4S S.
?
The interesting part of this hand is the lack of entries to the North hand. Eleven tricks were unstoppable but might have required the diamond finesse or a heart lead from West, which delivers up the suit for one loser. If East leads a club against 3NT N and West finds the needed heart switch the eleventh trick comes when the thirteenth heart squeezes West in spades and diamonds (at least double dummy). Rich, Rich and Elaine all took eleven tricks in 3NT and Larry in 4S. Ten tricks was the usual result; the only declarer to take only nine tricks was in 4NT against Tary, but the plus score was more for aesthetics at matchpoints.?
?
3NT N +2 by Rich (R) and Rich (D); 3NT S +2 by Elaine
4S S +1 by Larry
3NT N +1 by Jeannie, Harold and Eric; 3NT S +1 by George
4S S = vs Owbot, Carthurl and Jerik
4S N -1 vs Tary
?
3:
?
...............Q987
...............1063
...............A10
...............A872
J643.........................AK102
A542.........................KJ107
83..............................J97
QJ5...........................K6
...............5
...............Q9
...............KQ6542
...............10943
?
South often opened 2D, although the Flannery players had to pass or open 3D. There were at least two passes, as East declared 2H twice, once against a Flannery pair and once against a pair playing a three-suited 2D opening. 2D S was left in twice; two more auctions were 2D-P-P-X; P-2H. 3H W and 3S W were both played twice each, as was 4H, although 4H was declared once by East and once by West. 4H E arose after 2D-P-P-2NT: P-3C-P-3H; P-4H, perhaps the only 2NT balance selected (it suggests a growing lack of fear of weak two-bids which trends in modern bidding appear to justify).
?
4M does not look great but appears to have play - alas the nearly-impossible-to-miss trump promotion establishes an unavoidable trump winner for a fourth defensive trick. Only Gareth took ten tricks in 2H E when North did not overtake the first diamond. The two Wests in 2H both only made the contract on the number - ruffing the third diamond with the ace leaves declarer with entry trouble. 3S also yielded only eight tricks both times, the heart queen usually being lost in a spade contract. 2D should have been held to eight tricks; Rich (R) was the surprise N-S top when E-W crashed clubs and turned an average into a top.
?
2D S +1 by Rich (R)
3H W -1 vs Louff; 3S W -1 vs Pharah and Wendric; 4H E -1 vs Giselaine; 4H W -1 vs Leighry
2D S = vs Carthurl
2H W = by Phyllis (H) and Steve
2H E +1 by Connie; 3H W = by Tom
2H E +2 by Gareth
?
4:
?
...............K6
...............KQ109
...............Q1032
...............K108
J10832...................AQ95
875.........................AJ32
AK84......................76
7..............................962
...............74
...............64
...............J95
...............AQJ543
?
1D from North and then South is happiest if East doubles, as then a 2C response stands out. The joy will not last long, as West can compete to 3S quite happily and may even go to the thin but making 4S. One South passed both East's double and West's 1S reply. Another South responded 1NT in an uncontested auction and played it there. All the other auctions were black-suit battles with about even results: 2S W twice, 3C S four times, 3S W thrice and 5C S.
?
The spade contracts were able to take eleven tricks with everything sitting perfectly. The only declarer to be held to ten made a reflexive error at trick ten. Having saved the heart suit for that point, West led a heart when down to three hearts and one trump, East and North both holding all hearts. North played the queen and declarer, not thinking ahead, won the trick in dummy and had to lead away from the jack instead of ducking the spade and making North lead. 3C was usually set two tricks, but Harold made the contract when E-W passed up the diamond ruff and late in the hand East let the heart ten go uncovered.?Karnj had a much easier time defending 1NT S than they would have had finding the diamond lead needed to take their eight tricks against 1NT N.
?
3C S = by Harold
3C S -1 by Ina
3S W +1 vs Haorge
1S W +4 by Dee; 1NT S -2 vs Karnj; 2S W +3 by Owen and Jane (T); 3C S -2 vs Heve and Tary; 3S W +2 by Cindy and Lee; 5C S -2 vs Jerik?
?
5:
?
...............10984
...............A106
...............Q4
...............AK104
32............................AQ5
42............................K7
9652........................J1083
J9863......................Q752
...............KJ76
...............QJ9853
...............AK7
...............----
?
Two Souths were so excited by the void that they drove to slam on the auctions 1C-1H; 1S-4C; 4H-4NT; 5H-6H (possibly North was just bidding out the hand pattern and South took 4H as forward-going?) and the strange 1C-1H; 1S-3H; 4H-6S. In fairness the slams would have been lovely if North had held four low clubs and opening values. The game auctions broke 7-3 for spades, natural enough as South has a chance to show four spades before North gets to show four hearts. Contracts were 4H S twice, 4S N five times, 4S S twice (one North rebid 2C, which must have meant something unusual but I did not get to see what; the other maybe raised 1H to 2H), 5H S, 6H S and 6S N.
?
Either contract could run the risk of a defensive ruff. Here declarer in hearts at least has the comfort of being able to discard two spades on the clubs before starting trumps; the heart declarers all took eleven tricks. 4S sometimes took only ten, declarer either wasting an entry to the North hand or cashing the top clubs too early (in spades the only purpose the club winner serve is to act as stoppers). Jane (M) took twelve tricks in 4S when a spirited East switched to the heart king, heroics fit only for IMPs. Had West held Axx in hearts, Jane would have opened the bidding on 10 HCP and at best 109xx xx Q AKJ1098, not worth the risk at matchpoints although the spirit is admirable.
?
4S N +2 by Jane (M)
4H S +1 by Larry, Sandi and George; 4S N +1 by Harold and Giselaine; 5H S = by Rich (R)
4S N = vs Glynneth and Conndy; 4S S = vs Tary
6H S -1 vs Owbot; 6S N -1 vs Heve
?
6:
?
...............J654
...............4
...............K
...............AK109872
102..........................973
KQ10962.................A5
J63..........................AQ10954
Q4............................J3
...............AKQ8
...............J873
...............872
...............65
?
This hand makes a fine case for one-level overcalls in the majors on strong four-card suits. East opened 1D and no South overcalled 1S, after which the only pair to reach 4S S (at least a 4-1 trump split is no inconvenience) arrived there on the auction 1D-P-1H-X; 2D-2S-3D-4S. 3S S was played twice; the other nine contracts were all in clubs, 3C four times, 4C twice and 5C thrice. Given the vulnerability, E-W did well not to press.
?
4S goes down more when both games fail, assuming E-W begin by forcing dummy, although declarer may have a slightly better chance of bringing off the Restricted Choice finesse in clubs when East holds a singleton honour. In 4S, declarer might as well lead one club early, as there is no play for the contract opposite a 4-0 club split, and doing so sets up the finesse if East drops an honour. A spade lead against 5C makes declarer reluctant to try to lead the second club from the South hand. In this case, with both East and West holding Hx in clubs, either contract was cold for eleven tricks and only one declarer took only ten tricks, but just being in 3S was enough to put Henry above average.
?
4S S +1 by Larry
5C N = by Gisela, Jane (M) and Eric
3S S +2 by George
3S S +1 by Leighry
3C N +2 vs Glynneth, Karnj, Owbot and Delen; 4C N +1 vs Conndy and Jerik
?
7:
?
...............76
...............A
...............A86
...............AKJ7653
A1092......................KQ54
J10854.....................962
74.............................KQ1095
94.............................2
...............J83
...............KQ73
...............J32
...............Q108
?
North opens 1C and East would seem likely to overcall 1D, which makes a 3NT rebid quite appealing to North when neither opponent shows a five-card spade holding. 3NT N was played once. Left to an uncontested auction North might rebid 3C after 1C-1H and then it's up to which way South decides to go; there was at least one auction that went 1C-1H; 3C-3NT. Three pairs stopped below game. Contracts were 2C N, 3C N twice, 3NT N, 3NT S four times and 5C N four times.
?
Curiously both 5C and 3NT could make on the number if E-W provided psychic defence. 5C would make an overtrick against the lead of the diamond king; 3NT would take eleven tricks against any lead but a spade. Gernot managed all the tricks in 3NT N (twelve are there after a low diamond). Phyllis (B) and Harold posted +660, Eric and Hank (B) +620. Finding the spade lead against 3NT or not leading a diamond against 5C turned out to score above average.
?
3NT N +4 by Gernot
3NT S +2 by Phyllis (B) and Harold
5C N +1 by Eric and Hank (B)
3NT S = vs Conndy and Heve; 5C N = vs Delen and Carthurl
3C N +3 vs Karnj
2C N +3 vs Lark; 3C N +2 vs Shane
?
8:
?
...............J53
...............43
...............A1042
...............KJ52
A108.....................K7
A10975.................K86
865.......................QJ973
74..........................Q108
...............Q9642
...............QJ2
...............K
...............A963
?
Would there be balancing or direct action after South bid 1S and North raised to 2S? Half the tables played in 2S S; six auctions went to the three-level. Three times East bid 3D, playing it there once and pushing N-S to 3S twice. Both East and West bid 3H once, both auctions ending in 3S S. The last auction began with a weak 1NT and a natural 2H response. South balanced with 2S and East then re-balanced with 3H, ending the auction.
?
2S can make but requires an anti-percentage play on this layout; declarer must lead a spade though East to queen and ace, then crash the doubleton king, an inferiour line to leading to the jack and then finessing the nine. Only two declarers in spades took eight tricks, Larry when West led the spade ace at trick four and never scoring the ten. Carthurl and Lark were even able to hold 2S to six tricks. Both E-W contracts finished -1 against Wendric and Haorge, a harsh punishment for competing three-over-two when both sides held two eight-card fits.
?
3D E -1 vs Wendric; 3H W -1 vs Haorge
2S S -1 by Phyllis (B), Harold, Elaine and Sandi; 3S S -1 by Larry and Geoff
2S S -2 vs Carthurl and Lark; 3S S -2 vs Shane and Conndy?
?
9:
?
...............Q4
...............107652
...............A10863
...............6
AK632....................J7
4.............................KJ
KJ742.....................Q95
52............................KQ10872
...............10985
...............AQ983
...............----
...............AJ93
?
Two auctions ended in 3H, played once by South and once by North.?Whether this hand makes a good or bad case for opening aceless twelve-counts is open to interpretation; West will be far less likely to leave 4H in than if the auction is P-P-1H-1S (or 2H)-4H, but two Wests doubled. 4H was played undoubled five times, once by North, along with three higher contracts - 4S W, 5C E and 5S W.
?
Spade leads and a ruff hold 4H to ten tricks; other leads allow eleven if declarer finesses in trumps. Ten tricks can still be made if declarer leads the ace unless declarer draws the second trump or allows East to do so, which gave Heve the E-W top. Both doubled contracts made, with Elaine taking an overtrick for the top. Phyllis (H) and Keren both scored well finishing -3 undoubled in 4S and 5C. 5S was the critical contract. Declarer could have held the set to four tricks for a good score, but finished -5 against Lernot when Larry led a spade as South and declarer ducked.
?
4Hx S +1 by Elaine
4Hx S = by George
5S W -5 vs Lernot
4H N = by Louise; 4H S = by Phyllis (B), Henry and Sandi
4S W -3 by Phyllis (H); 5C E -3 by Karen
3H S +2 vs Tary
3H N +1 vs Delen
4H S -1 vs Heve
?
10:
?
...............AJ84
...............KJ3
...............KJ10
...............K103
752.....................Q63
10.......................AQ72
AQ9865.............432
AJ8....................962
...............K109
...............98654
...............7
...............Q754
?
At seven tables West opened 1D, North overcalled 1NT and the auction ended in 2H N. One West opened 2D and finished in 5Dx after getting a little exuberant in the face of a raise to 3D from East. One South did not transfer and left West in 2D. One North ended in 2NT. Two West bid 3D, one being left there and one pushing the contract to 3H N.
?
Heart contracts can take nine tricks, possibly not even needing to find the spade queen. Only Jeannie, Rich (R) and Rich (D) did so, Rich (D) after a spade opening lead. 2NT N finished -3, giving Jerik the E-W top. Giselaine posted a nice +1100 defending 5Dx -4. Cindy made 2D, a trick better than expected against a major or low club lead.
?
5Dx W -4 vs Giselaine
3D W -3 vs Harbot
2H N +1 by Jeannie, Rich (R) and Rich (D)
2H N = vs Shane, Glynneth, Delen and Heve
2D W = by Cindy
3H N -1 vs Carthurl
2NT N -3 vs Jerik
?
11:
?
...............973
...............92
...............AK965
...............J83
KQ5........................J84
AQ6........................KJ7543
J42..........................10
A754.......................Q92
...............A1062
...............108
...............Q873
...............K106
?
1NT from West and then it's up to whether East is content to stop in a heart partial or either invites or commits to game. Happily nobody tried 3NT over an invitation. Contracts were 2H W four times, 3H W, 4H E, 4H W five times and 5H E.
?
The club suit is fascinating here. The suit is frozen for E-W except under one particular condition. North can lead the first club without letting the other side force a third-round winner, but it must be the jack or the eight to negate the power of West's seven-spot. Indeed, in order for hearts to be held to nine tricks by force North MUST lead the club jack or eight. With trumps 2-2 and South holding the spade ace, declarer gets to play either North for the club king or South for KJx/K10x. Declarer can draw trumps, ruff out the diamonds, clear the spades and lead the first club from the West hand, covering whatever North plays as cheaply as possible. If North has led the first club, either jack/queen/king/ace or eight/nine/ten/ace means that neither side can lead the second club. All the heart games took only nine tricks, probably because declarer led a club to the queen. NJ and Lee took ten tricks in 2H, likely after a low club lead from North to start the suit.
?
5H E -2 vs Leighry
4H E -1 vs Lernot; 4H W -1 vs Jeina, Pharah, Louff, Dane and Haorge
2H W +1 by Lynn and Carl; 3H W = by Cindy
2H W +2 by NJ and Lee
?
12:
?
...............Q8
...............A9
...............AK852
...............J986
AJ65.......................1092
KQ86......................J1072
Q6...........................97
K102.......................AQ73
...............K743
...............543
...............J1043
...............54
?
West opens 1NT and then it all seems to ride on North. 1NT W was left in three times and once was played doubled (I'm not sure what the double meant and don't think either North or South had a clear idea either). One North bid a one-suited 2C and then passed 2D, East balancing with a double and West leaving it there. 2H E was played four times, likely after a balancing double from West. West played 2H once, possibly after a negative double. Higher contracts were 2NT N (Unusual left in?) and 3H E.
?
The diamond queen turns out to pull its full weight despite declarer's having two diamond losers. If South held the queen a spade lead and return would set up a ruff of the third spade, but with Qx in the West hand South has no entry for such a ruff and a heart contract can take nine tricks against any defence, although only three of the six declarers did. Wendy took her expected nine tricks in 2Dx for the N-S top. 1NT W is set if North starts with a high diamond but makes against a low diamond lead; Louise and Gisela began with the ace and set the contract while Dee and Steve escaped with +120.
?
2Dx S +1 by Wendy
1NTx W -1 vs Louff
1NT W -1 vs Giselaine; 2H E -1 vs Dane; 3H E -1 vs Richbot
2NT N -1 by Lernot
2H E = by Sharon
1NT W +1 by Dee and Steve
2H E +1 by Connie and Arthur; 2H W +1 by Erik
?
13:
?
...............943
...............QJ1085
...............A92
...............96
Q862..........................J75
A3...............................K9642
K1064.........................Q83
543..............................J2
...............AK10
...............7
...............J75
...............AKQ1087
?
This is the sort of hand on which South likely wants to open 1C and rebid 3NT over 1H with eight probable running tricks. xxx Axxx xxx xxx gives excellent play for game and there are many hands partner might have that would respond 1H that will have trouble over a 3C rebid. As the hand is, we had four contracts of 3C S, seven of 3NT S and one of 4H N. Change the jack or even the queen of hearts to the deuce and 3NT is still a strong favourite but North will be disinclined to go on over 3C. Hands with eight probable top tricks based mainly on a long minor should seek any reasonable alternative to a 3m jump rebid that can be found. Over 1S South would have a much more difficult time.
?
South has an easy nine tricks in either no-trumps or clubs. Two pairs defending 3C went for a heart ruff and allowed declarer eleven tricks, but the cost was low. In 3NT three declarers picked up a tenth trick. I saw that Phyllis did so when the spades were unguarded on trick eight; a spade opening lead does remove East's guard at once and puts West under more pressure.
?
3NT S +1 by Ina, Phyllis (B) and Harold
3NT S = by Rich (R), Doug, Sandi and George
3C S +2 vs Jerik and Owbot
3C S = vs Glynneth and Carthurl
4H N -3 vs Conndy
?
14:
?
...............A108
...............Q9873
...............AJ6
...............83
973..........................K5
AJ105......................4
9..............................Q743
KJ964......................AQ10752
...............QJ642
...............K62
...............K10852
...............----
?
The power of fit is a fine thing. Here with even HCP E-W bid to 5C while N-S tried games in all three of the other suits. The auction can easily see both sides inviting game on the first round: 1C-1S-2S-3C is a plausible beginning. Either East or South might bid on either on a good loser count or as a sacrifice. Contracts were 3C E, 4C E twice, 4Cx E, 4H N, 4Hx N, 4S S, 5C E thrice, 5Cx E and 5D S - maybe mildly surprising that N-S played game twice in hearts but a sensible enough range.
?
5C was the most straightforward contract; declarer takes eleven tricks when the spade ace turns out to be onside. All eight declarers in clubs took eleven tricks. 4S is set by a diamond lead as a ruff cannot be prevented and West has two sure heart tricks. Indeed if declarer finesses right away in trumps -2 is possible. Henry was able to make 4S for the N-S top. After a lead of either minor 4H is -1 at best, but trouble over losing control resulted in 4Hx -3 against Lark, the third undertrick being worth three matchpoints and 4H -2 for Sarah. 5D gets into worse trouble, as a club lead attacks the hand with the long trumps and lets E-W force -2, although Jane (M) got out for -1 perhaps due to declaring from the North side.?
?
4S S = by Henry
5D N -1 by Jane (M)
4H N -2 by Sarah
3C E +2 vs Louff; 4C E +1 vs Harbot and Giselaine
5C E = by Hank (V), Jim and Sharon
4Hx N -3 vs Lark
5Cx E = vs Arthur
4Cx E +1 vs Helen
?
15:
?
...............KJ3
...............J10854
...............985
...............A9
AQ10765.............4
3..........................AQ96
Q107....................AJ432
Q73......................652
...............982
...............K72
...............K6
...............KJ1084
?
Is it possible that East never opened the bidding? I did not see anyone do so and the chance that West would invite is so high that perhaps nobody did. We almost had everyone in the same contract. West opened 2S in third seat and that usually ended the auction. One South balanced with 3C and played the hand there.
?
Looking at just the two hands 3C might not seem too awful, but E-W's singletons create a deadly defensive cross-ruff for an unstoppable -3. Karnj picked up a fourth undertrick when South did not ruff the fourth heart high; it provided a bit of safety in case anyone went made defending 2S and allowed ten tricks. Taking the ruffs in the wrong order risks -2 and potentially the loss of matchpoints.?Defence against 2S works best if?North leads or swtiches to a diamond, as then South cannot be prevented from getting a diamond ruff. Six of eleven declarers made 2S, four finished -1 and Richbot found the diamond lead and posted -2 for N-S top.
?
2S W -2 vs Richbot
2S W -1 vs Jeina, Lernot, Pharah and Harbot
2S W = Jane (T), Phyllis (H). Cindy, Owen Dee and Carl
3C S -4 vs Karnj
?
16:
?
...............54
...............8
...............KQ643
...............QJ1092
10972......................AQ63
A765........................KQ92
8..............................10972
K875........................6
...............KJ8
...............J1043
...............AJ5
...............A43
?
This hand was the great triumph for Mini-Roman; East opened 2D in third seat to show the three-suiter and West played 2S (perhaps Delen, like Lernot, do not open 2D on 1=4=4=4 patterns). I don't know why North did not come in with 2NT over 2S, as the odds are long against East's being short in hearts. East might well open 1S or 1H in third position, which would likely induce West to compete to 3M and nobody played 3M. At least one North did get to bid an Unusual No-Trumps, although a 1D opening bid in third seat did often shut North out of the auction. Contracts were 1H W, 2C N, 2H W, 2Hx W, 2S W, 3C N four times, 3NT S, 4Cx S and 5Dx N - finally a rainbow hand.
?
Club contracts could have been held to eight tricks by a diamond lead - all four 3C contracts finished -1 while Jane (M) played 2C +1. Phyllis (B) made 4Cx when East led the spade queen at trick four. Diamonds seemed likely to take nine tricks but 5Dx -2 was far too high against Owbot. 1H and 2H both made, although Harold beat expectations and defended 2Hx -1. Eight tricks were there in either major, perhaps a little easier in spades as South?finds it difficult to lead the suit. Dee made 2S, the expected result. 3NT seemed almost sure to be -1. George was headed for that result but, at trick nine, with no clubs having been played, West discarded the last spade and kept all four clubs, taking only the king and having to give dummy the balance.
?
4Cx S = by Phyllis (B)
3NT S = by George
2Hx W -1 vs Harbot
2C N +1 by Jane (M)
3C N -1 vs Lark, Heve, Phyleen and Karnj
1H W = by Jane (T)
2H W = by Tom; 2S W = by Dee
5Dx N -2 vs Owbot
?
17:
?
...............106
...............952
...............K7542
...............AQ8
KJ32..........................Q9754
74...............................63
Q1086........................A
J53.............................K9764
...............A8
...............AKQJ108
...............J93
...............102
?
This almost turned out to be?a hand on which everyone got to game, as all Souths but one at least invited game after a single raise (appropriately enough) and North never declined. One South left 2H in. If East came in with 2S over 2H West was able to compete to 4S, which drove two Souths to 5H. 4H was played at the other nine tables. Nobody tried 3NT, which was just as well, as declarer would presumably have taken the club finesse trying to make the contract and finished -2 instead of -1.
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4H can make by force but seems unlikely to do so unless West leads a club ducked to the king. Declarer wins the spade switch, draws trumps, discards the spade loser on the third club, ruffs the second spade, then leads a diamond and even if dummy plays the king East is endplayed into providing a ruff-and-discard. Declarer might bring about the same effect after a spade lead by drawing trumps and getting out with the second spade, but even then there is difficulty getting a second club trick. Four declarers made 4H, 2H provided two overtricks and one declarer in 5H managed -1. Four declarers in heart games took nine tricks. Lark posted 4H -2 for E-W top when declarer spoiled the potential ruff-and-discard as well as losing three diamonds.
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4H S = by Phyllis (B), Rich (R), Harold, Doug and Wendy
2H S +2 by Ina
4H S -1 vs Glynneth, Conndy, Karnj and Delen4H S -2 vs Lark; 5H S -2 vs Tary
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18:
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...............K92
...............K
...............643
...............AJ8764
A83..........................QJ754
95.............................A643
K10875.....................92
K32...........................95
...............106
...............QJ10872
...............AQJ
...............Q10
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After 1H-1NT; 2H, does North invite with 2NT or 3H? 2NT does not appear to have won out. One North took the low road and passed 2H. Higher contracts were 3C N twice, 3H S twice, 3S E, 3NT N, 3NT S twice, 4C N and 4H S twice.
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4H S can be defeated for the weirdest reason. It appears that declarer can get by losing a spade, a diamond and a heart. But if West leads a heart, East can duck and dummy is stuck on lead. A black lead gives away a trick; all declarer can do is take the diamond finesse. When that loses West can return a second diamond, which allows E-W to force a diamond ruff for the setting trick. Nobody found that brilliant defence; two declarers in hearts took ten tricks, two took eleven and one took twelve. 3NT is defeated by a spade lead, but only Mark found that lead, being the only East on opening lead. Declarer voluntarily took a diamond finesse and finished -2.
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4H S +1 by Sandi
3NT S +1 by Harold and Wendy
4H S = by Elaine
3H S +3 by Ina
2H S +3 by Phyllis (B)
3H S +1 vs Conndy
4C N = vs Jerik
3C N = vs Delen
3S E -2 by Mary
3C N -1 vs Phyleen
3NT N -2 vs Lark
