1:
?
...............2
...............A8432
...............J105
...............J753
AK7...........................Q95
Q976.........................J5
974............................AKQ862
Q62...........................109
...............J108643
...............K10
...............3
...............AK84
?
I thought E-W might reach 3NT via P-1D-1S-2NT; P-3NT, East liking having a source of tricks for partner. 3NT W was indeed played five times.
2NT was played once by East and once by West, with East declaring 2D and 3D and South 2S.
?
3NT got a fortunate layout. It might be defeated by a false-card. If North leads a club, South can win with the ace and return a low club, hoping West will play low. Otherwise there is nothing N-S can do, as E-W have nine top tricks and N-S have only four losers. Bob took eleven tricks in 3NT when North switched to a spade after two rounds of hearts. Elizabeth, Rita, Wendy and Lynn all took nine tricks in 3NT. June was N-S top stealing the bid in 2S S -1.
?
2S S -1
2D E +1
3D E +1
2NT E +1; 2NT W +1
3NT W = (4)
3NT W +2
?
2:
?
...............Q7
...............Q1082
...............65
...............J8642
J3............................K652
J94..........................A63
Q832.......................AJ1097
AQ95.......................7
...............A10984
...............K75
...............K4
...............K103
?
E-W probably will not reach 3NT, although one pair did. East opens 1D, South overcalls 1S and West will either raise to 2D or invite game. East ought to decline; either 2D or 3D should be fine. One West passed 1S and South declared the hand there; higher contracts were 2D E five times, 2NT E, 3D E twice and 3NT E.
?
Diamonds had nine tricks available and n0-trumps seven, although declarer was likely to come away with eight, as Kevin did in 2NT. Scott, Jamie, Harold and Steve (R) took ten tricks in diamonds, Harold after a spade lead when a heart or a club would have held him to nine maximum.
?
3NT E -2
1S S =
2D E +1 (2); 3D E =
2NT E =
2D E +2 (3); 3D E +1
?
3:
?
...............KQ1082
...............A53
...............KQ53
...............10
4.............................73
KQJ964..................108
10............................AJ98742
AKQ64....................82
...............AJ965
...............72
...............6
...............J9753
?
Would West sit for P-1H-1S-P; 4S? One West sat for a raise to 3S. With a Losing Trick Count of three and probably only two defensive tricks it would likely be an irresistible temptation at equal vulnerability at matchpoints. As the actual vulnerability was unfavourable, a narrow 5-4 majority did not compete to the five-level, although once it was 4Sx. Two Wests declared 5Hx and two N-S pairs pushed on to 5S, rarely a good idea. One was doubled in 5S, the other not.
?
Rosemary made 5Sx when West won the club lead and continued the suit instead of switching to a heart. It was a little unlucky that the double cost 2.5 matchpoints when it stood to gain only half a matchpoint had 5Sx finished -1. Philbot's 5S -1 was outright E-W top, the only plus score for their direction. The 5-1 clubs allowed a two-trick set of 5H, duly produced by Rekenee against 5Hx for a 7/9 score, behind Rosemary's +650 for 5Sx = and Hank's +590 for 4Sx =.
?
5Sx N =
4Sx N =
5Hx W -2
4S N +1
4S N = (3)
3S N =
5Hx W -1
5S N -1
?
4:
?
...............1074
...............A53
...............8
...............KQ7653
A2.........................KQ5
K64.......................1072
64..........................AKQJ753
AJ10982................----
...............J9863
...............QJ98
...............1092
...............4
?
E-W nearly had to right-side the contract to have West declare. It was a good thing East held the heart ten, which saved diamond contracts declared by East. East had so many winners that slam was in the air; 6D had about an even chance on the actual layout and would have been even better had East held the weaker-looking K75 Q102 AKQJ753 ----. One of the auctions that ended in 6D was 1C-2D; 3C-3D; 3S-4S; 4NT-6D. Three auctions ended in partials; contracts were 3D E twice, 3S S, 3NT E, 3NT W thrice, 5D E and 6D E twice.
?
If South is on lead and leads the heart queen, East really ought to assume that North holds the ace and withhold the king. Declarer in 5D covered, allowing Roseward the set. Both declarers in 6D finished only -1. The three Wests in 3NT all took twelve tricks. Bob received a heart lead and likely the others did as well; Eric took only eleven tricks in 3NT E.
?
5D E -1; 6D E -1 (2)
3D E +2 (2)
3S S -3
3NT E +2
3NT W +3 (3)
?
5:
?
...............Q3
...............A107
...............7542
...............AK98
4.............................AKJ1087652
8532.......................6
AKJ63....................Q8
1043.......................Q
...............9
...............KQJ94
...............109
...............J7652
?
I was a little puzzled on this hand to see multiple overcalls of 1S by East after North opened 1D (what a good time it would have been to open 1C to direct a lead). Was East really that afraid of missing slam? Partner will have to hold two aces and a king, which seems sufficiently against the odds to make 4S much the more practical choice. Two Easts made a good case for being elected lifelong president of the Pessimists Club by stopping in 3S and by allowing South to play 4H. 4S was the usual contract but two N-S pairs competed higher and finished in 5Hx S.
?
Defending spades is where North may have regretted the selection of opening bid. Five times South dutifully led partner's suit, diamonds, and East took all thirteen tricks. Bill led a heart or club, presumably a heart, but the suit was continued, although -480 still scored well. The hand was much more interesting when played in hearts, thanks to the all-important club spots, especially the ten and the eight. After an early force Glynneth's opponent drew trumps and then ran the club jack. This was not a bad idea as West was clearly favoured to hold greater length in the suit. If clubs are 3-1 it's a toss-up; if West holds all four declarer cannot escape below game without taking a risk over the trump split. There is a potential pitfall into which the more successful declarer in 5Hx fell into. One South did play the club ace and dropped the queen, but did not discard a club from dummy on the last heart. The suit blocked, as the jack was needed to capture the ten on the third round - assuming declarer had no reentry to hand other than the club jack after dropping the queen. -500 still scored above average but was two matchpoints lower than -200 would have scored. Glynneth's +1700 defending 5Hx -6 was the highest score of the day and drove their opponent, who had registered with a Robot, to quit the game, which was why various E-W pairs faced a pair of Robots later in the game.
?
4H S =
3S E +4
4S E +2
5Hx S -2
4S E +3 (5)
5Hx S -6
?
6:
?
...............AJ4
...............KQ1083
...............J95
...............76
973............................K1063
A765..........................J
A73............................K82
J42............................A10953
...............Q85
...............942
...............Q1064
...............KQ8
?
Half the East players opened 1C (was the singleton heart jack really worth that much?). When East passed so did South and West, with two Norths passing out and three opening 1H in fourth seat. All five 1C opening bids led to the auction 1C-1H; 1S-1NT. When North opened 1H South raised to 2H. This became the contract twice; one East made a balancing double and West played 2S.
?
1NT finished -1 thrice, with only Marune taking the eight tricks they could force and only Bob managing the make. 2S could have escaped -1 as well, with Karleta picking up a second undertrick right at the end of the hand when it came down to a guess of how high to ruff. Ken was N-S top in 2H =.
?
1NT W -2; 2S W -2
2H N =
1NT W -1 (3)
Passed Out (2)
2H N -1
1NT W =
?
7:
?
...............A84
...............73
...............K852
...............10762
Q632.......................K107
Q94.........................AKJ52
QJ............................10964
A953........................4
...............J95
...............1086
...............A73
...............KQJ8
?
This hand could have been passed out again as for the second hand running fourth hand did not meet the Rule of Fifteen requirements to open. I did not see any Souths open on the flat 11-count with nine losers. Two Easts opened 1H and passed West's 1S response. Some Wests resorted to Drury and left East in 2H five times. Three contracts were higher: 2NT W, 3H E and 3S W, the last likely after a raise, although, if West made a Spiral ask and found three-card support, returning to 3H seems the more likely course.
?
Heart contracts come to nine tricks, although Billbot were able to hold declarer to eight. Spade contracts could have been held to eight tricks, although Philip was E-W top taking ten when North led a spade at trick five, allowing West to draw trumps and run the hearts, while a club lead would have spoiled the entries for declarer.
?
1S W =
1S W +1; 2H E =
2NT W =
2H E +1 (4); 3H E =
3S W +1
?
8:
?
...............A2
...............K10
...............K109764
...............1096
QJ10954................3
743.........................AQ962
Q52........................J3
8.............................AQ754
...............K876
...............J85
...............A8
...............KJ32
?
Four Wests opened 2S and played the hand there. Some Norths overcalled 3D a bit light; possibly a couple of Souths balanced. Apparently one East decided to come in over 2S and finished in 4H. Higher partials than 2S were 3Cx S, 3D N, 3H E, 3S W and 4D N.
?
Spades could have been held to seven tricks had N-S found the diamond ruff. Three of the five pairs of defenders did not, giving Philip and Elizabeth +110 for 2S =. Heart contracts were more complicated but could also have been held to seven tricks, with Haorge (4H -3) N-S top and Marudy (3H -2) above average, N-S diamond contracts could have been held to eight tricks, but only by the unlikely opening lead of the club ace, leading to two ruffs. John and Northbot took ten tricks, John after a spade lead and a later heart switch. 3Cx could have escaped for -2 but Jamob were E-W top for managing a second undertrick.
?
4H E -3
3D N +1; 4D N =
3H E -2
2S W -1 (2); 3S W -1
2S W = (2)
3Cx S -2
?
9:
?
...............KJ862
...............AQ7
...............A32
...............106
1075.......................Q3
K1052....................J83
KJ75......................106
Q9..........................AJ8742
...............A94
...............964
...............Q984
...............K53
?
This was one of the times when balancing backfired, but it was unlucky for E-W that both North and South had maximum hands for the auction 1S-2S; P. Six Easts were afraid enough of the vulnerability to leave 2S in. One East bid 3C and was left there. The other three N-S pairs took a push to 3S twice and once even to 4S (if N-S didn't get there without a push).
?
The Law was actually one over, but only double dummy. 3C was unlucky to finish -2, giving Karleta the?N-S top. N-S had ten tricks available in spades but needed to drop the offside doubleton queen to take then all. Second N-S went to John's 2S +2 after a defensive error. After the diamond ten was led to queen, king and ace, diamond to eight and jack, then heart to queen, John led a third diamond and East ruffed, allowing dummy to play the low diamond after the ruff. John still got a discard of a heart on the diamond nine and the spade queen also dropped. Ten tricks.
?
3C E -2
2S N +2
2S N +1 (3); 3S N =
2S N = (2)
3S N -1; 4S N -1
?
10:
?
...............K752
...............Q3
...............Q102
...............10986
9............................J108
A1076....................KJ85
AKJ875.................643
A3..........................K75
...............AQ643
...............942
...............9
...............QJ42
?
West opened 1D and East responded 1H. South likely overcalled 1S (there was at least one takeout double). West then had a choice of rebids: 2S, 3H, 3S, 4D and 4H. Three E-W pairs stopped in 3H, perhaps after a 3H raise, perhaps after 2S followed by 3H. The others all got to 4H one way or another - 3S would show the singleton and 4D would show the strong suit. The hand is quite near slam, a good favourite opposite xxx KQxxx xx xxx. One way or another 4H E was reached by a 7-3 majority.
?
If East guesses the hearts correctly declarer takes eleven tricks, losing only a spade and a diamond. +650 was posted by Scott, Kevin, Jamie and Gisela. A misguess was dangerous; Marune set 4H after the club queen to the king, heart king and then heart to ten and queen. Two rounds of spades then left declarer stuck. Drawing trumps meant losing the diamond queen and another spade; there was no way to ruff the other spade but even if one could then one would lose a diamond and a diamond ruff.
?
4H E -1
3H E +1
3H E +2 (2)
4H E = (2)
4H E +1 (4)
?
11:
?
...............AJ842
...............A83
...............98
...............1062
10.........................Q73
K109764...............J52
AK4......................J75
873.......................KJ95
...............K965
...............Q
...............Q10632
...............AQ4
?
Of all the hands on which we almost got everyone into the same contract I would not have expected this hand to come the closest. Nine auctions ended in 3S N (1D-1H-1S-2H; 2S-3H-3S?). The last auction?was 1D-1H-1S-2H; 4S-P-4NT-P; 5H-5S, North taking South's 4S as showing a rather stronger hand.
?
The hand is stacked fairly well in declarer's favour if diamonds are started early. Double dummy it takes the opening lead of the club king or jack to hold declarer to ten tricks. As very few declarers finessed East for the spade queen the usual result was either nine or ten tricks, with ten enjoying a narrow 5-4 majority. 5S finished -3 when a club was led at trick four instead of a diamond, so that Cinise would have been E-W top anyway.
?
3S N +1 (5)
3S N = (4)
5S N -3
?
12:
?
...............9863
...............9
...............A102
...............A10983
KQJ102.................A4
A7..........................KJ1086
K9..........................Q7654
KQJ7......................2
...............75
...............Q5432
...............J83
...............654
?
We almost got everyone into the same contract again. The auction could have gone 1S-2H; 3C-3NT or 1S-1NT; 3NT or else reaching 3NT after a jump to 3C. 3NT E was reached eight times. A ninth pair reached 6NTx E, not a completely unlikely outcome if West takes a 2H response as showing opening values and East evaluates the hand as such. Jevin, who do not play 1NT forcing because they open four-card majors, stopped in 5S on the auction 1S-2H; 3C-3S; 4NT-5C; 5S.
?
4S wins the bidding contests and here provides an unstoppable eleven tricks. If North leads a trump and then another trump when in with the club ace to prevent a ruff, the diamonds establish to give West a discard. Jeff was nearly E-W top in 5S =; Eric took eleven tricks in 3NT after a heart opening lead, showing the advantage of concealing the five-card heart suit. Billbot were N-S top defending 6NTx E -2. Only a Robot in the North seat would find the defence required for -2; any human would cash the two aces and get the same top for -1.
?
6NTx E -2
3NT E -2
3NT E +1 (6)
5S W =
3NT E +2
?
13:
?
...............AQ87
...............K7
...............K642
...............AQ9
J53..........................K1096
63............................9542
AJ108......................753
K854.......................106
...............42
...............AQJ108
...............Q9
...............J732
?
1D-1H; 2NT and then South has to choose between leaving 3NT in on the next round or playing in 4H on a 5-2 fit. After that auction, by an 8-1 majority, the contract was 3NT N instead of 4H S. Marudy, after an opening of the Mexican 2D, arrived in 4H N.
?
3NT can force ten tricks against any defence, although with North declaring a diamond lead forces declarer to come up with some nifty guessing in the club suit to find the overtrick. But East usually led a spade, allowing eleven tricks and a score of +660 to Northbot, Marian, Karlene and John. Three Norths took ten tricks and only Jevin held declarer to nine. 4H similarly could have been held to ten tricks, as there was no way to manage a discard or bring in the fourth club (even with a ruff). It was a little unlucky for the declarers in 4H one hand after the 5-2 fit brought in such a high score, especially with a trump suit that was just as solid.
?
3NT N +2 (4)
3NT N +1 (3)
4H N = (2)
3NT N =
?
14:
?
...............AK942
...............K932
...............32
...............J5
Q..............................10653
----............................AJ
AKJ1086..................Q754
KQ10962..................843
...............J87
...............Q1087654
...............9
...............A7
?
South opened 3H at almost every table (one South opened 2H and one passed). Three Wests bid 4NT intending it as unusual for the minors, but I think two of the three pairs caught a really lucky break when they were not punished for running into a lack of partnership agreement. Taking 4NT as asking, they bid 5C, presumably to show one key card. One East was left in 5C; the other played in 6C after further competition. The third East bid 5D, which may have been the natural preference for diamonds or may have been taking 4NT as regular Blackwood (more sensible than 1430 with no presumably agreed suit). 5D E was left in. The other Wests all bid 4D over 3H (the tenth West opened 1D and declared 5D), ending in 4D W, 5D W twice, 5Hx S, 6D W and 7Dx W.
?
All the declaring Easts received the benefit or a red-suit lead, Jamie taking E-W top in 6C = after a diamond lead which made little sense, given South's holding of the club ace. Without the ace South might hope for a ruff, but here there is no point to that. If the lead establishes a trick in partner's hand, South cannot reach North for a diamond winner but can do so for a spade winner. Declaring Easts took twelve tricks; all declaring Wests but one took eleven, Mahn holding declarer to ten. 5Hx could have made had West begun with two diamonds, although Bill still scored well for -1 even after the club switch was found in time.
?
7Dx W -2
5D W -1; 6D W -1
5Hx S -1
4D W +1
5D W = (2)
5C E +1; 5D E +1
6C E =
?
15:
?
...............Q84
...............AKJ1052
...............6
...............Q73
K62.............................J73
8763............................Q9
10953..........................A8742
108..............................AJ9
...............A1095
...............4
...............KQJ
...............K6542
?
1C-1H; 1S and then North seems likely in another round or two (likely after Fourth Suit Forcing) to be confronted by a choice between leaving South in 3NT or playing 4H in a 6-1 fit with a semi-solid suit. Three Norths presumably jumped to 3H on the second round and were left there. Two Souths were left in 3NT. 4H N was played four times along with one lonely 5H N.
?
Hearts declared by North can be held to ten tricks by a spade lead. 3NT in particular has even greater importance on whether declarer finesses the first heart or drops the offside doubleton queen. 4H can be set one trick if the heart is finessed but 3NT is likely to be at least -2 after a misguess. But the only two-trick set was against 4H by Study. Martin was N-S top in 3NT +2; John took eleven tricks in 4H despite a spade lead; the defence continued with two rounds of diamonds and the heart guess saw him home.
?
3NT S +2
4H N +1
3NT S +1
3H N +2
3H N +1
3H N -1; 4H N -1 (2); 5H N -1
4H N -2
?
16:
?
...............K92
...............Q97
...............4
...............Q108754
A10865...................Q7
53............................AJ1064
AJ86........................9532
A6............................K9
...............J43
...............K82
...............KQ107
...............J32
?
North cannot do much after 1S by West, although one auction did end in 3Cx N. 1S-1NT; 2D never ended the auction, although East's rebid often did: 2H, 2S, 2NT twice and 3D twice. Other contracts were 2NT W, 3H E and 3NT E for a rainbow hand.
?
Most declarers took the double dummy number of tricks. No-trumps can be held to eight tricks by club leads, although Eric managed an overtrick in 2NT E after a different lead. E-W could take nine tricks in either major or ten in diamonds. North may have to rise with the queen on the first heart against a spade contract in order to prevent the suit from establishing for discards of diamonds. Karleta held 3D to nine tricks when declarer led a diamond to the jack on the first round instead of the eight. E-W top went to Philbot, who punished 3Cx N with the double dummy three-trick set.
?
3NT E -1
2S W =; 3D W =
2NT E =; 2NT W =
3D W +1
2H E +1
2NT E +1
3H E +3
3Cx N -3
?
17:
?
...............AQJ6
...............52
...............A974
...............Q94
K943...................5
AKJ106...............Q9
----......................KJ86532
J1075..................K32
...............10872
...............8743
...............Q10
...............A86
?
It appears that two East made a natural 3D overcall of North's 1D opening bid. It was left in (or else East passed fist and backed into the auction later). Another East was able to play 2D, likely after 1D-1H; 1S and then South decided not to raise to 2S. Two Wests bid a natural 2H after 1D-1H and eventually declared 3H. Four Norths declared in spades, 1S and 2S twice each when neither East nor West came in with a natural bid in the opponents' suit. The last auction saw a classic accident: 1D-P-P-1H; 1S-P-P-3C; P-6H, Eastbot taking 3C as quite a strong bid.
?
Marune dropped a trick but still had a comfortable top defending 6H -4, with 3H -2 (the expected result) joint second for Karleta and Mahn. Spades by North could be held to seven tricks, with Ritold holding declarer to six, although one might think declarer more likely to overperform than the defence. East can scramble together eight tricks in diamonds, although Marudy set 2D to join Rekenee and Roseward defending 3D -1.
?
6H W -4
3H W -2 (2)
1S N = (2)
2D E -1; 3D E -1 (2)
2S N -1
2S N -2
?
18:
?
...............KQJ4
...............Q7
...............42
...............108542
109865...................7
98632.....................AKJ104
A107.......................KQJ
----..........................AQ76
...............A32
...............5
...............98653
...............KJ93
?
This hand came down entirely to the bidding. If East opened 1H West raised to 4H. Correctly predicting partner to be short in clubs, Kevin and Harold went on to 4NT and then 6H opposite one ace. If East opens 2C, as some did, West's hand explodes in value once East bids hearts. Only Cindy went part 4H, though, putting Louise directly into slam: 2C-2D; 2H-3H; 4H-6H. After 2C-2D; 2H, there is probably a good case that 4C should be a splinter raise, but just deciding to put partner into slam is not a bad idea. The other auction all finished in 4H E.
?
There was nothing to the play, everyone taking twelve tricks.
?
4H E +2 (7)
6H E = (3)
