1:
?
...............4
...............Q987
...............1096542
...............53
1063.........................AJ
J6.............................AK1052
AQJ..........................87
AKQ62.....................J987
...............KQ98752
...............43
...............K3
...............104
?
Left to their own devices, E-W might reach 6C. The auction would start 1H-2C; 3C and then West might bid 3D. If East then bids 3S instead of 3NT the fair 6C might be reached. As the hand is South will come in with 3S or at least 2S over 1H and then West will be pushed. 3S might be too effective if anything. If West bids 4C either East or West may end up driving to 6C just out of knowing that 5C is not likely to score well. Contracts were 3Sx S twice, 3NT E, 3NT W(!), 5C E, 5C W four times, 6C E and 6C W. Pauise were the pair in 6C E after the auction P-1H-3S-X; P-4C-P-6C.
?
Without a spade lead, declarer in 6C needs only one of two finesses to work at worst. If North does lead a spade, declarer will need the heart finesse to work and either the diamond finesse or the hearts to split no worse than 4-2. Here with both red suits sitting kindly declarer can take all the tricks in clubs, which was duly done five times. Louise, in 6C E, did not have to risk the heart finesse. When trumps split 2-2, she had a cold twelve tricks by establishing dummy's spade ten. 3Sx can be set four tricks by force but not quite five. Jacob was E-W top in 6C W +1; N-S top was shared between Fivy and Jemer on 5C = and 3NT =.
?
3NT W =; 5C W =
5C E +2; 5C W +2 (3)
3NT E +4
3Sx S -3
3Sx S -4
6C W =
6C E +1
?
2:
?
...............43
...............10952
...............AQ108
...............J53
J5...........................AQ97
8.............................K74
KJ643.....................975
K10542...................AQ8
...............K10862
...............AQJ63
...............2
...............96
?
1NT from East and then it is a question of how (or just perhaps if) South competes. If South shows both majors, North may well compete in hearts despite the vulnerability, although it may be tempting to leave West in diamonds if that is how West proceeds over South. West gets stuck not being able to show invitational values (except perhaps against a Landy 2C, allowing a 2NT relay to 3C followed by 3D instead of bidding a direct 2D), and East may get pushed into 3NT; the stoppers are there but there are not enough fast tricks. Contracts were 1NT E, 2H S, 2NT E, 3C E, 3C W, 3Hx N, 3NT E thrice, 4D W and 4Hx N (the last auction being 1NT-2D-X-2H; 3NT-4H-P-P; X).
?
N-S can take eight tricks by force against no-trumps, although six was quite a fair outcome. With East marked with the majority of high cards, it is not shocking that the layout allows a make of 4H, although declarer has to be dedicated to the correct line of ruffing spades as quickly as possible, especially against a trump lead (declarer can bypass the diamond finesse - with 3-1 trumps South just gets back to hand in time to draw the last trump and cash the thirteenth spade for trick number ten). Homer made 4Hx for the N-S top; E-W top was Wendric's defending 3Hx -1.
?
4Hx N =
4D W -3
2H S =
3NT E -2 (2)
3C E -1; 3C W -1; 3NT E -1
1NT E =
2NT E =
3Hx N -1
?
3:
?
...............AQ
...............KQJ94
...............Q2
...............KJ85
976........................J10854
A82........................1063
J10863..................97
Q4.........................A93
...............K32
...............75
...............AK54
...............10762
?
N-S could easily have reached 3NT S at every table. If North rebid 2C instead of 2NT after P-1H; 1NT, there was a chance of finishing elsewhere. 3NT S was played eight times, along with 2C N, 3H N and 4C N.
?
Declarer can take eleven tricks in no-trumps by force, although West can give declarer a little anxiety by ducking the first two rounds of hearts. Also the play is complicated by the entry difficulty to the South hand; declarer needs to lead a low club to the jack early in order to benefit from the onside doubleton queen. Fay, Jeff and Jeanne took eleven tricks to split the N-S top. The other five declarers in 3NT took ten for the middle score. Jamob were one of the pairs defending 3NT +1; declarer was still in with a chance at the end of the hand, not having touched clubs, but cashed the spade king at trick eleven instead of taking the club finesse.
?
3NT S +2 (3)
3NT S +1 (5)
4C N +1
3H N =
2C N +2
?
4:
?
...............Q643
...............K2
...............AK87
...............Q105
A5..........................J109
AQ65.....................J87
J1063.....................942
KJ7........................A862
...............K872
...............10943
...............Q5
...............932
?
West's 1NT opening bid should save North from doing anything to get N-S into trouble. We could have seen 1NT W at almost every table and it was the contract eight times. One North declared 2S one way or another and East declared twice, once in 1NT and once in 2NT.
?
N-S can take seven tricks against no-trumps by force. If West declares it is harder; North must lead a diamond to South, who must return a spade through the ace, giving N-S three tricks each in spades and diamonds with at least a heart sure to come. This one fell out half and half, with four Wests in 1NT being set and four making the contract. East took six tricks in both no-trumps contracts declared and Henry made 2S N. Jemer, who defended 2NT E -2, were N-S top; E-W top was Pauls's in 1NT W +2. N-S began with three rounds of diamonds, the second and third rounds each giving up a trick, followed by North's club switch to give Paul his second overtrick.
?
2NT E -2
2S N =
1NT E -1; 1NT W -1 (4)
1NT W = (2)
1NT W +2 (2)
?
5:
?
...............A75
...............J5
...............A52
...............KJ532
KJ942.......................Q1063
2................................AQ63
J963..........................84
A76............................Q94
...............8
...............K109874
...............KQ107
...............108
?
The auction seemed likely to start 1C-P-1H-1S; P-3S, putting South under a good deal of pressure. The hand is low on HCP but has the loser count to bid 4H. If East bids 2H instead South can bid 3H and then let 3S go knowing that the hand has at least showed some values. A few tables stopped below 3S and there were more contracts doubled than undoubled: 2S W, 3Dx S, 3Hx S, 3S W twice, 3Sx W, 4H S twice, 4Hx S, 4Sx E and 4Sx W.
?
Only three contracts made. In hearts East can duck two leads through from North and, with the diamonds also splitting badly, even a correct guess in clubs does not allow declarer to force more than nine tricks. All declarers in hearts were defeated, with two taking nine tricks and two eight, a good thing for Ritold, who had doubled 3H. Jacbot could not force more than -1 against 3Dx but were allowed -3 for the E-W top, beating out the three declarers who were allowed a ninth trick in a spade contract. One of these, Victoria, received a heart lead instead of the needed spade or diamond. N-S top was shared three ways on +300 by Jarilee and Glynneth, who defended 4Sx, with Jevin, who defended 3Sx. Declarer in spades starts with only four sure losers but, even if North does not draw East's trumps, declarer will still need to avoid a club ruff or an overruff in a major.
?
3Sx W -2; 4Sx E -2; 4Sx W -2
4H S -1
2S W +1; 3S W = (2)
3Hx S -1; 4Hx S -1; 4H S -2
3Dx S -3
?
6:
?
...............A9
...............KQ52
...............J854
...............K84
873..........................KQ64
1064........................987
AKQ97.....................632
A9............................J72
...............J1052
...............AJ3
...............10
...............Q10653
?
?
I thought P-P-1D-P; 1S-P-1NT would be more popular than it turned out to be. West only declared 1NT twice. North declared that contract once on an auction I don't think I'd want to know. There were likely some takeout doubles and perhaps one or two overcalls. Above 1NT, contracts were 2D W twice, 2H N twice, 2S E thrice and 3C S.
?
1NT favoured the defence regardless of who declared. A diamond lead allowed E-W to establish the suit for a fifth trick or even for West to push a spade through North's ace for both a fifth and a sixth. When West declared, a club or heart lead allowed N-S to establish nine tricks and West could force no more. Gareth made 1NT N and Study managed the N-S top defending 1NT W -2, +200 being all they needed for the top score. Jacob received a diamond lead, after which he was head for -1 the whole hand until N-S crashed the club king and queen at trick twelve. Spades could have been held to six tricks but one declarer took seven while Jamie and NJ took eight. This was a little surprising as there was not really much South could do on the hand. Jeff and Karlene took the par nine tricks in hearts. 2D W was also set the par -1 both times. Finally Jeanne, the lone declare in clubs, took the expected nine tricks.?
?
1NT W -2
2H N +1 (2)
3C S =
2D W -1 (2); 2S E -1
1NT N =
1NT W =
2S E = (2)
?
7:
?
...............965
...............AQ109
...............A5
...............A762
AQ1074.................K82
854........................J762
K82........................Q10943
103.........................5
...............J3
...............K3
...............J76
...............KQJ984
?
If South does not open the bidding, North opens 1C and the side may reach 3NT N if West never gets in a spade bid. This does not bode well for E-W, however, as East?will likely lead a diamond instead without the guidance of an overcall. If West opens 2S East may carry on to 3S or South will balance with 3C and North will likely let it go, or at most make some sort of move to see if South has a spade stopper and let 4C rest. If South opens 1C, West overcalls 1S but North is unlikely to be kept out of game. Contracts were 3C N, 3C S twice, 3NT S twice, 4C S and 5C S five times.
?
3NT is quickly set by a spade lead. 5C can be made by force but will likely be set if the lead is a spade. Marilee and Judy (P) made 5C, and Jeff, who received a heart lead, took the easy twelve tricks. The club partials all yielded eleven tricks; E-W top was split between?Leobot and Pauise against 3NT -1 with Linbot?and Michbot against 5C -1.
?
5C S +1
5C S = (2)
3C N +2; 3C S +2 (2); 4C S +1
3NT S -1 (2); 5C S -1 (2)
?
8:
?
...............A
...............AKJ64
...............KQ72
...............AJ6
87642..................K5
95.........................Q8732
----.......................A109643
1098743...............----
...............QJ1093
...............10
...............J85
...............KQ52
?
North has a tricky time on the opening bid with a choice between 1H and 2C. If East comes in either red suit can be serious trouble even at the two-level. Slam is likely enough after 2C with South's holding enough values to justify going beyond game, with 3NT the probable destination after 1H. N-S could potentially make game in either major despite the 5-1 suits along with game in no-trumps, and might manage slam in the minors. Usually people managed to stop in time; Contracts were 3NT N thrice, 3NT S thrice, 4S S, 4NT N twice, 6Cx N and 6NT N.
?
With the wild E-W distribution, no-trumps turned out to be the only safe denomination. There was not quite a way to take twelve tricks unless West held Q532 in hearts and covered the ten, but one would not do so if South were declaring, seeing that the whole suit would establish. All the declarers in no-trumps took eleven tricks except for the two results of 3NT = posted against Pauise and Michbot. 4S does not look too bad but the horrendous splits allow E-W to take the first five tricks; Leobot added a sixth trick. 6C has play looking at only the two hands but the layout is grim, with Linbot taking five tricks against 6Cx for +800 and the E-W top.
?
3NT N +2 (2); 3NT S +2 (2)
4H N +1 (2)
3NT N =; 3NT S =
6NT N -1
4S S -3
6Cx N -4
?
9:
?
...............QJ875
...............63
...............2
...............98542
K102.......................A4
A9542.....................KQ87
876..........................AQ95
Q6...........................AJ10
...............963
...............J10
...............KJ1043
...............K73
?
This was the fiendish hand of the set. East opens 2NT and West has a transfer into hearts. There is no serious chance of reaching slam unless East can show a doubleton spade along with four-card support for hearts. We came as close to getting everyone into the same contract here as we would, with 3NT E twice and 4H E nine times. 6H might be reached playing Precision, but would be wrong-sided played by West.
?
Against 3NT a spade lead from South holds declarer to ten tricks at most. Any other lead allows an eleventh. Hearts played by East can take twelve tricks but requires sparkling play against a passive lead. Declarer has to ruff the third spade after taking one high trumps from the East hand then draw trumps in two rounds ending in the West hand. At this point either minor queen will lead to twelve tricks (or thirteen) three-fourths of the time, but the double dummy line is to finesse a lower diamond. South is endplayed and has to lead into dummy, and then declarer can find a squeeze of South in the two minors, winning South's return in the East hand and cashing the ace in the other minor, then returning to the West hand with the heart nine to run the last two hearts, keeping either the diamond eight or club queen as one threat and club AJ or diamond Ax as the other. It's not an easy squeeze to find, as North could easily hold the club king. A diamond or club lead from South gives declarer an easier twelve tricks; four declarers posted +680. Jacob was E-W top in 3NT E +3 after a low diamond lead and then diamond continuation from South after winning the club finesse. Mahn were N-S top wen East took only ten tricks in 4H.
?
4H E =
4H E +1 (4)
3NT E +2
4H E +2 (4)
3NT E +3
?
10:
?
...............----
...............KJ74
...............AK9876
...............K72
KQJ62....................109854
Q10965...................8
4..............................Q53
Q10.........................AJ85
...............A73
...............A32
...............J102
...............9643
?
Does West open in third seat? It would be nice for pairs with an opening bid to show both majors. North will overcall in diamonds if West opens anything and then it is off to the races. If West stays quiet once we start P-P-P-1D; P-1NT, after which another pass could well lead to 3NT S. If spades ever make their way into the auction E-W get to 4S and then it will be a question of whether N-S go on to 5D or not. We finished with a 6-5 split, contracts of 4S W four times, 4Sx W, 5D N four times and 5Dx N twice.
?
Either suit yields ten tricks. Spade contracts are straightforward, making or failing on the club finesse. Diamonds are a little trickier; declarer comes to ten tricks with North declaring, as there is no way to prevent a discard of a club on the spade ace and then ruffing the fourth heart without East's being able to draw South's third trump. Gareth made 5D and Mike made 5Dx after East led the club ace either right away or when in with the diamond queen. Two declarers somehow missed the timing and lost a fourth trick. Everyone in spades took ten tricks except against Jarilee. Their double of 4S could well have backfired but worked to their advantage, as a nervous declarer went down after the infamous lurker check, drawing trumps but then playing another round just to be sure.
?
5Dx N =
5D N =
4Sx W -1
5D N -1
5D N -2 (2); 5Dx N -1
4S W = (4)
?
11:
?
...............J6
...............983
...............Q103
...............K10986
K9842....................Q7
AK52......................J10
J4...........................K972
Q4..........................AJ753
...............A1053
...............Q764
...............A865
...............2
?
With South dealer, this looks like one of those hands destined for 2NT via the E-W auction 1S-1NT; 2H-2NT. (Had East dealt and passed, West might prefer to take the side's chances in 1NT.) We could consider this a sort of Goldilocks hand with four conservative Easts giving preference to 2S, three optimistic Wests accepting the invitation and going to 3NT, and four invitations declined with a contract of 2NT E.
?
for the most part this was a resounding win for the conservatives. A heart lead holds no-trumps to seven tricks because it kills the entry situation for E-W to be able to establish the spades. Declarers in no-trumps took six tricks twice, seven tricks four times and ten tricks once - by Linda. Play began diamond, club, diamond, diamond, with each diamond lead costing N-S one trick. Linda was E-W top and Minn N-S top defending 3NT E -3. Spade contracts can take nine tricks by force, mostly because North is more or less endplayed on opening lead. Three declarers did take nine tricks; Fivy were allowed to hold declarer to eight.
?
3NT E -3
2NT E -2; 3NT E -2 (2)
2NT E -1 (2)
2S W =
2S W +1 (3)
2NT E +2
?
12:
?
...............A64
...............QJ8
...............A1097
...............A72
K2............................J1075
A1063.......................97542
QJ63........................85
KJ10.........................64
...............Q983
...............K
...............K42
...............Q9853
?
I find this one puzzling. Is there a plausible alternative to 1D from West, 1NT from North and South's eventually reaching 3NT? Nothing else makes much sense to me but only six pairs played 3NT N, with lower contracts of 1NT N, 2C S, 2H W (which makes some sense if North is stuck over a weak 1NT opening bid; I strongly advise pairs to use a double of a weak 1NT as strength-showing rather than for some form of takeout)., 2NT N and 3C S; the N-S partials likely resulting from a takeout double?
?
Although the N-S pairs to miss game avoided a trap (3NT is set by a heart lead; West cannot be put under any pressure), four of the six declarers in that contract made it. Mike was even N-S top taking an overtrick after a spade opening lead and eventually a diamond from West at trick seven when a heart would at least have held him to the contract. Ritold were E-W top defending 3NT N -3; against Pauise declarer also went to extremes when the clubs didn't oblige and finished -2. 2H W could have been set but Jacob made it. Clubs yielded the par ten tricks to Jeanne; Linbot held declarer to eight.
?
3NT N +1
3NT N = (3)
3C S +1
1NT N =; 2C S =
2NT N -1
2H W =
3NT N -2
3NT N -3
?
13:
?
...............Q10
...............432
...............KQ97
...............A843
A975......................J86432
A10765..................98
----.........................J8543
K975......................----
...............K
...............KQJ
...............A1062
...............QJ1062
?
Can spades ever get into the auction here? If East passes and South opens 1NT, West may show both majors and East bids 4S in a flash, this being the sort of hand that could easily have a double game swing.?4S might also be reached after a 1D opening bid and a takeout double. A pass over 1NT from West likely leads to 3NT S, which can also be reached after P-P-1C-1H; 2H. Contracts in either minor are also possible. We ended with 3C S thrice, 3D N, 3Dx S, 3NT S thrice, 4S W, 5D N and 5D S.
?
Diamond contracts look nasty but do better played by North, as West can lead a club and give East three ruffs. Henry made 3D N; Kevin took ten tricks in 5D -1; Vinj were E-W top defending 3Dx S -2. Ten tricks were par in clubs, the result twice with Jamob holding the contract to nine. The nine of clubs was a key card, preventing both 5C and 3NT from making. But 3NT required a spade lead; Fay and Marilee took ten tricks after a heart lead, although Wendric did manage the par -1 on defence. 4S takes eleven tricks but not on the gaudy cross-ruffing. The hearts establish; if the opening lead is a diamond, forcing West to ruff, declarer must suck a heart at once.
?
3NT S +1 (2)
4S W -2
3C S +1 (2)
3C S =; 3D N =
3NT S -1; 5D N -1
5D S -2
3Dx S -2
?
14:
?
...............AJ52
...............AJ62
...............98
...............K86
107.......................KQ98
984.......................K103
A1075...................Q42
AQ74....................932
...............643
...............Q75
...............KJ63
...............J105
?
1C from North in fourth seat and then do E-W ever get into the auction? They have half the points but neither has an easy in.?Some?Easts found the suit good enough to come in with 1S, ending the auction twice and leading to 1NT W, a contract also played twice by South and thrice by North. The higher contracts were 2C N, 2Dx W (I have no idea how that happened) and 3H N.
?
The layout favours E-W. No-trumps technically suits the defence; E-W get?eight tricks if West leads spades through North before N-S get hearts started. North or South can be held to five tricks, West to seven. But, as i often the case, all the declarers overperformed. 1NT was never defeated. Jacob took eight tricks declaring as West, as did Mike as North and Lynn (G). Lynn's overtrick came when West led a diamond at trick five instead of a heart or spade. 1NT was the only contract to make; all the other contracts scored +100 for the defence. John bettered par by one trick playing 3H N -2; 1S E could have been made by force.
?
1NT N +1; 1NT S +1
1S E -2; 2Dx W -1
1NT N = (2); 1NT S =
1S E -1
2C N -2; 3H N -2
1NT W +1
?
15:
?
...............Q983
...............AJ54
...............1093
...............85
AK64....................1052
96.........................KQ72
J8.........................Q64
AK983..................J102
...............J7
...............1083
...............AK752
...............Q76
?
After last board's Tribute to 1NT we seemed headed for 1NT E via 1C-1H; 1S-1NT unless South were to come in with 2D. We only saw 1NT E twice and 1NT W thrice - did West open 1NT. Two Wests disliked the diamonds enough to go on to 2C over 1NT. One South overcalled 2D and played the hand there. The three higher contracts were 2S W, 2NT W and 3C W, the first and third making some sense after a 2D overcall and the second after a 1NT opening bid and an optimistic response.
?
A diamond lead holds no-trumps to eight tricks the easy way, although declarer might manage not to do any better against passive defence. +120 is the highest declaring score that can be forced; nine tricks are straightforward in clubs and eight not so straightforward in spades. 2D S can be -2 for the E-W top if E-W are able to make sure of two heart tricks without allowing declarer a discard. Clubs never matched par; Fivy were N-S top defending 3C W -1 while Paul scored well playing 2C W +2. The no-trumps partials took seven tricks, eight tricks twice, nine trcisk and ten tricks twice. Linda and Jacob tied for E-W top in 1NT +3, Linda from the East side and Jacob from the West. North gave Jacob two tricks, one with a diamond discard at trick seven and the other with a spade lead at trick nine, at both points on which a heart could have been played instead. Martin took his eight tricks in 2S for close to a middle score. Leigh Ann was able to pull out a seventh trick in 2D to save 80%. My guess is that the opening lead was a spade and that Leigh Ann was able to get two discards on the spade queen and nine, East's trumping the nine just using the defence's natural trump trick.
?
3C W -1
1NT W =
2D S -1
2S W =; 2C W +1
1NT E +1
2C W +2
1NT W +2; 2NT W +1
1NT E +3; 1NT W +3
?
16:
?
...............98
...............AK1086
...............10
...............AKJ82
K753.....................QJ64
4............................QJ52
AKQ874................J52
63..........................Q4
...............A102
...............973
...............963
...............10975
?
The HCP were about evenly divided. Even at reverse vulnerability the North hand can justify an Unusual 2NT; at favourable vulnerability with so much potential offensively and good defensive potential as well I would favour a double planning to follow with hearts, as North is not especially afraid of E-W's getting the auction to a high level in spades. A constructive game bid is not unlikely and North can carry on over just about any E-W auction, perhaps the trickiest being 1D-X-1S-P; 3S, which is about what the West hand is worth; I'd probably rather bid 4S than 2S if I could be sure partner wouldn't take flight and go for slam. On this layout, if North doubles East bids either 1H or 1NT; the former slows North's ambitions. If North overcalls 1H, East may make a negative double, bid 1S or try 1NT. E-W did not often outbid N-S; contracts were 2H N, 2NT N(oops!), 3C N, 3C S, 3H N twice, 3S W, 4H N thrice and 4S E.
?
With clubs 2-2 and the bad trump split, declarer has nine tricks in hearts, the outcome at all six tables playing in that suit. Club contracts take an extra trick, as there is only one heart loser. That happened both time clubs were played. Spade contracts can be held to eight tricks if North gets a diamond ruff. Fivy managed this for N-S top defending 4S -2; Paul made 3S for E-W top. Jamob had a remarkably easy time setting 2NT and picked up another trick for an extra 15% in the score.
?
4S E -2
2H N +1; 3H N = (2)
3C N +1; 3C S +1
4H N -1 (3)
2NT N -2
3S W =
?
17:
?
...............93
...............A98753
...............A
...............J1087
J752........................Q1064
Q4...........................J62
K54.........................QJ106
Q542.......................A9
...............AK8
...............K10
...............98732
...............K63
?
If North opens 2H it probably goes around. Then again, P-P-1D-P; 1H-P-1NT-P; 2H is about equally plausible, although North has the loser count for more. In the end, 2H N was attempted seven times. Higher contracts were 2NT S, 3H N twice and 4H S after the auction P-1D; 1H-1NT; 3H-4H.
?
The Losing Trick Count proves to be right on the spot this time; in 4H North loses one trump and two clubs. Ten tricks were taken at seven tables, with JP (2H +3) overperforming as declarer, Jamob and Leobot (2H +1) on defence. No-trumps get interesting; an early diamond lead not only establishes a minimum of five tricks for the defence but at the same time prevents declarer from cashing the three long hearts. After that E-W ought to come to seven tricks. After a spade lead declarer can force an eighth trick, while a club lead and any return but a diamond lets declarer come to nine, the table result in 2NT +1.
?
?
?
4H S =
2H N +3
2H N +2 (4); 3H N +1 (2)
2NT S +1
2H N +1 (2)
?
18:
?
...............AJ10653
...............85432
...............96
...............----
984...........................Q7
AQJ..........................109
K10...........................AJ73
KQ973......................AJ654
...............K2
...............K76
...............Q8542
...............1082
?
We finished with a trap for E-W. If East opens, West drives to game and may well respond with an immediate 3NT. An inverted raise in clubs gives the side the chance to find they have no spade stopper and then 5C becomes the likely contract - at least there was a good escape available. If East passes West opens 1NT and then it becomes a question of whether North comes in on the 6-5 distribution. If not, East likely just jumps to 3NT. If North does come in E-W have a fighting chance to find their way to 5C. Six of the eleven E-W pairs walked into the trap and declared 3NT W. Other contracts were 3C E, 5C E, 5C W twice and 6C E.
?
3Nt is -2 against any spade lead except the ace. Minn, Leighry, Glynneth, Study and Jemer took their six tricks and split the N-S top. Only Michelle did not receive the killing lead and emerged with ten tricks for the E-W top. Club contracts could have been held to eleven tricks by a spade lead. Wendy could have been E-W top in 5C +1, with Elizabeth following in 5C =. Karleta managed to set 5C when declarer unnecessarily ran the diamond ten for a finesse.
?
3NT W -2 (5)
5C E -1; 6C E -1
3C E +1
5C W =
5C W +1
3NT W +1
