1:

?

...............6

...............K

...............KQ76542

...............10865

10942.........................J75

Q1087........................A963

----.............................A1098

AK432.......................Q7?

...............AKQ83

...............J542

...............J3

...............J9

?

3D opened by North seems likely to end the auction unless West finds a reopening double that risks being taken as showing a bigger hand. Had West been dealer and passed reopening with a double would have been a low-risk move, the hand clearly being limited by not having opened the bidding. One North opened 3D and played the hand there. One North not only passed as dealer but passed South's 1S. The other two N-S pairs somehow found themselves in 3NT S, a huge overbid.

?

3NT could have been set five tricks but Jamob and Ritold were both content with -4 to tie for E-W top. Breta bettered par by a trick in 1S S -1. Kevin made 3D N; he could have been defeated but E-W began with three rounds of clubs instead of cashing their heart trick off the top or after either of the first two clubs. The third club gave East a choice between ruffing high and surrendering a trump trick or allowing South to ruff and letting declarer cash the high spades at once.

?

3D N =

1S S -1

3NT S -4 (2)

?

2:

?

...............AKQ1053

...............Q4

...............J7

...............QJ9

?642.............................987

J952............................A73

AQ83...........................K10642

108..............................62

...............J

...............K1086

...............95

...............AK7543

?

One South opened 3C, probably making it a bit too difficult to find the winning spot of 4S, even at the vulnerability. North raised to 4C, ending the auction. The other Souths opened 1C, all auctions leading to 4S N.

?

All contracts provided a straightforward ten tricks, with three top losers in the red suits. N-S could run twelve tricks after any deviation. As i turned out only Ritold held declarer (in 4S) to eleven tricks. The other three declarers all took twelve. Karlene played 4S +2 (as did Kevin); East found the diamond lead but West made the reasonable trump switch in case North had begun with king to three or more. Jamob were E-W top defending 4C +2.

?

4S N +2 (2)

4S N +1

4C S +2

?

3:

?

...............10432

...............106

...............Q2

...............AQ765

AKJ7........................Q86

Q874........................K53

K986........................J103

9...............................K1032

...............95

...............AJ92

...............A754

...............J84

?

P-1D-P-1NT seemed like ending the auction but that only happened twice. One East somehow got all the way up into 3NT. At the fourth table North was lured by the vulnerability into a 2C overcall in the balancing position. Neither vulnerable would have been more appealing, as then the chance of a good score from defending would have gone down. East, with a maximum 1NT response and good clubs, doubled for penalty; West left the double in.

?

2Cx can make by force; declarer threatens to discard a red loser on the other red suit and ruff the third and fourth spades. E-W can force their two red tricks only by giving up a trump trick; diamond to king, heart to king and ace, diamond to queen is followed by a club and either East must let South in with the jack or East has to win the king prematurely at the cost of a trump trick. Ritold posted 2Cx -1 when declarer decided to play Harold for K109x (x) and finessed the eight on the first club. Par in no-trumps was seven tricks. Haorge held 1NT to seven tricks for a good score; Jevin were N-S top defending 3NT -1. Gareth was E-W top in 1NT +2. The key play came at trick six when North ducked a diamond led from dummy; playing the queen would have led to -1 as N-S would have still had time to work on the clubs.

?

3NT E -1

1NT E =

2Cx N -1

1NT E +2

?

Leaders: Jevin 8.5; Ritold-Jamob 6.5; Karleta-Garbot 4.5

?

4:

?

...............KJ106

...............A652

...............K1075

...............K

Q4............................983

KQ107......................J984

J9642.......................A3

Q9............................10654?

...............A752

...............3

...............Q8

...............AJ8732

?

N-S have the values for game. Two pairs reached the expected 4S, both declared by South. The other two pairs played 3NT N, possibly rebidding 2NT after 1D-2C. Jevin were one of the pairs in 3NT. Even playing four-card majors there was still a chance of reaching 4S after 1H-2C; the follow-up could have been 2D-2S Fourth Suit Forcing, raised to 3S by North to show four in the suit. It is possible, though, that North might anticipate a spade lead and bid no-trumps to give the holding a good position.

?

A heart lead holds declarer to nine tricks in no-trumps. Ritold did so for the E-W top, but Kevin, having opened 1H, avoided heart leads. After a club lead from East and a duck when Kevin continued with a diamond he had eleven tricks. Declarer could force twelve tricks in hearts with a successful guess in trumps. Haolrge held declarer to eleven tricks but Bob took his twelve for N-S top; there is time to ruff a club in the North hand to establish the suit and establish a diamond trick as well.

?

4S S +2

3NT N +2

4S S +1

3NT N =

?

5:

?

...............AJ103

...............K942

...............A83

...............A9

K862......................Q75

73...........................108

KQ942...................J10

Q8..........................K106543?

...............94

...............AQJ65

...............765

...............J72

?

North opens 1NT and can easily jump to 3H when South transfers with 2D, That led to 4H N thrice. The other contract was 2NT N, which does not make a lot of sense, although North might pass if South raises 1NT to 2NT.

?

4H makes if declarer begins with the simple expedient of ducking the first trick if East gets off to the best opening lead of a diamond. With careful defence the spades provide only one discard. But with the first diamond ducked West never gains the lead to cash the second diamond winner and South's third diamond is discarded on a spade. Even without a diamond lead declarer did not always find a winning line of play. After a club lead Leighry still defeated 4H when, on the third round of spades, North took a ruffing finesse and lost to West's king. Garbot also defeated 4H, which was made only by Jamie. In 2NT Karlene needed only to play safely for eight tricks to score 2/3, although ten tricks were possible.

?

4H N =

2N N =

4H N -1 (2)

?

6:

?

...............A104

...............AJ6

...............864

...............K732

K9...........................QJ7652

K872.......................43

Q2...........................J953

A8654.....................10

...............83

...............Q1095

...............AK107

...............QJ9

?

A 2S opening bid from East may have ended the auction; this happened once. Twice South opened 1D, leading to 3NT N, although 2NT N seems quite possible. At the last table, North opened 1C and passed South's response of 1H.

?

Technically declarer can force ten tricks in no-trumps by finessing the diamonds twice through East, not a realistic line to expect declarer to find. Jamie took nine tricks with three tricks each in hearts and clubs to go with the other three top winners. Leighry defeated 3NT after a spade lead put declarer under pressure and the timing was mishandled. 2S -1 was possible but Harold made it for E-W top: after two diamonds and two hearts North led the heart ace instead of getting rid of West's trumps. Declarer could force nine tricks in hearts even against a club lead and ruff, followed by a spade. A diamond to the ace is followed by a repeated trump finesse. Having ruffed, East discards on the second heart. Then South's club winner is cleared, followed by a third heart to the ace, a discard of the spade loser on the fourth club, then a spade ruff and the diamond king for nine tricks. George did not need the ninth trick; 1H +1 still scored 2/3.

?

3NT N =

1H S +1

3NT N -1

2S E =

?

Leaders: Jamob 15.5, Ritold 13.5, Jevin 12, Garbot 10

?

7:

?

...............K6

...............J1082

...............KJ5

...............J985

J10432.................Q87?

Q74.......................K53

AQ4......................1093

74.........................Q1063

...............A95

...............A96

...............8762

...............AK2

?

This seemed headed for 2NT S after a 1NT opening bid and an invitation after Stayman. But this only occurred once. One North went on to 3NT, impressed by the intermediates. Another South opened 1C, producing 1C-1S-X-2S. The incomprehensible contract was 3H S.

?

Declarer can force nine tricks in no-trumps, but needs to finesse the clubs twice through East in order to do so; after a spade lead the is insufficient time to play both red suits. But risking the finesse's losing to West is unappealing; in both 2NT and 3NT declarer took eight tricks. Declarer in hearts has one extra stopper in the form of the fourth trump and eleven tricks are unstoppable with the divided heart honours, the 3-3 hearts, the diamond ace and queen both onside, the 3-3 diamonds, and the onside queen-ten of clubs. Gareth took nine tricks, still good enough for N-S top. 2S could have been three tricks down for what would have been N-S top, but Jeff emerged with nine tricks for E-W top after four bits of help - an opening diamond lead, a misclick crashing the spade honours and then South's leading each of the top two clubs.

?

3H S =

2NT S =

3NT S -1

2S W +1

?

8:

?

...............J82

...............QJ97

...............K4

...............Q1065

A103........................Q

AK103.....................852

J963........................AQ82

43............................AJ872?

...............K97654

...............64

...............1075

...............K9

?

This hand seemed headed for 3NT: 1D-2C; 2NT-3NT or perhaps after an inverted raise in diamonds from East. 3NT W was played twice; West also declared both 3D and 5D. Had South had a chance to bid 2S things might have been different.

?

3NT W yields nine tricks. Declarer finesses the diamond queen and leads the ace, dropping the king, and North is squeezed on the fourth diamond, being forced either to allow East's clubs or West's hearts to establish or to block the spades even harder by discarding the eight-spot. Diamonds are trickier; declarer can be held to ten tricks by a spade or club lead. After a heart (or trump) lead, the key is to duck a club and, while drawing trumps, ruff the third club and then discard a heart on the fourth, saving the diamond jack to draw the ten. A spade lead lets N-S force East to ruff a spade too early; a club lead forces the ruff of the third club to come too soon. Rita made 5D after a heart lead; all other three declarers matched par. Jamob were N-S top defending 3D +1.

?

3D W +1

3NT W = (2); 5D W =

?

9:

?

...............KJ3

...............AJ93

...............KQ3

...............642

Q9..........................108642

64...........................Q72

AJ654.....................1097

K975.......................AQ

...............A75

...............K1085

...............82

...............J1083

?

Does East or West ever get into the auction? Usually it happened, although it can happen in different ways. East might come in with 1S on the first round or with 2S after 1m-1H; 2H. West might balance with either 3D or 2NT leading to 3D. One South was left unmolested in 2H; the other three N-S pairs all took the push to 3H.

?

The Law was on target. N-S can take nine tricks in hearts; E-W can take seven in diamonds or six in spades. This would have made defending profitable rather than accepting the push on only eight trumps. All four declarers in hearts took eight tricks. Against Study declarer guessed the trumps correctly but either miscounted or misclicked, leading the third round low to the queen instead of dropping it. Breta, the declarer in 2H, also had nine tricks well in sight for much of the hand but did not need the ninth and settled for eight for the N-S top.

?

2H S =

3H S -1 (3)

?

10:

?

...............J42

...............AJ83

...............A642

...............102

Q95..........................A63

KQ76........................952

J53...........................KQ107

Q65..........................A87?

...............K1087

...............104

...............98

...............KJ943

?

This one was finally universal. 1D-1H; 1NT across the board.

?

Declarer can take eight tricks by force, but it is unlikely. After a club lead dummy's queen much win and declarer must start spades at once - indeed even playing the third spade if South ducks the second. But declarer can hardly know that this is the only way to erase South's entry to the good clubs. Harold was E-W top in 1NT +1, although presumably not on that line. Two declarers took the more usual seven tricks. Jamob defeated 1NT for the E-W top on a club lead when both dummy and declarer ducked the opening lead.

?

1NT E -1

1N E = (2)

1NT E +1

?

11:

?

...............J8

...............KJ876

...............943

...............K108

A76......................K42

32........................AQ104

AQJ1052.............87

A3........................J765

...............Q10953

...............95

...............K6

...............Q942

?

This hand was confusing as only one pair reached game. Three of the four Wests seriously undervalued the opening hand. After P-P-1D-1H; 1NT-P, one West passed and another rebid only 2D, ending the auction. At a third table North did not overcall and West apparently rebid 1NT over East's 1H response, also ending the auction. Only one pair produced the expected auction P-P-1D-1H; 1NT-P-3D-P; 3NT. The key is West's holding seven almost sure winning tricks, which generally merits a jump rebid. Consider how little is needed for game - 3NT is a claimer if East holds the ace of hearts and the diamond Kx.

?

The success of all the finesses in the red suits lets declarer take twelve tricks in either diamonds or no-trumps. Jeff took twelve tricks in 1NT W to save a score of 2/3. The other declarers all settled for eleven tricks, giving Ritold the E-W top for being the only pair in 3NT.

?

2D W +3

1NT E +4

1NT W +5

3NT E +2

?

12:

?

...............4

...............Q985

...............AJ73

...............QJ104

A10982.................KJ765

AK63.....................107

109........................Q8

63..........................K972?

...............Q3

...............J42

...............K6542

...............A85

?

After 1S from West, East had a choice between 3S and 4S. This one was evenly divided, two of each contract.

?

The duplication in diamonds with the two doubletons and the wastage of the queen (give East KJxxx xx xx KQxx and 4S goes from about 44.5% to nearly 89%) hurts chances in 4S, although it is still all right if the club ace is onside. With the ace offside, the 3S bidders won out, giving Rita and Jeff a tie for E-W top in 3S =, Study and Jamob a tie for N-S top defending 4S -1.

?

4S W -1 (2)

3S W = (2)

?

Leaders: Jamob 30, Jevin 25, Ritold 24, Garbot 20

?

13:

?

...............J4

...............AK108

...............A952

...............K86

AQ86......................1095

J7432......................Q

----..........................KJ10876

AJ92.......................743?

...............K732

...............965

...............Q43

...............Q105

?

1NT opened by North was left in once. Two Easts showed the diamonds, resulting in 2D E and 2S W. One North opened 1D, curiously resulting in the highest contract of 3D E when East entered the auction later.

?

Karleta were E-W top defending 1NT =; declarer can take eight tricks by force with a correct guess of the hearts; West gets endplayed and has to allow four heart tricks to go with two diamonds and one trick in each black suit. 2S goes one down - declarer cannot quite take two ruffs in each hand and lead clubs through South twice even if N-S do not lead two rounds of spades. Jevin took the par six tricks defending 2S -1 for the middle score. Declarer can take eight tricks in diamonds but has to be very careful to get enough ruffs in hand not to get stuck losing a trick to North's diamond nine, which means not taking heart ruffs too early (allowing N-S to force a ruff. South cannot be kept from scoring the spade king; the key is to force that before it can do North serious good to discard a club). The ideal end position is not to start the trumps until trick ten when East is down to KJ108 in trumps and N-S will have to allow declarer a finesse of the eight-spot. Both declarers in diamonds took seven tricks, giving Haorge N-S top defending 3D -2 when declarer let Hank win the first spade with the jack.

?

3D E -2

2D E -1; 2S E -1

1NT N =

?

14:

?

...............3

...............75

...............AQ96

...............KQJ543

Q107..........................AJ9652

1082..........................KQ3

K832.........................75

976............................102

...............K84

...............AJ964

...............J104

...............A8

?

2S from East potentially discombobulates N-S a little.?The trap is that the auction could start 2S-3H; if North cannot bid 3S as a generic force then the hand will have to bid 4C and it will become virtually impossible to play game in no-trumps. Will N-S get to game after 2S-P-P-3C? Perhaps not, although South might bid 3NT over 3C. Contracts were 3H S, 3NT S twice and 4H S. Fortunately West resisted any temptation to sacrifice in 4S, which would have been down one trick too many.

?

Curiously, heart contracts are held to ten tricks by a spade lead (either E-W are able to force North to ruff or will be able to cash a second spade trick when in with their trump winner), but against 3NT it takes a heart lead to hold declarer to eleven tricks because there are four diamond winners available to go with the six clubs. At IMPs declarer would likely be content to cash out for nine tricks after a spade lead but at matchpoints declarer likely takes the diamond finesse. George was N-S top in 3NT +3 after a spade lead. Judy was next in 3NT +2. Jevin were E-W top holding 3H to ten tricks, as did Jamob against 4H.

?

3NT S +3

3NT S +2

4H S =

3H S +1

?

15:

?

...............AQ7542

...............A942

...............A7

...............7

6..............................K108

KQ8.........................76

KQ1064...................932

A1096......................J8543

...............J93

...............J1053

...............J85

...............KQ2

?

P-1D-1S-P starts the auction. When South passed, West doubled and East took the chance of defending. When South raised North looked for game, whether or not West came in over 2S. A 3H bid might have led to 4H N. One North stopped in 3S. The other two N-S pairs went to 4S, playing there once and drawing a sacrifice in 5Cx W once.

?

A heart contract would have worked out terribly unluckily; with no entry to dummy to take the trump finesse, declarer would have had to play hearts from hand, eventually coming to eight tricks at most. Declarer cannot take the trump finesse in spades, but that does not hurt as the finesse fails anyway. Spade contracts take nine tricks, although North must duck if the lead is a heart to the queen; ducking forces East to lead to the club ace to score the heart ruff and then North's diamond loser goes away on the second club. Jamob defeated 3S after a diamond lead and club continuation by North instead of a spade; Leighry were E-W top defending 4S -2. The club sacrifice turned out to be a phantom; Ritold bettered par by one trick, although 5Cx -2 would have scored the same 2/3 as the actual -3. Steve was the only spade declarer to take the par nine tricks and he needed the second overtrick to score +560 for 1Sx +2 to beat the +500 defending 5Cx -3.

?

1Sx N +2

5Cx W -3

3S N -1

4S N -2

?

Leaders: Jamob 35.5, Jevin 30.5, Ritold 27.5, Garbot 23.5

?

16:

?

...............KQ7542

...............K93

...............10963

...............----

J...............................10963

1074.........................Q62

A8742......................Q

AJ102......................Q9764

...............A8

...............AJ85

...............KJ5

...............K853

?

If North passes we finish in 4S S after a 1NT opening bid and a Texas transfer, but it appears that never happened. 4S N was played three times after a 2S opening bid. At the fourth table South opted for 3NT instead.

?

A club lead CAN set 3NT but that is unlikely to happen. The key is for West to lead an intermediate club, after which, if South wins, the bad spade break prevents declarer from cashing more than eight top tricks. If South ducks the first club then West must lead the club deuce to East's nine, forcing South to win so that E-W can cash four clubs on gaining the lead. Declarer in 3NT took nine tricks when West shifted to a heart after winning the first trick with an intermediate club, but that was good enough to give Jamob E-W top. 4S looks good for the defence after the diamond queen/king/ace and a ruff but then when East follows West's suit preference signal and leads a club North ruffs. As there is a sure trump loser it turns out not to matter whether or not E-W even take the diamond ruff. Hank, Henry and Steve all took eleven tricks in 4S to score 2/3.?

?

4S N +1 (3)

3NT S =

?

17:

?

...............QJ10

...............AK9

...............432

...............A832

----..........................8764

108753....................Q42

AK8765...................J109

105..........................KQ4?

...............AK9532

...............J6

...............Q

...............J976

?

Left to themselves, N-S would seem headed to 4S, apparently making on the 3-2 club split. West can provide effective interference: 1C-P-1S-2NT (unless that shows specifically the minors, as some pairs use the bid, since one can double and some pairs use 1NT for takeout in that situation at all). As the Support Double is generally not used beyond a 2H overcall North will pass. East bids 3H and then it is not quite clear how forward-going or competitive South's 3S bid is, as there is no room. South likely will not want to do more not knowing there is a fit and North may not divine South's invitational values. Contracts were 3S S twice, 4Dx W and 4S S.

?

Diamond contracts take nine tricks if South gets a heart ruff. Bob played the par 4Dx -1 to score 2/3. Spades can take ten tricks but declarers were spooked by the 4-0 trump split after a diamond force. It turns out that, if South ruffs the second diamond, draws trumps, loses a club and then takes a second diamond force, the second club loser can be surrendered and East will be out of diamonds, but the threat was enough to convince both declarers in 3S to settle for nine tricks, which still gave Leigh Ann and Judy a tie for N-S top. Jevin defeated 4S when declarer cashed the hearts too early, setting up a trick for East's queen when in with the third club and giving Jevin the E-W top.

?

3S S = (2)

4Dx W -1

4S S -1

?

18:

?

...............87

...............J9

...............AKJ76

...............KJ108

AJ9642................1053

K85......................AQ432

9...........................1084

AQ7......................65?

...............KQ

...............1076

...............Q532

...............9432

?

1S from West and North either overcalls 2D at once or balances with 3D over 1S-2S. West pushes on to 3S, which became the contract three times. The last contract was 4D N. West is really close to an invitation (it would be reasonable for West to invite after East's raise to 2S; the ninth trump will usually be quite useful) and the secondary fit in hearts makes 4S a great spot, as difficult as it is to divine when responder has only the values for a single raise of a major despite the strong side suit.

?

It takes a low diamond lead (the only way for South to push a club through before the trump winner is gone) to hold spades to ten tricks; Breta and Bob took eleven tricks after a high diamond lead.?Par in diamonds was nine tricks; declarer mismanaged entries and finished -2 against Jevin, giving Jevin a tie for E-W top with Bob and Breta. Study finished their big comeback with N-S top holding 3S to ten tricks.

?

Final: Jamob 42.5, Jevin 36.5, Ritold 29.5

?

3S W +1

3S W +2 (2); 4D N -2

1:

?

...............KQ9863

...............953

...............KQ3

...............A

107............................4

A1042.......................KQJ7

1095..........................82

Q542.........................KJ10873?

...............AJ52

...............86

...............AJ764

...............96

?

We began with a simple enough game with only a question of whether or not E-W would sacrifice. 1S-2C-3C may have kept West quiet, as only two N-S pairs were pushed to the five-level. It is possible if 3C shows a limit raise or better that bidding 4C will help North accept the invitation, and if North is not going to accept then an immediate 5C could be precipitate. North might have high hopes. Slam is cold opposite Axxx x Axxxx xxx and one may be able to steal 6S opposite something like Jxxx Ax AJxxx xx; North may show the club control with 4C and then retire to 4S over 4D. South will pass with no control of hearts. Contracts were 4S N eight times and 5S N twice.

?

It surprised me that four of the ten declarers took twelve tricks. Even without the road map of N-S's showing controls, East has a perfectly natural heart lead from KQJx . I can only suppose that having a suit bid and raised hypnotizes some people on opening lead. Connie, Kent, Larry (St) and Marcia were the lucky Norths not to receive a heart opening lead. Laurie, Gareth, Sarah, Betty, Rich and Harold found the winning lead and held declarer to eleven tricks. Note that, if the North hand were changed to KQxxxx Axx KQx x, declarer would take twelve tricks against either lead and we might be sending the hand in to a bidding contest; North would need KQxxxxx Ax KQx x for the club lead to gain a trick and with that holding I hope every North would have been in 6S.

?

4S N +2 (3); 5S N +1

4S N +1 (5); 5S N =

?

2:

?

...............9

...............KQJ105

...............K92

...............A842

J10863......................AKQ7542

7632..........................A

A106..........................J54

Q................................J9?

...............----

...............984

...............Q873

...............K107653

?

1S from East (the hand is a trick short of a 2C opener) likely keeps South quiet at this vulnerability and then 4S from West likely does the same to North. That is too bad as, even at the adverse vulnerability either 5C or 5H can only be set one trick and E-W have to dance around a bit to find the ruff for the third trick; East must lead a club against 5Hx while against 5Cx the defence must find a heart lead and diamond switch. Only one N-S pair found the five-level and pushed East to 5S; everyone else was able to play 4S.

?

While E-W have to manoeuvre to hold a N-S contract to ten tricks, all N-S have to do is avoid either breaking the diamond suit or either defender discarding down to three cards in the suit. Here South has no clear-cut lead, alas. A heart is the most passive lead, least likely to give anything away, but the E-W hands could be something like:

?

Axxxx.....KQxxx

Jxxxx......KQx

xxx..........Axx

----..........xx

?

when a diamond lead would be the only way to prevent declarer from taking twelve tricks. A 1M-4M auction is less likely to reward passive leads than an auction with a splinter raise, but this time that was just what happened. South led a diamond against Ken, Jim and Betty and gave those three declarers an eleventh trick, especially helpful to Jim, who had been pushed to 5S. Three tricks were banked by Louff, Heve, Kerry, Jurcia, Gel, Boric and Marudy.

?

4S E = (7)

4S E +1 (2); 5S E =

?

3:

?

...............32

...............KQJ5

...............Q1042

...............Q32

10986.....................KQ4

3.............................A10987

AKJ........................5

10984.....................K765

...............AJ75

...............642

...............9876

...............AJ

?

I did not get to check but suspect that Bob borrowed a page from Jevin and opened 1H in third seat. He ended up declaring 2H, a highly likely contract if Eric replied with Drury, and I don't see North's playing the hand in 2H if East opens 1H. Three Easts opened 1H and left in West's response of 1S. Three other Easts rebid 2C and played the hand there. That left three one-off E-W contracts of 2H E, 3C E and 3NT W.

?

Neither side can make any contract in hearts by force. The opening lead allows the defence to take seven tricks. Against 2H N, a diamond lead leads to -2 if West avoids giving East a diamond ruff and instead leads a heart through North so that East's ace will take an honour and East can draw trumps for two losers before North can organize a ruff of the third club. When East declares a spade lead allows N-S two ruffs, one in each black suit. The spade ruff can be prevented by cashing the top diamonds for a discard but then North gains control of the hand by forcing East in diamonds. Lernot were one of only two N-S pairs to go plus defending 2H E -1; Bob also bettered par as a trick by declarer to score 7/9 playing 2H N -1. Black-suit leads help N-S against spades or no-trumps as well. No-trumps can be held to six tricks, spades to seven. Vioebe did not extract the maximum but still tied for N-S top defending 3NT -1. Kerry scored well holding 1S to the par seven tricks. In club contracts par was nine tricks. Harold, Laurie and Jim took nine tricks declaring in clubs to tie Carol and Sandi in 1S +1. Ken was E-W top in 2C +2 when South trumped trick eleven instead of letting North do so.

?

2H E -1; 3NT W -1

2H N -1

1S W =

1S W +1 (2); 2C E +1 (2); 3C E =

2C E +2

?

4:

?

...............1076

...............98

...............AKJ84

...............A97

92...........................KJ854

K762.......................AQJ1043

932..........................6

J1064......................8?

...............AQ3

...............5

...............Q1075

...............KQ532

?

After 1D-2D South might bid 2H to show a good hand with clubs or 2S to show an invitational-or-better raise if the pair plays Unusual-Over-Unusual, or perhaps 2S to show good values with that suit stopped. With the extra distributional values, East is likely to keep going, potentially making the auction tricky for North. Several auctions had unfortunate conclusions for N-S, with contracts of 3Hx W, 3S S, 4D N twice, 4H E, 4H W, 4Hx W and 5D N thrice.

?

In diamonds N-S have an easy twelve tricks by establishing clubs with a ruff; the double spade stopper allows declarer to use the thirteenth club. Connie and Gene played 5D +1; Larry (St) dropped a trick but still scored well just for being in 5D =. E-W have nine tricks in hearts and everyone took them, giving Marie E-W top in 3Hx W =. 3S was always going down, Keianne eventually finishing with -2, although anything from -1 to -7 would have scored 8/9.

?

5D N +1 (2)

5D N =

4Hx W -1

4D N +2 (2)

4H E -1; 4H W -1

3S S -2

3Hx W =

?

5:

?

...............A10964

...............AQ32

...............964

...............K

QJ73............................852

1054.............................KJ9876

A1073...........................52

105...............................A9?

...............K

...............----

...............KQJ8

...............QJ876432

?

South would likely much rather have East open the bidding than North. One South doubled a 3H overcall and North left the double in. One other East declared, playing 4Hx. At the other tables South declared in either 4C or 5C, 5C winning out by a 5-3 margin.

?

Against hearts, N-S can take six tricks just by not letting declarer lead trumps enough times from the West hand, winning the ace if the ten is led and ducking if West leads low. Both declarers in hearts finished -2, although 4Hx -3 would still have beaten 5C =. Clubs can be held to ten tricks but West has to find the opening lead of a low diamond to allow East to force a ruff. Only Jerik were able to take three tricks on defence for the E-W top defending 4C =. 5C = split the N-S top between Geoff, Larry (Sh), Gernot, Eric and Martin.?

?

5C S = (5)

3Hx E -2; 4Hx E -2

4C S +1 (2)

4C S =

?

6:

?

...............K982

...............98

...............63

...............AQJ76

AJ76...........................543

Q102...........................AJ654

QJ85...........................AK1072

K4............................... ----

...............Q10

...............K73

...............94

...............1098532

?

Even if E-W make 2NT raises on three-card support, if anything that only encourages North to overcall 3C, allowing a 5C sacrifice. Otherwise, one way or another E-W seem headed for 4H if they don't get pushed to the five-level - quite the theme of the early rounds. Most auctions did reach the five-level this time and all ended in game; contracts were 3NT W, 4H E thrice, 5Cx N twice, 5D W, 5H E twice and 6H E when one partner thought the other was encouraging slam rather than just taking a push.

?

The spade blockage allows declarer an eleventh trick in diamonds but no more than ten are available in hearts as North will eventually have to come to a second spade trick. Everyone in hearts took ten tricks (4H = for Harold, Ken and Medvigy) while Marie played 5D W =. Finessing in trumps would have taken nine tricks for N-S but both declarers played the ace first, sharing the middle score on -500. Vioebe took their par six tricks against 3NT W when the heart finesse failed to tie Kerry's 6H -2 for N-S top.

?

4H E = (3)

5D W =

5Cx N -3 (2)

5H E -1 (2)

3NT W -2; 6H E -2

?

7:

?

...............A

...............AK532

...............A104

...............Q932

Q754.........................K108632

86.............................Q94

K976.........................QJ5

AKJ...........................4?

...............J9

...............J103

...............832

...............108765

?

P-1D-1H-1S; P-2S and then North almost certainly pushes the auction up higher and it is just a question of how high North pushes or East in particular goes. Contracts were 2S E, 3S E five times, 4S E thrice and 5Sx E.

?

Par in spades was nine tricks. Nobody took more. Gel were N-S top defending 5Sx -2. Three pairs of defenders held declarer to eight tricks, Boric by starting with three rounds of hearts against 3S. Had East's heart queen been a lower card declarer would likely have come to nine tricks anyway by leading a low spade from West after ruffing the third round. But when East won the queen, declarer let the queen win, then led a spade to queen and ace, letting Bob push through a fourth heart and promote Eric's spade jack. Remembering North's showing almost all the strength of the defence might have convinced declarer to save West's spade queen. Sarah, Betty and Ken shared E-W top in 3S E =.

?

5Sx E -2

3S E -1 (2); 4S E -1 (3)

2S E =

3S E = (3)

?

8:

?

...............AK64

...............98

...............K952

...............K92

QJ2.......................10

Q...........................KJ6543

AQ73.....................J10864

AQJ104.................3?

...............98753

...............A1072

...............----

...............8765

?

West opens 1C; North may overcall 1S, which likely sees South going directly to 4S. Eight auctions ended in games, with contracts of 3NT W thrice, 4D W twice, 4H E twice, 4S N twice and 4S S (North beginning with a double rather than 1S).

?

A club lead holds spade contracts to eight tricks - even if declarer reads West for the remaining three trumps after the ruffing finesse declarer cannot draw trumps anyway. Bob escaped with 4S N -1; the other 4S declarers were the par 4S -2. None of the games should have made. With hearts 4-2, East in 4H should lose two trumps, one spade and a diamond. Jim made 4H for E-W top. The second heart loser goes away in 4D =, posted by Rita for a 7/9 score. A spade lead holds 3NT to six tricks, which is where Lynn was headed for most of the hand until suddenly at trick nine North led a club when her three winners in the suit were stranded. Conndy and Marudy both posted 3NT -2 to share N-S top.

?

3NT W -2 (2); 4H E -2

4D W -1

4S N -1

4S N -2; 4S S -2

4D W =

3NT W =

4H E =

?

9:

?

...............KQJ4

...............KJ53

...............106

...............J106

53.............................108

10964.......................AQ872

J7.............................KQ43

AKQ85.....................93?

...............A9762

...............----

...............A9852

...............742

?

North might well open 1S in third seat or East might violate the Rule of Fifteen in fourth seat at one's own peril. Lernot/Keianne passed out. When anyone did open the bidding most of the auctions ended in game. Contracts were 2S S, 3H E, 3S S, 4H E, 4S N four times and 4Sx S. North might have declared in spades either by opening 1S rather than 1C, or if East opened 1H and South made a Michaels cue-bid.

?

The 3-3 clubs hold spade contracts to nine tricks and declarer takes ten only if East leads a heart. Hearts take ten tricks if East takes the double finesse though North, although finessing the queen first offers a slightly better chance of drawing trumps without a loser in the suit. Laurie played 4H E = for the E-W top; Rich scored well playing 3H E =. Kent received the opening lead of the heart ace and made 4S for a double game swing. All of the other three 4S N contracts finished -1. Two declarers in spades took eight tricks, giving Mirol a score of 8/9 defending 4Sx S -2. Medbot produced the best defensive trick result of six, posting 3S -2 when North on lead at trick seven made a lurker check and followed with a heart instead of a diamond.

?

4S N =

2S S =

Passed Out

4S N -1 (3)

3S S -2

3H E =

4Sx S -2

4H E =

?

10:

?

...............105

...............AK742

...............76

...............Q1084

KJ743.......................Q82

J85............................----

108............................AQ9432

962............................A753

...............A96

...............Q10963

...............KJ5

...............KJ

?

1D-1H-1S and then it became a Battle of the Majors. The most common contract was only 3H S, with the other six contracts all at game - 4H S twice, 4S W thrice and 4Sx W. Most of the 4H bids from North that occurred pressured East into 4S.

?

A spade lead holds heart contracts to ten tricks; declarer does not have the time to establish the clubs. Declaring results ranged from nine tricks to eleven, Gernot and Martin both making 4H. Spade contracts can be held to seven tricks. This was only done once, but to maximum effect when Kerry defended 4Sx -3 for the N-S top. 4S -2 was posted twice for the middle score. Phyllis made 4S to create another double game swing. The play went: heart ace ruffed, diamond ace, diamond to jack, spade ace, spade, leaving the club ace in dummy as the entry to the good diamond after Phyllis ruffed the third round.

?

4Sx W -3

4H S = (2)

3H S +2 (2); 4S W -2 (2)

3H S +1

3H S =

4S W =

?

11:

?

...............AK1072

...............K73

...............Q10

...............1098

6.............................J9

A4...........................QJ62

A543.......................K9872

AK5432...................Q7?

...............Q8543

...............10985

...............J6

...............J6

?

This deal turned out to be far more difficult than it looked. After P-1C-1S-X 3S may strike the right balance as one wants to let E-W have the bid in 4m. If West bids 4C East likely passes; 4D is a little more encouraging as East has well-fitting cards in the minors but the lack of control of either major is a concern. Contracts were 3D W, 3S N thrice, 4C W thrice, 4D W twice and 5C W.

?

With 2-2 diamonds and 3-2 clubs there are twelve tricks in either minor; especially with West declaring and the chance of a heart lead from South to give declarer a guess well down. Diamonds would score higher in a bidding contest, being perhaps able to cope with 4-1 clubs. Heve held declarer to eleven tricks; all the other Wests took twelve. Par in spades was seven tricks, losing one spade, one heart and two tricks in each minor. All three declarers bettered par, almost surely with a ruff-and-discard in diamonds, although it made almost no difference. Larry (St) was N-S top in 3S -1; Medbot were the only E-W pair in game after P-1C-1S-X; 3S-4C-P-5C.

?

3S N -1

3S N -2 (2)

3D W +3; 4C W +2 (3); 4D W +2 (2)

5C W +1

?

12:

?

...............J10986

...............K5

...............1053

...............987

A7...............................KQ5

873.............................AQ6

A762...........................984

A532...........................KQJ4

...............432

...............J10942

...............KQJ

...............106

?

Easts managed to restrain themselves and not look for slam even when West opened the bidding at most tables. One pair played 1NT E on the auction 1D-1NT. Everyone else played 3NT, with East declaring eight times and West once.

?

A heart lead is required to hold declarer to ten tricks. When East declared South led a heart every time and declarer took the par ten tricks. Connie had to lead from the North side and understandably did not lead a heart. However, declarer perhaps forgot that the game was matchpoints - top was available by ducking two diamonds and deriving the benefit of the 3-3 split but West cashed out for nine tricks and Conndy scored 8/9.

?

1NT E +3

3NT W =

3NT E +1 (8)

?

13:

?

...............KJ3

...............QJ1097

...............Q5

...............AJ10

A93..........................Q87

K8............................54

974...........................AKJ1063

Q8743......................96?

...............10642

...............A632

...............82

...............K52

?

1H-2D-3H likely ends the auction; South's raising to 2H should not; either East or West might compete. With nine-card fits for both sides, 3H seemed likely to be the most popular contract and it was - 2H N thrice, 3D E, 3H N five times and 4D E.

?

The Law turned out to underperform, with eighteen total trumps and par of only seventeen tricks. That each side held 2-2 in the other side's suit and that N-S in particular had practically identical hand patterns presumably made most of the difference. Everyone in hearts took the par eight tricks, creating a three-way tie for N-S top between Kent, Bob and Judy (P). Louff took ther par four tricks against 4D to score 6/9. Harold was going to be E-W top in 3D = anyway but made an overtrick when North, down to QJ10 in hearts and AJ10 in clubs, led a heart for a ruff-and-discard when N-S needed to cash two club winners.

?

2H N = (3)

4D E -1

3H N -1 (5)

3D E +1

?

14:

?

...............A10

...............AKJ10

...............KJ65

...............K107

9872........................KJ64

43............................Q985

10874......................32

J94..........................A62?

...............Q53

...............762

...............AQ9

...............Q853

?

3NT was played at nine tables out of ten. Perhaps a little surprisingly North declared five times and South four, Marduy appropriately comprising the casting vote with a 2D opening bid and transfer response. The last auction was P-2NT; 4C-4S; 6NT. North's decision to upgrade the hand to a 2NT opening bid would have been approved by Mr Bergen. The hand had three aces and no queens, with strong intermediates. South's Gerber was just an overvaluation of the hand.

?

Eleven tricks can be taken regardless of which hand declares, even if West leads a spade, as the clubs behave perfectly. Bob and Judy (P) took twelve tricks as North; after a spade lead from East there is a squeeze if declarer establishes club s first and East does not duck two rounds, which would make it impossible to cash the minor winners ending in the South hand. Mirol were E-W top taking their par two tricks against 6NT -1. Connie also took eleven tricks in 3NT N +2. Four declarers took ten tricks, two from each side, and two Souths declared 3NT =. Against Matty, after spades from the beginning, declarer finessed in hearts instead of playing clubs and nine tricks were all that could be forced. Ritold and Randi tied for E-W top on -400.

?

3NT N +3 (2)

3NT N +2

3NT N +1 (2); 3NT S +1 (2)

3NT S = (2)

6NT N -1

?

15:

?

...............KJ1096

...............76

...............AQ984

...............4

AQ753........................84

5.................................QJ98

K75.............................10

K852...........................AJ10763?

...............2

...............AK10432

...............J632

...............Q9

?

South usually opened 2H, and West usually overcalled 2S, although 2H was left in once. 2S ended the auction four times. One North broke tempo to pass, over which South bid 3H. West found the action dubious, but was quite pleased after getting a look at the substantial trump holding in dummy. One East bid clubs, eventually playing 5C. The other three auctions ended at the four-level, 4D S, 4H S and 4Hx S.

?

Despite North's fearsome trump holding West can escape with seven tricks in a spade contract; North gets endplayed and the forces eventually work in West's favour over North. The table results, though, were less happy for declarer in 2S, with -2 the best result. Marudy and Heve posted 2S -4 and Conndy 2S -5 for the N-S top. Against Marudy West led the club king at trick five instead of a low club, then made the fatal error of leading a spade at trick nine when a club would have led to -2 and a diamond to -3. Par in hearts was nine tricks, with declarers in the partials taking nine and ten while the declarers in game took seven and eight. This gave Keianne E-W top defending 4Hx -3. In club declarer could lose one trick in each side suit for -1 but Louff managed -3. 5D can make but declarer has to play East for the heart queen-jack to do so; 4D N = was a reasonable result for Bob.

?

2S W -5

2S W -4 (2)

3H S +1

5C E -3

2H S +1

4D N =

2S W -2

4H S -2

4Hx S -3

?

16:

?

...............K9854

...............84

...............4

...............AQJ75

Q............................A107

A972......................QJ1063

Q8632....................AJ109

642.........................K

...............J632

...............K5

...............K75

...............10983

?

This was another Battle of the Majors. E-W may find 4H if East has a chance to make a trial bid in either spades or diamonds; if North opens 1S the bidding reaches 3S quickly but that may push West into 4H and North then into a 4S sacrifice. Contracts were 2Sx N, 3H E twice, 3S N thrice, 4H E twice, 5H E and 5Sx N.

?

In spades North may get lucky due to the lack of entries to the South hand. Perfect defence can bring in six tricks for E-W; East leads the club king as opening lead or a shift after the diamond ace and then West can be given the lead twice in hearts for ruffs. Only Randi produced the best line of defence, necessary for them defending 2Sx -1. The three 3S contracts all finished -1 and 5Sx -2 against Conndy. Par in hearts was eleven tricks, losing a diamond and a club. Four of the five declarers in hearts took eleven tricks, with Michele and Laurie scoring +650 to share E-W top. Marudy defended 4H -1; the diamond queen was run to the king at trick seven, blocking the suit; then at trick nine West ruffed instead of East, which would have allowed the heart finesse.

?

4H E -1

3S N -1 (3)

2Sx N -1

3H E +2 (2)

5Sx N -2

4H E +1; 5H E =

?

17:

?

...............J

...............K1072

...............973

...............J9432

AQ54......................K873

QJ96.......................A83

J102........................A654

AQ...........................K7

...............10962

...............54

...............KQ8

...............10865

?

With 30 HCP and a 4-4 spade fit between them E-W might have been in danger of overextending and looking for slam. Fortunately 14 HCP for opener and 16 for responder was much better than 15-15 would have been. As it was only one pair ventured to 6NT after West channeled Pat Ardolino and went to Gerber on the second round. The main contract was 4S E, played six times. Two Easts declared 3NT after a 1NT rebid instead of 1S, according to partnership style, when West decided to stay in no-trumps rather than check back for a spade fit. One West declared 4S after a 1NT rebid as well.

?

The club wastage and bad trump split put 4S in jeopardy. East declaring can force ten tricks, taking two hearts and clubs along with one spade, won in dummy. West then runs the diamond jack to South. A ruff-and-discard or diamond return gives up the tenth trick easily. A high spade return lets declarer draw trumps but that is a trap. West has to win the queen to follow with ace and a third diamond, the only way to reach the fourth and winning diamond. South is on lead with declarer needing three tricks:

?

...............----

...............107

...............----

...............J9

54......................K8

96......................8

----.....................6

----.....................----

...............96

...............----

...............----

...............108

?

Now the ruff-and-discard works as before and a low spade leaves East on lead rather than West after the fourth round - to be able to cash the thirteenth diamond.

?

4S W can be sunk by a diamond lead; South can then be endplayed only once instead of twice and a high spade leaves declarer unable to draw trumps and cash the last diamond. Louff duly defeated 4S W. Heve were the only pair to defeat 4S E despite the endplay's being hard to find, largely because South has the natural opening lead of a diamond. Sarah, Betty, Rich, Ken and Laurie all made 4S to score 6/9. In 3NT against a club lead declarer has to pull together three heart tricks to come to nine before the clubs are ready to go. Conndy held 3NT to nine tricks for a good score but Harold was E-W top in 3NT +2 after a diamond lead instead of a club.

?

6NT E -3

4S E -1; 4S W -1

3NT E =

4S E = (5)

3NT E +2

?

18:

?

...............J1073

...............A63

...............984

...............A52

Q965.....................AK4

KQ104...................8

52..........................AKJ763

QJ7........................K94

...............82

...............J9752

...............Q10

...............10863

?

Everyone ended in 3NT. East might have rebid 3D after 1D-1H, which would likely have elicited 3NT from West. East might have upgraded the suit to a 3NT rebid or possibly rebid 2NT. Everyone finished in 3NT, with a surprisingly close 6-4 margin of West's declaring.

?

Looking at just the E-W hands one would want West to declare; heart leads through from South could be uncomfortable but with North on lead there is a solid double stop. With no chance of a length winner in hearts or clubs establishing in time, declarer has ten or eleven tricks depending on whether the diamond finesse is taken or the queen is dropped. Betty and Carol dropped the queen to tie for E-W top; -430 scored 5.5/9 for Conndy, Louff, Heve, Lernot, Gel, Vioebe, Boric and Marudy.

?

3NT E +1 (3); 3NT W +1 (5)

3NT E +2; 3NT W +2

1:

?

...............84

...............AK53

...............A54

...............KQ104

A10........................QJ6

QJ1082..................6

862........................KQJ1097

753.........................A98

...............K97532

...............974

...............3

...............J62

?

1NT from North and then often competition from East. If the diamond suit were spades and N-S were vulnerable, I would likely opt for a pass at matchpoints, as defending 1NT would be appealing with so many tricks in hand and one can always come in with 2S if 1NT is pulled. Waiting is often dodgy, but many is the +200 I have recorded defending for a fine score. One East let North declare 2S. 3D was played twice (doubled once). One South began with a Texas transfer, an optimistic valuation; the contract was 4S N. The last auction saw both sides pushing and N-S took the final push to 5S N.

?

E-W have nine tricks in diamonds. N-S can remove the club ace from the East hand or draw two rounds of trumps, but not both. The spade finesse succeeds and the third spade is ruffed with dummy's eight-spot or six-spot - two spades, the club ace and six tricks with trumps. Ritold dodged a bullet against 3Dx - Rita led a spade and declarer played dummy's ace, finishing -1. Spade contracts are held to eight tricks by a?heart lead; even if declarer guesses to duck in trumps West has the entries and timing to pull off a ruffing finesse in hearts and win the third round of the suit. Judy (P) was N-S top for being left in 2S =; Elott were E-W top for taking their five defensive tricks against 4S. Louise saved a matchpoint by salvaging 5S -1.

?

2S N =

3Dx E -1

3D E -1

5S N -1

4S N -2

?

2:

?

...............K984

...............A96

...............1082

...............Q42

63...........................AQJ2

Q83........................K104

AKJ6......................9543

10873.....................A6?

...............1075

...............J752

...............Q7

...............KJ95

?

1D from East and then either 2D or 1NT from West. Both 1NT W and 2D E were the contract twice. The last contract was 2NT W after East came in over 1NT for some reason and there were a few more bids.

?

In no-trumps declarer can take ten tricks with the spades and diamonds both so kind. South gets squeezed on the fourth diamond, but it is not an easy read and the three declarers in 1NT and 2NT still all scored 75% for taking nine tricks. This gave the declarers in 2D a chance for a flat board, as South gets squeezed in diamonds for eleven tricks but the squeeze was missed again, giving Wendric and Marudy a share of N-S top on -130 while Lynn, Henry and Elizabeth shared the E-W top on +150.

?

2D E +2 (2)

1NT W +2 (2); 2NT W +1

?

Leaders: Marudy 7.5, Elott 7, Glynneth 6, Wendric 5.5, Ritold-Leighry 4

?

3:

?

...............K832

...............873

...............Q6

...............A842

954.........................AQJ10

1064.......................K52

10873.....................KJ42

Q95.........................76?

...............76

...............AQJ9

...............A95

...............KJ103

?

This looked like 1NT from South, settling into 2NT after Stayman and a declined invitation. That happened four times. The last auction was 1C-P-1S-3NT, East apparently misreading who opened the bidding.

?

Wendric could have posted 3NT -6 but set their sights on -2, which was still quite good enough at the vulnerability to give them the top board. The suits are evenly divided, spades and diamonds favouring E-W, clubs and hearts favouring N-S. A diamond lead holds South to nine tricks with a good club guess; declarer has to cash out. Paul, Lynn and Rita all made 2NT for the middle score. Study were E-W top defending 2NT -3 after a diamond lead to the ace and then a club to the ace as well.

?

3NT E -2

2NT S = (3)

2NT S -3

?

4:

?

...............K105

...............A6432

...............864

...............86

Q3..........................A9874

Q1087....................J

Q1093....................AK52

Q103......................K92?

...............J62

...............K95

...............J7

...............AJ754

?

P-P-1S-P; 1NT-P-2D (if South overcalled 2C West made a negative double. Did West leave 2D in or give a false preference to 2S? 2D won out by a 4-1 margin.

?

The par score was +110 in both suits. It is slightly easier in diamonds; South has to lead a club, which threatens a ruff for North and forces declarer to draw trumps at once, after which the spades cannot be established and cashed. The club ruff cannot be prevented against 2S, in which contract there si a second spade loser with that suit as trumps. Judy (P) made 2S as expected for the middle score, even with Leigh Ann and Steve in 2D +1. Jeanne took a tenth trick in 2D after a trump lead for the E-W top; Glynneth held Elott to eight tricks for N-S top.

?

2D E =

2D E = (2); 2S E =

2D E +2

?

Leaders: Glynneth 12, Wendric 11.5, Leighry 11, Marudy 9.5, Elott 9, Jeanj 8.5

?

5:

?

...............K10

...............Q97543

...............KJ

...............964

965..............................8732

AJ8..............................2

6532............................Q1084

A87..............................KQ102

...............AQJ4

...............K106

...............A97

...............J53

?

Two Norths opened 2H and declared 4H when South found North with a hand in the upper range. Two Souths opened 1NT and eventually declared 2NT and 3NT, North opting to treat the hand as balanced. At the fifth table South opened 1m and passed North's 1H response, a deep position.

?

With North's holding the bad luck to hold doubletons in spades and diamonds rather than a shortage in clubs game had no play. With a heart guess nine tricks were possible in hearts, eight in no-trumps. All three games finished -2 when declarer tried to drop the heart jack on the second round. This gave Elott, Jeanj and Marudy a tie for E-W top. Breta matched their 75% score playing 2NT -1. Gareth was the lucky North left in 1H; he even took ten tricks after a spade lead for N-S top.

?

1H N +3

2NT S -1

3NT S -2; 4H N -2 (2)

?

6:

?

...............AKJ1074

...............10

...............----

...............AKQ1083

82............................Q953

KQ8654...................J32

J1075.......................AK

6...............................J974?

...............6

...............A97

...............Q986432

...............52

?

North as dealer would have opened 2C, very likely bidding spades and then 6C to give South a choice of the two contracts; slam has play opposite a Yarborough with low doubletons in the black suits or three-card support in either. Unfortunately both South and West had a chance to speak before North, making the auction more complicated. Two Norths tried to force with 3S and were left there and two played 4S. The only slam auction was P-2D-2H-6C.

?

With South's heart ace working either 6C or 6S has a fine chance of making. The club jack should drop over 70% of the time and the spades have a fine chance of coming in for one loser at worst. On this layout even with the 4-1 trumps declarer can make 6C by taking the ruffing finesse in spades after drawing one trump. Unfortunately declarer did not find this line, which had potential downsides (if East held xx in spades and Jxx in clubs the ruffing finesse in spades would lead to a set when the contract would have made by more straightforward play); Marudy posted 6C -2 for E-W top. Declarer had enough control of the hand to take eleven tricks in spades. Gareth was in danger of going down in 4S but took twelve tricks after East switched to a club after taking the spade queen. Louise played 4S N +1; in 3S one declarer took the par eleven tricks and one took nine.

?

4S N +2

4S N +1

3S N +2

3S N =

6C N -2

?

Leaders: Glynneth 20, Marudy 16.5, Wendric 15.5, Jeanj 13.5, Elott 13

?

7:

?

...............A962

...............AQ53

...............K5

...............AJ4

KQ83.....................J104

K10982..................J74

A103......................42

6.............................108732?

...............75

...............6

...............QJ9876

...............KQ95

?

2D from South. One West tried to use Mihaels with 5-4 majors but got passed by East in 3D. Another West doubled and North did not redouble. This was not fatal but the auction 2D-X-P-3C; P-3H-4D was not enough; that ended the auction. One North finished in 3C by some obscure path; the other two tables played in the nice, normal 3NT N.

?

A spade lead would have held 3NT N to nine tricks but Leigh Ann received a club lead and Scott the heart jack rather than the spade jack; they both took twelve tricks. +690 was bettered for the N-S top by the +700 scored by Ritold defending 3D -7 (it could have been -8 but they did not need it). Declarer took the par twelve tricks in 4D S (if the lead is a spade eleven are safe and twelve a risk; a non-spade lead allows declarer to take the heart finesse essentially for free); Jeanj bettered par by one trick defending 3C N = for E-W top.

?

3D W -7

3NT N +3 (2)

4D S +2

3C N =

?

8:

?

...............Q9743

...............QJ8

...............A92

...............83

52...............................----

A10.............................K9743

K543...........................QJ87

A9742.........................QJ106?

...............AKJ1086

...............652

...............106

...............K5

?

South likely bids 2S whether West opens or not. In first or second seat the hand can open 1S but, opposite a passed partner, 2S is more obstructive in third seat and shows more than usual values in fourth. Whatever happens North is almost sure to raise to 4S. Once North overcalled 1S when West opened 1C and South raised to 4S. One North thought the hand belonged to E-W and left in 4C W; the other contracts were 4S N, 4S S twice and 5S S.

?

N-S are trump-rich but poor in having almost identical hand patterns and no singleton in either hand. Leading the heart ace lets E-W take six tricks, the result posted by Jeanj and Study against 4S. After the lead of ace and another club, Henry was only two down in 5S to score 75%. Rita was N-S top, making 4S after the same start when East gave her a ruff-and-discard later in the hand. Despite holding only 20 HCP between the East and West hands, the onside club king and lack of diamond ruff gives declarer in clubs twelve tricks. -170 beat par for N-S, but, as nobody doubled spade contracts, playing 4C +2 gave Wendy the E-W top.

?

4S S =

5S S -2

4S N -3; 4S S -3

4C W +2

?

Leaders: Wendric 22.5, Glynneth 21, Jeanj 20, Marudy 19, Elott 17, Leighry 16.5

?

9:

?

...............----

...............J8762

...............Q3

...............KJ10965

K1032........................A854

1094...........................AKQ5

K862..........................A74

A4...............................Q7?

...............QJ976

...............3

...............J1095

...............832

?

Marudy began with the Mexican 2D. Another pair began with 1C from East. 1D-P-1S gives North a chance to bid 2NT for hearts and clubs. East unfortunately has a raise to 4S. Contracts were 3NT E, 3NT W and 4S W thrice.

?

3NT W is right-sided, as North cannot lead a club with profit; a club lead from South against 3NT forces declarer to guess the hearts and cash out nine tricks; 3NT W against a red-suit lead can lead to ten tricks, although both declarers finished with nine, a third spade trick exchanged for the fourth heart trick. The 5-0 trump split sinks 4S if North avoids a club lead. A club lead from South picks up a defensive trick in that suit and N-S must come to either a diamond trick or two ruffs and a natural spade trick. Two pairs posted 4S -1; Glynneth were N-S top defending 4S -2; after a heart to the ace declarer led a spade to the king and that was that. The two Judys tied for E-W top making 3NT.

?

4S W -2

4S W -1 (2)

3NT E =; 3NT W =

?

10:

?

...............10872

...............Q2

...............A5

...............K10863

----.........................AKJ965

A10974..................J63

K97643..................Q10

42...........................QJ

...............Q43

...............K85

...............J82

...............A975

?

1S-1NT; 2S for E-W. Does West move? Four Wests did not and East played 2S. One West tried 3D and East went to 3NT.

?

3NT is down off the top with five club tricks; eventually declarer can force no more than six. Marudy eventually posted 3NT -4 for N-S top. A heart ruff lets N-S hold 2S to seven tricks. Otherwise declarer can draw trumps for one loser by guessing that the queen will crash on the third round rather than the ten. Marudy were second N-S defending 2S -1. Steve and Karlene made 2S; Harold even made an overtrick when N-S never established their heart trick and he was able to run the diamonds.

?

3NT W -4

2S E -1

2S E = (2)

2S E +1

?

Leaders: Glynneth-Wendric 25, Jeanj 24.5, Elott-Marudy 22.5, Leighry 20.5

?

11:

?

...............32

...............Q6

...............KQ973

...............J542

A1087.......................KJ64

A953.........................K1087

AJ.............................8542

A93...........................6

...............Q95

...............J42

...............106

...............KQ1087

?

East had the right pattern to try 2C over 1NT despite not holding invitational values if West rebid 2D. One East left 1NT in; the other four all responded 2C. Wendric were the only pair to reach game after 1NT-2C; 2H-3H; 4H. The other contracts were 2H W, 2S W and 3H W.

?

East can easily ruff both club losers in any major contract. Declarer takes eleven tricks with a correct guess in spades, ten otherwise. Wendy made 4H for E-W top. Elott were N-S top defending 2H +2. Declarers in 2S and 3H guessed the spades correctly and took eleven tricks, particularly easy to do in 4S after two ruffs in the East hand. A club lead holds 1NT to eight tricks but Breta took ten after a diamond lead to save a matchpoint.

?

2H W +2

1NT W +3

2S W +3; 3H W +2

4H W =

?

12:

?

...............62

...............Q87

...............6

...............AJ98643

KJ987........................A543

K................................J1064

10753.........................984

K105..........................Q2?

...............Q10

...............A9532

...............AKQJ2

...............7

?

North opened 3C, a little light perhaps at unfavourable vulnerability. It was likely this vulnerability that convinced South to go looking. 3H led to 4H twice. One South went directly to 3NT. The other two contracts were 5C N, once after a 3D response and a 4C rebid from North.

?

Passing 3C was the last chance N-S had for a plus score; the heart losers go away on diamonds. Spade leads are the way to go against any contract; declarer is held to eight tricks in no-trumps, nine in hearts or clubs. NJ and Henry declared 4H -1 to tie for N-S top. 3NT finished -2 when declarer did not drop the heart king. One declarer in 5C finished -2; Wendric were E-W top defending 5C -3 when the heart opening lead was ducked.

?

4H S -1 (2)

3NT S -2; 5C N -2

5C N -3

?

Leaders: Wendric 33, Jeanj 31, Glynneth-Elott 28, Marudy 27.5, Leighry 25.5

?

13:

?

...............87

...............865

...............54

...............K106432

Q1063.......................AJ952

Q32...........................7

1097..........................AQJ8632

AQ5...........................----?

...............K4

...............AKJ1094

...............K

...............J987

?

Every E-W pair finished in 4S. Some Easts began with 1S; after 2H from South West was on the edge, but, even if West showed an invitational hand with 3H and East bid the club void, West's denial of control of either red suit lets East stop comfortably in 4S. I like a 1D opening bid better; the playing strength of the hand is sufficient for a reverse and, requiring so little to make game in one suit or the other, it's important to describe the distribution accurately. Everyone stopped in 4S, thrice by East and twice by West, although East's always declaring would have been no surprise, as 1D-1H-X probably leads to East's declaring as well.

?

There is a sure loser in each major. Will declarer drop the offside diamond king? Nobody did. Four declarers posted 4S =. Harold made an overtrick when South led a heart and switched to the diamond king.

?

4S E = (3); 4S W =

4S W +1

?

14:

?

...............K983

...............KQ

...............A9

...............J10654

A1074....................Q652

76..........................10982

QJ1052..................63

93..........................K72?

...............J

...............AJ543

...............K874

...............AQ8

?

It looked as if everyone would end up in 3NT. 1H-1S or 2C; 2D-3NT would have done well enough, but 3NT was declared four times by South. The fifth contract was 4H S.

?

The hand is a sufficient double fit to take twelve tricks in either no-trumps or hearts, although an opening diamond lead has to be won in the South hand. North's hearts are cleared, then the clubs. In hearts there is the further complication that the trumps must be drawn after the second club. Rita was the only declarer to negotiate all the pitfalls in 3NT +3. Against Leighry South ran the heart jack at trick five and even went down in 4H. Karleta took four tricks against 3NT; the other defenders took three.

?

3NT S +3

3NT S +1 (2)

3NT S =

4H S -1

?

Leaders: Jeanj-Wendric 36, Glynneth-Marudy-Leighry 31, Elott 30.5

?

15:

?

...............102

...............AK76

...............KJ763

...............J10

AK64....................983

Q10952.................J84

52..........................A10

K2.........................Q8654

...............QJ75

...............3

...............Q984

...............A973

?

Flannery would have worked well this time for E-W, as 2D-P-2H would not have confirmed a fit. South or North might have acted but action was much more clear after P-1H-P-2H (a 2D overcall would naturally have been raised). In the end contracts were 2H W, 3D N twice and 3H W twice.

?

The spade spots are just good enough to defeat 2H, but 3D makes comfortably, losing two spades and one trick in each minor. All three pairs defending against hearts took six tricks, giving Breta the E-W top playing 2H -1. Judy (P) took her nine tricks in 3D to score +110 against +100. Eric was N-S top taking an overtrick; after two rounds of diamonds and a spade to West, West missed the last chance to establish the club trick and played a heart instead.

?

3D N +1

3D N =

3H W -2 (2)

2H W -1

?

16:

?

...............76543

...............K953

...............Q

...............K93

----...........................AQ

AJ64........................Q2

A1032......................KJ8654

J10762.....................Q54

...............KJ10982

...............1087

...............97

...............A8

?

The auction is most likely to start P-P-1D-2S; X-4S. Then what? Do E-W defend 4Sx or keep going in diamonds? Contracts were 4D E, 4Sx S, 5D E twice and 6Dx E after N-S went on to 5S and E-W took the push.

?

Declarer in spades takes nine tricks; in diamonds, ten. Spades has four straightforward losers - one spade, two hearts and one diamond. In diamonds N-S get two club and either the heart king or a club ruff, but not both. Gareth was E-W top in 4D =; Pauise were N-S top defending 6Dx -2. Ritold scored 75% choosing to defend 4Sx -1 instead of pushing on to 5D.

?

6Dx E -2

5D E -1 (2)

4Sx S -1

4D E =

?

Leaders: Wendric 41, Jeanj 40, Glynneth 36, Leighry 35, Elott 34.5, Marudy 34

?

17:

?

...............AJ74

...............3

...............A3

...............QJ10983

Q92.................................K8653

7......................................AJ4

QJ962.............................K1084

AK52...............................6?

...............10

...............KQ1098652

...............75

...............74

?

After 1C-1S, South bids 4H if that is not a splinter and West likely bids 4S. This was left in once and doubled once. Three Souths pushed on to 5H, which was left in once, doubled once and redoubled once.

?

Declarer makes 4S easily enough. One heart is discarded, another is ruffed, and after the first trump goes to ten, queen and ace, declarer leads low to the nine and jack to avoid a third loser. Leigh Ann made 4Sx and Jeanne made 4S. If E-W established a diamond in time there were four losers in hearts. Breta was always N-S top in 5H undoubled and bettered par by a trick after play began club, heart heart. The other declarers in hearts took nine tricks. This gave Ritold E-W top defending 5Hxx -2 for +600, just bettering Leigh Ann's +590 in 4Sx =.

?

5H S -1

5Hx S -2

4S E =

4Sx E =

5Hxx S -2

?

18:

?

...............Q1095

...............J10652

...............10

...............976

J4...........................82

K4..........................A98

K9743....................Q652

KQ104....................AJ32?

...............AK763

...............Q73

...............AJ8

...............85

?

West usually came in over South's 1S opening bid and the vulnerability appears to have scared North off competing to 3S for the most part, if East would even have let that sit. Contracts were 2D W, 3D W twice, 3S S and 4D W.

?

E-W need to find a heart ruff before losing the lead to hold spades to eight tricks. In diamonds declarer can take ten tricks by finessing in trumps. Breta made 3S after a club lead and trump switch for N-S top. The declarers in 3D both took ten tricks; those in 2D and 4D took nine. Leighry and Elott tied for E-W top in 3D +1; Pauise scored 75% defending 4D -1.

?

3S S =

4D W -1

2D W +1

3D W +1 (2)

?

Final: Jeanj 44, Wendric 42.5, Leighry 41.5, Elott 39, Marudy 37.5, Glynneth 36