1:
?
...............K1085
...............KQ874
...............42
...............65
J42............................7
963............................J5
AKJ5.........................109876
A109..........................J8743
...............AQ963
...............A102
...............Q3
...............KQ2
?
Whether South opens 1S or 1NT the side ought to reach game; one partner or the other can be on the conservative side but partner can easily go on. After 1S, North can be content with 2S or use Drury; after 1NT North can begin with a transfer or Stayman and then either drive to game or invite. Contracts were 4H S, 4S N, 4S S seven times and 4Sx S when one West just couldn't resist temptation.
?
E-W have three top tricks and that is all. Hearts could be a trickier trump suit against a 4-1 split but the suit split 3-2 as usual. George was N-S top in 4Sx =. Hank made an overtrick in 4H S when West did not cash both diamonds. Geoff scored 8/9 in 4S +2 after a heart opening lead.
?
4Sx S =
4S S +2
4H S +1
4S N =; 4S S = (6)
?
2:
?
...............752
...............Q63
...............A1086
...............1074
AQJ.......................K6
7.............................KJ1092
KQ4.......................J953
AJ9852..................K3
...............109843
...............A854
...............72
...............Q6
?
E-W seem bound for 3NT from one side or the other. If East opens it may be hard for West to stop. Otherwise it seems nearly a sure thing, even if West thinks the club suit is not good enough for a 3C jump after P-1C; 1H. How two pairs stopped in 3C W I cannot say. 3NT was played thrice by East and four times by West along with one contract of 6NT W.
?
With the clubs behaving declarer can take eleven tricks in no-trumps with ease. When the clubs behave right away, before cashing out declarer should play for the two diamond tricks before cashing out. Against Keianne declarer won a diamond lead with the king and then cashed all the black winners, allowing N-S to hold declarer to ten tricks. Twelve tricks are possible, especially if a diamond lead gives declarer three winners in the suit by letting the nine win a trick, as North must then find a heart lead when in with the diamond ace, unlikely if the diamond ace is knocked out as soon as the clubs behave. Cliff was the one West in 3NT to take twelve tricks; four declarers took eleven tricks and two took ten. Troward defeated 6NT for the N-S top, with the pairs defending the partials tied on -150.
?
6NT E -1
3C W +2 (2)
3NT W +1 (2)
3NT E +2 (3); 3NT W +2
3NT W +3
?
3:
?
...............K
...............AK43
...............Q984
...............9862
QJ8.........................A5432
J87..........................965
J1073.......................A6
A105........................KQ7
...............10976
...............Q102
...............K52
...............J43
?
North might open either 1D or 1H in third seat (I favour 1H) although either way East overcalls 1S. Whatever South does West raises to 2S and usually that ends the auction. 2S E was the contract nine times with the tenth contract 2NT S.
?
This time the short side of the odds came up. Many declarers made the natural-looking play of running the spade queen first. If the suit splits 3-2 declarer wins five tricks when South holds the doubleton 109 (about a 3.4% chance) and four tricks otherwise, along with only three tricks if the suit splits 4-1. At matchpoints declarer may decide that the slight chance of the overtrick justifies being able to cater to some 4-1 splits for one loser, even though holding the trumps to one loser is what makes the contract. At IMP scoring the best line is to lead a low spade from the East hand in case South holds king-fourth or the singleton king, about a 14% chance. Here, though, the play with the highest trick expectation is beaten by leading the ace first, which holds the suit to one loser on a 4-1 split only when the king in singleton, as is the case here, about 5.6% because the king can drop from either hand. Had West's third spade been the seven or six, running an honour from the West hand would be nearly a clear mistake, as it would only gain if North were to duck from Kx. If North does duck from Kx on the actual layout, South with 109x can make up for the error by false-carding a drop of the nine or ten, which may well induce a misguess. If the queen is run and ducked there is nothing to do but lead low next. 2S -1 was the usual result, posted six times, Jerbot one of many defending pairs against whom declarer ran the queen. Betty took nine tricks in 2S (probably after a diamond lead when N-S did not cash their heart winners on getting in) and Arthur eight. After the natural lead of the spade queen, South finished -1 instead of -3 in 2NT. Geal were N-S top defending 3S -2.
?
2S E -2
2S E -1 (6)
2NT S -1
2S E =
2S E +1
?
4:
?
...............KQJ7
...............754
...............J54
...............853
6542.........................9
K862........................Q
A8............................KQ1096
A104........................KQJ962
...............A1083
...............AJ1093
...............732
...............7
?
At least two Wests opened the bidding 1C, leading to the highest and the lowest contracts. At one table East made an inverted raise to 2C which West passed, ending the auction. If the pair plays that the single raise is invitational only and therefore nonforcing, that should be part of the explanation, although the bid was correctly Alerted. The other auction with a 1C opening bid was the only one to end in game after 1C-P-1D-1H; P-2H-5C. Two Souths declared the hand in 2H and 3H; the remaining contracts were 3C E and 4C E thrice each.
?
With the diamonds behaving E-W have eleven tricks in either minor, although one declarer took only ten and two were allowed twelve, both about equally unlikely. Geof (B) had E-W top in 5C W = for being the only declarer in game. Heart contracts can be held to seven tricks by force if E-W cash their diamonds right away. After ace and another club Geoff (L) was home for N-S top in 3H -1; after ruffing and cashing the heart ace, he could cash all four spade winners and come to four tricks in each major. Three immediate diamonds allow West to discard the fourth spade. Glotin picked up the sixth trick they could force and added a seventh against 2H -2 for a good score.
?
3H S -1
3C E +1
2C W +3; 4C E +1 (3)
3C E +3 (2)
2H S -2
5C W =
?
5:
?
...............108754
...............86
...............Q54
...............KJ4
AK6........................Q932
AQJ52....................104
109..........................K872
852..........................A103
...............J
...............K973
...............AJ63
...............Q976
?
Does South open in third seat? If so, West overcalls 1H and either South or East is likely to declare 1NT, depending on what East does over North's 1S. If South passes, East or West might well declare 1NT. Contracts were evenly divided between 1NT and 2M: 1NT E thrice, 1NT S, 1NT W, 2H W twice and 2S E thrice.
?
E-W can take nine tricks in no-trumps by force; porr South gets squeezed right away on the spades and will have to part with a minor winner to keep the four hearts. 1NT E proved to be the top contract, netting nine tricks for Arthur and Deborah, ten for Connie. When either South or West declared E-W took only seven tricks. Par is eight tricks in both majors, but those tricks are much easier to take in hearts than spades. Against hearts N-S have to get their clubs established early. Marie took nine tricks in 2H after a diamond lead to the ace instead of the jack. Jonathan also took nine tricks in 2H W; Heve, Pharah and Jerbot all defended 2S E -1. To make 2S, declarer has to get the diamond trick fairly early to go with the club winner, two hearts and four spades.?
?
2S E -1 (3)
1NT W =
1NT S -1
2H W +1 (2)
1NT E +2 (2)
1NT E +3
?
6:
?
...............AKQ
...............AK62
...............J7542
...............5
952..........................J104
9854........................----
K8...........................Q1063
QJ104.....................A98632
...............8763
...............QJ1073
...............A9
...............K7
?
N-S had no trouble reaching 4H at almost every table. Even a 3C opening bid from East at one table (despite the vulnerability) made no difference; North reopened with a double and South played 4H along with eight other declarers. At least one North made a splinter raise of 4C after 1D-1H, which was useful in keeping the auction low; a raise to 4H might end in slam, but the splinter warns South off thinking the club Kx will be of value. One auction ended in 2H S. Oops.
?
Eleven tricks were taken at every table but one. Jerry took twelve in 4H when East ducked a club led from dummy. Carthurl were E-W top when N-S stopped in 2H. Everyone playing or defending the par 4H +1 scored 50%.
?
4H S +2
4H S +1 (8)
2H S +3
?
7:
?
...............K10986
...............642
...............J7
...............K85
5...............................AJ2
A987.........................KQ5
AQ964......................1032
J103..........................A976
...............Q743
...............J103
...............K85
...............Q42
?
It looks as if E-W slip into 3NT. 1D-3NT is a plausible auction. If West does not open, we get P-1C; 1R-1NT and then probably 2NT-3NT or some other invitational sequence accepted by opener. It is worth discussing with partner what one does should North overcall 1S. Contracts were 1H W, 1NT E, 2D W and 3NT E seven times.
?
If North has passed throughout after a response of 1D, does South lead a spade or a heart? The heart is somewhat safer, being from a partial sequence instead of an unsupported honour, but the likelihood of hitting partner with a big enough holding for success is less likely - North did not overcall 1H and South has eight HCP. The heart lead is much more attractive without the two minor honours - when North rates to hold perhaps 10-12 HCP opposite South's three. A heart lead lets declarer take ten or eleven tricks in comfort. A spade lead puts declarer to the test. First, East must decide whether to play South for the diamond king or to place the card with North and play for South to hold six spades by ducking the first two rounds. Even if the auction was 1D-3NT South still had the chance to open 2S as dealer but might have been too weak for the bid. If East wins the first spade with the ace this becomes a textbook case of playing to keep the lead out of the Danger Hand. The normal play of the double finesse in diamonds should be avoided. As South can gain the lead with no threat, the plan is to lead a diamond to the queen, return to the East hand in hearts and lead another diamond, ducking if South plays the king and winning the ace otherwise. If South plays the king on the first round, declarer ducks in case it is from Kx; taking the king gives North a diamond entry. I think some declarers must have ducked the spade lead, as 3NT failed more often than not. Against Heve declarer took the double finesse in diamonds in the usual way and finished -2, a result also posted by Pharah. Jerik and Jerbot were allowed to set 3NT one trick as well. Betty was E-W top taking eleven tricks while Connie and Deborah took ten. Ten tricks are the limit unless South cashes the spade queen when in with the diamond king. Phoebot's opponents justified stopping in 1NT by taking only seven tricks. Declarers in the suited partials both took the eleven tricks that the kind layout allowed.
?
3NT E -2 (2)
3NT E -1 (2)
1NT E =
2S W +3
1H W +4
3NT E +1 (2)
3NT E +2
?
8:
?
...............KQ965
...............J10984
...............----
...............Q86
4........................J1072
A2......................753
AKQ7642...........9
952.....................J10743
...............A83
...............KQ6
...............J10853
...............AK
?
Unless E-W play that a Gambling 3NT may have an outside stopper (or two) West opens 1D. North likely bids 2D to show the majors. One South bid 3D, after which West earned North's eternal gratitude by doubling and allowing North to pass back around to South. Readers of Mr Simon's old book Why You Lose at Bridge may recall the Unlucky Expert's not only cue-bidding opposite Mrs Guggenheim but even redoubling after Mr Smug declined to let UE play in an undoubled cue-bid. Our South took no chances and returned to 4H. N-S were in game mode all around. Contracts were 3NT S twice, 4H S, 4S N thrice, 5S N (probably after a sacrifice, much to South's annoyance) and two doubled sacrifices, 4Dx W and 5Dx W.
?
Both diamond contracts finished -4 against the ghastly trump split, allowing Louff and Jerik to tie for N-S top. E-W top was a tie between Nary and Cliborah, both of whom had no trouble cashing four tricks against 3NT S. The major games had eleven tricks on offer when the spades split badly and eleven tricks were taken every time. In spades, North could be forced twice in diamonds and East could overruff the second round, but that just took out the natural trump trick the hand had anyway. Declarer in 4H had a chance to take twelve tricks when West did not force North in diamonds a second time. This gave declarer the opportunity to play two rounds of trumps and then play two spades, an extra chance catering to the actual layout. West would have discarded on the second spade and declarer could have ruffed a spade in hand, ruffed a diamond in dummy after clearing the clubs, then drawn trumps and come to twelve tricks. This line would have been impossible had West forced North a second time in diamonds; declarer would not have had enough trumps and the club blockage would have kept declarer from returning to hand in that suit.
?
The last table had the adjustment. West opened 3NT, it evidently being the partnership's agreement that a Gambling 3NT did not deny an outside ace or king. West did not Alert (the Gambling 3NT is Alertable) and when asked explained "to play", not a good explanation. While one could reasonably say that South probably ought to double anyway, if told that the basis of the bid was a long running minor then South had an obvious double, presumably leading to 4Dx -4. South passed, presumably expecting West to hold almost all the outstanding values; 3NT finished -5. As South would surely have taken different action on being properly informed, that was half the adjustment. Judging that "to play" was intended as a proper explanation I decided to give both sides Ave+, a bit on the generous side to E-W but I will bear this in mind if anything similar happens another time.
?
[After I wrote up this board, I was directing in the ACBL games when a player listed as World Class had an auction 1C-P-1S-2H; 3C-P-3H-P; 3NT and, asked by his opponents to describe 3H, replied "cuebid" - a worse answer than "to play" in meaning nothing while still potentially misleading opponents - and defended the explanation when I said it was not helpful. I worked out that "game force; says nothing about hearts" would have been most accurate. When in doubt, go with Full Disclosure.]
?
4Dx W -4; 5Dx W -4
Ave+/Ave+
4H S +1; 4S N +1 (3); 5S N =
3NT S = (2)
?
9:
?
...............AQJ973
...............982
...............10
...............Q63
42...........................K106
KQ1054..................A76
84...........................KQ653
10542......................87
...............85
...............J3
...............AJ972
...............AKJ9
?
2S from North might get East to bid 3D; as South was not inclined to go for game it should be fine to leave this in. Without hearts one might as well avoid the double. One East declared 3D. The remaining contracts were all in spades, with an even 3-3-3 distribution between the two-level, three-level and four-level. Going for game seems a bit optimistic with only a doubleton trump and 14 HCP.
?
3D could have been held to five tricks but anywhere between five and seven would have come to the same matchpoint score. Keianne defended 3D -3 for what could have been the N-S top. In spades, this was a hand with a fine defensive problem. It was possible for E-W to hold spades to nine tricks by drawing South's trumps. But there is a snag. E-W need to be sure of getting the lead in order to cash their heart tricks. In order to do this, East must not win the first round of trumps, whoever leads it. The only defender who found the winning line as East was Arthur. Steve, Bob and Jim all made 4S to tie for N-S top; -140 gave Carthurl the E-W top.
?
4S N = (3)
3D E -3
2S N +2 (3); 3S N +1 (2)
3S N =
?
10:
?
...............9
...............32
...............1097643
...............A742
KJ.............................Q103
KQ764.......................J985
J8..............................K52
Q863.........................K105
...............A876542
...............A10
...............AQ
...............J9
?
1S from South looked as if it had a chance to go around but that never happened. Only one South did not go to 2S or higher later in the auction; the lowest contract was 2S W, an accident. A 2H overcall from West, raised to 3H, had a chance to push South out of the auction and did so once. 3S S was played half the time. Three auctions got pushed higher, to 4H W, 4Hx W and 4S S.
?
All the spade contracts but one resulted in nine tricks for N-S. The exception was Hank, who played 3S +1. After a heart lead, he played two rounds of trumps. West switched to the diamond jack, on which East played the king. Unfortunately, this was not N-S top, as the hand played horribly for E-W in hearts. Declarer could have been held to six tricks had N-S found the club ruff as well as the spade ruff, but -3 was quite good enough for Troward against 4Hx and Keianne against 4H.
?
4Hx W -3
2S W -4
4H W -3
3H W -2
3S S +1
3S S = (4)
4S S -1
?
11:
?
...............K108754
...............AKQ
...............9
...............A109
Q3........................J62
J9.........................105432
A1086542.............----
QJ.........................85432
...............A9
...............876
...............KQJ73
...............K76
?
After 1D from South, west might have made a natural jump cue-bid of 3D if the partnership has that agreement. That could run into trouble if North were able to double, but North has a 3S bid, leading to 3NT N, 3NT S twice and 4S N twice. One-offs were 3S N, 4C N, 5Hx E, 5S N and 6NT S.
?
All the contracts in spades and no-trumps took the expected eleven tricks, except against Jurcia, whose opponent in 6NT twisted and turned hard enough to finish -4. 4C finished -2. Phoebot had a chance at scoring +2000 but settled for -6 and +1400 when South led a heart at trick six instead of a spade.
?
5Hx E -6
3NT N +2; 3NT S +2 (2)
4S N +1 (2); 5S N =
3S N +2
4C N -2
6NT S -4
?
12:
?
...............97
...............K5
...............A9
...............AK108742
1042.........................KQ3
AQ9732....................J1064
J8.............................10632
93.............................J5
...............AJ865
...............8
...............KQ754
...............Q6
?
2H from West and then I have a fair amount of admiration for any North who bids 3NT at matchpoints. It's certainly the easiest contract to make and likely to outscore clubs.?Will 3NT keep East from bidding 4H? It might. 3C probably won't. There seems to be a chance of slam if North bids 3NT and South carries on. All auctions reached game: 3NT N thrice, 4H W twice, 4Hx W and 5C N four times.
?
Hearts can be held to six tricks; Jerbot picked up an extra trick defending 4Hx (East ducked a spade lead at trick eight) to get the penalty into four figures, although +800 would also have been N-S top. Almost all the contracts in clubs and no-trumps took twelve tricks, an easy result after a heart lead. After a minor lead declarer can lead up to the heart king. A spade lead is tricker, but declarer can still take twelve tricks by force. South wins the spade lead and then North runs the clubs. In order to keep the spade and diamond guards East has to discard all the hearts, after which South discards down to Jx in spades and KQx in diamonds. Then North leads a spade to establish the jack and East has nothing to return but diamonds.
?
4Hx W -5
3NT N +3 (3)
5C N +1 (3)
5C N =
4H W -4 (2)
?
13:
?
...............A942
...............AK97
...............5
...............AK73
KQJ7.......................103
Q5............................86432
Q97..........................K843
QJ86........................109
...............865
...............J10
...............AJ1062
...............542
?
This would have been an interesting hand for a pair playing the Blue Club, as North would open 2D to show three four-card suits and 17-24 HCP. South could either ask for the singleton and play 3NT when it turns out to be in diamonds (2D-2H; 3C-3NT) or anticipate short diamonds and respond 2S to play, which North would leave in holding four spades in the minimum range. At our tables it proved almost impossible for N-S to avoid game. 1C-1D; 1H-1NT; 2NT seems possible or perhaps even 1C-1D; 2NT (yuck) if the pair bypasses diamonds to bid a major. One pair stopped in 2NT N; 3NT was played eight times, four from each side, and one pair found themselves in 4H N.
?
3NT should be held to eight tricks with both black suits splitting poorly, even though the hearts produce four tricks with the successful finesse. But there was a saving grace in the spades, particularly when South declared. Phoebe was one of four declarers to make 3NT (she and two others from the South seat). West followed up the lead of the spade king with the queen. When East's ten crashed, Phoebe could establish a second spade winner by force for her ninth trick. Other declarers in 3NT = were Eric, Sarah and Ken, and Louise took nine tricks in 2NT N, although she'd have much preferred taking eight had West's spades been KQJ10 and nobody had made 3NT. Jorry were E-W top defending 3NT S -2, although overall South averaged 8.5 tricks in no-trumps to North's 8.4. 4H finished -1; the contract can be set two tricks by force but only with a heart lead. The ninth trick for declarer against any other lead is a club ruff in the South hand.
?
3NT N =; 3NT S = (3)
2NT N +1
3NT N -1 (2); 3NT S -1; 4H N -1
3NT S -2
?
14:
?
...............76432
...............Q102
...............A6
...............A74
J1098........................AK5
K983..........................AJ65
107.............................J4
Q62............................10953
...............Q
...............74
...............KQ98532
...............KJ8
?
The auction reasonably starts 1C-1D-X-1NT. If the double promises 4-4 majors East can go to 2H; if North has bid 1NT South can continue in diamonds. 3D S, played five times,?could have been a reasonable majority contract. Other contracts were 2D S, 3H E, 4D S, 4Dx S and 4S W.
?
Diamond contracts can be held to nine tricks by an opening lead in a major. E-W have to avoid breaking clubs, East's winning the first heart with the ace, or leading a third round of spades while dummy still has two aces. In the end, four pairs of defenders held diamonds to nine tricks while three declarers took ten and Phyllis took eleven. Eric was N-S top playing 4Dx =. Jerik defended 4S -3, one trick better than par; the extra undertrick was worth 5.5 matchpoints. Larry bettered par playing 3H =, although that only gained one matchpoint; he received a spade opening lead instead of a diamond. The frozen club suit features importantly in contracts played by either side; with best defence declarer can be forced to break the suit.
?
4Dx S =
2D S +3; 4S W -3
3D S +1 (2)
3D S = (3)
4D S -1
3H E =
?
15:
?
...............A43
...............K92
...............AJ987
...............Q5
KJ865...................72
Q8.........................10754
54..........................63
10974....................A8632
...............Q109
...............AJ63
...............KQ102
...............KJ
?
This was the one hand on which we got everyone into the same contract. All ten tables played 3NT S. West might just have crept into the auction. After a DONT 2C from West East might sacrifice in 4C but otherwise all roads seem to leave to 3NT S.
?
A club lead holds declarer to ten tricks by force, also the likely result after a spade lead for different reasons. After the club lead, declarer cannot afford to lose the lead and cashing out drops the doubleton queen of hearts. Against a spade lead declarer might still come to ten tricks by leading a heart to the king and then finessing the jack, though playing the ace and then the king to increase the chance of three tricks will give South an eleventh. Jerry took twelve tricks for N-S top; he received a spade lead and ran the diamonds; East discarded down to two clubs and ducked the first round. That allowed twelve tricks by force. Tracy, Phyllis and?Ken took eleven tricks; everyone else took ten.
?
3NT S +3
3NT S +2 (3)
3NT S +1 (6)
?
16:
?
...............J53
...............AK6
...............K42
...............10953
Q7.......................K10642
Q875...................932
AQ1063..............85
AJ.......................KQ4
...............A98
...............J104
...............J97
...............8762
?
Does West open 1D or 1NT? E-W had an uncontested auction. Six auctions went 1D-1S; 1NT. When West opened 1NT, East transferred into spades. One East left 2S in; the other three invited with 2NT, passed by West.
?
2S =, the par result, was pretty straightforward and easily posted. N-S have three heart tricks and a diamond winner but the trumps behave perfectly and with the N-S mirror distribution there is no ruff. In 1NT it seems to be mostly the same but N-S will likely need to pursue their red winners in time; declarer can theoretically take eleven tricks if N-S simply push clubs at every opportunity. Cindy and Judy took nine tricks in 1NT to tie for E-W top, a reasonable result after a club lead, spade queen to ace, club and then diamond to ten and king; if North does not cash the heart winners, East can win all the rest of the tricks. Geof (B) also took nine tricks in 2NT after a diamond lead. Nobody in 1NT took eight tricks; two declarers each took nine, seven and six, the last against Troward and Jerik, who tied for N-S top. But the other two declarers in 2NT took eight tricks for a pretty even distribution of results.
?
1NT W -1 (2)
1NT W = (2)
2S W =
2NT W = (2)
1NT W +2 (2); 2NT W +1
?
17:
?
...............A74
...............964
...............93
...............AQ875
63............................KQJ109
J85..........................A3
AQ108.....................KJ72
KJ103......................96
...............852
...............KQ1072
...............654
...............42
?
E-W seem likely to have an uncontested auction. 1S-1NT and then North may get into trouble by coming in with 2C, although these days not that many pairs may treat P-1S-P-1NT; 2C-P-P-X as penalty. If North passes 1NT, East rebids 2D and then West has a choice between 2S, 2NT and 3D. 2NT is likely to be raised to 3NT; 3D probably not. Contracts were 2D E, 2S E, 2NT W twice, 3C N, 3D E thrice and 3NT E twice. One 3NT auction was 1S-2C; 2D-3D; 3NT.
?
Diamond contracts are held to nine tricks by a heart or club lead and the correct follow-up, although all the declarers in diamonds took ten tricks. Spade contracts take nine tricks more consistently, N-S having a little more time to establish their heart trick. North in clubs can be held to six tricks by a spade or diamond lead. Dianne had a big escape in 3C N, finishing -2 for the N-S top and saving five matchpoints against the par -3. The opening lead in no-trumps caused a huge swing of three or four tricks in the result. South's natural heart lead when East declares gives declarer nine or ten tricks; North's natural club lead gives West ten. But (a club lead from South followed by) a heart lead from North lets N-S establish and cash four hearts, two clubs and the ace of spades. Yet Jonathan and Mary in 2NT W both took ten tricks after a club lead, while in 3NT E Gareth took nine tricks and Betty ten for E-W top, the auction making the heart lead even more probable.
?
3C N -2
2D E +2; 3D E +1 (3)
2S E +1
2NT W +2 (2)
3NT E =
3NT E +1
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18:
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...............J83
...............1087
...............A7632
...............43
KQ1096..................A75
Q943.......................652
J..............................9854
K65.........................J87
...............42
...............AKJ
...............KQ10
...............AQ1092
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As Marudy were not playing (to open 2D) and nobody upgraded the South hand to a 2NT opening bid, we started with P-1C-1S and nobody finished in no-trumps. If East passed South had a clear reopen, usually with a double. Some Easts competed to 2S, likely later in the auction, and were passed there, but South might well have doubled a direct raise to 2S. Contracts were 2C S, 2S W thrice, 3C S thrice, 3D N twice and 3Sx W.
?
Clubs can be held to eight tricks if E-W get a diamond ruff, although declarer may pick up a trick if West's exits in spades are used up early. Carthurl were next to E-W top defending 3C -2. Jorry defended 3C -1; Phoebe and Geoff (L) took nine tricks in clubs. Geoff's opponents began with a diamond, a club and then a heart (a spade instead would have been on track for -2). Par in diamonds was nine tricks - a spade force of South establishes a trump trick for East. Conndy set 3D but Jerry made it to tie Phoebe and Geoff for N-S top. Par in spades was seven tricks, as West has only one entry to the East hand and cannot lead hearts to hand twice. None of the declarers in spades took seven tricks. Pharah avoided giving declarer any help at all and posted 2S -2. Cliff and Marie made 2S while Geof (B) pulled off the last-board top of making 3Sx. He was headed for going down for most of the hand until South discarded one club too many on trick ten.
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2C S +1; 3C S =; 3D N =
2S W -2
3C S -1; 3D N -1
2S W = (2)
3C S -2
3Sx W =
