1:
?
...............AQ1063
...............6
...............109843
...............J10
542..........................J8
105..........................KQ983
AQJ65.....................K7
Q86.........................K754
...............K97
...............AJ742
...............2
...............A932
?
We began with a hand that almost became a Battle of the Majors. Left to themselves, E-W will bid 1H-1NT; 2C-2H; that contract was played six times. North may have come in with spades; 2S N was played four times. Two auctions pushed t the three-level, ending in 3C E and 3S S, the latter perhaps after North chose a cue-bid.
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N-S get a nice layout with nine easy tricks. If declarer is allowed seven winners with spades (and the shortages are favourably place) then ten tricks come in at a canter. West may be just well enough positioned with two hearts and three clubs to be able to trump South's winner on the third round of clubs and keep the trick total down without a trump opening lead. Whatever happened, though, all Norths in spades except one took ten tricks. This scored 8.5/11 for Marian, Cindy, Gareth and Jim. Declarer underperformed against Pally and posted 2S =. E-W could force only six tricks in either hearts or clubs. Half the declarers in 2H matched par and posted -2 to score 8/11. Declarer has a sure trick in each minor and, between the fourth club and the trumps, picks up four more. Sarah and Ruth tied for E-W top playing 2H -1. Two East declarers underperformed, with Lernot defending 2H E -3 and Mally on N-S top defending 3C E -4. -3 was par in 3C but East ruffed a diamond in hand instead of discarding a heart on it at trick eight.
?
3C E -4
2S N +2 (3); 3S N +1
2H E -3
2S N =
2H E -2 (3)
2H E -1 (2)
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2:
?
...............104
...............42
...............642
...............1096542
AKJ..........................6532
J10876.....................53
J3.............................Q74
KQ7..........................AJ83
...............Q987
...............AKQ9
...............AK1098
...............----
?
South has a lovely hand and keeps going after P-1D-1H-P; P. Unfortunately North has an awful hand and will want out as quickly as possible. The lowest contract, 1S S, resulted from Jerik's Big Club system. West might well have stayed out of the auction; if so then South's 1S rebid after 1C-1D was unfortunate. Higher contracts were 2D S twice, 2H W twice, 3D S six times and 3NT S after South began with a three-suited 2D underbid, as that opening bid is limited to hands below the strength of a reverse.
?
Declarer can force nine tricks in diamonds but has to change tack to do so. Assume West starts with a club force; declarer cannot just alternate rounds of spades with club forces but must lead the top three hearts at once, discarding a spade from dummy. East ruffs and has nothing better to do than return a trump. South wins and now needs to duck a spade to West, keeping the chance of establishing spades in play. Dummy declines to ruff West's fourth heart, leaving West on lead (E-W having taken three tricks) with:
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...............----
...............----
...............64
...............10965
AK..........................65
J.............................----
J.............................Q
Q7..........................AJ8
...............Q98
...............----
...............K109
...............----
?
The threat is to score all five of the remaining N-S trumps. If West leads a trump, South wins, ruffs a spade and a club, then gives West the third spade and is left with two winners. If West leads the heart and East ruffs, South overruffs and can crossruff the next four tricks. East can discard a spade on the heart jack; South then ruffs, ruffs a spade and then draws the last two trumps and surrenders the spade as before.
?
This seems hard to find, but defenders are so wary of a forcing defence that only one declarer took fewer than nine tricks with Eric taking ten and Dib eleven for the top two N-S scores. Paun scored 10/11 in a three-way tie for E-W top defending 3D -2 when declarer kept leading diamonds instead of majors. In hearts E-W can force seven tricks but both declarers were held to six, though it made no difference. In spades N-S can take seven tricks off the top after a club lead. West can draw two rounds of trumps and then force South in clubs to hold 1S S to six tricks. Declarer tried to cash the top three hearts, losing control of the hand and allowing Ritold to post 1S -2. Cinbot could have been outright top defending 3NT (which can be -4; there are seven top trick and if South does not discard a spade a winner in one of the red suits can be established) but still managed -2 and the three-way tie with Paun and Ritold.
?
3D S +2
2D S +2; 3D S +1
2D S +1; 3D S = (3)
2H W -2 (2)
1S S -2; 3D S -2; 3NT S -2
?
3:
?
...............A3
...............A3
...............KQJ72
...............10854
KQ852...................J764
Q1092....................KJ75
A6..........................94
Q9..........................KJ7
...............109
...............864
...............10853
...............A632
?
One West played 2S, showing timidity from North; the hand can surely balance even after an original pass. If North overcalls South likely raises and E-W reach at least 3S. East is on the heavy end of a single raise. N-S pushed on and played 4D thrice, 5Dx once as a sacrifice. 3S W was played six times and 4S W once. The relative merits/demerits of competing to 4m over 3M with nine trumps opposite nine would make for an interesting article if I can convince Bill or perhaps Adam Parrish to write it. It is rather less clear-cut than three-over-two with eight-against-eight.
?
The Law underperforms here because nobody has a singleton; both sides hold a 5-4-2-2 hand opposite 4-4-3-2 with 5-4 in one suit and 2-2 in the opponents' suit. A diamond lead meant that E-W took nine tricks in spades every time. Diamonds should have yielded eight tricks to declarer. Matty picked up a third undertrick to score 10/11 when declarer in 4D indulged in a lurker check at trick eleven (or else misclicked). Sarip were E-W top defending 5Dx -3; Jerik N-S top defending 4S -1.
?
4S W -1
4D N -2 (2)
2S W +1; 3S W = (6)
4D N -3
5Dx N -3
?
4:
?
...............7
...............Q954
...............63
...............KJ7652
A842........................Q9653
AK73........................J86
AJ7...........................1085
109...........................43
...............KJ10
...............102
...............KQ942
...............AQ8
?
West opened 1NT and declared in spades at every table but two. Contracts were 2S W four times, 3S W six times (the hand is fine for pre-acceptance), 2H W after an opening bid other than 1NT when West got to bid 2H as a "reverse" on the second round and 4H E once after some sort of misunderstanding, I'll guess within a competitive auction.
?
N-S could have made 3C had they ever played that contract. West can force eight tricks in spades by bringing about a ruff-and-discard. The ace of trumps is cashed after a diamond. West can then eliminate both minors and cash two hearts at leisure before giving South the second trump. However, there is no particular reason to play the hand that way, and declarers in spades took seven tricks instead of eight eight times out of ten. Sally and Rich both played 2S =. Par in hearts was only six tricks. Mallys picked up an extra undertrick for 4H E -5 and N-S top; E-W top was Phoebe's playing 2H W +1. At trick four North ruffed a spade that South was going to win, turning -3 into +1 in one fell swoop as the ruff was with the queen (misclick?).
?
4H E -5
3S W -2 (6)
2S W -1 (2)
2S W = (2)
2H W +1
?
5:
?
...............Q64
...............43
...............9864
...............AQ75
10985.....................K2
AKJ6......................1072
K2..........................QJ753
K32........................J98
...............AJ73
...............Q985
...............A10
...............1064
?
Some Souths opened light in third seat, and indeed a gruesome 1C at least once. Otherwise West opened 1C; the auction 1C-1NT occurred in both directions! 1NT was declared by every player but South, although 1C-1D (denying a four-card major); 1NT could also have been bid in both directions. Contracts were 1NT E twice, 1NT N twice, 1NTx N, 1NT W thrice, 2D E, 2NT W, 3C S and 3D E.
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The black suits in particular are so favourable to N-S that they have an easy seven tricks regardless of declarer; I am almost surprised that par is not eight, but after N-S get their diamond ace and six black tricks they have to give E-W something helpful, especially as North has all the black winners and cannot stick West on lead with the fourth spade. Four declarers matched par, most notably Jim in 1NTx N = for the N-S top. For N-S overperformers, Carthurl defended 1NT W -3, John played 1NT N +1 and Heve defended 1NT E -2. Heve rallied on the hand; declarer was on the way to eight tricks when a diamond lead at trick nine gave up two tricks and another was ceded when dummy unguarded the spades a trick later. E-W overperformances were Cindy (X)'s 1NT E = and Sarip's 1NT N -1, Sarip tying for E-W top. Declaring in a suit worked poorly; both Easts in 2D could have taken seven tricks but managed only six, while Ruise took their par five tricks against 3C to tie for E-W top.
?
1NTx N =
1NT W -3
1NT N +1
1NT E -2; 2D E -2; 2NT W -2; 3D E -2
1NT W -1 (2)
1NT E =
1NT N -1; 3C S -1
?
6:
?
...............AKQ10
...............AK872
...............Q2
...............Q7
8642.......................J7
9.............................J1054
864.........................A107
J9843.....................AK65?
...............953
...............Q63
...............KJ953
...............102
?
East opened 1C and a good many Norths balanced with 1H rather than a double. This led to 1H N five times, neither South nor West thinking it wise to continue. 4H N was reached four times; one auction being 1C-P-P-1H; P-2H-P-4H. Other contracts were 2H N and 3H N twice, likely after a double. How much North devalues the doubleton queens has considerable effect on the result of the auction.
?
With East having opened 1C North has no qualms about establishing the diamonds before drawing trumps, the plan being to discard the spade ten on the third diamond after reaching dummy with the heart queen on the third round. East should not hold five diamonds and West cannot hold the ace, eliminating the chance of an unpleasant surprise in the diamond suit. Unfortunately there is nothing to be done about the 4-1 hearts with East holding the four. Everyone took the par nine tricks; with the spades behaving there was no logical alternative outcome.
?
1H N +2 (5); 2H N +1; 3H N = (2)
4H N -1 (4)
?
7:
?
...............AJ9874
...............93
...............Q108
...............K8
K5.............................32
10754........................AKJ86
J732..........................AK6
1072..........................A54?
...............Q106
...............Q2
...............954
...............QJ963
?
I expected P-P-2S-3H or possibly double planning to follow with 3H and then perhaps 3S from South. One North in an auction I saw opened 1S; I have no idea why. East bid 2S and told N-S later that it was a mistake - but at least did not say so in table chat. That auction ended after South raised to 3S. 3H by East tended to end the auction. When East doubled it was tough after West bid 3H, even if the pair used a 2NT relay to show a poor hand. Contracts were 3H E thrice, 3S N twice, 3Sx N, 4H E twice and 4H W four times.
?
4H E sinks under a spade lead through the king. 4H W turns out to be unstoppable because the North hand is too good! Toughest defence is a trump lead. West takes the ace and king and then has to play North for Kx in clubs and the diamond queen by coming back to hand in trumps to lead a club through. North unblocks the king - dummy ducks and wins the second club with the ace. Then follow the three diamonds from the top. If North unblocks the queen, the thirteenth diamond takes care of one black loser and West loses only dummy's remaining two black cards and the club king. If North keeps the queen, it wins the third round but then North must lead spades and East's third club is discarded on the diamond jack. Sandi and Leigh Ann were the only Wests to make 4H, tying for E-W top. Sandi almost got the play exactly right; she played the diamonds after drawing trumps but then North thought clubs were the threat and exited in spades, not a bad declaring effort at the table. Betty was the only East to take ten tricks in hearts; most declarers took nine and Garbot defended 3H -1. Perfect defence against spades keeps declarer out of dummy and forces North to lead trumps from hand and lose six tricks; Pally produced the optimal defence against 3S to tie Dibian's 3Sx -1 and score 8.5/11.
?
3H E -1; 4H E -1 (2); 4H W -1 (2)
3S N -1
3H E =
3H E +1
3S N -2; 3Sx N -1
4H W = (2)
?
8:
?
...............Q975
...............A97653
...............2
...............83
1086432...............KJ
K8.........................QJ4
106........................AQJ985
KQ2.......................A10?
...............A
...............102
...............K743
...............J97654
?
If West opens 2S with this Marge Fiedler Special it seems hard to keep East out of 4S. If West passes North might open 2H despite the poor trumps and four-card spade suit. East overcalls either diamonds or no-trumps, presumably diamonds from the way the contracts went. If the auction begins P-P, East starts with 1D and then 2NT seems a natural follow-up, with 3D second choice. Contracts were 3D E twice, 3NT E, 3NT W, 4D E, 4S W six times and 5Cx S.
?
The ill-fated 4S ran into three trump losers to go with the heart ace and losing diamond finesse; a diamond lead holds declarer to eight tricks and Pheileen managed even better defending 4S -3 for the N-S top. Two declarers got to discard the diamond loser on the third heart and go only -1 for a middle score. Against diamonds South can pick up a spade ruff to hold E-W to nine tricks; Raden even defeated 3D one trick when declarer did not overruff a club on trick six. Ritold were E-W top taking their par seven tricks against 5Cx for +1100. E-W are best off in 3NT, which has ten easy tricks that were taken by Sarah and Jatin.
?
4S W -3
4S W -2 (3)
3D E -1; 4D E -1; 4S W -1 (2)
3D E =
3NT E +1; 3NT W +1
5Cx S -5
?
9:
?
...............AQJ96
...............1064
...............K9
...............A53
108754.......................K32
AK..............................9853
A6...............................10
J842...........................KQ1097
...............----
...............QJ72
...............QJ875432
...............6
?
Three Souths passed North's 1S opening bid and ended the auction. Four Souths responded 1NT forcing and were able to declare 2D - very low for a hand with a rare 8-4-1-0 hand pattern! One South played 2NT, declining to take it out after North went there, perhaps on the third round of the auction. Two souths played 3D. Higher contracts were 4S N and 5Dx S. It's hard to generalize about auctions with freak hands. South might bid 1S-3D playing weak jump shifts, or North might upgrade to a 1NT opening bid and probably get into trouble.
?
Diamonds yield a straightforward ten tricks, although Ruise held declarer to nine - heart ruff? Par in either no-trumps or spades was five tricks. Ritold matched par defending 4S -5 for the E-W top. Pally were second defending 1S -3 when declarer led the spade queen at trick five instead of a club or heart. 1S -1 and 2NT -1 scored 7/11 for the defence.
?
2D S +2 (5)
3D S =
1S N -1 (2); 2NT S -1
5Dx S -1
1S N -3
4S N -5
?
10:
?
...............Q73
...............A4
...............A1032
...............10954
K95.........................10864
QJ93.......................1086
J4............................K86
AK87.......................632?
...............AJ2
...............K752
...............Q975
...............QJ
?
P-1D-X-XX? That is followed by two more passes, 1H from West and then perhaps a double from South. Maybe East will bid 1S; N-S may declare in diamonds or no-trumps and will probably be able to stop below game. Nobody played in hearts as it happened; contracts were 1NT N twice, 2D S four times, 2S E, 2NT S, 3D S twice, 3NT N and 3NT S.
?
E-W can establish either major against no-trumps to hold declarer to seven tricks. Ray made 3NT when West won a spade lead with the king and then took the top two clubs, each dropping one trick. Jim took nine tricks in 1NT N and John eight, but Glotin took their par six tricks to post 3NT S -2 for the E-W top. Dibian scored 10/11 taking their par eight tricks against 2S E -3; at least not doubling only cost them one matchpoint. Par in diamonds was nine tricks. East may not have to find the spade switch when in with the king of diamonds, but it certainly helps. Phyllis (H) and Gareth took ten tricks; the other four declarers in diamonds matched par.
?
3NT N =
2S E -3
1NT N +2
2D S +2 (2)
1NT N +1
2D S +1 (2); 3D S = (2)
2NT S -1
3NT S -2
?
11:
?
...............AQ7432
...............9
...............AQ103
...............42
8.............................6
10764.....................Q853
654.........................972
108763...................AKQJ5?
...............KJ1095
...............AKJ2
...............KJ8
...............9
?
How many pairs would reach the slam? It turned out to be exactly half - 6S S six times, 4S S five times and one sad 4H N, adding to our list of unrecognized splinters. The North hand is too good for a splinter raise when South opens 1S anyway. 2NT is much better. East overcalls 3C (the Jacoby raise positively invites overcalls, especially 3m; with the opponents committed to 4M they are hardly likely to be able to double 3m for profit and likely have a hard time finding the double when they can defend. Here the E-W mirror distribution lets N-S take eight tricks defending clubs, but not enough for 3Cx to be worth defending) and then N-S may regret it if they have not discussed what to do over Jacoby and interference. I like agreeing that passing an overcall shows shortage in that suit and that 4M shows a minimum without control of it. There are various ways to go from there.
?
Glotin picked up the easy E-W top defending 4H -2. Everyone else took twelve tricks in spades except for Mallys, who took all thirteen. Their auction had been 1S-2NT; 3C-3D; 3H-4H; 4NT-5C; 6S, Phyllis showing the club shortage followed by various controls before the key card ask and signoff. Note the lack of a 3C overcall, resulting in West's making a different opening lead. The other auction I noted was Conndy's: 1S-P-2NT-3C; 4NT-P-6S. Connie liked the opening hand enough to ask directly over 3C, clearly implying an honour control or singleton in the suit; with a hand such as KJxxx AKQJ KJ xx she could have jumped to 5S to ask for control of clubs. Cindy was able to go to 6S over the 5C raise (yes, 5Cx could have been set more than slam but with a known eleven-card fit); Connie had to hold enough for slam to be worth 4NT. Connie, Phyllis (H), Gernot, Eric and NJ all scored 8/11 in 6S =.
?
6S S +1
6S S = (5)
4S S +2 (4); 5S S +1
4H N -2
?
12:
?
...............AJ109832
...............----
...............64
...............Q753
654................................K
1094..............................QJ82
1072..............................AJ98
KJ84.............................A1092
...............Q7
...............AK7653
...............KQ53
...............6
?
3S from North, raised to 4S by South. 4S N was played nine times. East might have doubled, leading to trouble if South redoubled, as North might then have made a penalty double of 4C for profit despite the vulnerability. One double of 3S went around; another led to 4Dx E. The last contract was 5S N after a push.
?
4Dx W would have a good theoretical chance of declarer's taking seven tricks but with East declaring North could get a heart ruff and then switch to a club. Dibian managed -5 but were denied N-S top when John picked up eleven tricks in 3Sx. This cannot be prevented, although most declarers took the spade finesse and lost a third trick. The play holds a slight trap for declarer; if a heart is led and declarer discards two diamonds on the heart ace-king and leads a club, a spade from West finessed leaves declarer only able to ruff one club and 4S is set, losing three clubs and the trump king. Paun defeated 4S for the E-W top. Cindy played 5S = and saved 8.5 matchpoints.
?
3Sx N +2
4Dx E -5
5S N =
4S N = (8)
4S N -1
?
13:
?
...............53
...............KQ975
...............K1093
...............KQ
KJ9...........................Q1086
J4..............................A63
8742..........................AQ6
J964..........................1075?
...............A742
...............1082
...............J5
...............A832
?
1H from North and almost certainly only 2H from South, whether or not East doubled. Seven times 2H was left in. Against Randi, Paun, Ritold, Sarip and Leighry the contract was 3H with a balance from East if N-S did not get to that level after Southern optimism. The balance might be 2S, East having already declined to overcall 1S over 1H.
?
A trump lead should allow N-S to hold 2S to six tricks for a profit, although with both vulnerable South might try a sporting penalty double. The spade lead is also right for E-W against a heart contract, establishing the defensive winner in that suit before North can unblock the clubs. This holds declarer to nine tricks. Against a club lead declarer does not want to take the discard right away, as that loses a tempo and allows a profitable spade force. The discard can be taken after E-W have to lead spades themselves. All declarers went plus, with a trick distribution of 2/7/2/1 from eight to eleven, more than half the tables matching par. Mark, N-S top in 3H +2, picked up one trick from the club lead, then the other overtrick when let the diamond nine-spot sneak past at trick eight. John and Jim scored 9.5/11 for +170; Pally and Vioebe tied for E-W top on -110.?
?
3H N +2
2H N +2 (2)
2H N +1 (3); 3H = (4)
2H N = (2)
?
14:
?
...............653
...............63
...............A1076
...............AK85
987.....................AQ4
AJ10542.............K87
5.........................KJ43
964.....................Q32?
...............KJ102
...............Q9
...............Q982
...............J107
?
All the Easts except Paul opened 1NT. One South came in with 2D and what perhaps was intended as a Stolen Bid double was left in. One North somehow ended up in 4C. One West liked the suit enough to start with a Texas transfer leading to 4H E but only one other West liked the hand enough to go to 3H, leaving 2H E seven times.
?
The layout is mixed. A club lead holds declarer to eight tricks because North wins and shifts to a spade; then N-S get their five tricks before a discard on a diamond can be organized. Of the ten contracts in hearts, four declarers took eight tricks, five took nine and Henry took ten after a spade lead. Dib played 2Dx +1 for the N-S top, bettering par by one trick. Ruise took their par six tricks against 4C -3 to score 10/11 for +150.
?
2Dx S +1
3H E -1; 4H E -1
2H E = (3)
2H E +1 (3); 2H W +1
4C N -3
2H E +2
?
15:
?
...............Q762
...............A1096532
...............----
...............103
1084..............................AK93
KQ4...............................87
643................................1098
K764..............................J985?
...............J5
...............J
...............AKQJ752
...............AQ2
?
South has the first choice in the auction after 1D-1H. The most likely calls are 3C, 3D and 3NT; North might pull any of the above to 4H. Contracts were 3NT N, 3NT S, 4H N seven times, 5D S twice and 7NTx S after the auction 1D-1H; 3D-3S; 4NT-5C; 7NT-P-P-X.
?
Louise may have remembered the hand on which, against Shirley Fruchter, she raised her partner's 1NT opening bid to 6NT only to run to 7D when Shirley doubled and make it when opening leader did not lead the suit in which Shirley held the ace-king. Fortunately her choice of lead against 7NTx made no difference; Ruise scored the +1100 that made their day against 7NTx -4. North got a lucky break in hearts; West had to hold a doubleton honour or both honours to two or three and 4H just made for all seven declarers in the contract. Connie was N-S top in 3NT S +2 after a spade lead. East continued with a second and then a third spade, each surrendering a trick. Jurcia took their par of four tricks against 3NT N to score 8/11. As was the case with hearts, par in diamonds was ten tricks, though a difficult ten tricks; Sarip and Paun both posted -2 to score 9.5/11.
?
3NT S +2
4H N = (7)
3NT N =
5D S -2 (2)
7NTx S -4
?
16:
?
...............A3
...............KQ82
...............AQ10
...............AJ108
86............................Q974
109643....................5
K42..........................965
K32..........................Q9764
...............KJ1052
...............AJ7
...............J873
...............6
?
2NT from North; would South move? The answer was almost unanimously no. 3NT N was played ten times, after either a transfer or Puppet/Muppet Stayman. One South insisted on spades, ending in 4S N. Only Connie ventured beyond game, inviting slam with 4NT, but the auction ended there.
?
With the kind diamond position and the spade Qxxx with East, North had twelve tricks in either spades or no-trumps. The opening lead of a low club allows declarer to take all thirteen tricks on a squeeze of East. However, as that requires the first diamond led from dummy to be the jack, the squeeze never materialized. John was N-S top in 3NT +4 after a low club lead and some extra help. Eileen, Marian, Mark, Gareth and Steve all took twelve tricks. 4S +2 scored 6/11 for the defence. The two declarers in no-trumps took eleven tricks, two took ten and one took nine when declarer was cashing out and accidentally led the losing spade jack at trick eleven.
?
3NT N +4
3NT N +3 (5)
4S N +2
3NT N +2; 4NT N +1
3NT N +1 (2)
3NT N =
?
17:
?
...............AK107
...............Q974
...............Q106
...............J3
QJ9652..................43
J2...........................K10865
9875.......................----
6.............................AK10975
...............8
...............A3
...............AKJ432
...............Q842
?
1D from North and possibly 2NT from East. If so, South has to choose between bidding game and offering to defend with a double of 2NT. If South doubles, North can double a 3H or 3S bid from West for penalty; if 2NTx is passed to East for a 3C removal, South doubles. If East merely overcalls 1H or 2C, South drives to game in diamonds or no-trumps. Contracts were 3NT N thrice, 3NT S, 4D N twice, 4D S, 4NT S, 5Cx E and 5D N thrice.
?
In no-trumps by North, East needs to lead a spade to cut communications. If East begins with three rounds of clubs, South wins the club queen, then declarer runs diamonds and finally cashes North's two spades, squeezing East before South has to discard. Arthur took eleven tricks in 3NT N after East began with three rounds of clubs; the other three declarers in 3NT and the one declarer in 4NT all still scored 8/11 taking ten tricks. In clubs East can be held to six tricks, so that 3Cx -3 will outscore game. Defending 5Cx Jerik bettered par by one trick to collect the biggest penalty of the day, -6 for +1400. Par in diamonds was eleven tricksif right-sided; North declaring must be able to ruff two clubs. If South declares, West can lead a trump and ruff the second club to lead a second trump, after which South ruffs the third club but has no way to run the trumps in hand without spoiling the squeeze. Paun held 4D N to ten tricks for E-W top.
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5Cx E -6
3NT N +2
3NT N +1 (2); 3NT S +1; 4NT S =
5D N = (3)
4D N +1; 4D S +1
4D N =
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18:
?
...............K9
...............J109872
...............J2
...............1052
Q42......................J8653
----........................54
K95.......................AQ1043
AKQJ983..............6
...............A107
...............AKQ63
...............876
...............74
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We closed with a monster fit. P-1H-2C-4H (the lack of a shortage at most tables, although two partials (3H and 4C) were played. The auction never ended in 4H. One West doubled 4H. 5C W was played five times along with 5Cx W twice and 5H S twice.
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The play was simple in hearts - N-S had four losers and a ll the heart contracts yielded nine tricks. In 5C and 5Cx everything rode on whether North was in IMPs mode or concentrated on matchpoints. The opening lead of the spade king was high risk and high reward. It has the best chance of setting 5C as, opposite a minimum of five hearts, the heart lead is unlikely to accomplish much. At the tables nobody ventured the spade king and all the declarers in clubs took twelve tricks. Cindy (X) and Marie tied for top in 5Cx +1; NJ was N-S top playing 3H S =.
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3H S =
4C W +2
4Hx S-1; 5H S -2 (2)
5C W +1 (5)
5Cx W +1 (2)
