1:
?
...............J9
...............92
...............109875
...............AKJ2
Q863.......................K52
J10..........................AKQ84
Q643.......................J
Q86.........................9542
...............A1074
...............7653
...............AK2
...............103
?
It looked as if either East would play 2H after 1H-1S; 2C-2H or 1H-1NT; 2C-2H, or that West would play 2S after 1H-1S; 2S. One East rebid 1NT over 1S and played the hand there. 2H E was played twice. One North doubled 2H and South left it in. The other contracts were 2S W, 3C N and 3H E.
?
It was not a good hand for declaring. Eric had good luck in 1NT, receiving a spade lead. 2S looked likely to be the worst spot but Breta escaped for -1 after North led two clubs. Top scores went to Ritold for defending 3H E -3 and Kill for defending 3D N -2.
?
3H E -2
2Hx E -1
2H E -1 (2); 2S W -1
1NT E =
3D N -2
?
2:
?
...............K95
...............AJ865
...............K
...............8762
86...................Q743
Q2...................K107
QJ1098643.....52
5......................KQ93
...............AJ102
...............943
...............A7
...............AJ104
?
South opens 1C and then West overcalls 3D or 4D. 4D appears to have a better chance of pushing N-S out of the bidding, as North is likely to double and South may well leave the double in. Otherwise North bids 3H and South raises to 4H. 3NT is possible, although West might sacrifice in 4D against that. One West took the bid in 4Dx; the other auctions all ended in 4H N. Nobody played 3NT or 4NT, which would win the bidding contests. E-W did well to avoid 5D, which can be -4 when East's club holding turns out to be wasted- swap the king-queen for the ace and 5Dx would be the par contract.
?
4Dx finished only -1 but the expected -3 would have scored the same with all the other tables in 4H. Karleta and Cinise were allowed a set; if the opening lead was a club declarer needed to win and follow that up with ace and another heart. Harold made an overtrick in 4H for the N-S top when East led a low club.?
?
4H N +1
4H N = (3)
4Dx W -1
4H N -1 (2)
?
3:
?
...............AK10
...............K2
...............AQ654
...............762
86542.......................73
Q108.........................9
2................................KJ10983
A984.........................KQ105
...............QJ9
...............AJ76543
...............7
...............J3
?
Here was the first board with all seven tables playing in the same contract, 4H S. South has a rather robust hand for a 3H opening bid at green vulnerability; similarly the North hand is on the minimum side for a raise of 3H to 4H; it is not at all unlikely that 4H may require a finesse if South has minimal values for the pre-empt. Or of course South could have opened 4H to begin with.
?
4H was making on the number and six declarers did just that. Kill were E-W top when declarer went daisy-picking and ruffed a diamond at trick two. Having missed the opportunity to draw two rounds of trumps, after which declarer would lose two clubs and one heart, the danger was that West could get a diamond overruff and a trump promotion, which is exactly what happened. Bill overruffed with the heart ace, played ace and another club and then a third diamond back through from Kathy promoted another trump winner for Bill whatever declarer did.
?
4H S = (6)
4H S -1
?
4:
?
...............Q542
...............A62
...............Q1086
...............A7
K963.......................AJ87
5..............................KQ8
743..........................KJ92
KJ1096....................82
...............10
...............J109743
...............A5
...............Q543
?
This looked likely to end quietly in 2H unless East were to upgrade the diamond holding and overcall 1NT, or perhaps if E-W were playing Equal Level Conversion takeout doubles. If East passes, 1D-1H; 1S will probably disincline East to come in either at that point or over a 2H rebid from South. Contracts were 2H S four times, 3H S and 3S E twice. Most East did act over 1D and not every North opened, making it a little surprising to see South's declaring 2H at most tables.
?
The layout could have been devised by E-W's Guardian Angels. Even with the 4-1 trump split, declarer in spades can force ten tricks. Had the trumps been 3-2 we might have seen 3S +1 at both tables but only Henry managed that result. 2H overperformed; it should be -1 against a major lead and = against a minor lead, but nobody was defeated. East's second trump trick is a bit of an illusion; drawing dummy's trumps is the key to the set. Mahn defended 3H -3 for the N-S top.
?
2H S +1
2H S = (3)
3S E =
3S E +1
3H S -3
?
5:
?
...............K4
...............A962
...............K943
...............A92
1083.......................AJ9752
QJ108.....................73
Q62.........................J5
653..........................QJ10
...............Q6
...............K54
...............A1087
...............K874
?
N-S have 26 HCP but the spade Kx opposite Qx just isn't enough given the other suits of ace opposite king. Staying out of game looks as if it will be quite the task but East's 2S overcall proves to be the most welcome roadblock. After 1D-2S, South might make a negative double, cue-bid 3S or underbid with 3D. 3D N was played twice. One North rebid 3H after a negative double and played the hand there. Two Wests made the normal raise to 3S and East was left there; only one pair reached 3NT N.
?
3NT cannot avoid -2 against a spade lead, which gave Karleta the E-W top. Mahn and Ritold took the expected seven tricks against 3S E to share the N-S top. 3D can force ten tricks on an endplay. After two rounds of spades declarer draws two trumps, takes the side ace-kings and then guesses that East has the high club rather than the high heart. Ken took ten tricks in 3D and Steve nine; Leighry were headed for 3D = but were able to set the contract when declarer ruffed high on trick twelve and Leigh Ann scored her six-spot.
?
3S E -3 (2)
3D N +1
3D N =
3D N -1; 3H N -1
3NT N -2
?
6:
?
...............KJ93
...............KJ92
...............KJ6
...............J3
742.........................Q
65...........................Q843
AQ1032..................98754
962.........................A75
...............A10865
...............A107
...............----
...............KQ1084
?
This auction showed that most players do not follow the standard Jacoby rebids. The expected auction is 1S-2NT; 4C-4S. South shows the side five-card suit with 4C. This is a huge turn-off to North, who knows that one of the red suits has wasted values, if not both. South might carry on with extra values, but North's disinclination to carry on is a likely influence. Everyone played 4S S. Five auctions had a Jacoby raise; one South rebid 4S while the other four bid 3D to show the void.
?
North's club jack turns out to be a better card than the diamond ace would have been. When the spade queen drops South gets three discards in dummy from the clubs and takes twelve tricks with ease. Marudy and Leighry held declarer to eleven tricks, Marudy when declarer finessed the wrong way in hearts and Leighry when declarer didn't draw all the trumps.
?
4S S +2 (5)
4S S +1 (2)
?
7:
?
...............Q98
...............97542
...............Q10874
...............----
65............................J43
83............................K10
KJ32........................A96
98653......................A10742
...............AK1072
...............AQJ6
...............5
...............KQJ
?
This looks like an easy 1S-2S; 3H-4H or at least 1S-2S; 4S. One North passed 1S and Karlene's Psychic Friend convinced her not to balance. Karlene left 1S in while?five South played in 4S S. 4H is a better option and was played once.?
?
Declarer CAN force twelve tricks in spades but it does not look terribly likely, after a trump lead especially; declarer has to play the hand a bit wide open. 4H takes twelve tricks in a breeze with 2-2 trumps and the king onside. Rita took twelve tricks in 4H as did Jeff in 4S and Karleta's opponent in 1S. Eleven tricks after a ruffing finesse in clubs occurred once and ten tricks twice, Kill defending 4S = after declarer drew all the trumps. Cinise's declarer even found a way to go down.
?
4H S +2; 4S S +2
4S S +1
4S S = (2)
1S S +5
4S S -1
?
8:
?
...............1094
...............AQ9875
...............A4
...............63
73...........................KQJ82
KJ1032...................4
5..............................98762
KQJ108..................54
...............A65
...............6
...............KQJ103
...............A972
?
Whether or not West opens makes a huge difference. After a pass North likely opens and ends the auction. 1H from North ends in game (Jevin's auction was P-1H-1S-2D; 3C-3H-P-3NT). It seems that at least three Wests did open; if South did not overcall 2D after 1H-1S, East was in a sticky spot after a 2C rebid from West. Contracts were 2H N, 3C W thrice, 3Hx N, 3NT S and 4Dx S.
?
3NT was a breeze for Jeff; the heart finesse worked and all the rest came in top tricks; the diamond ten turned out to matter after all. Both declarers in hearts took eight tricks; seven seemed possible but the play was very tricky. Cinise were E-W top defending 4Dx -2; an early heart lead cuts declarer off from the ninth trick. 3C finishes -4 against a spade or diamond lead; Ritold produced the optimal defence and Study only one trick less. Judy (P) made 3C, picking up a trick here and there, the last straw coming when South had to ruff trick eleven.
?
3NT S =
3C W -4
3C W -3
2H N =
3Hx N -1
3C W =
4Dx S -2
?
9:
?
...............AQ1073
...............KQ108
...............7
...............K108
K985.......................J2
93............................AJ765
10842......................KJ963
Q96.........................3
...............64
...............42
...............AQ5
...............AJ7542
?
N-S seem headed for 3NT if allowed an uncontested auction: 1S-1NT; 2H-2NT; 3NT. But East has a likely Michaels 2S over 1S; 3NT was never played. Contracts were 3C S, 3Dx W, 4C S, 4S N thrice and 5C S.
?
5C might have taken an overtrick with a successful club finesse on top of the spade and diamond finesses. Two declarers in clubs took eleven tricks; Cinise held 3C to nine. Jevin were N-S top taking the expected seven tricks against 3Dx, although six would have been enough for top. 3NT would have been N-S's best declaring result. 4S could have made by force and was often assisted by an opening lead of the singleton club; Judy (P) avoided the club lead and declarer eventually led the king from hand first and went down.
?
3Dx W -3
4S N = (2)
5C S =
4C S +1
3C S =
4S N -1
?
10:
?
...............8
...............J1098
...............AK10874
...............Q10
5432...........................J1097
AQ62..........................73
J2...............................653
742.............................AK53
...............AKQ6
...............K54
...............Q9
...............J986
?
This one looked like 1NT from South and eventually 3NT from North. Yet again all seven tables obliged and reached the same contract.
?
E-W have four tricks they can take by force and they don't have to rush to do so. Here we see an example of how AQxx is perhaps the least desirable four-card suit to lead against 3NT - low reward and high risk. Lynn and Jeff took eleven tricks in 3NT, Lynn after a heart lead when East unguarded the spades on the last diamond. The difficulty of a club lead, though, is that East might play three rounds of the suit, another path to eleven tricks. Only Jamob, Marudy and Wendric managed to take their four defensive tricks to hold declarer to 3NT =.?
?
3NT S +2 (2)
3NT S +1 (2)
3NT S = (3)
?
11:
?
...............8754
...............862
...............K104
...............1097
6................................Q2
QJ9............................K1053
Q863..........................752
AK843.......................Q652
...............AKJ1093
...............A74
...............AJ9
...............J
?
South opened 1S. When two Wests passed that ended the auction. There were a good many 2C overcalls and likely at least one double, as double seems the clearest path to the one contract of 2S S. Another South played 3S, two reached 4S (one doubled) and one E-W pair went on to 5Cx.
?
Jevin took their five tricks against 5Cx. 4S often received the defensive start of two rounds of clubs. This allowed an easy make. After drawing trumps in two rounds, declarer ruffs the third club and then gets out with ace and another heart. But to do this declarer must ruff the second club with an intermediate, as the entry to dummy is the third round of trumps after the queen drops. Lynn made 4S after guessing the diamonds correctly; Wendric defeated 4Sx after a misguess. The other declarers were evenly divided between ten tricks and nine.
?
5Cx W -3
4S S =
1S S +3; 3S S +1
1S S +2; 2S S +1
4Sx S -1
?
12:
?
...............K975
...............8542
...............J103
...............54
A32........................Q8
Q7..........................AKJ106
AQ42.....................985
J982......................AQ7
...............J1064
...............93
...............K76
...............K1063
?
This looked headed for 3NT after 1D-1H; 1NT and eventually 3NT after trying to find heart support or just a choice of 3NT on the expectation of taking the same number of tricks as one would in a 5-3 heart fit. But one auction went 1D-1H; 2C-3C; 3NT-6NT. The other six Wests played 3NT.
?
In no-trumps, a spade lead makes twelve tricks possible if declarer guesses to finesse the third round of clubs. But it is not likely to happen as declarer will likely play clubs before diamonds and then a finesse in either minor is not all that likely with the second spade stopper knocked out. Chances are that the eleventh trick, which was the result at every table, came about because South discarded a club at some point and declarer picked up the third club winner when cashing out, without risking the diamond finesse.?
?
6NT W -1
3NT W +2 (6)
?
13:
?
...............Q94
...............AKQ
...............AKQ862
...............6
AJ............................K53
J72...........................1086
73.............................10
K98752....................AQJ1043
...............108762
...............9543
...............J954
...............----
?
One North opened 2NT (not a permitted agreement) and declared 4S after a transfer. The other opening bids were evenly divided between 1D and 2C, the shortest auction being 2C-2D. This is not frequently seen, although 2C-2H as a double negative is frequently enough passed if opener hold a minimum 2C opening bid with hearts. East generally doubled 2C or overcalled 1D with a 2C bid. Contracts ran the gamut: 2D S, 3D N, 3S S, 4S N, 5C E, 5Cx E and 5Dx N. I suppose I'd have expected 1D-2C-P-5C and then it's back on North.
?
N-S had a clear four tricks against 5C. 4S makes on the number; E-W can force a diamond ruff. Diamond contracts can be held to ten tricks if E-W find their spade ruff, but that has to be off the top. Harold was N-S top playing 5Dx =; Cinise were E-W top defending the quickly-ended 2D +3.
?
5Dx N =
4S N =
5Cx E -2
3S S +1
2D S +3; 3D S +2
5C E -2
?
14:
?
...............AQ854
...............A976
...............96
...............109
K972............................J63
KJ................................Q108542
J2.................................74
AK652..........................J8
...............10
...............3
...............AKQ10853
...............Q743
?
The Gambling 3NT would have worked beautifully here had North felt inclined to pass and take the chance. As it was only Mahn reached 3NT after the auction P-1D-1S(!)-P; P-2D-P-2H; P-3C-P-3NT. All kinds of shenanigans might occur after 1D and some Souths opened 3D, with the result of there being as many contracts in hearts as diamonds and none of the heart contracts' being doubled (3D S twice, 3H E twice, 4H E and 5D S).
?
The club spots are robust enough that South in 3NT can afford to finesse on a spade lead. John declared the only 3NT from the North side and received a spade lead, allowing him to run off ten tricks with ease. 5D makes even if E-W draw North's trumps, again thanks to the club spots. Lynn made 5D; the declarers in 3D both took ten tricks. All the E-W pairs in hearts took the expected seven tricks.
?
3NT N +1
5D S =
4H E -3
3D S +1 (2)
3H E -2 (2)
?
15:
?
...............AQJ852
...............K
...............QJ9
...............Q109
K10764....................93
62............................Q943
K7............................1084
8732........................J654
...............----
...............AJ10875
...............A6532
...............AK
?
Finally we had a big hand opposite good points. I'm a little surprised only two slams were attempted, one on a speedy 1H-1S; 3D-6NT (where was the fire?) and the other on the protracted 1H-1S; 3D-3S; 3NT-4NT; 5C-5D; 5H-6D. Even if South only rebids 2D it seems as if slam might still be reached, as North brings out Fourth Suit Forcing and then South may well think of slam once the diamond support is revealed. Game contracts were 3NT N twice, 3NT S and 4H S twice.
?
Hearts, diamonds and no-trumps all seemed destined to take eleven tricks. Diamonds would have been held by a club or heart lead. Mark got lucky in 6D when West led a spade and he was able to finesse. This gave him a third discard of a heart from hand which went along with one ruff to take care of all his hearts and make 6D. All the other declarers took eleven tricks except that Jamob held 3NT N to ten.
?
6D S =
3NT S +2 (2)
4H S +1 (2)
3NT N +1
6NT N -1
?
16:
?
...............72
...............10973
...............1074
...............J765
QJ106......................----
A5............................Q64
63............................AKQ852
A10932....................KQ84
...............AK98543
...............KJ82
...............J9
...............----
?
Whether or not West opens South has the right vulnerability and position opposite a passed partner to be pushy and compete to 3S or 4S, possibly on the first round of the auction. This often kept E-W out of their excellent slam; South played 3Sx twice and 4Sx, West naturally happy to leave a reopening double in. Even when E-W took the bid they were jockeyed into inferiour spots: 4C W, 4D E, 5D E and the curious 3NT E (perhaps the auction began 1C-P-1D-X; 1S?).
?
3NT took eleven tricks, declarer being able to run off twelve if South did not cash out. Declarer had seven tricks available in spades. Lynn took the expected seven tricks in 3Sx and Renee in 4Sx. Leighry defended 3Sx -4 when South erred by drawing Leigh Ann's last trump when it was high. In clubs, thirteen tricks look likely but are impossible on the 4-0 split, as there are not enough entries to draw trumps and run diamonds. Indeed after a spade lead ruffed in dummy and the club king revealing the bad news, the best road to twelve tricks is to run the club eight next. North wins the jack but dummy can still ruff a spade and declarer can both draw trumps and use the diamonds. Had both opponents followed to the club king the line would be to take one high diamond before a second club to the ace in order to lead the second diamond through North in case North began with three trumps and a singleton diamond. East can take twelve tricks in diamonds because South cannot profitably lead a heart - spade ruff, draw trumps, club king, club to ace, club ten, club to queen, heart to ace, last club and East has one heart, six diamonds and five clubs. Jamie had the best declaring result in 3NT +2.
?
4D E +1
4C W +2
3Sx S -2; 4Sx S -2
5D E =
3NT E +2
3Sx S -4
?
17:
?
...............Q7542
...............A95
...............8
...............AJ98
K10......................AJ9
843......................Q1076
KQJ532...............10
105.......................K7642
...............863
...............KJ2
...............A9764
...............Q3
?
North played in spades at almost every table. One North apparently passed as dealer and the auction went P-P-1D-P-1S, West declining to balance with a natural 2D. Two Souths chose the low road over a 1S opening and North finished in 2S, West staying strangely quiet again. One North ended in 2NT, likely after a 2D response. Two Norths finished in 3S and one in 4S.
?
Spades seemed headed for a placid nine tricks, losing three trumps and the king of clubs, but there was a nearly even split of two declarers taking ten, two nine one eight and one only seven. Wendric posted?+100 after dummy led a club at trick two and later a diamond at trick seven. It looked as if Kevin could have been held to eight tricks in 2NT but he emerged with nine. Harold and Ken took ten tricks in spade partials, surprisingly plausible after a club lead; declarer can duck two spades and then take the ruffing finesse in clubs.
?
1S N +3; 3S N +1
2NT N +1
2S N +1
2S N -1
3S N -2; 4S N -2
?
18:
?
...............A10632
...............K3
...............AQ9
...............KQ6
Q5............................KJ87
Q..............................874
J63...........................K87
AJ98752..................1043
...............94
...............AJ109652
...............10542
...............----
?
Did South open 2H or 3H? One auction was 2H-2NT; 3D-3NT; another pair reached 3NT N after 3H-3NT. Three South finished in 4H after one opening or the other and two adventurous Wests sacrificed in 5Cx.
?
Both Easts found the spade lead to hold 3NT to ten tricks, a key development. Heart contracts all took eleven tricks (a club lead would have allowed twelve). 5Cx was right-sided. A diamond lead through from South establishes a sixth defensive trick for a score of +800. But North is on lead. South had to overtake the heart king with the ace to push a diamond back through. After two rounds of hearts, Bill and Martin were both able to dispose of a diamond on the third spade.
?
4H S +1 (3)
3NT N +1 (2)
5Cx W -3 (2)
