1:
?
...............4
...............K1097
...............97642
...............K108
9832........................QJ76
AQ6.........................52
A1085......................J3
Q3............................AJ962
...............AK105
...............J843
...............KQ
...............754
?
South opens in third seat. Leo opened 1S and I hope at least a few others did so as well, although it seems that not many did. Here it has the happy effect of keeping E-W out of their 4-4 spade fit. After P-P-1C-X, East will bid spades over whatever North does. P-P-1S-P; 1NT likely ends the auction. If West does not double North gets the hearts in but even then East likely has a chance to balance over South's raise to 2H. Contracts were 2H N, 2S E thrice, 3C E, 3H N twice, 3S E and 4H N.
?
Spade contracts can force eight tricks, losing three spades and one trick in each red suit. Steve was E-W top in 2S =. John, in 3C after the 1S opening bid, took the par eight tricks. Hearts are held to seven tricks by a red-suit lead, although only Jamob matched par defending against hearts, posting 3H -2 for a good score. Howard was top in 2H = after a diamond lead to the ace and a switch to the club three-spot instead of the queen. None of the E-W defenders bettered par.
?
2H N =
2S E -2; 3S E -2
2S E -1; 3C E -1
3H N -1
3H N -2; 4H N -2
2S E =
?
2:
?
...............AQJ2
...............J32
...............K1073
...............73
K965...................10874
A6.......................K874
J5........................842
Q10865...............A4
...............3
...............Q1095
...............AQ96
...............KJ92
?
It looks as if this auction will begin 1D-1S; 2C if West does not overcall 2C (North will make a negative double and South may well pass, perhaps collecting +300. Some Souths rebid 1NT, as 1NT S was played thrice. Other contracts were 2D S, 2NT S four times and 3D S. For no-trumps never to be declared from the North side seems rather unusual.
?
3NT takes nine tricks by force largely due to the heart spots. The spade jack is also of utility; even if E-W don't give the jack a trick, it serves as an extra potential stopper. If East or West held the jack the defence could establish two spade trocks before N-S could cash two hart winners. Five of the seven declarers in no-trumps took nine tricks. Mahn held declarer to eight when declarer left the hearts until too late and could not collect two tricks. Dorbot even went plus, defeating 2NT S one trick. Both declarers in diamonds took the par nine tricks.
?
1NT S +2 (3); 2NT S +1 (2)
2NT S =
2D S +1; 3D S =
2NT S -1
?
3:
?
...............K73
...............5
...............K53
...............Q109753
AJ1086......................542
Q642..........................KJ987
J72.............................----
4.................................AKJ62
...............Q9
...............A103
...............AQ109864
...............8
?
1D from South. If West overcalls 1S North may be a little stuck for a call. Double is out and the hand is too weak for 2C, which leaves a choice between pass, 1NT and 2D. If East bids hearts, E-W may well find their way to 4H. East might support spades, or N-S might outcompete the other side in diamonds. There is even the chance of N-S's playing in no-trumps. Contracts were 3H E thrice, 3S W, 3NT N, 4D S, 5Dx S, 6Dx S and 6H E. (The 6H bid was made by a temporary Robot put in when West lost power at just the wrong time.)
?
Heart contracts are held to ten tricks by the opening lead of the spade queen. If dummy wins the ace, South forces a spade ruff, while a duck gives N-S two spade tricks. Two declarers in hearts took eleven tricks while two took the par ten. Diamonds take ten tricks; either E-W lead trumps and prevent two heart ruffs or West gets a trick with the diamond jack. The declarers in diamonds took eleven tricks, ten and then nine; 6Dx -3 was E-W top for Dorbot. Spade contracts take ten tricks (Wendy's result). N-S top went to Leo in 3NT =, a contract that should have been defeated. East began with two high clubs instead of shifting to a heart.
?
3NT N =
6H E -2
4D S +1
5Dx S -1
3H E +1; 3S W +1
3H E +2 (2)
6Dx S -3
?
4:
?
...............875
...............A7
...............Q10652
...............Q97
43..............................KQ10
K10983......................QJ6542
KJ84..........................A73
J4...............................K
...............AJ962
...............----
...............9
...............A1086532
?
This was the hand of the doubled contracts. South's two Quick Tricks and 7-5 pattern suit the hand to a 1C opening (do not open 1S on this hand; opener will never get to describe the hand properly). Sooner or later E-W will arrive in 4H. N-S will compete to 4S or 5C and E-W might or might not carry on over that. Contracts were 4H E twice, 4Sx S twice, 5Cx S, 5Hx E twice and 5Sx S twice.
?
Hearts can be held to nine tricks; N-S can just take their three aces and then wait for the diamond trick. Elizabeth was the one declarer in hearts to take ten tricks; after a diamond and a heart, North led the club queen, setting up dummy's jack for the discard. Spade contracts take ten tricks and club contracts take eleven when the club king drops singleton (in clubs the spades contribute as well. Spade contracts were evenly divided between eleven tricks and ten, giving Myrtle the N-S top in 4Sx +1 followed by Lin in 5Sx = and Lulu in 4Sx =. Jevin were able to set 5Cx one trick on a declaring error.
?
4Sx S +1
5Sx S =
4Sx S =
5Hx E -2 (2)
4H E -1
5Cx S -1; 5Sx S -1
4H E =
?
5:
?
...............1083
...............J6
...............Q9732
...............KQ5
J5..........................Q9762
A84.......................Q107
1085......................J64
AJ982....................104
...............AK4
...............K9532
...............AK
...............763
?
Does South open 1H or 1NT? The poor hearts may suggest 1NT, which went around thrice. When North invited South declared 3NT thrice as well. A 1H opening bid likely had a 1NT response and a raise, which led to 3NT N. There were two suit contracts, 2C W after a skimpy overcall, and 3D N.
?
The minors are so pleasantly divided that declarer has nine tricks by force. Five declarers took nine tricks, with a three-way tie for N-S top between Laura, Nancy and Lulu. Glynneth defeated 3NT S for E-W top; this required help. Anne took eleven tricks in 1NT; East led a heart at trick five instead of a black suit; West won and returned the club jack when the ace or any other suit would have saved a trick. Mark bettered par by one trick for a good score in 2C -2; 3D took nine tricks as expected.
?
3NT N =; 3NT S = (2)
1NT S +4
1NT S +2 (2)
3D N =
2C W -2
3NT S -1
?
6:
?
...............6
...............10
...............KQJ732
...............J10865
AKQJ73.................10542
852.........................AQ764
106.........................A5
73...........................A4
...............98
...............KJ93
...............984
...............KQ82
?
North has a fine hand for an Unusual No-Trumps overcall even at quite a high level, with the vulnerability and the 6-5 pattern advocating for a sacrifice. At IMPs, of course, E-W want to play 3NT if they can; the contract is impregnable and nobody really cares if most of the time 4S comes in. But even at IMPs it's tough to see E-W finding 3NT (at least with East's dealing; were West the opener the auction might be 2S-2NT; 3NT, at least until North were to come in. 4S W was allowed to end the auction a narrow 5-4 majority of the time. 5Cx was played twice, once from each side. And two N-S pairs pushed E-W to 5S.
?
The 4-1 heart split is actually the saving grace in 4S. North can never lead a second heart; and the E-W minor holdings are ideal for executing an end play, forcing South either to lead a heart or allow a ruff-and-discard. Only Jeff made 5S for the E-W top. N-S top was a tie for Karleta posting 5S -1?
with Leobot and Luan, both of whom set 4S after declarer was careless and missed the endplay. Both club sacrifices took the par nine tricks; kudos to Karleta, Myrne, Houra and Lorin for competing over 4S; I though more players would.
?
4S W -1 (2); 5S W -1
5Cx N -2; 5Cx S -2
4S W = (3)
5S W =
?
7:
?
...............KQJ4
...............A4
...............KJ98
...............A52
A1098762...........53
10........................7532
1073....................Q6542
K8.......................Q7
...............----
...............KQJ986
...............A
...............J109643
?
Another lively pattern for South. South opens 1H and West overcalls either 2S or 3S; 2S seemed to be the popular choice at the vulnerability. 3S pushes North to stop in 3NT, drive to slam or pass with intent to defend if South doubles - a bit brave. Pass and 3NT seem to work out similarly, though over a pass South likely rebids 4C and 4H over 3NT - although two Souths passed 3NT. Whether North carries on or if so how high likely depends on the valuation of the spade honours. Contracts were 3NT N twice, 4H S twice, 5H S, 6H S twice and 6NT N twice. Houra's auction to reach 6NT was 1H-2S-3D-P; 3H-P-4NT-P; 5S-P-6NT.
?
Either 6H or 6C should make in a breeze with the 2-2 club split and divided honours; there is no main line in clubs that can lose two tricks. Glynneth had the good fortune to be able to set 4H; all the other heart contracts took twelve tricks. No-trumps can be held to eleven tricks but yielded twelve every time after a spade lead to West's ace. It's a tough decision against 6NT at matchpoints. Seeing the spade void in the South hand, North's holding AQ in clubs will allow declarer an easy thirteen tricks in 6H; 6NT = could be a significant score. At IMPs West would have a clear duck of the spade lead. The lead of the five-spot will not be from an honour and, if the lead is singleton or likely from a doubleton, North holds KQJx or KQJxx and playing the ace can give away a trick which may - and in this case will - be trick number twelve. If West ducks, either declarer will have to lose a club (and then the spade ace can be cashed) or knock out the spade ace (thus winning only two spade tricks for a total of eleven and then there is no squeeze for the twelfth).
?
6NT N = (2)
6H S =
3NT N +3 (2)
4H S +2 (2); 5H S +1
6H S -1
?
8:
?
...............KJ9
...............Q5
...............109875
...............K64
A10532..................Q6
86..........................AK107432
A64........................QJ3
Q93........................10
...............874
...............J9
...............K2
...............AJ8752
?
East might try 4H in third seat in case either N-S can make 4S but won't come in or get pushed into phantom action. Otherwise it looks like either P-P-1H-P; 1S-P-2H or P-P-1H-2C, giving West a decision. West might bid 2S over 2C and then have to decide whether to go on after 2S-3C-3H-P, which West might not do knowing that the club queen will not be of much value. Contracts were 2H E, 3H E twice, 3NT E(! - I suppose I could see 3NT W), 4H E four times and 4Hx E.
?
3NT squeaks through thanks to the club intermediates, which provide a stopper and secure an overtrick if declarer goes for it. Two are possible if N-S play two clubs, although if South ducks a diamond honour lead from East after clubs are established declarer is likely to cash out. Steve took eleven tricks in 3NT, although it only made a difference of one matchpoint whether he took ten tricks or eleven. Heart contracts can force eleven tricks. Even if N-S get off to the best start of a low club to the king and a diamond back through to knock out the ace, North is squeezed in spades and diamonds. Kevin took twelve tricks in 4H after a spade lead and return; a switch to either minor holds declarer to eleven. The other declarers were divided 4-3 between taking ten tricks and eleven. Myrne were N-S top defending 3H +1; Jamie was E-W top in 4Hx =.
?
3H E +1
2H E +3; 3H E +2
4H E = (2)
4H E +1
3NT E +2
4H E +2
4Hx E =
?
9:
?
...............K1043
...............K
...............AK
...............AK10763
J986.............................A75
A7.................................432
J863.............................Q1095
Q82...............................J94
...............Q2
...............QJ109865
...............742
...............5
?
If 1C-3H is natural, South can make that response and North can raise to 4H or venture 4NT if South would bid 3H with a slam-worthy hand on the combined assets. I did not - thankfully - see any North open 2C. After 1C-1H; 2S-4H seems the best way for South to convince North to stop, but even then it would be hard to fault North for looking. It's tempting, with?mostly the unprotected spade king making higher levels look risky. Most pairs managed to stop, with contracts of 4H S seven times, 5C N and 6NT N.
?
Heart contracts take eleven tricks fairly easily and all declarers in hearts produced that result. Declarers in 5C and 6NT outperformed par but 5C -1 and 6NT -2 were still the best E-W scores. A diamond lead even sets 3NT. Declarer runs the heart king, which holds, but then must try the clubs and E-W establish five tricks before N-S establish nine.
?
4H S +1 (7)
5C N -1
6NT N -2
?
10:
?
...............QJ8
...............AQ74
...............J85
...............1096
A7...........................K10942
J932........................8
Q764.......................109
A73..........................K8542
...............653
...............K1065
...............AK32
...............QJ
?
After South opens 1D and North responds 1H, East may well find a way into the auction. As a passed hand, 1NT is likely to be a distributional takeout. South raises to 2H if possible. West is not likely to act over 2H if East had come in with 1S, but may come in with clubs over two-suited interference and will have to do so if East bid 2H over 1H, although chances are high that that should be natural, possibly even as a passed hand. Maybe a little strangely North declared in hearts at every table, 2H four times and 3H five times.
?
E-W have an easy enough time holding heart contracts to seven tricks, although West may not care for a spade ruff holding J9xx in trumps. Still, every contract failed. Winning the auction in 2H -1 gave a share of N-S top to Karlene, Diane, Nancy and Harold. 3H finished either -2 or -3, -3 tying for top between Wendric and Stindy, Stindy did not begin with a spade ruff; the third overtrick came in when North led a third round of hearts instead of starting the clubs.
?
2H N -1 (4)
3H N -2 (3)
3H N -3 (2)
?
11:
?
...............K10932
...............A932
...............KJ9
...............3
J4..........................Q85
KQ8.......................654
A2..........................Q543
AQJ842.................1095
...............A76
...............J107
...............10876
...............K76
?
P-1C and then either 1S or X from North. It is possible that West opened 1NT, as the contract was played three times, although P-1C-X-P; 1D-1NT is also plausible, perhaps more so than 1NT passed around as North may well overcall over a 1NT opening bid. If North overcalls 1S, South will raise; it appears that 1S was the usual choice, as the only contracts besides 1NT W were all in spades, 3S N five times and 4S N.
?
Against spades E-W have five tricks - one club, two diamonds, one heart and one spade. All the spade contracts were defeated, with two declarers taking seven tricks and one taking nine. -1 split the -S top between Howard, Loretta, Leo and Joan. An intermediate spade lead defeats 1NT, the idea being to keep West out of the dummy for the club finesse. This proved too much for any of the defenders against 1NT. Elizabeth posted 1NT = for the middle score. Cindy took eight tricks and Jeff was top with nine.
?
3S N -1 (3); 4S N -1
1NT W =
3S N -2 (2)
1NT W +1
1NT W +2
?
12:
?
...............AJ72
...............J8
...............53
...............109764
Q85............................K643
K75.............................A964
7642...........................K9
K85.............................QJ3
...............109
...............Q1032
...............AQJ108
...............A2
?
P-P-1C-1D and what does West do then? Pass? Double with no major(s)? 1NT with no stopper? 2C with only three? Double and 1NT seemed to be the most popular selections. Contracts were 1H E, 1NT W four times, 2D S twice and 2H E thrice. As luck would have it, Bill phoned just after I finished this section and reluctantly opted for a pass because everything else is worse. He would let partner double and then bid 1H playing Standard. In his own methods, he could bid 1S to deny a four-card major, which would lead to the right-sided contract of 1NT E, but obviously we must put that in the Don't Try This at Home box.
?
Diamond contracts cam be held to eight tricks by a lead of the spade queen; declarer gets locked out of dummy before the spade ace can be of any use and the queen must be led to prevent declarer's being able to score two spade tricks. With four scores?of +100 N-S, the overtrick was of prime importance, secured by Lin but Dorbot held declarer to eight tricks. Either heart or no-trumps contracts could have been held to five tricks, but defensive par was much more easily reached against 1NT W after a diamond lead and South's running the first five tricks. Ritold did manage to post 1H E -2 but Kevin took seven tricks in 2H -1 and Steve was E-W top in 2H =. 1NT W was set the par two tricks three times, with Myrne N-S top defending 1NT -3 when?East led the heart ace instead of low in the end position:
?
..........----
..........----
..........----
..........1096
----..................----
75....................A96
----..................----
K.....................----
..........----
..........Q102
..........----
..........----
?
1NT W -3
2D S +1
1H E -2;?1NT W -2 (3)
2D S =
2H E -1
2H E =
?
13:
?
...............Q97
...............J86
...............974
...............AJ65
10432....................AK86
A75........................KQ4
QJ106....................A2
109.........................8742
...............J5
...............10932
...............K853
...............KQ3
?
It looks as if 1NT E will go around. For once, it did. No 1C opening bid; no Stayman.
?
Its' too bad nobody wandered into spades, as 3S makes in comfort and 4S has at least tolerable play if vulnerable at IMPs. Contracts in no-trumps can be held to eight tricks whether or not N-S cash their clubs right away. If declarer tries too hard for nine tricks N-S may be able to pick up a sixth, but the only two deviations from par both favoured declarer. Steve took nine tricks when N-S missed their last chance to take their clubs at trick seven.
?
1NT E +1 (7)
1NT E +2 (2)
?
14:
?
...............KJ2
...............Q108
...............A742
...............QJ4
A4...................9875
73....................K964
103..................QJ95
A1098762........K
...............Q1063
...............AJ52
...............K86
...............53
?
West opened 3C in third seat and that ended the auction five times. If I were going to come in I would rather make a balancing double as South. If North were to double, South might well bid 4C. If South balances with a double, North may find the close 3NT. Actual contracts higher than 3C W were 3D N(?), 3D S, 3S S and 4D N.
?
3C could have been set two tricks, the result four times. Dorothy managed to be only one trick down. Diamonds are held to eight tricks if the club king is cleared right away; otherwise a loser gets telescoped. The three diamond contracts each took a different number of tricks from seven to nine, with Mary posting 3D S = for a 7/8 score. Spades can take nine tricks; declarer takes three spades, three hearts, a heart ruff and the two top diamonds. Lulu managed a tenth trick she didn't need when West got in with the spade ace and then led the club ace, crashing the king.
?
3S S +1
3D S =
3C W -2 (4)
3C W -1
3D N -2; 4D N -2
?
15:
?
...............J53
...............8762
...............J62
...............1054
AKQ7......................942
K9...........................A1053
Q943.......................AK1085
KQ6.........................9
...............1086
...............QJ4
...............7
...............AJ8732
?
E-W start out 1D-1H; 2NT and then East has to resist the temptation simply to sign off in 3NT given the hand's high slam potential. The virtually claiming 6D is easy to reach and is the best IMP spot. If East bids 3D, West likes slam chances and can bid 3S, which should get the side off to the races. Slam was actually reached most of the time, a bit of a pleasant surprise for me. Contracts were 3NT W thrice, 4S W, 6D E, 6D W twice and 6NT W twice.
?
Except for Myrne, who were N-S top defending 3NT W +2, all the defenders saw their opponents take twelve tricks when the spades split 3-3, necessary in spades and close to necessary in no-trumps. The hand would have been even more interesting had West's clubs been Axx, which would really have brought 7D into play. Elott and Jamob tied for E-W top in 6NT =, reached by the identical auction 1D-1H; 2NT-4NT; 6NT.
?
3NT W +2
4S W +2
3NT W +3 (2)
6D E =; 6D W = (2)
6NT W = (2)
?
16:
?
...............AJ
...............AK107
...............743
...............8752
K97...........................Q106432
9643.........................QJ
K962.........................Q108
63..............................AK
...............85
...............852
...............AJ5
...............QJ1094
?
It looks as if North opens 1C, East overcalls 1S and then both South and West raise. After that it seems as if South and East will go on, but I don't know why anyone would go on over 3S. Contracts were 2S E, 3C N, 3S E thrice, 4Cx N twice and 4S E twice, a surprising number of players braving the four-level.
?
Spades take nine tricks if East guesses the diamonds correctly (the spade jack starts out as a potential loser as well to declarer but the holding of AJ doubleton means declarer can't go wrong. Club contracts are held to eight tricks by a spade or diamond lead. In clubs the hand is a race to see if E-W can cash their diamonds and a spade before declarer can draw trumps and get a discard on the fourth heart if the suit is guessed correctly. Leighry posted 4Cx -2 for a good score but Howard escaped in 4Cx -1. Loretta scored 6/8 playing 3C N -1. Spade contracts took eight tricks twice, nine thrice and ten once. Leobot scored 7/8 defending 3S -1 when East led a diamond to the king instead of the nine in the middle of the hand. Similarly Nary were N-S top defending 4S -2. Gareth was E-W top playing 4S =.
?
4S E -2
3S E -1
3C N -1
4Cx N -1
2S E +1; 3S E = (2)
4Cx N -2
4S E =
?
17:
?
...............J43
...............AQJ1043
...............10
...............J87
5.................................AQ109862
K976...........................852
Q9752.........................----
K94.............................AQ5
...............K7
...............----
...............AKJ8643
...............10632
?
What does East bid after North opens 2H? 2S is possible, as is 4S and 3S is as well. After a weak two opening a jump overcall in a major is good, not weak. Contracts were 3D S (2H-2S-3D and then East let that go; West might have doubled, which should be clearly for penalty on that auction), 3S E five times, 4S E and 5Dx S twice. Kevin was the only East to overcall 4S over 2H.
?
The 6-0 heart split works out strongly in declarer's favour playing in spades. East saves the hearts until the end when North is out of the other three suits and then, having lost only one spade trick (declarer can finesse the spade ten if South has led a diamond; otherwise East must lead ace and a low spade), declarer ducks a heart to North, who has nothing left but hearts to return. Kevin and two declarers in 3S took ten tricks as could have been forced. Luan were N-S top defending 3S E -1. Diamonds could have been held to six tricks. Mary scored 5/8 playing 3D -3, taking the par number of tricks. In 5Dx both declarers were down more than the value of the E-W game. Wendric settled for -3 but Stindy scored +1400 defending 5Dx -6 when South led the diamond ace in the middle of the hand instead of a club or a low diamond.
?
3S E -1
3S E = (2)
3D S -3
3S E +1 (2)
4S E =
5Dx S -3
5Dx S -6
?
18:
?
...............QJ64
...............Q106
...............Q62
...............982
53.............................K107
8754.........................AKJ7
943...........................AJ107
AJ75.........................Q3
...............A982
...............92
...............K85
...............K1064
?
Gareth and Eric presumably opened 1NT and played the hand there. 1D E was left in thrice as well. West responded 1H to 1D twice and played the hand in 3H and 4H; the other contracts were 2S S and 4H E.
?
4H especially played by East has good chances as South has to do something helpful on opening lead. A club lead seems to work out best, even though it clearly gives declarer a trick, as East has no use for the discard on the third club. Bob took ten tricks in 4H W and Kevin took eleven in 4H E after the opening lead of the spade ace. Cindy took ten tricks in 3H to score 5/8, behind Myrne, who took their expected seven tricks defending 2S -2. The quiet contracts of 1D and 1NT all could have taken nine tricks by force. Houra held 1NT to one overtrick, as did Nary to 1D. Two declarers took the expected nine tricks while Henry managed eleven in 1D, though it did him little good in the score.
?
1D E +1
1D E +2
1NT E +1
1D E +4; 1NT E +2
3H W +1
2S S -2
4H W =
4H E +1
