1:
?
...............6
...............J976
...............J102
...............AQJ65
KQ852...................AJ97
K43........................A8
K7..........................86543
K74........................93
...............1043
...............Q1052
...............AQ9
...............1082
?
This hand shows the power of well-fitting shortages. With a doubleton in one hand or the other in each of the three side suits, E-W just needed one of the two minor aces to be onside to make game. Even drawing trumps too early might not have been fatal if the diamonds could have still been established. West opened 1S in fourth seat. If North overcalled 2C East had no way to leave open the chance of stopping in 2S if West had opened a Fourth Seat Spade Special (remember, on the Rule of Fifteen, West would open 1S on a five-card suit and ten HCP). Only two pairs reached 4S, Jevin on the uncontested auction P-1S; 2D-4S, 2D showing a limit raise in spades, likely on four-card support. With a full opening bid and a little more Jeff accepted the invitation. Other contracts were 2S W, 3C E (oops!), 3S W five times, 4Cx N and another 4S W.
?
N-S can actually manage to draw three rounds of trumps before declarer can get the second ruff in dummy, but to do so requires an early diamond lead. A little entry preservation allows West to establish East's diamonds if N-S keep pushing trumps. Jeff took eleven tricks after the club ace opening lead. But three of the eight declarers in spades did not take ten tricks. N-S only have time to lead one round of hearts if they play all three spades. As long as West wins the first heart with the king diamonds can be established and run. Owbot was N-S top defending 3C E -5 on a bidding accident, likely a passed cue-bid. Batie were E-W top defending 4Cx -3. Declarer could have gotten out for -2 but took a second spade ruff in hand low. E-W defended well forcing North twice; declarer's only way to save -2 was to ruff the third spade with the queen or jack because there would only be one entry to dummy for a club finesse and declarer would have to run the ten, dropping the nine if West covered. With AQJ in hand there was no way to finesse the suit a second time when West ducked the third club.
?
3C E -5
4S W -1
3S W = (2)
2S W +2; 3S W +1 (2)
3S W +2
4S W +1
4Cx N -3
?
2:
?
...............942
...............A
...............96
...............AKQ10763
AJ1086.......................KQ3
74................................QJ10652
KQ2.............................J5
J54..............................92
...............75
...............K985
...............A108743
...............8
?
This was a hand for adventurous Norths. After East opened 2H both Louise and John in the North seat bid 3NT, Louise after two passes and John after a 3H raise from West. Other contracts were 3C N five times, 3H E, 4C N and 4H E.
?
Bill will be happy to see that his favourite opening lead of a?three-card major against no-trumps would have worked brilliantly against 3NT. Both Louise and John received the expected heart lead and took ten tricks. A diamond lead would have made the club contracts interesting, but after a heart lead declarers in clubs all took the par ten tricks. Study scored 7/9 for taking their par six tricks against 4H. Henry was E-W top in 3H E -1, although the par -2 would have done just as well.
?
3NT N +1 (2)
4H E -3
3C N +1 (5); 4C N =
3H E -1
?
3:
?
...............J954
...............2
...............KQJ2
...............10942
KQ87.......................----
KQ874.....................AJ10963
8..............................A109743
KQ3.........................7
...............A10632
...............5
...............65
...............AJ865
?
Could E-W find their heart slam? Half the field did. At least one South opened the bidding but usually West opened 1H. One East had tragic luck when West missed that 3S was a splinter raise and passed. But only one pair stopped in 4H E; everyone else at least looked for slam or else took a push; other contracts were 5H E, 5H W, 5Hx W, 6H E, 6H W thrice and 6Hx W.
?
Everyone in hearts took twelve tricks. With the diamonds 4-2, there was no way to discard all three of West's clubs. Two of the five slam auctions were contested. Against Leighry South opened the bidding: 1S-2H-2S-4H; 5S-X-P-6H, Henry feeling justified in pulling the double due to his extreme distribution. Against Alin there was a light takeout double: P-1H-X-XX; 1S-2H-2S-4NT; P-5C-P-6H. The three uncontested slam auctions each took a different path. Jevin made excellent use of the Flannery structure: 2D-2NT; 3D-6H, Jeff showing a singleton diamond along with his 4-5 in the majors and Kevin easily recognizing that that was the perfect holding for his hand, perhaps just regretting that there was no way to find out if Jeff had a similar hand but with Axx in clubs. Batie had a similarly short auction featuring a splinter raise: 1H-4C; 4D-6H. Harold went with a Jacoby raise over 1H: 1H-2NT; 3D-4C; 4H-6H, similar to Jevin's auction as Rita showed short diamonds with 3D.
?
3S E -4
4H E +2; 5H E +1; 5H W +1
5Hx W +1
6H E =; 6H W = (3)
6Hx W =
?
4:
?
...............9653
...............QJ9863
...............6
...............87
KJ10.......................Q842
742..........................K5
KJ1032...................854
KJ...........................Q964
...............A7
...............A10
...............AQ97
...............A10532
?
If North came in with 2H over 1D South might have chosen 3NT instead of 4H. Indeed one South declared just that contract. At least four Norths did not enter the auction, as 2D W and 2S E were played twice each. One North played 3H; other games attempted were 4H N thrice and 4Hx N. I can visualize 1D-P-1S-X; XX-2H if North passes and then perhaps South does not let E-W play the hand.
?
Diamonds fare a little better than spades. With West declaring North can hold diamonds to six tricks by leading a high heart; this is mainly in order to allow North to lead the first club through, preventing West from being able to lead a trump from the East hand until it is too late. One N-S pair took their par seven tricks against 2D W; one declarer did a trick better. Both declarers in 2S E beat par by two tricks, as that would have required South to lead the ace of diamonds. Declarer has ten tricks in hearts when the king obligingly lies doubleton onside and drops on the second round of the suit. Either declarer can ruff two spades and lose one spade, one club and one heart, or establish the clubs. Declarer in 3H justified conservative bidding by taking only nine tricks but all the 4H and 4Hx contracts made, with Anne even taking an overtrick. Lynn had a great escape in 3NT =; after she established the hearts E-W played spades. On the third round of the suit East's queen crashed West's ten, not fatal, but then East led the fourth spade, letting North in to cash four heart winners and letting Lynn make 3NT when she was headed for -3.
?
4Hx N =
4H N +1
4H N = (2)
3NT S =
2D W -2
3H N =
2D W -1; 2S E -1 (2)
?
5:
?
...............AK53
...............1095
...............K93
...............852
10...........................QJ964
----.........................K43
QJ8765..................A42
AJ10643................Q9
...............872
...............AQJ8762
...............10
...............K7
?
West must be hoping for a chance to bid an Unusual No-Trumps at some level; the 6-6 pattern will play well enough to justify 4NT if necessary. After 1S-2H, West might venture a negative double and risk that East will pass, or West might stretch and bid 3D. If East passes and South opens 3H in fourth seat, West might be able to try 4NT for takeout or else will have to overcall. Contracts were in all four suits: 3H S thrice, 4C W, 4H S twice, 4S E (unhappy West), 5D E twice and 5D W.
?
E-W can take eleven tricks in either minor, although in clubs declarer has to give up on the diamond finesse. For some reason, though, 5D E was defeated by Karleta and Study; declarer did not use the entry with the diamond ace to take the club finesse and then got locked in dummy. Bob did make 5D W, however. Almost everyone defending hearts found the opening lead of the diamond queen to hold declarer to nine tricks, although Lynn took ten tricks in 3H S. Kunbot took their par seven tricks against the sad 4S E.
?
4S E -4
3H S +1
3H S = (2)
5D E -1 (2)
4H S -1 (2)
4C W =
5D W =
?
6:
?
...............876
...............K
...............AQ6
...............K106532
J9543......................AQ
Q83.........................AJ107652
KJ543......................8
----...........................Q74
...............K102
...............94
...............10972
...............AJ98
?
1H from East and then West has a choice between 1S, 2H and 1NT planning to follow with 3H. North probably overcalls clubs against any of those actions. East likely rebids hearts and game is a favourite to be reached. Everyone played in hearts. Contracts were 3H E, 4H E six times, 4Hx E and 5H E twice.
?
West's club void pulls its full weight. Eleven tricks can be taken in hearts against any defence. N-S have to force West twice in clubs to prevent the spades from running, and that allows a ruff of the third club. Marudy held declarer in 3H to ten tricks but everyone else took eleven or twelve, twelve tricks being posted by Jamie and Steve (Y) in 4H, Batuhan in 4Hx. The twelfth trick for Batuhan and presumably the others as well came after South won the spade king and did not play a diamond immediately, the second trick resulting only from an immediate grab.
?
3H E +1
4H E +1 (4); 5H E = (2)
4H E +2 (2)
4Hx E +2
?
7:
?
...............9642
...............A876
...............KJ83
...............2
QJ85.................A
----....................109543
1042..................965
AQ10973...........J864
...............K1073
...............KQJ2
...............AQ7
...............K5
?
N-S have 26 HCP and a pair of 4-4 fits in the majors; only E-W interference can keep the auction from ending below game. Pairs are likely to end in 4H if E-W do not sacrifice in clubs; North will respond 1H if West does not overcall 2C and accept an invitational raise to 3H if South does not raise directly to 4H. If West overcalls North makes a negative double and East raises, probably to 4C or 5C; South will act over that. Marudy kept E-W out of the auction with the Mexican 2D opening bid, resulting in 4S N; in order to bid Stayman North had to start with a transfer of 2S to 2NT apparently and then South bid spades first in answer to 3C. Contracts were 4Cx W, 4H N four times, 4H S twice, 4Hx S, 4S N and 5Cx W.
?
The bad splits in the majors mean that E-W should go plus. In spades declarer loses three trumps and the club ace; Jamob duly posted -1. Despite the three diamond losers, E-W can take ten tricks in clubs; West takes three spade ruffs in dummy. Declarer can miss the tenth trick by starting with the club ace or by drawing both rounds of trumps and relying on the spade ruffing finesse. Rekenee and Pauise both took four tricks on defence. It made little difference to Rekenee whether they scored +200 or +500 against 5Cx, but Pauise were lucky to set 4Cx and go plus. The most interesting contract was 4H, due to the bad spades and the 5-0 trump split. This turns out to be a defensive test. The spade ruff is a mirage. Say E-W begin with a spade and a club; if West then leads a low spade for East to ruff, the contract is home safe. North ruffs a club, declarer draws trumps, and the remaining losing spade is discarded on a diamond. If E-W just force North to ruff a second club, declarer eventually runs out of things to lead and has to play spades to West, at best telescoping the third spade loser and the trump loser for -1. Myrtle made 4Hx after East ruffed a spade at trick three, although discarding a diamond would just have sufficed. East would then have been in position to ruff the third diamond, after which forcing North in clubs would have killed any possible discard on the fourth diamond, whether declarer drew trumps or not. Judy (R) and John also made 4H; Joen posted -1, Stindy and Batie -2, and Nary were E-W top defending 4H N -3, results varying largely depending on how many trumps declarer drew.
?
4Hx S =
4H N =; 4H S =
5Cx W -2
4Cx W -1
4H N -1; 4H S -1
4H N -2; 4H S -2
4H N -3
?
8:
?
...............AK952
...............J96
...............K8
...............1082
10............................73
KQ102.....................A8754
Q752.......................A106
AKJ5.......................Q94
...............QJ864
...............3
...............J943
...............763
?
1m-1S and whether East doubles or bids 2H South may well go immediately to 4S, over which West may feel the need to do something or the chance may be lost, although East has a perfectly reasonable double opposite an opening bid. Not every South found 4S palatable and four auctions pushed on to the five-level. Contracts were 4H E, 4H W, 4S N twice, 4Sx N twice, 5H E thrice and 5Sx N. West was naturally more inclined to the five-level after a 2H bid from East than after a negative double.
?
Despite South's singleton heart pulling full weight the 3-3 clubs and equal vulnerability meant that the fate of 4Sx came down to the diamond position. With the ace offside E-W had six tricks if East resisted any temptation to lead a diamond, a serious possibility had West opened 1D. I would advise a trump lead for East - declarer clearly will need to do some ruffing; the trump lead may do some good and at the very least will do the defence no harm. Fortunately for E-W everyone avoided the diamond lead and all five pairs defending spades took six tricks. This gave Leighry the E-W top defending 5Sx -4 and illustrated how it is usually a losing proposition to sacrifice five-over-five. Defending against hearts it was also important not to lead a diamond; avoid diamonds and N-S have two defensive tricks. Joe played 5H E +1 after a diamond switch from North at trick two; Batuhan also took twelve tricks in 4H but the other N-S pairs held declarer to eleven and scored 6/9 for their efforts.
?
4S N -3 (2)
4H W +1; 5H E = (2)
4H E +2; 5H E +1
4Sx N -3 (2)
5Sx N -4
?
9:
?
...............A76
...............QJ964
...............AK
...............K93
102....................QJ53
K3......................10852
10.......................9863
AQJ87542.........6
...............K984
...............A7
...............QJ7542
...............10
?
If North opens 1NT South responds with Stayman, likely ending in 3NT or possibly 5D. At unfavourable vulnerability West is not that likely to go beyond 3NT, although it did happen at least twice. A 1H opening bid will see South respond 1NT, followed by 2C or 3C from West and likely a raise of no-trumps by North. Contracts were 3H N, 3NT N five times, 3NT S, 4C W, 4Cx W and 5D S.
?
Against no-trumps, if E-W do not establish clubs, declarer can establish hearts and come to eleven tricks. After a club lead declarer has ten tricks to run. It is possible to run nine tricks, count on West to keep the guarded heart king and then throw West in with a club to give declarer the last two tricks, but running ten tricks is quite reasonable. The six declarers in 3NT were evenly divided between +1 and +2, with eleven tricks taken by Judy (P), Steve (R) and John. Judy recieved a diamond lead, making things easier; West did double 2C for a club lead but East did not comply. Against clubs N-S can take six tricks. Declarer can take an eighth trick if N-S begin with two rounds of hearts. N-S can just force a trump promotion by starting with two rounds of diamonds, but then North will be forced to break the hearts. Pauise were N-S top defending 4Cx -3; Mary had the good fortune not to be doubled in 4C. Declarer can take eleven tricks in 5D but has to be careful after a spade lead. Trying the heart finesse lets West lead a second spade and then declarer has to be careful to be able to discard both the losing spades. It turns out to be doable because East has the length in diamonds, hearts and spades, but Alin were able to defeat 5D one trick for the E-W top.
?
4Cx W -3
3NT N +2 (3)
3NT N +1; 3NT S +1 (2)
4C W -3
3H N +1
5D S -1
?
10:
?
...............9
...............J6
...............KQ85
...............AJ7654
J652........................AQ843
K973........................84
94............................J76
K82..........................1093
...............K107
...............AQ1052
...............A1032
...............Q
?
N-S should have an uncontested auction: 1H-1NT; 2D-3D may get passed, which happened twice. Some Norths responded 2C; 3NT S was played thrice. 3NT N, played four times, was the plurality contract and one South opted for 5D after North raised to 4D on the second round. A 3S splinter would have been an interesting choice. North also had the opportunity to bid 2S on the second round to show a forward-going hand with the other minor; not having responded 1S removes the need for a natural 2S there.
?
After a spade lead declarer in 3NT has nothing better to do than to cash out for eight tricks, although it gets interesting if South wins the second spade and West ducks the club queen. Only two declarers in 3NT succeeded - Ken in 3NT N +3 and Owen in 3NT S +1. Jamob and Stindy both defended 3NT S -2 to share the E-W top. The clubs lie sufficiently favourably that diamonds can take twelve tricks via the reasonable line of running the club queen, although taking the heart finesse is as good if not better. Paul made 5D S, which ought to have been N-S top. Martin and Breta took fewer tricks but were above average in the partials.
?
3NT N +3
3NT S +1
5D N =
3D S +1
3D S =
3NT N -1 (3)
3NT S -2 (2)
?
11:
?
...............KQJ8
...............932
...............J743
...............A7
3..............................964
K754........................J1086
KQ108.....................A52
K652........................Q108
...............A10752
...............AQ
...............96
...............J943
?
?
?This one seemed headed for 3S one way or another. Seven Souths opened 1S and North tended to get carried away by the trump honours; contracts were 3S S twice, 4Hx E and 4S S four times. When South passed there were two passouts: Owbot/Alin and Study/Stindy. One North opened the bidding, though 1D rather than 1S. Please, people, do not open light in third seat in a weak suit if one has a stronger suit. 1S is fine in third seat on KQJx and much more useful when LHO holds a good hand with hearts. The 1D opening bid led to a contract of 2S S; it was a bit feeble of West not to make the push to the three-level.
?
E-W have four tricks against spades. If the opening lead is a trump declarer must go all out for the club ruffs before East can lead the third spade; Martin was held to 2S = while Jamob and Nary both defended 4S -3. Breta and Renee shared N-S top in 4S = after a heart opening lead. Kevin was E-W top in 4Hx =; North did not ruff the third club when it was led from dummy and never got the chance to recover.
?
4S S = (2)
3S S +1
3S S =
2S S =
Passed Out (2)
4S S -3 (2)
4Hx E =
?
12:
?
...............K1075
...............Q962
...............9
...............9875
A3..........................J9
KJ..........................A84
K86543.................AQ10
A104......................KQ632
...............Q8642
...............10753
...............J72
...............J
?
There was a chance the grand slam could have been bid by pairs that play 1D-2C as game forcing. West could have raised to 3C and East then could have confirmed the double fit with 3D. The difficulty then is that East cannot tell that West has six diamonds and West may not have the conventions needed to find out that East holds both key minor queens. I did expect to see slam reached perhaps a few times, as the auction could begin 1NT-4NT; (Arlene Leshine would definitely have opened 1NT with the West hand) West's six-card suit would more than compensate for the minimum HCP. Sadly, however, only two pairs found the six-level. Leighry's auction was 1D-2C; 3D-4NT; 5H-6D, more or less okay on principle, though 3D and 4NT both seem dodgy. Jevin had a simpler auction: 1D-3NT; 6NT (they do like jumping to slam). A couple of Wests may have opened 1NT but not upgraded the hand for the six-card suit; they played 4NT W. 3NT was played five times, thrice by West. Karleta's opponents violated Fredda's Law and played 5D W.
?
Everyone took thirteen tricks, giving Jevin the E-W top and a blitz round to halt their slide and turn them towards a good finish.
?
5D W +2
3NT E +4 (2); 3NT W +4 (3); 4NT W +3 (2)
6D W +1
6NT E +1
?
13:
?
...............KQJ1096
...............43
...............4
...............J852
7.................................A83
AJ82..........................Q75
KJ852........................A9763
1094...........................Q6
...............542
...............K1096
...............Q10
...............AK73
?
2S N was left in twice. Most of the time the auction turned competitive; South raised to 3S, ending the auction twice while a third North played 3S after selecting 3S for the opening bid. E-W declared at the other five tables, which seems a little high: 3D E, 4D E twice, 4H E (West must have made a responsive double) and 5D E.
?
Against diamonds by East, South has to cash the two club winners right away or else there will be an endplay. After, say, a spade lead, declarer ruffs a spade, returns to the diamond ace, ruffs another spade with the jack, then draws trumps with the king and runs all the trumps. If South discards down to two hearts the suit runs for twelve tricks. If South discards two low clubs and one heart, a low club forces South to break the hearts. If South throws one of the club honours, East leads a low club to North. North can lead one heart to the nine and jack, but then the other club goes to South, who will have to lead a heart after all. The only defence with South on lead is to cash two clubs and then just wait to score the heart trick. Steve (Y) was E-W top in 5D making, though I suspect a heart lead or switch there. John was N-S top in 3S +1; East led a heart to the ace instead of the jack. Kevin could have finished -2 in 4H against a black-suit lead but escaped for -1 and an above-average score.
?
3S N +1
2S N +1; 3S N = (2)
2S N =
4H E -1
4D E =
3D E +2; 4D E +1
5D E =
?
14:
?
...............A1092
...............K95
...............Q3
...............Q754
K7............................QJ8653
AQJ863...................----
7...............................J109
A963........................KJ108
...............4
...............10742
...............AK86542
...............2
?
If East opens 2S South probably cannot overcall and West will likely make a push, resulting in either 3S or 4S. Eight of the ten contracts were in spades. One West insisted on 4H and one South played 5D undoubled, but 4S dominated: 2S E, 3S E, 4H W, 4S E five times, 4Sx E and 5D S.
?
A lead of either black suit sets 4S by preventing both a diamond ruff and a second discard set up by the ruffing finesse in hearts. If South leads a club the threat is to score a ruff, a diamond and two spades. A trump lead through West lets North draw West's trumps without giving West the lead. East's holding a singleton heart would have made life much easier. But only Glynneth took more than three tricks against spades, setting 4S two tricks while everyone else in spades took ten, giving Kevin the E-W top in 4Sx = after the opening lead of the diamond ace. Declarer could have taken eight tricks in 4H but finished -5 against Study, giving them the N-S top. Owen scored 7/9 in 5D S -3 for not being doubled.
?
4H W -5
4S E -2
5D S -3
2S E +2; 3S E +1
4S E = (4)
4Sx E =
?
15:
?
...............A843
...............KJ2
...............104
...............AK43
KQ95.....................J7
86..........................A1094
QJ985...................A6
75..........................QJ1082
...............1062
...............Q753
...............K732
...............96
?
1NT from North might go around or either East or West might come in on the 5-4 pattern at favourable vulnerability. 1NT N was only played twice. At least two Norths opened 1C instead, leading to contracts of 1H S and 1NT W. Five auctions ended on the two-level in 2H E (DONT?), 2S N twice and 2NT N twice - two denominations played from both sides.
?
It did not matter which side declared in no-trumps - par was seven tricks for E-W, who have almost all the intermediates that matter; N-S can get their honour tricks and that's about all. Wendy did two tricks better than par in 1NT W +2 but scored only 5/9 due to the vulnerability. Ritold tied for E-W top defending 2NT N -3. Ken was the one North to better par, making 1NT N. Spades are held to six tricks by a diamond lead; East gets overruffs or declarer has to play trumps too soon. Alin bettered par by a trick to tie Ritold for E-W top. The lead matters when hearts are trumps. South is held to seven tricks, East to five. Lynn made 1H S as expected; Owbot only posted 2H -2, but the cost was only one matchpoint.
?
2H E -2
1NT N =
1H S =
1NT N -1; 2S N -1
1NT W +2
1NT N -2; 2NT N -2
2S N -3; 2NT N -3
?
16:
?
...............873
...............K1087
...............KQJ3
...............93
AK6542...............9
953......................QJ4
9..........................A10652
1052....................KQJ4
...............QJ10
...............A62
...............874
...............A765
?
2S W went around seven times. Three Souths came in with a balance, each time resulting in a contract of 3H N.
?
Against hearts E-W can collect the three top winners in spades and diamonds, two diamond ruffs, a spade ruff and eventually a club to hold declarer to six tricks. Stindy produced the optimal defence for E-W top; the other Norths declaring presumably only had one diamond ruffed against them and escaped for -2 for a significant matchpoint boost. Declarer has nine tricks in spades by drawing trumps; even if N-S manage to force West three times in diamonds that does not avail them anything. But only three declarers in spades (Jeff, Rita and Bob) took their nine tricks. Two declarers were held to eight (most likely by a club ruff). Against Study declarer discarded a heart instead of ruffing a diamond and then let the defence promote a trump trick as well; South's ruffing the fourth diamond after the side winners are cashed promotes North's eight of spades. Myrne also defended 2S -1 to tie Study for N-S top.
?
2S W -1 (2)
3H N -2 (2)
2S W = (2)
2S W +1 (3)
3H N -3
?
17:
?
...............Q6542
...............AQ6
...............Q3
...............1093
J7..........................K1083
54..........................KJ102
J10654..................A72
KJ82.....................Q7
...............A9
...............9873
...............K98
...............A654
?
The most common auction was 1D-3D by E-W; 3D E was played five times. Not playing inverted raises West bids either 2D or 1NT. 1NT W was played twice, along with 2D E and 2Dx W (apparently after a 1C opening bid on the 4=4=3=2 hand pattern). At one table both partners overbid and the contract finished in 2H E.
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South's four trumps against 2H don't do all that much; going after spade ruffs is the most productive course of action. East could have been held to six tricks by force in hearts, although Mahn bettered par by a trick on defence and posted 2H -3 for the N-S top. The main problem in other contracts was reaching the West hand for all the necessary leads through North, although all the suits sat perfectly. The trump holding, though, can be played either way. On the actual layout the suit is held to one loser by running an intermediate through North, dropping the queen if North ducks or leading to the other intermediate after winning if North covers. To play South for a doubleton honour declarer would lead low from dummy, finessing through North if South wins. Alan and Eric took their par nine tricks in diamonds, Batuhan ten. Karleta, Glynneth and Study all posted 3D -1 to score 7/9 on defence. Leigh Ann was E-W top in 2Dx W =. N-S's having nothing worth leading and West's not being able to gain the lead enough produced a par result of eight tricks in no-trumps; Jeff duly played 1NT W +1. Cindy scored 8/9 in 1NT W +2; on North's spade lead South played the nine and her jack gave her an extra entry to hand, of which she made good use.
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2H E -3
3D E -1 (3)
3D E = (2)
1NT W +1
2D E +2
1NT W +2
2Dx E =
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18:
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...............762
...............4
...............KJ983
...............QJ106
AQJ..................K10543
AQ10832..........K65
----....................Q642
AK54.................8
...............98
...............J97
...............A1075
...............9732
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We closed with another grand slam, this one even better than the one on Board 12. A number of Wests opened 2C, but I prefer 1H with the porous suit; 2C would be all right on KQJ AQJ1082 ---- AK54; the winners would be more solid and less based on support. I think the grand slam can be reached if the auction starts 1H-1S; 3C, but East needs to be able to do something encouraging. Of the four pairs to reach 6H only Jevin had that beginning. Kevin then had to bid 4H; Jeff jumped to 6H. All three slams they bid were reached with a leap rather than with an ask for key cards. If East is not prepared to go beyond 4H then bidding 3H instead of 4H accomplishes little. If 3H were forward-going and confirmed a fit it would be lovely; the auction might proceed 3S-4C and then West would just need to find the major kings - no insignificant task in itself. Stindy reached slam after a 2C opening: P-P-2C-2D; P-P-2H-P; 3H-P-6H. The pass of the 2D overcall was explained as showing at least game-going values; West was pleased by the overcall, which reduced the chance of East's holding wasted diamond values. The other two auctions were iffier. Batie bid 1H-1S; 3H-4H; 6H, iffy because 3H was non-forcing. Nary bid 1H-4H; 6H, with the difficulty of bidding 4H on three-card support instead of the usual five. At least both jumps to 6H were quite acceptable.
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Of the other six E-W pairs, one tried for slam and finished in 5H W; the others all played 4H W. Everyone took all thirteen tricks, giving Jevin, Nary, Batie and Stindy a tie for E-W top while Pauise, Karleta, Owbot, Glynneth, Study and Rekenee tied for N-S top.
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4H W +3 (5)
5H W +2
6H W +1 (4)
