1: Even HCP
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...............K102
...............1097
...............K4
...............Q8763
A953.........................Q874
Q652.........................K643
A73............................J52
A9..............................54
...............J6
...............AJ
...............Q10986
...............KJ102
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Much depended on whether or not West doubled South's third-hand 1D opening. If not, North responds 1NT and likely plays the hand there. If West doubles East will likely compete in one major or the other; North might come in with clubs. Contracts were 1NT N and 3C N (reasonable enough), 3S E (a bit nigh) and a mystifying 6Cx N.
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1NT N is easily defeated by a heart lead and almost equally easily defeated by a spade lead. Maurie posted -1 as expected. 3C ought to make, especially with E-W having a mirror distribution, but Heve managed the set.? Owbot only defeated 6Cx two tricks but -1 would have been enough. Major contracts had a chance of taking eight tricks if declarer led the hearts through South and lost only one trick by crashing the ace on the second round. Cinise managed 3S -3 but needed only -1.
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3S E -3 vs Cinise
1NT N -1 vs Maurie; 3C N -1 vs Heve
6Cx S -2 vs Owbot
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2: Game hampered by weak suit:
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...............A872
...............K1052
...............AKQ
...............Q2
QJ104.................95
A8.......................9763
J5........................1064
109864................AKJ5
...............K63
...............QJ4
...............98732
...............73
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N-S have close to game-going points and are likely to start 1D-1NT; 2NT. It would not be a good time for North to opt for a jump to 3NT. One North opened 1NT and played the hand there; two auctions began 1D-2D and ended in 2NT and 3NT from the North side; one North rebid 2S and was passed there.
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It would have been much easier to find a set of 2NT or 3NT had West been on lead. East had to find a club continuation. Gareth got away with one in 3NT; West discouraged on the club lead and East switched to a heart. West won the ace and then led a spade, letting Gareth escape with ten tricks. -2 would still have been possible had West returned a club. Mary encouraged in clubs on the king lead and Maurie posted 2NT -2, the second overtrick an unneeded gift. Panots held 1NT to seven tricks while Zeena made 2S N.
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3NT N +1 by Gareth
2S N = by Zeena
1NT N = vs Panots
2NT N -2 vs Maurie
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3: Both sides in the same suit:
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...............----
...............K965
...............Q10762
...............AK43
A6...........................KJ1085
A1032.....................74
95............................AK84
QJ982.....................76
...............Q97432
...............QJ8
...............J3
...............105
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One unlucky South opened 2S and played the hand there. It was the right vulnerability for it. After a pass one West opened and the contract became 4Sx E. Two E-W pairs got out more quietly in 2C W and 2S E.
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East had at least six tricks declaring in spades and had to be able to squeeze out a seventh trick. It was not a good hand for declaring; South in 2S only managed five tricks.?Mary made 2C W, which could have been defeated; North has to lead a low heart, eventually putting South on lead in hearts and then receiving a spade ruff.
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4Sx E -3 vs Garbot
2S E -1 vs Zeerry
2C W = by Mary
2S S -3 vs Panots
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Leaders: Maurie 6.5, Garbot 6, Zeerry 5.5, Panots 5
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4: Slam attempted:
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...............----
...............AK8632
...............Q10
...............A9874
Q98732.................1054
7............................Q954
A8764...................92
2............................Q653
...............AKJ6
...............J10
...............KJ53
...............KJ10
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South has extras beyond a game force when North opens 1H, but, with concentrated values in spades and diamonds the natural tendency after 1H-1S; 2C-2D; 2H or 3C is to bid 3NT. 3NT was the contract twice along with 4H and 6H. At least some of the spade and diamond values will be wastage opposite North's two-suiter. At least one West opened 2S, which further pushed N-S around.
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6H sadly had no chance with a sure trump loser as well as the ace of diamonds. 6C would have been tricky and likely failed due to the necessity of drawing trumps. 6NT could have made with a good guess in clubs because West had the entry and only one heart so that a heart entry could be kept to the North hand. The second diamond could be played before the third club, and then West would have to allow South all the winners needed to make the contract. At the tables 3NT yielded eleven tricks to Ken and Harry, good enough for a tie for top.
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3NT S +2 by Ken and Harry
4H N +1 vs Panots
6H S -2 vs Heve
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5: N-S spade partials:
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...............J3
...............KQ
...............86542
...............10642
972..............................54
J10952........................A83
AJ10............................K973
A9................................J753
...............AKQ1086
...............764
...............Q
...............KQ8
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South opened 1S and then it was just a question of whether the auction finished in 2S after a conservative rebid or 3S after competition or a reasonable jump rebid on seven presumed winners. We finished with two of each contract.
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A trump lead or heart lead with a trump switch ought to be good enough to hold declarer to eight tricks. A ninth could come from a heart ruff or perhaps a discard on the ten of clubs, but E-W can defang both possibilities comfortably enough. In the end, though, all four declarers were allowed nine tricks for a flat board.
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2S S +1 by Mary and Gareth; 3S S = by Ken and Harry
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6: Weak suit harming game chances:
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...............98754
...............A75
...............J
...............A1053
6.......................AK1032
KJ10.................Q642
AQ98764..........K5
86.....................J2
...............QJ
...............983
...............1032
...............KQ974
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This time it was E-W's turn to hold 2-2 clubs, enough to kill both 3NT and 5D. 4H has chances, although that contract can be defeated by a diamond ruff, the winning defence being for North to overtake a high club lead, return the singleton diamond and then put South on lead in clubs for the ruff after winning the trump ace. Nobody found 4H, although it was hard to stay out of game after a 1D opening bid from West; we finished with contracts of 3D W, 3NT W (1S-3NT) and 5D W twice. This sort of hand makes the case for being able to stop in 4D after a game force, although that never quite arises after 1D-1S; 2D-2H; 3D-4D.
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Declarer in 3NT escaped for only -1, which can occur either if the clubs block or if South fails to find a heart switch after the clubs run. Only Zeerry produced optimal defence to hold declarer in diamonds to ten tricks. Owen snuck home in 5D after North led the club ace and then missed the helpful play of cashing the heart ace before leading the second club.
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3NT W -1 vs Garbot; 5D W -1 vs Zeerry
3D W +2 by Steve
5D W = by Owen
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Leaders: Zeerry 12, Garbot 11, Heve 10, Panots-Maurie 9
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7: 1NT or spade partials:
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...............K9753
...............K93
...............95
...............1032
QJ86.....................4
1087......................Q64
Q...........................KJ10872
KJ865...................A97
...............A102
...............AJ52
...............A643
...............Q4
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The expected auction was 1NT-2H; 2S. One South opened 1D and was left in 1NT; one East balanced with 3S over 2S and pushed N-S to 3S.
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E-W can just force a fifth trick against spades thanks to the 4-1 trump split and everyone managed to do so this time, giving Cinise the E-W top. In 1NT declarer can cash out but cannot establish an eighth trick without giving E-W a sixth; 1NT made on the number.
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2S S = by Ken and Owen
1NT S = vs Zeerry
3S S -1 vs Cinise
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8: Battle of the majors:
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...............84
...............J632
...............93
...............A9872
AQ10652..............KJ973
----........................1094
Q7642...................10
64.........................KQJ3
...............----
...............AKQ875
...............AKJ85
...............105
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One West opened 2S. Had East bid the obvious 4S South would have had an ideal 4NT for takeout, correcting North's 5C to 5D and letting North correct that to 5H. East got lucky with a slow-roll: 2S-P-P-3H; P-P-3S-4H; 4S-X. Another West opened 1S which, curiously, ended up with the auction that went highest of all: 1S-P-3S-4H; 4S-5H-5S-6H. Two Wests passed and allowed South to open 1H, with similar auctions except for the final decision: P-P-P-1H; 1S-2H-P-4H; 4S-X and P-P-P-1H; 1S-2H-2S-4H; 4S-P-P-5H, again the conservative East getting luckier.
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6H looks perfectly reasonable but the 3-0 trumps and 5-1 diamonds hold declarer to eleven tricks. Ken finished -1 in 6H but was compensated for that by scoring the N-S top, as 5H was misplayed and finished -2. Both declarers in 4Sx took an easy eleven tricks.
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6H S -1 by Ken
5H S -2 by Mary
4Sx W +1 by Genots and Harry
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9: N-S partials:
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...............QJ75
...............AKQJ10
...............Q2
...............54
A...............................863
98652.......................3
A975.........................K10643
A83...........................KQ62
...............K10942
...............74
...............J8
...............J1097
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One North opened 1NT and was left to declarer 2S, West opting against a balancing double after the transfer was left in. The other Norths opened 1H. This was left in once. The other Souths responded 1S and ended up declaring 3S, either after a jump raise or competition from East with 2NT over a 2S raise.
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E-W have five top tricks against either major and can force a sixth trick against spades with a heart ruffed. All three pairs defending spades did take six tricks. 1H also finished -2; declarer tried to draw trumps and lost control of the hand. E-W could have made 5D had they ever been able to get there; their hands had no wasted values whatsoever, caught the 2-2 diamond split and indeed with that trump split would have been unlucky not to take a twelfth trick.
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2S N -1 by Laurie
1H N -2 vs Zeerry; 3S S -2 vs Heve and Panots
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Leaders: Zeerry 18.5, Panots-Maurie 14, Garbot 13.5
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10: Possible game:
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...............A
...............9843
...............Q10973
...............653
J10972....................843
----..........................AJ1065
AK64.......................2
QJ109.....................AK84
...............KQ65
...............KQ72
...............J85
...............72
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It looked as if E-W might reach 4S: 1H-1S; 2C and then West chooses between either 3C or 2D. 2D certainly gets 2S from East and then likely 4S from West. One E-W pair did reach 4S W, but 3NT was also bid twice, once from each side. The fourth pair stopped in 3C E.
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The 4-1 trump split helps declarer in a way, as it makes it impossible for N-S to prevent a diamond ruff. But declarer is in danger of losing control of the hand. If there is a diamond lead, declarer should keep the second high diamond in hand, take the ruff right away, then lead a trump. North then has to find the?heart switch; that is the last chance to set up to force declarer twice before trumps can be drawn. 4S was defeated by one trick at the table. Genots made 3NT W but Owbot defended 3NT E -2; 3NT can be defeated with a bit less excitement, particularly as declarer must duck the first or second diamond. Cindy quietly took ten tricks in 3C for a good score.
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3NT E -2 vs Owbot
4S W -1 vs Maurie
3C E +1 by Cindy
3NT W = by Genots
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11: Heart game or slam:
...............K106
...............752
...............Q942
...............K95
A754.................Q8
Q109863...........AK4
5........................AK10
86......................AQJ43
...............J932
...............J
...............J8763
...............1072
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If West opened 2H, those who showed features over a 2NT force would be at an advantage, as West could show a high spade, enough to let East go for a slam. The pair who did reach 6H W were our substitutes, finally settled into the partnership that endured for the rest of the game. The other E-W pairs were all content with 4H.
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If the hand with the spade king is on lead, West is seriously in the driver's seat and can afford both to lose the club finesse and run into a 4-2 club split. The main difficulty is that, especially after a diamond lead, declarer wants to be careful about entries to dummy. It isn't necessary this time, but declarer does well after, say, diamond, diamond ruff, club finesse, heart ace, heart to queen, club finesse, to cash the club ace before drawing the third trump in case a ruff is necessary. Genots took all the tricks in 6H for the top; one of the declarers in 4H took only twelve tricks, making Owbot N-S top.
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4H W +2 vs Owbot
4H W +3 by Louise and Gareth
6H W +1 by Genots
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12: How low could anyone stop?:
?
...............Q72
...............KQJ4
...............874
...............J62
J8653...................K9
10872...................A
10.........................KJ952
Q84......................AK1097
...............A104
...............9653
...............AQ63
...............53
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East opened 1D in third seat which ended the auction once. One East opened an overly optimistic 2C and finished in 5C. One West responded 1S to 1D and ended up playing 3NT, while one North balanced with 1H over 1D and ended up playing 3H.
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3NT had the clubs but just suffered from a dearth of tricks, even with the bit of help received from the lead of the heart king. Maurie posted -2 fro the N-S top. 5C did a little better but finished -1 against Miken; South just had to sit and wait for declarer to have to lead spades. 3H N was also the expected -2. Only Cindy made her contract, the lowly 1D; an overtrick was possible but was not needed.
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3NT W -2 vs Maurie
5C E -1 vs Miken
1D E = by Cindy
3H N -2 vs Zeerry
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Leaders: Zeerry 21.5, Panots 21, Maurie 20.5, Owbot 18?
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13: Dubious game:
?
...............K1095
...............K963
...............Q76
...............54
Q2...........................A763
J..............................A8752
J10953....................AK2
AQJ97.....................2
...............J84
...............Q104
...............84
...............K10863
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Two pairs had the fairly normal auction 1H-1NT forcing; 2D-3D.? A third pair finished in 3C W and the fourth auction was 1H-2C; 2S-2NT; 3D-3NT.
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Gareth even made 3NT, though it looks as if he needed a little help. Even with both finesses working, his problem was how to get back to his hand if he used dummy's club to play the first diamond. The auction suggests a diamond lead, which is help enough; a spade lead even allows an overtrick if declarer is ambitious. 3D made on the number both times, though it looks as if declarer could have done better. It was a little unlucky that South was on opening lead and a spade would help the defence - North would likely have led a club and aided declarer. Harry in 3C W had the most impressive declaring result of the day - taking ten tricks in a 5-1 trump suit and outscoring pairs who played at the same level in a 5-3 fit. He received a spade lead, giving him five top tricks in the side suits, and then just scored all his trumps by taking lots of ruffs. Trying to draw trumps could have finished with a very poor result indeed.?
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3D E = vs Miken and Owbot
3C W +1 by Harry
3NT W = by Gareth
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14: Different partials:
?
...............10943
...............A52
...............85
...............9876
K85...........................A7
8763..........................J104
KJ3...........................A102
Q42...........................KJ1053
...............QJ62
...............KQ9
...............Q9764
...............A
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East opened 1C and South either overcalled 1D or doubled. As West I like 1NT over either, but players just feel compelled to show their four-card majors and the only 1NT was declared by East. Another West was raised to 2H and had to play it there. At the other two tables N-S got into spades, playing 2S N and 3S S.
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Spades were fairly durable as trumps. E-W could not reduce South in trumps enough to get club tricks ready before the diamonds could establish and tying to force South to ruff two clubs would let North ruff a third club after cashing the hearts and come to nine tricks that way. Pat came to nine tricks in 2S in that way, although Maurie were able to set 3S. Gareth?took a straightforward nine tricks in 1NT E after a diamond lead. 2H W proved less happy for declarer; the contract might have made as it seems difficult for N-S to get more than one useful ruff or a spade trick if declarer doesn't go into panic mode.? ?
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2S N +1 by Pat
2H W -1 vs Miken
3S S -1 vs Maurie
1NT E +2 by Gareth
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15: Another battle of the majors:
?
...............AQJ754
...............----
...............76
...............QJ754
-----........................832
KJ1074..................A9863
K83........................AQ10
A10982..................K3
...............K1096
...............Q52
...............J9542
...............6
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West opened 1H and North came in with 1S or 2H. East had a 2S cue-bid over either, letting South come in with 3S. E-W invariably went to 4H and North came alive with the 6-5 hand pattern despite the vulnerability. One East doubled 4S, not a good idea; if I had the East hand I might blast to 6H over 4S or at the least bid 4NT with confidence. This is a highly encouraging auction. N-S are at unfavourable vulnerability and are outgunned in HCP yet have contested to 4S. They must have good distribution. When opponents have bid and raised a suit, especially as an overcall, three low cards make a fantastic holding in their suit. Knowing there are ten trumps and probably expecting a void spade as more likely than not, 7H seems quite likely to make. Two E-W pairs went to 5H and were left there; one N-S pair went to 5S and were left there undoubled. Auctions were P-1H-1S-4H; 4S-5H-5S (East's 4H presumably put West off), P-1H-1S-2S; X-4H-4S-X, P-1H-2H-4H; 4S-5H and P-1H-1S-2S; 3S-4H-4S-5H.
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West's club spots are good enough to make 7H so long as declarer plays South for the heart queen if trumps split 3-0. Spade ruff, heart ace, heart to jack, heart king, club king, club ace and then the double ruffing finesse in clubs is marked, with two re-entries to the West hand. Louise was top playing 5H +2 and Mary took one overtrick in the contract. 4S looks fine but provides a good defensive lesson. The vital thing for East is to LEAD TRUMPS. If 4S is going to get anywhere it will be by ruffing. Declarer can try to counter trump leads by playing on diamonds but will still come up one trick short. Heart forces instead let North ruff three hearts and a diamond in hand and come to ten tricks by establishing dummy. Hank made 4Sx for the N-S top; Pat was only -1 in 5S.??
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4Sx N = by Hank
5S N -1 by Pat
5H W +1 by Mary
5H W +2 by Louise
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Leaders: Panots 27, Maurie 25, Zeerry 24.5, Owbot 22.5
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16: A third battle of the majors:
?
...............Q1075
...............K109852
...............53
...............3
864............................AKJ932
A................................J4
AJ842........................97
AQJ8.........................762
...............----
...............Q763
...............KQ106
...............K10954
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I thought N-S had a fair chance at shutting E-W out of the auction with 1D-2H-P-4H but either West doubled or East snuck into the auction on one round or the other. Contracts were 4S E, 4Sx W (1NT opening bid), 5H N and 5Hx N.
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It looks as if hearts will be held to nine tricks - the three top winners and either a spade or a diamond ruff - but one declarer took ten tricks and the other eight, both still claiming good scores. Hank was N-S top in 5H -1. Gareth took a straightforward eleven tricks in 4S E, while Mary quite rightly played a little safe to make 4Sx for E-W top, putting Maurie back in the lead.
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5H N -1 by Hank
5Hx N -1 by Mike
4S E +1 by Gareth
4Sx W = by Mary
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17: Partials in four denominations:
?
...............1095
...............QJ97
...............864
...............432
J82.....................AQ73
K10862...............5
J105....................A93
K10.....................AQ875
...............K64
...............A43
...............KQ72
...............J96
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I was looking for P-1C-P-1H; P-1S-P-1NT, possibly raised to 2NT by East and maybe even 3NT by West. One E-W pair did play 2NT W. One West left East's 1S rebid in. Another at some point gave preference back to clubs, resulting in 3C E; the fourth rebid hearts and played 3H in the end.
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3NT W gets lucky and provides a sure make unless the defence begins with a diamond to South, heart switch to North and a second diamond through. On any other line, declarer gets in and establishes spades before N-S can prepare their fifth trick. Gareth was E-W top in 2NT +1, with Owen next in 1S +2. 3H managed a decent -1, but that still gave Miken the N-S top when 3C provided a quiet nine tricks (South avoiding the diamond lead that would have given a tenth).?
?
3H W -1 vs Miken
3C E = vs Panots
1S E +2 by Owen
2NT W +1 by Gareth
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18: A fourth battle of the majors:
?
...............AJ986
...............J109
...............K9
...............K106
K.........................Q73
862.....................AKQ543
AJ76542.............Q10
75........................82
...............10542
...............7
...............83
...............AQJ943
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West has a tricky time over East's 1H opening bid - how much to count for the singleton king? It's easier if South overcalls 2C and West can begin with 2H. After 1H-2H, North can come in with 2S and the auction goes at least to the three-level. We finished with contracts of 3H E, 3S N twice and 4H E.
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With the solid clubs on the side splitting 2-2, North just has to draw trumps to take ten tricks. This was easy enough; Mike and Hank split the N-S top with a score of +170. Hearts should have been held to nine tricks but Gareth took ten to complete a big comeback and tie for second. Taking the bid in 3H was good enough to give Maurie first overall.
?
3S N +1 by Mike and Hank
3H E = by Laurie
4H E = by Gareth
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Final: Maurie 31, Garbot-Panots 30, Miken 27
