Friday 8/20/10

Right click here for hands; open in new tab and scroll down past results to see the hands.

Board 1: East may open an offbeat 1NT, with six diamonds but most of his points scatterred among the other suits. South might pass, bid a natural 2S, or trot out a two-suited gadget such as Cappaletti 2D for the majors. 2S is in for a gruesome result when West doubles for penalties; East should pass and the defense collects 3 heart tricks, a diamond, a club, and 3 trumps tricks for -500 N/S. The gadget works better as 2H yields seven tricks; it won't be doubled and East will probably compete to 3D. If South passes, West isn't quite worth a Stayman response; North may back in with 2C or, again, use a two-suited gadget such as DONT. (I wouldn't recommend a Cappaletti 2H with only four cards in the major.) West will have trouble waiting for his turn to double 2C; he's still waiting as East reasonably competes with 2D, making four.

If East opens 1D, many Wests will overcall 1S not vulnerable; West bids 1NT, North passes or bids 2C and East may leap to 3NT. I won't analyze the play but at least one declarer managed nine tricks, presumably establishing the diamonds.

Board 11 South opens 1D and West overcalls some number of hearts. 2H has little to recommend it not vulnerable, and the hand is quite strong for 3H, so the choice should be between 1H and 4H. 4H ought to fail on a spade lead or switch but in practice most declarers managed 11 tricks.

Board 12 South opens 1S or 1NT according to style. It looks like a good hand for spades and South is worth a 2NT rebid. 1S should not tempt West to bid, North passes and East, with only 6 hcp, should let sleeping dogs lie -- when you're this weak, opener usually has a monster. Over 1NT, West may be tempted to butt in with 2D, natural or DONT. With scattered honors and a good lead, I'd recommend pass.

Board 23 South passses and West, with AK108643, should open some number of spades. I chose 3S, but 2S vulnerable would also be reasonable, suggesting a mixture of offense and defense. North doubles any bid and East has an easy raise of 3S to 4; he may do the same over 2S, expecting the club suit to provide some tricks. South, with Qxxxx of hearts and a stiff spade, may bid 5H; this seems unsound as partner will either be short in spades also (mirror shape) or have a strong balanced hand which may be enough to set 4S but not enough for 5H to make. As it happens, 4S makes and 5H escapes undoubled since East is confident of only two defensive tricks. (East would be more likely to double if West opened 2S.)