Friday 9/3/10

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Board 7: After two passes, North opens a strong 2C. East may try to jam things up with a leap in hearts or a two-suited 4NT takeout (partner will expect the minors but East will correct 5C to 5D, showing diamonds and hearts.) No matter, N/S should land in 6S, making 7 when the King of clubs drops. Bidding with super-weak hands such as East's will as likely help declarer play the contract as lead to a winning sacrifice, but here it has no effect on the contract or play.

Board 11: West opens 1H and North likely preempts 3C. East bids 4C to show a high-card-rich raise (the bid has nothing to do with clubs) and West signs off at 4H. Should East make a slam try? A sound principle is not to venture beyond game unless you know your side has the power for 12 tricks. If you reach 5 with 12 tricks but 2 top losers, you will usually survive. If you have only enough for 11 tricks, any bad luck may be fatal.

South probably doubles 4C for a lead, in which case West has choices. 4H would be the weakest action; South's double suggests the club King may not lie under the Ace, and overall West has a fair hand; 4D would show active slam interest while pass is mildly encouraging. After 1H-(3C)-4C-(X)-pass, East cue-bids 4D. West is still minimum and uncertain how useful the club King will be, so 4H seems prudent as does East's final pass. Slam makes only due to the best luck possible in spades.

Board 12: A heartbreaker, with multiple slams makeable but difficult to handle at the table. North opens 1S (a cautious player might pass this control-poor, aceless collection) and South puts the pedal to the metal. A typical 2/1 GF sequence might be 1S-2H-4H, North showing his support and a very bad hand for slam. No matter, South continues with 4NT-5D (or 5C playing 1430)-5NT (we have all the key cards and the Queen of trumps)-6D (one side King)-6H-pass. North could bid the grand slam himself directly over 5NT if he had solid spades (that's why the bid MUST promise all six "prime" cards) so South should not get greedy.

At our table West led a club and the Queen won. This does not mark West with the King as East should not cover, looking at both the Queen and Jack and knowing South has the Ace. (West is hardly likely to be void in spades or diamonds on this bidding, so East can dismiss a spectacular underlead from partner.)

South can count a likely 2 spades, 5 hearts, 2 diamonds including a ruff and 2 clubs. He needs the spade finesse, a long spade, or another club trick. He wants to guard against a 4-1 trump split, and an early ruff, such as in clubs. A reasonable plan might be two rounds of trumps, Ace of diamonds and a ruff, spade back to hand, finish pulling trumps, finesse the Jack of spades This makes if niether spades nor trumps are 5-0, West does not have Jxxx of trumps, and either the spade finesse works or the suit split 3-2.

Which way to start the hearts? If East has Jxxx, you may switch gears and lead the third trump from dummy, planning to dispose of the diamond on a long spade if the suit is 3-2 or resort to the diamond finesse if spades are 4-1. Looks like low heart to the Ace, low to the King gives you the option to finesse or take the ruff as needed; at least two declarers took an immediate ruff, which seems premature.

Low the Ace and West shows out! Let's rethink -- you now have a trump loser and must hope the spade finesse works. Also, you need to pitch a club, so better hope West has Qx(x) of spades. That gives you 4 trumps, 5 spades, 1 diamond, 2 clubs, still 12 tricks. Heart back to the King, finesse a heart, Queen of hearts and give East his trump trick so he can't stop the spades later. With Aces in both minors and West's Qxx in spades, the slam rolls in despite the 5-0 break. No one at the table found this line. Playing the King of hearts first allows declarer to avoid a trump loser and make 7, but that play seems to cater only to East having 5 trumps, an unlikely case.

Several pairs landed in 6 spades, makeable on a squeeze against West, even with the opening heart ruff. With only Axx support, I see no reason for South to support spades once partner raises hearts.

Board 13: North opens 2NT (20-21) and South must decide whether to bid or pass. 3NT rates to be around 40% opposite 20, 59% opposite 21; and there is the possibility of a heart fit if South bids Stayman. However, 4H may not be a good spot even with a fit. With no Ace or King and a sketchy suit, pass is probably best, but at matchpoints South may reasonably try Stayman and, when opener bids hearts, pass! This seems inconsistent since South will have to bid 3NT over 3D or 3S, but simply getting to hearts may win the board as other Souths pass or raise to 3NT. Only two pairs stopped at 2NT, something to keep in mind when you face this sort of 24-or-25 combined hcp stop-or-bid decision.

Board 26: East opens 1S (higher ranking with 5-5), West responds 1NT (forcing for most these days), East jump-shifts to 3D (game forcing), West bids 3NT, all pass. North leads the six of hearts, Q, K. Should West win or hold up? Win, since 108x can stand a lead from either side and this is matchpoints. It looks like the defense should collect a diamond and two hearts (whether or not West holds up) but four declarers managed 11 tricks (two were East and perhaps the Wests got a different lead.)