Right-click here for hands. Another nice 7 table game.
Board 6: a competitive deal. east passes and South opens 1S. West's hand looks "ideal" for a double, but starting with a double will often miss a 5-3 heart fit, and you would like partner to lead hearts against a spade contract. The good spots make 2H a sound bid even vulnerable. North competes with 2S or possibly 3S for Law of Total Tricks devotees. The nine-card fit and source of tricks in diamonds does favor agressive bidding. East has a max for a simple raise to 3H; over 3S, he must choose among pass, double, 3NT, or 4H. Double should be "responsive" when the opponents bid and raise a suit, suggesting both minors; there seems little advantage in that call. 3NT with the double spade stop is attractive, but is apt to be an overbid. Will 4H drive the enemy into 4S? That's always a risk when bidding over 3 of a major, but East had fair defensive values and should not pass from fear. Over 4H South and West have nothing to say; North will like as not bid 4S as a sacrifice (maybe he should've bid that earlier?) East has an easy double, South passes, and West must choose to defend or continue with 5H. His values are useful for either offense or defense; passing seems reasonable even at this vulnerability, especially since N/S did not drive to 4S voluntarily. Bidding 5H works on this occasion as long as West finesses South, the opening bidder, for the club Queen.
Against 4S doubled, West has no obvious lead; that might sway him toward bidding 5H! But Ace of hearts and a heart should yield 5 or 6 tricks for +300 or +500.
Board 15: After South's pass, West opens 1S or 1NT according to taste or style. The modern tendency os to open notrump despite the fact that a, more often than not, a spade fit exists. Some will prefer 1S with only a doubleton heart, to avoid playing a 5-2 heart fit when a 5-3 spade fit may be available. The disadvantage of opening 1S is that if partner raises, West is too strong to pass; you will often play 3S, down 1 rather than 1NT, making. Another modern tendency, constructive raises, actually favors the 1S opening since you won't land in 3S opposite a bare 6 or 7 support points.
Over 1S, North does not have a sound bid, vulnerable at the two level, though many a matchpoint bidder will trot out 2H anyway. East passes or jumps to 3D preemptively, a fairly revolting bid if you ask me. South balances with 2C if 1S was passed around, or raises 2H to 3H. West should not take another bid with no encouragment from partner; North passes 3H or raises 2C to 3C, either of which should end the auction. With the QJ of hearts dropping, N/S make 10 or 11 tricks in either suit.
If West opens 1NT, I think North should pass; he's vulnerable and has good defense against 1NT, including the obvious heart lead. East should use whatever device the partnership has for playing 3 of a minor, either a transfer or the SAYC 2S "please bid 3C" gadget. West must understand that his bid is limited and allow partner to place the contract in 3D, not get excited and bid a disastrous 3NT. 3D is likely to make; I think the defense has to engineer a spade ruff to defeat it. (East's hand can't be reached for the trump finesse if the defense delays leading clubs.)
Friday, October 22, 2010
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Sunday 10/10/2010
Right-click here for hands. Seven tables, including five 99er pairs.
Board 1: Most pairs reached 3NT, after perhaps 1NT-2C-2D-2NT. East could pass, but with 16 hcp and more than his share of Aces, Tens and Nines it will usually pay to bid on. Not today: South leads a heart and N/S collect four hearts and a club. West might reasonably have passed 1NT, downgrading his hand with no Ace or Ten.
Board 5: Lots of choices in the bidding. North's hand is a classic Goren or "Rule of 20" light opener, but those taught to count hcp + long suits may pass. Over 1C, East can bid almost any number of hearts or show both red suits with a "two-lower-unbid-suits" Unusual 2NT overcall. As the hearts are far better I'd lean toward a 3H jump at this vulnerability. Over a pass, 3 or 4 hearts is also plausible but my usual style with 6-5 is to open a weak two if the primary suit is good. South has good shape but limited points; he'll bid 1S after 1C-(1H), of course, and should risk 2S after 1C-(2H), but may not be able to act at any higher level. West will raise almost any heart bid to game, based on the good fit. If South managed a spade bid, North should raise. I would expect a large field to be divided among 4H and 4S contracts, with perhaps some E/W pairs competing to 5H.
Against hearts, South leads his singleton diamond. East may as well finesse as he will lose two diamonds either way if North has KQx -- except that North can arrange to give South two ruffs by returning the King as a suit preference signal for spades. N/S should collect two or three diamonds and two Aces for down one or two, but a defensive slip may allow East to pitch his losing spade on the King of clubs.
Against spades, West presumably leads a heart. East can return another heart (it won't hurt to give dummy a ruff you can't prevent) or try his stiff club. South will likelu lose a trick in each suit, as the normal way to play the spades would be low to the Ace, low back to the Queen. However, if East revealed his two-suiter during the bidding, South may place the King with West and try leading the Queen, which pins the Jack and picks up the suit.
Board 6: South opens 1S, North replies 2H. If this isn't game-forcing, South's 3D rebid is -- a new suit at the three level, with little room left below 3NT, has always been game-forcing in standard bidding, though many players are unaware. North can rebid 3H if he trusts South not to pass; otherwise, he'd better jump to 4H. Over 3H South bids 3S and North raises to game.
South has few losers and a partner who has shown 10 or 12+ points depending on style; but how useful will heart honors be? He can assume no club loser and needs the Ace of spades or the Jack of spades plus the Ace of diamonds to have a good shot at slam. Not a terrible hand, despite the void, for simple Blackwood; you can bid slam if North shows two Aces. True, slam makes opposite Jx KQxxxx Ax Qxx, but no sequence will necessarily inspire North to bid slam with that holding. A reasonable alternative would be to cue-bid 5C, allowing North to cue-bid the diamond Ace. No guarantees but I think N/S should land in 6H or 6S. On a diamond lead South should either win in hand to preserve his entry to dummy, or just win in dummy and pitch his losing club on a heart immediately.
Board 7 South has another light, shapely opening bid. With all his points in his long suits and two quick tricks, this 6-5 10 count is a sound 1S opener.4H was the popular contract, and game makes in hearts, spades or clubs. 6C is also plausible and will likely make unless East starts with a trump, wins the second heart and switches to a spade, destroying dummy's entry.
Board 1: Most pairs reached 3NT, after perhaps 1NT-2C-2D-2NT. East could pass, but with 16 hcp and more than his share of Aces, Tens and Nines it will usually pay to bid on. Not today: South leads a heart and N/S collect four hearts and a club. West might reasonably have passed 1NT, downgrading his hand with no Ace or Ten.
Board 5: Lots of choices in the bidding. North's hand is a classic Goren or "Rule of 20" light opener, but those taught to count hcp + long suits may pass. Over 1C, East can bid almost any number of hearts or show both red suits with a "two-lower-unbid-suits" Unusual 2NT overcall. As the hearts are far better I'd lean toward a 3H jump at this vulnerability. Over a pass, 3 or 4 hearts is also plausible but my usual style with 6-5 is to open a weak two if the primary suit is good. South has good shape but limited points; he'll bid 1S after 1C-(1H), of course, and should risk 2S after 1C-(2H), but may not be able to act at any higher level. West will raise almost any heart bid to game, based on the good fit. If South managed a spade bid, North should raise. I would expect a large field to be divided among 4H and 4S contracts, with perhaps some E/W pairs competing to 5H.
Against hearts, South leads his singleton diamond. East may as well finesse as he will lose two diamonds either way if North has KQx -- except that North can arrange to give South two ruffs by returning the King as a suit preference signal for spades. N/S should collect two or three diamonds and two Aces for down one or two, but a defensive slip may allow East to pitch his losing spade on the King of clubs.
Against spades, West presumably leads a heart. East can return another heart (it won't hurt to give dummy a ruff you can't prevent) or try his stiff club. South will likelu lose a trick in each suit, as the normal way to play the spades would be low to the Ace, low back to the Queen. However, if East revealed his two-suiter during the bidding, South may place the King with West and try leading the Queen, which pins the Jack and picks up the suit.
Board 6: South opens 1S, North replies 2H. If this isn't game-forcing, South's 3D rebid is -- a new suit at the three level, with little room left below 3NT, has always been game-forcing in standard bidding, though many players are unaware. North can rebid 3H if he trusts South not to pass; otherwise, he'd better jump to 4H. Over 3H South bids 3S and North raises to game.
South has few losers and a partner who has shown 10 or 12+ points depending on style; but how useful will heart honors be? He can assume no club loser and needs the Ace of spades or the Jack of spades plus the Ace of diamonds to have a good shot at slam. Not a terrible hand, despite the void, for simple Blackwood; you can bid slam if North shows two Aces. True, slam makes opposite Jx KQxxxx Ax Qxx, but no sequence will necessarily inspire North to bid slam with that holding. A reasonable alternative would be to cue-bid 5C, allowing North to cue-bid the diamond Ace. No guarantees but I think N/S should land in 6H or 6S. On a diamond lead South should either win in hand to preserve his entry to dummy, or just win in dummy and pitch his losing club on a heart immediately.
Board 7 South has another light, shapely opening bid. With all his points in his long suits and two quick tricks, this 6-5 10 count is a sound 1S opener.4H was the popular contract, and game makes in hearts, spades or clubs. 6C is also plausible and will likely make unless East starts with a trump, wins the second heart and switches to a spade, destroying dummy's entry.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Sunday, 10/3/2010
Right click here for hands. 6.5 tables, with the 99er's graciously joining the open game again.
Board 1: All but one pair reached 4S; if E/W keep quiet a reasonable auction would be 1C-1S-2C-2S-3S-4S. West likely leads a high heart, then switches to a diamond to knock out dummy's entries before the clubs become established. South counts 5 or 6 spades, 2 diamonds, 1 or two high clubs; assuming one finesse works that's 9 tricks, so declarer must ruff at least one heart or set up one or more long club tricks. Declarer must be careful not to play three rounds of trumps before thinking about the heart losers.
Plan A, two finesses and a heart ruff: Run the ten of spades (East shouldn't cover since dummy has the nine), spade to the Ace, ruff a heart, high diamond and ruff a diamond to hand, pull the last trump, finesse the club. Declarer loses two hearts and a club; could make 9 or 11 tricks depending on the finesses.
Plan B, two ruffs: Spade to the Ace, ruff a heart, high diamond and ruff a diamond to hand, ruff a heart -- oops, forced to lead clubs from dummy, no way back to hand to continue trumps. But with East having three trumps and both club honors this line also makes 10 tricks, with no finesses.
Plan C, establish clubs: spade to the Ace, club to the Queen. If this wins declarer plans to ruff out the King of clubs, remove trumps and return to dummy with the second diamond. However, a 4-1 club split could be awkward, as might short clubs and long spades with West. Here, the finesse loses and East knocks out the second diamond entry. Declarer should then try a trump to the Jack, ruff a heart, ruff a diamond back to hand, and pull the last trump. Now declarer can take the Ace of clubs for a sure ten tricks, or try the Ten of clubs for 9 or 11.
Offhand I don't see a high percentage line for 10 tricks that also gives a good play for 11. On this occasion Plan B would score at least 4 out of 6 matchpoints.
Board 8: West opens 1H. North has the shape and strength for a 1NT overcall but lacks a stopper; and cannot double for lack of spade support, so settles for a 2D overcall. East bids 2S: this hand is too good for a preemptive jump to 4S. South's hand is ugly but with 6 card support bids 5D anyway. Two more passes to East: "the five level belongs to the opponents", but with a seven card suit and a void in the enemy suit East would rather declare than defend. He can reasonably hope the opening bid covers some or all of his heart and club losers. 5S should perhaps buy the contract undoubled, but at matchpoints North might be tempted to double. This might be wrong since he can't count on any diamond tricks or help from partner.
A club lead secures a ruff for South but is not obvious from the bidding. Assuming a diamond lead, East ruffs and must try to limit himself to one trump and one club loser, or two trump losers. I'd like to tackle trumps before clubs, so heart to the King, spade toward hand. North should duck; after winning the King East has only one play to avoid another loser: duck a spade and hope North started with Ax. Success! Back in with another diamond ruff, declarer pulls the last trump and cashes the Ace of hearts, putting off the club finesse until absolutely necessary. Miracle of miracles, the heart Queen drops and declarer reaches dummy with the Ace of clubs to pitch all his clubs on hearts. Making 6!
Baord 16: West passes and North must decide between a simple 1C opening and a preemptive 5C. (3C would be plausible at this vulnerability with a six card suit, but be sure partner understands you aren't claiming you can make 11 tricks as would be standard with a five of a major opening.) With two quick tricks I prefer 1C. East overcalls 1S, South bids 2D, West passesand North, despite only 10 hcp, should have visions of slam. South's 2D bid shows 10+ points (unlimited and definetely forcing) and some sort of diamond suit, which should cover some of North's losers in that suit and perhaps provide a discard for the low heart. better make the 8 card suit trumps, however, even if you have a diamond fit. A leap to 4S would suggest the spade void but unfortunately would probably commit the hand to diamonds. I suggest 2S, which sounds at first like it's asking for a notrump stopper; when North later leaps to 5C partner may read it as an advance-cue-bid slam try. East doubles 2S to emphasize he wants partner to lead the suit; South may pass or bid 2NT -- the Jxxx does look something like a stopper. North leaps to 5C (4C might sound like Gerber if South bid 2NT) and South may raise to slam. (On a singleton? Certainly -- partner never asked you for support, did he?) However, the slam is a lucky make, requiring both a finesse and favorable break in diamonds. 5C looks like the normal contract.
If North simply opens 5C, East will probably overcall or double. South hammers anything for +800. Oh well, it's only one board at matchpoints.
Board 1: All but one pair reached 4S; if E/W keep quiet a reasonable auction would be 1C-1S-2C-2S-3S-4S. West likely leads a high heart, then switches to a diamond to knock out dummy's entries before the clubs become established. South counts 5 or 6 spades, 2 diamonds, 1 or two high clubs; assuming one finesse works that's 9 tricks, so declarer must ruff at least one heart or set up one or more long club tricks. Declarer must be careful not to play three rounds of trumps before thinking about the heart losers.
Plan A, two finesses and a heart ruff: Run the ten of spades (East shouldn't cover since dummy has the nine), spade to the Ace, ruff a heart, high diamond and ruff a diamond to hand, pull the last trump, finesse the club. Declarer loses two hearts and a club; could make 9 or 11 tricks depending on the finesses.
Plan B, two ruffs: Spade to the Ace, ruff a heart, high diamond and ruff a diamond to hand, ruff a heart -- oops, forced to lead clubs from dummy, no way back to hand to continue trumps. But with East having three trumps and both club honors this line also makes 10 tricks, with no finesses.
Plan C, establish clubs: spade to the Ace, club to the Queen. If this wins declarer plans to ruff out the King of clubs, remove trumps and return to dummy with the second diamond. However, a 4-1 club split could be awkward, as might short clubs and long spades with West. Here, the finesse loses and East knocks out the second diamond entry. Declarer should then try a trump to the Jack, ruff a heart, ruff a diamond back to hand, and pull the last trump. Now declarer can take the Ace of clubs for a sure ten tricks, or try the Ten of clubs for 9 or 11.
Offhand I don't see a high percentage line for 10 tricks that also gives a good play for 11. On this occasion Plan B would score at least 4 out of 6 matchpoints.
Board 8: West opens 1H. North has the shape and strength for a 1NT overcall but lacks a stopper; and cannot double for lack of spade support, so settles for a 2D overcall. East bids 2S: this hand is too good for a preemptive jump to 4S. South's hand is ugly but with 6 card support bids 5D anyway. Two more passes to East: "the five level belongs to the opponents", but with a seven card suit and a void in the enemy suit East would rather declare than defend. He can reasonably hope the opening bid covers some or all of his heart and club losers. 5S should perhaps buy the contract undoubled, but at matchpoints North might be tempted to double. This might be wrong since he can't count on any diamond tricks or help from partner.
A club lead secures a ruff for South but is not obvious from the bidding. Assuming a diamond lead, East ruffs and must try to limit himself to one trump and one club loser, or two trump losers. I'd like to tackle trumps before clubs, so heart to the King, spade toward hand. North should duck; after winning the King East has only one play to avoid another loser: duck a spade and hope North started with Ax. Success! Back in with another diamond ruff, declarer pulls the last trump and cashes the Ace of hearts, putting off the club finesse until absolutely necessary. Miracle of miracles, the heart Queen drops and declarer reaches dummy with the Ace of clubs to pitch all his clubs on hearts. Making 6!
Baord 16: West passes and North must decide between a simple 1C opening and a preemptive 5C. (3C would be plausible at this vulnerability with a six card suit, but be sure partner understands you aren't claiming you can make 11 tricks as would be standard with a five of a major opening.) With two quick tricks I prefer 1C. East overcalls 1S, South bids 2D, West passesand North, despite only 10 hcp, should have visions of slam. South's 2D bid shows 10+ points (unlimited and definetely forcing) and some sort of diamond suit, which should cover some of North's losers in that suit and perhaps provide a discard for the low heart. better make the 8 card suit trumps, however, even if you have a diamond fit. A leap to 4S would suggest the spade void but unfortunately would probably commit the hand to diamonds. I suggest 2S, which sounds at first like it's asking for a notrump stopper; when North later leaps to 5C partner may read it as an advance-cue-bid slam try. East doubles 2S to emphasize he wants partner to lead the suit; South may pass or bid 2NT -- the Jxxx does look something like a stopper. North leaps to 5C (4C might sound like Gerber if South bid 2NT) and South may raise to slam. (On a singleton? Certainly -- partner never asked you for support, did he?) However, the slam is a lucky make, requiring both a finesse and favorable break in diamonds. 5C looks like the normal contract.
If North simply opens 5C, East will probably overcall or double. South hammers anything for +800. Oh well, it's only one board at matchpoints.
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