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.
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