Right-click here for hands. I didn't make it to today's game but it looks like a nice 7 tables did.
Board 6: Is South's hand a 2C opener? Only 16 high cards points, but a self-sufficient suit, 9.5 tricks, 4 quick tricks and only 3 losers, first-round control of 3 suits and Kx in the fourth. You are unlikley to be passed out opening 1S, but it will be difficult to find a bid later that accurately portrays this powerhouse. I recommend opening 2C with the intention of rebidding 4S, a sequence that shows great playing strength and good controls but much less than the usual quota of high cards for a 2C opening. 2C should focus partner's attention on slam, and this hand has tremendous potential.
North replies with a positive response, 2H playing 2D negative or waiting, 2NT (10-12) playing steps, or 2NT showing a heart positive if 2H would indicate a bust. Heart values don't help South, who can simply follow through with the planned jump to 4S over a natural 2H. North interprets this as showing 10 tricks and can drive to slam with the King of trumps and side Ace; a reasonable sequence would be 2C-2H-4S-4NT-5H (two aces) or 5S - 6S.
If North's systemic response is 2NT, 4S could have two interpretations: "Spades is trumps, start cue-bidding" or "10 tricks." If you've discussed opening 2C with this sort of hand I think "game-in-hand, short on high cards" should be the interpretation of any jump to game. North proceeds as above.
At the club, everyone stopped at 4S; I can't suggest a good rebid for South after a 1S opening.
Board 12: If N/S could be counted on to keep quiet, the best way to describe West's hand is to open 1C and rebid spades twice; this generally saves bidding room since West's third bid is usually 2S. But N/S are apt to have a big fit in a red suit and I recommend 1S for West, getting the major suit in before any preemption. East's hand would be poorly described by simply raising to game; a comon agreement for splinter is about 11-14 hcp and with the extra trump and good cotnrols East's hand qualifies for 4C (0 or 1 club, 4 card trump support, game values.) West can expect three spade winners in his own hand, two aces, two club ruffs (he doesn't know East ahh\s 5 card support), and the fifth club should set up; plus either Queen might prove useful. That's more than 8 tricks and East's 11-14 should provide 4 more. West can bid 4NT but if the partnership employs control cue-bids it makes sense to check whether hearts are controlled. A possible bidding sequence (playing RKCB or "1430") would be 1S-4C-4D-4H-4NT-5S-6S. Note the value of cue-bidding the King of hearts, rather than requiring the Ace; and why does East bid 5S, showing 2 key cards plus the Queen? With a known 10 card fit including the Ace and King, the suit is a heavy favorite for zero losers. Good players use 5S to show two key cards plus eithe the queen or a known 10 card fit.
North likely cashes the ace of hearts, then switches to a trump. No matter, West cashes a heart and both side Aces, then cross-ruffs the hand out. If North instead leads a trump at trick one, West can play to establish dummy's diamonds, with the possibility of ruffing out the King of clubs as an extra chance. At the table I'm afraid I would play to establish the fifth club and only find the winning play in the post-mortem.
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