Sunday April 10th, 2011

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Competition Corner -- Negative Double
Board 1: South opens 1H in third seat, West overcalls 1S. North stretches for a negative double, showing the minors. East stretches for a 2S raise. Both actions are minimum but sound. South counts five losers and can expect North to ruff at least one spade (they bid and raised, so presumably they have 8, leaving at most two for partner.) The double suggests a couple of high card tricks, and if you play that a minimum double includes a tolerance for partner' suit, South can take a shot at 4H. West has a good defensive hand and poor prospects at 4S; East likewise has minimal shape, so 4H should end the auction. South ruffs the oepning club lead and ducks a spade to prepare for a ruff. West cannot stop that but can safely win and lead the Queen of hearts (there is even a slight chance partner has the Ace.) Declarer wins the King in dummy, Ace of spades, ruff a spade, diamond toward the Queen. Unlucky! South loses two more diamonds and a trump for down 2. South can save a trick by playing the Ace of diamonds before ruffing in dummy, since there is no layout that avoids losing a diamond altogether, but there is no path to 10 tricks.

Slam Away -- Board 13:
North opens 2NT (better than 1S.) South bids 3C as Stayman (or Puppet Stayman), North bids 3S, and South suspects a slam if North has little in clubs. However, there is no obvious way to show the void -- a jump to 5C may well be taken as natural. South can make an artificial slam try by bidding 4H over 3S -- there is no reason to use Stayman and then insist on the other major, so this must show a fit for spades. (But don't try it without discussing it first with partner!) North has an excellent hand -- four key cards -- but no diamond control. A 5C cue-bid doesn't encourage South, who retreats to 5S, which North passes. An astute East will now lead a low diamond and the defense collects the first three tricks. If instead of the cue-bid North relies on Blackwood, South shows zero Aces or Key cards with a 5C or 5D response depending on methods, either of which West may double for a lead. North redoubles 5C to show first-round control, which has the same effect as the cue-bid -- South knows his void is opposite an Ace. However, East has no clue about diamonds, leads a club as requested, and declarer claims all the tricks.

Most pairs reached a heart game by North after a transfer sequence; an unrevealing auction allows N/S to steal 12 tricks on anything but an unlikely diamond lead.

Board 24: West opens 2S, North overcalls 3H. Some "Law of Total Tricks" devotees might bid 3S as East but this is not sound with zero points and a flat hand. South is looking at 17 hcp, but the King of spades is badly placed. South can protect it by bidding notrump but has no reason to expect a single stopper will be enough. South forces to game with a 3S cue-bid, which North should intially take as requesting a spade stopper. West doubles to show the Ace of his suit; North bids 4H to show his good suit (and no stopper.) I would pass as South; slam makes easily but note that the QJ of diamonds provide the 11th and 12th tricks, I don't think either North or South can safely proceeed beyond game.