| Board 9 North Deals E-W Vul |
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Dealer has 6-5 shape and 8 hcp; the hand does not qualify for an opening bid according to Goren or the Rule of 20, and I would not strain to open a suit headed by the J10. I suspect the pairs that reached slam may have opened 1H.
South opens 1S; North responds either 1NT or 2H. The void in partner's long suit is discouraging; I would limit the hand with 1NT. Remember that this bid does not suggest a balanced hand, merely 6+ hcp and no fit for partner.
South rebids 2D; opener should rarely pass 1NT with a second suit and certainly not with a singleton or void. Now North bids 2H, which implies a six-card suit in standard methods. Since North did not open a weak two, South assumes a fairly poor suit, but KQx looks good for support and opener has enough to venture 3H; North continues to game.
The auction suggest North will try to pitch losers on dummy's spades, so East should not consider a spade or trump lead; dummy has shown diamonds and leading an unsupported Ace is usually poor so East leads the two of clubs by default. Declarer ruffs in dummy and leads a high trump; West wins and, not fearing spades, returns another trump -- the fourth-best opening lead marks declarer with club length. Declarer ruffs a spade back to his hand and leads toward the KQ of diamonds, holding the defense to their two Aces.
| Board 12 West Deals N-S Vul |
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Another 6-5, this time with the primary suit headed by the KQ10; basically an ideal weak two if not for the extra playing strength. While 1S, 3S or 4S will often work on such hands, I prefer to open 2S, describing the high card strength and suit quality accurately, and imply the extra playing strength by the unusual step of bidding again freely. (This is common practice among experts, though far from universal.) My plan was to bid the hearts if possible at the three level; I would not act on my own at any higher level. This procedure sacrifices maximum preemption for better description and the possibility that the second suit should be trumps.
North overcalls 3C and East competes with 3S. This is not at all invitational, so West's rebid of 4S is surprising. Catching perfectly fitting cards, eleven tricks are easy; I don't think it is obvious for N/S to bid on vulnerable vs. not.
If West passes originally, North opens 1C, East and South likely pass and West backs in with either 1S or perhaps a 2C bid. Ordinarily Michaels applies only in the direct seat, but a hand with six good clubs would pass 1C out and West is limited as a passed hand, so I suspect most partners would read 2C accurately for the majors. North doubles to show length and strength in clubs, East leaps to 4H, and South must decide whether to sit for that or try 5C, but West has enough shape to continue to 5H anyway. Several Wests played 3S, perhaps as the opening bid.
| Board 18 East Deals N-S Vul |
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With 20 hcp and ten playing tricks, East has an obvious 2C opening. South may double to show clubs, but it seems likely South will be on lead and the shape and vulnerability are poor for a sacrifice. West responds according to style; 2D negative, waiting, or semi-positive, or 2H "steps" showing 4-6. Over any 2D bid East could set the suit by jumping to 3H, but there is some chance partner has five or more spades so perhaps 2H is best at this point. West continues with a natural 3D and East repeats his hearts. West must be allowed to bid 4H at this point without over-encouraging partner -- remember, East forced the bidding. One advantage of the popular 2H bust method (2D, as here, promising an Ace or King) is that you avoid having a "random" second negative, clubs over a major but diamonds over clubs and hearts over diamonds. However, you must still allow responder to have a minimum 2D response. Four pairs were unable to stop at 4H, but trumps split normally and South was unable to keep guards in both spades and diamonds. Note that 4H or 5H making six gains most of the matchpoints of 6H with far less risk.
| Board 20 West Deals Both Vul |
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Another possible light opening -- North has 2.5 quick tricks, but 6 of 11 points are in a doubleton and the shape is minimal. Wild horses won't keep South out of slam if North opens. After a mundane pass, South opens 1H and North can make a rare passed hand "Jacoby" bid, suggesting five trumps. South's 5332 is little improved by that information and 4H is enough. A routine limit raise or Drury bid should produce the same result -- but opposite a shapelier hand the 5-5 fit could be golden.
| Board 26 East Deals Both Vul |
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Yet another 6-5, but this time South preempts first. Over 3C, West tries 4C despite a bare opening with a singleton in the enemy suit -- the shape begs for action, and West does have two quick tricks and good spots in his long suits. It appears few players found that bid (or perhaps South opened 4C or 5C), so 3NT was the popular contract. Six clubs makes if you guess to drop the stiff King, a poor bet with three trumps out.
