Friday, March 27th 2015

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Board 1 North Deals None Vul	♠ 6 3 2 ♥ J 10 9 6 5 ♦ 8 5 4 ♣ 10 3
♠ K Q J 10 ♥ A K 7 2 ♦ J 10 7 6 ♣ 2	N W E S	♠ A 9 ♥ Q 4 ♦ K Q 3 2 ♣ A K Q 9 5
	♠ 8 7 5 4 ♥ 8 3 ♦ A 9 ♣ J 8 7 6 4

East opens either 1C or 2NT; the hand has a lot of slam potential in the minors, and most pairs lack methods  to explore for minor suit slams over 2NT. My partner chose 1C, I responded 1H, figuring to play game in either major or  at 3NT. (Had the diamonds been sronger I might have responded 1D.) Now East reversed with 2D, forcing in modern  methods. This presented a problem: 4NT would quickly answer whether partner had three key cards or two plus the Queen, but a 5H reply would be awkward. Unaware partner actually had 20 points, I settled for 3NT and we missed slam. Over a 2NT opening I would have bid Stayman followed by 6NT. Eight pairs bid 6NT. Probably I should jump raise to 4D at my second bid.

Board 5 North Deals N-S Vul	♠ 10 9 8 ♥ A 10 3 2 ♦ Q 3 2 ♣ 10 4 2
♠ J 6 3 ♥ 9 4 ♦ 10 8 7 6 ♣ A K 8 3	N W E S	♠ A K 7 2 ♥ K Q ♦ A K J 5 ♣ Q J 7
	♠ Q 5 4 ♥ J 8 7 6 5 ♦ 9 4 ♣ 9 6 5

East opens 2C and rebids 2NT over West's response. Old-fashioned bidders would make a positive response over 2C, 2NT to show 8 hcp without a good suit to bid. Likewise, steps bidders would show 7 to 9 and be content to stop at 3NT. Most of us would respond 2D, either waiting (0+) or semi-positive. After 2D waiting, East's 2NT would be limited to 22-24 hcp. There might be slam in a minor, but West is unlikely to push beyond 3NT.

We play 2D promises at least a King or two Queens and forces to game. This allows opener to rebid 2NT on a wider range, 22-26 or 29+, leaving room for responder to use Stayman or a transfer. But that creates a problem for a hand like this, where there might be slam opposite 25 or 26. Seven pairs did in fact bid slam, five going down as expected. Perhaps it would be best after all for opèner to jump on 25 to 27; with 28+ hcp 3NT may be right even if a 5-3 or 4-4 major fit exists.

Board 17 North Deals None Vul	♠ 8 5 ♥ 10 6 5 4 2 ♦ 6 2 ♣ Q 8 6 5
♠ K 4 3 2 ♥ A J 8 7 ♦ A Q 10 ♣ A J	N W E S	♠ Q J 10 9 6 ♥ Q ♦ 7 4 3 ♣ K 4 3 2
	♠ A 7 ♥ K 9 3 ♦ K J 9 8 5 ♣ 10 9 7

At our table South opened 1D; I assume most passed. I doubled as West and East responded 2S, a constructive bid in textbook methods -- about 9 to 11 in value (including distribution) with four or five spades. I realized North was likely broke and every finesse would likely win, but wasn't sure enough to bid slam. East's fifth spade made the difference. I might have tried a 3D cue-bid, but looking at four key cards I doubt I would've coaxed partner into trying for slam. At matchpoints, I decided that it might not be necessary to bid slam to get a good score for 12 tricks. In fact no one bid slam and most did not manage +480.

If South passes, West opens 1D and East responds 1S. Were South to bid 2D, most experts would play the bid as natural, since double and a passed-hand 1NT are available for two suited hands, but South should want a much stronger suit for that bid -- say KQJ985. West jump raises spades. 3S is supposed to be 17 to 19 in value, counting shape; I doubt the AJ of clubs should be counted as 6 points, but the excellent controls suggest bidding 4S anyway. Visualizing, you would want to be in game opposite AQxxx xx xxx xxx, but it's close. In any case East is likely to raise to game but not make a move toward slam opposite the stronger hand. And slam really looks good only if you know most of the missing points are with South.

Board 18

East opens either 1H or 4H. While many would reject the preempt because of the side major, the strong hearts make it unlikely that spades will be a better trump suit. With only ten hcp and only 1.5 quick tricks rather than the expected two I like 4H. South will overcall 5D -- while this might seem unsound, possibly -800 against a non-vulnerable game, it generally pays to bid such a powerful suit. West  must guess whether to pass, double or bid 5H. At this vulnerability partner might have as few as six playing tricks, but seven is more likely for a four level preempt; this makes 5H look right either to make or as what turns out to be a paying sacrifice. At a team game 5H would be a standout to avoid a double-game swing.

At our table partner opened 1H and South jumped to 3H, begging partner to bid 3NT with a heart stopper. I've seen three similar hands in the past 6 months -- a solid 8 card minor; the other hands, however, had some values on the side. I doubled to show the King of hearts, North (unsure what 3H was but lacking a heart stopper in any case) bid 3S, East bid 4H to show a better offensive than defensive hand, and South bid 5D. As partner had opened, it seemed reasonable to hope for two tricks from opener or one plus two club tricks, so I doubled and lead the King of hearts, but declarer scored the obvious 8 trumps plus three black winners.

Sunday March 8th, 2015

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Board 12 West Deals N-S Vul	♠ 9 4 ♥ A 10 9 ♦ 8 ♣ A K Q 9 6 4 3
♠ A K Q J 8 7 3 ♥ 4 ♦ A 10 7 5 3 ♣ —	N W E S	♠ 10 5 2 ♥ K Q 5 3 ♦ Q 4 ♣ 10 8 7 5
	♠ 6 ♥ J 8 7 6 2 ♦ K J 9 6 2 ♣ J 2

West has 8 solid and 9 or 10 likely tricks along with excellent controls, so a 2C opening is plausible; on the other hand with only 14 hcp and such a shapely hand 1S is unlikely to be passed out. For slam almost all that matters is what partner has in diamonds. Opening 2C may lead partner to overbid based on heart and club values; I would expect a hand like x Kxxx xxx AKxxxx to head for slam after 2C. The auction opposite that hand might proceed 2C-3C; 3S-3NT and opener has to choose between bidding diamonds or insisting on spades.

Over West's 1S North counts eight winners; a jump to 3S asks partner to bid 3NT with any sort of spade stopper. What about diamonds? No one has bid them; partner may have length or a stopper or they may not lead the suit. It's worth the gamble to score a game. East may double to show support; I'm not a fan of that treatment but I'm not really sure what the best use of double in this sequence might be. Assuming East passes South, lacking the requested stopper, bids 4C. Partner has not asked for a suit and South can be fairly sure North has long, solid clubs. Whatever the sequnce up to this point (North may simply bid clubs, East may double, South may bid a red suit) West undoubtedly rebids 4S. North has too many losers to risk 5C and so 4S should end the bidding. If North or South does compete to 5C, E/W should double but I doubt if I would in either position; West, especially, appears to have a high offense/low defense hand unsuitable for defending. Most declarers managed 11 tricks but that looks difficult without the Ace of hearts lead.

Board 13 North Deals Both Vul	♠ A J 5 ♥ 9 6 4 ♦ 7 ♣ K J 10 9 4 2
♠ K 8 7 ♥ Q 3 ♦ K Q J 9 8 5 2 ♣ 7	N W E S	♠ 9 4 2 ♥ 10 8 5 ♦ A 10 3 ♣ 8 6 5 3
	♠ Q 10 6 3 ♥ A K J 7 2 ♦ 6 4 ♣ A Q

North has a fine weak two opening, but few pairs have that bid available in clubs. Not vulnerable I would certainly open 3C; with both vulnerable I'd open 3C anyway, based on the sturdy suit. This is technically unsound but I think worth the risk at matchpoints.

South counts on North for six playing tricks at equal vulnerability; the AK of spades and AQ of clubs should add four, and there are several chances for another, so it looks reasonable to head for game. Standard methods treat a new suit by responder as forcing, so South can bid 3H on the way. I'm sure some West bid diamonds but with only six or seven playing tricks the risk vs. reward looks poor -- they've already bid their suits and bidding simply gives them the option to double if their cards fit poorly. Whether West bids or passes North raises to 4H. This should end the bidding and South should finish +650 -- there's no obvious reason to guess the hearts correctly.

Board 21 North Deals N-S Vul	♠ 8 3 ♥ A Q 7 2 ♦ K J 7 6 2 ♣ J 8
♠ A ♥ K 9 8 5 4 ♦ Q 8 5 ♣ 10 5 3 2	N W E S	♠ Q 9 7 5 2 ♥ 10 6 3 ♦ 10 9 4 3 ♣ 9
	♠ K J 10 6 4 ♥ J ♦ A ♣ A K Q 7 6 4

North has a borderline "Goren 13" or "Rule of 20" opening; I would pass based on the doubtful Jx in clubs and and an awkward rebid -- if partner responds 1S, 1NT is probably best but partner may overbid expecting 12 to 14 hcp.

South can open in either clubs or spades. If the opponents keep quiet 1C followed by bidding spades twice will suggest the 5-6 shape; but all too often West will leap in a red suit and East may be able to raise. Today's hand, however, will have no qualms about bidding spades at the four level if necessary so I would open 1C, aiming for the most likely slam. If the suits were reversed I would open 2C but that opening crowds the bidding too much when you have a two-suiter where the longer suit is a minor.

North responds 1D or 1H and South forces to game with a 2S jump rebid. North continues with 2NT (no need to guess 3NT at this point) allowing South to rebid the spades. North has extra values but his strength is opposite partner's shortness. 3NT looks best and South has no reason to argue, having shown his shape and strength. North should finish with eleven or twelve tricks depending on a spade guess.

Board 27 South Deals None Vul	♠ K 7 5 4 3 ♥ A 10 9 7 3 ♦ 8 7 4 ♣ —
♠ — ♥ K Q 8 ♦ 10 9 ♣ A K Q J 9 8 6 2	N W E S	♠ A Q 8 6 ♥ J 6 5 2 ♦ A 3 ♣ 5 4 3
	♠ J 10 9 2 ♥ 4 ♦ K Q J 6 5 2 ♣ 10 7

South has a fine suit to open 2D or even 3D; the only drawback is the possibility of missing a spade fit. That could be costly, but I think the odds favor diamonds being the best place to play; I would opt for 2D. Basically I hate to pass such a good suit. What should West bid? With most of my partners I would try 3D, asking partner to bid 3NT with a stopper. (We specify Michaels applies only at the two or four level.) Lacking that agreement, West can try 3C (hoping partner can bid 3NT) or 5C. There's not much point to 4C; if partner has no help then N/S probably have game. Over 3C North competes with 3D and East bids 3NT, making ten tricks on a diamond lead and twelve if South tries a spade instead.

If South passes, West opens 1C. Even if the suit were a major I would open at the one level, planning to leap to game next; this hand has plenty of tricks but lacks the controls expected of a 2C opening. North bids 2C, Michaels, and East doubles to show a fair defensive hand, about 10+ hcp, generally balanced. You can think of the 2C bid as being for takeout and the double as equivalent to a redouble. South bids some number of spadess; does 2C promise at least 5-5? Not vulnerable over a minor it is common to allow 5-4 since partner can get out at the two level. Despite East's double I would leap to 3S with South's hand, expecting to set up diamond tricks.

Given more bidding room West might bid hearts to show his stopper there, hoping partner can stop spades. It is a common agreement that when the opponents have bid or shown two suits bidding one of them shows a stopper there. Another possibility would be to jump in spades, suggesting shortness. Or West can simply gamble 6C, perhaps using 4NT to confirm partner has at least one Ace. I decided to blast 6C; North led his Ace but switched when I dropped the King. South could plausibly have had Qxx in hearts so this falsecard may work. Given the bidding and dummy, however, no shift looks better than continuing with the ten of hearts.

Board 30 East Deals None Vul	♠ — ♥ J 10 8 ♦ K Q 10 9 7 2 ♣ A 5 4 2
♠ A K 10 6 5 3 ♥ A Q 5 ♦ 6 ♣ 9 8 3	N W E S	♠ Q J 9 8 7 2 ♥ K 7 ♦ A 8 3 ♣ K 7
	♠ 4 ♥ 9 6 4 3 2 ♦ J 5 4 ♣ Q J 10 6

East opens 1S, much to West's surprise. West might bid a Jacoby 2NT or, playing splinters, 4D. That shows an opening bid with four (or more!) trumps and a singleton or void in diamonds; this allows East to plan on ruffing two diamonds in dummy. East's minimum 13 improves dramatically. Figuring partner for at least 11 hcp outside of diamonds, however, gives only 20 out of 30 hcp, so there could be two losers. The extra trumps should make the five level fairly safe, however, and it's hard to construct a hand for partner that does not include two key cards. East bids 4NT and proceeds to slam over the two ace or three key card reply. Alternatively, East might control bid 4H, but West will be reluctant to proceed with three possible club losers. Four of nine pairs bid this excellent slam.

Sunday, March 1st 2015

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Board 3 South Deals E-W Vul	♠ 10 7 5 2 ♥ Q 10 6 2 ♦ Q 8 5 3 ♣ 2
♠ Q ♥ K 5 ♦ J 10 7 2 ♣ A K J 10 5 4	N W E S	♠ A J 9 6 ♥ J 9 7 4 ♦ A K 4 ♣ Q 7
	♠ K 8 4 3 ♥ A 8 3 ♦ 9 6 ♣ 9 8 6 3

West opens 1C; East responds 1H. West has a nice club suit but the hand is, at best, on the high side of a minimum -- 14 hcp including a stiff Queen. West rebids 2C and 3NT by East should end the bidding. South leads a fourth-best spade for lack of anything better, but that allows declarer to risk the diamond finesse for at least +660. The recap shows 6C making but I see no obvious line for that.

Board 8 West Deals None Vul	♠ J 10 9 7 ♥ K 10 ♦ J 8 ♣ A K 10 8 6
♠ 8 3 ♥ A 7 6 4 2 ♦ K Q ♣ J 4 3 2	N W E S	♠ Q 5 ♥ Q 9 8 5 3 ♦ 9 6 5 2 ♣ 9 5
	♠ A K 6 4 2 ♥ J ♦ A 10 7 4 3 ♣ Q 7

North opens 1C; South responds 1S, planning to rebid in diamonds. West does not have a sound overcall but at matchpoints I'm sure 2H was a popular choice. North raises spades. East can assume N/S have the values for 4S; there seems little point in bidding 4H and there isn't enough shape to justify sacrificing at 5H. South should clearly bid game; might there be enough for slam? Try visualizing: opener might have Qxxx xxx x AKJxx, for example. You don't want to assume such perfect cards but it reasonable to make some sort of slam try. One possibility would be a 4H self-splinter; a jump by opener could by agreement show shortage since with a 5-5 hand South could bid and rebid hearts, but I wouldn't risk 4H here without prior agreement. 3D initially sounds like a game try, but that's OK -- if partner accepts by bidding 4S then South can continue beyond game. North has four trumps (opener may sometimes raise with only 3), can ruff a diamond and has nice clubs, but the hand is minimum in high cards. North makes a "counter-try" of 3H, suggesting South bid game if values in hearts will be useful. This does little for South opposite the singleton so South settle for game. Twelve tricks seems to require the 2-2 spade split, finessing in clubs and finding the Ace of hearts with West.

Board 22 East Deals E-W Vul	♠ K J 10 7 3 ♥ — ♦ K Q 10 8 7 4 ♣ K 3
♠ A Q ♥ A K Q 10 7 6 ♦ A 5 ♣ Q 9 8	N W E S	♠ 9 2 ♥ J 8 4 ♦ J 6 3 ♣ A J 10 7 5
	♠ 8 6 5 4 ♥ 9 5 3 2 ♦ 9 2 ♣ 6 4 2

West opens 2C in third seat; North should come alive with his strong 6-5 hand and the favorable vulnerability. 3D to start with followed by spade bids up to 4S looks right. What are you agreements over interference? The classic approach would be double for penalty, pass for weakness, bids natural and forcing to game; East should bid with about six hcp and a fair suit rather than be shut completely out. This is a queen or so lighter than the usual slam-positive response without interference. A more "scientific" scheme would be double = 0-3 hcp, pass = 4-6, bid with 7+; this gives up the ability to specifically suggest a good hand for defense in exchange for better definition of strength. In any case, pass looks best here -- East does not want to bid 4C and pass up 3NT, nor is it clear to double for penalty. Pass is 100% forcing -- we don't allow them to play a contract undoubled after our 2C. South has nothing to say; West would double with a more balanced hand but here it must be right to bid hearts. North continues with 3S or, better, 4S. Over 3S East will support hearts and then double if North bids again. Over 4S East must guess whether to bid 5 or double North. It seems unlikely E/W will bid slam unless East has the opportunity to bid clubs, and even so 12 tricks depends on the club finesse.

Board 27 South Deals None Vul	♠ J 5 2 ♥ 6 ♦ 10 9 7 4 3 ♣ A 10 7 5
♠ K Q 9 4 3 ♥ J 9 ♦ J 6 5 ♣ 6 4 3	N W E S	♠ 8 7 6 ♥ 8 7 2 ♦ A 8 2 ♣ J 9 8 2
	♠ A 10 ♥ A K Q 10 5 4 3 ♦ K Q ♣ K Q

South opens 2C and North responds according to system, 2D negative (0-7), 2D waiting (0+), 2D semi-positive (promising at least King or perhaps two Queens, forcing to game) or 2H (steps, 4-6 hcp, forcing to game.) South has ten tricks in hand but need not jump -- a new suit by the 2C opener is forcing. Possible auctions:

2C-2D (negative, waiting or semi-positive)
3H-4C  
4D-4H
pass

Opener sets the suit and asks for cue-bidding, then makes one more try with 4D, but should pass over 4H trusting that responder would continue with a better hand, such as the King of spades along with the Ace of clubs.

2C-2H (4-6 hcp)
3H-3NT
?

The steps response crowds the bidding, as it often does, but also lets opener know that responder cannot have both an Ace and a King or two Aces. Slam, then, requires something like AJx in either minor. This would be hard to diagnose; I would give up on slam unless I hoped for a swing such as in a team game against better opponents.

Three pairs (including mine) overbid to slam; one more stopped at 5H despite missing only one key card. As always, the most important question is "Do we have 12 tricks?" Only after establishing that does it makes sense to ask "Do we have two likely losers?", which Blackwood or Key Card attempts to answer.

RKCB theory question:
If you play RKCB (regular or 1430), what do you make of this auction: 2C-2H (steps); 4NT ? In standard methods the equivalent auction 2C-2D; 4NT would NOT be any form of Blackwood; opener has merely shown a huge balanced hand with 28-30 hcp, too strong to rebid 3NT. Playing steps, however, the 2H response creates a game force, so a 28-30 hand could simply rebid 2NT, then surprise partner by continuing over a game bid. My partner intended this as RKCB for hearts, the "last suit bid", but as 2H was artificial I did not assume such. There could be a problem setting hearts before asking, however; a jump in hearts would be to game and sound like a sign-off. There is some logic in this sequence to using 4NT to ask about hearts, but don't try this without discussing it first. I think a better solution would be to agree that when the 2C bidder bids a suit and immediately follows with 4NT, it asks about his suit, not "last suit." Example: 2C-2S (7-9); 3H-3S (both natural); 4NT. Since there is no room for opener to set either major as trumps before using 4NT, which will be more useful? With hearts as trumps the King and Queen of spades may not be important; but if spades are trumps the King and Queen of hearts, filling in opener's suit, are still apt to matter. So it could make sense to agree that 4NT asks about hearts but opener could be planning to play in either suit.

Some players avoid all this by using regular Blackwood unless a suit has clearly been agreed.