Wednesday, January 13th 2016

Click here for hands and results.

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

East opens a maximum 1NT (15-17); South might throw in a DONT 2C bid (clubs + higher suit) but vulnerable against not I wouldn't with such minimal shape. West will force to game, obviously, but should attempt to invite slam. There are two basic methods available using transfers: transfer followed by 3C, showing the side suit (at least 5-4 shape, game values and some reason to be uncertain about 3NT, usually a side singleton and/or slam interest) or transfer followed by a jump in  a new suit, generally played as a "self-splinter", promising at least 6 spades, a singleton or void in the jumped suit (4D in this case) and slam interest. Since club cards are likely to be crucial I selected 2H followed by 3C. Lacking three-card spade support and with stopper in both red suits, opener rebids 3NT. Now responder continues with 4S, showing at least 6-4 shape and slam interest; without slam interest responder would simply have rebid 4S (or started with a Texas Transfer or, not playing Texas,  a direct 4S bid.)

So we have:

        1NT

2H   2S

3C    3NT

4S     ?

Opener has a maximum with excellent controls, but at least one of the red Kings is wasted; the Queen of clubs would be a more valuable card. A reasonable continuation would be 4NT (of whatever variety) followed by 6S. Slam looks excellent when dummy comes down but the horrible 4-0 club split dooms it regardles of the opening lead. Well bid, tough luck! Three pairs bid slam, two making; I can only assume South made the mistake of pitching a club.

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

South passes; West must open some number of hearts. I dislike opening one on a 10-count with no Ace and the suit, of course, is excellent, so I favor 2H (but I can't remember what I did at the table.) One of my maxims is there should be no such thing as a hand too good for a weak two but not good enough for a one bid, if the suit is strong. North preempted 3S at our table but with a strong 8-bagger should go directly to 4S. Never mind, East pictures partner with KQxxxx in hearts and counts a likely 6 heart tricks, at least 5 diamonds and a club, so 6H with or without a 4NT inquiry is sensible (use RKCB if your second seat weak twos can be undisciplined.) Although on this hand 6S proves to be a worthwhile sacrifice, I can't really see either North or South bidding it. No one reached this excellent slam and several pairs played in diamonds, perhaps after 1H-(4S)-5D.

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

North opens 1S and South enjoys the rare opportunity to trot out the Jacoby 2NT convention. Despite the vulnerability, West crashes the party with a 3H or 4H bid, trusting N/S won't be eager to defend with a nine-card fit. I think I'd settle for 3H at this vulnerability. Nothing ought to stop North from driving to slam given the game-forcing raise; a leap to 5H, showing the void, looks best. South has a fairly junky hand and does not try for grand slam, but 6S looks right with the excellent trumps.

More than half the field reached slam; no E/W pair sacrificed (vul vs not!) at the seven level, which would carry the risk of driving N/S into a grand slam neither East nor West can be confident of defeating. (Imagine South with the KQ of hearts or North with the King of clubs.)