Friday, March 29th 2013

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

 

West opens 2C and, over a negative or wiating response by East, rebids 3NT. For those playing “2H bust” or step responses, if East were to show some values (semi-positive 2D or step 2H = 4-6) West could rebid 2NT, leaving East room to explore with Stayman or a transfer. Here, however, East is nearly busted and West must leap to insure reaching game. Although 4D at this point would be a transfer, East should not insist on such an anemic suit and 3NT ends the bidding. North leads his fourth-best spade: the suit is lousy but hie has two potential entries. Although E/W have a nine-card major fit, the concentration of values outside hearts are fine for notrump. West wins the lead in dummy and calls for the ten of hearts, planning to run it if South follows low. When the suit splits 2-2 dummy suddenly has two more entries. The defense gets in once each in hearts and diamonds and clears the spades; declarer could gamble a finesse for an overtrick, but a better plan wouild be to come down to something like -- -- Q10 J in hand opposite – x x x in dummy. When the last heart is cashed South must keep the Q of clubs and so is forced to bare the Jack of diamonds for West’s 11^th trick. Note that +430 would be a poor score, as several pairs managed to reach 4H, making five.

 

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

 

West opens either 1D or 1S. The short hearts make it likely partner or an opponent will bid that suit over 1D, after which West can hope to bid and rebid spades; but there is a significant risk the bidding may reach 4H before West bids again. I’m inclined to open the major on a minimum 5-6 hand unless the minor is strong and the major is weak. Over 1S, East responds 2H. A new suit by opener at the 3 level is game-forcing and requires significant extra values in standard methods; that may be an overbid here with the misfit for partner’s hearts. The alternative is to limit the hand with a 2S rebid, which is why most experts do not consider a rebid of oepner’s suit after a 2/1 response as showing extra length. Still, I decided to be optimistic, hoping the diamonds might be useful at notrump or game or slam in diamonds might be on with this control-rich hand.

 Since 3D creates a game force (or 2H, for 2/1 Game Force bidders), East can simply rebid 3H – this hand has a lot of slam potential. Picture opener with as little as AKJxx Ax xxxx xx and 13 tricks could be a laydown. West, however, retreats to 3NT – it would be a mistake to rebid 4D and miss game in notrump. East can make one more try with a 4C control bid. This should clearly be seen as s slam try since, with a genuine club suit, East ought to be satisfied with 3NT. West is discouraged by his heart void and tries 4D. Having suggested slam I think East does best to bid 4H, ending the bidding. As it happens the hearts pslit 3-3 and 6H makes, but +680 should score well against those who stumble into some strain other than hearts.

Board 11 South Deals None Vul	♠ J 10 5 4 3 2 ♥ Q 2 ♦ J 6 ♣ Q 7 3
♠ A K 9 8 6 ♥ A 9 7 3 ♦ A Q 2 ♣ 6	N W E S	♠ 7 ♥ K J 10 8 5 4 ♦ 10 8 5 4 ♣ 10 8
	♠ Q ♥ 6 ♦ K 9 7 3 ♣ A K J 9 5 4 2

 

South opens 1C and West doubles for takeout, planning to bid spades next to show a 17+ overcall. North, however, scotches that plan with a 1S response or weak (in competition) jump to 2S. Be sure to discuss with your partner how weak this short of jump may be: 0-5? 4-7? 6-9? I like 4-7, so if responder bids and rebids his suit it suggests a constuctive 8-10.

 East has a classic hand for a 4H leap: a fair six-card suit, good playing strength but limited values. This is similar to the well-known 1H-4H “preemptive” game raise. Over the double, East expects a ten card fit or strong nine If partner is doubling on a strong hand he should nevertheless have a tolerence for any unbid major. If East wants to bid game based on more high cards but only four or five hearts, he begins by cue-bidding opener’s suit.

 West has a wealth of controls; might there be a play for twelve tricks? The diamond finesse rates to win in light of South’s opening bid, so West counts perhaps six trump winners, four side suit quick tricks and perhaps two club ruffs. Blackwood bidders may as well guess to bid slam, while RKCB pairs can confirm partner has a key card (presumably the trump King.)

 South cashes a club and, when partner encourages, forces dummy with a second club. East cashes the two top hearts and crosses to dummy with a spade. When South produces the Queen, the spade suit is an open book – did you remember you started with the seven? Cash the second high spade to be sure South is out, then lead the nine. North must cover, ruffed, diamond to the Queen, lead the eight of spades (also covered and ruffed.) Return to dummy with a diamond and the six of spades brings home the slam. Yeah, I doubt I’d’ve gotten it right at the table, but North’s spade bid provides a valuable clue. Even without that declarer should start on spades, hoping for a 4-3 break, and shift gears when South produces the Queen.

 

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

 South opens 1C, North responds 1H, East jumps to 2S. South should force to game, either bidding 4H directly or cue-bidding 3S. Ideally, South would jump in spades to emphasize the shortness, but 4S would be an overbid opposite a minimum response. I suggest using the cue-bid when opener is strong in high cards (about 18+) and jump to game on a hand like this which is relying on good shape. (This distinction helps if partner is interested in slam or East/West compete over 4H -- the cue-bid establishes "this is our hand, don't let them play a contract undoubled."

 

With five trumps opposite six and not vulnerable, West sacrifices at 4S despite his relatively balanced hand and good defensive values. North has more than he might have, but not enough to risk going beyond game. The KQ in spades may be wasted on offense; double seems right. South would compete to 5H had North passed, but his three quick tricks look good for defense; this is a close decision. Estimating 18 total tricks, South can expect 4S to be down three if 5H makes. As it happens the clubs are good for N/S on offense and the diamond spots help E/W, so 5H is the winning call, but I'd take the sure plus with the double.

Sunday, March 24th 2013

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Board 14 East Deals None Vul	♠ K Q 10 9 3 2 ♥ Q J ♦ Q ♣ A 10 8 3
♠ A 8 7 4 ♥ K 10 8 2 ♦ 6 ♣ K 6 5 4	N W E S	♠ J ♥ 9 7 5 3 ♦ J 10 8 5 4 3 ♣ 9 7
	♠ 6 5 ♥ A 6 4 ♦ A K 9 7 2 ♣ Q J 2

North opens 1S; South either responds 2D or leaps to 3NT. I don't care for "limit" jumps in notrump; what does partner do with an unbalanced hand? With both unbid suits and 10 hcp West can double 2D for takeout. North rebids his spades. East has little strength but some shape; they surely have a spade fit so there is some temptation to compete with 3H. However, partner's original pass marks N/S with more than enough for game; this isn't a part-score battle and East cannot expect 5H to be a paying sacrifice -- not enough trumps. North's free rebid of his suit does not show any extra strength but does promise six spades, so South raises to 4S. The spade Jack drops early, the club finesse works as expected and so South easily wraps up twelve tricks, but I can't see bidding more than game here -- the ten of clubs is a big card and you need luck in both black suits. Three notrump earns a matchpoint top but the 6-2 fit will more often provide an extra trick; both North and South had something extra and the spade suit was easily established so trumps were not needed, but I think 4S is the proper target here.

Board 15 South Deals N-S Vul	♠ A 9 8 5 2 ♥ A 10 5 ♦ A ♣ K J 10 4
♠ 7 4 3 ♥ 6 3 2 ♦ 10 7 6 5 4 2 ♣ 3	N W E S	♠ Q J 10 6 ♥ K Q 7 4 ♦ K J ♣ 7 5 2
	♠ K ♥ J 9 8 ♦ Q 9 8 3 ♣ A Q 9 8 6

South's stiff King is an obvious flaw, but with 12 hcp including an Ace I would never pass -- if partner heads for notrump or spades the King will pull it's weight, while the shape may be useful with any other suit as trumps. I do not see this hand as weaker than 2-3-4-4 with the same high cards. South opens 1C and North should be thinking about slam with his control rich 16 count, club fit and side singleton. The stiff Ace may not be the most useful card (little combining power and duplication of control values with the singleton) but if partner happens to have diamond strength he may be able to pitch hearts. An excellent hand for a strong jump to 2S followed by club support. A reasonable (if cautious) auction: 1C-2S; 2NT-3C; 3D-3NT; pass. Note that, with a minor suit fit, 3D should be taken as a notrump probe, not a control bid; the "game before slam" principle requires us to discover whether notrump is playable when we have a minor suit fit.

If South dislikes bidding notrump with Jxx in a side suit and/or the stiff spade, he may rebid 3C and I think North can drive to slam based on the nine-card fit.

Should North be more aggressive over 2NT? He could jump to 4C, or repeat the clubs over South's 3D; the problem is I don't see enough tricks if South has only four clubs. (Three is not possible since South would have at least three-card spade support.) Every high card North has is pure gold, but I can't see 12 tricks opposite, say, Kx Q9x J9xx AQxx , and even 4NT or 5C may be in jeopardy. No pair reached slam on the combined 28 hcp; five clubs making six would score poorly.

Friday, March 15th 2013

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Board 14 East Deals None Vul	♠ Q J 7 3 ♥ 9 6 5 ♦ K 9 6 3 ♣ 9 4
♠ 6 5 4 ♥ J 2 ♦ J 2 ♣ Q 10 8 6 5 3	N W E S	♠ 10 9 2 ♥ 8 ♦ A Q 10 7 5 4 ♣ K 7 2
	♠ A K 8 ♥ A K Q 10 7 4 3 ♦ 8 ♣ A J

East opens 2D (weak), if not playing some other gadget. How does South show his monster? With 21 hcp and ten near-solid tricks, South will certainly bid game, but it won't take much from partner for slam. When you were planning to open 2C, the usual procedure is to double, then cue-bid, then show your suit. If you have the agreement that a direct cue-bid at the three level asks for a notrump stopper (more important over a weak two than Michaels for the majors), you might simply cue-bid, then pull to your suit, but I wouldn't try that without prior discusssion. So, South doubles. West would probably have passed if South passed, but over the double West expects N/S have a major suit fit and tries to jam the auction with a diamond raise. Although down three or four doubled is possible few pairs will try for a penalty with a fit and game values. North is too weak to volunteer the three level and 3D is passed back to South. The raise robs South of his planned cue-bid; now he must bid 4H (a bid he would make with an Ace or so less) or cue-bid 4D followed by 5H over partner's likely 4S response. I would not expect many partners to raise to slam with a hand such as North's, so the practical choice for South is between 4H and 6H. This woudl be a good one for an expert bidding panel. Twelve tricks make easily on any lead.

Had South been allowed to open 2C, North would bid 2D (negative, waiting or semi-positive.) South should resist the tempation to jump to 4NT or even jump in his suit to set trumps -- what South needs is information about tricks, not controls -- he has all the controls needed for slam. A possible sequence:

2C-2D; 2H-3H; 3S-4D; now what? Anything but 4H risks going down at the five level; my usual philosophy is that you should not venture beyond game in a major unless you know your side has enuogh for twelve tricks. Bids beyond game are aimed at making sure you do not have two probably losers. All in all, South is still faced with a four-or-six guess, and at matchpoints I'd take the sure plus at 4H.

Board 15 South Deals N-S Vul	♠ 5 4 ♥ Q J 5 4 3 ♦ K J ♣ 8 6 5 4
♠ A 9 6 2 ♥ A 9 6 ♦ A 10 6 ♣ Q J 7	N W E S	♠ K 3 ♥ K 7 2 ♦ Q 7 5 ♣ A K 9 3 2
	♠ Q J 10 8 7 ♥ 10 8 ♦ 9 8 4 3 2 ♣ 10

West opens 1NT (15-17); East counts 30-32 hcp, plus one for the long suit. East may bid a straightforward quantitative 4NT, or show the club suit and slam interest. Once again, don't trot out Gerber or other control-asking gadget here -- tricks before controls! West has a "perfect minimum", three Aces and QJ in your long suit, and slam has no legitimate play.

I've been playing four-suited transfers, either 2S = clubs, 3C = diamonds, or 2NT = clubs, 3C = diamonds; others like 2S = clubs, 2NT = diamonds. With any sort of minor suit transfer, the crucial point is that responder should only show a minor suit when five or six of the minor is a plausible alternative to 3NT -- don't tell the enemy anything extra if you are always planning to play 3NT. A transfer followed by a new suit at the three level should show a singleton while transfer-then-3NT suggests slam -- this leaves room for cue-bidding. On today's hand if East uses the transfer-then 3NT sequence West can hardly have better cards and I would expect to reach 6C. I think if East uses visualization he will see that his cards are too scattered and he should be content with game or possibly a quantitative 4NT. If partner has the skill to make twelve tricks, +490 will probably score well -- but -50 when slam has no play will be a very cold bottom.

On lead against 6NT, North should expect partner to be broke and avoid leading any suit containing high cards. I'd probably try the six of clubs, second high from a bad suit, or perhaps a spade if East showed clubs. As it happened North led the Queen of hearts and I was able to finesse against the Jack after South pitched the ten on the run of clubs. A slam that depends on a finesse (against the King of diamonds) and a defensive error is not one I want to bid!

Board 16 West Deals E-W Vul	♠ Q J 10 8 2 ♥ Q 10 6 ♦ 9 4 3 ♣ J 4
♠ K 5 3 ♥ 3 ♦ K Q 6 5 2 ♣ A 10 8 3	N W E S	♠ 9 6 4 ♥ A K J 7 2 ♦ A J ♣ K 6 2
	♠ A 7 ♥ 9 8 5 4 ♦ 10 8 7 ♣ Q 9 7 5

West opens 1D. East has 16 hcp and a fine suit; should he invite slam? Picture opener with, say, x Qxxx KQxxx Axx and slam may be a laydown. East's hand would look good for a strong jump shift except that East might have to rebid notrump with no spade stopper. 1D-1H; 2C-2S (artificial, forcing to game) would be the popular sequence. West rebids 2NT to show his spade stopper and deny three-card heart support. East makes the practical bid of 3NT since no fit has appeared.

North leads the top of his spade sequence; South overtakes with the Ace and returns the seven. West counts ten fast winners if diamonds are not 5-0. A reasonable line would be to win the second spade, clear the Ace-Jack of diamonds, then the King-Ace of clubs, keeping the heart suit as a threat. Now cash three more diamonds, pitching a spade, heart and club from dummy. This leaves West with a small spade, small heart, and the 10-8 of clubs opposite AKJ7 in hearts. Did anyone pitch hearts or clubs? South actually needs to keep all four of his hearts plus a club -- impossible with only four cards left! So, South surely pitched a heart. A bold finesse may win matchpoints and is safer than it looks -- even if it loses, South may have to lead a heart back in to dummy. If both North and South pitched hearts, playing the AK may work.

Board 24 West Deals None Vul	♠ A J 7 ♥ K 5 ♦ 10 8 6 ♣ K J 8 6 5
♠ Q 9 5 3 ♥ 10 9 7 6 ♦ 9 7 2 ♣ 7 4	N W E S	♠ 8 6 4 ♥ J 4 3 2 ♦ A Q 3 ♣ 10 3 2
	♠ K 10 2 ♥ A Q 8 ♦ K J 5 4 ♣ A Q 9

North opens 1C and South probably bids Blackwood at some point and then 6NT when North shows an Ace. However, a flat 19 opposite a minimum 12 adds up to only 31 hcp -- too light for 6NT, and South's flat shape with scattered honors doesn't look right for a suit contract. A good treatment suggested by the late theorist Marshal Miles would be a forcing 2NT response followed by a 4NT quantitative invitation; North should pass that. These days, most play 2NT as only 11-12, so South must make a forcing bid and hope to get a chance to raise notrump later. A simple 1D response is forcing; North rebids 1NT; and South invites slam with 4NT. Twelve tricks can be made by finessing twice in diaonds. That's a 25% shot, plus the chance East leads a spade and you need only one finesse in diamonds. Not good odds, and there is little that skill can contribute: when you run the clubs, East wil not throw away his diamonds.

Folks, Charles Goren declared that slam requires 33 points. With a five card suit and three Aces, 32 is fine. But I don't get bidding slam on 30 or 31 hcp unless you have a nine-card fit or a useful singleton or some other source of extra tricks (such as a six-card suit.)

Board 25 North Deals E-W Vul	♠ K 7 5 2 ♥ A ♦ A 10 ♣ K Q 9 7 6 5
♠ Q 10 9 ♥ J 10 7 4 2 ♦ K 8 7 3 ♣ 8	N W E S	♠ J ♥ K 8 3 ♦ Q J 9 6 5 2 ♣ J 10 2
	♠ A 8 6 4 3 ♥ Q 9 6 5 ♦ 4 ♣ A 4 3

North opens 1C, East jumps to 2D and South bids 2S. Despite the adverse vulnerability West should compete with 3D -- if partner is down several tricks they likely have slam (probably in clubs.) North shows spade support and slam interest with a 4D cue-bid. South counts seven or eight losers; the two Aces, short diamonds and partial fit for clubs are encouraging, but how strong is partner's bidding? I think South had little to spare for his 2S call and 4S at this point is wise. North can view his 4-6 hand as for a dummy reversal; with a nine card fit he can be optimisitic. His hand counts four losers and he can expect partner to provide thre cover cards, so slam looks reasonable. Visualizing partner might have AQxxx xxxx xx Ax and grand slam would be a near laydown. Playing simple Blackwwod North bids 4NT, South replies 5H, and North confirms all the Aces with 5NT. South shows zero Kings and North retreats to 6S, uncertain whether the trumps are good enough for the grand. Playing RCKB, South again replies 5H, but this denies the trump Queen and North goes straight to 6S. South should not try to ruff anything in dummy -- simply play the A-K of trumps and start running the clubs. West ruffs the second club but that's the only trick for the defense.

An inexperienced declarer might win the opening heart lead, cash the King and Ace of trumps, ruff a heart, cross back to hand with a club and ruff another heart. This leaves no trumps in dummy but the lucky fall of the King of hearts saves the day. Give East one more heart and West, say, a club; now declarer has no trumps left in dummy and a losing heart in his hand. When he tries belatedly to run the clubs, West ruffs the third round and the defense scores the King of hearts. When dummy appears with 4-6 shape, avoid ruffing! Your first plan should be to set up dummy's hand, ruffing in your own hand if necessary; the fourth trump in dummy will provide the crucial late entry for you to cash the remaining cards in the long suit. Only when you've considered and rejected the dummy reversal should you view dummy's short suits as more useful than the glaringly obvious long suit. Of course, the defense may try to force dummy to ruff so declarer may need to be flexible, but I see so many good contracts go down when declarer needlessly ruffs in a 4-6 dummy early in the hand.

Monday, March 11th 2013

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

West has a semi-balanced 19 with strong diamonds and three side Kings. West should want to play the hand in notrump, either upgrading the hand to a 2NT opening or starting with 1D and planning a 3NT rebid if partner responds. A (non-forcing) rebid of three diamonds would not do justice to this hand, and you certainly want the lead coming up to those Kings.

In either case, East is a bit short of slam values: 10+20 = 30, or 8 tricks + 3 = 11. An opening spade lead or succesful guess by declarer yields 12 tricks, but this isn’t a clear slam hand.

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

Board 8: West opens 2H and that ought to end the auction! Sure, East has a fine opening bid, but partner has below opening bid strength. When partner announces a relatively weak hand with length opposite your singleton, pass smoothly. Mel Calchimaro suggests a “Rule of 17” opposite a weak two – add your high card points and length in partner’s suit; if the total is less than 17, pass. Today’s East counts 14+1 heart; there is no fit and little luck. Add any Queen to East’s hand and he can try 2S, forcing; partner may have three-card support. But when West rebids 3H East should pass that. You need a “Mel” 19 or 20 to force to game opposite a minimum weak two. Also, shortness in partner’s suit generally suggests making that trumps, unless you can count nine tricks at notrump with little help from partner. Sure, partner may have an extra trump loser, but the fifth and sixth cards in his suit will be useful as trumps and useless at any other contract.

Quiz time: partner opens 2H and you have AKxx x AKxx AKxx. What do you bid? If you can count on partner for a reasonable suit, bid 4H. If not, ask for more information with 2NT; but 3NT will be hopeless unless partner has values outside of hearts. For those playing Ogust, bid 3NT opposite any “poor suit” response and 4H opposite any good suit.

One thing that puzzles me is how many players do not recognize 6-2 as a fine trump suit and 6-1 as playable. Everyone is eager to find a 5-3 fit, but 6-2 is generally stronger and 6-1 merely requires deducting a point or two.

Board 11 South Deals None Vul	♠ A K 9 8 ♥ 6 ♦ K 9 3 ♣ K Q 8 5 2
♠ 6 3 2 ♥ K J 4 3 ♦ Q J 8 7 ♣ 9 3	N W E S	♠ Q J 10 7 ♥ 10 9 8 7 2 ♦ 6 5 2 ♣ 6
	♠ 5 4 ♥ A Q 5 ♦ A 10 4 ♣ A J 10 7 4

South opens 1NT and North responds 2C, Stayman. South replies 2D to deny a major; North,  with a five loser hand, visualizes slam in clubs unless partner has precisely 3-3-5-2 shape, or two aces are missing. After a Stayman or transfer bid, it is standard and vital to play 3 of a new suit as forcing, to allow exploration on hands such as these. North rebids 3C, catching South with five-card support. But “game before slam” still applies; North’s bid was game-forcing but the goal is usually 3NT, not five or six of a minor. South bids 3H as a notrump probe; this may cover responder’s short suit and allow him to bid 3NT. (South has already denied four hearts so this bid cannot be mistaken for a real suit.) Now the bidding gets murky – North would like to confirm a club fit and check on Aces; how to proceed? I think North can safely assume a fit – with that 3-3-5-2 shape, South would probably have bid 3D over 3C. But would 4NT be ace-asking or a quantitative slam invitation? It’s easy to construct hands that would prefer either interpretation, and few partnerships have clear agreements. I suggest that you decide when Gerber applies; 4NT should never be Blackwood when a Gerber 4C bid was available. And then agree that all doubtful cases are Blackwood when no Gerber bid is available, or agree that notrump over notrump is always quantitative. I usually restrict Gerber to Jump Over Notrump Only ("JONTO", Gerber is a 4C bid if and only if partner's last bid was 1NT or 2NT) or Jump After Notrump Only ("JANTO", as above but also jumps to 4C after opener replies to a Stayman inquiry.)

Under any such agreement Gerber won't be an option here (no jump), so North can jump to 4NT, confident partner will respond with Aces or perhaps club key-cards. With no clear agreement, I think North should still try 4NT on the basis that partner will be more likely to bid slam with a club fit and/or two Aces than otherwise, and if partner passes 4NT may be high enough.

South shows 3 Aces; North may settle for 6C or aim for grand slam with 5NT. That confirms all the Aces or all five key cards plus the Queen, but North cannot really count 13 tricks even if partner has clubs, three Aces and a King; and there may be only 11 tricks at notrump, so any response to 5NT other than 6C may land the partnership too high. Reflecting that this isn’t an easy slam to bid, I think 6C is enough. Although there is some sort of squeeze to make 13 tricks, I would expect declarer pull trumps, ruff two spades in dummy and try the losing heart finesse. With only 10 or 11 tricks available in notrump on a black-suit lead, +920 scored 11 out of 12 matchpoints.

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

In first or second seat South should be reluctant to open a weak two with a side four-card major; I might break the rule with a stronger suit but AQ empty is not a suit that “must be bid.” I third seat, however, I would open 2D, leaning more toward preemption opposite a passed hand. If 2D has been assigned some other meaning, South might try a light 1D or an aggressive 3D; I would certainly hate to pass.

Two diamonds gives West a serious problem – 3C does not do justice to the hand, 4C (strong over a weak bid) risks buring a spade fit, and doubling invites partner to leap in hearts. I try to avoid doubling with a singleton in an unbid suit, especially a major, but here that looks like the least evil choice. North raises (preemptively) to 3D; now East has a problem – he’d like to bid hearts but 7 hcp is a bit thin to volunteer the three level. The fifth heart tips the balance and East tries 3H. South has nothing further to say; West shows his powerhouse with 4C or 5C. In a partnership where it is clearly understood that double-then-bid shows a powerful hand 4C is best in case partner can support spades – though the responder to a takeout double should generally bid spades before hearts. East, with good support and a side Ace, raises to game (and should be wondering if there’s a slam.) The defense collects two diamond tricks. As it happens, spades also makes 11 tricks with the solid 4-3 fit and doubleton club in dummy.

Board 32 West Deals E-W Vul	♠ J 6 5 3 ♥ K Q 10 6 5 ♦ 10 ♣ K Q 4
♠ 8 7 2 ♥ 8 3 ♦ K 9 7 3 2 ♣ A 7 2	N W E S	♠ A Q 9 ♥ J 9 2 ♦ 8 5 ♣ 10 8 6 5 3
	♠ K 10 4 ♥ A 7 4 ♦ A Q J 6 4 ♣ J 9

South opens 1NT. North should use Stayman, not a transfer, planning to raise either major to game; when South replies 2D, North jumps in hearts to show game values and 4-5 shape. (Smolen bidders jump in the shorter major, gaining a transfer effect, but this is not a terribly important gadget.) South raises to 4H. East can picture South with two or three spades, three hearts, four or five diamonds, and two to four clubs; giving the opponents 24-26 hcp, partner rates to have about 7-9. I’d lead a trump since dummy may have ruffing values in two suits and we may be able to lead trumps two or three times; a diamond lead might gain a defensive ruff but risks establishing discards for declarer.

North wins the trump lead with his ten and immediately runs the ten of diamonds. If this loses, West cannot profitably attack spades, and declarer collects five trumps, three diamonds and two clubs for +420. As it happens, the spades lie favorably and a ruffing finesse in diamonds can set up 11 tricks, but that looks riskier than the straight finesse. Declarer takes the finesse early, keeping a high trump in dummy as an entry.