Sunday, April 21st 2013

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

After two passes, East might open light in third seat, but I wouldn't with such a modest suit. South opens 1H and North should invite game. Although some would simply blast 4H based on the presumed 10 card fit, the value of North's hand depends heavily on South's shape, and whether the Queen of clubs is useful. North makes a limit raise (or a Reverse Fit Drury 2C.) Over a 3H jump South can bid 4C as a control-bid slam try; North loves his hand and should drive to slam using either Blackwood or RKCB. Note that, with ten trumps, North can bid as if he had the Queen of trumps, so when RKCB reveals only one missing key card North should bid slam.

West has no attractive lead; I'd try the ten of clubs unless partner managed to bid spades at some point. Even on a spade lead, South wins in dummy, calls for the Jack of hearts, covers the Queen with his Ace, cashes the top diamonds (pitching a club) and ruffs out West's Jack. Next comes a spade ruff back to hand and the fifth diamond. Whether or not West ruffs, South pitches a second club.

If East opens 1S, South has the wrong strength for a Michaels cue-bid. A common agreement is to use Michaels with either 6-10 or 16+ hcp, not 11-15. South overcalls 2H and West raises partner's spades. North would compete to 3S on about 8-10 points; it is better to stretch to raise partner in competition than to be shut out. North should either bid 4H directly, or, as a passed hand with good defensive values, cue-bid 3S. I think South can reasonably drive to slam over that bid.

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

East has a poor 13; one less hcp and I'd pass but 1H should be automatic here. West may as well bid 2D (or a strong 3D jump shift); if partner can raise there may be a grand slam. East rebids either 2H (not promising any extra length) or 2NT; 3C would be an overbid and risks playing notrump from the wrong side.

If 2D is played as 100% game-forcing, West can rebid 3D. A plausible 2/1 Game Force auction might be: 1H-2D; 2NT-3D; 4D-4NT (RKCB); 5C (0 or 3)-5H (Queen ask); 5NT (yes)-7D.

For standard bidders, 1H-2D; 2NT-6NT is as good as anything. A strong jump shift auction might proceed 1H-3D; 3NT-4D; 5D (East hates his hand)-6NT. Most pairs reached the obvious 6NT; 6D scored poorly. On a hand where not everyone will reach slam six of a minor is often safer and better than 6NT, but on today's hand everyone bid slam.

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

South opens 1H and West overcalls 1S or 2S. Over 1S North can try 3S as a splinter raise, if that's in the partnership arsenal. Over 2S North's 3S is more ambiguous, a general game-forcing raise with no control implications regarding spades. The cue-bid is important to claim ownership of the hand in case E/W bid 4S over 4H. South has a fairly minimum hand with an apparently worthless King of spades, but North counts four cover cards plus spade ruffs. An opening bid typically has seven losers, so twelve tricks looks only mildly optimistic: picture South with, for example, xxx AKxxx KQx xx. In fact South takes six trumps, a spade, four minor suit winners and a spade ruff for a solid +980.

Sunday, April 14th 2013

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

West opens 2C, planning a 2NT rebid to show a balacned 22-24 hcp. East replies 2D in most styles, negative (0-7), waiting (0+), or constructive (4+, or promising at least an Ace or King, where 2H would show a bust hand..) "Steps" bidders respond 2S (7-9 hcp.) After West's 2NT, East bids 3C (Stayman*.) This is generally correct with 5-4 shape -- check for a four-card major rather than using an immediate transfer. West shows hearts. With a nine-card fit and 29+ hcp, East suspects there may be a slam; but few pairs have a clear method of inviting here. East is not strong enough to bid past game, and trying to be creative with a bid such as 4C risks a bidding accident -- 4C should be natural, such as Jxxx x xx AKQxxx. "Steps" bidders can feel more comfortable; having already shown 7-9 hcp, East can raise without sounding weak.

If East uses a transfer rather than Stayman, West can count 10 likely tricks opposite five small hearts: three spades, five hearts, the Ace of diamonds and a probable diamond ruff. West can therefore "super-accept" the transfer, leaping to 4H. East, however, cannot be sure his hand will provide two tricks outside of trumps, so even this sequence should not result in slam. As it happens the Jack of spades provides the 12th trick.

*Be sure to discuss this with partner -- when the first few bids for our side have been artificial and then opener bids notrump naturally, Stayman and transfers should be "on"; but I see a lot of bidding accidents when one player assumes artificial and the other assumes natural.

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

West opens 1C and East is a bit light for an immediate strong jump shift. I like to have a hand worth about 17 for the jump and the singleton in partner's suit suggests caution. East responds 1D; do not make the mistake of responding in the major when you have game-going values and a good minor suit -- there could be slam in your minor, and if there isn't the hand probably belongs in notrump. Partner should not avoid 3NT with a singleton in your first suit. Over 1D, West must choose among 1NT, 2C or 2D for his rebid. I don't care for raising partner's minor suit with only three, and I'd rather rebid the strong clubs than 1NT with no spade stopper, but 1NT does describe the shape and strength and you can take comfort from the fact that neither opponent was willing to overcall 1S.

East may be tempted to close the bidding out at 3NT, but with only five losers opposite an opening bid I would take it slower -- rebid 2S. Since opener skipped over spades this bid shows game-going strngth (and might posssibly be only three cards long.) Opener bids 2NT. There may still be a fit in diamonds, but opener has shown nothing extra and I think 3NT is best at this point. If North leads a heart (likely on the auction, unless West never showed the club length) West can win in hand, set up diamnds, and perhaps later finesse in spades for twelve tricks. Against a slam, North should not lead from any honor and only 11 tricks can be made on a diamond lead.

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

Similar to #7, a typical auction would be 2C-2D; 2NT-3C (Stayman); 3D-3NT. North can make at least nine tricks, using the fourth diamond to reach the last heart in dummy. Any lead but a heart presents declarer with an overtrick, and on a heart lead North can take three hearts and two diamonds, then exit with another diamond. North wins and must lead to dummy's heart. The defense cannot guard everything and declarer may still wrangle a tenth trick.

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

North opens 1D; East passes unless the range for overcalls allows 6 hcp. Don't write "8+" on your card and then overcall on a hand like this. (With AK109x, however, you should upgrade a point and bid.) South responds 1S. North has no ideal rebid; I'd opt for 2C since a 3D jump may make it hard to reach 3NT -- partner isn't likely to have a club stopper. South can rebid 2H (fourth suit) to establish a game force. North continues with 3D; this suggests a non-minimum 6-4 -- a minimum 6-4 hand typically rebids 2D before showing the clubs. South could rebid his spades, but opener does not have three card support and 3S risks missing the pot of gold. I'd settle for 3NT. North is borderline for a slam invitation but I think pass is prudent. As it happens, everything lies favorably (hearts, clubs, ruffing finesse on spades.)

Board 26 East Deals Both Vul	♠ K Q 10 9 6 3 ♥ 6 5 ♦ 8 ♣ K Q 10 4
♠ — ♥ Q 10 9 3 ♦ A J 9 6 5 4 ♣ A 6 2	N W E S	♠ J 7 5 2 ♥ J 8 7 2 ♦ 10 2 ♣ 8 7 3
	♠ A 8 4 ♥ A K 4 ♦ K Q 7 3 ♣ J 9 5

South opens 1NT andWest bids something. A natural 2D is fine, or a Cappaletti 2C (unkown one-suited hand.) Playing DONT, West may double to show a one-suited hand or bid 2D to show diamonds and a higher-ranking suit. I think I'd opt for the sfety of the long suit -- chances are they're going to outbid you in spades, so it may not matter which red suit you compete in.

North can visualize slam if partner has three Aces (and not two fast heart losers); this is a good hand for Gerber, since you can pass a 4S reply or correct 4D or 4H to 4S. Be sure you know when Gerber applies: my rule is JONTO "Jump Over Notrump Only", so Gerber applies if and only if it is a jump and partner's last bid was 1NT or 2NT. It doesn't matter whether clubs have been bid, or if there is an intervening bid, as long as 4C is still a jump. South replies 4S and plays it there -- West has too much defense and too little playing strength to justify acting at the five level opposite partner's bust hand.

West should not lead an unsupported Ace, especially sitting on top of the strong hand, so he tries the ten of hearts. South wins and leads a low trump to dummy, preserving finesse options if either defender shows out. West does, of course, so South wins in dummy, leads low to his 8, and cashes the trump Ace. It woudl be dangerous to try and reach dummy with a club, so South either cashes the two top hearts and ruffs one, or leads the King of diamonds. I'd try the diamond unless West overcalled in that suit. After pulling the last trump declarer knocks out the Ace of clubs and claims 11 tricks.