Friday, October 25th 2013

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

East opens 1D; West responds 1H. East might rebid 2NT, showing his strength and generally balanced shape, but with no real spade stopper 3C is probably best, creating a game force. West takes a preference to 3D, leaving room to explore hearts, notrump or slam contracts. East's best move at this point is 3S; players familiar with the concept of "fourth suit artificial" would recognize this as asking for help in spades -- with good spades, East would bid 3NT himself. West has an easy 3NT call, which should end the auction. Some Wests may have simply bid 3NT over 3C, but this risks disaster when partner is 1354 and guesses to pass 3NT.

If partner is unfamiliar with the fourth suit concept, East might gamble 3NT himself, but there is obviously no assurance partner has help in spades. Next best is 4D, leaving room for West to cue-bid toward slam or perhaps rebid a strong heart suit. Here, West has an easy 4S control bid, suggesting both the spade control and a fair hand for slam. East bids 4NT to check on Aces or key cards and bids 6D when West confirms two. 6D is a better bet than 6NT as you may need ruffing values to score twelve tricks. While game in notrump is generally better than in a minor, minor suit part-scores and slams are fine.

Only one pair reached slam and that failed. At 6D declarer can pitch a spade on a club and then ruff a spade; the slam depends on the winning trump finesse. Thin slams are usually best played with a trump suit.

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

After three passes, I would have a simple auction: 2NT-3NT, down one on the obvious heart lead. Shuffle the N/S cards and more often North would lead another suit for a quick ten tricks; or partner would have at least Jxx in hearts. If West does not open 2NT, 1D is better than 2C. You are unlikely to miss game if partner passes. If the long suit were a major 2C would be best.

At our table South opened a semi-psychic 1C in third seat and the auction proceeded (1C)-Dbl-(1H)-2D; (2H)-3H, showing the equivalent of a 2C opening. The final contract of 5D was down one, same as 3NT; I don't think South's vulnerable opening was worth the risk.

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

North opens 1H; East overcalls 1S or possibly 2S. The suit is fairly poor but at favorable vulnerability opposite a passed partner some will want to jam the enemy bidding. Over 1S South bids 2D, aiming for game in notrump or possibly slam in diamonds. Over 2S South likely bids a direct 3NT rather than trap-passing at unfavorable vulnerability. That should end the auction.

After (pass)-1H-(1S)-2D, North raises to 3D and South must decide between the obvious 3NT and trying for slam. The singleton in partner's suit, lack of club control, and no certainty of spade shortage with partner argues for 3NT, and in fact no pair ventured beyond 3NT. Notice that trying something like 3S will practically insure missing 3NT.

West leads the ten of spades against 3NT and dummy wins perforce. Declarer can cross to hand with a diamond and try the heart finesse; the clubs will provide an entry later. But the finesse wins only if West has Kx in hearts, requiring East to have five-five or six-five in the majors. At our table declarer simply called for the Ace of hearts and scored +690 when the King dropped. At a diamond slam it would be normal to play the Ace, planning on a ruffing finesse against East.

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

East opens 1NT (15-17.) Some fanatics might trot out a 2S or gadget overcall with South's hand but that has little to recommend it. West has slam interest with a combined 30-32 hcp and at least a 6-2 club fit. A simple approach would be Gerber (or Blackwood, if that's how you play 1NT-4NT.) More scientific bidders would like to check on club honors; if you play any sort of transfer scheme, transfer-then-4NT should be key card asking for clubs. East shows two keys plus the Queen of trumps; that accounts for nine or ten of East's high card points. In this case it seems likely most of the field will reach slam; while 6C may have better chances and would be preferred at a team game, 6NT looks like right at matchpoints.

On a diamond lead East may as well duck to his Queen, hoping South has either minor suit King. On any other lead East loses the club finesse and has twelve obvious tricks. At six clubs declarer can pitch a diamond on a spade before losing the club. Nine pairs reached slam, six of them in notrump.