Monday, December 29th 2014 (STaC)

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

North opens 1H. East's suit is too poor for an overcall with such minimum values; I recommend at least five hcp in the suit or extra values, but getting the spade suit into action at favorable vulnerability is always tempting. In most partnerships South can show a limit raise or better with a 2S cue-bid, but I like 2D with this hand, planning to support hearts later. West may leap to 4S based on the Law of Total Tricks (ten trumps = bid for ten tricks, either to make or sacrifice) but the balanced shape, wasted Queen of hearts and the possibility partner is trading heavily on the vulnerability makes 3S a prudent alternative. What West should not do is bid 3S and then 4S over 4H, giving N/S an extra round to help decide what to do over 4S.

Either North or South will compete to 4H or 5H; I don't think either is quite worth a slam try. North's hearts are one of the odd holding for Key Card Blackwood; opposite two or three hearts, you'd rather partner had the Ace of clubs than either top trump, since you can finesse twice and odds are only about 25% of two trump losers.

One route to slam might be for North to pass or double a spade bid. If South responded 2D and then pulls to 4H or 5H, North may like his excellent controls, trumps and fitting diamond cards well enough to bid six.

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

South opens 2C based on 9+ tricks and good controls. I'd be willing to stop at 3S if partner were completely busted, but otherwise expect to reach game. North replies 2D negative (0-7); waiting (0+), or semi-positive (at least an Ace or King or perhaps two Queens) or 2H (steps, 4-6 hcp.) South rebids 2S in most cases; 3S would "set the suit" but would indicate a hand closer to slam strength. Over the steps 2H response, many would simply rebid 4S but why not give yourself a shot at slam if partner has, say, xxxx x Kxxx Qxxx ? The 2H response is forcing to at least game so no need to hurry.

Our auction was straightforward: 2C-2D (waiting); 2S-3H; 3S-4D; 4S-pass. Although I was confident we had at least eight hearts the solid spades looked like a safer bet for trumps, and there might be chance to pitch a losing heart on a diamond or club. In fact declarer can set up the ten of diamonds and avoid guessing in hearts. Most declarers took eleven tricks in a spade contract.

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

West opens 2C; East responds 2D (negative, waiting or semi-positive) or 2S (steps, 7-9 hcp.) West rebids 2NT, 22-24 in most styles, or 22+ if the initial response was game-forcing (2D promising some values or 2S steps.) East ends the bidding at 3NT. North's long suit is unappealing and a major suit lead is often effective when the opponents don't use Stayman or a transfer, but North's equally has little help for either major. I'd probably lead the 8 of spades, a top-of-nothing lead that partner should be able to diagnose using the rule of eleven. 11-8 = 3; with the nine in dummy and KJ in South's hand, the 8 would have to be from AQ108 if it were fourth-best. When declarer captures South's King it becomes obvious the 8 was not from length. Of course this is purely academic since declarer takes all the rest of the tricks, thanks to lucky splits in both hearts and clubs. Should this slam have been bid? No, E/W have only 31 hcp and no fit, but lots of luck.

Some Wests rebid in hearts rather than notrump, with East naturally rebidding in notrump. Although East is a slight favorite to hold 3 hearts and, if a 5-3 fit exists, it will usually produce an extra trick, the combined chances that notrump will be just as good or better (even if a fit exists) plus simplifying the auction plus not revealing West's shape to the defenders add up to a clear win for treating a hand like West's as balanced. As it happens, South will likely lead a spade against 3NT and declarer can win with either the Queen or Ten; no lead really causes problems as declarer has plenty of stoppers and can afford to try the spades himself.

I'm surprised how many pairs bid slam on these cards. The heart suit is plenty strong enough but if you shuffle the N/S cards I would expect an average of only around 11 tricks.