Friday, March 27th 2015

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

East opens either 1C or 2NT; the hand has a lot of slam potential in the minors, and most pairs lack methods  to explore for minor suit slams over 2NT. My partner chose 1C, I responded 1H, figuring to play game in either major or  at 3NT. (Had the diamonds been sronger I might have responded 1D.) Now East reversed with 2D, forcing in modern  methods. This presented a problem: 4NT would quickly answer whether partner had three key cards or two plus the Queen, but a 5H reply would be awkward. Unaware partner actually had 20 points, I settled for 3NT and we missed slam. Over a 2NT opening I would have bid Stayman followed by 6NT. Eight pairs bid 6NT. Probably I should jump raise to 4D at my second bid.

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

East opens 2C and rebids 2NT over West's response. Old-fashioned bidders would make a positive response over 2C, 2NT to show 8 hcp without a good suit to bid. Likewise, steps bidders would show 7 to 9 and be content to stop at 3NT. Most of us would respond 2D, either waiting (0+) or semi-positive. After 2D waiting, East's 2NT would be limited to 22-24 hcp. There might be slam in a minor, but West is unlikely to push beyond 3NT.

We play 2D promises at least a King or two Queens and forces to game. This allows opener to rebid 2NT on a wider range, 22-26 or 29+, leaving room for responder to use Stayman or a transfer. But that creates a problem for a hand like this, where there might be slam opposite 25 or 26. Seven pairs did in fact bid slam, five going down as expected. Perhaps it would be best after all for opèner to jump on 25 to 27; with 28+ hcp 3NT may be right even if a 5-3 or 4-4 major fit exists.

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

At our table South opened 1D; I assume most passed. I doubled as West and East responded 2S, a constructive bid in textbook methods -- about 9 to 11 in value (including distribution) with four or five spades. I realized North was likely broke and every finesse would likely win, but wasn't sure enough to bid slam. East's fifth spade made the difference. I might have tried a 3D cue-bid, but looking at four key cards I doubt I would've coaxed partner into trying for slam. At matchpoints, I decided that it might not be necessary to bid slam to get a good score for 12 tricks. In fact no one bid slam and most did not manage +480.

If South passes, West opens 1D and East responds 1S. Were South to bid 2D, most experts would play the bid as natural, since double and a passed-hand 1NT are available for two suited hands, but South should want a much stronger suit for that bid -- say KQJ985. West jump raises spades. 3S is supposed to be 17 to 19 in value, counting shape; I doubt the AJ of clubs should be counted as 6 points, but the excellent controls suggest bidding 4S anyway. Visualizing, you would want to be in game opposite AQxxx xx xxx xxx, but it's close. In any case East is likely to raise to game but not make a move toward slam opposite the stronger hand. And slam really looks good only if you know most of the missing points are with South.

Board 18

East opens either 1H or 4H. While many would reject the preempt because of the side major, the strong hearts make it unlikely that spades will be a better trump suit. With only ten hcp and only 1.5 quick tricks rather than the expected two I like 4H. South will overcall 5D -- while this might seem unsound, possibly -800 against a non-vulnerable game, it generally pays to bid such a powerful suit. West  must guess whether to pass, double or bid 5H. At this vulnerability partner might have as few as six playing tricks, but seven is more likely for a four level preempt; this makes 5H look right either to make or as what turns out to be a paying sacrifice. At a team game 5H would be a standout to avoid a double-game swing.

At our table partner opened 1H and South jumped to 3H, begging partner to bid 3NT with a heart stopper. I've seen three similar hands in the past 6 months -- a solid 8 card minor; the other hands, however, had some values on the side. I doubled to show the King of hearts, North (unsure what 3H was but lacking a heart stopper in any case) bid 3S, East bid 4H to show a better offensive than defensive hand, and South bid 5D. As partner had opened, it seemed reasonable to hope for two tricks from opener or one plus two club tricks, so I doubled and lead the King of hearts, but declarer scored the obvious 8 trumps plus three black winners.