Sunday, November 30th 2014

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

East opens 1C, West responds 1D, East rebids 1S. The natural bid for West would be 3NT (or 2NT, if that's played as forcing), but is 10xxx a stopper? I wouldn't think so if North or South had bid the suit, but with no such overcall I would gamble on partner having help or no five card length. East has perhaps an extra trick but not enough to venture beyond 3NT. As it happens, the Queen of diamonds can be ruff out so the suit provides an unlikely four tricks at a club slam. The field sensibly bid 3NT.

Many players are in the habit of responding 1H on a hand like West's. This is an extreme treatment sometimes called "Walsh"; the most common expert approach is to skip over diamonds only with less than game-going values. Others prefer a more up-the-line approach, bidding diamonds unless the suit is poor and/or the hand can easily be described by a minimum rebid in notrump. In any case, if it's your habit to bid a major before diamonds, be sure to check the box "Frequently bypass 4+ diamonds" on the convention card. No alert is required. When you do skip over diamonds, be aware that you can't show longer diamonds than hearts later -- a sequence like 1C-1H; 2C-2D; 2NT-3D suggests 5-5 shape, not 4-5. The logic of skipping over diamonds is that you expect to play notrump rather than search for a diamond fit, and that it may be advantageous to conceal the suit from the opponents. With four or five diamonds and a weak hand that's often true. But with six diamonds your best spot is probably diamonds, not notrump, and with 12+ hcp there may well be a slam, so I've never been convinced "majors first" is the best approach. With West's hand I'd be happy to raise hearts if partner bid them but I'd rather not mention them myself.

Board 21 North Deals N-S Vul	♠ A Q J 2 ♥ Q 9 5 4 ♦ 6 2 ♣ K 7 5
♠ 10 7 5 ♥ J 10 ♦ 10 8 4 ♣ Q J 6 4 2	N W E S	♠ 9 6 3 ♥ 7 ♦ K Q J 9 3 ♣ 10 9 8 3
	♠ K 8 4 ♥ A K 8 6 3 2 ♦ A 7 5 ♣ A

North opens 1C; East should jump to 2D weak -- the vulnerability, shape, internal suit strength and high offense/low defense nature of the hand make up for the missing 6th trump. Some might overcall 1D but this is below the usual standard (typically 8 hcp) and, as the bid takes up no bidding room, seems pointless. If East passes South may have available a strong 2H jump. The bidding may proceed:
1C-2H
3H-4NT (Blackwood)
5D-5NT
6D-? South has five losers; length or the trump Queen are likely to cover one of those, and partner is known to have an Ace and a King. An opening bid can be expected to have at least one more trick so slam is obvious. Since there is no sure loser it's usually right to play in the suit contract, hoping for an extra chance at an overtrick; if there were 12 likely tricks at notrump and a likely loser, 6NT would be correct.

Playing RKCB, South can bid 5S over North's 5D to ask about the Queen; North replies "yes" and, depending on agreements, may be able to bid 6C to show both the trump Queen and the King of clubs. That doesn't make things any more obvious so 6H still looks like the best spot. Really, the key to the grand slam is four spade tricks, which would require South to show North the King of spades. Perhaps a 3S control bid before employing 4NT would be effective.

After a simple 1H response:
1C-1H
2H-2S (game try: at least 3 spades including one or two top honors)
4H-4NT (despite minimum values, North likes his spade cards)
5D-5NT
6D-6H or 7H -- South knows North has extras

After a 2D jump: (E/W pass afterward, though a 3D raise won't affect things much)
1C-(2D)-2H
3H-3S (control bid/slam try)
I prefer control bids on Aces and Kings rather than singletons or voids, where practical; this helps tremendously on hands like this where North's hand improves when South shows the King of spades. You can't always stick to this rule but here South must have a powerful hand and so would have other options with a singleton or void in spades. Continuing:
4C-4NT
5D-5S (one key card; Queen ask)
6C -- this normally shows the Queen of trumps plus the King of clubs -- but North has already shown that King. Perhaps this should promise extra values, inviting 6NT or 7 of something. Another possibility is for North to bid 6NT, under the assumption that South must have been willing to play at least 5NT if North denied the Queen. I really wouldn't expect to reach a grand slam in any of my partnerships but it's interesting to think about these bids.

Finally, for all the "1430" bidders: the point of inverting the 5C and 5D responses to RKCB is to leave more room for the Queen ask when the reply is one key card. I've been startled to learn that many players have adopted "1430" without the Queen ask! RKCB is designed to learn about six "prime" or "critical" cards: the four Aces and the King and Queen of trumps. The idea is that slam will usually be poor (worse than a finesse) if you are missing any two of those six cards. "1430" adds several pitfalls and complications that, on balance, make it worse than plain RKCB in my opinion; if you don't use the Queen ask, there is no reason to play "1430" at all!

A "1430" auction:
1C-1H
2H-4NT
5C-5D ( 1 or 4 key cards; Queen ask)
6C-6H (Q of hearts + King of clubs)

Well, no help this time. But sometimes a 5H reply to 5D, denying the Queen, would allow stopping at 5H, while the "0314" scheme might land you in 5NT or hoping for a 2-2 split at 6H. On the other hand:
(1) When the weaker hand is asking, the "0314" scheme is often better.
(2) If the opps interfere over 4NT, how do you handle it? An online poll showed that half the players using "1430" thought double of interference equaled the first step, 1 or 4, while the other half assumed that DOPI means double = 0, pass = 1, same as usual. Adopting "1430" with no discussion of interference is a disaster waiting to happen. I recommend that DOPI means what it says; there is no space difference between double and pass so there is no reason to invert the responses. But if you choose to do so, don't check the DOPI box, write "DFPS" instead -- Double First step, Pass Second.

One pair bid 7H and the rest 6H; not often the entire field bids slam. All took the obvious 13 tricks. On this occasion 6NT would've been better than 6H, but with only 30 hcp that would be difficult to find.

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

East opens 1H. A strong jump to the three level doesn't leave much room for figuring out where to play, so it's sound policy to avoid such jumps on a hand with a side suit. On the other hand a 2/1 response promises a better hand than a nebulous one bid, so there is less need to jump. West responds 2D. East jumps to 3H; while the scattered side cards are of dubious value, one or two of them are likely to be useful and so the hand is clearly worth more than seven tricks. West doesn't want to risk being passed at 3NT; a 3S bid, whatever it means, keeps the ball rolling. (3S should be assumed to be a notrump stopper; East is unlikely to skip over a spade suit for the jump.) East repeats the hearts and now West can proceed with 4NT. East replies 5D (one Ace) or 5S (two key cards + Queen). West should now bid 5NT to confirm all the Aces or all six critical cards. East can now assume his hand is worth at least eight tricks and reasonably bid 7H, planning to ruff a diamond if needed to set up the suit. If East merely replies "no Kings", West is strong enough for 6NT, which may be safer and/or higher-scoring than 6H.

Another rare everyone-in-slam hand. Most pairs reached 6NT, so 6H scored poorly.

Sunday, November 23rd 2014

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

West opens either 1S or an off-shape 1NT; the combination of clubs and spades makes for an easy 1S rebid, while the lack of Aces and the presence of a high card in both doubletons argues for notrump. It often pays to open 16 hcp with 1NT*, but lacking an Ace this hand rates closer to 15. It looks like I opened 1C and I do think the hand looks like it belongs in a black suit.

With the club fit, East is strong enough for a 2D strong jump. West rebids 2S and East continues with 3C. West is worried about the lack of Aces but a five-loser hand opposite a jump shift smells like slam. Perhaps West continues with 4C, East control bids 4H, West bids 4NT, East replies 5H (two Aces or key cards.) Yikes! Hope partner reads 5S correctly as a request for 5NT -- and hope he's got a heart stop! East does have time to drive out the two Aces and claim +660.

If East responds 1D, either from lack of a strong jump option or concerns about the suit quality, West rebids 1S and East needs to signal a game-forcing hand. Over a forcing 3C, West may bid 3H artificially (4th suit) and East can bid 3NT -- but should feel he really hasn't shown his slam interest.

Over 1NT, does East have a way to show or ask about minor suits? If you play 1NT-2S as a relay to 3C, a simple extension helps with this sort of hand: over partner's (forced) 3C, 3 of either major shows a singleton with one or both minors and at least mild slam interest (i.e., strong enough for 5 of a minor to be reasonable landing spot.) Most of the time opener will have the singleton covered and the bidding ends at 3NT, but imagine if opener held Jxx Qx AKx KQJxx.

Lacking any special agreements, I expect 1NT-3NT or 1C-1D; 1S-3NT was the auction at most tables, both good enough on this and most occasions.

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

South, too strong for 1NT, opens 1C. West is too weak for a vulnerable preempt, so North should be able to reply 1H. South is between a 3H and 4H raise; my partner tried 2NT but note that that bid, while showing 18 or 19 hcp, is not forcing -- responder may have scraped up 1H on 4-5 hcp and some shape. Most of South's values are in the short suits so I think I'd settle for a 3H invitational jump. North has extras but 12+18 = 30, about a trick short of slam. As it happens, hearts split 3-2 and two finesses work, so slam makes but at very poor odds.

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

West opens 1C. A bold East will overcall in the chunky diamond suit, but I expect most passed. East has 16 hcp and good shape; no need to discount the stiff Queen in partner's suit, it may set up some red-suit discards. Note how important the red Aces in suits with losers are for this sort of valuation. East can make a strong jump (2S) or simple 1S reply. Plausible auctions:

1C-2S
3C-3H
3S-4NT
5H-? If that's two Aces, East should continue with 5NT, but playing RKCB, the missing Queen argues against grand slam and East should sign off at 6S.

1C-1S
2C-2H
3S-4NT, etc.
The above assumes 2H is both forcing and game invitational. That, however, makes it hard for responder to bid a minimal 5-4 hand; some partnerships extend the New Minor gadget to when opener rebids the minor.
That would lead to:
1C-1S
2C-2D* (*artificial, about 11+ with 5+ spades)
3S-4NT, etc.

With the spade finesse and solid clubs, thirteen tricks are easy at clubs or notrump. The recap claims 7S is also makeable despite the 4-0 split, but that's trickier.I suspect declarer needs to run the clubs, forcing North to ruff, but even making 6 looks like a challenge. With two long suits sometimes it pays to bid 6NT if you can come to 12 tricks as long as either suit behaves.

Board 23 South Deals Both Vul	♠ A K 7 4 ♥ 10 6 ♦ K 10 5 4 2 ♣ J 5
♠ J 10 ♥ J 4 3 2 ♦ 8 3 ♣ K Q 7 6 3	N W E S	♠ 9 8 ♥ 9 7 5 ♦ J 9 7 ♣ A 10 9 8 2
	♠ Q 6 5 3 2 ♥ A K Q 8 ♦ A Q 6 ♣ 4

South opens 1S. If game were the only consideration, North would simply bid 4S, but that bid is normally reserved for a "shape" raise such as Kxxx x Axxxx xxx (five trumps, a singleton, and about 6-9 hcp.) With four trumps Jacoby 2NT is a reasonable option, but the best description of this hand is to force with 2D followed by 4S. This carries the message "diamonds, spades and nothing else." South loves it and 6S is reached by way of Blackwood or Key Card.

Using Jacoby 2NT:
1S-2NT
3C-3S
4NT, etc. South shows a singleton and North makes a neutral rebid, suggesting he doesn't hate the club singleton but does not have extras; that's enough for South to carry on to slam.

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

North opens 1C; the hand is much too strong for any sort of preempt. A few Easts might overcall but that's quite a stretch when vulnerable. South responds 1S; lacking a fit the hand is not strong enough for a jump. West also cannot preempt vulnerable. North's powerful suit argues for a 3C rebid, although jumping with this sort of hand leaves a problem when North has an extra King or so. On the other hand what can North rebid after 1C-1S; 2C-2D ? Jumping now takes the bidding past 3NT. While the recap shows that 6C can be made, that looks very difficult on a heart lead. Perhaps declarer can win the Ace, take the AQ of spades, and then run the clubs. When a diamond is eventually led East cannot lead another heart and must let declarer back in dummy for two more tricks.

Friday, November 21st 2014

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Board 13 North Deals Both Vul	♠ A J 10 ♥ K Q 8 2 ♦ A K J 3 ♣ Q 9
♠ 6 3 ♥ J 9 3 ♦ 10 5 2 ♣ A K 8 5 4	N W E S	♠ 8 7 5 ♥ 10 6 5 4 ♦ Q 6 ♣ J 10 6 3
	♠ K Q 9 4 2 ♥ A 7 ♦ 9 8 7 4 ♣ 7 2

North opens 2NT (20-21). South, with 9 hcp and 5242 shape, suspects there may be a slam, but there isn't much room to explore over 2NT. This looks like a good time to try visualizing: pick 20 hcp and see whether slam would be a laydown. Perhaps Axxx xx Axx AKQJ ? Only 18 hcp and, barring a 5-0 trump split, 12 easy tricks. South isn't strong enough to pursue slam without a fit, so it seems reasonable to transfer first, rebid 3NT, and reconsider if partner corrects to 4S. North does so and South can invite by way of a 5H control bid or resort to 4NT. Over 5H, North signs off at 5S for lack of a club control. Blackwood, of course, should lead to slam -- South absolutely should not bid 4NT and then sign off missing only one Ace; odds are very strong partner has the King of clubs. Unfortunately, he doesn't, and East is more likely to lead the Jack from J10xx than anything else, so slam should fail, but East could as easily have the King of clubs or such and lead something else -- sometimes you'll steal a slam if you don't tell them what to lead. No one bid slam on this one.

Board 20 West Deals Both Vul	♠ 10 7 4 3 2 ♥ 10 4 2 ♦ 9 8 5 ♣ A 4
♠ K 6 5 ♥ K Q 8 5 ♦ 10 6 4 ♣ J 6 3	N W E S	♠ A ♥ A J 6 ♦ A K Q J 7 3 ♣ K 7 2
	♠ Q J 9 8 ♥ 9 7 3 ♦ 2 ♣ Q 10 9 8 5

After two passes, East must decide between opening 1D or 2C. With 8 running tricks and the chance for a ninth on the opening lead, it looks right to force to 3NT. An opening 1D bid probably won't be passed out but a leap to 3NT would be normal on a weaker hand, so 2C looks right. West replies 2D (waiting or semi-positive) or 2S (steps) or a natural 2NT (8-10) if 2D would be strictly negative. While most prefer not to have responder "steal" notrump, West's hand is actually fairly suitable to be declarer at notrump.

Some plausible auctions:
2C-2D (waiting, 0+)
3NT-6NT

2C-2D (semi-positive, at least an Ace or King or perhaps 2 Queens; forcing to game)
2NT-3C (Stayman)
3D-4NT (invitational)
6NT

2C-2S (steps, 7-9 hcp)
2NT-3C
3D-3NT
4NT-6NT East might  rebid 4D, which  is also a slam invitation.

2C-2NT (8-10, no suit worth bidding)
4D-4H (sets suit; heart control)
4NT-5C (no Ace or 0-3 key cards)
6D or 6NT

Only three pairs reached a small slam; we overbid to 7NT due to an RKCB mixup.

RKC Blues:

Roman Key Card Blackwood is an excellent convention; having strong trumps is crucial for successful slam bidding. However, confusion over which suit is "key" is often a problem. Anyone playing this convention should have a clear agreement about what suit is key. Here are some suggestions (pick one):

KISS: If we haven't agreed on a suit, 4NT is simple Blackwood.
Implied Fit: If we haven't agreed on a suit, 4NT asks about the last NATURAL suit bid.
SJS Exception: As with Implied Fit, unless responder makes a strong jump shift and then bids 4NT at his next opportunity; that would ask about responder's suit regardless of what opener rebid.

There's one more exception to all of the above: after a 2C opening, if anyone jumps in a suit, they are "setting the suit" and asking for immediate control-bidding. Examples: 2C-3H; 2C-2D-3S. In such a case 4NT logically asks about the "set" suit. It might surprise you that responder is allowed to set trumps over 2C; I've never actually seen that done, but that IS the default meaning of 2C-3D/3H/3S/4C if you haven't redefined those bids. Responder might have x AQJ109xxx xx xx, for example; there is little chance that any other suit should be trumps. If opener were void, responder's hand would be worthless anywhere but in hearts!

Our disaster on board 20 came after 2C-2D (semi-positive); 3D-3H; 4NT -- under the Implied Fit, rule, I replied with one key card; partner thought diamonds were "agreed" and bulled on to grand slam. While it's understandable for East to think diamonds should be trump, partner doesn't know that!

Sunday, November 2nd 2014

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

North opens 1S, South responds 2H and North shows extras in most standard methods by rebidding 3C. (I recommend this even playing 2/1 Game Force; minimum unbalanced hands can rebid their major without promising extra length.) Such a rebid forces to game so South can support spades with a simple 3S. This leaves room for North to make a slam try (4C) and South cooperates by showing a diamond control (4D.) While North has a promising hand partner's original response suggests wasted values; North pauses at 4S. South has a massive source of tricks, but with no sure side entry and only three trumps it may not be possible to pull trumps and then use all the hearts; of course, the suit may simply run. North's bidding has been fairly strong so I think 4NT is justified. Playing RKCB North shows 3 key cards as well as giving a positive reply to South's Queen ask (5H.) 6S proves very unlucky but it seems to me it should be bid.

East probably leads his singleton heart against 4S, though the "textbook" recommendation with four trumps is to try and force declarer to ruff. Against such strong bidding that seems unlikely to succeed. What about leading against a slam? If North's failure to bid 5NT suggests partner has a key card, East will score a ruff if partner has either major suit Ace. Otherwise, sometimes the singleton lead fouls declarer's communications -- which is what happened to me. I could not pull trumps and return to dummy to use the hearts, so I was forced to lead a second heart and pitch my losing diamond. East ruffed and I could not avoid at least one club or trump loser.

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

North opens 1D or perhaps 3D, but with two quick tricks and 11 working hcp I'd rate the hand too strong for a preempt. Either way South has a massive hand and forces to either 6D or 6S. At our table North opened 3D, South employed RKCB, North replied 5S (two diamond key cards plus the Queen) and South raised to 6S! This proved unfortunate when East lead a club and West was able to guess the diamond void based on the auction. As two pairs failed to bid slam and another overbid to 7NT (!), perhaps 6D is best even at matchpoints, but 6S was a heavy favorite to make.

After a 1D opening, South jumps to 2S (strong.) North rebids 3D. I play an exception to the usual "asks about the last suit" here -- if responder jump shifts and then follows with 4NT, it's RKCB for responder's suit, regardless of what opener rebid. Here South does not need information about spades and so raises to 4D. North control bids 4H and now South continues with RKCB for diamonds. If South then chooses 6S West will be on lead and may hope to score two clubs or a club and a heart, but the diamond threat and matchpoint scoring suggests banging down the Ace of clubs anyway. The extra diamond length in dummy may suggest the deadly diamond switch.

Not playing strong jumps the bidding starts 1D-1S; 2D and South, somewhat stuck for a forcing bid, leaps to 4NT for much the same result as above. Strong jumps are most useful when responder is uncertain about whether the combined hands add up to slam; powerhouses like this aren't too difficult to bid.

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

A "double-dummy" slam; at the table I would expect 1C-3NT or the equivalent. At 6C declarer might fail on the percentage play of trying to drop the King of clubs, but against 3NT, with no knowledge of the big fit, West covers the Queen of clubs, hoping declarer will finesse against the ten. (Lacking the ten, it would be normal for West to duck the first club and for declarer to rise with the Ace! Odds favor a 1-1 split.) Throw in the winning heart finesse and +690 rolls in.

Board 23 South Deals Both Vul	♠ A 10 5 4 ♥ J 10 6 ♦ 6 ♣ J 7 5 3 2
♠ Q J 7 ♥ 9 5 3 2 ♦ Q 9 5 2 ♣ 8 6	N W E S	♠ K 9 6 3 2 ♥ K 8 4 ♦ A K 10 3 ♣ 4
	♠ 8 ♥ A Q 7 ♦ J 8 7 4 ♣ A K Q 10 9

South opens 1C, North responds 1S and South reverses to 2D. I'm reluctant to force the bidding with only 16 hcp and a stiff in responder's suit, but the strong clubs make up for all. Unfortunately, many pairs have no clear agreements over reverses; the default, if there is one, would be that 2S, 3C and 3D would all be non-forcing and responder must jump or bid the fourth suit (2H) to force. Lebensohl is one popular alternative, Ingbergman another. Here responder lacks 8 hcp but expects a 5-5 fit -- should North bid or force to game or settle for 3C? With basically one cover card plus the singleton opposite partner's second suit, 5C looks like a stretch. But opener has little in diamonds and twelve tricks roll in with the successful heart finesse. Top scores went to 3NT which looks to be a 50% shot; five clubs making six would've been a near top. Hands with a 5-5 minor suit fit may be an exception to the general principle of avoiding five of a minor at matchpoints.