Sunday, April 27th 2014

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

East opens 1S, West responds 2D, East rebids 2H. Slam seems likely in either hearts or diamonds, whichever suit is stronger. A 2/1 Game Force auction might proceed 1S-2D; 2H-3H; 3S-4D or perhaps 4C-4D (but I recommend cue-bidding Aces and Kings up-the-line rather than Aces first.) Over 4D East may pause at 4H; the singleton in partner's suit is not encouraging. But West should continue with 4S and now East can bid 4NT, Blackwood or RKCB. It could be a mistake for West to bid 4NT with his "empty" heart support; A10xx opposite Qxxx or the like does not make for good slam odds. Today, of course, East has good trumps but change East's hand to Kxxxx Kxxx A Kxx and 6H would have little play while 6D would be excellent.

Not playing 2/1 GF, a sequence like 1S-2D-2H-3H should still be treated as forcing. With 22+ hcp, a 4-4 fit and side suits in each hand there's little point in stopping short of game. However, I doubt many standard bidders would be confident 3H was forcing, so West has little choice but to blast into 4NT himself or give up on slam.

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

West opens 1D or 1C; in an up-the-line style 1C might be best if the enemy kept quiet, but competition might force West to bid both minors and 1D allows doing so without reversing. East responds 1H and West rebids 1S, unless South thinks his motley collection is worth a vulnerable "sandwich" overcall (between two enemy bidders.) South has too many losers for that in my estimation. Over 1S East does not have enough for a game-forcing 4th suit bid, so 1NT looks like the best action. If West opened 1C East could stretch for a 3C jump rebid. 1NT by East may well end the auction, or West may bid out his shape with 2C. East could raise to 3 allowing West to try 3NT. Slam is possible in clubs on the lucky 2-2 split but 3NT looks like the practical contract. The fourth diamond sets up for an 11th trick.

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

Barring an offbeat 2S or 2D opening by East, South opens 1H. North should raise straight to 4H; this usually suggests five trumps and a singleton but good 4-6 hands qualify if partner understands how to set up dummy's hand rather than ruffing on the board. South expects five trumps, a side singleton and a useful high card or two; slam would be excellent opposite Qxx xxxxx x xxxx, for example. South checks on Aces or key cards and heads for 6S. An RKCB auction would proceed 4NT-5D; 5S (Queen ask)-5NT (no); 6S. South may be a bit surprised at the negative Queen response -- with five-card support, North should answer as if he had the Queen, since it can be expected to drop with ten trumps.

Slam looks excellent -- play the two top trumps, leaving the Queen or Jack out if the suit splits 3-1; unblock the Queen of spades; cash the two top clubs and ruff a club back to hand; pitch a diamond on a spade, and crossruff. When East shows out on the first trump, declarer tries to strip West's side suits for a trump endplay but no such luck on today's layout. Down one should be an average board but as usual not everyone reached slam.

Board 16 West Deals E-W Vul	♠ K Q 9 7 3 2 ♥ K J 5 ♦ Q 9 5 2 ♣ —
♠ 10 8 5 4 ♥ Q 9 8 3 ♦ J 7 ♣ 10 8 4	N W E S	♠ — ♥ A 10 2 ♦ 10 8 6 4 ♣ A J 9 7 3 2
	♠ A J 6 ♥ 7 6 4 ♦ A K 3 ♣ K Q 6 5

North opens 1S; South has no ideal immediate raise. Jacoby 2NT should promise 4 trumps but, with extra values, that may be a practical bid on this hand -- a singleton heart in opener's hand won't add any tricks but would indicate the cards are fitting well. Here, North would show his shortage in clubs and South, warned about the wasted values, can stop at 4S.

A disadvantage of committing to spades is that there may be a slam in clubs, using opener's spades to pitch hearts or diamonds. So the usual response is 2C, or possibly a strong jump to 3C, but I'd like a shapelier hand for that bid. Over 2C opener rebids 2S, planning to show a minimum 6-4 by bidding the diamonds later if possible. South is too strong to simply bid game; playing 2/1 Game Force, South can raise to 3S. Otherwise, South should "invent" a 3D bid (clearly game-forcing) before finally supporting spades. This may sound as though South is short in diamonds but North should not make that assumption as long as South never jumps. Anyway, good bidders should be able to consider slam without getting past 4S on this collection.

Board 27 South Deals None Vul	♠ 9 7 6 4 3 ♥ J 6 5 ♦ K 10 2 ♣ K 6
♠ J ♥ A 7 3 ♦ Q 5 4 ♣ Q J 10 8 4 3	N W E S	♠ K 8 2 ♥ Q 8 ♦ 9 8 7 6 3 ♣ 9 7 5
	♠ A Q 10 5 ♥ K 10 9 4 2 ♦ A J ♣ A 2

South opens 1H, West overcalls 2C, North competes with 2H and South has enough for game. Some may reach that conclusion by way of Losing Trick count: five losers, with the raise expected to cover two; or South may count 18 hcp plus one for the Ax in clubs (don't count both the Jack and doubleton in diamonds.) That only totals 19 and 19+6 isn't quite enough for a suit game, but South should upgrade for his excellent controls and good spots in the majors. A more timid evaluation would lead to 2S as a game try, which allows North to raise (3S, never jump raise a game try, it might not be four cards long!) and the superior nine card fit might be reached.

Against 4H East leads the Queen of clubs (passive) or singleton Jack of spades (aggressive.)  Counting on the enemy for about 24 hcp plus a fit, partner can be expected to have 6 hcp or less. I would not expect partner to have an entry and the passive club lead is probably best.

South wins in hand and crosses to the King of clubs to eliminate the suit, then calls for the Jack of hearts. East covers, South covers, and West wins his Ace. He must now exit with a trump or help declarer with a spade or diamond lead or concede a ruff-sluff in clubs. Declarer wins the trump, pulls another round and returns to dummy with the King of diamonds to finesse in spades. Out of dummy entries, the finesse cannot be repeated and declarer eventually concedes a spade. An opening spade lead gives declarer the timing to finesse twice in spades and once in trumps for +480.

Friday. March 29th 2014

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

North opens 1H, East overcalls 2C. South has four-card support for partner's major and a side singleton, but the few high cards are concentrated in East's suit. A raise to 2H seems best; if the points were more useful I would jump to 3H preemptively. West can make a responsive double, showing the other two suits. North has a good hand; counting five losers, a jump to 4H is reasonable. Likewise, East's shape justifies 4S. This may make, prove to be a good sacrifice, or push N/S high enough to be set. The auction has not improved South's hand enough to bid again. North appears to have 4S set out of his own hand and should double for penalties. South leads a low heart (to show length; with three small top would be normal.) East wins and leads a diamond to the King, setting up for a cross-ruff. North cashes a heart, then Ace and Jack of trumps to limit the crossruff. Declarer ruffs a diamond, takes the Ace of clubs and tries to ruff a club in dummy. North overruffs and leads his last trump, limiting declarer to five or six tricks and collecting at least +800. The E/W cards did not combine well.

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

East has good shape and intermediates, but with neither an Ace nor two quick tricks does not qualify for a standard opening, and the primary suit is too poor for an off-shape weak two. East and South pass; West opens 1C or 1D. I see no rebid problem opening 1C. North overcalls 1S. East appears to have a good hand for a negative double but a 2D bid is better, showing the strength and primary suit. If N/S keep bidding spades, it may not matter whether you have a heart fit. South raises preemptively to 3S; West might double but with a good fit for diamonds it is safer to simply bid game. 3NT looks right with K9xx in spades; if partner has no help there he may have the stuff for nine fast tricks. Slam may be possible but I think 3NT is the practical bid. West takes the first ten tricks on a spade lead and, forcing out the club Ace, 11 on any other lead.

My partner opened 1D as East; I responded 2C and North decided not to risk a vulnerable, two-level overcalls. Our auction was 1D-2C; 2D-2S; 3C-3D; 3NT-pass. East's combination of good playing strength but lack of Aces makes getting to slam difficult.

Board 18 East Deals N-S Vul	♠ J 4 ♥ 10 6 5 3 ♦ 8 4 2 ♣ J 8 6 2
♠ 6 3 2 ♥ K 9 7 ♦ A K J 9 5 3 ♣ Q	N W E S	♠ A K 9 8 7 5 ♥ A ♦ Q 6 ♣ A 10 7 4
	♠ Q 10 ♥ Q J 8 4 2 ♦ 10 7 ♣ K 9 5 3

East opens 1S and West responds 2D. East rebids 3C, a game-forcing bid in any sensible style --there's no room below 3NT to sort out opener's strength if he can make this bid on minimum values. Playing sound 2/1 bids (about 11 or a good 10) East promises about 14+ with his 3C bid. If you've heard the term "high reverse", keep in mind that less strength is need for this bid over a sound two level response than you'd need for a reverse after a one level bid. Playing 2/1 game force, East should promise about 15+; with less, rebid 2S first to suggest a limited hand.

Since 3C created a game force in our style, I continued with 3D, emphasizing the good source of tricks before supporting partner's spades. East rebids 3S and West raises to game. At this point East's hand looks like pure gold: three Aces, the trump King and the Queen in partner's rebid suit. It's easy to picture 5 spade tricks, 6 diamonds and two side aces, so East proceeds with 4NT. Playing simple Blackwood, West shows one Ace and then two Kings, but East is unsure about the spades and stops at 6S -- it would be up to partner to bid the grand with Qx support. Playing key card, West replies 5D (or 5C "1430" style); East bids the next suit to ask about the Queen of spades. West denies the Queen, either next step negative or 5 of the agreed suit as negative, according to the agreed style, and East bids 6S.

My partner dropped the ball here, stopping at 5S despite the fact we had all five key cards. His logic was "I wasn't sure what else you had." Well, 4NT won't answer that question, will it? And if I had the Queen of spades, I might not have such good diamonds. Before bidding 4NT, you should be convinced based on the previous bidding that we have the stuff for twelve tricks. Then you proceed to slam unless you determine that there are two probable losers (Aces, key cards, trump Queen.) Often, your prospect for twelve tricks will be better when you are missing an Ace or trump honor -- partner will have other useful stuff to make up for it. Four pairs bid slam.

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

West opens 1S, silencing North, and the auction proceeds 1S-2D; 2H-3C; 3D, with 3C typically alerted as Fourth Suit Forcing. At this level, it's game forcing even if "one round force" is the usual style. East counts four losers and the auction makes it likely a club can be ruffed in dummy. All East needs now is Aces, but unfortunately West could have as many as 14 hcp with zero Aces! East should bid 4C to suggest slam -- with good clubs but no slam interest it would be natural to try 3NT. West cooperates with a 4H cue-bid and now East can safely try 4NT and reach 6D when West shows two Aces or Key cards. One club can be ruffed low and another high, then pull trumps and claim. Six pairs bid slam.

Friday, March 21st 2014

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

East opens 1C; South may jump to 2D. Whether or not you ever open a weak two with a side four-card major, once the opponents open the anemic spades should not be of concern. The suit is iffy at unfavorable vulnerability, however, so pass is also reasonable. (With AJ109xx I would certainly bid.) Over 2D East may consider a trap pass (I actually did that), attractive at this vulnerability, but there may be a slam and with obvious game values bidding is probably better. West needs a forcing bid and 3D, suggesting club support and asking for a notrump stopper, fits the job description. Partner will have 0-2 diamonds and probably no stopper, but West can bid 3NT over partner's likely 3H or 3S rebid and give a reasonable picture of his hand: club support, diamond stoppers, some slam interest. East has roughly five losers and even with wasted values West's strong hand may be able to cover at least four of them; East tries 3H over 3D and then cue-bid 4D over 3NT, suggesting his shortage (more likely than the Ace or King on this auction.) A complete auction might proceed: 1C-(2D)-3D; 3H-3NT; 4D-4H; 4S-4NT; 5S (2+Q)-6C or 6NT. Getting to the grand requires showing the void somehow or some guesswork; 6NT would have scored a top. Our +800 for 2D doubled, down 3 was in the middle.

If South passes, West has a fine hand for a strong jump to 2D, followed by 3C. The auction might proceed 1C-2D; 2H-3C; 3S-4NT etc. If the strong jump isn't an option, West should make a forcing raise. An inverted minor auction might begin 1C-2C; 3D (jump = splinter)-? West has wasted values in diamonds but 13 working hcp so West should proceed toward slam. A possible route to 7C might be, afer the splinter, 3H-3S (control bids); 4C-4D (suggesting the void); 4NT-5S; 7C.

Another possible start to the auction might be a simple1C-1D; 1H. But now West must have a forcing bid, or make a wild guess. One mistake I see many players make is to bid 4NT at this point and then stop short of slam if an Ace or key card is missing. That's not really what's important here -- you need to know whether you have the stuff to take twelve tricks. Use 4NT after you've determined that to make sure you don't also have two likely losers. The Fourth Suit Forcing gadget can help here; some play 1S might be artificial but I recommend the Bridge World Standard rule that 1S is always natural while a jump to 2S is an artificial game force. East has spades well-stopped and so bids 2NT over 2S; West can now bid 3C, having established that the hands belong in game. East can then take the hand to at least 6C.

 

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

We had a short auction : 3NT-6C. West's Gambling 3NT opening shows 7 tricks, AKQxxxx in a minor, no outside Ace or King. East has no trouble counting 12 tricks and claimed shortly after the defense cashed their Ace. I've always liked the Gambling 3NT because AKQxxxx and out seems a very useful hand, better than a typical three bid but hard to describe if you open one. A strong balanced hand does better to open 2C and rebid in notrump so you don't need 3NT for 25-27. Of course, AKQxxxx is rare but it's nice to get it right when it comes up.

Not playing Gambling 3NT, West opens 1C. East might respond with a strong 2H but most would start with 1H. If West jumps to 3C at this point East may take the hand to slam; the only objection to the jump is what should West rebid with 18+ and good clubs? If West settles for 2C, East rebids 2D, forcing, whether played as natural or an extension of the New Minor gadget. Since this suggests at least game invitational strength West should force to game: his hand appears to be worth about 8 tricks. West may jump in clubs; I expect many would jump to 5C but 4C should be forcing and gives partner another chance to rebid hearts. However, East may yet have a spade stopper and so West should try 2S as the Fourth Suit gadget (if that's in the arsenal) to see if partner can bid notrump. East might have Kx Axxxx Axxx xx, for example, and wanted to check on a 5-3 heart fit before committing the hand to notrump. On today's hand East continues with 3H and West raises to game. Most who play the Fourth Suit gadget also play some form of Roman Keycard Blackwood these days, so East may try 4NT but will then stop at 5H over West's "1 or 4" reply.

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

North opens 1S or 1NT. While I find myself opening many and various hands 1NT these days, the combination of a five-card major and a small doubleton would convince me to open 1S. East overcalls 2C and South jumps in clubs! 4C would be an obvious splinter, if those are played; weird jumps at the five level generally show voids. With no heart control and with only one key card I think 4C is best, though South may not get another chance to show his void. West takes advantage of the vulnerability to bid 5C, depriving N/S of their 4NT convention. Be sure you understand that 5C is not justified simply because West is weak in high cards and "I thought they had a slam, partner!" West's trump length, side singleton and J10xx of diamonds may all contribute to the offense; sacrifice bids do require playing strength. The splinter, however, is enough for North to try 6S, and East, who might score a club and a heart on defense, should not take the sacrifice at 7C. Declarer has no trouble ruffing the club lead, pulling trumps and claiming twelve tricks after losing the heart finesse.

At our table North opened 1NT. East may overcall 2C if that's natural, double to show a one-suiter (playing DONT), or leap to 3C. With a likely seven playing tricks I like the jump and the vulnerability is favorable. The jump may test North/South's agreements: is a new suit forcing or competitive over the jump? I'd say forcing is more important but I can't recall ever discussing it and wouldn't want to risk a pass. Instead, South bids 4C, Stayman, planning to bid 4S (his stronger suit) if partner replies 4D. Today, North would bid 4S -- but West bids 5C. There may be two club losers but when the enemy bids to the five level they typically have at least ten trumps, so North tries 5S and South raises to slam.

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

Some might open South's hand on the basis of two and a half quick tricks, but with no major suit that looks like a stretch. North opens 2NT in fourth seat and South counts a combined 31 or 32 hcp. That's not enough for a notrump slam; finding a 4-4 fit would help. Some play 3S asks for a four-card minor (Minor Suit Stayman); lacking such, North rebids 3NT. Lacking that gadget South should simply bid 3NT himself. The recap shows 12 tricks are possible at notrump or diamonds, but it looks like a combination of guessing correctly in clubs and then squeezing East in hearts and clubs. If you can pull that off, I expect +690 will score well.