Friday, September 19th 2014

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

Dealer has 6-5 shape and 8 hcp; the hand does not qualify for an opening bid according to Goren or the Rule of 20, and I would not strain to open a suit headed by the J10. I suspect the pairs that reached slam may have opened 1H.

South opens 1S; North responds either 1NT or 2H. The void in partner's long suit is discouraging; I would limit the hand with 1NT. Remember that this bid does not suggest a balanced hand, merely 6+ hcp and no fit for partner.

South rebids 2D; opener should rarely pass 1NT with a second suit and certainly not with a singleton or void. Now North bids 2H, which implies a six-card suit in standard methods. Since North did not open a weak two, South assumes a fairly poor suit, but KQx looks good for support and opener has enough to venture 3H; North continues to game.

The auction suggest North will try to pitch losers on dummy's spades, so East should not consider a spade or trump lead; dummy has shown diamonds and leading an unsupported Ace is usually poor so East leads the two of clubs by default. Declarer ruffs in dummy and leads a high trump; West wins and, not fearing spades, returns another trump -- the fourth-best opening lead marks declarer with club length. Declarer ruffs a spade back to his hand and leads toward the KQ of diamonds, holding the defense to their two Aces.

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

Another 6-5, this time with the primary suit headed by the KQ10; basically an ideal weak two if not for the extra playing strength. While 1S, 3S or 4S will often work on such hands, I prefer to open 2S, describing the high card strength and suit quality accurately, and imply the extra playing strength by the unusual step of bidding again freely. (This is common practice among experts, though far from universal.) My plan was to bid the hearts if possible at the three level; I would not act on my own at any higher level. This procedure sacrifices maximum preemption for better description and the possibility that the second suit should be trumps.

North overcalls 3C and East competes with 3S. This is not at all invitational, so West's rebid of 4S is surprising. Catching perfectly fitting cards, eleven tricks are easy; I don't think it is obvious for N/S to bid on vulnerable vs. not.

If West passes originally, North opens 1C, East and South likely pass and West backs in with either 1S or perhaps a 2C bid. Ordinarily Michaels applies only in the direct seat, but a hand with six good clubs would pass 1C out and West is limited as a passed hand, so I suspect most partners would read 2C accurately for the majors. North doubles to show length and strength in clubs, East leaps to 4H, and South must decide whether to sit for that or try 5C, but West has enough shape to continue to 5H anyway. Several Wests played 3S, perhaps as the opening bid.

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

With 20 hcp and ten playing tricks, East has an obvious 2C opening. South may double to show clubs, but it seems likely South will be on lead and the shape and vulnerability are poor for a sacrifice. West responds according to style; 2D negative, waiting, or semi-positive, or 2H "steps" showing 4-6. Over any 2D bid East could set the suit by jumping to 3H, but there is some chance partner has five or more spades so perhaps 2H is best at this point. West continues with a natural 3D and East repeats his hearts. West must be allowed to bid 4H at this point without over-encouraging partner -- remember, East forced the bidding. One advantage of the popular 2H bust method (2D, as here, promising an Ace or King) is that you avoid having a "random" second negative, clubs over a major but diamonds over clubs and hearts over diamonds. However, you must still allow responder to have a minimum 2D response. Four pairs were unable to stop at 4H, but trumps split normally and South was unable to keep guards in both spades and diamonds. Note that 4H or 5H making six gains most of the matchpoints of 6H with far less risk.

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

Another possible light opening -- North has 2.5 quick tricks, but 6 of 11 points are in a doubleton and the shape is minimal. Wild horses won't keep South out of slam if North opens. After a mundane pass, South opens 1H and North can make a rare passed hand "Jacoby" bid, suggesting five trumps. South's 5332 is little improved by that information and 4H is enough. A routine limit raise or Drury bid should produce the same result -- but opposite a shapelier hand the 5-5 fit could be golden.

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

Yet another 6-5, but this time South preempts first. Over 3C, West tries 4C despite a bare opening with a singleton in the enemy suit -- the shape begs for action, and West does have two quick tricks and good spots in his long suits. It appears few players found that bid (or perhaps South opened 4C or 5C), so 3NT was the popular contract. Six clubs makes if you guess to drop the stiff King, a poor bet with three trumps out.

Sunday, August 31st 2014

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

North opens 1D; some Easts might stick on a spade bid but vulnerable with a poor hand and poor suit I prefer to pass. South responds 2C or perhaps a strong 3C jump. If East overcalled, North's bst rebid is 2NT. If East passed I would rebid 2D. Over 2D South continues with 2H; this could be a poor suit for slam if North were to raise but South must keep the ball rolling and it may be possible to land in clubs anyway. North bids 2NT or 3NT according to style and taste; South may try a spade bid followed by a leap to 6C. While partner's rebidding in your void is discouraging, South can basically count 9 tricks in hand and can reasonably expect North's opener to provide three more. South's bidding suggests the diamond void (with a singleton it would be natural to use Blackwood or RKCB) but with only 10 working high card points North will either pass or try for a better matchpoint score at 6NT. Four of eight pairs bid slam.

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

West opens 1D; North overcalls 1H or possibly a Michaels cue-bid (2D) to show both majors. While I generally like 5-5 shape for most two-suited overcalls, Michaels over a minor can reasonably be played as at least 5-4 (either way) when not vulnerable. Over 1H East responds 1S; South advances with 2H or a semi-preemptive 3H. West and North pass either bid. Despite only 11 hcp East has enough for at least game; this is an excellent example of the power of a hand featuring shape and top tricks. At least a nine card fit can be assumed since a one diamond opening normally has four card length or precisely 4432 shape. A 4H cue-bid looks right over either 2H or 3H; in the first case it suggests the singleton while in the latter only general sterngth is implied. West would show delayed (three card) spade support at this point; as is, West likely retreats to 5D. East can now be assume four or more diamonds and no more than two spades, so the spade suit may be establishable by ruffing. Visualizing, West might have xx xxx KQxxx AKx and slam would require only a 4-2 split in spades or 2-1 in diamonds. But partner could have wasted values in hearts, so the question becomes how discouraging should East view 5D? Perhaps West should try 5C rather than 5D. Slam is not a laydown but has excellent chances: spades might split 3-3 (no luck) or the club finesse works (bingo!)

Over a Michaels 2D, East may simply guess how many diamonds to bid. A popular expert method here is called Unusual Over Unusual (applies against any two suiter where both suits are known.) The idea is that after 1D-(2D), bidding 2H, the lower suit shown by North, shows at least game invitational values with a club suit; 2S shows a game invitation with diamonds. Bids of 3C and 3D are merely competitive (non-forcing.) Here East could bid 2S to show his diamond support. South bids 3H; I see no clear bid for West; the hand is not much different than partner would expect so pass is reasonable. East continues with 3S, which sounds like a notrump stopper; when the opponents have bid or shown two suits it is normal to bid the suit you have stopped. With Qxx in hearts, West should gamble 3NT; the holding will be a stopper if either opponent has both the Ace and King or if partner turns up with at least Jx. Now East bids 4D; this is a clear slam try, not an attempt to play a part-score rather than game. There are circumstances where four of a minor might be non-forcing but East has never limited his hand and so pulling 3NT should be taken as strong. Slam might be reached if West now control-bids 5C.

At 5D or 6D, declarer pulls trumps, cashes the top two spades and ruffs a spade. If the suit split 3-3 both club losers coudl be pitched. Failing that, declarer ruffs a heart back to the East hand and brings home 12 tricks with the heart finesse.

Most pairs played 3NT or a diamond part-score. The heart layout should doom 3NT but, again, Qxx will stop the suit often enough that it's worth a shot. I would not settle for a part-score with the East hand, however. At our table either North or South failed to bid, allowing West to rebid diamonds, so it was easier to try slam on a 5-5 fit with my 5-5 hand.

Sunday, August 24th 2014

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

East opens 1D, or possibly 1NT. It is reasonable to add a point at notrump for a six-card suit, and East has scattered high cards. Over 1D West should respond 2C, planning to rebid in spades and then support diamonds; West expects to bid slam unless there is positive evidence it will be poor. 1D-2C; 2D-2S; 2NT-3D looks like a reasonable start; the auction is forcing on the sound principle that with less than game-going values responder should start with 1S rather than 2C (whether or not 2C itself is played as a game force.) East may worry about whether his heart stopper is adequate, but it is vital not to pass up 3NT when it might be playable and you have neither a major suit fit nor slam interest. East continues with 3NT and West reveals his slam ambitions with a control bid of 4H or 4C. It can be somewhat dangerous and confusing to control bid a previously bid suit, but here it should be clear the partnership has a diamond fit and 4C should not be mistaken. East shows control of hearts and now West can crank up the 4NT machinery, getting a 5D one Ace or one Key Card reply. Blackwooders will continue with 5NT to confirm all the Aces; when East bids 5H, showing two Kings, West can tell a minor suit King is missing and sign off at 6NT, expecting one or the other minor to run. Key carders will know a top diamond is missing reach 6NT more directly.

Every pair bid slam, all but one in diamonds. South's best hope is not to give anything away on the opening lead and that the bad breaks will sink the contract. Partner rates to be weak so perhaps a spade lead will be safe, either low or the middling 8. At 6D, East must avoid two trump losers; the choices are low to the Queen, low to the Jack, or run the Queen, with the option to cash the Ace before leading toward either honor. With a combined 33 hcp you can expect most pairs to be in slam, so an overtrick could be valuable, but making the contract still has a high priority. Generally you should lead an honor only if you'd like to see it covered, or if it could plausibly squash a lower ranking card such as the ten or nine. 6D will make on any 2-2 or 3-1 split, so your focus on those holdings would be to pick up the suit completely; a 4-0 split could sink the contract, so you'd like to guard against that as well. At a team game that would be virtually your only concern but at matchpoints the overtrick may be important.

I think I would win the lead in dummy and play low to the Jack, hoping for Kx with North. Down one! (Unless North mistakenly splits his 10-9.) The Bridge Encyclopedia confirms that this was the best play for 6 tricks as well as the maximum average tricks, but running the Queen is the safest for 5 tricks, guarding against a void with South. As that is one case vs. three and, in fact, everyone bid slam, the risky play was probably best; -50 had company.

At 6NT you may outscore other pairs in 6D, but you also may be able to pick up the club suit and require only two diamond tricks. Win the spade in hand, low to the Queen of clubs, low back the King; the marked finesse insures the contract. Finesse the ten, unblock the Ace of hearts, and run the Queen of diamonds, covered by the King and Ace. Cash the King of hearts (pitching a diamond), the Ace-King of spades, and the last two clubs. The lead will be in the West hand with a low spade and diamond; declarer has the J8 of diamonds. Watch for either the ten or nine of diamonds; North cannot keep both of those cards plus a spade, so +1020 should be a top.

Slam in a suit, including minors, can often be made with fewer high cards than 6NT; but when the power for 6NT (about 33 hcp) is held, 6NT may be safer if it is possible as on this layout to score 12 tricks despite a bad break in your primary suit.

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

North, too strong for 1NT, opens 1C. East preempts 3S, backing off a trick with his 8-card suit thanks to the adverse conditions: vulnersable vs. not. South has enough for a negative double; this may be an overbid but with 10 hcp and good shape pass is apt to be a huge underbid. Preempts often force you to stretch. North has only a Kx stopper but 3NT should make on sheer power. East and West should let this go rather than risk -500 or worse against a non-vul game. North rattles off 12 tricks on the likely spade lead.

If E/W bid 4S, North surely doubles. South may lead an Ace (less risky than usual sitting over a preempt, but who knows what East has for his vul-vs-not bid?) A trump lead may prevent a crucial ruff (it does) or a club lead may be safe and/or effective. 4S might slip through if East steals a diamond trick early, is allowed to ruff a heart, and then finesses North's King of trumps! Defense can give you ulcers, and reckless bidding sometimes pays off. To add insult to injury, N/S discover from the recap they could've made a slam -- but no one bid 6C at the table and in fact it's hard to see where the twelfth trick will come from if East does not cash the Ace of spades.

Count signals may be important on this deal. For the unfamiliar, it is normal to "echo" (play high-low) in a suit (other than trumps) which declarer leads, if you have an even number of cards and think the information may assist partner. Suppose the defense tries to play it safe with two rounds of clubs; declarer ruffs and leads his diamond. South may assume he won't have two singletons (oops!) or may grab the Ace and look for North's signal. The three confirms an odd number with North, so someone has a singleton; it seems more likely East was trying to steal a trick than risking a lead in a suit with eight cards (but then again, that might be his only hope to reach dummy for a finesse.) Grabbing the Ace in front of the King-Queen is usually poor, but it may be correct when the defense has all the side-suit winners. Here the defense can cash two hearts, but that may allow declarer to ruff a third round. Reading declarer for 8311 shape, South may switch to a trump or simply exit with another club. Now East leads a heart, and South can signal an odd number by playing his lowest (the six.) North sees the necessity of sacrificing his trump trick -- a ruff will allow declarer to finesse anyway. Two trump leads prevent the ruff and insure declarer loses five tricks outside of trumps. But wait! Declarer can try to scramble the defender's signals by hiding his two of hearts. The 8 might work, or might be too blatant; the 5 might suffice. If North waits for South's second card to confirm a five-card heart suit, it will be too late to start the trumps.

Sunday, August 10th, 2014 (STaC)

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

North opens 1C, planning to reverse into diamonds, or 1NT, trying to describe and limit the hand quickly. The hand has a lot of slam potential if partner has a fair hand and a minor suit, so I'd lean toward 1C -- most pairs do not have many tools for exploring the minors after 1NT. East might try a weak jump to 2S, but I don't recommend it with such a minimal hand and suit and more points outside than inside the long suit. South responds 1H, West overcalls 1S and North rebids 2D as planned. Now East comes alive with a jump to 4S. Whether or not partner can make that contract East should not want to defend at any lower level.

The East/West interference denies South the leisure to check on a heart fit before supporting clubs. Visualizing, North might have xx xx AKxx AKQxx; setting up the hearts could produce 13 tricks. In a sophisticated partnerships you might try 5S or 5NT (pick a slam) but 6C is probably the practical bid for most pairs.

Only one pair at the club reached slam (and they play Precision.)

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

In first or second seat North should probably open 1S, planning to jump to game later; there may be a slam. After two passes, however, slam is less likely and it may be more urgent to preempt East, so 4S is reasonable in third seat. East should perhaps pass but I would expect double to be popular with a bidding panel (such as the Bulletin's "It's Your Call".) You must be aware, however, that partner will not be inclined to bid a four or even five card suit at the five level; unlike the double of a one bid, partner will most likely pass weak and/or balanced hands.

East has no attractive lead; a trump seems least bad. While there is some risk partner has Qxx or such and dummy is void or entryless, every lead looks equally risky; the trump lead may prevent a ruff. Declarer, in fact, has nine winners and either a ruff or the King of diamonds can provide a tenth. Rattling off the long trumps, the defense must watch each other's carding; West should signal heart values early, such as pitching the nine followed by the six in standard methods. East should hold onto the Ace of hearts and AQ of diamonds. Only one pair managed to beat 4S.

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

After West and North pass, what should East open? If the long suit were a major, 2C would be clear; at diamonds, East may have only nine tricks but the excellent slam controls argue for 2C -- it can be difficult to show this much power starting with a one bid. After 1D, I would expect South to preempt 3S and North to bid four, forcing East to bid 5D. West seems unlikely to bid slam.

Over 2C, South overcalls a more cautious 2S, West passes (this won't end the bidding) and North again bids 4S. Now when East rebids 5D West may at least think about raising to six. It looks like five pairs bid slam, one collecting +800 against 6S doubled.

While most of the focus on opening 2C is on whether you might have game if partner passes, it can also be the key move in reaching slam, and a hand this rich in controls cannot expect much enthusiasm from partner after a tepid one bid.

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

West opens 1C and East has a fine hand for a strong 2D jump. West rebids 3C and East continues with 3NT; West passes and the optimum contract is reached. For those who have decided they have better uses for 2D, East starts with 1D, South overcalls 1S, West rebids 2C, East marks time with 2S, West shows delayed support (3D) and East wonders if he should try for slam -- does partner know how strong you are? Probably not, but there is no safety in getting beyond 3NT. That's the key advantage of jump shifts -- having shown a strong hand, responder can settle for game if opener shows no interest. There are plenty enough tricks for slam, but South's natural spade lead establishes the setting trick quickly. Four pairs over-reached here to 6NT or 6D. My partner started with a strong jump but made the mistake of rebidding 3D rather than 3NT; what else can West do but raise?

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

East opens 1C, West responds 1H, North overcalls 1S. East sees game or slam possibilities in hearts, clubs or notrump; best at this point is 2S to alert partner to your strength and get more information. Unlike responder, who typically has other forcing bids available, this cue-bid by opener does not promise support; opener may instead be too strong for a jump rebid in his suit . Another option would be 2D, a strength-showing reverse. East is too strong for a jump to 3C and lacks proper support for hearts. While it is often best to raise responder to two with only three trumps, all higher raises must promise a genuine fit. Isn't AKQ excellent support? Yes and no -- repeated spade leads could force partner to use those high trumps for ruffing. A good 4-3 fit requires good trumps in the longer hand.

2S establishes a game force; West rebids 3H. With a better suit a jump to 4H might be appropriate but here responder fears over-exciting opener with, say, Kx support in hearts. Now East can support hearts; either 3S or 4D confirms support and shows control of the suit. Bidding the cheaper control first is more the modern style, rather than the old, often inefficient method of bidding first-round controls before second round. Normally, I try to avoid cue-bidding shortages; if partner has, say, AQx in a suit, it makes a bid difference whether you might have the King or a singleton. But in the opponent's suit partner is less likely to have combining honors and cue-bidding a shortage is OK.

Reading 3S correctly as a slam try with heart support, West bids 4C and East proceeds to slam by way of 4NT (Blackwood or Key Card.) No one at the club reached this excellent slam.