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Hand Analyses        4th October , 2006

 

 

 1

♠ KJ976

K8

T7

♣ K983

 

♠ AT83

A7543

K5

♣ AT

          North

West             East

          South

♠ 42

Q92

J98643

♣ J7


Dlr     North   
Vul     None 



 

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♠ Q5

JT6

AQ2

♣ Q6542

West   North   East     South

           Pass    Pass     1♣

Dbl     1♠        2        Pass

Pass   3♣        3     All Pass

 

When we have 5 Spades and 4 Hearts, and they bid 1♣ or 1 in front of us, life is relatively simple, we just overcall 1♠, expecting (or hoping) to get the chance to bid 2 later.  But, when we are the other way around, as West is here, it’s not so simple.  If we bid 1 then we can only show the Spades via a reverse of 2♠, a sequence that shows a very good hand.  So the choice on the actual hand is to bid 1 anyway, giving up on the Spades unless Partner can introduce them, or to double, giving up on the 5-3 Heart fit.  Our own choice is to double, but this is by no means clear-cut, many would reasonably bid 1, and a few would might unreasonably (in our view) try a Michaels Cue-Bid.

 

In the featured auction, once West has doubled he must resign himself to passing Partner’s Diamond bids … if he now introduces Hearts now he will be showing a somewhat better hand.  But 3 works out just fine, down one is a good save against their making 3♣.  In fact, North can even make 3♠ on the 5-2 fit, by guessing the Spades correctly (the bidding will help her get this right).

 

Dissenting Voice:

Most players we know would routinely make that light 3rd seat 1♣ opening bid, but we are not at all crazy about it.  Perhaps we are out in left field on this one, but as 1♣ has no preemptive value and no lead-directing benefit we would just pass here.  But we’re probably in a small minority!

 

 

 2

♠ AQ9

T83

A84

♣ T987




Bidding Quiz (West)

♠ K3

AK764

Q7

♣ AJ65

          North

West             East

          South

♠ JT742

5

KJ2

♣ KQ42

 

Dlr       East
Vul      N-S 


 
 
 
 
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♠ 865

QJ92

T9653

♣ 3

West   North   East     South

                       Pass     Pass

1      Pass    1♠         Pass

2♣      Pass    3♣        Pass

3       Pass    3NT   All Pass

 

After 3♣, West had the values for game but no fit and no Diamond stopper, and his 3 bid was made in the hope that Partner could bid 3NT.

 

Against 3NT, it seems normal for South to lead the T, won by North, and the 8 is continued to Declarer’s King.  There are 8 tricks now, and the 9th must come from Spades.  It looks as if Diamonds are 5-3 (North’s return of the Eight suggests that), so there is the danger of losing 3 Diamonds and 2 Spades if Declarer misguesses Spades.  As it happens, there is no misguess, they’re both off-side.  That’s the bad news, but the good news is that South has no entries to his Diamonds.  The end result is 10 tricks, the defense scoring just two Spades and a Diamond.

 

We wouldn’t recommend it, but the opening lead that gives Declarer the biggest headache is actually a Heart.  Declarer should duck this (precaution against 5-2 Hearts), win the continuation, cross on a Club, and lead towards the K♠.  Fortunately for E-W all the defensive entries are in the hand without the good Heart, but nonetheless that is still only 9 tricks for Declarer.

 

 

 3

♠ A832

42

AJ93

♣ A63




Bidding Quiz (South)

♠ KQT6

J87

6

♣ QJ752

          North

West             East

          South

♠ J75

AQ963

KQ2

♣ T8

 

Dlr     South
Vul     E-W 

 


 
 
 
 
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♠ 94

KT6

T8754

♣ K94

South   West    North   East  

Pass     Pass   1         1

2         2      Pass     Pass

3         Pass   Pass     Pass

 

With two outside cards, South decided against a weak jump raise of 3 over East’s 1.  But, when the bidding came back to her she had enough trumps to compete on to 3.

 

There’s nothing to the play, 3 goes down one, and just how good or bad a result this is will depend on how E-W do in 2.  This contract can be beaten if South is clever enough to lead the 9♠, the subsequent Spade ruff is the 6th defensive trick.  Should she find that lead?  We hesitate to say “Absolutely!”, but with a likely trump entry the Spade lead certainly has some appeal.

 

Dice-Rolling Addendum:

We have to say that we don’t especially care for South’s bidding here, it seems altogether too scientific, at least at this vulnerability.  We’d prefer to roll the dice with an immediate preemptive raise, attempting to put West on the spot.  And on the spot he will most certainly be!  Who could blame him for bidding 3 over 3?  Now, if South can back up her macho bidding with a Spade lead, she will have earned her side a juicy +200.

 

 

 4

♠ 42

K952

K52

♣ KT83

 

♠ J98

87

AQ

♣ QJ9764

          North

West             East

          South

♠ T73

A43

T9874

♣ A2

 

Dlr     West
Vul     Both 


 
 
 
 
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♠ AKQ65

QJT6

J63

♣ 5

West   North   East     South

Pass   Pass     Pass    1♠

2♣      Dbl      Pass     2

Pass   Pass     Pass

 

Most N-S pairs will play this one in a Heart partial, although 4 actually makes, thanks to some friendly breaks and luck in Diamonds.  Mucho matchpoints for the few pairs that bid the game.

 

 

 5

♠ AQ9

AQJ2

43

♣ JT74

 

♠ J765

T98

AKT5

♣ K5

          North

West             East

          South

♠ KT3

7653

Q

♣ Q9632

 

Dlr     North
Vul     N-S 


 
 
 
 
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♠ 842

K4

J98762

♣ A8

West   North   East     South

           1♣        Pass    1

Pass   1        Pass     1NT

Pass   Pass     Pass

 

Normally, with that distribution, South would rebid 2, but with such a rotten suit we prefer the actual choice of 1NT, even though there is no stopper in the unbid suit.

 

As is often the case, the play in 1NT is hard to analyze.  Declarer has 6 top tricks, and a Spade lead will put the contract in peril.  Low from the board, won by East’s Ten … the Q which wins … Heart back won on in hand … losing Spade finesse and Spade return … now, Declarer cashes the Hearts, and plays A♣ and out a Club, end-playing West who is forced to concede a Diamond trick at the end for Declarer’s 7th trick.

 

Perhaps South would have done better to rebid 2 after all, because that is a much easier contract on the lie of the cards, the only losers being 4 trumps and a Spade. An easier way to +90 than via a 1NT contract, no end-play required.

 

Walsh Note:

Walsh players will achieve a minor triumph on this board.  North will rebid 1NT, right-siding the contract by protecting the North hand from the Spade opening lead.  However, it’s more of a theoretical triumph than anything else, because if East avoids starting with a Spade Declarer will score the same 7 tricks.

 

 

 6

♠ T872

JT74

652

♣ J9




Bidding Quiz (South)

♠ Q963

862

KJ9

♣ AK7

          North

West             East

          South

♠ A54

A93

43

♣ QT863

 

 Dlr     East
 Vul     E-W 


 
 
 
 
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♠ KJ

KQ5

AQT87

♣ 542

West   North   East     South

                       Pass     1NT

Pass   2♣        Dbl      2

Pass   2        All Pass

 

If North had been 4-4-4-1 with the same rotten values, she would have bid 2♣ planning to pass any response by Partner.  As it was she went the Garbage Stayman route, planning to find a 4-4 major fit, and, failing that, to play in Opener’s better major.  She was taking the reasonable gamble that two of a major would be a better home than 1NT.

 

East’s Double was lead-directing, of course.  It’s not exactly the best suit in the world, but there are a couple of outside Aces, so it’s very much the lead that East wants against a No Trump contract.  Perhaps West should have competed with 3♣ (that’s an easy 9 tricks, and 10 if North fails to lead a Heart), but in her defense she does have a square hand and is vulnerable.

 

In Hearts, North will do well to scramble 6 tricks.  Let’s say that the defense starts with Clubs, North ruffing the third round.  Now, a losing finesse of the Q, a Heart shift won by Declarer’s Jack (East does best to duck), A and out a Diamond.  Now, one way or another South will stagger home with the all-important 6th trick, and a good board.

 

 

 7

♠ QJ3

J8632

7

♣ J963

 

♠ T

AKT754

QT92

♣ 52

          North

West             East

          South

♠ K87542

A843

♣ 874

 

Dlr     South
Vul     Both 


 
 
 
 
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♠ A96

Q9

KJ65

♣ AKQT

South   West     North   East  

1♣        1        Pass     1♠

1NT     2        Dbl       2♠

Pass     Pass     Dbl   All Pass

 

South’s 1NT rebid opposite a silent Partner showed 18-19, after which North got into a doubling groove.  The first Double was clear-cut, the second was a bit more sporting.

 

Normal defense will beat this just one trick … for example, A♣, A♠, revert to Clubs, scoring 3 Clubs, 2 Trumps and a Diamond for a lovely +200.  Care for some abnormal defense?  How about T♣ opening lead to North’s Jack and a Diamond shift for +800!

 

 

 8

♠ AQ6

Q32

KQ5432

♣ K




Bidding Quiz (West)

♠ 9842

J97

7

♣ QJT85

          North

West             East

          South

♠ JT63

AK6

96

♣ A764

 

Dlr     West
Vul     None 


 
 
 
 
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♠ K7

T854

AJT8

♣ 932

West   North   East     South

Pass   1         Dbl      2

Dbl     Rdbl    2♠       Pass

Pass   3         Pass    Pass

3♠       4         All Pass

 

West’s Double was Responsive, typically 4-3 or 4-4 in the majors.  North’s Redouble showed high-card strength rather than good Diamonds (though pretty minimum, we’d say, with that dubious K♣), and then her later 3 was very much based on Diamond length.

 

Credit West for finding the winning 3♠ call with that minimum hand.  No doubt he used some Total Trick logic.  His side had 8 trumps, and it was fair to assume that N-S had at least 9 Diamonds, so, with 17 total trumps, if 3 was making then a non-vulnerable 3♠ for 8 tricks would be a great bargain, even if doubled. 

 

North had an extra trump, and took the push to 4.  This was well-judged, but down one, nonetheless.  Even undoubled, this was no doubt a good board for E-W, earned by that 3♠ call, as we doubt whether many E-W pairs will compete up to 3♠.

 

The Law worked well on this hand with 18 trumps and 18 tricks (9 each).  First the Law persuaded West to compete to 3♠, then it North used it successfully to go to the 4-level.

 

 

 9

♠ AKJ92

Q86

J5

♣ J82


 

Bidding Quiz (North)

Bidding Quiz (South)

♠ QT874

AJ5

74

♣ Q94

          North

West             East

          South

♠ 653

KT4

AQ932

♣ A5

 

Dlr     North
Vul     E-W 

 


 
 
 
 
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9732

KT86

♣ KT763

West   North   East     South

           1♠        2        Pass

Pass   Dbl      Pass     Pass

Pass

 

A triumph for N-S on this board!  North rightly refused to sell out to 2 holding only two of their suit, and South boldly passed, encouraged by her shortness in Partner’s suit, her good trumps, the vulnerability and her optimistic nature.

 

Against 2 South does not have much of a lead, and will no doubt lead a Heart, it seems least likely to blow a trick.  Declarer wins in hand, play A♣ and out a Club, wins the Heart return and now has 5 side-suit tricks.  But wriggle as she may, she won’t be able to score more than two trump tricks, and South’s boldness is rewarded with the much-to-be-desired +200.

 

 

 10

♠ T54

AQ64

K62

♣ T96

 

♠ AK

95

987

♣ KQ8542

          North

West             East

          South

♠ 976

J872

AJT3

♣ 73

 
Dlr     East
Vul     Both 


 
 
 
 
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♠ QJ832

KT3

Q54

♣ AJ

West   North   East     South

                       Pass     1♠

2♣      2♠        Pass     Pass

Pass

 

The play in 2♠ is quite routine, and it will be 8 tricks.

 

Should E-W have competed to 3♣?  Well, for those players who are result-merchants (know any of those?) the answer is clearly “Yes”, because 3♣ makes.  But, look at all the luck it needs!  The A♣ on-side, one of the Diamond honors onside, Diamonds 3-3 (necessary for entry purposes), Clubs 3-2, and Hearts 4-3 the right way (otherwise there is the danger of a trump promotion).  A contract to be avoided except on the rare occasion that it makes!

 

 

 11

♠ 82

JT3

A63

♣ KT743

 

♠ AKQJT53

K6

T754

          North

West             East

          South

♠ 974

75

KJ98

♣ AJ85

 
Dlr     South
Vul     None 


 
 
 
 
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♠ 6

AQ9842

Q2

♣ Q962

South   West     North   East  

2        4♠        Pass     Pass

Pass

 

 

South might have considered opening 1, that is a rather good hand for a Weak Two, notwithstanding all those Queens.  North’s 4♠ was not a preempt, of course, the other side has already done that, it was bid to make, needing a little help from Partner.

 

Against 4♠, North leads a Heart to South’s Ace, a Heart back, trumps are drawn, and the contract romps home with just 2 Diamond losers and a Heart.  Dummy’s A♣ serves no useful purpose whatsoever, unless West is in the mood to play 4 rounds of trumps, expressly for the purpose of flamboyantly pitching it away.

 

 

 12

♠ 642

KQ5

765

♣ KJ97




Bidding Quiz (South)

♠ KQJT

J43

K942

♣ 62

          North

West             East

          South

♠ 98

96

QJT83

♣ AT83

 
Dlr     West
Vul     N-S 


 
 
 
 
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♠ A753

AT872

A

♣ Q54

West   North   East     South

Pass   Pass     Pass    1

1♠      2        Pass    Pass

Pass

 

South may have had thoughts about making a game try … after all, she does have three lovely Aces and a singleton and some extra values.  What dissuaded her?  Please see the Bidding Quiz.  And, you may have noticed that West threw in a chunky 4-card overcall, of which we heartily approve.

 

The play in 2 is straightforward enough.  West remembers from the bidding that he had asked for a Spade lead, so he starts with the K♠.  As Declarer, we’d see 9 tricks (if trumps break), and for a 10th we would be inclined to go after a Spade ruff on the board … we’d ruff high, and then finesse the T.  This doesn’t work, and the extra trick from the ruff is nullified by the loss of a trump trick, so it’s the same 9 tricks.

 

 

 13

♠ 8

AKQ52

54

♣ AK973

 

♠ AKT5

97

AKJ972

♣ J

          North

West             East

          South

♠ 9742

864

T6

♣ 8542

 
Dlr     North
Vul     Both 


 
 
 
 
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♠ QJ63

JT3

Q83

♣ QT6

West   North   East     South

           1        Pass    2

3       4        Pass    Pass

Pass

 

West might well have doubled, his plan then being to convert 3♣ to 3.  This sequence shows a very good hand, a slight stretch by West, perhaps, but not by much.  Not that it matters, the destiny of the hand is 4 by North, and 10 tricks for Declarer.

 

 

 14

♠ KJ43

7632

JT97

♣ 7

 

♠ Q7

KQJ98

AQ8

♣ AKT

          North

West             East

          South

♠ 865

A5

K654

♣ Q983

 

Dlr     East
Vul     None 


 
 
 
 
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♠ AT92

T4

32

♣ J6542

West   North   East     South

                       Pass     Pass

2NT   Pass     3NT     Pass

Pass   Pass

 

Against 3NT a Spade lead holds Declarer to 9 tricks, but we confess that we would lead the J which would be a tragic -460 for us.  Oh, well!

 

 

 15

♠ T9543

53

Q753

♣ 97




Bidding Quiz (South)

♠ AKJ2

KQJ

A82

♣ T32

          North

West             East

          South

♠ 876

AT7

KJT94

♣ Q6

 

Dlr     South
Vul     N-S 


 
 
 
 
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♠ Q

98642

6

♣ AKJ854

South   West     North   East  

1♣       Dbl       Pass     2

Pass    3♣        Pass     3

Pass    5         All Pass

 

East’s jump to 2 shows invitational values, and West has quite enough to push on to game.  3♣ was an attempt to get to 3NT, but, with no Club stop, East was obliged to bid the Diamonds again, and 5 was reached.

 

5 is not a good contract, but, with the Q♠ in the slot, it just requires finding the Q.  E-W are missing just 12 points, and any alert Declarer will draw the obvious conclusion that the missing trump Queen must surely be with the Opener.  The obvious conclusion also turns out to be the wrong conclusion, and Declarer is down one.

 

Does anybody object to that 1♣ opening bid?  It may not be to everybody’s taste, but experience shows that it’s a bidder’s game.  If South passes, E-W will get to 3NT, no doubt.  A triumph for the non-bidders, who can now reel off 6 Club tricks?  Actually, no, because North will be on lead (after 1♣ 1, 2NT 3NT) and will surely lead a Spade … without enemy bidding, normal play in the Diamond suit will be to cash the A and finesse.  That turns out to be 11 easy tricks for Declarer, and a bad board for the non-bidders.

 

 

 16

♠ KQ53

K974

952

♣ A6


Bidding Quiz (East)

Bidding Quiz (South)

Play Problem # 73 (South)

♠ A862

8632

QT7

♣ J7

          North

West             East

          South

♠ T

QT5

A863

♣ KQT92

 

Dlr     West
Vul     E-W 


 
 
 
 
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♠ J974

AJ

KJ4

♣ 8543

West   North   East     South

Pass   1        2♣        Pass

Pass   Dbl      Pass     2♠

Pass   Pass     Pass

 

After 2♣, South had a difficult problem, but a most interesting one!  We like her Pass, for reasons that are discussed in the Bidding Quiz.  Then, she had another little tester when Partner’s balancing Double came back to her.  Again, please see the Bidding Quiz.

 

N-S will do well to stay low in Spades, but, even if they get to the 3-level, they should be able to go plus, notwithstanding the 4-1 trump break.  But, it’s a tricky hand, please see Play Problem # 73.

 

 

 17

♠ K2

QJ87432

9

♣ A32




Bidding Quiz (North)

♠ J87

A6

JT8764

♣ 97

          North

West             East

          South

♠ AQ94

T9

KQ

♣ KQJ54


Dlr     North   
Vul     None 


 
 
 
 
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♠ T653

K5

A532

♣ T86

West   North   East     South

           1        Dbl      1NT

2       2        Dbl      Pass

3       3        All Pass

 

North’s hand is a clear opener in our opinion, and it is certainly not a preempt with an outside Ace and King.  After the Double, South’s 1NT shows 7-9 HCP’s … with more she would redouble, with only 5 or 6 she would just pass.  There goes North, opening on 10 HCP’s and voluntarily bidding again … but, why not, that 2 bid shows something extra in Hearts, not extra  HCP’s.  East’s second Double, however, did show extra HCP’s, but no clear direction.  After 3, North was still not done … she could reasonably expect her Partner to have 2 Hearts, that made 9 altogether, enough to compete to the 3-level.

 

The play of the hand is straightforward, 3 goes down one, and E-W can make 10 tricks in Diamonds.  It was hard for E-W to bid on to 4 with just 8 Diamonds, and we’d be surprised if many E-W pairs get to play in Diamonds at any level.

 

 

 18

♠ JT

986432

AJ6

♣ KT




Bidding Quiz (South)

♠ 74

KJ75

532

♣ J743

          North

West             East

          South

♠ A953

KT974

♣ A985

 

Dlr       East
Vul      N-S 

 


 
 
 
 
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♠ KQ862

AQT

Q8

♣ Q62

West   North   East     South

                       1        1♠

Pass   2        Pass    3

Pass   Pass     Pass

 

That’s a rather raunchy 2 bid by North, but we’d say that the 6th Heart just about compensates for the sub-strength values.  With a good 15 and a 3-card Heart fit, South would take this one straight to 4 … but that 15 is far from good, will all those Queens and the unappealing distribution.  So, good judgment by South to bid only 3.

 

In theory 3 turns out to be an unlucky contract, and the defense can score 2 trumps, two Aces and a Diamond.  But the hand is not without traps for the defense, and it’s easy to see how it might make.  For example, East might choose a Diamond lead (very risky indeed from that long suit), and Declarer’s Diamond loser will vanish.  The obvious lead from the East hand is the A♣, not very appealing just less unattractive than the other leads.  Then a Club continuation, won by Declarer’s King.  Now, Declarer postpones the drawing of trumps and plays on Spades.  East wins, and might well shift to a Diamond, panicking at the prospect of Diamonds going away on Spades.  But, let’s assume that he is made of sterner stuff and continues Clubs, allowing one of Declarer’s Diamonds to go away.  Now, top Spades, and on the third round of that suit it is West who must save the day by ruffing low, preventing the pitch while not using up a natural trump trick.  Now, Declarer has neither the entries nor the Spade spots to continue the Spade attack.  Good defense for down one, we’d guess that at least half the Declarers who play in Hearts will score 9 tricks, one way or another.

 

 19

♠ AT987

QT54

4

♣ 943




Bidding Quiz (North)

♠ 3

7632

QT972

♣ AKJ

          North

West             East

          South

♠ Q65

AK

KJ6

♣ QT862

 

Dlr     South
Vul     E-W 

 


 
 
 
 
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♠ KJ42

J98

A863

♣ 75

South   West     North   East  

Pass     Pass     2♠        2NT

Pass     3♣        Pass    3

Pass     3NT     All Pass

 

We very rarely try Weak Twos with a 5-card suit, but here the conditions seem perfect … a shapely hand, good Spades fillers, and, above all, we are in 3rd seat at favorable vulnerability.  This one is impossible to resist!  Poor East is in a difficult spot, and can hardly be blamed for that imperfect 2NT bid.  After a Stayman auction, N-S will get to 3NT and that will be down two.

 

It’s tough for E-W to reach the superior contract of 5♣ or 5, but, even if they do, both contracts can be beaten one trick.  Against 5♣, South probably leads a Spade (at least she will if Partner has bid the suit), and now a Diamond shift and a ruff will beat the contract.  However, it’s easy to see how 5 might slip through, as North must lead Spades on the go to initiate a forcing defense.

 

 

 20

♠ 42

KT93

J8765

♣ T3




Bidding Quiz (West)

♠ 73

J876

♣ AKJ9542

          North

West             East

          South

♠ KJT96

54

AT942

♣ Q

 
Dlr     West
Vul     Both 


 
 
 
 
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♠ AQ85

AQ2

KQ3

♣ 876

West   North   East     South

1♣      Pass     1♠        1NT

2♣      Pass     2        Pass

3♣      Pass     Pass    Pass

 

These opening bids are getting lighter by the moment, now West bids 1♣ on just 9 HCP’s.  We wouldn’t argue with 3♣ here, either, but we do think it would be rather feeble to say “Not strong enough to open 1♣, don’t want to preempt 3♣ with a 4-card major and a void, so I’ll pass”.  We have a strong desire to get that magnificent suit into the auction, one way or another, notwithstanding the flaws.

 

Against 3♣, a Heart lead and a Club switch will result in a fast down one.  But, North might lead a Spade through Dummy’s suit, won by South’s Queen … now South might err grievously by continuing Spades in search of a trump promotion after which 9 tricks are made.  Poor play by South, we must say, it cannot be wrong to lay down the A at Trick Two to get Partner’s opinion … if she started with a singleton Spade, or seeks a trump promotion, she’ll discourage the Heart, regardless of whether or not she holds the K.

 

Back to the Bidding:

It turns out, on this particular hand, that West does better to open 3♣.  South will balance with a Double, and North will end up declaring 3 or 3, both of which will be down at least one.

 

 

 21

♠ J862

Q32

T983

♣ 83

 

KJ97654

J75

♣ QT9

          North

West             East

          South

♠ T53

T

AK42

♣ A6542

 

Dlr     North
Vul     N-S 


 
 
 
 
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♠ AKQ974

A8

Q6

♣ KJ7

West   North   East     South

           Pass    1        1♠

2      3♠        Pass     4♠

Pass   Pass    Pass

 

South’s 1♠ bid was quite maximum, and many players would reasonably double with this hand and then bid Spades.  But, however South tackles the hand, she’ll likely end up declaring 4♠.  Unless West unaccountably leads a Heart, 4♠ is destined to go down one, and even that will require the (not-too-difficult) correct guess in the Club suit.

 

 22

♠ KJ

JT985

Q

♣ AQJ74

 

♠ T8543

Q3

AJ82

♣ T6

          North

West             East

          South

♠ AQ

764

KT654

♣ K52

 

Dlr     East
Vul     E-W 


 
 
 
 
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♠ 9762

AK2

973

♣ 983

West   North   East     South

                       1         Pass

1♠      Dbl       Pass     2

Pass   Pass     Dbl       Pass

3       3        All Pass

 

After North’s Double, South had a choice of 2♣ and 2.  There was something to be said for 2♣, in that North was more likely to have 5 Clubs than 5 Hearts, but 2 was her choice because it scores better, it is the preferred opening lead, and it is more preemptive (takes away a 2 bid from West).  In fact, after 2, West would have loved to have bid 2, but the rules prevented it, and she passed, judging that 3 was an overbid.

 

In 3, unless Declarer is inspired enough to drop the Q offside, 3 will go down one.  One possible line of play is:  A, Diamond continuation ruffed, Heart to the Ace, losing Club finesse, Diamond ruffed, and now there’s no really good reason that we can see not to take the (losing) Heart finesse.

 

Thanks to the very fortunate lie of the cards, E-W can make 10 tricks in Diamonds, but it’s difficult to imagine that many E-W pairs will compete that high.

 

 

 23

♠ K9

A4

JT6432

♣ 943

 

♠ AJT5432

53

Q75

♣ 6

          North

West             East

          South

♠ 87

Q9762

AK

♣ QJ72

 

Dlr     South
Vul     Both 

 


 
 
 
 
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♠ Q6

KJT8

98

♣ AKT85

South   West     North   East  

1♣        3♠        Pass     Pass

Pass

 

 

West’s preempt effectively shuts up the opponents, and it’s 9 easy tricks for Declarer.

 

 

 24

♠ Q82

KT6

JT98

♣ AK7

 

♠ A

QJ3

AKQ743

♣ 952

          North

West             East

          South

♠ JT95

A752

65

♣ 643

 

Dlr     West
Vul     None 


 
 
 
 
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♠ K7643

984

2

♣ QJT8

West   North   East     South

1       Pass     1       Pass

3       Pass     Pass    Pass

 

 

Against 3, it looks as if Declarer is doomed to lose a Heart, 3 Clubs, and a Diamond, but there is the chance that South might get over-active in the defense.  North starts with the A♣, K♣, and South wins the 3rd round.  No doubt South should lead the 9 at this point, but she might get imaginative and place Declarer with something like ♠ A  Kx  AKQTxxx  ♣ xxx.  If that is the case, the only way for the defense to get a 4th trick is to play a 4th round of Clubs, promoting Partner’s Jxx of trumps.  Good thinking as far as it goes, but, if that were West’s hand, then the opponents have missed a cold 3NT, and, furthermore, Partner would hold 13 HCP’s with 3-4 in the majors, and surely would have made a take-out Double of 1.

 

As it happens, North is 3-3-4-3 with 13 HCP’s.  Did any Norths double 1?  We don’t recommend it, she really needs more points or a more suitable shape in our opinion.  We note with great glee that the Double works out rather badly on this hand.  After the Double, South will cheerfully compete up to the 3-level, only to discover when Dummy goes down that Partner has too much defense against their Diamonds, and not enough offense for her Spades.

 

 

 25

♠ KJT8

Q96

Q72

♣ KJ9




Play Problem # 74 (East)

♠ A972

K

AT9

♣ 86542

          North

West             East

          South

♠ 6

AT753

K8653

♣ A3

 

Dlr     North
Vul     E-W 


 
 
 
 
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♠ Q543

J842

J4

♣ QT7

West   North   East     South

           Pass    1        Pass

1♠       Pass    2        Pass

2NT    Pass    3     All Pass

 

It’s not usual to bid No Trump with the 4th suit unstopped, but West reasonably figured that he had enough small Clubs to reduce the threat of the opponents cashing too many of them.  But East, with a minimum hand and 5-5 distribution, quite rightly went back to Diamonds.

 

Diamonds plays remarkably well, and a surprising 11 tricks are available.  Please see Play Problem # 74.

 

 

 26

♠ 5

82

AQ972

♣ K7643




Bidding Quiz (East)

♠ T4

KQ6

JT853

♣ J95

          North

West             East

          South

♠ AQJ762

AJT73

♣ 82

 

Dlr     East
Vul     Both 

 


 
 
 
 
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♠ K983

954

K64

♣ AQT

West   North   East     South

                       1♠        Pass

1NT   Pass     2        Pass

2♠      Pass     3♠        Pass

4♠      Pass     Pass     Pass

 

East is close to making a jump rebid to 3, but game is reached anyway.  Note that East does well to invite in Spades, rather than to bid the Hearts again.  The point is that the 6-2 Spade fit is likely to be safer than the 5-3 in Hearts.  It’s easy to visualize a forcing defense against Hearts … on the actual hand this would have beaten 4 if trumps were breaking 4-1.  However, in 4♠ 10 tricks are easy enough, even though that trump suit is, indeed, 4-1.

 

 27

♠ AK

9842

K9875

♣ 82




Bidding Quiz (West)

♠ 95

AJT7

T642

♣ Q93

          North

West             East

          South

♠ QJT84

K6

J3

♣ AT76

 

Dlr     South
Vul     None 

 


 
 
 
 
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♠ 7632

Q53

AQ

♣ KJ54

South   West     North   East  

1♣        Pass     1        1♠

Pass     Pass     1NT     Pass

Pass     Dbl       Pass    2♠

Pass     Pass      Pass

 

There’s one bid in this auction that we really like, and that is West’s balancing Double.  With 7 points, opposite a bidding Partner, non-vulnerable, West refused to sell out at the one-level without making at least one contribution to the proceedings.  Good bid!  It said “I want to compete, but I don’t know what to do, hopefully my esteemed Partner does”.  We’d say that this bid has to show Spade tolerance, which is bridge-writer-speak for a doubleton … with 3 he would have already supported Spades, with just one he would be somewhat intolerant.

 

We would like to think that the bid that we so admire is rewarded with success, but it will be touch and go.  1NT was destined to go down, so it behooves East to succeed in 2♠.  Clearly there are 2 Spades losers, 2 Diamond losers, and normally one Club loser (at least).  Can the defense manufacture another?  In theory, yes, but in practice it seems unlikely, and congratulations to any N-S pair who found the magnificent defense of cashing the A and Q, then shifting to a Heart.  Yes, that Heart shift is essential.  Declarer wins the Heart shift with the K (his best play), and loses a Spade to North’s King.  North plays a low Diamond and Declarer goes down in either one of these two ways:

-         Either, Declarer ruffs high (South pitching a Heart), and then loses a trump to the Ace, then the K, promoting the 6th trick for the defense.

-         Or,  Declarer pitches a Club, hoping to trade a Diamond ruff for a Club loser … now South ruffs, and leads a Heart, whereupon Declarer is unable to get enough Club pitches before South ruffs in … sure, Declarer gets rid of the Club loser, but he suffers two Diamond ruffs in exchange.  So, down one.

Terrific defense by N-S!

 

 

 28

♠ 72

87642

973

♣ 842


 

Bidding Quiz (East)

Bidding Quiz (West)

♠ AQ

AKQ9

K42

♣ AQT5

          North

West             East

          South

♠ KJT3

T

AQJT8

♣ 983

 
Dlr     West
Vul     N-S 


 
 
 
 
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♠ 98654

J53

65

♣ KJ7

West   North   East     South

2♣      Pass     3        Pass

4       Pass     4♠        Pass

4NT   Pass     5♣        Pass

7NT   Pass     Pass     Pass

 

The ideal contract is 7NT, but we’d expect even 7 to score very nicely too.  2♣ auctions are quite difficult when the minors are involved (correction, let’s make that very difficult), but East is quite justified in bidding 3 here … true, it crowds the auction and he only has 5 of them … but the suit is strong and the hand is going to slam somewhere anyway.  After West supports Diamonds, East shows something in Spades, West invokes Roman Key Card Blackwood (1430 responses), and zips into the grand.  It was far from a sure thing to bid 7NT, but there were a number of different ways in which 13 tricks might be possible.  For more on the bidding of this hand, from both sides of the table, please see the Bidding Quiz.

 

 

 29

♠ AK643

965

QT73

♣ 2

 

♠ QT95

AKT8

A54

♣ 85

          North

West             East

          South

♠ 2

QJ432

KJ8

♣ AT76

 
 
Dlr     North
 Vul     Both 


 
 
 
 
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♠ J87

7

962

♣ KQJ943

West   North   East     South

           Pass    1        Pass

2NT   Pass     3♠        Pass

4      Pass     Pass     Pass

 

West’s 2NT was the Jacoby 2NT, showing support and game-going values, and 3♠ showed shortness in Spades.

 

South leads the K♣ against 4.  There have been several hands this week where Declarer should postpone the drawing of trumps, and here is another one.  Declarer needs to take a couple of Club ruffs on the board first, so at Trick Two he exits a Club.  Suppose that South wins the Club, and exits a Heart to Declarer’s Queen.  Now, a Club ruff on the board, and out a Spade … a Heart comes back, but Declarer is still able to get the second Club ruff, get back to hand with a Spade ruff, draw the remaining trump, and eventually take the Diamond finesse.

 

 

 30

♠ A53

4

KQ63

♣ AJT74


 

Bidding Quiz (East)

Bidding Quiz (North)

♠ Q87

J9

AJ2

♣ Q9832

          North

West             East

          South

♠ J92

AKQ76

T85

♣ 65

 

Dlr     East
Vul     None 

 


 
 
 
 
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♠ KT64

T8532

974

♣ K

West   North   East     South

                       Pass     Pass

Pass   1♣       1         Dbl

Pass   1♠        Pass     Pass

Dbl     Pass    2        2♠

Pass   Pass     Pass

 

If you are wondering why East did not start with a Weak 2, then so are we, even though we note ruefully that this course of action is not a success (North will Double, South will make a penalty Pass, and E-W will be -300 in all probability).  We like North’s 1♠ bid, though, and also West’s balancing Double.

 

Against best defense, 2♠ is down one, but that requires a Spade lead on the go, even cashing just one Heart first is not good enough, as Declarer can come to at least 2 Clubs, 2 Diamonds, 2 Spades, and a ruff in each hand.  If fact, if East tries to cash a second Heart it might even be 9 tricks:

            A opening lead, then a second Heart ruffed by Declarer

            Cross to the K♣

            Diamond won by West’s Ace

            Low trump shift to East’s Jack and Dummy’s King

            Diamond to King

            Cash A♣ and Q

            Ruff a Club

            Heart ruffed and overruffed with the Ace if necessary

            Ruff another Club for the 9th trick.

In the above line, West could have been a star by shifting to the Q♠ when he gets in with the A.  This pretty play protects Partner’s trump holding from repeated overruffs in Clubs.

 

 

 31

♠ Q9

J7

AK62

♣ KQT83

 

♠ KT6

AKQ85

T

♣ A542

          North

West             East

          South

♠ A73

642

Q975

♣ J76

 

Dlr     South
Vul     N-S 


 
 
 
 
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♠ J8542

T93

J843

♣ 9

South   West     North   East

Pass     1        2♣        2

Pass     3        Pass     Pass

Pass

 

West certainly has enough to invite game, but East is nowhere near accepting with that awful collection.  Maybe one day the Wednesday Game will clutter up cyber-space with some super-scientific game-try methods, but until that fateful day arrives there’s nothing much wrong with just bidding what you’ve got.  Here, West does not have any concentrated side-suit values worth mentioning so he invites with 3.

 

North starts with the A, and when Dummy goes down Declarer can see just 8 tricks.  However, North will not have much fun defending this contract, and no fewer than 10 tricks will eventually materialize.  On that A opening lead South will give count with the Eight, which is standard procedure opposite the lead of the Ace when the Queen is in Dummy.  Now, North can see than a Diamond continuation is most likely to blow a trick (looks like South has 4), that a Club is certain to blow a trick, and that shifting to either major looks highly dangerous.  Let’s say that she guesses right and shifts to a Heart, which, as it happens, is the only lead that does not give away a trick.  That’s fine, but it’s only a temporary respite.  Declarer draws three rounds of trumps, and leads a low Club, which North wins with the Queen.  Now, North has no safe exit, and she’ll probably try the Q♠, hoping for the best.  But that doesn’t work, because Dummy’s Ace wins the trick, a Diamond is ruffed, and then a second low Club to North’s King.  Now, Declarer just needs to take the Spade finesse for 10 tricks.

 

 32

♠ AT952

753

Q93

♣ T5

 

♠ 8

AKT

AKJT76

♣ J62

          North

West             East

          South

♠ KQJ64

J9842

♣ AQ7

 

Dlr     West
Vul     E-W 


 
 
 
 
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♠ 73

Q6

8542

♣ K9843

West   North   East     South

1       Pass    1♠        Pass

3       Pass    3        Pass

4       Pass   Pass     Pass

                                                         

West’s 3 shows a good hand with 6 Diamonds, and less than 4 Hearts (otherwise he would have reversed with 2).  East knows that and would not be bidding 3 on Qxxx.  It’s possible that he is stuck for a bid, but our guess here is that he has 5 of them and so we would bid 4.

 

Against 4, South has a horrible hand from which to lead, but it makes little difference, proper play and the friendly lie of the cards will lead to 12 tricks.  All that Declarer needs to do is to use judiciously his trump entries to the board, first to establish the Diamonds, and then to get back to enjoy them.

 

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