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Hand Analyses         8th November, 2006

 

 

 1

♠ 8654

Q743

T874

♣ A


 

Bidding Quiz (North)

Bidding Quiz (South)

♠ J32

JT6

K3

♣ Q9743

          North

West             East

          South

♠ QT

K52

J95

♣ KJ852


Dlr     North   
Vul     None 



 

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♠ AK97

A98

AQ62

♣ T6

West    North   East     South

            Pass    Pass    1NT

Pass    2♣       Dbl      2♠

3♣       Pass    Pass    3

Pass    3♠        All Pass

 

Normally, when we use Stayman, our hand is at least of invitational strength, but there are a couple of exceptions when we might want to try it with a weaker hand:

-         We are at least 4-4 in the majors and are willing to gamble that 2 of a major will play better than 1NT … if Opener responds 2, our plan is to bid 2, asking Opener to choose her better major (the so-called “Garbage Stayman”)

-         We are short in Clubs and are prepared to pass any response by Partner, even 2.  Typical distributions are 4-3-5-1 or 3-4-5-1 or 4-4-4-1.

 

North was planning to pass the Stayman response, but East muddied the waters with that rather dubious Double.  This bid is lead-directing, of course, but we are not sure that we like the call with such a fillerless suit.  After the overcall of 3♣, North could hardly compete to 3♠, that would be interpreted as invitational, so she was obliged to pass.  Now South deduced that her side must either have a fit in Spades or Diamonds so she tried 3.

 

It turns out that South would have done better to defend.  3♣ goes down a trick, but so does 3♠, at least on normal play.  True, South, as Declarer, can hold her Diamond losers to one by playing A and a low Diamond, but that is considerably against the odds and two Diamonds will surely be lost in real life, and 5 tricks in all.

 

 

 2

♠ QT862

T42

KT9

♣ KT

 

♠ 953

K75

A5

♣ J9872

          North

West             East

          South

♠ J7

Q9863

QJ874

♣ 6

 

Dlr       East
Vul      N-S 


 
 
 
 
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♠ AK4

AJ

632

♣ AQ543

West    North   East     South

                        Pass    1♣

Pass    1♠        Pass    2NT

Pass    3        Pass    3♠

Pass    4♠        All Pass

 

South’s 2NT bid was not ideal, given the empty Diamond suit, but a jump raise in Spades was not an option with only 3 Spades.  North’s 3 was New Minor Forcing, a method of checking back for a 5-3 Spade fit.

 

Against 4♠ it seems reasonable for East to lead the Q or his singleton Club.  If it’s the Q, Declarer will probably make just 10 tricks (though 11 are possible), but the singleton Club works poorly, giving Declarer an easy route to 11 tricks.

 

Some N-S pairs will end up in 3NT, with West on lead.  He’ll probably lead a Heart to the Queen and Ace.  How do you play the Clubs?  The percentage play is to finesse the Ten, and the good news is that this works.  However, the suit does not break, and Declarer has 10 top tricks.  She can develop an 11th in Hearts, and West can put Declarer to the test by leading a low Diamond after winning the Q.  If she goes for the gusto and flies with the King it’s 12 tricks, if she plays safe and inserts the Ten it’s 10 tricks.

 

 

 3

♠ AKT8654

5

2

♣ QJT4


Bidding Quiz (West)

Bidding Quiz (North)

Bidding Quiz (South)

♠ QJ

K986

KY873

♣ K3

          North

West             East

          South

♠ 93

Q32

QJ964

♣ 862

 

Dlr     South
Vul     E-W 

 


 
 
 
 
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♠ 72

AJT74

A5

♣ A975

South   West    North   East 

1        Pass    1♠        Pass

2♣       Pass    2        Pass

2NT     Pass    3♠        Pass

4        Pass    4NT     Pass

5        Pass    6♠   All Pass

 

North’s 2 bid was the so-called “Fourth Suit Forcing”.  Do you play this as forcing for one round?  Or forcing to game?  We prefer the latter, not necessarily because it is theoretically superior, but because it is simpler (no need to worry later in the auction about which sequences are game-forcing and which are not).  The featured N-S pair were obviously using the game-forcing method.  Here’s a bid-by-bid explanation of the auction:

            2        Fourth Suit Forcing (to game)

            2NT     Natural, typically 12-14

            3♠        Natural, and too good just to bid 4♠

            4        Cue-bid in support of Spades

            4NT     Roman Key Card Blackwood

            5        0 or 3 Key Cards (1430 responses)

 

Both players had interesting decisions along the way, for more on which please see the Bidding Quiz.

 

6♠ is a fine contract requiring either luck in Spades or else the Club finesse.  The overall chances of success weigh in at around 70%, so justice is served when 12 tricks are made and the slam bidders get a well-earned good board.

 

 4

♠ KT98

43

A982

♣ K54

 

♠ Q753

J972

KQ3

♣ T9

          North

West             East

          South

♠ A42

KQ65

J64

♣ A83

 

Dlr     West
Vul     Both 


 
 
 
 
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♠ J6

AT8

T75

♣ QJ762

West    North   East     South

Pass    Pass    1♣       Pass

1        Dbl      2        Pass

Pass    Pass

 

A rather tame auction to a Heart part-score.  The play is not exactly exciting, either.  Eight tricks will be made on just about all lines of play, although North does have the opportunity to blow a trick on opening lead if she finds the (overly?) aggressive lead of a Spade.

 

 

 5

♠ K5

Q963

J3

♣ KJ732

 

♠ AQ764

K4

A862

♣ 86

          North

West             East

          South

♠ 2

JT8752

KQ95

♣ Q9

 

Dlr     North
Vul     N-S 


 
 
 
 
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♠ JT985

A

T74

♣ AT54

West    North   East     South

            Pass    2        Pass

Pass    Pass

 

 

We have no problem with East’s 2 opening, even though the suit is weak.  And we especially have no problem when we notice that we are White vs Red.  Yes, at that vulnerability we like to preempt on the merest of pretexts.

 

As West would you investigate game opposite the Weak Two?  It’s fairly close, we’d say, perhaps a reasonable choice at IMP’s.  But, at matchpoints, where there is less to be gained from chasing marginal games, we’d go quietly and settle for the part-score.  But, as we said, it’s close … for example, move that Q♣ into the Heart suit and 4 is a fine contract.

 

Against 2, South leads the J♠, won by Dummy’s Ace.  Declarer needs to lead Hearts from his own hand but it would be dangerous to get there with a Diamond, because of the risk of a Diamond ruff (for example, cross on a Diamond, lose the A, Diamond return, lose another Heart, and now South gets in with a Club to give North her ruff).  The safe way to Declarer’s hand is a Spade ruff, and now the question is “How do we play the Heart suit?”.  Here are our choices:

-         Lead the Jack, planning to finesse the 8 on the second round if South covers with the Queen … this gives us a slim (10%) chance of holding the Heart losers to one.

-         Lead towards the King … this line is less likely (6%) to achieve just one loser, more likely to escape three losers (by 76% to 66%).

 

What does this mean?  Well, if we got to the ambitious game, we should lead the Jack, our best chance to make 10 tricks.  If we rested safely in 2, we’re almost a lock for 8 tricks, and our best chance for 9 is to lead low towards the King.  On the actual layout, the Ace pops up, so leading low results in 2 Heart losers, and 9 tricks … but those who were laboring in 4 will go down two in their futile attempt to make the contract.

 

Afterthought:

We won the opening Spade lead on the board, and ruffed a Spade as a way back to our hand.  When the King comes down we have another line of play.  We can cross to the A, then lead the Q♠, forcing North to ruff (else a Club goes away).  This weakens North’s trump holding in the (actual) case where she has 4 of them, and saves us from the danger of misguessing and losing three tricks in the suit.  Well, not exactly!  They can get an extra trump trick via a Diamond ruff … after the Spade ruff and overruff, South wins the A, continues Diamonds, then later North wins the Q, crosses to Partner’s A♣, and gets a Diamond ruff.  Yes, it’s a hard-to-find defense by N-S but why give them the opportunity to shine at your expense?

 

 

 6

♠ Q864

J2

87

♣ A9862

 

♠ KJT

QT764

AQT6

♣ Q

          North

West             East

          South

♠ A972

AK983

4

♣ JT3

 

 Dlr     East
 Vul     E-W 


 
 
 
 
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♠ 53

5

KJ9532

♣ K754

West    North   East     South

                        1        Pass

2NT     Pass    3        Pass

3        Pass    3♠        Pass

4        Pass    Pass    Pass

 

West’s 2NT was the Jacoby 2NT, showing a game-forcing fit with Partner’s major.  Then 3 showed shortness, 3 indicated at least some remaining slam interest in case Partner happened to have a good hand, 3♠ was a cue-bid, and 4 said “I don’t have much more to say”.  To be sure, West could have cue-bid a minor control, but by not doing so he was warning against over-exuberance by Partner.  For his sequence of the encouraging 3 and then 4, West could hardly have 2 losers in both minors, he was merely trying to be no more than lukewarm towards slam.

 

The slam turns out to be on a Spade guess, more or less, so nicely done if you bid this one and are also a good guesser.  Then again, if you are able to guess the Spade you will probably get a good board in 4 making 6, so why risk disaster by bidding the slam?

 

System Note:

The standard Jacoby 2NT responses have the benefit of being simple, but they are really not particularly effective.  There are better methods out there … true, they are more complicated, and some learning work is involved, but if you and your Partner want to improve this part of your bidding system, please see the Link.

 

 

 7

♠ 8763

Q74

KT84

♣ A7

 

♠ K54

KJT96

9

♣ J542

          North

West             East

          South

♠ AQT2

8

J76532

♣ 98

 

Dlr     South
Vul     Both 


 
 
 
 
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♠ J9

A532

AQ

♣ KQT63

South   West    North   East 

1NT     Pass    2♣       Pass

2        Pass    2♠        Pass

3NT     Pass    Pass    Pass

 

If your partnership plays 4-suit transfers, then 1NT 2NT is a transfer to Diamonds, and the standard 1NT 2NT invitational sequence is no longer available.  The way around this is to bid 2NT via Stayman, with or without a 4-card major.  In that scenario, the featured sequence was North’s way of inviting game and showing 4 Spades.

 

West is faced with a difficult lead problem against 3NT.  Much as we dislike leading from Jxxx we confess that we would lead a Club here.  That’s a disastrous choice, as it happens, as it hands Declarer her 9th trick.  She still has to be a little careful in untangling her tricks, though … win the Club Ten, cash AQ, cross to the A♣, cash K, back to the A, and cash the Clubs.

 

We gave the opening lead problem to our old friend, Dr Goodlead.  “Playing IMP’s I’d lead a Heart, looks like the best chance of beating the contract.  But at matchpoints that lead is too dangerous, likely to blow a vital overtrick.  I’d lead a Club but I’m not optimistic about this one”.   And rightly so!

 

 

 8

♠ K2

QT6432

J84

♣ Q3




Bidding Quiz (North)

♠ AJ73

AJ98

A65

♣ 85

          North

West             East

          South

♠ 96

K75

T9

♣ KJT762

 

Dlr     West
Vul     None 


 
 
 
 
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♠ QT854

KQ732

♣ A94

West    North   East     South

1        1        1NT     2♠

Pass    Pass    3♣       Pass

Pass    Pass

 

If North feels the urge to get that 6-card Heart suit into the auction, it seems more appropriate to do so with a bid of 1 rather than 2.  After 1, East did not have quite enough to bid 2♣, and 1NT was the best he could do.  Then when 2♠ came back around to him, having limited his hand, he was free to balance with 3♣.

 

It’s often a good idea to lead Partner’s suit, but it’s not always possible.  By a process of elimination, South will no doubt lead a Spade, won by Dummy’s Ace.  Now, with the Club finesse working, Declarer loses just a trick in each suit.  Yes, the defender’s can organize a Heart ruff, but that is just ruffing Declarer’s Heart loser.  The defense needs two Heart ruffs to do any good, and that is not achievable, at least not with East as Declarer.

 

 9

♠ T872

T

A9

♣ AQ9764

 

♠ J

AKQ62

JT853

♣ J3

          North

West             East

          South

♠ AKQ9653

853

72

♣ K

 

Dlr     North
Vul     E-W 

 


 
 
 
 
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♠ 4

J974

KQ64

♣ T852

West    North   East     South

            1♣       1♠        Dbl

2        Pass    4♠        Pass

Pass    Pass

 

It seems reasonable for E-W to end up in 4♠, and we would be quite astonished if any South found the immediately killing Heart lead.  But there is also a chance to beat the contract with the K lead.  North must overtake and shoot back a Heart.  Now Declarer has no quick way back to his hand, and will surely lose 3 minor suit tricks and a ruff … or else, if Declarer overtakes the J♠, he’ll lose three minor suit tricks and a natural trump trick.

 

 10

♠ K8

T8753

JT987

♣ K




Bidding Quiz (South)

♠ QT9

QJ

654

♣ AQ873

          North

West             East

          South

♠ 743

K6

AKQ32

♣ T54

 
Dlr     East
Vul     Both 


 
 
 
 
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♠ AJ652

A942

♣ J962

West    North   East     South

                        1        1♠

2♣       Pass    2        2

Pass    Pass    Pass

 

Any thoughts on South’s first bid?  Would you bid 1♠, or Double, or maybe even Michaels?  Our South chose 1♠ (as would we), please see the Bidding Quiz.

 

North might have considered a 3 raise, but we think that would be an overbid.  4 is not much a contract, but, because of the friendly majors, no fewer than 11 tricks are possible in Hearts.  Here’s one line of play:

            Diamond lead, ruffed by Declarer

            K♠, A♠, and ruff a Spade

            Heart to the Ace

            Spade pitching a Club, ruffed, let’s say, by West

            A♣, ruffed on the board

            Diamond (East must cover), ruffed by Declarer

            Last Spade, let’s say it is not ruffed

            Club ruff

            One more Diamond ruffing finesse, setting up a Diamond trick

 

Afterthought:

Perhaps South missed the chance for a remarkable bidding coup.  Over 2, he might have doubled.  Both Double and 2 would show Hearts, but the Double also gives North the opportunity to pass for a penalty.  Now, what a triumph that would be!  We don’t recall ever penalizing the opponents at the 2-level, when we have a known 9-card fit of our own, and when our side has just a combined 17 HCP’s!  2 doubled is down at least one, probably down two in practice (it’s unlikely that Declarer will drop the stiff K♣).  A N-S score of +200 will strangely tie those tables where a Heart part-score makes 11 tricks, but will be a good board anyway … getting 2 for +500 will be an outright top, of course.

 

 

 11

♠ KQJ832

JT2

83

♣ T7

 

♠ 4

Q8753

K942

♣ QJ3

          North

West             East

          South

♠ AT75

AK9

AJ75

♣ 84

 
Dlr     South
Vul     None 


 
 
 
 
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♠ 96

64

QT6

♣ AK9652

South   West    North   East 

Pass    Pass    2♠        2NT

Pass    3        Pass    3

Pass    4        All Pass

 

We’d say that it was a close choice for East between bidding game in No Trump or Hearts.  We’d be tempted by that T♠ to try 3NT, but on the other hand the Heart support is rather good and we do have a Club weakness.  In 4, East makes 10 tricks easily enough, there’s not much to the play.

 

Note for Squeeze Enthusiasts:

Suppose that East, seduced by that T♠, succumbs to the urge to bid 3NT.  Now, a Spade lead holds Declarer to 9 tricks and a bad board.  But South might be thinking to herself “Have I got a surprise for Declarer!” and lead a fourth-best Club.  Now, let us savor South’s discomfort as Declarer cashes his 5 Heart winners (pitching a couple of Spades from his hand).  South must come down to 7 cards in the end-game and these are her unpleasant options:

-         She keeps 2 Spades, 3 Diamonds, 2 Clubs … now, Declarer takes the Diamond finesse, it loses but a 10th trick is established in Diamonds anyway, and the defense can cash no more than 3 tricks

-         She keeps 1 Spade, 3 Diamonds, 3 Clubs … now, Declarer removes that Spade from South’s hand, exits a Club, and South is end-played in Diamonds.

-         She keeps no Spades, 3 Diamonds, 4 Clubs … now, Declarer cashes the A♠ and it’s more of the same.

Making 10 tricks!

 

 12

♠ T832

4

A972

♣ AQJ5

 

♠ K965

T5

J8

♣ KT972

          North

West             East

          South

♠ AQJ4

KQJ2

KT4

♣ 63

 
Dlr     West
Vul     N-S 


 
 
 
 
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♠ 7

A98763

Q653

♣ 84

West    North   East     South

Pass    1♣       Dbl      1

1♠        Pass    2♠        Pass

Pass    Pass

 

South did well not to compete further to 3 … that would surely be doubled for the dreaded -200.  The play in 2♠ could go in all sorts of directions but the end-result always seems to be 8 tricks for Declarer.

 

 

 13

♠ J43

AK8

AT73

♣ KQ5




Bidding Quiz (N & S)

♠ 65

J43

864

♣ JT876

          North

West             East

          South

♠ K72

Q5

QJ92

♣ 9432

 
Dlr     North
Vul     Both 


 
 
 
 
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♠ AQT98

T9762

K5

♣ A

West    North   East     South

            1NT     Pass    2

Pass    2♠        Pass    3

Pass    4        Pass    4♠

Pass    5♣       Pass    5

Pass    5        All Pass

 

This may be the most obscure auction of the day!  We attempt to unravel its meaning in today’s Bidding Quiz.  For the time being, let’s just say that South’s 3 bid showed a 5-5 hand, and that the following bids were cue-bids in pursuit of a Heart slam.

 

Anyway, whatever your methods (and they may be quite different to the featured auction), the bottom line is that this particular Heart slam is not a good one, you’ll need Hearts 3-2 and a successful Spade finesse.  Not a good proposition in theory, but a top board in practice when the 35% slam rolls in.

 

 

 14

♠ J6542

AJ52

AQ

♣ KT

 

♠ AQ9

KT73

K5

♣ Q863

          North

West             East

          South

♠ 3

986

JT963

♣ AJ72

 

Dlr     East
Vul     None 


 
 
 
 
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♠ KT87

Q4

8742

♣ 954

West    North   East     South

                        Pass    Pass

1♣       1♠        2♣       3♠

Pass    Pass    Pass

 

South’s 3♠ was preemptive, of course … with a good hand (say, invitational or better) South would have cue-bid 3♣.

 

We’d expect 3♠ to be the final contract at most tables and it looks destined to go down a trick as the defense should score 2 trumps, a Heart and two Clubs.  Is there any hope at all for Declarer?  Yes, East might find the disastrous lead of the A♣!  We hesitate to second-guess the opening lead, it’s such a difficult, and sometimes random, part of the game.  But, leading an unsupported Ace against a suit contract is usually not a good idea (even in Partner’s suit), unless one of the following situations applies:

(a)    There’s reason to think that our winner(s) in that suit might go away if we don’t cash immediately (this is more likely to happen in high-level contracts)

(b)   We think we may be able to organize a ruff, either for Partner or ourselves

(c)    The other leads are even more unappealing

We would lead the J here, simple and safe. 

 

If, as E-W, you managed to buy this hand in 3♣, then straightforward play results in 9 tricks and a good board.  But shame on those N-S non-vulnerable opponents for not bidding to the 3-level holding 9 trumps!

 

 

 15

♠ AKT95

AQ64

QJ6

♣ T


 

Bidding Quiz (South)

Bidding Quiz (West)

♠ 743

97

K3

♣ AQJ942

          North

West             East

          South

♠ J862

KJ83

T875

♣ 8

 

Dlr     South
Vul     N-S 


 
 
 
 
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♠ Q

T52

A942

♣ K7653

South   West    North   East 

Pass    1♣       1♠        Pass

1NT     2♣       2NT     Pass

Pass    Pass

 

There’s nothing wrong with passing the West hand in second seat, but we rather like that 1♣ opening bid.  Of course, at favorable vulnerability, it’s always tempting to preempt the opponents but that would be dangerous with a hand that has two or three potential defensive tricks … Partner will also notice the vulnerability and might be persuaded to take a phantom sacrifice.  Therefore, we take the constructive route, showing opening values (well, almost!).

 

Opposite an opening 1♣ or 1, a 1NT bid by Responder typically shows something in the 6-10 range.  But, opposite an overcaller, we need a slightly stronger hand, let’s say around 8-11 HCP’s.  Therefore, South’s hand here is at the lower end of her 1NT range and she declines North’s invitation to game.

 

Against 2NT (or 3NT) West leads the Q♣, and, when the Eight is played by East, South’s humble Seven becomes a second stopper.  Declarer cashes the Q♠, and leads a Diamond towards the board.  West hops up with his K, cashes his 3 Club winners (otherwise they’ll wither on the vine), exits a Heart, and it’s 8 tricks for Declarer.  This should be a good board for N-S, some pairs will surely end up in 3NT which fails when the Heart finesse loses.

 

 

 16

♠ 5

KQ65

J9643

♣ KQJ



Bidding Quiz (North)

Bidding Quiz (East)

♠ KT8

AT872

T

♣ A542

          North

West             East

          South

♠ A7642

43

A75

♣ 987

 

Dlr     West
Vul     E-W 


 
 
 
 
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♠ QJ93

J9

KQ82

♣ T63

West    North   East     South

1        Pass    1♠        Pass

2♠        Dbl      3♠        Pass

Pass    Pass

 

Good work by North to make that “pre-balancing” Double and push E-W to the 3-level.  After that Double, East knew that he would bid 3♠ eventually, so he bid it directly.  Note that 3♠ is not invitational to game here, it is purely competitive.

 

That 3♠ bid turns out to be well-judged because N-S make 3, losing just the 4 Aces.  As for a 3♠ contract, Declarer must lose 2 Clubs and a Heart, and can look after his Diamond losers with ruffs on the board.  But there are still two trump losers, and that will be down one.  Did we say “well-judged”?  Well, only because South forgot to double 3♠.  A penalty Double here is not guaranteed to succeed, but it does look most tempting, don’t you think?  We’d expect to score at least half a dozen +200 scores for every -670, pretty good odds, especially at matchpoints.

 

 

 17

♠ KQ9

532

T642

♣ 854




Play Problem # 89 (West)

♠ J53

KT864

K98

♣ A9

          North

West             East

          South

♠ T2

AQJ7

AJ75

♣ QT7


Dlr     North   
Vul     None 


 
 
 
 
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♠ A8764

9

Q3

♣ KJ632

West    North   East     South

            Pass    1        1♠

2        2♠        4        Pass

Pass    Pass

 

E-W should get to 4, one way or another, but will they make this contract?  This one is presented in Play Problem # 89.

 

 18

♠ 85

AT8

63

♣ QT8762

 

♠ KJ6

KJ9742

T8

♣ KJ

          North

West             East

          South

♠ QT74

Q3

J9742

♣ 95

 

Dlr       East
Vul      N-S 

 


 
 
 
 
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♠ A932

65

AKQ5

♣ A43

West    North   East     South

                        Pass    1NT

2        2NT     Pass    3♣

Pass    Pass    Pass

 

That 2 bid was not without its dangers, and in fact would be down 2 via a trump promotion.  But North reasonably competed to 3♣ via Lebensohl.  That 2NT bid was an instruction for South to bid 3♣, after which North would further describe her hand.  In this case, North just wanted to play in 3♣.

 

In Clubs, with South’s magnificent hand, and 2-2 trumps, no fewer than 11 tricks are made.

 

Another possibility is that West will remain silent, and for once silence will be golden.  North will probably pass, as 1NT looks like it will score better than a Club partial.  But, alas for N-S, 1NT does not play well at all, as a Heart lead holds Declarer to just 7 tricks.

 

SAYC Note:

Lebensohl is not a part of SAYC, and that leaves North with no convenient bid (3♣ would be forcing).  So, North will no doubt pass (reluctantly) and N-S will collect their +100 penalty and a below-average board.

 

 

 19

♠ A2

84

T8754

♣ AK85




Bidding Quiz (South)

♠ KQ73

T963

J9

♣ Q74

          North

West             East

          South

♠ J54

A52

AQ

♣ JT963

 

Dlr     South
Vul     E-W 

 


 
 
 
 
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♠ T986

KQJ7

K632

♣ 2

South   West    North   East 

Pass    Pass    1        Dbl

1        1♠        Pass    Pass

2        Pass    Pass    Pass

 

Some Easts might bid 2♣ over 1, but Double keeps more options open.  But the N-S Diamond fit wins the day, making 10 tricks thanks to the most friendly Diamonds

 

 

 20

♠ KJ2

852

AJ

♣ KJ652

 

♠ QT987

KQ

KQT

♣ T94

          North

West             East

          South

♠ A63

JT74

87

♣ Q873

 
Dlr     West
Vul     Both 


 
 
 
 
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♠ 54

A963

965432

♣ A

West    North   East     South

1♠        Pass    2♠        Pass

Pass    Pass

 

 

North has a pretty grim hand from which to lead, and she’ll surely choose a low Heart as the least of evils.  South wins, cashes the A♣, and now can beat the contract if she guesses to lead a Diamond back … Partner will cash the K♣, give South her Club ruff, and, with a trump trick still to come, that will be down one.  However, if she guesses to return a Heart, Declarer will scramble 8 tricks.

 

Would you have kept silent with the North hand?  After the 1♠ opening, we don’t think that this is a vulnerable two-level overcall, but many will disagree and the auction might well go like this:

 

West    North   East     South

1♠        2♣       2♠        Dbl

Pass    2NT     Pass    3

Pass    Pass    Pass

 

South’s Double is Responsive, showing the unbid suits.  The normal Spade lead against 3 will prevent Declarer from misguessing that suit, but, even so, Declarer is down one.

 

 

 21

♠ A6

3

AKQ2

♣ KQ9864




Bidding Quiz (South)

♠ K543

AT95

JT965

          North

West             East

          South

♠ T9872

62

43

♣ A732

 

Dlr     North
Vul     N-S 


 
 
 
 
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♠ QJ

KQJ874

87

♣ JT5

West    North   East     South

            1♣       Pass    1

Pass    2        Pass    3

Pass    3♠        Pass    4♣

Pass    4        All Pass

 

After North’s Reverse (showing significant extra values) South’s jump rebid was intended to show a good suit rather than a good hand, the objective being more to find the right game than necessarily being a slam move.  After 3, North tried for 3NT (via 3♠), South offered belated Club support, and North settled for 4, a reasonable bid because the Spade suit looked dangerous for No Trump.  However, it turns out that 3NT is the better matchpoint contract, as 10 tricks are available for both.  Did N-S misbid, or were they just unlucky?  We’d say that South was the culprit here, for more on which please see the Bidding Quiz.

 

 

 22

♠ J86

AQ

Q642

♣ A875

 

♠ AKT53

64

KT5

♣ QT3

          North

West             East

          South

♠ 742

JT532

A87

♣ J6

 

Dlr     East
Vul     E-W 


 
 
 
 
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♠ Q9

K987

J93

♣ K942

West    North   East     South

                        Pass    Pass

1♠        Pass    2♠        Pass

Pass    Pass    Pass

 

East does not have much of a 2♠ bid and in the 2/1 style he would perhaps be better advised to slow things down by bidding a Forcing No Trump followed by 2♠, as a slower and less encouraging way to raise Spades.  Not that it matters on this deal, because West is going nowhere, and N-S have no convenient way of getting into the auction.

 

West can make his 2♠ contract if he establishes a Club trick and uses that for a Diamond pitch followed by a Diamond ruff.  But that’s a big “if”, because the opening lead gives N-S the timing to set up their Diamond trick before Declarer can organize the Diamond pitch.  All it takes is for North to lead a Diamond at Trick One.  Will she?  We really think that she should … leading a Heart or a Club from the unsupported Ace looks most unappealing … leading a trump from Jxx is downright dangerous (it could pickle the defense’s trump trick if Partner has Qx and Dummy has a high honor) … what else is left but a low Diamond?  After the low Diamond lead to the Jack and King, Declarer will innocently toss out a Club, hoping that the defender with the Q is either obliged to win the Club or mistakenly chooses to win it.  On the actual layout, that is most unlikely … South wins the Club trick, sends back a Diamond, and it’s down one.

 

 

 23

♠ A8

A94

A73

♣ QJT43

 

♠ 95

KQJ6

KQ9854

♣ 8

          North

West             East

          South

♠ KQT32

72

J6

♣ A762

 

Dlr     South
Vul     Both 

 


 
 
 
 
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♠ J764

T853

T2

♣ K95

South   West    North   East 

Pass    1        2♣       Dbl

Pass    2        Pass    2♠

Pass    3        All Pass

 

East chose to double 2♣ rather than bid 2♠, judging that his hand was not quite good enough to bid 2♠ directly.

 

In the play of 3, North will lead the Q♣, and Declarer has 3 Aces to lose, and a potential 4th loser in Hearts.  Good defense will always hold this to 9 tricks (North must find a trump shift if Declarer plays on Hearts, and must later duck the first round of Spades).  Will it be obvious to North to duck that first Spade?  It should be.  The play will start as follows:

            Q♣ to Dummy’s Ace, South playing the Nine

            Heart to the Jack and Ace

            A and another Diamond, won in Declarer’s hand

            Low Spade and North does what?

It was good play by West not to draw that last trump, depriving South of the chance of a clarifying discard.  North must now decide whether Declarer started with 1-6-4-2 or 2-6-4-1.  Surely, it is the former, and the clue is South’s play at Trick One.  She would not play the Nine from 95 … she really should play the King from K9 … so surely she had K95.

 

 

 24

♠ AK8543

T7

♣ AKQ93


 

Bidding Quiz (West)

Bidding Quiz (East)

♠ T9

A2

KQ932

♣ 8642

          North

West             East

          South

KQJT9764

A85

♣ T5

 

Dlr     West
Vul     None 


 
 
 
 
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♠ QJ762

853

J64

♣ J7

West    North   East     South

Pass    1♠        4        4♠

5        5♠        6        Pass

Pass    Dbl      All Pass

 

Now here’s an auction that you can really sink your teeth into!  We’ll set aside the E-W bidding for the Bidding Quiz, and merely say that South’s 4♠ bid could be made on a multitude of different hands … she could have a “real” 4♠ bid with game values … or, as here, a hand with lots of Spades and not much else … or even something in between, such as a simple limit raise in Spades, where taking a shot at 4♠ is an overbid, but it’s much closer to the truth than a feeble Pass.  When the opponents preempt violently it is often necessary to compromise and improvise, and North should be aware that her Partner’s 4♠ bid was made under pressure and could cover a multitude of sins.

 

Anyway, E-W did very well indeed to sacrifice in 6, and it will be up to South to find the killing Club lead.  We think that she should!  It seems unlikely (but not impossible) from the bidding that the defense has any red suit tricks … there’s surely not more than one Spade trick (if that), and Clubs must be the best hope for the defense.  South will also be aware that Partner had no opportunity to bid Clubs the way that the auction developed, she had no convenient way to show values in that suit or direct that lead.

 

Well done if South found the Club lead!  This is the kind of hand that can break the hearts of men (and women) at a team game!  Imagine this most dangerous scenario … you are South … you will shortly discover that your team-mates had a fine result, playing in 5, scoring +450 … in the meantime, defending 6 doubled, you lead a Club and score +100, winning 11 IMP’s … or, tragically, you fall from grace, lead a Spade, and it’s 13 tricks for the bad guys, -1310, losing 13 IMP’s.  A swing of 24 IMP’s on the opening lead!  Mamma mia!

 

 25

♠ 5

T52

QJ9754

♣ AKT

 

♠ KQJ9

AKJ

63

♣ 9872

          North

West             East

          South

♠ AT842

Q63

AT82

♣ 5

 

Dlr     North
Vul     E-W 


 
 
 
 
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♠ 763

9874

K

♣ QJ643

West    North   East     South

Pass    1        1♠        Pass

2        Pass    2♠        Pass

3♠        Pass    4♠     All Pass

 

That North 1 opening is a tad light, but we like it anyway.  True, it’s in that Weak Two range point-wise, but the hand-type is quite wrong with those two side-suit defensive tricks.  Anyway, regardless of what North does or does not do, E-W should cruise (or at least stumble) into 4♠.

 

Playing in 4♠, East must arrange to ruff 2 Diamonds on the board.  A typical line of play might be:

            K lead, won by the Ace

            Diamond to North’s Queen

            Trump to Declarer’s Ten

            Ruff a Diamond

            Lose a Club

            Another trump lead, won in Dummy

            J to the Queen

            Ruff a Diamond

            Ruff a Club

            Ruff a Diamond

            Ruff a Club, and draw the remaining trump.

 

Can the defense do better by leading a trump on the go?  As it happens, no.  Declarer will win the trump lead, cash A, lose a Diamond, and the defense can never lead that vital third round of trumps.

 

 

 26

♠ 84

J94

AQT2

♣ T984




Bidding Quiz (East)

♠ 3

KT876

KJ83

♣ Q73

          North

West             East

          South

♠ AKJ2

532

764

♣ AK5

 

Dlr     East
Vul     Both 

 


 
 
 
 
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♠ QT9765

AQ

95

♣ J62

West    North   East     South

Pass    Pass    1♣       1♠

2        Pass    Pass    Pass

 

 

Now, here is a controversial auction!  Most Easts would open their hand 1NT and we wouldn’t fault that, there’s something to be said for making the “mainstream” bid, that way you get to the same contract as the rest of the field and have the chance to score a good board with your superior card play.  But the 1NT opening will propel E-W to 4, a very poor contract indeed, destined to go down at least two tricks, however well you might play the hand.  Well, we would not open this with 1NT, showing utter disregard for the mainstream!  Please check the Bidding Quiz for this one.  Staying low on this one is the winning strategy, and that starts with a fortuitous choice of opening bid by East.

 

 

 27

♠ 93

T632

AQ874

♣ J7

 

♠ AQJT

QJ

K965

♣ KQ5

          North

West             East

          South

♠ 86542

K98

J3

♣ A86

 

Dlr     South
Vul     None 

 


 
 
 
 
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♠ K7

A754

T2

♣ T9432

South   West    North   East 

Pass    1        Pass    1♠

Pass    3♠        Pass    4♠

Pass    Pass    Pass

 

Hello, you Wests!  Did any of you count up to 18 HCP’s, and say “This is a 4♠ bid!”?  No, we didn’t think so, the hand has way too many losers and dubious values, and 3♠ is plenty.  But, either way, 4♠ will be reached at most tables, and it’s a fine contract.  But will it make?

 

Dr Goodlead would start here with the T, not seeing much future in a Club lead.  The Diamond lead is the winner!  Down one when the K♠ scores on the 3rd round of Diamonds.

 

 

 28

♠ Q53

Q985

AK864

♣ 5

 

♠ 2

743

QT93

♣ K9862

          North

West             East

          South

♠ 9876

AJT

752

♣ AQJ

 
Dlr     West
Vul     N-S 


 
 
 
 
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♠ AKJT4

K62

J

♣ T743

West    North   East     South

Pass    1        Pass    1♠

Pass    2♠        Pass    3♠

Pass    Pass    Pass 

 

A less than enthralling deal, and proof positive that even computer hands are sometimes quite normal.  We’d expect 9 tricks for Declarer, via a Club ruff on the board.

 

 

 29

♠ J964

J8643

T65

♣ 6




Bidding Quiz (North)

♠ K8

AT2

Q843

♣ AQ73

          North

West             East

          South

♠ Q52

Q9

J72

♣ KT985

 
 
Dlr     North
 Vul     Both 


 
 
 
 
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♠ AT73

K75

AK9

♣ J42

West    North   East     South

            Pass    Pass    1NT

Pass    2♣       Pass    2♠

Pass    Pass    Pass

 

When South opens 1NT, North’s first reaction with her 2-count is “Get me out of here!”.  She has two ways of getting out of there, for more of which please see the Bidding Quiz.

 

In the circumstances, 2♠ is a delightful resting place.  West does best to lead a Diamond, Declarer then pursues Club ruffs on the board and, when the dust has cleared Declarer should be able to get out for down one.

 

 

 30

♠ J984

Q842

J9

♣ QJ7

 

♠ QT52

A96

A4

♣ A843

          North

West             East

          South

♠ 3

J5

KQT876

♣ KT96

 

Dlr     East
Vul     None 

 


 
 
 
 
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♠ AK76

KT73

532

♣ 52

West    North   East     South

                        2        Pass

2NT     Pass    3♣       Pass

3NT     Pass    Pass    Pass

 

East has a most muscular 2 opening, and West has definite game interest … all those lovely Aces, and a slow stop in Spades.  In the featured auction, 3♣ showed a Club feature, and 3NT was then an easy choice.  If E-W had been playing some other method (such as one of the many Ogust variants), then East would have found an encouraging response and 3NT would also be reached.

 

How does 3NT do?  If North leads a Heart, then it’s 9 cashing tricks for Declarer and no prospect for more.  But, if the defense goes wrong by attacking Spades and persisting with the suit, then a 10th trick will materialize for Declarer.

 

 31

♠ AQ5

7642

Q2

♣ Q852




Bidding Quiz (West)

♠ K

AKQ

K64

♣ AKT764

          North

West             East

          South

♠ T9762

J5

T98753

 

Dlr     South
Vul     N-S 


 
 
 
 
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♠ J843

T983

AJ

♣ J93

South   West    North   East 

Pass    1♣       Pass    Pass

Pass

 

 

Here we revisit a recurring theme.  Is West’s hand a 2♣ opening bid, or is it not?  We say not, those big minor suit hands just don’t work well after a 2♣ opening bid (not that they work so wonderfully after a 1♣ bid either, by the way) … it’s enough to drive a partnership into playing a Strong Club system!

 

On the actual hand, opening 1♣ turns out to be quite hunky-dory.  It will likely be passed out, much to the temporary distress of West … but all’s well when Dummy goes down with nothing but useless cards … 8 tricks are made, it’s a plus score, and a very good matchpoint result.

 

What happens if West opens 2♣?  Here is one possible uncomfortable, awkward and utterly unimpressive auction:

 

South   West    North   East 

Pass    2♣       Pass    2

Pass    3♣       Pass    3

Pass    3NT     Pass    Pass

Pass

 

East’s 3 was the “second negative”, saying nothing about Diamonds, merely announcing a very bad hand.  And the resulting 3NT was quite hopeless, of course.

 

As it happens, 5 is cold, but it’s a most lucky contract (needs 2-2 Diamonds with the Ace onside).  And, using standard methods, virtually impossible to reach, anyway.

 

 

 32

♠ Q5

4

QJT842

♣ KQJ8

 

♠ 872

KT93

AK53

♣ 32

          North

West             East

          South

♠ AJ94

QJ65

76

♣ 764

 

Dlr     West
Vul     E-W 


 
 
 
 
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♠ KT63

A872

9

♣ AT95

West    North   East     South

Pass    1        Pass    1

Pass    2♣       Pass    3♣

Pass    Pass    Pass

                 

 A routine auction to a sensible contract.  Declarer can make 10 tricks in one of two ways, it all depends on the defense.  If the defense leads trumps or Spades, 10 tricks are made by setting up the Diamonds.  And, if the defense attacks Hearts then a cross-ruff can be arranged.

                                   

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