Van Learners Bridge Results

May 27, 2024



Section X  North-South
VanLearners Monday Eve Session May 27, 2024
Leaders after  7 rounds  Average:   42.0
Place   Pct   Score  Pair
  1   64.88   54.50   X-1   Joan Christensen - Carol Ward
  2   61.31   51.50   X-6   Pam Tomlins - Tim Tomlins
  3   54.17   45.50   X-5   Ian Wong - Alex Douglas
  4   51.79   43.50   X-7   Ruth Castellino - Doug MacDougall
  5   50.00   42.00   X-8   Vicki Torbett - Myrna Halpenny
  6   45.24   38.00   X-3   Brenda MacLean-Longpre - Cindy Chan
  7   41.67   35.00   X-4   Howard Raphael - Jill Raphael
  8   30.95   26.00   X-2   Diane O'Connor - John Fraser

Section X  East-West
VanLearners Monday Eve Session May 27, 2024
Leaders after  7 rounds  Average:   42.0
Place   Pct   Score  Pair
  1   60.12   50.50   X-5   Peter George - Marion George
  2   55.36   46.50   X-3   Karen Cunningham - Sandra Lloyd
  3   52.38   44.00   X-1   Donna Bridgeman - Jacquie Brown
  4   52.38   44.00   X-4   Doranne McNee - Louise Forsyth
  5   48.21   40.50   X-2   Marcia Smith - Cindy Grauer
  6   47.62   40.00   X-6   Amanda Hill - Barry Segal
  7   44.64   37.50   X-7   Lesley MacKay - Zdenka Buric
  8   39.29   33.00   X-8   Ron Rogers - Patsy Thorpe

Congrats to the winners!

Didn't do as well as you hoped? Don't worry; there is a large luck factor in short sessions, so there are increased chances of scores outside the normal range of about 35-65%. Things tend to even out over time, but less time means less even-ing out! The important thing is to have fun and let the learning happen by gaining experience as declarer, defender, and even as dummy, and perhaps by reading a little about the hands below!

Our game results are posted online here at ACBL Live For Clubs, shortly after the main game ends.

The deals tonight are from May 6's open game.

Below is a full-colour screen version of the comments for each hand. This works best if you have kept score and brought your scorecard home with you so you can check your results against the hand records and see where there is room for improvement. You will find that the simple act of writing down the score on each hand (good or bad) serves as a sort of marker inside your memory that helps you recall later what the issues you thought about while playing that hand were. It's much easier to remember if you have taken the few seconds to write in the contract and the score than to rely on getting your results off the internet. Something happens in those few seconds inside our brains and you'll be surprised at how much you can remember later with the help of a well-filled scoresheet. More on this here

 
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Board 1
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎AK54 Vulnerable:
North♥︎AQT52 None
♦︎J95
♣︎6
WEST EAST
♠︎Q76 ♠︎T932
♥︎43 ♥︎J98
♦︎4 ♦︎AQ62
♣︎AKQT972 ♣︎J4
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎J8 Tricks:
14 ♥︎K76 NSEW
11 8 ♦︎KT873NT5566
7 ♣︎853♠︎7755
♥︎9922
N-S have 21 combined points♦︎101122
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎4488
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
4♥︎n4♣︎= 420
3♥︎nJ♣︎+1 170
3♥︎nJ♣︎= 140
3♥︎nJ♣︎= 140
4♥︎n2♦︎-2 100
 
North opens 1♥︎ and East passes. South has a nice easy raise to 2♥︎, thanks to our modern world where an opening one-bid in a major promises five or more. In 1973 South would have to bid 1NT and maybe support hearts later. West bids 3♣︎, North competes to 3♥︎ with a few extras (14 and a singleton in the opponents suit), and that's where it ends. North loses a club and two diamonds, but can actually ruff two spades without an overruff by West for ten tricks.
 
 
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Board 2
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎KT9 Vulnerable:
East♥︎T6 North-South
♦︎KJ9
♣︎QT932
WEST EAST
♠︎Q8 ♠︎A52
♥︎K873 ♥︎AQJ95
♦︎86 ♦︎T753
♣︎AKJ74 ♣︎6
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎J7643 Tricks:
9 ♥︎42 NSEW
13 11 ♦︎AQ42NT5588
7 ♣︎85♠︎8855
♥︎331010
E-W have 24 combined points♦︎7766
Suitable Level: Possible Game♣︎5577
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
3♥︎e4♠︎= 140
4♥︎e8♣︎= 420
4♥︎e8♣︎= 420
4♥︎e4♠︎= 420
4♥︎e7♠︎+1 450
 
East opens 1♥︎ and South passes. West has a full opening bid with four-card support for hearts, and the bid for that is....2NT! North passes and East bids 3♣︎ showing a singleton club. It's not intuitive, but it is true: singletons opposite strong holdings are not as good as singletons opposite weak suits. Finding a singleton in partner's hand opposite your three small means only one loser in that suit and all the high card working in other suits. So, West should sign off in 4♥︎, which is an easy make.
 
 
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Board 3
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎J9753 Vulnerable:
South♥︎A542 East-West
♦︎AJ
♣︎Q6
WEST EAST
♠︎- ♠︎A62
♥︎Q963 ♥︎T8
♦︎Q542 ♦︎T9863
♣︎K9852 ♣︎T73
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎KQT84 Tricks:
12 ♥︎KJ7 NSEW
7 4 ♦︎K7NT9933
17 ♣︎AJ4♠︎101033
♥︎9944
N-S have 29 combined points♦︎6677
Suitable Level: Game♣︎6666
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
6♠︎s5♣︎= 980
4♠︎s5♣︎+2 480
4♠︎nA♠︎+1 450
4♠︎s3♥︎+1 450
3Ns5♣︎+1 430
 
Many possible auctions here. South opens 1♠︎ and West passes is most likely. North bids 2NT (forcing raise, opening values with four or more in openers suit) and South bids 3NT to show a strong semibalanced hand. 4♠︎ should be the final contract but exuberance might get them to 6♠︎. If West doubles 1♠︎ North can redouble, then support spades later to show a good hand with support. South might open 1NT but spades should be where it ends up. Only a diamond lead holds South to ten tricks.
 
 
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Board 4
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎7 Vulnerable:
West♥︎A94 Both
♦︎QJT73
♣︎9743
WEST EAST
♠︎63 ♠︎A9842
♥︎QT ♥︎KJ653
♦︎K642 ♦︎A5
♣︎KQJ52 ♣︎A
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎KQJT5 Tricks:
7 ♥︎872 NSEW
11 16 ♦︎98NT111212
6 ♣︎T86♠︎5588
♥︎111010
E-W have 27 combined points♦︎4499
Suitable Level: Game♣︎111212
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
2NeK♠︎+1 150
3NwQ♦︎= 600
3NwQ♦︎+1 630
3NwQ♦︎+2 660
3NwQ♦︎+2 660
 
West is just short of an opener with an aceless hand and no majors. North also passes and East opens 1♠︎. South passes and West responds 2♣︎. North passes and East rebids 2HH. South passes and West should bid 3NT, which turns out to be fairly easy. Even if the defenders start with a spade, North has the A♥︎ entry but no more spades to press the issue. Sometimes things work out lucky like that.
 
 
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Board 5
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎AJT52 Vulnerable:
North♥︎A6 North-South
♦︎KT54
♣︎53
WEST EAST
♠︎9 ♠︎KQ8763
♥︎KQ983 ♥︎JT72
♦︎J93 ♦︎7
♣︎KJ96 ♣︎A4
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎4 Tricks:
12 ♥︎54 NSEW
10 10 ♦︎AQ862NT7766
8 ♣︎QT872♠︎5588
♥︎331010
N-S and E-W each have 20 combined points♦︎9944
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎7755
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
4♦︎s8♥︎-1 100
3♥︎w4♦︎+1 170
5♦︎sK♥︎-2 200
5♦︎n2♥︎-2 200
3NnJ♥︎-3 300
 
North opens 1♠︎, which surprises East who was about to open 2♠︎! East passes and South responds 1NT. If West can find a 2♥︎ call, East-West will play in hearts and make a good number of tricks, but if East passes, North may bid 2♦︎ and now it will be North-South with the fit found. Many deals rest on who can find a fit first, and West may have only ten points, but at favourable vulnerability should take a shot and bid 2♥︎.
 
 
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Board 6
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎Q765 Vulnerable:
East♥︎T6542 East-West
♦︎98
♣︎63
WEST EAST
♠︎- ♠︎AKJT984
♥︎KQ97 ♥︎-
♦︎AT4 ♦︎Q63
♣︎T98754 ♣︎AQ2
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎32 Tricks:
2 ♥︎AJ83 NSEW
9 16 ♦︎KJ752NT33109
13 ♣︎KJ♠︎221110
♥︎6676
E-W have 25 combined points♦︎5588
Suitable Level: Likely Game♣︎121111
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
4♠︎e7♦︎-2 200
4♠︎e3♠︎-1 100
4♥︎nA♠︎-3 150
4♠︎eA♥︎+1 650
4♠︎e5♦︎+1 650
 
East opens 1♠︎ and South overcalls 2♦︎. West has enough for a Negative Double, promising four hearts and something in clubs, the other unbid suit. North passes and East rebids 2♠︎. South passes and West now tries 3♣︎, in an attempt to get out of spades, but this just eggs East on and East bids 4♠︎ anyway, with a suit that doesn't need much help. 4♠︎ should go down, losing a spade, two diamonds, and a club, but two possible opening leads allow it to make: a diamond, or the A♥︎!
 
 
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Board 7
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎6432 Vulnerable:
South♥︎KT986 Both
♦︎A5
♣︎43
WEST EAST
♠︎T85 ♠︎AKQ9
♥︎Q32 ♥︎AJ7
♦︎62 ♦︎J4
♣︎KJ962 ♣︎AQT5
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎J7 Tricks:
7 ♥︎54 NSEW
6 21 ♦︎KQT9873NT2266
6 ♣︎87♠︎221111
♥︎5588
E-W have 27 combined points♦︎7766
Suitable Level: Game♣︎221111
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
3NeK♦︎-3 300
4♣︎wA♦︎+1 150
4♣︎wA♦︎+1 150
5♣︎wA♦︎= 600
5♣︎wA♦︎= 600
 
South's best bet is to open 2♦︎ despite the seven-card suit. Vulnerable, it is better to open a level lighter in case they manage to double for penalties. West and North pass the 2♦︎ call around to East, who doubles, and West responds with a 3♣︎ call. East's rock crusher is enough to raise to game, which is an easy make, and Easts who raise only to 4♣︎ are not going to be happy with a score of 150 only.
 
 
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Board 8
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎Q8763 Vulnerable:
West♥︎QJ7 None
♦︎865
♣︎J4
WEST EAST
♠︎KJ95 ♠︎A
♥︎T84 ♥︎A95
♦︎KJ932 ♦︎T74
♣︎T ♣︎AK9752
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎T42 Tricks:
6 ♥︎K632 NSEW
8 15 ♦︎AQNT4499
11 ♣︎Q863♠︎6677
♥︎5588
E-W have 23 combined points♦︎221111
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎4488
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
2Ne2♥︎-1 50
3♣︎e4♠︎= 110
3♦︎w7♥︎= 110
2♣︎eT♠︎+3 150
3Ne2♥︎+2 460
 
West and North pass and East opens 1♣︎. South passes and West responds 1♠︎, preferring the four-card major to the five-card minor with a weak hand (with a good hand, 1♦︎ first and bid spades later). North passes and East rebids 3♣︎, showing a good six-card suit and more than a minimum opener. South passes and West completes the picture by bidding 3♦︎ and this should be enough for East to venture 3NT. A heart lead makes 3NT difficult, but two spades, the A♥︎, four diamonds, and two clubs is enough.
 
 
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Board 9
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎3 Vulnerable:
North♥︎KQT72 East-West
♦︎7432
♣︎983
WEST EAST
♠︎QT8764 ♠︎AK
♥︎8 ♥︎6543
♦︎Q6 ♦︎AT5
♣︎A765 ♣︎QJT4
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎J952 Tricks:
5 ♥︎AJ9 NSEW
8 14 ♦︎KJ98NT5588
13 ♣︎K2♠︎331010
♥︎7766
E-W have 22 combined points♦︎8855
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎221010
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
2♥︎nA♠︎-1 50
2♠︎w7♦︎+2 170
2♠︎wK♥︎+2 170
2♠︎w7♦︎+3 200
4♥︎n*A♠︎-3 500
 
North passes and East opens 1♣︎, South makes a takeout double. West responds 1♠︎ and North passes. East rebids 1NT and South passes. West sees an eight-card spade fit assuming partner has a true balanced hand and bids 2♠︎, which plays two tricks better than 1NT because East followed the rules. But if you often rebid 1NT or 2NT with a singleton in partner's suit, poor partner must be cautious with a six-card suit, because there might not actually be a fit. So ... don't do that! (Many do.)
 
 
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Board 10
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎KQT93 Vulnerable:
East♥︎Q Both
♦︎T75
♣︎K972
WEST EAST
♠︎42 ♠︎AJ876
♥︎AT65 ♥︎972
♦︎AJ64 ♦︎K82
♣︎AQ3 ♣︎T5
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎5 Tricks:
10 ♥︎KJ843 NSEW
15 8 ♦︎Q93NT4499
7 ♣︎J864♠︎4499
♥︎4499
E-W have 23 combined points♦︎4499
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎6677
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
1Ns4♦︎-1 100
2Nw9♠︎= 120
2NwK♠︎+1 150
2Nw2♣︎+1 150
2♥︎s4♠︎-3 300
 
After two passes, West opens 1NT and North passes. East transfers to spades with a 2♥︎ call and South doubles. West bids 2♠︎ and North passes. East continues with 2NT, showing 8 or 9 points and not more than five spades. 2NT is the final contract, since West has a minimum 1NT opener and no fit for spades. Nine tricks can apparently be made in theory, but in practice it looks quite difficult unless the defenders help out unwittingly.
 
 
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Board 11
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎43 Vulnerable:
South♥︎AQ2 None
♦︎7632
♣︎AQ84
WEST EAST
♠︎K97 ♠︎J86
♥︎JT93 ♥︎K854
♦︎KQT ♦︎AJ94
♣︎JT2 ♣︎K3
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎AQT52 Tricks:
12 ♥︎76 NSEW
10 12 ♦︎85NT5577
6 ♣︎9765♠︎7755
♥︎3399
E-W have 22 combined points♦︎4488
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎8855
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
3♥︎w4♠︎-1 50
1Nn4♥︎-2 100
1Nn4♥︎-2 100
3♥︎e7♣︎+1 170
2♥︎w4♠︎+2 170
 
South and West pass and North opens 1♣︎. (1♦︎ is fine but I prefer 1♣︎: if partner is on lead I know which suit I'm hoping for.) East makes a takeout double, South responds 1♠︎, and West bids 2♥︎, which becomes the final contract. A spade lead should be covered with the Q♠︎ or T♠︎ by South but not taken with the ace, which wins the next round of spades and sends back a third for partner to ruff. Unfortunately, beyond three aces and a heart ruff, there are no more defensive tricks.\
 
 
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Board 12
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎KT9 Vulnerable:
West♥︎AQ976 North-South
♦︎2
♣︎T653
WEST EAST
♠︎J653 ♠︎Q7
♥︎- ♥︎T42
♦︎KQT875 ♦︎AJ64
♣︎J42 ♣︎K987
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎A842 Tricks:
9 ♥︎KJ853 NSEW
7 10 ♦︎93NT7744
14 ♣︎AQ♠︎101033
♥︎111122
N-S have 23 combined points♦︎4498
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎7766
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
5♥︎sK♦︎+1 680
4♥︎nQ♠︎+1 650
4♥︎nA♦︎+1 650
4♥︎sK♦︎+1 650
4♦︎w*A♥︎-1 100
 
West can open 2♦︎ but there are going to be occasions where West will regret it. We normally do not open a weak two with a side four-card major, for if that is our fit, the weak two will make it impossible to find. So after West passes, North and East do as well, and South opens 1♥︎. Now West can bid 2♦︎ preemptively, but with five card support North will not be talked out of anything, and 4♥︎ should be the final contract, making a routine eleven tricks.
 
 
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Board 13
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎K Vulnerable:
North♥︎KJ842 Both
♦︎A63
♣︎AKT6
WEST EAST
♠︎T43 ♠︎A87652
♥︎QT9 ♥︎A53
♦︎KJT94 ♦︎Q
♣︎92 ♣︎QJ5
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎QJ9 Tricks:
18 ♥︎76 NSEW
6 13 ♦︎8752NT7666
3 ♣︎8743♠︎5578
♥︎7766
N-S have 21 combined points♦︎6667
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎8834
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
3♠︎e7♥︎-2 200
3♣︎nQ♦︎= 110
4♥︎nA♠︎-1 100
2♠︎e7♥︎= 110
2♠︎e7♥︎= 110
 
North opens 1♥︎ and East overcalls 1♠︎. South passes and West raises to 2♠︎. North doubles with the good hand and East tries 3♠︎, which is passed out. South leads a heart and East has to lose two spades, one heart, the A♦︎ and two clubs. As long as North-South are sure to collect all the tricks that are rightfully theirs, a nice +200 score awaits.
 
 
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Board 14
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎65 Vulnerable:
East♥︎AT65 None
♦︎863
♣︎AK92
WEST EAST
♠︎A98 ♠︎KJ732
♥︎QJ2 ♥︎83
♦︎AJT72 ♦︎94
♣︎84 ♣︎JT65
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎QT4 Tricks:
11 ♥︎K974 NSEW
12 5 ♦︎KQ5NT7766
12 ♣︎Q73♠︎6677
♥︎8855
N-S have 23 combined points♦︎6766
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎7766
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
2♥︎n4♦︎+1 140
3♥︎n2♠︎= 140
3♦︎wA♣︎-2 100
2♦︎wA♣︎-2 100
3♥︎sA♠︎-1 50
 
East passes and South's aceless, flat 12-count is not something I would open, but I'm probably in the minority, so 1♦︎ it is, and 1♦︎ strikes gold, as West has no effective counter and must pass. North responds 1♥︎, East passes, South raises to 2♥︎, and North inches forward with 3♥︎ as a cautious game try which surely South cannot accept. Even 3♥︎ goes down with best defense: North must lose two spades, a trump, and probably two diamonds eventually.
 
 
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Board 15
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎762 Vulnerable:
South♥︎AKQT North-South
♦︎Q8
♣︎QT63
WEST EAST
♠︎AQJ9 ♠︎K854
♥︎9752 ♥︎63
♦︎T952 ♦︎J643
♣︎8 ♣︎A92
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎T3 Tricks:
13 ♥︎J84 NSEW
7 8 ♦︎AK7NT8855
12 ♣︎KJ754♠︎5577
♥︎8855
N-S have 25 combined points♦︎6677
Suitable Level: Likely Game♣︎101033
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
3♣︎sT♦︎+2 150
2♣︎n4♠︎+2 130
2Ns9♠︎= 120
3Ns9♠︎-1 100
4♥︎n2♣︎-1 100
 
South opens 1♣︎ and West might make a takeout double forgetting to count highcard points. North responds 1♥︎ and East bids 1♠︎. South rebids 2♣︎ and West still thinks seven is plenty and bids 2♠︎. North rebids 3♣︎ and this ends the contract, South making ten tricks for 140. If West passes the 1♣︎ opener, North responds 1♥︎, East passes, and South rebids 1NT.  North, with 13 points, will raise to 3NT and the defenders get four spades and the A♣︎ for down one.
 
 
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Board 16
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎QJ752 Vulnerable:
West♥︎5 East-West
♦︎T9432
♣︎T5
WEST EAST
♠︎4 ♠︎KT983
♥︎AKQT632 ♥︎J94
♦︎KQ7 ♦︎65
♣︎42 ♣︎AJ8
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎A6 Tricks:
3 ♥︎87 NSEW
14 9 ♦︎AJ8NT33108
14 ♣︎KQ9763♠︎6676
♥︎221010
E-W have 23 combined points♦︎8944
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎7755
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
3♥︎wT♣︎+1 170
4♥︎wT♣︎= 620
4♥︎wT♣︎= 620
4♥︎wQ♠︎= 620
4♥︎wT♣︎= 620
 
West opens 1♥︎, the others make various noises, and West at some point decides enough is enough and rebids 4♥︎, losing a trick in each side suit and making the contract for a normal result. North-South have a viable sacrifice in diamonds, but if they get into the auction it will be with black suits first, and neither makes for a decent sacrifice.
 
 
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Board 17
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎J942 Vulnerable:
North♥︎A95 None
♦︎Q
♣︎J9865
WEST EAST
♠︎K63 ♠︎AT87
♥︎Q7 ♥︎T43
♦︎7632 ♦︎AK985
♣︎AT74 ♣︎Q
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎Q5 Tricks:
8 ♥︎KJ862 NSEW
9 13 ♦︎JT4NT6655
10 ♣︎K32♠︎5588
♥︎7755
E-W have 22 combined points♦︎4499
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎7755
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
3Nw6♣︎-1 50
2♥︎s2♦︎-1 50
2♥︎s2♦︎-1 50
1Nw6♣︎+2 150
3♥︎s7♦︎-3 150
 
North passes, East opens 1♦︎, and South overcalls 1♥︎. West raises to 2♦︎ and North raises to 2♥︎. East tries 3♦︎ and I would guess that North or South would continue on, but 3♥︎ is not an easy make. Most will finesse and lose to the doubleton Q♥︎ and lose two spades, a trump, a diamond, and a club for down one.
 
 
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Board 18
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎AKJ52 Vulnerable:
East♥︎76 North-South
♦︎AQJ
♣︎JT7
WEST EAST
♠︎Q986 ♠︎4
♥︎KT4 ♥︎A985
♦︎KT7 ♦︎9532
♣︎Q54 ♣︎K963
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎T73 Tricks:
16 ♥︎QJ32 NSEW
10 7 ♦︎864NT8845
7 ♣︎A82♠︎9944
♥︎7766
N-S have 23 combined points♦︎7766
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎7766
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
3♠︎n3♣︎+1 170
3♠︎nA♥︎= 140
3♠︎n4♣︎= 140
3♠︎n9♦︎-1 100
3♠︎nA♥︎-2 200
 
North opens 1♠︎ after three passes and East, having passed earlier, is probably okay making a shaded takeout double at this point. South raises to 2♠︎, West passes, and North tries for game with a 3♠︎ call, but South is not budging, and 3♠︎ is the final contract. In 3♠︎, North will have to lose two hearts, a club, and a spade, but that's good enough for a plus score and a decent matchpoint result.