Van Learners Bridge Results

July 29, 2024



Section X  North-South
VanLearners Monday Eve Session July 29, 2024
Leaders after  5 rounds  Average:   30.0
Place   Pct   Score  Pair
  1   60.00   36.00   X-1   Joan Christensen - Carol Ward
  2   54.17   32.50   X-3   Vicki Torbett - Jacquie Brown
  3   54.17   32.50   X-6   Alexa Allen - Lesley MacKay
  4   45.83   27.50   X-2   John Fraser - Linda Collins
  5   45.83   27.50   X-5   Barbara Spitz - Marlee Sheinin
  6   40.00   24.00   X-4   Brenda MacLean-Longpre - Cindy Chan

Section X  East-West
VanLearners Monday Eve Session July 29, 2024
Leaders after  5 rounds  Average:   30.0
Place   Pct   Score  Pair
  1   57.50   34.50   X-4   Kathy Armstrong - Doug MacDougall
  2   55.83   33.50   X-1   Ava MacNeil - Joanne Kent
  3   53.33   32.00   X-6   Peter George - Marion George
  4   52.50   31.50   X-3   Doug Stewart - Louise Forsyth
  5   50.83   30.50   X-5   Alan Atkins - David Rosenberg
  6   30.00   18.00   X-2   Donna Bridgeman - David Stokes

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 July 15'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:♠︎AK9742 Vulnerable:
North♥︎KJ8 None
♦︎J9
♣︎T5
WEST EAST
♠︎J5 ♠︎Q3
♥︎T975 ♥︎AQ43
♦︎Q64 ♦︎T8753
♣︎A743 ♣︎J8
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎T86 Tricks:
12 ♥︎62 NSEW
7 9 ♦︎AK2NT9933
12 ♣︎KQ962♠︎101033
♥︎6677
N-S have 24 combined points♦︎6677
Suitable Level: Possible Game♣︎9944
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
4♠︎nJ♣︎+2 480
4♠︎nJ♣︎= 420
4♠︎n7♦︎= 420
4♠︎n5♦︎= 420
3♠︎nJ♣︎+1 170
 
North opens 1♠︎ and East passes. South knows that the pair have an eight-card major suit fit, but with an opening hand can afford to bid a new suit and support spades later, so 2♣︎ is the response. West passes and North rebids 2♠︎, which suggests no extras but a very likely sixth spade. South has an easy 4♠︎ call and the contract is an easy one, North losing the A♣︎ and two hearts. South cannot bid spades as a first response: 2♠︎ and 3♠︎ are non-forcing, and the forcing raise of 2NT promises four spades. 2♣︎ is 100% forcing and a later 4♠︎ call by South implies three-card support and a good hand.
 
 
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Board 2
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎J986542 Vulnerable:
East♥︎T North-South
♦︎J3
♣︎Q97
WEST EAST
♠︎KQ ♠︎73
♥︎AKJ6 ♥︎Q98754
♦︎KQT96 ♦︎42
♣︎62 ♣︎AKT
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎AT Tricks:
4 ♥︎32 NSEW
18 9 ♦︎A875NT221111
9 ♣︎J8543♠︎8855
♥︎221111
E-W have 27 combined points♦︎221010
Suitable Level: Game♣︎5588
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
5♥︎eA♠︎= 450
4♥︎w7♣︎+1 450
4♥︎eA♠︎+1 450
4♥︎eA♠︎+1 450
4♥︎e2♥︎+2 480
 
East should pass. The heart suit is not strong enough for a 2♥︎ call in first or second seat, and the hand is not strong enough for a 1♥︎ opener. No matter, South also passes and West opens 1♦︎. North passes and East bids 1♥︎, and now nothing should stop West from getting to 4♥︎ at least; some optimists may even try for slam and bail out in 5♥︎ when Blackwood reveals two missing aces. (Which, by the way, is what Blackwood is for: it's more a "keep us out of slam when we're off two aces" than "can we bid this slam?") 4♥︎ or 5♥︎ makes an easy 11 tricks.
 
 
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Board 3
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎8652 Vulnerable:
South♥︎AJ8532 East-West
♦︎3
♣︎97
WEST EAST
♠︎AK73 ♠︎J9
♥︎KQT64 ♥︎97
♦︎J762 ♦︎KQ5
♣︎- ♣︎QJ8632
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎QT4 Tricks:
5 ♥︎- NSEW
13 9 ♦︎AT984NT6776
13 ♣︎AKT54♠︎7766
♥︎5577
E-W have 22 combined points♦︎6677
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎7755
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
3♣︎e4♠︎-4 400
2Nw2♠︎-3 300
2♣︎sK♠︎= 90
2Ne5♣︎= 120
3♥︎nJ♠︎-4 200
 
Danger! Deals where neither side has an 8-card fit tend to favour the defenders. South opens 1♦︎, and West can pass, or double (big risk: partner might bid clubs), or bid 1♠︎ (small risk: partner may assume a five-card suit). If West passes, North responds 1♠︎, East passes, and South rebids 2♣︎, and on this hand nothing makes, so it is just a matter of who bids and who stays out. I actually held the West cards two weeks ago and made the risky double of 1♦︎, and ended up defending 3♥︎ somewhat to my surprise!!
 
 
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Board 4
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎A862 Vulnerable:
West♥︎- Both
♦︎AKQ976
♣︎763
WEST EAST
♠︎T ♠︎Q97
♥︎QJT763 ♥︎AK85
♦︎J53 ♦︎8
♣︎T85 ♣︎AKQJ9
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎KJ543 Tricks:
13 ♥︎942 NSEW
4 19 ♦︎T42NT2222
4 ♣︎42♠︎111111
♥︎111111
E-W have 23 combined points♦︎111122
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎22910
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
5♠︎n*9♦︎+1 950
3♥︎wA♦︎+2 200
5♣︎eT♦︎= 600
4♥︎e4♦︎+1 650
4♥︎wK♦︎+2 680
 
West passes and North opens 1♦︎. East makes a takeout double and South bids 1♠︎. West bids 2♥︎ and North jumps to 3♠︎. East figures that West must be short in spades if both opponents can bid them, and bids 4♥︎. This makes eleven tricks easily, but the real question is what happens if North or South bid 4♠︎? Spades also makes eleven tricks for North-South in this wild hand, so anything could happen!
 
 
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Board 5
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎A53 Vulnerable:
North♥︎873 North-South
♦︎943
♣︎K653
WEST EAST
♠︎8 ♠︎KQT9642
♥︎AJ4 ♥︎KT
♦︎AT852 ♦︎J7
♣︎QJ72 ♣︎A9
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎J7 Tricks:
7 ♥︎Q9652 NSEW
12 13 ♦︎KQ6NT111111
8 ♣︎T84♠︎111212
♥︎4488
E-W have 25 combined points♦︎221010
Suitable Level: Likely Game♣︎3399
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
6♠︎eK♦︎-1 50
4♠︎e9♥︎= 420
4♠︎eK♦︎= 420
3Nw3♠︎+1 430
4♠︎e5♥︎+2 480
 
North and South stay out of this one and East-West start 1♠︎ - 2♦︎. East might rebid 2♠︎ here, or possibly 3♠︎. A 2♠︎ rebid will see a 3♣︎ call from West, and East will bid spades a third time. West may try 3NT or raise to 4♠︎. After a 3♠︎ rebid, West tries 3NT and East will pass. Either contract depends on how declarer plays spades: low to the king, then what? Leading the Q♠︎ at trick two works if the J♠︎ is doubleton, but if the A♠︎ is doubleton, low to the ace is the winning play.
 
 
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Board 6
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎865 Vulnerable:
East♥︎A94 East-West
♦︎J85
♣︎AT72
WEST EAST
♠︎Q9 ♠︎AKT432
♥︎T762 ♥︎-
♦︎Q632 ♦︎T97
♣︎983 ♣︎KJ54
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎J7 Tricks:
9 ♥︎KQJ853 NSEW
4 11 ♦︎AK4NT7744
16 ♣︎Q6♠︎4499
♥︎9944
N-S have 25 combined points♦︎6677
Suitable Level: Likely Game♣︎6677
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
3♥︎sQ♠︎= 140
4♥︎sQ♠︎-1 50
4♥︎sQ♠︎-1 50
4♥︎sQ♠︎-1 50
4♥︎sQ♠︎-1 50
 
East opens 1♠︎ and South overcalls 2♥︎. West passes, and North raises to 3♥︎, and South bids 4♥︎. Maddeningly, there is no route to ten tricks: East-West always end up with two spades, a club, and a diamond. You'll just have to take my word for it that this is unusual for these 26 cards and the pair that got only to 3♥︎ was lucky to get a top. 25 combined with a little shape in the South hand and a strong hint at where missing high cards are from the opening bid; this is all more than enough to bid game!
 
 
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Board 7
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎T98762 Vulnerable:
South♥︎J6 Both
♦︎A53
♣︎A2
WEST EAST
♠︎4 ♠︎AK53
♥︎KQ9874 ♥︎AT5
♦︎987 ♦︎QJT4
♣︎874 ♣︎Q3
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎QJ Tricks:
9 ♥︎32 NSEW
5 16 ♦︎K62NT5555
10 ♣︎KJT965♠︎8855
♥︎4499
E-W have 21 combined points♦︎5588
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎8844
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
4♥︎wA♣︎-1 100
4♥︎wA♣︎-1 100
4♥︎wA♣︎-1 100
4♥︎wA♣︎-1 100
4♥︎wT♠︎-1 100
 
After South passes, West could open 2♥︎, but it would be a total minimum in a spot (2nd seat vulnerable) where weak twos should be close to full value. So West passes and North passes as well, and East opens 1NT. South overcalls 2♣︎ and a useful agreement applies: over a natural 2♣︎ overcall, double is Stayman and everything else is the same as if the 2♣︎ overcall was a pass. 2♦︎ thus is a transfer to hearts, and East bids 2♥︎ and plays it there, making three. Note that West played 4♥︎ at all tables in the open game, having opened the ultralight 2♥︎. Serves them right!
 
 
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Board 8
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎QT2 Vulnerable:
West♥︎KT8 None
♦︎T82
♣︎KJ74
WEST EAST
♠︎KJ9863 ♠︎-
♥︎6543 ♥︎J72
♦︎64 ♦︎AQ97
♣︎3 ♣︎QT9862
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎A754 Tricks:
9 ♥︎AQ9 NSEW
4 9 ♦︎KJ53NT111122
18 ♣︎A5♠︎8855
♥︎9944
N-S have 27 combined points♦︎9933
Suitable Level: Game♣︎9854
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
3♣︎e*3♦︎-3 500
3Nn8♣︎+1 430
2Nn7♥︎+3 210
2NnT♣︎+3 210
3Ns8♠︎-1 50
 
After three passes, South opens 1♦︎, a bit too strong for a 1NT opener. West passes and North responds 1NT. East may overcall 2♣︎ but South is ready to bid 3NT, which is a bit of a struggle. Eventually North should prevail with the AQ♦︎ under the KJ♦︎ and two tricks available in spades. Getting only to 2NT on a combined 27 points is a mistake somewhere in the auction.
 
 
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Board 9
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎765 Vulnerable:
North♥︎J32 East-West
♦︎8765
♣︎862
WEST EAST
♠︎- ♠︎KJT98
♥︎AT86 ♥︎754
♦︎AKJ92 ♦︎Q3
♣︎AQJ9 ♣︎T74
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎AQ432 Tricks:
1 ♥︎KQ9 NSEW
19 6 ♦︎T4NT331010
14 ♣︎K53♠︎4499
♥︎221110
E-W have 25 combined points♦︎231010
Suitable Level: Likely Game♣︎221110
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
6Nw5♠︎-2 200
2♣︎w5♠︎= 90
1♠︎s*A♦︎-2 300
3Ne2♣︎+1 630
3Ne3♠︎+2 660
 
After two passes, South opens 1♠︎. West makes a takeout double and North passes. One option for East would be to pass the takeout double and try to beat 1♠︎: poor South would be three down. But three down doubled is only 500 and E-W can make 3NT easily for a score of 600. Vulnerability is quite important here: if N-S were vulnerable, three down is 800; if nobody is vulnerable, 3NT is only 400 or 430 with an overtrick. At this vulnerability, East should respond 1NT and West will rebid 2♦︎; East rebids 2NT and West assumes no fit and raises to 3NT for the good score.
 
 
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Board 10
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎K3 Vulnerable:
East♥︎Q92 Both
♦︎K964
♣︎JT64
WEST EAST
♠︎AQ52 ♠︎T974
♥︎JT54 ♥︎AK863
♦︎T83 ♦︎AQJ
♣︎K8 ♣︎2
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎J86 Tricks:
9 ♥︎7 NSEW
10 14 ♦︎752NT221010
7 ♣︎AQ9753♠︎221010
♥︎221111
E-W have 24 combined points♦︎5588
Suitable Level: Possible Game♣︎7766
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
4♥︎eA♣︎= 620
4♥︎eA♣︎= 620
4♥︎e7♥︎= 620
4♥︎eA♣︎= 620
4♥︎e7♥︎+1 650
 
"These aren't the droids you're looking for," says Alec Guiness in Star Wars, using 'The Voice' to convince the guards not to be suspicious. In this hand, holding the North cards and seeing the West hand as the dummy in 4♥︎, you need to be ready! At some point declarer will cash a high heart, cross to dummy, and lead the J♥︎. If North can play low nonchalantly, declarer may play for the trumps to be 2-2 and your queen will score. If North hitches, declarer will finesse and make all the hearts. If North is ready for this predictable play, a follow in tempo is easier!
 
 
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Board 11
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎4 Vulnerable:
South♥︎J852 None
♦︎A8763
♣︎Q76
WEST EAST
♠︎KQ82 ♠︎A9753
♥︎97 ♥︎A64
♦︎Q9 ♦︎T52
♣︎J9854 ♣︎32
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎JT6 Tricks:
7 ♥︎KQT3 NSEW
8 8 ♦︎KJ4NT7755
17 ♣︎AKT♠︎5588
♥︎111122
N-S have 24 combined points♦︎111122
Suitable Level: Possible Game♣︎7755
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
2♥︎sK♠︎+1 140
1Ns5♣︎= 90
1Ns5♣︎= 90
1Ns5♣︎-1 50
1Ns8♣︎-1 50
 
South opens 1NT and North should .... pass! If North chooses 2♣︎ and hears 2♠︎ from South, 2NT will get a 3NT bid from South and seven points may not be enough. On this deal, 2♣︎ will work like a charm, as North-South will discover their heart fit and make a better score than 1NT. But far more often South will have a 2♠︎ response and trouble will follow. Sometimes you just have to pass 1NT and let partner try to make it. Spades are wide open, but other tables will encounter the same difficulties.
 
 
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Board 12
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎J43 Vulnerable:
West♥︎AJ98 North-South
♦︎AQ93
♣︎84
WEST EAST
♠︎A752 ♠︎KQT
♥︎QT6 ♥︎K752
♦︎- ♦︎752
♣︎AJ9765 ♣︎KT2
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎986 Tricks:
12 ♥︎43 NSEW
11 11 ♦︎KJT864NT3366
6 ♣︎Q3♠︎111212
♥︎33910
E-W have 22 combined points♦︎7766
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎111112
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
3NeJ♦︎-3 150
4♥︎e*4♦︎-1 100
2Ne8♦︎= 120
4♥︎eT♦︎= 420
3♦︎s*A♠︎-2 500
 
West opens 1♣︎, North makes a takeout double, and East bids 2NT (10-12 balanced). South continues to 3♦︎ and this bid might end it, but West may find a 4♣︎ call and make a plus score. E-W can make a lot of tricks in spades, but it is a 4-3 fit and not easy to bid. Strange deal!
 
 
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Board 13
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎KJ86 Vulnerable:
North♥︎Q865 Both
♦︎642
♣︎85
WEST EAST
♠︎Q94 ♠︎A5
♥︎JT ♥︎K72
♦︎AKT3 ♦︎QJ975
♣︎QJ72 ♣︎T93
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎T732 Tricks:
6 ♥︎A943 NSEW
13 10 ♦︎8NT6677
11 ♣︎AK64♠︎9944
♥︎9944
E-W have 23 combined points♦︎4488
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎6677
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
4♦︎eA♣︎-1 100
3♦︎w5♥︎= 110
3♦︎w8♣︎= 110
3♦︎w8♣︎= 110
3♦︎eA♣︎+1 130
 
North and East pass and South opens 1♣︎. West has no perfect call, but passing with 13 points is probably worse than bidding 1♦︎ with four to the ace-king when five or more are expected. North makes a negative double, promising both majors, and East bids 3♦︎, ending the auction. North start with a club and ruffs the third round, and now must be careful: a heart or spade lead costs a trick; only a diamond is safe. West can play hearts for one loser (J♥︎ Q♥︎ K♥︎ A♥︎ on one trick, setting up the ten!) but cannot avoid a spade loser. Looks like the open game players allowed nine tricks somehow.
 
 
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Board 14
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎K76 Vulnerable:
East♥︎K982 None
♦︎AQ943
♣︎3
WEST EAST
♠︎T84 ♠︎Q532
♥︎T53 ♥︎Q7
♦︎T82 ♦︎K65
♣︎J962 ♣︎KQT5
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎AJ9 Tricks:
12 ♥︎AJ64 NSEW
1 12 ♦︎J7NT9911
15 ♣︎A874♠︎101033
♥︎121211
N-S have 27 combined points♦︎121211
Suitable Level: Game♣︎8844
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
4♥︎s2♣︎+2 480
4♥︎s4♠︎+2 480
3Ns2♣︎= 400
1NsT♦︎+5 240
1Ne2♥︎-4 200
 
I would pass the East hand as dealer and South would open 1NT and play 4♥︎ after a Stayman auction, making an easy twelve tricks. But if East opens 1♣︎, South overcalls 1NT and West passes. Once again, North should bid 2♣︎ and the heart fit should be found easily. Systems on over 1NT are also on over a 1NT overcall. Three pairs in the open game went very wrong here, and I cannot see how.
 
 
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Board 15
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎73 Vulnerable:
South♥︎AT3 North-South
♦︎QT654
♣︎T84
WEST EAST
♠︎AT95 ♠︎KJ84
♥︎Q86542 ♥︎9
♦︎8 ♦︎AKJ93
♣︎J3 ♣︎A72
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎Q62 Tricks:
6 ♥︎KJ7 NSEW
7 16 ♦︎72NT5588
11 ♣︎KQ965♠︎111111
♥︎3399
E-W have 23 combined points♦︎5588
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎6666
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
3♦︎e2♠︎-1 50
3♦︎eK♣︎-1 50
3NeK♣︎-1 50
2♠︎e7♦︎+1 140
2♠︎e7♦︎+2 170
 
South's aceless eleven is not an opener, so East opens 1♦︎ in fourth seat. South overcalls 2♣︎ and West bids 2♥︎. North passes and East rebids 2♠︎. This will be the final contract unless North tries 3♣︎, which will force E-W to 3♠︎, or maybe 3♣︎ will be doubled and taken down several tricks for a top. Spades can make as many as eleven tricks, but getting to game with a combined 23 is difficult, especially with the opponent involved in the auction.
 
 
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Board 16
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎T962 Vulnerable:
West♥︎Q62 East-West
♦︎QT854
♣︎5
WEST EAST
♠︎AQ74 ♠︎K8
♥︎AJ3 ♥︎T874
♦︎J3 ♦︎762
♣︎KJ93 ♣︎Q864
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎J53 Tricks:
4 ♥︎K95 NSEW
16 5 ♦︎AK9NT6666
15 ♣︎AT72♠︎7755
♥︎6666
E-W have 21 combined points♦︎8855
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎4588
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
1Nw5♦︎-2 200
1Nw5♦︎-1 100
2♦︎nK♠︎= 90
1Nw5♦︎= 90
2♣︎sJ♦︎-3 150
 
West opens 1NT and North and East pass. Should South pass out 1NT or try a double to see if there is a suit that North-South can play in? At this vulnerability, the cost if the double goes wrong is minimal, so double it is. This shows about the same values as the 1NT call, and after West passes, North's 2♦︎ is to play (transfers not on in this situation). 2♦︎ makes, but does not beat the 100 that defenders of 1NT get. Can 2♦︎ make a crucial overtrick for 110? Unfortunately not. Maybe passing it out was better!
 
 
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Board 17
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎K95 Vulnerable:
North♥︎J86 None
♦︎63
♣︎QJ832
WEST EAST
♠︎J6 ♠︎AQT742
♥︎KQ92 ♥︎A754
♦︎AT987 ♦︎5
♣︎A4 ♣︎97
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎83 Tricks:
7 ♥︎T3 NSEW
14 10 ♦︎KQJ42NT111212
9 ♣︎KT65♠︎111212
♥︎001313
E-W have 24 combined points♦︎3399
Suitable Level: Possible Game♣︎6677
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
4♠︎eK♦︎+2 480
4♥︎eK♦︎+2 480
3Nw3♣︎+3 490
4♠︎eK♦︎+3 510
4♥︎w6♦︎+3 510
 
North passes and East opens 1♠︎. It's a bit light for an opener, but better than 2♠︎ with a side heart suit. South overcalls 2♦︎ and West bids 2♥︎. This is forcing and the 3♥︎ raise will get East-West to game. With the K♠︎ onside, West can win the diamond lead, ruff a diamond, pull trumps, and eventually win six spades, four hearts, a diamond ruff, and two minor suit aces for all thirteen tricks! Not a good slam to be in, with a club lead leaving the 50-50 spade finesse.
 
 
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Board 18
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎AT6 Vulnerable:
East♥︎8 North-South
♦︎A95
♣︎J98742
WEST EAST
♠︎J ♠︎KQ842
♥︎QT765 ♥︎J432
♦︎QJT842 ♦︎K
♣︎A ♣︎KT6
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎9753 Tricks:
9 ♥︎AK9 NSEW
10 12 ♦︎763NT6655
9 ♣︎Q53♠︎6666
♥︎4499
E-W have 22 combined points♦︎5588
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎8844
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
4♥︎e3♠︎-2 100
4♥︎e3♣︎-1 50
4♥︎w7♣︎= 420
4♥︎e7♦︎= 420
4♥︎e3♣︎+1 450
 
East's aceless 12-count also contains a singleton king, so East passes. South also passes and West decides to open the bidding based on position (third seat can be lighter), vulnerability, and shape. But the best opener is not 1♦︎, because after a 1♠︎ response, a 2♥︎ rebid would look like a very strong hand. Better to bid 1♥︎ first and rebid diamonds later. So 1HH it is and this is the master stroke that gets the pair to 4♥︎ easily. Does it make? It shouldn't: N-S have the A♠︎, A-K♥︎, A♦︎. But, at some tables it did. Don't ask me why!