Van Learners Bridge Results

August 26, 2024



Section X  North-South
VanLearners Monday Eve Session August 26, 2024
Leaders after  5 rounds  Average:   30.0
Place   Pct   Score  Pair
  1   55.83   33.50   X-3   Joan Christensen - Carol Ward
  2   53.33   32.00   X-5   Linda Collins - Amanda Hill
  3   52.50   31.50   X-1   Vicki Torbett - Myrna Halpenny
  4   51.67   31.00   X-4   Diane O'Connor - John Fraser
  5   50.00   30.00   X-6   Brenda MacLean-Longpre - Cindy Chan
  6   36.67   22.00   X-2   Alexa Allen - Lesley MacKay

Section X  East-West
VanLearners Monday Eve Session August 26, 2024
Leaders after  5 rounds  Average:   30.0
Place   Pct   Score  Pair
  1   57.50   34.50   X-2   Pam Tomlins - Tim Tomlins
  2   56.67   34.00   X-6   Barbara Spitz - Jacquie Brown
  3   55.83   33.50   X-5   Marion George - Peter George
  4   48.33   29.00   X-3   David Rosenberg - Alan Atkins
  5   45.83   27.50   X-4   Donna Bridgeman - Scott Turner
  6   35.83   21.50   X-1   Faye Wightman - Diane Hardouin

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 at ACBL Live For Clubs, shortly after the main game ends.

The deals tonight are from August 12's open game. I've made a web version of the handout we distributed and talked about tonight here.

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:♠︎K8732 Vulnerable:
North♥︎T8 None
♦︎52
♣︎AJ64
WEST EAST
♠︎J65 ♠︎A9
♥︎K9 ♥︎AQJ643
♦︎KQ8 ♦︎76
♣︎QT987 ♣︎K32
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎QT4 Tricks:
8 ♥︎752 NSEW
11 14 ♦︎AJT943NT4477
7 ♣︎5♠︎7766
♥︎3399
E-W have 25 combined points♦︎7766
Suitable Level: Likely Game♣︎4499
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
3♦︎sK♥︎-1 50
2♥︎e5♣︎+1 140
3Nw5♦︎+1 430
4♥︎eA♦︎+1 450
4♥︎eA♦︎+1 450
 
North passes and East opens 1♥︎. South is a bit light to overcall 2♦︎ but a few daredevils might try a weak jump overcall of 3♦︎, and West will probably react by trying 3NT. If South passes, West will bid 2♣︎, East will rebid 2♥︎ and West will raise to 4♥︎, or perhaps invite with 3♥︎ and East will accept. Neither 4♥︎ nor 3NT makes, but the best defence is difficult to find: in 3NT, a low spade lead from North puts West under some pressure, but South should play the T♠︎ under the ace to let West know to play low on the second spade. In 4♥︎, the best defense must begin with a club to the ace and a ruff, leaving East with a spade and a diamond to lose later. As you can see, few found either defence and the game contracts made.
 
 
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Board 2
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎AK765 Vulnerable:
East♥︎QJ8 North-South
♦︎53
♣︎KT3
WEST EAST
♠︎QT3 ♠︎J984
♥︎T742 ♥︎AK53
♦︎KT86 ♦︎QJ
♣︎Q7 ♣︎A98
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎2 Tricks:
13 ♥︎96 NSEW
7 15 ♦︎A9742NT6667
5 ♣︎J6542♠︎7766
♥︎5577
E-W have 22 combined points♦︎7766
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎8855
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
1Ne4♣︎-1 50
2♥︎wA♠︎-1 50
2♠︎nA♥︎-1 100
3♣︎nA♥︎-1 100
2♠︎nA♥︎-2 200
 
Oddly enough, QJ doubleton is probably worth a full three points when evaluating for a possible 1NT opener, since most of the time it will combine with another honour to create a stopper (even Txx is enough). So East opens 1NT and South passes. West passes as well and North tries 2♠︎, which buys the contract. Some West's will be heroes and double 2♠︎ only to find the eight card heart fit but also find that nine tricks in it is impossible. 2♠︎ isn't the greatest contract either, with two hearts, a diamond, a club, and two trumps to lose, along with a potential club ruff for two down. 1NT, if North allows it to be played, is difficult to beat although the computer claims it should go down. Declarer should get three hearts, three diamonds, and the A♣︎, if not more.
 
 
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Board 3
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎982 Vulnerable:
South♥︎832 East-West
♦︎874
♣︎AT85
WEST EAST
♠︎AT6 ♠︎J543
♥︎Q64 ♥︎KT5
♦︎QJ5 ♦︎AKT9
♣︎6432 ♣︎J7
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎KQ7 Tricks:
4 ♥︎AJ97 NSEW
9 12 ♦︎632NT6666
15 ♣︎KQ9♠︎5588
♥︎6675
E-W have 21 combined points♦︎5588
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎7766
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
1Ns4♥︎= 90
1Ns2♣︎-1 50
1Ns4♣︎-1 50
2♠︎w9♠︎= 110
1♠︎wA♣︎+2 140
 
South opens 1NT and West and North pass. East has a near opener but bidding is dangerous without a suit: North might have as many as seven points for a pass of 1NT. West's natural lead against 1NT is the Q♦︎ and it strikes gold, the defenders winning the first four tricks. East switches to a small spade and South plays the king, which West allows to win. Four club tricks follow and North leads a heart from dummy next. If East plays low, South will finesse the 9♥︎ and eventually make another spade and the A♥︎, or two more hearts. East goes up with the K♥︎ and South wins the A♥︎, but now declarer is endplayed: either a spade or a heart at this point allows the defenders to take the rest. Nice defensive play by East!
 
 
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Board 4
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎AK963 Vulnerable:
West♥︎972 Both
♦︎JT9
♣︎T4
WEST EAST
♠︎Q52 ♠︎JT4
♥︎KJ6 ♥︎AT3
♦︎AQ863 ♦︎42
♣︎A8 ♣︎K9763
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎87 Tricks:
8 ♥︎Q854 NSEW
16 8 ♦︎K75NT3388
8 ♣︎QJ52♠︎3388
♥︎331010
E-W have 24 combined points♦︎3399
Suitable Level: Possible Game♣︎4499
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
3NwK♠︎-2 200
2Nw6♠︎-1 100
3Nw6♠︎-1 100
3♣︎wA♠︎= 110
1Nw6♠︎+1 120
 
Another 1NT opener, this time by West as dealer, and North passes. East has 8 points and a useful club suit, enough - just - for a raise to 2NT. West raises to game and a struggle is in store in 3NT. North smartly leads a fourth-best spade away from the ace-king, allowing declarer to win the first round, but setting up four more tricks in the suit the second the defenders get in. There is no way around this defense, and West must go one down. A friend in the Okanagan tells me that with 15-17 1NT openers, eight counts are often not enough to raise, since partner tends to go on with 16 counts. Here is a hand that proves it!
 
 
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Board 5
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎K76 Vulnerable:
North♥︎J95 North-South
♦︎876
♣︎A542
WEST EAST
♠︎983 ♠︎JT52
♥︎KQ864 ♥︎T
♦︎K93 ♦︎AQ5
♣︎97 ♣︎QJT63
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎AQ4 Tricks:
8 ♥︎A732 NSEW
8 10 ♦︎JT42NT6666
14 ♣︎K8♠︎6677
♥︎7766
N-S have 22 combined points♦︎8855
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎6677
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
1NnQ♣︎= 90
1♦︎sK♥︎= 70
2♠︎eJ♦︎-1 50
1Nn2♣︎-1 100
2NnT♥︎-2 200
 
North and East pass and South opens 1♦︎. West passes and North responds 1NT and all pass. North sees dummy after the Q♣︎ opening lead and notes that nobody has an 8-card fit, which usually means that the defenders prevail. In notrump North starts with six top tricks: three spades, two clubs, and a heart, and needs only to find one more for the contract. The only hope for an extra trick is in hearts, so North grabs the K♣︎ and leads a low heart from dummy. West must rise with an honour or North has a seventh trick with the J♥︎. West continues with a second club, won by the ace, and North, having noted the fall of the T♥︎ from East on the heart trick, plays the J♥︎ next, running it around to West. West has no third club and must guess which suit to lead to get East in to defeat the contract: spades (wrong), or diamonds (right)!
 
 
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Board 6
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎T75 Vulnerable:
East♥︎Q8632 East-West
♦︎K874
♣︎5
WEST EAST
♠︎KJ8 ♠︎A962
♥︎K95 ♥︎4
♦︎AQJ52 ♦︎96
♣︎T9 ♣︎J87432
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎Q43 Tricks:
5 ♥︎AJT7 NSEW
14 5 ♦︎T3NT6755
16 ♣︎AKQ6♠︎6677
♥︎8844
N-S have 21 combined points♦︎5577
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎4488
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
2♥︎s5♦︎+2 170
3♥︎n9♦︎= 140
1♥︎sT♣︎+1 110
2♥︎sT♣︎= 110
2Ns2♦︎-1 50
 
East passes and South opens 1NT, having read countless times my admonition not to be afraid of 1NT with a small doubleton. West overcalls 2♦︎ and this is passed around to South, who doubles for takeout: it makes little sense for this double to be for penalties, since South will seldom have a hand strong enough to do so, but will often hold a hand like this one. North bids 2♥︎ and makes it with ease for a decent score, much better than collecting a mere 100 against 2♦︎.
 
 
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Board 7
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎J75 Vulnerable:
South♥︎KJ83 Both
♦︎Q5
♣︎JT84
WEST EAST
♠︎K9832 ♠︎Q4
♥︎74 ♥︎Q
♦︎873 ♦︎AT62
♣︎K63 ♣︎AQ9752
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎AT6 Tricks:
8 ♥︎AT9652 NSEW
6 14 ♦︎KJ94NT7644
12 ♣︎-♠︎7766
♥︎111111
N-S and E-W each have 20 combined points♦︎6544
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎5588
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
4♥︎s7♦︎+2 680
4♥︎s4♥︎+1 650
4♥︎s8♣︎+1 650
3♥︎s3♣︎+3 230
2♥︎s3♣︎+3 200
 
South opens 1♥︎, West passes and North counts eight points, but in support of hearts the hand is worth at least two more: a doubleton, four-card support, several trump honours make this just enough for a limit raise of 3♥︎. Now it's South's turn to re-evaluate: is a 12-count with a void really a minimum? This can go very wrong if both players add points for shortness in the same suit, but most South's will take the plunge and bid 4♥︎. On this deal 4♥︎ is an excellent spot, with only the A♦︎ to knock out, after which trumps can be pulled and spade losers can go on the established diamonds.
 
 
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Board 8
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎Q65 Vulnerable:
West♥︎Q932 None
♦︎Q6
♣︎9862
WEST EAST
♠︎K72 ♠︎J8
♥︎64 ♥︎KJ7
♦︎A42 ♦︎JT9753
♣︎KJT74 ♣︎A5
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎AT943 Tricks:
6 ♥︎AT85 NSEW
11 10 ♦︎K8NT3388
13 ♣︎Q3♠︎7755
♥︎7766
E-W have 21 combined points♦︎331010
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎331010
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
3♠︎sA♦︎= 140
2♠︎s6♥︎+1 140
2♠︎s6♥︎-1 50
4♦︎eA♥︎= 130
4♦︎eA♠︎= 130
 
West is close, but not quite at, opener strength, and should pass. North does as well and East opens 2♦︎ in third seat. South makes a takeout double and West raises to 3♦︎. North and East pass and South is not biting so 3♦︎ becomes the final contract. If West opens 1♣︎, East responds 1♦︎, South doubles, and West passes. North bids 1♥︎ and North-South will likely prevail, but go down in 2♥︎ or 3♥︎. 3♦︎ is a better spot for East-West, making nine or ten tricks. Souths who overcall 1♠︎ will play in spades instead of hearts, but in either major the defenders can prevail by getting an early club ruff.
 
 
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Board 9
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎3 Vulnerable:
North♥︎972 East-West
♦︎AKT86
♣︎KQ83
WEST EAST
♠︎KQ9 ♠︎AJT62
♥︎6543 ♥︎AKJ
♦︎9752 ♦︎-
♣︎72 ♣︎JT954
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎8754 Tricks:
12 ♥︎QT8 NSEW
5 14 ♦︎QJ43NT6655
9 ♣︎A6♠︎4499
♥︎6677
N-S have 21 combined points♦︎101033
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎5577
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
4♠︎eQ♦︎-3 300
3♦︎nA♥︎+1 130
3♦︎nA♥︎= 110
3♦︎nA♥︎= 110
3♠︎eA♣︎= 140
 
North opens 1♦︎ and East overcalls 1♠︎. South raises to 2♦︎, and West supports spades with a 2♠︎ call. North tries a 3♣︎ call: this shows real, not short diamonds, and suggest clubs as an alternate play if the pair ends up defending a spade contract. East continues on to 3♠︎ and South should bid 4♦︎: four small spades mark partner as short, and the A♣︎ is a key asset after North's 3♣︎ call. In 4♦︎, North needs to play the only longshot in hearts that can work: leading twice toward the queen and hoping East has the AK♥︎. Any other heart play leads to three hearts and a spade to lose and only nine tricks. In spades the defenders pound away at diamonds on the opening lead, two club winners, and a heart winner, and declarer's trumps will be so weakened that South's 8♦︎ may become the fourth defensive trick!
 
 
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Board 10
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎K875 Vulnerable:
East♥︎62 Both
♦︎J8763
♣︎K9
WEST EAST
♠︎Q96 ♠︎A4
♥︎QJ943 ♥︎AKT87
♦︎A ♦︎KQ2
♣︎QJ82 ♣︎A43
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎JT32 Tricks:
7 ♥︎5 NSEW
12 20 ♦︎T954NT111212
1 ♣︎T765♠︎5588
♥︎111212
E-W have 32 combined points♦︎5588
Suitable Level: Possible Slam♣︎111111
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
5♥︎eJ♠︎= 650
4♥︎eJ♠︎+2 680
5♥︎eJ♠︎+1 680
6♥︎eJ♠︎= 1430
6♥︎e2♠︎= 1430
 
East, not quite strong enough for a 2♣︎ opener, can open 1♥︎ or 2NT (20-21 balanced). Over 2NT South passes and partner bids 3♦︎, surprisingly, a transfer to hearts! East should probably jump to 4♥︎ in case partner has the bad hand with five or six hearts, for there should be some play for it. Partner will be surprised by this development and will launch into Blackwood with 4NT and the 6♥︎ slam should be easily reached. Over 1♥︎, West bids 2NT, a forcing raise in hearts, and East goes straight to 4NT, finding out that partner has one ace, enough to try 5NT and stop in 6♥︎ when West shows no helping kings. 6NT makes as well, but it is a much more difficult struggle than 6♥︎.
 
 
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Board 11
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎A4 Vulnerable:
South♥︎K63 None
♦︎AT85
♣︎AK94
WEST EAST
♠︎KJ6 ♠︎T875
♥︎AQ954 ♥︎J8
♦︎9763 ♦︎K2
♣︎2 ♣︎QT853
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎Q932 Tricks:
18 ♥︎T72 NSEW
10 6 ♦︎QJ4NT7755
6 ♣︎J76♠︎6666
♥︎6677
N-S have 24 combined points♦︎7766
Suitable Level: Possible Game♣︎7766
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
1Nn5♣︎+2 150
2Nn3♣︎= 120
2Nn5♣︎= 120
2NnJ♥︎= 120
1NnJ♥︎-2 100
 
South and West pass and North is a little bit too strong for 1NT, so must open 1♦︎ instead (or 1♣︎ if you prefer). East passes and South responds 1♠︎, and West gets in with a 2♥︎ call. North was ready to jump to 2NT to show 18 or 19 balanced, and there is no need to do anything else over the overcall: 2NT shows pretty much the same hand. East passes and South has no reason to continue with only six points, so 2NT is the contract. East leads the J♥︎ and West plays an encouraging five on it (might need the nine later if North began with ♥︎K863). North ducks and wins the second round with the king and is down if West gets back in to cash three more hearts. This can be done, but it's not easy and the likely result is down one.
 
 
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Board 12
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎97652 Vulnerable:
West♥︎KT865 North-South
♦︎A4
♣︎3
WEST EAST
♠︎KQT8 ♠︎A
♥︎Q92 ♥︎4
♦︎8 ♦︎KQJT7653
♣︎K8654 ♣︎AJ2
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎J43 Tricks:
7 ♥︎AJ73 NSEW
10 15 ♦︎92NT6677
8 ♣︎QT97♠︎7766
♥︎8855
E-W have 25 combined points♦︎111010
Suitable Level: Likely Game♣︎3399
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
3Nw6♥︎-2 100
3Nw6♥︎-2 100
3♦︎e2♦︎+3 170
5♦︎e9♦︎+1 420
5♦︎e3♠︎+1 420
 
West and North pass and East has quite the hand. 1♦︎, 5♦︎, and 2♣︎ are all potential opening bids! All roads almost certainly lead to 5♦︎ and there is a defense that beats it: a club lead! If East wins and leads a trump, the defenders get the A♦︎, the A♥︎, and a club ruff! Any other lead allows declarer to unblock the A♠︎, cross to the K♣︎, and play the K♠︎ to be rid of a heart loser, or the K-Q♠︎ to be rid of two club losers if the defenders start with a heart. Another local expert used to have a riddle: what do you call an eight-card suit? The answer: trumps!
 
 
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Board 13
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎AQJ2 Vulnerable:
North♥︎K98 Both
♦︎K652
♣︎83
WEST EAST
♠︎K3 ♠︎T76
♥︎532 ♥︎A76
♦︎J ♦︎AQ74
♣︎AKQJ962 ♣︎754
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎9854 Tricks:
13 ♥︎QJT4 NSEW
14 10 ♦︎T983NT33910
3 ♣︎T♠︎7745
♥︎7766
E-W have 24 combined points♦︎8855
Suitable Level: Possible Game♣︎331010
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
3♦︎n7♣︎-1 100
3♣︎wK♦︎+1 130
4♣︎w2♦︎= 130
4♣︎wA♠︎+1 150
3♥︎sJ♣︎-2 200
 
North opens 1♦︎, East passes, and South bids 1♥︎. West should not get beyond a simple overcall yet, with both opponents bidding and an opener by LHO, the club suit may be the only tricks West has. North makes a Support Double to show three-card heart support, and East tries 2NT with the 10-count and stoppers in both opponents suits. This assumes partner will have a spade stopper but the odds of that on this auction are good. South passes and West raises to 3NT, since seven club tricks has to be worth a raise. All is well even if South finds the miraculous spade lead, since spades break 4-4 and East gets the rest with two aces and seven club tricks! A diamond lead allows East to get home with ten tricks and possibly more if the defenders abandon their diamonds on the run of the clubs!
 
 
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Board 14
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎QJT42 Vulnerable:
East♥︎9 None
♦︎63
♣︎J9653
WEST EAST
♠︎A85 ♠︎76
♥︎KQ753 ♥︎JT842
♦︎T5 ♦︎KQ982
♣︎K82 ♣︎7
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎K93 Tricks:
4 ♥︎A6 NSEW
12 6 ♦︎AJ74NT7766
18 ♣︎AQT4♠︎91033
♥︎3499
N-S have 22 combined points♦︎6666
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎101033
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
4♥︎w*6♦︎-1 100
4♥︎w6♦︎= 420
4♥︎w5♣︎= 420
4♥︎w*6♦︎= 590
4♥︎w*Q♠︎= 590
 
East passes and South opens 1♦︎ with the balanced 18-count, slightly too good for 1NT. West overcalls 1♥︎ and after North passes, East raises all the way to 4♥︎! Six points is worth much more when you have a known ten-card fit and your other high cards are in a second long suit of their own. South doubles and may live to regret that decision. To beat 4♥︎, the defenders need to get a trick in each suit before West is able to pitch a spade loser on the K♣︎. North should lead the Q♠︎ but may instead opt for South's bid suit first, which might be trouble. After a diamond to the ace and a spade switch, West wins, crosses to the K♦︎ and leads a club. South wins and must now cash the K♠︎ or the spade loser will go on the K♣︎. Tricky!
 
 
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Board 15
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎AT Vulnerable:
South♥︎AQ3 North-South
♦︎AJT95
♣︎Q86
WEST EAST
♠︎KQ987532 ♠︎J6
♥︎872 ♥︎K
♦︎3 ♦︎K874
♣︎7 ♣︎KJT952
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎4 Tricks:
17 ♥︎JT9654 NSEW
5 11 ♦︎Q62NT101011
7 ♣︎A43♠︎6577
♥︎121111
N-S have 24 combined points♦︎121111
Suitable Level: Possible Game♣︎8855
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
3♠︎wA♠︎-2 100
5♠︎w*A♥︎-1 100
3♠︎w6♣︎= 140
3♠︎w*A♦︎= 530
4♠︎w*9♦︎= 590
 
South's heart suit is insufficient for a first or second-seat weak two (in third seat, have at it!), so West gets to open some number of spades. With favourable vulnerability and an eight-card suit, 4♠︎ is my choice, but some chose 3♠︎ instead. North hasn't enough to compete at the four level, but might bid 4♦︎ over 3♠︎. West will probably compete further, but the information passed may help North-South in the defense. This is why it is best to pre-empt as high as your hand indicates in one shot, not keep something in reserve for a second pre-empt later. As it happens, East-West are down three in 4♠︎ if the defenders start with A♠︎ and another, but if declarer is allowed to trump a heart or two in dummy, 4♠︎ might even make!
 
 
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Board 16
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎Q942 Vulnerable:
West♥︎AJ8 East-West
♦︎98763
♣︎9
WEST EAST
♠︎T5 ♠︎AKJ876
♥︎73 ♥︎95
♦︎KQJT52 ♦︎A4
♣︎KT8 ♣︎A76
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎3 Tricks:
7 ♥︎KQT642 NSEW
9 16 ♦︎-NT0077
8 ♣︎QJ5432♠︎001010
♥︎101022
E-W have 25 combined points♦︎001111
Suitable Level: Likely Game♣︎7644
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
5♠︎eK♥︎-1 100
4♠︎eK♥︎-1 100
3Nw6♦︎+1 630
4♠︎eK♥︎+1 650
5♦︎w*6♣︎+2 950
 
West opens 2♦︎ and North passes. Over a weak two, a new suit is forcing (by a responder that has not previously passed), so 2♠︎ shows a strong hand. South cuebids 4♦︎ to force North to choose between 4♥︎ and 5♣︎, and East's 2♠︎ call is no longer forcing to West. (Whenever partner makes a forcing call and the next player bids or doubles or redoubles, you can pass since the auction will get to partner for another chance to bid.) West passes and North's choice of 4♥︎ is an obvious one as long as North recognizes that South is not trying to play in diamonds after West promised six of them. East tries 4♠︎ and South should bid on to 5♥︎. On this auction East will play South for a distributional hand and finesse spades through North for no losers and ten tricks or more.
 
 
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Board 17
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎82 Vulnerable:
North♥︎QJT74 None
♦︎K
♣︎AKJ86
WEST EAST
♠︎Q3 ♠︎AK75
♥︎85 ♥︎A62
♦︎AQJ87643 ♦︎T9
♣︎5 ♣︎Q932
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎JT964 Tricks:
14 ♥︎K93 NSEW
9 13 ♦︎52NT111111
4 ♣︎T74♠︎7766
♥︎8855
E-W have 22 combined points♦︎111212
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎8855
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
4♥︎n*A♠︎-1 100
4♦︎wA♣︎+1 150
4♦︎wA♣︎+2 170
5♦︎wA♣︎= 400
5♦︎wK♣︎= 400
 
North opens 1♥︎ and East overcalls 1♠︎. Four-card one level overcalls are OK with strong suits, nothing better, and usually best when not vulnerable. South passes and West has options. 5♦︎ is a possible call, as is only 2♦︎, or even a jump to 3♦︎ or 4♦︎. Hard to know what is best, but 5♦︎ would be my choice: if partner is going to pass, we may as well be in game somewhere. If you are sure that a jump to 3♦︎ is forcing, that may be best since it keeps 3NT in play, which makes if East can smoke out the location of the K♦︎. 5♦︎ is easy: declarer can win the heart lead and play three spade winners pitching away the second heart from hand. North ruffs and cashes a club but that's all they get.
 
 
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Board 18
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎KQ6 Vulnerable:
East♥︎K653 North-South
♦︎A7
♣︎KJ95
WEST EAST
♠︎8 ♠︎A9432
♥︎AQJT9842 ♥︎7
♦︎T84 ♦︎K532
♣︎Q ♣︎T73
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎JT75 Tricks:
16 ♥︎- NSEW
9 7 ♦︎QJ96NT101033
8 ♣︎A8642♠︎9933
♥︎4499
N-S have 24 combined points♦︎8844
Suitable Level: Possible Game♣︎111122
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
4♥︎wK♠︎-1 50
3♥︎w5♣︎= 140
5♣︎s*8♠︎-1 200
3Nn7♥︎-3 300
4♥︎wA♦︎= 420
 
East and South pass and West has yet another eight card suit and gets to open 4♥︎. North doubles but there is little chance that South will make the winning call of 5♣︎; more likely is pass or perhaps a shot at 4♠︎. West might try 5♥︎ over 4♠︎ if South bids it and go down one extra. The defense should get a heart, two diamonds, and a club against hearts. In spades East-West will be able to take two spades, a heart and a diamond. Notrump makes ten tricks by a miracle of layout, but nobody will get there on these cards with West leaping to 4♥︎ at the first opportunity.