Van Learners Bridge Results

September 16, 2024


Section X  North-South
VanLearners Monday Eve Session September 16, 2024
Leaders after  7 rounds  Average:   42.0
Place   Pct   Score  Pair
  1   66.07   55.50   X-6   Brenda MacLean-Longpre - Cindy Chan
  2   64.29   54.00   X-7   Amanda Hill - David Hsu
  3   54.76   46.00   X-1   Marlee Sheinin - Barbara Spitz
  4   54.17   45.50   X-4   Pam Tomlins - Tim Tomlins
  5   45.24   38.00   X-3   Ian Wong - Donna Bridgeman
  6   38.69   32.50   X-2   Alexa Allen - Lesley MacKay
  7   26.79   22.50   X-5   Linda Collins - Carol Ward

Section X  East-West
VanLearners Monday Eve Session September 16, 2024
Leaders after  7 rounds  Average:   42.0
Place   Pct   Score  Pair
  1   61.31   51.50   X-1   Joanne Kent - Andrew Macneil
  2   54.76   46.00   X-4   David Rosenberg - Vicki Torbett
  3   50.60   42.50   X-3   Peter George - Marion George
  4   48.81   41.00   X-6   Ruth Castellino - Cathy Brown
  5   45.83   38.50   X-7   Kathy Armstrong - Johanne Leach
  6   45.24   38.00   X-2   Jacquie Brown - John Fraser
  7   43.45   36.50   X-5   Doug Stewart - Louise Forsythe

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 September 2's open game, except that I noticed that boards 1, 3, and 4 did not get shuffled from the previous week! Nobody else noticed during the game, but for your set I subbed in different boards from the same set above #18.

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:♠︎K Vulnerable:
North♥︎AJ8 None
♦︎KQJT84
♣︎542
WEST EAST
♠︎T5 ♠︎AQ932
♥︎KT76 ♥︎Q542
♦︎97 ♦︎62
♣︎KT862 ♣︎A9
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎J8764 Tricks:
3 ♥︎93 NSEW
6 12 ♦︎A53NT8855
8 ♣︎QJ7♠︎5578
♥︎44399
N-S have 22 combined points♦︎8844
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎5588
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
3♦︎nA♣︎-2 200
3NTn2♥︎-1 50
2♦︎nA♣︎= 90
2♦︎nA♣︎= 90
 
North opens 1♦, East overcalls 1♠, and South bids 1NT. West passes and North rebids 2♦ and this time everyone passes. 2♦ should be easy to make even if the defenders get two clubs and a ruff, the only other possible defensive tricks are the A♠ and a heart. If East doubles instead of overcalling 1♠, East-West might find their heart fit and make as many as nine tricks, but North will compete in diamonds at least to the three level.
 
 
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Board 2
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎K86 Vulnerable:
East♥︎QT753 North-South
♦︎AK4
♣︎J5
WEST EAST
♠︎JT72 ♠︎AQ3
♥︎AJ2 ♥︎9864
♦︎JT3 ♦︎8765
♣︎Q72 ♣︎K3
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎954 Tricks:
13 ♥︎K NSEW
9 9 ♦︎Q92NT7766
9 ♣︎AT9864♠︎7766
♥︎6677
N-S have 22 combined points♦︎6677
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎8855
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
2Nn8♦︎+1 150
2♦︎n3♠︎= 90
1NsJ♠︎-1 100
1NsJ♠︎-1 100
 
Three passes to North, who opens 1♥︎. East passes and South responds 1NT, since 10 points are required for a new suit at the two level. West passes and North does as well. 2♣︎ may be easier to make, but 1NT scores the same 90 points, and an overtrick in 1NT is more than 2♣︎ making three. South should look for a possible overtrick that may be crucial, and the best source is in clubs. West leads the J♠︎ and South's best move is to duck the first round. If East plays low, the suit is blocked; if East overtakes, dummy's K♠︎ may be a stopper. If North can win five clubs by starting with the jack from dummy, running it if East plays low and dropping East's king on the second round, South may find a route to eight tricks and a good score.
 
 
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Board 3
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎AK8 Vulnerable:
South♥︎A2 East-West
♦︎KQJ8
♣︎A982
WEST EAST
♠︎954 ♠︎763
♥︎QT3 ♥︎K975
♦︎63 ♦︎754
♣︎KQT65 ♣︎J73
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎QJT2 Tricks:
21 ♥︎J864 NSEW
7 4 ♦︎AT92NT101033
8 ♣︎4♠︎121211
♥︎9944
North-South have 29 combined points♦︎131300
Suitable Level: Game♣︎8855
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
3Nn5♥︎+1 430
3Nn7♠︎+1 430
3Nn5♥︎+1 430
3NnJ♣︎+1 430
 
South and West pass and North opens 2♣. North has 21 balanced but with three aces this hand is worth 22 points and a bit strong for a 20-21 2NT opener. East and West stay out and it's all about how well North and South can bid. Thirteen tricks in diamonds are available, but confirming both a good 4-4 fit and a club singleton in the South hand is probably beyond the capabilites of the best bidders in the world. Most tables will settle for 3NT and make ten tricks: four spades, four diamonds, and two other aces.
 
 
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Board 4
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎K852 Vulnerable:
West♥︎A85 Both
♦︎QJ8
♣︎J87
WEST EAST
♠︎73 ♠︎J64
♥︎T932 ♥︎K6
♦︎AT97 ♦︎6543
♣︎Q53 ♣︎KT64
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎AQT9 Tricks:
11 ♥︎QJ74 NSEW
6 7 ♦︎K2NT8844
16 ♣︎A92♠︎9933
♥︎9944
N-S have 27 combined points♦︎6677
Suitable Level: Game♣︎7766
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
3Nn7♦︎+1 630
4♠sT♥︎= 620
4♠sA♦︎= 620
3Ns7♦;︎= 600
 
West passes and North is close but also passes, as does East, so South gets to open 1NT in fourth seat. West passes and North uses Stayman to find the 4-4 spade fit and raises to 4♠, so the uncontested auction (after three passes) is: 1NT - 2♣, 2♠ - 4♠. And despite 27 combined points, it looks a bit bleak trying to find 10 tricks. Even if the K♥ is onside, the first trick in hearts will go Q♥ - K♥ - A♥, and the defenders will win the third round. If South can knock out the defenders A♦ before the defenders set up their club tricks by knocking out South's A♣, South will be able to pitch a club loser on a diamond from dummy. This appears to be what happened as all the open game declarers made their contract.
 
 
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Board 5
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎A632 Vulnerable:
North♥︎KJ North-South
♦︎AK876
♣︎Q6
WEST EAST
♠︎JT98 ♠︎K74
♥︎A85 ♥︎Q763
♦︎JT52 ♦︎9
♣︎KJ ♣︎T9753
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎Q5 Tricks:
17 ♥︎T942 NSEW
10 5 ♦︎Q43NT9944
8 ♣︎A842♠︎8855
♥︎7755
N-S have 25 combined points♦︎9933
Suitable Level: Likely Game♣︎7766
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
3Nn5♣︎= 600
1NsJ♠︎+1 120
1Nn5♣︎= 90
3NsJ♠︎-1 100
 
North opens 1NT. This is a better opener than 1♦︎, where a rebid of 1♠︎ would be an underbid and a jump rebid of 2♠︎ would be an overbid. East passes and South bids a Stayman 2♣︎. West passes and North happily bids 2♠︎. East passes and South rebids 2NT, invitational but looking for the heart, not the spade, fit. North raises to 3NT and learns a new card combination, with two chances to try it: Axxx opposite Qx. To get two tricks in such a suit, lead low from the hand with the ace first: if the defender before the queen has the king, you eventually get the queen and later the ace! This works here in spades and diamonds and nine tricks are the result; ten if declarer can manage a heart trick as well!
 
 
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Board 6
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎J Vulnerable:
East♥︎J532 East-West
♦︎KT642
♣︎J65
WEST EAST
♠︎764 ♠︎KQ9832
♥︎A987 ♥︎QT4
♦︎83 ♦︎Q5
♣︎Q973 ♣︎T2
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎AT5 Tricks:
6 ♥︎K6 NSEW
6 9 ♦︎AJ97NT9933
19 ♣︎AK84♠︎6677
♥︎8855
N-S have 25 combined points♦︎101033
Suitable Level: Likely Game♣︎101033
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
3Ns6♠︎= 400
5♦︎nQ♥︎= 400
2♠︎e4♣︎-3 300
3♦︎nK♠︎+2 150
 
East has a textbook 2♠︎ opener and South is up next with a monster. A 2NT overcall of a weak two shows 15-17 and a stopper. This is 19 with a stopper, so the first move to make is a takeout double, then a notrump bid will complete the picture after partner's forced response to the takeout double. General concept: a takeout doubler who ignores partner's forced choice and rebids notrump or a new suit, is very strong, at least an ace and a queen better than a minimum. West passes and North bids 3♦︎. East passes and South completes the picture with 3NT, which makes easily unless South misguesses diamonds. Remember, a takeout double promises support for unbid suits, or rarely is a hand too strong for a simple overcall. If the doubler rebids a new suit or notrump, it's the super strong version!
 
 
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Board 7
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎74 Vulnerable:
South♥︎A63 Both
♦︎T7
♣︎JT9752
WEST EAST
♠︎QJ6532 ♠︎-
♥︎KJT8 ♥︎Q94
♦︎83 ♦︎AKQ942
♣︎3 ♣︎KQ86
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎AKT98 Tricks:
5 ♥︎752 NSEW
7 16 ♦︎J65NT4498
12 ♣︎A4♠︎5577
♥︎3399
E-W have 23 combined points♦︎221010
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎6676
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
2♦︎eA♠︎+2 130
2♦︎eA♠︎+2 130
3♦︎eA♣︎+1 130
3♦︎eA♠︎+1 130
 
South opens 1♠︎ and West passes. Even if West had the A♣︎ and A♦︎ instead of the 3♣︎ and 3♦︎ pass would be right: the advantages of takeout doubles leave one disadvantage: we cannot do much when we are about to open a suit and it is opened on our right! North could pass 1♠︎ but most will scrape up a 1NT call. Maybe South will be able to rebid 4♠︎, or 2♣︎. East overcalls 2♦︎ and somewhat to East's surprise, everyone passes. East loses the A♣︎ and A♥︎ and in trying to get a second club ruff is overruffed by South, so ten tricks are normal.
 
 
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Board 8
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎K874 Vulnerable:
West♥︎A8 None
♦︎K93
♣︎A654
WEST EAST
♠︎AQJ96 ♠︎52
♥︎Q72 ♥︎T5
♦︎AJ5 ♦︎T874
♣︎K2 ♣︎JT873
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎T3 Tricks:
14 ♥︎KJ9643 NSEW
17 1 ♦︎Q62NT6766
8 ♣︎Q9♠︎7766
♥︎91034
N-S have 22 combined points♦︎6667
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎5677
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
3♥︎sA♠︎+1 170
3♥︎sA♠︎= 140
1♠︎wA♥︎= 80
1Nw4♠︎= 90
 
1♠︎ or 1NT for West? Normally with 5-3 in the majors I opt for 1NT if balanced, but here the combination of the five-card suit makes this a bit strong for 1NT, effectively adding a point and placing this outside the range. Partner might pass with a decent 7 count and we would miss a game. So I would open 1♠︎ and perhaps an active North might overcall 1NT! East passes and South will do something to steer the contract towards hearts, which makes nine or ten tricks without too much difficulty. 1NT openers with five-card majors are fine, with one exception: two cards in the other major leaves you open to being transferred to your short major while your long major is more playable. With 5-2 or 2-5 in the majors I open 1♥︎ or 1♠︎.
 
 
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Board 9
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎T62 Vulnerable:
North♥︎J92 East-West
♦︎T97
♣︎AT73
WEST EAST
♠︎Q983 ♠︎7
♥︎63 ♥︎AQ854
♦︎A8643 ♦︎KQJ2
♣︎KQ ♣︎982
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎AKJ54 Tricks:
5 ♥︎KT7 NSEW
11 12 ♦︎5NT6677
12 ♣︎J654♠︎8855
♥︎4488
E-W have 23 combined points♦︎331010
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎8855
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
3♥︎e5♦︎-2 200
3♦︎wT♠︎-1 100
4♦︎eA♠︎-1 100
2♦︎w6♠︎+1 110
 
North passes and East opens 1♥︎. South overcalls 1♠︎ and West chooses 2NT, showing a spade stopper and a near opener. North passes and East is not interested in game, but offers an alternative by bidding 3♦︎, which is happily passed out by everyone. Two black aces and the K♥︎ should be East's only losers, but it might prove difficult to ruff three spades and there may be a fourth loser out there somewhere.
 
 
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Board 10
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎QT53 Vulnerable:
East♥︎AQT5 Both
♦︎53
♣︎AT4
WEST EAST
♠︎K972 ♠︎A8
♥︎43 ♥︎KJ62
♦︎KT87 ♦︎AQJ964
♣︎873 ♣︎5
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎J64 Tricks:
12 ♥︎987 NSEW
6 15 ♦︎2NT5566
7 ♣︎KQJ962♠︎6666
♥︎6666
E-W have 21 combined points♦︎221111
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎8855
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
4♦︎eK♣︎= 130
3♦︎eK♣︎+2 150
4♦︎e9♥︎+1 150
5♣︎s7♦︎-2 200
 
East opens 1♦︎, South passes, and West responds 1♠︎. North might try a takeout double here, but if South bids clubs it might get uncomfortable, and opening up chances for the opponents to double you when vulnerable is seldom a smart move, so passing is best. East has three possible rebids: 2♦︎ (a bit of an underbid with 15 and a singleton), 3♦︎ (maybe OK), and a reverse to 2♥︎. Reverses (rebidding a higher suit than the one opened) promise 1) more (not equal) cards in the opened suit, and 2) about an ace more than a minimum opener. Change the A♦︎ to the 2♦︎: would you open the East hand 1♦︎? I think I would, so 2♥︎ is the call. South passes and West bids 3♦︎ and that's all; with the AQ♥︎ onside there are eleven lucky tricks to be had.
 
 
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Board 11
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎AJT83 Vulnerable:
South♥︎QT4 None
♦︎A62
♣︎92
WEST EAST
♠︎K64 ♠︎52
♥︎A8652 ♥︎KJ973
♦︎Q753 ♦︎KJ9
♣︎T ♣︎753
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎Q97 Tricks:
11 ♥︎- NSEW
9 8 ♦︎T84NT8800
12 ♣︎AKQJ864♠︎131300
♥︎4499
N-S have 23 combined points♦︎6655
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎131300
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
4♠︎n4♥︎+3 510
5♠︎n3♣︎+2 510
4♠︎n7♥︎+3 510
3♠︎nK♥︎+4 260
 
South opens 1♣︎ and West is close to coming in but passes. North responds 1♠︎ and East passes. South's 12 count is now worth about 18 points in support of spades, but North may have only 6, so the best rebid is 3♠︎, inviting game. North has no trouble accepting the invite, and — surprise! — makes all thirteen tricks when the K♠︎ is onside: five spades, the A♦︎, and seven clubs! 23 points and 7♠︎ is cold! Who knew? (Let us hope you did not duplicate the performance of the pair in the open game who stopped somehow in 3♠︎....)
 
 
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Board 12
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎QJT5 Vulnerable:
West♥︎T6 North-South
♦︎AQ96
♣︎QT8
WEST EAST
♠︎A32 ♠︎K9764
♥︎842 ♥︎Q
♦︎KT873 ♦︎542
♣︎K9 ♣︎A752
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎8 Tricks:
11 ♥︎AKJ9753 NSEW
10 9 ♦︎JNT9944
10 ♣︎J643♠︎5588
♥︎9922
N-S have 21 combined points♦︎6677
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎8855
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
3Nn9♠︎+2 660
3Nn9♠︎+1 630
3♥︎s3♦︎+1 170
4♥︎sA♠︎-1 100
 
I could see this hand being passed out; the usual fourth seat rule is to open if your highcard points plus the length of your spade suit is 15 or more, but people don't like to pass out good seven card suits, so I would guess South opens 3♥︎ or 2♥︎. This makes little sense, by the way: why pre-empt against two hands that have already passed?! The winning move, somewhat paradoxically, is for North to take a shot at 3NT, which is a winner: seven hearts and the A♦︎ leave only one trick to finagle from the rest of the hand, and somehow it will magically arrive.
 
 
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Board 13
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎JT96 Vulnerable:
North♥︎A Both
♦︎AKQ85
♣︎T43
WEST EAST
♠︎KQ52 ♠︎743
♥︎954 ♥︎KQ6
♦︎T ♦︎J943
♣︎AK965 ♣︎J82
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎A8 Tricks:
14 ♥︎JT8732 NSEW
12 7 ♦︎762NT5577
7 ♣︎Q7♠︎5677
♥︎7755
N-S have 21 combined points♦︎8844
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎4499
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
3♦︎n2♣︎= 110
2♦︎n2♣︎+1 110
2♠︎nJ♣︎-1 100
3♦︎n2♣︎-1 100
 
North opens 1♦︎, East passes and South responds 1♥︎. West makes a takeout double and North rebids 2♦︎. East passes and South bids 2♥︎. West passes and North doesn't really want to re-re-bid a five card suit, so tries 2♠︎, hoping South will remember that West's takeout double showed spades, so be careful! East passes and South opts for safety in 3♦︎. The 4-1 break means the defenders are due a trump, two clubs, and a spade, and possibly a second one unless North can arrange to ruff the third round.
 
 
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Board 14
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎Q43 Vulnerable:
East♥︎72 None
♦︎T7
♣︎A98743
WEST EAST
♠︎AKJ2 ♠︎76
♥︎KT4 ♥︎3
♦︎KQ93 ♦︎AJ8542
♣︎J2 ♣︎QT65
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎T985 Tricks:
6 ♥︎AQJ9865 NSEW
17 7 ♦︎6NT3399
10 ♣︎K♠︎4488
♥︎8844
E-W have 24 combined points♦︎221010
Suitable Level: Possible Game♣︎5677
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
5♦︎e*K♣︎-1 100
4♦︎eA♥︎+1 150
5♥︎s*A♠︎-2 300
3Nw7♣︎= 400
 
East opens 2♦︎ and South overcalls 2♥︎. West raises to 5♦︎ with the 17-count and strong support. Everyone passes and 5♦︎ is down one after the heart lead to the ace and the K♣︎. It may take a few tricks for North to finally get the A♣︎, but it is unavoidable. Did West overbid? Perhaps: a raise to 4♦︎ would have been the winning play, since 4♥︎ goes down. But I think 5♦︎ is best on most layouts; this one was a bit unlucky for East-West.
 
 
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Board 15
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎QJ Vulnerable:
South♥︎K9 North-South
♦︎AQ32
♣︎AKT54
WEST EAST
♠︎K8742 ♠︎AT965
♥︎Q6 ♥︎432
♦︎T97 ♦︎J65
♣︎872 ♣︎J9
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎3 Tricks:
19 ♥︎AJT875 NSEW
5 6 ♦︎K84NT8800
10 ♣︎Q63♠︎7755
♥︎121200
N-S have 29 combined points♦︎121200
Suitable Level: Game♣︎121200
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
4♥︎s4♠︎+1 650
4♥︎sT♦︎+1 650
3♣︎nA♠︎+3 170
6♥︎s4♠︎-1 100
 
South opens 2♥︎ and West passes. My instinct with the North hand would be to try to be declarer, but I would soon find no easy path to that goal. To play 3NT I need to find partner with the A♠︎, K♠︎, or Txx♠︎ and while some have methods to find high honours with a 2NT response, many Souths will be uncomfortable bidding beyond 3♥︎ to show a spade honour. So I would settle for 4♥︎ and hope we have not missed something more. It turns out 6♥︎ is possible, but the percentage play in trumps is K♥︎, then low to the jack, so there is a likely trump loser as well as a spade, unless we play for the Q♥︎ doubleton offside, an anti-percentage play with an eight card fit.
 
 
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Board 16
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎KJ3 Vulnerable:
West♥︎K94 East-West
♦︎Q4
♣︎T9874
WEST EAST
♠︎AQ742 ♠︎T8
♥︎87 ♥︎QJ6532
♦︎9762 ♦︎AT3
♣︎K5 ♣︎Q2
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎965 Tricks:
9 ♥︎AT NSEW
9 9 ♦︎KJ85NT9933
13 ♣︎AJ63♠︎7766
♥︎6677
N-S have 22 combined points♦︎8844
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎101033
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
3♣︎n2♥︎+1 130
3♣︎nQ♥︎+1 130
3♣︎nT♠︎= 110
3♣︎nQ♥︎= 110
 
West and North pass and East opens 1♥︎. South doubles for takeout, West passes again, and North bids 3♣︎, and soon becomes declarer! East leads the Q♥︎, presumably from QJxxxx, and North should win in dummy; now if East gets in again, a second heart lead will give North three tricks in the suit, coming around to the K9♥︎ in declarer's hand. If West gets in and leads a heart, North will play the king and ruff the nine in dummy. A♣︎ and a second club reveal the 2-2 break in clubs, and West does lead a heart. North wins, ruffs the 9♥︎ in dummy, and leads a diamond. With the ace knocked out, North may need another entry to dummy and a good North will have saved the 4♣︎ to cross to the 6♣︎!!
 
 
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Board 17
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎KT65 Vulnerable:
North♥︎A84 None
♦︎KJ65
♣︎K8
WEST EAST
♠︎874 ♠︎AJ32
♥︎Q72 ♥︎5
♦︎A7 ♦︎T982
♣︎QJ952 ♣︎T764
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎Q9 Tricks:
14 ♥︎KJT963 NSEW
9 5 ♦︎Q43NT111122
12 ♣︎A3♠︎9933
♥︎111122
N-S have 26 combined points♦︎101022
Suitable Level: Game♣︎6677
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
4♥︎s5♣︎= 420
4♥︎sQ♣︎= 420
2♥︎sQ♣︎+2 170
1NsQ♣︎= 90
 
North opens 1♦︎ and East passes. South responds 1♥︎ and West passes. North has options here: 1♠︎, 1NT, and even 2♥︎. The classic rebid is 1♠︎, after which South will need to come up with a forcing call, and the only forcing call left is the fourth suit, 2♣︎. North continues with 2NT and South bids 3♥︎, which is forcing (since the fourth-suit 2♣︎ call was forcing to game). At this point North will raise to 4♥︎, South having shown at least a near-opener with a good heart suit by this sequence. The modern way is for North to rebid 1NT, suppressing the spade suit, with various conventions allowing South to seek a 4-4 spade fit if necessary. Over 1NT South will simply bid 4♥︎ and end the auction. Raising to 2♥︎ is not reccommended on only 3-card support unless no alternatives exist.
 
 
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Board 18
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎AT5 Vulnerable:
East♥︎KJ52 North-South
♦︎932
♣︎JT3
WEST EAST
♠︎62 ♠︎Q
♥︎6 ♥︎AQT9874
♦︎AJT8 ♦︎Q4
♣︎AKQ654 ♣︎982
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎KJ98743 Tricks:
9 ♥︎3 NSEW
14 10 ♦︎K765NT2266
7 ♣︎7♠︎8855
♥︎111111
E-W have 24 combined points♦︎2399
Suitable Level: Possible Game♣︎001212
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
4♠︎sA♣︎-2 200
3♠︎sA♣︎-2 200
5♣︎w*5♠︎= 550
4♥︎e*7♣︎+1 690
 
East opens 3♥︎ and South bids 3♠︎. West bids 4♣︎ and North raises to 4♠︎. East has enough for a 5♣︎ call and South might try 5♠︎ in this auction, but West continuing onto 6♣︎ seems unlikely, more likely West will simply double and hope for the best. A heart lead against 5♠︎ and a switch to the Q♦︎ by East sets the stage for a three-trick set, worth 800 at this vulnerability: less than the 920 available in 6♣︎, but better than any game!