Van Learners Bridge Results

November 11, 2024



Section X
VanLawn Bridge After Dark Monday Eve Session November 11, 2024
Leaders after  5 rounds  Average:   30.0
Place   Pct   Score  Pair
  1   62.50   37.50   X-1   Joan Christensen - Carol Ward
  2   60.83   36.50   X-8   Cathy Brown - Ruth Castellino
  3   58.33   35.00   X-10  Curtis Ballard - Elizabeth Ballard
  4   57.50   34.50   X-7   Vicki Torbett - Marja Radulovic-Nastic
  5   50.83   30.50   X-2   Diane O'Connor - Faye Wightman
  6   50.00   30.00   X-4   Brenda MacLean-Longpre - Cindy Chan
  7   50.00   30.00   X-5   Alexa Allen - Jacquie Brown
  8   41.67   25.00   X-3   Barbara Spitz - Jill Price
  9   37.50   22.50   X-6   Patsy Thorpe - Ron Rogers
 10   30.83   18.50   X-9   Ian Wong - Donna Bridgeman

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 October 28'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:♠︎Q972 Vulnerable:
North♥︎K86 None
♦︎KJ
♣︎K965
WEST EAST
♠︎AJ83 ♠︎4
♥︎Q753 ♥︎J9
♦︎Q98 ♦︎AT632
♣︎A2 ♣︎QT874
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎KT65 Tricks:
12 ♥︎AT42 NSEW
13 7 ♦︎754NT6667
8 ♣︎J3♠︎8855
♥︎7766
N-S and E-W each have 20 combined points♦︎4499
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎5578
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
4♦︎wQ♠︎-3 150
4♦︎e5♠︎-2 100
1Ns3♠︎-1 50
2♠︎n7♣︎-1 50
2♠︎nJ♥︎-1 50
2♠︎sA♦︎-1 50
3♦︎e5♠︎= 110
3♠︎s8♦︎-3 150
 
Most will open the North hand, but I would pass and await developments. If North opens 1♣︎, East passes and South responds 1♥︎. West makes a takeout double and North passes to indicate a minimum. East bids 2♦︎ and this may end it, for a nice plus to East-West. If North passes as dealer, West opens 1♦︎ after three passes, and North makes a takeout double. East raises to 2♦︎ and South doubles, showing both majors. West passes, North bids 2♠︎, which might end the auction and North might even make it, or go down one, either of which beats letting East-West make 2♦︎. Deals like this where there are many possible results decide games more than easy hands where most come to the same result.
 
 
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Board 2
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎54 Vulnerable:
East♥︎AJ643 North-South
♦︎Q976
♣︎97
WEST EAST
♠︎AJ3 ♠︎T762
♥︎QT52 ♥︎K8
♦︎KT ♦︎A32
♣︎QJ82 ♣︎AKT4
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎KQ98 Tricks:
7 ♥︎97 NSEW
13 14 ♦︎J854NT4499
6 ♣︎653♠︎331010
♥︎5588
E-W have 27 combined points♦︎6677
Suitable Level: Game♣︎221111
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
3Ne6♣︎-1 50
3Nw6♦︎-1 50
2Ne8♠︎+1 150
2Nw6♦︎+1 150
2Nw4♥︎+2 180
3Nw6♦︎= 400
3Nw4♥︎+1 430
3Nw6♦︎+1 430
 
East opens 1♣︎, South passes, and West responds 1♥︎. North passes and East rebids 1♠︎ or, in a more modern style, 1NT. (Modern systems have ways of uncovering the possible 4-4 spade fit and prefer to rebid 1NT with balanced hands, so that a 1♠︎ rebid implies an unbalanced hand.) Either way, West should get the pair to 3NT with 13 points opposite an opening bid, three pairs out of eight in only 2NT is nuts on this deal. In 3NT, declarer starts with seven top tricks and can develop another in hearts with the queen and king, and an extra spade by leading twice from the East hand: 2♠︎ - K♠︎ (low and the J♠︎ wins) - A♠︎, then later 6♠︎ - Q♠︎ - 3♠︎, setting up the J♠︎ for the third round.
 
 
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Board 3
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎9 Vulnerable:
South♥︎52 East-West
♦︎A963
♣︎AJT954
WEST EAST
♠︎A8642 ♠︎J3
♥︎AKT943 ♥︎86
♦︎J ♦︎QT752
♣︎Q ♣︎K632
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎KQT75 Tricks:
9 ♥︎QJ7 NSEW
14 6 ♦︎K84NT6755
11 ♣︎87♠︎6677
♥︎6677
N-S and E-W each have 20 combined points♦︎7766
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎8855
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
3♥︎w9♠︎-2 200
3♥︎w9♠︎-2 200
2♠︎sQ♣︎= 110
4♥︎wA♣︎-1 100
3♣︎n4♥︎-1 50
4♣︎n8♥︎-2 100
2♠︎sA♥︎-3 150
3NsA♥︎-4 200
 
Another aceless near opener that many would open but I would pass is the South hand here. West opens 1♥︎ and North overcalls 2♣︎. East passes and South does as well, and West rebids 2♠︎, showing a strong shapely hand with a spade suit and longer hearts. East bids 3♥︎ and the auction ends there and West has a difficult job, with a loser in each suit and later losers in spades that will not go away. If instead South opens 1♠︎, West overcalls 2♥︎ and might get to play it a level lower.
 
 
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Board 4
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎AK93 Vulnerable:
West♥︎J9742 Both
♦︎A
♣︎652
WEST EAST
♠︎JT75 ♠︎Q
♥︎AK8 ♥︎Q53
♦︎KT76 ♦︎Q98543
♣︎AT ♣︎Q98
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎8642 Tricks:
12 ♥︎T6 NSEW
15 8 ♦︎J2NT4499
5 ♣︎KJ743♠︎7766
♥︎6677
E-W have 23 combined points♦︎331010
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎7755
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
2♠︎sA♥︎= 110
4♦︎eT♥︎= 130
1Nw4♥︎+2 150
3Nw4♥︎= 600
3Nw4♥︎+1 630
3NwA♠︎+1 630
3Nw3♠︎+1 630
3Nw4♥︎+1 630
 
West opens 1NT and North should compete, especially if the North-South system includes a bid that shows both majors. East should compete to 3♦︎ and South might, or might not, give 3♠︎ a go, but surely West will end proceedings with a 3NT call. North starts with a small heart, hoping to use his three entries to establish the suit. Unfortunately, declarer has three stoppers and once the A♦︎ is played, West has nine tricks: five diamonds, three hearts and the A♣︎, with a chance at a tenth in spades. If North passes 1NT, East's best call is a jump to 3♦︎. This is non-forcing but invites 3NT if opener has a little help, like Ax or Kxx in the minor bid by responder. West happily bids 3NT with ♦︎KT76 and makes it easily.
 
 
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Board 5
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎QT82 Vulnerable:
North♥︎AT7 North-South
♦︎AK85
♣︎J2
WEST EAST
♠︎J4 ♠︎93
♥︎KJ84 ♥︎96
♦︎T9 ♦︎QJ642
♣︎K7543 ♣︎AT96
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎AK765 Tricks:
14 ♥︎Q532 NSEW
8 7 ♦︎73NT8855
11 ♣︎Q8♠︎101033
♥︎8844
N-S have 25 combined points♦︎6666
Suitable Level: Likely Game♣︎5577
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
4♠︎s4♥︎= 620
4♠︎n4♦︎= 620
4♠︎s4♥︎= 620
2♠︎s4♥︎+2 170
3♠︎sT♦︎+1 170
3♠︎sT♦︎= 140
4♠︎nT♦︎-1 100
4♠︎s4♥︎-1 100
 
North opens 1♦︎, East passes and South responds 1♠︎. West has the other two suits and favourable vulnerability but is a bit light for a takeout double, so passes, and North raises to 2♠︎. East passes and South has enough for a jump to game in spades, with eleven and two doubletons, and a five-card suit as well. West leads the T♦︎, not wanting to lead away from a king, and South sees two club losers and must bring in the heart suit for only one loser. The two best plays are ace first, then low to the queen (this fails on this layout) and low to the queen first, then a finesse of the ten coming back (this works). An app called SuitPlay says that low to the queen is the better play by a small margin.
 
 
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Board 6
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎AKQJ Vulnerable:
East♥︎Q4 East-West
♦︎AKT7
♣︎KJ4
WEST EAST
♠︎T ♠︎9875432
♥︎T8763 ♥︎A
♦︎QJ2 ♦︎943
♣︎A832 ♣︎96
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎6 Tricks:
23 ♥︎KJ952 NSEW
7 4 ♦︎865NT111122
6 ♣︎QT75♠︎8855
♥︎101033
N-S have 29 combined points♦︎9923
Suitable Level: Game♣︎9922
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
2♠︎e*5♣︎-2 500
3Nn9♠︎+2 460
3Nn9♠︎+2 460
4Nn2♠︎+1 460
3Nn9♠︎+2 460
3Nn2♠︎+2 460
5♦︎sT♠︎-1 50
5♦︎sT♠︎-4 200
 
East has a spade suit that looks like a telephone number, but if East tries a 3♠︎ opener at this vulnerability, the score on the hand may look like a long-distance call: 800 or 1100! At most tables it will be passed around to North, who opens 2♣︎ with the 23 count. South bids 2♦︎ (a positive response of 2♥︎ requires at least eight points), and North rebids 2NT, showing 22-23 balanced. South bids 3♦︎, a transfer to hearts, and North bids 3♥︎; South continues to 3NT to show five hearts and a few points, and North passes. Two aces are the only losers and North should make 11 tricks without trouble.
 
 
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Board 7
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎KJT Vulnerable:
South♥︎T7654 Both
♦︎AKQ
♣︎J9
WEST EAST
♠︎7543 ♠︎Q9
♥︎- ♥︎AJ9
♦︎J982 ♦︎T7543
♣︎KT764 ♣︎AQ3
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎A862 Tricks:
14 ♥︎KQ832 NSEW
4 13 ♦︎6NT7766
9 ♣︎852♠︎8844
♥︎101022
N-S have 23 combined points♦︎5588
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎5577
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
5♦︎e*K♥︎-3 800
4♥︎nQ♠︎+1 650
4♥︎n9♠︎+1 650
4♥︎n7♦︎+1 650
4♥︎nT♦︎+1 650
4♥︎nQ♠︎= 620
4♥︎n5♦︎= 620
2♥︎n2♠︎+3 200
 
South and West pass and North opens 1♥︎ in third seat. East passes and South jumps to 4♥︎, adding three for the singleton and a point or two for the extra trump support. (When you are set to be dummy and have four or more trumps, short suits are valuable assets and should be counted at 1 for a singleton, 3 for a doubleton, 5 for a void!) North will lose two clubs and the A♥︎ and must bring the spades in without loss and ensure no second trump loser. The two pitches North will get on diamond winners will make the spade finesse unneccessary, since South's third and fourth spades will be discarded. It only remains to lead trumps twice toward the South hand to limit the trump losers to one trick.
 
 
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Board 8
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎T87 Vulnerable:
West♥︎T6 None
♦︎42
♣︎KJ9743
WEST EAST
♠︎KJ64 ♠︎532
♥︎Q53 ♥︎9842
♦︎QT95 ♦︎AJ863
♣︎AQ ♣︎6
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎AQ9 Tricks:
4 ♥︎AKJ7 NSEW
14 5 ♦︎K7NT8844
17 ♣︎T852♠︎5677
♥︎7744
N-S have 21 combined points♦︎5588
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎91033
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
5♦︎w*7♠︎-2 300
4♦︎wT♥︎-3 150
3♣︎nA♦︎+1 130
4♦︎wT♥︎-2 100
2♥︎e8♣︎-1 50
2♦︎eK♥︎-1 50
3NwT♠︎-1 50
2Nw7♣︎= 120
 
West opens 1♦︎ and North passes. East responds 1♥︎ (any four card major is worth a response so we can quickly find a 4-4 major suit fit, which is one of the main goals early in the auction), and South makes an overcall of 1NT, which on this auction should indicate the 15-17 range, a balanced hand, and stoppers in both suits the opponents have bid so far. West passes and so does North (2♣︎ is Stayman and 3♣︎ would show a hand about an ace stronger). West bids 2♦︎ and South doubles to continue to show a strong hand. West passes and North bids 3♣︎, the winning call since E-W can only make eight tricks in diamonds, while 3♣︎ is an easy time. 130 is beaten only by those E-W pairs who watched their opponents get too high.
 
 
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Board 9
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎AQ8 Vulnerable:
North♥︎T65 East-West
♦︎KJ83
♣︎AQ4
WEST EAST
♠︎T972 ♠︎KJ43
♥︎KQ82 ♥︎43
♦︎T5 ♦︎Q97
♣︎J97 ♣︎K632
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎65 Tricks:
16 ♥︎AJ97 NSEW
6 9 ♦︎A642NT7766
9 ♣︎T85♠︎6677
♥︎8755
N-S have 25 combined points♦︎8855
Suitable Level: Likely Game♣︎7766
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
2Nn3♠︎= 120
2Nn3♠︎= 120
2Nn3♠︎= 120
3Nn2♣︎-2 100
3Ns3♠︎-2 100
3Nn3♠︎-2 100
3Nn3♠︎-2 100
2♦︎n4♥︎-2 100
 
North opens 1NT, East passes, and South responds with the invitational 2NT. West passes and North has to decide whether this 16 is past the midpoint of the 15-17 range. It's a close decision, and some will bid 3NT and others will pass and play 2NT. The joke is on North-South: with best defense the limit is only seven tricks. Defenders seldom get everything right and 2NT has a chance to squeak home, while 3NT is a real no-hoper on this layout with offside honours in every suit. Some choose 3NT thinking they need a "swing," not realizing that a swing can also come from passing when it turns out to be right, as on this deal.
 
 
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Board 10
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎T965 Vulnerable:
East♥︎AQ763 Both
♦︎T73
♣︎K
WEST EAST
♠︎K42 ♠︎Q873
♥︎KT5 ♥︎J9842
♦︎Q82 ♦︎9
♣︎JT83 ♣︎Q95
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎AJ Tricks:
9 ♥︎- NSEW
9 5 ♦︎AKJ654NT9944
17 ♣︎A7642♠︎9944
♥︎7755
N-S have 26 combined points♦︎121211
Suitable Level: Game♣︎9933
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
5♦︎s7♣︎+2 640
3Nn3♠︎+1 630
5♦︎sT♥︎+1 620
3Nn3♠︎= 600
5♦︎s3♣︎= 600
5♦︎sJ♣︎= 600
3♦︎sJ♣︎+1 130
3♦︎sJ♣︎= 110
 
East passes and South opens 1♦︎. West passes and North responds 1♥︎. East passes and South's rebid is a jump to 3♣︎. Some North's will see this as an invite to 3NT which happens to make on this hand, but there is something better. In 6♦︎ a spade lead seems to set up a spade trick for the defenders to go with the offside Q♦︎, but South counters by winning the A♠︎, cashing the K♣︎, cashing the A♥︎ while pitching the J♠︎ from hand, then crossruffing hearts and clubs. South wins five diamonds in hand, three more via club ruffs in dummy, and three side suit aces and the K♣︎ make twelve. North would be better off recognizing that the jump to 3♣︎ shows a strong distributional hand and a 3♦︎ call might get the pair to the 6♦︎ slam.
 
 
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Board 11
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎K32 Vulnerable:
South♥︎QJ96 None
♦︎K872
♣︎A5
WEST EAST
♠︎J964 ♠︎T75
♥︎A85 ♥︎KT32
♦︎AJT ♦︎4
♣︎JT8 ♣︎Q9643
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎AQ8 Tricks:
13 ♥︎74 NSEW
11 5 ♦︎Q9653NT7755
11 ♣︎K72♠︎7766
♥︎7766
N-S have 24 combined points♦︎9944
Suitable Level: Possible Game♣︎6677
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
5♣︎e*5♦︎-2 300
2Ns4♠︎= 120
2Ns4♠︎= 120
2Ns4♠︎= 120
2Ns4♠︎= 120
2♦︎n5♠︎+1 110
2♦︎n6♣︎+1 110
2♦︎n4♦︎+1 110
 
South and West are close but both pass, and North opens 1♦︎. East passes and South responds 2NT (no major, 11-12 points, balanced or semibalanced). West passes and North has to decide whether to bid on to 3NT. With only 13 opposite a hand that could not open it seems like passing is best. South starts with three spade stoppers, two clubs, and should simply play diamonds hoping for three tricks or more. 120 for making 2NT is a major triumph over those in 2♦︎ making 110 for nine tricks!
 
 
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Board 12
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎94 Vulnerable:
West♥︎KQT542 North-South
♦︎KQ
♣︎K97
WEST EAST
♠︎JT ♠︎72
♥︎J9873 ♥︎A
♦︎97 ♦︎AJ8532
♣︎8532 ♣︎AJT6
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎AKQ8653 Tricks:
13 ♥︎6 NSEW
2 14 ♦︎T64NT8833
11 ♣︎Q4♠︎9933
♥︎8855
N-S have 24 combined points♦︎5577
Suitable Level: Possible Game♣︎5588
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
4♠︎s9♦︎= 620
4♠︎s9♦︎= 620
5♣︎w9♠︎-5 250
2♠︎s9♦︎+2 170
4♠︎s9♦︎-1 100
4♠︎s7♦︎-1 100
4♠︎s9♦︎-1 100
5♠︎n**9♦︎-2 1000
 
West passes, North opens 1♥︎, East overcalls 2♦︎, and South bids 4♠︎ to end the auction. West leads a diamond to East's ace, and East cashes the A♥︎ before leading a second diamond, in case West has led a singleton. South wins in dummy and leads a spade to the ace and both defenders follow, so the spades are no worse than 3-1. However, a second trump will keep South from any chance of getting to dummy to cash the KQ♥︎, assuming East has the A♣︎ along with either the J♣︎ or T♣︎; East can hold up the ace until South tries the king in dummy. The other possible entry is with a diamond ruff. West may have started with a doubleton but may not have a trump to beat the 9♠︎. Unlucky, West has the means to ruff high and South is down one.
 
 
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Board 13
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎AQ8 Vulnerable:
North♥︎7632 Both
♦︎64
♣︎AJ85
WEST EAST
♠︎K9763 ♠︎J
♥︎54 ♥︎AKQJT9
♦︎QT75 ♦︎2
♣︎Q3 ♣︎K7642
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎T542 Tricks:
11 ♥︎8 NSEW
7 14 ♦︎AKJ983NT6677
8 ♣︎T9♠︎8855
♥︎4488
E-W have 21 combined points♦︎9944
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎5577
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
4♥︎e8♥︎-2 200
2♥︎eA♦︎-1 100
4♥︎eA♦︎-1 100
2♥︎eK♦︎-1 100
3♥︎eK♦︎-1 100
3♥︎eA♦︎= 140
2♥︎eA♦︎+1 140
3♦︎s5♥︎-2 200
 
As you venture out into the bridge world, you will encounter different bidding systems. The most commonly scene non-natural type is the strong 1♣︎ opener, which often goes by the name Precision. In this type of system, all hands of 16 or more are opened 1♣︎, and a special system over 1♣︎ openers handles them. So on this deal when East opened 1♥︎, it showed 11-15 points and five or more hearts. As South, filling in, I overcalled 2♦︎, West and North passed, and East bid 4♥︎, and I was on opening lead. How, I wondered, could a hand limited to 15 points bid game opposite a silent partner? Must be a good suit and distribution. I led a trump and this was the only way to hold East to eight tricks, another lead allows club ruffs for more!
 
 
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Board 14
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎J87 Vulnerable:
East♥︎AK8753 None
♦︎T8
♣︎K5
WEST EAST
♠︎AKT4 ♠︎63
♥︎QJ64 ♥︎T2
♦︎J3 ♦︎KQ976
♣︎J82 ♣︎Q643
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎Q952 Tricks:
11 ♥︎9 NSEW
12 7 ♦︎A542NT7766
10 ♣︎AT97♠︎8844
♥︎8855
N-S have 21 combined points♦︎6666
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎7766
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
4♣︎w*A♥︎-5 1100
2♥︎nQ♣︎+1 140
2♥︎n3♣︎= 110
2♥︎n6♠︎= 110
2♥︎n6♣︎= 110
2♠︎sQ♥︎= 110
3♦︎e9♥︎-2 100
2♦︎wA♥︎-2 100
 
East passes and South does as well; West opens 1♣︎. North overcalls 2♥︎ and this ends the auction. Two trumps, two spades, a diamond and possibly even a third-round spade ruff are available to the defenders, but a spade ruff allows North to pull two rounds of trumps, cross to the A♦︎ and play the Q♠︎, pitching a diamond from hand, so eight tricks should be the norm. If South decides to open the ten count 1♦︎, West doubles and North bids 1♥︎. East might try 1NT, which would be only one down against the 110s for 2♥︎.
 
 
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Board 15
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎KQ6 Vulnerable:
South♥︎7 North-South
♦︎KQJ964
♣︎J64
WEST EAST
♠︎8754 ♠︎J92
♥︎KQ932 ♥︎AJT865
♦︎5 ♦︎T8
♣︎Q83 ♣︎AT
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎AT3 Tricks:
12 ♥︎4 NSEW
7 10 ♦︎A732NT6644
11 ♣︎K9752♠︎6666
♥︎5588
N-S have 23 combined points♦︎101033
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎101033
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
5♥︎e*A♦︎-3 500
5♥︎w*K♦︎-3 500
5♥︎w*K♦︎-2 300
5♥︎e*A♦︎-2 300
4♦︎nA♥︎+1 150
4♦︎nA♥︎= 130
4♦︎nA♣︎= 130
5♦︎nA♥︎-1 100
 
South has enough for an opener with 2½ quick tricks and opens 1♣︎. West passes and North responds 1♦︎. East overcalls 1♥︎ and South raises to 2♦︎. West jumps to 4♥︎ and North feels the pressure, but should decide to bid 5♦︎ with a near opener opposite an opening bid. East may be tempted to go on, with an extra heart, the ace of the opened suit, and favourable vulnerability. However, the old saying "the five level is for the opponents" covers this deal: 4♦︎ is the limit for North-South and 5♥︎ is a total disaster, even if it manages to escape undoubled costing more than 130 for 4♦︎ at three down.
 
 
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Board 16
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎T87 Vulnerable:
West♥︎AQJ763 East-West
♦︎A7
♣︎K2
WEST EAST
♠︎Q63 ♠︎K52
♥︎2 ♥︎T98
♦︎82 ♦︎QJ953
♣︎AJT9764 ♣︎53
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎AJ94 Tricks:
14 ♥︎K54 NSEW
7 6 ♦︎KT64NT101022
13 ♣︎Q8♠︎111122
♥︎111122
N-S have 27 combined points♦︎9944
Suitable Level: Game♣︎6677
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
4♥︎n5♣︎+1 450
4♥︎n5♣︎+1 450
4♥︎n5♣︎+1 450
4♥︎nA♣︎+1 450
4♥︎n5♣︎+1 450
4♥︎n5♣︎+1 450
4♥︎nQ♦︎+1 450
4♥︎n3♣︎+1 450
 
If West passes as dealer, North opens 1♥︎, South responds 1♠︎, and North rebids 2♥︎; South raises to 4♥︎. If West instead bids 3♣︎, it makes it a little more difficult, but North-South should land on their feet: North overcalls 3♥︎ and South raises to 4♥︎. The A♣︎ and an eventual spade trick are the defensive winners, whether East leads a club or not. On a club lead and a club return, North can win, play the ace and king of diamonds, ruff a diamond in hand, and then play five more trumps, but the defenders should realize this for an attempt to get them to discard spades and allow North to somehow score two spade tricks. Careful discarding should prevent this defensive disaster!
 
 
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Board 17
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎75 Vulnerable:
North♥︎Q5 None
♦︎QJ85
♣︎Q9654
WEST EAST
♠︎82 ♠︎QJ63
♥︎T976432 ♥︎KJ
♦︎432 ♦︎AKT76
♣︎7 ♣︎J3
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎AKT94 Tricks:
7 ♥︎A8 NSEW
0 15 ♦︎9NT101033
18 ♣︎AKT82♠︎111022
♥︎5577
N-S have 25 combined points♦︎7666
Suitable Level: Likely Game♣︎121211
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
5♣︎s*T♥︎= 550
4♥︎e*K♣︎-2 300
3♣︎s4♦︎+3 170
3♣︎s4♦︎+3 170
3♣︎s3♦︎+3 170
4♣︎nA♦︎+2 170
4♣︎s2♥︎+1 150
3♥︎w4♣︎-1 50
 
North passes and East opens 1♦︎. South has a strong hand and needs to plan how best to show it. A takeout double will waste a round and South may still need two more bids to show both clubs and spades. A 1♠︎ overcall followed by a club bid will allow North an easy same-level correction to spades. Bidding 2♣︎ first and then later bidding spades shows a stronger hand, since to prefer the first suit, North must go up a level. So South overcalls 2♣︎, West passes, North raises to 3♣︎, and East passes. South can try 3♠︎ (North returns to 4♣︎) and then a cuebid of 4♥︎ (North returns to 5♣︎) but nothing useful will come from partner. The only way to get to the cold slam is to take a wild shot and bid it! (The heart loser is discarded on the fifth spade to make 12 tricks.)
 
 
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Board 18
 
NORTH
Dealer:♠︎A9874 Vulnerable:
East♥︎J92 North-South
♦︎K96
♣︎J3
WEST EAST
♠︎J65 ♠︎QT3
♥︎K6 ♥︎A8743
♦︎AT842 ♦︎J753
♣︎752 ♣︎A
SOUTH Available
HCP: ♠︎K2 Tricks:
9 ♥︎QT5 NSEW
8 11 ♦︎QNT6644
12 ♣︎KQT9864♠︎6666
♥︎4488
N-S have 21 combined points♦︎3399
Suitable Level: Partscore♣︎8855
 
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
2♣︎sK♥︎+1 110
3♣︎sA♦︎= 110
4♦︎wJ♣︎-1 50
2♥︎eK♣︎-1 50
3♣︎sK♥︎-1 100
3♣︎s6♥︎-1 100
3♣︎sK♥︎-1 100
3♦︎wJ♣︎= 110
 
East opens 1♥︎ and South overcalls 2♣︎. West bids 2♦︎ and North passes. East raises to 3♦︎ and West makes nine tricks for a good score. Rewind: East opens 1♥︎ and South instead notes the lack of aces in his hand and chooses instead a weak jump overcall of 3♣︎. Now West has no easy call with only 8 points and 3♣︎ becomes the final contract. South loses a club, a diamond, two hearts and a heart ruff for down one, scoring -100 instead of -110 defending 3♦︎. Differences like this make a significant difference in the final result, much like the way the swing states break in an American election....