VanLearners Section X Monday Evening April 27, 2026

Results for Section X, North-South
Pair#PercentScoreRankMPtsPlayers
X4N 61.31% 51.5010.42Pam Tomlins - Tim Tomlins
X2N 58.33% 49.0020.29Alexa Allen - Jacquie Brown
X3N 54.76% 46.0030.21Diane O Connor - Valerie Young
X6N 49.40% 41.50Eiler Eis - Bob Hodgkinson
X1N 47.62% 40.00John Fraser - Jandi Fraser
X7N 41.67% 35.00Jill Price - Barbara Spitz
X5N 36.90% 31.00Joan Christensen - Carol Linda Ward
North-South had 51.04% of the highcard points in today's deals.
The average freakness rating of today's deals (measuring the amount of distribution in the dealset as a whole) was 11.29, a bit below the average of about 11.93.
Results for Section X, East-West
Pair#PercentScoreRankMPtsPlayers
X3E 66.07% 55.5010.42Francesco L Piccone - M Piccone
X5E 53.57% 45.0020.29Diane Hardouin - Faye Wightman
X2E 52.98% 44.5030.21Alan Atkins - David Rosenberg
X4E 50.00% 42.00Niamh Kelly - Doug MacDougall
X1E 48.21% 40.50Doug Stewart - Louise Forsyth
X6E 42.26% 35.50Vicki Torbett - Myrna Halpenny
X7E 36.90% 31.00Gaye Ballantyne - Patti Young
North-South had 51.04% of the highcard points in today's deals.
The average freakness rating of today's deals (measuring the amount of distribution in the dealset as a whole) was 11.29, a bit below the average of about 11.93.
Board 1 Results
North-South Pair#NS
%
NS
MP
NS
Score
Contract
& Result
Op.
Ld.
EW
Score
EW
MP
EW
%
Pair# East-West
Alexa Allen &
Jacquie Brown
X2N100 6.007504♥︎*s+1♦︎8 0.000X3EFrancesco L Piccone &
M Piccone
Eiler Eis &
Bob Hodgkinson
X6N83 5.004204♥︎s=♠︎Q 1.0017X4ENiamh Kelly &
Doug MacDougall
John Fraser &
Jandi Fraser
X1N67 4.004005♦︎n=♣︎2 2.0033X1EDoug Stewart &
Louise Forsyth
Pam Tomlins &
Tim Tomlins
X4N50 3.001504♦︎n+1♠︎9 3.0050X7EGaye Ballantyne &
Patti Young
Joan Christensen &
Carol Linda Ward
X5N33 2.001303♦︎n+1♥︎5 4.0067X2EAlan Atkins &
David Rosenberg
Diane O Connor &
Valerie Young
X3N17 1.001004♠︎e–2♣︎A 5.0083X5EDiane Hardouin &
Faye Wightman
Jill Price &
Barbara Spitz
X7N0 0.005♦︎n–1♠︎K50 6.00100X6EVicki Torbett &
Myrna Halpenny
Section A Scores (three weeks ago)
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
4♠︎eA♣︎-1 50
5♥︎sQ♠︎-1 50
5♥︎s*Q♠︎-1 100
3♠︎e8♥︎+2 200
4♠︎eA♣︎= 420
North opens 1♦︎ and East makes a pre-emptive jump overcall of 3♠︎. South tries 4♥︎ and just as North is wondering whether this is forcing (it's not, South could cuebid with a really strong hand) West raises to 4♠︎, allowing North to pass happily. East does as well and South bids 5♦︎. Now wait a second, is that really a 1♦︎ opener in the North hand? Maybe not, let's see what happens after a disciplined pass. East opens 3♠︎, South has no reason to bid at the four level opposite a passed hand with only 12 points, and West raises to 4♠︎, which ends the auction. 4♠︎ goes down if the defenders get their club ruff, 5♦︎ goes down as well, so defending is best on this deal!
#1 D NORTH       Apr. 27, 2026
♠︎ A6Dealer: E
♥︎ QT9 NS Vul
N WEST      ♦︎ K96542N  EAST      
♠︎Q2♣︎ Q6♠︎KJT9854
♥︎AK6♥︎5
♦︎87N SOUTH       ♦︎3
♣︎KJT984♠︎73♣︎7532
11♥︎J874324
13HCP4♦︎AQJT4FRK8
12♣︎A6
Tricks Available (best play by both sides)
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
by
N
821092by
E
593310
by
S
821092by
W
593310
Board 2 Results
North-South Pair#NS
%
NS
MP
NS
Score
Contract
& Result
Op.
Ld.
EW
Score
EW
MP
EW
%
Pair# East-West
Pam Tomlins &
Tim Tomlins
X4N100 6.006204♥︎n=♦︎K 0.000X7EGaye Ballantyne &
Patti Young
Diane O Connor &
Valerie Young
X3N75 4.501504♠︎w–3♥︎4 1.5025X5EDiane Hardouin &
Faye Wightman
Jill Price &
Barbara Spitz
X7N75 4.501504♠︎w–3♥︎K 1.5025X6EVicki Torbett &
Myrna Halpenny
Eiler Eis &
Bob Hodgkinson
X6N42 2.50503♠︎w–1♥︎K 3.5058X4ENiamh Kelly &
Doug MacDougall
Joan Christensen &
Carol Linda Ward
X5N42 2.50502♠︎w–1♥︎4 3.5058X2EAlan Atkins &
David Rosenberg
John Fraser &
Jandi Fraser
X1N8 0.502♠︎w=♥︎4110 5.5092X1EDoug Stewart &
Louise Forsyth
Alexa Allen &
Jacquie Brown
X2N8 0.502♠︎w=♥︎4110 5.5092X3EFrancesco L Piccone &
M Piccone
Section A Scores (three weeks ago)
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
4♥︎sA♦︎= 620
4♠︎wK♥︎-3 150
4♠︎wK♥︎-3 150
3♠︎wK♥︎-1 50
3♠︎wK♥︎= 140
East passes, South opens 1♥︎, and West jumps to 2♠︎. West has enough for the stronger 1♠︎ overcall, but with partner passing, and holding a six-card suit, tactics favour the pre-empt. North and East pass but South is not done and completes the description of his hand with a 3♣︎ call. Everyone passes this and South makes five, losing only two diamonds. 150 is tied with a few E-W pairs in 4♠︎ down three: two clubs, a trump, two hearts, and a heart overruff. Not many deals where the side with 19 combined points can make two different games (N-S can make 5♣︎ and 4♥︎), and if you bid game on this hand with the North-South cards, you may be ready to take on Section A!
#2 V NORTH       Apr. 27, 2026
♠︎ QT32Dealer: S
♥︎ K4 EW Vul
N WEST      ♦︎ 632D  EAST      
♠︎KJ9765♣︎ 6432♠︎A84
♥︎53♥︎QJT
♦︎AK5V SOUTH       ♦︎QJ974
♣︎87♠︎♣︎T9
5♥︎A987621
11HCP10♦︎T84FRK2
14♣︎AKQJ59
Tricks Available (best play by both sides)
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
by
N
6510511by
E
68381
by
S
6510511by
W
68371
Board 3 Results
North-South Pair#NS
%
NS
MP
NS
Score
Contract
& Result
Op.
Ld.
EW
Score
EW
MP
EW
%
Pair# East-West
Pam Tomlins &
Tim Tomlins
X4N92 5.504204♥︎n=♠︎A 0.508X6EVicki Torbett &
Myrna Halpenny
John Fraser &
Jandi Fraser
X1N92 5.504204♥︎n=♠︎A 0.508X7EGaye Ballantyne &
Patti Young
Joan Christensen &
Carol Linda Ward
X5N42 2.501703♥︎n+1♠︎A 3.5058X1EDoug Stewart &
Louise Forsyth
Alexa Allen &
Jacquie Brown
X2N42 2.501703♥︎n+1♦︎2 3.5058X2EAlan Atkins &
David Rosenberg
Eiler Eis &
Bob Hodgkinson
X6N42 2.501703♥︎n+1♦︎6 3.5058X3EFrancesco L Piccone &
M Piccone
Jill Price &
Barbara Spitz
X7N42 2.501703♥︎n+1♠︎9 3.5058X5EDiane Hardouin &
Faye Wightman
Diane O Connor &
Valerie Young
X3N0 0.001403♥︎n=♦︎6 6.00100X4ENiamh Kelly &
Doug MacDougall
Section A Scores (three weeks ago)
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
2♥︎s8♥︎+1 140
3♥︎s5♠︎= 140
3♠︎eT♦︎-1 100
2♦︎n5♣︎= 90
4♥︎s5♠︎-1 50
South passes and West opens 1♦︎. North overcalls 1♥︎ and East bids 1♠︎, promising a five-card suit, since a negative double covers almost all hands with only four spades. South raises to 2♥︎ and West to 2♠︎. North blasts into 4♥︎ and it's an interesting contract. North wants to lead first towards both minor suits headed by the KQ, to avoid the possibility of two losers in the suit. To do so, North must create a third entry to dummy in trumps. North ruffs the second spade and plays a heart to the jack, then leads a diamond from dummy. West ducks and North wins the king, and leads the Q♥︎, overtaking with the K♥︎, leading a club next. The 7♥︎ is a third entry when trumps break 2-2.
#3 N NORTH       Apr. 27, 2026
♠︎ 6Dealer: W
♥︎ AQ532 Both Vul
V WEST      ♦︎ KQ94V  EAST      
♠︎K85♣︎ KQ4♠︎AJT97
♥︎84♥︎T9
♦︎AJ875D SOUTH       ♦︎62
♣︎AJ2♠︎Q432♣︎9765
16♥︎KJ764
13HCP5♦︎T32FRK3
6♣︎T831
Tricks Available (best play by both sides)
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
by
N
861076by
E
57366
by
S
861077by
W
57366
Board 4 Results
North-South Pair#NS
%
NS
MP
NS
Score
Contract
& Result
Op.
Ld.
EW
Score
EW
MP
EW
%
Pair# East-West
Diane O Connor &
Valerie Young
X3N100 6.006303NTn+1♣︎5 0.000X4ENiamh Kelly &
Doug MacDougall
Alexa Allen &
Jacquie Brown
X2N83 5.006003NTn=♣︎5 1.0017X2EAlan Atkins &
David Rosenberg
John Fraser &
Jandi Fraser
X1N67 4.001402♥︎n+1♣︎5 2.0033X7EGaye Ballantyne &
Patti Young
Joan Christensen &
Carol Linda Ward
X5N42 2.501202NTn=♣︎5 3.5058X1EDoug Stewart &
Louise Forsyth
Jill Price &
Barbara Spitz
X7N42 2.501202NTs=♠︎3 3.5058X5EDiane Hardouin &
Faye Wightman
Eiler Eis &
Bob Hodgkinson
X6N17 1.001102♠︎n=♥︎A 5.0083X3EFrancesco L Piccone &
M Piccone
Pam Tomlins &
Tim Tomlins
X4N0 0.003♦︎s–1♥︎4100 6.00100X6EVicki Torbett &
Myrna Halpenny
Section A Scores (three weeks ago)
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
2NnJ♣︎+1 150
2NnJ♣︎= 120
2Nn5♣︎= 120
3NnJ♣︎-1 100
3NnJ♣︎-2 200
West passes and North opens 1NT. East passes and South raises to 3NT. East leads the J♣︎ and West wins the ace and continues with a second club. (Ducking would cost if East had led from KJTxx.) North wins and plays a spade to the queen and a second one back to North's ace, noting the drop of the J♠︎. North now has eight tricks in: four spades, two clubs, and two diamonds. East probably has three club winners once North's last club stopper is played, so there isn't time to establish a diamond winner. Better to simply play East for the A♥︎ and lead a heart to the king for North's ninth trick. Then you can beat those wimps who raised only to 2NT on ten points and a side five card suit!!
#4 V NORTH       Apr. 27, 2026
♠︎ AKT4Dealer: N
♥︎ T96 NS Vul
D WEST      ♦︎ KTV  EAST      
♠︎9532♣︎ KQ64♠︎J8
♥︎Q8742♥︎A5
♦︎J2V SOUTH       ♦︎Q986
♣︎A8♠︎Q76♣︎JT952
15♥︎KJ31
7HCP8♦︎A75433FRK3
10♣︎732
Tricks Available (best play by both sides)
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
by
N
89888by
E
44545
by
S
89888by
W
44545
Board 5 Results
North-South Pair#NS
%
NS
MP
NS
Score
Contract
& Result
Op.
Ld.
EW
Score
EW
MP
EW
%
Pair# East-West
Pam Tomlins &
Tim Tomlins
X4N75 4.506505♠︎s=♣︎A 1.5025X5EDiane Hardouin &
Faye Wightman
John Fraser &
Jandi Fraser
X1N75 4.506504♠︎s+1♣︎5 1.5025X6EVicki Torbett &
Myrna Halpenny
Jill Price &
Barbara Spitz
X7N75 4.506504♠︎s+1♣︎A 1.5025X4ENiamh Kelly &
Doug MacDougall
Joan Christensen &
Carol Linda Ward
X5N75 4.506504♠︎s+1♥︎6 1.5025X7EGaye Ballantyne &
Patti Young
Diane O Connor &
Valerie Young
X3N25 1.506204♠︎s=♣︎4 4.5075X3EFrancesco L Piccone &
M Piccone
Eiler Eis &
Bob Hodgkinson
X6N25 1.506204♠︎s=♣︎3 4.5075X2EAlan Atkins &
David Rosenberg
Alexa Allen &
Jacquie Brown
X2N0 0.001703♠︎s+1♣︎A 6.00100X1EDoug Stewart &
Louise Forsyth
Section A Scores (three weeks ago)
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
4♠︎s5♦︎+1 650
4♠︎sA♣︎+1 650
4♠︎sA♣︎= 620
3♠︎s4♣︎+1 170
4♠︎s6♣︎-1 100
North opens 1♦︎ and East passes. South responds 1♠︎ and West passes. How many points is the North hand worth in support of spades? 14 highcard points, three for the club singleton, and another point for the trump honour in a known fit is 18. Not quite enough for game opposite a minimum, but definitely worth an invitational jump to 3♠︎. South is happy to bid game with a near-opener and 4♠︎ is unbeatable, a club and a diamond to lose, and then two heart pitches on the established diamonds. To hold South to ten tricks West has to lead hearts, an unlikely prospect on these thirteen cards. When you have a fit for responder's suit as opener, apply bonusses with wild abandon!
#5 D NORTH       Apr. 27, 2026
♠︎ Q984Dealer: E
♥︎ AQ64 EW Vul
N WEST      ♦︎ AJ76N  EAST      
♠︎3♣︎ J♠︎T5
♥︎J82♥︎KT3
♦︎T542V SOUTH       ♦︎K983
♣︎A6543♠︎AKJ762♣︎KT92
14♥︎9753
5HCP9♦︎Q4FRK1
12♣︎Q875
Tricks Available (best play by both sides)
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
by
N
810854by
E
42487
by
S
810854by
W
42487
Board 6 Results
North-South Pair#NS
%
NS
MP
NS
Score
Contract
& Result
Op.
Ld.
EW
Score
EW
MP
EW
%
Pair# East-West
Pam Tomlins &
Tim Tomlins
X4N100 6.004504♠︎s+1♣︎A 0.000X5EDiane Hardouin &
Faye Wightman
Alexa Allen &
Jacquie Brown
X2N75 4.504204♠︎s=♥︎4 1.5025X1EDoug Stewart &
Louise Forsyth
Eiler Eis &
Bob Hodgkinson
X6N75 4.504204♠︎s=♥︎4 1.5025X2EAlan Atkins &
David Rosenberg
Diane O Connor &
Valerie Young
X3N25 1.504♠︎s–1♣︎A50 4.5075X3EFrancesco L Piccone &
M Piccone
John Fraser &
Jandi Fraser
X1N25 1.504♠︎s–1♥︎950 4.5075X6EVicki Torbett &
Myrna Halpenny
Jill Price &
Barbara Spitz
X7N25 1.504♠︎s–1♥︎350 4.5075X4ENiamh Kelly &
Doug MacDougall
Joan Christensen &
Carol Linda Ward
X5N25 1.504♠︎s–1♥︎450 4.5075X7EGaye Ballantyne &
Patti Young
Section A Scores (three weeks ago)
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
4♠︎sA♣︎+1 450
3♠︎sA♣︎+3 230
3♠︎s9♥︎+1 170
3♠︎s9♥︎-1 50
4♠︎s4♥︎-3 150
East opens 2♥︎ and South jumps to 3♠︎. This shows at least six spades and a decent hand, and after West passes North realizes that if South has three aces there is probably a spade slam here, so a mere raise to 4♠︎ might not be the best call. Better is 4♥︎, a cuebid showing a singleton or void or the A♥︎, and denying first-round control of lower suits NOT cuebid, clubs and diamonds. South is minimum so simply converts to 4♠︎, which is easily made by pulling trumps and knocking out the A♣︎. With the A♣︎ instead of the Q♥︎, South would certainly make a move towards slam.
#6 N NORTH       Apr. 27, 2026
♠︎ KJ2Dealer: S
♥︎ 7 Both Vul
V WEST      ♦︎ Q93D  EAST      
♠︎73♣︎ KQJT53♠︎65
♥︎954♥︎AKJT83
♦︎KT7652N SOUTH       ♦︎J
♣︎A4♠︎AQT984♣︎9862
12♥︎Q625
7HCP9♦︎A844FRK6
12♣︎75
Tricks Available (best play by both sides)
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
by
N
810469by
E
32872
by
S
810469by
W
32872
Board 7 Results
North-South Pair#NS
%
NS
MP
NS
Score
Contract
& Result
Op.
Ld.
EW
Score
EW
MP
EW
%
Pair# East-West
Eiler Eis &
Bob Hodgkinson
X6N100 6.001302♦︎n+2♥︎J 0.000X1EDoug Stewart &
Louise Forsyth
Pam Tomlins &
Tim Tomlins
X4N83 5.001002♠︎w–1♥︎T 1.0017X4ENiamh Kelly &
Doug MacDougall
Diane O Connor &
Valerie Young
X3N42 2.503♥︎e=♦︎4140 3.5058X2EAlan Atkins &
David Rosenberg
Alexa Allen &
Jacquie Brown
X2N42 2.503♥︎e=♠︎T140 3.5058X7EGaye Ballantyne &
Patti Young
Jill Price &
Barbara Spitz
X7N42 2.502♥︎e+1♦︎A140 3.5058X3EFrancesco L Piccone &
M Piccone
Joan Christensen &
Carol Linda Ward
X5N42 2.502♥︎e+1♦︎4140 3.5058X6EVicki Torbett &
Myrna Halpenny
John Fraser &
Jandi Fraser
X1N0 0.002NTe+1♣︎6150 6.00100X5EDiane Hardouin &
Faye Wightman
Section A Scores (three weeks ago)
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
3♥︎eT♠︎-1 100
4♥︎e4♦︎-1 100
2♥︎eA♦︎= 110
3♥︎eA♦︎= 140
1Nw6♦︎+2 150
South has the two and a half quick tricks required for an opening bid, but ten points is a bit light, and pass is probably better. West also passes and North opens 2♦︎ in third seat. East overcalls 2♥︎ and South competes to 4♦︎, a pre-emptive raise that may look a bit risky vulnerable, but South's four small hearts indicate likely shortness in partner's hand, and having passed a potential opener, it's time to get in there! West has two options, pass and discover that 4♦︎ makes, or bid 4♥︎ and hope the defenders don't beat it more than one. They should: A♦︎ lead, North signals with the K♦︎, a high card asking for a high suit switch (spades) and two spade tricks beat 4♥︎ two tricks for 200!
#7 V NORTH       Apr. 27, 2026
♠︎ KJ82Dealer: W
♥︎ T None Vul
V WEST      ♦︎ KT9865V  EAST      
♠︎AQ93♣︎ 52♠︎765
♥︎743♥︎AKQJ5
♦︎72D SOUTH       ♦︎J3
♣︎KJT7♠︎T4♣︎Q43
7♥︎98626
10HCP13♦︎AQ41FRK2
10♣︎A9861
Tricks Available (best play by both sides)
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
by
N
764105by
E
67837
by
S
764105by
W
67837
Board 8 Results
North-South Pair#NS
%
NS
MP
NS
Score
Contract
& Result
Op.
Ld.
EW
Score
EW
MP
EW
%
Pair# East-West
Alexa Allen &
Jacquie Brown
X2N100 6.002♦︎w+3♣︎9150 0.000X7EGaye Ballantyne &
Patti Young
Pam Tomlins &
Tim Tomlins
X4N75 4.503NTw+1♣︎7430 1.5025X4ENiamh Kelly &
Doug MacDougall
Joan Christensen &
Carol Linda Ward
X5N75 4.503NTw+1♦︎4430 1.5025X6EVicki Torbett &
Myrna Halpenny
John Fraser &
Jandi Fraser
X1N50 3.004♥︎e+1♣︎4450 3.0050X5EDiane Hardouin &
Faye Wightman
Diane O Connor &
Valerie Young
X3N17 1.003NTw+2♣︎9460 5.0083X2EAlan Atkins &
David Rosenberg
Jill Price &
Barbara Spitz
X7N17 1.003NTw+2♦︎4460 5.0083X3EFrancesco L Piccone &
M Piccone
Eiler Eis &
Bob Hodgkinson
X6N17 1.003NTw+2♣︎7460 5.0083X1EDoug Stewart &
Louise Forsyth
Section A Scores (three weeks ago)
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
3Nw7♣︎+1 430
3Nw7♣︎+1 430
3Nw7♣︎+1 430
3Nw2♥︎+2 460
3Nw7♣︎+2 460
North-South stay out of this one and East-West bid as follows, starting with West: 1♦︎ - 1♠︎, 3♣︎ (strong, natural) - 3♥︎ (fourth suit forcing and artificial), 3NT (heart stopper) - 4NT (ace asking), 5♥︎ (two aces) - 6NT. East hopes that one of West's aces is the A♠︎, but the K♠︎ is a fine consolation prize, allowing West to win two spades, four hearts, five diamonds, and a club. If North leads a club, 6NT is in trouble, but one way to save it would be to win the A♣︎ and cash nine more red suit winners, reducing all to three cards. On a good day South will keep the Q♣︎ and A9♠︎ and North will keep three clubs and be unable to resist winning the K♣︎, dropping partner's queen!
#8 N NORTH       Apr. 27, 2026
♠︎ T5Dealer: N
♥︎ T82 EW Vul
D WEST      ♦︎ 9874N  EAST      
♠︎K♣︎ K987♠︎QJ7632
♥︎A73♥︎KQJ4
♦︎AKQJ3N SOUTH       ♦︎T5
♣︎JT32♠︎A984♣︎A
3♥︎9651
18HCP13♦︎624FRK6
6♣︎Q6541
Tricks Available (best play by both sides)
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
by
N
12114by
E
101112128
by
S
12114by
W
101112128
Board 9 Results
North-South Pair#NS
%
NS
MP
NS
Score
Contract
& Result
Op.
Ld.
EW
Score
EW
MP
EW
%
Pair# East-West
Alexa Allen &
Jacquie Brown
X2N100 6.001201NTn+1♣︎6 0.000X6EVicki Torbett &
Myrna Halpenny
Diane O Connor &
Valerie Young
X3N75 4.501102♥︎n=♣︎6 1.5025X1EDoug Stewart &
Louise Forsyth
Jill Price &
Barbara Spitz
X7N75 4.501102♥︎n=♦︎J 1.5025X2EAlan Atkins &
David Rosenberg
Pam Tomlins &
Tim Tomlins
X4N33 2.00901NTn=♣︎6 4.0067X3EFrancesco L Piccone &
M Piccone
Eiler Eis &
Bob Hodgkinson
X6N33 2.00902♦︎n=♣︎6 4.0067X7EGaye Ballantyne &
Patti Young
Joan Christensen &
Carol Linda Ward
X5N33 2.00902♦︎n=♣︎T 4.0067X5EDiane Hardouin &
Faye Wightman
John Fraser &
Jandi Fraser
X1N0 0.001NTs–1♦︎550 6.00100X4ENiamh Kelly &
Doug MacDougall
Section A Scores (three weeks ago)
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
1Nn6♣︎= 90
1NnJ♣︎= 90
1NnJ♣︎= 90
1NnJ♣︎-1 50
1Ns8♣︎-2 100
North opens 1♣︎ and East passes, as you usually should when they open your best suit. South responds 1♠︎ and West passes. North rebids 1NT and East's 11 points are not enough to risk a bid, so 1NT becomes the final contract. East tries the J♣︎ as the opening lead and the defenders begin with five club tricks. On the fourth club West needs to decide what is best once East runs out of clubs, and hearts seems best, so West plays the 8♥︎, then the 4♠︎ on the last club, and East continues with a heart. North wins the A♥︎ and plays three diamond winners but they are 4-2. The only hope is a second spade winner, and finessing the T♠︎ now or on the second round of spades is the winning play!
#9 D NORTH       Apr. 27, 2026
♠︎ AQTDealer: E
♥︎ 9642 Both Vul
V WEST      ♦︎ AK9V  EAST      
♠︎J94♣︎ 943♠︎K86
♥︎J83♥︎Q75
♦︎T865N SOUTH       ♦︎J7
♣︎KQ8♠︎7532♣︎AJT62
13♥︎AKT0
7HCP11♦︎Q4320FRK2
9♣︎751
Tricks Available (best play by both sides)
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
by
N
78886by
E
64557
by
S
78886by
W
64557
Board 10 Results
North-South Pair#NS
%
NS
MP
NS
Score
Contract
& Result
Op.
Ld.
EW
Score
EW
MP
EW
%
Pair# East-West
Diane O Connor &
Valerie Young
X3N92 5.501702♠︎n+2♥︎4 0.508X1EDoug Stewart &
Louise Forsyth
John Fraser &
Jandi Fraser
X1N92 5.501702♠︎n+2♣︎Q 0.508X4ENiamh Kelly &
Doug MacDougall
Pam Tomlins &
Tim Tomlins
X4N42 2.501402♠︎s+1♣︎T 3.5058X3EFrancesco L Piccone &
M Piccone
Alexa Allen &
Jacquie Brown
X2N42 2.501402♠︎s+1♣︎T 3.5058X6EVicki Torbett &
Myrna Halpenny
Eiler Eis &
Bob Hodgkinson
X6N42 2.501403♠︎s=♦︎9 3.5058X7EGaye Ballantyne &
Patti Young
Joan Christensen &
Carol Linda Ward
X5N42 2.501402♠︎n+1♥︎4 3.5058X5EDiane Hardouin &
Faye Wightman
Jill Price &
Barbara Spitz
X7N0 0.001102♠︎n=♣︎9 6.00100X2EAlan Atkins &
David Rosenberg
Section A Scores (three weeks ago)
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
1♠︎s6♦︎+3 170
3♠︎nK♥︎+1 170
3♠︎n2♣︎+1 170
3♠︎n3♣︎= 140
3♠︎s5♣︎-1 100
East opens 1♣︎ and South passes. West passes as well and North doubles. East passes and South responds 1♠︎. South realizes that a reopening double may be a bit shaded, so does not jump to 2♠︎ with eight points as he might over a normal takeout double. West passes and North's 1NT rebid shows about 15-17 balanced with fewer than four spades. South raises to 2NT and North accepts the invite and bids 3NT. East leads the Q♣︎. North wins and finesses the Q♥︎ and then the J♠︎, losing to East's queen. A second club is ducked and the third taken by North. The A♥︎ drops East's king and North finesses the 9♥︎, cashes the J♥︎ and A♦︎, but that's all she wrote: down two. Spades would have been better.
#10 V NORTH       Apr. 27, 2026
♠︎ KJ3Dealer: S
♥︎ J963 None Vul
V WEST      ♦︎ AT8D  EAST      
♠︎42♣︎ AK8♠︎AQ5
♥︎T875♥︎K4
♦︎KJ96V SOUTH       ♦︎743
♣︎T54♠︎T9876♣︎QJ932
16♥︎AQ20
4HCP12♦︎Q521FRK2
8♣︎762
Tricks Available (best play by both sides)
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
by
N
810986by
E
33446
by
S
810986by
W
33446
Board 11 Results
North-South Pair#NS
%
NS
MP
NS
Score
Contract
& Result
Op.
Ld.
EW
Score
EW
MP
EW
%
Pair# East-West
Diane O Connor &
Valerie Young
X3N100 6.001503♥︎w–3♠︎8 0.000X7EGaye Ballantyne &
Patti Young
Pam Tomlins &
Tim Tomlins
X4N67 4.001004♥︎w–2♣︎3 2.0033X2EAlan Atkins &
David Rosenberg
Jill Price &
Barbara Spitz
X7N67 4.001003♥︎w–2♠︎2 2.0033X1EDoug Stewart &
Louise Forsyth
Eiler Eis &
Bob Hodgkinson
X6N67 4.001002NTw–2♣︎3 2.0033X6EVicki Torbett &
Myrna Halpenny
John Fraser &
Jandi Fraser
X1N33 2.00504♥︎w–1♣︎K 4.0067X3EFrancesco L Piccone &
M Piccone
Alexa Allen &
Jacquie Brown
X2N8 0.502♥︎w=♣︎K110 5.5092X5EDiane Hardouin &
Faye Wightman
Joan Christensen &
Carol Linda Ward
X5N8 0.502♥︎w=♣︎K110 5.5092X4ENiamh Kelly &
Doug MacDougall
Section A Scores (three weeks ago)
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
4♥︎wK♣︎-2 100
2Nw3♣︎-1 50
2♥︎wJ♦︎-1 50
2♥︎wJ♦︎-1 50
1NwK♣︎+1 120
After South passes, the West hand offers two roads to trouble: an opening bid of 1NT will be passed out and finding seven tricks is a real struggle, or, opening 1♥︎ will likely get a raise to 2♥︎ from East and West will be tempted to invite with 3♥︎, which is already a level too high. West might make 1NT by playing a heart to the queen and king and then getting to dummy later to finesse the T♥︎, which gets West four hearts, three spades and the A♣︎. In 3♥︎, West can play hearts the same way for one loser, but also has two diamonds and two clubs to lose for down one. 1NT is the better opening bid: rebids with 15-17 balanced after a suit opening are difficult.
#11 N NORTH       Apr. 27, 2026
♠︎ 8762Dealer: W
♥︎ 94 NS Vul
N WEST      ♦︎ JT4N  EAST      
♠︎AKT♣︎ KQ53♠︎QJ3
♥︎AT532♥︎Q86
♦︎96D SOUTH       ♦︎Q752
♣︎A64♠︎954♣︎J98
6♥︎KJ71
15HCP8♦︎AK832FRK0
11♣︎T720
Tricks Available (best play by both sides)
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
by
N
56577by
E
66855
by
S
57577by
W
66866
Board 12 Results
North-South Pair#NS
%
NS
MP
NS
Score
Contract
& Result
Op.
Ld.
EW
Score
EW
MP
EW
%
Pair# East-West
Alexa Allen &
Jacquie Brown
X2N100 6.001503NTw–3♠︎4 0.000X5EDiane Hardouin &
Faye Wightman
Eiler Eis &
Bob Hodgkinson
X6N83 5.00503NTw–1♠︎4 1.0017X6EVicki Torbett &
Myrna Halpenny
Diane O Connor &
Valerie Young
X3N67 4.001♦︎w+2♣︎J110 2.0033X7EGaye Ballantyne &
Patti Young
Pam Tomlins &
Tim Tomlins
X4N33 2.002NTe+2♦︎7180 4.0067X2EAlan Atkins &
David Rosenberg
John Fraser &
Jandi Fraser
X1N33 2.002NTw+2♠︎4180 4.0067X3EFrancesco L Piccone &
M Piccone
Jill Price &
Barbara Spitz
X7N33 2.002NTw+2♠︎8180 4.0067X1EDoug Stewart &
Louise Forsyth
Joan Christensen &
Carol Linda Ward
X5N0 0.004♥︎w+1♦︎6450 6.00100X4ENiamh Kelly &
Doug MacDougall
Section A Scores (three weeks ago)
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
4♥︎eA♣︎-1 50
2♥︎eA♦︎+1 140
3Nw4♠︎= 400
3NwJ♣︎= 400
3Nw4♠︎+1 430
East-West have this auction to themselves, starting with West: 1♦︎ - 1♥︎, 2NT (18-19 balanced) - 3♣︎ (New Minor Forcing, looking for a 5-3 heart fit or possibly a 4-4 spade fit), 3♥︎ (three card support) - 4♥︎. North leads the J♣︎ and South wins the ace. South has twelve points and knows North can have at most two more points to go with the J♣︎. The Q♦︎ would be a potential trick, so South cashes the A♦︎ and leads a second diamond, hoping West will finesse. West plays the K♦︎ and North ruffs! North then switches to a trump and West makes the rest. South asks why North didn't lead a second club after the ruff? "You denied the K♣︎ when you won the first club with the ace." He's right! Be careful! 
#12 V NORTH       Apr. 27, 2026
♠︎ Q9842Dealer: N
♥︎ T73 Both Vul
D WEST      ♦︎ 6N  EAST      
♠︎AT♣︎ JT93♠︎KJ73
♥︎AQ9♥︎K6542
♦︎KQJT4V SOUTH       ♦︎32
♣︎Q52♠︎65♣︎74
3♥︎J84
18HCP7♦︎A98752FRK3
12♣︎AK863
Tricks Available (best play by both sides)
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
by
N
35346by
E
98996
by
S
35346by
W
98996
Board 13 Results
North-South Pair#NS
%
NS
MP
NS
Score
Contract
& Result
Op.
Ld.
EW
Score
EW
MP
EW
%
Pair# East-West
Alexa Allen &
Jacquie Brown
X2N100 6.003002NTe–3♠︎9 0.000X4ENiamh Kelly &
Doug MacDougall
Diane O Connor &
Valerie Young
X3N83 5.002003♣︎e–2♥︎5 1.0017X6EVicki Torbett &
Myrna Halpenny
Eiler Eis &
Bob Hodgkinson
X6N67 4.001401♠︎s+2♣︎J 2.0033X5EDiane Hardouin &
Faye Wightman
John Fraser &
Jandi Fraser
X1N42 2.501102♠︎s=♥︎Q 3.5058X2EAlan Atkins &
David Rosenberg
Jill Price &
Barbara Spitz
X7N42 2.501101♠︎s+1♥︎T 3.5058X7EGaye Ballantyne &
Patti Young
Pam Tomlins &
Tim Tomlins
X4N8 0.502♦︎s–1♠︎K100 5.5092X1EDoug Stewart &
Louise Forsyth
Joan Christensen &
Carol Linda Ward
X5N8 0.502♠︎s–1♥︎Q100 5.5092X3EFrancesco L Piccone &
M Piccone
Section A Scores (three weeks ago)
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
1♠︎eQ♥︎-2 200
3♠︎sK♣︎= 140
2♠︎sQ♥︎= 110
2♠︎sQ♥︎-1 100
2NeJ♠︎+2 180
North passes and East is just short of an opener, so South opens 1♠︎ in third seat. West passes and North responds 1NT. East passes and South bids 2♠︎ to show a six-card suit and this is the final bid of the auction. With five red suit winners outside of trumps, South needs only three trump winners to make 2♠︎, so South wins the Q♥︎ opening lead in hand and sets about pulling trump, starting with the 9♠︎ to West's king. West cashes the K♣︎ and the J♣︎ is ruffed by South, who continues the trump-pulling quest with the A♠︎ and T♠︎. East wins the K♠︎ and cashes the A♣︎, but South ruffs, pulls the last trump, wins four diamonds, and concedes a heart: making three! 
#13 D NORTH       Apr. 27, 2026
♠︎ 3Dealer: E
♥︎ 9863 None Vul
V WEST      ♦︎ AQ3V  EAST      
♠︎K8♣︎ T8542♠︎Q762
♥︎QJT42♥︎K7
♦︎T975V SOUTH       ♦︎64
♣︎KJ♠︎AJT954♣︎AQ763
6♥︎A54
10HCP11♦︎KJ823FRK3
13♣︎96
Tricks Available (best play by both sides)
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
by
N
68686by
E
74657
by
S
68686by
W
74657
Board 14 Results
North-South Pair#NS
%
NS
MP
NS
Score
Contract
& Result
Op.
Ld.
EW
Score
EW
MP
EW
%
Pair# East-West
Pam Tomlins &
Tim Tomlins
X4N100 6.001503♣︎s+2♥︎A 0.000X1EDoug Stewart &
Louise Forsyth
John Fraser &
Jandi Fraser
X1N83 5.001303♣︎s+1♥︎A 1.0017X2EAlan Atkins &
David Rosenberg
Diane O Connor &
Valerie Young
X3N50 3.001103♣︎s=♥︎A 3.0050X6EVicki Torbett &
Myrna Halpenny
Joan Christensen &
Carol Linda Ward
X5N50 3.001103♣︎s=♦︎5 3.0050X3EFrancesco L Piccone &
M Piccone
Jill Price &
Barbara Spitz
X7N50 3.001103♣︎s=♥︎9 3.0050X7EGaye Ballantyne &
Patti Young
Alexa Allen &
Jacquie Brown
X2N17 1.001003♥︎w–2♣︎2 5.0083X4ENiamh Kelly &
Doug MacDougall
Eiler Eis &
Bob Hodgkinson
X6N0 0.003♠︎n–1♥︎T50 6.00100X5EDiane Hardouin &
Faye Wightman
Section A Scores (three weeks ago)
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
4♥︎w7♣︎-2 100
3♥︎w7♣︎-1 50
4♠︎n3♥︎-2 100
4♠︎n8♥︎-3 150
3Nn7♦︎-5 250
East passes and South opens 1♣︎. West overcalls 1♥︎ and North's 1♠︎ response promises five (North would make a negative double with only four spades). East raises to 2♥︎ and South rebids 3♣︎. West competes to 3♥︎ and that's all folks. North leads the 7♣︎ and South wins the K♣︎. Seeing West play the J♣︎, South switches to spades and West plays the K♠︎, North winning the ace and cashing the queen. A third spade is ruffed in dummy and overruffed with South's K♥︎. Nothing can stop the defenders from getting a diamond later and 3♥︎ is down one, for a surprisingly good score that seems to indicate some overbidding by the Section A North-South pairs!
#14 N NORTH       Apr. 27, 2026
♠︎ AQT42Dealer: S
♥︎ J2 NS Vul
N WEST      ♦︎ KJ94D  EAST      
♠︎K653♣︎ 72♠︎87
♥︎AQ964♥︎T873
♦︎Q65N SOUTH       ♦︎AT87
♣︎J♠︎J9♣︎Q64
11♥︎K53
12HCP6♦︎324FRK1
11♣︎AKT98536
Tricks Available (best play by both sides)
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
by
N
774610by
E
24872
by
S
784610by
W
24872

Work In Progress! This HTML page with results combines the ACBLscore results, the BridgeMate data, and the actual cards in each hand to make a page that displays nicely on most screens. I'll continue to develop it as I hear about problems from people. So far I have only really had time to test it on the large monitor I have at home. I've done a little bit of work in making it fit on my iPhone 15 screen (turned sideways), but the typical cellphone screen is not wide enough to display the hands alongside the results, so it relocates the hands below the results and you may need to scroll down a bit. The key is in the tabs at the top, which mean you don't need to scroll to get from results to Board 32! Just click or tap on what you want to see next!

Two things that may help: If your browser program is old, some of the tech in this page might not work 100%: the system of tabs at the top of the page requires a recent version. You really aren't doing your computer many favours if you avoid requests to upgrade the programs you use most often, like browsers. If the page works but there are large areas of a monitor unused, you might be able to make it more readable by adjusting the size of things with CTRL + (plus key), which upsizes text and other screen elements a bit. CTRL + (minus key) also works if you go too far, and CTRL + (zero) resets to the default. (This doesn't work on cellphone screens.)

How is a pair's matchpoint score on a board calculated? Your raw score is compared one by one with all of the other raw scores on the board made by pairs sitting in your direction. You get one matchpoint for each score you beat, and a half-point for each score that is the same as yours. The top score on a board is one less than the number of times it is played. If the board was not played as many times as other boards for some reason, the scores may be factored up to compensate, so that each board has the same top score.

How is a pair's total score calculated? The scoring program first checks all boards to see how many times they have been played. Usually this will be the same for all boards, but if there is a sitout or a glitch of some sort in the movement, or an artificially assigned score due to an irregularity, the scoring program must first FACTOR scores on boards played fewer times, so that the top score on every board is the same. Once that is done, the scoring program also checks to see that each pair played the same number of boards: some may have sat out and missed a round: these pairs will have their total matchpoints FACTORED so that they get matchpoints for the boards they missed, based on their percentage on the boards they did play. The total of all this summing and factoring is your final score.

How does this factoring work exactly? There are actually two types of factoring: the most common is to factor a pair's score that has not played as many boards as the other pairs. Their sum of matchpoints on the boards they played, is divided by the number of boards they played, and then multiplied by the number of boards most pairs played. The other type is covered in the next question.

I have the best score on a board but got slightly fewer matchpoints than tops on other boards, why is that? This is the other type of factoring, which happens when a board is played fewer times than other boards for some reason. Maybe a pair didn't get to it, or there was a artificial score assigned after an irregularity. Factoring a board has to take into account the small chance that, had it been played the correct number of times, the extra plays might have produced a score that is better than the current top, or lower than the current bottom. To do so, the ACBL and the World Bridge Federation use the Neuberg formula, which you can read about on Wikipedia if you want the complete details. It has its detractors, but is sort of like Winston Churchill's ranking of democracy as the second-worst system of government ... all the others being tied for first!

HCP and FRK, what on earth are they? HCP stands for highcard points, and the four numbers surrounding it show how many points each player has in a hand. The colour behind the word "HCP" is gray when the 40 points are evenly distributed between North-South and East-West, but turns more and more orange (North-South) or purple (East-West) if one side has a majority. FRK stands for Freakness, a way to describe just how freaky a hand's distribution is, on a scale from 0-20, with average for a hand being just slightly less than 3, and the average for a full deal, the sum of the freakness ratings of the four hands, is about 11.93 on average. A hand gets one freakness point for each card in a suit beyond the fourth, or less than three; plus a bonus if the hand contains at least one void (2 points) or at least one singleton but no void (1 point). The background colour behind the "FRK" shows whether the deal is hot (red), average (gray), or cold (blue) in terms of Freakness! Freakness was created by bridge expert Richard Pavlicek and searching for "pavlicek freakness" will get you quickly to his article on the subject.

Something New! The tabs with the board numbers now indicate which side had the bulk of the high-card points (above the board number: NS: orange, EW: purple, evenly-split: gray), and the freakness rating of the deal as a whole (below the board number: flat: blue, average: gray, freaky: red)! Want to see only the hands where N-S had the points, or the freakiest ones? Check the tabs!

What are "tricks available" and how are they calculated? Computers these days can analyze all the possible legal play lines on a deal, given a trump suit (or notrump) and a declarer, and sort all of these lines into successes and failures to come up with an optimum line of play that perfect defenders and a perfect declarer would take. The result of this line of play is the "tricks available" and is sometimes unrealistic, requiring opening leads that few if any would find, or declarer taking only the finesses that work and dropping offside singleton honours where possible. You will very quickly see from the results which deals have unrealistic "tricks available" expectations, and it is often a fun exercise to work out how you can make that many tricks. But for most deals, it is a fairly good guide as to how high a pair should bid.

Why are the masterpoints not the same as what is on ACBL Live for Clubs? This is in my view an own goal by ACBL: they have new rules for club game masterpoints but are not willing to expend the time to upgrade ACBLscore to show the masterpoints under the new rules. Luckily, most masterpoint awards actually get bigger when they go through the "engine" and are reposted on Live. The main effect is to give more masterpoints to games where the non-sitting out pairs play more boards. The problem is that the masterpoint awards that come out of ACBLscore, before being posted online, are not what you eventually get.

How can I contact McBruce to tell him what's not working for me? By e-mail: ooga@shaw.ca