MON 10/24/2016 at Nite

EVENT>Monday Night Bridge      |SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> A N-S
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>October 24, 2016   |CLUB NO.>185264    | 10/24/2016 22:20
---------------------,-- ------------------- -------------,---------------------
DIR> Mike Lipp       |RATING>Club Masterpoint (100%, 80%, 70% Open)|MOVEMENT>MITCHELL
------------,-------- ,-------------------------,--------- ---------------------
AVE>  132.0 |TOP>  11 |MP LIMITS>None/500/200   |CLUB>Monday Night Bridge
------------ --------- ------------------------- -------------------------------
PAIRS IN STRAT A=15/B=11/C=5                     ,---,-------------------------,------,---------,
-------------------------------------------------|   |           Section       |      |Section  |
No Name                   Name                   |Flt|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C| Score | Pct  |Awards   |
------------------------------------------------- --- ----- ----- ----- ------- ------ ---------
 1 Debbie Wiest           John Altman Sr           A    .     .     .    120.23  45.54
 2 Reeta Brendamour       Joy Singerman            B    5     4     .    140.00  53.03  0.31(B)
 3 Marilyn Prosise        Robert Prosise           A    .     .     .    136.00  51.52
 4 Judy Barron            Patrick Lammers          B    1     1     .    168.00  63.64  1.50(A)
 5 Liz Lin                Elmer Hubka              A    .     .     .    119.86  45.40
 6 David Elliott          Carla Runda              C    .     .     .     91.30  34.58
 7 Charlie Kobida         Mike Burns               C    .     .     .    123.23  46.68
 8 J Thomas Markham       Carol Markham            C    6     .     2    138.23  52.36  0.25(A)
 9 Robert Roark           Pam Campbell             B    4     3     .    140.73  53.31  0.53(A)
10 John Ramsay            Julian Magnus, Jr        C    .     .     .    121.05  45.85
11 Janet Hansen           Pamela Kennedy           C    2     2     1    148.14  56.11  1.05(A)
12 Beverly Shores         Judith Lubow             B    .     .     .    123.23  46.68
13 Susan Stacy Vanstone   Martin Gibler            B    .     .     .    129.23  48.95
14 Doris Kehoe            Lilam Stanley            A    3     .     .    142.86  54.11  0.75(A)
15 Ambrish Bansal         Rakesh Shukla            B    .     .     .    136.23  51.60

                                          Totals                        1978.32

Expert Hand Analysis performed by Bob Fisk


                                             **PAIRS**
BOARD     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9    10    11    12    13    14    15
  /
   1>   8.23                    3.86        8.23  8.23  8.23  0.05  1.14  8.23  2.23  3.86  8.23
         460   ----  ----  ----  400    NP   460   460   460   -50   150   460   210   400   460

   2>     4                       9-    4     4     9-    1     1     7     7    11     1     7
         -90   ----  ----  ----  100   -90   -90   100  -120  -120    50    50   150  -120    50

   3>     9-    9-                      4    11     2     4     7-     -    4     6     7-     -
         100   100   ----  ----  ---- -110   110  -150  -110   -50  -600  -110   -90   -50  -600

   4>     5-    5-                      0     5-   10-    5-   10-    2     5-    5-    1     9
         100   100   ----  ----  ---- -790   100   200   100   200  -100   100   100  -140   140

   5>     1-    9-    0                       6     9-    9-    1-    9-    6     6     4     3
        -100   660  -200   ----  ----  ----  600   660   660  -100   660   600   600   150   130

   6>     4-    0     1-                      9     1-    9     9     4-   11     4-    4-    7
         150   120   130   ----  ----  ----  400   130   400   400   150   460   150   150   210

   7>     7-   11     7-    7-                      4     1     3     2     0     7-    7-    7-
         600   660   600   600   ----  ----  ----  150  -100   140   130  -200   600   600   600

   8>     0     4-   11     2                       4-    2     2     8-    6-    6-   10     8-
        -150   -90   150  -110   ----  ----  ----  -90  -110  -110    50   -50   -50   110    50

   9>    10     1     6-    4     6-                      9     4     1     4     1    11     8
        -170  -660  -630  -650  -630   ----  ----  ---- -210  -650  -660  -650  -660   100  -620

  10>     0     6-    6-    2-    2-                      2-    9    10-    6-    2-   10-    6-
        -630  -150  -150  -600  -600   ----  ----  ---- -600  -130   200  -150  -600   200  -150

  11>     4     2      -   10-    4     8                        -    8     8     4    10-    6
         130   -50  -100   430   130   400   ----  ----  ---- -100   400   400   130   430   150

  12>     4-    9     9     1     1     4-                      9    11     7     4-    1     4-
        -100   140   140  -200  -200  -100   ----  ----  ----  140   670   110  -100  -200  -100

  13>     5-   10     5-   11     0     1-    5-                      5-    5-    9     5-    1-
        -130  -110  -130   100  -630  -150  -130   ----  ----  ---- -130  -130  -120  -130  -150

  14>     9-    8      -    9-    4     5     6-                     11     2-     -    6-    2-
         140   100  -550   140  -130  -100   -50   ----  ----  ----  590  -300  -550   -50  -300

  15>     3-    8    10    11     5-    0     8     3-                      1-    8     5-    1-
        -100    50    80   120  PASS  -300    50  -100   ----  ----  ---- -200    50  PASS  -200

  16>     9     4-    4-   11     0     1     4-    4-                      4-    9     4-    9
         170   140   140   200  -200  -100   140   140   ----  ----  ----  140   170   140   170

  17>     2-    7-    7-   10     2-    1     0    11     5                       4     7-    7-
        -100   140   140   150  -100  -110  -150   170   100   ----  ----  ----  -50   140   140

  18>     4-    4-    4-    8-    1     8-    2     4-    0                      11     8-    8-
          50    50    50   100  -300   100   -90    50  -570   ----  ----  ----  800   100   100

  19>     7     7     2    11     2     7     2     7     7     7                       7     0
         170   170   150   490   150   170   150   170   170   170   ----  ----  ----  170   130

  20>     4     1-    9     7-   11     1-    0     5-    7-    5-                      3    10
        -120  -150   100   -90   400  -150  -180  -110   -90  -110   ----  ----  ---- -130   140

  21>     1     6-    2-   11     6-   10     6-    2-    6-    6-    0                       6-
        -200  PASS  -100   200  PASS   110  PASS  -100  PASS  PASS  -300   ----  ----  ---- PASS

  22>     1     3     8     8     8     0     8     2     4-    8    11                       4-
        -140   100   140   140   140  -930   140   -50   110   140   200   ----  ----  ----  110

  23>     9     3     9      -    5-     -    3    11     7     3     5-    9
         140  -100   140  -200   110  -200  -100   150   120  -100   110   140   ----  ----  ----

  24>     4-    4-    4-    4-   10     4-    4-    4-    4-    4-   11     4-
        -420  -420  -420  -420  -400  -420  -420  -420  -420  -420    50  -420   ----  ----  ----

  25>           2-    8-   10     6-    0     1    11     6-    5     8-    2-    4
         ---- -140   110   200   100  -670  -150   300   100   -50   110  -140   -70   ----  ----

  26>          11     5     8     1-    5    10     5     5     0     9     1-    5
         ---- -170  -620  -600  -640  -620  -190  -620  -620 -1370  -200  -640  -620   ----  ----

  27>                11     0     1-   10     6     6     6     6     1-    6     6     6
         ----  ----   50  -980  -480  -400  -420  -420  -420  -420  -480  -420  -420  -420   ----

  28>                 1-    7-    9     1-    5     3-    7-   10-    3-    0    10-    6
         ----  ---- -200   150   180  -200   110  -100   150   600  -100  -300   600   140   ----

  29>                       3-   10     9     5     1    11     3-    6     7-    1     7-    1
         ----  ----  ---- -180   100  -120  -170  -630   300  -180  -150  -140  -630  -140  -630

  30>                       8     8     1     2     6    11     4-   10     4-    0     3     8
         ----  ----  ----   50    50  -180  -170   -90   150  -120   100  -120  -400  -150    50



EVENT>Monday Night Bridge      |SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> A E-W
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>October 24, 2016   |CLUB NO.>185264    | 10/24/2016 22:20
---------------------,-- ------------------- -------------,---------------------
DIR> Mike Lipp       |RATING>Club Masterpoint (100%, 80%, 70% Open)|MOVEMENT>MITCHELL
------------,-------- ,-------------------------,--------- ---------------------
AVE>  132.0 |TOP>  11 |MP LIMITS>None/500/200   |CLUB>Monday Night Bridge
------------ --------- ------------------------- -------------------------------
PAIRS IN STRAT A=15/B=12/C=6                     ,---,-------------------------,------,---------,
-------------------------------------------------|   |           Section       |      |Section  |
No Name                   Name                   |Flt|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C| Score | Pct  |Awards   |
------------------------------------------------- --- ----- ----- ----- ------- ------ ---------
 1 D. Thomas Terwilliger  C Daniel Payne           B    5     4     .    137.77  52.19  0.34(B)
 2 Peter Dehaan           Steve Messinger          C    .     .     2    133.77  50.67  0.29(C)
 3 Lewis Temples          Richard Koch             C    .     .     .    119.50  45.27
 4 Erin Oblinger          Linda Pretz              C    2     2     1    155.45  58.88  1.05(A)
 5 Joseph Kammer          Gail Zimmer              B    1     1     .    171.50  64.96  1.50(A)
 6 Joanne Earls           Robert Brown             A    .     .     .    126.36  47.86
 7 Joyce Tedrick          Betty Murdock            B    .     .     .    128.00  48.48
 8 Patrick Hoffman        Sharon Koster            B    6     5     .    136.27  51.62  0.25(A)
 9 Tom Kereiakes          Annette Kereiakes        C    .     .     .    120.14  45.51
10 Joan Diers             Evelyn McCarthy          C    .     .     .    115.27  43.66
11 Daniel Koppenhafer     Donald Pollack           B    3     3     .    152.35  57.71  0.75(A)
12 Romeo Bodrogi-Podoaba  Patricia Burnam          A    .     .     .    117.14  44.37
13 Herb Schapera          Millard Lakes            B    .     .     .    121.77  46.13
14 June Cushman           Martin Petersen          A    4     .     .    147.27  55.78  0.53(A)
15 Peggy Jervis           Pat Lindeman             C    .     .     .     98.27  37.22

                                          Totals                        1980.83

Expert Hand Analysis performed by Bob Fisk


                                             **PAIRS**
BOARD     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9    10    11    12    13    14    15
  /
   1>   2.77  2.77       10.95        9.86        2.77  7.14  8.77        7.14  2.77  2.77  2.77
        -460  -460   ----   50   ---- -150   ---- -460  -400  -210    NP  -400  -460  -460  -460

   2>     7    10          10           4           4     1-    0     7    10     7     4     1-
          90   120   ----  120   ----  -50   ----  -50  -100  -150    90   120    90   -50  -100

   3>     7     1-    3-         10-          7           5     7     3-    0    10-    9     1-
         110  -100    50   ----  600   ----  110   ----   90   110    50  -110   600   150  -100

   4>     5-    5-     -          9           5-          5-   11    10     5-    2      -    5-
        -100  -100  -200   ----  100   ---- -100   ---- -100   790   140  -100  -140  -200  -100

   5>     1-    9-   11     1-          5           5           7     5     8     1-    9-    1-
        -660   100   200  -660   ---- -600   ---- -600   ---- -150  -600  -130  -660   100  -660

   6>    11     2     9-    6-          0           6-          6-    2     4     9-    6-    2
        -120  -400  -130  -150   ---- -460   ---- -150   ---- -150  -400  -210  -130  -150  -400

   7>     8     3-    9     3-   11           3-          3-          3-    7     3-   10     0
        -140  -600  -130  -600   200   ---- -600   ---- -600   ---- -600  -150  -600   100  -660

   8>     9     0     2-    9     4-          4-          1           2-    6-   11     9     6-
         110  -150   -50   110    50   ----   50   ---- -110   ----  -50    90   150   110    90

   9>     4-   10     7     7     4-   10           0           3           1     2    10     7
         630   660   650   650   630   660   ---- -100   ----  620   ----  170   210   660   650

  10>     4-     -    8-    4-    8-    8-           -          4-         11     8-    4-    2
         150  -200   600   150   600   600   ---- -200   ----  150   ----  630   600   150   130

  11>     3      -    3     7     7     3      -          5           7           9    10-   10-
        -400  -430  -400  -130  -130  -400  -430   ---- -150   ---- -130   ----   50   100   100

  12>     0    10     4    10     6-    6-   10           6-          6-          2     2     2
        -670   200  -110   200   100   100   200   ----  100   ----  100   ---- -140  -140  -140

  13>     0     5-   11     2     9-    5-    5-    9-          5-          1           5-    5-
        -100   130   630   120   150   130   130   150   ----  130   ----  110   ----  130   130

  14>     1-    8-    7    10-    6     4-    4-    8-          1-          3          10-    0
        -140   300   130   550   100    50    50   300   ---- -140   ---- -100   ----  550  -590

  15>     9-    5-    3    11     5-    3     9-    7-    7-          3           1           0
         200  PASS   -50   300  PASS   -50   200   100   100   ----  -50   ----  -80   ---- -120

  16>     6-   11     2    10     6-    6-    2     6-    2           6-          6-          0
        -140   200  -170   100  -140  -140  -170  -140  -170   ---- -140   ---- -140   ---- -200

  17>     8-    7    10     3-   11     3-    0     8-    6     3-          3-          1
         100    50   110  -140   150  -140  -170   100  -100  -140   ---- -140   ---- -150   ----

  18>    10     0     2-    2-    9     2-    6-    6-   11     6-          6-          2-
         300  -800  -100  -100    90  -100   -50   -50   570   -50   ----  -50   ---- -100   ----

  19>           4     4     9    11     4     4     4     4     4     9           0           9
         ---- -170  -170  -150  -130  -170  -170  -170  -170  -170  -150   ---- -490   ---- -150

  20>           9-    8    11     1     5-    7     3-    9-    5-    2           3-          0
         ----  150   130   180  -140   110   120    90   150   110  -100   ----   90   ---- -400

  21>     1           4-    4-    8-   10     4-    4-    4-    8-   11     0           4-
        -110   ---- PASS  PASS   100   200  PASS  PASS  PASS   100   300  -200   ---- PASS   ----

  22>    11           3     6-    9    10     6-    8     3     3     0     3           3
         930   ---- -140  -110    50   140  -110  -100  -140  -140  -200  -140   ---- -140   ----

  23>           8           0     2     4     8     8     2     5-   10-    2     5-         10-
         ----  100   ---- -150  -140  -120   100   100  -140  -110   200  -140  -110   ----  200

  24>           6-          6-    6-    6-    6-    6-    6-    0     6-    6-    1           6-
         ----  420   ----  420   420   420   420   420   420   -50   420   420   400   ----  420

  25>    10           0           4-    8-    6     2-    2-    1     8-    4-    7    11
         150   ---- -300   ---- -100   140    50  -110  -110  -200   140  -100    70   670   ----

  26>     1           6           6     0    11     6     2     3     9-    9-    6     6
         190   ----  620   ----  620   170  1370   620   200   600   640   640   620   620   ----

  27>           5           5           5     0     9-   11     5     9-    5     1     5     5
         ----  420   ----  420   ----  420   -50   480   980   420   480   420   400   420   420

  28>           7-          3-           -    9-    7-    3-   11     2      -    9-    5     6
         ----  100   ---- -150   ---- -600   200   100  -150   300  -180  -600   200  -140  -110

  29>    10           0           7-          5     7-    3-    1    10     2     3-    6    10
         630   ---- -300   ----  180   ----  150   180   140  -100   630   120   140   170   630

  30>     5           0           6-          1     3     6-    3    11    10     8     9     3
          90   ---- -150   ----  120   ---- -100   -50   120   -50   400   180   150   170   -50
Monday Night Bridge, Monday Eve, October 24, 2016

Board 1
North Deals
None Vul

♠	A 8 7
♥	Q 8 5
♦	Q 5 3
♣	A 8 5 3

♠	Q 6 5 3
♥	A K 3
♦	9 6 4 2
♣	10 9

N
W		E
S

♠	10 9 4 2
♥	J 9 6 2
♦	K 8 7
♣	J 4

♠	K J
♥	10 7 4
♦	A J 10
♣	K Q 7 6 2

S 5N; N 4N; NS 5♣; NS 3♥; S 4♦; NS 2♠; N 3♦; Par +460

West	North	East	South
	1 ♣1	Pass	2 ♣2
Pass	2 NT3	Pass	3 NT
Pass	Pass	Pass

This is an opener
Alert, game forcing Club raise
Alert, stoppers in both majors

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	N	5	460		8.23	2.77	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	1-Terwilliger-Payne
3 NT	S	5	460		8.23	2.77	7-Kobida-Burns	13-Schapera-Lakes
3 NT	N	5	460		8.23	2.77	8-Markham-Markham	15-Jervis-Lindeman
3 NT	N	5	460		8.23	2.77	9-Roark-Campbell	2-Dehaan-Messinger
3 NT	N	5	460		8.23	2.77	12-Shores-Lubow	8-Hoffman-Koster
3 NT	S	5	460		8.23	2.77	15-Bansal-Shukla	14-Cushman-Petersen
3 NT	S	3	400		3.86	7.14	5-Lin-Hubka	9-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 NT	N	3	400		3.86	7.14	14-Kehoe-Stanley	12-Bodrogi-Podoaba-Burnam
2 NT	N	5	210		2.23	8.77	13-Vanstone-Gibler	10-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♣	N	5	150		1.14	9.86	11-Hansen-Kennedy	6-Earls-Brown
3 NT	N	−1		50	0.05	10.95	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	4-Oblinger-Pretz

In 1st or 2nd seat, you want to work very hard to be in the auction. Basically, it's a good idea to open every 12-point hand unless it has 3334 shape and is aceless. This one has two Aces, so we're good to go. Some hands with 10-11 HCP can be opened at the one level in 1st or 2nd seat, but they need to meet the Rule of 20 (HCP + length in two longest suits) and have a comfortable rebid.

Responder's 2 ♣ bid shows a game forcing hand with 4+ Clubs and no 4-card major. North shows stoppers in both majors for notrump, and South raises to game. N/S take two Spade tricks, one Heart, three Diamonds, and five Clubs, making five. East will lead a major suit on the go, but it doesn't really matter. If it's a small Heart, declarer will sweat out the Diamond finesse.

Board 2
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	A 8 4
♥	Q J 5 2
♦	J 8 6
♣	J 9 7

♠	K 3
♥	7 3
♦	K 10 7 5 3
♣	10 8 3 2

N
W		E
S

♠	10 9 5 2
♥	A K
♦	A 9 4
♣	A Q 6 4

♠	Q J 7 6
♥	10 9 8 6 4
♦	Q 2
♣	K 5

EW 3♦; EW 3♣; EW 1N; EW 1♠; NS 1♥; Par −110

West	North	East	South
		1 NT1	Pass
Pass	Pass

15 to 17

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 NT	E	−3	150		11.00	0.00	13-Vanstone-Gibler	10-Diers-McCarthy
1 NT	E	−2	100		9.50	1.50	5-Lin-Hubka	9-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
1 NT	E	−2	100		9.50	1.50	8-Markham-Markham	15-Jervis-Lindeman
1 NT	E	−1	50		7.00	4.00	11-Hansen-Kennedy	6-Earls-Brown
1 NT	E	−1	50		7.00	4.00	12-Shores-Lubow	8-Hoffman-Koster
1 NT	E	−1	50		7.00	4.00	15-Bansal-Shukla	14-Cushman-Petersen
1 NT	E	1		90	4.00	7.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	1-Terwilliger-Payne
1 NT	E	1		90	4.00	7.00	6-Elliott-Runda	11-Koppenhafer-Pollack
1 NT	E	1		90	4.00	7.00	7-Kobida-Burns	13-Schapera-Lakes
1 NT	W	2		120	1.00	10.00	9-Roark-Campbell	2-Dehaan-Messinger
1 NT	E	2		120	1.00	10.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	4-Oblinger-Pretz
1 NT	E	2		120	1.00	10.00	14-Kehoe-Stanley	12-Bodrogi-Podoaba-Burnam

Either South or North might venture a bid if not vulnerable, but here it's too risky. Some Wests might consider a 2 NT bid ("Alert. Partner is transferring me to Diamonds."), but without a sixth Diamond, that's going to result in a bad contract if East has only two Diamonds.

The ♥T will be the most likely lead. Declarer wins and immediately plays a small Diamond from both hands. The defenders will clear the Hearts, and declarer will cash four Diamond tricks and the Ace of Clubs, making one.

If N/S get frisky and enter the auction, E/W will get to the better contract of 3 ♣ or 3 ♦ (or possibly doubling N/S in 2 ♥).

Board 3
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	Q J 10 6 3
♥	K Q 5
♦	K Q 6
♣	10 6

♠	9 5
♥	A J
♦	8 5 3
♣	A K Q J 9 7

N
W		E
S

♠	K 7 4 2
♥	10 4 2
♦	A 10 2
♣	8 3 2

♠	A 8
♥	9 8 7 6 3
♦	J 9 7 4
♣	5 4

EW 2N; NS 2♠; NS 2♥; NS 2♦; EW 2♣; Par −100: NS 3♦×−1; NS 3♥×−1; NS 3♠×−1

West	North	East	South
			Pass
1 ♣	1 ♠	1 NT	Pass
Pass	Dbl1	Pass	2 ♥
2 NT	Pass	Pass	Pass

Do something smart, partner

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♠	N	2	110		11.00	0.00	7-Kobida-Burns	12-Bodrogi-Podoaba-Burnam
3 ♣	W	−1	100		9.50	1.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	15-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♣	W	−1	100		9.50	1.50	2-Brendamour-Singerman	2-Dehaan-Messinger
3 ♠	N	−1		50	7.50	3.50	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	3-Temples-Koch
3 ♠	N	−1		50	7.50	3.50	14-Kehoe-Stanley	11-Koppenhafer-Pollack
2 ♣	W	2		90	6.00	5.00	13-Vanstone-Gibler	9-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 ♣	W	3		110	4.00	7.00	6-Elliott-Runda	10-Diers-McCarthy
2 ♣	W	3		110	4.00	7.00	9-Roark-Campbell	1-Terwilliger-Payne
2 ♣	W	3		110	4.00	7.00	12-Shores-Lubow	7-Tedrick-Murdock
1 NT	E	3		150	2.00	9.00	8-Markham-Markham	14-Cushman-Petersen
3 NT	E	3		600	0.50	10.50	11-Hansen-Kennedy	5-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	E	3		600	0.50	10.50	15-Bansal-Shukla	13-Schapera-Lakes

North doesn't really want E/W to play in 1 NT, so they double asking partner not to be an idiot. South obliges and bids 2 ♥. West has plenty of extras, looking at seven tricks in notrump on a Heart lead, so they happily bid one more time.

North should trust their partner and lead the ♥ K. Declarer will take their eight top tricks and give up. If North chooses the ♠ Q on opening lead and continues Spades at trick two, declarer simply has to duck twice, making three--six Clubs, one Diamond, one Heart, and a Spade. Oops. If declarer covers the ♠ Q with the ♠ K ("Cover an honor with an honor, partner."), they should take up a different game.

Board 4
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	K 6 5
♥	K 4
♦	8 2
♣	K 10 6 5 4 2

♠	A 10 9 7 4 2
♥	Q
♦	7 3
♣	A J 8 7

N
W		E
S

♠	Q J 8 3
♥	J 10 8 2
♦	Q J 10 9 4
♣	—

♠	—
♥	A 9 7 6 5 3
♦	A K 6 5
♣	Q 9 3

EW 3♠; NS 3♥; NS 4♣; NS 1N; NS 1♦; Par +130

West	North	East	South
1 ♠	Pass	3 ♦1	3 ♥
3 ♠	Pass	Pass	Pass

Alert, artificial, constructive raise with 4+ Spades

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	E	−2	200		10.50	0.50	8-Markham-Markham	14-Cushman-Petersen
4 ♠	W	−2	200		10.50	0.50	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	3-Temples-Koch
3 ♥	S	3	140		9.00	2.00	15-Bansal-Shukla	13-Schapera-Lakes
4 ♠	W	−1	100		5.50	5.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	15-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♠	W	−1	100		5.50	5.50	2-Brendamour-Singerman	2-Dehaan-Messinger
4 ♠	W	−1	100		5.50	5.50	7-Kobida-Burns	12-Bodrogi-Podoaba-Burnam
4 ♠	W	−1	100		5.50	5.50	9-Roark-Campbell	1-Terwilliger-Payne
4 ♠	W	−1	100		5.50	5.50	12-Shores-Lubow	7-Tedrick-Murdock
4 ♠	W	−1	100		5.50	5.50	13-Vanstone-Gibler	9-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♥	S	−1		100	2.00	9.00	11-Hansen-Kennedy	5-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♠	W	3		140	1.00	10.00	14-Kehoe-Stanley	11-Koppenhafer-Pollack
4 ♠×	W	4		790	0.00	11.00	6-Elliott-Runda	10-Diers-McCarthy

South competes once with 3 ♥, but goes away quietly when partner can't support their suit. If not vulnerable, South would bid 4 ♦ over 3 ♠, and North would revert back to Hearts.

E/W lose one Spade, one Heart, and two Diamonds, making three. North will probably lead the ♥ K. South should overtake, cash the ♦ K and ♦ A (asking for count with the ♦ K), and try a second Heart in case North had a singleton. Nope.

Board 5
North Deals
N-S Vul

♠	Q J 8
♥	Q 10 6 3
♦	6 5 4
♣	A J 8

♠	A 7 5
♥	K 8 7 4
♦	7 2
♣	10 6 3 2

N
W		E
S

♠	K 10 6 4 3
♥	A J 5 2
♦	10 3
♣	7 5

♠	9 2
♥	9
♦	A K Q J 9 8
♣	K Q 9 4

NS 4♦; NS 2N; N 3♣; S 2♣; EW 1♠; EW 1♥; Par +130

West	North	East	South
	Pass	Pass	1 ♦
Pass	1 ♥	Pass	2 ♣1
Pass	2 NT2	Pass	3 NT
Pass	Pass	Pass

Not quite a jump shift
Showing extras and inviting 3 NT

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	N	5	660		9.50	1.50	2-Brendamour-Singerman	1-Terwilliger-Payne
3 NT	N	5	660		9.50	1.50	8-Markham-Markham	13-Schapera-Lakes
3 NT	N	5	660		9.50	1.50	9-Roark-Campbell	15-Jervis-Lindeman
3 NT	N	5	660		9.50	1.50	11-Hansen-Kennedy	4-Oblinger-Pretz
3 NT	N	3	600		6.00	5.00	7-Kobida-Burns	11-Koppenhafer-Pollack
3 NT	N	3	600		6.00	5.00	12-Shores-Lubow	6-Earls-Brown
3 NT	N	3	600		6.00	5.00	13-Vanstone-Gibler	8-Hoffman-Koster
3 ♦	S	5	150		4.00	7.00	14-Kehoe-Stanley	10-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♦	S	4	130		3.00	8.00	15-Bansal-Shukla	12-Bodrogi-Podoaba-Burnam
5 ♦	S	−1		100	1.50	9.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	14-Cushman-Petersen
5 ♦	S	−1		100	1.50	9.50	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	2-Dehaan-Messinger
6 ♦	S	−2		200	0.00	11.00	3-Prosise-Prosise	3-Temples-Koch

N/S will be down one after East leads a major, as long as E/W realize that they need to switch to the other major at the appropriate time. If East leads a small Spade (likely on the auction), West should win with the ♠ A and play the ♥ K. East will signal with the ♥ 2 (playing upside-down attitude) and West will continue Hearts for East to cash the ♥ J, ♥ A, and ♠ K. If East starts with the ♥ 2, then West should win with the ♥ K. If West returns the ♥ 4, North can play the ♥ 6 to knock out the ♥ J. If E/W continue to try and clear Hearts before cashing their Spades, declarer will take ten tricks.

Board 6
East Deals
E-W Vul

♠	K
♥	8 7 5 3
♦	Q J 10 3 2
♣	A 10 4

♠	9 6 4 2
♥	K 9
♦	8 5 4
♣	Q J 6 3

N
W		E
S

♠	A 7 5
♥	Q 10 6 4
♦	A 9
♣	9 8 7 2

♠	Q J 10 8 3
♥	A J 2
♦	K 7 6
♣	K 5

S 3N; S 3♠; N 2N; N 2♠; NS 2♥; NS 3♦; NS 1♣; Par +400

West	North	East	South
		Pass	1 NT1
Pass	2 ♣	Pass	2 ♠
Pass	3 NT	Pass	Pass
Pass

15 to 17

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	S	5	460		11.00	0.00	12-Shores-Lubow	6-Earls-Brown
3 NT	S	3	400		9.00	2.00	7-Kobida-Burns	11-Koppenhafer-Pollack
3 NT	S	3	400		9.00	2.00	9-Roark-Campbell	15-Jervis-Lindeman
3 NT	N	3	400		9.00	2.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	2-Dehaan-Messinger
1 NT	N	5	210		7.00	4.00	15-Bansal-Shukla	12-Bodrogi-Podoaba-Burnam
2 NT	N	3	150		4.50	6.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	14-Cushman-Petersen
3 ♦	N	5	150		4.50	6.50	11-Hansen-Kennedy	4-Oblinger-Pretz
2 ♦	N	5	150		4.50	6.50	13-Vanstone-Gibler	8-Hoffman-Koster
2 ♦	S	5	150		4.50	6.50	14-Kehoe-Stanley	10-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♦	S	4	130		1.50	9.50	3-Prosise-Prosise	3-Temples-Koch
2 ♦	S	4	130		1.50	9.50	8-Markham-Markham	13-Schapera-Lakes
1 NT	N	2	120		0.00	11.00	2-Brendamour-Singerman	1-Terwilliger-Payne

South should consider their hand a 15 count and open 1 NT. West's best lead is a Spade. East should win with the ♠ A and switch to a small Heart. If declarer plays low from their hand, East can win cheaply with the ♥ 9 and return the ♥ K. Declarer needs to duck this as well. When West can't continue Hearts, the hand is over. If declarer takes the second Heart with the ♥ A hoping that West holds the ♦ A, they're going to be sorely disappointed.

If South wins the first Heart trick with the ♥ A and knocks out the ♦ A, they'll need to play low on the second Heart and hope for a blockage in the suit. West can't afford to pitch the ♥ K under the ♥ A, since that would give South a second Heart stopper in the ♥ J.

Board 7
South Deals
Both Vul

♠	A K 2
♥	A 9 6 4 3
♦	K 8 7 3 2
♣	—

♠	8 6 5 4
♥	K J 5
♦	J 4
♣	K 8 3 2

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 9 3
♥	Q 10 8
♦	Q 10 5
♣	10 9 7 5

♠	J 10 7
♥	7 2
♦	A 9 6
♣	A Q J 6 4

NS 4♥; N 3N; NS 5♦; NS 3♠; S 2N; NS 2♣; Par +620

West	North	East	South
			1 ♣
Pass	1 ♥	Pass	1 NT
Pass	2 ♦1	Pass	3 ♣2
Pass	3 NT	Pass	Pass
Pass

Alert, XYZ bid, artificial and game forcing
Showing exactly 3-2-3-5 shape

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	S	5	660		11.00	0.00	2-Brendamour-Singerman	15-Jervis-Lindeman
3 NT	S	3	600		7.50	3.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	13-Schapera-Lakes
3 NT	S	3	600		7.50	3.50	3-Prosise-Prosise	2-Dehaan-Messinger
3 NT	S	3	600		7.50	3.50	4-Barron-Lammers	4-Oblinger-Pretz
3 NT	S	3	600		7.50	3.50	13-Vanstone-Gibler	7-Tedrick-Murdock
3 NT	S	3	600		7.50	3.50	14-Kehoe-Stanley	9-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
5 ♦	N	5	600		7.50	3.50	15-Bansal-Shukla	11-Koppenhafer-Pollack
2 ♦	N	5	150		4.00	7.00	8-Markham-Markham	12-Bodrogi-Podoaba-Burnam
3 ♥	N	3	140		3.00	8.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	1-Terwilliger-Payne
3 ♦	N	4	130		2.00	9.00	11-Hansen-Kennedy	3-Temples-Koch
3 NT	S	−1		100	1.00	10.00	9-Roark-Campbell	14-Cushman-Petersen
5 ♦	N	−2		200	0.00	11.00	12-Shores-Lubow	5-Kammer-Zimmer

If West finds the Spade lead (they should on the auction), N/S are going down one. N/S can take two Spade tricks, three Hearts, two Diamonds, and a Club, but that's all. E/W can take two Spades, two Hearts, and a Diamond or a Club, depending on which suit declarer tries to set up.

Board 8
West Deals
None Vul

♠	J 3 2
♥	A Q 10 8 4
♦	9 8
♣	J 7 3

♠	10 8 7 6
♥	K 6
♦	Q
♣	A K 10 6 5 2

N
W		E
S

♠	A 5
♥	9 7 5 2
♦	A J 10 5 3
♣	9 4

♠	K Q 9 4
♥	J 3
♦	K 7 6 4 2
♣	Q 8

EW 1N; EW 2♣; NS 1♠; NS 1♥; Par −90

West	North	East	South
1 ♣	1 ♥	Pass	Pass
2 ♣	Pass	Pass	Pass

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♦	E	−3	150		11.00	0.00	3-Prosise-Prosise	2-Dehaan-Messinger
2 ♥	N	2	110		10.00	1.00	14-Kehoe-Stanley	9-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 ♣	W	−1	50		8.50	2.50	11-Hansen-Kennedy	3-Temples-Koch
3 ♣	W	−1	50		8.50	2.50	15-Bansal-Shukla	11-Koppenhafer-Pollack
2 ♠	S	−1		50	6.50	4.50	12-Shores-Lubow	5-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♦	S	−1		50	6.50	4.50	13-Vanstone-Gibler	7-Tedrick-Murdock
1 NT	E	1		90	4.50	6.50	2-Brendamour-Singerman	15-Jervis-Lindeman
2 ♦	E	2		90	4.50	6.50	8-Markham-Markham	12-Bodrogi-Podoaba-Burnam
3 ♣	W	3		110	2.00	9.00	4-Barron-Lammers	4-Oblinger-Pretz
3 ♣	W	3		110	2.00	9.00	9-Roark-Campbell	14-Cushman-Petersen
3 ♣	W	3		110	2.00	9.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	1-Terwilliger-Payne
1 NT	N	−3		150	0.00	11.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	13-Schapera-Lakes

This one is going to be tricky. It's very likely that someone is going to get too high--probably E/W, but who knows? East may very well bid 2 ♦ after North's overcall, but that's an overbid. Some Souths, not knowing that 1 ♠ on this auction shows 5+ Spades, will sneak that in there. Some Wests, not knowing that 2 ♣ on this auction shows extra values, will sneak that in there. Some Easts, not knowing that 3 NT will require a Club fit, might bid 2 ♥ over 2 ♣ asking their partner for a stopper for notrump. That's not a good idea without Club support, as it presumes that Clubs are running in a notrump control--no way that East would know that.

A small trump looks as good as anything from North on opening lead, although a small Spade works best.

Board 9
North Deals
E-W Vul

♠	9 4 3
♥	Q J 8
♦	J 10 8 2
♣	6 4 3

♠	K Q 8 5
♥	K 3
♦	A Q 6
♣	Q 8 5 2

N
W		E
S

♠	A J 10
♥	10 7 6
♦	9 4 3
♣	A K J 10

♠	7 6 2
♥	A 9 5 4 2
♦	K 7 5
♣	9 7

EW 6♣; EW 5N; EW 5♠; EW 2♥; EW 3♦; Par −1370

West	North	East	South
	Pass	1 ♣	Pass
1 ♠	Pass	1 NT	Pass
2 ♦1	Pass	2 NT	Pass
3 NT	Pass	Pass	Pass

Alert, artificial and game forcing

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♥	W	−1	100		11.00	0.00	14-Kehoe-Stanley	8-Hoffman-Koster
3 ♣	E	6		170	10.00	1.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	12-Bodrogi-Podoaba-Burnam
1 NT	W	5		210	9.00	2.00	9-Roark-Campbell	13-Schapera-Lakes
4 ♠	W	4		620	8.00	3.00	15-Bansal-Shukla	10-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	E	4		630	6.50	4.50	3-Prosise-Prosise	1-Terwilliger-Payne
3 NT	E	4		630	6.50	4.50	5-Lin-Hubka	5-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♠	E	5		650	4.00	7.00	4-Barron-Lammers	3-Temples-Koch
4 ♠	W	5		650	4.00	7.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	15-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♠	E	5		650	4.00	7.00	12-Shores-Lubow	4-Oblinger-Pretz
3 NT	W	5		660	1.00	10.00	2-Brendamour-Singerman	14-Cushman-Petersen
3 NT	E	5		660	1.00	10.00	11-Hansen-Kennedy	2-Dehaan-Messinger
3 NT	E	5		660	1.00	10.00	13-Vanstone-Gibler	6-Earls-Brown

West has slightly too good a hand to bid 3 NT at their second turn, so they create a game force and await further development. If East rebids 3 ♣, showing a fifth Club, West will press for the good Club slam. When East has nothing particular to show and bids 2 NT, West reluctantly signs off in game.

E/W take four Club tricks, four Spade tricks, one Heart, and two Diamonds, making five. The Club slam is very low percentage needing the ♥ A onside and the ♦ K in the slot (about a 25% slam). North's opening lead doesn't matter, but either the ♥ Q or a small Diamond would be acceptable.

Board 10
East Deals
Both Vul

♠	J 6 4 2
♥	A 7 5 4
♦	J 10 5
♣	Q J

♠	A Q 9 5
♥	3
♦	9 8 6 2
♣	A 10 7 4

N
W		E
S

♠	8
♥	K J 9 8 2
♦	A K 7 4 3
♣	K 2

♠	K 10 7 3
♥	Q 10 6
♦	Q
♣	9 8 6 5 3

W 4N; E 3N; EW 5♦; EW 3♥; EW 2♠; EW 2♣; Par −630

West	North	East	South
		1 ♥	Pass
1 ♠	Pass	2 ♦	Pass
2 NT	Pass	3 NT	Pass
Pass	Pass

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♦	E	−2	200		10.50	0.50	11-Hansen-Kennedy	2-Dehaan-Messinger
3 NT	E	−2	200		10.50	0.50	14-Kehoe-Stanley	8-Hoffman-Koster
2 ♦	E	4		130	9.00	2.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	15-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♦	E	5		150	6.50	4.50	2-Brendamour-Singerman	14-Cushman-Petersen
3 ♦	E	5		150	6.50	4.50	3-Prosise-Prosise	1-Terwilliger-Payne
2 ♦	E	5		150	6.50	4.50	12-Shores-Lubow	4-Oblinger-Pretz
3 ♦	E	5		150	6.50	4.50	15-Bansal-Shukla	10-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	W	3		600	2.50	8.50	4-Barron-Lammers	3-Temples-Koch
3 NT	E	3		600	2.50	8.50	5-Lin-Hubka	5-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	E	3		600	2.50	8.50	9-Roark-Campbell	13-Schapera-Lakes
3 NT	W	3		600	2.50	8.50	13-Vanstone-Gibler	6-Earls-Brown
3 NT	E	4		630	0.00	11.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	12-Bodrogi-Podoaba-Burnam

E/W collect three Club tricks, four Diamond tricks, one Heart, and two Spades, making four. North's best lead is a small Heart, declarer hopping up with the ♥ K. Since declarer may not need the Spade finesse at all, ♣ K and another Club seem right at tricks two and three. When ♣ QJ drop tight, declarer can afford to take a safety play in Diamonds to protect against further Heart leads from North. Declarer plays the ♦ 2 towards dummy. North can't afford to split their honors, or declarer will take five Diamond tricks, so they play low. Declarer plays the ♦ 7 from dummy and South wins with their stiff ♦ Q. South will probably play ♥ Q and another Heart to North's Ace, but the hand is over, making four.

Board 11
South Deals
None Vul

♠	3 2
♥	10 9 4 2
♦	J 3
♣	Q J 9 8 6

♠	10 9 5
♥	Q J 8 5 3
♦	5 4
♣	4 3 2

N
W		E
S

♠	A K 7 4
♥	K 7
♦	10 8 7 2
♣	K 10 5

♠	Q J 8 6
♥	A 6
♦	A K Q 9 6
♣	A 7

NS 3N; NS 2♠; N 2♥; NS 3♦; NS 3♣; S 1♥; Par +400

West	North	East	South
			2 NT
Pass	3 ♣1	Pass	3 ♦2
Pass	3 ♠3	Dbl4	3 NT
Pass	Pass	Pass

Puppet Stayman
Alert, no 5-card major but one or two 4-card majors
Alert, showing a 4-card Heart suit
For the lead

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	S	4	430		10.50	0.50	4-Barron-Lammers	2-Dehaan-Messinger
3 NT	N	4	430		10.50	0.50	14-Kehoe-Stanley	7-Tedrick-Murdock
3 NT	S	3	400		8.00	3.00	6-Elliott-Runda	6-Earls-Brown
3 NT	N	3	400		8.00	3.00	11-Hansen-Kennedy	1-Terwilliger-Payne
3 NT	S	3	400		8.00	3.00	12-Shores-Lubow	3-Temples-Koch
2 NT	S	3	150		6.00	5.00	15-Bansal-Shukla	9-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
1 ♦	S	4	130		4.00	7.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	11-Koppenhafer-Pollack
2 ♦	S	4	130		4.00	7.00	5-Lin-Hubka	4-Oblinger-Pretz
2 ♦	S	4	130		4.00	7.00	13-Vanstone-Gibler	5-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	S	−1		50	2.00	9.00	2-Brendamour-Singerman	13-Schapera-Lakes
3 NT	S	−2		100	0.50	10.50	3-Prosise-Prosise	15-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♠	S	−2		100	0.50	10.50	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	14-Cushman-Petersen

West will lead the ♠T on the auction, and N/S will take one Spade trick, one Heart, five Diamonds, and two Clubs. The reason that declarer won't get a second Spade trick is that there's only one entry to dummy, and declarer will use it to take a Club finesse (probably). If declarer uses it to lead a second Spade, then N/S will collect only one Club.

If East wins trick one and leads the ♥ K, declarer will probably win the trick, since the ♥T9 in dummy provide a second Heart stopper. All roads lead to nine tricks.

Board 12
West Deals
N-S Vul

♠	A J 8 7 6 4
♥	J 7
♦	A 4 2
♣	A 10

♠	Q 10 9
♥	Q 8 6
♦	Q 8 3
♣	J 8 7 3

N
W		E
S

♠	K
♥	10 5 3 2
♦	K J 10 6
♣	K 9 6 2

♠	5 3 2
♥	A K 9 4
♦	9 7 5
♣	Q 5 4

NS 3N; NS 3♠; NS 1♥; NS 1♦; NS 1♣; Par +600

West	North	East	South
Pass	1 ♠	Pass	2 ♠
Pass	Pass	Pass

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♠×	N	2	670		11.00	0.00	11-Hansen-Kennedy	1-Terwilliger-Payne
2 ♠	N	3	140		9.00	2.00	2-Brendamour-Singerman	13-Schapera-Lakes
2 ♠	N	3	140		9.00	2.00	3-Prosise-Prosise	15-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♠	N	3	140		9.00	2.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	14-Cushman-Petersen
2 ♠	N	2	110		7.00	4.00	12-Shores-Lubow	3-Temples-Koch
2 ♠	N	−1		100	4.50	6.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	11-Koppenhafer-Pollack
3 ♠	N	−1		100	4.50	6.50	6-Elliott-Runda	6-Earls-Brown
4 ♠	N	−1		100	4.50	6.50	13-Vanstone-Gibler	5-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♠	N	−1		100	4.50	6.50	15-Bansal-Shukla	9-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♠	N	−2		200	1.00	10.00	4-Barron-Lammers	2-Dehaan-Messinger
4 ♠	N	−2		200	1.00	10.00	5-Lin-Hubka	4-Oblinger-Pretz
4 ♠	N	−2		200	1.00	10.00	14-Kehoe-Stanley	7-Tedrick-Murdock

North has a 7-loser hand--two losers too many to make a game try. South has a 9-loser hand, one loser too many to show a 3-card limit raise. Just as well, since it's very unlikely that N/S would find the 3 NT game and would have sailed into 4 ♠ which doesn't make.

N/S lose one Spade, two Diamonds, and a Club, making three. As long as East doesn't lead a small Club on opening lead, 4 ♠ can't make. You didn't lead the ♣ 2, did you?

Board 13
North Deals
Both Vul

♠	Q 8 5
♥	7 6 5
♦	Q J 7 4
♣	Q 9 6

♠	J 2
♥	J
♦	A 10 9 6 2
♣	A 10 4 3 2

N
W		E
S

♠	A 10 3
♥	A 10 9 4 2
♦	K
♣	K J 7 5

♠	K 9 7 6 4
♥	K Q 8 3
♦	8 5 3
♣	8

EW 6♣; EW 4N; EW 4♥; W 4♦; E 2♠; E 3♦; W 1♠; Par −1370

West	North	East	South
	Pass	1 ♥	1 ♠
Dbl1	Pass	2 ♣	Pass
2 ♠2	Pass	3 NT	Pass
Pass	Pass

Negative, showing both minors
Western Cue, asking for a Spade stopper for notrump

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	E	−1	100		11.00	0.00	4-Barron-Lammers	1-Terwilliger-Payne
3 ♣	W	3		110	10.00	1.00	2-Brendamour-Singerman	12-Bodrogi-Podoaba-Burnam
1 NT	W	2		120	9.00	2.00	13-Vanstone-Gibler	4-Oblinger-Pretz
3 ♣	W	4		130	5.50	5.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	10-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♣	E	4		130	5.50	5.50	3-Prosise-Prosise	14-Cushman-Petersen
2 ♣	E	4		130	5.50	5.50	7-Kobida-Burns	7-Tedrick-Murdock
3 ♣	W	4		130	5.50	5.50	11-Hansen-Kennedy	15-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♣	E	4		130	5.50	5.50	12-Shores-Lubow	2-Dehaan-Messinger
4 ♣	E	4		130	5.50	5.50	14-Kehoe-Stanley	6-Earls-Brown
3 ♣	W	5		150	1.50	9.50	6-Elliott-Runda	5-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♣	E	5		150	1.50	9.50	15-Bansal-Shukla	8-Hoffman-Koster
3 NT	W	4		630	0.00	11.00	5-Lin-Hubka	3-Temples-Koch

While 6 ♣ makes, it's a difficult contract after the lead of a small Spade. Declarer will probably play South for the ♣ Q or play for the drop, neither of which would work here.

In 3 NT, E/W take two Spade tricks, one Heart, two Diamonds, and four Club tricks (assuming they get the Clubs wrong). South will lead a small Spade against 3 NT, thrilled when North shows up with the ♠ Q. Declarer has no reason to duck, as a second Spade stopper is assured holding ♠ JT between the two hands.

Board 14
East Deals
None Vul

♠	J 7
♥	A J 8 6
♦	6 5 4 3
♣	A Q 9

♠	10 6 3
♥	9 5
♦	Q J 7
♣	J 8 6 5 2

N
W		E
S

♠	A K 5
♥	10
♦	A K 9 8
♣	K 10 7 4 3

♠	Q 9 8 4 2
♥	K Q 7 4 3 2
♦	10 2
♣	—

EW 5♣; NS 3♥; NS 2♠; NS 1N; EW 2♦; Par −300: NS 5♥×−2

West	North	East	South
		1 ♣	2 ♣1
4 ♣2	4 ♥	5 ♣	Pass
Pass	Dbl3	Pass	5 ♥
Pass	Pass	Dbl	Pass
Pass	Pass

Michaels
Weak and preemptive
Cooperative double

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥×	S	4	590		11.00	0.00	11-Hansen-Kennedy	15-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♥	N	3	140		9.50	1.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	10-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♥	N	3	140		9.50	1.50	4-Barron-Lammers	1-Terwilliger-Payne
5 ♦×	E	−1	100		8.00	3.00	2-Brendamour-Singerman	12-Bodrogi-Podoaba-Burnam
4 ♥	S	−1		50	6.50	4.50	7-Kobida-Burns	7-Tedrick-Murdock
4 ♥	N	−1		50	6.50	4.50	14-Kehoe-Stanley	6-Earls-Brown
5 ♥×	S	−1		100	5.00	6.00	6-Elliott-Runda	5-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♣	E	4		130	4.00	7.00	5-Lin-Hubka	3-Temples-Koch
5 ♥×	N	−2		300	2.50	8.50	12-Shores-Lubow	2-Dehaan-Messinger
5 ♥×	N	−2		300	2.50	8.50	15-Bansal-Shukla	8-Hoffman-Koster
5 ♣×	E	5		550	0.50	10.50	3-Prosise-Prosise	14-Cushman-Petersen
5 ♣×	E	5		550	0.50	10.50	13-Vanstone-Gibler	4-Oblinger-Pretz

North's 4 ♥ bid is easy, but when East goes on to 5 ♣ vulnerable, North has an issue. If South has any defensive tricks at all, North wants to defend 5 ♣. If South has no defense, then North wants South to pull 5 ♣ doubled back to 5 ♥ on the vulnerability. That's the way that a cooperative double works.

East will lead take their four pointy-suited winners (the pointy suits are Spades and Diamonds, the round suits are Clubs and Hearts) right off the top, and N/S are down two, doubled for –300. That's better than 5 ♣ making, and MUCH better than 5 ♣ doubled making. Phew.

Board 15
South Deals
N-S Vul

♠	J 7 6
♥	Q J 8 3
♦	9 6 5
♣	A J 8

♠	9 2
♥	A 5 4 2
♦	A Q J 3
♣	10 6 2

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 8 4 3
♥	K 10
♦	10 7 4 2
♣	K 9 5

♠	A K 10 5
♥	9 7 6
♦	K 8
♣	Q 7 4 3

E 3♦; EW 1N; W 2♦; S 1♠; NS 1♣; Par −110

West	North	East	South
			1 ♣
Pass	1 ♥	Pass	1 NT1
Pass	Pass	Pass

Decides not to show their Spades

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
1 NT	S	2	120		11.00	0.00	4-Barron-Lammers	15-Jervis-Lindeman
1 ♠	S	1	80		10.00	1.00	3-Prosise-Prosise	13-Schapera-Lakes
3 ♦	W	−1	50		8.00	3.00	2-Brendamour-Singerman	11-Koppenhafer-Pollack
3 ♦	W	−1	50		8.00	3.00	7-Kobida-Burns	6-Earls-Brown
2 ♦	W	−1	50		8.00	3.00	13-Vanstone-Gibler	3-Temples-Koch
Pass			Pass		5.50	5.50	5-Lin-Hubka	2-Dehaan-Messinger
Pass			Pass		5.50	5.50	14-Kehoe-Stanley	5-Kammer-Zimmer
1 NT	N	−1		100	3.50	7.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	9-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
2 ♥	N	−1		100	3.50	7.50	8-Markham-Markham	8-Hoffman-Koster
1 NT	N	−2		200	1.50	9.50	12-Shores-Lubow	1-Terwilliger-Payne
2 ♥	N	−2		200	1.50	9.50	15-Bansal-Shukla	7-Tedrick-Murdock
3 NT	N	−3		300	0.00	11.00	6-Elliott-Runda	4-Oblinger-Pretz

Some are reluctant to bypass a 4-card Spade suit to rebid 1 NT on auctions such as this one. Their fear is that N/S will miss their 4-4 Spade fit. Let's look at this another way:

1) If responder has an invitational or game-going hand, then the pair will have an XYZ auction and easily find the 4-4 Spade fit.
2) If responder is weak and has four cards in each major, and passes 1 NT, it's quite likely that the opponents will lead a Spade and declarer will get off to a good tempo.
3) If responder is weak and doesn't have four Spades to go with their 4-card Heart suit, then partner is going to bid 1 NT, and how miserable will that be with the opponents now leading Diamonds through the ♦ K8 doubleton. Ouch.

On this auction, many Wests will lead the ♠ 9 (shorter major). Declarer covers with the ♠ J, followed by the ♠ Q and ♠ A. Now a small Club back to dummy's ♣ A, and the ♠ 7 from dummy, finessing against the ♠ 8 in East's hand. After four rounds of Spades, declarer simply exits with a Club to the ♣ J, and sits back and waits for their sixth trick (they're always down one unless E/W totally screw up the defense which seems impossible).

Board 16
West Deals
E-W Vul

♠	A Q 9 4
♥	A K 7 6
♦	K
♣	Q 7 5 4

♠	K 5 3
♥	9 5 3
♦	A J 9 3
♣	A 10 9

N
W		E
S

♠	10 7
♥	10 8 2
♦	Q 10 5 4
♣	K 8 6 2

♠	J 8 6 2
♥	Q J 4
♦	8 7 6 2
♣	J 3

NS 3♠; NS 2♥; NS 1N; EW 1♦; NS 1♣; Par +140

West	North	East	South
1 ♦	Dbl1	Pass	1 ♠2
Pass	2 ♠3	Pass	Pass4
Pass

For takeout
Showing 0-8 HCP
Showing 16-18 HCP
Nope, doesn't add up

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♠	S	5	200		11.00	0.00	4-Barron-Lammers	15-Jervis-Lindeman
2 ♠	S	4	170		9.00	2.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	9-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
2 ♠	S	4	170		9.00	2.00	13-Vanstone-Gibler	3-Temples-Koch
2 ♠	S	4	170		9.00	2.00	15-Bansal-Shukla	7-Tedrick-Murdock
3 ♠	S	3	140		4.50	6.50	2-Brendamour-Singerman	11-Koppenhafer-Pollack
2 ♠	S	3	140		4.50	6.50	3-Prosise-Prosise	13-Schapera-Lakes
3 ♠	S	3	140		4.50	6.50	7-Kobida-Burns	6-Earls-Brown
2 ♠	S	3	140		4.50	6.50	8-Markham-Markham	8-Hoffman-Koster
2 ♠	S	3	140		4.50	6.50	12-Shores-Lubow	1-Terwilliger-Payne
2 ♠	S	3	140		4.50	6.50	14-Kehoe-Stanley	5-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♥	N	−2		100	1.00	10.00	6-Elliott-Runda	4-Oblinger-Pretz
3 NT	S	−4		200	0.00	11.00	5-Lin-Hubka	2-Dehaan-Messinger

West can safely lead a small Spade on the go holding ♠ Kxx. N/S lose one Diamond, two Clubs, and something "in the wash." Looking at it another way, N/S take three Spade tricks, four Heart tricks, and a ruff in each hand for nine tricks. There isn't a tenth trick unless E/W start taking their Club tricks right away.

Clubs is a "frozen suit." That means that whoever leads Clubs first is giving up a trick in the suit. Try leading a Club from any of the four hands to see how that works here. If East or West lead a Club, then N/S get a trick. If South leads a Club from their hand or from dummy, E/W simply play low in second seat and take as many Club tricks as they can before N/S start ruffing in.

Board 17
North Deals
None Vul

♠	A 10 9 7 5
♥	A 10 7 3 2
♦	Q 10
♣	3

♠	8 6 4 3
♥	Q
♦	A 7 3
♣	A K 6 5 4

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 2
♥	K 9 5 4
♦	J 9 8 4
♣	Q J 7

♠	K J
♥	J 8 6
♦	K 6 5 2
♣	10 9 8 2

NS 4♥; NS 2♠; EW 2♣; EW 1♦; Par +420

West	North	East	South
	1 ♠1	Pass	1 NT2
2 ♣	2 ♥	3 ♣	3 ♥
Pass	Pass	Pass

Rule of 20 hand
Forcing

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♥	N	4	170		11.00	0.00	8-Markham-Markham	7-Tedrick-Murdock
4 ♣	W	−3	150		10.00	1.00	4-Barron-Lammers	14-Cushman-Petersen
3 ♠	N	3	140		7.50	3.50	2-Brendamour-Singerman	10-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♥	N	3	140		7.50	3.50	3-Prosise-Prosise	12-Bodrogi-Podoaba-Burnam
3 ♥	S	3	140		7.50	3.50	14-Kehoe-Stanley	4-Oblinger-Pretz
2 ♥	S	3	140		7.50	3.50	15-Bansal-Shukla	6-Earls-Brown
3 ♦	E	−2	100		5.00	6.00	9-Roark-Campbell	9-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
2 ♠	N	−1		50	4.00	7.00	13-Vanstone-Gibler	2-Dehaan-Messinger
3 ♠	N	−2		100	2.50	8.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	8-Hoffman-Koster
3 ♥×	S	−1		100	2.50	8.50	5-Lin-Hubka	1-Terwilliger-Payne
3 ♣	W	3		110	1.00	10.00	6-Elliott-Runda	3-Temples-Koch
2 ♠	N	−3		150	0.00	11.00	7-Kobida-Burns	5-Kammer-Zimmer

E/W have to be careful on this hand--it's quite likely that they'll push N/S into a making game, or worse, into a making game which East doubles. Crap.

N/S lose one Club, one Diamond, and one Heart, assuming that declarer starts with the ♥ A. If declarer chooses to start with a small Heart from both hands, then they'll make three.

For those who wouldn't have opened the North hand in first seat, take a look at the spot cards they hold (tens, nines, etc.) and the beautiful shape (5-5 in the majors). If you wouldn't have opened it, would you have opened holding ♠ A5432 ♥ AJ43 ♦ K5 ♣ J ? While this one is 13 HCP, it's nowhere near as good as the one that North actually held. Think about it.

Board 18
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	A 10 9 8 2
♥	8 4 3
♦	K 6
♣	Q J 8

♠	J 7 6 4
♥	6
♦	J 10 8 7 3 2
♣	9 5

N
W		E
S

♠	K Q 3
♥	K Q 9 7 5
♦	—
♣	A K 10 7 2

♠	5
♥	A J 10 2
♦	A Q 9 5 4
♣	6 4 3

NS 1N; EW 2♣; EW 1♠; EW 1♥; NS 1♦; Par −90

West	North	East	South
		1 ♥	2 ♦
Pass	2 ♠	3 ♣	Pass
Pass	Pass

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
6 NT×	E	−4	800		11.00	0.00	13-Vanstone-Gibler	2-Dehaan-Messinger
4 ♣×	E	−1	100		8.50	2.50	4-Barron-Lammers	14-Cushman-Petersen
3 ♥	E	−2	100		8.50	2.50	6-Elliott-Runda	3-Temples-Koch
3 ♣	E	−2	100		8.50	2.50	14-Kehoe-Stanley	4-Oblinger-Pretz
3 ♣	E	−2	100		8.50	2.50	15-Bansal-Shukla	6-Earls-Brown
3 ♣	E	−1	50		4.50	6.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	8-Hoffman-Koster
3 ♣	E	−1	50		4.50	6.50	2-Brendamour-Singerman	10-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♣	E	−1	50		4.50	6.50	3-Prosise-Prosise	12-Bodrogi-Podoaba-Burnam
3 ♣	E	−1	50		4.50	6.50	8-Markham-Markham	7-Tedrick-Murdock
2 ♣	E	2		90	2.00	9.00	7-Kobida-Burns	5-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♦	S	−3		300	1.00	10.00	5-Lin-Hubka	1-Terwilliger-Payne
2 ♥×	E	3		570	0.00	11.00	9-Roark-Campbell	9-Kereiakes-Kereiakes

No commentary on the auction, but this one could go in any direction. East's 3 ♣ bid shows a hand that would have made a jump shift if partner had responded. If N/S take another bid after 3 ♣, then they're going to be doubled (loudly). West will be thrilled if North balances with 3 ♦. Even if East forgets to double that bid, West will happily do it themselves.

E/W take five Club tricks, one Heart, a Heart ruff, and one Spade. E/W will have to play trumps to keep declarer from ruffing their Hearts in dummy, and that will eliminate East's Club loser. Most likely lead is the ♠ 5 to the ♠ A (declarer unblocking the ♠ K), Spade back for South to ruff (declarer unblocking the ♠ Q). Now, South can choose to lead a Diamond, but once in, East simply plays off high Hearts intending to ruff two in dummy. South will thwart that by playing back a trump, but East will win, play ♥ Q followed by a Heart ruff, and ruff another Diamond low.

Board 19
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	K Q 10 9
♥	A K 6 3
♦	A
♣	K 10 6 5

♠	A 6 5
♥	Q 4
♦	J 9 8 7 3 2
♣	7 4

N
W		E
S

♠	J 4 3
♥	J 8 7 5 2
♦	K Q 5
♣	Q 2

♠	8 7 2
♥	10 9
♦	10 6 4
♣	A J 9 8 3

NS 6♣; NS 5♠; NS 3♥; NS 2N; NS 1♦; Par +920

West	North	East	South
			Pass
Pass	1 ♣	1 ♥	3 ♣1
Pass	5 ♣	Pass	Pass
Pass

Weak and preemptive

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	N	6	490		11.00	0.00	4-Barron-Lammers	13-Schapera-Lakes
3 ♣	N	6	170		7.00	4.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	7-Tedrick-Murdock
4 ♣	S	6	170		7.00	4.00	2-Brendamour-Singerman	9-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
2 ♠	N	4	170		7.00	4.00	6-Elliott-Runda	2-Dehaan-Messinger
2 ♣	N	6	170		7.00	4.00	8-Markham-Markham	6-Earls-Brown
3 ♣	N	6	170		7.00	4.00	9-Roark-Campbell	8-Hoffman-Koster
4 ♣	N	6	170		7.00	4.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	10-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♣	N	6	170		7.00	4.00	14-Kehoe-Stanley	3-Temples-Koch
4 ♣	N	5	150		2.00	9.00	3-Prosise-Prosise	11-Koppenhafer-Pollack
4 ♣	N	5	150		2.00	9.00	5-Lin-Hubka	15-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♣	N	5	150		2.00	9.00	7-Kobida-Burns	4-Oblinger-Pretz
1 ♣	N	4	130		0.00	11.00	15-Bansal-Shukla	5-Kammer-Zimmer

It's doubtful that any N/S pairs will end up in 6 ♣. It's a bad slam, needing Clubs to be 2-2 and the ♠ A to be onside. 5 ♣ making six will be a normal result. The ♦ K is a reasonable lead. North will think about bidding 3 NT over 3 ♣. If they do, East should definitely lead the ♦ K, beating 3 NT by one trick.

Board 20
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	9 7 6 5
♥	A 8 7 5 4
♦	7 3
♣	K 4

♠	A 10 3
♥	K 10 9
♦	Q 8 4 2
♣	9 7 6

N
W		E
S

♠	K J 8 4
♥	3 2
♦	A K J 10
♣	Q 8 2

♠	Q 2
♥	Q J 6
♦	9 6 5
♣	A J 10 5 3

W 2♠; NS 2♥; EW 2♦; E 1♠; NS 1♣; Par −110

West	North	East	South
Pass	Pass	1 ♦	Pass
1 NT	Pass	Pass	Pass1

South would balance if not vulnerable

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	E	−4	400		11.00	0.00	5-Lin-Hubka	15-Jervis-Lindeman
2 ♥	N	3	140		10.00	1.00	15-Bansal-Shukla	5-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♦	E	−1	100		9.00	2.00	3-Prosise-Prosise	11-Koppenhafer-Pollack
2 ♦	E	2		90	7.50	3.50	4-Barron-Lammers	13-Schapera-Lakes
2 ♦	E	2		90	7.50	3.50	9-Roark-Campbell	8-Hoffman-Koster
3 ♦	E	3		110	5.50	5.50	8-Markham-Markham	6-Earls-Brown
2 ♦	E	3		110	5.50	5.50	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	10-Diers-McCarthy
1 NT	W	2		120	4.00	7.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	7-Tedrick-Murdock
2 ♦	E	4		130	3.00	8.00	14-Kehoe-Stanley	3-Temples-Koch
1 NT	W	3		150	1.50	9.50	2-Brendamour-Singerman	9-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
1 NT	W	3		150	1.50	9.50	6-Elliott-Runda	2-Dehaan-Messinger
1 NT	W	4		180	0.00	11.00	7-Kobida-Burns	4-Oblinger-Pretz

If South finds the lead of a small Club (or the ♣ J), N/S will take the first seven tricks. If not....

If South bids 2 ♣ in the balancing seat, North should try and improve the contract by bidding 2 ♥ which happily makes, losing two Spades, two Diamonds, and a Heart.

Board 21
North Deals
N-S Vul

♠	A K J 9 6
♥	K 9 6
♦	8 7 6
♣	10 3

♠	8 7 4 3 2
♥	3 2
♦	5 3
♣	A K J 5

N
W		E
S

♠	10 5
♥	Q 8 7
♦	A K Q 9 4
♣	7 6 2

♠	Q
♥	A J 10 5 4
♦	J 10 2
♣	Q 9 8 4

NS 2♥; EW 2♦; NS 1♠; Par +100: EW 3♦×−1

West	North	East	South
	Pass	Pass	1 ♥
Pass	2 ♣1	2 ♦2	Pass3
Pass	2 ♥	Pass	Pass
Pass

Alert, showing a 3- or 4-card limit raise in Hearts
Time to sneak this bid in
Pass is weaker than 2 ♥

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♥	S	5	200		11.00	0.00	4-Barron-Lammers	12-Bodrogi-Podoaba-Burnam
2 ♥	S	2	110		10.00	1.00	6-Elliott-Runda	1-Terwilliger-Payne
Pass			Pass		6.50	4.50	2-Brendamour-Singerman	8-Hoffman-Koster
Pass			Pass		6.50	4.50	5-Lin-Hubka	14-Cushman-Petersen
Pass			Pass		6.50	4.50	7-Kobida-Burns	3-Temples-Koch
Pass			Pass		6.50	4.50	9-Roark-Campbell	7-Tedrick-Murdock
Pass			Pass		6.50	4.50	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	9-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
Pass			Pass		6.50	4.50	15-Bansal-Shukla	4-Oblinger-Pretz
3 ♥	S	−1		100	2.50	8.50	3-Prosise-Prosise	10-Diers-McCarthy
2 ♥	S	−1		100	2.50	8.50	8-Markham-Markham	5-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♥	S	−2		200	1.00	10.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	6-Earls-Brown
2 NT	S	−3		300	0.00	11.00	11-Hansen-Kennedy	11-Koppenhafer-Pollack

N/S lose three Diamonds and two Clubs, making two. Declarer will have no trouble locating the ♥ Q after East's 2 ♦ overcall with no points in Spades or Clubs. It's doubtful that E/W will find the profitable 3 ♦ sacrifice with only a 7-card fit. West will lead the ♦ 5.

Board 22
East Deals
E-W Vul

♠	K 8 4 3
♥	Q 4
♦	A K 2
♣	J 4 3 2

♠	10 9 7 6 5 2
♥	A 9 2
♦	Q 10 6
♣	K

N
W		E
S

♠	A Q
♥	6 5
♦	J 9 7 4
♣	A 9 8 7 5

♠	J
♥	K J 10 8 7 3
♦	8 5 3
♣	Q 10 6

EW 3♠; EW 1N; EW 2♦; NS 1♥; EW 1♣; Par −140

West	North	East	South
		Pass	2 ♥
Pass1	Pass2	3 ♣3	Pass
3 ♠	Pass	Pass	Pass

West doesn't have enough to overcall 2 ♠
North doesn't have enough to bid 2 NT
East doesn't have enough to bid 3 ♣.....but they do anyway

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♣	E	−2	200		11.00	0.00	11-Hansen-Kennedy	11-Koppenhafer-Pollack
3 ♥	S	3	140		8.00	3.00	3-Prosise-Prosise	10-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♥	S	3	140		8.00	3.00	4-Barron-Lammers	12-Bodrogi-Podoaba-Burnam
2 ♥	S	3	140		8.00	3.00	5-Lin-Hubka	14-Cushman-Petersen
2 ♥	S	3	140		8.00	3.00	7-Kobida-Burns	3-Temples-Koch
3 ♥	S	3	140		8.00	3.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	9-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
2 ♥	S	2	110		4.50	6.50	9-Roark-Campbell	7-Tedrick-Murdock
2 ♥	S	2	110		4.50	6.50	15-Bansal-Shukla	4-Oblinger-Pretz
3 ♣	E	−1	100		3.00	8.00	2-Brendamour-Singerman	8-Hoffman-Koster
2 ♥	S	−1		50	2.00	9.00	8-Markham-Markham	5-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♠	W	3		140	1.00	10.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	6-Earls-Brown
3 ♠×	W	4		930	0.00	11.00	6-Elliott-Runda	1-Terwilliger-Payne

Some Wests will overcall 2 ♠, but that's insane. While they're quite confident that they can make 2 ♠, why would their partner not raise them to game with their 11 HCP and ♠ AQ? I would! North will double 4 ♠ and set it one for +200. That's a pretty good score when the most that N/S can make on their own is +80.

Board 23
South Deals
Both Vul

♠	J 9 5 4
♥	Q J 10 7
♦	K 3 2
♣	10 3

♠	A 10 6
♥	9 8
♦	J 9 5
♣	J 9 8 7 4

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 8 2
♥	6 3 2
♦	A Q 7 4
♣	A 6 2

♠	K 7 3
♥	A K 5 4
♦	10 8 6
♣	K Q 5

NS 2♥; NS 1N; NS 1♠; EW 1♦; EW 1♣; Par +110

West	North	East	South
			1 NT1
Pass	Pass	Dbl2	Pass
Pass	2 ♥3	Pass	Pass
Pass

15 to 17
For penalty showing 11-14 HCP (by agreement)
Natural, showing four Hearts and probably four Spades

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
1 NT	S	3	150		11.00	0.00	8-Markham-Markham	4-Oblinger-Pretz
2 ♥	S	3	140		9.00	2.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	5-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♥	S	3	140		9.00	2.00	3-Prosise-Prosise	9-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 ♥	S	3	140		9.00	2.00	12-Shores-Lubow	12-Bodrogi-Podoaba-Burnam
1 NT	S	2	120		7.00	4.00	9-Roark-Campbell	6-Earls-Brown
2 ♥	S	2	110		5.50	5.50	5-Lin-Hubka	13-Schapera-Lakes
2 ♥	S	2	110		5.50	5.50	11-Hansen-Kennedy	10-Diers-McCarthy
1 NT	S	−1		100	3.00	8.00	2-Brendamour-Singerman	7-Tedrick-Murdock
3 ♥	S	−1		100	3.00	8.00	7-Kobida-Burns	2-Dehaan-Messinger
3 ♥	N	−1		100	3.00	8.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	8-Hoffman-Koster
3 ♥	S	−2		200	0.50	10.50	4-Barron-Lammers	11-Koppenhafer-Pollack
3 ♥	S	−2		200	0.50	10.50	6-Elliott-Runda	15-Jervis-Lindeman

Over your opponent's strong 1 NT opener, it's unwise to play a double in the direct seat as penalty oriented. That said, it's a very good idea to play that a double in the balancing seat is for penalty. Also, it makes sense to play that the doubler should have somewhere between 11 and 14 HCP--not too many and not too few. Why would that be? Well, if the balancing doubler has 15+ HCP, it doesn't leave enough for their partner who's sitting behind the 1 NT opener.

In 2 ♥, N/S lose two Spades, two Diamonds, and one Club, making two. A trump lead from East looks the best.

Board 24
West Deals
None Vul

♠	Q 10 8 3 2
♥	3
♦	10 9 6 3
♣	9 8 3

♠	A 4
♥	A K Q 8 2
♦	J 7 5
♣	Q 7 5

N
W		E
S

♠	K 7 6 5
♥	J 10 6 5
♦	K 8 2
♣	K 2

♠	J 9
♥	9 7 4
♦	A Q 4
♣	A J 10 6 4

EW 4♥; E 3N; W 2N; E 1♠; EW 1♦; Par −420

West	North	East	South
1 ♥	Pass	3 ♣1	Dbl2
4 ♥	Pass	Pass	Pass

Alert, artificial, showing a 4-card limit raise
Please lead a Club

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	W	−1	50		11.00	0.00	11-Hansen-Kennedy	10-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	E	3		400	10.00	1.00	5-Lin-Hubka	13-Schapera-Lakes
4 ♥	W	4		420	4.50	6.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	5-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♥	W	4		420	4.50	6.50	2-Brendamour-Singerman	7-Tedrick-Murdock
4 ♥	W	4		420	4.50	6.50	3-Prosise-Prosise	9-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♥	W	4		420	4.50	6.50	4-Barron-Lammers	11-Koppenhafer-Pollack
4 ♥	W	4		420	4.50	6.50	6-Elliott-Runda	15-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♥	W	4		420	4.50	6.50	7-Kobida-Burns	2-Dehaan-Messinger
4 ♥	W	4		420	4.50	6.50	8-Markham-Markham	4-Oblinger-Pretz
4 ♥	W	4		420	4.50	6.50	9-Roark-Campbell	6-Earls-Brown
4 ♥	W	4		420	4.50	6.50	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	8-Hoffman-Koster
4 ♥	W	4		420	4.50	6.50	12-Shores-Lubow	12-Bodrogi-Podoaba-Burnam

E/W lose one Club and two Diamonds. North will lead the ♣ 8 (MUD). Declarer will win the first trick with the ♣ Q as South ducks and play a second Club. South wins and exits with a third Club which declarer ruffs in dummy. Eventually, East will play a small Diamond towards the ♦ K, losing to the ♦ A. Once back in, the only play is to lead back towards the ♦ J, hoping that South held both Diamonds honors. Finally, something works.

Board 25
North Deals
E-W Vul

♠	Q 4
♥	K J 8 4
♦	J 10 8 5 4
♣	K 2

♠	J 9 8 6 3 2
♥	10 2
♦	Q 6 3
♣	7 3

N
W		E
S

♠	K 5
♥	A Q 9 7
♦	A 2
♣	J 9 8 5 4

♠	A 10 7
♥	6 5 3
♦	K 9 7
♣	A Q 10 6

N 2N; EW 2♠; S 1N; NS 2♦; N 2♣; NS 1♥; S 1♣; Par +120

West	North	East	South
	Pass	1 ♣	Pass
1 ♠1	1 NT2	Pass	Pass3
2 ♠4	Pass	Pass	Pass

Planning on playing in 2 ♠
Alert, less than opening values, takeout for the unbid suits
Nothing of value to say at this point in the bidding
See above plan

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	E	−3	300		11.00	0.00	8-Markham-Markham	3-Temples-Koch
3 NT	E	−2	200		10.00	1.00	4-Barron-Lammers	10-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♦	N	3	110		8.50	2.50	3-Prosise-Prosise	8-Hoffman-Koster
2 ♦	N	3	110		8.50	2.50	11-Hansen-Kennedy	9-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♠	E	−1	100		6.50	4.50	5-Lin-Hubka	12-Bodrogi-Podoaba-Burnam
2 NT	E	−1	100		6.50	4.50	9-Roark-Campbell	5-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♥	N	−1		50	5.00	6.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	7-Tedrick-Murdock
1 ♣	E	1		70	4.00	7.00	13-Vanstone-Gibler	13-Schapera-Lakes
2 ♠	W	3		140	2.50	8.50	2-Brendamour-Singerman	6-Earls-Brown
2 ♠	W	3		140	2.50	8.50	12-Shores-Lubow	11-Koppenhafer-Pollack
1 NT	E	3		150	1.00	10.00	7-Kobida-Burns	1-Terwilliger-Payne
2 ♠×	W	2		670	0.00	11.00	6-Elliott-Runda	14-Cushman-Petersen

For those of you able to make a weak jump shift at your first opportunity with the West hand, please do so. For those of you who play that a 2 ♠ bid at this point in the auction shows an invitational hand with 5-4 in Spades and Hearts respectively, you'll have to bid it as shown.

E/W lose two Spades, one Diamond, and two Clubs. North will likely lead the ♦ J.

Board 26
East Deals
Both Vul

♠	A K 10 4 2
♥	8 4
♦	9 6 2
♣	J 10 6

♠	6 5
♥	A Q 7
♦	A K J 10 5 4 3
♣	4

N
W		E
S

♠	J
♥	J 9
♦	Q 8 7
♣	A K Q 9 7 3 2

♠	Q 9 8 7 3
♥	K 10 6 5 3 2
♦	—
♣	8 5

EW 6♦; E 5♣; NS 3♠; W 4♣; EW 2N; NS 1♥; Par −800: NS 6♠×−3

West	North	East	South
		1 ♣	2 ♣1
2 ♠2	4 ♠3	5 ♦4	Pass
Pass	Pass

Michaels
Unusual vs. Unusual, showing a strong Diamond suit
Preemptive
To play

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♣	W	6		170	11.00	0.00	2-Brendamour-Singerman	6-Earls-Brown
4 ♦	W	7		190	10.00	1.00	7-Kobida-Burns	1-Terwilliger-Payne
3 ♠×	N	−1		200	9.00	2.00	11-Hansen-Kennedy	9-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
5 ♦	W	5		600	8.00	3.00	4-Barron-Lammers	10-Diers-McCarthy
5 ♣	E	6		620	5.00	6.00	3-Prosise-Prosise	8-Hoffman-Koster
5 ♦	W	6		620	5.00	6.00	6-Elliott-Runda	14-Cushman-Petersen
5 ♦	W	6		620	5.00	6.00	8-Markham-Markham	3-Temples-Koch
5 ♦	W	6		620	5.00	6.00	9-Roark-Campbell	5-Kammer-Zimmer
5 ♣	E	6		620	5.00	6.00	13-Vanstone-Gibler	13-Schapera-Lakes
5 ♣	E	7		640	1.50	9.50	5-Lin-Hubka	12-Bodrogi-Podoaba-Burnam
5 ♣	E	7		640	1.50	9.50	12-Shores-Lubow	11-Koppenhafer-Pollack
6 ♦	W	6		1370	0.00	11.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	7-Tedrick-Murdock

Didn't South already hold this hand on Board #14? South's 2 ♣ bid is a Michaels cuebid showing a weakish or strong hand with both majors. West cuebids South's higher ranking suit (Spades in this case) to show a strong Diamond bid (E/W's higher ranking suit). North makes the obvious bid, and East raises to game. If North takes a further bid, East will be totally justified in bidding slam holding a stiff Spade.

E/W lose only one Spade trick, making six. The Heart finesse is a practice finesse (i.e., E/W take the same number of tricks even if the finesse is never taken). If N/S forget to take their Spade trick, E/W take 16 tricks. That's a lot.

Board 27
South Deals
None Vul

♠	6
♥	K 9 2
♦	6 5 4
♣	A J 8 7 3 2

♠	K Q J 10 8 7 4 3
♥	Q J 4
♦	K 10
♣	—

N
W		E
S

♠	9
♥	6 5
♦	A Q J 9 8 7
♣	K Q 10 5

♠	A 5 2
♥	A 10 8 7 3
♦	3 2
♣	9 6 4

EW 4♠; EW 1N; EW 2♦; NS 1♥; NS 1♣; Par −420

West	North	East	South
			Pass
1 ♠	Pass	2 ♦	Pass
2 ♠	Pass	3 ♣	Pass
4 ♠	Pass	Pass	Pass

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♠	W	−1	50		11.00	0.00	3-Prosise-Prosise	7-Tedrick-Murdock
3 NT	E	3		400	10.00	1.00	6-Elliott-Runda	13-Schapera-Lakes
4 ♠	W	4		420	6.00	5.00	7-Kobida-Burns	15-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♠	W	4		420	6.00	5.00	8-Markham-Markham	2-Dehaan-Messinger
4 ♠	W	4		420	6.00	5.00	9-Roark-Campbell	4-Oblinger-Pretz
4 ♠	W	4		420	6.00	5.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	6-Earls-Brown
4 ♠	W	4		420	6.00	5.00	12-Shores-Lubow	10-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♠	W	4		420	6.00	5.00	13-Vanstone-Gibler	12-Bodrogi-Podoaba-Burnam
4 ♠	W	4		420	6.00	5.00	14-Kehoe-Stanley	14-Cushman-Petersen
4 ♠	W	6		480	1.50	9.50	5-Lin-Hubka	11-Koppenhafer-Pollack
4 ♠	W	6		480	1.50	9.50	11-Hansen-Kennedy	8-Hoffman-Koster
6 ♠	W	6		980	0.00	11.00	4-Barron-Lammers	9-Kereiakes-Kereiakes

West is pretty sure when they pick up their hand that they'll be playing in 4 ♠. Opening 4 ♠ would be 100% wrong though. Why is that? Well, a 4 ♠ opener is preemptive, meaning "Partner, I have a buttload of Spades but less than opening values." If you open 4 ♠ with hands such as this one, partner won't know when to bid on. Picture West opening 4 ♠ with this hand and East holding ♠ A ♥ K32 ♦ A987 ♣T8754. Would East know they're supposed to bid 6 ♠? I'd pass 4 ♠ and worry that we're going down one.

E/W lose one Spade and two Hearts. The only thing of value in the East hand is the ♦ A. If North leads the ♣ A, E/W make five (club ruff, Diamond to the ♦ A, ♣ KQ pitching two Hearts). A lead of any other suit works out fine.

Board 28
West Deals
N-S Vul

♠	K 6 4 3
♥	Q 9 8 5 4
♦	Q
♣	J 10 6

♠	Q 10
♥	J 6 3
♦	K 8 4 2
♣	K Q 5 4

N
W		E
S

♠	J 9 7 5
♥	10 7 2
♦	10 7 6 5
♣	A 2

♠	A 8 2
♥	A K
♦	A J 9 3
♣	9 8 7 3

NS 2N; NS 2♠; NS 2♥; NS 3♣; NS 1♦; Par +120

West	North	East	South
Pass	Pass	Pass	1 NT1
Pass	2 ♣2	Pass	2 ♦
Pass	2 NT3	Pass	Pass
Pass

15 to 17
Smolen-shaped hand with invitational values
Showing invitational hand

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	S	3	600		10.50	0.50	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	6-Earls-Brown
3 NT	S	3	600		10.50	0.50	13-Vanstone-Gibler	12-Bodrogi-Podoaba-Burnam
2 NT	S	4	180		9.00	2.00	5-Lin-Hubka	11-Koppenhafer-Pollack
2 NT	S	3	150		7.50	3.50	4-Barron-Lammers	9-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
2 NT	S	3	150		7.50	3.50	9-Roark-Campbell	4-Oblinger-Pretz
2 ♥	N	3	140		6.00	5.00	14-Kehoe-Stanley	14-Cushman-Petersen
2 ♥	S	2	110		5.00	6.00	7-Kobida-Burns	15-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♥	S	−1		100	3.50	7.50	8-Markham-Markham	2-Dehaan-Messinger
4 ♥	S	−1		100	3.50	7.50	11-Hansen-Kennedy	8-Hoffman-Koster
4 ♠	N	−2		200	1.50	9.50	3-Prosise-Prosise	7-Tedrick-Murdock
3 ♥	S	−2		200	1.50	9.50	6-Elliott-Runda	13-Schapera-Lakes
3 ♥	S	−3		300	0.00	11.00	12-Shores-Lubow	10-Diers-McCarthy

One of the hardest hands to bid as responder after partner's 1 NT opener is an invitational hand (8 HCP) with 5-4 shape in the majors. A reasonable solution is this:

1 NT - 2 ♣ - ??

If opener rebids 2 ♥, raise to 3 ♥. If opener rebids 2 ♠, raise to 3 ♠. If opener rebids 2 ♦, denying a 4-card major, bid 2 NT showing the invitational nature of your hand. Opener is free to pass this with a hand that doesn't want to be in 3 NT, but if opener is going to go on to game, it's a good idea for them to bid a 3-card major on the way just in case partner holds this particular hand.

In 2 NT, N/S take two Spade tricks, five Heart tricks, and a Diamond. If West leads a small Club on opening lead, N/S will make three. The ♠ Q is the best lead, although few will find it.

Board 29
North Deals
Both Vul

♠	Q 8 5 2
♥	A 9 4
♦	10 9 5
♣	K 8 6

♠	10 7 4 3
♥	10 5
♦	A Q 8 2
♣	A J 3

N
W		E
S

♠	A J 6
♥	K Q J 6 2
♦	J 6
♣	10 5 4

♠	K 9
♥	8 7 3
♦	K 7 4 3
♣	Q 9 7 2

E 4N; W 3N; EW 3♠; EW 3♥; E 2♦; EW 2♣; W 1♦; Par −630

West	North	East	South
	Pass	1 ♥	Pass
1 ♠	Pass	1 NT1	Pass
2 ♣2	Pass	2 ♦3	Pass
2 NT4	Pass	3 NT	Pass
Pass	Pass

Showing 12-14 HCP and 5332 shape
Alert, XYZ bid, showing an invitational hand
Alert, XYZ bid, forced bid
West is showing an invitational notrump hand

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	W	−3	300		11.00	0.00	9-Roark-Campbell	3-Temples-Koch
4 ♠	E	−1	100		10.00	1.00	5-Lin-Hubka	10-Diers-McCarthy
1 NT	W	2		120	9.00	2.00	6-Elliott-Runda	12-Bodrogi-Podoaba-Burnam
2 ♥	E	3		140	7.50	3.50	12-Shores-Lubow	9-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
1 ♥	E	3		140	7.50	3.50	14-Kehoe-Stanley	13-Schapera-Lakes
2 NT	E	3		150	6.00	5.00	11-Hansen-Kennedy	7-Tedrick-Murdock
2 ♠	W	4		170	5.00	6.00	7-Kobida-Burns	14-Cushman-Petersen
2 NT	W	4		180	3.50	7.50	4-Barron-Lammers	8-Hoffman-Koster
2 NT	W	4		180	3.50	7.50	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	5-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	E	4		630	1.00	10.00	8-Markham-Markham	1-Terwilliger-Payne
3 NT	E	4		630	1.00	10.00	13-Vanstone-Gibler	11-Koppenhafer-Pollack
3 NT	E	4		630	1.00	10.00	15-Bansal-Shukla	15-Jervis-Lindeman

East stretches a bit to get to 3 NT, but the Heart honors are working well together. E/W take four Heart tricks, three Diamonds, two Spades, and a Club. Both Spades and Clubs are frozen suits, and N/S will have to break one of them eventually. The proper way to play the Diamonds is small to the ♦ J. When the ♦T9 fall, declarer collects three Diamond tricks.

South has a difficult time on opening lead. A Club, a Spade, or a Diamond give up an immediate trick, so a Heart works best. Good luck finding that, Mr. or Mrs. South.

Board 30
East Deals
None Vul

♠	10 4 3 2
♥	9 8 7 5
♦	10 6
♣	A J 8

♠	5
♥	Q J 4 2
♦	A J 7 3 2
♣	5 3 2

N
W		E
S

♠	A Q 7 6
♥	K 10 3
♦	9 5
♣	K Q 7 4

♠	K J 9 8
♥	A 6
♦	K Q 8 4
♣	10 9 6

E 3♥; EW 2N; W 2♥; EW 3♦; EW 2♣; Par −140

West	North	East	South
		1 ♣	Pass
1 ♥	Pass	1 NT	Dbl1
Rdbl2	2 ♠	Dbl3	Pass
Pass	Pass

Takeout for the unbid suits
Redouble claiming the balance of power
For penalty

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	E	−3	150		11.00	0.00	9-Roark-Campbell	3-Temples-Koch
3 NT	E	−2	100		10.00	1.00	11-Hansen-Kennedy	7-Tedrick-Murdock
2 NT	W	−1	50		8.00	3.00	4-Barron-Lammers	8-Hoffman-Koster
3 NT	E	−1	50		8.00	3.00	5-Lin-Hubka	10-Diers-McCarthy
2 NT	E	−1	50		8.00	3.00	15-Bansal-Shukla	15-Jervis-Lindeman
1 NT	W	1		90	6.00	5.00	8-Markham-Markham	1-Terwilliger-Payne
1 NT	E	2		120	4.50	6.50	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	5-Kammer-Zimmer
1 NT	W	2		120	4.50	6.50	12-Shores-Lubow	9-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
2 NT	E	3		150	3.00	8.00	14-Kehoe-Stanley	13-Schapera-Lakes
2 ♥	W	4		170	2.00	9.00	7-Kobida-Burns	14-Cushman-Petersen
2 NT	E	4		180	1.00	10.00	6-Elliott-Runda	12-Bodrogi-Podoaba-Burnam
3 NT	E	3		400	0.00	11.00	13-Vanstone-Gibler	11-Koppenhafer-Pollack

South should have stayed silent, but few will. N/S lose two Club tricks, one Diamond, one Heart, one Spade, and two Diamond ruffs--down two doubled for –300. Ugh.

West may lead the ♣ 3 (MUD) on opening lead. Declarer hops up with the ♣ A and leads a small Spade, East playing low. South wins cheaply but can't effectively continue Spades, so they play ♥ A and another Heart. East wins and plays the ♦ 9. South inserts the ♦ K, West wins the ♦ A, and clears the suit. South will try ruffing a Diamond in dummy, but East will overruff, cash two Clubs, and exit with their third Heart. South can ruff, but they're in the same predicament they were a moment ago. If they try and pull trump, they'll lose a second Diamond trick to West, and if they try and ruff a Diamond, East will once again overruff and cash the ♠ A.

West	North	East	South
			Pass
Pass	1 ♠	Dbl1	Pass
Pass2	Pass

For takeout
Wouldn't you?

When West passes East's double, East will probably come unglued. They're so sure that 6 ♥ or 6 ♦ is making that they'll forget they still need to defend as best they can. N/S should lose one Club, two Diamonds, one Heart, and four Spade tricks--down three for –800. The best that E/W can get on offense is +650 for 4 ♥ making five. Way to pass, West!

West should lead the ♦ K on the go, and West will show a doubleton. The ♥ A is next, followed by a Heart to dummy's ♥ K. If declarer tries a Spade finesse, they'll go down four for –1100, but that's too painful to even consider. Let's assume they don't, and everyone is happy and butterflies and bunnies and rainbows......

West	North	East	South
1 ♥	Pass	1 ♠	Pass
2 ♣	Pass	Pass	Pass

E/W are quite happy to get out in 2 ♣, making four. North will probably lead the ♠ K and continue Spades at trick two. South will have to insert the ♠ Q to keep dummy from winning the trick, and declarer will ruff. Diamond to ♦ A and a Club towards the closed hand will follow. South might as well grab the ♣ A and play another Spade, but declarer simply discards a Heart to maintain trump control. North can win with the ♠ A, but the ♠ J in dummy is now a winner. If West misguesses Diamonds, they'll make three.

West	North	East	South
	Pass	1 NT1	Pass
Pass	Pass

15 to 17

This one is a victory for the "I can't open 1 NT!!! I have a 5-card major!!!" crowd. Enjoy your moment. It's short-lived because N/S will be in 3 ♦ if East opens 1 ♠, making three for +110. Compare that to their +50 for stomping 1 NT.

West	North	East	South
		3 ♣	Pass
5 ♣	Pass	Pass	Pass

Stupid preempts. North is almost sure that they want to be in game, but where? 5 ♣ looks like a great sacrifice--unfortunate thing is that 4 ♠ would have gone down on proper defense (♦ 6 lead, gaining a Diamond ruff to go with a high Club, the ♥ A, and the ♠ K). Oh well....

E/W lose one Spade, one Heart, and one Diamond for down one. It still beats 3 ♠ making if N/S somehow forgot to bid game.

West	North	East	South
			1 ♣
1 ♠	Pass	2 ♣1	Pass
2 ♦2	Pass	3 NT	Pass
Pass	Pass

Forcing
Showing an opening hand

East needs to create a forcing bid as advancer, and the only one that makes sense at this point is 2 ♣. If asked, West should say that it's forcing and does not guarantee Spade support. With a minimum overcall, West would respond 2 ♠ after East's cuebid. With an opening hand, West should bid anything else.

E/W take five Spade tricks, two Hearts, two Diamonds, and two Clubs, making five. South is marked for all of the outstanding HCP, so the hand is quite easy to play. South's safest opening lead is a Spade, but they're eventually going to get endplayed and have to lead away from ♥ KJ2 or away from their Club holding giving E/W an extra round-suit trick.

West	North	East	South
Pass	1 ♣	Pass	3 NT1
Pass	4 ♣2	Pass	4 ♠3
Pass	5 ♦4	Pass	5 NT5
Pass	6 NT	Pass	Pass
Pass

Showing 13-15 HCP and no 4-card major
Minorwood, keycard asking with Clubs as trump
3rd step showing 2 or 5 keycards w/o the ♣ Q
Asking for specific Kings and guaranteeing all the keycards
Showing the♦ K and denying either major-suit King

A fun hand to end the evening! Some N/S pair might arrive in 7 NT, but they're going to need to get the Diamonds right, and you don't really want to contract for a grand slam needing a working finesse. In this case, the hand is almost laydown with South as declarer. If a N/S pair wrong-side the contract, North will be a nervous wreck after a Spade opening lead. Poor North.