EVENT>Monday Night Bridge      |SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> A N-S
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>October 31, 2016   |CLUB NO.>185264    | 10/31/2016 22:29
---------------------,-- ------------------- -------------,---------------------
DIR> Mike Lipp       |RATING>Club Masterpoint (100%, 80%, 60% Open)|MOVEMENT>MITCHELL
------------,-------- ,-------------------------,--------- ---------------------
AVE>   84.0 |TOP>   7 |MP LIMITS>None/500/100   |CLUB>Monday Night Bridge
------------ --------- ------------------------- -------------------------------
PAIRS IN STRAT A=10/B=8/C=3                      ,---,-------------------------,------,---------,
-------------------------------------------------|   |           Section       |      |Section  |
No Name                   Name                   |Flt|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C| Score | Pct  |Awards   |
------------------------------------------------- --- ----- ----- ----- ------- ------ ---------

 2 Millard Lakes          Ying Peng                C    2     2     1     94.93  56.51  0.70(A)
 3 Donald Pollack         Bernice Pollack          C    .     .     .     72.15  42.95
 4 Joy Singerman          Adrianne Freiberg        B    3     3     .     87.08  51.83  0.50(A)
 5 Liz Lin                Elmer Hubka              A    .     .     .     79.71  47.45
 6 Patricia Burnam        Leonard Kanterman        C    .     .     .     70.43  41.92
 7 Patrick Lammers        Judy Barron              B    .     .     .     82.12  48.88
 8 Judy Crotty Hall       Carla Runda              B    .     .     .     79.79  47.49
 9 Susan Stacy Vanstone   Martin Gibler            B    1     1     .    103.64  61.69  1.00(A)
10 Annette Kereiakes      Tom Kereiakes            B    4     .     .     86.13  51.27  0.35(A)

                                          Totals                         755.98

Thanks to Bob Fisk for the Hand Analysis


                              **PAIRS**
BOARD     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9    10
  /
   1>                       3-  4.64  6.36  1.21  1.21  6.36  1.21
         ----  ----  ----  140   170   420   -50   -50   420   -50

   2>                     4.64  5.79  0.07  1.21  2.36  6.93    3-
         ----  ----  ----  110   120  -200  -100    50   150    90

   3>                     2.36  0.07  1.21  5.79  6.93  4.64    3-
         ----  ----  ----  -50  -110  -100   300   600   140   100

   4>         2.36              4.07  0.64  6.36  0.64  6.36  4.07
         ----  620   ----  ----  630   600   660   600   660   630

   5>         6.36              2.36  2.36  6.36  2.36  2.36  2.36
         ---- -420   ----  ---- -450  -450  -420  -450  -450  -450

   6>         5.21              6.93  0.07  1.21  2.36    3-  5.21
         ----  400   ----  ---- 1100   100   130   200   300   400

   7>         5.79  6.93              0.07  4.64  2.36  2.36  2.36
         ----  100   300   ----  ---- -650  -600  -620  -620  -620

   8>         4.64  0.64              2.36  0.64  4.64  6.93  4.64
         ----  490   -50   ----  ----  400   -50   490   990   490

   9>         4.64  1.79              1.79  5.79  1.79  6.93  1.79
         ---- -680  -710   ----  ---- -710  -650  -710   200  -710

  10>         4.64  2.36  4.64              0.64  6.93  4.64  0.64
         ----  -90  -120   -90   ----  ---- -630   100   -90  -630

  11>         5.79  2.36  5.79              5.79    3-  1.21  0.07
         ----  110   -50   110   ----  ----  110    50  -110  -140

  12>         1.21  1.21  6.93              1.21    3-  5.21  5.21
         ---- -100  -100    90   ----  ---- -100   -90    50    50

  13>         0.64  6.93  0.64  4.07              4.07  4.07  4.07
         ---- -100   120  -100    90   ----  ----   90    90    90

  14>         5.79  2.93  2.93  5.79              1.21  0.07  5.79
         ----   50  -150  -150    50   ----  ---- -170  -420    50

  15>         2.36  2.36  2.36  2.36              6.36  2.36  6.36
         ----  680   680   680   680   ----  ---- 1430   680  1430

  16>         0.64  0.64  6.93  2.93  2.93              5.21  5.21
         ----  -50   -50   490   450   450   ----  ----  460   460

  17>           3-  5.79  0.07    3-  1.21                3-  6.93
         ---- -150  -100  -610  -150  -550   ----  ---- -150   -50

  18>         6.93  0.07  5.21  5.21  1.79                3-  1.79
         ----   90  -260    50    50  -200   ----  ---- -140  -200

  19>         1.21  4.64  6.93  1.21  4.64  1.21              4.64
         ---- -120   -90   100  -120   -90  -120   ----  ----  -90

  20>           3-  6.93  5.79  1.21  4.64  1.21              1.21
         ---- -300   -90  -140  -620  -200  -620   ----  ---- -620

  21>           3-  6.93    3-  5.79    3-  1.21              0.07
         ----  650  1460   650   680   650   620   ----  ---- -100

  22>         5.79  2.93  2.93  0.07  6.93  1.21  4.64
         ---- -170  -200  -200  -650  -140  -230  -180   ----  ----

  23>         2.36  0.07  2.36  4.64  6.93  5.79  2.36
         ---- -150  -600  -150  -130   -90  -120  -150   ----  ----

  24>         4.07  0.64  4.07  4.07  6.93  0.64  4.07
         ---- -110  -140  -110  -110   110  -140  -110   ----  ----

  25>           6     1     4     1     4     7     1     4
         ----  140   -90   110   -90   110   200   -90   110   ----

  26>           1     3     6     6     4     1     1     6
         ---- -200   130   630   630   600  -200  -200   630   ----

  27>           7     3     1-    1-    0     5     4     6
         ----  670   130    50    50  -140   400   150   500   ----

  28>                 2      -     -    5     5     7     3     5
         ----  ----  170  -100  -100   620   620   650   200   620

  29>                 0     1     6     2     6     3     4     6
         ----  ---- -300  -200   720   110   720   150   620   720

  30>                 7     2-    0     1     6     2-    4-    4-
         ----  ----  110  -100  -200  -150    90  -100   -50   -50



EVENT>Monday Night Bridge      |SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> A E-W
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>October 31, 2016   |CLUB NO.>185264    | 10/31/2016 22:29
---------------------,-- ------------------- -------------,---------------------
DIR> Mike Lipp       |RATING>Club Masterpoint (100%, 80%, 60% Open)|MOVEMENT>MITCHELL
------------,-------- ,-------------------------,--------- ---------------------
AVE>   84.0 |TOP>   7 |MP LIMITS>None/500/100   |CLUB>Monday Night Bridge
------------ --------- ------------------------- -------------------------------
PAIRS IN STRAT A=10/B=8/C=3                      ,---,-------------------------,------,---------,
-------------------------------------------------|   |           Section       |      |Section  |
No Name                   Name                   |Flt|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C| Score | Pct  |Awards   |
------------------------------------------------- --- ----- ----- ----- ------- ------ ---------
 1 Richard Koch           Lewis Temples            B    .     .     .     62.77  37.36
 2 Jane Duncan            Joanne Earls             B    3     1     .     97.94  58.30  0.64(B)
 3 Mike Burns             Elva Jung                B    4     2     .     94.06  55.99  0.45(B)
 4 Sara Brown             Dona Koch                C    .     .     .     51.01  30.36
 5 Peter Dehaan           Nancy Garriott           B    .     .     .     69.78  41.54
 6 Herb Behr              Richard Freiberg         A    2     .     .     98.08  58.38  0.70(A)
 7 Herb Schapera          Ralph Terbrueggen        A    1     .     .    102.46  60.99  1.00(A)
 8 Joseph Kammer          Gail Zimmer              B    .     .     .     86.29  51.36
 9 Joan Diers             Evelyn McCarthy          C    .     3     1     89.47  53.26  0.32(B)
10 Carol Markham          J Thomas Markham         C    .     .     .     84.17  50.10

                                          Totals                         836.03

Thanks to Bob Fisk for the Hand Analysis


                              **PAIRS**
BOARD     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9    10
  /
   1>               5.79        5.79    3-  0.64  2.36  5.79  0.64
         ----  ----   50   ----   50  -140  -420  -170    50  -420

   2>               5.79        4.64  2.36  0.07  1.21    3-  6.93
         ----  ----  100   ----  -50  -110  -150  -120   -90   200

   3>               1.21        0.07  4.64  2.36  6.93    3-  5.79
         ----  ---- -300   ---- -600    50  -140   110  -100   100

   4>   0.64  4.64        6.36        0.64  2.93  2.93  6.36
        -660  -620   ---- -600   ---- -660  -630  -630  -600   ----

   5>   0.64  0.64        4.64        4.64  4.64  4.64  4.64
         420   420   ----  450   ----  450   450   450   450   ----

   6>   5.79  1.79        4.64          3-  0.07  1.79  6.93
        -130  -400   ---- -200   ---- -300 -1100  -400  -100   ----

   7>   1.21  4.64  0.07        4.64        4.64  6.93        2.36
        -100   620  -300   ----  620   ----  620   650   ----  600

   8>   2.36  2.36  6.36        0.07        2.36  4.64        6.36
        -490  -490    50   ---- -990   ---- -490  -400   ----   50

   9>   2.36  5.21  5.21        0.07        5.21  5.21        1.21
         680   710   710   ---- -200   ----  710   710   ----  650

  10>   0.07  4.64  2.36  2.36        6.36              6.36  2.36
        -100   120    90    90   ----  630   ----  ----  630    90

  11>     3-  4.64  5.79  1.21        6.93              1.21  1.21
         -50    50   110  -110   ----  140   ----  ---- -110  -110

  12>     3-  5.79  1.79  0.07        1.79              5.79  5.79
          90   100   -50   -90   ----  -50   ----  ----  100   100

  13>   0.07  2.93  6.36  2.93  2.93                    6.36  2.93
        -120   -90   100   -90   -90   ----  ----  ----  100   -90

  14>   4.07  6.93  4.07  1.21  1.21                    1.21  5.79
         150   420   150   -50   -50   ----  ----  ----  -50   170

  15>   4.64  4.64  4.64  0.64  4.64                    4.64  0.64
        -680  -680  -680 -1430  -680   ----  ----  ---- -680 -1430

  16>   1.79  0.07  1.79  4.07        4.07        6.36        6.36
        -460  -490  -460  -450   ---- -450   ----   50   ----   50

  17>     3-  6.93  0.07    3-        5.79          3-        1.21
         150   610    50   150   ----  550   ----  150   ----  100

  18>     3-  1.79  5.21  1.79        5.21        0.07        6.93
         140   -50   200   -50   ----  200   ----  -90   ----  260

  19>   0.07  2.36  5.79        2.36  5.79  5.79        2.36
        -100    90   120   ----   90   120   120   ----   90   ----

  20>   1.21  5.79  5.79        2.36    3-  5.79        0.07
         140   620   620   ----  200   300   620   ----   90   ----

  21>     3-  6.93  1.21          3-    3-  5.79        0.07
        -650   100  -680   ---- -650  -650  -620   -----1460   ----

  22>         6.93        0.07  1.21  5.79  4.07  2.36        4.07
         ----  650   ----  140   170   230   200   180   ----  200

  23>         2.36        0.07  4.64  1.21  6.93  4.64        4.64
         ----  130   ----   90   150   120   600   150   ----  150

  24>         2.93        0.07  2.93  6.36  6.36  2.93        2.93
         ----  110   ---- -110   110   140   140   110   ----  110

  25>     6           3     1     0     6     6     3     3
          90   ---- -110  -140  -200    90    90  -110  -110   ----

  26>     1           3     6     6     4     6     1     1
        -630   ---- -600   200   200  -130   200  -630  -630   ----

  27>     5-          7     0     2     4     3     5-    1
         -50   ----  140  -670  -400  -130  -150   -50  -500   ----

  28>           2           2     5     0     6-    4     6-    2
         ---- -620   ---- -620  -170  -650   100  -200   100  -620

  29>           5           1     7     4     6     3     1     1
         ---- -110   ---- -720   300  -150   200  -620  -720  -720

  30>           6           1     0     4-    4-    2-    7     2-
         ----  150   ----  -90  -110   100   100    50   200    50
Monday Night Bridge, Monday Eve, October 31, 2016

While East's 2 ♥ opener would be suspect if vulnerable, it's perfectly fine when not vulnerable. N/S should easily get to game on a similar auction, losing a trick in each minor suit.

West will likely lead the ♦ J when East doesn't double for a Heart lead, and declarer should not cover at trick one. East plays low, declarer wins with the ♦ A, pulls trump in two rounds, and plays ♥ A, ♥ K, and and another Heart, ruffing in their hand. Now a small Diamond from each hand endplays East. A Club return allows dummy's ♣ K to win, and declarer pitches a Club on the good ♦ Q. A Heart return allows declarer to discard a Club from hand while ruffing on the board, and once again pitches a Club on the ♦ Q. Nicely played!

It's tough for N/S to find the decent 2 NT contract--more likely they'd get to 3 NT if they press on which doesn't play very well on a Spade lead (or on any lead for that matter as eight tricks are the maximum N/S can collect.

In 2 ♦, N/S lose two Spades, one Heart, and two Clubs. West will lead the ♣T on opening lead.

E/W will compete up to 3 ♣, but the vulnerability keeps them from bidding on. North should double for penalty if West ventures 4 ♣. In 3 ♠, N/S lose one trick in each suit, making three. Declarer needs to be careful when East leads the ♥ 8--an obvious singleton on the auction--winning in the closed hand with the ♥ A. Now, declarer plays ♠ A and another Spade. East hops with the ♠ K, as West signals with the ♣ 3 (upside-down carding) to show a Club entry. Next is the ♣ 7 (MUD) to the ♣ A and a low Heart back for East to ruff, but they're ruffing declarer's Heart loser (remember trick one), so all is good.

South might bid 4 NT over 3 NT, quantitative, but North will decline the invitation. N/S take five Club tricks, four Diamond tricks, and two tricks in the majors, making five. There's only one entry to dummy, so E/W need to be careful not to give declarer a tempo on opening lead--not that easy. If West finds the lead of a small Diamond, declarer will be able to collect two major-suit tricks but no more.

Unless you and your partner play an exotic system for raising partner's major-suit opening, a Diamond splinter bid looks correct (limit-raise values, 4+ trump, and shortness in the suit bid). South will likely lead the ♠ K, and E/W will lose one Spade and one Club. Hopefully declarer doesn't try the "practice" Diamond finesse (i.e., the finesse gains no tricks if it wins and loses a trick if it's unsuccessful). This hand is over before it begins when declarer wins the ♠ A, pulls trump in three rounds, and knocks out the ♣ A.

Unmichaels is a nice replacement for the Unusual 2 NT convention. While the Unusual 2 NT convention is able to show a two-suited hand with the two lowest unbid suits, Unmichaels is able to show any two-suited hand not already covered by the Michaels convention. If opener bids a major, a direct-seat 2 NT overcall still shows both minor suits (not alertable). If opener bids a minor, a direct-seat 2 NT overcall shows the other minor and an unknown major (this version is alertable). If the advancer wants to know which major partner has, they simply cuebid opener's minor at the three level.

In 3 NT, N/S take two Spade tricks, one Heart, one Diamond, and six Clubs when the ♣ K turns up in the slot. West will likely lead the ♠ A on the auction, and the hand is quickly over. If they find the ♥ 6 lead, declarer has no reason to duck when East inserts the ♥ J (i.e., the ♥T987 between the two hands creates a second Heart stopper).

It's a pretty good slam, but declarer is likely to go down when Hearts fail to break 3-2. The Spade finesse is easy to get right, and North is likely to hold both the ♦ Q and ♣ K for their vulnerable two-level preempt. If South gives declarer a peek at their hand, then 6 ♥ is laydown.

North is going to have a heckuva time getting out of their hand on opening lead as a Club lead removes declarer's loser in that suit, and a Diamond or Spade lead removes declarer's guess in Diamonds. Some North players, afraid of giving away a trick, will decide that now is the time to lead their singleton trump....oops. West plays low from dummy and wins the ♥ K when South is forced to cover. Now, a small Heart to dummy reveals the 4-1 split, and declarer's Heart loser is no more. Poor North.

N/S take four Heart tricks, three Diamonds, two Spades, and three Clubs. If West leads a small Spade, the hand is over quickly when declarer inserts dummy's Queen. Even if the opening lead is something else, declarer's best line is to lead a small Spade towards the ♠ Q.

If declarer wins trick one with the ♠ Q, then the best line to make seven is four rounds of Hearts (West throws a small Spade) followed by three rounds of Diamonds. On the third Diamond, West starts to squirm. If they throw a Club, the hand is over as declarer quickly gobbles up four Club tricks and the ♠ A. If they throw a third Spade, declarer should assume that West is trying to protect ♣ Jxxx and finesse the ♣T at trick nine. When the ♣T holds, declarer plays off ♣ AK, returns to their hand with the well-preserved ♠ A, and cashes the ♣ Q for their 13th trick. Sweet.

A good use of a jump to 5 NT during an auction is Pick a Slam. Here, West knows that they should be in slam, but has no idea which one. On this hand, East might hold any of the following hands:

1) ♠ A7 ♥ AJT654 ♦ 2 ♣ AJ75--six Clubs is the right contract.
2) ♠ AK ♥ AKJT654 ♦ J96 ♣ 5--six notrump seems right.
3) ♠ 7 ♥ AKQJ973 ♦ J96 ♣ A3--six Hearts is cold.
4) ♠ K7 ♥ AK9873 ♦ J986 ♣ A--six Diamonds is perfect.

With ♠ AK, East has an easy 6 NT bid. If West doesn't know about the 5 NT bid, then some might blast 6 ♦. A 5 ♦ bid would be a severe underbid, so hopefully that doesn't happen. If you're East, and West passes 4 ♥, you have my permission to gut them.

In 6 NT, South will likely lead the ♠T, and E/W will take 15 tricks when the ♥ Q falls. Remember to start Board 10 with E/W already having two tricks in the bank.

It's unlikely that E/W will be able to double 3 ♥, since most pairs play that a double by East in this auction shows 3-card support for partner's suit (support double).

N/S lose one Heart, one Diamond, and three Clubs. East may lead the ♦ 4 on the auction, but as long as E/W collect their three Club tricks when in with the ♦ K or the ♥ A, they'll be okay.

East might not choose to make a Michaels bid if their partner was not a passed hand, since they hold a mid-range hand (12-15 HCP). Once partner has passed, it's reasonable for East to assume that game is out of reach. so their bid is fine.

When responder doubles a two-suited bid showing interest in defending the hand and values, opener is free to pass at their next turn confident in the fact that their partner will not pass as well.

If declarer guesses correctly in Clubs and drops the singleton ♣ Q, they'll make 3 NT. If not, well that's too horrible to even consider. Some E/W pairs will get to play the hand in 3 ♥ which makes easily when Hearts split 2-2, losing only one Spade, two Hearts, and a Diamond.

Some Easts might choose to pass and defend N/S's 1 NT contract. That doesn't work out very well when 1 NT rolls. If East overcalls 1 NT and goes down one, they end up with –50 for a top or –100 for a bottom if South finds a double. E/W pairs don't have anywhere they can run to at the two level, so that doesn't work out any better. Most scores for N/S will range from +50 to +100.

West will likely choose the ♣ Q as their opening lead, and N/S will take three Spade tricks, one Heart, one Diamond, and one Club. Hearts is a "frozen suit," meaning that whoever leads Hearts first loses a trick.

East's double of North's two-suited bid creates a forcing situation (i.e., E/W will either play that hand or N/S will play the hand doubled). Once East denies a hand that can defend a Spade control, West shows their second suit knowing that if East doesn't have Hearts, they'll be able to raise Diamonds to game. In this case, East has Hearts as well, and the good major-suit game is reached.

North will lead the ♠ K (asking for count) and continue with ♠ A and another at tricks two and three. E/W lose two Spades and a Club when the Diamond finesse is on. It should be, since North is likely to hold only two Diamonds to their partner's three on the auction. Declarer can afford to ruff the third Spade high. Now a small Heart to the ♥ K at trick four and a Heart back to the ♥ A at trick five expose the 4-1 split. Declarer should lead the ♦ 9 at trick six and duck it when South plays small. North will have a doubleton Diamond on the auction, and if their doubleton includes the ♦ K, then E/W are down one anyway. When the ♦ 9 holds, South can repeat the finesse again before pulling the remaining trump. Nicely played!

A nice and clean auction results in an excellent slam! N/S lose only one Diamond, making six. West will likely lead the ♣ J, and declarer can claim at trick one (please).

It's pretty easy to get to the Diamond slam, not so easy to get to the grand. If South treats their hand as a two-suiter with both minors, it will be even more difficult. N/S take 13 tricks against any lead, although a trump lead is best.

On a trump lead, declarer wins in hand with the ♦ A, cashes the ♠ AK, ♥ J to the ♥ A, ruffs a Heart high, ♦T to the ♦ Q pulling the outstanding trump in the process, ♠ Q pitching a Club, and ruffs another Heart high. If the Hearts don't split 3-3, declarer can ruff their second small Club and give up a Club, making six. When Hearts split, declarer simply ruffs a Club to get to dummy and pitches their remaining Clubs on the good Hearts.

On a Club lead, declarer might try ruffing three Clubs in dummy, hoping for the ♣ A to drop. When it doesn't, they'll try pitching their last Club on the ♠ Q, but that won't work very well when East is able to ruff the third Spade. Oops. On a Heart lead or Spade lead, declarer should try to set up the Hearts as shown above.

E/W should reach the nice Club game, and N/S don't have a profitable sacrifice in 5 ♥ (down three doubled for –500). E/W lose one Heart and one Club, making five. North will likely lead the ♥ Q. If they don't, declarer's Heart loser may very well go away on the ♦ J, although most declarers won't risk the Diamond hook, content simply making five.

It's doubtful that the auction will go like this, but you never know. If anybody takes a bid after 3 ♥, they're going to regret it. E/W lose one Heart, two Diamonds, and a Club, making three. South is likely to lead the ♦ K.

When East bids 1 ♦ over 1 ♣, West is correct to assume their partner does not hold a 4-card major. If it turns out they do, then they'll be showing longer Diamonds (5+) and a game-going hand. With that in mind, West should hide their 4-card major(s) in favor of rebidding 1 NT (12-14 HCP). If this is an agreement that E/W have, then West's 1 NT bid is alertable.

In 1 NT, E/W take three Spade tricks, one Heart, three Diamonds, and possibly one Club, although N/S might already have established their three Heart tricks to go with their two Aces and ♦ K by that time. Making one will be the par result. Clubs is a frozen suit, so nobody wants to touch that one. North's best lead is the ♥ K, but few will find it.

On the auction, East should be wary about South having shortness in Spades. It's difficult to see how to come to 10 tricks on the auction without a cross-ruff, so declarer should start with that in mind.

South is likely to lead the ♦ Q on opening lead, and North will probably rise with the ♦ A. The ♥T might very well be led back at trick two, and declarer should insert the ♥ Q, covered by South with the ♥ K and won in dummy with the ♥ A. A second Heart is led from dummy, South winning cheaply. At this point, the stage is set for the cross-ruff. No matter what South returns, E/W will be able to collect two Club tricks, one Diamond, one Heart, and six trump tricks before the party ends--most likely two Club ruffs in dummy, one Heart and one Diamond ruff in the closed hand (overruffing North). At some point, North will collect the ♠T, but that's the third and last trick for the defense.

The opening lead is likely to be the ♣ J, and declarer will be under immediate pressure. With the slow Club loser now upgraded to a fast Club loser, declarer needs to calculate how many entries they need to establish the Diamonds for Club pitches. Turns out that declarer needs to risk the Diamond finesse immediately, since they won't have enough entries to ruff Diamonds good, pull trump, and still get back to dummy to run the Diamonds.

Once that's determined, they simply need the ♦ K to be with East. At trick two, declarer plays a low Diamond and inserts the ♦T when East plays low. Eureka! They're almost out of the woods. Now, the ♦ A is played, declarer pitching a Club. When the ♦ K falls, declarer switches to ♥ A and ♥ Q, pitching another Club before the ♦ J, pitching their last Club when West follows suit.

Surprisingly, East doesn't ruff the third Diamond. The 4-0 trump split doesn't batter, as declarer has all trump left. After ♠ K, ♠ A, and ♠ Q, declarer gives West their trick and claims the remainder.

It's doubtful that any N/S pair will be in 6 NT (or 7 NT!), but you never know. 7 NT makes on a beautiful Spade-Club squeeze against West (i.e., West is unable to keep four Spades and the ♣ K in the end position). Try it!

If E/W were not vulnerable, West would ask about the quality of their partner's suit and hand (Ogust). When making a vulnerable weak-two bid, it's presumed that opener has a good suit and a good hand. E/W lose only one Spade and one Club, making five. When the ♦ Q falls doubleton, East can pitch their slow Heart loser and their third Club. South will have a hard time coming up with an opening lead, but ♠ A and another can't be wrong.

Most E/W pairs won't get to 3 NT, nor should they. E/W take two Club tricks, three Diamonds, three Hearts, and one Spade, making three. North will likely lead the ♠ 2, but if N/S persist with Spades, they'll give declarer a second trick in that suit.

Once E/W claim a Spade fit, South's hand gets better, and they're quite confident that they have a double fit with their partner (Hearts and Diamonds). East has the same thought, and happily bids one more. 4 ♥, down one doubled, would be a good sacrifice for N/S, and some will take it, but they can't be sure that 3 ♠ is making.

E/W lose one Spade (declarer will take a double finesse against South), one Heart, and two Diamonds, assuming they get the Clubs right. They should, because South will have shown up with two points in Spades, three in Hearts, and three in Diamonds. If they also hold the ♣ Q, North would have been doubling with 9 HCP--highly unlikely. If South leads a Heart, then E/W will make an overtrick. The ♣ 3 looks safest.

North will lead a small Spade, South inserting the ♠ J. Declarer will likely take this trick, since the thought of a Club switch doesn't appeal to them and lead a small Diamond towards the ♦ Q, losing to the ♦ A. A Spade back is likely, and declarer will pitch a small Heart and a small Club on the last two Spades, South signaling for a Club. After winning the ♣ A, declarer should play off the ♥ K and ♥ Q, take the marked finesse against the ♥ J, and finesse back against the ♦ J in the South hand, making two--one Spade, four Hearts, two Diamonds, and a Club.

This one doesn't work out very well for N/S, as long as West doesn't lead the ♣ 7. Nobody would do that, would they? Well, some might, and if they do, declarer will be very surprised when they win trick one with the ♣ J. They won't be so surprised that they forget to cash eight quick red-suit winners, making three. A high Club lead will beat 3 NT two tricks. A Spade lead also beats the contract two tricks, as long as East, upon winning the ♠ A, switches to the ♣ 2. If they don't, well, that version allows declarer to make four. Poop.

North happily shows their Hearts at their first turn, but when South shows a two-suited hand with both minors, 5 ♦ looks reasonable. N/S lose one Spade and one Club, when declarer is able to ruff three Clubs in dummy. The ♠ 2 looks like it will be a popular lead.

South has extras, so they're happy to bid on when North makes a game try. N/S lose one Spade, one Heart, and one Diamond, declarer pitching their third Diamond on dummy's ♣ K. The ♠ Q is a reasonable lead.

The final contract is a good one, but N/S might easily get too high. N/S take 12 tricks if West doesn't cash out at trick one. It's doubtful that they'll do that against 3 NT. Against 6 NT? Well, that's a different story. Expect all N/S pairs that aren't in slam to take 12 tricks and all that are in slam to finish with 11. Odd.

When nobody's vulnerable, everybody seems to be in the bidding. West likes their Diamond honors on the auction and bids one more time than they should--in theory.

E/W lose two Spades and two Clubs, making three. The ♣ K would be a good opening lead, except for that pesky 1 ♦ opener by South which will result in a Diamond lead. It doesn't much matter as nine tricks will be the limit.

A really good agreement to have with partner is to play that a 4-level overcall in a minor suit after a major-suit opening shows 6+ cards in the minor, exactly four cards in the other major, and game-going values (i.e., needing partner to have a trick and a fit to make game). West's hand is absolutely perfect for this bid!

E/W lose one trick in each red suit, making five. North will lead the ♥ 7.