MON 11/21/2016 at Nite

EVENT>Monday Night Bridge      |SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> A N-S
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>November 21, 2016  |CLUB NO.>185264    | 11/21/2016 22:17
---------------------,-- ------------------- -------------,---------------------
DIR> Mike Lipp       |RATING>Club Masterpoint (100%, 80%, 70% Open)|MOVEMENT>MITCHELL
------------,-------- ,-------------------------,--------- ---------------------
AVE>   84.0 |TOP>   7 |MP LIMITS>None/500/200   |CLUB>Monday Night Bridge
------------ --------- ------------------------- -------------------------------
PAIRS IN STRAT A=12/B=7/C=3                      ,---,-------------------------,------,---------,
-------------------------------------------------|   |           Section       |      |Section  |
No Name                   Name                   |Flt|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C| Score | Pct  |Awards   |
------------------------------------------------- --- ----- ----- ----- ------- ------ ---------
 1 Joy Singerman          Debbie Wiest             A    1     .     .    101.50  60.42  1.20(A)
 2 Donald Pollack         Bernice Pollack          C    3     2     1     98.00  58.33  0.60(A)
 3 Kathy Rice             Patrick Lammers          B    2     1     .     99.50  59.23  0.84(A)
 4 David Elliott          Carla Runda              C    .     .     .     65.00  38.69
 5 Lewis Temples          Elmer Hubka              A    .     .     .     81.00  48.21
 6 Robert Roark           Sharon Koster            B    .     .     .     90.00  53.57
 7 Charlie Kobida         Terri Mackey             B    .     .     .     74.50  44.35
 8 Betty Torello          Judith Lubow             A    5     .     .     91.50  54.46  0.24(A)
 9 Al Venosa              Janet Venosa             B    4     3     .     92.50  55.06  0.42(A)
10 John Ramsay            Julian Magnus, Jr        C    .     .     .     84.00  50.00
11 Doris Kehoe            Lilam Stanley            A    .     .     .     57.50  34.23
12 Martin Petersen        June Cushman             A    .     .     .     73.00  43.45

                                          Totals                        1008.00

Thank you Bob Fisk for the hand analysis!


                                    **PAIRS**
BOARD     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9    10    11    12
  /
   1>     0                             7     6     4     4     4     1-    1-
        -490   ----  ----  ----  ----  100  -120  -430  -430  -430  -460  -460

   2>      -                            4     4     4     7     4     4      -
          50   ----  ----  ----  ----  100   100   100   150   100   100    50

   3>     3-                            6-    6-    3-    0     3-    3-    1
         150   ----  ----  ----  ----  180   180   150   -50   150   150   120

   4>     6     6                             2-     -    6     2-     -    4
         630   630   ----  ----  ----  ----  180  -200   630   180  -200   600

   5>     3     7                             0     5     5     1-    1-    5
        -110   100   ----  ----  ----  ---- -400    50    50  -140  -140    50

   6>     7     1                             5     1     5     5     3     1
        -200  -660   ----  ----  ----  ---- -630  -660  -630  -630  -650  -660

   7>     0     2     6                             6     3-    1     3-    6
         130   600   660   ----  ----  ----  ----  660   630   180   630   660

   8>     5     1-    5                             1-    7     3     0     5
         150   110   150   ----  ----  ----  ----  110   180   130    90   150

   9>     5-    2-    0                             7     2-    2-    5-    2-
        -620  -650  -680   ----  ----  ----  ---- -210  -650  -650  -620  -650

  10>     7     5     5     1-                            3     5     0     1-
        1100   110   110  -100   ----  ----  ----  ----  100   110  -200  -100

  11>     2     4-     -    3                             4-    6      -    7
        -400  -130  -430  -140   ----  ----  ----  ---- -130    50  -430   100

  12>     6-    5     4     1-                            0     3     1-    6-
          50  PASS  -100  -300   ----  ----  ----  ---- -400  -140  -300    50

  13>     3     5-    7     3     3                             1     5-    0
        -110   100   110  -110  -110   ----  ----  ----  ---- -180   100  -300

  14>     6-    3     4-    4-    1-                            6-    0     1-
         100  -110    50    50  -120   ----  ----  ----  ----  100  -140  -120

  15>     6-    3     0     5     3                             6-    1     3
         100  -110  -800  -100  -110   ----  ----  ----  ----  100  -200  -110

  16>     7     3     3     3     0     6                             3     3
        -200  -620  -620  -620  -650  -600   ----  ----  ----  ---- -620  -620

  17>     3     6-    6-    3     3     3                             3     0
        -100   110   110  -100  -100  -100   ----  ----  ----  ---- -100  -150

  18>     5-    5-    3     2     5-    0                             5-    1
          50    50   -90  -110    50  -400   ----  ----  ----  ----   50  -120

  19>     7     3     6     3     0     3     3                             3
         150   -50   120   -50  -100   -50   -50   ----  ----  ----  ----  -50

  20>     6     3     6     3     6     3      -                             -
         100  -600   100  -600   100  -600  -630   ----  ----  ----  ---- -630

  21>     2     2     6     2     2     2     6                             6
         150   150   600   150   150   150   600   ----  ----  ----  ----  600

  22>     5     6     3     3     7     0     3     1
         170   200   140   140   420  -100   140   130   ----  ----  ----  ----

  23>     1-    7     4-    1-    4-    4-    0     4-
        -150   100  -130  -150  -130  -130  -710  -130   ----  ----  ----  ----

  24>     2-    2-    5-    7     1     4     0     5-
          50    50   110   140  -100    90  -110   110   ----  ----  ----  ----

  25>           5     7     1     1     5     1     5     3
         ---- -660  -650  -690  -690  -660  -690  -660  -680   ----  ----  ----

  26>           6-    6-    2-    4-    1     4-    0     2-
         ----  140   140  -100   110  -300   110  -620  -100   ----  ----  ----

  27>           2      -    5      -    7     3     4     6
         ----  100    50   300    50   530   150   200   500   ----  ----  ----

  28>                 6     1-    6     1-    1-    4     6     1-
         ----  ---- -170  -420  -170  -420  -420  -200  -170  -420   ----  ----

  29>                 2-    2-    5-    7     2-    0     2-    5-
         ----  ---- -620  -620  -170   100  -620  -630  -620  -170   ----  ----

  30>                 1-    3     6-    1-    0     6-    4     5
         ----  ---- -170   -50   420  -170  -450   420   170   200   ----  ----

  31>                       0     1-    5     7     5     3     5     1-
         ----  ----  ---- -420  -140    80   110    80    50    80  -140   ----

  32>                       3-    6-    3-    5     2     6-     -     -
         ----  ----  ----  450   510   450   480   230   510   200   200   ----

  33>                       0     6     1-    5     7     3     4     1-
         ----  ----  ---- -550  -130  -430  -150    50  -400  -180  -430   ----

  34>                             2-    6     2-    6     2-    6     0     2-
         ----  ----  ----  ----  720  1470   720  1470   720  1470   690   720

  35>                             4     6-    1-    4     1-    0     4     6-
         ----  ----  ----  ----  -50   400  -100   -50  -100  -150   -50   400

  36>                             0     1-    4-    4-    4-    1-    7     4-
         ----  ----  ----  ---- -680  -650  -620  -620  -620  -650   100  -620



EVENT>Monday Night Bridge      |SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> A E-W
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>November 21, 2016  |CLUB NO.>185264    | 11/21/2016 22:17
---------------------,-- ------------------- -------------,---------------------
DIR> Mike Lipp       |RATING>Club Masterpoint (100%, 80%, 70% Open)|MOVEMENT>MITCHELL
------------,-------- ,-------------------------,--------- ---------------------
AVE>   84.0 |TOP>   7 |MP LIMITS>None/500/200   |CLUB>Monday Night Bridge
------------ --------- ------------------------- -------------------------------
PAIRS IN STRAT A=12/B=8/C=5                      ,---,-------------------------,------,---------,
-------------------------------------------------|   |           Section       |      |Section  |
No Name                   Name                   |Flt|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C| Score | Pct  |Awards   |
------------------------------------------------- --- ----- ----- ----- ------- ------ ---------
 1 John Altman Sr         BJ Kolkman               A    1     .     .    108.50  64.58  1.20(A)
 2 Annette Kereiakes      Tom Kereiakes            B    .     .     .     78.50  46.73
 3 Steve Messinger        Peter Dehaan             C    .     .     .     69.50  41.37
 4 Joseph Kammer          Gail Zimmer              B    4     2     .     94.50  56.25  0.45(B)
 5 Mike Burns             Pamela Kennedy           C    2     1     1     99.50  59.23  0.84(A)
 6 Ralph Terbrueggen      Dennis Schultz           A    3     .     .     97.50  58.04  0.60(A)
 7 Stephen Felson         Robert Brown             A    .     .     .     86.50  51.49
 8 Joan Diers             Evelyn McCarthy          C    .     .     2     84.00  50.00  0.25(C)
 9 Joyce Tedrick          Linda Woodham            A    .     .     .     87.00  51.79
10 Carol Scovic           Patricia Burnam          C    .     .     .     60.00  35.71
11 Martin Gibler          Susan Stacy Vanstone     B    5     3     .     91.50  54.46  0.32(B)
12 Jeff Rubinstein        Millard Lakes            C    .     .     .     51.00  30.36

                                          Totals                        1008.00

Thank you Bob Fisk for the hand analysis!


                                    **PAIRS**
BOARD     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9    10    11    12
  /
   1>     7           3           3           3           5-    0     5-    1
         490   ----  430   ----  430   ----  430   ----  460  -100   460   120

   2>     6-          3           0           3           3     3     6-    3
         -50   ---- -100   ---- -150   ---- -100   ---- -100  -100   -50  -100

   3>     3-          3-          7           3-          3-     -    6      -
        -150   ---- -150   ----   50   ---- -150   ---- -150  -180  -120  -180

   4>     6-    1           1           4-          6-          3     4-    1
         200  -630   ---- -630   ---- -180   ----  200   ---- -600  -180  -630

   5>     2     0           2           5-          5-          2     7     4
         -50  -100   ----  -50   ----  140   ----  140   ----  -50   400   110

   6>     6     6           2           2           4           6     2     0
         660   660   ----  630   ----  630   ----  650   ----  660   630   200

   7>     5     3-    1           6           3-          1           7     1
        -600  -630  -660   ---- -180   ---- -630   ---- -660   ---- -130  -660

   8>     5-    0     2           4           7           2           2     5-
        -110  -180  -150   ---- -130   ----  -90   ---- -150   ---- -150  -110

   9>     4-    4-    7           4-          1-          4-          1-    0
         650   650   680   ----  650   ----  620   ----  650   ----  620   210

  10>     4     2     2     5-          7           5-          0           2
        -100  -110  -110   100   ----  200   ----  100   -----1100   ---- -110

  11>     2-    6-    1     4           6-          0           5           2-
         130   430   -50   140   ----  430   ---- -100   ----  400   ----  130

  12>     7     3     4     5-          5-           -           -          2
         400   100   140   300   ----  300   ----  -50   ----  -50   ---- PASS

  13>     0     6     4     1-    4           7           4           1-
        -110   180   110  -100   110   ----  300   ----  110   ---- -100   ----

  14>     2-     -    2-    7     5-          5-           -          4
         -50  -100   -50   140   120   ----  120   ---- -100   ----  110   ----

  15>     7      -    2     6     4           4            -          4
         800  -100   100   200   110   ----  110   ---- -100   ----  110   ----

  16>           4     4     7     4     1           0           4           4
         ----  620   620   650   620   600   ----  200   ----  620   ----  620

  17>           4     4     4     7     4           4            -           -
         ----  100   100   100   150   100   ----  100   ---- -110   ---- -110

  18>           5     1-    1-    6     7           1-          1-          4
         ----  110   -50   -50   120   400   ----  -50   ----  -50   ----   90

  19>     4           7     4     4     0     4           4           1
          50   ----  100    50    50  -150    50   ----   50   ---- -120   ----

  20>     4           1     6-    4     1     6-          4           1
         600   ---- -100   630   600  -100   630   ----  600   ---- -100   ----

  21>     5           5     1     5     5     1           5           1
        -150   ---- -150  -600  -150  -150  -600   ---- -150   ---- -600   ----

  22>           0           7     2     4     1     6           4           4
         ---- -420   ----  100  -170  -140  -200  -130   ---- -140   ---- -140

  23>           2-          2-    5-    7     0     2-          2-          5-
         ----  130   ----  130   150   710  -100   130   ----  130   ----  150

  24>           6           3     4-    7     4-    1-          1-          0
         ----  100   ----  -90   -50   110   -50  -110   ---- -110   ---- -140

  25>     6           2           6     2     2     0     4           6
         690   ----  660   ----  690   660   660   650   680   ----  690   ----

  26>     2-          6           2-     -    7      -    4-          4-
        -110   ----  300   ---- -110  -140   620  -140   100   ----  100   ----

  27>     6-          0           4     5     3     6-    1           2
         -50   ---- -530   ---- -150  -100  -200   -50  -500   ---- -300   ----

  28>           5-          5-          3     1     1     5-    5-          1
         ----  420   ----  420   ----  200   170   170   420   420   ----  170

  29>           0           4-          7     4-    4-    4-    1-          1-
         ---- -100   ----  620   ----  630   620   620   620   170   ----  170

  30>           5-          7            -    5-    3     4     2            -
         ----  170   ----  450   ---- -420   170  -170    50  -200   ---- -420

  31>     2           0           2           4     7     2     5-    5-
         -80   ---- -110   ----  -80   ----  -50   420   -80   140   140   ----

  32>     3-          2           5            -    3-    6-     -    6-
        -450   ---- -480   ---- -230   ---- -510  -450  -200  -510  -200   ----

  33>     5-          2           0           4     7     3     1     5-
         430   ----  150   ----  -50   ----  400   550   180   130   430   ----

  34>           4-          1           4-          1     4-    7     1     4-
         ---- -720   -----1470   ---- -720   -----1470  -720  -690 -1470  -720

  35>           5-          3           5-          7     3     3      -     -
         ----  100   ----   50   ----  100   ----  150    50    50  -400  -400

  36>           2-          2-          2-          5-    7     0     5-    2-
         ----  620   ----  620   ----  620   ----  650   680  -100   650   620
Monday Night Bridge, Monday Eve, November 21, 2016

Board 1
North Deals
None Vul

♠	K
♥	K Q 5 4
♦	J 10 7 6
♣	Q 5 4 2

♠	9 7 6 4
♥	A 8 7 6
♦	A 3
♣	K J 9

N
W		E
S

♠	A Q 8
♥	J 10
♦	K Q 9
♣	A 8 7 6 3

♠	J 10 5 3 2
♥	9 3 2
♦	8 5 4 2
♣	10

EW 5N; EW 4♥; EW 5♣; EW 3♠; EW 3♦; Par −460

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
6 NT	E	−2	100		7.00	0.00	6-Roark-Koster	10-Scovic-Burnam
1 NT	E	2		120	6.00	1.00	7-Kobida-Mackey	12-Rubinstein-Lakes
3 NT	E	4		430	4.00	3.00	8-Torello-Lubow	3-Messinger-Dehaan
3 NT	E	4		430	4.00	3.00	9-Venosa-Venosa	5-Burns-Kennedy
3 NT	E	4		430	4.00	3.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	7-Felson-Brown
3 NT	E	5		460	1.50	5.50	11-Kehoe-Stanley	9-Tedrick-Woodham
3 NT	E	5		460	1.50	5.50	12-Petersen-Cushman	11-Gibler-Vanstone
3 NT	E	6		490	0.00	7.00	1-Singerman-Wiest	1-Altman Sr-Kolkman

The auction won't change all the much if North musters up an opening bid. East has an easy 1 NT overcall, and West will bid as shown above. E/W take two Spades, one Heart, three Diamonds, and four Clubs, making four. I doubt that any declarer will play the Clubs in the only way to get five tricks (start with the ♣ K noting the fall of the ♣T, then finesse twice against the ♣ Q in the North hand). If they do, I'd suggest that North hold their hand back a bit.

Board 2
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	K 2
♥	A 10 6 2
♦	9 8 2
♣	Q 4 3 2

♠	A Q 10 4
♥	K J
♦	J 6
♣	A K 10 8 6

N
W		E
S

♠	9 7 3
♥	Q 9 7 5 4 3
♦	K 7 4
♣	9

♠	J 8 6 5
♥	8
♦	A Q 10 5 3
♣	J 7 5

EW 2♥; S 1N; NS 2♦; EW 1♠; Par −110

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

A truly miserable weak two bid, but your card says 5-10 HCP so what's one to do?
Ogust, asking for the quality of partner's hand/suit
Alert, artificial showing a bad hand and a bad suit

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	W	−3	150		7.00	0.00	9-Venosa-Venosa	5-Burns-Kennedy
4 ♥	E	−2	100		4.00	3.00	6-Roark-Koster	10-Scovic-Burnam
2 ♣	W	−2	100		4.00	3.00	7-Kobida-Mackey	12-Rubinstein-Lakes
4 ♥	E	−2	100		4.00	3.00	8-Torello-Lubow	3-Messinger-Dehaan
3 NT	W	−2	100		4.00	3.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	7-Felson-Brown
4 ♥	E	−2	100		4.00	3.00	11-Kehoe-Stanley	9-Tedrick-Woodham
1 ♠	W	−1	50		0.50	6.50	1-Singerman-Wiest	1-Altman Sr-Kolkman
4 ♠	E	−1	50		0.50	6.50	12-Petersen-Cushman	11-Gibler-Vanstone

If East chooses to pass, they're going to be right back at 3 ♥ anyway (P - 1 ♣ - 1 ♥ - 2 ♠ - 2 NT Lebensohl - 3 ♣ - 3 ♥ - P). E/W lose one Spade, two Hearts, and two Diamonds against best defense. South will likely lead the ♠ 5.

Board 3
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	A Q 3
♥	K 5 2
♦	Q 10 6 5 4
♣	5 3

♠	J 7 5 2
♥	Q J 7 6
♦	A 2
♣	Q 10 2

N
W		E
S

♠	8 6 4
♥	9 8 3
♦	K 9 3
♣	A 9 8 7

♠	K 10 9
♥	A 10 4
♦	J 8 7
♣	K J 6 4

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

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

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 NT	S	4	180		6.50	0.50	6-Roark-Koster	10-Scovic-Burnam
2 NT	S	4	180		6.50	0.50	7-Kobida-Mackey	12-Rubinstein-Lakes
2 NT	N	3	150		3.50	3.50	1-Singerman-Wiest	1-Altman Sr-Kolkman
2 NT	N	3	150		3.50	3.50	8-Torello-Lubow	3-Messinger-Dehaan
2 NT	S	3	150		3.50	3.50	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	7-Felson-Brown
2 NT	S	3	150		3.50	3.50	11-Kehoe-Stanley	9-Tedrick-Woodham
2 NT	S	2	120		1.00	6.00	12-Petersen-Cushman	11-Gibler-Vanstone
3 NT	S	−1		50	0.00	7.00	9-Venosa-Venosa	5-Burns-Kennedy

North's 2 NT bid shows 11 to a bad 12 HCP and denies holding a four-card major. South, with a flat hand and nothing extra, is all too happy to pass. N/S will take three Spade tricks, two Hearts, three Diamonds, and one Club if E/W aren't careful.

For E/W to prevail, they'll need to take two Heart tricks, two Diamonds, and a Club. Best way to do that is for West to lead the ♥ Q on opening lead. Declarer can win in either hand (East unblocking the ♥ 8), but when they play a Diamond, East has to win the ♦ K and play back the ♥ 9. Declarer can win with the other high honor, but when the second Diamond is played, West will win the ♦ A, cash two Hearts, and play a Club to partner's ♣ A, holding declarer to eight tricks. Nice defense!

Board 4
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	Q 9 7
♥	K 3 2
♦	J 8 5
♣	K 9 8 4

♠	J 10 6
♥	5 4
♦	10 9 4
♣	10 7 6 5 3

N
W		E
S

♠	8 5 2
♥	A 9 8 7
♦	A 7 6 3
♣	A 2

♠	A K 4 3
♥	Q J 10 6
♦	K Q 2
♣	Q J

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

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

Alert, may or may not have a 4-card major

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	S	4	630		6.00	1.00	1-Singerman-Wiest	12-Rubinstein-Lakes
3 NT	N	4	630		6.00	1.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	2-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 NT	S	4	630		6.00	1.00	9-Venosa-Venosa	4-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	S	3	600		4.00	3.00	12-Petersen-Cushman	10-Scovic-Burnam
2 NT	S	4	180		2.50	4.50	7-Kobida-Mackey	11-Gibler-Vanstone
2 NT	S	4	180		2.50	4.50	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	6-Terbrueggen-Schultz
3 NT	S	−2		200	0.50	6.50	8-Torello-Lubow	1-Altman Sr-Kolkman
3 NT	S	−2		200	0.50	6.50	11-Kehoe-Stanley	8-Diers-McCarthy

N/S can take four Spade tricks, three Hearts, two Diamonds, and two Clubs--problem is that E/W can take two Hearts, and both minor-suit Aces before that happens. Stupid E/W. Wests with no imagination will lead the ♦T. Those thinking a little harder will lead the ♥ 5 (shorter major). Nice lead!

Board 5
North Deals
N-S Vul

♠	Q 5
♥	Q 9 6 4
♦	9 5 2
♣	8 7 4 2

♠	A J 10 3 2
♥	K
♦	A K Q 7
♣	Q 6 3

N
W		E
S

♠	9 8
♥	A 10 8 7 3 2
♦	8 6 3
♣	J 10

♠	K 7 6 4
♥	J 5
♦	J 10 4
♣	A K 9 5

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

West	North	East	South
	Pass	2 ♥	Dbl1
Rdbl	Pass	Pass	2 ♠
Dbl	3 ♣	Pass	Pass
Dbl	Pass	Pass	Pass

Unfortunate

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	W	−2	100		7.00	0.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	2-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♥	E	−1	50		5.00	2.00	8-Torello-Lubow	1-Altman Sr-Kolkman
4 ♥	E	−1	50		5.00	2.00	9-Venosa-Venosa	4-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♥	E	−1	50		5.00	2.00	12-Petersen-Cushman	10-Scovic-Burnam
1 ♠	W	2		110	3.00	4.00	1-Singerman-Wiest	12-Rubinstein-Lakes
2 ♠	W	3		140	1.50	5.50	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	6-Terbrueggen-Schultz
2 ♠	W	3		140	1.50	5.50	11-Kehoe-Stanley	8-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	W	3		400	0.00	7.00	7-Kobida-Mackey	11-Gibler-Vanstone

If East opens 2 ♥, N/S will most likely regret it. South has a reasonable, albeit minimal, takeout double. This will be West's favorite hand of the evening. If N/S is lucky, they'll get out for down four (–1100). It could be worse. West will very likely lead the ♥ K and switch to the ♦ AKQ followed by a fourth Diamond. By the time the smoke clears, N/S will have managed to take one Spade trick, one Heart, two Clubs, and a ruff in each hand for six tricks. Ugh.

Board 6
East Deals
E-W Vul

♠	K J 6
♥	Q 6 5
♦	K 9 3
♣	K 7 5 4

♠	9
♥	A K J 9 7 3
♦	A Q J 8
♣	8 6

N
W		E
S

♠	A 10 7 4 3
♥	8
♦	10 7 4
♣	A Q J 10

♠	Q 8 5 2
♥	10 4 2
♦	6 5 2
♣	9 3 2

EW 6♦; EW 5♥; EW 4N; EW 3♠; EW 4♣; Par −1370

West	North	East	South
		1 ♠	Pass
2 ♥	Pass	2 ♠1	Pass
3 ♦	Pass	3 NT	Pass
4 ♥2	Pass	Pass3	Pass

East would need extra shape or extra values to bid 3 ♣
Bidding out their shape
Anxious to get out of this auction

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♥	W	5		200	7.00	0.00	1-Singerman-Wiest	12-Rubinstein-Lakes
3 NT	W	4		630	5.00	2.00	7-Kobida-Mackey	11-Gibler-Vanstone
3 NT	E	4		630	5.00	2.00	9-Venosa-Venosa	4-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	W	4		630	5.00	2.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	6-Terbrueggen-Schultz
4 ♥	W	5		650	3.00	4.00	11-Kehoe-Stanley	8-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	E	5		660	1.00	6.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	2-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 NT	W	5		660	1.00	6.00	8-Torello-Lubow	1-Altman Sr-Kolkman
3 NT	E	5		660	1.00	6.00	12-Petersen-Cushman	10-Scovic-Burnam

It's almost impossible for E/W to find the good Diamond slam. In 4 ♥, E/W lose one trick in each red suit. North doesn't relish leading, but the ♠ 6 looks like their best bet.

Board 7
South Deals
Both Vul

♠	K J 4
♥	A 8 7
♦	K J
♣	10 8 6 5 2

♠	A Q 9 3 2
♥	9 5 4
♦	A 8 7 6 4
♣	—

N
W		E
S

♠	10 6 5
♥	Q 10 3
♦	10 9 5 2
♣	K 7 3

♠	8 7
♥	K J 6 2
♦	Q 3
♣	A Q J 9 4

S 5♥; NS 4N; N 4♥; NS 5♣; EW 1♠; EW 1♦; Par +650

West	North	East	South
			1 ♣
2 NT1	Dbl2	Pass	Pass
3 ♦	Pass3	Pass	3 ♥4
Pass	4 ♥5	Pass	Pass
Pass

Alert, artificial showing Diamonds and an unknown major
Alert, interested in defending against one or more of the opponent's suits
Forcing pass
South isn't interested in defending against 3 ♦
Opts to play in the Moysian (4-3) fit

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	N	5	660		6.00	1.00	3-Rice-Lammers	3-Messinger-Dehaan
3 NT	S	5	660		6.00	1.00	8-Torello-Lubow	12-Rubinstein-Lakes
3 NT	N	5	660		6.00	1.00	12-Petersen-Cushman	9-Tedrick-Woodham
3 NT	N	4	630		3.50	3.50	9-Venosa-Venosa	2-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 NT	N	4	630		3.50	3.50	11-Kehoe-Stanley	7-Felson-Brown
3 NT	N	3	600		2.00	5.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	1-Altman Sr-Kolkman
2 NT	N	4	180		1.00	6.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	5-Burns-Kennedy
4 ♣	S	4	130		0.00	7.00	1-Singerman-Wiest	11-Gibler-Vanstone

West's 2 NT bid over South's minor-suit opening is Unmichaels showing the other minor and an unspecified major. Their partner can cuebid opener's suit to ask for the major.

N/S lose one Spade and one Diamond. Unwilling to lead or lead away from their Aces, West may very well play a trump on opening lead. The hand will be over quickly, as both Aces are likely to be favorably placed.

Board 8
West Deals
None Vul

♠	Q 8 7 5
♥	A 7 5
♦	5
♣	A K Q 10 9

♠	K 10 9 6
♥	Q 10 4
♦	K 6 3 2
♣	8 6

N
W		E
S

♠	J 4
♥	J 9 8 3
♦	A J 10 9
♣	J 3 2

♠	A 3 2
♥	K 6 2
♦	Q 8 7 4
♣	7 5 4

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

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

Alert, showing an unbalanced hand

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 NT	N	4	180		7.00	0.00	9-Venosa-Venosa	2-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
1 NT	N	3	150		5.00	2.00	1-Singerman-Wiest	11-Gibler-Vanstone
1 NT	S	3	150		5.00	2.00	3-Rice-Lammers	3-Messinger-Dehaan
1 NT	S	3	150		5.00	2.00	12-Petersen-Cushman	9-Tedrick-Woodham
2 ♣	N	4	130		3.00	4.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	5-Burns-Kennedy
2 ♣	N	3	110		1.50	5.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	1-Altman Sr-Kolkman
2 ♣	N	3	110		1.50	5.50	8-Torello-Lubow	12-Rubinstein-Lakes
1 NT	S	1	90		0.00	7.00	11-Kehoe-Stanley	7-Felson-Brown

North's 1 ♠ bid shows a hand that's unable or unwilling to bid 1 NT. West will very likely lead the ♥ 4 on opening lead. N/S can take five Club tricks, two Hearts, and a Spade, but once E/W get back in with the ♠ K, they'll rattle off four Diamond tricks (assuming neither defender has pitched a Diamond).

Board 9
North Deals
E-W Vul

♠	Q 2
♥	10 9
♦	Q 5 4 2
♣	A Q 10 9 3

♠	K 10 8 7 6 5 4
♥	8 7 6 3 2
♦	—
♣	8

N
W		E
S

♠	A J 9
♥	A Q
♦	K J 9 7 3
♣	K 6 4

♠	3
♥	K J 5 4
♦	A 10 8 6
♣	J 7 5 2

EW 5♠; EW 3N; EW 3♥; NS 2♣; NS 1♦; Par −650

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

No reason to bid this weakly
Checkback Stayman looking for more information about opener's majors
Showing three Spades and denying four Hearts

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
1 NT	E	5		210	7.00	0.00	8-Torello-Lubow	12-Rubinstein-Lakes
4 ♠	W	4		620	5.50	1.50	1-Singerman-Wiest	11-Gibler-Vanstone
4 ♠	W	4		620	5.50	1.50	11-Kehoe-Stanley	7-Felson-Brown
4 ♠	W	5		650	2.50	4.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	1-Altman Sr-Kolkman
4 ♠	W	5		650	2.50	4.50	9-Venosa-Venosa	2-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♠	W	5		650	2.50	4.50	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	5-Burns-Kennedy
4 ♠	W	5		650	2.50	4.50	12-Petersen-Cushman	9-Tedrick-Woodham
4 ♠	W	6		680	0.00	7.00	3-Rice-Lammers	3-Messinger-Dehaan

Make sure you take a good luck at West's hand. It is not weak. Repeat that a bazillion times. E/W lose one Heart and one Club if declarer can manage to ruff two Hearts in dummy (one gets thrown on the ♣ K). North's best lead is the ♠ 2 to cut down on dummy's ruffing power.

Board 10
East Deals
Both Vul

♠	Q
♥	A 7 3
♦	A K J 9 8 5 3
♣	J 3

♠	K 10 8 6 5
♥	K Q J 2
♦	Q 10 6
♣	8

N
W		E
S

♠	J 7 3
♥	10 8 5
♦	4
♣	A Q 7 5 4 2

♠	A 9 4 2
♥	9 6 4
♦	7 2
♣	K 10 9 6

NS 3N; EW 2♠; NS 3♦; EW 1♥; Par +500: EW 4♠×−2

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

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠×	W	−4	1100		7.00	0.00	1-Singerman-Wiest	10-Scovic-Burnam
3 ♦	N	3	110		5.00	2.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	12-Rubinstein-Lakes
3 ♦	N	3	110		5.00	2.00	3-Rice-Lammers	2-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 ♦	N	3	110		5.00	2.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	3-Messinger-Dehaan
3 ♠	W	−1	100		3.00	4.00	9-Venosa-Venosa	1-Altman Sr-Kolkman
4 ♦	N	−1		100	1.50	5.50	4-Elliott-Runda	4-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♣	N	−1		100	1.50	5.50	12-Petersen-Cushman	8-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♦	N	−2		200	0.00	7.00	11-Kehoe-Stanley	6-Terbrueggen-Schultz

If your partner is sane (I know, that's not the best assumption), figure that their Diamonds are solid or almost solid for a vulnerable 3 ♦ bid in an auction such as this one. If partner thinks they can take nine tricks with Diamonds as trump, then South has the perfect hand to bid 3 NT. West will likely lead the ♥ K, and nine tricks come home when the ♦ Q is onside.

Board 11
South Deals
None Vul

♠	A 6 5 4 2
♥	J 6 3
♦	3
♣	J 9 7 3

♠	K J 8
♥	A 9 8 7 4 2
♦	6 2
♣	K 2

N
W		E
S

♠	10
♥	5
♦	A K Q 7 5 4
♣	A 10 8 6 5

♠	Q 9 7 3
♥	K Q 10
♦	J 10 9 8
♣	Q 4

EW 3N; EW 5♦; EW 3♥; EW 4♣; Par −400

West	North	East	South
			Pass
1 ♥	Pass	2 ♦	Pass
2 ♥	Pass	3 ♣	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	100		7.00	0.00	12-Petersen-Cushman	8-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	E	−1	50		6.00	1.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	3-Messinger-Dehaan
2 ♣	E	4		130	4.50	2.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	12-Rubinstein-Lakes
3 ♦	E	4		130	4.50	2.50	9-Venosa-Venosa	1-Altman Sr-Kolkman
2 ♥	W	3		140	3.00	4.00	4-Elliott-Runda	4-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	W	3		400	2.00	5.00	1-Singerman-Wiest	10-Scovic-Burnam
3 NT	E	4		430	0.50	6.50	3-Rice-Lammers	2-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 NT	W	4		430	0.50	6.50	11-Kehoe-Stanley	6-Terbrueggen-Schultz

N/S can take five Diamond tricks, two Clubs, and a trick in each major, making three. North may lead the ♠ 2 on opening lead, but it doesn't really matter. N/S will be limited to one Diamond trick, one Spade, and two Hearts.

Board 12
West Deals
N-S Vul

♠	10 8 7 5 2
♥	Q J 6
♦	K Q
♣	A 7 5

♠	Q
♥	K 8
♦	10 9 8 7 6 3
♣	Q J 10 8

N
W		E
S

♠	A K 9 4 3
♥	9 5 4 3 2
♦	4
♣	K 3

♠	J 6
♥	A 10 7
♦	A J 5 2
♣	9 6 4 2

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

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

Forcing

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♥	E	−1	50		6.50	0.50	1-Singerman-Wiest	10-Scovic-Burnam
2 ♠	E	−1	50		6.50	0.50	12-Petersen-Cushman	8-Diers-McCarthy
Pass			Pass		5.00	2.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	12-Rubinstein-Lakes
2 ♠	N	−1		100	4.00	3.00	3-Rice-Lammers	2-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
2 ♥	E	3		140	3.00	4.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	3-Messinger-Dehaan
3 ♠	N	−3		300	1.50	5.50	4-Elliott-Runda	4-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♣	N	−3		300	1.50	5.50	11-Kehoe-Stanley	6-Terbrueggen-Schultz
3 ♣	N	−4		400	0.00	7.00	9-Venosa-Venosa	1-Altman Sr-Kolkman

East can't afford to double the final contract as their partner is very likely to pull to 3 ♦. Oops. N/S lose three Spade tricks, two Clubs, and three ruffs if E/W defend well. That's the worst case scenario, because that would probably mean that East found the ♣ K lead--not easy.

Board 13
North Deals
Both Vul

♠	Q 7 5 3
♥	J 10 9 4 3
♦	A 10
♣	K J

♠	A 6 2
♥	A K Q 5
♦	Q 3 2
♣	9 7 6

N
W		E
S

♠	J
♥	6 2
♦	K 9 8 7 6
♣	A 10 5 4 2

♠	K 10 9 8 4
♥	8 7
♦	J 5 4
♣	Q 8 3

EW 4♦; EW 4♣; NS 2♠; EW 1N; EW 1♥; Par −130

West	North	East	South
	Pass	Pass	Pass
1 NT1	Pass	2 NT2	Pass
3 ♦3	Pass	Pass	Pass

15 to 17
Alert, transfer to Diamonds
Alert, showing Axx, Kxx, Qxx, or any four Diamonds

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♠	S	2	110		7.00	0.00	3-Rice-Lammers	1-Altman Sr-Kolkman
2 NT	W	−1	100		5.50	1.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	11-Gibler-Vanstone
1 NT	W	−1	100		5.50	1.50	11-Kehoe-Stanley	4-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♣	E	3		110	3.00	4.00	1-Singerman-Wiest	9-Tedrick-Woodham
2 ♦	E	3		110	3.00	4.00	4-Elliott-Runda	3-Messinger-Dehaan
3 ♦	W	3		110	3.00	4.00	5-Temples-Hubka	5-Burns-Kennedy
1 NT	W	4		180	1.00	6.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	2-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
2 ♥	N	−3		300	0.00	7.00	12-Petersen-Cushman	7-Felson-Brown

Some East's might invite with 2 NT, and that's not wrong. If they downgrade their hand due to the ♠ J singleton, then they're likely to transfer to a minor. What would East have done if partner didn't like Diamonds and bid the gap? They'd pass of course, quite happy to play in Clubs. North is apt to lead the ♥ J on opening lead.

Board 14
East Deals
None Vul

♠	Q 4
♥	K J 5 4 2
♦	K Q J 7
♣	7 3

♠	K 10
♥	A Q 8 7
♦	A 6 5 2
♣	Q 4 2

N
W		E
S

♠	A J 8 6 5 2
♥	6
♦	8 4 3
♣	J 10 9

♠	9 7 3
♥	10 9 3
♦	10 9
♣	A K 8 6 5

EW 3♠; EW 2N; NS 2♥; EW 1♦; Par −140

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

Ogust, asking for the quality of opener's suit/hand
Alert, artificial showing a bad suit and a bad hand

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	E	−2	100		6.50	0.50	1-Singerman-Wiest	9-Tedrick-Woodham
3 ♠	E	−2	100		6.50	0.50	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	2-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 ♠	E	−1	50		4.50	2.50	3-Rice-Lammers	1-Altman Sr-Kolkman
3 ♠	E	−1	50		4.50	2.50	4-Elliott-Runda	3-Messinger-Dehaan
2 ♠	W	2		110	3.00	4.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	11-Gibler-Vanstone
2 NT	W	2		120	1.50	5.50	5-Temples-Hubka	5-Burns-Kennedy
2 NT	W	2		120	1.50	5.50	12-Petersen-Cushman	7-Felson-Brown
3 ♠	E	3		140	0.00	7.00	11-Kehoe-Stanley	4-Kammer-Zimmer

E/W lose two Clubs, a Club ruff, and one Diamond, making three. South will probably lead the ♣ K, followed by the ♣ A and a third Club when North shows the doubleton. North ruffs the third round of Clubs and exits with a Diamond which declarer allows them to hold (rectifying the count for a Heart/Diamond squeeze). Declarer wins the second round of Diamonds with the ♦ A and plays off all the trump coming down to ♥ AQ in dummy and ♥ 6 ♦ 8 in hand. Since North can't hold two Hearts and the master Diamond, they have to give up control in one suit of the other and nine tricks come home. Nicely played!

Board 15
South Deals
N-S Vul

♠	7 5 3 2
♥	J 10 9
♦	8 7 2
♣	10 6 2

♠	K Q J 6
♥	7 4 2
♦	Q 5 3
♣	Q 8 5

N
W		E
S

♠	9 4
♥	A Q
♦	10 9 6 4
♣	A J 9 7 4

♠	A 10 8
♥	K 8 6 5 3
♦	A K J
♣	K 3

E 3♣; E 2♦; W 2♣; E 1♠; NS 1♥; W 1♦; Par −110

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

11 to 14
Showing 18-19 HCP
Must be better than 1 NT

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♥	W	−2	100		6.50	0.50	1-Singerman-Wiest	9-Tedrick-Woodham
2 ♠	W	−2	100		6.50	0.50	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	2-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
1 ♥	S	−1		100	5.00	2.00	4-Elliott-Runda	3-Messinger-Dehaan
3 ♣	E	3		110	3.00	4.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	11-Gibler-Vanstone
3 ♣	E	3		110	3.00	4.00	5-Temples-Hubka	5-Burns-Kennedy
3 ♣	E	3		110	3.00	4.00	12-Petersen-Cushman	7-Felson-Brown
3 ♥	S	−2		200	1.00	6.00	11-Kehoe-Stanley	4-Kammer-Zimmer
2 NT×	S	−3		800	0.00	7.00	3-Rice-Lammers	1-Altman Sr-Kolkman

E/W lose one Spade, two Diamonds, and a Club. Since South can never get to their partner's hand to lead through declarer, the ♥ K withers and dies on the vine. Since South has basically all of the points, declarer should play the ♣ A and lead a second Club towards the ♣ Q in dummy. The ♦ A looks like a reasonable opening lead.

Board 16
West Deals
E-W Vul

♠	A K 7
♥	7 2
♦	J 9 6 4 2
♣	7 4 2

♠	10 9 3
♥	A J 8 3
♦	A 8 7 3
♣	A J

N
W		E
S

♠	J 8
♥	K Q 9 4
♦	K Q 5
♣	Q 8 5 3

♠	Q 6 5 4 2
♥	10 6 5
♦	10
♣	K 10 9 6

EW 4♥; EW 2N; EW 3♦; EW 2♣; Par −620

West	North	East	South
1 ♦	Pass	1 ♥	Pass
2 ♥	Pass	2 NT1	Pass
3 ♥2	Pass	4 ♥	Pass
Pass	Pass

Alert, asking for more information about partner's raise
Alert, showing four Hearts and a minimum hand

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♥	E	5		200	7.00	0.00	1-Singerman-Wiest	8-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	W	3		600	6.00	1.00	6-Roark-Koster	6-Terbrueggen-Schultz
4 ♥	E	4		620	3.00	4.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	10-Scovic-Burnam
4 ♥	W	4		620	3.00	4.00	3-Rice-Lammers	12-Rubinstein-Lakes
4 ♥	E	4		620	3.00	4.00	4-Elliott-Runda	2-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♥	E	4		620	3.00	4.00	11-Kehoe-Stanley	3-Messinger-Dehaan
4 ♥	E	4		620	3.00	4.00	12-Petersen-Cushman	5-Burns-Kennedy
4 ♥	E	5		650	0.00	7.00	5-Temples-Hubka	4-Kammer-Zimmer

E/W lose two Spades and either a Spade or a Diamond as declarer has too much work to do to ruff a Spade and a Diamond before pulling trump. Most likely the extra loser will be a Diamond, as declarer will hope for a 3-3 split. South will likely lead their ♦T on opening lead.

Board 17
North Deals
None Vul

♠	Q 9 6 4
♥	3
♦	Q 10 7 6 3
♣	K J 10

♠	K 10 7 5
♥	A 6 5 2
♦	K 9 5
♣	7 5

N
W		E
S

♠	8 3
♥	J 7 4
♦	A J 8 2
♣	9 6 4 2

♠	A J 2
♥	K Q 10 9 8
♦	4
♣	A Q 8 3

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

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

Remember, 2 ♣ here can range from 11 to a bad 18 HCP

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♣	S	3	110		6.50	0.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	10-Scovic-Burnam
2 ♣	S	3	110		6.50	0.50	3-Rice-Lammers	12-Rubinstein-Lakes
3 NT	N	−2		100	3.00	4.00	1-Singerman-Wiest	8-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	S	−2		100	3.00	4.00	4-Elliott-Runda	2-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 NT	N	−1		100	3.00	4.00	5-Temples-Hubka	4-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	N	−2		100	3.00	4.00	6-Roark-Koster	6-Terbrueggen-Schultz
5 ♣	S	−2		100	3.00	4.00	11-Kehoe-Stanley	3-Messinger-Dehaan
3 NT	N	−3		150	0.00	7.00	12-Petersen-Cushman	5-Burns-Kennedy

North has a tough bid after 2 ♣. 2 ♦ seems wrong, and 2 NT would be a severe overbid. Most will pass. If E/W try and enter the auction at this point, they'll regret it. N/S lose one Spade, one Heart, and two Diamonds (South won't be able to ruff a second round of Diamonds without guaranteeing a trump loser). West may lead a trump on the auction.

Board 18
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	J 5
♥	Q 10 5 4
♦	Q 5 3
♣	J 9 7 5

♠	K 9 8 7 4
♥	K 2
♦	J 9 7
♣	A 10 8

N
W		E
S

♠	6 2
♥	A J 6
♦	K 6 4 2
♣	K Q 6 3

♠	A Q 10 3
♥	9 8 7 3
♦	A 10 8
♣	4 2

W 3♠; EW 4♦; EW 2N; E 2♠; EW 3♣; EW 1♥; Par −140

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

Alert, artificial asking partner to bid 2 ♦ (XYZ)
Alert, forced bid (XYZ)

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 NT	E	−1	50		5.50	1.50	1-Singerman-Wiest	8-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	E	−1	50		5.50	1.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	10-Scovic-Burnam
3 NT	W	−1	50		5.50	1.50	5-Temples-Hubka	4-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	E	−1	50		5.50	1.50	11-Kehoe-Stanley	3-Messinger-Dehaan
2 ♣	E	2		90	3.00	4.00	3-Rice-Lammers	12-Rubinstein-Lakes
2 ♠	W	2		110	2.00	5.00	4-Elliott-Runda	2-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
2 NT	E	2		120	1.00	6.00	12-Petersen-Cushman	5-Burns-Kennedy
3 NT	E	3		400	0.00	7.00	6-Roark-Koster	6-Terbrueggen-Schultz

West shows an invitational hand with five Spades, and partner places the contract in 2 NT. E/W take three Heart tricks, one Spade, one Diamond, and three Clubs, making two. South may lead the ♠ 3 on opening lead or choose the safer ♥ 9.

Board 19
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	A J 4
♥	A 10 9 5 2
♦	K 3 2
♣	10 6

♠	K 8 7 6
♥	6 3
♦	Q 10 7 4
♣	J 8 3

N
W		E
S

♠	10 3 2
♥	K J 7 4
♦	J 5
♣	K Q 9 4

♠	Q 9 5
♥	Q 8
♦	A 9 8 6
♣	A 7 5 2

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

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

Alert, artificial and game forcing (XYZ)

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
1 NT	S	3	150		7.00	0.00	1-Singerman-Wiest	6-Terbrueggen-Schultz
1 NT	S	2	120		6.00	1.00	3-Rice-Lammers	11-Gibler-Vanstone
3 NT	N	−1		50	3.00	4.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	9-Tedrick-Woodham
3 NT	S	−1		50	3.00	4.00	4-Elliott-Runda	1-Altman Sr-Kolkman
3 NT	S	−1		50	3.00	4.00	6-Roark-Koster	5-Burns-Kennedy
3 NT	S	−1		50	3.00	4.00	7-Kobida-Mackey	7-Felson-Brown
3 NT	N	−1		50	3.00	4.00	12-Petersen-Cushman	4-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	S	−2		100	0.00	7.00	5-Temples-Hubka	3-Messinger-Dehaan

N/S take two Spade tricks, three Hearts, two Diamonds, and a Club, down one. That's a bit unlucky, as both Diamonds and Hearts fail to break 3-3, and the ♥ KJ are offside. If West leads a small Spade on opening lead, then declarer will gain a third Spade trick and the contract. Moral to the story--don't lead fourth best from a crappy four-card suit.

Board 20
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	9 8
♥	K Q 4
♦	10 6 2
♣	10 5 4 3 2

♠	10 5 3
♥	A J 2
♦	K J 8
♣	A K Q 9

N
W		E
S

♠	K Q J 4
♥	10 9 7 5
♦	Q 7 5 3
♣	8

♠	A 7 6 2
♥	8 6 3
♦	A 9 4
♣	J 7 6

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

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

Alert, Checkback Stayman asking for more information about opener's majors

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♦	W	−1	100		6.00	1.00	1-Singerman-Wiest	6-Terbrueggen-Schultz
4 ♥	E	−1	100		6.00	1.00	3-Rice-Lammers	11-Gibler-Vanstone
3 NT	W	−1	100		6.00	1.00	5-Temples-Hubka	3-Messinger-Dehaan
3 NT	W	3		600	3.00	4.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	9-Tedrick-Woodham
3 NT	W	3		600	3.00	4.00	4-Elliott-Runda	1-Altman Sr-Kolkman
3 NT	W	3		600	3.00	4.00	6-Roark-Koster	5-Burns-Kennedy
3 NT	W	4		630	0.50	6.50	7-Kobida-Mackey	7-Felson-Brown
3 NT	W	4		630	0.50	6.50	12-Petersen-Cushman	4-Kammer-Zimmer

East checks to see if partner has a fourth Spade before placing the contract. If the defense is careful, they can take both pointy-suit Aces (Spades and Diamonds) and the ♥ KQ. If they aren't careful......well, that's too horrible to contemplate. South has to play a Heart each time they're on lead to hold declarer to nine tricks.

Board 21
North Deals
N-S Vul

♠	J
♥	Q J 5
♦	K J 6
♣	A K J 9 5 4

♠	9 7 6
♥	K 9 7 4 3
♦	Q 10 4 3
♣	3

N
W		E
S

♠	A Q 10 5 2
♥	A 10 8 2
♦	7 5 2
♣	Q

♠	K 8 4 3
♥	6
♦	A 9 8
♣	10 8 7 6 2

NS 4N; NS 5♣; EW 1♥; NS 1♦; Par +630

West	North	East	South
	1 ♣	1 ♠	1 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 ♣	N	5	600		6.00	1.00	3-Rice-Lammers	11-Gibler-Vanstone
5 ♣	N	5	600		6.00	1.00	7-Kobida-Mackey	7-Felson-Brown
5 ♣	N	5	600		6.00	1.00	12-Petersen-Cushman	4-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♣	N	5	150		2.00	5.00	1-Singerman-Wiest	6-Terbrueggen-Schultz
4 ♣	N	5	150		2.00	5.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	9-Tedrick-Woodham
4 ♣	N	5	150		2.00	5.00	4-Elliott-Runda	1-Altman Sr-Kolkman
4 ♣	N	5	150		2.00	5.00	5-Temples-Hubka	3-Messinger-Dehaan
2 ♣	N	5	150		2.00	5.00	6-Roark-Koster	5-Burns-Kennedy

Once South shows that they have Spade control, North is happy to make a run at 3 NT. N/S take six Club tricks, three Diamond tricks, and a Spade, making four. The opening lead doesn't really matter, but East's choices are slim. I wouldn't want to lead away from either major, and a minor isn't much better. It will probably be a small Spade, but that feels wrong.

Board 22
East Deals
E-W Vul

♠	9 2
♥	A 10 8 6 2
♦	7
♣	A 9 7 6 5

♠	5 3
♥	Q 5
♦	A J 9 6 5 4
♣	K Q 8

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 10 8 7 6
♥	J 9 7
♦	K 10 2
♣	4 3

♠	A K J 4
♥	K 4 3
♦	Q 8 3
♣	J 10 2

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

West	North	East	South
		Pass	1 ♣
1 ♦	1 ♥	2 ♦	Dbl1
Pass	3 ♥2	Pass	4 ♥
Pass	Pass	Pass

Alert, support double showing exactly three Hearts
Jump to the three level showing invitational values

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	N	4	420		7.00	0.00	5-Temples-Hubka	2-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
2 ♥	N	5	200		6.00	1.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	7-Felson-Brown
2 ♥	N	4	170		5.00	2.00	1-Singerman-Wiest	5-Burns-Kennedy
3 ♥	N	3	140		3.00	4.00	3-Rice-Lammers	10-Scovic-Burnam
2 ♥	N	3	140		3.00	4.00	4-Elliott-Runda	12-Rubinstein-Lakes
3 ♥	N	3	140		3.00	4.00	7-Kobida-Mackey	6-Terbrueggen-Schultz
3 ♣	S	4	130		1.00	6.00	8-Torello-Lubow	8-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♣	S	−2		100	0.00	7.00	6-Roark-Koster	4-Kammer-Zimmer

North's playing strength more than makes up for their lack of high-card points. N/S lose one Heart, one Diamonds, and one Club, making four. West will probably lead the ♣ K on the go.

Board 23
South Deals
Both Vul

♠	9 3
♥	Q 10 8 6 4
♦	K Q 6 4
♣	8 6

♠	J 6
♥	K 3
♦	10 9 7
♣	A 10 7 5 3 2

N
W		E
S

♠	K Q 7 2
♥	A J
♦	8 3
♣	K Q J 9 4

♠	A 10 8 5 4
♥	9 7 5 2
♦	A J 5 2
♣	—

NS 3♥; EW 4♣; EW 2N; NS 3♦; Par −130

West	North	East	South
			Pass
Pass	Pass	1 ♣	Dbl
2 NT1	3 ♥	4 ♣	Pass
Pass	Pass

Alert, showing a limit raise or better in Clubs

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♣	W	−1	100		7.00	0.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	7-Felson-Brown
3 ♣	E	4		130	4.50	2.50	3-Rice-Lammers	10-Scovic-Burnam
3 ♣	E	4		130	4.50	2.50	5-Temples-Hubka	2-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 ♣	E	4		130	4.50	2.50	6-Roark-Koster	4-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♣	E	4		130	4.50	2.50	8-Torello-Lubow	8-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♣	W	5		150	1.50	5.50	1-Singerman-Wiest	5-Burns-Kennedy
2 ♣	E	5		150	1.50	5.50	4-Elliott-Runda	12-Rubinstein-Lakes
4 ♣×	E	4		710	0.00	7.00	7-Kobida-Mackey	6-Terbrueggen-Schultz

West's hand is easily worth a limit+ raise on this auction. E/W lose one Spade and two Diamonds, making four. N/S may compete to a 4 ♥ contract, but they'll probably be doubled, mostly because they were both passed hands. As long as N/S grab their Diamond tricks before they go away on declarer's Spades, they'll hold E/W to ten tricks.

Board 24
West Deals
None Vul

♠	Q 9 8
♥	Q 10 6 4
♦	9 5 2
♣	10 9 7

♠	7 6 2
♥	A 9 8 5
♦	Q 7 6
♣	A Q 6

N
W		E
S

♠	J 4
♥	7 3 2
♦	A K J 10
♣	J 5 4 3

♠	A K 10 5 3
♥	K J
♦	8 4 3
♣	K 8 2

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

West	North	East	South
1 ♣	Pass	1 ♦	1 ♠
Dbl1	2 ♠	Pass	Pass
Pass

Alert, support double showing exactly three Diamonds

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♠	S	3	140		7.00	0.00	4-Elliott-Runda	12-Rubinstein-Lakes
2 ♠	S	2	110		5.50	1.50	3-Rice-Lammers	10-Scovic-Burnam
2 ♠	S	2	110		5.50	1.50	8-Torello-Lubow	8-Diers-McCarthy
1 NT	S	1	90		4.00	3.00	6-Roark-Koster	4-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♦	E	−1	50		2.50	4.50	1-Singerman-Wiest	5-Burns-Kennedy
3 ♦	W	−1	50		2.50	4.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	7-Felson-Brown
3 ♠	S	−2		100	1.00	6.00	5-Temples-Hubka	2-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 ♦	E	3		110	0.00	7.00	7-Kobida-Mackey	6-Terbrueggen-Schultz

Don't forget that Support Doubles work for Diamonds as well as for the majors. N/S lose three Diamond tricks, one Heart, and two Clubs. Clubs is a frozen suit, meaning that whoever plays Clubs first gives up a trick. A trump lead doesn't look wrong, although most will lead the ♦ 6.

Board 25
North Deals
E-W Vul

♠	K Q 6 4
♥	J 5
♦	6 2
♣	Q 10 7 6 5

♠	A 10 9
♥	K 9 7 4
♦	A 8 7
♣	A 4 2

N
W		E
S

♠	7 3
♥	A Q 8
♦	K Q 10 5 4
♣	K 9 3

♠	J 8 5 2
♥	10 6 3 2
♦	J 9 3
♣	J 8

EW 6N; EW 6♥; EW 6♦; EW 2♠; EW 3♣; Par −1440

West	North	East	South
	Pass	1 NT1	Pass
3 ♣2	Pass	3 ♦3	Pass
4 NT4	Pass	Pass	Pass

15 to 17
Alert, artificial, asking if opener has a 5-card major
Alert, artificial, denies 5-card major
Quantitative raise, asking opener to bid 6 NT with a maximum

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	W	5		650	7.00	0.00	3-Rice-Lammers	8-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	W	5		660	5.00	2.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	6-Terbrueggen-Schultz
3 NT	W	5		660	5.00	2.00	6-Roark-Koster	3-Messinger-Dehaan
3 NT	E	5		660	5.00	2.00	8-Torello-Lubow	7-Felson-Brown
4 ♥	W	6		680	3.00	4.00	9-Venosa-Venosa	9-Tedrick-Woodham
3 NT	E	6		690	1.00	6.00	4-Elliott-Runda	11-Gibler-Vanstone
3 NT	E	6		690	1.00	6.00	5-Temples-Hubka	1-Altman Sr-Kolkman
3 NT	W	6		690	1.00	6.00	7-Kobida-Mackey	5-Burns-Kennedy

If you have notrump shape, 14 HCP, and 5-card suit, consider opening 1 NT. If you don't, your rebid is going to be difficult. West makes a half-hearted attempt to get to slam, but East is having none of it. E/W take one Spade trick, three Hearts, five Diamonds, and two Clubs. To get to 12 tricks, declarer has to duck a Spade in both hands (or duck the first trick if South leads a Spade). On the run of the Diamonds, South has to guard Hearts, and North has to guard Clubs, so neither player can guard against West's third Spade. Give it a try.

Board 26
East Deals
Both Vul

♠	K 10 9 8 4 2
♥	9 7
♦	K 9
♣	10 8 2

♠	Q
♥	A J 10 8 6
♦	J 10 8 4 2
♣	6 3

N
W		E
S

♠	J 6 3
♥	5 4 2
♦	A 7 5 3
♣	A Q 9

♠	A 7 5
♥	K Q 3
♦	Q 6
♣	K J 7 5 4

NS 4♠; EW 3♥; EW 3♦; NS 3♣; E 1N; Par +500: EW 5♦×−2; EW 5♥×−2

West	North	East	South
		Pass	1 NT1
2 ♦2	4 ♥3	Pass	4 ♠
Pass	Pass	Pass

15 to 17
Alert, showing Diamonds and a higher-ranking suit
Texas Transfer

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♠	N	3	140		6.50	0.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	6-Terbrueggen-Schultz
2 ♠	S	3	140		6.50	0.50	3-Rice-Lammers	8-Diers-McCarthy
2 ♠	N	2	110		4.50	2.50	5-Temples-Hubka	1-Altman Sr-Kolkman
2 ♠	S	2	110		4.50	2.50	7-Kobida-Mackey	5-Burns-Kennedy
4 ♠	N	−1		100	2.50	4.50	4-Elliott-Runda	11-Gibler-Vanstone
4 ♠	N	−1		100	2.50	4.50	9-Venosa-Venosa	9-Tedrick-Woodham
4 ♠	N	−3		300	1.00	6.00	6-Roark-Koster	3-Messinger-Dehaan
4 ♥	E	4		620	0.00	7.00	8-Torello-Lubow	7-Felson-Brown

E/W would gladly compete to 5 ♦ if not vulnerable, but it's too risky here. Declarer should cash dummy's ♠ K first. When the ♠ Q falls, East is twice as likely to hold the ♠ J, so a finesse is in order (see Restricted Choice). N/S lose one trick in each side suit, making four. West will lead either the ♥ J or the ♦ J.

Board 27
South Deals
None Vul

♠	A K Q 6 3
♥	A 4
♦	6 5
♣	9 6 5 2

♠	10 9 5 4 2
♥	9
♦	J 2
♣	A K Q J 4

N
W		E
S

♠	8 7
♥	Q 8 7 2
♦	A Q 10 9 8
♣	10 8

♠	J
♥	K J 10 6 5 3
♦	K 7 4 3
♣	7 3

NS 3♥; NS 1N; NS 1♠; EW 1♣; Par +140

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

Forcing for one round
Alert, showing a singleton or void in Spades and a feature in Diamonds

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♥×	W	3	530		7.00	0.00	6-Roark-Koster	3-Messinger-Dehaan
3 ♠×	W	−3	500		6.00	1.00	9-Venosa-Venosa	9-Tedrick-Woodham
4 ♠	E	−6	300		5.00	2.00	4-Elliott-Runda	11-Gibler-Vanstone
			200		4.00	3.00	8-Torello-Lubow	7-Felson-Brown
3 NT	E	−3	150		3.00	4.00	7-Kobida-Mackey	5-Burns-Kennedy
2 ♠×	W	−1	100		2.00	5.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	6-Terbrueggen-Schultz
3 ♥	W	−1	50		0.50	6.50	3-Rice-Lammers	8-Diers-McCarthy
2 ♠	W	−1	50		0.50	6.50	5-Temples-Hubka	1-Altman Sr-Kolkman

When responder bids their own major suit after a weak two opening, it's important to follow these rules:
1) With 3-card support, give an immediate raise
2) With 2-card support, bid 2 NT (or 3 NT after 2 ♠ - 3 ♥)
3) With AKQxxx in your suit, bid 3 NT
4) Bid a feature in a side suit
5) Rebid your suit

N/S lose one Heart, one Diamond, and two Clubs, making three. West will lead the ♣ K on opening lead and continue Clubs.

Board 28
West Deals
N-S Vul

♠	J 7 4
♥	5 3 2
♦	10 8 7
♣	K Q 8 2

♠	Q 8 5
♥	A K 8
♦	Q 6
♣	A J 10 6 5

N
W		E
S

♠	K 10 6
♥	J 10 7 6 4
♦	A 9 5 2
♣	3

♠	A 9 3 2
♥	Q 9
♦	K J 4 3
♣	9 7 4

EW 5♥; W 4N; E 3N; EW 2♠; EW 3♦; EW 2♣; Par −450

West	North	East	South
1 NT1	Pass	2 ♦2	Dbl
2 ♥3	Pass	2 NT	Pass
4 ♥	Pass	Pass	Pass

15 to 17
Transfer
Alert, showing 3+ Hearts

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♥	W	4		170	6.00	1.00	3-Rice-Lammers	7-Felson-Brown
2 ♥	E	4		170	6.00	1.00	5-Temples-Hubka	12-Rubinstein-Lakes
3 ♥	E	4		170	6.00	1.00	9-Venosa-Venosa	8-Diers-McCarthy
2 ♥	W	5		200	4.00	3.00	8-Torello-Lubow	6-Terbrueggen-Schultz
4 ♥	W	4		420	1.50	5.50	4-Elliott-Runda	9-Tedrick-Woodham
4 ♥	W	4		420	1.50	5.50	6-Roark-Koster	2-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♥	W	4		420	1.50	5.50	7-Kobida-Mackey	4-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♥	W	4		420	1.50	5.50	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	10-Scovic-Burnam

When you open 1 NT, partner makes a transfer bid, and your RHO doubles for a lead, you should accept the transfer only when you have 3+ card support. If you have two or fewer in partner's suit, you can either pass or redouble if you hold length in the transfer suit.

E/W lose one Spade and one Diamond, making five on a dummy reversal (ruffing Clubs in the hand with the long trumps and pulling trump in the hand with shorter trumps). North may lead the ♣ K on opening lead.

Board 29
North Deals
Both Vul

♠	A 9 8 5
♥	J 10
♦	A 9 7 3 2
♣	9 3

♠	K J 7 2
♥	7
♦	10 8 6 5 4
♣	A Q 7

N
W		E
S

♠	4
♥	A K Q 9 8 6 3
♦	K J
♣	J 5 2

♠	Q 10 6 3
♥	5 4 2
♦	Q
♣	K 10 8 6 4

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

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

Showing 6+ Hearts and a five loser hand

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	E	−1	100		7.00	0.00	6-Roark-Koster	2-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
2 ♥	E	4		170	5.50	1.50	5-Temples-Hubka	12-Rubinstein-Lakes
3 ♥	E	4		170	5.50	1.50	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	10-Scovic-Burnam
4 ♥	E	4		620	2.50	4.50	3-Rice-Lammers	7-Felson-Brown
4 ♥	E	4		620	2.50	4.50	4-Elliott-Runda	9-Tedrick-Woodham
4 ♥	E	4		620	2.50	4.50	7-Kobida-Mackey	4-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♥	E	4		620	2.50	4.50	9-Venosa-Venosa	8-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	W	4		630	0.00	7.00	8-Torello-Lubow	6-Terbrueggen-Schultz

East is quite happy to be in 3 NT with a running suit. E/W take seven Heart tricks, one Diamond, and two Clubs, making four. If North leads a small Diamond on opening lead, declarer is better off playing the ♦ K, since North would be less likely to try to set up Diamonds holding ♦ Qxxxx.

Board 30
East Deals
None Vul

♠	J 7 2
♥	A J 9 8 6 4
♦	8
♣	A Q J

♠	Q 9 8 4
♥	Q 2
♦	A K Q J 3
♣	7 3

N
W		E
S

♠	A K 10 3
♥	10 3
♦	10 5 2
♣	10 9 6 4

♠	6 5
♥	K 7 5
♦	9 7 6 4
♣	K 8 5 2

NS 4♥; EW 3♠; EW 3♦; NS 1♣; Par +100: EW 4♠×−1

West	North	East	South
		Pass	Pass
1 ♦	1 ♥	Dbl1	2 ♥
2 ♠	4 ♥	Pass	Pass
4 ♠	Pass	Pass	Pass

Negative showing exactly four Spades

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	N	4	420		6.50	0.50	5-Temples-Hubka	12-Rubinstein-Lakes
4 ♥	N	4	420		6.50	0.50	8-Torello-Lubow	6-Terbrueggen-Schultz
3 ♥	N	5	200		5.00	2.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	10-Scovic-Burnam
3 ♥	N	4	170		4.00	3.00	9-Venosa-Venosa	8-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♥	N	−1		50	3.00	4.00	4-Elliott-Runda	9-Tedrick-Woodham
3 ♠	W	4		170	1.50	5.50	3-Rice-Lammers	7-Felson-Brown
3 ♠	W	4		170	1.50	5.50	6-Roark-Koster	2-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♠	W	5		450	0.00	7.00	7-Kobida-Mackey	4-Kammer-Zimmer

Again, auctions where nobody is vulnerable tend to look a bit crazy. North is quite happy to bid 4 ♥ when partner is able to find a raise, and West, with extra values and shape, bids one more. Neither North nor South has the firepower to double. E/W lose two Hearts and two Clubs, down one. If North leads their singleton Diamond on opening lead, E/W will make four. This might be a good time to lay down the ♥ A and have a look at dummy. A Heart continuation and a Club back results in down one.

Board 31
South Deals
N-S Vul

♠	J 10 5 3 2
♥	A
♦	K 7 2
♣	A K 5 3

♠	A 7
♥	9 7 6 4 3
♦	8 6 5
♣	8 6 2

N
W		E
S

♠	K Q 9 6 4
♥	K Q J 10
♦	A J 10
♣	J

♠	8
♥	8 5 2
♦	Q 9 4 3
♣	Q 10 9 7 4

EW 3♥; NS 4♣; NS 2♦; EW 1♠; Par +100: EW 4♥×−1

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

15 to 18
Transfer
Super acceptance with four good Hearts and a maximum notrump overcall

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
1 ♠	N	2	110		7.00	0.00	7-Kobida-Mackey	3-Messinger-Dehaan
1 ♠	N	1	80		5.00	2.00	6-Roark-Koster	1-Altman Sr-Kolkman
1 ♠	N	1	80		5.00	2.00	8-Torello-Lubow	5-Burns-Kennedy
1 ♠	N	1	80		5.00	2.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	9-Tedrick-Woodham
4 ♥	W	−1	50		3.00	4.00	9-Venosa-Venosa	7-Felson-Brown
3 ♥	W	3		140	1.50	5.50	5-Temples-Hubka	10-Scovic-Burnam
3 ♥	W	3		140	1.50	5.50	11-Kehoe-Stanley	11-Gibler-Vanstone
4 ♥	W	4		420	0.00	7.00	4-Elliott-Runda	8-Diers-McCarthy

East tries to get their partner's attention with the 3 ♥ bid, but West is truly a minimum and lets it go. E/W lose one Heart, a Spade ruff, a Diamond, and a Club, making three. South will definitely lead their ♠ 8 on the go.

Board 32
West Deals
E-W Vul

♠	10 9 8 4
♥	10 7 3 2
♦	A 8 5 3 2
♣	—

♠	J 6 5 2
♥	5 4
♦	6 4
♣	A K Q 9 2

N
W		E
S

♠	K 7 3
♥	K 8
♦	Q 10 9
♣	10 8 7 4 3

♠	A Q
♥	A Q J 9 6
♦	K J 7
♣	J 6 5

NS 7♥; NS 7♦; NS 3♠; NS 2N; EW 1♣; Par +1510

West	North	East	South
Pass	Pass	Pass	1 ♥
2 ♣	3 ♥	4 ♣	4 ♥
Pass	Pass	Pass

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	S	7	510		6.50	0.50	5-Temples-Hubka	10-Scovic-Burnam
4 ♥	S	7	510		6.50	0.50	9-Venosa-Venosa	7-Felson-Brown
4 ♥	S	6	480		5.00	2.00	7-Kobida-Mackey	3-Messinger-Dehaan
4 ♥	S	5	450		3.50	3.50	4-Elliott-Runda	8-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♥	S	5	450		3.50	3.50	6-Roark-Koster	1-Altman Sr-Kolkman
3 ♥	S	6	230		2.00	5.00	8-Torello-Lubow	5-Burns-Kennedy
3 ♥	S	5	200		0.50	6.50	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	9-Tedrick-Woodham
3 ♥	S	5	200		0.50	6.50	11-Kehoe-Stanley	11-Gibler-Vanstone

Points schmoints. While this one makes seven, let's try to calculate the percentages. Declarer needs the ♠ K, the ♥ K, and the ♦ Q on their right. That's 12½%. Be happy with your +510. West is going to lead a very big Club.

Board 33
North Deals
None Vul

♠	9 8 7 5 2
♥	A 4 3
♦	Q 9 8
♣	K Q

♠	A J 10 4 3
♥	Q J 2
♦	10 6
♣	J 5 3

N
W		E
S

♠	Q
♥	10
♦	A K J 4 3
♣	A 10 8 7 4 2

♠	K 6
♥	K 9 8 7 6 5
♦	7 5 2
♣	9 6

EW 5♦; EW 5♣; EW 3♠; EW 2N; Par −400

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

Asking for a stopper in Hearts

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♦	E	−1	50		7.00	0.00	8-Torello-Lubow	5-Burns-Kennedy
4 ♣	E	4		130	6.00	1.00	5-Temples-Hubka	10-Scovic-Burnam
4 ♥	S	−3		150	5.00	2.00	7-Kobida-Mackey	3-Messinger-Dehaan
2 NT	W	4		180	4.00	3.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	9-Tedrick-Woodham
5 ♣	W	5		400	3.00	4.00	9-Venosa-Venosa	7-Felson-Brown
3 NT	W	4		430	1.50	5.50	6-Roark-Koster	1-Altman Sr-Kolkman
3 NT	W	4		430	1.50	5.50	11-Kehoe-Stanley	11-Gibler-Vanstone
5 ♣×	E	5		550	0.00	7.00	4-Elliott-Runda	8-Diers-McCarthy

West judges that ♥ QJ2 is not good enough to try 3 NT, so they ask their partner for a stopper. When East bids 4 ♦ showing 6-5 in Clubs and Diamonds respectively, West bids game in their longer minor. N/S lose one Heart and one Club. North will lead the ♥ A on opening lead.

Board 34
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	K 5 2
♥	K J 2
♦	6
♣	A K 10 6 5 2

♠	J 10 8 6
♥	Q 5
♦	10 8 4 3 2
♣	Q 7

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 9 4 3
♥	8 7 4 3
♦	J 9
♣	8 4 3

♠	A 7
♥	A 10 9 6
♦	A K Q 7 5
♣	J 9

NS 7N; NS 7♥; NS 7♣; NS 4♠; NS 5♦; Par +2220

West	North	East	South
		Pass	1 ♦
Pass	2 ♣	Pass	2 ♥
Pass	3 ♣	Pass	4 ♣1
Pass	4 ♠2	Pass	6 NT
Pass	Pass	Pass

Minorwood, asking for keycards in Clubs
Two w/o the ♣ Q

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
6 NT	N	7	1470		6.00	1.00	6-Roark-Koster	11-Gibler-Vanstone
6 NT	N	7	1470		6.00	1.00	8-Torello-Lubow	4-Kammer-Zimmer
6 NT	N	7	1470		6.00	1.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	8-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	N	7	720		2.50	4.50	5-Temples-Hubka	9-Tedrick-Woodham
3 NT	S	7	720		2.50	4.50	7-Kobida-Mackey	2-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 NT	S	7	720		2.50	4.50	9-Venosa-Venosa	6-Terbrueggen-Schultz
3 NT	S	7	720		2.50	4.50	12-Petersen-Cushman	12-Rubinstein-Lakes
3 NT	S	6	690		0.00	7.00	11-Kehoe-Stanley	10-Scovic-Burnam

South figures that 6 NT will have play against pretty much any hand that North could hold for their 2/1 Club bid and rebid. It's probably slightly better to play for the ♣ Q in the West hand and take the finesse than to play for the drop. Both of these lines work, and declarer comes hope with six Club tricks, three Diamonds, two Spades, and two Hearts, making seven. The ♠ J is a reasonable opening lead.

Board 35
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	7 4 3
♥	9 5 2
♦	10 8 7 6
♣	A Q 10

♠	K 10 9 5
♥	10 8 6
♦	J 2
♣	8 7 6 5

N
W		E
S

♠	J 8 6
♥	A Q 7
♦	Q 4 3
♣	K 9 3 2

♠	A Q 2
♥	K J 4 3
♦	A K 9 5
♣	J 4

S 2♥; S 3♦; NS 1N; N 2♦; E 1♠; N 1♥; E 1♣; Par +110

West	North	East	South
			1 ♦
Pass	1 NT	Pass	2 NT
Pass	Pass	Pass

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	S	3	400		6.50	0.50	6-Roark-Koster	11-Gibler-Vanstone
3 NT	N	3	400		6.50	0.50	12-Petersen-Cushman	12-Rubinstein-Lakes
3 NT	S	−1		50	4.00	3.00	5-Temples-Hubka	9-Tedrick-Woodham
3 NT	N	−1		50	4.00	3.00	8-Torello-Lubow	4-Kammer-Zimmer
2 NT	S	−1		50	4.00	3.00	11-Kehoe-Stanley	10-Scovic-Burnam
3 NT	S	−2		100	1.50	5.50	7-Kobida-Mackey	2-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 NT	N	−2		100	1.50	5.50	9-Venosa-Venosa	6-Terbrueggen-Schultz
3 NT	N	−3		150	0.00	7.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	8-Diers-McCarthy

Most pairs will be in 2 NT, down one. If N/S play Wolff Signoff, North might try bidding 3 ♣ as a relay to 3 ♦ and passing, but that feels risky in Matchpoints, as the pairs that make 2 NT will make +120 and those that make 3 ♦ will make only +110. E/W, assuming they can untangle their winners, will take three Spade tricks, one Heart, one Diamond, and one Club, for down one. 2 NT will make if West leads anything other than a Club on opening lead.

Board 36
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	Q 6
♥	J 7 4 3
♦	K 9 7 2
♣	K 10 3

♠	A K 10 4
♥	A K 10
♦	6 5
♣	A J 8 6

N
W		E
S

♠	J 7 5 2
♥	Q 9 8
♦	A Q J
♣	9 7 2

♠	9 8 3
♥	6 5 2
♦	10 8 4 3
♣	Q 5 4

EW 5N; EW 5♠; EW 4♥; EW 5♣; EW 3♦; Par −660

West	North	East	South
1 ♣	Pass	1 ♠	Pass
4 ♠	Pass	Pass	Pass

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	W	−1	100		7.00	0.00	11-Kehoe-Stanley	10-Scovic-Burnam
4 ♠	E	4		620	4.50	2.50	7-Kobida-Mackey	2-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♠	E	4		620	4.50	2.50	8-Torello-Lubow	4-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♠	W	4		620	4.50	2.50	9-Venosa-Venosa	6-Terbrueggen-Schultz
4 ♠	E	4		620	4.50	2.50	12-Petersen-Cushman	12-Rubinstein-Lakes
4 ♠	E	5		650	1.50	5.50	6-Roark-Koster	11-Gibler-Vanstone
4 ♠	E	5		650	1.50	5.50	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	8-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♠	E	6		680	0.00	7.00	5-Temples-Hubka	9-Tedrick-Woodham

With 19 HCP and all primes, West is likely to jump to game on their rebid. E/W lose two Clubs, making five. If declarer tries a Spade finesse (not wrong), they'll only make four. South might lead a passive ♥ 5 on opening lead.