MON 12/12/2016 at Nite

EVENT>Monday Night Bridge      |SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> A
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>December 12, 2016  |SANCTION>ST1612038 | 12/13/2016 09:19|EVENT CODE>03OP
---------------------,-- ------------------- -------------,---------------------
DIR> Mike Lipp       |RATING>STAC, CLUB>185264            |MOVEMENT>ONE WINNER
------------,-------- ,-------------------------,--------- ---------------------
AVE>   57.5 |TOP>   5 |MP LIMITS>None/2000/750  |CLUB>Monday Night Bridge
------------ --------- ------------------------- -------------------------------
PAIRS IN STRAT A=13/B=11/C=9                     ,---,-------------------------,------,---------,
-------------------------------------------------|   |           Section       |      |Section  |
No Name                   Name                   |Flt|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C| Score | Pct  |Awards   |
------------------------------------------------- --- ----- ----- ----- ------- ------ ---------
 1 Ralph Terbrueggen      Dennis Schultz           B    .     .     .     57.40  49.91
 2 Patrick Lammers        Kathy Rice               C    .     .     .     48.40  42.09
 3 Kimberly King          Michael Purcell          B    .     .     .     60.74  52.82
 4 Robert Prosise         Thomas Mess              C    .     .     .     48.51  42.18
 5 Robert Brown           Stephen Felson           C    5     3     3     64.09  55.73  0.64(B)

 7 Larry Klein            Norman Coombs            A    3     .     .     66.18  57.55  1.08(A)
 8 Joan Mehl              Marilyn Renaker          C    .     .     .     43.07  37.45
 9 Jane Duncan            Larry Newman             C    4     2     2     64.95  56.48  0.90(B)
10 Reeta Brendamour       Pam Campbell             C    .     4     4     61.40  53.39  0.45(B)
11 Mike Ma                Arun Goyal               A    2     .     .     68.79  59.82  1.51(A)
12 Joanne Earls           Judith Lubow             C    1     1     1     75.13  65.33  2.16(A)
13 Lynn Callif            Sharon Kreitzer          C    .     .     .     40.15  34.91
14 Liz Lin                Elmer Hubka              C    .     .     .     52.57  45.71

                                          Totals                         751.38


                                          **PAIRS**
BOARD     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9    10    11    12    13    14
  /
   1>                     3.70  0.10        4.90  0.10  1.30    2-  3.70  4.90    2-  1.30
         ----  ----  ---- -100  -590   ----   50   -50*  100*  150*  420*  590* -150  -420

   2>                       2-  0.10        4.90  0.10    2-  3.70  1.30  4.90  1.30  3.70
         ----  ----  ----  110  -100   ----  620  -620* -110* -100* -170*  100*  100   170

   3>   1.30  3.70  0.10  1.30  3.70        4.90              1.30  3.70  1.30        3.70
        -100   130  -110  -130*  130   ----  110*  ----  ---- -130*  100* -130*  ----  130

   4>   3.70  0.10  4.90  4.90  1.90        0.10              3.10  1.30  3.10        1.90
         200  -100   400   100*  100   ---- -400*  ----  ---- -100* -200* -100*  ----  100

   5>   4.30    2-  4.90  3.70  0.10        0.70  1.30  0.70  4.30          2-
         400* -140   200    50  -200*  ---- -400   -50* -400   400*  ----  140*  ----  ----

   6>   1.30  0.10  1.30    2-  3.70        3.70    2-  4.90  0.10        4.90
         500* -680  -660  -650   660*  ---- -500   650*  100  -100*  ----  680*  ----  ----

   7>   4.90  3.10  4.90        1.90              1.90  3.10  3.70  1.30        0.10  0.10
         140* -180*  650   ----  180   ----  ----  180  -180*  630  -630*  ---- -650* -140

   8>   0.10  4.90  3.70        1.90              0.10  3.10  1.90  3.10        1.30  4.90
        -150*  400* -120   ---- -150   ----  ---- -400   150* -150   150*  ----  120*  150

   9>     5     3     1-    0     5           0     3-    3-          1     4     1-    2
         100* -170* -450* -100   480   ---- -480*  450   450   ----  -50    50* -450*  170

  10>     3     4     5     2     3-          1-    3-    0           5     0     1-    1
        -100*   90*  110*  100   200   ---- -200*  200  -110   ----  300  -300* -200*  -90

  11>     2-          2-    2-                2-          2-    2-    2-    2-    2-    2-
         480*  ----  480*  480*  ----  ---- -480   ---- -480  -480   480* -480   480* -480

  12>   3.70          2-  1.30              0.10        1.30  3.70  4.90  4.90  0.10    2-
         150*  ----  130*  120*  ----  ---- -500   ---- -150  -120   500*  -90    90* -130

  13>     3     0           3     3           2     2     3     5     2     3     2     2
         100* -630*  ----  100*  100*  ---- -100  -100   100*  630  -100   100* -100  -100

  14>     3-    0           2     1           1-    0     3-    5     4     5     1-    3
         100* -100*  ----   90*  -50*  ---- -100  -120   100*  100    50   120* -100   -90

  15>     1     4     2     5     3           0     4-    4-     -    3            -    2
        -100   100* -130*  470* -110*  ---- -470   600   600  -600*  130   ---- -600*  110

  16>     0     5     1     0     2-          5     1     2-    4     4           2-    2-
        -100   100* -170* -280* -140*  ----  280   110   140  -110*  170   ---- -140*  140

  17>     3     2     3     1     3           5     2     5     2     0     4     0
          50*  -50    50* -450*   50*  ----  100*  -50  1100   -50 -1100*  450  -100   ----

  18>     3-    0     5     0     3-          1-    1-    3-    1-    1-    5     3-
        -100* -100   100* -300* -100*  ---- -150*  100   150   100  -150*  300   150   ----

  19>     2-    2-    2-    2-    2-          5     2-          5     2-    0     2-    0
         -50    50*  -50    50*   50*  ----  620*   50*  ----  140   -50  -140*  -50  -620

  20>     1      -    3     2     4           4     4           4-    4-     -    1     1
        -170   120* -150   150*  170*  ----  170*  170*  ---- -120  -120   120* -170  -170

  21>           1      -    0     5           2-    2-    4     2-    4-    4-     -    2-
         ---- -200   100* -500   500*  ----  140*  140*  200* -140  -100  -100   100* -140

  22>           3-    0     1     4           5     1-    1-    0     2     5     3     3-
         ----  100  -200* -600   600*  ----  650* -100* -100* -650  -110   200   110*  100

  23>     1-    1-    1-    1-                3-    0     5     3-    5     3-    3-    0
        -100* -110  -110  -100*  ----  ----  110* -140*  200*  110*  140   100   100  -200

  24>     3     0     4     4                 5     0     2     1     5     2     1     3
         -50* -130   150    50*  ----  ----  130* -300* -100* -150*  300    50   -50   100

  25>   0.10  1.90  1.30        4.90              3.70  1.90  0.10        3.10  3.10  4.90
        -730   140* -170   ----  730*  ----  ----  170*  140*  100*  ---- -140  -140  -100

  26>     3     3     3           3                 3                             3
         140  -140*  140   ---- -140*  ----  ---- -140*   NP*   NP*  ----   NP   140    NP
Monday Night Bridge, Monday Eve, December 12, 2016

EVENT>Monday Night Invitational|SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> B N-S
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>December 12, 2016  |SANCTION>ST1612038 | 12/12/2016 22:12
---------------------,-- ------------------- -------------,---------------------
DIR> Mike Lipp       |RATING>STAC, CLUB>185264            |MOVEMENT>MITCHELL
------------,-------- ,-------------------------,--------- ---------------------
AVE>   50.0 |TOP>   4 |MP LIMITS>500/200/100    |CLUB>Monday Night Bridge
------------ --------- ------------------------- -------------------------------
PAIRS IN STRAT A=6/B=4/C=1                       ,---,-------------------------,------,---------,
-------------------------------------------------|   |           Section       |      |Section  |
No Name                   Name                   |Flt|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C| Score | Pct  |Awards   |
------------------------------------------------- --- ----- ----- ----- ------- ------ ---------
 1 Terri Mackey           Charlie Kobida           A    .     .     .     51.50  51.50
 2 Donald Pollack         Bernice Pollack          B    1     1     .     57.50  57.50  0.75(A)
 3 Pamela Kennedy         Mike Burns               B    2     2     .     56.00  56.00  0.53(A)
 4 John Ramsay            Julian Magnus, Jr        B    .     .     .     41.50  41.50
 5 David Elliott          Carla Runda              C    .     .     .     44.50  44.50
 6 Linda Pretz            Erin Oblinger            A    .     .     .     49.00  49.00

                                          Totals                         300.00


                  **PAIRS**
BOARD     1     2     3     4     5     6
  /
   1>     4           1     1     1     3
          50   ---- -420  -420  -420  -170

   2>     1           4     1     3     1
        -100   ----  150  -100    50  -100

   3>     2-          2-    2-    2-    0
         130   ----  130   130   130  -110

   4>     3           4     2      -     -
         110   ----  200    90  -100  -100

   5>     1-          3-    3-    1-    0
        -110   ----   50    50  -110  -420

   6>     2     0           2     2     4
        -650  -680   ---- -650  -650   100

   7>     3     1-          0     4     1-
         630   620   ---- -100   990   620

   8>      -    3            -    2     4
        -150  -100   ---- -150  -130    50

   9>     0     2           4     3     1
         170   420   ----  500   480   200

  10>     1     3-          2     3-    0
         120   400   ----  200   400   100

  11>     1     3-    1           1     3-
        -480  -450  -480   ---- -480  -450

  12>     4     3      -           -    2
         150    50  -130   ---- -130  -110

  13>     3-    3-    1-          1-    0
         600   600  -100   ---- -100  -200

  14>     0     2-    2-          1     4
        -130   -90   -90   ---- -100    50

  15>     1     3     3           0     3
         110   630   630   ---- -200   630

  16>     2-    4     0     2-          1
         170   460  -150   170   ----  120

  17>     1-    1-    3-    0           3-
         420   420   450   -50   ----  450

  18>     1     0     2     4           3
          90  -200   150   800   ----  300

  19>     2     1     3     0           4
        -170  -620   -50  -650   ----  400

  20>     4     2     2     0           2
         -90  -120  -120  -150   ---- -120

  21>     3     4      -     -    2
        -100   100  -400  -400  -170   ----

  22>     3-     -    2     3-     -
         100  -630   -90   100  -630   ----

  23>     0     2     3     1     4
        -200  -110   -90  -150   200   ----

  24>     2     4     1     3     0
          50   140   -50   100  -100   ----

  25>     4     2     0     2     2
         140   -50  -170   -50   -50   ----

  26>           1     2-    2-    4     0
         ---- PASS   100   100   200  -110

  27>           3-    3-    1     1     1
         ----  170   170   -50   -50   -50

  28>           2     2     2     2     2
         ---- -130  -130  -130  -130  -130

  29>           1     4     1     1     3
         ---- -110   170  -110  -110   110

  30>           3-    3-    0     1     2
         ---- -420  -420  -980  -590  -450



EVENT>Monday Night Invitational|SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> B E-W
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>December 12, 2016  |SANCTION>ST1612038 | 12/12/2016 22:12
---------------------,-- ------------------- -------------,---------------------
DIR> Mike Lipp       |RATING>STAC, CLUB>185264            |MOVEMENT>MITCHELL
------------,-------- ,-------------------------,--------- ---------------------
AVE>   50.0 |TOP>   4 |MP LIMITS>500/200/100    |CLUB>Monday Night Bridge
------------ --------- ------------------------- -------------------------------
PAIRS IN STRAT A=6/B=5/C=4                       ,---,-------------------------,------,---------,
-------------------------------------------------|   |           Section       |      |Section  |
No Name                   Name                   |Flt|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C| Score | Pct  |Awards   |
------------------------------------------------- --- ----- ----- ----- ------- ------ ---------
 1 Dona Koch              Sara Brown               C    .     .     .     38.00  38.00
 2 Steve Messinger        Peter Dehaan             C    .     .     .     48.00  48.00
 3 Joseph Kammer          Gail Zimmer              A    .     .     .     51.00  51.00
 4 Richard Koch           Lewis Temples            B    .     .     .     46.50  46.50
 5 Joan Diers             Evelyn McCarthy          C    2     2     2     53.50  53.50  0.53(A)
 6 Jan Thurnau            Bob Olexsey              C    1     1     1     63.00  63.00  0.75(A)

                                          Totals                         300.00


                  **PAIRS**
BOARD     1     2     3     4     5     6
  /
   1>     0           3     3     1     3
         -50   ----  420   420   170   420

   2>     3           1     0     3     3
         100   ----  -50  -150   100   100

   3>     1-          1-    1-    4     1-
        -130   ---- -130  -130   110  -130

   4>     1           3-    0     3-    2
        -110   ----  100  -200   100   -90

   5>     2-          2-     -    4      -
         110   ----  110   -50   420   -50

   6>     2     4           0     2     2
         650   680   ---- -100   650   650

   7>     0     2-          2-    4     1
        -990  -620   ---- -620   100  -630

   8>     2     1           0     3-    3-
         130   100   ----  -50   150   150

   9>     1     2           3     0     4
        -480  -420   ---- -200  -500  -170

  10>      -     -          4     2     3
        -400  -400   ---- -100  -200  -120

  11>      -     -    3           3     3
         450   450   480   ----  480   480

  12>     1     2     3-          0     3-
         -50   110   130   ---- -150   130

  13>      -    4     2-           -    2-
        -600   200   100   ---- -600   100

  14>     1-    0     1-          4     3
          90   -50    90   ----  130   100

  15>     1     1     1           3     4
        -630  -630  -630   ---- -110   200

  16>     3     4     1-    1-          0
        -120   150  -170  -170   ---- -460

  17>      -     -    2-    4           2-
        -450  -450  -420    50   ---- -420

  18>     1     2     3     0           4
        -300  -150   -90  -800   ----  200

  19>     0     1     2     4           3
        -400    50   170   650   ----  620

  20>     2     2     0     4           2
         120   120    90   150   ----  120

  21>     3-    1     3-    0     2
         400   100   400  -100   170   ----

  22>     2      -     -    3-    3-
          90  -100  -100   630   630   ----

  23>     1     4     3     2     0
          90   200   150   110  -200   ----

  24>     3     2     1     0     4
          50   -50  -100  -140   100   ----

  25>     4     0     2     2     2
         170  -140    50    50    50   ----

  26>           1-    3     0     1-    4
         ---- -100  PASS  -200  -100   110

  27>           3      -    3      -    3
         ----   50  -170    50  -170    50

  28>           2     2     2     2     2
         ----  130   130   130   130   130

  29>           3     3     3     0     1
         ----  110   110   110  -170  -110

  30>           4      -    3      -    2
         ----  980   420   590   420   450
Monday Night Invitational, Monday Eve, December 12, 2016

Board 1
North Deals
None Vul

♠	K 4 2
♥	8 5 2
♦	K J 10 4
♣	10 9 5

♠	J 9 8
♥	A 4
♦	9 7 6 3
♣	A Q 8 2

N
W		E
S

♠	A 7 5
♥	K Q J 10 9 6 3
♦	8 5
♣	7

♠	Q 10 6 3
♥	7
♦	A Q 2
♣	K J 6 4 3

EW 4♥; EW 3N; NS 2♣; NS 1♠; NS 1♦; Par −420

West	North	East	South
	Pass	1 ♥1	Dbl
2 ♣2	2 ♦	4 ♥	Pass
Pass	Pass

Rule of 20 opener
Alert, artificial showing a 3-card limit raise or better

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	E	−1	50		4.90	0.10	A7-Klein-Coombs	A8-Mehl-Renaker
4 ♦	N	−2		100	3.70	1.30	A4-Prosise-Mess	A9-Duncan-Newman
4 ♦	N	−3		150	2.50	2.50	A13-Callif-Kreitzer	A10-Brendamour-Campbell
4 ♥	E	4		420	1.30	3.70	A14-Lin-Hubka	A11-Ma-Goyal
4 ♥×	E	4		590	0.10	4.90	A5-Brown-Felson	A12-Earls-Lubow
4 ♠	E	−1	50		4.00	0.00	B1-Mackey-Kobida	B1-Koch-Brown
2 ♥	E	4		170	3.00	1.00	B6-Pretz-Oblinger	B5-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♥	E	4		420	1.00	3.00	B3-Kennedy-Burns	B4-Koch-Temples
4 ♥	E	4		420	1.00	3.00	B4-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	B6-Thurnau-Olexsey
4 ♥	E	4		420	1.00	3.00	B5-Elliott-Runda	B3-Kammer-Zimmer

Important--East's hand is not a preempt. Rinse. Repeat.

E/W lose one Spade trick and two Diamonds. Why not two Spade losers on a Spade lead? Declarer is going to be forced to take the Club finesse in order to pitch a loser. On a non-Spade lead, the finesse won't result in any additional losers if it fails, since declarer can return to dummy with the ♥ A and pitch a Spade loser on the ♣ A. On a Spade lead, declarer has to win with the ♠ A and take the Club finesse immediately. Once it works, they can throw either a Spade loser or a Diamond loser, making four. South may lead the ♦ A on the auction.

Board 2
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	K 10 5 4
♥	A 10 8 5
♦	A 8 5
♣	A J

♠	J 3
♥	Q 7 3 2
♦	3
♣	K Q 9 8 6 5

N
W		E
S

♠	9 8 2
♥	K 9 6
♦	Q J 10 9
♣	4 3 2

♠	A Q 7 6
♥	J 4
♦	K 7 6 4 2
♣	10 7

NS 4♠; NS 2N; NS 2♥; NS 3♦; EW 1♣; Par +620

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

15 to 17
Forcing, although typically it shows an invitational hand

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	N	4	620		4.90	0.10	A7-Klein-Coombs	A8-Mehl-Renaker
3 ♠	S	4	170		3.70	1.30	A14-Lin-Hubka	A11-Ma-Goyal
3 ♦	S	3	110		2.50	2.50	A4-Prosise-Mess	A9-Duncan-Newman
4 ♣	W	−2	100		1.30	3.70	A13-Callif-Kreitzer	A10-Brendamour-Campbell
4 ♠	S	−1		100	0.10	4.90	A5-Brown-Felson	A12-Earls-Lubow
1 NT	N	3	150		4.00	0.00	B3-Kennedy-Burns	B4-Koch-Temples
3 ♣	W	−1	50		3.00	1.00	B5-Elliott-Runda	B3-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	N	−1		100	1.00	3.00	B1-Mackey-Kobida	B1-Koch-Brown
3 NT	N	−1		100	1.00	3.00	B4-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	B6-Thurnau-Olexsey
4 ♠	S	−1		100	1.00	3.00	B6-Pretz-Oblinger	B5-Diers-McCarthy

South has a difficult call after West's lead-directing double of Clubs. A 3 NT bid at this points shows four Spades and game-going values (otherwise, why bid 2 ♣? Duh.), but it's also a bit worrisome without a Club stopper. It's critical that pairs play responder's 2 ♠ bid as 100% forcing. North, with a minimum hand, can bid 2 NT without four Spades or 3 ♠ with four Spades. With a maximum, opener can bid 3 NT or 4 ♠.

East will dutifully lead the ♣ 3 (MUD) against a 4 ♠ contract. N/S lose a trick in each side suit.

Board 3
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	Q 10 6 5
♥	7 6 4
♦	Q J 4
♣	7 4 2

♠	K 3 2
♥	J 10 3
♦	K 3
♣	A J 10 8 5

N
W		E
S

♠	J 9 8 7 4
♥	K 9 2
♦	10
♣	K 9 6 3

♠	A
♥	A Q 8 5
♦	A 9 8 7 6 5 2
♣	Q

NS 4♦; EW 2♠; EW 2♣; NS 1♥; Par +130

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

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♦	S	4	130		3.70	1.30	A2-Lammers-Rice	A4-Prosise-Mess
3 ♦	S	4	130		3.70	1.30	A5-Brown-Felson	A10-Brendamour-Campbell
4 ♦	S	4	130		3.70	1.30	A14-Lin-Hubka	A12-Earls-Lubow
5 ♦×	S	−1		100	1.30	3.70	A1-Terbrueggen-Schultz	A11-Ma-Goyal
1 ♠	E	2		110	0.10	4.90	A3-King-Purcell	A7-Klein-Coombs
3 ♦	S	4	130		2.50	1.50	B1-Mackey-Kobida	B1-Koch-Brown
3 ♦	S	4	130		2.50	1.50	B3-Kennedy-Burns	B4-Koch-Temples
3 ♦	S	4	130		2.50	1.50	B4-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	B6-Thurnau-Olexsey
3 ♦	S	4	130		2.50	1.50	B5-Elliott-Runda	B3-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♣	W	3		110	0.00	4.00	B6-Pretz-Oblinger	B5-Diers-McCarthy

South doubles to keep Hearts in play, but North has an easy Diamond raise, and E/W are unable to compete higher due to the vulnerability. West has a difficult lead and will probably lead the "safe" ♥ J. N/S lose one Heart trick, one Diamond, and one Club, making four.

Board 4
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	9 6
♥	J 8 2
♦	A K 10 8 6 2
♣	K 10

♠	K Q 4
♥	Q 5 4
♦	Q 4
♣	Q 9 6 5 3

N
W		E
S

♠	A 10 7
♥	K 9 6 3
♦	J 7 3
♣	A 7 2

♠	J 8 5 3 2
♥	A 10 7
♦	9 5
♣	J 8 4

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

West	North	East	South
Pass	1 ♦1	Pass	1 ♠
Pass	2 ♦	Pass	Pass
Dbl2	Pass	2 ♥	Pass
Pass	Pass

Rule of 20 opener
Balancing (Do Something Smart) double

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	W	−4	400		4.90	0.10	A3-King-Purcell	A7-Klein-Coombs
2 NT	W	−2	200		3.70	1.30	A1-Terbrueggen-Schultz	A11-Ma-Goyal
3 ♣	W	−1	100		1.90	3.10	A5-Brown-Felson	A10-Brendamour-Campbell
3 ♣	W	−1	100		1.90	3.10	A14-Lin-Hubka	A12-Earls-Lubow
2 ♦	N	−1		100	0.10	4.90	A2-Lammers-Rice	A4-Prosise-Mess
3 ♣	W	−2	200		4.00	0.00	B3-Kennedy-Burns	B4-Koch-Temples
2 ♦	N	3	110		3.00	1.00	B1-Mackey-Kobida	B1-Koch-Brown
2 ♦	N	2	90		2.00	2.00	B4-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	B6-Thurnau-Olexsey
2 ♦	N	−1		100	0.50	3.50	B5-Elliott-Runda	B3-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♦	N	−1		100	0.50	3.50	B6-Pretz-Oblinger	B5-Diers-McCarthy

Figuring they have around half the deck (20 HCP), West makes a balancing double. East bids the obvious 2 ♥, and that's the final contract. South will lead the ♦ 9 on the auction. E/W will lose two Diamond tricks, one Club trick (if they guess to play ♣ A and a second Club), and two Hearts, making two. If South leads a Club on opening lead, E/W will be down one when N/S are able to sneak in a Club ruff.

Board 5
North Deals
N-S Vul

♠	A J 3 2
♥	K 9 8 4
♦	8 7 3
♣	J 5

♠	K 9 8 6 5
♥	—
♦	A J 10 5 4
♣	A K 10

N
W		E
S

♠	10
♥	A Q J 7 6 2
♦	9
♣	Q 9 7 6 2

♠	Q 7 4
♥	10 5 3
♦	K Q 6 2
♣	8 4 3

EW 4♥; EW 3N; EW 5♣; EW 2♠; EW 2♦; Par −420

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

Rule of 20 opener
Alert, artificial Fourth-Suit Forcing bid

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
6 NT	E	−4	200		4.90	0.10	A3-King-Purcell	A5-Brown-Felson
3 ♥	E	−1	50		3.70	1.30	A4-Prosise-Mess	A8-Mehl-Renaker
3 ♥	E	3		140	2.50	2.50	A2-Lammers-Rice	A12-Earls-Lubow
3 NT	W	3		400	0.70	4.30	A7-Klein-Coombs	A1-Terbrueggen-Schultz
3 NT	W	3		400	0.70	4.30	A9-Duncan-Newman	A10-Brendamour-Campbell
3 NT	W	−1	50		3.50	0.50	B3-Kennedy-Burns	B4-Koch-Temples
3 NT	W	−1	50		3.50	0.50	B4-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	B6-Thurnau-Olexsey
2 ♠	W	2		110	1.50	2.50	B1-Mackey-Kobida	B1-Koch-Brown
2 ♥	E	2		110	1.50	2.50	B5-Elliott-Runda	B3-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♥	E	4		420	0.00	4.00	B6-Pretz-Oblinger	B5-Diers-McCarthy

On the auction, East is able to show their 6th Heart and 5th Club, but West doesn't really care and places the contract in 3 NT. This is a tough hand to defend, since N/S have to be careful not to gift declarer overtricks. If North leads a Spade, E/W will be able to score three Spade tricks. A Club lead is the safest, since E/W already have five Club tricks in the bag.

It's hard to come up with a scenario where E/W don't stumble into nine tricks--five Clubs and six non-Club tricks (two in each side suit looks the most obvious).

Board 6
East Deals
E-W Vul

♠	A
♥	J 10 8 4
♦	10 9 6 5 3
♣	5 4 2

♠	Q J 10 9 5
♥	7 6 5
♦	A 2
♣	J 8 3

N
W		E
S

♠	K 7 6 4
♥	A K Q 9 2
♦	K J
♣	A K

♠	8 3 2
♥	3
♦	Q 8 7 4
♣	Q 10 9 7 6

EW 6N; EW 5♠; EW 5♥; N 2♦; S 1♦; Par −1100: N 7♦×−5

West	North	East	South
		2 ♣	Pass
2 ♦1	Pass	2 ♥	Pass
2 ♠	Pass	3 ♠	Pass
4 ♦2	Pass	4 NT3	Pass
5 ♣4	Pass	5 ♦5	Pass
5 NT6	Pass	6 ♠	Pass
Pass	Pass

Showing an A, K, or QQ
Showing 1st or 2nd round control in Diamonds
RKB Blackwood for Spades
1430 response showing 1 or 4 keycards
Do you have the ♠ Q?
Yes, but no side-suit Kings

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
6 ♥	E	−1	100		4.90	0.10	A9-Duncan-Newman	A10-Brendamour-Campbell
4 ♦×	N	−3		500	3.70	1.30	A7-Klein-Coombs	A1-Terbrueggen-Schultz
4 ♥	E	5		650	2.50	2.50	A4-Prosise-Mess	A8-Mehl-Renaker
3 NT	E	5		660	1.30	3.70	A3-King-Purcell	A5-Brown-Felson
5 ♠	E	6		680	0.10	4.90	A2-Lammers-Rice	A12-Earls-Lubow
6 ♥	E	−1	100		4.00	0.00	B6-Pretz-Oblinger	B4-Koch-Temples
5 ♠	W	5		650	2.00	2.00	B1-Mackey-Kobida	B6-Thurnau-Olexsey
4 ♥	E	5		650	2.00	2.00	B4-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	B5-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♥	E	5		650	2.00	2.00	B5-Elliott-Runda	B1-Koch-Brown
4 ♠	W	6		680	0.00	4.00	B2-Pollack-Pollack	B2-Messinger-Dehaan

If North finds a Heart lead, 6 ♠ goes down one. Oh well. While 6 NT makes, it wouldn't be a walk in the park, since declarer would have to take a second round deep finesse in Hearts (i.e., peek in South's hand to see that they have a singleton ♥ 3). Let's pretend that we live in Happyville, and North leads the ♠ A on the go (in case it wouldn't be good later, partner).

Board 7
South Deals
Both Vul

♠	J 10 8 7 5 2
♥	A 3 2
♦	A 10 7
♣	A

♠	9 6 4 3
♥	K J 8 4
♦	K J 2
♣	J 8

N
W		E
S

♠	Q
♥	9 7 5
♦	Q 8 6 5 3
♣	Q 7 4 3

♠	A K
♥	Q 10 6
♦	9 4
♣	K 10 9 6 5 2

NS 4N; NS 4♠; NS 2♥; NS 3♣; Par +630

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

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	N	5	650		4.90	0.10	A3-King-Purcell	A13-Callif-Kreitzer
3 NT	N	4	630		3.70	1.30	A10-Brendamour-Campbell	A11-Ma-Goyal
2 NT	N	4	180		1.90	3.10	A5-Brown-Felson	A9-Duncan-Newman
2 NT	N	4	180		1.90	3.10	A8-Mehl-Renaker	A2-Lammers-Rice
2 ♥	N	4		140	0.10	4.90	A14-Lin-Hubka	A1-Terbrueggen-Schultz
4 ♠×	N	5	990		4.00	0.00	B5-Elliott-Runda	B1-Koch-Brown
3 NT	N	4	630		3.00	1.00	B1-Mackey-Kobida	B6-Thurnau-Olexsey
4 ♠	N	4	620		1.50	2.50	B2-Pollack-Pollack	B2-Messinger-Dehaan
4 ♠	N	4	620		1.50	2.50	B6-Pretz-Oblinger	B4-Koch-Temples
4 ♠	N	−1		100	0.00	4.00	B4-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	B5-Diers-McCarthy

For those of you who play XYZ (Two-Way New Minor Forcing), note that there's no reason for North to bid 2 ♦ to create a game force, since they have a better bid (i.e., 4 ♠). They don't really care whether their partner has a third Spade, and they know that partner has at least a doubleton when they rebid 1 NT.

N/S take six Spade tricks, one Heart, one Diamonds, and two Clubs, making four. You'll notice that I counted their winners rather than their losers--typically done in notrump contracts only. This one quickly turns into a notrump contract when declarer is unable to set up the Club suit. Rats. East may lead the ♥ 7 on opening lead (MUD), although nothing much matters.

Board 8
West Deals
None Vul

♠	A 5 2
♥	Q J 10 6
♦	10 8
♣	A Q 5 3

♠	J 9
♥	A K 9 4
♦	A 4 3
♣	J 9 8 7

N
W		E
S

♠	K 10 8 3
♥	7 3 2
♦	K Q 7 6 5 2
♣	—

♠	Q 7 6 4
♥	8 5
♦	J 9
♣	K 10 6 4 2

EW 3N; EW 5♦; EW 2♥; EW 1♠; NS 1♣; Par −400

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

Frequently bypass 4+♦ is marked on their convention card
Alert, artificial XYZ bid asking partner to bid 2 ♦
Alert, forced bid
Showing an invitational hand with length in Diamonds

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	S	−1	150		4.90	0.10	A14-Lin-Hubka	A1-Terbrueggen-Schultz
2 NT	W	2		120	3.70	1.30	A3-King-Purcell	A13-Callif-Kreitzer
3 ♦	E	5		150	1.90	3.10	A5-Brown-Felson	A9-Duncan-Newman
2 NT	W	3		150	1.90	3.10	A10-Brendamour-Campbell	A11-Ma-Goyal
3 NT	W	3		400	0.10	4.90	A8-Mehl-Renaker	A2-Lammers-Rice
3 NT	W	−1	50		4.00	0.00	B6-Pretz-Oblinger	B4-Koch-Temples
2 ♠	S	−2		100	3.00	1.00	B2-Pollack-Pollack	B2-Messinger-Dehaan
2 ♦	E	4		130	2.00	2.00	B5-Elliott-Runda	B1-Koch-Brown
2 ♦	E	5		150	0.50	3.50	B1-Mackey-Kobida	B6-Thurnau-Olexsey
2 ♦	E	5		150	0.50	3.50	B4-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	B5-Diers-McCarthy

Remember, don't show long Diamonds as responder if you have a 4-card major unless you have an opening hand. When partner invites in a minor suit, 3 NT is often the correct contract if you have a fit with partner. With no fit--picture ♦ 43 in the West hand on this auction--play in three of partner's minor.

North will lead the ♥ Q. West wins, and with nothing better to do, leads a Spade towards dummy's ♠ K. With the ♠ K winning, declarer quickly takes their remaining tricks and claims, making three. A common mistake on hands such as this one is for declarer to run their long suit too early, thereby creating discard problems for themselves. If West tries to take six Diamond tricks starting at trick two, what do they throw from their hand? They can't discard a Club without giving N/S five Club tricks, so they'd have to pitch two Hearts and a Spade. That's unfortunate, since North can now come down to ♠ A ♥ JT ♣ AQ5, grab the first Spade, and continue Hearts. Down one. Ugh.

Board 9
North Deals
E-W Vul

♠	A J
♥	Q J 9 6
♦	9 7
♣	A 8 4 3 2

♠	8 7
♥	A 8 5
♦	K 8 6 2
♣	J 9 6 5

N
W		E
S

♠	10 6 4 3
♥	—
♦	A Q J 10 3
♣	K Q 10 7

♠	K Q 9 5 2
♥	K 10 7 4 3 2
♦	5 4
♣	—

NS 4♥; N 3♠; S 2♠; EW 2♦; EW 2♣; Par +420

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

Negative, showing 4+ cards in both majors

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	S	6	480		5.00	0.00	A5-Brown-Felson	A7-Klein-Coombs
4 ♥	S	5	450		3.50	1.50	A8-Mehl-Renaker	A13-Callif-Kreitzer
4 ♥	N	5	450		3.50	1.50	A9-Duncan-Newman	A3-King-Purcell
3 ♥	S	4	170		2.00	3.00	A14-Lin-Hubka	A2-Lammers-Rice
5 ♥	S	−1		50	1.00	4.00	A11-Ma-Goyal	A12-Earls-Lubow
5 ♥×	N	−1		100	0.00	5.00	A4-Prosise-Mess	A1-Terbrueggen-Schultz
5 ♦×	E	−2	500		4.00	0.00	B4-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	B5-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♥	S	6	480		3.00	1.00	B5-Elliott-Runda	B1-Koch-Brown
4 ♥	S	4	420		2.00	2.00	B2-Pollack-Pollack	B2-Messinger-Dehaan
5 ♦×	E	−1	200		1.00	3.00	B6-Pretz-Oblinger	B4-Koch-Temples
3 ♥	S	4	170		0.00	4.00	B1-Mackey-Kobida	B6-Thurnau-Olexsey

Some South players may start with 1 ♥, but they're not going to enjoy the auction if West makes a preemptive jump raise in Diamonds and North passes. That wouldn't happen here--just sayin'.

N/S lose two Diamond tricks and a Heart, making four. If East leads anything other than a Diamond on opening lead, N/S make five.

Board 10
East Deals
Both Vul

♠	7 4 2
♥	J 5 3
♦	A K 9 2
♣	A 9 7

♠	A Q
♥	A
♦	10 8 7 4 3
♣	Q 8 5 4 3

N
W		E
S

♠	K 10 8 5
♥	Q 10 9 8 6
♦	J 6 5
♣	2

♠	J 9 6 3
♥	K 7 4 2
♦	Q
♣	K J 10 6

NS 2N; NS 1♠; NS 1♣; Par +120

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

Forcing bid asking for Heart stoppers for notrump

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 NT	E	−3	300		5.00	0.00	A11-Ma-Goyal	A12-Earls-Lubow
3 ♦×	W	−1	200		3.50	1.50	A5-Brown-Felson	A7-Klein-Coombs
2 ♥	E	−2	200		3.50	1.50	A8-Mehl-Renaker	A13-Callif-Kreitzer
2 ♦	W	−1	100		2.00	3.00	A4-Prosise-Mess	A1-Terbrueggen-Schultz
2 ♦	W	2		90	1.00	4.00	A14-Lin-Hubka	A2-Lammers-Rice
2 ♦	W	3		110	0.00	5.00	A9-Duncan-Newman	A3-King-Purcell
3 NT	W	−4	400		3.50	0.50	B2-Pollack-Pollack	B2-Messinger-Dehaan
3 ♣	W	−4	400		3.50	0.50	B5-Elliott-Runda	B1-Koch-Brown
2 ♣	W	−2	200		2.00	2.00	B4-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	B5-Diers-McCarthy
2 NT	N	2	120		1.00	3.00	B1-Mackey-Kobida	B6-Thurnau-Olexsey
2 NT	W	−1	100		0.00	4.00	B6-Pretz-Oblinger	B4-Koch-Temples

North, with a maximum hand and no clear bid on the auction, cuebids East's Hearts. South, with ♥ Kxxx, is happy to throw in a 2 NT bid, and the auction ends there. N/S take three Diamond tricks, four Clubs, and a Heart when the ♥ A falls singleton, making two. West will probably lead a small Diamond on opening lead.

Board 11
South Deals
None Vul

♠	10 4
♥	K 10 8 4 2
♦	7 6 2
♣	K 8 4

♠	K Q 7 3 2
♥	J 3
♦	A 9 8 4 3
♣	2

N
W		E
S

♠	A J 9 8
♥	A 9 5
♦	K Q
♣	Q 10 9 7

♠	6 5
♥	Q 7 6
♦	J 10 5
♣	A J 6 5 3

EW 6♠; EW 4N; EW 5♦; W 1♥; EW 1♣; Par −980

West	North	East	South
			Pass
1 ♠1	Pass	2 NT2	Pass
3 ♣3	Pass	4 NT4	Pass
5 ♠5	Pass	6 ♠	Pass
Pass	Pass

Rule of 20 opener
Alert, artificial Jacoby 2 NT bid showing a strong Spade raise
Alert, showing shortness in Clubs
RKC Blackwood for Spades
1430 response showing 2 or 5 keycards with the ♠ Q

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	W	6		480	2.50	2.50	A7-Klein-Coombs	A11-Ma-Goyal
4 ♠	W	6		480	2.50	2.50	A9-Duncan-Newman	A1-Terbrueggen-Schultz
4 ♠	W	6		480	2.50	2.50	A10-Brendamour-Campbell	A4-Prosise-Mess
4 ♠	W	6		480	2.50	2.50	A12-Earls-Lubow	A13-Callif-Kreitzer
4 ♠	E	6		480	2.50	2.50	A14-Lin-Hubka	A3-King-Purcell
4 ♠	W	5		450	3.50	0.50	B2-Pollack-Pollack	B1-Koch-Brown
4 ♠	W	5		450	3.50	0.50	B6-Pretz-Oblinger	B2-Messinger-Dehaan
4 ♠	W	6		480	1.00	3.00	B1-Mackey-Kobida	B5-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♠	W	6		480	1.00	3.00	B3-Kennedy-Burns	B3-Kammer-Zimmer
5 ♠	E	6		480	1.00	3.00	B5-Elliott-Runda	B6-Thurnau-Olexsey

The room should be in 6 ♠ on this hand. If a pair isn't in slam, make it a point to mock them.

E/W lose one Club trick, making six, when dummy's Heart losers go away on the long Diamonds. A trump lead looks safe.

Board 12
West Deals
N-S Vul

♠	K 8 6 3
♥	10 9 5 3
♦	Q 8 7
♣	A 9

♠	10
♥	K 6 2
♦	6 5 4
♣	K Q 10 7 6 3

N
W		E
S

♠	A Q J 4
♥	J 8 7
♦	K J 9
♣	J 8 5

♠	9 7 5 2
♥	A Q 4
♦	A 10 3 2
♣	4 2

EW 2N; EW 3♣; NS 1♥; E 1♦; Par −120

West	North	East	South
3 ♣	Pass	Pass	Pass

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♣	E	2		90	4.90	0.10	A12-Earls-Lubow	A13-Callif-Kreitzer
1 NT	W	2		120	3.70	1.30	A10-Brendamour-Campbell	A4-Prosise-Mess
3 ♣	W	4		130	2.50	2.50	A14-Lin-Hubka	A3-King-Purcell
1 NT	W	3		150	1.30	3.70	A9-Duncan-Newman	A1-Terbrueggen-Schultz
4 ♠	N	−5		500	0.10	4.90	A7-Klein-Coombs	A11-Ma-Goyal
3 ♦	E	−3	150		4.00	0.00	B1-Mackey-Kobida	B5-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	E	−1	50		3.00	1.00	B2-Pollack-Pollack	B1-Koch-Brown
3 ♣	E	3		110	2.00	2.00	B6-Pretz-Oblinger	B2-Messinger-Dehaan
3 ♣	W	4		130	0.50	3.50	B3-Kennedy-Burns	B3-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♣	E	4		130	0.50	3.50	B5-Elliott-Runda	B6-Thurnau-Olexsey

The vulnerability will keep N/S quiet on this hand. It will also keep East from bidding 3 NT. Why? If E/W were vulnerable, East could count on their partner having something like ♣ AKxxxxx. E/W lose one Club trick, one Heart, and two Diamonds. North might lead ♣ A and another Club on opening lead.

Board 13
North Deals
Both Vul

♠	9 8 5 3
♥	K 6 3
♦	9 7 3 2
♣	K 8

♠	Q J 10 7
♥	Q 8
♦	K 8
♣	9 6 5 3 2

N
W		E
S

♠	K 6 4
♥	9 7 5 4 2
♦	J 10 6
♣	J 10

♠	A 2
♥	A J 10
♦	A Q 5 4
♣	A Q 7 4

NS 3N; NS 5♦; NS 3♠; NS 2♥; S 3♣; N 2♣; Par +600

West	North	East	South
	Pass	Pass	2 NT1
Pass	3 ♣2	Pass	3 NT3
Pass	Pass	Pass

20 to 21
Puppet Stayman, asking for a 4- or 5-card major
Alert, denying a 4- or 5-card major

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	S	4	630		5.00	0.00	A10-Brendamour-Campbell	A2-Lammers-Rice
3 NT	S	−1		100	2.00	3.00	A7-Klein-Coombs	A9-Duncan-Newman
3 NT	S	−1		100	2.00	3.00	A8-Mehl-Renaker	A12-Earls-Lubow
3 NT	S	−1		100	2.00	3.00	A11-Ma-Goyal	A5-Brown-Felson
3 NT	S	−1		100	2.00	3.00	A13-Callif-Kreitzer	A1-Terbrueggen-Schultz
3 NT	S	−1		100	2.00	3.00	A14-Lin-Hubka	A4-Prosise-Mess
3 NT	S	3	600		3.50	0.50	B1-Mackey-Kobida	B5-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	S	3	600		3.50	0.50	B2-Pollack-Pollack	B1-Koch-Brown
3 NT	S	−1		100	1.50	2.50	B3-Kennedy-Burns	B3-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	S	−1		100	1.50	2.50	B5-Elliott-Runda	B6-Thurnau-Olexsey
3 NT	S	−2		200	0.00	4.00	B6-Pretz-Oblinger	B2-Messinger-Dehaan

N/S take three Club tricks, one Spade, two (or three) Hearts, and two (or three) Diamonds. It's likely that a number of N/S pairs will go down one when E/W are able to collect three Spade tricks and two Diamonds. Stupid E/W pairs. West will lead the ♠ Q.

Board 14
East Deals
None Vul

♠	K 10 5 2
♥	Q 9 6 3 2
♦	Q J
♣	9 2

♠	A 9 7 3
♥	8
♦	10 9 8 6 2
♣	A 10 6

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 8
♥	A K J 7 5
♦	A 7 5
♣	8 7 4

♠	J 6 4
♥	10 4
♦	K 4 3
♣	K Q J 5 3

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

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

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

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	E	−2	100		5.00	0.00	A10-Brendamour-Campbell	A2-Lammers-Rice
3 ♦	E	−1	50		4.00	1.00	A11-Ma-Goyal	A5-Brown-Felson
1 NT	E	1		90	3.00	2.00	A14-Lin-Hubka	A4-Prosise-Mess
2 NT	N	−2		100	1.50	3.50	A7-Klein-Coombs	A9-Duncan-Newman
2 NT×	N	−1		100	1.50	3.50	A13-Callif-Kreitzer	A1-Terbrueggen-Schultz
1 NT	E	2		120	0.00	5.00	A8-Mehl-Renaker	A12-Earls-Lubow
1 NT	E	−1	50		4.00	0.00	B6-Pretz-Oblinger	B2-Messinger-Dehaan
1 NT	W	1		90	2.50	1.50	B2-Pollack-Pollack	B1-Koch-Brown
1 NT	E	1		90	2.50	1.50	B3-Kennedy-Burns	B3-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♠	N	−2		100	1.00	3.00	B5-Elliott-Runda	B6-Thurnau-Olexsey
3 ♦	E	4		130	0.00	4.00	B1-Mackey-Kobida	B5-Diers-McCarthy

West, with two bullets and good Diamond spot cards, feels like 2 ♦ will play better than 1 NT. They're correct here, and 2 ♦ making three scores well. E/W lose two trump tricks and two Spades, assuming that North leads the ♦ Q. Declarer's two losing Clubs will go away on dummy's high Hearts. If North leads the ♣ 9, declarer will win in hand with the ♣ A, immediately finesse the ♥ J, and cash the ♥ AK, pitching two Clubs as South ruffs, costing N/S their second natural trump trick.

Board 15
South Deals
N-S Vul

♠	8 4
♥	A 9 8 4 2
♦	Q 8 4
♣	Q 9 6

♠	A 2
♥	Q J 3
♦	9 5 3
♣	K 10 8 5 3

N
W		E
S

♠	10 9 7 6 5 3
♥	K 10 7 6 5
♦	K 7
♣	—

♠	K Q J
♥	—
♦	A J 10 6 2
♣	A J 7 4 2

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

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

Preemptive jump overcall
Denying 3+ Hearts
Asking for a Spade stopper for notrump

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♦	S	5	600		4.50	0.50	A8-Mehl-Renaker	A10-Brendamour-Campbell
5 ♦	S	5	600		4.50	0.50	A9-Duncan-Newman	A13-Callif-Kreitzer
3 ♦	S	4	130		3.00	2.00	A11-Ma-Goyal	A3-King-Purcell
3 ♣	S	3	110		2.00	3.00	A14-Lin-Hubka	A5-Brown-Felson
5 ♣	S	−1		100	1.00	4.00	A1-Terbrueggen-Schultz	A2-Lammers-Rice
2 ♠×	E	2		470	0.00	5.00	A7-Klein-Coombs	A4-Prosise-Mess
3 NT	S	4	630		3.00	1.00	B2-Pollack-Pollack	B1-Koch-Brown
3 NT	S	4	630		3.00	1.00	B3-Kennedy-Burns	B3-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	S	4	630		3.00	1.00	B6-Pretz-Oblinger	B2-Messinger-Dehaan
3 ♦	S	3	110		1.00	3.00	B1-Mackey-Kobida	B5-Diers-McCarthy
2 NT	S	−2		200	0.00	4.00	B5-Elliott-Runda	B6-Thurnau-Olexsey

It's a good idea to play Support Doubles up through three of partner's suit--in this case, through 3 ♥. South's 3 ♣ rebid shows extra values and denies 3-card Heart support.

N/S take two Spade tricks, five Diamonds, one Club, and one Heart, making three. If West somehow finds the ♥ Q lead, declarer will have to duck twice and pray later when they lead a Spade. Phew.

Some E/W pairs will find the good 4 ♠ sacrifice, going down two doubled for –300.

Board 16
West Deals
E-W Vul

♠	Q J 9 5
♥	K Q 10 9 3
♦	10
♣	9 8 3

♠	10 6 3
♥	8 7 6 5
♦	Q 7 3
♣	7 6 2

N
W		E
S

♠	K 7 4 2
♥	4
♦	K J 5 2
♣	A K Q 10

♠	A 8
♥	A J 2
♦	A 9 8 6 4
♣	J 5 4

NS 4♥; NS 2N; NS 1♠; NS 1♦; Par +420

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

North borrows a King from partner and balances
South lends a King to partner, but still has enough to show a limit raise

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♣×	N	3	280		5.00	0.00	A7-Klein-Coombs	A4-Prosise-Mess
3 ♥	N	4	170		4.00	1.00	A11-Ma-Goyal	A3-King-Purcell
2 ♥	N	3	140		2.50	2.50	A9-Duncan-Newman	A13-Callif-Kreitzer
2 ♥	N	3	140		2.50	2.50	A14-Lin-Hubka	A5-Brown-Felson
2 ♥	N	2	110		1.00	4.00	A8-Mehl-Renaker	A10-Brendamour-Campbell
2 ♦	S	−2		100	0.00	5.00	A1-Terbrueggen-Schultz	A2-Lammers-Rice
1 ♥×	N	4	460		4.00	0.00	B2-Pollack-Pollack	B6-Thurnau-Olexsey
2 ♥	N	4	170		2.50	1.50	B1-Mackey-Kobida	B3-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♥	N	4	170		2.50	1.50	B4-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	B4-Koch-Temples
1 NT	S	2	120		1.00	3.00	B6-Pretz-Oblinger	B1-Koch-Brown
2 ♦	S	−3		150	0.00	4.00	B3-Kennedy-Burns	B2-Messinger-Dehaan

The "borrowing of a King" in a balancing auction is a common Bridge practice. Problems occur though if one partner is borrowing a King and the other partner fails to subtract the King from their hand. On this auction, bad bidding may be rewarded when 4 ♥ (a bad contract) makes. Stupid bad contracts.

East will lead the ♣ K on opening lead (asking for count) and continue with Clubs. A trump switch at trick four looks marked, but it doesn't matter when the Spade finesse is on and declarer is able to cross ruff the rest of the hand, making four.

Board 17
North Deals
None Vul

♠	9 8 6
♥	J 8
♦	Q 8 6 4
♣	K 9 6 4

♠	10 3
♥	10 7
♦	A K 7 2
♣	A Q 8 5 3

N
W		E
S

♠	7 2
♥	9 6 5 4 3 2
♦	5 3
♣	J 10 7

♠	A K Q J 5 4
♥	A K Q
♦	J 10 9
♣	2

NS 4N; NS 3♠; NS 3♦; EW 1♥; EW 1♣; Par +430

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

Showing an A, K, or QQ
Alert, setting Spades as trump and asking for control bids
Showing 1st or 2nd round control of Clubs
Showing 1st or 2nd round control of Hearts (denying control in Diamonds)

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♣×	W	−5	1100		5.00	0.00	A9-Duncan-Newman	A11-Ma-Goyal
4 ♠	S	5	450		4.00	1.00	A12-Earls-Lubow	A4-Prosise-Mess
4 ♠	S	−1		50	2.00	3.00	A2-Lammers-Rice	A3-King-Purcell
4 ♠	S	−1		50	2.00	3.00	A8-Mehl-Renaker	A5-Brown-Felson
4 ♠	S	−1		50	2.00	3.00	A10-Brendamour-Campbell	A1-Terbrueggen-Schultz
5 ♠×	S	−1		100	0.00	5.00	A13-Callif-Kreitzer	A7-Klein-Coombs
4 ♠	S	5	450		3.50	0.50	B3-Kennedy-Burns	B2-Messinger-Dehaan
4 ♠	S	5	450		3.50	0.50	B6-Pretz-Oblinger	B1-Koch-Brown
4 ♠	S	4	420		1.50	2.50	B1-Mackey-Kobida	B3-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♠	S	4	420		1.50	2.50	B2-Pollack-Pollack	B6-Thurnau-Olexsey
4 ♠	S	−1		50	0.00	4.00	B4-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	B4-Koch-Temples

A jump to 3 ♥ or 3 ♠ in a 2 ♣ auction sets trumps immediately and demands control bids from partner. N/S lose two Diamonds, a Club, and a Diamond ruff, down one. West will lead the ♦ K, asking for count, and when East echoes to show two when the ♦ A is played, cashes the ♣ A and plays a third Diamond. Don't torture your partner by continuing with a third Diamond immediately, expecting them to somehow divine that they should return a Club. Are you a sadist? Stupid sadists.

Board 18
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	A 8 4
♥	Q 6 4
♦	A 2
♣	A J 8 7 3

♠	J
♥	A K 3
♦	K 7 4
♣	K Q 10 6 5 4

N
W		E
S

♠	10 7 6 3 2
♥	10 8 7 2
♦	Q 9 3
♣	2

♠	K Q 9 5
♥	J 9 5
♦	J 10 8 6 5
♣	9

NS 2♠; NS 3♦; NS 1N; NS 1♥; Par +110

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

15 to 18

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♣×	W	−2	300		5.00	0.00	A12-Earls-Lubow	A4-Prosise-Mess
3 ♣	W	−3	150		3.50	1.50	A9-Duncan-Newman	A11-Ma-Goyal
3 ♣	W	−3	150		3.50	1.50	A13-Callif-Kreitzer	A7-Klein-Coombs
2 ♣×	W	−1	100		1.50	3.50	A8-Mehl-Renaker	A5-Brown-Felson
2 ♣	W	−2	100		1.50	3.50	A10-Brendamour-Campbell	A1-Terbrueggen-Schultz
2 NT	N	−1		100	0.00	5.00	A2-Lammers-Rice	A3-King-Purcell
4 ♣×	W	−4	800		4.00	0.00	B4-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	B4-Koch-Temples
2 ♣×	W	−2	300		3.00	1.00	B6-Pretz-Oblinger	B1-Koch-Brown
3 ♣	W	−3	150		2.00	2.00	B3-Kennedy-Burns	B2-Messinger-Dehaan
1 NT	N	1	90		1.00	3.00	B1-Mackey-Kobida	B3-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♠	S	−2		200	0.00	4.00	B2-Pollack-Pollack	B6-Thurnau-Olexsey

If South sneaks in a Garbage Stayman bid (not recommended with 3-4 in the majors), they'll get a top. They're also just as likely to get a bottom when partner holds a slightly different hand. N/S take four Spade tricks, two Diamonds (or one Heart and one Diamond), and a Club, making one. East will probably lead a small Spade. Note that Hearts is a frozen suit--whoever leads Hearts first gives their opponents a trick.

Board 19
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	9 5
♥	K Q J 6 3 2
♦	7
♣	9 7 6 2

♠	K J 10 7 4 2
♥	9 4
♦	A 10 5 2
♣	J

N
W		E
S

♠	8 6 3
♥	8 7
♦	K J 9 8 6
♣	A K 4

♠	A Q
♥	A 10 5
♦	Q 4 3
♣	Q 10 8 5 3

EW 3♠; EW 4♦; NS 2♥; NS 3♣; Par −130

West	North	East	South
			1 NT1
2 ♠2	2 NT3	3 ♠	Pass
Pass	Pass

15 to 17
Alert, showing a sub-opening hand with 6+ Spades
Alert, relay to 3 ♣

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♥	N	3	140		5.00	0.00	A10-Brendamour-Campbell	A12-Earls-Lubow
4 ♥	N	−1		50	2.50	2.50	A1-Terbrueggen-Schultz	A8-Mehl-Renaker
4 ♥	N	−1		50	2.50	2.50	A3-King-Purcell	A4-Prosise-Mess
4 ♥	N	−1		50	2.50	2.50	A11-Ma-Goyal	A2-Lammers-Rice
4 ♥	N	−1		50	2.50	2.50	A13-Callif-Kreitzer	A5-Brown-Felson
4 ♠	W	4		620	0.00	5.00	A14-Lin-Hubka	A7-Klein-Coombs
3 NT	S	3	400		4.00	0.00	B6-Pretz-Oblinger	B1-Koch-Brown
3 NT	S	−1		50	3.00	1.00	B3-Kennedy-Burns	B2-Messinger-Dehaan
2 ♠	W	4		170	2.00	2.00	B1-Mackey-Kobida	B3-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♠	W	4		620	1.00	3.00	B2-Pollack-Pollack	B6-Thurnau-Olexsey
4 ♠	W	5		650	0.00	4.00	B4-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	B4-Koch-Temples

North attempts to play in 3 ♥, but East's Spade raise nixes that. E/W lose one Spade trick, two Hearts, and a Diamond ruff on perfect defense. North will lead the ♥ K on opening lead and continue with the ♥ Q. A switch to the ♦ 7 (beer card) at trick three will hold E/W to nine tricks, since South will hop on the first trump lead and give partner their Diamond ruff.

Board 20
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	A K 3
♥	10 9 8
♦	J 6 3
♣	7 6 5 2

♠	Q 7 4
♥	A K 7 5
♦	A 10 7
♣	A 10 3

N
W		E
S

♠	10 9 6 5
♥	Q 6 4 3
♦	9 4 2
♣	K J

♠	J 8 2
♥	J 2
♦	K Q 8 5
♣	Q 9 8 4

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

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

15 to 17
Garbage (or crawling) Stayman

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
1 NT	W	2		120	4.50	0.50	A10-Brendamour-Campbell	A12-Earls-Lubow
1 NT	W	2		120	4.50	0.50	A11-Ma-Goyal	A2-Lammers-Rice
1 NT	W	3		150	3.00	2.00	A3-King-Purcell	A4-Prosise-Mess
2 ♥	W	4		170	1.00	4.00	A1-Terbrueggen-Schultz	A8-Mehl-Renaker
2 ♥	W	4		170	1.00	4.00	A13-Callif-Kreitzer	A5-Brown-Felson
2 ♥	W	4		170	1.00	4.00	A14-Lin-Hubka	A7-Klein-Coombs
1 NT	W	1		90	4.00	0.00	B1-Mackey-Kobida	B3-Kammer-Zimmer
1 NT	W	2		120	2.00	2.00	B2-Pollack-Pollack	B6-Thurnau-Olexsey
1 NT	W	2		120	2.00	2.00	B3-Kennedy-Burns	B2-Messinger-Dehaan
1 NT	W	2		120	2.00	2.00	B6-Pretz-Oblinger	B1-Koch-Brown
1 NT	W	3		150	0.00	4.00	B4-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	B4-Koch-Temples

With a weak hand and 4-4 (or better) in the majors, use 2 ♣ as Garbage or Crawling Stayman. If partner bids 2 ♦, bid 2 ♥ (or a 5-card Spade suit if you have one). With a doubleton Heart, partner will "crawl up" to 2 ♠.

E/W lose two Spade tricks and two Diamonds, making three. If declarer manages to successfully finesse against the ♣ Q and pitch a Diamond from dummy, they're still going to lose a third Spade trick if N/S are careful.

Board 21
North Deals
N-S Vul

♠	9 4 3
♥	K 9 8 6 2
♦	A K 7 5
♣	8

♠	K Q J 8
♥	A 3
♦	10 8 6 2
♣	K J 3

N
W		E
S

♠	A 7 5 2
♥	J 10 7 5 4
♦	—
♣	10 6 5 4

♠	10 6
♥	Q
♦	Q J 9 4 3
♣	A Q 9 7 2

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

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

Overcalling with a 4-card major works with length in opener's minor and an opening hand
Showing 5+ Hearts and 10+ HCP (Five-and-Dime)

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♦	S	−1		100	4.50	0.50	A11-Ma-Goyal	A13-Callif-Kreitzer
4 ♦	S	−1		100	4.50	0.50	A12-Earls-Lubow	A3-King-Purcell
2 ♠	W	3		140	2.50	2.50	A10-Brendamour-Campbell	A7-Klein-Coombs
3 ♠	W	3		140	2.50	2.50	A14-Lin-Hubka	A8-Mehl-Renaker
4 ♦	N	−2		200	1.00	4.00	A2-Lammers-Rice	A9-Duncan-Newman
4 ♦×	S	−2		500	0.00	5.00	A4-Prosise-Mess	A5-Brown-Felson
4 ♠	W	−2	100		4.00	0.00	B2-Pollack-Pollack	B4-Koch-Temples
3 ♦	S	−1		100	3.00	1.00	B1-Mackey-Kobida	B2-Messinger-Dehaan
2 ♠	W	4		170	2.00	2.00	B5-Elliott-Runda	B5-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♣	S	−4		400	0.50	3.50	B3-Kennedy-Burns	B1-Koch-Brown
3 ♣	S	−4		400	0.50	3.50	B4-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	B3-Kammer-Zimmer

East happily bids 3 ♠, confident in the fact that they have a nine-card fit with partner. They don't, but that's okay. E/W lose one Heart trick, one Club trick, a Club ruff, making three, although some E/W pairs will go down one if they try and pull trump before ruffing a jillion red cards. North will lead their ♣ 8 on opening lead.

South wins trick one, and plays a small Club for partner to ruff. Now a Spade switch looks best. Declarer wins in hand with the ♠ K, cashes the ♠ Q removing the last of the opponent's trumps, and leads ♥ A and another Heart. North has to be careful not to play the ♥ K, since this will give E/W the rest of the tricks. When North inserts the ♥ 8, declarer can win with the ♥T, but they're going to lose two Heart tricks in the end when they have to lead away from the ♥T into North's ♥ K9. Nicely defended!

Board 22
East Deals
E-W Vul

♠	K 6 5 4
♥	J 7 6 2
♦	8 6 5 4
♣	K

♠	A 8 7
♥	Q
♦	K 9 7 3
♣	A J 8 7 4

N
W		E
S

♠	Q J 10 9
♥	K 10 5 4 3
♦	A J
♣	5 3

♠	3 2
♥	A 9 8
♦	Q 10 2
♣	Q 10 9 6 2

EW 3N; EW 3♠; EW 2♥; W 3♣; EW 2♦; E 2♣; Par −600

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

Rule of 20 opener
Not a reverse in a 2/1 auction

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	W	−2	200		5.00	0.00	A12-Earls-Lubow	A3-King-Purcell
3 NT	W	−1	100		3.50	1.50	A2-Lammers-Rice	A9-Duncan-Newman
3 NT	W	−1	100		3.50	1.50	A14-Lin-Hubka	A8-Mehl-Renaker
2 ♥	W	2		110	2.00	3.00	A11-Ma-Goyal	A13-Callif-Kreitzer
3 NT	W	3		600	1.00	4.00	A4-Prosise-Mess	A5-Brown-Felson
4 ♠	W	5		650	0.00	5.00	A10-Brendamour-Campbell	A7-Klein-Coombs
3 NT	W	−1	100		3.50	0.50	B1-Mackey-Kobida	B2-Messinger-Dehaan
2 NT	W	−1	100		3.50	0.50	B4-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	B3-Kammer-Zimmer
1 NT	W	1		90	2.00	2.00	B3-Kennedy-Burns	B1-Koch-Brown
3 NT	E	4		630	0.50	3.50	B2-Pollack-Pollack	B4-Koch-Temples
3 NT	E	4		630	0.50	3.50	B5-Elliott-Runda	B5-Diers-McCarthy

What would East's rebid have been after 1 ♥ - Pass - 1 NT (Forcing) - Pass? Yup, it would have been 2 ♣, natural. Yummy.

E/W take three Spade tricks, one Heart, three Diamonds, and two Clubs, assuming they drop the stiff ♣ K and later lead through the ♣ Q--not likely. North will probably lead the ♦ 8 on opening lead (attitude lead--high card says "Diamonds make me puke.")

Board 23
South Deals
Both Vul

♠	K Q 8 3
♥	Q 7 6
♦	A 10 2
♣	8 6 2

♠	9 2
♥	9 8 5 4
♦	K J 8 5 4
♣	Q 10

N
W		E
S

♠	J 10 7 4
♥	K 10
♦	Q 3
♣	A K J 9 7

♠	A 6 5
♥	A J 3 2
♦	9 7 6
♣	5 4 3

NS 1N; NS 1♠; NS 1♥; EW 1♦; EW 1♣; Par +90

West	North	East	South
			Pass
Pass	Pass	1 NT1	Pass
Pass	Dbl2	Pass	Pass
Pass

15 to 17
Balancing double for penalty

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♥	S	3	140		5.00	0.00	A11-Ma-Goyal	A8-Mehl-Renaker
2 NT	E	−1	100		3.50	1.50	A12-Earls-Lubow	A1-Terbrueggen-Schultz
2 ♣	E	−1	100		3.50	1.50	A13-Callif-Kreitzer	A4-Prosise-Mess
2 ♣	E	3		110	1.50	3.50	A2-Lammers-Rice	A7-Klein-Coombs
2 ♦	W	3		110	1.50	3.50	A3-King-Purcell	A10-Brendamour-Campbell
2 ♠	N	−2		200	0.00	5.00	A14-Lin-Hubka	A9-Duncan-Newman
3 NT	E	−2	200		4.00	0.00	B5-Elliott-Runda	B5-Diers-McCarthy
2 ♣	E	2		90	3.00	1.00	B3-Kennedy-Burns	B1-Koch-Brown
2 ♣	E	3		110	2.00	2.00	B2-Pollack-Pollack	B4-Koch-Temples
1 NT	E	3		150	1.00	3.00	B4-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	B3-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♥	S	−2		200	0.00	4.00	B1-Mackey-Kobida	B2-Messinger-Dehaan

While it's unwise to play that a direct-seat double of a strong notrump opening is for penalty, it's highly recommended to play that a balancing double be for penalty (and show a weak notrump range). Why is that? When defending 1 NT, it's ideal for both defenders to have a smattering of values--11 HCP in each hand would be perfect. With too many HCP in a single hand, the strong defender will face the same issues as the 1 NT opener--how in the heck do I get to partner's hand to lead towards all of my pretty high cards?

On this hand, N/S take three Spade tricks, three Heart tricks, and a Diamond, for down one doubled (+200 for those of you who aren't sure how to keep score).

Board 24
West Deals
None Vul

♠	J 10 6 4
♥	A K 7 4 2
♦	4
♣	K 9 8

♠	K 2
♥	Q 6 5
♦	K J 8
♣	A J 4 3 2

N
W		E
S

♠	A Q 9 5 3
♥	8 3
♦	Q 9 7 5 3
♣	Q

♠	8 7
♥	J 10 9
♦	A 10 6 2
♣	10 7 6 5

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

West	North	East	South
1 NT1	2 ♥2	Dbl3	Pass
Pass	Pass

15 to 17
Alert, showing Hearts and Spades, at least 5-4 respectively
Showing values, ostensibly for penalty

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♦×	E	−2	300		5.00	0.00	A11-Ma-Goyal	A8-Mehl-Renaker
3 NT	W	−3	150		4.00	1.00	A3-King-Purcell	A10-Brendamour-Campbell
3 NT	W	−2	100		3.00	2.00	A14-Lin-Hubka	A9-Duncan-Newman
3 NT	W	−1	50		2.00	3.00	A12-Earls-Lubow	A1-Terbrueggen-Schultz
3 ♥	N	−1		50	1.00	4.00	A13-Callif-Kreitzer	A4-Prosise-Mess
4 ♦	E	4		130	0.00	5.00	A2-Lammers-Rice	A7-Klein-Coombs
3 ♥	N	3	140		4.00	0.00	B2-Pollack-Pollack	B4-Koch-Temples
2 NT	W	−2	100		3.00	1.00	B4-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	B3-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♣	W	−1	50		2.00	2.00	B1-Mackey-Kobida	B2-Messinger-Dehaan
2 ♥	N	−1		50	1.00	3.00	B3-Kennedy-Burns	B1-Koch-Brown
3 ♥	N	−2		100	0.00	4.00	B5-Elliott-Runda	B5-Diers-McCarthy

What would you bid with the East cards on this auction? 3 ♠, natural and game forcing, showing exactly five cards in Spades? That's a little worrisome, when your RHO has just shown 4+ Spades. 3 NT, showing stoppers in both majors for notrump? Um, ♥ 83 is a fairly optimistic stopper. 3 ♦? Not too horrible, but unfortunately, it's game forcing and it creates the same problems as in the other auctions. 2 NT, Lebensohl, and sign off in 3 ♦ after partner's obligatory 3 ♣ bid? Perfect, but only if you have the hand record in advance. Stupid hand record.

In 2 ♥ doubled, N/S lose one Club trick, two Club ruffs, and three Spade tricks (or a Spade overruff) for down one. That will score well for E/W, since the rest of the room will be down one (or two) in 3 NT (or 4 ♠).

Board 25
North Deals
E-W Vul

♠	Q J 8 6 5
♥	K 5
♦	10 8 6 4
♣	10 7

♠	10 9 3
♥	A Q J 8 7 4 3
♦	—
♣	A J 4

N
W		E
S

♠	A 4 2
♥	6 2
♦	Q 7 5 3 2
♣	Q 5 3

♠	K 7
♥	10 9
♦	A K J 9
♣	K 9 8 6 2

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

West	North	East	South
	Pass	Pass	1 ♣1
1 ♥	1 ♠2	Dbl3	Pass
3 ♥	Pass	Pass	Pass

Two strikes against it for a 1 NT opener
Showing 5+ Spades
Alert, Snapdragon double showing 5+ Diamonds, exactly two Hearts, and the values to take a bid

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♦	S	−2		100	4.90	0.10	A14-Lin-Hubka	A10-Brendamour-Campbell
3 ♥	W	3		140	3.10	1.90	A12-Earls-Lubow	A9-Duncan-Newman
3 ♥	W	3		140	3.10	1.90	A13-Callif-Kreitzer	A2-Lammers-Rice
3 ♥	W	4		170	1.30	3.70	A3-King-Purcell	A8-Mehl-Renaker
3 ♥×	W	3		730	0.10	4.90	A1-Terbrueggen-Schultz	A5-Brown-Felson
3 ♠	N	3	140		4.00	0.00	B1-Mackey-Kobida	B2-Messinger-Dehaan
3 ♠	N	−1		50	2.00	2.00	B2-Pollack-Pollack	B4-Koch-Temples
3 ♦	S	−1		50	2.00	2.00	B4-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	B3-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♠	N	−1		50	2.00	2.00	B5-Elliott-Runda	B5-Diers-McCarthy
2 ♥	W	4		170	0.00	4.00	B3-Kennedy-Burns	B1-Koch-Brown

West's 3 ♥ bid shows a nice hand, but the fact that they didn't double first and bid Hearts at their next turn limits their hand to 16 HCP or fewer. Given that fact, East has already bid their hand once and has an easy pass.

E/W lose two Spade tricks, one Heart, and one Club, making three. If North leads the ♣T on opening lead, South has to play low when declarer plays a small Club from dummy. The ♣ K is meant to cover the ♣ Q.

Board 26
East Deals
Both Vul

♠	K J 10 7 4
♥	6 4
♦	K 10
♣	J 6 5 3

♠	Q 6 3
♥	K J 5 3
♦	Q J 4 3
♣	10 9

N
W		E
S

♠	9 5
♥	A Q 9 8 2
♦	8 5 2
♣	K Q 8

♠	A 8 2
♥	10 7
♦	A 9 7 6
♣	A 7 4 2

NS 3♠; NS 2N; NS 3♣; EW 1♥; Par +140

West	North	East	South
		Pass	1 ♦
Pass	1 ♠	2 ♥	Dbl1
3 ♥2	Pass	Pass	Dbl
Pass	Pass	Pass

Alert, support double showing exactly three Spades
Wouldn't you give partner a raise?

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
			140		3.00	3.00	A1-Terbrueggen-Schultz	A5-Brown-Felson
3 ♠	N	3	140		3.00	3.00	A3-King-Purcell	A8-Mehl-Renaker
3 ♠	N	3	140		3.00	3.00	A13-Callif-Kreitzer	A2-Lammers-Rice
4 ♥	E	−2	200		4.00	0.00	B5-Elliott-Runda	B4-Koch-Temples
3 ♥	E	−1	100		2.50	1.50	B3-Kennedy-Burns	B5-Diers-McCarthy
2 ♥	W	−1	100		2.50	1.50	B4-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	B2-Messinger-Dehaan
Pass			Pass		1.00	3.00	B2-Pollack-Pollack	B3-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♥	E	2		110	0.00	4.00	B6-Pretz-Oblinger	B6-Thurnau-Olexsey

South's final double is cooperative, asking partner's opinion. North, having already bid their hand, is quite happy to pass and defend. The defense is efficient and lethal. South leads the ♠ A on opening lead, and continues Spades when North encourages. Spade to the ♠ J, ♦ K, ♦T to the ♦ A, Diamond ruff, and whether or not N/S grab the ♣ A at this point is irrelevant, since it's not going away. Ouch.

Moral to the story. East's 2 ♥ bid, in a live auction (i.e., one where neither opponent has limited their hand), is dangerous. On this hand, even with their partner holding the world's fair (i.e., as good a hand as they could have given the auction), E/W get a big fat zero. If East can locate a pass card after North's 1 ♠ response, N/S will end up in 2 ♠, making three for +140. That's a lot better than the –500 E/W got with this auction. Stupid zeroes.

Board 27
South Deals
None Vul

♠	7 5 2
♥	A 10 8 5 4
♦	A J 6
♣	7 2

♠	J 6
♥	J 9
♦	Q 10 9 8 7 2
♣	K 8 6

N
W		E
S

♠	A
♥	K 7 6 3 2
♦	K 5 3
♣	A J 10 4

♠	K Q 10 9 8 4 3
♥	Q
♦	4
♣	Q 9 5 3

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

West	North	East	South
			3 ♠
Pass	4 ♠1	Pass	Pass
Pass

Extending the preempt

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♠	S	4	170		3.50	0.50	B2-Pollack-Pollack	B3-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♠	S	4	170		3.50	0.50	B3-Kennedy-Burns	B5-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♠	S	−1		50	1.00	3.00	B4-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	B2-Messinger-Dehaan
4 ♠	S	−1		50	1.00	3.00	B5-Elliott-Runda	B4-Koch-Temples
4 ♠	S	−1		50	1.00	3.00	B6-Pretz-Oblinger	B6-Thurnau-Olexsey

When your partner opens with a preemptive bid, make sure you raise them to the level of your total trump if you hold a sub-invitational hand. If they open at the two level, and you have three trump, raise them to the three level. With a fourth trump, raise to the four level. With a fifth trump, well, you get the idea. If they open at the three level, showing a 7-card suit, raise to the four level with 3-card support. Got it?

Here, East was quite willing to double for takeout over 3 ♠, but it gets a bit too risky over 4 ♠, so they grudgingly passed. Stupid preempts. N/S lose one Spade trick and three Clubs. Declarer can never ruff two Clubs in dummy, since E/W will have pulled two rounds of trump first or West will be able to out-ruff dummy on the fourth round of Clubs.

Board 28
West Deals
N-S Vul

♠	A 6 5
♥	A K J 9
♦	9 8 2
♣	8 4 3

♠	J 3 2
♥	7 5 4 3
♦	Q 10 7 6
♣	A J

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 10 9 4
♥	Q
♦	A K J 5 3
♣	K 9 5

♠	K 8 7
♥	10 8 6 2
♦	4
♣	Q 10 7 6 2

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

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

Bid Clubs with 3-3 in the minors

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♦	E	4		130	2.00	2.00	B2-Pollack-Pollack	B3-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♦	E	4		130	2.00	2.00	B3-Kennedy-Burns	B5-Diers-McCarthy
2 ♦	E	4		130	2.00	2.00	B4-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	B2-Messinger-Dehaan
3 ♦	E	4		130	2.00	2.00	B5-Elliott-Runda	B4-Koch-Temples
2 ♦	E	4		130	2.00	2.00	B6-Pretz-Oblinger	B6-Thurnau-Olexsey

A lot of bidding for a part-score hand. E/W lose two Spade tricks and one Heart, making four. It's unlikely that any E/W pair will play in 3 ♠, but it's possible if East treats their hand as a two-suiter and makes an Unmichaels bid (2 NT) over 1 ♣. South will lead the ♥ 2 on opening lead.

Board 29
North Deals
Both Vul

♠	6 5 4 2
♥	7 2
♦	K 10 8 5
♣	A 8 5

♠	A Q
♥	Q J 10 9 4 3
♦	A Q 2
♣	J 3

N
W		E
S

♠	J 10 9
♥	A 5
♦	9 7 6 4
♣	10 9 6 4

♠	K 8 7 3
♥	K 8 6
♦	J 3
♣	K Q 7 2

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

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

Planning to double and show their suit with their rebid

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♥	W	3	170		4.00	0.00	B3-Kennedy-Burns	B5-Diers-McCarthy
2 ♠	S	2	110		3.00	1.00	B6-Pretz-Oblinger	B6-Thurnau-Olexsey
1 ♥	W	2		110	1.00	3.00	B2-Pollack-Pollack	B3-Kammer-Zimmer
1 ♥	W	2		110	1.00	3.00	B4-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	B2-Messinger-Dehaan
1 ♥	W	2		110	1.00	3.00	B5-Elliott-Runda	B4-Koch-Temples

It's doubtful that either North or South will be able to pull the trigger on a penalty double. E/W lose one Heart trick, two Diamonds, and two Clubs, down one. If North leads the ♠ 6 on opening lead (top of nothing), South has to be careful not to play the ♠ K. If they do, declarer will be able to pitch one of their losing Clubs (or Diamonds) on the ♠ J, making three. Oops.

Don't automatically cover an honor with an honor (ugh.....I hate Bridge sayings). Cover an honor if and only if you can promote a card in your own hand or in partner's.

Board 30
East Deals
None Vul

♠	J 10 9 3
♥	K 10 8 7 6
♦	6
♣	J 9 8

♠	A K Q 8 5 4 2
♥	9
♦	A 8 4
♣	A 10

N
W		E
S

♠	7
♥	A Q J 5 3 2
♦	K 7 3 2
♣	6 3

♠	6
♥	4
♦	Q J 10 9 5
♣	K Q 7 5 4 2

EW 5♠; EW 4♥; EW 2N; EW 2♦; NS 2♣; Par −450

West	North	East	South
		1 ♥1	2 NT2
3 ♦3	Pass	3 ♥	Pass
4 ♠	Pass	Pass	Pass

Rule of 20 opener
Unusual 2 NT showing a min-max hand with both minors
Alert, cuebid of the opponent's higher-ranking suit to show a forcing bid in our higher-ranking suit (Spades)

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	W	4		420	3.50	0.50	B2-Pollack-Pollack	B3-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♠	W	4		420	3.50	0.50	B3-Kennedy-Burns	B5-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♠	W	5		450	2.00	2.00	B6-Pretz-Oblinger	B6-Thurnau-Olexsey
4 ♠×	W	4		590	1.00	3.00	B5-Elliott-Runda	B4-Koch-Temples
6 ♠	W	6		980	0.00	4.00	B4-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	B2-Messinger-Dehaan

Unusual vs. Unusual is a conventional bidding scheme used by responder when their RHO makes a two-suited overcall. Cuebidding the opponent's known suit or suits is used to show various strong hands. When only one suit is known, responder's options are limited. A cuebid of the opponent's known suit shows a limit raise or better for opener's suit. When two suits are known, as they are here, a cuebid of the opponent's lower-ranking suit is used to show strength in our (opener's side) lower-ranking suit. A cuebid of the opponent's higher-ranking suit is used to show strength in our higher-ranking suit.

E/W lose one Spade trick and one Heart trick. A Heart? Yes, you heard me. Let's assume that North leads their stiff Diamond. Declarer wins in hand with the ♦ A and cashes three gigantic Spades. Now, a Heart to the ♥ A (no finesse necessary) and the ♥ Q, pitching the ♣T. North wins (to their surprise), and continues with a Club, but declarer can win with the ♣ A, return to dummy with the ♦ K, and pitch their losing Diamond on the ♥ J, making five as North can win their high Spade at their leisure. Nicely played!

West	North	East	South
			1 ♠
Pass	1 NT1	2 ♣2	Pass3
Pass4	2 ♠5	3 ♥6	Pass
4 ♥7	Pass	Pass	Pass

Forcing, planning on showing a 3-card limit raise in Spades
Planning on showing both suits
Nothing to say
Ibid
Willing to dial down their bid since partner has passed
Yay, got to show their second suit at a reasonable level
Easy raise

The vulnerability keeps N/S from sacrificing in 4 ♠. E/W lose one Diamond and two Clubs, making four, assuming that South finds the ♦ 9 lead--not likely. Much more likely will be the ♠ A lead, ruffed in declarer's hand. Now a small Club from both hands, South winning with the ♣ J. Diamond to North's ♦T, Spade return, and declarer ruffs again. Club ruffed with the ♥ Q (♣ A falling), ♥ J, and a Heart to the ♥ A, and East's hand is up, making five.

West	North	East	South
Pass	1 ♣	Pass	2 ♦1
Pass	4 ♣2	Pass	4 ♦3
Pass	5 ♦4	Pass	5 ♥5
Dbl6	6 ♣	Pass	Pass
Pass

Alert, artificial bid showing a limit raise in Clubs
RKC Blackwood (Minorwood) for Clubs
1430 response showing 1 or 4 keycards
Asking for specific Kings and guaranteeing all the keycards
Showing the ♥ K
Lead a Heart, please

Unfortunately, or fortunately if you're E/W, West is able to double for a Heart lead, and the contract fails by a trick. Stupid lead-directing doubles. If North jumps to 6 ♣ over South's 4 ♦ keycard response, it's still possible that East will find the ♥T lead, but there are no guarantees.

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

Alert, artificial XYZ bid asking for partner to bid 3 ♣
Alert, forced bid

If N/S play in 1 NT (or 1 ♦), they're not going to enjoy it. The N/S pairs who have XYZ in their arsenal, might choose to play in 3 ♣, down one. That works better.

N/S lose two Spade tricks, two Heart tricks, and a Diamond, for down one. Not sure how to get E/W in the auction on this hand. If East is a member of the I-like-to-make-moth-eaten takeout doubles school of bidding, they might arrive at a reasonable Spade contract.

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

Looks like notrump, why introduce Clubs?

N/S take three Spade tricks, two Hearts, and five Diamonds, making four. E/W are entitled to their ♥ K and ♣ AK, but that's it. If West leads a Spade on the go, South has an easier road, since they now need only one Heart trick.

West	North	East	South
			Pass
Pass	1 ♠	Pass	1 NT1
Pass	3 ♠	Pass	Pass
Pass

Semi-forcing

South may muster up one response but not two. N/S lose one Spade, one Heart, and one Diamond, assuming they find the ♦ Q--not an easy task. East is going to lead the ♣ K on opening lead, and North's slow Club loser becomes a fast Club loser. In an attempt to make four, declarer should play off ♠ AK to try and drop the ♠ Q. When it doesn't appear, double-dummy play is ♦ K, ♦ J (East ducking), ♦ 3 to the ♦ A, and a Heart pitch on a good Diamond as East ruffs with the master trump. If E/W grab a Heart before starting Clubs, declarer should play the same way but pitch a losing Club on the fourth Diamond.

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

Borrowing a King to make a balancing double
Even without a King, has enough to cuebid opener's suit to show 12+ HCP

3 ♥ or 3 ♠ would play better, but it's hard for N/S not to give notrump a whirl. N/S take four Diamond tricks, one Club, one Spade, and two Hearts, making two. West will have a tough time on opening lead, although a Diamond works. More likely they'll lead a Club (ugh) giving N/S an overtrick.