MON 01/09/2017 at Nite

EVENT>Monday Night Bridge      |SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> A N-S
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>January 9, 2017    |CLUB NO.>185264    | 01/09/2017 22:12
---------------------,-- ------------------- -------------,---------------------
DIR> Mike Lipp       |RATING>Junior Fund                  |MOVEMENT>MITCHELL
------------,-------- ,-------------------------,--------- ---------------------
AVE>   84.0 |TOP>   7 |MP LIMITS>None/500/200   |CLUB>Mike's Games At The CBC
------------ --------- ------------------------- -------------------------------
PAIRS IN STRAT A=12/B=9/C=3                      ,---,-----------------,-------------------------,------,---------,
-------------------------------------------------|   |      Overall    |           Section       |      |Final    |
No Name                   Name                   |Flt|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C| Score | Pct  |Awards   |
------------------------------------------------- --- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ------- ------ ---------
 1 Susan Stacy Vanstone   Robert Roark             B   5     4     .   |   2     2     .    100.53  59.84  1.12(SA)
 2 Susan De Roos          Terri Mackey             C   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     65.32  38.88
 3 Charlie Kobida         Mike Burns               B   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     76.93  45.79
 4 Joy Singerman          John Williams            B   1     1     .   |   1     1     .    105.02  62.51  3.21(OA)
 5 Liz Lin                Elmer Hubka              A   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     70.43  41.92
 6 Patrick Lammers        Judy Barron              B   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     76.02  45.25
 7 Annette Kereiakes      Tom Kereiakes            C   .     .     2   |   .     .     1     77.78  46.30  0.70(OC)
 8 Richard Magnus         Julian Magnus, Jr        B   .     .     .   |   5     4     .     80.93  48.17  0.32(SA)
 9 Betty Murdock          Louise Wolf              C   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     73.44  43.71
10 Joyce Tedrick          Linda Pretz              B   6     5     .   |   3     3     .     99.15  59.02  0.80(SA)
11 Dean Congbalay         William Cook             A   .     .     .   |   4     .     .     98.46  58.61  0.56(SA)


                                          Totals                                            924.01

Thanks to Bob Fisk for the expert analysis.

Look at board 32  Fun Auction


                                    **PAIRS**
BOARD     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9    10    11    12
  /
   1>   5.79                          0.07  1.21    3-  2.36  4.64  6.93
         130   ----  ----  ----  ---- -670  -500  -140  -300   100   300   ----

   2>     3-                            3-    3-  0.07  6.93    3-    3-
         650   ----  ----  ----  ----  650   650    50  1370   650   650   ----

   3>   4.07                          6.93  0.07  5.79  4.07  1.21  2.36
          90   ----  ----  ----  ----  110  -110   100    90   -50    70   ----

   4>   0.64  4.64                          6.36  2.93  0.64  6.36  2.93
        -660  -140   ----  ----  ----  ----  100  -630  -660   100  -630   ----

   5>   5.79  2.93                          6.93  2.93  0.07  2.93  2.93
          80  -110   ----  ----  ----  ----  110  -110  -140  -110  -110   ----

   6>   1.79  5.79                          6.93  1.79  1.79  1.79  4.64
        -620  -170   ----  ----  ----  ----  100  -620  -620  -620  -200   ----

   7>   2.36  2.36  6.36                          2.36  6.36  4.64  0.07
        -170  -170   100   ----  ----  ----  ---- -170   100  -140  -650   ----

   8>   4.64  1.21  4.64                          0.07  2.36  6.93  4.64
         200   140   200   ----  ----  ----  ----  -50   170   450   200   ----

   9>   6.93  1.21  1.21                          1.21  4.64  4.64  4.64
         130  -650  -650   ----  ----  ----  ---- -650  -170  -170  -170   ----

  10>   1.21  1.21  4.64  1.21                            3-  6.93  5.79
        -630  -630  -130  -630   ----  ----  ----  ---- -600   100  -100   ----

  11>   6.93  1.21  0.07  5.79                          2.36    3-  4.64
         460   120   -50   450   ----  ----  ----  ----  150   170   400   ----

  12>   6.93  2.93  5.79  2.93                          2.93  0.07  2.93
         100  -420    50  -420   ----  ----  ----  ---- -420  -490  -420   ----

  13>   4.64  5.79  0.07    3-  1.21                          2.36  6.93
         150   600  -200   130  -100   ----  ----  ----  ----  110   630   ----

  14>   2.36  2.36  2.36  6.93  5.79                          2.36  2.36
         -50   -50   -50   140   110   ----  ----  ----  ----  -50   -50   ----

  15>   4.64  4.64  0.64  4.64  0.64                          6.93  2.36
         630   630   600   630   600   ----  ----  ----  ----  660   620   ----

  16>   4.64  1.21  6.93  4.64  0.07  2.36                          4.64
         420   -50   590   420  -100   170   ----  ----  ----  ----  420   ----

  17>   4.64  4.64  4.64  4.64  0.07  1.21                          4.64
         420   420   420   420   170   200   ----  ----  ----  ----  420   ----

  18>   4.17  2.83    1-  0.17    3-  6.17                          6.17
         620   200   130   110   AVE   650   ----  ----  ----  ----  650   ----

  19>   0.07  2.93  5.79  5.79  2.93  1.21  5.79
        -100   150   400   400   150   110   400   ----  ----  ----  ----  ----

  20>   6.93  4.64  1.79  4.64  1.79  0.07  4.64
        -110  -140  -170  -140  -170  -200  -140   ----  ----  ----  ----  ----

  21>   6.36  1.79    3-  4.64  1.79  6.36  0.07
         630   130   240   250   130   630   -80   ----  ----  ----  ----  ----

  22>     6     1     4-    4-    3     0     2     7
         110  -130   100   100   -50  -300   -90   200   ----  ----  ----  ----

  23>     5     2-    0     7     5     5     2-    1
        -100  -110  -200   100  -100  -100  -110  -140   ----  ----  ----  ----

  24>      -     -    5-    4     7     5-    2-    2-
        -150  -150   110   -50   130   110  -100  -100   ----  ----  ----  ----

  25>           0     3     7     3     3     6     3     3
         ----  100   130   300   130   130   150   130   130   ----  ----  ----

  26>           5     3-    6     7     1     0     2     3-
         ---- -100  -130    90   130  -170  -200  -140  -130   ----  ----  ----

  27>           2     5     5     5      -     -    7     3
         ----  140   200   200   200   -50   -50   420   170   ----  ----  ----

  28>                 1-    6-    3     1-    0     4-    4-    6-
         ----  ----  680  1430   690   680   650   710   710  1430   ----  ----

  29>                 2-    2-    5     7     5     5     0     1
         ----  ---- -100  -100  PASS   300  PASS  PASS  -200  -120   ----  ----

  30>                 1-    4-    0     4-    4-    7     1-    4-
         ----  ----  450   480   150   480   480   500   450   480   ----  ----

  31>                       2     6      -    3     4      -    6     6
         ----  ----  ----   50   140  -110   100   110  -110   140   140   ----

  32>                       1     1     7     4-    3     4-    6     1
         ----  ----  ---- -650  -650   300   100  -630   100   200  -650   ----

  33>                       5-    4     1     3     5-    1     7     1
         ----  ----  ----   90    50   -90   -50    90   -90   120   -90   ----

  34>                           1.21  1.21  1.21  4.64  6.36  6.36    3-
         ----  ----  ----  ---- -100  -100  -100    80   110   110  PASS   ----

  35>                           0.07  5.79  2.93  2.93  2.93  2.93  6.93
         ----  ----  ----  ---- -650  -130  -620  -620  -620  -620   100   ----

  36>                           2.36  4.64  4.64  1.21  4.64  0.07  6.93
         ----  ----  ----  ----  140   170   170   110   170  -100   200   ----



EVENT>Monday Night Bridge      |SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> A E-W
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>January 9, 2017    |CLUB NO.>185264    | 01/09/2017 22:12
---------------------,-- ------------------- -------------,---------------------
DIR> Mike Lipp       |RATING>Junior Fund                  |MOVEMENT>MITCHELL
------------,-------- ,-------------------------,--------- ---------------------
AVE>   84.0 |TOP>   7 |MP LIMITS>None/500/200   |CLUB>Mike's Games At The CBC
------------ --------- ------------------------- -------------------------------
PAIRS IN STRAT A=12/B=9/C=6                      ,---,-----------------,-------------------------,------,---------,
-------------------------------------------------|   |      Overall    |           Section       |      |Final    |
No Name                   Name                   |Flt|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C| Score | Pct  |Awards   |
------------------------------------------------- --- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ------- ------ ---------
 1 Stephen Felson         Robert Brown             A   .     .     .   |   4     .     .     91.78  54.63  0.56(SA)
 2 Dona Koch              Sara Brown               C   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     72.90  43.39
 3 Ralph Terbrueggen      Stephen Moese            A   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     83.90  49.94
 4 Kevin Henry            Pam Campbell             B   2     2     .   |   1     1     .    103.43  61.57  2.41(OA)
 5 Joseph Kammer          Gail Zimmer              B   .     .     .   |   .     4     .     81.89  48.74  0.24(SB)
 6 Lewis Temples          Richard Koch             C   .     .     4   |   .     .     .     76.03  45.26  0.39(OC)
 7 Judith Lubow           Joanne Earls             B   3     3     .   |   2     2     .    103.20  61.43  1.81(OA)
 8 Joan Diers             Evelyn McCarthy          C   .     .     1   |   5     3     1     88.22  52.51  0.93(OC)
 9 Cheryl Endres          Pamela Kennedy           C   .     .     3   |   .     .     2     77.22  45.96  0.52(OC)
10 Peggy Jervis           Pat Lindeman             C   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     71.30  42.44
11 Pam Heckel             Margaret Decker          C   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     58.67  34.92
12 Larry Newman           Dennis Schultz           A   4     .     .   |   3     .     .    101.07  60.16  1.35(OA)

                                          Totals                                           1009.61

Thanks to Bob Fisk for the expert analysis.

Look at board 32  Fun Auction


                                    **PAIRS**
BOARD     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9    10    11    12
  /
   1>   1.21          3-        4.64        2.36        0.07  6.93        5.79
        -130   ----  140   ----  300   ---- -100   ---- -300   670   ----  500

   2>     3-        6.93        0.07          3-          3-    3-          3-
        -650   ----  -50   -----1370   ---- -650   ---- -650  -650   ---- -650

   3>   2.93        1.21        2.93        5.79        4.64  0.07        6.93
         -90   ---- -100   ----  -90   ----   50   ----  -70  -110   ----  110

   4>   4.07  2.36        6.36        0.64        4.07              0.64  6.36
         630   140   ----  660   ---- -100   ----  630   ----  ---- -100   660

   5>   4.07  4.07        6.93        4.07        4.07              0.07  1.21
         110   110   ----  140   ----  110   ----  110   ----  ---- -110   -80

   6>   5.21  1.21        5.21        5.21        2.36              0.07  5.21
         620   170   ----  620   ----  620   ----  200   ----  ---- -100   620

   7>   4.64  0.64  0.64        2.36        6.93                    4.64  4.64
         170  -100  -100   ----  140   ----  650   ----  ----  ----  170   170

   8>   5.79  4.64  2.36        0.07        2.36                    2.36  6.93
        -140  -170  -200   ---- -450   ---- -200   ----  ----  ---- -200    50

   9>   5.79  2.36  5.79        2.36        2.36                    0.07  5.79
         650   170   650   ----  170   ----  170   ----  ----  ---- -130   650

  10>     3-  2.36  0.07  5.79        1.21                    5.79        5.79
         600   130  -100   630   ----  100   ----  ----  ----  630   ----  630

  11>   4.64  6.93    3-  1.21        2.36                    0.07        5.79
        -150    50  -170  -450   ---- -400   ----  ----  ---- -460   ---- -120

  12>   4.07  1.21  6.93  4.07        4.07                    0.07        4.07
         420   -50   490   420   ----  420   ----  ----  ---- -100   ----  420

  13>   6.93  4.64    3-  0.07  5.79                    2.36        1.21
         200  -110  -130  -630   100   ----  ----  ---- -150   ---- -600   ----

  14>   4.64  4.64  0.07  4.64  1.21                    4.64        4.64
          50    50  -140    50  -110   ----  ----  ----   50   ----   50   ----

  15>   6.36  0.07  2.36  4.64  6.36                    2.36        2.36
        -600  -660  -630  -620  -600   ----  ----  ---- -630   ---- -630   ----

  16>         2.36  2.36  6.93        4.64        2.36        5.79        0.07
         ---- -420  -420   100   ---- -170   ---- -420   ----   50   ---- -590

  17>         2.36  2.36  6.93        5.79        2.36        2.36        2.36
         ---- -420  -420  -170   ---- -200   ---- -420   ---- -420   ---- -420

  18>         6.83  0.83    3-        0.83        2.83        4.17          5-
         ---- -110  -650   AVE   ---- -650   ---- -620   ---- -200   ---- -130

  19>   1.21        4.07        5.79  6.93  1.21        4.07        1.21
        -400   ---- -150   ---- -110   100  -400   ---- -150   ---- -400   ----

  20>   2.36        5.21        6.93  0.07  2.36        2.36        5.21
         140   ----  170   ----  200   110   140   ----  140   ----  170   ----

  21>   2.36        5.21        0.64  0.64  6.93        5.21          3-
        -250   ---- -130   ---- -630  -630    80   ---- -130   ---- -240   ----

  22>           4           7     1     5     6     0           2-          2-
         ----   50   ----  300  -110    90   130  -200   ---- -100   ---- -100

  23>           2           2     2     4-    4-    6           7           0
         ----  100   ----  100   100   110   110   140   ----  200   ---- -100

  24>           0           1-    6-    4-    6-    4-          1-          3
         ---- -130   ---- -110   150   100   150   100   ---- -110   ----   50

  25>     4           4           1     7     4     4     4           0
        -130   ---- -130   ---- -150  -100  -130  -130  -130   ---- -300   ----

  26>     0           6           7     2     5     3-    3-          1
        -130   ----  170   ----  200   100   140   130   130   ----  -90   ----

  27>     2           6-          6-    5     0     2     4           2
        -200   ----   50   ----   50  -140  -420  -200  -170   ---- -200   ----

  28>           5-          7           2-    5-    2-     -     -          4
         ---- -680   ---- -650   ---- -710  -680  -710 -1430 -1430   ---- -690

  29>           0           2           2     4-    7     4-    6           2
         ---- -300   ---- PASS   ---- PASS   100   200   100   120   ---- PASS

  30>           2-          2-          0     5-    5-    2-    2-          7
         ---- -480   ---- -480   ---- -500  -450  -450  -480  -480   ---- -150

  31>     6-          4           3           6-    5     1     1     1
         110   ---- -100   ---- -110   ----  110   -50  -140  -140  -140   ----

  32>     0           2-          4           2-    6     1     6     6
        -300   ---- -100   ----  630   ---- -100   650  -200   650   650   ----

  33>     6           4           1-          6     1-    0     3     6
          90   ----   50   ----  -90   ----   90   -90  -120   -50    90   ----

  34>         5.79        2.36        0.64        0.64  5.79    3-  5.79
         ----  100   ----  -80   ---- -110   ---- -110   100  PASS   100   ----

  35>         4.07        4.07        4.07        4.07  6.93  0.07  1.21
         ----  620   ----  620   ----  620   ----  620   650  -100   130   ----

  36>         2.36        5.79        2.36        6.93  4.64  0.07  2.36
         ---- -170   ---- -110   ---- -170   ----  100  -140  -200  -170   ----
Monday Night Bridge, Monday Eve, January 9, 2017

Board 1
North Deals
None Vul

♠	10 7 3
♥	A Q 9 2
♦	J 10
♣	9 8 7 6

♠	J 5 2
♥	10 8 5 4
♦	A 6 3 2
♣	4 2

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 9 8 6
♥	K J 7 6 3
♦	K 5
♣	A Q

♠	A K 4
♥	—
♦	Q 9 8 7 4
♣	K J 10 5 3

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

West	North	East	South
	Pass	1 ♥1	2 NT2
3 ♥3	Pass	Pass	Dbl4
Pass	Pass	Pass

Don't open 1 NT with 5-4 shape in the majors
Unusual 2 NT
Weak to constructive Heart raise
Do something smart, partner

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥×	E	−2	300		6.93	0.07	11-Congbalay-Cook	9-Endres-Kennedy
2 ♣	S	4	130		5.79	1.21	1-Vanstone-Roark	1-Felson-Brown
3 ♥	E	−2	100		4.64	2.36	10-Tedrick-Pretz	7-Lubow-Earls
3 ♥	E	3		140	3.50	3.50	8-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	3-Terbrueggen-Moese
4 ♠	S	−6		300	2.36	4.64	9-Murdock-Wolf	5-Kammer-Zimmer
5 ♣×	S	−3		500	1.21	5.79	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	12-Newman-Schultz
2 ♥×	E	4		670	0.07	6.93	6-Lammers-Barron	10-Jervis-Lindeman

Although East has a semi-balanced hand and 15 HCP, they shouldn't open 1 NT. Why is that? If you play Puppet (or 5-card Stayman), you won't be able to find a major-suit fit with 5-4 shape. If partner asks if you have a 5-card major, you'll show your Hearts, and they'll bid 3 NT. You won't know whether they have a 3- or 4-card Spade suit.

South, while not quite holding the maximum Unusual 2 NT hand, has enough extra to double to get partner to do something. North, with all of their strength in the opponent's suit, is happy to pass. E/W lose two Spade tricks, two Hearts, and one Club, down one. If South makes the obvious lead of a high Spade, 3 ♥ might make with declarer throwing the ♣ 2 under the ♠ Q. North can ruff, but it will be at the cost of a natural trump trick. Oops.

Board 2
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	A K 9 7 6 3 2
♥	A
♦	3 2
♣	A K Q

♠	4
♥	J 10 5 4 3 2
♦	A Q J 8 7
♣	4

N
W		E
S

♠	J 8 5
♥	K Q 9 7
♦	10 9
♣	10 9 5 3

♠	Q 10
♥	8 6
♦	K 6 5 4
♣	J 8 7 6 2

S 6N; S 6♠; S 6♣; N 5♠; N 4N; EW 4♥; N 4♣; S 2♦; Par +500: EW 7♥×−3

West	North	East	South
		Pass	Pass
1 ♥1	Dbl2	3 ♥3	Pass
4 ♥	4 ♠	Pass	Pass
5 ♥	Dbl	Pass	5 ♠
Pass	Pass	Pass

Too much playing strength to preempt
Too big to simply bid 4 ♠
Alert, showing 0-6 HCP and four Hearts (BROMAD)

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
6 ♣	S	6	1370		6.93	0.07	9-Murdock-Wolf	5-Kammer-Zimmer
5 ♠	N	5	650		3.50	3.50	1-Vanstone-Roark	1-Felson-Brown
4 ♠	N	5	650		3.50	3.50	6-Lammers-Barron	10-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♠	N	5	650		3.50	3.50	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	12-Newman-Schultz
4 ♠	N	5	650		3.50	3.50	10-Tedrick-Pretz	7-Lubow-Earls
4 ♠	N	5	650		3.50	3.50	11-Congbalay-Cook	9-Endres-Kennedy
5 ♥	W	−1	50		0.07	6.93	8-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	3-Terbrueggen-Moese

It's unfortunate that North can't get their partner to bid notrump (or either black suit for that matter) during the auction. The hand plays one trick better from the South side, since the ♦ K would be protected on opening lead. That said, East is more than likely to lead the ♥ K, and N/S can make 12 tricks on double-dummy lines. That said, North isn't that smart, so we're back to 11 tricks.

Declarer will win the opening Heart lead with the ♥ A and most likely pull trump in three rounds. With no way to reach dummy's Clubs, they'll resort to a Diamond finesse. Dang. The double-dummy line would be to pull one round of trump with the ♠ A, ♣ AKQ (West unable to ruff), Spade to the ♠ Q, and ♣ J8 pitching both Diamonds from the North hand. East is welcome to ruff the fifth Club, but that's the only trick for the defense.

Board 3
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	10 9 5
♥	Q 9 2
♦	K Q 9
♣	A 10 7 4

♠	Q 7 3
♥	A J 10 6
♦	7 4 3
♣	5 3 2

N
W		E
S

♠	A J 8 6
♥	K 5
♦	10 6
♣	K J 9 8 6

♠	K 4 2
♥	8 7 4 3
♦	A J 8 5 2
♣	Q

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

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

Light opener in third seat
Natural

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♥	S	2	110		6.93	0.07	6-Lammers-Barron	10-Jervis-Lindeman
2 ♠	E	−1	100		5.79	1.21	8-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	3-Terbrueggen-Moese
2 ♦	S	2	90		4.07	2.93	1-Vanstone-Roark	1-Felson-Brown
1 NT	N	1	90		4.07	2.93	9-Murdock-Wolf	5-Kammer-Zimmer
1 ♦	S	1	70		2.36	4.64	11-Congbalay-Cook	9-Endres-Kennedy
2 ♥	S	−1		50	1.21	5.79	10-Tedrick-Pretz	7-Lubow-Earls
2 ♣	E	3		110	0.07	6.93	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	12-Newman-Schultz

If North doesn't open light in third seat, the auction will go P-P-P-1 ♣-1 ♦-1 ♥-2 ♦-P-P-P. All roads lead to Rome (huh?).

N/S lose two Spade tricks and three Hearts, making two. E/W don't have a reasonable sacrifice in 3 ♣ on the vulnerability. West will lead the ♣ 3 (MUD) on opening lead, although a trump is also possible.

Board 4
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	10 9 7 5
♥	10 6 4 2
♦	5 4
♣	10 8 7

♠	Q 8 4
♥	A Q 8
♦	K 8 7 6
♣	K Q 2

N
W		E
S

♠	A K J 3
♥	J 9 3
♦	10 9
♣	J 9 6 4

♠	6 2
♥	K 7 5
♦	A Q J 3 2
♣	A 5 3

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

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

15 to 17
Alert, artificial asking for a 5-card major
Alert, artificial denying a 5-card major
Alert, showing three Hearts and four Spades

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♠	E	−1	100		6.36	0.64	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	11-Heckel-Decker
3 NT	W	−1	100		6.36	0.64	10-Tedrick-Pretz	6-Temples-Koch
2 ♠	E	3		140	4.64	2.36	2-De Roos-Mackey	2-Koch-Brown
3 NT	W	4		630	2.93	4.07	8-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	1-Felson-Brown
3 NT	E	4		630	2.93	4.07	11-Congbalay-Cook	8-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	W	5		660	0.64	6.36	1-Vanstone-Roark	12-Newman-Schultz
3 NT	W	5		660	0.64	6.36	9-Murdock-Wolf	4-Henry-Campbell

East uses Five-Card Stayman, and E/W end up in 3 NT when no major-suit fit is found. Five-Card Stayman is preferable to Puppet Stayman over 1 NT, since opener's major-suit shape can remain hidden longer if responder isn't interested in finding a 4-4 fit. Not the case here.

E/W take four Spade tricks, two Hearts, one Diamond, and three Clubs, making four. Looking at it another way, N/S take two Diamond tricks and one Club. E/W's spot cards in Diamonds (♦T9876) prove to be invaluable. The ♦ 5 isn't an unreasonable lead, since North knows their partner has all of the defensive strength.

Board 5
North Deals
N-S Vul

♠	8 5 4
♥	J 6 5
♦	K 8 4 3 2
♣	Q 9

♠	7
♥	A Q 8 7 4 3
♦	A J 7
♣	5 4 2

N
W		E
S

♠	J 10 6 3 2
♥	K 2
♦	Q 10 5
♣	10 7 3

♠	A K Q 9
♥	10 9
♦	9 6
♣	A K J 8 6

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

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

Planning to reverse
Same strength hand as a reverse when partner is quiet

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
1 ♠	S	2	110		6.93	0.07	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	11-Heckel-Decker
1 ♠	S	1	80		5.79	1.21	1-Vanstone-Roark	12-Newman-Schultz
2 ♥	W	2		110	2.93	4.07	2-De Roos-Mackey	2-Koch-Brown
2 ♥	W	2		110	2.93	4.07	8-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	1-Felson-Brown
2 ♥	W	2		110	2.93	4.07	10-Tedrick-Pretz	6-Temples-Koch
2 ♥	W	2		110	2.93	4.07	11-Congbalay-Cook	8-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♥	W	3		140	0.07	6.93	9-Murdock-Wolf	4-Henry-Campbell

North doesn't have the worst hand in the world, but at the end of the auction, there will be five pass cards in front of them. Stupid pass cards. They'll briefly think about doubling the final contract, but they're terrified that their partner will bid a black suit again. Stupid partner.

E/W lose one Spade trick, one Diamond, and three Clubs, down one. North will lead the ♣ Q on opening lead. South should overtake with the ♣ K, cash the ♠ K to get partner's count (partner will show three), and play off two more rounds of Clubs.

If South held ♥T9x, it would now make sense to play a fourth round of Clubs. If partner was able to ruff high enough to dislodge the ♥ K, it would promote a trump trick for the defense. Holding only two Hearts, South knows that plan is futile and will play the ♦ 9 at trick five.

Board 6
East Deals
E-W Vul

♠	9 8
♥	J 9 5 4
♦	10 9
♣	10 8 5 4 2

♠	A K 10 6 4 3
♥	A K 7 2
♦	2
♣	Q J

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 5 2
♥	Q 10
♦	K J 8 7 6 5
♣	6 3

♠	J 7
♥	8 6 3
♦	A Q 4 3
♣	A K 9 7

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

West	North	East	South
		Pass	1 ♦
Dbl1	Pass	1 NT2	Pass
3 ♠3	Pass	4 ♠	Pass
Pass	Pass

Too strong to simply overcall 1 ♠
Showing 7-10 HCP and strength in Diamonds
Jump in Spades needing a trick and a fit from partner

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	W	−1	100		6.93	0.07	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	11-Heckel-Decker
2 ♠	W	4		170	5.79	1.21	2-De Roos-Mackey	2-Koch-Brown
3 ♠	W	5		200	4.64	2.36	11-Congbalay-Cook	8-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♠	W	4		620	1.79	5.21	1-Vanstone-Roark	12-Newman-Schultz
4 ♠	W	4		620	1.79	5.21	8-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	1-Felson-Brown
4 ♠	W	4		620	1.79	5.21	9-Murdock-Wolf	4-Henry-Campbell
4 ♠	W	4		620	1.79	5.21	10-Tedrick-Pretz	6-Temples-Koch

With equal (or favorable) vulnerability, East might have passed the double of 1 ♦. If they had, South would have redoubled for rescue (SOS redouble), and North would bid 2 ♣.

E/W lose one Diamond trick and two Clubs, making four. North will lead the ♦T on opening lead, and South will cash out.

Board 7
South Deals
Both Vul

♠	8 7
♥	Q 9 3
♦	A Q 8
♣	Q 9 7 4 3

♠	Q 4
♥	A J 10 6 2
♦	K 6 5 3 2
♣	6

N
W		E
S

♠	A J 10 9 6 5 2
♥	K 7
♦	4
♣	J 10 2

♠	K 3
♥	8 5 4
♦	J 10 9 7
♣	A K 8 5

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

West	North	East	South
			Pass
1 ♥1	Pass	1 ♠	1 NT2
Pass3	2 ♣	2 ♠	Pass
Pass	3 ♣	Pass	Pass
Pass

Rule of 20 opener
Sandwich NT for the minors
Denies 3-card Spade support (no support double)

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♠	E	−1	100		6.36	0.64	3-Kobida-Burns	3-Terbrueggen-Moese
3 ♠	E	−1	100		6.36	0.64	9-Murdock-Wolf	2-Koch-Brown
2 ♠	E	3		140	4.64	2.36	10-Tedrick-Pretz	5-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♠	E	4		170	2.36	4.64	1-Vanstone-Roark	11-Heckel-Decker
3 ♠	E	4		170	2.36	4.64	2-De Roos-Mackey	1-Felson-Brown
3 ♠	E	4		170	2.36	4.64	8-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	12-Newman-Schultz
4 ♠	E	5		650	0.07	6.93	11-Congbalay-Cook	7-Lubow-Earls

If any N/S pairs get to 3 NT, well, my hats off to them (not literally). 3 ♣ will be a popular contract, although some East's will take one bid too many and will likely be doubled (not really, I like to pretend).

N/S lose one Spade trick, two Hearts, and a Heart ruff, making three. East will lead the ♥ K on opening lead and ruff the third round of Hearts.

Board 8
West Deals
None Vul

♠	Q 10 6
♥	A 10 9 8 7 6 2
♦	A Q 4
♣	—

♠	K J 9 4
♥	Q J 3
♦	8 3 2
♣	8 5 3

N
W		E
S

♠	A 5 2
♥	5 4
♦	J 6
♣	A K J 9 6 4

♠	8 7 3
♥	K
♦	K 10 9 7 5
♣	Q 10 7 2

NS 4♥; NS 4♦; NS 2N; NS 1♠; Par +420

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

Showing a full opener
Not loving the idea of partner passing

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	N	5	450		6.93	0.07	10-Tedrick-Pretz	5-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♥	N	5	200		4.64	2.36	1-Vanstone-Roark	11-Heckel-Decker
3 ♥	N	5	200		4.64	2.36	3-Kobida-Burns	3-Terbrueggen-Moese
3 ♥	N	5	200		4.64	2.36	11-Congbalay-Cook	7-Lubow-Earls
2 ♥	N	4	170		2.36	4.64	9-Murdock-Wolf	2-Koch-Brown
2 ♥	N	3	140		1.21	5.79	2-De Roos-Mackey	1-Felson-Brown
4 ♥	N	−1		50	0.07	6.93	8-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	12-Newman-Schultz

North will be a bit hesitant about reopening with a double. With a singleton Club, a double is automatic. With a void, it becomes problematic defending a low-level contract, since North will never be able to lead a trump towards partner.

North's Heart spot cards are good enough that they can play opposite a small singleton, so North corrects back to 2 ♥ (it's Matchpoints after all). N/S lose two Spade tricks and one Heart, making four. If South finds a 3 ♥ bit over 2 ♥, North will gladly bid game. I have sympathy for South though, since North would make a reopening double with a slightly worse hand. East will probably lead the ♣ K on opening lead.

Declarer will ruff in their hand, play a small trump to the ♥ K, Diamond back to the ♦ A, and cash the ♥ A. Leaving the master trump outstanding, they'll now cash the ♦ Q, play the ♦ 4 to the ♦ K, and pitch a Spade as West ruffs. While this doesn't lower the number of Spade losers, it ensures making four even if East holds ♠ AJ9.

Board 9
North Deals
E-W Vul

♠	Q 9 6 2
♥	10 9 5
♦	Q 8 4 2
♣	A 5

♠	K J 10 8 4 3
♥	Q
♦	—
♣	K Q J 10 7 3

N
W		E
S

♠	A 5
♥	K 6 4 3
♦	A 7 5 3
♣	8 6 2

♠	7
♥	A J 8 7 2
♦	K J 10 9 6
♣	9 4

EW 4♠; NS 3♥; EW 4♣; NS 3♦; EW 1N; Par −300: NS 5♦×−2; NS 5♥×−2

West	North	East	South
	Pass	Pass	1 ♥1
2 ♥2	3 ♥3	Pass4	Pass
4 ♥5	Pass	4 ♠	Pass
Pass	Pass

Light opener in third seat
Michaels, showing either a minimum or maximum hand with Spades and a minor
Weak to constructive Heart raise
On the vulnerability
Showing a maximum hand

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♦	S	4	130		6.93	0.07	1-Vanstone-Roark	11-Heckel-Decker
3 ♠	W	4		170	4.64	2.36	9-Murdock-Wolf	2-Koch-Brown
3 ♠	W	4		170	4.64	2.36	10-Tedrick-Pretz	5-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♠	W	4		170	4.64	2.36	11-Congbalay-Cook	7-Lubow-Earls
4 ♠	W	5		650	1.21	5.79	2-De Roos-Mackey	1-Felson-Brown
4 ♠	W	5		650	1.21	5.79	3-Kobida-Burns	3-Terbrueggen-Moese
4 ♠	W	5		650	1.21	5.79	8-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	12-Newman-Schultz

With two small Spades, East might have bid 4 NT to ask for partner's minor. Holding ♠ Ax, East has an easy 4 ♠ bid.

E/W lose one Spade trick, one Heart, and one Club, making four. There will be more than one N/S pair that bid on to 5 ♥ on the vulnerability, although it's risky, since neither is sure that 4 ♠ is making. North will lead the ♥T.

Board 10
East Deals
Both Vul

♠	K 9
♥	J 10 7 6 3 2
♦	7 3 2
♣	7 4

♠	A 7 3 2
♥	K 4
♦	K Q 10 8 5
♣	J 8

N
W		E
S

♠	Q J 5
♥	A Q 9
♦	J 9 4
♣	Q 10 6 5

♠	10 8 6 4
♥	8 5
♦	A 6
♣	A K 9 3 2

EW 3N; EW 2♦; EW 1♠; NS 1♥; EW 1♣; Par −600

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

Walsh style
Alert, partner is showing an opening hand with four Spades and longer Diamonds

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	E	−1	100		6.93	0.07	10-Tedrick-Pretz	3-Terbrueggen-Moese
2 ♥	N	−1		100	5.79	1.21	11-Congbalay-Cook	6-Temples-Koch
2 ♦	W	4		130	4.64	2.36	3-Kobida-Burns	2-Koch-Brown
3 NT	E	3		600	3.50	3.50	9-Murdock-Wolf	1-Felson-Brown
3 NT	E	4		630	1.21	5.79	1-Vanstone-Roark	10-Jervis-Lindeman
3 NT	E	4		630	1.21	5.79	2-De Roos-Mackey	12-Newman-Schultz
3 NT	E	4		630	1.21	5.79	4-Singerman-Williams	4-Henry-Campbell

When West responds with 1 ♦ over partner's 1 ♣ opener, they're either (1) denying a four-card major, or (2) showing an opening hand with longer Diamonds. In this case, it's the second one. When you mark Frequently bypass 4+♦ on your convention card, you're playing what's called Walsh Style.

E/W take four Diamond tricks, three Hearts, and two Spades, making three. North will probably lead a Heart, but nothing really matters as declarer has time to knock out the stoppers in both pointy suits (♠ and ♦).

Board 11
South Deals
None Vul

♠	8
♥	Q 8 7 3
♦	A Q 4
♣	K Q J 10 2

♠	K 6 4
♥	J 5 4
♦	K J 8 7 2
♣	7 6

N
W		E
S

♠	9 7 5 2
♥	A K 6 2
♦	6 3
♣	9 5 4

♠	A Q J 10 3
♥	10 9
♦	10 9 5
♣	A 8 3

NS 4N; NS 4♠; NS 5♣; NS 3♥; NS 2♦; Par +430

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

Not strong enough to reverse
Showing around 11 HCP

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	N	5	460		6.93	0.07	1-Vanstone-Roark	10-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♠	S	5	450		5.79	1.21	4-Singerman-Williams	4-Henry-Campbell
3 NT	S	3	400		4.64	2.36	11-Congbalay-Cook	6-Temples-Koch
2 ♠	S	4	170		3.50	3.50	10-Tedrick-Pretz	3-Terbrueggen-Moese
2 NT	N	3	150		2.36	4.64	9-Murdock-Wolf	1-Felson-Brown
2 NT	N	2	120		1.21	5.79	2-De Roos-Mackey	12-Newman-Schultz
3 NT	N	−1		50	0.07	6.93	3-Kobida-Burns	2-Koch-Brown

Some will open the South hand, and that's certainly not wrong with 2-1/2 quick tricks and lovely spot cards. South's 2 NT bid is simply showing their shape--it doesn't promise values in the unbid suits (nobody's bidding those anyway). If North had three Spades, they'd sneak in a 3 ♠ bid over 2 NT.

E/W take two Heart tricks and a Spade. If they don't grab their tricks before Spades are established, N/S will make five (five Club tricks, two Diamonds, and four Spades). That's unlikely, since West will probably lead the ♥ 4 (or the ♥ J).

The proper way to play the Spades is ♠ A first followed by more gigantic Spades. A finesse won't get you an extra Spade trick, since you'd need East to hold precisely ♠ Kx for the finesse to work. With ♠ Kx, West would then have five Spades, and a fifth Spade trick would still be impossible.

Board 12
West Deals
N-S Vul

♠	Q J 10 7
♥	J 10 6 4 3
♦	4
♣	K 8 7

♠	A K 9 3
♥	K 8
♦	A J 9 3 2
♣	A 3

N
W		E
S

♠	6 5 4 2
♥	A 9
♦	Q 10 7 6
♣	J 10 4

♠	8
♥	Q 7 5 2
♦	K 8 5
♣	Q 9 6 5 2

EW 4N; EW 4♠; EW 4♦; NS 2♥; NS 1♣; Par −430

West	North	East	South
2 NT1	Pass	3 ♣2	Pass
3 ♦3	Pass	3 ♥4	Pass
3 ♠	Pass	3 NT5	Pass
4 ♠	Pass	Pass	Pass

20 to 21
Puppet Stayman asking for a 4- or 5-card major
Alert, artificial denying a 5-card major but showing one or more 4-card majors
Alert, artificial showing four Spades
Suggesting a notrump contract

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	E	−2	100		6.93	0.07	1-Vanstone-Roark	10-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♦	W	−1	50		5.79	1.21	3-Kobida-Burns	2-Koch-Brown
4 ♠	W	4		420	2.93	4.07	2-De Roos-Mackey	12-Newman-Schultz
4 ♠	E	4		420	2.93	4.07	4-Singerman-Williams	4-Henry-Campbell
4 ♠	E	4		420	2.93	4.07	9-Murdock-Wolf	1-Felson-Brown
4 ♠	W	4		420	2.93	4.07	11-Congbalay-Cook	6-Temples-Koch
3 NT	W	6		490	0.07	6.93	10-Tedrick-Pretz	3-Terbrueggen-Moese

West's hand is easily worth an upgrade due to the fifth Diamond and the primes (Aces and Kings). East, with a semi-balanced hand, suggests possibly playing in notrump once the Spade fit has been found. West, with two doubletons, is reluctant and bids the major-suit game.

E/W lose two Spade tricks and one Club, making four. North should probably not lead their singleton Diamond on opening lead, since they definitely don't want to ruff anything (i.e., they have natural trump tricks). Better would be the ♥ J. Playing along double-dummy lines, declarer should win in dummy with the ♥ A and immediately run the ♦ Q. When it wins, declarer should finesse a second Diamond. North can ruff in, but it will be at the expense of one of their trump tricks. Declarer can win any return, pull two rounds of trump (noting the bad break), and continue Diamonds.

Board 13
North Deals
Both Vul

♠	K Q 6 5
♥	10
♦	A K Q 10 8 3
♣	7 4

♠	8 7 3
♥	8 5 3 2
♦	J
♣	K J 10 9 5

N
W		E
S

♠	A J 10 9 2
♥	A Q 9
♦	6 5 4 2
♣	6

♠	4
♥	K J 7 6 4
♦	9 7
♣	A Q 8 3 2

N 3N; S 2N; NS 3♦; NS 1♥; NS 1♣; Par +600

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

Showing 5+ Hearts and 10+ HCP (5-and-Dime)
What else?

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	S	4	630		6.93	0.07	11-Congbalay-Cook	4-Henry-Campbell
3 NT	S	3	600		5.79	1.21	2-De Roos-Mackey	11-Heckel-Decker
3 ♦	N	5	150		4.64	2.36	1-Vanstone-Roark	9-Endres-Kennedy
3 ♦	N	4	130		3.50	3.50	4-Singerman-Williams	3-Terbrueggen-Moese
3 ♦	N	3	110		2.36	4.64	10-Tedrick-Pretz	2-Koch-Brown
3 ♦	N	−1		100	1.21	5.79	5-Lin-Hubka	5-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♦	N	−2		200	0.07	6.93	3-Kobida-Burns	1-Felson-Brown

North has no reason not to bid 3 NT after South shows values and Hearts. East's best lead is the ♠ J (interior honor sequence). North can win and lead the ♥T towards dummy. It doesn't matter what East does at this point--N/W are going to end up with one Spade trick, one Heart, six Diamonds, and one Club, making three.

Board 14
East Deals
None Vul

♠	K J 6 4 3
♥	K 7 6
♦	8
♣	A J 10 3

♠	7
♥	A J 8 4
♦	6 5 3
♣	K Q 9 6 4

N
W		E
S

♠	A 10 9 2
♥	10 9 5 3
♦	Q 10 7 2
♣	5

♠	Q 8 5
♥	Q 2
♦	A K J 9 4
♣	8 7 2

NS 3♠; NS 2N; NS 3♦; NS 2♣; Par +140

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

Alert, artificial game-forcing XYZ bid
Showing 3-card Spade support and denying four Hearts

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♠	N	3	140		6.93	0.07	4-Singerman-Williams	3-Terbrueggen-Moese
2 ♠	N	2	110		5.79	1.21	5-Lin-Hubka	5-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♠	N	−1		50	2.36	4.64	1-Vanstone-Roark	9-Endres-Kennedy
4 ♠	N	−1		50	2.36	4.64	2-De Roos-Mackey	11-Heckel-Decker
3 NT	N	−1		50	2.36	4.64	3-Kobida-Burns	1-Felson-Brown
4 ♠	N	−1		50	2.36	4.64	10-Tedrick-Pretz	2-Koch-Brown
4 ♠	N	−1		50	2.36	4.64	11-Congbalay-Cook	4-Henry-Campbell

N/S lose two Spade tricks, one Heart, and one Club, down one on the bad trump split. Bad? When you're missing five trumps, you can expect them to split 3-2 68% of the time, 4-1 28% of the time, and 5-0 4% of the time. Basically, that says that somewhere around a third of the time, you're going to get a "bad" split. Deal with it. East will lead the ♣ 5.

Board 15
South Deals
N-S Vul

♠	K J 7 6
♥	9 7 4
♦	A 5
♣	K 9 8 3

♠	9 5
♥	8
♦	Q 10 9 7 6 4
♣	10 7 6 5

N
W		E
S

♠	A 10 4 3 2
♥	Q 10 3 2
♦	8 2
♣	A J

♠	Q 8
♥	A K J 6 5
♦	K J 3
♣	Q 4 2

NS 5N; NS 5♥; NS 3♠; NS 3♣; NS 1♦; Par +660

West	North	East	South
			1 NT1
Pass2	3 ♣3	Pass	3 ♥4
Pass	4 ♥	Pass	Pass
Pass

15 to 17
Too weak to interfere with the opponent's notrump auction
Alert, artificial asking for a 5-card major
Alert, showing five Hearts

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	S	5	660		6.93	0.07	10-Tedrick-Pretz	2-Koch-Brown
3 NT	S	4	630		4.64	2.36	1-Vanstone-Roark	9-Endres-Kennedy
3 NT	S	4	630		4.64	2.36	2-De Roos-Mackey	11-Heckel-Decker
3 NT	S	4	630		4.64	2.36	4-Singerman-Williams	3-Terbrueggen-Moese
4 ♥	S	4	620		2.36	4.64	11-Congbalay-Cook	4-Henry-Campbell
3 NT	S	3	600		0.64	6.36	3-Kobida-Burns	1-Felson-Brown
3 NT	S	3	600		0.64	6.36	5-Lin-Hubka	5-Kammer-Zimmer

N/S lose one Spade trick, one Heart, and one Club, making four. On the likely Spade lead, declarer will win in hand with the ♠ Q (East ducking), and play the ♥ A. Now a small Diamond to the ♦ A, Diamond back to the ♦ K, and a Diamond ruff with East overruffing with the ♥T. East can cash their black-suit Aces, but that's it for the defense when the ♥ Q is finessable.

Why does it show that N/S make five? They do on double-dummy lines. Here's how:
(1) Win trick one with the ♠ Q
(2) Play a small Diamond to dummy's ♦ A
(3) Play the ♥ 9 from dummy, East covering with the ♥T (smothering the ♥ 8 in the West hand)
(4) Play the ♦ K (removing an exit card from the East hand)
(5) Play the ♠ 8 to dummy's ♠ J (East winning)
(6) Win the small Heart return in dummy with the ♥ 7
(7) Play the ♠ K throwing the ♦ J
(8) Play a small Club to the ♣ Q (East playing the ♣ J)
(9) ♥ A
(10) ♥ K pulling East's last trump
(11) ♣ 4 to dummy's ♣ 8 (East forced to win the ♣ A)
(12) Ruff East's Spade return with the ♥ 6
(13) Small Club to the ♣ K

Board 16
West Deals
E-W Vul

♠	K Q 10 8 5 2
♥	3 2
♦	4
♣	A 8 4 2

♠	7 6
♥	A Q 10 6 5
♦	K Q 10 6 2
♣	6

N
W		E
S

♠	J 3
♥	J 9 4
♦	J 7 5 3
♣	Q 10 7 3

♠	A 9 4
♥	K 8 7
♦	A 9 8
♣	K J 9 5

S 6♣; S 5N; NS 5♠; N 5♣; N 2N; EW 2♦; Par +920

West	North	East	South
1 ♥	2 ♠1	Pass	3 ♥2
Dbl3	4 ♠	Pass	Pass
Pass

Preemptive jump-shift overcall
Forcing, showing a limit-raise or better in Spades
Lead a Heart

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠×	N	4	590		6.93	0.07	3-Kobida-Burns	12-Newman-Schultz
4 ♠	N	4	420		4.64	2.36	1-Vanstone-Roark	8-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♠	N	4	420		4.64	2.36	4-Singerman-Williams	2-Koch-Brown
4 ♠	N	4	420		4.64	2.36	11-Congbalay-Cook	3-Terbrueggen-Moese
2 ♠	N	4	170		2.36	4.64	6-Lammers-Barron	6-Temples-Koch
4 ♠	N	−1		50	1.21	5.79	2-De Roos-Mackey	10-Jervis-Lindeman
3 NT	S	−2		100	0.07	6.93	5-Lin-Hubka	4-Henry-Campbell

North has a maximum for their 2 ♠ overcall, so they're delighted to go on to game when South shows a strong hand with Spade support. N/S lose two Heart tricks, making five. Declarer will probably end up losing a Club trick as well by playing the ♣ A and leading another Club to the ♣ J. That's not a bad line--just an unfortunate one. East will lead the ♥ 4.

Board 17
North Deals
None Vul

♠	Q 5 4
♥	A J 10 6 2
♦	A J
♣	K 9 4

♠	J 2
♥	Q 9 7 3
♦	7 6
♣	A J 10 6 2

N
W		E
S

♠	K 10
♥	K 8
♦	10 9 8 5 4 3
♣	7 5 3

♠	A 9 8 7 6 3
♥	5 4
♦	K Q 2
♣	Q 8

NS 4♠; NS 3N; NS 3♥; S 1♣; Par +420

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

15 to 17
Texas Transfer

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	N	4	420		4.64	2.36	1-Vanstone-Roark	8-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♠	N	4	420		4.64	2.36	2-De Roos-Mackey	10-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♠	S	4	420		4.64	2.36	3-Kobida-Burns	12-Newman-Schultz
4 ♠	S	4	420		4.64	2.36	4-Singerman-Williams	2-Koch-Brown
4 ♠	N	4	420		4.64	2.36	11-Congbalay-Cook	3-Terbrueggen-Moese
2 ♠	S	5	200		1.21	5.79	6-Lammers-Barron	6-Temples-Koch
3 ♠	S	4	170		0.07	6.93	5-Lin-Hubka	4-Henry-Campbell

South is about a card shy of making a slam try. N/S lose one Spade trick, one Heart, and one Club, making four. The proper way to play the Spade suit is low to the ♠ A and back towards the ♠ Q. East will probably lead the ♦T.

Board 18
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	A 10 7 6 2
♥	A K 2
♦	9
♣	K J 7 4

♠	5 4
♥	8 5 4
♦	A K J 8 5 2
♣	Q 2

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 8 3
♥	Q J 10 9 3
♦	10 3
♣	8 6 5

♠	K J 9
♥	7 6
♦	Q 7 6 4
♣	A 10 9 3

NS 6♠; NS 6♣; S 5N; S 2♥; N 1N; S 2♦; N 1♥; Par +1430

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

Weak two opener
Cuebid showing a limit raise in Spades

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	N	5	650		6.17	0.83	6-Lammers-Barron	6-Temples-Koch
4 ♠	N	5	650		6.17	0.83	11-Congbalay-Cook	3-Terbrueggen-Moese
4 ♠	N	4	620		4.17	2.83	1-Vanstone-Roark	8-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♠	S	5	Ave	Ave	3.50	3.50	5-Lin-Hubka	4-Henry-Campbell
3 ♠	N	5	200		2.83	4.17	2-De Roos-Mackey	10-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♣	S	4	130		1.50	5.50	3-Kobida-Burns	12-Newman-Schultz
2 ♠	N	2	110		0.17	6.83	4-Singerman-Williams	2-Koch-Brown

N/S won't get to the slam, nor should they. To take 12 tricks, Spades have to split 3-2 and declarer has to find both the ♠ Q and ♣ Q while negotiating a Heart ruff with dummy's ♠ 9. Let's see....that's somewhere around a 9% slam. Don't be in it.

East will lead the ♦T on opening lead, and West will allow it to hold. Declarer will ruff the Diamond continuation, and lead a Spade to dummy's ♠ J (East is more likely to hold Spade length on the auction). When the ♠ J wins, declarer will continue with the ♠ K, the ♥ AK, and a Heart ruff. Now a small Club to the ♣ J and the ♠ A to end the drama.

Board 19
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	A 9 5
♥	K 9 6
♦	K J
♣	Q J 9 6 3

♠	J 8 4
♥	A 3
♦	8 5 4 3 2
♣	10 5 4

N
W		E
S

♠	K Q 7
♥	Q J 10 5
♦	10 9 7 6
♣	8 2

♠	10 6 3 2
♥	8 7 4 2
♦	A Q
♣	A K 7

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

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

Alert, game-forcing Club raise
Showing a Diamond stopper for notrump and denying a stopper in both majors
Stoppers in the majors

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	S	3	400		5.79	1.21	3-Kobida-Burns	11-Heckel-Decker
3 NT	N	3	400		5.79	1.21	4-Singerman-Williams	1-Felson-Brown
3 NT	N	3	400		5.79	1.21	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	7-Lubow-Earls
2 NT	N	3	150		2.93	4.07	2-De Roos-Mackey	9-Endres-Kennedy
2 NT	S	3	150		2.93	4.07	5-Lin-Hubka	3-Terbrueggen-Moese
2 ♣	S	3	110		1.21	5.79	6-Lammers-Barron	5-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♥	S	−2		100	0.07	6.93	1-Vanstone-Roark	6-Temples-Koch

South's 2 ♦ rebid doesn't deny stoppers in either major--it simply denies both a Heart stopper and a Spade stopper. N/S take five Club tricks, two Diamonds, one Heart, and one Spade, making three. East will lead the ♥ Q, West will overtake with the ♥ A, return a Heart, and declarer will cash out.

Board 20
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	8 7
♥	Q 5 2
♦	K Q J 7
♣	K Q 8 2

♠	Q 6 4 2
♥	K 9 8 6 4
♦	10 5 4
♣	4

N
W		E
S

♠	A K 5 3
♥	A 3
♦	A 3 2
♣	10 9 5 3

♠	J 10 9
♥	J 10 7
♦	9 8 6
♣	A J 7 6

EW 4♠; EW 3♥; EW 1N; NS 1♣; Par −620

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

15 to 18
Garbage Stayman

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♥	E	2		110	6.93	0.07	1-Vanstone-Roark	6-Temples-Koch
2 ♥	E	3		140	4.64	2.36	2-De Roos-Mackey	9-Endres-Kennedy
2 ♥	E	3		140	4.64	2.36	4-Singerman-Williams	1-Felson-Brown
2 ♥	E	3		140	4.64	2.36	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	7-Lubow-Earls
2 ♠	E	4		170	1.79	5.21	3-Kobida-Burns	11-Heckel-Decker
2 ♠	W	4		170	1.79	5.21	5-Lin-Hubka	3-Terbrueggen-Moese
1 NT	S	−2		200	0.07	6.93	6-Lammers-Barron	5-Kammer-Zimmer

West knows that a major-suit contract will play better than a notrump contract, so they trot out Garbage (Crawling) Stayman over partner's 1 NT overcall. If East had bid 2 ♦, denying a 4-card major, West would have continued with 2 ♥ (to play). If East held only two Hearts, they would "crawl" up to 2 ♠. Not the case here, as East holds four Spades.

South will lead the ♦ 8 (MUD) on opening lead, and E/W will lose only three minor-suit tricks when Hearts split 3-3. Best line is to win with the ♦ A, ♥ A, ♥ 3 to the ♥ K, and ruff a Heart with the ♠ 3. Now, ♠ AK and a small Spade to dummy's ♠ Q finish off the trumps, and declarer can discard their two losing Diamonds on dummy's Heart winners.

Alternatively, declarer can win the ♦ A and play a small Club from both hands. The defenders can win cheaply and cash two more Diamonds before exiting with a trump, but declarer will still have 10 tricks even if Hearts fail to split.

Board 21
North Deals
N-S Vul

♠	K 10 4
♥	10 7
♦	9 3
♣	K J 9 7 6 3

♠	8 7 6 3 2
♥	8 4 2
♦	5 4
♣	Q 10 5

N
W		E
S

♠	J 5
♥	A Q 9 5 3
♦	Q 10 8 7 6
♣	A

♠	A Q 9
♥	K J 6
♦	A K J 2
♣	8 4 2

NS 5N; NS 4♠; NS 5♣; NS 3♦; NS 1♥; Par +660

West	North	East	South
	Pass	1 ♥	1 NT1
Pass	2 ♣2	Pass	2 ♦
Pass	2 NT3	Pass	3 NT
Pass	Pass	Pass

15 to 18
Stayman, intending to invite in notrump
Alert, partner 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		6.36	0.64	1-Vanstone-Roark	6-Temples-Koch
3 NT	S	4	630		6.36	0.64	6-Lammers-Barron	5-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♥	E	−5	250		4.64	2.36	4-Singerman-Williams	1-Felson-Brown
2 NT	S	6	240		3.50	3.50	3-Kobida-Burns	11-Heckel-Decker
3 ♣	S	4	130		1.79	5.21	2-De Roos-Mackey	9-Endres-Kennedy
3 ♣	N	4	130		1.79	5.21	5-Lin-Hubka	3-Terbrueggen-Moese
1 ♥	E	1		80	0.07	6.93	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	7-Lubow-Earls

While North might have called their hand weak if partner had opened 1 NT, it's certainly worth inviting when South overcalls 1 NT (15-18 HCP). North has a six-card minor, two Tens, and two 9's--none of which are accounted for by simply adding up high-card points.

N/S take three Spade tricks, two Hearts, three Diamonds, and two Clubs. It's unlikely that declarer will guess that East has a stiff ♣ A and will likely lead a small Club to dummy's ♣ J--oops. West will lead the ♥ 4 (MUD) on opening lead.

Board 22
East Deals
E-W Vul

♠	A 9 5 4 3
♥	J 3 2
♦	J 7 2
♣	A 6

♠	J 7 6
♥	7
♦	Q 8 6 5
♣	K Q J 8 7

N
W		E
S

♠	K 2
♥	A Q 6 5 4
♦	K 10 9 3
♣	9 3

♠	Q 10 8
♥	K 10 9 8
♦	A 4
♣	10 5 4 2

EW 4♦; NS 2♠; EW 2♣; EW 1♥; Par −130

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

Forcing

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	E	−2	200		7.00	0.00	8-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	8-Diers-McCarthy
2 ♠	N	2	110		6.00	1.00	1-Vanstone-Roark	5-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♦	E	−1	100		4.50	2.50	3-Kobida-Burns	10-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♦	E	−1	100		4.50	2.50	4-Singerman-Williams	12-Newman-Schultz
2 ♠	N	−1		50	3.00	4.00	5-Lin-Hubka	2-Koch-Brown
1 NT	W	1		90	2.00	5.00	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	6-Temples-Koch
2 ♦	E	4		130	1.00	6.00	2-De Roos-Mackey	7-Lubow-Earls
2 ♠×	N	−2		300	0.00	7.00	6-Lammers-Barron	4-Henry-Campbell

If West had passed their partner's 2 ♦ bid, North would have balanced with 2 ♠. That's not going to happen at the three level. E/W lose one Spade trick, one Diamond, and one Club, making four. If declarer misguesses the Diamonds, they'll make three, although it's extremely likely that South will lead the ♦ A and another Diamond. So much for misguessing....

Board 23
South Deals
Both Vul

♠	A Q 4 3
♥	K J 7
♦	J 8 4
♣	A Q 8

♠	10 7
♥	A 8 4 2
♦	9 6 2
♣	J 9 5 2

N
W		E
S

♠	K 9 8 5
♥	Q 10 9 6 3
♦	A K 3
♣	10

♠	J 6 2
♥	5
♦	Q 10 7 5
♣	K 7 6 4 3

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

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

15 to 17
Alert, showing both majors

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♥	E	−1	100		7.00	0.00	4-Singerman-Williams	12-Newman-Schultz
3 ♣	S	−1		100	5.00	2.00	1-Vanstone-Roark	5-Kammer-Zimmer
1 NT	N	−1		100	5.00	2.00	5-Lin-Hubka	2-Koch-Brown
1 NT	N	−1		100	5.00	2.00	6-Lammers-Barron	4-Henry-Campbell
2 ♥	W	2		110	2.50	4.50	2-De Roos-Mackey	7-Lubow-Earls
2 ♥	E	2		110	2.50	4.50	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	6-Temples-Koch
2 ♥	E	3		140	1.00	6.00	8-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	8-Diers-McCarthy
1 NT	N	−2		200	0.00	7.00	3-Kobida-Burns	10-Jervis-Lindeman

E/W lose one Club trick, one Diamond, one Heart, and two Spades, making two. South might lead the ♦ 5.

Board 24
West Deals
None Vul

♠	10 5
♥	5 4
♦	Q J 10 9 8 6 5
♣	Q 5

♠	K 9 2
♥	Q J 8 7
♦	4 3 2
♣	J 9 2

N
W		E
S

♠	J 8 7 4 3
♥	9 2
♦	A K 7
♣	K 10 8

♠	A Q 6
♥	A K 10 6 3
♦	—
♣	A 7 6 4 3

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

West	North	East	South
Pass	3 ♦	Pass	3 ♥1
Pass	3 NT2	Pass	4 ♣3
Pass	4 ♦4	Pass	Pass
Pass

Forcing
Alert, showing 2-card Heart support
No desire to play in notrump, bidding out their hand
Um....I like Diamonds

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♦	N	4	130		7.00	0.00	5-Lin-Hubka	2-Koch-Brown
3 ♦	N	3	110		5.50	1.50	3-Kobida-Burns	10-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♦	N	3	110		5.50	1.50	6-Lammers-Barron	4-Henry-Campbell
4 ♥	S	−1		50	4.00	3.00	4-Singerman-Williams	12-Newman-Schultz
3 NT	S	−2		100	2.50	4.50	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	6-Temples-Koch
3 NT	S	−2		100	2.50	4.50	8-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	8-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	S	−3		150	0.50	6.50	1-Vanstone-Roark	5-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♣	S	−3		150	0.50	6.50	2-De Roos-Mackey	7-Lubow-Earls

Some South players might bid 4 ♥ over North's 4 ♦ bid, and that might be a reasonable bid in IMPs (team game), but not in Matchpoints. It's too important in Matchpoints to go plus, and 4 ♦ looks to be the last makeable contract. N/S lose two Diamond tricks and one trick in a black suit--not sure which one.

East can't afford to lead a Spade or a Club on opening lead, so they'll lead a Heart. Declarer will win in dummy with the ♥ K, play the ♥ A, and ruff a Heart with the ♦ 8. East is welcome to overruff, but it doesn't gain them anything, since it's with a natural trump trick. If they discard, declarer will continue with a high trump. Still unable to play a Spade or Club, East will take their two high Diamonds and exit with another Diamond, declarer winning in their hand. Now a Spade to the ♠ Q loses to West. So much for making 11 tricks, but declarer can't be stopped from returning to dummy with either black-suit Ace to ruff another Heart, return to dummy with the other Ace, and pitch their Club loser on the good Heart, making four. Nicely played!

Board 25
North Deals
E-W Vul

♠	8
♥	K Q 10
♦	A 10 9
♣	K Q 9 7 4 3

♠	Q J 9 6
♥	A J 7 4
♦	K 8 7
♣	A 5

N
W		E
S

♠	10 3 2
♥	9 8 6 3 2
♦	Q 6 5
♣	J 8

♠	A K 7 5 4
♥	5
♦	J 4 3 2
♣	10 6 2

NS 3N; NS 4♣; NS 2♠; NS 2♦; W 1♥; Par +400

West	North	East	South
	1 ♣	Pass	1 ♠
Pass	3 ♣	Pass	3 ♦
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
1 NT	W	−3	300		7.00	0.00	4-Singerman-Williams	11-Heckel-Decker
3 ♣	N	5	150		6.00	1.00	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	5-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♣	N	4	130		3.00	4.00	3-Kobida-Burns	8-Diers-McCarthy
2 ♣	N	4	130		3.00	4.00	5-Lin-Hubka	1-Felson-Brown
3 ♣	N	4	130		3.00	4.00	6-Lammers-Barron	3-Terbrueggen-Moese
2 ♣	N	4	130		3.00	4.00	8-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	7-Lubow-Earls
3 ♣	N	4	130		3.00	4.00	9-Murdock-Wolf	9-Endres-Kennedy
3 ♥	E	−1	100		0.00	7.00	2-De Roos-Mackey	6-Temples-Koch

North's 3 ♣ rebid shows a five-loser hand. South's 3 ♦ bid is forcing, and North shows their Heart values (it can't be a 4-card suit, since they would have reversed into 2 ♥). When North denies a 3rd Spade, South parks in 3 NT.

N/S take five Club tricks, one Diamond, two Spades, and one Heart, making three. Declarer has to be careful to unblock the ♣T under one of dummy's high honors. West will probably lead the ♠ Q.

Board 26
East Deals
Both Vul

♠	Q J 6 4
♥	Q 7 6
♦	8 7
♣	J 10 9 6

♠	K 7 3
♥	J 8 5 3 2
♦	K Q 9 6
♣	K

N
W		E
S

♠	10 5 2
♥	A 10 9
♦	A 10 5 3 2
♣	Q 8

♠	A 9 8
♥	K 4
♦	J 4
♣	A 7 5 4 3 2

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

West	North	East	South
		Pass	1 ♣
1 ♥1	Dbl2	2 ♥	2 ♣
2 ♦3	Pass4	3 ♥	Pass
Pass	Pass

Slightly better than doubling
Negative showing exactly four Spades
Showing a full opener
On the vulnerability

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♣	S	4	130		7.00	0.00	5-Lin-Hubka	1-Felson-Brown
2 ♣	S	2	90		6.00	1.00	4-Singerman-Williams	11-Heckel-Decker
2 ♠	N	−1		100	5.00	2.00	2-De Roos-Mackey	6-Temples-Koch
2 ♦	E	4		130	3.50	3.50	3-Kobida-Burns	8-Diers-McCarthy
2 ♦	E	4		130	3.50	3.50	9-Murdock-Wolf	9-Endres-Kennedy
3 ♥	W	3		140	2.00	5.00	8-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	7-Lubow-Earls
2 ♥	W	4		170	1.00	6.00	6-Lammers-Barron	3-Terbrueggen-Moese
2 ♠	N	−2		200	0.00	7.00	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	5-Kammer-Zimmer

North's values are too soft (filled with Queens and Jacks) to compete to the three level even with the known 10-card fit. E/W lose one Heart trick, two Spades, and one Club, making three. North will lead the ♣ J.

Board 27
South Deals
None Vul

♠	A Q 6
♥	5
♦	Q 10 8 4 3
♣	A 10 9 3

♠	9
♥	A Q 8 6
♦	9 6 5
♣	Q J 8 7 6

N
W		E
S

♠	10 5 2
♥	K J 10 4
♦	A 7 2
♣	K 5 2

♠	K J 8 7 4 3
♥	9 7 3 2
♦	K J
♣	4

NS 5♠; NS 1N; EW 2♣; EW 1♥; NS 1♦; Par +450

West	North	East	South
			Pass1
Pass	1 ♦	Pass	1 ♠
1 NT2	Dbl3	2 ♥	3 ♠
Pass	4 ♠	Pass	Pass
Pass

Don't make a weak two bid with four cards in the other major
Alert, artificial showing the unbid suits with emphasis on the lower-ranking suit (Sandwich NT)
Alert, support double showing 3-card Spade support

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	S	4	420		7.00	0.00	8-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	7-Lubow-Earls
3 NT	E	−4	200		5.00	2.00	3-Kobida-Burns	8-Diers-McCarthy
2 ♠	S	5	200		5.00	2.00	4-Singerman-Williams	11-Heckel-Decker
2 ♠	S	5	200		5.00	2.00	5-Lin-Hubka	1-Felson-Brown
3 ♠	S	4	170		3.00	4.00	9-Murdock-Wolf	9-Endres-Kennedy
2 ♠	S	3	140		2.00	5.00	2-De Roos-Mackey	6-Temples-Koch
4 ♠	S	−1		50	0.50	6.50	6-Lammers-Barron	3-Terbrueggen-Moese
3 ♠	S	−1		50	0.50	6.50	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	5-Kammer-Zimmer

When you're already a passed hand, your Sandwich NT bid should deny five cards in the higher-ranking unbid suit (i.e., emphasis on the lower-ranking suit).

N/S lose one Heart trick and one Diamond, making five. Declarer shouldn't worry about ruffing their Heart losers, as they can be discarded on dummy's Diamonds. Assume that West starts off with the ♥ A and another Heart. Declarer can ruff low in dummy, and immediately play a low Diamond to their ♦ K. East will duck and most likely win the continuation. A Club is now best, declarer winning in dummy with the ♣ A. Declarer can afford to play off one round of trumps, but then they need to switch to Diamonds throwing Hearts from their hand. East is free to ruff in on the fourth round, but declarer can overruff, play another Spade to dummy's ♠ Q (pulling East's last trump), and continue with winning Diamonds.

How did declarer know that West would be short in Spades? Remember their Sandwich NT bid? Combine that with the fact that East didn't continue with a third round of Diamonds after winning their ♦ A (West signaled showing an odd number of Diamonds), and you have a complete picture of West's hand. With five Clubs, three Diamonds, and four Hearts, how many Spades does West have? Isn't Bridge easy?

Board 28
West Deals
N-S Vul

♠	A K J 10 7 5 2
♥	7 4
♦	—
♣	K Q 10 7

♠	9 8
♥	10 6 5
♦	K Q J 9 4
♣	8 6 4

N
W		E
S

♠	6 4 3
♥	A Q 8 3
♦	8 7 6 3 2
♣	J

♠	Q
♥	K J 9 2
♦	A 10 5
♣	A 9 5 3 2

NS 6N; NS 6♠; NS 6♣; NS 2♥; EW 1♦; Par +1400: EW 7♦×−6

West	North	East	South
Pass1	1 ♠2	Pass	2 ♣
Pass	3 ♠3	Pass	4 NT4
Pass	5 NT5	Pass	6 NT6
Pass	Pass	Pass

A 2 ♦ opener wouldn't be wrong
Gorgeous hand, but 1 ♠ doesn't deny this holding
A jump in opener's major in a 2/1 auction sets trump and asks for control bids
RKC Blackwood (Kickback) for Spades
1430 response showing an even number of keycards and a useful void
No reason to play in Spades

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
6 ♠	N	6	1430		6.50	0.50	4-Singerman-Williams	9-Endres-Kennedy
6 ♠	N	6	1430		6.50	0.50	10-Tedrick-Pretz	10-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♠	N	7	710		4.50	2.50	8-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	6-Temples-Koch
4 ♠	N	7	710		4.50	2.50	9-Murdock-Wolf	8-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	S	6	690		3.00	4.00	5-Lin-Hubka	12-Newman-Schultz
4 ♠	N	6	680		1.50	5.50	3-Kobida-Burns	7-Lubow-Earls
4 ♠	N	6	680		1.50	5.50	6-Lammers-Barron	2-Koch-Brown
4 ♠	N	5	650		0.00	7.00	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	4-Henry-Campbell

North was intending to jump shift into 3 ♣ if South had responded 1 NT, but chooses to rebid 3 ♠ to set trump and ask for control bids. South, with first or second-round control in all side suits, has no reason not to ask for keycards. North shows an even number (two or four) keycards and a useful void, and South, with no reason to expect there to be additional tricks in a Spade contract, bids the notrump slam.

N/S take seven Spade tricks, five Club tricks, and one Diamond, making seven when West leads the ♦ K. If West grabs the wrong card and accidentally leads a Heart, they'll hold N/S to 12 tricks. Stupid accidental Heart lead.

Board 29
North Deals
Both Vul

♠	K 8 3 2
♥	—
♦	Q 9 8 5 2
♣	K Q J 3

♠	Q 10 4
♥	K 10 5 4 2
♦	K J 10 6 3
♣	—

N
W		E
S

♠	J 9 7 5
♥	A J 9 8
♦	4
♣	A 10 9 2

♠	A 6
♥	Q 7 6 3
♦	A 7
♣	8 7 6 5 4

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

West	North	East	South
	1 ♦1	Pass2	1 ♥
Pass	1 ♠	Pass	1 NT
2 ♥3	Pass	2 ♠4	Pass
3 ♥5	Pass	Pass	Pass

Rule of 20 opener
Not quite a takeout double
Natural
Limit raise in Hearts
No thank you

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♦	W	−3	300		7.00	0.00	6-Lammers-Barron	2-Koch-Brown
Pass			Pass		5.00	2.00	5-Lin-Hubka	12-Newman-Schultz
Pass			Pass		5.00	2.00	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	4-Henry-Campbell
Pass			Pass		5.00	2.00	8-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	6-Temples-Koch
3 NT	S	−1		100	2.50	4.50	3-Kobida-Burns	7-Lubow-Earls
3 ♣	N	−1		100	2.50	4.50	4-Singerman-Williams	9-Endres-Kennedy
2 NT	E	2		120	1.00	6.00	10-Tedrick-Pretz	10-Jervis-Lindeman
1 NT	S	−2		200	0.00	7.00	9-Murdock-Wolf	8-Diers-McCarthy

West can't quite overcall 2 ♥ the first time through but is happy to do so after South's 1 NT bid limits their hand.

E/W lose two Spade tricks, a Spade ruff, and a Diamond, making three. Declarer will be able to discard one Diamond on dummy's ♠ J, one on dummy's ♣ A, and ruff one with dummy's fourth Heart after pulling trump. For the declarers who aren't sure how to play the trump suit, did you forget that South bid Hearts? Don't forget.

Board 30
East Deals
None Vul

♠	K Q J 10 8 3
♥	A K
♦	Q 9 7 3 2
♣	—

♠	9 6 5
♥	9 5
♦	10 8 6
♣	J 9 6 5 2

N
W		E
S

♠	A
♥	10 8 6 3 2
♦	K
♣	A Q 10 7 4 3

♠	7 4 2
♥	Q J 7 4
♦	A J 5 4
♣	K 8

NS 6♠; NS 6♦; NS 4N; N 3♥; S 2♥; EW 3♣; Par +800: EW 7♣×−4

West	North	East	South
		1 ♣1	Dbl2
3 ♣3	6 ♠4	Pass	Pass
Pass

Planning to reverse
A bit light but what the heck
Weak and preemptive
Sometimes you have to bid what you think you'll make

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
6 ♣×	E	−3	500		7.00	0.00	8-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	6-Temples-Koch
4 ♠	N	6	480		4.50	2.50	4-Singerman-Williams	9-Endres-Kennedy
4 ♠	N	6	480		4.50	2.50	6-Lammers-Barron	2-Koch-Brown
4 ♠	N	6	480		4.50	2.50	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	4-Henry-Campbell
5 ♠	N	6	480		4.50	2.50	10-Tedrick-Pretz	10-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♠	N	5	450		1.50	5.50	3-Kobida-Burns	7-Lubow-Earls
4 ♠	N	5	450		1.50	5.50	9-Murdock-Wolf	8-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♦	S	5	150		0.00	7.00	5-Lin-Hubka	12-Newman-Schultz

Holding both the ♠ A and ♣ A will discourage East from sacrificing in 7 ♣. Stupid Aces. Some Easts will double for penalty much to North's delight. Stupid doubles.

N/S lose one Spade, making six. The proper way to play the Diamond suit is low towards the ♦ J. When the ♦ K shows up, the rest is easy. It's likely that East will lead the ♠ A to get a look at dummy. If dummy had a singleton Club, East would have tried cashing the ♣ A. With two Clubs in dummy (combined with partner's known five Clubs), East knows the ♣ A is not cashing.

Board 31
South Deals
N-S Vul

♠	K 6
♥	9 6 5
♦	A 9 6 4 3 2
♣	8 4

♠	7 4 3
♥	J 3
♦	K Q 8 7 5
♣	10 9 3

N
W		E
S

♠	A Q 8
♥	K 10 2
♦	10
♣	K Q J 6 5 2

♠	J 10 9 5 2
♥	A Q 8 7 4
♦	J
♣	A 7

NS 3♥; NS 2♠; EW 1N; EW 2♣; Par +140

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

Forcing

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♥	S	3	140		6.00	1.00	5-Lin-Hubka	10-Jervis-Lindeman
2 ♠	S	3	140		6.00	1.00	10-Tedrick-Pretz	9-Endres-Kennedy
2 ♥	S	3	140		6.00	1.00	11-Congbalay-Cook	11-Heckel-Decker
2 ♥	S	2	110		4.00	3.00	8-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	5-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♣	E	−2	100		3.00	4.00	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	3-Terbrueggen-Moese
3 NT	E	−1	50		2.00	5.00	4-Singerman-Williams	8-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♣	E	3		110	0.50	6.50	6-Lammers-Barron	1-Felson-Brown
3 ♣	E	3		110	0.50	6.50	9-Murdock-Wolf	7-Lubow-Earls

With some values and shortness in the opponent's suit, North doesn't want to pass after West's 3 ♣ bid, so they raise partner's Hearts to the three level. Even if South turns up with only four Hearts, this bid isn't horrible.

N/S lose two Spade tricks, one Heart, and one Club, making three. West will lead the ♣T.

Board 32
West Deals
E-W Vul

♠	7 6 5
♥	Q 9 7 5
♦	K 10 7 4
♣	4 3

♠	A K Q 10
♥	A K J 6 3 2
♦	A 8
♣	A

N
W		E
S

♠	J 9 8
♥	—
♦	Q 9 6 5 3
♣	K J 7 5 2

♠	4 3 2
♥	10 8 4
♦	J 2
♣	Q 10 9 8 6

EW 7♠; EW 5N; EW 5♥; EW 5♦; EW 4♣; Par −2210

West	North	East	South
2 ♣	Pass	2 ♦1	Pass
2 ♥2	Pass	2 ♠3	Pass
3 ♠4	Pass	4 ♠5	Pass
4 NT6	Pass	5 ♦7	Pass
5 NT8	Pass	6 ♣9	Pass
7 ♠	Pass	Pass	Pass

Game forcing, showing an A, K, or QQ
Alert, Kokish Relay asking partner to bid 2 ♠
Alert, forced bid
Alert, showing a two-suited hand with 5+ Hearts and exactly four Spades
Agreeing on Spades
RKC Blackwood (Kickback) for Spades
1430 response showing 0 or 3 keycards
Confirming possession of all of the keycards and the ♠ Q and asking for specific Kings
Showing the ♣ K

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
7 NT	E	−3	300		7.00	0.00	6-Lammers-Barron	1-Felson-Brown
7 NT	W	−2	200		6.00	1.00	10-Tedrick-Pretz	9-Endres-Kennedy
6 ♣	W	−1	100		4.50	2.50	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	3-Terbrueggen-Moese
6 ♥	W	−1	100		4.50	2.50	9-Murdock-Wolf	7-Lubow-Earls
3 NT	E	4		630	3.00	4.00	8-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	5-Kammer-Zimmer
5 ♥	W	5		650	1.00	6.00	4-Singerman-Williams	8-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♥	W	5		650	1.00	6.00	5-Lin-Hubka	10-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♥	W	5		650	1.00	6.00	11-Congbalay-Cook	11-Heckel-Decker

Gorgeous auction. When East is able to show the ♣ K, West can count 13 tricks--four Spade tricks in hand, two Clubs, one Diamond, two Heart ruffs in dummy, and four Heart tricks. How do they know they don't have a Heart loser? Well, with three Hearts, East might have bid 4 ♥ rather than 4 ♠. If East does have three Hearts, then (1) they might have the ♥ Q, or (2) the ♥ Q might fall in two rounds.

North will probably lead a trump (typically the best lead against a grand slam). Declarer will win in hand with the ♠ A, ruff a small Heart with dummy's ♠ J, Club to the ♣ A, ruff another Heart with the ♠ 9, cash the ♣ K pitching their small Diamond, ♠ 8 to the ♠ K, ♠ Q pulling the last trump, and ♥ A. When both opponents follow to the third Heart, declarer can claim. Nicely done!

Board 33
North Deals
None Vul

♠	K Q 8 7 5
♥	9 7
♦	A 9 5 3
♣	8 7

♠	10
♥	Q 10 8 5 2
♦	10 6
♣	A Q J 6 2

N
W		E
S

♠	A J 9 4 3
♥	J 4
♦	J 8 4 2
♣	K 4

♠	6 2
♥	A K 6 3
♦	K Q 7
♣	10 9 5 3

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

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

Showing 5+ Spades
Natural and lead directing

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
1 NT	S	2	120		7.00	0.00	10-Tedrick-Pretz	9-Endres-Kennedy
1 NT	S	1	90		5.50	1.50	4-Singerman-Williams	8-Diers-McCarthy
1 NT	S	1	90		5.50	1.50	8-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	5-Kammer-Zimmer
2 NT	E	−1	50		4.00	3.00	5-Lin-Hubka	10-Jervis-Lindeman
2 ♠	N	−1		50	3.00	4.00	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	3-Terbrueggen-Moese
2 ♣	W	2		90	1.00	6.00	6-Lammers-Barron	1-Felson-Brown
1 NT	E	1		90	1.00	6.00	9-Murdock-Wolf	7-Lubow-Earls
1 NT	E	1		90	1.00	6.00	11-Congbalay-Cook	11-Heckel-Decker

If East doubles the final contract, they're going to have to defend frighteningly well. Either that or they'll have to hope declarer plays the hand frighteningly badly (more likely).

N/S will lose two Clubs and three Spades (♠ AJ9), making two. East should lead the ♣ K on the auction, although it's just as likely they'll lead the ♥ J.

Board 34
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	10 9 8 4
♥	A J 4 2
♦	A J 2
♣	9 4

♠	A K J 2
♥	9
♦	Q 10 9 7 4
♣	6 5 3

N
W		E
S

♠	7 5
♥	10 8 5 3
♦	8 5 3
♣	A K J 10

♠	Q 6 3
♥	K Q 7 6
♦	K 6
♣	Q 8 7 2

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

West	North	East	South
		Pass	1 ♣
2 NT1	Dbl2	Pass	Pass
3 ♦	Dbl3	Pass	Pass
Pass

Alert, Unmichaels bid showing Diamonds and an unknown major
Alert, a desire to penalize one or more of the opponent's suits
For penalty with a touch of do-something-smart-partner in the mix

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♥	N	2	110		6.36	0.64	9-Murdock-Wolf	6-Temples-Koch
2 ♥	N	2	110		6.36	0.64	10-Tedrick-Pretz	8-Diers-McCarthy
1 ♥	S	1	80		4.64	2.36	8-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	4-Henry-Campbell
Pass			Pass		3.50	3.50	11-Congbalay-Cook	10-Jervis-Lindeman
2 ♥	N	−1		100	1.21	5.79	5-Lin-Hubka	9-Endres-Kennedy
3 ♥	N	−1		100	1.21	5.79	6-Lammers-Barron	11-Heckel-Decker
2 ♥	S	−1		100	1.21	5.79	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	2-Koch-Brown

West's 2 NT bid over South's 1 ♣ opener shows Diamonds and a major, typically 5-5 (4-5 is possible when not vulnerable) and either a minimum (5-11 HCP) or maximum (16+ HCP) hand.

Some N/S pairs will venture on to 3 NT with little success. E/W lose one Heart trick, three Diamonds, and one Club, down one doubled for –100. That will lose out to the E/W pairs who are pitted against overly optimistic N/S pairs. Oh well...

Board 35
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	A 8 6 5 4
♥	8 6
♦	7 3
♣	Q 9 6 4

♠	7
♥	A 10 7 3
♦	Q J 10 8 5 2
♣	A 2

N
W		E
S

♠	K Q 3
♥	K Q 9 4 2
♦	9 6 4
♣	K J

♠	J 10 9 2
♥	J 5
♦	A K
♣	10 8 7 5 3

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

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

Alert, artificial asking for the quality of partner's Heart raise (Wold 2 NT)
Showing a 6-loser hand with a singleton in the other major

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♥	E	−1	100		6.93	0.07	11-Congbalay-Cook	10-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♦	W	4		130	5.79	1.21	6-Lammers-Barron	11-Heckel-Decker
4 ♥	E	4		620	2.93	4.07	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	2-Koch-Brown
4 ♥	E	4		620	2.93	4.07	8-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	4-Henry-Campbell
4 ♥	E	4		620	2.93	4.07	9-Murdock-Wolf	6-Temples-Koch
4 ♥	E	4		620	2.93	4.07	10-Tedrick-Pretz	8-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♥	E	5		650	0.07	6.93	5-Lin-Hubka	9-Endres-Kennedy

If West had shown a singleton Diamond, East would be off to the races. As it is....

E/W lose one Spade trick and two Diamonds, making four. South will lead the ♦ K on opening lead and switch to the ♠ J when they see dummy's Diamonds. North will win the ♠ A and return a second Diamond.

Board 36
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	A J 6 2
♥	Q 3
♦	J 10 7 3
♣	6 5 2

♠	10 8 5 3
♥	K J 2
♦	K Q 9 6 5 4
♣	—

N
W		E
S

♠	K Q 9 4
♥	7 5
♦	2
♣	Q J 10 9 4 3

♠	7
♥	A 10 9 8 6 4
♦	A 8
♣	A K 8 7

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

West	North	East	South
Pass1	Pass	Pass	1 ♥
2 ♦	Dbl2	Pass	2 ♥
Pass	2 NT	Pass	3 NT
Pass	Pass	Pass

Don't make a weak two bid with four cards in the other major
Negative showing 4+ Spades

Contract			Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♠×	E	−1	200		6.93	0.07	11-Congbalay-Cook	10-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♥	S	4	170		4.64	2.36	6-Lammers-Barron	11-Heckel-Decker
2 ♥	S	4	170		4.64	2.36	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	2-Koch-Brown
2 ♥	S	4	170		4.64	2.36	9-Murdock-Wolf	6-Temples-Koch
2 ♥	S	3	140		2.36	4.64	5-Lin-Hubka	9-Endres-Kennedy
2 ♥	S	2	110		1.21	5.79	8-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	4-Henry-Campbell
3 ♥	S	−1		100	0.07	6.93	10-Tedrick-Pretz	8-Diers-McCarthy

Passing 2 ♥ wouldn't be wrong, but North likes their hand and stretches to bid 2 NT. South is happy to go on to game with extras of their own.

N/S take one Spade trick, five Hearts, one Diamond, and two Clubs, making three. The proper way to play the Heart suit is to start with a small Heart towards the ♥ Q. If East leads the ♦ 2, declarer should win with dummy's ♦ A and immediately lead a Heart. If East starts with the ♣ Q (more likely), declarer should grab it, since nine tricks are there for the taking.