MON 01/23/2017 at Nite

EVENT>Monday Night Invitational|SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> A N-S
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>January 23, 2017   |CLUB NO.>185264    | 01/23/2017 22:38
---------------------,-- ------------------- -------------,---------------------
DIR> Debbie Wiest    |RATING>Junior Fund                  |MOVEMENT>MITCHELL
------------,-------- ,-------------------------,--------- ---------------------
AVE>  132.0 |TOP>  11 |MP LIMITS>1500/750/500   |CLUB>Mike's Games At The CBC
------------ --------- ------------------------- -------------------------------
PAIRS IN STRAT A=13/B=13/C=12                    ,---,-----------------,-------------------------,------,---------,
-------------------------------------------------|   |      Overall    |           Section       |      |Final    |
No Name                   Name                   |Flt|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C| Score | Pct  |Awards   |
------------------------------------------------- --- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ------- ------ ---------
 1 Donald Pollack         Bernice Pollack          C   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    130.00  49.24
 2 Joy Singerman          William Cook             C   .     .     .   |   4     4     4    140.00  53.03  0.35(SA)
 3 David Elliott          Carla Runda              C   5     5     4   |   3     3     3    149.00  56.44  0.65(OC)
 4 Patrick Lammers        Judy Barron              C   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    121.00  45.83
 5 Liz Lin                Elmer Hubka              B   .     .     .   |  5/6   5/6    .    135.50  51.33  0.19(SA)
 6 Patricia Burnam        Patrick Hoffman          C   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    112.50  42.61
 7 Susan Stacy Vanstone   John Williams            C   2     2     1   |   1     1     1    162.50  61.55  1.53(OC)
 8 Pamela Kennedy         Cheryl Endres            C   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    116.50  44.13
 9 Richard Magnus         Julian Magnus, Jr        C   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    119.00  45.08
10 Joyce Tedrick          Linda Pretz              C   .     .     .   |  5/6   5/6    5    135.50  51.33  0.19(SA)
11 Annette Kereiakes      Tom Kereiakes            C   4     4     3   |   2     2     2    150.00  56.82  0.86(OC)
12 Carol Scovic           Judith Lubow             C   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    124.50  47.16
13 Reggie Moskowitz       Millard Lakes            C   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    120.00  45.45

                                          Totals                                           1716.00


                                       **PAIRS**
BOARD     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9    10    11    12    13
  /
   1>      -          3     6-    9-    9-     -    3    11     6-    6-    6-    3
        -940   ---- -460  -440  -420  -420  -940  -460  -190  -440  -440  -440  -460

   2>     2           6     3    10     7    11      -    8-     -    5     8-    4
        -150   ----   50  -140   140   100   300  -200   110  -200  -100   110  -130

   3>     5     8-          1-    1-    1-    8-    8-    1-    8-    8-    8-    4
         150   420   ----  -50   -50   -50   420   420   -50   420   420   420   140

   4>     7     2           9-    3     9-     -    5    11     7     7     4      -
         140  -110   ----  170  -100   170  -120   100   620   140   140   -90  -120

   5>     1     9     4-          2     0    10    11     4-    7-    7-    4-    4-
        -100   300   130   ----  100  -200   720   800   130   150   150   130   130

   6>     2-    1     8-         11     8-    8-    4     5-    5-    8-    0     2-
         -80   -90   100   ----  200   100   100   -50  PASS  PASS   100  -160   -80

   7>    11     5-    9     5-          9     2-    0     5-    5-    9     2-    1
         500  -100   100  -100   ----  100  -620 -1660  -100  -100   100  -620  -650

   8>     7-    5-   10     0           2-    2-    2-    7-    2-   10     5-   10
         650   450   690    50   ----  100   100   100   650   100   690   450   690

   9>     4     9     2-    2-    9           7     9     1     0     5-   11     5-
        -130   200  -150  -150   200   ----  100   200  -600  -620   -50   300   -50

  10>     9-    1     1     7-    7-          9-   11     3-    5-    1     3-    5-
         200  -200  -200   110   110   ----  200   500  -100   100  -200  -100   100

  11>     0    11     2-    5-    5-    2-          8     5-    9    10     1     5-
        -800   150  -200  -100  -100  -200   ----  -50  -100    50   110  -500  -100

  12>    11     9    10     1-    6     1-          6     1-    6     6     6     1-
          50  -150  -110  -430  -400  -430   ---- -400  -430  -400  -400  -400  -430

  13>     7-    3-    3-    7-    3-    0     9           1     3-   10     6    11
        -110  -130  -130  -110  -130  -500   100   ---- -400  -130   110  -120   200

  14>     4-    8-    2     4-    0    10-    4-          4-    8-    7    10-    1
         420   480   170   420    50   650   420   ----  420   480   450   650   100

  15>     4    10     4     8     1     4     7    10          10     1     1     6
        -100   120  -100   100  -200  -100    90   120   ----  120  -200  -200    80

  16>     1     1     9     9     9     5     5     1           5     3     9     9
        -110  -110   200   200   200   100   100  -110   ----  100   -50   200   200

  17>    11     4     8     8     1     0     8     4     4          10     4     4
        -100  -450  -420  -420  -480  -500  -420  -450  -450   ---- -300  -450  -450

  18>     6     6    11     6     6     6     6      -    6           6     6      -
        -430  -430  -400  -430  -430  -430  -430  -460  -430   ---- -430  -430  -460

  19>     6-    3-   11     3-    6-    0    10     6-    1     2           6-    9
         -50  -100   200  -100   -50  -500    90   -50  -180  -150   ----  -50    80

  20>     1-    5     5     8-   10-    5    10-    5     5     8-          0     1-
         100   120   120   150   600   120   600   120   120   150   ---- -100   100

  21>    10     8-    1     0     8-    4     4     6-   11     4     2           6-
         100    90  -120  -300    90  -100  -100    50   120  -100  -110   ----   50

  22>     6     0     9     3-    1-    9     9     1-    3-    9     9           5
         -50  -200    90  -140  -170    90    90  -170  -140    90    90   ---- -130

  23>     8-   10     6     1     3-   11     8-    2     6     6     3-    0
         300   730  -620 -1430  -680   870   300 -1370  -620  -620  -680 -1460   ----

  24>     2-    8-    8-    8-    8-    2-     -     -    4     5     6    11
         -50   420   420   420   420   -50  -100  -100   100   170   400   450   ----

  25>           3     3     9     3     3    11     7     3     9     3     3     9
         ---- -620  -620   100  -620  -620   140  -150  -620   100  -620  -620   100

  26>           7    11     1     8     1     9     3-    3-    1     5     6    10
         ---- -300   300  -680  -230  -680  -200  -650  -650  -680  -620  -400   200



EVENT>Monday Night Invitational|SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> A E-W
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>January 23, 2017   |CLUB NO.>185264    | 01/23/2017 22:38
---------------------,-- ------------------- -------------,---------------------
DIR> Debbie Wiest    |RATING>Junior Fund                  |MOVEMENT>MITCHELL
------------,-------- ,-------------------------,--------- ---------------------
AVE>  132.0 |TOP>  11 |MP LIMITS>1500/750/500   |CLUB>Mike's Games At The CBC
------------ --------- ------------------------- -------------------------------
PAIRS IN STRAT A=13/B=12/C=10                    ,---,-----------------,-------------------------,------,---------,
-------------------------------------------------|   |      Overall    |           Section       |      |Final    |
No Name                   Name                   |Flt|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C| Score | Pct  |Awards   |
------------------------------------------------- --- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ------- ------ ---------
 1 Lewis Temples          Richard Koch             C   .     6     5   |   4     3     2    144.00  54.55  0.51(SC)
 2 Ralph Terbrueggen      Dennis Schultz           A   6     .     .   |   3     .     .    146.00  55.30  0.51(SA)
 3 Joseph Kammer          Gail Zimmer              C   .     .     .   |   .     5     4    140.00  53.03  0.26(SC)
 4 Mike Burns             Charlie Kobida           C   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    129.00  48.86
 5 Stephen Felson         Robert Brown             B   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    116.50  44.13
 6 Joanne Earls           C Daniel Payne           C   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    126.50  47.92
 7 Evelyn McCarthy        Joan Diers               C   .     .     6   |   5     4     3    140.50  53.22  0.37(SC)
 8 Arun Gupta             Ajay Bansal              C   3     3     2   |   2     2     1    151.00  57.20  1.15(OC)
 9 Tim Oppelt             Joanne Oppelt            C   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    117.50  44.51
10 Peggy Jervis           Pat Lindeman             C   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    133.00  50.38
11 Erin Oblinger          Betty Murdock            C   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    103.50  39.20
12 June Cushman           Martin Petersen          B   1     1     .   |   1     1     .    165.50  62.69  2.01(OA)
13 Debbie Wiest           Kevin Henry              C   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    103.00  39.02

                                          Totals                                           1716.00


                                       **PAIRS**
BOARD     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9    10    11    12    13
  /
   1>    10-    8           0     8     4-    4-    4-    1-    4-    1-    8    10-
         940   460   ----  190   460   440   440   440   420   440   420   460   940

   2>     9    10-          2-    5    10-    8     6     1     2-    4     7     0
         150   200   ---- -110   -50   200   140   100  -140  -110  -100   130  -300

   3>     2-    2-    9-          2-    9-    2-    9-    2-    9-    7     2-    6
        -420  -420    50   ---- -420    50  -420    50  -420    50  -140  -420  -150

   4>     6     9     0           4     1-    4     8     7     1-   10-   10-    4
        -100   110  -620   ---- -140  -170  -140   100    90  -170   120   120  -140

   5>     2     6-    6-    3-          3-    9     6-   11     6-    1    10     0
        -300  -130  -130  -150   ---- -150  -100  -130   200  -130  -720   100  -800

   6>    10     5-    2-    5-          2-    0    11     2-    8-    2-    8-    7
          90  PASS  -100  PASS   ---- -100  -200   160  -100    80  -100    80    50

   7>     5-    2     5-    5-    2           8-    2    10     8-    0    11     5-
         100  -100   100   100  -100   ----  620  -100   650   620  -500  1660   100

   8>     3-    1     8-   11     1           5-    8-    1     8-    3-    8-    5-
        -650  -690  -100   -50  -690   ---- -450  -100  -690  -100  -650  -100  -450

   9>     8-   11     8-    5-    2     0           5-    4     7     2     2    10
         150   620   150    50  -200  -300   ----   50  -100   130  -200  -200   600

  10>    10     5-    3-   10     3-    7-          5-    1-    1-    0    10     7-
         200  -100  -110   200  -110   100   ---- -100  -200  -200  -500   200   100

  11>     2     5-    1     5-   10     8-    5-         11     3     0     5-    8-
         -50   100  -110   100   500   200   100   ----  800    50  -150   100   200

  12>     5     9-    5     5     5     9-    9-          0     5     2     9-    1
         400   430   400   400   400   430   430   ----  -50   400   150   430   110

  13>     3-    1     7-    5    11     0     2     3-          7-   10     7-    7-
         110  -110   130   120   500  -200  -100   110   ----  130   400   130   130

  14>     6-    4    11      -     -   10     6-    6-          2-    6-    9     2-
        -420  -450   -50  -650  -650  -100  -420  -420   ---- -480  -420  -170  -480

  15>    10    10    10     7     5     4     7     1     1           7     1     3
         200   200   200   100   -80   -90   100  -120  -120   ----  100  -120  -100

  16>     8     2     2     6     2     6    10    10    10           2     6     2
          50  -200  -200  -100  -200  -100   110   110   110   ---- -200  -100  -200

  17>    10     7    11     7     3     0     7     7     7     3           3     1
         480   450   500   450   420   100   450   450   450   420   ----  420   300

  18>     5     5     5    10-    5     5    10-    5     5     0           5     5
         430   430   430   460   430   430   460   430   430   400   ----  430   430

  19>     4-   11     2     1     4-    4-    7-   10     0     9     7-          4-
          50   500   -80   -90    50    50   100   180  -200   150   100   ----   50

  20>    11     6     9-     -    9-    6     6     6     6     2-    2-           -
         100  -120  -100  -600  -100  -120  -120  -120  -120  -150  -150   ---- -600

  21>     7     4-    7     1     4-    2-    0    10     7    11     9     2-
         100   -50   100  -100   -50   -90  -120   120   100   300   110   -90   ----

  22>     2     6     2     5     9-   11     7-    2     2     7-    2     9-
         -90   130   -90    50   170   200   140   -90   -90   140   -90   170   ----

  23>           2-    2-    9     1     5     5     5    10     7-    7-   11     0
         ---- -300  -300  1370  -730   620   620   620  1430   680   680  1460  -870

  24>          10-    8-   10-    2-    7     2-    6     2-    5     2-    0     8-
         ----  100    50   100  -420  -100  -420  -170  -420  -400  -420  -450    50

  25>     0           4     8     8     8     2     2     8     8     8     8     2
        -140   ----  150   620   620   620  -100  -100   620   620   620   620  -100

  26>     2           7-    4     7-    0    10    10     6     3     5    10     1
         200   ----  650   300   650  -300   680   680   620   230   400   680  -200

Board 1
North Deals
None Vul

♠	Q J 8 3
♥	Q J 10 4
♦	K 4
♣	10 4 3

♠	9 7
♥	A 9 7
♦	Q 7 6
♣	J 9 8 7 6

N
W		E
S

♠	A K 4
♥	5
♦	A J 10 8 5 2
♣	A K Q

♠	10 6 5 2
♥	K 8 6 3 2
♦	9 3
♣	5 2

EW 7N; EW 7♦; EW 7♣; EW 2♥; EW 1♠; Par −1520

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

Showing an A, K, or QQ
Showing a single-suited hand with Diamonds
RKC Blackwood (Kickback) for Diamonds
1430 response showing 1 or 4 keycards
Do you have the ♦ Q?
Yes, but no side-suit Kings

Contract			Score		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
1 ♦	E	7		190	9-Magnus-Magnus Jr	4-Burns-Kobida
5 ♣	E	6		420	5-Lin-Hubka	9-Oppelt-Oppelt
5 ♦	E	6		420	6-Burnam-Hoffman	11-Oblinger-Murdock
5 ♦	W	7		440	4-Lammers-Barron	7-McCarthy
5 ♦	W	7		440	10-Tedrick-Pretz	6-Earls-Payne
5 ♦	W	7		440	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	8-Gupta-Bansal
5 ♦	W	7		440	12-Scovic-Lubow	10-Jervis-Lindeman
3 NT	E	5		460	3-Elliott-Runda	5
3 NT	W	5		460	8-Kennedy-Endres	2-Terbrueggen-Schultz
3 NT	W	5		460	13-Moskowitz	12-Cushman-Petersen
6 ♦	E	7		940	1-Pollack-Pollack	1-Temples-Koch
6 ♦	W	7		940	7-Vanstone-Williams	13-Wiest-Henry

You don't want to be in 7 ♦ (or 7 NT) needing a successful finesse for the ♦ K. You also don't want to be in 6 NT with only one Heart stopper, since you're going down eleventy-million if the Diamond hook is off.

When the ♦ K turns out to be onside, E/W take all 13 tricks. South doesn't have a good lead, but luckily it doesn't matter. Maybe a trump?

Board 2
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	9 8 2
♥	A K Q J 7 3
♦	K 8 5
♣	J

♠	K J 7 6 4
♥	9 8
♦	A Q 10
♣	A 10 7

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 10
♥	6 2
♦	6 4 3
♣	K Q 8 6 3 2

♠	A 5 3
♥	10 5 4
♦	J 9 7 2
♣	9 5 4

NS 2♥; EW 3♣; EW 1♠; W 1♦; Par −110

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

Showing a full opener
Do something smart, partner
A bit risky on the vulnerability

Contract			Score		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♣×	E	−2	300		7-Vanstone-Williams	13-Wiest-Henry
3 ♥	N	3	140		5-Lin-Hubka	9-Oppelt-Oppelt
2 ♥	N	2	110		9-Magnus-Magnus Jr	4-Burns-Kobida
2 ♥	N	2	110		12-Scovic-Lubow	10-Jervis-Lindeman
5 ♣×	E	−1	100		6-Burnam-Hoffman	11-Oblinger-Murdock
5 ♣	E	−1	50		3-Elliott-Runda	5
4 ♥	N	−1		100	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	8-Gupta-Bansal
4 ♣	E	4		130	13-Moskowitz	12-Cushman-Petersen
2 ♠	W	3		140	4-Lammers-Barron	7-McCarthy
4 ♣	E	5		150	1-Pollack-Pollack	1-Temples-Koch
3 ♥×	N	−1		200	8-Kennedy-Endres	2-Terbrueggen-Schultz
4 ♥	N	−2		200	10-Tedrick-Pretz	6-Earls-Payne

East might double the final contract, but that's difficult with no trump tricks. N/S lose two Spade tricks, two Diamonds, and one Club, down one. East will probably lead the ♠ Q.

Board 3
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	A 10 9 6
♥	J 10 6
♦	A 3
♣	A J 9 4

♠	Q J 3
♥	9 7 5 2
♦	2
♣	K Q 7 5 3

N
W		E
S

♠	K 8 5 2
♥	K
♦	J 10 8 5 4
♣	8 6 2

♠	7 4
♥	A Q 8 4 3
♦	K Q 9 7 6
♣	10

NS 5N; NS 5♥; NS 3♠; NS 4♦; NS 1♣; Par +460

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

Alert, artificial 4th-Suit Forcing bid
Denying a third Spade, a fourth Club, or Clubs stopped for notrump
It's matchpoints

Contract			Score		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	S	4	420		2-Singerman-Cook	2-Terbrueggen-Schultz
4 ♥	S	4	420		7-Vanstone-Williams	12-Cushman-Petersen
4 ♥	S	4	420		8-Kennedy-Endres	1-Temples-Koch
4 ♥	S	4	420		10-Tedrick-Pretz	5
4 ♥	S	4	420		11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	7-McCarthy
4 ♥	S	4	420		12-Scovic-Lubow	9-Oppelt-Oppelt
2 NT	N	3	150		1-Pollack-Pollack	13-Wiest-Henry
3 ♥	S	3	140		13-Moskowitz	11-Oblinger-Murdock
4 ♥	S	−1		50	4-Lammers-Barron	6-Earls-Payne
4 ♥	S	−1		50	5-Lin-Hubka	8-Gupta-Bansal
4 ♥	S	−1		50	6-Burnam-Hoffman	10-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♥	S	−1		50	9-Magnus-Magnus Jr	3-Kammer-Zimmer

North, unsure whether they want to play in 4 ♥ or 3 NT, uses Fourth-Suit Forcing to create a game force. When South shows extra length in Diamonds, North decides to try the notrump game with both black suits stopped multiple times.

N/S take five Heart tricks (you did start with the ♥ 6 towards the ♥ Q, didn't you?), three Diamonds, and three black-suit tricks depending on which suit E/W attacked. If E/W don't attack a black suit, declarer will simply take a finesse in either one. If East leads the ♦ J, declarer will take an extra Diamond trick when they finesse against East's ♦T.

Board 4
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	J 5
♥	10 6 3
♦	A 8 5 4
♣	K 10 7 3

♠	K 6
♥	A Q 5
♦	9 6 2
♣	Q J 9 5 2

N
W		E
S

♠	9 8 7 2
♥	4 2
♦	K 10 7
♣	A 8 6 4

♠	A Q 10 4 3
♥	K J 9 8 7
♦	Q J 3
♣	—

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

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

Showing a full opener

Contract			Score		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	S	4	620		9-Magnus-Magnus Jr	3-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♥	S	4	170		4-Lammers-Barron	6-Earls-Payne
2 ♥	S	4	170		6-Burnam-Hoffman	10-Jervis-Lindeman
2 ♥	S	3	140		1-Pollack-Pollack	13-Wiest-Henry
3 ♥	S	3	140		10-Tedrick-Pretz	5
3 ♥	S	3	140		11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	7-McCarthy
3 ♣	W	−1	100		8-Kennedy-Endres	1-Temples-Koch
2 ♣	W	2		90	12-Scovic-Lubow	9-Oppelt-Oppelt
3 ♠	S	−1		100	5-Lin-Hubka	8-Gupta-Bansal
3 ♣	W	3		110	2-Singerman-Cook	2-Terbrueggen-Schultz
1 NT	W	2		120	7-Vanstone-Williams	12-Cushman-Petersen
1 NT	W	2		120	13-Moskowitz	11-Oblinger-Murdock

Don't make the mistake of rebidding 1 NT as West after South's 2 ♥ overcall--it shows 18-19 HCP, not the 12-14 HCP it would have shown if South had kept their mouth (er, bidding box) quiet. North easily has enough to give South a courtesy raise.

N/S lose one Spade trick, two Hearts, and one Diamond, making three. It's interesting--have East and West switch places, and N/S make six (try it!). West will probably lead the ♣ Q.

Board 5
North Deals
N-S Vul

♠	J 4 3
♥	—
♦	Q 10 2
♣	A K Q J 6 3 2

♠	K 9 7
♥	J 9 6 5
♦	K 6 3
♣	9 8 7

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 10 8 6 5
♥	K 10 4 3
♦	A 8 7 5
♣	—

♠	A 2
♥	A Q 8 7 2
♦	J 9 4
♣	10 5 4

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

West	North	East	South
	3 NT1	Pass	Pass
Pass

Alert, artificial showing a running minor and no side-suit A or K

Contract			Score		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♠×	E	−4	800		8-Kennedy-Endres	13-Wiest-Henry
3 NT	S	7	720		7-Vanstone-Williams	11-Oblinger-Murdock
4 ♠×	E	−2	300		2-Singerman-Cook	1-Temples-Koch
4 ♣	N	5	150		10-Tedrick-Pretz	4-Burns-Kobida
4 ♣	S	5	150		11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	6-Earls-Payne
3 ♣	N	4	130		3-Elliott-Runda	3-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♣	N	4	130		9-Magnus-Magnus Jr	2-Terbrueggen-Schultz
4 ♣	N	4	130		12-Scovic-Lubow	8-Gupta-Bansal
4 ♣	N	4	130		13-Moskowitz	10-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♠	E	−2	100		5-Lin-Hubka	7-McCarthy
5 ♣	N	−1		100	1-Pollack-Pollack	12-Cushman-Petersen
5 ♣	N	−2		200	6-Burnam-Hoffman	9-Oppelt-Oppelt

South, with both majors stopped for notrump and a partial stopper in Diamonds has no reason to pull partner's Gambling 3 NT bid.

N/S take seven Club tricks and both major-suit Aces, making three. East will probably lead a small Spade, although some might try cashing the ♦ A to get a look at dummy. If they do lead their Ace and partner encourages, N/S may end up making four. Oops.

Board 6
East Deals
E-W Vul

♠	9
♥	K 10 5 3
♦	Q J 9 7 4
♣	A 5 2

♠	A Q J
♥	6 4 2
♦	K 6 2
♣	Q 10 9 7

N
W		E
S

♠	10 8 6 5
♥	A 8 7
♦	8 5 3
♣	K J 6

♠	K 7 4 3 2
♥	Q J 9
♦	A 10
♣	8 4 3

NS 2♥; EW 1N; NS 2♦; EW 1♣; Par +110

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

Contract			Score		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♠	E	−2	200		5-Lin-Hubka	7-McCarthy
1 ♠	E	−1	100		3-Elliott-Runda	3-Kammer-Zimmer
1 ♠	E	−1	100		6-Burnam-Hoffman	9-Oppelt-Oppelt
2 ♠	E	−1	100		7-Vanstone-Williams	11-Oblinger-Murdock
2 ♠	E	−1	100		11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	6-Earls-Payne
Pass					9-Magnus-Magnus Jr	2-Terbrueggen-Schultz
Pass					10-Tedrick-Pretz	4-Burns-Kobida
3 ♦	N	−1		50	8-Kennedy-Endres	13-Wiest-Henry
1 ♠	E	1		80	1-Pollack-Pollack	12-Cushman-Petersen
1 ♠	E	1		80	13-Moskowitz	10-Jervis-Lindeman
1 NT	E	1		90	2-Singerman-Cook	1-Temples-Koch
1 ♠×	E	1		160	12-Scovic-Lubow	8-Gupta-Bansal

South has no reason to raise partner the first time through the auction holding only two-card support. However, when the auction is about to die, a 2 ♦ bid seems practical--what else?

N/S lose one Diamond trick, two Clubs, one Heart, and one Spade, making two. East will lead the ♣ 6, the ♠ 5, or a trump--all are reasonable.

Board 7
South Deals
Both Vul

♠	10 2
♥	10 6
♦	A 10 7 6 5
♣	K 8 6 5

♠	4 3
♥	K J 8 4 3
♦	Q 4
♣	A Q 10 9

N
W		E
S

♠	A 5
♥	A Q 9 5 2
♦	K J 3
♣	7 4 2

♠	K Q J 9 8 7 6
♥	7
♦	9 8 2
♣	J 3

EW 4N; EW 4♥; EW 4♣; NS 2♠; EW 1♦; Par −630

West	North	East	South
			3 ♠
Pass1	Pass	4 ♥	Pass
Pass2	Pass

Difficult to pass, but it seems safer
Difficult to pass, but it seems safer

Contract			Score		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	E	−5	500		1-Pollack-Pollack	11-Oblinger-Murdock
3 NT	E	−1	100		3-Elliott-Runda	2-Terbrueggen-Schultz
5 ♥	W	−1	100		6-Burnam-Hoffman	8-Gupta-Bansal
5 ♥	W	−1	100		11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	5
3 ♠	S	−1		100	2-Singerman-Cook	13-Wiest-Henry
3 ♠	S	−1		100	4-Lammers-Barron	4-Burns-Kobida
3 ♠	S	−1		100	9-Magnus-Magnus Jr	1-Temples-Koch
3 ♠	S	−1		100	10-Tedrick-Pretz	3-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♥	E	4		620	7-Vanstone-Williams	10-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♥	E	4		620	12-Scovic-Lubow	7-McCarthy
4 ♥	W	5		650	13-Moskowitz	9-Oppelt-Oppelt
6 ♥×	W	6		1660	8-Kennedy-Endres	12-Cushman-Petersen

If West does overcall 4 ♥, I can't imagine not bidding on with the East hand. It's hard enough to imagine not bidding on with the West hand after East's 4 ♥ overcall. Poor West.....

E/W lose one Spade trick, one Diamond, and one Club, making four. South will lead the ♠ K.

Board 8
West Deals
None Vul

♠	K Q 10 8 6 5 2
♥	K 9 4 3
♦	10
♣	6

♠	9 4
♥	10 6 5
♦	9 5 4 2
♣	9 7 5 3

N
W		E
S

♠	7 3
♥	A 2
♦	A K Q J
♣	K Q J 10 8

♠	A J
♥	Q J 8 7
♦	8 7 6 3
♣	A 4 2

NS 5♠; NS 5♥; NS 2N; EW 3♣; EW 2♦; Par +450

West	North	East	South
Pass1	Pass2	1 ♣3	Pass4
Pass5	Dbl6	1 ♦7	2 ♥8
Pass	4 ♥9	5 ♣10	Dbl11
Pass	5 ♥12	Pass	Pass
Pass

Ya think?
Not as obvious as the previous pass, but still...
Planning to reverse into 2 ♦
Not a 1 NT overcall and wrong shape for a double
West would need a fifth Club to make a preemptive jump raise
Better than 4 ♠, although that's probably next
Same as a reverse after partner's pass
Jumping to show 9-11 HCP (partner borrowed a King)
Obvious
Obvious
Obvious
Didn't pick up their hand to be in 5 ♣

Contract			Score		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠×	N	5	690		3-Elliott-Runda	2-Terbrueggen-Schultz
4 ♠×	N	5	690		11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	5
4 ♠×	N	5	690		13-Moskowitz	9-Oppelt-Oppelt
5 ♠×	N	5	650		1-Pollack-Pollack	11-Oblinger-Murdock
5 ♠×	N	5	650		9-Magnus-Magnus Jr	1-Temples-Koch
4 ♥	S	5	450		2-Singerman-Cook	13-Wiest-Henry
4 ♠	N	5	450		12-Scovic-Lubow	7-McCarthy
5 ♣	E	−2	100		6-Burnam-Hoffman	8-Gupta-Bansal
5 ♣	W	−2	100		7-Vanstone-Williams	10-Jervis-Lindeman
5 ♣	W	−2	100		8-Kennedy-Endres	12-Cushman-Petersen
5 ♣	E	−2	100		10-Tedrick-Pretz	3-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♣	E	−1	50		4-Lammers-Barron	4-Burns-Kobida

Phew. Some North's will bid 3 ♠ the first time through, and that's ghastly. Some will bid 1 ♠, and that's not at all bad. The auction shown is interesting, because the one suit that's never bid is Spades.

N/S lose one Heart trick and one Diamond, making five. If East doubles the final contract, then N/S will lose one Heart trick and one Diamond, making five doubled. West will lead the ♣ 7 (MUD).

Board 9
North Deals
E-W Vul

♠	K 5 2
♥	10 9 7 3 2
♦	9 4
♣	Q 8 4

♠	3
♥	8 6 5 4
♦	K 10 3
♣	A K J 6 2

N
W		E
S

♠	J 8 4
♥	A K Q
♦	A Q J 6
♣	9 5 3

♠	A Q 10 9 7 6
♥	J
♦	8 7 5 2
♣	10 7

W 4♥; EW 5♣; E 3♥; EW 3♦; EW 1N; NS 1♠; Par −600

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

15 to 17
Alert, showing a sub-opening hand with Spades
Stayman with no stopper in Spades
No 4-card Heart suit and no stopper in Spades either

Contract			Score		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 NT	E	−3	300		12-Scovic-Lubow	6-Earls-Payne
3 NT	E	−2	200		2-Singerman-Cook	12-Cushman-Petersen
3 NT	E	−2	200		5-Lin-Hubka	5
3 NT	E	−2	200		8-Kennedy-Endres	11-Oblinger-Murdock
5 ♦	E	−1	100		7-Vanstone-Williams	9-Oppelt-Oppelt
3 ♠	S	−1		50	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	4-Burns-Kobida
3 ♠	S	−1		50	13-Moskowitz	8-Gupta-Bansal
3 ♣	W	4		130	1-Pollack-Pollack	10-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♣	W	5		150	3-Elliott-Runda	1-Temples-Koch
3 ♣	W	5		150	4-Lammers-Barron	3-Kammer-Zimmer
5 ♣	W	5		600	9-Magnus-Magnus Jr	13-Wiest-Henry
4 ♥	W	4		620	10-Tedrick-Pretz	2-Terbrueggen-Schultz

If South doesn't bid 2 ♠, then E/W will likely play in 3 NT, down two. That doesn't mean they shouldn't overcall, especially at this vulnerability--it's just unfortunate.

E/W lose one Spade trick and one Club, making five. North will lead the ♠ 2.

Board 10
East Deals
Both Vul

♠	4
♥	K 8
♦	K Q 8 6 3
♣	J 10 9 8 5

♠	K 10 8
♥	A J 5
♦	10 9 7 4 2
♣	3 2

N
W		E
S

♠	J 5 3
♥	9 6 2
♦	A 5
♣	A K Q 7 6

♠	A Q 9 7 6 2
♥	Q 10 7 4 3
♦	J
♣	4

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

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

Michaels cuebid showing a min/max hand with both majors
Do something smart, partner

Contract			Score		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♣×	E	−2	500		8-Kennedy-Endres	11-Oblinger-Murdock
3 NT	W	−2	200		1-Pollack-Pollack	10-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♦	W	−2	200		7-Vanstone-Williams	9-Oppelt-Oppelt
2 ♥	N	2	110		4-Lammers-Barron	3-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♠	S	2	110		5-Lin-Hubka	5
3 NT	W	−1	100		10-Tedrick-Pretz	2-Terbrueggen-Schultz
4 ♣	E	−1	100		13-Moskowitz	8-Gupta-Bansal
2 ♥	S	−1		100	9-Magnus-Magnus Jr	13-Wiest-Henry
2 ♥	N	−1		100	12-Scovic-Lubow	6-Earls-Payne
3 ♠	S	−2		200	2-Singerman-Cook	12-Cushman-Petersen
2 NT	N	−2		200	3-Elliott-Runda	1-Temples-Koch
2 ♥	N	−2		200	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	4-Burns-Kobida

East, with extras, encourages their partner to take auction. If West bids 3 ♦, North will happily pass, and E/W will go down one (or more if declarer tries to draw trump). A safer bid for West is 2 NT with what looks like a double stopper in Hearts. West is not strong enough to convert the double for penalties.

E/W take three Club tricks, two Spades, two hearts, and one Diamond. It's very difficult for N/S to attack any suit (Hearts are frozen). North may lead the ♥ K out of desperation.

Board 11
South Deals
None Vul

♠	Q 10 6
♥	—
♦	10 6 2
♣	K J 10 9 7 4 3

♠	K 9 7 5 2
♥	Q 6
♦	Q J 5
♣	Q 8 5

N
W		E
S

♠	8 4 3
♥	J 8 7 3 2
♦	A 9 8 7
♣	A

♠	A J
♥	A K 10 9 5 4
♦	K 4 3
♣	6 2

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

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

Preemptive jump shift in competition

Contract			Score		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	W	−3	150		2-Singerman-Cook	11-Oblinger-Murdock
3 ♣	N	3	110		11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	3-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♠	W	−1	50		10-Tedrick-Pretz	1-Temples-Koch
3 ♥	S	−1		50	8-Kennedy-Endres	10-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♥	S	−2		100	4-Lammers-Barron	2-Terbrueggen-Schultz
4 ♥×	S	−1		100	5-Lin-Hubka	4-Burns-Kobida
1 NT	N	−2		100	9-Magnus-Magnus Jr	12-Cushman-Petersen
3 ♥	S	−2		100	13-Moskowitz	7-McCarthy
4 ♥	S	−4		200	3-Elliott-Runda	13-Wiest-Henry
4 ♥	S	−4		200	6-Burnam-Hoffman	6-Earls-Payne
4 ♥×	S	−3		500	12-Scovic-Lubow	5
4 ♥×	S	−4		800	1-Pollack-Pollack	9-Oppelt-Oppelt

North's 3 ♣ bid is high enough to end the auction. East can't take a call, since their partner might have overcalled with as little as eight HCP. West can't double in the balancing position with pretty much zero defensive tricks.

N/S lose one Club trick, one Spade, and one Diamond, making four (or one Club trick, no Spades, and two Diamonds, depending on what declarer pitches on the ♥ AK). East will lead the ♠ 4 (MUD).

Board 12
West Deals
N-S Vul

♠	7 5
♥	J 9 6 3
♦	A Q 6
♣	J 10 9 6

♠	10
♥	A K 5 4
♦	J 8 4 3 2
♣	K Q 5

N
W		E
S

♠	K Q J 3
♥	Q 7
♦	10 9 7
♣	A 8 3 2

♠	A 9 8 6 4 2
♥	10 8 2
♦	K 5
♣	7 4

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

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

What else?

Contract			Score		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♦	W	−1	50		1-Pollack-Pollack	9-Oppelt-Oppelt
2 ♦	W	3		110	3-Elliott-Runda	13-Wiest-Henry
2 NT	W	3		150	2-Singerman-Cook	11-Oblinger-Murdock
3 NT	E	3		400	5-Lin-Hubka	4-Burns-Kobida
3 NT	E	3		400	8-Kennedy-Endres	10-Jervis-Lindeman
3 NT	E	3		400	10-Tedrick-Pretz	1-Temples-Koch
3 NT	W	3		400	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	3-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	W	3		400	12-Scovic-Lubow	5
3 NT	E	4		430	4-Lammers-Barron	2-Terbrueggen-Schultz
3 NT	W	4		430	6-Burnam-Hoffman	6-Earls-Payne
3 NT	W	4		430	9-Magnus-Magnus Jr	12-Cushman-Petersen
3 NT	E	4		430	13-Moskowitz	7-McCarthy

Let's see....West can't rebid 1 NT, they have a singleton. They can't rebid 2 ♥, that would be a reverse showing a five-loser hand. How about 2 ♦? That looks even worse with that pitiful suit. 2 ♣ wins the day.

E/W take three Spade tricks, three Hearts, and three Clubs, making three (that's a lot of 3's). South will lead a small Spade.

If South gets cute and ducks Spades two more times, their partner is going to start to squirm. While declarer can pitch a couple of Diamonds from dummy, what does North throw on the third Spade? They'll be fine if they throw a Diamond, although that's a difficult pitch. If they throw a Heart or a Club, declarer will win an extra trick in the suit they throw. South's best defense is to take trick two (assuming it's a Spade) and cash out (♦ K, ♦ 5 to partner's ♦ AQ).

Board 13
North Deals
Both Vul

♠	Q 9 4 2
♥	Q 8 5 4
♦	10 9 3 2
♣	9

♠	8
♥	J 7 3
♦	Q J 8 6
♣	K J 10 4 2

N
W		E
S

♠	K J 10 6
♥	A 9 6
♦	5 4
♣	A Q 6 3

♠	A 7 5 3
♥	K 10 2
♦	A K 7
♣	8 7 5

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

West	North	East	South
	Pass	1 ♣	Pass1
1 ♦	Pass	1 NT2	Pass
Pass	Pass

Don't make minimum offshape (flat) takeout doubles
Alert, partner may have chosen not to bid a 4-card major

Contract			Score		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♣	E	−2	200		13-Moskowitz	6-Earls-Payne
2 ♠	S	2	110		11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	2-Terbrueggen-Schultz
2 ♣	E	−1	100		7-Vanstone-Williams	7-McCarthy
3 ♣	W	3		110	1-Pollack-Pollack	8-Gupta-Bansal
2 ♣	E	3		110	4-Lammers-Barron	1-Temples-Koch
1 NT	E	2		120	12-Scovic-Lubow	4-Burns-Kobida
3 ♣	W	4		130	2-Singerman-Cook	10-Jervis-Lindeman
2 ♣	E	4		130	3-Elliott-Runda	12-Cushman-Petersen
3 ♣	E	4		130	5-Lin-Hubka	3-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♣	E	4		130	10-Tedrick-Pretz	13-Wiest-Henry
3 ♠	N	−4		400	9-Magnus-Magnus Jr	11-Oblinger-Murdock
3 ♠×	S	−2		500	6-Burnam-Hoffman	5

If E/W are Walshists, East's 1 NT rebid is alertable. Since West's 1 ♦ bid denied a four-card major (or they have longer Diamonds and an opening hand), East has no reason to show a four-card major if their hand looks balanced enough for notrump.

E/W take five Club tricks, two Spades, one Heart, and one Diamond, making three. South doesn't have a great lead, and some might lead a small Spade.

Board 14
East Deals
None Vul

♠	3
♥	K 8 4 3
♦	J 10 8 3
♣	J 10 9 3

♠	A 9
♥	7 6 5
♦	A Q 7 6 5 4 2
♣	8

N
W		E
S

♠	Q J 10 8 7 6 2
♥	J 2
♦	K 9
♣	5 4

♠	K 5 4
♥	A Q 10 9
♦	—
♣	A K Q 7 6 2

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

West	North	East	South
		3 ♠	Dbl
Pass	4 ♥	Pass	4 ♠1
Pass	5 NT2	Pass	6 ♣3
Pass	Pass	Pass

Double and cuebid to show a monster hand
Pick-A-Slam
In case Diamonds need to be ruffed multiple times

Contract			Score		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♣×	S	6	650		6-Burnam-Hoffman	5
5 ♣×	S	6	650		12-Scovic-Lubow	4-Burns-Kobida
4 ♥	N	6	480		2-Singerman-Cook	10-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♥	S	6	480		10-Tedrick-Pretz	13-Wiest-Henry
5 ♥	N	5	450		11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	2-Terbrueggen-Schultz
5 ♣	S	6	420		1-Pollack-Pollack	8-Gupta-Bansal
5 ♣	S	6	420		4-Lammers-Barron	1-Temples-Koch
5 ♣	S	6	420		7-Vanstone-Williams	7-McCarthy
5 ♣	S	6	420		9-Magnus-Magnus Jr	11-Oblinger-Murdock
4 ♣	S	6	170		3-Elliott-Runda	12-Cushman-Petersen
3 ♠×	E	−1	100		13-Moskowitz	6-Earls-Payne
3 ♠	E	−1	50		5-Lin-Hubka	3-Kammer-Zimmer

While 6 ♥ would have paid more, 6 ♣ is a much easier slam to make. Make a note of North's 5 NT bid. While they were content to simply bid 4 ♥ over partner's takeout double, their hand grew immeasurably after partner's 4 ♠ cuebid. With a singleton Spade and support for all three suits, they clearly want to be in slam in whatever flavor South wants.

N/W lose one Spade trick, making six. West will lead the ♠ A and possibly try and cash the ♦ A at trick two. E/W have a reasonable sacrifice in 6 ♠, but are you going to bid it if you're West holding two Aces?

Board 15
South Deals
N-S Vul

♠	A K
♥	K J 8 5 2
♦	5 3 2
♣	K Q 4

♠	9 8 7 2
♥	Q 7 6 4
♦	K 8 6
♣	9 2

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 6 3
♥	A 9
♦	A Q 10
♣	J 10 7 5 3

♠	J 10 5 4
♥	10 3
♦	J 9 7 4
♣	A 8 6

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

West	North	East	South
			Pass
Pass	1 NT1	Pass	Pass
Pass

15 to 17

Contract			Score		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
1 NT	N	2	120		2-Singerman-Cook	9-Oppelt-Oppelt
1 NT	N	2	120		8-Kennedy-Endres	8-Gupta-Bansal
1 NT	N	2	120		10-Tedrick-Pretz	12-Cushman-Petersen
2 ♠	E	−2	100		4-Lammers-Barron	13-Wiest-Henry
1 NT	N	1	90		7-Vanstone-Williams	6-Earls-Payne
1 ♥	N	1	80		13-Moskowitz	5
2 ♥	N	−1		100	1-Pollack-Pollack	7-McCarthy
1 NT	N	−1		100	3-Elliott-Runda	11-Oblinger-Murdock
2 ♥	N	−1		100	6-Burnam-Hoffman	4-Burns-Kobida
1 NT	N	−2		200	5-Lin-Hubka	2-Terbrueggen-Schultz
3 ♠	S	−2		200	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	1-Temples-Koch
1 NT	N	−2		200	12-Scovic-Lubow	3-Kammer-Zimmer

The defense can always take three Diamond tricks, one Heart, and two Clubs, so that leaves N/S with seven tricks. Besides the obvious three Club tricks, two Spades, and one Heart, the other trick will come from whichever suit E/W decide to attack. East will lead a small Club and continue Clubs each time they're in.

Board 16
West Deals
E-W Vul

♠	J 10 3 2
♥	J 10 7
♦	K 6 5
♣	6 5 3

♠	K 8 6 5
♥	5
♦	Q 7 3
♣	A K 7 4 2

N
W		E
S

♠	A 9 4
♥	Q 9 8 4 3
♦	J 10 8 4
♣	8

♠	Q 7
♥	A K 6 2
♦	A 9 2
♣	Q J 10 9

NS 1N; EW 1♠; EW 1♦; EW 1♣; Par +90

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

Contract			Score		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♣	W	−2	200		3-Elliott-Runda	11-Oblinger-Murdock
2 ♠	W	−2	200		4-Lammers-Barron	13-Wiest-Henry
2 ♠	W	−2	200		5-Lin-Hubka	2-Terbrueggen-Schultz
3 ♣	W	−2	200		12-Scovic-Lubow	3-Kammer-Zimmer
1 NT	W	−2	200		13-Moskowitz	5
2 NT	E	−1	100		6-Burnam-Hoffman	4-Burns-Kobida
1 NT	W	−1	100		7-Vanstone-Williams	6-Earls-Payne
2 ♥	E	−1	100		10-Tedrick-Pretz	12-Cushman-Petersen
2 ♥	S	−1		50	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	1-Temples-Koch
2 ♠	W	2		110	1-Pollack-Pollack	7-McCarthy
2 ♠	W	2		110	2-Singerman-Cook	9-Oppelt-Oppelt
2 ♦	E	3		110	8-Kennedy-Endres	8-Gupta-Bansal

If South doubles the final contract, their partner is going to have no idea what to do. If they accidentally pass, N/S will get +200.

E/W take two Spade tricks, two Diamonds, and two Clubs, down one. South will (should) lead the ♣ Q, and declarer will lead Diamonds each time they get it.

Board 17
North Deals
None Vul

♠	10 5
♥	Q J 10 7 5 3
♦	7 2
♣	10 8 7

♠	Q J 8
♥	9
♦	Q J 9 8 6 5
♣	A J 9

N
W		E
S

♠	A K 7 6 3
♥	8 6
♦	K 10 4 3
♣	K 2

♠	9 4 2
♥	A K 4 2
♦	A
♣	Q 6 5 4 3

EW 4♠; EW 5♦; NS 2♥; NS 1♣; Par −420

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

Showing a full opener
Cuebid showing a limit raise or better in Spades

Contract			Score		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	N	−2		100	1-Pollack-Pollack	6-Earls-Payne
5 ♥×	N	−2		300	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	13-Wiest-Henry
4 ♠	E	4		420	3-Elliott-Runda	10-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♠	E	4		420	4-Lammers-Barron	12-Cushman-Petersen
4 ♠	E	4		420	7-Vanstone-Williams	5
4 ♠	E	5		450	2-Singerman-Cook	8-Gupta-Bansal
4 ♠	E	5		450	8-Kennedy-Endres	7-McCarthy
4 ♠	E	5		450	9-Magnus-Magnus Jr	9-Oppelt-Oppelt
4 ♠	E	5		450	12-Scovic-Lubow	2-Terbrueggen-Schultz
4 ♠	E	5		450	13-Moskowitz	4-Burns-Kobida
4 ♠	E	6		480	5-Lin-Hubka	1-Temples-Koch
4 ♥×	N	−3		500	6-Burnam-Hoffman	3-Kammer-Zimmer

E/W lose one Heart trick and one Diamond, making five. That is unless South finds the double-dummy defense of ♦ A, ♥ 4 to partner's ♥T, and a Diamond ruff. If South does lead the ♦ A, North will think they hold ♦ AK and are asking for attitude. When their attitude is obvious (ahem....look at dummy), they'll signal with the ♦ 7 to show a possible entry in a higher ranking suit (Hearts). Expect to see a lot of +450 scores for N/S.

Board 18
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	10 5
♥	J 9 4
♦	A K 8 5 3
♣	J 9 6

♠	A 6 2
♥	8 3 2
♦	10 9 7
♣	K Q 10 7

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 4 3
♥	A K Q 6
♦	Q J 6 4
♣	A 5

♠	K J 9 8 7
♥	10 7 5
♦	2
♣	8 4 3 2

EW 4N; EW 4♥; EW 4♦; E 4♣; W 3♣; EW 1♠; Par −430

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

Showing 18-19 HCP

Contract			Score		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	W	3		400	3-Elliott-Runda	10-Jervis-Lindeman
3 NT	W	4		430	1-Pollack-Pollack	6-Earls-Payne
3 NT	E	4		430	2-Singerman-Cook	8-Gupta-Bansal
3 NT	W	4		430	4-Lammers-Barron	12-Cushman-Petersen
3 NT	E	4		430	5-Lin-Hubka	1-Temples-Koch
3 NT	E	4		430	6-Burnam-Hoffman	3-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	W	4		430	7-Vanstone-Williams	5
3 NT	E	4		430	9-Magnus-Magnus Jr	9-Oppelt-Oppelt
3 NT	W	4		430	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	13-Wiest-Henry
3 NT	W	4		430	12-Scovic-Lubow	2-Terbrueggen-Schultz
3 NT	E	5		460	8-Kennedy-Endres	7-McCarthy
3 NT	W	5		460	13-Moskowitz	4-Burns-Kobida

A rebid by opener of 2 NT after 1 Banana - Pass - 1 Rutabaga - Pass shows 18-19 HCP and a balanced or semi-balanced hand. Some people get confused and think that a Rutabaga can't be 1 NT. It can.

E/W take four Heart tricks, four Clubs, one Spade and ..... what else? This is an interesting defensive dilemma. N/S lack transportation between their hands to take the four tricks they seem to be entitled to. Assume that North leads a small Diamond. Declarer wins and returns a Diamond to North's ♦ K. If North cashes the other Diamond honor, E/W will make five. To keep that from happening, North will switch to the ♠T. Declarer ducks, wins the continuation with the ♠ A, and plays a third Diamond. Stupid lack of transportation.

Board 19
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	A Q 4 3 2
♥	K 2
♦	2
♣	K J 10 9 4

♠	9 6
♥	A Q 3
♦	Q J 8 4 3
♣	8 6 5

N
W		E
S

♠	K 10 8 7 5
♥	8 7 6 4
♦	K 10
♣	A Q

♠	J
♥	J 10 9 5
♦	A 9 7 6 5
♣	7 3 2

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

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

Semi-forcing

Contract			Score		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
1 ♠×	E	−1	200		3-Elliott-Runda	9-Oppelt-Oppelt
2 ♣	N	2	90		7-Vanstone-Williams	4-Burns-Kobida
1 ♠	N	1	80		13-Moskowitz	3-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♠	N	−1		50	1-Pollack-Pollack	5
2 ♣	N	−1		50	5-Lin-Hubka	13-Wiest-Henry
1 ♠	N	−1		50	8-Kennedy-Endres	6-Earls-Payne
2 ♠	N	−1		50	12-Scovic-Lubow	1-Temples-Koch
3 ♣	N	−2		100	2-Singerman-Cook	7-McCarthy
2 ♣	N	−2		100	4-Lammers-Barron	11-Oblinger-Murdock
3 NT	S	−3		150	10-Tedrick-Pretz	10-Jervis-Lindeman
2 NT	E	4		180	9-Magnus-Magnus Jr	8-Gupta-Bansal
4 ♣×	N	−3		500	6-Burnam-Hoffman	2-Terbrueggen-Schultz

If you play 1 NT as forcing over partner's major-suit opening by an unpassed hand, it's generally a good idea to play 1 NT as semi-forcing over partner's major-suit opening by a passed hand. What does semi-forcing mean? It means that opener should take another bid if they would have opened their hand in 1st or 2nd seat.

N/S lose two Club tricks, two Spades, and one Heart, down one. Best defense is ♥ 7 (MUD) to partner's ♥ A, Club back to East's ♣ Q, and the ♣ A to cut down on Spade ruffs. Now the ♦ K to the board to prevent access to dummy's Hearts once trump are drawn. Declarer wins the ♦ A and runs the ♠ J to East's ♠ K (East can't pull another round of trump, so the finesse is safe). East can now exit with the ♦T, declarer ruffs low, ruffs a Small Spade with dummy's last trump, Heart back to the ♥ K, and the last trump is pulled. The ♠ A and ♠ Q are good, but declarer still has a Spade to lose at the end.

Board 20
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	K 5 3
♥	J 6 2
♦	9 8 7 6 2
♣	A 3

♠	Q J 10 7 2
♥	K Q 8 7
♦	10 4
♣	J 7

N
W		E
S

♠	9 4
♥	9 5 3
♦	A 3
♣	K 9 8 6 4 2

♠	A 8 6
♥	A 10 4
♦	K Q J 5
♣	Q 10 5

NS 3N; NS 3♦; EW 1♠; EW 1♣; Par +600

West	North	East	South
Pass	Pass	Pass	1 NT1
Pass	2 ♣	Dbl2	Pass3
Pass	2 NT4	Pass	3 NT
Pass	Pass	Pass

15 to 17
Lead a Club
No 4-card major and no fifth Diamond
Alert, may or may not have a 4-card major

Contract			Score		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	S	3	600		5-Lin-Hubka	13-Wiest-Henry
3 NT	S	3	600		7-Vanstone-Williams	4-Burns-Kobida
2 NT	S	3	150		4-Lammers-Barron	11-Oblinger-Murdock
2 NT	S	3	150		10-Tedrick-Pretz	10-Jervis-Lindeman
1 NT	S	2	120		2-Singerman-Cook	7-McCarthy
1 NT	S	2	120		3-Elliott-Runda	9-Oppelt-Oppelt
2 NT	S	2	120		6-Burnam-Hoffman	2-Terbrueggen-Schultz
2 NT	S	2	120		8-Kennedy-Endres	6-Earls-Payne
2 NT	S	2	120		9-Magnus-Magnus Jr	8-Gupta-Bansal
2 ♥	W	−1	100		1-Pollack-Pollack	5
3 ♠	W	−1	100		13-Moskowitz	3-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	S	−1		100	12-Scovic-Lubow	1-Temples-Koch

While South has bad shape (3343), their 16 HCP and two 10's are worth a bump to game.

If East doubles for a Club lead, West may or may not do as asked. The ♠ Q looks like a fantastic lead. Luckily for them, it doesn't matter on this hand as N/S always have four Diamond tricks, two Clubs, two Spades, and a Heart, making three.

Board 21
North Deals
N-S Vul

♠	K 7
♥	J 10 2
♦	A 10 8 4
♣	A 6 5 2

♠	J 6 3
♥	Q 9 7 5 4
♦	J 6
♣	Q J 7

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 10 9 4
♥	A K
♦	K Q 9 7 3
♣	4 3

♠	A 8 5 2
♥	8 6 3
♦	5 2
♣	K 10 9 8

EW 1N; NS 2♣; EW 1♠; EW 1♥; Par +90

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

Contract			Score		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
1 NT	N	2	120		9-Magnus-Magnus Jr	7-McCarthy
4 ♥	W	−2	100		1-Pollack-Pollack	4-Burns-Kobida
2 ♣	N	2	90		2-Singerman-Cook	6-Earls-Payne
2 ♣	S	2	90		5-Lin-Hubka	12-Cushman-Petersen
2 ♥	W	−1	50		8-Kennedy-Endres	5
1 NT	W	−1	50		13-Moskowitz	2-Terbrueggen-Schultz
1 NT	N	−1		100	6-Burnam-Hoffman	1-Temples-Koch
1 NT	N	−1		100	7-Vanstone-Williams	3-Kammer-Zimmer
1 NT	N	−1		100	10-Tedrick-Pretz	9-Oppelt-Oppelt
2 ♥	E	2		110	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	11-Oblinger-Murdock
1 NT	W	2		120	3-Elliott-Runda	8-Gupta-Bansal
2 NT	N	−3		300	4-Lammers-Barron	10-Jervis-Lindeman

Boring. N/S take two Spade tricks, three Clubs, and one Diamond, for down one. East will lead a small Diamond on opening lead, and declarer will duck West's ♦ J and insert the ♦ 8 on the Diamond return. East will win with the ♦ 9 and knock out the ♦ A. When in with the ♣ Q, West won't have much trouble finding a Heart return.

Board 22
East Deals
E-W Vul

♠	8 4 3
♥	7 4 3
♦	10 9 3
♣	Q 10 8 2

♠	K 10 9
♥	A Q 8 6
♦	A 5 4
♣	J 7 5

N
W		E
S

♠	A Q 7 6
♥	10 9 5
♦	Q J 8 6 2
♣	3

♠	J 5 2
♥	K J 2
♦	K 7
♣	A K 9 6 4

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

West	North	East	South
		Pass	1 NT1
Pass	Pass	2 ♦2	Pass
2 NT3	Pass	3 ♣4	Pass
3 ♥5	Pass	3 ♠	Pass
Pass	Pass

15 to 17
Alert, showing Diamonds and a higher suit
Alert, showing an opening hand and interested in game
Alert, showing a minimum
Alert, please name your major

Contract			Score		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
1 NT	S	1	90		3-Elliott-Runda	8-Gupta-Bansal
1 NT	S	1	90		6-Burnam-Hoffman	1-Temples-Koch
1 NT	S	1	90		7-Vanstone-Williams	3-Kammer-Zimmer
1 NT	S	1	90		10-Tedrick-Pretz	9-Oppelt-Oppelt
1 NT	S	1	90		11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	11-Oblinger-Murdock
1 ♣	S	−1		50	1-Pollack-Pollack	4-Burns-Kobida
3 ♦	E	4		130	13-Moskowitz	2-Terbrueggen-Schultz
2 ♠	E	3		140	4-Lammers-Barron	10-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♠	E	3		140	9-Magnus-Magnus Jr	7-McCarthy
3 ♥	E	4		170	5-Lin-Hubka	12-Cushman-Petersen
1 ♥	W	4		170	8-Kennedy-Endres	5
2 ♠	E	5		200	2-Singerman-Cook	6-Earls-Payne

E/W play DONT (Disturbing Opponent's No Trump) in the direct seat and in the balancing seat. When partner makes a DONT bid, 2 NT is an artificial game try. No matter which two suits (or single suit) the overcaller has, a rebid of 3 ♣ is artificial and shows a minimum (less than an invitational hand in support points). With any hand that's forward going, the original overcaller makes their natural rebid.

E/W lose one Diamond and one Club, making five. Should they be in game with their combined 23 HCP and 7-card trump fit? Probably not.

Board 23
South Deals
Both Vul

♠	9 8 7 6 5 4 2
♥	6 5
♦	K 8 6 3
♣	—

♠	Q 10
♥	A J 7 3
♦	A J 9
♣	A 10 9 7

N
W		E
S

♠	—
♥	K Q 8 4
♦	Q 5 2
♣	K Q J 5 3 2

♠	A K J 3
♥	10 9 2
♦	10 7 4
♣	8 6 4

W 7♥; E 6♥; EW 6♣; NS 3♠; W 3♦; E 1♦; Par −1100: NS 7♠×−4

West	North	East	South
			Pass
1 NT1	Pass	2 ♠2	Pass
3 ♣3	Pass	3 ♥4	Pass
4 ♥	Pass	4 NT5	Pass
5 ♦6	Pass	5 NT7	Pass
6 ♥8	Pass	Pass	Pass

15 to 17
Alert, artificial transfer to Clubs
Alert, showing Axx ,Kxx, Qxx, or xxxx
Alert, showing four Hearts, 5+ Clubs, and game-going values
Exclusion KCB for Hearts showing a void in Spades
Showing 0 or 3 keycards
Guaranteeing all the keycards and asking for specific non-Spade Kings
No side-suit Kings

Contract			Score		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♠×	N	3	870		6-Burnam-Hoffman	13-Wiest-Henry
3 ♠×	N	3	730		2-Singerman-Cook	5
3 NT	W	−3	300		1-Pollack-Pollack	3-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	W	−3	300		7-Vanstone-Williams	2-Terbrueggen-Schultz
5 ♣	E	6		620	3-Elliott-Runda	7-McCarthy
5 ♣	E	6		620	9-Magnus-Magnus Jr	6-Earls-Payne
5 ♣	W	6		620	10-Tedrick-Pretz	8-Gupta-Bansal
4 ♥	W	6		680	5-Lin-Hubka	11-Oblinger-Murdock
4 ♥	W	6		680	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	10-Jervis-Lindeman
6 ♣	W	6		1370	8-Kennedy-Endres	4-Burns-Kobida
6 ♥	W	6		1430	4-Lammers-Barron	9-Oppelt-Oppelt
6 ♥	E	7		1460	12-Scovic-Lubow	12-Cushman-Petersen

Nice auction. With the double fit, East has no problem pushing past game. E/W play Kickback, so 4 ♠ would be RKC Blackwood for Hearts. What is 4 NT then? 4 NT is Exclusion KCB for Hearts showing a void in Spades. Partner is instructed to basically throw their Spades on the floor (not literally) and count their remaining keycards. On this auction, West's hand is perfect (i.e., no values to speak of in Spades). If an E/W pair gets to the grand, they're going to hope that it's being played from the West side, since South will lead a Club. Stupid voids.

E/W lose one Club ruff, making six. If South leads the ♠ A, they haven't been listening to the auction (or they had the great misfortune of playing against an E/W pair who don't know how to bid this hand). Declarer will ruff two Spades in their hand.

Board 24
West Deals
None Vul

♠	A K 8 2
♥	Q 4 2
♦	A K Q 4
♣	K 7

♠	Q 9 3
♥	J 10 6
♦	7 5 3
♣	J 8 4 3

N
W		E
S

♠	10 7 5
♥	A 9
♦	J 9
♣	A Q 9 6 5 2

♠	J 6 4
♥	K 8 7 5 3
♦	10 8 6 2
♣	10

NS 4♠; NS 4♥; NS 5♦; N 1N; EW 1♣; Par +420

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

20 to 21
Transfer

Contract			Score		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	N	5	450		12-Scovic-Lubow	12-Cushman-Petersen
4 ♥	N	4	420		2-Singerman-Cook	5
4 ♥	N	4	420		3-Elliott-Runda	7-McCarthy
4 ♥	N	4	420		4-Lammers-Barron	9-Oppelt-Oppelt
4 ♠	N	4	420		5-Lin-Hubka	11-Oblinger-Murdock
3 NT	N	3	400		11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	10-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♥	N	4	170		10-Tedrick-Pretz	8-Gupta-Bansal
3 ♣×	E	−1	100		9-Magnus-Magnus Jr	6-Earls-Payne
4 ♥	S	−1		50	1-Pollack-Pollack	3-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♥	S	−1		50	6-Burnam-Hoffman	13-Wiest-Henry
3 NT	N	−2		100	7-Vanstone-Williams	2-Terbrueggen-Schultz
3 NT	N	−2		100	8-Kennedy-Endres	4-Burns-Kobida

If South passes their partner's 3 ♥ bid, it's not wrong--just a bit timid.

N/S lose one Club trick, one Spade, and one Heart (or two if they misguess). The proper way to play this trump holding is small to one of the honors. If it wins, then play small from both hands. Since there isn't a side entry to dummy to play towards the ♥ Q, declarer is going to be forced to guess correctly (i.e., ♥ 2 to the ♥ K at trick two).

Board 25
North Deals
E-W Vul

♠	A 4
♥	10 9 8 7
♦	J 9 7 4
♣	8 6 3

♠	Q 10 6 3 2
♥	A 5
♦	K 3
♣	Q J 5 4

N
W		E
S

♠	K J 9 7 5
♥	3
♦	Q 10 6 2
♣	A 10 2

♠	8
♥	K Q J 6 4 2
♦	A 8 5
♣	K 9 7

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

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

Preemptive jump raise
Cuebid showing a limit raise in Spades
Easy bid on the vulnerability

Contract			Score		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♥	S	3	140		7-Vanstone-Williams	1-Temples-Koch
5 ♠	E	−1	100		4-Lammers-Barron	8-Gupta-Bansal
5 ♠	E	−1	100		10-Tedrick-Pretz	7-McCarthy
5 ♠	W	−1	100		13-Moskowitz	13-Wiest-Henry
5 ♥	S	−3		150	8-Kennedy-Endres	3-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♠	W	4		620	2-Singerman-Cook	4-Burns-Kobida
4 ♠	W	4		620	3-Elliott-Runda	6-Earls-Payne
4 ♠	W	4		620	5-Lin-Hubka	10-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♠	E	4		620	6-Burnam-Hoffman	12-Cushman-Petersen
4 ♠	W	4		620	9-Magnus-Magnus Jr	5
4 ♠	W	4		620	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	9-Oppelt-Oppelt
4 ♠	W	4		620	12-Scovic-Lubow	11-Oblinger-Murdock

At equal (or unfavorable) vulnerability, South would have left E/W in 4 ♠. At favorable vulnerability with a known 10-card trump fit? 5 ♥ is obvious.

N/S lose one Heart trick, two Diamonds, and two Clubs, down three doubled for –500. Still better than –620. While West can lead the ♦ K and get a Diamond ruff, it's unnecessary, since E/W have two natural Diamond winners. The ♣ Q is a better lead.

Board 26
East Deals
Both Vul

♠	7
♥	8 5
♦	J 10 4 2
♣	A K 8 7 3 2

♠	A Q
♥	9 7 6 4 3 2
♦	K Q 9 6 5
♣	—

N
W		E
S

♠	10 9 6 3
♥	A K J
♦	3
♣	Q J 10 9 5

♠	K J 8 5 4 2
♥	Q 10
♦	A 8 7
♣	6 4

EW 6♥; EW 4N; EW 3♦; EW 1♣; Par −1430

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

Rule of 20 opener

Contract			Score		Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♦	W	−3	300		3-Elliott-Runda	6-Earls-Payne
4 ♦	W	−2	200		13-Moskowitz	13-Wiest-Henry
3 ♥	W	5		200	7-Vanstone-Williams	1-Temples-Koch
3 ♥	W	6		230	5-Lin-Hubka	10-Jervis-Lindeman
2 ♠	S	−3		300	2-Singerman-Cook	4-Burns-Kobida
4 ♠	S	−4		400	12-Scovic-Lubow	11-Oblinger-Murdock
4 ♥	E	4		620	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	9-Oppelt-Oppelt
4 ♥	W	5		650	8-Kennedy-Endres	3-Kammer-Zimmer
5 ♥	W	5		650	9-Magnus-Magnus Jr	5
4 ♥	W	6		680	4-Lammers-Barron	8-Gupta-Bansal
4 ♥	W	6		680	6-Burnam-Hoffman	12-Cushman-Petersen
4 ♥	W	6		680	10-Tedrick-Pretz	7-McCarthy

Don't let the size of West's Hearts fool you. Their hand is great.

E/W lose one Diamond trick, making six. North will lead their stiff ♠ 7 on opening lead, and declarer will win with the ♠ Q. Trump are pulled in two rounds, and the ♦ 3 is led from dummy. If South ducks, then declarer will win with the ♦ K, ruff a Diamond with dummy's last trump, play a Spade to the ♠ A, and duck a Diamond to South's now stiff ♦ A. Declarer would much rather South grab the ♦ A when the ♦ 3 is led--that way it's easy to play ♦ KQ and ruff a Diamond.

Think about that the next time you have an Ace and a singleton is led from dummy. Declarer wants you to take the trick.

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

For takeout showing an opening hand

Once North is able to muster up a bid, South has a hand easily worth contracting for game. N/S lose one Spade trick and two Clubs, making four. That's assuming that West leads either minor, which they should if they noticed their partner's takeout double (remember partner?). If West leads a trump, well, that's too sad to think about.

Okay, it's not all that sad if you're N/S. South wins and pulls trump in two more rounds. Now, ♠ K and ♠ J losing to East's ♠ A. No matter what East does, declarer will be able to get to dummy with the ♦ A and run Spades, pitching their hand and making six. Heh.

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

N/S take two Spade tricks, five Diamonds, and one Heart, down one. West will lead the ♠ 2 and West will cover with the ♠ K. If South wins with the ♠ A and ducks a Diamond, East will knock out the last Spade stopper and cash out when back in with the ♣ A. If declarer ducks trick one, West will simply persist with Spades with the same result. Don't feel bad if you're in 3 NT and go down--it's a good contract.

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

Planning on making a jump shift rebid of 3 ♣
Same thing opposite a passed partner
Didn't pick up their hand to play in Spades

East, having loaned partner a King to make a balancing bid, has to be careful not to cuebid one of North's suits (i.e., show a limit raise). North's hand is too strong (even vulnerable) to sell out to 2 ♠. South would take a preference to Diamonds even if East didn't double 3 ♣.

If East leads a Spade (likely), declarer will win with the ♠ A and lead a Club to the ♣T. West will win the ♣ K and lead a trump, but declarer will hop with the ♦ K, ruff a Club, Spade back to the ♠ K, and ruff another Club. When West can't overruff, declarer can ruff a Spade, pull trump in two more rounds, and lead the ♣ Q to East's ♣ A, establishing the ♣ J as a trick. Two Spade tricks, four Diamond tricks in hand, one Spade ruff, two Club ruffs, and the ♣ J, making four. East will need to lead a trump to hold declarer to nine tricks--very unlikely.

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

East's final 3 ♣ bid is not forcing (i.e., they're a passed hand). E/W lose one Club trick, one Diamond, and two Hearts, making three. South may lead the ♦ 2, although nothing looks appetizing.

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

Showing an invitational hand with long Hearts

It's difficult to see how E/W can stay in Hearts with a nine-card Diamond fit. If they do, it will most likely be because East bid 4 ♥ over 2 ♦. Nobody is getting to slam on this hand.

E/W lose one Heart trick, making six. North may try leading the ♣ A, but it doesn't matter.

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

East's double and subsequent raise shows approximately 16-17 HCP (i.e., an extra King).

E/W lose one Heart trick, one Spade, and two Diamonds, making three. North will lead the ♦ K and switch to a trump at trick two.

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

Preemptive jump overcall

A good contract that's doomed on the 4-0 Club break. Dang.

E/W will take four Club tricks, two Diamonds, and two Clubs, down one. In reality, N/S might gift declarer an extra trick in Hearts or an extra three tricks in Spades if they aren't careful. The best lead for N/S is the ♦ 3--unlikely.

West	North	East	South
		2 ♠	3 ♣
3 ♠	Dbl1	Pass	4 ♦
4 ♠2	Dbl3	Pass	Pass
Pass

Responsive showing the unbid suits and the values to take a bid
Easy sacrifice on the vulnerability
Obvious

North's hand is a minimum for a responsive double at this level, but the extra shape makes the call worthwhile. If West bids 4 ♠ immediately, they may not get doubled. Regarding North's final double--when you push your opponents into a game they weren't going to bid on their own, you're already getting a bad score if it makes, so you might as well double it.

E/W should go down two, but that's a tough defense to find (♦ A, ♦ 3 to the ♦ K, ♣ 9 to the ♣ K, ♣ A, Club ruff with the ♠ K). Expect to see a lot of +100 scores for N/S on the sub-optimal (i.e., horrid) defense of ♣ K, ♣ A, Club ruff with the ♠ 2 as declarer pitches the ♦ 8 from dummy. Oops.

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

15 to 17
Garbage Stayman

E/W lose two Spade tricks, one Diamond, and one Club, making three. South has an almost impossible job coming out of their hand and is endplayed from the start. Luckily their partner has the ♦ J, so they can lead a trump. When back in with the ♦ Q, South's best exit is the ♥ K! By playing the King first, South will be able to exit with another Heart when back in with a Club. Brutal defense to find.

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

Preemptive jump overcall
Negative

5 ♦ wouldn't be wrong, but 3 NT seems like the Matchpoint bid.

N/S take five Diamond tricks, three Clubs, one Spade, and one Heart, making four. West will probably lead the ♠ K. After one round of Spades, won by South with the ♠ A, declarer can cash two rounds of Diamonds (East showing out), and three rounds of Clubs before exiting with a Club to East's ♣T. East can cash their two Heart winners, but those are the only three tricks for the defense.

More likely, declarer will duck trick one (oops) and end up making nine tricks on similar lines.