EVENT>Monday Night Bridge      |SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> A N-S
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>February 27, 2017  |CLUB NO.>185264    | 02/27/2017 22:14
---------------------,-- ------------------- -------------,---------------------
DIR> Mike Lipp       |RATING>Club Masterpoint (100%, 80%, 70% Open)|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=8/C=3                      ,---,-------------------------,------,---------,
-------------------------------------------------|   |           Section       |      |Section  |
No Name                   Name                   |Flt|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C| Score | Pct  |Awards   |
------------------------------------------------- --- ----- ----- ----- ------- ------ ---------
 1 Debbie Wiest           John Altman Sr           A    5     .     .     92.50  55.06  0.24(A)

 2 Donald Pollack         Bernice Pollack          C    .     .     .     74.00  44.05

 3 Ila Mehta              Nalin Mehta              B    .     3     .     85.50  50.89  0.32(B)

 4 Kevin Henry            Betty Murdock            C    .     .     .     70.50  41.96

 5 Liz Lin                Elmer Hubka              A    .     .     .     67.00  39.88

 6 Joseph Kammer          Gail Zimmer              B    .     .     .     76.50  45.54

 7 Charlie Kobida         Mike Burns               B    3     2     .     99.00  58.93  0.60(A)

 8 Michael Lipp           Judy Barron              A    4     .     .     93.50  55.65  0.42(A)

 9 Joyce Tedrick          Linda Pretz              B    1     1     .    106.00  63.10  1.20(A)

10 Marilyn Prosise        Robert Prosise           A    2     .     .    103.00  61.31  0.84(A)

11 Joy Singerman          William Cook             B    .     .     .     62.00  36.90

12 Annette Kereiakes      Tom Kereiakes            C    .     .     1     78.50  46.73  0.21(C)


                                          Totals                        1008.00
EVENT>Monday Night Bridge      |SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> A E-W
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>February 27, 2017  |CLUB NO.>185264    | 02/27/2017 22:14
---------------------,-- ------------------- -------------,---------------------
DIR> Mike Lipp       |RATING>Club Masterpoint (100%, 80%, 70% Open)|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=10/C=4                     ,---,-------------------------,------,---------,
-------------------------------------------------|   |           Section       |      |Section  |
No Name                   Name                   |Flt|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C| Score | Pct  |Awards   |
------------------------------------------------- --- ----- ----- ----- ------- ------ ---------
 1 Steven Simon           Daniel Koppenhafer       B    .     .     .     81.00  48.21

 2 Patrick Hoffman        Robert Roark             B    1     1     .    111.50  66.37  1.20(A)

 3 Stephen Felson         Robert Brown             A    2     .     .     99.00  58.93  0.84(A)

 4 Ying Peng              Terry Brausch            B    4     3     .     92.00  54.76  0.42(A)

 5 Lewis Temples          Richard Koch             C    .     .     1     78.50  46.73  0.28(C)

 6 Carla Runda            John Price               C    .     .     2     69.50  41.37  0.20(C)

 7 Terri Mackey           Joanne Earls             B    5     4     .     85.50  50.89  0.28(B)

 8 Joan Diers             Evelyn McCarthy          C    .     .     .     67.00  39.88

 9 Doris Kehoe            Lilam Stanley            A    .     .     .     85.00  50.60

10 Martin Gibler          Susan Stacy Vanstone     B    .     .     .     75.50  44.94

11 Peggy Jervis           Pat Lindeman             C    .     .     .     66.50  39.58

12 Lynn Callif            Sharon Kreitzer          B    3     2     .     97.00  57.74  0.60(A)


                                          Totals                        1008.00

If South gets frisky and opens 2 ♠ in third seat, they're going to get doubled in 3 ♠ and go for –500. Gulp. Note West's 3 ♠ bid on the auction shown--with a Spade stopper, they'd happily bid 3 NT, so their bid must be a "last train" bid looking for 3 NT. East is happy to bid on to 4 ♥.

E/W lose one Diamond trick and one Club, making five. North will probably lead the ♠ Q. Declarer wins with the ♠ A in dummy, knocks out the ♦ A, wins the return, knocks out the ♣ A, and claims when trumps behave.

4 ♠ would be a great sacrifice, but the vulnerability keeps North from bidding it. E/W lose two Spade tricks and one Diamond, making four. Declarer can ruff one Spade with the ♥ K and pitch one on the ♦ J, but there's no way to get rid of the last one without a defensive lapse. North will lead the ♠ K and continue with a low Spade when South shows out.

South's slam aspirations evaporate quickly when North shows 0-6 HCP. Oh well. N/S lose two Diamond tricks, making five. If West leads anything other than a Diamond, N/S will make six. West will most likely lead a trump. Declarer can pull trump in two rounds, cash the ♠ AK (♠ Q falls), and ruff a Club to get to dummy. ♠ J from dummy, pitching a Diamond, Spade ruff, Club ruff, ♠ 8 pitching declarer's last Diamond, Diamond ruff, ♣ A, and give up a Club trick. Making six.

South could bid 3 ♠ immediately over 2 ♣, but that's problematic since partner might have a hand similar to ♠ 8 ♥ AQJ7642 ♦ AQJ ♣ 84 and 2 ♥ would be cold. When partner doubles to show Club shortness and a desire to compete, South has an easy 2 ♠ bid. If E/W compete further in Clubs, South can double.

N/S lose one Spade trick, one Heart, and two Clubs on repeated trump leads, making three. West should lead the ♠ A followed by the ♠ 5. Declarer can win, play a Club to the ♣ A, and ruff a Club, but they'll have two Club losers in the end. If West leads their partner's suit, South will win the ♣ A and ruff a Club. Now ♦ AK and a third Diamond (small when the ♦ Q falls) ruffed low. Club ruff with the ♠ Q, ♦ J ruffed by East and overruffed by South, and declarer's fourth Club now follow. If West ducks, declarer can ruff with dummy's ♠ K. If West ruffs with the ♠ A, the ♠ K will grow up. On that defense, N/S take two Diamonds tricks, one Club trick, three ruffs in dummy, two Diamond ruffs in hand, and two Spade tricks at the end, making four.

South's 3 NT bid shows values and denies a third Spade and a fourth Heart. North is happy to finish bidding out their hand. N/S lose two Heart tricks, making five. If East leads a trump, declarer will duck, win the trump continuation, and run dummy's Diamonds until East ruffs with their natural trump trick. if East leads a Club, declarer should ruff in the closed hand (the ♣ A will be needed at the end when trumps are gone) and embark on a cross-ruff. Here's how it will go:

1) ♣ 3 ruffed with the ♥ 2
2) ♦ A
3) ♠ 2 ruffed in dummy
4) ♦ 4 to the ♦ J
5) ♠ 5 ruffed in dummy
6) ♣ 4 ruffed in hand
7) ♠ 7 ruffed in dummy
8) ♣ 8 ruffed in hand
9) ♥ A pitching a Diamond
10) ♥ 9 pitching a Diamond

At this point, declarer holds ♠ KT8, East holds ♠ J ♥ K ♣ K, dummy has ♦ KQ ♣ A, and West holds ♦T ♣ QJ. East will still win their ♥ K, but that's the only other trick the defense will get.

The favorable vulnerability allows North to bid 5 ♥, content to go down three doubled for –500. West's Heart shortness and extra trump require them to push on to 5 ♠.

E/W lose one Spade trick and one Heart, making five. South is much more likely to hold the ♣ Q, so declarer should have no trouble finding that card. South may lead the ♥ 9.

East doesn't quite have enough to show partner a good Spade raise by cuebidding Diamonds. E/W lose two Spade tricks, one Heart, and one Club, making three.

North may lead their ♦T, South playing low and declarer winning with the ♦ Q. Spade to the ♠ A dropping the stiff ♠ K followed by the ♣ K. South will win the ♣ A and continue with the ♦ K, covered by the ♦ A, and ruffed by North. North's best option is to lead back a trump, declarer winning in hand. ♣ Q is next followed by the ♦ 5 to the ♦ 8 losing to South's ♦ J. South is now in a pickle. They can't play a Heart away from the ♥ K, so they'll either exit with their last Diamond or the ♣T. If it's a Diamond, declarer will pitch their ♥ 6 and North's ♠T is the last trick for the defense. If it's a Club, declarer will ruff in dummy and pitch their Heart on dummy's good ♦ 9. Nicely played!

If your auction essentially goes 1M-2M, you're in the Kokish Game Try "room." 2 ♠ by North (one above your major at the two level) asks partner to bid the lowest ranking side suit where they have help. South, with nothing but "soft values" (quacks) in the side suits, declines the invitation.

If East leads a trump, N/S will make three. East will probably lead the ♠ K, and declarer will duck to see if they can entice East into leading another Spade. It doesn't really matter, but the play is easier if a Spade is continued at trick two. Declarer wins with the ♠ A and ruffs a Spade low. Club to the ♣ A and a fourth Spade follow. East should ruff with the ♥ 9, but declarer will overruff with the ♥ A and finesse against West's ♥ J (West should have more Hearts than East on the auction). N/S lose two Diamond tricks and one Spade, making four. Again, if East gets off to a trump lead and continues Hearts when in with the ♠ Q, N/S will make three.

Nice auction! A little-known feature of Wolff Signoff is the 3 ♣-3 ♦-3 NT relay. 3 ♣ by responder, after opener's 2 NT rebid, is most often used as a way to slow down the auction and play in a suit at the three level. When South uses the 3 ♣ relay and still bids 3 NT, it's a mild slam try in opener's minor--Clubs in this case. North is thrilled to go on holding four Clubs and prime values (Aces and Kings).

N/S lose no tricks on the friendly layout, making seven. Although 6 NT and 7 ♣ make, they would be poor contracts needing Clubs to be 2-2 and the ♥ Q to be onside. East will probably lead the ♠ Q.

When East shows values in Spades by bidding 3 NT, West gives up any thoughts of a Diamond slam. Sigh. E/W take one Spade trick, one Heart, six Diamonds, and two Clubs, making four. If N/S are not as careful (i.e., they lead Spades and continue them when North is in with the ♥ A), E/W will make five. Oops. South will lead the ♠ 5 (MUD).

N/S get a little overboard here, but you can see why. If East leads the ♥ K, N/S will make six. If East leads a trump (like they should), N/S will make four when West wins the ♣ A and continues Clubs. Stupid trump leads.

On the ♥ K lead, declarer should win the ♥ A, ruff a Heart with the ♣ 7, ♠ A, Spade ruff back to hand, Heart ruff with the ♣T, Spade ruff, and ♣ K to West's ♣ A. West can't play a Diamond away from the ♦ K, so they'll exit with a Club. Declarer wins and runs all the trump in case East has the ♦ K. With two cards to go, declarer holds ♥ 5 ♦ 4, East holds ♥ Q ♦ 7, South holds ♦ AQ, and West holds ♦ KT. Knowing the ♥ 5 isn't good, declarer plays the ♦ 4 towards dummy. When East plays the ♦ 7, declarer knows that their last card is the ♥ Q, so they can't hold the ♦ K. Declarer rises with the ♦ A in dummy and concedes a Diamond to West's ♦ K, making six. Nicely played!

With equal or favorable vulnerability, South would probably pass North's double of 4 ♠. Down three doubled is only +500, and South wants +630.

If West leads a small Spade (unlikely), declarer will make seven. With ten sure tricks, declarer would never think to finesse in Clubs. When they cash the ♣ AK, they'll probably notice that East drops the ♣ Q. Stupid doubleton Queens. If West starts with ♠ AKQ, declarer will claim at trick four--one Spade trick, two Hearts, five Diamonds, and two Clubs.

I can't see any way that N/S can defend that will allow 2 NT to make. Now that I've said that, watch half the field make 3 NT. North should lead the ♥ Q and continue with the ♥ J and another. A Diamond will be returned at trick five, and nothing can stop N/S from getting a Diamond trick and the ♣ A for down one. After N/S cash the first six tricks, declarer should have no problem mopping up.

Thinking more about how many tricks E/W can make if the defense is friendly, how about this?

1) North leads the ♠ J on opening lead, declarer winning with the ♠ A as South unblocks the ♠T
2) ♠ K, South unblocks the ♠ 8, declarer plays the ♣ 2, and North unblocks the ♠ 7
3) ♠ Q, South plays the ♠ 4, declarer plays the ♥ 2, and North plays the ♠ 3
4) ♠ 6, South discards the ♥ A, declarer plays the ♥ 3, and North plays the ♠ 2
5) ♠ 5, South discards the ♥ K, declarer plays the ♥ 7, and North discards the ♣ A
6) ♣ 3 to the ♣ K, South unblocks the ♣ J and North plays the ♣T
7) ♣ 8 to the ♣ Q, North discards the ♥ Q and South unblocks the ♣ 9
8) ♣ 7, South plays the ♣ 6, declarer pitches the ♥ 9, and North discards the ♥ J
9) ♦ 2 to the ♦ A, South follows suit and North discards the ♦ K
10) ♦ 5 to the ♦T, North and South both follow suit
11) ♦ 6 to the ♦ Q (Declarer's hand is now high)
12) ♦ J
13) ♥T

2 NT making seven. Nicely played!

4 ♠ is a reasonable contract, but it doesn't make. N/S lose one Heart trick, one Diamond, and two Clubs, down one. West will lead the ♦ 8.

It's doubtful that West will be able to pull the trigger on a double of 3 ♥, but they might. The defense will have to be a little careful, or N/S might make three. If East leads a Spade, it could get ugly. On best defense (Diamond lead), declarer will win and lead the ♣ 9 towards dummy. West has to hop with the ♣ A and play two more rounds of Diamonds, declarer ruffing. With no way to get to the board, declarer will have to lead Spades from their hand twice, starting with the ♠ K. West doesn't have to exit with a Heart, since that might give up their natural trump trick, so they'll play a fourth round of Diamonds. Declarer will be able to ruff their third Spade and pitch their fourth on the ♣ K, but there's no way to avoid a trump loser.

South has to be careful or they'll push E/W into a game they don't want to bid. That said, if E/W do bid 4 ♥, they'll have to make it and that isn't easy.

South will start with the ♠ K (asking for count) and continue with two more rounds of Spades when North shows a doubleton. A Club switch is possible at trick four, as North will play the ♦ 8 at trick three (upside down attitude discouraging a Diamond switch). Declarer should win in dummy with the ♣ A, pull one round of trump, and play a Diamond to the ♦ A. Club ruff, Diamond to the ♦ K, Club ruff, ♦ Q, ♦ 9, and suddenly declarer has taken eight tricks (one Club, four Diamonds, two Club ruffs, and the ♥ A). Their last two cards are the ♥ KQ. Even the most inexperienced declarer will probably claim at this point (we can hope).

East shows extra Diamond length over 2 NT, but West, with a flat hand, has no interest in a Diamond slam. E/W take six Diamond tricks, one Club, and two Hearts, making three. If South leads anything other than the ♣ K (or ♣ Q, but that would be weird), E/W will make four. Expect a lot of +430 scores.

East, with 7 HCP and nice intermediates, somehow finds a "card-showing" double over 2 ♠. That's all the encouragement that West needs, and 3 NT becomes the final contract. E/W lose two Heart tricks, one Diamond, and one Club, making three. Declarer will lead Hearts every time they're in. North will probably lead a small Spade, although nothing matters.

If East leads the ♦T and West continues Diamonds, N/S will make three--one Spade trick, two Hearts, one Diamond, and five Clubs. If they somehow find the lead of the ♠ 4 (unlikely on the auction) or West switches to a Spade at trick two, they'll hold N/S to eight tricks. Expect a lot of +150 scores.

If E/W bid 3 ♦, South will double (loudly). N/S lose one Heart trick, one Diamond, and two Clubs, making three. West will probably lead the ♦ 2, and East will switch to a Club at trick two.

East has 17 HCP, so somebody (I hope not you) opened it 1 NT. Think of it like this--would you rather have the East hand or ♠ KJ2 ♥ AJ3 ♦ KQ76 ♣ KJ6? That one's 18 HCP, but I'd much rather have the East hand.

If South leads a Spade (unlikely on the auction), E/W will take nine tricks. If they lead a Heart, E/W will take 11 tricks. That's more. Two more.

If someone opens 2 ♦ with the South hand, feel free to punch them. Punch them even harder when their bad preempt results in an insane 4 ♦ sacrifice, down three doubled, for –500 and a complete top. Ugh.

In the real world, E/W will play in 3 NT taking two Spade tricks, one Heart, one Diamond, and five Clubs. North will probably lead the ♥ 3.

If West leads a trump, 2 ♥ is down one, as declarer will have no way to get rid of their Club losers. N/S lose one Spade trick, one Heart, one Diamond, and three Clubs. If West leads anything else, declarer will have time to ruff at least one Club.

If you hold a hand with game-going values, one four-card major, 5+ cards in the other major, and your partner opens 1 NT, do not transfer to your 5+ card major! Bid 2 ♣ (Stayman) with the intention of raising your partner's major-suit response to game. If your partner bids 2 ♦ (typical) denying a four-card major, switch gears and do the following:

1) With exactly five cards in one of your majors, bid your four-card major at the three level (Smolen). Your major-suit bid is alertable ("Partner has exactly four ____ and five _____.") With three-card support for your five-card major, opener will bid game in your longer major. With two-card support, opener will bid 3 NT.
2) With 6+ cards in your longer major, make a delayed Texas Transfer at the four level. In the above example, if opener had responded 2 ♦, East would have bid 4 ♥ ("Transfer") and opener would bid 4 ♠. Easy peasy.

E/W lose one Heart trick and one Diamond, making five. If North leads a Club, E/W will make six. If North leads a red suit, South should cash out.

E/W can't sacrifice in 6 ♣ on the vulnerability--down two doubled is too expensive. Although 5 ♦ makes, it won't be easy on the 4-0 trump split.

East will probably lead the ♣T, declarer winning with the ♣ A. Positive that trumps are splitting 4-0 based on (1) East's double and (2) West's preempt, declarer should adopt the following line:

2) ♠ A
3) ♠ K
4) ♠ 3 ruffing with the ♦ 2 when East covers with the ♠ Q
5) Ruff a Club with the ♦ 4
6) ♠ J overruffing when East ruffs
7) Small Heart, West grabbing the ♥ A
8) West continues Hearts to East's ♥ Q
9) East continues with the ♥ K,declarer ruffing with the ♦ 5
10) ♠ 9 (it does East no good to ruff, so they'll throw their last Heart), declarer discarding the ♥T
11) ♦ K
12) ♦ 8 to the ♦ J
13) ♦ A (it's always fun when trick 13 is the Ace of trumps)

Making five doubled for +550. Heh.

N/S lose one Diamond trick and one Heart, making five. East will most likely lead the ♣ Q. If declarer tries to ruff a Heart before pulling trump, East will ruff the third round and return a trump. Oops.