MON 03/27/2017 at Nite

EVENT>Monday Night Bridge      |SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> A N-S
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>March 27, 2017     |CLUB NO.>185264    | 03/27/2017 22:17
---------------------,-- ------------------- -------------,---------------------
DIR> Mike Lipp       |RATING>Club Masterpoint (100%, 80%, 70% Open)|MOVEMENT>MITCHELL
------------,-------- ,-------------------------,--------- ---------------------
AVE>   84.0 |TOP>   7 |MP LIMITS>None/500/200   |CLUB>Mike's Games At The CBC
------------ --------- ------------------------- -------------------------------
PAIRS IN STRAT A=12/B=11/C=8                     ,---,-------------------------,------,---------,
-------------------------------------------------|   |           Section       |      |Section  |
No Name                   Name                   |Flt|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C| Score | Pct  |Awards   |
------------------------------------------------- --- ----- ----- ----- ------- ------ ---------
 1 Debbie Wiest           John Altman Sr           A    5     .     .     90.00  53.57  0.24(A)
 2 Donald Pollack         Bernice Pollack          C    .     .     .     58.50  34.82
 3 Joy Singerman          John Williams            B    1     1     .    109.50  65.18  1.20(A)
 4 Joanne Oppelt          Tim Oppelt               C    3     3     2     98.50  58.63  0.60(A)
 5 John Ramsay            Julian Magnus, Jr        C    .     .     3     84.50  50.30  0.28(C)
 6 David Elliott          Carla Runda              C    .     .     .     69.00  41.07
 7 Annette Kereiakes      Tom Kereiakes            C    .     .     .     82.50  49.11
 8 Linda Pretz            William Cook             B    .     .     .     66.50  39.58
 9 Susan Stacy Vanstone   Martin Gibler            B    4     4     .     94.00  55.95  0.42(A)
10 Betty Murdock          Louise Wolf              C    .     .     .     68.00  40.48
11 Reggie Moskowitz       Sara Brown               C    .     .     .     81.00  48.21
12 Judy Barron            JoAnne Essig             C    2     2     1    106.00  63.10  0.84(A)

                                          Totals                        1008.00


                                    **PAIRS**
BOARD     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9    10    11    12
  /
   1>     7                             2     2     6     2     0     4     5
         430   ----  ----  ----  ----  110   110   180   110   100   120   130

   2>     3-                            1-    0     1-    5     6-    3-    6-
        -420   ----  ----  ----  ---- -450  -480  -450  -170    50  -420    50

   3>     1-                            6     1-    4     4     0     7     4
        -690   ----  ----  ----  ---- -170  -690  -620  -620 -1370   100  -620

   4>     4-    1-                            1-    0     6-    4-    6-    3
         620  -100   ----  ----  ----  ---- -100  -620   650   620   650   100

   5>     5     4                             2-    0     7     6     1     2-
        -420  -430   ----  ----  ----  ---- -460  -920  -150  -170  -490  -460

   6>     1     3-                            7     1     5     6     1     3-
       -1370  -690   ----  ----  ----  ----  400 -1370  -150   100 -1370  -690

   7>     5     1-    6                             3     1-    4     0     7
         150  -140   500   ----  ----  ----  ----  100  -140   110  -300   650

   8>     7     3     3                             3     3     3     3     3
          50  -450  -450   ----  ----  ----  ---- -450  -450  -450  -450  -450

   9>     5     2-    4                             2-    1     0     6     7
         110   -50   100   ----  ----  ----  ----  -50  -100  -140   200   570

  10>     3-    5     7      -                            6     2      -    3-
         170   620   680  -100   ----  ----  ----  ----  650   140  -100   170

  11>     5-    0     2-    2-                            5-    5-    1     5-
         480   -50   230   230   ----  ----  ----  ----  480   480   120   480

  12>     0     2     4     6-                            2     2     5     6-
        -100   -90    50   150   ----  ----  ----  ----  -90   -90   100   150

  13>      -     -    5     7     2-                            2-    4     6
        -210  -210  -110   200  -130   ----  ----  ----  ---- -130  -120  -100

  14>     6-    6-    2     3-    5                             0     3-    1
         420   420    50   110   150   ----  ----  ----  ---- -110   110   -50

  15>     7     2     5     6     4                             1     3     0
         180  -100   110   150    90   ----  ----  ----  ---- -200    50  -300

  16>     7     3     4-    0     4-    2                             6     1
         980   430   450   -50   450   400   ----  ----  ----  ----  460   150

  17>      -    5     7      -    5     2                             3     5
        -100   110   300  -100   110   -50   ----  ----  ----  ----   50   110

  18>     0     1-    7     1-    4     3                             5     6
        -470  -200   600  -200    50  -140   ----  ----  ----  ----  100   300

  19>     3-    0     6-    6-    3-    1-    1-                            5
        -710 -1460  -640  -640  -710  -720  -720   ----  ----  ----  ---- -680

  20>      -    2     3     7      -    4-    4-                            6
        -200  -100   -90   140  -200   110   110   ----  ----  ----  ----  130

  21>     7     1     5-    2     5-    0     3-                            3-
         200  -140   100  -110   100  -170    50   ----  ----  ----  ----   50

  22>     2-     -    2-    7      -    4     5-    5-
        -600  -630  -600   200  -630  -140   100   100   ----  ----  ----  ----

  23>     5-     -    7     2     3-     -    5-    3-
        -150  -630  -100  -600  -200  -630  -150  -200   ----  ----  ----  ----

  24>     1     3-    6     6     3-    1     6     1
         -50   170   420   420   170   -50   420   -50   ----  ----  ----  ----

  25>           4     4      -    4     7     4     4      -
         ---- -230  -230  -650  -230  -170  -230  -230  -650   ----  ----  ----

  26>           3     6     6     4     1-    0     1-    6
         ----  110   140   140   120  -100  -200  -100   140   ----  ----  ----

  27>           2-    2-    7     2-    6     5     0     2-
         ----  -50   -50   550   -50   500   130  -200   -50   ----  ----  ----

  28>                 6-    4     4     0     6-    1-    1-    4
         ----  ----  150   110   110  -100   150    90    90   110   ----  ----

  29>                 0     4     4     4     4     4     4     4
         ----  ---- -200   650   650   650   650   650   650   650   ----  ----

  30>                 3     4-    6-    4-    6-    2     0     1
         ----  ----  100   110   140   110   140   -50  -300  -110   ----  ----

  31>                       7     4     1-    1-    6     5     0     3
         ----  ----  ----   50  -170  -200  -200  -130  -150  -230  -180   ----

  32>                       0     5-    2-    2-    2-    7     2-    5-
         ----  ----  ---- -150   430   420   420   420   460   420   430   ----

  33>                       7     0     3-    2     1     5     6     3-
         ----  ----  ----  110  -200   -50  -110  -150    50    90   -50   ----

  34>                             2     4     1     7     4     4     0     6
         ----  ----  ----  ---- -120  -110  -140    90  -110  -110  -180    50

  35>                             2-    6-    2-    2-    6-    2-    2-    2-
         ----  ----  ----  ---- -620  -170  -620  -620  -170  -620  -620  -620

  36>                             3-    0     6     3-    3-    1     3-    7
         ----  ----  ----  ---- -630  -690  -500  -630  -630  -660  -630   100



EVENT>Monday Night Bridge      |SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> A E-W
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>March 27, 2017     |CLUB NO.>185264    | 03/27/2017 22:17
---------------------,-- ------------------- -------------,---------------------
DIR> Mike Lipp       |RATING>Club Masterpoint (100%, 80%, 70% Open)|MOVEMENT>MITCHELL
------------,-------- ,-------------------------,--------- ---------------------
AVE>   84.0 |TOP>   7 |MP LIMITS>None/500/200   |CLUB>Mike's Games At The CBC
------------ --------- ------------------------- -------------------------------
PAIRS IN STRAT A=12/B=9/C=4                      ,---,-------------------------,------,---------,
-------------------------------------------------|   |           Section       |      |Section  |
No Name                   Name                   |Flt|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C| Score | Pct  |Awards   |
------------------------------------------------- --- ----- ----- ----- ------- ------ ---------
 1 Robert Roark           Pam Campbell             B    5     4     .     89.00  52.98  0.25(B)
 2 Joseph Kammer          Gail Zimmer              B    1     1     .    109.00  64.88  1.20(A)
 3 Patrick Hoffman        Sharon Koster            B    .     .     .     73.50  43.75
 4 Cecilia Kloecker       Margaret Booker          C    .     .     .     66.00  39.29
 5 Cheryl Endres          Pamela Kennedy           C    3     3     2     93.00  55.36  0.60(A)
 6 Joan Diers             Evelyn McCarthy          C    .     .     .     79.00  47.02
 7 Peggy Jervis           Pat Lindeman             C    2     2     1     99.50  59.23  0.84(A)
 8 Arun Gupta             Bhupen Joshi             B    .     .     .     87.00  51.79
 9 Stephen Felson         Robert Brown             A    .     .     .     81.50  48.51
10 Doris Kehoe            Lilam Stanley            A    4     .     .     91.00  54.17  0.42(A)
11 Jane Duncan            Joanne Earls             B    .     .     .     64.50  38.39
12 June Cushman           Martin Petersen          A    .     .     .     75.00  44.64

                                          Totals                        1008.00


                                    **PAIRS**
BOARD     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9    10    11    12
  /
   1>     0           1           5           7           3     5     2     5
        -430   ---- -180   ---- -110   ---- -100   ---- -120  -110  -130  -110

   2>     3-          5-          2            -          3-    5-     -    7
         420   ----  450   ----  170   ----  -50   ----  420   450   -50   480

   3>     5-          3           3           7           0     1     3     5-
         690   ----  620   ----  620   ---- 1370   ---- -100   170   620   690

   4>     7     5-           -          2-           -          4     5-    2-
         620   100   ---- -650   ---- -620   ---- -650   ---- -100   100  -620

   5>     7     3           0           1           6           4-    4-    2
         920   430   ----  150   ----  170   ----  490   ----  460   460   420

   6>     6     3-          2           1           6           3-    0     6
        1370   690   ----  150   ---- -100   ---- 1370   ----  690  -400  1370

   7>     5-    5-    1           3           7           0           2     4
         140   140  -500   ---- -110   ----  300   ---- -650   ---- -150  -100

   8>     4     4     4           4           4           4           0     4
         450   450   450   ----  450   ----  450   ----  450   ----  -50   450

   9>     4-    6     3           7           1           0           2     4-
          50   100  -100   ----  140   ---- -200   ---- -570   ---- -110    50

  10>     1     0     5     6-          6-          3-          3-          2
        -650  -680  -140   100   ----  100   ---- -170   ---- -170   ---- -620

  11>     1-    4-    1-    4-          6           1-          1-          7
        -480  -230  -480  -230   ---- -120   ---- -480   ---- -480   ----   50

  12>     5     3     5      -          2            -          7           5
          90   -50    90  -150   ---- -100   ---- -150   ----  100   ----   90

  13>     2     4-    0     3     4-          1           6-          6-
         110   130  -200   120   130   ----  100   ----  210   ----  210   ----

  14>     5     7     3-    3-    2           6            -           -
         -50   110  -110  -110  -150   ----   50   ---- -420   ---- -420   ----

  15>     2     6     1     4     3           7           0           5
        -110   200  -150   -50   -90   ----  300   ---- -180   ----  100   ----

  16>           7     1     2-    6     5           0           4           2-
         ----   50  -460  -450  -150  -400   ---- -980   ---- -430   ---- -450

  17>           6-    4     2     2     5           6-          2           0
         ----  100   -50  -110  -110    50   ----  100   ---- -110   ---- -300

  18>           5-    2     3     1     4           7           5-          0
         ----  200  -100   -50  -300   140   ----  470   ----  200   ---- -600

  19>      -          3-    2     5-    3-    5-          7            -
         640   ----  710   680   720   710   720   ---- 1460   ----  640   ----

  20>     0           6-    1     2-    6-    2-          5           4
        -140   ----  200  -130  -110   200  -110   ----  100   ----   90   ----

  21>     5           1-    3-    7     0     3-          6           1-
         110   ---- -100   -50   170  -200   -50   ----  140   ---- -100   ----

  22>           6-          3     4-    1-    6-    1-          4-          0
         ----  630   ----  140   600  -100   630  -100   ----  600   ---- -200

  23>           3-          6-    1-    1-    6-    3-          0           5
         ----  200   ----  630   150   150   630   200   ----  100   ----  600

  24>           3-          6     6     1     3-    6           1           1
         ---- -170   ----   50    50  -420  -170    50   ---- -420   ---- -420

  25>     3           0           3     3     3     3     6-          6-
         230   ----  170   ----  230   230   230   230   650   ----  650   ----

  26>     3           5-          7     4     5-    1     1           1
        -120   ----  100   ----  200  -110   100  -140  -140   ---- -140   ----

  27>     4-          1           2     4-    7     4-    4-          0
          50   ---- -500   ---- -130    50   200    50    50   ---- -550   ----

  28>           7            -          5-     -    5-    3     3           3
         ----  100   ---- -150   ----  -90  -150   -90  -110  -110   ---- -110

  29>           3           3           3     7     3     3     3           3
         ---- -650   ---- -650   ---- -650   200  -650  -650  -650   ---- -650

  30>           2-           -          5     4     7     2-    6            -
         ---- -110   ---- -140   ----   50  -100   300  -110   110   ---- -140

  31>     5-          5-          1           2     0     7     3     4
         200   ----  200   ----  130   ----  150   -50   230   170   180   ----

  32>     4-          4-          4-          0     7     4-    1-    1-
        -420   ---- -420   ---- -420   ---- -460   150  -420  -430  -430   ----

  33>     3-          5           6           2     0     1     7     3-
          50   ----  110   ----  150   ----  -50  -110   -90   200    50   ----

  34>           6           0           3           3     5     7     3     1
         ----  140   ----  -90   ----  110   ----  110   120   180   110   -50

  35>           4-          4-           -          4-    4-    4-     -    4-
         ----  620   ----  620   ----  170   ----  620   620   620   170   620

  36>           1           3-          3-          6     3-    3-    7     0
         ----  500   ----  630   ----  630   ----  660   630   630   690  -100
Monday Night Bridge, Monday Eve, March 27, 2017

Board 1
North Deals
None Vul

♠	A J 6
♥	A 10 6
♦	A 9 4
♣	Q 8 5 2

♠	K Q 9 7 5
♥	K J 4
♦	10 6 3
♣	K 3

N
W		E
S

♠	8 4 3
♥	9 8 7 5 3
♦	J
♣	A 9 7 6

♠	10 2
♥	Q 2
♦	K Q 8 7 5 2
♣	J 10 4

NS 3N; NS 4♦; NS 2♣; EW 1♥; Par +400

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

15 to 17
Alert, artificial bid asking partner to bid 3 ♦
Alert, showing Axx, Kxx, Qxx, or xxxx in Diamonds

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	N	4	♥ 9	430		7.00	0.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	1-Roark-Campbell
1 NT	N	4	♣ 6	180		6.00	1.00	8-Pretz-Cook	3-Hoffman-Koster
3 ♦	S	4	♠ K	130		5.00	2.00	12-Barron-Essig	11-Duncan-Earls
1 NT	N	2	♥ 9	120		4.00	3.00	11-Moskowitz-Brown	9-Felson-Brown
3 ♦	S	3	♠ K	110		2.00	5.00	6-Elliott-Runda	10-Kehoe-Stanley
3 ♦	S	3	♠ K	110		2.00	5.00	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	12-Cushman-Petersen
3 ♦	N	3	♥ 5	110		2.00	5.00	9-Vanstone-Gibler	5-Endres-Kennedy
3 ♠	W	−2	♦ A	100		0.00	7.00	10-Murdock-Wolf	7-Jervis-Lindeman

South is willing to play in 3 ♦ if North doesn't have a fit for their suit. When North "super accepts" Diamonds, South bids the easy game. N/S take six Diamond tricks, one Heart trick, one Spade trick, and a trick in whichever suit E/W decide to attack--probably a Heart, since East may lead a small Heart.

Board 2
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	J 8
♥	A Q 3
♦	K 5 3
♣	J 10 9 7 2

♠	A K 9 4
♥	J 8
♦	J 10 9 4
♣	A 5 3

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 7 5 2
♥	K 10
♦	A 7 2
♣	K Q 8 4

♠	10 6 3
♥	9 7 6 5 4 2
♦	Q 8 6
♣	6

EW 5♠; EW 3N; EW 4♦; EW 3♣; NS 1♥; Par −450

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

Alert, artificial Wold 2 NT bid asking for more information about partner's raise
Alert, artificial Wold 2 NT response showing a maximum hand with four Spades

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	W	−1	♣ J	50		6.50	0.50	10-Murdock-Wolf	7-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♠	W	−1	♦ 3	50		6.50	0.50	12-Barron-Essig	11-Duncan-Earls
2 ♠	W	4	♦ 3		170	5.00	2.00	9-Vanstone-Gibler	5-Endres-Kennedy
4 ♠	W	4	♣ J		420	3.50	3.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	1-Roark-Campbell
4 ♠	E	4	♣ 6		420	3.50	3.50	11-Moskowitz-Brown	9-Felson-Brown
4 ♠	W	5	♣ 9		450	1.50	5.50	6-Elliott-Runda	10-Kehoe-Stanley
4 ♠	W	5	♣ J		450	1.50	5.50	8-Pretz-Cook	3-Hoffman-Koster
4 ♠	E	6	♣ 6		480	0.00	7.00	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	12-Cushman-Petersen

Opener will usually have four-card support for your major when they raise to the two level, but not all the time. Picture opener holding ♠ KQ2 ♥ 5 ♦ A875 ♣ KT543. They open 1 ♣, you bid 1 ♠, and what should their rebid be? They can't rebid 1 NT--they have a singleton or void. 2 ♦ would be a reverse, and 2 ♣ seems silly. 2 ♠ is the correct rebid. Responder, if they have interest in bidding on, can bid 2 NT (Wold 2 NT) to check to see (1) how many trumps opener has and (2) whether they have a minimum or maximum hand.

E/W lose one Heart trick and one Diamond, making five. North will probably lead the ♣ J.

Board 3
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	J 7
♥	A Q 6
♦	10 8 2
♣	Q J 9 8 4

♠	Q 9
♥	K J 9
♦	A K Q 9 7 4 3
♣	K

N
W		E
S

♠	A K 5 2
♥	7 5 4
♦	J 5
♣	A 10 6 3

♠	10 8 6 4 3
♥	10 8 3 2
♦	6
♣	7 5 2

W 6N; W 6♦; E 5N; E 5♦; EW 2♠; EW 2♥; EW 2♣; Par −1440

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

A severe underbid, but what else?
RKC Blackwood (Kickback) for Diamonds
1430 response showing 2 or 5 keycards w/ the ♦ Q

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
6 ♦	W	−1	♣ Q	100		7.00	0.00	11-Moskowitz-Brown	9-Felson-Brown
4 ♦	W	6	♣ Q		170	6.00	1.00	6-Elliott-Runda	10-Kehoe-Stanley
5 ♦	W	6	♣ Q		620	4.00	3.00	8-Pretz-Cook	3-Hoffman-Koster
5 ♦	W	6	♦ 10		620	4.00	3.00	9-Vanstone-Gibler	5-Endres-Kennedy
5 ♦	W	6	♣ Q		620	4.00	3.00	12-Barron-Essig	11-Duncan-Earls
3 NT	E	6	♥ 2		690	1.50	5.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	1-Roark-Campbell
3 NT	E	6	♠ 4		690	1.50	5.50	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	12-Cushman-Petersen
6 ♦	W	6	♥ A		1370	0.00	7.00	10-Murdock-Wolf	7-Jervis-Lindeman

East is stuck for a bid after 3 ♦, but their primes (Aces and Kings), honor doubleton in partner's suit, and lack of values in Diamonds push them towards the minor-suit slam. West may have corrected to 6 NT at the end, but it's probably good enough to bid the Diamond slam.

E/W lose one Heart trick, making six. North probably won't lead the ♥ A, but declarer doesn't quite have enough transportation to execute a Club/Heart squeeze (it's close--give West a second Club instead of the ♥ 9).

Board 4
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	5
♥	A 10 9 6 5 3
♦	K J 4
♣	K J 4

♠	Q J 8 7
♥	8
♦	Q 3
♣	A 8 7 5 3 2

N
W		E
S

♠	A K 6 4 2
♥	4 2
♦	10 9 8 5 2
♣	6

♠	10 9 3
♥	K Q J 7
♦	A 7 6
♣	Q 10 9

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

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

Michaels cuebid
Alert, cuebid of the opponent's known suit to show a limit raise or better for Hearts

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	N	5	♠ A	650		6.50	0.50	9-Vanstone-Gibler	4-Kloecker-Booker
4 ♥	N	5	♠ K	650		6.50	0.50	11-Moskowitz-Brown	8-Gupta-Joshi
4 ♥	N	4	♠ A	620		4.50	2.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	12-Cushman-Petersen
4 ♥	N	4	♠ A	620		4.50	2.50	10-Murdock-Wolf	6-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♠	W	−1	♥ A	100		3.00	4.00	12-Barron-Essig	10-Kehoe-Stanley
5 ♥	N	−1	♠ A		100	1.50	5.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	2-Kammer-Zimmer
5 ♥	N	−1	♠ A		100	1.50	5.50	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	11-Duncan-Earls
4 ♠	W	4	♥ A		620	0.00	7.00	8-Pretz-Cook	1-Roark-Campbell

West can't pull the trigger on a double of 5 ♥, since they aren't sure whether partner's singleton is in Clubs or Hearts. Oh well. Note North's pass after West's 4 ♠ bid. N/S are in a "forcing auction." North can pass knowing that responder will either double or bid on. South bids 5 ♥ fully expecting to make it.

N/S lose one Club trick, one Spade, and two Club ruffs, down two. East will lead the ♣ 6, and West will return the ♣ 8--a high Club asking East to underlead their Spade honors.

Board 5
North Deals
N-S Vul

♠	Q 10 4
♥	A 9 5 4
♦	J 8 7 5
♣	7 3

♠	A K J 2
♥	Q J 10 6 3
♦	—
♣	A K 5 2

N
W		E
S

♠	9 7 3
♥	K 2
♦	A K 9 2
♣	Q J 10 4

♠	8 6 5
♥	8 7
♦	Q 10 6 4 3
♣	9 8 6

EW 6N; EW 6♥; EW 6♣; EW 5♠; EW 2♦; Par −990

West	North	East	South
	Pass	1 ♦	Pass
1 ♥	Pass	1 NT	Pass
2 ♦1	Pass	2 NT2	Pass
4 ♣3	Pass	4 ♥4	Pass
5 ♣5	Pass	5 ♠6	Pass
6 NT	Pass	Pass	Pass

Alert, artificial XYZ bid creating a game force
Denying a fourth Spade, a third Heart, and a fifth Diamond
Gerber asking for Aces
Gerber response showing one Ace
Gerber asking for Kings
Gerber response showing two Kings

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♣	E	5	♣ 8		150	7.00	0.00	9-Vanstone-Gibler	4-Kloecker-Booker
2 ♣	E	6	♦ 4		170	6.00	1.00	10-Murdock-Wolf	6-Diers-McCarthy
5 ♣	E	6	♥ 8		420	5.00	2.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	12-Cushman-Petersen
3 NT	E	4	♦ 4		430	4.00	3.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	2-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	E	5	♠ 5		460	2.50	4.50	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	11-Duncan-Earls
3 NT	E	5	♠ 6		460	2.50	4.50	12-Barron-Essig	10-Kehoe-Stanley
3 NT	E	6	♦ 4		490	1.00	6.00	11-Moskowitz-Brown	8-Gupta-Joshi
6 ♣	E	6	♠ 6		920	0.00	7.00	8-Pretz-Cook	1-Roark-Campbell

A Gerber King ask does not guarantee all the Aces--a 1430 specific King ask does. E/W take four Club tricks, two Diamonds, four Hearts, and two Spades, making six. South may lead the ♦ 4, although it's a tad bit risky.

Board 6
East Deals
E-W Vul

♠	J 7 4 2
♥	10 9 8 7
♦	7 5
♣	K 6 2

♠	A Q 10 8 5
♥	—
♦	K Q 8
♣	A Q J 5 4

N
W		E
S

♠	K 3
♥	A Q 3 2
♦	A J 10 6 3
♣	8 7

♠	9 6
♥	K J 6 5 4
♦	9 4 2
♣	10 9 3

W 7♦; EW 6N; EW 6♠; E 6♦; EW 6♣; EW 2♥; Par −2000: NS 7♥×−8

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

Alert, artificial XYZ bid creating a game force
Showing four Hearts could still have three Spades

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
7 NT	W	−4	♥ 10	400		7.00	0.00	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	11-Duncan-Earls
6 ♠	W	−1	♦ 7	100		6.00	1.00	10-Murdock-Wolf	6-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♦	E	5	♥ 5		150	5.00	2.00	9-Vanstone-Gibler	4-Kloecker-Booker
3 NT	E	6	♥ 6		690	3.50	3.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	2-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	W	6	♥ 10		690	3.50	3.50	12-Barron-Essig	10-Kehoe-Stanley
6 ♦	E	6	♣ 10		1370	1.00	6.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	12-Cushman-Petersen
6 ♦	E	6	♣ 10		1370	1.00	6.00	8-Pretz-Cook	1-Roark-Campbell
6 ♦	E	6	♠ 9		1370	1.00	6.00	11-Moskowitz-Brown	8-Gupta-Joshi

West bids 3 ♦ leaving room for partner to show a third Spade. E/W lose a trick to the ♣ K, making six. South should probably lead the ♠ 9--through dummy's long suit.

Board 7
South Deals
Both Vul

♠	6
♥	10 9 8 6 3
♦	9 7 4
♣	8 6 3 2

♠	K 9 8 7 4 3
♥	Q 7 2
♦	J 8
♣	Q 7

N
W		E
S

♠	Q J 10 5 2
♥	K
♦	10 5 3
♣	A J 5 4

♠	A
♥	A J 5 4
♦	A K Q 6 2
♣	K 10 9

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

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

Alert, artificial bid denying an A, K, or QQ
Showing 22-24 HCP
Transfer

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	N	5	♠ Q	650		7.00	0.00	12-Barron-Essig	9-Felson-Brown
4 ♠×	E	−2	♦ A	500		6.00	1.00	3-Singerman-Williams	3-Hoffman-Koster
3 ♦	S	5	♠ 7	150		5.00	2.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	11-Duncan-Earls
3 ♦	S	3	♠ 7	110		4.00	3.00	10-Murdock-Wolf	5-Endres-Kennedy
4 ♠	W	−1	♦ 7	100		3.00	4.00	8-Pretz-Cook	12-Cushman-Petersen
3 ♠	W	3	♦ 4		140	1.50	5.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	1-Roark-Campbell
2 ♠	E	3	♦ K		140	1.50	5.50	9-Vanstone-Gibler	2-Kammer-Zimmer
5 ♦	N	−3	♣ A		300	0.00	7.00	11-Moskowitz-Brown	7-Jervis-Lindeman

When you open 2 NT (or open 2 ♣ and rebid 2 NT), partner transfers you to a major, and you have 4+ card support, bid game if you have any thought that partner might pass at the three level. Having a nine-card or better trump fit is too strong to play at the three level if you have a 20+ HCP opener even opposite a bust.

N/S lose one Heart trick, one Club, and possibly a Club ruff if East finds the magical lead of a small Club away from the ♣ A (unlikely). Expect a slew of +650 scores when East leads the expected ♠ Q.

Board 8
West Deals
None Vul

♠	6 4
♥	K 8 6
♦	10 6 4 3
♣	A Q 7 3

♠	K J 9 8 2
♥	Q J 5
♦	A
♣	J 10 6 4

N
W		E
S

♠	A Q 5
♥	10 4
♦	K Q J 9 8
♣	9 5 2

♠	10 7 3
♥	A 9 7 3 2
♦	7 5 2
♣	K 8

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

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	W	−1	♣ 3	50		7.00	0.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	11-Duncan-Earls
5 ♠	W	5	♥ 6		450	3.00	4.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	1-Roark-Campbell
4 ♠	W	5	♥ 6		450	3.00	4.00	3-Singerman-Williams	3-Hoffman-Koster
4 ♠	W	5	♠ 6		450	3.00	4.00	8-Pretz-Cook	12-Cushman-Petersen
4 ♠	W	5	♦ 3		450	3.00	4.00	9-Vanstone-Gibler	2-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♠	W	5	♦ 3		450	3.00	4.00	10-Murdock-Wolf	5-Endres-Kennedy
4 ♠	W	5	♦ 4		450	3.00	4.00	11-Moskowitz-Brown	7-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♠	W	5	♦ 10		450	3.00	4.00	12-Barron-Essig	9-Felson-Brown

E/W can easily take 10 tricks--problem is N/S can take five tricks before that happens. Ouch. If North leads a round suit (Hearts or Clubs), they'll be happy. If they lead a pointy suit (Spades or Diamonds), E/W will be ecstatic. We'll leave it there--Schrödinger's Bridge Problem.

Board 9
North Deals
E-W Vul

♠	Q 6 4 2
♥	9 5 3
♦	A 2
♣	K 10 8 3

♠	K J 10 9 5 3
♥	6
♦	K Q 9 5
♣	9 5

N
W		E
S

♠	8
♥	A Q J 2
♦	J 10 6 4
♣	Q J 7 4

♠	A 7
♥	K 10 8 7 4
♦	8 7 3
♣	A 6 2

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

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

Weak 3rd-seat opener
Weak jump overcall

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♥×	S	3	♦ K	570		7.00	0.00	12-Barron-Essig	9-Felson-Brown
3 NT	E	−2	♥ 7	200		6.00	1.00	11-Moskowitz-Brown	7-Jervis-Lindeman
2 ♥	S	2	♦ K	110		5.00	2.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	11-Duncan-Earls
2 ♠	W	−1	♣ 3	100		4.00	3.00	3-Singerman-Williams	3-Hoffman-Koster
1 NT	N	−1	♠ 8		50	2.50	4.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	1-Roark-Campbell
3 ♥	S	−1	♣ 9		50	2.50	4.50	8-Pretz-Cook	12-Cushman-Petersen
3 ♥	S	−2	♦ K		100	1.00	6.00	9-Vanstone-Gibler	2-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♠	W	3	♥ 3		140	0.00	7.00	10-Murdock-Wolf	5-Endres-Kennedy

N/S lose one Spade trick, two Hearts, one Diamond, and one Club, down one. E/W would have gone down one in 2 ♠ (this is why we preempt). West will lead the ♦ K.

Board 10
East Deals
Both Vul

♠	Q J 10 8 3 2
♥	K Q 2
♦	8 4
♣	J 10

♠	4
♥	J 6 5 3
♦	K 10 6 5
♣	Q 7 4 2

N
W		E
S

♠	K 7 6
♥	A
♦	Q 9 7 3 2
♣	9 8 5 3

♠	A 9 5
♥	10 9 8 7 4
♦	A J
♣	A K 6

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

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

15 to 17
Transfer

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	S	6	♣ 2	680		7.00	0.00	3-Singerman-Williams	2-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♠	S	5	♠ 4	650		6.00	1.00	9-Vanstone-Gibler	1-Roark-Campbell
4 ♠	S	4	♦ 5	620		5.00	2.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	12-Cushman-Petersen
2 ♥	S	4	♠ 4	170		3.50	3.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	10-Kehoe-Stanley
3 ♥	S	4	♦ 5	170		3.50	3.50	12-Barron-Essig	8-Gupta-Joshi
3 ♠	S	3	♠ 4	140		2.00	5.00	10-Murdock-Wolf	3-Hoffman-Koster
4 ♠	S	−1	♥ 3		100	0.50	6.50	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	4-Kloecker-Booker
2 NT	S	−1	♦ 5		100	0.50	6.50	11-Moskowitz-Brown	6-Diers-McCarthy

N/S lose one Heart trick and one Diamond, making five. West's best lead is the ♦ 5.

Board 11
South Deals
None Vul

♠	A Q 10 6 5
♥	A Q 5 4
♦	10
♣	J 8 7

♠	K 8 3
♥	10 7 3
♦	A J 8 2
♣	10 6 3

N
W		E
S

♠	9 4 2
♥	J 6
♦	K Q 7 4
♣	Q 5 4 2

♠	J 7
♥	K 9 8 2
♦	9 6 5 3
♣	A K 9

NS 6♥; NS 5♠; NS 3N; NS 3♣; NS 2♦; Par +980

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

Showing 11 HCP and denying 3+ Spades
Bidding out their shape

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	S	6	♥ 3	480		5.50	1.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	10-Kehoe-Stanley
4 ♥	N	6	♣ 2	480		5.50	1.50	9-Vanstone-Gibler	1-Roark-Campbell
4 ♥	N	6	♦ K	480		5.50	1.50	10-Murdock-Wolf	3-Hoffman-Koster
4 ♥	N	6	♦ K	480		5.50	1.50	12-Barron-Essig	8-Gupta-Joshi
3 ♥	N	6	♦ K	230		2.50	4.50	3-Singerman-Williams	2-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♥	N	6	♦ K	230		2.50	4.50	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	4-Kloecker-Booker
1 NT	S	2	♦ 2	120		1.00	6.00	11-Moskowitz-Brown	6-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♥	S	−1	♠ 8		50	0.00	7.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	12-Cushman-Petersen

N/S lose one Diamond trick, making six. It's a friendly hand, and you don't want to be in slam on this one. You need 3-2 Hearts (62%), the ♠ K onside (50%), and Spades to be 3-3 to get two Diamond pitches (36%). That's around a 11% slam. East will lead the ♦ K.

Board 12
West Deals
N-S Vul

♠	A 6 4 3 2
♥	J 10 2
♦	9 5 2
♣	7 3

♠	Q 9
♥	A K 9 6
♦	Q 10 6 3
♣	K 6 5

N
W		E
S

♠	K J 10 8 7
♥	5 3
♦	8 7
♣	J 10 4 2

♠	5
♥	Q 8 7 4
♦	A K J 4
♣	A Q 9 8

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

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♥	W	−3	♣ 7	150		6.50	0.50	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	4-Kloecker-Booker
3 NT	W	−3	♥ J	150		6.50	0.50	12-Barron-Essig	8-Gupta-Joshi
3 ♣	W	−2	♥ J	100		5.00	2.00	11-Moskowitz-Brown	6-Diers-McCarthy
1 NT	W	−1	♥ J	50		4.00	3.00	3-Singerman-Williams	2-Kammer-Zimmer
1 NT	W	1	♥ 2		90	2.00	5.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	12-Cushman-Petersen
1 NT	W	1	♥ J		90	2.00	5.00	9-Vanstone-Gibler	1-Roark-Campbell
1 NT	W	1	♠ 2		90	2.00	5.00	10-Murdock-Wolf	3-Hoffman-Koster
2 ♥	N	−1	♠ J		100	0.00	7.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	10-Kehoe-Stanley

South wants North to bid a round suit (Hearts or Clubs). North doesn't want to. N/S take one Spade trick, two Hearts, two Diamonds, and two Clubs, making one. East will lead the ♠ J, and declarer should duck once. West will have the ♣ K for their opener as well as the ♥ AK. Declarer's goal is simply to keep East off lead for the remainder of the hand. They'll lead a small Club from dummy after winning the ♠ A and cover any card that East plays. When West is forced to win with the ♣ K, the hand is essentially over.

Board 13
North Deals
Both Vul

♠	K Q 10 6
♥	8 3
♦	9 8 6 2
♣	5 4 3

♠	J 7
♥	Q 7 4 2
♦	A Q J 10
♣	A Q 7

N
W		E
S

♠	9 4 3
♥	K 10 9
♦	7
♣	K J 10 8 6 2

♠	A 8 5 2
♥	A J 6 5
♦	K 5 4 3
♣	9

EW 4♣; EW 2N; EW 2♥; NS 1♠; Par −130

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

15 to 18
Alert, artificial bid asking partner to bid 3 ♣
Alert, artificial response showing Axx, Kxx, Qxx, or any four Clubs

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♣	E	−2	♣ 9	200		7.00	0.00	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	3-Hoffman-Koster
3 ♠	N	−1	♦ 7		100	6.00	1.00	12-Barron-Essig	7-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♣	W	3	♠ K		110	5.00	2.00	3-Singerman-Williams	1-Roark-Campbell
2 NT	W	2	♠ K		120	4.00	3.00	11-Moskowitz-Brown	4-Kloecker-Booker
3 ♣	W	4	♠ K		130	2.50	4.50	5-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	5-Endres-Kennedy
3 ♣	E	4	♠ A		130	2.50	4.50	10-Murdock-Wolf	2-Kammer-Zimmer
1 NT	W	5	♦ 8		210	0.50	6.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	9-Felson-Brown
1 NT	W	5	♦ 9		210	0.50	6.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	11-Duncan-Earls

E/W will lose two Spade tricks and one Heart, making four. If North leads the ♦ 8 (MUD), South should duck. As long as South doesn't cover with the ♦ K, declarer can get only one Spade pitch on the Diamonds, and that doesn't really help.

Board 14
East Deals
None Vul

♠	4
♥	A K 6 4 3 2
♦	10
♣	A J 9 5 4

♠	J 10 6 5 3
♥	Q 7
♦	A K 9 4 3
♣	8

N
W		E
S

♠	K 9 7
♥	J 9 8
♦	J 7 5 2
♣	K 6 3

♠	A Q 8 2
♥	10 5
♦	Q 8 6
♣	Q 10 7 2

NS 4♥; NS 5♣; EW 2♠; NS 1N; EW 1♦; Par +400

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

Rule of 20 opener
Michaels cuebid
Alert, showing a weak to constructive Spade raise
Showing the strong Michaels hand with Hearts and Clubs

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	N	4	♠ 7	420		6.50	0.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	9-Felson-Brown
4 ♥	N	4	♠ 7	420		6.50	0.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	11-Duncan-Earls
4 ♣	N	5	♠ 7	150		5.00	2.00	5-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	5-Endres-Kennedy
3 ♣	N	3	♠ 7	110		3.50	3.50	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	3-Hoffman-Koster
2 ♥	N	2	♦ 2	110		3.50	3.50	11-Moskowitz-Brown	4-Kloecker-Booker
3 ♠	W	−1	♥ A	50		2.00	5.00	3-Singerman-Williams	1-Roark-Campbell
4 ♥	N	−1	♠ 7		50	1.00	6.00	12-Barron-Essig	7-Jervis-Lindeman
2 ♠	W	2	♥ A		110	0.00	7.00	10-Murdock-Wolf	2-Kammer-Zimmer

While 4 ♥ would have scored better, N/S do well to get to game in any flavor. N/S lose one Club trick and one Diamond, making five. If East leads the ♠ 7, declarer will be tempted to play the ♠ Q and pitch their losing Diamond on the ♠ A. If they're right, they get a Matchpoint top. If they're wrong, they get a new partner. Matchpoints.....it's not Bridge.

Board 15
South Deals
N-S Vul

♠	8 7
♥	6 5
♦	A Q 8 6
♣	A K Q 10 7

♠	A 6
♥	A Q 9 8 2
♦	J 10 3 2
♣	8 4

N
W		E
S

♠	Q J 10 5 3 2
♥	J 3
♦	7 5 4
♣	J 5

♠	K 9 4
♥	K 10 7 4
♦	K 9
♣	9 6 3 2

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

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

Rule of 20 opener
Unusual 2 NT bid showing a min/max hand with both minors
Cuebid showing the big Unusual 2 NT hand and asking for a Heart stopper for notrump

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 NT	S	4	♦ J	180		7.00	0.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	9-Felson-Brown
4 ♠	E	−3	♣ 2	150		6.00	1.00	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	3-Hoffman-Koster
3 ♣	N	3	♥ J	110		5.00	2.00	3-Singerman-Williams	1-Roark-Campbell
2 ♣	N	2	♥ J	90		4.00	3.00	5-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	5-Endres-Kennedy
3 ♠	E	−1	♣ 2	50		3.00	4.00	11-Moskowitz-Brown	4-Kloecker-Booker
3 ♣	N	−1	♥ J		100	2.00	5.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	11-Duncan-Earls
4 ♣	N	−2	♥ J		200	1.00	6.00	10-Murdock-Wolf	2-Kammer-Zimmer
5 ♣	N	−3	♥ J		300	0.00	7.00	12-Barron-Essig	7-Jervis-Lindeman

N/S take five Club tricks, three Diamonds, and one major-suit King. Let's assume that West leads a passive Club. Declarer can play two rounds of Clubs, stripping West of exit cards in Clubs, and four rounds of Diamonds. When West is forced to win the fourth Diamond (it does them no good to refuse to win by pitching the ♦ JT3 and keeping the ♦ 2), they'll be forced to lead into South's major-suit holdings.

Board 16
West Deals
E-W Vul

♠	A 9 7 3
♥	Q 8 3
♦	J 7 6 5 4
♣	A

♠	K J 8
♥	10 9 5
♦	Q 10
♣	K Q 10 6 3

N
W		E
S

♠	10 6
♥	6 4 2
♦	9 8 3
♣	9 7 5 4 2

♠	Q 5 4 2
♥	A K J 7
♦	A K 2
♣	J 8

NS 6N; NS 6♥; NS 6♦; NS 5♠; NS 1♣; Par +990

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

Cuebid showing a limit raise in Diamonds

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
6 ♠	N	6	♣ 9	980		7.00	0.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	8-Gupta-Joshi
3 NT	S	5	♣ 6	460		6.00	1.00	11-Moskowitz-Brown	3-Hoffman-Koster
4 ♠	N	5	♣ 7	450		4.50	2.50	3-Singerman-Williams	12-Cushman-Petersen
4 ♠	N	5	♣ 9	450		4.50	2.50	5-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	4-Kloecker-Booker
3 NT	S	4	♣ 6	430		3.00	4.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	10-Kehoe-Stanley
5 ♦	S	5	♣ K	400		2.00	5.00	6-Elliott-Runda	6-Diers-McCarthy
2 ♦	S	5	♣ K	150		1.00	6.00	12-Barron-Essig	5-Endres-Kennedy
6 ♠	S	−1	♣ K		50	0.00	7.00	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	2-Kammer-Zimmer

If South had a fourth Diamond, or partner wasn't a passed hand, they might choose to investigate slam. As it is.....

N/S take five Diamond tricks, one Club, four Hearts, and ...... what? Well, it depends on what West chooses to hold on to. Let's assume they lead the ♣ K. Declarer wins in dummy by force and plays off five rounds of Diamonds (pitching two Spades from their hand) and four rounds of Hearts (pitching one Spade from dummy) ending in their hand. After ten tricks, West has had to find four black-suit pitches. They can afford to safely throw one Spade, but that means they've discarded three Clubs. After ten tricks, this is the layout:

West: ♠ KJ ♣ Q
Dummy: ♠ A97
East: ♣ 975
Declarer: ♠ Q5 ♣ J

Declarer simply exits with the ♣ J (pitching a Spade from dummy), and West is endplayed. West would do better to pitch down to the bare ♠ K while holding two Clubs, but that's a difficult play.

Board 17
North Deals
None Vul

♠	—
♥	10 6 3
♦	A Q 10 4
♣	A K Q 8 5 2

♠	A K 7 2
♥	Q 8 7 2
♦	2
♣	10 7 4 3

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 8 5 4 3
♥	A 5 4
♦	K 9 6 5
♣	9

♠	J 10 9 6
♥	K J 9
♦	J 8 7 3
♣	J 6

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

West	North	East	South
	1 ♣	1 ♠	1 NT
2 ♣1	2 ♦2	Pass	2 NT3
Pass	3 ♣4	Pass	3 ♦
3 ♠	Pass	Pass	4 ♦
Pass	Pass	4 ♠	Dbl
Pass	Pass	Pass

Cuebid showing a limit raise or better in Spades
Reversing
Alert, artificial Lebensohl bid asking partner to bid 3 ♣
Alert, willing to play in a partscore opposite a minimum hand

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠×	E	−2	♣ J	300		7.00	0.00	3-Singerman-Williams	12-Cushman-Petersen
3 ♣	N	3	♠ 4	110		5.00	2.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	10-Kehoe-Stanley
3 ♣	N	3	♠ 4	110		5.00	2.00	5-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	4-Kloecker-Booker
3 ♣	N	3	♦ 5	110		5.00	2.00	12-Barron-Essig	5-Endres-Kennedy
3 ♠	E	−1	♣ J	50		3.00	4.00	11-Moskowitz-Brown	3-Hoffman-Koster
4 ♣	N	−1	♦ 9		50	2.00	5.00	6-Elliott-Runda	6-Diers-McCarthy
5 ♣×	N	−1	♠ 8		100	0.50	6.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	8-Gupta-Joshi
4 ♣	N	−2	♠ 3		100	0.50	6.50	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	2-Kammer-Zimmer

E/W do well to sacrifice in 4 ♠ over the opponent's 4 ♦ partscore. That's not an easy bid at equal vulnerability when the opponent's aren't in game. Every once in a while, you go down too many (two tricks doubled is –300) and other times you push them into game and they make. Stupid bad sacrifices.

E/W lose one Spade trick, one Heart, one Diamond, and one Club, down one doubled for –100. South may lead the ♦ 3.

Board 18
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	9 6 5
♥	7 4 2
♦	A 9 6
♣	Q 8 7 2

♠	A J 10 8 4 3
♥	J 9 5
♦	J 8 4
♣	K

N
W		E
S

♠	2
♥	Q 8 6
♦	K 10 7 5 3
♣	J 6 5 3

♠	K Q 7
♥	A K 10 3
♦	Q 2
♣	A 10 9 4

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

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	S	3	♠ J	600		7.00	0.00	3-Singerman-Williams	12-Cushman-Petersen
3 ♠×	W	−2	♣ 2	300		6.00	1.00	12-Barron-Essig	5-Endres-Kennedy
2 ♠	W	−2	♣ 2	100		5.00	2.00	11-Moskowitz-Brown	3-Hoffman-Koster
2 ♠	W	−1	♣ Q	50		4.00	3.00	5-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	4-Kloecker-Booker
2 ♠	W	3	♥ 2		140	3.00	4.00	6-Elliott-Runda	6-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♣	S	−2	♠ A		200	1.50	5.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	10-Kehoe-Stanley
4 ♣	S	−2	♠ A		200	1.50	5.50	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	2-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♠×	W	2	♣ 2		470	0.00	7.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	8-Gupta-Joshi

South's 2 NT bid shows 18-19 HCP. N/S take three Club tricks, one Spade, three Hearts, and one Diamond. making two. West will lead the ♠ J, and declarer will win with the ♠ Q--there's no reason to hold up since East obviously has a singleton Spade. The ♣ A is next, and when the ♣ K falls, declarer plays a small Club to the ♣ Q and a third Club. East wins the ♣ J and switches to a small Heart. Declarer inserts the ♥T, and West wins with the ♥ J. Unable to lead a Spade, West should probably continue Hearts, and declarer will cash out. If West plays a Diamond at this point, declarer should duck and end up with nine tricks.

Board 19
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	10 4 3
♥	Q 9
♦	J 5
♣	9 8 7 5 4 2

♠	K J 9 8 6 2
♥	A 5 3
♦	7 4
♣	A K

N
W		E
S

♠	—
♥	K 10 8 6 4 2
♦	A K Q 10 8 6
♣	J

♠	A Q 7 5
♥	J 7
♦	9 3 2
♣	Q 10 6 3

EW 7♥; EW 7♦; EW 6N; EW 4♠; EW 1♣; Par −2210

West	North	East	South
			Pass
1 ♠	Pass	2 ♥	Pass
3 ♥	Pass	4 NT1	Pass
5 ♥2	Pass	6 ♥	Pass
Pass	Pass

RKC Blackwood (Exclusion) for Hearts showing a void in Spades
1430 response showing 2 or 5 keycards w/o the ♥ Q

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♦	E	7	♣ 3		640	6.50	0.50	3-Singerman-Williams	11-Duncan-Earls
5 ♦	E	7	♥ J		640	6.50	0.50	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	1-Roark-Campbell
4 ♥	E	6	♥ J		680	5.00	2.00	12-Barron-Essig	4-Kloecker-Booker
4 ♥	E	7	♣ 3		710	3.50	3.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	6-Diers-McCarthy
5 ♥	E	7	♦ 2		710	3.50	3.50	5-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	3-Hoffman-Koster
3 NT	W	7	♣ 5		720	1.50	5.50	6-Elliott-Runda	5-Endres-Kennedy
3 NT	W	7	♣ 9		720	1.50	5.50	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	7-Jervis-Lindeman
6 ♥	E	7	♣ 10		1460	0.00	7.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	9-Felson-Brown

E/W use 4 ♠ as a keycard ask for Hearts (Kickback), so 4 NT is Exclusion Keycard Blackwood showing a void in Spades and asking partner to ignore the ♠ A when they respond with their number of keycards. In this case it doesn't matter, since West doesn't have that card anyway.

E/W make seven when the Heart suit behaves. Although 7 ♥ makes, you don't want to be there needing to find the ♥ Q. If East had a seventh Heart (or West had a fourth Heart), 7 ♥ would be a good contract. South may lead the ♣ 3, although nothing matters.

Board 20
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	10 9 4 2
♥	J 10 4
♦	A 6 4
♣	A 8 5

♠	8 5
♥	Q 9 8
♦	J 3
♣	K Q J 9 6 4

N
W		E
S

♠	A Q 7 3
♥	K 6 5 2
♦	10 9 8
♣	10 3

♠	K J 6
♥	A 7 3
♦	K Q 7 5 2
♣	7 2

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

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

Do something smart, partner

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♠	N	3	♣ 10	140		7.00	0.00	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	1-Roark-Campbell
2 ♦	S	4	♣ K	130		6.00	1.00	12-Barron-Essig	4-Kloecker-Booker
2 ♦	S	3	♣ K	110		4.50	2.50	6-Elliott-Runda	5-Endres-Kennedy
2 ♠	S	2	♣ J	110		4.50	2.50	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	7-Jervis-Lindeman
2 ♣	W	2	♥ J		90	3.00	4.00	3-Singerman-Williams	11-Duncan-Earls
2 NT	N	−1	♣ 10		100	2.00	5.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	9-Felson-Brown
1 NT	S	−2	♣ 9		200	0.50	6.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	6-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♠	N	−2	♣ 10		200	0.50	6.50	5-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	3-Hoffman-Koster

You've opened the bidding, your LHO has overcalled, and your partner and righty both pass. If you're short in the overcaller's suit, you should make a reopening double. Nuff said.

N/S take five Diamond tricks, one Club, one Heart, and two Spades, making three. West will lead the ♣ K, declarer will duck the first two tricks, and grab trick three with the ♣ A. The ♠T is next, and when the Spades behave favorably, nine tricks come rolling in.

Board 21
North Deals
N-S Vul

♠	9
♥	Q 9 5 3
♦	A J 2
♣	10 7 4 3 2

♠	K
♥	A K 8 6 4 2
♦	9 6 5
♣	A 6 5

N
W		E
S

♠	A 10 8 6 5 3
♥	10
♦	K 8 7 4
♣	J 8

♠	Q J 7 4 2
♥	J 7
♦	Q 10 3
♣	K Q 9

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

West	North	East	South
	Pass	2 ♠1	Pass
Pass	Pass

Weak-two bid

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	E	−4	♠ Q	200		7.00	0.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	6-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♠	E	−2	♣ K	100		5.50	1.50	3-Singerman-Williams	11-Duncan-Earls
3 ♠	E	−2	♥ J	100		5.50	1.50	5-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	3-Hoffman-Koster
2 ♥	W	−1	♠ 9	50		3.50	3.50	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	7-Jervis-Lindeman
2 ♠	E	−1	♣ K	50		3.50	3.50	12-Barron-Essig	4-Kloecker-Booker
2 ♥	W	2	♠ 9		110	2.00	5.00	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	1-Roark-Campbell
2 ♠	E	3	♣ K		140	1.00	6.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	9-Felson-Brown
2 ♥	W	4	♠ 9		170	0.00	7.00	6-Elliott-Runda	5-Endres-Kennedy

Some West players will bid 3 ♥ over 2 ♠, but why? West has four quick tricks for partner in a Spade contract--that's pretty good. I agree that East might hold ♥T53 and a 4 ♥ contract might have some play, but it also might go down a couple of tricks if the rest of East's hand looks like this: ♠ QJ9854 ♥T53 ♦ K7 ♣ J8. Pass with the West cards, and try and go plus.

E/W lose three Spade tricks and two Diamonds, making two. South will lead the ♣ K. Declarer should grab the ♣ A, cash the ♥ AK pitching a Club, play the ♠ K, and lead a Diamond towards the ♦ K. When the ♦ K wins, declarer will cash the ♠ A, note North's failure to find any more trump in their hand, and play Diamonds allowing N/S to take their two Diamond tricks and three Spade tricks at their leisure.

Board 22
East Deals
E-W Vul

♠	9 7 3
♥	10 9 7 3
♦	8 6
♣	J 9 4 3

♠	K J 10
♥	A J 8 5 2
♦	Q 2
♣	Q 10 2

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 8 5 2
♥	Q 6
♦	J 7 5 3
♣	A K 6

♠	A 6 4
♥	K 4
♦	A K 10 9 4
♣	8 7 5

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

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

Not quite strong enough to overcall 1 NT
Alert, artificial XYZ bid creating a game force

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	E	−2	♦ A	200		7.00	0.00	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	12-Cushman-Petersen
3 ♥	W	−1	♠ 3	100		5.50	1.50	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	6-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	E	−1	♦ 9	100		5.50	1.50	8-Pretz-Cook	8-Gupta-Joshi
2 ♠	E	3	♦ A		140	4.00	3.00	6-Elliott-Runda	4-Kloecker-Booker
3 NT	W	3	♣ 3		600	2.50	4.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	5-Endres-Kennedy
3 NT	W	3	♠ 7		600	2.50	4.50	3-Singerman-Williams	10-Kehoe-Stanley
3 NT	E	4	♦ 10		630	0.50	6.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	7-Jervis-Lindeman
3 NT	E	4	♦ 9		630	0.50	6.50	5-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	2-Kammer-Zimmer

West artificially creates a game force in case partner has a third Heart. When East shows a balanced hand with fewer than three Hearts, West parks in the notrump game.

E/W take three Spade tricks, one Heart, one Diamond, and three Clubs, down one. South will lead the ♦ A and continue with the ♦ K and ♦T. When back in with the ♠ A, South will cash out.

Board 23
South Deals
Both Vul

♠	4
♥	Q 8 5 4 2
♦	K 9 8 3
♣	6 4 2

♠	9 8 5 3
♥	A K
♦	A Q J 5
♣	Q 8 3

N
W		E
S

♠	A 2
♥	10 9 7
♦	10 7 6
♣	A K J 7 5

♠	K Q J 10 7 6
♥	J 6 3
♦	4 2
♣	10 9

EW 6♣; EW 5N; EW 5♦; EW 1♠; EW 1♥; Par −1370

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

Weak-two bid
Asking for a Spade stopper for notrump

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♠	S	−1	♥ A		100	7.00	0.00	3-Singerman-Williams	10-Kehoe-Stanley
3 ♣	E	5	♠ K		150	5.50	1.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	5-Endres-Kennedy
3 ♣	E	5	♦ 2		150	5.50	1.50	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	6-Diers-McCarthy
2 ♠	S	−2	♥ A		200	3.50	3.50	5-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	2-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♠	S	−2	♥ K		200	3.50	3.50	8-Pretz-Cook	8-Gupta-Joshi
5 ♣	E	5	♠ K		600	2.00	5.00	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	12-Cushman-Petersen
3 NT	W	4	♥ 2		630	0.50	6.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	7-Jervis-Lindeman
3 NT	W	4	♠ 4		630	0.50	6.50	6-Elliott-Runda	4-Kloecker-Booker

Why isn't 3 ♠ a Michaels cuebid? Michaels (and the Unusual 2 NT) are direct seat cuebids after a one-level opener.

E/W take one Spade trick, two Hearts, three Diamonds, and five Clubs, making five. Six Clubs would be better, but that's tough to find. South will lead the ♠ K.

Board 24
West Deals
None Vul

♠	Q
♥	J 8 6 5 4
♦	A Q J 9 2
♣	K 4

♠	K 8 7 6 3 2
♥	—
♦	10 5 3
♣	9 7 6 5

N
W		E
S

♠	A J
♥	A K 7 3
♦	7 6 4
♣	J 8 3 2

♠	10 9 5 4
♥	Q 10 9 2
♦	K 8
♣	A Q 10

NS 4♥; NS 3N; S 3♦; N 2♦; Par +420

West	North	East	South
Pass	1 ♥	Pass1	3 ♣2
Pass	4 ♥	Pass	Pass
Pass

Don't make minimum offshape takeout doubles
Alert, Bergen raise showing 4-card support and 10-11 HCP.

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	N	4	♠ A	420		6.00	1.00	3-Singerman-Williams	10-Kehoe-Stanley
4 ♥	N	4	♠ A	420		6.00	1.00	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	12-Cushman-Petersen
4 ♥	N	4	♠ A	420		6.00	1.00	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	6-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♥	N	4	♣ 2	170		3.50	3.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	7-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♥	S	4	♣ 7	170		3.50	3.50	5-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	2-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♥	N	−1	♠ A		50	1.00	6.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	5-Endres-Kennedy
4 ♥	S	−1	♠ 2		50	1.00	6.00	6-Elliott-Runda	4-Kloecker-Booker
4 ♥	N	−1	♠ A		50	1.00	6.00	8-Pretz-Cook	8-Gupta-Joshi

N/S lose one Spade trick and two Hearts, making four. East may lead the ♠ A and continue Spades hoping to get a ruff, but that's not gonna happen.

Board 25
North Deals
E-W Vul

♠	6 5 2
♥	K J
♦	A K J 10 2
♣	Q 7 2

♠	A Q 10 9 8 3
♥	A Q 3
♦	—
♣	A 6 5 4

N
W		E
S

♠	K J
♥	10 8 6
♦	9 8 5 3
♣	K J 9 3

♠	7 4
♥	9 7 5 4 2
♦	Q 7 6 4
♣	10 8

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

West	North	East	South
	1 NT1	Pass	2 ♦2
2 ♥3	Pass4	3 ♣	Pass
3 ♠5	Pass	4 ♠	Pass
Pass	Pass

15 to 17
Transfer
Alert, takeout for the unbid suits
Alert, denying a third Heart
Showing a gigantic hand

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♣	W	6	♦ A		170	7.00	0.00	6-Elliott-Runda	3-Hoffman-Koster
2 ♠	W	6	♦ K		230	4.00	3.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	6-Diers-McCarthy
2 ♠	W	6	♦ A		230	4.00	3.00	3-Singerman-Williams	8-Gupta-Joshi
2 ♠	W	6	♦ A		230	4.00	3.00	5-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	1-Roark-Campbell
1 ♠	W	6	♦ A		230	4.00	3.00	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	5-Endres-Kennedy
2 ♠	W	6	♦ A		230	4.00	3.00	8-Pretz-Cook	7-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♠	W	5	♦ A		650	0.50	6.50	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	11-Duncan-Earls
4 ♠	W	5	♦ K		650	0.50	6.50	9-Vanstone-Gibler	9-Felson-Brown

Okay, when's the last time that the opponent's opened a strong notrump and you can make a grand slam in one suit and a small slam in another? Yeah, I didn't think so. Note West's 2 ♥ bid. When your LHO opens 1 NT and your RHO makes a Jacoby transfer bid, go ahead and bid the opponent's implied suit with a strong hand and support for the unbid suits. Partner will know what to do (well, your partner won't, but some would).

E/W lose one Heart trick, making six. North will lead the ♦ K. There's no reason for declarer to finesse South for the ♥ K--they can't have that card or North would have opened 1 NT with a 13 count. When they play the ♥ A and North follows with the ♥ J, they can claim 12 tricks (the Club hook is a formality).

Board 26
East Deals
Both Vul

♠	K J 10 9 8
♥	Q J 9 5 2
♦	A 5
♣	10

♠	Q 7 3
♥	K 7 3
♦	K 8 7
♣	9 8 5 3

N
W		E
S

♠	A 6 5 4
♥	10 6
♦	Q J 9 6
♣	A 7 4

♠	2
♥	A 8 4
♦	10 4 3 2
♣	K Q J 6 2

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

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

Don't make minimum offshape takeout doubles
Semi-forcing

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♥	N	3	♥ 10	140		6.00	1.00	3-Singerman-Williams	8-Gupta-Joshi
2 ♥	N	3	♦ Q	140		6.00	1.00	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	11-Duncan-Earls
2 ♥	N	3	♦ Q	140		6.00	1.00	9-Vanstone-Gibler	9-Felson-Brown
2 NT	S	2	♦ 7	120		4.00	3.00	5-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	1-Roark-Campbell
2 ♥	N	2	♦ Q	110		3.00	4.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	6-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♥	N	−1	♦ 6		100	1.50	5.50	6-Elliott-Runda	3-Hoffman-Koster
2 ♠	N	−1	♦ Q		100	1.50	5.50	8-Pretz-Cook	7-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♥	N	−2	♦ Q		200	0.00	7.00	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	5-Endres-Kennedy

South, with extras, gives North a token raise, but North isn't interested. N/S lose one Spade trick, one Heart, one Diamond, and one Club, making three. East will lead the ♦ Q.

Board 27
South Deals
None Vul

♠	J 9 8 6
♥	Q 10 7 4 2
♦	4
♣	A K 4

♠	A 7 4 3
♥	A K 8 5 3
♦	Q 8 3
♣	10

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 10 2
♥	J 9 6
♦	7
♣	Q 9 7 6 3 2

♠	K 5
♥	—
♦	A K J 10 9 6 5 2
♣	J 8 5

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

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

Negative
Asking for a Heart stopper for notrump

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♦×	S	5	♥ A	550		7.00	0.00	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	11-Duncan-Earls
4 ♥×	W	−3	♣ A	500		6.00	1.00	6-Elliott-Runda	3-Hoffman-Koster
3 ♦	S	4	♥ K	130		5.00	2.00	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	5-Endres-Kennedy
5 ♦	S	−1	♥ A		50	2.50	4.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	6-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♦	S	−1	♥ K		50	2.50	4.50	3-Singerman-Williams	8-Gupta-Joshi
3 ♦	S	−1	♣ 10		50	2.50	4.50	5-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	1-Roark-Campbell
4 ♦	S	−1	♣ 10		50	2.50	4.50	9-Vanstone-Gibler	9-Felson-Brown
4 ♠	S	−4	♥ K		200	0.00	7.00	8-Pretz-Cook	7-Jervis-Lindeman

This one is sad. East will lead the ♥ 6 (small from an honor in a supported suit), and West will win the ♥ K. They'll study dummy for a few seconds and realize that the ♣ J is the only possible entry to dummy, so they'll continue with the ♣T. It doesn't matter what happens after this point, since the Diamonds don't run, the ♠ K isn't an entry, and neither is the ♣ J. Stupid 8-3-1-1 splits.

Board 28
West Deals
N-S Vul

♠	5 3 2
♥	6 2
♦	K J
♣	K Q 10 9 7 2

♠	A K 9 4
♥	9 3
♦	7 6 5 3
♣	6 5 3

N
W		E
S

♠	10 7 6
♥	A Q 8 7
♦	A 10 4 2
♣	8 4

♠	Q J 8
♥	K J 10 5 4
♦	Q 9 8
♣	A J

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

West	North	East	South
Pass	Pass1	Pass	1 ♥
Pass	1 NT2	Pass	Pass
Pass

Don't preempt at the three-level vulnerable with a 6-card suit
Semi-forcing

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
1 NT	N	3	♦ 2	150		6.50	0.50	3-Singerman-Williams	7-Jervis-Lindeman
2 NT	N	3	♠ 10	150		6.50	0.50	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	4-Kloecker-Booker
2 ♥	S	2	♦ 6	110		4.00	3.00	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	9-Felson-Brown
3 ♣	N	3	♦ A	110		4.00	3.00	5-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	12-Cushman-Petersen
3 ♣	N	3	♠ 6	110		4.00	3.00	10-Murdock-Wolf	10-Kehoe-Stanley
1 NT	N	1	♦ 4	90		1.50	5.50	8-Pretz-Cook	6-Diers-McCarthy
1 NT	N	1	♦ 2	90		1.50	5.50	9-Vanstone-Gibler	8-Gupta-Joshi
3 NT	S	−1	♠ 4		100	0.00	7.00	6-Elliott-Runda	2-Kammer-Zimmer

N/S will probably end up making two, but with best defense, E/W can take six tricks. East leads the ♠T and declarer will split dummy's honors. West wins with the ♠ K and switches to a Diamond. East wins the ♦ A and plays the ♠ 7 towards partner's ♠ K9 tenace. West will switch to a Heart after cashing the fourth Spade, and declarer will claim the rest of the tricks.

Board 29
North Deals
Both Vul

♠	Q 9 7
♥	K 7 6 2
♦	K 2
♣	Q 8 4 2

♠	K 6 3
♥	10 9 5
♦	10 4 3
♣	K 9 7 6

N
W		E
S

♠	J 10 8 5 4 2
♥	4
♦	A 9 8 7
♣	10 5

♠	A
♥	A Q J 8 3
♦	Q J 6 5
♣	A J 3

NS 5♥; NS 4N; NS 4♣; NS 3♦; EW 1♠; Par +650

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

Alert, artificial Drury bid showing 3+ card limit raise in Hearts
Alert, artificial bid asking for more information
Alert, artificial bid showing 4-card support and no shortness
1st or 2nd round control bid
1st or 2nd round control bid
RKC Blackwood (Kickback) for Hearts
1430 response showing 1 or 4 keycards

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	S	5	♠ 3	650		4.00	3.00	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	9-Felson-Brown
4 ♥	S	5	♠ 3	650		4.00	3.00	5-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	12-Cushman-Petersen
4 ♥	S	5	♦ 10	650		4.00	3.00	6-Elliott-Runda	2-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♥	S	5	♠ 3	650		4.00	3.00	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	4-Kloecker-Booker
5 ♥	S	5	♣ 6	650		4.00	3.00	8-Pretz-Cook	6-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♥	S	5	♥ 5	650		4.00	3.00	9-Vanstone-Gibler	8-Gupta-Joshi
4 ♥	S	5	♣ 6	650		4.00	3.00	10-Murdock-Wolf	10-Kehoe-Stanley
6 ♥	S	−2	♣ 6		200	0.00	7.00	3-Singerman-Williams	7-Jervis-Lindeman

N/S are in a pretty good slam--it just doesn't happen to make. N/S lose one Club trick and one Diamond, down one. Oh well. West should lead a trump.

Board 30
East Deals
None Vul

♠	J
♥	J 7 3
♦	A K 10 5 2
♣	10 8 7 5

♠	Q 10 9 8 5
♥	4
♦	Q J 8 6
♣	Q 6 4

N
W		E
S

♠	K 7
♥	K Q 10 8
♦	9 4 3
♣	A 9 3 2

♠	A 6 4 3 2
♥	A 9 6 5 2
♦	7
♣	K J

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

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

Don't make a Michaels cuebid with an intermediate hand (12-14 HCP)

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♥	S	3	♣ 4	140		6.50	0.50	5-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	12-Cushman-Petersen
3 ♥	N	3	♦ 9	140		6.50	0.50	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	4-Kloecker-Booker
2 ♥	S	2	♥ 4	110		4.50	2.50	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	9-Felson-Brown
2 ♥	S	2	♦ Q	110		4.50	2.50	6-Elliott-Runda	2-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♠	W	−2	♦ A	100		3.00	4.00	3-Singerman-Williams	7-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♥	N	−1	♣ A		50	2.00	5.00	8-Pretz-Cook	6-Diers-McCarthy
2 ♠	W	2	♦ A		110	1.00	6.00	10-Murdock-Wolf	10-Kehoe-Stanley
2 ♥×	N	−2	♣ A		300	0.00	7.00	9-Vanstone-Gibler	8-Gupta-Joshi

South is able to show both of their suits, North gives a courtesy raise, and South declines the invitation. N/S lose one Club trick and three Hearts, making three. West may lead the ♣ 4 on the auction.

Board 31
South Deals
N-S Vul

♠	7 6 4 3
♥	8 7
♦	A Q 3
♣	A 10 6 4

♠	A Q 10 9 5 2
♥	A 10 2
♦	7 6 2
♣	3

N
W		E
S

♠	K
♥	K J 3
♦	K J 10 9 8
♣	9 8 7 5

♠	J 8
♥	Q 9 6 5 4
♦	5 4
♣	K Q J 2

EW 5♠; EW 4♦; EW 2N; EW 1♥; Par −450

West	North	East	South
			Pass
1 ♠1	Pass	1 NT2	Pass
2 ♠	Pass	2 NT	Pass
3 ♠	Pass	4 ♠	Pass
Pass	Pass

A little too good to open 2 ♠
Forcing

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	E	−1	♣ K	50		7.00	0.00	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	8-Gupta-Joshi
3 ♦	E	4	♥ 5		130	6.00	1.00	8-Pretz-Cook	5-Endres-Kennedy
2 NT	E	3	♥ 4		150	5.00	2.00	9-Vanstone-Gibler	7-Jervis-Lindeman
2 ♠	W	4	♥ 8		170	4.00	3.00	5-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	10-Kehoe-Stanley
2 NT	E	4	♥ 5		180	3.00	4.00	11-Moskowitz-Brown	11-Duncan-Earls
2 ♠	W	5	♥ 7		200	1.50	5.50	6-Elliott-Runda	1-Roark-Campbell
2 ♠	W	5	♥ 8		200	1.50	5.50	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	3-Hoffman-Koster
2 ♠	W	6	♠ 3		230	0.00	7.00	10-Murdock-Wolf	9-Felson-Brown

After West shows a seventh Spade, East happily upgrades their ♠ K and bids the good game. E/W lose one Club trick and one Diamond, making five. North may lead the ♥ 8.

Board 32
West Deals
E-W Vul

♠	A J 5
♥	A K 7 2
♦	Q J 2
♣	A 10 7

♠	Q 8 7 4 2
♥	8
♦	7 6 4
♣	Q J 9 8

N
W		E
S

♠	K 9 3
♥	Q J 10 3
♦	9 5 3
♣	6 4 2

♠	10 6
♥	9 6 5 4
♦	A K 10 8
♣	K 5 3

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

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	N	5	♥ Q	460		7.00	0.00	9-Vanstone-Gibler	7-Jervis-Lindeman
3 NT	N	4	♥ Q	430		5.50	1.50	5-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	10-Kehoe-Stanley
3 NT	S	4	♠ 4	430		5.50	1.50	11-Moskowitz-Brown	11-Duncan-Earls
4 ♥	S	4	♠ 4	420		2.50	4.50	6-Elliott-Runda	1-Roark-Campbell
4 ♥	S	4	♣ Q	420		2.50	4.50	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	3-Hoffman-Koster
4 ♥	S	4	♣ Q	420		2.50	4.50	8-Pretz-Cook	5-Endres-Kennedy
4 ♥	S	4	♣ Q	420		2.50	4.50	10-Murdock-Wolf	9-Felson-Brown
6 NT	N	−3	♥ Q		150	0.00	7.00	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	8-Gupta-Joshi

North was planning on rebidding 2 NT to show 18-19 balanced or semi-balanced. That plan went awry when South had the nerve to bid 1 ♥. Stupid South. If North had a singleton or void, they'd make a Splinter bid rather than bid 4 ♥.

N/S lose one Spade trick and two Hearts, making four. The hand pretty much plays like notrump after declarer pulls two rounds of trumps. West may lead the ♣ Q. Declarer will win in hand and play a Spade to the ♠ J, East winning with the ♠ K and continuing Clubs. Declarer will win in dummy with the ♣ A, cash the ♥ AK and ♠ A, and ruff a Spade in their hand. Now they'll start cashing Diamonds, pitching dummy's Club loser on the fourth round. West can ruff and cash the ♥ Q, but dummy will still have a trump left to ruff the third round of Clubs.

Board 33
North Deals
None Vul

♠	J 10
♥	A J 4 3
♦	7 6 4 2
♣	Q 9 6

♠	A Q 8 5 4
♥	Q 6 2
♦	K Q 10 5
♣	8

N
W		E
S

♠	9 3
♥	8 7 5
♦	A J 9 3
♣	10 4 3 2

♠	K 7 6 2
♥	K 10 9
♦	8
♣	A K J 7 5

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

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

Slightly better than doubling
Negative

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♣	S	3	♦ K	110		7.00	0.00	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	8-Gupta-Joshi
2 ♣	S	2	♦ K	90		6.00	1.00	10-Murdock-Wolf	9-Felson-Brown
3 ♠	W	−1	♣ 6	50		5.00	2.00	9-Vanstone-Gibler	7-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♥	N	−1	♠ 9		50	3.50	3.50	6-Elliott-Runda	1-Roark-Campbell
3 ♣	S	−1	♦ K		50	3.50	3.50	11-Moskowitz-Brown	11-Duncan-Earls
2 ♠	W	2	♥ A		110	2.00	5.00	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	3-Hoffman-Koster
3 ♥	N	−3	♠ 9		150	1.00	6.00	8-Pretz-Cook	5-Endres-Kennedy
4 ♥	N	−4	♠ 9		200	0.00	7.00	5-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	10-Kehoe-Stanley

South has a hand that is willing to play in the Moysian (4-3) fit. They have the ability to ruff Diamond losers in the short trump hand, strength in the opponent's suit, and a good Club suit. N/S take four Heart tricks and five Club tricks, making three. West will probably lead their stiff ♣ 8.

Board 34
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	10 6 4
♥	J 7 4
♦	A 6 4 2
♣	7 4 3

♠	A K 8
♥	Q 5 2
♦	K 8
♣	J 9 8 6 2

N
W		E
S

♠	9 7 3 2
♥	K 9 8 3
♦	J 7 5
♣	A Q

♠	Q J 5
♥	A 10 6
♦	Q 10 9 3
♣	K 10 5

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

West	North	East	South
		Pass	1 ♦
Pass1	Pass	Dbl	Pass
2 ♣	Pass	Pass	Pass

Don't make minimum offshape takeout doubles

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
1 ♦	S	2	♠ A	90		7.00	0.00	8-Pretz-Cook	4-Kloecker-Booker
3 ♣	W	−1	♦ 2	50		6.00	1.00	12-Barron-Essig	12-Cushman-Petersen
1 ♥	E	2	♠ Q		110	4.00	3.00	6-Elliott-Runda	11-Duncan-Earls
2 ♥	E	2	♦ 10		110	4.00	3.00	9-Vanstone-Gibler	6-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♣	W	3	♥ 4		110	4.00	3.00	10-Murdock-Wolf	8-Gupta-Joshi
1 NT	W	2	♦ 2		120	2.00	5.00	5-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	9-Felson-Brown
2 ♥	E	3	♦ 9		140	1.00	6.00	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	2-Kammer-Zimmer
1 NT	W	4	♦ 2		180	0.00	7.00	11-Moskowitz-Brown	10-Kehoe-Stanley

Playing in a major at the two level would have been better, but the contract is a normal one. E/W lose one Club trick, two Hearts, one Spade, and one Diamond, making two. Diamonds is a frozen suit--whoever leads Diamonds gives up a trick. It's likely that North will lead the ♦ A and continue Diamonds at trick two.

Board 35
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	Q J 7
♥	A 7 6
♦	J 10 5
♣	K 5 4 2

♠	K 10 8 6
♥	8 4
♦	A 4 3
♣	A Q J 10

N
W		E
S

♠	A 9 4 3 2
♥	K Q
♦	K 8 7
♣	8 6 3

♠	5
♥	J 10 9 5 3 2
♦	Q 9 6 2
♣	9 7

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

West	North	East	South
			Pass
1 ♣	Pass1	1 ♠	2 ♥2
2 ♠3	3 ♥	Pass	4 ♠
Pass	Pass	Pass

Don't make minimum offshape takeout doubles
Weak jump overcall
Showing four Spades

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♠	E	4	♥ J		170	6.50	0.50	6-Elliott-Runda	11-Duncan-Earls
3 ♠	E	4	♥ J		170	6.50	0.50	9-Vanstone-Gibler	6-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♠	E	4	♣ 9		620	2.50	4.50	5-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	9-Felson-Brown
4 ♠	E	4	♥ J		620	2.50	4.50	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	2-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♠	E	4	♥ J		620	2.50	4.50	8-Pretz-Cook	4-Kloecker-Booker
4 ♠	E	4	♥ J		620	2.50	4.50	10-Murdock-Wolf	8-Gupta-Joshi
4 ♠	E	4	♥ J		620	2.50	4.50	11-Moskowitz-Brown	10-Kehoe-Stanley
4 ♠	E	4	♥ J		620	2.50	4.50	12-Barron-Essig	12-Cushman-Petersen

N/S have a nice sacrifice in 5 ♥ doubled. E/W lose one Spade trick, one Heart, and one Club, making four. The slow Diamond loser will go away on the long Club. South will lead the ♥ J.

Board 36
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	7 2
♥	Q 10 9 8 7
♦	K J 10 4 2
♣	8

♠	A Q J 8
♥	K
♦	A Q 7
♣	K Q 10 7 3

N
W		E
S

♠	10 5 4
♥	A 6 5 4 2
♦	8 3
♣	A 6 5

♠	K 9 6 3
♥	J 3
♦	9 6 5
♣	J 9 4 2

EW 7♣; W 5N; EW 5♠; E 4N; W 4♥; E 3♥; EW 2♦; Par −2140

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

Unusual 2 NT showing the two lowest unbid suits
Do something smart, partner
Showing a Heart stopper for notrump

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	W	−1	♣ 8	100		7.00	0.00	12-Barron-Essig	12-Cushman-Petersen
3 NT	N	−5	♥ 4		500	6.00	1.00	7-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	2-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	W	4	♦ 4		630	3.50	3.50	5-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	9-Felson-Brown
3 NT	W	4	♦ 4		630	3.50	3.50	8-Pretz-Cook	4-Kloecker-Booker
3 NT	W	4	♦ J		630	3.50	3.50	9-Vanstone-Gibler	6-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	E	4	♣ 2		630	3.50	3.50	11-Moskowitz-Brown	10-Kehoe-Stanley
3 NT	E	5	♥ J		660	1.00	6.00	10-Murdock-Wolf	8-Gupta-Joshi
3 NT	W	6	♦ 10		690	0.00	7.00	6-Elliott-Runda	11-Duncan-Earls

West chooses not to open 2 NT (or 2 ♣), since they weren't thrilled with their stiff Heart. E/W take two Heart tricks, five Clubs, one Diamond, and three Spades, making five. Obviously 7 ♣ is a superior contract (duh). If North leads a Diamond, E/W will make six. North should lead the ♠ 7. Declarer won't be able to pick up the whole Spade suit, since dummy's only entry is the ♣ A, and it will be used to take a marked finesse against South's ♣ J.