MON 04/10/2017 at Nite

EVENT>Monday Night Bridge      |SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> A N-S
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>April 10, 2017     |CLUB NO.>185264    | 04/10/2017 22:10
---------------------,-- ------------------- -------------,---------------------
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=11/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    .     .     .     79.50  47.32
 2 David Elliott          Carla Runda              C    1     1     1    104.00  61.90  1.10(A)
 3 Pamela Kennedy         Cheryl Endres            C   3/4   2/3    .     94.00  55.95  0.47(A)
 4 Robert Roark           Sharon Koster            B    .     .     .     81.50  48.51
 5 Richard Koch           Lewis Temples            B   3/4   2/3    .     94.00  55.95  0.47(A)
 6 Annette Kereiakes      Tom Kereiakes            B    .     .     .     88.00  52.38
 7 Doris Kehoe            Lilam Stanley            A    .     .     .     59.50  35.42
 8 Betty Murdock          Erin Oblinger            C    .     .     .     63.50  37.80
 9 Martin Petersen        June Cushman             A    2     .     .     94.50  56.25  0.77(A)
10 Joyce Tedrick          Linda Pretz              B    .     .     .     80.50  47.92
11 Harriet Edwards        Charles Edwards          B    .     .     .     85.00  50.60

                                          Totals                         924.00


                                 **PAIRS**
BOARD     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9    10    11
  /
   1>     5                       1     6-    2     0     3-    3-    6-
         450   ----  ----  ----  100   500   170  -110   420   420   500

   2>     3                       3     6     7      -    3      -    5
        -450   ----  ----  ---- -450  -420  -200  -480  -450  -480  -430

   3>     3-                      7     6     1     3-    3-    0     3-
        -100   ----  ----  ----  -50   -90  -120  -100  -100  -300  -100

   4>     5-    2                       4     7     0     2     2     5-
         120   -90   ----  ----  ----  100   200  -110   -90   -90   120

   5>     4     6                       1-    0     4     7     1-    4
         100   140   ----  ----  ----   50  -100   100   170    50   100

   6>     1-    7                       5-    5-    0     3-    1-    3-
        -130   100   ----  ----  ----  -90   -90  -150  -110  -130  -110

   7>     1     5     3                       0     3     3     6     7
         140   630   600   ----  ----  ---- -100   600   600   650   720

   8>     1-    7     5                       1-    5     5     1-    1-
        -510   140  -450   ----  ----  ---- -510  -450  -450  -510  -510

   9>     1     1     6                       6     1     3-    3-    6
        -620  -620   100   ----  ----  ----  100  -620  -170  -170   100

  10>     1-    3-    7     5-                      0     1-    5-    3-
        -140  -110   500   100   ----  ----  ---- -170  -140   100  -110

  11>      -    6-    6-    3                       4-    2     4-     -
         -50   450   450   400   ----  ----  ----  420   120   420   -50

  12>      -    4-    4-     -                      4-    4-    4-    4-
        -420  -170  -170  -420   ----  ----  ---- -170  -170  -170  -170

  13>     6-    2     4     0     5                       6-    2     2
         100  -690  -650 -1370  -170   ----  ----  ----  100  -690  -690

  14>     0     2-    1     5-    7                       5-    4     2-
        -150  -100  -110   -50   140   ----  ----  ----  -50   -90  -100

  15>     5     0     1-    1-    3                       7     6     4
         -90  -430  -400  -400  -120   ----  ----  ----  100    50  -110

  16>     0     3-    7     6     1     3-                      3-    3-
        -110   100   200   120  -100   100   ----  ----  ----  100   100

  17>     3     6-    0     6-    5     1-                      4     1-
        -450    50  -510    50  -200  -480   ----  ----  ---- -430  -480

  18>     3-    3-    1     0     7     6                       5     2
          50    50  -200  -530  1100   600   ----  ----  ----  100  -140

  19>     4-     -    4-     -    4-    4-    4-                      4-
         480   450   480   450   480   480   480   ----  ----  ----  480

  20>     7     3-    2     6     0     5     1                       3-
        -170 -1370 -1390  -190 -1470  -640 -1440   ----  ----  -----1370

  21>     7     4-    4-    4-    4-    1     1                       1
         630   600   600   600   600  -100  -100   ----  ----  ---- -100

  22>     5     6-    4     1-    6-    1-    1-    1-
         980  1010   520   490  1010   490   490   490   ----  ----  ----

  23>     4     7     4     2     1     4     6     0
         100   200   100   -90  -100   100   140  -110   ----  ----  ----

  24>     5-    3-    1-    0     1-    3-    5-    7
        -130  -400  -460  -490  -460  -400  -130   100   ----  ----  ----

  25>           6-    6-    4-    3     4-    1     2     0
         ----  110   110   100   -50   100  -130  -120  -150   ----  ----

  26>           4-    6     7     1-    1-    1-    4-    1-
         ---- -100   100   110  -200  -200  -200  -100  -200   ----  ----

  27>           7     4-    3     4-    1-    0     1-    6
         ----  300   100    90   100    50  -110    50   150   ----  ----

  28>                 4     5     6-    6-     -    3      -    2
         ----  ----  170   600   620   620  -170   140  -170  -100   ----

  29>                 2-    7      -    4-     -    4-    6     2-
         ----  ----   90   500  -100   110  -100   110   200    90   ----

  30>                 3-    0     6-    2     1     3-    5     6-
         ----  ----  170   -50   420   140   100   170   200   420   ----

  31>                       5-    3     1     1     5-    5-    1     5-
         ----  ----  ---- -170  -200  -420  -420  -170  -170  -420  -170

  32>                       6     7     2     0     4     2     5     2
         ----  ----  ----  520   690   200   -50   260   200   420   200

  33>                        -    4-    4-    4-     -    7     4-    2
         ----  ----  ---- -150   -50   -50   -50  -150   140   -50  -100



EVENT>Monday Night Bridge      |SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> A E-W
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>April 10, 2017     |CLUB NO.>185264    | 04/10/2017 22:10
---------------------,-- ------------------- -------------,---------------------
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=11/B=8/C=2                      ,---,-------------------------,------,---------,
-------------------------------------------------|   |           Section       |      |Section  |
No Name                   Name                   |Flt|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C| Score | Pct  |Awards   |
------------------------------------------------- --- ----- ----- ----- ------- ------ ---------
 1 Mike Burns             Charlie Kobida           B    .     3     .     88.00  52.38  0.32(B)
 2 Kevin Henry            Monica Ibarra            C    .     .     .     62.50  37.20
 3 Joseph Muenks          Greg Chrzanowski         A    1     .     .    100.50  59.82  1.10(A)
 4 Michael Dickman        Ralph Terbrueggen        A    2     .     .     98.50  58.63  0.77(A)
 5 Joseph Kammer          Gail Zimmer              B    .     .     .     81.50  48.51
 6 Jan Thurnau            Bob Olexsey              C    .     .     1     67.00  39.88  0.14(C)
 7 Joanne Earls           Judith Lubow             B    3     1     .     92.00  54.76  0.64(B)
 8 D. Thomas Terwilliger  C Daniel Payne           B    .     .     .     80.50  47.92
 9 Stephen Felson         Robert Brown             B    4     2     .     88.50  52.68  0.45(B)
10 Kimberly King          Michael Purcell          A    .     .     .     83.00  49.40
11 Pam Campbell           William Cook             B    .     .     .     82.00  48.81

                                          Totals                         924.00


                                 **PAIRS**
BOARD     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9    10    11
  /
   1>     2     5           7           3-          3-    6      -     -
        -450  -170   ----  110   ---- -420   ---- -420  -100  -500  -500

   2>     4     0           6-          4           6-    4     2     1
         450   200   ----  480   ----  450   ----  480   450   430   420

   3>     3-    6           3-          3-          7     0     3-    1
         100   120   ----  100   ----  100   ----  300    50   100    90

   4>     0     5     7           5           5           1-    3     1-
        -200    90   110   ----   90   ----   90   ---- -120  -100  -120

   5>     7     1     3           0           5-          3     5-    3
         100  -140  -100   ---- -170   ----  -50   ---- -100   -50  -100

   6>     1-    0     7           3-          5-          3-    1-    5-
          90  -100   150   ----  110   ----  130   ----  110    90   130

   7>     2     4     4     4           1           0           6     7
        -630  -600  -600  -600   ---- -650   ---- -720   ---- -140   100

   8>     0     2     2     2           5-          5-          5-    5-
        -140   450   450   450   ----  510   ----  510   ----  510   510

   9>     6     6     1     3-          3-          1           6     1
         620   620  -100   170   ----  170   ---- -100   ----  620  -100

  10>     7     0     5-    1-    1-          3-          5-          3-
         170  -500   140  -100  -100   ----  110   ----  140   ----  110

  11>     2-     -    5     4     2-          6-          6-           -
        -420  -450  -120  -400  -420   ----   50   ----   50   ---- -450

  12>     2-    2-    2-    6-    2-          2-          6-          2-
         170   170   170   420   170   ----  170   ----  420   ----  170

  13>     3      -    7     5     2     5            -          5
         650  -100  1370   690   170   690   ---- -100   ----  690   ----

  14>     6     1-    1-    3     0     4-          7           4-
         110    50    50    90  -140   100   ----  150   ----  100   ----

  15>     5-    0     5-    1     4     3           2           7
         400  -100   400   -50   120   110   ----   90   ----  430   ----

  16>           1     3-    6     3-    3-    7           3-          0
         ---- -120  -100   100  -100  -100   110   ---- -100   ---- -200

  17>            -    3     2     5-    5-    4            -          7
         ----  -50   430   200   480   480   450   ----  -50   ----  510

  18>           7     2     0     5     1     3-          3-          6
         ----  530  -100 -1100   140  -600   -50   ----  -50   ----  200

  19>     6-          2-    2-    2-    2-    2-    6-          2-
        -450   ---- -480  -480  -480  -480  -480  -450   ---- -480   ----

  20>     1           7     3-    2     0     6     3-          5
         190   ---- 1470  1370   640   170  1440  1370   ---- 1390   ----

  21>     2-          2-    6     6     0     6     2-          2-
        -600   ---- -600   100   100  -630   100  -600   ---- -600   ----

  22>            -          5-    2     5-     -    5-    3           5-
         -----1010   ---- -490  -980  -490 -1010  -490  -520   ---- -490

  23>           6           3     3     1     0     7     3           5
         ----  100   ---- -100  -100  -140  -200   110  -100   ----   90

  24>           5-          3-    1-    1-    3-    0     5-          7
         ----  460   ----  400   130   130   400  -100   460   ----  490

  25>     4           2-          6      -    5      -    7     2-
          50   ---- -100   ----  130  -110   120  -110   150  -100   ----

  26>     5-          5-          5-    2-    2-    1     5-    0
         200   ----  200   ----  200   100   100  -100   200  -110   ----

  27>     2-          5-          7     0     5-    2-    1     4
        -100   ----  -50   ----  110  -300   -50  -100  -150   -90   ----

  28>            -          6-          4     3     6-    2     5      -
         ---- -620   ----  170   ---- -140  -170   170  -600   100  -620

  29>           2-          6-          2-    4-    1     0     4-    6-
         ---- -110   ----  100   ---- -110   -90  -200  -500   -90   100

  30>           5           6           3-    3-    2     7      -     -
         ---- -140   ---- -100   ---- -170  -170  -200    50  -420  -420

  31>     6           6           1-          1-    1-    6     4     1-
         420   ----  420   ----  170   ----  170   170   420   200   170

  32>     5           7           3           5     1     2     0     5
        -200   ----   50   ---- -260   ---- -200  -520  -420  -690  -200

  33>     2-          2-          6-          0     6-    2-    2-    5
          50   ----   50   ----  150   ---- -140   150    50    50   100
Monday Night Bridge, Monday Eve, April 10, 2017

Board 1
North Deals
None Vul

♠	K Q J 5 2
♥	A Q 9 7 4
♦	4
♣	J 7

♠	10 3
♥	K
♦	K Q J 10 7
♣	A K Q 9 5

N
W		E
S

♠	8 7 6
♥	10 6 5 2
♦	8 6 2
♣	10 6 4

♠	A 9 4
♥	J 8 3
♦	A 9 5 3
♣	8 3 2

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

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

Showing both minors

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♣×	W	−3	♦ 4	500		6.50	0.50	6-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	11-Campbell-Cook
5 ♦×	W	−3	♠ K	500		6.50	0.50	11-Edwards-Edwards	10-King-Purcell
4 ♠	N	5	♥ 2	450		5.00	2.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	1-Burns-Kobida
4 ♠	N	4	♣ 4	420		3.50	3.50	9-Petersen-Cushman	6-Thurnau-Olexsey
4 ♠	N	4	♥ 5	420		3.50	3.50	10-Tedrick-Pretz	8-Terwilliger-Payne
3 ♠	N	4	♣ 4	170		2.00	5.00	7-Kehoe-Stanley	2-Henry-Ibarra
5 ♣	W	−2	♥ A	100		1.00	6.00	5-Koch-Temples	9-Felson-Brown
3 ♦	W	3	♠ K		110	0.00	7.00	8-Murdock-Oblinger	4-Dickman-Terbrueggen

A bid of 2 NT in competition when it seems unusual (hint, hint) is almost always for the minors. The same thing is true for a bid of 4 NT (it's not Blackwood).

N/S lose two Club tricks, making five. The proper way to play the Hearts is small towards the ♥ AQ. When the ♥ K shows up unexpectedly, finesse against the ♥T on the way back. East may lead the ♣ 4.

Board 2
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	K Q 5 4 3
♥	A 2
♦	10 9 7
♣	10 8 3

♠	A 10 8
♥	J 7 5
♦	A J 3
♣	A 9 6 2

N
W		E
S

♠	J 2
♥	K 10 9 8 6 4
♦	—
♣	K Q 7 5 4

♠	9 7 6
♥	Q 3
♦	K Q 8 6 5 4 2
♣	J

EW 6♣; W 5N; EW 5♥; E 4N; NS 2♦; Par −920

West	North	East	South
		Pass1	3 ♦
3 NT2	Pass	4 ♦3	Pass4
4 ♥	Pass	Pass	Pass

Don't preempt in first position when you have more than one place to play
That ♠T sure looks like a Jack
Transfer
Don't lead a Diamond

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♥	E	5	♦ K		200	7.00	0.00	7-Kehoe-Stanley	2-Henry-Ibarra
4 ♥	E	4	♣ J		420	6.00	1.00	6-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	11-Campbell-Cook
3 NT	W	4	♦ 10		430	5.00	2.00	11-Edwards-Edwards	10-King-Purcell
4 ♥	E	5	♦ K		450	3.00	4.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	1-Burns-Kobida
4 ♥	E	5	♣ J		450	3.00	4.00	5-Koch-Temples	9-Felson-Brown
4 ♥	E	5	♦ K		450	3.00	4.00	9-Petersen-Cushman	6-Thurnau-Olexsey
4 ♥	E	6	♣ J		480	0.50	6.50	8-Murdock-Oblinger	4-Dickman-Terbrueggen
4 ♥	E	6	♦ K		480	0.50	6.50	10-Tedrick-Pretz	8-Terwilliger-Payne

It's difficult for E/W to get to the good Club slam after South's preempt. If North leads a Club, E/W will make five. If North leads anything else, they make six. Some South players will double the 4 ♦ transfer to ask for a Diamond lead, but why? If you were South, wouldn't you much rather have partner lead a Club, especially if they have a fast trump trick?

Board 3
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	Q 10
♥	J 9 8 3
♦	J 9 8 2
♣	8 5 3

♠	8 7 4
♥	K Q 2
♦	10 7 4
♣	K 10 7 4

N
W		E
S

♠	J 6 3 2
♥	A 10 6
♦	K Q
♣	Q J 6 2

♠	A K 9 5
♥	7 5 4
♦	A 6 5 3
♣	A 9

NS 2♦; EW 2♣; NS 1♠; NS 1♥; Par +90

West	North	East	South
			1 NT1
Pass	Pass	Pass

15 to 17

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
1 NT	S	−1	♣ 4		50	7.00	0.00	5-Koch-Temples	9-Felson-Brown
2 ♣	E	2	♠ A		90	6.00	1.00	6-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	11-Campbell-Cook
1 NT	S	−2	♥ 2		100	3.50	3.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	1-Burns-Kobida
1 NT	S	−2	♣ 4		100	3.50	3.50	8-Murdock-Oblinger	4-Dickman-Terbrueggen
1 NT	S	−2	♣ 4		100	3.50	3.50	9-Petersen-Cushman	6-Thurnau-Olexsey
1 NT	S	−2	♣ 4		100	3.50	3.50	11-Edwards-Edwards	10-King-Purcell
2 NT	E	2	♠ A		120	1.00	6.00	7-Kehoe-Stanley	2-Henry-Ibarra
1 NT×	S	−2	♣ 4		300	0.00	7.00	10-Tedrick-Pretz	8-Terwilliger-Payne

N/S take one Club trick, three Spades, and two Diamonds, down one. West may lead the ♣ 4. The proper way to play the Diamond suit is ♦ A and then small towards the ♦ J9. When the ♦ Q falls under the ♦ A, declarer will simply cover any card that West produces.

Board 4
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	A Q 10 6
♥	8 7 2
♦	A K 7 6
♣	Q 2

♠	K J 5 4 3
♥	A Q
♦	Q 9
♣	A 10 7 3

N
W		E
S

♠	8 2
♥	K 10 9 3
♦	J 5 2
♣	K 9 8 5

♠	9 7
♥	J 6 5 4
♦	10 8 4 3
♣	J 6 4

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

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

15 to 18

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	W	−2	♦ 6	200		7.00	0.00	7-Kehoe-Stanley	1-Burns-Kobida
2 NT	N	2	♠ 8	120		5.50	1.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	11-Campbell-Cook
1 NT	N	2	♠ 8	120		5.50	1.50	11-Edwards-Edwards	9-Felson-Brown
3 ♠	W	−1	♥ 8	100		4.00	3.00	6-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	10-King-Purcell
1 NT	W	1	♦ A		90	2.00	5.00	2-Elliott-Runda	2-Henry-Ibarra
2 ♣	W	2	♦ A		90	2.00	5.00	9-Petersen-Cushman	5-Kammer-Zimmer
1 NT	W	1	♦ A		90	2.00	5.00	10-Tedrick-Pretz	7-Earls-Lubow
2 ♣	W	3	♦ A		110	0.00	7.00	8-Murdock-Oblinger	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski

E/W lose one Club trick, two Diamonds, and one Spade. South is obviously the "danger hand," so declarer will work extra hard to keep them off lead. North can't lead a Club or a Spade without giving up a trick, so their best option is to start with the ♦ K, ♦ A, and a third Diamond. Declarer will win with dummy's ♦ J, pitching a Spade, and lead a small Heart to the ♥ Q. After cashing the ♥ A, the key play now is a small Club towards the ♣ K. North won't be able to jettison the ♣ Q without exposing their partner to a Club finesse, so they'll play small and declarer will win the ♣ K.

The ♥ K is cashed, pitching a second Spade, and declarer can exit with a small Club, covering any card that South puts on the table. In with the ♣ Q, North has only bad options. A Spade lead solves declarer's problems in that suit, so North will play a fourth Diamond. Declarer can pitch the ♠ 2 from dummy and ruff in their hand with the ♣T. The ♠ K is next, North winning and once again finds themselves on lead. If they play the ♠ Q, declarer will ruff in dummy and lead a trump to their hand (dropping the ♣ J) to cash the ♠ J. If they exit with a low Spade, declarer simply discards the ♥T from dummy and lets it run to the ♠ J, and the ♣ A and a Spade ruff are the last two tricks. Nicely played!

Board 5
North Deals
N-S Vul

♠	—
♥	Q 8 6 4 3
♦	A 10 5 3
♣	A 10 3 2

♠	A Q 7
♥	J 5 2
♦	K 9 2
♣	J 8 7 4

N
W		E
S

♠	8 5 4 3
♥	A 9
♦	Q J 4
♣	K Q 6 5

♠	K J 10 9 6 2
♥	K 10 7
♦	8 7 6
♣	9

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

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♥	N	4	♣ K	170		7.00	0.00	9-Petersen-Cushman	5-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♥	N	3	♣ K	140		6.00	1.00	2-Elliott-Runda	2-Henry-Ibarra
3 NT	W	−2	♥ 4	100		4.00	3.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	11-Campbell-Cook
3 NT	W	−2	♥ 4	100		4.00	3.00	8-Murdock-Oblinger	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski
2 NT	W	−2	♥ 4	100		4.00	3.00	11-Edwards-Edwards	9-Felson-Brown
3 NT	W	−1	♥ 3	50		1.50	5.50	6-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	10-King-Purcell
2 NT	W	−1	♥ 4	50		1.50	5.50	10-Tedrick-Pretz	7-Earls-Lubow
2 ♠	S	−1	♣ 4		100	0.00	7.00	7-Kehoe-Stanley	1-Burns-Kobida

North will lead the ♥ 4, and E/W will lose six tricks--four Hearts and the two minor-suit Aces. Oh well. If North decides to open 1 ♥, E/W will probably play in 3 ♣ (or N/S will get too high).

Board 6
East Deals
E-W Vul

♠	K 10 5 3
♥	9
♦	A J 7 6
♣	6 5 4 2

♠	A J 9
♥	J 4 2
♦	5
♣	A K Q 9 8 7

N
W		E
S

♠	8 7 2
♥	A Q 7 3
♦	K 10 9 8
♣	J 3

♠	Q 6 4
♥	K 10 8 6 5
♦	Q 4 3 2
♣	10

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

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♣	W	−1	♥ 9	100		7.00	0.00	2-Elliott-Runda	2-Henry-Ibarra
2 ♣	W	2	♥ 9		90	5.50	1.50	6-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	10-King-Purcell
2 ♣	W	2	♥ 9		90	5.50	1.50	7-Kehoe-Stanley	1-Burns-Kobida
2 ♣	W	3	♥ 9		110	3.50	3.50	9-Petersen-Cushman	5-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♣	W	3	♥ 9		110	3.50	3.50	11-Edwards-Edwards	9-Felson-Brown
2 ♣	W	4	♥ 9		130	1.50	5.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	11-Campbell-Cook
3 ♣	W	4	♥ 9		130	1.50	5.50	10-Tedrick-Pretz	7-Earls-Lubow
3 ♣	W	5	♥ 9		150	0.00	7.00	8-Murdock-Oblinger	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski

East has a little too much to pass 2 ♣. E/W take six Club tricks, one Diamond, and the two major-suit Aces, making three. North will lead the ♠ 3, and declarer will win with the ♠ A. It doesn't do any good to duck, since the ♠ J9 is a positional stopper as long as North has the ♦ A. Trick two is a Diamond towards the board. If North takes the ♦ A, the hand is over. If they duck and the ♦ K holds, the hand is over.

Board 7
South Deals
Both Vul

♠	9 8
♥	A K 10 3 2
♦	A 8 7 6 2
♣	10

♠	J 7 3
♥	Q 7 6 4
♦	Q 5 3
♣	A J 9

N
W		E
S

♠	5 4 2
♥	J 8 5
♦	J 10 9 4
♣	K Q 2

♠	A K Q 10 6
♥	9
♦	K
♣	8 7 6 5 4 3

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

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

Not strong enough to open 1 ♣ and reverse into Spades
Showing extra shape or extra values
Unwilling to play in 3 NT with such abysmal Clubs

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	N	7	♦ J	720		7.00	0.00	11-Edwards-Edwards	8-Terwilliger-Payne
4 ♠	S	5	♥ 4	650		6.00	1.00	10-Tedrick-Pretz	6-Thurnau-Olexsey
3 NT	S	4	♣ 9	630		5.00	2.00	2-Elliott-Runda	1-Burns-Kobida
3 NT	N	3	♦ 4	600		3.00	4.00	3-Kennedy-Endres	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski
3 NT	N	3	♦ J	600		3.00	4.00	8-Murdock-Oblinger	2-Henry-Ibarra
3 NT	S	3	♥ 4	600		3.00	4.00	9-Petersen-Cushman	4-Dickman-Terbrueggen
3 ♠	S	3	♠ 3	140		1.00	6.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	10-King-Purcell
4 ♠	S	−1	♠ 3		100	0.00	7.00	7-Kehoe-Stanley	11-Campbell-Cook

South's hand is much more suited to a suit contract than notrump. N/S lose three Club tricks, making four. West should lead a Spade on the auction and play a second Spade when in with the ♣ J.

Board 8
West Deals
None Vul

♠	A 10 8 2
♥	J
♦	7 5 3
♣	K 10 7 5 3

♠	—
♥	10 9 8 7 6
♦	A K Q 9 8
♣	Q 9 4

N
W		E
S

♠	J 7 5
♥	A K Q 5 2
♦	6 4
♣	8 6 2

♠	K Q 9 6 4 3
♥	4 3
♦	J 10 2
♣	A J

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

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

Alert, artificial Bergen raise showing 4+ Hearts and an invitational hand

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♠	S	3	♦ A	140		7.00	0.00	2-Elliott-Runda	1-Burns-Kobida
4 ♥	W	5	♣ 5		450	5.00	2.00	3-Kennedy-Endres	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski
4 ♥	W	5	♦ 5		450	5.00	2.00	8-Murdock-Oblinger	2-Henry-Ibarra
4 ♥	W	5	♠ A		450	5.00	2.00	9-Petersen-Cushman	4-Dickman-Terbrueggen
4 ♥	W	7	♥ J		510	1.50	5.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	10-King-Purcell
4 ♥	W	7	♥ J		510	1.50	5.50	7-Kehoe-Stanley	11-Campbell-Cook
4 ♥	W	7	♦ 7		510	1.50	5.50	10-Tedrick-Pretz	6-Thurnau-Olexsey
4 ♥	W	7	♥ J		510	1.50	5.50	11-Edwards-Edwards	8-Terwilliger-Payne

N/S lose one Heart trick and three Diamonds, down one doubled for –100. West will lead the ♦ K (asking for count) and cash their other two high Diamonds before switching to the ♥T at trick four.

Board 9
North Deals
E-W Vul

♠	J 9 7 4
♥	5
♦	10 5 2
♣	8 7 6 5 3

♠	A 8 6 3
♥	Q 10 6 4 3
♦	9 8 7
♣	Q

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 2
♥	A 9 7 2
♦	Q J 6 3
♣	A K 2

♠	K 10 5
♥	K J 8
♦	A K 4
♣	J 10 9 4

E 4♥; W 3♥; EW 2N; E 3♦; W 2♦; E 1♠; NS 1♣; Par −620

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

15 to 17
See below for West's bidding strategy

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	E	−1	♦ A	100		6.00	1.00	3-Kennedy-Endres	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski
4 ♥	E	−1	♦ A	100		6.00	1.00	7-Kehoe-Stanley	11-Campbell-Cook
4 ♥	E	−1	♦ A	100		6.00	1.00	11-Edwards-Edwards	8-Terwilliger-Payne
2 ♥	E	4	♦ A		170	3.50	3.50	9-Petersen-Cushman	4-Dickman-Terbrueggen
2 ♥	E	4	♦ A		170	3.50	3.50	10-Tedrick-Pretz	6-Thurnau-Olexsey
4 ♥	E	4	♦ A		620	1.00	6.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	10-King-Purcell
4 ♥	E	4	♦ A		620	1.00	6.00	2-Elliott-Runda	1-Burns-Kobida
4 ♥	E	4	♦ A		620	1.00	6.00	8-Murdock-Oblinger	2-Henry-Ibarra

West has a Smolen-shaped hand. What does that mean? Smolen is a useful convention after partner opens 1 NT and you hold 5-4 (or 6-4 or 7-4, etc.) in the majors and a game-going hand or better. A 5-4 hand is therefore termed a Smolen-shaped hand. West's hand isn't quite good enough to force to game--the ♣ Q isn't well placed and the hand is about a Jack too light. West's plan though is this:

1) If opener rebids 2 ♦, denying a four-card major, West will bid 2 NT (invitational)
2) If opener rebids 2 ♥ or 2 ♠, West will raise to the three level to show an invitational hand with four cards in that major

After the auction begins 1 NT-2 ♣-2 ♦-2 NT and opener decides that their hand warrants a bid of 3 NT, it's a good idea for opener to bid a three-card major on the way. That protects responder in situations such as this one where they have a Smolen-shaped hand and were unable to show their five-card suit.

E/W lose one Heart trick and two Diamonds, making four. South can't start with a Spade, and North can never gain the lead to push a Spade through, so declarer will eventually be able to pitch dummy's three low Spades on the long Diamond and the top two Clubs. Declarer's best play in Diamonds is to lead the ♦ 9 from dummy and play low if North fails to cover with the ♦T.

Board 10
East Deals
Both Vul

♠	10 6
♥	A K 8 4
♦	A 6 5 3
♣	Q J 9

♠	A Q 9 5 2
♥	Q J 6 5 2
♦	—
♣	A 7 6

N
W		E
S

♠	J 4
♥	7 3
♦	K Q 10 8 4
♣	K 8 5 4

♠	K 8 7 3
♥	10 9
♦	J 9 7 2
♣	10 3 2

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

West	North	East	South
		Pass	Pass
1 ♠	Dbl	Pass1	2 ♦
2 ♥	Pass	2 ♠	Pass
Pass	Pass

E/W play 2 ♦ as conventional over a double of a major

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥×	W	−2	♣ Q	500		7.00	0.00	3-Kennedy-Endres	2-Henry-Ibarra
4 ♥	W	−1	♣ Q	100		5.50	1.50	4-Roark-Koster	4-Dickman-Terbrueggen
2 NT	E	−1	♥ 10	100		5.50	1.50	10-Tedrick-Pretz	5-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♠	W	2	♥ A		110	3.50	3.50	2-Elliott-Runda	11-Campbell-Cook
2 ♠	W	2	♥ A		110	3.50	3.50	11-Edwards-Edwards	7-Earls-Lubow
2 ♠	W	3	♣ Q		140	1.50	5.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	9-Felson-Brown
2 ♥	W	3	♣ Q		140	1.50	5.50	9-Petersen-Cushman	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski
3 ♠	W	4	♥ A		170	0.00	7.00	8-Murdock-Oblinger	1-Burns-Kobida

E/W lose one Spade trick, three Hearts, and one Club, making two. North should lead the ♠T and continue Spades when in with a high Heart. South should not play the ♠ K on any lead of Spades--they'll eventually win the King when the fourth Spade is led.

Board 11
South Deals
None Vul

♠	A K 9 7
♥	K Q 9 2
♦	9 2
♣	K 5 2

♠	8 6 4
♥	A J 8 5
♦	J 8 4
♣	J 10 4

N
W		E
S

♠	J 2
♥	6 3
♦	A Q 6 3
♣	Q 8 7 6 3

♠	Q 10 5 3
♥	10 7 4
♦	K 10 7 5
♣	A 9

NS 5♠; NS 4♥; NS 3N; NS 2♦; NS 1♣; Par +450

West	North	East	South
			Pass
Pass	1 NT1	2 ♣2	Dbl3
Pass	2 ♥	Pass	3 NT4
Pass	4 ♠	Pass	Pass
Pass

15 to 17
Alert, artificial DONT bid showing Clubs and a higher-ranking suit
Stayman
Upgrades their hand based on holding three Tens

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	N	5	♣ 6	450		6.50	0.50	2-Elliott-Runda	11-Campbell-Cook
4 ♠	N	5	♣ 6	450		6.50	0.50	3-Kennedy-Endres	2-Henry-Ibarra
4 ♠	S	4	♣ J	420		4.50	2.50	8-Murdock-Oblinger	1-Burns-Kobida
4 ♠	N	4	♣ 8	420		4.50	2.50	10-Tedrick-Pretz	5-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	N	3	♣ 6	400		3.00	4.00	4-Roark-Koster	4-Dickman-Terbrueggen
2 NT	N	2	♣ 6	120		2.00	5.00	9-Petersen-Cushman	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski
2 NT	N	−1	♣ 6		50	0.50	6.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	9-Felson-Brown
4 ♠	N	−1	♣ 6		50	0.50	6.50	11-Edwards-Edwards	7-Earls-Lubow

South's hand is easily worth a game force on the auction--how much better is their hand than this one? ♠ Q432 ♥ J32 ♦ K32 ♣ A32

N/S lose one Diamond trick and one Heart, making five. East may lead the ♥ 6.

Board 12
West Deals
N-S Vul

♠	10 9 3 2
♥	8
♦	9 7 4 2
♣	J 6 3 2

♠	Q 8 5
♥	Q 7 3 2
♦	A 10 8 3
♣	K 8

N
W		E
S

♠	7 6 4
♥	A K 10 6 5
♦	K Q 6
♣	7 4

♠	A K J
♥	J 9 4
♦	J 5
♣	A Q 10 9 5

EW 4N; EW 4♥; EW 4♦; NS 2♣; Par −430

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

Cuebid showing a limit raise in Hearts
Showing a full opener

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♥	E	4	♠ A		170	4.50	2.50	2-Elliott-Runda	11-Campbell-Cook
3 ♥	E	4	♠ A		170	4.50	2.50	3-Kennedy-Endres	2-Henry-Ibarra
3 ♥	E	4	♠ A		170	4.50	2.50	8-Murdock-Oblinger	1-Burns-Kobida
3 ♥	E	4	♠ A		170	4.50	2.50	9-Petersen-Cushman	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski
2 ♥	E	4	♠ A		170	4.50	2.50	10-Tedrick-Pretz	5-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♥	E	4	♠ A		170	4.50	2.50	11-Edwards-Edwards	7-Earls-Lubow
4 ♥	E	4	♠ A		420	0.50	6.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	9-Felson-Brown
4 ♥	E	4	♠ K		420	0.50	6.50	4-Roark-Koster	4-Dickman-Terbrueggen

East's 3 ♦ bid is helpful on an auction such as this one. Since they were a third-seat opener, a 3 ♥ bid at this point should say "I opened light--stop this madness!" A 4 ♥ bid would show an above average opener. That leaves 3 ♦ as "I would have opened in first seat, but I have doubts about game if you're on the fence." West, with a fourth trump and a well-positioned Club honor, is happy to take another bid.

E/W lose two Spade tricks and one Club, making four. South will lead the ♠ K and possibly cash out knowing their partner has nothing.

Board 13
North Deals
Both Vul

♠	10 9 6 3
♥	10 9 8 2
♦	Q J 10 8
♣	6

♠	A J
♥	K Q 3
♦	A K
♣	K Q J 8 5 3

N
W		E
S

♠	8 7 5 2
♥	A J 7 5 4
♦	3
♣	10 9 2

♠	K Q 4
♥	6
♦	9 7 6 5 4 2
♣	A 7 4

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

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

Artificial game force showing an A, K, or QQ
Transfer
Showing 4-5 in Spades and Hearts respectively

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
6 ♥	E	−1	♠ K	100		6.50	0.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	8-Terwilliger-Payne
4 ♥	E	−1	♠ K	100		6.50	0.50	9-Petersen-Cushman	2-Henry-Ibarra
2 ♣	W	6	♦ Q		170	5.00	2.00	5-Koch-Temples	5-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♥	E	5	♠ K		650	4.00	3.00	3-Kennedy-Endres	1-Burns-Kobida
3 NT	W	6	♦ Q		690	2.00	5.00	2-Elliott-Runda	10-King-Purcell
3 NT	W	6	♦ Q		690	2.00	5.00	10-Tedrick-Pretz	4-Dickman-Terbrueggen
3 NT	W	6	♦ Q		690	2.00	5.00	11-Edwards-Edwards	6-Thurnau-Olexsey
6 ♣	W	6	♥ 10		1370	0.00	7.00	4-Roark-Koster	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski

West should not bid 3 ♣ over 2 ♦--their hand isn't about Clubs, it's about notrump. E/W lose two Spade tricks and one Club, making four. If North thinks that they want a Club ruff, E/W will make five. Why on earth would North want to ruff a Club? They have four trump, and that alone will make declarer's life miserable. If they lead a small Spade, declarer will win with the ♠ A and play off two rounds of trumps. When trump split 4-1, declarer will try and knock out the ♣ A before pulling trump. If they do this, South wins the first Club and plays a high Club for partner to ruff. North will play a second Spade to South's ♠ Q and get a second Club ruff, down one. To keep this from happening, declarer has to duck the first Spade trick. South can now cash the ♣ A and give their partner a ruff, but there's no way back to the South hand to get a second Club ruff.

Board 14
East Deals
None Vul

♠	A K Q 3
♥	8 3
♦	Q 9 6 3
♣	J 9 8

♠	—
♥	Q J 10 9 4
♦	J 10 8 7
♣	Q 6 5 3

N
W		E
S

♠	10 9 7 6
♥	K 5
♦	A K 5 2
♣	A 4 2

♠	J 8 5 4 2
♥	A 7 6 2
♦	4
♣	K 10 7

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

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

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♠	S	3	♦ J	140		7.00	0.00	5-Koch-Temples	5-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♠	S	−1	♦ J		50	5.50	1.50	4-Roark-Koster	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski
3 ♠	S	−1	♥ Q		50	5.50	1.50	9-Petersen-Cushman	2-Henry-Ibarra
1 NT	W	1	♠ A		90	4.00	3.00	10-Tedrick-Pretz	4-Dickman-Terbrueggen
3 ♠	N	−2	♥ K		100	2.50	4.50	2-Elliott-Runda	10-King-Purcell
3 ♠	N	−2	♥ K		100	2.50	4.50	11-Edwards-Edwards	6-Thurnau-Olexsey
3 ♦	E	3	♠ 5		110	1.00	6.00	3-Kennedy-Endres	1-Burns-Kobida
2 ♦	E	5	♣ 7		150	0.00	7.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	8-Terwilliger-Payne

West uses an XYZ relay to 2 ♦ to set the contract. North, who didn't pick up their hand to play in 2 ♦, bids 2 ♠ and the auction continues as if nobody was vulnerable.

Declarer's best line is to try and cross-ruff the hand as much as possible. They'll lose one Club trick, one Heart, and a trump at the end, making four. South will lead the ♠ 4.

Board 15
South Deals
N-S Vul

♠	J 10
♥	Q 10 8 5
♦	K Q 7
♣	9 7 5 2

♠	K 7 6
♥	A 6 3
♦	J 9
♣	A Q J 4 3

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 9 5 4
♥	J 9 7 2
♦	A 5 3 2
♣	10

♠	A 8 3 2
♥	K 4
♦	10 8 6 4
♣	K 8 6

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

West	North	East	South
			Pass
1 NT1	Pass	Pass	Pass

15 to 17

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♦	W	−2	♠ J	100		7.00	0.00	9-Petersen-Cushman	2-Henry-Ibarra
2 ♦	W	−1	♠ J	50		6.00	1.00	10-Tedrick-Pretz	4-Dickman-Terbrueggen
2 ♦	W	2	♥ 5		90	5.00	2.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	8-Terwilliger-Payne
2 ♥	E	2	♦ 4		110	4.00	3.00	11-Edwards-Edwards	6-Thurnau-Olexsey
1 NT	W	2	♠ J		120	3.00	4.00	5-Koch-Temples	5-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	W	3	♥ 5		400	1.50	5.50	3-Kennedy-Endres	1-Burns-Kobida
3 NT	W	3	♥ 5		400	1.50	5.50	4-Roark-Koster	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski
3 NT	W	4	♥ 5		430	0.00	7.00	2-Elliott-Runda	10-King-Purcell

E/W take four Club tricks, one Diamond, one Heart, and one Spade, making one. If North leads the ♥ 5 or the ♠ J, then E/W may make two. The best lead on this hand is the ♦ K.

Board 16
West Deals
E-W Vul

♠	J 5 2
♥	Q J 7 6
♦	A 10 7
♣	K 3 2

♠	10 7
♥	K 10 8 5 4 3
♦	K 8
♣	A Q 9

N
W		E
S

♠	A 9 8 4
♥	9
♦	J 6 5 2
♣	J 7 6 4

♠	K Q 6 3
♥	A 2
♦	Q 9 4 3
♣	10 8 5

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

West	North	East	South
1 ♥	Pass	1 ♠	Pass
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 ♥	W	−2	♣ 2	200		7.00	0.00	3-Kennedy-Endres	11-Campbell-Cook
2 NT	N	2	♥ 9	120		6.00	1.00	4-Roark-Koster	2-Henry-Ibarra
2 ♥	W	−1	♠ 2	100		3.50	3.50	2-Elliott-Runda	9-Felson-Brown
2 ♥	W	−1	♠ 2	100		3.50	3.50	6-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	6-Thurnau-Olexsey
2 ♥	W	−1	♠ 2	100		3.50	3.50	10-Tedrick-Pretz	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski
2 ♥	W	−1	♣ 2	100		3.50	3.50	11-Edwards-Edwards	5-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♠	S	−2	♠ 7		100	1.00	6.00	5-Koch-Temples	4-Dickman-Terbrueggen
2 ♥	W	2	♣ 2		110	0.00	7.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	7-Earls-Lubow

N/S take one Club trick, two Spades, two Hearts, and three Diamonds. Declarer will win the Heart lead with the ♥ A and play a Spade to the ♠ J and ♠ A. Once East shows up with the ♠ A, West has to have the rest of the cards for their opener. The correct way to play the Diamonds is small to the ♦ A and then duck a Diamond in each hand. When the ♦ K is doubleton, the contract comes home.

Board 17
North Deals
None Vul

♠	6
♥	5 3
♦	K Q 10 7 5 4 2
♣	10 8 4

♠	A 3
♥	J 10 6 4
♦	J 9 3
♣	A Q 9 5

N
W		E
S

♠	K J 9 8 7 5
♥	A K Q 9
♦	A 6
♣	3

♠	Q 10 4 2
♥	8 7 2
♦	8
♣	K J 7 6 2

EW 7♥; EW 6N; EW 6♠; W 3♣; E 2♣; EW 1♦; Par −1510

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

Pick a major
Big hand with Hearts

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
6 ♠	E	−1	♦ 8	50		6.50	0.50	2-Elliott-Runda	9-Felson-Brown
6 ♠	E	−1	♦ 8	50		6.50	0.50	4-Roark-Koster	2-Henry-Ibarra
3 ♠	E	5	♦ 8		200	5.00	2.00	5-Koch-Temples	4-Dickman-Terbrueggen
3 NT	W	4	♦ K		430	4.00	3.00	10-Tedrick-Pretz	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski
4 ♠	E	5	♦ 8		450	3.00	4.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	7-Earls-Lubow
4 ♠	E	6	♦ 8		480	1.50	5.50	6-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	6-Thurnau-Olexsey
4 ♥	W	6	♠ 6		480	1.50	5.50	11-Edwards-Edwards	5-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♥	W	7	♠ 6		510	0.00	7.00	3-Kennedy-Endres	11-Campbell-Cook

East has no reason to overcall 3 ♠ or 4 ♠. How can they know that Hearts isn't a better contract? A 4 ♦ overcall of 3 ♦ says "Partner, we have game in a major if you have a trick and a fit." West, knowing this, would be remiss if they bid only 4 ♥, so 5 ♥ says "I like Hearts better, and I have a much stronger hand than you might imagine!" 7 ♥ would be a dangerous contract, so don't feel bad if you aren't in it.

North will lead the ♦ K, and declarer will win in dummy and immediately lead the ♠ J (South should have longer Spades on the auction). South will cover with the ♠ Q, and declarer will win the ♠ A. Two rounds of trump are next followed by the ♠ K. When North shows out and is unable to ruff, declarer can take the marked ruffing finesse against South's ♠T, return to dummy with a trump, pull the last trump, and run Spades. I doubt any declarer will take the Club hook at trick 12, but you never know.....

Board 18
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	A
♥	10 8 7 6
♦	6 2
♣	A Q J 9 7 4

♠	K 10 8 7 6 5 4 3
♥	Q 4 2
♦	A
♣	6

N
W		E
S

♠	2
♥	A 9 3
♦	Q 9 8 7 5 4
♣	8 5 3

♠	Q J 9
♥	K J 5
♦	K J 10 3
♣	K 10 2

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

West	North	East	South
		Pass	1 ♦
4 ♠	5 ♣	Pass	Pass
Pass

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♦×	E	−5	♣ 10	1100		7.00	0.00	5-Koch-Temples	4-Dickman-Terbrueggen
3 NT	S	3	♠ 7	600		6.00	1.00	6-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	6-Thurnau-Olexsey
4 ♠	W	−2	♦ 6	100		5.00	2.00	10-Tedrick-Pretz	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski
3 ♠	W	−1	♣ A	50		3.50	3.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	7-Earls-Lubow
4 ♠	W	−1	♦ 2	50		3.50	3.50	2-Elliott-Runda	9-Felson-Brown
3 ♠	W	3	♥ 8		140	2.00	5.00	11-Edwards-Edwards	5-Kammer-Zimmer
5 ♣	N	−2	♠ 2		200	1.00	6.00	3-Kennedy-Endres	11-Campbell-Cook
3 ♠×	W	3	♦ 6		530	0.00	7.00	4-Roark-Koster	2-Henry-Ibarra

You have to feel for North--would you pass over West's 4 ♠ blast? N/S lose two Heart tricks and one Diamond, down one. East will lead the ♠ 2, and West should not cover with the ♠ K. Did you?

Board 19
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	10 7
♥	A K 7 4
♦	Q 2
♣	K 10 6 4 2

♠	K J 9 6 4
♥	2
♦	10 9 7 6 4
♣	Q 3

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 8 2
♥	10 6 5
♦	K J 5 3
♣	9 8 5

♠	A 5 3
♥	Q J 9 8 3
♦	A 8
♣	A J 7

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

West	North	East	South
			1 NT1
2 ♦2	3 ♦3	Dbl4	3 ♥
Pass	4 ♥	Pass	Pass
Pass

15 to 17
Alert, artificial DONT bid showing Diamonds and a higher-ranking suit
Stayman denying a stopper in Diamonds for notrump
I like Diamonds

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	S	6	♦ 6	480		4.50	2.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	6-Thurnau-Olexsey
4 ♥	S	6	♦ 10	480		4.50	2.50	3-Kennedy-Endres	10-King-Purcell
4 ♥	S	6	♦ 10	480		4.50	2.50	5-Koch-Temples	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski
4 ♥	S	6	♦ 10	480		4.50	2.50	6-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	5-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♥	S	6	♦ 10	480		4.50	2.50	7-Kehoe-Stanley	7-Earls-Lubow
4 ♥	S	6	♦ 10	480		4.50	2.50	11-Edwards-Edwards	4-Dickman-Terbrueggen
4 ♥	S	5	♦ 6	450		0.50	6.50	2-Elliott-Runda	8-Terwilliger-Payne
4 ♥	S	5	♠ 6	450		0.50	6.50	4-Roark-Koster	1-Burns-Kobida

Although N/S can take 12 tricks in notrump or Hearts, it's a bad slam needing 3-2 Clubs and to find the ♣ Q. West will lead the ♦T, declarer will pull trump, and if they guess to drop the doubleton ♣ Q, they'll take 12 tricks. If they finesse East for the ♣ Q (reasonable), they'll take 11 tricks losing one Club and one Diamond (the Spade losers will go away on the long Clubs).

Board 20
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	10 8 6 5 2
♥	A J 5
♦	6 4 3
♣	5 3

♠	A K Q J
♥	K
♦	10 9 7 2
♣	K 9 8 7

N
W		E
S

♠	9 3
♥	Q 8
♦	A K Q 5
♣	A Q J 10 2

♠	7 4
♥	10 9 7 6 4 3 2
♦	J 8
♣	6 4

EW 6N; EW 6♦; EW 6♣; EW 4♠; EW 1♥; Par −1440

West	North	East	South
1 NT1	Pass	4 ♣2	Pass
4 ♥3	Pass	6 NT	Pass
Pass	Pass

15 to 17
Gerber asking for Aces
One Ace

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	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	6-Thurnau-Olexsey
3 ♣	W	7	♠ 5		190	6.00	1.00	4-Roark-Koster	1-Burns-Kobida
5 ♣	E	7	♠ 4		640	5.00	2.00	6-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	5-Kammer-Zimmer
6 ♦	W	6	♥ A		1370	3.50	3.50	2-Elliott-Runda	8-Terwilliger-Payne
6 ♣	E	6	♥ 6		1370	3.50	3.50	11-Edwards-Edwards	4-Dickman-Terbrueggen
6 ♣	E	7	♠ 7		1390	2.00	5.00	3-Kennedy-Endres	10-King-Purcell
6 NT	W	6	♥ A		1440	1.00	6.00	7-Kehoe-Stanley	7-Earls-Lubow
6 NT	W	7	♠ 5		1470	0.00	7.00	5-Koch-Temples	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski

If North leads the ♥ A, E/W will make six. If North doesn't lead the ♥ A, E/W will make seven--five Club tricks, four Diamonds, and four Spades.

Board 21
North Deals
N-S Vul

♠	9 6 2
♥	K Q 9 2
♦	K J 4
♣	A K 8

♠	K 7 5 4
♥	A J 8 7
♦	A 10 9
♣	4 2

N
W		E
S

♠	J 3
♥	10 6 5
♦	8 7 5 3 2
♣	Q 9 7

♠	A Q 10 8
♥	4 3
♦	Q 6
♣	J 10 6 5 3

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

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

15 to 17

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	N	4	♦ 3	630		7.00	0.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	6-Thurnau-Olexsey
3 NT	N	3	♠ J	600		4.50	2.50	2-Elliott-Runda	8-Terwilliger-Payne
3 NT	N	3	♦ 8	600		4.50	2.50	3-Kennedy-Endres	10-King-Purcell
3 NT	N	3	♦ 8	600		4.50	2.50	4-Roark-Koster	1-Burns-Kobida
3 NT	N	3	♦ 3	600		4.50	2.50	5-Koch-Temples	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski
2 NT	N	−1	♦ 8		100	1.00	6.00	6-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	5-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	N	−1	♠ J		100	1.00	6.00	7-Kehoe-Stanley	7-Earls-Lubow
3 NT	N	−1	♦ 5		100	1.00	6.00	11-Edwards-Edwards	4-Dickman-Terbrueggen

N/S take three Spade tricks, two Hearts, two Diamonds, and three Clubs, making three. East may lead a Diamond, but it doesn't matter since the blockage in the suit will keep East from collecting any Diamond tricks.

Board 22
East Deals
E-W Vul

♠	A Q J
♥	A 9 7
♦	K J 3
♣	A K 6 5

♠	7 6 4 2
♥	K 10
♦	A Q 5 4
♣	9 7 2

N
W		E
S

♠	10 5
♥	8 4 3
♦	10 9 8 7 6 2
♣	J 8

♠	K 9 8 3
♥	Q J 6 5 2
♦	—
♣	Q 10 4 3

NS 7♥; NS 7♣; NS 6N; NS 6♠; NS 2♦; Par +1510

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

Artificial and game forcing showing an A, K, or QQ
Showing 22-24 HCP
Transfer
Showing exactly five Hearts and four Spades
Exclusion Keycard Blackwood for Hearts asking partner to ignore their Diamonds
Showing 0 or 3 keycards

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
6 ♥	N	7	♦ 10	1010		6.50	0.50	2-Elliott-Runda	7-Earls-Lubow
6 ♥	S	7	♣ 7	1010		6.50	0.50	5-Koch-Temples	2-Henry-Ibarra
6 ♥	S	6	♣ 7	980		5.00	2.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	5-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	N	7	♥ 8	520		4.00	3.00	3-Kennedy-Endres	9-Felson-Brown
3 NT	N	6	♦ 10	490		1.50	5.50	4-Roark-Koster	11-Campbell-Cook
3 NT	N	6	♦ 7	490		1.50	5.50	6-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	4-Dickman-Terbrueggen
3 NT	N	6	♦ 7	490		1.50	5.50	7-Kehoe-Stanley	6-Thurnau-Olexsey
3 NT	N	6	♠ 10	490		1.50	5.50	8-Murdock-Oblinger	8-Terwilliger-Payne

South's hand is too good to pass 4 ♥ when partner shows a third Heart. Exclusion Keycard Blackwood is used as a way to ask for keycards when the asker is void in a suit (anytime where the answer to the keycard ask would be ambiguous).

N/S take 13 tricks on the friendly Heart layout. East will lead the ♦T.

Board 23
South Deals
Both Vul

♠	9 6
♥	A Q J 5
♦	A J 7 3
♣	J 5 4

♠	Q
♥	9 7 6
♦	K Q 9
♣	A K 10 8 6 2

N
W		E
S

♠	7 4 3 2
♥	K 2
♦	8 6 5 2
♣	Q 9 7

♠	A K J 10 8 5
♥	10 8 4 3
♦	10 4
♣	3

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

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

Don't preempt in first seat with four cards in the other major
Forcing
Minimum hand

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♣×	W	−1	♠ 6	200		7.00	0.00	2-Elliott-Runda	7-Earls-Lubow
2 ♠	S	3	♣ A	140		6.00	1.00	7-Kehoe-Stanley	6-Thurnau-Olexsey
3 ♣	W	−1	♠ 9	100		4.00	3.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	5-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♣	W	−1	♥ Q	100		4.00	3.00	3-Kennedy-Endres	9-Felson-Brown
3 ♦	E	−1	♠ A	100		4.00	3.00	6-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	4-Dickman-Terbrueggen
2 ♣	W	2	♠ 9		90	2.00	5.00	4-Roark-Koster	11-Campbell-Cook
3 ♠	S	−1	♣ A		100	1.00	6.00	5-Koch-Temples	2-Henry-Ibarra
3 ♣	W	3	♠ 9		110	0.00	7.00	8-Murdock-Oblinger	8-Terwilliger-Payne

North is stuck for a bid after partner balances with 1 ♠ and their RHO tucks in a 2 ♣ bid. A double here would be for penalty (i.e., not negative). 2 ♦ or 2 ♥ would show 5+ cards in the suit bid and may not even be forcing, depending on partnership agreements. 3 ♣ seems safe, and when partner shows a sub-minimum hand by rebidding their suit, North reluctantly passes. East is wise not to bid 4 ♣, because North is itching to bid again.

N/S lose one Heart trick, one Diamond, and one Club, making four. West will lead the ♣ K asking for count and switch to the ♦ K at trick two.

Board 24
West Deals
None Vul

♠	A 6 2
♥	K 5 4
♦	10 8 5 4
♣	J 8 4

♠	10 7 5
♥	A 2
♦	A J 9 2
♣	A Q 6 2

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 8
♥	Q J 10 9 7
♦	K 3
♣	K 10 7 3

♠	K J 9 4 3
♥	8 6 3
♦	Q 7 6
♣	9 5

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

West	North	East	South
1 NT1	Pass	2 ♦2	Pass
2 ♥	Pass	3 NT	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
3 NT	W	−2	♠ 2	100		7.00	0.00	8-Murdock-Oblinger	8-Terwilliger-Payne
3 ♣	W	4	♠ A		130	5.50	1.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	5-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♣	W	4	♠ A		130	5.50	1.50	7-Kehoe-Stanley	6-Thurnau-Olexsey
3 NT	W	3	♦ 4		400	3.50	3.50	2-Elliott-Runda	7-Earls-Lubow
3 NT	W	3	♦ 4		400	3.50	3.50	6-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	4-Dickman-Terbrueggen
3 NT	W	5	♦ 4		460	1.50	5.50	3-Kennedy-Endres	9-Felson-Brown
3 NT	W	5	♦ 4		460	1.50	5.50	5-Koch-Temples	2-Henry-Ibarra
3 NT	W	6	♦ 5		490	0.00	7.00	4-Roark-Koster	11-Campbell-Cook

If North finds a Spade lead (either the ♠ A or the ♠ 2), N/S will take the first five tricks. North should lead a Spade, since a Club looks wrong and partner didn't double 2 ♦ asking for a Diamond lead. In fact it's often right to lead a short major on an auction such as this one. Think about it the next time you're on lead against 3 NT (unless you're playing against me....in that case lead small from ♦ Q32).

Board 25
North Deals
E-W Vul

♠	A J 7 4 3
♥	J 5
♦	K J 5 4
♣	6 3

♠	5 2
♥	Q 3
♦	10 9 8 7
♣	K Q 10 9 5

N
W		E
S

♠	K 10 8
♥	K 10 6 2
♦	A 3 2
♣	A 8 7

♠	Q 9 6
♥	A 9 8 7 4
♦	Q 6
♣	J 4 2

EW 2N; EW 3♣; NS 1♠; EW 1♥; EW 1♦; Par −120

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

Responsive showing Spades and Diamonds
Gulp

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♠	N	2	♣ 7	110		6.50	0.50	2-Elliott-Runda	6-Thurnau-Olexsey
2 ♠	N	2	♣ A	110		6.50	0.50	3-Kennedy-Endres	8-Terwilliger-Payne
3 ♣	E	−1	♦ 6	100		4.50	2.50	4-Roark-Koster	10-King-Purcell
2 ♦	E	−1	♠ 6	100		4.50	2.50	6-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski
2 ♠	N	−1	♥ 2		50	3.00	4.00	5-Koch-Temples	1-Burns-Kobida
1 NT	W	2	♠ 3		120	2.00	5.00	8-Murdock-Oblinger	7-Earls-Lubow
2 ♣	E	4	♥ A		130	1.00	6.00	7-Kehoe-Stanley	5-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♥	S	−3	♣ K		150	0.00	7.00	9-Petersen-Cushman	9-Felson-Brown

While South had to be horrified to be bidding a three-card Spade suit, 2 ♠ would have gone down only one. In 3 ♣, E/W lose one Spade trick, one Heart, and two Diamonds, making three. South may lead the ♠ 6.

Board 26
East Deals
Both Vul

♠	10 9 5
♥	K 10 9 6 2
♦	9
♣	J 8 7 4

♠	6 3
♥	A 5
♦	10 8 3 2
♣	A 10 5 3 2

N
W		E
S

♠	K Q 7 4 2
♥	J 7 4 3
♦	A 7 5
♣	Q

♠	A J 8
♥	Q 8
♦	K Q J 6 4
♣	K 9 6

NS 2N; E 1♦; NS 1♣; Par +120

West	North	East	South
		1 ♠	1 NT1
Pass	Pass	Pass

15 to 18

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♥	S	2	♦ 8	110		7.00	0.00	4-Roark-Koster	10-King-Purcell
2 NT	W	−1	♦ 9	100		6.00	1.00	3-Kennedy-Endres	8-Terwilliger-Payne
2 ♥	S	−1	♠ 6		100	4.50	2.50	2-Elliott-Runda	6-Thurnau-Olexsey
2 ♥	S	−1	♠ 6		100	4.50	2.50	8-Murdock-Oblinger	7-Earls-Lubow
2 ♥	S	−2	♠ 3		200	1.50	5.50	5-Koch-Temples	1-Burns-Kobida
2 ♥	S	−2	♠ 6		200	1.50	5.50	6-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski
2 ♦	S	−2	♠ 6		200	1.50	5.50	7-Kehoe-Stanley	5-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♦	S	−2	♠ 6		200	1.50	5.50	9-Petersen-Cushman	9-Felson-Brown

North is tempted momentarily to transfer to Hearts, but their nice spot cards in every suit (and their ♠T95) convince them to pass. N/S take two Diamond tricks, two Spades, three Clubs, and one Heart, making two. West will lead the ♠ 6.

Board 27
South Deals
None Vul

♠	K 8 6 2
♥	Q J 7 3
♦	4 3 2
♣	J 8

♠	J 10 9 5 3
♥	9
♦	10 7
♣	A K Q 3 2

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 4
♥	A K 10 8 6 4
♦	Q 9 8
♣	7 4

♠	A 7
♥	5 2
♦	A K J 6 5
♣	10 9 6 5

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

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

Negative

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠×	W	−2	♦ 2	300		7.00	0.00	2-Elliott-Runda	6-Thurnau-Olexsey
3 NT	E	−3	♦ A	150		6.00	1.00	9-Petersen-Cushman	9-Felson-Brown
3 ♥	E	−2	♦ A	100		4.50	2.50	3-Kennedy-Endres	8-Terwilliger-Payne
3 ♠	W	−2	♦ 2	100		4.50	2.50	5-Koch-Temples	1-Burns-Kobida
2 ♣	S	2	♥ 9	90		3.00	4.00	4-Roark-Koster	10-King-Purcell
4 ♠	W	−1	♦ 4	50		1.50	5.50	6-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski
4 ♥	E	−1	♦ A	50		1.50	5.50	8-Murdock-Oblinger	7-Earls-Lubow
2 ♥	E	2	♦ A		110	0.00	7.00	7-Kehoe-Stanley	5-Kammer-Zimmer

East didn't pick up their hand to play in 2 ♦. E/W lose three Spade trick (North gets a trump promotion on the fourth Diamond lead from partner) and two Diamonds, making two. North will lead the ♦ 3 (MUD), South will win the ♦ J and cash the ♦ A and ♦ K, declarer ruffing low. Declarer may try playing the ♣ A and ♣ K and then try and ruff a Club (South is marked with a four-card suit), but North will simply discard and let declarer shorten dummy's trumps. When South gets in with the ♠ A, they'll play a fourth Diamond promoting North's ♠ 8 into a trick.

Board 28
West Deals
N-S Vul

♠	Q 3
♥	9 7 5 4
♦	Q
♣	A K 9 7 5 3

♠	A 8 7 6 5
♥	J 6
♦	K 10 7
♣	10 6 4

N
W		E
S

♠	J 10 9 4
♥	A K 8
♦	J 9 8 5 3
♣	8

♠	K 2
♥	Q 10 3 2
♦	A 6 4 2
♣	Q J 2

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

West	North	East	South
Pass	1 ♣	Pass1	1 ♥
Pass	2 ♥	Pass	2 NT2
Pass	3 ♥3	Pass	4 ♥
Pass	Pass	Pass

Not quite a takeout double
Alert, artificial Wold 2 NT bid asking for more information about partner's hand
Alert, artificial Wold 2 NT reply showing a minimum hand with four Hearts

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	S	4	♠ 5	620		6.50	0.50	5-Koch-Temples	11-Campbell-Cook
4 ♥	S	4	♦ 7	620		6.50	0.50	6-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	2-Henry-Ibarra
3 NT	S	3	♠ 6	600		5.00	2.00	4-Roark-Koster	9-Felson-Brown
3 ♥	S	4	♥ 6	170		4.00	3.00	3-Kennedy-Endres	7-Earls-Lubow
3 ♥	S	3	♣ 4	140		3.00	4.00	8-Murdock-Oblinger	6-Thurnau-Olexsey
4 ♥	S	−1	♠ A		100	2.00	5.00	10-Tedrick-Pretz	10-King-Purcell
3 ♠	W	4	♣ A		170	0.50	6.50	7-Kehoe-Stanley	4-Dickman-Terbrueggen
3 ♠	W	4	♣ K		170	0.50	6.50	9-Petersen-Cushman	8-Terwilliger-Payne

Once North opens, it's hard for South to stay out of game. N/S lose one Spade trick, two Hearts, and a Club ruff......if West leads a Club before the ♠ A is knocked out. A club is a reasonable lead, but who knows? On the lead of the ♣ 4, declarer can win cheaply, but when they try and pull trump, East will win with the ♥ K, play the ♠ J to partner's ♠ A, and ruff the Club return. The ♥ A is the fourth defensive trick. On any other lead N/S make four.

Board 29
North Deals
Both Vul

♠	K Q 6
♥	K 10 2
♦	A J 8 7 5 3
♣	7

♠	A 10 5
♥	6
♦	K Q 9 2
♣	A Q 6 5 2

N
W		E
S

♠	J 9 7 3
♥	Q J 8 4 3
♦	4
♣	J 9 3

♠	8 4 2
♥	A 9 7 5
♦	10 6
♣	K 10 8 4

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

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

Alert, support double showing three-card Heart support

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♣×	W	−2	♥ 2	500		7.00	0.00	4-Roark-Koster	9-Felson-Brown
4 ♣	W	−2	♥ 2	200		6.00	1.00	9-Petersen-Cushman	8-Terwilliger-Payne
2 ♦	N	3	♣ 3	110		4.50	2.50	6-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	2-Henry-Ibarra
2 ♦	N	3	♠ 3	110		4.50	2.50	8-Murdock-Oblinger	6-Thurnau-Olexsey
2 ♦	N	2	♣ 3	90		2.50	4.50	3-Kennedy-Endres	7-Earls-Lubow
2 ♦	N	2	♣ 3	90		2.50	4.50	10-Tedrick-Pretz	10-King-Purcell
2 ♦	N	−1	♣ 3		100	0.50	6.50	5-Koch-Temples	11-Campbell-Cook
3 ♦	N	−1	♣ J		100	0.50	6.50	7-Kehoe-Stanley	4-Dickman-Terbrueggen

South, with two Club stoppers, guesses to play in notrump. Nice guess although passing the support double would have been sexier. N/S take two Spade tricks, two Hearts, and four Diamonds, making two. It's impossible for East to ever be on lead. West's best lead is the ♥ 6 or possibly ♠ A and a Spade.

Board 30
East Deals
None Vul

♠	A K Q J 9 8
♥	8 7 6
♦	A 7
♣	5 3

♠	5 4
♥	A
♦	J 10 9 8
♣	J 10 9 8 6 4

N
W		E
S

♠	10 7 3
♥	K 9 4 3
♦	Q 4 2
♣	A Q 7

♠	6 2
♥	Q J 10 5 2
♦	K 6 5 3
♣	K 2

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

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

Showing a six-loser hand with a six-card Spade suit and approximately 14 HCP
Showing 5+ Hearts 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		6.50	0.50	5-Koch-Temples	11-Campbell-Cook
4 ♠	N	4	♣ A	420		6.50	0.50	10-Tedrick-Pretz	10-King-Purcell
2 ♠	N	5	♥ 4	200		5.00	2.00	9-Petersen-Cushman	8-Terwilliger-Payne
3 ♠	N	4	♣ A	170		3.50	3.50	3-Kennedy-Endres	7-Earls-Lubow
2 ♠	N	4	♠ 3	170		3.50	3.50	8-Murdock-Oblinger	6-Thurnau-Olexsey
3 ♥	S	3	♣ J	140		2.00	5.00	6-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	2-Henry-Ibarra
4 ♣	W	−2	♠ A	100		1.00	6.00	7-Kehoe-Stanley	4-Dickman-Terbrueggen
4 ♥	S	−1	♣ J		50	0.00	7.00	4-Roark-Koster	9-Felson-Brown

N/S lose two Heart tricks and one Club, making four. East may lead a small trump.

Board 31
South Deals
N-S Vul

♠	9 8 7 2
♥	A K 9 5 3
♦	Q 9 5
♣	K

♠	A K J 10 6 3
♥	Q 7 4
♦	A 10
♣	9 8

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 5
♥	J 2
♦	8 7 3
♣	A Q 10 6 4 3

♠	4
♥	10 8 6
♦	K J 6 4 2
♣	J 7 5 2

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

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

Showing a full opener
It's nice to have tolerance for partner's suit when you're overbidding

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♠	W	4	♦ 5		170	5.50	1.50	4-Roark-Koster	8-Terwilliger-Payne
3 ♠	W	4	♥ A		170	5.50	1.50	8-Murdock-Oblinger	5-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♠	W	4	♥ K		170	5.50	1.50	9-Petersen-Cushman	7-Earls-Lubow
2 ♠	W	4	♥ A		170	5.50	1.50	11-Edwards-Edwards	11-Campbell-Cook
3 ♠	W	5	♥ K		200	3.00	4.00	5-Koch-Temples	10-King-Purcell
4 ♠	W	4	♥ A		420	1.00	6.00	6-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	1-Burns-Kobida
4 ♠	W	4	♥ A		420	1.00	6.00	7-Kehoe-Stanley	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski
4 ♠	W	4	♥ A		420	1.00	6.00	10-Tedrick-Pretz	9-Felson-Brown

E/W lose two Heart tricks and one Diamond, making four. North will lead the ♥ K asking for count and continue with the ♥ A at trick two. North is pretty sure that dummy's Clubs aren't running, but they'll switch to a Diamond at trick three anyway in case they're wrong.

Board 32
West Deals
E-W Vul

♠	10 6
♥	Q 10
♦	A 10 8 4 3
♣	8 7 5 3

♠	9 8 3
♥	8 7 5 2
♦	Q 9 7 6
♣	4 2

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 7 5 4 2
♥	6 3
♦	2
♣	A K J 10 9

♠	A K J
♥	A K J 9 4
♦	K J 5
♣	Q 6

NS 5♥; NS 4♦; NS 2N; NS 2♣; Par +450

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

All big hands start with a double
Alert, BROMAD bid showing 0-6 HCP and exactly three Spades
A double followed by a cuebid shows a 2 NT opener or better

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥×	S	5	♣ 4	690		7.00	0.00	5-Koch-Temples	10-King-Purcell
3 NT	S	7	♠ 9	520		6.00	1.00	4-Roark-Koster	8-Terwilliger-Payne
4 ♥	S	4	♣ 4	420		5.00	2.00	10-Tedrick-Pretz	9-Felson-Brown
2 ♥	S	7	♠ 8	260		4.00	3.00	8-Murdock-Oblinger	5-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♥	S	5	♠ 8	200		2.00	5.00	6-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	1-Burns-Kobida
3 ♥	S	5	♠ 9	200		2.00	5.00	9-Petersen-Cushman	7-Earls-Lubow
3 ♥	S	5	♠ 8	200		2.00	5.00	11-Edwards-Edwards	11-Campbell-Cook
5 ♦	N	−1	♣ K		50	0.00	7.00	7-Kehoe-Stanley	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski

Some South players will bid 3 NT the second time around and might get away with it when West leads a Spade. If West has their ♣ 2 mixed in with their Spades, well, that would be too funny for words. N/S lose two Club tricks, making five. West will dutifully lead the ♠ 9 (top of nothing in a supported suit).

Board 33
North Deals
None Vul

♠	8
♥	K Q 10 6 4 3 2
♦	K 2
♣	10 9 2

♠	A 10
♥	A J 7
♦	9 8 5 4
♣	Q J 6 3

N
W		E
S

♠	9 5 4 3
♥	9 5
♦	A Q 10 3
♣	K 8 5

♠	K Q J 7 6 2
♥	8
♦	J 7 6
♣	A 7 4

EW 2N; EW 3♦; EW 2♣; EW 1♠; NS 1♥; Par −120

West	North	East	South
	3 ♥	Pass	Pass
Pass

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♥	N	3	♠ 5	140		7.00	0.00	9-Petersen-Cushman	7-Earls-Lubow
2 ♥	N	−1	♠ 9		50	4.50	2.50	5-Koch-Temples	10-King-Purcell
3 ♥	N	−1	♥ 5		50	4.50	2.50	6-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	1-Burns-Kobida
3 ♥	N	−1	♠ 5		50	4.50	2.50	7-Kehoe-Stanley	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski
3 ♥	N	−1	♠ 9		50	4.50	2.50	10-Tedrick-Pretz	9-Felson-Brown
3 ♥	N	−2	♣ 5		100	2.00	5.00	11-Edwards-Edwards	11-Campbell-Cook
4 ♠	S	−3	♦ 4		150	0.50	6.50	4-Roark-Koster	8-Terwilliger-Payne
3 ♠	S	−3	♣ 3		150	0.50	6.50	8-Murdock-Oblinger	5-Kammer-Zimmer

N/S lose one Heart trick (declarer will lead to the ♥T when in dummy), one Spade, two Diamonds, and two Clubs, down two. Dummy is completely useless except for the ♣ A which can be used as an entry to hook a Heart. East's best lead is the ♣ 5.

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

Negative

East shouldn't be afraid to stick their neck out a little on this hand--3 ♥ is a good bid. E/W lose one Spade trick and two Diamonds, making four. South may lead the ♠ A and switch to a Diamond at trick two when partner plays the ♠ 4 asking for the lower-ranking side suit.

West	North	East	South
			Pass
Pass	1 ♠	Pass	2 ♣1
Dbl2	4 ♠	Pass	Pass
Pass

Alert, artificial Drury bid showing a 3+ card limit raise in Spades
Lead a Club

N/S lose one Heart trick and two Clubs, making four as long as East leads a Club.

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

Alert, XYZ bid showing four Spades and slam interest
Control bid showing 1st or 2nd round control in Clubs
RKC Blackwood for Spades
1430 response showing 2 or 5 keycards with the ♠ Q

E/W lose only one Diamond trick, making six. West's hand is the master hand, and their three small Clubs can be pitched on East's Hearts when Hearts split 3-3. If Hearts don't split, declarer will have to find the ♣ Q. They're happy they don't have to. North will lead the ♦ A and switch to a trump.