MON 04/17/2017 at Nite

EVENT>Event Name               |SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> A N-S
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>April 17, 2017     |CLUB NO.>185264    | 04/17/2017 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=11/B=9/C=6                      ,---,-------------------------,------,---------,
-------------------------------------------------|   |           Section       |      |Section  |
No Name                   Name                   |Flt|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C| Score | Pct  |Awards   |
------------------------------------------------- --- ----- ----- ----- ------- ------ ---------
 1 Joy Singerman          William Cook             B    2     1     .    103.85  61.82  0.77(A)
 2 Donald Pollack         Bernice Pollack          C    .     .     .     77.14  45.92
 3 Judy Barron            Mike Burns               C    4     3     2     96.21  57.27  0.39(A)
 4 Joanne Oppelt          Tim Oppelt               C    .     .     .     87.21  51.91
 5 Patricia Burnam        Elmer Hubka              B    .     .     .     61.71  36.73
 6 Herb Behr              Ralph Terbrueggen        A    .     .     .     78.85  46.93
 7 John Ramsay            Julian Magnus, Jr        C    .     .     .     66.79  39.76
 8 Annette Kereiakes      Tom Kereiakes            C    3     2     1     98.14  58.42  0.55(A)
 9 Martin Petersen        June Cushman             A    1     .     .    104.87  62.42  1.10(A)
10 Harriet Edwards        Charles Edwards          B    .     4     .     90.64  53.95  0.25(B)
11 Mona Kerstine          Richard Kerstine         C    .     .     .     59.14  35.20

                                          Totals                         924.55


                                 **PAIRS**
BOARD     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9    10    11
  /
   1>     2                       2     4     0     6     6     6     2
         170   ----  ----  ----  170   200    90   450   450   450   170

   2>     5-                      7     0     3     3     5-    3     1
        -140   ----  ----  ----  140  -500  -170  -170  -140  -170  -200

   3>     4-                      0     4-    2     7     4-    4-    1
         140   ----  ----  ---- -150   140   110   420   140   140  -100

   4>   4.64  6.93                    0.64  2.36  4.64  4.37  4.64  0.64
         130   150   ----  ----  ---- -100   100   130  AVE+   130  -100

   5>     6-    3-                      5     1-    3-    6-    0     1-
         100  -200   ----  ----  ---- -140  -420  -200   100  -590  -420

   6>     1     2                       4     0     4     7     6     4
         150   400   ----  ----  ----  430  -100   430   490   460   430

   7>     1     4     7                       5-    1     5-    1     3
        -620  -140   670   ----  ----  ----  100  -620   100  -620  -170

   8>     4     4     1-                      4     1-    6     0     7
        -200  -200  -430   ----  ----  ---- -200  -430    50  -450   100

   9>     6-    5     2                       1     3-    3-    6-    0
        -150  -600  -630   ----  ----  ---- -660  -620  -620  -150 -1070

  10>     7     1-    4     1-                      4     0     4     6
         100  -630  -600  -630   ----  ----  ---- -600  -660  -600  -130

  11>     2     1     0     4                       6     4     7     4
        -420  -500  -510  -130   ----  ----  ---- -100  -130   100  -130

  12>     2     4-    0     2                       6     4-    2     7
        -140    50  -170  -140   ----  ----  ----  100    50  -140   170

  13>     5-    4     7     5-    2                       3     1     0
        PASS  -100   100  PASS  -140   ----  ----  ---- -110  -170  -200

  14>     6-    1-    4-    1-    1-                      1-    6-    4-
         400  -100   -50  -100  -100   ----  ----  ---- -100   400   -50

  15>     5     5     5     7     2-                      2-    1     0
         650   650   650   750   600   ----  ----  ----  600   300  -200

  16>     6-    6-    3     0     3     3                       3     3
         200   200  -600  -630  -600  -600   ----  ----  ---- -600  -600

  17>     5-    5-    5-    2     5-    2                       2     0
         430   430   430   400   430   400   ----  ----  ----  400   110

  18>     7     5-    5-    2-    0     4                       2-    1
         100    50    50  -130  -500  -100   ----  ----  ---- -130  -150

  19>     7     1     6     1     1     3     5                       4
         500  -680   100  -680  -680  -630  -150   ----  ----  ---- -230

  20>     0     3     7     3     6     3     3                       3
        -200  -100   500  -100   110  -100  -100   ----  ----  ---- -100

  21>   5.21        1.21  5.21  1.21  1.21  6.93                      3-
         630    NP  -100   630  -100  -100   660   ----  ----  ----  120

  22>     3     3     7     3     0     3     3     6
        -710  -710  -100  -710 -1660  -710  -710  -300   ----  ----  ----

  23>     6     1     6     6     3-    3-    2     0
         100  -620   100   100  -140  -140  -600  -650   ----  ----  ----

  24>     0     3     3     1     3     5-    7     5-
        -420  -100  -100  -300  -100   -50    50   -50   ----  ----  ----

  25>           1-    6     3-    0     6     6     1-    3-
         ----  -50   450   400  -100   450   450   -50   400   ----  ----

  26>           0     6     5     7     3     1     3     3
         ---- -500   140   110   170  -100  -150  -100  -100   ----  ----

  27>           1     4-    2-    2-    0     7     6     4-
         ---- -490  -420  -450  -450  -510    50  -200  -420   ----  ----

  28>                 3     2     5     6-     -    4     6-     -
         ----  ---- -110  -140   300   620  -170  -100   620  -170   ----

  29>                 0     4     2     5     1     3     6-    6-
         ----  ---- -710  -130  -500  -100  -630  -180   100   100   ----

  30>                 1-    6     1-    4-    0     4-    3     7
         ----  ---- -400    50  -400  -110  -420  -110  -140   100   ----

  31>                       6      -    3      -    4     6     6     2
         ----  ----  ----  110  -200  -100  -200   100   110   110  -110

  32>                       6-    4     1     1     4     4     6-    1
         ----  ----  ---- 1010   510   480   480   510   510  1010   480

  33>                       6-    1     3-    3-    6-    3-    3-    0
         ----  ----  ----  150   110   120   120   150   120   120    90



EVENT>Event Name               |SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> A E-W
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>April 17, 2017     |CLUB NO.>185264    | 04/17/2017 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=11/B=8/C=6                      ,---,-------------------------,------,---------,
-------------------------------------------------|   |           Section       |      |Section  |
No Name                   Name                   |Flt|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C| Score | Pct  |Awards   |
------------------------------------------------- --- ----- ----- ----- ------- ------ ---------
 1 Monica Ibarra          Steve Messinger          C    .     .     .     80.43  47.88
 2 Patt Olexsey           Bob Olexsey              C    1     1     1    106.57  63.43  1.10(A)
 3 Stephen Felson         Robert Brown             A    2     .     .     93.15  55.45  0.77(A)
 4 D. Thomas Terwilliger  C Daniel Payne           B    4     3     .     88.50  52.68  0.39(A)
 5 Lewis Temples          Richard Koch             C    .     .     2     82.42  49.06  0.29(C)
 6 Gail Zimmer            Joseph Kammer            B    3     2     .     92.79  55.23  0.55(A)
 7 Nancy Hatch            John P LaMacchia         C    .     .     .     70.93  42.22
 8 Cecilia Kloecker       Walter Blair             C    .     .     .     55.83  33.23
 9 Joan Diers             Evelyn McCarthy          C    .     .     .     69.36  41.29
10 Doris Kehoe            Lilam Stanley            A    .     .     .     87.65  52.17
11 Deborah Cummings       Michael Lipp             A    NE    .     .     94.36  56.17

                                          Totals                         921.99


                                 **PAIRS**
BOARD     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9    10    11
  /
   1>     5     7           1           1           1     5     5     3
        -170   -90   ---- -450   ---- -450   ---- -450  -170  -170  -200

   2>     1-    4           4           1-          4     0     6     7
         140   170   ----  170   ----  140   ----  170  -140   200   500

   3>     2-    5           0           2-          2-    7     6     2-
        -140  -110   ---- -420   ---- -140   ---- -140   150   100  -140

   4>   4.64  0.07  2.36        2.63        2.36        6.36  6.36  2.36
        -100  -150  -130   ---- AVE-   ---- -130   ----  100   100  -130

   5>     5-    3-    3-           -          7           5-    2      -
         420   200   200   ---- -100   ----  590   ----  420   140  -100

   6>     7     5     3           0           1           3     3     6
         100  -400  -430   ---- -490   ---- -460   ---- -430  -430  -150

   7>     3     6     0     1-          6           4           6     1-
         140   620  -670  -100   ----  620   ----  170   ----  620  -100

   8>     3     5-    5-    1           7           0           3     3
         200   430   430   -50   ----  450   ---- -100   ----  200   200

   9>     2     3-    5     3-           -          7            -    6
         600   620   630   620   ----  150   ---- 1070   ----  150   660

  10>     3     3     7     5-    3           1           0           5-
         600   600   660   630   600   ----  130   ---- -100   ----  630

  11>     1     7     3     3     0           3           5           6
         100   510   130   130  -100   ----  130   ----  420   ----  500

  12>     1     7     2-    5     5           0           5           2-
        -100   170   -50   140   140   ---- -170   ----  140   ----  -50

  13>     0     4     1-    6     5     7           1-          3
        -100   110  PASS   170   140   200   ---- PASS   ----  100   ----

  14>     2-    5-    5-     -    5-    2-           -          5-
          50   100   100  -400   100    50   ---- -400   ----  100   ----

  15>     2     4-    0     6     4-    7           2           2
        -650  -600  -750  -300  -600   200   ---- -650   ---- -650   ----

  16>           7     4     4     4     4      -           -          4
         ----  630   600   600   600   600  -200   ---- -200   ----  600

  17>           5     5     1-    7     5     1-          1-          1-
         ---- -400  -400  -430  -110  -400  -430   ---- -430   ---- -430

  18>           4-    4-    7     6     3     0           1-          1-
         ----  130   130   500   150   100  -100   ----  -50   ----  -50

  19>     6           6     3     4     0     2     6           1
         680   ----  680   230   630  -500   150   680   ---- -100   ----

  20>     4           1     4     4     7     4     4           0
         100   ---- -110   100   100   200   100   100   ---- -500   ----

  21>   1.79        5.79    3-  5.79  1.79  0.07              5.79
        -630   ----  100  -120   100  -630  -660    NP   ----  100   ----

  22>           7           4     4     4     4     1     0           4
         ---- 1660   ----  710   710   710   710   300   100   ----  710

  23>           3-          3-    1     5     6     7     1           1
         ----  140   ----  140  -100   600   620   650  -100   ---- -100

  24>           4           1-    7     0     4     1-    4           6
         ----  100   ----   50   420   -50   100    50   100   ----  300

  25>     7           1           1     5-    5-    1     3-    3-
         100   ---- -450   ---- -450    50    50  -450  -400  -400   ----

  26>     0           4           6     7     4     1     4     2
        -170   ----  100   ----  150   500   100  -140   100  -110   ----

  27>     4-          7           0     6     1     2-    2-    4-
         450   ----  510   ----  -50   490   200   420   420   450   ----

  28>            -          6-          3     4      -    5     6-    2
         ---- -620   ----  170   ----  100   110  -620   140   170  -300

  29>           2           6           4     7      -    3      -    5
         ----  100   ----  630   ----  180   710  -100   130  -100   500

  30>           2-          7           2-    5-    4     1     0     5-
         ----  110   ----  420   ----  110   400   140   -50  -100   400

  31>     4           6-          3           1     1     1     6-    5
         100   ----  200   ---- -100   ---- -110  -110  -110   200   110

  32>     6           6           3           3      -     -    3     6
        -480   ---- -480   ---- -510   ---- -510 -1010 -1010  -510  -480

  33>     3-          3-           -          3-     -    3-    6     7
        -120   ---- -120   ---- -150   ---- -120  -150  -120  -110   -90
Event Name, Monday Eve, April 17, 2017

Board 1
North Deals
None Vul

♠	A 9 8 4 2
♥	3
♦	Q 10 5
♣	J 10 7 3

♠	7 5
♥	Q J 9 6 2
♦	A 4 2
♣	K 4 2

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 6
♥	10 7
♦	J 9 6 3
♣	A 9 8 6 5

♠	K J 10 3
♥	A K 8 5 4
♦	K 8 7
♣	Q

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

West	North	East	South
	Pass	Pass	1 ♥
Pass	1 ♠	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
4 ♠	N	5	♥ 10	450		6.00	1.00	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	4-Terwilliger-Payne
4 ♠	N	5	♦ 6	450		6.00	1.00	9-Petersen-Cushman	6-Zimmer-Kammer
4 ♠	N	5	♥ 10	450		6.00	1.00	10-Edwards-Edwards	8-Kloecker-Blair
3 ♠	N	5	♦ 3	200		4.00	3.00	6-Behr-Terbrueggen	11-Cummings-Lipp
2 ♠	N	4	♠ 6	170		2.00	5.00	1-Singerman-Cook	1-Ibarra-Messinger
2 ♠	N	4	♣ 8	170		2.00	5.00	5-Burnam-Hubka	9-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♠	N	4	♦ 3	170		2.00	5.00	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	10-Kehoe-Stanley
1 NT	N	1	♣ 8	90		0.00	7.00	7-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	2-Olexsey-Olexsey

N/S lose one Diamond trick and one Club, making five. East has a difficult choice of leads, but it turns out that nothing matters. They might lead the ♥T. Declarer should win in dummy with the ♥ K and immediately lead the ♣ Q. This often makes the opponents lead a trump which would make life a bit easier for declarer.

Board 2
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	Q 7 6 5 3 2
♥	7
♦	A 6
♣	9 8 5 4

♠	K 4
♥	K 6 3
♦	10 9 8 3 2
♣	K 10 6

N
W		E
S

♠	J 8
♥	A Q 10 8 4
♦	K Q 7
♣	Q 7 3

♠	A 10 9
♥	J 9 5 2
♦	J 5 4
♣	A J 2

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

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♠	N	3	♥ A	140		7.00	0.00	5-Burnam-Hubka	9-Diers-McCarthy
2 ♥	E	3	♦ 4		140	5.50	1.50	1-Singerman-Cook	1-Ibarra-Messinger
2 ♥	E	3	♦ J		140	5.50	1.50	9-Petersen-Cushman	6-Zimmer-Kammer
2 ♥	E	4	♦ 4		170	3.00	4.00	7-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	2-Olexsey-Olexsey
3 ♥	E	4	♦ 4		170	3.00	4.00	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	4-Terwilliger-Payne
3 ♥	E	4	♦ 4		170	3.00	4.00	10-Edwards-Edwards	8-Kloecker-Blair
2 ♥	E	5	♥ 5		200	1.00	6.00	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	10-Kehoe-Stanley
4 ♠×	N	−2	♦ K		500	0.00	7.00	6-Behr-Terbrueggen	11-Cummings-Lipp

E/W lose one Spade trick, one Diamond, one Club, and one Heart, making three. South may lead one of their black Aces, since a trump is out and a Diamond from ♦ Jxx looks repulsive.

Board 3
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	Q J 9 4
♥	K 10 8 4
♦	K Q
♣	K 7 2

♠	A 5 2
♥	9
♦	10 8 5 4 2
♣	Q 10 8 3

N
W		E
S

♠	K 7 3
♥	Q 6 5
♦	A J 9 6
♣	J 5 4

♠	10 8 6
♥	A J 7 3 2
♦	7 3
♣	A 9 6

NS 3♠; NS 3♥; NS 2N; EW 2♦; Par +140

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	S	4	♥ 9	420		7.00	0.00	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	4-Terwilliger-Payne
2 ♥	S	3	♦ 2	140		4.50	2.50	1-Singerman-Cook	1-Ibarra-Messinger
3 ♥	S	3	♦ 2	140		4.50	2.50	6-Behr-Terbrueggen	11-Cummings-Lipp
2 ♥	S	3	♦ 8	140		4.50	2.50	9-Petersen-Cushman	6-Zimmer-Kammer
2 ♥	S	3	♠ A	140		4.50	2.50	10-Edwards-Edwards	8-Kloecker-Blair
2 ♥	S	2	♣ 3	110		2.00	5.00	7-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	2-Olexsey-Olexsey
4 ♥	S	−2	♦ 8		100	1.00	6.00	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	10-Kehoe-Stanley
4 ♠	N	−3	♦ 9		150	0.00	7.00	5-Burnam-Hubka	9-Diers-McCarthy

A third straight hand without much of interest. Oh well, they don't all have to be stressful.

N/S lose two Spade tricks, one Diamond, one Club, and possibly a trump when they fail to find the ♥ Q. That said, unless West leads a Club, declarer will have time to pitch their slow Club loser on dummy's long Spade. West should not lead their singleton trump--the ♣ 3 can't be wrong, and a Diamond works as long as East switches to a Club at trick two.

Board 4
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	9 7 2
♥	K 7 4
♦	A 9 6 4 2
♣	J 2

♠	A K Q J
♥	Q J 6 5
♦	8
♣	K 10 9 7

N
W		E
S

♠	10 6 4 3
♥	10 9 3 2
♦	7
♣	Q 5 4 3

♠	8 5
♥	A 8
♦	K Q J 10 5 3
♣	A 8 6

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

West	North	East	South
1 ♣	Pass1	Pass	2 ♦2
Dbl3	3 ♣4	3 ♦5	3 NT
Pass	Pass	Pass

Not quite a vulnerable overcall
Showing an intermediate hand with six Diamonds, six losers, and around 14 HCP
Bid something that isn't Diamonds
Cuebid showing a good raise for partner
Pick a major

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
1 ♦	S	5	♠ A	150		6.93	0.07	2-Pollack-Pollack	2-Olexsey-Olexsey
4 ♦	S	4	♠ A	130		4.64	2.36	1-Singerman-Cook	11-Cummings-Lipp
4 ♦	S	4	♠ A	130		4.64	2.36	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	3-Felson-Brown
3 ♦	S	4	♠ A	130		4.64	2.36	10-Edwards-Edwards	7-Hatch-LaMacchia
2 ♥	N	−2	♦ 7	Ave+	Ave-	4.37	2.63	9-Petersen-Cushman	5-Temples-Koch
4 ♥	E	−1	♦ K	100		2.36	4.64	7-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	1-Ibarra-Messinger
4 ♦	S	−1	♠ A		100	0.64	6.36	6-Behr-Terbrueggen	10-Kehoe-Stanley
5 ♦	N	−1	♠ 3		100	0.64	6.36	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	9-Diers-McCarthy

As is true in most cases, 3 NT ends the auction. Would you bid four of a major with the West hand vulnerable? I wouldn't either. Can you figure out why South can bid 3 NT with no Spade stopper? Think about it a bit.

N/S lose four Spade tricks, making three. Hmmmm.....what should West lead?

Answer: West can't have five Spades, since they didn't bid them at any point. Ditto for East. Since the opponents can't cash five Spade tricks, South needs partner to have ♦ A and a round-suit King. That isn't too much to ask.

Board 5
North Deals
N-S Vul

♠	A K 3
♥	5
♦	K J 9 5 2
♣	9 8 5 4

♠	9 8 4
♥	A 8 4 2
♦	6 4 3
♣	A Q 6

N
W		E
S

♠	Q J 10 7 6
♥	K J 10 9 7 3
♦	10
♣	10

♠	5 2
♥	Q 6
♦	A Q 8 7
♣	K J 7 3 2

EW 4♠; EW 3♥; NS 4♣; NS 3♦; Par −200: NS 5♣×−1

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

Rule of 20 opener
Michaels Cuebid showing both majors and a minimum or maximum hand
Unusual vs. Unusual cuebid showing a limit raise or better for Diamonds

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥×	W	−1	♠ A	100		6.50	0.50	1-Singerman-Cook	11-Cummings-Lipp
5 ♥×	E	−1	♦ A	100		6.50	0.50	9-Petersen-Cushman	5-Temples-Koch
3 ♥	E	3	♠ 2		140	5.00	2.00	6-Behr-Terbrueggen	10-Kehoe-Stanley
4 ♦	N	−2	♣ 10		200	3.50	3.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	2-Olexsey-Olexsey
5 ♣×	S	−1	♥ A		200	3.50	3.50	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	3-Felson-Brown
4 ♥	W	4	♠ A		420	1.50	5.50	7-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	1-Ibarra-Messinger
4 ♥	E	4	♣ 3		420	1.50	5.50	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	9-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♥×	E	4	♦ 7		590	0.00	7.00	10-Edwards-Edwards	7-Hatch-LaMacchia

It's hard for E/W to end up in 4 ♠ with a 10-card Heart fit. Playing Unusual vs. Unusual, here is a list of South's possible responses after East's 2 ♦ Michaels bid:

Double - A desire to penalize one or both of the opponent's suits
2 ♥ - Bidding the opponent's lower-ranking suit to show a forcing bid in our lower-ranking suit (Clubs in this case)
2 ♠ - Bidding the opponent's higher-ranking suit to show a limit raise or better in our higher-ranking suit (Diamonds in this case)
3 ♣ - Non-forcing Club bid. Picture ♠ 542 ♥ 76 ♦ Q7 ♣ KJT763
3 ♦ - Constructive Diamond raise. Picture ♠ 542 ♥ Q76 ♦ AQ87 ♣ 732

North will lead the ♠ K asking for count. When their partner shows a doubleton, North will continue with the ♠ A and another for partner to ruff. South will cash the ♦ A to complete the defensive book, but the hand is essentially over.

Board 6
East Deals
E-W Vul

♠	Q 10 8 4
♥	9 2
♦	A Q 10
♣	K 8 7 5

♠	J 7 6 2
♥	7 3
♦	9 3 2
♣	10 9 6 2

N
W		E
S

♠	9 5 3
♥	A Q 10 8 6
♦	K 8 7 5
♣	3

♠	A K
♥	K J 5 4
♦	J 6 4
♣	A Q J 4

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

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

Showing 18-19 HCP

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	S	6	♥ 3	490		7.00	0.00	9-Petersen-Cushman	5-Temples-Koch
3 NT	S	5	♥ 3	460		6.00	1.00	10-Edwards-Edwards	7-Hatch-LaMacchia
3 NT	N	4	♥ 8	430		4.00	3.00	6-Behr-Terbrueggen	10-Kehoe-Stanley
3 NT	S	4	♥ 7	430		4.00	3.00	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	3-Felson-Brown
3 NT	S	4	♣ 2	430		4.00	3.00	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	9-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	N	3	♣ 3	400		2.00	5.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	2-Olexsey-Olexsey
3 ♣	S	5	♥ 3	150		1.00	6.00	1-Singerman-Cook	11-Cummings-Lipp
6 NT	S	−2	♣ 2		100	0.00	7.00	7-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	1-Ibarra-Messinger

N/S take three Spade tricks, two Hearts, two Diamonds, and four Clubs, making five. West may lead the ♥ 7 on the auction looking for their partner's suit. They find it.

Board 7
South Deals
Both Vul

♠	7 3
♥	A 8 5
♦	8 6
♣	K 10 9 8 4 3

♠	5 2
♥	K J 6 4 3
♦	A K 9
♣	J 6 2

N
W		E
S

♠	A Q J 10 9 6
♥	Q 9 7
♦	J 10 4
♣	7

♠	K 8 4
♥	10 2
♦	Q 7 5 3 2
♣	A Q 5

EW 3♠; EW 3♥; NS 3♣; NS 1N; Par −140

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

Alert, artificial XYZ bid asking partner to bid 2 ♦
Alert, artificial XYZ forced bid
Showing a three-card limit raise in Hearts

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♦×	S	3	♠ 5	670		7.00	0.00	3-Barron-Burns	3-Felson-Brown
3 ♥	W	−1	♦ 6	100		5.50	1.50	7-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	11-Cummings-Lipp
4 ♥	W	−1	♣ 10	100		5.50	1.50	9-Petersen-Cushman	4-Terwilliger-Payne
2 ♥	W	3	♣ 8		140	4.00	3.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	1-Ibarra-Messinger
3 ♠	E	4	♦ 3		170	3.00	4.00	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	8-Kloecker-Blair
4 ♠	E	4	♦ 3		620	1.00	6.00	1-Singerman-Cook	10-Kehoe-Stanley
4 ♥	W	4	♠ 7		620	1.00	6.00	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	2-Olexsey-Olexsey
4 ♥	W	4	♣ 3		620	1.00	6.00	10-Edwards-Edwards	6-Zimmer-Kammer

Expect a lot of E/W pairs to be in game on this hand, and it's hard to fault them since a number of them will make it. E/W lose one Spade trick, one Heart, one Club, and another trick from a multitude of possibilities. If North leads a small trump, E/W will likely lose a second Club. Declarer has too much work to do to ruff Clubs in dummy, pull trump, and set up the Spades without North getting a Heart ruff or a trump promotion.

Board 8
West Deals
None Vul

♠	A 9 5
♥	10 5
♦	Q 10 4 2
♣	Q 10 7 6

♠	K Q J 8 7 4
♥	6 3
♦	7 3
♣	A 4 2

N
W		E
S

♠	10
♥	K Q 8 4
♦	A K 9 8
♣	K J 8 5

♠	6 3 2
♥	A J 9 7 2
♦	J 6 5
♣	9 3

EW 5♠; EW 4N; EW 4♣; E 2♥; EW 3♦; W 1♥; Par −450

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

The best hand you'll ever have for a weak-two opener
Ogust
Alert, Ogust response showing a good hand/good suit

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	E	−2	♥ 7	100		7.00	0.00	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	8-Kloecker-Blair
3 NT	E	−1	♥ 2	50		6.00	1.00	9-Petersen-Cushman	4-Terwilliger-Payne
2 ♠	W	5	♥ 10		200	4.00	3.00	1-Singerman-Cook	10-Kehoe-Stanley
2 ♠	W	5	♦ 4		200	4.00	3.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	1-Ibarra-Messinger
2 ♠	W	5	♥ 10		200	4.00	3.00	7-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	11-Cummings-Lipp
3 NT	E	4	♥ 7		430	1.50	5.50	3-Barron-Burns	3-Felson-Brown
3 NT	E	4	♥ 7		430	1.50	5.50	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	2-Olexsey-Olexsey
4 ♠	W	5	♣ 6		450	0.00	7.00	10-Edwards-Edwards	6-Zimmer-Kammer

If East bids 3 NT over 3 ♠, West will probably pass, although 4 ♠ would also work. E/W lose one Spade trick and one Heart, making five. There's only one way to take the Club finesse, and it happens to work. North will lead the ♥T, and South should duck the first trick. Declarer can't afford to overtake the ♠T, since they picture ruffing a Heart high, so they'll let it ride to North's ♠ A. It does North no good to duck, since declarer has an easy entry to their hand with the ♣ A to lead trump again, so they'll grab the ♠ A and play the ♥ 5 to partner's ♥ J. As long as declarer ruffs high on the third round of Hearts, they'll be okay.

Board 9
North Deals
E-W Vul

♠	J 6 5
♥	J 5 4
♦	J 6 3
♣	10 8 7 4

♠	Q
♥	K 8 7
♦	A K 8 7 5 2
♣	Q 5 2

N
W		E
S

♠	A 9 4 3 2
♥	A 10 9 2
♦	Q 10 9 4
♣	—

♠	K 10 8 7
♥	Q 6 3
♦	—
♣	A K J 9 6 3

EW 6♦; EW 4♥; EW 3N; E 3♠; W 2♠; NS 2♣; Par −1100: NS 7♣×−5

West	North	East	South
	Pass	Pass	1 ♣
1 ♦	3 ♣1	4 ♣2	Dbl3
5 ♦	Pass	Pass	Pass

Weak jump raise
Cuebid showing a limit raise for partner's Diamonds
Please lead a Club

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♦	W	5	♣ 4		150	6.50	0.50	1-Singerman-Cook	10-Kehoe-Stanley
3 ♦	W	5	♣ 10		150	6.50	0.50	10-Edwards-Edwards	6-Zimmer-Kammer
5 ♦	W	5	♣ 10		600	5.00	2.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	1-Ibarra-Messinger
5 ♦	W	6	♣ 4		620	3.50	3.50	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	2-Olexsey-Olexsey
5 ♦	W	6	♣ 4		620	3.50	3.50	9-Petersen-Cushman	4-Terwilliger-Payne
3 NT	W	4	♣ 4		630	2.00	5.00	3-Barron-Burns	3-Felson-Brown
3 NT	W	5	♣ 4		660	1.00	6.00	7-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	11-Cummings-Lipp
3 ♦×	W	5	♣ 10		1070	0.00	7.00	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	8-Kloecker-Blair

Some E/W pairs may find the slam, but probably not. E/W lose one Heart trick, making six. West's hand is the "master hand," and declarer will ruff two Clubs in dummy before pulling the last trump. With ♥T987 between the two hands, declarer simply needs to play for split Heart honors to hold the suit to one loser. If the defense plays Hearts at any point, declarer will make seven (i.e., Hearts is a frozen suit).

Board 10
East Deals
Both Vul

♠	A 9 8 2
♥	Q 8 4 3
♦	10 8 6
♣	9 3

♠	K 7 6
♥	J 6 5
♦	A 7 5
♣	K J 10 5

N
W		E
S

♠	5 4 3
♥	A K 10 9
♦	K Q J 3
♣	Q 2

♠	Q J 10
♥	7 2
♦	9 4 2
♣	A 8 7 6 4

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

West	North	East	South
		1 NT1	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	W	−1	♠ 2	100		7.00	0.00	1-Singerman-Cook	9-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♦	E	4	♠ Q		130	6.00	1.00	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	7-Hatch-LaMacchia
3 NT	E	3	♠ Q		600	4.00	3.00	3-Barron-Burns	2-Olexsey-Olexsey
3 NT	E	3	♠ Q		600	4.00	3.00	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	1-Ibarra-Messinger
3 NT	E	3	♣ 6		600	4.00	3.00	10-Edwards-Edwards	5-Temples-Koch
3 NT	W	4	♠ 2		630	1.50	5.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	11-Cummings-Lipp
3 NT	E	4	♣ 6		630	1.50	5.50	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	4-Terwilliger-Payne
3 NT	E	5	♣ 6		660	0.00	7.00	9-Petersen-Cushman	3-Felson-Brown

Remember--don't look for a major-suit fit with a flat hand. E/W take four Heart tricks, four Diamond tricks, and one Club, making three. South should lead the ♠ Q on the auction, and declarer should cover immediately and hope for a blockage in the suit. Their wish is granted when South has ♠ QJT tight and North's long Spade is wasted.

Board 11
South Deals
None Vul

♠	K J 7 4 3 2
♥	8 7
♦	3
♣	K 7 6 2

♠	9 6 5
♥	A Q 10 3
♦	A 10 9 5 2
♣	8

N
W		E
S

♠	8
♥	K 5 2
♦	K Q 6
♣	A Q 10 9 5 3

♠	A Q 10
♥	J 9 6 4
♦	J 8 7 4
♣	J 4

EW 6♦; EW 5♥; EW 4♣; EW 1N; NS 1♠; Par −920

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

Responsive double showing the two unbid suits

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♦	W	−2	♣ 2	100		7.00	0.00	10-Edwards-Edwards	5-Temples-Koch
3 ♠	N	−2	♦ K		100	6.00	1.00	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	1-Ibarra-Messinger
3 ♣	E	4	♠ A		130	4.00	3.00	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	4-Terwilliger-Payne
4 ♦	W	4	♠ 4		130	4.00	3.00	9-Petersen-Cushman	3-Felson-Brown
4 ♣	E	4	♠ A		130	4.00	3.00	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	7-Hatch-LaMacchia
4 ♥	W	4	♦ 3		420	2.00	5.00	1-Singerman-Cook	9-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♠×	N	−3	♦ K		500	1.00	6.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	11-Cummings-Lipp
4 ♣×	E	4	♠ A		510	0.00	7.00	3-Barron-Burns	2-Olexsey-Olexsey

Remember--responsive doubles are advancer's doubles when (1) the opponents have a "fit" auction, (2) partner has doubled for takeout or made a non-jump overcall, and (3) the opponent's last bid is 4 ♦ or less.

E/W lose one Spade trick and probably a trick in the wash, making five. Declarer can make six on double-dummy lines, shortening their trumps for a Trump Coup against South. Here's how that would work for those who are interested:

South leads the ♠ A and continues with the ♠ Q at trick two (best). Declarer can ruff in their hand with the ♦ 6, but they'll no longer be able to finesse against South's ♦ J. They should cash the ♦ K at trick three and lead the ♥ 2 to dummy's ♥ A. The ♣ 8 is next to the ♣ Q followed by the ♣ A, pitching dummy's third Spade. The ♣T is ruffed low followed by the ♥ Q, a Heart to the ♥ K, and a small Club. It does South no good to ruff, so they'll pitch their last Spade and declarer ruffs with dummy's ♦ 9. ♥T ruffed with the ♦ Q leaves this end position:

East: ♣ 95
South: ♦ J8
West: ♦ AT
North: ♠ J4

Declarer simply leads a Club and covers any card that South plays. Nicely done!

Board 12
West Deals
N-S Vul

♠	K 4 3
♥	Q
♦	Q 10 7 5 2
♣	9 8 6 3

♠	9 7
♥	A 10 8 7 4
♦	4 3
♣	Q 10 5 4

N
W		E
S

♠	A 8 5
♥	K J 6 3 2
♦	J 9 6
♣	A J

♠	Q J 10 6 2
♥	9 5
♦	A K 8
♣	K 7 2

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

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

Weak jump raise

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♠	S	4	♥ 4	170		7.00	0.00	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	7-Hatch-LaMacchia
4 ♥×	E	−1	♠ Q	100		6.00	1.00	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	1-Ibarra-Messinger
4 ♥	E	−1	♦ A	50		4.50	2.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	11-Cummings-Lipp
4 ♥	E	−1	♦ A	50		4.50	2.50	9-Petersen-Cushman	3-Felson-Brown
3 ♥	E	3	♠ Q		140	2.00	5.00	1-Singerman-Cook	9-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♥	E	3	♦ A		140	2.00	5.00	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	4-Terwilliger-Payne
3 ♥	E	3	♦ A		140	2.00	5.00	10-Edwards-Edwards	5-Temples-Koch
3 ♥	E	4	♥ 9		170	0.00	7.00	3-Barron-Burns	2-Olexsey-Olexsey

Remember--West's jump raise is weak and preemptive. If West wanted to show a strong/invitational raise for partner's suit, they'd have cuebid South's Spades.

E/W lose one Spade trick, two Diamonds, and one Club, down one. North will lead the ♠ 3 (small from an honor).

Board 13
North Deals
Both Vul

♠	K Q 7 5 4
♥	10 5 2
♦	K 6
♣	K 10 3

♠	J 10 9 8
♥	Q J 8 7 6
♦	A 5
♣	8 2

N
W		E
S

♠	6 3
♥	A K 9 4
♦	10 9 8 2
♣	A 7 4

♠	A 2
♥	3
♦	Q J 7 4 3
♣	Q J 9 6 5

EW 3♥; NS 4♣; EW 1N; NS 2♦; NS 1♠; Par +130

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

Opening light in 3rd seat

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♥	W	−1	♦ K	100		7.00	0.00	3-Barron-Burns	1-Ibarra-Messinger
Pass				Pass		5.50	1.50	1-Singerman-Cook	8-Kloecker-Blair
Pass				Pass		5.50	1.50	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	3-Felson-Brown
4 ♣	S	−1	♦ A		100	4.00	3.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	10-Kehoe-Stanley
2 ♥	W	2	♦ K		110	3.00	4.00	9-Petersen-Cushman	2-Olexsey-Olexsey
3 ♥	W	3	♥ 5		140	2.00	5.00	5-Burnam-Hubka	5-Temples-Koch
2 ♥	W	4	♠ K		170	1.00	6.00	10-Edwards-Edwards	4-Terwilliger-Payne
4 ♣	S	−2	♥ Q		200	0.00	7.00	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	6-Zimmer-Kammer

West decided that their hand was a little weak to overcall vulnerable, but they took a bid when the auction appeared to be dying. It's difficult for either North or South to bid 4 ♣ vulnerable. E/W lose two Spade tricks, one Diamond, and one Club, making three. North will lead the ♣ 3, the ♦ K, or the ♠ K--all have merit.

Board 14
East Deals
None Vul

♠	J 5
♥	10 9 6 3
♦	9 3
♣	A J 7 5 2

♠	A K 9 4
♥	Q J 2
♦	K 5 2
♣	K 8 6

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 10 6
♥	8 5 4
♦	A Q 8 7 6
♣	4 3

♠	8 7 3 2
♥	A K 7
♦	J 10 4
♣	Q 10 9

EW 3♠; NS 2♥; EW 3♦; NS 2♣; Par −140

West	North	East	South
		Pass	Pass
1 NT1	Pass	2 ♣2	Pass
2 ♠	Pass	2 NT3	Pass
Pass	Pass

15 to 17
Using Stayman to invite in notrump
Alert, may or may not have a 4-card major

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	N	3	♦ 7	400		6.50	0.50	1-Singerman-Cook	8-Kloecker-Blair
3 NT	N	3	♦ 7	400		6.50	0.50	10-Edwards-Edwards	4-Terwilliger-Payne
4 ♠	N	−1	♦ 6		50	4.50	2.50	3-Barron-Burns	1-Ibarra-Messinger
4 ♠	N	−1	♥ 5		50	4.50	2.50	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	6-Zimmer-Kammer
3 NT	N	−2	♦ 8		100	1.50	5.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	10-Kehoe-Stanley
3 NT	N	−2	♦ 7		100	1.50	5.50	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	3-Felson-Brown
3 NT	N	−2	♦ 8		100	1.50	5.50	5-Burnam-Hubka	5-Temples-Koch
3 NT	N	−2	♦ 7		100	1.50	5.50	9-Petersen-Cushman	2-Olexsey-Olexsey

E/W play Four-Suit Transfers, so East's sequence doesn't guarantee a four-card major. If North leads a Club, E/W will make ten or 11 tricks. If North leads a Heart and South switches to the ♣ Q at trick two, E/W will be down two. Which seems better? Be careful about leading from suits like North's Clubs--it often gives up one or more tricks (in this case it gives up five).

Board 15
South Deals
N-S Vul

♠	A Q 5
♥	A Q 9 8 7 4 3
♦	2
♣	Q 8

♠	K 9 8 6 2
♥	J 5
♦	K 5 4
♣	J 7 5

N
W		E
S

♠	J 10 4 3
♥	K
♦	3
♣	A K 10 9 6 3 2

♠	7
♥	10 6 2
♦	A Q J 10 9 8 7 6
♣	4

NS 6♥; NS 5♦; EW 3♠; EW 2♣; Par +500: EW 6♠×−3

West	North	East	South
			Pass1
Pass	1 ♥	3 ♣	3 ♥
4 ♣	4 ♥	5 ♣	5 ♦2
Pass	5 ♥	Pass	Pass
Pass

Don't preempt when you have more than one place to play
Showing where their values

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♦×	S	5	♣ 5	750		7.00	0.00	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	3-Felson-Brown
4 ♥	N	5	♣ A	650		5.00	2.00	1-Singerman-Cook	8-Kloecker-Blair
4 ♥	N	5	♣ A	650		5.00	2.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	10-Kehoe-Stanley
4 ♥	N	5	♣ A	650		5.00	2.00	3-Barron-Burns	1-Ibarra-Messinger
5 ♦	S	5	♥ J	600		2.50	4.50	5-Burnam-Hubka	5-Temples-Koch
5 ♦	S	5	♥ J	600		2.50	4.50	9-Petersen-Cushman	2-Olexsey-Olexsey
5 ♠×	W	−2	♦ 2	300		1.00	6.00	10-Edwards-Edwards	4-Terwilliger-Payne
5 ♦	S	−2	♣ 7		200	0.00	7.00	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	6-Zimmer-Kammer

Before South opens 4 ♦, they should picture what their hand looks like as dummy if partner can open 1 ♥. It looks pretty nice, doesn't it? There's no way in the world that the bidding will go P-P-P-P if South doesn't preempt, so South should bide their time and see where the auction goes. When partner opens 1 ♥ and East overcalls in Clubs, the value of South's hand skyrockets.

N/S lose one Club trick and possibly one Heart if declarer guesses wrong, making five. East will lead the ♣ K (asking for count) and continue with the ♣ A at trick two, declarer ruffing with dummy's ♥ 2. Double dummy lines would be Heart to the ♥ A, felling the ♥ K, followed by a Diamond to the ♦ A and a ruffing finesse in Diamonds, West covering the ♦ Q with the ♦ K. The ♠ A is next followed by a Spade ruff with dummy's ♥T and the ♦ J pitching declarer's last Spade. Declarer remains with ♥ Q9874 and merely has to return to their hand to pull the last trump and claim. An alternative line would be to finesse against West's ♠ K and ruff one Spade in dummy, but that's less funner.

Board 16
West Deals
E-W Vul

♠	5 4 2
♥	8 7 4
♦	K 8 5 3
♣	10 7 5

♠	A Q 8 3
♥	A 5
♦	Q J 7 2
♣	K 9 4

N
W		E
S

♠	K J 6
♥	Q 3 2
♦	10 6 4
♣	A 8 3 2

♠	10 9 7
♥	K J 10 9 6
♦	A 9
♣	Q J 6

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

West	North	East	South
1 NT1	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	W	−2	♥ 8	200		6.50	0.50	1-Singerman-Cook	7-Hatch-LaMacchia
3 NT	W	−2	♥ 8	200		6.50	0.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	9-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	W	3	♦ 3		600	3.00	4.00	3-Barron-Burns	11-Cummings-Lipp
3 NT	W	3	♥ 8		600	3.00	4.00	5-Burnam-Hubka	4-Terwilliger-Payne
3 NT	W	3	♦ 3		600	3.00	4.00	6-Behr-Terbrueggen	6-Zimmer-Kammer
3 NT	W	3	♦ 3		600	3.00	4.00	10-Edwards-Edwards	3-Felson-Brown
3 NT	W	3	♦ 3		600	3.00	4.00	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	5-Temples-Koch
3 NT	W	4	♦ 3		630	0.00	7.00	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	2-Olexsey-Olexsey

If North finds a Heart lead or switches to a Heart when in with the ♦ K, E/W will be down two. That shouldn't be too tough to find. If North leads a Diamond, then E/W are easily making three. Again, the lesson looks like DON'T LEAD FOURTH FROM YOUR HIGHEST IN YOUR LONGEST AND STRONGEST SUIT like an automaton. Nuff said.

Board 17
North Deals
None Vul

♠	K Q 2
♥	K Q 4
♦	Q 7 3 2
♣	Q 6 3

♠	J 8 7 5 4
♥	10 2
♦	A K J 8 5
♣	8

N
W		E
S

♠	6 3
♥	A J 9 7 5 3
♦	9 6
♣	J 10 4

♠	A 10 9
♥	8 6
♦	10 4
♣	A K 9 7 5 2

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

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

Weak jump overcall

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	N	4	♥ 7	430		5.50	1.50	1-Singerman-Cook	7-Hatch-LaMacchia
3 NT	N	4	♥ 9	430		5.50	1.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	9-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	N	4	♠ 6	430		5.50	1.50	3-Barron-Burns	11-Cummings-Lipp
3 NT	N	4	♥ 7	430		5.50	1.50	5-Burnam-Hubka	4-Terwilliger-Payne
3 NT	N	3	♣ J	400		2.00	5.00	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	2-Olexsey-Olexsey
3 NT	N	3	♠ 6	400		2.00	5.00	6-Behr-Terbrueggen	6-Zimmer-Kammer
3 NT	N	3	♠ 6	400		2.00	5.00	10-Edwards-Edwards	3-Felson-Brown
3 ♣	S	3	♦ K	110		0.00	7.00	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	5-Temples-Koch

South's 3 ♣ bid shows 5+ Clubs and 10+ HCP (Five & Dime). N/S take three Spade tricks, one Heart, and six Clubs, making four. East will probably lead the ♥ 7 (phew....partner had the ♥T).

Board 18
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	K 9 2
♥	A Q 10 4
♦	K J 10 6 5 2
♣	—

♠	J
♥	7 6 2
♦	A 8 3
♣	Q 10 8 4 3 2

N
W		E
S

♠	A Q 4
♥	K 9 5
♦	Q 9
♣	A J 9 7 6

♠	10 8 7 6 5 3
♥	J 8 3
♦	7 4
♣	K 5

W 3N; EW 4♣; E 2N; NS 2♠; NS 2♦; NS 1♥; Par −400

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

15 to 17
Alert, transfer to 3 ♣
Alert, showing Axx, Kxx, Qxx, or xxxx in Clubs

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	E	−2	♠ 5	100		7.00	0.00	1-Singerman-Cook	7-Hatch-LaMacchia
4 ♣	E	−1	♦ 7	50		5.50	1.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	9-Diers-McCarthy
5 ♣	E	−1	♦ 7	50		5.50	1.50	3-Barron-Burns	11-Cummings-Lipp
3 ♦	N	−1	♦ 9		100	4.00	3.00	6-Behr-Terbrueggen	6-Zimmer-Kammer
4 ♣	E	4	♦ 7		130	2.50	4.50	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	2-Olexsey-Olexsey
3 ♣	E	4	♠ 6		130	2.50	4.50	10-Edwards-Edwards	3-Felson-Brown
4 ♣	E	5	♠ 8		150	1.00	6.00	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	5-Temples-Koch
4 ♠×	S	−2	♠ J		500	0.00	7.00	5-Burnam-Hubka	4-Terwilliger-Payne

When you have a hand such as West and partner shows support for your minor, bid 3 NT. If partner had bid 2 NT denying a fit in Clubs, bid 3 ♣ to play.

If South finds the lead of the ♦ 7, E/W will be down one in 3 NT. That's highly unlikely, since South is probably going to lead a Spade. On a Spade lead, E/W will take five Club tricks, two Spades, one Diamond, and one Heart, making three. The proper way to play the Clubs when you're missing only two is to play the ♣ A trying to drop a stiff ♣ K.

Board 19
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	9 7
♥	9 5
♦	4 3 2
♣	A K 10 7 6 4

♠	A K 8 5 4 2
♥	A K 10 6 3
♦	K 9
♣	—

N
W		E
S

♠	J 6
♥	Q J 7
♦	A 8 6
♣	Q J 9 5 2

♠	Q 10 3
♥	8 4 2
♦	Q J 10 7 5
♣	8 3

EW 7♥; EW 6♠; EW 4N; EW 3♣; EW 2♦; Par −2210

West	North	East	South
			Pass
2 ♣	Dbl1	Pass2	2 ♦3
2 ♠	3 ♣	Dbl4	Pass
3 ♥5	Pass	3 NT6	Pass
4 ♥7	Pass	4 NT8	Pass
6 ♣9	Pass	7 ♥	Pass
Pass	Pass

Alert, DONT bid showing a single-suited hand
Alert, showing an A, K, or QQ
Alert, forced bid asking partner to pass or correct
For penalty and denying a third Spade
Showing a second suit
Denying a fourth Heart
Showing at least 5-5 shape
RKC Blackwood for Hearts
1430 response showing 1 or 3 keycards and a void in Clubs

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
6 NT×	E	−2	♦ Q	500		7.00	0.00	1-Singerman-Cook	6-Zimmer-Kammer
5 ♠	W	−1	♣ A	100		6.00	1.00	3-Barron-Burns	10-Kehoe-Stanley
2 NT	E	3	♦ Q		150	5.00	2.00	7-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	7-Hatch-LaMacchia
2 ♥	W	6	♣ A		230	4.00	3.00	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	4-Terwilliger-Payne
3 NT	E	4	♦ J		630	3.00	4.00	6-Behr-Terbrueggen	5-Temples-Koch
4 ♥	W	6	♣ A		680	1.00	6.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	8-Kloecker-Blair
4 ♥	W	6	♣ A		680	1.00	6.00	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	1-Ibarra-Messinger
4 ♥	W	6	♣ K		680	1.00	6.00	5-Burnam-Hubka	3-Felson-Brown

Nice auction! Note that it's a really good idea to interfere with your opponent's 2 ♣ auction, but in this case it doesn't have much affect. When East shows the void and three keycards, West can easily picture a hand similar to ♠ AKQxx ♥ AKxxx ♦ Kxx ♣--, and bids the grand. If East doesn't have the ♠ Q, then they'll have the ♦ Q or a sixth Spade, both equally valuable.

North will lead the ♣ K, declarer ruffing in hand with the ♥ 3. The ♥ Q and ♥ A are next, both opponent's following, and then the ♠ AK and a third Spade. When North shows out and is unable to ruff, declarer can ruff in dummy with the ♥ J, return to their hand with the ♦ K (North does not have an eight-card Diamond suit in addition to their long Clubs), and claim.

Board 20
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	A K J
♥	A 4
♦	10 8 5
♣	A J 8 4 3

♠	Q 7 5 4 3 2
♥	10 9 2
♦	K
♣	Q 9 7

N
W		E
S

♠	10 8
♥	K Q J 8 6 5
♦	9 6 3
♣	K 6

♠	9 6
♥	7 3
♦	A Q J 7 4 2
♣	10 5 2

NS 6♦; NS 5N; NS 5♣; W 1♠; EW 1♥; Par +1370

West	North	East	South
Pass	1 ♣1	2 ♥2	Pass
Pass	Dbl3	Pass	3 ♦
Pass	3 ♥4	Pass	5 ♦
Pass	Pass	Pass

Too strong to open 1 NT
Weak jump overcall
Do something smart, partner
Do you have a Heart stopper for notrump?

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♠×	W	−2	♦ 5	500		7.00	0.00	3-Barron-Burns	10-Kehoe-Stanley
3 ♣	N	3	♠ 10	110		6.00	1.00	5-Burnam-Hubka	3-Felson-Brown
5 ♦	S	−1	♥ 2		100	3.00	4.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	8-Kloecker-Blair
5 ♦	S	−1	♥ 10		100	3.00	4.00	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	1-Ibarra-Messinger
2 NT	N	−1	♥ J		100	3.00	4.00	6-Behr-Terbrueggen	5-Temples-Koch
2 NT	N	−1	♥ K		100	3.00	4.00	7-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	7-Hatch-LaMacchia
4 ♦	S	−1	♥ 2		100	3.00	4.00	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	4-Terwilliger-Payne
4 ♣	S	−2	♠ 7		200	0.00	7.00	1-Singerman-Cook	6-Zimmer-Kammer

North's hand is essentially an 18-point hand with 17 HCP and a fifth Club. North plans to open 1 ♣ and rebid 2 NT over partner's major-suit response. When the auction doesn't pan out that way, North doubles and then tries to play in 3 NT. When the auction doesn't pan out that way either, N/S end up playing in 5 ♦. That's safer, since declarer is unlikely to guess the Diamonds correctly if playing in 3 NT.

West will lead the ♥T, and declarer should win immediately in dummy with the ♥ A, and play a small trump to the ♦ A (eschewing the Diamond finesse in an effort to pitch their Heart loser). When the ♦ K drops, declarer is playing for an overtrick--maybe. Trump are pulled in two more rounds, ending in hand, and declarer now plays a Spade to the ♠ J. When that holds, the ♠ AK are played pitching a Heart from their hand (East showing out on the third Spade).

Declarer has a perfect count on the hand now. East has shown up with exactly two Spades and three Diamonds and has six or more Hearts for their preempt. With only six HCP, they are very likely to have an honor in Clubs, so declarer should play them for ♣ Qx or ♣ Kx. A Club is led from dummy, and East will more than likely rise with the ♣ K and exit with a Heart, declarer ruffing in their hand. It's now a simple matter to finesse against West's ♣ Q, making six. If East does duck the Club lead to their partner's ♣ Q, declarer should play the ♣ A on the next round to drop East's now stiff ♣ K. Nicely played!

Board 21
North Deals
N-S Vul

♠	K J 4 3 2
♥	A 5
♦	K 6 4
♣	A 8 5

♠	A 9
♥	J 7 6 4 3
♦	8
♣	Q 9 7 6 4

N
W		E
S

♠	10 8 7 5
♥	Q 8
♦	Q 10 7 3
♣	K J 2

♠	Q 6
♥	K 10 9 2
♦	A J 9 5 2
♣	10 3

NS 4♠; NS 3N; NS 5♦; NS 1♥; EW 1♣; Par +620

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

Forcing

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	N	5	♦ 3	660		6.93	0.07	7-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	7-Hatch-LaMacchia
3 NT	N	4	♦ 3	630		5.21	1.79	1-Singerman-Cook	6-Zimmer-Kammer
3 NT	N	4	♦ 3	630		5.21	1.79	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	1-Ibarra-Messinger
2 NT	N	2	♥ Q	120		3.50	3.50	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	4-Terwilliger-Payne
3 NT	N	−1	♣ K		100	1.21	5.79	3-Barron-Burns	10-Kehoe-Stanley
3 NT	S	−1	♣ 6		100	1.21	5.79	5-Burnam-Hubka	3-Felson-Brown
3 NT	N	−1	♣ 2		100	1.21	5.79	6-Behr-Terbrueggen	5-Temples-Koch

South's 2 NT bid shows around 11 HCP or the equivalent in playing strength. Their five-card Diamond suit and excellent spot cards allow them upgrade their hand. N/S take one Spade trick, two Hearts, five Diamonds, and one Club, making three. West will lead a small Club, and declarer will hold up the ♣ A until the third round. A low Diamond to the ♦ 9 is next. When the ♦ 9 holds, declarer returns to dummy with the ♦ K to take the marked finesse against the ♦ Q. Here's the situation with one Diamond to go:

South: ♠ Q ♥ KT92 ♦ 2
West: ♠ A ♥ J76 ♣ Q9
North: ♠ KJ43 ♥ A5
East: ♠T875 ♥ Q8

When South plays the last Diamond, West is squeezed. They can't throw the ♠ A, because that would give N/S the remaining tricks. A Heart isn't much better, since declarer will take four Heart tricks and concede the 13th trick to West's ♠ A. That leaves a Club pitch, and declarer can now safely lose a Spade to West knowing that they have only one cashing Club. Nicely played!

Board 22
East Deals
E-W Vul

♠	K Q 8 6 5
♥	J 7 2
♦	J 6 2
♣	5 3

♠	A 7
♥	A 10 8
♦	K Q 8 5 4 3
♣	7 6

N
W		E
S

♠	—
♥	K Q 6 5 4 3
♦	A 10 9
♣	A J 8 2

♠	J 10 9 4 3 2
♥	9
♦	7
♣	K Q 10 9 4

EW 7N; EW 7♥; EW 7♦; NS 3♠; EW 3♣; Par −2220

West	North	East	South
		1 ♥	2 ♥1
2 ♠2	4 ♠	6 ♥	6 ♠
7 ♥	7 ♠	Pass	Pass
7 NT	Pass	Pass	Pass

Michaels cuebid showing Spades and an unknown minor
Unusual vs. Unusual cuebid showing a strong Heart raise

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♠	S	−2	♥ A		100	7.00	0.00	3-Barron-Burns	9-Diers-McCarthy
5 ♠×	S	−2	♠ A		300	6.00	1.00	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	8-Kloecker-Blair
5 ♥	E	7	♠ J		710	3.00	4.00	1-Singerman-Cook	5-Temples-Koch
4 ♥	E	7	♣ K		710	3.00	4.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	7-Hatch-LaMacchia
5 ♥	E	7	♣ K		710	3.00	4.00	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	11-Cummings-Lipp
5 ♥	E	7	♦ 7		710	3.00	4.00	6-Behr-Terbrueggen	4-Terwilliger-Payne
4 ♥	E	7	♦ 7		710	3.00	4.00	7-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	6-Zimmer-Kammer
6 ♥×	E	6	♣ K		1660	0.00	7.00	5-Burnam-Hubka	2-Olexsey-Olexsey

When East is able to bid 6 ♥ on their own, West has no trouble bidding the grand. Trouble is that N/S are probably going to believe that E/W are making seven, so they'll sacrifice in 7 ♠. West, knowing that 7 ♠ down four doubled not-vulnerable for +800 isn't even as good as E/W's small slam, will bid the grand in notrump. It's like a big game of chicken....ummm...chicken.

E/W take one Spade trick, six Heart tricks, six Diamond tricks, and one Club trick, making eight. North will lead the ♠ K.

Board 23
South Deals
Both Vul

♠	Q 7 5 4 2
♥	A J
♦	Q 9 2
♣	10 5 4

♠	K 6 3
♥	9 6 5
♦	A K 7 4 3
♣	8 3

N
W		E
S

♠	A 9 8
♥	K Q 8 7 2
♦	8
♣	A Q 9 2

♠	J 10
♥	10 4 3
♦	J 10 6 5
♣	K J 7 6

EW 4♥; EW 3N; EW 2♠; EW 3♦; EW 2♣; Par −620

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

Alert, artificial Drury bid showing a 3- or 4-card limit raise in Hearts

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	E	−1	♦ 5	100		6.00	1.00	1-Singerman-Cook	5-Temples-Koch
4 ♥	E	−1	♠ J	100		6.00	1.00	3-Barron-Burns	9-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♥	E	−1	♠ J	100		6.00	1.00	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	11-Cummings-Lipp
2 ♥	E	3	♠ J		140	3.50	3.50	5-Burnam-Hubka	2-Olexsey-Olexsey
2 ♥	E	3	♠ J		140	3.50	3.50	6-Behr-Terbrueggen	4-Terwilliger-Payne
3 NT	E	3	♦ 5		600	2.00	5.00	7-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	6-Zimmer-Kammer
4 ♥	E	4	♠ J		620	1.00	6.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	7-Hatch-LaMacchia
4 ♥	E	5	♠ J		650	0.00	7.00	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	8-Kloecker-Blair

East has no reason to ask for more details about their partner's hand, since they always want to be in game and have zero interest in slam. E/W lose one Heart trick and two Clubs, making four. South should lead a trump, and North should win with the ♥ A and play back the ♥ J. Declarer can ruff one Club in dummy, but they'll lose tricks to both the ♣ K and ♣ J (their losing Spade goes on the ♦ K).

Board 24
West Deals
None Vul

♠	5 3
♥	A K Q J 9 5 4 2
♦	—
♣	9 8 6

♠	A Q 10 7 6
♥	8 6 3
♦	10 4
♣	5 3 2

N
W		E
S

♠	K J 9
♥	7
♦	A 7 6 3 2
♣	A K J 7

♠	8 4 2
♥	10
♦	K Q J 9 8 5
♣	Q 10 4

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

West	North	East	South
Pass	4 ♥	Dbl	Pass
4 ♠	Pass	Pass	Pass

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	W	−1	♥ A	50		7.00	0.00	7-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	6-Zimmer-Kammer
4 ♥	N	−1	♣ A		50	5.50	1.50	6-Behr-Terbrueggen	4-Terwilliger-Payne
4 ♥	N	−1	♣ A		50	5.50	1.50	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	8-Kloecker-Blair
5 ♥	N	−2	♣ A		100	3.00	4.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	7-Hatch-LaMacchia
4 ♥	N	−2	♣ A		100	3.00	4.00	3-Barron-Burns	9-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♥	N	−2	♣ A		100	3.00	4.00	5-Burnam-Hubka	2-Olexsey-Olexsey
5 ♥×	N	−2	♣ A		300	1.00	6.00	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	11-Cummings-Lipp
4 ♠	W	4	♥ A		420	0.00	7.00	1-Singerman-Cook	5-Temples-Koch

It's a bit unseemly for North to take a second bid when they've already preempted, and South has no idea whether their hand has some defense. Pity. E/W lose one Heart trick, one Diamond, and one Club, making four. North will lead....hmm, let me think....

Board 25
North Deals
E-W Vul

♠	7
♥	A J 10 9 2
♦	A
♣	A Q 8 7 6 5

♠	K 8 2
♥	8 7
♦	Q J 9 8 7 5 3
♣	4

N
W		E
S

♠	A Q 10 6 4 3
♥	K 5 4
♦	K 6 4
♣	J

♠	J 9 5
♥	Q 6 3
♦	10 2
♣	K 10 9 3 2

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

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

Planning to reverse
Weak jump raise

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	N	5	♦ 4	450		6.00	1.00	3-Barron-Burns	8-Kloecker-Blair
5 ♥	N	5	♣ J	450		6.00	1.00	6-Behr-Terbrueggen	3-Felson-Brown
5 ♥	N	5	♣ J	450		6.00	1.00	7-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	5-Temples-Koch
5 ♣	N	5	♠ A	400		3.50	3.50	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	10-Kehoe-Stanley
5 ♣	N	5	♦ K	400		3.50	3.50	9-Petersen-Cushman	9-Diers-McCarthy
6 ♣	N	−1	♣ J		50	1.50	5.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	6-Zimmer-Kammer
6 ♣	N	−1	♠ A		50	1.50	5.50	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	7-Hatch-LaMacchia
5 ♥×	N	−1	♣ J		100	0.00	7.00	5-Burnam-Hubka	1-Ibarra-Messinger

Although 5 ♣ isn't the best contract, it's the most logical. N/S lose one Spade trick and one Heart, making five. East may lead the ♠ A and continue Spades at trick two.

Board 26
East Deals
Both Vul

♠	A 10 7
♥	A K J 10
♦	9 5 2
♣	K 3 2

♠	Q 5 4 3 2
♥	3
♦	K 4
♣	9 7 6 5 4

N
W		E
S

♠	—
♥	Q 7 4
♦	A Q 10 8 7 3
♣	A J 10 8

♠	K J 9 8 6
♥	9 8 6 5 2
♦	J 6
♣	Q

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

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

Michaels cuebid showing both majors

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♥	S	4	♦ K	170		7.00	0.00	5-Burnam-Hubka	1-Ibarra-Messinger
3 ♥	N	3	♦ A	140		6.00	1.00	3-Barron-Burns	8-Kloecker-Blair
2 ♥	N	2	♦ A	110		5.00	2.00	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	10-Kehoe-Stanley
3 ♠	S	−1	♦ K		100	3.00	4.00	6-Behr-Terbrueggen	3-Felson-Brown
4 ♥	N	−1	♣ A		100	3.00	4.00	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	7-Hatch-LaMacchia
4 ♥	N	−1	♦ A		100	3.00	4.00	9-Petersen-Cushman	9-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♣	E	5	♥ 2		150	1.00	6.00	7-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	5-Temples-Koch
4 ♠	S	−5	♦ K		500	0.00	7.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	6-Zimmer-Kammer

South's hand is about as weak as you'd want to be to make a Michaels bid--especially a vulnerable one. North jumps to show a hand that wants to be in game opposite a 9-10 count, and East, who didn't pick up their hand to play in a major, bids 5 ♣--pass or correct. West is more than happy to pass, and thinks for at least a second about raising to six. North has no reason to sacrifice in 5 ♥, since they think they're beating 5 ♣.

E/W lose one Club trick and one Heart, making five. South will lead the ♥ 8 (MUD).

Board 27
South Deals
None Vul

♠	8 7 2
♥	J 7 6 2
♦	A 10 2
♣	7 4 2

♠	K 10 9
♥	Q 8 5
♦	J 6 3
♣	A K 8 5

N
W		E
S

♠	A Q 4 3
♥	A K 10 4 3
♦	Q
♣	J 10 6

♠	J 6 5
♥	9
♦	K 9 8 7 5 4
♣	Q 9 3

EW 6♠; EW 6♥; EW 6♣; EW 4N; EW 1♦; Par −980

West	North	East	South
			2 ♦1
Dbl2	3 ♦3	6 ♥4	Pass
Pass	Pass

Weak two bid
A truly ugly takeout double
Extending the preempt
What else?

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
6 ♥	E	−1	♥ 9	50		7.00	0.00	7-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	5-Temples-Koch
4 ♦	S	−4	♣ A		200	6.00	1.00	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	7-Hatch-LaMacchia
4 ♥	E	4	♦ 9		420	4.50	2.50	3-Barron-Burns	8-Kloecker-Blair
4 ♥	E	4	♦ 5		420	4.50	2.50	9-Petersen-Cushman	9-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♥	E	5	♣ 3		450	2.50	4.50	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	10-Kehoe-Stanley
4 ♥	E	5	♣ 3		450	2.50	4.50	5-Burnam-Hubka	1-Ibarra-Messinger
3 NT	W	6	♥ 7		490	1.00	6.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	6-Zimmer-Kammer
4 ♥	E	7	♥ 9		510	0.00	7.00	6-Behr-Terbrueggen	3-Felson-Brown

When your partner makes a takeout double of a weak-two bid, and you're holding a hand similar to the one that East holds, bid a lot. E/W lose one Diamond trick, making six. South will lead the ♦ 7 (beer card). The best way to play the Heart suit is ♥ K, small to the ♥ Q (noting that South shows out), and then take the marked finesse against the ♥ J. Before the last trump is pulled, declarer should run the ♣ J finessing against South's supposed ♣ Q. When it holds (or South covers), declarer can pull the last trump, and then hope that one of the black suits splits 3-3. They both do. Isn't Bridge easy?

Board 28
West Deals
N-S Vul

♠	Q J 3
♥	K 10 9 5 3 2
♦	9 5
♣	A 4

♠	K 10 8 7 6 5
♥	—
♦	K 8 6
♣	K Q 9 7

N
W		E
S

♠	9 4
♥	J 8
♦	A Q 10 7 4 2
♣	J 8 3

♠	A 2
♥	A Q 7 6 4
♦	J 3
♣	10 6 5 2

EW 4♠; EW 5♦; NS 3♥; NS 1N; EW 2♣; Par −420

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

Showing a full opener

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	N	4	♠ 9	620		6.50	0.50	6-Behr-Terbrueggen	2-Olexsey-Olexsey
4 ♥	S	4	♦ K	620		6.50	0.50	9-Petersen-Cushman	8-Kloecker-Blair
5 ♠×	W	−2	♣ A	300		5.00	2.00	5-Burnam-Hubka	11-Cummings-Lipp
4 ♥	N	−1	♠ 9		100	4.00	3.00	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	6-Zimmer-Kammer
3 ♦	E	3	♥ 6		110	3.00	4.00	3-Barron-Burns	7-Hatch-LaMacchia
3 ♠	W	3	♥ 10		140	2.00	5.00	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	9-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♠	W	4	♥ K		170	0.50	6.50	7-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	4-Terwilliger-Payne
2 ♠	W	4	♥ 2		170	0.50	6.50	10-Edwards-Edwards	10-Kehoe-Stanley

South's 2 ♠ cuebid shows a limit raise or better for Hearts. Be careful when you try and guess what advancer's cuebids mean though. If the overcall was at the one level, and the advancer was not a passed hand, then the cuebid may simply be a general force (i.e., not show support for partner's suit). When the advancer is a passed hand, their cuebid always shows support, since they can't have a strong hand of their own. When the overcall is at the two level showing a full opener, new suits are forcing, so again, the cuebid shows a fit for the overcaller's suit. N/S are in a forcing auction, so they're obligated to bid on or double E/W's final contract. Oops.

E/W lose one Spade trick and one Club, making five doubled for an octillion points. South may lead the ♥ A, but nothing matters.

Board 29
North Deals
Both Vul

♠	K J 7 5 4
♥	A J
♦	Q 7 6 5
♣	A 5

♠	Q 3
♥	Q 10 5
♦	A K 10 8 4
♣	Q 7 3

N
W		E
S

♠	A 10 9 2
♥	K 3 2
♦	9
♣	K J 9 8 4

♠	8 6
♥	9 8 7 6 4
♦	J 3 2
♣	10 6 2

EW 4N; EW 4♣; EW 2♠; EW 2♥; W 3♦; E 2♦; Par −630

West	North	East	South
	1 ♠	2 ♣	Pass
2 ♦	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 ♣	E	−1	♠ 8	100		6.50	0.50	9-Petersen-Cushman	8-Kloecker-Blair
2 ♦	W	−1	♠ 4	100		6.50	0.50	10-Edwards-Edwards	10-Kehoe-Stanley
2 ♥	N	−1	♦ 9		100	5.00	2.00	6-Behr-Terbrueggen	2-Olexsey-Olexsey
3 ♣	E	4	♠ 8		130	4.00	3.00	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	9-Diers-McCarthy
2 NT	E	4	♠ 6		180	3.00	4.00	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	6-Zimmer-Kammer
1 ♦×	N	−2	♦ 9		500	2.00	5.00	5-Burnam-Hubka	11-Cummings-Lipp
3 NT	E	4	♠ 6		630	1.00	6.00	7-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	4-Terwilliger-Payne
4 ♣×	E	4	♠ 8		710	0.00	7.00	3-Barron-Burns	7-Hatch-LaMacchia

West's 2 ♦ bid should be played as forcing over partner's 2/1 overcall. E/W take four Club tricks, two Diamonds, two Hearts, and two Spades, making four. South will lead the ♠ 8.

Board 30
East Deals
None Vul

♠	10 5 4
♥	K 8 4 2
♦	A Q 2
♣	10 5 3

♠	A Q 8 7 3
♥	A Q 9 6
♦	10 6 4
♣	9

N
W		E
S

♠	K J
♥	J 3
♦	J 9 7
♣	A K J 7 6 4

♠	9 6 2
♥	10 7 5
♦	K 8 5 3
♣	Q 8 2

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

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

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	10-Edwards-Edwards	10-Kehoe-Stanley
3 NT	E	−1	♥ 5	50		6.00	1.00	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	9-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♣	E	3	♦ 3		110	4.50	2.50	6-Behr-Terbrueggen	2-Olexsey-Olexsey
3 ♣	E	3	♦ 3		110	4.50	2.50	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	6-Zimmer-Kammer
2 ♠	W	3	♠ 4		140	3.00	4.00	9-Petersen-Cushman	8-Kloecker-Blair
3 NT	W	3	♥ 2		400	1.50	5.50	3-Barron-Burns	7-Hatch-LaMacchia
3 NT	W	3	♦ 2		400	1.50	5.50	5-Burnam-Hubka	11-Cummings-Lipp
4 ♠	W	4	♣ 3		420	0.00	7.00	7-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	4-Terwilliger-Payne

West is wise to make a non-forcing bid at their third turn--the hand sounds like a misfit, and nobody seems to have a Diamond stopper for notrump. E/W lose one Heart trick and three Diamonds, making three. North should lead the ♦ A and continue with the ♦ Q at trick two when partner encourages.

Board 31
South Deals
N-S Vul

♠	A J 5
♥	10 4
♦	A 8 3
♣	10 9 7 4 2

♠	Q 8 6 4
♥	Q 7 3 2
♦	J
♣	J 8 5 3

N
W		E
S

♠	K 9 7 3
♥	A
♦	Q 9 6 5 4 2
♣	A 6

♠	10 2
♥	K J 9 8 6 5
♦	K 10 7
♣	K Q

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

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

Forcing

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♥	S	2	♦ J	110		6.00	1.00	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	8-Kloecker-Blair
2 ♥	S	2	♠ 4	110		6.00	1.00	9-Petersen-Cushman	7-Hatch-LaMacchia
2 ♥	S	2	♦ J	110		6.00	1.00	10-Edwards-Edwards	9-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♦	E	−2	♣ K	100		4.00	3.00	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	5-Temples-Koch
3 ♥	S	−1	♦ J		100	3.00	4.00	6-Behr-Terbrueggen	1-Ibarra-Messinger
2 ♠	W	2	♥ 10		110	2.00	5.00	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	11-Cummings-Lipp
4 ♥	S	−2	♦ J		200	0.50	6.50	5-Burnam-Hubka	10-Kehoe-Stanley
4 ♥	S	−2	♦ J		200	0.50	6.50	7-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	3-Felson-Brown

East's hand is worth a second bid on the vulnerability. E/W lose two Spade tricks, one Diamond, and one Club, making three. South may lead the ♣ K.

Board 32
West Deals
E-W Vul

♠	K Q 9 7
♥	Q J 3
♦	8 5
♣	Q J 9 4

♠	5
♥	9 8 7 6
♦	A K 9 7 3 2
♣	10 2

N
W		E
S

♠	10 8 2
♥	K 10 2
♦	Q J 10 6 4
♣	8 7

♠	A J 6 4 3
♥	A 5 4
♦	—
♣	A K 6 5 3

NS 7♠; NS 7♣; NS 1N; EW 2♦; NS 1♥; Par +1510

West	North	East	South
Pass1	Pass	Pass	1 ♠
3 ♦2	4 ♦3	Dbl4	5 ♦5
Dbl6	6 ♠	Pass	Pass
Pass

Don't preempt with a side 4-card major in first position
See, you got to bid anyway
Cuebid showing a limit raise for partner's suit
I like Diamonds
Cuebid showing strong slam interest
I like Diamonds too

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
6 ♠	S	7	♦ A	1010		6.50	0.50	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	8-Kloecker-Blair
6 ♠	S	7	♦ A	1010		6.50	0.50	10-Edwards-Edwards	9-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♠	S	7	♦ A	510		4.00	3.00	5-Burnam-Hubka	10-Kehoe-Stanley
4 ♠	S	7	♦ K	510		4.00	3.00	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	5-Temples-Koch
5 ♠	S	7	♦ A	510		4.00	3.00	9-Petersen-Cushman	7-Hatch-LaMacchia
4 ♠	N	6	♦ Q	480		1.00	6.00	6-Behr-Terbrueggen	1-Ibarra-Messinger
4 ♠	S	6	♦ A	480		1.00	6.00	7-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	3-Felson-Brown
4 ♠	S	6	♦ K	480		1.00	6.00	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	11-Cummings-Lipp

The more E/W like Diamonds, the better the N/S hands get. West will lead the ♦ A, and N/S will take 13 tricks when the Heart finesse works--dummy's third Heart can be pitched on declarer's long Club.

Board 33
North Deals
None Vul

♠	A 8 3
♥	J 9 8 6
♦	A J 9 3
♣	A 9

♠	9 5
♥	A Q 7
♦	K 7 5 4
♣	10 8 5 4

N
W		E
S

♠	K J 7 4
♥	K 5 3 2
♦	6 2
♣	K J 7

♠	Q 10 6 2
♥	10 4
♦	Q 10 8
♣	Q 6 3 2

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

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
1 NT	N	3	♠ 4	150		6.50	0.50	4-Oppelt-Oppelt	8-Kloecker-Blair
3 ♥	E	−3	♦ 8	150		6.50	0.50	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	5-Temples-Koch
1 NT	N	2	♦ 6	120		3.50	3.50	6-Behr-Terbrueggen	1-Ibarra-Messinger
1 NT	N	2	♥ 2	120		3.50	3.50	7-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	3-Felson-Brown
1 NT	N	2	♠ 4	120		3.50	3.50	9-Petersen-Cushman	7-Hatch-LaMacchia
1 NT	N	2	♥ 5	120		3.50	3.50	10-Edwards-Edwards	9-Diers-McCarthy
2 ♠	S	2	♣ 8	110		1.00	6.00	5-Burnam-Hubka	10-Kehoe-Stanley
1 NT	N	1	♥ 2	90		0.00	7.00	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	11-Cummings-Lipp

N/S take four Diamond tricks, one Club, two Spades, and one Heart, making two. West won't relish being on lead and may lead the ♥ A out of sheer desperation. It works.

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

West's hand gets a lot better when South bids 3 ♦, and they have an easy raise to game. E/W lose one Heart trick, one Diamond, and one Club, making four. South may lead a trump, but they should cash out when they get back in.

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

Don't preempt with a side 4-card major in first position
To play
Stayman without a stopper in Diamonds

East makes an off-shape 1 NT overcall, but it works. E/W lose one Diamond trick and one Club ruff, making five. South will lead the ♦ 7 (beer card) on opening lead, North will win the ♦ A and play a small Club for South to ruff. Unfortunately for the defense, declarer can ruff the Diamond return and claim ruffing a third Diamond in their hand while pulling trump (West is the master hand).

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

A very bad vulnerable weak two bid
The ♠T looked like a Jack

East got lucky and caught partner with a good hand. E/W take five Diamond tricks, two Hearts, and two Spades, making three. South will probably lead the ♠ 4.