MON 05/01/2017 at Nite

EVENT>Monday Night Bridge      |SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> A N-S
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>May 1, 2017        |CLUB NO.>185264    | 05/01/2017 22:11
---------------------,-- ------------------- -------------,---------------------
DIR> Mike Lipp       |RATING>Grass Roots Fund             |MOVEMENT>MITCHELL
------------,-------- ,-------------------------,--------- ---------------------
AVE>  132.0 |TOP>  11 |MP LIMITS>None/300/200   |CLUB>Mike's Games At The CBC
------------ --------- ------------------------- -------------------------------
PAIRS IN STRAT A=13/B=10/C=6                     ,---,-----------------,-------------------------,------,---------,
-------------------------------------------------|   |      Overall    |           Section       |      |Final    |
No Name                   Name                   |Flt|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C| Score | Pct  |Awards   |
------------------------------------------------- --- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ------- ------ ---------
 1 John Altman Sr         Debbie Wiest             A   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    128.78  48.78
 2 Donald Pollack         Bernice Pollack          C   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    101.53  38.46
 3 Patrick Lammers        Judith Lubow             B   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    128.31  48.60
 4 Patrick Hoffman        Carla Runda              B   .     3     .   |   4     3     .    140.12  53.08  0.74(OB)
 5 Liz Lin                Elmer Hubka              B   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    118.31  44.81
 6 Alex Grim              Gail Zimmer              B   .     4     .   |   5     4     .    139.67  52.91  0.55(OB)
 7 Julian Magnus, Jr      John Ramsay              C   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    124.33  47.09
 8 Terri Mackey           Susan De Roos            C   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    112.07  42.45
 9 J Thomas Markham       Carol Markham            C   2     1     1   |   1     1     1    160.52  60.80  2.51(OA)
10 Judy Barron            JoAnne Essig             C   3     2     2   |   2     2     2    159.91  60.57  1.88(OA)
11 Betty Murdock          Erin Oblinger            C   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    114.43  43.34
12 Michael Purcell        Kimberly King            A   4     .     .   |   3     .     .    157.91  59.81  1.41(OA)
13 Doris Kehoe            Lilam Stanley            A   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    129.04  48.88

                                          Totals                                           1714.93

Thanks for Expert Analysis Bob Fisk


                                       **PAIRS**
BOARD     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9    10    11    12    13
  /
   1>   3.86        1.14  8.77  3.86  9.86        7.14 10.95  3.86  0.05  7.14  3.86
          50   ---- -100   130    50   170   ----   90   200    50  -110    90    50

   2>   3.32        8.23  8.23  1.14  4.95        8.23 10.95  2.23  0.05  8.23  4.95
         -90   ----  100   100  -130    50   ----  100   150  -110  -170   100    50

   3>         9.32        9.32  9.32  4.41  1.68  1.68  6.05  1.68  9.32  6.05  1.68
         ----  140   ----  140   140   -90  -110  -110   100  -110   140   100  -110

   4>         0.10        1.90  4.90    8-  3.70  1.90    8-    8-    8-    8-  6.60
         ---- -200   ----  630   680   710   640   630   710   710   710   710  AVE+

   5>   2.77  2.77  8.23        2.77  2.77  8.23       10.41  2.77  2.77 10.41  6.59
        -140  -140    50   ---- -140  -140    50   ----  100  -140  -140   100  -110

   6>   7.14  7.14  2.77        2.77  9.86  0.05        2.77  2.77  7.14 10.95  7.14
        -180  -180  -600   ---- -600  -150  -630   ---- -600  -600  -180   200  -180

   7>   4.95        2.23  7.68        1.14  4.95  0.05  9.86  9.86  4.95  9.86  4.95
         140   ---- -100   170   ---- -110   140  -150   200   200   140   200   140

   8>   8.23        0.05  9.86       10.95  4.41  3.32  6.05  6.05  1.68  8.23  1.68
         450   ---- -100   460   ----  480   200   170   420   420   -50   450   -50

   9>   8.23  8.23  8.23  2.77  8.23        8.23  0.05        2.77  2.77  2.77  8.23
         420   420   420   -50   420   ----  420  -150   ----  -50   -50   -50   420

  10>   4.41  2.23  8.77  4.41  0.05        1.14  4.41        7.14  7.14 10.41 10.41
        -170  -300   100  -170  -620   ---- -500  -170   ---- -140  -140   140   140

  11>   7.68  3.86        7.68  1.14 10.95        3.86  1.14  7.68  1.14  7.68  7.68
         400   130   ----  400   -50   430   ----  130   -50   400   -50   400   400

  12>   6.05  6.05        6.05  6.05  0.59        0.59  6.05 10.41  6.05 10.41  2.23
          50    50   ----   50    50  -420   ---- -420    50   100    50   100  -110

  13>   2.23  0.05  3.32    5- 10.95    5-  9.86        8.23        1.14    5-  8.23
        -140  -300   100   130   300   130   150   ----  140   ---- -200   130   140

  14>   2.23  2.23  8.23  8.23  2.23  8.23  2.23        8.23        8.23  8.23  2.23
        -420  -420    50    50  -420    50  -420   ----   50   ----   50    50  -420

  15>   1.68  1.68  7.14        1.68  7.14 10.95  7.14        7.14  7.14  1.68  7.14
        -450  -450  -420   ---- -450  -420   100  -420   ---- -420  -420  -450  -420

  16>   8.77  4.95  4.95        8.77  4.95  8.77  4.95       10.95  0.59  0.59  2.23
         140   110   110   ----  140   110   140   110   ----  200   -50   -50   100

  17>   6.59  1.68  9.32  1.68  6.59 10.95  1.68  4.41  9.32              6.59  1.68
         450   420   500   420   450   800   420   430   500   ----  ----  450   420

  18>   3.32  8.23  8.23  0.05  3.32  1.14  3.32  6.05 10.95              9.86  6.05
        -110    50    50  -420  -110  -400  -110   -80   150   ----  ----  110   -80

  19>   8.23  1.14  0.05  8.23        3.86  3.86 10.95  8.23  3.86        3.86  8.23
         170   110   -50   170   ----  140   140   400   170   140   ----  140   170

  20>     5-    5-    5-    5-          5- 10.41    5-  0.59 10.41        0.59    5-
         650   650   650   650   ----  650   680   650  -100   680   ---- -100   650

  21>    10     6-    8     0     1     4     4    10     4    10     2           6-
         690   620   660  -100    50   170   170   690   170   690   110   ----  620

  22>     9-     -    4-    9-    9-    4-    4-     -    4-    4-    9-          4-
         100  -620  -140   100   100  -140  -140  -620  -140  -140   100   ---- -140

  23>   0.59  3.32  9.86  4.95  9.86        4.95  9.86  0.59  7.68  6.59  2.23
        -630  -300  -100  -200  -100   ---- -200  -100  -630  -110  -130  -600   ----

  24>   2.77  7.68  2.77  2.77  7.68        9.86  2.77  7.68 10.95  2.77  2.77
        -130  -110  -130  -130  -110   ----  -50  -130  -110   200  -130  -130   ----

  25>         9.32  0.05  4.41  6.05  6.05  1.14  3.32  2.23  9.32  9.32  9.32
         ----  420  -150   140   170   170  -100   100   -50   420   420   420   ----

  26>         0.59  6.05 10.95  0.59  2.23  6.05  6.05  9.86  6.05  6.05  6.05
         ---- -200  -100   620  -200  -140  -100  -100   140  -100  -100  -100   ----



EVENT>Monday Night Bridge      |SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> A E-W
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>May 1, 2017        |CLUB NO.>185264    | 05/01/2017 22:11
---------------------,-- ------------------- -------------,---------------------
DIR> Mike Lipp       |RATING>Grass Roots Fund             |MOVEMENT>MITCHELL
------------,-------- ,-------------------------,--------- ---------------------
AVE>  132.0 |TOP>  11 |MP LIMITS>None/300/200   |CLUB>Mike's Games At The CBC
------------ --------- ------------------------- -------------------------------
PAIRS IN STRAT A=13/B=9/C=5                      ,---,-----------------,-------------------------,------,---------,
-------------------------------------------------|   |      Overall    |           Section       |      |Final    |
No Name                   Name                   |Flt|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C| Score | Pct  |Awards   |
------------------------------------------------- --- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ------- ------ ---------
 1 Susan Stacy Vanstone   Jane Duncan              A   6     .     .   |   3     .     .    140.82  53.34  0.84(SA)
 2 Mike Burns             Charlie Kobida           B   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    128.67  48.74
 3 Michael Dickman        Ralph Terbrueggen        A   5     .     .   |   2     .     .    145.67  55.18  1.18(SA)
 4 Lewis Temples          Richard Koch             C   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    112.06  42.45
 5 Monica Ibarra          Pam Campbell             B   .     5     .   |   4     1     .    136.03  51.53  0.62(SB)
 6 Joy Singerman          William Cook             B   .     .     .   |   .     3     .    134.15  50.81  0.31(SB)
 7 Cheryl Endres          Pamela Kennedy           C   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    119.50  45.27
 8 Evelyn McCarthy        Joan Diers               C   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    115.82  43.87
 9 Peggy Jervis           Pat Lindeman             C   .     .     4   |   .     4     2    132.05  50.02  0.42(OC)
10 Annette Kereiakes      Tom Kereiakes            C   .     6     3   |   5     2     1    135.94  51.49  0.56(OC)
11 Harriet Edwards        Charles Edwards          B   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    120.59  45.68
12 Stephen Felson         Robert Brown             A   1     .     .   |   1     .     .    163.73  62.02  3.35(OA)


                                          Totals                                           1585.03

Thanks for Expert Analysis Bob Fisk


                                       **PAIRS**
BOARD     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9    10    11    12    13
  /
   1>   7.14  3.86        0.05  9.86  7.14  2.23 10.95  7.14  3.86  1.14  7.14
         -50   -90   ---- -200   100   -50  -130   110   -50   -90  -170   -50   ----

   2>   7.68  2.77        0.05  2.77  8.77  2.77 10.95  9.86  2.77  6.05  6.05
          90  -100   ---- -150  -100   110  -100   170   130  -100   -50   -50   ----

   3>   9.32  1.68  4.95        9.32  1.68  1.68  1.68  4.95  6.59  9.32  9.32
         110  -140  -100   ----  110  -140  -140  -140  -100    90   110   110   ----

   4>   9.10 10.90    2-          2-  9.10    2-  6.10    2-    2-  6.60  7.30
        -630   200  -710   ---- -710  -630  -710  -680  -710  -710  AVE+  -640   ----

   5>   8.23  0.59  2.77  8.23        8.23  8.23  0.59  8.23  4.41  2.77  8.23
         140  -100   -50   140   ----  140   140  -100   140   110   -50   140   ----

   6>   3.86  8.23  8.23  8.23        3.86  8.23  0.05  1.14  3.86 10.95  3.86
         180   600   600   600   ----  180   600  -200   150   180   630   180   ----

   7>   1.14  8.77  1.14  3.32  6.05        1.14  9.86  6.05  6.05  6.05 10.95
        -200   100  -200  -170  -140   ---- -200   110  -140  -140  -140   150   ----

   8>   4.95 10.95  4.95  1.14  9.32        2.77  0.05  9.32  6.59  2.77  7.68
        -420   100  -420  -460    50   ---- -450  -480    50  -200  -450  -170   ----

   9>   2.77  8.23  8.23  8.23  2.77  8.23        2.77  2.77  2.77 10.95  2.77
        -420    50    50    50  -420    50   ---- -420  -420  -420   150  -420   ----

  10>   2.23  3.86  6.59  3.86 10.95  0.59        0.59  9.86  6.59  6.59  8.77
        -100   140   170   140   620  -140   ---- -140   500   170   170   300   ----

  11>   3.32  3.32  9.86  9.86  3.32  0.05  3.32        3.32  7.14  7.14  9.86
        -400  -400    50    50  -400  -430  -400   ---- -400  -130  -130    50   ----

  12>   0.59  4.95  4.95  4.95  0.59 10.41  8.77        4.95 10.41  4.95  4.95
        -100   -50   -50   -50  -100   420   110   ----  -50   420   -50   -50   ----

  13>     5-  9.86  0.05    5-    5-  2.77  1.14  8.77       10.95  2.77  7.68
        -130   200  -300  -130  -130  -140  -150   140   ----  300  -140  -100   ----

  14>   2.77  2.77  8.77  2.77  2.77  8.77  8.77  8.77        8.77  2.77  2.77
         -50   -50   420   -50   -50   420   420   420   ----  420   -50   -50   ----

  15>   3.86  9.32  9.32  3.86  3.86  0.05  9.32  3.86  9.32        3.86  3.86
         420   450   450   420   420  -100   450   420   450   ----  420   420   ----

  16>  10.41  2.23 10.41  6.05  8.77  2.23  2.23  6.05  6.05        6.05  0.05
          50  -140    50  -110  -100  -140  -140  -110  -110   ---- -110  -200   ----

  17>   4.41  4.41  0.05  9.32  9.32  4.41  6.59  9.32  1.68  1.68        9.32
        -450  -450  -800  -420  -420  -450  -430  -420  -500  -500   ---- -420   ----

  18>   7.68  1.14  9.86  4.95  7.68  7.68  4.95  2.77  0.05  2.77       10.95
         110  -110   400    80   110   110    80   -50  -150   -50   ----  420   ----

  19>   7.14  7.14  2.77  7.14  2.77  0.05  9.86  2.77 10.95  7.14  2.77
        -140  -140  -170  -140  -170  -400  -110  -170    50  -140  -170   ----  ----

  20>  10.41    5-    5-  0.59    5-    5-    5- 10.41    5-  0.59    5-
         100  -650  -650  -680  -650  -650  -650   100  -650  -680  -650   ----  ----

  21>     7     4-    7     1     1     4-    7     3     1    11     9    10
        -170  -620  -170  -690  -690  -620  -170  -660  -690   100  -110   -50   ----

  22>     6-    6-    6-    1-   10-   10-    6-    6-    6-    1-    1-    1-
         140   140   140  -100   620   620   140   140   140  -100  -100  -100   ----

  23>         6.05 10.41  1.14  7.68 10.41  1.14  3.32  6.05  4.41  1.14  8.77
         ----  200   630   100   300   630   100   110   200   130   100   600   ----

  24>         1.14  8.23  8.23  3.32  3.32  8.23  0.05  8.23  8.23  3.32  8.23
         ----   50   130   130   110   110   130  -200   130   130   110   130   ----

  25>   9.86        7.68  1.68  8.77 10.95  1.68  6.59  1.68  4.95  1.68  4.95
         100   ---- -100  -420    50   150  -420  -140  -420  -170  -420  -170   ----

  26>   4.95        4.95 10.41  1.14  4.95  4.95  0.05  4.95 10.41  4.95  8.77
         100   ----  100   200  -140   100   100  -620   100   200   100   140   ----
Monday Night Bridge, Monday Eve, May 1, 2017

Board 1
North Deals
None Vul

♠	J
♥	Q 9 8 6
♦	9 2
♣	K Q J 10 7 6

♠	8 6 4 2
♥	K 7
♦	Q J 7 6 4
♣	5 4

N
W		E
S

♠	A Q 10 7
♥	J 10 2
♦	A 3
♣	A 9 8 2

♠	K 9 5 3
♥	A 5 4 3
♦	K 10 8 5
♣	3

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

West	North	East	South
	Pass	1 ♣	Dbl1
Pass2	Pass3	Rdbl4	Pass
1 ♠	2 ♣	Pass	Pass
2 ♦	2 ♥	2 ♠	Pass
Pass	3 ♥	Pass	Pass
Pass

A bit light but understandable
No reason to take a call with five HCP
What else?
For rescue

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	E	−4	♣ 3	200		10.95	0.05	9-Markham-Markham	4-Temples-Koch
2 ♥	N	4	♥ J	170		9.86	1.14	6-Grim-Zimmer	11-Edwards-Edwards
2 ♣	N	4	♠ 7	130		8.77	2.23	4-Hoffman-Runda	7-Endres-Kennedy
2 ♣	N	2	♥ J	90		7.14	3.86	8-Mackey-De Roos	2-Burns-Kobida
2 ♣	S	2	♦ Q	90		7.14	3.86	12-Purcell-King	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
1 NT	E	−1	♠ 3	50		3.86	7.14	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	1-Vanstone-Duncan
2 ♦	W	−1	♣ K	50		3.86	7.14	5-Lin-Hubka	9-Jervis-Lindeman
1 NT	E	−1	♥ 3	50		3.86	7.14	10-Barron-Essig	6-Singerman-Cook
1 NT	E	−1	♦ 5	50		3.86	7.14	13-Kehoe-Stanley	12-Felson-Brown
4 ♥×	N	−1	♦ A		100	1.14	9.86	3-Lammers-Lubow	5-Ibarra-Campbell
3 ♦	W	3	♣ K		110	0.05	10.95	11-Murdock-Oblinger	8-McCarthy-Diers

An interesting auction right out of the gate. N/S lose one Spade trick, one Heart, one Diamond, one Club, and a trump promotion, down one. East will lead the ♦ A and continue with a Diamond at trick two, won in dummy with the ♦ K. The ♣ 3 is led to the ♣ K, East winning the ♣ A, and East's best continuation is a small Heart. Declarer can hop with dummy's ♥ A, but when West is in with the ♥ K, they can play a third round of Diamonds to promote East's ♥ J. Nicely defended!

Board 2
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	3
♥	Q 10 8 6 4 2
♦	K Q 2
♣	K J 10

♠	A 10 5
♥	A K 9 7 5 3
♦	—
♣	7 5 3 2

N
W		E
S

♠	Q J 9 8 2
♥	—
♦	A J 10 9 8 4
♣	8 6

♠	K 7 6 4
♥	J
♦	7 6 5 3
♣	A Q 9 4

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

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

No chance the hand will be passed out

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	E	−3	♥ J	150		10.95	0.05	9-Markham-Markham	4-Temples-Koch
3 ♥	W	−2	♣ 10	100		8.23	2.77	3-Lammers-Lubow	5-Ibarra-Campbell
2 ♥	W	−2	♠ 2	100		8.23	2.77	4-Hoffman-Runda	7-Endres-Kennedy
2 ♥	W	−2	♠ 3	100		8.23	2.77	8-Mackey-De Roos	2-Burns-Kobida
4 ♠	E	−2	♥ J	100		8.23	2.77	12-Purcell-King	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
2 ♥	W	−1	♠ 3	50		4.95	6.05	6-Grim-Zimmer	11-Edwards-Edwards
2 ♥	W	−1	♠ 3	50		4.95	6.05	13-Kehoe-Stanley	12-Felson-Brown
2 ♦	W	2	♥ J		90	3.32	7.68	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	1-Vanstone-Duncan
2 ♠	E	2	♥ J		110	2.23	8.77	10-Barron-Essig	6-Singerman-Cook
3 ♦	E	4	♥ J		130	1.14	9.86	5-Lin-Hubka	9-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♠	E	4	♥ J		170	0.05	10.95	11-Murdock-Oblinger	8-McCarthy-Diers

E/W do well to stay out of game, as they should lose one Spade trick, one Diamond, and two Clubs, making three. If South leads something that doesn't look like a shamrock, E/W will probably make four or five, since declarer can pitch their two losing Clubs on dummy's ♥ AK. Best defense is a small Club to partner's ♣ K, followed by two more rounds of Clubs declarer ruffing in hand. Declarer will ruff a Diamond low in dummy and try and cash the top Hearts, but South will ruff the second round and play the last Club. Declarer can ruff, cash the ♦ A, and play a third Diamond, ruffing with the ♠ A. The position at this point is:

East: ♠ QJ9 ♦ J
South: ♠ K76 ♦ 7
Dummy: ♠T ♥ 975
North: ♠ 3 ♥ QT8

Declarer now simply embarks on a high cross-ruff. If South overruffs at any point with the ♠ K, they won't be able to continue Diamonds without aiding in the cross-ruff, and a Spade will allow declarer to draw the remaining trump and cash their good ♦ J.

Board 3
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	A J 4 2
♥	8 7 6
♦	Q 10 5
♣	K 9 6

♠	K 5 3
♥	J 10 4
♦	A 9 8 7 4 3
♣	3

N
W		E
S

♠	10 9
♥	A K 5 3
♦	K J 6
♣	J 8 7 4

♠	Q 8 7 6
♥	Q 9 2
♦	2
♣	A Q 10 5 2

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

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

Light third-seat opener
Do something smart, partner

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♠	N	3	♥ A	140		9.32	1.68	2-Pollack-Pollack	2-Burns-Kobida
2 ♠	N	3	♥ A	140		9.32	1.68	4-Hoffman-Runda	6-Singerman-Cook
3 ♠	N	3	♥ A	140		9.32	1.68	5-Lin-Hubka	8-McCarthy-Diers
2 ♠	N	3	♥ A	140		9.32	1.68	11-Murdock-Oblinger	7-Endres-Kennedy
3 ♦	W	−1	♣ 6	100		6.05	4.95	9-Markham-Markham	3-Dickman-Terbrueggen
2 ♥	E	−1	♦ 2	100		6.05	4.95	12-Purcell-King	9-Jervis-Lindeman
2 ♦	W	2	♥ 8		90	4.41	6.59	6-Grim-Zimmer	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
2 ♦	W	3	♠ A		110	1.68	9.32	7-Magnus, Jr-Ramsay	12-Felson-Brown
3 ♦	E	3	♠ A		110	1.68	9.32	8-Mackey-De Roos	1-Vanstone-Duncan
3 ♦	W	3	♣ 6		110	1.68	9.32	10-Barron-Essig	5-Ibarra-Campbell
1 ♦	W	3	♠ 2		110	1.68	9.32	13-Kehoe-Stanley	11-Edwards-Edwards

North opens light in third seat but happily competes to 2 ♠ when partner shows the Club fit. E/W can bid 3 ♦, but South will bid 3 ♠. N/S lose two Heart tricks and one Diamond, making four. West may lead the ♣ 3. The best way to play the Spade suit is small to the ♠ J followed by the ♠ A trying to drop a doubleton ♠ K.

Board 4
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	A 6
♥	8 6 5 4
♦	Q J 9 5 3
♣	K 7

♠	10 2
♥	A J 3
♦	10 7 6 2
♣	J 9 8 5

N
W		E
S

♠	J 8 7
♥	Q 10 7 2
♦	8
♣	Q 10 6 3 2

♠	K Q 9 5 4 3
♥	K 9
♦	A K 4
♣	A 4

S 6N; S 6♠; S 6♦; N 5♠; N 3N; N 5♦; NS 2♥; EW 2♣; Par +1400: EW 7♣×−5

West	North	East	South
Pass	Pass	Pass	2 ♣
Pass	2 ♦1	Pass	2 ♠
Pass	2 NT2	Pass	3 ♠
Pass	4 NT3	Pass	5 ♦4
Pass	5 ♥5	Pass	6 ♦6
Pass	6 ♠	Pass	Pass
Pass

Showing an A, K, or QQ
Biding time to let opener bid out their shape
RKC Blackwood for Spades
1430 response showing 0 or 3 keycards
Do you have the ♠ Q?
Yes and the ♦ K

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	S	7	♣ 5	710		8.50	2.50	6-Grim-Zimmer	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♠	S	7	♣ 7	710		8.50	2.50	9-Markham-Markham	3-Dickman-Terbrueggen
4 ♠	S	7	♠ 10	710		8.50	2.50	10-Barron-Essig	5-Ibarra-Campbell
4 ♠	S	7	♦ 2	710		8.50	2.50	11-Murdock-Oblinger	7-Endres-Kennedy
4 ♠	S	7	♣ 5	710		8.50	2.50	12-Purcell-King	9-Jervis-Lindeman
1 ♠	S	4	♣ 9	Ave+	Ave+	6.60	6.60	13-Kehoe-Stanley	11-Edwards-Edwards
4 ♠	S	6	♥ A	680		4.90	6.10	5-Lin-Hubka	8-McCarthy-Diers
5 ♦	N	7	♣ 3	640		3.70	7.30	7-Magnus, Jr-Ramsay	12-Felson-Brown
3 NT	N	4	♥ 2	630		1.90	9.10	4-Hoffman-Runda	6-Singerman-Cook
3 NT	N	4	♣ 2	630		1.90	9.10	8-Mackey-De Roos	1-Vanstone-Duncan
6 NT	N	−2	♥ 2		200	0.10	10.90	2-Pollack-Pollack	2-Burns-Kobida

N/S lose one Heart trick, making six. If West doesn't cash their ♥ A at trick one, N/S make seven when Spades and Diamonds both behave.

Board 5
North Deals
N-S Vul

♠	8 5
♥	A 6 2
♦	8 4
♣	K 10 9 8 7 6

♠	Q J 10 6 4 3
♥	Q J 9 8
♦	J 2
♣	3

N
W		E
S

♠	A 2
♥	10 5 3
♦	A K 6 5
♣	Q J 5 2

♠	K 9 7
♥	K 7 4
♦	Q 10 9 7 3
♣	A 4

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

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	E	−2	♦ 3	100		10.41	0.59	9-Markham-Markham	2-Burns-Kobida
3 NT	E	−2	♥ K	100		10.41	0.59	12-Purcell-King	8-McCarthy-Diers
3 NT	E	−1	♦ 7	50		8.23	2.77	3-Lammers-Lubow	3-Dickman-Terbrueggen
3 NT	E	−1	♣ A	50		8.23	2.77	7-Magnus, Jr-Ramsay	11-Edwards-Edwards
2 ♠	W	2	♣ 10		110	6.59	4.41	13-Kehoe-Stanley	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
2 ♠	W	3	♣ 8		140	2.77	8.23	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	12-Felson-Brown
2 ♠	W	3	♣ 7		140	2.77	8.23	2-Pollack-Pollack	1-Vanstone-Duncan
1 ♠	W	3	♣ 6		140	2.77	8.23	5-Lin-Hubka	7-Endres-Kennedy
2 ♠	W	3	♣ 9		140	2.77	8.23	6-Grim-Zimmer	9-Jervis-Lindeman
2 ♠	W	3	♣ 10		140	2.77	8.23	10-Barron-Essig	4-Temples-Koch
2 ♠	W	3	♦ 8		140	2.77	8.23	11-Murdock-Oblinger	6-Singerman-Cook

E/W lose one Spade trick, two Hearts, and one Club, making three. North may lead the ♦ 8.

Board 6
East Deals
E-W Vul

♠	A 4
♥	10 8 5 4 3
♦	9 6 4
♣	J 8 5

♠	Q J 6 5
♥	K Q 7
♦	A J 8
♣	A Q 6

N
W		E
S

♠	9 3
♥	J 6 2
♦	K Q 10 5 3
♣	9 3 2

♠	K 10 8 7 2
♥	A 9
♦	7 2
♣	K 10 7 4

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

West	North	East	South
		Pass	Pass
1 ♣	Pass	1 ♦	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	−2	♠ A	200		10.95	0.05	12-Purcell-King	8-McCarthy-Diers
2 NT	W	3	♥ 4		150	9.86	1.14	6-Grim-Zimmer	9-Jervis-Lindeman
2 NT	W	4	♠ A		180	7.14	3.86	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	12-Felson-Brown
1 NT	W	4	♠ A		180	7.14	3.86	2-Pollack-Pollack	1-Vanstone-Duncan
1 NT	W	4	♠ A		180	7.14	3.86	11-Murdock-Oblinger	6-Singerman-Cook
2 NT	W	4	♠ A		180	7.14	3.86	13-Kehoe-Stanley	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 NT	W	3	♦ 7		600	2.77	8.23	3-Lammers-Lubow	3-Dickman-Terbrueggen
3 NT	W	3	♥ 4		600	2.77	8.23	5-Lin-Hubka	7-Endres-Kennedy
3 NT	W	3	♥ 4		600	2.77	8.23	9-Markham-Markham	2-Burns-Kobida
3 NT	W	3	♥ 4		600	2.77	8.23	10-Barron-Essig	4-Temples-Koch
3 NT	W	4	♠ A		630	0.05	10.95	7-Magnus, Jr-Ramsay	11-Edwards-Edwards

E/W take two Heart tricks, five Diamonds, and two Clubs, making three. North may lead the ♥ 4, although the ♠ A and another Spade would probably be better.

Board 7
South Deals
Both Vul

♠	A 10 9
♥	K J 7 5 3 2
♦	9 2
♣	Q J

♠	K 8 6 5 2
♥	10 9 6
♦	A J 6
♣	A 7

N
W		E
S

♠	J 4
♥	4
♦	Q 10 7 5 4 3
♣	K 10 8 3

♠	Q 7 3
♥	A Q 8
♦	K 8
♣	9 6 5 4 2

EW 3♠; EW 4♦; NS 2♥; EW 1♣; Par −140

West	North	East	South
			Pass
1 ♠	2 ♥	Dbl1	2 ♠2
Pass	3 ♥	Dbl3	Pass
4 ♦	Pass	Pass	Pass

Negative showing both minors
Cuebid showing a limit raise or better for partner's suit
Do something smart, partner

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 NT	W	−2	♥ 5	200		9.86	1.14	9-Markham-Markham	1-Vanstone-Duncan
4 ♦	E	−2	♥ A	200		9.86	1.14	10-Barron-Essig	3-Dickman-Terbrueggen
3 ♥	N	5	♠ J	200		9.86	1.14	12-Purcell-King	7-Endres-Kennedy
3 ♥	N	4	♠ J	170		7.68	3.32	4-Hoffman-Runda	4-Temples-Koch
3 ♥	N	3	♠ 4	140		4.95	6.05	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	11-Edwards-Edwards
3 ♥	N	3	♠ J	140		4.95	6.05	7-Magnus, Jr-Ramsay	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 ♥	N	3	♠ J	140		4.95	6.05	11-Murdock-Oblinger	5-Ibarra-Campbell
3 ♥	N	3	♠ J	140		4.95	6.05	13-Kehoe-Stanley	9-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♥	N	−1	♠ J		100	2.23	8.77	3-Lammers-Lubow	2-Burns-Kobida
2 ♠	W	2	♣ Q		110	1.14	9.86	6-Grim-Zimmer	8-McCarthy-Diers
1 NT	E	3	♣ 4		150	0.05	10.95	8-Mackey-De Roos	12-Felson-Brown

East has no desire to play in 3 ♥, so they wisely double to get partner to take another bid. E/W lose one Heart and two Spades, making four. Spades is a frozen suit, but declarer will eventually be forced to open it up resulting in the loss of two tricks (i.e., South will cover the ♠ J or play low if declarer starts with the ♠ 4).

Board 8
West Deals
None Vul

♠	J 4 2
♥	Q 9
♦	Q 7 6
♣	A 10 7 4 2

♠	9 6
♥	10 7 6 5 4 2
♦	K 10 9
♣	J 8

N
W		E
S

♠	8
♥	A J 3
♦	8 5 4 3 2
♣	K 9 5 3

♠	A K Q 10 7 5 3
♥	K 8
♦	A J
♣	Q 6

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

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

No preempts in the pass-out seat, so this shows a good hand

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	S	6	♦ K	480		10.95	0.05	6-Grim-Zimmer	8-McCarthy-Diers
3 NT	S	5	♠ 9	460		9.86	1.14	4-Hoffman-Runda	4-Temples-Koch
4 ♠	S	5	♥ 5	450		8.23	2.77	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	11-Edwards-Edwards
4 ♠	S	5	♥ 7	450		8.23	2.77	12-Purcell-King	7-Endres-Kennedy
4 ♠	N	4	♣ J	420		6.05	4.95	9-Markham-Markham	1-Vanstone-Duncan
4 ♠	S	4	♥ 10	420		6.05	4.95	10-Barron-Essig	3-Dickman-Terbrueggen
3 ♠	S	5	♥ 4	200		4.41	6.59	7-Magnus, Jr-Ramsay	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 ♠	S	4	♣ J	170		3.32	7.68	8-Mackey-De Roos	12-Felson-Brown
6 ♠	S	−1	♠ 9		50	1.68	9.32	11-Murdock-Oblinger	5-Ibarra-Campbell
6 ♠	S	−1	♥ 4		50	1.68	9.32	13-Kehoe-Stanley	9-Jervis-Lindeman
6 ♠	S	−2	♥ 7		100	0.05	10.95	3-Lammers-Lubow	2-Burns-Kobida

South expects to make 4 ♠, so why not bid it? N/S lose one Heart trick and one Diamond, making five. If West leads a Club, declarer will duck and East will win their ♣ K, but declarer's losing Diamond will go away on dummy's ♣ A after trump are pulled. If West leads a Heart to East's ♥ A and East returns a Diamond, declarer will duck and West will win their ♦ K, but declarer's losing Club will go away on dummy's ♦ Q after trump are pulled. See a pattern?

Board 9
North Deals
E-W Vul

♠	K J 8 6
♥	A 8 4 2
♦	A K 3 2
♣	4

♠	9 5 4 3
♥	J
♦	Q 8 6 5
♣	6 5 3 2

N
W		E
S

♠	A 7
♥	10 9 6 5
♦	J 10 9
♣	A Q 10 7

♠	Q 10 2
♥	K Q 7 3
♦	7 4
♣	K J 9 8

NS 4N; NS 4♥; NS 3♠; NS 3♦; NS 1♣; Par +430

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

Alert, artificial Wold 2 NT bid asking for more information about partner's hand
Alert, artificial bid showing a six-loser hand, four Hearts, and a singleton Club

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	S	4	♠ 3	420		8.23	2.77	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♥	S	4	♥ J	420		8.23	2.77	2-Pollack-Pollack	12-Felson-Brown
4 ♥	S	4	♠ 9	420		8.23	2.77	3-Lammers-Lubow	1-Vanstone-Duncan
4 ♥	S	4	♥ J	420		8.23	2.77	5-Lin-Hubka	5-Ibarra-Campbell
4 ♥	S	4	♦ 5	420		8.23	2.77	7-Magnus, Jr-Ramsay	9-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♥	S	4	♦ Q	420		8.23	2.77	13-Kehoe-Stanley	8-McCarthy-Diers
4 ♥	S	−1	♥ J		50	2.77	8.23	4-Hoffman-Runda	3-Dickman-Terbrueggen
4 ♥	S	−1	♠ 5		50	2.77	8.23	10-Barron-Essig	2-Burns-Kobida
4 ♥	S	−1	♥ J		50	2.77	8.23	11-Murdock-Oblinger	4-Temples-Koch
4 ♥	S	−1	♦ 8		50	2.77	8.23	12-Purcell-King	6-Singerman-Cook
4 ♥	S	−3	♦ 5		150	0.05	10.95	8-Mackey-De Roos	11-Edwards-Edwards

N/S would score better in 3 NT, and South thinks briefly about playing there, but opts for the Heart game since bidding 3 NT over 4 ♣ would get a director call. N/S lose one Spade trick, one Club, and one Heart, making four. Assume that West leads a small Diamond (best). Declarer will win in dummy with the ♦ K and lead a Club, East hopping with the ♣ A and exiting with the ♦ J. Declarer will win in dummy with the ♦ A and play a small Spade towards their hand, East ducking. The ♠T is next, East winning by force and returns their last Diamond, declarer ruffing in hand.

Declarer will now play off the ♥ KQ and get the news about the unfortunate trump break. No matter--they'll simply play a Spade towards dummy's ♠ KJ. East will collect their high Heart for the defense's third trick, but all roads lead to ten tricks.

Board 10
East Deals
Both Vul

♠	3 2
♥	A 7 5 4 2
♦	A Q J 3
♣	7 6

♠	7 6 4
♥	K 3
♦	10 8 7 5 4
♣	5 3 2

N
W		E
S

♠	A K J 10 9 5
♥	J 8
♦	9 6
♣	A K Q

♠	Q 8
♥	Q 10 9 6
♦	K 2
♣	J 10 9 8 4

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

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

Showing a hand that would have rebid 3 ♠ if partner hadn't passed

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♥	N	3	♠ A	140		10.41	0.59	12-Purcell-King	6-Singerman-Cook
2 ♥	N	3	♣ A	140		10.41	0.59	13-Kehoe-Stanley	8-McCarthy-Diers
3 ♠	E	−1	♥ 6	100		8.77	2.23	3-Lammers-Lubow	1-Vanstone-Duncan
1 ♠	E	3	♣ J		140	7.14	3.86	10-Barron-Essig	2-Burns-Kobida
3 ♠	E	3	♣ J		140	7.14	3.86	11-Murdock-Oblinger	4-Temples-Koch
3 ♠	E	4	♥ 6		170	4.41	6.59	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 ♠	E	4	♥ Q		170	4.41	6.59	4-Hoffman-Runda	3-Dickman-Terbrueggen
3 ♠	E	4	♥ 6		170	4.41	6.59	8-Mackey-De Roos	11-Edwards-Edwards
3 ♦	N	−3	♠ A		300	2.23	8.77	2-Pollack-Pollack	12-Felson-Brown
4 ♥×	N	−2	♣ A		500	1.14	9.86	7-Magnus, Jr-Ramsay	9-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♠	E	4	♠ Q		620	0.05	10.95	5-Lin-Hubka	5-Ibarra-Campbell

Many South players will be tempted to bid 3 ♥ on this auction, but they'll go down one doubled for –200 if they do. Oops. E/W lose two Diamond tricks, two Hearts, and one Spade, making two. South should lead the ♦ K and continue Diamonds at trick two to North's ♦ J. North will continue with the ♦ A at trick three. If declarer ruffs low, South will overruff and exit with a Club (not a Heart). If declarer ruffs high, South will discard a Club and their ♠ Q is now a natural trump trick.

What if East discards a Heart at trick three? If that happens, North needs to cash their ♥ A before playing the ♦ Q. With four tricks in the bank, N/S will still get their trump promotion at trick five.

Why does South have to exit with a Club and not a Heart if declarer ruffs low at trick three? Hearts is a frozen suit--if declarer has to play on Hearts themselves, they'll always lose two tricks. If South leads the ♥ Q, declarer will cover with dummy's ♥ K and the ♥ J will be a trick. If South leads the ♥T, declarer will play low from dummy and the ♥ K will be good when North has to play the ♥ A.

Board 11
South Deals
None Vul

♠	J 10 5
♥	K 7 3
♦	3
♣	A K Q 6 3 2

♠	Q 9 2
♥	A Q 6 2
♦	10 5 4
♣	9 7 4

N
W		E
S

♠	A 8 4
♥	J 9 4
♦	Q 8 2
♣	J 10 8 5

♠	K 7 6 3
♥	10 8 5
♦	A K J 9 7 6
♣	—

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

West	North	East	South
			1 ♦
Pass	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 NT	N	4	♣ J	430		10.95	0.05	6-Grim-Zimmer	6-Singerman-Cook
3 NT	N	3	♣ 5	400		7.68	3.32	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	9-Jervis-Lindeman
3 NT	N	3	♣ J	400		7.68	3.32	4-Hoffman-Runda	2-Burns-Kobida
3 NT	N	3	♥ 4	400		7.68	3.32	10-Barron-Essig	1-Vanstone-Duncan
3 NT	N	3	♣ J	400		7.68	3.32	12-Purcell-King	5-Ibarra-Campbell
3 NT	N	3	♣ 5	400		7.68	3.32	13-Kehoe-Stanley	7-Endres-Kennedy
4 ♦	S	4	♠ 2	130		3.86	7.14	2-Pollack-Pollack	11-Edwards-Edwards
3 ♣	N	4	♥ 4	130		3.86	7.14	8-Mackey-De Roos	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 NT	N	−1	♠ 4		50	1.14	9.86	5-Lin-Hubka	4-Temples-Koch
4 ♣	N	−1	♥ 9		50	1.14	9.86	9-Markham-Markham	12-Felson-Brown
3 NT	N	−1	♣ J		50	1.14	9.86	11-Murdock-Oblinger	3-Dickman-Terbrueggen

South decides to open their hand (correct), but then doesn't enjoy the auction much. N/S take six Diamond tricks, three Clubs, and one major-suit King, making four. The only reasonable way to play the Diamond suit is to finesse against East's ♦ Q. When that works, the hand is too easy. East may lead the ♥ J on the auction.

Board 12
West Deals
N-S Vul

♠	K 10 6 5
♥	7 4
♦	A J 3
♣	J 9 6 5

♠	A Q 4 3
♥	K J 10 9
♦	8 6
♣	K 10 4

N
W		E
S

♠	8 7 2
♥	A Q 5 2
♦	K 4
♣	Q 8 7 2

♠	J 9
♥	8 6 3
♦	Q 10 9 7 5 2
♣	A 3

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

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

Alert, artificial Wold 2 NT bid asking for more information about partner's hand
Alert, artificial bid 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 ♥	E	−2	♣ A	100		10.41	0.59	10-Barron-Essig	1-Vanstone-Duncan
4 ♥	E	−2	♦ 10	100		10.41	0.59	12-Purcell-King	5-Ibarra-Campbell
3 ♥	E	−1	♦ 10	50		6.05	4.95	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	9-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♥	E	−1	♣ A	50		6.05	4.95	2-Pollack-Pollack	11-Edwards-Edwards
4 ♥	E	−1	♦ 10	50		6.05	4.95	4-Hoffman-Runda	2-Burns-Kobida
4 ♥	E	−1	♠ 5	50		6.05	4.95	5-Lin-Hubka	4-Temples-Koch
4 ♥	E	−1	♦ 10	50		6.05	4.95	9-Markham-Markham	12-Felson-Brown
4 ♥	E	−1	♥ 3	50		6.05	4.95	11-Murdock-Oblinger	3-Dickman-Terbrueggen
2 ♥	E	2	♠ J		110	2.23	8.77	13-Kehoe-Stanley	7-Endres-Kennedy
4 ♥	E	4	♦ 9		420	0.59	10.41	6-Grim-Zimmer	6-Singerman-Cook
4 ♥	E	4	♣ A		420	0.59	10.41	8-Mackey-De Roos	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes

E/W lose two Spade tricks, one Diamond, and one Club, making three. That said, it's more likely that declarer will lose two Clubs and go down, since the winning line in Clubs is small to the ♣ K and then small from both hands (unlikely). South should lead a trump.

Board 13
North Deals
Both Vul

♠	K
♥	—
♦	A 9 8 5 2
♣	K J 8 7 4 3 2

♠	Q 4 2
♥	A K J 9 8 7
♦	J 4
♣	Q 6

N
W		E
S

♠	9 6 3
♥	Q 4 3
♦	K Q 10 7
♣	10 9 5

♠	A J 10 8 7 5
♥	10 6 5 2
♦	6 3
♣	A

NS 3♠; NS 4♣; NS 3♦; NS 1N; EW 1♥; Par +140

West	North	East	South
	1 ♣	Pass	1 ♠
2 ♥	Pass1	3 ♥	Dbl2
Pass	Pass	Pass

What else?
Do something smart, partner

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	W	−3	♣ 7	300		10.95	0.05	5-Lin-Hubka	3-Dickman-Terbrueggen
4 ♣	N	5	♥ 3	150		9.86	1.14	7-Magnus, Jr-Ramsay	7-Endres-Kennedy
3 ♠	S	3	♥ A	140		8.23	2.77	9-Markham-Markham	11-Edwards-Edwards
3 ♠	S	3	♥ A	140		8.23	2.77	13-Kehoe-Stanley	6-Singerman-Cook
4 ♣	N	4	♥ 3	130		5.50	5.50	4-Hoffman-Runda	1-Vanstone-Duncan
4 ♣	N	4	♥ 3	130		5.50	5.50	6-Grim-Zimmer	5-Ibarra-Campbell
4 ♣	N	4	♥ 4	130		5.50	5.50	12-Purcell-King	4-Temples-Koch
3 ♥	W	−1	♣ 2	100		3.32	7.68	3-Lammers-Lubow	12-Felson-Brown
3 ♥	W	3	♣ 7		140	2.23	8.77	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	8-McCarthy-Diers
4 ♠	S	−2	♥ A		200	1.14	9.86	11-Murdock-Oblinger	2-Burns-Kobida
5 ♦	N	−3	♥ Q		300	0.05	10.95	2-Pollack-Pollack	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes

North could get away with bidding 3 ♠ or 4 ♣, but pass is better (at Matchpoints). E/W lose two Spade tricks, two Clubs, one Diamond, and a Diamond ruff, down two doubled for –500. Ouch. North will lead the ♠ K, and South will signal with a low Spade to ask for a Club lead. Club to the ♣ A, ♠ A (North signaling with the ♦ 2 to ask for a Diamond), ♦ 6 to the ♦ A, ♣ K (South pitching their ♦ 3), and ♦ 9 for South to ruff. Nicely defended!

Board 14
East Deals
None Vul

♠	9 7 6 2
♥	J 5
♦	J 10 9 6 5 2
♣	A

♠	10 8 3
♥	A 7
♦	7 3
♣	K Q 9 8 4 2

N
W		E
S

♠	A 5 4
♥	K Q 10 9 6 4 2
♦	A Q
♣	3

♠	K Q J
♥	8 3
♦	K 8 4
♣	J 10 7 6 5

E 4N; EW 4♥; W 3N; NS 2♦; EW 2♣; Par −430

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

Forcing

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	E	−1	♠ K	50		8.23	2.77	3-Lammers-Lubow	12-Felson-Brown
4 ♥	E	−1	♠ K	50		8.23	2.77	4-Hoffman-Runda	1-Vanstone-Duncan
4 ♥	E	−1	♠ K	50		8.23	2.77	6-Grim-Zimmer	5-Ibarra-Campbell
4 ♥	E	−1	♠ K	50		8.23	2.77	9-Markham-Markham	11-Edwards-Edwards
4 ♥	E	−1	♠ K	50		8.23	2.77	11-Murdock-Oblinger	2-Burns-Kobida
4 ♥	E	−1	♠ K	50		8.23	2.77	12-Purcell-King	4-Temples-Koch
4 ♥	E	4	♠ K		420	2.23	8.77	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	8-McCarthy-Diers
4 ♥	E	4	♠ K		420	2.23	8.77	2-Pollack-Pollack	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♥	E	4	♠ K		420	2.23	8.77	5-Lin-Hubka	3-Dickman-Terbrueggen
4 ♥	E	4	♦ K		420	2.23	8.77	7-Magnus, Jr-Ramsay	7-Endres-Kennedy
4 ♥	E	4	♥ 8		420	2.23	8.77	13-Kehoe-Stanley	6-Singerman-Cook

E/W lose two Spade tricks and one Club, making four. South will lead the ♠ K, and declarer should win with the ♠ A and immediately play a Club towards dummy. North will win the ♣ A and can return a Spade, but declarer's slow Diamond loser goes away on the ♣ K.

Board 15
South Deals
N-S Vul

♠	9
♥	K J 10 5 4 3 2
♦	7
♣	A 7 6 2

♠	Q J 2
♥	Q 9 6
♦	A Q 8 6 5
♣	Q J

N
W		E
S

♠	A K 10 6 5 3
♥	A 8
♦	J 9 3 2
♣	9

♠	8 7 4
♥	7
♦	K 10 4
♣	K 10 8 5 4 3

EW 6♠; EW 6♦; NS 4♣; NS 2♥; EW 1N; Par −800: NS 7♣×−3

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

15 to 17
Transfer

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♠	E	−2	♥ 7	100		10.95	0.05	7-Magnus, Jr-Ramsay	6-Singerman-Cook
4 ♠	E	4	♥ 7		420	7.14	3.86	3-Lammers-Lubow	11-Edwards-Edwards
4 ♠	E	4	♥ 7		420	7.14	3.86	6-Grim-Zimmer	4-Temples-Koch
4 ♠	E	4	♥ 7		420	7.14	3.86	8-Mackey-De Roos	8-McCarthy-Diers
4 ♠	E	4	♥ 7		420	7.14	3.86	10-Barron-Essig	12-Felson-Brown
4 ♠	E	4	♥ 7		420	7.14	3.86	11-Murdock-Oblinger	1-Vanstone-Duncan
4 ♠	E	4	♥ 7		420	7.14	3.86	13-Kehoe-Stanley	5-Ibarra-Campbell
4 ♠	E	5	♥ 7		450	1.68	9.32	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	7-Endres-Kennedy
4 ♠	E	5	♥ 7		450	1.68	9.32	2-Pollack-Pollack	9-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♠	E	5	♥ 7		450	1.68	9.32	5-Lin-Hubka	2-Burns-Kobida
4 ♠	E	5	♥ 7		450	1.68	9.32	12-Purcell-King	3-Dickman-Terbrueggen

6 ♠ makes, but it's not a good contract. E/W lose one Club trick and probably one Diamond, since it's unlikely that declarer will guess to finesse South for both the ♦ K and the ♦T. Of course if North leads the ♦ 7 (beer card), declarer will do exactly that after pulling a couple of rounds of trump.

Board 16
West Deals
E-W Vul

♠	A Q 9 5 3
♥	7 5
♦	8 7 6
♣	A 9 3

♠	J 8 7 6
♥	Q 10 8 2
♦	Q J 5
♣	8 7

N
W		E
S

♠	10 4
♥	A K 9 4 3
♦	9 3
♣	K 10 4 2

♠	K 2
♥	J 6
♦	A K 10 4 2
♣	Q J 6 5

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

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

Light third-seat opener

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♥	E	−2	♦ A	200		10.95	0.05	10-Barron-Essig	12-Felson-Brown
2 ♠	N	3	♥ A	140		8.77	2.23	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	7-Endres-Kennedy
2 ♠	N	3	♥ A	140		8.77	2.23	5-Lin-Hubka	2-Burns-Kobida
3 ♠	N	3	♥ A	140		8.77	2.23	7-Magnus, Jr-Ramsay	6-Singerman-Cook
2 ♠	N	2	♥ A	110		4.95	6.05	2-Pollack-Pollack	9-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♦	S	3	♥ 2	110		4.95	6.05	3-Lammers-Lubow	11-Edwards-Edwards
3 ♦	S	3	♥ 8	110		4.95	6.05	6-Grim-Zimmer	4-Temples-Koch
2 ♠	N	2	♥ A	110		4.95	6.05	8-Mackey-De Roos	8-McCarthy-Diers
3 ♥	W	−1	♦ 6	100		2.23	8.77	13-Kehoe-Stanley	5-Ibarra-Campbell
3 ♠	N	−1	♥ K		50	0.59	10.41	11-Murdock-Oblinger	1-Vanstone-Duncan
4 ♦	S	−1	♥ 10		50	0.59	10.41	12-Purcell-King	3-Dickman-Terbrueggen

N/S lose one Spade trick, two Hearts, and one Club, making three. Declarer's slow Diamond loser goes away on the ♣ Q. East will lead the ♥ K (asking for count) and switch to the ♦ 9 at trick three. Three rounds of trump are pulled followed by the ♣ A and a Club towards dummy. It does East no good to duck, since a high Diamond is still in dummy as an entry.

Board 17
North Deals
None Vul

♠	K J 7 6 3
♥	A Q 6
♦	Q 10
♣	10 7 2

♠	8
♥	9 3 2
♦	A 8 7
♣	K Q J 6 5 4

N
W		E
S

♠	10 9 5
♥	J 8 5
♦	K J 6 3 2
♣	9 8

♠	A Q 4 2
♥	K 10 7 4
♦	9 5 4
♣	A 3

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

West	North	East	South
	1 ♠	Pass	3 ♣1
Dbl2	Pass3	Pass	4 ♠
Pass	Pass	Pass

Alert, artificial Bergen raise showing 4+ Spades and a limit raise
I like Clubs
Minimum hand

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♣×	W	−4	♦ Q	800		10.95	0.05	6-Grim-Zimmer	3-Dickman-Terbrueggen
5 ♣×	E	−3	♠ 3	500		9.32	1.68	3-Lammers-Lubow	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
5 ♦×	E	−3	♠ A	500		9.32	1.68	9-Markham-Markham	9-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♠	N	5	♥ 8	450		6.59	4.41	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	6-Singerman-Cook
4 ♠	N	5	♣ 9	450		6.59	4.41	5-Lin-Hubka	1-Vanstone-Duncan
4 ♠	N	5	♣ 9	450		6.59	4.41	12-Purcell-King	2-Burns-Kobida
3 NT	S	4	♣ K	430		4.41	6.59	8-Mackey-De Roos	7-Endres-Kennedy
4 ♠	N	4	♦ J	420		1.68	9.32	2-Pollack-Pollack	8-McCarthy-Diers
4 ♠	N	4	♣ 9	420		1.68	9.32	4-Hoffman-Runda	12-Felson-Brown
4 ♠	N	4	♦ 2	420		1.68	9.32	7-Magnus, Jr-Ramsay	5-Ibarra-Campbell
4 ♠	N	4	♦ J	420		1.68	9.32	13-Kehoe-Stanley	4-Temples-Koch

N/S lose two Diamond tricks and one Club, making four. East will lead the (wait for it...) ♣ 9.

Board 18
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	Q 8 7 2
♥	A 9
♦	Q 4
♣	K 9 8 5 4

♠	A J 9 5 3
♥	K 7 6 5
♦	A 7
♣	A Q

N
W		E
S

♠	6
♥	10 4 3 2
♦	K J 10 6 5 2
♣	10 3

♠	K 10 4
♥	Q J 8
♦	9 8 3
♣	J 7 6 2

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

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

Don't preempt in first seat with a four-card major on the side
Semi-forcing
Not quite a 3 ♥ jump shift
Hand got better on the bidding

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♦	E	−3	♣ 2	150		10.95	0.05	9-Markham-Markham	9-Jervis-Lindeman
2 ♣	N	3	♠ 6	110		9.86	1.14	12-Purcell-King	2-Burns-Kobida
4 ♥	W	−1	♣ 9	50		8.23	2.77	2-Pollack-Pollack	8-McCarthy-Diers
1 ♠	W	−1	♣ 4	50		8.23	2.77	3-Lammers-Lubow	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
1 ♠	W	1	♣ 4		80	6.05	4.95	8-Mackey-De Roos	7-Endres-Kennedy
1 ♠	W	1	♥ A		80	6.05	4.95	13-Kehoe-Stanley	4-Temples-Koch
1 ♠	W	2	♣ 5		110	3.32	7.68	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	6-Singerman-Cook
1 ♠	W	2	♣ 9		110	3.32	7.68	5-Lin-Hubka	1-Vanstone-Duncan
2 ♥	W	2	♦ 4		110	3.32	7.68	7-Magnus, Jr-Ramsay	5-Ibarra-Campbell
3 NT	W	3	♣ 5		400	1.14	9.86	6-Grim-Zimmer	3-Dickman-Terbrueggen
4 ♥	W	4	♣ 5		420	0.05	10.95	4-Hoffman-Runda	12-Felson-Brown

West wants to bid 2-1/2 ♥ at their second turn, but unfortunately, that one isn't in the bidding box. East wisely upgrades their hand and takes a second bid, and West is relieved that the auction didn't end at the two level. E/W lose two Heart tricks and one Club, making four. The Heart suit is difficult to play, and unless N/S help out, declarer is likely to go astray. Missing ♥ AQJ98, it's often right to play low twice hoping to find a doubleton ♥ A in either hand. Looking at the North hand, it's quite possible that they'll choose to start with ♥ A and a second Heart. Oops--making five.

Board 19
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	5 4
♥	A K 10 6 5 3
♦	6
♣	A J 8 5

♠	9 8 7 3
♥	Q 7
♦	A J 10 7
♣	10 7 2

N
W		E
S

♠	K J 6
♥	J 9 2
♦	Q 9 4 2
♣	K Q 3

♠	A Q 10 2
♥	8 4
♦	K 8 5 3
♣	9 6 4

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

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

Don't make minimum offshape takeout doubles

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♠	W	−4	♥ A	400		10.95	0.05	8-Mackey-De Roos	6-Singerman-Cook
2 ♥	N	4	♣ K	170		8.23	2.77	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	5-Ibarra-Campbell
2 ♥	N	4	♣ K	170		8.23	2.77	4-Hoffman-Runda	11-Edwards-Edwards
2 ♥	N	4	♠ J	170		8.23	2.77	9-Markham-Markham	8-McCarthy-Diers
2 ♥	N	4	♣ K	170		8.23	2.77	13-Kehoe-Stanley	3-Dickman-Terbrueggen
2 ♥	N	3	♦ 2	140		3.86	7.14	6-Grim-Zimmer	2-Burns-Kobida
2 ♥	N	3	♣ K	140		3.86	7.14	7-Magnus, Jr-Ramsay	4-Temples-Koch
2 ♥	N	3	♦ 2	140		3.86	7.14	10-Barron-Essig	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 ♥	N	3	♦ 2	140		3.86	7.14	12-Purcell-King	1-Vanstone-Duncan
2 ♥	N	2	♦ 2	110		1.14	9.86	2-Pollack-Pollack	7-Endres-Kennedy
4 ♥	N	−1	♦ 2		50	0.05	10.95	3-Lammers-Lubow	9-Jervis-Lindeman

N/S lose one Heart trick, one Diamond, and two Clubs, making three (on a Diamond lead). If East leads the ♣ K (likely), N/S will make four, since declarer can subsequently finesse against West's ♣T to limit their Club losers to one.

Board 20
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	J 7 6 5 2
♥	A Q J 8 2
♦	K 9
♣	6

♠	K
♥	7 6 5
♦	J 7 5 4 2
♣	A K 10 2

N
W		E
S

♠	9 4
♥	10 9 3
♦	10 8 3
♣	9 8 7 5 4

♠	A Q 10 8 3
♥	K 4
♦	A Q 6
♣	Q J 3

NS 6♠; NS 6♥; NS 5N; NS 3♦; NS 2♣; Par +1430

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

Alert, artificial Jacoby 2 NT bid showing a game-forcing Spade raise
Alert, showing a singleton or void in Clubs
RKC Blackwood for Spades
1430 response showing 1 or 4 keycards

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	S	6	♣ K	680		10.41	0.59	7-Magnus, Jr-Ramsay	4-Temples-Koch
4 ♠	S	6	♣ A	680		10.41	0.59	10-Barron-Essig	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
5 ♠	S	5	♣ 9	650		5.50	5.50	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	5-Ibarra-Campbell
4 ♠	S	5	♣ A	650		5.50	5.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	7-Endres-Kennedy
5 ♠	N	5	♣ 4	650		5.50	5.50	3-Lammers-Lubow	9-Jervis-Lindeman
5 ♠	N	5	♣ 9	650		5.50	5.50	4-Hoffman-Runda	11-Edwards-Edwards
5 ♠	N	5	♥ 10	650		5.50	5.50	6-Grim-Zimmer	2-Burns-Kobida
4 ♠	N	5	♠ 4	650		5.50	5.50	8-Mackey-De Roos	6-Singerman-Cook
4 ♠	S	5	♣ A	650		5.50	5.50	13-Kehoe-Stanley	3-Dickman-Terbrueggen
6 ♠	N	−1	♣ 5		100	0.59	10.41	9-Markham-Markham	8-McCarthy-Diers
6 ♠	N	−1	♣ 9		100	0.59	10.41	12-Purcell-King	1-Vanstone-Duncan

If East finds a Club lead, then N/S will make five, since declarer's best line in the trump suit is to finesse East for the ♠ K. A Club lead is unlikely though, since East has a more natural lead in the ♥T. On the lead of the ♥T, declarer should win in dummy with the ♥ K, lead the ♠ A to pull one round of trump, and then play ♦ K, ♦ A, and ♦ Q pitching the ♣ 6. When the ♠ K falls under the ♠ A, N/S take 13 tricks. Stupid Heart leads.

Board 21
North Deals
N-S Vul

♠	K J
♥	A Q J 4
♦	7
♣	K 9 8 5 3 2

♠	A 9 5 3
♥	10 6
♦	Q J 10 5
♣	J 7 6

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 10 6 4 2
♥	8 7 5 3 2
♦	K 6
♣	4

♠	8 7
♥	K 9
♦	A 9 8 4 3 2
♣	A Q 10

NS 6♣; NS 5N; NS 3♥; NS 3♦; EW 1♠; Par +1100: EW 6♠×−5

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

Michaels cuebid showing a minimum or maximum hand with both majors
Cuebid of the opponent's higher-ranking suit to show a forcing bid in our higher-ranking suit (Diamonds)
Weak jump raise

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	N	6	♠ 4	690		10.00	1.00	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	4-Temples-Koch
3 NT	N	6	♠ 2	690		10.00	1.00	8-Mackey-De Roos	5-Ibarra-Campbell
3 NT	N	6	♠ 4	690		10.00	1.00	10-Barron-Essig	9-Jervis-Lindeman
3 NT	N	5	♥ 2	660		8.00	3.00	3-Lammers-Lubow	8-McCarthy-Diers
5 ♣	N	6	♠ 4	620		6.50	4.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	6-Singerman-Cook
5 ♣	N	6	♠ 4	620		6.50	4.50	13-Kehoe-Stanley	2-Burns-Kobida
3 ♣	N	6	♥ 7	170		4.00	7.00	6-Grim-Zimmer	1-Vanstone-Duncan
3 ♣	N	6	♠ Q	170		4.00	7.00	7-Magnus, Jr-Ramsay	3-Dickman-Terbrueggen
4 ♣	N	6	♠ 4	170		4.00	7.00	9-Markham-Markham	7-Endres-Kennedy
3 ♦	S	3	♥ 6	110		2.00	9.00	11-Murdock-Oblinger	11-Edwards-Edwards
3 ♠	W	−1	♦ 7	50		1.00	10.00	5-Lin-Hubka	12-Felson-Brown
3 ♦	S	−1	♥ 2		100	0.00	11.00	4-Hoffman-Runda	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes

North has no desire to defend a 4 ♠ contract on the vulnerability, so they bid what they think they can make. South has an easy raise to six, and West has an even easier sacrifice in 6 ♠. North's double ends the drama. E/W lose two Hearts, one Diamond, one Club, and two Diamond ruffs (the third Diamond is ruffed with North's ♠ K and declarer is unable to overruff), down five for –1100. That's certainly better than –1370 for 6 ♣ making. North will lead the ♦ 7 (beer card).

Board 22
East Deals
E-W Vul

♠	A 8
♥	10 7
♦	Q 9 5 2
♣	A Q 6 3 2

♠	K J 10 6
♥	J 9 8 6 4
♦	A 6
♣	K J

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 7 5 2
♥	A K Q 2
♦	8 4 3
♣	9 4

♠	9 4 3
♥	5 3
♦	K J 10 7
♣	10 8 7 5

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

West	North	East	South
		Pass	Pass
1 ♥	2 ♣	3 ♣1	4 ♣
Pass2	Pass	Dbl	Pass
Pass	Pass

Cuebid showing a limit raise in Hearts
Forcing

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	W	−1	♦ 2	100		9.50	1.50	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	4-Temples-Koch
4 ♥	W	−1	♥ 10	100		9.50	1.50	4-Hoffman-Runda	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♥	W	−1	♦ 2	100		9.50	1.50	5-Lin-Hubka	12-Felson-Brown
4 ♥	W	−1	♦ 2	100		9.50	1.50	11-Murdock-Oblinger	11-Edwards-Edwards
3 ♥	W	3	♦ 2		140	4.50	6.50	3-Lammers-Lubow	8-McCarthy-Diers
3 ♥	W	3	♦ 2		140	4.50	6.50	6-Grim-Zimmer	1-Vanstone-Duncan
3 ♥	W	3	♠ A		140	4.50	6.50	7-Magnus, Jr-Ramsay	3-Dickman-Terbrueggen
3 ♥	W	3	♠ A		140	4.50	6.50	9-Markham-Markham	7-Endres-Kennedy
2 ♥	W	3	♠ A		140	4.50	6.50	10-Barron-Essig	9-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♥	W	3	♠ A		140	4.50	6.50	13-Kehoe-Stanley	2-Burns-Kobida
4 ♥	W	4	♣ A		620	0.50	10.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	6-Singerman-Cook
4 ♥	W	4	♣ A		620	0.50	10.50	8-Mackey-De Roos	5-Ibarra-Campbell

Make a note of West's pass after South's 4 ♣ bid. When your side has claimed 23 (or so) HCP by opening and making a limit raise, you're in a "forcing auction." What's that? A forcing auction means that you and your partner will either play the hand, or the opponents will play the hand doubled. With that agreement, you're free to pass late in the auction knowing that partner will either double or bid on.

N/S lose one Spade trick, two Hearts, and one Diamond, down one doubled for –100. East will lead the ♥ K (asking for count) and switch to a Spade at trick three.

Board 23
South Deals
Both Vul

♠	A Q J 10 5
♥	A K J 7
♦	8 4
♣	J 10

♠	K 7 6 4
♥	Q 6 4 3
♦	Q 10
♣	A 7 3

N
W		E
S

♠	8
♥	10 2
♦	A K 9 7 6 5 2
♣	K 9 5

♠	9 3 2
♥	9 8 5
♦	J 3
♣	Q 8 6 4 2

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

West	North	East	South
			Pass
Pass	1 ♠	3 ♦1	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 ♠	N	−1	♦ A		100	9.86	1.14	3-Lammers-Lubow	7-Endres-Kennedy
3 ♠	N	−1	♦ A		100	9.86	1.14	5-Lin-Hubka	11-Edwards-Edwards
3 ♠	N	−1	♦ K		100	9.86	1.14	8-Mackey-De Roos	4-Temples-Koch
3 ♦	E	3	♠ 2		110	7.68	3.32	10-Barron-Essig	8-McCarthy-Diers
3 ♦	E	4	♠ 2		130	6.59	4.41	11-Murdock-Oblinger	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 ♥	N	−2	♦ A		200	4.95	6.05	4-Hoffman-Runda	9-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♠	N	−2	♦ A		200	4.95	6.05	7-Magnus, Jr-Ramsay	2-Burns-Kobida
3 ♥	N	−3	♦ K		300	3.32	7.68	2-Pollack-Pollack	5-Ibarra-Campbell
3 NT	W	3	♥ A		600	2.23	8.77	12-Purcell-King	12-Felson-Brown
3 NT	W	4	♠ A		630	0.59	10.41	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	3-Dickman-Terbrueggen
3 NT	W	4	♠ 10		630	0.59	10.41	9-Markham-Markham	6-Singerman-Cook

West needs to try and picture a likely hand for partner to hold to make a vulnerable weak jump overcall to the three level. East's hand is just about right. E/W take seven Diamond tricks and two Clubs, making three. If South was on lead, 3 NT wouldn't make, but North has no way to attack West's major-suit holdings.

Board 24
West Deals
None Vul

♠	A 7 2
♥	K J 5 4
♦	9 7 5 2
♣	7 4

♠	9 6 4
♥	7 3
♦	K Q
♣	A K J 8 5 3

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 10 8 5
♥	Q 8
♦	A J 6 4
♣	10 9 6

♠	K J 3
♥	A 10 9 6 2
♦	10 8 3
♣	Q 2

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

West	North	East	South
1 ♣	Pass	1 ♠	Pass
2 ♣	Pass	Pass	2 ♥
Pass	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	E	−4	♥ 6	200		10.95	0.05	10-Barron-Essig	8-McCarthy-Diers
3 ♥	S	−1	♣ A		50	9.86	1.14	7-Magnus, Jr-Ramsay	2-Burns-Kobida
2 ♠	E	2	♥ A		110	7.68	3.32	2-Pollack-Pollack	5-Ibarra-Campbell
2 ♣	W	3	♥ 4		110	7.68	3.32	5-Lin-Hubka	11-Edwards-Edwards
2 ♣	W	3	♥ 4		110	7.68	3.32	9-Markham-Markham	6-Singerman-Cook
4 ♣	W	4	♥ 4		130	2.77	8.23	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	3-Dickman-Terbrueggen
3 ♣	W	4	♥ 4		130	2.77	8.23	3-Lammers-Lubow	7-Endres-Kennedy
3 ♣	W	4	♥ 4		130	2.77	8.23	4-Hoffman-Runda	9-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♣	W	4	♥ 4		130	2.77	8.23	8-Mackey-De Roos	4-Temples-Koch
2 ♣	W	4	♦ 2		130	2.77	8.23	11-Murdock-Oblinger	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
2 ♣	W	4	♥ 4		130	2.77	8.23	12-Purcell-King	12-Felson-Brown

South doesn't have quite enough to overcall 2 ♥ the first time through, but when they're in the balancing (pass-out) seat, they can borrow a King from partner and bid 2 ♥. Neither North nor South is astute enough to double the final contract, but it doesn't matter, since 3 ♣ doubled down one would still be a good score for E/W. E/W lose two Heart tricks and three Spades, down one. North will lead the ♥ 4, South will win the ♥ A and return the ♥T asking for a switch to the higher-ranking suit (Spades).

Board 25
North Deals
E-W Vul

♠	J 8 4 3 2
♥	A 7 5 4
♦	8
♣	K Q 5

♠	K 9
♥	J 10 9 8 3
♦	9 7 5
♣	A J 8

N
W		E
S

♠	A 6
♥	K 2
♦	Q 4 3
♣	10 9 6 4 3 2

♠	Q 10 7 5
♥	Q 6
♦	A K J 10 6 2
♣	7

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

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

Showing 5+ Spades
Alert, artificial Wold 2 NT bid asking for more information about partner's hand
Alert, artificial response showing a maximum hand with four Spades and a singleton or void in Clubs

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	N	4	♥ K	420		9.32	1.68	2-Pollack-Pollack	4-Temples-Koch
4 ♠	N	4	♣ 4	420		9.32	1.68	10-Barron-Essig	7-Endres-Kennedy
4 ♠	N	4	♣ 4	420		9.32	1.68	11-Murdock-Oblinger	9-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♠	N	4	♣ 6	420		9.32	1.68	12-Purcell-King	11-Edwards-Edwards
2 ♠	N	4	♥ K	170		6.05	4.95	5-Lin-Hubka	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
2 ♠	N	4	♥ K	170		6.05	4.95	6-Grim-Zimmer	12-Felson-Brown
2 ♠	N	3	♣ 2	140		4.41	6.59	4-Hoffman-Runda	8-McCarthy-Diers
3 ♣	E	−1	♦ A	100		3.32	7.68	8-Mackey-De Roos	3-Dickman-Terbrueggen
4 ♠	N	−1	♥ 6		50	2.23	8.77	9-Markham-Markham	5-Ibarra-Campbell
4 ♦	S	−2	♥ J		100	1.14	9.86	7-Magnus, Jr-Ramsay	1-Vanstone-Duncan
6 ♠	N	−3	♦ 3		150	0.05	10.95	3-Lammers-Lubow	6-Singerman-Cook

North would have made a negative double holding only four Spades. N/S lose two Spade tricks, one Heart, and one Club, down one. If East makes the mistake of leading the ♥ K, their partner will be very sad. Did you lead the ♥ K? The ♣T is almost as bad, since West will win the ♣ A and put a Heart on the table, but it's too late, since declarer will hop with the ♥ A and pirch dummy's ♥ Q on the ♣ K. How about a Diamond? Pretty much the same thing with declarer winning the ♦ K and leading a Club at trick two. WHAT THEN?!?!?!? East has to find the lead of the ♠ 6 to partner's ♠ K. Yup, that's gonna happen.....

Board 26
East Deals
Both Vul

♠	K J 8
♥	K Q 10 8 5
♦	A 8
♣	Q 10 2

♠	A 10 9 5
♥	7 6
♦	9 7 6 5 4 3
♣	4

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 7 6 3
♥	3
♦	Q J 10
♣	A K 8 5 3

♠	4 2
♥	A J 9 4 2
♦	K 2
♣	J 9 7 6

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

West	North	East	South
		1 ♣	1 ♥
Dbl1	2 ♣2	2 ♠	Pass3
Pass	4 ♥	Pass	Pass
Pass

Negative showing exactly four Spades
Cuebid showing a limit raise or better in Hearts
Showing a minimum overcall

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	S	4	♣ 4	620		10.95	0.05	4-Hoffman-Runda	8-McCarthy-Diers
3 ♥	S	3	♣ 4	140		9.86	1.14	9-Markham-Markham	5-Ibarra-Campbell
4 ♥	S	−1	♣ 4		100	6.05	4.95	3-Lammers-Lubow	6-Singerman-Cook
4 ♥	S	−1	♣ 4		100	6.05	4.95	7-Magnus, Jr-Ramsay	1-Vanstone-Duncan
4 ♥	S	−1	♣ 4		100	6.05	4.95	8-Mackey-De Roos	3-Dickman-Terbrueggen
4 ♥	S	−1	♣ 4		100	6.05	4.95	10-Barron-Essig	7-Endres-Kennedy
4 ♥	S	−1	♣ 4		100	6.05	4.95	11-Murdock-Oblinger	9-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♥	S	−1	♣ 4		100	6.05	4.95	12-Purcell-King	11-Edwards-Edwards
3 ♠	W	3	♥ K		140	2.23	8.77	6-Grim-Zimmer	12-Felson-Brown
5 ♥	N	−2	♣ A		200	0.59	10.41	2-Pollack-Pollack	4-Temples-Koch
4 ♥×	S	−1	♣ 4		200	0.59	10.41	5-Lin-Hubka	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes

Nothing is going to keep North from bidding game once partner overcalls 1 ♥. Unfortunately, it doesn't make. West will lead their stiff ♣ 4, and N/S will lose two Club tricks, one Spade, and a Club ruff, down one.

West	North	East	South
			1 ♦
Pass	1 ♥	Pass	2 NT1
Pass	3 ♦2	Pass	3 NT3
Pass	Pass	Pass

Showing 18-19 HCP
Alert, artificial checkback bid asking for more information about partner's major-suit holdings
Alert, denying a fourth Spade and a third Heart

It's difficult for N/S to find the good 6 ♣ contract once South (correctly) opens 1 ♦. N/S take four Spade tricks, four Clubs, two Hearts, and one Diamond, making five. If West leads the ♥ Q, N/S will make six.

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

15 to 17

28 boards in and we finally reach our first 1 NT opener. Wow. E/W lose one Diamond trick and one Heart, making five. North will lead a trump.

West	North	East	South
	Pass	1 NT1	Pass
Pass	Pass

15 to 17

Another 1 NT opener so soon? If South leads something that isn't a small Diamond, E/W will make three. Let's assume that they lead the ♦ 4 (NOT THE ♦ 9!!! That's not an interior honor sequence!!!). Declarer will take the ♦ K with the ♦ A and lead the ♣ J. South has to split their honors, and declarer will win with dummy's ♣ A. A Spade to the ♠ K is next followed by a Club towards dummy, South winning the ♣ K and playing off the ♦ Q and a third Diamond won in dummy with the ♦ J. With four tricks already in the bank, it's a simple matter for declarer to grab two more Clubs and the two major-suit Aces for eight tricks.

What if South ducks the second Club? Declarer will win in dummy with the ♣T, play a Spade to the ♠ A, and the ♠ 9 back towards dummy. South has to pitch a Diamond, and North wins with the ♠ Q. Since a Heart return would give declarer a ninth trick, North is forced to exit with a Spade further squeezing more Diamonds out of South. A small Heart to the ♥T and ♥ Q is next, and South is in another dilemma. Here's the position at this point:

South: ♥ 5 ♦ Q9 ♣ K6
Dummy: ♥ J7 ♣ 4 ♦ J6
North: ♥ K943 ♦ 7
Declarer: ♥ A6 ♣ 95 ♦ 5

South has a safe exit card with their last Heart, but declarer will win with the ♥ A (their seventh trick) and lead a small Diamond towards dummy. If South ducks, declarer will collect their eighth trick immediately, so South will win the ♦ Q, but that's no better. If they return their last Diamond, they'll give declarer a Diamond trick that they can't get on their own. If they cash the ♣ K or exit with a small Club, they'll give declarer a trick with the ♣ 9. Nicely played!

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

Alert, artificial Kokish Game Try showing a singleton Spade
Accepting the game try and showing first or second round control of Clubs

E/W lose one Spade trick and one Heart, making five. South will lead the ♠ Q. Diamonds is a frozen suit (i.e., if either side leads a Diamond, they'll give up a trick).

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

Weak two opener

This one should be fun to watch, as I imagine that there will be MANY different final contracts. It should be noted that N/S make 1 ♠.

N/S take six Club tricks, two Spades, and either one Heart or one Diamond, making three. If West leads a Spade (they're going to), N/S make five. A Heart lead is the only lead that holds N/S to nine tricks.

West	North	East	South
Pass	1 ♦	1 ♠	Pass
Pass	Dbl1	Pass	Pass
2 ♥	Pass	Pass	Dbl
Pass	Pass	Pass

Re-opening double

Oops. E/W lose one Club trick, one Spade, and three Hearts, making two doubled for +670. North may lead the ♦ Q.

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

Don't make minimum offshape takeout doubles
Forcing

N/S lose three Heart tricks and one Diamond, making three. East will probably lead the ♥ K, but once they see dummy, they'll switch to a trump. Declarer will continue with a second Heart at trick three, but East will hop with the ♥ A and play a second trump, and there's no way that declarer can avoid losing a third Heart to West. Nice defense!

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

Re-opening double

West is eager to play in 1 ♠ doubled, but when South bids 2 ♦, game in Hearts looks like their best bet. 3 ♥ should be played as showing an invitational hand with long Hearts. It can't be preemptive, since West would have bid 3 ♥ immediately over 1 ♠ with a weak hand. E/W lose one Club trick, one Diamond, and one Spade, making four. South will lead the ♦ K and switch to a trump at trick two.

West	North	East	South
			Pass
Pass	1 ♠	Pass	Pass
Pass

West doesn't quite have the values to balance, so 1 ♠ will be the contract at most tables. It doesn't do well.

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

Not good enough for a vulnerable 2 ♥ bid

E/W take four Club tricks, two Hearts, and four Diamonds, making four. It doesn't matter a whole lot what North leads, since N/S are limited to one Diamond trick and the two major-suit Aces.