MON 06/19/2017 at Nite

EVENT>Monday Night Bridge      |SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> A N-S
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>June 19, 2017      |CLUB NO.>185264    | 06/19/2017 22:10
---------------------,-- ------------------- -------------,---------------------
DIR> Mike Lipp       |RATING>Club Masterpoint (100%, 80%, 70% Open)|MOVEMENT>MITCHELL
------------,-------- ,-------------------------,--------- ---------------------
AVE>   84.0 |TOP>   7 |MP LIMITS>None/500/200   |CLUB>Mike's Games At The CBC
------------ --------- ------------------------- -------------------------------
PAIRS IN STRAT A=12/B=9/C=4                      ,---,-------------------------,------,---------,
-------------------------------------------------|   |           Section       |      |Section  |
No Name                   Name                   |Flt|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C| Score | Pct  |Awards   |
------------------------------------------------- --- ----- ----- ----- ------- ------ ---------
 1 Pamela Kennedy         Cheryl Endres            C    5     4     2     94.59  56.30  0.25(B)
 2 David Elliott          Carla Runda              C    .     .     .     87.75  52.23
 3 Judy Barron            Mike Burns               B    1     1     .    101.71  60.54  1.20(A)
 4 Joyce Tedrick          Steve Vogel              B    .     .     .     82.61  49.17
 5 Liz Lin                Elmer Hubka              A    .     .     .     56.88  33.86
 6 Kevin Henry            Reeta Brendamour         B    4     3     .     94.98  56.54  0.42(A)
 7 Joseph Kammer          Gail Zimmer              B    .     .     .     87.90  52.32
 8 Marilyn Prosise        Robert Prosise           A    3     .     .     95.09  56.60  0.60(A)
 9 Susan Stacy Vanstone   Martin Gibler            B    .     .     .     64.84  38.60
10 Annette Kereiakes      Tom Kereiakes            C    2     2     1     96.21  57.27  0.84(A)
11 Mona Kerstine          Richard Kerstine         C    .     .     .     59.29  35.29
12 Betty Murdock          Michael Lipp             A    .     .     .     88.97  52.96

                                          Totals                        1010.82


                                    **PAIRS**
BOARD     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9    10    11    12
  /
   1>   0.64                          4.64        4.64  0.64  6.93  2.36  4.64
        -120   ----  ----  ----  ----   50   ----   50  -120   100   -90    50

   2>     3-                          1.21        1.21  4.64  1.21  5.79  6.93
        -120   ----  ----  ----  ---- -200   ---- -200   -90  -200    50   200

   3>     3-                          1.21          3-    3-  6.36  6.36  0.07
         140   ----  ----  ----  ----  120   ----  140   140   300   300   -50

   4>         2.93                          1.21  5.21  2.93  0.07  5.21  6.93
         ---- -110   ----  ----  ----  ---- -130  -100  -110  -200  -100   110

   5>         4.64                          1.21  2.36  4.64  6.93  0.07  4.64
         ----   50   ----  ----  ----  ---- -140  -100    50   150  -200    50

   6>           3-                          6.93  4.64  1.21  5.79  1.21  1.21
         ----  -50   ----  ----  ----  ----  150    90  -100   120  -100  -100

   7>   4.07  1.79  6.93                                0.07  4.07  1.79  5.79
        -690  -720   100   ----  ----  ----  ----  -----1430  -690  -720  -660

   8>   4.64  2.36  4.64                                4.64  1.21  6.93  0.07
         420   170   420   ----  ----  ----  ----  ----  420   -50   450  -100

   9>     3-  2.36  0.07                                1.21  4.64  6.93  5.79
         -50  -100  -620   ----  ----  ----  ----  ---- -140   100   200   130

  10>   5.79        5.79    3-                          2.36  0.07  5.79  1.21
         620   ----  620   600   ----  ----  ----  ----  130  -200   620  -100

  11>     3-        5.21  1.21                          5.21  6.93  0.07  2.36
         150   ----  420   -50   ----  ----  ----  ----  420   430  -100   140

  12>   1.21        4.07  5.79                          2.36  6.93  0.07  4.07
        -400   ---- -170    50   ----  ----  ----  ---- -200   100 -1100  -170

  13>     7     4-    4-    6     1                             2     0     3
        -110  -150  -150  -130  -600   ----  ----  ----  ---- -300  -630  -200

  14>     6     3     0     6     1-                            6     1-    4
          50  -150  -430    50  -400   ----  ----  ----  ----   50  -400  -100

  15>     3     4     6     6     2                             6     1     0
         170   500   620   620   140   ----  ----  ----  ----  620   110  -100

  16>   2.36  4.07        4.07  0.64  5.79                          0.64  6.93
         100   120   ----  120    90   150   ----  ----  ----  ----   90   180

  17>   4.64  4.64        1.21  0.07  6.93                          2.36  4.64
          50    50   ---- -450  -500   150   ----  ----  ----  ---- -420    50

  18>   0.64  4.07        6.93  4.07  4.07                          0.64  4.07
        -450  -420   ----   50  -420  -420   ----  ----  ----  ---- -450  -420

  19>     3     6     1     3     0     6     3                             6
         140   170   -50   140  -130   170   140   ----  ----  ----  ----  170

  20>     7     0     3-    2     6     1     3-                            5
         600  -300   130   110   200   100   130   ----  ----  ----  ----  170

  21>     6     6     3     6     2      -    4                              -
         600   600   150   600   130  -200   170   ----  ----  ----  ---- -200

  22>   1.21  4.64  5.79        2.93  0.07  6.93  2.93
        -200  -150  -100   ---- -170  -300   100  -170   ----  ----  ----  ----

  23>   4.64  0.07  4.64        4.64  4.64  1.21  4.64
         120  -100   120   ----  120   120   -90   120   ----  ----  ----  ----

  24>   6.93  5.21  1.21        0.07  2.36    3-  5.21
         570   420   -50   ---- -100   100   140   420   ----  ----  ----  ----

  25>           6     3     1     3     6     3     6     0
         ----  400   180   -50   180   400   180   400  -100   ----  ----  ----

  26>            -    3-    6     5     7     3-     -    2
         ---- -100   120   200   150   630   120  -100    90   ----  ----  ----

  27>           6-    6-    1     3     4-    2     4-    0
         ----  150   150  -400   -90    50  -120    50  -430   ----  ----  ----

  28>               6.36  0.07        4.07  4.07  2.36  6.36  1.21
         ----  ----  100  -300   ----   50    50  -100   100  -200   ----  ----

  29>               6.93  2.36        4.07  0.64  5.79  0.64  4.07
         ----  ----  600    90   ----  120  -200   150  -200   120   ----  ----

  30>               6.36  0.64        4.07  6.36  4.07  0.64  2.36
         ----  ----   50  -420   ---- -170    50  -170  -420  -300   ----  ----

  31>                       4      -    7     4     4     4     4      -
         ----  ----  ----  680   620  1460   680   680   680   680   620   ----

  32>                       3     3     5-    5-    1     0     7     3
         ----  ----  ---- -170  -170   100   100  -620  -630   200  -170   ----

  33>                       2-    1     5     7     5     5     2-    0
         ----  ----  ----  -90  -100   -50    50   -50   -50   -90  -110   ----

  34>                           5.21  5.21  5.21  5.21  2.36  1.21  0.07
         ----  ----  ----  ----  140   140   140   140   100  -100  -300   ----

  35>                           2.93  2.93  2.93  6.36  6.36  2.93  0.07
         ----  ----  ----  ----  480   480   480   980   980   480   200   ----

  36>                           1.21  1.21  1.21  4.07  4.07  5.79  6.93
         ----  ----  ----  ---- -660  -660  -660  -600  -600  -200  -170   ----



EVENT>Monday Night Bridge      |SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> A E-W
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>June 19, 2017      |CLUB NO.>185264    | 06/19/2017 22:10
---------------------,-- ------------------- -------------,---------------------
DIR> Mike Lipp       |RATING>Club Masterpoint (100%, 80%, 70% Open)|MOVEMENT>MITCHELL
------------,-------- ,-------------------------,--------- ---------------------
AVE>   84.0 |TOP>   7 |MP LIMITS>None/500/200   |CLUB>Mike's Games At The CBC
------------ --------- ------------------------- -------------------------------
PAIRS IN STRAT A=12/B=6/C=3                      ,---,-------------------------,------,---------,
-------------------------------------------------|   |           Section       |      |Section  |
No Name                   Name                   |Flt|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C| Score | Pct  |Awards   |
------------------------------------------------- --- ----- ----- ----- ------- ------ ---------
 1 Debbie Wiest           Elissa Chisholm          A    .     .     .     81.71  48.64
 2 Joy Singerman          John Williams            B    .     .     .     80.53  47.93
 3 Dennis Schultz         Ralph Terbrueggen        A    .     .     .     69.44  41.33
 4 Joanne Earls           Pam Campbell             A    1     .     .     96.16  57.24  1.20(A)
 5 Monica Ibarra          Patrick Hoffman          B    5     2     .     90.38  53.80  0.34(B)
 6 Michelle Barker        Pamela Kohn              C    .     .     .     66.84  39.79
 7 Evelyn McCarthy        Joan Diers               C    .     .     .     70.78  42.13
 8 Dean Congbalay         William Cook             A    4     .     .     93.38  55.58  0.42(A)
 9 Carol Markham          J Thomas Markham         C    .     .     1     85.92  51.14  0.21(C)
10 Lilam Stanley          Doris Kehoe              A    3     .     .     94.03  55.97  0.60(A)
11 Rakesh Shukla          Arun Gupta               B    2     1     .     94.95  56.52  0.84(A)


                                          Totals                         924.12


                                    **PAIRS**
BOARD     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9    10    11    12
  /
   1>   6.36        2.36        6.36        0.07        4.64  2.36  2.36
         120   ----  -50   ----  120   ---- -100   ----   90   -50   -50   ----

   2>     3-        5.79        2.36        5.79        1.21  5.79  0.07
         120   ----  200   ----   90   ----  200   ----  -50   200  -200   ----

   3>     3-          3-          3-        0.64        0.64  5.79  6.93
        -140   ---- -140   ---- -140   ---- -300   ---- -300  -120    50   ----

   4>   1.79  4.07        4.07        6.93        1.79        0.07  5.79
         100   110   ----  110   ----  200   ----  100   ---- -110   130   ----

   5>   4.64  2.36        2.36        0.07        6.93        2.36  5.79
         100   -50   ----  -50   ---- -150   ----  200   ----  -50   140   ----

   6>   2.36    3-        5.79        1.21        5.79        5.79  0.07
         -90    50   ----  100   ---- -120   ----  100   ----  100  -150   ----

   7>   5.21  6.93  0.07        2.93        5.21        1.21        2.93
         720  1430  -100   ----  690   ----  720   ----  660   ----  690   ----

   8>   4.64  2.36  2.36        5.79        0.07        6.93        2.36
        -170  -420  -420   ----   50   ---- -450   ----  100   ---- -420   ----

   9>   4.64  5.79  6.93        2.36        0.07        1.21          3-
         100   140   620   ---- -100   ---- -200   ---- -130   ----   50   ----

  10>   4.64  1.21  6.93    3-        1.21        5.79        1.21
        -130  -620   200  -600   ---- -620   ----  100   ---- -620   ----  ----

  11>   1.79  1.79  0.07  5.79        6.93        4.64          3-
        -420  -420  -430    50   ----  100   ---- -140   ---- -150   ----  ----

  12>   4.64  2.93  0.07  1.21        6.93        2.93        5.79
         200   170  -100   -50   ---- 1100   ----  170   ----  400   ----  ----

  13>     2-    5     1     7     6           4           0           2-
         150   300   130   630   600   ----  200   ----  110   ----  150   ----

  14>     7     1     1     5-    5-          3           1           4
         430   -50   -50   400   400   ----  100   ----  -50   ----  150   ----

  15>     1     1     1     6     5           7           4           3
        -620  -620  -620  -110  -140   ----  100   ---- -170   ---- -500   ----

  16>         2.93  6.36  6.36  0.07  1.21        4.64        2.93
         ---- -120   -90   -90  -180  -150   ---- -100   ---- -120   ----  ----

  17>         5.79  4.64  6.93  2.36  0.07        2.36        2.36
         ----  450   420   500   -50  -150   ----  -50   ----  -50   ----  ----

  18>         0.07  6.36  2.93  2.93  2.93        6.36        2.93
         ----  -50   450   420   420   420   ----  450   ----  420   ----  ----

  19>     4           7     1     1     4     4           1           6
        -140   ----  130  -170  -170  -140  -140   ---- -170   ----   50   ----

  20>     5           1     2     6     0     3-          7           3-
        -110   ---- -200  -170  -100  -600  -130   ----  300   ---- -130   ----

  21>     1           5     6-    6-    1     3           1           4
        -600   ---- -130   200   200  -600  -170   ---- -600   ---- -150   ----

  22>         4.07        6.93  5.79  0.07  2.36  4.07        1.21
         ----  170   ----  300   200  -100   150   170   ----  100   ----  ----

  23>         2.36        2.36  2.36  5.79  6.93  2.36        2.36
         ---- -120   ---- -120  -120    90   100  -120   ---- -120   ----  ----

  24>         6.93        4.64  0.07    3-  1.79  1.79        5.79
         ----  100   ---- -100  -570  -140  -420  -420   ----   50   ----  ----

  25>     4           1           4     1     1     4     7           6
        -180   ---- -400   ---- -180  -400  -400  -180   100   ----   50   ----

  26>     2           0           3-    6-    6-    3-    5           1
        -150   ---- -630   ---- -120   100   100  -120   -90   ---- -200   ----

  27>     4           2-          5      -    2-     -    7           6
          90   ----  -50   ----  120  -150   -50  -150   430   ----  400   ----

  28>         2.93        2.93        4.64  0.64  0.64  6.93  5.79
         ----  -50   ----  -50   ----  100  -100  -100   300   200   ----  ----

  29>         2.93        6.36        1.21  0.07  6.36  4.64  2.93
         ---- -120   ----  200   ---- -150  -600   200   -90  -120   ----  ----

  30>         2.93        0.64        2.93  0.64  6.36  6.36  4.64
         ----  170   ----  -50   ----  170   -50   420   420   300   ----  ----

  31>     0           3           3           3     3     3     6-    6-
       -1460   ---- -680   ---- -680   ---- -680  -680  -680  -620  -620   ----

  32>     1-          1-          6           7     4     0     4     4
        -100   ---- -100   ----  620   ----  630   170  -200   170   170   ----

  33>     2           0           2           2     4-    4-    6     7
          50   ----  -50   ----   50   ----   50    90    90   100   110   ----

  34>         1.79        1.79        4.64        5.79  1.79  6.93  1.79
         ---- -140   ---- -140   ---- -100   ----  100  -140   300  -140   ----

  35>         4.07        0.64        0.64        4.07  4.07  6.93  4.07
         ---- -480   ---- -980   ---- -980   ---- -480  -480  -200  -480   ----

  36>         5.79        2.93        2.93        1.21  5.79  0.07  5.79
         ----  660   ----  600   ----  600   ----  200   660   170   660   ----
Monday Night Bridge, Monday Eve, June 19, 2017

Board 1
North Deals
None Vul

♠	K 8 2
♥	7 2
♦	K Q 8 5 4
♣	10 9 7

♠	Q J 7 5 4
♥	J 10 8
♦	3 2
♣	Q J 3

N
W		E
S

♠	A 9
♥	Q 9 6 5
♦	A 10 6
♣	K 5 4 2

♠	10 6 3
♥	A K 4 3
♦	J 9 7
♣	A 8 6

EW 2♥; EW 1♠; NS 1♦; EW 1♣; Par −110

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
2 ♦	E	−2	♥ A	100		6.93	0.07	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	7-McCarthy-Diers
2 ♠	W	−1	♥ 7	50		4.64	2.36	6-Henry-Brendamour	10-Stanley-Kehoe
3 ♦	E	−1	♠ A	50		4.64	2.36	8-Prosise-Prosise	3-Schultz-Terbrueggen
2 NT	E	−1	♥ K	50		4.64	2.36	12-Murdock-Lipp	11-Shukla-Gupta
2 ♦	E	2	♠ A		90	2.36	4.64	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	9-Markham-Markham
1 NT	E	2	♥ A		120	0.64	6.36	1-Kennedy-Endres	1-Wiest-Chisholm
1 NT	E	2	♥ 3		120	0.64	6.36	9-Vanstone-Gibler	5-Ibarra-Hoffman

E/W lose one Spade trick, two Hearts, one Diamond, one Club, and a Heart ruff, down one for –50. North may lead the ♦ K, but once in with the ♠ K, they can cash the ♦ Q and switch to either Hearts or Clubs to set the contract.

Board 2
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	9 8 6 3
♥	K 3 2
♦	Q 5
♣	A Q 10 8

♠	A J 10
♥	A 10 6
♦	7 6 2
♣	J 6 4 3

N
W		E
S

♠	K 7 5 2
♥	Q 8 7 5
♦	K J
♣	K 5 2

♠	Q 4
♥	J 9 4
♦	A 10 9 8 4 3
♣	9 7

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

West	North	East	South
		1 ♣	Pass1
1 NT	Pass	Pass	Pass

Not a good enough suit for a vulnerable weak-jump overcall

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	W	−4	♦ 5	200		6.93	0.07	12-Murdock-Lipp	11-Shukla-Gupta
2 ♣	E	−1	♦ A	50		5.79	1.21	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	9-Markham-Markham
1 NT	W	1	♠ 8		90	4.64	2.36	9-Vanstone-Gibler	5-Ibarra-Hoffman
1 NT	W	2	♣ 8		120	3.50	3.50	1-Kennedy-Endres	1-Wiest-Chisholm
3 NT	N	−2	♣ K		200	1.21	5.79	6-Henry-Brendamour	10-Stanley-Kehoe
1 NT	N	−2	♠ 2		200	1.21	5.79	8-Prosise-Prosise	3-Schultz-Terbrueggen
1 NT	N	−2	♥ 8		200	1.21	5.79	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	7-McCarthy-Diers

South will lead the ♦T, and North should unblock by covering with the ♦ Q. East will win with the ♦ K, finesse against South's supposed ♠ Q, and lead a Club towards the ♣ K. North will hop with the ♣ A and play a Diamond to partner, but five Diamond tricks and the ♣ A will be it for the defense. Declarer can't afford to play a Heart towards the ♥ Q before setting up a Club trick, or else N/S will collect five Diamonds, one Club, and one Heart, down one.

Board 3
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	4 2
♥	A J 9 8 4
♦	A Q
♣	A 9 8 5

♠	J
♥	10 7 6 3
♦	K 9 8 7 5 4
♣	K 7

N
W		E
S

♠	K Q 9 8 3
♥	Q 5
♦	3
♣	Q J 6 4 2

♠	A 10 7 6 5
♥	K 2
♦	J 10 6 2
♣	10 3

NS 3N; NS 3♥; NS 2♠; NS 3♦; NS 2♣; Par +400

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

South upgrades their hand because of their 10's

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♦	W	−3	♠ 4	300		6.36	0.64	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	7-McCarthy-Diers
2 ♠	E	−3	♥ K	300		6.36	0.64	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	9-Markham-Markham
2 ♥	N	3	♦ 3	140		3.50	3.50	1-Kennedy-Endres	1-Wiest-Chisholm
3 ♥	N	3	♠ K	140		3.50	3.50	8-Prosise-Prosise	3-Schultz-Terbrueggen
2 ♥	N	3	♦ 3	140		3.50	3.50	9-Vanstone-Gibler	5-Ibarra-Hoffman
2 NT	S	2	♦ 7	120		1.21	5.79	6-Henry-Brendamour	10-Stanley-Kehoe
3 ♠	S	−1	♦ 9		50	0.07	6.93	12-Murdock-Lipp	11-Shukla-Gupta

South could simply bid 2 ♥ at their second turn, but their hand is a bit too good. N/S take four Heart tricks (playing East for the ♥ Q), one Spade trick, one Club, and three Diamonds. As long as declarer keeps East off lead, they'll be fine. West may lead the ♠ J which declarer will probably duck (West has a singleton on the auction). After winning the ♠ J, West may switch to the ♣ K which declarer will also duck. A Club continuation is won in dummy with the ♣ A, and the ♥ J is run through East, covered by the ♥ Q, and won by declarer with the ♥ K. ♥ A, ♥ J, and a Heart to West's ♥T are next. When West now plays a Diamond, their hand shape is known: one Spade, four hearts, two Clubs, and six Diamonds. Since East has only a single Diamond, declarer should play the ♦ A, trying to drop a stiff ♦ K. When it doesn't fall, declarer cashes the fifth Heart and gives West a trick with the ♦ K. The ♠ A is their entry back to their hand to cash the remaining Diamond winners. Nicely played!

Board 4
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	Q 8 3 2
♥	J 9 3
♦	K 8 7 4 3
♣	K

♠	J 7
♥	A 6 5 2
♦	2
♣	Q J 10 7 5 2

N
W		E
S

♠	A K 9 6
♥	Q
♦	Q J 10 9 6
♣	6 4 3

♠	10 5 4
♥	K 10 8 7 4
♦	A 5
♣	A 9 8

NS 2N; NS 2♥; EW 3♣; Par −110

West	North	East	South
Pass	Pass	1 ♦	1 ♥
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
2 ♥	S	2	♦ 2	110		6.93	0.07	12-Murdock-Lipp	10-Stanley-Kehoe
2 ♥	S	−1	♦ 2		100	5.21	1.79	8-Prosise-Prosise	1-Wiest-Chisholm
3 ♥	S	−1	♦ 2		100	5.21	1.79	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	8-Congbalay-Cook
3 ♣	W	3	♥ 3		110	2.93	4.07	2-Elliott-Runda	2-Singerman-Williams
3 ♣	W	3	♥ 3		110	2.93	4.07	9-Vanstone-Gibler	4-Earls-Campbell
3 ♣	W	4	♥ J		130	1.21	5.79	7-Kammer-Zimmer	11-Shukla-Gupta
3 ♥	S	−2	♣ 7		200	0.07	6.93	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	6-Barker-Kohn

West gets the final word on this auction. E/W lose two Diamond tricks and two Clubs, making three. Let's say that North leads the ♣ K to cut down on declarer's Heart ruffs. When they hold the trick, they can switch to a Diamond to put South in to play ♣ A and a third Club. Declarer wins in hand, plays a Spade to dummy's ♠ A, and plays the ♦ Q pitching a Heart. North wins the ♦ K, but that's the last trick for the defense, since declarer can win any return and throw their remaining two Heart losers on dummy's good Diamonds.

Board 5
North Deals
N-S Vul

♠	Q J 9 3
♥	K J 3
♦	J 9 5
♣	10 9 7

♠	8
♥	Q 8 7 2
♦	Q 10 8
♣	K Q J 8 3

N
W		E
S

♠	A K 10 6 4 2
♥	10 6 4
♦	A 6 2
♣	5

♠	7 5
♥	A 9 5
♦	K 7 4 3
♣	A 6 4 2

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

West	North	East	South
	Pass	1 ♠1	Pass2
1 NT3	Pass	2 ♠	Pass
2 NT	Pass	Pass	Pass

Rule of 20 opener
Not strong enough for a takeout double
Forcing

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♣	W	−3	♥ 3	150		6.93	0.07	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	6-Barker-Kohn
2 ♠	E	−1	♦ 3	50		4.64	2.36	2-Elliott-Runda	2-Singerman-Williams
2 NT	W	−1	♣ 10	50		4.64	2.36	9-Vanstone-Gibler	4-Earls-Campbell
2 NT	W	−1	♣ 7	50		4.64	2.36	12-Murdock-Lipp	10-Stanley-Kehoe
2 NT	N	−1	♠ A		100	2.36	4.64	8-Prosise-Prosise	1-Wiest-Chisholm
3 ♠	E	3	♠ 7		140	1.21	5.79	7-Kammer-Zimmer	11-Shukla-Gupta
2 NT	N	−2	♠ 6		200	0.07	6.93	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	8-Congbalay-Cook

E/W take four Club tricks, two Diamonds, and two Spades, making two. The hand record says E/W can take only seven tricks in notrump, but that assumes that North leads the ♦ 5. If they do (because they read this before they played), declarer has to hop with the ♦ A or they'll lose their Diamond entry before Clubs are established. The ♣ 5 is played at trick two, but South will win the ♣ A and play a Spade. Declarer can win with dummy's ♠ K, but they're in a predicament. If they cash dummy's ♠ A and play a Diamond towards their hand, South will win the ♦ K, cash the ♥ A, play a Heart through declarer's ♥ Q, and North will cash out (three Hearts, one Club, one Diamond, and one Spade). If they leave the ♠ K on the board, they'll end up a trick short when South ducks the second Diamond (defense gets three Hearts, one Club, and two Diamonds). Nice defense!

Board 6
East Deals
E-W Vul

♠	8 4
♥	J 6 4
♦	Q 6 3
♣	K Q 9 8 4

♠	K J 7 5 2
♥	7
♦	A K 5
♣	7 6 5 3

N
W		E
S

♠	A 9 6
♥	Q 8 5 3 2
♦	10 9 8 2
♣	10

♠	Q 10 3
♥	A K 10 9
♦	J 7 4
♣	A J 2

EW 2♠; NS 3♣; NS 1♥; EW 1♦; Par +110

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

15 to 17
Stayman used to invite in notrump
Alert, partner 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
2 NT	S	3	♣ 3	150		6.93	0.07	7-Kammer-Zimmer	11-Shukla-Gupta
1 NT	S	2	♦ A	120		5.79	1.21	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	6-Barker-Kohn
1 NT	S	1	♠ 5	90		4.64	2.36	8-Prosise-Prosise	1-Wiest-Chisholm
2 NT	S	−1	♥ 7		50	3.50	3.50	2-Elliott-Runda	2-Singerman-Williams
2 NT	S	−2	♦ A		100	1.21	5.79	9-Vanstone-Gibler	4-Earls-Campbell
2 NT	S	−2	♠ 5		100	1.21	5.79	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	8-Congbalay-Cook
2 NT	S	−2	♠ 5		100	1.21	5.79	12-Murdock-Lipp	10-Stanley-Kehoe

N/S play Four-Suit Transfers, so 2 NT isn't available to North as an invitational bid. West will lead the ♠ 5 (fourth best from length), and E/W will take the first seven tricks. Ouch. N/S can take solace in the fact that E/W would have scored +110 for making 2 ♠ and get only +100 for setting 1 NT two tricks. Heh.

Board 7
South Deals
Both Vul

♠	9 8 7 3
♥	J 7 3
♦	K 7
♣	J 10 8 6

♠	A K J 6
♥	9 6 5
♦	A J 5
♣	A Q 9

N
W		E
S

♠	5 2
♥	A K Q 4 2
♦	9 8 4 3 2
♣	K

♠	Q 10 4
♥	10 8
♦	Q 10 6
♣	7 5 4 3 2

EW 6N; EW 6♥; EW 5♠; EW 5♦; EW 3♣; Par −1440

West	North	East	South
			Pass
1 ♣	Pass	1 ♥	Pass
2 NT1	Pass	3 ♦2	Pass
3 ♠3	Pass	4 ♦4	Pass
4 ♥5	Pass	4 ♠6	Pass
5 ♣7	Pass	5 ♠8	Pass
5 NT9	Pass	6 ♥	Pass
6 NT10	Pass	Pass	Pass

Showing 18-19 HCP
Alert, artificial checkback bid asking for more information about opener's major-suit holdings
Showing four Spades, but not denying three Hearts
Still wants to know if West has a third Heart
Showing a third Heart
RKC Blackwood (Kickback) for Hearts
Showing 0 or 3 keycards
Guaranteeing all the keycards (and the ♥ Q) and asking for specific Kings
Showing the ♠ K
No reason not to play in notrump

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
6 ♦	W	−1	♣ J	100		6.93	0.07	3-Barron-Burns	3-Schultz-Terbrueggen
3 NT	W	5	♣ 6		660	5.79	1.21	12-Murdock-Lipp	9-Markham-Markham
3 NT	W	6	♣ J		690	4.07	2.93	1-Kennedy-Endres	11-Shukla-Gupta
3 NT	W	6	♣ 6		690	4.07	2.93	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	5-Ibarra-Hoffman
3 NT	W	7	♣ 6		720	1.79	5.21	2-Elliott-Runda	1-Wiest-Chisholm
3 NT	W	7	♠ 9		720	1.79	5.21	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	7-McCarthy-Diers
6 ♥	E	6	♠ 10		1430	0.07	6.93	9-Vanstone-Gibler	2-Singerman-Williams

Nice auction! Note East's 4 ♦ bid over 3 ♠. If West has only two Hearts, they should bid 4 NT to play. Once West has a third Heart, East's hand improves because their Heart suit is now a 62% favorite to run versus a 36% chance if West has only two Hearts.

E/W take five Heart tricks, three Clubs, three Spades, and one Diamond, making six. North will probably lead the ♣ J.

Board 8
West Deals
None Vul

♠	Q 9 7 2
♥	K Q J 8 6
♦	Q 8 2
♣	J

♠	J 8
♥	3 2
♦	J 9 7 6
♣	Q 10 9 6 5

N
W		E
S

♠	K 10 6
♥	10 5
♦	A 10 4 3
♣	K 7 4 3

♠	A 5 4 3
♥	A 9 7 4
♦	K 5
♣	A 8 2

NS 5♠; NS 5♥; NS 2N; EW 1♣; Par +450

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

15 to 17
Intending to use Smolen

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	S	5	♠ J	450		6.93	0.07	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	7-McCarthy-Diers
4 ♥	N	4	♥ 5	420		4.64	2.36	1-Kennedy-Endres	11-Shukla-Gupta
4 ♥	N	4	♥ 5	420		4.64	2.36	3-Barron-Burns	3-Schultz-Terbrueggen
4 ♥	N	4	♣ 3	420		4.64	2.36	9-Vanstone-Gibler	2-Singerman-Williams
3 ♥	S	4	♠ J	170		2.36	4.64	2-Elliott-Runda	1-Wiest-Chisholm
5 ♥	N	−1	♣ 3		50	1.21	5.79	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	5-Ibarra-Hoffman
6 ♥	N	−2	♦ A		100	0.07	6.93	12-Murdock-Lipp	9-Markham-Markham

If South had responded 2 ♦ to North's Stayman inquiry, North would have rebid 3 ♠ (alertable) as Smolen to show exactly four Spades, five Hearts, and a game-going hand (or better). South ruined that plan by actually having a four-card major. Stupid South.

N/S lose one Diamond trick and one Spade, making five. Why don't they lose two Spades? Assume that West leads a Club (nothing is better). Declarer wins in their hand with the ♣ A, pulls trump in two rounds, ruffs a Club in dummy, and leads a Diamond towards the ♦ K. East will duck, and declarer will win and ruff their last Club. The Queen of Diamonds is now lead, and East will win and exit with a Diamond. Declarer ruffs in their hand and this is the position:

West: ♠ J8 ♦ J ♣ Q6
Dummy: ♠ Q972 ♥ Q
East: ♠ KT6 ♦T ♣ 7
Declarer: ♠ A543 ♥ 9

Declarer leads a small Spade from their hand and simply covers any card that West plays. West, in all likelihood, will play the ♠ 8, declarer will cover with dummy's ♠ 9, and East will win with the ♠T. East can't exit with a Spade, or declarer will run it to North's ♠ Q, so they'll give declarer a ruff/sluff by playing a Diamond. Declarer will pitch a small Spade from their hand, ruff in dummy, and lead the ♠ Q through East's ♠ K (smothering the ♠ J in West's hand in the process). East will cover, but dummy's ♠ 7 is now good.

Board 9
North Deals
E-W Vul

♠	—
♥	A 10 5
♦	A 8 5 3
♣	Q 9 7 5 4 3

♠	K Q J 9 3 2
♥	K Q 4
♦	9 7 2
♣	K

N
W		E
S

♠	10 8 5 4
♥	J 9 8 7
♦	J 10 4
♣	A J

♠	A 7 6
♥	6 3 2
♦	K Q 6
♣	10 8 6 2

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

West	North	East	South
	1 ♣1	Pass	1 NT2
2 ♠	Pass	Pass3	Dbl4
Pass	3 ♣	Pass	Pass
Pass

Rule of 20 opener
Showing 8-10 HCP
On the vulnerability
Do something smart, partner

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	W	−2	♣ 5	200		6.93	0.07	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	7-McCarthy-Diers
2 ♣	N	4	♥ 7	130		5.79	1.21	12-Murdock-Lipp	9-Markham-Markham
4 ♠	W	−1	♣ 3	100		4.64	2.36	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	5-Ibarra-Hoffman
5 ♣	N	−1	♠ 10		50	3.50	3.50	1-Kennedy-Endres	11-Shukla-Gupta
5 ♣×	N	−1	♠ 5		100	2.36	4.64	2-Elliott-Runda	1-Wiest-Chisholm
3 ♠	W	3	♣ 3		140	1.21	5.79	9-Vanstone-Gibler	2-Singerman-Williams
4 ♠	W	4	♣ 5		620	0.07	6.93	3-Barron-Burns	3-Schultz-Terbrueggen

If E/W compete to 3 ♠, South should double. N/S lose two Club tricks and one Heart, making four. North's slow Heart loser will go on the ♠ A. East will lead the ♠ 4 (fourth best from an honor).

Board 10
East Deals
Both Vul

♠	K 10 6 2
♥	Q 9 8 5
♦	Q 6 3 2
♣	10

♠	8 5 3
♥	A J 4
♦	10 9 7
♣	K J 4 3

N
W		E
S

♠	9 7
♥	K 10 2
♦	J 4
♣	Q 9 8 7 6 5

♠	A Q J 4
♥	7 6 3
♦	A K 8 5
♣	A 2

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

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

Showing 18-19 HCP
Alert, artificial checkback bid asking for more information about opener's major-suit holdings
Showing four Spades but not denying three Hearts

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	S	4	♠ 3	620		5.79	1.21	1-Kennedy-Endres	10-Stanley-Kehoe
4 ♠	N	4	♠ 7	620		5.79	1.21	3-Barron-Burns	2-Singerman-Williams
4 ♠	S	4	♣ 3	620		5.79	1.21	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	6-Barker-Kohn
3 NT	S	3	♠ 8	600		3.50	3.50	4-Tedrick-Vogel	4-Earls-Campbell
3 ♦	S	4	♣ 3	130		2.36	4.64	9-Vanstone-Gibler	1-Wiest-Chisholm
6 ♥	N	−1	♠ 7		100	1.21	5.79	12-Murdock-Lipp	8-Congbalay-Cook
4 ♥	N	−2	♣ 9		200	0.07	6.93	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	3-Schultz-Terbrueggen

N/S lose three Heart tricks, making four. West may lead a trump, although the ♦T is also safe.

Board 11
South Deals
None Vul

♠	Q 9 5 3 2
♥	A J 6 5
♦	9 2
♣	7 5

♠	7
♥	10 8 7 2
♦	K 10 8 7 5
♣	9 8 6

N
W		E
S

♠	A 10 6 4
♥	K Q 4
♦	Q J 4 3
♣	10 3

♠	K J 8
♥	9 3
♦	A 6
♣	A K Q J 4 2

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

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	S	4	♦ 7	430		6.93	0.07	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	3-Schultz-Terbrueggen
4 ♠	N	4	♥ K	420		5.21	1.79	3-Barron-Burns	2-Singerman-Williams
4 ♠	N	4	♥ K	420		5.21	1.79	9-Vanstone-Gibler	1-Wiest-Chisholm
4 ♣	S	5	♦ 7	150		3.50	3.50	1-Kennedy-Endres	10-Stanley-Kehoe
3 ♠	S	3	♣ 9	140		2.36	4.64	12-Murdock-Lipp	8-Congbalay-Cook
3 NT	S	−1	♦ 5		50	1.21	5.79	4-Tedrick-Vogel	4-Earls-Campbell
4 ♠	N	−2	♣ 10		100	0.07	6.93	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	6-Barker-Kohn

N/S lose one Diamond, one Heart, and one Spade, making four if declarer is smart enough to take a first-round finesse against East's ♠T. Nope, not gonna happen, so N/S will most likely go down one when the ♠T turns into a trick. That said, if East leads the ♥ K, declarer might still be able to scramble home with ten tricks, since North's slow Diamond loser can be pitched on one of dummy's long Clubs. East is free to ruff that trick, but it will be with their natural trump trick.

Board 12
West Deals
N-S Vul

♠	Q J 9 7 4 3
♥	K 2
♦	K J 5
♣	K 2

♠	A 10 8 5 2
♥	9 8
♦	A 9 7
♣	J 8 7

N
W		E
S

♠	K 6
♥	A Q J 5 3
♦	Q 6 2
♣	A Q 5

♠	—
♥	10 7 6 4
♦	10 8 4 3
♣	10 9 6 4 3

EW 5N; EW 5♥; EW 3♠; EW 3♦; EW 3♣; Par −460

West	North	East	South
Pass	1 ♠	Dbl1	Pass
Pass2	Pass

All big hands start with a double
What else?

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	W	−2	♥ Q	100		6.93	0.07	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	3-Schultz-Terbrueggen
3 NT	W	−1	♠ 7	50		5.79	1.21	4-Tedrick-Vogel	4-Earls-Campbell
2 ♥	E	4	♣ 10		170	4.07	2.93	3-Barron-Burns	2-Singerman-Williams
2 ♥	E	4	♣ 10		170	4.07	2.93	12-Murdock-Lipp	8-Congbalay-Cook
2 ♥	E	5	♣ 10		200	2.36	4.64	9-Vanstone-Gibler	1-Wiest-Chisholm
2 ♠	N	−4	♦ 2		400	1.21	5.79	1-Kennedy-Endres	10-Stanley-Kehoe
2 ♠×	N	−4	♦ 6		1100	0.07	6.93	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	6-Barker-Kohn

When the dust has settled, E/W will have collected nine tricks in Spades (two Heart tricks, two Diamonds, two Clubs, and three trumps), down three for +800. That's pretty good. If E/W were vulnerable and N/S were not, then E/W would be better off in 3 NT making five.

Board 13
North Deals
Both Vul

♠	J 6 5 3
♥	10 9 4 2
♦	—
♣	A 8 6 4 2

♠	9 7 4 2
♥	Q
♦	K 10 8 7 6
♣	7 5 3

N
W		E
S

♠	K Q
♥	A K J 7
♦	Q J 9 5 2
♣	Q 9

♠	A 10 8
♥	8 6 5 3
♦	A 4 3
♣	K J 10

NS 2♥; EW 3♦; NS 2♣; NS 1♠; Par −110

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

Don't make minimum offshape takeout doubles
Alert, artificial Lebensohl bid asking partner to bid 3 ♣
Forced bid
Let's play here

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
1 ♦	E	3	♣ J		110	7.00	0.00	1-Kennedy-Endres	9-Markham-Markham
1 ♦	E	4	♥ 8		130	6.00	1.00	4-Tedrick-Vogel	3-Schultz-Terbrueggen
3 ♦	E	5	♥ 6		150	4.50	2.50	2-Elliott-Runda	11-Shukla-Gupta
2 ♦	E	5	♥ 6		150	4.50	2.50	3-Barron-Burns	1-Wiest-Chisholm
1 NT	S	−2	♦ 6		200	3.00	4.00	12-Murdock-Lipp	7-McCarthy-Diers
3 ♥	N	−3	♦ Q		300	2.00	5.00	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	2-Singerman-Williams
3 NT	E	3	♥ 8		600	1.00	6.00	5-Lin-Hubka	5-Ibarra-Hoffman
3 NT	E	4	♥ 8		630	0.00	7.00	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	4-Earls-Campbell

E/W lose one Diamond trick, two Clubs, and one Spade, making three. South will probably lead the ♦ A and switch to the ♣ J when partner plays the ♣ 2 (upside down attitude). The defense will take the first four tricks, and declarer will claim.

Board 14
East Deals
None Vul

♠	J 10 8
♥	8 7 2
♦	6 5 4
♣	Q 10 9 5

♠	A Q 9 2
♥	5 4 3
♦	9 7 3 2
♣	J 3

N
W		E
S

♠	5 4
♥	A Q 10 6
♦	A K 8
♣	A K 7 6

♠	K 7 6 3
♥	K J 9
♦	Q J 10
♣	8 4 2

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

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

20 to 21
Puppet Stayman
Alert, artificial Puppet response denying a 5-card major but showing one or more 4-card majors
Alert, showing a 4-card Spade suit

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	E	−1	♠ 3	50		6.00	1.00	1-Kennedy-Endres	9-Markham-Markham
3 NT	E	−1	♦ Q	50		6.00	1.00	4-Tedrick-Vogel	3-Schultz-Terbrueggen
3 NT	E	−1	♦ Q	50		6.00	1.00	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	2-Singerman-Williams
1 ♠	S	−2	♣ J		100	4.00	3.00	12-Murdock-Lipp	7-McCarthy-Diers
1 NT	E	3	♦ Q		150	3.00	4.00	2-Elliott-Runda	11-Shukla-Gupta
3 NT	E	3	♦ Q		400	1.50	5.50	5-Lin-Hubka	5-Ibarra-Hoffman
3 NT	E	3	♦ Q		400	1.50	5.50	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	4-Earls-Campbell
3 NT	E	4	♦ Q		430	0.00	7.00	3-Barron-Burns	1-Wiest-Chisholm

E/W can take two Diamond tricks, two Clubs, two Spades, and two Hearts, down one. If South leads the ♦ Q, E/W will take a third Diamond trick and make the hand. Oops. South's best lead, although least intuitive, is the ♣ 8. Not gonna happen.

Board 15
South Deals
N-S Vul

♠	Q 8 7 6 5
♥	K 3
♦	6 2
♣	K 10 9 7

♠	10 2
♥	Q 6 4 2
♦	A J 10
♣	Q 6 4 3

N
W		E
S

♠	A J
♥	J 10 9 8 5
♦	K 9 8 4
♣	5 2

♠	K 9 4 3
♥	A 7
♦	Q 7 5 3
♣	A J 8

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

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

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	N	4	♣ 5	620		6.00	1.00	3-Barron-Burns	1-Wiest-Chisholm
4 ♠	N	4	♥ J	620		6.00	1.00	4-Tedrick-Vogel	3-Schultz-Terbrueggen
4 ♠	N	4	♥ J	620		6.00	1.00	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	2-Singerman-Williams
5 ♥×	E	−3	♠ 3	500		4.00	3.00	2-Elliott-Runda	11-Shukla-Gupta
2 ♠	N	4	♥ J	170		3.00	4.00	1-Kennedy-Endres	9-Markham-Markham
2 ♠	N	3	♥ J	140		2.00	5.00	5-Lin-Hubka	5-Ibarra-Hoffman
2 ♠	N	2	♥ J	110		1.00	6.00	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	4-Earls-Campbell
4 ♠	N	−1	♦ A		100	0.00	7.00	12-Murdock-Lipp	7-McCarthy-Diers

N/S lose one Spade trick and two Diamonds if they successfully locate the ♣ Q. East will probably lead the ♥ J. Declarer should delay the Club decision as long as possible and try to get a count on the hand. They'll win the first trick with the ♥ K and play a small Spade towards dummy. East will play the ♠ J, and declarer will win with the ♠ Q. A second round of Spades goes to East's ♠ A and the ♥T is played towards the stiff ♥ A. Since East could have knocked the ♥ A out with any card, they're asking for a lead of the higher-ranking side suit, in this case Diamonds. Declarer should lead a small Diamond off the board, West winning with the ♦T. West will play the ♦ A and exit with the ♦ J, ruffed by declarer as East plays the ♦ 9.

Hmmmm.....West has shown up with seven HCP (♥ Q and ♦ AJ). It's unlikely they have a fifth Heart, or they might have overcalled 1 ♥. East has shown up with nine HCP (♠ AJ ♥ JTxxx ♦ Kxxx ♣ ??). Since West has four Clubs to East's two, the proper play in Clubs is ♣ A followed by a finesse of West's supposed ♣ Q (75% chance that West has the ♣ Q when the ♣ A draws two small cards). Nicely played!

Board 16
West Deals
E-W Vul

♠	Q 9 2
♥	J 8 2
♦	Q 10 9 5 2
♣	10 2

♠	8 7 3
♥	A Q 10 5
♦	6 4
♣	Q J 7 5

N
W		E
S

♠	A J 10
♥	9 7 3
♦	J 8 3
♣	K 9 8 6

♠	K 6 5 4
♥	K 6 4
♦	A K 7
♣	A 4 3

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

West	North	East	South
Pass	Pass	Pass	1 NT1
Pass	Pass	Pass

15 to 17

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
1 NT	S	4	♠ 7	180		6.93	0.07	12-Murdock-Lipp	5-Ibarra-Hoffman
1 NT	S	3	♥ 5	150		5.79	1.21	6-Henry-Brendamour	6-Barker-Kohn
1 NT	S	2	♥ 5	120		4.07	2.93	2-Elliott-Runda	10-Stanley-Kehoe
1 NT	S	2	♠ 7	120		4.07	2.93	4-Tedrick-Vogel	2-Singerman-Williams
2 ♣	E	−1	♦ A	100		2.36	4.64	1-Kennedy-Endres	8-Congbalay-Cook
1 NT	S	1	♠ 8	90		0.64	6.36	5-Lin-Hubka	4-Earls-Campbell
1 NT	S	1	♥ 5	90		0.64	6.36	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	3-Schultz-Terbrueggen

N/S take five Diamond tricks, one Club, one Spade, and one Heart, making two if West leads anything that doesn't resemble a shamrock. If they find the Club lead, N/S will take only seven tricks.

Board 17
North Deals
None Vul

♠	7 6 3
♥	9
♦	Q 10 9
♣	A K J 7 6 4

♠	J 4
♥	10 5 3 2
♦	K 7 6
♣	10 8 5 2

N
W		E
S

♠	A K Q
♥	A K Q J 8 6 4
♦	3
♣	Q 3

♠	10 9 8 5 2
♥	7
♦	A J 8 5 4 2
♣	9

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

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

Alert, artificial DONT bid showing Diamonds and another suit
Alert, showing an A, K, or QQ
I like Diamonds!

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♣	E	−3	♥ 7	150		6.93	0.07	6-Henry-Brendamour	6-Barker-Kohn
5 ♥	E	−1	♦ A	50		4.64	2.36	1-Kennedy-Endres	8-Congbalay-Cook
5 ♥	E	−1	♦ A	50		4.64	2.36	2-Elliott-Runda	10-Stanley-Kehoe
5 ♥	E	−1	♣ 9	50		4.64	2.36	12-Murdock-Lipp	5-Ibarra-Hoffman
4 ♥	W	4	♣ A		420	2.36	4.64	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	3-Schultz-Terbrueggen
5 ♥	E	5	♦ A		450	1.21	5.79	4-Tedrick-Vogel	2-Singerman-Williams
3 ♣×	N	−3	♠ A		500	0.07	6.93	5-Lin-Hubka	4-Earls-Campbell

Some intrepid North player may pull the trigger on a 4 ♠ bid, since partner's second suit HAS TO BE SPADES!!! That would work nicely, when 4 ♠ doubled goes down only two. In 4 ♥, E/W lose two Club tricks and one Diamond, making four. South will lead the ♣ 9.

Board 18
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	K Q 5 3
♥	6 5 4 3
♦	6 2
♣	A Q 6

♠	A J 9
♥	Q J 10 8 2
♦	A J 4
♣	K 9

N
W		E
S

♠	8 4 2
♥	A K 9 7
♦	K 9 7 3
♣	8 2

♠	10 7 6
♥	—
♦	Q 10 8 5
♣	J 10 7 5 4 3

W 4N; W 4♥; E 3♥; NS 4♣; E 1N; E 2♦; W 1♦; Par −200: NS 5♣×−1

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

15 to 17
Alert, asking for a 5-card major
Alert, showing a 5-card Heart suit

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	W	−1	♠ K	50		6.93	0.07	4-Tedrick-Vogel	2-Singerman-Williams
4 ♥	W	4	♦ 2		420	4.07	2.93	2-Elliott-Runda	10-Stanley-Kehoe
4 ♥	W	4	♠ 3		420	4.07	2.93	5-Lin-Hubka	4-Earls-Campbell
4 ♥	W	4	♦ 6		420	4.07	2.93	6-Henry-Brendamour	6-Barker-Kohn
4 ♥	W	4	♠ K		420	4.07	2.93	12-Murdock-Lipp	5-Ibarra-Hoffman
4 ♥	W	5	♠ K		450	0.64	6.36	1-Kennedy-Endres	8-Congbalay-Cook
4 ♥	W	5	♠ K		450	0.64	6.36	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	3-Schultz-Terbrueggen

E/W lose two Club tricks and one Spade, making four. North's best lead is a Heart, and declarer will pull trump in four rounds ending in dummy and lead towards the ♦ J. When that holds, they'll play off the ♦ A and ♦ K, noting North's pitch of a black card. A Spade is now led from dummy, and declarer will cover any card that South produces. North will win with the ♠ Q, but they're endplayed. A Spade return is into declarer's ♠ AJ tenace position (♠ A9 if South played the ♠T on the first Spade lead), and a Club return gives declarer a trick with the ♣ K. Nicely done!

Board 19
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	J 9 7 3
♥	K J 10 6 2
♦	A 8
♣	A 6

♠	A Q 6
♥	Q 8 7
♦	Q 9 4
♣	7 4 3 2

N
W		E
S

♠	10 8 5
♥	5
♦	K J 3
♣	K J 10 9 8 5

♠	K 4 2
♥	A 9 4 3
♦	10 7 6 5 2
♣	Q

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

West	North	East	South
			Pass
Pass	2 ♦1	Pass	2 NT2
Pass	3 NT3	Pass	4 ♥
Pass	Pass	Pass

Alert, artificial Flannery bid showing exactly four Spades, five Hearts, and 11-15 HCP
Alert, artificial bid asking for more information about opener's hand
Alert, opener is showing 13+ to 15 HCP with more than half their values in the minors

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♥	N	4	♦ 3	170		6.00	1.00	2-Elliott-Runda	9-Markham-Markham
2 ♥	N	4	♣ 5	170		6.00	1.00	6-Henry-Brendamour	5-Ibarra-Hoffman
2 ♥	N	4	♣ J	170		6.00	1.00	12-Murdock-Lipp	4-Earls-Campbell
3 ♥	N	3	♣ J	140		3.00	4.00	1-Kennedy-Endres	6-Barker-Kohn
3 ♥	N	3	♦ 3	140		3.00	4.00	4-Tedrick-Vogel	1-Wiest-Chisholm
3 ♥	N	3	♦ J	140		3.00	4.00	7-Kammer-Zimmer	7-McCarthy-Diers
4 ♥	N	−1	♥ 5		50	1.00	6.00	3-Barron-Burns	11-Shukla-Gupta
4 ♣	E	4	♥ A		130	0.00	7.00	5-Lin-Hubka	3-Schultz-Terbrueggen

Flannery uses an opening bid of 2 ♦ (sometimes 2 ♥) to show 4-5 in the majors and 11-15 HCP. Responder can sign off in 2 ♥ or 2 ♠, make a preemptive raise in either major, or bid 2 NT to try for game (or slam). Over 2 NT, opener makes one of the following rebids:

3 ♣ - 4513 shape
3 ♦ - 4531 shape
3 ♥ - 4522 shape with 11 to a bad 13 HCP
3 ♠ - 4522 shape with 13+ to 15 HCP
3 NT - 4522 shape with 13+ to 15 HCP and more than half their points in the minors
4 ♣ - 4504 shape
4 ♦ - 4540 shape

N/S lose two Spade tricks and one Diamond, making four if they guess correctly in Hearts. West may lead the ♣ 4 (MUD).

Board 20
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	A 7 2
♥	Q 10 5 2
♦	A 9 4
♣	K 9 7

♠	K Q J 3
♥	6 3
♦	K 10 8 3 2
♣	Q 3

N
W		E
S

♠	6 5
♥	K 9 8 7
♦	Q J 6 5
♣	J 6 2

♠	10 9 8 4
♥	A J 4
♦	7
♣	A 10 8 5 4

NS 3♠; NS 3♥; NS 4♣; NS 2N; EW 1♦; Par +140

West	North	East	South
1 ♦1	Pass2	1 ♥	1 NT3
Pass	2 ♣	2 ♦	Pass
Pass	2 ♠	Pass	3 ♣
Pass	Pass	Pass

Rule of 20 opener
Don't make minimum offshape takeout doubles
Alert, Sandwich Notrump showing a sub-opening takeout double

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	N	3	♥ 7	600		7.00	0.00	1-Kennedy-Endres	6-Barker-Kohn
4 ♦	W	−2	♣ 7	200		6.00	1.00	5-Lin-Hubka	3-Schultz-Terbrueggen
3 ♠	N	4	♥ 6	170		5.00	2.00	12-Murdock-Lipp	4-Earls-Campbell
3 ♣	N	4	♦ Q	130		3.50	3.50	3-Barron-Burns	11-Shukla-Gupta
2 ♣	N	4	♥ 9	130		3.50	3.50	7-Kammer-Zimmer	7-McCarthy-Diers
3 ♣	N	3	♥ 7	110		2.00	5.00	4-Tedrick-Vogel	1-Wiest-Chisholm
3 ♦	W	−1	♠ A	100		1.00	6.00	6-Henry-Brendamour	5-Ibarra-Hoffman
3 NT	N	−3	♦ 6		300	0.00	7.00	2-Elliott-Runda	9-Markham-Markham

N/S lose one Club trick and two Spades, making four. East will lead the ♦ Q. Declarer will win in hand, play off the ♣ K and ♣ A, and lead a Spade towards their hand winning with the ♠ A when West covers with the ♠ J. The ♥T is next, and when it wins, declarer will claim.

Board 21
North Deals
N-S Vul

♠	K Q 6 3
♥	9 5
♦	K J 8 5
♣	J 8 7

♠	10 8 5
♥	A 7 3
♦	10 4
♣	K Q 10 9 3

N
W		E
S

♠	7 4 2
♥	10 8 6 2
♦	9 3
♣	A 5 4 2

♠	A J 9
♥	K Q J 4
♦	A Q 7 6 2
♣	6

NS 5♠; NS 5♦; NS 2♥; NS 1N; NS 1♣; Par +650

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

Natural and game forcing
Showing three good Spades

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♦	S	5	♣ K	600		6.00	1.00	1-Kennedy-Endres	6-Barker-Kohn
5 ♦	S	5	♣ K	600		6.00	1.00	2-Elliott-Runda	9-Markham-Markham
5 ♦	S	5	♣ K	600		6.00	1.00	4-Tedrick-Vogel	1-Wiest-Chisholm
3 ♦	S	6	♥ A	170		4.00	3.00	7-Kammer-Zimmer	7-McCarthy-Diers
3 ♦	S	5	♣ K	150		3.00	4.00	3-Barron-Burns	11-Shukla-Gupta
4 ♦	S	4	♣ K	130		2.00	5.00	5-Lin-Hubka	3-Schultz-Terbrueggen
3 NT	N	−2	♥ 8		200	0.50	6.50	6-Henry-Brendamour	5-Ibarra-Hoffman
3 NT	S	−2	♣ 2		200	0.50	6.50	12-Murdock-Lipp	4-Earls-Campbell

South suggests playing in the Moysian (4-3) fit with their 3 ♠ bid, and North happily accepts. N/S lose one Club trick and one Heart, making five. East may lead a trump. Declarer will win, and knock out the ♥ A. West will most likely continue with the ♣ K ending the drama.

Board 22
East Deals
E-W Vul

♠	J 10 9 6
♥	9 8 2
♦	K Q 8 6 2
♣	Q

♠	8 7 2
♥	Q 10 5 4 3
♦	10 9 5
♣	7 4

N
W		E
S

♠	A 5
♥	A K J 6
♦	A J 7 4
♣	A 6 5

♠	K Q 4 3
♥	7
♦	3
♣	K J 10 9 8 3 2

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

West	North	East	South
		2 NT1	3 ♣2
Pass	3 ♦3	Dbl4	3 ♠5
Pass	Pass	Dbl6	Pass
4 ♥7	4 ♠8	Dbl9	Pass
Pass	Pass

20 to 21
Alert, artificial DONT bid showing Clubs and a higher-ranking suit
No tolerance for Clubs, please pass or correct
Do something smart, partner
My other suit is Spades
Do something smart, partner (but a little louder)
Don't yell at me!
What else?
Enough of this madness!

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	W	−1	♣ Q	100		6.93	0.07	7-Kammer-Zimmer	6-Barker-Kohn
5 ♣×	S	−1	♦ 10		100	5.79	1.21	3-Barron-Burns	10-Stanley-Kehoe
2 NT	E	3	♣ 9		150	4.64	2.36	2-Elliott-Runda	7-McCarthy-Diers
3 ♥	E	4	♠ K		170	2.93	4.07	5-Lin-Hubka	2-Singerman-Williams
3 ♥	E	4	♦ 3		170	2.93	4.07	8-Prosise-Prosise	8-Congbalay-Cook
3 ♥	E	5	♦ 3		200	1.21	5.79	1-Kennedy-Endres	5-Ibarra-Hoffman
5 ♣×	S	−2	♥ 3		300	0.07	6.93	6-Henry-Brendamour	4-Earls-Campbell

N/S lose one Spade trick, two Hearts, one Diamond, one Club, down two doubled for –300. The defense is tricky, and more than one N/S pair will escape for down one. The goal of the defense will be to cut declarer off from their hand, and the best way to do that is to get declarer to ruff multiple times in the closed hand. The ♦T looks like the best lead, covered by the ♦ Q, and won with the ♦ A. Two rounds of Hearts are next, declarer probably ruffing the second one. The ♣ K is led, West winning, and a third Heart is played. Declarer's best line is to discard a Club on this trick. If they ruff in the South hand, they'll go down more than two.

Board 23
South Deals
Both Vul

♠	Q 10 8
♥	A 10 5 2
♦	A Q 4 2
♣	K 9

♠	A 6 5 3
♥	J 4
♦	K J 9 8
♣	Q 6 3

N
W		E
S

♠	9 7
♥	Q 9 8 7
♦	10 5
♣	A J 10 8 4

♠	K J 4 2
♥	K 6 3
♦	7 6 3
♣	7 5 2

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

West	North	East	South
			Pass
Pass	1 NT1	Pass	Pass
Pass

15 to 17

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
1 NT	N	2	♣ J	120		4.64	2.36	1-Kennedy-Endres	5-Ibarra-Hoffman
1 NT	N	2	♣ J	120		4.64	2.36	3-Barron-Burns	10-Stanley-Kehoe
1 NT	N	2	♣ J	120		4.64	2.36	5-Lin-Hubka	2-Singerman-Williams
1 NT	N	2	♣ J	120		4.64	2.36	6-Henry-Brendamour	4-Earls-Campbell
1 NT	N	2	♣ J	120		4.64	2.36	8-Prosise-Prosise	8-Congbalay-Cook
2 ♣	E	2	♠ 2		90	1.21	5.79	7-Kammer-Zimmer	6-Barker-Kohn
3 NT	N	−1	♠ 9		100	0.07	6.93	2-Elliott-Runda	7-McCarthy-Diers

N/S take three Spade tricks, two Hearts, and two Diamonds, making one. They'll make two if East leads the ♣ J, which they're totally going to do. Expect a heap of +120 scores.

Board 24
West Deals
None Vul

♠	3 2
♥	Q J 8 7 6 5
♦	9
♣	A 6 4 3

♠	K Q J 7 4
♥	K 9
♦	A 6 4 2
♣	7 2

N
W		E
S

♠	9 8
♥	A 3 2
♦	10 8 5 3
♣	Q J 8 5

♠	A 10 6 5
♥	10 4
♦	K Q J 7
♣	K 10 9

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

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

Weak jump overcall

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♥×	N	3	♠ 9	570		6.93	0.07	1-Kennedy-Endres	5-Ibarra-Hoffman
4 ♥	N	4	♠ 8	420		5.21	1.79	2-Elliott-Runda	7-McCarthy-Diers
4 ♥	N	4	♠ 9	420		5.21	1.79	8-Prosise-Prosise	8-Congbalay-Cook
3 ♥	N	3	♠ 9	140		3.50	3.50	7-Kammer-Zimmer	6-Barker-Kohn
2 ♦	W	−2	♦ 9	100		2.36	4.64	6-Henry-Brendamour	4-Earls-Campbell
4 ♥	N	−1	♠ 9		50	1.21	5.79	3-Barron-Burns	10-Stanley-Kehoe
3 NT×	N	−1	♠ K		100	0.07	6.93	5-Lin-Hubka	2-Singerman-Williams

North bids 3 ♥ expecting to go down a couple. Nope. N/S lose one Spade trick, two Hearts, and one Diamond, making three. East will lead the ♠ 9.

Board 25
North Deals
E-W Vul

♠	K 7 6
♥	A J 7 5
♦	A Q 8 6
♣	Q 9

♠	8 4
♥	K Q 10 3
♦	K 10 7 5 4
♣	7 5

N
W		E
S

♠	Q J 10 9 2
♥	9 8 6
♦	J
♣	K 8 6 4

♠	A 5 3
♥	4 2
♦	9 3 2
♣	A J 10 3 2

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

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

15 to 17
Alert, artificial bid asking for a 5-card major
Alert, artificial response denying a 5-card major

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	N	3	♠ Q	400		6.00	1.00	2-Elliott-Runda	6-Barker-Kohn
3 NT	N	3	♠ Q	400		6.00	1.00	6-Henry-Brendamour	3-Schultz-Terbrueggen
3 NT	N	3	♠ 9	400		6.00	1.00	8-Prosise-Prosise	7-McCarthy-Diers
2 NT	N	4	♠ Q	180		3.00	4.00	3-Barron-Burns	8-Congbalay-Cook
2 NT	N	4	♠ Q	180		3.00	4.00	5-Lin-Hubka	1-Wiest-Chisholm
2 NT	N	4	♠ Q	180		3.00	4.00	7-Kammer-Zimmer	5-Ibarra-Hoffman
3 NT	N	−1	♠ Q		50	1.00	6.00	4-Tedrick-Vogel	11-Shukla-Gupta
3 NT	N	−2	♠ Q		100	0.00	7.00	9-Vanstone-Gibler	9-Markham-Markham

N/S take two Spade tricks, two Hearts, three Diamonds, and three Clubs, making four (in theory). That's on double-dummy lines (imagine declarer playing the ♦ Q at trick two from hand smothering East's ♦ J and later taking two finesse in Diamonds.....yeah, that looks likely). N/S scoring +400 will be a common result. East will lead the ♠ Q.

Board 26
East Deals
Both Vul

♠	A Q 7
♥	10 2
♦	K Q 8
♣	Q J 10 6 5

♠	K J 8 6
♥	9 8 6 3
♦	6 3
♣	A 4 2

N
W		E
S

♠	10 5 3
♥	7 4
♦	A J 10 7 2
♣	K 7 3

♠	9 4 2
♥	A K Q J 5
♦	9 5 4
♣	9 8

NS 3♥; NS 2N; NS 2♣; EW 1♦; Par +140

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

15 to 17
Transfer

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	N	4	♦ 7	630		7.00	0.00	6-Henry-Brendamour	3-Schultz-Terbrueggen
2 ♥	S	5	♦ 6	200		6.00	1.00	4-Tedrick-Vogel	11-Shukla-Gupta
2 NT	N	3	♦ J	150		5.00	2.00	5-Lin-Hubka	1-Wiest-Chisholm
1 NT	N	2	♠ 3	120		3.50	3.50	3-Barron-Burns	8-Congbalay-Cook
2 NT	N	2	♦ J	120		3.50	3.50	7-Kammer-Zimmer	5-Ibarra-Hoffman
2 ♣	N	2	♥ 7	90		2.00	5.00	9-Vanstone-Gibler	9-Markham-Markham
3 ♥	S	−1	♠ 6		100	0.50	6.50	2-Elliott-Runda	6-Barker-Kohn
2 ♥	S	−1	♦ 3		100	0.50	6.50	8-Prosise-Prosise	7-McCarthy-Diers

It's quite popular now to play a 1 NT opener as "a good 14 to 17." What is a good 14? A good 14 is 14 HCP with a five-card minor and nice spot cards (i.e., North's hand).

East will lead the ♦ J, and declarer will hop with the ♦ Q, play off five rounds of Hearts, and lead to the ♠ Q. When the Queen holds, declarer has eight tricks, but where's the ninth? I don't know either. Down one.

Board 27
South Deals
None Vul

♠	A 9 6 4
♥	Q 9 6 4
♦	A J 2
♣	9 5

♠	K J
♥	A K 7
♦	K Q 8 5
♣	J 8 7 4

N
W		E
S

♠	10 8 5 3
♥	10 5 3 2
♦	7
♣	A K 6 2

♠	Q 7 2
♥	J 8
♦	10 9 6 4 3
♣	Q 10 3

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

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

15 to 17
Garbage Stayman
Pass or correct

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 NT	W	−3	♥ 4	150		6.50	0.50	2-Elliott-Runda	6-Barker-Kohn
3 NT	W	−3	♥ 4	150		6.50	0.50	3-Barron-Burns	8-Congbalay-Cook
3 NT	W	−1	♣ 9	50		4.50	2.50	6-Henry-Brendamour	3-Schultz-Terbrueggen
4 ♣	E	−1	♥ J	50		4.50	2.50	8-Prosise-Prosise	7-McCarthy-Diers
1 NT	W	1	♥ 4		90	3.00	4.00	5-Lin-Hubka	1-Wiest-Chisholm
1 NT	W	2	♠ 4		120	2.00	5.00	7-Kammer-Zimmer	5-Ibarra-Hoffman
3 NT	W	3	♥ 4		400	1.00	6.00	4-Tedrick-Vogel	11-Shukla-Gupta
3 NT	W	4	♠ 4		430	0.00	7.00	9-Vanstone-Gibler	9-Markham-Markham

If West has a doubleton Heart, they'll correct to 2 ♠. E/W lose one Spade trick, one Heart, one Diamond, and one Club, making three. North may lead the ♣ 9.

Board 28
West Deals
N-S Vul

♠	A 9 6
♥	A K 9 6 5
♦	7 5 4
♣	8 4

♠	10 7
♥	J 4
♦	Q 9
♣	K J 9 7 6 5 2

N
W		E
S

♠	K J 8 5 3
♥	Q 8 3 2
♦	10 6
♣	A 10

♠	Q 4 2
♥	10 7
♦	A K J 8 3 2
♣	Q 3

NS 4♦; NS 2♥; EW 2♣; NS 1♠; Par +130

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♣	W	−2	♥ A	100		6.36	0.64	3-Barron-Burns	7-McCarthy-Diers
3 ♣	W	−2	♥ K	100		6.36	0.64	9-Vanstone-Gibler	8-Congbalay-Cook
3 ♣	W	−1	♥ K	50		4.07	2.93	6-Henry-Brendamour	2-Singerman-Williams
3 ♣	W	−1	♣ 4	50		4.07	2.93	7-Kammer-Zimmer	4-Earls-Campbell
5 ♦	S	−1	♣ 7		100	2.36	4.64	8-Prosise-Prosise	6-Barker-Kohn
4 ♥	N	−2	♦ 10		200	1.21	5.79	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	10-Stanley-Kehoe
3 NT	S	−3	♣ 7		300	0.07	6.93	4-Tedrick-Vogel	9-Markham-Markham

If either North or South had a Club stopper, they would have tried for 3 NT. N/S lose one Spade trick and two Clubs, making four. East will lead the ♣ 7.

Board 29
North Deals
Both Vul

♠	Q 6 3 2
♥	8 7 2
♦	J 6 5 4
♣	K 10

♠	9 8 7 5
♥	K Q J 9 5
♦	Q 2
♣	Q 4

N
W		E
S

♠	J 10
♥	6 4 3
♦	A K 3
♣	7 6 5 3 2

♠	A K 4
♥	A 10
♦	10 9 8 7
♣	A J 9 8

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

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

15 to 17
Alert, artificial DONT bid showing Hearts and Spades

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	S	3	♥ 9	600		6.93	0.07	3-Barron-Burns	7-McCarthy-Diers
1 NT	S	3	♥ 9	150		5.79	1.21	8-Prosise-Prosise	6-Barker-Kohn
1 NT	S	2	♥ K	120		4.07	2.93	6-Henry-Brendamour	2-Singerman-Williams
1 NT	S	2	♥ K	120		4.07	2.93	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	10-Stanley-Kehoe
1 NT	S	1	♥ K	90		2.36	4.64	4-Tedrick-Vogel	9-Markham-Markham
1 NT	S	−2	♥ K		200	0.64	6.36	7-Kammer-Zimmer	4-Earls-Campbell
1 NT	S	−2	♥ K		200	0.64	6.36	9-Vanstone-Gibler	8-Congbalay-Cook

E/W lose three Spade tricks, one Heart, and two Clubs, down one assuming North leads a trump (which they should). North will lead the ♥ 2 (Yay, North!), South will win and continue Hearts. When North is in with the ♠ Q, they'll play a third round of trump and declarer has no way to avoid losing a third Spade.

Board 30
East Deals
None Vul

♠	A 10 5
♥	7 3 2
♦	K J 9 8 6
♣	J 7

♠	8 6
♥	A K J 9 8
♦	A 5 2
♣	K 5 4

N
W		E
S

♠	K J 9
♥	Q 10 6 5 4
♦	4
♣	Q 9 3 2

♠	Q 7 4 3 2
♥	—
♦	Q 10 7 3
♣	A 10 8 6

EW 4♥; NS 3♠; NS 4♦; EW 1N; EW 2♣; Par −100: NS 4♠×−1; NS 5♦×−1

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

15 to 17
Transfer
Alert, super accept showing a maximum notrump opener, a doubleton Spade, and 4+ good Hearts
Retransfer

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	W	−1	♣ J	50		6.36	0.64	3-Barron-Burns	7-McCarthy-Diers
4 ♥	W	−1	♦ 8	50		6.36	0.64	7-Kammer-Zimmer	4-Earls-Campbell
2 ♥	W	4	♥ 2		170	4.07	2.93	6-Henry-Brendamour	2-Singerman-Williams
3 ♥	W	4	♣ J		170	4.07	2.93	8-Prosise-Prosise	6-Barker-Kohn
5 ♠×	S	−2	♠ 8		300	2.36	4.64	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	10-Stanley-Kehoe
4 ♥	W	4	♥ 7		420	0.64	6.36	4-Tedrick-Vogel	9-Markham-Markham
4 ♥	W	4	♣ J		420	0.64	6.36	9-Vanstone-Gibler	8-Congbalay-Cook

E/W lose one Spade trick and two Clubs, making four. North will lead the ♣ J, and South will let it ride to the ♣ K. When North is back in with the ♠ A, they'll lead another Club to South's ♣ AT tenace.

Board 31
South Deals
N-S Vul

♠	Q 7 5
♥	A K Q 10 5
♦	A K 10 8 4
♣	—

♠	K J 10 8
♥	8 3
♦	J 9
♣	A J 8 6 3

N
W		E
S

♠	9 6 3
♥	7 4
♦	Q 6 5 2
♣	Q 10 9 4

♠	A 4 2
♥	J 9 6 2
♦	7 3
♣	K 7 5 2

NS 6♥; S 3N; S 5♦; N 4♦; N 2N; NS 2♠; S 1♣; Par +1430

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

Alert, artificial bid showing 7-9 HCP and 4+ Hearts

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
6 ♥	N	7	♣ 4	1460		7.00	0.00	6-Henry-Brendamour	1-Wiest-Chisholm
4 ♥	N	6	♣ 4	680		4.00	3.00	4-Tedrick-Vogel	8-Congbalay-Cook
4 ♥	N	6	♣ 4	680		4.00	3.00	7-Kammer-Zimmer	3-Schultz-Terbrueggen
4 ♥	N	6	♦ 2	680		4.00	3.00	8-Prosise-Prosise	5-Ibarra-Hoffman
4 ♥	N	6	♣ 9	680		4.00	3.00	9-Vanstone-Gibler	7-McCarthy-Diers
4 ♥	N	6	♣ 9	680		4.00	3.00	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	9-Markham-Markham
4 ♥	N	4	♣ 10	620		0.50	6.50	5-Lin-Hubka	10-Stanley-Kehoe
4 ♥	N	4	♥ 7	620		0.50	6.50	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	11-Shukla-Gupta

North is tempted to try for slam, but it's not a good one needing South to have a doubleton Diamond (or the ♦ Q), Hearts to split 2-2, and West to hold the ♠ K. Oh well. N/S lose one Spade, making six. East will lead the ♣T or a trump.

Board 32
West Deals
E-W Vul

♠	7
♥	A 10 6 5 3
♦	J 9 5 4 2
♣	J 6

♠	A K J 8 3 2
♥	J 4
♦	7 3
♣	Q 4 2

N
W		E
S

♠	9 6 4
♥	K 8 2
♦	A Q 6
♣	A 10 7 3

♠	Q 10 5
♥	Q 9 7
♦	K 10 8
♣	K 9 8 5

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

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

Rule of 20 opener
Alert, showing exactly 3334 distribution with three Spades and 13-15 HCP

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♠	W	−2	♥ A	200		7.00	0.00	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	9-Markham-Markham
4 ♠	W	−1	♦ 4	100		5.50	1.50	6-Henry-Brendamour	1-Wiest-Chisholm
3 NT	E	−1	♣ 5	100		5.50	1.50	7-Kammer-Zimmer	3-Schultz-Terbrueggen
3 ♠	W	4	♠ 7		170	3.00	4.00	4-Tedrick-Vogel	8-Congbalay-Cook
3 ♠	W	4	♠ 7		170	3.00	4.00	5-Lin-Hubka	10-Stanley-Kehoe
2 ♠	W	4	♦ 4		170	3.00	4.00	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	11-Shukla-Gupta
4 ♠	W	4	♠ 7		620	1.00	6.00	8-Prosise-Prosise	5-Ibarra-Hoffman
3 NT	E	4	♣ 5		630	0.00	7.00	9-Vanstone-Gibler	7-McCarthy-Diers

E/W lose one Heart trick, one Diamond, and one Club, making four. North may lead the ♣ J, and South should let it run to the ♣ Q.

Board 33
North Deals
None Vul

♠	7 6
♥	K Q 10 9 6
♦	6 3 2
♣	Q J 6

♠	A Q 4
♥	5 4
♦	9 5 4
♣	A K 8 7 3

N
W		E
S

♠	9 8 5
♥	8 7 2
♦	A K 10 7
♣	10 5 4

♠	K J 10 3 2
♥	A J 3
♦	Q J 8
♣	9 2

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

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

Negative

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♣	W	−1	♠ 7	50		7.00	0.00	7-Kammer-Zimmer	3-Schultz-Terbrueggen
1 NT	N	−1	♦ A		50	5.00	2.00	6-Henry-Brendamour	1-Wiest-Chisholm
2 ♥	N	−1	♦ A		50	5.00	2.00	8-Prosise-Prosise	5-Ibarra-Hoffman
2 ♠	S	−1	♣ A		50	5.00	2.00	9-Vanstone-Gibler	7-McCarthy-Diers
2 ♣	W	2	♠ 7		90	2.50	4.50	4-Tedrick-Vogel	8-Congbalay-Cook
2 ♣	W	2	♠ 7		90	2.50	4.50	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	9-Markham-Markham
3 ♥	N	−2	♦ A		100	1.00	6.00	5-Lin-Hubka	10-Stanley-Kehoe
2 ♣	W	3	♥ K		110	0.00	7.00	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	11-Shukla-Gupta

E/W lose one Club trick, one Diamond, and two Hearts, making three. West's slow Spade loser can be pitched on East's long Diamond as long as declarer ducks a Diamond trick in each hand early in the play. North will lead the ♥ K and continue with a low Heart at trick two. South will win with the ♥ A and play a third round, declarer ruffing in hand. The ♦ 9 is now led and run to the ♦ J. South, out of Hearts, will probably play a trump, and declarer should duck. North will win with the ♣ J and play a second Diamond, but declarer can win in dummy, pull trump in two rounds, play a third round of Diamonds to dummy's ♦ A, cash a fourth Diamond pitching their small Spade, and finesse against South's ♠ K at trick 11. Nicely played!

Board 34
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	A Q J
♥	A Q 6 4 3
♦	K 10 6 4
♣	K

♠	K 6 5
♥	J 2
♦	A J 9 8 7
♣	A 7 3

N
W		E
S

♠	10 8 3
♥	K 9 5
♦	5 3 2
♣	J 6 5 4

♠	9 7 4 2
♥	10 8 7
♦	Q
♣	Q 10 9 8 2

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

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

All big hands start with a double
Showing 20+ HCP in playing strength

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
1 ♥	N	3	♦ 2	140		5.21	1.79	5-Lin-Hubka	9-Markham-Markham
2 ♥	N	3	♦ 5	140		5.21	1.79	6-Henry-Brendamour	11-Shukla-Gupta
3 ♥	N	3	♦ 3	140		5.21	1.79	7-Kammer-Zimmer	2-Singerman-Williams
2 ♥	N	3	♦ 2	140		5.21	1.79	8-Prosise-Prosise	4-Earls-Campbell
1 NT	W	−2	♥ 3	100		2.36	4.64	9-Vanstone-Gibler	6-Barker-Kohn
4 ♥	N	−1	♦ 2		100	1.21	5.79	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	8-Congbalay-Cook
4 ♥	N	−3	♣ 4		300	0.07	6.93	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	10-Stanley-Kehoe

When South is able to show Clubs, North decides to try for nine tricks rather than ten. A wise move, as South's spot cards (♠ 9 ♥T87 ♣T98) are priceless in a notrump contract. E/W will probably win the ♠ K, the ♥ K, the ♦ A, and the ♣ A, but that's it. East will lead the ♦ 3 (MUD).

Board 35
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	K Q J
♥	A K 7 6 4
♦	10
♣	A K Q 2

♠	8 7
♥	10 9
♦	A K Q J 3 2
♣	10 8 3

N
W		E
S

♠	5 4
♥	J 5 2
♦	7 5 4
♣	J 9 7 6 4

♠	A 10 9 6 3 2
♥	Q 8 3
♦	9 8 6
♣	5

NS 6♠; NS 6♥; NS 3♣; NS 1N; NS 1♦; Par +980

West	North	East	South
			2 ♠
Pass1	4 ♣2	Pass	4 ♥3
Pass	6 ♠	Pass	Pass
Pass

Don't preempt over a preempt
Alert, Poor Man's Blackwood bid asking for keycards in Spades
Alert, Poor Man's Blackwood response showing 1 keycard w/o the ♠ Q

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
6 ♠	S	6	♦ K	980		6.36	0.64	8-Prosise-Prosise	4-Earls-Campbell
6 ♠	S	6	♦ A	980		6.36	0.64	9-Vanstone-Gibler	6-Barker-Kohn
4 ♠	S	6	♦ A	480		2.93	4.07	5-Lin-Hubka	9-Markham-Markham
4 ♠	S	6	♦ K	480		2.93	4.07	6-Henry-Brendamour	11-Shukla-Gupta
4 ♠	S	6	♦ A	480		2.93	4.07	7-Kammer-Zimmer	2-Singerman-Williams
4 ♠	S	6	♦ A	480		2.93	4.07	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	8-Congbalay-Cook
2 ♥	N	5	♦ 5	200		0.07	6.93	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	10-Stanley-Kehoe

When partner opens with a preempt, and we're still interested in slam, it seems silly to use 4 NT (or Kickback) to ask for keycards when there's NO WAY that partner holds more than two. We're also immediately too high if partner opened on air. A nice solution is to play Poor Man's Blackwood (it probably goes by many names). Here's how it works:

Over any preempt between 2 ♦ and 3 ♠, a response of 4 ♣ is Poor Man's Blackwood (exception, if partner opens 3 ♣, 4 ♦ becomes Poor Man's Blackwood). Opener bids as follows:

4 ♦ (1st step) - 0 keycards
4 ♥ (2nd step) - 1 keycard w/o the Queen of trump
4 ♠ (3rd step) - 1 keycards w/ the Queen of trump
4 NT (4th step) - 2 keycards w/o the Queen of trump
5 ♣ (5th step) - 2 keycards w/ the Queen of trump

That last step is the best you'll ever be and make a preemptive bid. On this hand, North finds out that partner holds either the ♠ A or ♦ A and happily bids the laydown slam. West will lead the ♦ K (asking for count), and declarer will ruff at trick two, pull trump in two rounds, and claim.

Board 36
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	K 10 8 7 4
♥	K 5 3 2
♦	6 4 3
♣	3

♠	A J
♥	Q J 6
♦	Q 10 9 7 2
♣	K 6 5

N
W		E
S

♠	9 6 3
♥	A 10 7 4
♦	A K 8
♣	Q 10 2

♠	Q 5 2
♥	9 8
♦	J 5
♣	A J 9 8 7 4

EW 4N; EW 4♥; EW 5♦; EW 2♠; EW 2♣; Par −630

West	North	East	South
1 ♦	Pass	1 ♥	Pass
1 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 ♥	E	4	♠ 2		170	6.93	0.07	11-Kerstine-Kerstine	10-Stanley-Kehoe
3 ♥	W	5	♣ 3		200	5.79	1.21	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	8-Congbalay-Cook
3 NT	W	3	♠ 8		600	4.07	2.93	8-Prosise-Prosise	4-Earls-Campbell
3 NT	W	3	♠ 4		600	4.07	2.93	9-Vanstone-Gibler	6-Barker-Kohn
3 NT	W	5	♠ 7		660	1.21	5.79	5-Lin-Hubka	9-Markham-Markham
3 NT	W	5	♠ 4		660	1.21	5.79	6-Henry-Brendamour	11-Shukla-Gupta
3 NT	W	5	♠ 7		660	1.21	5.79	7-Kammer-Zimmer	2-Singerman-Williams

For those of you who play XYZ, don't bid 2 ♦ with the East hand after partner rebids 1 NT. 2 ♦ should be used as game forcing when you don't have a better bid. In this case, what's East looking for if they bid 2 ♦? They don't have a fourth Spade or a fifth Heart, nor do they have extras. Since they know they're going to be in 3 NT the moment partner bids 1 NT, they should simply bid it.

E/W take four Heart tricks, one Spade, and five Diamonds, making four. If North leads something other than a small Spade, E/W might make five. North will lead a small Spade.