MON 06/26/2017 at Nite

EVENT>Monday Night Bridge      |SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> A N-S
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>June 26, 2017      |CLUB NO.>185264    | 06/26/2017 22:10
---------------------,-- ------------------- -------------,---------------------
DIR> Mike Lipp       |RATING>Club Masterpoint (100%, 80%, 60% Open)|MOVEMENT>MITCHELL
------------,-------- ,-------------------------,--------- ---------------------
AVE>   84.0 |TOP>   7 |MP LIMITS>None/500/100   |CLUB>Mike's Games At The CBC
------------ --------- ------------------------- -------------------------------
PAIRS IN STRAT A=11/B=9/C=3                      ,---,-------------------------,------,---------,
-------------------------------------------------|   |           Section       |      |Section  |
No Name                   Name                   |Flt|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C| Score | Pct  |Awards   |
------------------------------------------------- --- ----- ----- ----- ------- ------ ---------
 1 Debbie Wiest           Michael Dickman          B    .     4     .     95.20  56.67  0.25(B)
 2 M Mineard              M Mulford-Jacobs         A    1     .     .    103.60  61.67  1.10(A)
 3 Herb Behr              Ralph Terbrueggen        A    .     .     .     81.46  48.49
 4 Judy Crotty Hall       Carla Runda              C    3     2     1     97.30  57.92  0.55(A)
 5 Liz Lin                Elmer Hubka              B    .     .     .     53.21  31.67
 6 Marilyn Prosise        Robert Prosise           B    2     1     .     99.85  59.43  0.77(A)
 7 Pete Outcalt           Lonnie Ingram            C    .     .     .     81.06  48.25
 8 Richard Koch           Lewis Temples            C    .     .     .     67.65  40.27
 9 Robert Brown           Stephen Felson           B    4     3     .     95.37  56.77  0.39(A)
10 Joyce Tedrick          Linda Pretz              B    .     .     .     84.84  50.50
11 Ajay Bansal            Arun Gupta               B    .     .     .     65.06  38.73

                                          Totals                         924.60


                                 **PAIRS**
BOARD     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9    10    11
  /
   1>   5.79                    0.07        4.64  2.93  1.21  2.93  6.93
         110   ----  ----  ---- -460   ---- -180  -300  -430  -300   200

   2>   6.93                    0.07        4.07  4.07  1.79  1.79  5.79
         170   ----  ----  ---- -300   ---- -100  -100  -140  -140   110

   3>   6.36                    2.93        0.07  2.93  2.93  6.36  2.93
         480   ----  ----  ----  450   ----  420   450   450   480   450

   4>         4.07                    4.07  6.93  4.07  0.64  0.64  4.07
         ----  170   ----  ----  ----  170   690   170   140   140   170

   5>         5.21                    6.93  1.79  1.79  1.79  5.21  1.79
         ---- -100   ----  ----  ----   90  -200  -200  -200  -100  -200

   6>         5.21                    2.93  5.21  2.93  6.93  1.21  0.07
         ---- -170   ----  ----  ---- -600  -170  -600   100  -620  -690

   7>   2.36  5.79  2.36                          2.36  2.36  6.93  2.36
        -650  -230  -650   ----  ----  ----  ---- -650  -650  -200  -650

   8>   2.93  5.79  4.64                          2.93  6.93  0.64  0.64
          50   100    90   ----  ----  ----  ----   50   150   -90   -90

   9>   5.79  2.36  2.36                          6.93  2.36  0.07  4.64
         120    90    90   ----  ----  ----  ----  140    90   -50   110

  10>   2.36        4.64  0.07                    2.36  6.93  5.79  2.36
         100   ----  110  -670   ----  ----  ----  100   200   130   100

  11>   4.07        0.07  6.93                    1.21  4.07  4.07  4.07
          50   ---- -120   100   ----  ----  ---- -110    50    50    50

  12>   6.93        4.64  1.21                    1.21  4.64  4.64  1.21
        -400   ---- -420  -430   ----  ----  ---- -430  -420  -420  -430

  13>     3     6-    3     6-    3                       3     3     0
         140   650   140   650   140   ----  ----  ----  140   140   110

  14>     1-    5-    3-    3-    1-                      5-    7     0
        -100   -50   -90   -90  -100   ----  ----  ----  -50   110  -120

  15>     4     4      -    4     2                       6-    6-     -
         200   200   140   200   170   ----  ----  ----  650   650   140

  16>   4.64  1.21        1.21  4.64  6.93                    4.64  1.21
        -650  -680   ---- -680  -650  -620   ----  ----  ---- -650  -680

  17>   0.64  2.36        6.93  0.64  4.07                    4.07  5.79
         -50   100   ----  130   -50   110   ----  ----  ----  110   120

  18>     3-  6.36        6.36  1.21    3-                      3-  0.07
          50   140   ----  140  PASS    50   ----  ----  ----   50  -100

  19>     3-    6     6     1-    1-    3-    0                       6
         460   490   490   420   420   460   400   ----  ----  ----  490

  20>     6-    3-    5     6-    2      -     -                      3-
         300   110   140   300   -90  -100  -100   ----  ----  ----  110

  21>     6     3     6     6     0     3     1                       3
        -170  -420  -170  -170  -920  -420  -490   ----  ----  ---- -420

  22>   1.21  2.93  0.07        5.79  5.79  5.79  2.93
        -500  -300  -620   ----  420   420   420  -300   ----  ----  ----

  23>   1.79  4.07  6.36        0.07  6.36  1.79  4.07
        -690  -660  -620   ---- -720  -620  -690  -660   ----  ----  ----

  24>     3-  5.79  5.79        2.36  1.21  0.07  5.79
         420   450   450   ----  110   100   -50   450   ----  ----  ----

  25>           6     2     4-    4-    7     0     2     2
         ---- -200  -650  -620  -620  -100  -850  -650  -650   ----  ----

  26>           4     4     4     4     1     4     0     7
         ----  300   300   300   300   200   300   100   400   ----  ----

  27>           1     1     5-    5-    1     5-    3     5-
         ---- -420  -420    50    50  -420    50  -400    50   ----  ----

  28>               4.07  4.07        6.36  6.36  0.64  2.36  0.64
         ----  ---- -100  -100   ----  110   110  -170  -150  -170   ----

  29>               1.21  0.07        5.79    3-  2.36  5.79  5.79
         ----  ---- PASS  -100   ----  150   100    90   150   150   ----

  30>               4.07  4.07        4.07  4.07  4.07  4.07  0.07
         ----  ----  510   510   ----  510   510   510   510   500   ----

  31>                     6.36  1.21  6.36  4.07  1.21  4.07  1.21
         ----  ----  ----  100  PASS   100    50  PASS    50  PASS   ----

  32>                     0.07  2.36  2.36  4.64  2.36  5.79  6.93
         ----  ----  ---- -150   -50   -50    90   -50   150   180   ----

  33>                     5.79  1.21  4.64  6.93    3-  1.21  1.21
         ----  ----  ----  150  -400  -150   300  -300  -400  -400   ----



EVENT>Monday Night Bridge      |SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> A E-W
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>June 26, 2017      |CLUB NO.>185264    | 06/26/2017 22:10
---------------------,-- ------------------- -------------,---------------------
DIR> Mike Lipp       |RATING>Club Masterpoint (100%, 80%, 60% Open)|MOVEMENT>MITCHELL
------------,-------- ,-------------------------,--------- ---------------------
AVE>   84.0 |TOP>   7 |MP LIMITS>None/500/100   |CLUB>Mike's Games At The CBC
------------ --------- ------------------------- -------------------------------
PAIRS IN STRAT A=11/B=9/C=3                      ,---,-------------------------,------,---------,
-------------------------------------------------|   |           Section       |      |Section  |
No Name                   Name                   |Flt|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C| Score | Pct  |Awards   |
------------------------------------------------- --- ----- ----- ----- ------- ------ ---------
 1 Margaret Booker        Charles Edwards          C    .     .     .     67.91  40.42
 2 Joseph Kammer          Gail Zimmer              B    .     .     .     69.22  41.20
 3 Carol Scovic           Betty Murdock            B    .     .     .     79.86  47.54
 4 Evelyn McCarthy        Joan Diers               C    .     .     .     75.43  44.90
 5 Cheryl Endres          Pamela Kennedy           C    2     2     1    100.50  59.82  0.77(A)
 6 Joy Singerman          William Cook             B    3     3     .     97.71  58.16  0.55(A)
 7 Ying Peng              Patrick Hoffman          B    1     1     .    104.81  62.39  1.10(A)
 8 Tom Kereiakes          Annette Kereiakes        B    .     4     .     84.05  50.03  0.25(B)
 9 June Cushman           Martin Petersen          A    4     .     .     91.43  54.42  0.39(A)
10 Judy Barron            Patrick Lammers          B    .     .     .     69.06  41.11


                                          Totals                         839.98


                                 **PAIRS**
BOARD     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9    10    11
  /
   1>   1.21  2.36        4.07        5.79        4.07  6.93  0.07
        -110   180   ----  300   ----  430   ----  300   460  -200   ----

   2>   0.07  2.93        2.93        5.21        5.21  6.93  1.21
        -170   100   ----  100   ----  140   ----  140   300  -110   ----

   3>   0.64  6.93        4.07        4.07        0.64  4.07  4.07
        -480  -420   ---- -450   ---- -450   ---- -480  -450  -450   ----

   4>   0.07  2.93  2.93        6.36        6.36        2.93  2.93
        -690  -170  -170   ---- -140   ---- -140   ---- -170  -170   ----

   5>   5.21  1.79  5.21        5.21        1.79        5.21  0.07
         200   100   200   ----  200   ----  100   ----  200   -90   ----

   6>   1.79  1.79  4.07        0.07        5.79        6.93  4.07
         170   170   600   ---- -100   ----  620   ----  690   600   ----

   7>   1.21  4.64  4.64  4.64        0.07        4.64        4.64
         230   650   650   650   ----  200   ----  650   ----  650   ----

   8>   1.21  4.07  2.36  0.07        6.36        6.36        4.07
        -100   -50   -90  -150   ----   90   ----   90   ----  -50   ----

   9>   4.64  0.07  4.64  4.64        6.93        2.36        1.21
         -90  -140   -90   -90   ----   50   ---- -110   ---- -120   ----

  10>   4.64  2.36  0.07  6.93  1.21        4.64        4.64
        -100  -110  -200   670  -130   ---- -100   ---- -100   ----  ----

  11>   5.79  6.93  2.93  0.07  2.93        2.93        2.93
         110   120   -50  -100   -50   ----  -50   ----  -50   ----  ----

  12>   5.79  2.36  2.36  5.79  2.36        5.79        0.07
         430   420   420   430   420   ----  430   ----  400   ----  ----

  13>     4     4      -    4     4     7           4            -
        -140  -140  -650  -140  -140  -110   ---- -140   ---- -650   ----

  14>     3-    1-    3-    0     5-    7           5-          1-
          90    50    90  -110   100   120   ----  100   ----   50   ----

  15>     6-     -    3      -    5     6-          3           3
        -140  -650  -200  -650  -170  -140   ---- -200   ---- -200   ----

  16>         5.79  2.36  2.36  5.79  0.07  2.36        5.79
         ----  680   650   650   680   620   650   ----  680   ----  ----

  17>         0.07  2.93  6.36  1.21  2.93  6.36        4.64
         ---- -130  -110    50  -120  -110    50   ---- -100   ----  ----

  18>         0.64    3-  5.79  6.93    3-    3-        0.64
         ---- -140   -50  PASS   100   -50   -50   ---- -140   ----  ----

  19>     5-          5-    1     3-    3-    7     1           1
        -420   ---- -420  -490  -460  -460  -400  -490   ---- -490   ----

  20>      -          5     3-    6-     -    6-    3-          2
        -300   ----   90  -110   100  -300   100  -110   ---- -140   ----

  21>     1           7     4     4     1     6     4           1
         170   ----  920   420   420   170   490   420   ----  170   ----

  22>         1.21        1.21  5.79  1.21  4.07  4.07  6.93
         ---- -420   ---- -420   500  -420   300   300   620   ----  ----

  23>         6.93        0.64  5.21  5.21  2.93  2.93  0.64
         ----  720   ----  620   690   690   660   660   620   ----  ----

  24>         4.64        5.79    3-  6.93  1.21  1.21  1.21
         ---- -110   ---- -100  -420    50  -450  -450  -450   ----  ----

  25>     2-          0           7     1     5     5     5     2-
         620   ----  100   ----  850   200   650   650   650   620   ----

  26>     3           6           3     3     7     3     0     3
        -300   ---- -200   ---- -300  -300  -100  -300  -400  -300   ----

  27>     1-          6           1-    6     4     6     1-    1-
         -50   ----  420   ----  -50   420   400   420   -50   -50   ----

  28>         0.64        0.64        6.36  2.93  4.64  2.93  6.36
         ---- -110   ---- -110   ----  170   100   150   100   170   ----

  29>         1.21          3-        4.64  5.79  1.21  6.93  1.21
         ---- -150   ---- -100   ----  -90  PASS  -150   100  -150   ----

  30>         2.93        2.93        2.93  2.93  2.93  2.93  6.93
         ---- -510   ---- -510   ---- -510  -510  -510  -510  -500   ----

  31>   0.64        2.93        5.79        2.93  0.64  5.79  5.79
        -100   ----  -50   ---- PASS   ----  -50  -100  PASS  PASS   ----

  32>   4.64        2.36        4.64        1.21  6.93  0.07  4.64
          50   ----  -90   ----   50   ---- -150   150  -180    50   ----

  33>   2.36        0.07          3-        5.79  1.21  5.79  5.79
         150   ---- -300   ----  300   ----  400  -150   400   400   ----
Monday Night Bridge, Monday Eve, June 26, 2017

Board 1
North Deals
None Vul

♠	J
♥	Q 9 8 4 2
♦	A 6 5 3 2
♣	A 6

♠	A 7 3 2
♥	3
♦	Q 10 9 8 7
♣	10 5 4

N
W		E
S

♠	K 6 5
♥	A K J 7
♦	K J 4
♣	K J 2

♠	Q 10 9 8 4
♥	10 6 5
♦	—
♣	Q 9 8 7 3

EW 4N; EW 4♦; E 2♥; EW 1♠; W 1♥; EW 1♣; Par −430

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

Too strong to overcall 1 NT
Alert, artificial BROMAD bid showing 0-6 HCP and exactly three Hearts

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	W	−4	♣ A	200		6.93	0.07	11-Bansal-Gupta	10-Barron-Lammers
2 ♥	N	2	♦ 4	110		5.79	1.21	1-Wiest-Dickman	1-Booker-Edwards
1 NT	E	4	♥ 10		180	4.64	2.36	7-Outcalt-Ingram	2-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♥×	N	−2	♦ J		300	2.93	4.07	8-Koch-Temples	4-McCarthy-Diers
3 ♥×	N	−2	♦ 4		300	2.93	4.07	10-Tedrick-Pretz	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 NT	W	4	♠ J		430	1.21	5.79	9-Brown-Felson	6-Singerman-Cook
3 NT	E	5	♥ 10		460	0.07	6.93	5-Lin-Hubka	9-Cushman-Petersen

When West is able to take a "free bid" over 2 ♥, East has more than enough to bid 3 NT. E/W take two Spade tricks, three Hearts, four Diamonds, and one Club, making four. South will probably lead the ♥ 5 (low from an honor), East will win the ♥ J, and knock out the ♦ A. It doesn't matter what North returns, since they're marked with the ♣ A, and declarer simply has to lead the suit once from dummy.

Board 2
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	A 8 4 3
♥	K 10 9 8 6 4
♦	5
♣	8 7

♠	K Q 7 6
♥	3 2
♦	A K 8 3
♣	J 10 2

N
W		E
S

♠	10 9 5 2
♥	A Q 5
♦	Q 10 9 6
♣	9 5

♠	J
♥	J 7
♦	J 7 4 2
♣	A K Q 6 4 3

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

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

Don't make minimum offshape takeout doubles
Double now to show the two unbid suits

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♥	N	4	♦ 9	170		6.93	0.07	1-Wiest-Dickman	1-Booker-Edwards
3 ♣	S	3	♦ A	110		5.79	1.21	11-Bansal-Gupta	10-Barron-Lammers
4 ♥	N	−1	♦ Q		100	4.07	2.93	7-Outcalt-Ingram	2-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♣	S	−1	♦ A		100	4.07	2.93	8-Koch-Temples	4-McCarthy-Diers
3 ♠	E	3	♣ A		140	1.79	5.21	9-Brown-Felson	6-Singerman-Cook
2 ♠	W	3	♣ 8		140	1.79	5.21	10-Tedrick-Pretz	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♣	S	−3	♦ A		300	0.07	6.93	5-Lin-Hubka	9-Cushman-Petersen

Don't be in a rush to get in the auction with a balanced hand. If the opponent's auction winds down and you have something to bid, do it then. If South finds the how-in-the-heck-did-you-find-that lead of the ♦ 7 (beer card), E/W will take eight tricks. When in with the ♠ A, North can lead the ♣ 8 to partner's ♣ Q, ♦ 2 ruffed low, ♣ 7 to partner's ♣ K, and ♦ 4 ruffed low for five defensive tricks. That's not going to happen, since South is going to lead the ♣ K (asking for count), and continue with the ♣ A and ♣ Q. With no way for North to get to the South hand to ruff Diamonds, N/S will be able to collect only three defensive tricks. Oops.

Board 3
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	A 5 4 3
♥	10 9 7 5
♦	A 10 9 5
♣	J

♠	J 6 2
♥	8
♦	Q J 6 3 2
♣	K 7 4 3

N
W		E
S

♠	10 9 8 7
♥	J 4 3
♦	K 8 7
♣	A 5 2

♠	K Q
♥	A K Q 6 2
♦	4
♣	Q 10 9 8 6

NS 6♥; NS 3N; NS 2♠; N 3♣; S 2♣; NS 1♦; Par +980

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

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	S	6	♥ 8	480		6.36	0.64	1-Wiest-Dickman	1-Booker-Edwards
4 ♥	S	6	♥ 8	480		6.36	0.64	10-Tedrick-Pretz	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♥	S	5	♠ 2	450		2.93	4.07	5-Lin-Hubka	9-Cushman-Petersen
4 ♥	S	5	♦ Q	450		2.93	4.07	8-Koch-Temples	4-McCarthy-Diers
4 ♥	S	5	♥ 8	450		2.93	4.07	9-Brown-Felson	6-Singerman-Cook
4 ♥	S	5	♠ J	450		2.93	4.07	11-Bansal-Gupta	10-Barron-Lammers
4 ♥	S	4	♦ Q	420		0.07	6.93	7-Outcalt-Ingram	2-Kammer-Zimmer

If South had tried to sign off in 3 ♥ after North's constructive raise, North would have continued to game based on the fact they had a side-suit singleton (nice alliteration...try saying it like Sylvester from the cartoons).

This is a slam you DON'T want to be in, despite the fact that it makes. Be content if you figured out how to take 12 tricks. N/S lose one Club trick, making six. West may lead the ♦ Q. Declarer will win the ♦ A and lead the ♣ J. East should (and will) hop with the ♣ A and return a trump. If East ducks the Club trick to West's ♣ K, it's too easy for declarer to simply ruff out the ♣ A and claim. That said, declarer can ruff the second Diamond and lead high Clubs twice, either ruffing out West's ♣ K or pitching two Diamonds from dummy. Either way, declarer will be able to then pull trump and claim. Nicely played!

Board 4
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	J 10 8
♥	Q J 5
♦	K Q 6 5
♣	A 10 2

♠	9 7 3
♥	8 2
♦	9 3
♣	Q J 8 7 5 4

N
W		E
S

♠	A Q 5 4
♥	9 6 3
♦	A 10 8 7
♣	K 9

♠	K 6 2
♥	A K 10 7 4
♦	J 4 2
♣	6 3

NS 4N; NS 4♥; NS 2♠; NS 3♦; EW 1♣; Par +630

West	North	East	South
Pass	1 ♦	Pass1	1 ♥
Pass	1 NT2	Pass	2 ♣3
Pass	2 ♦4	Pass	2 ♥5
Pass	3 ♥	Pass	4 ♥
Pass	Pass	Pass

Don't make minimum offshape takeout doubles
Showing 12-14 HCP and fewer than four Hearts
Alert, artificial XYZ bid asking partner to bid 2 ♦
Alert, artificial XYZ forced bid
Showing an invitational hand with five Hearts

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	N	6	♠ 4	690		6.93	0.07	7-Outcalt-Ingram	1-Booker-Edwards
2 ♥	S	4	♦ 9	170		4.07	2.93	2-Mineard-Mulford-Jacobs	2-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♥	S	4	♣ Q	170		4.07	2.93	6-Prosise-Prosise	10-Barron-Lammers
3 ♥	S	4	♣ Q	170		4.07	2.93	8-Koch-Temples	3-Scovic-Murdock
2 ♥	S	4	♣ Q	170		4.07	2.93	11-Bansal-Gupta	9-Cushman-Petersen
2 ♥	S	3	♣ Q	140		0.64	6.36	9-Brown-Felson	5-Endres-Kennedy
3 ♥	S	3	♣ 7	140		0.64	6.36	10-Tedrick-Pretz	7-Peng-Hoffman

North could pass 2 ♥, but with two Tens and two honors in Hearts, they pass the buck back to their partner. South, with a pretty nice hand and honors in their long suits, is more than happy to accept the blame if they go down.

N/S lose one Spade trick, one Diamond, and one Club, making four. It's not a terrible game to be in requiring either (1) East to have the ♠ Q or (2) Diamonds to be 3-3 and the opponent's to forget to lead a Club. West will lead the ♣ Q.

Board 5
North Deals
N-S Vul

♠	8 7 2
♥	A 5
♦	Q J 10 6 3
♣	9 6 4

♠	Q 3
♥	Q 10 9 3
♦	K 7 5 4
♣	K 7 3

N
W		E
S

♠	A J 10 6
♥	K 8 7
♦	9 8 2
♣	8 5 2

♠	K 9 5 4
♥	J 6 4 2
♦	A
♣	A Q J 10

EW 1N; NS 2♦; EW 1♥; S 1♣; Par +90

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

Not appropriate for a 1 NT opening (see below)
Alert, showing an unbalanced hand
Alert, artificial XYZ bid asking partner to bid 2 ♦
Alert, artificial XYZ forced bid

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
1 NT	S	1	♥ 3	90		6.93	0.07	6-Prosise-Prosise	10-Barron-Lammers
3 ♦	N	−1	♣ 5		100	5.21	1.79	2-Mineard-Mulford-Jacobs	2-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♣	S	−1	♠ Q		100	5.21	1.79	10-Tedrick-Pretz	7-Peng-Hoffman
2 NT	S	−2	♥ 3		200	1.79	5.21	7-Outcalt-Ingram	1-Booker-Edwards
3 NT	S	−2	♥ 3		200	1.79	5.21	8-Koch-Temples	3-Scovic-Murdock
2 NT	N	−2	♠ 6		200	1.79	5.21	9-Brown-Felson	5-Endres-Kennedy
2 NT	S	−2	♥ 3		200	1.79	5.21	11-Bansal-Gupta	9-Cushman-Petersen

You're now allowed to have an agreement with your partner that you'll open 1 NT on hands containing a singleton if (1) you have 15-17 HCP, (2) you have 4441 shape, and (3) your singleton is an Ace, King or Queen. Better would be to add a fourth requirement--your singleton is in Spades. Why is that? Well, if your singleton is in Spade, you open 1 ♦, and your partner responds 1 ♠, what's your rebid? If you rebid 2 ♣, you're distorting your shape (i.e., partner will expect you to have 9+ cards in the minors). You can't rebid 2 ♥, since that shows a reverse with longer Diamonds than Hearts. You certainly don't want to rebid 1 NT, since that shows 12-14 HCP and no singleton or void. Ugh. Open that puppy 1 NT.

N/S lose two Spade tricks, one Heart, one Diamond, and one Club, making two. East may lead a trump or the ♣ 5 (MUD).

Board 6
East Deals
E-W Vul

♠	10 8 2
♥	K Q J 9 5
♦	K 6 5 3
♣	10

♠	A
♥	8 6 2
♦	4
♣	A Q J 8 5 4 3 2

N
W		E
S

♠	J 9 7 6 5 4
♥	A 7
♦	A J 7
♣	K 6

♠	K Q 3
♥	10 4 3
♦	Q 10 9 8 2
♣	9 7

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

West	North	East	South
		1 ♠	Pass
2 ♣1	Pass2	2 ♠	Pass
3 ♣	Pass	3 NT	Pass
Pass	Pass

That certainly looks like an opening hand
Not strong enough for a takeout double in a 2/1 auction

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
6 ♣	W	−1	♥ K	100		6.93	0.07	9-Brown-Felson	5-Endres-Kennedy
4 ♣	W	6	♥ K		170	5.21	1.79	2-Mineard-Mulford-Jacobs	2-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♣	W	6	♥ K		170	5.21	1.79	7-Outcalt-Ingram	1-Booker-Edwards
5 ♣	W	5	♥ K		600	2.93	4.07	6-Prosise-Prosise	10-Barron-Lammers
5 ♣	W	5	♥ K		600	2.93	4.07	8-Koch-Temples	3-Scovic-Murdock
5 ♣	W	6	♥ K		620	1.21	5.79	10-Tedrick-Pretz	7-Peng-Hoffman
3 NT	E	6	♦ 10		690	0.07	6.93	11-Bansal-Gupta	9-Cushman-Petersen

It's doubtful that any E/W pair will end up in 6 ♣, but you never know. E/W take eight Club tricks and three bullets (Aces), making five. South may lead the ♦T (interior honor sequence), but nothing matters, since there's never a twelfth trick in notrump.

Board 7
South Deals
Both Vul

♠	J 2
♥	K 10 6 5
♦	8 3
♣	Q 6 5 4 3

♠	A K 7 6 5 4 3
♥	Q J 2
♦	J
♣	A 7

N
W		E
S

♠	10 9 8
♥	A 4 3
♦	A 10 5 2
♣	J 8 2

♠	Q
♥	9 8 7
♦	K Q 9 7 6 4
♣	K 10 9

EW 5♠; E 4N; W 2N; NS 1♥; NS 1♦; NS 1♣; Par −650

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

N/S don't have 2 ♦ available as a preemptive bid, and 3 ♦ on a six-bagger when vulnerable is insane
Alert, artificial Kokish game try showing a singleton or void in Diamonds
Accepting the game try and showing 1st or 2nd round control in Hearts

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♠	W	5	♦ 8		200	6.93	0.07	10-Tedrick-Pretz	6-Singerman-Cook
1 ♠	W	6	♥ 5		230	5.79	1.21	2-Mineard-Mulford-Jacobs	1-Booker-Edwards
4 ♠	W	5	♣ 4		650	2.36	4.64	1-Wiest-Dickman	10-Barron-Lammers
4 ♠	W	5	♣ 3		650	2.36	4.64	3-Behr-Terbrueggen	3-Scovic-Murdock
4 ♠	W	5	♦ 8		650	2.36	4.64	8-Koch-Temples	2-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♠	W	5	♦ 8		650	2.36	4.64	9-Brown-Felson	4-McCarthy-Diers
4 ♠	W	5	♦ 8		650	2.36	4.64	11-Bansal-Gupta	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes

West isn't strong enough to bid 4 ♠ immediately over their partner's three-card constructive raise, so they make a game try. West's shortness in Diamonds works well with East's ♦ Axxx, so East accepts and shows a control in case 3 ♦ was a slam try. It wasn't.

E/W lose one Heart trick and one Club, making five. North may lead the ♦ 8.

Board 8
West Deals
None Vul

♠	A J 9 7
♥	A 10 8 6
♦	8 2
♣	5 4 2

♠	10 3
♥	Q J
♦	7 6 5 4
♣	Q 10 9 7 6

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 8 5 2
♥	K 7
♦	K J 9
♣	A K J 8

♠	K 6 4
♥	9 5 4 3 2
♦	A Q 10 3
♣	3

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

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
3 NT	E	−3	♥ 9	150		6.93	0.07	9-Brown-Felson	4-McCarthy-Diers
1 NT	E	−2	♥ 3	100		5.79	1.21	2-Mineard-Mulford-Jacobs	1-Booker-Edwards
2 ♦	N	2	♣ K	90		4.64	2.36	3-Behr-Terbrueggen	3-Scovic-Murdock
1 NT	E	−1	♥ 2	50		2.93	4.07	1-Wiest-Dickman	10-Barron-Lammers
1 NT	E	−1	♥ 5	50		2.93	4.07	8-Koch-Temples	2-Kammer-Zimmer
1 NT	E	1	♦ 3		90	0.64	6.36	10-Tedrick-Pretz	6-Singerman-Cook
1 NT	E	1	♥ 3		90	0.64	6.36	11-Bansal-Gupta	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes

Really? N/S can make 5 ♥?!? Bridge is a silly game.

South will lead the ♥ 3, North will win the ♥ A, and return the ♥ 6 (original fourth best). Declarer will win with the ♥ K, take their five Club tricks, and punt for down one.

Board 9
North Deals
E-W Vul

♠	9 8 7 5
♥	5 4
♦	Q 10 3
♣	Q 9 8 4

♠	J 6
♥	A J 3 2
♦	7 6 5 4
♣	10 7 6

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 4 2
♥	10 9 8
♦	A K J
♣	K 5 3 2

♠	A K 10 3
♥	K Q 7 6
♦	9 8 2
♣	A J

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

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
2 ♠	N	3	♦ A	140		6.93	0.07	8-Koch-Temples	2-Kammer-Zimmer
1 NT	S	2	♣ 10	120		5.79	1.21	1-Wiest-Dickman	10-Barron-Lammers
2 ♠	N	2	♥ 8	110		4.64	2.36	11-Bansal-Gupta	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
1 NT	S	1	♦ 4	90		2.36	4.64	2-Mineard-Mulford-Jacobs	1-Booker-Edwards
1 NT	S	1	♥ 2	90		2.36	4.64	3-Behr-Terbrueggen	3-Scovic-Murdock
1 NT	S	1	♣ 10	90		2.36	4.64	9-Brown-Felson	4-McCarthy-Diers
1 NT	S	−1	♥ 2		50	0.07	6.93	10-Tedrick-Pretz	6-Singerman-Cook

If E/W try doubling 1 NT, N/S will happily run to 2 ♠. Heh. N/S take three Spade tricks, one Heart, and two Clubs, down one for –50. West will lead the ♥ 2 and feel lucky that their partner has the ♥T (phew).

Board 10
East Deals
Both Vul

♠	K 2
♥	A Q 5
♦	7 2
♣	Q 10 9 8 7 2

♠	A 9 8
♥	K 10 9 4 3
♦	Q 10 6
♣	K 5

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 10 7 6 5
♥	J 7 6 2
♦	K 4
♣	J 4

♠	J 4 3
♥	8
♦	A J 9 8 5 3
♣	A 6 3

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

West	North	East	South
		Pass	Pass1
1 ♥	2 ♣2	2 ♥	3 ♣
Pass	Pass	3 ♥	Dbl3
Pass	4 ♣4	Pass	Pass
Pass

Too good a hand to preempt in Diamonds
Showing a full opener
Showing values and asking partner to compete or pass the double
Probably a reasonable decision

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♥×	W	−1	♦ 7	200		6.93	0.07	9-Brown-Felson	3-Scovic-Murdock
3 ♣	N	4	♥ 2	130		5.79	1.21	10-Tedrick-Pretz	5-Endres-Kennedy
2 ♦	S	3	♥ 4	110		4.64	2.36	3-Behr-Terbrueggen	2-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♥	W	−1	♦ 7	100		2.36	4.64	1-Wiest-Dickman	9-Cushman-Petersen
3 ♥	W	−1	♦ 7	100		2.36	4.64	8-Koch-Temples	1-Booker-Edwards
3 ♥	W	−1	♦ 7	100		2.36	4.64	11-Bansal-Gupta	7-Peng-Hoffman
2 ♥×	W	2	♦ 7		670	0.07	6.93	4-Hall-Runda	4-McCarthy-Diers

N/S lose one Spade trick, one Diamond, and one Club, making four. East will lead the ♥ 2.

Board 11
South Deals
None Vul

♠	Q 7 3 2
♥	8 5
♦	Q 7 2
♣	Q 8 6 2

♠	9 8
♥	K 7 6 4 2
♦	A K 6
♣	K 9 5

N
W		E
S

♠	A 6 4
♥	A 9
♦	J 10 9 5
♣	A 10 4 3

♠	K J 10 5
♥	Q J 10 3
♦	8 4 3
♣	J 7

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

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

No other appropriate bid

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	E	−2	♠ 5	100		6.93	0.07	4-Hall-Runda	4-McCarthy-Diers
3 NT	W	−1	♠ 2	50		4.07	2.93	1-Wiest-Dickman	9-Cushman-Petersen
3 NT	W	−1	♠ 2	50		4.07	2.93	9-Brown-Felson	3-Scovic-Murdock
3 NT	E	−1	♠ J	50		4.07	2.93	10-Tedrick-Pretz	5-Endres-Kennedy
3 NT	W	−1	♠ 2	50		4.07	2.93	11-Bansal-Gupta	7-Peng-Hoffman
3 ♦	W	3	♠ 2		110	1.21	5.79	8-Koch-Temples	1-Booker-Edwards
2 NT	E	2	♠ K		120	0.07	6.93	3-Behr-Terbrueggen	2-Kammer-Zimmer

E/W play that an immediate 3 NT response to 1 ♥ or 1 ♠ shows 13-15 HCP and exactly 3334 distribution. East's hand is lacking a Heart. North will lead the ♠ 2, and E/W will come up a trick short when the suits don't quite behave (i.e., Hearts aren't 3-3 and the ♦ Q is offside). They'll have a lot of company in 3 NT.

Board 12
West Deals
N-S Vul

♠	7 4
♥	9 7 4
♦	A 7 4 3
♣	K 8 6 2

♠	10 8
♥	A J 10 8 3
♦	J 5 2
♣	Q 10 9

N
W		E
S

♠	A J 9 5
♥	K Q 5
♦	K 10 8
♣	A 5 4

♠	K Q 6 3 2
♥	6 2
♦	Q 9 6
♣	J 7 3

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

West	North	East	South
Pass	Pass	1 NT1	Pass
2 ♦2	Pass	2 ♥	Pass
2 NT3	Pass	4 ♥	Pass
Pass	Pass

15 to 17
Transfer
Showing 8-9 HCP and exactly five Hearts

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	E	3	♠ 3		400	6.93	0.07	1-Wiest-Dickman	9-Cushman-Petersen
4 ♥	E	4	♥ 2		420	4.64	2.36	3-Behr-Terbrueggen	2-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♥	E	4	♠ K		420	4.64	2.36	9-Brown-Felson	3-Scovic-Murdock
4 ♥	E	4	♠ K		420	4.64	2.36	10-Tedrick-Pretz	5-Endres-Kennedy
3 NT	E	4	♠ K		430	1.21	5.79	4-Hall-Runda	4-McCarthy-Diers
3 NT	E	4	♠ 3		430	1.21	5.79	8-Koch-Temples	1-Booker-Edwards
3 NT	E	4	♠ K		430	1.21	5.79	11-Bansal-Gupta	7-Peng-Hoffman

Although East has a balanced (flat) hand, four Hearts is still the correct bid on the auction. West, while showing 8-9 HCP and exactly five Hearts, may have an exceedingly unbalanced hand--picture ♠ 3 ♥ AJT83 ♦ QJ532 ♣ 63. They would still bid 2 NT after transferring, since 3 ♦ would be game forcing, and they don't quite have that hand.

E/W lose one Diamond trick, one Club, and one Spade, making four. Diamonds and Clubs are both frozen suits--whoever leads either suit gives the opponents an extra trick, so declarer has more than enough time to pull trump and lead a Spade towards dummy. South will win, but what do they return? I don't know either. Their best lead is a trump.

Board 13
North Deals
Both Vul

♠	Q J 10 9 8 6
♥	A 5 4 2
♦	K
♣	A 6

♠	7 4 3
♥	K Q 10
♦	8 7 2
♣	Q J 9 4

N
W		E
S

♠	A K 5 2
♥	9
♦	J 10 5 3
♣	K 7 5 2

♠	—
♥	J 8 7 6 3
♦	A Q 9 6 4
♣	10 8 3

NS 5♥; NS 2♠; NS 3♦; NS 2♣; Par +650

West	North	East	South
	1 ♠	Pass	1 NT1
Pass	2 ♥	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 ♥	N	5	♠ A	650		6.50	0.50	2-Mineard-Mulford-Jacobs	10-Barron-Lammers
4 ♥	N	5	♠ K	650		6.50	0.50	4-Hall-Runda	3-Scovic-Murdock
2 ♠	N	3	♥ 9	140		3.00	4.00	1-Wiest-Dickman	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
2 ♠	N	3	♠ A	140		3.00	4.00	3-Behr-Terbrueggen	1-Booker-Edwards
2 ♠	N	3	♥ 9	140		3.00	4.00	5-Lin-Hubka	5-Endres-Kennedy
2 ♠	N	3	♥ 9	140		3.00	4.00	9-Brown-Felson	2-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♠	N	3	♥ 9	140		3.00	4.00	10-Tedrick-Pretz	4-McCarthy-Diers
2 ♠	N	2	♥ 9	110		0.00	7.00	11-Bansal-Gupta	6-Singerman-Cook

When you're 6-4 in Spades and Hearts respectively, make sure you rebid 2 ♥ rather than 2 ♠ after partner makes a forcing 1 NT reply. If partner has Spades, you're still going to hear about it, and if they have 4+ Hearts, it's extremely doubtful they'll pass 2 ♥, since 2 ♥ is wide ranging (i.e., 11 to a bad 18).

N/S lose two Heart tricks, making five. Declarer can pitch North's losing Club on a high Diamond, and ruff out East's ♠ AK. They're better off if they never touch trump, but that's probably not going to happen. If declarer does lead trump, they should start by playing low from both hands to protect against a 3-1 break. East should lead the ♦ J (if they lead a high Spade, it means they forgot to listen to the auction).

Board 14
East Deals
None Vul

♠	A Q 7 4
♥	A
♦	J 10 9 6 5
♣	9 5 3

♠	K J 10 6 2
♥	9 4 3
♦	K 3
♣	A 10 4

N
W		E
S

♠	5
♥	J 8 7 5
♦	A 8 2
♣	K Q 8 7 2

♠	9 8 3
♥	K Q 10 6 2
♦	Q 7 4
♣	J 6

EW 3♣; EW 1N; EW 1♥; NS 1♦; Par −110

West	North	East	South
		Pass	Pass
1 ♠1	Pass	1 NT2	Pass
Pass3	Pass

Light 3rd seat opener
Semi-forcing
Showing a hand that wouldn't have opened in 1st or 2nd seat

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♦	N	3	♠ 5	110		7.00	0.00	10-Tedrick-Pretz	4-McCarthy-Diers
3 ♦	N	−1	♠ 5		50	5.50	1.50	2-Mineard-Mulford-Jacobs	10-Barron-Lammers
3 ♦	N	−1	♠ 5		50	5.50	1.50	9-Brown-Felson	2-Kammer-Zimmer
1 NT	E	1	♥ 6		90	3.50	3.50	3-Behr-Terbrueggen	1-Booker-Edwards
1 NT	E	1	♥ K		90	3.50	3.50	4-Hall-Runda	3-Scovic-Murdock
2 ♥	S	−2	♠ J		100	1.50	5.50	1-Wiest-Dickman	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 ♦	N	−2	♠ 5		100	1.50	5.50	5-Lin-Hubka	5-Endres-Kennedy
2 NT	E	2	♥ K		120	0.00	7.00	11-Bansal-Gupta	6-Singerman-Cook

North can't take a bid in the pass-out seat, since they know their partner is going to bid 2 ♥. E/W take five Club tricks and two Diamonds, making one. North will lead the ♦ J, although they should probably start with their stiff ♥ A in case partner has some cashing Heart tricks.

Board 15
South Deals
N-S Vul

♠	K 3
♥	9 6 5 3
♦	Q 8 4 3
♣	8 7 2

♠	J 5
♥	8 7
♦	K J 9 7 6
♣	K Q 6 4

N
W		E
S

♠	10 8 4
♥	A J 10
♦	10 5 2
♣	J 10 9 5

♠	A Q 9 7 6 2
♥	K Q 4 2
♦	A
♣	A 3

NS 5♥; NS 4♠; NS 3N; EW 1♣; Par +650

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

Showing an A, K, or QQ
Denying 3+ Spades and leaving room for partner to bid out their hand

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	S	5	♣ K	650		6.50	0.50	9-Brown-Felson	2-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♠	S	5	♥ 8	650		6.50	0.50	10-Tedrick-Pretz	4-McCarthy-Diers
1 ♠	S	5	♥ 8	200		4.00	3.00	1-Wiest-Dickman	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
1 ♠	S	5	♥ 8	200		4.00	3.00	2-Mineard-Mulford-Jacobs	10-Barron-Lammers
2 ♥	S	5	♣ K	200		4.00	3.00	4-Hall-Runda	3-Scovic-Murdock
3 ♥	S	4	♣ K	170		2.00	5.00	5-Lin-Hubka	5-Endres-Kennedy
1 ♠	S	3	♣ K	140		0.50	6.50	3-Behr-Terbrueggen	1-Booker-Edwards
2 ♥	S	3	♣ K	140		0.50	6.50	11-Bansal-Gupta	6-Singerman-Cook

When you open 2 ♣ and rebid a major suit, you're showing an unbalanced hand (unless you're playing a 2 ♥ rebid by opener as a conventional bid, but you're probably not). Don't rebid 2 ♥ or 2 ♠ with 5332 shape--those hands should rebid 2 NT after partner's 2 ♦ or 2 ♥ response.

N/S lose one Club trick and one Heart, making five. West will lead the ♣ K. Declarer needs two entries to the board to lead Hearts twice through East. The ♠ K is easy to find, but what's the second entry? Declarer wins trick one with the ♣ A, Spade to the ♠ K, and a small Heart from dummy. East will play the ♥T, and declarer will win the ♥ K in hand. ♠ A and ♠ Q are next, and declarer should ruff in dummy whether West ruffs or not. If West follows suit on the third Spade, declarer should discard from dummy, hoping that East started with ♥ AT tight (doubleton). When West ruffs the third Spade, declarer should overruff and lead a Heart again through East. East will rise with the ♥ A and play a Club, but the hand is over.

Board 16
West Deals
E-W Vul

♠	3
♥	10 9 6 4
♦	K Q 7 5 4
♣	8 6 2

♠	K 7 6 5 4 2
♥	A
♦	9 6 3
♣	A J 10

N
W		E
S

♠	A Q
♥	Q 3 2
♦	A J 8
♣	K Q 5 4 3

♠	J 10 9 8
♥	K J 8 7 5
♦	10 2
♣	9 7

EW 6♣; EW 5N; EW 5♠; EW 3♦; Par −1370

West	North	East	South
1 ♠	Pass	2 ♣	Pass
2 ♠	Pass	3 ♠	Pass
4 ♣1	Pass	4 ♦2	Pass
4 ♥3	Pass	4 NT4	Pass
5 ♦5	Pass	5 NT6	Pass
6 ♠7	Pass	Pass	Pass

Showing 1st or 2nd round control in Clubs with no interest in slam
Showing 1st or 2nd round control in Diamonds, strong interest in slam, and a problem in Hearts
Showing 1st or 2nd round control in Hearts
RKC Blackwood (Kickback) for Spades
1430 response showing 0 or 3 keycards
Confirmation of all of the keycards and asking for specific Kings
No side-suit Kings, sorry

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	W	4	♥ 10		620	6.93	0.07	6-Prosise-Prosise	6-Singerman-Cook
4 ♠	W	5	♥ 4		650	4.64	2.36	1-Wiest-Dickman	7-Peng-Hoffman
4 ♠	W	5	♦ K		650	4.64	2.36	5-Lin-Hubka	4-McCarthy-Diers
5 ♠	W	5	♦ K		650	4.64	2.36	10-Tedrick-Pretz	3-Scovic-Murdock
4 ♠	W	6	♥ 10		680	1.21	5.79	2-Mineard-Mulford-Jacobs	9-Cushman-Petersen
4 ♠	W	6	♦ K		680	1.21	5.79	4-Hall-Runda	2-Kammer-Zimmer
5 ♠	W	6	♥ 10		680	1.21	5.79	11-Bansal-Gupta	5-Endres-Kennedy

E/W play Serious 3 NT, so West's 4 ♣ bid is a courtesy control bid in case partner is interested in slam (they are). It's a good slam (62% or better), but unfortunately it's not going to make. North has a natural lead in the ♦ K, even though their partner didn't double 4 ♦ for a Diamond lead. On any other lead, E/W have time to pull three rounds of trump and run the Clubs pitching Diamonds from the West hand. Not so much on a Diamond lead. Sigh.

Board 17
North Deals
None Vul

♠	A K Q 3
♥	5 2
♦	K 10 7 6 5
♣	K 8

♠	J 10 9 8 6
♥	A 9
♦	A 2
♣	A 6 5 4

N
W		E
S

♠	4
♥	K 8 7 6 4
♦	4 3
♣	Q J 9 7 3

♠	7 5 2
♥	Q J 10 3
♦	Q J 9 8
♣	10 2

EW 4♣; EW 2♥; NS 2♦; NS 1♠; Par −130

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

Alert, Unmichaels bid showing a two-suited hand with Clubs and an unknown major
Asking for partner's major
Major is Hearts, but hand is a minimum

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♦	N	4	♠ 4	130		6.93	0.07	4-Hall-Runda	2-Kammer-Zimmer
1 NT	N	2	♥ 6	120		5.79	1.21	11-Bansal-Gupta	5-Endres-Kennedy
3 ♦	N	3	♠ 4	110		4.07	2.93	6-Prosise-Prosise	6-Singerman-Cook
3 ♦	N	3	♠ 4	110		4.07	2.93	10-Tedrick-Pretz	3-Scovic-Murdock
4 ♣×	W	−1	♦ 6	100		2.36	4.64	2-Mineard-Mulford-Jacobs	9-Cushman-Petersen
3 ♦	N	−1	♠ 4		50	0.64	6.36	1-Wiest-Dickman	7-Peng-Hoffman
2 ♦	N	−1	♠ 4		50	0.64	6.36	5-Lin-Hubka	4-McCarthy-Diers

It seems silly to play that a direct-seat 2 NT overcall of 1 ♣ or 1 ♦ always shows Hearts and the other minor. I sometimes have Spades in my hand--don't you? A better agreement is to play that a 2 NT direct-seat overcall of 1 ♥ or 1 ♠ shows both minors, but a 2 NT direct-seat overcall of 1 ♣ or 1 ♦ shows the other minor and a mystery major (Unmichaels). If you play Unmichaels, you will need to alert partner's 2 NT overcall of a minor ("Partner is showing a minimum or maximum hand with 5+ in the other minor and 5+ in either Hearts or Spades.") Don't bother alerting 2 NT if it's over a major, since that one's not alertable. To ask what partner's major is, simply cuebid opener's minor.

E/W lose one Club trick, one Diamond, and one Spade, making four. Declarer will pull trump, ruff two of dummy's Hearts, and claim. North will lead the ♠ K.

Board 18
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	4
♥	K 8 6 2
♦	10 9 8 7 5
♣	A Q 7

♠	Q J 8 5
♥	J 9 4 3
♦	Q 6 2
♣	K 6

N
W		E
S

♠	A 10 7 6 2
♥	Q 10
♦	K 3
♣	J 5 3 2

♠	K 9 3
♥	A 7 5
♦	A J 4
♣	10 9 8 4

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

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

Don't be distracted by your Diamonds.......SQUIRREL!!!

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♥	N	3	♣ J	140		6.36	0.64	2-Mineard-Mulford-Jacobs	9-Cushman-Petersen
3 ♥	N	3	♥ Q	140		6.36	0.64	4-Hall-Runda	2-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♠	E	−1	♣ 9	50		3.50	3.50	1-Wiest-Dickman	7-Peng-Hoffman
2 ♠	E	−1	♥ A	50		3.50	3.50	6-Prosise-Prosise	6-Singerman-Cook
2 ♠	E	−1	♣ 10	50		3.50	3.50	10-Tedrick-Pretz	3-Scovic-Murdock
Pass				Pass		1.21	5.79	5-Lin-Hubka	4-McCarthy-Diers
3 ♣	S	−1	♠ Q		100	0.07	6.93	11-Bansal-Gupta	5-Endres-Kennedy

Make sure you mark the box on your convention card labeled "Frequently bypass 4+♦". When partner opens 1 ♣, and you have less than a game-forcing hand, make sure you show a four-card major if you have one even if you have 4, or 5, or 6, or eleventy seven Diamonds. If God had meant for you to play in a minor, He (She) would have made them worth 30 per trick rather than the 20 they currently are. Nuff said.

N/S take four Diamond tricks, two Clubs, two Hearts, and one Spade, making three......er, except for the fact that E/W have (should have) already taken five tricks. Stupid E/W. East will lead the ♠ 5 to East's ♠ A, and East will return the ♠ 6 (original fourth best). Declarer should go up with the ♠ K in case West forgets to unblock a high honor (you did unblock didn't you?). If West plays the ♠ 8 (oops), declarer will play a Club to dummy's ♣ Q and run the ♦T. West can win with the ♦ Q and cash their ♠ QJ, but that's it for the defense, as there's no way to get to East's hand to cash the fifth defensive trick.

Moral: Learn to unblock.

Board 19
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	8 6 5
♥	A Q
♦	A K 7 5 4
♣	9 8 3

♠	K 7 4 2
♥	8 7 5 4 3
♦	Q 10 9 2
♣	—

N
W		E
S

♠	J 9 3
♥	J 9 6 2
♦	8 6 3
♣	A 10 6

♠	A Q 10
♥	K 10
♦	J
♣	K Q J 7 5 4 2

NS 5N; NS 5♣; NS 3♦; NS 1♠; Par +460

West	North	East	South
			1 ♣
Pass	1 ♦	Pass	3 ♣
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	6	♥ 2	490		6.00	1.00	2-Mineard-Mulford-Jacobs	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 NT	S	6	♥ 4	490		6.00	1.00	3-Behr-Terbrueggen	10-Barron-Lammers
3 NT	S	6	♠ 2	490		6.00	1.00	11-Bansal-Gupta	4-McCarthy-Diers
3 NT	N	5	♥ 2	460		3.50	3.50	1-Wiest-Dickman	6-Singerman-Cook
4 NT	N	5	♥ 2	460		3.50	3.50	6-Prosise-Prosise	5-Endres-Kennedy
5 ♣	S	6	♠ 2	420		1.50	5.50	4-Hall-Runda	1-Booker-Edwards
5 ♣	S	6	♦ 2	420		1.50	5.50	5-Lin-Hubka	3-Scovic-Murdock
5 ♣	S	5	♥ 7	400		0.00	7.00	7-Outcalt-Ingram	7-Peng-Hoffman

South almost has the hand to rebid 3 NT over North's 1 ♦ bid--they would if they held ♠ AQT ♥ KT ♦ J ♣ AKQ7542. A 3 NT rebid by opener after partner's one-level suit response should show (1) 6+ running cards in their minor, (2) around 17 HCP, and (3) a singleton in partner's suit.

N/S take six Club tricks, two Diamonds, two Hearts, and one Spade, making five assuming East leads a small Heart (which they will). If East returns a second Heart when back in with the ♣ A, they'll need to be careful not to pitch their ♦ 8 on the run of the Clubs. If they do, their partner will be squeezed in Diamonds and Spades, and declarer will make six (try it!).

Board 20
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	A Q 9 8 5
♥	K Q 7 2
♦	A
♣	8 5 4

♠	10 7 4 2
♥	A 10 5
♦	K Q J
♣	Q 6 3

N
W		E
S

♠	K 6 3
♥	J 9 6 4
♦	9 6 4
♣	A 9 2

♠	J
♥	8 3
♦	10 8 7 5 3 2
♣	K J 10 7

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

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

Negative

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♥	W	−3	♦ A	300		6.50	0.50	1-Wiest-Dickman	6-Singerman-Cook
2 ♥	E	−3	♠ J	300		6.50	0.50	4-Hall-Runda	1-Booker-Edwards
1 ♠	N	3	♥ J	140		5.00	2.00	3-Behr-Terbrueggen	10-Barron-Lammers
2 ♠	N	2	♦ 4	110		3.50	3.50	2-Mineard-Mulford-Jacobs	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
1 ♠	N	2	♣ A	110		3.50	3.50	11-Bansal-Gupta	4-McCarthy-Diers
1 NT	E	1	♠ J		90	2.00	5.00	5-Lin-Hubka	3-Scovic-Murdock
2 ♠	N	−1	♦ 6		100	0.50	6.50	6-Prosise-Prosise	5-Endres-Kennedy
2 ♠	N	−1	♦ 4		100	0.50	6.50	7-Outcalt-Ingram	7-Peng-Hoffman

South's 2 ♦ bid in the balancing seat is not saying "Hey, I have a really sweet hand with Diamonds!!!" It's saying "I have Diamonds and very little in values, so please shut up!!!"

N/S lose one Heart trick, two Diamonds, and two Clubs, making two. West should probably lead the ♦ K.

Board 21
North Deals
N-S Vul

♠	A J 10 9
♥	9 7 4 3
♦	9
♣	Q J 10 7

♠	6 5
♥	A K Q 2
♦	K J 2
♣	A 6 5 3

N
W		E
S

♠	K Q 8
♥	10 6
♦	A Q 7 6 5 4 3
♣	4

♠	7 4 3 2
♥	J 8 5
♦	10 8
♣	K 9 8 2

EW 6♦; EW 5N; EW 5♥; EW 2♣; EW 1♠; Par −920

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

RKC Blackwood (Kickback) for Diamonds
1430 response showing 1 or 4 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
3 ♦	E	6	♣ 2		170	6.00	1.00	1-Wiest-Dickman	6-Singerman-Cook
3 ♦	E	6	♦ 8		170	6.00	1.00	3-Behr-Terbrueggen	10-Barron-Lammers
2 ♦	E	6	♠ 7		170	6.00	1.00	4-Hall-Runda	1-Booker-Edwards
5 ♦	E	6	♠ 7		420	3.00	4.00	2-Mineard-Mulford-Jacobs	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
5 ♦	E	6	♦ 8		420	3.00	4.00	6-Prosise-Prosise	5-Endres-Kennedy
5 ♦	E	6	♦ 10		420	3.00	4.00	11-Bansal-Gupta	4-McCarthy-Diers
3 NT	W	6	♣ Q		490	1.00	6.00	7-Outcalt-Ingram	7-Peng-Hoffman
6 ♦	E	6	♠ 7		920	0.00	7.00	5-Lin-Hubka	3-Scovic-Murdock

West's 4 ♥ bid can't be for Hearts, since East has bid and rebid Diamonds and denied Heart support. E/W play Kickback (a bid one above four of the pair's trump suit to ask for keycards). West has to be careful not to bid 4 NT after East's 4 ♠ response, since that would be to play. West's 5 ♣ bid is asking for the ♦ Q, and West dutifully shows that card and the ♠ K with their 5 ♠ bid.

E/W lose one Spade trick, making six. South should lead the ♠ 4 (MUD) on the auction.

Board 22
East Deals
E-W Vul

♠	J
♥	J 9 5
♦	K 10 9 7 3 2
♣	J 8 2

♠	A 10 8 6 5 2
♥	K 2
♦	A Q 4
♣	K 3

N
W		E
S

♠	K 9 4
♥	4
♦	J 8 6 5
♣	Q 10 7 6 4

♠	Q 7 3
♥	A Q 10 8 7 6 3
♦	—
♣	A 9 5

EW 4♠; S 3♥; EW 2N; N 2♥; EW 1♦; EW 1♣; Par −300: S 5♥×−2

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

Maximum overcall

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	S	4	♠ A	420		5.79	1.21	5-Lin-Hubka	2-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♥	S	4	♦ A	420		5.79	1.21	6-Prosise-Prosise	4-McCarthy-Diers
4 ♥	S	4	♠ A	420		5.79	1.21	7-Outcalt-Ingram	6-Singerman-Cook
5 ♥×	S	−2	♠ A		300	2.93	4.07	2-Mineard-Mulford-Jacobs	7-Peng-Hoffman
5 ♥×	S	−2	♠ A		300	2.93	4.07	8-Koch-Temples	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
6 ♥×	S	−3	♠ A		500	1.21	5.79	1-Wiest-Dickman	5-Endres-Kennedy
4 ♠	W	4	♥ 5		620	0.07	6.93	3-Behr-Terbrueggen	9-Cushman-Petersen

South has an easy sacrifice in 5 ♥ on the vulnerability. N/S lose one Spade trick, one Heart, and two Clubs, down two doubled for –300. West has a tough lead, and it's doubtful they'll find the best lead of the ♣ K. If they lead the ♠ A (likely), West should play the ♠ 4 (lowest card) to ask for a lead in the lower-ranking side suit (Clubs). West should then play the ♣ K, and the defense will collect four tricks.

Board 23
South Deals
Both Vul

♠	J 3
♥	10 7 4 2
♦	Q 9 6 4 2
♣	J 3

♠	A Q 9 8 6
♥	A J
♦	10 8 5
♣	10 7 2

N
W		E
S

♠	7 5
♥	K Q 6
♦	A 3
♣	A K Q 9 8 4

♠	K 10 4 2
♥	9 8 5 3
♦	K J 7
♣	6 5

EW 7♣; EW 6N; EW 4♠; EW 3♥; EW 2♦; Par −2140

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

Should show 6+ running Clubs, a singleton Spade, and 17 HCP

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♣	E	6	♣ 5		620	6.36	0.64	3-Behr-Terbrueggen	9-Cushman-Petersen
5 ♣	E	6	♥ 9		620	6.36	0.64	6-Prosise-Prosise	4-McCarthy-Diers
3 NT	W	5	♦ 4		660	4.07	2.93	2-Mineard-Mulford-Jacobs	7-Peng-Hoffman
3 NT	E	5	♠ 2		660	4.07	2.93	8-Koch-Temples	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 NT	W	6	♦ 4		690	1.79	5.21	1-Wiest-Dickman	5-Endres-Kennedy
3 NT	E	6	♣ 6		690	1.79	5.21	7-Outcalt-Ingram	6-Singerman-Cook
3 NT	E	7	♥ 9		720	0.07	6.93	5-Lin-Hubka	2-Kammer-Zimmer

East's hand isn't quite the definition of a 3 NT rebid over 1 ♠, but partner is a passed hand and Bridge isn't perfect.

E/W take six Club tricks, one Diamond, three Hearts, and two Spades, making six. You don't want to be in this slam, since you go down almost immediately if you get a Diamond lead and the Spade finesse is off. In reality, you'll probably get a Heart lead, but it's still a bad slam needing Clubs to be 2-2 and Spades to be no worse than 4-2 with the ♠ K "in the slot." 15% slam? No thank you.

Board 24
West Deals
None Vul

♠	A Q 3 2
♥	A Q J 7 5
♦	7
♣	K Q J

♠	K J 10
♥	6 3
♦	K J 9 4
♣	6 4 3 2

N
W		E
S

♠	9 8 5 4
♥	K 8 2
♦	A Q 8 6 5 2
♣	—

♠	7 6
♥	10 9 4
♦	10 3
♣	A 10 9 8 7 5

NS 4♥; NS 5♣; W 4♦; E 3♦; NS 1N; NS 1♠; Par +100: W 5♦×−1

West	North	East	South
Pass	1 ♥	Pass1	1 NT2
Pass	2 ♠3	Pass	2 NT4
Pass	3 ♣5	Pass	3 ♥6
Pass	4 ♥7	Pass	Pass
Pass

Not quite a 3 ♦ preempt
Forcing
Reverse showing 5+ Hearts, 4+ Spades, and a five-loser hand
Alert, artificial Lebensohl 2 NT bid asking partner to bid 3 ♣
Alert, willing to play in 3 ♣ opposite a minimum hand
Showing a Heart fit with low values
Unwilling to play in a partscore when there's a Heart fit

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	N	5	♠ 9	450		5.79	1.21	2-Mineard-Mulford-Jacobs	7-Peng-Hoffman
4 ♥	N	5	♦ A	450		5.79	1.21	3-Behr-Terbrueggen	9-Cushman-Petersen
4 ♥	N	5	♠ 4	450		5.79	1.21	8-Koch-Temples	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♥	N	4	♦ 8	420		3.50	3.50	1-Wiest-Dickman	5-Endres-Kennedy
3 ♣	N	3	♠ 9	110		2.36	4.64	5-Lin-Hubka	2-Kammer-Zimmer
5 ♦×	E	−1	♠ 7	100		1.21	5.79	6-Prosise-Prosise	4-McCarthy-Diers
6 ♥	N	−1	♦ A		50	0.07	6.93	7-Outcalt-Ingram	6-Singerman-Cook

N/S lose one Heart trick, one Diamond, and a Club ruff if East finds the underlead of their ♦ A (um, not gonna happen). More than likely, East will cash the ♦ A on opening lead, and continue with the ♦ 8 to partner's ♦ K, ruffed by declarer. With no reasonable entry to dummy, declarer should play the ♥ A and a small Heart towards dummy. East will win with the ♥ K and try the ♠ 8 (MUD), but that doesn't work either, and N/S make five. Shoot.

In reality, because declarer's LOVE finessing, declarer will play a Club toward dummy's ♣ A at trick three and East will get their ruff anyway. Heh.

Board 25
North Deals
E-W Vul

♠	6 5 4
♥	K 10
♦	A J 6 2
♣	Q 9 6 5

♠	K 8 7
♥	A J 8 5 3 2
♦	—
♣	A K 10 8

N
W		E
S

♠	J 10 9
♥	Q 9 7 6 4
♦	K 9 3
♣	4 2

♠	A Q 3 2
♥	—
♦	Q 10 8 7 5 4
♣	J 7 3

EW 5♥; S 1♠; NS 1♦; S 1♣; Par −650

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

Light third-seat opener
Cuebid showing a limit raise in Diamonds
Weak jump raise

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♦	S	−2	♣ A		100	7.00	0.00	6-Prosise-Prosise	3-Scovic-Murdock
4 ♠	S	−4	♣ A		200	6.00	1.00	2-Mineard-Mulford-Jacobs	6-Singerman-Cook
4 ♥	W	4	♦ 2		620	4.50	2.50	4-Hall-Runda	10-Barron-Lammers
4 ♥	E	4	♦ 7		620	4.50	2.50	5-Lin-Hubka	1-Booker-Edwards
5 ♥	W	5	♦ A		650	2.00	5.00	3-Behr-Terbrueggen	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
5 ♥	E	5	♦ 10		650	2.00	5.00	8-Koch-Temples	7-Peng-Hoffman
4 ♥	W	5	♠ 5		650	2.00	5.00	9-Brown-Felson	9-Cushman-Petersen
5 ♥×	W	5	♦ A		850	0.00	7.00	7-Outcalt-Ingram	5-Endres-Kennedy

North may double the final contract, at which point South will pull to 5 ♦. That would work out well, since 5 ♦ would go down only three (doubled) for –500. More likely, West would bid 5 ♥ and North would double again (ugh).

E/W lose one Spade trick and one Heart, making five. North will lead the ♦ A (oops), but it doesn't really matter, since the pitch on the ♦ K is worthless. Declarer can't get the Spade suit wrong with South holding both the ♠ A and ♠ Q (which declarer will know they have when the ♥ K and ♦ A are both in the North hand).

Board 26
East Deals
Both Vul

♠	A 7 5 3 2
♥	9 8
♦	5 4
♣	A Q 10 2

♠	10 8 4
♥	5 3
♦	A K J 7
♣	K J 6 5

N
W		E
S

♠	K Q J 9 6
♥	K J 7 2
♦	Q 9
♣	9 8

♠	—
♥	A Q 10 6 4
♦	10 8 6 3 2
♣	7 4 3

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

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

Michaels bid showing a two-suited hand with Hearts and a minor
Alert, artificial Unusual vs. Unusual cuebid showing a limit raise or better in Spades
Loudly

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	E	−4	♦ 10	400		7.00	0.00	9-Brown-Felson	9-Cushman-Petersen
4 ♠	E	−3	♣ 7	300		4.00	3.00	2-Mineard-Mulford-Jacobs	6-Singerman-Cook
4 ♠	E	−3	♦ 10	300		4.00	3.00	3-Behr-Terbrueggen	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♠	E	−3	♦ 10	300		4.00	3.00	4-Hall-Runda	10-Barron-Lammers
4 ♠	E	−3	♦ 3	300		4.00	3.00	5-Lin-Hubka	1-Booker-Edwards
4 ♠	E	−3	♣ 7	300		4.00	3.00	7-Outcalt-Ingram	5-Endres-Kennedy
4 ♠	E	−2	♦ 8	200		1.00	6.00	6-Prosise-Prosise	3-Scovic-Murdock
4 ♠	E	−1	♥ A	100		0.00	7.00	8-Koch-Temples	7-Peng-Hoffman

South should lead the ♣ 4 (MUD), and N/S will have a field day on defense. ♣ 4 to the ♣T, ♥ 9 to the ♥T, ♣ 7 to the ♣ Q, ♥ 8 to the ♥ Q, and a small Heart ruffed by North with the ♠ 2. If declarer ruffs the third Heart high in dummy, North will discard a Diamond and be able to ruff the second round of Diamonds when declarer loses communication with dummy. With the ♠ A still to come, E/W end up down three doubled for –800. Ouch.

Board 27
South Deals
None Vul

♠	A K
♥	7 6 5 2
♦	9 8 3
♣	9 8 6 4

♠	9 7 3 2
♥	Q
♦	7 5 4 2
♣	K 10 7 3

N
W		E
S

♠	J 8 6 4
♥	A J 10 8
♦	A K Q
♣	A J

♠	Q 10 5
♥	K 9 4 3
♦	J 10 6
♣	Q 5 2

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

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

20 to 21
Puppet Stayman asking for a 4- or 5-card major
Alert, Puppet Stayman response denying a 5-card major but showing one or two 4-card majors
Alert, showing a 4-card Spade suit and denying a 4-card Heart suit

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	W	−1	♣ 4	50		5.50	1.50	4-Hall-Runda	10-Barron-Lammers
3 NT	E	−1	♥ 3	50		5.50	1.50	5-Lin-Hubka	1-Booker-Edwards
4 ♠	W	−1	♥ 7	50		5.50	1.50	7-Outcalt-Ingram	5-Endres-Kennedy
4 ♠	E	−1	♦ J	50		5.50	1.50	9-Brown-Felson	9-Cushman-Petersen
3 NT	E	3	♥ 3		400	3.00	4.00	8-Koch-Temples	7-Peng-Hoffman
4 ♠	E	4	♦ J		420	1.00	6.00	2-Mineard-Mulford-Jacobs	6-Singerman-Cook
4 ♠	E	4	♦ J		420	1.00	6.00	3-Behr-Terbrueggen	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♠	E	4	♦ J		420	1.00	6.00	6-Prosise-Prosise	3-Scovic-Murdock

E/W lose three Spade tricks, making four. South will lead the ♦ J, declarer winning in their hand and exiting with a small Spade. North wins the ♠ K and continues with a second Diamond, declarer again winning. Another Spade goes to the ♠ A, and when North doesn't cash the ♠ Q, declarer will know it's in the South hand. A third Diamond goes to the ♦ Q, and the rest of the hand is an open book. Declarer can cash the ♣ A, play the ♣ J to the ♣ K (no practice finesse), and cash the ♦ 7 (beer card) pitching a small Heart from their hand. South is free to ruff, but that's the last trick for the defense, as declarer can ruff the ♥ J and ♥T in dummy, making four.

Moral: Stop taking unnecessary finesses.

Board 28
West Deals
N-S Vul

♠	K 7
♥	A 3 2
♦	10 9 5
♣	A Q 8 7 5

♠	A 6 5 2
♥	—
♦	Q 8 7 6
♣	10 9 6 4 2

N
W		E
S

♠	Q J 10 3
♥	K 10 7 6
♦	A K 4
♣	K 3

♠	9 8 4
♥	Q J 9 8 5 4
♦	J 3 2
♣	J

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

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

Don't overcall 1 NT with a doubleton if a double is appropriate
Showing 16-18 HCP

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♥	S	2	♦ 6	110		6.36	0.64	6-Prosise-Prosise	2-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♥	S	2	♠ A	110		6.36	0.64	7-Outcalt-Ingram	4-McCarthy-Diers
3 ♥	S	−1	♠ A		100	4.07	2.93	3-Behr-Terbrueggen	7-Peng-Hoffman
3 ♥	S	−1	♦ 6		100	4.07	2.93	4-Hall-Runda	9-Cushman-Petersen
1 NT	E	3	♥ Q		150	2.36	4.64	9-Brown-Felson	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 ♠	W	4	♥ A		170	0.64	6.36	8-Koch-Temples	6-Singerman-Cook
3 ♠	W	4	♥ A		170	0.64	6.36	10-Tedrick-Pretz	10-Barron-Lammers

East makes one try for game, but West is about a card shy for accepting. E/W lose one Spade trick, one Club, and a Club ruff, making four. North will probably lead the ♦T, declarer winning in dummy. Declarer will ruff a small Heart with the ♠ 2, and lead a Club towards the ♣ K. North should hop with the ♣ A and play a second Club, South ruffing. South will probably exit with another Diamond, but declarer will win again in dummy and play ♠ A and another Spade. North will win the ♠ K, but the defense is over (South can take a marked ruffing finesse against North's ♣ Q with the ♣T9 and end up pitching two Hearts in dummy on the ♣T and long Diamond).

Board 29
North Deals
Both Vul

♠	A K Q
♥	J 7 5
♦	Q 9 7 6 2
♣	6 3

♠	J 8 7 6 3
♥	Q 9
♦	8 4 3
♣	K J 7

N
W		E
S

♠	9 4
♥	A 8 6 3 2
♦	K 10 5
♣	A 5 2

♠	10 5 2
♥	K 10 4
♦	A J
♣	Q 10 9 8 4

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

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

Showing 7-10 HCP, Hearts stopped for notrump, and fewer than four Spades

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 NT	S	3	♥ Q	150		5.79	1.21	6-Prosise-Prosise	2-Kammer-Zimmer
1 NT	S	3	♥ Q	150		5.79	1.21	9-Brown-Felson	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
1 NT	S	3	♥ Q	150		5.79	1.21	10-Tedrick-Pretz	10-Barron-Lammers
2 ♥	E	−1	♦ A	100		3.50	3.50	7-Outcalt-Ingram	4-McCarthy-Diers
2 ♦	N	2	♣ 2	90		2.36	4.64	8-Koch-Temples	6-Singerman-Cook
Pass				Pass		1.21	5.79	3-Behr-Terbrueggen	7-Peng-Hoffman
1 NT	S	−1	♥ Q		100	0.07	6.93	4-Hall-Runda	9-Cushman-Petersen

N/S take three Spade tricks, one Heart, and three assorted minor-suit tricks, making one. If West leads the ♥ Q, N/S might make two.

Board 30
East Deals
None Vul

♠	Q 10 6 3
♥	—
♦	Q 10 8 7 3
♣	A J 5 3

♠	7 4
♥	J 9 8 7 4 3
♦	J 5 2
♣	9 4

N
W		E
S

♠	2
♥	A K Q 10 6
♦	9 6 4
♣	K Q 6 2

♠	A K J 9 8 5
♥	5 2
♦	A K
♣	10 8 7

NS 7♠; NS 6♦; EW 2♥; NS 3♣; NS 1N; Par +1510

West	North	East	South
		1 ♥	1 ♠
4 ♥1	5 ♥2	Dbl3	6 ♠
Pass	Pass	Pass

Weak jump raise
Showing a slammish raise for Spades and 1st round control in Hearts
I don't think you can make 5 ♥

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♠	N	7	♥ A	510		4.07	2.93	3-Behr-Terbrueggen	7-Peng-Hoffman
5 ♠	S	7	♥ 7	510		4.07	2.93	4-Hall-Runda	9-Cushman-Petersen
5 ♠	S	7	♥ 7	510		4.07	2.93	6-Prosise-Prosise	2-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♠	S	7	♥ J	510		4.07	2.93	7-Outcalt-Ingram	4-McCarthy-Diers
5 ♠	S	7	♠ 7	510		4.07	2.93	8-Koch-Temples	6-Singerman-Cook
5 ♠	S	7	♣ 9	510		4.07	2.93	9-Brown-Felson	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
5 ♥×	E	−3	♦ A	500		0.07	6.93	10-Tedrick-Pretz	10-Barron-Lammers

If E/W try and sacrifice in 7 ♥, N/S might very well bid 7 ♠. Ugh.

N/S lose nothing, making seven. West will lead the ♥ 7, ruffed in dummy. Two rounds of Spades pull the enemy's trump, and when declarer cashes the ♦ AK, ruffs their remaining Heart, and cashes the ♦ Q, the hand is over (declarer's three Clubs get pitched on dummy's Diamonds).

Board 31
South Deals
N-S Vul

♠	A 10 9 5
♥	9 8
♦	K 9 8 7 6
♣	J 6

♠	K 8 7 4 3
♥	Q J 7
♦	10 2
♣	A 5 3

N
W		E
S

♠	J 6
♥	10 3 2
♦	A J 5 4
♣	K Q 9 4

♠	Q 2
♥	A K 6 5 4
♦	Q 3
♣	10 8 7 2

NS 1N; NS 1♠; NS 1♥; NS 1♦; Par +90

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

Rule of 20 opener
Showing 7-10 HCP, Spades stopped for notrump, and fewer than three Hearts

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	W	−2	♦ 6	100		6.36	0.64	4-Hall-Runda	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
1 NT	E	−2	♥ 5	100		6.36	0.64	6-Prosise-Prosise	1-Booker-Edwards
1 ♠	W	−1	♥ 9	50		4.07	2.93	7-Outcalt-Ingram	3-Scovic-Murdock
2 ♠	W	−1	♥ 9	50		4.07	2.93	9-Brown-Felson	7-Peng-Hoffman
Pass				Pass		1.21	5.79	5-Lin-Hubka	10-Barron-Lammers
Pass				Pass		1.21	5.79	8-Koch-Temples	5-Endres-Kennedy
Pass				Pass		1.21	5.79	10-Tedrick-Pretz	9-Cushman-Petersen

North's 1 NT bid would be forcing if West hadn't overcalled, but it's not forcing in competition. N/S take two Spade tricks, four Hearts, and one Diamond, making one. If E/W try to cash a bunch of Clubs, then N/S will get a Club trick as well. If East leads the ♠ J, N/S will again make two. The safest lead is a Heart. Expect a lot of +120 scores for N/S.

Board 32
West Deals
E-W Vul

♠	A 9 8
♥	7
♦	K Q J 7 2
♣	A 10 3 2

♠	K J 10 5 2
♥	10 8 6 5 3
♦	5
♣	8 5

N
W		E
S

♠	4 3
♥	A Q 9 2
♦	A 10 4 3
♣	K 7 4

♠	Q 7 6
♥	K J 4
♦	9 8 6
♣	Q J 9 6

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

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

Don't make minimum offshape takeout doubles
Pick a major

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
1 NT	S	4	♠ 5	180		6.93	0.07	10-Tedrick-Pretz	9-Cushman-Petersen
1 NT	S	3	♠ J	150		5.79	1.21	9-Brown-Felson	7-Peng-Hoffman
2 ♦	N	2	♣ 4	90		4.64	2.36	7-Outcalt-Ingram	3-Scovic-Murdock
3 NT	S	−1	♠ J		50	2.36	4.64	5-Lin-Hubka	10-Barron-Lammers
2 ♣	N	−1	♠ 3		50	2.36	4.64	6-Prosise-Prosise	1-Booker-Edwards
2 ♦	N	−1	♠ 3		50	2.36	4.64	8-Koch-Temples	5-Endres-Kennedy
3 ♣	N	−3	♠ 3		150	0.07	6.93	4-Hall-Runda	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes

Don't be afraid to get into the auction when it's dying if you have hand similar to the one West holds. I know you have only four HCP, but who do you think has the missing 13? Your partner does (duh).

E/W lose one Spade trick, two Hearts, and one Club, making three. South will lead the ♦ 8 (MUD).

Board 33
North Deals
None Vul

♠	8 7 6 5 4
♥	9
♦	A K 9 6
♣	A 9 5

♠	A Q J 3
♥	8 2
♦	Q J 8 2
♣	K 10 3

N
W		E
S

♠	K 10 9
♥	A K J 10 3
♦	10 7 4 3
♣	Q

♠	2
♥	Q 7 6 5 4
♦	5
♣	J 8 7 6 4 2

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

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

Rule of 20 opener

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♦×	W	−2	♣ A	300		6.93	0.07	7-Outcalt-Ingram	3-Scovic-Murdock
4 ♠	W	−3	♥ 9	150		5.79	1.21	4-Hall-Runda	8-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
2 NT	W	3	♠ 8		150	4.64	2.36	6-Prosise-Prosise	1-Booker-Edwards
4 ♣×	S	−2	♥ 8		300	3.50	3.50	8-Koch-Temples	5-Endres-Kennedy
3 NT	W	3	♦ A		400	1.21	5.79	5-Lin-Hubka	10-Barron-Lammers
3 NT	W	3	♠ 8		400	1.21	5.79	9-Brown-Felson	7-Peng-Hoffman
3 NT	W	3	♦ A		400	1.21	5.79	10-Tedrick-Pretz	9-Cushman-Petersen

East's 2 ♥ overcall shows an opening hand, so West has an easy raise to 3 NT. E/W take four Spade tricks, three Hearts, one Club, and one Diamond, making three. North's best (safest) lead is a small Spade.

West	North	East	South
		Pass	Pass
1 ♣1	Pass	Pass	Pass

1 NT wouldn't be wrong

E/W lose one Club trick, two Diamonds, and two Spades, making two. North may lead the ♥ 3 out of desperation.

West	North	East	South
			Pass
Pass	1 ♥1	Pass	2 ♣2
Dbl3	Pass4	Pass	2 ♥
Pass	Pass	Pass

Light third-seat opener
Alert, artificial Drury bid showing a 3+ card limit raise in Hearts
Lead a Club
Showing a hand that wouldn't have opened in 1st or 2nd seat

N/S lose one Spade trick, two Hearts, one Diamond, and one Club, making two. East will lead the ♣ 7, West will win and return their stiff Diamond. Declarer should win and cash the ♥ A and lead a second Heart. East will win the ♥ Q by force and continue with a second Club (they know that partner has the ♥ K, so another Diamond would be silly). Declarer will win with the ♣ Q and lead a Diamond towards their hand, West discarding a low Spade.

West	North	East	South
Pass	1 NT1	Dbl2	3 NT
Pass	Pass	Pass

15 to 17
Alert, artificial DONT bid showing a single-suited hand

South bids 3 NT hoping that East's suit isn't Spades. Why not wait and find out what the suit is first? Well, imagine that the auction continues 1 NT - X - Pass - 2 ♣! - Pass - 2 ♥. If South bids 3 NT now, North might mistake it as not having a Heart stopper (N/S play Lebensohl). If South bids 2 NT Lebensohl over 2 ♥, North might pass thinking that Lebensohl is off in this auction. Discuss this with your partner.

N/S take five Diamond tricks, three Clubs, one Heart, and one Spade, making four. East will lead a small Heart.