Monday 08/07/2017 - Common Game at Nite (17080683)

EVENT>Monday Night Bridge      |SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> A N-S
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>August 7, 2017     |CLUB NO.>185264    | 08/07/2017 22:18
---------------------,-- ------------------- -------------,---------------------
DIR> Mike Lipp       |RATING>Club Masterpoint (100%, 80%, 70% Open)|MOVEMENT>MITCHELL
------------,-------- ,-------------------------,--------- ---------------------
AVE>  132.0 |TOP>  11 |MP LIMITS>None/500/200   |CLUB>Mike's Games At The CBC
------------ --------- ------------------------- -------------------------------
PAIRS IN STRAT A=14/B=10/C=4                     ,---,-------------------------,------,---------,
-------------------------------------------------|   |           Section       |      |Section  |
No Name                   Name                   |Flt|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C| Score | Pct  |Awards   |
------------------------------------------------- --- ----- ----- ----- ------- ------ ---------

 2 Pam Campbell           Monica Ibarra            B    .     .     .    132.99  50.38
 3 Donald Pollack         Bernice Pollack          C    .     .     .     95.41  36.14
 4 Nalin Mehta            Ila Mehta                B    3     2     .    151.77  57.49  0.70(A)
 5 Kathy Rice             Betty Murdock            C    6     3     1    134.15  50.81  0.40(B)
 6 Liz Lin                Elmer Hubka              A    4     .     .    149.46  56.61  0.49(A)
 7 Judith Lubow           Patrick Lammers          B    2     1     .    152.49  57.76  0.98(A)
 8 David Elliott          Carla Runda              C    .     .     .    103.61  39.25
 9 Joy Singerman          William Cook             B    .     .     .    121.23  45.92
10 Dennis Schultz         Ralph Terbrueggen        A    1     .     .    158.73  60.13  1.40(A)
11 Carol Markham          J Thomas Markham         C    .     4     2    133.22  50.46  0.28(B)
12 Joyce Tedrick          Linda Pretz              B    .     .     .    118.16  44.76
13 Susan Stacy Vanstone   Martin Gibler            B    .     .     .    115.85  43.88
14 Robert Brown           Stephen Felson           A    5     .     .    148.91  56.41  0.28(A)

                                          Totals                        1715.98


                                          **PAIRS**
BOARD     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9    10    11    12    13    14
  /
   1>                     9.86  0.05 10.95  8.23  8.23  4.41  2.77  6.05  2.77  6.05  1.14
         ----  ----  ----  180  -140   400   150   150   120   100   130   100   130    50

   2>                     6.05 10.95  0.05  6.05  6.05  1.68  6.05  9.86  1.68  6.05  6.05
         ----  ----  ----  650   680  -300   650   650  -100   650   660  -100   650   650

   3>         7.68              4.95  1.14  7.68  4.95  3.32  7.68  9.86 10.95  0.05  2.23
         ----  420   ----  ----  400  -790   420   400   200   420   550   650  -930  -100

   4>         7.68             10.95  4.41  7.68  0.05  7.68  7.68  2.23  2.23  2.23  7.68
         ----  140   ----  ----  620   110   140  -200   140   140  -100  -100  -100   140

   5>         9.32  0.05              9.32  9.32  2.23  2.23  9.32    5-  4.41  2.23  6.59
         ----  660   140   ----  ----  660   660   150   150   660   210   200   150   630

   6>         8.23  3.32              3.32 10.95  0.05  6.59    5-  3.32  8.23  1.14  9.86
         ----  920   420   ----  ----  420   990   140   520   440   420   920   170   940

   7>         8.77  3.86  3.86              3.86  8.77  3.86  3.86  0.05  3.86  8.77 10.95
         ---- -140  -170  -170   ----  ---- -170  -140  -170  -170  -620  -170  -140   100

   8>         2.23  9.86  4.95              9.86  4.95  2.23  6.59  7.68  2.23  9.86  0.05
         ---- -150   420  -100   ----  ----  420  -100  -150   -50   130  -150   420  -610

   9>         1.14  6.05  6.05 10.41              6.05  6.05 10.41  2.77  2.77  8.77  0.05
         ----  150   400   400   480   ----  ----  400   400   480   170   170   450   -50

  10>         3.86  3.86  8.23  3.86              0.05  3.86 10.41  3.86  3.86  8.23 10.41
         ---- -600  -600   100  -600   ----  ---- -630  -600   200  -600  -600   100   200

  11>         3.32  3.32  3.32  3.32  7.14              3.32  7.14  9.86  9.86  0.05  9.86
         ---- -140  -140  -140  -140   -50   ----  ---- -140   -50    50    50  -170    50

  12>         2.77  2.77  6.05 10.95  6.05              9.32  7.68  9.32  2.77  0.05  2.77
         ---- -990  -990  -490    50  -490   ----  ---- -420  -460  -420  -990 -1020  -990

  13>         4.95  4.95  1.68  7.68  4.95  9.32              9.32  4.95  1.68  0.05 10.95
         ---- -620  -620  -650  -600  -620  -170   ----  ---- -170  -620  -650  -680   100

  14>         0.59  2.77  0.59  2.77  9.32 10.95              6.05  6.05  6.05  6.05  9.32
         ---- -450  -420  -450  -420  -170   -50   ----  ---- -200  -200  -200  -200  -170

  15>         1.14  1.14  8.77  4.41 10.95  4.41  8.77              6.59  8.77  1.14  4.41
         ---- -450  -450    50  -400   100  -400    50   ----  ---- -140    50  -450  -400

  16>           5-  6.59  8.77  1.68  3.32  1.68  4.41              0.05  7.68 10.41 10.41
         ----  100   140   180   -50    80   -50    90   ----  ---- -150   150   400   400

  17>         3.86  6.05  8.23  1.68  8.23  1.68 10.95  3.86              6.05  9.86  0.05
         ---- -110  -100    50  -140    50  -140   150  -110   ----  ---- -100   130  -150

  18>         6.59  0.05  6.59  6.59  6.59  6.59  6.59  1.14              6.59  6.59  6.59
         ----  650  -100   650   650   650   650   650   150   ----  ----  650   650   650

  19>         7.14  0.05  8.77  2.77  2.77  7.14  1.14    5- 10.95              4.41  9.86
         ----  -50  -800   110  -150  -150   -50  -200  -100   420   ----  ---- -110   200

  20>         7.68  3.86  9.86  3.86  7.68  0.05  7.68  1.14 10.95              3.86  3.86
         ----  200   100   730   100   200  -200   200  -150   800   ----  ----  100   100

  21>        10.41  0.05  4.41 10.41  3.32  6.05  2.23  6.05  1.14  8.23              8.23
         ----  650  -200   100   650    50   140  -130   140  -150   150   ----  ----  150

  22>         3.32  7.68  3.32  3.32  3.32 10.95  0.05  9.86  3.32  8.77              6.59
         ---- -600  -100  -600  -600  -600   300  -630   200  -600   100   ----  ---- -110

  23>        10.95  8.77  6.05  1.68  8.77  1.68  0.05  8.77  6.05  3.86  3.86
         ----  150   120   110  -100   120  -100  -200   120   110    90    90   ----  ----

  24>         3.86  3.86  3.86  3.86  3.86  3.86  9.86  9.86  9.86  3.86  3.86
         ---- -450  -450  -450  -450  -450  -450  -420  -420  -420  -450  -450   ----  ----

  25>           5-    0     9-   11     2     9-    1     5-    5-    5-    5-    5-
         ----  420  -100   450   650   200   450   170   420   420   420   420   420   ----

  26>           6-    1-    4     8-   10    11     1-    0     4     6-    4     8-
         ----  100  -130  -110   110   130   750  -130  -400  -110   100  -110   110   ----

  27>                 9     9     2-   11     2-    6-    9     6-    2-    2-    0     5
         ----  ----   50    50  -420   100  -420  -150    50  -150  -420  -420  -450  -170

  28>                 6    10     6    11     1-    1-    6     0     6     6     6     6
         ----  ----   50   100    50   150  -110  -110    50  -200    50    50    50    50



EVENT>Monday Night Bridge      |SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> A E-W
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>August 7, 2017     |CLUB NO.>185264    | 08/07/2017 22:18
---------------------,-- ------------------- -------------,---------------------
DIR> Mike Lipp       |RATING>Club Masterpoint (100%, 80%, 70% Open)|MOVEMENT>MITCHELL
------------,-------- ,-------------------------,--------- ---------------------
AVE>  132.0 |TOP>  11 |MP LIMITS>None/500/200   |CLUB>Mike's Games At The CBC
------------ --------- ------------------------- -------------------------------
PAIRS IN STRAT A=14/B=9/C=5                      ,---,-------------------------,------,---------,
-------------------------------------------------|   |           Section       |      |Section  |
No Name                   Name                   |Flt|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C| Score | Pct  |Awards   |
------------------------------------------------- --- ----- ----- ----- ------- ------ ---------
 1 Lanny Cai              Michael Lipp             A    .     .     .    121.65  46.08
 2 Joseph Kammer          Gail Zimmer              B    .     4     .    135.02  51.14  0.25(B)
 3 Patrick Hoffman        Myrna Waak               B    5     2     .    139.48  52.83  0.50(B)
 4 D. Thomas Terwilliger  C Daniel Payne           B    6     3     .    137.26  51.99  0.36(B)
 5 Richard Koch           Lewis Temples            C    3     1     1    147.32  55.80  0.72(B)
 6 Mike Burns             Charlie Kobida           B    .     .     .    130.01  49.25
 7 Joan Diers             Evelyn McCarthy          C    .     .     .     77.32  29.29
 8 Pete Williams          Matt Williams            C    .     .     2    120.01  45.46  0.25(C)
 9 Joanne Earls           Jane Duncan              A    1     .     .    175.28  66.39  1.40(A)
10 Robert Prosise         Marilyn Prosise          A    .     .     .    130.21  49.32
11 Tom Kereiakes          Annette Kereiakes        C    .     .     .    115.69  43.82
12 Herb Behr              Dean Congbalay           A    4     .     .    144.09  54.58  0.49(A)
13 Doris Kehoe            Lilam Stanley            A    2     .     .    155.99  59.09  0.98(A)
14 Peggy Jervis           Pat Lindeman             C    .     .     .    119.51  45.27

                                          Totals                        1848.84


                                          **PAIRS**
BOARD     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9    10    11    12    13    14
  /
   1>               6.59        8.23  1.14  4.95 10.95  8.23  0.05  4.95  2.77  9.86  2.77
         ----  ---- -120   ---- -100  -180  -130   140  -100  -400  -130  -150   -50  -150

   2>               9.32        4.95  4.95  1.14  0.05  9.32 10.95  4.95  4.95  4.95  4.95
         ----  ----  100   ---- -650  -650  -660  -680   100   300  -650  -650  -650  -650

   3>   7.68  3.32        3.32        1.14  6.05  0.05  9.86 10.95  3.32  8.77  6.05
        -200  -420   ---- -420   ---- -550  -400  -650   790   930  -420   100  -400   ----

   4>   3.32  3.32        3.32        8.77  0.05  8.77  6.59  8.77  3.32  3.32 10.95
        -140  -140   ---- -140   ----  100  -620   100  -110   100  -140  -140   200   ----

   5>   1.68  1.68 10.95          5-        6.59  1.68  8.77  1.68  4.41  8.77        8.77
        -660  -660  -140   ---- -210   ---- -200  -660  -150  -660  -630  -150   ---- -150

   6>   2.77    5-  7.68        7.68        2.77  7.68  9.86  0.05  1.14 10.95        4.41
        -920  -440  -420   ---- -420   ---- -920  -420  -170  -990  -940  -140   ---- -520

   7>   7.14  7.14 10.95  7.14        7.14        2.23  7.14  0.05  2.23        7.14  2.23
         170   170   620   170   ----  170   ----  140   170  -100   140   ----  170   140

   8>   4.41  1.14  3.32  6.05        8.77        1.14  1.14 10.95  6.05        8.77  8.77
          50  -420  -130   100   ----  150   ---- -420  -420   610   100   ----  150   150

   9>   4.95  8.23  4.95  8.23  0.59        2.23       10.95  4.95        4.95  9.86  0.59
        -400  -170  -400  -170  -480   ---- -450   ----   50  -400   ---- -400  -150  -480

  10>   7.14  7.14  2.77  7.14  7.14        2.77        0.59 10.95        7.14  7.14  0.59
         600   600  -100   600   600   ---- -100   ---- -200   630   ----  600   600  -200

  11>   1.14  7.68  1.14  7.68 10.95  3.86        1.14              7.68  7.68  3.86  7.68
         -50   140   -50   140   170    50   ----  -50   ----  ----  140   140    50   140

  12>   1.68  4.95  8.23  0.05 10.95  4.95        8.23              1.68  8.23  3.32  8.23
         420   490   990   -50  1020   490   ----  990   ----  ----  420   990   460   990

  13>   9.32  9.32  3.32 10.95  6.05  0.05  1.68                    6.05  1.68  6.05  6.05
         650   650   600   680   620  -100   170   ----  ----  ----  620   170   620   620

  14>  10.41  4.95  8.23  4.95  1.68  1.68  0.05                   10.41  4.95  8.23  4.95
         450   200   420   200   170   170    50   ----  ----  ----  450   200   420   200

  15>   2.23  6.59  9.86  0.05  6.59  6.59        2.23        9.86        9.86  4.41  2.23
         -50   400   450  -100   400   400   ----  -50   ----  450   ----  450   140   -50

  16>   3.32  9.32  0.59  7.68  0.59  9.32        6.59          5-        4.41 10.95  2.23
        -150    50  -400   -80  -400    50   ----  -90   ---- -100   ---- -140   150  -180

  17>   9.32  1.14  2.77 10.95  9.32        0.05  7.14  7.14        4.95        2.77  4.95
         140  -130   -50   150   140   ---- -150   110   110   ----  100   ----  -50   100

  18>   4.41  4.41  4.41  4.41  4.41        4.41  4.41  9.86       10.95        4.41  4.41
        -650  -650  -650  -650  -650   ---- -650  -650  -150   ----  100   ---- -650  -650

  19>   6.59  8.23  1.14  3.86        9.86  3.86    5- 10.95  0.05        2.23        8.23
         110   150  -200    50   ----  200    50   100   800  -420   ---- -110   ----  150

  20>   7.14  3.32  7.14 10.95        3.32  3.32  9.86  7.14  0.05        1.14        7.14
        -100  -200  -100   200   ---- -200  -200   150  -100  -800   ---- -730   ---- -100

  21>   7.68  2.77  4.95        8.77  0.59  4.95 10.95  9.86  6.59  2.77        0.59
         -50  -150  -140   ----  130  -650  -140   200   150  -100  -150   ---- -650   ----

  22>   7.68  4.41  0.05       10.95  7.68  1.14  3.32  7.68  7.68  2.23        7.68
         600   110  -300   ----  630   600  -200   100   600   600  -100   ----  600   ----

  23>         9.32       10.95  0.05  2.23  2.23  4.95  4.95  7.14  9.32  7.14        2.23
         ----  100   ----  200  -150  -120  -120  -110  -110   -90   100   -90   ---- -120

  24>         7.14        1.14  7.14  1.14  7.14  1.14  7.14  7.14  7.14  7.14        7.14
         ----  450   ----  420   450   420   450   420   450   450   450   450   ----  450

  25>     1-         10     5-    5-   11     5-    1-    5-    0     5-    9     5-
        -450   ---- -170  -420  -420   100  -420  -450  -420  -650  -420  -200  -420   ----

  26>     0           9-    4-   11     9-    7     7     4-    2-    7     1     2-
        -750   ----  130  -100   400   130   110   110  -100  -110   110  -130  -110   ----

  27>           4-          2     2     4-    2     8-    8-    8-    0    11     8-    6
         ----  150   ----  -50   -50   150   -50   420   420   420  -100   450   420   170

  28>           9-          5     5    11     1     5     5     5     0     5     9-    5
         ----  110   ----  -50   -50   200  -100   -50   -50   -50  -150   -50   110   -50
Monday Night Bridge, Monday Eve, August 7, 2017

Board 1
North Deals
None Vul

♠	A K 9 7
♥	K J 8
♦	8 5
♣	A J 8 7

♠	10 8 6 5 2
♥	Q
♦	K Q 7 4 3
♣	K 9

N
W		E
S

♠	Q J 4 3
♥	A 10 9 7 4
♦	9 2
♣	4 3

♠	—
♥	6 5 3 2
♦	A J 10 6
♣	Q 10 6 5 2

NS 3N; NS 4♣; NS 2♥; EW 1♠; NS 1♦; Par +400

West	North	East	South
	1 NT1	2 ♥2	2 NT3
3 ♠4	Dbl5	Pass	Pass
Pass

15 to 17
Alert, artificial DONT bid showing Hearts and Spades
Alert, artificial Lebensohl relay asking partner to bid 3 ♣
I like Spades
I do too!

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♣	N	5	♠ Q	400		10.95	0.05	6-Lin-Hubka	10-Prosise-Prosise
1 NT	N	4	♥ 7	180		9.86	1.14	4-Mehta-Mehta	6-Burns-Kobida
3 ♣	S	5	♦ K	150		8.23	2.77	7-Lubow-Lammers	12-Behr-Congbalay
3 ♣	S	5	♥ Q	150		8.23	2.77	8-Elliott-Runda	14-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♣	N	4	♥ A	130		6.05	4.95	11-Markham-Markham	7-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♣	N	4	♠ Q	130		6.05	4.95	13-Vanstone-Gibler	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
1 NT	N	2	♥ 10	120		4.41	6.59	9-Singerman-Cook	3-Hoffman-Waak
2 ♠×	W	−1	♦ 8	100		2.77	8.23	10-Schultz-Terbrueggen	5-Koch-Temples
2 ♦	E	−2	♣ 5	100		2.77	8.23	12-Tedrick-Pretz	9-Earls-Duncan
3 ♠	E	−1	♣ 5	50		1.14	9.86	14-Brown-Felson	13-Kehoe-Stanley
3 ♠	W	3	♦ 8		140	0.05	10.95	5-Rice-Murdock	8-Williams-Williams

South is wise to leave the double in. E/W lose two Spade tricks, two Clubs, and two Diamonds, down two doubled for –300. North should probably lead a small Spade on opening lead and pull trump when they're back in with the ♣ A. Declarer has no way to avoid losing two Diamond tricks even leading Diamonds twice from dummy.

Board 2
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	A K J 3
♥	K J 10 6 5 4
♦	8 7 2
♣	—

♠	Q 6 2
♥	9 8 7
♦	A J 10 6 3
♣	10 7

N
W		E
S

♠	8 5 4
♥	Q 3
♦	5 4
♣	Q J 9 5 4 2

♠	10 9 7
♥	A 2
♦	K Q 9
♣	A K 8 6 3

NS 6N; NS 6♠; NS 6♥; NS 4♦; NS 3♣; Par +1440

West	North	East	South
		Pass	1 NT1
Pass	2 ♣2	Pass	2 ♦3
Pass	3 ♠4	Pass	3 NT5
Pass	4 ♦6	Pass	4 ♥
Pass	Pass	Pass

15 to 17
Stayman
Denying a 4-card major
Alert, artificial Smolen bid showing four Spades and five Hearts
Denying a 3-card Heart suit
Delayed transfer to Hearts

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	S	6	♣ 7	680		10.95	0.05	5-Rice-Murdock	8-Williams-Williams
3 NT	S	5	♦ 6	660		9.86	1.14	11-Markham-Markham	7-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♥	N	5	♦ 5	650		6.05	4.95	4-Mehta-Mehta	6-Burns-Kobida
5 ♥	N	5	♣ Q	650		6.05	4.95	7-Lubow-Lammers	12-Behr-Congbalay
4 ♥	N	5	♣ 2	650		6.05	4.95	8-Elliott-Runda	14-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♥	N	5	♣ Q	650		6.05	4.95	10-Schultz-Terbrueggen	5-Koch-Temples
5 ♥	S	5	♣ 10	650		6.05	4.95	13-Vanstone-Gibler	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♥	S	5	♣ 10	650		6.05	4.95	14-Brown-Felson	13-Kehoe-Stanley
6 ♥	S	−1	♣ 10		100	1.68	9.32	9-Singerman-Cook	3-Hoffman-Waak
5 ♥	S	−1	♣ 10		100	1.68	9.32	12-Tedrick-Pretz	9-Earls-Duncan
6 ♥	S	−3	♣ 10		300	0.05	10.95	6-Lin-Hubka	10-Prosise-Prosise

North decides their hand is slammish if (1) opener has a four-card major, or (2) opener has a three-card Heart suit. When neither is true, North reluctantly parks in game.

If declarer guesses to drop the ♥ Q, they'll make six. More than likely, they'll hook into the doubleton Queen and make five. That said, West may lead a trump making the whole hand much too easy.

Board 3
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	5 3
♥	A J 9 7 6 4
♦	J 10
♣	K Q 2

♠	A K Q 10 8 6 2
♥	—
♦	8 7 6 3
♣	6 5

N
W		E
S

♠	J 9 7
♥	Q 10 8 5 2
♦	4
♣	J 10 4 3

♠	4
♥	K 3
♦	A K Q 9 5 2
♣	A 9 8 7

S 5♦; NS 3♥; N 4♦; S 4♣; EW 2♠; N 2♣; Par +400

West	North	East	South
			1 ♦
3 ♠1	4 ♥	Dbl2	5 ♦
Pass	Pass	Pass

Weak jump overcall
For penalty

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♦×	S	6	♠ Q	650		10.95	0.05	12-Tedrick-Pretz	8-Williams-Williams
5 ♦×	S	5	♠ A	550		9.86	1.14	11-Markham-Markham	6-Burns-Kobida
4 ♥	N	4	♠ J	420		7.68	3.32	2-Campbell-Ibarra	2-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♥	N	4	♦ 4	420		7.68	3.32	7-Lubow-Lammers	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♥	N	4	♠ J	420		7.68	3.32	10-Schultz-Terbrueggen	4-Terwilliger-Payne
5 ♦	S	5	♠ A	400		4.95	6.05	5-Rice-Murdock	7-Diers-McCarthy
5 ♦	S	5	♠ A	400		4.95	6.05	8-Elliott-Runda	13-Kehoe-Stanley
4 ♠	W	−2	♦ J	200		3.32	7.68	9-Singerman-Cook	1-Cai-Lipp
4 ♥	N	−2	♦ 4		100	2.23	8.77	14-Brown-Felson	12-Behr-Congbalay
4 ♠×	E	4	♦ J		790	1.14	9.86	6-Lin-Hubka	9-Earls-Duncan
3 ♠×	W	4	♦ J		930	0.05	10.95	13-Vanstone-Gibler	10-Prosise-Prosise

It's hard for East to resist doubling 4 ♥. If they don't double, it's still likely that South will pull to 5 ♦, since a trump lead will very likely result in multiple Spade losers in a 4 ♥ contract. It's about 50-50 whether or not North raises to 6 ♦. I would--most won't.

N/S lose one Spade trick, making six. If West is INSANE and underleads their ♠ AKQ to East's ♠ J at trick one, East (after getting over the shock of winning trick one) will lead back a Heart for West to ruff. That's not gonna happen.

Board 4
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	Q 9 3 2
♥	A Q 3
♦	K Q 10 4 2
♣	K

♠	K 7
♥	J 10 9 6 4
♦	J 7 6
♣	A 10 6

N
W		E
S

♠	10 5
♥	K 7 2
♦	A 5 3
♣	J 9 8 5 2

♠	A J 8 6 4
♥	8 5
♦	9 8
♣	Q 7 4 3

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

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	S	4	♣ A	620		10.95	0.05	5-Rice-Murdock	7-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♠	S	3	♥ J	140		7.68	3.32	2-Campbell-Ibarra	2-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♠	S	3	♥ J	140		7.68	3.32	7-Lubow-Lammers	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 ♠	S	3	♥ J	140		7.68	3.32	9-Singerman-Cook	1-Cai-Lipp
3 ♠	S	3	♥ J	140		7.68	3.32	10-Schultz-Terbrueggen	4-Terwilliger-Payne
3 ♠	S	3	♥ J	140		7.68	3.32	14-Brown-Felson	12-Behr-Congbalay
2 ♠	N	2	♣ 5	110		4.41	6.59	6-Lin-Hubka	9-Earls-Duncan
4 ♠	S	−1	♥ J		100	2.23	8.77	11-Markham-Markham	6-Burns-Kobida
4 ♠	S	−1	♥ 6		100	2.23	8.77	12-Tedrick-Pretz	8-Williams-Williams
4 ♠	S	−1	♣ A		100	2.23	8.77	13-Vanstone-Gibler	10-Prosise-Prosise
4 ♠	S	−2	♥ J		200	0.05	10.95	8-Elliott-Runda	13-Kehoe-Stanley

Nobody wants to play this hand in 3 ♠, since it makes if (1) East has the ♠ K, or (2) West has the ♥ K, or (3) West leads anything but a Heart. Alas.

N/S lose one Spade trick, one Heart, one Diamond, and one Club, down one. West will lead the ♥ J.

Board 5
North Deals
N-S Vul

♠	8 6 3 2
♥	K 8 4
♦	A 6 5
♣	Q J 10

♠	K 5 4
♥	5 3 2
♦	Q 10 8 7 4
♣	A 7

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 10 9 7
♥	J 9 7
♦	J 3 2
♣	8 6 5

♠	A J
♥	A Q 10 6
♦	K 9
♣	K 9 4 3 2

NS 5♥; NS 3N; NS 5♣; NS 2♠; NS 1♦; Par +650

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

Do you have a Diamond stopper for notrump?

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	N	5	♦ J	660		9.32	1.68	2-Campbell-Ibarra	1-Cai-Lipp
3 NT	S	5	♦ 7	660		9.32	1.68	6-Lin-Hubka	8-Williams-Williams
3 NT	N	5	♦ J	660		9.32	1.68	7-Lubow-Lammers	10-Prosise-Prosise
3 NT	S	5	♦ 7	660		9.32	1.68	10-Schultz-Terbrueggen	2-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	S	4	♦ 4	630		6.59	4.41	14-Brown-Felson	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
1 NT	S	5	♦ 7	210		5.50	5.50	11-Markham-Markham	5-Koch-Temples
3 ♥	S	5	♣ A	200		4.41	6.59	12-Tedrick-Pretz	7-Diers-McCarthy
1 NT	N	3	♠ 7	150		2.23	8.77	8-Elliott-Runda	12-Behr-Congbalay
3 ♣	S	5	♦ 7	150		2.23	8.77	9-Singerman-Cook	14-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♣	S	5	♥ 5	150		2.23	8.77	13-Vanstone-Gibler	9-Earls-Duncan
2 ♥	S	3	♣ A	140		0.05	10.95	3-Pollack-Pollack	3-Hoffman-Waak

North's 3 ♦ bid has a dual purpose--it's checking for a second Diamond stopper for notrump while still leaving South room to show a fifth Heart. If West leads a Spade, N/S will lose three Spade tricks and the ♣ A. If West leads anything else, N/S will take one Spade trick, four Hearts, two Diamonds, and four Clubs, making five. Expect a lot of +660 scores for N/S when West leads a small Diamond.

Board 6
East Deals
E-W Vul

♠	J 5
♥	A 10 8 7 5
♦	Q
♣	A 8 4 3 2

♠	10 7 6 4 3
♥	Q 9 4
♦	8
♣	K Q 9 7

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 9 8
♥	K J 6 3 2
♦	J 9 3
♣	10 5

♠	A K 2
♥	—
♦	A K 10 7 6 5 4 2
♣	J 6

NS 6N; NS 6♦; NS 3♣; NS 1♠; NS 1♥; Par +990

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

Showing an A, K, or QQ
Setting trumps and immediately asking for keycards (Minorwood)
1430 response showing 2 or 5 keycards w/ the ♦ Q
Specific King ask and guaranteeing all the keycards
No side-suit Kings
I can count 12 top tricks

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
6 NT	S	6	♣ K	990		10.95	0.05	7-Lubow-Lammers	10-Prosise-Prosise
6 ♦	S	7	♣ Q	940		9.86	1.14	14-Brown-Felson	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
6 ♦	N	6	♣ K	920		8.23	2.77	2-Campbell-Ibarra	1-Cai-Lipp
6 ♦	S	6	♣ 9	920		8.23	2.77	12-Tedrick-Pretz	7-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	S	7	♣ 7	520		6.59	4.41	9-Singerman-Cook	14-Jervis-Lindeman
5 ♦	S	7	♣ K	440		5.50	5.50	10-Schultz-Terbrueggen	2-Kammer-Zimmer
5 ♦	S	6	♠ 4	420		3.32	7.68	3-Pollack-Pollack	3-Hoffman-Waak
5 ♦	S	6	♠ 10	420		3.32	7.68	6-Lin-Hubka	8-Williams-Williams
5 ♦	S	6	♠ 3	420		3.32	7.68	11-Markham-Markham	5-Koch-Temples
4 ♦	S	6	♣ K	170		1.14	9.86	13-Vanstone-Gibler	9-Earls-Duncan
3 ♥	N	3	♣ 10	140		0.05	10.95	8-Elliott-Runda	12-Behr-Congbalay

Nice auction! N/S take two Spade tricks, one Heart, eight Diamonds, and one Club, making six. West will lead the ♣ K, and declarer will win on the board, play the ♥ A (pitching a Spade), cash the ♦ Q, and play a small Spade to the ♠ A leaving the ♠ J on the board. On the run of the Diamonds, neither defender should have any difficulty figuring out what to throw away, but you never know.....

Board 7
South Deals
Both Vul

♠	10 6 5 4
♥	A 5
♦	9 4
♣	A K 5 3 2

♠	A 9 8
♥	J 9 8
♦	K J 8 5
♣	J 8 7

N
W		E
S

♠	Q J 7 3
♥	K Q 10 6 4 3
♦	Q 2
♣	9

♠	K 2
♥	7 2
♦	A 10 7 6 3
♣	Q 10 6 4

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

West	North	East	South
			Pass
Pass	1 ♣	1 ♥	2 ♣
3 ♣1	Dbl2	4 ♥	Pass
Pass	Pass

Limit raise in Hearts
I like Clubs

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	E	−1	♣ 4	100		10.95	0.05	14-Brown-Felson	10-Prosise-Prosise
2 ♥	E	3	♣ 4		140	8.77	2.23	2-Campbell-Ibarra	14-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♥	E	3	♣ 4		140	8.77	2.23	8-Elliott-Runda	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
2 ♥	E	3	♣ 4		140	8.77	2.23	13-Vanstone-Gibler	8-Williams-Williams
3 ♥	E	4	♣ 10		170	3.86	7.14	3-Pollack-Pollack	2-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♥	E	4	♣ 6		170	3.86	7.14	4-Mehta-Mehta	4-Terwilliger-Payne
2 ♥	E	4	♣ 4		170	3.86	7.14	7-Lubow-Lammers	9-Earls-Duncan
3 ♥	E	4	♣ 4		170	3.86	7.14	9-Singerman-Cook	13-Kehoe-Stanley
3 ♥	E	4	♣ 4		170	3.86	7.14	10-Schultz-Terbrueggen	1-Cai-Lipp
3 ♥	E	4	♣ 4		170	3.86	7.14	12-Tedrick-Pretz	6-Burns-Kobida
4 ♥	E	4	♠ K		620	0.05	10.95	11-Markham-Markham	3-Hoffman-Waak

East shouldn't overcall 2 ♥ after North opens 1 ♣--their hand isn't weak, it's a full opener. When South supports Clubs and West scrapes up a limit raise, East's hand becomes huge.

E/W lose one Club trick, one Heart, and one Diamond, making four.....or three....or four. South will lead the ♣ 4 to North's ♣ K. North, knowing that declarer has a singleton Club, should play a small Club at trick two. Declarer will ruff and take a moment to think.

To make the hand, South will have to hold the ♠ K (there's no way to avoid a loser in either red suit). If South holds ♠ Kxx or ♠ KTx, the hand won't make, since the ♠T will always take a trick. South can't have a singleton Spade--North didn't open 1 ♠. South can't have four Spades--they didn't make a negative double over East's 1 ♥ overcall, therefore South has to hold ♠ Kx or ♠ KT. If South holds precisely ♠ KT, the correct line is ♠ Q, covered by the ♠ K, ♠ A and then a Spade to the ♠ J dropping the stiff ♠T. If South holds ♠ K2, ♠ K4, ♠ K5, or ♠ K6, the correct line is ♠ Q, covered by the ♠ K, ♠ A and then finesse North for the ♠T on the way back. That line is FOUR TIMES AS LIKELY as the previous one, so that's the one to take.

Trick three will be a Heart to the ♥ J and ♥ A, and North will return another Club, ruffed with the ♥ 6. The ♥ K pulls the last trump, and the ♠ Q is led, covered by the ♠ K and ♠ A. When the ♠ 9 is led, North will duck, and declarer will let it ride. When the ♠ 2 shows up from South, the hand is over (declarer will concede a Diamond at trick 13). Nicely played!

Board 8
West Deals
None Vul

♠	K Q 9 7 4
♥	8 5 4
♦	J
♣	Q 7 6 5

♠	A J
♥	K 3 2
♦	A K 10 9 7 5 4
♣	J

N
W		E
S

♠	8 3 2
♥	Q J 10 6
♦	8 6 3
♣	10 8 3

♠	10 6 5
♥	A 9 7
♦	Q 2
♣	A K 9 4 2

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

West	North	East	South
1 ♦	1 ♠	Pass	2 ♦1
Dbl2	Pass3	Pass	2 ♠
Dbl4	Pass	3 ♦	3 ♠
4 ♦	Pass	Pass	Pass

Forcing
I like Diamonds
North's weakest bid
Do something smart, partner

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	N	4	♥ Q	420		9.86	1.14	3-Pollack-Pollack	2-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♠	N	4	♦ 3	420		9.86	1.14	7-Lubow-Lammers	9-Earls-Duncan
4 ♠	N	4	♦ 3	420		9.86	1.14	13-Vanstone-Gibler	8-Williams-Williams
4 ♣	S	4	♦ A	130		7.68	3.32	11-Markham-Markham	3-Hoffman-Waak
4 ♠	N	−1	♥ Q		50	6.59	4.41	10-Schultz-Terbrueggen	1-Cai-Lipp
5 ♠×	N	−1	♦ 8		100	4.95	6.05	4-Mehta-Mehta	4-Terwilliger-Payne
5 ♣	S	−2	♦ K		100	4.95	6.05	8-Elliott-Runda	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♦	W	5	♠ K		150	2.23	8.77	2-Campbell-Ibarra	14-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♦	W	5	♠ 7		150	2.23	8.77	9-Singerman-Cook	13-Kehoe-Stanley
4 ♦	W	5	♣ Q		150	2.23	8.77	12-Tedrick-Pretz	6-Burns-Kobida
4 ♦×	W	5	♠ K		610	0.05	10.95	14-Brown-Felson	10-Prosise-Prosise

North's 1 ♠ overcall shows 5+ Spades and 8-16 HCP. When their partner makes a forcing bid and West doubles, their pass indicates that they have the absolute minimum for their overcall. Even so, South has enough to bid 3 ♠, and West has enough to bid 4 ♦. So there.

E/W lose one Spade trick, one Heart, and one Club, making four. North will lead the ♠ K.

Board 9
North Deals
E-W Vul

♠	Q 2
♥	J 10 9 8 6 2
♦	10 9 5
♣	10 4

♠	J 6 3
♥	7 4
♦	8 2
♣	A Q 8 7 6 3

N
W		E
S

♠	9 7 5 4
♥	A 5 3
♦	J 7
♣	K 9 5 2

♠	A K 10 8
♥	K Q
♦	A K Q 6 4 3
♣	J

NS 5♥; NS 4♠; NS 5♦; EW 1♣; Par +450

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

Alert, no A, K, or QQ

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♥	N	6	♦ J	480		10.41	0.59	5-Rice-Murdock	5-Koch-Temples
5 ♥	N	6	♦ J	480		10.41	0.59	10-Schultz-Terbrueggen	14-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♥	N	5	♣ 9	450		8.77	2.23	13-Vanstone-Gibler	7-Diers-McCarthy
5 ♦	N	5	♣ 2	400		6.05	4.95	3-Pollack-Pollack	1-Cai-Lipp
5 ♦	N	5	♣ 2	400		6.05	4.95	4-Mehta-Mehta	3-Hoffman-Waak
5 ♦	N	5	♣ 2	400		6.05	4.95	8-Elliott-Runda	10-Prosise-Prosise
5 ♦	N	5	♣ 2	400		6.05	4.95	9-Singerman-Cook	12-Behr-Congbalay
3 ♠	S	4	♦ 8	170		2.77	8.23	11-Markham-Markham	2-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♦	N	6	♥ 7	170		2.77	8.23	12-Tedrick-Pretz	4-Terwilliger-Payne
3 ♦	S	5	♥ 7	150		1.14	9.86	2-Campbell-Ibarra	13-Kehoe-Stanley
5 ♥	N	−1	♠ 5		50	0.05	10.95	14-Brown-Felson	9-Earls-Duncan

South bids their hand as naturally as possible as does North. When North shows a sixth Heart, South is happy to pass. N/S lose one Heart trick and one Club, making five. East will probably lead the ♥ A and switch to a Club at trick two (i.e., North can't hold the ♣ A on the auction).

Board 10
East Deals
Both Vul

♠	J 7 6
♥	Q 10 2
♦	7 6 5
♣	8 4 3 2

♠	8 3
♥	A K 4
♦	A 9 8 4 2
♣	K Q 5

N
W		E
S

♠	A Q 9 5 2
♥	J 7 3
♦	Q 3
♣	A J 10

♠	K 10 4
♥	9 8 6 5
♦	K J 10
♣	9 7 6

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

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	W	−2	♣ 2	200		10.41	0.59	10-Schultz-Terbrueggen	14-Jervis-Lindeman
3 NT	E	−2	♣ 7	200		10.41	0.59	14-Brown-Felson	9-Earls-Duncan
4 ♠	E	−1	♥ 9	100		8.23	2.77	4-Mehta-Mehta	3-Hoffman-Waak
3 NT	E	−1	♥ 9	100		8.23	2.77	13-Vanstone-Gibler	7-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	E	3	♣ 9		600	3.86	7.14	2-Campbell-Ibarra	13-Kehoe-Stanley
3 NT	E	3	♥ 9		600	3.86	7.14	3-Pollack-Pollack	1-Cai-Lipp
3 NT	W	3	♥ 2		600	3.86	7.14	5-Rice-Murdock	5-Koch-Temples
3 NT	E	3	♥ 9		600	3.86	7.14	9-Singerman-Cook	12-Behr-Congbalay
3 NT	W	3	♣ 2		600	3.86	7.14	11-Markham-Markham	2-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	E	3	♥ 5		600	3.86	7.14	12-Tedrick-Pretz	4-Terwilliger-Payne
3 NT	E	4	♥ 5		630	0.05	10.95	8-Elliott-Runda	10-Prosise-Prosise

East's 2 NT rebid shows a 5-3-3-2 hand with 12-14 HCP OR a 5-3-3-2 hand with 18-19 HCP. How's West supposed to know which one it is? Well, when West signs off in 3 NT, East's pass shows the smaller hand and their 4 NT raise shows the bigger hand. Easy peasy.

E/W take two heart tricks, three Clubs, and four tricks in the pointy suits (Spades and Diamonds). If South leads a Heart, declarer's best line is to win with the ♥ K and lead a Diamonds towards the ♦ Q. South will win with the ♦ K and lead a second Heart, declarer winning again with the ♥ A. North can't afford to unblock the ♥ Q on this trick, since that would give declarer a third Heart winner with the ♥ J, so they'll play low. A low Diamond from both hands is won by South perforce and a third Heart is led, but with the Heart suit blocked, declarer can win any return and cash seven more tricks before giving up control. If Diamonds hadn't split 3-3, declarer would have tried the Spade finesse for their ninth trick.

Trick 12 is interesting. Declarer's last two cards will be the ♠ 83, and dummy will have ♠ AQ. If South is extra sneaky, they'll have pitched down to the bare ♠ K and kept their ♥ 9. Will declarer finesse North's supposed ♠ K for the overtrick? (i.e. undertrick) If South is going to do that, they'll need to do it immediately when declarer cashes the ♦ A and ♦ 9. It's too obvious that they have a bare ♠ K if they wait until the last second.

Board 11
South Deals
None Vul

♠	Q 10 2
♥	9 7 5
♦	K J 9
♣	A 7 5 2

♠	K J 7 5
♥	A Q 8 2
♦	8 6
♣	K 6 3

N
W		E
S

♠	A 9 6 4
♥	J 10 6 4
♦	10 7 4 2
♣	Q

♠	8 3
♥	K 3
♦	A Q 5 3
♣	J 10 9 8 4

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

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	E	−1	♣ J	50		9.86	1.14	11-Markham-Markham	1-Cai-Lipp
3 ♥	E	−1	♣ J	50		9.86	1.14	12-Tedrick-Pretz	3-Hoffman-Waak
3 ♥	E	−1	♣ J	50		9.86	1.14	14-Brown-Felson	8-Williams-Williams
3 ♣	S	−1	♠ 5		50	7.14	3.86	6-Lin-Hubka	6-Burns-Kobida
3 ♣	N	−1	♥ J		50	7.14	3.86	10-Schultz-Terbrueggen	13-Kehoe-Stanley
2 ♥	E	3	♠ 8		140	3.32	7.68	2-Campbell-Ibarra	12-Behr-Congbalay
2 ♥	E	3	♠ 8		140	3.32	7.68	3-Pollack-Pollack	14-Jervis-Lindeman
2 ♥	E	3	♣ J		140	3.32	7.68	4-Mehta-Mehta	2-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♥	E	3	♣ J		140	3.32	7.68	5-Rice-Murdock	4-Terwilliger-Payne
2 ♥	E	3	♣ J		140	3.32	7.68	9-Singerman-Cook	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
2 ♠	E	4	♣ J		170	0.05	10.95	13-Vanstone-Gibler	5-Koch-Temples

E/W lose one Spade trick, two Diamonds, and one Club, making three. South will lead the ♣ J. If North ducks at trick one (not wrong), the defense will end up getting a third Diamond trick.

Board 12
West Deals
N-S Vul

♠	6 5
♥	10 9 8 5 4
♦	4 3 2
♣	J 10 4

♠	A 9
♥	Q J
♦	K J 9
♣	A K Q 9 5 2

N
W		E
S

♠	K J 10 7 4
♥	A K 6 2
♦	Q 10 5
♣	8

♠	Q 8 3 2
♥	7 3
♦	A 8 7 6
♣	7 6 3

EW 6N; EW 6♣; EW 5♠; EW 5♥; EW 5♦; Par −990

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

Puppet Stayman
Alert, Puppet Stayman response showing no four or five-card major
Showing exactly five Spades, four Hearts, and slam values (forcing)
RKC Blackwood (Kickback) for Spades
1430 response showing 2 or 5 keycards w/o the ♠ Q

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
6 NT	W	−1	♥ 8	50		10.95	0.05	5-Rice-Murdock	4-Terwilliger-Payne
5 ♣	W	6	♥ 9		420	9.32	1.68	9-Singerman-Cook	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♥	E	4	♣ 3		420	9.32	1.68	11-Markham-Markham	1-Cai-Lipp
3 NT	W	5	♥ 10		460	7.68	3.32	10-Schultz-Terbrueggen	13-Kehoe-Stanley
3 NT	W	6	♥ 10		490	6.05	4.95	4-Mehta-Mehta	2-Kammer-Zimmer
5 NT	W	6	♥ 10		490	6.05	4.95	6-Lin-Hubka	6-Burns-Kobida
6 NT	W	6	♥ 10		990	2.77	8.23	2-Campbell-Ibarra	12-Behr-Congbalay
6 NT	W	6	♥ 10		990	2.77	8.23	3-Pollack-Pollack	14-Jervis-Lindeman
6 NT	W	6	♥ 10		990	2.77	8.23	12-Tedrick-Pretz	3-Hoffman-Waak
6 NT	W	6	♥ 10		990	2.77	8.23	14-Brown-Felson	8-Williams-Williams
6 NT	E	7	♥ 10		1020	0.05	10.95	13-Vanstone-Gibler	5-Koch-Temples

E/W play that an immediate 3 NT bid over 2 NT shows exactly five Spades, four Hearts, and game-going values (Flip-Flop Flannery). With a hand that's too big to play in 3 NT if partner doesn't have a major-suit fit, East has to get a bit more creative. Their 3 ♣ bid asks partner for a 4- or 5-card major. If West had bid 3 ♦ (showing one or more 4-card majors), East would have bid 4 ♦ (showing 4-4 in the majors) to get partner to pick. Once West chose a major, East would have used Kickback to ask for keycards. If West had bid 3 ♥ or 3 ♠ (showing a 5-card major), East would have immediately used Kickback to ask for keycards.

When West bids 3 NT (denying a 4- or 5-card major), East bids a conventional 4 ♠ to show their hand. Their 4 ♠ bid is forcing, and West has no options but to bid 4 NT (Kickback). Once the number of keycards is found, West will bid 5 ♠ if they're off two keycards (East will correct to 5 NT), 6 ♠ with 3+ Spades and a doubleton somewhere, 6 NT with only two Spades or a flat hand, of bid 7 NT if they can count to 13 tricks.

In 6 NT, E/W take four Heart tricks, two Spades, two Diamonds, and four Clubs, making six. North will lead the ♥T.

Board 13
North Deals
Both Vul

♠	A 9 2
♥	J 6 5
♦	Q J 8 2
♣	K 6 2

♠	K J 5 3
♥	A 7 4
♦	A 9 7 5
♣	A 5

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 10 8 7 4
♥	K 10 9 2
♦	K 4
♣	9 4

♠	6
♥	Q 8 3
♦	10 6 3
♣	Q J 10 8 7 3

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

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

15 to 17

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	E	−1	♣ Q	100		10.95	0.05	14-Brown-Felson	6-Burns-Kobida
3 ♠	E	4	♣ Q		170	9.32	1.68	7-Lubow-Lammers	7-Diers-McCarthy
2 ♠	W	4	♦ Q		170	9.32	1.68	10-Schultz-Terbrueggen	12-Behr-Congbalay
3 NT	W	3	♦ 2		600	7.68	3.32	5-Rice-Murdock	3-Hoffman-Waak
4 ♠	W	4	♠ A		620	4.95	6.05	2-Campbell-Ibarra	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♠	W	4	♦ 2		620	4.95	6.05	3-Pollack-Pollack	13-Kehoe-Stanley
4 ♠	W	4	♣ 2		620	4.95	6.05	6-Lin-Hubka	5-Koch-Temples
4 ♠	W	4	♦ Q		620	4.95	6.05	11-Markham-Markham	14-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♠	W	5	♠ A		650	1.68	9.32	4-Mehta-Mehta	1-Cai-Lipp
4 ♠	W	5	♦ Q		650	1.68	9.32	12-Tedrick-Pretz	2-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♠	W	6	♥ 5		680	0.05	10.95	13-Vanstone-Gibler	4-Terwilliger-Payne

East would have had a bit of an issue if their partner had responded 2 ♦ after their Stayman inquiry. A good agreement is to bid 2 NT over 2 ♦ with the East hand--an invitational hand that's 5-4 in the majors with exactly 8 HCP. Your partner will alert this (if you play Four-Suit Transfers) and say "Partner may or may not have a four-card major." With a minimum hand, opener will pass, but if they're going to bid 3 NT it's a good idea for them to bid a three-card major on the way JUST IN CASE responder has this particular hand. Their partner will bid 3 NT themselves if they don't hold this hand, raise to game if their partner has bid their five-card major, or bid 3 ♠ with a fifth Spade over 3 ♥ in case opener is 3-3 in the majors.

E/W lose one Spade trick, one Heart, and one Club, making four. North will lead the ♦ Q or a small trump.

Board 14
East Deals
None Vul

♠	Q J
♥	10 6 5 4 2
♦	J 9 6 3
♣	K 5

♠	K 10 7 5 2
♥	A 9 7 3
♦	8
♣	A 8 2

N
W		E
S

♠	A 8 6 3
♥	K J 8
♦	K 10 7 2
♣	10 7

♠	9 4
♥	Q
♦	A Q 5 4
♣	Q J 9 6 4 3

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

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

Negative
Cuebid showing a limit raise in Spades or better
Showing a full opener

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♣	S	−1	♦ 8		50	10.95	0.05	7-Lubow-Lammers	7-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♠	W	4	♥ 6		170	9.32	1.68	6-Lin-Hubka	5-Koch-Temples
3 ♠	W	4	♥ 6		170	9.32	1.68	14-Brown-Felson	6-Burns-Kobida
3 ♠	W	5	♣ K		200	6.05	4.95	10-Schultz-Terbrueggen	12-Behr-Congbalay
2 ♠	W	5	♠ J		200	6.05	4.95	11-Markham-Markham	14-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♠	W	5	♣ K		200	6.05	4.95	12-Tedrick-Pretz	2-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♠	W	5	♥ 2		200	6.05	4.95	13-Vanstone-Gibler	4-Terwilliger-Payne
4 ♠	W	4	♣ K		420	2.77	8.23	3-Pollack-Pollack	13-Kehoe-Stanley
4 ♠	W	4	♦ 3		420	2.77	8.23	5-Rice-Murdock	3-Hoffman-Waak
4 ♠	W	5	♥ 4		450	0.59	10.41	2-Campbell-Ibarra	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♠	W	5	♣ K		450	0.59	10.41	4-Mehta-Mehta	1-Cai-Lipp

E/W lose one Diamond trick and one Club, making five. North, picturing ♣ Axxxx with their partner, will lead the ♣ K. If that was South's holding, and dummy showed up with ♣Txx, North's ♠ Q would become a trick when a third round of Clubs was led (♣ K, ♣ A, ♦ A, small Club). No such luck in this case.

Board 15
South Deals
N-S Vul

♠	10 9
♥	J 5 3
♦	Q J 9 6 5 3
♣	A 9

♠	A K Q J
♥	A 9 8 6
♦	A 8 2
♣	K 2

N
W		E
S

♠	7 6 4 2
♥	K 4
♦	10 7 4
♣	Q 10 8 3

♠	8 5 3
♥	Q 10 7 2
♦	K
♣	J 7 6 5 4

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

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

20 to 21
Puppet Stayman
Alert, artificial Puppet Stayman response showing no 5-card major but one or more 4-card majors
Alert, artificial Puppet Stayman bid showing a 4-card Spade suit and fewer than four Hearts

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	W	−2	♦ Q	100		10.95	0.05	6-Lin-Hubka	4-Terwilliger-Payne
3 NT	W	−1	♦ Q	50		8.77	2.23	4-Mehta-Mehta	14-Jervis-Lindeman
3 NT	W	−1	♦ J	50		8.77	2.23	8-Elliott-Runda	8-Williams-Williams
6 ♠	W	−1	♦ Q	50		8.77	2.23	12-Tedrick-Pretz	1-Cai-Lipp
2 ♠	E	3	♦ K		140	6.59	4.41	11-Markham-Markham	13-Kehoe-Stanley
3 NT	W	3	♦ 3		400	4.41	6.59	5-Rice-Murdock	2-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	E	3	♦ Q		400	4.41	6.59	7-Lubow-Lammers	6-Burns-Kobida
3 NT	W	3	♦ 6		400	4.41	6.59	14-Brown-Felson	5-Koch-Temples
4 ♠	W	5	♣ A		450	1.14	9.86	2-Campbell-Ibarra	10-Prosise-Prosise
4 ♠	W	5	♦ Q		450	1.14	9.86	3-Pollack-Pollack	12-Behr-Congbalay
4 ♠	W	5	♦ Q		450	1.14	9.86	13-Vanstone-Gibler	3-Hoffman-Waak

E/W lose two Diamond tricks and one Club, making four. North should lead a trump. Declarer will pull a second round, and then play ♥ K, Heart to the ♥ A, ruff a Heart, Diamond to the ♦ A, ruff a Heart, and Club to the ♣ K. North will win that trick with the ♣ A, cash the ♦ QJ, but declarer will be able to ruff the ♦ 9, cash the ♠ A, and lead a small Club to the ♣ Q .

Board 16
West Deals
E-W Vul

♠	Q 10 8 2
♥	K J 6
♦	Q 9 2
♣	A K 7

♠	J 9 6 3
♥	A 8 5 3
♦	A K 7
♣	J 8

N
W		E
S

♠	7 4
♥	Q 10 4
♦	10 8 3
♣	10 9 6 4 2

♠	A K 5
♥	9 7 2
♦	J 6 5 4
♣	Q 5 3

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

West	North	East	South
1 ♦1	1 NT2	Pass	3 NT
Pass	Pass	Pass

The only hand shape that opens 1 ♦ with only three
15 to 18

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	N	3	♦ 8	400		10.41	0.59	13-Vanstone-Gibler	3-Hoffman-Waak
3 NT	N	3	♣ 4	400		10.41	0.59	14-Brown-Felson	5-Koch-Temples
2 NT	N	4	♦ 10	180		8.77	2.23	4-Mehta-Mehta	14-Jervis-Lindeman
2 NT	S	3	♦ A	150		7.68	3.32	12-Tedrick-Pretz	1-Cai-Lipp
2 ♠	S	3	♦ A	140		6.59	4.41	3-Pollack-Pollack	12-Behr-Congbalay
1 ♦	W	−1	♣ K	100		5.50	5.50	2-Campbell-Ibarra	10-Prosise-Prosise
2 ♦	S	2	♠ 3	90		4.41	6.59	8-Elliott-Runda	8-Williams-Williams
1 ♠	S	1	♣ J	80		3.32	7.68	6-Lin-Hubka	4-Terwilliger-Payne
3 NT	N	−1	♦ 8		50	1.68	9.32	5-Rice-Murdock	2-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	N	−1	♣ 2		50	1.68	9.32	7-Lubow-Lammers	6-Burns-Kobida
3 NT	N	−3	♣ 10		150	0.05	10.95	11-Markham-Markham	13-Kehoe-Stanley

It's a reasonable contract--problem is that it comes up a trick short.

N/S take three Club tricks, one Heart, and four Spades, down one. It turns out that the contract goes down on any lead. The only thing that matters is that West play a small Heart away from the ♥ A when in with the ♦ K. Declarer can grab the ♥ K, but West simply has to play another small Heart when in with the ♦ A to partner's ♥ Q, and the defense will collect three Hearts and two Diamonds.

Board 17
North Deals
None Vul

♠	Q 9 8 4
♥	5
♦	K 7 2
♣	A Q 8 7 3

♠	J 7 5 2
♥	9 7 3
♦	A Q 9 3
♣	6 5

N
W		E
S

♠	A 10 6
♥	K Q J 10 8 6
♦	10 6
♣	J 10

♠	K 3
♥	A 4 2
♦	J 8 5 4
♣	K 9 4 2

NS 4♣; NS 2♦; NS 1♠; EW 1♥; Par +130

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

Rule of 20 opener
Limit raise or better in Clubs

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♣	N	5	♦ K	150		10.95	0.05	8-Elliott-Runda	7-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♣	N	4	♥ K	130		9.86	1.14	13-Vanstone-Gibler	2-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♥	E	−1	♦ 4	50		8.23	2.77	4-Mehta-Mehta	13-Kehoe-Stanley
3 ♥	E	−1	♠ K	50		8.23	2.77	6-Lin-Hubka	3-Hoffman-Waak
5 ♣×	N	−1	♥ K		100	6.05	4.95	3-Pollack-Pollack	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
2 NT	S	−2	♥ 9		100	6.05	4.95	12-Tedrick-Pretz	14-Jervis-Lindeman
2 ♥	E	2	♣ 2		110	3.86	7.14	2-Campbell-Ibarra	8-Williams-Williams
2 ♥	E	2	♣ 2		110	3.86	7.14	9-Singerman-Cook	9-Earls-Duncan
3 ♥	E	3	♣ 2		140	1.68	9.32	5-Rice-Murdock	1-Cai-Lipp
2 ♥	E	3	♦ 4		140	1.68	9.32	7-Lubow-Lammers	5-Koch-Temples
3 NT	S	−3	♥ 9		150	0.05	10.95	14-Brown-Felson	4-Terwilliger-Payne

North has no reason to search for a 4-4 Spade fit when South failed to make a negative double. N/S lose one Spade trick and two Diamonds, making four. East will lead the ♥ K.

Board 18
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	K 5
♥	K 10 9 8 7 5 4
♦	3
♣	Q 10 9

♠	J 9 7 6 4 3
♥	—
♦	K 10 9 6 5
♣	A K

N
W		E
S

♠	Q
♥	J 3 2
♦	Q 8 7 2
♣	J 7 5 4 3

♠	A 10 8 2
♥	A Q 6
♦	A J 4
♣	8 6 2

NS 5N; NS 5♥; EW 3♦; EW 1♠; NS 1♣; Par +500: EW 6♦×−3

West	North	East	South
		Pass	1 NT1
2 ♦2	4 ♦3	5 ♦	5 ♥
6 ♦	Pass	Pass	Dbl
Pass	Pass	Pass

15 to 17
Alert, artificial DONT bid showing Diamonds and a higher-ranking suit
Transfer

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♥	S	5	♣ A	650		6.59	4.41	2-Campbell-Ibarra	8-Williams-Williams
4 ♥	N	5	♠ Q	650		6.59	4.41	4-Mehta-Mehta	13-Kehoe-Stanley
5 ♥	N	5	♠ Q	650		6.59	4.41	5-Rice-Murdock	1-Cai-Lipp
5 ♥	N	5	♠ Q	650		6.59	4.41	6-Lin-Hubka	3-Hoffman-Waak
4 ♥	N	5	♣ A	650		6.59	4.41	7-Lubow-Lammers	5-Koch-Temples
4 ♥	S	5	♣ A	650		6.59	4.41	8-Elliott-Runda	7-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♥	N	5	♠ Q	650		6.59	4.41	12-Tedrick-Pretz	14-Jervis-Lindeman
5 ♥	N	5	♠ Q	650		6.59	4.41	13-Vanstone-Gibler	2-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♥	N	5	♠ Q	650		6.59	4.41	14-Brown-Felson	4-Terwilliger-Payne
4 ♠	W	−3	♦ 3	150		1.14	9.86	9-Singerman-Cook	9-Earls-Duncan
5 ♥	N	−1	♠ Q		100	0.05	10.95	3-Pollack-Pollack	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes

Favorable vulnerability (non-vulnerable vs. vulnerable) is a license to steal, which E/W do on this hand. E/W lose three Spade tricks and one Diamond, down three doubled for –500. That's better than –650 for N/S making five Hearts. North's best lead is a trump, which South should allow to hold. When declarer leads a Spade, trying to ruff two Spades in dummy, North should duck, South should win and play ♦ A and a third Diamond. Declarer will be able to knock out North's ♠ K cheaply, but they're always losing a trick to South's ♠T. Nice defense!

Board 19
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	Q J 7 6
♥	10 9
♦	K
♣	A K Q J 10 6

♠	K 3
♥	A Q 7 2
♦	A J 8 7 4 3
♣	5

N
W		E
S

♠	A 5
♥	J 5 4
♦	Q 5 2
♣	8 7 4 3 2

♠	10 9 8 4 2
♥	K 8 6 3
♦	10 9 6
♣	9

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

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	N	4	♣ 8	420		10.95	0.05	10-Schultz-Terbrueggen	10-Prosise-Prosise
5 ♦	E	−2	♣ A	200		9.86	1.14	14-Brown-Felson	3-Hoffman-Waak
3 ♣	N	3	♠ A	110		8.77	2.23	4-Mehta-Mehta	12-Behr-Congbalay
4 ♠	N	−1	♦ 4		50	7.14	3.86	2-Campbell-Ibarra	7-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♠	N	−1	♠ A		50	7.14	3.86	7-Lubow-Lammers	4-Terwilliger-Payne
4 ♠	S	−2	♣ 6		100	5.50	5.50	9-Singerman-Cook	8-Williams-Williams
3 ♦	W	3	♣ A		110	4.41	6.59	13-Vanstone-Gibler	1-Cai-Lipp
3 ♦	W	5	♣ A		150	2.77	8.23	5-Rice-Murdock	14-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♣	N	−3	♦ 2		150	2.77	8.23	6-Lin-Hubka	2-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♣	N	−4	♦ 2		200	1.14	9.86	8-Elliott-Runda	6-Burns-Kobida
4 ♣×	N	−4	♦ 2		800	0.05	10.95	3-Pollack-Pollack	9-Earls-Duncan

E/W lose one Heart trick and one Club if declarer guesses to drop the stiff ♦ K. That's unlikely, so +130 is going to be a common result. North will lead the ♣ K.

Board 20
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	6 4
♥	A 8 5 4 3 2
♦	Q 10 9 4
♣	10

♠	K Q 9 7 5
♥	—
♦	J 3 2
♣	9 8 4 3 2

N
W		E
S

♠	8 2
♥	K J 9 7
♦	K 5
♣	A Q J 6 5

♠	A J 10 3
♥	Q 10 6
♦	A 8 7 6
♣	K 7

E 4♣; NS 2♥; W 3♣; NS 2♦; EW 1♠; Par −130

West	North	East	South
Pass	Pass	1 ♣	Dbl
1 ♠	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
5 ♣×	E	−3	♥ Q	800		10.95	0.05	10-Schultz-Terbrueggen	10-Prosise-Prosise
3 ♥×	N	3	♠ 8	730		9.86	1.14	4-Mehta-Mehta	12-Behr-Congbalay
5 ♣×	E	−1	♦ A	200		7.68	3.32	2-Campbell-Ibarra	7-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♠	W	−2	♣ 10	200		7.68	3.32	6-Lin-Hubka	2-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♠	E	−2	♥ 6	200		7.68	3.32	8-Elliott-Runda	6-Burns-Kobida
5 ♣	E	−1	♠ A	100		3.86	7.14	3-Pollack-Pollack	9-Earls-Duncan
3 ♣	E	−1	♥ 6	100		3.86	7.14	5-Rice-Murdock	14-Jervis-Lindeman
2 ♠	E	−1	♥ 6	100		3.86	7.14	13-Vanstone-Gibler	1-Cai-Lipp
4 ♣	E	−1	♥ 6	100		3.86	7.14	14-Brown-Felson	3-Hoffman-Waak
3 ♣	E	5	♥ 6		150	1.14	9.86	9-Singerman-Cook	8-Williams-Williams
3 ♥×	N	−1	♠ 8		200	0.05	10.95	7-Lubow-Lammers	4-Terwilliger-Payne

E/W lose one Club trick, one Diamond, and one Spade (Diamonds is a frozen suit), making four. South's best lead is the ♥ 6.

Board 21
North Deals
N-S Vul

♠	A 10 9 7 4
♥	A K 5 2
♦	6 3
♣	3 2

♠	Q 2
♥	Q 8 6 3
♦	A Q J 7 5 4
♣	5

N
W		E
S

♠	8 6 5 3
♥	—
♦	K 10 8
♣	K Q J 9 6 4

♠	K J
♥	J 10 9 7 4
♦	9 2
♣	A 10 8 7

NS 5♥; EW 4♦; NS 2♠; NS 1N; EW 1♣; Par +300: EW 6♦×−2

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

Rule of 20 opener
Weak jump overcall

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♥	N	5	♣ K	650		10.41	0.59	2-Campbell-Ibarra	6-Burns-Kobida
4 ♥	S	5	♣ 5	650		10.41	0.59	5-Rice-Murdock	13-Kehoe-Stanley
5 ♦	W	−3	♥ A	150		8.23	2.77	11-Markham-Markham	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♣	E	−3	♠ K	150		8.23	2.77	14-Brown-Felson	2-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♥	S	3	♣ 5	140		6.05	4.95	7-Lubow-Lammers	3-Hoffman-Waak
3 ♥	S	3	♣ 5	140		6.05	4.95	9-Singerman-Cook	7-Diers-McCarthy
5 ♦×	W	−1	♥ K	100		4.41	6.59	4-Mehta-Mehta	10-Prosise-Prosise
3 NT	W	−1	♠ 10	50		3.32	7.68	6-Lin-Hubka	1-Cai-Lipp
4 ♦	W	4	♥ A		130	2.23	8.77	8-Elliott-Runda	5-Koch-Temples
4 ♦	W	5	♥ A		150	1.14	9.86	10-Schultz-Terbrueggen	9-Earls-Duncan
4 ♥	S	−2	♣ 5		200	0.05	10.95	3-Pollack-Pollack	8-Williams-Williams

South's 3 ♥ bid is a bit of a stretch, but that's what happens when your opponent's preempt. N/S lose two Club tricks, making five. West will lead their stiff ♣ 5, and declarer will win with the ♣ A. The ♥ J is next, and when West refuses to cover and East shows out, what looked easy becomes a bit more difficult. After tanking for a bit, declarer will decide that the only reasonable line is to play West for ♠ Qx. With that in mind, they'll continue with the ♥T, ♥ K, ♥ A, small Spade to the ♠ K, ♠ J (covered by the ♠ Q) to the ♠ A, and declarer's two Diamond losers and one of their Club losers will go away on dummy's long Spades. N/S will still have to lose two Clubs to East at the end, but 11 tricks are already in the bag.

Board 22
East Deals
E-W Vul

♠	J 9
♥	7 5 3 2
♦	Q J 9 7 5 3
♣	2

♠	—
♥	Q J 9
♦	A K 10 8 4
♣	Q 10 8 6 3

N
W		E
S

♠	A K 10 8 5 3
♥	K 8 6
♦	2
♣	J 7 5

♠	Q 7 6 4 2
♥	A 10 4
♦	6
♣	A K 9 4

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

West	North	East	South
		1 ♠	Pass1
2 ♦	Pass2	2 ♠	Pass
3 ♣	Pass	3 NT	Pass
Pass	Pass

What else?
What else?

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♦	W	−3	♣ 2	300		10.95	0.05	7-Lubow-Lammers	3-Hoffman-Waak
3 NT	W	−2	♥ 7	200		9.86	1.14	9-Singerman-Cook	7-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	E	−1	♣ A	100		8.77	2.23	11-Markham-Markham	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 ♦	N	−2	♠ K		100	7.68	3.32	3-Pollack-Pollack	8-Williams-Williams
3 ♣	W	3	♥ 5		110	6.59	4.41	14-Brown-Felson	2-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	E	3	♣ A		600	3.32	7.68	2-Campbell-Ibarra	6-Burns-Kobida
3 NT	W	3	♦ Q		600	3.32	7.68	4-Mehta-Mehta	10-Prosise-Prosise
3 NT	E	3	♥ 4		600	3.32	7.68	5-Rice-Murdock	13-Kehoe-Stanley
3 NT	E	3	♠ 4		600	3.32	7.68	6-Lin-Hubka	1-Cai-Lipp
3 NT	E	3	♣ A		600	3.32	7.68	10-Schultz-Terbrueggen	9-Earls-Duncan
3 NT	E	4	♣ A		630	0.05	10.95	8-Elliott-Runda	5-Koch-Temples

E/W take two Heart tricks, two Diamonds, two Spades, and three Clubs, making three. South will not enjoy being on lead.

Board 23
South Deals
Both Vul

♠	A 5
♥	A K 6 2
♦	J 10 5
♣	J 8 4 2

♠	Q 10 9 3
♥	Q 10 8 5 3
♦	Q 4
♣	K 7

N
W		E
S

♠	J 4
♥	J 9
♦	K 9 6 3 2
♣	Q 9 6 3

♠	K 8 7 6 2
♥	7 4
♦	A 8 7
♣	A 10 5

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

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

Alert, artificial XYZ bid asking partner to bid 2 ♦
Alert, artificial XYZ forced bid
Showing an invitational hand with five Spades

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 NT	N	3	♣ 6	150		10.95	0.05	2-Campbell-Ibarra	5-Koch-Temples
2 NT	N	2	♦ 9	120		8.77	2.23	3-Pollack-Pollack	7-Diers-McCarthy
1 NT	N	2	♦ 3	120		8.77	2.23	6-Lin-Hubka	14-Jervis-Lindeman
1 NT	N	2	♦ 3	120		8.77	2.23	9-Singerman-Cook	6-Burns-Kobida
3 ♣	N	3	♦ 3	110		6.05	4.95	4-Mehta-Mehta	9-Earls-Duncan
2 ♠	S	2	♥ 5	110		6.05	4.95	10-Schultz-Terbrueggen	8-Williams-Williams
1 NT	N	1	♦ 3	90		3.86	7.14	11-Markham-Markham	10-Prosise-Prosise
1 NT	N	1	♦ 4	90		3.86	7.14	12-Tedrick-Pretz	12-Behr-Congbalay
2 ♠	S	−1	♦ Q		100	1.68	9.32	5-Rice-Murdock	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
2 ♠	S	−1	♥ 3		100	1.68	9.32	7-Lubow-Lammers	2-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	S	−2	♥ 5		200	0.05	10.95	8-Elliott-Runda	4-Terwilliger-Payne

North, with minimum values and fewer than three Spades, places the contract in 2 NT. N/S take three Spade tricks, two Hearts, and three minor-suit tricks, making two. Both Diamonds and Clubs are frozen suits (i.e., whoever leads one of the suits gives up a trick). East may lead a small Diamond.

Board 24
West Deals
None Vul

♠	2
♥	K 6 5 4
♦	A 7 5 4
♣	9 7 6 5

♠	A K Q 6 5
♥	A 9 7
♦	Q 9 2
♣	A 8

N
W		E
S

♠	J 10 9 4
♥	Q J 10 3 2
♦	K J
♣	10 4

♠	8 7 3
♥	8
♦	10 8 6 3
♣	K Q J 3 2

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

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

20 to 21
Transfer
Showing exactly 5-4 in Hearts and Spades

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	W	4	♣ 5		420	9.86	1.14	8-Elliott-Runda	4-Terwilliger-Payne
4 ♠	W	4	♥ 4		420	9.86	1.14	9-Singerman-Cook	6-Burns-Kobida
4 ♠	W	4	♣ 5		420	9.86	1.14	10-Schultz-Terbrueggen	8-Williams-Williams
5 ♠	W	5	♠ 2		450	3.86	7.14	2-Campbell-Ibarra	5-Koch-Temples
4 ♠	W	5	♦ A		450	3.86	7.14	3-Pollack-Pollack	7-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♥	W	5	♠ 2		450	3.86	7.14	4-Mehta-Mehta	9-Earls-Duncan
4 ♠	W	5	♠ 2		450	3.86	7.14	5-Rice-Murdock	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♠	W	5	♥ 6		450	3.86	7.14	6-Lin-Hubka	14-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♠	W	5	♥ 4		450	3.86	7.14	7-Lubow-Lammers	2-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♠	W	5	♥ 4		450	3.86	7.14	11-Markham-Markham	10-Prosise-Prosise
4 ♠	W	5	♣ 7		450	3.86	7.14	12-Tedrick-Pretz	12-Behr-Congbalay

E/W lose one Heart trick, one Diamond, and one Club, making four. If North leads something other than a Club, E/W will make five when the slow Club loser goes away on either a long Heart or a long Diamond.

Board 25
North Deals
E-W Vul

♠	A 8 6 3
♥	4
♦	K J 7 6 4 2
♣	9 7

♠	5
♥	A K 9 5 3
♦	Q 10 8
♣	A 10 5 2

N
W		E
S

♠	10 4
♥	J 10 8 7 6 2
♦	5 3
♣	K Q 3

♠	K Q J 9 7 2
♥	Q
♦	A 9
♣	J 8 6 4

NS 4♠; EW 3♥; NS 4♦; EW 2♣; Par +420

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

Splinter bid showing 4+ Spades, limit-raise values, and a singleton or void in Hearts

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♦×	N	6	♥ J	650		11.00	0.00	5-Rice-Murdock	10-Prosise-Prosise
4 ♠	S	5	♥ A	450		9.50	1.50	4-Mehta-Mehta	8-Williams-Williams
4 ♠	S	5	♥ A	450		9.50	1.50	7-Lubow-Lammers	1-Cai-Lipp
4 ♠	S	4	♥ A	420		5.50	5.50	2-Campbell-Ibarra	4-Terwilliger-Payne
4 ♠	S	4	♣ A	420		5.50	5.50	9-Singerman-Cook	5-Koch-Temples
4 ♠	N	4	♣ A	420		5.50	5.50	10-Schultz-Terbrueggen	7-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♠	S	4	♥ A	420		5.50	5.50	11-Markham-Markham	9-Earls-Duncan
4 ♠	S	4	♥ A	420		5.50	5.50	12-Tedrick-Pretz	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♠	S	4	♥ A	420		5.50	5.50	13-Vanstone-Gibler	13-Kehoe-Stanley
2 ♠	S	5	♥ A	200		2.00	9.00	6-Lin-Hubka	12-Behr-Congbalay
3 ♦	N	6	♥ J	170		1.00	10.00	8-Elliott-Runda	3-Hoffman-Waak
5 ♠	S	−2	♥ A		100	0.00	11.00	3-Pollack-Pollack	6-Burns-Kobida

E/W would be happy to compete further, but they're vulnerable and N/S are not. Rats.

N/S lose one Heart trick and two Clubs, making four. West will lead the ♥ K (asking for count) and switch to the ♣ A and another Club at tricks two and three.

Board 26
East Deals
Both Vul

♠	4
♥	K 9 6 3
♦	8 2
♣	9 8 7 6 5 3

♠	A K 6 5
♥	Q 8 5 2
♦	A Q
♣	10 4 2

N
W		E
S

♠	J 10 8 2
♥	J 10 4
♦	K J 10 7 5 3
♣	—

♠	Q 9 7 3
♥	A 7
♦	9 6 4
♣	A K Q J

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

West	North	East	South
		Pass	1 NT1
Pass	2 ♣	Pass	2 ♠
Pass	3 ♣2	Pass	Pass
Dbl3	Pass	3 ♦	Pass
Pass	Pass

15 to 17
Showing a weak hand with a 4-card major and 6+ Clubs
Do something smart, partner

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♣×	N	5	♦ J	750		11.00	0.00	7-Lubow-Lammers	1-Cai-Lipp
3 ♣	S	4	♠ A	130		10.00	1.00	6-Lin-Hubka	12-Behr-Congbalay
3 ♣	S	3	♠ A	110		8.50	2.50	5-Rice-Murdock	10-Prosise-Prosise
3 ♣	S	3	♠ A	110		8.50	2.50	13-Vanstone-Gibler	13-Kehoe-Stanley
4 ♥	W	−1	♠ 4	100		6.50	4.50	2-Campbell-Ibarra	4-Terwilliger-Payne
4 ♦	E	−1	♣ A	100		6.50	4.50	11-Markham-Markham	9-Earls-Duncan
3 ♦	E	3	♣ A		110	4.00	7.00	4-Mehta-Mehta	8-Williams-Williams
3 ♦	E	3	♣ A		110	4.00	7.00	10-Schultz-Terbrueggen	7-Diers-McCarthy
2 ♦	E	3	♣ A		110	4.00	7.00	12-Tedrick-Pretz	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 ♦	E	4	♣ A		130	1.50	9.50	3-Pollack-Pollack	6-Burns-Kobida
2 ♦	E	4	♣ A		130	1.50	9.50	8-Elliott-Runda	3-Hoffman-Waak
3 ♥	N	−4	♠ 2		400	0.00	11.00	9-Singerman-Cook	5-Koch-Temples

West can't take a bid until the auction is "over," so they bide their time and make a don't-be-an-idiot-partner double at the end. East has an easy 3 ♦ bid.

E/W lose two Hearts and a Heart ruff, making four. If N/S don't get their Heart ruff, then N/S will still lose a Spade (South holds ♠ Q97x over declarer's ♠ JT8x). South will lead the ♣ K.

Board 27
South Deals
None Vul

♠	A J 9 5 2
♥	Q 7
♦	—
♣	A J 10 5 3 2

♠	8 7
♥	A 3 2
♦	9 6 5 2
♣	K Q 9 4

N
W		E
S

♠	K 6 3
♥	K 10 8 5 4
♦	A K Q 10 4
♣	—

♠	Q 10 4
♥	J 9 6
♦	J 8 7 3
♣	8 7 6

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

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

Too weak to reverse
Michaels

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
6 ♦	W	−2	♣ A	100		11.00	0.00	6-Lin-Hubka	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
5 ♦	E	−1	♠ 10	50		9.00	2.00	3-Pollack-Pollack	5-Koch-Temples
5 ♥	E	−1	♠ Q	50		9.00	2.00	4-Mehta-Mehta	7-Diers-McCarthy
5 ♦	E	−1	♠ Q	50		9.00	2.00	9-Singerman-Cook	4-Terwilliger-Payne
4 ♠	N	−3	♦ A		150	6.50	4.50	8-Elliott-Runda	2-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♠	N	−3	♦ A		150	6.50	4.50	10-Schultz-Terbrueggen	6-Burns-Kobida
2 ♥	E	4	♠ 2		170	5.00	6.00	14-Brown-Felson	14-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♥	E	4	♠ 4		420	2.50	8.50	5-Rice-Murdock	9-Earls-Duncan
4 ♥	E	4	♠ Q		420	2.50	8.50	7-Lubow-Lammers	13-Kehoe-Stanley
4 ♥	E	4	♠ 4		420	2.50	8.50	11-Markham-Markham	8-Williams-Williams
4 ♥	E	4	♠ Q		420	2.50	8.50	12-Tedrick-Pretz	10-Prosise-Prosise
4 ♥	E	5	♠ Q		450	0.00	11.00	13-Vanstone-Gibler	12-Behr-Congbalay

West, with a three-card Heart suit, doesn't bother to ask about East's minor and makes a minimum bid. When East takes another call, West knows that their partner as the strong hand (16+ or the equivalent in playing strength) and corrects to 4 ♥.

E/W lose one Spade trick, one Heart, and one Diamond, making four. North may lead the ♠ A and continue Spades at trick two. Declarer will ruff the third Spade in dummy, pull two rounds of trump, leaving the last trump out, and run Diamonds. The ♦ J and the master trump will be the last two tricks for the defense.

Board 28
West Deals
N-S Vul

♠	K 10 5 4
♥	2
♦	J 10 9 6 3 2
♣	J 3

♠	A Q 7
♥	Q J 8 7 6
♦	A 5 4
♣	7 5

N
W		E
S

♠	J 9 6
♥	9 4
♦	Q 7
♣	A K 9 8 6 4

♠	8 3 2
♥	A K 10 5 3
♦	K 8
♣	Q 10 2

EW 2N; EW 2♥; NS 2♦; EW 2♣; Par −120

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

Forcing

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	E	−3	♥ 5	150		11.00	0.00	6-Lin-Hubka	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 NT	E	−2	♠ 2	100		10.00	1.00	4-Mehta-Mehta	7-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	E	−1	♦ 8	50		6.00	5.00	3-Pollack-Pollack	5-Koch-Temples
3 ♣	E	−1	♥ A	50		6.00	5.00	5-Rice-Murdock	9-Earls-Duncan
2 NT	W	−1	♦ J	50		6.00	5.00	9-Singerman-Cook	4-Terwilliger-Payne
1 NT	E	−1	♣ 2	50		6.00	5.00	11-Markham-Markham	8-Williams-Williams
3 NT	E	−1	♠ 8	50		6.00	5.00	12-Tedrick-Pretz	10-Prosise-Prosise
3 ♣	E	−1	♠ 3	50		6.00	5.00	13-Vanstone-Gibler	12-Behr-Congbalay
3 NT	E	−1	♠ 3	50		6.00	5.00	14-Brown-Felson	14-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♣	E	3	♥ A		110	1.50	9.50	7-Lubow-Lammers	13-Kehoe-Stanley
2 ♥	W	2	♦ J		110	1.50	9.50	8-Elliott-Runda	2-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♠	N	−2	♣ A		200	0.00	11.00	10-Schultz-Terbrueggen	6-Burns-Kobida

East's 2 NT rebid shows a hand with approximately 11 HCP. E/W take two Spade tricks, five Clubs, and one Diamond, making two. The proper way to play the Club suit is to play small from both hands when the suit is first led.

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

Weak two bid
Showing 0-7 HCP
Showing a strong hand

N/S lose one Spade trick and two Diamonds, making four. West will probably lead the ♥ Q.

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

Rule of 20 opener

There's no reason for South to check to see if their partner has a fourth Spade or whether they're at the top or bottom of their range for their 2 ♠ raise--they're going to game over all responses.

N/S lose one Heart trick and one Diamond, making five. West will lead a trump.

West	North	East	South
			2 ♥1
2 NT2	Pass	Pass	Pass

Weak two bid
15 to 19

A 1 NT overcall shows 15-18 HCP. A 2 NT overcall, over a weak-two bid, shows 15-19 HCP, and a 3 NT overcall, over a three-level preempt, shows 15-20 HCP. As you can see, the lower limit of your overcall stays the same, but the upper limit stretches. If it didn't, what would you bid with 20 HCP, a balanced or semi-balanced hand, and stoppers for notrump over 3 ♠? If you double, your partner will bid a suit at the four level. Oops.

E/W take six Club tricks and two Diamonds, down one on perfect defense. North will lead the ♥T, and South will switch to the ♠T. Declarer will likely cover with the ♠ J (it doesn't matter), North will win with the ♠ Q and return the ♥ 7. In with the ♥ K, South will continue Spades, and the defense will have grabbed the first six tricks. Oh well.

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

Not right for a weak-two bid in Hearts
15 to 17
Delayed Texas Transfer

With 6-4 shape in the majors and game-going values, North fishes for a four-card major in partner's hand. When that doesn't pan out, they Texas Transfer to their six-card major.

N/S lose one Spade trick, one Diamond, and one Club, making four. West will probably lead a trump.

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

Negative showing exactly four Spades
Weak jump raise

E/W lose one Spade trick, two Diamonds, and one Club, making three. South will lead the ♣T.

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

15 to 17

N/S take four Club tricks, two Diamonds, one Spade, and one Heart, down one. East will lead a small Spade, and West will win the ♠ Q and lead back the ♠ K to declarer's ♠ A. When in with the ♥ A, East will cash three more Spade tricks.

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

15 to 17

N/S take two Spade tricks, two Hearts, three Diamonds, and three Clubs, making four if they're a good guesser. Making three is more likely. West will lead a small Heart.

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

Michaels

It's hard to fault East for their 4 ♠ bid on this auction--their partner has made a free bid at the three level vulnerable. If they had led a Spade, N/S were making 3 NT (six Club tricks, one Diamond, one Heart, and one Spade). A Heart lead? That's a different story.

E/W lose one Spade trick, one Heart, one Diamond, and one Club, down one doubled for –200. North may lead the ♦ A and switch to a Club when their partner discourages.