MON 08/21/2017 at Nite

EVENT>Monday Night Bridge      |SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> A N-S
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>August 21, 2017    |CLUB NO.>185264    | 08/21/2017 22:14
---------------------,-- ------------------- -------------,---------------------
DIR> Mike Lipp       |RATING>Club Masterpoint (100%, 80%, 80% Open)|MOVEMENT>MITCHELL
------------,-------- ,-------------------------,--------- ---------------------
AVE>  132.0 |TOP>  11 |MP LIMITS>None/500/300   |CLUB>Mike's Games At The CBC
------------ --------- ------------------------- -------------------------------
PAIRS IN STRAT A=13/B=9/C=7                      ,---,-------------------------,------,---------,
-------------------------------------------------|   |           Section       |      |Section  |
No Name                   Name                   |Flt|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C| Score | Pct  |Awards   |
------------------------------------------------- --- ----- ----- ----- ------- ------ ---------
 1 Debbie Wiest           John Altman Sr           A    .     .     .    111.98  42.42
 2 David Elliott          Carla Runda              C    .     .     .    130.53  49.44
 3 Betty Murdock          Erin Oblinger            C    .     4     3    133.84  50.70  0.28(C)
 4 Joy Singerman          William Cook             C    5     3     2    134.13  50.81  0.39(C)
 5 Liz Lin                Elmer Hubka              A    4     .     .    134.72  51.03  0.46(A)
 6 Kathy Rice             Cecilia Kloecker         C    .     .     .    129.69  49.13
 7 Patrick Lammers        Alex Grim                C    2     2     1    156.45  59.26  0.91(A)
 8 Lewis Temples          Joan Mehl                C    .     .     .    118.96  45.06
 9 Pam Campbell           Joanne Earls             A    .     .     .    111.83  42.36
10 Linda Pretz            Joyce Tedrick            B    1     1     .    163.59  61.97  1.30(A)
11 Patricia Burnam        Judy Crotty Hall         C    .     .     .    121.99  46.21
12 Martin Petersen        June Cushman             A    3     .     .    136.23  51.60  0.65(A)
13 Susan Stacy Vanstone   Martin Gibler            B    .     .     .    131.92  49.97

                                          Totals                        1715.86


                                       **PAIRS**
BOARD     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9    10    11    12    13
  /
   1>   4.95        2.23  4.95  2.23  2.23  8.77  6.59 10.95        0.05  8.77  8.77
        -420   ---- -450  -420  -450  -450  -170  -180   420   ---- -590  -170  -170

   2>   8.23        0.05  1.14  2.77  4.41 10.41  2.77  6.05        6.05 10.41  8.23
          50   ---- -150  -140  -120  -110   100  -120  -100   ---- -100   100    50

   3>   8.77  1.68              1.68  1.68  8.77    5-  1.68    5-  8.77    5- 10.95
        -600  -630   ----  ---- -630  -630  -600  -620  -630  -620  -600  -620  -170

   4>   6.59  2.23             10.41 10.41  6.59  2.23  6.59  6.59  6.59  2.23  0.05
        -170  -620   ----  ----  100   100  -170  -620  -170  -170  -170  -620  -630

   5>   3.32 10.95  3.32        3.32  3.32  8.23  3.32  3.32  3.32        9.86  8.23
        -100   620  -100   ---- -100  -100   120  -100  -100  -100   ----  150   120

   6>   0.05  3.32  8.77        9.86  3.32    5-  7.14 10.95  7.14        1.14  3.32
        -870  -230   -50   ----   90  -230  -170  -100   530  -100   ---- -620  -230

   7>     2     8     2     5           8     8     2     8     2    11     8     2
        -600  -100  -600  -150   ---- -100  -100  -600  -100  -600   140  -100  -600

   8>     7     6     2-    8-          2-    8-    2-    2-    2-   11     2-   10
         490   440   420   520   ----  420   520   420   420   420   940   420   920

   9>   8.23  0.05  3.32  8.23 10.95          5-  2.23  4.41  8.23  8.23        1.14
         100  -730  -100   100   110   ---- PASS  -140   -50   100   100   ---- -620

  10>   3.32  3.32  3.32  8.77  8.77        8.77    5-  0.59  8.77  0.59        8.77
        -140  -140  -140   100   100   ----  100  -120  -170   100  -170   ----  100

  11>   2.23  7.68  7.68  0.05  7.68              7.68  7.68  7.68  2.23  7.68  2.23
         170   420   420  -550   420   ----  ----  420   420   420   170   420   170

  12>   8.77    5-  9.86  7.68  2.77             10.95  0.05    5-  2.77    5-  1.14
         690   620   720   660   600   ----  ---- 1470  -300   620   600   620  -100

  13>   0.59  4.95 10.41  0.59  7.68  8.77  4.95        2.23 10.41  4.95  4.95
        -650  -620   100  -650  -170  -150  -620   ---- -630   100  -620  -620   ----

  14>   8.77  8.77  8.77  2.23  6.59  2.23  2.23          5- 10.95  2.23  2.23
          50    50    50  -430  -130  -430  -430   ---- -180   250  -430  -430   ----

  15>     5-    5- 10.41    5-    5-    5-          5-          5-  0.59 10.41  0.59
        -140  -140    50  -140  -140  -140   ---- -140   ---- -140  -170    50  -170

  16>   0.05  2.23  3.32    5-    5-    5-        9.32        9.32  1.14  9.32  9.32
       -1100  -650  -170   100   100   100   ----  200   ----  200  -680   200   200

  17>        10.41  6.05  6.05  6.05  6.05  6.05  0.05 10.41        1.68  6.05  1.68
         ----  980   480   480   480   480   480   420   980   ----  450   480   450

  18>           5-  8.77  9.86  1.14    5-  7.68    5-  3.32       10.95  1.14  1.14
         ---- -170  -100    50  -450  -170  -150  -170  -420   ----  620  -450  -450

  19>   7.14  0.05  8.77 10.41  1.14  7.14 10.41        3.32  4.41        2.23    5-
         100  -200   110   140  -150   100   140   ---- -110  -100   ---- -120   -50

  20>   4.41 10.41  0.05  4.41  8.77  4.41  4.41        4.41 10.41        4.41  4.41
        -650  -200  -850  -650  -620  -650  -650   ---- -650  -200   ---- -650  -650

  21>  10.41        8.23    5-  2.23    5-  0.05  2.23    5-  8.23  2.23       10.41
         100   ----   50  -420  -450  -420  -500  -450  -420    50  -450   ----  100

  22>   0.05        6.59  3.86  1.68  9.86    5-  9.86  1.68  9.86  3.86        7.68
        -620   ---- -110  -140  -150   100  -120   100  -150   100  -140   ----  -90

  23>   1.68  4.41  4.41  1.68  6.59  0.05  8.23  4.41       10.41 10.41  8.23
         110   140   140   110   170  -100   200   140   ----  620   620   200   ----

  24>   0.59  7.14  3.86  3.86  7.14 10.95  3.86  0.59        3.86  9.32  9.32
        -430  -130  -400  -400  -130    50  -400  -430   ---- -400  -110  -110   ----

  25>         8.23        9.86 10.95  8.23  1.68  3.86  0.05  6.05  3.86  1.68  6.05
         ---- -170   ---- -150  -130  -170  -660  -600  -690  -210  -600  -660  -210

  26>         3.32        9.32  3.32  3.32  9.32  9.32  3.32  3.32  3.32  3.32  9.32
         ---- -100   ----  600  -100  -100   600   600  -100  -100  -100  -100   600



EVENT>Monday Night Bridge      |SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> A E-W
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>August 21, 2017    |CLUB NO.>185264    | 08/21/2017 22:14
---------------------,-- ------------------- -------------,---------------------
DIR> Mike Lipp       |RATING>Club Masterpoint (100%, 80%, 80% Open)|MOVEMENT>MITCHELL
------------,-------- ,-------------------------,--------- ---------------------
AVE>  132.0 |TOP>  11 |MP LIMITS>None/500/300   |CLUB>Mike's Games At The CBC
------------ --------- ------------------------- -------------------------------
PAIRS IN STRAT A=13/B=10/C=6                     ,---,-------------------------,------,---------,
-------------------------------------------------|   |           Section       |      |Section  |
No Name                   Name                   |Flt|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C| Score | Pct  |Awards   |
------------------------------------------------- --- ----- ----- ----- ------- ------ ---------
 1 Stephen Felson         Robert Brown             A    2     .     .    153.76  58.24  0.91(A)
 2 Patrick Hoffman        Lanny Cai                B    .     .     .    140.13  53.08
 3 Mike Burns             Charlie Kobida           C    .     4     1    140.68  53.29  0.48(C)
 4 Ralph Terbrueggen      Dennis Schultz           A    5     .     .    140.94  53.39  0.26(A)
 5 Cheryl Endres          Pamela Kennedy           C    .     .     .    121.53  46.03

 7 Joseph Kammer          Gail Zimmer              B    1     1     .    161.94  61.34  1.30(A)
 8 Joan Diers             Evelyn McCarthy          C    .     .     .    118.31  44.81
 9 Sharon Kreitzer        Lynn Callif              B    3     2     .    146.27  55.41  0.65(A)
10 Pam Heckel             Margaret Decker          C    .     .     .     87.78  33.25
11 Jane Olson             Linda Woodham            B    4     3     .    141.62  53.64  0.46(A)
12 Annette Kereiakes      Tom Kereiakes            C    .     .     2    129.75  49.15  0.34(C)
13 Peggy Jervis           Pat Lindeman             C    .     .     .    101.19  38.33

                                          Totals                        1583.90


                                       **PAIRS**
BOARD     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9    10    11    12    13
  /
   1>   6.05  4.41        0.05  8.77        6.05 10.95  8.77  2.23  8.77  2.23  2.23
         420   180   ---- -420   450   ----  420   590   450   170   450   170   170

   2>   2.77  8.23        4.95 10.95        9.86  4.95  8.23  0.59  6.59  2.77  0.59
         -50   120   ----  100   150   ----  140   100   120  -100   110   -50  -100

   3>     5-  9.32  9.32          5-        2.23  9.32    5-  9.32  0.05  2.23  2.23
         620   630   630   ----  620   ----  600   630   620   630   170   600   600

   4>   8.77  8.77  4.41        4.41        4.41  0.59  8.77  0.59 10.95  4.41  4.41
         620   620   170   ----  170   ----  170  -100   620  -100   630   170   170

   5>   0.05  7.68  7.68  7.68              7.68  1.14  7.68  2.77  2.77  7.68  7.68
        -620   100   100   100   ----  ----  100  -150   100  -120  -120   100   100

   6>   7.68  0.05  2.23  3.86              1.14  9.86  7.68  7.68    5- 10.95  3.86
         230  -530    50   100   ----  ----  -90   620   230   230   170   870   100

   7>     3     9     9     6     0           3     3     9     3     9     9     3
         100   600   600   150  -140   ----  100   100   600   100   600   600   100

   8>     8-    8-    8-    2-    0           8-    8-    1     2-    4     8-    5
        -420  -420  -420  -520  -940   ---- -420  -420  -920  -520  -490  -420  -440

   9>   7.68  2.77  2.77  2.77  0.05              9.86    5-  2.77  8.77 10.95  6.59
         100  -100  -100  -100  -110   ----  ----  620  PASS  -100   140   730    50

  10>   7.68  2.23  2.23 10.41  2.23              2.23  2.23  7.68    5-  7.68 10.41
         140  -100  -100   170  -100   ----  ---- -100  -100   140   120   140   170

  11>   3.32 10.95  8.77  3.32  3.32        8.77        8.77  3.32  3.32  3.32  3.32
        -420   550  -170  -420  -420   ---- -170   ---- -170  -420  -420  -420  -420

  12>     5-  3.32  8.23  8.23    5-        9.86        2.23  0.05    5- 10.95  1.14
        -620  -660  -600  -600  -620   ----  100   ---- -690 -1470  -620   300  -720

  13>  10.41  6.05  3.32  6.05  2.23        6.05 10.41        6.05  8.77  0.59  0.59
         650   620   170   620   150   ----  620   650   ----  620   630  -100  -100

  14>   8.77  8.77  4.41  8.77  8.77        8.77  2.23        2.23    5-  2.23  0.05
         430   430   130   430   430   ----  430   -50   ----  -50   180   -50  -250

  15>  10.41    5-  0.59    5- 10.41          5-    5-    5-        0.59    5-    5-
         170   140   -50   140   170   ----  140   140   140   ----  -50   140   140

  16>   9.86    5-  1.68    5-  1.68       10.95  1.68  8.77        7.68  1.68    5-
         680  -100  -200  -100  -200   ---- 1100  -200   650   ----  170  -200  -100

  17>   4.95  4.95  4.95  9.32  4.95       10.95  0.59  0.59  4.95        4.95  9.32
        -480  -480  -480  -450  -480   ---- -420  -980  -980  -480   ---- -480  -450

  18>   9.86  9.86    5-  9.86  3.32          5-    5-  7.68  2.23        1.14  0.05
         450   450   170   450   150   ----  170   170   420   100   ----  -50  -620

  19>   8.77  3.86    5-  0.59  3.86       10.95  7.68  2.23  6.59  0.59        9.86
         120  -100    50  -140  -100   ----  200   110  -110   100  -140   ----  150

  20>   6.59  6.59  6.59  6.59  6.59        0.59  6.59 10.95  0.59  6.59        2.23
         650   650   650   650   650   ----  200   650   850   200   650   ----  620

  21>     5-  0.59 10.95  0.59  8.77          5-  2.77  2.77    5-  8.77  8.77
         420  -100   500  -100   450   ----  420   -50   -50   420   450   450   ----

  22>   1.14  3.32    5- 10.95  1.14        9.32  4.41  1.14  7.14  7.14  9.32
        -100    90   120   620  -100   ----  150   110  -100   140   140   150   ----

  23>         2.77  9.32  6.59  6.59        6.59  0.59  9.32  0.59  4.41  2.77 10.95
         ---- -200  -110  -140  -140   ---- -140  -620  -110  -620  -170  -200   100

  24>         7.14 10.41 10.41  3.86        7.14  7.14  7.14  1.68  3.86  1.68  0.05
         ----  400   430   430   130   ----  400   400   400   110   130   110   -50

  25>   9.32        7.14  2.77 10.95        4.95  1.14  7.14  0.05  9.32  2.77  4.95
         660   ----  600   170   690   ----  210   150   600   130   660   170   210

  26>   1.68        1.68  7.68  7.68        7.68  1.68  7.68  7.68  7.68  7.68  1.68
        -600   ---- -600   100   100   ----  100  -600   100   100   100   100  -600
Monday Night Bridge, Monday Eve, August 21, 2017

Board 1
North Deals
None Vul

♠	A Q 7
♥	A 8 7
♦	J 7 3
♣	K 9 8 6

♠	J 10 6 3
♥	K 4 3
♦	A K 5 4 2
♣	3

N
W		E
S

♠	K 9 2
♥	Q J 9 5 2
♦	10
♣	A Q J 2

♠	8 5 4
♥	10 6
♦	Q 9 8 6
♣	10 7 5 4

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

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

Forcing
Showing a full opener and values in Clubs

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	E	4	♣ 4	420		10.95	0.05	9-Campbell-Earls	4-Terbrueggen-Schultz
3 ♥	E	4	♦ 6		170	8.77	2.23	7-Lammers-Grim	13-Jervis-Lindeman
2 ♥	E	4	♦ 6		170	8.77	2.23	12-Petersen-Cushman	10-Heckel-Decker
2 ♥	E	4	♦ 6		170	8.77	2.23	13-Vanstone-Gibler	12-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
2 NT	E	4	♣ 4		180	6.59	4.41	8-Temples-Mehl	2-Hoffman-Cai
4 ♥	E	4	♦ 6		420	4.95	6.05	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	1-Felson-Brown
4 ♥	E	4	♣ 5		420	4.95	6.05	4-Singerman-Cook	7-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♥	E	5	♣ 4		450	2.23	8.77	3-Murdock-Oblinger	5-Endres-Kennedy
4 ♥	E	5	♣ 5		450	2.23	8.77	5-Lin-Hubka	9-Kreitzer-Callif
4 ♥	E	5	♣ 7		450	2.23	8.77	6-Rice-Kloecker	11-Olson-Woodham
4 ♥×	E	4	♦ 6		590	0.05	10.95	11-Burnam-Hall	8-Diers-McCarthy

When you make a one-level overcall, your LHO passes, and partner cuebids the opponent's suit, don't immediately assume that partner has a fit for your suit--they may simply be making a forcing bid. If you overcalled with a minimum hand (8-10 HCP), rebid your suit (that doesn't show extra trumps). If you overcalled with a hand you would have opened, don't rebid your suit. If you have values in the opponent's suit, bid 2 NT. If you have a second suit, bid that. Partner's rebid will clarify their holding.

E/W lose one Spade trick and one Heart, making five. South may lead the ♣ 4.

Board 2
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	Q J 9 8 6
♥	9 8 7
♦	7 6 4
♣	Q 6

♠	A 10 4
♥	K J 4
♦	A 10 9
♣	K 7 5 2

N
W		E
S

♠	K 5 3 2
♥	A 10 6 2
♦	8 3
♣	10 8 3

♠	7
♥	Q 5 3
♦	K Q J 5 2
♣	A J 9 4

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

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

15 to 18

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 NT	W	−2	♦ 7	100		10.41	0.59	7-Lammers-Grim	13-Jervis-Lindeman
2 NT	W	−2	♦ 7	100		10.41	0.59	12-Petersen-Cushman	10-Heckel-Decker
2 NT	W	−1	♦ 6	50		8.23	2.77	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	1-Felson-Brown
3 ♥	E	−1	♠ 7	50		8.23	2.77	13-Vanstone-Gibler	12-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
2 ♦	S	−1	♣ 2		100	6.05	4.95	9-Campbell-Earls	4-Terbrueggen-Schultz
2 NT	W	−1	♣ 2		100	6.05	4.95	11-Burnam-Hall	8-Diers-McCarthy
2 ♠	E	2	♦ K		110	4.41	6.59	6-Rice-Kloecker	11-Olson-Woodham
1 NT	W	2	♦ 4		120	2.77	8.23	5-Lin-Hubka	9-Kreitzer-Callif
2 NT	W	2	♠ 6		120	2.77	8.23	8-Temples-Mehl	2-Hoffman-Cai
2 ♥	E	3	♠ 7		140	1.14	9.86	4-Singerman-Cook	7-Kammer-Zimmer
1 NT	W	3	♠ 6		150	0.05	10.95	3-Murdock-Oblinger	5-Endres-Kennedy

Remember--don't announce partner's notrump range if they overcall 1 NT. The range for a 1 NT overcall is not in blue on the convention card.

E/W take four Heart tricks, one Club, one Diamond, and two Spades, making two. North will lead the ♦ 6 (MUD in notrump in partner's suit if it's never been supported). Declarer should duck twice, grab the ♦ A on the third round, play a Heart to the ♥ A, and finesse South for the ♥ Q (i.e., if North wins the ♥ K, they can't play another Diamond nor can they attack Clubs successfully). The ♠ K is the entry back to cash the 13th Heart.

Board 3
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	K
♥	K 10 6 5
♦	7 3 2
♣	J 10 8 3 2

♠	A J 10 2
♥	Q 4 3
♦	A K J 5
♣	9 4

N
W		E
S

♠	8 6 4 3
♥	A 9 8
♦	10 8 4
♣	A K Q

♠	Q 9 7 5
♥	J 7 2
♦	Q 9 6
♣	7 6 5

EW 5N; EW 5♠; EW 5♦; EW 3♥; EW 3♣; Par −660

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

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♠	E	4	♣ 6		170	10.95	0.05	13-Vanstone-Gibler	11-Olson-Woodham
3 NT	W	3	♥ 5		600	8.77	2.23	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	13-Jervis-Lindeman
3 NT	W	3	♣ J		600	8.77	2.23	7-Lammers-Grim	12-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 NT	W	3	♥ 5		600	8.77	2.23	11-Burnam-Hall	7-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♠	W	4	♣ 3		620	5.50	5.50	8-Temples-Mehl	1-Felson-Brown
4 ♠	W	4	♣ J		620	5.50	5.50	10-Pretz-Tedrick	5-Endres-Kennedy
4 ♠	W	4	♥ 5		620	5.50	5.50	12-Petersen-Cushman	9-Kreitzer-Callif
3 NT	W	4	♣ 10		630	1.68	9.32	2-Elliott-Runda	2-Hoffman-Cai
3 NT	W	4	♣ 3		630	1.68	9.32	5-Lin-Hubka	8-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	E	4	♠ 5		630	1.68	9.32	6-Rice-Kloecker	10-Heckel-Decker
3 NT	W	4	♥ 5		630	1.68	9.32	9-Campbell-Earls	3-Burns-Kobida

With 4333 (flat) distribution, don't try and find a 4-4 major suit fit when partner opens 1 NT (or 2 NT). You should though at least try and find a 5-4 major suit fit, which East does on this auction. When West bids 3 ♦ denying a five-card major, East parks in 3 NT.

E/W take three Club tricks, four Diamonds, two Spades, and one Heart, making four. Why does the hand record say it makes five? Well, to take 11 tricks, declarer would have to peek in North's hand to see the stiff ♠ K. With that additional knowledge, declarer can play the ♠ A and then lead twice towards the ♠ JT to steal....er, earn...three Spade tricks.

NOTE: If you're going to take a look in an opponent's hand, try and create a distraction first such as saying "Hey, look over there at that distracting thing!" When your opponent turns, get up from your chair, walk behind them and take a picture of their hand with your cellphone. When you get back to your seat, say something like "I'm checking my messages. I'm definitely not looking at a picture of your hand. That would be wrong."

Board 4
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	K 5
♥	J 8 4
♦	K 5 4 3
♣	A 7 4 3

♠	A Q 8 4 3
♥	K 5 2
♦	7
♣	K Q J 5

N
W		E
S

♠	10 9 6
♥	A 10 6
♦	A J 9 6
♣	10 8 6

♠	J 7 2
♥	Q 9 7 3
♦	Q 10 8 2
♣	9 2

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

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

Not quite enough for a takeout double
Alert, Kokish game try showing shortness in Diamonds
Alert, acceptance of 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
4 ♠	W	−1	♦ 5	100		10.41	0.59	5-Lin-Hubka	8-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♠	W	−1	♥ 8	100		10.41	0.59	6-Rice-Kloecker	10-Heckel-Decker
2 ♠	W	4	♦ 3		170	6.59	4.41	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	13-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♠	W	4	♥ J		170	6.59	4.41	7-Lammers-Grim	12-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 ♠	W	4	♥ 4		170	6.59	4.41	9-Campbell-Earls	3-Burns-Kobida
3 ♠	W	4	♥ 4		170	6.59	4.41	10-Pretz-Tedrick	5-Endres-Kennedy
2 ♠	W	4	♦ 3		170	6.59	4.41	11-Burnam-Hall	7-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♠	W	4	♦ 4		620	2.23	8.77	2-Elliott-Runda	2-Hoffman-Cai
4 ♠	W	4	♥ 4		620	2.23	8.77	8-Temples-Mehl	1-Felson-Brown
4 ♠	W	4	♦ 3		620	2.23	8.77	12-Petersen-Cushman	9-Kreitzer-Callif
3 NT	E	4	♥ 3		630	0.05	10.95	13-Vanstone-Gibler	11-Olson-Woodham

Kokish Game Tries are the best thing since sliced bread. Before sliced bread, a sandwich consisted of a whole loaf of bread, a single slice of baloney (ummm.....baloney), and another loaf of bread on the other side. People grew to hate bread.

E/W lose one Spade trick, one Club, and either a Club ruff or a Heart, making four. North may lead the ♥ 4.

Board 5
North Deals
N-S Vul

♠	Q 6 3 2
♥	9 2
♦	J 3 2
♣	6 5 4 2

♠	10 8
♥	Q 7 6 5 3
♦	K
♣	A 9 8 7 3

N
W		E
S

♠	K 4
♥	A 10 4
♦	10 9 8 7 5 4
♣	J 10

♠	A J 9 7 5
♥	K J 8
♦	A Q 6
♣	K Q

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

West	North	East	South
	Pass	Pass	2 NT1
3 ♣2	Dbl3	Pass	3 ♠4
Pass	4 ♠	Pass	Pass
Pass

20 to 21
Alert, artificial DONT bid showing Clubs and a higher-ranking suit
Alert, Puppet Stayman
Alert, Puppet Stayman response showing a 5-card Spade suit

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	S	4	♦ K	620		10.95	0.05	2-Elliott-Runda	1-Felson-Brown
4 ♦	E	−3	♣ K	150		9.86	1.14	12-Petersen-Cushman	8-Diers-McCarthy
2 NT	S	2	♥ 5	120		8.23	2.77	7-Lammers-Grim	11-Olson-Woodham
2 NT	S	2	♣ 7	120		8.23	2.77	13-Vanstone-Gibler	10-Heckel-Decker
4 ♠	N	−1	♣ J		100	3.32	7.68	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	12-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
2 NT	S	−1	♥ 5		100	3.32	7.68	3-Murdock-Oblinger	3-Burns-Kobida
2 NT	S	−1	♥ 5		100	3.32	7.68	5-Lin-Hubka	7-Kammer-Zimmer
2 NT	S	−1	♣ 3		100	3.32	7.68	6-Rice-Kloecker	9-Kreitzer-Callif
2 NT	S	−1	♥ 5		100	3.32	7.68	8-Temples-Mehl	13-Jervis-Lindeman
2 NT	S	−1	♣ 9		100	3.32	7.68	9-Campbell-Earls	2-Hoffman-Cai
2 NT	S	−1	♣ 3		100	3.32	7.68	10-Pretz-Tedrick	4-Terbrueggen-Schultz

East would do well to bid 5 ♦ in the pass-out seat (pass or correct), but they're a little worried about pushing N/S into slam.

N/S lose one Club trick, one Heart, and one Spade, making four. Declarer has no way to get to the North hand to finesse against East's ♠ K without either giving West an undeserved Diamond trick or a ruff. If West leads a trump, N/S make five. The ♣ A and another Club work on this hand.

Board 6
East Deals
E-W Vul

♠	Q 10 9 4
♥	5 3 2
♦	10 7 5 4
♣	9 8

♠	J 8 3 2
♥	A K J 8 7
♦	8
♣	A Q 7

N
W		E
S

♠	7
♥	10 9 6
♦	A 3 2
♣	J 6 5 4 3 2

♠	A K 6 5
♥	Q 4
♦	K Q J 9 6
♣	K 10

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

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♠×	S	3	♥ A	530		10.95	0.05	9-Campbell-Earls	2-Hoffman-Cai
2 ♦	S	2	♥ A	90		9.86	1.14	5-Lin-Hubka	7-Kammer-Zimmer
2 NT	S	−1	♥ 7		50	8.77	2.23	3-Murdock-Oblinger	3-Burns-Kobida
2 ♠	S	−2	♥ K		100	7.14	3.86	8-Temples-Mehl	13-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♦	S	−2	♥ A		100	7.14	3.86	10-Pretz-Tedrick	4-Terbrueggen-Schultz
3 ♥	W	4	♦ 10		170	5.50	5.50	7-Lammers-Grim	11-Olson-Woodham
3 ♥	W	6	♦ 4		230	3.32	7.68	2-Elliott-Runda	1-Felson-Brown
2 ♥	W	6	♦ 7		230	3.32	7.68	6-Rice-Kloecker	9-Kreitzer-Callif
3 ♥	W	6	♣ 9		230	3.32	7.68	13-Vanstone-Gibler	10-Heckel-Decker
4 ♥	W	4	♠ 4		620	1.14	9.86	12-Petersen-Cushman	8-Diers-McCarthy
2 ♥×	W	3	♣ 9		870	0.05	10.95	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	12-Kereiakes-Kereiakes

This hand will create some action. You're going to have some E/W pairs playing in 2 ♣, some N/S pairs playing in 2 ♠, some E/W pairs playing in 3 ♥, some N/S pairs playing in 4 ♦, and one or two E/W pairs playing in game in (a) Clubs, (b) Hearts, or (c) notrump. If anyone gets to slam, more power to them.

E/W lose one Spade trick, making six. North will lead the ♠T, and when South wins the ♠ K, the hand will be an open book (i.e., the play of the ♠ K denies the ♠ Q--North's only points).

Board 7
South Deals
Both Vul

♠	9 6 5 4 2
♥	K 9 8 4 3
♦	Q
♣	J 6

♠	K
♥	Q J 10
♦	A J 9 7 5 2
♣	10 5 4

N
W		E
S

♠	Q
♥	A 7 6
♦	10 8 6 4 3
♣	K Q 9 3

♠	A J 10 8 7 3
♥	5 2
♦	K
♣	A 8 7 2

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

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

Weak jump raise

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♠	S	3	♦ A	140		11.00	0.00	11-Burnam-Hall	5-Endres-Kennedy
4 ♠	S	−1	♦ A		100	8.00	3.00	2-Elliott-Runda	13-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♠	S	−1	♦ A		100	8.00	3.00	6-Rice-Kloecker	8-Diers-McCarthy
5 ♠	S	−1	♦ A		100	8.00	3.00	7-Lammers-Grim	10-Heckel-Decker
4 ♠	S	−1	♥ Q		100	8.00	3.00	9-Campbell-Earls	1-Felson-Brown
4 ♠	S	−1	♥ Q		100	8.00	3.00	12-Petersen-Cushman	7-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♦	W	5	♠ 6		150	5.00	6.00	4-Singerman-Cook	4-Terbrueggen-Schultz
5 ♦	W	5	♠ 4		600	2.00	9.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	11-Olson-Woodham
5 ♦	W	5	♠ 4		600	2.00	9.00	3-Murdock-Oblinger	2-Hoffman-Cai
5 ♦	W	5	♠ 6		600	2.00	9.00	8-Temples-Mehl	12-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
5 ♦	W	5	♠ 9		600	2.00	9.00	10-Pretz-Tedrick	3-Burns-Kobida
5 ♦	W	5	♠ 2		600	2.00	9.00	13-Vanstone-Gibler	9-Kreitzer-Callif

N/S lose two Heart tricks, one Diamond, and one Club, down two doubled for –500. That still beats –600 for 5 ♦ making five. West will lead the ♥ Q.

Board 8
West Deals
None Vul

♠	7 5 2
♥	A K Q 3
♦	A Q 10 8 3
♣	Q

♠	Q 9
♥	9 5 4 2
♦	J 9 6 5 2
♣	5 3

N
W		E
S

♠	A J 10 8 6 4
♥	J 8 7 6
♦	4
♣	9 8

♠	K 3
♥	10
♦	K 7
♣	A K J 10 7 6 4 2

NS 6N; NS 6♦; NS 6♣; NS 4♥; NS 2♠; Par +990

West	North	East	South
Pass	1 ♦	2 ♠1	3 ♣
Pass	3 ♠2	Dbl3	5 NT4
Pass	6 NT5	Pass	Pass
Pass

Weak jump overcall
Do you have a Spade stopper for notrump?
I like Spades
Yes, and I want to be in slam. What sounds good?
Since you have a Spade stopper, let's be in notrump!

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
6 ♣	S	7	♣ 3	940		11.00	0.00	11-Burnam-Hall	5-Endres-Kennedy
6 ♣	S	6	♠ Q	920		10.00	1.00	13-Vanstone-Gibler	9-Kreitzer-Callif
3 NT	S	7	♠ Q	520		8.50	2.50	4-Singerman-Cook	4-Terbrueggen-Schultz
3 NT	S	7	♦ 5	520		8.50	2.50	7-Lammers-Grim	10-Heckel-Decker
3 NT	S	6	♠ Q	490		7.00	4.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	11-Olson-Woodham
5 ♣	S	7	♠ Q	440		6.00	5.00	2-Elliott-Runda	13-Jervis-Lindeman
5 ♣	S	6	♠ Q	420		2.50	8.50	3-Murdock-Oblinger	2-Hoffman-Cai
5 ♣	S	6	♠ Q	420		2.50	8.50	6-Rice-Kloecker	8-Diers-McCarthy
5 ♣	S	6	♠ 9	420		2.50	8.50	8-Temples-Mehl	12-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
5 ♣	S	6	♠ Q	420		2.50	8.50	9-Campbell-Earls	1-Felson-Brown
5 ♣	S	6	♠ Q	420		2.50	8.50	10-Pretz-Tedrick	3-Burns-Kobida
5 ♣	S	6	♠ Q	420		2.50	8.50	12-Petersen-Cushman	7-Kammer-Zimmer

N/S take eight Club tricks, three Diamonds, three Hearts, and one Spade, making 15 tricks.....except West will lead a Spade and East will take their ♠ A.

Board 9
North Deals
E-W Vul

♠	A
♥	K J 7 6 2
♦	J 9 6 4
♣	Q 6 5

♠	K Q 7
♥	Q 8 5 3
♦	K 5 3 2
♣	J 9

N
W		E
S

♠	J 9 8 5 4 2
♥	—
♦	A 8 7
♣	A 8 4 2

♠	10 6 3
♥	A 10 9 4
♦	Q 10
♣	K 10 7 3

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

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

Rule of 20 opener
Cuebid to show a limit raise or better in Spades
I like Hearts

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♥	N	2	♠ 9	110		10.95	0.05	5-Lin-Hubka	5-Endres-Kennedy
3 ♠	E	−1	♣ 3	100		8.23	2.77	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	10-Heckel-Decker
4 ♠	E	−1	♥ A	100		8.23	2.77	4-Singerman-Cook	3-Burns-Kobida
4 ♠	E	−1	♠ 6	100		8.23	2.77	10-Pretz-Tedrick	2-Hoffman-Cai
4 ♠	E	−1	♥ A	100		8.23	2.77	11-Burnam-Hall	4-Terbrueggen-Schultz
Pass				Pass		5.50	5.50	7-Lammers-Grim	9-Kreitzer-Callif
4 ♥	N	−1	♠ 8		50	4.41	6.59	9-Campbell-Earls	13-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♥	N	−2	♠ J		100	3.32	7.68	3-Murdock-Oblinger	1-Felson-Brown
3 ♠	E	3	♥ A		140	2.23	8.77	8-Temples-Mehl	11-Olson-Woodham
4 ♠	E	4	♥ A		620	1.14	9.86	13-Vanstone-Gibler	8-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♠×	E	3	♣ 3		730	0.05	10.95	2-Elliott-Runda	12-Kereiakes-Kereiakes

N/S lose one Heart trick, two Diamonds, and one Club, down one doubled for –100. That's not bad, since E/W were making 3 ♠. East will lead a small Spade.

Board 10
East Deals
Both Vul

♠	7 5
♥	K 5
♦	9 7 4
♣	A 9 7 6 3 2

♠	A K 9
♥	Q 9 8 7
♦	K 10 8
♣	Q J 8

N
W		E
S

♠	Q J 8 3 2
♥	3 2
♦	Q 6 3 2
♣	K 4

♠	10 6 4
♥	A J 10 6 4
♦	A J 5
♣	10 5

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

West	North	East	South
		Pass	Pass
1 NT1	Pass	2 ♥2	Dbl3
2 ♠4	Pass	2 NT	Pass
3 ♠	Pass	Pass	Pass

15 to 17
Transfer
Please lead a Heart
Showing 3+ Spades

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♠	W	−1	♥ K	100		8.77	2.23	4-Singerman-Cook	3-Burns-Kobida
4 ♠	W	−1	♣ 7	100		8.77	2.23	5-Lin-Hubka	5-Endres-Kennedy
3 ♠	W	−1	♥ K	100		8.77	2.23	7-Lammers-Grim	9-Kreitzer-Callif
4 ♠	W	−1	♦ 9	100		8.77	2.23	10-Pretz-Tedrick	2-Hoffman-Cai
3 ♠	E	−1	♣ 10	100		8.77	2.23	13-Vanstone-Gibler	8-Diers-McCarthy
2 NT	W	2	♣ 6		120	5.50	5.50	8-Temples-Mehl	11-Olson-Woodham
2 ♠	E	3	♣ 10		140	3.32	7.68	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	10-Heckel-Decker
2 ♠	W	3	♦ 7		140	3.32	7.68	2-Elliott-Runda	12-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 ♠	W	3	♦ 7		140	3.32	7.68	3-Murdock-Oblinger	1-Felson-Brown
3 ♠	W	4	♠ 7		170	0.59	10.41	9-Campbell-Earls	13-Jervis-Lindeman
2 ♠	W	4	♣ 6		170	0.59	10.41	11-Burnam-Hall	4-Terbrueggen-Schultz

E/W lose two Heart tricks, one Diamond, and one Club, making three. North will lead the ♥ K like a good little partner after South's double of 2 ♥.

Board 11
South Deals
None Vul

♠	K 9 3 2
♥	A Q 9 8 4 3
♦	8 2
♣	4

♠	7 4
♥	6 5
♦	K Q 7 4
♣	K Q 9 7 2

N
W		E
S

♠	8 6 5
♥	10
♦	A J 10 6 3
♣	A 10 8 5

♠	A Q J 10
♥	K J 7 2
♦	9 5
♣	J 6 3

NS 4♠; NS 4♥; EW 4♦; EW 4♣; Par +100: EW 5♣×−1; EW 5♦×−1

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	N	4	♦ 3	420		7.68	3.32	2-Elliott-Runda	11-Olson-Woodham
4 ♥	N	4	♥ 10	420		7.68	3.32	3-Murdock-Oblinger	13-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♥	N	4	♦ A	420		7.68	3.32	5-Lin-Hubka	4-Terbrueggen-Schultz
4 ♥	N	4	♦ 3	420		7.68	3.32	8-Temples-Mehl	10-Heckel-Decker
4 ♥	N	4	♥ 10	420		7.68	3.32	9-Campbell-Earls	12-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♥	N	4	♠ 6	420		7.68	3.32	10-Pretz-Tedrick	1-Felson-Brown
4 ♥	N	4	♦ J	420		7.68	3.32	12-Petersen-Cushman	5-Endres-Kennedy
3 ♥	N	4	♦ A	170		2.23	8.77	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	9-Kreitzer-Callif
2 ♥	N	4	♠ 8	170		2.23	8.77	11-Burnam-Hall	3-Burns-Kobida
3 ♥	N	4	♠ 6	170		2.23	8.77	13-Vanstone-Gibler	7-Kammer-Zimmer
5 ♦×	W	5	♣ 4		550	0.05	10.95	4-Singerman-Cook	2-Hoffman-Cai

It's amazing that E/W might never get in this auction. N/S lose two Diamonds and one Club, making four. If N/S were in 4 ♠, E/W would have to get busy and grab their minor-suit winners before they're pitched on the Hearts. In 4 ♥ that's not a worry--East can lead whatever they like.

Board 12
West Deals
N-S Vul

♠	A 4
♥	Q
♦	K Q J 10 9 7 6
♣	K J 9

♠	8 6 5
♥	K 10 8 6 5 3
♦	4
♣	Q 4 2

N
W		E
S

♠	J 10 9 7
♥	J 4 2
♦	8 3
♣	A 10 5 3

♠	K Q 3 2
♥	A 9 7
♦	A 5 2
♣	8 7 6

NS 6N; NS 6♦; N 4♠; S 3♠; NS 2♣; Par +1440

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

Weak two bid
Expecting to make opposite a random hand
Not a random hand

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
6 NT	S	7	♥ 6	1470		10.95	0.05	8-Temples-Mehl	10-Heckel-Decker
3 NT	S	7	♥ 8	720		9.86	1.14	3-Murdock-Oblinger	13-Jervis-Lindeman
3 NT	S	6	♥ 6	690		8.77	2.23	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	9-Kreitzer-Callif
3 NT	S	5	♣ 4	660		7.68	3.32	4-Singerman-Cook	2-Hoffman-Cai
5 ♦	N	6	♣ 3	620		5.50	5.50	2-Elliott-Runda	11-Olson-Woodham
5 ♦	N	6	♥ J	620		5.50	5.50	10-Pretz-Tedrick	1-Felson-Brown
5 ♦	N	6	♥ 4	620		5.50	5.50	12-Petersen-Cushman	5-Endres-Kennedy
5 ♦	N	5	♦ 3	600		2.77	8.23	5-Lin-Hubka	4-Terbrueggen-Schultz
5 ♦	N	5	♠ J	600		2.77	8.23	11-Burnam-Hall	3-Burns-Kobida
6 ♠	S	−1	♦ 4		100	1.14	9.86	13-Vanstone-Gibler	7-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♠	S	−3	♥ J		300	0.05	10.95	9-Campbell-Earls	12-Kereiakes-Kereiakes

When the opponents preempt, science often goes out the window. North, with a huge hand, can't double, because what are they going to do if partner blasts 4 ♠? They elect to bid what they're looking at, and South has an easy raise to six. Declarer will need to guess the Club situation correctly unless East helps out by leading the ♣ A. Oops. The ♥ 2 would be better.

Board 13
North Deals
Both Vul

♠	K J 10 8
♥	Q 5 2
♦	8 7 3
♣	9 6 3

♠	Q 5 4 3
♥	A J 10 9 3
♦	K 5
♣	5 4

N
W		E
S

♠	6 2
♥	K 8 6 4
♦	A Q J 4
♣	A J 2

♠	A 9 7
♥	7
♦	10 9 6 2
♣	K Q 10 8 7

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

West	North	East	South
	Pass	1 NT1	Pass
2 ♣	Pass	2 ♥	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	♣ K	100		10.41	0.59	3-Murdock-Oblinger	12-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♥	E	−1	♣ K	100		10.41	0.59	10-Pretz-Tedrick	13-Jervis-Lindeman
2 NT	E	3	♣ K		150	8.77	2.23	6-Rice-Kloecker	5-Endres-Kennedy
3 ♥	W	4	♠ 8		170	7.68	3.32	5-Lin-Hubka	3-Burns-Kobida
4 ♥	W	4	♠ 10		620	4.95	6.05	2-Elliott-Runda	10-Heckel-Decker
4 ♥	E	4	♣ K		620	4.95	6.05	7-Lammers-Grim	7-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♥	E	4	♣ K		620	4.95	6.05	11-Burnam-Hall	2-Hoffman-Cai
4 ♥	E	4	♣ K		620	4.95	6.05	12-Petersen-Cushman	4-Terbrueggen-Schultz
3 NT	W	4	♣ 8		630	2.23	8.77	9-Campbell-Earls	11-Olson-Woodham
4 ♥	W	5	♠ J		650	0.59	10.41	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	8-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♥	E	5	♥ 7		650	0.59	10.41	4-Singerman-Cook	1-Felson-Brown

East messes up West's plans to use Smolen by actually holding four Hearts. Stupid East. E/W lose two Spade tricks, making five as long as declarer correctly guesses the Heart situation. Expect a lot of +620 scores when declarer plays for 2-2 Hearts. South will lead the ♣ K.

Board 14
East Deals
None Vul

♠	K J 4
♥	10 9 6 4 2
♦	9
♣	A J 9 8

♠	A 2
♥	K Q 5
♦	A K Q J 7 5
♣	K 3

N
W		E
S

♠	10 9 5 3
♥	J 8
♦	4 3 2
♣	Q 6 5 4

♠	Q 8 7 6
♥	A 7 3
♦	10 8 6
♣	10 7 2

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

West	North	East	South
		Pass	Pass
2 ♣	Pass	2 ♥1	Pass
2 NT	Pass	3 ♣2	Pass
3 NT3	Pass	Pass	Pass

Alert, artificial bid denying an A, K, or QQ
Puppet Stayman
Alert, artificial bid denying a 4- or 5-card major

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	E	−5	♦ 8	250		10.95	0.05	10-Pretz-Tedrick	13-Jervis-Lindeman
5 ♦	W	−1	♥ 4	50		8.77	2.23	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	8-Diers-McCarthy
5 ♦	E	−1	♥ A	50		8.77	2.23	2-Elliott-Runda	10-Heckel-Decker
5 ♦	W	−1	♥ 10	50		8.77	2.23	3-Murdock-Oblinger	12-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♦	W	4	♥ 4		130	6.59	4.41	5-Lin-Hubka	3-Burns-Kobida
2 NT	W	4	♠ 4		180	5.50	5.50	9-Campbell-Earls	11-Olson-Woodham
3 NT	W	4	♥ 10		430	2.23	8.77	4-Singerman-Cook	1-Felson-Brown
3 NT	E	4	♠ 6		430	2.23	8.77	6-Rice-Kloecker	5-Endres-Kennedy
3 NT	W	4	♣ 4		430	2.23	8.77	7-Lammers-Grim	7-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	W	4	♥ 4		430	2.23	8.77	11-Burnam-Hall	2-Hoffman-Cai
3 NT	W	4	♥ 4		430	2.23	8.77	12-Petersen-Cushman	4-Terbrueggen-Schultz

E/W take one Club trick, six Diamonds, one Spade, and two Hearts, making four. Why does it say that E/W can take only nine tricks? That assumes that North doesn't lead a Heart on opening lead and South doesn't grab the ♥ A and continue the suit. Unfortunately, that's going to happen at quite a few tables.

One way for declarer to increase the chance of that happening is to drop the ♥ Q under the ♥ A at trick one. South will think declarer started with ♥ KQ tight and is more likely to continue the suit. When they do, declarer wins the ♥ J in dummy (playing the ♥ 5 from their hand) and knocks out the ♣ A. Heh.

Board 15
South Deals
N-S Vul

♠	A J 6 5
♥	10 5 3
♦	K J 3 2
♣	Q 7

♠	K 8 7
♥	9 7
♦	10 7 6
♣	K J 10 3 2

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 10 9 2
♥	A K Q J 8 6
♦	Q 9
♣	8

♠	4 3
♥	4 2
♦	A 8 5 4
♣	A 9 6 5 4

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

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

Semi-forcing

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	E	−1	♦ A	50		10.41	0.59	3-Murdock-Oblinger	11-Olson-Woodham
3 ♥	E	−1	♦ A	50		10.41	0.59	12-Petersen-Cushman	3-Burns-Kobida
2 ♥	E	3	♥ 2		140	5.50	5.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	7-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♥	E	3	♠ 4		140	5.50	5.50	2-Elliott-Runda	9-Kreitzer-Callif
2 ♥	E	3	♦ A		140	5.50	5.50	4-Singerman-Cook	13-Jervis-Lindeman
2 ♥	E	3	♠ 4		140	5.50	5.50	5-Lin-Hubka	2-Hoffman-Cai
2 ♥	E	3	♠ 4		140	5.50	5.50	6-Rice-Kloecker	4-Terbrueggen-Schultz
3 ♥	E	3	♦ 8		140	5.50	5.50	8-Temples-Mehl	8-Diers-McCarthy
2 ♥	E	3	♦ A		140	5.50	5.50	10-Pretz-Tedrick	12-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
2 ♥	E	4	♠ 4		170	0.59	10.41	11-Burnam-Hall	1-Felson-Brown
3 ♥	E	4	♠ 4		170	0.59	10.41	13-Vanstone-Gibler	5-Endres-Kennedy

E/W lose two Spade tricks, two Diamonds, and one Club, making two. With no entries to the board, declarer won't be able to lead towards their ♠ QT9x holding. If South leads a trump (seemingly a good lead), declarer will gain one entry to the board, but it's still not enough.

Board 16
West Deals
E-W Vul

♠	10
♥	Q 9 8 6 4 3 2
♦	J 9 2
♣	J 4

♠	A J 5 4
♥	—
♦	Q 6 4
♣	A 10 9 8 7 5

N
W		E
S

♠	K 9 8 6
♥	A K J 10
♦	10 8 3
♣	Q 3

♠	Q 7 3 2
♥	7 5
♦	A K 7 5
♣	K 6 2

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

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

Negative

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠×	E	−1	♦ A	200		9.32	1.68	8-Temples-Mehl	8-Diers-McCarthy
5 ♣	W	−2	♠ 10	200		9.32	1.68	10-Pretz-Tedrick	12-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♠	W	−2	♥ 6	200		9.32	1.68	12-Petersen-Cushman	3-Burns-Kobida
4 ♠	E	−2	♥ 7	200		9.32	1.68	13-Vanstone-Gibler	5-Endres-Kennedy
4 ♠	E	−1	♦ A	100		5.50	5.50	4-Singerman-Cook	13-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♠	W	−1	♥ 9	100		5.50	5.50	5-Lin-Hubka	2-Hoffman-Cai
4 ♠	W	−1	♣ J	100		5.50	5.50	6-Rice-Kloecker	4-Terbrueggen-Schultz
3 ♠	E	4	♦ A		170	3.32	7.68	3-Murdock-Oblinger	11-Olson-Woodham
4 ♠	W	5	♣ 4		650	2.23	8.77	2-Elliott-Runda	9-Kreitzer-Callif
4 ♠	W	6	♣ J		680	1.14	9.86	11-Burnam-Hall	1-Felson-Brown
5 ♥×	N	−5	♠ 6		1100	0.05	10.95	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	7-Kammer-Zimmer

E/W, if they're careful, will manage to lose two Diamond tricks and one Club, making four. If North leads a Heart, E/W might make five when two of declarer's Diamonds go away on dummy's high Hearts. The proper way to play the trump suit, on this auction, is small to the ♠ K (noting the fall of the ♠T) and then run the ♠ 9. Expect a few –100 scores for E/W, although some might choose to play in 3 NT.

Board 17
North Deals
None Vul

♠	A J 5 3 2
♥	K Q 8 4 2
♦	—
♣	K J 8

♠	Q
♥	5 3
♦	10 9 5 3 2
♣	Q 6 5 3 2

N
W		E
S

♠	9 7 6
♥	10 9 6
♦	A Q 8 6 4
♣	A 7

♠	K 10 8 4
♥	A J 7
♦	K J 7
♣	10 9 4

NS 6♠; NS 6♥; NS 5N; NS 2♣; EW 1♦; Par +980

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

Alert, artificial Jacoby 2 NT bid showing an opening hand with 4+ Spades
Showing 5+ Hearts with 2 of the top 3 honors

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
6 ♠	N	6	♣ A	980		10.41	0.59	2-Elliott-Runda	8-Diers-McCarthy
6 ♠	N	6	♦ A	980		10.41	0.59	9-Campbell-Earls	9-Kreitzer-Callif
4 ♠	N	6	♣ A	480		6.05	4.95	3-Murdock-Oblinger	10-Heckel-Decker
4 ♠	N	6	♣ A	480		6.05	4.95	4-Singerman-Cook	12-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♠	N	6	♣ A	480		6.05	4.95	5-Lin-Hubka	1-Felson-Brown
5 ♠	N	6	♠ 6	480		6.05	4.95	6-Rice-Kloecker	3-Burns-Kobida
4 ♠	N	6	♦ 6	480		6.05	4.95	7-Lammers-Grim	5-Endres-Kennedy
4 ♠	N	6	♣ A	480		6.05	4.95	12-Petersen-Cushman	2-Hoffman-Cai
4 ♠	N	5	♦ A	450		1.68	9.32	11-Burnam-Hall	13-Jervis-Lindeman
5 ♠	N	5	♣ A	450		1.68	9.32	13-Vanstone-Gibler	4-Terbrueggen-Schultz
4 ♠	N	4	♣ A	420		0.05	10.95	8-Temples-Mehl	7-Kammer-Zimmer

South has nothing extra after their 2 NT bid, and N/S shouldn't be in slam anyway off one keycard and the ♠ Q. N/S lose one Club trick, making six when the ♣ Q is "in the slot" and the Spades behave. East may lead a trump.

Board 18
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	A 9 3
♥	Q 5
♦	K 10 9 6 5
♣	10 4 2

♠	K J 2
♥	K 8 2
♦	4 2
♣	K Q 9 7 5

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 10 7 6 4
♥	J
♦	A 8 7 3
♣	A 8 6

♠	8 5
♥	A 10 9 7 6 4 3
♦	Q J
♣	J 3

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

West	North	East	South
		1 ♠1	Pass2
2 ♣	Pass	2 ♦	Pass
2 ♠	Pass	4 ♠	Pass
Pass	Pass

Rule of 20 opener
Not quite a vulnerable 3 ♥ bid

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	S	4	♠ 2	620		10.95	0.05	11-Burnam-Hall	13-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♣	W	−1	♥ Q	50		9.86	1.14	4-Singerman-Cook	12-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 ♥	S	−1	♠ K		100	8.77	2.23	3-Murdock-Oblinger	10-Heckel-Decker
4 ♣	W	5	♥ Q		150	7.68	3.32	7-Lammers-Grim	5-Endres-Kennedy
2 ♠	E	4	♦ Q		170	5.50	5.50	2-Elliott-Runda	8-Diers-McCarthy
2 ♠	E	4	♠ 8		170	5.50	5.50	6-Rice-Kloecker	3-Burns-Kobida
3 ♠	E	4	♥ A		170	5.50	5.50	8-Temples-Mehl	7-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♠	E	4	♦ Q		420	3.32	7.68	9-Campbell-Earls	9-Kreitzer-Callif
4 ♠	E	5	♥ A		450	1.14	9.86	5-Lin-Hubka	1-Felson-Brown
4 ♠	E	5	♥ A		450	1.14	9.86	12-Petersen-Cushman	2-Hoffman-Cai
4 ♠	E	5	♦ Q		450	1.14	9.86	13-Vanstone-Gibler	4-Terbrueggen-Schultz

E/W lose one Spade trick, one Heart, and one Diamond, making four. South will lead the ♦ Q.

Board 19
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	3
♥	Q J 8 6 3
♦	A K J 9 6
♣	9 7

♠	A 9 7
♥	K 7 5
♦	8 7 4 2
♣	A K 6

N
W		E
S

♠	K 4 2
♥	4 2
♦	Q 10 5
♣	Q J 8 5 3

♠	Q J 10 8 6 5
♥	A 10 9
♦	3
♣	10 4 2

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

West	North	East	South
			2 ♠1
Pass	Pass	Pass

Weak two bid

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♥	N	3	♣ Q	140		10.41	0.59	4-Singerman-Cook	11-Olson-Woodham
2 ♠	S	3	♣ A	140		10.41	0.59	7-Lammers-Grim	4-Terbrueggen-Schultz
2 ♥	N	2	♣ Q	110		8.77	2.23	3-Murdock-Oblinger	9-Kreitzer-Callif
3 ♣	E	−1	♦ 3	100		7.14	3.86	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	5-Endres-Kennedy
4 ♣	E	−1	♦ 3	100		7.14	3.86	6-Rice-Kloecker	2-Hoffman-Cai
2 ♠	S	−1	♦ 8		50	5.50	5.50	13-Vanstone-Gibler	3-Burns-Kobida
2 ♠	S	−2	♣ A		100	4.41	6.59	10-Pretz-Tedrick	10-Heckel-Decker
3 ♣	E	3	♦ 3		110	3.32	7.68	9-Campbell-Earls	8-Diers-McCarthy
2 NT	E	2	♠ Q		120	2.23	8.77	12-Petersen-Cushman	1-Felson-Brown
3 ♦	N	−3	♥ 4		150	1.14	9.86	5-Lin-Hubka	13-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♦	N	−4	♣ 3		200	0.05	10.95	2-Elliott-Runda	7-Kammer-Zimmer

If South passes in first seat, N/S may play the hand in 2 ♥. As it is....

N/S lose two Spade tricks, one Heart, and two Clubs......unless West leads the ♣ A and East drops the ♣ Q (asking for an underlead at trick two). West will continue with the ♣ 6 to East's ♣ J, and East will return the ♥ 4. If declarer ducks, West will win the ♥ K and continue Hearts. When in with the ♠ A, West can then give their partner a Heart ruff for the sixth defensive trick. Same thing will happen if declarer grabs the ♥ A at trick three. Nice defense!

Board 20
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	A
♥	5
♦	K Q 8 7 4 3 2
♣	Q 10 6 2

♠	K Q 10 5 4
♥	J 10 9 7 4
♦	A
♣	K J

N
W		E
S

♠	J 7 6 3 2
♥	K Q 3
♦	10 9
♣	A 9 4

♠	9 8
♥	A 8 6 2
♦	J 6 5
♣	8 7 5 3

EW 5♠; EW 4♥; NS 4♦; NS 1♣; Par −500: NS 6♦×−2

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

Cuebid showing a limit raise or better in Spades

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♠	W	5	♥ 5		200	10.41	0.59	2-Elliott-Runda	7-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♠	W	5	♦ K		200	10.41	0.59	10-Pretz-Tedrick	10-Heckel-Decker
4 ♥	W	4	♦ K		620	8.77	2.23	5-Lin-Hubka	13-Jervis-Lindeman
5 ♠	W	5	♦ K		650	4.41	6.59	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	5-Endres-Kennedy
4 ♠	W	5	♦ K		650	4.41	6.59	4-Singerman-Cook	11-Olson-Woodham
4 ♠	W	5	♦ K		650	4.41	6.59	6-Rice-Kloecker	2-Hoffman-Cai
4 ♠	W	5	♦ K		650	4.41	6.59	7-Lammers-Grim	4-Terbrueggen-Schultz
5 ♠	W	5	♦ K		650	4.41	6.59	9-Campbell-Earls	8-Diers-McCarthy
5 ♠	W	5	♦ K		650	4.41	6.59	12-Petersen-Cushman	1-Felson-Brown
4 ♠	W	5	♥ 5		650	4.41	6.59	13-Vanstone-Gibler	3-Burns-Kobida
5 ♠×	W	5	♦ K		850	0.05	10.95	3-Murdock-Oblinger	9-Kreitzer-Callif

E/W lose one Spade trick and one Heart, making five. North will lead the ♦ K.

Board 21
North Deals
N-S Vul

♠	Q
♥	Q 7 3
♦	Q 9 7 4 3
♣	J 10 7 6

♠	A K 7 4 3
♥	—
♦	A J 6 2
♣	Q 5 3 2

N
W		E
S

♠	J 9 8
♥	A K 4
♦	10 8 5
♣	A K 8 4

♠	10 6 5 2
♥	J 10 9 8 6 5 2
♦	K
♣	9

EW 6N; EW 6♠; EW 6♣; EW 4♦; EW 1♥; Par −990

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

15 to 17
Transfer
Game forcing and natural
Showing 3+ Spades

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	E	−2	♥ J	100		10.41	0.59	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	4-Terbrueggen-Schultz
6 ♠	E	−2	♣ 9	100		10.41	0.59	13-Vanstone-Gibler	2-Hoffman-Cai
3 NT	E	−1	♥ J	50		8.23	2.77	3-Murdock-Oblinger	8-Diers-McCarthy
5 ♠	E	−1	♣ 9	50		8.23	2.77	10-Pretz-Tedrick	9-Kreitzer-Callif
4 ♠	W	4	♥ 3		420	5.50	5.50	4-Singerman-Cook	10-Heckel-Decker
4 ♠	E	4	♣ 9		420	5.50	5.50	6-Rice-Kloecker	1-Felson-Brown
4 ♠	E	4	♣ 9		420	5.50	5.50	9-Campbell-Earls	7-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♠	E	5	♣ 9		450	2.23	8.77	5-Lin-Hubka	12-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♠	W	5	♥ 7		450	2.23	8.77	8-Temples-Mehl	5-Endres-Kennedy
4 ♠	W	5	♥ Q		450	2.23	8.77	11-Burnam-Hall	11-Olson-Woodham
2 ♥×	S	−2	♠ A		500	0.05	10.95	7-Lammers-Grim	3-Burns-Kobida

West is very close to pushing towards slam, but it's not easy to get there. South may lead their stiff Club, and E/W will lose one Diamond trick and possibly a trump, making five or six on double-dummy lines.

Board 22
East Deals
E-W Vul

♠	5 4 2
♥	K 4
♦	K 10 8 2
♣	9 8 6 4

♠	A 10 8 3
♥	J 10 7 3
♦	A Q
♣	A K 7

N
W		E
S

♠	K Q 6
♥	9 8 6 2
♦	J 7 5 4 3
♣	10

♠	J 9 7
♥	A Q 5
♦	9 6
♣	Q J 5 3 2

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

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

15 to 17
Garbage Stayman

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	E	−1	♦ 9	100		9.86	1.14	6-Rice-Kloecker	1-Felson-Brown
4 ♥	E	−1	♣ Q	100		9.86	1.14	8-Temples-Mehl	5-Endres-Kennedy
4 ♥	E	−1	♣ Q	100		9.86	1.14	10-Pretz-Tedrick	9-Kreitzer-Callif
1 NT	W	1	♠ 4		90	7.68	3.32	13-Vanstone-Gibler	2-Hoffman-Cai
2 ♠	W	2	♣ 4		110	6.59	4.41	3-Murdock-Oblinger	8-Diers-McCarthy
2 NT	W	2	♦ 2		120	5.50	5.50	7-Lammers-Grim	3-Burns-Kobida
3 ♥	E	3	♣ 3		140	3.86	7.14	4-Singerman-Cook	10-Heckel-Decker
2 ♥	W	3	♦ 2		140	3.86	7.14	11-Burnam-Hall	11-Olson-Woodham
2 NT	W	3	♦ 2		150	1.68	9.32	5-Lin-Hubka	12-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
2 NT	W	3	♠ 5		150	1.68	9.32	9-Campbell-Earls	7-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♥	W	4	♣ 8		620	0.05	10.95	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	4-Terbrueggen-Schultz

East, knowing the hand will play better in a suit contract, bids 2 ♣ planning to pass whatever partner bids. Yay partner!

E/W lose three Heart tricks and one Diamond, making three. North may lead the ♣ 8 (MUD). If you're declarer on this hand, make sure you pull trump right away. Although you're missing the big ones, it's still embarrassing when the defenders take all five of their trumps on separate tricks. Ugh. Declarer should win trick one and play a Heart towards the ♥ 8. North will likely hop with the ♥ K and play another Heart to South's ♥ Q. After cashing the ♥ A, South will switch to a Diamond, and declarer has no reason not to try the ♦ Q. The ♦ K is the last trick for the defense.

Board 23
South Deals
Both Vul

♠	K 10 4 3
♥	A K
♦	J
♣	Q 10 8 7 6 5

♠	J 8
♥	9 8 5 4 2
♦	K 4
♣	A K 9 3

N
W		E
S

♠	A 7 6
♥	J 10 7
♦	Q 9 8 7 5 2
♣	J

♠	Q 9 5 2
♥	Q 6 3
♦	A 10 6 3
♣	4 2

NS 4♠; NS 2N; NS 3♣; EW 1♦; Par +620

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

Weak jump overcall
Negative

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	S	4	♣ A	620		10.41	0.59	10-Pretz-Tedrick	8-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♠	S	4	♣ A	620		10.41	0.59	11-Burnam-Hall	10-Heckel-Decker
4 ♥	W	−2	♦ J	200		8.23	2.77	7-Lammers-Grim	2-Hoffman-Cai
2 ♥	W	−2	♠ 4	200		8.23	2.77	12-Petersen-Cushman	12-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
2 ♠	N	4	♣ J	170		6.59	4.41	5-Lin-Hubka	11-Olson-Woodham
2 ♠	S	3	♣ A	140		4.41	6.59	2-Elliott-Runda	5-Endres-Kennedy
2 ♠	S	3	♣ A	140		4.41	6.59	3-Murdock-Oblinger	7-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♠	S	3	♣ A	140		4.41	6.59	8-Temples-Mehl	4-Terbrueggen-Schultz
2 ♠	S	2	♦ K	110		1.68	9.32	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	3-Burns-Kobida
2 ♠	S	2	♣ A	110		1.68	9.32	4-Singerman-Cook	9-Kreitzer-Callif
4 ♠	S	−1	♦ K		100	0.05	10.95	6-Rice-Kloecker	13-Jervis-Lindeman

South is in a bit of a bind after East's 2 ♦ jump overcall, and they choose to make a negative double with 4-3 shape in the majors. That's fine (Bridge isn't perfect). N/S lose one Spade trick and two Clubs, making four. West will lead the ♣ K and switch to a trump at trick two.

Board 24
West Deals
None Vul

♠	A 10 2
♥	K J 9 5 4
♦	9 5
♣	Q 7 3

♠	K 4
♥	8 7 2
♦	A K J 10 7 6
♣	A 9

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 7 6 3
♥	Q 10 3
♦	Q 8 2
♣	K J 5

♠	J 9 8 5
♥	A 6
♦	4 3
♣	10 8 6 4 2

EW 4N; EW 2♥; EW 3♦; EW 1♠; Par −430

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

15 to 17
Alert, artificial Five-Card Stayman bid asking for a 5-card major
Alert, artificial bid denying a 5-card major

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♦	W	−1	♥ 5	50		10.95	0.05	6-Rice-Kloecker	13-Jervis-Lindeman
2 ♦	W	3	♥ 5		110	9.32	1.68	11-Burnam-Hall	10-Heckel-Decker
2 ♦	W	3	♦ 5		110	9.32	1.68	12-Petersen-Cushman	12-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 ♦	W	4	♣ 3		130	7.14	3.86	2-Elliott-Runda	5-Endres-Kennedy
2 ♦	W	4	♣ 3		130	7.14	3.86	5-Lin-Hubka	11-Olson-Woodham
3 NT	E	3	♥ A		400	3.86	7.14	3-Murdock-Oblinger	7-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	E	3	♥ A		400	3.86	7.14	4-Singerman-Cook	9-Kreitzer-Callif
3 NT	W	3	♣ Q		400	3.86	7.14	7-Lammers-Grim	2-Hoffman-Cai
3 NT	E	3	♣ 4		400	3.86	7.14	10-Pretz-Tedrick	8-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	E	4	♣ 4		430	0.59	10.41	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	3-Burns-Kobida
3 NT	E	4	♥ 9		430	0.59	10.41	8-Temples-Mehl	4-Terbrueggen-Schultz

East, with a flat hand, looks for a 5-4 Spade fit. When there isn't one, they park in 3 NT. E/W take six Diamond tricks, three Clubs, and one Heart, making four. North will lead a small Heart, and declarer will insert the ♥T. South will win the ♥ A and return the suit to North's ♥ K. North should play the ♥ J to knock out the ♥ Q signaling an entry in the highest ranking side suit (Spades in this case). When declarer runs their six Diamond tricks, North is going to be forced to pitch Clubs or all of their Hearts and bare the ♠ A. They're going to pitch Clubs, although they shouldn't.

When you've established a side suit in notrump and declarer is running their winners, it's often right to discard your established long-suit winners. If you don't, you'll tend to give declarer winners in multiple side suits that they can't get on their own. Think ahead and decide if you can afford to keep your long-suit winners.

Board 25
North Deals
E-W Vul

♠	A Q 9
♥	10 9 5 4
♦	Q 8
♣	A 10 3 2

♠	10 8 6 5
♥	A Q 3
♦	A K
♣	K J 9 5

N
W		E
S

♠	J 4
♥	K 6
♦	J 10 9 7 6 3 2
♣	Q 7

♠	K 7 3 2
♥	J 8 7 2
♦	5 4
♣	8 6 4

EW 3N; EW 4♦; EW 2♠; EW 2♣; EW 1♥; Par −600

West	North	East	South
	1 ♣	Pass	Pass
Dbl1	Pass	1 ♦	Pass
1 NT2	Pass	2 NT3	Pass
3 NT	Pass	Pass	Pass

Too strong to make a balancing 1 NT bid
Showing 15-17 HCP
Showing extras

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♦	E	4	♠ 2		130	10.95	0.05	5-Lin-Hubka	10-Heckel-Decker
2 ♦	E	5	♣ 6		150	9.86	1.14	4-Singerman-Cook	8-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♦	E	6	♣ 8		170	8.23	2.77	2-Elliott-Runda	4-Terbrueggen-Schultz
3 ♦	E	6	♣ 6		170	8.23	2.77	6-Rice-Kloecker	12-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
1 NT	W	5	♣ 2		210	6.05	4.95	10-Pretz-Tedrick	7-Kammer-Zimmer
2 NT	W	5	♥ 10		210	6.05	4.95	13-Vanstone-Gibler	13-Jervis-Lindeman
5 ♦	E	5	♠ 2		600	3.86	7.14	8-Temples-Mehl	3-Burns-Kobida
3 NT	W	3	♠ 9		600	3.86	7.14	11-Burnam-Hall	9-Kreitzer-Callif
3 NT	W	5	♣ 2		660	1.68	9.32	7-Lammers-Grim	1-Felson-Brown
3 NT	W	5	♣ 2		660	1.68	9.32	12-Petersen-Cushman	11-Olson-Woodham
3 NT	W	6	♥ 4		690	0.05	10.95	9-Campbell-Earls	5-Endres-Kennedy

E/W lose three Spade tricks and the ♣ A, making three. If North leads a Heart, it may look at first glance like a disaster (seven Diamonds and three Hearts, oh my!), but declarer can't untangle their ten tricks (try it!).

Board 26
East Deals
Both Vul

♠	Q 7 2
♥	A 9 6 3
♦	J 10 2
♣	J 6 3

♠	J 6
♥	J 10 7 5 4
♦	7 5 3
♣	Q 10 9

N
W		E
S

♠	K 10 8 4
♥	8 2
♦	A K 8 6
♣	8 4 2

♠	A 9 5 3
♥	K Q
♦	Q 9 4
♣	A K 7 5

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

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	N	3	♠ 8	600		9.32	1.68	4-Singerman-Cook	8-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	S	3	♥ 5	600		9.32	1.68	7-Lammers-Grim	1-Felson-Brown
3 NT	S	3	♣ 9	600		9.32	1.68	8-Temples-Mehl	3-Burns-Kobida
3 NT	S	3	♥ 5	600		9.32	1.68	13-Vanstone-Gibler	13-Jervis-Lindeman
3 NT	S	−1	♠ J		100	3.32	7.68	2-Elliott-Runda	4-Terbrueggen-Schultz
2 NT	N	−1	♦ 6		100	3.32	7.68	5-Lin-Hubka	10-Heckel-Decker
3 NT	N	−1	♦ A		100	3.32	7.68	6-Rice-Kloecker	12-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 NT	N	−1	♦ A		100	3.32	7.68	9-Campbell-Earls	5-Endres-Kennedy
3 NT	S	−1	♥ J		100	3.32	7.68	10-Pretz-Tedrick	7-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	S	−1	♠ J		100	3.32	7.68	11-Burnam-Hall	9-Kreitzer-Callif
3 NT	N	−1	♦ 6		100	3.32	7.68	12-Petersen-Cushman	11-Olson-Woodham

It's not a bad contract--unfortunately there are only eight tricks--three Hearts, one Diamond, three Clubs, and one Spade, down one. West's best lead is a small Diamond, although very few will find that. A Club is a disaster.

West	North	East	South
			Pass
1 NT1	Pass	2 ♣	Pass
2 ♠	Pass	2 NT2	Pass
3 NT	Pass	Pass	Pass

15 to 17
Alert, may or may not have a 4-card major

E/W play Four-Suit Transfers, so East's 2 NT bid does not guarantee a four-card major. E/W take three Spade tricks, three Hearts, one Diamond, and three Clubs, making four. North may lead the ♠T on the auction.

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

Note West's 2 ♣ bid--over a 1 ♦ opener, a 2 ♣ bid by a passed hand shows (1) 5+ Clubs, and (2) 10 or 11 HCP. How about that? East bids 2 ♠, not looking for a 4-4 Spade fit since their partner has already denied a fourth Spade, but simply bidding out their hand. West chooses to avoid the poor notrump contract and bids 3 ♦.

E/W lose one Spade trick, one Heart, and one Club, making four. South will lead the ♣ J or a trump.

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

15 to 17
Transfer

South upgrades their hand because of their excellent spot cards (8's, 9's, and T's), and North chooses to stay in 3 NT because of their flat hand (4333). N/S take one Spade trick, five Hearts, and four Diamonds, making four. East will grab their three high Clubs and lead the ♠ K.

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

If E/W try and balance in 3 ♦, expect them to be doubled. N/S lose one Spade trick, two Hearts, and two Diamonds, making two. East may lead the ♦ J.

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

N/S take one Heart trick, two Diamonds, one Spade, and four Clubs, making two. West will lead the ♥ Q, and declarer will grab the ♥ A, lead a Club to the ♣ A, and play the ♣T. If West grabs the ♣ K, the hand is too easy and N/S will take nine tricks, so expect that they'll cover with the ♣ J. Declarer will win the ♣ Q, but seven tricks are now their limit.

Interestingly, the only road to eight tricks is for declarer to abandon the Clubs and lead the ♦ J at trick two. East has to cover, and declarer will win the ♦ A. Declarer can return to dummy with the ♣ Q and again lead a Diamond. East will duck and the ♦ 9 will hold. With four tricks in the bag, it's a simple matter to cash the ♣ A and exit with a Heart. The defense is welcome to grab a few tricks (five to be exact), but eventually East will get themselves endplayed and have to play a Diamond into declarer's ♦ Q8 tenace.

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

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

East, knowing that West has a Club fit is more than happy to sneak their second suit in over 3 ♥. With a double fit, West bids the good game, and South sacrifices in 5 ♥ on the vulnerability. N/S lose two Spade tricks, one Diamond, and one Club, down two doubled for –300. That's better than –620 for E/W making 4 ♠. East will lead the ♣ K.

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

N/S take seven Diamond tricks, two Clubs, and one Spade, making four. West may lead a small Spade.

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

Weak two bid

South's 4 ♥ bid is not a weak jump overcall--it's a strong bid and South fully expects to make 4 ♥ opposite a random hand. What's a random hand? On this auction, with 14 HCP, South expects there to be roughly 18 HCP remaining between West and North. Giving North half of the remaining points (roughly nine for the Arithmetically challenged) and half the remaining Hearts (2-1/2 for those same folks), four Hearts should have play. West is hearing none of that and happily bids to 5 ♠ on the favorable vulnerability. E/W lose one Spade trick, one Heart, one Diamonds, and two Clubs, down three doubled for –500. Heh.

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

Alert, artificial XYZ bid creating a game force

North has too big a hand to simply jump to 4 ♠ on their rebid. To show extras, they create a game force with 2 ♦ and then show Spades at the three level. South, with a semi-balanced hand suggests playing in 3 NT and North happily agrees.

N/S take four Spade tricks, one Heart, two Clubs, and four Diamonds, making five. N/S can take 11 tricks in Spades as well, even with the Heart ruff, but notrump pays more. West should lead a safe Spade against 3 NT. Declarer will notice the 4-1 Spade break when they cash the Spades, and when East plays the ♦T under the ♦ K, it will be reasonable to finesse West for the ♦ Q (i.e., West has more cards than East in the suits that aren't so much Spades).

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

Forcing
Stop the madness

South's cuebid doesn't guarantee a Spade fit--they may simply need to make a forcing bid at that moment. North's job is to either show a minimum overcall or show a hand that would have opened. North's rebid of 2 ♠ doesn't show extra Spades--it merely shows a sub-opener.

N/S lose one Heart trick, two Diamonds, and two Clubs, making two. East should lead a trump.