MON 09/18/2017 at Nite

EVENT>Monday Night Invitational|SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> A N-S
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>September 18, 2017 |CLUB NO.>185264    | 09/18/2017 22:01
---------------------,-- ------------------- -------------,---------------------
DIR> Mike Lipp       |RATING>Club International Fund      |MOVEMENT>MITCHELL
------------,-------- ,-------------------------,--------- ---------------------
AVE>   84.0 |TOP>   7 |MP LIMITS>None/500/300   |CLUB>Mike's Games At The CBC
------------ --------- ------------------------- -------------------------------
PAIRS IN STRAT A=11/B=9/C=6                      ,---,-----------------,-------------------------,------,---------,
-------------------------------------------------|   |      Overall    |           Section       |      |Final    |
No Name                   Name                   |Flt|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C| Score | Pct  |Awards   |
------------------------------------------------- --- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ------- ------ ---------
 1 Joy Singerman          William Cook             C   5     3     2   |   3     3     2     92.83  55.26  0.97(OA)
 2 Donald Pollack         Bernice Pollack          C   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     73.85  43.96
 3 Kay Mulford            Linda Drasnin            A   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     71.35  42.47
 4 Kathy Rice             Cecilia Kloecker         C   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     77.86  46.35
 5 Lewis Temples          Elmer Hubka              B   .     4     .   |   4     4     .     86.18  51.30  0.55(OB)
 6 Nalin Mehta            Ila Mehta                B   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     82.25  48.96
 7 David Elliott          Carla Runda              C   .     5     3   |   .     .     .     85.27  50.76  0.55(OC)
 8 Al Venosa              Janet Venosa             B   2     1     .   |   1     1     .     95.91  57.09  2.30(OA)
 9 Richard Magnus         Julian Magnus, Jr        C   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     79.98  47.61
10 Joanne Oppelt          Tim Oppelt               C   4     2     1   |   2     2     1     94.35  56.16  1.29(OA)


                                          Totals                                            839.83


                                 **PAIRS**
BOARD     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9    10    11
  /
   1>   0.64                    5.79  0.64    3-  6.93  2.36  4.64
        -420   ----  ----  ----  150  -420   -50   420  -100    50   ----

   2>   2.36                    6.93  2.36  2.36  2.36  5.79  2.36
        -120   ----  ----  ----  110  -120  -120  -120  -110  -120   ----

   3>   2.83                    0.17  2.83  2.83  6.83          5-
         420   ----  ----  ----  -50   420   420   500    NP   450   ----

   4>   2.36  6.93                    4.64  0.07  4.64  4.64  1.21
        -110   200   ----  ----  ----  100  -650   100   100  -140   ----

   5>   5.21  0.64                    5.21  5.21  2.36  0.64  5.21
         620   170   ----  ----  ----  620   620   500   170   620   ----

   6>   0.64  2.93                    0.64  6.36  6.36  4.64  2.93
        -620  -300   ----  ----  ---- -620   100   100  -170  -300   ----

   7>   5.79  0.07  6.93                    2.36  1.21  4.07  4.07
         400  -120   730   ----  ----  ----  100   -90   110   110   ----

   8>     3-    3-    3-                      3-    3-    3-    3-
        -420  -420  -420   ----  ----  ---- -420  -420  -420  -420   ----

   9>   0.64    3-  0.64                    6.93  2.36  5.79  4.64
        -650  -250  -650   ----  ----  ----  100  -620  -170  -200   ----

  10>   6.36  1.21  2.36  0.07                    4.07  6.36  4.07
        -150  -300  -190  -620   ----  ----  ---- -170  -150  -170   ----

  11>   0.64  6.93  0.64  5.21                    5.21    3-  2.36
        -200   420  -200   100   ----  ----  ----  100    50  -150   ----

  12>   6.93  2.36  0.07  2.36                    5.79  2.36  4.64
         300  -110  -140  -110   ----  ----  ----  150  -110   100   ----

  13>   5.79    3-  1.21  1.21  1.21                    5.79  5.79
         620  -100  -200  -200  -200   ----  ----  ----  620   620   ----

  14>   0.64  4.64  4.64  4.64  4.64                    4.64  0.64
        -170  -140  -140  -140  -140   ----  ----  ---- -140  -170   ----

  15>     3-    3-  0.07  6.93    3-                    1.21  5.79
         620   620  -300   800   620   ----  ----  ---- -200   650   ----

  16>   5.79  1.79  5.79  1.79  0.07    3-                    5.79
         450   420   450   420  -100   430   ----  ----  ----  450   ----

  17>   6.93  2.93  2.93  4.64  1.21  5.79                    0.07
         170  -100  -100   -90  -110   100   ----  ----  ---- -150   ----

  18>   0.07  6.93  4.07  4.07  4.07  1.21                    4.07
        -420  -140  -170  -170  -170  -400   ----  ----  ---- -170   ----

  19>   6.93  1.21    3-  2.36  5.79  4.64  0.07
         420   110   150   120   180   170  -100   ----  ----  ----  ----

  20>   4.64  4.64  0.07  1.79  1.79  4.64  6.93
        -600  -600  -660  -650  -650  -600   100   ----  ----  ----  ----

  21>   4.64  0.64  2.93  2.93  5.79  0.64  6.93
         200  -100   170   170   620  -100   650   ----  ----  ----  ----

  22>     5-    5-    1     1     5-    1     5-    3
         420   420   -50   -50   420   -50   420   200   ----  ----  ----

  23>     6-    1-    1-    6-    1-    4-    4-    1-
         650  -100  -100   650  -100   620   620  -100   ----  ----  ----

  24>     4     1     4     6     1     7     1     4
          50  -140    50   150  -140   300  -140    50   ----  ----  ----

  25>           4-    1     6     1     1     4-    7     3
         ---- -100  -150   -50  -150  -150  -100   110  -110   ----  ----

  26>           3-    7     0     3-    3-    3-    3-    3-
         ----  690  1430   680   690   690   690   690   690   ----  ----

  27>           0     6-    4     6-    1     2     4     4
         ---- -400   100    50   100  -150   -80    50    50   ----  ----

  28>                 4     4     4     6     7     1-    0     1-
         ----  ---- -170  -170  -170    50   110  -420  -690  -420   ----

  29>                 5     1-    7     1-    1-    1-    5     5
         ----  ---- -630  -660   100  -660  -660  -660  -630  -630   ----

  30>                 2     5-    3     5-     -    5-     -    5-
         ----  ---- -100   150   130   150  -140   150  -140   150   ----

  31>                     1.79    3-  6.36  0.07  6.36  1.79  4.64
         ----  ----  ----  500   850  1390   100  1390   500  1370   ----

  32>                     0.07  6.93  1.79  1.79  4.64    3-  5.79
         ----  ----  ---- -600   590  -300  -300  -100  -120   -50   ----

  33>                       3-  1.79  6.36  6.36  1.79  0.07  4.64
         ----  ----  ----  -50  -100   100   100  -100  -140    50   ----



EVENT>Monday Night Invitational|SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> A E-W
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>September 18, 2017 |CLUB NO.>185264    | 09/18/2017 22:01
---------------------,-- ------------------- -------------,---------------------
DIR> Mike Lipp       |RATING>Club International Fund      |MOVEMENT>MITCHELL
------------,-------- ,-------------------------,--------- ---------------------
AVE>   84.0 |TOP>   7 |MP LIMITS>None/500/300   |CLUB>Mike's Games At The CBC
------------ --------- ------------------------- -------------------------------
PAIRS IN STRAT A=11/B=6/C=3                      ,---,-----------------,-------------------------,------,---------,
-------------------------------------------------|   |      Overall    |           Section       |      |Final    |
No Name                   Name                   |Flt|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C| Score | Pct  |Awards   |
------------------------------------------------- --- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ------- ------ ---------
 1 Debbie Wiest           John Altman Sr           A   6     .     .   |   3     .     .     89.88  53.50  0.77(SA)
 2 Susan Wisner           Sharon Kreitzer          A   3     .     .   |   2     .     .     95.53  56.86  1.72(OA)
 3 Stephen Felson         Robert Brown             A   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     81.55  48.54
 4 Joyce Tedrick          Linda Pretz              B   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     80.93  48.17
 5 Joseph Kammer          Gail Zimmer              B   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     77.66  46.23
 6 Patrick Hoffman        Lanny Cai                B   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     78.52  46.74
 7 Joan Diers             Evelyn McCarthy          C   .     .     .   |   .     2     .     82.37  49.03  0.41(SB)
 8 Ralph Terbrueggen      Dennis Schultz           A   1     .     .   |   1     .     .     96.25  57.29  3.06(OA)
 9 Doris Kehoe            Lilam Stanley            A   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     74.81  44.53
10 Annette Kereiakes      Tom Kereiakes            C   .     .     4   |   4     1     1     84.82  50.49  0.58(SB)
11 Jeff Rubinstein        Leonard Kanterman        C   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     79.29  47.20

                                          Totals                                            921.61


                                 **PAIRS**
BOARD     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9    10    11
  /
   1>   6.36    3-        0.07        4.64        2.36  1.21        6.36
         420    50   ---- -420   ----  100   ----  -50  -150   ----  420

   2>   4.64  4.64        4.64        1.21        4.64  0.07        4.64
         120   120   ----  120   ----  110   ----  120  -110   ----  120

   3>   4.17  4.17        0.17                      1-  6.83        4.17
        -420  -420   ---- -500   ----   NP   ---- -450    50   ---- -420

   4>   6.93  0.07  2.36        2.36        5.79              2.36  4.64
         650  -200  -100   ---- -100   ----  140   ----  ---- -100   110

   5>   1.79  6.36  4.64        6.36        1.79              1.79  1.79
        -620  -170  -500   ---- -170   ---- -620   ----  ---- -620  -620

   6>   0.64  4.07  0.64        2.36        4.07              6.36  6.36
        -100   300  -100   ----  170   ----  300   ----  ----  620   620

   7>   6.93  5.79  0.07  2.93        2.93                    1.21  4.64
         120    90  -730  -110   ---- -110   ----  ----  ---- -400  -100

   8>     3-    3-    3-    3-          3-                      3-    3-
         420   420   420   420   ----  420   ----  ----  ----  420   420

   9>     3-  4.64  6.36  1.21        2.36                    6.36  0.07
         250   620   650   170   ----  200   ----  ----  ----  650  -100

  10>   2.93  4.64  0.64  6.93  2.93                    0.64        5.79
         170   190   150   620   170   ----  ----  ----  150   ----  300

  11>   1.79  6.36    3-  1.79  4.64                    6.36        0.07
        -100   200   -50  -100   150   ----  ----  ----  200   ---- -420

  12>   1.21  6.93  4.64  4.64  2.36                    0.07        4.64
        -150   140   110   110  -100   ----  ----  ---- -300   ----  110

  13>   5.79  1.21  5.79  1.21  5.79              1.21          3-
         200  -620   200  -620   200   ----  ---- -620   ----  100   ----

  14>   2.36  2.36  2.36  6.36  2.36              6.36        2.36
         140   140   140   170   140   ----  ----  170   ----  140   ----

  15>   6.93  5.79  0.07  1.21    3-                3-          3-
         300   200  -800  -650  -620   ----  ---- -620   ---- -620   ----

  16>         5.21  1.21  6.93          3-  1.21        5.21        1.21
         ---- -420  -450   100   ---- -430  -450   ---- -420   ---- -450

  17>         2.36  6.93  5.79        1.21  0.07        4.07        4.07
         ----   90   150   110   ---- -100  -170   ----  100   ----  100

  18>         2.93  2.93  2.93        5.79  6.93        0.07        2.93
         ----  170   170   170   ----  400   420   ----  140   ----  170

  19>   4.64        1.21        2.36  0.07  6.93  5.79          3-
        -120   ---- -180   ---- -170  -420   100  -110   ---- -150   ----

  20>   5.21        5.21        2.36  2.36  0.07  2.36        6.93
         650   ----  650   ----  600   600  -100   600   ----  660   ----

  21>   4.07        1.21        6.36  2.36  0.07  6.36        4.07
        -170   ---- -620   ----  100  -200  -650   100   ---- -170   ----

  22>           1-          6     1-    1-    1-    4     6           6
         ---- -420   ----   50  -420  -420  -420  -200    50   ----   50

  23>           5-          2-     -    2-    5-    5-    5-           -
         ----  100   ---- -620  -650  -620   100   100   100   ---- -650

  24>           6           0     3     6     6     3     3           1
         ----  140   ---- -300   -50   140   140   -50   -50   ---- -150

  25>     6           6           2-    2-    0     6     4     1
         150   ----  150   ----  100   100  -110   150   110    50   ----

  26>     3-          3-          3-    3-    3-    0     3-    7
        -690   ---- -690   ---- -690  -690  -690 -1430  -690  -680   ----

  27>      -          6           5     7     3      -    3     3
        -100   ----  150   ----   80   400   -50  -100   -50   -50   ----

  28>           1           0           5-    3     7     3     5-    3
         ----  -50   ---- -110   ----  420   170   690   170   420   170

  29>           5-          5-          5-    2     2     5-    2     0
         ----  660   ----  660   ----  660   630   630   660   630  -100

  30>           1-          6-          1-    5     6-    1-    1-    4
         ---- -150   ----  140   ---- -150   100   140  -150  -150  -130

  31>   0.64        6.93        0.64        5.21  5.21  2.36    3-
       -1390   ---- -100   -----1390   ---- -500  -500 -1370  -850   ----

  32>   5.21        5.21        2.36          3-  6.93  1.21  0.07
         300   ----  300   ----  100   ----  120   600    50  -590   ----

  33>   0.64        0.64        5.21        6.93    3-  2.36  5.21
        -100   ---- -100   ----  100   ----  140    50   -50   100   ----
Monday Night Invitational, Monday Eve, September 18, 2017

Board 1
North Deals
None Vul

♠	9 6
♥	Q J 9 5 4
♦	K 10 8 7
♣	A 10

♠	A Q 10 8 5 4
♥	—
♦	A 9 4 2
♣	9 8 6

N
W		E
S

♠	J 7 3
♥	A 3
♦	Q J 6 3
♣	Q J 7 4

♠	K 2
♥	K 10 8 7 6 2
♦	5
♣	K 5 3 2

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

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

Weak two bid

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	N	4	♣ Q	420		6.93	0.07	8-Venosa-Venosa	4-Tedrick-Pretz
5 ♠	W	−3	♣ A	150		5.79	1.21	5-Temples-Hubka	9-Kehoe-Stanley
3 ♠	W	−1	♥ Q	50		4.64	2.36	10-Oppelt-Oppelt	8-Terbrueggen-Schultz
5 ♥	S	−1	♠ A		50	3.50	3.50	7-Elliott-Runda	2-Wisner-Kreitzer
5 ♥×	S	−1	♦ A		100	2.36	4.64	9-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	6-Hoffman-Cai
4 ♠	W	4	♥ Q		420	0.64	6.36	1-Singerman-Cook	1-Wiest-Altman Sr
4 ♠	W	4	♥ Q		420	0.64	6.36	6-Mehta-Mehta	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman

E/W lose one Diamond, two Clubs, and a Club ruff, down one if North finds the lead of the ♣ A. That said, North will most likely lead the ♥ Q, and 4 ♠ will roll.

Board 2
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	K 10 9 7 4
♥	10 8 7 5
♦	A Q
♣	6 5

♠	A Q J
♥	A 9 3
♦	J 4
♣	A 10 9 4 3

N
W		E
S

♠	6 2
♥	6 4 2
♦	9 8 6 5
♣	K Q 8 7

♠	8 5 3
♥	K Q J
♦	K 10 7 3 2
♣	J 2

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

West	North	East	South
		Pass	Pass
1 NT1	Pass	Pass	Dbl2
2 ♣	Dbl3	Rdbl4	Pass
Pass	2 ♠	3 ♣	Pass
Pass	Pass

15 to 17
Balanced or semi-balanced hand with 10-12 HCP
Alert, Stayman
I like Clubs

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♠	N	2	♣ K	110		6.93	0.07	5-Temples-Hubka	9-Kehoe-Stanley
3 ♣	E	3	♥ K		110	5.79	1.21	9-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	6-Hoffman-Cai
1 NT	W	2	♠ 10		120	2.36	4.64	1-Singerman-Cook	1-Wiest-Altman Sr
1 NT	W	2	♥ 7		120	2.36	4.64	6-Mehta-Mehta	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
1 NT	W	2	♠ 4		120	2.36	4.64	7-Elliott-Runda	2-Wisner-Kreitzer
1 NT	W	2	♠ 10		120	2.36	4.64	8-Venosa-Venosa	4-Tedrick-Pretz
1 NT	W	2	♠ 10		120	2.36	4.64	10-Oppelt-Oppelt	8-Terbrueggen-Schultz

N/S play that a double in the balancing position after a strong 1 NT opening (15-17) shows somewhere between 10-12 HCP and is primarily for penalty. West, with a suit of their own, sneaks in a 2 ♣ bid, and North doubles as Stayman. East, with beautiful Clubs, registers their opinion with a redouble, and the rest of the auction is natural.

E/W lose one Spade trick, two Hearts, and two Diamonds, down one. If North leads a Spade or a Club, E/W will make three. The ♥ 5 works best.

Board 3
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	A K 8 7 4 3
♥	Q 6 4 3
♦	—
♣	K 10 5

♠	Q 10 5
♥	9
♦	Q 10 8 6 4 3
♣	A 8 6

N
W		E
S

♠	9
♥	K J 10 8 7 5 2
♦	J 2
♣	Q 7 4

♠	J 6 2
♥	A
♦	A K 9 7 5
♣	J 9 3 2

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

West	North	East	South
			1 ♦
Pass	1 ♠	Pass	2 ♣
Pass	2 ♥1	Dbl2	2 ♠
Pass	4 ♠	Pass	Pass
Pass

Alert, artificial Fourth-Suit Forcing bid
I like Hearts

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♥×	E	−2	♦ A	500		6.83	0.17	8-Venosa-Venosa	4-Tedrick-Pretz
4 ♠	N	5	♥ 10	450		5.50	1.50	10-Oppelt-Oppelt	8-Terbrueggen-Schultz
4 ♠	N	4	♣ 4	420		2.83	4.17	1-Singerman-Cook	1-Wiest-Altman Sr
4 ♠	S	4	♣ 7	420		2.83	4.17	6-Mehta-Mehta	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
4 ♠	N	4	♠ 9	420		2.83	4.17	7-Elliott-Runda	2-Wisner-Kreitzer
4 ♠	N	−1	♦ J		50	0.17	6.83	5-Temples-Hubka	9-Kehoe-Stanley

When partner makes an artificial Fourth-Suit Forcing bid, your duties are as follows: (1) raise partner's suit with three-card support, (2) raise the fourth suit with four-card support in the fourth suit, (3) bid notrump at the cheapest level with stoppers in the fourth suit, or (4) show extra length in a previously bid suit. In this case, South stopped at (1).

N/S lose one Spade trick and two Clubs, making four. East may lead a trump. If declarer tries to pull trump before ruffing Hearts, they'll lose one Heart and two Clubs.

Board 4
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	10
♥	J 8 4 3
♦	A K 9 5
♣	K Q J 6

♠	J 8 7 3
♥	A K Q 7 6
♦	Q 10 8 4
♣	—

N
W		E
S

♠	A Q 6 4 2
♥	5 2
♦	3
♣	10 8 7 5 3

♠	K 9 5
♥	10 9
♦	J 7 6 2
♣	A 9 4 2

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

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

Alert, artificial Flannery bid showing four Spades, five Hearts, and 11-15 HCP
To play

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	E	−2	♦ 7	200		6.93	0.07	2-Pollack-Pollack	2-Wisner-Kreitzer
3 ♠	E	−1	♥ 10	100		4.64	2.36	6-Mehta-Mehta	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 ♠	E	−1	♦ 2	100		4.64	2.36	8-Venosa-Venosa	3-Felson-Brown
4 ♠	E	−1	♣ A	100		4.64	2.36	9-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	5-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♠	E	2	♦ 2		110	2.36	4.64	1-Singerman-Cook	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
2 ♥	E	3	♣ K		140	1.21	5.79	10-Oppelt-Oppelt	7-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♠	E	5	♥ 10		650	0.07	6.93	7-Elliott-Runda	1-Wiest-Altman Sr

E/W play Flannery, where a 2 ♦ opener shows exactly four Spades, five Hearts, and 11-15 HCP. North, with length in Hearts, has a tough bid. If North doubles 2 ♦, N/S might find the profitable 5 ♦ sacrifice, but there's no telling. No matter what North does in second seat, East is blasting 4 ♠.

E/W lose two Spade tricks and one Diamond, making four. East can take one more trick in a Spade contract than West can, since South is unable to lead a trump on opening lead. South may lead a small Diamond.

Board 5
North Deals
N-S Vul

♠	A 10 9 6
♥	A K Q 6 5 2
♦	J 3
♣	J

♠	J 8 7
♥	9 7
♦	A 8
♣	Q 10 8 6 5 4

N
W		E
S

♠	5 4 3 2
♥	4 3
♦	K 10 9 6
♣	A K 9

♠	K Q
♥	J 10 8
♦	Q 7 5 4 2
♣	7 3 2

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

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

Can you help me in Spades?

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	N	4	♣ A	620		5.21	1.79	1-Singerman-Cook	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
4 ♥	N	4	♣ K	620		5.21	1.79	6-Mehta-Mehta	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♥	N	4	♣ A	620		5.21	1.79	7-Elliott-Runda	1-Wiest-Altman Sr
4 ♥	N	4	♣ A	620		5.21	1.79	10-Oppelt-Oppelt	7-Diers-McCarthy
5 ♣×	W	−3	♥ A	500		2.36	4.64	8-Venosa-Venosa	3-Felson-Brown
3 ♥	N	4	♣ A	170		0.64	6.36	2-Pollack-Pollack	2-Wisner-Kreitzer
3 ♥	N	4	♣ A	170		0.64	6.36	9-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	5-Kammer-Zimmer

North makes a game try by bidding 2 ♠, and South has no problem bidding game. N/S lose two Diamond tricks and one Club, making four. East will lead the ♣ A (asking for attitude), and will continue with the ♣ K at trick two when partner encourages.

Board 6
East Deals
E-W Vul

♠	K J 7
♥	J 3
♦	10 8 4 3
♣	Q J 9 2

♠	Q 6 5 4 2
♥	A K 6 5
♦	K Q 9
♣	A

N
W		E
S

♠	10 9 8 3
♥	10
♦	7 6 5 2
♣	K 8 4 3

♠	A
♥	Q 9 8 7 4 2
♦	A J
♣	10 7 6 5

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

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

All big hands start with double
Showing around 19 points in support of Spades

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	E	−1	♣ 5	100		6.36	0.64	7-Elliott-Runda	1-Wiest-Altman Sr
4 ♠	W	−1	♥ J	100		6.36	0.64	8-Venosa-Venosa	3-Felson-Brown
2 ♠	W	4	♥ J		170	4.64	2.36	9-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	5-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♥×	S	−2	♣ A		300	2.93	4.07	2-Pollack-Pollack	2-Wisner-Kreitzer
4 ♥×	S	−2	♣ A		300	2.93	4.07	10-Oppelt-Oppelt	7-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♠	W	4	♥ J		620	0.64	6.36	1-Singerman-Cook	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
4 ♠	E	4	♦ A		620	0.64	6.36	6-Mehta-Mehta	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes

West loudly invites, but East quietly declines. E/W lose three Spade tricks and one Diamond, making three. South may lead the ♠ A.

Board 7
South Deals
Both Vul

♠	9 8 3 2
♥	J
♦	A J 10 5
♣	A K 4 2

♠	10 6 5
♥	A Q 6 4
♦	K Q 7
♣	Q J 7

N
W		E
S

♠	A Q J 7
♥	10 3
♦	8 6 4
♣	10 8 6 5

♠	K 4
♥	K 9 8 7 5 2
♦	9 3 2
♣	9 3

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

West	North	East	South
			Pass1
1 ♣	Pass2	1 ♠	Pass
1 NT	Pass	Pass	Pass

Not good enough for a vulnerable weak-two bid
Don't make minimum offshape takeout doubles

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♥×	S	3	♠ 6	730		6.93	0.07	3-Mulford-Drasnin	3-Felson-Brown
2 ♥	W	−4	♣ A	400		5.79	1.21	1-Singerman-Cook	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
2 ♥	S	2	♦ K	110		4.07	2.93	9-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	4-Tedrick-Pretz
2 ♥	S	2	♠ 5	110		4.07	2.93	10-Oppelt-Oppelt	6-Hoffman-Cai
3 NT	E	−1	♥ 7	100		2.36	4.64	7-Elliott-Runda	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
1 NT	W	1	♦ 5		90	1.21	5.79	8-Venosa-Venosa	2-Wisner-Kreitzer
1 NT	W	2	♣ A		120	0.07	6.93	2-Pollack-Pollack	1-Wiest-Altman Sr

If South bids 2 ♥ in the balancing seat, North will probably want to upchuck. When South takes nine tricks, North will probably feel a bit better. In 1 NT, E/W take three Spade tricks, two Hearts, one Diamond, and one Club, making one. North may lead the ♦ J.

Board 8
West Deals
None Vul

♠	10 9 6 4 2
♥	3
♦	A 2
♣	K Q 7 5 4

♠	J 5
♥	K J 8 6 5 4 2
♦	8 6 4 3
♣	—

N
W		E
S

♠	A Q 7
♥	A Q 10 7
♦	Q J 7
♣	6 3 2

♠	K 8 3
♥	9
♦	K 10 9 5
♣	A J 10 9 8

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

West	North	East	South
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 ♥	W	4	♠ 10		420	3.50	3.50	1-Singerman-Cook	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♥	W	4	♣ 5		420	3.50	3.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	1-Wiest-Altman Sr
4 ♥	W	4	♣ K		420	3.50	3.50	3-Mulford-Drasnin	3-Felson-Brown
4 ♥	W	4	♦ A		420	3.50	3.50	7-Elliott-Runda	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
4 ♥	W	4	♣ K		420	3.50	3.50	8-Venosa-Venosa	2-Wisner-Kreitzer
4 ♥	W	4	♣ K		420	3.50	3.50	9-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	4-Tedrick-Pretz
4 ♥	W	4	♠ 4		420	3.50	3.50	10-Oppelt-Oppelt	6-Hoffman-Cai

E/W lose one Spade trick, two Diamonds, and a Diamond ruff if North finds the lead of the ♦ A. If not, E/W are making four. North is much more likely to lead the ♣ K or the ♠T.

Board 9
North Deals
E-W Vul

♠	J 9
♥	A 8 7 2
♦	A 7 4 3
♣	8 7 3

♠	Q 6
♥	Q 10 6 4 3
♦	K J 2
♣	Q J 2

N
W		E
S

♠	A 10 8 7 5 4 3 2
♥	9
♦	5
♣	A 9 5

♠	K
♥	K J 5
♦	Q 10 9 8 6
♣	K 10 6 4

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

West	North	East	South
	Pass	4 ♠1	Pass
Pass	Pass

Preemptive

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	E	−1	♦ 8	100		6.93	0.07	7-Elliott-Runda	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
3 ♠	E	4	♦ 6		170	5.79	1.21	9-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	4-Tedrick-Pretz
3 ♠	E	5	♦ 6		200	4.64	2.36	10-Oppelt-Oppelt	6-Hoffman-Cai
3 NT	S	−5	♠ Q		250	3.50	3.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	1-Wiest-Altman Sr
4 ♠	E	4	♦ 8		620	2.36	4.64	8-Venosa-Venosa	2-Wisner-Kreitzer
4 ♠	E	5	♦ 10		650	0.64	6.36	1-Singerman-Cook	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♠	E	5	♦ 8		650	0.64	6.36	3-Mulford-Drasnin	3-Felson-Brown

E/W lose one Heart trick, one Diamond, and one Club, making four. With three sure losers in the side suits, declarer will have to figure out how to play the trump suit for no losers. If they weren't missing the ♠ J in addition to the ♠ K, it would be best to finesse North for the ♠ K. Since they're missing both honor cards, they need to decide whether to play for a singleton ♠ K in either hand or a singleton ♠ J in the South hand. The ♠ K singleton in either hand is twice as likely as specifically ♠ J in the South, so declarer will play the ♠ A on the first round and be justly rewarded. South will lead the ♦T.

Board 10
East Deals
Both Vul

♠	K 10 6 5 4
♥	3
♦	J 10 7 6 5 2
♣	9

♠	—
♥	A 10 9 6 2
♦	Q 9 8
♣	A Q J 6 3

N
W		E
S

♠	J 9 8 2
♥	K 5
♦	A K 3
♣	10 8 5 4

♠	A Q 7 3
♥	Q J 8 7 4
♦	4
♣	K 7 2

EW 6♣; EW 4N; EW 4♥; NS 2♠; EW 1♦; Par −1100: NS 6♠×−4

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

Alert, artificial Flannery bid showing exactly four Spades, five Hearts, and 11-15 HCP

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♣	W	5	♥ 3		150	6.36	0.64	1-Singerman-Cook	9-Kehoe-Stanley
4 ♣	W	5	♥ 3		150	6.36	0.64	9-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	3-Felson-Brown
4 ♣	W	6	♥ 3		170	4.07	2.93	8-Venosa-Venosa	1-Wiest-Altman Sr
2 ♣	W	6	♥ 3		170	4.07	2.93	10-Oppelt-Oppelt	5-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♣	W	7	♥ 3		190	2.36	4.64	3-Mulford-Drasnin	2-Wisner-Kreitzer
4 ♠	N	−3	♦ A		300	1.21	5.79	2-Pollack-Pollack	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
5 ♣	E	6	♣ 2		620	0.07	6.93	4-Rice-Kloecker	4-Tedrick-Pretz

South's 2 ♦ Flannery bid and North's subsequent 4 ♠ preempt make it difficult for E/W to find their 6 ♣ slam. E/W lose only one Heart trick, making six.

North will lead the ♥ 3. Declarer will win in dummy with the ♥ K and lead the ♣T. With the ♣ K onside, it's a simple matter to repeat the Club finesse, pull trump, play a Diamond to the ♦ A, and lead a small Heart towards the closed hand. If South plays low, declarer will win with the ♥ 9, and their 12 tricks will be three Heart tricks, three Diamonds, five Clubs, and a Heart ruff. If South splits their Heart honors, declarer will win with the ♥ A and concede a Heart trick, again making six.

Board 11
South Deals
None Vul

♠	10 4
♥	K 7 5 3
♦	K 10 7 2
♣	Q J 4

♠	A J 9 8 6 5 3 2
♥	6 4 2
♦	Q 4
♣	—

N
W		E
S

♠	—
♥	Q
♦	A J 9 8 5 3
♣	A 9 8 6 5 2

♠	K Q 7
♥	A J 10 9 8
♦	6
♣	K 10 7 3

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

West	North	East	South
			1 ♥
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	420		6.93	0.07	2-Pollack-Pollack	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
4 ♠×	W	−1	♥ K	100		5.21	1.79	4-Rice-Kloecker	4-Tedrick-Pretz
4 ♠	W	−2	♥ 3	100		5.21	1.79	8-Venosa-Venosa	1-Wiest-Altman Sr
4 ♠	W	−1	♥ 3	50		3.50	3.50	9-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	3-Felson-Brown
4 ♥	S	−3	♠ A		150	2.36	4.64	10-Oppelt-Oppelt	5-Kammer-Zimmer
5 ♥	S	−4	♠ A		200	0.64	6.36	1-Singerman-Cook	9-Kehoe-Stanley
5 ♥	S	−4	♠ A		200	0.64	6.36	3-Mulford-Drasnin	2-Wisner-Kreitzer

The results on this hand will be all over the place. Some N/S pairs will try and play in 5 ♥, down four on double-dummy defense. Some N/S pairs will double E/W in 4 ♠ and collect +300, although I'm not sure how that could happen unless South looks extra mad when they make their reopening double and North passes. If you're South and you want to make sure that North passes your double, stare long and hard at West's 4 ♠ bid before doubling. You might also want to ask East (in a menacing voice) whether their partner's 4 ♠ bid could be as weak as ♠ AJxxxxxx. Yep, that'll work.

E/W lose two Spade tricks and three Hearts, down two for –100. North will lead the ♥ 3.

Board 12
West Deals
N-S Vul

♠	K 10 6 5
♥	K J 9 4 2
♦	10 9
♣	Q 6

♠	A 4 2
♥	Q 7 6 5 3
♦	K 6
♣	9 5 4

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 7
♥	A 10 8
♦	A Q 8 5 4
♣	J 10 7

♠	J 9 8 3
♥	—
♦	J 7 3 2
♣	A K 8 3 2

NS 3♠; N 1N; NS 2♣; Par +140

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

Please bid a black suit, partner

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♥×	W	−2	♣ Q	300		6.93	0.07	1-Singerman-Cook	9-Kehoe-Stanley
1 NT	E	−3	♣ 3	150		5.79	1.21	8-Venosa-Venosa	1-Wiest-Altman Sr
2 ♥	W	−2	♣ Q	100		4.64	2.36	10-Oppelt-Oppelt	5-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♥	W	2	♣ Q		110	2.36	4.64	2-Pollack-Pollack	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
2 ♥	W	2	♠ 5		110	2.36	4.64	4-Rice-Kloecker	4-Tedrick-Pretz
2 ♥	W	2	♦ 10		110	2.36	4.64	9-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	3-Felson-Brown
2 ♥	W	3	♠ 5		140	0.07	6.93	3-Mulford-Drasnin	2-Wisner-Kreitzer

When the auction looks like it may be dying and you have support for both of the unbid suits, try extra hard to get into the auction. N/S lose two Spade tricks and two Diamonds, making three. East may lead the ♣ J.

Board 13
North Deals
Both Vul

♠	K Q 7 4
♥	A K 10 9 8
♦	5 3 2
♣	7

♠	8
♥	Q 7 6 5 4
♦	K J 10 8
♣	A 9 2

N
W		E
S

♠	10 9 3 2
♥	J
♦	9 7 6
♣	Q J 8 6 3

♠	A J 6 5
♥	3 2
♦	A Q 4
♣	K 10 5 4

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

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

Alert, artificial Flannery bid showing exactly four Spades, five Hearts, and 11-15 HCP
Alert, artificial bid asking for more information about partner's hand
Alert, artificial response showing exactly 4531 shape (i.e., three Diamonds)

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	S	4	♦ 8	620		5.79	1.21	1-Singerman-Cook	8-Terbrueggen-Schultz
4 ♠	S	4	♦ 10	620		5.79	1.21	9-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	2-Wisner-Kreitzer
4 ♠	S	4	♦ J	620		5.79	1.21	10-Oppelt-Oppelt	4-Tedrick-Pretz
4 ♠	S	−1	♦ J		100	3.50	3.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♠	S	−2	♥ 5		200	1.21	5.79	3-Mulford-Drasnin	1-Wiest-Altman Sr
4 ♠	S	−2	♥ 4		200	1.21	5.79	4-Rice-Kloecker	3-Felson-Brown
3 NT	S	−2	♦ J		200	1.21	5.79	5-Temples-Hubka	5-Kammer-Zimmer

N/S lose two Club tricks and one Diamond, making four. West's best lead is a trump. Declarer will win in dummy with the ♠ Q and lead a Club towards the closed hand. East will play the ♣ J, and declarer should allow it to hold. East will exit with a Diamond, and declarer should win the ♦ A and exit with the ♣ K, covered by the ♣ A, and trumped in dummy. The ♥ A is now cashed, and when the ♥ J appears from East, declarer should stop playing Hearts and finish pulling trump in three more rounds, ending in their hand.

When the final trump is led, West has to find a discard from ♥ Q75 ♦ KJ ♣ 9. If they throw a Heart, dummy's Hearts will all be good. If they throw a Club, they'll be thrown in with the last Heart and have to play away from ♦ KJ into South's ♦ Q4. With this in mind, they'll pitch the ♦ J. The ♥ 3 is now led to the ♥ 8, and a Diamond is ducked to West's stiff ♦ K. Unable to play a Heart into dummy's Heart tenace, West will exit with the ♣ 9 to their partner's ♣ Q, but East now has to play back to declarer's good ♦ Q and ♣T, making four. Nicely played!

Board 14
East Deals
None Vul

♠	A 9 2
♥	10 4
♦	Q 10 6
♣	A K 8 7 4

♠	Q 4
♥	A K Q 9 7 2
♦	K 4 3 2
♣	3

N
W		E
S

♠	J 8 6 3
♥	8 5
♦	A 8
♣	Q 9 6 5 2

♠	K 10 7 5
♥	J 6 3
♦	J 9 7 5
♣	J 10

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

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♥	W	3	♣ A		140	4.64	2.36	2-Pollack-Pollack	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 ♥	W	3	♣ A		140	4.64	2.36	3-Mulford-Drasnin	1-Wiest-Altman Sr
2 ♥	W	3	♣ A		140	4.64	2.36	4-Rice-Kloecker	3-Felson-Brown
3 ♥	W	3	♣ A		140	4.64	2.36	5-Temples-Hubka	5-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♥	W	3	♣ A		140	4.64	2.36	9-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	2-Wisner-Kreitzer
2 ♥	W	4	♣ A		170	0.64	6.36	1-Singerman-Cook	8-Terbrueggen-Schultz
2 ♥	W	4	♣ A		170	0.64	6.36	10-Oppelt-Oppelt	4-Tedrick-Pretz

E/W lose two Spade tricks, one Diamond, and one Club, making three. North will lead the ♣ K and switch to a trump at trick two. Declarer will win, play a Diamond to the ♦ A, a Diamond back to the ♦ K, and ruff a Diamond with dummy's last trump.

Board 15
South Deals
N-S Vul

♠	J 10 3
♥	A 8 6 3
♦	A K J
♣	10 9 6

♠	4
♥	J 10 2
♦	9 8 7 6 4 2
♣	A K J

N
W		E
S

♠	K 7 2
♥	K 7 5 4
♦	10 5
♣	8 7 5 3

♠	A Q 9 8 6 5
♥	Q 9
♦	Q 3
♣	Q 4 2

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

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

Alert, artificial bid showing 13-15 HCP and 3334 shape

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♦×	W	−4	♠ 3	800		6.93	0.07	4-Rice-Kloecker	3-Felson-Brown
4 ♠	S	5	♣ A	650		5.79	1.21	10-Oppelt-Oppelt	4-Tedrick-Pretz
4 ♠	S	4	♣ A	620		3.50	3.50	1-Singerman-Cook	8-Terbrueggen-Schultz
4 ♠	S	4	♣ A	620		3.50	3.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♠	S	4	♣ A	620		3.50	3.50	5-Temples-Hubka	5-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♠	S	−2	♣ A		200	1.21	5.79	9-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	2-Wisner-Kreitzer
4 ♠	S	−3	♣ A		300	0.07	6.93	3-Mulford-Drasnin	1-Wiest-Altman Sr

N/S lose three Club tricks, making four. West may lead the ♣ A (asking for attitude) and switch to the ♥ J at trick two when their partner discourages. Declarer will win with the ♥ A, finesse successfully against East's ♠ K, pull trump in three rounds, overtake the ♦ Q with the ♦ A, and pitch their losing Heart on dummy's third Diamond. When the finesse against East's supposed ♣ J is unsuccessful, declarer will settle for ten tricks.

Board 16
West Deals
E-W Vul

♠	K Q J 5 4 3
♥	—
♦	A 10 9 8
♣	Q 4 2

♠	10 9 2
♥	Q 10 9 6 5
♦	Q 7 6 2
♣	A

N
W		E
S

♠	6
♥	K J 8 4 3
♦	K
♣	J 10 8 7 5 3

♠	A 8 7
♥	A 7 2
♦	J 5 4 3
♣	K 9 6

NS 5♠; EW 4♥; NS 5♦; NS 2N; Par +450

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

Michaels
Alert, Unusual vs. Unusual 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
5 ♠	N	5	♥ K	450		5.79	1.21	1-Singerman-Cook	7-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♠	N	5	♦ K	450		5.79	1.21	3-Mulford-Drasnin	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
4 ♠	N	5	♦ K	450		5.79	1.21	10-Oppelt-Oppelt	3-Felson-Brown
3 NT	S	4	♥ 5	430		3.50	3.50	6-Mehta-Mehta	6-Hoffman-Cai
4 ♠	N	4	♥ 3	420		1.79	5.21	2-Pollack-Pollack	9-Kehoe-Stanley
4 ♠	N	4	♥ 4	420		1.79	5.21	4-Rice-Kloecker	2-Wisner-Kreitzer
4 ♠	N	−2	♥ 4		100	0.07	6.93	5-Temples-Hubka	4-Tedrick-Pretz

The vulnerability keeps E/W from finding a good sacrifice in 5 ♥ (or 6 ♥ for that matter). N/S lose one Club trick and one Diamond, making five. East may lead the ♥ 4.

Board 17
North Deals
None Vul

♠	9 7 6 5
♥	K 7
♦	A 9 7 3 2
♣	K 6

♠	Q J 8 4 3
♥	J 8 6
♦	J 5
♣	A 5 3

N
W		E
S

♠	K 10
♥	10 9 3 2
♦	K 10 4
♣	Q J 4 2

♠	A 2
♥	A Q 5 4
♦	Q 8 6
♣	10 9 8 7

NS 2♥; NS 3♦; NS 1N; N 2♣; NS 1♠; S 1♣; Par +110

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

Showing 5+ Diamonds and 10-11 HCP

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
1 ♠	N	4	♣ J	170		6.93	0.07	1-Singerman-Cook	7-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♠	W	−2	♣ K	100		5.79	1.21	6-Mehta-Mehta	6-Hoffman-Cai
1 NT	E	1	♣ 10		90	4.64	2.36	4-Rice-Kloecker	2-Wisner-Kreitzer
1 NT	N	−2	♠ K		100	2.93	4.07	2-Pollack-Pollack	9-Kehoe-Stanley
2 NT	S	−2	♠ 4		100	2.93	4.07	3-Mulford-Drasnin	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
1 ♠	W	2	♥ K		110	1.21	5.79	5-Temples-Hubka	4-Tedrick-Pretz
2 NT	N	−3	♠ K		150	0.07	6.93	10-Oppelt-Oppelt	3-Felson-Brown

N/S lose one Spade trick, two Diamonds, and one Club, making three. East may lead the ♠ K. Declarer will win in dummy with the ♠ A, and lead a second Spade. West will have trouble ducking this to their partner's ♠T, so they'll most likely hop with the ♠ J and return a small trump, ducked to the ♦ K. East will exit with another small Diamond to declarer's ♦ A. A third Spade is now led, East will discard, and declarer will ruff with the ♦ Q. A Heart to the ♥ K, a Heart back to the ♥ A, and the ♥ Q follow, declarer pitching their last Spade. The ♣T is now led towards the closed hand, and when the ♣ A turns out to be onside, declarer will claim, conceding a trick to East's master trump.

Board 18
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	K 10 7
♥	J 5
♦	Q 9 8 3
♣	A Q 6 4

♠	9 5 4 3 2
♥	K
♦	A J 6
♣	J 8 7 2

N
W		E
S

♠	A J
♥	A Q 8 6 3 2
♦	K 10 7 5
♣	3

♠	Q 8 6
♥	10 9 7 4
♦	4 2
♣	K 10 9 5

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

West	North	East	South
		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
2 ♥	E	3	♣ 10		140	6.93	0.07	2-Pollack-Pollack	9-Kehoe-Stanley
3 ♥	E	4	♣ 5		170	4.07	2.93	3-Mulford-Drasnin	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
2 ♥	E	4	♥ 4		170	4.07	2.93	4-Rice-Kloecker	2-Wisner-Kreitzer
3 ♥	E	4	♦ 4		170	4.07	2.93	5-Temples-Hubka	4-Tedrick-Pretz
2 ♥	E	4	♦ 4		170	4.07	2.93	10-Oppelt-Oppelt	3-Felson-Brown
3 NT	E	3	♦ 3		400	1.21	5.79	6-Mehta-Mehta	6-Hoffman-Cai
4 ♥	E	4	♣ 5		420	0.07	6.93	1-Singerman-Cook	7-Diers-McCarthy

E/W lose one Spade trick, one Heart, one Diamond, and one Club, making three. South may lead the ♣T.

Board 19
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	K Q 9 8 3
♥	A
♦	10 4 2
♣	10 7 6 5

♠	6 2
♥	Q 9 8 7
♦	Q J 6 5
♣	J 9 2

N
W		E
S

♠	J 7 5 4
♥	K J 3
♦	K 9 8 7
♣	Q 3

♠	A 10
♥	10 6 5 4 2
♦	A 3
♣	A K 8 4

NS 6♣; NS 4♠; NS 3N; NS 2♥; NS 2♦; Par +920

West	North	East	South
			1 ♥
Pass	1 ♠	Pass	2 ♣
Pass	3 ♣	Pass	5 ♣
Pass	Pass	Pass

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	N	4	♦ 7	420		6.93	0.07	1-Singerman-Cook	6-Hoffman-Cai
1 NT	S	4	♠ 6	180		5.79	1.21	5-Temples-Hubka	3-Felson-Brown
4 ♣	S	6	♠ 6	170		4.64	2.36	6-Mehta-Mehta	5-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♣	S	5	♦ Q	150		3.50	3.50	3-Mulford-Drasnin	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
2 NT	S	2	♦ Q	120		2.36	4.64	4-Rice-Kloecker	1-Wiest-Altman Sr
3 ♣	S	3	♣ 2	110		1.21	5.79	2-Pollack-Pollack	8-Terbrueggen-Schultz
3 NT	S	−2	♥ 7		100	0.07	6.93	7-Elliott-Runda	7-Diers-McCarthy

N/S lose one Club trick and one Spade, making five. West will lead the ♦ Q. Declarer can win with the ♦ A, cash the top two Clubs and the ♠ A, play the ♠T to the ♠ K, and cash the ♠ Q pitching their losing Diamond. West can win, but it's with a natural trump trick. Since Spades fail to split, declarer will concede a Spade to East (ruffing dummy's two Diamonds in the closed hand).

The hand record says that 12 tricks are available, but that would mean taking a ruffing finesse against East on the third round of Spades--not a bad line, but it would result in going down quickly if Spades turned out to be 3-3 and West holds the ♠ J. Oops.

Board 20
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	—
♥	Q J 10 9 6
♦	9 6 4 3
♣	7 5 3 2

♠	Q J 9
♥	K 7 4 3
♦	J 8 2
♣	A K 8

N
W		E
S

♠	A 10 8 7 4
♥	5
♦	A K Q 5
♣	Q 9 4

♠	K 6 5 3 2
♥	A 8 2
♦	10 7
♣	J 10 6

EW 4N; EW 4♠; EW 4♦; E 4♣; EW 2♥; W 3♣; Par −630

West	North	East	South
1 ♣	Pass	1 ♠	Pass
1 NT	Pass	2 ♦1	Pass
2 ♥2	Pass	2 NT3	Pass
3 ♠4	Pass	4 ♠	Pass
Pass	Pass

Alert, artificial XYZ bid creating a game force and asking for additional information
Showing a fourth Heart, but not denying a third Spade
Biding their time
Showing a third Spade

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	E	−1	♣ J	100		6.93	0.07	7-Elliott-Runda	7-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	W	3	♥ Q		600	4.64	2.36	1-Singerman-Cook	6-Hoffman-Cai
3 NT	W	3	♥ Q		600	4.64	2.36	2-Pollack-Pollack	8-Terbrueggen-Schultz
3 NT	W	3	♥ Q		600	4.64	2.36	6-Mehta-Mehta	5-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♠	E	5	♦ 10		650	1.79	5.21	4-Rice-Kloecker	1-Wiest-Altman Sr
4 ♠	E	5	♦ 10		650	1.79	5.21	5-Temples-Hubka	3-Felson-Brown
3 NT	E	5	♠ 6		660	0.07	6.93	3-Mulford-Drasnin	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes

With such a strong Diamond suit, East may choose to play in 3 NT--definitely a reasonable decision in matchpoints. E/W lose one Heart trick and two Spades, making four as long as South leads the ♥ A and continues Hearts at trick two, declarer ducking. On any other lead, declarer will have time to knock out the ♠ K and claim 11 tricks.

Board 21
North Deals
N-S Vul

♠	Q 6 3
♥	K 10 7
♦	K 6
♣	A K 10 8 7

♠	7 4 2
♥	Q J 8 4
♦	J 8 4 2
♣	5 3

N
W		E
S

♠	A J
♥	A 5 3
♦	Q 10 9 3
♣	J 9 6 4

♠	K 10 9 8 5
♥	9 6 2
♦	A 7 5
♣	Q 2

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

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

15 to 17
Transfer
Showing game-going values and exactly five Spades

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	N	5	♣ 9	650		6.93	0.07	7-Elliott-Runda	7-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♠	N	4	♦ Q	620		5.79	1.21	5-Temples-Hubka	3-Felson-Brown
3 ♠	N	5	♦ 3	200		4.64	2.36	1-Singerman-Cook	6-Hoffman-Cai
3 ♠	N	4	♦ 3	170		2.93	4.07	3-Mulford-Drasnin	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 ♠	N	4	♦ 10	170		2.93	4.07	4-Rice-Kloecker	1-Wiest-Altman Sr
4 ♠	S	−1	♥ Q		100	0.64	6.36	2-Pollack-Pollack	8-Terbrueggen-Schultz
3 NT	N	−1	♦ 3		100	0.64	6.36	6-Mehta-Mehta	5-Kammer-Zimmer

South's hand, with such nice spot cards in Spades, is worth an upgrade. N/S lose one Spade trick, one Heart, and one Club, making four. East may lead the ♦T.

Board 22
East Deals
E-W Vul

♠	5 2
♥	K Q 6 5 4 2
♦	6
♣	Q 10 9 6

♠	K Q J 7
♥	—
♦	K 10 5 4 2
♣	A 7 5 4

N
W		E
S

♠	10 9 6
♥	10 7 3
♦	J 9 8 3
♣	K J 8

♠	A 8 4 3
♥	A J 9 8
♦	A Q 7
♣	3 2

NS 4♥; EW 4♦; NS 2N; EW 2♠; EW 2♣; Par +200: EW 5♦×−1

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

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	S	4	♠ K	420		5.50	1.50	1-Singerman-Cook	5-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♥	N	4	♦ 8	420		5.50	1.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	7-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♥	S	4	♠ K	420		5.50	1.50	5-Temples-Hubka	2-Wisner-Kreitzer
4 ♥	S	4	♠ K	420		5.50	1.50	7-Elliott-Runda	6-Hoffman-Cai
2 ♥	S	5	♠ K	200		3.00	4.00	8-Venosa-Venosa	8-Terbrueggen-Schultz
4 ♥	S	−1	♠ K		50	1.00	6.00	3-Mulford-Drasnin	9-Kehoe-Stanley
4 ♥	S	−1	♠ K		50	1.00	6.00	4-Rice-Kloecker	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
4 ♥	N	−1	♠ K		50	1.00	6.00	6-Mehta-Mehta	4-Tedrick-Pretz

If the vulnerability were different, East would happily bid 5 ♦. As it is.....

N/S lose one Spade trick and two Clubs, making four. West will lead the ♠ K. Declarer, knowing that they have to ruff two Clubs in their hand, will win with the ♠ A and lead a Club towards the ♣ 9 at trick two, losing to the ♣ J. East will return a Heart, but declarer is now in control. If declarer pulls a round of trump before starting on Clubs, they'll more than likely come up a trick short.

Board 23
South Deals
Both Vul

♠	A Q 7 4 3
♥	A Q 4 3
♦	A 10 3
♣	8

♠	10 8 6 2
♥	J 9 5 2
♦	7
♣	K J 6 5

N
W		E
S

♠	J
♥	8 6
♦	K 9 5 2
♣	Q 10 9 7 3 2

♠	K 9 5
♥	K 10 7
♦	Q J 8 6 4
♣	A 4

NS 6♦; NS 5♠; NS 5♥; NS 4N; EW 2♣; Par +1370

West	North	East	South
			1 ♦
Pass	1 ♠	Pass	1 NT
Pass	2 ♦1	Pass	2 ♠2
Pass	3 ♠3	Pass	4 ♣4
Pass	4 NT5	Pass	5 ♥6
Pass	5 NT7	Pass	6 ♥8
Pass	6 ♠	Pass	Pass
Pass

Alert, artificial XYZ bid creating a game force and asking for more information
Showing three Spades and denying a fourth Heart
Leaving room for control bidding
Showing 1st or 2nd round control in Clubs
RKC Blackwood (Kickback) for Spades
1430 response showing two or five keycards w/o the ♠ Q
Guaranteeing all the keycards and asking for specific Kings
Showing the King of Hearts

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	N	5	♣ 10	650		6.50	0.50	1-Singerman-Cook	5-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♠	N	5	♣ 7	650		6.50	0.50	4-Rice-Kloecker	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
4 ♠	N	4	♠ J	620		4.50	2.50	6-Mehta-Mehta	4-Tedrick-Pretz
4 ♠	N	4	♣ 7	620		4.50	2.50	7-Elliott-Runda	6-Hoffman-Cai
3 NT	S	−1	♣ 5		100	1.50	5.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	7-Diers-McCarthy
6 ♠	N	−1	♣ Q		100	1.50	5.50	3-Mulford-Drasnin	9-Kehoe-Stanley
6 ♠	N	−1	♠ J		100	1.50	5.50	5-Temples-Hubka	2-Wisner-Kreitzer
6 NT	N	−1	♣ 7		100	1.50	5.50	8-Venosa-Venosa	8-Terbrueggen-Schultz

This is a good slam, requiring only 3-2 Spades or the ♦ K onside for it to make (around 81%). Oh well.

N/S lose one Diamond trick and one Spade, down one. East may lead the ♥ 8.

Board 24
West Deals
None Vul

♠	J 2
♥	9 6
♦	Q J 9 8 7 4
♣	K J 6

♠	A K 10 9 5 4
♥	Q 8 5 4
♦	5 3
♣	4

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 7 6
♥	A 10 7 2
♦	K 6
♣	10 9 5 2

♠	8 3
♥	K J 3
♦	A 10 2
♣	A Q 8 7 3

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

West	North	East	South
Pass1	Pass	Pass	1 NT2
2 ♠3	2 NT4	3 ♠5	4 ♣6
Pass	4 ♦7	4 ♠8	Dbl9
Pass	Pass	Pass

Don't preempt in first seat with a side 4-card major
15 to 17
Alert, artificial DONT bid showing a sub-opening hand with Spades
Alert, Lebensohl relay to 3 ♣
I like Spades
Willing to play in either 4 ♣ or 4 ♦
I like Diamonds
I still like Spades
Stop the madness!

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠×	W	−2	♥ 9	300		7.00	0.00	6-Mehta-Mehta	4-Tedrick-Pretz
4 ♦	N	5	♠ 6	150		6.00	1.00	4-Rice-Kloecker	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
4 ♠	W	−1	♦ Q	50		4.00	3.00	1-Singerman-Cook	5-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♠	W	−1	♦ Q	50		4.00	3.00	3-Mulford-Drasnin	9-Kehoe-Stanley
3 ♠	W	−1	♦ Q	50		4.00	3.00	8-Venosa-Venosa	8-Terbrueggen-Schultz
3 ♠	W	3	♣ 6		140	1.00	6.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	7-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♠	W	3	♥ 9		140	1.00	6.00	5-Temples-Hubka	2-Wisner-Kreitzer
3 ♠	W	3	♥ 9		140	1.00	6.00	7-Elliott-Runda	6-Hoffman-Cai

Hands where nobody is vulnerable often feel like you're playing with an 80-point deck (see above). E/W lose one Heart trick, one Club, and two Diamonds, down one doubled for –100. That's better than 4 ♦ making for –130. North will lead the ♦ Q.

Board 25
North Deals
E-W Vul

♠	7 4
♥	K 6 5
♦	4 2
♣	A K Q 9 7 2

♠	A Q 5
♥	Q 9 8 2
♦	9 7 6 5
♣	J 10

N
W		E
S

♠	J 10 8
♥	10 7
♦	A K Q 10 8
♣	5 4 3

♠	K 9 6 3 2
♥	A J 4 3
♦	J 3
♣	8 6

EW 2♦; NS 2♣; NS 1♠; NS 1♥; Par −90

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

Negative
Showing a fifth Spade

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♣	N	3	♦ A	110		7.00	0.00	8-Venosa-Venosa	7-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♠	S	−1	♦ 5		50	6.00	1.00	4-Rice-Kloecker	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♣	N	−2	♦ A		100	4.50	2.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	6-Hoffman-Cai
4 ♣	N	−2	♦ A		100	4.50	2.50	7-Elliott-Runda	5-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♦	E	3	♣ 8		110	3.00	4.00	9-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	9-Kehoe-Stanley
5 ♣	N	−3	♦ A		150	1.00	6.00	3-Mulford-Drasnin	8-Terbrueggen-Schultz
3 NT	N	−3	♦ A		150	1.00	6.00	5-Temples-Hubka	1-Wiest-Altman Sr
3 ♥	N	−3	♦ 7		150	1.00	6.00	6-Mehta-Mehta	3-Felson-Brown

E/W lose two Club tricks, two Hearts, and a Club ruff, down one. South will lead the ♣ 8, North will win with the ♣ Q and continue with the ♣ A and a third Club for South to ruff with the ♦ J. Two more Heart tricks defeat the contract.

Board 26
East Deals
Both Vul

♠	K 8 2
♥	K Q J 9 3
♦	9 2
♣	Q J 7

♠	J 9 6
♥	A
♦	10 6 5 4
♣	10 9 8 6 2

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 10 7 4
♥	8 7 6 5
♦	7 3
♣	K 5 4

♠	A 5 3
♥	10 4 2
♦	A K Q J 8
♣	A 3

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

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

Showing 18-19 HCP
Alert, artificial bid asking for more information about partner's majors
Showing three Hearts and denying four Spades
RKC Blackwood (Kickback) for Hearts
1430 response showing 0 or 3 keycards

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
6 ♥	N	6	♦ 7	1430		7.00	0.00	3-Mulford-Drasnin	8-Terbrueggen-Schultz
3 NT	S	6	♣ 10	690		3.50	3.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	6-Hoffman-Cai
3 NT	S	6	♣ 10	690		3.50	3.50	5-Temples-Hubka	1-Wiest-Altman Sr
3 NT	N	6	♣ 6	690		3.50	3.50	6-Mehta-Mehta	3-Felson-Brown
3 NT	S	6	♣ 10	690		3.50	3.50	7-Elliott-Runda	5-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	S	6	♣ 6	690		3.50	3.50	8-Venosa-Venosa	7-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	S	6	♣ 6	690		3.50	3.50	9-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	9-Kehoe-Stanley
4 ♥	N	6	♠ 4	680		0.00	7.00	4-Rice-Kloecker	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes

If East can find a small Club lead, they'll drive declarer crazy. That's unlikely though, since a trump lead or a Diamond lead look much safer. N/S lose one Heart trick, making six.

Board 27
South Deals
None Vul

♠	9 7 6 2
♥	J 8 7 3
♦	2
♣	A K 6 3

♠	K Q 10 5 3
♥	A 6 2
♦	5
♣	J 9 5 2

N
W		E
S

♠	A 4
♥	10 9
♦	A Q 9 7 6 3
♣	Q 10 8

♠	J 8
♥	K Q 5 4
♦	K J 10 8 4
♣	7 4

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

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♦	E	−2	♥ K	100		6.50	0.50	3-Mulford-Drasnin	8-Terbrueggen-Schultz
2 NT	W	−2	♣ A	100		6.50	0.50	5-Temples-Hubka	1-Wiest-Altman Sr
3 NT	W	−1	♣ 3	50		4.00	3.00	4-Rice-Kloecker	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 NT	E	−1	♣ 7	50		4.00	3.00	8-Venosa-Venosa	7-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♠	W	−1	♥ 3	50		4.00	3.00	9-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	9-Kehoe-Stanley
1 ♠	W	1	♦ 2		80	2.00	5.00	7-Elliott-Runda	5-Kammer-Zimmer
2 NT	W	3	♣ K		150	1.00	6.00	6-Mehta-Mehta	3-Felson-Brown
3 NT	W	3	♣ A		400	0.00	7.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	6-Hoffman-Cai

E/W lose two Club tricks, two Hearts, and a Club ruff, making two. North will lead the ♣ K (asking for count) and continue Clubs at tricks two and three. South will ruff the third Club and switch to the ♥ K. Declarer will win in hand, pull trump in four rounds, and concede two Heart tricks.

Board 28
West Deals
N-S Vul

♠	K J
♥	A 9 5 2
♦	K J 10 5 4
♣	Q 9

♠	4 2
♥	Q 10 6 4 3
♦	2
♣	A 8 6 5 2

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 10 9 8 7 5 3
♥	J
♦	A 9 8
♣	K J

♠	A 6
♥	K 8 7
♦	Q 7 6 3
♣	10 7 4 3

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

West	North	East	South
Pass	1 ♦	1 ♠	2 ♦
Dbl1	Rdbl2	2 ♠	Pass
Pass	3 ♦	Pass	Pass
3 ♠	Pass	Pass	Dbl
Pass	Pass	Pass

Responsive double showing Hearts and Clubs
I like Diamonds

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♦	N	3	♥ J	110		7.00	0.00	7-Elliott-Runda	4-Tedrick-Pretz
3 ♠	E	−1	♠ A	50		6.00	1.00	6-Mehta-Mehta	2-Wisner-Kreitzer
3 ♠	E	4	♦ 3		170	4.00	3.00	3-Mulford-Drasnin	7-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♠	E	4	♠ 6		170	4.00	3.00	4-Rice-Kloecker	9-Kehoe-Stanley
3 ♠	E	4	♦ Q		170	4.00	3.00	5-Temples-Hubka	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
4 ♠	E	4	♦ 3		420	1.50	5.50	8-Venosa-Venosa	6-Hoffman-Cai
4 ♠	E	4	♦ 3		420	1.50	5.50	10-Oppelt-Oppelt	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♠×	E	5	♦ Q		690	0.00	7.00	9-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	8-Terbrueggen-Schultz

E/W lose two Spade tricks, one Heart, and two Diamonds, down one doubled for –100. That's only if South leads a Spade on the go or North switches to a Spade when in with the ♥ A. Since it's far more likely that South will lead a small Diamond, expect quite a few E/W pairs to be in 2 ♠ making two, when declarer is able to ruff their two losing Diamonds in dummy. Oops.

Board 29
North Deals
Both Vul

♠	4
♥	J 7 6 3 2
♦	K 6 5
♣	9 8 4 2

♠	K 5 3 2
♥	K Q 8
♦	A 2
♣	Q 10 5 3

N
W		E
S

♠	J 10 9
♥	A 9 4
♦	Q J 7
♣	A K 7 6

♠	A Q 8 7 6
♥	10 5
♦	10 9 8 4 3
♣	J

EW 5N; EW 3♠; EW 3♥; EW 4♣; EW 1♦; Par −660

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

15 to 17
Alert, artificial DONT bid showing Diamonds and a higher-ranking suit
Alert, artificial Lebensohl bid asking partner to bid 3 ♣
Alert, artificial Lebensohl forced bid
Alert, asking partner for a four-card major and showing a Diamond stopper for notrump

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
6 NT	E	−1	♠ 7	100		7.00	0.00	5-Temples-Hubka	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
3 NT	E	4	♠ 7		630	5.00	2.00	3-Mulford-Drasnin	7-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	E	4	♠ 6		630	5.00	2.00	9-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	8-Terbrueggen-Schultz
3 NT	E	4	♠ 6		630	5.00	2.00	10-Oppelt-Oppelt	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 NT	E	5	♠ 7		660	1.50	5.50	4-Rice-Kloecker	9-Kehoe-Stanley
3 NT	E	5	♠ 7		660	1.50	5.50	6-Mehta-Mehta	2-Wisner-Kreitzer
3 NT	W	5	♠ 7		660	1.50	5.50	7-Elliott-Runda	4-Tedrick-Pretz
3 NT	E	5	♠ 7		660	1.50	5.50	8-Venosa-Venosa	6-Hoffman-Cai

E/W have a nice auction to get to 3 NT. E/W take two Spade tricks, three Hearts, two Diamonds, and four Clubs, making five. South will lead the ♦T.

Board 30
East Deals
None Vul

♠	Q 8
♥	10 8 3
♦	A K
♣	10 9 8 5 3 2

♠	A 7 6 3
♥	A K Q 4
♦	10 8 7
♣	6 4

N
W		E
S

♠	K J 4 2
♥	7 6 5 2
♦	5 4 3 2
♣	Q

♠	10 9 5
♥	J 9
♦	Q J 9 6
♣	A K J 7

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

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

Don't make minimum offshape takeout doubles
Do something smart, partner

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♣	S	5	♥ A	150		5.50	1.50	4-Rice-Kloecker	9-Kehoe-Stanley
3 ♣	N	5	♥ 7	150		5.50	1.50	6-Mehta-Mehta	2-Wisner-Kreitzer
4 ♣	N	5	♥ 6	150		5.50	1.50	8-Venosa-Venosa	6-Hoffman-Cai
3 ♣	S	5	♥ A	150		5.50	1.50	10-Oppelt-Oppelt	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
2 ♣	N	4	♠ 2	130		3.00	4.00	5-Temples-Hubka	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
5 ♣	N	−2	♠ J		100	2.00	5.00	3-Mulford-Drasnin	7-Diers-McCarthy
2 ♥	E	3	♣ A		140	0.50	6.50	7-Elliott-Runda	4-Tedrick-Pretz
2 ♠	E	3	♣ A		140	0.50	6.50	9-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	8-Terbrueggen-Schultz

North, knowing that E/W have a fit in one or both majors, sneaks their 2 ♣ bid in to let partner know they have extra length in Clubs. South has more than enough to raise to the three level on the known 9+ card fit. N/S lose two Spade tricks and two Hearts, making three. East may lead the ♥ 7 (top of nothing in a supported suit).

Board 31
South Deals
N-S Vul

♠	J
♥	A Q J 4 3 2
♦	—
♣	A J 9 8 4 2

♠	Q 8 6 3
♥	K 10 6 5
♦	8 6 5 3
♣	K

N
W		E
S

♠	10 9 7 5 4 2
♥	9
♦	A K Q 9 2
♣	10

♠	A K
♥	8 7
♦	J 10 7 4
♣	Q 7 6 5 3

NS 7♣; NS 5♥; NS 4N; EW 2♠; EW 2♦; Par +1100: EW 7♦×−5; EW 7♠×−5

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

Michaels

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
6 ♣	N	7	♠ 3	1390		6.36	0.64	6-Mehta-Mehta	1-Wiest-Altman Sr
6 ♣	N	7	♦ A	1390		6.36	0.64	8-Venosa-Venosa	5-Kammer-Zimmer
6 ♣	S	6	♠ 3	1370		4.64	2.36	10-Oppelt-Oppelt	9-Kehoe-Stanley
5 ♥×	N	5	♣ 10	850		3.50	3.50	5-Temples-Hubka	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
5 ♠×	E	−3	♠ A	500		1.79	5.21	4-Rice-Kloecker	8-Terbrueggen-Schultz
5 ♠×	E	−3	♣ Q	500		1.79	5.21	9-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	7-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♠	E	−2	♥ 8	100		0.07	6.93	7-Elliott-Runda	3-Felson-Brown

When South shows 5+ Clubs and 10-11 HCP (i.e., they're a passed hand), North has more than enough to leap to slam in Clubs. N/S take all 13 tricks, making seven. East will lead the ♦ K (asking for count). Declarer will ruff and play the ♣ A dropping the ♣ K. A Spade to dummy is followed by a Heart finesse, and when that works, it's a simple matter to play the ♥ A, ruff two Hearts in dummy, and claim.

Board 32
West Deals
E-W Vul

♠	K
♥	A K J 4
♦	Q J 2
♣	K 8 7 5 4

♠	10 5 3
♥	3 2
♦	10 8 7 6
♣	J 9 3 2

N
W		E
S

♠	A J
♥	Q 10 8 6
♦	A K 9 4
♣	A Q 6

♠	Q 9 8 7 6 4 2
♥	9 7 5
♦	5 3
♣	10

EW 2N; EW 3♦; EW 2♣; NS 1♠; Par −120

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

All big hands start with a double
Showing roughly 20+ HCP (a 2 NT opener or better)
West's weakest rebid

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠×	S	4	♠ K	590		6.93	0.07	5-Temples-Hubka	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 ♠	S	−1	♦ 8		50	5.79	1.21	10-Oppelt-Oppelt	9-Kehoe-Stanley
3 ♠×	S	−1	♥ 3		100	4.64	2.36	8-Venosa-Venosa	5-Kammer-Zimmer
1 NT	E	2	♥ 5		120	3.50	3.50	9-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	7-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♠×	S	−2	♥ 3		300	1.79	5.21	6-Mehta-Mehta	1-Wiest-Altman Sr
2 NT×	N	−2	♥ 6		300	1.79	5.21	7-Elliott-Runda	3-Felson-Brown
3 NT	E	3	♠ 7		600	0.07	6.93	4-Rice-Kloecker	8-Terbrueggen-Schultz

E/W lose one Spade trick, two Hearts, and one Diamond, making three. North will lead the ♥ A (asking for attitude).

Board 33
North Deals
None Vul

♠	Q 7 2
♥	8 5 3
♦	4 3 2
♣	Q 6 4 2

♠	A J 9 5
♥	J 10 2
♦	J 10 9
♣	A 7 5

N
W		E
S

♠	10 4
♥	A K Q 9 7 6
♦	8 6 5
♣	10 8

♠	K 8 6 3
♥	4
♦	A K Q 7
♣	K J 9 3

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

West	North	East	South
	Pass	2 ♥	Dbl
Rdbl1	Pass	3 NT2	Pass
Pass	Pass

Alert, asking for more information about opener's hand
Alert, artificial Ogust response showing ♥ AKQxxx

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥×	E	−1	♦ K	100		6.36	0.64	6-Mehta-Mehta	1-Wiest-Altman Sr
3 ♥×	E	−1	♦ A	100		6.36	0.64	7-Elliott-Runda	3-Felson-Brown
3 ♥	E	−1	♦ A	50		4.64	2.36	10-Oppelt-Oppelt	9-Kehoe-Stanley
4 ♣	N	−1	♥ A		50	3.50	3.50	4-Rice-Kloecker	8-Terbrueggen-Schultz
4 ♠	N	−2	♥ Q		100	1.79	5.21	5-Temples-Hubka	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 ♠	N	−2	♥ A		100	1.79	5.21	8-Venosa-Venosa	5-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♥	E	3	♦ A		140	0.07	6.93	9-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	7-Diers-McCarthy

E/W take six Heart tricks and two black Aces, down one. North may lead the ♣ 2.

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

Unusual 2 NT
Alert, Unusual vs. Unusual cuebid showing a limit raise or better in Spades
I like Clubs

E/W lose one Diamond trick, making six. South will lead a small Club, won by declarer. Trumps are pulled in three rounds, the ♥ K is cashed, the ♦ 3 is played to the ♦ A, and the ♥ AQ are cashed pitching declarer's Club loser and the ♦ 8. When the ♦ 9 is led and the ♦ J pops up, the hand is over.

West	North	East	South
			1 ♠
Pass1	Pass	1 NT2	Pass
2 ♣	Pass	2 ♥	Pass
2 NT3	Pass	3 NT	Pass
Pass	Pass

Don't make minimum offshape takeout doubles
11 to 14
Alert, partner may or may not have a 4-card major

East has more than enough to accept West's invitation to game. E/W take four Spade tricks, three Hearts, and three Diamonds, making four. Declarer will be tense for a moment until they realize that the Club suit is blocked. Heh.

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

E/W lose one Diamond trick and one Club, making five. North may lead a small Spade. Declarer will win in their hand, play a Heart to the ♥ K, cash the ♠ K pitching a Club, and finesse South for the ♥ Q. Then that works, it's a simple matter to pull another round of trump and lead a Club towards the ♣ K.