MON 10/02/2017 at Nite

EVENT>Monday Night Bridge      |SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> A N-S
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>October 2, 2017    |CLUB NO.>185264    | 10/02/2017 22:22
---------------------,-- ------------------- -------------,---------------------
DIR> Mike Lipp       |RATING>Club Masterpoint (100%, 80%, 70% Open)|MOVEMENT>MITCHELL
------------,-------- ,-------------------------,--------- ---------------------
AVE>  132.0 |TOP>  11 |MP LIMITS>None/500/200   |CLUB>Mike's Games At The CBC
------------ --------- ------------------------- -------------------------------
PAIRS IN STRAT A=14/B=11/C=4                     ,---,-------------------------,------,---------,
-------------------------------------------------|   |           Section       |      |Section  |
No Name                   Name                   |Flt|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C| Score | Pct  |Awards   |
------------------------------------------------- --- ----- ----- ----- ------- ------ ---------
 1 Debbie Wiest           John Altman Sr           A    .     .     .    130.17  49.31
 2 Donald Pollack         Bernice Pollack          C    .     .     2    137.44  52.06  0.20(C)
 3 Judy Crotty Hall       Carla Runda              C    .     .     .     80.78  30.60
 4 Charlie Kobida         Mike Burns               B    .     .     .    122.89  46.55
 5 Liz Lin                Elmer Hubka              A    .     .     .    115.64  43.80
 6 Judith Lubow           Robert Roark             B    .     .     .    119.31  45.19
 7 Sharon Kreitzer        Joy Singerman            B    2     1     .    155.65  58.96  0.98(A)
 8 Kathy Rice             Cecilia Kloecker         C    3     2     1    144.45  54.72  0.70(A)
 9 Nalin Mehta            Ila Mehta                B    6     .     .    140.60  53.26  0.23(A)
10 Richard Magnus         Julian Magnus, Jr        B    .     .     .    121.15  45.89
11 Annette Kereiakes      Tom Kereiakes            C    .     .     .    124.07  47.00
12 Joyce Tedrick          Linda Pretz              B    5     4     .    141.62  53.64  0.31(B)
13 Michael Purcell        Kimberly King            A    1     .     .    166.42  63.04  1.40(A)
14 Anirudh Pandit         Arun Pandit              B    4     3     .    142.51  53.98  0.49(A)

                                          Totals                        1842.70


                                          **PAIRS**
BOARD     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9    10    11    12    13    14
  /
   1>   4.41              0.59  0.59 10.41  2.77        6.59 10.41  8.23    5-  8.23  2.77
        -120   ----  ---- -180  -180   100  -130   ---- -100   100    50  -110    50  -130

   2>  10.41              6.59  0.05  2.23  6.59       10.41  2.23  6.59  2.23  6.59  6.59
         690   ----  ----  660   600   630   660   ----  690   630   660   630   660   660

   3>         4.95              4.95  4.95  4.95  4.95  4.95  4.95  0.05  4.95  9.86 10.95
         ---- -630   ----  ---- -630  -630  -630  -630  -630  -630  -660  -630  -150   100

   4>         8.23              0.59  4.95  4.95  8.23  4.95  0.59  2.23  4.95 10.41 10.41
         ----   90   ----  ---- -300  -100  -100    90  -100  -300  -200  -100   120   120

   5>   7.68  0.59  0.59              2.23 10.95  7.68        3.86  3.86  7.68  7.68  7.68
          50  -400  -400   ----  ---- -150   100    50   ---- -120  -120    50    50    50

   6>   6.59  6.59  0.05              6.59  6.59  2.23        2.23  2.23  6.59 10.95  9.86
         140   140  -100   ----  ----  140   140   -50   ----  -50   -50   140   420   170

   7>   2.77        2.77  2.77              0.05  2.77  6.59  9.86  9.86  6.59  6.59  9.86
         -90   ----  -90   -90   ----  ---- -180   -90   100   200   200   100   100   200

   8>   8.23        3.32  3.32              0.59  3.32  0.59  8.23  8.23  8.23  8.23  8.23
        -400   ---- -460  -460   ----  ---- -490  -460  -490  -400  -400  -400  -400  -400

   9>   0.59    5-  0.59    5-    5-             10.95    5-          5-    5-  9.86    5-
         190   440   190   440   440   ----  ----  500   440   ----  440   440   490   440

  10>   2.23  4.41  7.68  7.68  7.68              3.32 10.95        1.14  7.68  7.68  0.05
         100   620   650   650   650   ----  ----  500   850   ---- -100   650   650  -870

  11>   0.59  6.05        6.05  6.05  6.05              9.86  6.05 10.95  6.05  2.23  0.59
         490   940   ----  940   940   940   ----  ----  990   940  1020   940   520   490

  12>   9.32  4.95        9.32  3.32  1.14              4.95  6.59  1.14  1.14  9.32  9.32
        1440   690   ---- 1440   170  -100   ----  ----  690  1370  -100  -100  1440  1440

  13>  10.95  9.32  3.32  7.14  7.14  3.32  0.05              3.32        3.32  9.32  3.32
         170   140   100   110   110   100  -130   ----  ----  100   ----  100   140   100

  14>   0.59  6.59  6.59  6.59  0.59  6.59  6.59              6.59        6.59  6.59  6.59
         230   480   480   480   230   480   480   ----  ----  480   ----  480   480   480

  15>   1.14  9.86  6.59        9.86  1.14  9.86  1.14              6.59  6.59  4.41  3.32
         150   650   600   ----  650   150   650   150   ----  ----  600   600   200   170

  16>  10.95  3.32  4.95        6.59  4.95  8.77  7.68              1.68  1.68  0.05  9.86
         300  -170  -150   ---- -140  -150  -110  -120   ----  ---- -600  -600  -670   150

  17>   9.32  4.41  4.41  9.32  1.14  4.41  9.32  4.41  0.05                    9.32  4.41
         480   450   450   480   200   450   480   450   -50   ----  ----  ----  480   450

  18>   7.14  1.14  8.77  3.32  3.32  3.32 10.95    5-  9.86                    0.05  7.14
         130  -100   150   100   100   100   600   110   300   ----  ----  ---- -110   130

  19>   1.14  8.77  1.14    5-          5- 10.41 10.41    5-  1.14                5-    5-
         -50   120   -50   110   ----  110   140   140   110   -50   ----  ----  110   110

  20>   1.68 10.41  0.05  6.59        4.95  3.32  8.23  4.95  8.23             10.41  1.68
        -180   100  -210  -110   ---- -120  -130   -90  -120   -90   ----  ----  100  -180

  21>     5-    5-    0    10-    5-    5-    5-    5-    5-    5-   10-                1
        -510  -510 -1010  -480  -510  -510  -510  -510  -510  -510  -480   ----  ---- -980

  22>     6     6     1     1     1     6     6    10    11     6     6                 6
         430   430   400   400   400   430   430   460   800   430   430   ----  ----  430

  23>   4.95  4.95  0.05  4.95  4.95        4.95  4.95 10.41  4.95  4.95 10.41
         680   680   650   680   680   ----  680   680  1430   680   680  1430   ----  ----

  24>   7.14 10.95  7.14  1.14  7.14        2.77  7.14  2.77  0.05  7.14  7.14
         980  1010   980   480   980   ----  510   980   510   230   980   980   ----  ----

  25>           1     1     3-    9-    9-   11     6     3-    1     7-    5     7-
         ---- -100  -100   170   450   450   500   400   170  -100   420   200   420   ----

  26>           2-    2-    9     9     9     9     1     5     5     0     5     9
         ---- -100  -100   120   120   120   120  -200    90    90  -400    90   120   ----

  27>               4.95  1.14  4.95  0.05  8.77 10.41  2.77  7.68  2.77 10.41  6.59
         ----  ---- -120  -150  -120  -180    50   150  -140   -50  -140   150   -90   ----

  28>               6.59  1.14  6.59  6.59 10.95  6.59  2.23  6.59  6.59  6.59  0.05
         ----  ----  150  -140   150   150   200   150   100   150   150   150  -200   ----



EVENT>Monday Night Bridge      |SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> A E-W
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>October 2, 2017    |CLUB NO.>185264    | 10/02/2017 22:22
---------------------,-- ------------------- -------------,---------------------
DIR> Mike Lipp       |RATING>Club Masterpoint (100%, 80%, 70% Open)|MOVEMENT>MITCHELL
------------,-------- ,-------------------------,--------- ---------------------
AVE>  132.0 |TOP>  11 |MP LIMITS>None/500/200   |CLUB>Mike's Games At The CBC
------------ --------- ------------------------- -------------------------------
PAIRS IN STRAT A=14/B=8/C=4                      ,---,-------------------------,------,---------,
-------------------------------------------------|   |           Section       |      |Section  |
No Name                   Name                   |Flt|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C| Score | Pct  |Awards   |
------------------------------------------------- --- ----- ----- ----- ------- ------ ---------
 1 Lewis Temples          Richard Koch             C    .     .     .    119.78  45.37
 2 Stephen Felson         Robert Brown             A    5     .     .    138.73  52.55  0.28(A)
 3 D. Thomas Terwilliger  C Daniel Payne           B    4     3     .    150.21  56.90  0.49(A)
 4 Joseph Kammer          Gail Zimmer              B    3     2     .    150.45  56.99  0.70(A)
 5 Jane Duncan            Joanne Earls             A    .     .     .    122.92  46.56
 6 Monica Ibarra          Pam Campbell             B    .     .     .    126.44  47.89
 7 Herb Schapera          Ralph Terbrueggen        A    6     .     .    132.04  50.02  0.23(A)
 8 Dean Congbalay         William Cook             A    1     .     .    167.23  63.34  1.40(A)
 9 Daniel Koppenhafer     JoAnne Essig             B    2     1     .    162.28  61.47  0.98(A)
10 Doris Kehoe            Lilam Stanley            A    .     .     .     89.64  33.95
11 Jeff Rubinstein        Leonard Kanterman        C    .     .     2    123.70  46.86  0.20(C)
12 Cheryl Endres          Pamela Kennedy           C    .     .     .    108.69  41.17
13 Peggy Jervis           Pat Lindeman             C    .     .     1    123.92  46.94  0.28(C)


                                          Totals                        1716.03


                                          **PAIRS**
BOARD     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9    10    11    12    13    14
  /
   1>   6.59        4.41        0.59 10.41  2.77 10.41    5-  0.59  2.77  8.23  8.23
         120   ----  100   ---- -100   180   -50   180   110  -100   -50   130   130   ----

   2>   0.59        0.59        8.77  4.41  4.41 10.95  8.77  8.77  4.41  4.41  4.41
        -690   ---- -690   ---- -630  -660  -660  -600  -630  -630  -660  -660  -660   ----

   3>   6.05  6.05        6.05       10.95  6.05  6.05  6.05  1.14  6.05  0.05  6.05
         630   630   ----  630   ----  660   630   630   630   150   630  -100   630   ----

   4>   6.05  2.77       10.41        8.77 10.41  6.05  6.05  0.59  6.05  0.59  2.77
         100   -90   ----  300   ----  200   300   100   100  -120   100  -120   -90   ----

   5>  10.41  7.14 10.41        7.14        3.32  8.77  3.32  0.05  3.32  3.32  3.32
         400   120   400   ----  120   ----  -50   150   -50  -100   -50   -50   -50   ----

   6>   4.41  8.77 10.95        8.77        4.41  4.41  0.05  4.41  1.14  8.77  4.41
        -140    50   100   ----   50   ---- -140  -140  -420  -140  -170    50  -140   ----

   7>   1.14  8.23  1.14  8.23        4.41        4.41 10.95  1.14  8.23  8.23  4.41
        -200    90  -200    90   ---- -100   ---- -100   180  -200    90    90  -100   ----

   8>   2.77  7.68  2.77  7.68        2.77        2.77 10.41  2.77  7.68  2.77 10.41
         400   460   400   460   ----  400   ----  400   490   400   460   400   490   ----

   9>  10.41    5-    5-    5-    5-        1.14          5-  0.05 10.41    5-    5-
        -190  -440  -440  -440  -440   ---- -490   ---- -440  -500  -190  -440  -440   ----

  10>   3.32  9.86  3.32  3.32  3.32        3.32       10.95  7.68  8.77  0.05  6.59
        -650   100  -650  -650  -650   ---- -650   ----  870  -500  -100  -850  -620   ----

  11>   0.05  4.95  4.95  4.95  8.77  4.95       10.41       10.41  1.14  4.95  4.95
       -1020  -940  -940  -940  -520  -940   ---- -490   ---- -490  -990  -940  -940   ----

  12>   9.86  1.68  9.86  7.68  1.68  9.86        1.68        1.68  6.05  6.05  4.41
         100 -1440   100  -170 -1440   100   -----1440   -----1440  -690  -690 -1370   ----

  13>   3.86  7.68  3.86  1.68  7.68  7.68 10.95        0.05        1.68  7.68  7.68
        -110  -100  -110  -140  -100  -100   130   ---- -170   ---- -140  -100  -100   ----

  14>   4.41  4.41 10.41  4.41  4.41  4.41  4.41       10.41        4.41  4.41  4.41
        -480  -480  -230  -480  -480  -480  -480   ---- -230   ---- -480  -480  -480   ----

  15>   4.41  1.14  6.59  9.86  7.68  1.14  9.86  9.86        1.14        4.41  4.41
        -600  -650  -200  -150  -170  -650  -150  -150   ---- -650   ---- -600  -600   ----

  16>   9.32  4.41 10.95  6.05  1.14  2.23  0.05  3.32        7.68        6.05  9.32
         600   140   670   150  -150   110  -300   120   ----  170   ----  150   600   ----

  17>   9.86  1.68  6.59  6.59  1.68  1.68  6.59  6.59 10.95        6.59        1.68
        -200  -480  -450  -450  -480  -480  -450  -450    50   ---- -450   ---- -480   ----

  18>   7.68 10.95  7.68  3.86  0.05  3.86    5-  9.86  1.14        2.23        7.68
        -100   110  -100  -130  -600  -130  -110   100  -300   ---- -150   ---- -100   ----

  19>     5-    5-    5-  0.59  9.86  0.59  2.23    5-  9.86  9.86          5-
        -110  -110  -110  -140    50  -140  -120  -110    50    50   ---- -110   ----  ----

  20>   0.59  6.05  9.32  7.68  9.32  2.77  0.59  6.05 10.95  2.77        4.41
        -100   120   180   130   180    90  -100   120   210    90   ----  110   ----  ----

  21>     5-   10     5-    5-    5-    5-    5-   11     5-     -     -          5-
         510   980   510   510   510   510   510  1010   510   480   480   ----  510   ----

  22>     5     5     5     5     1     5     0    10     5    10     5          10
        -430  -430  -430  -430  -460  -430  -800  -400  -430  -400  -430   ---- -400   ----

  23>         6.05  6.05  6.05  6.05  0.59 10.95  6.05  6.05  6.05  6.05  0.59
         ---- -680  -680  -680  -680 -1430  -650  -680  -680  -680  -680 -1430   ----  ----

  24>         8.23  3.86  3.86  0.05  8.23  3.86 10.95  9.86  3.86  3.86  3.86
         ---- -510  -980  -980 -1010  -510  -980  -230  -480  -980  -980  -980   ----  ----

  25>     0           5    10     7-   10    10     7-    3-    1-    6     1-    3-
        -500   ---- -400   100  -170   100   100  -170  -420  -450  -200  -450  -420   ----

  26>     2          10     8-    6     8-    6     2    11     2     6     2     2
        -120   ----  200   100   -90   100   -90  -120   400  -120   -90  -120  -120   ----

  27>         0.59        8.23  6.05  3.32  9.86  8.23  6.05  0.59 10.95  4.41  2.23
         ---- -150   ----  140   120    50   150   140   120  -150   180    90   -50   ----

  28>         4.41        8.77  4.41  4.41  9.86  4.41  4.41  4.41  4.41 10.95  0.05
         ---- -150   ---- -100  -150  -150   140  -150  -150  -150  -150   200  -200   ----
Monday Night Bridge, Monday Eve, October 2, 2017

Board 1
North Deals
None Vul

♠	10 9 6 5 3
♥	A K
♦	8 4
♣	A 9 7 3

♠	A 7
♥	Q 7 3
♦	A Q 9 3 2
♣	K J 6

N
W		E
S

♠	Q J 8
♥	10 5 4 2
♦	K 7 5
♣	10 5 4

♠	K 4 2
♥	J 9 8 6
♦	J 10 6
♣	Q 8 2

EW 2N; EW 2♥; EW 3♦; NS 1♠; Par −120

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

Rule of 20 opener

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♥	E	−2	♠ 2	100		10.41	0.59	6-Lubow-Roark	10-Kehoe-Stanley
4 ♥	E	−2	♠ K	100		10.41	0.59	10-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	5-Duncan-Earls
3 ♥	W	−1	♥ A	50		8.23	2.77	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	7-Schapera-Terbrueggen
2 NT	W	−1	♠ 5	50		8.23	2.77	13-Purcell-King	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
3 ♠	N	−2	♥ 4		100	6.59	4.41	9-Mehta-Mehta	3-Terwilliger-Payne
3 ♦	W	3	♥ A		110	5.50	5.50	12-Tedrick-Pretz	9-Koppenhafer-Essig
1 NT	W	2	♠ 5		120	4.41	6.59	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	1-Temples-Koch
3 ♦	W	4	♥ A		130	2.77	8.23	7-Kreitzer-Singerman	12-Endres-Kennedy
3 ♦	W	4	♥ K		130	2.77	8.23	14-Pandit-Pandit	13-Jervis-Lindeman
1 NT	W	4	♠ 10		180	0.59	10.41	4-Kobida-Burns	6-Ibarra-Campbell
1 NT	W	4	♣ 3		180	0.59	10.41	5-Lin-Hubka	8-Congbalay-Cook

It's a little tough for E/W to get to 2 NT, so 3 ♦ will have to suffice. E/W lose two Heart tricks and two Clubs, making three. North will cash their two high Hearts and switch to a trump. Declarer's only trip to the board (the ♦ K) will have to be used to lead the ♠ Q through South's ♠ K. Once that happens, declarer will have to lead Clubs from their hand losing to both the ♣ Q and ♣ A.

Board 2
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	6 3
♥	7
♦	K Q 8 7 6 4
♣	Q 10 8 7

♠	10 9 7
♥	A 9 8 6 3
♦	J 10 3
♣	6 4

N
W		E
S

♠	A J 8 5
♥	Q 5 2
♦	5 2
♣	J 5 3 2

♠	K Q 4 2
♥	K J 10 4
♦	A 9
♣	A K 9

NS 5N; NS 5♦; NS 5♣; NS 3♠; NS 2♥; Par +660

West	North	East	South
		Pass	2 NT1
Pass	3 NT	Pass	Pass
Pass

20 to 21

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	S	6	♥ 6	690		10.41	0.59	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	1-Temples-Koch
3 NT	S	6	♥ 6	690		10.41	0.59	9-Mehta-Mehta	3-Terwilliger-Payne
3 NT	S	5	♠ 10	660		6.59	4.41	4-Kobida-Burns	6-Ibarra-Campbell
3 NT	S	5	♥ 6	660		6.59	4.41	7-Kreitzer-Singerman	12-Endres-Kennedy
3 NT	S	5	♥ 6	660		6.59	4.41	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	7-Schapera-Terbrueggen
3 NT	S	5	♥ 6	660		6.59	4.41	13-Purcell-King	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
3 NT	S	5	♥ 3	660		6.59	4.41	14-Pandit-Pandit	13-Jervis-Lindeman
3 NT	S	4	♥ 6	630		2.23	8.77	6-Lubow-Roark	10-Kehoe-Stanley
3 NT	S	4	♥ 6	630		2.23	8.77	10-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	5-Duncan-Earls
3 NT	S	4	♥ 6	630		2.23	8.77	12-Tedrick-Pretz	9-Koppenhafer-Essig
5 ♦	N	5	♠ A	600		0.05	10.95	5-Lin-Hubka	8-Congbalay-Cook

If North had one more card (♠ A perhaps), they would have been in 6 ♦. N/S take six Diamond tricks, three Clubs, and two major-suit tricks (losing to both major-suit Aces), making five. West may lead a small Heart.

Board 3
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	9 8 7 3
♥	J 9 6
♦	A K 9 6 4
♣	8

♠	A Q J 4
♥	Q 7
♦	J 3 2
♣	A K 9 3

N
W		E
S

♠	K 10 6
♥	A K 8 3
♦	Q 5
♣	J 10 7 2

♠	5 2
♥	10 5 4 2
♦	10 8 7
♣	Q 6 5 4

EW 5N; EW 5♠; EW 4♥; EW 5♣; EW 2♦; Par −660

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

15 to 17
Alert, artificial Five-Card Stayman bid
Alert, artificial Five-Card Stayman response denying a 5-card major
Alert, showing three Spades and four Hearts

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	W	−1	♦ 6	100		10.95	0.05	14-Pandit-Pandit	12-Endres-Kennedy
3 ♣	W	5	♦ A		150	9.86	1.14	13-Purcell-King	10-Kehoe-Stanley
3 NT	W	4	♦ A		630	4.95	6.05	2-Pollack-Pollack	2-Felson-Brown
3 NT	E	4	♦ 6		630	4.95	6.05	5-Lin-Hubka	7-Schapera-Terbrueggen
3 NT	W	4	♦ K		630	4.95	6.05	6-Lubow-Roark	9-Koppenhafer-Essig
3 NT	W	4	♦ K		630	4.95	6.05	7-Kreitzer-Singerman	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
3 NT	W	4	♦ 6		630	4.95	6.05	8-Rice-Kloecker	13-Jervis-Lindeman
3 NT	W	4	♦ 6		630	4.95	6.05	9-Mehta-Mehta	1-Temples-Koch
3 NT	W	4	♦ 6		630	4.95	6.05	10-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	4-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	W	4	♦ A		630	4.95	6.05	12-Tedrick-Pretz	8-Congbalay-Cook
3 NT	W	5	♦ A		660	0.05	10.95	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	6-Ibarra-Campbell

East tries to play in either a 5-3 Spade fit or a 4-4 Heart fit. When that doesn't pan out, 3 NT will have to do.

If South doesn't find the Diamond lead (why should they?), E/W will make five taking four Spades, three Hearts, and four Clubs. If South does find the Diamond lead (why shouldn't they?), E/W will make five taking four Spades, three Hearts, one Diamond, and three Clubs. Um, expect a lot of +660 scores for E/W.

Board 4
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	K 8 2
♥	4 2
♦	A 10 6
♣	A J 8 3 2

♠	J 10 6
♥	A Q J
♦	K Q 5 4
♣	9 7 6

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 9 5
♥	10 9 7 3
♦	9 7
♣	Q 10 5 4

♠	A 7 4 3
♥	K 8 6 5
♦	J 8 3 2
♣	K

NS 2♠; NS 1N; NS 2♦; NS 1♣; Par +110

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
1 NT	N	2	♦ 9	120		10.41	0.59	13-Purcell-King	10-Kehoe-Stanley
2 NT	S	2	♠ J	120		10.41	0.59	14-Pandit-Pandit	12-Endres-Kennedy
2 ♣	N	2	♦ 9	90		8.23	2.77	2-Pollack-Pollack	2-Felson-Brown
2 ♣	N	2	♦ 9	90		8.23	2.77	8-Rice-Kloecker	13-Jervis-Lindeman
2 NT	S	−1	♥ J		100	4.95	6.05	6-Lubow-Roark	9-Koppenhafer-Essig
3 ♣	N	−1	♦ 7		100	4.95	6.05	7-Kreitzer-Singerman	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
3 NT	S	−1	♦ 4		100	4.95	6.05	9-Mehta-Mehta	1-Temples-Koch
3 ♣	N	−1	♦ 9		100	4.95	6.05	12-Tedrick-Pretz	8-Congbalay-Cook
2 ♥	S	−2	♣ 7		200	2.23	8.77	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	6-Ibarra-Campbell
3 NT	S	−3	♠ J		300	0.59	10.41	5-Lin-Hubka	7-Schapera-Terbrueggen
3 ♠	S	−3	♦ K		300	0.59	10.41	10-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	4-Kammer-Zimmer

Declarer will do their darnedest to keep East off lead (the ♥ K looks very vulnerable). When that proves impossible, seven tricks are the limit--two Club tricks, two Diamonds, and three Spades. That said.....

If West doesn't find a Club lead (why should they?), N/S can take eight tricks...maybe nine. The ♠ J looks like a possible choice for West, and declarer should duck. If West continues Spades (nothing looks better at this point), declarer will win with the ♠ K, lead a Spade to the ♠ A, play the ♦ J to the ♦ Q and ♦ A, and exit with the ♦T (smothering East's ♦ 9). West will probably play back a small Diamond, won on the board with dummy's ♦ 6. A small Club to the ♣ K is followed by the good ♦ 8, the good ♠ 7, and a small Heart. West, down to ♥ AQJ ♣ 9 can win cheaply and cash the ♥ A, but will then have to give declarer their eighth trick with either the ♥ K or the stranded ♣ A. Nicely played!

Board 5
North Deals
N-S Vul

♠	J 10 8
♥	9 7 6
♦	8 5
♣	9 7 5 4 3

♠	A 9 6 2
♥	8 5 4
♦	K 6 3
♣	Q 8 6

N
W		E
S

♠	K 5 3
♥	A J 3 2
♦	A 9 7 4
♣	K J

♠	Q 7 4
♥	K Q 10
♦	Q J 10 2
♣	A 10 2

E 3N; E 3♠; W 2N; W 2♠; EW 2♥; E 3♦; W 2♦; EW 1♣; Par −400

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

15 to 17
Showing 8-9 HCP (probably) and four Spades

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	E	−2	♦ Q	100		10.95	0.05	7-Kreitzer-Singerman	10-Kehoe-Stanley
3 NT	E	−1	♦ Q	50		7.68	3.32	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	13-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♥	E	−1	♦ J	50		7.68	3.32	8-Rice-Kloecker	12-Endres-Kennedy
3 NT	E	−1	♦ Q	50		7.68	3.32	12-Tedrick-Pretz	7-Schapera-Terbrueggen
3 NT	E	−1	♦ Q	50		7.68	3.32	13-Purcell-King	9-Koppenhafer-Essig
3 NT	E	−1	♦ Q	50		7.68	3.32	14-Pandit-Pandit	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
2 NT	E	2	♦ 2		120	3.86	7.14	10-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	2-Felson-Brown
2 NT	E	2	♦ Q		120	3.86	7.14	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	5-Duncan-Earls
2 NT	E	3	♦ Q		150	2.23	8.77	6-Lubow-Roark	8-Congbalay-Cook
3 NT	E	3	♦ 2		400	0.59	10.41	2-Pollack-Pollack	1-Temples-Koch
3 NT	E	3	♦ Q		400	0.59	10.41	3-Hall-Runda	3-Terwilliger-Payne

Note West's 2 ♠ bid. E/W play Four-Suit Transfers, meaning that they use a 2 ♠ response to a 1 NT opener as a transfer to 3 ♣ and a 2 NT response to a 1 NT opener as a transfer to 3 ♦. With that in mind, West has to explicitly bid 2 ♠ on a Stayman auction such as this one to show an invitational hand with four Spades. West's 2 ♠ bid is forcing--opener can

1) bid 2 NT to show a minimum hand with fewer than four Spades
2) bid 3 ♠ to show a minimum hand with four Spades
3) bid 3 ♥ to show a maximum hand five Hearts and fewer than four Spades
4) bid 3 NT to show a maximum hand with fewer than four Spades
5) bid 4 ♠ to show a maximum hand with four Spades
6) bid 3 ♣ or 3 ♦ to show a minimum hand with five (or more) of the minor and a desire not to play in notrump

Phew. That's a lot of options. E/W take three Spade tricks, two Diamonds, two Clubs, and two Hearts, making three. South is going to have a lot of trouble not getting endplayed, and they'll eventually have to give declarer an extra Heart (or Diamond) trick. Rats. They'll most likely lead the ♦ Q.

Board 6
East Deals
E-W Vul

♠	Q 10 3
♥	K 9 7 5 2
♦	5
♣	A K J 3

♠	7 2
♥	Q J 8 6 3
♦	9 8 6 4 3
♣	9

N
W		E
S

♠	J 6 5
♥	4
♦	A K Q 10 7
♣	Q 10 6 2

♠	A K 9 8 4
♥	A 10
♦	J 2
♣	8 7 5 4

NS 4♠; NS 4♣; NS 2N; NS 2♥; EW 3♦; Par +420

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

Too light to introduce their Hearts
Cuebid showing a limit raise or better in Spades
I like Diamonds
Showing a full opener

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	S	4	♣ 9	420		10.95	0.05	13-Purcell-King	9-Koppenhafer-Essig
3 ♠	S	4	♣ 9	170		9.86	1.14	14-Pandit-Pandit	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
3 ♠	S	3	♦ 3	140		6.59	4.41	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	13-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♠	S	3	♣ 9	140		6.59	4.41	2-Pollack-Pollack	1-Temples-Koch
3 ♠	S	3	♣ 9	140		6.59	4.41	6-Lubow-Roark	8-Congbalay-Cook
3 ♠	S	3	♣ 9	140		6.59	4.41	7-Kreitzer-Singerman	10-Kehoe-Stanley
3 ♠	S	3	♦ 9	140		6.59	4.41	12-Tedrick-Pretz	7-Schapera-Terbrueggen
4 ♠	S	−1	♣ 9		50	2.23	8.77	8-Rice-Kloecker	12-Endres-Kennedy
4 ♠	S	−1	♣ 9		50	2.23	8.77	10-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	2-Felson-Brown
3 ♠	S	−1	♣ 9		50	2.23	8.77	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	5-Duncan-Earls
3 ♣	S	−2	♠ 7		100	0.05	10.95	3-Hall-Runda	3-Terwilliger-Payne

N/S lose one Diamond trick and two Clubs, making four. West will lead the ♦ 9 (top of nothing in a supported suit). East will win with the ♦ Q and switch to their stiff Heart. Declarer will win in hand with the ♥ A, ruff the ♦ J, pull trump in three rounds, and lead a Club to the ♣ J. When Clubs don't behave, N/S will be limited to ten tricks (five Spade tricks, two Hearts, two Clubs, and a Diamond ruff).

Board 7
South Deals
Both Vul

♠	J 9 3
♥	A Q 4 3
♦	Q 6 5
♣	A K 2

♠	A K 5 2
♥	K 10 7
♦	K 9 4
♣	Q 5 3

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 8 6 4
♥	9 2
♦	10 8 7 2
♣	9 6 4

♠	10 7
♥	J 8 6 5
♦	A J 3
♣	J 10 8 7

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

West	North	East	South
			Pass
1 NT1	Pass	Pass	Pass

15 to 17

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
1 NT	W	−2	♥ 3	200		9.86	1.14	10-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	1-Temples-Koch
1 NT×	W	−1	♣ A	200		9.86	1.14	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	3-Terwilliger-Payne
1 NT×	W	−1	♥ 3	200		9.86	1.14	14-Pandit-Pandit	10-Kehoe-Stanley
1 NT	W	−1	♥ 3	100		6.59	4.41	9-Mehta-Mehta	13-Jervis-Lindeman
1 NT	W	−1	♣ A	100		6.59	4.41	12-Tedrick-Pretz	6-Ibarra-Campbell
1 NT	W	−1	♣ A	100		6.59	4.41	13-Purcell-King	8-Congbalay-Cook
1 NT	W	1	♣ A		90	2.77	8.23	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	12-Endres-Kennedy
1 NT	W	1	♣ A		90	2.77	8.23	3-Hall-Runda	2-Felson-Brown
1 NT	W	1	♦ 5		90	2.77	8.23	4-Kobida-Burns	4-Kammer-Zimmer
1 NT	W	1	♥ 3		90	2.77	8.23	8-Rice-Kloecker	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
1 NT×	W	1	♥ 4		180	0.05	10.95	7-Kreitzer-Singerman	9-Koppenhafer-Essig

E/W take four Spade tricks, one Diamond, and one Heart, down one for –100. North may lead the ♥ 3.

Board 8
West Deals
None Vul

♠	A K 8 7 3
♥	10 7 4 3
♦	9 8 6
♣	7

♠	Q J 10
♥	—
♦	A K 5 3
♣	K Q J 10 8 4

N
W		E
S

♠	9 5
♥	A K J 9 2
♦	Q 7 4
♣	A 3 2

♠	6 4 2
♥	Q 8 6 5
♦	J 10 2
♣	9 6 5

EW 5N; EW 5♦; EW 5♣; EW 3♥; EW 2♠; Par −460

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

Too light for a one-level overcall
Reverse
Alert, natural and game forcing

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♣	W	5	♠ A		400	8.23	2.77	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	12-Endres-Kennedy
5 ♦	W	5	♠ A		400	8.23	2.77	10-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	1-Temples-Koch
5 ♣	W	5	♠ A		400	8.23	2.77	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	3-Terwilliger-Payne
5 ♣	W	5	♠ A		400	8.23	2.77	12-Tedrick-Pretz	6-Ibarra-Campbell
5 ♣	W	5	♠ A		400	8.23	2.77	13-Purcell-King	8-Congbalay-Cook
5 ♣	W	5	♠ A		400	8.23	2.77	14-Pandit-Pandit	10-Kehoe-Stanley
3 NT	W	5	♠ A		460	3.32	7.68	3-Hall-Runda	2-Felson-Brown
3 NT	W	5	♠ A		460	3.32	7.68	4-Kobida-Burns	4-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	W	5	♠ A		460	3.32	7.68	8-Rice-Kloecker	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
3 NT	W	6	♠ K		490	0.59	10.41	7-Kreitzer-Singerman	9-Koppenhafer-Essig
3 NT	W	6	♠ 7		490	0.59	10.41	9-Mehta-Mehta	13-Jervis-Lindeman

East knows that West will bid 3 ♥ over 3 ♣ if they have a third Heart. If North forgets to cash their two high Spades right away, E/W will make six. That's possible, since the correct lead from ♠ AK873 is a low Spade. If North is anxious to get to the snack table, they'll grab the ♠ AK, and the hand will be over. Ummm....snacks......

Board 9
North Deals
E-W Vul

♠	K J 9 5
♥	8 6
♦	—
♣	Q J 10 8 6 4 3

♠	8 7 6 4
♥	9 7 5 4 3
♦	Q 9 8 3
♣	—

N
W		E
S

♠	A Q 10 3 2
♥	K 2
♦	A J 7 5
♣	9 7

♠	—
♥	A Q J 10
♦	K 10 6 4 2
♣	A K 5 2

NS 7♣; N 5N; S 4N; EW 2♠; NS 2♥; E 1♦; Par +1400: EW 7♠×−5

West	North	East	South
	Pass1	1 ♠	Dbl
3 ♠2	5 ♣3	Pass	6 ♣4
Pass	7 ♣5	Pass	Pass
Pass

Don't preempt in first seat with a side 4-card major
Alert, artificial BROMAD bid showing 0-6 HCP and four Spades
I can make 5 ♣
I'm sure you can
This has to be right

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♠×	E	−2	♣ A	500		10.95	0.05	8-Rice-Kloecker	10-Kehoe-Stanley
3 NT	N	6	♠ 3	490		9.86	1.14	13-Purcell-King	7-Schapera-Terbrueggen
5 ♣	N	7	♠ A	440		5.50	5.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	13-Jervis-Lindeman
5 ♣	N	7	♣ 7	440		5.50	5.50	4-Kobida-Burns	3-Terwilliger-Payne
5 ♣	N	7	♥ K	440		5.50	5.50	5-Lin-Hubka	5-Duncan-Earls
5 ♣	N	7	♠ 10	440		5.50	5.50	9-Mehta-Mehta	12-Endres-Kennedy
5 ♣	N	7	♠ A	440		5.50	5.50	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	2-Felson-Brown
5 ♣	N	7	♣ 7	440		5.50	5.50	12-Tedrick-Pretz	4-Kammer-Zimmer
5 ♣	N	7	♣ 9	440		5.50	5.50	14-Pandit-Pandit	9-Koppenhafer-Essig
4 ♣	N	7	♠ A	190		0.59	10.41	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
4 ♣	N	7	♠ 2	190		0.59	10.41	3-Hall-Runda	1-Temples-Koch

Let's look at the auction from North's perspective. They are sure their partner has a void in Spades, since East needed five for their opening bid and West needed four for their preemptive jump raise. South can't know about North's Diamond void or their extreme Club length, and they still bid 6 ♣ over 5 ♣. With two "surprise" features, North would be remiss not to bid the grand.

N/S take 13 tricks. You might ask "Why would N/S bid 7 ♣ needing a Heart finesse?" Well, they didn't know they needed the Heart hook when they bid 7 ♣--South may have had both red-suit Aces. If the Heart finesse turned out to be necessary, East was still an overwhelming favorite to hold the ♥ K on the auction. It's also quite possible that East may have tried cashing the ♦ A at trick one. Heh.

Board 10
East Deals
Both Vul

♠	K 9 6
♥	9 8 3
♦	7
♣	A Q 10 8 7 2

♠	8 4
♥	A J 10 2
♦	A J 8 5 2
♣	9 3

N
W		E
S

♠	Q
♥	6 4
♦	K Q 10 9 6 4 3
♣	K 6 5

♠	A J 10 7 5 3 2
♥	K Q 7 5
♦	—
♣	J 4

NS 4♠; EW 4♦; NS 3♣; NS 1♥; Par +200: EW 5♦×−1

West	North	East	South
		3 ♦	4 ♠
5 ♦	Pass	Pass	Dbl
Pass	Pass	Pass

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♠×	S	5	♥ A	850		10.95	0.05	9-Mehta-Mehta	12-Endres-Kennedy
5 ♠	S	5	♥ A	650		7.68	3.32	3-Hall-Runda	1-Temples-Koch
4 ♠	S	5	♦ A	650		7.68	3.32	4-Kobida-Burns	3-Terwilliger-Payne
4 ♠	S	5	♠ 8	650		7.68	3.32	5-Lin-Hubka	5-Duncan-Earls
5 ♠	S	5	♦ A	650		7.68	3.32	12-Tedrick-Pretz	4-Kammer-Zimmer
5 ♠	S	5	♦ A	650		7.68	3.32	13-Purcell-King	7-Schapera-Terbrueggen
4 ♠	S	4	♦ A	620		4.41	6.59	2-Pollack-Pollack	13-Jervis-Lindeman
6 ♦×	E	−2	♠ A	500		3.32	7.68	8-Rice-Kloecker	10-Kehoe-Stanley
5 ♦	E	−1	♥ K	100		2.23	8.77	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
6 ♠	S	−1	♣ 9		100	1.14	9.86	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	2-Felson-Brown
3 ♦×	E	4	♠ A		870	0.05	10.95	14-Pandit-Pandit	9-Koppenhafer-Essig

South's 4 ♠ jump overcall is not weak--E/W have already claimed the preemptive high ground. South fully intends to make 4 ♠ opposite a random hand. What does a random hand mean? Well, when East preempts in first seat, they're expected to have between five and 10 HCP and most likely seven Diamonds. With seven Diamonds, statistically they'll have two of each of the other suits. If we assign them nine HCP (they're vulnerable) and 2272 distribution (combined with South's 11 HCP and 7402 distribution), the average remaining hand has 10 HCP and 2/3.5/3/4.5 distribution. That works perfectly opposite South's hand!

E/W lose one Spade trick, one Heart, and one Club, down one doubled for –200. That's much better than –620 (420 better to be precise). North will lead the ♠ 6.

Board 11
South Deals
None Vul

♠	A Q J 6
♥	K 8 3
♦	—
♣	A Q 9 8 5 2

♠	10 8 7
♥	J 2
♦	J 8 7 5 4 3 2
♣	J

N
W		E
S

♠	K 9 5 4 3
♥	Q 10 9 6 5 4
♦	—
♣	7 6

♠	2
♥	A 7
♦	A K Q 10 9 6
♣	K 10 4 3

NS 7♣; NS 6N; NS 5♦; N 2♥; NS 1♠; S 1♥; Par +1440

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

Alert, artificial Sandwich NT bid showing a sub-opening takeout double for the unbid suits
Splinter bid showing a slammish hand with shortness in Spades and 4+ Clubs

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
6 NT	S	7	♦ 5	1020		10.95	0.05	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	1-Temples-Koch
6 NT	N	6	♥ 6	990		9.86	1.14	9-Mehta-Mehta	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
6 ♣	N	7	♥ 6	940		6.05	4.95	2-Pollack-Pollack	12-Endres-Kennedy
6 ♣	N	7	♠ 3	940		6.05	4.95	4-Kobida-Burns	2-Felson-Brown
6 ♣	N	7	♥ 6	940		6.05	4.95	5-Lin-Hubka	4-Kammer-Zimmer
6 ♣	N	7	♥ 6	940		6.05	4.95	6-Lubow-Roark	6-Ibarra-Campbell
6 ♣	N	7	♥ 4	940		6.05	4.95	10-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	13-Jervis-Lindeman
6 ♣	S	7	♥ J	940		6.05	4.95	12-Tedrick-Pretz	3-Terwilliger-Payne
3 NT	N	7	♠ 4	520		2.23	8.77	13-Purcell-King	5-Duncan-Earls
3 NT	N	6	♥ 10	490		0.59	10.41	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	10-Kehoe-Stanley
3 NT	N	6	♥ 6	490		0.59	10.41	14-Pandit-Pandit	8-Congbalay-Cook

With a void in South's first bid suit, it's difficult for North to get to the laydown grand slam. Oh well. N/S lose nothing, making seven. East may lead the ♥T (interior honor sequence). Note the double void in Diamonds--when's the last time you've seen that? Me neither.

Board 12
West Deals
N-S Vul

♠	A K 10 4 2
♥	—
♦	9 8 5 2
♣	A 9 6 3

♠	8 5 3
♥	J 9 6 3
♦	10 4
♣	10 8 5 4

N
W		E
S

♠	Q J 9 6
♥	8 5 4 2
♦	A 7 3
♣	J 7

♠	7
♥	A K Q 10 7
♦	K Q J 6
♣	K Q 2

NS 6N; NS 6♦; NS 6♣; NS 5♥; NS 4♠; Par +1440

West	North	East	South
Pass	1 ♠1	Pass	2 ♥
Pass	2 ♠2	Pass	4 NT3
Pass	5 ♦4	Pass	6 NT5
Pass	Pass	Pass

Rule of 20 opener
Nothing better to bid
RKC Blackwood (Kickback) for Spades
1430 response showing 0 or 3 keycards
I was just kidding about Spades

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
6 NT	S	6	♣ 4	1440		9.32	1.68	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	10-Kehoe-Stanley
6 NT	S	6	♣ 4	1440		9.32	1.68	4-Kobida-Burns	2-Felson-Brown
6 NT	N	6	♣ J	1440		9.32	1.68	13-Purcell-King	5-Duncan-Earls
6 NT	S	6	♣ 4	1440		9.32	1.68	14-Pandit-Pandit	8-Congbalay-Cook
6 ♦	S	6	♥ 3	1370		6.59	4.41	10-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	13-Jervis-Lindeman
3 NT	S	6	♣ 8	690		4.95	6.05	2-Pollack-Pollack	12-Endres-Kennedy
3 NT	S	6	♥ 3	690		4.95	6.05	9-Mehta-Mehta	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
3 ♦	S	6	♣ 8	170		3.32	7.68	5-Lin-Hubka	4-Kammer-Zimmer
6 NT	N	−1	♥ 8		100	1.14	9.86	6-Lubow-Roark	6-Ibarra-Campbell
6 NT	S	−1	♥ 6		100	1.14	9.86	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	1-Temples-Koch
6 NT	S	−1	♥ 8		100	1.14	9.86	12-Tedrick-Pretz	3-Terwilliger-Payne

"N/S always get all the cards! Meh." Since North might hold ♠ AKQJT ♥ 2 ♦ 9852 ♣ J963 and still have an opening bid, South checks for keycards before blasting 6 NT.

N/S take two Spade tricks, three Hearts, three Diamonds, and four Clubs, making six. West should lead the ♠ 8. When they finally get around to playing the Club suit, declarer will start with the ♣ KQ. When the ♣ J falls, the rule of restricted choice suggests that West is twice as likely to hold the ♣T as East is, so declarer will lead toward dummy's ♣ A9 covering any card that West plays. Phew.

Board 13
North Deals
Both Vul

♠	K Q 8 6 5 4
♥	K 3
♦	J 8 3
♣	10 4

♠	A J 10
♥	Q 5
♦	10 6 5
♣	K Q 8 6 5

N
W		E
S

♠	9 7
♥	A 8 7 4 2
♦	7 4
♣	A J 7 3

♠	3 2
♥	J 10 9 6
♦	A K Q 9 2
♣	9 2

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

West	North	East	South
	2 ♠1	Pass2	Pass
Pass

Weak two opener
A little too light to be in the auction

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♠	N	4	♦ 7	170		10.95	0.05	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	9-Koppenhafer-Essig
3 ♠	N	3	♣ A	140		9.32	1.68	2-Pollack-Pollack	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
2 ♠	N	3	♦ 7	140		9.32	1.68	13-Purcell-King	4-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♠	N	2	♣ A	110		7.14	3.86	4-Kobida-Burns	1-Temples-Koch
2 ♠	N	2	♦ 7	110		7.14	3.86	5-Lin-Hubka	3-Terwilliger-Payne
4 ♣	W	−1	♠ K	100		3.32	7.68	3-Hall-Runda	13-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♣	W	−1	♠ K	100		3.32	7.68	6-Lubow-Roark	5-Duncan-Earls
4 ♣	W	−1	♠ K	100		3.32	7.68	10-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	12-Endres-Kennedy
4 ♣	W	−1	♠ K	100		3.32	7.68	12-Tedrick-Pretz	2-Felson-Brown
3 NT	W	−1	♠ K	100		3.32	7.68	14-Pandit-Pandit	6-Ibarra-Campbell
4 ♣	W	4	♠ K		130	0.05	10.95	7-Kreitzer-Singerman	7-Schapera-Terbrueggen

N/S lose one Spade trick, one Heart, and two Clubs, making three. East may lead the ♦ 7 (beer card). Declarer should win in dummy and lead a Spade towards the ♠ KQ. When the Spades prove friendly, the hand is essentially over.

Board 14
East Deals
None Vul

♠	K Q 4
♥	K
♦	Q J 9 7 6
♣	A 10 6 2

♠	9 8 5
♥	Q J 7 2
♦	5 4 3
♣	J 7 4

N
W		E
S

♠	A 2
♥	10 9 8 6 3
♦	K 8
♣	Q 8 5 3

♠	J 10 7 6 3
♥	A 5 4
♦	A 10 2
♣	K 9

NS 6N; NS 6♠; NS 6♦; NS 2♥; NS 3♣; Par +990

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	S	6	♣ 4	480		6.59	4.41	2-Pollack-Pollack	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
4 ♠	S	6	♥ 2	480		6.59	4.41	3-Hall-Runda	13-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♠	S	6	♥ 7	480		6.59	4.41	4-Kobida-Burns	1-Temples-Koch
4 ♠	S	6	♥ 2	480		6.59	4.41	6-Lubow-Roark	5-Duncan-Earls
4 ♠	S	6	♥ Q	480		6.59	4.41	7-Kreitzer-Singerman	7-Schapera-Terbrueggen
4 ♠	S	6	♥ Q	480		6.59	4.41	10-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	12-Endres-Kennedy
4 ♠	S	6	♦ 4	480		6.59	4.41	12-Tedrick-Pretz	2-Felson-Brown
4 ♠	S	6	♥ Q	480		6.59	4.41	13-Purcell-King	4-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♠	S	6	♠ 8	480		6.59	4.41	14-Pandit-Pandit	6-Ibarra-Campbell
3 ♠	S	6	♠ 8	230		0.59	10.41	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	9-Koppenhafer-Essig
3 ♠	S	6	♠ 5	230		0.59	10.41	5-Lin-Hubka	3-Terwilliger-Payne

While 6 ♠ (or 6 NT) both make, they're not good slams needing East to hold the ♦ K. If you're in a slam where there are lots of ways to make and you end up relying on a finesse after the other options are exhausted, that's fine. If you're in a slam with no options other then a finesse, then that's not so good.

N/S lose one Spade trick, making six. West will lead the ♥ Q (or a trump).

Board 15
South Deals
N-S Vul

♠	A Q J 10 7
♥	7 6 5 2
♦	K 9
♣	8 7

♠	8 6 4
♥	A 10 9 8
♦	8 4 3
♣	K Q 6

N
W		E
S

♠	9 3 2
♥	K Q 4 3
♦	6 5 2
♣	J 10 5

♠	K 5
♥	J
♦	A Q J 10 7
♣	A 9 4 3 2

NS 5♠; NS 3N; NS 5♦; NS 4♣; NS 2♥; Par +650

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

Showing an invitational hand with 6+ Spades

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	N	5	♥ K	650		9.86	1.14	2-Pollack-Pollack	10-Kehoe-Stanley
4 ♠	N	5	♥ K	650		9.86	1.14	5-Lin-Hubka	2-Felson-Brown
4 ♠	N	5	♥ K	650		9.86	1.14	7-Kreitzer-Singerman	6-Ibarra-Campbell
3 NT	N	3	♥ 3	600		6.59	4.41	3-Hall-Runda	12-Endres-Kennedy
3 NT	S	3	♥ 10	600		6.59	4.41	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	13-Jervis-Lindeman
3 NT	N	3	♥ 4	600		6.59	4.41	12-Tedrick-Pretz	1-Temples-Koch
2 ♠	N	5	♠ 2	200		4.41	6.59	13-Purcell-King	3-Terwilliger-Payne
3 ♦	S	6	♠ 6	170		3.32	7.68	14-Pandit-Pandit	5-Duncan-Earls
2 ♦	S	5	♦ 3	150		1.14	9.86	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	7-Schapera-Terbrueggen
3 ♦	S	5	♠ 6	150		1.14	9.86	6-Lubow-Roark	4-Kammer-Zimmer
2 NT	S	3	♥ 8	150		1.14	9.86	8-Rice-Kloecker	8-Congbalay-Cook

North is sort of stuck for a rebid, and 3 ♠ is the best bad bid (i.e., two Hearts would be fourth-suit forcing to game, 2 ♠ would be weak and to play, 2 NT with such bad Hearts would be nuts, etc.)

N/S take five Spade tricks, five Diamond tricks, and the ♣ A, making five. That said, if East makes the reasonable lead of the ♥ K, N/S will make six when declarer is able to ruff a Heart in dummy for their twelfth trick. Stupid reasonable leads.

Board 16
West Deals
E-W Vul

♠	K 10 6
♥	A 7 5 4
♦	10 9
♣	K Q 9 2

♠	A 8 7 4 2
♥	Q 3 2
♦	A Q 7 5
♣	3

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 9
♥	J 9 8
♦	J 2
♣	A J 10 8 7 5

♠	J 5 3
♥	K 10 6
♦	K 8 6 4 3
♣	6 4

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

West	North	East	South
1 ♠	Pass1	1 NT2	Pass
2 ♦	Pass	2 ♠	Pass
Pass	Pass

Don't make minimum offshape takeout doubles
Forcing

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	E	−3	♦ 4	300		10.95	0.05	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	7-Schapera-Terbrueggen
2 NT	E	3	♣ 8	150		9.86	1.14	14-Pandit-Pandit	5-Duncan-Earls
2 ♠	W	2	♣ K		110	8.77	2.23	7-Kreitzer-Singerman	6-Ibarra-Campbell
1 NT	E	2	♦ 4		120	7.68	3.32	8-Rice-Kloecker	8-Congbalay-Cook
2 ♠	W	3	♣ K		140	6.59	4.41	5-Lin-Hubka	2-Felson-Brown
2 NT	S	−3	♠ 4		150	4.95	6.05	3-Hall-Runda	12-Endres-Kennedy
3 ♥	S	−3	♣ 3		150	4.95	6.05	6-Lubow-Roark	4-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♠	W	4	♥ 4		170	3.32	7.68	2-Pollack-Pollack	10-Kehoe-Stanley
3 NT	E	3	♥ 6		600	1.68	9.32	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	13-Jervis-Lindeman
3 NT	E	3	♦ 4		600	1.68	9.32	12-Tedrick-Pretz	1-Temples-Koch
2 ♠×	W	2	♣ K		670	0.05	10.95	13-Purcell-King	3-Terwilliger-Payne

There's no reason for East to bid 3 ♣ on this hand with high-honor doubleton in Spades. E/W lose two Heart tricks, one Spade, and two Diamonds, making two. North will lead the ♣ K.

Board 17
North Deals
None Vul

♠	A K 6
♥	A K 10 8 7 2
♦	10 7 6
♣	K

♠	Q 10 8 7 2
♥	Q J 3
♦	2
♣	Q 9 7 2

N
W		E
S

♠	5 4 3
♥	6 4
♦	J 8 4 3
♣	A 8 4 3

♠	J 9
♥	9 5
♦	A K Q 9 5
♣	J 10 6 5

NS 6♦; NS 5N; NS 5♥; NS 2♠; NS 2♣; Par +920

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

A bit of an overbid

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	N	6	♦ 3	480		9.32	1.68	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	6-Ibarra-Campbell
4 ♥	N	6	♥ 6	480		9.32	1.68	4-Kobida-Burns	13-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♠	N	6	♥ 6	480		9.32	1.68	7-Kreitzer-Singerman	5-Duncan-Earls
4 ♥	N	6	♠ 4	480		9.32	1.68	13-Purcell-King	2-Felson-Brown
4 ♥	N	5	♠ 5	450		4.41	6.59	2-Pollack-Pollack	8-Congbalay-Cook
4 ♥	N	5	♣ 3	450		4.41	6.59	3-Hall-Runda	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
4 ♥	N	5	♠ 3	450		4.41	6.59	6-Lubow-Roark	3-Terwilliger-Payne
4 ♥	N	5	♠ 5	450		4.41	6.59	8-Rice-Kloecker	7-Schapera-Terbrueggen
5 ♥	N	5	♦ 8	450		4.41	6.59	14-Pandit-Pandit	4-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♥	N	5	♠ 5	200		1.14	9.86	5-Lin-Hubka	1-Temples-Koch
6 ♥	N	−1	♣ A		50	0.05	10.95	9-Mehta-Mehta	9-Koppenhafer-Essig

N/S lose one Club trick and one Heart, making five. Obviously 6 ♦ would be a better contract, but it's hard to fault N/S for being in the reasonable Heart game. If East leads a trump, N/S will make seven (six Heart tricks, two Spades, and five Diamonds) when the double hook in Hearts proves successful as well as the marked finesse against ♦ Jxxx in the East hand.

Board 18
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	J 7 4 3
♥	A 9 6 5
♦	Q J 8
♣	J 5

♠	10 9 8 5
♥	K Q 4
♦	K 10 7 5 4
♣	A

N
W		E
S

♠	6 2
♥	J 10 8 7 3 2
♦	—
♣	Q 9 8 4 2

♠	A K Q
♥	—
♦	A 9 6 3 2
♣	K 10 7 6 3

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

West	North	East	South
		2 ♥1	3 ♥2
4 ♥3	Dbl4	Pass	Pass
Pass

Interesting
Do you have a Heart stopper for notrump?
I like Hearts
No longer possible to bid 3 NT

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	N	3	♥ J	600		10.95	0.05	7-Kreitzer-Singerman	5-Duncan-Earls
5 ♥×	E	−2	♠ A	300		9.86	1.14	9-Mehta-Mehta	9-Koppenhafer-Essig
2 NT	S	3	♣ A	150		8.77	2.23	3-Hall-Runda	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
2 ♦	S	4	♣ A	130		7.14	3.86	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	6-Ibarra-Campbell
3 ♦	S	4	♥ K	130		7.14	3.86	14-Pandit-Pandit	4-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♠	N	2	♥ J	110		5.50	5.50	8-Rice-Kloecker	7-Schapera-Terbrueggen
2 ♠	W	−2	♦ Q	100		3.32	7.68	4-Kobida-Burns	13-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♥	E	−2	♠ A	100		3.32	7.68	5-Lin-Hubka	1-Temples-Koch
4 ♥	E	−2	♠ A	100		3.32	7.68	6-Lubow-Roark	3-Terwilliger-Payne
3 NT	N	−1	♠ 6		100	1.14	9.86	2-Pollack-Pollack	8-Congbalay-Cook
2 ♥	E	2	♠ A		110	0.05	10.95	13-Purcell-King	2-Felson-Brown

This auction might not be repeated anywhere in the room, but it's not wrong. N/S play Leaping Michaels, so a three-level cuebid of a weak-two opener is asking for a stopper for notrump. West could double the 3 ♥ cuebid, but they're going to bid 4 ♥ anyway after 3 NT-P-P, so why not bid it immediately?

E/W lose two Spade tricks and two Hearts, making three. South will lead the ♠ A and continue Spades at tricks two and three. Declarer will ruff the third Spade, play a Club to the ♣ A, ruff a Diamond, ruff a Club low, ruff a Diamond low, and ruff a third Club with the ♥ K. North should overruff with the ♥ A and lead another Heart to dummy's ♥ Q, but with six tricks already in the bank and the ♥ JT still in their hand, declarer escapes for down two.

Board 19
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	Q J 10 7 5
♥	K Q J 5
♦	K 8 7
♣	Q

♠	A 9 8 4
♥	10 9
♦	4 2
♣	A J 8 6 3

N
W		E
S

♠	6 3 2
♥	8 6 4 2
♦	A Q 10 9 3
♣	K

♠	K
♥	A 7 3
♦	J 6 5
♣	10 9 7 5 4 2

EW 2♣; NS 1♠; NS 1♥; Par −90

West	North	East	South
			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
2 ♥	N	3	♦ A	140		10.41	0.59	7-Kreitzer-Singerman	4-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♥	N	3	♠ 3	140		10.41	0.59	8-Rice-Kloecker	6-Ibarra-Campbell
1 NT	S	2	♣ 6	120		8.77	2.23	2-Pollack-Pollack	7-Schapera-Terbrueggen
2 ♥	N	2	♦ 10	110		5.50	5.50	4-Kobida-Burns	12-Endres-Kennedy
2 ♥	N	2	♣ K	110		5.50	5.50	6-Lubow-Roark	2-Felson-Brown
2 ♥	N	2	♥ 2	110		5.50	5.50	9-Mehta-Mehta	8-Congbalay-Cook
2 ♥	N	2	♣ K	110		5.50	5.50	13-Purcell-King	1-Temples-Koch
2 ♥	N	2	♥ 2	110		5.50	5.50	14-Pandit-Pandit	3-Terwilliger-Payne
2 ♥	N	−1	♣ K		50	1.14	9.86	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	5-Duncan-Earls
2 ♥	N	−1	♥ 2		50	1.14	9.86	3-Hall-Runda	9-Koppenhafer-Essig
2 ♥	S	−1	♥ 10		50	1.14	9.86	10-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	10-Kehoe-Stanley

Every once in a while, you'll run into a pair who announce "Semi-forcing" when their partner, who's a passed hand, responds 1 NT after their 1 ♥ or 1 ♠ opening. What does that mean? Well, it seems to mean a lot of different things to different people, but a reasonable interpretation is "Partner, please take a bid unless you opened 1 ♥ or 1 ♠ with a sub-opening semi-balanced hand (i.e., 11 HCP and 5332 shape)."

N/S lose one Spade trick, two Diamonds, one Club, a Diamond ruff, and a trump uppercut, down one on double-dummy defense. East will have to find the lead of their stiff ♣ K, and West will need to overtake. A Diamond back to the ♦ Q, ♦ A, and a Diamond ruff are followed by ♠ A and a second Club. Declarer has to ruff high or East's ♥ 8 will be the immediate setting trick, but it only postpones the inevitable.

Board 20
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	Q 7 6 5
♥	J 7 5
♦	K 9 8
♣	A 10 3

♠	K 10 8 2
♥	Q 9
♦	A J 6 4 3
♣	K Q

N
W		E
S

♠	A 4 3
♥	A 8 3 2
♦	10 7 5
♣	J 6 4

♠	J 9
♥	K 10 6 4
♦	Q 2
♣	9 8 7 5 2

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

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

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	W	−1	♦ 8	100		10.41	0.59	2-Pollack-Pollack	7-Schapera-Terbrueggen
3 NT	E	−1	♥ 4	100		10.41	0.59	13-Purcell-King	1-Temples-Koch
1 NT	E	1	♣ 9		90	8.23	2.77	8-Rice-Kloecker	6-Ibarra-Campbell
1 NT	E	1	♣ 4		90	8.23	2.77	10-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	10-Kehoe-Stanley
1 ♠	W	2	♦ 8		110	6.59	4.41	4-Kobida-Burns	12-Endres-Kennedy
2 NT	W	2	♠ 5		120	4.95	6.05	6-Lubow-Roark	2-Felson-Brown
1 NT	E	2	♣ 9		120	4.95	6.05	9-Mehta-Mehta	8-Congbalay-Cook
2 ♦	W	4	♦ 8		130	3.32	7.68	7-Kreitzer-Singerman	4-Kammer-Zimmer
2 NT	W	4	♥ 5		180	1.68	9.32	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	5-Duncan-Earls
2 NT	W	4	♦ 8		180	1.68	9.32	14-Pandit-Pandit	3-Terwilliger-Payne
2 NT	E	5	♣ 9		210	0.05	10.95	3-Hall-Runda	9-Koppenhafer-Essig

You don't usually want to open 1 NT with two doubletons, but West's hand is the exception. If you open this hand 1 ♦, what will you bid over partner's possible responses? If partner bids 1 ♥, you have an easy rebid of 1 ♠, but what will you then do if partner rebids 1 NT? Same question if partner doesn't have a four-card Heart suit and responds with an immediate 1 NT over your 1 ♦ bid? If you pass, you're showing fewer than 15 HCP (i.e., partner could have 10 HCP). If you rebid 2 ♠, you're showing a full reverse (i.e., a five-loser hand with either better shape or more points). 2 ♦? Okay, that's close, but why not open it 1 NT? That's rhetorical, so don't try answering it.

E/W take two Club tricks, two Spades, two Hearts, and three Diamonds, making three. North will not relish being on lead, but a Heart lead won't cost a trick.

Board 21
North Deals
N-S Vul

♠	Q 4
♥	A 10 8 6
♦	Q J 8 6
♣	7 5 4

♠	A 10 8 6 5
♥	Q 5 2
♦	A 9 5
♣	Q 8

N
W		E
S

♠	K J 9 7
♥	K 4
♦	2
♣	A K J 9 6 3

♠	3 2
♥	J 9 7 3
♦	K 10 7 4 3
♣	10 2

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

West	North	East	South
	Pass	1 ♣	Pass
1 ♠	Pass	3 ♠	Pass
4 ♦1	Pass	4 NT2	Pass
5 ♠3	Pass	6 ♠	Pass
Pass	Pass

Cuebid showing 1st or 2nd round control of Diamonds
RKC Blackwood (Kickback) for Spades
1430 response showing 2 or 5 keycards w/ the ♠ Q

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	W	6	♦ Q		480	10.50	0.50	4-Kobida-Burns	10-Kehoe-Stanley
4 ♠	W	6	♦ Q		480	10.50	0.50	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
4 ♠	W	7	♦ Q		510	5.50	5.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	4-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♠	W	7	♦ 6		510	5.50	5.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	6-Ibarra-Campbell
4 ♠	W	7	♦ 6		510	5.50	5.50	5-Lin-Hubka	13-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♠	W	7	♦ Q		510	5.50	5.50	6-Lubow-Roark	1-Temples-Koch
4 ♠	W	7	♦ Q		510	5.50	5.50	7-Kreitzer-Singerman	3-Terwilliger-Payne
4 ♠	W	7	♦ Q		510	5.50	5.50	8-Rice-Kloecker	5-Duncan-Earls
4 ♠	W	7	♣ 5		510	5.50	5.50	9-Mehta-Mehta	7-Schapera-Terbrueggen
4 ♠	W	7	♦ Q		510	5.50	5.50	10-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	9-Koppenhafer-Essig
6 ♠	W	6	♥ A		980	1.00	10.00	14-Pandit-Pandit	2-Felson-Brown
6 ♠	W	7	♦ Q		1010	0.00	11.00	3-Hall-Runda	8-Congbalay-Cook

West takes a position when they respond 5 ♠ to their partner's keycard ask. They know their partner has no idea that they have a fifth Spade for their 1 ♠ bid, so rather than bid 5 ♥ to deny the ♠ Q, they bid 5 ♠ to claim it. Why would they do that? Well, since E/W have nine Spades between them, there's a pretty good chance that the ♠ Q will fall in two rounds. If West responds 5 ♥ and their partner bids 5 ♠, West won't know whether they're missing two keycards or partner simply doesn't want to be in slam missing one keycard and the ♠ Q.

E/W lose one Heart trick, making six. If North doesn't lead the ♥ A, they're not going to get it, since declarer can pull trump in two rounds and pitch their Hearts on dummy's long Clubs. Oops.

Board 22
East Deals
E-W Vul

♠	K Q 9
♥	A K Q 5
♦	K Q 4
♣	A J 9

♠	A 10 8 7 4
♥	8 7 4
♦	8
♣	K 6 3 2

N
W		E
S

♠	6
♥	9 3 2
♦	A J 10 9 7 5 2
♣	7 5

♠	J 5 3 2
♥	J 10 6
♦	6 3
♣	Q 10 8 4

NS 4N; NS 3♠; NS 2♥; EW 1♦; NS 1♣; Par +430

West	North	East	South
		3 ♦	Pass
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 ♠×	W	−3	♥ K	800		11.00	0.00	9-Mehta-Mehta	7-Schapera-Terbrueggen
3 NT	N	5	♦ A	460		10.00	1.00	8-Rice-Kloecker	5-Duncan-Earls
3 NT	N	4	♠ 6	430		6.00	5.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	4-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	N	4	♦ J	430		6.00	5.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	6-Ibarra-Campbell
3 NT	N	4	♥ 3	430		6.00	5.00	6-Lubow-Roark	1-Temples-Koch
3 NT	S	4	♦ J	430		6.00	5.00	7-Kreitzer-Singerman	3-Terwilliger-Payne
3 NT	N	4	♦ J	430		6.00	5.00	10-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	9-Koppenhafer-Essig
3 NT	N	4	♦ J	430		6.00	5.00	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
3 NT	N	4	♦ J	430		6.00	5.00	14-Pandit-Pandit	2-Felson-Brown
3 NT	N	3	♥ 9	400		1.00	10.00	3-Hall-Runda	8-Congbalay-Cook
3 NT	N	3	♦ J	400		1.00	10.00	4-Kobida-Burns	10-Kehoe-Stanley
3 NT	N	3	♦ 9	400		1.00	10.00	5-Lin-Hubka	13-Jervis-Lindeman

If you're North and you didn't overcall 3 NT on this hand, why not? N/S take four Heart tricks, three Clubs, one Diamond, and two Spades, making four. East will lead the ♦ J.

One thing to talk about with your partner is whether transfers should on at the four level after North's 3 NT overcall. I think they should be, since South could easily have held something like ♠ JT8764 ♥ J6 ♦ 63 ♣ QT8. That said, 4 ♣ should not be played as Stayman after a 3 NT overcall.

Board 23
South Deals
Both Vul

♠	A 9 3 2
♥	9 7 6
♦	A K 7 3
♣	Q 7

♠	5 4
♥	10
♦	10 6 2
♣	9 8 6 5 4 3 2

N
W		E
S

♠	J 10 8
♥	K 8 5 3
♦	9 8 5
♣	A J 10

♠	K Q 7 6
♥	A Q J 4 2
♦	Q J 4
♣	K

NS 6N; NS 6♠; NS 6♦; NS 5♥; NS 1♣; Par +1440

West	North	East	South
			1 ♥
Pass	1 ♠	Pass	4 ♣1
Pass	4 ♦2	Pass	4 NT3
Pass	5 ♥4	Pass	6 ♠
Pass	Pass	Pass

Splinter bid showing shortness in Clubs, 4+ Spades, and a game-going hand opposite a minimum response.
Showing slam interest and 1st or 2nd round control in Diamonds
RKC Blackwood (Kickback) for Spades
1430 response showing 2 or 5 keycards w/o the ♠ Q

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
6 ♠	N	6	♦ 8	1430		10.41	0.59	9-Mehta-Mehta	6-Ibarra-Campbell
6 ♠	N	6	♣ A	1430		10.41	0.59	12-Tedrick-Pretz	12-Endres-Kennedy
5 ♥	S	6	♣ 4	680		4.95	6.05	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	3-Terwilliger-Payne
4 ♠	N	6	♦ 8	680		4.95	6.05	2-Pollack-Pollack	5-Duncan-Earls
4 ♥	S	6	♣ 9	680		4.95	6.05	4-Kobida-Burns	9-Koppenhafer-Essig
4 ♥	S	6	♠ 5	680		4.95	6.05	5-Lin-Hubka	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
4 ♥	S	6	♣ 9	680		4.95	6.05	7-Kreitzer-Singerman	2-Felson-Brown
4 ♥	S	6	♣ 9	680		4.95	6.05	8-Rice-Kloecker	4-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♠	N	6	♦ 9	680		4.95	6.05	10-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	8-Congbalay-Cook
4 ♠	N	6	♥ 3	680		4.95	6.05	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	10-Kehoe-Stanley
4 ♠	N	5	♦ 9	650		0.05	10.95	3-Hall-Runda	7-Schapera-Terbrueggen

This isn't the best slam in the world needing the ♥ K onside. N/S lose one Club trick, making six. East may lead the ♠ J.

Board 24
West Deals
None Vul

♠	K 10 9 5 3
♥	A Q
♦	Q 3 2
♣	J 5 4

♠	4
♥	10 8 7 3
♦	10 7 5
♣	K Q 10 6 3

N
W		E
S

♠	J 7 6
♥	9 6 4
♦	J 9 6
♣	A 8 7 2

♠	A Q 8 2
♥	K J 5 2
♦	A K 8 4
♣	9

NS 6♠; NS 6♦; NS 4♥; NS 2N; NS 1♣; Par +980

West	North	East	South
Pass	1 ♠	Pass	2 NT1
Pass	3 NT2	Pass	4 NT3
Pass	5 ♥4	Pass	6 ♠
Pass	Pass	Pass

Alert, artificial Jacoby 2 NT bid showing a game-going hand or better with 4+ Spades
Showing no strong side suit, no shortness, and exactly five Spades
RKC Blackwood (Kickback) for Spades
1430 response showing 2 or 5 keycards w/o the ♠ Q

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
6 ♠	N	7	♥ 6	1010		10.95	0.05	2-Pollack-Pollack	5-Duncan-Earls
6 ♠	N	6	♥ 4	980		7.14	3.86	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	3-Terwilliger-Payne
6 ♠	N	6	♣ A	980		7.14	3.86	3-Hall-Runda	7-Schapera-Terbrueggen
6 ♠	N	6	♣ A	980		7.14	3.86	5-Lin-Hubka	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
6 ♠	N	6	♣ A	980		7.14	3.86	8-Rice-Kloecker	4-Kammer-Zimmer
6 ♠	N	6	♣ A	980		7.14	3.86	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	10-Kehoe-Stanley
6 ♠	N	6	♣ A	980		7.14	3.86	12-Tedrick-Pretz	12-Endres-Kennedy
4 ♠	N	7	♠ 6	510		2.77	8.23	7-Kreitzer-Singerman	2-Felson-Brown
4 ♠	N	7	♥ 6	510		2.77	8.23	9-Mehta-Mehta	6-Ibarra-Campbell
4 ♠	N	6	♠ 6	480		1.14	9.86	4-Kobida-Burns	9-Koppenhafer-Essig
3 ♠	N	6	♦ 6	230		0.05	10.95	10-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	8-Congbalay-Cook

This is a slam that everyone will get to. If you didn't, why not? If an immediate 4 ♣ bid over partner's 1 ♠ opening shows a HUGE hand, that would be a better bid for you if you're South, although you're always going to ask for keycards over any response that your partner makes.

N/S lose one Club trick, making six. If East doesn't lead their ♣ A, they won't get it since declarer has five Spade tricks, four Hearts, and four Diamonds (hmm....5 + 4 + 4 is right around 13). Oops.

Board 25
North Deals
E-W Vul

♠	Q J 8 7 6 4
♥	Q 10
♦	10 5 4
♣	10 6

♠	9 5 3
♥	9 7 3
♦	8 7 3
♣	K 7 4 2

N
W		E
S

♠	A K 10
♥	6 5
♦	K Q 6 2
♣	J 8 5 3

♠	2
♥	A K J 8 4 2
♦	A J 9
♣	A Q 9

NS 4♥; NS 3N; NS 3♠; NS 2♦; Par +420

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

Weak two opener
Forcing
Alert, showing a doubleton Heart

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♣	W	−5	♠ Q	500		11.00	0.00	7-Kreitzer-Singerman	1-Temples-Koch
4 ♥	S	5	♣ 2	450		9.50	1.50	5-Lin-Hubka	10-Kehoe-Stanley
4 ♥	S	5	♣ K	450		9.50	1.50	6-Lubow-Roark	12-Endres-Kennedy
4 ♥	S	4	♣ 2	420		7.50	3.50	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	9-Koppenhafer-Essig
4 ♥	S	4	♦ 8	420		7.50	3.50	13-Purcell-King	13-Jervis-Lindeman
3 NT	S	3	♣ 2	400		6.00	5.00	8-Rice-Kloecker	3-Terwilliger-Payne
3 ♥	S	5	♣ 2	200		5.00	6.00	12-Tedrick-Pretz	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
2 ♥	S	4	♣ 2	170		3.50	7.50	4-Kobida-Burns	8-Congbalay-Cook
3 ♥	S	4	♦ 3	170		3.50	7.50	9-Mehta-Mehta	5-Duncan-Earls
4 ♠	N	−2	♦ K		100	1.00	10.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	4-Kammer-Zimmer
5 ♥	S	−2	♠ 5		100	1.00	10.00	3-Hall-Runda	6-Ibarra-Campbell
4 ♠	N	−2	♦ K		100	1.00	10.00	10-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	7-Schapera-Terbrueggen

N/S have an agreement that a 3 NT rebid by opener in this auction shows exactly two Hearts. That works well on this hand, when South can now comfortably bid the Heart game. N/S lose one Spade trick, one Diamond, and one Club, making four. West should lead a trump.

Board 26
East Deals
Both Vul

♠	J 10 8 2
♥	Q 5 3
♦	A J
♣	Q J 7 4

♠	K 7 6
♥	J 9 6 4 2
♦	10 7 3
♣	K 8

N
W		E
S

♠	9 4 3
♥	A 10
♦	K Q 8 6
♣	10 6 5 2

♠	A Q 5
♥	K 8 7
♦	9 5 4 2
♣	A 9 3

NS 2♠; NS 1N; NS 2♣; Par +110

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

Alert, artificial XYZ bid asking partner to bid 2 ♦
Alert, artificial XYZ forced bid
Showing an invitational hand in notrump

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 NT	S	2	♥ 4	120		9.00	2.00	4-Kobida-Burns	8-Congbalay-Cook
1 NT	S	2	♥ 4	120		9.00	2.00	5-Lin-Hubka	10-Kehoe-Stanley
2 NT	S	2	♥ 4	120		9.00	2.00	6-Lubow-Roark	12-Endres-Kennedy
2 NT	S	2	♥ 4	120		9.00	2.00	7-Kreitzer-Singerman	1-Temples-Koch
1 NT	S	2	♥ 4	120		9.00	2.00	13-Purcell-King	13-Jervis-Lindeman
1 NT	S	1	♥ 4	90		5.00	6.00	9-Mehta-Mehta	5-Duncan-Earls
1 NT	S	1	♥ 4	90		5.00	6.00	10-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	7-Schapera-Terbrueggen
1 NT	N	1	♥ 4	90		5.00	6.00	12-Tedrick-Pretz	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
3 NT	N	−1	♣ 2		100	2.50	8.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	4-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♠	S	−1	♥ 4		100	2.50	8.50	3-Hall-Runda	6-Ibarra-Campbell
4 ♠	N	−2	♥ A		200	1.00	10.00	8-Rice-Kloecker	3-Terwilliger-Payne
3 NT	S	−4	♥ 4		400	0.00	11.00	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	9-Koppenhafer-Essig

In XYZ world, a 2 ♣ bid by responder is used to show every invitational hand. In this case, North is showing a hand that's invitational in notrump. If West leads a small Heart, then N/S will take three Spade tricks, two Hearts, one Diamond, and two Clubs, making two. If West finds a small Diamond lead, then N/S will go down one when there simply aren't enough tricks.

Board 27
South Deals
None Vul

♠	J 3 2
♥	9 2
♦	Q J
♣	Q 10 9 8 7 3

♠	9 8 4
♥	Q 8 7 3
♦	A 8 2
♣	A J 5

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 7 5
♥	A 10 5
♦	K 10 9 3
♣	K 6 4

♠	A K 10 6
♥	K J 6 4
♦	7 6 5 4
♣	2

E 3N; E 3♥; W 2N; W 2♥; E 3♦; W 2♦; EW 1♠; NS 1♣; Par −400

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

Alert, artificial XYZ bid asking partner to bid 2 ♦
Alert, artificial XYZ forced bid
Showing an invitational hand in notrump

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♣	E	−3	♠ A	150		10.41	0.59	8-Rice-Kloecker	2-Felson-Brown
3 ♦	E	−3	♠ A	150		10.41	0.59	12-Tedrick-Pretz	10-Kehoe-Stanley
3 NT	E	−1	♠ 6	50		8.77	2.23	7-Kreitzer-Singerman	13-Jervis-Lindeman
1 NT	N	−1	♦ 10		50	7.68	3.32	10-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	6-Ibarra-Campbell
2 ♦	E	2	♣ 2		90	6.59	4.41	13-Purcell-King	12-Endres-Kennedy
2 NT	E	2	♠ A		120	4.95	6.05	3-Hall-Runda	5-Duncan-Earls
1 NT	E	2	♠ 6		120	4.95	6.05	5-Lin-Hubka	9-Koppenhafer-Essig
1 ♥	W	3	♦ Q		140	2.77	8.23	9-Mehta-Mehta	4-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♥	W	3	♦ Q		140	2.77	8.23	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	8-Congbalay-Cook
1 NT	E	3	♠ A		150	1.14	9.86	4-Kobida-Burns	7-Schapera-Terbrueggen
2 NT	W	4	♦ Q		180	0.05	10.95	6-Lubow-Roark	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman

See board #26. E/W take two Club tricks, four Diamonds, two Hearts, and one Spade, making three. South may lead a small Spade giving declarer their ninth trick sooner rather than later.

Board 28
West Deals
N-S Vul

♠	K Q 8 6
♥	K 6 2
♦	Q 10 8 6 5
♣	A

♠	A J 5
♥	Q 10 7 5 4
♦	A 7
♣	J 5 2

N
W		E
S

♠	9 7 4 3 2
♥	J 9
♦	2
♣	K Q 9 7 6

♠	10
♥	A 8 3
♦	K J 9 4 3
♣	10 8 4 3

NS 5♦; NS 1N; EW 1♠; EW 1♥; EW 1♣; Par +600

West	North	East	South
1 ♥	2 ♦1	Dbl2	3 ♦
Pass	3 ♠3	Pass	5 ♦
Pass	Pass	Pass

Showing a full opener
Negative
Game try

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♠	E	−4	♦ K	200		10.95	0.05	7-Kreitzer-Singerman	13-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♦	N	5	♥ J	150		6.59	4.41	3-Hall-Runda	5-Duncan-Earls
3 ♦	N	5	♥ J	150		6.59	4.41	5-Lin-Hubka	9-Koppenhafer-Essig
1 NT	W	−3	♦ 5	150		6.59	4.41	6-Lubow-Roark	11-Rubinstein-Kanterman
4 ♦	N	5	♥ J	150		6.59	4.41	8-Rice-Kloecker	2-Felson-Brown
3 ♦	N	5	♣ K	150		6.59	4.41	10-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	6-Ibarra-Campbell
4 ♦	S	5	♠ A	150		6.59	4.41	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes	8-Congbalay-Cook
3 ♦	S	5	♥ J	150		6.59	4.41	12-Tedrick-Pretz	10-Kehoe-Stanley
4 ♠	E	−2	♦ K	100		2.23	8.77	9-Mehta-Mehta	4-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♥	W	3	♣ A		140	1.14	9.86	4-Kobida-Burns	7-Schapera-Terbrueggen
3 NT	S	−2	♥ 5		200	0.05	10.95	13-Purcell-King	12-Endres-Kennedy

Some South's may try 3 NT, but that won't be a happy place to play on a Club lead. Stupid Club leads. N/S lose one Spade trick and one Diamond, making five. East will lead the ♥ J.

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

20 to 21
Transfer
Wants to be in game opposite any hand with 5+ Hearts

N/S lose one Spade trick, making six. East will most likely lead the ♦ K. Declarer will win with the ♦ A, pull trump in two rounds ending in dummy, cash the ♣ A and ♣ K and ruff a Club. When the ♣ Q falls, declarer will be able to pitch a Diamond and a Spade from dummy on their long Clubs.

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

A weak-two bid in Diamonds is not available to N/S

If E/W were vulnerable, then North would bid 5 ♥. At equal vulnerability, it's not quite worth the risk of going down three doubled that may or may not make. E/W lose one Heart trick, one Diamond, and one Club, making four. If North leads the ♥ A, then E/W will make five when dummy's Diamonds go away on the ♥ KQ. Oops. A better lead would be the ♦ 4.

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

Michaels

West's 2 ♥ overcall is Michaels showing a 5-5 min-max hand with Spades and a mystery minor. East, with twelve thousand Hearts, doesn't really want to know West's minor. If N/S somehow against all odds find a 3 NT contract, then East will bid 4 ♣ (pass or correct).

4 ♥ is not going to fare well when declarer loses two Club tricks, one Diamond, one Spade, and two Hearts. West's best lead is the ♠ 5.

West	North	East	South
Pass	1 ♠1	Pass2	2 NT3
Pass	3 ♥4	Pass	3 ♠5
Pass	4 ♣6	Pass	4 NT7
Pass	5 ♣8	Pass	5 ♦9
Pass	5 ♠10	Pass	Pass11
Pass

Rule of 20 opener
Not quite a vulnerable 3 ♥ weak jump overcall
Alert, artificial Jacoby 2 NT bid showing 4+ Spades and an opening hand or better
Alert, showing shortness in Hearts
Biding their time and allowing North room to make a control bid in Clubs
Showing 1st or 2nd round control in Clubs
RKC Blackwood (Kickback) for Spades
1430 response showing 1 or 4 keycards
Do you have the ♠ Q
I do not
Rats

South doesn't want to risk a slam missing a keycard and the ♠ Q. N/S lose one Club trick, making six. East will lead the ♥ K.

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

Negative showing exactly four Spades

N/S lose one Diamond trick, two Hearts, and one Spade, making three. West may lead the ♥ J (interior honor sequence).

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

Don't make minimum offshape takeout doubles
Forcing

North's hand turns huge when South rebids 2 ♦. Since South's 2 ♦ bid might have been made on as few as three Diamonds, North hedges their bets and invites with 4 ♦. South has an easy raise to game.

N/S lose one Club trick and one Spade, making five. Dummy's slow Spade loser goes away on declarer's Hearts. The proper way to play the Diamond suit is to finesse against West for the ♦ K. This succeeds when West holds ♦ K72, ♦ K7, ♦ K2, or ♦ K. Playing for the drop works only when West has specifically ♦ 72. Therefore the finesse is four times better than playing for the drop. West will lead the ♣ K (asking for count) and continue with the ♣ A at trick two when East shows an odd number of Clubs.

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

Showing 11 HCP

West's 2 NT bid is not Jacoby 2 NT--they're a passed hand. If West had 3+ Spades and 10-11 HCP, they would have used Drury. E/W lose one Spade trick, one Heart, two Diamonds, and one Club, down one. South may lead the ♥ J.

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

Alert, Unmichaels bid showing Diamonds and an unknown major
Pretty sure partner's major is Spades

E/W lose one Heart trick, one Diamond, and two Spades, making three. North should not lead the ♠ K on the auction--a trump is better. South has a tough time at trick two. If they return anything other than a Heart, E/W will make four when the ♥ J goes away on a high Club. I have sympathy for them if they get this wrong.