Monday 10/16/2017 - Common Game at Nite (17101053)

EVENT>Monday Night Bridge      |SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> A N-S
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>October 16, 2017   |CLUB NO.>185264    | 10/16/2017 22:21
---------------------,-- ------------------- -------------,---------------------
DIR> Mike Lipp       |RATING>Club Appreciation game       |MOVEMENT>MITCHELL
------------,-------- ,-------------------------,--------- ---------------------
AVE>  132.0 |TOP>  11 |MP LIMITS>None/500/100   |CLUB>Mike's Games At The CBC
------------ --------- ------------------------- -------------------------------
PAIRS IN STRAT A=16/B=9/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   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    122.74  46.49
 2 Donald Pollack         Bernice Pollack          B   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    126.91  48.07
 3 Robert Roark           Janet Hansen             B   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    120.49  45.64
 4 John Williams          Joy Singerman            B   1     1     .   |   1     1     .    176.71  66.94  4.88(OA)
 5 Liz Lin                Patrick Hoffman          A   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    123.14  46.64
 6 Terri Mackey           Susan Der Roos           C   .     6     2   |   4     2     1    137.62  52.13  0.85(SA)
 7 Pamela Kennedy         Cheryl Endres            C   .     .     .   |   6     4     .    133.36  50.52  0.41(SA)
 8 John Ramsay            Julian Magnus, Jr        B   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    101.10  38.30
 9 Al Venosa              Janet Venosa             A   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    127.73  48.38
10 Joyce Tedrick          Linda Pretz              A   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    128.04  48.50
11 Leonard Kanterman      JoAnne Essig             C   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    127.41  48.26
12 Sandy Johnson          Michael Lipp             A   5     .     .   |   2     .     .    155.08  58.74  1.71(SA)
13 Doris Kehoe            Lilam Stanley            A   .     .     .   |   3     .     .    141.04  53.42  1.22(SA)
14 Anirudh Pandit         Arun Pandit              B   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    122.99  46.59
15 Martin Gibler          Susan Stacy Vanstone     B   .     .     .   |   5     3     .    135.60  51.36  0.49(SA)


                                          Totals                                           1979.96


                                                **PAIRS**
BOARD     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9    10    11    12    13    14    15    16
  /
   1>   7.68                          0.59  4.41  7.68  2.77  0.59  7.68  2.77  7.68 10.95  7.68
         140   ----  ----  ----  ---- -100   100   140   -50  -100   140   -50   140   170   140   ----

   2>   2.23                         10.95  8.23  8.23    5-  8.23  2.23  8.23  2.23  0.05  4.41
        -170   ----  ----  ----  ----  100    50    50  -120    50  -170    50  -170  -200  -140   ----

   3>  10.95  4.41                          9.86    5-  1.14  7.68  8.77  1.14  3.32  6.59  1.14
         300  -300   ----  ----  ----  ----  200  -200  -650  -100   100  -650  -620  -170  -650   ----

   4>   9.86  2.23                         10.95  2.23  2.23  6.59  8.77  4.41    5-  7.68  0.05
         100  -600   ----  ----  ----  ----  200  -600  -600  -150  -120  -210  -170  -130  -660   ----

   5>   4.41  7.14  7.14                          1.68  7.14 10.95  1.68  1.68  9.86  1.68  7.14
         -90    50    50   ----  ----  ----  ---- -110    50   150  -110  -110   100  -110    50   ----

   6>   0.05  7.68  2.77                          7.68  2.77    5-  2.77  2.77 10.95  7.68  9.86
        -100   120   -50   ----  ----  ----  ----  120   -50    90   -50   -50   400   120   150   ----

   7>   7.14  2.77  9.86  7.14                          0.05  2.77  2.77  7.14 10.95  2.77  7.14
        -620  -650   100  -620   ----  ----  ----  ---- -660  -650  -650  -620   300  -650  -620   ----

   8>   6.59  0.59  9.86  9.86                          2.77  4.41    5-  7.68  9.86  2.77  0.59
         100  -150   140   140   ----  ----  ----  ----  -50    50    90   110   140   -50  -150   ----

   9>   0.59  2.77  6.05  2.77  0.59                          6.05  9.32 10.95  9.32  6.05  6.05
         100   150   200   150   100   ----  ----  ----  ----  200   300   400   300   200   200   ----

  10>   2.23  8.77  4.95  8.77  4.95                          0.05  3.32 10.95  6.59  1.14  8.77
         100   620   170   620   170   ----  ----  ----  ---- -400   140   650   200    90   620   ----

  11>   4.95  8.77  1.68  8.77  1.68 10.95                          0.05  4.95  4.95  4.95  8.77
        -400    50  -430    50  -430   100   ----  ----  ----  ---- -460  -400  -400  -400    50   ----

  12>   0.05  8.23  6.05  9.86 10.95  3.32                          6.05  8.23  1.14  3.32  3.32
        -100   620   170   800  1100   140   ----  ----  ----  ----  170   620   100   140   140   ----

  13>   6.05  1.14  6.05  6.05 10.41 10.41  1.14                          6.05  6.05  6.05  1.14
        -680 -1430  -680  -680  -650  -650 -1430   ----  ----  ----  ---- -680  -680  -680 -1430   ----

  14>   6.05  6.05  0.59  9.86  2.23  6.05  6.05                         10.95  0.59  6.05  6.05
         420   420   110   450   230   420   420   ----  ----  ----  ----  570   110   420   420   ----

  15>   7.14  7.14  2.23 10.95  7.14  3.32  7.14  7.14                          7.14  0.59  0.59
         150   150   100   600   150   130   150   150   ----  ----  ----  ----  150    50    50   ----

  16>   7.68  7.68  7.68  7.68  0.59  0.59  2.77 10.95                          2.77  7.68  4.41
         420   420   420   420  -100  -100   -50   430   ----  ----  ----  ----  -50   420   200   ----

  17>  10.41  3.86  3.86  7.68  3.86  3.86 10.41  0.59  7.68                          0.59  7.68
         100  -430  -430    50  -430  -430   100  -460    50   ----  ----  ----  ---- -460    50   ----

  18>   1.14  4.95  8.77  4.95  0.05  4.95  4.95  2.23  8.77                         10.95  8.77
          70   620   650   620  -100   620   620   150   650   ----  ----  ----  ----  660   650   ----

  19>   4.41  1.14  4.41  1.14  4.41  8.23 10.95  1.14  8.23  8.23                          8.23
         -50  -100   -50  -100   -50   420   450  -100   420   420   ----  ----  ----  ----  420   ----

  20>   4.95 10.41  2.77  7.68  0.05  2.77 10.41  1.14  7.68  4.95                          7.68
         150   200   110   170  -200   110   200  -100   170   150   ----  ----  ----  ----  170   ----

  21>   2.23 10.41    5-  3.32    5-  7.68  1.14  0.05  8.77    5- 10.41
        -100   600   150   100   150   200  -200  -300   300   150   600   ----  ----  ----  ----  ----

  22>  10.95  2.77  2.77  8.23  8.23  2.77  2.77  2.77  8.23  2.77  8.23
         590   -50   -50   420   420   -50   -50   -50   420   -50   420   ----  ----  ----  ----  ----

  23>     2     8-    2     2     5    11     6    10     2     8-    7     2
        -600  -110  -600  -600  -300   600  -170   100  -600  -110  -130  -600   ----  ----  ----  ----

  24>     3     1     3     3     8-   10     6     8-   11     0     6     6
         -50  -100   -50   -50   110   140    50   110   150  -110    50    50   ----  ----  ----  ----

  25>           1     7     7     4     0     7     2     7     7     3    10-   10-
         ----  110   430   430   400   -50   430   150   430   430   180   460   460   ----  ----  ----

  26>           7-    1-   10     7-    4-    1-    0     3     7-    4-   11     7-
         ----  120  -100   150   120   110  -100  -300   100   120   110   600   120   ----  ----  ----

  27>                 7     9-    5-    2     2     2     9-    5-    2     9-    2     9-
         ----  ----  180   430   150   130   130   130   430   150   130   430   130   430   ----  ----

  28>                 7    10    10     3     5     7     3     7    10      -    3      -
         ----  ----  600   660   660  -100   150   600  -100   600   660  -200  -100  -200   ----  ----

  29>                      10-    0     4-    6-    2     9     2     2     6-    8    10-    4-
         ----  ----  ---- 1460  -300   630   650   620   690   620   620   650   680  1460   630   ----

  30>                      10    11     7     1     4-    4-    8     0     2     4-    4-    9
         ----  ----  ----  100   300  -110  -300  -140  -140  -100  -450  -170  -140  -140    90   ----

  31>                          10.95  9.32  2.23  1.14  0.05  3.32    5-  9.32    5-    5-  7.68
         ----  ----  ----  ----  750   300  -140  -420  -590  -100   100   300   100   100   150   ----

  32>                           0.05  9.86  4.95  4.95  4.95  4.95  9.86  9.86  1.14  4.95  4.95
         ----  ----  ----  ---- -650   200   100   100   100   100   200   200  -170   100   100   ----



EVENT>Monday Night Bridge      |SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> A E-W
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>October 16, 2017   |CLUB NO.>185264    | 10/16/2017 22:21
---------------------,-- ------------------- -------------,---------------------
DIR> Mike Lipp       |RATING>Club Appreciation game       |MOVEMENT>MITCHELL
------------,-------- ,-------------------------,--------- ---------------------
AVE>  132.0 |TOP>  11 |MP LIMITS>None/500/100   |CLUB>Mike's Games At The CBC
------------ --------- ------------------------- -------------------------------
PAIRS IN STRAT A=16/B=10/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 Joseph Kammer          Gail Zimmer              B   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    137.37  52.03
 2 Nalin Mehta            Ila Mehta                B   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    129.75  49.15
 3 Patrick Lammers        Judith Lubow             B   .     4     .   |   5     3     .    147.78  55.98  0.79(OB)
 4 Carol Scovic           Carol Wilson             C   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     93.63  35.47
 5 Tim Oppelt             Joanne Oppelt            C   3     2     1   |   2     1     1    162.75  61.65  2.75(OA)
 6 Stephen Felson         Robert Brown             A   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    130.31  49.36
 7 Mike Burns             Charlie Kobida           B   .     5     .   |   6     4     .    138.14  52.33  0.59(OB)
 8 Lewis Temples          Richard Koch             B   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    110.14  41.72
 9 Dennis Schultz         Ralph Terbrueggen        A   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    131.06  49.64
10 Joan Diers             Evelyn McCarthy          C   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    124.96  47.33
11 Joanne Earls           Pam Campbell             A   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     87.23  33.04
12 Peggy Jervis           Pat Lindeman             B   4     3     .   |   3     2     .    158.57  60.06  2.06(OA)
13 June Cushman           Martin Petersen          A   6     .     .   |   4     .     .    152.72  57.85  1.16(OA)
14 Greg Chrzanowski       Joseph Muenks            A   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    127.63  48.34
15 Robert Prosise         Marilyn Prosise          A   2     .     .   |   1     .     .    166.10  62.92  3.66(OA)
16 Lynn Callif            Sharon Kreitzer          B   .     .     .   |   .     .     .    114.16  43.24

                                          Totals                                           2112.30


                                                **PAIRS**
BOARD     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9    10    11    12    13    14    15    16
  /
   1>   3.32       10.41        3.32        8.23        3.32 10.41  0.05  6.59  3.32  3.32        8.23
        -140   ----  100   ---- -140   ----   50   ---- -140   100  -170  -100  -140  -140   ----   50

   2>   8.77        2.77        8.77        2.77        8.77  0.05 10.95  2.77  6.59  2.77          5-
         170   ----  -50   ----  170   ----  -50   ----  170  -100   200   -50   140   -50   ----  120

   3>   3.32  6.59        2.23        9.86        7.68        4.41  1.14  9.86    5-        9.86  0.05
         100   300   ---- -100   ----  650   ----  620   ----  170  -200   650   200   ----  650  -300

   4>   4.41  8.77        2.23        6.59          5-        3.32  0.05 10.95  8.77        8.77  1.14
         150   600   ----  120   ----  210   ----  170   ----  130  -200   660   600   ----  600  -100

   5>   3.86  9.32  3.86        9.32        1.14        9.32        3.86  9.32        3.86  6.59  0.05
         -50   110   -50   ----  110   ---- -100   ----  110   ----  -50   110   ----  -50    90  -150

   6>   3.32  8.23  8.23        8.23        0.05        3.32        1.14  3.32        8.23 10.95    5-
        -120    50    50   ----   50   ---- -400   ---- -120   ---- -150  -120   ----   50   100   -90

   7>   8.23  1.14  3.86  3.86        0.05        8.23        3.86             10.95  3.86  8.23  8.23
         650  -100   620   620   ---- -300   ----  650   ----  620   ----  ----  660   620   650   650

   8>     5-  1.14  3.32  1.14        1.14        8.23       10.41              8.23  4.41  6.59 10.41
         -90  -140  -110  -140   ---- -140   ----   50   ----  150   ----  ----   50  -100   -50   150

   9>   4.95  0.05  8.23  1.68 10.41        4.95        4.95                   10.41  4.95  8.23  1.68
        -200  -400  -150  -300  -100   ---- -200   ---- -200   ----  ----  ---- -100  -200  -150  -300

  10>   6.05  0.05  2.23  4.41  6.05        9.86        2.23                    8.77 10.95  2.23  7.68
        -170  -650  -620  -200  -170   ----  -90   ---- -620   ----  ----  ---- -100   400  -620  -140

  11>   6.05  2.23  6.05  9.32  6.05  0.05        2.23                    6.05        2.23 10.95  9.32
         400   -50   400   430   400  -100   ----  -50   ----  ----  ----  400   ----  -50   460   430

  12>   2.77  1.14  9.86  0.05  7.68  7.68        7.68                   10.95        2.77  4.95  4.95
        -620  -800  -100 -1100  -140  -140   ---- -140   ----  ----  ----  100   ---- -620  -170  -170

  13>   4.95  4.95  0.59  4.95  0.59  9.86  9.86                    4.95        9.86        4.95  4.95
         680   680   650   680   650  1430  1430   ----  ----  ----  680   ---- 1430   ----  680   680

  14>   1.14 10.41  8.77  4.95  4.95  4.95  4.95                    4.95        4.95       10.41  0.05
        -450  -110  -230  -420  -420  -420  -420   ----  ----  ---- -420   ---- -420   ---- -110  -570

  15>   3.86  3.86 10.41  7.68 10.41  3.86        3.86        3.86        3.86        8.77        0.05
        -150  -150   -50  -130   -50  -150   ---- -150   ---- -150   ---- -150   ---- -100   ---- -600

  16>   8.23 10.41  3.32 10.41  6.59  8.23        0.05        3.32        3.32        3.32        3.32
          50   100  -420   100  -200    50   ---- -430   ---- -420   ---- -420   ---- -420   ---- -420

  17>   7.14 10.41  7.14  3.32  0.59       10.41  0.59  3.32        7.14        7.14        3.32
         430   460   430   -50  -100   ----  460  -100   -50   ----  430   ----  430   ----  -50   ----

  18>  10.95  0.05  6.05  2.23  6.05        8.77  9.86  2.23        6.05        2.23        6.05
         100  -660  -620  -650  -620   ---- -150   -70  -650   ---- -620   ---- -650   ---- -620   ----

  19>         2.77  2.77  0.05        9.86  6.59  2.77  9.86  2.77        6.59        9.86        6.59
         ---- -420  -420  -450   ----  100    50  -420   100  -420   ----   50   ----  100   ----   50

  20>         8.23  3.32  0.59        9.86  6.05  3.32  0.59  6.05        8.23        3.32       10.95
         ---- -110  -170  -200   ----  100  -150  -170  -200  -150   ---- -110   ---- -170   ----  200

  21>   3.32        9.86       10.95  8.77  2.23  0.59    5-    5-  0.59        7.68          5-
        -200   ----  200   ----  300   100  -300  -600  -150  -150  -600   ---- -100   ---- -150   ----

  22>   8.23        8.23        8.23  0.05  2.77  8.23  8.23  8.23  2.77        2.77        2.77
          50   ----   50   ----   50  -590  -420    50    50    50  -420   ---- -420   ---- -420   ----

  23>           5           1     9     9     2-    2-    9     4     9     9           6           0
         ----  170   ---- -100   600   600   110   110   600   130   600   600   ----  300   ---- -600

  24>           5           2-    8     0    10    11     8     5     8     5           2-          1
         ----  -50   ---- -110    50  -150   100   110    50   -50    50   -50   ---- -110   ---- -140

  25>     4           9           4    10     4     4     8     4      -    7      -         11
        -430   ---- -150   ---- -430  -110  -430  -430  -180  -430  -460  -400  -460   ----   50   ----

  26>     9-         11           8     3-    3-    9-    6-    1     0     3-    3-          6-
         100   ----  300   ---- -100  -120  -120   100  -110  -150  -600  -120  -120   ---- -110   ----

  27>           9           1-          5-    4     9     1-    1-    5-    9     9     1-          9
         ---- -130   ---- -430   ---- -150  -180  -130  -430  -430  -150  -130  -130  -430   ---- -130

  28>           4           8           4     4     1     1    10-    1     8     8    10-          6
         ---- -600   ----  100   ---- -600  -600  -660  -660   200  -660   100   100   200   ---- -150

  29>     9           2           9           9      -    4-   11     3     6-     -    4-    6-
        -620   ---- -690   ---- -620   ---- -620 -1460  -650   300  -680  -630 -1460  -650  -630   ----

  30>     6-          6-          3          11     1     9     0     6-    4     6-   10     2
         140   ----  140   ----  100   ----  450  -100   170  -300   140   110   140   300   -90   ----

  31>        10.95        7.68          5-        1.68  0.05    5-  1.68    5-  8.77  3.32  9.86
         ----  590   ----  100   ---- -100   ---- -300  -750  -100  -300  -100   140  -150   420   ----

  32>         6.05        6.05        1.14        1.14 10.95  9.86  1.14  6.05  6.05  6.05  6.05
         ---- -100   ---- -100   ---- -200   ---- -200   650   170  -200  -100  -100  -100  -100   ----
Monday Night Bridge, Monday Eve, October 16, 2017

Board 1
North Deals
None Vul

♠	K Q J 10 7
♥	Q 7 5
♦	K
♣	A Q J 10

♠	8 3
♥	9 8 4
♦	Q 10 5 4
♣	9 8 7 6

N
W		E
S

♠	A 9 2
♥	A K 10 6 2
♦	A 8 2
♣	4 3

♠	6 5 4
♥	J 3
♦	J 9 7 6 3
♣	K 5 2

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

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

Alert, Kokish Game Try showing shortness in Diamonds
That doesn't make my hand any better

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♠	N	4	♥ A	170		10.95	0.05	14-Pandit-Pandit	11-Earls-Campbell
2 ♠	N	3	♥ A	140		7.68	3.32	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	1-Kammer-Zimmer
1 ♠	N	3	♥ K	140		7.68	3.32	8-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	14-Chrzanowski-Muenks
3 ♠	N	3	♥ A	140		7.68	3.32	11-Kanterman-Essig	5-Oppelt-Oppelt
3 ♠	N	3	♥ A	140		7.68	3.32	13-Kehoe-Stanley	9-Schultz-Terbrueggen
2 ♠	N	3	♥ A	140		7.68	3.32	15-Gibler-Vanstone	13-Cushman-Petersen
3 ♥	E	−2	♠ 5	100		4.41	6.59	7-Kennedy-Endres	12-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♠	N	−1	♥ A		50	2.77	8.23	9-Venosa-Venosa	16-Callif-Kreitzer
4 ♠	N	−1	♥ A		50	2.77	8.23	12-Johnson-Lipp	7-Burns-Kobida
4 ♠×	N	−1	♦ A		100	0.59	10.41	6-Mackey-Der Roos	10-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♠×	N	−1	♥ A		100	0.59	10.41	10-Tedrick-Pretz	3-Lammers-Lubow

South's 2 ♠ bid does not guarantee 6+ HCP at this vulnerability--they're simply showing three-card support for partner's suit. North makes one try for game, and South says no thank you (actually South says "Stop what you're doing, you nut-job!").

N/S lose one Spade trick, two Hearts, and one Diamond, making three. East will lead the ♥ K (asking for count).

Board 2
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	K J 10 4
♥	Q
♦	8 6 4
♣	A J 10 9 4

♠	9 8 3
♥	K 10 8
♦	Q 9 7 3 2
♣	K Q

N
W		E
S

♠	A 2
♥	A J 9 6 5
♦	A J
♣	8 7 5 3

♠	Q 7 6 5
♥	7 4 3 2
♦	K 10 5
♣	6 2

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

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

Forcing

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	E	−2	♣ 6	100		10.95	0.05	6-Mackey-Der Roos	10-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♥	E	−1	♣ 2	50		8.23	2.77	7-Kennedy-Endres	12-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♥	E	−1	♣ 6	50		8.23	2.77	8-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	14-Chrzanowski-Muenks
4 ♥	E	−1	♣ 6	50		8.23	2.77	10-Tedrick-Pretz	3-Lammers-Lubow
2 ♥	E	−1	♣ 2	50		8.23	2.77	12-Johnson-Lipp	7-Burns-Kobida
2 NT	W	2	♣ J		120	5.50	5.50	9-Venosa-Venosa	16-Callif-Kreitzer
2 ♥	E	3	♣ 6		140	4.41	6.59	15-Gibler-Vanstone	13-Cushman-Petersen
2 ♥	E	4	♠ 5		170	2.23	8.77	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	1-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♥	E	4	♠ 5		170	2.23	8.77	11-Kanterman-Essig	5-Oppelt-Oppelt
2 ♥	E	4	♣ 6		170	2.23	8.77	13-Kehoe-Stanley	9-Schultz-Terbrueggen
3 ♠×	S	−1	♣ K		200	0.05	10.95	14-Pandit-Pandit	11-Earls-Campbell

Two types of hands will respond 1 NT while hiding three-card support for partner's major--a hand that's simply too putrid to bid 2M directly (♠ xxx ♥ Qxx ♦ Qxx ♣ JTxx) or one that intends to jump to the three level to show a three-card limit raise (see above).

E/W lose one Spade trick, one Diamond, and one Club, making four. South may lead the ♠ 5 (fourth best from an honor).

Board 3
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	K 3
♥	10 5
♦	K Q J 4 3 2
♣	K 10 9

♠	10 5
♥	K Q J 9
♦	A 10 5
♣	A J 8 6

N
W		E
S

♠	A Q 6 2
♥	8 6 3 2
♦	—
♣	Q 5 4 3 2

♠	J 9 8 7 4
♥	A 7 4
♦	9 8 7 6
♣	7

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

West	North	East	South
			Pass
1 NT1	Dbl2	2 ♣	Pass
2 ♥	3 ♦	3 ♥	4 ♦
4 ♥	Pass	Pass	5 ♦
Dbl	Pass	Pass	Pass

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	E	−3	♦ 9	300		10.95	0.05	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	16-Callif-Kreitzer
3 NT	W	−2	♦ K	200		9.86	1.14	7-Kennedy-Endres	11-Earls-Campbell
2 ♠	E	−1	♦ 9	100		8.77	2.23	11-Kanterman-Essig	4-Scovic-Wilson
4 ♦	N	−2	♣ 3		100	7.68	3.32	10-Tedrick-Pretz	1-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♥	W	4	♦ K		170	6.59	4.41	14-Pandit-Pandit	10-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♥	W	5	♦ K		200	5.50	5.50	8-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	13-Cushman-Petersen
5 ♦×	N	−2	♠ A		300	4.41	6.59	2-Pollack-Pollack	2-Mehta-Mehta
4 ♥	W	4	♦ K		620	3.32	7.68	13-Kehoe-Stanley	8-Temples-Koch
4 ♥	W	5	♦ K		650	1.14	9.86	9-Venosa-Venosa	15-Prosise-Prosise
4 ♥	E	5	♣ 2		650	1.14	9.86	12-Johnson-Lipp	6-Felson-Brown
4 ♥	W	5	♦ K		650	1.14	9.86	15-Gibler-Vanstone	12-Jervis-Lindeman

East should pull West's double of 5 ♦ and bid 5 ♥, but that's not obvious. N/S lose two Spade tricks, one Heart, one Diamond, and one Club, down three doubled for –500. That's better than –650 for 4 ♥ making five for E/W (duh). East will lead the ♥ 8 (top of nothing in a supported suit).

Board 4
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	A K 3 2
♥	6 4 3
♦	J 6 3
♣	10 9 4

♠	J 7 6
♥	10 8 7 5
♦	Q 10 8
♣	A 8 5

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 4
♥	K Q J
♦	A K 7 4 2
♣	Q J 3

♠	10 9 8 5
♥	A 9 2
♦	9 5
♣	K 7 6 2

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

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

Showing 18-19 HCP

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	E	−2	♠ 5	200		10.95	0.05	7-Kennedy-Endres	11-Earls-Campbell
3 NT	W	−1	♠ A	100		9.86	1.14	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	16-Callif-Kreitzer
2 NT	E	2	♠ 10		120	8.77	2.23	11-Kanterman-Essig	4-Scovic-Wilson
2 ♦	E	4	♠ 10		130	7.68	3.32	14-Pandit-Pandit	10-Diers-McCarthy
2 NT	W	3	♠ A		150	6.59	4.41	10-Tedrick-Pretz	1-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♥	W	4	♠ A		170	5.50	5.50	13-Kehoe-Stanley	8-Temples-Koch
2 NT	E	5	♠ 10		210	4.41	6.59	12-Johnson-Lipp	6-Felson-Brown
3 NT	E	3	♠ 5		600	2.23	8.77	2-Pollack-Pollack	2-Mehta-Mehta
3 NT	E	3	♠ 5		600	2.23	8.77	8-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	13-Cushman-Petersen
3 NT	E	3	♠ 10		600	2.23	8.77	9-Venosa-Venosa	15-Prosise-Prosise
3 NT	E	5	♣ 2		660	0.05	10.95	15-Gibler-Vanstone	12-Jervis-Lindeman

E/W take two Heart tricks, five Diamonds, one Spade, and one Club, making three. South will lead the ♠T, declarer will play low from dummy, and North, not sure if South is leading from ♠ QT98, will probably rise with the ♠ K and return a small Spade. Declarer wins the ♠ Q, and will most likely play the ♥ K, since they'll need at least one Heart trick. South will grab this and clear the Spade suit, but when the Diamonds behave, the hand is over.

Board 5
North Deals
N-S Vul

♠	K Q
♥	7 4 2
♦	K J 5
♣	Q 10 9 6 4

♠	9 6 5 4 2
♥	K 10
♦	Q 9 8 4
♣	A K

N
W		E
S

♠	J 3
♥	A 9 8 6
♦	A 3
♣	J 8 7 5 3

♠	A 10 8 7
♥	Q J 5 3
♦	10 7 6 2
♣	2

S 1N; EW 1♠; EW 1♣; Par +90

West	North	East	South
	Pass	Pass	Pass
1 ♠1	Pass2	1 NT3	Pass
2 ♦	Pass	2 ♠	Pass
Pass	Pass

This suit could actually be worse, although not much
Not a 2 ♣ overcall or a double
Semi-forcing

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
1 NT	E	−3	♥ 3	150		10.95	0.05	10-Tedrick-Pretz	16-Callif-Kreitzer
3 NT	W	−2	♣ 10	100		9.86	1.14	13-Kehoe-Stanley	7-Burns-Kobida
1 NT	E	−1	♥ 3	50		7.14	3.86	2-Pollack-Pollack	1-Kammer-Zimmer
1 NT	E	−1	♥ Q	50		7.14	3.86	3-Roark-Hansen	3-Lammers-Lubow
2 ♠	W	−1	♣ 10	50		7.14	3.86	9-Venosa-Venosa	14-Chrzanowski-Muenks
1 NT	E	−1	♦ 2	50		7.14	3.86	15-Gibler-Vanstone	11-Earls-Campbell
1 NT	E	1	♥ Q		90	4.41	6.59	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	15-Prosise-Prosise
2 ♠	W	2	♣ 9		110	1.68	9.32	8-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	12-Jervis-Lindeman
2 ♥	E	2	♣ 2		110	1.68	9.32	11-Kanterman-Essig	2-Mehta-Mehta
2 ♠	W	2	♣ 6		110	1.68	9.32	12-Johnson-Lipp	5-Oppelt-Oppelt
2 ♠	W	2	♣ 10		110	1.68	9.32	14-Pandit-Pandit	9-Schultz-Terbrueggen

West will regret opening in fourth seat, but it's certainly not wrong. Many players use the Rule of 15 to decide whether to open light in the pass-out seat (HCP + number of Spades). West's hand more than meets that criteria.

E/W lose four Spade tricks and two Diamonds, down one. North's best lead is the ♠ K to cut down on dummy's ruffing power (i.e., West might want to ruff a Diamond or two in dummy).

Board 6
East Deals
E-W Vul

♠	A 10
♥	Q 10 3
♦	8 7 4 3 2
♣	10 9 2

♠	6 3
♥	J 7 6
♦	Q J 9 6
♣	A Q J 4

N
W		E
S

♠	K J 8 7 2
♥	9 8 5 4
♦	10 5
♣	8 3

♠	Q 9 5 4
♥	A K 2
♦	A K
♣	K 7 6 5

NS 2N; NS 2♠; NS 2♥; S 3♣; S 2♦; N 2♣; N 1♦; Par +120

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

Showing 18-19 HCP

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	S	3	♥ 7	400		10.95	0.05	13-Kehoe-Stanley	7-Burns-Kobida
2 NT	S	3	♦ Q	150		9.86	1.14	15-Gibler-Vanstone	11-Earls-Campbell
2 NT	S	2	♣ Q	120		7.68	3.32	2-Pollack-Pollack	1-Kammer-Zimmer
1 NT	S	2	♣ 4	120		7.68	3.32	8-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	12-Jervis-Lindeman
1 NT	S	2	♣ 4	120		7.68	3.32	14-Pandit-Pandit	9-Schultz-Terbrueggen
1 NT	S	1	♠ 6	90		5.50	5.50	10-Tedrick-Pretz	16-Callif-Kreitzer
3 NT	S	−1	♦ Q		50	2.77	8.23	3-Roark-Hansen	3-Lammers-Lubow
3 NT	S	−1	♥ 6		50	2.77	8.23	9-Venosa-Venosa	14-Chrzanowski-Muenks
3 NT	S	−1	♣ Q		50	2.77	8.23	11-Kanterman-Essig	2-Mehta-Mehta
3 NT	S	−1	♦ 6		50	2.77	8.23	12-Johnson-Lipp	5-Oppelt-Oppelt
3 NT	S	−2	♦ 6		100	0.05	10.95	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	15-Prosise-Prosise

N/S take two Spade tricks, three Hearts, two Diamonds, and one Club, making two. West should lead the ♠ 6 (their shorter major). Declarer will duck, and East will win the ♠ K and knock out the ♠ A. Declarer, having nothing better to do than take the Club hook, will lead the ♣T and let it ride. It's likely that declarer will go down one trick, since 2 NT makes only on double-dummy lines (i.e., Spade lead to the ♠ K, Club switch ducked to the ♣ J, small Diamond to the ♦ K, Spade to the ♠ A, Diamond to the ♦ A, ♠ Q, ♥ A, ♥ K, Heart to the ♥ Q, and a Diamond exit forcing West to give declarer a trick with the ♣ K).

Board 7
South Deals
Both Vul

♠	A Q 9 6 3
♥	10 3
♦	K 10 9 7 2
♣	8

♠	K J 8 2
♥	9 5
♦	Q 6 4 3
♣	Q 6 4

N
W		E
S

♠	10 5
♥	A K Q J 7 4
♦	A
♣	A K 3 2

♠	7 4
♥	8 6 2
♦	J 8 5
♣	J 10 9 7 5

EW 5♥; EW 4N; EW 2♠; EW 3♣; W 1♦; Par −650

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

Showing an A, K, or QQ

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♣	E	−3	♦ 8	300		10.95	0.05	13-Kehoe-Stanley	6-Felson-Brown
6 ♥	E	−1	♣ J	100		9.86	1.14	3-Roark-Hansen	2-Mehta-Mehta
4 ♥	E	4	♣ J		620	7.14	3.86	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	14-Chrzanowski-Muenks
4 ♥	E	4	♠ 7		620	7.14	3.86	4-Williams-Singerman	4-Scovic-Wilson
4 ♥	E	4	♠ 7		620	7.14	3.86	12-Johnson-Lipp	3-Lammers-Lubow
4 ♥	E	4	♠ 7		620	7.14	3.86	15-Gibler-Vanstone	10-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♥	E	5	♠ 7		650	2.77	8.23	2-Pollack-Pollack	16-Callif-Kreitzer
5 ♥	E	5	♣ J		650	2.77	8.23	10-Tedrick-Pretz	15-Prosise-Prosise
4 ♥	E	5	♠ 7		650	2.77	8.23	11-Kanterman-Essig	1-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♥	E	5	♠ 7		650	2.77	8.23	14-Pandit-Pandit	8-Temples-Koch
3 NT	W	5	♠ 6		660	0.05	10.95	9-Venosa-Venosa	13-Cushman-Petersen

East may pass 3 NT, since they see nine tricks in their hand, but bidding 4 ♥ isn't wrong. E/W lose two Spade tricks, making five. East's slow Club loser will go away on dummy's ♠ K (♠T and ♠ J knock out the ♠ A and ♠ Q). South will lead the ♠ 7 or a trump.

Board 8
West Deals
None Vul

♠	J 9 7 5 4
♥	4
♦	K 7 5 4 3 2
♣	6

♠	K
♥	Q 10 9 6 3
♦	10 9 8 6
♣	A 10 9

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 3 2
♥	A 7 5
♦	A J
♣	J 7 4 3 2

♠	A 10 8 6
♥	K J 8 2
♦	Q
♣	K Q 8 5

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

West	North	East	South
Pass	Pass	1 ♣	1 NT1
2 ♥2	2 ♠3	Pass	Pass
Dbl4	Pass	3 ♥	3 ♠
Pass	Pass	Dbl	Pass
Pass	Pass

15 to 18
To play
To play
Do something smart, partner

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♠	N	3	♥ A	140		9.86	1.14	3-Roark-Hansen	2-Mehta-Mehta
2 ♠	S	3	♣ A	140		9.86	1.14	4-Williams-Singerman	4-Scovic-Wilson
3 ♠	N	3	♥ A	140		9.86	1.14	13-Kehoe-Stanley	6-Felson-Brown
2 ♠	S	2	♥ 9	110		7.68	3.32	12-Johnson-Lipp	3-Lammers-Lubow
3 ♥×	W	−1	♣ 6	100		6.59	4.41	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	14-Chrzanowski-Muenks
2 ♦	N	2	♣ 3	90		5.50	5.50	11-Kanterman-Essig	1-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♥	W	−1	♣ 6	50		4.41	6.59	10-Tedrick-Pretz	15-Prosise-Prosise
3 ♠	N	−1	♥ A		50	2.77	8.23	9-Venosa-Venosa	13-Cushman-Petersen
3 ♠	N	−1	♦ A		50	2.77	8.23	14-Pandit-Pandit	8-Temples-Koch
4 ♠	N	−3	♥ A		150	0.59	10.41	2-Pollack-Pollack	16-Callif-Kreitzer
5 ♠	S	−3	♣ A		150	0.59	10.41	15-Gibler-Vanstone	10-Diers-McCarthy

N/S lose one Spade trick, one Heart, two Diamonds, and one Club, down one doubled for –100. East may lead the ♦ A and switch to a small trump at trick two.

Board 9
North Deals
E-W Vul

♠	Q 6 2
♥	4 2
♦	A J 9 8 6 2
♣	6 5

♠	A J 10 9 5
♥	A J 9
♦	Q 5
♣	Q 9 4

N
W		E
S

♠	4 3
♥	K Q 10 6 5 3
♦	10 4
♣	J 10 7

♠	K 8 7
♥	8 7
♦	K 7 3
♣	A K 8 3 2

NS 4♦; NS 2♣; S 1♠; EW 1♥; Par +130

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

N/S don't have a weak two bid in Diamonds available to them
Not quite strong enough for a vulnerable weak two bid
Preemptive jump shift in competition

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♠	W	−4	♣ 6	400		10.95	0.05	12-Johnson-Lipp	2-Mehta-Mehta
4 ♥	E	−3	♣ A	300		9.32	1.68	11-Kanterman-Essig	16-Callif-Kreitzer
5 ♥	E	−3	♣ A	300		9.32	1.68	13-Kehoe-Stanley	4-Scovic-Wilson
4 ♥	E	−2	♣ A	200		6.05	4.95	3-Roark-Hansen	1-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♠	W	−2	♦ A	200		6.05	4.95	10-Tedrick-Pretz	14-Chrzanowski-Muenks
4 ♥	E	−2	♣ A	200		6.05	4.95	14-Pandit-Pandit	7-Burns-Kobida
3 ♥	E	−2	♣ A	200		6.05	4.95	15-Gibler-Vanstone	9-Schultz-Terbrueggen
4 ♦	N	5	♥ K	150		2.77	8.23	2-Pollack-Pollack	15-Prosise-Prosise
3 ♦	N	5	♣ J	150		2.77	8.23	4-Williams-Singerman	3-Lammers-Lubow
2 ♥	E	−1	♣ A	100		0.59	10.41	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	13-Cushman-Petersen
3 ♥	E	−1	♦ 3	100		0.59	10.41	5-Lin-Hoffman	5-Oppelt-Oppelt

N/S lose one Spade trick and two Diamonds, making four. If East leads the ♠ 4 and West ducks trick one, N/S will make five when declarer's Heart losers go away on the long Clubs. Oops. The best lead on this hand is the ♥ K.

Board 10
East Deals
Both Vul

♠	J 8 7 4
♥	A K 9 6 5 4
♦	J
♣	10 5

♠	2
♥	Q J 2
♦	10 7 3 2
♣	A J 9 8 4

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 10 9 6 5 3
♥	8
♦	Q 9 5
♣	K Q 7

♠	A K
♥	10 7 3
♦	A K 8 6 4
♣	6 3 2

NS 4♥; NS 2N; NS 2♦; W 2♣; NS 1♠; E 1♣; Par +620

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

Not quite a vulnerable weak two bid
15 to 17
Delayed Texas Transfer

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	S	5	♠ 2	650		10.95	0.05	12-Johnson-Lipp	2-Mehta-Mehta
4 ♥	N	4	♥ 8	620		8.77	2.23	2-Pollack-Pollack	15-Prosise-Prosise
4 ♥	N	4	♠ 9	620		8.77	2.23	4-Williams-Singerman	3-Lammers-Lubow
4 ♥	N	4	♠ 9	620		8.77	2.23	15-Gibler-Vanstone	9-Schultz-Terbrueggen
3 ♥	N	5	♠ 10	200		6.59	4.41	13-Kehoe-Stanley	4-Scovic-Wilson
2 ♥	N	4	♣ K	170		4.95	6.05	3-Roark-Hansen	1-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♥	N	4	♠ 10	170		4.95	6.05	5-Lin-Hoffman	5-Oppelt-Oppelt
3 ♥	N	3	♣ K	140		3.32	7.68	11-Kanterman-Essig	16-Callif-Kreitzer
2 ♠	E	−1	♦ A	100		2.23	8.77	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	13-Cushman-Petersen
1 NT	S	1	♣ 9	90		1.14	9.86	14-Pandit-Pandit	7-Burns-Kobida
3 ♦	S	−4	♠ 2		400	0.05	10.95	10-Tedrick-Pretz	14-Chrzanowski-Muenks

North, with 4+ cards in both majors, keeps them both in play by bidding 2 ♣ (Stayman). When South denies a four-card major, North makes a delayed Texas Transfer to get to the good Heart game.

N/S lose one Club trick, one Spade, and one Spade ruff, making four. West may lead the ♠ 2 (out of desperation), although they don't really want a ruff. Declarer will win in hand, pull two rounds of trump (noting East's discard), cash the ♦ AK (pitching a Club from dummy), and try and cash the ♠ K. West will ruff with the master trump and lead the ♣ A and a second Club, but declarer will ruff in dummy, ruff a Spade with the ♥T, and concede a Spade making four.

Board 11
South Deals
None Vul

♠	10 7 6 5 2
♥	Q 9 8 5
♦	7 2
♣	Q 5

♠	K Q
♥	K J 7 6 3
♦	A 9 3
♣	K 10 9

N
W		E
S

♠	A 8 3
♥	10 4 2
♦	Q 10 8 6
♣	A 8 2

♠	J 9 4
♥	A
♦	K J 5 4
♣	J 7 6 4 3

EW 4N; E 4♥; W 3♥; EW 2♠; EW 3♦; EW 2♣; Par −430

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

15 to 17

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	W	−2	♠ 5	100		10.95	0.05	6-Mackey-Der Roos	6-Felson-Brown
3 NT	W	−1	♠ 7	50		8.77	2.23	2-Pollack-Pollack	14-Chrzanowski-Muenks
1 NT	E	−1	♠ J	50		8.77	2.23	4-Williams-Singerman	2-Mehta-Mehta
4 ♥	W	−1	♠ 5	50		8.77	2.23	15-Gibler-Vanstone	8-Temples-Koch
3 NT	W	3	♠ 5		400	4.95	6.05	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	12-Jervis-Lindeman
3 NT	W	3	♠ 5		400	4.95	6.05	12-Johnson-Lipp	1-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	W	3	♥ 5		400	4.95	6.05	13-Kehoe-Stanley	3-Lammers-Lubow
3 NT	W	3	♥ 3		400	4.95	6.05	14-Pandit-Pandit	5-Oppelt-Oppelt
3 NT	W	4	♠ 2		430	1.68	9.32	3-Roark-Hansen	16-Callif-Kreitzer
3 NT	W	4	♥ 9		430	1.68	9.32	5-Lin-Hoffman	4-Scovic-Wilson
3 NT	W	5	♠ 7		460	0.05	10.95	11-Kanterman-Essig	15-Prosise-Prosise

With a flat hand (3334), East has no reason to look for a five-card major in West's hand. E/W take three Spade tricks, two Clubs, three Hearts, and possibly two Diamonds, making three or four. North may lead a small Spade.

Board 12
West Deals
N-S Vul

♠	K 10 9 8 5 3
♥	A 6 4
♦	10 7 6
♣	Q

♠	Q J 7 4
♥	10 9 3 2
♦	J 4
♣	J 8 7

N
W		E
S

♠	—
♥	J 8 7 5
♦	A Q 9 8 3
♣	A 9 6 2

♠	A 6 2
♥	K Q
♦	K 5 2
♣	K 10 5 4 3

NS 4♠; NS 1N; EW 1♥; Par +620

West	North	East	South
Pass	2 ♠1	Dbl	Rdbl2
3 ♥	4 ♥3	Pass	4 ♠
Pass	Pass	Pass

Weak two opener
Showing an opening hand or better with Spade support
Showing a feature in Hearts and a very good hand

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
6 ♥×	W	−5	♣ Q	1100		10.95	0.05	5-Lin-Hoffman	4-Scovic-Wilson
5 ♥×	E	−4	♣ Q	800		9.86	1.14	4-Williams-Singerman	2-Mehta-Mehta
4 ♠	N	4	♥ 8	620		8.23	2.77	2-Pollack-Pollack	14-Chrzanowski-Muenks
4 ♠	N	4	♥ 8	620		8.23	2.77	12-Johnson-Lipp	1-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♠	S	4	♦ J	170		6.05	4.95	3-Roark-Hansen	16-Callif-Kreitzer
3 ♠	N	4	♥ 7	170		6.05	4.95	11-Kanterman-Essig	15-Prosise-Prosise
3 ♠	N	3	♥ 5	140		3.32	7.68	6-Mackey-Der Roos	6-Felson-Brown
2 ♠	S	3	♥ 2	140		3.32	7.68	14-Pandit-Pandit	5-Oppelt-Oppelt
3 ♠	S	3	♦ J	140		3.32	7.68	15-Gibler-Vanstone	8-Temples-Koch
2 ♥	E	−2	♣ 4	100		1.14	9.86	13-Kehoe-Stanley	3-Lammers-Lubow
4 ♠	N	−1	♣ A		100	0.05	10.95	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	12-Jervis-Lindeman

N/S lose one Spade trick, one Diamond, and one Club, making four. The proper way to play the trump suit is ♠ A first (i.e., West is far more likely to have Spade length). East will lead the ♥ 5. Declarer will win in dummy, cash the other high Heart, cash the ♠ A (noting East's discard), and lead a Spade towards the closed hand. West will probably split their honors, and North will win with the ♠ K. A high Spade is led to West's ♠ Q, and West may exit with their last trump. Declarer wins in their hand and leads their ♣ Q to East's ♣ A. When the ♦ A turns out to be onside, declarer can claim pitching two Diamonds from their hand on the ♦ K and ♣ K.

Board 13
North Deals
Both Vul

♠	9
♥	A 2
♦	Q J 3
♣	J 10 9 8 7 5 4

♠	5 4 2
♥	10
♦	K 10 9 8 4 2
♣	A 6 2

N
W		E
S

♠	A K Q 10 7 6 3
♥	K 8 7 6 3
♦	A
♣	—

♠	J 8
♥	Q J 9 5 4
♦	7 6 5
♣	K Q 3

EW 6♠; EW 3N; EW 2♥; EW 3♦; NS 2♣; Par −1400: NS 7♣×−5

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

Don't preempt with 87.5% of your points outside of your long suit
Alert, artificial Kokish Game Try asking partner where they have help
West has help everywhere
RKC Blackwood (Kickback) for Spades
1430 response showing 1 or 4 keycards
Off a keycard

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♠	E	5	♣ K		650	10.41	0.59	5-Lin-Hoffman	3-Lammers-Lubow
4 ♠	E	5	♣ 3		650	10.41	0.59	6-Mackey-Der Roos	5-Oppelt-Oppelt
4 ♠	E	6	♣ K		680	6.05	4.95	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	11-Earls-Campbell
4 ♠	E	6	♣ K		680	6.05	4.95	3-Roark-Hansen	15-Prosise-Prosise
4 ♠	E	6	♣ K		680	6.05	4.95	4-Williams-Singerman	1-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♠	E	6	♣ K		680	6.05	4.95	12-Johnson-Lipp	16-Callif-Kreitzer
5 ♠	E	6	♠ J		680	6.05	4.95	13-Kehoe-Stanley	2-Mehta-Mehta
4 ♠	W	6	♥ Q		680	6.05	4.95	14-Pandit-Pandit	4-Scovic-Wilson
6 ♠	E	6	♣ K		1430	1.14	9.86	2-Pollack-Pollack	13-Cushman-Petersen
6 ♠	E	6	♣ K		1430	1.14	9.86	7-Kennedy-Endres	7-Burns-Kobida
6 ♠	E	6	♥ 4		1430	1.14	9.86	15-Gibler-Vanstone	6-Felson-Brown

It's unusual to trot out RKC Blackwood when you have a void, but East still chooses to do it on this hand. They figure that they'll need pitches in Hearts, so they don't want to be in slam if their partner has zero keycards. When West shows up with one, East bids the good slam.

E/W lose one Heart trick, making six. South should lead a trump on the auction. Declarer wins in their hand, cashes the ♦ A, and leads a small Heart towards the ♥T. South will hop with the ♥ J and lead another Spade, but declarer can win in their hand, ruff a Heart in dummy (noting the fall of the ♥ A....phew), pitch two small Hearts on the ♣ A and ♦ K, and claim. Note how much easier the hand would have played if declarer held ♠ AKQT763 ♥ K876 ♦ A ♣ 4. Stupid five-card side suits.....

Board 14
East Deals
None Vul

♠	10 4
♥	A Q 10 7 2
♦	A 10 6 3
♣	Q 3

♠	K 9 5 2
♥	K 8
♦	J 9 7
♣	A J 9 8

N
W		E
S

♠	J 8 7 6 3
♥	4 3
♦	K Q 8 4 2
♣	2

♠	A Q
♥	J 9 6 5
♦	5
♣	K 10 7 6 5 4

S 5♥; N 4♥; S 4♣; NS 2N; EW 2♠; N 3♣; EW 2♦; Par +450

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

Showing 5+ Spades
Cuebid of higher ranking suit to show a limit raise with 4+ Hearts
Lead a Spade

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♣×	S	4	♠ 2	570		10.95	0.05	12-Johnson-Lipp	16-Callif-Kreitzer
5 ♥	N	5	♣ 2	450		9.86	1.14	4-Williams-Singerman	1-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♥	N	4	♣ 2	420		6.05	4.95	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	11-Earls-Campbell
4 ♥	N	4	♣ 2	420		6.05	4.95	2-Pollack-Pollack	13-Cushman-Petersen
4 ♥	N	4	♣ 2	420		6.05	4.95	6-Mackey-Der Roos	5-Oppelt-Oppelt
4 ♥	N	4	♣ 2	420		6.05	4.95	7-Kennedy-Endres	7-Burns-Kobida
4 ♥	N	4	♣ 2	420		6.05	4.95	14-Pandit-Pandit	4-Scovic-Wilson
4 ♥	N	4	♣ 2	420		6.05	4.95	15-Gibler-Vanstone	6-Felson-Brown
3 ♥	N	6	♣ 2	230		2.23	8.77	5-Lin-Hoffman	3-Lammers-Lubow
3 ♣	S	3	♦ 7	110		0.59	10.41	3-Roark-Hansen	15-Prosise-Prosise
3 ♣	S	3	♦ 7	110		0.59	10.41	13-Kehoe-Stanley	2-Mehta-Mehta

When the opponents have bid two suits and you can cuebid either one, cuebid the lower-ranking suit to show a three-card limit raise and the higher-ranking suit to show a limit raise with four or more of partner's suit.

N/S lose one Spade trick, one Club, and one Diamond, making four. East will lead a small Spade. If declarer plays low, West will win, cash the ♣ A, and give partner a Club ruff. Declarer will most likely still have to lose a Diamond for down one, although . Ugh. Better is for declarer to hop with the ♠ A, finesse immediately in Hearts, and clear trump.

Board 15
South Deals
N-S Vul

♠	K 9 7
♥	A 9 5
♦	J 10 9 3
♣	9 6 5

♠	Q 4
♥	10 8 6 4 3
♦	8 6 5 2
♣	4 2

N
W		E
S

♠	A 6 5 3
♥	Q J 2
♦	A Q 7 4
♣	Q J

♠	J 10 8 2
♥	K 7
♦	K
♣	A K 10 8 7 3

NS 4N; NS 4♠; NS 5♣; NS 1♥; NS 1♦; Par +630

West	North	East	South
			1 ♣
Pass	1 ♦	Pass1	1 ♠2
Pass	1 NT	Pass3	Pass
Pass

Why be in this auction?
Alert, showing an unbalanced hand
See #1

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	N	3	♦ 3	600		10.95	0.05	4-Williams-Singerman	16-Callif-Kreitzer
1 NT	N	3	♦ 7	150		7.14	3.86	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	10-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♥	W	−3	♣ A	150		7.14	3.86	2-Pollack-Pollack	12-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♣	S	5	♥ 10	150		7.14	3.86	5-Lin-Hoffman	2-Mehta-Mehta
3 ♣	S	5	♠ Q	150		7.14	3.86	7-Kennedy-Endres	6-Felson-Brown
3 ♣	S	5	♥ 4	150		7.14	3.86	8-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	8-Temples-Koch
2 ♣	S	5	♦ 8	150		7.14	3.86	13-Kehoe-Stanley	1-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♣	S	4	♥ 4	130		3.32	7.68	6-Mackey-Der Roos	4-Scovic-Wilson
3 ♥	W	−2	♣ 9	100		2.23	8.77	3-Roark-Hansen	14-Chrzanowski-Muenks
2 ♥	E	−1	♣ A	50		0.59	10.41	14-Pandit-Pandit	3-Lammers-Lubow
2 ♥	W	−1	♣ 9	50		0.59	10.41	15-Gibler-Vanstone	5-Oppelt-Oppelt

There's absolutely no reason for East to get involved in this auction. If they do, expect N/S to double for a hefty penalty. Heh.

N/S take six Club tricks, two Hearts, and two Diamonds (or Spades), making four. East may lead a small Diamond (or Spade).

Board 16
West Deals
E-W Vul

♠	9 8 4 2
♥	K 8
♦	A J 10 5 2
♣	Q 3

♠	J
♥	9 7 6 3
♦	8 6 3
♣	10 9 7 5 4

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 10 7 5
♥	A 5 2
♦	K Q 7 4
♣	8 6

♠	A K 6 3
♥	Q J 10 4
♦	9
♣	A K J 2

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

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

Alert, showing a singleton Diamond and 4+ Spades

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	S	4	♣ 5	430		10.95	0.05	8-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	8-Temples-Koch
4 ♠	N	4	♣ 6	420		7.68	3.32	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	10-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♠	N	4	♣ 8	420		7.68	3.32	2-Pollack-Pollack	12-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♠	N	4	♦ K	420		7.68	3.32	3-Roark-Hansen	14-Chrzanowski-Muenks
4 ♠	N	4	♦ K	420		7.68	3.32	4-Williams-Singerman	16-Callif-Kreitzer
4 ♠	N	4	♣ 8	420		7.68	3.32	14-Pandit-Pandit	3-Lammers-Lubow
1 ♦×	W	−1	♠ A	200		4.41	6.59	15-Gibler-Vanstone	5-Oppelt-Oppelt
4 ♠	N	−1	♦ K		50	2.77	8.23	7-Kennedy-Endres	6-Felson-Brown
4 ♠	N	−1	♦ K		50	2.77	8.23	13-Kehoe-Stanley	1-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♠	N	−2	♣ 8		100	0.59	10.41	5-Lin-Hoffman	2-Mehta-Mehta
4 ♠	N	−2	♣ 8		100	0.59	10.41	6-Mackey-Der Roos	4-Scovic-Wilson

A jump reverse is used to show a strong hand with four-card support for partner's suit and a singleton in the bid suit (a splinter). A double-jump reverse (4 ♦ on this auction) would show the same hand with a void in Diamonds.

When South shows a big hand and singleton Diamond, North offers to play in notrump. South, with nice values in Hearts and Clubs, happily accepts. N/S take four Club tricks, three Hearts, two Spades, and one Diamond, making four. East may lead the safe ♣ 8.

Board 17
North Deals
None Vul

♠	K 9 6 4 2
♥	8
♦	A 6 4
♣	J 7 6 2

♠	J 10 5
♥	A K
♦	7 3 2
♣	A K 9 8 4

N
W		E
S

♠	A Q
♥	J 9 4 3
♦	K J 10 9 8
♣	10 3

♠	8 7 3
♥	Q 10 7 6 5 2
♦	Q 5
♣	Q 5

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

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

Rule of 20 opener
Weak jump overcall

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	W	−2	♠ 4	100		10.41	0.59	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	8-Temples-Koch
3 NT	W	−2	♠ 6	100		10.41	0.59	7-Kennedy-Endres	5-Oppelt-Oppelt
3 NT	W	−1	♠ 4	50		7.68	3.32	4-Williams-Singerman	15-Prosise-Prosise
3 NT	W	−1	♠ 5	50		7.68	3.32	9-Venosa-Venosa	9-Schultz-Terbrueggen
3 ♣	W	−1	♥ 8	50		7.68	3.32	15-Gibler-Vanstone	4-Scovic-Wilson
3 NT	E	4	♥ 5		430	3.86	7.14	2-Pollack-Pollack	11-Earls-Campbell
3 NT	W	4	♥ 8		430	3.86	7.14	3-Roark-Hansen	13-Cushman-Petersen
3 NT	W	4	♠ 4		430	3.86	7.14	5-Lin-Hoffman	1-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	W	4	♠ 4		430	3.86	7.14	6-Mackey-Der Roos	3-Lammers-Lubow
3 NT	E	5	♥ 4		460	0.59	10.41	8-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	7-Burns-Kobida
3 NT	E	5	♠ 8		460	0.59	10.41	14-Pandit-Pandit	2-Mehta-Mehta

If N/S were vulnerable, South wouldn't dream of overcalling with that horrendous hand. Not vulnerable? Live it up.

E/W take two Spade tricks, two Hearts, three Diamonds, and two Clubs, making three. North will lead the ♥ 8 (or a small Spade if they think their partner's jump overcalls generally suck).

Board 18
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	Q 6 5
♥	K 10 9 5
♦	8 7
♣	8 5 3 2

♠	9 8 7 4 2
♥	8 6 4
♦	Q 6 5
♣	7 4

N
W		E
S

♠	K J 10 3
♥	J 7
♦	A J 3 2
♣	J 10 6

♠	A
♥	A Q 3 2
♦	K 10 9 4
♣	A K Q 9

NS 6♥; NS 6♣; NS 4N; NS 2♦; Par +1430

West	North	East	South
		Pass	2 ♣
Pass	2 ♦1	Pass	2 NT2
Pass	3 ♣3	Pass	3 ♦4
Pass	3 ♠5	Dbl6	4 ♥7
Pass	4 ♠8	Pass	5 ♣9
Pass	5 ♦10	Pass	6 ♣11
Pass	6 ♥	Pass	Pass
Pass

Showing an A, K, or QQ
22-24 HCP
Artificial Puppet Stayman bid asking for a 4- or 5-card major
Alert, Puppet Stayman response denying a 5-card major but showing one or more 4-card majors
Alert, showing four Hearts and fewer than four Spades
Please lead a Spade
Showing four Hearts
RKC Blackwood (Kickback) for Hearts
1430 response showing 0 or 3 keycards
Do you have the ♥ Q?
Yes, and the ♣ K

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	S	5	♠ 4	660		10.95	0.05	14-Pandit-Pandit	2-Mehta-Mehta
4 ♥	N	5	♠ J	650		8.77	2.23	3-Roark-Hansen	13-Cushman-Petersen
4 ♥	S	5	♠ 4	650		8.77	2.23	9-Venosa-Venosa	9-Schultz-Terbrueggen
4 ♥	S	5	♠ 9	650		8.77	2.23	15-Gibler-Vanstone	4-Scovic-Wilson
4 ♥	S	4	♠ 8	620		4.95	6.05	2-Pollack-Pollack	11-Earls-Campbell
4 ♥	N	4	♣ J	620		4.95	6.05	4-Williams-Singerman	15-Prosise-Prosise
4 ♥	S	4	♠ 9	620		4.95	6.05	6-Mackey-Der Roos	3-Lammers-Lubow
4 ♥	S	4	♠ 9	620		4.95	6.05	7-Kennedy-Endres	5-Oppelt-Oppelt
3 ♣	S	5	♠ 9	150		2.23	8.77	8-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	7-Burns-Kobida
1 ♦	S	1	♣ 7	70		1.14	9.86	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	8-Temples-Koch
3 NT	S	−1	♠ 9		100	0.05	10.95	5-Lin-Hoffman	1-Kammer-Zimmer

Nice auction! N/S lose one Diamond trick, making six. It's not the best slam in the world, but it's not the worst either (if E/W were in slam on this hand, it would be the worst ever). West will lead the ♠ 8 (MUD).

Board 19
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	A 6 4
♥	10
♦	Q 10 9 7 4
♣	Q J 10 2

♠	8
♥	K 9 7 5
♦	A 6
♣	A 8 6 5 4 3

N
W		E
S

♠	10 9 7 5
♥	J 8 3
♦	J 8 3 2
♣	K 9

♠	K Q J 3 2
♥	A Q 6 4 2
♦	K 5
♣	7

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

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

Alert, artificial Kokish Game Try showing shortness in Clubs

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	S	5	♦ A	450		10.95	0.05	7-Kennedy-Endres	4-Scovic-Wilson
4 ♠	S	4	♦ A	420		8.23	2.77	6-Mackey-Der Roos	2-Mehta-Mehta
4 ♠	S	4	♣ A	420		8.23	2.77	9-Venosa-Venosa	8-Temples-Koch
4 ♠	S	4	♦ A	420		8.23	2.77	10-Tedrick-Pretz	10-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♠	S	4	♥ 5	420		8.23	2.77	15-Gibler-Vanstone	3-Lammers-Lubow
4 ♠	S	−1	♣ A		50	4.41	6.59	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	7-Burns-Kobida
4 ♠	S	−1	♥ 5		50	4.41	6.59	3-Roark-Hansen	12-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♠	S	−1	♠ 8		50	4.41	6.59	5-Lin-Hoffman	16-Callif-Kreitzer
4 ♠	S	−2	♦ A		100	1.14	9.86	2-Pollack-Pollack	9-Schultz-Terbrueggen
4 ♠	S	−2	♣ A		100	1.14	9.86	4-Williams-Singerman	14-Chrzanowski-Muenks
4 ♠	S	−2	♠ 8		100	1.14	9.86	8-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	6-Felson-Brown

North's hand is almost worth a limit raise the first time through, so North has an easy raise to game when South makes a game try. N/S lose one Club trick, one Diamond, and two Hearts, down one.....as long as West leads their stiff ♠ 8. On any other lead, South can scramble for ten tricks. On a trump lead, declarer will win with dummy's ♠ A and lead the ♥T, covered by the ♥ J and ♥ A. Declarer will ruff a small Heart in dummy, and lead the ♦T from the board, ducked by East and taken by West with the ♦ A. West, once again on lead, will have to underlead their ♣ A to their partner's ♣ K so East can play another round of trump. Nine tricks are now the limit.

Why does West know for 100% certainty that their partner has the ♣ K? Remember, declarer showed a singleton Club on the auction. If that Club was the ♣ K, declarer played low from dummy at trick one to preserve an entry to dummy, winning with the ♠ K in their hand. Trick two would have been the ♣ K, won by West with the ♣ A. With high Clubs now established in dummy, 10 tricks would have been a piece of cake (ummm.....cake).

Board 20
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	K J
♥	9 2
♦	K J 7 6 3
♣	10 7 4 2

♠	Q 5 2
♥	Q 5 3
♦	9 4
♣	Q J 8 6 3

N
W		E
S

♠	10 7 6 3
♥	A 10 6
♦	8 2
♣	A K 9 5

♠	A 9 8 4
♥	K J 8 7 4
♦	A Q 10 5
♣	—

NS 6♦; NS 4♥; NS 2♠; NS 1N; Par +1370

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

Alert, artificial Flannery bid showing exactly four Spades, five Hearts, and 11-15 HCP
Alert, non-forcing and to play
Showing a maximum hand with four Diamonds
Wow, that got my attention!

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♣	E	−2	♠ 9	200		10.41	0.59	2-Pollack-Pollack	9-Schultz-Terbrueggen
3 ♣	E	−2	♥ 8	200		10.41	0.59	7-Kennedy-Endres	4-Scovic-Wilson
3 ♦	S	6	♠ 2	170		7.68	3.32	4-Williams-Singerman	14-Chrzanowski-Muenks
2 ♥	N	4	♣ K	170		7.68	3.32	9-Venosa-Venosa	8-Temples-Koch
2 ♦	S	6	♣ Q	170		7.68	3.32	15-Gibler-Vanstone	3-Lammers-Lubow
2 ♦	N	5	♣ A	150		4.95	6.05	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	7-Burns-Kobida
3 ♦	N	5	♣ A	150		4.95	6.05	10-Tedrick-Pretz	10-Diers-McCarthy
2 ♦	S	3	♣ 5	110		2.77	8.23	3-Roark-Hansen	12-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♦	S	3	♣ Q	110		2.77	8.23	6-Mackey-Der Roos	2-Mehta-Mehta
5 ♦	N	−1	♣ A		100	1.14	9.86	8-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	6-Felson-Brown
3 ♠	S	−2	♣ Q		200	0.05	10.95	5-Lin-Hoffman	16-Callif-Kreitzer

The lack of bidding by E/W emboldens South to take one more call. They expect North to raise to game in Hearts holding 9-10 HCP and three Hearts. North does raise to game, but not in the suit that South expects. Sweet.

N/S lose one Heart trick, making six. West may lead a trump.

Board 21
North Deals
N-S Vul

♠	Q J 9 6 4
♥	J 10 8 7
♦	A 9 8
♣	10

♠	8
♥	Q 9 6 5 3 2
♦	K J 5 2
♣	9 2

N
W		E
S

♠	K 10 7 5 3
♥	A
♦	6 4
♣	A 8 7 6 5

♠	A 2
♥	K 4
♦	Q 10 7 3
♣	K Q J 4 3

NS 3N; NS 2♦; NS 1♠; NS 1♥; NS 1♣; Par +600

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	N	3	♠ 7	600		10.41	0.59	2-Pollack-Pollack	8-Temples-Koch
3 NT	N	3	♥ A	600		10.41	0.59	11-Kanterman-Essig	11-Earls-Campbell
3 ♥×	W	−2	♣ 10	300		8.77	2.23	9-Venosa-Venosa	7-Burns-Kobida
2 ♥	W	−4	♣ 10	200		7.68	3.32	6-Mackey-Der Roos	1-Kammer-Zimmer
1 NT	S	3	♦ 2	150		5.50	5.50	3-Roark-Hansen	10-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♥	W	−3	♣ 10	150		5.50	5.50	5-Lin-Hoffman	15-Prosise-Prosise
3 ♥	W	−3	♣ 10	150		5.50	5.50	10-Tedrick-Pretz	9-Schultz-Terbrueggen
2 ♠	E	−2	♣ K	100		3.32	7.68	4-Williams-Singerman	13-Cushman-Petersen
2 ♣	S	−1	♠ 2		100	2.23	8.77	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	6-Felson-Brown
3 ♣	S	−2	♠ 8		200	1.14	9.86	7-Kennedy-Endres	3-Lammers-Lubow
3 ♦	S	−3	♠ 8		300	0.05	10.95	8-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	5-Oppelt-Oppelt

N/S take two Spade tricks, three Clubs, three Diamonds, and one Heart, making three. East may lead the ♦ 6.

Board 22
East Deals
E-W Vul

♠	9 5
♥	J 9 8 7 6 2
♦	K 3 2
♣	A 7

♠	A K 6 4 3
♥	—
♦	A J 7 5
♣	J 9 8 6

N
W		E
S

♠	10 8 2
♥	4
♦	10 9 8 6 4
♣	K 10 5 4

♠	Q J 7
♥	A K Q 10 5 3
♦	Q
♣	Q 3 2

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

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

Showing a limit raise or better in Hearts

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥×	S	4	♠ A	590		10.95	0.05	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	6-Felson-Brown
4 ♥	S	4	♠ A	420		8.23	2.77	4-Williams-Singerman	13-Cushman-Petersen
4 ♥	S	4	♠ A	420		8.23	2.77	5-Lin-Hoffman	15-Prosise-Prosise
4 ♥	S	4	♠ A	420		8.23	2.77	9-Venosa-Venosa	7-Burns-Kobida
4 ♥	S	4	♠ A	420		8.23	2.77	11-Kanterman-Essig	11-Earls-Campbell
4 ♥	S	−1	♦ A		50	2.77	8.23	2-Pollack-Pollack	8-Temples-Koch
4 ♥	S	−1	♠ A		50	2.77	8.23	3-Roark-Hansen	10-Diers-McCarthy
5 ♥	S	−1	♠ K		50	2.77	8.23	6-Mackey-Der Roos	1-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♥	S	−1	♠ A		50	2.77	8.23	7-Kennedy-Endres	3-Lammers-Lubow
4 ♥	S	−1	♠ 8		50	2.77	8.23	8-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	5-Oppelt-Oppelt
5 ♥	S	−1	♠ A		50	2.77	8.23	10-Tedrick-Pretz	9-Schultz-Terbrueggen

N/S lose two Spade tricks, one Diamond, and one Club....as long as West leads a Club or switches to a Club at trick two before South's ♠ Q is established for a Club pitch. West will lead the ♠ K (asking for count) and switch to the ♣ 6 at trick two. Phew....that was close!

Board 23
South Deals
Both Vul

♠	Q 9 2
♥	K 9 6 4 3
♦	Q 7 4
♣	6 5

♠	J 3
♥	Q 7 2
♦	J 9 8 3
♣	J 10 4 3

N
W		E
S

♠	A 8 6 5 4
♥	A J 10
♦	A K 10 6
♣	A

♠	K 10 7
♥	8 5
♦	5 2
♣	K Q 9 8 7 2

EW 6♦; EW 4♠; EW 3♥; EW 2N; EW 1♣; Par −1370

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

Alert, denying an A, K, or QQ
Staying out of partner's way

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	S	3	♥ 4	600		11.00	0.00	6-Mackey-Der Roos	16-Callif-Kreitzer
4 ♦	W	−1	♣ A	100		10.00	1.00	8-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	4-Scovic-Wilson
1 ♠	E	2	♣ K		110	8.50	2.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	7-Burns-Kobida
1 ♠	E	2	♣ K		110	8.50	2.50	10-Tedrick-Pretz	8-Temples-Koch
3 ♦	E	4	♣ K		130	7.00	4.00	11-Kanterman-Essig	10-Diers-McCarthy
1 ♠	E	4	♣ K		170	6.00	5.00	7-Kennedy-Endres	2-Mehta-Mehta
3 ♣	S	−3	♥ 2		300	5.00	6.00	5-Lin-Hoffman	14-Chrzanowski-Muenks
3 NT	E	3	♣ K		600	2.00	9.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	5-Oppelt-Oppelt
3 NT	E	3	♣ K		600	2.00	9.00	3-Roark-Hansen	9-Schultz-Terbrueggen
3 NT	W	3	♣ 8		600	2.00	9.00	4-Williams-Singerman	11-Earls-Campbell
3 NT	W	3	♣ 6		600	2.00	9.00	9-Venosa-Venosa	6-Felson-Brown
3 NT	E	3	♣ 7		600	2.00	9.00	12-Johnson-Lipp	12-Jervis-Lindeman

When East shows a Diamond suit, West's hand is well worth a raise to game. Notice that there's no reason to bid 4 ♦ with the West hand to leave room for partner to ask for keycards--which keycard would West show?

E/W lose one Spade trick, making six. South will lead the ♣ K. Declarer will win in their hand with the ♣ A and duck a Spade, won by North with the ♠ Q. A Club return is ruffed by declarer with the ♦T (we'll come back to this in a bit) followed by the ♠ A and a Spade ruffed low in dummy (declarer notes that the Spade split 3-3). The ♦ 8 is now led, North plays low, and declarer plays the ♦ 6 from their hand (see above). When the ♦ 8 holds, declarer switches gears and plays the ♥ Q, covered by North and taken with the ♥ A. The ♦ AK are now played pulling the rest of the trump, and declarer's hand is good. Nicely played!

Note what happens if declarer mistakenly ruffs low on the second Club. When the lead is in dummy after ruffing the third Spade, which Diamond does declarer lead towards their hand? If they lead the ♦ 8 or ♦ 9, North plays low, declarer wins with the ♦T and has no way to return to dummy for the Heart hook after pulling trump. If the ♦ J is led, North covers with the ♦ Q, declarer wins with the ♦ K and is once again stuck in their hand. Oops.

Board 24
West Deals
None Vul

♠	Q J 6 4
♥	Q 5
♦	K 7 4
♣	J 10 7 5

♠	3
♥	A 6 4
♦	Q J 8 3 2
♣	A Q 6 4

N
W		E
S

♠	K 10 5
♥	K J 8 3
♦	10 6 5
♣	9 3 2

♠	A 9 8 7 2
♥	10 9 7 2
♦	A 9
♣	K 8

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

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

Alert, support double showing exactly three Hearts

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
1 NT	W	−3	♠ 4	150		11.00	0.00	9-Venosa-Venosa	6-Felson-Brown
3 ♠	S	3	♦ Q	140		10.00	1.00	6-Mackey-Der Roos	16-Callif-Kreitzer
2 ♠	S	2	♦ Q	110		8.50	2.50	5-Lin-Hoffman	14-Chrzanowski-Muenks
2 ♠	S	2	♥ A	110		8.50	2.50	8-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	4-Scovic-Wilson
2 ♣	W	−1	♠ Q	50		6.00	5.00	7-Kennedy-Endres	2-Mehta-Mehta
2 ♥	E	−1	♥ 10	50		6.00	5.00	11-Kanterman-Essig	10-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♥	E	−1	♦ A	50		6.00	5.00	12-Johnson-Lipp	12-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♠	S	−1	♦ 8		50	3.00	8.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	5-Oppelt-Oppelt
3 ♠	S	−1	♥ A		50	3.00	8.00	3-Roark-Hansen	9-Schultz-Terbrueggen
3 ♠	S	−1	♥ A		50	3.00	8.00	4-Williams-Singerman	11-Earls-Campbell
4 ♠	S	−2	♥ A		100	1.00	10.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	7-Burns-Kobida
2 ♦	W	3	♠ Q		110	0.00	11.00	10-Tedrick-Pretz	8-Temples-Koch

West didn't pick up their hand to play in 2 ♠, so they finish showing their hand shape with their 3 ♣ bid. East, with 3-3 in the minors, returns to West's first bit suit.

E/W lose two Diamond tricks, one Spade, and two Clubs, down one....as long as N/S pull three rounds of trump before declarer is able to ruff a Club. That shouldn't be too hard, since N/S will have that chance (1) on opening lead, (2) when they're on lead at trick two if North leads the ♠ Q, and (3) when they're in with the third round of Clubs.

Board 25
North Deals
E-W Vul

♠	K 8 4
♥	Q 4
♦	A 4 2
♣	K 9 7 3 2

♠	A 10 9 7 3
♥	8 5 3
♦	K 9 6
♣	A 5

N
W		E
S

♠	6 5 2
♥	10 7 6 2
♦	Q J 3
♣	J 10 6

♠	Q J
♥	A K J 9
♦	10 8 7 5
♣	Q 8 4

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

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	N	5	♠ 5	460		10.50	0.50	12-Johnson-Lipp	11-Earls-Campbell
3 NT	N	5	♠ 6	460		10.50	0.50	13-Kehoe-Stanley	13-Cushman-Petersen
3 NT	N	4	♠ 6	430		7.00	4.00	3-Roark-Hansen	8-Temples-Koch
3 NT	N	4	♥ 7	430		7.00	4.00	4-Williams-Singerman	10-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	N	4	♠ 5	430		7.00	4.00	7-Kennedy-Endres	1-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	N	4	♥ 2	430		7.00	4.00	9-Venosa-Venosa	5-Oppelt-Oppelt
3 NT	N	4	♠ 6	430		7.00	4.00	10-Tedrick-Pretz	7-Burns-Kobida
3 NT	N	3	♠ 6	400		4.00	7.00	5-Lin-Hoffman	12-Jervis-Lindeman
2 NT	N	4	♠ 5	180		3.00	8.00	11-Kanterman-Essig	9-Schultz-Terbrueggen
2 NT	N	3	♠ 6	150		2.00	9.00	8-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	3-Lammers-Lubow
3 ♣	N	3	♠ 5	110		1.00	10.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	6-Felson-Brown
3 NT	N	−1	♠ 5		50	0.00	11.00	6-Mackey-Der Roos	15-Prosise-Prosise

N/S take four Heart tricks, two Spades, one Diamond, and two Clubs, making three....on a Diamond lead. That's not going to happen, and East is going to lead a Spade. Once that's done, the only way for E/W to hold declarer to nine tricks is for West to grab the ♠ A and switch to Diamonds at trick two. That said, West will probably allow the ♠ J to hold the first trick. The proper way to play the Club suit, with West much more likely to have the ♣ A than East, is to play low towards the ♣ K at trick two and then small from both hands. West will win ♣ A by force, and declarer now has ten tricks (one Spade, one Diamond, four Clubs, and four Hearts). If West still refuses to start in on Diamonds, then declarer will end up with 11 tricks (two Spades, one Diamond, four Clubs, and four Hearts). Sigh.

The moral of this story--ALWAYS lead Diamonds. Nuff said.

Board 26
East Deals
Both Vul

♠	10 4
♥	A 9 5 2
♦	J 9 3
♣	K Q 4 3

♠	A K J
♥	Q 8 7 6 4
♦	10 8 7 6
♣	6

N
W		E
S

♠	9 8 7 6 3
♥	J 10
♦	2
♣	A J 10 7 5

♠	Q 5 2
♥	K 3
♦	A K Q 5 4
♣	9 8 2

S 2N; EW 2♠; NS 3♦; N 1N; NS 1♥; Par +120

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	S	3	♥ 4	600		11.00	0.00	12-Johnson-Lipp	11-Earls-Campbell
1 NT	S	3	♠ A	150		10.00	1.00	4-Williams-Singerman	10-Diers-McCarthy
2 NT	S	2	♥ 6	120		7.50	3.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	6-Felson-Brown
1 NT	N	2	♥ J	120		7.50	3.50	5-Lin-Hoffman	12-Jervis-Lindeman
1 NT	S	2	♥ 8	120		7.50	3.50	10-Tedrick-Pretz	7-Burns-Kobida
1 NT	S	2	♠ K	120		7.50	3.50	13-Kehoe-Stanley	13-Cushman-Petersen
2 ♦	S	3	♣ 6	110		4.50	6.50	6-Mackey-Der Roos	15-Prosise-Prosise
2 ♦	S	3	♠ A	110		4.50	6.50	11-Kanterman-Essig	9-Schultz-Terbrueggen
3 ♠	W	−1	♣ K	100		3.00	8.00	9-Venosa-Venosa	5-Oppelt-Oppelt
3 NT	N	−1	♥ J		100	1.50	9.50	3-Roark-Hansen	8-Temples-Koch
2 ♣	N	−1	♥ J		100	1.50	9.50	7-Kennedy-Endres	1-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♣	N	−3	♦ 2		300	0.00	11.00	8-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	3-Lammers-Lubow

If East leads the ♥ J, N/S will make two. If East leads a small Spade, N/S will make one. East will lead the ♥ J. N/S take five Diamond tricks, two Hearts, and one Club, making two.

If South decides their hand is worth opening 1 NT (a good 14, partner), N/S will end up in 3 NT down one.

Board 27
South Deals
None Vul

♠	A Q 2
♥	9 5 3 2
♦	Q 7 5
♣	K 9 6

♠	J 8 6 3
♥	J 10 7
♦	10 9 2
♣	8 5 2

N
W		E
S

♠	K 7 5
♥	A Q 8 4
♦	4
♣	Q J 10 7 3

♠	10 9 4
♥	K 6
♦	A K J 8 6 3
♣	A 4

NS 4N; NS 5♦; NS 2♠; NS 1♥; Par +430

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

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	S	4	♠ 3	430		9.50	1.50	4-Williams-Singerman	9-Schultz-Terbrueggen
3 NT	N	4	♣ Q	430		9.50	1.50	9-Venosa-Venosa	4-Scovic-Wilson
3 NT	S	4	♠ 3	430		9.50	1.50	12-Johnson-Lipp	10-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	S	4	♠ 8	430		9.50	1.50	14-Pandit-Pandit	14-Chrzanowski-Muenks
2 NT	N	4	♣ Q	180		7.00	4.00	3-Roark-Hansen	7-Burns-Kobida
3 ♦	S	5	♠ 3	150		5.50	5.50	5-Lin-Hoffman	11-Earls-Campbell
3 ♦	S	5	♣ 5	150		5.50	5.50	10-Tedrick-Pretz	6-Felson-Brown
3 ♦	S	4	♣ 5	130		2.00	9.00	6-Mackey-Der Roos	13-Cushman-Petersen
3 ♦	S	4	♣ 8	130		2.00	9.00	7-Kennedy-Endres	16-Callif-Kreitzer
4 ♦	S	4	♣ 2	130		2.00	9.00	8-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	2-Mehta-Mehta
3 ♦	S	4	♣ 2	130		2.00	9.00	11-Kanterman-Essig	8-Temples-Koch
3 ♦	S	4	♣ 8	130		2.00	9.00	13-Kehoe-Stanley	12-Jervis-Lindeman

North, with a flat (3334) hand, has no reason to try and find a 4-4 Heart fit. Their 3 ♣ bid was checking on a 5-4 Heart fit.

N/S take six Diamond tricks, two Clubs, one Heart, and one Spade, making four. West may lead the ♥ J. If East ducks the first trick, they're going to have to pitch both their ♥ A and ♥ Q on the run of the Diamonds. If they try and hold on to either one of them, they're going to get endplayed.

What does East hold after seven cards have been played (one Heart and six Diamonds)? They'll need to hold on to ♣ QJT to prevent the ♣ 9 from being a trick. They have to hold on to ♠ K7 to keep the ♠ Q from being a trick. That leaves only one Heart in their hand. If it's the ♥ A or ♥ Q, declarer simply plays the ♣ A, ♣ K, and exits with the ♣ 9 to put East on lead with three cards to go. They can cash their high Heart, but they'll have to then lead away from the ♠ K into the ♠ AQ in dummy. Making five. Oops.

Board 28
West Deals
N-S Vul

♠	Q 10 8 6
♥	A 8 6
♦	A 4 2
♣	K Q 10

♠	A 5 3
♥	J 7 5 2
♦	6 5
♣	A J 4 2

N
W		E
S

♠	J 9 4 2
♥	Q 10 9
♦	3
♣	8 7 6 5 3

♠	K 7
♥	K 4 3
♦	K Q J 10 9 8 7
♣	9

NS 5N; NS 5♦; NS 2♠; NS 2♥; EW 1♣; Par +660

West	North	East	South
Pass	1 NT1	Pass	2 NT2
Pass	3 ♦3	Pass	4 ♦4
Pass	4 NT5	Pass	Pass6
Pass

15 to 17
Alert, artificial bid asking partner to bid 3 ♦
Alert, showing Ax, Kxx, Qxx, or any four Diamonds
RKC Blackwood (Minorwood) for Diamonds
1430 response showing 2 or 5 keycards w/o the ♦ Q
Let's play there

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 NT	N	5	♣ 8	660		10.00	1.00	4-Williams-Singerman	9-Schultz-Terbrueggen
4 NT	N	5	♣ 5	660		10.00	1.00	5-Lin-Hoffman	11-Earls-Campbell
3 NT	N	5	♣ 3	660		10.00	1.00	11-Kanterman-Essig	8-Temples-Koch
5 ♦	N	5	♦ 3	600		7.00	4.00	3-Roark-Hansen	7-Burns-Kobida
5 ♦	S	5	♦ 6	600		7.00	4.00	8-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	2-Mehta-Mehta
5 ♦	S	5	♥ 7	600		7.00	4.00	10-Tedrick-Pretz	6-Felson-Brown
3 ♦	S	5	♥ 2	150		5.00	6.00	7-Kennedy-Endres	16-Callif-Kreitzer
5 ♦	N	−1	♣ 8		100	3.00	8.00	6-Mackey-Der Roos	13-Cushman-Petersen
5 ♦	N	−1	♣ 8		100	3.00	8.00	9-Venosa-Venosa	4-Scovic-Wilson
6 ♦	S	−1	♠ A		100	3.00	8.00	13-Kehoe-Stanley	12-Jervis-Lindeman
6 ♦	N	−2	♥ 9		200	0.50	10.50	12-Johnson-Lipp	10-Diers-McCarthy
6 ♦×	N	−1	♣ 5		200	0.50	10.50	14-Pandit-Pandit	14-Chrzanowski-Muenks

South tries to get to the Diamond slam, but when N/S turn out to be off two keycards (two Aces in this case), 6 ♦ seems like it might be a bit too high. Minor suits are excellent places to play for slams, but they aren't quite as good for games. That's why South passes 4 NT. If 4 NT makes four, that's worth +630. If 5 ♦ makes five, that's worth only +600. That's Math for those of you who majored in something that isn't Math.

N/S take seven Diamond tricks, two Hearts, one Spade, and one Club, making five. East may lead a safe Diamond.

Board 29
North Deals
Both Vul

♠	Q J 9
♥	A J
♦	A K J 10 7 5 4
♣	9

♠	K 5 4
♥	6 4
♦	Q 9 8 2
♣	Q J 8 5

N
W		E
S

♠	10 8 6 2
♥	7 5 2
♦	6 3
♣	K 10 4 2

♠	A 7 3
♥	K Q 10 9 8 3
♦	—
♣	A 7 6 3

NS 6♥; S 6♦; NS 4N; NS 4♠; N 5♦; NS 2♣; Par +1430

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
6 ♥	S	7	♠ 4	1460		10.50	0.50	4-Williams-Singerman	8-Temples-Koch
6 ♥	S	7	♠ 4	1460		10.50	0.50	14-Pandit-Pandit	13-Cushman-Petersen
3 NT	S	6	♠ 4	690		9.00	2.00	9-Venosa-Venosa	3-Lammers-Lubow
4 ♥	S	6	♥ 6	680		8.00	3.00	13-Kehoe-Stanley	11-Earls-Campbell
4 ♥	S	5	♣ Q	650		6.50	4.50	7-Kennedy-Endres	14-Chrzanowski-Muenks
5 ♥	S	5	♣ Q	650		6.50	4.50	12-Johnson-Lipp	9-Schultz-Terbrueggen
3 NT	S	4	♣ 5	630		4.50	6.50	6-Mackey-Der Roos	12-Jervis-Lindeman
3 NT	S	4	♣ 5	630		4.50	6.50	15-Gibler-Vanstone	15-Prosise-Prosise
5 ♦	N	6	♠ 6	620		2.00	9.00	8-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	1-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♥	S	4	♦ 2	620		2.00	9.00	10-Tedrick-Pretz	5-Oppelt-Oppelt
5 ♦	N	6	♥ 2	620		2.00	9.00	11-Kanterman-Essig	7-Burns-Kobida
6 NT	N	−3	♣ 10		300	0.00	11.00	5-Lin-Hoffman	10-Diers-McCarthy

Once North shows a strong hand by jumping to 3 ♦, South is going to be in slam as long as North has two or more Hearts. Yay North!

N/S lose one Spade trick, making six. West may lead a trump. Declarer will win in dummy with the ♥ A, cash the ♦ A and ♦ K pitching Clubs, play the ♣ 9 to the ♣ A, and ruff a Club with dummy's last trump. The ♠ 9 to the ♠ A is next followed by the ♥ K and ♥ Q. The ♠ K is the defense's only trick.

Board 30
East Deals
None Vul

♠	—
♥	Q 10 9 4
♦	J 10 6
♣	K Q 9 8 6 2

♠	A K Q 10 6 5
♥	A K 2
♦	K 9
♣	7 3

N
W		E
S

♠	J 7
♥	J 6 5 3
♦	8 3 2
♣	J 10 5 4

♠	9 8 4 3 2
♥	8 7
♦	A Q 7 5 4
♣	A

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

West	North	East	South
		Pass	1 ♠1
Pass2	1 NT3	Pass	2 ♦
3 NT4	Pass	Pass	Pass

Rule of 20 opener
What else?
Forcing
What else?

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠×	W	−2	♣ K	300		11.00	0.00	5-Lin-Hoffman	10-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♥	E	−2	♣ A	100		10.00	1.00	4-Williams-Singerman	8-Temples-Koch
2 ♦	S	2	♠ A	90		9.00	2.00	15-Gibler-Vanstone	15-Prosise-Prosise
4 ♦	S	−2	♠ A		100	8.00	3.00	10-Tedrick-Pretz	5-Oppelt-Oppelt
1 ♠	W	2	♣ K		110	7.00	4.00	6-Mackey-Der Roos	12-Jervis-Lindeman
2 ♠	W	3	♦ 6		140	4.50	6.50	8-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	1-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♠	W	3	♣ K		140	4.50	6.50	9-Venosa-Venosa	3-Lammers-Lubow
2 ♠	W	3	♣ K		140	4.50	6.50	13-Kehoe-Stanley	11-Earls-Campbell
2 ♠	W	3	♦ J		140	4.50	6.50	14-Pandit-Pandit	13-Cushman-Petersen
3 ♠	W	4	♣ K		170	2.00	9.00	12-Johnson-Lipp	9-Schultz-Terbrueggen
4 ♦×	S	−2	♠ K		300	1.00	10.00	7-Kennedy-Endres	14-Chrzanowski-Muenks
4 ♠	W	5	♣ K		450	0.00	11.00	11-Kanterman-Essig	7-Burns-Kobida

West doesn't really enjoy the auction, although they won't hate the outcome. E/W take six Spade tricks, two Hearts, and one Diamond, making three. North may lead the ♦ J.

Board 31
South Deals
N-S Vul

♠	A 10 3 2
♥	7 5
♦	A 3 2
♣	A K J 6

♠	7 5 4
♥	Q 10 4
♦	J 7 6
♣	Q 9 8 7

N
W		E
S

♠	K Q 9 8 6
♥	A K J 9 3 2
♦	—
♣	3 2

♠	J
♥	8 6
♦	K Q 10 9 8 5 4
♣	10 5 4

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

West	North	East	South
			3 ♦
Pass	5 ♦	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	♠ 4	750		10.95	0.05	5-Lin-Hoffman	9-Schultz-Terbrueggen
5 ♥×	E	−2	♠ J	300		9.32	1.68	6-Mackey-Der Roos	11-Earls-Campbell
5 ♥×	E	−2	♠ J	300		9.32	1.68	12-Johnson-Lipp	8-Temples-Koch
4 ♦	S	5	♥ 4	150		7.68	3.32	15-Gibler-Vanstone	14-Chrzanowski-Muenks
5 ♥×	W	−1	♣ A	100		5.50	5.50	11-Kanterman-Essig	6-Felson-Brown
4 ♥	E	−2	♦ K	100		5.50	5.50	13-Kehoe-Stanley	10-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♥×	E	−1	♦ K	100		5.50	5.50	14-Pandit-Pandit	12-Jervis-Lindeman
5 ♦	S	−1	♠ 7		100	3.32	7.68	10-Tedrick-Pretz	4-Scovic-Wilson
3 ♥	E	3	♦ K		140	2.23	8.77	7-Kennedy-Endres	13-Cushman-Petersen
4 ♥	E	4	♣ 4		420	1.14	9.86	8-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	15-Prosise-Prosise
4 ♥×	E	4	♠ J		590	0.05	10.95	9-Venosa-Venosa	2-Mehta-Mehta

East would like to keep both majors in play, but that's a little difficult over 5 ♦. E/W lose two Club tricks, one Spade, and two Spade ruffs.....as long as South leads their stiff ♠ J.

On a Diamond lead, declarer may go down only one losing two Clubs and one Spade (Diamond lead ruffed in the closed hand, two rounds of trump, ♠ K to the ♠ A dropping the stiff ♠ J, win the Diamond continuation in hand, small Heart to dummy's ♥ Q, and the ♠ 7 finessing against North for the ♠T).

Board 32
West Deals
E-W Vul

♠	K 7 3
♥	5
♦	K 6 3
♣	Q J 8 7 6 5

♠	A 5
♥	Q J 10 9 6
♦	Q J 7 5
♣	K 3

N
W		E
S

♠	Q J 8 4
♥	A K 8 4 3
♦	10 9 2
♣	10

♠	10 9 6 2
♥	7 2
♦	A 8 4
♣	A 9 4 2

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

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

Alert, artificial Bergen Raise showing 4+ Hearts and 10-11 HCP
Let's play here
Let's not

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♥	W	−2	♣ Q	200		9.86	1.14	6-Mackey-Der Roos	11-Earls-Campbell
5 ♥	W	−2	♦ 6	200		9.86	1.14	11-Kanterman-Essig	6-Felson-Brown
5 ♥	E	−2	♣ Q	200		9.86	1.14	12-Johnson-Lipp	8-Temples-Koch
4 ♥	W	−1	♣ Q	100		4.95	6.05	7-Kennedy-Endres	13-Cushman-Petersen
4 ♥	W	−1	♣ J	100		4.95	6.05	8-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	15-Prosise-Prosise
4 ♥	W	−1	♥ 5	100		4.95	6.05	9-Venosa-Venosa	2-Mehta-Mehta
4 ♥	W	−1	♣ Q	100		4.95	6.05	10-Tedrick-Pretz	4-Scovic-Wilson
4 ♥	W	−1	♣ Q	100		4.95	6.05	14-Pandit-Pandit	12-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♥	W	−1	♣ Q	100		4.95	6.05	15-Gibler-Vanstone	14-Chrzanowski-Muenks
3 ♥	W	4	♣ Q		170	1.14	9.86	13-Kehoe-Stanley	10-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♥	W	5	♠ 3		650	0.05	10.95	5-Lin-Hoffman	9-Schultz-Terbrueggen

E/W lose two Diamond tricks, one Club, and one Spade, down one. Expect this to be a flat board, as all E/W pairs will be in game. North may lead the ♣ Q won by South with the ♣ A to return the ♦ A and another Diamond when North encourages. Two Spades can be pitched from dummy on the ♣ K and ♦ Q, but that's one too few. Stupid four-card Spade suits in dummy.

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

Alert, artificial Criss-Cross bid showing 5+ Diamonds and a limit raise

N/S take three Heart tricks, five Diamonds, one Spade, and one Club, making four. West may lead the ♥ J.

West	North	East	South
		1 ♦	Dbl1
1 ♥	Pass	3 ♦	4 ♠
5 ♦	Pass	Pass	Pass

Too big to overcall 4 ♠

E/W lose one Spade trick and one Heart, making five. South will lead the ♠ K (asking for count) and continue with a Spade at trick two. Declarer will ruff in dummy, pull trump in two rounds, and lead the ♥T. South will have to rise with the ♥ A and exit with the ♥ J to keep from being endplayed. Declarer will win in dummy with the ♥ K and take the marked ruffing finesse against North's ♥ Q pitching their losing Club.

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

Forcing
Bid a red suit

E/W lose one Heart trick, two Diamonds, one Spade, and one Club, down one doubled for –200. If South doesn't double, it will be –100. That's not as good. North will lead the ♦ K and switch to the ♥ 4 (MUD) at trick two.

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

N/S lose one Heart trick, three Spades, and one Club, making two. If West "mistakenly" leads a Diamond, N/S will make four when two of declarer's Heart losers go bye bye. Oops.

The moral of this story--NEVER lead Diamonds. Nuff said.