MON 10/23/2017 at Nite

EVENT>Monday Night Bridge      |SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> A N-S
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>October 23, 2017   |CLUB NO.>185264    | 10/23/2017 22:18
---------------------,-- ------------------- -------------,---------------------
DIR> Mike Lipp       |RATING>Club Masterpoint (100%, 80%, 70% Open)|MOVEMENT>MITCHELL
------------,-------- ,-------------------------,--------- ---------------------
AVE>   84.0 |TOP>   7 |MP LIMITS>None/500/200   |CLUB>Mike's Games At The CBC
------------ --------- ------------------------- -------------------------------
PAIRS IN STRAT A=11/B=7/C=2                      ,---,-------------------------,------,---------,
-------------------------------------------------|   |           Section       |      |Section  |
No Name                   Name                   |Flt|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C| Score | Pct  |Awards   |
------------------------------------------------- --- ----- ----- ----- ------- ------ ---------
 1 Debbie Wiest           John Altman Sr           A    .     .     .     86.50  51.49
 2 Donald Pollack         Bernice Pollack          C    .     .     .     63.50  37.80
 3 Joy Singerman          John Williams            B    .     .     .     85.50  50.89
 4 Alex Grim              Patrick Lammers          B   4/5    3     .     88.00  52.38  0.31(A)
 5 Liz Lin                Elmer Hubka              B    .     .     .     63.50  37.80
 6 Joanne Oppelt          Tim Oppelt               C    2     2     1     94.00  55.95  0.77(A)
 7 Joyce Tedrick          Linda Pretz              B    1     1     .    100.50  59.82  1.10(A)
 8 Marilyn Prosise        Robert Prosise           A    3     .     .     91.50  54.46  0.55(A)
 9 Susan Stacy Vanstone   Martin Gibler            B    .     .     .     82.00  48.81
10 Martin Petersen        June Cushman             A   4/5    .     .     88.00  52.38  0.31(A)
11 Joseph Muenks          Greg Chrzanowski         A    .     .     .     81.00  48.21

                                          Totals                         924.00


                                 **PAIRS**
BOARD     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9    10    11
  /
   1>     3                       3     3     7     3     3     3     3
         420   ----  ----  ----  420   420   500   420   420   420   420

   2>     1                       0     3     5-    3     3     5-    7
         -90   ----  ----  ---- -100    50    90    50    50    90   100

   3>     2                       2     2     5-    5-    0     5-    5-
        -660   ----  ----  ---- -660  -660  -630  -630  -690  -630  -630

   4>     1-    1-                      5-    3-    7     3-    5-    0
        -200  -200   ----  ----  ---- -100  -140   110  -140  -100  -300

   5>     6     2                       7     4-     -     -    4-    3
         150  -150   ----  ----  ----  160    50  -200  -200    50  -120

   6>     0     1                       7     6     2-    2-    4     5
        -670  -100   ----  ----  ----  420   140   -50   -50   100   130

   7>     5     0     6-                      3-    1-    6-    3-    1-
         150  -300   170   ----  ----  ----  120   110   170   120   110

   8>     3-    1     6                       3-    3-    0     7     3-
        -110  -140  -100   ----  ----  ---- -110  -110  -150   150  -110

   9>     0     5     6                       3     7     1-    1-    4
       -2220  -500  -100   ----  ----  ---- -680   100  -710  -710  -650

  10>     0     5-    1     5-                      5-    3     2     5-
        -620   620  -140   620   ----  ----  ----  620   140   100   620

  11>     5     5     0     5                       5     5     1-    1-
         450   450  -100   450   ----  ----  ----  450   450   -50   -50

  12>     6-    3     0     3                       6-    3     3     3
         100    50  -130    50   ----  ----  ----  100    50    50    50

  13>     6-    0     5     6-    1-                      3     4     1-
         200  -120   180   200  -100   ----  ----  ----  100   120  -100

  14>     4     1     7     2-    6                       5     2-    0
        -200  -450   200  -420   100   ----  ----  ----   50  -420  -500

  15>     4-    1-    4-    4-    1-                      7     4-    0
         110  -100   110   110  -100   ----  ----  ----  160   110  -200

  16>     2-    5     4     7     1     2-                      6     0
         150   180   170   300   120   150   ----  ----  ----  210   100

  17>     1-    3     6     7     1-    4-                      0     4-
        -400  -150    50   100  -400  -130   ----  ----  ---- -550  -130

  18>     5     0     2     5     1     7                       5     3
         170  -100   140   170   110   200   ----  ----  ----  170   150

  19>     7     4     0     1-    1-    6     4                       4
        1010   510   450   480   480   980   510   ----  ----  ----  510

  20>     6     4-    0     7     1     4-    2                       3
         140   100  -790   730  -170   100  -140   ----  ----  ---- -100

  21>     6     2-    4     6     2-    1     0                       6
        -170  -420  -400  -170  -420  -430  -920   ----  ----  ---- -170

  22>     2-    1     0     6     4-    2-    4-    7
         100   -90  -120   400   200   100   200   500   ----  ----  ----

  23>     6     0     1-    3-    1-    7     3-    5
         200  -680  -650  -620  -650   600  -620  -170   ----  ----  ----

  24>     1-    7     4     5     1-    0     6     3
        -450   690   100   170  -450  -650   590    50   ----  ----  ----

  25>           3     5     0     1     6     7     3     3
         ---- -100   -90  -150  -130   110   150  -100  -100   ----  ----

  26>           1     7     0     4-    2     4-    4-    4-
         ---- -120   -80  -150   -90  -100   -90   -90   -90   ----  ----

  27>           6     2-    2-    5     2-    7     0     2-
         ----  120   -50   -50   110   -50   140  -100   -50   ----  ----

  28>                 3     0     7     6     1     3     5     3
         ----  ---- -140  -420   100    80  -200  -140  -100  -140   ----

  29>                 7     3-    0     1     3-    3-    3-    6
         ----  ----  200  PASS  -110   -80  PASS  PASS  PASS   100   ----

  30>                 3-    3-    3-    3-    3-    3-    3-    3-
         ----  ----  450   450   450   450   450   450   450   450   ----

  31>                       1-    1-    1-    4-    4-    6     1-    7
         ----  ----  ----   90    90    90   120   120   150    90   170

  32>                       0     5-    7     2     2     2     5-    4
         ----  ----  ---- -650  -100   -50  -620  -620  -620  -100  -170

  33>                       2     5-    2     5-    2     5-    0     5-
         ----  ----  ---- -420  -170  -420  -170  -420  -170  -450  -170



EVENT>Monday Night Bridge      |SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> A E-W
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>October 23, 2017   |CLUB NO.>185264    | 10/23/2017 22:18
---------------------,-- ------------------- -------------,---------------------
DIR> Mike Lipp       |RATING>Club Masterpoint (100%, 80%, 70% Open)|MOVEMENT>MITCHELL
------------,-------- ,-------------------------,--------- ---------------------
AVE>   84.0 |TOP>   7 |MP LIMITS>None/500/200   |CLUB>Mike's Games At The CBC
------------ --------- ------------------------- -------------------------------
PAIRS IN STRAT A=11/B=8/C=4                      ,---,-------------------------,------,---------,
-------------------------------------------------|   |           Section       |      |Section  |
No Name                   Name                   |Flt|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C| Score | Pct  |Awards   |
------------------------------------------------- --- ----- ----- ----- ------- ------ ---------
 1 Robert Roark           Pam Campbell             A    .     .     .     73.00  43.45
 2 Dennis Schultz         Ralph Terbrueggen        A    .     .     .     80.50  47.92
 3 Patt Olexsey           Bob Olexsey              C    .     .     2     76.50  45.54  0.20(C)
 4 Joseph Kammer          Gail Zimmer              B   3/4   2/3    .     90.00  53.57  0.47(A)
 5 Lewis Temples          Richard Koch             C   3/4   2/3    1     90.00  53.57  0.47(A)
 6 JoAnne Essig           Daniel Koppenhafer       B    .     .     .     81.50  48.51
 7 Anirudh Pandit         Arun Pandit              B    .     .     .     86.50  51.49
 8 Joan Diers             Evelyn McCarthy          C    .     .     .     74.00  44.05
 9 Nalin Mehta            Bhupen Joshi             B    1     1     .    106.00  63.10  1.10(A)
10 Stephen Felson         Robert Brown             A    2     .     .     90.50  53.87  0.77(A)
11 Peggy Jervis           Pat Lindeman             C    .     .     .     75.50  44.94

                                          Totals                         924.00


                                 **PAIRS**
BOARD     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9    10    11
  /
   1>     4     0           4           4           4     4     4     4
        -420  -500   ---- -420   ---- -420   ---- -420  -420  -420  -420

   2>     6     1-          4           4           1-    7     0     4
          90   -90   ----  -50   ----  -50   ----  -90   100  -100   -50

   3>     5     1-          1-          7           1-    5     1-    5
         660   630   ----  630   ----  690   ----  630   660   630   660

   4>     3-    5-    0           3-          1-          7     1-    5-
         140   200  -110   ----  140   ----  100   ----  300   100   200

   5>     2-    5     6-          6-          2-          4     0     1
         -50   150   200   ----  200   ----  -50   ----  120  -160  -150

   6>     1     6     4-          4-          3           2     0     7
        -140   100    50   ----   50   ---- -100   ---- -130  -420   670

   7>     7     5-     -     -          3-          5-          2     3-
         300  -110  -170  -170   ---- -120   ---- -110   ---- -150  -120

   8>     6     3-    1     7           0           3-          3-    3-
         140   110   100   150   ---- -150   ----  110   ----  110   110

   9>     2     0     1     5-          5-          3           7     4
         500  -100   100   710   ----  710   ----  650   ---- 2220   680

  10>     1-    6     4     1-    5           1-          7           1-
        -620   140  -140  -620  -100   ---- -620   ----  620   ---- -620

  11>     2     7     2     2     5-          5-          2           2
        -450   100  -450  -450    50   ----   50   ---- -450   ---- -450

  12>      -    7     4     4     4           4            -          4
        -100   130   -50   -50   -50   ----  -50   ---- -100   ----  -50

  13>     2     4      -    3     5-    5-           -          7
        -180  -100  -200  -120   100   100   ---- -200   ----  120   ----

  14>     0     2     4-    4-    1     7           3           6
        -200   -50   420   420  -100   500   ----  200   ----  450   ----

  15>     2-    0     2-    2-    5-    7           2-          5-
        -110  -160  -110  -110   100   200   ---- -110   ----  100   ----

  16>           0     1     6     7     4-    4-          2           3
         ---- -300  -210  -120  -100  -150  -150   ---- -180   ---- -170

  17>           0     7     5-    2-    2-    5-          4           1
         ---- -100   550   400   130   130   400   ----  150   ----  -50

  18>           2     2     6     4     0     2           7           5
         ---- -170  -170  -110  -150  -200  -170   ----  100   ---- -140

  19>     5-          5-    3     1     0     3     3           7
        -480   ---- -480  -510  -980 -1010  -510  -510   ---- -450   ----

  20>     0           6     4     2-    1     5     2-          7
        -730   ----  170   100  -100  -140   140  -100   ----  790   ----

  21>     1           4-    1     6     1     7     4-          3
         170   ----  420   170   430   170   920   420   ----  400   ----

  22>           2-          4-    4-    2-    6     0     7           1
         ---- -200   ---- -100  -100  -200    90  -500   120   ---- -400

  23>           5-          0     1     3-    7     2     5-          3-
         ----  650   ---- -600  -200   620   680   170   650   ----  620

  24>           5-          7     5-    1     0     4     3           2
         ----  450   ----  650   450  -590  -690   -50  -100   ---- -170

  25>     6           1           0     4     4     2     4     7
         130   ---- -110   ---- -150   100   100    90   100   150   ----

  26>     2-          5           2-    6     2-    0     2-    7
          90   ----  100   ----   90   120    90    80    90   150   ----

  27>     2           4-          0     1     7     4-    4-    4-
        -110   ----   50   ---- -140  -120   100    50    50    50   ----

  28>           1           6           4     4     2     7     4     0
         ----  -80   ----  200   ----  140   140   100   420   140  -100

  29>           6           3-          3-    0     3-    3-    1     7
         ----   80   ---- PASS   ---- PASS  -200  PASS  PASS  -100   110

  30>           3-          3-          3-    3-    3-    3-    3-    3-
         ---- -450   ---- -450   ---- -450  -450  -450  -450  -450  -450

  31>     5-          2-          2-          1     5-    5-    5-    0
         -90   ---- -120   ---- -120   ---- -150   -90   -90   -90  -170

  32>     0           5           5           5     7     1-    1-    3
          50   ----  620   ----  620   ----  620   650   100   100   170

  33>     5           1-          5           1-    5     7     1-    1-
         420   ----  170   ----  420   ----  170   420   450   170   170
Monday Night Bridge, Monday Eve, October 23, 2017

Board 1
North Deals
None Vul

♠	A J 6 4
♥	Q 9 2
♦	A 10
♣	A K 10 9

♠	—
♥	A J 10 6 4
♦	Q 9 8 6 4
♣	8 5 3

N
W		E
S

♠	10 8 7 5
♥	K 8 7
♦	K 7 5
♣	J 6 4

♠	K Q 9 3 2
♥	5 3
♦	J 3 2
♣	Q 7 2

N 4N; NS 4♠; EW 3♥; S 4♣; S 2N; EW 3♦; N 3♣; Par +300: EW 5♦×−2; EW 5♥×−2

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

Alert, artificial Sandwich NT bid showing the other two suits but less than opening values

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♥×	W	−3	♣ A	500		7.00	0.00	7-Tedrick-Pretz	2-Schultz-Terbrueggen
4 ♠	S	4	♦ 6	420		3.00	4.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	1-Roark-Campbell
4 ♠	S	4	♦ 6	420		3.00	4.00	5-Lin-Hubka	9-Mehta-Joshi
4 ♠	S	4	♦ 6	420		3.00	4.00	6-Oppelt-Oppelt	11-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♠	S	4	♦ 6	420		3.00	4.00	8-Prosise-Prosise	4-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♠	S	4	♦ 6	420		3.00	4.00	9-Vanstone-Gibler	6-Essig-Koppenhafer
4 ♠	S	4	♥ A	420		3.00	4.00	10-Petersen-Cushman	8-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♠	S	4	♦ 6	420		3.00	4.00	11-Muenks-Chrzanowski	10-Felson-Brown

E/W play Sandwich NT, meaning that a 1 NT overcall once two suits have been bid by the opponents shows the unbid suits but less than opening values. An immediate 4 ♠ bid by North over West's 1 NT bid would not have been wrong, but 3 ♠ is rarely passed.

N/S lose two Heart tricks and one Diamond, making four. West may lead the ♦ 6. Declarer should play low from dummy, allowing East's ♦ K to win. If East continues with a Diamond to dummy's stiff ♦ A, N/S will make five (five Spade tricks, four Clubs, one Diamond, and a Diamond ruff in dummy). Much more likely is that East will switch to a small Heart, and the hand will be over by trick four.

Board 2
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	A 10 8 4
♥	4
♦	Q J 10 6
♣	A 7 5 4

♠	7 6 5
♥	Q J 7 6
♦	K 8 2
♣	Q 10 8

N
W		E
S

♠	K 9 3
♥	A 8 2
♦	A 9 4 3
♣	J 9 3

♠	Q J 2
♥	K 10 9 5 3
♦	7 5
♣	K 6 2

NS 2♠; NS 2♣; NS 1♦; Par +110

West	North	East	South
		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 ♥	W	−2	♦ Q	100		7.00	0.00	11-Muenks-Chrzanowski	10-Felson-Brown
1 NT	S	1	♣ 8	90		5.50	1.50	7-Tedrick-Pretz	2-Schultz-Terbrueggen
1 NT	S	1	♥ 6	90		5.50	1.50	10-Petersen-Cushman	8-Diers-McCarthy
1 NT	W	−1	♦ Q	50		3.00	4.00	6-Oppelt-Oppelt	11-Jervis-Lindeman
2 ♥	W	−1	♦ Q	50		3.00	4.00	8-Prosise-Prosise	4-Kammer-Zimmer
1 NT	W	−1	♥ 4	50		3.00	4.00	9-Vanstone-Gibler	6-Essig-Koppenhafer
1 NT	W	1	♥ 4		90	1.00	6.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	1-Roark-Campbell
1 NT	S	−1	♣ 8		100	0.00	7.00	5-Lin-Hubka	9-Mehta-Joshi

South's hand is a minimum for a vulnerable one-level overcall, and passing would not have been wrong. E/W take three Heart tricks, one Spade, and two Diamonds for down one. North may lead the ♥ 4 if they're afraid of their partner or the ♠ 4 if they're not. If they lead the ♦ Q, which looks quite reasonable, E/W's Diamond spots will earn them a third Diamond trick, possibly making one. Oops.

Board 3
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	10 5 4 2
♥	8 7 6 4
♦	9 6 4
♣	7 4

♠	J 7
♥	A Q 2
♦	A Q 7 3 2
♣	Q 10 5

N
W		E
S

♠	K Q 9 8
♥	10 3
♦	K J 5
♣	A J 8 6

♠	A 6 3
♥	K J 9 5
♦	10 8
♣	K 9 3 2

E 6♦; EW 5N; E 5♠; W 4♠; W 5♦; EW 5♣; E 3♥; W 2♥; Par −1370

West	North	East	South
			Pass
1 NT1	Pass	2 ♣	Pass
2 ♦	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	4	♠ 2		630	5.50	1.50	7-Tedrick-Pretz	2-Schultz-Terbrueggen
3 NT	W	4	♥ 8		630	5.50	1.50	8-Prosise-Prosise	4-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	E	4	♣ 2		630	5.50	1.50	10-Petersen-Cushman	8-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	W	4	♥ 8		630	5.50	1.50	11-Muenks-Chrzanowski	10-Felson-Brown
3 NT	W	5	♠ 2		660	2.00	5.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	1-Roark-Campbell
3 NT	W	5	♠ 2		660	2.00	5.00	5-Lin-Hubka	9-Mehta-Joshi
5 NT	W	5	♠ 2		660	2.00	5.00	6-Oppelt-Oppelt	11-Jervis-Lindeman
3 NT	W	6	♠ 2		690	0.00	7.00	9-Vanstone-Gibler	6-Essig-Koppenhafer

E/W take two Heart tricks, five Diamonds, one Club, and three Spades, making five. North may lead the ♠ 2. South will win with the ♠ A and switch to the ♥ J, won with the ♥ Q in the closed hand. Declarer has nothing better to do than to try and finesse against North's supposed ♣ K for a twelfth trick, but when South holds that card, the hand is over.

Board 4
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	A 5
♥	10 8 4
♦	9 6 5 4
♣	J 10 9 2

♠	J 10 9 8 4 2
♥	Q 5 3
♦	A 2
♣	K 8

N
W		E
S

♠	K 6
♥	K J 6 2
♦	Q 8 7 3
♣	7 6 3

♠	Q 7 3
♥	A 9 7
♦	K J 10
♣	A Q 5 4

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

West	North	East	South
Pass1	Pass	Pass	1 NT2
2 ♠3	Pass	Pass	Pass

Not quite a vulnerable weak two bid
15 to 17
Alert, natural but showing less than opening values

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♣	S	3	♠ 8	110		7.00	0.00	8-Prosise-Prosise	3-Olexsey-Olexsey
3 ♣	N	−1	♠ K		100	5.50	1.50	6-Oppelt-Oppelt	10-Felson-Brown
3 ♣	N	−1	♠ K		100	5.50	1.50	10-Petersen-Cushman	7-Pandit-Pandit
2 ♠	W	3	♣ J		140	3.50	3.50	7-Tedrick-Pretz	1-Roark-Campbell
2 ♠	W	3	♣ J		140	3.50	3.50	9-Vanstone-Gibler	5-Temples-Koch
2 NT	S	−2	♠ 8		200	1.50	5.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	11-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♦	N	−2	♠ K		200	1.50	5.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	2-Schultz-Terbrueggen
1 NT	S	−3	♠ J		300	0.00	7.00	11-Muenks-Chrzanowski	9-Mehta-Joshi

West's patience pays off when they're able to buy the hand for 2 ♠. E/W lose two Spade tricks, one Heart, one Diamond, and one Club, making two. North will lead the ♣ J.

Board 5
North Deals
N-S Vul

♠	J 6 4
♥	K Q J 5 3
♦	3
♣	K J 8 7

♠	10 8 7 5
♥	6
♦	K Q 10 6
♣	A Q 10 3

N
W		E
S

♠	A K 2
♥	A 10 9 7 4
♦	9 8 4
♣	6 4

♠	Q 9 3
♥	8 2
♦	A J 7 5 2
♣	9 5 2

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

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

Not quite a vulnerable Rule of 20 opener
Rule of 15 bid in the pass-out seat

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
1 ♥×	N	1	♠ K	160		7.00	0.00	6-Oppelt-Oppelt	10-Felson-Brown
4 ♦	E	−3	♥ 8	150		6.00	1.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	11-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♠	E	−1	♥ 8	50		4.50	2.50	7-Tedrick-Pretz	1-Roark-Campbell
3 NT	E	−1	♦ 5	50		4.50	2.50	10-Petersen-Cushman	7-Pandit-Pandit
2 NT	E	2	♦ 5		120	3.00	4.00	11-Muenks-Chrzanowski	9-Mehta-Joshi
2 NT	E	3	♥ 8		150	2.00	5.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	2-Schultz-Terbrueggen
2 ♥	N	−2	♠ A		200	0.50	6.50	8-Prosise-Prosise	3-Olexsey-Olexsey
2 ♥	N	−2	♠ A		200	0.50	6.50	9-Vanstone-Gibler	5-Temples-Koch

If East passes North's 1 ♥ overcall, West might not have enough to make a re-opening double. Better is for East to simply respond 2 NT showing 11 HCP and Heart stoppers for notrump. If North opens the hand 1 ♥ in first seat, it will get bloody, and N/S will likely end up playing the hand in 2 ♥....doubled. Ugh.

E/W take three Spade tricks, one Heart, three Diamonds, and one Club, making two. South will lead the ♥ 8, and declarer will win in hand with the ♥ A. The ♦ 9 is next, and when that holds, the Diamond finesse is repeated. South will win with the ♦ A and lead a Club, covered by the ♣T and won by North with the ♣ J. If North tries and cash even one more high Heart, E/W will make three. Best is for North to exit with a Spade.

Board 6
East Deals
E-W Vul

♠	A 7 6 4
♥	Q 9 6 3
♦	—
♣	Q 10 7 6 2

♠	9 2
♥	A 8 7 2
♦	K 10 5 4 3 2
♣	3

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 10 5
♥	J 5
♦	Q J 7 6
♣	A J 9 8

♠	K J 8 3
♥	K 10 4
♦	A 9 8
♣	K 5 4

NS 4♠; NS 2♥; NS 3♣; EW 2♦; Par +420

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	S	4	♣ 2	420		7.00	0.00	6-Oppelt-Oppelt	10-Felson-Brown
3 ♠	S	3	♦ 4	140		6.00	1.00	7-Tedrick-Pretz	1-Roark-Campbell
2 ♣	N	4	♠ 9	130		5.00	2.00	11-Muenks-Chrzanowski	9-Mehta-Joshi
3 ♦	W	−1	♥ 3	100		4.00	3.00	10-Petersen-Cushman	7-Pandit-Pandit
4 ♠	S	−1	♣ 3		50	2.50	4.50	8-Prosise-Prosise	3-Olexsey-Olexsey
4 ♠	S	−1	♣ 3		50	2.50	4.50	9-Vanstone-Gibler	5-Temples-Koch
4 ♠	S	−2	♣ 3		100	1.00	6.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	2-Schultz-Terbrueggen
3 ♦×	W	3	♣ 6		670	0.00	7.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	11-Jervis-Lindeman

N/S lose one Heart trick and two Clubs, making four. West will lead their stiff ♣ 3, and East (even though they know that the ♣ 3 is a singleton) should hold up the ♣ A and simply cover any card that declarer plays from dummy. East knows that their Club tricks aren't going away. How do they know that?

Let's do some counting. South opened 1 ♣, didn't raise North's Heart bid, and rebid 1 ♠. South can't have four Clubs, since that would give West zero Clubs. West probably doesn't have zero Clubs, since the ♣ 3 is sitting on the table. South doesn't have four Diamonds, since they would have opened 1 ♦ with 4-3 in the minors. South's shape is then 4333 exactly. Hmm....that leaves West with 2461 shape. West didn't make a weak-jump overcall of 2 ♦ probably because they have four Hearts. They also didn't overcall 1 ♦, so they don't have eight HCP. They can't have less than seven HCP though, since that would leave South with 15 or more, and South didn't open 1 NT. West has six or seven HCP in the red suits (♥ AK, ♦ AK, ♥ A ♦ K, or ♥ K ♦ A). West could hold the ♠ J, but only if they have both red Kings. West's hand is therefore one of these:

♠ Jx ♥ Kxxx ♦ Kxxxxx ♣ 3
♠ xx ♥ Axxx ♦ Kxxxxx ♣ 3
♠ xx ♥ Kxxx ♦ Axxxxx ♣ 3

When declarer plays a Spade to the ♠ A and a Spade back to the ♠ J, the first hand is no longer possible. West has one sure Heart trick to go with East's two Club tricks. If West also has the ♥T, declarer is taking nine tricks. If declarer has the ♥T, declarer is taking ten tricks. Isn't Bridge easy?

Board 7
South Deals
Both Vul

♠	A K 10 9
♥	7 6
♦	Q J 10 5 4
♣	K 3

♠	Q 5 3
♥	K 4
♦	K 9 7 6
♣	Q 9 5 4

N
W		E
S

♠	8 6 2
♥	Q 5 3 2
♦	A 8
♣	J 10 8 6

♠	J 7 4
♥	A J 10 9 8
♦	3 2
♣	A 7 2

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

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

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♥	S	4	♣ 5	170		6.50	0.50	3-Singerman-Williams	3-Olexsey-Olexsey
2 ♥	S	4	♣ 4	170		6.50	0.50	9-Vanstone-Gibler	4-Kammer-Zimmer
1 NT	S	3	♠ 3	150		5.00	2.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	10-Felson-Brown
1 NT	S	2	♦ 6	120		3.50	3.50	7-Tedrick-Pretz	11-Jervis-Lindeman
1 NT	S	2	♣ 4	120		3.50	3.50	10-Petersen-Cushman	6-Essig-Koppenhafer
2 ♥	S	2	♣ 4	110		1.50	5.50	8-Prosise-Prosise	2-Schultz-Terbrueggen
2 ♥	S	2	♦ 6	110		1.50	5.50	11-Muenks-Chrzanowski	8-Diers-McCarthy
2 NT	S	−3	♣ 4		300	0.00	7.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	1-Roark-Campbell

N/S take four Spade tricks, two Clubs, one Diamond, and one Heart, making two....as long as East leads a Club. East will lead the ♣ J.

Board 8
West Deals
None Vul

♠	A 10 3
♥	10 6 5 4
♦	Q J 7 4
♣	A 4

♠	K 6 5
♥	A J 8 3
♦	—
♣	K Q 10 9 7 3

N
W		E
S

♠	Q J 9 4
♥	9 7
♦	K 8 6 5 2
♣	J 8

♠	8 7 2
♥	K Q 2
♦	A 10 9 3
♣	6 5 2

EW 2♠; EW 3♣; NS 1N; NS 1♦; Par −110

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

Bid a red suit
Diamonds seem to be red

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	E	−3	♥ K	150		7.00	0.00	10-Petersen-Cushman	6-Essig-Koppenhafer
3 ♦	S	−2	♠ 5		100	6.00	1.00	3-Singerman-Williams	3-Olexsey-Olexsey
2 ♣	W	3	♦ Q		110	3.50	3.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	10-Felson-Brown
3 ♣	W	3	♦ Q		110	3.50	3.50	7-Tedrick-Pretz	11-Jervis-Lindeman
2 ♣	W	3	♣ A		110	3.50	3.50	8-Prosise-Prosise	2-Schultz-Terbrueggen
2 ♣	W	3	♦ 4		110	3.50	3.50	11-Muenks-Chrzanowski	8-Diers-McCarthy
2 ♠	E	3	♦ 10		140	1.00	6.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	1-Roark-Campbell
2 ♣	W	5	♦ Q		150	0.00	7.00	9-Vanstone-Gibler	4-Kammer-Zimmer

East will be a bit ticked (SFW) off at their partner for bidding 3 ♣, but when that earns a top board, they'll calm down a bit. E/W lose one Spade trick, two Hearts, and one Club, making three. North will lead the ♦ Q. As long as North is careful to win the third round of Spades, declarer will be unable to pitch their fourth Heart. Heh.

Board 9
North Deals
E-W Vul

♠	K 10 9 8 7 6 5
♥	J 7 3
♦	—
♣	Q 9 7

♠	2
♥	Q 10 8 6 4 2
♦	K Q 10 8
♣	A 5

N
W		E
S

♠	A 3
♥	A K
♦	A 9 7 6
♣	K 10 6 4 2

♠	Q J 4
♥	9 5
♦	J 5 4 3 2
♣	J 8 3

EW 7N; W 7♥; E 6♥; EW 6♦; W 6♣; E 5♣; NS 1♠; Par −2220

West	North	East	South
	3 ♠1	Dbl	4 ♠2
6 ♥3	Pass	7 NT4	Pass
Pass	Pass

Preemptive
Extending the preempt
Too strong to bid 5 ♥
Too strong to pass

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
6 ♥	W	−1	♣ 7	100		7.00	0.00	8-Prosise-Prosise	2-Schultz-Terbrueggen
4 ♠	N	−2	♥ A		100	6.00	1.00	3-Singerman-Williams	3-Olexsey-Olexsey
4 ♠×	N	−3	♥ K		500	5.00	2.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	1-Roark-Campbell
4 ♥	W	5	♠ 10		650	4.00	3.00	11-Muenks-Chrzanowski	8-Diers-McCarthy
5 ♥	W	6	♠ 5		680	3.00	4.00	7-Tedrick-Pretz	11-Jervis-Lindeman
5 ♥	W	7	♠ 5		710	1.50	5.50	9-Vanstone-Gibler	4-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♥	W	7	♠ 10		710	1.50	5.50	10-Petersen-Cushman	6-Essig-Koppenhafer
7 NT	E	7	♠ Q		2220	0.00	7.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	10-Felson-Brown

If you're E/W and didn't get to 7 NT (or 7 ♥), why not? If you're E/W and didn't get to 6 NT (or 6 ♥), why the heck not? If you're E/W and the hand was played in 4 ♠ by N/S, I weep for you.

There's no reason for East to leave the contract in Hearts--as far as they know, their partner might have only four of them. Since West is known to have only one Spade on the auction (at most), their hand shape will be 1444 if they have only four Hearts. That looks like a lot of tricks in notrump.

E/W take one Spade trick, six Hearts, four Diamonds, and two Clubs, making seven. South will lead the ♠ Q.

Board 10
East Deals
Both Vul

♠	J
♥	A K Q 5 3
♦	Q 9 4
♣	Q 9 8 2

♠	K 10 9 4
♥	10 9 8
♦	6 2
♣	K J 4 3

N
W		E
S

♠	A 8 7 5 3 2
♥	7
♦	A 7 3
♣	10 7 5

♠	Q 6
♥	J 6 4 2
♦	K J 10 8 5
♣	A 6

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

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

Not strong enough for a vulnerable weak two bid
Strong enough for a vulnerable weak jump overcall
Cuebid showing a limit raise in Hearts
I like Spades

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	N	4	♠ A	620		5.50	1.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	11-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♥	N	4	♣ 7	620		5.50	1.50	4-Grim-Lammers	4-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♥	N	4	♠ A	620		5.50	1.50	8-Prosise-Prosise	1-Roark-Campbell
4 ♥	N	4	♠ A	620		5.50	1.50	11-Muenks-Chrzanowski	7-Pandit-Pandit
3 ♥	N	3	♠ A	140		3.00	4.00	9-Vanstone-Gibler	3-Olexsey-Olexsey
4 ♠	E	−1	♥ 2	100		2.00	5.00	10-Petersen-Cushman	5-Temples-Koch
3 ♠	E	3	♣ A		140	1.00	6.00	3-Singerman-Williams	2-Schultz-Terbrueggen
4 ♠	E	4	♣ A		620	0.00	7.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	9-Mehta-Joshi

South knows that if 4 ♠ is making, they're going to get a zero (i.e., North could have passed the hand out), so they double the final contract and pray. E/W lose one Heart trick, one Diamond, and two Clubs, down one doubled for –200. That's certainly better than –620 for N/S making 4 ♥. South will lead the ♥ 2.

Board 11
South Deals
None Vul

♠	K 9 6 3
♥	A K Q 8 3
♦	6
♣	K Q 2

♠	7 4
♥	9 7 6 2
♦	A 5 4
♣	A 9 7 3

N
W		E
S

♠	10 8 5
♥	10 4
♦	Q J 8 7 3
♣	8 6 4

♠	A Q J 2
♥	J 5
♦	K 10 9 2
♣	J 10 5

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

West	North	East	South
			1 ♦
Pass	1 ♥	Pass	1 ♠
Pass	3 ♠1	Pass	4 ♦2
Pass	4 NT3	Pass	5 ♣4
Pass	5 ♠	Pass	Pass
Pass

Alert, XYZ bid showing a slammish hand with 4+ Spades
Showing 1st or 2nd round control in Diamonds
RKC Blackwood (Kickback) for Spades
1430 response showing 1 or 4 keycards

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♠	S	5	♠ 7	450		5.00	2.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	9-Mehta-Joshi
4 ♠	N	5	♥ 2	450		5.00	2.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	11-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♠	S	5	♥ 7	450		5.00	2.00	4-Grim-Lammers	4-Kammer-Zimmer
5 ♠	S	5	♠ 7	450		5.00	2.00	8-Prosise-Prosise	1-Roark-Campbell
5 ♠	S	5	♠ 4	450		5.00	2.00	9-Vanstone-Gibler	3-Olexsey-Olexsey
6 ♠	S	−1	♦ A		50	1.50	5.50	10-Petersen-Cushman	5-Temples-Koch
6 ♠	S	−1	♦ A		50	1.50	5.50	11-Muenks-Chrzanowski	7-Pandit-Pandit
6 ♠×	S	−1	♦ A		100	0.00	7.00	3-Singerman-Williams	2-Schultz-Terbrueggen

North pushes towards slam but signs off when it turns out they're off two keycards. Rats. N/S lose one Diamond trick and one Club, making five. West may lead a trump, although cashing out at trick one isn't the worst strategy on this hand.

Board 12
West Deals
N-S Vul

♠	J 10 4 3
♥	J 10 7 2
♦	A 7 3
♣	6 5

♠	A Q 8
♥	9 4
♦	K Q J 5 2
♣	K 10 3

N
W		E
S

♠	K 6 5
♥	Q 6
♦	10 9 6 4
♣	A Q 9 8

♠	9 7 2
♥	A K 8 5 3
♦	8
♣	J 7 4 2

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

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

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	W	−2	♠ J	100		6.50	0.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	9-Mehta-Joshi
3 NT	W	−2	♥ J	100		6.50	0.50	8-Prosise-Prosise	1-Roark-Campbell
3 NT	W	−1	♥ 2	50		3.00	4.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	11-Jervis-Lindeman
3 NT	W	−1	♥ J	50		3.00	4.00	4-Grim-Lammers	4-Kammer-Zimmer
2 NT	E	−1	♥ 3	50		3.00	4.00	9-Vanstone-Gibler	3-Olexsey-Olexsey
3 NT	W	−1	♥ 2	50		3.00	4.00	10-Petersen-Cushman	5-Temples-Koch
3 NT	W	−1	♥ J	50		3.00	4.00	11-Muenks-Chrzanowski	7-Pandit-Pandit
3 ♦	W	4	♠ J		130	0.00	7.00	3-Singerman-Williams	2-Schultz-Terbrueggen

E/W are in a reasonable contract that has absolutely zero chance of making. Even if North forgets to lead the ♥ J on opening lead, they can't help but get it right when they're back in with the ♦ A. E/W take three Spade tricks, three Clubs, and one Diamond, down two. North will lead the ♥ J.

Board 13
North Deals
Both Vul

♠	9 8 4 3
♥	8 2
♦	9 7 6 4
♣	Q J 3

♠	K Q 10 2
♥	J 7 4
♦	A J 8 3
♣	9 2

N
W		E
S

♠	A J 5
♥	K 10 9 3
♦	2
♣	K 8 7 6 5

♠	7 6
♥	A Q 6 5
♦	K Q 10 5
♣	A 10 4

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

West	North	East	South
	Pass	1 ♣1	1 NT2
Dbl3	Pass4	Pass	Rdbl5
Pass	2 ♦6	Pass	Pass
Pass

Rule of 20 opener
15 to 18
For penalty
Alert, asking partner to redouble
Alert, forced call
Bidding 4-card suits up the line

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♣	E	−2	♦ K	200		6.50	0.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	8-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	W	−2	♥ 8	200		6.50	0.50	4-Grim-Lammers	3-Olexsey-Olexsey
2 ♦×	S	2	♣ 9	180		5.00	2.00	3-Singerman-Williams	1-Roark-Campbell
1 NT	S	2	♣ 9	120		4.00	3.00	10-Petersen-Cushman	4-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♠	W	−1	♥ 8	100		3.00	4.00	9-Vanstone-Gibler	2-Schultz-Terbrueggen
1 NT	S	−1	♠ 2		100	1.50	5.50	5-Lin-Hubka	5-Temples-Koch
1 NT	S	−1	♠ K		100	1.50	5.50	11-Muenks-Chrzanowski	6-Essig-Koppenhafer
1 NT	E	2	♥ 5		120	0.00	7.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	10-Felson-Brown

N/S have a nice auction to escape playing in 1 NT doubled. Well done, N/S! East should lead the ♦ 2. Declarer will play the ♦ Q from dummy, and West will win the ♦ A and return a small Diamond, won in the closed hand with the ♦ 7 (beer card). The ♥ 8 to the ♥ Q is next, and when that holds, it's a simple matter to cash the ♥ A, ruff a Heart in the closed hand, and lead the ♣ Q successfully finessing against East for the ♣ K. Two Club tricks, three Diamonds, two Hearts, and a Heart ruff account for eight tricks. Sweet.

Board 14
East Deals
None Vul

♠	8 7 4 3 2
♥	10 5
♦	7 4 2
♣	K 8 6

♠	A K J 5
♥	9
♦	A K Q 9
♣	A J 3 2

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 10 9 6
♥	K 6 3
♦	J 10 5 3
♣	Q 9

♠	—
♥	A Q J 8 7 4 2
♦	8 6
♣	10 7 5 4

EW 5♠; E 3N; E 5♦; W 4♦; NS 2♥; E 2♣; W 1♣; Par −450

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

Preemptive

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
6 ♠	E	−4	♣ 7	200		7.00	0.00	3-Singerman-Williams	1-Roark-Campbell
5 ♠	E	−2	♦ 8	100		6.00	1.00	5-Lin-Hubka	5-Temples-Koch
6 ♠	E	−1	♥ A	50		5.00	2.00	9-Vanstone-Gibler	2-Schultz-Terbrueggen
3 ♠	W	5	♥ 10		200	4.00	3.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	8-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♠	E	4	♥ A		420	2.50	4.50	4-Grim-Lammers	3-Olexsey-Olexsey
4 ♠	E	4	♥ A		420	2.50	4.50	10-Petersen-Cushman	4-Kammer-Zimmer
5 ♠	E	5	♥ A		450	1.00	6.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	10-Felson-Brown
4 ♥×	S	−3	♦ A		500	0.00	7.00	11-Muenks-Chrzanowski	6-Essig-Koppenhafer

E/W lose one Heart trick and one Club, making five. South may lead the ♦ 8. It seems on the surface that E/W will have to lose a trump to North, but that's an illusion. Declarer will win the first Diamond trick in their hand and run the ♣ Q to North's ♣ K. The ♥T is returned, and declarer will allow it to hold. North's best option at this point is to return a trump, but when South shows out, the hand is essentially over. Declarer will win the Spade switch, cash the ♣ A and ♣ J (pitching a Diamond), cash two more Diamonds, and cross-ruff the rest of the hand. North will follow to the second round of Hearts at trick nine and then have to under-ruff for the last four tricks. Heh.

Board 15
South Deals
N-S Vul

♠	A Q 7 4 2
♥	A K 7 5
♦	J 8 5 3
♣	—

♠	3
♥	10 8 4 3
♦	Q 10 9 6
♣	A Q 9 4

N
W		E
S

♠	K J 9 6 5
♥	J
♦	A 7 4 2
♣	K 7 5

♠	10 8
♥	Q 9 6 2
♦	K
♣	J 10 8 6 3 2

EW 2N; NS 2♥; EW 3♦; EW 1♣; Par −120

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
1 ♠×	N	1	♥ J	160		7.00	0.00	9-Vanstone-Gibler	2-Schultz-Terbrueggen
2 ♥	N	2	♣ 7	110		4.50	2.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	8-Diers-McCarthy
2 ♥	N	2	♠ 6	110		4.50	2.50	3-Singerman-Williams	1-Roark-Campbell
1 ♠	N	2	♥ J	110		4.50	2.50	4-Grim-Lammers	3-Olexsey-Olexsey
1 ♠	N	2	♥ J	110		4.50	2.50	10-Petersen-Cushman	4-Kammer-Zimmer
					100	1.50	5.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	10-Felson-Brown
2 ♥	N	−1	♣ 7		100	1.50	5.50	5-Lin-Hubka	5-Temples-Koch
4 ♥	N	−2	♥ J		200	0.00	7.00	11-Muenks-Chrzanowski	6-Essig-Koppenhafer

South likes North's second suit slightly better than they like their first. N/S lose five tricks, but I have no idea which ones they'll be--possibly two Spade tricks, two Diamonds, and one Heart?

It's might be easier to calculate which tricks N/S will win after a trump lead. Let's see...they'll win trick one in their hand with the ♥ A and lead a Diamond towards the ♦ K. East will hop with the ♦ A, and with no more trump to return they'll probably exit with a small Club. Declarer will ruff this in their hand, ruff a Diamond, ruff a Club, ruff a Diamond, play a Spade to the ♠ A, ruff a Diamond with the ♥ Q, and the ♥ K is their eighth and final trick. Nice.

Board 16
West Deals
E-W Vul

♠	7 5
♥	A 8 4 3
♦	A J 10 5
♣	Q 5 2

♠	K 9 6
♥	Q 7 6 2
♦	Q 9 6 3 2
♣	J

N
W		E
S

♠	A 3 2
♥	J 10 5
♦	8
♣	K 10 9 8 6 3

♠	Q J 10 8 4
♥	K 9
♦	K 7 4
♣	A 7 4

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

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

Showing 11 HCP and fewer than three Spades

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♦	W	−3	♠ 7	300		7.00	0.00	4-Grim-Lammers	2-Schultz-Terbrueggen
2 NT	S	5	♦ 3	210		6.00	1.00	10-Petersen-Cushman	3-Olexsey-Olexsey
2 NT	N	4	♥ J	180		5.00	2.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	9-Mehta-Joshi
2 ♠	S	4	♣ J	170		4.00	3.00	3-Singerman-Williams	11-Jervis-Lindeman
1 NT	N	3	♣ 10	150		2.50	4.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	7-Pandit-Pandit
1 NT	N	3	♣ 10	150		2.50	4.50	6-Oppelt-Oppelt	6-Essig-Koppenhafer
1 NT	N	2	♣ 8	120		1.00	6.00	5-Lin-Hubka	4-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♣	E	−1	♠ Q	100		0.00	7.00	11-Muenks-Chrzanowski	5-Temples-Koch

N/S take four Diamond tricks, two Clubs, two Hearts, and three Spades, making five if East leads the ♣T (which seems likely). If East can somehow resist leading a Club, N/S will take only ten tricks. Better would be for East to lead the ♥ J. Better still would be for West to lead out of turn.

Board 17
North Deals
None Vul

♠	K 4 2
♥	K 7 5 3
♦	5
♣	A Q 5 4 3

♠	10 3
♥	A
♦	A Q 8 7 2
♣	K J 10 7 6

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 9 7 5
♥	J 9 8 6
♦	K J 10 6 3
♣	—

♠	A J 8 6
♥	Q 10 4 2
♦	9 4
♣	9 8 2

EW 5♦; NS 2♥; NS 1N; NS 2♣; Par −400

West	North	East	South
	1 ♣	Pass	1 ♥
2 ♦	2 ♥	5 ♦	Pass
Pass	Pass

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♦×	W	−1	♥ 3	100		7.00	0.00	4-Grim-Lammers	2-Schultz-Terbrueggen
5 ♦	E	−1	♥ 2	50		6.00	1.00	3-Singerman-Williams	11-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♦	W	4	♥ 3		130	4.50	2.50	6-Oppelt-Oppelt	6-Essig-Koppenhafer
3 ♦	E	4	♥ 2		130	4.50	2.50	11-Muenks-Chrzanowski	5-Temples-Koch
3 ♦	W	5	♠ 2		150	3.00	4.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	9-Mehta-Joshi
5 ♦	E	5	♣ 10		400	1.50	5.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	7-Pandit-Pandit
5 ♦	E	5	♥ 4		400	1.50	5.50	5-Lin-Hubka	4-Kammer-Zimmer
5 ♦×	E	5	♥ 2		550	0.00	7.00	10-Petersen-Cushman	3-Olexsey-Olexsey

East's hand turns perfect on the auction. Since their partner's 2 ♦ bid promises an opening hand with 5+ Diamonds, and N/S's auction guarantees that West will hold at most one Heart, five Diamonds has to have play.

E/W lose two Spade tricks, making five. North's best lead is a trump. When the ♣ A and ♣ Q both turn up in the North hand (i.e., falling with repeated ruffing finesses in Clubs) and the ♣ 9 and ♣ 8 fall in the first three rounds, the ♣ 7 and ♣ 6 both become good. Spot cards matter (that should be a T-shirt).

Board 18
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	K 7 6 5
♥	J 9 4 3
♦	K 10 9
♣	Q 7

♠	A Q 9
♥	10 6 5
♦	J 4 3
♣	K J 9 2

N
W		E
S

♠	J 10 3 2
♥	Q 7
♦	A 8 7 5
♣	8 6 3

♠	8 4
♥	A K 8 2
♦	Q 6 2
♣	A 10 5 4

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

West	North	East	South
		Pass	1 ♣
Pass1	1 ♥	Pass	2 ♥
Pass	Pass	Pass

Don't make minimum offshape takeout doubles

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♥	N	5	♠ J	200		7.00	0.00	6-Oppelt-Oppelt	6-Essig-Koppenhafer
2 ♥	N	4	♠ J	170		5.00	2.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	7-Pandit-Pandit
2 ♥	N	4	♠ J	170		5.00	2.00	4-Grim-Lammers	2-Schultz-Terbrueggen
2 ♥	N	4	♠ J	170		5.00	2.00	10-Petersen-Cushman	3-Olexsey-Olexsey
2 ♠	E	−3	♥ K	150		3.00	4.00	11-Muenks-Chrzanowski	5-Temples-Koch
2 ♥	N	3	♣ 8	140		2.00	5.00	3-Singerman-Williams	11-Jervis-Lindeman
2 ♥	N	2	♠ J	110		1.00	6.00	5-Lin-Hubka	4-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♥	N	−1	♠ J		100	0.00	7.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	9-Mehta-Joshi

N/S lose one Spade trick, one Club, and one Diamond, making four. East will lead the ♠ J. If you're declarer, don't lead the ♥ J towards the ♥ AK thinking you're finessing against the ♥ Q. You're not. You'd need the ♥T for that play to make any sense.

Board 19
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	Q 4 2
♥	Q 8 4
♦	Q 6 5
♣	8 7 5 4

♠	J 10 8 7 6 3
♥	10 9 5
♦	7 3
♣	6 3

N
W		E
S

♠	A 9 5
♥	J 6
♦	10 8 4
♣	K J 10 9 2

♠	K
♥	A K 7 3 2
♦	A K J 9 2
♣	A Q

NS 6N; NS 6♥; NS 6♦; NS 2♣; NS 1♠; Par +990

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

Showing an A, K, or QQ
Showing 3+ Hearts and denying an outside control
RKC Blackwood (Kickback) for Hearts
1430 response showing 0 or 3 keycards
Do you have the ♥ Q?
Yes, but no side-suit Kings

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
6 ♥	S	7	♠ J	1010		7.00	0.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	6-Essig-Koppenhafer
6 ♥	S	6	♠ 3	980		6.00	1.00	6-Oppelt-Oppelt	5-Temples-Koch
5 ♥	S	7	♠ J	510		4.00	3.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	8-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♥	S	7	♠ J	510		4.00	3.00	7-Tedrick-Pretz	7-Pandit-Pandit
4 ♥	N	7	♠ J	510		4.00	3.00	11-Muenks-Chrzanowski	4-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♥	N	6	♠ A	480		1.50	5.50	4-Grim-Lammers	1-Roark-Campbell
4 ♥	N	6	♦ 8	480		1.50	5.50	5-Lin-Hubka	3-Olexsey-Olexsey
4 ♥	N	5	♣ 10	450		0.00	7.00	3-Singerman-Williams	10-Felson-Brown

Knowing that their partner has no side-suit Kings makes South's hand a bit better. The opponents can't start with a Club without turning the ♣ Q into a trick. If North has the ♠ Q, declarer's Club loser goes away on the pitch. If North has the ♦ Q, the Diamond suit will run. If North's hand is ♠ 42 ♥ Q42 ♦ Q65 ♣ 87542, then there's always the Club finesse as a last resort. On this hand, North has both side-suit Queens. La vie est belle.

N/S lose one Spade trick, making six. East will lead the ♠ J to East's ♠ A, and East will return the ♣ J. It's important to put declarer to a guess early on hands such as this one, but declarer doesn't need the ♣ Q to be good, so they'll hop with the ♣ A. When trump behave the hand is over.

Board 20
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	J 10 9 7
♥	6 3
♦	A K 4
♣	A J 9 2

♠	A K 8 2
♥	8 5 2
♦	Q 9 7 3
♣	8 3

N
W		E
S

♠	—
♥	K Q J 10 9 4
♦	J 8 2
♣	K 7 6 4

♠	Q 6 5 4 3
♥	A 7
♦	10 6 5
♣	Q 10 5

EW 3♥; NS 2♠; EW 1N; EW 2♦; Par −140

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

Weak jump overcall
Negative
Extending the preempt

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♠×	S	3	♥ 5	730		7.00	0.00	4-Grim-Lammers	1-Roark-Campbell
3 ♠	S	3	♥ 5	140		6.00	1.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	6-Essig-Koppenhafer
5 ♥	E	−1	♠ 6	100		4.50	2.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	8-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♥	E	−1	♣ 5	100		4.50	2.50	6-Oppelt-Oppelt	5-Temples-Koch
4 ♠	S	−1	♥ 8		100	3.00	4.00	11-Muenks-Chrzanowski	4-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♥	E	3	♣ 5		140	2.00	5.00	7-Tedrick-Pretz	7-Pandit-Pandit
3 ♥	E	4	♣ 5		170	1.00	6.00	5-Lin-Hubka	3-Olexsey-Olexsey
4 ♥×	E	4	♣ 5		790	0.00	7.00	3-Singerman-Williams	10-Felson-Brown

South doesn't have quite enough to respond 2 ♠ after East's 2 ♥ preempt, so they settle for making a negative double. West's double of 3 ♠ is a match-point double, in that they would never double 3 ♠ in a Swiss Team game (IMPs). If 3 ♠ doubled makes in a match-point event, it's one board--big deal. If 3 ♠ doubled makes in a team event, it's the entire match. Crap.

N/S lose two Spade tricks, one Heart, one Club, and a Club ruff, down one doubled for –200. East will lead the ♥ K. If declarer ducks the first round of Hearts, then East should switch to a Diamond. When West gets in with a high trump, they'll return the ♣ 8.

Board 21
North Deals
N-S Vul

♠	10 9 7 6 4
♥	Q J 6 2
♦	4 2
♣	10 3

♠	J
♥	10 7 5 3
♦	K Q 10 9 7
♣	8 7 5

N
W		E
S

♠	A Q 8
♥	A
♦	A 8 6 5 3
♣	A Q 9 4

♠	K 5 3 2
♥	K 9 8 4
♦	J
♣	K J 6 2

E 6♦; EW 3N; W 5♦; EW 3♣; NS 1♠; NS 1♥; Par −920

West	North	East	South
	Pass	1 ♦	Dbl
1 ♥	Pass	3 ♣	Pass
5 ♦	Pass	Pass	Pass

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♦	E	6	♣ 2		170	6.00	1.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	6-Essig-Koppenhafer
3 ♦	E	6	♠ 2		170	6.00	1.00	4-Grim-Lammers	1-Roark-Campbell
4 ♦	E	6	♠ 2		170	6.00	1.00	11-Muenks-Chrzanowski	4-Kammer-Zimmer
5 ♦	E	5	♦ J		400	4.00	3.00	3-Singerman-Williams	10-Felson-Brown
5 ♦	W	6	♥ 2		420	2.50	4.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	8-Diers-McCarthy
5 ♦	E	6	♣ 2		420	2.50	4.50	5-Lin-Hubka	3-Olexsey-Olexsey
3 NT	E	4	♣ 2		430	1.00	6.00	6-Oppelt-Oppelt	5-Temples-Koch
6 ♦	E	6	♦ J		920	0.00	7.00	7-Tedrick-Pretz	7-Pandit-Pandit

North's hand isn't quite good enough to sneak in a 1 ♠ bid. E/W lose one Spade trick, making six when two of dummy's Clubs go away on the ♠ A and ♠ Q. South may lead a trump.

Board 22
East Deals
E-W Vul

♠	9 5
♥	A 9
♦	A 10 8 3
♣	Q 10 9 7 5

♠	K Q 6 4 3
♥	—
♦	K 7 6 5 2
♣	J 6 4

N
W		E
S

♠	A 7
♥	K J 7 6 5
♦	Q J 4
♣	K 8 3

♠	J 10 8 2
♥	Q 10 8 4 3 2
♦	9
♣	A 2

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

West	North	East	South
		1 ♥	Pass
1 ♠	1 NT1	Pass	Pass2
2 ♦	Pass	3 ♦	Pass
Pass	Pass

Alert, Sandwich NT bid showing a sub-opening hand with the two unbid suits
What else?

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT×	E	−2	♣ A	500		7.00	0.00	8-Prosise-Prosise	8-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	E	−4	♠ J	400		6.00	1.00	4-Grim-Lammers	11-Jervis-Lindeman
3 NT	E	−2	♦ 9	200		4.50	2.50	5-Lin-Hubka	2-Schultz-Terbrueggen
1 NT×	E	−1	♥ 4	200		4.50	2.50	7-Tedrick-Pretz	6-Essig-Koppenhafer
1 NT	E	−1	♠ J	100		2.50	4.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	5-Temples-Koch
1 NT	E	−1	♥ 4	100		2.50	4.50	6-Oppelt-Oppelt	4-Kammer-Zimmer
1 NT	E	1	♣ 2		90	1.00	6.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	7-Pandit-Pandit
1 NT	E	2	♦ 9		120	0.00	7.00	3-Singerman-Williams	9-Mehta-Joshi

East can't pass West's 2 ♦ bid, as much as they'd like to, because it's a new suit by responder (i.e., 1000% forcing). Stupid rules.

E/W lose two Club tricks and two Diamonds, making three. South may lead the ♣ A and continue Clubs at trick two when their partner encourages.

Board 23
South Deals
Both Vul

♠	2
♥	K 8 7 5 3
♦	K 5
♣	A 10 6 4 2

♠	A 10 9 8 5 3
♥	A Q 9
♦	9 6
♣	Q 3

N
W		E
S

♠	K Q J 6
♥	6
♦	A J 10 8 7 2
♣	J 9

♠	7 4
♥	J 10 4 2
♦	Q 4 3
♣	K 8 7 5

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

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

Michaels cuebid
Alert, Unusual vs. Unusual cuebid showing a limit raise or better in Spades

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	E	−6	♥ 2	600		7.00	0.00	6-Oppelt-Oppelt	4-Kammer-Zimmer
6 ♠	W	−2	♣ A	200		6.00	1.00	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	5-Temples-Koch
3 ♦	E	6	♥ 2		170	5.00	2.00	8-Prosise-Prosise	8-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♠	W	4	♠ 2		620	3.50	3.50	4-Grim-Lammers	11-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♠	W	4	♠ 2		620	3.50	3.50	7-Tedrick-Pretz	6-Essig-Koppenhafer
4 ♠	W	5	♥ 5		650	1.50	5.50	3-Singerman-Williams	9-Mehta-Joshi
4 ♠	W	5	♥ 8		650	1.50	5.50	5-Lin-Hubka	2-Schultz-Terbrueggen
4 ♠	W	6	♥ 8		680	0.00	7.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	7-Pandit-Pandit

If N/S weren't vulnerable, South would have no trouble finding the excellent 5 ♥ sacrifice. At equal vulnerability? That's a bit tougher. E/W lose two Club tricks and one Diamond, making four. North might lead the ♣ A and continue Clubs when their partner encourages.

Board 24
West Deals
None Vul

♠	J 7 4 3
♥	6 5
♦	K 9 8 7 6 5
♣	4

♠	8 5
♥	A 10 8 2
♦	Q J 4
♣	K 10 9 7

N
W		E
S

♠	A
♥	K Q J 7 4 3
♦	10
♣	Q 8 6 3 2

♠	K Q 10 9 6 2
♥	9
♦	A 3 2
♣	A J 5

NS 4♠; EW 3♥; EW 4♣; NS 3♦; EW 1N; Par +100: EW 5♣×−1

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

Cuebid showing a limit raise or better in Hearts
Weak jump raise

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠×	S	5	♥ A	690		7.00	0.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	7-Pandit-Pandit
4 ♠×	S	4	♠ 8	590		6.00	1.00	7-Tedrick-Pretz	6-Essig-Koppenhafer
3 ♠	S	4	♥ A	170		5.00	2.00	4-Grim-Lammers	11-Jervis-Lindeman
6 ♥×	E	−1	♠ K	100		4.00	3.00	3-Singerman-Williams	9-Mehta-Joshi
5 ♥	E	−1	♠ K	50		3.00	4.00	8-Prosise-Prosise	8-Diers-McCarthy
5 ♥	E	5	♠ K		450	1.50	5.50	1-Wiest-Altman Sr	5-Temples-Koch
5 ♥	E	5	♠ J		450	1.50	5.50	5-Lin-Hubka	2-Schultz-Terbrueggen
5 ♥×	E	5	♠ K		650	0.00	7.00	6-Oppelt-Oppelt	4-Kammer-Zimmer

East's 5 ♥ bid is reasonable, since 5 ♥ makes unless South finds the lead of the ♣ A. That's not going to happen, as South has a natural lead in the ♠ K. Phew.

E/W lose one Diamond trick and one Club, making five if declarer guesses correctly in Clubs. South will lead the ♠ K. If you're South, make sure you play low smoothly when declarer plays a small Club from their hand towards dummy.

Board 25
North Deals
E-W Vul

♠	6 5 2
♥	A J 10 5 4
♦	6 5
♣	K 9 7

♠	J 9
♥	Q 9 3
♦	A K J 10
♣	Q J 4 3

N
W		E
S

♠	10 8 7 3
♥	K 7 6
♦	9 8
♣	A 10 6 5

♠	A K Q 4
♥	8 2
♦	Q 7 4 3 2
♣	8 2

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

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

15 to 18

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
1 NT	N	3	♣ 5	150		7.00	0.00	7-Tedrick-Pretz	5-Temples-Koch
2 ♥	N	2	♦ 8	110		6.00	1.00	6-Oppelt-Oppelt	3-Olexsey-Olexsey
2 ♣	E	2	♠ A		90	5.00	2.00	3-Singerman-Williams	8-Diers-McCarthy
1 NT	N	−2	♣ 5		100	3.00	4.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	6-Essig-Koppenhafer
2 ♥	N	−2	♣ A		100	3.00	4.00	8-Prosise-Prosise	7-Pandit-Pandit
1 NT	N	−2	♣ 5		100	3.00	4.00	9-Vanstone-Gibler	9-Mehta-Joshi
2 ♣	E	4	♠ A		130	1.00	6.00	5-Lin-Hubka	1-Roark-Campbell
1 NT	S	−3	♣ 3		150	0.00	7.00	4-Grim-Lammers	10-Felson-Brown

West gets a little frisky on this hand, but it pays off. E/W take four Club tricks, four Diamonds, and one Heart (or one Spade), making three. North may lead the ♦ 6, the ♥ J, or the ♠ 6. No matter what North leads, South will signal for a Spade on the third round of Clubs, and North will switch to a Spade when they're in with the ♥ A.

Board 26
East Deals
Both Vul

♠	5 3 2
♥	A J 7
♦	J 10 9 6 2
♣	A K

♠	A 9 8 4
♥	8 4
♦	A K 7
♣	Q 10 4 2

N
W		E
S

♠	K 10 7
♥	K 9 6 5 2
♦	Q 3
♣	9 7 5

♠	Q J 6
♥	Q 10 3
♦	8 5 4
♣	J 8 6 3

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

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
1 ♥	E	1	♦ 5		80	7.00	0.00	3-Singerman-Williams	8-Diers-McCarthy
1 NT	E	1	♦ 4		90	4.50	2.50	5-Lin-Hubka	1-Roark-Campbell
1 NT	E	1	♦ 8		90	4.50	2.50	7-Tedrick-Pretz	5-Temples-Koch
1 NT	W	1	♦ 9		90	4.50	2.50	8-Prosise-Prosise	7-Pandit-Pandit
1 NT	W	1	♦ J		90	4.50	2.50	9-Vanstone-Gibler	9-Mehta-Joshi
1 NT	E	1	♠ A		100	2.00	5.00	6-Oppelt-Oppelt	3-Olexsey-Olexsey
1 NT	W	2	♦ J		120	1.00	6.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	6-Essig-Koppenhafer
2 NT	W	3	♦ J		150	0.00	7.00	4-Grim-Lammers	10-Felson-Brown

East is tempted to correct 1 NT to 2 ♥, but their ♦ Q looks like a nice card in notrump on the auction, so they correctly pass.

E/W take two Spade tricks, three Hearts, and three Diamonds, making two. North will lead the ♦ J. Declarer will win with dummy's ♦ Q and play a small Heart from both hands. South will most likely win the trick and return another Diamond. Declarer will win in their hand and lead the ♥ 8 towards the board winning the ♥ K when North ducks. When Hearts prove to be 3-3, the hand is over.

Board 27
South Deals
None Vul

♠	K 10 9 2
♥	Q 5 2
♦	K 3
♣	J 9 6 2

♠	Q J 5
♥	A 9 3
♦	9 7 5 4
♣	7 4 3

N
W		E
S

♠	8 6
♥	K 8 7 6
♦	10 8 6 2
♣	A Q 10

♠	A 7 4 3
♥	J 10 4
♦	A Q J
♣	K 8 5

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

West	North	East	South
			1 NT1
Pass	2 ♣	Pass	2 ♠
Pass	3 ♠	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 ♠	S	3	♦ 4	140		7.00	0.00	7-Tedrick-Pretz	5-Temples-Koch
2 NT	S	2	♦ 4	120		6.00	1.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	6-Essig-Koppenhafer
2 ♠	S	2	♦ 7	110		5.00	2.00	5-Lin-Hubka	1-Roark-Campbell
4 ♠	S	−1	♥ A		50	2.50	4.50	3-Singerman-Williams	8-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♠	S	−1	♦ 9		50	2.50	4.50	4-Grim-Lammers	10-Felson-Brown
4 ♠	S	−1	♦ 2		50	2.50	4.50	6-Oppelt-Oppelt	3-Olexsey-Olexsey
3 ♠	S	−1	♦ 5		50	2.50	4.50	9-Vanstone-Gibler	9-Mehta-Joshi
4 ♠	S	−2	♦ 7		100	0.00	7.00	8-Prosise-Prosise	7-Pandit-Pandit

N/S lose one Spade trick, two Hearts, and two Clubs, down one. East may lead the ♦ 7 (MUD and beer card).

Board 28
West Deals
N-S Vul

♠	Q
♥	Q 6 5 3 2
♦	A 2
♣	K Q 10 7 3

♠	K 10 8 5 4
♥	10 8 7
♦	5 3
♣	A 5 4

N
W		E
S

♠	A 6 3
♥	A J 9 4
♦	K Q 10
♣	J 9 8

♠	J 9 7 2
♥	K
♦	J 9 8 7 6 4
♣	6 2

EW 4N; EW 3♠; EW 2♥; Par −430

West	North	East	South
Pass	1 ♥	1 NT1	Pass
2 ♥2	Pass3	2 ♠	Pass
Pass	Pass

15 to 18
Transfer
Don't lead a Heart

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♠	E	−2	♥ K	100		7.00	0.00	5-Lin-Hubka	11-Jervis-Lindeman
1 ♥	N	1	♦ K	80		6.00	1.00	6-Oppelt-Oppelt	2-Schultz-Terbrueggen
2 ♥	N	−1	♠ A		100	5.00	2.00	9-Vanstone-Gibler	8-Diers-McCarthy
2 ♠	E	3	♥ K		140	3.00	4.00	3-Singerman-Williams	7-Pandit-Pandit
2 ♠	E	3	♥ K		140	3.00	4.00	8-Prosise-Prosise	6-Essig-Koppenhafer
2 ♠	E	3	♥ K		140	3.00	4.00	10-Petersen-Cushman	10-Felson-Brown
2 ♥	N	−2	♦ K		200	1.00	6.00	7-Tedrick-Pretz	4-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♠	E	4	♥ K		420	0.00	7.00	4-Grim-Lammers	9-Mehta-Joshi

West should probably invite, since East might have an 18 count, but they don't. E/W lose one Heart trick, one Diamond, and one Club, making four. If South finds a Club lead (did you?), E/W will take only nine tricks. South will lead the ♥ K.

Why should South find a non-Heart lead? Well, did you notice above where North didn't double West's 2 ♥ transfer bid? South didn't notice either. I'm not saying that South would have lead a Club--much more likely they'd lead a small Diamond--but they shouldn't have led a Heart.

Board 29
North Deals
Both Vul

♠	K 9
♥	6 2
♦	Q J 7 3 2
♣	K J 6 4

♠	10 2
♥	A K J 8 4
♦	8 4
♣	Q 9 5 3

N
W		E
S

♠	A 6 5 3
♥	10 9
♦	K 9 6 5
♣	A 10 8

♠	Q J 8 7 4
♥	Q 7 5 3
♦	A 10
♣	7 2

EW 3♥; EW 1N; EW 2♣; Par −140

West	North	East	South
	Pass	Pass	Pass
Pass

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♥	W	−2	♠ K	200		7.00	0.00	3-Singerman-Williams	7-Pandit-Pandit
2 NT	E	−1	♠ 4	100		6.00	1.00	10-Petersen-Cushman	10-Felson-Brown
Pass				Pass		3.50	3.50	4-Grim-Lammers	9-Mehta-Joshi
Pass				Pass		3.50	3.50	7-Tedrick-Pretz	4-Kammer-Zimmer
Pass				Pass		3.50	3.50	8-Prosise-Prosise	6-Essig-Koppenhafer
Pass				Pass		3.50	3.50	9-Vanstone-Gibler	8-Diers-McCarthy
1 ♠	E	1	♣ 7		80	1.00	6.00	6-Oppelt-Oppelt	2-Schultz-Terbrueggen
2 ♥	W	2	♦ Q		110	0.00	7.00	5-Lin-Hubka	11-Jervis-Lindeman

Next.

Board 30
East Deals
None Vul

♠	A 7 2
♥	A K 10 7 6 5
♦	3
♣	K Q 6

♠	10 5 4 3
♥	Q 8
♦	A 8 6 2
♣	9 3 2

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 8 6
♥	4
♦	K 7 5 4
♣	A 10 8 7 4

♠	K J 9
♥	J 9 3 2
♦	Q J 10 9
♣	J 5

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

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

Alert, artificial bid showing 7-9 HCP and 4+ Hearts

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	N	5	♦ 4	450		3.50	3.50	3-Singerman-Williams	7-Pandit-Pandit
4 ♥	N	5	♣ A	450		3.50	3.50	4-Grim-Lammers	9-Mehta-Joshi
4 ♥	N	5	♣ A	450		3.50	3.50	5-Lin-Hubka	11-Jervis-Lindeman
5 ♥	N	5	♣ A	450		3.50	3.50	6-Oppelt-Oppelt	2-Schultz-Terbrueggen
4 ♥	N	5	♠ 6	450		3.50	3.50	7-Tedrick-Pretz	4-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♥	N	5	♣ A	450		3.50	3.50	8-Prosise-Prosise	6-Essig-Koppenhafer
4 ♥	N	5	♣ A	450		3.50	3.50	9-Vanstone-Gibler	8-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♥	N	5	♦ 4	450		3.50	3.50	10-Petersen-Cushman	10-Felson-Brown

Since N/S play that a 2 ♣ response to a major-suit opening by a passed hand is Drury with 3+ card support for partner's major, they no longer need a 2 ♦ bid to show basically the same thing. By agreement, N/S play that a 2 ♦ response to a major-suit opening by a passed hand shows 7-9 HCP and 4+ card support for partner's suit.

N/S lose one Diamond trick and one Club, making five. East will lead the ♥ 4. If you're declarer, don't take the practice finesse in Spades. Dummy's small Spade can be pitched on your third Club.

Board 31
South Deals
N-S Vul

♠	Q 8 5 4
♥	9 7 3
♦	5 4
♣	K Q 9 8

♠	A 9 6 3
♥	Q 8 6 2
♦	8 7
♣	6 4 2

N
W		E
S

♠	7 2
♥	A J 4
♦	Q 9 6 3 2
♣	A J 7

♠	K J 10
♥	K 10 5
♦	A K J 10
♣	10 5 3

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

West	North	East	South
			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
2 ♠	N	4	♦ 2	170		7.00	0.00	11-Muenks-Chrzanowski	11-Jervis-Lindeman
1 NT	S	3	♠ 3	150		6.00	1.00	9-Vanstone-Gibler	7-Pandit-Pandit
1 NT	S	2	♥ 2	120		4.50	2.50	7-Tedrick-Pretz	3-Olexsey-Olexsey
1 NT	S	2	♠ 3	120		4.50	2.50	8-Prosise-Prosise	5-Temples-Koch
1 NT	S	1	♥ 2	90		1.50	5.50	4-Grim-Lammers	8-Diers-McCarthy
1 NT	S	1	♥ 2	90		1.50	5.50	5-Lin-Hubka	10-Felson-Brown
1 NT	S	1	♠ 3	90		1.50	5.50	6-Oppelt-Oppelt	1-Roark-Campbell
1 NT	S	1	♥ 2	90		1.50	5.50	10-Petersen-Cushman	9-Mehta-Joshi

N/S take three Spade tricks, three Diamonds, one Heart, and one Club, making two. West may lead a small Spade.

Board 32
West Deals
E-W Vul

♠	K J 8 7 5
♥	J 4 2
♦	K 9 6 4
♣	Q

♠	6 3
♥	A Q 10 7
♦	Q 7
♣	K 8 7 6 2

N
W		E
S

♠	A 10 2
♥	K 9 8 6 5
♦	3
♣	A 10 5 3

♠	Q 9 4
♥	3
♦	A J 10 8 5 2
♣	J 9 4

EW 4♥; NS 3♠; NS 4♦; EW 4♣; EW 1N; Par −100: NS 4♠×−1; NS 5♦×−1

West	North	East	South
Pass1	Pass	1 ♥2	3 ♦3
4 ♥	5 ♦	Pass	Pass
Dbl	Pass	Pass	Pass

Not quite a vulnerable opener
Light opener in 3rd seat
Weak jump overcall

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♦	S	−1	♠ 6		50	7.00	0.00	6-Oppelt-Oppelt	1-Roark-Campbell
5 ♦×	S	−1	♥ A		100	5.50	1.50	5-Lin-Hubka	10-Felson-Brown
5 ♦×	S	−1	♥ A		100	5.50	1.50	10-Petersen-Cushman	9-Mehta-Joshi
3 ♥	E	4	♠ 9		170	4.00	3.00	11-Muenks-Chrzanowski	11-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♥	E	4	♠ 4		620	2.00	5.00	7-Tedrick-Pretz	3-Olexsey-Olexsey
4 ♥	E	4	♥ 3		620	2.00	5.00	8-Prosise-Prosise	5-Temples-Koch
4 ♥	E	4	♦ J		620	2.00	5.00	9-Vanstone-Gibler	7-Pandit-Pandit
4 ♥	E	5	♣ J		650	0.00	7.00	4-Grim-Lammers	8-Diers-McCarthy

West's 4 ♥ bid is not preemptive--N/S have already grabbed the preemptive high ground. West fully expects 4 ♥ to make. North has an easy 5 ♦ sacrifice on the vulnerability.

N/S lose one Spade trick, one Heart, and one Club, down one for –100. N/S need to grab their three Aces before Spades are established. West will lead the ♥ A.

Board 33
North Deals
None Vul

♠	10 5 2
♥	Q 5 2
♦	Q 5 4 3
♣	A 8 7

♠	K 9 7
♥	A 10 9 4
♦	J 8 7
♣	6 5 2

N
W		E
S

♠	A Q 8 4 3
♥	K 8 7 3
♦	A 6
♣	K 9

♠	J 6
♥	J 6
♦	K 10 9 2
♣	Q J 10 4 3

EW 4♠; EW 4♥; EW 3N; NS 1♣; Par −420

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

Alert, artificial Kokish Game Try bid asking partner where they have help
Showing help in Hearts but not in Clubs or Diamonds

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♠	E	4	♣ Q		170	5.50	1.50	5-Lin-Hubka	10-Felson-Brown
3 ♠	E	4	♣ Q		170	5.50	1.50	7-Tedrick-Pretz	3-Olexsey-Olexsey
3 ♠	E	4	♣ Q		170	5.50	1.50	9-Vanstone-Gibler	7-Pandit-Pandit
3 ♠	E	4	♣ Q		170	5.50	1.50	11-Muenks-Chrzanowski	11-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♥	W	4	♦ 3		420	2.00	5.00	4-Grim-Lammers	8-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♠	E	4	♣ Q		420	2.00	5.00	6-Oppelt-Oppelt	1-Roark-Campbell
4 ♥	E	4	♣ Q		420	2.00	5.00	8-Prosise-Prosise	5-Temples-Koch
4 ♥	E	5	♣ Q		450	0.00	7.00	10-Petersen-Cushman	9-Mehta-Joshi

If you're E/W and you didn't get to game, don't feel too bad--playing in 2 ♠ making four should get you a reasonable score. This is a low percentage game (i.e., E/W need 3-2 Spades, 3-2 Hearts, and the ♣ A onside....let's see, 62% × 62% × 50% = 19%). E/W lose one Club trick, one Diamond, and one Heart, making four. South will lead the ♣ Q.

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

E/W don't have a weak two bid in Diamonds available to them

N/S lose one Club trick, two Diamonds, and one Heart, making three. East will lead the ♦ K (asking for count) and continue Diamonds at tricks two and three. Declarer should not ruff the third round of Diamonds but should pitch their small Heart. If East continues with a fourth Diamond, declarer can ruff in dummy, cash the other high Spade, take the marked Club finesse (i.e., East didn't open holding ♦ AKQxxx, so they can't have the ♣ K), pull trump, and concede a Club trick.

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

Alert, XYZ bid showing a slammish hand with 6+ Hearts and asking for immediate control bids
Showing 1st or 2nd round control in Spades
Exclusion KCB showing a void in Clubs
1430 response showing 0 or 3 keycards outside of Clubs

North runs out of room to check for the ♥ Q, so they bid the slam and hope for the best. Note North's 3 ♥ bid. When you play XYZ, all three-level rebids by responder are slammish and ask for immediate control bids. South's 1 NT rebid guarantees at least two Hearts, so North knows that they have at least nine Hearts between the two hands.

N/S lose one Heart trick, making six. East may lead the ♦T. Declarer will win in dummy and immediately lead a Heart towards their hand. As long as they guess Hearts correctly, the slam will roll.

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

Showing an unbalanced hand

West's 1 ♦ bid denied a four-card major (i.e., they're a passed hand, so they can't be bidding Diamonds to show 5+ Diamonds, a four-card Heart suit, and an opening hand), so East's 1 ♥ bid shows a hand that's unable (or unwilling) to rebid 1 NT.

E/W take three Heart tricks, four Clubs, and one Diamond, making two. If North isn't careful, they'll give E/W a Spade trick. Oops. It turns out that the best defense on this hand is simply to remain passive. The ♣ 8 is a nice passive lead.