MON 11/20/2017 at Nite

EVENT>Monday Night Bridge      |SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> A N-S
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>November 20, 2017  |CLUB NO.>185264    | 11/20/2017 22:08
---------------------,-- ------------------- -------------,---------------------
DIR> Mike Lipp       |RATING>Upgraded Club Championship   |MOVEMENT>MITCHELL
------------,-------- ,-------------------------,--------- ---------------------
AVE>   84.0 |TOP>   7 |MP LIMITS>None/500/200   |CLUB>Mike's Games At The CBC
------------ --------- ------------------------- -------------------------------
PAIRS IN STRAT A=12/B=8/C=2                      ,---,-----------------,-------------------------,------,---------,
-------------------------------------------------|   |      Overall    |           Section       |      |Final    |
No Name                   Name                   |Flt|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C| Score | Pct  |Awards   |
------------------------------------------------- --- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ------- ------ ---------
 1 Patrick Lammers        Alex Grim                B   .     1     .   |   3     1     .     92.90  55.30  1.59(OB)
 2 Donald Pollack         Bernice Pollack          C   .     4     1   |   5     3     1     87.92  52.33  1.04(OC)
 3 Richard Magnus         Julian Magnus, Jr        B   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     52.88  31.48
 4 Jane Duncan            Cecilia Kloecker         B   .     5     .   |   .     .     .     84.72  50.43  0.50(OB)
 5 Joy Singerman          Carol Scovic             B   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     75.01  44.65
 6 Nalin Mehta            Ajay Bansal              B   .     3     .   |   4     2     .     89.22  53.11  0.89(OB)
 7 Charlie Kobida         Mike Burns               B   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     75.92  45.19
 8 Joyce Tedrick          Linda Pretz              A   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     76.64  45.62
 9 Al Venosa              Janet Venosa             A   3     .     .   |   2     .     .    107.35  63.90  2.32(OA)
10 Liz Lin                Michael Lipp             A   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     72.14  42.94
11 Betty Murdock          Erin Oblinger            C   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     79.49  47.32
12 BJ Kolkman             John Altman Sr           A   1     .     .   |   1     .     .    112.00  66.67  4.13(OA)

                                          Totals                                           1006.19


                                    **PAIRS**
BOARD     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9    10    11    12
  /
   1>   1.21                            3-        1.21  4.64  1.21  6.93  5.79
         -50   ----  ----  ----  ----  130   ----  -50   150   -50   400   300

   2>     3-                          0.07        1.21    3-    3-  6.93  5.79
        -130   ----  ----  ----  ---- -300   ---- -200  -130  -130  -100  -110

   3>   2.36                          4.64        2.36  6.36  0.07  2.36  6.36
        -650   ----  ----  ----  ---- -600   ---- -650   100  -660  -650   100

   4>         6.36                          0.07  1.21  2.93  2.93  4.64  6.36
         ---- 1430   ----  ----  ----  ---- -500  -200   650   650   680  1430

   5>         4.07                          2.36  1.21  4.07  6.36  0.07  6.36
         ----  650   ----  ----  ----  ----  630  -100   650   660  -400   660

   6>         0.07                            3-  5.79  1.21  2.36  6.93  4.64
         ---- -150   ----  ----  ----  ----  -50   100  -110  -100   240    90

   7>   1.21  1.21  1.21                                4.64  6.93  4.64  4.64
        -620  -620  -620   ----  ----  ----  ----  ---- -170  -140  -170  -170

   8>   1.79  1.79  4.64                                4.64  0.07  6.93  4.64
        -100  -100   -50   ----  ----  ----  ----  ----  -50  -150   100   -50

   9>   6.93  4.64  1.21                                4.64  2.36  0.07  4.64
         800   420   140   ----  ----  ----  ----  ----  420   170  -650   420

  10>   5.21        1.21    3-                          6.93  0.07  5.21  2.36
         150   ---- -170   100   ----  ----  ----  ----  620  -620   150  -100

  11>   6.93        1.21  1.21                          4.07  1.21  5.79  4.07
          50   ---- -430  -430   ----  ----  ----  ---- -400  -430  -120  -400

  12>     3-        0.64  0.64                          5.79  4.64  2.36  6.93
         100   ---- -110  -110   ----  ----  ----  ----  300   110    50   730

  13>     2     5     0     2     7                             2     5     5
        -650  -620  -680  -650  -140   ----  ----  ----  ---- -650  -620  -620

  14>     6-    5     6-    2-     -                            4      -    2-
         100  -100   100  -420  -450   ----  ----  ----  ---- -200  -450  -420

  15>     1     5     1     7     4                             6     3     1
        -400  -110  -400   110  -150   ----  ----  ----  ---- -100  -180  -400

  16>   6.93  5.79        1.21  1.21    3-                          1.21  4.64
         300   -50   ---- -170  -170  -150   ----  ----  ----  ---- -170  -100

  17>   6.93  5.79        2.36  1.21  4.07                          0.07  4.07
         110   100   ----  -50  -100    50   ----  ----  ----  ---- -300    50

  18>   6.93  4.07        4.07  0.07  4.07                          4.07  1.21
         300  -140   ---- -140  -420  -140   ----  ----  ----  ---- -140  -180

  19>     3-    3-    0     3-    3-    3-    3-                            7
         140   140  -670   140   140   140   140   ----  ----  ----  ----  170

  20>     2-    5-    0     2-    2-    5-    2-                            7
        -600   100 -1370  -600  -600   100  -600   ----  ----  ----  ----  500

  21>     3     3     3     3     3     7     3                             3
        -150  -150  -150  -150  -150   110  -150   ----  ----  ----  ---- -150

  22>   6.93  0.07  1.79        1.79    3-  4.64  5.79
         -50  -630  -600   ---- -600  -150  -130  -110   ----  ----  ----  ----

  23>   2.36  2.36  4.64        0.07  2.36  5.79  6.93
        -200  -200  -110   ---- -300  -200  -100   100   ----  ----  ----  ----

  24>   0.07  5.21    3-        6.93  1.79  5.21  1.79
        -550  -130  -210   ---- -100  -400  -130  -400   ----  ----  ----  ----

  25>           5-    5-    2     3     5-     -    5-     -
         ----  400   400   110   200   400   -50   400   -50   ----  ----  ----

  26>           1-    1-    5-    5-    5-    1-    5-    1-
         ---- -660  -660  -630  -630  -630  -660  -630  -660   ----  ----  ----

  27>           1-    4-    6     1-    0     4-    3     7
         ----  -50   150   400   -50  -100   150   130   430   ----  ----  ----

  28>               2.36  4.64        5.79  6.93  0.64    3-  0.64
         ----  ---- -100   140   ----  620  1070  -300    90  -300   ----  ----

  29>               0.07  5.21        1.79  5.21  5.21  5.21  1.79
         ----  ---- -100   660   ----  630   660   660   660   630   ----  ----

  30>               1.79  1.79        4.64  1.79  1.79  6.93  5.79
         ----  ---- -110  -110   ----   50  -110  -110   150   100   ----  ----

  31>                       7     3-    0     5     6     1     3-    2
         ----  ----  ----  170    50  -590   110   140  -140    50  -100   ----

  32>                       1-    7     6     0     5     1-    4     3
         ----  ----  ----  -50   550   400  -110   180   -50   150   120   ----

  33>                       7     4     2      -    5     6      -    3
         ----  ----  ----  -90  -150  -180  -200  -140  -120  -200  -170   ----

  34>                           4.64  5.79  2.93  0.07  6.93  1.21  2.93
         ----  ----  ----  ---- -430  -400  -460  -800   100  -500  -460   ----

  35>                             3-  5.21  2.36  0.64  6.93  5.21  0.64
         ----  ----  ----  ---- -600  -180  -630  -660   100  -180  -660   ----

  36>                           1.21    3-  4.64  1.21  6.93  5.79  1.21
         ----  ----  ----  ---- -110   100   150  -110   600   200  -110   ----



EVENT>Monday Night Bridge      |SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> A E-W
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>November 20, 2017  |CLUB NO.>185264    | 11/20/2017 22:08
---------------------,-- ------------------- -------------,---------------------
DIR> Mike Lipp       |RATING>Upgraded Club Championship   |MOVEMENT>MITCHELL
------------,-------- ,-------------------------,--------- ---------------------
AVE>   84.0 |TOP>   7 |MP LIMITS>None/500/200   |CLUB>Mike's Games At The CBC
------------ --------- ------------------------- -------------------------------
PAIRS IN STRAT A=12/B=5/C=4                      ,---,-----------------,-------------------------,------,---------,
-------------------------------------------------|   |      Overall    |           Section       |      |Final    |
No Name                   Name                   |Flt|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C| Score | Pct  |Awards   |
------------------------------------------------- --- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ------- ------ ---------
 1 Stephen Moese          Lanny Cai                A   6     .     .   |   4     .     .     93.79  55.83  0.98(OA)
 2 Joseph Kammer          Gail Zimmer              B   .     2     .   |   5     1     .     89.94  53.54  1.19(OB)
 3 Joanne Earls           Pam Campbell             A   2     .     .   |   1     .     .    107.89  64.22  3.10(OA)
 4 Dean Congbalay         Robert Brown             A   4     .     .   |   2     .     .    102.95  61.28  1.74(OA)
 5 Robert Kessler         Rod Kaplan               C   .     .     .   |   .     .     2     74.86  44.56  0.39(SC)
 6 Herb Behr              Ralph Terbrueggen        A   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     69.78  41.54
 7 Larry Newman           Dennis Schultz           A   5     .     .   |   3     .     .     99.72  59.36  1.31(OA)
 8 Joan Diers             Evelyn McCarthy          C   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     52.85  31.46
 9 Greg Chrzanowski       Joseph Muenks            A   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     78.37  46.65
10 Peggy Jervis           Pat Lindeman             C   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     73.71  43.88
11 Annette Kereiakes      Tom Kereiakes            C   .     .     2   |   .     2     1     80.20  47.74  0.78(OC)


                                          Totals                                            924.06


                                    **PAIRS**
BOARD     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9    10    11    12
  /
   1>   5.79        5.79        2.36        5.79        0.07    3-  1.21
          50   ----   50   ---- -150   ----   50   ---- -400  -130  -300   ----

   2>     3-        5.79          3-          3-        0.07  6.93  1.21
         130   ----  200   ----  130   ----  130   ----  100   300   110   ----

   3>   4.64        4.64        0.64        6.93        4.64  2.36  0.64
         650   ----  650   ---- -100   ----  660   ----  650   600  -100   ----

   4>   5.79  0.64        4.07        4.07        2.36        0.64  6.93
         200 -1430   ---- -650   ---- -650   ---- -680   -----1430   500   ----

   5>   5.79  2.93        2.93        0.64        6.93        0.64  4.64
         100  -650   ---- -650   ---- -660   ----  400   ---- -660  -630   ----

   6>   1.21  6.93        5.79        4.64        0.07        2.36    3-
        -100   150   ----  110   ----  100   ---- -240   ----  -90    50   ----

   7>   5.79  2.36  5.79        0.07        2.36        2.36        5.79
         620   170   620   ----  140   ----  170   ----  170   ----  620   ----

   8>   5.21  2.36  2.36        6.93        0.07        2.36        5.21
         100    50    50   ----  150   ---- -100   ----   50   ----  100   ----

   9>   2.36  2.36  5.79        4.64        6.93        2.36        0.07
        -420  -420  -140   ---- -170   ----  650   ---- -420   ---- -800   ----

  10>   0.07  5.79  6.93    3-        1.79        4.64        1.79
        -620   170   620  -100   ---- -150   ----  100   ---- -150   ----  ----

  11>   2.93  5.79  5.79  5.79        1.21        2.93        0.07
         400   430   430   430   ----  120   ----  400   ----  -50   ----  ----

  12>   1.21  6.36  2.36  6.36        4.64        0.07          3-
        -300   110  -110   110   ----  -50   ---- -730   ---- -100   ----  ----

  13>     7     5     5     2     0           2           5           2
         680   650   650   620   140   ----  620   ----  650   ----  620   ----

  14>      -    3     4-    6-    6-          4-           -          2
        -100   200   420   450   450   ----  420   ---- -100   ----  100   ----

  15>     6     1     0     4     3           6           6           2
         400   100  -110   180   150   ----  400   ----  400   ----  110   ----

  16>         5.79  5.79  5.79  2.36    3-        0.07        1.21
         ----  170   170   170   100   150   ---- -300   ----   50   ----  ----

  17>         4.64  6.93  5.79  2.93  2.93        0.07        1.21
         ----   50   300   100   -50   -50   ---- -110   ---- -100   ----  ----

  18>         2.93  2.93  6.93  5.79  2.93        0.07        2.93
         ----  140   140   420   180   140   ---- -300   ----  140   ----  ----

  19>     3-          3-    0     3-    3-    3-          3-          7
        -140   ---- -140  -170  -140  -140  -140   ---- -140   ----  670   ----

  20>     4-          4-    0     1-    4-    4-          1-          7
         600   ----  600  -500  -100   600   600   ---- -100   ---- 1370   ----

  21>     4           4     4     0     4     4           4           4
         150   ----  150   150  -110   150   150   ----  150   ----  150   ----

  22>         5.21          3-  0.07  2.36  6.93  1.21        5.21
         ----  600   ----  150    50   130   630   110   ----  600   ----  ----

  23>         6.93        4.64  4.64  1.21  4.64  0.07        2.36
         ----  300   ----  200   200   100   200  -100   ----  110   ----  ----

  24>         0.07        5.21  6.93  1.79  1.79  5.21          3-
         ----  100   ----  400   550   130   130   400   ----  210   ----  ----

  25>     4           1-          6-    1-    1-    1-    6-          5
        -200   ---- -400   ----   50  -400  -400  -400    50   ---- -110   ----

  26>     1-          1-          5-    5-    1-    5-    5-          1-
         630   ----  630   ----  660   660   630   660   660   ----  630   ----

  27>     5-          7           2-    5-    4     2-    0           1
          50   ----  100   ---- -150    50  -130  -150  -430   ---- -400   ----

  28>         1.21        0.07        6.36  4.64    3-  2.36  6.36
         ---- -620   -----1070   ----  300   100   -90  -140   300   ----  ----

  29>         5.21        1.79        1.79  6.93  1.79  1.79  5.21
         ---- -630   ---- -660   ---- -660   100  -660  -660  -630   ----  ----

  30>         2.36        5.21        5.21  5.21  0.07  5.21  1.21
         ----  -50   ----  110   ----  110   110  -150   110  -100   ----  ----

  31>     7           2           1           6     0     3-    3-    5
         590   ---- -110   ---- -140   ----  140  -170   -50   -50   100   ----

  32>     1           7           2           5-    5-    3     0     4
        -400   ----  110   ---- -180   ----   50    50  -150  -550  -120   ----

  33>     5           6-          2           1     0     6-    3     4
         180   ----  200   ----  140   ----  120    90   200   150   170   ----

  34>         4.07        6.93        0.07        5.79  2.36  4.07  1.21
         ----  460   ----  800   ---- -100   ----  500   430   460   400   ----

  35>         4.64        6.36        0.07        1.79    3-  6.36  1.79
         ----  630   ----  660   ---- -100   ----  180   600   660   180   ----

  36>         2.36        5.79        0.07        1.21  5.79  5.79    3-
         ---- -150   ----  110   ---- -600   ---- -200   110   110  -100   ----
Monday Night Bridge, Monday Eve, November 20, 2017

Board 1
North Deals
None Vul

♠	10 9
♥	A K 2
♦	K J 3
♣	K J 10 9 3

♠	K Q 8 7 6
♥	Q 7 3
♦	Q
♣	A 7 5 4

N
W		E
S

♠	A J 5 3 2
♥	10 9 8 6 5
♦	9 2
♣	Q

♠	4
♥	J 4
♦	A 10 8 7 6 5 4
♣	8 6 2

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

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

15 to 17
Alert, artificial DONT bid showing both majors
Alert, artificial Lebensohl bid asking partner to bid 3 ♣
I like Spades

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♦	N	5	♣ Q	400		6.93	0.07	11-Murdock-Oblinger	9-Chrzanowski-Muenks
4 ♥×	E	−2	♠ 4	300		5.79	1.21	12-Kolkman-Altman Sr	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 ♦	N	5	♥ 6	150		4.64	2.36	9-Venosa-Venosa	5-Kessler-Kaplan
3 ♦	S	4	♠ 8	130		3.50	3.50	6-Mehta-Bansal	10-Jervis-Lindeman
5 ♦	S	−1	♠ K		50	1.21	5.79	1-Lammers-Grim	1-Moese-Cai
5 ♦	S	−1	♠ K		50	1.21	5.79	8-Tedrick-Pretz	3-Earls-Campbell
5 ♦	S	−1	♠ K		50	1.21	5.79	10-Lin-Lipp	7-Newman-Schultz

E/W lose two Heart tricks, one Diamond, and a Heart ruff, making three. North will lead the ♥ K (asking for count) and continue Hearts at tricks two and three. When South is in with the Heart ruff, they'll cash the ♦ A and the hand will be over. Some E/W pairs will get frisky and end up in 4 ♠.

Moral: Don't get frisky.

Board 2
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	Q J 2
♥	Q J 10 9
♦	Q
♣	A K J 9 4

♠	K 9 8 5
♥	K 8 5
♦	A 8 7 5
♣	6 5

N
W		E
S

♠	7 6
♥	A 7 3 2
♦	K J 10 6 4 3
♣	10

♠	A 10 4 3
♥	6 4
♦	9 2
♣	Q 8 7 3 2

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

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

Don't preempt in first seat with a side 4-card major
Do preempt with a side 4-card major once partner has passed

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♠	S	−1	♦ A		100	6.93	0.07	11-Murdock-Oblinger	9-Chrzanowski-Muenks
3 ♦	E	3	♣ 3		110	5.79	1.21	12-Kolkman-Altman Sr	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 ♦	E	4	♣ 3		130	3.50	3.50	1-Lammers-Grim	1-Moese-Cai
3 ♦	E	4	♥ 6		130	3.50	3.50	9-Venosa-Venosa	5-Kessler-Kaplan
3 ♦	E	4	♦ Q		130	3.50	3.50	10-Lin-Lipp	7-Newman-Schultz
3 ♠	S	−2	♦ A		200	1.21	5.79	8-Tedrick-Pretz	3-Earls-Campbell
3 ♠	S	−3	♦ A		300	0.07	6.93	6-Mehta-Bansal	10-Jervis-Lindeman

N/S flinch first in this minor-suit game of chicken. That makes sense, since they're sorta vulnerable.

E/W lose one Club trick, one Heart, and one Spade, making four. South will lead the ♣ 3 (fourth best from an honor).

Board 3
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	K 3
♥	9 4 2
♦	K Q 8 4 2
♣	Q J 10

♠	Q J 9 8
♥	A 8 5
♦	A J 5
♣	K 5 2

N
W		E
S

♠	A 7 6 4
♥	K 10
♦	9 7 3
♣	A 9 7 6

♠	10 5 2
♥	Q J 7 6 3
♦	10 6
♣	8 4 3

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

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

15 to 17

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	W	−1	♦ K	100		6.36	0.64	9-Venosa-Venosa	5-Kessler-Kaplan
4 ♠	W	−1	♣ Q	100		6.36	0.64	12-Kolkman-Altman Sr	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 NT	W	3	♣ Q		600	4.64	2.36	6-Mehta-Bansal	10-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♠	W	5	♦ K		650	2.36	4.64	1-Lammers-Grim	1-Moese-Cai
4 ♠	W	5	♣ Q		650	2.36	4.64	8-Tedrick-Pretz	3-Earls-Campbell
4 ♠	W	5	♦ K		650	2.36	4.64	11-Murdock-Oblinger	9-Chrzanowski-Muenks
3 NT	W	5	♥ 9		660	0.07	6.93	10-Lin-Lipp	7-Newman-Schultz

E/W lose one Diamond trick and one Club, making five. North will lead the ♣ Q. The proper way to play the trump suit is to lead the ♠ Q through North, and if North doesn't cover to try and drop the ♠ K doubleton on the second round of the suit. Isn't it fun when the proper play actually works? Declarer's slow Diamond loser will go away on the long Club in dummy.

Board 4
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	4
♥	K Q J 6
♦	A K Q 6
♣	K J 6 5

♠	K 9 7
♥	A 4
♦	9 7 4 3
♣	9 8 7 3

N
W		E
S

♠	10 2
♥	7 3
♦	J 10 8 5
♣	A Q 10 4 2

♠	A Q J 8 6 5 3
♥	10 9 8 5 2
♦	2
♣	—

NS 6♥; NS 5♠; EW 1♣; Par +1430

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

Showing 18-19 HCP
Alert, artificial Checkback bid asking for more information about partner's majors
Showing four Hearts but not denying three Spades

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
6 ♥	N	6	♣ A	1430		6.36	0.64	2-Pollack-Pollack	2-Kammer-Zimmer
6 ♥	N	6	♣ A	1430		6.36	0.64	12-Kolkman-Altman Sr	10-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♥	S	6	♣ 7	680		4.64	2.36	11-Murdock-Oblinger	8-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♠	S	5	♥ A	650		2.93	4.07	9-Venosa-Venosa	4-Congbalay-Brown
4 ♥	S	5	♣ 7	650		2.93	4.07	10-Lin-Lipp	6-Behr-Terbrueggen
6 ♥	S	−2	♣ 9		200	1.21	5.79	8-Tedrick-Pretz	1-Moese-Cai
7 ♠×	S	−2	♥ A		500	0.07	6.93	7-Kobida-Burns	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes

South has interest in slam, but realizes correctly that it would require North to have perfect cards (which they have). N/S lose one Heart trick, making six. East may lead the ♦ J. Declarer should win in hand, immediately play a Spade to the ♠ A, and ruff a second Spade low. A Club is ruffed to get back to dummy and a small Spade is led and ruffed high. Another high trump is led, and when trumps behave the hand is over.

Board 5
North Deals
N-S Vul

♠	A K 9
♥	A K 9 8 6 3
♦	Q 3
♣	Q J

♠	6 4 3
♥	Q 5 4
♦	K 9 7 5
♣	8 3 2

N
W		E
S

♠	Q J 10 8
♥	7 2
♦	6
♣	A 10 9 7 5 4

♠	7 5 2
♥	J 10
♦	A J 10 8 4 2
♣	K 6

NS 4N; NS 4♥; NS 5♦; NS 2♠; Par +630

West	North	East	South
	1 ♥	Pass	1 NT1
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
3 NT	S	5	♦ K	660		6.36	0.64	10-Lin-Lipp	6-Behr-Terbrueggen
3 NT	S	5	♣ 2	660		6.36	0.64	12-Kolkman-Altman Sr	10-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♥	N	5	♦ 6	650		4.07	2.93	2-Pollack-Pollack	2-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♥	N	5	♦ 6	650		4.07	2.93	9-Venosa-Venosa	4-Congbalay-Brown
3 NT	S	4	♦ 5	630		2.36	4.64	7-Kobida-Burns	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♥	N	−1	♦ 6		100	1.21	5.79	8-Tedrick-Pretz	1-Moese-Cai
6 ♥	N	−4	♣ A		400	0.07	6.93	11-Murdock-Oblinger	8-Diers-McCarthy

North's hand isn't quite strong enough to make a game-forcing jump shift (into what?), and a reverse into 2 ♠ doesn't really gain much. North needs South to have 8+ points to survive being in game, so a 3 ♥ rebid makes the most sense. If South doesn't want to be in 4 ♥, then 3 NT should have play (as it does).

N/S lose one Club trick, one Diamond, and one Spade, making four....if East leads the ♠ Q. If East leads their stiff ♦ 6 declarer will pause to think. With only one guaranteed entry to dummy, declarer should rise with the ♦ A and lead the ♥ J. When the ♥ Q is onside, declarer can pull trump in three rounds and lead the ♦ Q. It actually doesn't matter whether or not West ducks this trick, since N/S will take 11 tricks either way.

Board 6
East Deals
E-W Vul

♠	9 5 4 2
♥	J 5 4
♦	9 8
♣	K 7 6 5

♠	A J
♥	K Q 10 2
♦	10 5 3
♣	9 4 3 2

N
W		E
S

♠	K Q 8 3
♥	8 6
♦	J 4 2
♣	A J 10 8

♠	10 7 6
♥	A 9 7 3
♦	A K Q 7 6
♣	Q

EW 2♣; EW 1♠; Par −90

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

11 to 14

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
1 ♦×	S	2	♠ A	240		6.93	0.07	11-Murdock-Oblinger	8-Diers-McCarthy
1 NT	E	−1	♦ A	100		5.79	1.21	8-Tedrick-Pretz	1-Moese-Cai
1 ♦	S	2	♥ 2	90		4.64	2.36	12-Kolkman-Altman Sr	10-Jervis-Lindeman
2 ♦	S	−1	♥ K		50	3.50	3.50	7-Kobida-Burns	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
2 ♥	N	−2	♠ A		100	2.36	4.64	10-Lin-Lipp	6-Behr-Terbrueggen
2 ♥	W	2	♦ 9		110	1.21	5.79	9-Venosa-Venosa	4-Congbalay-Brown
2 ♥	S	−3	♠ A		150	0.07	6.93	2-Pollack-Pollack	2-Kammer-Zimmer

South will run off the first five Diamond tricks and then look around for more tricks. On the run of Diamonds, North will be hesitant to throw a Heart, so they may make the mistake of pitching a Spade (oops). To beat 1 NT, South will have to play their ♣ Q at trick six. If they try and cash out by playing their ♥ A then E/W will make one.

Board 7
South Deals
Both Vul

♠	J 10 7
♥	A Q 10
♦	A 5 4
♣	10 6 5 4

♠	A Q 9 2
♥	K 9 6
♦	K 10 7
♣	9 8 7

N
W		E
S

♠	K 8 5 4
♥	8 5 4
♦	Q J 6 2
♣	A K

♠	6 3
♥	J 7 3 2
♦	9 8 3
♣	Q J 3 2

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

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

Open 1 ♣ when you're 3-3 in the minors....even if it hurts a little
Alert, artificial Wold 2 NT bid asking for more information about partner's raise
Alert, artificial Wold 2 NT response showing a minimum hand with four Spades

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♠	W	3	♦ A		140	6.93	0.07	10-Lin-Lipp	5-Kessler-Kaplan
2 ♠	W	4	♠ J		170	4.64	2.36	9-Venosa-Venosa	2-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♠	W	4	♣ 4		170	4.64	2.36	11-Murdock-Oblinger	7-Newman-Schultz
3 ♠	W	4	♣ 4		170	4.64	2.36	12-Kolkman-Altman Sr	9-Chrzanowski-Muenks
4 ♠	E	4	♥ 2		620	1.21	5.79	1-Lammers-Grim	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♠	E	4	♦ 9		620	1.21	5.79	2-Pollack-Pollack	1-Moese-Cai
4 ♠	W	4	♠ 7		620	1.21	5.79	3-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	3-Earls-Campbell

If North doubles West's 3 ♥ artificial bid, South will need to find the lead of the ♥ J. That's not easy to find, since the standard lead from ♥ J732 is the ♥ 2 (fourth from an honor). If South leads a small Heart, declarer merely has to cover whatever is led and N/S will be held to two Heart tricks and one Diamond (i.e., North can't afford to continue Hearts without giving E/W a Heart trick). On any lead that isn't so much the ♥ J, E/W will lose two Heart tricks and one Diamond, making four.

Board 8
West Deals
None Vul

♠	K Q J 8 4 3
♥	K Q
♦	Q
♣	Q 9 6 4

♠	A 10
♥	J 10 4
♦	A 2
♣	K J 10 5 3 2

N
W		E
S

♠	9 6 2
♥	A 7 5 3 2
♦	9 8 6 3
♣	A

♠	7 5
♥	9 8 6
♦	K J 10 7 5 4
♣	8 7

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

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

Negative
Showing a fifth Heart but fewer than 10 HCP

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♥	W	−2	♠ K	100		6.93	0.07	11-Murdock-Oblinger	7-Newman-Schultz
2 ♠	N	−1	♣ A		50	4.64	2.36	3-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	3-Earls-Campbell
2 ♠	N	−1	♣ A		50	4.64	2.36	9-Venosa-Venosa	2-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♠	N	−1	♣ A		50	4.64	2.36	12-Kolkman-Altman Sr	9-Chrzanowski-Muenks
3 ♠	N	−2	♣ A		100	1.79	5.21	1-Lammers-Grim	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 ♠	N	−2	♣ A		100	1.79	5.21	2-Pollack-Pollack	1-Moese-Cai
4 ♦	S	−3	♥ J		150	0.07	6.93	10-Lin-Lipp	5-Kessler-Kaplan

If East had bid 2 ♥ over North's 1 ♠ overcall, they would have been showing 5+ Hearts and 10+ HCP (Five & Dime). By making a negative double and then bidding 2 ♥, they're showing somewhere around eight HCP and five or more Hearts--exactly what they hold. Nice bid!

E/W lose one Spade trick, two Diamonds, and one Heart, making three. It's possible that declarer will misguess the Hearts and lead the ♥ J into North's ♥ KQ doubleton. That's fine as long as they play low from both hands on the second round of trump. North will lead the ♠ K.

Board 9
North Deals
E-W Vul

♠	A 7 6
♥	A J 9 7 5 3
♦	A 10 8 2
♣	—

♠	K J 9 5 2
♥	Q
♦	Q 7
♣	A K 10 6 4

N
W		E
S

♠	8 4 3
♥	10 4 2
♦	K J 9
♣	J 9 8 5

♠	Q 10
♥	K 8 6
♦	6 5 4 3
♣	Q 7 3 2

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

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

Constructive Heart raise

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠×	W	−3	♥ A	800		6.93	0.07	1-Lammers-Grim	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♥	N	4	♠ 3	420		4.64	2.36	2-Pollack-Pollack	1-Moese-Cai
4 ♥	N	4	♠ 4	420		4.64	2.36	9-Venosa-Venosa	2-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♥	N	4	♠ 8	420		4.64	2.36	12-Kolkman-Altman Sr	9-Chrzanowski-Muenks
3 ♥	N	4	♠ 3	170		2.36	4.64	10-Lin-Lipp	5-Kessler-Kaplan
3 ♥	N	3	♠ 4	140		1.21	5.79	3-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	3-Earls-Campbell
4 ♠	W	5	♠ 6		650	0.07	6.93	11-Murdock-Oblinger	7-Newman-Schultz

N/S play that an immediate raise of partner's major-suit opening to the two level shows exactly three-card support and 7-9 HCP (i.e., a constructive three-card raise). With 5-6 HCP, responder will bid 1 NT forcing and then support partner's suit at the two level with their rebid. This is one of the nice by-products of play Forcing 1 NT.

N/S lose one Spade trick and two Diamonds, making four. East will lead the ♠ 4 (MUD).

Board 10
East Deals
Both Vul

♠	A 9
♥	J 4 2
♦	J 5
♣	A 9 6 5 4 2

♠	Q J 10 6
♥	A K 10 7 3
♦	K Q 7
♣	3

N
W		E
S

♠	5 2
♥	Q 9 8 6 5
♦	9 6 4 3
♣	Q 8

♠	K 8 7 4 3
♥	—
♦	A 10 8 2
♣	K J 10 7

NS 6♣; NS 3♠; EW 3♥; NS 2N; NS 2♦; Par +800: EW 6♥×−3

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

Rule of 20 opener
Showing 5+ Clubs and an opening hand
Weak jump raise
Why not?

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	S	4	♥ A	620		6.93	0.07	9-Venosa-Venosa	1-Moese-Cai
4 ♣	N	5	♥ 5	150		5.21	1.79	1-Lammers-Grim	10-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♣	S	5	♥ Q	150		5.21	1.79	11-Murdock-Oblinger	6-Behr-Terbrueggen
4 ♥	W	−1	♠ A	100		3.50	3.50	4-Duncan-Kloecker	4-Congbalay-Brown
5 ♣	N	−1	♥ Q		100	2.36	4.64	12-Kolkman-Altman Sr	8-Diers-McCarthy
2 ♥	W	4	♠ A		170	1.21	5.79	3-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	2-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♥	W	4	♥ 2		620	0.07	6.93	10-Lin-Lipp	3-Earls-Campbell

North's 3 ♣ bid turns South's hand into a monster. Why is that? Well, let's look at what South knows: (1) North has fewer than three Spades, so Spades can be set up quite easily as long as North holds either the ♠ A or ♠ Q, (2) North has an opening hand to make a forcing 3 ♣ bid and their points won't be in Hearts, (3) If North holds either ♠ Ax ♥ xxx ♦ xx ♣ Axxxxx -or- ♠ Qx ♥ xxx ♦ Kx ♣ Axxxxx, 6 ♣ will roll.

N/S lose one Diamond trick, making six. East will lead the ♥ 6, and declarer will ruff in dummy. If declarer decides that ruffing three Hearts in dummy is the best line, then they'll play the ♦ A and another Diamond. The defense will most likely shift to a trump, but declarer will win in dummy, ruff a Diamond to the closed hand, ruff a Heart, play a Spade to the ♠ A, and ruff their last Heart. A second Diamond ruff allows declarer to get to their hand to pull the last trump, and the hand is over. If declarer gets greedy and decides that they can take all 13 tricks if Spades are 3-3, then the initial Heart ruff will be followed by a Spade to the ♠ A, a Spade back to the ♠ K, and a third Spade ruffed with the ♣ 9. When East is able to overruff, declarer will again be held to 12 tricks.

Board 11
South Deals
None Vul

♠	10 9 5
♥	Q 7 3
♦	A 8 4
♣	9 8 3 2

♠	K J 6
♥	10 6
♦	Q J 10 3
♣	Q J 7 4

N
W		E
S

♠	A Q 3 2
♥	A J 9 5
♦	9 6 5
♣	A 6

♠	8 7 4
♥	K 8 4 2
♦	K 7 2
♣	K 10 5

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

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

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	E	−1	♥ 2	50		6.93	0.07	1-Lammers-Grim	10-Jervis-Lindeman
2 NT	E	2	♥ 2		120	5.79	1.21	11-Murdock-Oblinger	6-Behr-Terbrueggen
3 NT	E	3	♥ 2		400	4.07	2.93	9-Venosa-Venosa	1-Moese-Cai
3 NT	E	3	♥ 2		400	4.07	2.93	12-Kolkman-Altman Sr	8-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	E	4	♥ 2		430	1.21	5.79	3-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	2-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	E	4	♥ 2		430	1.21	5.79	4-Duncan-Kloecker	4-Congbalay-Brown
3 NT	E	4	♦ 2		430	1.21	5.79	10-Lin-Lipp	3-Earls-Campbell

E/W lose one Heart trick, two Diamonds, and one Club, making three. There's no way for N/S to gain any additional tricks and very well might not get those four. If South leads a small Heart, declarer will capture the ♥ Q with the ♥ A and lead the ♦ 9. If North doesn't lead back a Club when in with the ♦ A, E/W will make four. Heh.

Board 12
West Deals
N-S Vul

♠	J 10 7
♥	Q J 8 5
♦	K Q 10
♣	8 5 3

♠	2
♥	A K 10 6 4
♦	A J 7 6 2
♣	7 2

N
W		E
S

♠	A 8 6 3
♥	9 2
♦	8 3
♣	K 10 9 6 4

♠	K Q 9 5 4
♥	7 3
♦	9 5 4
♣	A Q J

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

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

Natural

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♠×	N	3	♥ A	730		6.93	0.07	12-Kolkman-Altman Sr	8-Diers-McCarthy
4 ♥×	W	−2	♠ J	300		5.79	1.21	9-Venosa-Venosa	1-Moese-Cai
2 ♠	S	2	♥ K	110		4.64	2.36	10-Lin-Lipp	3-Earls-Campbell
3 ♥	W	−2	♣ 5	100		3.50	3.50	1-Lammers-Grim	10-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♥	W	−1	♣ 5	50		2.36	4.64	11-Murdock-Oblinger	6-Behr-Terbrueggen
2 ♥	W	2	♠ J		110	0.64	6.36	3-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	2-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♥	W	2	♦ K		110	0.64	6.36	4-Duncan-Kloecker	4-Congbalay-Brown

South's 2 ♠ bid can't be a cuebid, since they can simply double to get partner to bid. East's 1 ♠ response can be as weak as ♠ 5432, so South has to be able to bid 2 ♠ naturally. The same thing would be true if they bid 2 ♠ immediately over 1 ♠, but there's no reason for South to do that on this auction since 1 ♠ is 100% forcing and South can wait until the auction looks like it's ending before they come in.

N/S lose one Spade trick, two Hearts, and one Diamond, making three. Again, there's no way for E/W to get any additional tricks, and they'll have to be careful to take the ones they've got. East will lead the ♥ 9.

Board 13
North Deals
Both Vul

♠	6 3
♥	J 10 9 8 7 5
♦	7 5 4 2
♣	6

♠	A K 9 5 4
♥	A 4 2
♦	8 3
♣	J 8 2

N
W		E
S

♠	J 8 7
♥	K
♦	K Q 10 6
♣	A K 10 5 4

♠	Q 10 2
♥	Q 6 3
♦	A J 9
♣	Q 9 7 3

EW 6♠; EW 5N; EW 5♣; EW 3♦; EW 1♥; Par −1430

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

15 to 17
Transfer
Showing a game-going hand with exactly five Spades and no singleton or void

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♠	W	3	♥ J		140	7.00	0.00	5-Singerman-Scovic	5-Kessler-Kaplan
4 ♠	W	4	♣ 6		620	5.00	2.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♠	W	4	♣ 6		620	5.00	2.00	11-Murdock-Oblinger	4-Congbalay-Brown
4 ♠	W	4	♥ J		620	5.00	2.00	12-Kolkman-Altman Sr	7-Newman-Schultz
4 ♠	E	5	♣ 6		650	2.00	5.00	1-Lammers-Grim	9-Chrzanowski-Muenks
5 ♠	W	5	♥ J		650	2.00	5.00	4-Duncan-Kloecker	3-Earls-Campbell
4 ♠	W	5	♣ 6		650	2.00	5.00	10-Lin-Lipp	2-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♠	E	6	♦ A		680	0.00	7.00	3-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	1-Moese-Cai

E/W lose one Diamond trick, making six.....if declarer has the hand record ahead of time. South's safest lead is the ♥ 3, since everything else looks amazingly wrong. Declarer will win in their hand with the ♥ K and lead the ♦ K. South will win with the ♦ A and return a second Heart, but declarer will ruff this in their hand and lead the ♠ J. South has to cover and declarer will win in dummy with the ♠ K. A Club to the ♣ K is next followed by a finesse against South's ♠T. After pulling trump, declarer will play a Diamond to the ♦ Q, ruff a Diamond (dropping South's ♦ J), play a Club to the ♣ A, and pitch dummy's last Club on the ♦T. All that remains in dummy is ♠ 5 and the ♥ A. Nicely played......cheater.

Board 14
East Deals
None Vul

♠	A K Q J 5 2
♥	10 5 3
♦	J
♣	Q 6 3

♠	7 4
♥	A K 8 7 4
♦	7
♣	K J 9 7 2

N
W		E
S

♠	9 8 6
♥	Q 6
♦	A K Q 9 5 4
♣	A 5

♠	10 3
♥	J 9 2
♦	10 8 6 3 2
♣	10 8 4

EW 4♥; EW 5♣; EW 3♦; EW 1N; EW 1♠; Par −420

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♦	E	−2	♠ 10	100		6.50	0.50	1-Lammers-Grim	9-Chrzanowski-Muenks
3 NT	W	−2	♠ A	100		6.50	0.50	3-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	1-Moese-Cai
3 ♠	N	−2	♥ Q		100	5.00	2.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♠	N	−4	♥ Q		200	4.00	3.00	10-Lin-Lipp	2-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♥	W	4	♠ A		420	2.50	4.50	4-Duncan-Kloecker	3-Earls-Campbell
4 ♥	W	4	♠ A		420	2.50	4.50	12-Kolkman-Altman Sr	7-Newman-Schultz
4 ♥	E	5	♠ 9		450	0.50	6.50	5-Singerman-Scovic	5-Kessler-Kaplan
4 ♥	W	5	♠ A		450	0.50	6.50	11-Murdock-Oblinger	4-Congbalay-Brown

West might have chosen to bid 3 ♠ (Western Cue) over 3 ♦, but they don't really mind being in 4 NT if West holds something like ♠ KJT ♥ 4 ♦ AKQJ54 ♣ Q5, and it would be a shame to not give 6 ♣ a try before parking.

E/W lose two Spade tricks and one Heart, making four. North will lead the ♠ K (asking for count) and continue Spades at tricks two and three. South should be on the ball and ruff the third Spade with the ♥ J thereby promoting a trump trick for North.

If North switches to their stiff ♦ J at trick three, declarer should win in dummy, cash the ♣ A, play a small Club to the ♣ K, and ruff a Club with dummy's ♥ 6. After cashing the ♥ Q, dummy's third Spade is led, and South can save the day by again ruffing with the ♥ J. If they don't, E/W will make five as declarer can ruff low, pull trump in two rounds, and claim. Sweet.

Board 15
South Deals
N-S Vul

♠	Q 8 5 4 3 2
♥	9 8 7
♦	A K J 3
♣	—

♠	J 6
♥	A 10 5 2
♦	Q 6
♣	A K 9 8 4

N
W		E
S

♠	A K 10
♥	6
♦	10 9 8 4 2
♣	Q J 6 5

♠	9 7
♥	K Q J 4 3
♦	7 5
♣	10 7 3 2

EW 3N; EW 5♣; NS 2♠; EW 3♦; Par −400

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

A little too good for a weak-jump overcall
Showing 11-12 HCP

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♠	N	2	♥ 6	110		7.00	0.00	4-Duncan-Kloecker	3-Earls-Campbell
2 ♥	S	−1	♣ A		100	6.00	1.00	10-Lin-Lipp	2-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♣	W	3	♦ A		110	5.00	2.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 ♣	W	5	♦ A		150	4.00	3.00	5-Singerman-Scovic	5-Kessler-Kaplan
1 NT	E	4	♠ 7		180	3.00	4.00	11-Murdock-Oblinger	4-Congbalay-Brown
5 ♣	E	5	♦ A		400	1.00	6.00	1-Lammers-Grim	9-Chrzanowski-Muenks
3 NT	E	3	♠ 7		400	1.00	6.00	3-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	1-Moese-Cai
3 NT	E	3	♥ K		400	1.00	6.00	12-Kolkman-Altman Sr	7-Newman-Schultz

East's hand is easily worth 11 HCP holding a five-card suit and two Tens. E/W take three Spade tricks, five Clubs, and one Heart, making three. South will lead the ♥ K.

Board 16
West Deals
E-W Vul

♠	A 10 7
♥	A 4
♦	Q 8 4
♣	A Q 9 8 3

♠	Q 8
♥	K J 10 8 5
♦	A K 10
♣	10 4 2

N
W		E
S

♠	K 5 4
♥	Q 9 2
♦	J 9 7 6 2
♣	K 5

♠	J 9 6 3 2
♥	7 6 3
♦	5 3
♣	J 7 6

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

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

Alert, artificial BROMAD bid showing 7-9 HCP and exactly three Hearts

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	E	−3	♣ J	300		6.93	0.07	1-Lammers-Grim	8-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♠	S	−1	♦ K		50	5.79	1.21	2-Pollack-Pollack	10-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♠	S	−2	♦ A		100	4.64	2.36	12-Kolkman-Altman Sr	5-Kessler-Kaplan
4 ♠	S	−3	♦ A		150	3.50	3.50	6-Mehta-Bansal	6-Behr-Terbrueggen
2 ♥	W	4	♦ 4		170	1.21	5.79	4-Duncan-Kloecker	2-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♥	W	4	♠ 7		170	1.21	5.79	5-Singerman-Scovic	4-Congbalay-Brown
2 ♥	W	4	♦ 4		170	1.21	5.79	11-Murdock-Oblinger	3-Earls-Campbell

E/W lose one Spade trick, one Heart, one Diamond, and one Club, making three. North will lead the ♥ A and continue Hearts at trick two. When they're back in with the ♦ Q, North will cash out.

Board 17
North Deals
None Vul

♠	6
♥	Q 10 5 4
♦	8 5 3
♣	K 9 7 3 2

♠	7 4 3
♥	A J
♦	Q 10 7 4 2
♣	A J 8

N
W		E
S

♠	K 8 2
♥	K 7 6 3 2
♦	K J 9
♣	10 5

♠	A Q J 10 9 5
♥	9 8
♦	A 6
♣	Q 6 4

W 1N; EW 2♦; NS 2♣; NS 1♠; EW 1♥; Par −90

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

Semi-forcing

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♠	S	2	♥ A	110		6.93	0.07	1-Lammers-Grim	8-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♦	W	−2	♠ 6	100		5.79	1.21	2-Pollack-Pollack	10-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♦	W	−1	♠ 6	50		4.07	2.93	6-Mehta-Bansal	6-Behr-Terbrueggen
3 ♦	W	−1	♠ 6	50		4.07	2.93	12-Kolkman-Altman Sr	5-Kessler-Kaplan
2 ♠	S	−1	♥ A		50	2.36	4.64	4-Duncan-Kloecker	2-Kammer-Zimmer
4 ♠×	S	−1	♦ 7		100	1.21	5.79	5-Singerman-Scovic	4-Congbalay-Brown
3 ♠×	S	−2	♥ A		300	0.07	6.93	11-Murdock-Oblinger	3-Earls-Campbell

N/S lose one Spade trick, two Hearts, one Diamond, and two Clubs, down one. West may lead a trump. If you're East, DON'T play the ♠ K at trick one--that CAN'T BE RIGHT!!! If the phrase "Third-hand high, partner" is dancing around in your head, please see a therapist and get it removed. Third hand should play high only if it can gain a trick. In this case, declarer will be able to finesse only once in Spades. After winning trick one with the ♠ 9, how will declarer play the Spade suit? The correct way is ♠ A and a third Spade hoping for a 3-3 split. Unless you go nuts and jettison the ♠ K under the ♠ A at trick two, I do believe you'll eventually win a Spade trick. You rock!

Board 18
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	Q 9 6
♥	9 3
♦	A Q J 7 2
♣	Q J 4

♠	7 5
♥	A K Q J 6 5 2
♦	K 4
♣	K 2

N
W		E
S

♠	J 8 4 2
♥	10 7
♦	10 9 8
♣	A 10 9 5

♠	A K 10 3
♥	8 4
♦	6 5 3
♣	8 7 6 3

EW 3♥; NS 2♠; NS 1♦; NS 1♣; Par −140

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

Showing a hand that would have rebid 3 ♥ if partner had bid

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥×	W	−2	♠ 6	300		6.93	0.07	1-Lammers-Grim	8-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♥	W	3	♥ 9		140	4.07	2.93	2-Pollack-Pollack	10-Jervis-Lindeman
2 ♥	W	3	♣ Q		140	4.07	2.93	4-Duncan-Kloecker	2-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♥	W	3	♣ Q		140	4.07	2.93	6-Mehta-Bansal	6-Behr-Terbrueggen
3 ♥	W	3	♣ 4		140	4.07	2.93	11-Murdock-Oblinger	3-Earls-Campbell
1 NT	W	4	♦ 7		180	1.21	5.79	12-Kolkman-Altman Sr	5-Kessler-Kaplan
4 ♥	W	4	♥ 3		420	0.07	6.93	5-Singerman-Scovic	4-Congbalay-Brown

When your partner passes your opening bid in a competitive auction, remember to dial your rebid down one notch. If you were going to rebid 2 NT to show 18-19 HCP, rebid 1 NT (if possible) to show the same hand. If you were going to make a jump rebid in your own suit, be content to rebid your suit at the two level. Similarly, if you were going to make a jump-shift rebid, a two-level rebid in a new suit is correct. These all presume that a re-opening double doesn't seem right, so remember that that's your correct call whenever you're short in the opponent's suit.

E/W lose two Spade tricks and two Diamonds, making three. If North leads the ♣ Q, E/W will make five when their two losing Spades go away on dummy's Clubs. A trump is better. Not leading at all is better, but that gets a director call.

Board 19
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	7 5 4 3
♥	K J 3
♦	K Q 10
♣	8 7 6

♠	A J 10 8
♥	10 8 6
♦	9 7 6 2
♣	10 4

N
W		E
S

♠	K Q 9 2
♥	7 2
♦	8 3
♣	A K J 5 2

♠	6
♥	A Q 9 5 4
♦	A J 5 4
♣	Q 9 3

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

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

Hoping that partner doesn't bid 3 ♦
A bit insane

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♥	S	4	♣ 10	170		7.00	0.00	12-Kolkman-Altman Sr	4-Congbalay-Brown
3 ♥	S	3	♣ 10	140		3.50	3.50	1-Lammers-Grim	6-Behr-Terbrueggen
2 ♥	S	3	♣ 10	140		3.50	3.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	9-Chrzanowski-Muenks
3 ♥	S	3	♠ 10	140		3.50	3.50	4-Duncan-Kloecker	1-Moese-Cai
3 ♥	S	3	♣ 10	140		3.50	3.50	5-Singerman-Scovic	3-Earls-Campbell
2 ♥	S	3	♣ 10	140		3.50	3.50	6-Mehta-Bansal	5-Kessler-Kaplan
3 ♥	S	3	♣ 10	140		3.50	3.50	7-Kobida-Burns	7-Newman-Schultz
2 ♠×	W	2	♦ K		670	0.00	7.00	3-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes

East is under pressure on this auction. If they don't take action, N/S will comfortably play in 2 ♥. They have my sympathy.

E/W lose two Heart tricks and two Diamonds, making three. South may lead their stiff trump, since everything else looks wrong. It doesn't matter here, since declarer can never get rid of their four red-suit losers.

Board 20
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	Q J 7 6 5
♥	J 9 6
♦	10 7 6
♣	K 5

♠	A 10 2
♥	—
♦	A K Q 9 8
♣	A Q 10 9 6

N
W		E
S

♠	K 9 4
♥	A 7 4 3
♦	J 5 4 2
♣	7 2

♠	8 3
♥	K Q 10 8 5 2
♦	3
♣	J 8 4 3

EW 6♦; EW 4N; EW 5♣; EW 3♠; S 1♥; Par −1370

West	North	East	South
1 ♦	Pass	1 ♥	Pass
3 ♣1	Pass	3 ♦2	Pass
4 ♥3	Pass	4 ♠4	Pass
5 ♥5	Pass	5 ♠6	Pass
6 ♣7	Pass	6 ♦8	Pass
Pass	Pass

Jump shift forcing to game
I like Diamonds
RKC Blackwood (Kickback) for Diamonds
1430 response showing 1 or 4 keycards
Confirming all of the keycards and asking for specific Kings
I have the ♠ K
Do you have the ♣ K as well?
Sorry I don't.....I'm worthless

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
6 NT	E	−5	♥ K	500		7.00	0.00	12-Kolkman-Altman Sr	4-Congbalay-Brown
6 ♣	W	−1	♠ 7	100		5.50	1.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	9-Chrzanowski-Muenks
5 ♦	E	−1	♥ K	100		5.50	1.50	6-Mehta-Bansal	5-Kessler-Kaplan
3 NT	E	3	♥ K		600	2.50	4.50	1-Lammers-Grim	6-Behr-Terbrueggen
3 NT	E	3	♥ K		600	2.50	4.50	4-Duncan-Kloecker	1-Moese-Cai
3 NT	E	3	♥ K		600	2.50	4.50	5-Singerman-Scovic	3-Earls-Campbell
3 NT	E	3	♥ K		600	2.50	4.50	7-Kobida-Burns	7-Newman-Schultz
6 ♦	W	6	♠ Q		1370	0.00	7.00	3-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes

Nice auction! West is more than willing to be in 7 ♦ if East has the ♣ K, but when that doesn't pan out they park in the small slam. A 2 ♣ opening bid would be okay if you and your partner have a way of bidding a minor-suit two suiter after a strong 2 ♣ opener. Yeah, I didn't think so.

E/W lose one Club trick, making six. North may lead a trump (i.e., they know that E/W have at least eight Diamonds between them with the ♦ AKQ). Since trumps don't divide 2-2, the best way to play the Club suit is to play for split honors. If trump had split 2-2, then declarer could afford to finesse once in Clubs (lead towards the ♣ Q) and ruff two in dummy making seven if South held the ♣ K and Clubs were no worse than 4-2.

Board 21
North Deals
N-S Vul

♠	K 10 4 2
♥	5 3 2
♦	5
♣	Q 9 6 4 2

♠	9
♥	Q 8 4
♦	K Q J 9 8 7
♣	A 8 5

N
W		E
S

♠	J 8 6 5 3
♥	A K J 10
♦	6 4 3
♣	7

♠	A Q 7
♥	9 7 6
♦	A 10 2
♣	K J 10 3

EW 5♦; EW 2♥; NS 1♠; NS 1♣; Par −400

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

Cuebid showing a three-card limit raise in Diamonds
Alert, support double showing exactly three Spades
Showing control of Clubs for notrump

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♣	S	3	♠ 9	110		7.00	0.00	6-Mehta-Bansal	5-Kessler-Kaplan
3 ♦	W	5	♣ 2		150	3.00	4.00	1-Lammers-Grim	6-Behr-Terbrueggen
3 ♦	W	5	♠ 2		150	3.00	4.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	9-Chrzanowski-Muenks
3 ♦	W	5	♣ 4		150	3.00	4.00	3-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♦	W	5	♣ 4		150	3.00	4.00	4-Duncan-Kloecker	1-Moese-Cai
3 ♦	W	5	♠ 2		150	3.00	4.00	5-Singerman-Scovic	3-Earls-Campbell
3 ♦	W	5	♠ 4		150	3.00	4.00	7-Kobida-Burns	7-Newman-Schultz
4 ♦	W	5	♣ 4		150	3.00	4.00	12-Kolkman-Altman Sr	4-Congbalay-Brown

When the opponents have bid two suits and you and your partner still want to play in 3 NT, your cuebids are "shows" not "asks." East has no reason to be in 3 NT with ♠ J8653, since they know that their partner has at most one Spade (i.e., North has four or more Spades and South has exactly three on the auction).

E/W lose one Spade trick and one Diamond, making five. North will lead the ♠ 2.

NOTE: Point counters will freak out on this hand, since E/W have ONLY 21 HCP BETWEEN THEM. OMG!!!!

Board 22
East Deals
E-W Vul

♠	6 5 2
♥	10 7 6
♦	9 4
♣	9 7 6 4 2

♠	Q J 10
♥	K 5 3 2
♦	5 3
♣	J 10 8 3

N
W		E
S

♠	9 3
♥	A J 8
♦	A K Q 10 7 6
♣	K Q

♠	A K 8 7 4
♥	Q 9 4
♦	J 8 2
♣	A 5

EW 4N; EW 3♥; EW 4♦; EW 2♣; EW 1♠; Par −630

West	North	East	South
		2 NT1	Pass
3 ♣2	Pass	3 NT3	Pass
Pass	Pass

20 to 21
Puppet Stayman
Alert, artificial Puppet Stayman response denying a 4- or 5-card major

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♠	S	−1	♦ 5		50	6.93	0.07	1-Lammers-Grim	5-Kessler-Kaplan
2 ♦	E	3	♠ A		110	5.79	1.21	8-Tedrick-Pretz	8-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♦	E	4	♠ A		130	4.64	2.36	7-Kobida-Burns	6-Behr-Terbrueggen
2 ♦	E	5	♠ K		150	3.50	3.50	6-Mehta-Bansal	4-Congbalay-Brown
3 NT	W	3	♠ 6		600	1.79	5.21	3-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	10-Jervis-Lindeman
3 NT	W	3	♠ 6		600	1.79	5.21	5-Singerman-Scovic	2-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	W	4	♠ 2		630	0.07	6.93	2-Pollack-Pollack	7-Newman-Schultz

E/W take six Diamonds tricks, one Spade, two Hearts, and one Club, making four. South will lead a small Spade. After declarer wins the first Spade, cashes the ♥ K, and runs six Diamonds, South will have to come down to ♠ AK ♥ Q9 ♣ A to protect against declarer taking three Heart tricks. Declarer can now safely exit with the ♣ K, and South will cash out before exiting with a Heart into declarer's ♥ AJ tenace.

Board 23
South Deals
Both Vul

♠	J 7 6 3 2
♥	9 3
♦	10 5 4
♣	J 9 7

♠	A K Q 10
♥	8 6 2
♦	J
♣	10 8 5 4 2

N
W		E
S

♠	9 5
♥	K J 5 4
♦	A K 9 8 7 6
♣	3

♠	8 4
♥	A Q 10 7
♦	Q 3 2
♣	A K Q 6

NS 2N; EW 2♦; NS 1♣; Par +120

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

15 to 17
Alert, artificial DONT bid showing Clubs and a higher-ranking suit
Alert, doesn't like Clubs
Showing Spades as their second suit
Let's play in Diamonds

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♦	E	−1	♣ A	100		6.93	0.07	8-Tedrick-Pretz	8-Diers-McCarthy
2 ♠	S	−1	♦ J		100	5.79	1.21	7-Kobida-Burns	6-Behr-Terbrueggen
2 ♦	E	3	♣ A		110	4.64	2.36	3-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	10-Jervis-Lindeman
2 ♠	S	−2	♣ 4		200	2.36	4.64	1-Lammers-Grim	5-Kessler-Kaplan
3 NT×	S	−1	♠ Q		200	2.36	4.64	2-Pollack-Pollack	7-Newman-Schultz
3 ♠	N	−2	♦ J		200	2.36	4.64	6-Mehta-Bansal	4-Congbalay-Brown
2 ♠	S	−3	♦ J		300	0.07	6.93	5-Singerman-Scovic	2-Kammer-Zimmer

East is correct to correct to 3 ♦, since they can play opposite a small singleton if Diamonds split 3-3. E/W lose one Club trick, one Diamond, and three Hearts, down one. South will lead the ♣ K (asking for count) and continue Clubs at trick two.

Board 24
West Deals
None Vul

♠	Q 10 7
♥	K J 3 2
♦	K J 4 2
♣	10 7

♠	A 9 5
♥	A
♦	A 10 9 8 7
♣	A K Q 5

N
W		E
S

♠	J 8 6
♥	Q 9 5
♦	6 5
♣	9 6 4 3 2

♠	K 4 3 2
♥	10 8 7 6 4
♦	Q 3
♣	J 8

EW 3N; EW 5♣; EW 2♦; EW 1♠; NS 1♥; Par −400

West	North	East	South
2 ♣1	Pass	2 ♥2	Pass
2 NT3	Pass	3 ♣4	Pass
3 NT5	Pass	Pass	Pass

Strong 2 ♣ opener
Alert, artificial bid denying an A, K, or QQ
Showing 22-24 HCP
Puppet Stayman asking for a 4- or 5-card major
Alert, artificial Puppet Stayman response denying a 4- or 5-card major

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♥	S	−2	♣ A		100	6.93	0.07	5-Singerman-Scovic	2-Kammer-Zimmer
1 ♦	W	4	♥ 2		130	5.21	1.79	2-Pollack-Pollack	7-Newman-Schultz
1 ♦	W	4	♣ 10		130	5.21	1.79	7-Kobida-Burns	6-Behr-Terbrueggen
2 NT	W	5	♦ 2		210	3.50	3.50	3-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	10-Jervis-Lindeman
3 NT	E	3	♥ 6		400	1.79	5.21	6-Mehta-Bansal	4-Congbalay-Brown
3 NT	W	3	♥ 2		400	1.79	5.21	8-Tedrick-Pretz	8-Diers-McCarthy
5 ♣×	W	5	♥ 10		550	0.07	6.93	1-Lammers-Grim	5-Kessler-Kaplan

West's hand is a little too big to open 2 NT. East, with three HCP and a five-card suit, is happy to bid game. E/W take five Club tricks, one Diamond, two Hearts, and one Spade, making three. Spades is a frozen suit, so if either North or South lead the suit, declarer will gain a second Spade trick. Declarer will win the opening lead (probably a small Heart), play off five rounds of Clubs (pitching the ♦ 7.....beer card), and exit with a Diamond. There's no way for N/S to keep declarer from getting a ninth trick. Try it!

Board 25
North Deals
E-W Vul

♠	Q 10
♥	K Q 9 7 6
♦	K 10 8 2
♣	K J

♠	K J 9
♥	J 8
♦	Q J 9 4 3
♣	A 6 5

N
W		E
S

♠	7 4 3
♥	A 5 3 2
♦	6
♣	9 8 7 4 2

♠	A 8 6 5 2
♥	10 4
♦	A 7 5
♣	Q 10 3

NS 4N; NS 3♥; NS 2♠; NS 2♦; Par +430

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

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	N	3	♣ 9	400		5.50	1.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	6-Behr-Terbrueggen
3 NT	S	3	♦ 4	400		5.50	1.50	3-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	8-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	N	3	♦ 6	400		5.50	1.50	6-Mehta-Bansal	3-Earls-Campbell
3 NT	S	3	♦ 4	400		5.50	1.50	8-Tedrick-Pretz	7-Newman-Schultz
2 ♦	W	−2	♠ Q	200		3.00	4.00	5-Singerman-Scovic	1-Moese-Cai
2 ♠	S	2	♥ J	110		2.00	5.00	4-Duncan-Kloecker	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
1 NT	N	−1	♣ 4		50	0.50	6.50	7-Kobida-Burns	5-Kessler-Kaplan
4 ♥	N	−1	♦ 6		50	0.50	6.50	9-Venosa-Venosa	9-Chrzanowski-Muenks

North has a complete maximum for their 1 NT rebid, so 3 NT is the obvious contract. N/S take two Spade tricks, four Hearts, two Clubs, and two Diamonds, making four. East may lead a small Club. As long as declarer goes after Hearts first and knocks out East's entry, E/W will be limited to only one Club trick.

Board 26
East Deals
Both Vul

♠	A K 5
♥	K 7 4
♦	4 3 2
♣	8 5 4 2

♠	J 10 8
♥	A 10 3
♦	J 8 6
♣	A Q 9 3

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 9 2
♥	J 8 2
♦	A K Q 10 7
♣	K 10

♠	7 6 4 3
♥	Q 9 6 5
♦	9 5
♣	J 7 6

EW 4N; EW 5♦; EW 3♠; EW 4♣; EW 2♥; Par −630

West	North	East	South
		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	E	4	♥ 5		630	5.50	1.50	4-Duncan-Kloecker	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 NT	E	4	♥ 5		630	5.50	1.50	5-Singerman-Scovic	1-Moese-Cai
3 NT	E	4	♥ 5		630	5.50	1.50	6-Mehta-Bansal	3-Earls-Campbell
3 NT	E	4	♥ 5		630	5.50	1.50	8-Tedrick-Pretz	7-Newman-Schultz
3 NT	E	5	♠ 7		660	1.50	5.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	6-Behr-Terbrueggen
3 NT	E	5	♠ 3		660	1.50	5.50	3-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	8-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	E	5	♥ 5		660	1.50	5.50	7-Kobida-Burns	5-Kessler-Kaplan
3 NT	E	5	♥ 5		660	1.50	5.50	9-Venosa-Venosa	9-Chrzanowski-Muenks

There's no reason for West to look for a five-card major since their hand is flat (3334). E/W take five Diamond tricks, four Clubs, and one Heart, making four. South may lead a small Heart, and North would be wise to cash out when they're in with the ♥ K. If they don't, E/W will make five.

Board 27
South Deals
None Vul

♠	A 9 4 3 2
♥	Q 9 3
♦	Q 8 4
♣	K 5

♠	10 6
♥	K 7 5 2
♦	A K 6 3 2
♣	8 6

N
W		E
S

♠	K J 8 5
♥	10 8 6
♦	J 10 9 5
♣	J 2

♠	Q 7
♥	A J 4
♦	7
♣	A Q 10 9 7 4 3

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

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

Weak jump raise

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	N	4	♦ J	430		7.00	0.00	9-Venosa-Venosa	9-Chrzanowski-Muenks
5 ♣	S	5	♦ A	400		6.00	1.00	4-Duncan-Kloecker	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♣	S	5	♦ A	150		4.50	2.50	3-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	8-Diers-McCarthy
2 ♣	S	5	♠ 10	150		4.50	2.50	7-Kobida-Burns	5-Kessler-Kaplan
2 ♣	S	4	♦ A	130		3.00	4.00	8-Tedrick-Pretz	7-Newman-Schultz
4 ♣	S	−1	♦ A		50	1.50	5.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	6-Behr-Terbrueggen
5 ♣	S	−1	♦ A		50	1.50	5.50	5-Singerman-Scovic	1-Moese-Cai
4 ♠	N	−2	♦ J		100	0.00	7.00	6-Mehta-Bansal	3-Earls-Campbell

North's 3 NT bid is risky, but what else are they going to bid? They know that their partner doesn't have a third Spade (i.e., South didn't make a support double). With 11 HCP, they want to at least invite game, but how? A double seems silly, since South is going to bid 4 ♣ or pass--both of which don't equal a game bonus. 3 NT with ♥ Q84 seems like the most reasonable contract. Be ready to apologize to your partner if you make this bid and it's wrong.

N/S take seven Club tricks, one Diamond, one Heart, and one Spade, making four. East will lead the ♦ J.

Board 28
West Deals
N-S Vul

♠	10 9 5 3
♥	10 9 2
♦	K 7 6
♣	9 8 6

♠	8
♥	K Q 8 7 6 4
♦	Q J 10 4
♣	4 2

N
W		E
S

♠	A Q J 6
♥	J
♦	9 8 5 3 2
♣	K 7 3

♠	K 7 4 2
♥	A 5 3
♦	A
♣	A Q J 10 5

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

West	North	East	South
2 ♥1	Pass	Pass	Dbl2
Pass	2 ♠3	Pass	3 ♠4
Pass	Pass	Dbl5	Pass
Pass	Pass

Weak two bid
Hoping partner has a fourth Spade
To play
Worth one more push in case partner has a seven count
Wouldn't you?

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♠×	N	4	♠ 10	1070		6.93	0.07	7-Kobida-Burns	4-Congbalay-Brown
4 ♠	N	4	♥ J	620		5.79	1.21	6-Mehta-Bansal	2-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♠	N	3	♥ J	140		4.64	2.36	4-Duncan-Kloecker	9-Chrzanowski-Muenks
2 ♣	S	2	♠ 8	90		3.50	3.50	9-Venosa-Venosa	8-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♣	S	−1	♠ 8		100	2.36	4.64	3-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	7-Newman-Schultz
3 ♠	N	−3	♥ J		300	0.64	6.36	8-Tedrick-Pretz	6-Behr-Terbrueggen
4 ♣	S	−3	♥ A		300	0.64	6.36	10-Lin-Lipp	10-Jervis-Lindeman

East would never double in a team game, but Matchpoints isn't Bridge. Huh? It seems like it's Bridge? Well, it's not. Bridge is when you try and make your contract at all costs, overtricks be darned. Bridge is when you don't double your opponents into game for an extra 100 points. Bridge is when everyone brings a lot of snacks and people talk about their husbands like they're complete idiots (which they probably are).

N/S lose four Spade tricks, making three doubled for +530. East will lead their stiff ♥ J, and declarer will win in dummy with the ♥ A. Knowing that Hearts are splitting 6-1 and Spades are most likely splitting 1-4, declarer should cash the ♦ A and exit with a Spade to the ♠ 9. East will win with the ♠ J and exit with a........yeah, I don't know either. A Diamond would go to the ♦ K in the closed hand allowing declarer to take two Spade finesses. A Heart is impossible, since East ran out a minute or so ago. A Spade would give declarer an unearned Spade trick and an eventual entry with the ♠ 9. Ugh. Poor East.

Board 29
North Deals
Both Vul

♠	9 2
♥	A 9
♦	A 7 5 4
♣	A K J 10 7

♠	K J 6
♥	J 8 5
♦	10 8 6 2
♣	9 6 2

N
W		E
S

♠	10 8 7 5 4
♥	Q 10 7 4
♦	Q 3
♣	Q 3

♠	A Q 3
♥	K 6 3 2
♦	K J 9
♣	8 5 4

NS 6N; NS 6♣; S 4♥; NS 5♦; S 3♠; N 3♥; N 2♠; Par +1440

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 five-card major
Alert, artificial response denying a five-card major

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	S	5	♦ 8	660		5.21	1.79	4-Duncan-Kloecker	9-Chrzanowski-Muenks
3 NT	S	5	♣ 9	660		5.21	1.79	7-Kobida-Burns	4-Congbalay-Brown
3 NT	S	5	♦ 2	660		5.21	1.79	8-Tedrick-Pretz	6-Behr-Terbrueggen
3 NT	S	5	♦ 2	660		5.21	1.79	9-Venosa-Venosa	8-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	S	4	♦ 8	630		1.79	5.21	6-Mehta-Bansal	2-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	S	4	♥ 5	630		1.79	5.21	10-Lin-Lipp	10-Jervis-Lindeman
3 NT	N	−1	♠ 5		100	0.07	6.93	3-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	7-Newman-Schultz

N/S can take 12 tricks on double-dummy lines (i.e., dropping the ♣ Q in two rounds and squeezing West in the pointy suits). That's unlikely, and N/S will probably take four Club tricks, three Diamonds, two Hearts, and one Spade, making four. East will lead a small Spade, and declarer should play low from dummy. Declarer may accidentally get the Club position right, since a finesse into East is less than appealing when a Spade return is likely.

Board 30
East Deals
None Vul

♠	Q 9 6 2
♥	K 9 8 7
♦	Q 8 4
♣	Q 8

♠	K J 10 5
♥	A Q J 6 5 3
♦	K
♣	K 9

N
W		E
S

♠	8 4
♥	—
♦	J 10 9 6 5
♣	A 7 5 4 3 2

♠	A 7 3
♥	10 4 2
♦	A 7 3 2
♣	J 10 6

EW 3♣; N 1N; EW 2♦; EW 1♠; EW 1♥; Par −110

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

Semi-forcing
Reverse
Alert, artificial Lebensohl bid asking partner to bid 3 ♣
Alert, Lebensohl forced bid

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	W	−3	♠ 2	150		6.93	0.07	9-Venosa-Venosa	8-Diers-McCarthy
5 ♣	E	−2	♦ 2	100		5.79	1.21	10-Lin-Lipp	10-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♥	W	−1	♣ Q	50		4.64	2.36	6-Mehta-Bansal	2-Kammer-Zimmer
3 ♣	W	3	♦ 4		110	1.79	5.21	3-Magnus-Magnus, Jr	7-Newman-Schultz
1 ♥	W	2	♠ 2		110	1.79	5.21	4-Duncan-Kloecker	9-Chrzanowski-Muenks
1 ♥	W	2	♣ Q		110	1.79	5.21	7-Kobida-Burns	4-Congbalay-Brown
1 ♥	W	2	♠ 2		110	1.79	5.21	8-Tedrick-Pretz	6-Behr-Terbrueggen

East passes in first seat hoping against hope that the auction will go Pass - Pass - Pass - 1 ♥. If that happens, they'll be thrilled to be able to bid 2 NT (weak or strong with the two lowest unbid suits). When partner is the one to bid 1 ♥, East is less happy. They try 1 NT (semi-forcing) and when partner reverses into Spades (of course they do....stupid partner), East needs a way to sign off in 3 ♣. If E/W weren't playing Lebensohl, East could try looking really, really nervous when they bid 3 ♣ and hope partner gets the hint. Playing Lebensohl, no such tom-foolery is necessary. East's 2 NT bid is artificial and says "Partner, bid 3 ♣ unless you have a 2 ♣ opener and forgot to open 2 ♣." West does as they're told on this hand, and East passes. Nice.

E/W lose one Club trick, one Spade, and two Diamonds, making three. North will lead.....well, they'll lead something.....maybe a Diamond?

Board 31
South Deals
N-S Vul

♠	5 2
♥	A 9 6 5 2
♦	Q J 2
♣	7 6 2

♠	Q 9 8 6 4
♥	K J 8
♦	K 6 5 4
♣	5

N
W		E
S

♠	K J 10 3
♥	7 3
♦	9 8
♣	K J 10 4 3

♠	A 7
♥	Q 10 4
♦	A 10 7 3
♣	A Q 9 8

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

West	North	East	South
			1 NT1
Pass	2 ♦2	Pass	2 ♥
Pass	Pass	Dbl3	Pass
2 ♠	Dbl4	Pass	3 ♥
Pass	Pass	Pass

15 to 17
Transfer
Do something smart, partner
Do something smart, partner

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♥	S	4	♣ 5	170		7.00	0.00	4-Duncan-Kloecker	8-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♥	S	3	♣ 5	140		6.00	1.00	8-Tedrick-Pretz	5-Kessler-Kaplan
2 ♥	S	2	♣ 5	110		5.00	2.00	7-Kobida-Burns	3-Earls-Campbell
3 ♠	W	−1	♦ Q	50		3.50	3.50	5-Singerman-Scovic	10-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♠	W	−1	♦ Q	50		3.50	3.50	10-Lin-Lipp	9-Chrzanowski-Muenks
4 ♥	N	−1	♠ J		100	2.00	5.00	11-Murdock-Oblinger	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
2 ♠	W	3	♣ 6		140	1.00	6.00	9-Venosa-Venosa	7-Newman-Schultz
4 ♠×	E	4	♠ A		590	0.00	7.00	6-Mehta-Bansal	1-Moese-Cai

North, with extras for their drop-dead bid, invites partner back into the auction. South, with a third Heart, is happy to compete in Hearts. E/W need to be a bit careful with their good Spade fit that they don't push N/S into a game that they aren't willing to bid on their own (it happens).

N/S lose one Spade trick, one Diamond, and one Heart, making four......if declarer guesses everything right (unlikely). West may lead their stiff ♣ 5. Declarer will win and lead the ♥ Q, covered by the ♥ K and ♥ A. A Heart is ducked to the ♥ J, and West is now low on options. They'll probably lead a Spade, but South will win and pull the last trump. A low Diamond goes to the ♦ K, but West's Spade trick is the last trick for the defense as dummy's third Club goes away on declarer's fourth Diamond.

Board 32
West Deals
E-W Vul

♠	K Q 9
♥	Q 10 9 3
♦	9 7 2
♣	A K Q

♠	10 6 4 3
♥	8
♦	Q J 3
♣	8 7 6 4 3

N
W		E
S

♠	A 8 7 5
♥	A K J 6 2
♦	8 6 4
♣	5

♠	J 2
♥	7 5 4
♦	A K 10 5
♣	J 10 9 2

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

West	North	East	South
Pass	1 NT1	Pass2	2 ♣
Pass	2 ♥	Pass	2 NT3
Pass	3 NT	Pass	Pass
Pass

15 to 17
Not quite a vulnerable 2 ♥ bid
Alert, may or may not have a four-card major

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT×	N	3	♥ K	550		7.00	0.00	5-Singerman-Scovic	10-Jervis-Lindeman
3 NT	N	3	♥ 6	400		6.00	1.00	6-Mehta-Bansal	1-Moese-Cai
2 NT	N	4	♥ 6	180		5.00	2.00	8-Tedrick-Pretz	5-Kessler-Kaplan
2 NT	N	3	♠ 5	150		4.00	3.00	10-Lin-Lipp	9-Chrzanowski-Muenks
2 NT	N	2	♠ 5	120		3.00	4.00	11-Murdock-Oblinger	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 NT	N	−1	♥ A		50	1.50	5.50	4-Duncan-Kloecker	8-Diers-McCarthy
3 ♦	S	−1	♥ 8		50	1.50	5.50	9-Venosa-Venosa	7-Newman-Schultz
2 ♠	W	2	♣ A		110	0.00	7.00	7-Kobida-Burns	3-Earls-Campbell

If East leads a Heart on opening lead, this hand will be over quickly as N/S can scramble for two Spade tricks, one Heart, two Diamonds, and four Clubs, making three. If East starts with ♥ AK and a third Heart, it gets even worse as N/S will take 10 tricks. East's best lead? The ♦ 8. There's now no way for declarer to generate enough tricks without eventually ducking a Diamond to West, at which point they'll have figured out to lead their ♥ 8 to West's ♥ J--down one.

Board 33
North Deals
None Vul

♠	Q 6 3
♥	A 10 6
♦	A 10 4 3
♣	K 8 2

♠	A 8 7 4
♥	9 7 4 3
♦	5 2
♣	Q 10 9

N
W		E
S

♠	K 5
♥	K Q 8 2
♦	K 8 6
♣	A J 7 3

♠	J 10 9 2
♥	J 5
♦	Q J 9 7
♣	6 5 4

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

West	North	East	South
	1 ♦	1 NT1	2 ♦
Dbl2	Pass	2 ♥	Pass
Pass	Pass

15 to 18
Negative

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♣	E	2	♦ Q		90	7.00	0.00	4-Duncan-Kloecker	8-Diers-McCarthy
1 NT	E	2	♦ 7		120	6.00	1.00	9-Venosa-Venosa	7-Newman-Schultz
2 ♥	E	3	♦ Q		140	5.00	2.00	8-Tedrick-Pretz	5-Kessler-Kaplan
1 NT	E	3	♦ Q		150	4.00	3.00	5-Singerman-Scovic	10-Jervis-Lindeman
2 ♥	E	4	♦ Q		170	3.00	4.00	11-Murdock-Oblinger	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
1 NT	E	4	♠ J		180	2.00	5.00	6-Mehta-Bansal	1-Moese-Cai
2 ♥	W	5	♠ 3		200	0.50	6.50	7-Kobida-Burns	3-Earls-Campbell
3 ♥	W	5	♦ 10		200	0.50	6.50	10-Lin-Lipp	9-Chrzanowski-Muenks

When your partner opens 1 NT and your RHO makes a bid at the two level, you and your partner can agree to play responder's doubles as either negative (i.e., for the unbid suits) or for penalty (i.e., let's try and hurt these dimbulbs). When your partner's 1 NT bid is an overcall and your RHO raises their partner's suit to the two level, it's far more likely that you'll have some semblance of values and length in the unbid suits. Doubles in this situation should always be played as negative.

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

Board 34
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	2
♥	J 7 6 5 4 2
♦	8 3
♣	10 8 7 2

♠	A 7 4 3
♥	K 9
♦	J 9 7 4
♣	Q 6 3

N
W		E
S

♠	Q J
♥	A Q 3
♦	K Q 10 2
♣	A J 9 5

♠	K 10 9 8 6 5
♥	10 8
♦	A 6 5
♣	K 4

EW 4N; EW 4♦; EW 4♣; E 2♠; W 1♠; EW 1♥; Par −430

West	North	East	South
		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	E	−2	♠ 8	100		6.93	0.07	9-Venosa-Venosa	6-Behr-Terbrueggen
5 ♦	E	5	♥ 10		400	5.79	1.21	6-Mehta-Bansal	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 NT	W	4	♠ 2		430	4.64	2.36	5-Singerman-Scovic	9-Chrzanowski-Muenks
3 NT	W	5	♥ 7		460	2.93	4.07	7-Kobida-Burns	2-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	W	5	♥ 2		460	2.93	4.07	11-Murdock-Oblinger	10-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♠×	S	−2	♦ J		500	1.21	5.79	10-Lin-Lipp	8-Diers-McCarthy
2 ♠×	S	−3	♦ 7		800	0.07	6.93	8-Tedrick-Pretz	4-Congbalay-Brown

E/W take three Diamond tricks, three Hearts, two Spades, and two Clubs, making four. North will lead their stiff ♠ 2, South will cover with the ♠ K, and declarer will win with the ♠ A. Diamonds are next, and South will knock out the ♠ Q when in with the ♦ A. After four rounds of Diamonds, three rounds of Hearts, and two rounds of Spades, South will be forced to either bare the ♣ K or discard winning Spades. Declarer will have no trouble counting the hand, since North showed out on the second Spade, and South has shown up with only five red cards. If South bares the ♣ K, declarer will drop it and make five. Better is for South to come down to ♠T9 ♣ K4, but declarer merely has to take the fourth Diamond in the closed hand and exit with a Spade. South can cash their two tricks, but the Club exit gives declarer two Club tricks. Nicely played!

Board 35
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	A 7 3
♥	K J 10 3 2
♦	4 3 2
♣	4 2

♠	4
♥	A 7 5 4
♦	Q J 7
♣	K 10 9 7 3

N
W		E
S

♠	K Q 10 6 5
♥	Q 8
♦	K 10 9
♣	A Q 5

♠	J 9 8 2
♥	9 6
♦	A 8 6 5
♣	J 8 6

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

West	North	East	South
			Pass
Pass	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
2 ♠	E	−1	♥ 9	100		6.93	0.07	9-Venosa-Venosa	6-Behr-Terbrueggen
2 NT	E	4	♦ 5		180	5.21	1.79	6-Mehta-Bansal	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
2 NT	E	4	♣ 8		180	5.21	1.79	10-Lin-Lipp	8-Diers-McCarthy
3 NT	E	3	♦ 5		600	3.50	3.50	5-Singerman-Scovic	9-Chrzanowski-Muenks
3 NT	E	4	♥ 9		630	2.36	4.64	7-Kobida-Burns	2-Kammer-Zimmer
3 NT	E	5	♣ 6		660	0.64	6.36	8-Tedrick-Pretz	4-Congbalay-Brown
3 NT	E	5	♦ 5		660	0.64	6.36	11-Murdock-Oblinger	10-Jervis-Lindeman

E/W take five Club tricks, two Diamonds, one Spade, and two Hearts, making four. South may lead the ♥ 9.

Board 36
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	K 8 7
♥	A K 4
♦	Q 2
♣	K Q 9 7 2

♠	9
♥	Q J 9 8 5 2
♦	A K 10 7
♣	A 5

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 10 6 5 4 3
♥	7 3
♦	6 4 3
♣	6 4

♠	A J 2
♥	10 6
♦	J 9 8 5
♣	J 10 8 3

NS 3N; NS 4♣; NS 1♠; EW 1♥; NS 1♦; Par +600

West	North	East	South
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
3 NT	N	3	♥ 7	600		6.93	0.07	9-Venosa-Venosa	6-Behr-Terbrueggen
2 ♥×	W	−1	♠ 7	200		5.79	1.21	10-Lin-Lipp	8-Diers-McCarthy
1 NT	N	3	♠ 5	150		4.64	2.36	7-Kobida-Burns	2-Kammer-Zimmer
2 ♥	W	−1	♦ Q	100		3.50	3.50	6-Mehta-Bansal	11-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
2 ♥	W	2	♦ Q		110	1.21	5.79	5-Singerman-Scovic	9-Chrzanowski-Muenks
2 ♥	W	2	♣ K		110	1.21	5.79	8-Tedrick-Pretz	4-Congbalay-Brown
2 ♥	W	2	♣ K		110	1.21	5.79	11-Murdock-Oblinger	10-Jervis-Lindeman

N/S take three Spade tricks, two Hearts, and four Clubs, making three. East will probably lead the ♥ 7.