MON 12/18/2017 at Nite

EVENT>Monday Night Bridge      |SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> A N-S
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>December 18, 2017  |CLUB NO.>185264    | 12/19/2017 09:46
---------------------,-- ------------------- -------------,---------------------
DIR> Mike Lipp       |RATING>Club ACBL Membership         |MOVEMENT>MITCHELL
------------,-------- ,-------------------------,--------- ---------------------
AVE>   84.0 |TOP>   7 |MP LIMITS>None/600/200   |CLUB>Mike's Games At The CBC
------------ --------- ------------------------- -------------------------------
PAIRS IN STRAT A=12/B=7/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 John Altman Sr         Debbie Wiest             A   1     .     .   |   1     .     .    105.50  62.80  4.13(OA)
 2 Donald Pollack         Bernice Pollack          C   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     64.50  38.39
 3 Joseph Muenks          Greg Chrzanowski         A   5     .     .   |   3     .     .     97.50  58.04  1.31(OA)
 4 Cecilia Kloecker       Rod Kaplan               C   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     59.50  35.42
 5 Lanny Cai              Elmer Hubka              B   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     74.00  44.05
 6 Judith Lubow           Patrick Lammers          B   .     .     .   |   .     3     .     84.50  50.30  0.41(SB)
 7 Michael Lipp           Anne Rinaldi             A   6     .     .   |   4     .     .     93.00  55.36  0.98(OA)
 8 Gail Zimmer            Joseph Kammer            B   4     2     .   |   2     1     .     98.00  58.33  1.74(OA)
 9 Dennis Schultz         John Williams            A   .     .     .   |   5     .     .     88.00  52.38  0.41(SA)
10 John Ramsay            Julian Magnus, Jr        C   .     .     .   |   .     .     2     74.00  44.05  0.39(SC)
11 Marilyn Prosise        Robert Prosise           A   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     84.00  50.00
12 Betty Murdock          Erin Oblinger            C   .     5     4   |   .     2     1     85.50  50.89  0.57(SB)

                                          Totals                                           1008.00


                                    **PAIRS**
BOARD     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9    10    11    12
  /
   1>     6                             4     4     7     1-    0     1-    4
          50   ----  ----  ----  ----  -50   -50    90  -100  -120  -100   -50

   2>     0                             7     1-    4     6     4     1-    4
        -490   ----  ----  ----  ---- -170  -460  -450  -430  -450  -460  -450

   3>     4-                            4-    3     7     0     2     1     6
        -100   ----  ----  ----  ---- -100  -150   140  -600  -170  -500   -50

   4>     3     6                             7     5     1-    4     0     1-
         130   630   ----  ----  ----  ----  660   600  -100   200  -200  -100

   5>     7     0                             6     4     4     1     4     2
         170  -300   ----  ----  ----  ----  110  -100  -100  -200  -100  -110

   6>     2-    7                             5-    2-    2-    0     5-    2-
        -650  -600   ----  ----  ----  ---- -620  -650  -650  -680  -620  -650

   7>     7     4     1                             2-    0     2-    5-    5-
         140   100  -100   ----  ----  ----  ---- PASS  -200  PASS   110   110

   8>     3     0     5                             3     6     7     3     1
          50  -130   170   ----  ----  ----  ----   50   500   690    50   -50

   9>     3-    7     3-                            0     3-    3-    6     1
        -620   100  -620   ----  ----  ----  ---- -800  -620  -620  -300  -650

  10>     6-    4-    6-    0                             3     2     4-    1
        1440   720  1440   660   ----  ----  ----  ----  710   690   720   680

  11>     5-    5-    7     0                             3-    1     3-    2
         420   420   450  -100   ----  ----  ----  ----  200   130   200   170

  12>     5-    2     0     7                             4     2     5-    2
         150    50  -400   500   ----  ----  ----  ----  100    50   150    50

  13>     6-    3-    6-    1     3-                            0     3-    3-
         630   600   630   120   600   ----  ----  ----  ---- -200   600   600

  14>     5-    1     7     5-    1                             1     4     3
        -450  -490  -420  -450  -490   ----  ----  ----  ---- -490  -460  -480

  15>     6     3     4      -    7                             5      -    2
         150    50    90  -140   300   ----  ----  ----  ----  100  -140  -110

  16>     1     5-    5-    1     5-    1                             3     5-
        -690  -630  -630  -690  -630  -690   ----  ----  ----  ---- -660  -630

  17>     7     4-    4-    1     1     1                             4-    4-
         120   -50   -50  -110  -110  -110   ----  ----  ----  ----  -50   -50

  18>     7     1-    3     0     5     1-                            5     5
         630   170   200   100   620   170   ----  ----  ----  ----  620   620

  19>     5-     -    2     3-    3-    7      -                            5-
        -150  -300  -250  -180  -180  -100  -300   ----  ----  ----  ---- -150

  20>     1-    4     1-    1-    6-    1-    5                             6-
        -100   -90  -100  -100   120  -100    90   ----  ----  ----  ----  120

  21>     2-     -    6-    5     2-     -    4                             6-
        -100  -110   100    90  -100  -110    50   ----  ----  ----  ----  100

  22>     1     0     6-    4     6-    3     2     5
        -120  -130   200   120   200   110  -100   140   ----  ----  ----  ----

  23>     7     0     5-    4     1     5-    2-    2-
         300  -620   200   100  -300   200  -200  -200   ----  ----  ----  ----

  24>     1     1     6     3-    5     3-    7     1
         -50   -50   110    50   100    50   550   -50   ----  ----  ----  ----

  25>           0     1     2-    2-    5     4     7     6
         ---- -170  -140  -100  -100   100   -50   300   200   ----  ----  ----

  26>           3-    6     3-    1     1     1     6     6
         ----   90   120    90  -100  -100  -100   120   120   ----  ----  ----

  27>           0     2-    2-    2-    2-    5-    7     5-
         ----  140   400   400   400   400   430   460   430   ----  ----  ----

  28>                 2     5     0     4     6     2     7     2
         ----  ---- -110   300  -130   100   680  -110  1190  -110   ----  ----

  29>                 3-    3-    3-    3-    3-    3-    3-    3-
         ----  ---- -650  -650  -650  -650  -650  -650  -650  -650   ----  ----

  30>                 1     0     2-    5-    5-    2-    7     4
         ----  ----  -50  -100   400   460   460   400  1100   420   ----  ----

  31>                       1     3     7     5-    5-    0     3     3
         ----  ----  ---- -170  -140   100  -100  -100  -200  -140  -140   ----

  32>                       0     3     1-    4-    7     1-    6     4-
         ----  ----  ---- -960  -120  -140   -50   130  -140   100   -50   ----

  33>                       4     5     6     1-    1-    1-    7     1-
         ----  ----  ----   50   100   110   -50   -50   -50   150   -50   ----

  34>                             2      -    3     5      -    5     7     5
         ----  ----  ----  ---- -100  -130   100   140  -130   140   300   140

  35>                             0     6     5     3     7     4     1-    1-
         ----  ----  ----  ---- -710   170   100  -100   200   -50  -130  -130

  36>                             1     2     0     4-    7     4-    4-    4-
         ----  ----  ----  ---- -200  -140  -300   150   200   150   150   150



EVENT>Monday Night Bridge      |SESSION>Monday Eve   |SECTION> A E-W
------------------------,------ ------------,-------- --------------------------
DATE>December 18, 2017  |CLUB NO.>185264    | 12/19/2017 09:46
---------------------,-- ------------------- -------------,---------------------
DIR> Mike Lipp       |RATING>Club ACBL Membership         |MOVEMENT>MITCHELL
------------,-------- ,-------------------------,--------- ---------------------
AVE>   84.0 |TOP>   7 |MP LIMITS>None/600/200   |CLUB>Mike's Games At The CBC
------------ --------- ------------------------- -------------------------------
PAIRS IN STRAT A=12/B=9/C=5                      ,---,-----------------,-------------------------,------,---------,
-------------------------------------------------|   |      Overall    |           Section       |      |Final    |
No Name                   Name                   |Flt|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C|Rnk-A|Rnk-B|Rnk-C| Score | Pct  |Awards   |
------------------------------------------------- --- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ------- ------ ---------
 1 Patrick Hoffman        Robert Roark             B   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     76.50  45.54
 2 Lewis Temples          Richard Koch             C   .     3     2   |   3     2     2     90.50  53.87  1.03(SA)
 3 Joanne Earls           Jane Duncan              B   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     83.50  49.70
 4 Carol Scovic           James Barrett            C   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     75.50  44.94
 5 Mike Burns             Charlie Kobida           B   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     78.50  46.73
 6 Stephen Felson         Robert Brown             A  2/3    .     .   |  1/2    .     .     99.00  58.93  2.71(OA)
 7 Cheryl Endres          Pamela Kennedy           C  2/3    1     1   |  1/2    1     1     99.00  58.93  2.71(OA)
 8 Kevin Henry            Pam Campbell             B   .     .     .   |   .     4     .     84.50  50.30  0.32(SB)
 9 Herb Behr              Ralph Terbrueggen        A   .     .     .   |   4     .     .     88.50  52.68  0.72(SA)
10 Annette Kereiakes      Tom Kereiakes            C   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     66.00  39.29
11 June Cushman           Martin Petersen          A   .     .     .   |   .     .     .     78.50  46.73
12 Peggy Jervis           Pat Lindeman             C   .     4     3   |   5     3     .     88.00  52.38  0.73(OB)

                                          Totals                                           1008.00


                                    **PAIRS**
BOARD     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9    10    11    12
  /
   1>     1           0           5-          7           5-    3     3     3
         -50   ----  -90   ----  100   ----  120   ----  100    50    50    50

   2>     7           3           1           3           5-    0     3     5-
         490   ----  450   ----  430   ----  450   ----  460   170   450   460

   3>     2-          0           7           5           6     2-    1     4
         100   ---- -140   ----  600   ----  170   ----  500   100    50   150

   4>     2     1           5-          3           7           5-    0     4
        -600  -630   ----  100   ---- -200   ----  200   ----  100  -660  -130

   5>     3     7           3           6           3           5     1     0
         100   300   ----  100   ----  200   ----  100   ----  110  -110  -170

   6>     4-    0           4-          7           1-          4-    1-    4-
         650   600   ----  650   ----  680   ----  620   ----  650   620   650

   7>     3     7     6           4-          1-          1-          0     4-
        -100   200   100   ---- PASS   ---- -110   ---- -110   ---- -140  PASS

   8>     7     1     2           0           4           6           4     4
         130  -500  -170   ---- -690   ----  -50   ----   50   ----  -50   -50

   9>     0     3-    3-          3-          1           6           3-    7
        -100   620   620   ----  620   ----  300   ----  650   ----  620   800

  10>     4      -    5     7           2-          6            -          2-
        -710 -1440  -690  -660   ---- -720   ---- -680   -----1440   ---- -720

  11>     3-    0     6     7           3-          5           1-          1-
        -200  -450  -130   100   ---- -200   ---- -170   ---- -420   ---- -420

  12>     3     7     5     0           1-          5           1-          5
        -100   400   -50  -500   ---- -150   ----  -50   ---- -150   ----  -50

  13>      -    7     6     3-    3-          3-           -          3-
        -630   200  -120  -600  -600   ---- -600   ---- -630   ---- -600   ----

  14>     0     6     1-    3     6           4           1-          6
         420   490   450   460   490   ----  480   ----  450   ----  490   ----

  15>     3     2     6-    6-    0           5           1           4
         -90  -100   140   140  -300   ----  110   ---- -150   ----  -50   ----

  16>           6     4     1-    1-    6           6           1-          1-
         ----  690   660   630   630   690   ----  690   ----  630   ----  630

  17>           6     2-    6     2-    6           0           2-          2-
         ----  110    50   110    50   110   ---- -120   ----   50   ----   50

  18>           7     2     2     2     5-          0           5-          4
         ---- -100  -620  -620  -620  -170   ---- -630   ---- -170   ---- -200

  19>     3-          3-    1-    0     1-    6-          6-          5
         180   ----  180   150   100   150   300   ----  300   ----  250   ----

  20>     5-           -     -    5-    5-    2           3           5-
         100   ---- -120  -120   100   100   -90   ----   90   ----  100   ----

  21>     2           4-     -    6-    4-    3           6-           -
         -90   ----  100  -100   110   100   -50   ----  110   ---- -100   ----

  22>            -          4     6     5     7     2            -          3
         ---- -200   ---- -110   120   100   130  -140   ---- -200   ---- -120

  23>           6           1-    0     4-    7     4-          1-          3
         ----  300   ---- -200  -300   200   620   200   ---- -200   ---- -100

  24>           2           3-    6     0     6     6           1           3-
         ---- -100   ----  -50    50  -550    50    50   ---- -110   ----  -50

  25>     4-          2           3     7     0     6     1           4-
         100   ---- -100   ----   50   170  -300   140  -200   ----  100   ----

  26>     6           6           6     3-    1     1     1           3-
         100   ----  100   ----  100   -90  -120  -120  -120   ----  -90   ----

  27>     4-          4-          1-    7     0     4-    1-          4-
        -400   ---- -400   ---- -430  -140  -460  -400  -430   ---- -400   ----

  28>           3           1           5     5     0     2     5           7
         ---- -100   ---- -680   ----  110   110 -1190  -300   110   ----  130

  29>           3-          3-          3-    3-    3-    3-    3-          3-
         ----  650   ----  650   ----  650   650   650   650   650   ----  650

  30>           1-          1-          4-    6     0     7     3           4-
         ---- -460   ---- -460   ---- -400    50 -1100   100  -420   ---- -400

  31>     0           1-          1-          7     6     4     4     4
        -100   ----  100   ----  100   ----  200   170   140   140   140   ----

  32>     5-          2-          0           5-    7     1     4     2-
         140   ----   50   ---- -130   ----  140   960  -100   120    50   ----

  33>     1           5-          5-          5-    3     0     2     5-
        -110   ----   50   ----   50   ----   50   -50  -150  -100    50   ----

  34>           4           2           6-          2     5     0     6-    2
         ---- -100   ---- -140   ----  130   ---- -140   100  -300   130  -140

  35>           2           4           0           3     7     5-    1     5-
         ---- -100   ----  100   ---- -200   ----   50   710   130  -170   130

  36>           7           2-          0           2-    6     2-    5     2-
         ----  300   ---- -150   ---- -200   ---- -150   200  -150   140  -150
Monday Night Bridge, Monday Eve, December 18, 2017

Board 1
North Deals
None Vul

♠	A Q 8 4
♥	A Q 8 7
♦	K 4 2
♣	10 4

♠	J 5 3 2
♥	K J 4 2
♦	J 9 3
♣	Q J

N
W		E
S

♠	10 9 6
♥	10 9 3
♦	A Q 10
♣	A K 9 5

♠	K 7
♥	6 5
♦	8 7 6 5
♣	8 7 6 3 2

EW 2N; EW 1♠; EW 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
1 NT	N	1	♠ 10	90		7.00	0.00	8-Zimmer-Kammer	3-Earls-Duncan
2 ♣	E	−1	♥ 6	50		6.00	1.00	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	1-Hoffman-Roark
1 NT	N	−1	♣ A		50	4.00	3.00	6-Lubow-Lammers	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
1 NT	N	−1	♦ A		50	4.00	3.00	7-Lipp-Rinaldi	12-Jervis-Lindeman
1 NT	N	−1	♣ 5		50	4.00	3.00	12-Murdock-Oblinger	11-Cushman-Petersen
1 NT	N	−2	♣ A		100	1.50	5.50	9-Schultz-Williams	5-Burns-Kobida
1 NT	N	−2	♣ 5		100	1.50	5.50	11-Prosise-Prosise	9-Behr-Terbrueggen
1 NT	W	2	♠ 4		120	0.00	7.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	7-Endres-Kennedy

N/S take three Spade tricks, two Hearts, and......nothing else unless E/W decide to give them an extra trick. If East leads a small Club to West's ♣ J, West cashes the ♣ Q and plays back the ♦ J, East will have to be careful not to win the ♦ K with the ♦ A and cash out. What's the rush? If they do, then declarer will go to dummy with the ♠ K, cash the good ♦ 7 (beer card), and take the Heart hook. The best defense is for East to lead the ♠T (or ♥T) trying to develop an extra trick in the majors. Declarer can never get more than five tricks left to their own devices.

Board 2
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	10 9 6 4
♥	Q 10 9
♦	8 6 4
♣	A 8 2

♠	A Q 8 5 2
♥	A 6 4
♦	9
♣	K J 10 6

N
W		E
S

♠	K J 3
♥	K 8 3 2
♦	A J 5
♣	Q 5 3

♠	7
♥	J 7 5
♦	K Q 10 7 3 2
♣	9 7 4

E 5N; EW 5♠; EW 5♥; W 4N; EW 5♣; NS 1♦; Par −460

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

Weak jump overcall
Showing 5+ Spades and 10+ HCP (Five & Dime)

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♠	E	4	♦ A		170	7.00	0.00	6-Lubow-Lammers	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 NT	E	4	♦ Q		430	6.00	1.00	9-Schultz-Williams	5-Burns-Kobida
4 ♠	W	5	♦ 6		450	4.00	3.00	8-Zimmer-Kammer	3-Earls-Duncan
4 ♠	W	5	♣ A		450	4.00	3.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	7-Endres-Kennedy
4 ♠	W	5	♦ 6		450	4.00	3.00	12-Murdock-Oblinger	11-Cushman-Petersen
3 NT	E	5	♦ K		460	1.50	5.50	7-Lipp-Rinaldi	12-Jervis-Lindeman
3 NT	E	5	♦ K		460	1.50	5.50	11-Prosise-Prosise	9-Behr-Terbrueggen
3 NT	E	6	♦ 7		490	0.00	7.00	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	1-Hoffman-Roark

East is tempted to bid 3 NT over their partner's 2 ♠ bid (it is Matchpoints after all), but they chicken out. E/W lose one Club trick and one Heart, making five. South will lead the ♦ K.

Board 3
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	J 8 6 5 4
♥	10 4
♦	Q 9 8
♣	9 4 3

♠	10 3
♥	A Q 9 5
♦	K
♣	A K J 7 6 2

N
W		E
S

♠	7
♥	K 8 7 3 2
♦	A 7 6 4
♣	10 8 5

♠	A K Q 9 2
♥	J 6
♦	J 10 5 3 2
♣	Q

EW 6♥; EW 6♣; EW 2N; NS 1♠; EW 1♦; Par −1100: NS 6♠×−5

West	North	East	South
			1 ♠
Dbl1	4 ♠2	5 ♥	Pass
6 ♥	Pass	Pass	Pass

All big hands start with double
Preemptive

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♠	S	3	♣ A	140		7.00	0.00	8-Zimmer-Kammer	3-Earls-Duncan
4 ♠	S	−1	♣ K		50	6.00	1.00	12-Murdock-Oblinger	11-Cushman-Petersen
4 ♠	S	−2	♣ K		100	4.50	2.50	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	1-Hoffman-Roark
4 ♠	N	−2	♥ K		100	4.50	2.50	6-Lubow-Lammers	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♠	S	−3	♦ K		150	3.00	4.00	7-Lipp-Rinaldi	12-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♣	W	6	♠ 4		170	2.00	5.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	7-Endres-Kennedy
5 ♠×	S	−3	♣ A		500	1.00	6.00	11-Prosise-Prosise	9-Behr-Terbrueggen
5 ♣	W	5	♥ 10		600	0.00	7.00	9-Schultz-Williams	5-Burns-Kobida

East loves their hand on the auction, so they take a chance on 5 ♥. West, knowing that they might be penalizing their partner for taking a call, bids the slam. South should definitely bid 6 ♠ on the vulnerability. I hope they did.

E/W lose one Spade trick, making six. South will lead the ♠ K (asking for count) and switch to a small Diamond. Declarer will pull trump and give the Club suit a bit of thought, but when the ♣ Q falls under the ♣ A the hand is over.

Board 4
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	7 5
♥	10 5
♦	K J 7 5
♣	A K Q J 4

♠	Q 8 2
♥	J 9 7
♦	9 8
♣	9 7 6 3 2

N
W		E
S

♠	A 10 9 6
♥	A K 8 4 2
♦	Q 4
♣	10 5

♠	K J 4 3
♥	Q 6 3
♦	A 10 6 3 2
♣	8

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

West	North	East	South
Pass	1 ♣	1 ♥	Dbl1
Pass2	2 ♣3	Pass	3 NT
Pass	Pass	Pass

Negative
On the vulnerability
No better rebid available

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	N	5	♥ A	660		7.00	0.00	7-Lipp-Rinaldi	11-Cushman-Petersen
3 NT	S	4	♥ 7	630		6.00	1.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	2-Temples-Koch
5 ♦	N	5	♥ A	600		5.00	2.00	8-Zimmer-Kammer	1-Hoffman-Roark
2 ♠	E	−2	♣ 8	200		4.00	3.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	6-Felson-Brown
3 ♦	N	4	♥ A	130		3.00	4.00	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	12-Jervis-Lindeman
5 ♦	N	−1	♥ K		100	1.50	5.50	9-Schultz-Williams	4-Scovic-Barrett
5 ♦	N	−1	♥ A		100	1.50	5.50	12-Murdock-Oblinger	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
5 ♦	N	−2	♥ A		200	0.00	7.00	11-Prosise-Prosise	8-Henry-Campbell

N/S take four Club tricks, five Diamonds, and one Heart, making four. West will lead the ♥ 7 (small from an honor) and East should duck the first trick. As long as declarer gets the Diamonds right, they'll take ten tricks.

Getting the Diamonds right won't be too hard, since East will show out on the third Club, and the Hearts will be marked as 5-3 on the auction and the opening lead. If East was 5-5-1-2, they would have either overcalled 1 ♠ or made a Michaels cuebid. Since East can't have a singleton (or void) in Diamonds, the proper way to play the suit is to lay down the ♦ K and then play a small Diamond from dummy. When the ♦ Q pops up, the hand is over (i.e., declarer can win with the ♦ A, play a small Diamond to dummy's ♦ J, cash the ♣ J, and play off the remaining Diamonds). Isn't Bridge easy?

Board 5
North Deals
N-S Vul

♠	K 10 6 3
♥	10 4
♦	Q 6
♣	A 10 9 5 4

♠	Q J 8 5
♥	K J 8 6
♦	8 7 3 2
♣	8

N
W		E
S

♠	9
♥	9 7 5 2
♦	A K J 5 4
♣	J 6 3

♠	A 7 4 2
♥	A Q 3
♦	10 9
♣	K Q 7 2

EW 3♥; EW 4♦; NS 2N; NS 2♠; NS 3♣; Par −140

West	North	East	South
	Pass	Pass	1 NT1
Pass	2 ♣	2 ♦	2 ♠
3 ♦	3 ♠	Pass	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
3 ♠	S	4	♣ 8	170		7.00	0.00	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	12-Jervis-Lindeman
2 ♠	S	2	♦ 2	110		6.00	1.00	7-Lipp-Rinaldi	11-Cushman-Petersen
3 ♠	S	−1	♣ 8		100	4.00	3.00	8-Zimmer-Kammer	1-Hoffman-Roark
4 ♠	S	−1	♣ 8		100	4.00	3.00	9-Schultz-Williams	4-Scovic-Barrett
4 ♠	S	−1	♣ 8		100	4.00	3.00	11-Prosise-Prosise	8-Henry-Campbell
2 ♥	E	2	♣ K		110	2.00	5.00	12-Murdock-Oblinger	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♠	N	−2	♦ A		200	1.00	6.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	6-Felson-Brown
3 ♠	S	−3	♣ 8		300	0.00	7.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	2-Temples-Koch

East uses the vulnerability to sneak into the auction, and West is only too happy to play along. The best score for E/W would be to double 3 ♠ and beat it one trick. That's not going to happen, as West has no reason to think that the Diamonds will be breaking 2-2. If either North or South bids to the four level, West will wield the ax (i.e., double for penalty).

E/W lose one Spade trick, one Heart, and one Club, making four. South may lead the ♠ A and switch to the ♣ K at trick two.

Board 6
East Deals
E-W Vul

♠	8 5
♥	8
♦	10 8 6 5 3
♣	A J 6 5 4

♠	10 4 3
♥	K 3
♦	A J 9 2
♣	Q 10 3 2

N
W		E
S

♠	K Q J 9 6
♥	A J 9 2
♦	K Q 7
♣	7

♠	A 7 2
♥	Q 10 7 6 5 4
♦	4
♣	K 9 8

EW 4♠; EW 2N; EW 2♦; EW 1♥; Par −620

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

Forcing
Showing a 3-card limit raise

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	W	3	♣ 6		600	7.00	0.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	2-Temples-Koch
4 ♠	E	4	♦ 4		620	5.50	1.50	7-Lipp-Rinaldi	11-Cushman-Petersen
4 ♠	E	4	♦ 4		620	5.50	1.50	11-Prosise-Prosise	8-Henry-Campbell
4 ♠	E	5	♦ 4		650	2.50	4.50	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	12-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♠	E	5	♦ 4		650	2.50	4.50	8-Zimmer-Kammer	1-Hoffman-Roark
4 ♠	E	5	♦ 4		650	2.50	4.50	9-Schultz-Williams	4-Scovic-Barrett
4 ♠	E	5	♦ 4		650	2.50	4.50	12-Murdock-Oblinger	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♠	E	6	♦ 4		680	0.00	7.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	6-Felson-Brown

E/W lose one Spade trick, one Club, and a Diamond ruff, making four. South will lead their stiff ♦ 4. When they're back in with the ♠ A, South will lead the ♣ 8 to partner's ♣ A and ruff the Diamond return. With no additional entry to North's hand, that'll be it for the defense.

Board 7
South Deals
Both Vul

♠	A K Q 9 7
♥	Q 5
♦	9 7 6
♣	7 3 2

♠	J 2
♥	J 4
♦	A J 10 8 5
♣	Q 9 6 5

N
W		E
S

♠	10 6 5
♥	K 10 7 6 2
♦	Q 2
♣	A J 4

♠	8 4 3
♥	A 9 8 3
♦	K 4 3
♣	K 10 8

EW 2♥; EW 3♦; EW 3♣; NS 1♠; Par −110

West	North	East	South
			Pass
Pass	1 ♠1	Pass	2 ♣2
Pass	2 ♠3	Pass	Pass
2 NT4	Pass	3 ♣5	Pass
Pass	Pass

Light 3rd-seat opener
Alert, artificial Drury bid showing a 3- or 4-card limit raise in Spades
Please shut up
Pick a minor
Club is a minor

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♠	S	3	♥ 10	140		7.00	0.00	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	11-Cushman-Petersen
2 ♠	N	2	♦ 2	110		5.50	1.50	11-Prosise-Prosise	7-Endres-Kennedy
2 ♠	N	2	♥ 2	110		5.50	1.50	12-Murdock-Oblinger	9-Behr-Terbrueggen
1 NT	W	−1	♠ A	100		4.00	3.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	1-Hoffman-Roark
Pass				Pass		2.50	4.50	8-Zimmer-Kammer	12-Jervis-Lindeman
Pass				Pass		2.50	4.50	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	5-Burns-Kobida
2 ♠	N	−1	♠ 5		100	1.00	6.00	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski	3-Earls-Duncan
3 ♠	N	−2	♦ Q		200	0.00	7.00	9-Schultz-Williams	2-Temples-Koch

West's 2 NT bid can't be "Hey, I think we can make 2 NT!" A much better use for the bid is "Hey, what's your longer minor?" East chooses Clubs, and the auction is over. If South bids 3 ♠, East will pop it (i.e., double for penalty......there are like 80 jillion different ways to say double for penalty).

E/W lose two Spade tricks, one Heart, and one Club, making three. North will lead the ♠ K (asking for count) and continue with high Spades at tricks two and three. Declarer will have an advantage given the auction in that North can't have the ♣ K or ♥ A. Why is that? Well, North signed off in 2 ♠ showing a sub-opening hand after South's Drury bid. With ♠ AKQ and 3+ points in a side suit, they would have bid 2 ♦ (artificial) to ask for more information about South's hand.

With that in mind, it's totally safe to ruff the third Spade with the ♣ 5 and play a small Club to the ♣ J. South will win, but with no way to get to North's hand for more Spades, the hand is over. A Club return is best, and declarer will win in their hand with the ♣ Q, play a Club to the ♣ A in dummy pulling the last trump, and lead the ♦ Q for a marked finesse of South's ♦ K. At the end, North will be marked with the ♥ Q5 and South with the ♥ A9. It's a simple matter to lead the ♥ J through North and cover the ♥ Q with the ♥ K. The ♥T is declarer's ninth trick. Nicely played!

Board 8
West Deals
None Vul

♠	K 8 7 6 2
♥	10 8 6
♦	A 3
♣	9 8 5

♠	—
♥	K 9 7 5 4 3
♦	8 7 5 2
♣	4 3 2

N
W		E
S

♠	A 10 9 4
♥	Q
♦	K Q J 10 6 4
♣	K J

♠	Q J 5 3
♥	A J 2
♦	9
♣	A Q 10 7 6

NS 5♠; NS 4♣; S 2♥; EW 3♦; NS 1N; Par +450

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

Not quite a nonvulnerable preempt
Showing a hand that would have made a jump rebid

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠×	N	5	♥ Q	690		7.00	0.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	5-Burns-Kobida
4 ♥×	W	−3	♠ 7	500		6.00	1.00	9-Schultz-Williams	2-Temples-Koch
3 ♠	N	4	♥ J	170		5.00	2.00	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski	3-Earls-Duncan
5 ♦	E	−1	♣ A	50		3.00	4.00	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	11-Cushman-Petersen
4 ♦	E	−1	♦ 9	50		3.00	4.00	8-Zimmer-Kammer	12-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♦	E	−1	♦ 9	50		3.00	4.00	11-Prosise-Prosise	7-Endres-Kennedy
4 ♣	S	−1	♥ 5		50	1.00	6.00	12-Murdock-Oblinger	9-Behr-Terbrueggen
3 ♦	E	4	♦ 9		130	0.00	7.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	1-Hoffman-Roark

N/S would do well to press on to 5 ♠, but the phrase "The five level belongs to the opponents" is rattling around in their heads. Sigh.

E/W lose one Diamond trick, two Clubs, and one Heart, down two doubled for –300. That's far better than –450 for N/S making five Spades. South will lead the ♠ Q. As long as North plays a Club back when in with the ♦ A, the defense will take their four tricks. That should be easy to find. Did you find it?

Board 9
North Deals
E-W Vul

♠	A 10 8 7 4 2
♥	9 3
♦	A 6
♣	K 9 3

♠	5
♥	Q 7 4 2
♦	J 8
♣	A Q J 8 7 6

N
W		E
S

♠	K Q 6 3
♥	A K 10 8 6
♦	K 2
♣	5 4

♠	J 9
♥	J 5
♦	Q 10 9 7 5 4 3
♣	10 2

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

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

Rule of 20 opener
Cuebid as a forcing bid
Showing a full opener and Spades stopped for notrump
Sneaking Diamonds in to suggest a sacrifice

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♥	E	−1	♠ J	100		7.00	0.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	1-Hoffman-Roark
4 ♠×	N	−2	♥ A		300	6.00	1.00	11-Prosise-Prosise	7-Endres-Kennedy
4 ♥	E	4	♠ J		620	3.50	3.50	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	11-Cushman-Petersen
4 ♥	E	4	♠ J		620	3.50	3.50	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski	3-Earls-Duncan
4 ♥	E	4	♠ J		620	3.50	3.50	9-Schultz-Williams	2-Temples-Koch
4 ♥	E	4	♦ 3		620	3.50	3.50	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	5-Burns-Kobida
4 ♥	E	5	♠ J		650	1.00	6.00	12-Murdock-Oblinger	9-Behr-Terbrueggen
4 ♠×	N	−4	♥ A		800	0.00	7.00	8-Zimmer-Kammer	12-Jervis-Lindeman

If North had a third Diamond, they'd have no trouble bidding the good 5 ♦ sacrifice. As it is....

E/W lose one Spade trick, one Diamond, and one Club, making four. South will lead the ♠ J. If North doesn't cash their ♦ A at trick two, it'll go away when declarer is able to pitch both of dummy's Diamonds on the ♠ K and ♠ Q. Oops.

Board 10
East Deals
Both Vul

♠	K 7 5
♥	Q J 10
♦	K 10 9 5 3
♣	Q 4

♠	6
♥	8 7 6 5 4
♦	Q 2
♣	10 9 8 6 3

N
W		E
S

♠	J 9 3 2
♥	K 9 3
♦	8 7 6
♣	K 5 2

♠	A Q 10 8 4
♥	A 2
♦	A J 4
♣	A J 7

NS 7N; NS 7♠; NS 7♦; NS 3♥; NS 3♣; Par +2220

West	North	East	South
		Pass	2 NT1
Pass	3 ♣2	Pass	3 ♠3
Pass	4 NT4	Pass	5 ♣5
Pass	5 ♦6	Pass	5 NT7
Pass	6 NT	Pass	Pass
Pass

20 to 21
Puppet Stayman asking for a 4- or 5-card major
Alert, artificial Puppet Stayman response showing a 5-card Spade suit
RKC Blackwood (Kickback) for Spades
1430 response showing 1 or 4 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 NT	S	6	♣ 10	1440		6.50	0.50	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
6 NT	S	6	♣ 6	1440		6.50	0.50	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski	2-Temples-Koch
3 NT	N	7	♦ 8	720		4.50	2.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	12-Jervis-Lindeman
5 NT	S	7	♠ 6	720		4.50	2.50	11-Prosise-Prosise	6-Felson-Brown
4 ♠	S	7	♣ 10	710		3.00	4.00	9-Schultz-Williams	1-Hoffman-Roark
3 NT	S	6	♥ 8	690		2.00	5.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	3-Earls-Duncan
4 ♠	S	6	♥ 7	680		1.00	6.00	12-Murdock-Oblinger	8-Henry-Campbell
3 NT	S	5	♣ 3	660		0.00	7.00	4-Kloecker-Kaplan	4-Scovic-Barrett

North wisely signs off in the notrump slam--it's Matchpoints so that extra 10 points is critical.

N/S take five Spade tricks, five Diamonds, two Clubs, and one Heart, making seven. West will lead the ♣T to the ♣ Q, ♣ K, and ♣ A. The ♦ A is next followed by the ♦ J to the ♦ Q and ♦ K. Next is a small Spade to the ♠ A followed by a Spade to the ♠ K. When West shows out, it's a simple matter to take the marked Spade finesse and cash out. If declarer wants to, they can take the practice Heart finesse hoping to collect 15 tricks in all.

Board 11
South Deals
None Vul

♠	K
♥	J 7 5 3 2
♦	A Q 8 6
♣	A 7 5

♠	9 7 4 3
♥	A Q
♦	J 2
♣	K Q J 8 3

N
W		E
S

♠	10 8 6 2
♥	9 8
♦	K 7 3
♣	9 6 4 2

♠	A Q J 5
♥	K 10 6 4
♦	10 9 5 4
♣	10

NS 5♥; NS 4♦; EW 1♠; EW 1♣; Par +450

West	North	East	South
			Pass
1 ♣	1 ♥1	Pass	3 ♣2
Dbl3	4 ♥	Pass	Pass
Pass

Nobody said your overcalled suit had to be pretty
Jump cuebid as a splinter bid in support of Hearts
I like Clubs

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	N	5	♠ 2	450		7.00	0.00	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski	2-Temples-Koch
4 ♥	N	4	♣ 9	420		5.50	1.50	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♥	N	4	♣ 4	420		5.50	1.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	12-Jervis-Lindeman
2 ♥	N	5	♠ 6	200		3.50	3.50	9-Schultz-Williams	1-Hoffman-Roark
3 ♥	N	5	♣ 9	200		3.50	3.50	11-Prosise-Prosise	6-Felson-Brown
3 ♥	N	4	♣ 2	170		2.00	5.00	12-Murdock-Oblinger	8-Henry-Campbell
3 ♦	N	4	♦ 6	130		1.00	6.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	3-Earls-Duncan
3 NT	S	−2	♣ K		100	0.00	7.00	4-Kloecker-Kaplan	4-Scovic-Barrett

N/S lose two Heart tricks, making five. East will lead the ♣ 6 (MUD) to the ♣T, ♣ J, and ♣ A. Declarer will cash the ♠ K and play a Heart to the ♥T and ♥ Q. West's best continuation is the ♦ J, but declarer will hop with the ♦ A (if West had ♥ AQ ♦ KJ ♣ KQJ they would have opened 1 NT), ruff a Club, and pitch all of their Diamonds on dummy's ♠ AQJ. When Spades turn out to be 4-4, it's a simple matter to exit with a Heart and claim.

If West had held only three Spades (3235 shape), they would be able to ruff the ♠ J with the ♥ A at trick eight, but declarer would pitch their last Diamond anyway--same difference.

Board 12
West Deals
N-S Vul

♠	J 5 3
♥	9 7 3
♦	7 4
♣	A Q 9 4 3

♠	Q 4
♥	10
♦	Q J 5 3
♣	K J 10 8 7 6

N
W		E
S

♠	A K 9 2
♥	Q 8 2
♦	A K 9 6
♣	5 2

♠	10 8 7 6
♥	A K J 6 5 4
♦	10 8 2
♣	—

E 2N; EW 2♠; EW 3♦; EW 3♣; NS 1♥; Par −120

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

Preemptive

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♣×	E	−3	♥ A	500		7.00	0.00	4-Kloecker-Kaplan	4-Scovic-Barrett
5 ♣	E	−3	♥ A	150		5.50	1.50	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 NT	E	−3	♥ A	150		5.50	1.50	11-Prosise-Prosise	6-Felson-Brown
3 NT	E	−2	♥ A	100		4.00	3.00	9-Schultz-Williams	1-Hoffman-Roark
3 ♣	W	−1	♥ 7	50		2.00	5.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	12-Jervis-Lindeman
3 NT	E	−1	♥ J	50		2.00	5.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	3-Earls-Duncan
3 NT	E	−1	♥ A	50		2.00	5.00	12-Murdock-Oblinger	8-Henry-Campbell
3 NT	E	3	♥ K		400	0.00	7.00	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski	2-Temples-Koch

South really wishes they could lead a Club, but no such luck....

E/W take three Spade tricks, four Diamonds, and one Heart, down one. South may lead a small Heart, and declarer will cash out. South's only thought during the hand should be "Keep four Spades, keep four Spades, keep four Spades...." If South carelessly discards a Spade on the fourth Diamond ("But partner, I had FIVE winning Heart tricks!!!!"), 3 NT rolls.

Board 13
North Deals
Both Vul

♠	A K 4
♥	Q 8 5
♦	J 10 5 2
♣	Q 9 5

♠	9 8 2
♥	9 7 4 3
♦	7 6 4 3
♣	A J

N
W		E
S

♠	10 7 6 5 3
♥	A 2
♦	K 9
♣	K 10 7 3

♠	Q J
♥	K J 10 6
♦	A Q 8
♣	8 6 4 2

NS 3N; NS 3♥; NS 3♦; NS 2♣; Par +600

West	North	East	South
	1 ♦	1 ♠	Dbl1
Pass2	1 NT	Pass	3 NT
Pass	Pass	Pass

Negative
On the vulnerability

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	S	4	♠ 5	630		6.50	0.50	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	9-Behr-Terbrueggen
3 NT	N	4	♠ 7	630		6.50	0.50	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski	1-Hoffman-Roark
3 NT	N	3	♠ 5	600		3.50	3.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	11-Cushman-Petersen
3 NT	N	3	♠ 5	600		3.50	3.50	5-Cai-Hubka	5-Burns-Kobida
3 NT	N	3	♠ 5	600		3.50	3.50	11-Prosise-Prosise	4-Scovic-Barrett
3 NT	N	3	♠ 5	600		3.50	3.50	12-Murdock-Oblinger	7-Endres-Kennedy
2 NT	N	2	♣ 3	120		1.00	6.00	4-Kloecker-Kaplan	3-Earls-Duncan
3 NT	S	−2	♠ 2		200	0.00	7.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	2-Temples-Koch

If you play XYZ, remember that a 2 ♦ game-forcing rebid should be made only when there's no better bid. What would South be looking for on this auction if they rebid 2 ♦? They don't have a fifth Heart, and North has already claimed a Spade stopper for notrump. Don't bid 2 ♦ in an XYZ auction if you already know where the hand will be played.

N/S take three Spade tricks, three Hearts, and three Diamonds, making three (that's a lot of threes). East may lead a small Club.

Board 14
East Deals
None Vul

♠	J 5 3
♥	10 4
♦	J 10 8 7
♣	K Q 4 3

♠	K 7 6 2
♥	A 8 6
♦	3 2
♣	9 8 6 2

N
W		E
S

♠	A Q 10
♥	K Q 9 7 2
♦	A Q
♣	A 7 5

♠	9 8 4
♥	J 5 3
♦	K 9 6 5 4
♣	J 10

EW 5N; EW 5♠; EW 5♥; E 4♣; W 3♣; EW 1♦; Par −460

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

20 to 21
Puppet Stayman asking for a 4- or 5-card major
Alert, artificial Puppet Stayman response showing five Hearts

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	E	4	♣ J		420	7.00	0.00	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski	1-Hoffman-Roark
4 ♥	E	5	♠ 8		450	5.50	1.50	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	9-Behr-Terbrueggen
5 ♥	E	5	♣ J		450	5.50	1.50	4-Kloecker-Kaplan	3-Earls-Duncan
3 NT	E	5	♦ 5		460	4.00	3.00	11-Prosise-Prosise	4-Scovic-Barrett
4 ♥	E	6	♦ 5		480	3.00	4.00	12-Murdock-Oblinger	7-Endres-Kennedy
3 NT	E	6	♦ 6		490	1.00	6.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	11-Cushman-Petersen
3 NT	E	6	♦ 5		490	1.00	6.00	5-Cai-Hubka	5-Burns-Kobida
3 NT	E	6	♦ 5		490	1.00	6.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	2-Temples-Koch

E/W take five Heart tricks, four Spades, one Diamond, and one Club, making five. If South leads a Diamond, E/W will make six. South should lead the ♣ J.

Board 15
South Deals
N-S Vul

♠	9 8 7
♥	J 9 5 3
♦	Q 10 8 7
♣	A 7

♠	A K 5 2
♥	K Q 10 8 4 2
♦	6 5
♣	10

N
W		E
S

♠	Q 6
♥	7
♦	J 4 3 2
♣	K J 8 6 4 3

♠	J 10 4 3
♥	A 6
♦	A K 9
♣	Q 9 5 2

EW 2♥; NS 1N; NS 1♠; NS 1♦; Par −110

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♥×	W	−2	♣ A	300		7.00	0.00	5-Cai-Hubka	5-Burns-Kobida
2 ♠	W	−3	♣ A	150		6.00	1.00	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	9-Behr-Terbrueggen
3 ♣	E	−2	♥ A	100		5.00	2.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	2-Temples-Koch
1 NT	N	1	♥ 7	90		4.00	3.00	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski	1-Hoffman-Roark
3 ♥	W	−1	♣ A	50		3.00	4.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	11-Cushman-Petersen
2 ♥	W	2	♠ 8		110	2.00	5.00	12-Murdock-Oblinger	7-Endres-Kennedy
2 ♥	W	3	♠ 8		140	0.50	6.50	4-Kloecker-Kaplan	3-Earls-Duncan
2 ♥	W	3	♣ A		140	0.50	6.50	11-Prosise-Prosise	4-Scovic-Barrett

E/W lose two Diamond tricks, one Club, and two Hearts, making two. North may lead the ♣ A and switch to the ♦ 7 (beer card) at trick two when their partner signals with the ♣ 2 (asking for the lower ranking side suit). Declarer will always be able to pitch their fourth Spade on the ♣ K.

Board 16
West Deals
E-W Vul

♠	10 6 5 3
♥	K Q 10 8 6
♦	9 8
♣	Q 8

♠	A K
♥	7 5 3
♦	A K J 4 3
♣	A K 3

N
W		E
S

♠	J 4 2
♥	A 9
♦	Q 6 5
♣	10 7 5 4 2

♠	Q 9 8 7
♥	J 4 2
♦	10 7 2
♣	J 9 6

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

West	North	East	South
2 ♣	Pass	2 ♦1	Pass
2 NT2	Pass	3 ♣3	Pass
3 NT4	Pass	Pass5	Pass

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

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	W	4	♥ 6		630	5.50	1.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 NT	W	4	♥ K		630	5.50	1.50	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski	12-Jervis-Lindeman
3 NT	E	4	♠ 7		630	5.50	1.50	5-Cai-Hubka	4-Scovic-Barrett
3 NT	W	4	♥ 6		630	5.50	1.50	12-Murdock-Oblinger	5-Burns-Kobida
3 NT	W	5	♥ K		660	3.00	4.00	11-Prosise-Prosise	3-Earls-Duncan
3 NT	W	6	♥ K		690	1.00	6.00	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	8-Henry-Campbell
3 NT	E	6	♠ 7		690	1.00	6.00	4-Kloecker-Kaplan	2-Temples-Koch
3 NT	W	6	♥ K		690	1.00	6.00	6-Lubow-Lammers	6-Felson-Brown

West's 2 NT rebid shows 22+ HCP. If you think it shows only 22-24 HCP, think how silly it would be for West to rebid 3 NT to show 25+ HCP after East's 2 ♦ positive response. That would eliminate any Stayman inquiries and cramp the auction unnecessarily. If West wants to show extra values in an auction such as this one, they simply bid 4 NT (inviting slam) over partner's 3 NT sign off.

E/W take five Diamond tricks, two Clubs, one Heart, and two Spades, making four. North will lead the ♥ K.

Board 17
North Deals
None Vul

♠	Q 9 8
♥	A 6
♦	K Q J 9 4
♣	Q J 8

♠	J 4
♥	K 9 5
♦	A 10 7 3
♣	10 9 7 4

N
W		E
S

♠	A K 10 7 2
♥	J 10 8 2
♦	2
♣	K 5 3

♠	6 5 3
♥	Q 7 4 3
♦	8 6 5
♣	A 6 2

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

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
1 NT	N	2	♠ 2	120		7.00	0.00	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	8-Henry-Campbell
3 ♦	N	−1	♠ A		50	4.50	2.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 ♦	N	−1	♠ A		50	4.50	2.50	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski	12-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♦	N	−1	♠ A		50	4.50	2.50	11-Prosise-Prosise	3-Earls-Duncan
3 ♦	N	−1	♠ A		50	4.50	2.50	12-Murdock-Oblinger	5-Burns-Kobida
2 ♠	E	2	♥ 3		110	1.00	6.00	4-Kloecker-Kaplan	2-Temples-Koch
2 ♠	E	2	♥ 3		110	1.00	6.00	5-Cai-Hubka	4-Scovic-Barrett
2 ♥	E	2	♦ 6		110	1.00	6.00	6-Lubow-Lammers	6-Felson-Brown

If West leads a small Spade, N/S might actually make 2 NT when they take one Spade trick, four Diamonds, two Clubs, and one Heart. That's a lot of tricks. A better lead is anything that isn't a small Spade.

Board 18
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	K 10 6 5 4 2
♥	A Q 7
♦	J 10 2
♣	A

♠	9 8 7 3
♥	8 5 4
♦	K 9 8 5 4
♣	8

N
W		E
S

♠	A J
♥	J 9
♦	Q 6
♣	J 9 7 6 4 3 2

♠	Q
♥	K 10 6 3 2
♦	A 7 3
♣	K Q 10 5

NS 5N; NS 5♥; NS 4♠; NS 3♦; NS 2♣; Par +660

West	North	East	South
		Pass	1 ♥
Pass	1 ♠	Pass	2 ♣
Pass	2 ♦1	Pass	2 NT2
Pass	3 ♠3	Pass	3 NT4
Pass	4 ♥5	Pass	Pass
Pass

Alert, artificial Fourth-Suit Forcing bid
Denying a third Spade and showing a Diamond stopper for notrump
Showing a sixth Spade
Denying a doubleton Spade
Let's play here

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	S	4	♣ 8	630		7.00	0.00	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	8-Henry-Campbell
4 ♥	S	4	♣ 8	620		5.00	2.00	5-Cai-Hubka	4-Scovic-Barrett
4 ♥	S	4	♣ 8	620		5.00	2.00	11-Prosise-Prosise	3-Earls-Duncan
4 ♥	S	4	♣ 8	620		5.00	2.00	12-Murdock-Oblinger	5-Burns-Kobida
3 ♠	N	5	♣ 7	200		3.00	4.00	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski	12-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♥	S	4	♣ 8	170		1.50	5.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 ♠	N	4	♦ Q	170		1.50	5.50	6-Lubow-Lammers	6-Felson-Brown
3 ♣×	E	−1	♦ A	100		0.00	7.00	4-Kloecker-Kaplan	2-Temples-Koch

N/S lose one Spade trick and one Diamond, making five......if West leads a small Diamond. If West leads their stiff ♣ 8, N/S will make six.

If West leads the ♣ 8, declarer will win in dummy with the ♣ A, play the ♥ A and a Heart to the ♥ K, and exit with the ♠ Q. East will win the ♠ A and return the ♦ Q, but declarer will hop with the ♦ A, ruff their ♣T in dummy, and cash the ♠ K (the ♠ J falls) and ♠T (East is unable to ruff) pitching Diamonds from their hand. A Diamond ruff allows declarer to get back to their hand to finish pulling trump and claim. Nicely played!

Board 19
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	Q 10 8 7 3 2
♥	—
♦	6 3 2
♣	7 6 5 3

♠	J 4
♥	Q 10 8 5 4
♦	A 7 5
♣	K J 9

N
W		E
S

♠	A 9 6 5
♥	J 6
♦	K Q 8 4
♣	A 8 4

♠	K
♥	A K 9 7 3 2
♦	J 10 9
♣	Q 10 2

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

West	North	East	South
			1 ♥
Pass	Pass	Dbl1	Pass
1 NT2	Pass	2 NT3	Pass
3 NT4	Pass	Pass	Pass

Borrows a King to get to 17 HCP
Gives up a King to get to 8 HCP
Raises in case partner has 8 HCP after giving up a King
Happily accepts the game invite

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 ♠	N	−2	♦ K		100	7.00	0.00	6-Lubow-Lammers	5-Burns-Kobida
2 ♠	N	−3	♦ K		150	5.50	1.50	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	6-Felson-Brown
2 ♠	N	−3	♥ J		150	5.50	1.50	12-Murdock-Oblinger	4-Scovic-Barrett
2 NT	W	4	♠ 7		180	3.50	3.50	4-Kloecker-Kaplan	1-Hoffman-Roark
1 NT	W	4	♠ 7		180	3.50	3.50	5-Cai-Hubka	3-Earls-Duncan
3 ♥	S	−5	♣ K		250	2.00	5.00	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski	11-Cushman-Petersen
1 ♥×	S	−2	♠ J		300	0.50	6.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	9-Behr-Terbrueggen
3 ♥	S	−6	♠ J		300	0.50	6.50	7-Lipp-Rinaldi	7-Endres-Kennedy

When you're in the balancing seat (i.e., if you pass the auction is over), you should borrow a King from partner and keep it for the rest of the auction. The exception is if you're bidding some amount of notrump where the "borrowed King" is built in. In this case, East borrows a King to get to 17 HCP. West, the advancer, has to deduct a King for the entire auction. That gives them 8 HCP and with their nice Heart stoppers they have a perfect 1 NT response. East raises with their 17 count, and West bids game. Nice auction!

E/W take four Diamond tricks, three Clubs, one Spade, and two Hearts, making four. North will probably lead a small Spade, and declarer may duck. It doesn't really affect the final tally much, since South can never get three Heart tricks on their own.

Board 20
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	A 6 4 2
♥	K J 2
♦	A 7
♣	K 9 5 4

♠	9 8 3
♥	A 3
♦	Q 10 9 4
♣	J 8 6 2

N
W		E
S

♠	J 10 5
♥	Q 10 9 5
♦	K J 5
♣	A Q 7

♠	K Q 7
♥	8 7 6 4
♦	8 6 3 2
♣	10 3

EW 1N; EW 2♦; NS 1♠; Par −90

West	North	East	South
Pass	1 NT1	Pass	Pass
Pass

15 to 17

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
1 NT	N	2	♥ 10	120		6.50	0.50	5-Cai-Hubka	3-Earls-Duncan
1 NT	N	2	♥ 5	120		6.50	0.50	12-Murdock-Oblinger	4-Scovic-Barrett
1 NT	N	1	♥ 5	90		5.00	2.00	7-Lipp-Rinaldi	7-Endres-Kennedy
1 NT	E	1	♣ 3		90	4.00	3.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	9-Behr-Terbrueggen
1 NT	N	−1	♠ J		100	1.50	5.50	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	6-Felson-Brown
1 NT	N	−1	♥ 5		100	1.50	5.50	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski	11-Cushman-Petersen
1 NT	N	−1	♥ 10		100	1.50	5.50	4-Kloecker-Kaplan	1-Hoffman-Roark
1 NT	N	−1	♥ 5		100	1.50	5.50	6-Lubow-Lammers	5-Burns-Kobida

N/S take four Spade tricks, one Heart, and one Diamond, down one. If East leads the ♥T, West needs to hop with the ♥ A and switch to a small Diamond.

Board 21
North Deals
N-S Vul

♠	A J 7 2
♥	Q 10 6
♦	K J
♣	J 10 8 5

♠	5 4
♥	A 9 8 5
♦	10 7 4 2
♣	Q 9 4

N
W		E
S

♠	K Q 10 8 3
♥	K 7 2
♦	Q 9 5
♣	A 7

♠	9 6
♥	J 4 3
♦	A 8 6 3
♣	K 6 3 2

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

West	North	East	South
	1 ♣	1 ♠	2 ♣
Pass1	Pass	Dbl2	Pass
2 ♠	Pass	Pass	Pass

A bit light for a responsive double
Do something smart, partner

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♥	W	−2	♣ J	100		6.50	0.50	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski	11-Cushman-Petersen
2 NT	W	−2	♣ 5	100		6.50	0.50	12-Murdock-Oblinger	4-Scovic-Barrett
1 NT	S	1	♠ 5	90		5.00	2.00	4-Kloecker-Kaplan	1-Hoffman-Roark
2 NT	W	−1	♣ J	50		4.00	3.00	7-Lipp-Rinaldi	7-Endres-Kennedy
2 ♣	S	−1	♠ 5		100	2.50	4.50	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	6-Felson-Brown
1 NT	S	−1	♠ 5		100	2.50	4.50	5-Cai-Hubka	3-Earls-Duncan
2 ♠	E	2	♣ 3		110	0.50	6.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	9-Behr-Terbrueggen
2 ♠	E	2	♣ 2		110	0.50	6.50	6-Lubow-Lammers	5-Burns-Kobida

E/W lose one Spade trick, one Heart, two Diamonds, and one Club, making two. If South leads a small Club, E/W will make three. South's best lead is a small Diamond away from their ♦ A, but that's not going to happen.

Board 22
East Deals
E-W Vul

♠	K 7 6 5
♥	8 6 3
♦	Q J 4 3
♣	3 2

♠	10 2
♥	A K 5 2
♦	9 6
♣	K 9 8 7 6

N
W		E
S

♠	Q J 9
♥	10 9 4
♦	K 10
♣	A J 10 5 4

♠	A 8 4 3
♥	Q J 7
♦	A 8 7 5 2
♣	Q

NS 3♠; EW 2♥; NS 3♦; EW 2♣; Par +140

West	North	East	South
		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 ♦	W	−2	♦ Q	200		6.50	0.50	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♣	W	−2	♦ Q	200		6.50	0.50	5-Cai-Hubka	2-Temples-Koch
2 ♠	N	3	♥ 10	140		5.00	2.00	8-Zimmer-Kammer	8-Henry-Campbell
2 NT	N	2	♣ 9	120		4.00	3.00	4-Kloecker-Kaplan	12-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♦	S	3	♣ 7	110		3.00	4.00	6-Lubow-Lammers	4-Scovic-Barrett
4 ♠×	N	−1	♣ A		100	2.00	5.00	7-Lipp-Rinaldi	6-Felson-Brown
2 NT	E	2	♦ 5		120	1.00	6.00	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	5-Burns-Kobida
4 ♣	W	4	♦ 3		130	0.00	7.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	7-Endres-Kennedy

N/S lose one Spade trick, two Hearts, and one Club, making three. East may lead the ♥T.

Board 23
South Deals
Both Vul

♠	10 3
♥	6 4
♦	A Q J 10 6 3
♣	J 10 7

♠	K Q 9 8 2
♥	K J
♦	9 7 2
♣	A Q 2

N
W		E
S

♠	A 7
♥	Q 10 9 8 5 3
♦	—
♣	9 8 6 5 4

♠	J 6 5 4
♥	A 7 2
♦	K 8 5 4
♣	K 3

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

West	North	East	South
			Pass
1 NT1	Dbl2	4 ♦3	Pass
4 ♥	Pass	Pass	Pass

15 to 17
Alert, artificial DONT bid showing a one-suited hand
Texas Transfer

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	W	−3	♠ 10	300		7.00	0.00	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	5-Burns-Kobida
2 NT	E	−2	♦ 4	200		5.50	1.50	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♠	W	−2	♣ J	200		5.50	1.50	6-Lubow-Lammers	4-Scovic-Barrett
3 ♠	W	−1	♠ 3	100		4.00	3.00	4-Kloecker-Kaplan	12-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♥	E	5	♦ 4		200	2.50	4.50	7-Lipp-Rinaldi	6-Felson-Brown
3 ♦×	N	−1	♥ 10		200	2.50	4.50	8-Zimmer-Kammer	8-Henry-Campbell
5 ♦	N	−3	♠ A		300	1.00	6.00	5-Cai-Hubka	2-Temples-Koch
4 ♥	W	4	♦ A		620	0.00	7.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	7-Endres-Kennedy

E/W lose one Heart and one Club, making five. North may lead the ♠T or the ♣ J--either of which is defendable.

Board 24
West Deals
None Vul

♠	10 9 8 2
♥	A J 8 2
♦	A 10 9 5 4
♣	—

♠	K J 7 3
♥	7 5 4
♦	8 7 3
♣	K 6 3

N
W		E
S

♠	A Q 5 4
♥	K 10 9
♦	K 6 2
♣	Q J 10

♠	6
♥	Q 6 3
♦	Q J
♣	A 9 8 7 5 4 2

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

West	North	East	South
Pass	Pass	1 NT1	Dbl2
Rdbl3	Pass4	Pass	2 ♣
Pass	Pass	Dbl5	Pass
Pass6	Pass

15 to 17
Alert, artificial DONT bid showing a single-suited hand
Showing values
No reason for North to take a bid
Do something smart, partner
Oops

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT×	N	3	♦ 2	550		7.00	0.00	7-Lipp-Rinaldi	6-Felson-Brown
2 ♦	N	3	♣ Q	110		6.00	1.00	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
1 NT	E	−2	♥ Q	100		5.00	2.00	5-Cai-Hubka	2-Temples-Koch
2 ♠	E	−1	♣ A	50		3.50	3.50	4-Kloecker-Kaplan	12-Jervis-Lindeman
2 ♠	E	−1	♣ A	50		3.50	3.50	6-Lubow-Lammers	4-Scovic-Barrett
3 ♦	N	−1	♣ Q		50	1.00	6.00	1-Altman Sr-Wiest	5-Burns-Kobida
3 ♣	S	−1	♥ 5		50	1.00	6.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	7-Endres-Kennedy
3 ♣	S	−1	♠ 3		50	1.00	6.00	8-Zimmer-Kammer	8-Henry-Campbell

You can't really blame West for passing their partner's DSSP double (figure it out).

N/S lose two Club tricks, one Spade, one Heart, and one Diamond, making two doubled for +180. West may lead a trump.

Board 25
North Deals
E-W Vul

♠	J 10 3
♥	Q J 10 6 2
♦	8
♣	A 10 7 2

♠	A 9 4 2
♥	A 8 5 4
♦	K 10 6 4 3
♣	—

N
W		E
S

♠	K Q 6 5
♥	9 7
♦	Q 7
♣	K 9 5 4 3

♠	8 7
♥	K 3
♦	A J 9 5 2
♣	Q J 8 6

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

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

Alert, artificial Sandwich NT bid showing four Spades and five Clubs

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	E	−3	♠ 8	300		7.00	0.00	8-Zimmer-Kammer	7-Endres-Kennedy
3 ♠	E	−2	♥ K	200		6.00	1.00	9-Schultz-Williams	9-Behr-Terbrueggen
3 ♠	E	−1	♥ K	100		5.00	2.00	6-Lubow-Lammers	3-Earls-Duncan
2 ♣	S	−1	♠ A		50	4.00	3.00	7-Lipp-Rinaldi	5-Burns-Kobida
3 ♥	N	−2	♠ K		100	2.50	4.50	4-Kloecker-Kaplan	11-Cushman-Petersen
2 NT	N	−2	♠ K		100	2.50	4.50	5-Cai-Hubka	1-Hoffman-Roark
2 ♠	W	3	♦ 8		140	1.00	6.00	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski	8-Henry-Campbell
3 ♠	W	4	♦ 8		170	0.00	7.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	6-Felson-Brown

E/W play that a Sandwich NT bid when the overcaller is a passed hand shows exactly four cards in the higher-ranking suit and five cards in the lower ranking suit. A double in the same position would show a fifth card in the higher ranking suit and four or more cards in the lower ranking.

E/W take one Heart trick, four Spades, one Diamond, and two Heart ruffs, making two. North will most likely lead the ♥ Q. Declarer may duck the first trick and give North a chance to screw up trying to cashing the ♣ A (if they do, E/W will take 10 tricks). Much better is for North to switch to the ♠ J. Declarer can win in dummy, play a Heart to the ♥ A (noting the fall of the ♥ K), cash the ♠ A, and ruff a Heart with dummy's ♠ 6. South has to be careful not to pitch a Diamond on this trick, or E/W will make three. The ♦ 7 is led from dummy (beer card), and South will have to be alert to grab the ♦ A and give their partner a Diamond ruff. Declarer's can take four of the last six tricks with another Heart ruff, two good trumps in their hand, and the ♦ K.

Board 26
East Deals
Both Vul

♠	A Q 7
♥	K 7 4
♦	K 10 9 4
♣	Q J 4

♠	10 6 3
♥	A J 6
♦	A J 3
♣	10 7 5 3

N
W		E
S

♠	J 9 5 4
♥	Q 9 8 5
♦	8 6
♣	A 9 8

♠	K 8 2
♥	10 3 2
♦	Q 7 5 2
♣	K 6 2

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

West	North	East	South
		Pass	Pass
Pass	1 NT1	Pass	Pass2
Pass

15 to 17
Don't invite with 8 HCP and 3334 shape

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
2 NT	N	2	♥ 5	120		6.00	1.00	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski	8-Henry-Campbell
1 NT	N	2	♥ 5	120		6.00	1.00	8-Zimmer-Kammer	7-Endres-Kennedy
1 NT	N	2	♥ 5	120		6.00	1.00	9-Schultz-Williams	9-Behr-Terbrueggen
2 ♦	N	2	♥ 5	90		3.50	3.50	2-Pollack-Pollack	6-Felson-Brown
1 NT	N	1	♥ 5	90		3.50	3.50	4-Kloecker-Kaplan	11-Cushman-Petersen
2 NT	N	−1	♥ 5		100	1.00	6.00	5-Cai-Hubka	1-Hoffman-Roark
2 NT	N	−1	♥ 5		100	1.00	6.00	6-Lubow-Lammers	3-Earls-Duncan
2 NT	N	−1	♥ 5		100	1.00	6.00	7-Lipp-Rinaldi	5-Burns-Kobida

N/S take three Spade tricks, one Heart, two Clubs, and two Diamonds, making two. A better way to look at this might be that E/W take three Heart tricks and two minor-suit Aces. East may lead the ♥ 5.

Board 27
South Deals
None Vul

♠	J 9 7 4
♥	J
♦	A 7 3
♣	K Q 10 9 8

♠	10 2
♥	Q 9 7 4
♦	K 10 6
♣	7 5 3 2

N
W		E
S

♠	K Q 6 5
♥	10 6 2
♦	Q 9 8 4
♣	6 4

♠	A 8 3
♥	A K 8 5 3
♦	J 5 2
♣	A J

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

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

Showing 18-19 HCP

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 NT	S	5	♠ 10	460		7.00	0.00	8-Zimmer-Kammer	7-Endres-Kennedy
3 NT	S	4	♥ 4	430		5.50	1.50	7-Lipp-Rinaldi	5-Burns-Kobida
3 NT	S	4	♣ 2	430		5.50	1.50	9-Schultz-Williams	9-Behr-Terbrueggen
3 NT	S	3	♣ 7	400		2.50	4.50	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski	8-Henry-Campbell
3 NT	S	3	♦ 6	400		2.50	4.50	4-Kloecker-Kaplan	11-Cushman-Petersen
3 NT	N	3	♦ 4	400		2.50	4.50	5-Cai-Hubka	1-Hoffman-Roark
3 NT	S	3	♠ 10	400		2.50	4.50	6-Lubow-Lammers	3-Earls-Duncan
3 ♠	S	3	♣ 5	140		0.00	7.00	2-Pollack-Pollack	6-Felson-Brown

South's hand is a little too good to open 1 NT.

N/S take five Club tricks, two Hearts, one Diamond, and two Spades. West may lead the ♦ 6, ducked by declarer and won by East with the ♦ Q. A small Diamond is returned, and declarer will win in dummy with the ♦ A when West inserts the ♦T. The ♥ J is led to the ♥ A and a small Spade is played to the ♠ 7 and ♠ Q (marking West with the ♠T). East can exit with a Diamond to partner's now stiff ♦ K, but that's the last trick for the defense. West may exit with a Heart to the ♥T and ♥ K, but declarer will now run five Club tricks (pitching their Hearts) and lead the ♠ J from dummy in the two-card ending smothering West's stiff ♠T.

Board 28
West Deals
N-S Vul

♠	A Q J 7 2
♥	7 2
♦	A 6
♣	J 10 6 3

♠	K 6 5
♥	J 5 3
♦	Q 10 8 3 2
♣	A K

N
W		E
S

♠	9 3
♥	A 10
♦	K J 9 7 4
♣	Q 9 8 7

♠	10 8 4
♥	K Q 9 8 6 4
♦	5
♣	5 4 2

NS 2♠; NS 2♥; EW 3♦; NS 1♣; Par −110

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

Cuebid showing a limit raise or better in Diamonds

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠×	N	6	♥ A	1190		7.00	0.00	9-Schultz-Williams	8-Henry-Campbell
4 ♠	N	6	♥ A	680		6.00	1.00	7-Lipp-Rinaldi	4-Scovic-Barrett
5 ♦×	W	−2	♥ 7	300		5.00	2.00	4-Kloecker-Kaplan	9-Behr-Terbrueggen
5 ♦	W	−2	♣ J	100		4.00	3.00	6-Lubow-Lammers	2-Temples-Koch
3 ♦	W	3	♥ 7		110	2.00	5.00	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski	7-Endres-Kennedy
3 ♦	W	3	♣ J		110	2.00	5.00	8-Zimmer-Kammer	6-Felson-Brown
2 ♦	W	3	♠ A		110	2.00	5.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 ♦	W	4	♠ A		130	0.00	7.00	5-Cai-Hubka	12-Jervis-Lindeman

E/W lose two Spade tricks, one Heart, and one Diamond, making three. North may lead the ♣ J.

Board 29
North Deals
Both Vul

♠	Q 6 3
♥	9 2
♦	9 3 2
♣	10 8 5 4 2

♠	A K 10 9
♥	8 6 4 3
♦	Q 7 6
♣	A 7

N
W		E
S

♠	J 7 5 4 2
♥	A K Q
♦	K J 8 4
♣	Q

♠	8
♥	J 10 7 5
♦	A 10 5
♣	K J 9 6 3

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

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

Alert, artificial Jacoby 2 NT bid showing 4+ Spades and an opening hand or better
Alert, artificial Jacoby 2 NT response showing shortness in Clubs

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♠	E	5	♣ 3		650	3.50	3.50	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski	7-Endres-Kennedy
4 ♠	E	5	♥ J		650	3.50	3.50	4-Kloecker-Kaplan	9-Behr-Terbrueggen
4 ♠	E	5	♣ 6		650	3.50	3.50	5-Cai-Hubka	12-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♠	E	5	♥ J		650	3.50	3.50	6-Lubow-Lammers	2-Temples-Koch
4 ♠	E	5	♣ 3		650	3.50	3.50	7-Lipp-Rinaldi	4-Scovic-Barrett
4 ♠	E	5	♥ J		650	3.50	3.50	8-Zimmer-Kammer	6-Felson-Brown
4 ♠	E	5	♣ 6		650	3.50	3.50	9-Schultz-Williams	8-Henry-Campbell
4 ♠	E	5	♦ A		650	3.50	3.50	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes

West doesn't have much to say between 3 ♣ and 4 ♠, so they don't bother. Even if West is overly optimistic and bids 4 ♣ showing the ♣ A, E/W will park in 5 ♠ when East checks on keycards and determines that they're missing one keycard and the ♠ Q.

E/W lose one Spade trick and one Diamond, making five. South may lead the ♥ J.

Board 30
East Deals
None Vul

♠	A K 10 6
♥	10 2
♦	A 3
♣	J 7 6 5 3

♠	Q J 9 8 4
♥	J 9
♦	K J 10 6 4
♣	9

N
W		E
S

♠	7 3 2
♥	K 7 6 5
♦	8 5 2
♣	10 8 4

♠	5
♥	A Q 8 4 3
♦	Q 9 7
♣	A K Q 2

NS 7♣; NS 5N; NS 5♥; NS 3♠; S 3♦; N 2♦; Par +1440

West	North	East	South
		Pass	1 ♥
2 ♥1	Dbl2	Pass3	Pass4
2 ♠5	Dbl6	Pass	Pass7
Pass

Michaels cuebid
Alert, interested in penalizing one or both of West's suits
No preference for any suit
Forcing pass
Next bid in the bidding box
Wa-cha
Trusting their partner

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♦×	W	−5	♥ 10	1100		7.00	0.00	9-Schultz-Williams	8-Henry-Campbell
3 NT	N	5	♠ 3	460		5.50	1.50	6-Lubow-Lammers	2-Temples-Koch
3 NT	N	5	♠ 2	460		5.50	1.50	7-Lipp-Rinaldi	4-Scovic-Barrett
5 ♣	S	6	♦ J	420		4.00	3.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 NT	N	3	♦ 8	400		2.50	4.50	5-Cai-Hubka	12-Jervis-Lindeman
5 ♣	S	5	♠ 2	400		2.50	4.50	8-Zimmer-Kammer	6-Felson-Brown
6 NT	N	−1	♠ 3		50	1.00	6.00	3-Muenks-Chrzanowski	7-Endres-Kennedy
6 ♣	S	−2	♣ 9		100	0.00	7.00	4-Kloecker-Kaplan	9-Behr-Terbrueggen

The bidding is reasonable, but N/S are going to be quite disappointed when they lose out on +940 (they won't bid 7 ♣, that's crazy talk). If South does bid 3 ♣ during the auction, North should bid 4 ♦ (Kickback for Clubs) and push on to slam. North doesn't really care whether that makes or not, since N/S will have already lost out on the +800 they would have gotten doubling 2 ♠. The idea here is that North needs to try and restore equity if at all possible.

E/W take three Spade tricks and possibly one Diamond, down four doubled for –800. Although E/W will be momentarily deflated, they'll perk up again when they realize they just got a top. Here's the auction if West forgets to bid:

1 ♥ - 1 ♠
3 ♣ - 4 ♦ (Kickback)
4 ♠ (0 or 3 keycards) - 4 NT (Do you have the ♣ Q?)
5 NT (Yes, but no side-suit Kings) - 6 ♣

Board 31
South Deals
N-S Vul

♠	10 9 2
♥	8 5 3 2
♦	K 9 2
♣	Q 6 2

♠	J 8 7 5
♥	K 4
♦	10 5 4 3
♣	A K 8

N
W		E
S

♠	K Q 6 4
♥	A 7
♦	Q J
♣	10 7 5 4 3

♠	A 3
♥	Q J 10 9 6
♦	A 8 7 6
♣	J 9

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

West	North	East	South
			1 ♥
Pass	3 ♥1	Pass	Pass
Dbl2	Pass	3 ♠	Pass
Pass	Pass

Alert, weak and preemptive
Do something smart, partner

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♣	E	−2	♥ Q	100		7.00	0.00	6-Lubow-Lammers	1-Hoffman-Roark
3 ♥	S	−1	♣ A		100	5.50	1.50	7-Lipp-Rinaldi	3-Earls-Duncan
2 ♥	S	−1	♠ 5		100	5.50	1.50	8-Zimmer-Kammer	5-Burns-Kobida
3 ♠	E	3	♥ Q		140	3.00	4.00	5-Cai-Hubka	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
2 ♠	E	3	♣ J		140	3.00	4.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	9-Behr-Terbrueggen
2 ♠	W	3	♥ 2		140	3.00	4.00	11-Prosise-Prosise	11-Cushman-Petersen
2 ♠	E	4	♥ Q		170	1.00	6.00	4-Kloecker-Kaplan	8-Henry-Campbell
3 ♥	S	−2	♠ 5		200	0.00	7.00	9-Schultz-Williams	7-Endres-Kennedy

If East can find a pass of their partner's double, E/W will collect +500. Rats.

E/W lose one Spade trick, two Diamonds, and one Club, making three. South may lead the ♥ Q.

Board 32
West Deals
E-W Vul

♠	—
♥	9 7 4 3
♦	A 9 4
♣	A J 7 5 4 2

♠	A 8 5 4
♥	10 5
♦	Q 10 7 6 3 2
♣	6

N
W		E
S

♠	K Q J 3 2
♥	Q J 8 2
♦	5
♣	K Q 9

♠	10 9 7 6
♥	A K 6
♦	K J 8
♣	10 8 3

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

West	North	East	South
Pass	Pass	1 ♠	Pass
2 ♦1	3 ♣	Pass2	Pass
3 ♠	Pass	Pass	4 ♣
Pass	Pass	Pass

Alert, artificial bid showing 7-9 HCP and 4+ Spades
Showing a minimum hand

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
3 ♣	N	4	♠ K	130		7.00	0.00	8-Zimmer-Kammer	5-Burns-Kobida
2 ♦	W	−1	♣ A	100		6.00	1.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	9-Behr-Terbrueggen
3 ♣	N	−1	♠ K		50	4.50	2.50	7-Lipp-Rinaldi	3-Earls-Duncan
4 ♣	N	−1	♠ K		50	4.50	2.50	11-Prosise-Prosise	11-Cushman-Petersen
2 NT	E	2	♠ 10		120	3.00	4.00	5-Cai-Hubka	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 ♠	E	3	♥ A		140	1.50	5.50	6-Lubow-Lammers	1-Hoffman-Roark
2 ♠	E	3	♠ 9		140	1.50	5.50	9-Schultz-Williams	7-Endres-Kennedy
3 ♠××	E	3	♥ A		960	0.00	7.00	4-Kloecker-Kaplan	8-Henry-Campbell

E/W aren't able to compete to the four level due to the vulnerability. Oh well...

N/S lose two Club tricks and one Heart, making four. East will lead the ♠ K, not the ♦ 5 (they don't want a Diamond ruff since it would be at the cost of a natural trump trick). It's not unreasonable for declarer to play as follows (i.e., they know that Spades split 4-5):

1) Ruff the ♠ K low
2) Heart to the ♥ K
3) Ruff a Spade low
4) Heart to the ♥ A
5) Ruff a Spade low
6) ♣ A
7) ♦ A
8) Diamond led towards dummy

It does East no good to ruff with the ♣ Q, as they're ruffing declarer's Diamond loser. It also does them no good to discard a Spade, since declarer will simply win in dummy with the ♦ K, ruff their last Spade, and exit with a Diamond to West's ♦ Q. West, down to nothing but Diamonds, will be forced to exit with a Diamond allowing declarer to ruff in their hand and pitch a Heart from dummy. East can ruff with the ♣ Q, but dummy's ♣T will be declarer's tenth trick. Nicely played!

Board 33
North Deals
None Vul

♠	9 7 5 3
♥	K 4
♦	K 9 4
♣	10 8 7 4

♠	K Q 4
♥	A 8 7 5 3
♦	Q 10 8 7
♣	6

N
W		E
S

♠	2
♥	9 6 2
♦	J 6 5 3
♣	A K J 9 2

♠	A J 10 8 6
♥	Q J 10
♦	A 2
♣	Q 5 3

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

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

Weak jump raise

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	W	−3	♠ 3	150		7.00	0.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	9-Behr-Terbrueggen
2 ♠	S	2	♣ 6	110		6.00	1.00	6-Lubow-Lammers	1-Hoffman-Roark
4 ♥	W	−2	♠ 9	100		5.00	2.00	5-Cai-Hubka	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 ♥	W	−1	♠ 7	50		4.00	3.00	4-Kloecker-Kaplan	8-Henry-Campbell
3 ♠	S	−1	♣ 6		50	1.50	5.50	7-Lipp-Rinaldi	3-Earls-Duncan
3 ♠	S	−1	♣ 6		50	1.50	5.50	8-Zimmer-Kammer	5-Burns-Kobida
3 ♠	S	−1	♣ 6		50	1.50	5.50	9-Schultz-Williams	7-Endres-Kennedy
3 ♠	S	−1	♣ 6		50	1.50	5.50	11-Prosise-Prosise	11-Cushman-Petersen

North means well, but unfortunately 3 ♠ is down one and 3 ♥ doesn't make. Rats.

N/S lose one Spade trick, one Heart, two Clubs, and a Club ruff, down one. West will lead their stiff Club.

Board 34
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠	Q 10 9
♥	K Q J 10
♦	K 4
♣	A Q 7 2

♠	A 8 4
♥	2
♦	A Q 10 8 6 3
♣	K 5 3

N
W		E
S

♠	K J 7 3
♥	9 7 3
♦	J 9 5 2
♣	10 4

♠	6 5 2
♥	A 8 6 5 4
♦	7
♣	J 9 8 6

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

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

Weak jump raise

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
5 ♦×	W	−2	♥ K	300		7.00	0.00	11-Prosise-Prosise	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 ♥	S	3	♠ A	140		5.00	2.00	8-Zimmer-Kammer	4-Scovic-Barrett
3 ♥	S	3	♣ 3	140		5.00	2.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	8-Henry-Campbell
3 ♥	N	3	♠ 3	140		5.00	2.00	12-Murdock-Oblinger	12-Jervis-Lindeman
5 ♦	W	−2	♥ K	100		3.00	4.00	7-Lipp-Rinaldi	2-Temples-Koch
4 ♥	N	−1	♦ 2		100	2.00	5.00	5-Cai-Hubka	9-Behr-Terbrueggen
4 ♦	W	4	♥ K		130	0.50	6.50	6-Lubow-Lammers	11-Cushman-Petersen
2 ♦	W	4	♥ K		130	0.50	6.50	9-Schultz-Williams	6-Felson-Brown

West bids to the level of their total trump (6 + 4 = 10). E/W lose one Heart trick, one Diamond, and two Clubs, down one doubled for –100. That's better than 3 ♥ for N/S making three for –140. North will lead the ♥ K, and South should overtake to return the ♣ 6.

Board 35
South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	K Q 10 6 3
♥	9 6 5 3
♦	J 6 2
♣	3

♠	J 4
♥	Q 8 7 4
♦	A 10 9 8 4 3
♣	Q

N
W		E
S

♠	9 5
♥	K J
♦	7
♣	A K 8 7 6 5 4 2

♠	A 8 7 2
♥	A 10 2
♦	K Q 5
♣	J 10 9

EW 4♣; NS 2♠; EW 1♦; Par −130

West	North	East	South
			1 ♣
Pass	1 ♠	2 ♣1	2 ♠
Dbl2	Pass	3 ♣3	Pass
Pass	3 ♠	4 ♣4	Pass
Pass	Pass

Natural
Responsive showing both red suits and the values to take a bid
Able to play in Clubs opposite a void
See above

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	9-Schultz-Williams	6-Felson-Brown
2 ♠	S	4	♦ A	170		6.00	1.00	6-Lubow-Lammers	11-Cushman-Petersen
5 ♣	E	−1	♦ K	100		5.00	2.00	7-Lipp-Rinaldi	2-Temples-Koch
3 ♠	N	−1	♣ K		50	4.00	3.00	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	8-Henry-Campbell
4 ♠	N	−2	♦ 7		100	3.00	4.00	8-Zimmer-Kammer	4-Scovic-Barrett
4 ♣	E	4	♣ J		130	1.50	5.50	11-Prosise-Prosise	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
3 ♣	E	4	♠ A		130	1.50	5.50	12-Murdock-Oblinger	12-Jervis-Lindeman
4 ♣×	E	4	♠ A		710	0.00	7.00	5-Cai-Hubka	9-Behr-Terbrueggen

East's 2 ♣ bid as a natural suit may or may not be alertable depending on whom you ask.

E/W lose two Spade tricks and one Heart, making four. South may lead the ♠ A and continue Spades at trick two to North's ♠ Q. North will probably return a Heart at trick three, and South will win the ♥ A and lead the ♦ K to dummy's ♦ A. Declarer, finally in the lead, will cash the ♣ Q, ruff a Diamond low, and pull trump.

How does declarer know that South won't overruff the second round of Diamonds? Well, South can't have a singleton ♦ K or they would have overcalled 1 ♥ holding ♠ Axxx ♥ Axxxx ♦ K ♣ JT9. Even if South was allergic to overcalling, can you imagine a world where South wouldn't have led the ♦ K (or switched to the ♦ K at trick two) thereby guaranteeing themselves a fourth defensive trick as long as North held the ♠ K? (♠ A, ♦ K to the ♦ A, ♣ Q, Heart to the ♥ A, Spade to the ♠ K, Diamond back for a trump uppercut) Isn't Bridge easy?

Board 36
West Deals
Both Vul

♠	K 8 4
♥	—
♦	A K J 10 9 8 3
♣	J 5 4

♠	J 9 3 2
♥	A J 9 8
♦	7 6
♣	K 8 3

N
W		E
S

♠	10 7
♥	K Q 7 6 3 2
♦	5 2
♣	A 7 6

♠	A Q 6 5
♥	10 5 4
♦	Q 4
♣	Q 10 9 2

NS 5♦; NS 3♠; EW 2♥; NS 3♣; Par +600

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

Weak jump overcall
Negative
Would bid 4 ♥ if not vulnerable

Contract			Lead	Score		Matchpoints		Pair	Pair
				N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W	N-S	E-W
4 ♥	E	−2	♥ 4	200		7.00	0.00	9-Schultz-Williams	6-Felson-Brown
4 ♦	N	5	♥ K	150		4.50	2.50	8-Zimmer-Kammer	4-Scovic-Barrett
4 ♦	N	5	♦ 5	150		4.50	2.50	10-Ramsay-Magnus, Jr	8-Henry-Campbell
4 ♦	N	5	♦ 2	150		4.50	2.50	11-Prosise-Prosise	10-Kereiakes-Kereiakes
4 ♦	N	5	♣ A	150		4.50	2.50	12-Murdock-Oblinger	12-Jervis-Lindeman
3 ♥	E	3	♦ Q		140	2.00	5.00	6-Lubow-Lammers	11-Cushman-Petersen
4 ♠	S	−2	♥ A		200	1.00	6.00	5-Cai-Hubka	9-Behr-Terbrueggen
4 ♠	S	−3	♥ A		300	0.00	7.00	7-Lipp-Rinaldi	2-Temples-Koch

When West goes low, North is able to sneak in a 4 ♦ bid. That's enough to get N/S to their good 5 ♦ contract.

N/S lose two Club tricks, making five. East will probably lead the ♥ K.