Centre Island Teams Match 2 Board 20

Centre Island Teams Match 2

This hand featured a related theme to the last hand. After partner shows shortage in the majors I could have been optimistic about the likelihood of a minor suit fit. As it was this was our auction...

Board 20 West Deals Both Vul	♠ 7 6 4 ♥ 10 7 4 3 ♦ K 6 5 4 ♣ K 6
♠ A Q ♥ K Q 2 ♦ A 8 3 2 ♣ A 9 4 3	N  W E S	♠ K 9 8 5 ♥ A 5 ♦ Q J 10 9 7 ♣ Q 5
	♠ J 10 3 2 ♥ J 9 8 6 ♦ — ♣ J 10 8 7 2

West	North	East	South
Livingston		Burrows
2 ♦1	Pass	3 NT	Pass
Pass	Pass

18-Bad 20 Balanced or nearly balanced

3 NT by East

At the table I took the pessimistic view and bashed 3NT with extra values but thinking two 'balanced' hands would make slam unlikely.

Especially at IMPs I should have been more optimistic. If a fit could be found in either spades or diamonds a slam might be possible with marginal values. The slight risk of giving the opponents extra information or of getting to 5-minor when 3NT would have been better should have been taken for the big gain of bidding slam if an appropriate fit could be found. In fact our methods were ideal for the hand.

Had I taken the more optimistic view then our auction would have developed as follows:

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West	North	East	South
	2 ♦1	Pass	2 ♠2
Pass	2 NT	Pass	3 ♣3
Pass	3 NT4	Pass	4 ♦
Pass	4 ♠5	Pass	4 NT6
Pass	5 ♣5	Pass	6 ♦
Pass	Pass	Pass

18-Bad 20 Balanced or nearly balanced Puppet to 2NT Puppet Stayman Exactly 2=3 in the majors (or worse) cue - 1st or 2nd heart cue - 1st or 2nd

After the 3NT response showing only five-cards (at most) in the majors I would have been optimistic about a good diamond fit. Partner would have cue-bid and we would have found slam. Note for us the spade cue-bid does not deny a heart control as 4♥ would have be kick-back RKCB.

Centre Island Teams Match 2 Board 13

Centre Island Teams Match Two

Board 13 North Deals Both Vul	♠ Q 8 4 ♥ J 10 4 3 ♦ J 9 2 ♣ 9 8 2
♠ K 10 2 ♥ A K 8 6 ♦ A 8 4 3 ♣ A 7	N  W E S	♠ 5 3 ♥ 7 5 2 ♦ K 10 ♣ K Q J 10 5 3
	♠ A J 9 7 6 ♥ Q 9 ♦ Q 7 6 5 ♣ 6 4

West	North	East	South
Livingston		Burrows
	Pass	Pass	Pass
2 ♦1	Pass	2 ♠2	Pass
2 NT	Pass	3 ♣3	Pass
3 ♦4	Pass	3 ♥5	Pass
3 NT6	Pass	5 ♣	Pass
Pass	Pass

18-19(20) Balanced or nearly balanced Puppet to 2NT Puppet Stayman no five-card major and not precisely 2=3 or worse in majors asks for four spades denies four spades

5 ♣ by East

This hand featured one of our pet conventions and a IMP theory of my own.

We use the Mexican 2♦ popularized by George Rosenkranz and currently played by some of the top Italian pairs. Our responses are home grown.

At a different vulnerability I might have opened 3♣ but second seat vulnerable we have higher standards.

In our style we frequently bash 3NT with balanced (no singleton or void) hands however here I chose to investigate a possible 5=3 heart fit. This decision was made because of the weak doubleton spade. Having not found a heart fit the vagaries of our system meant that I was forced to ask for four spades on route to 3NT - an immediate 3NT would have shown two four-card majors. When partner denied four spades I knew that we had at most five spades between our two hands. This led me to choose 5♣ rather than 3NT as the final contract. At IMPs we should play 5-minor more often than in Matchpoint duplicate pairs. Perhaps 3NT is reasonable on this hand but over the past couple of years I have done many simulations in which on similar hands 5-minor was at least as good as 3NT.

In addition sometimes going beyond 3NT will allow you to find a good minor suit slam.

Caccia Birch Charity

Caccia Birch Daffodil Day Tournament - Session One

On Sunday I played in the Caccia Birch Charity at which $2500 was raised for the Cancer Society.

It was a good day with a well run tournament. I say this despite the fact that my partner and I finished in a disappointing 21st place. Of course I cannot claim that we played our best but we did have some bad luck.

Tonight I am due to run a session on slam bidding for some of this year's beginners in the club. These two slam hands caught my attention of how not to bid a slam ...

Board 5 North Deals N-S Vul	♠ A 10 5 ♥ K Q 10 6 5 ♦ A ♣ A 7 6 2
♠ K Q 8 7 6 2 ♥ 9 4 3 ♦ J 8 5 ♣ 3	N  W E S	♠ 9 ♥ J 7 2 ♦ Q 10 9 6 4 3 2 ♣ 5 4
	♠ J 4 3 ♥ A 8 ♦ K 7 ♣ K Q J 10 9 8

West	North	East	South
		Burrows
	1 ♥	Pass	2 ♣
2 ♠	4 NT1	Pass	5 ♦2
Pass	6 ♥!	Pass	Pass
Pass

Blackwood One Ace

6 ♥ by North

Made 7 — +1460

North has a great hand when partner shows values and clubs with her two-over-one response. So launching into Blackwood is reasonable. Maybe a diamond splinter is better. However the final choice of 6♥ is seems to be based more on hope than sound bidding. North only knows south has one heart because she admitted to an ace. So 6♥ was a possible five-one fit. On the actual hand if there was a 4=2 or 5=1 heart break the slam was in danger provided the player with the long trump was west or if east he had a second spade.

On second thoughts perhaps if you think that west has six spades then east is most likely to have the long trump. If this is the case 6♥ will be playable even in a 5=1 fit and could therefore be worth a lot of matchpoints.

If you consider the play in 6♥ when partner turns up with ♥A8 then when west follows to the second heart some consideration should be given to finessing the ♥10 if you have had a spade lead. Your only danger is that the defense have a trump trick and can cash a spade. How likely in a two-over-one auction is it that west would come in with a weak hand and only a five-card suit? If you think it is not at all like then the ♥10 is standout.

In the actual play declarer dropped the jack and made 13 tricks.

We were lucky!!!! The didn't bid a grand slam. 7♣ is a little tricky to bid - north doesn't immediately know about the long clubs with south and south doesn't know for sure how his spade losers are going to disappear.

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Caccia Birch Daffodil Day Tournament - Session Two

Board 4 West Deals Both Vul	♠ 7 6 5 4 3 ♥ J 4 3 ♦ J 9 ♣ A 10 7
♠ K J 10 2 ♥ A K Q 2 ♦ 3 2 ♣ K 9 8	N  W E S	♠ A Q 9 ♥ 9 ♦ A Q 8 ♣ Q J 5 4 3 2
	♠ 8 ♥ 10 8 7 6 5 ♦ K 10 7 6 5 4 ♣ 6

West	North	East	South
			Burrows
1 ♣1	Pass	2 ♣2	Pass
2 ♥	Pass	4 ♣3	Pass
4 ♥4	Pass	5 ♣5	Pass
5 NT6	Pass	6 ♣!	Pass
Pass	Pass

Precision 16+ any 8+ hcp 5+ clubs Gerber One ace Gerber asking for kings Three kings

6 ♣ by West

Made 6 — +1370

This hand follows the same theme as the last where the bidder did not take the fundamental step of confirming a fit before bidding a slam. This time the final bid of 6♣ has little to recommend it. It is possible on this auction that partner has no clubs or even if she does have a club or two there is no guarantee of the ♣A or ♣K.

Having said that east is not entirely to blame. Playing Precision it is normal for west's 2♥ rebid to show a five-card suit. I don't know her reasons for bidding 2♥ - perhaps she was fearful of her two small diamonds - but a 2NT rebid by west would have been much more helpful to east. She then could be sure of a club fit.

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Caccia Birch Daffodil Day - Session Two

Board 7 South Deals Both Vul	♠ A 10 8 5 ♥ A 10 4 3 2 ♦ — ♣ K 9 6 2
	N  W E S
	♠ K Q J 9 7 6 4 2 ♥ K J ♦ 7 4 ♣ A

West	North	East	South
			1 ♠
Pass	4 ♦1	Pass	4 NT2
Pass	5 ♥3	Pass	7 ♠
Pass	Pass	Pass

void splinter RKCB two no trump queen

7 ♠ by South

Another hand from the second session would have showed off a favourite convention of mine - void splinters at the four-level (for me normal splinters are one level lower). This would have allowed us to find the short route to the grand. Identifying the void allows us to use Blackwood (RKCB) from either side unambiguously. If the 4♦ bidder subsequently uses Blackwood then partner discounts the ace in the void suit.

Perhaps it is not that likely that the auction would be uncontested - although at the event we had an uncontested auction (it was different than the auction shown).

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Caccia Birch Daffodil Day - Session Two

Board 20 West Deals Both Vul	♠ A Q 8 3 ♥ 9 4 3 ♦ 6 2 ♣ J 6 5 3
♠ 9 6 ♥ K Q J 8 ♦ Q J 3 ♣ Q 10 8 2	N  W E S	♠ K 7 ♥ A 7 2 ♦ 9 8 7 5 4 ♣ K 9 7
	♠ J 10 5 4 2 ♥ 10 6 5 ♦ A K 10 ♣ A 4

West	North	East	South
			Burrows
1 NT1	Pass	Pass	Pass

12-14

1 NT by West

Made 1 — -90

I am not sure if west miscounted her points or frequently opens these eleven counts but that is one pretty weak 1NT. I am fond of light 1NT openings but I don't think I would have found this bid.

Some might have bid 2♠ in the passout seat with my hand but that's not my style with a balanced hand particularly with such a bad suit.

If partner had lead a spade we would have had a relatively quick seven tricks. She chose to lead a club and seven tricks were there for declarer.

Again we were lucky!!! After I had won the ace declarer and switched to a spade declarer could have crossed to her hand with a heart and hooked my partner for the ♣J and made eight tricks.

KiwiTeams 080813 - A few hands

I thought I would celebrate the Central Climbers first win by posting some hands from the match...

Early on Palmer and Wilson found their three-three fit in the simplest of auctions.

Board 3 South Deals E-W Vul	♠ J 8 2 ♥ A Q 10 6 ♦ 10 7 4 ♣ A 10 8
♠ A K Q 10 ♥ K 4 3 ♦ Q 8 3 ♣ J 5 4	N  W E S	♠ 6 5 4 3 ♥ 9 8 ♦ J 6 5 2 ♣ K 9 3
	♠ 9 7 ♥ J 7 5 2 ♦ A K 9 ♣ Q 7 6 2

West	North	East	South
gerry	lmu	tarakiwi	seychelles
			Pass
1 ♣	All pass

1 ♣ by West

Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
1. N	♠ 2	3	9	10
2. W	♠ A	8	4	7
3. W	♠ K	J	5	♣ 2
4. S	♦ A	3	4	2
5. S	♦ K	Q	7	5
6. S	♦ 9	8	10	J
7. E	♥ 8	2	K	A
8. N	♥ Q	9	5	3
9. N	♥ 6	♣ 3	7	4
10. E	♦ 6	♥ J	♠ Q	♣ 8
11. N	♥ 10	♠ 6	♣ 6	♣ J
12. W	♣ 4	10	K	7
13. E	♣ 9	Q	5	A

Down 1 — E-W -100

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The auction was more eventful in the closed room ...

Board 3 South Deals E-W Vul	♠ J 8 2 ♥ A Q 10 6 ♦ 10 7 4 ♣ A 10 8
♠ A K Q 10 ♥ K 4 3 ♦ Q 8 3 ♣ J 5 4	N  W E S	♠ 6 5 4 3 ♥ 9 8 ♦ J 6 5 2 ♣ K 9 3
	♠ 9 7 ♥ J 7 5 2 ♦ A K 9 ♣ Q 7 6 2

West	North	East	South
sandrac	kermit	jenter62	cascade
			1 NT1
Dbl	All pass

10-13 can be off-shape

1 NT x by South

Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
1. W	♠ A	2	3	7
2. W	♠ K	8	4	9
3. W	♠ Q	J	5	♣ 2
4. W	♠ 10	♦ 4	6	♥ 2
5. W	♦ 3	7	J	A
6. S	♥ J	3	6	8
7. S	♥ 7	4	10	9
8. N	♥ A	♣ 3	5	K
9. N	♥ Q	♦ 2	♣ 6	♣ 4
10. N	♣ 8	K	7	5
11. E	♦ 6	K	8	10
12. S	♣ Q	J	A	9
13. N	♣ 10	♦ 5	♦ 9	♦ Q

Made 2 — N-S +280

The mini-1NT bought a double from west. East with only four points and a balanced hand had nowhere to go so chose to defend. With the distribution being friendly Burrows came to eight tricks. Perhaps he should just play for one club honour to be onside. However trying to combine chances in clubs and diamonds he needed a squeeze to overcome a blockage ...

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	♠ — ♥ Q ♦ 10 ♣ A 10 8
♠ — ♥ — ♦ Q 8 ♣ J 5 4	N  W E S	♠ — ♥ — ♦ 6 5 2 ♣ K 9
	♠ — ♥ — ♦ K 9 ♣ Q 7 6

On the last heart west is squeezed. She cannot pitch a diamond as then the ♦Q will fall making declarer's nine good. A club is equally fatal as eventually north's ♣10 comes good.

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Differing opening styles led to a big swing on board 7 ...

Board 7 South Deals Both Vul	♠ 10 8 4 ♥ 10 7 5 2 ♦ 7 6 4 3 ♣ K 9
♠ J 9 7 6 3 2 ♥ K J 9 8 6 ♦ J ♣ A	N  W E S	♠ A K ♥ A 3 ♦ A K 9 2 ♣ 8 7 6 4 3
	♠ Q 5 ♥ Q 4 ♦ Q 10 8 5 ♣ Q J 10 5 2

West	North	East	South
gerry	lmu	tarakiwi	seychelles
			Pass
1 ♠	Pass	2 ♦	Pass
2 ♥	Pass	3 ♣1	Pass
3 ♥	Pass	3 ♠	Pass
4 ♠	Pass	5 ♦2	Pass
6 ♠	All pass

4th suit forcing to game cue - first round control

6 ♠ by West

Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
1. N	♠ 4	K	5	2
2. E	♠ A	Q	3	8
3. E	♣ 3	10	A	9
4. W	♠ J	10	♦ 2	♦ 5
5. W	♥ 6	5	A	4
6. E	♥ 3	Q	K	2
7. W	♥ J	7	♣ 4	♣ 2
8. W	♥ 9	10	♣ 6	♣ 5
9. N	♣ K	-	-	-

Made 6 — E-W +1430

Palmer opened 1♠ in the open room and despite having no guaranteed fit Wilson tried for slam based on his sharp honours. Palmer accepted the slam try based on extra distribution - he certainly didn't have extra values.

The final contract was a little thin needing either spades or hearts to play for no losers. When the ♠Q was doubleton and the ♥Q doubleton in front of the jack Palmer had no problem bringing home 12 tricks.

In the other room ...

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Board 7 South Deals Both Vul	♠ 10 8 4 ♥ 10 7 5 2 ♦ 7 6 4 3 ♣ K 9
♠ J 9 7 6 3 2 ♥ K J 9 8 6 ♦ J ♣ A	N  W E S	♠ A K ♥ A 3 ♦ A K 9 2 ♣ 8 7 6 4 3
	♠ Q 5 ♥ Q 4 ♦ Q 10 8 5 ♣ Q J 10 5 2

West	North	East	South
sandrac	kermit	jenter62	cascade
			Pass
2 ♥1	Pass	2 NT!	Pass
3 ♠	Pass	4 ♥	All pass

hearts and another at least 5/5

4 ♥ by West

Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
1. N	♣ K	3	5	A
2. W	♥ 6	2	A	4
3. E	♥ 3	Q	K	5
4. W	♥ J	7	♣ 4	♣ 2
5. W	♠ 2	4	K	Q
6. E	♠ A	5	3	8
7. E	♦ A	5	J	4
8. E	♦ K	8	♠ 6	3
9. E	♣ 6	10	♥ 8	9
10. W	♠ J	10	♣ 7	♣ J
11. W	♠ 9	♥ 10	♣ 8	♦ 10
12. N	♦ 7	2	Q	♥ 9
13. W	♠ 7	♦ 6	♦ 9	♣ Q

Made 6 — E-W +680

Calvert opened a weak two-suiter. Its a matter for partnership style and agreement but perhaps with some extra distribution and 10 hcp the hand is too strong for 2♥ even vulnerable.

Even with 18 prime points it is hard for jenter62 to imagine slam especially when she is not even certain of a fit.

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An aggressive pass by Palmer helped produce another good swing ...

Board 10 East Deals Both Vul	♠ 9 6 4 3 ♥ K 9 6 3 ♦ J 8 5 ♣ J 9
♠ K 5 ♥ J 8 2 ♦ A 9 6 3 ♣ 8 6 5 2	N  W E S	♠ A Q J 10 7 ♥ A 10 5 4 ♦ — ♣ A 10 4 3
	♠ 8 2 ♥ Q 7 ♦ K Q 10 7 4 2 ♣ K Q 7

EW 3♠; EW 3♥; EW 4♣; EW 2N; NS 1♦

West	North	East	South
gerry	lmu	tarakiwi	seychelles
		1 ♠	2 ♦
Pass	Pass	Dbl1	All pass

re-opening

2 ♦ x by South

Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
1. W	♠ K	3	A	2
2. E	♠ Q	8	5	4
3. E	♠ J	♦ 10	♣ 2	6
4. S	♦ K	3	5	♣ 3
5. S	♦ 2	6	8	♣ 4
6. N	♣ J	10	7	6
7. N	♣ 9	A	Q	5
8. E	♠ 10	♥ 7	♦ 9	9
9. W	♦ A	J	♥ 4	4
10. W	♣ 8	♥ 3	♥ 5	K
11. S	♦ Q	♥ 8	♥ 6	♥ 10
12. S	♦ 7	♥ 2	♥ 9	♠ 7
13. S	♥ Q	J	K	A

Down 1 — N-S -200

Would you pass 2♦Dbl with the west cards. South is hardly maximum for the 2♦ overcall and on the surface there are eight tricks for declarer - five diamonds, two clubs and a heart. A closer analysis shows that the defense can defeat the contract with two spades, two side aces and two trump tricks (or by forcing declarer off by repeatedly leading spades).

If you consider that Gonthier would have overcalled with the ♣A rather than the ♣K and that Wilson would still double (he could even have the ♣J or ♥K from dummy) with those cards swapped then you see the danger of converting the takeout double for penalties.

Some might argue that Wilson should not double with a diamond void. No one though can argue with the result +200 for east-west.

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Board 10 East Deals Both Vul	♠ 9 6 4 3 ♥ K 9 6 3 ♦ J 8 5 ♣ J 9
♠ K 5 ♥ J 8 2 ♦ A 9 6 3 ♣ 8 6 5 2	N  W E S	♠ A Q J 10 7 ♥ A 10 5 4 ♦ — ♣ A 10 4 3
	♠ 8 2 ♥ Q 7 ♦ K Q 10 7 4 2 ♣ K Q 7

West	North	East	South
sandrac	kermit	jenter62	cascade
		1 ♠	2 ♦
Dbl	Pass	3 ♥	Pass
3 NT	All pass

3 NT by West

Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
1. N	♦ 5	♣ 3	10	3
2. S	♦ 4	9	J	♣ 4
3. N	♦ 8	♥ 4	Q	A
4. W	♥ 2	6	10	Q
5. S	♦ K	6	♠ 3	♥ 5
6. S	♦ 7	♣ 2	♠ 4	♣ 10
7. S	♦ 2	♣ 5	♠ 6	♠ 7
8. S	♣ 7	6	9	A
9. E	♠ A	2	-	-

Down 2 — E-W -200

In the closed room east-west got into a different sort of trouble. After the same start to the auction as the open room Calvert chose to double where Palmer had passed. jenter62 perhaps believing that her partner had four hearts jumped to 3♥ which effectively pushed her side into a hopeless 3NT.

Personally I am in favour of the useful values sort of negative double rather than the more mainstream "guaranteeing four-cards in the unbid major". Especially when as I suggested earlier I have no intention of passing 2♦ doubled. In that style most often partner will only bid 2♥ with a four-card suit expecting a raise. Maybe though even in this style the east hand here is just too strong for 2♥.

Bridge is a cruel game north-south in the open room and east-west here did little or nothing wrong and lost 9 IMPs for their trouble.

Club Night 080812

Palmerston North Club 080812

Board 3 South Deals E-W Vul
	N  W E S	♠ A 7 ♥ 10 9 ♦ A K Q 10 9 7 5 3 ♣ 3

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

Multi - weak in either major or strong balanced pass or correct

I found this bidding problem to be difficult. There were a number of issues:

The scoring was matchpoints which means that 3NT could easily be a better scoring contract;

We were vulnerable against not so I was wary of bidding 5♦ and potentially giving up 100s - maybe doubled.

In the end I decided my choice was between bidding 3NT or 5♦, I also gave some consideration to double hoping to be able to bid my diamonds later. I wasn't brave enough to bid 3NT without a heart stopper so I blasted 5♦ which ended the auction.

There was good and bad news in the full layout:

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Board 3 South Deals E-W Vul	♠ 9 4 ♥ A 5 4 2 ♦ J 2 ♣ K 9 8 7 4
♠ 5 3 2 ♥ K Q 8 7 3 ♦ 8 6 ♣ A 6 5	N  W E S	♠ A 7 ♥ 10 9 ♦ A K Q 10 9 7 5 3 ♣ 3
	♠ K Q J 10 8 6 ♥ J 6 ♦ 4 ♣ Q J 10 2

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

5 ♦ by East

Partner had two tricks so that 5♦ was cold but he also had one quick trick and a heart stopper so that we had 630 available in 3NT. Maybe next time I will be braver.

Another five-level decision gave me a pleasant surprise:

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Board 14 East Deals None Vul	♠ J ♥ 10 ♦ K Q 8 5 2 ♣ A 9 8 7 6 5
♠ K 8 7 5 3 ♥ 8 7 4 3 2 ♦ A 10 4 ♣ —	N  W E S	♠ 9 6 2 ♥ A J 5 ♦ J 9 ♣ K J 10 4 3
	♠ A Q 10 4 ♥ K Q 9 6 ♦ 7 6 3 ♣ Q 2

West	North	East	South
		Pass	1 NT1
Pass	5 ♣	Dbl	Pass
Pass	Pass

12-14

5 ♣ x by North

North's 5♣ was close to the last bid I was expecting. I guess north-south had limited methods and north with limited values and lots of distribution elected to blast a suit game. On another day 5♣ might be a fine contract but not today unless you were a defender.

Fullarton Teams Round One Grand Slams

Fullarton Teams Round 1

A couple of grand slams turned up in the first round of qualifying ...

... on both occasions we fell at the last hurdle and only bid the small slam. This is how we could have bid them.

Board 1 North Deals None Vul	♠ J 7 ♥ 9 7 3 ♦ 6 ♣ K Q J 10 9 5 2
♠ Q 10 5 4 ♥ K J 6 5 4 2 ♦ K ♣ A 8	N  W E S	♠ A K 9 8 3 2 ♥ A 10 ♦ A 8 7 ♣ 6 4
	♠ 6 ♥ Q 8 ♦ Q J 10 9 5 4 3 2 ♣ 7 3

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

RKCB 1 or 4

7 ♠ by East

Some might think that 4♠ is a slight overbid with only 15 hcp but with sharp working cards its a reasonable upgrade. With only five spades and these values most would consider the east hand a near maximum for a 3♠ overcall.

When west imagines the slam and asks for key cards the grand slam is a very reasonable proposition after partner shows up with four key cards. West can count six spades, two hearts, two diamonds, one club for eleven tricks. Leaving two ruffs in the west hand to make thirteen tricks or if they are not available there is a good chance that the hearts will provide a source of tricks.

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Fullarton Teams Round 1

Board 8 West Deals None Vul	♠ 10 9 4 ♥ 2 ♦ A 10 9 6 5 ♣ 10 7 4 3
♠ A Q 8 5 2 ♥ 10 9 8 7 ♦ Q 4 3 ♣ 5	N  W E S	♠ K J 6 ♥ A K J 6 ♦ — ♣ A K Q J 8 6
	♠ 7 3 ♥ Q 5 4 3 ♦ K J 8 7 2 ♣ 9 2

West	North	East	South
2 ♠1	Pass	2 NT2	Pass
3 ♣3	Pass	3 ♠4	Pass
4 ♣5	Pass	5 ♦6	Pass
5 ♠7	Pass	5 NT8	Pass
7 ♠9	Pass	Pass	Pass

5-10 hcp with 5-6 spades artificial forcing enquiry at least three hearts setting trumps and inviting slam cue bid 1st or 2nd round control exclusion RKCB one or four key cards outside diamonds asking for trump queen showing trump queen

7 ♠ by West

Our weak twos are aggressive and are frequently on only a five-card suit especially not vulnerable. As you see we do not care too much about having a side four-card major that might dissuade others from a similar opening.

There are two keys to the above auction. Firstly we were able to set trumps at 3♠ and then responder was able to make an unusual jump to the five-level to ask for aces excluding the ♦A.

As I mentioned above on the actual hands we settled in 6♠ both times. We picked up on the first hand when the opponents only bid game and tied the second board. In a qualifying match where we were already getting a maximum 25 VPs it turned out not to be necessary to bid either grand.

Fullarton Teams Final 3 Board 27

Board 27 South Deals None Vul	♠ Q J 6 4 2 ♥ A J 10 7 ♦ — ♣ A J 5 3
♠ 9 ♥ Q 6 4 3 ♦ Q J 9 ♣ K Q 10 6 2	N  W E S	♠ 10 7 3 ♥ 8 ♦ 10 8 7 6 5 4 ♣ 9 8 4
	♠ A K 8 5 ♥ K 9 5 2 ♦ A K 3 2 ♣ 7

West	North	East	South
Livingston	Aldridge	Burrows	McLeod
			1 ♣1
Pass	1 ♠2	Pass	4 ♣3
Pass	4 NT4	Pass	5 ♣5
Dbl	5 NT6	Pass	6 ♥7
Pass	7 ♠	Pass	Pass
Pass

16+ any distribution 8+ with 5+ spades Splinter - 0 or 1 club and spade support RKCB 0 or 3 key cards Asking for kings Two (not including spade king)

7 ♠ by North

Greg Aldridge and Debbie McLeod were the only pair in the final (six teams) of the Fullarton Teams to bid and make 7♠ on this deal. Some only reached the small slam and some failed in the grand.

After avoiding the 4-4 heart fit, which incidentally probably should also yield 13 tricks, declarer has to carefully time the play to come to thirteen tricks. West's double of 5♣ ensured a club lead. Then the correct sequence of plays involves ruffing three clubs in dummy. The key is to manage the entries back to the north hand to take the ruffs. At least two declarers failed when they ruffed diamonds twice (possibly after taking two pitches on the top diamonds) this failed when east disposed of the ♥8 on the third club ruff. It is easy to see that a 4-1 heart break will be a problem if the singleton heart can be discarded by a player with fewer than four clubs. This suggests that the heart entry should be used early. On this hand ruffing a diamond the first time and using the heart the second time would work but that would fail if the clubs were 6-2 and there is a suggestion that the clubs might not break after west's double although Livingston may have chosen to bid 2♣ or 3♣ earlier if she had six. The best play then is to return the first time to the north hand with a heart and use the diamond ruffs the next two times.

Also note that it is safest and best to save the ♦AK until after trumps have been drawn. Playing them early leaves open the possibility that east will be able to over-ruff when north returns to hand with the third or fourth diamond.

Fullarton Teams Final Two Board 14

Fullarton Teams - Final Two

Board 14 East Deals None Vul	♠ 2 ♥ 9 7 3 2 ♦ 10 6 3 ♣ A K Q 9 5
♠ K Q 10 3 ♥ A 8 6 ♦ A J 9 8 7 ♣ J	N  W E S	♠ A 8 6 5 ♥ K Q J 4 ♦ K 5 ♣ 10 8 7
	♠ J 9 7 4 ♥ 10 5 ♦ Q 4 2 ♣ 6 4 3 2

West	North	East	South
Livingston	Stuck	Burrows	Woodhall
		1 NT1	Pass
3 ♦2	Pass	3 ♥3	Pass
3 ♠3	Pass	4 ♣4	Pass
4 ♠5	Pass	4 NT6	Pass
5 ♣7	Dbl	5 ♦8	Pass
6 ♠9	Pass	Pass	Pass

10-13 can be offshape 4+ diamonds 0-1 clubs Natural 4(+) card suit Nothing wasted in clubs Sign-off RKCB 0 or 3 key-cards Asking for trump queen Trump queen and no side king

6 ♠ by West

6♠ is an excellent contract and indeed double dummy can be made. However after two rounds of clubs forcing west to ruff the line to make is to cross to dummy and take a first round trump finesse for the ♠J and then bank everything on the very favourable diamond position. In practice the obvious and much better line of ruffing one more club and relying on a normal 3=2 trump division is how declarer should play this hand. Unfortunately as you can see that line fails on this particular layout.