Thursday evening June 19, 2008

Lead: eight of clubs

If the defenders hands had been reversed North could have doubled 5D for a lead, however with anything but a diamond lead West makes all 13 tricks. The bidding above is pretty standard, West recognizing East's jump at 3H and a cuebid at 4C indicating slam interest. East touches base with 4NT just to make sure the pair aren't missing both aces. Notice that 6NT, 6H and 6S can be made on the hand.

Thursday evening June 19, 2008

Lead: two of spades

Six clubs was bid three times, making 920 each time. I held the North cards at my table and opened a club. Her 12-15 HCPs have to be SOME place, not in clubs for sure. East takes the ace and returns a spade which declarer wins with the king. COUNT YOUR TRICKS! Six clubs, four hearts a spade and a diamond. If I have a long runnable suit, I always look to see if I can sweep 12 tricks with two nice suits and outside controls.

Thursday evening June 19, 2008

Lead: four of hearts

None of the six teams playing these cards reached game in clubs, myself included; probably because of East's opening bid. The jump from 3C to 5C is a leap in faith. What does North's 3C bid mean? Ten points and four or five clubs. What suits contain North's points? Not clubs. Less likely hearts with East's opening and South's K-J-10; leaving diamonds and spades. The heart lead drives out the ace but sets up the K-J as winners on which to discard extra spades in dummy. East's return of the king of spades will be too late to win the day; not many defenders will lead a spade from three-ratty, not after partner has opened a heart.

Thursday evening June 19, 2008

Lead: ace of hearts

West is too strong for a 2NT reply over East's 1S opener (using Marty Bergen's Rule of 20--add your HCP to the length of your two longest suits). A jump-shift to anything with controls, regardless of length is preferred. West takes partner's 4C bid as normal and shapely. The play is routine. The key bid is East's 4C. East can't chicken-out after his weak opener.

Saturday morning June 21, 2008

Lead: ace of hearts

After the ace East might do North a favor and finesse his partner in diamonds. Since there's no way to get rid of the extra diamond on the board, declarer is forced to finesse after drawing trumps. It works.

Saturday morning June 21, 2008

Lead: nine of diamonds

With cautious play all 13 tricks can be had; but first the bidding. If West jumps to 3NT, East needs to discourage and go to four spades; however, a 1S-3NT sequence rather than being a shutout bid, should be taken as 15-18 HCP and slam interest. When West then raises spades, East should do the investigating with such a shapely hand. Unfortunately, this morning none of the teams managed to get past game. How to make 7? Take the diamond on the board, then the king of hearts, heart back to the ace and cautiously ruff a third heart on the board. Take the spade finesse back and ruff the fourth heart high with the queen. You get a lucky break; then back to your hand with the ace of trumps, both the 10 and king falling. A club to the ace, and drop the last club on the king of diamonds.

Saturday June 20, 2008

Lead: queen of diamonds

One adventurous team ended up in a dangerous but makable 6NT contract, losing only the opening trick to the ace of diamonds. Six spades should be the standard contract for this hand. North needs to realize that partner has a big hand, not shapely enough to open 2NT. South in turn should be looking for slam from the get-go with the two king doubletons. If declarer gets any other opening lead, he still has to play East for the ace of diamonds and will eventually have to lead toward it.

Saturday morning June 21, 2008

Lead: ace of hearts

East has 14 tricks after South leads the ace of hearts. The play is a no-brainer; it's getting there that counts. I would open 2C with this hand even though the HCP aren't there. You have 11 tricks in your hand and you need a way for partner to tell you he has a spade control. With a 2C opener and holding 12 points (the 2S bid is a step response, 2NT would be acceptable as well since the support hand is so good), West knows the team needs to be in slam and must keep bidding until East makes the decision.