Monday afternoon July 1, 2007
Board 7
South Deals Both Vul | ♠ Q J 6 5 3 ♥ 8 7 ♦ 9 8 5 ♣ A 3 2 | ||||||||||
♠ 10 2
♥ 9 5 4 2 ♦ Q J 10 6 2 ♣ Q 5 |
| ♠ 8 4
♥ A 6 ♦ K 3 ♣ K J 10 9 8 7 4 | |||||||||
| ♠ A K 9 7 ♥ K Q J 10 3 ♦ A 7 4 ♣ 6 |
| West | North | East | South |
| 1 ♥ | |||
| Pass | 1 ♠ | Pass | 3 ♠ |
| Pass | 4 ♣ | Pass | 4 NT |
| Pass | 5 ♦ | Pass | 6 ♠ |
| All pass |
| 6 ♠ by North |
Lead: 4 of spades
| Made 6 — +1440 |
North is the one who must take a leap of faith. South would have bid 4S if she wanted to play in game. The 3S bid is a "let's poke around" bid. Agreeing that spades were trump, North's next bid is a cuebid of the ace of clubs. South now knows the club suit is covered and hopes that her hearts will be good. East leads a benign spade and North sighs in relief. Thank God they didn't find a diamond lead; which of course they wouldn't from East. One more round of trumps, then it's off to dislodge the ace of hearts. North dumps her bad diamonds and clubs on partner's excellent hearts and the slam is complete. Rack up a top board.
Unfortunately, none of the pairs this afternoon bid this slam; everyone stopping at 4S making 6.
Friday evening July 6, 2007
Board 30
East Deals None Vul | ♠ A J 9 7 3 ♥ 10 4 3 ♦ A 4 ♣ J 9 8 | ||||||||||
♠ 10 6 5
♥ 9 8 6 ♦ Q J 10 6 ♣ 10 7 4 |
| ♠ K Q 8 4 2
♥ A 5 ♦ 9 8 2 ♣ 6 5 3 | |||||||||
| ♠ — ♥ K Q J 7 2 ♦ K 7 5 3 ♣ A K Q 2 |
| West | North | East | South |
| Peggy Graham | Gene Graham | ||
| Pass | 1 ♥ | ||
| Pass | 1 ♠ | Pass | 2 ♣ |
| Pass | 2 NT | Pass | 3 ♥ |
| Pass | 4 ♥ | Pass | 4 NT |
| Pass | 5 ♥ | Pass | 6 ♥ |
| All pass |
| 6 ♥ by South |
Lead: queen of diamonds
| Made 6 — +980 |
After taking the ace of diamonds, a little diamond back to the king, followed by a heart ruffed with the ten. On the ace of spades goes the last diamond. Nice people always seem to get good results. Gene patiently forces out the ace of hearts, then claims with the good clubs. Well done, Gene!
Thursday night July 6, 2007
Board 9
North Deals N-S Vul | ♠ A 6 5 ♥ A K 7 ♦ K Q J 10 2 ♣ A J | ||||||||||
♠ 3
♥ J 10 9 8 5 4 3 2 ♦ — ♣ 9 7 6 5 |
| ♠ Q J 10 7 2
♥ Q 6 ♦ 6 5 3 ♣ Q 8 3 | |||||||||
| ♠ K 9 8 4 ♥ — ♦ A 9 8 7 4 ♣ K 10 4 2 |
| West | North | East | South |
| Peggy Graham | Gene Graham | ||
| 2 NT | Pass | 4 ♦ | |
| Pass | 4 NT | Pass | 5 ♦ |
| Pass | 6 NT | All pass |
| 6 NT by North |
Lead: queen of spades
| Made 7 — +1020 |
This time it was Peggy's turn to shine. Since 6NT made 7, the spade lead was captured in hand. There was time to finesse the club and still make 6 before any damage. The jack was covered by the queen and it was time to take all fifteen tricks!
Saturday morning July 7, 2007
Board 14
East Deals None Vul | ♠ 10 9 4 ♥ 7 5 4 3 ♦ K Q 9 3 ♣ A J | ||||||||||
♠ J 8
♥ J 10 ♦ J 8 7 5 2 ♣ 8 4 3 2 |
| ♠ 7 6 3 2
♥ Q 9 ♦ A 6 ♣ Q 10 9 7 5 | |||||||||
| ♠ A K Q 5 ♥ A K 8 6 2 ♦ 10 4 ♣ K 6 |
| West | North | East | South |
| Pass | 1 ♥ | ||
| Pass | 3 ♥ | Pass | 3 ♠ |
| Pass | 4 ♣ | Pass | 4 ♥ |
| Pass | 4 NT | Pass | 5 ♥ |
| Pass | 6 ♥ | All pass |
| 6 ♥ by South |
Lead: five of diamonds
| Made 6 — +980 |
All 7 NS teams stopped at four hearts making six. How could the teams get to six? Using standard novice/intermediate methods, it's difficult. North's 3H bid seals the trump suit. South could have just gone to four hearts without showing the spades. North should take South's 3S bid to be a "let's poke around" bid. Four clubs cuebids the control in clubs. From South's perspective the only problem is in diamonds. 4NT doesn't solve the problem. WHAT ABOUT DIAMONDS? Not having a control in diamonds, South must bid 4H. Cue the drum roll. It's NORTH that has to take charge (as most responders have to). It's North that must either ask for aces or cuebid diamond control at the 5 level. Six hearts rolls on these cards, as does 6NT.
Saturday morning July 7, 2007
Board 21
North Deals N-S Vul | ♠ 4 ♥ Q J 10 5 3 ♦ 9 4 2 ♣ 7 5 4 2 | ||||||||||
♠ A K 9 2
♥ A ♦ A K Q J 7 ♣ J 6 3 |
| ♠ Q 8 7 6 5 3
♥ 2 ♦ 8 6 3 ♣ A Q 9 | |||||||||
| ♠ J 10 ♥ K 9 8 7 6 4 ♦ 10 5 ♣ K 10 8 |
| West | North | East | South |
| Pass | Pass | Pass | |
| 2 ♣ | Pass | 2 ♠ | Pass |
| 4 NT | Pass | 5 ♦ | Pass |
| 6 ♠ | Pass | 6 NT | All pass |
| 6 NT by West |
Lead: none matter
| Made 7 — +1020 |
West has at least 13 tricks available with any lead.