Monday afternoon September 3, 2007
Board 10
East Deals Both Vul | ♠ A 9 5 4 3 ♥ A 7 5 ♦ A 7 4 ♣ 4 3 | ||||||||||
♠ Q 10
♥ K Q 3 2 ♦ K J 9 8 ♣ J 9 7 |
| ♠ 6 2
♥ J 10 9 6 4 ♦ 10 6 5 3 2 ♣ 2 | |||||||||
| ♠ K J 8 7 ♥ 8 ♦ Q ♣ A K Q 10 8 6 5 |
| West | North | East | South |
| Pass | 1 ♣ | ||
| Pass | 1 ♠ | Pass | 3 ♣ |
| Pass | 3 NT | Pass | 4 ♣ |
| Pass | 4 NT | Pass | 6 ♣ |
| All pass |
| 6 ♣ by South |
| Made 7 — +1640 |
Properly bid 6C might end up being a low board, but not today. No one bid either six clubs, spades or NT. The play is routine. Missing four the proper play is to go for the drop, which works.
Friday evening September 7, 2007
Board 4
West Deals Both Vul | ♠ A J 7 3 ♥ A 2 ♦ 6 3 ♣ Q 8 6 5 3 | ||||||||||
♠ K Q 8 4
♥ K Q 10 7 6 5 ♦ — ♣ J 10 4 |
| ♠ 10 9 6 5 2
♥ 3 ♦ A Q 10 9 8 4 ♣ K | |||||||||
| ♠ — ♥ J 9 8 4 ♦ K J 7 5 2 ♣ A 9 7 2 |
Lead: a low heart.
| West | North | East | South |
| 1 ♥ | 2 ♣ | 2 ♦ | 3 ♣ |
| 3 ♥ | Pass | 3 ♠ | All pass |
| 3 ♠ by East |
| Made 3 — +140 |
Active competitive bidding almost always guarantees odd splits. East's 3S is an educated guess, since it would be normal for either competitor to search for a spade fit. South's heart goes to the ace, then back to West after East discards the king of clubs. Boo on North. While he might think that partner is leading from shortness, more likely its from nothing. East should start with diamonds, trumping on the board, clubs back to hand. Three spades makes but three hearts the other way goes down three and two. It's a tough hand.
Friday evening September 7, 2007
Board 15
South Deals N-S Vul | ♠ 10 ♥ A J 10 6 4 ♦ 10 ♣ Q J 9 8 7 2 | ||||||||||
♠ K 5 3 2
♥ Q 5 ♦ 9 6 5 4 3 ♣ 5 3 |
| ♠ J 9 8 6
♥ 3 2 ♦ A Q J 8 7 ♣ 10 6 | |||||||||
| ♠ A Q 7 4 ♥ K 9 8 7 ♦ K 2 ♣ A K 4 |
| West | North | East | South |
| 1 NT | |||
| Pass | 2 ♦ | Pass | 3 ♥ |
| Pass | 4 ♣ | Pass | 4 NT |
| Pass | 5 ♦ | Pass | 6 ♥ |
| All pass |
| 6 ♥ by South |
Lead: low diamond.
| Made 6 — +1430 |
No North bid the 6-card club suit over the 1NT opener after transferring to hearts. As North you have to figure the beautiful second suit might be of some value. Does South figure to have the ace and/or king? Yes. Will the Q-J-9-8-7-2 be helpful? Yes. In this case, all the teams ended up in 4H or 3NT making 6/7. The key bid is 4C over 3H showing a second suit. The 2D first bid is a transfer to hearts. North could say 4H and call it a day, BUT LOOK AT THE SHAPE! Two singletons! The hand re-evaluates to 14-15 points or more. True, South has to play for the drop, but that's the percentage play.