Monday afternoon September 17, 2007
Board 16
West Deals E-W Vul | ♠ K Q ♥ K Q 10 6 4 ♦ K Q 5 ♣ Q 6 3 | ||||||||||
♠ A 5 4
♥ J 8 3 ♦ J 10 8 7 2 ♣ 9 2 |
| ♠ 10 9 8 7 3 2
♥ 9 7 5 ♦ 9 6 4 3 ♣ — | |||||||||
| ♠ J 6 ♥ A 2 ♦ A ♣ A K J 10 8 7 5 4 |
| West | North | East | South |
| Janet Johnson | Peggy Olson | ||
| Pass | 1 NT | Pass | 6 ♣ |
| All pass |
| 6 ♣ by South |
Lead: ace of spades
| Made 6 — +920 |
Nice bid Peggy! If West doesn't take the ace of spades the hand makes 7 because the hearts set up and the spades can be pitched.
Monday afternoon September 17, 2007
Board 22
West Deals E-W Vul | ♠ A 10 9 5 ♥ 10 8 6 4 ♦ 10 7 ♣ J 8 6 | ||||||||||
♠ 8 7 4
♥ 9 3 2 ♦ A 5 2 ♣ K Q 9 3 |
| ♠ J 3
♥ K Q ♦ K Q J 4 3 ♣ A 10 7 4 | |||||||||
| ♠ K Q 6 2 ♥ A J 7 5 ♦ 9 8 6 ♣ 5 2 |
| West | North | East | South |
| Pass | Pass | 1 ♦ | Pass |
| 1 NT | Pass | 2 NT | All pass |
| 2 NT by West |
Lead: five of spades
| Made 2 — +120 |
Playing "coded 10s and 9s", North might be tempted to lead the nine of spades, promising two higher cards in the suit. Unfortunately, partner would look at the lead, his hand, then the board and determine that North was leading from the Top of Nothing. By leading the five North promises something in return, hopefully the ace.
The defense collects four spades and the ace of hearts; that's all they're entitled to. If North leads a heart declarer gets five diamonds, four clubs, a heart and a top board--assuming South returns a low heart after winning the king. The bidding sequence shouts for a major suit lead since neither declarer or partner had any interest in finding a major suit fit.
Friday evening September 21, 2007
Board 14
East Deals None Vul | ♠ Q 8 ♥ Q J 10 9 7 6 ♦ 9 5 2 ♣ 8 3 | ||||||||||
♠ 6 5
♥ — ♦ A Q J 7 6 ♣ A K J 10 6 4 |
| ♠ 9
♥ A K 4 2 ♦ K 10 8 4 ♣ Q 9 7 2 | |||||||||
| ♠ A K J 10 7 4 3 2 ♥ 8 5 3 ♦ 3 ♣ 5 |
| West | North | East | South |
| Paul Saeger | Lanell Saeger | ||
| 1 ♣ | 4 ♠ | ||
| 5 ♣ | Pass | Pass | 5 ♠ |
| 6 ♣ | All pass |
| 6 ♣ by East |
Lead: ace of spades
| Made 6 — +920 |
Six spades down three doubled is only 500 points, much less than the 920 earned by this nice slam. Unfortunately, this evening Lanell and Paul were the only ones actually bidding (and making) a slam. Everyone else stopped in 5 diamonds. for 420.
Friday evening September 21, 2007
Board 18
East Deals N-S Vul | ♠ K 10 7 2 ♥ 9 5 3 ♦ 9 2 ♣ J 9 5 4 | ||||||||||
♠ Q 5
♥ A K 10 6 2 ♦ J 8 5 ♣ K 10 3 |
| ♠ A J 3
♥ J 8 4 ♦ A Q 7 4 ♣ A Q 8 | |||||||||
| ♠ 9 8 6 4 ♥ Q 7 ♦ K 10 6 3 ♣ 7 6 2 |
| West | North | East | South |
| 1 NT | Pass | ||
| 3 ♥ | Pass | 4 ♥ | Pass |
| 4 NT | Pass | 5 ♠ | Pass |
| 6 NT | All pass |
| 6 NT by East |
Lead: nine of spades
| Made 7 — +1020 |
North looks at his hand, then takes one click to the right and inspects the board; partner's nine is from the top of nothing. The nine sails around to the jack. Declarer is SO glad she didn't bid grand slam. The proper play with 8 cards is to finesse the queen of hearts, which in this case works. Five heart tricks are available; plus three clubs, two spades and up to three diamonds, but there is only room for two.