Commentary by Ian Hamilton

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Donna Powers
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1 NORTHERN IRELAND BRIDGE UNION First Interclub Heat B 26 th - 29 th September 2018 Commentary by Ian Hamilton

2 KQ10 Neither Vulnerable 2 K J1095 J A J9 AJ QJ96 A32 A 9763 NT Q7632 A8 AKQ AQ8643 KQJ73 N AQ S K107 KQJ1052 E K4 KJ5 W A south 1 opener could easily be overcalled 3NT by west, cold if clubs run and the opponents cannot take five spades. In practice it goes badly light. However, south may not be done, trying 4, since many hands with three plus spades and a trick opposite will suffice. Declarer should lose control or sustain a diamond ruff, going light, but can succeed on a club lead should east win the first trump. He needs to duck the first round then return a trump. Where south opens 1 west either overcalls clubs, or cues 3, asking for a spade stop, duly forthcoming. South may now feel he must introduce diamonds, and will end up in 4 - fine if it makes, but poor otherwise, a penalty eschewed. N-S Vulnerable N S E W I think 1NT best describes south's hand over east's 1 opener. And he should probably pass rather than try a tempting 2 should east rebid 2 after a couple of passes. South's 1NT should make in comfort, east forced to cede tricks to at least two of south's kings. By contrast, 2 suffers two club ruffs, and should be defeated. Where east is allowed to declare clubs south needs to be careful to take his heart king at the right time or he never makes a diamond trick, west's 13th heart providing a pitch. A nice exercise in bidding and defence judgement. 3 7 A87 E-W Vulnerable 4 Q532 K8 Q1083 K3 K9532 K10942 K1085 AQJ64 K87 A1096 J Q752 A A4 NT J104 Q872 4 AQ1087 A83 Q N J4 KQ643 S J10963 KJ6 E A965 J6 J5 W card majors easily get to 4 when east opens 1, raised by west. Acol easts open 1, overcalled 1 by south and raised by north. East could now try 2, but not all wests will raise, and game could be missed. It is close. Should south fail to overcall 1 will be passed out, and should make, but will score poorly. Both Vulnerable N S E W N/S could easily finish in 1NT after north opens his thin 1. Either north or south could declare. Unfortunately for N/S, on a diamond lead the defence are ahead, and can manage eight tricks so long as they do not waste a diamond trick. Ten tricks are possible be east in spades, but he may have to finesse the club queen, then cross-ruff. Anyone pulling trumps is likely to lose two club tricks, in addition to the red losers. A nice test of play technique. Opening first is usually an advantage, either getting to a decent contract or making it awkward for the opponents to find their optimal spot. However, vulnerable, there is the danger of a failing spot, light in 100s, and worth more to the opponents than their own contract. This hand bears out the English professional, Brian Senior's, dictum - when you declare 1NT vulnerable, you have to make it. Here declarer won't, probably losing 200, but even minus 100 is unlikely to be a good board.

3 5 J83 Q962 N-S Vulnerable Q1073 AQ K7 A97 Q64 K103 J9 K7 J A NT AKQ4 J1082 J1087 Q643 J82 Q6543 K1052 N AQ4 A83 S KJ85 KJ2 975 AK5 A109 This looks like a near universal 3NT, played by south where he opens 1 and rebids 2NT, played by north where he responds 1NT to south's Acol 1. I suppose some might alight in 4 in the Acol sequence. Both defenders are likely to select a club lead, but declarer is in luck, the suit splitting 4:4. Thus, he can either set up a long spade, when the suit divides kindly, or can finesse the spade knave, drawing the ace, then later play a heart towards the queen. The happy spade division also means that 4 comes home, a club ruffed in dummy, and only two trumps and a heart lost. Will any be in this spot for a great board? E-W Vulnerable Acol could have the better of this one, south opening a weak NT and north either transferring to spades, or using "garbage" Stayman, south declaring 2. 5 card majors open 1 and north responds 1. Over south's 1NT rebid north likely tries 2, which south may feel he has to raise, getting the contract too high, since either major suit contract can be held to eight tricks. There is little chance of the defence erring where south declares, but where north is in 3 east just might lead a low club, allowing an extra club trick for a diamond pitch. So the 5 card major brigade could yet survive. N S E W J5 A65 Both Vulnerable 8 J K Q72 K AK3 854 KQ92 K8 J1094 AKQ8 J AJ9 Q863 A3 K987 A6 98 AJ N Q4 A1073 Q732 S E QJ KJ10543 Q52 W This looks like yet another uncontested auction, east having a raise of west's bid and rebid suit, and west enough to contract for game. Neither north nor south has anything resembling a sensible intervention. Care is needed in the play of 4. On a diamond lead declarer wins, and pulls trumps, preserving his 2. Now north wins the third diamond and can belatedly lead clubs. But dummy is entered with the trump 3, a club pitched on a diamond, and hearts guessed for the possible overtrick. On a club lead declarer can still get home, pulling trumps and losing a diamond finesse. Unless the defence arrange for south to win their club trick declarer doesn't need the heart guess, a heart going on a diamond. Well done any defeating this one. Neither Vulnerable N S E W West should have the honours this time, declaring 3NT after either his Acol 1 or 5 card major 1. North likely leads a red suit. The heart knave provides a handy entry for two club finesses to be taken, and declarer should also get a spade trick, the defence unable to run diamonds, thanks to dummy's pips. This is a nice exercise in card play, where most should be recording 430, after playing the percentages in the club suit. Could anyone declare spades, where, with hearts dividing, a cross-ruff brings in eleven tricks?

4 9 A1095 Q962 E-W Vulnerable 10 5 KQ J 8 J K3 J8 KQJ9 A A103 J9 6 K98653 AQ Q1043 KJ7 K64 AQ10832 KJ Q7642 N KJ75 S A E A9652 AQ3 W East has a heavy strong NT or 1 opener. Over the latter south just might make a nuisance of himself by overcalling in spades, maybe raised by north. This could make it awkward for E/W to get to 3NT, which is unbeatable played by west. Where east declares he has a nasty spade guess at trick one, and will make either eleven or eight tricks, so long as he is careful with entries and picks up the club suit, unblocking diamonds along the way. There might be those declaring a minor. East can make eleven tricks in clubs on a spade lead, able to ruff a heart and still pick up trumps. However, the bad break should hold a diamond spot to no more than ten tricks. 11 K753 K8 Neither Vulnerable 12 K1087 A10954 K97 Q AQ J952 A64 Q2 A3 Q8 K QJ K106 J8743 AQ4 KJ105 AQ92 KJ74 N J6 Q3 J S J7632 A2 E A W South has a thin 3 opener. He is just about worth it at love all, despite the poor suit, and gives west a problem. Perhaps the stopper-less 3NT is the answer - it being rare that the pre-emptor's suit runs, usually blocked, or partner having a stop or part stop, as here. Both Vulnerable N S E W East has a classic Multi or Weak Two in spades, over which south is a bit stuck, though is probably best to double rather than introduce his moth-eaten diamond suit or pass with his 14HCP. Over the Weak Two west can to bounce in spades. Few norths will resist 5 now. This spot has little chance, since even if declarer manages to set up a diamond he still has three black losers with the club finesse losing. In the Multi sequence west initially corrects to 2, but can re-think when north bids game in hearts, bidding 4. While many will be one light in 5 this may not be a disaster, since there will be those making 4 as E/W, perhaps doubled. It takes the diamond ace lead and a ruff to beat it. N-S Vulnerable N S E W I wouldn't recommend north overcalling a west weak NT showing the majors, nor would I bid hearts over his alternative 1. However, here N/S have a ten card heart fit, and an easy 140. Fortune favours the brave today, though it would more often result in a penalty. 3NT can be made by west, but declarer must play spades when north leads a heart. With the knave falling there are nine tricks. If hearts are not led diamonds are played. The defence cannot both pick up the heart suit and cash it whoever wins the first round of diamonds. Some will be passed out in 3. Most will make. It needs west to improbably start with three clubs, south ruffing. Now west can over-ruff a fourth club from east after he wins the trump ace. E/W are likely to buy it in no trumps at most tables, where they can manage seven tricks by guessing diamonds correctly. However many will be higher than 1NT, either in 2NT or even game. A minor suit partscore is more comfortable, and could make nine tricks on imperfect defence. So although E/W have way the preponderance of high cards a plus looks far from assured.

5 Both Vulnerable 14 J73 Q743 AJ9653 QJ96 K852 Q10 KQ72 AJ96 KQ54 A J865 KQ3 J Q K AQ104 J KJ N A942 S AK965 K72 E A 63 A7 W E/W should get to 4, either after a weak NT and Stayman, or after an east 5 card major 1 opener. Either party could declare. Although there are only three clear losers the trump break and possible club ruff in south are issues. Indeed, a club lead from south should result in defeat. Declarer may also have to ruff two diamonds in west, and possibly finesse the heart 8 to succeed. It will be interesting to see how many manage to get home in this tricky spot. My guess is that there will be relatively few. Neither Vulnerable N S E W With a lot of shape about we could have plenty of bidding, and in practice whoever declares probably overboard. South has a Michael's overcall of east's 1 opener, and north has 4 card support. Unfortunately, he has no prime cards, being all queens and knaves. Indeed, even making 2 could be a challenge, unless the defence crash their spade honours. E/W have a club spot, but problems with entries. Declarer can get to dummy by ruffing the third round of diamonds, and so pick up trumps, making 130 if he does everything perfectly. Whoever declares is highly likely to record a minus, and will be pretty disappointed, particularly if it is east with his rare 6:6 shape N-S Vulnerable KJ54 A10853 AQ3 K Q874 KJ65 Q3 A1052 J7 KQ965 J10542 AK J6 Q KQ942 N J82 A KJ8 S A1083 Q7 E AK842 AQ1087 J76 W South's weak NT runs to east. As the cards lie a pass can lead to a six trick defeat on a diamond lead. However, most will bid spades, and could easily miss game. As many as twelve tricks can score when the diamond queen falls, though the suit needs played before the last trump, west needing this as an entry to the diamonds. Perversely, the safer 1 opener by south could see E/W bidding higher, especially if north uses an Inverted 3 raise. West surely raises east's 3 to game. It looks like a lot of E/W scores with few, if any, N/S pluses, since the vast majority will either make at least ten tricks in spades E/W or get a penalty. E-W Vulnerable N S E W South will usually overcall east's 1 with 2. His suit is a bit thin, but he has a lot of HCP. West has a Sputnik double, so east will try to play in 2. This proves to be a rather uncomfortable spot on diamond leads, north overruffing dummy in both red suits. Not all will succeed. South may not be done, doubling spades for takeout. The resulting N/S 3 contract looks tricky with the bad break, and some could be doubled, west thinking Christmas has come early. It hasn't, at least nine and possibly ten tricks available on a cross-ruff. West shouldn't double. He has no tricks outside trumps. The likely next best for N/S is where they get 200 defending spades, which could easily happen a few times.

6 17 2 AQ10876 Neither Vulnerable 18 A75 62 AQ93 A832 QJ AKQ9 J8 KQ75 J1063 KQ9 K9 J542 KQJ87 53 K NT J7 K K J764 A N S A1094 J84 Q96 A I can see this dying in 2 or 2 after north opens 1 and rebids 2 over south's 1. I think 2 is better from south, rather than the unilateral pass. Over 2 north may bid again, and whatever game eventuates can succeed, though needs some work. Easiest is 4 where, thanks to the fall of the heart king and 9, as many as eleven tricks are available should the diamond 10 get pinned. The same tricks are possible in no trumps. 4 must lose three trumps. As the cards lie ace and a heart ruff fell the king, so pinning the diamond ten may not be necessary, simply the queen finesse needed. All games are pretty odds against here, but once more bidding them up could be effective, as the cards lie kindly. N-S Vulnerable North is likely to be left in his strong NT, unless west elects to show his majors. Acol responds 1 to a north 1 opener, so north should certainly buy it in his 2NT rebid, west unlikely to want to play in south's suit. In 1NT there would seem to be seven tricks when the diamond queen lies favourably. However, there is little prospect of more, unless east twice leads clubs, allowing the 9 its day. He shouldn't. On a low club lead west plays his 10, denying the 9. So Acol should lose out, declaring a level too high. Where west does get into the action good guessing can allow E/W to escape for one light in 2 of a major, the 50 lost in theory a decent save against the 90 ceded in no trumps. However, some will lose 100, turning a good board into a poor one. 19 KJ 7643 E-W Vulnerable 20 AK Q KJ8 AQ 9842 KQJ AQ QJ2 K2 AQ8 63 AKJ10742 Q432 A KJ KQ A 10 A975 N J1095 S E J W This could be a rather awkward hand to bid for 5 card majors when east responds 2 to west's 1. In traditional methods 3 is not forcing, so west may have to invent a club suit. Acol is okay, west able to rebid a forcing 2NT. However it should not be beyond most pairs to get to one of the possible games, though I can see a few over-reaching to the poor 6. Declaring diamonds the suit can be picked up for one loser, but unfortunately the spade finesse fails, so eleven tricks are the limit. Those declaring no trump may do best, there being the same tricks. Not far behind will be the spade declarers, most losing three tricks, but still beating those in diamonds. N S E W Both Vulnerable N S E W This is another wild hand, west probably opening a thin 3 and north trying 4. East could well elect to defend, but will regret it, unless he starts with a speculative club ace, in which case west can get two ruffs. Otherwise, west is eventually forced to play diamonds, giving declarer his tenth trick. East does better to raise diamonds, where north cannot prevent eleven tricks, unable to stop spade ruffs without losing his second trump trick. Some easts will try 5, but can be held to nine tricks on a trump lead, no more than ten otherwise, the best declarer can do being to get two club ruffs in dummy. Supporting diamonds is more sensible, there being no guarantee of a heart fit.

7 21 63 KQ64 N-S Vulnerable K7543 K98 K6 AJ J10 A875 Q5 J A1086 J9 J1075 Q6432 Q843 AJ109 KQ865 4 A104 QJ9 KQ942 N AK94 AJ107 S Q2 A K732 One would hope that most could get to 4 after either north's weak NT or 1 opener. Over the latter south responds 1 then either uses Checkback (2 or 2 ) or rebids 2 over north's 1NT. Over the opening 1NT south can transfer to spades then bid hearts, or use Stayman, then jump to 3 (or 3 playing Smolen, north declaring). East's singleton club lead doesn't actually hurt as west has no entry. Declarer has just enough entries to get a diamond ruff in south as well as establish spades, getting to pitch all his club losers, east unable to access west for his club trick. This hand provides a nice test of technique. Well done anyone racking up 680 on the N/S cards. Those playing in spades or no trump can only get eleven tricks unless the defence improbably pitch all their diamonds. 23 K8 AQ53 Both Vulnerable 24 A3 Q975 A1093 KQ1082 AK9 103 AJ J9654 Q1082 K109 J84 J QJ72 J J4 A6 J9542 N Q764 K7 762 S AK K6 A9654 Q1073 KQ87 North should declare 3NT after his 2NT opener and failed Stayman enquiry. The spotlight is on east to find a non-diamond lead, else declarer can record eleven tricks when the heart finesse succeeds, and the suit divides. Against a 2NT opener it is rarely wise to lead from suits like east's diamonds. The lead most likely to establish tricks, at the least risk of ceding an extra looks like a spade. Will many make 660 here when the defence slip? E-W Vulnerable N S E W Intermediates count for a lot on this hand where south may open a weak NT. When north transfers to hearts east could double, showing diamonds, allowing west to raise. As it happens a raise to the 3NT game works better, the 10,9,8 of hearts and the spade pips meaning that the defence can do no better than take a heart and two spades. In practice many will be allowed to declare 2 as south. This will lose at least 150, possibly 200. They are very likely to in a 5 card major sequence, where north responds 1 to south's 1. Now 1NT results, and is an even worse spot, though west could lead a heart or east a diamond, either reducing the penalty. One to defend E/W, or bid the cold 22HCP 3NT, which few will. Neither Vulnerable N S Blackwood is maybe the answer for south when north opens 1. The Roman Keycard version works best, north able to show two key cards plus the trump queen. Some use 4 rather than 4NT, keeping the bidding lower. Thus south can bid 6 with confidence, knowing that only a ruff, 4:0 trump break or conceivably a second club or spade loser is an issue. None is. There could be those in 6NT. Deep Finesse has no problem making this, double finessing east's club knave and nine. The rest of the world should go light, unless west unguards hearts, which he easily could. So 6NT should not make, but I bet it does at some tables, as west has three discards to make and it isn't easy. A good rule is to discard from odd length suits, not four carders. It succeeds here.

8 25 A10 AQ9 E-W Vulnerable QJ82 QJ105 K4 KQ108 K8743 J762 Q983 J95 K J53 65 A AK QJ73 A AJ9 Q102 N K54 AQ764 K64 S K A9 J73 65 Like #23 we have north opening 2NT and playing in the no trump game. East could well lead a passive club to west, who now needs to find the spade switch. With declarer having to twice lose the lead in diamonds to set up nine tricks the defence are ahead in the race, despite losing a tempo on the opening lead. Both Vulnerable N S East's weak NT may see south showing the majors. A 2 bid is best for this, with a 2 bid available should partner have equal length in the two suits. Here north clearly will select hearts, but it is hard to see game bid. A 5 card major 1 see a 1 overcall. Now a pre-emptive jump in diamonds may dissuade south from doubling or showing his second suit, and may buy it. So this one should be defeated, despite 27HCP N/S. But will it always be? West has to guess which of two similar suits to switch to, with near identical dummy holdings. I suppose selecting the marginally stronger is logical. Of course, east could make it easy by leading spades at the start. However E/W's 3 can go badly light, and will only prove profitable against those bidding game N/S, so maybe vulnerable heroics aren't a good idea. The opposing possible game is rather fortunate, all the suits breaking, allowing eleven tricks to result. 27 A54 QJ2 Neither Vulnerable 28 AK109 AJ762 KJ105 J962 A97 Q K982 J4 Q7653 K106 A9874 K10 Q84 AQ NT Q Q AQJ J10763 N S E AK1084 KJ53 K53 W West might open 1, but I wouldn't with a minimum, poor suit and wasted values. North would overcall 1NT, the same as he would open playing a strong NT. Acol would open 1. Either way east might get involved, and south will try to play in spades, which he likely will succeed in doing. 2 looks comfortable, but can be defeated on a club lead, west having red suit entries to deliver two ruffs. The distribution damaging 2 has the adverse effect on an E/W heart contract, should they manage to declare, eight tricks there on cross-ruff lines. So either side has chances of a plus, but how large could matter. N-S Vulnerable N S E W North presumably doubles west's 1 opener, and south has probably enough to jump to 2, despite his likely wasted club king. This should allow north to advance, possibly bidding hearts, but certainly not stopping short of game, even if west bids again. However, I can see few in 6, makeable when trumps divide, and a ruffing finesse proves possible against east's spade queen. So yet again a pretty wild deal, something of a theme on the set, which it is hoped proved enjoyable. Ave HCP N 9.96 S E 9.89 W Balanced N 13 S 14 E 12 W 13 Voids/singletons N 1/9 S 3/5 E 3/11 W 0/62 7+ suit N 2 S 1 E 1 W 3

Commentary for the World Wide Bridge Contest Set 3 Tuesday 24 th April 2018, Session # 4233

Commentary for the World Wide Bridge Contest Set 3 Tuesday 24 th April 2018, Session # 4233 Thank you for participating in the 2018 WWBC we hope that, win or lose, you enjoyed the hands and had fun. All