The Welsh Bridge Union St David's Day Simultaneous Pairs Friday 1st March 2019 Session # 7271 Dear Bridge Player Thank you for supporting the WBU Simultaneous Pairs - I hope you enjoyed the hands and the commentary. The funds raised from this event will support the WBU and its work with the development of bridge in Wales. Please tell your friends at other clubs who may not have played in this event that we will be running another one in September as we normally do and we would love to have them join us - as with this one, it will be run over a week, with five sets of hands available, one for each day, so you can play every night if you want to and we certainly hope you will try and play more than once! The results of this event can be found at www.ecatsbridge.com - just click on the link to Sims and you will see how to find them. Best wishes - and enjoy your bridge! Anna Gudge WBU Simultaneous Pairs Organiser Mill Cottage Voy Stromness Orkney KW16 3HX 01787 881920 anna@ecats.co.uk www.ecatsbridge.com 1
Board 1. Love All. Dealer North. [ K J 8 7 ] J 4 2 { A 8 6 } A K 2 [ A Q 10 4 2 [ 6 ] A 8 5 ] K 10 3 { 7 3 { K Q J 10 9 5 } Q 10 3 } 9 8 5 [ 9 5 3 ] Q 9 7 6 { 4 2 } J 7 6 4 If North opens a strong no trump he may play there, either because East does not have a natural 2{ overcall available to him or judges to defend as he has a good lead. Careful play leads to five tricks. If East overcalls any opening and West bids no trump, it will take an early heart lead and very careful defence to hold him to eight tricks even on a heart lead, there is a big danger of an endplay on North to give the ninth unless South gets in with a heart to lead a spade through, and declarer may always prevail. Board 2. N/S Vul. Dealer East. [ Q 9 4 ] K 10 3 { A 10 8 } J 10 6 3 [ A 8 5 2 [ J 10 7 6 ] 7 4 ] A J 8 5 { Q 7 6 3 { 4 } A K 9 } Q 5 4 2 [ K 3 ] Q 9 6 2 { K J 9 5 2 } 8 7 N/S can make 2{ but will rarely get to declare as they can be outbid by E/W s spade fit, where eight tricks is the normal outcome. If West opens one-of-a-suit, it is easy to reach the spade fit. Where he opens 1NT, there is a strong case for East s using Stayman, passing a 2]/[ response and scrambling with 2] over 2{. Even a four-three fit may play better than 1NT with the easy ruffs that are likely to be available in the East hand. Board 3. E/W Vul. Dealer South. [ J 9 ] 9 6 { A Q 7 3 } A Q 10 4 3 [ A K 7 6 2 [ 10 4 ] A K Q J ] 10 8 7 5 4 3 2 { J 5 { 10 9 } J 5 } 6 2 [ Q 8 5 3 ] { K 8 6 4 2 } K 9 8 7 N/S are cold for five of either minor but many pairs are likely to fall short of game. After North has overcalled 2}, South will have to do the rest of the bidding for his side as his partner is minimum in both high-card and distributional terms. South will surely bid 5} if E/W bid to 4] and West will double any number of clubs for take-out but if South s approach is to make a constructive raise via a 2[ cuebid, West may double then go quietly, and North will never accept a game invitation. Board 4. Game All. Dealer West. [ J 9 7 ] Q 8 6 3 2 { A 9 5 } 8 2 [ A 2 [ K Q 8 ] 10 9 7 5 4 ] K { K 8 { Q J 7 4 3 2 } K J 9 5 } A Q 6 [ 10 6 5 4 3 ] A J { 10 6 } 10 7 4 3 E/W will surely bid to game, usually 3NT and with no opposition bidding. It takes a heart lead to hold 3NT to nine tricks, otherwise there are ten on a heart switch and twelve without a heart switch. North may well lead a heart, even if West has bid the suit, but only as a 1] response to an opening bid. If West opens the bidding with 1], North rates to look elsewhere. At this vulnerability, I would prefer not to open that weak heart suit when holding only 11 HCP. 2
Board 5. N/S Vul. Dealer North. [ A 9 2 ] 9 6 5 2 { Q J 7 } Q 4 2 [ 8 5 3 [ K 7 6 ] K J 10 4 ] A Q 8 7 { A 10 6 4 { 3 } K J } A 10 9 7 5 [ Q J 10 4 ] 3 { K 9 8 5 2 } 8 6 3 East opens 1} and, if West responds 1{, East will rebid 1] and West raise to game. After the automatic spade lead and continuation, declarer will normally make 11 tricks why should he guess to run the }J, which happens to make 12? Where West responds 1], East raises to 2] and West declares 4]. After a red-suit lead, declarer has more chance of taking the club finesse as this leaves the spade position protected even should South win the }Q, so there will be a few making 12 for an excellent score. Board 6. E/W Vul. Dealer East. [ K 8 ] J 6 5 4 { Q 6 3 2 } 10 8 7 [ 10 7 4 3 [ A J 6 5 2 ] 9 3 2 ] A Q 10 { K 10 8 { 9 5 4 } K 9 6 } A J [ Q 9 ] K 8 7 { A J 7 } Q 5 4 3 2 East will often declare a spade partscore, where there are nine tricks available in theory. In practice, South will lead a club far more often than not, and that offers the possibility of making ten tricks. If East opens 1NT, he may play there and, on a club lead, makes nine or ten tricks. If he opens 1[, please don t tell me that South overcalled 2}, as my stomach really couldn t cope with that. Double is less bad, but pass is surely correct. Board 7. Game All. Dealer South. [ K Q 8 7 ] 5 3 2 { A 8 7 5 3 } 9 [ J 10 6 5 [ A 4 3 ] J 8 7 ] A Q 10 9 4 { K { Q J 9 6 } A K 10 8 3 } 4 [ 9 2 ] K 6 { 10 4 2 } Q J 7 6 5 2 East can make 4] and this is likely to be the popular contract, however, he may have to be very careful. If South, having heard West bid clubs, judges that there is no future in that suit, he may choose to lead a spade. To succeed, declarer will have to cover in dummy then duck North s queen. On a spade continuation, he has only one spade loser and can play ace and another trump, and on any switch he has time to play trumps, then take a spade pitch on the clubs. Win the first spade and the contract is doomed. Board 8. Love All. Dealer West. [ 6 ] Q 10 9 6 4 2 { K 10 3 } K Q 10 [ K J 10 4 [ A 8 5 3 2 ] 5 3 ] 8 7 { Q 7 6 { 9 8 5 } A 6 3 2 } 9 7 5 [ Q 9 7 ] A K J { A J 4 2 } J 8 4 North is in that no-man s land between a 1] and 2] opening. With so much outside strength, some may even pass, while both 1] and 2] will have their adherents. All roads should lead to 4], however, which is all about the diamond guess. Unless a diamond is led, this looks like a straight guess, and 11 tricks will score well, 10 tricks poorly. 3
Board 9. E/W Vul. Dealer North. [ Q 8 ] J 6 5 { Q 10 7 2 } K 10 9 2 [ K 10 6 4 2 [ A 9 7 ] A 10 ] K 9 3 { K 8 5 { A 6 3 } A Q 4 } 8 7 6 3 [ J 5 3 ] Q 8 7 4 2 { J 9 4 } J 5 Whether West declares 4[ or 3NT, only a diamond lead avoids giving a trick (or the jack of hearts, but that is not an obvious choice). Conversely, if East declares 3NT, only an implausible spade lead gives a trick. If it goes 1NT 3NT, a club will be the most popular choice and that is ten tricks. The time when a diamond becomes attractive against either game is when it begins 1[ 2} 2NT. Now declarer can be held to nine tricks. +630 should be very good, +620 OK but not exceptional, even though it is beatable. Board 10. Game All. Dealer East. [ Q J 7 6 ] 9 8 2 { K 9 3 } J 10 2 [ K 10 2 [ A 9 3 ] K 7 5 4 ] A Q 3 { 10 6 { 8 7 } K 7 6 3 } A Q 8 5 4 [ 8 5 4 ] J 10 6 { A Q J 5 4 2 } 9 Where East opens 1NT, he will frequently get to 3NT via a Stayman sequence and will lose the first six tricks after a diamond lead. A 1} opening will normally attract a 1{ or 2{ (weak) overcall and now avoiding no trump should be a matter of routine. Both 5} and 4] are cold, with 4] being much the better contract. This is not only because it scores better, but 5} needs either an even heart split or major-suit squeeze, while 4] requires no more than a four-two heart split. Board 11. Love All. Dealer South. [ Q 4 2 ] Q 10 8 { K J } A K 9 4 3 [ A 9 7 [ K 8 6 5 3 ] 9 3 ] K J { A 9 7 6 5 4 2 { Q 8 } 6 } Q J 5 2 [ J 10 ] A 7 6 5 4 2 { 10 3 } 10 8 7 Because this is the best vulnerability at which to declare on a competitive partscore deal, South may open a sub-minimum weak two bid on his empty suit. If West passes, North may inquire with 2NT and South play 3], down one. That may not matter so much, because E/W can make 3{ or at least 2[. Even 2NT is OK for E/W, courtesy of the heart blockage, so they should go plus at most tables. Only where West overcalls 3{ and East tries 3NT do E/W rate to go minus. Board 12. N/S Vul. Dealer West. [ 7 5 ] 9 8 { A 10 7 6 5 2 } A 10 6 [ A Q 9 4 3 [ J 10 6 ] 5 2 ] 6 4 { 9 3 { K Q 8 } K 8 4 2 } J 9 7 5 3 [ K 8 2 ] A K Q J 10 7 3 { J 4 } Q West may open 2[, if playing the two-suited version of weak two bids, or North may open a weak 2{, but all roads seem to lead to South declaring 4] he may just open 4] in fourth seat if nobody opens in front of him. 4] is cold. Though the defence can prevent declarer from taking a spade ruff in dummy, look at dummy s heart spots they provide two dummy entries so that declarer can always establish the long diamonds and get to dummy to cash them, whatever the defence. 4
Board 13. Game All. Dealer North. [ Q 8 7 ] 3 { K Q 8 7 6 } A J 10 3 [ 10 9 5 4 [ A 3 2 ] A K 10 8 ] Q J 9 7 6 5 { J 3 { 10 4 } Q 8 5 } 7 2 [ K J 6 ] 4 2 { A 9 5 2 } K 9 6 4 N/S make five of either minor, but can they get to game? North opens 1{ and East overcalls 2]. Now South is stronger than he might be for a 3{ bid but can hardly do more. If West bids 3], North has the critical decision to make. 4{ will end the auction, while a game try of 4} will see South bid game. In 5{, declarer should reach a situation where he has a pretty good idea about the opposing distribution, so has good reason to get the clubs right and make his game. Board 14. Love All. Dealer East. [ K 8 ] A Q J 10 6 5 3 { 9 } Q 4 2 [ J 10 9 [ Q 7 5 4 3 2 ] 9 2 ] { 7 6 4 2 { A 8 5 3 } J 10 7 5 } K 9 8 [ A 6 ] K 8 7 4 { K Q J 10 } A 6 3 North makes 6] while a club lead defeats that contract if played by South. On another day the reverse could be the case, so it is completely random if you get lucky or unlucky. However, slam is worth bidding because it is cold on a non-club lead, courtesy of the diamonds. If South opens 1NT, North may bid 3], slam try, and South cuebid, after which slam should be reached. If South opens 1{/], then shows extra values, North may again drive to slam as he knows there is a huge trump fit. Board 15. N/S Vul. Dealer South. [ K J 5 3 2 ] K Q J 4 2 { } K 4 2 [ 9 4 [ 10 8 7 ] A 9 3 ] 8 { 6 5 3 2 { A K J 4 } J 10 7 3 } A Q 9 8 5 [ A Q 6 ] 10 7 6 5 { Q 10 9 8 7 } 6 North can make 4] in comfort but 4[ is defeated when East takes a heart ruff then leads trumps to hold declarer to one club ruff in dummy. Those who play 5-card majors are in some danger of playing the wrong game if South bids a simple 2[ rather than a negative double over East s 2} overcall. 5} is a cheap save, against 4], though not so cheap against 4[, of course. On a diamond lead, South can give his partner three ruffs for down three, but even that is insufficient compensation for the vulnerable game. Board 16. E/W Vul. Dealer West. [ 10 9 ] 8 3 { K 10 9 7 6 } K J 10 5 [ J 6 [ Q 7 3 ] 10 6 5 2 ] A K J 9 { 8 5 3 { A J 2 } Q 9 7 6 } 8 4 2 [ A K 8 5 4 2 ] Q 7 4 { Q 4 } A 3 South can make 3[ without too much difficulty and a spade partscore will surely be the popular contract. South will bid 2[ over a 1NT opening and play there, while over oneof-a-suit he will overcall 1[ then bid a second time if need be. Even if East opens 1], this vulnerability should dampen West s enthusiasm for an over-aggressive pre-emptive raise. 5
Board 17. Love All. Dealer North. [ 6 ] Q 6 { A K J 10 7 4 3 } K 6 5 [ A 10 5 4 [ K J 7 ] J 7 5 ] A 10 9 8 4 { Q 2 { 9 } J 8 7 4 } A Q 10 9 [ Q 9 8 3 2 ] K 3 2 { 8 6 5 } 3 2 4] is the spot for E/W, but they may often stop in partscore. A 1] overcall is the modern approach to the east hand and, with or without a 1[ bid from South, West just raises to 2]. North may compete with 3{ and now East has to find an aggressive call if game is to be reached 3] would sound merely competitive to partner. A spade lead holds 4] to ten tricks as it ensures a second trump trick for the defence, either by force or via a ruff, according to declarer s choice of play. Board 18. N/S Vul. Dealer East. [ J 8 3 ] Q 10 9 8 { 10 8 3 } 8 4 2 [ K 9 5 2 [ 10 4 ] A J 3 ] K 7 5 4 { Q J 6 5 { K 7 4 2 } 10 9 } A J 3 [ A Q 7 6 ] 6 2 { A 9 } K Q 7 6 5 Some Easts will open their flat 11-count and if system dictates that the opening be 1} they may even get an uncontested auction. However, that may take them to 2NT, and that contract is not secure, though it will often make on a club lead. Where East passes, South opens 1}. West should not double facing a passed partner, but if North also passes East can balance with 1NT and play there. In 1NT there is no pressure, with seven secure tricks and declarer playing for an eighth. 6 Board 19. E/W Vul. Dealer South. [ A 10 6 3 2 ] K Q { 9 5 } A Q 7 5 [ 9 8 5 4 [ Q 7 ] 10 7 6 5 2 ] 8 4 { K J 2 { A Q 8 6 4 3 } 3 } J 9 4 [ K J ] A J 9 3 { 10 7 } K 10 8 6 2 After 1} Pass 1[, East may overcall 2{ and now N/S will avoid 3NT. 4[ is the top spot but 5} may be easier to reach. But what if East chooses not to overcall because he is vulnerable and facing a passed partner? Now South may rebid 1NT and North raise to 3NT, possibly via checkback, which tells him that there is no eight-card spade fit. Will West really lead a diamond and the defence cash six tricks? Not often, I don t think. On a heart lead, declarer may take 12 or even 13 tricks and a lot of matchpoints. Board 20. Game All. Dealer West. [ 9 6 ] 10 6 4 { 10 7 6 5 } K 6 3 2 [ A 4 2 [ Q J 3 ] K 3 2 ] Q 9 8 5 { A 4 { K J 9 3 } Q J 10 9 8 } 5 4 [ K 10 8 7 5 ] A J 7 { Q 8 2 } A 7 The West hand is one of those that might be opened 1NT whether playing weak or strong no trump. If West does open a strong no trump, his side may get too high. Though I suppose that 3NT could be let through, it can also be held to seven tricks by the defence attacking spades. A weak no trump will be passed out as South has an unsuitable hand to overcall at this vulnerability too balanced. 1} Pass 1{/] will get a 1[ overcall, but E/W will normally play 1NT. Top scores will go to 3NT making, and bottoms to 3NT down two.
Board 21. N/S Vul. Dealer North. [ A Q 10 6 4 ] K Q 9 5 { 8 5 2 } 4 [ J 9 5 3 2 [ K 7 ] 10 3 ] J 8 7 6 4 2 { Q 9 { A J 10 } A 10 8 5 } 9 2 [ 8 ] A { K 7 6 4 3 } K Q J 7 6 3 Most Norths will open 1[ and that will inevitably lead to N/S getting to game and, unless declarer is considerably more inspired than the defenders, defeat in 3NT.For once, the meek shall inherit the matchpoints, as those Norths who do not open will often see their partners declare a partscore such as 3}. Although East has something to say about that. If he opens 2], South may overcall 3} and North try 3NT, which should again fail. Board 22. E/W Vul. Dealer East. [ 7 4 3 ] A K Q J 2 { A 10 9 5 } 7 [ 6 2 [ K 5 ] 10 8 7 ] 9 6 5 4 3 { Q 8 3 { 7 2 } 6 5 4 3 2 } A J 10 9 [ A Q J 10 9 8 ] { K J 6 4 } K Q 8 N/S are cold for slam in any of spades, diamonds and no trump and, with 30 HCP between them, plenty of controls and fits in both spades and diamonds, slam will often be reached though no slam is better than a finesse, so you wouldn t mind stopping off in game. After 1[ 2] 3{, North may raise to 4{ and South just take control. If South plays slam it is convenient to play West for the queen of diamonds to give extra entries to dummy, so slam rates to succeed far more often than not. Board 23. Game All. Dealer South. [ 2 ] A 10 { K Q 6 5 } K Q J 10 8 5 [ A 10 9 [ 6 5 4 3 ] Q J 8 ] K 9 6 4 3 2 { A 10 3 2 { 7 4 } 9 6 2 } 3 [ K Q J 8 7 ] 7 5 { J 9 8 } A 7 4 N/S have a combined 26 HCP but no game is making. If South opens 1[, it may go 2} 2[ 3{ 3] 3NT, while if he passes it may go Pass 1} 1[ 3} 3[ 3NT. In either case, East leads a heart and there are only seven tricks. If East bids, though vulnerable this may feel to be too weak for a weak jump overcall, N/S may fear no trump and get to 5} instead. Though a heart lead defeats this contract also, it is only one down so may not score too badly. Board 24. Love All. Dealer West. [ 9 5 2 ] K J 5 3 { K 10 3 } 8 7 2 [ J [ A 6 4 3 ] 10 9 7 6 ] Q 8 4 2 { Q 8 5 2 { A 9 } A K 10 9 } Q 5 3 [ K Q 10 8 7 ] A { J 7 6 4 } J 6 4 Despite their limited values and the four-one trump break, E/W can make 4], though it is hard to see why they would get there. Whatever East opens in third seat, South will overcall 1[ or 2[ as required. West can raise 1] to 3], or make a negative double after a 1} opening. What about a weak no trump opening and 2[ overcall? If you don t play take-out doubles here, as do many of the better tournament pairs, you will have a horrible decision. N/S may often declare 2/3[, making seven tricks. A double, netting 300, will score very well for E/W. 7
Board 25. E/W Vul. Dealer North. [ A ] K Q 3 { A K Q 9 6 5 } A K 9 [ Q J 10 5 4 3 [ K 8 7 6 2 ] A 9 6 4 2 ] J 7 5 { 10 { J 7 3 } 7 } 10 8 [ 9 ] 10 8 { 8 4 2 } Q J 6 5 4 3 2 N/S have slam in no trump or either minor, though anyone who can bid 6NT with confidence is doing rather well. After 2} Pass 2{, West may come in with some two-suited call, but North will show his diamonds and, whether South raises diamonds or shows the clubs, North is likely to take control and eventually just blast the small slam. At any other vulnerability, E/W could sacrifice in their 11- card spade fit, but vulnerable against not this would cost too much on accurate defence. Board 26. Game All. Dealer East. [ 6 5 2 ] 10 9 5 { J 8 4 } A Q 10 6 [ J 9 [ K 10 8 7 4 ] J 8 7 6 4 ] 2 { Q 10 3 { A 9 7 6 } 9 8 5 } J 3 2 [ A Q 3 ] A K Q 3 { K 5 2 } K 7 4 It rather looks as though this will be the simplest auction of the night, with almost the whole field opening 2NT and being raised to game. Everything lies very well for declarer and, if he goes all out and leads to both the {K and [Q, he will come to 11 tricks after a heart lead, only ten if West somehow manages to find a passive club lead. Plus 660 will score pretty well, I would imagine. Board 27. Love All. Dealer South. [ 6 5 ] K 7 5 { K 8 6 } A J 8 3 2 [ K 9 7 2 [ Q J 8 4 3 ] 10 3 2 ] A 6 4 { Q 4 3 { 9 7 5 } Q 5 4 } K 7 [ A 10 ] Q J 9 8 { A J 10 2 } 10 9 6 Whatever South s opening bid, N/S are likely to have the auction to themselves. They can make 4], but there is no reason at all why they should find that contract. More likely is that South will either open or show by his rebid a weak no trump type and North will invite game. South will decline the invitation and West will lead a spade not because a spade is a great lead, but because nothing else looks any better. 2NT can be made by playing on hearts and guessing well in diamonds, but it rates to fail a lot of the time. Board 28. N/S Vul. Dealer West. [ 4 ] J 3 { K 7 4 } A K 7 6 5 4 3 [ J 9 7 [ A Q 6 5 ] K 10 6 ] A Q 7 5 2 { A 6 2 { 10 5 3 } Q 9 8 2 } J [ K 10 8 3 2 ] 9 8 4 { Q J 9 8 } 10 North is a little too good for a 3} opening so will open 1} instead. Modern style is for East to overcall 1] and South bids 1[. West should now show a constructive raise to 2], normally done by cuebidding 2}, and North may compete with 3}. East would be close to a game try now, but the 1[ bid warns him off and he will only compete with 3], ending the auction. After such a revealing auction, declarer should succeed in 3]. He will just throw diamond losers if North leads clubs, and will know to pick up the [10. 8