There were a strange lot of results on today's hand.    East has a minimum opener but with 5-5 shape should open 1D intending to show both suits on the next round of bidding.    South has 14 hcp but poor shape and I would not criticize a pass but would fight for the part-score with an initial take-out double.    West could redouble to show 9+hcp but I would respond 1H.     North is worth one bid of 1S and East rebids 2C as intended.    South has really done enough and should pass, leaving any further competition to partner.     West has good holdings in the majors but has no fit for either of partner's suits  and thus is not enough to invite game in NT - at least 11hcp would be required.    West signs off with 2D and all pass. 

     South leads S3 and West wins SA and leads D9 and South hopes that East is 1-3-5-4 shape and tries H6 to HK and North exits with a heart to HA and H9 won by dummy's H10.     A second diamond is won by South and a spade is led to S10, SK and D7 followed by DJ clearing the trump suit and East claims the rest of the tricks for +90 losing just two hearts and three trumps.      Note that the only way to make your contract is by playing trumps at every opportunity despite the weakness of the suit..

       S

     Only one N/S pair managed +620 on today's deal although it looks pretty straightforward to me!     West usually opens 1C although I would not object to a weak 1NT.     North is not strong enough for a take-out double and overcalls 1S.     East shows support for partner with a jump to 3C and similarly South has enough to jump to 4S.     Either West or East might consider sacrificing in 5C (which is cheap at -500) but probably decide to take their chances against 4S.

     Although an unlikely heart lead beats the contract on a heart ruff, East normally leads CQ and declarer is in full control, winning CA and leading a trump to knock out SA.    When N/S regain the lead all declarer has to do is to draw the two remaining trumps and knock out the red Aces and either ruff a club in dummy or throw it on a winning diamond!

     A few E/W pairs failed to make the most of their 4S game on today's deal.     After a routine pass by North, East has a normal 1S opener and West should suggest a possible slam with a "splinter" bid of 4D showing a good raise to 4S with a singleton or void in diamonds.     East is not interested and signs off with a bid of 4S.   

     South normally leads CQ and declarer cannot count many tops and so should plan to play on cross-ruff lines.     You should win CA and lead HJ first.     South should cover with HK and declarer then cashes HQ (discarding a club) and SA before ruffing a third heart low.     A diamond ruff is followed by a fourth heart hoping that if South has only three hearts then only two trumps were originally held in which case South then cannot exit with a trump taking two of declarer's trumps in one trick!    On the actual hand it does North no good to ruff in as declarer overruffs, ruffs a diamond, cashes CK and leads a winning fifth heart discarding a diamond whether North ruffs in or not and can ruff a diamond in dummy for a twelfth trick and a joint top. 

      A difficult hand for E/W to bid this week.    After two routine passes, South opens 2S and West has a big hand but a poor suit quality.     I would toss up between an esoteric 2NT showing 16-18 and good spades or a double intending to follow with 3H showing a hand too good to overcall 3H at the three level.     I would opt for a double and follow with 3H over partner's 3D response and East should not consider a raise.

      Against 3H, North naturally leads S4 to S5,7,A.     Declarer knows the lead is a singleton from the bidding and is afraid that SK will be ruffed if South has HK!     However, you should play for the trumps breaking normally, i.e. 3-2 and also that South does not have HK otherwise you will be going crashing down if that is the case.      So you should cash DA and lead a low trump.     North thankfully wins HK and leads CQ which declarer wins with CA, crosses to HQ in order to cash DK discarding a club.      With the trumps 4-1 you have to concede two trumps, a club and a spade after ruffing a diamond and cashing HA and notch up +140 beating the pairs who overbid to game.

    Most N/S pairs struggled to make the most of today's deal.     North opens a routine weak 1NT and East has the shape but not the strength to overcall 2C.    South transfers to spades with a bid of 2H and should raise invitationally to 3S to show the playing potential of the strong six card suit.     North with secondary support for spades and top end of the 1NT naturally raises to game with 4S.

     East with no good lead should lead S9 although a singleton trump lead is not generally a good idea as it might weaken partner's trump holding.     Declarer should rise with SK and duck a club to East who exits with a diamond taken by DK and CQ is led.    All you have to do now is cross to DA and ruff a club with S7, cash SA, ruff a diamond with S10, cash SQ and all you lose is two clubs and a heart for +620.     Note it does West no good to rise with CK to lead a trump as North wins SA and exits with CQ but East cannot continue the trump attack!

     A few N/S pairs failed to make the most of North's rock-crusher of a hand.    After three routine passes, North has to decide whether to open 1S, 2C (showing eight playing tricks) or 2D (game-force or 23hcp+).    I recommend 2D as partner may be unable to bid over 1S or 2C-2D-2S with a misfit for spades but support for hearts.    When the bidding starts 2D-2H(relay)-2S South should bid 3D (2NT is usually played as a second negative but subject to partner agreement).     North bids 3H but this may be on 6-4 shape so South should now temporise with 3S false preference but North rebids 4H to show at least 5-5 shape and South is happy to pass.

     West leads CQ and declare wins CA perforce, cashes HA noting East's HQ and continues with SK taken by East who exits with a club.    Declarer ruffs, cashes SQ and leads a third spade hoping that West has to follow suit in which case a trump to H10 (applying the principle of Restricted Choice that West is twice as likely to hold HJ).    Declare then follows with HK and winning spades for+480.     However West overruffs with HJ but that is the last trick for the defence as declarer ruffs the club exit, draws the last trump and cashes winning spades for +450.

     Many pairs found today's hand difficult.     South has a weak hand and a seven card suit but does not particularly want a club lead.       I would pass if vulnerable but bid 3C non-vulnerable to try and pressurize your opponents into an ill-judged bid.      West obviously passes and so should North despite having an opening hand.     East is too strong for an overcall of 3S but not strong enough to jump to 4S as partner might have nothing at all!    The solution is to double and then bid spades at the lowest convenient level.    After West responds 3H and you bid 3S West should raise to 4S holding three card support, a ruffing value and an Ace.   

    There is nothing to the play.    South leads a diamond and West wins DA and runs SJ discovering the 4-Nil trump break, crosses to SQ, plays CA, ruffs a club and leads a heart towards HK9.    All declarer loses is one trump, HA and DK to chalk up ten tricks and +420. 

     A quiet part-score battle this week for a change.    West has limited hcp but good shape.    I recommend a 1D opener as you may buy the contract in one of your suits and if outbid you have suggested a good lead to partner.    If you have 10hcp and a six card suit or 5/5 shape you should open with a seven loser if you have at least 3 controls (A=2, K=1).     North has an obvious 1H overcall and East should make a take-out double.    I think this is best played to just show 4 spades and 6+hcp with a 1S bid showing 5+S and 6+hcp.    South should redouble to tell partner to lead a low heart against an opposition contract but denying three card support for hearts.    West naturally bids 2C and East gives preference to 2D which will probably end the auction.

    North starts with a low heart to HQ and South probably exits with a trump.    West continues with a club to CQ & CK and a second trump is won by West and a club is led to CA.  North cashes HA and leads SQ to SK and SA but South's trump exit is won by DQ and with the clubs 3-3 declarer makes the rest for +90.

     After three passes, East opens 2C and over West's 2D relay response rebids 2NT showing 21-22hcp.     Many West players now bid 3NT because of the 4-3-3-3 shape but this is incorrect thinking.    3NT will only be possibly better than 4H if you have a 4-4 fit if 4333shape and may even be a disaster if weak in the same suit.     East's most likely shape is 4-4-3-2  so the ruff is likely to generate a better score than 3NT.     It is recommended that you bid 3C Puppet Stayman.     West bids 3D to deny a five card major but promise at least one four card major (3NT shows less than 3H & 3S).     West then bids 3S to show 4H to ensure the opening lead is up to annd not through the strong hand.     A bid of 3H would show 4S and 4D is usually used to show 4H & 4S so opener can declare the correct contract - 3NT if no major fit

     There is nothing to the play as you just draw trumps in three rounds and lead a diamond towards the King and when it holds play three rounds of spades hoping they are 3-3 in which case a club would go away from dummy.    When they are 4-2 you ruff a spade and take the club finesse for twelve tricks.

     At pairs scoring, overtrick(s) are vitally important to change your score from below average to above average and success.    East despite the poor suit should open 1C rather than 1D as this enables all 4-4 fits to be found - 1D may force 1NT from partner where the club part-score is safer!    With N/S silent throughout, the bidding proceeds 1S-2NT(17-18hcp)-3H-4S.

    North with no good lead opts for H5 (Middle-up-down[MUD] from three small.    Declarer wins HK and (delaying playing trumps) leads DK for a ruffing finesse.    If DA is with South you ruff and cross to HA for a club discard on DQ whereas if North wins DA after you have thrown C6 you are safe against a club lead through your CKx.   North exits with a heart and HA wins, C10 is discarded on DQ and you ruff a diamond ruff a heart with SJ, cross to S10, ruff a heart with SA, exit with a club and now you must make all your remaining trumps in hand for +650.

      A few N/S pairs had trouble with today's hand.    West has a six card major and 10hcp so has to decide whether to open 1S or 2S.    Clearly 2S is best as the hand is an eight loser where an opening one bid should be a seven loser or better.    North who would have bid over an opening 1S but should not risk a 3D bid over 2S as partner would expect a better hand.   South now has to decide between 3H, 4H or a strength showing take-out double.     The latter option is best as it gives you a chance to stay at the three level if partner is weak.     When you bid 3H over North's 3D you are showing a good six-card (occasionally a strong five-card) suit and a hand that is too strong to overcall 3H.    So North now has plenty in hand to raise to game despite only holding two small trumps.

     West with no attractive lead should lead S7.    East with one card and dummy with two cards higher than S7 uses the rule of eleven to discover that South had 11-7-2-1 = 1 card higher than S7 clearly SA singleton and so does not waste SJ at trick 1.    Declarer should now play Ace and another club which East wins and leads another club for West to ruff with HJ in order to play Ace and another trump.    However declarer's last losing club disappears on SK in dummy and ten tricks are achieved.

    A tricky hand for N/S pairs to bid this week.     South has a choice between opening a weak 2S or 1S.    With 10hcp and a six card major I would open a weak two if and only if I had less than 3 controls (A=2, K=1) so I think 1S is clear-cut.   West has a minimum overcall of 2H (although 3H over a 2S opener is too much of a stretch!) and North bids 3NT hopefully to play but South with minimum hcp should take out to 4S and all pass.

     West cashes HK and switches to a club which dummy wins with CQ.     You cash CA, ruff a heart and cash SAK noting East plays SJx, so you exit with S3 to East's SQ.    East tries a club but declarer wins CK and cashes S10, losing just a diamond at the end for +620.     Note that East can give West a diamond ruff but it just means declarer does not have a diamond loser at the end.    Although 3NT can make it is usually best to play in the six(or seven) card major in the long run.

     A few N/S pairs had difficulty with today's hand.     After a routine pass by West, North has just enough to open 1H and East overcalls a strong 1NT (15-17ish with a good holding in the opponents suit(hearts)).    Now a simple bid in a new suit by South is weak with a six card or longer suit and no fit for hearts.     A raise of partner's suit is a natural limit bid and the only bid that shows values (10+hcp) is a penalty double which opener is expected to pass unless holding a very minimum opener with say 5-5 shape or a very long heart suit.     Exceptionally a jump bid in a new suit is game-invitational and opener should have a fit and tops (at least five controls) to raise to game.     A bid of 2NT is unusual and best played as both minors probably better than 5-5.    So South competes for the part-score with a bid of 2D and that should end the auction with hopefully a plus score and the majority of the master points.

       There is nothing to the play after West leads C4 and the defence just takes two clubs and two spades for -110

      An apparently routine 3NT which several E/W pairs did not make the most of today.     North has an obvious 1H opener and East has to decide whether to take action or to pass and await developments.    I think it is clear cut to bid 1NT showing strong trump values including a heart holding.    When responding to partner's 1NT overcall whether 2nd in hand (15-18hcp) or 4th in hand after two passes (11-15hcp) it is simplest to play exactly the same conventional responses as over an original 1NT opener by partner.    In this case you should bid 2H (transfer showing five spades) and then jump to 3NT to offer a choice of games to partner - there is no point in bidding 3D as it will only help the defence and anyway should be a slam try.

        South has a long suit but no outside entries and a poor holding in partner's bid suit but partner has the possible if long hearts can be set up.     However, at pairs I would lead C10 as it is unlikely to cost.    North covers CJ with CK and declarer should duck and win the club continuation with CQ.     Now you should run S10 to North's SK and win H2 switch from North with dummy's HJ and continue hearts until North takes HA.     Now you can win North's heart exit, finesse S9 (or S7 if South had earlier covered S10 with SJ, cash three winning spades,  DK and win the rest of the tricks in hand for +460.     If South led H8 at trick one  you chalk up +490. 

    An exciting deal this week in which only one intrepid East punted a slam.    North, as dealer, has to decide whether to pretend an extra trick. As always I think you should up the ante and open 2S.      East has to start with a double and South should continue raising the barrage by responding 4S.     As West I would come in with 5H and East knowing that partner is likely to be short in spades should risk 6D.

    There is nothing to the play.     You ruff the opening spade lead, cross to D9, ruff a second spade, cross to HA, draw trumps and claim an overtrick.

     A part-score hand for a change with most E/W pairs losing out.    After two passes, East has the values for 1NT but I would not criticise a pass as you have two weak four card suits and seven of your hcp in a short suit.     If East passes, South has the choice of 1S or 1NT to open.     I believe the winning bid in the long run is 1S and North cannot do anything but bid the dustbin 1NT and all pass.

       East leads CA to have a look at dummy and continues the suit when West encourages with C8.    Declare wins CQ in dummy and cashes DK in case DQ is singleton and plays a diamond to DJ losing to East's DQ who puts declare to the test by leading S4 but SJ forces SA and declare has four diamonds and a trick in each other suit to fulfil the contract. .     

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      A routine hand for modern Benji this week which only 20% of N/S pairs got right!     After three passes, North opens 2C and rebids 2NT over partner's 2D relay to show 21-22hcp.     Now 3D & 3H are transfer showing a five card major and 3S is usually played as showing 5S & 4H offering a choice of games - with 5H and 4S you transfer with 3D and rebid 3S.     With at least one three card major you bid 3C "Puppet Stayman" otherwise you pass or sign off with 3NT.     The responses to 3C are 3H or 3S with a five card suit, 3NT with <4H and <4S and 3D otherwise which shows at least one four card major.     The modern style nowadays is for responder to bid 3H with 4S, 3S with 4H & 4D with both majors to ensure that the strong hand plays the contract and hopefully has a helpful lead!

      East's best lead is a trump and declarer should win HA and play Ace and another spade before drawing trumps.    East wins SK and leads another trump but declarer can win HK, cross to dummy's HQ and lead D8 intending to run it if West plays low.    However, East puts up DQ which declarer ducks and West does best to underlead the CA.    When CQ wins, North cashes DA, ruffs a diamond, cashes SQ discarding a diamond and leads a club towards CK for a tenth trick. 

     Most E/W pairs had difficulty with today's hand.     After a routine pass by South, West opens 1D and North would like to enter the auction but is not strong enough for a 1NT overcall and is the wrong shape for a take-out double and so has to pass.     East has a 1S response and with N/S silent the bidding should proceed 3D - you are to strong to rebid 2D - then a forcing 3S - showing five spades - and a sign off with 3NT from West. 

     North, with no attractive lead, starts with H3 as both opponents have denied four hearts because West would have reversed into 2H and East would have bid 3H instead of 3S.    Declarer tries H10 from dummy in case North has led from HAJxx and South puts on HA in the hope that partner has led from HQ and continues the suit to West's HK.    A spade to East's SQ puts the lead into dummy in order to lead D7 to your DJ initially hoping for split honours in diamonds and North wins DQ and leads a third round of hearts.    Declarer is now at the crossroads and has to decide whether to play for SA with North or play CAKQ and rely on the diamonds behaving.     I would choose the former and lead S10 to SJQ3.     Although the spade suit can now be set up North may have started with SAJ9x and you should continue with D6 overtaking with DA as South shows out and continuing with D10 to force out DK.     North can then only cash SA before leading a club to hold you to nine tricks.

     A part-score battle this week where several bidding options are available but very few N/S pairs came out on top.   East should pass rather than open a light 1S because partner is likely to expect more and take you too high!    So South opens a routine 1H and -  after a pass from West - North has to decide between raising to 2H or 3H.    Unless you have a 2NT conventional response available to 3H (showing  4+ card support and 10-11hcp), I think 2H is enough as Jacks are overvalued at 1hcp!     East butts in with 2S to suggest a spade lead to partner and South because of the sterile 4333 shape should either sign off with a bid of 3H or pass to show no game interest in which case North competes to 3H which becomes the final contract as West has too many losers to bid 3S facing a partner who has not opened the bidding in first seat.

     West leads a spade to SQ and SA and declarer should ruff a spade, cross to DA, ruff a second spade and run HJ losing to HK.   With a trump still left in dummy West cannot lead a spade so leads C10 to CJ and CQ.   East can only lead a diamond and West's DK is the last trick for the defence as North can win the exit in dummy, draw trumps with HAQ and cross to the other minor winner take a ditch on the thirteenth diamond and thus make an overtrick for +170.

    Plenty of scope for various sequences and contracts on today's hand.    North without a weak 2D opener possible has a choice between a pass and a 3D pre-empt although I would not recommend a pre-empt on a six card suit except in third seat.   East almost has an opener but the lack of Aces and Kings should suggest a pass also.     South unless a 11-14 weak NT is your system should also pass because of the sterile shape.     So after three passes West gets the ball rolling with a sound 1S opener.    North unless a weak jump overcall is available bids 2D (for the lead) and East bids 2H (forcing for one round) and South competes with 3D.     West supports partner with 3H and East offers support for spades leaving the choice of final contract to West signs off with 4S.

    North leads DK and continues the suit when DK holds.    Declarer ruffs and leads a trump to SJ and SA.    When South continues with DA, West must ruff high with SQ and lead a trump to S10 (North discarding a diamond).     Declarer now has to hope that South follows to three rounds of top hearts and also holds CK.     When declarer runs the heart suit South has no winning defence as West can overruff if South ruffs and cross to S9 to cash the last heart and take the club finesse for the contract.

    A tricky hand this week for which half the field failed to register a plus score.     North is too weak for a 12-14 weak 1NT and normally passes as perforce does East and South opens a routine 1S.    West should take action either with a take-out double or a 2D overcall.    As partners tend to expect four cards in the other major for a double I prefer a 2D overcall.     North should now cue-bid 3D which cannot be a game force as you have passed as dealer and so must show a good raise to 3S.    South rebids 3H to show a non-minimum opener in case North prefers the 4H game to 4S but North ends the bidding with 4S.

    West probably leads a trump rather than from all the honours held which is slightly risky as you might kill partner Qxx of trumps.    Declarer wins SKQ (in case East has SJxxx) and draws the last outstanding trump with SA.     Now South should lead D7 hoping to win DQ and then exit with DK forcing a club or heart lead or a ruff and discard.    West however rises with DA and exits with a diamond to DK and leads a heart to H5, HA & H4.    Now declarer has to play for East to have HQ (having already shown up with SJ) or place West with HQ and CA because of the 2D vulnerable overcall showing values.    I would play for the latter and play HK and another.     West wins HQ but must either give you a trick with CK or lead a diamond which you ruff in dummy and discard C6 losing just one diamond, one heart and one club and so making ten tricks for +420 as H9 is now good.   

     A part-score deal this week which many N/S pairs found difficult to bid and play.     After routine passes by North and East, South has to decide whether to open 1S or 2S(weak, 6 card suit).    My money is on the stronger bid of 1S as it is a seven loser with three controls.    West, non-vulnerable against vul, is just worth a take-out double.     North can bid 2D or redouble which is my choice showing 9+hcp and denying primary support for spades.    East bids 2D or 1NT (both reasonable) and South rebids 2S - a pass would show a sound open with four or five spades only in case North wanted to double the opposition.    This should close the auction.

     West leads the D3 and East wins DQ and switches to H5, following with H7 under West's HA.    West switches back to diamonds and DJ wins and D9 is ruffed by declarer, who finesses CQ before leading a spade to S10, a club to CA and a spade to SQ, drawing SK with SA and winning the rest of the spade suit and HJ for +140.

     A part-score battle this week or possibly a thin game for N/S (which should be defeated by careful defence) if you are adventurous enough!    North opens 1S with a lot to spare and East has an obvious take-out double.    South with a miserly collection passes and West has to bid 2D.     North should now cue-bid 3D too show a hand that is game invitational and South with no interest in this should sign off with 3S.   

    East starts off with two top diamonds and North ruffs.    Declarer can probably place East with HKQx(x) because of the take-out double showing values and continues with SA (in case East has a singleton SJ or S10 when you can finesse against West's other honour).     However East shows out on the trump lead to SQ discarding H5 and thusso West has a natural trump trick.     So you should continue by ruffing a diamond and playing three rounds of clubs.    If West follows to this trick declarer cashes another club if West has four) otherwise exits with H4 to East's HQ.    East is then end-played to give declarer a heart trick or a ruff (in dummy) and heart discard in hand.    However West can ruff the third club and exit with a trump and East must come to two hearts having a now safe diamond exit.    3S should turn out to be a joint top score!

    Most E/W pairs had trouble bidding and/or playing today's hand.     East is just about worth an opener because of the singleton club and opens 1D, South routinely passes and West responds 1S.    North with dubious values on diamonds might decide to pass but an overcall of 2C is acceptable as you want a club lead against an opposing NT contract.    East could pass to show a minimum opener but I think a raise of partner's spade suit is indicated and West has no problem in raising to game with 4S.

    North is likely to cash a top club and switch to S8.    Declarer should win SK and take an immediate heart finesse as you need to play for hearts 3-3 if North has HK.     When HJ wins, you play DA and another diamond as North figures to have DK because of the 2C overcall.    You know that North cannot lead a club without setting up CQ and would lead a second spade if one is held in which case you ruff a diamond high and cash SJ, cross to SK and cash DQ9 making 5 spades, 2 hearts and three diamonds for ten tricks.  When North exits with a heart you win HA, ruff a club low, lead DQ which South ruffs with S7 to force your SJ, ruff a club low, lead D9 ruffing as low as possible, ruff CQ with SA and lead D8 discarding a heart if South does not ruff.     So South does ruff to hold you to ten tricks (five spades in hand, two spade ruffs in dummy, two hearts and DA) South ruffs in and you hold SQ6 over S105!     The lesson here is to be flexible with your plan and not try and ruff two clubs in dummy straightaway as you have no entries then to dummy to make use of the diamond side-suit.    

     Most N/S pairs had trouble reaching game on today's hand.    North is too strong for a weak 1NT opener and opens 1D.     East overcalls 1S and South has the barest minimum for a 2H response showing 9+hcp and at least five hearts - N.B. sometimes with 3-4-4-3 shape you must not bid 2D but invent a bid of 2C!    West with 11 losers and vulnerable should not scrape up a raise of 2S   and North should be going to game as you would have an opener if you took a King away from the hand.     My preference is to show the hand type i.e. semi-balanced 5332 by a bid of 2NT and remove partner's 3NT to 4H the final contract.    I prefer the jump to 4H to show four card support and a non-minimum opener.

      You need a bit of luck to make the contract - split honours in diamonds and the spade finesse (likely on the overcall).    West should lead H3 - there is no point leading the ten! and declarer wins HAK, crosses to HJ, draws the last trump with HQ and runs D7.         When this forces the King East exits with a spade but you win SQ and run D9 hoping the East has not produced a brilliancy by winning DK holding DKJ.     Fortunately you chalk up the game bonus and +620.

        A tricky hand for N/S pairs to bid this week.    North has an obvious 1C opener, East passes and South bids 1S and West is just about worth a take-out double.     North rebids 2C to show six plus clubs (North should pass with only five clubs and less than 15hcp) and South is not strong enough to force to game with 3D and should invite game with a bid of 2NT rather than 2D  which I think is weak with 5S & 4+D.     North with potentially six club tricks has no reason not to accept the game try and rebids 3NT.

       There is nothing to the play.    West leads a heart and North wins and leads clubs from the top until the CA is taken and settles for ten tricks (six clubs, two hearts and two diamonds) when a second heart is continued.

      A tricky hand for N/S to bid is my last hand of the week for 2023.    South opens a routine 1D and North responds 1H and East comes in with a 1S overcall.    South has a choice of bids between Double to show 15+ hcp, 1NT to show 15-16hcp and a spade stop or 2D - a "reverse" bid showing five clubs and four diamonds and usually 15-17hcp.    As double would tend to show no spade stop and secondary heart support and 1NT a better spade holding I would choose the 2D option.    Over this North should cue-bid 2S (the opposition suit) to show game values but no stop (otherwise NT would be bid instead of 2S).    Although South has a stop the best bid is 3S to suggest it is better for North to play the NT and with SQx 3NT is bid which works very nicely if partner has SAx or SKxx and thus two stops on a spade lead away from the King or Ace.

      There is nothing to the play.    East does best not to lead a spade and declarer with five club tricks on the 3-2 break just needs to knock out the DA to set up three tricks and you can then set up a heart trick for an overtrick.  . 

    An exciting hand as today's hand of the week.     After a pass by North, East has a huge hand distributionally and should open a Benji 2C (in this case eight playing tricks in diamonds).     East has a huge hand as well and should start with a positive 2H.     East without three card support for hearts shows the hand type by bidding 3D and West should just sign off with a jump to 6NT to protect the tenaces held in the other three suits.     There is no point using Blackwood as you can never count thirteen tricks but you must have an excellent chance of at least 12 tricks.

      North leads C10 which runs to CQ & CA.    You now have twelve tricks on top plus an excellent chance of squeezing out an overtrick if South has HKQ.      You merely cash CAKJ (discarding two spades and a heart) and run all your diamond winners expecting DJ to fall in three rounds.     You come down to SQ & HAJ & C3 in dummy opposite H7 & SA8 & D2.     When you lead D2 you throw HJ if South has not thrown a top honour and cross to HA.    South has HK and a spade left and North has to keep a club to beat dummy's C3 so neither defender can keep two spades and SA8 win the last two tricks.        

      Most E/W pairs failed to make a game on today's hand of the week.    East opens 1C and South is worth a take-out double but North has insufficient values to compete over West's 1S bid.    East rebids 1NT showing 15-16hcp and denies four card spade support.    West jumps to 3D to force a further bid by East who with a stop in the fourth suit (HK) signs off in 3NT.

     A heart lead allows declarer to win HK and force out SA to set up nine tricks with two spades, one heart, five diamonds and CA losing just three hearts and SA.     South therefore normally leads S4 which runs to SJ.    Declarer should cash DQ and when both follow cash DJ10 before leading SQ.     If South takes SA any exit gives declarer a ninth trick so you should duck but this only postpones the inevitable end-play.    Declarer cashes DAK (discarding a club) and exits dummy with a spade.    South can cash SA10 (declarer throwing a heart and a club) but must lead from HAQ & CK7 into declarer's HK8 & CAQ.

      Most N/S pairs failed to make the most of today's hand, not making an obvious overtrick in the spade game.     West has to decide whether to open a weak 2H or 1H.    I think despite the lack of Aces it is too strong in playing strength to pre-empt and I would open 1H.     North has a choice between double, 1NT (strong) or 1S and I would favour 1S as the best way to get to a spade contract.    East obviously passes and South should bid 2H making what is known as an "unassuming cue-bid" - I don't know why it is called that!     This should show (when partner has overcalled in a major) at least three decent spades and a near opening hand at least.     North with a maximum for the bid of 1S jumps straight to game with a bid of 4S.   

      On the normal heart lead declare wins and cashes SK & SA finding that East has a trump winner but just cashes CA and runs C10 to West's CQ.    As West is marked with DK because of the opening bid, declarer can hop up with DQ if West exits with a diamond and on the normal heart continuation is able to cross to CK and discard a diamond on C9 as East ruffs in.      However declarer can now win DA and throw DQ on C8 and thus make eleven tricks.     It is true that you could even make twelve tricks by playing East for SQxx but the bidding favours West to hold SQ because of the opening bid.

      A part-score hand for a change this week with bidding problems for E/W pairs.       East has 5-5 in the black suits and some players open 1C but I always open the five card major as the scoring system is biased towards the higher scoring suit.     South has the values to overcall 2D but not the solidity of suit and so should pass and be glad when West bids 2D!.     East has to rebid 2S as 3C would show 15+hcp (known as a high level reverse because you are a level higher) and West has to decide whether to settle for 2S or try for game.     The best bid although not the winning bid on today's hand is 3D showing game-invitational values and at least six diamonds.      East with no fit for diamonds should pass despite the useful 10s in the black suits.      You know that partner has a misfit for spades and with long diamonds is not guaranteed to have a club fit.

        There is nothing to the play if North makes the normal lead of C3 which runs to CA and CQ.     You win the HQ switch with HK, discard a heart on CK and lead a spade to SQ & North's SA, win HA, ruff a club, finesse S10 and lead SK, discarding a heart when South ruffs in.      Now you just ruff the heart exit low and play diamonds from the top to just make your contract.

      No E/W pairs managed to reach the optimum contract on today's deal.    East has a routine Benji 2C opener having eight playing tricks in diamonds.     With N/S silent, West temporises with a 2D waiting bid and East rebids 3D to show the hand type.    If partner has eight tricks and you have a likely four then you are in the slam zone.     If you bid 3H now I think this should show at least a five card suit so I think you should just check on Aces with 4NT Roman Key Card Blackwood.     East bids 5D showing four of the "five" Aces (DK being one) means you are one short so you settle for the small slam in diamonds or NT both protecting you from a lead through your major suit kings.   

     There is nothing to the play and you will make your thirteen top tricks unless a spade is led.    In either case this is worth 100% of the matchpoints.

Most E/W pairs failed to make the most of today's hand, both in the bidding and the play!   After three routine passes, West has the awkward shape of 4441 with a singleton club.     Although some players open 1H, I think this is wrong as a 2D bid from partner leaves you badly placed as if you raise diamonds partner will think you have at least five hearts!    Opening 1D is best if you have 15+ hcp as you can rebid 2NT.    With only 11-12 hcp I would pass with this shape although many experts would disagree with me!        After 1D-1S, you must jump rebid to 3S - if you can take a King away and still have enough to open at the one level you should give jump support.    West - who can also take a King away and still have a response to a one-bid - has enough to raise to game.

      South's usual lead is a trump to try and cut down on opposition ruffs and declarer should realise that you should delay drawing trumps so that you can either ruff two clubs in dummy or two hearts in hand.    For the maximum number of tricks you need to lead a heart from hand to take advantage of HA being on-side.    So play to ruff two hearts in hand otherwise you will be stuck in dummy at the wrong time if you try and ruff clubs.     Win trick one with SA over S10, lead H2 too HK and duck a heart to South's H10.     South continues with a second spade and you win SK (noting SJ from North), ruff a heart, cross to DQ, ruff the fourth heart and exit with a club.    If all is well, you can ruff a club, draw the last outstanding trump with SQ and cash all your diamonds for eleven tricks.

    Most E/W pairs went astray on today's hand.     The usual modern opening on the East hand is 1H and South obviously passes and West bids 2D - there is no hurry to bid NT or show secondary support for partner.    North has neither the suit solidity nor strength to come in with 2S and thus passes.    East has a rebid problem but should decide between 2NT and 3NT despite the lack of a spade stop as any other bid is misleading partner as to your shape.    I think 2NT is enough because DAQJ is not a fully working 7hcp - DAQJx would be better!.    West offers a choice of games by bidding a (forcing to game) 3H and East without five hearts signs of with 3NT and all pass.      South has a normal lead of C7 (fourth highest from the longest suit held) and declarer uses the "RULE OF 11".     Assuming the lead is from length East, North & South have 11-7 = 4 cards higher than the 7led.    As dummy has two and you have two North cannot have any and so South has led from CA1087x.    Hence it is necessary to play C9 from dummy at trick 1.     You continue by finessing DJ which wins and then lead C4 to dummy's CJ and repeat the diamond finesse.    Now switch tack and lead a spade to SQ and SA, win DA exit and lead CK to force out CA.     You thus have one spade, four top hearts, three diamonds and three clubs for eleven tricks and a joint top!

    A competitive hand this week which a few N/S pairs undercooked.     East opens a routine weak 1NT and South has a decision - whether to bid 2S, 3S or my choice a penalty double.     Although this is generally described as 15+ even then you should have a good lead with only 15hcp.     You can have less hcp with a good six card suit to lead.     Most players play transfers after an opposition double of 1NT with redouble showing clubs, 2C showing diamonds and the usual red suit transfers to 2 of a major.     East completes the transfer to 2H and South competes with 2S.    West is worth 3H, North should stretch to bid 3S and South adds the fourth spade. 

    West leads a club and declarer wins CA and needs a favourable distribution of spades to make the game and is relieved when SAK drops the outstanding trumps.    When D8 is now led West should rise with DQ and declarer should duck hoping for DKQx with West.    West continues with a club and declarer ruffs and leads a diamond to DJ and East's DK but all the defence can take now is a heart as you can ruff one heart and discard the other on DA10 and South makes +420.amonds to behave . 

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     A valuation problem today which many N/S bidders failed to resolve.  South has to first decide whether to pre-empt 3H at Game All or pass or open a weak 2H (showing 6 hearts and 6-10hcp).    With the suit lacking in quality you should open 2H.    With E/W remaining silent throughout, North should make a 2NT (OGUST) enquiry in which South should show whether top or bottom of the range plus whether a strong or weak heart holding.     With a middle of the range but an extra trump you should bid 3H showing a poor suit but good values and North is not tested to raise to 4H.

    West naturally leads SJ which is won with SQ and a heart led to HK (West throwing a spade so East has HAJ32).   East wins HA and exits with S6 which declarer wins, crosses to CA and leads H9.    There is no point in East covering this with HJ as South is known to hold all the intermediate cards in the trump suit.    When North now leads SA there is no point East ruffing as the CJ will eventually become a winner as South will be playing hearts from hand later setting up HJ.     Of course if East does ruff declarer overruffs and cashes HQ and East comes to a club instead of a trump but East will only win a diamond to go with HA already in the bank and hold declarer to ten tricks.

    A part-score battle this week for a change.    After routine passes by North and East, South opens a weak 1NT and West overcalls 2H.    North competes for the part-score with 3D (to play!) and East has a difficult decision whether to support partner with 3H holding secondary support, a ruffing value in clubs and possibly a trick in diamonds hoping North has DA (wrong!) for the bid of 3D!     All in all if 3D is making one or two off in 3H may be a good score and so I would bid 3H and then everybody passes.

    Not expecting DQ lead to produce many defensive tricks North is likely to lead the singleton SQ and South wins SA and leads S8 (the highest spade held) for a ruff and North continues with DQ rather than a club as South has suggested a high suit continuation with S8.    Declarer should duck this in dummy and South is unlikely to rise with DA although it is best defence.    Declarer ruffs the DJ and leads a heart to dummy's HA leaving the defence with no resource as North has no trumps left to ruff a third spade and declarer can cash CAK, ruff a club, discard a club on SJ and take the "marked" finesse of H10 and draw trumps making nine tricks for a top.     You must assume that South has HJx left as otherwise the defence would have given North a second spade ruff! ..  

     An interesting hand with regard to choices in the bidding and play this week.    West has a seven card suit and has to decide whether to pre-empt 3S or not.    I think vulnerable the suit is not strong enough and I would compromise between a pass and open a weak 2S showing 5-10hcp and a six (or more) card suit.    North has an obvious pass and East is interested in a slam and so bids 2NT - an enquiry as to how strong the 2S opener is.     Most people play OGUST responses : (a) 3C shows bottom end of the 5-10hcp range with a poorish suit (b) 3D minimum hcp but a good suit (c) 3H top of the range with a poor suit and (d) 3S top of the range including a good suit (f) 3NT shows SAKQxxx.     South on this occasion butts in with 3H to suggest a possible sacrifice.     Although this intervention is rare, you should bid as in (a) to (f) if sufficient, double if the opponent has taken your conventional bid or pass otherwise to limit your hand.     East naturally tries for a grand slam by a RKCB 4NT but settles for 6S when West denies SAK with a bid of 5D.  

   North lead HK and with plenty of tricks apart from trumps declarer should consider that it does not matter how trumps are played if they are 2-1 but if North has SAJ9 you need to lead S5 from table and if South has SAJ9 you need to lead S2 from hand.     Although South probably has lots of hearts missing HK (the lead) South would be favourite to hold SA because of the free 3H bid so I would ruff HK at trick 1 and lead S2.     With trumps 2-1 there is no problem however and you chalk up +1430.        Note that if South had turned up with HKQ I would have played the trumps the other way! .

     A part-score battle for a change this week.     After a routine no bid by North and East, South opens 1S and West has the values for a strong 1NT overcall but without a holding in spades can do nothing but no bid or overcall 2C on a weak suit.    The overcall just shades it and North should make a sputnik double showing 6+hcp and at least 4 hearts (5+ hearts only if less than 9hcp as then you would normally bid a forcing for one round 2H).     East has not enough strength too take any action.    South rebids 2S as the hand misfits partner's heart suit and no spade fit has been shown as yet.     West and North should not bid and East with the right shape should fight for the part-score by either raising clubs or making a take-out double and South brings a halt to proceedings with a bid of 3S.

     West leads HK (East encouraging with H7) although a trump might have been better and declarer wins and considers the fact that there are a club and three diamonds to lose and so playing trumps should be delayed as you may need to ruff a fourth round of diamonds in dummy.      Thus declarer should lead D2 at trick 2.    West wins DQ and tries to cash HK but South ruffs and leads a second diamond to East's DA.     The defence cannot now stop South from ruffing a diamond with SA, drawing trumps and setting up a club winner for a ninth trick.

     A fairly routine hand for Benji Acol.     After three obvious passes North should open 2NT rather than one of a red suit as South has many more options in the bidding.     South transfers to 3S with a bid of 3H and rebids 3NT to give North the option of playing in 3NT without a 3 card fit.    North with support and a ruffing value obviously should choose to play in 4S.

      East leads DJ and West should encourage with D7 and declarer wins DK and leads D6 to set up a ruff in the hand with the shorter trumps.     Having taken a diamond ruff, declarer forces out SA and ends up with ten or eleven tricks depending on whether he finesses in clubs the winning way, losing just one spade, one diamond and possibly one club!.

    Several E/W pairs inexplicably missed their spade fit on today's hand.    West has eleven hcp plus three tens and may be tempted to open a weak 1NT but I prefer to pass first in hand vulnerable as 12-14 hcp is quite a large range as it is.    North has an obvious pass and East has to choose between a 1C or a 1S opener.    The modern Acol bid is 1S intending to rebid in NT despite the diamond weakness.    West should respond 3NT playing NT raises that show support and after a couple of cue-bids West gives up having made one try(cue-bidding DA).     

    South has a difficult lead but is unlikely to find the best lead of a diamond preferring a trump or a low club.    On a trump lead you draw three rounds of trumps and play HAK and another which sets up a winning heart to discard your losing diamond giving you twelve tricks and a joint top.    This heart play just requires a 3-3 break or a doubleton HQx or HJx.     On a club lead you rise with C10 and have two diamond discards from dummy on CAKQ. 

    After a 1C opener 4S should still be reached as the bidding should proceed 1C-1H-2NT-3S-4S with responder showing 4-4 in the majors as with 5H & 4S responder should bid 3H (showing 5) allowing opener too show a 4 card spde suit if held!    

     Half the field of N/S pairs went minus on today's deal and shouldn't have!    With E/W silent throughout, North should open 2NT and South transfers to hearts with a 3D bid.     With CQx possibly wasted North should be content with completing the transfer rather than jumping to game but when South offers a choice of games with 3NT, North converts to 4H.

     East has two choices of lead - an attacking SK or a reasonably "safe" D9.     You should probably lead D9 and DJ from dummy is covered by DK and declarer's DA.     HAK draws all the outstanding trumps and you have two likely club losers and possibly two spades as well so you need a bit of luck.      Declarer's plan should be to cash diamond winners ending in dummy and exit with C8.    If West rises with CK to lead a spade declarer simply ducks to East's SQ.     East is then end-played after cashing CA either by leading a spade into North's SAJ tenace or by giving a ruff and discard enabling declarer to ruff in one hand and discarding a spade from the other hand and then ruffing a spade for your tenth trick.    If as more likely West plays low on the C8, East can win CA and exit in clubs but then the spade exit is ducked to SQ as before. 

     Almost all the North players failed to understand the playing potential of their freak hand this week.  After a routine pass by East, South has an obvious1H opener and West has to decide how may diamonds to bid (two, three, four or five).    I would bid 2D only playing weak jumps at this favourable vulnerability in the hope that partner could bid 3NT but that is not the case today.  North bids a forcing 2S showing five spades and 9+hcp to see what partner can offer and South rebids 3H rather than 3C to emphasise the heart suit held.   West is worth a 4D bid but North now should either punt 6S or Ask for Aces before settling for 6S.

     There is nothing to the play.   Declarer ruffs the opening lead, draws trumps in three rounds (discarding two diamonds and a club from dummy, overtakes HQ with HA, cashes HK (discarding C8) and ruffs a heart in  case the suit breaks an unlikely 3-3 and then takes the club finesse for an overtrick.    

     Plenty of slams around this week and a few pairs beat par but in doing so (in my view) did not find the best line for their contract!       North opens 1H and East buts in with 2C.     South bids 2/s showing five spades and 9+hcp and North should jump to 4H to show extra strength rather than 3C or 3H.      South is now going to a slam unless opener has only two Aces and a 4NT (RKCB) elicits a response of 5D to show 1 or 4 of the five Aces (including HK) and then signs off in 6H.

     East naturally leads CK and declarer should ruff this and cross to SA eschewing the spade finesse and ruff a second club low.    Then cash DAK (discarding S10), ruff a spade, ruff a third club with HJ not caring if you are overruffed,  ruff a spade, cash HAK and when the HQ does not drop lead CA, losing just the HQ to chalk up +1430.

There are three main reasons for opening an artificial strong two opener: (a) to avoid playing at the one level when partner has a fit but less than 6 hcp. (b) to explore for the best contract knowing that partner will not give up too easily and (c) to suggest a slam if partner has a fit.      Today's hand is an example of category (c).    East opens 2C intending to rebid 2NT (showing 21-22 hcp ) over the "waiting" bid of 2D.      With N/S silent throughout, West should not bid 2D but give a "positive" natural response of 2S showing initially a five card suit to at least one top honour  (A. K or Q) and values - traditionally an Ace and a King or two KQs but less nowadays!     Opener's first duty over the 2S response is to show three card support and East bids 2NT to deny this.     Now a 3S rebid by West shows a six card suit asking the opener how good the fit is.    3NT would deny a top honour so to show a top honour East should cue-bid the first Ace held and bids 4C.    This does not show a club suit but merely agree the fit.     West checks on Aces with 4NT and signs off in 6S.     Note that it is better to play the hand in spades rather than NT as the twelve top tricks is the limit on the normal DK lead.     In 6S you win DA, draw trumps and play KAQ of clubs (discarding a diamond) and when the suit splits normally 4-2 you ruff a fourth round to set up C6 in order to discard your losing third round heart and make all thirteen tricks.

      An interesting bidding problem for E/W pairs this week.     South has an obvious 1C opener and East has an opening hand but sterile shape and most players would pass although a take-out double (with three card support for all suits partner may bid) is not necessarily wrong!      North must pass at this vulnerability despite four card support otherwise partner may get too high!    East should bid 1S although 2S is possible if it shows intermediate values, i.e. an opening hand with a six card or longer suit.    South should not give up the ghost and try 2H in the vain hope that partner has 4-5hcp and at least four hearts.      However, West should now bid 3C - what is known as an unassuming cue-bid - to show an opening hand with at least three card support for partner's major.    East jumps to game as extras are held (a club void and an extra trump).

      There is nothing to the play of the hand and West makes eleven tricks, just losing a heart and the losing diamond finesse.

       An instructive bidding hand for E/W this week.     East has the choice between opening 1C or 1H intending to rebid in NT and the modern style is to open the 4 card major (1H) unless you have rebid problems over a given response.     If partner responds 2 of a minor over 1H you intend to rebid 2NT to show your strength despite the fact that you have a weak spade holding - you can't have everything covered!.     However South has a perfectly reasonable 1S overcall and partner responds 2D showing 9+hcp and fewer than four hearts (otherwise you would support to the appropriate level).       Now a 2NT rebid is not convenient or good bridge.      The solution is to cue-bid the opponents' suit with a 2S bid.     This 2S bid shows combined game values of around 25 hcp but insufficient spades or hearts to rebid in NT or jump rebid your major.      Over 2S partner, with a double spade stop and an six card suit should jump to 3NT and all pass.

       North leads South's bid suit (S9) but declarer has no trouble in winning a spade and knocking out the DA to set up ten tricks (5 diamonds, 2 spades, one club and two top hearts) without risking a finesse into the hand (South) that has two long spade winners having cleared the suit when in with DA.

        A few E/W pairs had trouble making a plus score on today's hand.     West opens 2NT showing 19-20 in the modern style and East transfers into spades with a 3H bid and then bids 4H to show 5-5 at least in the majors, converted to 4S by West.

       On CK lead declarer wins. draws trumps in three rounds, cashes DAK (discarding CJ) and plays HJ to HA, ruffing North's exit, cashing HK and losing H10 to North's HQ setting up H98 to discard two clubs from hand and making eleven tricks for a top score.             However, North should be listening to the bidding and should lead HA and another heart expecting partner to be short and South ruffs in at trick 2 but declarer then plays as above and concedes a trick to HQ settling for ten tricks.

     An exciting freak hand for discussion this week.    South opens a routine weak 1NT and West has a difficult hand to bid if not playing a conventional 2C to show both majors.     Playing natural methods a 2NT bid is utilised to show a strongish two-suiter.    East decides to jump to 4C and converts East's 4H bid to 4S and there the matter rests.

     With a total misfit you need a large slice of luck on DK lead.     Your only chance is to make something of the hearts and you pass HQ to South's  HK (discarding a club), ruff the diamond continuation and run HJ to South's HA, win the club exit with CA, cash SK and lead S10 to SJ, cash SA(drawing the outstanding trumps( and run the heart suit when it fortunately runs for the rest of the tricks.      It is better to be a lucky declarer than a skillful one!.

      A competitive deal today where most E/W pairs failed to go plus.      Some players would open 1S with the West hand but I think it is a losing bid in the long run as the partnership then gets too high and so I would pass.     North opens 1C and East bids a weak jump overcall of 2H and South determined not to be shut out tries 3D.       West raises to 3H and North is still there with 4C, passed round to West who bids one more with a bid of 4H and North South elect to try and defeat it.

      South cashes DA and switches to a club won by declarer's CA.      If declarer tries to ruff two clubs in dummy then trumps need to be 2-2 and you must not run into a trump promotion as you are missing both H10 & HQ.      The best plan is to lead a spade at trick 3 first hoping that South has SA or SJ10.      North however takes SQ with SA but declarer can counter whatever the defence's continuation.      If a club is led declarer ruffs in dummy and plays SK and another spade (North pitching a diamond).     If South continues with a top diamond declarer can ruff low and cash HKA or overruff HQ with HK, finesse HJ, cash HA (drawing all the outstanding trumps and cash a winning spade to dispose of the club loser..      .       

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     Few N/S pairs made the most of today's hand.       North opens 1S and East usually competes for the part-score with a Michaels Cue-bid 2S showing at least 5-5 in hearts and a minor.      South routinely bids 3S and North raises to the 4S game.     East leads a fourth highest club and West wins CA and returns the C4 to declarer's CK.      North then cashes the SA, East dropping SJ.     Although this could be from SQJ doubleton, the odds favour it being a singleton using the rule of Restricted Choice first promoted by the late great Terence Reese.       This states that when you hold cards of equal rank, viz. SQJ then you have the choice of playing either and the play of one suggests partner holds the other with odds of 2:1.      You thus abandon trumps for now and cash DA, overtake DJ and cash a top diamond discarding your losing club before finessing S9 and cashing SK.     You then just concede a heart and claim eleven tricks.  

     A tricky hand for both North-South and East-West to bid today.      North has a choice of opening bids, viz. 2H(weak) or 1H.     I would choose 1H because of the excellent controls despite holding only 10hcp.      East, who would have opened 1S if North had passed, is happy to overcall 1S and South has a choice between pass and a natural 1NT.      I would bid 1NT and West now has a problem.     With secondary spade support (3 cards, albeit small), West could show this with a cue-bid of 2H but the heart holding is going to be worthless in a spade contract so for now you should double 1NT for penalties.      North rescues to 2H - if up to strength you would stand the double and then East has a problem and may decide to show strength by bidding 2S which shows a six or strong five card suit.      If six cards then the hand would have been too strong to make a weak jump overcall.      Unable to double 2H for penalties West bids the most likely making game of 3NT and all then pass.

     North leads a low heart in the hope that the opposition hearts are 3-2 and then the suit would run in defence but declarer wins in hand and takes the (losing) spade finesse to set up four tricks.      South has no winning continuation and settles for a club but nothing the defence can do will stop declarer making 3NT.

     A difficult hand for E/W to bid this week.      North routinely opens 1C and East despite 12hcp should pass as you have no support for one of the unbid majors (spades).      South should also pass as a bid of 1S is likely to lead the partnership getting too high!      West for the same reason as East should not double to show strength but overcall 1D.      North should also pass as the suit opened is weak and the partnership has the  minority of hcp.      East must now spring to life by cue-biding 2C (known as an unassuming cue-bid) which is best played (over a minor suit overcall only) as an opening hand searching for a major suit fit and/or a club stop for 3NT purposes if partner also has an opening hand.      Incidentally, over a major suit overcall in this sequence, a cue-bid is best shown as a good raise with at least three card support for partner's major.      West naturally then bids 2H and this is raised to game by East as HAQ & DQ look useful cards.

      North with no good lead opts for a small trump.      You should not lazily let this run to dummy's HK as North is marked with DA and you want to start on setting up your side-suit by leading towards East's DQ.      Thus you should play HAQ, cross to HK and lead D4.    The likely winning club finesse can wait until you ruff a spade later in the play.    As long as North does not hold DAJx you will make eleven tricks .

     N/S pairs struggled to make the most of today's hand.     Although I do not favour light opening bids first or second in hand on single suited hands, I try to get into the bidding on two suited (5-5 or better) hands.       As South has the preferred minimum of three controls (A=2, K=1), I would open 1D here.      West has a moth-eaten eleven hcp and should pass and North responds 1H.      East has just about enough for a spade overcall and South rebids 2C showing a 5-5 minimum opener (with 15+hcp you should double and with 5/4 you should pass to limit your hand).      West bids 2S and North, without a spade stop, jumps to 4C to invite game and  South raises to 5C because partner has bid 1H rather than 1S and must have fitting minor suit cards and an outside Ace.

     You ruff SK opening lead and realise you need trumps to break 3-2 otherwise you will lose control and with a certain heart loser you need to lose just one trick in the minors.      I would cash CAK (leaving the last trump outstanding) and play a diamond to the Ace and one back intending to play DK and ruff a diamond if the diamonds are 3-2 to set the suit up.     When East shows out you don't care as dummy's second diamond is ruffed and you play low and can take the marked ruffing finesse against the DQ and end up losing just a trump and a heart at the end meaning you can chalk up the game bonus.

      Many E/W struggled to make the most of today's hand.       After South's obvious pass, West opens a routine1D and North makes a weak jump overcall of 2S, East bids 3H showing game values and at least five hearts and so West has an easy raise to game with 4H.

      South leads S10 and North wins SA and returns S2 (asking for a club switch if South ever wins a trick, SQ would ask for a diamond and S6 would suggest no preference).     Dummy ruffs and D4 led to DK and S7 is led.     South should ruff this with H10 to give declarer a guess as to how the trumps are lying.      The theory of restricted choice suggests that South does not hold SJ as with both the HJ10 either might have been played so the winning line for declarer is to overruff with HA and lead H5 finessing the H9, draw trumps and claim the rest.      However it is probably right to play trumps from the top to avoid a possible ruff if the finesse loses and thus ending with eleven tricks.

      Many N/S pairs found today's hand difficult to bid and play.      After an obvious pass by East, South opens 1C and West should bid 2D (a) to make it difficult for N/S to explore their fit and (b) to attract a diamond lead from partner.     North should cue-bid 3D to show game values opposite a normal opener and South shows for hearts with a bid of 3H and North raises to game with 4H.

      East naturally leads D5 and D10 forces DA.      Declarer should realise that the best plan is to play for clubs and trumps both breaking normally, i.e. 3-2 and should lead CK at trick 2.      East wins CA and switches to a spade but declarer wins SA, crosses to HK, cashes CJ, crosses to HK and leads CQ (discarding a spade) and when the hand with three trumps also holds C10 you make an unlikely overtrick as you get your second spade away on the master C8.       Whether East ruffs in or not you can throw two diamond losers on C76 and ruff a spade in hand or a diamond in dummy to make eleven tricks.      

    A tricky hand for all the N/S pairs this week.       After routine passes by North and East, South should open 1S rater than 1H.     With 5S and 6H you should only open 1H if you intend to rebid spades twice and so you should be 15+hcp for that plan.      If you open 1S you can mention hearts and partner can give preference to your first suit bid at the same level!.      West is too strong to overcall in diamonds and I would prefer a strong 1NT overcall to a double and then bid diamonds at the cheapest level as partner would be entitled to jump to game in hearts over the double which you are uncertain whether you should pass or bid 5D!     Over the 1NT overcall North should bid 2C which shows a six card suit and less than 10hcp (in which case you would double 1NT for penalties.     Over 2C South naturally bids 2H to show at least 5-5 in the majors.     West competes with 3D and South raises North's 3S bid to game with 4S.

     West leads off DAK and declarer ruffs the second round.    As you can only afford to lose two trumps in addition to the opening lead, you need a favourable heart break as well as trumps breaking normally, i.e.3-2.      Thus you should lead a heart to the King, return to HA (spurning the finesse as West is clear favourite to hold it because of the strong bidding).       You were intending to ruff the third round of hearts with S10.      When West plays the HQ you can lead a third heart and ruff it low (or overruff West) and lead a trump to SJ.      All you lose is two trumps and DA for a score of +620.

       A defensive problem for N/S pairs for a change this week.     North has an obvious opening pass and East an equally obvious 1S which silences South who would like to have bid 1S also!       West responds 2C and East should rebid 2NT to give partner a chance to show 4 hearts or three spades.       Note that a rebid of 2H would not be forcing and you don't want to stop below game level.   Without a holding in the majors West settles for the obvious game with a bid of 3NT.

       South without an attractive lead settles for a MUD D7 and declarer wind DK and leads CJ.       As declarer might have a singleton club it is right to duck the first club to make it more difficult for declarer to set up dummy's long suit but when the CQ is continued you should duck again in the hope that partner has three or four in which case declarer is short in diamonds.       Note that declarer cannot afford to overtake CQ with CK as you would be able to win both CA & C10.       North can lead a spade when in with CA and as long as North withholds HA when  South exits with HJ (or H8), declarer cannot amass more than eight tricks for one off.    ..

     A competitive hand that many N/S pairs failed to give full value to their assets.        North opens 1C and East has a choice of bids , viz. 1H playing weak jump overcalls or 2H playing intermediate jumps or 2NT Unusual (showing at least 5-5 in the lowest two (red) suits.      I would prefer 2H as partner will not believe you have a six card  major.      South should stretch and bid 2S despite the void in partner's suit(clubs) because of the seventh spade.     Partner raises to 3S conservatively as the club suit is full of holes and East probably perseveres with 4D only for South's 4S to close the auction.

      West leads a heart to East's Ace and a heart is continued to declarer's HK.      Aiming to try and ruff two diamonds in dummy, South leads D2 to JK and D3 runs to West's DA.    West can lead a spade but declarer wins S8, ruffs a diamond with SK, ruffs a club, ruffs a diamond with SA, ruffs a club bringing down CA, crosses to SA, ditches a diamond on CK, ruffs a club and draws the last trump with SQ to end up with a lucky eleven tricks.  ..

       Many N/S pairs failed to play today's hand properly as an overtrick is always worth having at pairs scoring.      South is in the range for a Benji 2NT opening (19-20hcp) although opening 1S is not wrong since the HQJ may be worthless.      After a pass by West, most players these days play 3C as Puppet Stayman asking for 4 or 5 card majors with 3H/S showing 5 cards and 3D showing at least one 4 card major.      The best continuation after 3D is then 3H shows 4 spades, 3S shows 4 hearts and 4D shows both majors (opener signs off in any major held).      This is so that you get the major suit game played by the strong hand and generally benefit from the opening lead up to the strength.      If the opposition dare to intervene then I suggest a double should not be penalties but show this latter hand and a bid of 3H/S would show a five card suit.      Over the double responder bids as if there were no opposition bid, i.e. 3S=4H or 3H = 4S or 4D=4H&4S.       Also 3NT would show less than four spades and less than four hearts plus a diamond stop.       If a diamond stop is not held you pass and leave the next bid to partner!

.       West will lead the singleton D10 in partner's suit and declarer wins DA, ruffs a diamond with S4 (West ditching a club), cross to CA, ruff a diamond, cash SK and lead S9 to SA, cash SQJ, run four more clubs and concede two hearts at the end for +450 and a joint top.      Note that you should cross to hand first with a club and not a trump in case West has only two clubs and is able to ruff the first round of clubs when you would eventually try to cross back to hand to draw trumps. 

A difficult hand for South to bid this week.       I would open 2NT despite the singleton club but most would open 2C rebidding 3D or 1D which would be the choice of most experts.        Over 1D most West's would bid 3C to be awkward and North should pass as a bid of 3H should show better values.      South re-opens with a take-out double and raises North's 3H to 4H hoping that more than four hearts are held.     

    East leads a club and dummy's CA wins and a heart is led to H10.       East should win and play a second heart.      Declarer should realise that if this trick is won in hand and a club ruffed in dummy then you have to cash DAK which may be ruffed if the diamonds are 4-1 - a 28% chance.       Although you would get away with this on the actual lie of the cards the best plan is to eschew the club ruff and set up the diamonds for a discard of the losing club.     So draw the trumps with a third round and test the diamonds with DAK, ruff a diamond and cross to SA to discard S3 and C10 on the winning diamonds.       Strangely,  only one pair made twelve tricks where it looks automatic for twelve tricks to be chalked up!

     A tricky hand for N/S this week.       South is not worth a strong opener and should start with 1D.      East overcalls 1H or 2H if playing weak jump overcalls.       Over 1H, North bids 1S showing 6+hcp and five spades - with four spades you would make a sputnik double - and South signs off with 4S.      Over 2H, North is not strong enough to bid 3S and has to make a take-out double and over 2NT by South rebids 3S to show around 8-9 hcp but 5 spades - with 10 hcp and five spades you would be worth a 2S bid initially over West's 2H bid.      South, with only one heart stop raises to the 4S game.

     East leads a heart and South wins HA and runs SJ to East's SQ. and ruffs the heart continuation.      A club to CQ wins and that is good news as it means SK may be with West.      A spade to the 10 follows and SA draws the last trump.      You now run DJ to West's DQ and claim ten tricks, losing just one trump, one diamond and one club when CA is cashed.

    Most N/S pairs failed to make the most of today's hand.       North has just too much to open a weak 1NT and has to then decide whether to open 1S or 1C.      Some Acol players open 1S intending to rebid 2NT over a 2 level response but in my view this might lead to a hopeless 3NT or 1NT played from the wrong side (as you would have to pass a 1NT response).      I think 1C is by far the better opening bid, rebidding 1NT (not 1S, as this should show a more distributional hand) to show 15-16hcp.      This gives partner the scope to raise to 2NT invitationally on a flat nine hcp.     Over this 1NT rebid South should jump to 3H showing game values and a five card suit and North without secondary (3 card) heart support bids 3NT.       South then with a five loser in support of clubs jumps to game with a bid of 5C.       If there is a partnership agreement that 4C would be a slam try in this sequence then you might get to the club slam after North co-operates with an  Ace-showing cue-bid of 4D.      However 5C should score well with 3NT unlikely to outscore 5C+1 and may be doomed.

East leads D2 to West's DQ and North's DA and North starts trumps with the CJ to dummy's CA exposing the 3-Nil break.            Declarer then lead a spade to the SA and runs C10, following with C6 to CA (drawing trumps) before leading a heart to HK and East's HA.     A diamond exit is then ruffed on the table and a heart led to HJ.     A diamond is then ruffed on the table, HQ is cashed and a heart ruff sets up dummy with only winners left for +620.

     A play problem which several N/S pairs failed to solve.      South with 4-4 in the majors and 17hcp should open 1H intending to rebid in NT if partner does not respond 1S but when 1S appears you jump rebid to 3S inviting partner to raise to game holding a few hcp more than the minimum  6hcp.      South raises to 4S and as Shakespeare dictates "the play's the thing".

      East has the obvious lead of DQ (won by DK) and declarer is fairly confident of making ten tricks just losing just one or two hearts and a club.    However, that assumes no trump trick will be lost and a 4-1 trump break occurs a not insignificant 28% of the time.    With your combined trump holding (after cashing SK) you can finesse either hand for SJxxx by cashing the right top honour next.      I think the odds slightly favour the DQ lead being from length rather than shortage so I would play West rather than East for possible long trumps and thus I would cash SQ next getting the bad news that West has SJ7 remaining.       You now leave trumps alone and start to set up a heart trick by running H10 to East's HQ.      East probably exits with C10 which runs to declarer's CQ and North crosses to DA to lead a second heart won by West with HA.      If West could exit with a heart you would win HK before ruffing a diamond with S10 but you ruff the diamond exit instead.       You can then finesse S9, draw the last trump with SA (discarding a club) and cross to CA to cash H9 to notch up an overtrick (unless West took CK when East lead C10 but ten tricks is certain).

     A tricky hand for E/W to bid to game after the opposition opening bid.       South opens a routine weak 1NT and West has insufficient values to overcall 2S.     North knows that E/W have 24-26 hcp and should bid  Stayman 2C (intending to pass South's response even an artificial 2D) to make it more difficult  for E/W to obtain a big penalty.      This silences East for the time bidding as a double would show decent clubs and 2NT would show a two-suiter usually both minors.      South bids 2D to show no four card major and North passes.     If East now bids 2NT this would show 16-18hcp and stops all round so the best bid is a take-out double.     West bids 2S and East has a choice between 3H (forward going) or 2NT to show 16-18hcp.       I would prefer 2NT as 3H should be a self-sufficient six card suit.      Over 2NT, West is able to offer a choice of games with 3S and East settles for 3NT.      Over 3H however 3S would be six spades and non-forcing which is why I would bid 2NT as nine tricks may be easier than ten.      South has a tricky lead and a club lead gives declarer a twelfth trick with one club, one diamond, five hearts and five spades assuming SK will be contained within the 1NT opener.     A diamond lead is best but leads to eleven tricks.

        Most N/S pairs failed to make the most of today's competitive hand.       West has a routine 1C opener and South normally overcalls 1S, being too strong for a weak jump overcall.      East doubles to show 6+hcp and at least four hearts and North has a choice of bids - redouble or a 2C "Unassuming cue-bid" which shows a good raise in spades.      I favour the latter and leads South to jump to game in spades after East competes in hearts.

                   With nothing to go on West normally leads partner's first bid suit (clubs) and East cashed CAK (getting the bad news that partner has three clubs and not the two hoped for.     So East switches to HK and another to force dummy to ruff the second heart..     However, declarer can then cross to DA, cash SA, cross to SK and throw heart losers on CQ and DA  and lose only two clubs and SQ for ten tricks.

     Several N/S pairs failed to make the most of today's deal which has points of interest in the bidding.      North has a nice shapely hand but I don't recommend opening 1st or 2nd in hand as partner is likely to take the level too high with a misfiting hand.       East has an obvious pass and South an obvious 1S opener - I suggest you don't open 1NT on a 12-14 hcp and a decent five card major but only if the suit is weak, e.g. Q5432.      West obviously passes and North should jump the bidding to show a seven loser hand with four card support.       I think a jump in a new suit over a major should be a splinter showing four card support and a singleton or void in case the opener has a good hand shapely or full of hcp in which case a slam may be bid.        With South's  minimum hand a sign off in 4S is correct.

        West is likely to lead H9 which runs to declarer's H10. with East not wasting HK as West cannot possibly hold HA and lead H9.   Declarer should test trumps with SKQ, risk cashing HA  and cross to SA to lead HQ for a ruffing finesse, discarding a club if /east withholds HK.      So you have two discards for clubs on the hearts after ruffing the second round of clubs and concede DA to set up DK and thus making eleven tricks, losing just one trick in each minor.

      A part score battle today.       South opens 1S after a routine pass by East and West has just enough to overcall 2H.     North bids 2S and East raises to 3H.      A double now should not be for penalties but a game try in the partnership suit (spades) but North with only three card support and no significant shape should sign off with 3S which becomes the final contract.

        West naturally leads HQ and South wins HA and has to tackle trumps.      With few entries to dummy the best way is to play Ace and another hoping for trumps 3-2.      If SJ or SK pops up on the second spade that solves your problem but if a low card appears then S10 is the card to play.      When S10 forces SK all you need now to make your contact  is for the clubs to break normally with hopefully split honours, i.e. the CK and CQ are not both in the same hand or East has both of them.      You have SQ and DA as entries for the two club leads from dummy.       +140 turns out to be a top score.

     A quiet part-score for a change this week where most N/S pairs failed to make a plus score.      After two routine passes, South opens a weak 1NT and North transfers with 2D and opener's 2H bid is passed out.       

     West starts with SAK (with East following with the S4&9 to show three cards in the suit) and switches to a diamond.       Declarer should win this with DK and reason that as trumps will likely break 4-2 the contract is in danger because you will lose control of trumps if dummy is forced to ruff twice.       With limited entries to dummy you should thus start on your side suit before tackling trumps.        So I would win DK at trick 3 and lead a club.       When East plays C9 I think the odds just favour playing CK as West has shown up with 7hcp in spades already.     When CK holds, you cash HAQ and exit with a club to West's CQ.       Now (a) If West exits with a low spade you ruff, draw the outstanding trumps and lead a club.     Fortunately East does not hold the thirteenth spade and you make DA and a winning club for +140 and a top score.        Otherwise (b) If West exits with a diamond you win DA and exit with a third club and eventually ruff a diamond or spade, draw trumps in two more rounds and cash a fourth club for the same +140.

    All the E/W pairs failed to make the most of today's deal.      After two routine passes, West opens 1S and North also passes.    East has great support, a strong side-suit and a singleton and is well worth raising to game.      However, this is a lazy bid and you should make the "splinter" bid of a double jump to 4H showing a singleton or void heart and four card support for opener.     There is no way that this bid is needed in a natural sense as East could have opened 2 or 4 hearts with long hearts.    West has the perfect holding opposite a singleton, viz H Axx and thus should employ RKCB.       A 5D response usually shows 1 or 4 Aces - in this case the SK and then 5H asks for SQ.      If SQ is not held then West would sign off with a bid of 5S but with SQ a useful method is to cue-bid the lowest suit where a King is held and thus bids 5C converted to 6S by East.

     You win the club lead, cash HA and ruff a heart high, cross to S9, ruff a heart high, cash S10 and if trumps are 2/2 you test the clubs,playing C AKQ (discarding a diamond) ruffing the fourth round if the CJ has not appeared, ruff a heart and cash the fifth club discarding your last diamond loser and claiming an overtrick.      When the trumps are 3/1 you ruff a heart, cross to DA, draw the last trump and hope the CJ falls in two or three rounds.     With the outstanding clubs providing five tricks you end up with an overtrick.

      Most E/W pairs overbid today's hand and earned themselves a minus score instead of notching up a plus score.     When you have a misfit for partner in the long run it pays to stay low rather than risk trying for an unlikely game or higher scoring part-score.

      West has some shape but you should not open first or second in hand holding a ten count only without a six card suit or possibly 5-5 shape if all hcp are working, i.e. all hcp are in your long suits.       After two obvious passes, then, East opens 1C and South should pass rather than overcall 1D as the suit lacks the intermediate cards to suggest partner should lead a diamond as you have the minority of hcp and are likely to be defending the hand.      West responds 1S and all East can do is rebid 2C to show minimum opening strength, i.e. not 15hcp+.

Some Wests might now try 2D to suggest playing in diamonds or spades but partner would likely bid 2S rather than 2C with secondary (3 card) support and would prefer to open 1NT with only five clubs.       Otherwise, you are also a point or two short of a 2NT bid which is very poor anyway as you have no fit in either of your long (black) suits.      So the recommended action is to pass 2C and hopefully chalk up a plus score.       .

Most E/W pairs missed the best contract on today's deal.        West has a decent hand but it is a mistake to open a ten count unless you have a six card suit (or possibly 5-5 shape at least).     North has an obvious pass and East opens a routine 1D.       South passes and West responds 1H and East has no ideal rebid.       Despite the weakness in spades I would rebid 1NT to show the above minimum 15-16 hcp.        West should now bid stop 3H offering a choice of games - 4H if opener has three card heart support or otherwise opener shows a four card spade suit with a bid of 3S in case West has four spades as in this case.        Without four spades but with three hearts opener just signs off with a bid of 4H.

       North has no good lead  and may find the most threatening lead of a club and South takes CQ with CA and continues with CJ to dummy's CK.        This forces you to play top top diamonds to discard your third round club loser and normally duck a spade in both hands to prepare for a third round spade ruff.       South wins S10 with SJ but the defence cannot now prevail as a second spade is won by West's SA and a third round ruffed  low in dummy before  CQ (discarding your last spade loser) holds and then  you play HJ expecting to run it to North's HK but when HQ wins you cash HA and are home, as long as the hearts are 3/2, settling for ten tricks with +620 beating a likely +600 for 3NT making.

         An apparently routine hand that many N/S pairs struggled with this week.       North is too strong to open a weak 1NT and so starts with 1D and Eaast has an obvious 1S overcall.      Most pairs nowadays play a double as take-out named "sputnik" after the Russian space program at the time it became in vogue.       Some play the double as showing both the unbid suits but I think it is more useful to play the bid as just showing 6+hcp and 4+ hearts only.      With five hearts you would be not strong enough to bid 2H showing 9+hcp and forcing for one round.       West has no bid available but a redouble - not appropriate on this hand - should suggest a spade top honour but not sufficient strength to raise partner's suit.      North has an obvious rebid of 1NT showing 15-16hcp and a spade stop which South raises to 3NT without any further ado - Note that 2NT should be invitational to game with exactly 9hcp.

          East warned off a spade lead by partner's failure to redouble leads C9 top of a sequence although a spade lead would have been OK and declarer with seven likely tricks plus a spade when SA is concede has no option but to try a heart towards dummy for a ninth trick.       You thus duck trick 1, win CA at trick two, run five diamonds to put pressure on the defence (throwing a club and a spade from dummy and lead H3.      If East wins HA and leads a third club you win CK and lead SK and you settle for nine tricks and +600.

      Most E/W pairs failed to make the most of their assets on today's hand.       South and West have obvious opening passes but North has 12hcp so should consider opening 1NT.       However, with a sterile 4333 distribution and an unmanoevreable CAQJ which is not working as hard as, say CAQJx.      Thus, I would pass as opener, especially when vulnerable.        The auction is then routine for E/W.     After H-1S-1NT (showing 15-16hcp), West bids a forcing 3H showing game values and 3 card support offering a choice of games 3NT or 4H if opener has five hearts.      Holding three spades.  East would return the favour and bid 3S to show secondary support in case responder has five spades but on this hand bids 3NT to end the auction.

      South leads a club - I would lead C3 although C10 could work out well - and North plays CAQ which declarer ducks and then CJ which declarer wins and leads H4 to HQ and HA.      North will probably then switch to a spade in the hope that West had the SK entry in order to cash C10 but declarer wins SA, cashes SK, DKAQ.       When the suit breaks 3-3 the thirteenth diamond (discarding C5 squeezes West in three suits.       When C10 is discarded, you are confident that West has SQ and HJ so you cash SQ and cross to HK and cash H10 for ten tricks and a good score.    

       An interesting hand for both N/S and E/W this week.      North has an obvious pass and at favourable vulnerability has to choose between opening 1S or pre-empting 3S or even 4S.      I think the hand is too good for 3S and I personally open 1S rather than 4S.      Now South has a problem [- whether to double and rebid hearts at the cheapest level to show a strong hand or to jump to 3H or 4H.     I think that the solidity in the heart suit suggests you go all the way to game with 4H as the opposition are unlikely to double and are likely to misjudge the value of their hands.     West should pass and hope for the best!

        West is unlikely not to lead SA which declarer should ruff, play HA, cross to HQ and then lead SQ for a ruffing finesse - as SK is marked with East - discarding a diamond if East withholds SK but ruffing high when SK covers SQ.       Another high trump draws the remaining outstanding trump and you cross to CK to discard a diamond on SJ and lead CJ through East (the opening bidder) for an overtrick, so losing just two diamonds for +650 and a top.

    An exciting part-score deal today that is a test for E/W.       North has a routine weak 1NT opener and East & South pass.       West doubles (for penalty) and East has a close decision whether to run to 2D with no fit guaranteed or hope partner is not minimum for the double when you recoup +200 or +500 from 1NT being defeated on a fourth highest diamond lead!       

     North wins DK over DQ from West and realises that to have any chance four club tricks are necessary and missing CAJ10 the only hope is a doubleton CAx.        Placing CA with West who holds most of the outstanding hcp, declarer crosses to HA and leads a club to C10 and CQ and follows with C5 to C9 and CA setting up three club winners in the dummy.      West should now realise that partner needs to hold DA or SK to defeat the contract.       The defence now is to cash HAK and then SA and hope that partner can play a high spade to encourage a continuation or a low spade in which case you continue with a diamond and hope partner has enough diamond tricks to beat the contract.       When East plays S9 on SK  you continue with a spade to SK and a third spade through dummy's S10 6.       West's SJ8 proves the setting trick for +200 and a top!

      Most E/W pairs failed to make the best use of today's hand.        The England international Andrew Robson has a saying "six-Five-Come-alive"       So on the East hand despite only having 9hcp you should open the bidding and as the major suit generally scores more heavily than a minor you start with 1H rather than 1D.        South has a flat 12hcp and I would make a take-out double as you have four of the unbid major and it is safer to compete at a low level only.       West bids a natural 1S and North competes with 2C.        East with a minimum opener should now pass which shows five hearts unless exceptional suit length is held, e.g. 2H would show six hearts and 10-14hcp and 2D shows the same strength but at least 5-5 in the red suits.      Over this West jumps to game in the known 5-3 fit with a 4H bid.    

        The way to play weak trump suits like this is to duck one round, then cash HA and leave the opposing high trump out while you play on your long side-suit allowing opponents to make their trump when they like but you are in control to cash your winners.       So you ruff the club continuation at trick three, cash HA and lead a diamond to DJ overtaking D10 with DQ in order to run the suit. 

     Many E/W pairs (including yours truly) failed to make the most of today's hand.       West obviously opens 1D and North has  a weak 2H opener but I recommend weak jump overcalls Non-vul. but intermediate when Vul (i.e 12-15hcp and a decent six card suit). and so as North I would overcall 1H.       Now Double (known as Sputnik or Negative) should be used for any responding hand with at least 6hcp that also contains four spades precisely in which case1S in this sequence shows 5+spades.       South raises to 2H and West should rebid 3D  showing a minimum opener with at least six diamonds.      West then has no option but to bid 3NT and hope for a useful dummy.

      South leads H6 to North's Ace followed by a low heart.     Declarer has to now decide whether to rise with HK which blocks the run of the heart suit if South has HQxx or finesse the HQ in the hope that North has HQ.      Although wrong on this occasion it is probably right to play HJ and hope that if it loses South plays a third heart to set up North's suit rather than switch to a diamond.      If a third heart is led you win cross to a club and take the spade finesse.      When it loses you have your nine tricks with two spades, one heart, one diamond and five clubs and end up with ten tricks when the spades break.

        Most E/Ws failed to make the most of today's hand.        If N/S are not playing weak two major suit openings the bidding will go 1H by East - 1NT from West - 2NT from West - 3NT from Easr.       However after a 2S opening by North,  East has a difficult bid and should bid 2NT showing 16-18 hcp and a spade holding.      West with 8hcp and a possibly useful C10 and D98 raises to the 3NT game.

        As any lead might help declarer it is normal to play partner's suit even though you only have a singleton and the first trick consists of S5, S9, S10 & SJ.      Declarer should then play out HAK9 (discarding SQ from dummy) hoping for hearts 3-3 or the doubleton containing two of 10JQ.      South wins and leads C9 to C10 and if North takes this the defence cannot prevail as declarer cab cross to two clubs (KQ), three spades (by leading S7 to S8) four hearts and DA for the game and may get an overtrick if South is allowed to win the first diamond.        If North ducks C10, declarer finesses S8 and leads CJ so North is no better off as if CA is taken then North cannot enjoy late spade winners.    .

    An interesting hand for N/S to bid and play and for E/W to defend.       North opens a Benji 2D and rebids 2NT showing 23-24hcp   over the 2H relay response.       South then bids 3C Puppet Stayman with 3D alerted to show no five card majors but at least one four card major.       North then bids 3H to show four spades but not four hearts (4D can  be played to show both majors)  which ensures that the game is played  by North with the lead coming up to the strong hand as declarer.

    East makes the safe lead of a fourth highest heart  and declarer should win and play CK hoping to make something of dummy's clubs.      Whether East plays the CJ on this card (to show a doubleton) or not West should duck the first two rounds of clubs to strop the suit running for four tricks.        In dummy at trick 3 with CQ there is no point in clearing the club suit as no side-suit entry is immediately available so you should hope for a favourable spade position and lead S2 to the 3, King and Ace,       East continues the heart attack playing partner for H9 and North wins and exits with a club.      West wins CA and exits with a third heart won by North and now declarer has to hope that West has SQ otherwise two hearts will be cashed by East.       However, when a spade to dummy's provides a late entry to dummy's two club winners whether West ducks or not!        A hand of nip-and-tuck and the defence should be pleased with holding N/S to ten tricks.. 

    Most N/S pairs misjudged today's hand.      South has an obvious 1C opener and West overcalls 1S.        South then should bid the obvious game of 3NT rather than bid a forcing 2D as that might mislead partner as to where your values are located and everybody passes.

     The contract is an easy make on a spade lead and East is likely to start off with an apparently safeish H10 which is covered by HQ & HA and North wins trick 2 with HK.      The only way to make the game contract is by setting up dummy's clubs and with only one entry to dummy (DA) you should overtake CK with CA and lead top clubs until CQ appears.       East exits with a H (dummy discarding a diamond) and North wins HJ and can count two hearts, one diamond and six clubs for game but plays for an overtrick by leading a spade to SJ and West's SA.     West exits with a low diamond hoping East has DK and declarer has to settle for nine tricks only.

    Most N/S pairs found difficulty on today's hand.       North has a shapely hand but should pass first or second in hand as partner is likely to propel you too high otherwise!        East has an obvious 1H opener and South has 17hcp and you might be tempted to make a take-out double.       However, the recommended bid is 1NT which shows a heart holding and a good 15 to 18hcp normally.      West has an obvious pass and North now has the values for game.         You should agree with your partner the responses to a strong 1NT overcall and a fourth hand 1NT after two passes (11-15hcp) and the simplest method is to play exactly the same responses as over an opening 1NT by partner.       In this case an invitational raise would be 8-9hcp rather than 11-12hcp.        On this actual hand North should bid 2C (Stayman) and rebid 3NT over partner's 2D denial of a four card major.

     West with no entries outside the diamond suit should lead H8 which runs to H10KA.       South leads CK at trick two, noting West playing C9 which East probably ducks and declarer continues with CJ being careful to overtake with CQ to stop East ducking again.      West can continue hearts and declarer probably settles for ten tricks when the diamonds fail to provide more than three tricks to go with two hearts and five clubs. 

       Most E/W declarers failed to make the most of today's hand by not making as many tricks as were available.       West should open 1H rather than 1S in the normal Acol style planning to rebid in NT if partner does not bid spades.        North has a poorish high card count and a poor suit and so should pass rather than bid a vulnerable 2D overcall and East naturally responds 1S. and South has an obvious pass.      West with extra values has to show them with a jump to 3S or 4S and I think 3S is correct.        Although the void in partner's suit(hearts) is not a plus point, East should raise to game because of the useful fifth trump and possibly setupable side suit(diamonds).          

       South has an easy lead of the D3 singleton although declarer does not know it is not from length and should normally play D10 rather than DQ as against a suit a lead from a King is unlikely on the current auction.      North dismisses this notion by playing DJ and you win  DA and try to assess the contract.       If SK is finessable you should be OK but if not you will probably need the CA to be with South!       A spade to S10 wins and you discard two losing clubs on HAK and exit with a diamond which is unexpectedly won by North with DK with South discarding a heart.        North leads a club to South's CA and probably exits with a small heart which you ruff in hand and lead a spade to SJ (North discarding a diamond).      Then you cash CK (discarding a diamond), ruff a heart,  lead  a diamond ruffing with S4 and ruff a club with SQ and claim the SA for an eleventh trick and a joint top.

       A part-score battle for a change this week.      North has a routine weak 1NT opener and if East is playing the Astro or Landy defence to 1NT then all pass and 1NT is the final contract.      If East overcalls a natural 2D then South has two options, viz. z penalty double or a natural 2NT unless you play a conventional defence, e.g. Lebensohl.       I think it will be easier to score +120 for 2NT than +300 for 2D doubled minus two so I would bid 2NT.       West with no diamond fit passes as does North to show the minimum of the 1NT range.

       East probably leads DK and declarer should duck to sever the defence communications (since the diamonds are likely to be 6-2)and win the diamond continuation in dummy.        You should then play Ace and another heart hoping for West to have length (likely if East has six diamonds but not the case here) and East has to play low or crash together his partner's HQ.        West probably switches to SQ, ducked all round, followed by SJ which East wins in order to clear the diamonds.       Declarer, however, can win (discarding a heart from dummy) and cash SA, CA, S9 and lead C10 to CJ and cash CAK for +120.

      A tricky hand for E/W to play this week.      East opens a routine Weak-Two in spades, South has an obvious pass and  West enquires with a conventional 2NT.       Most players play Jacobi responses, viz.  3C - Min hcp, poor suit; 3D = Min hcp, good suit; 3H = max hcp, poor suit; 3S = max hcp, good suit; 3NT = AKQxxx.       North butts in with 3D and after three level intervention you should make the conventional bid if you can bid at the three level or pass otherwise!       I think you are just worth a 3H bid to show a higher range bid but poor trumps and West jumps to game with 4S.

     South  leads D10 and declarer wins dummy's Ace incase south had a singleton and counts one trump and four minor suit losers, at least one of which you can ruff in dummy.      You may be able to ruff two minor suit cards in dummy but the defence is likely to thwart that plan by playing two rounds of trumps as you have to relinquish the lead in diamonds  or clubs.      A better plan is to set up the heart suit as North figures to have HK to justify the three level intervention.      So you should start by playing HA and ruffing H3.       When HK appears you can lead a spade to J leaving the defence without resource.      If a trump is led back you win SK (noting trumps 2-2) , ruff a heart high and cross to a trump to throw three losers on the set-up hears.      Otherwise you duck CK exit by North, win the continuation. ruff a club, ruff a heart high, cross to a trump and play winning hearts and chalk up the game bonus.

       A problem hand for E/W this week.      After an obvious pass by North, East opens 1D and with N/S silent, West responds 1H and East rebids 2C.      West now has to decide between an invitational 2NT or an invitational jump to 3D as partner has denied four spades by rebidding 2C rather than 1S.       A fourth suit forcing is also a possibility but if the final contract were 3NT then you give the defenders the clue to lead a spade.        I think the preferred bid is 3D and with a minimum hcp but good shape East should further invite with 4D, passing the buck!      With a singleton and two Aces West should raise to 5D.

      South has a choice of leads, a trump, a non-descript heart or a spade.        I would lead a spade and declarer wins SA and leads H3 before touching trumps as a cross-ruff is likely.      North should rise with HA as East may have a singleton King and try to cash a spade but East ruffs, cashes HK  and exits with a club to South's CA.       South cannot now stop declarer from ruffing two clubs on the table and drawing trumps to  cash CK9 and not needing the HQ winner on the table.       .

     Most N/S pairs found this hand difficult to evaluate but it should have been routine.        West has an obvious opening pass, North has an obvious weak 1NT opener with 13hcp and East an obvious pass with only 6hcp.        How should you rate South's hand?        With a heart less and a plain card elsewhere you should probably transfer with 2D and settle for 2NT invitationally.        However knowing of the eight card fit in hearts you should transfer and go all the way to game in hearts, not NT as the six card  suit gives you more options and control.        3NT may score better occasionally, but, in general, you win significantly more match points in the long run playing in game in a  major suit fit of 5-3 or 6-2 rather than 3NT even when the suit quality is poor! 

      East with no good lead usually selects D10 covered by DJKA.        If the trumps break evenly (2/2) your only losers are a trump and a club if West holds CK but you should first duck a trump to keep control in case the trumps are 3-1 as you need to ruff a diamond loser in hand.       You can then win West's spade exit in dummy, cross to HA and if trumps are 3-1 you can play DJ and ruff a diamond with H6 and take the club finesse for a second overtrick and +680 when the trumps are 2/2.   

     When partner responds in a new suit after you have overcalled it should be a constructive bid not a weak one - with no fit you should pass rather than take-out to your suit.       North passes, East opens 1D and South has good value for a 1H overcall.       West passes perforce and North bids a constructive 1S.       East doubles to show a good hand and length in both minors and South should go all the way to 4S expecting the hours in hearts and/or spades to be well placed.

       East cashes CA and with a singleton in dummy West should give a Lavinthal signal if possible (i.e. high card for a high suit, low for a diamond and middle for no preference).        A high club would suggest say HQ10x(x) so the middle club denies a heart holding and so East plays DAK and another which North wins with DQ.      With the missing high cards including SK likely to be with East and SK singleton against the odds you should lead SJ at trick 5 and run it if East plays low.       You draw trumps in three rounds, cash HAQ, ruff a club on the table and throw you club loser on a top heart and chalk up + 420. 

        Today's hand was mis-bid and/or misplayed by all E/W pairs bar one.       After an obvious pass by South, West is too strong for a weak 1NT and perforce opens 1C.       This silences North and East responds 1H.        With N/S silent, West rebids 1NT showing 15-16 hcp and less than four hearts.       East now has enough for game and bids a forcing 3H  showing five hearts and offering a choice of games and West despite having NT shape should go for the relative safety of the 5-3 fit and sign off with 4H.     Note that 2S instead of 3H would show 4-4 in the majors and 9+hcp forcing to NT if opener did not have 4 spades.       Over 3H's opener should show a four card spade suit on the way to game.      In this way no eight card major fits are missed.

         South has a blind lead and probably selects D7 (MUD or Middle-Up-Down with three or four small).       The best way to [play this trump suit is to lead small towards the HQ intending to finesse the H10 on the way back if the HQ wins or if South wins the HA.  So you win DA and lead H7.      When North wins HA you now have to decide if the HA is singleton or HAJ doubleton and the odds favour the latter as well as the fact that you are likely to lose control if the former.       North exits with a diamond rather than open up a black suit so you cross to HK (phew!), cross back to HQ and run SJ hoping for the spade King and Queen to be in different hands or South to hold both SK & SQ.      When the spades split you have eleven tricks when you repeat the spade play.

     Most E/W pairs failed to make the most of today's hand.       Although a small slam is almost s  50/50 bet, I would suggest a sequence ending in 3NT is normal and the question is just how many tricks you should make.    East has an obvious 1H opener and West should suggest a slam by jumping to 3C, which silences North.      After a rebid of 3D (side-suit) by East, West settles for 3NT leaving any further progress to East who declines and passes 3NT.

     North leads SK and declarer counts 8 top tricks but eleven if the clubs break normally, i.e. 3-2 and so there is no point ducking two rounds of spades as overtricks count!       You thus win SA at trick 2, cash CAK (getting the good news) and then DA, HA (in case of singleton HK) and cross to DQ to run your four club winners discarding hearts from dummy before crossing to DK at trick 12 (unless South showed out on  DQ when you take the marked finesse against North's DJ).        When DJ drops under DK you score +690 for a joint top.

       A difficult hand for N/S to bid and play this week on which no N/S's managed to maximise their potential.       South opens a routine 1S - highest ranking suit with 5-5 shape intending to rebid 2H over a simple response.      West, however has good prospects of winning the bidding duel and jumps to 3C showing a decent opening hand with at least six clubs at the adverse vulnerability.      North does not want to be shut out and stretches to raise to 3S and South with good shape bids the thin 4S game.

      West leads off CAK and South ruffs the second round.        West probably has DK and SK for the strong bidding and you have to hope that trumps break normally (i.e.3-2 or 2-3) and one of your side-suits breaks so you can develop long suit winners.       You should thus start by cashing SA in case West has singleton SK and play a second trump.      West will win SK and probably switch to HJ which you win with HK..       If hearts are 3-2 or 2-3 then you have no problems bringing in the suit but it pays to have a second string to your bow by playing DA, then D10  before drawing the last trump.       West must win DK and if the hearts do not break then West's likely shape will then be  3-1-6-3.        In this case you can win a spade exit in dummy or ruff a club exit in hand and cross to SQ in order to test the diamond break which happens to be 3-3 so you throw three hearts on DQ74.     If West could have exited in hearts then the hearts will provide tricks after conceding the third round.             .  

      A tricky hand for both N/S and E/W today.       North has a routine 1S opener but then East has to decide between a 2D overcall or 3D (if playing weak jump overcalls).      I suggest that the suit is not self-sufficient enough (i.e. playable opposite a singleton for four or five tricks)) to warrant the pre-emptive option but 2D is a fair bid.     South bids a natural 2H, forcing for one round and showing at least five hearts but is dreading a 2S rebid by North.     In this scenario you have to decide on the next round between a pass and a sub-standard 2NT normally showing 11hcp but perhaps the diamond holding is worth a trick or two.      After a pass from West, North has then to decide between raising hearts to the three or game level rather than repeat  spades.      Because the hand has only three trumps the shape does not warrant a raise to game with this minimum opener and 3H becomes the final contract.

      West naturally leads East's suit (DQ) and you should realise that you don't have the entries to dummy to set up and enjoy discards on dummy's long spades after cashing HAK and so you must play to ruff as many diamonds as possible.       Win DA at trick one and ruff a low diamond, cash SAK (discarding club losers), ruff a third spade and lead D9.       West probably ruffs with HJ and you overruff with HA and hope West having started with three spades only cannot overruff,.     However all is well as East shows out on the fourth round of spades so you can ruff and lead DJ.      Either you ruff with H9 and make two more trumps in hand or West ruffs in with HQ and you make the last three trumps in hand for the same ten tricks and a top. i  .   .

        Several E/W pairs failed to bid today's game or failed to play it properly to give then their best chance of a plus score.       After a routine pass from North, East obviously opens 1C and West responds 1S after a pass by South.      East has 16hcp and should rebid 1NT (15-16hcp) rather than rebid 2C which shows a minimum opener or make a jump rebid of 3C which would show the extra strength of the hand but a better suit.        West should make a try for game by bidding 2NT showing 9hcp or a poor 10hcp and East with a maximum for the 1NT rebid should bid a forcing 3S to offer a choice of games, viz. 4S with a five card  spade suit or 3NT otherwise.       This bid is inferentially forcing because you would not want to play in a 4-3 fit at the three level rather than 2NT.

       South leads a fourth highest heart and declarer counts only five top tricks.       Your first thought is if you play on clubs by losing two clubs you set up your required four tricks.      However, by the time you have knocked out the CAK, the defence will have set up at least two hearts which together with two clubs and DA will lead to a one trick defeat.      The alternative play of playing on your six card fit (diamonds) rather than your eight card fit (clubs) hopefully gives you an extra three tricks and then you have to hope that the spade suit provides four tricks which happens if SJ drops in two or three rounds (a 52% chance).       So win HA straightaway - there is no point ducking a round as the hearts are probably 4-4 anyway because of the H2 lead  -  and lead DK, following with DQ if ducked.      If the defence ducks twice you say well defended to the opposition and go one down but they are likely to win DK in case their partner has DQ and continue hearts to knock out your second  stop.       In this case, you win HK, cash DQ, cash SAQ and (a) if North shows out you finesse S10 and cash DJ10 &  SK  or (b) if both opponents follow and SJ has appeared you cash SK10 and DJ10 or (c) if SJ has not appeared you cross to SK and cash DJ10 plus S10 if spades are 3-3 after all. 

     A difficult hand that most E/W pairs failed to find the best scoring contract.       After a routine pass from South, West opens 1D and North also has an obvious pass.       East has a choice of responses, both denying either major, viz. 2D or 1NT.       1NT protects the HK against an opening lead but 2D has its virtues as well as you have a maximum for the bid and can raise 2NT by partner to the 3NT game.      Despite the shape, West should rebid 3NT as partner is likely to have some length in clubs as both major suits have  been denied.      It is true that 5D may be the best contract but it is likely that it will go off if South has HA and if both contracts make then it is likely that an overtrick or two will mean that 3NT outscores 5D.

     North will start by leading a club and you win CA and cash five rounds of diamonds throwing a club from dummy putting pressure on the defenders,  noting that North probably throws a couple of hearts and spades suggesting that North has HA and South the SK.      When you then run S10 to South's SJ, South has to give the lead to dummy, normally by leading C10 to CK and a spade to S9 allows you to cash three spades  for ten tricks and a top score.        

       An awkward hand for N/S to bid and play as half the field failed in their game.        There is no foolproof way of handling 4441 hands (i.e. with a singleton club) with 12-14hcp as you cannot show your shape after the more than likely 2C response.      You can open 1H and rebid 2D but partner will assume you have five hearts and jump in hearts with three card support.       I prefer to open 1D and rebid 2D as partner is unlikely to look for the 5D game and partner is likely not to be short in diamonds as then a response of one of a major is more likely than 2C.      On today's hand, however, it is West who bids 2C, North bids a forcing for one round 2S and South has an easy raise to 3S whether East chips in with 3C or not.      North then has an easy raise to 4S and the vulnerability prevents E/W from competing further.

      East leads C4 and West wins CA and should realise that a heart switch may help declarer and so should exit with a trump.       The contract will make if you avoid losing three hearts as you can play to only lose the opening club outside of the hearts.      The low club lead suggests that East has CK and probably one of DK and HAK.        If East has DK then West will have HAK to make up the values for the vulnerable 2C overcall so you can build a heart trick by leading to HJ and then leading to HQ.        Thus I believe the best plan is to win the trump exit at trick 2 with SJ, lead DQ and when East does not cover, win DA and ruff a diamond high, intending to cross to SA and ruff another diamond as West is probably short in diamonds, being long in clubs.      When DK appears on the second round you merely cross to SA and discard a heart on DJ.       You can then concede two hearts and cross-ruff the remainder.      If West shows out on the second or third round of diamonds then East has DK and you play West for HAK as suggested above.

       A routine hand for E/W pairs to bid this week but half the field failed to make their game.       East ipens 1H being too strong for a weak 1NT opener and with N/S silent West responds 2C (being too strong to respond 1NT) and over partner's 2NT bds 3H to offer a choice of games (if East holds 5 hearts) but East naturally signs off in 3NT.

       South leads a four highest D2 and East wins DK over North's DJ.       East counts three top clubs, two top hearts and a diamond so far and needs to develop three more.       If clubs are 3-3 you have an extra trick there but there is no hurry to test the break as you can establish one spade and one diamond by forcing out the opponents Aces.        The diamonds appear to be 4-3 given the lead with South holding DA and so your contract is not in danger if you tackle the suits in the correct order, as you expect North to have length in spades from South's failure to lead one at trick 1.        The best chance of an extra trick in hearts is to cash HAK and play a third round which wins against any 3-3 break or doubleton HJ or HQ.        However, if South wins HQ and switches to spades with SJ you need to hope that North has SA10 and cover with SQ.       If South wins HQ and leads a second diamond you can force out SA and make your contract losing only a heart, a spade and two diamonds as you now have nine tricks with three clubs,three hearts, two diamonds and a spade plus a tenth trick if the clubs break 3-3.       

       Most E/W pairs had trouble bidding and/or playing today's hand.         North has a near opening but should pass at the adverse vulnerability.         East has a 6-5 hand and as the England international Andrew Robson decreed "6/5 come alive" East should open the hand despite the lack of working hcp.       However the hand should not open 1D as it is after all a minimum opener and should open the more important (for pairs bidding) 1S.        South despite the poor quality suit should overcall 2H and West has a difficult bid with 2S, 3C and a take-out double being possibilities.      I would settle for 2S and North supports partner with 3H although double is a useful convention in this sequence to suggest a hand worth an unassuming cue-bid i.e. a game try in hearts.       Over North's 3H, East's double is also a game try, the reason being that when the opposition support a suit a double is then a game try in their suit.      In this situation West is well worth a re-raise to 4S.

       The defence starts off with HAK and declarer ruffs the second heart, crosses to SA and leads a diamond to DJ playing for the 2H overcaller (who is without HAK) to hold DA.        South wins DA and leads a club and declarer wins dummy's CA, leads a diamond to DK, cashes SK, ruffs the diamonds good and just concede SQ to make ten tricks when the diamonds and spades both break normally, i.e. 3/2. 

       A difficult hand for N/S pairs to bid this week as five of a minor is rarely a good source for master points.        North usually opens 1H and East overcals 1S despite the holding in the opposition's suit.       South has a misfit for partner's suit so it is better to make a sputnik (or take-out) double rather than bid 2C or 2D which might force partner to rebid hearts.        West bids 2S (or possibly 3S) defensively and South should consider whether 3NT is a likely contract.       As partner might prefer to bid 1NT with a good spade holding rather than double on the first round of bidding North should bid 4C and South has a easy raise to 5C.       There is nothing to the play.      E/W should take their two spade tricks and give in.

       A routine 4H for N/S pairs today, but several pairs went down when they failed to negotiate the 4-1 trump break (which occurs on 1 in 4 hands approx.).      With no obvious lead, East should prefer to lead from the longest side-suit rather than DK hoping for a ruff in the hope that declarer loses control of the trump suit.       Declarer wins SA over SK and would like to enter dummy in order to try the trump finesse.        However, there is no hurry and so a club finesse first loses to West's CK.       West naturally continues with a spade and North wins SQ, crosses to CQ and leads H9.      When West plays HK you expect East to have either started with three or four hearts and you should consider what will happen if the trumps are 4-1.      You should now just cross to HQ and take the diamond finesse.       When it loses, East can do you no harm.      If a spade is led. you ruff in dummy, cross to HJ10 (drawing trumps) and cash DAJ and CA for eleven tricks.      If East could exit with a diamond then you win in hand, ruff a spade and cross to HJ10 claiming eleven tricks again.       However, If East exits with a heart you just settle for your ten tricks and contract.       The key to the hand is not playing too many rounds of trumps before setting up your side-suit winners.

       Most N/S pairs struggled to find the best spot on today's hand.       South generally opened 2C (strong, not necessarily clubs) and presumably North erred in making a conventional (waiting) bid of 2D before South rebids 3C.       A simple bid other than 2D (including 3D) should show a decent five card suit and traditionally at least an Ace and a King in the hand.       Thus North should start with 2H and South should immediately show the eight card fit by raising to 3H - although if flat with a lot of hcp it is best to rebid 2NT and then show the heart support on the next round.        North can then launch into 4NT (RKCB), following with 5NT to find 4 Aces (including HK) and either DK or CK as well.       This should encourage North to bid 7H which must have several chances including setting up partner's long suit maybe with a couple of ruffs but on the actual hand thirteen tricks are on top and you might regret not bidding 7NT for the extra 10 points although on the actual hand nobody at all contracted for thirteen tricks.

      Most E/W pairs struggled on today's deal because freakish distributions are hard to judge.       East has a routine 1H opener and South at the vulnerability should make a weak jump overcall of 2S (showing six decent spades and 5-10hcp).      West has no option but to call 3D, forcing for one round, North routinely passes and East has to choose between a rebid of 3H or 3NT.      3H is best because West can cue-bid 3Sto ask East to bid 3NT with a spade stop,      However, as the diamond suit is not solid I believe the best bid now is 4D leaving it up to partner to pass or raise to 5D.       If West expected to make 5D it should be bid there and then instead of 4D so East has no qualms about passing 4D and this turns out to be a joint top.if the defence follows the normal pattern.       North is likely to lead S10 and South is likely to cash SAK in the hope that North has a singleton S10.        However this proves to be disastrous as West discards a losing club on the third round of spades and then DAK drops North's DQ.      .

        A marginal hand in the bidding and play for both sides with today's hand.       North has to decide whether to open 1H or a weak 2H.      I think 2H is better because of the lack of controls (Aces and Kings).       East has a tricky decision over 2H whether to make a take-out double or a thin 2NT to show the extra power - 15hcp instead of 12ish hcp for a normal take-out double.       I favour 2NT ostensibly showing a good 14 to 18hcp with a decent heart stopper or two.       After an obvious pass from South, West has enough strength to insist on game and starts with 3C, usually played as some form of Stayman and raises partner's major to 4S.       I think the simplest bidding idea is to play the same responses to a 1NT (in 2nd or 4th position) or 2NT strong overcall as you would over an initial 1NT opening.

        There is nothing to the play in 4S - you just draw trumps in 3 rounds and lead up to your club honours twice to set up four trumps. three clubs, two hearts and DA for your ten trick contract. with the small chance of an overtrick when you play DA and another near the end hoping the defender that wins the trick has no third diamond and is forced to give you a ruff and a discard (ruffing in one hand and discarding a diamond from the other hand)

          t

       A part-score battle for a change for today's hand of the week.      After an obvious pass from South, West opens 1S and North should bid 2D rather than make a take-out double as a jump to 3C from partner would be embarrassing.       After two passes West should reopen with a double or 2H according to the partnership style and South competes with 3D over East's retreat to 2S.

      East leads SQ and continues with S6 to West's SK.       Since East's spade play is consistent with two spades only you know that declarer has four spades and three or four hearts (otherwise East would have wanted to play in hearts not spades).       Thus declarer has at most one club.      You cannot attack declarer's entries to dummy's clubs as North can get to dummy by ruffing a spade or two.       A trump switch will not work if North has a singleton club even if East has a diamond honour, so you lead HK to North's presumed HA.        Declarer can knock out CA if a singleton club is held or ruff a spade and try the ruffing finesse in clubs if void but East can win CA and lead a second heart to West's HQ.        A third round of hearts, ruffed, will hold declarer to eight tricks.

       Many N/S pairs failed to chalk up this 4S game.       North has a routine 1S opener and East an obvious pass.       South is not quite worth a jump raise despite the magnificent trump support for partner and should respond 2S.        West is likely to essay 3H although the SQ is a wasted value and North should jump to game because of a well-positioned HK.

       Although not best for the defence East is likely to start with HJ which West wins with HA and switches to D10 suggesting that East holds DQJ.       Declarer thus wins DA, draws trumps by cashing SAK and then HK and DK hoping that West had started with D10x.      However, West shows out but now North can surely claim as West is marked with CK to justify a three level 3H overcall.           Declarer merely cashes CA and exits with C4 to West's CK, West being end-played to concede a ruff and discard whether a heart or a club follows.      This exit is ruffed in one hand while a diamond is ditched from the other hand, losing in all just one heart, one club and one diamond only at the end.

       With no E/W bidding the thin 6H small slam on today's hand it was important to score as many overtricks as possible.      The normal bidding should be a routine 1S from West, a pass from North (The club suit is of a too poor quality to venture an overcall), a forcing 2H response from East and a well-judged jump to the 4H game by West with two AKs and an outside singleton.

       South leads DJ and dummy wins DA unblocking D9 from hand as a routine measure in case you wish to finesse against South's likely D10 at a late stage and you should start with a small trump from dummy in case North has a singleton HQ or HK.      When H10 wins you suspect that North has started with H KQxx but if North has only H KQx  you need to hope North has at least two spades in order to make twelve tricks.       You cash CA, ruff a club low on the table and  lead H9.      North should cover this with HQ otherwise you let H9 win, cross to SQ, cash HA, cross back to SA and lead SK and whether North ruffs in or not you discard your losing club and make twelve tricks for a top.      If North covers H9 you know the trump position when South shows out so you win HA and cash SAK and throw your losing club but North must come to two trump tricks (or a club and a trump) to hold declarer to eleven tricks.

     Quite a few N/S pairs had difficulty in bidding today's hand.      South has a minimum 1H opener and North bids 2C after West's obvious pass.     If East passes, South rebids 2D and North makes a game try by bidding a conventional fourth-suit forcing 2S, South retreats to 3C and North settles for a part-score by bidding 3D.       East is likely, however, to butt in with 2S and South should now pass to show a minimum opener with 5 hearts.       North bids 3D which although highly encouraging is not forcing as a 3S cue-bid is available to show the values for 3NT without a spade stop.      South has no reason to bid any further, having a potentially wasted three hcp in spades.

         There is nothing special to the play of the hand after being careful to knock out the major Aces and taking the club finesse before cashing DAK and throwing a club on SQ, allowing East to ruff in with DQ at some stage by leading top hearts and thereafter cross-ruffing the remainder for +130, losing one heart, one spade and one trump. 

      Many E/W pairs failed to make the most of today's hand.        West opens 1H and North should not overcall 2C as the suit is not good enough and should pass.       East has an easy 1S response and South an obvious pass.       West may be tempted to rebid 2C but should rebid 1NT to show a non-minimum values, usually 15-16 hcp.       East then has an easy sign-off of 4S.

      South leads D3 and declarer expects to lose one trump on a normal 3-2 trump division and therefore requires only one diamond to be lost if the club finesse is off-side.        However, if you win DA at trick 1 and lead a trump the defence will duck the first round of trumps intending to cash two diamonds when a second round of trumps is led.        Also, if you play DA and a second round of diamonds instead of a trump, then the defence will play Ace and another trump to leave your second diamond loser exposed.                The solution to this dilemma is to duck the first trick to West.        If West plays a second diamond to dummy's DA then you cross to HK and ruff your diamond loser and then start on the trumps.          Otherwise, if West plays SA and another trump, you draw the outstanding trump (discarding a club), cash HK, cross to HA and ruff a heart.        If the HQ has dropped in three rounds of the suit you cross to dummy to discard a club and a diamond on the set-up hearts and make an overtrick.        When HQ is still out on a 4-2 heart break you take the club finesse for an over trick but when it loses you win the minor suit exit in dummy, ruff a fourth round of hearts and cross to dummy with the other minor Ace to discard your diamond loser on the 5th round heart winner.     All these paths should lead to +420 on the actual hand.

     Most E/W pairs failed to score convincingly on today's hand.       West has a near 1D opener but should pass as the hand is lacking in controls (Aces and Kings).       North has to decide o opening 1C or a weak 1NT and most players prefer the 1C opener with likely an easy 1S rebid.       East is minimum for a (strong) 1NT overcall but should bid to get the strength across to partner and West has an easy raise to 3NT.

      South - with scant strength outside a weak five card suit - should lead C8 and North should play C10 at trick 1 to preserve communication with partner.       East wins CQ and plays DA and crosses to DK.       It is safe now to lead HQ as nine tricks are secure.      North will cover HK and you can cash  SA & HJ and cross to H10 to run four diamond tricks and finish with eleven tricks.

Should North duck HQ, you simply cash your diamond tricks and take the heart finesse later for the same eleven tricks with nine tricks assured as all you can lose is HK and CAKJ.

        A marginal hand for E/W who should end up in game - either 4S making +650 or 3NT making +630 or +660 depending on the defence.      After an uncontested auction starting 1S from West and 2C from East, West has to decide on a rebid of either 2S or 3S which has the advantage of showing six spades.      I would err on the side of caution and rebid 2S as the club and heart honour may be worthless and would pass partner's jump to game with 3NT.

            South leads from the weak heart suit as nothing else appeals (H7 or H5 according to choice and North plays Ace and another.       East wins and leads S9 to S!0 & SJ which North should smoothly duck.       Although SK may be with South you should continue with SA and force out SK with SQ.       North will probably exit with a third heart and you can then cross to CQ in order too cash three spade winners before crossing to three more club winners for +660 and a joint top..

        A problem hand for N/S today.        After three routine passes South opens a Benji 2D showing a game-going hand and over North's 2D relay rebids 2NT showing 23-24hcp.       North is tempted to pass this but with nine cards in the majors should hope for a fit as North's hand is probably entryless otherwise.       With five hearts and four spades you would have transferred with 3D intending to rebid 3S over the 3H transfer.      In order to transfer with 3H and rebid 4H you need to be at least 5-5 in the majors.      To allow for the current distribution most club pairs play 3S as showing this shape (5S & 4H) and South shows support by bidding 4H which North obviously passes.

       East leads D10 and South wins DK perforce - noting that to have any chance of the contract the trumps must break 3-2 and East must have the CA.       Thus after winning trick 1 and cashing HAK declarer cashes the second top diamond and plays SAK9 overtaking with S10 when East drops SQ singleton and follows by discarding a club.      East  can win SJ but is end-played as a diamond exit allows South to ruff in hand and discard a club from dummy.       A spade exit would allow dummy the entry to lead a club towards CK or a club exit would allow declarer to score CK.          In this way South chalks up the game score.  

     Few E/W pairs managed to chalk up a game on today's combined 26hcp.       After a routine pass by North, East opens 2C Benji and rebids 2S after a relay of 2D by West which is strong but not forcing according to most styles.        West is worthy of a further effort and 2NT describes the hand with useful holdings in the other three suits.        East  has a difficult bid now and should choose between 3S and 3NT, not 4S as the suit needs more intermediates but West should try 3NT anyway.        

      North, on lead, has to choose between H4, the unbid major, or D4 hoping to find partner holding a diamond honour.       If a diamond, West wins DK over DQ and immediately finesses SJ, playing SAK and another when the finesse wins and nine tricks are there with five spades, one diamond, one club and two hearts.       The defence cannot take more than two diamond tricks before you can cash nine and will probably end up giving you an overtrick.       On a heart lead you win HA and start on spades from the top which works for five tricks if the spades are 3-3 or S10 or SQ drop doubleton.        This play is 2% inferior to the finesse of SJ first but you cannot afford to play on another suit immediately.       When SQ drops you cash SJ and the other top heart and exit to South's S10 to set up your nine tricks.

     A defensive hand for N/S this week on which many pairs failed to hold their opponents to eleven tricks.      North has a routine pass and East a routine 1S opener.      South has to choose between a pass and a weak jump overcall but the suit quality is poor and a pass is preferred.      West jumps to 3H to show slam interest and a good suit and East rebids 3S to show 5+ spades.      West bids 4NT (RKCB) and is disappointed by the 5D one-Ace reply and signs off with 5S.

     South should not lead a heart or a trump as the bidding suggests that dummy's heart suit will provide discards and you should make an attacking lead rather than a passive one.      The DA might be the winning lead but the odds favour the CJ lead.     Winning CA at trick 1 North should realise that (a) partner does not hold CK and (b) if CJ was singleton then East would have five clubs and would probably have rebid 4C rather than 3S.     You should thus switch to D9 to hold declarer to eleven tricks.      Declarer wins trick 3, cashes SAJ & HA, ruffs a low heart with SQ (in case hearts are 4-1) and crosses to SK to claim the rest of the tricks with dummy's hearts and a trump for trick 13.

      A useful bidding idea is to play sequences such as 1S-2H-2/3S-4NT as RKCB asking in spades and 1S-3H-3S-4NT as asking in hearts.

     Match pointed pairs is about extracting as many tricks as possible as safely as you can.     Few E/W pairs managed this to today's deal.       After two routine passes, West opens 2C (Benji) and with N/S silent throughout rebids 2NT (showing 21-22hcp) over partner's relay 2D.      East should bid 3C Puppet Stayman to see if partner's response shows five hearts and settles for 3NT when partner denies any four or five card major.

     North leads SK and South discourages with S2 and declarer realises that South is the "danger hand" which needs to be kept off lead and ducks SK to force North to switch suits.     With clubs likely providing five tricks you would then have nine top tricks and the suit best developed to provide overtricks is diamonds.     Thus you should win C7 exit from North with CJ,  lead D3 from dummy and insert D9 when South follows low.      North can win DJ but has no useful continuation with both heart and spade leads giving away a trick and so exits with a diamond to declarer's DA.     If South has both DQ & DJ this play wins or if the defender with  DQ started with DQx or DQxx declarer can now cross to CQ and cash DK106 discarding SJ & HQ5, making eleven tricks.       If DQ does not fall you take the heart finesse and end with nine or ten tricks.

      Most E/W partnerships had trouble with today's hand although it should be straightforward playing modern Benji ACOL.     After a routine pass by North, East should open 2NT to show 19-20 (2C rebidding 2NT shows 21-22) and West responds 3C Puppet Stayman and East rebids 3H (showing 5H in the modern style) and West raises to the 4H game.      Note the responses to 3C are usually 3NT showing less than for hearts and less than four spades or 3 of a major showing five or 3D showing at least one four card major.       Over 3D the best continuation is to bid the suit you haven't got so that the stronger hand is declarer if you have a fit.      Thus 3H shows 4S, 3S shows 4H and you can play 4D as showing both four hearts and four spades so opener bids the suit held at the four level.

       Routine technique lands the game after South cashes two clubs and switches to a trump.      You win HJK noting the three-two trump division and lead DQ.       South can duck a round or two and take the third round but you enter dummy with a heart to HQ in order to dispose of your losing spade on a fourth round of diamonds.      Luckily the defence cannot take a third round diamond ruff as the defender with two diamonds has only two hearts.

    Most N/S failed to chalk up +400 for game in clubs on today's hand.      Normally the scoring system favours game in a major or 3NT but neither are options on today's deal and North's final bid is emminently reasonable.        I would open 1C rather than a Benji 2C rebidding 3C and East has an normal 1H overcall, South a 2D response and West a pre-emtive jump to 3H despite the adverse vulnerability over which North has no real option other than to bid 5C.

     With two possible diamond losers and one possible spade loser you should try and combine your options, starting by ruffing the heart lead and - leaving the trumps alone for now -  lead D9 towards DK hoping that East has DA.       West wins DA and exits safely with a heart which you ruff and lead DJ to East's DQ.      East exits with a heart which you ruff, cash CA and lead a club to DQ (drawing the outstanding trump) and ruff a third round of diamonds.       If they fail to split 3-3 you take the spade finesse for your contract but when they do break 3-3 you throw your losing spade on D6 which is now good and claim eleven tricks.        It is important to delay drawing trumps until you have tested how the diamonds lie.

A bidding problem hand for N/S which was only solved by one N/S with the biddding as specified.      West has an obvious pass and North's hand is not great - a possibly wasted Spade honour, minimum hcp and lacking in controls and I recommend a pass if vulnerable.      However Non-Vul it is important to suggest a diamond lead if you end up defending so I would accept a 1D opener.      East bids an intermediate 3C, 11-15hcp and six clubs and this creates a bidding problem for South.     A double in this position should show 9+hcp and at least 4-4 in the majors.        Although CK is apparently worthless you stretch and double for take-out.       North does not want to pass for penalties with such poor trick taking potential and guesses to bid 3H hoping for five hearts opposite and is delighted to see dummy when raised to game.       East has no good lead and chooses HQ which declarer should win with HA, cash H10 and leaving the last trump outstanding lead D8.      If West ducks, you win D10 and continue with DJ discarding a club from dummy and eventually use HK as entry to cash two diamond winners before leading SQ.       East does best to win DA and the defence cash their other two aces for - 420. 

      East has a not-perfect but perfectly acceptable weak 2S opener and South has an obvious pass.     A bid of 2NT by West would be a game try and any other bid is normally to play.       With a minimum opening hand  only and with no fit for spades you thus have no game interest and should bid a non-forcing 3D intending to play there.       North has other ideas and bids 3H for which South has a marginal  raise to game.      East leads D8 which then runs to DQ and declarer rues the fact that the hands do not filt together well as DA is apparently worthless and probably three clubs and a spade to lose.       All is not lost - until the fat lady sings - as they say.       You must hope to set up S10 for a discard of a club hoping that the clubs are blocked with one hand holding CAQ or CKQ or CAK.       Ergo, you cash DA (discarding a club), ruff the low diamond, cross to HA and lead SQ before drawing trumps as dummy has no other entry.      East can cover with SK but miraculously SJ drops singleton and so S10 is set up.        So you just cash HK, cross to HQ (drawing the outstanding trump) & cash S10.      All you lose is just three clubs.     Your plan if the SJ has not dropped wouls be to cross to HK and lead your second spade hoping to set up S10 as mentioned above.

     A competetive hand this week.       West has a routine 1S opener and North has a routine 2H overcall.       East has a spade raise halfway between 2S and 3S and probably decides to bid just 2S intending to accept a try for game by partner.       South should however bid to the limit with 4H as partner is likely to be short in spades - both opponents having bid spades and West sacrifices with 4S expecting it to be cheapish.       However North accepts the push and bids 5H which is passed out.

    East realises that declarer probably has a singleton spade and so starts with DQ to West's DA and SK follows to declarer's SA.       Realising that West probably has either CA or HK to make up opening values declarer hopes that HK is held and sure enough when North leads C8 towards  dummy the CQ holds the trick and HQ, H10 and HA drawing the last outstanding trump (HK).       Now all declarer has to do is force out CA and access dummy with a diamond ruff to cash CK6 discarding the two diamond losers to fulfil the eleven trick contract. 

      A few points of interest in today's hand  both in the bidding and the play.       North has an obvious pass and some intrepid Easts would open 1S but I don't recommend this as partner will usually push you too  high and so I would pass.       South has the hcp for a 2NT opener but not the shape and so should open 1D.       West could overcall 1H to help the defence but generally most players will pass.       North has insufficient hcp to call 2C and should thus bid 1S and South will now bid 3NT.

       East with a good suit but no entries to cash the long cards if partner turns up with HQ should prefer a short-suit leaad in the hope of striking partner's suit.     I would lead S8 (or S7 if you prefer MUD from three small).  As East does not know if declarer has SQx or singleton SQ the S5 will be played to trick 1 and declarer wins SQ.    With no immediate entry to dummy, declarerr is forced into playing CA and another to East's CK and the switch to H6 gives declarer a problem and H2 should be played  which West wins with H10. and continues S7 to West's SA for another heart from West.       Declarer  should now finesse HQ to guarantee the contract as West would have overcalled 1H with DK in addition to HKJ10xx.       Whether West exits in hearts or spades, declarer has two entries to take and repeat the diamond finesse after cashing the fifth club.        In hindsight if you had taken a losing heart finesse at trick four you could end up with ten tricks but that's bridge.  

      A few E/W pairs failed to make  overtrick(s) on today's hand which is essential in order to score well.        The bidding also raises a few points of interest.      East opens 1D after two passes and West responds 1H.      With the opposition silent East rebids 2NT showing 17-18hcp and West should bid 3S to check if there is any major suit 8 card fit.      Note this bid shows 4-4 shape in the majors and not 5H & 4S as with that hand West would bid a forcing 3H offering a choice of games between 3NT and 4H if opener has 3H.     Without 3H but with 4 spades opener should then bid 3S over 3H to continue the search for a major suit fit.     Over 3S East naturally bids 3NT as 4 spades are not held.

     South naturally leads SQ and with strong spades in dummy should win SK and start by leading a heart towards dummy's HKQ.       If HQ holds, you return to hand with DQ to lead a second heart, won by South with HA.        South switches to clubs and CQ from North is taken by declarer's CA and S3 is led, ducking when South plays S10 in order to retain a finesse position in spades for two more tricks.      South wins perforce and leads a club to North's CK but West can win the club continuation with CJ, finesse S9, cash HK & SA & DAK and also the thirteenth diamond when the suit splits 3-3.       You should earn a very successful +630.

      Congratulations to the one pair who bid and made 6NT presumably on the given auction although your correspondant managed to play in spades for a below average score.       South will lead D10 won by declarer with DK.         If the CK is with South then you need the spades 3/2 with SQ with North - a less than 50/50 proposition.        You thus cross to HK and lead C2 to C8 from North and CQ wins.        Taking this at face value you can count two clubs, three diamonds, four hearts and two spades which gives you eleven tricks.       This means that a simple spade finesse of SJ would give you a 50/50 chance of success now.         However  you should look for a better chance.       This is either SQx doubleton or the hand with SQxx(x) holding four or more diamonds.        So cross to DQ and lead C10 to North's CA who exits with DJ.        When you cash your remaining three top hearts throwing a spade South shows four hearts and will now be squeezed when you cash CK.       If D9 is thrown by South then D6 and SAK make up the last three tricks otherwise SAKJ will drop SQ whether North or South hold it!  

      This board was misplayed by the majority of N/S pairs.      East has a near opener but should pass as dealer.   South opens 1H and after West passes, North responds 1S.        South rebids 2NT to show a strong hand amd now North should bid 3S showing 5 spades and offering a choice of games between 4S (with 3 card support) or 3NT.      This bid is commonly misunderstood by beginers as it is systemically forcing because you should not be playing in 4-3 fits rather than NT and you should not "sign off" in 3S if weak - just pass 2NT!      Over 3S, South could bid 4C to show slam interest and CA but North has a weak hand and is not interested, merely signing off with 4S.

      East probably leads HK and dummy wins HA, declarer shedding a diamond.      Now it is important to play on your side-suit (clubs) before touching trumps and you play CA followed by C6.      When West does not play CK you should duck, hoping that East holds CKx doubleton.       West wins with C10 and probably switches to S2 which you win with SQ, ruff a club with SA, cash SK when the clubs break 3-3, ruff a heart back to hand and draw the remaining trumps, cash winning clubs, then DA and concede just one club and one diamond for +450 and a near-top!     Note if the clubs are 4-2 you need to ruff two clubs in dummy and hope the trumps are 3-2.

     My favourite (?) board number: 13 had interesting points in the bidding and play for N/S.       North has a routine weak 1NT and South transfers to 2H having a five card major.      The standard meaning of the now natural bid of 3D is game forcing - not my favourite meaning - and inviting a slam in one of the red suits.      If this is your interpretation then you have to bid 2NT showing 11-12hcp which will be plenty high enough if partner passes.      Over 2NT, North bids 3H intended to play - showing 3 card support and bottom end of the 1NT range.        When the eight card fit has been announced, South should bid 4H having extra playing strength when the fit has been found.   

     East is likely to lead DQ which is helpful to declarer because of the combined strong middle cards held.      However, it is necessary to tackle trumps straight away otherwise you risk a diamond ruff.      So you win DK and play HAK (noting West has a trick with HQ) and now you should lead a club playing C9 assuming West plays low.     You need to stop West gaining the lead when two trumps can be drawn for one by cashing the master HQ.      East will exit with a club to your CA but you lead D8 to D10 and dummy's DA and exit with D3 to your D7 setting up D9 in dummy for a spade discard.       You can then cross ruff spades and clubs allowing West to overruff at some stage but making the rest but one and chalk up an overtrick. 

      A bidding problem for N/S this week where only 1 in 4 pairs reached the optimum 3NT.        If North were the dealer the bidding could go uncontested 1D-2C-3D-3NT.        However on the actual deal, after a pass by South, West will open 1H despite the lack of Aces and minimal hcp plus a poor suit.      Playing weak jump overcalls at this (favourable) vulnerability North should double which when bidding over partner's new suit response shows similar values to the jump rebid as suggested above.        South bids 2C and over North's 2D can make a forward-going natural bid of 2NT which North raises to 3NT expecting 5 or 6 tricks in diamonds.        West leads H6 to East's H9 and declarer's HQ and D2 is led intending to finesse but when DQ pops up you run six diamond tricks discarding a heart, two spaes and a club and play CA and a club to C9 placing West with CK to make up opening values.       If this loses to CJ you settle for your ten top tricks but if it forces CK you have eleven or twelve tricks for a clear top. 

      A play problem for N/S this week.      After routine passes by South & West, North opens 1H, South has just enough to respond 2C, North rebids 2NT and South offers a choice of games with a forcing bid of 3H showing three card support.       North naturally raises to 4H and East leads a club (C10 usually in case CJ is in dummy).    West wins CA and continues with C8, won by declarer with CK.      The normal way to play this trump suit is to cash a top heart and cross to dummy and lead a heart to H10 or duck with H2 if West plays HK in case West has HQJxx when you can re-enter dummy and finesse H10 and cash the HA drawing trumps.      If the H10 loses on the second round then the suit is breaking 3/2 and HA will draw the last trump.      When you cash HK the HQ drops so you lead a diamond to D9 and when it wins you lead a trump to H10, cash HA and give West the master trump.      Whether West leads a club (which you ruff throwing a spade from dummy) or a spade (which you win with SA, cash DA and repeat the winning diamond finesse throwing two spade losers on the 4th and 5th round of diamonds.        In this way you claim an overtrick.

     A tiny part-score hand for a change this week.      West has an obvious opener of 1D as it is losing policy to open a weak 1NT with two suits wide open, not to mention being 1hcp light.     North should overcall 1S to show a decent five card rather than make a take-out double to suggest strength.     East has a routine 2C response and West rebids 2D having had the hoped-for 1S rebid stolen by the N/S opposition.      North passes because South could not raise a bid and East has to contemplate further action.      With a better six card club suit East could make a forward going but not forcing bid of 3C but with the current hand should pass and settle for a makeable part-score.      The traditional lead for North from CAK doubleton is the King hoping to follow with CA, put partner in and get a club ruff in return.        However, seeing dummy, North switches to a trump in an attempt to stop a spade ruff in dummy.      Declarer should refuse the free finesse against DJ and rise with DK, follow with DAQ (fortunately drawing the outstanding trumps) and lead CJ to North's now bare CA.      You now have four discards on dummy's set-up clubs together with the major Aces and your last two trumps to garner eleven tricks and +150.       This score was, surprisingly, hardly ever achieved.     Note that if you let the diamond run to your hand and cross to DK in order to lead a club the defence will be able to switch to a heart (preferably HK) to kill dummy's only entry to these winning clubs.

       A bidding problem for E/W this week.      West opens the obvious 1D and East responds 1S rather than raise partner's suit as it is winning bridge to explore for major suit fits rather than play in a minor suit.       South is well worth a butt-in of 2H and West should consider the best way forward to describe the hand held.       A pass would show a minimum opener and 3C a minimum opener with a good side-suit but you have extra values.      A double would not be for penalties but showing 15+hcp so that is a possible rebid.       However the best bid is a jump to 4C which although not forcing is forward going and showing the true potential of the hand.       Over 4C, East, with a good fit and SA should jump to game with a bid of 5D.

       There are no problems to the play of the hand and after the defence try to cash two hearts you ruff, likely draw the trumps in two rounds (three rounds if necessary) and then knock out the CA to secure eleven tricks and your contract. 

       Today's hand has points of interest in the bidding and the play.       North should open a weak 2H, albeit being minimum for the bid and South should go direct to 4H.     3NT+1 is the top score you might say but needs a misdefence and is a losing option in the long run.      Play in North's long suit as entries to develop South's suits will be sparse.      East usually will lead D10 and you should win in dummy and cash HA, cross to hand with a club ruff and consider how to play the trrump suit.       If the suit is 3-3 it makes no difference how you continue but if the trumps are 4-2 the remaining possible doubletons start off as either HKx, Jx, 9x or 64 (since H52 went on the first round of trumps).       The other point to consider is th So I think the right card to play now is HQ which gains aginst both Jx or 9x.       West wins  HK and exits with a club but you discard a spade to ensure you don't lose a spade trick.       You then cross to DK to lead H10 to East's HJ and ruff a club back to hand to draw West's H6 with your H8 and cash two winning diamonds and SA.        Although the spades lay favourably you couldn't safely play on spades without riking your contract but 4H making should be well above average.    

       The trump break is unfortunate as you know from the bidding that East probably has DK as well as HKQxxxx to justify a weak 2H opener.        You need to hope that the club suit will provide a discard for your second diamond and you must thus play carefully in case West has a singleton club - if clubs are 5-Nil you will have to rely on the diamond finesse after all!.        You win HA and SQ and then must cash CA at trick 3, cross back to SAK and lead C4 towards dummy.       If West ruffs in you play small from dummy and win West's diamond exit with DA and cash CKQ5 (discarding D8) and claim.        Therefore West must play low to give the defence a chance and you win CQ,  ruff a heart back to hand and repeat the process, winning CK.       However now you can ruff the fourth round of clubs and do not care if West overruffs and you can enter dummy with DA and discard D8 on C5.

This will be my last daily hand of the week - until the next pandemic! - as I am on holiday for two weeks.

Hand of the week will resume on Tuesday 7th September in the usual format discussing one of the night's hands and I hope to see you all face to face for the first evening of bridge.

        The opposition bidding suggests that East has opened on probably minimum values since West has raised to 3H.       Therefore West is showing some playing strength and/or shape vulnerable and East is likely to be shapely.       Although the odds of a singleton King are practically 50%, this means that probably neither opponent is likely to have a singleton trump King as it woulld be suicide for West to raise without some outside playing strength, i.e. DK and/or SK.       The best plan is thus to finesse SJ after winning HA and cashing CAK and HK.      When the trumps behave all you lose is DK and raack up your contract.       If East shows out you have to win SA and exit with a spade hoping West has the finessable DK and has to lead away from DK or give you a ruff and discard.

Hand for 20th August 2021:

                                                     North:      S       Q   2

                                                                      H       6   4   3

                                                                      D       A  Q   J

                                                                      C       A  K   Q   5   3

                                                     South:      S       A  K  10   6   5   4   3  

                                                                      H       A

                                                                      D       8   6

                                                                      C       6   4   2

East opens a weak 2H, you jump to 3S (Intermediate), partner bids 4NT (RKCB), you respond 5C (3 of 5 Aces) and partner jumps to 6S.       West leads HJ to your HA but trick 2 is made up of S37Q plus East discarding H7.      Plan the play.

      The bidding suggests that West likely has CK in addirion to HKJxxx and so it would not be a good plan to rely on the club finesse so you are in danger of losing two clubs and two diamonds.       The best plan is to win HA, ruff a heart, cash SA & CA, cross to SK (drawing the last outstanding trump) and lead a club from the table, ducking when East plays C10.       If East is left on play (a) a club sets up a diamond discard on the thirteenth club (or CQ as the case may be), (b) a heart gives you a ruff and discard and you ruff in your hand and discard a club from dummy and  (c) a diamond into dummy's DAJx allows you to win DA over a defence diamond honour and lead DJ to set up D10 by force.        If West overtakes East's club and switches to a diamond you allow it to run to East's diamond honour and is end-played as above.

Hand for 19th August 2021:

                                                    North:      S      Q  8  7  6  5

                                                                     H      A  K

                                                                     D      A  Q  6  4

                                                                     C      A   6

                                                    South:      S      A   J 10  9  8  2

                                                                     H      8   6

                                                                     D      J   3   2

                                                                     C      K  9 

West opens a weak 2H, partner doubles for take-out, East raises to 3H,  you bid 3S, partner bids 4NT (RKCB), you respond 5D (1 of 5 Aces) and partner jumps to 6S.      West leads HQ.      Plan the play.

         You have two spades and a club to lose and so appear to need trumps 3-2.        With West showing six spades on the bidding the odds of a 4-1 break are likely to have increased from the normal one in four chance.      However you can prevail if you can ruff (diamonds) twice in your hand.        Therefore you start by winning SA (East has a singleton on the bidding so you must not duck), then cashing HKA (West discarding a spade), cashing DKA, ruffing a diamond low, crossing to CAK and leading a fourth diamond from dummy ruffing if East follows suit or discarding a club if East ruffs in when you eventually making HQ6 by force.

Hand for 18th August 2021:

                                                   North:       S       K  J  9  8  3

                                                                     H       A  2

                                                                     D       A  J  5

                                                                     C       6  4   2

                                                    South:      S       A  Q 10  7  4

                                                                     H       9

                                                                     D       10  4  2

                                                                     C        A  Q  4   3

You open 1S, West overcalls 2H, partner cue-nids 3H showing a spade raise, you rebid 3S and partner raises to 4S.        West leads H7.       Plan the play.            

       With East opening a weak 2H on HKQxxxx it is probable that West has one or both of the minor suit Kings and so the best plan is to try and keep East off lead and hope that West has to eventually give you a trick.       Therefore you win HA, draw trumps with SAK and lead a club covering East's C7 with C8 and West's C9.      West will lead a club to East's CQ and your CA but you lead S7 to dummy's S8 and lead a third club from the table.       If the clubs are 3-3 you can discard a diamond on the thirteenth club and take the diamond finesse for an overtrick.        All is not lost when East shows out as West can win and cash another club  but you discard a diamond from dummy.        West is then end-played to lead a diamond into your DAQ or give you a ruff and discard when you ruff in your hand and discard a diamond from the dummy eventually ruffing DQ for ten tricks.

Hand for 17th August 2021:

                                                     North:      S      A  8  3

                                                                      H      A  7  5

                                                                      D      A  7  4  3

                                                                      C      A  K  6

                                                     South:      S      7  5   2

                                                                      H      K  Q  6  4  2

                                                                      D      K  6

                                                                      C      8   4   3

West opens a weak 2S, partner doubles for take-out, you bid 3H and partner raises to 4H.     West leads SK.

Plan the play.

       The bidding tells you that since East has DA then West has CK so there is no point leading up to your CQ in the hope that East has CK.        Also the opposition spades are likely to be 4-3 as West would probably overcall 1S if holding SA10xxx rather than double for take-out.       This means that West's likely shape is 4-1-4-4 or 4-1-3-5 since East obviously has long diamonds from the four-level intervention.       You have lost a diamond and a spade and so you need to restrict your club losers to one!      The best plan is to draw trumps in one or two rounds (as necessary), cash your last top spade and then lead CQ intending to run it but covering CK with CA.       You are playing for East to have CJx or C10x or CJ10 and you then cross back to hand with a trump to lead C2 towards C953 in dummy.      If East plays an honour under dummy's CA, the C9 will either win a trick by force or if East wins a club honour but then has to concede a ruff and discard allowing you to ruff in dummy and discard a club from hand.

Hand for 16th August 2021:

                                                     North:      S      K  Q  8  6  4  2

                                                                      H      A

                                                                      D      7   6  5

                                                                      C      5   4  3

                                                      South:     S      A   J  9  7  3

                                                                      H      3

                                                                      D      A  Q   8

                                                                      C      A   J   8  2

East opens a weak 2H, you overcall 2S, West bids 3H but partner jumps to 4S.       West leads HJ.

Plan the play. 

       You ruff the second spade and draw trumps in four rounds and unfortunately the bidding has not suggested the location of DQ.     With West holding at least nine cards in the majors it is unlikely that length is held in either minor so it would be unwise to rely on the diamond finesse.       Marginally the best plan is to cash DAK gaining if DQ is doubleton with either East or West, then cashing CK and crossing back yo CA to cash your last trump (discarding two diamonds from dummy), cross to DAK and play CK and cross back to CA.     When you now play your last trump discarding DJ from dummy you will prevail if the hand that holds DQxx also holds three or four clubs when either the DQ will be discarded setting up your D10 or the CA7 will win the last two tricks.

Hand for 15th August 2021:

                                                     North:      S     5  4  2

                                                                      H    10 9  6  5  2

                                                                      D    10

                                                                      C     A  9  5  3

                                                     South:      S     K Q  J

                                                                      H     A  K  Q  J  8  7

                                                                      D     J

                                                                      C     Q  4   2

You open 1H, West doubles for take-out, partner jumps to 3H pre-emtively, East bids 4D and you bid 4H.

West leads DK (East overtaking) and switching to S9 (West winning SA over SJ and exiting with S3). 

Plan the play. 

      The bidding tells you that West has led a singleton diamond with East holding seven to DKQ.        So there is a good chance that West has more trumps than East which is all you need to make your contract despite an apparently useless CAK in dummy.         You win DA at trick 1 and cash SA at trick 2.        If both opponents follow you continue with S2 and then hopefully West wins and has to lead a club or a heart to give you an entry to dummy to throw your D3 on CK.        When East shows out you cash SAK and exit with S2 achieved the same ending.      Note it does West, holding S103 to jettison S10 as then dummy wins S8 and cashes CAK to end up with an overtrick.

Hand for 14th August 2021:

                                                    North:      S      8   4

                                                                     H      6   2

                                                                     D      A   K  J   3   2

                                                                     C      K   Q  7  5

                                                    South:      S      9

                                                                      H     A   K  Q  J  10  8

                                                                      D     10  6  4

                                                                      C      A   6  2

You open 1H. West overcalls 1S, partner doubles for take-out, you jump to 3H, partner bids 4C, you bid 4H, partner invites slam with 5H and you bid 6H.        West leads SK and West overtakes with SA and exits with S2.         Plan the play.

      You have on the face of it five hearts, three spades and DA and if the trumps are 3-3 you can set up dummy's clubs for a diamond discard or possibly squeeze West who you know from the bidding has DK & CQ.       If you overruff East at trick 3 you need trumps 3-3 to be able to enjoy SJ as the only way back to hand is a club ruff.     The main flaw in this plan is that a 3-3 break is against the odds and a 4-2 break is roughly 50%.        Therfore the best plan is to not overuff at trick 3 but discard a diamond instead.       You can then win East's exit of a diamond or spade, draw four rounds of trumps, cash three top spades, ruff back to hand and cash SJ amounting to ten tricks.

Hand for 13th August 2021:

                                                    North:       S      8   5

                                                                      H      J  10  7

                                                                      D      J   8   2

                                                                      C      A   K  8  5  2

                                                    South:       S      A   K  Q  J  7  6  4  2

                                                                      H      A   K   6

                                                                      D      A   3

                                                                      C      Void

East pre-empts 3D and you jump to 6S.       West leads D4.        Plan the play.   

     You try SQ at trick 1 but East plays SK and you win SA.       The bidding tells you that West who would surely have led a club otherwise has probably CAQJ, SJ, DQ & a guarded HK to make up a 12hcp 1NT and therefore there is no point in taking the trump finesse.       The only conceivable way of playing the contract is to win SA, finesse D10, cash DA, cross to HA and discard a spade on DK before leading a trump to West's HK.       Eventually you ruff a spade in the dummy and just concede two clubs and one trump in making ten tricks.

Hand for 12th August 2021:

                                                    North:      S     A  K Q

                                                                     H     4  3  2

                                                                     D     A  7

                                                                     C     J  8  6  4  3

                                                     South:     S     J  8  3  2

                                                                      H    A  K Q  J  10

                                                                      D    Q  9

                                                                      C    10 7

West opens a weak 1NT, you overcall 2H after two passes and partner raises to 4H.      West cashes CAK and leads C2 which East ruffs with H8.      Plan the play. 

       The play to the first two tricks places the spade honours and suggests that East is short in clubs are that this suit will not break 3-3.      However, the good news from the bidding is that West appears to have the DK as East would probably have opened 1S rather than 2S with SAQJxxx and an outside King.       Therefore the best play is to plan for a dummy reversal, ruffing four times in hand and using dummy's three trumps to draw the oppositions trumps.        You start by winning CA at trick 2, ruffing a spade, finessing DQ, ruffing a spade high with HA, crossing to DA, ruffing a diamond high with HQ, leading a trump to dummy's H9, ruffing a diamond with HJ, crossing to dummy with S10, cashing HK (discarding a club) and cashing CKQ for twelve tricks.

Hand for 11th August 2021:

                                                     North:       S        Q  5

                                                                       H        Q  9  7  6

                                                                       D        A 10

                                                                       C         9  5  4  3  2

                                                      South:       S         A  7

                                                                        H         A  J 10 8  5  4

                                                                        D         K  J  3

                                                                        C        10  8

West opens a weak 1NT, you jump to 3H after two passes and partner raises to 4H.       West leads SJ to SQKA.

Plan the play.       

         You have two potential diamond losers if the suit breaks 4-1 (a one in four chance) plus a spade as the bidding tell you that the spade finesse is not likely to succeed and only one discard on the third top club.        You can give yourself a slight extra chance by playing an elimination.        Win H10 at trick 1, cross to SA, cross to HQJ (drawing the outstanding trumps), cross to CK, cross baxk to CAQ (discarding SQ), ruff a spade and lead D4 playing D2 when East follows with DJ.         As long as either East or West does not have DQJ109, your contract is safe against any other 4-1 break.        On the actual hand shown if East wins  with the singleton Jack then a ruff and discard follows, you ruffing in one hand and throwing a diamond from the other so you can ruff your fourth round diamond loser in the hand you have just discarded from.         It does West no good to overtake DJ with DQ and lead D10 as you play low from the following hand, win a top diamond and finesse against the D9 to make three diamond tricks in all!.

Hand for 10th August 2021:

                                                     North:       S        K  10  9

                                                                       H        K  10  9

                                                                       D        A   Q  3  2

                                                                       C        A   3   2

                                                     South:       S        2

                                                                       H        A   Q   J  4  3  2

                                                                       D        5    4

                                                                       C        K   Q   5  4

East opens a weak 2S, you overcall 3H, partner bids 4NT (RKCB), you respond 5D (1 Ace), partner enquires with 5H, you bid 6C (HQ & CK) and partner signs off with 6H.       West leads S7 which East wins with SJ and switches to C10.

Plan the play.

      The bidding tells you that West probably has DAKxxx & CQJ10xx and probably 6/5 shape as well to justify intervention at the three level vulnerable.       Therefore it is likely that East has a singleton heart and a singleton trump or both and cashing SAQ indicates a singleton trump and so you draw the last outstanding trump with SK.        You are in danger of losing two diamonds and two hearts but you can end-play East by cashing CKA and leading a diamond to dummy's Jack.       East can win but cashing DK gives you a heart discard on DQ with SJ as entry or you ruff a club exit in one hand and discard a heart from the other, eventually ruffing a fourth round of hearts for ten tricks, losing just one heart and two diamonds.        Were East to have a second heart you merely play H10 and the hearts are 3-2 and so you have a fourth round heart winner.

Hand for 9th August 2021:

                                                   N orth:       S       9  5

                                                                      H      K  Q  J  10

                                                                      D      K  7   5   4

                                                                      C      A  Q   8

                                                  South:         S      A  Q

                                                                      H      A   9   8  7  6

                                                                      D      A   8   3  2

                                                                      C      K   4

You open 1H, West overcalls 1S, partner cue-bids 2S to show a good heart raise, you rebid 2NT, partner bids 4NT (RKCB) and jumps to 6H after your 5C response (3 Aces).     West leads H4, East following with H2.     Plan the play.

      You have eleven tricks on top as you can pick up 5 clubs on any 5-0 split by first cashing CA and if West shows out you finesse C9 or if East shows out you finesse C8.        However the bidding tells you that the normal play of leading towards HQ hoping East has HK will fail.       You could win SK, cash your eight minor suit winners and play SA and another expecting West to win and be forced to lead away from HK but that would fail if East has S10xx and West unblocks SJ.        The best line is to duck the SQ lead and hope that West has three or four spades when a positional squeeze will occur.        You win SK, cash five clubs discarding two hearts from dummy, cash HA (known as a Vienna Coup which occurs when you cash a winner in the hand opposite the squeeze card), cash DAQ and cross to DK.       This leaves you with just HQ and S5 and dummy with SA6.        If West has not discarded HK (when you can cash HQ & SA) then SA6 will win the last two tricks.

Hand for 8th August 2021:

                                                   North:       S      K  J  8  5

                                                                     H      6   5  4  3

                                                                     D      Q  J  7

                                                                     C      K   9

                                                   South:       S       A  Q 10  6  3

                                                                     H       A  K  10  8

                                                                     D       6   4

                                                                     C       A   2

You open 1S, partner responds 2NT showing a good raise to at least 3S, East doubles conventionally showing an unusual 2NT overcall (5/5+ both minors), and you jump to 4S.       West leads HQ, East playing H7 to your HAand East discards a club on your second top spade.       Plan the play. 

     Your contract depends on a 3-2 split in diamonds or spades or possibly just the diamond finesse if as expected you have two heart tricks.        You thus play H10 at trick 1 and win HA over East's HQ.       The bidding tells you that West is long in clubs and likely long hearts as well and so the possibility that West has a singleton diamond or spade is strong.        If you go for spades breaking and they break badly then you can be prevented from enjoying a good break in diamonds as you have no certain entry therafter to dummy.         Therefore the best plan is to cash DK and if DQ is singleton, cash DJ, cross to SQ, cash DA and give up a diamond with SK as entry.      If the diamonds break 3-2  then you cross to DA and give up a diamond with SKQ as entry.         In either case you make  five diamonds, two spades, a heart and a club at least.      If the diamonds prove to be unsetupable then you cash SKQ and hope the spades break normally 3-2 with CA as entry for your four spade tricks making six spades, two diamonds, a heart and a club at least.

Hand for 7th August 2021:

                                                   North:       S       A   6   3   2

                                                                    H       A   8   5

                                                                    D       A   Q  8

                                                                    C       Q   8   3

                                                   South:      S       K   5   4

                                                                    H       Q   7

                                                                    D       K   6   2

                                                                    C       A   K   J  9  2

You open 1C, West overcalls 1H, partner doubles for take-out, you rebid 1NT, partner invites slam with 4NT and you accept with 6NT.       West leads SQ.       Plan the play.

      The bidding and lead tell you that East probably hash CAQJ10x(x) plus HAQ or at least HA so you are in danger of losing a club, a diamond and two hearts.      The best plan is to set up dummy's diamonds assuming they break normally (3-2).      The trouble is that if West wins the third round of diamonds a heart switch may defeat the contract straightaway.      An alternative plan is to play CK at trick 1 losing to CA and instead of ruffing the club continuation discard a diamond and ruff the third top club high with SA, cash SKQ, cash DAK, ruff a diamond with SJ and cross to S10 to discard two hearts on D85.       If all is well you end up just losing two clubs and one heart.

Hand for 6th August 2021:

                                                     North:       S       K  Q

                                                                       H       J  10  2

                                                                       D       A   7   6   5   4   3

                                                                       C       8   3

                                                     South:       S       A   8   6   5   4   2 

                                                                       H       A   3

                                                                       D       K   J

                                                                       C       A   J   4

You open 1S, West overcalls 2C, partner bids 2D, you rebid 2NT and partner raises to 3NT.       West leads H4.

Plan the play.

      The bidding tells you that East has DQJxxx(x) so may be short in spades plus probably CK.       The best plan therfore is to win DK at trick 1, draw trumps with HAK, cash SAK & DA and lead D10 and discard your losing spade as East wins DQ.       If East can exit with a third spade, you ruff and hope that spades are 3-3 when you can throw CJ on the thirteenth spade.        If East has only two spades then he or she is end-played to either give you two club tricks or a ruff and discard when you throw a club from hand and ruff in the dummy.

Hand for 5th August 2021:

                                                    North:       S       10  6  2

                                                                      H        K  8

                                                                      D        A  K  8  5  4

                                                                      C        K  8  4

                                                    South:       S        A  K  Q  J  8  5

                                                                      H        J   7   4

                                                                      D        7   3   2

                                                                      C        5

Partner opens 1NT, East bids an intermediate jump overcall of 3C and you bid 4S.      West leads C9.     Plan the play.  

      East has opened 2H on a very poor suit and so is likely to have a seven card suit plus either DK plus one or both of CAK.      With four spades, three hearts and DA you only need to generate one extra trick.       If you lose a diamond to East you will go down if West has CAJ9x or CKJ9x.        Therefore the best play is to cash DA aftert winning HA at trick 1 in case East has a singleton DK.       Note leading DQ from hand does not promote a third diamond trick and you are safe from losing four clubs if West wins DK.       When DK drops you just cash out for an overtrick.

Hand for 4th August 2021:  

                                                     North:        S       K   7   6   5

                                                                        H       J   9   8   3

                                                                        D       A  10  9

                                                                        C       A  10

                                                    South:         S       A   3  2

                                                                        H       A   K  Q  10  7  2

                                                                        D       K   4

                                                                        C       Q   J

You open a Benji 2C, partner bids 2D, West doubles for a diamond lead, you rebid 2H, partner jumps to 4NT (RKCB) , you respond 5C (3 "Aces") and partner signs off with 6H.East opens a weak 2H, you bid a strong 2NT and partner raises to 3NT.       West leads D3.       Plan the play. 

       The contract is straightforward if the trumps are 3-2 or 4-1 with a singleton Jack but the bidding tells you that trumps 4-1 is a distinct possibility.       The normal way to play trumps with this combination is to cash HAK and if West shows out you can take the marked finesse of H10 and not lose a trick.       However having ruffed the first heart you are in danger of being defeated if West has HJxxx as careful defence will result in West ruffing the fourth round of clubs denying you the fifth round winner.      Therefore the best way to play the hand is first cash SAQ at tricks 2 & 3 and if either hand has SJx left you continue by playing top clubs until the defence ruffs in, win the next trick with DA or a spade ruff with the last trump and finally cross to HK in order to discard one of your diamond losers on the fifth club.

Hand for 4th August 2021:

                                                    North:       S       Q  J  7  3

                                                                      H       A  4

                                                                      D       A  8  4  3   2

                                                                      C       6  3

                                                    South:       S       A  K  9 

                                                                      H       K  Q  J

                                                                      D       Q  J   6

                                                                      C       Q 10  8  7

East opens a weak 2H, you bid a strong 2NT and partner raises to 3NT.        West leads H5.         Plan the play.

        The bidding tells you that East has both minor Aces in addition to the missing spade honours.       So you start with Two spade winners and a spade ruff on the table with H2 and lead a diamond to East's D10 and your DQ.       With five trump winners in addition to the first four tricks all you need is one more diamond winner.      If trumps are 3-3 you have no problems if the diamonds are 3-2.     However you should consider what would happen if East has DA109 and West DJx and you try a low diamond from hand at trick 5.     Then West will win DJ and switch to CJ, forcing you to ruff the second round of clubs and you will have lost control if trumps break 4-2 with the odds as you cannot lose a third diamond to East's Ace without CA forcing a trump winner for the defence.       The safe way to play the hand is thus to exit with DK  at trick 5.       West can win DA but H9 is there to take care of a spade force and CK is there to stop you being forced in clubs so you have the tempo to give up a third diamond trick provided the suit breaks normally, i.e. 3-2.        You just need to draw trumps in four rounds and cash a fourth round of diamonds.

Hand for 2nd August 2021:

                                                    North:      S      K   7   4

                                                                     H      8   7   4

                                                                     D      3   2

                                                                     C      Q  J   8  3   2

                                                    South:      S      A  Q  10  6  5

                                                                     H      Void

                                                                     D      A   6   5   4

                                                                     C      A   K  10  9

East opens a weak 2H, you double, partner bids 3C, you bid 3S and partner raises to 4S.      West leads HA.

Plan the play.

      Having lost (fortunately only) two clubs you cannot make your contract if you lose a spade and a trump.       If you try the spade finesse and it fails the best chance is to assume that trumps are 3-2 with West holding HQx or HQxx.      Therefore it is prudent to first finesse the SQ at trick 4.        When it wins you can afford to make a safety play in trumps by cashing HK and then leading H2, playing H9 if East follows, otherwise play HA and follow with H6.        This manoevre guarantees only one loser in trumps if either East or West has HQ10xx.

Hand for 1st August 2021:

                                                  North:       S       8   5

                                                                    H       9   2

                                                                    D       8   5   4   2

                                                                    C       K   8   5   4   3

                                                  South:       S       A   Q   6

                                                                    H       A   K   Q   J   10

                                                                    D       K   Q   5    4    3

                                                                    C        2

East opens 1S, you double for take-out, partner bids 2C, you jump to 3H and partner raises to 4H.      West leads S4.

Plan the play. 

       The bidding and play so far indicate that West has HA10742 precisely (since H3 in in dummy) plus singleton DK and presumably at least one club honour as well.     You would have had an easy ride if West held DKx(x) but instead you try CA and another.      This runs to C10 from dummy and East exits with H9 after winning CK.       West wins HA and clears the hearts by leading H2, dummy winning HQ.      Now cashing DQ puts pressure on West and when a spade is thrown rather than a club you know the initial shape was 4-5-1-3 and you know SQKA will draw the remaining opposition spades and S10 will give you your ninth trick.     If a club was thrown on DQ you have a guess whether to finesse S10 or play for the drop but you should probably play for the latter as the overcall on 10hcp would be more likely than 9hcp including a poor suit and a singleton King.

Hand for 31st July 2021:

                                                North:       S      A  Q  2

                                                                  H      K  J  4  2

                                                                  D      K  J  5

                                                                  C       4  3  2

                                               South:        S       J 10 4

                                                                  H       A  9  6  5

                                                                  D       A  Q 3

                                                                  C       Q  9  8

You open a weak 1NT, partner bids 2C (Stayman), East doubles for a club lead, you bid 2H and partner raises to 4H.

West leads C6 and East plays CAK10 but fortunately West follows to all three rounds.       Plan the play.

          The 3-Nil trump break is not unexpected given East's bidding on such a poor hand.        However the fact that East must have CK for the opening bid makes the contract a certainty.        You cash a second round of trumps, cash SA, cross to SK, discard a spade on DK, ruff a spade, finesse CQ, ruff a fourth round of spades and exit with a trump.      East either has to give you a ruff and discard when you ruff in dummy throwing a club from hand and ruff a club for your twelfth trick.       Otherwise if East exits with a club you run it to your CJ.

Hand for 30th July 2021:

                                                   North:       S     Q   2

                                                                     H     Q  J   3

                                                                     D     Q  6   4  2

                                                                     C     J  10  4  3

                                                  South:        S     A  K  10 5

                                                                     H     K   8   6

                                                                     D     A   9   5  3

                                                                     C     A   7

You open 1D, West overcalls 1H, partner raises to 2D, you invite game with 2NT and partner raises to 3NT.

West leads H4 which runs to your HK.  You cash CA , lead C7 to dummy's C10 and CK from East who exits with H9.  Plan the play.

       The spade finesse unexpectedly losing was a bitter blow as you have now lost three tricks and cannot afford a diamond loser as well.       The only hope left is to hope that East has the three trumps and so you can squeeze West in the minors and so you must risk cashing your last two spade winners (discarding D3) and then lead a trump to your HJ.      You now hold just DQ10 and H8 and dummy holds DA8 & C6 with West holding C10 & DKJ.      When you cash your last trump (H8) West has no answer (a) If a club is thrown dummy ditches D8 and DA & C6 win the last two tricks and (b) if a diamond is thrown dummy ditches C6 and DK falls under DA so you win the last trick with DQ.

Hand for 29th July 2021:

                                                   North:       S      A  8   6

                                                                     H      A  K  7  5  4  3

                                                                     D      J

                                                                     C      J   6  5

                                                   South:       S      K   5  4  3

                                                                     H       9   8  6  2

                                                                     D       A  K

                                                                     C       A  Q  9

East opens a weak 1NT, partner doubles, West rescues to 2D, partner cue-bids 3D, you bid 3H, partner bids 4H, you bid 4NT (RKCB), partner responds 5C (3 "Aces"), you bid 5D and raise partner's signoff of 5H to 6H.  

West leads D7 to DJQA and discards D2 on HA.    Plan the play. 

        The only danger to your contract as the trumps are not 5-Nil on the opening lead is if West holds all three missing clubs and DA is off-side.        However all you need to do is draw trumps (in four rounds if necessary) and lead specifically C9 and duck if West plays CJ or C10.        If East wins and switches to diamonds you only can lose two diamonds and one club as CA will draw the remaining outstanding club.       If West shows out on the first club you merely play Ace and another setting up the clubs and again you only have three possible losers.       If East shows out on the first club and exits with a spade you play Ace and another club (following with C89) giving West a second club trick but effecting an end-play since a spade lead sets up a spade trick in dummy to discard D4 using C5 overtaking with C6 as entry to dummy.        Otherwiser a diamond exit by West gives you a trick with DK.  

Hand for 28th July 2021:

                                                North:      S      A  K  J  9

                                                                 H     Q 10  6

                                                                 D      A  8

                                                                 C      K  Q  6  5

                                                South:      S     10  4  3

                                                                  H     K   J  9  8  4

                                                                  D     Q  10 3

                                                                  C      4   3

Partner opens 1C, you respond 1H, West butts in with 2D, partner doubles for take-out, you bid 2NT, partner bids 3H and you settle for 4H.      West leads CJ to CQA, East exits with C7 to West's C8 and your CK, HQ is won by West with HA, you ruff C10, cash HK(both opponents following), lead S10 which runs to East's SQ and win the S2 exit in dummy with SJ.       Plan the further play.        

       You win the HA at trick 1 as the bidding tells you that this suit is breaking 1-5.     However the bidding also tells you that East holds DQ to justify a 1H overcall on such a poor suit.       So you cash SQA, finesse DQ, cash DA and ruff a diamond high before crossing to S10 and cashing your last two trumps (discarding  clubs from dummy).       With four cards left you hold H43 & CAJ in your hand with dummy holding HKJ9 & C6,        If East has only thrown one of his original five hearts you cash CA and lead a heart to dummy's H9 and when East wins this the forced heart exit runs to your major tenace in dummy.      If East has thrown two  diamonds when you cash your remaining trumps you also lead a diamond to D9 but win the spade exit with SA and cash HKJ as HQ will now drop under HK.

Hand for 27th July 2021:

                                               North:       S       Q   J   6

                                                                 H       K  10  8

                                                                 D        5   3

                                                                 C        A   6   4   3   2

                                               South:       S        A

                                                                 H        A   Q  J   9   5

                                                                 D        K   4

                                                                 C        Q   9   8   7  5

West opens 1NT,  East transfers with 2H, you double, West bis 2S, you bid 4C and partner bids 4H. 

West leads H6 and East follows with H3.        Plan the play.

      The bidding tells you that the diamond suit is Nil-6 otherwise East would surely have led partner's overcalled suit.      So you win HA at trick 1 but must draw trumps straightaway with SAQ - they turn out to be 2-2 - and ruff a heart.      When you cross to CK and ruff another heart East follows and you thus know  East's shape is 2-3-6-2.      You cross to CA stripping East of clubs and lead a diamond covering East's card so D8 will win unless East splits DKQ when you win DA.       Now in either case a diamond to North's D10 end-plays East who can win and give you a marked finesse in diamonds or a ruff and discard which you ruff in hand and discard a diamond from dummy, eventually ruffing your diamond loser in dummy.

Hand for 26th July 2021:

                                                North:       S      A  K  5  3

                                                                  H      A  K  J  9

                                                                  D      4   2

                                                                  C      6   3  2

                                                South:       S      Q  J 10 7  2

                                                                  H      4   3  2

                                                                  D      A  Q  3

                                                                  C      A   J

Playing 5 card majors, partner opens 1C, East overcalls 1H, you bid 1S, partner jumps to 3S and you sign off in 4S.

West leads D8.       Plan the play.            

        With six trumps and Ace and an Ace-King your tenth trick should come from a spade ruff in the dummy.        However if you let East win trick 1 and switch to a trump yhe defence will be able to prevent you ruffing a spade by playing trumps at every opportunity.        It is therfore right to rise with DA at trick 1 and lead a spade.        Now the defence cannot stop you ruffing a spade as you can ruff a third diamond high or win CK and exit with a second spade.       The nine top tricks and a spade ruff add up to ten tricks and you fulfil your contract.

Hand for 25th July 2021:

                                                North:       S       A  Q  9  8

                                                                  H      10  5  2

                                                                  D      10  5  4

                                                                  C       A  K  2

                                                South:       S       K  J  10  7  6

                                                                  H       A

                                                                  D       A   J   8  2

                                                                  C       8   5   4

East opens 1D, you overcall 1S, partner cue-bids 2D, you bid 2NT and partner jumps to 4S.        West leads HJ.

Plan the play. 

       You naturally duck SQ lead to cut the defence's communications but there is no value in ducking a second spade allowing a switch to hearts so you win SA at trick 2.         Now the simple way home is to unblock CAK and exit with a spade.        West can cash two spade winners but any subsequent exit allows you entry to dummy to claim ten tricks and an overtrick.

Hand for 24th July 2021:

                                                North:       S       J   5

                                                                  H       A 10  6

                                                                  D       A   8  5  2

                                                                  C       A   5  4  3 

                                                South:       S      10  9  8

                                                                  H       K  Q  J  9  8  7

                                                                  D       J  10

                                                                  C       K   J

You open 1H, West overcalls 1S, partner doubles for take-out, East bids 2S, you bid 3H and partner raises to 4H.

West leads D6.       Plan the play.

      The bidding and lead tell you that West has SKJxxx(x) so there is no point ducking the first spade and might indeed lose a tempo which enables the defence to switch to trumps to attack dummy's entries.      You should win SA and take an immediate diamond finesse.        When it unexpectedly loses to DK, West leads S6 to East's SJ and exits with a trump.       However, you still have the time to play for split honours in diamonds as you can win a trump exit in hand, cash DA, cross to CK and lead D10 for a ruffing finesse.       You can thus discard your losing third heart on D9 and just lose two tricks to exactly fulfil your contrac.

Hand for 23rd July 2021:

                                                 North:       S       A  4   3

                                                                   H      Q  J

                                                                   D      J  10

                                                                   C      Q  J  10 8  7  5

                                                 South:       S      6   5   4

                                                                    H     A   7   5

                                                                    D     A   K   4  3  2

                                                                    C     A   K

You open 1D, West overcalls 1H, partner bids 2C and you rebid 3NT.    West leads SQ, following with S2 to East's SK.  Plan the play. 

      You are in danger of losing two trumps if the hearts are not 2-2, a club and a diamond if you misguess whether East or West has DQ.        West appears to have most of the hcp to justify the 1S overcall but you should plan to avoid this guess.        You should win CA at trick 1, cash HA and SAK, ruff a spade and exit with your second club.       Whoever wins this trick is end-played and if West wins and exits with a winning spade you ruff in dummy and if East can overruff you restrict your trump loser(s) to one only and obviously a red suit exit by West will similarly cut your possiblr losers by one.        If East wins the second club you just cover East's red suit exit and restrict your losers  in either suit by one.

Hand for 22nd July 2021:

                                                  North:       S        A  Q  7

                                                                    H       10  9  3

                                                                    D       10  9  3   2

                                                                    C        K  Q  3

                                                  South:       S        10  9

                                                                    H          A  K  2

                                                                    D          A  Q

                                                                    C          A  J  10 9  8  2

You open 1C, partner responds 1D, East butts in with 1S, you bid 3C, parner bids 4C and you raise to game with 5C.

West leads S5.       Plan the play.

         The diamond switch seems to indicate that East has DKQ as well as Jxx and West therefore has SK to justify an opening 1H bid.      You do not want West to exit in clubs at a late stage and force you to lead a diamond off the table.       So you should start the trumps by leading SQ from hand and sure enough East discards a club.        However you think West's likely distribution is 4-6-1-2 and you should cash CAK before leading a trump to SA and exiting with SJ.       West cannot do anything bettewr than exiting with a heart and you ruff, cash S10 and you are just left with trumps and a winning club.

Hand for 20th July 2021:

                                                  North:       S      A  K  2

                                                                    H      5   4  3

                                                                    D      A  J   6  5  3

                                                                    C      3   2

                                                  South:       S      4   3

                                                                     H     A   Q  9  8  7  6

                                                                     D     K  10  4

                                                                     C     A   4

You open 1H, West overcalls 1S, partner bids 2D, East bids 2S, you bid 3H and partner bids 4H.      West leads CK (East playing CJ).        Plan the play.

      If trumps are 2-2 you have an easy thirteen tricks.        However when the opposition bid vulnerable at the two-level on minimal values you should expect bad breaks and plan accordingly.        You cannot prevail if West has all four missing trumps but there is a safety play available if East has all four of them.       You should start by winning HK(discarding DK), cashing HA(discarding DA) and lead a trump from dummy playing S9 if East follows with S8.       If this wins you cash SAK and run winners until East ruffs in making twelve tricks.       If it loses then SAK will draw the remaining trumps unless the clubs are 5-Nil and you lose a ruff.       If East plays an honour on the first round of trumps you cover, cross to C10 and lead a second spade, winning as cheaply as possible and cross to CK to play a third trump towards your S97 and East can only make one trump trick.

Hand for 20th July 2021:

                                                North:      S       3  2

                                                                 H       5  4

                                                                 D       A  J  10   8  6  4

                                                                 C       A  K  Q

                                               South:       S       A  Q  J  10  8  7  6

                                                                 H       Q  3

                                                                 D       3

                                                                 C       J  10 9

West opens 1H, partner overcalls 2D, East bids 2H and you bid 4S.       West cashes HAK and exits with D5.

Plan the play.

    You routinely duck the second spade and win the HA exhausting West of the suit.        However for reasons explained below you must discard a heart, say HA (for style) on the SA.        To make your contract you need to bring in the diamond suit and four diamonds, three hearts and SA & CA add upp to nine tricks and your contract.       Although you expect DQ to be with the spade overcall, you intend finessing into the 'safe' hand (West) anyway as the defence cannot then cash spade winners.      Therefore you cross to DA, cash HKQ and lead DJ.       If East covers with DQ then dummy's D10 will block the run of the suit but instead of continuing diamonds you simply cash HJ (discarding the blocking D10) and cash D98 and the black Aces for an overtrick.         You obvioisly have no problems on any 3-2 diamond break if DJ is allowed to hold.

Hand for 19th July 2021:

                                                  North:        S        4   3   2

                                                                     H        A  K

                                                                     D        Q  8   7   6   3

                                                                     C        K 10  2

                                                  South:        S        A  K   9   7   6   5

                                                                     H        Void

                                                                     D        A  K

                                                                     C        A  Q   J   5   3

West opened a weak 2H, you double after 2 passes, partner bids 2NT, you bid 3S, partner bids 4S & you jump to 6S. 

West leads HQ.      Plan the play.

        If the spades break normally, viz. 3-2 you can throw a spade on the third top heart and ruff the third round of the suit in order to discard your second diamond on the fourth round spade winner.        However if spades are 4-1 you will prevail if the hand with four spades also holds DK so the play is to run all your trumps except one (discarding a spade and a diamond) and cah HAKQ (discarding a spade) and play SKA.       If either opponent discards on SA, you cash DA (dropping DK if the same opponent has four spades & DK), ruff a spade back to hand and cash DQ.       If both opponents follow to SA you persue the original plan and ruff a spade, cross to DA and discard DQ on the winning S8.

Hand for 17th July 2021:

                                               North:      S      10  8  6  5  4

                                                                H       K  9  4

                                                                D        8  6  4  3

                                                                C       10

                                               South:      S        Q  J   9  7  2

                                                                H         A  5

                                                                D         A  K  9

                                                                C         K  8  4

East opens a weak 2H, you make a strong 2NT overcall, partner transfers with 3H and you jump to 4S.

West leads H8.       Plan the play.

      You ruff the first heart and cash SKA noting that East shows up with two trumps and test the clubs with CAK.        If the clubs are 3-2 you just take the diamond finesse for an overtrick.       If West turns up with four clubs you just concede the fourth round and West has to either lead into your major tenace in diamonds or give you a ruff and discard enabling you to discard a diamond from one hand and ruff in the other and then ruff the third round of diamonds to make your slam.      If East turns up with four clubs all you need to do is cash DAK and exit with a club end-playing East.       This is because East's shape is known to be 2-6-1-4 and you simply discard a diamond from one hand and ruff the heart exit in the other hand.

Hand for 16th July 2021:

                                                North:      S      A  8  7  4  2

                                                                 H      A K  Q

                                                                 D      A  7

                                                                 C      5  4   3

                                                 South:     S      K  6  3 

                                                                  H      5  3

                                                                  D      Q  4

                                                                  C      A  K  Q  J  10  9

You open 1C, West overcalls 1D, partner bids 1S, you jump to 3C, partner bids 4NT (RKCB), you respond (2 Aces + KQ), partner bids 5NT and bids 7C over your 6D (1 King).       West leads C6 (East following).

Plan the play.

      The bidding tells you that all the suits are breaking badly and you will need a degree of luck to persevere.      With East holding at least 5 diamonds and hearts and hopefully two spades otherwise the 5-1 trump break will kill you, it means that at most a singleton club is held so you are in danger of a club ruff as well as DA being ruffed if you don't take it at trick 1.      If you start on the trumps however the first round will be ducked by the defence and losing the second round exposes you to three diamond losers!        It's best to play and hearts by lead HQ and hopefully East has just one of the missing heart honours to go along with DKQJ.       Either you ruff out East's top heart and lead SK or West has a problem on winning HK when you throw a club on HQ (loser on loser).      West cannot lead a diamond and a heart spears East's HA so you win a club exit and lead SK.      West can win SA and give East a club ruff but cannot stop you from ruffing a diamond on the table with S9, not making your contract but you don't overbid on the next hand at least! 

Hand for 15th July 2021:

                                                North:      S      K  Q  9  5  3

                                                                 H      2

                                                                 D      9   7  3

                                                                 C      K  Q  5  4

                                                South:      S      A  J  10 9  4  2

                                                                 H      Void

                                                                 D      A  K   J

                                                                 C      A   6   3  2

East opens a weak 2H, you jump to 4S, partner bids 4NT (RKCB) and jumps to 6S over your 5C response.

West leads H5 to East's HQ.       Plan the play.

       The contract is not good and you need some luck with a favourable distribution of the side-suits.      The bidding tells you that West has HQJ10xx plus probably the SK to justify the vulnerable overcall and HQ lead.      You have no problems if the clubs are 3-3 but that is against the odds so you initially plan to just cash two rounds of clubs and two rounds of trumps and lead towards your CQ hoping that whoever had the short clubs also had short trumps.     However there is an extra chance available to this plan of dropping SK doubleton with West which is quite possible with the heart holding held.     The best plan is thus to win HA lead, play DA, cross to D9 and ruff a spade.        When SK falls you cross to DK (drawing the last outstanding trumps if 3-2), discard a heart on SQ and claim an overtrick if the clubs are 3-3.       Were the trumps 4-1 then you can cash DK, CA, DQ, HK, SQ (discarding a heart) and then try the clubs for an overtrick.

Hand for 14th July 2021:

                                               North:      S       9  2

                                                                H      Q  J  10  3

                                                                D      A   5   2

                                                                C      A   K  Q   7  

                                               South:      S      K  Q   J  10  3

                                                                H      Void                                                                                                                                       

                                                                D      10  7   4   3

                                                                C       9   5   4   3

Partner opens 1C,  East overcalls 2NT (Unusual, both red suits 5/5+), you bid 3S and partner bids 4S.

West leads D6.       Plan the play.      

       The trump break is disappointing but the bidding tells you that West has DJ10xxxx and probably a club honour or two but just one of the top heart honours (else HAK may have been led.     It is thus necessary to play on hearts (as one opposition ruff will be with East's natural trump trick) and you can prevail if all you lose is two hearts and one trump.     You win SJ and must avoid playing your winning diamonds too early as you know from the bidding that East has only two as West has six and so you lead H6 towards dummy.      If East wins a top heart and leads a heart to West to obtain a ruff, you can just cross to DQ to take a trump finesse, draw a third round of trumps and eventually ruff a fourth round of hearts in dummy.      If West wins a top heart and exits with diamonds you finesse the SQ, cash SA & CAK and discard a club on DK.       East can ruff in or wait until HQ loses to East and cash a top trump but North has the 13th trump and HJ for ten tricks.

Hand for 13th July 2021:

                                                North:       S       Q  7  6  2

                                                                  H       A  K  3

                                                                  D       K  9   2

                                                                  C       6   3   2

                                                South:       S       A

                                                                  H       7   6   4

                                                                  D       A  Q  J  10  3

                                                                  C       A  K  Q   5

You open 1D, West overcalls 1H, partner makes a negative double, you jump to 3C, partner bids 3D, you bid 3H, partner bids 4NT (RKCB) and over your 5C response jumps to 6D.       West leads HQ.        Plan the play.

      The bidding tells you that West has long spades headed by SKQ and probably the HK to justify a vulnerable two level bid so the simple method of the heart finesse for your twelfth trick is not a good idea.       You should aim to end-play West to lead away from the HK.      Therefore you should start by winning SA and ruff a low spade with C10 before drawing trumps in two or three rounds as necessary.         Now cash DAKQ and lead SJ, discarding H2, a loser on loser play.      West can win SQ but then has to either lead a heart into your major tenace or lead another side-suit which you ruff in dummy and discard HQ from hand.

Hand for 12th July 2021:

                                               North:       S      8  6  5  4  2

                                                                 H     Q  J  2

                                                                 D     A  Q

                                                                 C     6   3  2

                                               South:       S     A  Q  J  3

                                                                 H     6   5   4  3

                                                                 D     K  6   2

                                                                 C     A  K

West opens a weak 2D, you bid a natural strong 2NT after two passes, partner transfers with 3H and you jump to 4S.      West leads DJ and you win DA and lead S4 to SJ (West discarding D4).       Plan the play.

       When the oppoosition open the bidding on minimal values you can expect bad breaks to your suits and the fact that a spade was led suggests at leadt five are held as the suit is so poor.       Also West might have started hearts holding HAK but is likely to hold four or five hearts because of the sub-minimum strength of the opener (Major suits are more important too get into the bidding).       You have no problems if you can guarantee five club tricks so the best plan is to eschew the free S10 spade trick and rise with SQ and lead a club to the C10 unless East plays the Jack.       This proves to be a good investment as West throws a diamond and you cash CA, cross to DA, run four more club tricks and two more spades for an overtrick.     Note you cannot afford to lose a club trick to East if East holds HK9x as H9 lead through your holding and a further heart after winning the second round with HA allows the defence to take four or five heart tricks to defeat your contract.

Hand for 11th July 2021:

                                                North:      S      A   J   3

                                                                 H     10  8   4

                                                                 D      Q  5   3

                                                                 C      9   7   6  5

                                                South:      S      2

                                                                 H      A  Q   2

                                                                 D      A  K  10

                                                                 C      A  K   Q  J  10 8

You open an artificial game-forcing 2D, West butts in with 2S, passed round to your 3C, partner raises to 4C, you cue-bid 4D, partner cue-bids 4S and you jump to 6C.        West leadss SK.        Plan the play. 

      The bidding tells you that East has five spades but not necessarily both SK & SQ.      The normal play on the lead is S7 to guarantee a trick with SJ or S10 but that is not the whole story.      If East pays a spade honour at trick 1 and you play on clubs, East will win the second round and exit with a spade to dummy's SJ locking you in dummy and the defence is a tempo ahead and you are unlikely to come to nine tricks.     The best plan is to play SJ at trick 1 and win SA over East's SQ.      East will continue spades if you duck the first spade but if you win SA and knock out the CA you expect that the defence will give you your ninth trick with DQ or S10 in order to reach your three winning clubs.

Hand for 10th July 2021:

                                                North:      S      K  Q  6  5

                                                                 H      3

                                                                 D      A

                                                                 C      K  Q  9  8  7  6  2

                                               South:       S      A 10  4

                                                                 H      Q 10  7  6

                                                                 D      J   6   5  4

                                                                 C      A  10

West opens 1S, partner jumps to 3C (Intermediate) and you bid 3NT.       West leads S5.        Plan the play.

         When the opposition bid vulnerable at the two-level or above on minimal values you can bet your bottom dollar that they have plenty of shape.      You can tell from the bidding on this hand that West has at least five spades and five hearts and two trumps unless holding 6-5 shape as the club lead is an obvious singleton.    (a)  If East has DA, then West will give West a diamond ruff and be able to cash a heart to defeat the contract unless the shape is 6/5-1-1.       (b) If West has DA, a heart lead to East's HA or HK will allow West to obtain a club ruff for one off.       (a) is more likely as West would probably have led a top heart holding HAK and so the best plan is to win the club lead, cash SK, overtake SQ with SA and lead S10 discarding HQ when as likely from the Michaels' intervention  West has SJ.      You can then ruff West's heart exit and force out DA and you will make your contract if West has DA as expected or West has started with only one trump.       This manoevre is called a Scissors Coup, named by the late bridge great Terence Reese owing to it snipping the defence's communications with each other.      

Hand for 9th July 2021:

                                               North:      S       J   7

                                                                H      A  Q  5  4  2

                                                                D      A   7  5  4

                                                                C      Q  4

                                               South:      S      A  10  6

                                                                H      J    7

                                                                D      Q   8   6

                                                                C      K   J  10  9  8

Partner opens 1H, East overcalls 1S, you bid 2C, partner bids 2D, you bid 2NT and partner raises to 3NT.

West leads S4.        Plan the play.

     With a likely two spades plus a club to lose you are reliant on no loser in both trumps and diamonds.       You win SA and realise that you need East to hold HK and CAK if DK is off-side as East has not got a second spade to lead to his partner's two spade winners.      If trumps are 2/1 any trump lead at trick 2 will suffice but if East has HK108 you need to lead HJ.        If East covers to win HA and lead D9.        West may cover with DK but you win DA and lead H2 to your H9, cash HA & DQJ and lead H4 to dummy's H5 to discard a black suit loser on D10, thus making a well-deserved overtrick.

Hand for 8th July 2021:

                                               North:       S      A  10 5

                                                                 H      5   4  3

                                                                 D      9   8  7

                                                                 C      K  Q 10 9

                                               South:       S      K  Q

                                                                 H      Q

                                                                 D      K  Q  J 10 6  5

                                                                 C      A   J  7  2

You open 1D, West cue-bids 2D (Michaels', both majors at least 5-5), partner bids 2S (showing a stop), you rebid 4D and partner raises to game with 5D.       West leads C3.       Plan the play.

        The contract is secure if the clib side-suit breaks normally, i.e. 3/2.       However the bidding tells you that bad breaks are likely so you should ruff the DK lead (carefully with H5) and start on the clubs by cashing CK and leading CQ.       If either hand ruffs you cash HAK drawing the remaining outstanding trumps (even if they originally broke 3-Nil), following with H67 and can then set up the club suit by a ruff with H8 and lead H2 to dummy's H3 in order to cash CA76 (discarding S34Q).

Hand for 7th July 2021:

                                               North:      S      A  7  4

                                                                H      J  5  3  2

                                                                D      A 10 8  7

                                                                C      Q  J

                                              South:       S      5  3  2

                                                                H      A Q  9  7  6  4

                                                                D      Q J  9

                                                                C      6

You open a weak 2H, West overcalls 2S and partner raise you to 4H.      West leads SK (East following with SJ).

Plan the play.

       The bidding tells you that West holds SK & CK in addition to the DA lead and presumably the lead is a singleton owing to the potentially dangerous heart switch.        Hopefully West with long spades will not have four hearts as well and you should play for a partial elimination and throw-in.        You carefully follow to DA with D5, cash HA & HK, ruff a heart high, lead D6 to dummy's DQ (drawing the outstanding trump) and lead S10, discarding a club when East cannot cover.       West has to lead a black suit and either (a) a spade allows you to take the marked finesse of SQ in order to discard CQ4 on SAQ or (b) a club exit allows you to win CAQ, lead D2 to dummy's D3 and discard C4 on SA.

Hand for 6th July 2021:

                                              North:       S       6  5

                                                                H      A  K  3

                                                                D      10 4

                                                                C       A  7  6  5  4  2

                                              South:       S       A  Q  4  3

                                                                H      10  9  8  7  6 5  2

                                                                D       Void

                                                                C       K  Q

West pre-empts 3D, you bid 4H after two passes, partner bids 4NT (RKCB) and bids 6H over your 5D response.

West leads DK.       Plan the play.

       The bidding tells you that East has HSJxxx(x) and you hope the H9 lead is a singleton and duck the first round in both hands.        Note that it is a losing play to play H10 from dummy at trick 1 as then you have no chaance of avoiding an inconvenient heart continuation holding only HAK as  entries to your hand.       However, West continues with a heart which you win perforce with HK.      The bidding tells you that East also probably has  CA as the heart suit is only HQJxxx.        Although it seems that your only winning option is to play West for CJ, it does you no good to run C10 as  East will win CA and knock out HA leaving you with only two club tricks (CKQ) as you have no way of reaching hand to cash C98.       Your only chance therefore is to play West for CJx doubleton and play CQ at trick 3 and follow with CK when East correctly ducks.       When CJ drops you have four clubs, two hearts, two top spades and DA for nine tricks and your contract.

Hand for 5th July 2021:

                                              North:        S      A  Q  10

                                                                 H      A  K   5  2

                                                                 D      K  Q   3

                                                                 C      6   5   3

                                              South:        S      Void

                                                                 H      9   6

                                                                 D      J  10  9  7  6  5  2

                                                                 C      A  Q   4  2

West opens 1S, partner overcalls a strong 1NT and you jump to 5D.          West cashes DA and switches to H7.      Plan the play.

          It looks as if you have to set up tour heart suit via a finesse and a couple of hesrt ruffs but the best plan is to win CK and lead C4 hoping that West's lead is not a singleton and then play on a high cross-ruff.      If West follows to the second club you just need to win CA, cash SA & HA and cross ruff hearts and spades knowing you cannot be overruffed.

Hand for 4th July 2021:

                                              North:      S       A  K  9

                                                               H      10 5  3

                                                               D       A  J  4  2

                                                               C       K Q  2

                                             South:       S       8  2

                                                               H       A  K  6

                                                               D       6   5  3

                                                               C      10  9  8  7  6

Partner opens 1D, East overcalls 1H, you bid 1NT, partner invites with 2NT and you bid 3NT.     

West leads H9.       Plan the play.

     The bidding and play so far tells you that the hearts are 6-4 and West has DK or CK or both minor kings.       You can deduce from that that if the CK finesse works then so will the DK finesse and also that if the diamond finesse is wrong then the club finesse will also be wrong!        There are three plans to consider (a) Ruff at trick 2 and cash SAKQ.       If the trumps are 3-3 you then make either 11 or 12 tricks depending on where DK is positioned.  (b) ruff the second trick and lead S2 (losing to East probably) and winning the club exit, cashing SAKQ and relying on West holding DK and thus making 11 tricks.  (c) Discard a club on the second heart, winning the spade exit and cashing AKQ and leading another if the trumps are 4-2 and making ten tricks if DK is on-side.       It is unlikely that West - holding six hearts - has three spades as well and I think the choice is between line (b) and (c) and I give the vote to (c).

Hand for 3rd July 2021:

                                              North:      S       A  10  5  3  2

                                                               H      10

                                                               D       A  Q  J  8

                                                               C       A  5   2