Six tables. Winners were Beryl and Richard, runners up Jim and Irene , 3rd spot going to Anne and Katherine . A very well done them.

Meanwhile anybody who does the double , that is... winning the Tuesday 'BBO' No Fears and then the Thursday 'live' No Fears in the same week will receive a No Fears winners crocodile 🐊 mug!

BBO master points are awarded to players who finish in top positions. A number appears beside your username, increasing as you accumulate more points..

The field had difficulties with the bidding on Board 10 and either opened 4♠ or ended up at the five or even six level in spades missing two aces and a possible ♦K via a different route!

The problem was in the evaluation of the west hand. Brydon felt it was worth a 2♣  opener and Fiona with the ten points sitting east was encouraged and they ended up in 6♠. The slam was swiftly defeated when Andy lead ♣J and John S took his two aces.

Looking at the west cards, to me its the sort of hand you would open an old fashioned Acol 2♠ . Typically a hand with eight playing tricks, so too good for a 1♠ opening and 3♠ rebid or a four level pre-empt,  but still not quite enough  for a strong 2♣. My style on this type of hands is to rebid 3NT  as in the illustrated auction. This sequence is seldom used and far more useful to describe a hand that would have opened an Acol two. The 3NT bid is forcing and the east hand that is not control rich expected to correct to 4♠

Board 17 looked like a fairly straightforward 4♥ contract for N/S with a combined twenty four points and nine card heart fit. The main issue was the reluctance of many souths to describe their values and make an invitational 2NT rebid after the transfer to hearts. This would allow north to bid the good heart game. Not so for Steve, only he bid 2NT after 2♦ and now Colin raised to 4♥ in the the orthodox manner. Well bid them

Meanwhile in the illustrated auction a couple of wests dangerously wandered into the auction after the 2♦ transfer with a 3♣ overcall. Even so, north took a liking to hearts with the good four card support and bid 3♥. Despite this positive action south with the invitational values passed and game missed.. 

See how west has a reasonable hand and it is understandable the desire to take action, but what should wests plan be? See answer.

Fifteen pairs last week. Very well done the winners in a three way tie Fiona and Julia, Karen and John R along with JP and Tom  . 

Board 9 brought up the interesting subject of the strength of a NT response to a 1 level overcall by partner This is quite high frequency and definitely worth a look at

Meanwhile our auction was not particularly inspiring when I passed Stephens 1NT response thinking it was a bit weaker. Still might well have rebid 2♥ but found the rather insipid pass, never mind

The question really arises what do the various NT responses mean in this spot? My preference is to categorise them into opening NT ranges. 

1NT = Mini NT 9-11

2NT = Weak NT 12-14

3NT = Strong NT 15-17

Anyway the three star contract was 3NT, only achieved by four pairs Well bid them

No fears reminder: when ever you bid no trumps in a competitive auction, make sure you have a stop in the opponents suit because you know what will happen if you don't !!