Results for Set 31

 
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#1) West Deals, Both Vul.

A K Q J 3 8 7 A K 8 7 6 3 --

-- A Q 6 5 2 J 10 9 3 A J 4 3

 
Scores for Board 1:

7:10
7NT: 8
6NT: 6
6: 5
6: 4
7: 3
5NT: 2
Other Games: 1

 I strongly recommend West to bid his great 6-5 by opening 1 and then planning to jump in spades and then repeat spades. So, the start is:

 

West	North	East	South
1	Pass	1	Pass
2	Pass	3	Pass
3

 

 

By now, East knows his partner has a big 6-5 hand. If East can find out about the AK (not easy), he might take a shot at the diamond grand slam. Asking for those two keycards (when holding a void) is tricky. If East uses RKC, he will get lucky, because partner shows all 3 missing keycards.

#2) West Deals, Nobody Vul.

A K Q 10 5 4 A 9 3 K 4 A 3

8 7 6 K 8 4 3 A J 3 J 7 2

Deal 2 Scores:

6:10
5:8
5NT:7

6NT:3
7:2

Slam (small) in spades is worthwhile for a few reasons. If the opponents don't lead a club, declarer can draw trumps and try for 3-3 hearts (to throw the club loser). Even if hearts aren't 3-3, there is the 50-50 diamond finesse to fall back on. With a club lead, declarer is still on the 50-50 diamond finesse.  (Of course, spades could be 4-0 offside, but why be so negative?). To balance that out, opening leader might have the KQ and lead one -- which will set up the J for a heart pitch. As to the bidding, I think West is too strong for 1. Why not open 2 when there is an easy 2 rebid? After that, East will raise to 3 (stronger than 4). West might control-bid 4, East 4 -- and then who knows.   There is no "right" auction.

#3) East Deals, Nobody vul.

Q 6 5 5 4 A K 10 9 8 7 6 4

A K 3 9 6 Q J 3 K Q J 5 2

 

Deal 3 Scores:

3: 10
3: 9
4:9
4:8
1NT: 5
5/: 4

2NT:3
3NT: 2

Obviously, the trick here is to avoid the notrump trap. Unfortunately, a common auction will be 1NT-3NT. It could go 1NT-2NT (invitational--if available) and then East can bid 3 (this shows 5+ clubs and no desire to play 3NT). This deal isn't really fair.

#4) West deals, Nobody Vul.

Q 6 5 A 4 K 10 5 A Q 9 6 5

A K 10 5 2 Q 8 2 Q 4 K 10 2

Board 4 Scores:

6:10

6:9
5:7
3NT: 6
4NT: 5
5NT: 4
5: 3
6NT: 2

 

If the black suits come in (odds on), slam in either black suit is good. Those black-suit 10's are nice cards (meaning you can pick up the suit even with many 4-1 breaks). West will open 1NT and East will transfer to spades. Is East then worth a slam try? Is 1N-2-2-4N quantitative? It should be (use Texas then 4NT for RKC in spades). Over an invite, West has a great hand for a spade slam (points schmoints).

 

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