| The One That Got Away |
Liverpool Bridge Club · Weekly hand review
The One That Got Away
Monday Evening · 21 September 2026 · Board 5
This week’s featured hand
One heart loser. Twelve tricks available.
Every pair stopped below slam, but three declarers demonstrated twelve tricks in diamonds.
Reveal this week’s hand ▾
| Dealer: North |
Vulnerability: N/S |
Contract: 6♦ by East |
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North
♠ Q 10 9 6 5 2
♥ J 3 2
♦ 3
♣ J 5 4 |
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West
♠ 7
♥ Q 10 9 7 4
♦ A J 9 5
♣ K 7 3 |
Board
5 |
East
♠ A 8 3
♥ 5
♦ K Q 10 8 7 2
♣ A Q 10 |
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South
♠ K J 4
♥ A K 8 6
♦ 6 4
♣ 9 8 6 2 |
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What happened
East–West have only 25 high-card points, but they also have ten diamonds, two singletons and all the controls except the ♥A. No pair bid the slam. Two pairs played 5♦ and made twelve tricks; another made twelve in 3♦. The remaining diamond declarer made eleven, while one pair made eleven tricks in 3NT.
A possible Acol-style auction
| North |
East |
South |
West |
| Pass1 |
1♦2 |
Pass |
1♥3 |
| Pass |
3♦4 |
Pass |
4♦5 |
| Pass |
4♥6 |
Pass |
4♠7 |
| Pass |
4NT8 |
Pass |
5♣9 |
| Pass |
6♦10 |
Pass |
Pass |
| Pass |
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- Pass: sound judgement. North’s six-card spade suit has only one honour, the ♠Q. The club’s weak-two style requires two honours, and four HCP is too weak for a 2♠ opening.
- 1♦: East opens the six-card suit.
- 1♥: West shows five hearts and enough to respond.
- 3♦: a strong jump rebid. East has only 15 HCP, but the six-card suit, two aces, singleton and five-loser shape justify an upgrade.
- 4♦: an invitational raise. West agrees diamonds and invites East to continue; the ♦A-J-9-5, ♣K and singleton spade are excellent fitting values.
- 4♥: East accepts the invitation with a control bid, not heart support. The singleton prevents two immediate heart losers.
- 4♠: West shows the singleton spade.
- 4NT: key-card enquiry for diamonds.
- 5♣: one key card, playing 1430: the ♦A.
- 6♦: the defence can cash the ♥A, but not a second heart.
This auction is illustrative. The control bids and 1430 response require partnership agreement. South may also enter with a take-out double; the central judgement remains that the diamond fit and shortages justify accepting West’s invitation.
The play on South’s ♥A lead
The ♥A was led at three tables. East follows with the singleton ♥5 and ruffs a heart continuation. Draw only two rounds of trumps, preserving the ♦A-J in dummy. Cash the ♠A, ruff the other two spades in dummy and use club entries to return to East between the ruffs. The count is eight trump tricks + one spade + three clubs = twelve tricks.
Lesson: count fit, controls and ruffs—not only points. With ten trumps and useful shortages, East–West can lose the ♥A and still make twelve tricks. Drawing every trump too soon removes the two spade ruffs that make the count work.
The auction is not universal Acol and requires the stated agreements. The play uses the recorded ♥A lead and actual 2–1 trump break; three diamond declarers took twelve tricks, while one took eleven.
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| Match Report |
Latest Match Reports
📊 Afternoon Session - 01-10-2026 [LATEST]
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The cards had their say 1st October 2026The winners, the adventures and the boards that developed ideas of their own. Session winnersJames Jones & Ted Hulme61.98% · margin 2.46 The session at a glance24boards played 11pairs 1slams bid and made 850largest raw-score range Where the cards got interestingThe players receive the credit; any mischief is attributed firmly to the cards. Killer leads · Board 1Steve Bamforth & Lesley Beilinsohn led A♠Steve Bamforth & Lesley Beilinsohn recorded 2♥ by E, 2 down for North/South +100, earning a top on the board. The recorded opening lead was A♠. The contract never quite recovered from the introduction. The traveller was unlikely to let that pass unnoticed Slam spotlight · Board 24Nicola Walsh & Lianne French brought home the slamNicola Walsh & Lianne French recorded 6NT by E, with 1 overtrick for East/West +1020, earning a top on the board. For once, the six level was not merely decorative. The traveller was unlikely to let that pass unnoticed One more for the road · Board 4Nicola Walsh & Lianne French found the extra trickNicola Walsh & Lianne French took 9 tricks in 2♥. Across 4 comparable results in the same denomination and direction, nobody else managed more than 8. Apparently the expected number of tricks was only a suggestion. The traveller was unlikely to let that pass unnoticed
SlamsBoard 24: 6NT by E, 13 tricks
Personal recap How did your pair do?Choose a pair to see its strongest and costliest boards by matchpoint percentage.
Older posts
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📊 Evening Session - 30-09-2026
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The cards had their say 30th September 2026The winners, the adventures and the boards that developed ideas of their own. Session winnersHilary Rowland & James Jones61.90% · margin 1.78 The session at a glance24boards played 11pairs 4slams bid and made 1470largest raw-score range Where the cards got interestingThe players receive the credit; any mischief is attributed firmly to the cards. Killer leads · Board 2Thel Leith & Tony Desmond led 6♠Thel Leith & Tony Desmond recorded 1NT by S, 3 down for East/West +300, earning a top on the board. The recorded opening lead was 6♠. The contract never quite recovered from the introduction. The traveller was unlikely to let that pass unnoticed One more for the road · Board 5Hilary Rowland & James Jones found the extra trickHilary Rowland & James Jones took 12 tricks in 3NT. Across 5 comparable results in the same denomination and direction, nobody else managed more than 11. Apparently the expected number of tricks was only a suggestion. The traveller was unlikely to let that pass unnoticed Against the room · Board 1Miranda Threlfall-Holmes & Sally Nicholls went their own wayMiranda Threlfall-Holmes & Sally Nicholls recorded 3♥ by E, exactly for East/West +140, earning a top on the board. Following the crowd is not compulsory. The traveller was unlikely to let that pass unnoticed
SlamsBoard 4: 6♣ by N, 12 tricks · Board 4: 6♣ by N, 12 tricks · Board 16: 6NT by S, 12 tricks · Board 16: 6NT by S, 12 tricks
Personal recap How did your pair do?Choose a pair to see its strongest and costliest boards by matchpoint percentage.
📊 Afternoon Session - 29-09-2026
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Inside the traveller 29th September 2026The contracts and comparisons that made the greatest difference to the final scores. North / South winnersTed Hulme & Alex Hurst61.90% · margin 7.61 East / West winnersAnthony Newstone & James Jones70.00% · margin 15.56 The session at a glance21boards played 13pairs 2slams bid and made 1280largest raw-score range The decisive boardsThe analysis stays with the evidence: contract, tricks, score and matchpoints. Killer leads · Board 1Debbie Rooney & Annette Haft led 9♥Debbie Rooney & Annette Haft recorded 2♦ by E, 1 down for North/South +50, earning a top on the board. The recorded opening lead was 9♥. A full matchpoint reward for the result Slam spotlight · Board 7Anthony Newstone & James Jones brought home the slamAnthony Newstone & James Jones recorded 6NT by W, with 1 overtrick for East/West +1470, earning a top on the board. A full matchpoint reward for the result One more for the road · Board 3Julia Burge & Pat Quinney found the extra trickJulia Burge & Pat Quinney took 8 tricks in 2♥. Across 3 comparable results in the same denomination and direction, nobody else managed more than 7. A full matchpoint reward for the result
SlamsBoard 7: 6NT by E, 12 tricks · Board 7: 6NT by W, 13 tricks
Personal recap How did your pair do?Choose a pair to see its strongest and costliest boards by matchpoint percentage.
📊 Evening Session - 28-09-2026
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This week’s guest: a Wild West sheriff 28th September 2026Every contract in town must eventually face the scorekeeper. Session winnersNigel Smith & Galina Piunovskaya61.67% · margin 5.42 The session at a glance24boards played 12pairs 4slams bid and made 950largest raw-score range Three episodes from the card roomThe character supplies the commentary; the traveller supplies the facts. Killer leads · Board 3The verdict is recorded: Penny Roberts & Judith SuttonPenny Roberts & Judith Sutton recorded 3♠ by S, 2 down for East/West +100, earning a top on the board. The recorded opening lead was K♣. The contract never quite recovered from the introduction. The traveller was unlikely to let that pass unnoticed Slam spotlight · Board 23The verdict is recorded: Hilary Rowland & James JonesHilary Rowland & James Jones recorded 6NT by N, with 1 overtrick for North/South +1470, earning a top on the board. For once, the six level was not merely decorative. The traveller was unlikely to let that pass unnoticed One more for the road · Board 5The verdict is recorded: Penny Roberts & Judith SuttonPenny Roberts & Judith Sutton took 12 tricks in 3NT. Across 4 comparable results in the same denomination and direction, nobody else managed more than 11. Apparently the expected number of tricks was only a suggestion. The traveller was unlikely to let that pass unnoticed
SlamsBoard 8: 6♠ by N, 12 tricks · Board 8: 6♠ by N, 12 tricks · Board 8: 6♠ by N, 12 tricks · Board 23: 6NT by N, 13 tricks
Personal recap How did your pair do?Choose a pair to see its strongest and costliest boards by matchpoint percentage.
📊 Afternoon Session - 24-09-2026
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This week’s guest: a fast-talking newsroom reporter 24th September 2026Stop the presses: the traveller has produced a late development. Session winnersBeryl Webster & Gabriel McCarthy64.17% · margin 5.00 The session at a glance24boards played 12pairs 2slams bid and made 1200largest raw-score range Three episodes from the card roomThe character supplies the commentary; the traveller supplies the facts. Killer leads · Board 3A result for the record: Ann Jenkey & Roy LubmanAnn Jenkey & Roy Lubman recorded 2♥ by S, 3 down for East/West +150, earning a top on the board. The recorded opening lead was Q♣. A full matchpoint reward for the result Slam spotlight · Board 19A result for the record: James Jones & Ted HulmeJames Jones & Ted Hulme recorded 6♣ by E, exactly for East/West +1370, earning a top on the board. A full matchpoint reward for the result One more for the road · Board 5A result for the record: Sandie Mitchell & Paul HozackSandie Mitchell & Paul Hozack took 12 tricks in 3NT. Across 4 comparable results in the same denomination and direction, nobody else managed more than 11. A full matchpoint reward for the result
SlamsBoard 19: 6♣ by E, 12 tricks · Board 24: 6♣ by S, 12 tricks
Personal recap How did your pair do?Choose a pair to see its strongest and costliest boards by matchpoint percentage.
Showing the last 5 reports. Click a results box for full detail
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| Deva Competition |
Chester Bowl 2026
Deva Bridge Club will hold its annual EBU‑licensed Blue Pointed charity pairs competition,
The Chester Bowl, on Sunday 18 October 2026.
For full details, entry and meal information, please see the
Deva Bridge Club website.
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| Tip of the Day: Count your losers as carefully as your coins. |
Count your losers as carefully as your coins.
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