| The One That Got Away |
Liverpool Bridge Club · Weekly hand review
The One That Got Away
Each week we revisit one fascinating hand from the club—where the traveller hints that there may have been a little more to discover.
One hand. One useful idea.
Could the game have been bid—or one more trick found?
We review the previous week’s travellers and choose one hand with a strong, practical lesson: a missed game or slam, a hidden extra trick, or a defensive opportunity. A possible Acol-style auction, the likely lead and a practical plan of play are included.
No names. No blame. Just better bridge.
The best line is often much clearer away from the table. The traveller is simply a starting point for friendly discussion and shared learning.
Reveal this week’s hand ▾
18 August 2026 · Board 12
Twelve tricks at every table
Every North–South pair made twelve tricks, but nobody bid the slam. With 31 high-card points and eleven hearts, 6♥ is a practical target rather than a double-dummy curiosity.
| Dealer: West | Vulnerability: N/S | Contract: 6♥ by North |
| North
♠ K Q J
♥ Q J 9 8 7 2
♦ A 6
♣ A 6 | |
West
♠ A 9 7 6 3
♥ 10 5
♦ J 10 7 2
♣ 10 3 | Board
12 | East
♠ 10 8 5 4
♥ —
♦ Q 9 8 4
♣ Q 9 8 4 2 |
| South
♠ 2
♥ A K 6 4 3
♦ K 5 3
♣ K J 7 5 | |
What happened
Four pairs played 4♥ and two stopped in 5♥. North declared at all six tables—and every declarer took twelve tricks. A club was led three times; the ♣4 was the most frequent individual lead.
A reasonable Acol-style auction
| North | East | South | West |
|---|
| — | — | — | Pass |
| 1♥ | Pass | 2♣ 1 | Pass |
| 3♥ 2 | Pass | 4NT 3 | Pass |
| 5♠ 4 | Pass | 6♥ 5 | Pass |
| Pass | Pass | — | — |
- 2♣: natural and forcing for one round; this is not the separate 2/1 Game Force system.
- 3♥: a strong jump rebid, showing six or more hearts and extra strength.
- 4NT: an aggressive but calculated RKCB enquiry. South has 14 HCP, five-card heart support, ♥A–K, a singleton spade and useful controls. With hearts agreed by partnership understanding, South can still stop in 5♥ after an unsuitable reply.
- 5♠: playing 1430, two key cards plus the trump queen: ♦A, ♣A and ♥Q.
- 6♥: only the ♠A is missing.
The play on East’s ♣4 lead
- Play the ♣J from dummy. East has already led; dummy is not leading the jack. On the actual layout it wins.
- Cash ♥A and ♥K. West’s ♥10–5 fall and East shows out.
- Cash ♦K and cross to ♦A, collecting both diamond winners.
- Cash four more hearts: six heart tricks in all.
- Lead ♠K and concede the ♠A. North’s ♠Q–J are then established.
- Claim ♠Q–J and ♣A. The count is 2 spades + 6 hearts + 2 diamonds + 2 clubs = 12 tricks.
Lesson of the hand: when the fit is enormous, recount the hand. South’s values improve dramatically opposite six hearts, two aces and fitting controls.
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Monday Afternoon
1:30 pm
- Guided Play
- No Master Points
Monday Evening
7:30 pm
- Duplicate Bridge
- Master Points Awarded
- 2nd Mon: Churney Cup
Tuesday Afternoon
1:30 pm
- Relaxed Duplicate (18+ boards)
- No Master Points
Wednesday Evening
7:30 pm
- Duplicate (21+ boards)
- Master Points Awarded
Thursday Afternoon
1:30 pm
- Duplicate (21+ boards)
- Master Points Awarded
Annual subscription for 2026-2027 is £25.
Table money: £4.00 (Members) / £6.00 (Guests).
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| Match Report |
Latest Match Reports
📊 Evening Session - 19-08-2026 [LATEST]
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Session report 19th August 2026A concise look at the winners, the boards that moved the room, and where each pair gained or lost matchpoints. Session winnersHilary Rowland & Jackie Greasley63.54% · margin 0.00 The session at a glance24boards played 14pairs 1slams bid and made 900largest raw-score range Boards that shaped the roomThese comparisons describe the traveller without guessing what happened during the auction or play. Board 19 - biggest spreadThe widest range of outcomesThe recorded scores ranged from 4♥ by W, North/South +300 to 3NT by W, East/West -600. Raw-score range: 900 points Board 20A board that separated the fieldThe recorded scores ranged from 6NT by E, North/South +200 to 3NT by E, East/West -660. Raw-score range: 860 points Board 12A board that separated the fieldThe recorded scores ranged from 3NT by S, North/South +600 to 3NT by N, East/West -200. Raw-score range: 800 points
SlamsBoard 15: 6♠ by W, 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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📊 Afternoon Session - 18-08-2026
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Session report 18th August 2026A concise look at the winners, the boards that moved the room, and where each pair gained or lost matchpoints. North / South winnersJudith Davies & Helen Ward54.37% · margin 0.20 East / West winnersHilary Rowland & Jackie Greasley60.71% · margin 0.79 The session at a glance24boards played 15pairs 2slams bid and made 1260largest raw-score range Boards that shaped the roomThese comparisons describe the traveller without guessing what happened during the auction or play. Board 3 - biggest spreadThe widest range of outcomesThe recorded scores ranged from 2♥ by W, East/West -200 to 6♥ by W, East/West -1460. Raw-score range: 1260 points Board 13A board that separated the fieldThe recorded scores ranged from 5♣ by N, North/South +620 to 4♥ by E, East/West -620. Raw-score range: 1240 points Board 9A board that separated the fieldThe recorded scores ranged from 5×♦ by W, North/South +800 to 1NT by N, East/West -200. Raw-score range: 1000 points
SlamsBoard 3: 6♥ by W, 12 tricks · Board 3: 6♥ 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 - 17-08-2026
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Session report 17th August 2026A concise look at the winners, the boards that moved the room, and where each pair gained or lost matchpoints. North / South winnersJames Jones & Alex Hurst59.82% · margin 2.08 East / West winnersAlice Grundy & Akiko Lea57.74% · margin 5.06 The session at a glance24boards played 16pairs 1slams bid and made 1900largest raw-score range Boards that shaped the roomThese comparisons describe the traveller without guessing what happened during the auction or play. Board 9 - biggest spreadThe widest range of outcomesThe recorded scores ranged from 5×♠ by W, North/South +1400 to 3×♠ by N, East/West -500. Raw-score range: 1900 points Board 13A board that separated the fieldThe recorded scores ranged from 3NT by N, North/South +630 to 3NT by N, East/West -300. Raw-score range: 930 points Board 10A board that separated the fieldThe recorded scores ranged from 3NT by S, North/South +630 to 3NT by S, East/West -200. Raw-score range: 830 points
SlamsBoard 19: 6NT by E, 12 tricks
Personal recap How did your pair do?Choose a pair to see its strongest and costliest boards by matchpoint percentage.
📊 Afternoon Session - 13-08-2026
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Session report 13th August 2026A concise look at the winners, the boards that moved the room, and where each pair gained or lost matchpoints. Session winnersJackie Greasley & Hilary Rowland63.10% · margin 0.60 The session at a glance24boards played 11pairs 2slams bid and made 1240largest raw-score range Boards that shaped the roomThese comparisons describe the traveller without guessing what happened during the auction or play. Board 22 - biggest spreadThe widest range of outcomesThe recorded scores ranged from 5×♥ by W, North/South +1100 to 2♥ by W, East/West -140. Raw-score range: 1240 points Board 2A board that separated the fieldThe recorded scores ranged from 3NT by S, North/South +720 to 3NT by S, East/West -100. Raw-score range: 820 points Board 20A board that separated the fieldThe recorded scores ranged from 5♦ by W, East/West -600 to 6♦ by W, East/West -1370. Raw-score range: 770 points
SlamsBoard 20: 6♦ by W, 12 tricks · Board 21: 6NT by E, 12 tricks
Personal recap How did your pair do?Choose a pair to see its strongest and costliest boards by matchpoint percentage.
📊 Evening Session - 12-08-2026
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Session report 12th August 2026A concise look at the winners, the boards that moved the room, and where each pair gained or lost matchpoints. Session winnersSimon Kenny & Duncan Ferguson60.07% · margin 0.35 The session at a glance24boards played 14pairs 0slams bid and made 1240largest raw-score range Boards that shaped the roomThese comparisons describe the traveller without guessing what happened during the auction or play. Board 12 - biggest spreadThe widest range of outcomesThe recorded scores ranged from 5♠ by N, North/South +650 to 4×♥ by E, East/West -590. Raw-score range: 1240 points Board 8A board that separated the fieldThe recorded scores ranged from 2♥ by N, North/South +170 to 5×♥ by N, East/West -800. Raw-score range: 970 points Board 14A board that separated the fieldThe recorded scores ranged from 3×♣ by W, North/South +800 to 3♠ by S, East/West -100. Raw-score range: 900 points
SlamsNo slams were bid and made in this session.
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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| Rule of the Day: Exposed Card by a Defender |
Summary: When a defender shows a card by accident, it may become a penalty card.
If a defender accidentally exposes a card that both opponents can see, that card normally becomes a penalty card. A single small card (2–9) is a minor penalty card and must be played at the next legal opportunity. A high card (10 or above) is a major penalty card; the defender's partner may be barred from leading the suit of that card unless declarer allows it. This keeps the play fair and prevents the offending side from gaining by unauthorised information.
Law 50 — Exposed and Penalty Cards (EBU)
..... see less
Summary: When a defender shows a card by accident, it may become a penalty card.
If a defender accidentally exposes a card that both opponents can see, that card normally becomes a penalty card. ..........
..... see more |
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