A trying afternoon technology wise (as the opposition grappled with setting up matches for the first time – something we have managed to avoid so far), but at least a largely successful result with the first team winning 19-1, the second team unfortunately losing 3-17 and the third team posting a 15-5 victory.

A quick word on cross-imps and butler. The match report will typically show one of these results (usually butler) – the truth is that they are by and large the same. There are some differences to the way they are calculated, but should largely give the same answer. That answer though should be taken with a pinch of salt. Whilst if you have a large positive or negative result, you have likely had a good/bad session, the results are massively influenced by the opposition. As such, you can play well and get a bad butler score because the opposition have bid their slams against you. Similarly, you can get a good score due to opposition mistakes. That is not to say the butler scores should be discounted, just that they are not the be all and end all of how you perform.

As all the matches in the league are played at the same time and online, all the counties are using the same boards. As such, a cross-imp has been produced across all the matches on the MCOL website and the scores for this match are below. These should be taken with an even bigger pinch of salt as only playing against four of the opposing pairs out of a large sample. However, congratulations should go to Sandy and John who clearly had a very good day!

At most tables, the contract was 4♥  making plus 1 when hearts split. However, if given a free run, EW should be looking for 6D. A possible auction is below:

1♦  – 1♥ 
3♣  – 3♥ 
3NT – 4♦ 
4♠  – 5♣ 
6♣  – 6♦ 

The last few bids are cues (note W does not want to bid blackwood with a void). The key is that E is that once E has shown hearts twice, he recognizes the value of his minor suit holdings. Only one pair bid 6♦  – step forward Sandy and John.

The auction is much harder if North comes in with 2♠  (yes it is an awful hand, but the vulnerability is great and as shown on this hand pre-empts cause problems). In that situation, it is hard for East to not show his hearts twice and the diamond fit gets lost (they may go to 6NT, which happened once, but that is not a good move).

The most common contract was 4♠  making +1, however at some tables the bidding got more interesting.

If South can get into the bidding in an effective manner they may be able to find the 5♥  sacrifice which is very successful (5♠  is a tough bid, when there is an obvious double for E). At my table, South bid 2♦  to show his longest suit first – however we were soon at 4♠ , so they never got a chance to show hearts. Instead, this is a perfect hand for Michaels (2♠ ) over 1♠ , showing Hearts and a minor. Whilst there are times it will backfire (mainly by giving away information), 6-5 hands have so much playing strength that you need to try and find a fit with partner. At one table, the South hand was opened 2♥ , which also allowed the sacrifice to be found – not my choice (as you lose your longest suit), but it does have the upside of getting you into the auction early.

However the biggest success was from Lloyd and Stan, where West found a 3♣  opener (very brave at red), which led to a prompt 6♣  bid by E which can’t be beaten.

This board was generally played in a part score – including 1♥  by S a few times. The exceptions were at two tables in the first team. At my table, I opened a sporty weak 2♠  – not to everyone’s taste, but the vulnerability is good and if they have hearts, 4♠  could be a good sacrifice. As it happened my partner raised to 4♠  where the auction stopped. E with a blind lead, made the understandable, but disastrous lead of a ♥  which I finessed and the contract rolled home.

At our sister table, the auction started pass, pass with south opening 1H. West does not have a good bid, with the choices being pass (you are bit strong), 2♦  (you don’t have 5) and 1NT (not a great heart stop and spades missing). I may have opted for 2♦  (at least partner knows what to lead if say North declares Spades), but Andrew went for 1NT and was soon in 3NT to which there is no defence. A nice double game swing!

This board was brought to my attention by Michael Bleaney. In the majority of cases, the contract was 3NT, but it was only made twice.

On the diamond 10 lead, the J♦  wins, and declarer plays two heart tricks, felling the J.  A finesse of the 9♠  fails [Ed – a finesse of Q is better as only one spade trick needed], and a ♦ is returned to dummy’s A.  Declarer now takes their ♥  winners.  North discards one of each suit, and South discards a club. Dummy, discards the 43 ♣  and a ♠ .  So the position is now:

                                                North  -   K6  --  K9  10

West -  A10  - -  Q8  Q                                     East – 83  -- --  J72

                                                South -  7 --  --  AK96 

On the lead of the 8♠ , should declarer finesse or not?  If they do they go down; if they go up with the A and plays the Q♣ , South is endplayed into giving a trick to the J♣  – contract made. In fact, for Michael, S discarded their last ♠  on the last heart and so showed out when the second spade was led, so the choice was easy.

However, without this help, should declarer get it right? I don’t think they should. If you assume North has the missing diamonds (as is likely from the play to date), he has 3 ‘empty spaces’. By contrast, South has 4 ‘empty spaces’ (only 4 as it is a certainly at least one of the club honours is there as North would have led clubs earlier if they had AK), so the finesse is favourite.

At some tables there was an original club lead that was ducked. After taking the heart tricks, the best line would be to exit with a club. If clubs split 4-3, whatever they return will give you the ninth trick. If they split 5-2, you come down to AQ of spades and a low diamond in dummy, opposite small spade and AJ ♦  in hand. If either opponent has both kings they are squeezed, otherwise you have a choice of finesses, albeit with lots of discards to base your decision on.