They bid 1D – 1S – 2NT – 6NT. While the spade finesse lost, they made 7D, 2H, 2S and AC. Home and dried.

Why was I so critical? Well. look first at the West hand. A solid 7 D tricks two Aces and two more second round controls and just 1D opened, What. would you rebid over the expected 1S? We know 2NT was bid (18+points) and then the leap to slam.

As I have written, when P is known to be big, the weaker hand becomes very important and must alert P of your interest. How do you know that he has 7 solid D? He with his big suit and only four losers should I think open with a game force 2C. 2S positive, at least AK but unlimited. 3D (big suit) 3H max two suits. But it is now critical to warn P that you are minimum for your bid - 4D – 4NT (RKCB) -5C (three keys) 5D. Do you have QD? – yes -  6D and East thinks he has shown his hand – Pass.

While 7D would make via the ruffing S finesse it is not cast iron. But every option has been explored.

The bidding went 1D – 1H – Reese comments – (there are those who consider it their duty not to suppress a four card major) slavish adherence drives me mad too! 1NT – 3NT. The JD was lead and East unblocked the QD on the AD. A club to the QC lost to the AC and D continued. East took his JC but could not put his Partner in to cash his winners.

In the other room when clubs were played East put in the 9C. West smoothly ducked his AC, and again when Declarer continued the suit. He lost to JC who cleared D for one down.

West deals and too good for 1NT (15-17) playing 5 card majors opens, 1C- passed to East who scrapes up 1D. Now South 3S and West risks 3NT. All pass and the JS ducked and continued.

Dec counts his tricks. 6D, a H finesse and AS makes for contract. However, if South has QX D and you lose to it – curtains. South has shown that he has 6 cards only to spread (vacant spaces) across the rest of his hand.  He is odds on to be short in D. You cash AD the 7, 2, and 10 from South. Now restricted choice operates. South would only play 10D if he had no choice. The 3-1 break is now massive odds on to be present. Take the finesse in D and try JH when it is covered you have contract.

East, conscious of the vulnerability does not have an opening bid and little or no defence. A Weak 2S beckons but despite the 4H decides on 3S. South passes. Now what to bid with West? Opponents must have the high cards, surely a fit in clubs or H, and zero defence with his Q high hand. West chose to pass. North now doubles for TO and drew 4C. West now went one more 4S – but too late. North now knows that EW, are sacrificing so partner has at least 4C and values. Had 4S been bid immediately, a double would been two way. Over 4S he went 5C and lost a S,H, and D. -50 an average.

Let us look at how 4SX might play. South gets off to the best lead a trump. Dec knows that only one H ruff will be available. He wins 9S and switches to D. Ace wins. South can count Dec for 7S and if he allows him. Three D and a H ruff 4S makes. These situations are quite common.

Bidding.

West responds with an old fashioned, game force 2D (good 5+ suit two top honours at least). East wide open in S agrees D – 3D (key bid). 3S- max - slam interest. 3NT (minimum H stop). 4H cue, must be void. 5C – cue 5S –cue. 6C - AK now. West now counts 6D, 4S with a ruff, and 2C. Where there is 12, surely there is 13? 7D is the bid.  If a weak NT is opened what is your agreement for 3D bid?

 The Play.

North leads a trump, the book lead, all follow. Dec wins in hand, counts his tricks. Where is the 13^th? It could come from clubs, who wants to take a finesse in a Grand? Maybe the AH will come down, or they make an error. We need a S ruff. AKS and the fourth ruffed with JD. 10H is ruffed and AC allows a second H ruff, but AQH are still out. Run trumps. Dec retains KJC and KH in Dummy. N has thrown Q9 H and when the last D is played discharges 10C. Time to see the whole hand.  Show. So, the club finesse always wins; but the show up squeeze is more fun! 

The Board was played 11 times 6D bid x3 and 6S just once for the top score. I do not know how it was bid at the table, but I suggest the cold grand might be bid thus:

West opens the obvious 1D and East knows with his 19 points that they are in the slam zone. 2S game force, should be – good suit 5+ and at least 2 of the three top honours. West – no point in repeating D, that can wait. He realises his QS is priceless and agrees the trump suit immediately (key bid) 3S. 4C cue bid. Now 4D - good six carder minimum. 4NT (RKCB)  – 5D – one key – must be AD.

 Now do not plunge for the slam, tell about AH – 5H – 6D I have AKD. East can now bid 7S.

No need to rush.  

The results: The board was played 11 times. Eight times in 3S all going off. One of them doubled for -500. Two more in 4C by EW again defeated. One more in 5D minus four -undoubled! I think (but do not know) that East opens 1C and South, at the score pre- empts, 3S. running into the buzz saw. But just one person doubled. Comment superfluous.

The Board was played 11 times. The EW top, 3NT made twice. 4 pairs in S but nobody advanced beyond 2S. Looking at the full hand it is apparent that the most secure contract is 4S loses KS and two D.

West has a difficult bid. 14 points but devalue the short Qs. 1D is preferred, I suspect many opened 1NT (12-14) now a transfer sequence should get you to 4S. It must have often started 1D -1S – 2D (probably 6 cards and min). Now East must revalue. His S suit opposite XXX or a doubleton honour is great if - but he must give it a chance – 2S (must be 6 constructive). Now West, realises that she must revalue        QS - 3S now her partner can bid the game.

Every hand must be reappraised as the information comes in.

South’s 1H was overcalled 3D (strong 11+, good suit under D Cup rules). You bid 4H and this is passed to West, who after thought bids 5D, you decide to double, and are on lead. At the table she felt they were well in control of H and lead JS. Show full hand Declarer took AS (nobody leads from a K v 5D X) and rapidly, AH ruff.AC, H ruff - 2C ruffed. Dec had to lose AQD and KS for – 100. Not bad when 4H would clinch the rubber for + 820.

Look again at your lead. West has bid solo to 5D.  He must be bidding on something like he has got. One suited. no help from Dummy – so where are his tricks? If he has 7D the most Dummy can have is 2 small. AD and 4D doe not lose your QD and secures +500.

West dealt and opened 1H – 5 card majors – North X what do you bid as East? At the table 2H was bid. Not good. Just 7 points but Queen high (three of them) no singleton, it is not worth it and 1NT is better. West who needed game, now knew where most of the points were and North short in H. He went 4H and got the AD lead.

What is your plan now you see the disappointing Dummy? Four H and 3 Spades leaves you 3 short. Opponents are going to make a few errors, or we are dead.  We want N to try to cash KD, so in attempt to create some doubt we play 9D and drop the 8 from hand, but he tries JS. We now know 8 of his points, so S probably has the hearts and N AQC. we must use the trumps in dummy. Take QS cash two more discarding a club. Last S, North cannot follow, and we throw the second club. South continues D and you ruff and take the Club ruff. Another D, you are allowed to ruff again, and a Club. Now when you continue D, S ruffs fatally with JH. Take AH and lead club to the now bare QH. Full hand  

You make 4H plus 3 ruffs and 3S and GAME   

As can be see 7D is cold with sensible play. The small slam was bid and made by Roehampton. This was the bidding in R2. South requested to examine Cup bidding rules and opened 1S. Not everybody worked out, that he had a weak 2 – for bidden. West with a series of broken suits but 18 points opted for a TOX. East bid 2S – game force – bid again partner. 3D now bid and East 4H which ended the bidding. The final result was – 400 to EW and we qualified for the Plate.

South with a choice of suits took the view that with just 12 points he was unlikely to get the chance to bid both. Playing 5 card majors he selected 1S – a playable suit. North did not bid 2H for that reason – it would need 4 cards opposite to make it so. She chose 1NT leaving all the doors open. Pass - and South bid 2D passed out. The 7H lead drew 8,10 and Ace. Clearly spades were needed as a source of tricks. KD was followed the AD and Dec knew he had to lose a trump. The 3S gave East the problem, set up front, and fearful of losing his Ace won the trick. He did not take the H trick but switched to a Club. Take by the ace, and came to hand with a ruff. Declarer played spades, when the J dropped, East had to follow as the H were discarded from dummy. Losing just a trump and AS. Plus 150 NS beating spade contracts.

If the AS is ducked the suit cannot be established. Note how the AS always wins, consider this next time you have the decision.

*There are no absolutes at this

West passed and North opened 3NT. This was announced as a long solid minor and nothing outside. East decided to double and West took out to 4H and this was passed to South who emerged with 5C. Passed back to you and you elected for 5H. North took  AC and switched to 7D ducked all round to AD. Trumps were drawn and Diamonds ruffed. When S broke 4-2 he lost to the 10S and -1,

As we can now see when North shows up with 7 Clubs and three H he must have only two spades.5Cx goes -3 but only on repeated trump leads. Count the opposing cards.

AS can be seen NS can make 6H. Bidding, North could open 2H weak, but it has two aces and a playable suit. Too good I think - and pass. South now bids 1S (silent EW) and North 2H. Obviously 4H is certain. but there is no need to leap, 4C agrees trumps, says max values for a 4H bid, and club shortage. Now North can see that his AD is priceless – he too is maximum - 4D – 4NT (ask) – 5H (two keys) 6H.

West probably leads the “unbid suit” Clubs - to the Ace and tries 9S. Declarer wins and when the J falls and trumps are 2-2 Its all over.

The splinter is a useful tool. On the night only one pair bid it. Everybody was in H. 

We have all seen hands like this! Look first at the hand in isolation. EW can make 3S +140 (4 times) note, how the honourless suit is positive as declarer but in defence only the AS is useful. The top for EW was 2CX-1 (-100). How might the bidding have gone? In these modern times N probably opens with a weak NT. (not me) and East the obvious Dbl. What are your defence agreements? For me Redbl would be a transfer to Clubs. Now West with his three honours shows a willingness to penalise and passes. 2C as agreed and East with 18 points X again. Passed out. But EW can take only the three top trumps and the Aces, - 100 at the score and a bottom. The EW top was 2NT+1.

Points to note:

• Make sure you have agreed action over 1NTX
• Long suits without honours are impotent in defence.
• When you double at low level you need length in trumps as well as high cards.
• Vulnerability is crucial 2CX and vulnerable is a bottom.

You opened the obvious 1S and bid on 2D- 2H- 3C (4^th suit) -3D- 4H – 6H. Well you avoided the NT trap – count your tricks. 4H 4D 1S and a ruff 2C. Adds to 12 so what is the problem? The red suits are both likely to break 4-2. If you draw trumps and ruff a S and then find the Diamonds do not break? Over to you.

All right take, a whole hand look. Full hand. Now you see it. Win AS, immediately play a low D from both hands.

Why did I not see that qiuckly?

South with silent opponents plays in 4S on the lead of KD. Now Dec has to lose three red tricks. Trumps must be 3-3 and he needs the clubs or a ruff in H. He ducks the KD and plays low to the continuation. To his horror Full hand the QD wins and after A&KH a third H enables an uppercut with JS for two down.

A Very Happy New Year to all readers from Tony 

I am impressed by the revised program.

I do not know the bidding but playing a weak NT something like, 3 passes to North  1D – 2C – 2NT- 3NT would be universal, The Board was played 12 times 7 x in 3NT (2S lead) twice more in 2NT once made         (2S again). You are West plan the play? See all

The lead suggests 4^th best. We have a prospect of 4 S tricks and the AD. So how was it that seven players shared the top score of+600? I do not know. You take your AS and to avoid blocking the suit are about to continue with the 10s when you realise that after P cashes his S he will not know you have the setting trick. Take it now.

Five top tricks for one off missed by seven players.

I was South. We all passed to West who opened 3H (weak) my partner doubled. Pass to me. What on earth is going on? It cannot be a penalty X with my H holding. If it is a weak 3 pre-empt why are NS saying they have no game? Somewhat baffled that P has not thrown the hand in, I decide to respond naturally – 4C. Passed to East – 4H passed by me to P -5C! The ultimate vote of confidence ! Doubled by East and the AH was lead. We can now see that 4H is cold so my perceptive P has it right. Do I know anything about this game?  

East must have passed a borderline balanced hand. 3H must be true (???) bid but why? We have two certain loser D and S. Clubs I hope will not be worse than 1-3. Knock out the certain loser, ruff AH. AC, QD taken on the second round and continued. AS and another continued fatally by East who sets up the suit. Draw trumps and home +590. The board was played 6 times twice in 5CX four times I H and twice doubled.

Maybe this is why we play the game.

Pralab (like me dislikes distortion) opened 1D just three losers. Brigitte, has a difficult bid, it is teams so 5 or even 6D is possible but there is so much unknown a simple 3NT may be the answer. She needed to force so improvised with 2C! South now bid 3S weak (wet! – if you will not let them play below 4S go there now). After long thought West bid 5H (pick a red suit slam) and B has an easy 6D decision. North doubled this and the overtrick made it expensive for the Lords when their partners  stopped in game.  

Pralab was quick to note they had missed the Grand. But I think the since 70% security is needed I think impossible v the pre-empt. 

Well, what would you do? The opener is missing your two Aces two Kings. He must have AKD or better and points in Queens and Jacks. In short not a great hand in defence. Any sort of black suit length in North would give us a playable contract. P must be barren or close.

 Decision time?

I decided to double expecting a D response but knew my partners penchant for bidding a major whenever possible. Who replied 3S. All passed. Time to see the whole hand. Show all. East did not find KS lead but began with AD, ruffed, then AKH and another, ruffed, a club to K and AC. Now 3S, but a cross ruff in the minors lands the part score for a top. 2NT made by NS was the more normal result. Look again at the East hand. With 9 points in QJs it is only a strong NT. My old point about devaluing minor honours.

You are contemplating your opening bid, the vul dealer opens 4H. Your bid?

You have 4 losers, surely, 9 tricks, and three Aces. Partner will be weak, but question is asked again, how weak? Dealer with three unknown hands still to bid, will have a strong trump suit. 3S from you can be passed, 4S does not begin to describe your powerful hand and again not forcing, look again at your hand. You have H432. Dealer has 7 maybe 8, just three or less are out. I think 5S is a reasonable shot. It says “this contract is guaranteed but I have no H control, can you help?” Not easy but he should now recognise that his single KH is priceless, bid the slam.

Time to see all Whole hand. Yes! The (68%) 6S fails on the 4-1break. Nobody bid, the slam. EW dodged a bullet. South’s bold pre- empt kept opponents out of an unmakeable slam.

It happens!_

After two passes I opened with a borderline 1S. West known for his maverick systems 4H. North, never easy to silence 4S.

I received the AH and another won by my K. Where is the KS? At least I am not doubled. I tried a D to the AD and to my surprise he switched to a club to the AC and a D followed to my QD. Why has nobody tested trumps? It can only be because they are concerned not to give away the position. AS felling the single KS and I settle for -50 losing another club.

Always good to fell an offside singleton! Board was played 6 times 4HX, 3H+1 (twice) 4HX-2 3S-1 4S-1 (us). Our score was 70%.my partners bold sacrifice, beheading the KS.

 I thought we deserved better.

I do not know how it was bid (or played) but a reasonable sequence would be: West after three passes opens 2C (game force) and East with her 10 points decides - she is worth a positive 2S. West 3D- 3NT - 6S and gets the 3H lead.

Declarer sees that if trumps are 3-2 they have 5S 4C 3D AH. Wins AH and AS. Ouch! Now the task is to lose just one trump. AC and cross to QD (Note the 9) cash three clubs discarding three H. the end position is: East on lead

                              S.J974

                              H,QC

                              D.

                              C..

        S.K10                         S.Q865

        H. …                           H.98

        D.AK54    S,…..         D,….

        C…..         H.K10       C….

                          D.J1087

                         C…….

There are many variations from here but the position is known and West can take 5 tricks from there.

West after a pass on his right opened 1D – 3D (inverted minors) – perfect 4NT – 6C (one key and an additional control) 6D. Nice to have the mechanism, when the right hand comes along.

West opened 1C and got the reply 1S -now he has the perfect hand for a splinter – 4D (4S guaranteed D control must now be 4414) – 4NT (RKCB) – 5H two keys 6S. When trumps fell in two rounds it was over. Well done everybody.

After two passes the Vulnerable West after thought opens 4D, your bid. At the score West would not riskmore than 500. Third in hand his partner must have no more than a bad 10 points and no playable suit? Your move? 

At the table he doubled. His partner replied 4H converted to 4S. the1OD was lead won by the KD and East the Q (McKenney for H). The game is there but not made at the time. 

The key is to recognise that West must have very long D and bad breaks for you. Count 5S two D and AH leaves you two short. The tricks have to come from clubs. Start now! A club to the J loses to the Ace who plays a H. Ace wins and a Spade to the JS reveals the  4-0 break. The hand is now clear. See All KC and another enables a ruff and the tenth trick.

South opens with a vulnerable 3H weak. You are pushed to 5S. Oh dear one too many, with 5H going off !  South  begins with H.AK and when you draw trumps . South shows two and North one. You cash three rounds of D throwing 2C. South follows.

Time to count. You cannot afford to lose three clubs. South has shown 7 H 3D 2S you cross to dummy and lead a club. If North plays low you duck  if  South wins with his only card, which must an honour now he has to concede a ruff and discard. If North plays an honour you duck and if it holds you let his continuation run to the 10C.

They say “all you need is the ability to count to 13” this is proof.

West opens I assume with a game force probably 2C. Over to East. Many players simply say 2D – relay - wasting a round of bidding. My view has always been that this also denies a positive. However, with 9 points and an Ace you know that you are in the slam zone. Partner’s expectations are that you have very little, not true. You must tell him so immediately – 2S. He examines his hand and says 2NT (23/24 balanced).3D from East (final value). 4NT whatever form of B Wood (one Key ) 6NT. Just 2 pairs from 8 bid it.

I suspect that most auctions went wrong with a “relay” response.

1. Points 15 so first thought 3NT.
2. Controls. Here we have two first round (minors)and two more second round (majors).
3. Losers. The losing trick count tells you that you have just 5. Your partner should have7. 5+7 = 12 so we are in the slam zone! We need to get this across immediately. What are your forcing bids over Weak NT?
4. Playing strength: Look at the D suit the 4^th card is the 8. Partner must have something in the suit. Give him xxxx now the suit has one loser only. In my system 3D would be game force – decent 6 suit. Your move? Two players  chose, 3NT, and two others 3D. See all

Study, the West  hand, and provided he simply raises D Blackwood gets you to the slam.

This was, B8 from Pall Mall just one pair bid this cold slam.

North looked at his hand. 13 points but single Q is rarely value and a non- playable H suit which you would not want partner to lead. However it does have 2 Aces so I would not pass (I would open 1C) he opened 1H. East 2D and South double (negative shows S). West 3D and North doubled ? South thought this was business so all passed. He naturally lead AH. South saw that, his lead had set up declarers H suit when the 2H appeared. What is partners X based on? His H are hopeless. He has denied S (he should pass or scrape 3S) it must be clubs. He tried 7C. And the defence took 2C, and a  trick, in the other three suits. +200 a top score.

Yes it really did happen !

You open 1S and Partner responds 3S (contemplated 4S) North surprises all by coming in with 4C. You 4H (Can you help?) and South 5C. Passed back to you. The previous board has shown that they are a competent pair, so we take their bids seriously. We have 5 losers, an Ace and a priceless club void. He eventually bid 5S. A club lead, and two rounds of trumps were followed by KH and another, Show All when the QH comes up a D and be discarded on the JH and Declarer loses only the two D.

Note that NS goes just one off in 6C. Two pairs were allowed to play 5C but -100 still above average.

With all hands on, view, Spade finesse, winning and D and S suit breaking 3-3, 7C is there, as is 6NT played by North but nobody wants to be in the Grand on a finesse. Six clubs it is.  

How might it be bid? Dealer surely opens a weak NT. South’s hand is huge, it contains a playable suit, two first round and two secondary controls. You think slam try surely? How do you force? What does 3C mean? From me that is good six card playable suit, game force, slam try. North now must resist the wooden 3NT continuation and say what he has – 3D. Bingo! 4NT (RKCB) - 5H (two keys) – 6C. Well done Martin and Richard the only ones to bid it.

Declarer won the H in hand and played AD dropping the KD on his left. Yes. there must have been a Blue Moon that night.

But why?

The KC has, to be right. East would not have opened 2S with two kings, a well placed, KC is essential. There is no alternative. 

The bidding goes 1NT, 2S from you, - 3H – 4H and Partner leads JD. You play AD and the Q drops. What now? Decide before you read on.

Count Declarer’s tricks. Looks like surely 6H, 2S, a Diamond. and a Club. Desperate measures! Why has Partner not lead your suit? She must be void. full hand

You lead 2S (McKenney for a club) ruffed, a Club return and Dec must lose a trick in each suit. These situations crop up quite often.

West opened 1H and N doubled. East 2H and South 2S (now or never.) West 3H and North 4S. West began with AKH and switched to 6S trapping the QS. He can now count 5S,2D, AC two more needed. Could the D produce 4 tricks? With luck, yes. Entries back to hand for the finesses can only be in trumps. Normally you would want to take AD to cater for single Q. But then how do get back to hand for the club finesse? It goes against the grain but an immediate play to JD is necessary. Do not “murder“ the 10D. Wins! 4S to J, 7D to KD and the QD appears from West. Draw the last trump and return to 10D.  Take Club finesse and claim. Full hand.

Deep finesse could not have done better!  No other pair bid game or made11 tricks

East opened 1C & South the obvious TOX. Pass and 1S (this is “forced”and the weakest bid possible- far from the truth). With opponents silent South who is minimum, decided that                

North must be better than said, and raised - 2S. (?doubtful) West 3C and North 3S. South noting his singleton C and North bidding twice on a minimum must be regretting the negative response raised to game. The AKH were lead (5H 8H – why not 8 first) unsure of the QH location switched to KC. Taken by the AC and Dec now lead JS (Jack murder, establishing the contract setting 10S – a no win play. Giving up on 9S). The QS was cashed, and he continued with a D to K and then Ace and another D. West ruffed the loser with the (certain winner- the 10S).  The losing H went away establishing the D suit.  Declarer ruffed a Club, and was home.

Stop there?

North opened 1D the response was 2C, they then found the   4-4 fit in 4S*, on the lead of 4H. Dec took his AH and saw that the H had to be discarded and the inevitable three trumps would be lost. He played clubs, West ruffed and was overruffed by the 8S. He returned with a D ruff, away went the H. West decided on the AS when clubs were continued. Now South could limit his losses to the two high trumps.

The play was reciprocated exactly by the French!

*Note -  Never support the second suit without four.. The spot cards in both black suits.  

North opened 1C, opponents silent, and South 1D. – 1H. South has 14 points but three aces. – 3NT (14/ 15 balanced denies 4 card major). North now looks again three Ks but a club suit opposite a doubleton honour or 3 small is a huge trick source. Perhaps 4C now (slam interest, must be 4-6) but decided to bid 4NT. What is this? No suit agreed, is it quantitative)? That makes no sense on the bidding so decided to play it as RKCB. 5C – 0-3 keys. South cannot be worse than A A KC or AAA. – 6NT*. The percentage play in clubs is two finesses (75%) but at the table the KC lead gave an early claim.

* Note 30 points combined, four first round controls, key intermediate clubs, and just one Q.

East opened a weak 2H and I made the obvious TOX. West 3H. I would have gone 4H which is cold and makes it very difficult for NS to come in. Passed back to me and - 4C. My excellent P trusted my bid and raised to 5C. 7H was lead, taken by East who switched to 7D. This looked like a singleton, so I won AD ruffed a H and lead 3C. I lost of course, the two minor Ks. Flat board.

South opens 1H – 1S. Your bid! Zero defence, points, I cannot bid, nothing to be done but wait. East supports to 2S and 3D next. 3S and back to me. I decide on 4C (long and weak no top honours) I can in desperation revert to H, to my surprise P – 5C, promptly doubled by East and the 2S lead to the KS. Another S will establish QS. Eventually she selects JH I cover with Q

See Whole Hand

 Where are the clubs? I now have 7 C tricks, two red aces and two H. But a loss to single KC not good. Go to AC and the unexpected void shows. AD throw S, ruff a D and ruff last S with QC. Diamond back and knock out KC. 550 +. Many made 5C the double gave us a top.  

Pearse opened 1H. I contemplated my 16 points but ruled out 2S as the suit lacked playing strength, we also needed bidding space - 1S. With his aceless 14 count P bid 2D. We obviously had a game but where? 3C- (fourth suit) can you help here, or tell me more? Now P made the excellent bid of 4S. OK partner I am minimum but really like your S. He must have five H, four D, three S. Room for just one club.

Bingo! – 6S.

I got 2H lead, won, cashed 5S, went dummy and cashed hearts. At trick 10 when the final H was played opponent had to choose to unguard, QD or chucking AC. He got it wrong, and 13 tricks landed for 100%.

To my surprise only one other pair went to 6S

Your bid! The D suit is powerful (fourth card is 9D) but broken, possibly two losers. But unless your hand declares the trumps it can be cut off from partner. Playing in NT a S lead and a D loser will render it impotent. It has just 12 points so there are 28 to share with everybody else. Nine or ten could include two Aces and you have an easy 6D. If you pre-mpt you may be simply shutting yourself out. You have a long suit, do they?

What system are you playing? An old-fashioned Acol 8 playing tricks 2D would be ideal, but most of the club play that bid as weak. Then whatever you bid, let us say 1D, what do you rebid after almost anything, from P?

Ok, there are the options. Decision time: What would I have done? I do not like 1D because of the rebid, and the one suited nature of the hand any large number of D misleads P of slam possibilities, I want to leave as many doors open as can.

I bid 4NT. In this situation, no suit agreed, it simply asks for Aces. See whole hand.

As can be seen this works a treat. 5H two aces 6D, if he had KD he goes 7D but of course passes. On the night just one pair got to 6D (I do not know how) and another went off in 7D and one more in 6NT everybody else in 5D.   

The first question is do you open as dealer? My & Anne’s  view, is that it is not worth it. Anybody who has read my Essay “What is an opening bid?”  will know why. Pass and West probably opens a weak NT*. Given the long clubs and just 10 points I would go straight to 3NT. As can be seen this requires deadly defence to defeat. A spade lead and a switch to the nine of diamonds followed by the QD. !!!

If 1C is opened it will probably go 1C-1D -1H and get to 4H.  South’s most likely lead is AS followed by QS. Now AH and KH shows up the certain loser. The side suit – clubs, must be established immediately. The percentage play is the finesse. Declarer plays AX clubs taking the finesse. Now one more trump and lead clubs. Losing a spade, heart, and diamond. The results in both designations are on the website.

Not pretty.

*Reese and Schapiro did not play Stayman they believed it helped the opening leader.

With our knowledge of all four hands, we see that 6S loses only to the KC. EW +1430. 6NT also works by East and so does 7D! But 7H* goes -5 +1100 to EW. Does anybody fancy a sacrifice at this late stage? Not me!

The French opened a weak 2S. Pass to East. When partner as dealer, at unfavourable vulnerability, opens weak 2 it will not be rubbish. In a tight match they will not want to incur a match losing penalty. The French thought a long time and bid 6S outright. West should be good for 6 tricks. East has three first round controls and a 5 loser, hand. (There is a case for 6NT protecting the KH &playing the hand himself).  RAC East bid an Ogust 2NT (describe your hand). South pass. I am not sure of EW methods. West bid 3D. Opponents were now alerted that a slam was possible and North bid 3H for the lead.  East 4S – South 5H - West 5S this after the 3D must be added values as 2S is a limit bid. It can only be a H void but, was passed out.

The board was played 6 times. Just once in 6S and among the rest just one pair went beyond game. Nobody played in Diamonds.

My partner opened a 15-17 1NT and I contemplated my monster S suit. Looks like 8 playing tricks, so we are in the slam zone. Set the trumps. 2H transfer 2S. Now aces are the key -  4NT (RKCB)- 5C (since I have AKS must be 3 Aces) Now I can count 12 tricks . But what about QS. We had a few bidding disputes during the evening and to my shame I chickened out on the identification of the QS and simply bid 6S. I must bid 5D do you have QS? – 6S yes! I go 7S.

To my astonishment only two other pairs got to 6S.             

Mea Culpa