Seven tables. Winners were , runners up  with third spot going to . A very well done them!

The live No Fears is on every Thursday 6:45 at the Carlton With easy access parking right outside the card rooms. So just a ten yard walk from your car to the playing area!

Meanwhile anybody who does the double , that is... winning the Tuesday 'BBO' No Fears and then the Thursday 'live' No Fears in the same week or just as good, the Thursday 'live' and then Tuesday BBO consecutively will receive a No Fears winners mug .

BBO master points are awarded to those finishing in the top places. You get a number next to your username which goes up as you pick up more points.,

On Board 21 all the norths made life very difficult for E/W with an untimely 3 level pre-empt in clubs. Most wests jump overcalled 4♠ and that was the end of the auction. The eleven card fit and club void meant no losers and an easy thirteen tricks.

Only the winners found their way to slam when Countdown Andy simply overcalled 3♠ and had no trouble bidding to 6♠ when John raised to game. Although successful this unorthodox approach has a severe risk attached, in that John may have passed 3♠ on different hands leaving Andy languishing in part score.

This problem is hard but probably the best way to deal with the East hand was taken by Anne G. That was as in the illustrated auction and is to double first with the intention of bidding 4♠ later. The strongest of all actions! As is turned out Katherine bid spades first so  Anne followed up with 4NT asking for aces. Sadly there was a misunderstanding concerning the number of aces and slam missed. I have corrected the auction to how it might have gone. Anyway nice try.

Board 14 was one of those hands you dream of. On lead and defending a doubled NT contract knowing that you can take the first eight tricks.

So it happened to the winners in the illustrated auction. East was third placed Anne G and not unreasonably opened 1NT. Stephen was south with the solid seven card diamond suit along with ♠A and doubled for penalties. Meanwhile Clare had seven points, so was not too worried and passed as did Anne. Stephen cashed his tricks and on the second round of diamonds Colin accurately signalled with the ♥2. This is a reverse attitude signal indicating a big card in the suit. No problems for Stephen now, after enjoying his eight tricks he switched to a heart and Colin took the ♥A, for three down and +500.

My philosophy on the E/W hands is after getting penalty doubled in 1NT, you do best to rescue into a suit. Playing the standard escape method west can bid 2♣ indicating that suit and a higher or east can redouble to show an unspecified five card suit. Either way they would have located their good club fit and got out of harms way. Still a bit unlucky to run into nine cashers!