This weeks winners were Scottish international Ladies pair Sam and Jenny. Jenny played in the No fears when a junior! Karen and John were the best No fears pair. Very well done all of them!

Board eight proved to be a bit of a nightmare when only four of the twenty five pairs found their way to to the excellent 6♣ .

In the illustrated auction, alone in the field (and planet), i made the extremely rare and natural jump to 3♦ in response to a 2♣ opener. Stephen rebid 3NT, I like this action and feel it sort of describes the hand. With any diamond support and the balanced variety of 23-25 points would have clarified with a raise to 4♦.  Sensing the misfit in diamonds i passed 3NT, 6♦ was avoided and it seemed a success but when it materialised that we had a club slam, a different story........

Meanwhile Mary and Karen made it look easy with the quickest auction of the day and found the slam in four bids. Nice one, great stuff guys 

Winners were Malkie and James, runners up Finola and celebrity guest Marty with 3rd spot going to Walter and Clare. Well done them!

Board 8 was one where a good technical play was found by James and Colin to earn an extra trick in a 3NT contract.

After the illustrated auction everybody received ♦Q lead, north correctly ducked and then took the continuation. Nine tricks looked good provided the club suit behaved and broke 3-2. Declarers played ♣A and then a second club but when east showed out most gave up and won in dummy, resulting in seven tricks. Only James and Colin spotted a better line, on seeing the unfortunate 4-1 split, both played low from dummy, allowing west to take the trick. The effect of this action is to establish the club suit while still retaining an entry to dummy. Although 3NT could now not be legitimately made the club duck did provide one more trick for just one down rather than the two, crucial at match pointed pairs. Very nicely played those two!

Well done this weeks winners Tom and Andrew with Karen and John the best No fears pair.

Deal five, the robots got active and forced everybody to make high level decisions. Still three N/S pairs including the winners bid slam when north found the thin 4♣  overcall. No problem for south now and an easy raise to 6♣. At most tables the auction went as below and after north passed, south doubled. Still every north bar one, despite 6-5 shape found a rather insipid 5♣ or 4♥ bid .

Meanwhile Marina alone in the field, was not going to let her hand go under cooked and when Sarah doubled 4♦, clicked the 6♣ button. Great bid and well judged .

Well done this weeks winners Tim and Peter along with runners up Sandra and Mairin the best No fears pair 

We overcooked this hand when after a spade overcall from Stephen i went for game 

Meanwhile this weeks winners had a more controlled auction with Tim not making the dodgy overcall but settling for an unassuming cue bid after Peter overcalled 1♠ . This worked well when Peter showed no interest and they settled in the three star 2♠ part score  Nicely bid those guys!

Another good turnout with twenty six pairs. This weeks winners were Liam and Sarah scoring a perfect 36 stars, Sandra and Mairin posted the highest  No fears score, a very well done them

Board 4 was the hand that showed how two alternate approaches resulted in different results.  In the illustrated auction a third of the souths made what looked like the orthodox action of a take out double after a 1♠ opening bid. See how the hand is playable in three suits and gives the best chance of locating a fit and in my view is the long term winning action. When west pre-emped to 3♠ north not unreasonably holding a club void and toothless seven card diamond suit bid to five diamonds. Hard for south to bid 6♦️ but not impossible and this ended the auction.

Meanwhile a number of souths elected to put all their eggs 🥚🥚🥚in one basket and overcalled 2♦️, not my choice but you can't argue with success. North with seven card support, first round control in two suits and opposite a likely singleton in spades made the excellent raise to 6♦. Very well judged those pairs.

A good turn out with twenty seven pairs. Joint winners were Laura and Rhona along with Steve and Nicki. Best No fears pair were Sian and Melanie only a star behind ...great stuff those guys 

The illustrated deal board 9, was a nasty one. Many pairs located their eight card spade fit and with a combined 24 points bid the spade game. Normally this would be Ok but see how the massive duplication in club values ruined the day KQ doubleton opposite A10 was never going to have a happy ending.

Meanwhile best no fears pair Melanie bidding with Sian chose to make the simple limit raise in diamonds to play the comfortable spot of 2♦ ...one thing for sure playing a weak NT this contract is virtually 100%, north will either have five diamonds or if only four be strong balanced as happened, well judged her

This Thursdays winners were Margaret and Yvonne, runners up Jim and Alecs with third spot going to John and Andy. Well done them.

Board ten was a good 4♥ contract but game was missed a couple of times. John R and Irish Maggie bid it well in the illustrated auction. Maggies 1NT rebid indicated 15-17 points and an essentially balanced hand.

Meanwhile John, despite only seven points held the good six card suit. The ♥10♥9♥8 add stuffing so are worth an extra point and along with the singleton ♦ also worth a couple, did the right thing and rebid 4♥. Partner will not know about the singleton so best just to bid game and trust it does the job. As it turned out the singleton♦ worked a treat opposite three rag diamonds and hence no 'wasted values'. Infact there even might have been an overtrick had the club finesse been successful but no luck this time so just the ten tricks and +620. Nicely bid Maggie and John .

This weeks winners were Kairen and Donald, landing a really impressive 34 stars  Very well done them and a rare No Fears Crocodile mug for being one of the very few No Fears pairs to win outright .

Board eleven was particularly nasty  and caught virtually the entire field out, infact only a handful of pairs escaped the insidious 4-4 heart fit.

In the illustrated auction after Stephens 2♦ response, its more efficient when playing a weak NT to rebid 2NT (15-19pts) rather than introduce a poor heart suit and indicate shape but a wide range of values. The reason is because Stephen can still rebid 3♣, which we play as 'range ask checkback Stayman'. Any way he too was not enamoured by the quality of his even poorer heart suit and simply raised to 3NT. Good for us and the 'dodgy 4-4 heart fit' was avoided.

Meanwhile the solid Latvians Gints and Aleksis applied the world renowned 'Gazilli convention', a special method designed for the 15-17 NT and 5 card majors.

After the 1NT response from north, 2♣by south is Gazilli and typically shows a strong hand. Subsequent bids were natural and North's 4♣was a splinter bid suggesting slam. Anyway they too landed in 4♥ and the nine high...... eight card ♥ fit was never going to have a  happy ending . To be fair a bit unlucky.

Winners were Mathew, Michael, Peter and Tim with Barbara and a Robot the best No fears player . Very well done them.

Board two was a solid slam that only two pairs reached. In the illustrated auction Stephen responded 1♠ and the 2♦ rebid was a classic reverse bid showing 5-4 shape and extra values. Crucially playing a weak NT it usually denies shortage in partners suit because with a singleton spade especially an honour or 5-4-2-2 shape would simply rebid NT to get across the values and keep the auction low. Aware of this Stephens rebid 2♥, this is the ''fourth suit forcing'' method, committing us to game and asking for further description. So with three card support, crisp and slam suitable cards jumped to 3♠, indicating 3-1-4-5 distribution. Easy now, Stephen asked for key cards with 4NT and when i admitted to three, pressed the 6♠ key. No need to ask for ♠Q when the fit was known to be ten .

Meanwhile Gints and Aleksis were the only other pair to find the slam, they play a short club and strong NT, so different auction, well bid them 

First place went to Katherine and Anne, second Robert and Colin and wining the split tie for third spot Irish Maggie and John. A very well done all of them.

Board 11 was a reasonable 50-50 slam in hearts which requires the ♣Q to be in the north hand or even singleton in the south hand. Infact most pairs played in 4♥.The illustrated auction is the suggested approach to bidding this type of hand. After the transfer to hearts west with excellent four card support can bid not just 2♥ but jump to 3♥ . This action, is called 'breaking the transfer' and helps partner reach games or even slams that would sometimes be missed.

1NT= 12-14  2♦ = transfer to hearts  3♥ = great heart support             4NT = RKC  5♣  =  three key cards or 5♥ =  two aces

Only Marion and Sheila bid to 6♥ but it was not their day when the club finesse failed. Never mind, unlucky and a great effort.

The sting in the tale!  Very ocasionally a 4-4 fit can be better than a 5-4 fit and here was an example. 6♣ is unbeatable because counter intuitively you get an extra trick in the 4-4 fit! Ok you lose a trump trick but the 5th heart provides a spade discard which you can ruff with one of  your spare clubs, ergo making them seperately. So if clubs are trumps you make that crucial extra trick which you cant do in heart contracts!

Well done this weeks winners Scotland U31 pair Jack and Niall with Kairen and Donald the top no fears 

Board eleven caught out a number of pairs when north overcalled wests 3♣ pre-emptive opening bid with a 'sub minimum' 3♠. South held a good eleven points and naturally bid on. Game was reached but with a combined twenty points and no big fit this was never going to be a star fest.

Meanwhile in the illustrated auction, along with others Stephen passed as north and when i came in with a 3♥ overcall in the protective seat there was no danger the 3♠ response could be misconstrued. Since Stephen had passed initially this was certain to be an action looking for a better spot rather than a constructive bid. So with no particular fit it was an easy pass.

Post mortem: I actually don't mind the 3♠ overcall if north held ♣AXXX. Now you have insta club ruffs opposite the likely shortage and the hand will play a lot better 

On board 11 three of the five E/W pairs bid to 6♥ but only John R made the contract after a favourable lead. North tried the ♦ A which was ruffed. John drew trumps and played ♣A then ♣Q which he overtook wth dummy's ♣K to enjoy the winning diamonds for all thirteen tricks.

However on the most common lead of the singleton ♣4 declarer should win ♣A, (preserving the ♣Q as an entry to dummy) draw trumps and then overtake ♣ Q with dummy's ♣K. Now in dummy you can cash ♣J discarding a spade and take the successful spade finesse for your twelth trick.

However at one table after the illustrated auction it was a different story. North overcalled 3♦ and this was not going to have a happy ending when east doubled. Probably only four tricks for minus 1100. However not unreasonably west felt he would get richer in 6♥ and accordingly removed the penalty double to 6♥. North lead the singleton ♣4 Infact there is now a %100 line. Win ♣A Draw trumps overtake ♣Q with ♣K noticing north showing out. Since the auction marks north with ♦A, the play is apparent.Take ♣J discarding ♠ 4 then play ♦K discarding ♠ 9. North will have to win their ♦ A but has no resource. A diamond to dummys winners or a spade into declarers ♠ A♠Q for twelve tricks and no need to risk the spade finesse.

Only runner up Daphne playing with Tom found this line but she was in 4♥ for two overtricks, still excellent playand very well done her! 

Well done to this weeks winners Anne and Katherine.

Board 16 was unusual in that at all seven tables the auction was the same as was the strain of the lead! However the number of tricks made by the defence differed.

As in the illustrated auction west opened 1NT then raised to 3NT by east and all the norths either lead ♠6 (4th highest) or ♠9 (top of a sequence). At six of the tables of the tables declarer inserted the ♠J and from here paths diverged with 3NT making a few times. At the runners up table John P covered with ♠Q then accurately switched to a diamond (a second spade at this point would allow 3NT to make). Countdown Andy won his a ♦A to play a 2nd spade through dummy. John had dummy covered with his ♠A ♠10 and when declarer played low inserted the ♠10, then ♠A and ♠5 to scoop the suit and take the first five tricks,to set the contract. Very nice defence guys

At one table after ♠9 was lead declarer tried a cunning small spade from dummy. South was not to be 'missled' and could see all the cards higher than ♠9 so let the card hold the trick. When a second spade was played the suit too was picked up and the first five tricks taken.

Well done to the winners Jim and Irene, Countdown Andy and John 2nd, Ann and Margaret 3rd, with Colin and Robert 4th!

Mimi and Linda were this weeks winners wih Sandra and Mairin the best No fears pair in a great third place Well bid those guys!

Board 11 proved the most troublesome when a lot of pairs opened the nice looking balanced eleven count north hand. Fast cards and a ♥10 kicker had most opening 1♠ or a weak NT. In the illustrated auction the weak No Trumpers looked to have no way out after the 3♦ overcall and duly ended up in 4♠ with four losers for a solitary star.

Meanwhile those that opened 1♠ did have a chance to 'get away' from the non vulnerable game. After the 2♦ overcall some made the 3♦ UCB or a limit raise now when partner showed no interest were able to pass 3♠. The No fears pair playing 'Scottish Acol' see below had no problems, after 1♠ showing five cards were able to make a sensible limit raise to 3♠ and now an easy pass by opener. Really well bid them .

Still it was a bit of a funny hand when one side has a ten card fit and the other a nine card fit, you might expect someone could make the tenth trick .

Well done winners Mimi and Linda along with Karen R and Mary the best No fears pair. Gold plated pens for them but you need to claim them at the 'live No fears' 

Board 12 was undercooked by most pairs and with a combined 24 points most languished in NT part scores to achieve a meagre half star. The key to why the two hands play well together are the eights, nines and tens. See how on any lead declarer is likely to be presented with a trick and hence the high likely hood of the vulnerable 3NT making 

Meanwhile the winners bid to game and got the max three stars, well bid them

Board 25 was a weird one with North holding a Yarborough, East a power house and West a black hand. Thursdays runners up Brydon and Sian found a good save in 5♦X for -800 against the ♠ or NT grand slam available to the winners Tom and George!

Well done this weeks joint winners J.P. and Tom with No fears pair Sandra and Mairin who achieved the highest overall score. Sandra also won the online and live No fears pairs in the same week with Brydon to take the 'hat trick'. Great stuff !

Board 10 split the field with some settling in part score while others drove onto game. The strong NT pairs got the best of it when after south opened 1NT the 2♦ overcall indicating a major did not put off the norths and they simply bid 4♠. Some of the 'weak no trumpers' were distracted when after the heart overcall partner rebid 1NT and the seeds of doubt set in. Did partner have wasted values in hearts and how many spades? Even a singleton ♠ is possible on this auction!

Me, i too was a scaredy cat and in the illustrated auction rebid 2♠ where we we played for a solitary star

Meanwhile the winners were not so ''fearful''  and after Sandra took a positive view with the good six card spade suit and singleton ♥  jumped to 3♠. No problems for Mairin and onto 4♠ for all three stars, nicely bid .

This weeks winners Fiona and Julia bid nicely to 6♠ on board 2.  Control showing bids are crucial on many auctions to suggest slam interest. So when south bid 4♦ in the illustrated auction, north with the compensating first round controls was good to bid the second round control in ♥. Anytime partner cue bids after a strong limit raise and you have a 5♠ response to RKC slam is well on South had it and bid RKC and slam landed! Still only three of the twenty three pairs got there.

Meanwhile the top No fears pair were Karen R and Mary and they win a ''Gold plated'' no fears pen A very well done them

This weeks winners were Martin and Callum just one off the max score, with the best No fears pair Clare and David a star behind. A great effort those guys.

Board 2 ended up being a grave yard deal for over a third of the field when sitting opposite a passed hand south had to make a decision after a third in hand vulnerable pre-empt. In the illustrated auction my double was marginal and when west raised to 4♠, Stephens options were not great. It was likely our best possible fit was nine, not to mention a nasty looking singleton ♠K. So with the limited defensive holdings made the sensible pass and in fact was the only north to do so opposite a south that doubled. Well judged Stephen!

Meanwhile when north did take action, things took a turn for the worse as Robert W found out . After Johns double, Roberts 4NT bid was ''two places to play''  and now the nine card fit located. Still this did not have a happy ending, when the robot  doubled and with both hands holding a singleton in the same suit disaster struck! A likely 800 penalty and no stars was was the software verdict ....still a bit unlucky and might well have worked out better on a different deal.

Board 7 was a good one for most who play a weak NT. South has seven points and six card club support so after a natural club opening were able to take a positive view of the hand and show strong support. Now 3NT could be reached when north held a balanced seventeen points. That is unless you were the pair below in the illustrated auction and managed to fluff your lines.

Meanwhile this weeks best No fears pair had no problem reaching 3NT when Sandra simply re-evaluated her hand. Added a few points for the six card club support along with a great ♦A and made an invitational limit raise (9-11 points, Scottish Acol style). So a a comfortable 3NT for Mairin. Very nicely bid them.

Some of the strong No-trumpers found it more awkward, when after a max 1NT opener and 2♦ overcall showing a major it was not so clear how valuable souths six card club suit was. As it was many ended up languishing in 3♣ after a Lebensohl action 

Twenty four pairs this week and everyone completed their deals to make a full leader board. Robert and Julia were this weeks winners with No fears pair Karen C and John in second spot, well done them.

Board twelve caused problems with less than half the field finding the optimum spot of 5♦. In the illustrated auction, made a jump response in spades to Stephens 1♦ overcall . This action is a classic ''fit bid'' and indicates good support for partner with a reasonable suit of my own. The 3♥ rebid was natural, shape showing and denied a minimum overcall. So liking the way things were going followed with a couple of 4♣ and 4♠  slam try cue bids but no interest and had to settle for the minor suit game.

Meanwhile along with Ronan and Alex, only Marina and Sarah made the good fit bid but their auctions were less ambitious when Sarah bid directly to 5♦ after Marina's shape showing rebid. Nicely bid those two pairs .

This weeks winners were Gints and Aleksis with Donald and Kairen the best No fears pair, very well done both pairs

Board 1 was the tie breaker with most of the field taking the illustrated route to 2♠, a 5-2 fit and one and a half stars.

Meanwhile the winners found a 5-3 fit via weak takeout into hearts by where the NT responder introduces a new suit. My style is to do this with a six cards but Gints showed how it can be equally effective with a five carder. That earnt three stars, great evaluation

Two pairs made the maximum score this week. Congratulations to Mimi and Linda along with Gints and Aleksis. Sian and Melanie were the best no fears pair in a fantastic 4th place. Nice one those two,

Board 1 was a sequel to last week where north held a strong hand in spades and west opened the bidding. This time it was 1NT and the overwhelming majority over called 2♠  generally indicating spades and a minor.

However three norths took a different view of the hand and with seven playing tricks in the black suits went for a penalty double, as in the illustrated auction. Still east rescued to hearts and south with a heart stack passed and now 'the trap was set''. North reopened with a take out double and south rubbed their hands with glee to pass again. Disaster struck, this was not going to be the points fest as hoped and when the auction ended a measly one and a half stars appeared on the screen

Meanwhile those that overcalled 2♠ collected three stars, nicely judged

This weeks winners were Robert and John with Kairen and Donald the best No fears pair. A very well done them and a Gold plated No fears pen for each pair!

Meanwhile Board six was a bit of a night mare when half the field located their ''twelve card diamond fit'' along with 29 points and ended in slam. We were no exception and in the illustrated auction Stephen even made a grand slam try with 5NT. I had shown extra values with the jump 4♦ rebid after the 2♠ UCB. See how the south hand massively improves once partner indicates diamond support so well worth an upgrade. The irony of the auction is that if you swap my club and heart holdings around, 7♦  is a spread and shows Stephen was on the right track.

As it turned out there was a 'cruel duplication' of values in the majors which translated in to two unavoidable club losers. Very unlucky for all the pairs that reached 6♦ 

Twenty five pairs with Michael and Mathew winning with 33 stars. A tie for the best No fears pairs, they were Karen and Mary along with Mairie and Nicola, a very well done all of them.

Deal 8 was this week's swing board when at favourable vulnerability the robot came in with a pre-emptive 3♦  over call in the 'sandwich position'. Many north's including my self put all their eggs in one basket and bid 3NT. Not really a ideal, you do have the diamond suit well stopped but there is a rigidity in the way you can play the no loser holding which may play better in a suit contract.. Anyway it was a starless effort given there were two eight card major suit fits and no quick source of tricks.

Meanwhile the winners took a far more flexible action and doubled.  This indicates a really good hand, typically one too strong to open a strong NT as here. Although not certain to work out (3NT may still be the best spot) this looks like a long term winning action and the best chance of locating a major suit and now the good 4♥ played. Nicely bid those two  and the  others 

Even so well judged to those that upgraded to open 2NT with the south hand and had no problem finding their eight card major suit fit 

This weeks joint winners from a field of twenty six pairs were Liam and Sarah with Jack and Niall. The top No fears pair were Karen C and John congratulations to them!

Board ten proved a difficult one when second in hand a 'pesky' robot opened a weak two in diamonds at favourable vulnerability. The normal action with the south hand is a take out double and after that auctions differed. Most norths bid 3♣ and for those partnerships playing the 'Lebensohl convention' see menu bar  this shows values. Still no south’s bid on and the 'half a star' club part score was the end of the story. Even so there were some pairs able to bid a natural 2NT after the double and now the raise to 3NT by south looks straight forward. Well done if you were one of the pairs that reached the excellent game to take all three stars.

Meanwhile, at our table Stephen a 'passed hand' showed values with 3♣, so about 9-11. Despite his limited values my fourteen points are super good and with fitting club cards am definitely worth another shot.  Best is to cue bid the opponents suit with 3♦, asking partner to do something sensible  and now an easy 3NT for north.

No problems for the winners. Niall did not mess about after Jack's take out double and simply bid the no trump game. Niall only had ten points but see how his tens and nines support the honour cards, so definitely worth an upgrade. Very nicely judged  .

Very well done this week to best No fears pair Kairen and Donald who tied with Melanie and Sian on a great score of 32 stars. 

Meanwhile board 4 was a solid 6♦ which almost everybody failed to reach. In the illustrated auction, Stephen opened 1NT and my 2S response is the classic Baron range ask convention. This traditional method is used in both invitational along with slam auctions opposite a 1NT opener. The responses are straight forward with a minimum you rebid 2NT, otherwise show your four card suits in ascending order. Stephens 2NT was as described (minimum) and my 3♦ rebid indicated the slam variety, because with the invitational raise would pass. Anyway, no problems for Stephen with three key cards and four card support a 'snap raise' to 6♦

Sill how would you declare 6♦  on a club lead?.  Its not clear because unless spades break 3-3 you need six diamond tricks so probably need to take two ruffs in hand while setting up the heart suit.

A good six tables this evening. Winners were Dowell and Stuart, runners up Yvonne and Finola with third spot going to Alecs and Jim. Very well done them!

On board 3, in the illustrated auction Stuart with five card ♠ support, two singletons and a good six card ♦ suit was well worth a shot at at slam after Dowell opened 1♠. Dowell received a diamond lead and inserted the ♦Q, a 'free finesse'. See how If the ♦K is onside the ♦Q wins and if offside declarer can ruff and still not lose a trick. When the ♦Q held, trumps were drawn, the ♥A dislodged with dummy's ♥K to set up ♥Q and the remainder of the hand cross ruffed for twelve tricks. Well played.

Meanwhile Yvonne was playing with a robot because Finola had not yet arrived. When the robot opened 1♠ Yvonne did not mess about and raised to 6♠. Probably best to ask for aces here because you need robot to have two. Anyway robot did and that was twelve tricks, well judged Yvonne.

Well done this weeks winners Sandra and Hazel, runners up Karen and Polly, third placers Katherine and Anne.

Board 5 caused any amount of problems to E/W pairs in either the bidding or the declarer play. With twenty five points and no particular fit the normal contract looks to be 3NT.

The problem in the auction was when west rebid 2♦ after an initial response of 1♥. Many easts were not sure as to the forcing nature of the bid and passed. Infact the 2♦ bid is forcing because with a weak hand west should pass the 2♣ rebid. 3NT is not at all easy and those that did reach the game got in a tangle with comunications and the contract was defeated.

Only Tom and Daphne got to grips with the hand as shown in the illustated auction. After Tom rebid 2♣ and with opening values herself Daphne sensibly jumped to 3♦ to ensure there was no misunderstandingand game reached. Tom got the message and with spades guarded bid 3NT. Eldrydd was south and correctly lead the unbid suit spades, declarer won in hand and set about clubs, leading a small one towards ♣Q. Eldrydd with ♣K ♣J doubleton had no choice so took ♣K to continue spades.Tom won, unblocked ♣Q entered hand with the singleton ♥K to enjoy the club winners and played a diamond Eldrydd took her ♦A cashed the two spade winners she had worked so hard to estabish but trick thirteen was Tom's. Nicely bid Daphne and well played Tom!

Past live No Fears players Holli and Stephen, now residing in the United States played a one off online No fears. On this deal bid nicely to a Grand slam and showed how it is possible to count your tricks during an auction. 

On the illustrated bidding Holli opened 2NT and Stephen responded 3♥, a transfer to spades. Meanwhile Dowell with his good eight card heart, suit tried to put a spanner in the works with a 4♥ overcall. Even so Holli had good spade support and a great hand, so could complete the transfer at the higher level. With spades agreed Stephen wheeled out the Roman Key card convention. 5♣ indicated 4 key cards namely ♠K ♥ A ♦ A and ♣A. Stephen did the 'maths' or even 'math' as they say and came to eleven tricks but only fifteen of partners twenty points were accounted for. Bearing in mind Dowell's 4♥ overcall, the remainder had to be ♣K ♣Q making thirteen, so the 7♠ button was clicked. As it turned out there were fourteen tricks 'on top' but you cant make overtricks in a grand slam .

The winners bid the small slam and with no scientific methods John took the practical approach clicking the 6♠ button to Irish Maggie's 2NT. Very well done both pairs.

This weeks winner was Kevin who bid well to take first place with a robot. In third spot, best no fears pair Karen R and Mary a very well done them

Board 5 split the field with most norths taking the orthodox route, doubling the 1♥ opener and then rebidding 2♠ to indicate a very strong hand with spade length. Still many souths took a dim view of their hand, as i did and passed in the illustrated auction. However others were more positive, they invited with 3♠ to reach the spade game and three star contract, nicely judged those guys.

Meanwhile Kevin's robot programmed that this auction shows a traditional 'Acol two ' made the insta-raise to 4♠ .

In the illustrated auction south opened 1♣ with the good balanced sixteen points and when the auction came back in 2♦ had a problem with what action to take. Many would rebid 2NT, not unreasonable but this is an overbid opposite a one level response and represents a stronger hand, about 18-19 with a diamond stop. Meanwhile pass would be typically weak 2-2-4-5 shape because with 4-3-1-5 min you could raise to 2♥ with three or four card  support.

So the best way to describe the hand is with a X. This bid shows strong balanced hand 15-17 points, equivalent to a strong NT opener. Meanwhile west ramped up the auction with 4♠, i really like this action because it describes the hand perfectly and puts a lot of pressure on N/S.

Even so north with four card club support and a crucial singleton not to mention the powerful AK♥ has a sound 5♣ bid over 4♠. Ok the opponents might bid onto 5♦, which goes one down but you can do no more!

I have a secret tip: The requirement to bid five of a minor is..... somebody needs a singleton....works a treat!!

This weeks Thursday evenings winners were Polly and Karen, runners up John Pottinger and Countdown Andy with third spot going to Marion and Sheila. Well done them!

On Board 16 the runners up bid 6♠ on the illustrated auction. Andy's 4♥ is a splinter bid indicating a heart shortage, spade support and slam interest. John P with a good hand himself did not waste any time and bid straight to 6♠, nicely done.

Meanwhile John Ramsay and Irish Maggie also got involved in the slam auction and after a bidding misunderstanding ended up in 7♠. Disaster you might think missing ♣A, but north was on lead and it was south that held the 'case ace'*. The lead was ♥J and when dummy appeared on the screen John's heart must have sank. But look there was a way out! He won the trick, drew trumps and discarded the two losing clubs on ♥AKQ to claim all thirteen tricks and +2210!  As John R said after the hand 'lucky' .

*Case card.... a commonly used poker term for the missing 4th card. 

There was a tie for first place with Tom and Daphne, Malkie and James sharing the honours. Third spot went to Dowell and Stu, fourth to Andy D and John S. Well played them!

Board 10 was an exciting one with game contracts in both directions. In the llustrated auction one of the winning pairs came to grief when they bid to 5♦. Sharman sitting opposite a vulnerable 1♥ overcall and holding a pair of aces, not unreasonably felt that Malkie and James had overstepped the mark and doubled 5♦. She lead ♥A and the defence took the first two heart tricks at which point Joyce switched to a club. James took the diamond finesse and played ♦ J from dummy, covered by the singleton ♦K. Now Sharmans ♦10 was in business and promoted for the setting trick! See how a small diamond from dummy would have forced Joyces ♦K to 'beat thin air', preventing the ♦10 from becoming a winner. The odds favour a small diamond and is probably the best line of play!

Meanwhile (N/S) Anne and Katherine did not mess about, they located the ten card spade fit and bid to 4♠. Katherine was declarer and nicely took her major suit finesses. Both were favourable and that was ten tricks for 620 and top board. Well done those two!

Five tables, so perfect for a full Howell movement. That meant nine matches of three boards at a good 18 minutes per round. So not only did all the pairs play one another but also a record for the No Fears! Twenty seven boards played in the normal time! Well done everybody and the winners Robert and Colin just ahead of Karen and Polly in second with Andy D and John S in third spot.

Infact it was board 13 where the winners and the third placed pair clashed on a decisive board that determined the overall result. Andy (north) opened a light 1♥, with a weak 2♥ an alternative option. No stopping John now with the very good eighteen points from bidding to slam (illustrated auction). Unfortunately there is a major flaw to this contract, N/S are missing ♣A♣K  but on the other hand have twelve tricks themselves. Namely six hearts, five spades and ♦ A.

Colin was on lead and only a club would defeat 6NT. Robert saw the ♣8 flash up on the screen and grabbed his ♣A  to accurately return the ♣3 to partners ♣K and take their two tricks before declarer cashed his twelve! Great lead Colin and nice return Robert.

Six tables this evening and it was Alan from the Abroath Bridge club kindly subbing with Margaret to make up the half table who took the honours. Runners up were 'count down' Andy and John, third spot going to Jim and Alec with Karen and Polly 4th. Well done them!

On Board 14 Alan showed good technique to land 3NT. After the illustrated auction, he received the ♠8 lead to ♠Q which he ducked along with the continuation taking ♠A on the third round. This play breaks comunications between the defenders hands and despite Jim (north) having two spade winners Alec (south) was void and would be unable to return the suit.

Meanwhile Alan could count seven tricks and needed two more. Holding all the diamond pips(♦10♦9♦8) the best chance was a double finesse and so he played ♦J running it to souths ♦Q. With no spade to return Alec tried a club, declarer took ♣A and continued with ♦10 again intending to run it, the ♦K appeared so taken by ♦A. That was the two diamond tricks he needed established to make nine, very nicely played.

See menu bar for more on the double finesse.

Well done this weeks winners John P and Coundown Andy, runners up Susan and Dave , Colin and Robert in third spot.

Board 13 was a good example of how extra tricks are available if you use dummys trumps to ruff losers. In the illustrated auction, after north opens 1♠, east should double for takeout rather than bid the five card heart suit, you generally need six cards to overcall at the two level. South with seven points and a singleton club is worth a raise to 3♠ and now game is reached.

The key to making ten tricks is to appreciate that outside the trump suit you only have two tricks, namely ♦A ♦K .So the remainder will need to be generated by ruffing with dummy's trumps. The singleton ♦K in hand and singleton ♣8 on the table allows declarer to take the cross ruff line. Infact providing the defenders or declarer dont lead and then continue trumps, eight trump tricks are there for the taking to get home in 4♠. 

Winners were Malkie and James, runners up  Anne and Nanna. There was a tie for third spot between Alec and Jim along with John and Countdown Andy. Well done them!

On board 10 the two pairs who tied in third spot bid to 6NT. At the other tables east opened 2NT and west with twelve points made a quantatative bid of 4NT. Holding the minimum 20 points, east passed.

In the illustrated auction, John P appreciating the good five card diamond suit, awarded himself an additional point and raised Andy to 6NT. A fine contract and requires either the diamond finesse to be successful or this failing, the two black suit finesses to come in, all in all a two in three chance! At both tables south lead the ♣6 and when dummy's ♣J held declarer just needed one of the two remaining finesses. It was the spade finesse that came in and that was twelve tricks, for +1430.

Meanwhile, there is an alternatve auction and that is to use the stayman convention after 2NT. This action locates the 4-4 spade fit. Great you might think, but look there is an inescapable trump loser and with the ♦Q unfavourably placed, probably only eleven tricks .

In a close finish, Daphne and Tom took the honours just ahead of runners up Karen and Polly. Well done them.

Board 6 was one where both west and south had strong hands. West holding the seven card spade suit was generally able to out bid south and played in 3♠. But in the illustrated auction Anne (west) and Jim Bruce (south) had an unorthodox 'bidding match' to 4♠ which Jim doubled after competing with his four card heart suit at the four level. Irene Bruce elected not to lead her partners ♥ suit and found the lead of ♦J. With all the top ♦ honours Jim overtook and played to the third round of the suit. Irene overuffed the ♠J with ♠Q and even if Anne ruffs high the ♠Q is promoted and becomes a trick. So one down and minus 200. Unlucky the 2NT opener did not have ♠Q  (just switch the major suit queens).

Meanwhile John R was in 3♠ which south doubled too and he was given a chance to make ten tricks! After two rounds of diamonds south switched to a trump and thinking Walter had doubled with ♠Q John not unreasonably put aside the 'eight ever, nine never' rule and took the losing finesse, still the same nine tricks as Anne but +730! 

Four tables this evening and runners up John S and Andy D were the only pair to reach the excellent slam on board 16.

On the above illustrated auction Andy (north) opened 1♥  and after a spade response rebid 2NT indicating 18-19, essentially balanced. Easy now for John with fourteen points, a heart fit and a singleton to boot, he asked for aces. Andy responded 5♠ showing three which must have confused John since he had two and that made five aces in this virtual pack. Anyway there was no option but to bid 6♥. Twelve tricks were wrapped up and that was a top board. Well done them.

The Thursday BBO No fears saw five tables and on Board 13 the winners and runners up took a different approach after their partners opened 1NT. West only has nine points but the great distribution make it well worth a pot at game!

Irene responded 2♥, a transfer to spades and then rebid 4♠ allowing the 'stronger' hand to declare. But with ♥AQ and ♣K, i think i would prefer to be declarer and have the lead up to these cards rather than expose them in dummy. So quite like an imediate 4♠, you dont need to right side the trump suit!

Meanwhile Dowell bid Stayman (illustrated auction) and after 2♦, jumped to 4♠. This route gave him a chance of locating a heart fit but at the slight risk of missing a better spade fit. Either way 4♠ was bid but declarer was not the same at the two tables and so received different leads.

Jim(east) saw ♦5 appear on his screen and ruffed in dummy. The spade finesse came next, trumps drawn and that was twelve tricks.

For Dowell(west) it was a different story. North lead the singleton ♣2. Marion took her ♣A, then accurately returned the suit to give Sheila a ruff and that was only eleven. Still not enough for Jim and Irene to catch up, Dowell and Stuart hung onto first place. Well done those two pairs.