| 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 - 26-08-2026 [LATEST]
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Session report 26th August 2026A concise look at the winners, the boards that moved the room, and where each pair gained or lost matchpoints. Session winnersAlex Hurst & Lorraine Krasner62.50% · margin 0.60 The session at a glance24boards played 13pairs 0slams bid and made 1170largest raw-score range Boards that shaped the roomThese comparisons describe the traveller without guessing what happened during the auction or play. Board 18 - biggest spreadThe widest range of outcomesThe recorded scores ranged from 4♥ by S, North/South +620 to 5×♦ by E, East/West -550. Raw-score range: 1170 points Board 6A board that separated the fieldThe recorded scores ranged from 4♠ by S, North/South +510 to 4♥ by W, East/West -620. Raw-score range: 1130 points Board 16A board that separated the fieldThe recorded scores ranged from 3NT by E, North/South +300 to 3NT by E, East/West -600. 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.
Older posts
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📊 Afternoon Session - 25-08-2026
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Session report 25th August 2026A concise look at the winners, the boards that moved the room, and where each pair gained or lost matchpoints. North / South winnersRoy Lubman & David Platt56.88% · margin 1.25 East / West winnersPaul Hozack & Kieron McPartland60.00% · margin 1.25 The session at a glance24boards played 12pairs 3slams bid and made 850largest raw-score range Boards that shaped the roomThese comparisons describe the traveller without guessing what happened during the auction or play. Board 13 - biggest spreadThe widest range of outcomesThe recorded scores ranged from 4♥ by N, North/South +650 to 3NT by S, East/West -200. Raw-score range: 850 points Board 11A board that separated the fieldThe recorded scores ranged from 4♥ by S, North/South +420 to 4♠ by W, East/West -420. Raw-score range: 840 points Board 9A board that separated the fieldThe recorded scores ranged from 3♦ by W, North/South +200 to 4♥ by E, East/West -620. Raw-score range: 820 points
SlamsBoard 7: 6♦ by E, 12 tricks · Board 7: 6NT by W, 12 tricks · Board 21: 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 - 24-08-2026
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Session report 24th August 2026A concise look at the winners, the boards that moved the room, and where each pair gained or lost matchpoints. North / South winnersGabriel McCarthy & James Jones62.50% · margin 7.74 East / West winnersJane & Martin Canning63.95% · margin 6.81 The session at a glance27boards played 17pairs 2slams bid and made 1650largest raw-score range Boards that shaped the roomThese comparisons describe the traveller without guessing what happened during the auction or play. Board 5 - biggest spreadThe widest range of outcomesThe recorded scores ranged from 3♠ by E, North/South +50 to 1NT×* by S, East/West -1600. Raw-score range: 1650 points Board 13A board that separated the fieldThe recorded scores ranged from 2♥ by E, East/West -140 to 6NT by W, East/West -1470. Raw-score range: 1330 points Board 9A board that separated the fieldThe recorded scores ranged from 4♥ by W, North/South +200 to 4♠ by E, East/West -710. Raw-score range: 910 points
SlamsBoard 13: 6NT by E, 12 tricks · Board 13: 6NT 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 - 19-08-2026
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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.
📊 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.
Showing the last 5 reports. Click a results box for full detail
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| Tip of the Day: Draw trumps early, unless you have urgent side work. |
Draw trumps early, unless you have urgent side work.
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