To get the best results in contested auctions at duplicate Bridge you need to check the vulnerability, understand how to score and also evaluate the auction. With experienced bridge players at the table the auction may well proceed as shown in the table.

North’s 2H is a standard bid, East spade suit is not great, especially as North may have a singleton or more likely a doubleton. East should contest the auction not vulnerable, but may think twice about making the same bid when vulnerable.

South with 10 points and a heart honour will (or should) bid 3H. West now knows that the points are evenly divided; with good minor suit holdings over the South hand and holding the 10, 9 of spades 9much better than 2, 3) the probabilities are that 3H may make or go one down and the same can be said of a 3S contract. Thus, 3S is definitely worth bidding. If it makes it scores +110 If it goes one down the loss to E-W is only 50 points compared to a possible loss of 110 if 3H can make.

Results

2HN -1; 2SE =; 3CW -1; 3HN -1; 3SE -1.

N-S 1^st Dianne & David Long……….57.5% 

     =1^st R Wood & T Border…………57.5%

E-W 1^st H Clohessy & M Wesselo…..60.8%

        2^nd J Tagg & E Jurgensen……...59.2%