ª -

© 6 5 3

¨ J 8 6

§ A K J 8 7 6 2

ª Q 10 8                      ª A K J 9 5 3

© Q 7                           © 9 2

¨ A K 3 2                    ¨ Q 10 7 5 4

§ 10 9 5 3                    § -

ª 7 6 4 2

© A K J 10 8 4

¨ 9

§ Q 4

Board 3 : Dealer South : EW vulnerable

Bidding

1H  P  2C  X

2H 3D 4H 4S

-P- -P- 5C 5D

5H All Pass

After a competitive double fit auction, South finally bought the contract in 5 hearts.

12 or 13 tricks are likely if South plays for the drop in trumps but East, Mike Barnett for Acton found the devastating lead of a low club! Another club ruff after a diamond return. A brilliant one off to add to the 450 scored in the other room. They were the only pair in the room to go positive as East West on this hand.

ª -

© Q 8 5 3

¨ K 9 8 5 2

§ 9 7 3 2

ª A 8 7                        ª J 6 5 3

© K J 9 7 6 2               © A

¨ A 7 3                        ¨ Q J

§ 5                               § A K Q J 8 6

ª K Q 10 9 4 2

© 10 4

¨ 10 6 4

§ 10 4

Board 7 : Dealer South : All vulnerable

Actonians for East/West bid;

1H 2C

2H 2S

2N 3N

11 tricks made.

In the other room, Purley jump shifted with 3 clubs over 1 heart and then did not stop when West bid hearts for a third time. They ended in 6NT, a contract with some play if the diamond King is well placed. Not today, however, and minus 200 was the outcome.

ª 5 2

© 9 3

¨ J 9 7 4 3 2

§ 10 6 2

ª K 6                           ª 10 9 8 3

© K Q 10 6                  © 7

¨ 8 5                            ¨ A K Q 10 6

§ K Q 9 8 4                § J 7 5

ª A Q J 7 4

© A J 8 5 4 2

¨ -

§ A 3

Board 8 : Dealer West : Love all

After 1club, pass, 1 diamond, The Purley South doubled to show both majors and that became the final contract! Mike Davis played well to lose just the three aces and one trump for two overtricks and 340 to Acton. (one for the score collectors!)

In the other room, West opened 1NT and the Acton South showed his majors over East’s diamond bid. They then got too high, however. Four hearts doubled, was two off and minus 300. 

40 more points to Acton!

ª A K Q 5 4 2

© K

¨ K J 9 6 4

§ 7

ª 9 7 6                         ª 10 8 3

© 6                               © Q 9 8 7 4

¨ A 10 7 3                   ¨ 8

§ K J 5 4 3                  § Q 10 8 6

ª J

© A J 10 5 3 2

¨ Q 5 2

§ A 9 2

Board 12 : Dealer West : NS vulnerable

Purley Auction;

1S 2H

3D 4D

4N 5H

6D

Acton Auction;

1S 2H

3D 3H

4D 5C

5D 6D

Six spades goes off on the singleton diamond lead

ª J 5 3

© K J 10 4 3 2

¨ A 8 4

§ 5

ª Q 10 2                      ª 8

© 9 8 6 5                      © A

¨ 10 7 5                       ¨ K Q J 9 6 3

§ Q 7 3                        § K 10 9 6 2

ª A K 9 7 6 4

© Q 7

¨ 2

§ A J 8 4

Board 20 : Dealer West : All vulnerable

North opened 1 heart and furious bidding led to East sacrificing in 5 diamonds over South’s 4 spades. Neither player then felt able to double and the contract went 3 off on a heart lead.

Four spades made on the nail in the other room.

ª 8 3

© A K J 10 6 4

¨ 10 2

§ 7 3 2

ª A K 9 2                    ª J 7 4

© 8                               © 9 7 3

¨ K Q J 8 5 4 3           ¨ A 9

§ 9                               § A K 8 6 5

ª Q 10 6 5

© Q 5 2

¨ 7 6

§ Q J 10 4

Board 23 : Dealer South : All vulnerable

After a competitive auction where North/South bid up to four hearts (very brave!), the Actonian West landed in 6 diamonds. Purley had made five diamonds in the other room.

After Ace and King of hearts, East set about the clubs but he was an entry short to enjoy the last one for his 12^th trick.

East has a couple of options. Cash the Ace and King of spades and if the Queen does not drop, play for clubs 4/3 finessing the diamond 9 for the additional entry to dummy.

Alternatively, play for Queen and 10 of spades on your right. I’ll leave it to the mathematicians as which line is best but either line would have succeeded.