Canada Olympiad Fund Game—Tuesday evening, March 6th, 2012—Set 84899 Analysis by : 1  2 The East hand might not be Board: 5  9 While this deal might not be passed Dealer: N  K 9 8 everyone’s idea of an opening bid, Dealer: N  A Q 7 4 out at more than a handful of tables, Vul: None  10 9 7 but those who swear by the Losing Vul: N-S  A J 10 neither North nor South has a cast-iron  J 10 6 5 4 2 Trick Count or who play a strong club,  10 9 8 4 2 opening bid, do they? Nonetheless,  Q J 8 3  A K 9 6 4 or (or even those who are simply  A 3 2  K 8 7 6 4 the two 11-counts facing one another  A 10 4  Q 7 6 5 2 undisciplined) will open 1. Now  K 10 2  J 5 3 offer an excellent play for game to  A Q 6 5  8 West will probably drive his partner  K 9 7 6 3  Q 8 5 4 N/S. 5 is considerably better than  A K  8 3 to 6. East’s best percentage line  6 3  Q 50% (especially if declared by North)  10 7 5 for one loser in the heart suit after  Q J 10 5 while 3NT cannot be defeated with  J 3 drawing trumps is to lead low to the  9 8 6 the heart working. Quite a  K J 4 3 2 queen, and back to the 10 if it loses.  2 high percentage of the field will play  Q 9 7 There are many alternative lines, but  A K J 7 5 partscore, but +600 will be a common almost everything works (and if you result, and the occasional overtrick find a losing line, please don’t let us may be recorded. know about it).

Board: 2  9 8 5 4 There is no reason for West to open Board: 6  Q When E/W find their club fit, it will not Dealer: E  Q 6 4 2NT – unless he has mis-sorted his Dealer: E  Q 10 7 5 be so easy for them to realize that Vul: N-S  A J 9 6 5 hand. It looks normal to open 1, Vul: E-W  10 9 7 6 4 3 slam is really nothing to write home  5 planning to make a splinter-jump if a  6 5 about. In fact the 5-1 spade break  A K 10 3  Q 6 2 major-suit comes to light, or else to  4  K J 9 8 5 2 makes life very challenging — but  A K 7 3  9 8 2 head for no- facing a diamond  A J 8 4  K 2 the fortunate location of the J-10  4  K 8 3 2 stop. Whether or not North  A K Q 2  8 means that — at least at double-  K Q J 10  A 8 4 in diamonds, E/W will surely settle for  A 9 7 4  K Q 8 2 dummy — E/W can always come to  J 7 3NT sooner or later. On a diamond  A 10 7 6 3 12 tricks. Having said that, I’d guess  J 10 5 lead East has 11 top tricks but no  9 6 3 that results of 1370 will be very few  Q 10 7 great likelihood of doing any better.  J 5 and far between. A fair percentage  9 7 6 3 2 By contrast, if South leads a top  J 10 3 of the field will stop in no-trump heart against 3NT on an unopposed contracts making 10 or 11 tricks, and sequence, declarer may have to work the club slam will prove challenging a little harder for his 460. in the extreme.

Board: 3  K J 7 4 Few Souths will open at the one- Board: 7  J 6 4 3 When South opens 1 West will Dealer: S  A 10 level but a at the two- Dealer: S  Q J 3 1, and North has nothing Vul: E-W  A 10 7 6 three- or even four-level all not only Vul: Both  4 sensible to bid here (a call of 1NT is  J 3 2 make sense, they make good sense,  K J 8 6 3 both an overbid and misdescriptive  A 9 6 3  Q 10 8 5 depending on your partnership style.  K Q 10 7 5  A 2 of the hand). The auction rates to  9  K 7 4 2 Alas, I’m not sure the deal yields any  A 10 2  8 5 4 come back to South for a take-out  9 5  4 3 useful conclusions, except that you  K 10 9 6  Q J 7 3 double — the player short in spades  A 10 9 7 5 4  K Q 8 want to play the N/S cards in 4  4  10 7 5 2 must re-open here. That ought to get  2 (which may not happen after a weak  9 8 N/S to a club or no-trump partscore,  Q J 8 6 5 3 two opening). Even if the defenders  K 9 7 6 the former yielding 110 painlessly  K Q J 8 2 manage to start a forcing game  A 8 5 2 enough, though a no-trump contract  6 successfully, South should emerge  A Q 9 might be held to six tricks if the with 10 tricks. Anyone who steals an defenders get round to attacking 11th winner will take the lion’s share diamonds early enough. Any E/W

of the matchpoints. pair buying the hand in diamonds or spades might scramble seven or eight tricks.

Board: 4  K J 3 When North opens 1 East will make Board: 8  A 5 Everyone will bid this to 7NT won’t Dealer: W  A Q 6 4 a simple or jump overcall in hearts. Dealer: W  A Q J 9 8 6 3 they (only joking!). Yes, 13 tricks Vul: Both  J 8 6 2 Now South will bid clubs then spades Vul: None  Q are available for N/S, but very few  K 2 and have to decide whether to look  K Q 6 pairs will get past 4 here, since on  Q 8 7 4 2  9 for slam in clubs, or let his partner  J 9 3  K Q 2 a spade lead the heart small slam  J 10 7  K 9 8 5 3 2 declare 3NT in peace and quiet. The  K 2  10 5 needs a favorable lie of the heart suit.  7 5 4 3  A Q 10 no-trump game figures to produce  J 9 8 7 4  K 10 6 5 2 Even if N/S play a strong club, so that  4  J 9 8 at least 460, and should collect a  9 7 4  J 5 2 South can show positive values, it is  A 10 6 5 12th trick if North is prepared to play  10 8 7 6 4 hard to imagine finding a convincing  ----- West for the Q and East for the A.  7 4 auction to get to slam. 4 making  K 9 Conversely, in 6 on a heart lead,  A 3 +510 rates to be close to an average,  A Q 10 7 6 5 3 you and draw trumps then finesse  A 10 8 3 with outlying results coming from the West for Q. You can then pitch your pairs playing no-trump and making slow spade loser on the A and play +520, or perhaps fewer tricks. a diamond to the K. 1 Board: 9  7 Any North worth his salt will open Board: 13  J 10 9 5 3 Few will open the East hand (unless Dealer: N  2 4 in first chair (or 5 if 4 would Dealer: N  8 7 4 playing a kamikaze no-trump) so Vul: E-W  Q 10 9 8 6 3 2 be ). The hand has far too Vul: Both  6 3 South will get to open 1 in peace  K Q J 3 much playing strength for a 3 call  8 3 2 and quiet. When this is passed round  Q J 8 6  A K 10 9 5 4 at this vulnerability. East must bid 4,  K Q 4  8 7 6 2 to East he should balance with 1NT,  K 9 8 5 4  A Q 3 and now will West make a move?  Q 9 2  J 6 3 and now South might well bid 2 in  J 5  A 7 His diamonds are unappealing, but  Q 9 5  A J 7 the hopes of finding a fit. Unlucky!  A 2  10 4 maybe a call of 5 is a reasonable  10 7 5 4  A Q 9 On a trump lead declarer can be held  3 2 compromise. East can try for the  A to six tricks. If West kicks off with a  J 10 7 6 grand slam with 6 now, but West  A K 10 5 top spade South ought to play to  K 4 will sign off in 6. Though 7 is a  K 10 8 4 2 ruff a diamond in dummy; this might  9 8 7 6 5 splendid contract, the 4-1 heart split  K J 6 produce seven or eight tricks. Since dooms declarer unless South finds East is struggling to make even +90 the catastrophic opening heart lead. in 1NT, +100 won’t be too bad for The defenders can still survive the E/W — if they can get it. lead of the K — but only if they are careful.

Board: 10  Q J 8 5 2 Here South will open 1 and see Board: 14  9 5 With just 27 HCP and only an eight- Dealer: E  Q 7 3 West overcall 1, with North bidding Dealer: E  Q J 10 4 card trump fit, it will not be easy for Vul: Both  J 7 1. a 3 jump looks natural now, to Vul: None  10 8 3 E/W to bid to their moderate slam  Q 10 9 end the auction. If South downgrades  Q 8 7 2 (it needs spades and diamonds to  A 9 4  10 7 6 3 his hand to a 2 call, then West might  A 10 7 4  K 6 3 2 split). If East can show the majors  A K 10 9 6  5 4 2 compete with a double, but South  9 7  A K 6 5 2 and reversing values, maybe West  Q 8  K 4 rates to compete to 3 over 2.  K J 9 6 5 4  A will simply take control and use  J 8 3  6 5 4 2 Against 3 the defenders have four  A  J 6 4 Keycard Blackwood to get to 6.  K top winners and may have to be just  Q J 8 On a club lead East wins, unblocks  J 8 a little careful to take them. If West  8 3 diamonds, then plays two top trumps,  A 10 9 6 5 3 2 leads a top heart and can work out  Q 7 2 cashes the K and ruffs a diamond.  A K 7 to switch, the natural play is a club.  K 10 9 5 3 Even if diamonds do not break, on When that does not work, West must any lead but a club, declarer might subsequently make sure to cash the be able to set up diamonds and let A before the rats get at it. the defenders take their trump trick whenever they want.

Board: 11  K Q J 9 8 Should South open 1 here? I would, Board: 15  A 5 The North players will respond 1 Dealer: S  Q 10 8 but by no means everyone would Dealer: S  K 9 8 7 6 4 to 1 and hear East either overcall Vul: None  10 9 6 5 agree. If South does bid, then West Vul: N-S  5 or show a two-suiter by whatever his  8 might overcall 2 — it is a weak hand  10 9 8 7 patented methods might be. When  7 4  A 5 2 after all! After that everyone will want  6 4 3  K J 8 7 2 South shows a four-card heart raise,  K J 6 5 3 2  4 to get on the merry-go-round, but  Q 10  A North may decide simply to bounce  J 3  A K Q 7 4 where will the music stop? We can be  10 7 3 2  Q J 8 6 4 to 4 on the grounds that someone  9 7 2  Q J 6 4 pretty sure that very few contracts are  6 5 4 3  A Q might be able to make something. But  10 6 3 going to make here (2 being the par  Q 10 9 on, for example, a heart lead South  A 9 7 spot) and the traveler will surely be  J 5 3 2 can win, cash North’s high trumps,  8 2 littered with penalties of at least 100,  A K 9 then take a discard on dummy’s  A K 10 5 3 either way. If South passes initially,  K J 2 heart. He might now guess to finesse one can just about see North finding in clubs and run all the trumps. In the a way to a making contract. three-card ending, East is caught in a strip-squeeze in the minors.

Board: 12  10 5 Some Wests might open that moth- Board: 16  A Q The South cards are extremely hard Dealer: W  Q J eaten suit 2, older and wiser heads Dealer: W  A 8 2 to judge facing a balanced 12-14 Vul: N-S  K 7 6 5 4 will pass and await developments. Vul: E-W  K 6 5 3 hand. The right treatment with his  10 8 7 5 In this case, however, opening 2  J 6 4 3 cards is probably simply to bid 4  Q 9 8  A 4 3 works very well. When East passes  J 8  5 3 without looking for slam, and giving  A 9 8 5 3 2  4 might South balance with 2 — a  Q 10 9 3  J 7 6 5 4 away information to the defenders in  J 10 3  A 9 8 contract that may be doubled and  Q 10 9 2  A J 8 the process. Slam is fairly poor today,  9  A K 6 4 3 2 will surely be no fun at all (since E/W  8 7 5  K 10 2 and can be defeated by a diamond  K J 7 6 2 can make 2!). Conversely, if West  K 10 9 7 6 4 2 lead. But on, for example, a heart  K 10 7 6 passes initially, East will open 1,  K lead South can win, cash North’s  Q 2 and South will overcall 1; neither  7 4 high trumps, then take a discard on  Q J defender is going to want to play for  A Q 9 dummy’s heart. He might now guess penalties now. The likely result is a to finesse in clubs and run all the small plus score for E/W, probably trumps. In the three-card ending, 110 in either clubs or hearts. East is caught in a strip-squeeze in the minors. 2 Board: 17  3 2 By now you won’t be surprised to Board: 21  A 9 When West opens 1 in fourth Dealer: N  A Q 10 7 4 3 2 see our eighth slam of the set. When Dealer: N  K 4 3 chair, should East limit his hand Vul: None  9 5 North opens 3 and East passes, Vul: N-S  Q 10 8 3 2 and ignore the spades by making a  9 5 what should South do? A deceptive  J 6 2 quantitative jump to 2NT, or should he  A K  Q J 10 5 3NT call might work well, but after a  K Q 10 4  8 6 5 3 bid 1, hoping not to be passed out?  -----  K J 5 simple raise to 4 West may guess  Q J 9  A 10 7 Curiously though 1 might indeed be  K 8 7 4 2  Q 10 3 to offer his partner a choice of minors  J 6 5 4  K 9 7 passed out East would actually be  A Q J 7 4 2  K 10 3 with a call of 4NT — a congenital  K Q  A 9 3 in the best possible spot — at least  9 8 7 6 4 optimist might even bid 5NT. Not that  J 7 2 in theory. The fact that the cards lie  9 8 6 6 is great (or even good) but it can  8 6 5 2 favorably enough to allow game to  A J 6 be made by taking an inspired view  A be made might take the gilt off the  8 6 in the diamond suit and advancing  10 8 7 5 4 gingerbread, but that, alas, is life. the 10 to the nine. Even making To go down in 4 declarer will have +420 should score E/W well enough. to misguess diamonds or spades — or both.

Board: 18  A Q 4 3 3NT is not a great contract for E/W Board: 22  10 3 East has a classical but maximum Dealer: E  K 9 7 6 2 (basically it needs spades to be 4-4) Dealer: E  Q 5 3 weak 2 — though the two aces may Vul: N-S  J 7 but it is hard for two opening bids Vul: E-W  A 9 3 seduce the overbidders into opening  8 7 facing one another to stay out of  Q J 6 5 3 1 instead. Today would be a good  J 9 2  8 6 game. If using an  K J 8  A Q 7 6 4 2 moment for such enthusiasm; with  A 4  Q J 10 3 unopposed sequence such as 1 -  K 9 2  10 6 4 the red honors conveniently onside it  A 9 8 4  K Q 5 3 2 2 - 2 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 4 - 5  K J 10 8  7 5 4 looks impossible to stop East making  K Q 9 3  A 5 is reasonable. The diamond game is  K 7 4  A 11 tricks in spades and — unless  K 10 7 5 actually rather better than 3NT but it  9 5 North leads a heart — very unlikely  8 5 goes down. Nobody ever said that  A J 8 7 that the defenders can prevent West  10 6 bridge or life is fair. Still, perhaps West  Q 6 2 from making 11 tricks in no-trump.  J 10 6 4 2 might bid 3NT at his third turn, on the  10 9 8 2 The spade game is certainly the grounds that spades rate to break better one in theory, but the great against silent opponents. shuffler rarely takes these things into account.

Board: 19  Q J 8 2 Another challenging slam deal here Board: 23  Q 5 When West opens 1 in second seat Dealer: S  7 both in the bidding and play. East’s Dealer: S  Q J 9 4 no one will overcall or double with Vul: E-W  9 6 4 3 spade loser can be discarded on Vul: Both  K 6 the North cards, will they? However,  9 7 5 2 West’s club winner when the club  J 6 5 4 2 it is a different matter when a raise  K 10 6 3  A 9 4 finesse succeeds. The South cards  A K J 10 6  9 4 2 to 2 is passed back to North.  K J 8 5 4  A 10 9 3 2 constitute a marginal opening bid,  A 10 6  7 3 2 Should he double or bid 2NT to  2  Q J 5 but if South opens it is hard to see  J 8 5 4  A 10 7 2 show a two-suiter? His hand argues  A K J  10 8 how E/W can get their act together  8  A 7 3 for taking action, the vulnerability  7 5 even to consider slam. Conversely, if  8 7 3 argues against it. If he passes, he  Q 6 South passes and West opens, that  K 8 5 rates to take four tricks on defense  A K 10 8 7 might allow East to treat his hand  Q 9 3 for a near average; if he bids he may  Q 6 4 3 as a balanced game forcing heart  K Q 10 9 find the relatively safe haven of clubs raise. Now West can show his short (though East might double him and diamonds, but it will still be hard for collect 200). More likely is that West E/W to get to slam. will bid on to 3.

Board: 20  A 9 5 West should open 1 and hear North Board: 24  A 10 7 4 Only those playing will Dealer: W  J 8 5 2 double, over which East will bid 1. Dealer: W  A 3 2 eschew a 2 opening here, and Vul: Both  K 2 West has no reason to do anything Vul: None  10 9 8 3 when North passes smoothly — what  K Q 10 2 but rebid 2 now, over which East  A 7 else can he do? East will probably  10 7  K Q J 3 2 might well gamble out a call of 2  8  9 6 5 3 2 pass too, though some may raise to  A 10 9 7  Q 6 on the grounds that even a 5-1 spade  K 8 6  J 10 9 5 3 or find some other obstructive  A Q 10 6 5 3  ----- fit could play better than diamonds  A J 7 5 4 2  Q action. As the cards lie, the very  A  9 7 6 5 4 3 here. That would be an excellent  J 9 6  K 10 5 favorable lie of the clubs means  8 6 4 view here -- in fact if South leads a  K Q J that South can make 3NT, since  K 4 3 heart against 2 East might emerge  Q 7 4 both the diamonds and hearts are  J 9 8 7 4 with an impressive +170! Diamond  K 6 protected with his side declaring. A  J 8 partscores rate to make anywhere  Q 8 4 3 2 few N/S pairs will manage to defend from six to nine tricks — but E/W a diamond partscore, and they ought would actually do best to defend to find a way to take seven tricks on here, given the vulnerability. defense by preventing declarer from taking two heart . 3 Board: 25  ----- The first four calls of the auction are Board: 29  9 5 4 Unless South opens light in third Dealer: N  K Q 9 6 4 3 easy enough to predict: 1 - 1 - Dealer: N  10 9 seat I’d expect many Wests to open Vul: E-W  A J 9 2 - 4 will be a very common start. Vul: Both  A K 10 6 4 a 15-17 no-trump, since nothing else  K J 10 4 But now what? North might stretch  J 9 7 looks any better. East can transfer  A Q 9 8 3  K J 7 4 2 to a 5 bid in the hopes that 4 is  Q 10  A K J 8 3 into spades and offer the choice of  J 7  8 5 making, or that 5 comes close to  K Q 8 3  5 4 games, letting West play 3NT on a  10 6 4 2  7 5 11 tricks. If he passes, South might  Q 9  J 8 5 low diamond lead. Declarer does  8 2  A Q 9 6 well double 4 and lead a trump, and  A Q 10 8 2  6 5 4 best to win and run five rounds of  10 6 5 collect four tricks for a comfortable  7 6 2 spades, pitching two clubs from hand  A 10 2 +200. Remarkably, though, there is  A J 7 6 2 to persuade North to let go one of his  K Q 8 3 no defense to 5; indeed, slam is on  7 3 2 clubs. To defeat the game North has  7 5 3 the club finesse. There will be plenty  K 3 to discard both his hearts, after which of N/S pairs racking up 450 or even the defense has the upper hand. 650 here. Deep Finesse tells us that 4 can be made by using East’s trump entries to lead hearts towards the king-queen.

Board: 26  Q 10 6 5 East can choose here between Board: 30  10 9 5 A simple auction here might be for Dealer: E  Q opening 1 and 2. If he goes Dealer: E  9 7 6 4 3 East to open 2NT and at matchpoints Vul: Both  8 7 5 3 2 low he will hear South overcall 1, Vul: None  9 West might simply raise to 6NT,  Q 10 8 then probably back in at his next  Q 10 9 3 arguing that the plethora of high-  J 7 2  8 4 turn in spades. This might result  J 6 2  A K 4 3 cards suggest no-trump will be as  A 7  J 10 6 4 in N/S declaring 4 — possibly  A J 10 2  K 8 easy as an eight-card fit. Actually,  J 4  A K Q 10 9 6 doubled by an untrusting West. On  Q 6 5 4  A K J 10 7 7 is the best grand slam — you can  K 9 7 6 5 2  4 the likely diamond lead South ruffs  A 8  K 7 test spades then plan to take a ruffing  A K 9 3 and knocks out the A, then ruffs  Q 8 7 finesse in hearts by leading out the  K 9 8 5 3 2 the next diamond and sets up the  Q 5 top honors before running the J.  ----- hearts with two ruffs while drawing  8 3 2 With the unbelievably favorable lie of  A J 3 two rounds of trumps, and plays  J 6 5 4 2 the hearts, almost everyone will make out his master hearts. West has the 13 tricks, and +1020 will represent remaining trump and can use it, but about a 60% board. then has no diamonds left. He must lead a club, and declarer loses just a club, heart and trump trick.

Board: 27  A 7 When South passes West will have Board: 31  J 9 6 3 The West cards might add up to 17 Dealer: S  Q 8 5 2 the same dilemma (almost the same Dealer: S  K 9 2 HCP but it certainly looks like more. Vul: None  4 3 2 13 cards!) as East on the previous Vul: N-S  Q J 10 8 7 If West opens 1NT he will play there  A Q 10 5 deal. A 2 opening bid will be passed  8 on the lead of a top diamond. The  J 6  Q 9 8 5 back to South, who rates to balance  A 4  Q 8 7 5 contract looks cold unless clubs are  J 9 4 3  A 7 6 with a call of 2 here. Against this  Q 10 4  J 7 3 4-1; alas, today is not West’s lucky  A K Q 10 8 7  9 unfortunate contract the defenders  A 5 2  6 4 3 day and it appears that six tricks  4  K 8 7 6 2 have seven top tricks, and if declarer  A K 9 7 4  Q 6 5 are the limit for him. If West opens  K 10 4 3 2 tries for more via the club finesse he  K 10 2 1 then he may be allowed to play  K 10 might get less. If West opens 1  A 8 6 5 there and collect +70. However South  J 6 5 he rates to buy the hand in 2, a  K 9 really ought to balance with 1NT,  J 9 3 contract that has five top losers in  J 10 3 2 and now North might use Stayman theory but not necessarily in practice to reach 2. That contract rates — especially on a third and low lead to take at least seven tricks unless of the heart five. the defenders get round to trumps extremely early.

Board: 28  9 East has a straightforward 1 Board: 32  J 7 4 West will open 1 and hear his Dealer: W  A J 7 5 3 opening bid in third chair, letting Dealer: W  J 10 2 partner respond 2. Now should he Vul: N-S  J 10 5 4 3 South double and West rates to jump Vul: E-W  6 5 4 jump to 3? This call suggests good  J 4 to 4. North should now probably  Q 7 5 3 spades and more than a minimum, so  A Q 10 8 6  K J 5 4 3 2 bid 4NT, suggesting a two-suited  A K Q 9 6 2  8 5 it would be a stretch; it might well get  10 4 2  Q 8 hand, and that will let North end up  8 7 5  K Q 9 4 3 East to look for slam. It transpires that  6  Q 9 8 in 5. This contract comes down to  K 2  A 8 7 even if the defenders don’t lead a club  Q 10 9 8  A 2 finding both red queens. While North  10 9  A J 8 on the go, it will be very hard for West  7 might well play for diamonds to be  10 3 to take the winning line in hearts that  K 9 6 3-1, he surely won’t work out to go  A 6 would produce 12 tricks. In no-trump  A K 7 2 for the drop in hearts rather than the  Q J 10 9 3 on a top diamond lead from South 10  K 7 6 5 3 finesse. A lot of matchpoints ride on  K 6 4 2 tricks look rather more likely than 11. this decision, because 4 is down I’d expect to see quite a few pairs one in top tricks, unless South opens falling by the wayside here. up clubs prematurely for declarer .

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