Acol Opening Two Bids (DLM ref : HBSET9)

♠ A 8 7 Board 1 : Dealer North : Love all ♥ A K 4 2 ♦ A K 7 6 West North East South ♣ K 5 2NT Pass 3NT ♠ 6 ♠ Q J 10 9 5 4 All Pass ♥ Q 9 6 ♥ J 10 5 3 ♦ J 10 9 5 ♦ Q 2 2NT shows 20­22 points. South has enough to raise ♣ A 8 7 3 2 ♣ 4 to game, but without a 4­card major. ♠ K 3 2 East leads ♠Q. Declarer takes ♠A and tackles clubs, ♥ 8 7 starting with ♣K. ♠K is an entry for the clubs if West ♦ 8 4 3 decides to let ♣K hold the trick. ♣ Q J 10 9 6 Board 2 : Dealer East : NS vulnerable

West North East South 2NT Pass 6NT All Pass ♠ 9 6 5 4 ♥ 8 7 2 2NT shows 20­22 points. With 14 points West knows ♦ 10 9 5 4 the partnership has at least 34 points so decides to ♣ 9 8 try for a slam. ♠ Q 3 2 ♠ K 8 7 Declarer is unlucky: it is going to be very hard to ♥ Q 6 3 ♥ A K 4 avoid two spade losers. There are various tests that ♦ Q J 3 ♦ A K 7 declarer can set South. ♣ A Q J 10 ♣ K 5 3 2 If declarer leads ♠7 from his hand South must play ♠ A J 10 low (Second hand plays low). ♥ J 10 9 5 If declarer leads ♠K from his hand, South must play ♦ 8 6 2 ♠A (Cover an honour with an honour). ♣ 7 6 4 If South passes every test his side will eventually come to two spade tricks. Note that if South wrongly cashes ♠A at trick 1 that is the last trick for the defence. South’s ♠A has a role: to kill East’s ♠K. ♠ 3 2 Board 3 : Dealer South : EW vulnerable ♥ Q J 6 3 ♦ Q J 3 West North East South ♣ Q J 10 2 2NT ♠ K Q J 10 4 ♠ 9 6 5 Pass 3♣ Pass 3♥ ♥ 10 9 ♥ 8 7 2 Pass 4♥ All Pass ♦ 8 6 2 ♦ 10 9 5 4 ♣ A 6 4 ♣ 9 8 7 2NT shows 20­22 points. 3♣ is Stayman. 3♥ shows ♠ A 8 7 four hearts and North bids the obvious game. ♥ A K 5 4 4♥ is easy but note that 3NT would be easily defeated ♦ A K 7 on a spade lead. In 4♥ declarer draws trumps, drives ♣ K 5 3 out ♣A and makes 11 tricks. Acol Opening Two Bids (DLM ref : HBSET9)

Board 4 : Dealer West : All vulnerable

West North East South ♠ 10 9 6 5 4 2NT Pass 3♥ Pass ♥ A 10 4♥ All Pass ♦ Q 9 8 6 ♣ 6 4 2NT shows 20­22 points. 3♥ is forcing, showing five ♠ 8 7 ♠ K 3 2 hearts. With 3­card heart support West prefers the ♥ K 4 2 ♥ Q J 6 5 3 heart game to 3NT. ♦ A K J 3 ♦ 5 4 To make 4♥ declarer should aim to ruff a spade in ♣ A K Q 3 ♣ 10 5 2 dummy, but South can prevent that with a trump ♠ A Q J lead. If South leads ♥7, North takes ♥A and returns ♥ 9 8 7 ♥10. Declarer might win in dummy and try the spade ♦ 10 7 2 finesse but it fails and South leads the last trump. ♣ J 9 8 7 Now declarer might desperately try the diamond finesse for his tenth trick but that fails as well. Even if South fails to find the initial trump lead, a trump switch when he wins ♠A defeats the contract. Board 5 : Dealer North : NS vulnerable ♠ A 2 ♥ K J 3 2 West North East South ♦ A K 8 7 2NT Pass 4♠ ♣ A Q 5 All Pass ♠ Q J 10 9 ♠ 3 ♥ A 9 5 4 ♥ Q 10 6 2NT shows 20­22 points. South picks game in the ♦ 10 5 2 ♦ Q J 9 6 major suit game, knowing of at least an 8­card trump ♣ 7 6 ♣ J 10 9 8 2 fit. ♠ K 8 7 6 5 4 West should lead ♠Q. North takes ♠A and tries ♠K but ♥ 8 7 is disappointed by the 4­1 break. He must now guess ♦ 4 3 hearts correctly to make his contract. He leads ♥7. ♣ K 4 3 West plays low (as second hand) and declarer must guess whether to play dummy’s ♥K or ♥J. Board 6 : Dealer East : EW vulnerable

West North East South 2♣ Pass ♠ A 7 6 2♦ Pass 2NT Pass ♥ J 9 5 4 3♠ Pass 3NT All Pass ♦ 10 6 5 2 ♣ 7 6 2♣ is artificial and 100% forcing, indeed it is game ♠ K Q 10 4 3 ♠ J 2 forcing unless the auction starts 2♣ 2♦ 2NT. 2♦ is a ♥ 8 7 3 ♥ A K 2 negative response, showing 0­7 points (or maybe up ♦ 4 3 ♦ A K 8 7 to nine points in queens and jacks). 2NT shows 23­ ♣ 4 3 2 ♣ A K Q 5 24 points. 3♠ is forcing, showing five spades. With ♠ 9 8 5 only two spades East settles for 3NT. ♥ Q 10 6 Despite the combined 29 points, declarer should fail. ♦ Q J 9 He wins the club lead and tries ♠J but North lets it ♣ J 10 9 8 win. Declarer continues spades and, remembering that the bidding suggests East has only two spades, North wins ♠A. Declarer now cannot use dummy’s spades and goes one off. Acol Opening Two Bids (DLM ref : HBSET9)

Board 7 : Dealer South : All vulnerable

♠ 9 3 2 West North East South ♥ 8 7 2♣ ♦ 10 9 5 3 2 Pass 2♦ Pass 2NT ♣ 7 5 2 All Pass ♠ K Q J 10 4 ♠ 5 ♥ A 10 9 ♥ J 6 3 2 2♣ is artificial and 100% forcing, indeed it is game ♦ 8 4 ♦ K J 7 6 forcing unless the auction starts 2♣ 2♦ 2NT. 2♦ is a ♣ 8 6 4 ♣ Q 10 9 3 negative response, showing 0­7 points (or maybe up ♠ A 8 7 6 to nine points in queens and jacks). 2NT shows 23­24 ♥ K Q 5 4 points. ♦ A Q West leads ♠K. Declarer faces a nightmare because ♣ A K J he cannot reach dummy to take finesses. The hand is almost unplayable and declarer is likely to go two or three off. Board 8 : Dealer West : Love all

West North East South ♠ J 10 2♣ Pass 2♦ Pass ♥ Q 9 3 2♠ Pass 2NT Pass ♦ Q J 10 5 3♠ Pass 4♠ All Pass ♣ A Q J 8 ♠ A K Q 8 5 4 ♠ 6 3 2 2♣ is artificial and 100% forcing, indeed it is game ♥ A K 8 ♥ 7 6 5 4 forcing unless the auction starts 2♣ 2♦ 2NT. 2♦ is a ♦ A K 9 ♦ 8 7 3 negative response, showing 0­7 points (or maybe up ♣ 2 ♣ 9 4 3 to nine points in queens and jacks). 2♠ is game ♠ 9 7 forcing. 2NT is a second negative showing 0­2 points. ♥ J 10 2 North leads ♦Q. Declarer wins ♦A and draws trumps ♦ 6 4 2 in two rounds. He then cashes ♥A K and conceded a ♣ K 10 7 6 5 heart. Defenders may persist in diamonds but declarer wins ♦K and overtakes ♠4 with ♠6 so he can discard a loser on ♥7, which is now a winner. Eleven tricks. Board 9 : Dealer North : EW vulnerable

West North East South 2♣ Pass 2♦ ♠ A K Q 8 4 Pass 2♠ Pass 2NT ♥ A K 8 2 Pass 3♥ Pass 4♥ ♦ A K 9 All Pass ♣ 2 ♠ 10 ♠ J 9 7 5 3 2♣ is artificial and 100% forcing, indeed it is game ♥ J 10 3 ♥ Q 9 forcing unless the auction starts 2♣ 2♦ 2NT. 2♦ is a ♦ 6 5 4 ♦ Q J 10 negative response, showing 0­7 points (or maybe up ♣ K J 10 7 6 3 ♣ A Q 8 to nine points in queens and jacks). 2♠ is game ♠ 6 2 forcing. 2NT is a second negative showing 0­2 points. ♥ 7 6 5 4 3♥ is a second suit. ♦ 8 7 3 2 East leads ♦Q, won by ♦A. Declarer then cashes ♥A K ♣ 9 5 4 and leaves the remaining trump. He continues with ♠A K Q, trumps ♠4, returns to hand with ♦K and ruffs his ♠8. At some stage West may ruff with ♥J but it doesn’t prevent declarer taking ten tricks. Acol Opening Two Bids (DLM ref : HBSET9)

Board 10 : Dealer East : All vulnerable ♠ 3 ♥ 5 4 3 West North East South ♦ K 10 9 7 6 2♣ Pass ♣ 9 7 4 2 2♠ Pass 4NT Pass ♠ A 9 8 7 6 5 ♠ K Q J 2 5♥ Pass 7♠ All Pass ♥ 2 ♥ A K Q J 10 9 ♦ A 5 4 3 ♦ 8 2♣ is artificial and 100% forcing, indeed it is game ♣ 6 5 ♣ A K forcing unless the auction starts 2♣ 2♦ 2NT. 2♠ is a ♠ 10 4 natural positive response. 4NT is Blackwood: 5♥ ♥ 8 7 6 shows two aces. East can count 13 tricks (indeed he ♦ Q J 2 could have bid 7NT). ♣ Q J 10 8 3 Board 11 : Dealer South : Love all

West North East South ♠ J 4 3 2♣ ♥ 4 2 Pass 2♦ Pass 2♠ ♦ K 8 7 6 5 Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ ♣ 8 7 5 All Pass ♠ 6 ♠ 9 8 5 ♥ J 10 9 3 ♥ Q 7 6 5 2♣ is artificial and 100% forcing, indeed it is game ♦ A 9 4 3 ♦ J 10 forcing unless the auction starts 2♣ 2♦ 2NT. 2♦ is a ♣ K J 6 4 ♣ 10 9 3 2 negative response, showing 0­7 points (or maybe up ♠ A K Q 10 7 2 to nine points in queens and jacks). 2♠ is game ♥ A K 8 forcing. 3♠ shows a few points, otherwise North ♦ Q 2 would have made a second negative bid of 2NT but ♣ A Q South is not interested in a slam. Declarer should win heart lead, cash ♥A K and ruff ♥8. He might now try the club finesse but it fails so he makes only 11 tricks. Board 12 : Dealer West : NS vulnerable ♠ 6 ♥ J 10 5 3 West North East South ♦ A 9 4 3 2♠ Pass 4♠ All Pass ♣ A K 6 4 ♠ A K Q J 7 2 ♠ 10 4 3 2♠ is forcing for one round – partner must respond. It ♥ A K 8 ♥ Q 2 shows a hand with lots of shape and high cards which ♦ 5 2 ♦ K Q 8 7 6 is not quite strong enough to open with a game­ ♣ Q 2 ♣ J 7 5 forcing 2♣. 4♠ shows a few values and some support ♠ 9 8 5 but no aces or voids and no interest in a slam. ♥ 9 7 6 4 There are ten easy tricks but if West had unwisely ♦ J 10 gone beyond 4♠ in the quest for a slam he would ♣ 10 9 8 3 have failed. Acol Opening Two Bids (DLM ref : HBSET9)

Board 13 : Dealer North : All vulnerable ♠ A K Q J 7 2 ♥ A K 8 West North East South ♦ Q 2 2♠ Pass 2NT ♣ Q 2 Pass 3♠ All Pass ♠ 9 8 5 ♠ 6 ♥ Q 9 7 6 ♥ J 10 5 3 2♠ is forcing for one round – partner must respond. It ♦ K J 10 5 ♦ A 9 4 3 shows a hand with lots of shape and high cards which ♣ J 10 ♣ A K 6 4 is not quite strong enough to open with a game­ ♠ 10 4 3 forcing 2♣. 2NT is an artificial negative bid showing 0­ ♥ 4 2 7 points. When North can only rebid 3♠ South has no ♦ 8 7 6 reason to bid on. ♣ 9 8 7 5 3 Declarer makes nine tricks by ruffing a heart in dummy before completing drawing trumps. Board 14 : Dealer East : Love all

West North East South 2♥ Pass 2NT Pass 3♦ Pass ♠ A Q J 5♦ All Pass ♥ 9 7 6 5 ♦ 10 5 2♥ is forcing for one round – partner must respond. It ♣ 10 8 6 5 shows a hand with lots of shape and high cards which ♠ K 5 4 ♠ 6 2 is not quite strong enough to open with a game­ ♥ 2 ♥ A K Q J 4 forcing 2♣. 2NT is an artificial negative bid showing 0­ ♦ Q 9 8 7 6 ♦ A K J 3 2 7 points. 3♦ is a second suit, at which point West ♣ 9 7 3 2 ♣ 4 becomes quite excited because of the good diamond ♠ 10 9 8 7 3 fit. ♥ 10 8 3 South starts with ♣A. If he switches to a spade then ♦ 4 declarer can immediately be defeated because ♠K is ♣ A K Q J sitting after ♠A. However in practice South will continue ♣K. Declarer ruffs and draws trumps. Now declarer doesn’t need the spade finesse. He cashes his hearts, throwing all of dummy’s spades. Now he can cross ruff his way to 12 tricks. Board 15 : Dealer South : NS vulnerable

West North East South 2♣ ♠ A 9 2 Pass 2♦ Pass 2♠ ♥ 6 4 Pass 3♠ Pass 4NT ♦ 9 7 6 5 3 Pass 5♦ Pass 6♠ ♣ J 3 2 All Pass ♠ 3 ♠ 6 5 4 ♥ J 10 8 7 5 ♥ 9 2 2♣ is artificial and 100% forcing, indeed it is game ♦ A K Q 4 ♦ J 10 8 forcing unless the auction starts 2♣ 2♦ 2NT. 2♦ is a ♣ 10 5 4 ♣ Q 9 8 7 6 negative response, showing 0­7 points (or maybe up ♠ K Q J 10 8 7 to nine points in queens and jacks). 4NT is ♥ A K Q 3 Blackwood: 5♦ shows one ace. South can count 12 ♦ 2 tricks. ♣ A K West starts with ♦A K. Declarer ruffs, cashes ♠A K and ♥A K and ruffs ♥3 with dummy’s ♠9. He now ruffs a diamond back to hand and draws the last trump. 12 tricks made. Acol Opening Two Bids (DLM ref : HBSET9)

♠ 8 7 5 3 2 Board 16 : Dealer West : EW vulnerable ♥ 3 ♦ Q 10 9 West North East South ♣ K J 9 8 2♣ Pass 2♥ Pass ♠ K Q J 10 4 ♠ A 6 4NT Pass 5♥ Pass ♥ K Q J 2 ♥ A 10 9 8 7 7♥ All Pass ♦ A K 2 ♦ 6 5 4 3 ♣ A ♣ 7 6 2♣ is artificial and 100% forcing, indeed it is game ♠ 9 forcing unless the auction starts 2♣ 2♦ 2NT. 4NT is ♥ 6 5 4 Blackwood: 5♥ shows two aces. West can count 13 ♦ J 8 7 tricks provided he can make five heart tricks. ♣ Q 10 5 4 3 2