Commentary for the WBF Simultaneous Pairs Tournament An initiative to support Youth Bridge Wednesday 14th August 2019 For more information about the way in which the WBF intends to support Youth Bridge, please go to: http://www.ecatsbridge.com/sims/WBFYouth/default.asp heart contract North-South make seven tricks. Board 1. Love All. Dealer North. West should go one down if left in 1NT or 1[. [ 10 2 Board 3. E/W Vul. Dealer South. ] K 8 7 4 { Q J 9 8 3 [ 9 8 4 3 2 } 8 2 ] 10 8 [ K J 8 [ A Q 9 4 3 { 10 6 ] 9 2 ] A J 5 } Q 10 5 3 { A 10 2 { K 5 [ 10 7 [ K J 6 } A K 10 6 4 } Q 5 3 ] Q 4 ] A K J 5 3 [ 7 6 5 { A J 8 5 4 2 { 3 ] Q 10 6 3 } A 9 2 } K J 8 7 { 7 6 4 [ A Q 5 } J 9 7 ] 9 7 6 2 Can East-West reach a grand slam? 1[-2}-2NT-3[ { K Q 9 7 is the likely start. 4{-5}-5]-5NT-7[ is a possible } 6 4 continuation. It requires mutual trust to get there 1{-1]-2{-3NT seems the most likely auction. 10 with confidence, knowing what inferences you can tricks are easy to score. Indeed, if declarer manages deduce from partner’s bidding. Perhaps with a to play the clubs for four tricks, it takes an opening minimum East does not feel like making a cue bid. {K lead to be sure of stopping 660. In theory the 7NT, 7[ and 7} are all on. Playing in no-trumps top spot is 4] because 11 tricks are always there if carries a particular premium at matchpoint scoring. you get the clubs right – by no means easy. The way +1020 should score well over average. +1510 or to play the clubs to exert the greatest pressure on +1520 will be huge. North is to start with the nine. It is so easy to cover with the ten. +650 will be a good score and +660 Board 2. N/S Vul. Dealer East. enormous. [ K 2 Board 4. Game All. Dealer West. ] K J 6 4 3 { J 6 [ — } A J 10 5 ] K 9 7 [ J 10 5 4 3 [ A 6 { K Q 10 9 ] A 8 ] 10 9 7 5 2 } A J 9 8 6 3 { A 4 2 { 10 3 [ 10 7 6 [ Q J 8 5 2 } K Q 2 } 9 7 4 3 ] 10 8 6 3 ] Q [ Q 9 8 7 { 6 5 4 2 { A J 8 3 ] Q } K 7 } Q 10 4 { K Q 9 8 7 5 [ A K 9 4 3 } 8 6 ] A J 5 4 2 With such a poor spade suit West probably opens { 7 1NT. North will overcall, perhaps showing hearts } 5 2 and a minor. In this case South does best to bid 2{ After East overcalls 1} with 1[, South should bid and rebid 3{ over the inevitable 2] from North. 2] and catch a raise to game. It takes an initial club Those who play weak twos in three suits and do not lead to stop the overtrick in 4]. On a spade or mind having a four-card major on the side will reach other lead, declarer can knock out the {A and so 3{ more easily. 3{ makes quite comfortably. In a avoid a club loser. The strength of the diamonds in dummy mean that declarer can even afford to play Board 7. Game All. Dealer South. a couple of rounds of trumps. Those who play in [ 10 9 6 3NT will make only 9 tricks for a poor score. 1[ ] K 9 8 4 doubled by East goes down 500 – not enough to { 8 6 4 make up for game. } Q J 3 Board 5. N/S Vul. Dealer North. [ K Q 4 2 [ A J 3 ] 10 7 ] J 6 3 [ 7 5 2 { Q J 5 { A K 10 9 ] Q 9 8 7 4 } K 7 6 2 } 10 5 4 { A 9 2 [ 8 7 5 } J 6 ] A Q 5 2 [ K Q 3 [ J 10 9 8 6 { 7 3 2 ] A ] 2 } A 9 8 { Q 8 6 4 3 { J 5 Most likely East opens 1NT in fourth seat, denies a } K 9 4 2 } A Q 8 5 3 four-card major after West’s 2} inquiry and [ A 4 declines a subsequent invitation to bid game. 2NT ] K J 10 6 5 3 is a poor contract but makes thanks to the kindly 4- { K 10 7 4 heart break and the position of the }A. Whether } 10 7 South leads a heart or a passive diamond, 8 tricks Whether South opens 1] or a weak 2], West should result. No doubt a few pairs will score 150 doubles for takeout and North raises. East may well if South ducks or underleads the }A. 9 tricks are bid 4[, getting West temporarily worried. The 2-2 easier in a suit contract, 140 in spades being a great club break means the defenders cannot score a ruff result. and 4[ makes. The vulnerability will surely deter North-South from bidding 5]. If they do try it, the Board 8. Love All. Dealer West. penalty should be 800. The defenders should be able [ K Q 7 3 2 to avoid opening up the diamonds and so come to ] A Q 5 a diamond as well as their four obvious winners. { J 9 4 Board 6. E/W Vul. Dealer East. } 8 6 [ J 9 8 [ A [ A 5 ] J 10 ] 9 7 4 3 ] A K J 10 9 2 { A 8 3 { K 10 7 6 5 2 { 9 4 } A K Q J 3 } 10 4 } Q J 9 [ 10 6 5 4 [ 7 6 3 [ J 10 9 2 ] K 8 6 2 ] 4 ] 8 6 5 3 { Q { J 10 6 3 2 { A Q 5 } 9 7 5 2 } K 8 4 2 } A 10 It looks tricky for East-West to reach 5{. Perhaps [ K Q 8 4 North-South will push them into it. North overcalls ] Q 7 1} with 1[ and, after East doubles, South may well { K 8 7 jump to 3[. Knowing that the hands fit well with [J- } 7 6 5 3 x-x facing a shortage, West makes a competitive After 1]-1[-3[, South faces a choice. The slow double. East might just jump to 5{ over this. On a values suggest 3NT while the lack of a club stopper spade lead declarer should make 12 tricks, finessing suggests raising to 4]. Facing this North hand 3NT the {10 on the second round of trumps. 5[ doubled is by far the better spot. It makes whenever East goes down three tricks– one trick too many. holds the {A and also when West has all the missing aces and kings. In 4] there are the twin dangers of a diamond lead through the king and of a club ruff. Those in 4] are likely to survive as East surely leads the [J. Even so, scoring 420 loses to those with 430. Commentary for the WBF Pairs supporting Youth Bridge Wednesday 14th August 2019 2 Board 9. E/W Vul. Dealer North. Board 11. Love All. Dealer South. [ 9 5 [ J 10 8 3 ] 7 5 2 ] K Q J 9 { A J 10 4 3 { 10 } Q 6 2 } Q 10 5 3 [ A Q 10 7 [ K 4 3 [ Q 6 2 [ A K 9 7 5 ] K Q J ] A 10 9 8 4 ] 6 4 2 ] 3 { K Q 7 2 { 9 8 { J 8 6 4 { 9 5 } 10 4 } J 8 7 } 8 6 2 } K J 9 7 4 [ J 8 6 2 [ 4 ] 6 3 ] A 10 8 7 5 { 6 5 { A K Q 7 3 2 } A K 9 5 3 } A If West opens 1[ in fourth seat, it will take delicate Not many pairs play an Acol 2{ these days. So, manoeuvring to reach the right contract. If East South opens 1{ and North bids 1]. East may bid raises to 2[ and West rebids 2NT, 3] from East 2NT but double seems more likely. South jumps to should be forcing (3} or 3{ would not be forcing). 3[ (splinter: raise to 4] with a singleton or void in Now West can raise to 4]. If West opens 1{, East spades) and North signs off in 4]. South is not done responds 1], West rebids 1[ and East gives false yet and cue bids 5}. With such good trumps North preference to 2{ (though some will pass or try has to bid the slam now. To make 6] you just need 1NT). West can bid 2] or even 3] over 2{ or 1NT. to ruff one diamond to set up the suit. 6[ doubled On a top club lead 4] makes easily. 2[ and 1NT are goes five down for 1100 – too much. also on. Board 12. N/S Vul. Dealer West. Board 10. Game All. Dealer East. [ J [ A K J 10 ] K 10 4 ] Q 8 { A K Q 8 7 3 2 { K 7 2 } 10 6 } A 10 8 3 [ K Q 10 8 [ A 6 4 2 [ 9 4 2 [ Q 7 6 5 ] Q J 9 8 6 ] 7 ] J 10 9 6 4 3 ] 7 { 10 5 { J 9 6 { 9 5 { Q J 10 8 6 4 } 4 3 } A Q J 8 7 } J 5 } 4 2 [ 9 7 5 3 [ 8 3 ] A 5 3 2 ] A K 5 2 { 4 { A 3 } K 9 5 2 } K Q 9 7 6 After North opens 1{ and East doubles, South After an opener’s reverse, it is common these days probably ignores the double and bids 1].