Set 29 Results

Set 29 Results

Author: Larry Cohen

Date of publish: 9/16/2017

Level: Intermediate to Advanced

Deal 1: East Deals, E-W Vul.

♠ --  
♥ AKQ876  
♦ J104  
♣ Q876
 

♠ J876  
♥ 532  
♦ AQ3 
♣AK5

Scores:

6♠:10
5♠:5
7♠:3

After Easts 1♠ and West's 1♠, East might choose to ignore the spades (due to his flat shape and poor spades). West could just sign-off in 4♠, but if he uses new minor and finds a heart fit, he might then self-splinter (if possible) in spades. Something like:  1♠-1♠-1NT-2♠-2♠-3♠.   East's hand is now tremendous; he could use RKC (even if West can show 2 with and a void, East should be content to stop in 6--as many pairs might stop in game).  If East rebids 1♠, it is harder to reach this excellent slam (I'd guess it to be about 90%).

Deal 2: West Deals, E-W Vul.

♠ AK1095  
♥ KQ1094  
♦ A3  
♣ A
 

♠ 63  
♥ J863  
♦ K975  
♣ 642

Scores:

6♠: 10
5♠: 6
1♠: 3

If West starts with 2♠, it rates to go:2♠-2♠-2♠-2NT-3♠. If East raises to 4♠, West might pass. If East bids 4♠, that should be a control-bid raise (too late for diamonds)--but it isn't clear he is worth it. If he does bid 4♠, West will RKC into the great slam.  If West starts with 1♠, well ... you see the score listed.

Deal 3: West deals, N-S Vul.

♠ Q4  
♥ --  
♦ KQ1094  
♣ J108754
 

♠ A82  
♥ AK3  
♦ A54  
♣ AK32

Scores:

7NT: 10
7♠: 9
7♠: 8
6NT: 6
6♠: 5
6♠:4
Games: 1

Over East's 2♠ (assuming 2NT tops out at 21), West doesn't have enough for 3♠. Assuming he waits with 2♠, does he have a way to show minors (maybe 3♠) after the 2NT rebid?  If so, East would/should show clubs.  West maybe uses 5♠ next as Exclusion RKC? Not an easy one!

Deal 4: East Deals, Nobody Vul.

♠ KQ93  
♥ Q  
♦ 642  
♣ AK982
 

♠ AJ2  
♥ K984  
♦ AK3  
♣ Q65

Scores:

6NT: 10
6♠: 9
6♠: 8
5NT: 5
4♠: 4
5♠: 3

After East's 1NT, it is a matter of methods.  How does West show 5 clubs and 4 spades? If he does, East has a beautiful hand fora club slam and likely he will take over at some point with a keycard ask.  Knowing everything is present except for 1 keycard, perhaps he can take a stab at 6NT.