Some hands from Monday night in Malahide Regional

Monday Night Sheila

Board 1 North Deals None Vul	♠ K J 7 6 4 ♥ 10 8 6 5 ♦ Q 10 5 3 ♣ —
♠ A Q 9 8 ♥ J ♦ A J 9 8 ♣ K J 8 4	N W E S	♠ 5 3 2 ♥ Q 7 4 3 ♦ 7 6 2 ♣ 7 6 2
	♠ 10 ♥ A K 9 2 ♦ K 4 ♣ A Q 10 9 5 3

NS 4♥; NS 3N; NS 3♠; NS 3♦; NS 3♣; Par +420

West	North	East	South
	Pass	Pass	1 ♣
Pass	1 ♠	Pass	2 ♣
Pass	2 ♦	Pass	3 ♣
All pass

Contract			Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W
2 ♥	S	2	1	21
2 ♥	S	3	2	25
1 NT	S	2	3	27
2 ♠	N	3	4	29
4 ♥	S	−1	5	31
3 ♣	S	−2	6	22
3 ♣	S	−1	7	24
4 ♥	N	4	8	26
3 ♣	S	−1	9	28
2 NT	S	3	10	30
4 ♥	S	−1	11	23

On this hand the bidding went as above and V3 declared the hand in 3 ♣ and dirfted the hand down 1. After the hand his first comment was "If you had have bid 2 ♥ instead of 2 ♦ we were in business as I have 4 card |♥s and thus a 4-4 fit. I quietly indicated that if he held 4 ♦s instead and I bid 2 ♥ he would be crying about the lack of a 2 ♦ bid.
I also pointed out that room was left for him to bid 2 ♥ himself. Slowly it dawned on V3 that maybe Eamon might have a good point ..

So bidding as above except for 2 ♥ instead of 3 ♣

Monday Night Sheila

Board 3 South Deals E-W Vul	♠ A K ♥ 9 7 4 ♦ 4 3 2 ♣ A Q J 3 2
♠ 10 ♥ K J 10 8 5 2 ♦ A 9 5 ♣ 10 8 6	N W E S	♠ 9 8 7 6 5 4 ♥ Q 6 ♦ 10 8 7 ♣ 9 4
	♠ Q J 3 2 ♥ A 3 ♦ K Q J 6 ♣ K 7 5

NS 4N; NS 5♣; NS 3♠; NS 4♦; NS 1♥; Par +430

Contract			Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W
3 NT	N	−1	1	21
3 NT	S	4	2	25
3 NT	S	4	3	27
3 NT	S	4	4	29
3 NT	S	4	5	31
3 NT	S	4	6	22
6 NT	N	6	7	24
3 NT	S	4	8	26
3 NT	N	6	9	28
5 ♣	N	−1	10	30
3 NT	S	3	11	23

 Here the opponents failed to lead the unbid suit and declarer had time to develop some ♦ tricks and make 12 tricks. One pair bid a slam in 6N from the North side and also avoided a ♥ lead.
The hand with the long ♥ was not on lead.

Monday Night Sheila

Board 4 West Deals Both Vul	♠ Q 8 4 ♥ Q 6 5 3 ♦ J 10 9 3 ♣ 7 4
♠ 10 6 5 ♥ 8 7 ♦ A 7 6 5 ♣ Q J 8 3	N W E S	♠ A 9 7 2 ♥ K 2 ♦ K 4 2 ♣ A K 9 5
	♠ K J 3 ♥ A J 10 9 4 ♦ Q 8 ♣ 10 6 2

E 2N; EW 2♠; NS 2♥; E 3♣; W 1N; W 2♣; EW 1♦; Par −120

Contract			Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W
2 ♣	E	3	1	31
3 NT	E	−1	2	22
3 ♣	E	3	3	26
2 ♠	E	2	4	28
4 ♣	E	−1	5	30
2 NT	E	2	6	21
3 ♣	E	3	7	23
3 ♣	E	3	8	25
3 NT	E	−1	9	27
4 ♣	E	−1	10	29
2 NT	W	2	11	24

 17 hcp opposite 7 and our opponents bid to 3 NT. A little pushy and also both EW hands lacking some 109 cards and maybe one could do with a 5 card suit somewhere.. Down 1 and good for us

Monday Night Sheila

Board 6 East Deals E-W Vul	♠ K 7 2 ♥ 6 5 2 ♦ K Q J 7 2 ♣ A K
♠ Q 9 6 3 ♥ 9 8 3 ♦ 10 8 4 ♣ 10 7 3	N W E S	♠ J 10 5 ♥ A Q 10 7 ♦ 6 3 ♣ J 9 8 2
	♠ A 8 4 ♥ K J 4 ♦ A 9 5 ♣ Q 6 5 4

NS 6N; NS 6♦; NS 4♠; NS 4♥; NS 5♣; Par +990

Contract			Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W
3 NT	S	5	1	31
3 NT	S	5	2	22
3 NT	S	5	3	26
3 NT	S	5	4	28
3 NT	S	4	5	30
3 NT	S	5	6	21
3 NT	S	6	7	23
3 NT	S	6	8	25
3 NT	S	6	9	27
3 NT	S	5	10	29
3 NT	S	5	11	24

 Everyone got the ♠ 3 lead but only 3 declarers guided home the 12 trcks available via 2 ♥ plays.
There is no danger here to lead to ♥ J and see how it goes. Of course many folk may have ducked the ♠ opening lead as it is kind of the reflex thing to do. Now they might lose ♥ A as well. 

Monday Night Sheila

Board 7 South Deals Both Vul	♠ K 2 ♥ Q 10 ♦ J 10 9 8 6 3 ♣ Q 8 5
♠ J 7 ♥ A J 8 6 3 2 ♦ K 4 2 ♣ J 7	N W E S	♠ A 8 6 3 ♥ K 7 ♦ A Q ♣ A K 6 4 3
	♠ Q 10 9 5 4 ♥ 9 5 4 ♦ 7 5 ♣ 10 9 2

EW 7♥; EW 6N; EW 5♣; EW 3♠; EW 3♦; Par −2210

Contract			Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W
6 NT	E	−1	1	30
6 ♥	W	−2	2	21
6 NT	E	6	3	23
4 ♥	W	6	4	27
3 NT	E	6	5	29
6 ♥	W	7	6	31
2 NT	E	7	7	22
4 ♥	W	6	8	24
6 ♥	W	6	9	26
4 ♥	W	6	10	28
4 ♥	W	6	11	25

My opponents Doris Mooney and Eileen Kelly cruised into a 6 ♥ slam. What can I do with 13 tricks available ....Just sit there and hope some other folk EW bid the slam and help my score.
One needs to find ♠ K lead to apply any pressure. Only Pat Walshe a legendary Irish player could find this lead. However he just kept leading Kx until he struck a bulletin hand by bringing down a World champion from Poland in 1991.

Monday Night Sheila

Board 9 North Deals E-W Vul	♠ K 8 7 6 4 ♥ 9 2 ♦ 9 3 ♣ A J 8 3
♠ A 3 ♥ A K Q 8 4 ♦ 8 6 5 ♣ K 9 5	N W E S	♠ 10 9 5 2 ♥ J 7 3 ♦ K Q 2 ♣ 10 6 4
	♠ Q J ♥ 10 6 5 ♦ A J 10 7 4 ♣ Q 7 2

EW 2♥; EW 1N; NS 2♦; NS 1♠; NS 1♣; Par −100: NS 2♠×−1; NS 3♦×−1

Contract			Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W
2 ♥	W	2	1	30
2 ♥	W	2	2	21
2 ♥	W	−1	3	23
2 ♠	N	−1	4	27
3 ♥	W	−1	5	29
1 ♠	N	2	6	31
2 ♥	W	2	7	22
3 ♥	W	−1	8	24
1 NT	W	2	9	26
2 ♥	W	−1	10	28
3 ♥	W	3	11	25

 My ♣ leads were not working well tonight at all. Here I led a ♣ and Eileen Kelly got 8 tricks and left me with a 10% score.

Monday Night Sheila

Board 10 East Deals Both Vul	♠ J ♥ K J 7 4 ♦ A K Q 8 6 2 ♣ K 4
♠ K 8 7 3 ♥ Q 10 2 ♦ 7 4 ♣ A J 8 5	N W E S	♠ A Q 9 6 ♥ A 8 ♦ J 9 3 ♣ 10 9 7 6
	♠ 10 5 4 2 ♥ 9 6 5 3 ♦ 10 5 ♣ Q 3 2

W 3♠; E 2♠; NS 2♥; NS 3♦; EW 3♣; Par −140

West	North	East	South
		Pass	Pass
Pass	1 ♦	Pass	Pass
Dbl	1 ♥	1 ♠	Pass
Pass	2 ♦	2 ♠	3 ♥
All pass

Contract			Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W
4 ♠	E	−2	1	29
1 ♦	N	4	2	31
1 ♦	N	4	3	22
1 ♦	N	4	4	24
1 ♦	S	4	5	28
3 ♠	W	−1	6	30
1 ♦	N	4	7	21
1 ♦	N	4	8	23
3 ♥	N	−2	9	25
1 ♦	N	4	10	27
1 ♦	N	3	11	26

Here it looks like Galligan or V3 were stupid and got a zero for being in 3 ♥ and going down 2 vulnerable undertricks. The truth of the matter is I opened 1 ♦ like the rest of the Norths. However 7 of them got passed out unmolested. My opponents balanced in and competed to 2 ♠ over my 2 ♦. V3 took the push and bid 3 ♥. Did not matter what I did after they reached 2 ♠ as I was on a bottom. I don't think passing out 1 ♦ is good bridge and it shows that sometimes one is unlucky who one is playing against on certain boards. Like if I was playing any of 7 other EW they would have passed out 1 ♦ and I get at least 60% instead of 0% .

Monday Night Sheila

Board 11 South Deals None Vul	♠ — ♥ 4 2 ♦ 7 4 ♣ K Q J 10 9 8 5 4 3
♠ K Q J 7 4 ♥ A 3 ♦ J 9 6 5 3 ♣ A	N W E S	♠ A 9 5 3 2 ♥ K J 9 ♦ 10 8 ♣ 7 6 2
	♠ 10 8 6 ♥ Q 10 8 7 6 5 ♦ A K Q 2 ♣ —

E 5♠; W 4♠; EW 3N; NS 4♣; NS 1♥; EW 1♦; Par −300: NS 6♣×−2

Contract			Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W
4 ♠	W	5	1	29
5 ♣	N	−1	2	31
5 ♣	N	−1	3	22
5 ♠	W	5	4	24
5 ♣	N	5	5	28
6 ♣	N	−2	6	30
5 ♣×	N	−1	7	21
5 ♣	N	−1	8	23
5 ♣×	N	−1	9	25
5 ♥	S	−4	10	27
5 ♠	W	5	11	26

on board 11 I made the decent direct 5 ♣ overcall and failed to get the reward probably due to some of those 7 pairs mentioned on the previous board failing to double 5 ♣ or bid to 5 ♠. So I only got average for my good bid.

Monday Night Sheila

Board 12 West Deals N-S Vul	♠ J 6 3 ♥ Q 6 ♦ A 10 8 ♣ A K 9 7 4
♠ A 8 5 2 ♥ A 10 9 8 4 ♦ 7 6 2 ♣ 6	N W E S	♠ Q 9 ♥ K 7 5 2 ♦ J 9 4 3 ♣ Q 8 2
	♠ K 10 7 4 ♥ J 3 ♦ K Q 5 ♣ J 10 5 3

NS 2♠; EW 2♥; NS 3♣; NS 1N; EW 1♦; Par +100: EW 3♥×−1

West	North	East	South
Pass	1 N	All pass

Contract			Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W
3 ♥	W	−1	1	29
3 ♥	E	−1	2	31
1 NT	N	2	3	22
3 ♥	W	−1	4	24
4 ♣	N	−2	5	28
3 NT	N	−3	6	30
1 NT	N	−1	7	21
1 NT	N	−1	8	23
1 NT	N	−2	9	25
1 NT	N	−2	10	27
1 NT	N	−1	11	26

Opponents cashed 5 ♥ tricks and now one has to play double dummy to make.
The lucky lie of doubleton ♠ Q onside gets you the 7 tricks. Nobody plays like this unless they get tipped off about the ♣ Q offside. I got a kind of tip but chanced it anyway and went down 2 vulnerable undertricks.

Monday Night Sheila

Board 13 North Deals Both Vul	♠ A 7 6 3 ♥ 8 2 ♦ J 4 ♣ A J 10 7 5
♠ 4 ♥ A Q J 4 ♦ A Q 7 5 ♣ 8 6 4 2	N W E S	♠ K Q J 8 5 ♥ 6 5 ♦ 8 6 2 ♣ K Q 3
	♠ 10 9 2 ♥ K 10 9 7 3 ♦ K 10 9 3 ♣ 9

EW 5N; EW 2♠; EW 3♣; EW 2♦; S 1♥; Par −660

Contract			Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W
3 NT	W	−1	1	28
3 NT	W	3	2	30
3 NT	E	3	3	21
3 NT	E	5	4	23
3 NT	W	3	5	25
3 NT	W	3	6	29
2 NT	W	4	7	31
3 NT	W	−1	8	22
3 NT	W	3	9	24
1 ♠	E	2	10	26
3 NT	W	3	11	27

Everybody's 3 NT except one pair played in 1 ♠ for some reason. With ♥♦ KINGS and the ♣ A lying well and a careful watch of the ♠ spots one could make 11 tricks. Our declarer missed a ♠ spot and thus 2 ♠ tricks ... This is where one gets lucky.
Strangely there appeared to be only 1 +660 in the 10 declarers. Maybe this needs to be addressed.

Monday Night Sheila

Board 14 East Deals None Vul	♠ 9 6 5 2 ♥ A K Q 10 ♦ 4 ♣ 10 8 5 3
♠ 7 ♥ J 8 4 3 2 ♦ A Q ♣ K J 9 6 2	N W E S	♠ Q J 4 3 ♥ 7 ♦ K J 9 6 5 3 ♣ 7 4
	♠ A K 10 8 ♥ 9 6 5 ♦ 10 8 7 2 ♣ A Q

NS 4♠; NS 3N; NS 2♥; EW 2♦; NS 1♣; Par +420

West	North	East	South
		Pass	1 N
2 ♥	Pass	3 ♦	All pass

Contract			Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W
1 NT	S	2	1	28
2 ♦	W	2	2	30
3 ♠	S	3	3	21
3 ♠	S	4	4	23
3 ♦	E	−1	5	25
2 NT	S	2	6	29
3 ♦	E	−1	7	31
2 ♥	N	−1	8	22
3 ♦	E	−1	9	24
2 ♥	W	−2	10	26
2 ♥	N	−1	11	27

2H alerted as ♥ and a minor. The passed hand East bullied into 3 ♦ and was beaten a trick. However this was not enough as North South had a ♠ contract making as many as 10 tricks despite the bad ♠ break. Maybe North should double over 2 ♥ as he needs to protect his equity.

Monday Night Sheila

Board 15 South Deals N-S Vul	♠ A Q J 10 9 ♥ 10 7 3 ♦ K Q 7 ♣ Q 5
♠ 7 6 4 3 ♥ A K 5 ♦ A 9 5 ♣ J 4 2	N W E S	♠ 8 5 2 ♥ Q J 9 8 ♦ J 10 4 3 ♣ K 6
	♠ K ♥ 6 4 2 ♦ 8 6 2 ♣ A 10 9 8 7 3

NS 2♠; NS 1N; NS 2♣; NS 1♥; NS 1♦; Par +110

Contract			Pair	Pair
			N-S	E-W
2 ♠	N	2	1	28
1 NT	W	−2	2	30
2 ♠	N	2	3	21
2 ♠	N	3	4	23
2 ♠	N	3	5	25
2 ♠	N	2	6	29
1 NT	W	−2	7	31
2 ♠	N	−1	8	22
2 ♠	N	2	9	24
2 ♠	N	3	10	26
2 ♠	N	3	11	27

There are 5 tricks on top for the defence but 3 pairs failed to collect them. We got 45% instead of 55% because of this.