Space Cadets versus the Dirty Dozen
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On June 21st, 1998, the Space Cadets squared off against the Dirty Dozen, ably captained by Richard "RHinkle" Hinkle. Our opponents were an interesting mix: two Norwegians and two North Americans--the latter including a fellow FireSide commentator, HalSimon. Kaltica's regular Valentines partner, Ray "Rainbow" Hornby, was forced to play SAYC for the first (and, he hopes, the last!) time in his life -- with some rather confusing results!

The Cadets hung in for the first half against a great team...but our luck came to an abrupt in in the second. The Dirty Dozen were fine competitors...whom we'd like to see again in the near future.

The comments that you see between the hands are intended for Kaltica's students. Please ignore them as you enjoy these records of the decisive hands in this match.

Dirty Dozen
Space Cadets
RHinkle
Kaltica
DagJ
Rainbow
UNNI
Osprey
HalSimon
RODDY

Score
Dirty Dozen
Space Cadets
1st Half
22
9
2nd Half
43
3
Total
65
12

Most Instructive Hands
1st Half - Board 8
2nd Half - Board 1
2nd Half - Board 3
2nd Half - Board 8


Summary of Results - 1st Half
------- -- -------

   Board    Osprey's team           HalSimon's team            Score
   -----    ----------------------  ----------------------     -----
  TB.IMP  1 1NT    (N)   1 =    90, 2C     (S)   2 =    90,   0 IMPS
  TN.IMP  2 1NT    (E)   4 =  -180, 1NT    (E)   4 =  -180,   0 IMPS
  TN.IMP  3 6H     (W)   6 = -1430, 6H     (E)   6 = -1430,   0 IMPS
  TN.IMP  4 4H     (S)   6 =   680, 4H     (S)   6 =   680,   0 IMPS
  TN.IMP  5 2S     (S)   2 =   110, 3D     (E)   3 =  -110,   6 IMPS
  TN.IMP  6 3NT    (W)   4 =  -630, 4S     (E)  -1 =   100, -12 IMPS
  TN.IMP  7 3NT    (S)   4 =   630, 3NT    (S)   3 =   600,   1 IMPS
  TN.IMP  8 3S     (S)  -1 =   -50, 3D     (E)   3 =  -110,   2 IMPS
  TN.IMP  9 2S     (W)   4 =  -170, 4S     (W)  -2 =   200,  -9 IMPS
  TN.IMP 10 3NT    (S)   5 =   660, 4NT    (N)   6 =   690,  -1 IMPS

   Total    Osprey      9 IMPS,     HalSimon   22 IMPS

========================================================================
========================================================================

IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 5
Dlr: North      Osprey
Vul: N-S        S A932                    west     north    east     south
                H AKT32                   UNNI     Osprey   DagJ     Kaltica
                D J
                C 843                              1H       pass     1S
    west                   east           pass     2S       (all pass)
    UNNI                   DagJ
    S KT864                S J            Opening Lead: CQ
    H 85                   H Q974         Result: +2
    D AQ96                 D KT872        Score: 110,  IMPs:   6.00
    C Q6                   C KT7          Playing time: 5:21
                south
                Kaltica
                S Q75          1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13
                H J6        W CQ  8  5 S6-C6 S4-DA-D6 SK-D9  8 ST-DQ
                D 543       N  3  K-HA-H2  4  8  J S2-H3 S3-SA-HT S9
                C AJ952     E  7  7  4  9  T  K  2  7  Q  8  J DT  K
                            S  A-HJ  6 S5  J-C2  3  4 SQ  5  7 C5 C9

        After four dead flat hands, the Space Cadets struck first
with active bidding at both tables.  1S was an act of a trained
and experienced lunatic;  do NOT try this at home! :)

            -------------------------------------------

IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 5
Dlr: North      HalSimon
Vul: N-S        S A932                    west     north    east     south
                H AKT32                   Fireside HalSimon RODDY    rhinkle
                D J
                C 843                              1H       2D       pass
    west                   east           2H       pass     3D       (ppp)
    Fireside               RODDY
    S KT864                S J            Opening Lead: HJ
    H 85                   H Q974         Result: +3
    D AQ96                 D KT872        Score: -110,  IMPs:  -6.00
    C Q6                   C KT7          Playing time: 5:12
                south
                rhinkle
                S Q75                        1  2  3  4  5  6  7
                H J6                      W  5  6  Q-DA-D6  9-H8
                D 543                     N  K-C8  4  J C3 S2  A
                C AJ952                   E  4  7  T  2  K-D7  7
                                          S HJ  A-C5  3  4  5  6

        Holding length in RHO's suit is good for both defence AND
offence.  In the latter case, our length implies that the other
two at the table will be short in that suit, and OUR side's 
shortness is positioned AFTER theirs--facilitating overruffs in
Hearts in this particular case.  Hence, we see 2D by the East
hand here, despite the minimum strength in Diamonds and poor
overall strength.  The 2H cuebid asked if partner were minimum
(which 3D confirmed).  

==================================================================

IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 6
Dlr: East       HalSimon
Vul: E-W        S Q975                    west     north    east     south
                H 9532                    Fireside HalSimon RODDY    rhinkle
                D K75
                C 54                                        pass     pass
    west                   east           1H       pass     2NT      pass
    Fireside               RODDY          3C       pass     4C       pass
    S AT84                 S KJ2          4D       pass     4S       (ppp)
    H KQT8                 H 7
    D A862                 D QJ94         Opening Lead: CK
    C T                    C A9872        Result: -1
                south                     Score: 100,  IMPs:  12.00
                rhinkle                   Playing time: 14:06
                S 63
                H AJ64               1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12
                D T3              W  T  8  2  8-HT  4  A-S8 ST-HK-HQ-DA
                C KQJ63           N  5  9  K-D7  2  5  7  9-C4  5  3  5
                                  E  A-H7  J  4 S2-SK-SJ C2  7 D9 DQ C8
                                  S CK  A-DT  3  4  3  6 H6  J  J C3 C6

        While he is an experienced play, Fireside was playing
Standard American for the first time here!  He had heard that
SAYC players played a Jacoby 2NT, but did not know that it did
NOT apply when 2NT was bid by a PASSED hand.   2NT was a little
off-shape by East;  it should show a flat hand with 2 Hearts.
2C would be more orthodox, just as 1D would be the standard
choice of opening bids.  West bid 3C to show a shortness.  East
took this as a suit and raised.  4D and 4S were cuebids, at
which point West began to suspect that "something was up". 
While 4S is not a HORRIBLE contract, the winning contract of
3NT was passed. :(

            -------------------------------------------

IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 6
Dlr: East       Osprey
Vul: E-W        S Q975                    west     north    east     south
                H 9532                    UNNI     Osprey   DagJ     Kaltica
                D K75
                C 54                                        1C       pass
    west                   east           1D       pass     2D       2H
    UNNI                   DagJ           X        pass     3D       pass
    S AT84                 S KJ2          3NT      (all pass)
    H KQT8                 H 7
    D A862                 D QJ94         Opening Lead: H2
    C T                    C A9872        Result: +4
                south                     Score: -630,  IMPs: -12.00
                Kaltica                   Playing time: 5:23
                S 63
                H AJ64             1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13
                D T3            W  8  K-D2  6  Q-S4  8  A-DA-D8-HT-CT ST
                C KQJ63         N H2  3  5  7  9  7  5  9  K C5  5  4 SQ
                                E  7 C2  Q-D9 C7  J-SK-S2  J  4 C8  A-C9
                                S  A-H4  3  T-HJ  6  3 CK C3 C6  6  Q  J

        It was hard for North to find a Club lead here;  nor is it
obvious that a Club lead will necessarily beat 3NT.  North's only
clues were the announced Diamond fit, the pass over the 1C opening
bid and the double of 2H followed by a leap to 3NT.  If North *is*
going to lead a Heart, though, a HIGHER Heart might be more apropos,
to warn partner that there will be NO FUTURE in that suit.  Still,
a guess in the Spade suit is likely to give Declarer a 9th trick.

========================================================================


IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 8
Dlr: West       Osprey
Vul: None       S T85                     west     north    east     south
                H J954                    UNNI     Osprey   DagJ     Kaltica
                D KJT7
                C 92                      pass     pass     1H       1S
    west                   east           X!       pass     2D       2S
    UNNI                   DagJ           3D       pass     pass     3S
    S 72                   S 43           (all pass)
    H T2                   H AK763
    D A932                 D Q854         Opening Lead: HT
    C AT864                C K5           Result: -1
                south                     Score: -50,  IMPs:   2.00
                Kaltica                   Playing time: 4:27
                S AKQJ96
                H Q8                         1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8
                D 6                       W HT  2 S2-C4 D2  7  A-CT
                C QJ73                    N  4  5  9  2  J  T-C9 S8
                                          E  K-HA-H3  K-H6  4  5 D4
                                          S  8  Q D6  3 SA-S9  Q

        With 15 HCPs in the South hand we a little "soft" to warrant
a double followed by a Spade rebid, so South contented himself with
successive Spade bids.  The last of these may have worked out well,
but one can't help but get the feeling that South may have "told the
same joke twice", repeating his values in rebidding 3S here.

            -------------------------------------------

IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 8
Dlr: West       HalSimon
Vul: None       S T85                     west     north    east     south
                H J954                    Fireside HalSimon RODDY    rhinkle
                D KJT7
                C 92                      pass     pass     1H       1S
    west                   east           X        pass     2D       2S
    Fireside               RODDY          3D       (all pass)
    S 72                   S 43
    H T2                   H AK763        Opening Lead: SA
    D A932                 D Q854         Result: +3
    C AT864                C K5           Score: -110,  IMPs:  -2.00
                south                     Playing time: 6:18
                rhinkle
                S AKQJ96          1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13
                H Q8           W  2  7  A-H2  T D2-CA-C4 D3-C6 D9 C8 CT
                D 6            N  5  8  7  5  4  9  2  9  J ST DT-DJ  K
                C QJ73         E  4  3  4  K-HA-H3  5  K-H6 D5-H7  Q-D8
                               S SA-SK-D6  8  Q S6  3  7 S9  J SJ SQ CQ

        Here we see an application of Ward Rule #13:  no good bid
ever went unpunished!  South's pass of 3D is far more consistent
than a 3S bid here.  Had the pointed suits been slightly different,
3S might have been doubled and set for -300 or more against this
-110 in 3D.  In fact, if WEST had had the Diamond Queen, 3D would
have good down here, for a minus at both tables.  In esssence, then,
South is risking at least 3 IMPs (or more!) to gain 2 IMPs.

========================================================================

IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 9
Dlr: North      HalSimon
Vul: E-W        S J63                     west     north    east     south
                H K97                     Fireside HalSimon RODDY    rhinkle
                D Q74
                C T964                             pass     pass     pass
    west                   east           1S       pass     3S       pass
    Fireside               RODDY          4S       (all pass)
    S A8542                S KQ9
    H A2                   H J8643        Opening Lead: S6
    D J98                  D K63          Result: -2
    C A85                  C Q7           Score: 200,  IMPs:   9.00
                south                     Playing time: 9:03
                rhinkle
                S T7                  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10
                H QT5              W  2  A-H2  4 S5-C5  A-D8  9  A
                D AT52             N S6  7  9  3  K  6  4  4  Q-SJ
                C KJ32             E  Q-H3  4  K-H6  Q  7  K  3  9
                                   S  7  5  T-ST  Q  K-C2  A-D2 D5

        Good IMPs strategy dictates that we should bid the CLOSE
games.  With 13 HCPs -- one of which is likely wasted -- this one 
is not likely to be that close.  West may be well advised to PASS
3S here.  New to SAYC, though, West might have thought 3S was
FORCING, as it was in older versions of Standard American. :(

            -------------------------------------------

IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 9
Dlr: North      Osprey
Vul: E-W        S J63                     west     north    east     south
                H K97                     UNNI     Osprey   DagJ     Kaltica
                D Q74
                C T964                             pass     pass     1D
    west                   east           1S       pass     2D!      pass
    UNNI                   DagJ           2S       (all pass)
    S A8542                S KQ9
    H A2                   H J8643        Opening Lead: D4
    D J98                  D K63          Result: +4
    C A85                  C Q7           Score: -170,  IMPs:  -9.00
                south                     Playing time: 3:53
                Kaltica
                S T7                  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10
                H QT5              W  J-C5  2  A-C8  4  A-SA-D8 H2
                D AT52             N D4  6  J  4  9  6  7  3  7  T
                C KJ32             E  3  Q  K-C7 S9-SQ-H4 H3  6
                                   S  T  K-S7  2  3  T  5 D2  A-CJ

        2D was a gadget, similar to the TODDLER 2D, that checked 
for a valid opening bid from West.  2S, denying a valid good
opening bid, ended matters here for a well deserved plus score!

==================================================================

Summary of Results - 2nd Half
------- -- -------

   Board    Osprey's team           HalSimon's team            Score
   -----    ----------------------  ----------------------     -----
  TB.IMP  1 3NT    (E)  -1 =    50, 2S     (S)  -1 =   -50,   3 IMPS
  TN.IMP  2 1NT    (S)   1 =    90, 3NT    (N)   3 =   600, -11 IMPS
  TN.IMP  3 4S     (S)  -2 =  -100, 3S     (S)   3 =   140,  -6 IMPS
  TN.IMP  4 3NT    (W)   5 =  -660, 4H     (W)   5 =  -650,   0 IMPS
  TN.IMP  5 3NT    (N)   4 =   630, 4S     (S)   5 =   650,  -1 IMPS
  TN.IMP  6 4S-X   (W)   4 =  -790, 4S     (W)   4 =  -620,  -5 IMPS
  TN.IMP  7 3NT    (E)   3 =  -600, 2C     (E)   5 =  -150, -10 IMPS
  TN.IMP  8 2NT    (N)   2 =   120, 2H     (S)   4 =   170,  -2 IMPS
  TN.IMP  9 3C     (E)  -2 =   200, 4H     (S)   4 =   420,  -6 IMPS
  TN.IMP 10 4H     (W)   6 =  -680, 4H     (W)   4 =  -620,  -2 IMPS

   Total    Osprey      3 IMPS,     HalSimon   43 IMPS

====================================================================


IMPs            north                     TB.IMP Board 1
Dlr: North      Osprey
Vul: None       S 3                       west     north    east     south
                H KQ642                   DagJ     Osprey   UNNI     Kaltica
                D 652
                C K873                             pass     pass     1S
    west                   east           2D       pass     3NT      (ppp)
    DagJ                   UNNI
    S J9                   S T765         Opening Lead: S4
    H A85                  H J93          Result: -1
    D KJ983                D AQT          Score: 50,  IMPs:   3.00
    C QT9                  C A42          Playing time: 5:53
                south
                Kaltica
                S AKQ842          1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13
                H T7           W  9-D3  8  K-DJ-D9-CQ  T  J H5 H8 C9  A
                D 74           N  3  2  6  5 C3 H6  K  8 H2 C7 H4 HK  Q
                C J65          E  5  A-DQ-DT H3 H9  A-C4  6  7  T C2  J
                               S S4  4  7 C5 S2 H7  6  J-SA-SK-SQ-S8-HT

        UNNI was kicking himself for not making this hand.  Just
as oxygen is a "conditio sine qua non" for life on this planet,
the C-King in the NORTH hand is a precondition for making this
contract.  Hence, UNNI must "decide" that North has the Club
King and finesse the C-9 at trick seven.  This would have been
a VERY LUCKY make, though!

            -------------------------------------------

IMPs            north                     TB.IMP Board 1
Dlr: North      HalSimon
Vul: None       S 3                       west     north    east     south
                H KQ642                   RODDY    HalSimon Fireside rhinkle
                D 652
                C K873                             pass     pass     1S
    west                   east           pass     1NT      pass     2S
    RODDY                  Fireside       (all pass)
    S J9                   S T765
    H A85                  H J93          Opening Lead: D8
    D KJ983                D AQT          Result: -1
    C QT9                  C A42          Score: -50,  IMPs:  -3.00
                south                     Playing time: 5:28
                rhinkle
                S AKQ842         1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13
                H T7          W D8  J-DK  5  9  J  A-D9  9  T-CQ-D3 H8
                D 74          N  2  5  6  Q-S3 H2  4 C3  K  7  8 H6 HK
                C J65         E  A-DT  Q  3  5  6  9 HJ  A-C4  2 S7  T
                              S  4  7 S2-H7  K-SA-HT S4-C5  6  J S8-SQ

        Opposing captain Richard Hinkled played the Spade suit
brilliantly here.  TWO top spades fetched the S-J9 from RODDY.
Now he embarked on SHORT RUFFING himself to come down to the
same number of Spades as East.  Indeed, he might have made
it had the Club Ace been "onside", in the West hand.  

=====================================================================

IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 2
Dlr: East       HalSimon
Vul: N-S        S J854                    west     north    east     south
                H 2                       RODDY    HalSimon Fireside rhinkle
                D KQ8
                C K9865                                     pass     1H
    west                   east           pass     1S       pass     2S
    RODDY                  Fireside       pass     2NT      pass     3NT
    S K7                   S T962         (all pass)
    H KJ3                  H QT64
    D T9765                D AJ3          Opening Lead: S6
    C T74                  C A3           Result: +3
                south                     Score: 600,  IMPs:  11.00
                rhinkle                   Playing time: 8:04
                S AQ3
                H A9875                      1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9
                D 42                      W  K-DT  5  6  7 H3  4  7
                C QJ2                     N  4  K  8  Q-S5  8  6  8
                                          E S6  A-DJ-D3  2  9  3  A-ST
                                          S  3  2  4 H5  Q-SA-CJ-CQ

        With 9 HCPs opposite 13 HCPs neither North nor South should
be interested in game here.  Unfortunately for the Spade Cadets, 3NT
was not at all easy to defeat, given East's inability to hold up
with the C-Ace.  Given the fact that North has NOT supported Hearts,
while South HAS supported Spades, I think East may have led the
wrong 4-card major here. :(

            -------------------------------------------

IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 2
Dlr: East       Osprey
Vul: N-S        S J854                    west     north    east     south
                H 2                       DagJ     Osprey   UNNI     Kaltica
                D KQ8
                C K9865                                     pass     1H
    west                   east           pass     1S       pass     1NT
    DagJ                   UNNI           (all pass)
    S K7                   S T962
    H KJ3                  H QT64         Opening Lead: DT
    D T9765                D AJ3          Result: +1
    C T74                  C A3           Score: 90,  IMPs: -11.00
                south                     Playing time: 3:37
                Kaltica
                S AQ3                        1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10
                H A9875                   W DT  5  7  4  7  3  T HJ D6  7
                D 42                      N  K  8  Q-C5  6  2  K-C9-C8-S4
                C QJ2                     E  A-DJ-D3  3  A-HT H4 S6 S2  9
                                          S  2  4 H5  Q-CJ  A-C2 H7 H8  A

        And here we see the more value-conscious 1NT contract
making--with no overtricks!  This hand turned out to be a 
harbinger of things to come;  the Cadets' luck had certainly
turned for the worse!  :(

=========================================================================


IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 3
Dlr: South      HalSimon
Vul: E-W        S KJ85                    west     north    east     south
                H A876                    RODDY    HalSimon Fireside rhinkle
                D 4
                C Q543                                               1D
    west                   east           pass     1H       pass     1S
    RODDY                  Fireside       pass     3S       (all pass)
    S 972                  S T3
    H 432                  H QJT9         Opening Lead: CA
    D AQ63                 D JT95         Result: +3
    C AK6                  C J98          Score: 140,  IMPs:   6.00
                south                     Playing time: 6:06
                rhinkle
                S AQ64         1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13
                H K5        W CA-H4  3  9  3  6  2  Q C6  A  K-S2 S7
                D K872      N  3  A-D4  J-H6 S5-H7 S8-H8 SK-C4 C5  Q
                C T72       E  8  Q  J-S3  9  5  J  9  T  T  J  T  9
                            S  2  5  2  4  K-D7 S6-D8 SQ-DK  7  A-CT

        With a meager 12 HCPs and a doubleton in partner's suit,
South made a very reasonable pass of the invitational 3S bid here.

            -------------------------------------------

IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 3
Dlr: South      Osprey
Vul: E-W        S KJ85                    west     north    east     south
                H A876                    DagJ     Osprey   UNNI     Kaltica
                D 4
                C Q543                                               1D
    west                   east           pass     1H       pass     1S
    DagJ                   UNNI           pass     3S       pass     4S
    S 972                  S T3           (all pass)
    H 432                  H QJT9
    D AQ63                 D JT95         Opening Lead: S2
    C AK6                  C J98          Result: -2
                south                     Score: -100,  IMPs:  -6.00
                Kaltica                   Playing time: 3:57
                S AQ64
                H K5              1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12
                D K872         W S2  A-S7  2  3  3  4  6 C6  Q  K-CA
                C T72          N  J-D4  K-H6 S5-HA-H7 S8-H8 C3  4
                               E  3  T  T  Q  5  9  T  9  J-DJ  8
                               S  4  K  6  K-D2  5 SQ-D7 D8 SA-C2

        South overbid on this one, hoping that any shortness 
partern would have would NOT appear in his first bid suit.  3S
was a reasonable bid, though;  LIMIT because of the failure to
bid 2C (4th Suit forcing here).  Nevertheless, South should
have MADE 4S here by grabbing at his ONLY chance:  C-AKx onside.
Proper play would be to lead Clubs towards dummy at every
opportunity, ruffing a Heart LOW and a Heart HIGH before drawing
trump and claiming!

        So even when luck WAS on our side (as here), we were
not able to take advantage of the opportunity in this ill-fated
second half.  :(

================================================================

IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 6
Dlr: East       HalSimon
Vul: E-W        S T54                     west     north    east     south
                H T3                      RODDY    HalSimon Fireside rhinkle
                D A873
                C AT75                                      1D       pass
    west                   east           1S       pass     2C       pass
    RODDY                  Fireside       2H       pass     2S       pass
    S KJ9632               S AQ           4S       (all pass)
    H KQJ6                 H 97
    D 9                    D J6542        Opening Lead: S5
    C 84                   C KQJ3         Result: +4
                south                     Score: -620,  IMPs:   5.00
                rhinkle                   Playing time: 6:31
                S 87
                H A8542                      1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9
                D KQT                     W  2  4  8  9 S3-S6 H6 SJ-SK
                C 962                     N S5  5  A-DA-D3  4  7  7  T
                                          E  Q-CK-CQ  2  4  A-CJ-D5 C3
                                          S  7  2  6  T  Q  8  9  K H4

        Here the Space Cadet fortunes continue to sour.  South's
refusal to overcall 1H found WEST with H-KQJx instead of partner.
East's 2S was a good bid, given the fact that 2H (a 4th Suit
Force) caught East without a Heart guard.  West should NOT 
assume that 2S shows 3+ Spades, given East's failure to raise
Spades earlier.  With 3-1-5-4, East would rebid 2S, NOT 2C here.
The brisk 4S bid, at least, frightened off any doubles.

            -------------------------------------------


IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 6
Dlr: East       Osprey
Vul: E-W        S T54                     west     north    east     south
                H T3                      DagJ     Osprey   UNNI     Kaltica
                D A873
                C AT75                                      1D       1H
    west                   east           1S       pass     2C       pass
    DagJ                   UNNI           2S       pass     3S       pass
    S KJ9632               S AQ           3NT      pass     pass     X
    H KQJ6                 H 97           pass     pass     4S       X
    D 9                    D J6542        (all pass)
    C 84                   C KQJ3
                south                     Opening Lead: HT
                Kaltica                   Result: +4
                S 87                      Score: -790,  IMPs:  -5.00
                H A8542                   Playing time: 6:43
                D KQT
                C 962                        1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8
                                          W  J-S2  K-SJ-C4  6  8
                                          N HT  5  4  T  5  3  A-DA
                                          E  7  A-SQ D2  K-H9-CQ
                                          S  2  7  8 C2  6  4  9

        North did NOT have a singleton Heart OR a trump honour;
West had a singleton Diamond and a SIXTH Spade.  4S flutters 
home after BOTH opponents have endeavoured to sign off in 
part scores.  Despite the result here, I *would* encourage
anyone to double such a tentative auction with values behind RHO.

=====================================================================

IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 7
Dlr: South      HalSimon
Vul: Both       S K843                    west     north    east     south
                H 73                      RODDY    HalSimon Fireside rhinkle
                D 86
                C 98763                                              1H
    west                   east           pass     pass     2C       (ppp)
    RODDY                  Fireside
    S J65                  S A92          Opening Lead: HA
    H 8654                 H Q92          Result: +5
    D AQT9                 D J2           Score: -150,  IMPs:  10.00
    C K2                   C AQJT5        Playing time: 7:59
                south
                rhinkle
                S QT7            1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13
                H AKJT        W  4  5  6  9  K-C2 S5 SJ DT  Q-DA-S6 H8
                D K7543       N  7  3 D8  6  6  3  7  8  9 S4 S3  8  K
                C 4           E  2  9  Q-DJ-C5  A-CQ-CJ-CT-D2 S2  9-SA
                              S HA-HK-HJ  3  4 D4 S7 ST SQ  5  7 HT DK

        Here the snake-bitten Cadets are faced with a tough choice:
UNDERBID with 1NT the balancing seat, or overcall a less limited
2C?  West MIGHT have cuebid 2H as a passed hand, but where is he
going if partner isn't maximal?

            -------------------------------------------

IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 7
Dlr: South      Osprey
Vul: Both       S K843                    west     north    east     south
                H 73                      DagJ     Osprey   UNNI     Kaltica
                D 86
                C 98763                                              1H
    west                   east           pass     pass     1NT      pass
    DagJ                   UNNI           2NT      pass     3NT      (ppp)
    S J65                  S A92
    H 8654                 H Q92          Opening Lead: D4
    D AQT9                 D J2           Result: +3
    C K2                   C AQJT5        Score: -600,  IMPs: -10.00
                south                     Playing time: 3:58
                Kaltica
                S QT7                        1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9
                H AKJT                    W  9  Q-DA-CK-C2 H4 H5 S5  6
                D K7543                   N  8  6 C3  9  6  8  7 S4  3
                C 4                       E  J-D2 S2  5  A-CQ-CJ-CT-SA
                                          S D4  3  5  4 HT HJ S7 ST  Q

        Here, East choose to underbid slightly with a 12-14 point
balancing 1NT bid.  West's 2NT on 10 HCPs was a tad aggressive.
Fortunately, East was able to accept with 1 HCP MORE than he
could "possibly" have -- AND a critical 5th Club.

======================================================================


IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 8
Dlr: West       HalSimon
Vul: None       S K9                      west     north    east     south
                H Q54                     RODDY    HalSimon Fireside rhinkle
                D K9842
                C A97                     pass     1D       pass     1S
    west                   east           pass     1NT      pass     2H
    RODDY                  Fireside       (all pass)
    S T52                  S A87
    H JT6                  H A82          Opening Lead: H6
    D QJ76                 D T53          Result: +4
    C KQT                  C J863         Score: 170,  IMPs:   2.00
                south                     Playing time: 7:52
                rhinkle
                S QJ643                      1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9
                H K973                    W H6  6  2  T  J  5  T CT D7
                D A                       N  4  2  K  5  Q-S9 D4 C7
                C 542                     E  8  3  A-HA-H2  8  7 C3
                                          S  9-DA-S3  3  7  Q-SJ-S6-S4

        The Principle of Reluctant Choice states that we should
lead a trump whenever Dummy has made a tepid (or "reluctant")
choice between Declarer's two suits.  However, West knows that
Spades are breaking 3-3 for Declarer here.  Hence, a CLUB
lead is called for from this holding.  Two Clubs, two Hearts
and a Spade should hold declarer to 2H for 110 only.

            -------------------------------------------

IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 8
Dlr: West       Osprey
Vul: None       S K9                      west     north    east     south
                H Q54                     DagJ     Osprey   UNNI     Kaltica
                D K9842
                C A97                     pass     pass     pass     1S
    west                   east           pass     2NT      (all pass)
    DagJ                   UNNI
    S T52                  S A87          Opening Lead: C3
    H JT6                  H A82          Result: +2
    D QJ76                 D T53          Score: 120,  IMPs:  -2.00
    C KQT                  C J863         Playing time: 7:18
                south
                Kaltica
                S QJ643        1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13
                H K973      W  Q-CK  2  5  T HT  7  T D6 H6  J  J DQ
                D A         N  7  A-SK-S9  9 D4  8 D2 H4 D9  5  K-HQ
                C 542       E C3  6  7  A-CJ-C8-DT  8 H2 D5  A-D3  8
                            S  2  4  3  4  5 H3  A-SQ-SJ-S6-HK H7  9

        Note that 2NT by a PASSED hand is NOT Jacoby.  Rather, it
shows 11-12 points, a flat hand and, usually, TWO card support 
for Opener's major.

        When East won the Spade Ace on the SECOND round, Declarer
knew that Spades were breaking 3-3 (else East would win the FIRST
Spade).

===================================================================

IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 9
Dlr: North      HalSimon
Vul: E-W        S AKJ96                   west     north    east     south
                H J9                      RODDY    HalSimon Fireside rhinkle
                D A53
                C Q84                              1S       3C       3H
    west                   east           pass     4H       (all pass)
    RODDY                  Fireside
    S QT754                S 82           Opening Lead: DJ
    H A54                  H Q7           Result: +4
    D JT862                D 74           Score: 420,  IMPs:   6.00
    C                      C AKT9652      Playing time: 3:56
                south
                rhinkle
                S 3                          1  2  3  4  5  6  7
                H KT8632                  W DJ  5  4  A-D6  4  5
                D KQ9                     N  3  A-SK-H9  A-HJ
                C J73                     E  4  2  8  7  7  Q
                                          S  K-S3 C3  2  9  K-HT

        South made a very brave 3H bid here over the 3C pre-empt.
He was rewarded by H-J9 in dummy, the H-Qx on his right and
West's inability to lead a Club.  "Fortuna favorece a los 
audaces" is the old Spanish expression.  Fortune favours the
bold.

            -------------------------------------------

IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 9
Dlr: North      Osprey
Vul: E-W        S AKJ96                   west     north    east     south
                H J9                      DagJ     Osprey   UNNI     Kaltica
                D A53
                C Q84                              1S       3C       (ppp)
    west                   east
    DagJ                   UNNI           Opening Lead: S3
    S QT754                S 82           Result: -2
    H A54                  H Q7           Score: 200,  IMPs:  -6.00
    D JT862                D 74           Playing time: 4:16
    C                      C AKT9652
                south
                Kaltica
                S 3                          1  2  3  4  5  6  7
                H KT8632                  W  4  5  4  A-H5 D2 D6
                D KQ9                     N  9-SA-HJ  9 C4  8  Q
                C J73                     E  2  8  Q  7 C5-CK-CA
                                          S S3 H6  K-HT  2  3  7
 
        With a singleton in partner's Spades, South choose to
defend 3C unless partner could balance with a double.  Since
3H could have been EXTREMELY perilous had the Hearts NOT
been so favourably placed, I would NOT criticize South's
pass here.




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