[AL78]

First board of the first round of the evening:

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We were playing 5CM strong NT. I wanted to bid 3♦ at my second turn to show a good hand with spade support but it is likely that would confuse partner, and in the past she has interpreted 3♠ in analogous auctions as invitational. When 4♦ came round to me I took partner for a minimum opener and decided opponents have gone too far so hit it. We can get it three off but I or we didn't find the perfect defence but +300 was a top as everyone else is playing in a major partscore or going off in game.

They got their revenge with interest on the next two boards:

Board 2:

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I made a mistake in the defence and let this through (I should have led a club later in the play but tried to endplay declarer in case he held the club king and blew a trump trick. Partner didn't provide a signal to suggest a potentially useful club card. I should have played one anyway, if declarer had the club king I am endplayed and it makes no difference). That was worth 10%. One pair played in 4♦X=, two were in 3♦, one took 1♠ one off.

Board 3:

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Opponents bid to 6♥ on these cards making which was worth 10% for us. Only one other pair found the heart slam, one went off in 6♠, the rest were in game.

My defence still needs some work and I am not quite managing to use the available information optimally to find the best play.

[pescetom]

It's hard to imagine how others missed the slam on board 3, unless the opponents get in early with diamonds?

[AL78]

pescetom, on 2023-March-12, 08:17, said:

It's hard to imagine how others missed the slam on board 3, unless the opponents get in early with diamonds?

I held as North:

♠93
♥2
♦QJ653
♣QT863

Partner was dealer and passed. After West opened 1♥ I decided not to bid an unusual 2NT even though we were green against red, as I felt it was most unlikely we would buy the hand and it would just present a map of the layout to declarer. I guess others thought differently.

[pescetom]

AL78, on 2023-March-12, 10:21, said:

I held as North:

♠93
♥2
♦QJ653
♣QT863

Partner was dealer and passed. After West opened 1♥ I decided not to bid an unusual 2NT even though we were green against red, as I felt it was most unlikely we would buy the hand and it would just present a map of the layout to declarer. I guess others thought differently.

2NT is either bunnicide or suicide: but even without a decent agreement over Unusual, East should be able to communicate that they may have more than game. Uncontested, it's a motorway.