WAP 5 at Morrinsville

Julian Foster and Jenna Gibbons
16 tables turned out for the penultimate heat of the WAPs. We were in esteemed company as NZ international Jenna Gibbons joined with her partner Julian Foster and came out winners today.

Here is Nick's analysis of the boards with a few photos along the way of the other successful runners and riders.

Session 1 Board 6

	K A954 65 AKJT62
2 KQJT62 K73 975		AJT86543 J92 84
	Q97 873 AQT84 Q3

What should one open with the East cards here?
4S looks a bit foolhardy at this vulnerability but on the actual hand it is hard for NS to double them (which would be a great result for NS), and even harder to stay out of an unmakeable game. The only game NS can make is 3NT and that is a bit fortuitous because West has no entry to his long hearts.
If East were to open only 3S it will be passed round to North who would double and South bid 3NT. That will make 9 or 11 tricks depending on Easts choice of lead.(A triumph for those who don’t lead partner’s suit!)

Runners up today Cambridge's Very Own Secret Weapon Herman and Michael Neels
Herman and MichaelSession 1 Board 11

	J863 853 863 Q63
T74 AK76 A97 J92		AK9 Q94 KQ4 AK87
	Q52 JT2 JT52 T54

When computer-dealt hands first came on the scene many used to complain with comments like “the distribution is always freakish” or the delightfully oxymoronic “they are always full of voids”.
This computer must have been a bit flat when dealing this board. East is likely to declare 6NT after two bids and, on seeing dummy, declarer will think “eeek! we need some good even distribution to make this one” despite the 33 high-card points.
Happily, both suits break 3-3 and 12 tricks are made for the loss of just one club trick.
Incidentally the best like of play to make the most of the chances is to lead a small club towards the C J92 early in the hand (meaning at trick 2!) and put in the 9C if South plays low. This line will fail only if North has C QTxx or South has C Qxxx and plays low. Declarer still needs the hearts to break evenly of course.

Vera and SandyOn hot form today - I heard his partner say at halftime "You should go away more often"! Back from overseas and in perfect harmony with his partner today were Vera Verhaegh and Sandy Davies. Top in the Howell section in the morning and Top their direction in the Mitchell in the afternoon this stunning Tokoroa performance saw them finish third overall.

Session 1 board 13

	43 742 KQ932 865
76 QJ85 T54 9732		J52 KT6 J86 KQ4
	AKT98 A93 A7 AJT

Those who play a strong 1NT opening like to cite hands like this as an example why. If East opens 1NT South will want to double with enough emphasis to be seen through several sheets of bidding paper.
If South starts with a small spade (best) he can win the next trick (presumably AH) and cash a minor suit Ace looking for a signal. This will allow North to run his diamonds before returning a spade for South to run that suit. Poor declarer only makes 2 tricks for -1400. (And if it was Rubber Bridge South could then claim a further 150 points for Honours!)
West might attempt a rescue but the best defence against 2CX or 2HX will yield 9 tricks for the defenders, a “mere” 1100. Which makes the score for NS declarers making their game look rather insignificant.

Anna and JacobTop non-open pair today were my Super Scorer, Super Dealer, Super Treasurer and Super Everything Bar the Kitchen Sink for the WAPS Anna Kalma with her Super Nephew Jacob

Session 1 board 14

	T92 AJT983 AJ Q7
J7 72 Q97632 T92		AKQ865 Q64 5 J64
	43 K5 K854 AK853

This hand gives a good result for those NS pairs who know how to bid constructively after an opponents opening (and who can trust each other!)
East’s 1S opening and South’s 2C overcall are routine but what should South bid after North bids 2H?
If North’s 2H bid could be a “rescue” or a half-hearted attempt to find a higher scoring contract then South is floundering in the dark. But if North can be trusted to be bidding constructively then 3H is a stand-out bid (with or without further competition from East) and North will no doubt bid the game.
The play is easy: just lead the top two trumps, then run the clubs discarding the third spade. Makes 10 tricks or 11 if the QH falls (it doesn’t).
If East leads his singleton diamond it gives declarer a chance to show off (at some risk!) Win the first trick then run the JH! (East almost certainly has the QH for his opening now West is marked with the QD.) Return to hand with QC, draw the last trump, then run dummy’s clubs discarding all three spades from hand. Voila – 13 tricks made. (Although if his assumptions about the location of the red-suit Queens are wrong partner won’t be very impressed!)

JeffreyOne of the joys of the WAP series is the opportunity for Intermediate players to earn their very first A Point. An A Plus for Jeffrey Chang and partner Malcolm Smith today. Congratulations on that first A point Jeffrey.

Session 2 Board 1

	K7 AT2 762 AJ954
T9 Q8 KQ954 KQ86		J52 KJ953 83 732
	AQ8643 764 AJT T

The pundits all say leading a KQ combination is one of the best choices. But here West has two of them and if he leads either one he presents declarer his tenth trick in his likely 4 contract.
Declarer has to work a lot harder on the lead of a heart or a trump. He will succeed if he can make West win with a club honour after his four major-suits cards have all gone. But declarer might decide the best percentage play is to finesse twice in diamonds and go down.

Session 2 Board 4

	92 T972 863 KQ65
AT65 AKJ AT954 A		KQ7 86543 KJ7 83
	J842 Q Q2 JT9742

20-point hands which are slightly unbalanced can be a nightmare. Open 1 of something and miss an easy game when partner passes with a 5-count. Open 2 and get into a hopeless game when partner has a 0-count. Open 2NT off-shape and get into the wrong game.
Happily whatever West chooses to open with this hand will avoid all those snags. Optimistic pairs will reach a red-suit slam which has a good chance of making. Declarers in 6H will find the QH obligingly falling but disobligingly promoting North’s 10H in the process. To make 12 tricks declarer needs to run the diamonds without loss. That is not as easy as it looks as the finesse of the J is as good a percentage option as any.
Declarers in 6D only need to lead the top two trumps and then ruff out North’s 10H, making 13 tricks if the QD falls and 12 if it doesn’t

So the scene is set for our finale in Hamilton on 6 August. With some clear water from the rest of the field we have the formidable reigning champions Ian and Cynthia Clayton in third position, Herman and Michael in 2nd and Gary and Yuzhong currently in the top spot. All to play for BRING IT ON!!!