Final KO First Quarter
Two 3NT contracts in first quarter helps Shark Bridge gain lead....
| Board 2 East Deals N-S Vul |
♠ K Q ♥ K J 9 ♦ K J 10 9 8 7 ♣ A Q |
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♠ J 10 9 5 4 2
♥ A Q 3 2 ♦ 6 ♣ J 4 |
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♠ —
♥ 10 7 4 ♦ A Q 5 4 2 ♣ K 9 5 3 2 |
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| ♠ A 8 7 6 3 ♥ 8 6 5 ♦ 3 ♣ 10 8 7 6 |
| West | North | East | South |
| Q-Plus Bridge | Shark Bridge | Q-Plus Bridge | Shark Bridge |
| Pass | Pass | ||
| Pass | 1 ♦ | Pass | 1 ♠ |
| Pass | 3 NT | All pass |
| 3 NT by North |
| Trick | Lead | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
| 1. E | ♣ 3 | 6 | J | Q |
| 2. N | ♦ K | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| 3. N | ♦ J | Q | ♥ 5 | ♠ 2 |
| 4. E | ♥ 7 | 8 | Q | K |
| 5. N | ♦ 10 | A | ♣ 7 | ♣ 4 |
| 6. E | ♥ 10 | 6 | 2 | J |
| 7. N | ♦ 9 | 4 | ♠ 3 | ♥ 3 |
| 8. N | ♦ 8 | 5 | ♠ 6 | ♠ 4 |
| 9. N | ♦ 7 | ♣ 2 | ♣ 8 | ♠ 5 |
| 10. N | ♠ K | ♣ 5 | 7 | 9 |
| 11. N | ♣ A | 9 | 10 | ♥ A |
| 12. N | ♥ 9 | 4 | ♠ 8 | ♠ 10 |
| 13. N | ♠ Q | ♣ K | A | J |
| Making 5, N-S +660 |
Possibly 2NT opening is best, but Shark Bridge made up for it by jumping to 3NT, making 11 tricks on a squeeze.
At the other table...Q-Plus Bridge underbid the North hand, 10 IMPs to Shark Bridge.
| West | North | East | South |
| Shark Bridge | Q-Plus Bridge | Shark Bridge | Q-Plus Bridge |
| Pass | Pass | ||
| Pass | 1 ♦ | Pass | 1 ♠ |
| Pass | 2 NT | All pass |
| 2 NT by North +180 |
Good bidding judgment and good play nets Shark Bridge 8 IMPs on board 14
| Board 14 East Deals None Vul |
♠ A 10 9 ♥ Q 9 8 4 ♦ J 8 ♣ 9 8 7 5 |
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♠ Q J 8 7 6 5 3 ♥ J 7 3 ♦ Q 2 ♣ 6 |
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♠ 4 ♥ 6 5 ♦ A 9 6 3 ♣ K Q J 4 3 2 |
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| ♠ K 2 ♥ A K 10 2 ♦ K 10 7 5 4 ♣ A 10 |
| West | North | East | South |
| Q-Plus Bridge | Shark Bridge | Q-Plus Bridge | Shark Bridge |
| 3 ♣ | 3 NT | ||
| All pass |
| 3 NT by South |
| Trick | Lead | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
| 1. W | ♣ 6 | 5 | J | A |
| 2. S | ♥ A | 3 | 4 | 6 |
| 3. S | ♥ K | 7 | 8 | 5 |
| 4. S | ♥ 2 | J | Q | ♠ 4 |
| 5. N | ♦ J | 6 | 4 | Q |
| 6. W | ♠ 3 | 10 | ♣ 2 | 2 |
| 7. N | ♠ 9 | ♣ 3 | K | 5 |
| 8. S | ♦ K | 2 | 8 | A |
| 9. E | ♣ K | 10 | ♠ 6 | 7 |
| 10. E | ♣ Q | ♦ 5 | ♠ 7 | 8 |
| 11. E | ♦ 3 | 7 | ♠ 8 | ♠ A |
| 12. S | ♦ 10 | ♠ J | ♣ 9 | 9 |
| 13. S | ♥ 10 | ♠ Q | 9 | ♣ 4 |
Shark Bridge takes the push to 3NT. After the ♣K lead, declarer wins the Ace, plays three rounds of hearts and leads the ♦J, endplaying West! A spade or diamond return sets up the ninth trick...if declarer can cash it. All roads lead to nine tricks. After the second spade to the king, East's hand is known...6 clubs, 2 hearts, 1 spade, and therefore 4 diamonds. Declarer knows to finesse against East's diamond ten at trick 11.
At the other table...
| West | North | East | South |
| Shark Bridge | Q-Plus Bridge | Shark Bridge | Q-Plus Bridge |
| 3 ♣ | Dbl | ||
| 3 ♠ | All pass |
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3 ♠ by West, ♣ 9 lead, down 1 |