Deep Finesse is now free

Maybe I'm a long way behind the curve with this one. But I have just noticed that if you visit the front page of the Deep Finesse website that their excellent double-dummy analysis software is now totally free. It's probably been free for years now, but the last time I looked it wasn't so I've been using other bits of software around for a while like Bridgify.

Safety play?

Here's a Tollemache (teams) declarer play problem. East is dealer and Passes. You quickly reach 4 after a 1NT opener (12-14), Stayman, 2 and 4. What's the best way to secure the contract on a Jack of Diamonds lead?

East Dealer

Both Vuln.

North (Declarer)

A Q 10 9

A 8 5 2

4 2

Q J 7

West

K 6 5 2

Q 9

K J 10 6

10 8 4

East

8

10 6 3

Q 9 8 5 3

A 9 5 2

South

J 7 4 3

K J 7 4

A 7

K 6 3

What does 3 mean?

So, lots of hands last weekend at the Tollemache qualifier and I'm spoilt for choice for what to write about. My pair recovered to a level of respectability by the end but missed out on excellent scores on two very tricky bidding sequences. The non-Acol players will have to imagine you are Acol players for the time being, I'm just going to offer you two different bidding sequences and you have to tell me what you think 3 should mean in each sequence.

Sequence One:

(for this sequence direct bids after 2 would have been long-suit trial bids, and a 2 raise can be made on three-cards but 1NT is available with suitable 3-card support hands)

Vulnerability: None West North East South 1 Pass 2 Pass Pass Dbl Pass 2 3

What should 3 mean? Is it a game try, is it offering place to play? Is it something else?

Sequence Two:

(you aren't playing support doubles)

Vulnerability: Both West North East South 1 Pass 1 2 2 3 3

What should 3 mean? Is it a game try in some suit, is it natural, is it forcing? Is it something else? Would your answer change if opener hasn't rebid 2?

7Dx!

Here's a troublesome play problem for you from my county match yesterday. I'm sure I got it wrong now. See if you can do any better... The auction was as follows: 1 – (1) – 2 – (Pass)
Then uninterrupted (some sub-optimal bidding occurs near the end):
2 – 3
3NT – 4
4 – 4
4 – 4NT
5 – 6
7 – Pass – (Double from West!)
Thus you find yourself as North in 7 doubled, the non-doubler, on lead, leads the ace of hearts! How do you proceed?

North Dealer

EW Vuln.

North (Declarer)

A K Q 5

K 10 7 6

K 10 9 8 5

—

West

7

Q J 9 3 2

J 3

A 10 7 4 3

East

J 10 9 6 4 3 2

A 8 5 4

7 2

—

South

8

—

A Q 6 4

K Q J 9 8 6 5 2

(yes that two of clubs is in the South hand too)
I have hidden the full hand below this button if you'd like to see how you got on. Your plan of attacks is pretty much decided at tricks two and three, so think carefully. I'm tempted to do a poll offering you the chance to play:

1. Top diamond
2. Low diamond
3. Top club
4. Low club
5. Spade

But since this is all your options, I'll leave you to offer your answers in the comments.

3NTx

Now for a really tricky hand. You open the North cards below 1, South responds 1 and after a mildly aggressive 2–2NT–3NT continuation East finds the double card! West leads the heart three and since I'm in generous mood I'll give you the whole hand if you want it too. See if you can make 3NTx. Click the link below to immediately see the full hand. If you make it even seeing all the hands then I'm impressed.

North Dealer

Both Vuln.

North

A 10 4

K Q 10 7 6

A 6

10 6 5

West

J 7 6 5

3

K 9 7 3

Q 8 7 4

East

Q 3

J 9 8 5 2

Q 8 4 2

A J

South

K 9 8 2

A 4

J 10 5

K 9 3 2

Where do you end up playing?

It's been a hectic couple of weeks and my one attempt to go to the club resulted in my first ever experience of a "not enough players" scenario! I wrote a little match report about the county match the other week so thought I'd reproduce a couple of the more interesting hands here. Firstly a bidding problem: where does your system get you to on this pair of hands? North is opener as unfavourable vulnerability at teams.

North

K Q 9 7

A J 10 8 2

4

J 7 3

South

5 4

Q 6

A J 3

10 9 8 6 5 4

If you both pass West opens a weak no-trump (if North then overcalls an artificial 2 then assume East doubles showing values with some penalty interest). We lost this board in the County Match very comprehensively. A variety of -300,-130,-110 and -100 from all sides of the table.

Play in 4S

A final hand from the Teams event the other week for you to mull over. Rotated again so that you play South, vulnerable against not, you open the hand below a slightly under-strength intermediate 2 and quickly find yourself in 4. West leads the diamond two (playing standard ACOL leads).

South Dealer

NS Vulnerable

4 by S

North

Q 4 3

K Q J 9 4

A K 10

9 7

South

A 9 8 7 5 2

7 3

8 5

A J 4

You take the lead with a top diamond. What line do you take next?