Our X-Clubs readers may be interested in this issue of “Vil’s Corner” from the Hutt Club’s regular newsletter “Finesse”. Entries with answers to the final poser are welcome from members of other clubs and there will be a special prize for the perfect answer. Last month’s posers proved a bit of a challenge. Thanks to “Peter and Dale” who gave two very good, though not perfect, answers.. Well done, and thank you for your contribution. Here are my suggested answers to the questions:

1. Dealer West All Vul

AKQ KQT5 KQJ84 4

J86542 A92 AT AK

Playing basic NZ Bridge Acol, how should the bidding go to arrive at the optimum contract?

Teams play can be much more interesting and exciting than any match point session. That is because matches can be won or lost in just one hand, with big swings possible when either team fails to make their game or slam, or when one team is in slam and the opponents only in game. This deal was played in a slam at both tables in two of our matches and could have resulted in a big swing one way or another and a big win for either team. There were six matches in progress but only in two matches was the slam bid. More interestingly, in one match, both declarers made but should not have. In the other match both declarers failed, as indeed they should have. Another interesting thing was that it was in the top of the table match that both declarers were allowed to make the slam by less than adequate defence. But at least both declarers gave it their best shot and gave the defence a chance to go wrong.

Board 20 from Tuesday 11/10/22
Dealer West All Vul

	AQJ542 A3 65 A75
87 QT75 QJ92 Q92		96 J64 T873 K863
	KT3 K982 AK4 JT4

Do you have trouble with big hands? I regularly hear explanations of “19+”, “22+”, “19-21” etc, for both a 2C and a 2D opening, without any real indication of just what the bid means or what its purpose is. Board 6 provided a great example of how difficult (or easy?) it can be to bid big hands to the correct spot.

Board 6 from Friday 19/09/22
Dealer East EW Vul

	A72 K74 J652 Q85
QT8653 53 87 J32		K AT986 AKQ AK76
	J94 QJ2 T943 T94

I believe that this deal has been written up elsewhere but here is my perspective on it, aided by some of my own panelists.

Board 4 from Tuesday 13/09/22
Dealer West All Vul

	KQ8653 75 T854 3
J7 984 J932 KJ87		A9 AKQJ AK Q9642
	T42 T632 Q76 AT5

Sometimes Deep Finesse does manage to play a hand how it should be played and still get a much better result than most mere mortals. This deal gives us a very good illustration of that. Not one of our declarers made eleven tricks in a heart contract but the Deep Finesse way is not esoteric at all. Rather, any declarer who follows basic principles of play will probably manage to do what Deep Finesse can do, without stumbling on any ‘anti percentage’ lines that DF is well known for.

Board 8 from Tuesday 2/08/22.
Dealer West Nil Vul

	87432 AQJ93 J6 2
KJ965 Q84 KT743		Q K854 KT953 986
	AT T762 A72 AQJ5