vg|English Premier League Weekend 3,Match 19 of 21,I,1,16,Hinden,0,Small,0| rs|,3HE+1,,3NN-1,,2HS=,,3NE-1,,3NN-3,,3NS-3,,3NN=,,3NN+1,,4NE+1,,2SW+1,,3SS+2,,4HN=,,2HN-2,,2SS-1,,1NE+2,,1NS=| pn|South,West,North,East,Cox,Allerton,Taylor,Jagger|pg|| qx|c1|st||md|3S985HK6DA532CAT52,SAJ432HAJT82D76CJ,SKQTH973DKQ9CQ987,S76HQ54DJT84CK643|sv|o|nt|paulg: Hi everyone, the East-West names need to be updated since they play for the Black team|pg|| mb|1C!|an|2+|mb|p|mb|2C!|mb|3C!|nt|paulg: We'll soon know if Cameron Small and Jon Cooke are playing NS as they play a strong club.|pg|| mb|p|mb|3H|mb|p|mb|p|mb|p|pc|cA|nt|paulg: North-South have points but no fit, so despite both showing values they let the opponents win the contract|pg|| pc|cJ|pc|c7|pc|c4|pg|| nt|paulg: North's @c7 will not be a clear signal to South|pg|| pc|h6|pc|h2|pc|h3|pc|hQ|pg|| pc|cK|pc|c2|pc|d6|pc|c8|pg|| pc|s6|pc|s5|pc|s2|pc|sT|pg|| pc|dK|pc|d4|pc|d5|pc|d7|pg|| pc|h7|pc|h4|pc|hK|pc|hA|pg|| pc|sA|pc|sK|pc|s7|pc|s8|pg|| pc|s3|pc|sQ|pc|h5|pc|s9|pg|| mc|10|nt|paulg: Everything sitting very nicely for declarer and he will be surprised to get an overtrick|pg|| pg|| qx|c2|st||md|4S82HAQ5DT54CAK542,SQJT9765H72DK6CQ6,SAK3HK963DQ987CT9,S4HJT84DAJ32CJ873|sv|n|nt|paulg: Jagger and Allerton played for England in the Bermuda Bowl earlier this year|pg|| nt|paulg: The Small team currently in third, just 4VP behind second who they will play later today.|pg|| mb|p|mb|1C!|an|2+|nt|paulg: Hinden in 4th, a little adrift of third place|pg|| mb|3S|nt|paulg: The standings at the start of the day at https://www.ebu.co.uk/documents/results-data/2019/premier-league/PL2019Div1.htm|pg|| mb|3N|mb|p|mb|p|mb|p|nt|paulg: There will be a two-minute pause at 11am as it is Remembrance Sunday|pg|| pc|s4|nt|paulg: Live scores, when the page is updated, at https://www.ebu.co.uk/dynamic/results/|pg|| nt|paulg: I don't know North-South, John Cox and Peter Taylor, but I do not play very often in England these days|pg|| nt|paulg: West's pre-empt suggesting bad breaks which is why declarer is taking his time.|pg|| nt|paulg: He might also take a break here rather than play a few tricks with the 2-minute pause coming up|pg|| pc|s2|pc|s9|pc|sK|pg|| pc|cT|pc|c3|pc|cA|pc|c6|pg|| pc|d4|pc|d6|pc|d9|pc|dJ|pg|| nt|paulg: If the @dJ is onside, then he can make two spades, three hearts, two diamonds, and two clubs|pg|| pc|hJ|pc|hQ|pc|h7|pc|h3|pg|| pc|dT|pc|dK|pc|d7|pc|d2|pg|| nt|paulg: East in danger of being squeezed but West just needs to remove a black entry from NS|pg|| pc|sQ|pc|sA|pc|d3|pc|s8|pg|| pc|dQ|pc|dA|pc|d5|pc|s5|pg|| pc|c7|pc|cK|pc|cQ|pc|c9|pg|| pc|hA|pc|h2|pc|h6|pc|h4|pg|| pc|h5|pc|s6|pc|hK|pc|h8|pg|| pc|d8|pc|c8|pc|c2|pc|s7|pg|| nt|paulg: North needs to cash the @d8 now and have two entries to the South hand, so the squeeze was never likely to materialise|pg|| mc|8|pg|| qx|c3|st||md|1SQJHJ76DAKJ85CAJ6,SK9842HA85DT9C832,ST653HT9432D76CQT,SA7HKQDQ432CK9754|sv|e|nt|paulg: North took a reasonable line but it is the type of hand where you think, perhaps, you could have done better|pg|| mb|1N|mb|p|nt|paulg: I'm told Hinden ducked the first spade and this was sufficient for the squeeze to materialise.|pg|| mb|2D!|mb|p|mb|2H|mb|p|mb|p|mb|p|pc|dT|pc|d6|pc|d4|pc|dJ|pg|| pc|sJ|pc|s2|pc|s3|pc|sA|pg|| nt|paulg: Strangely our tables seem to be linked but no score comparisons.|pg|| pc|d2|pc|dA|pc|d9|pc|d7|pg|| pc|sQ|pc|sK|pc|s5|pc|s7|pg|| pc|c8|pc|cQ|pc|cK|pc|cA|pg|| pc|h6|pc|h5|pc|h2|pc|hQ|pg|| pc|dQ|pc|dK|nt|paulg: Defence trying hard to find a layout that allows them to beat this contract. They will fail.|pg|| pc|hA|pc|s6|pg|| pc|s9|pc|sT|pc|hK|pc|d5|pg|| nt|paulg: In this pursuit they are doing well not to concede an overtrick|pg|| mc|8|pg|| qx|c4|st||md|2SKQ762HT9D98CQ854,SAT854HAJ742DA43C,SJHKQ63DKJT72CT97,S93H85DQ65CAKJ632|sv|b|mb|1S|mb|p|mb|2C|mb|p|mb|2H|mb|p|mb|2N|nt|paulg: Jagger and Allerton one of the few top pairs playing Acol and 4-card majors, although (I suspect) with plenty of gadgets.|pg|| mb|p|mb|3C!|an|GF, 6/4 or 5/5 or club fragment|mb|p|mb|3D!|an|relay|mb|p|mb|3H|an|5/5|mb|p|mb|3S!|an|doubt|mb|p|mb|3N|mb|p|mb|p|mb|p|nt|paulg: EW system card at http://www.ecatsbridgenews.com/WBFsystems/Bermuda-Bowl-2019Wuhan/England/Jagger-Allerton.pdf|pg|| nt|paulg: I suspect 3@c is like checkback|pg|| pc|s2|nt|paulg: They do play that a 1@s opener shows five|pg|| pc|s4|pc|sJ|pc|s3|pg|| nt|paulg: Allerton a little short of entries to his hand and tricks in general.|pg|| nt|paulg: It looks normal for Taylor to switch to a diamond here even if it concedes a trick|pg|| nt|paulg: however he may be worried about East holding @DQ9xx|pg|| nt|paulg: or @dQ8xx ... so he may switch to a small one|pg|| pc|cT|nt|paulg: it probably depends on what East has shown in the auction ... so a club may be an option|pg|| pc|c2|pc|c5|pc|h2|pg|| nt|paulg: and now the defence needs to be careful|pg|| pc|c9|pc|cJ|pc|cQ|pc|s5|pg|| pc|c4|nt|paulg: Perhaps not that careful ... even a diamond switch now and continuation leaves declarer a trick short|pg|| pc|h4|pc|c7|pc|cK|pg|| pc|cA|pc|c8|pc|h7|pc|h3|pg|| pc|c6|pc|s6|pc|d3|pc|d2|pg|| pc|c3|pc|hT|pc|hJ|pc|d7|pg|| pc|s9|pc|s7|pc|sT|pc|dT|pg|| pc|sA|pc|h6|pc|h5|pc|sQ|pg|| pc|hA|pc|hQ|pc|h8|pc|h9|pg|| pc|s8|pc|hK|pc|d5|pc|sK|pg|| pc|d9|pc|d4|pc|dK|pc|d6|pg|| pc|dJ|pc|dQ|pc|d8|pc|dA|pg|| nt|paulg: Good try by Allerton, but the defence would have been different if South had the @dK|pg|| pg|| qx|c5|st||md|3SA753HQDAK3CKJT65,SQT9HKT9742DQC974,SJ42HA8DT98742CQ2,SK86HJ653DJ65CA83|sv|n|mb|p|mb|p|mb|1C!|an|2+|mb|2H|nt|paulg: NS going to be pushed around here. I suspect North will pass 2@h without four spades.|pg|| mb|p|mb|p|mb|d|mb|p|nt|paulg: It's never nice to introduce a six-card suit headed by the 10 at the three-level|pg|| mb|3D|mb|p|nt|paulg: but now Taylor might be able to bid a constructive 3@d (with 2NT being weaker hands)|pg|| mb|3H!|mb|p|mb|3N|mb|p|mb|p|mb|p|nt|paulg: Allerton's silence, with four-card support, may work to his advantage here|pg|| pc|h3|nt|paulg: Both North and South hoping that their partner has more length in hearts from the auction|pg|| pc|hQ|pc|hK|pc|hA|pg|| pc|dT|pc|d5|pc|dA|pc|dQ|pg|| pc|dK|nt|paulg: Taylor's best chance is to feign strength|pg|| pc|c9|pc|d2|pc|d6|pg|| pc|c5|pc|c7|pc|cQ|pc|cA|pg|| pc|hJ|pc|s3|pc|h2|pc|h8|pg|| pc|dJ|pc|d3|pc|c4|pc|d4|pg|| nt|paulg: But now the roof will cave in. At least no game makes but never nice to go a lot down vulnerable.|pg|| pc|h6|pc|s5|pc|hT|pc|s2|pg|| mc|6|nt|paulg: Although 3NT is the 'normal' minor game, so you just hope for a flat board at down three|pg|| pg|| qx|c6|st||md|4SQJ7HAK52DAKT52C7,SAK652HT8D4CAJT63,S43HQJ74DQJ986CQ4,ST98H963D73CK9852|sv|e|mb|p|mb|1D|mb|1S|nt|paulg: Blacks versus Reds|pg|| mb|3D!|mb|p|mb|3N|mb|p|mb|p|mb|p|pc|sA|pc|s3|pc|sT|pc|s7|pg|| pc|cJ|pc|cQ|nt|paulg: The point of the game blacks vs reds is that you finish in a black or red contract.|pg|| pc|cK|pc|c7|pg|| nt|paulg: Not repeat the previous hand and go three down in three no trump|pg|| pc|s9|pc|sJ|pc|sK|pc|s4|pg|| pc|cA|pc|c4|pc|c2|pc|d2|pg|| mc|6|pg|| qx|c7|st||md|1ST7HJ984DJ83CKQ73,SQJ62H6DK652CJ654,SK43HAKDAQT4CA982,SA985HQT7532D97CT|sv|b|mb|p|mb|p|mb|2N|mb|p|mb|3C|an|Muppet Stayman|mb|p|mb|3H!|an|no 4 or 5 card Major|mb|p|mb|3N|mb|p|nt|paulg: The live scores showing that Hinden is leading 29-0 IMPs after 5 boards|pg|| mb|p|mb|p|pc|h5|pc|h8|pc|h6|pc|hK|pg|| pc|c2|pc|cT|pc|cK|pc|c6|pg|| pc|dJ|pc|d6|pc|d4|pc|d7|pg|| pc|d3|pc|d2|pc|dT|pc|d9|pg|| pc|c8|pc|h7|pc|cQ|pc|c4|pg|| pc|c3|pc|c5|pc|c9|pc|h2|pg|| pc|cA|pc|h3|pc|c7|pc|cJ|pg|| pc|hA|pc|hT|pc|h4|pc|s6|pg|| pc|dA|pc|s5|pc|d8|pc|d5|pg|| pc|dQ|pc|s8|pc|h9|pc|dK|pg|| pc|sQ|pc|sK|pc|sA|pc|s7|pg|| pc|hQ|pc|hJ|pc|s2|pc|s3|pg|| pc|s9|pc|sT|pc|sJ|pc|s4|pg|| pg|| qx|c8|st||md|2SJTHQT3DA52CJ8754,SA8432H85DK93C962,SKQ76HAK92DQ87CAQ,S95HJ764DJT64CKT3|sv|o|mb|p|mb|2D!|mb|p|mb|2S!|mb|p|mb|2N|an|18-20 bal|mb|p|mb|3N|mb|p|mb|p|mb|p|nt|paulg: 2@d may be multi or a Mexican 2@d shows 18-20 balanced|pg|| pc|h4|nt|paulg: 2@s will be a puppet to 2NT to ensure that North plays the contract|pg|| nt|vugraphzgj: 2D was showing 18-20|pg|| pc|hT|pc|h8|pc|h2|pg|| pc|c4|pc|c2|pc|cQ|pc|cK|pg|| pc|d4|pc|d2|pc|dK|pc|d8|pg|| nt|paulg: Defence has limited weapons in this fight|pg|| mc|10|pg|| qx|c9|st||md|3SJT83HAT73D2CT965,SQ5HK96542DKQJ3C2,S974H8DAT865C8743,SAK62HQJD974CAKQJ|sv|e|mb|p|mb|2N|mb|p|mb|3D!|mb|p|mb|3H|nt|paulg: Jeff Meckstroth allegedly said, "if you hold a six-card suit opposite a 2NT opener, just bid slam". He didn't mean this hand, obviously.|pg|| mb|p|mb|4D|mb|p|nt|paulg: Jagger may sign off in 4NT here|pg|| mb|4N|mb|p|nt|paulg: Will Allerton respect this with his aceless hand or is worth one more try? If so, how?|pg|| mb|p|nt|paulg: I think he will be conservative|pg|| mb|p|nt|paulg: he will be nervous, but this is well judged by the pair|pg|| pc|sJ|pc|sQ|pc|s4|pc|s2|pg|| pc|h2|pc|h8|pc|hQ|pc|hA|pg|| pc|d2|pc|dK|pc|dA|pc|d4|pg|| mc|11|pg|| qx|c10|st||md|4SQ2HA92DJT4CJT962,SAT854HT74DAQ96C4,SJ93HKQ5D75CAQ873,SK76HJ863DK832CK5|sv|b|mb|p|mb|p|mb|1S|nt|paulg: Jagger will respond 2@c, a good raise to 2@s by a passed hand|pg|| mb|p|mb|2C!|mb|p|nt|paulg: North-South don't have the values or hearts to make competing easy|pg|| mb|2S!|nt|paulg: you generally need one or the other|pg|| mb|p|mb|p|mb|p|nt|vugraphzgj: 2C was natural 9-11 or a good spade raise|pg|| pc|s3|pc|s6|pc|sQ|pc|sA|pg|| pc|c4|pc|cA|nt|paulg: a boring hand with three hearts and a trump to lose although one heart can go on the @cK - time for a coffee|pg|| pc|c5|pc|c2|pg|| pc|d7|pc|d2|pc|dT|pc|dA|pg|| pc|s5|pc|s9|pc|sK|pc|s2|pg|| pc|cK|pc|c6|pc|h7|pc|c8|pg|| pc|s7|pc|c9|pc|s8|pc|sJ|pg|| pc|cQ|pc|h3|pc|cT|pc|s4|pg|| mc|9|pg|| qx|c11|st||md|1SAJ652HJ3D976C976,S83HQ94DT2CKT8543,SQT97HKT2DAKQ84C2,SK4HA8765DJ53CAQJ|sv|o|mb|p|mb|p|mb|1D|mb|1H|mb|1S|nt|paulg: Hinden now leading 41-0 after nine boards|pg|| mb|2H|mb|2S|mb|3H|mb|p|mb|p|nt|paulg: 1@s may show five spades, North is cautious as his @hK looks wasted|pg|| mb|3S|mb|p|nt|paulg: Which it is, but his @h10 has value|pg|| mb|p|mb|p|nt|vugraphzgj: 1S only showed 4|pg|| pc|h4|nt|paulg: Of course, not bidding 20 point non-vulnerable games on two finesses is not the end of the world|pg|| pc|h2|pc|hA|pc|hJ|pg|| nt|paulg: Thanks Erwin|pg|| pc|cA|pc|c6|pc|c5|pc|c2|pg|| pc|cQ|pc|c7|pc|c3|pc|s7|pg|| pc|s9|pc|s4|pc|s2|pc|s3|pg|| pc|sT|pc|sK|pc|sA|pc|s8|pg|| mc|11|pg|| qx|c12|st||md|2SA73HAJ53DAKJT9C7,SQJ64HQT9DQ5CAKQ5,S952H87642D86C984,SKT8HKD7432CJT632|sv|n|nt|vugraphzgj: It's Jack here again|pg|| nt|paulg: Hi Jack again :)|pg|| mb|1C|mb|p|mb|3C!|an|6-8|nt|paulg: Allerton-Jagger playing a weak no trump with 1@c promising 3-cards|pg|| mb|d|mb|p|mb|3H|mb|p|nt|paulg: I expect Cox will raise Taylor's 3@h call to game|pg|| mb|4H|mb|p|mb|p|mb|p|nt|paulg: Having missed a 20 point game on the last hand, now we'll try a 17 point one!|pg|| pc|cJ|pc|c7|pc|c5|pc|c4|pg|| nt|paulg: it looks like a spade switch is needed in case declarer gets the diamonds right|pg|| pc|d7|pc|dA|pc|d5|pc|d6|pg|| pc|hA|pc|h9|pc|h2|pc|hK|pg|| pc|dK|pc|dQ|pc|d8|pc|d2|pg|| pc|dJ|pc|hT|pc|s2|pc|d4|pg|| pc|s4|pc|s5|pc|s8|pc|sA|pg|| pc|dT|pc|hQ|pc|s9|pc|d3|pg|| mc|10|pg|| qx|c13|st||md|3SQT8632H8D952CAJT,SAKHT932DQJ8C9532,S54HAKQ76DT643C76,SJ97HJ54DAK7CKQ84|sv|b|nt|paulg: I'm surprised Allerton did not take charge of the defence here, by winning the first trick. Probably unrealistic for East to find a spade switch although he would not expect East to have both major kings|pg|| mb|2H!|an|weak|mb|p|mb|p|mb|p|nt|paulg: Since they do not play multi, I expect this is just a weak two|pg|| pc|dA|pc|d2|pc|dQ|pc|d6|pg|| nt|paulg: It is called a well-timed weak two when you make the contract .. otherwise it is ill-timed|pg|| pc|cK|nt|paulg: especially when you keep the opponents out of a non-making game|pg|| pc|cA|pc|c5|pc|c7|pg|| pc|cT|pc|c2|pc|c6|pc|cQ|pg|| pc|dK|pc|d5|pc|d8|pc|d3|pg|| pc|d7|pc|d9|pc|dJ|pc|d4|pg|| pc|sA|pc|s5|pc|s9|nt|paulg: Of course it must be said that opening a weak 2@h here may prevent your partner from doing something ill-timed, which is often a benefit|pg|| pc|s2|pg|| pc|sK|pc|s4|pc|s7|pc|s3|pg|| pc|c3|pc|dT|pc|c4|pc|cJ|pg|| pc|h8|pc|h3|pc|hA|pc|h4|pg|| pc|hK|pc|h5|pc|s6|pc|h2|pg|| pc|hQ|pc|hJ|pc|s8|pc|h9|pg|| mc|6|pg|| qx|c14|st||md|4SJ8532HJ874DAJCQ3,SK64H93DKT952CJ72,ST97HA6DQ863CA865,SAQHKQT52D74CKT94|sv|o|nt|paulg: 47-12 IMPs after 12 boards but a good result to come for Small on 13|pg|| mb|1H|mb|p|mb|1N|mb|p|mb|2C!|an|natural or a good hand|mb|p|nt|paulg: 2@c is a Gazzilli-like call, either natural, invitational in hearts, or any game forcing hand|pg|| mb|2D!|an|most hands|mb|p|mb|2H|an|Hearts and Clubs, NF|mb|2S|mb|p|nt|paulg: No continuations on their card but there is a limit to how much you put on and players are not really concerned about later actions (they can ask with screens easily enough)|pg|| mb|p|mb|p|nt|paulg: An aggressive balance by Cox|pg|| pc|h9|pc|h6|pc|hQ|pc|h4|pg|| pc|sA|pc|s2|pc|s4|pc|s7|pg|| pc|sQ|pc|s3|pc|s6|pc|s9|pg|| pc|h2|pc|h7|pc|h3|pc|hA|pg|| nt|paulg: Tough for Jagger now, a diamond switch looks like it would set up tricks for declarer and a club switch is dangerous|pg|| pc|d3|pc|d7|pc|dA|pc|d2|pg|| pc|h8|pc|d5|pc|sT|pc|h5|pg|| pc|d6|pc|d4|pc|dJ|pc|dK|pg|| pc|sK|pc|c5|pc|c4|pc|s5|pg|| pc|c2|pc|cA|pc|c9|pc|c3|pg|| pc|dQ|pc|hT|pc|cQ|nt|paulg: Cox refuses the diamond finesse so that he can ruff a heart and he can establish a second diamond trick for a discard|pg|| pc|d9|pg|| pc|d8|pc|cT|pc|s8|pc|dT|pg|| mc|7|pg|| qx|c15|st||md|1SAK54H53DJ74CK865,ST96HAQ74DKT63CT7,SJ73HKT962D8CQJ43,SQ82HJ8DAQ952CA92|sv|n|nt|paulg: well played by still down one, but probably a good save|pg|| mb|p|mb|p|mb|p|mb|1N|mb|p|mb|p|nt|paulg: 25 minutes left for two boards - a lifetime for EW who are never the fastest pair|pg|| mb|p|pc|sA|nt|paulg: Whenever you play the weak no trump and it gets passed out, you are always played to see nine points in dummy|pg|| pc|s6|pc|s7|nt|paulg: Although many will open the South hand.|pg|| pc|s2|pg|| nt|paulg: Declarer playing the same signalling method as the defence. So he encourages a spade continuation.|pg|| pc|s4|pc|s9|pc|sJ|pc|sQ|pg|| pc|dA|nt|paulg: If NS were playing standard signals, he'd have followed with the @s8 when North played the @s3|pg|| pc|d4|pc|d3|pc|d8|pg|| pc|d2|pc|d7|pc|dK|pc|h2|pg|| pc|dT|pc|s3|pc|dQ|pc|dJ|pg|| pc|d9|pc|c5|pc|d6|pc|c4|pg|| pc|d5|pc|h5|pc|sT|pc|h6|pg|| nt|paulg: If you make the defensive signals difficult to read, then occasionally they will not find the best defence and your life will be easier. Especially when there is zero cost to you.|pg|| pc|hJ|pc|h3|pc|h4|nt|paulg: Hinden leads 50-12 after 13 boards and will now be close to Small in the table. De Botton will be leading with two matches to play in the event.|pg|| pc|h9|pg|| pc|s8|pc|sK|pc|h7|pc|c3|pg|| nt|paulg: De Botton has to play both these teams though, a tough run in|pg|| pc|s5|pc|c7|pc|cJ|pc|c2|pg|| mc|9|pg|| qx|c16|st||md|2SAJ86HAKJTD742CA3,S52H75DAQ98CT8754,SQT9H8643DT6CQJ92,SK743HQ92DKJ53CK6|sv|e|mb|p|nt|paulg: Last hand and the next match starts in 45 minutes, at 13.25 GMT|pg|| mb|p|mb|p|nt|paulg: Thanks to Jack for an excellent job and all the kibs for their help|pg|| mb|1N|mb|p|nt|vugraphzgj: Thank you Paul for your commentary|pg|| mb|p|mb|p|pc|c5|pc|cQ|pc|cK|pc|cA|pg|| nt|paulg: David Bird has been doing voice commentary I believe at the other table. He will leave in disgust in the final two contracts are 1NT at his table!|pg|| pc|s8|pc|s2|pc|s9|pc|sK|pg|| pc|dJ|pc|d2|pc|d9|pc|d6|pg|| pc|d3|pc|d4|pc|dQ|pc|dT|pg|| pc|c8|pc|cJ|pc|c6|pc|c3|pg|| pc|sQ|pc|s3|pc|s6|pc|s5|pg|| pc|sT|pc|s4|pc|sJ|pc|c4|pg|| pc|sA|pc|c7|pc|h3|pc|s7|pg|| pc|hA|pc|h7|pc|h4|pc|h2|pg|| pc|hK|pc|h5|pc|h6|pc|h9|pg|| pc|hT|nt|paulg: Thanks everyone|pg|| pc|d8|pc|h8|pc|hQ|pg|| mc|7|nt|vugraphzgj: Thank you and we'll be back soon|pg|| pg||