Board 13: All the best laid plans...

North opted for a rather off-beat 1NT opening on this hand.  Not everyone would do that, but especially at match-pointed pairs, there is merit in steering the partnership away from minor suits and into No Trumps.  Most people would open 1♣ - but what happens next if partner responds in a major?  You have to bid 2♣, which may get passed out, and is that where you want to be?

The play was fairly uneventful and the defenders took their six obvious tricks - and at this point the vulnerability became crucial.  North-South conceded the 'dreaded -200' - which is almost always a bad score at match-pointed pairs.  At other tables, North opened 1♣, and then East showed a good hand with hearts, and East / West played the hand in hearts.  It is difficult for the Defence to prevent Declarer securing a club ruff in Dummy, so typically there will be 4 losers in a heart contract by East / West.  Two adventurous East/West pairs failed in 4♥.