VanLearners Section X Monday Evening June 22, 2026

Results for Section X, North-South
Pair#PercentScoreRankMPtsPlayers
X4N 67.26% 56.5010.48Joan Christensen - Carol Linda Ward
X8N 60.71% 51.0020.34Amanda Hill - David Hsu
X2N 49.40% 41.5030.24John Fraser - Jandi Fraser
X6N 48.81% 41.00Alexa Allen - Jacquie Brown
X5N 48.81% 41.00Eiler Eis - Bob Hodgkinson
X7N 48.21% 40.50Faye Wightman - Diane Hardouin
X3N 40.48% 34.00Pam Tomlins - Tim Tomlins
X1N 36.31% 30.50Diane O Connor - Seann Caldwell
North-South had 53.80% of the highcard points in today's deals.
The average freakness rating of today's deals (measuring the amount of distribution in the dealset as a whole) was 11.92, close to the average of about 11.93.
Results for Section X, East-West
Pair#PercentScoreRankMPtsPlayers
X3E 57.14% 48.0010.48Ruth Castellino - Cathy Brown
X4E 55.95% 47.0020.34Francesco L Piccone - M Piccone
X1E 54.76% 46.0030.24Barbara Spitz - Marlee Sheinin
X7E 51.79% 43.50Zdenka Buric - Marcia Smith
X6E 50.60% 42.50Gaye Ballantyne - Patti Young
X2E 49.40% 41.50David Rosenberg - Scott Turner
X8E 42.86% 36.00Niamh Kelly - Donna Bridgeman
X5E 37.50% 31.50Vicki Torbett - Myrna Halpenny
North-South had 53.80% of the highcard points in today's deals.
The average freakness rating of today's deals (measuring the amount of distribution in the dealset as a whole) was 11.92, close to the average of about 11.93.
Board 1 Results
North-South Pair#NS
%
NS
MP
NS
Score
Contract
& Result
Op.
Ld.
EW
Score
EW
MP
EW
%
Pair# East-West
Amanda Hill &
David Hsu
X8N92 5.504903NTn+3♠︎4 0.508X7EZdenka Buric &
Marcia Smith
Eiler Eis &
Bob Hodgkinson
X5N92 5.504903NTn+3♠︎4 0.508X8ENiamh Kelly &
Donna Bridgeman
Joan Christensen &
Carol Linda Ward
X4N50 3.004603NTn+2♠︎5 3.0050X6EGaye Ballantyne &
Patti Young
Faye Wightman &
Diane Hardouin
X7N50 3.004603NTn+2♠︎4 3.0050X5EVicki Torbett &
Myrna Halpenny
Alexa Allen &
Jacquie Brown
X6N50 3.004603NTn+2♦︎3 3.0050X3ERuth Castellino &
Cathy Brown
Pam Tomlins &
Tim Tomlins
X3N17 1.004005♦︎s=♠︎T 5.0083X4EFrancesco L Piccone &
M Piccone
Diane O Connor &
Seann Caldwell
X1N0 0.001402♥︎n+1♠︎4 6.00100X1EBarbara Spitz &
Marlee Sheinin
Section A Scores (three weeks ago)
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
3Ns3♥︎+3 490
3Nn4♠︎+3 490
3Nn4♠︎+3 490
3Nn4♠︎+2 460
3♦︎s3♥︎+3 170
North's balanced 18-count produces a familiar strategy: open and hope to be able to rebid with a jump to 2NT to show 18-19 balanced. North opens 1♣︎, South responds 1♦︎, and North rebids 2NT. Mission accomplished. South has no trouble raising to 3NT with ten points, and East leads a spade. With nine tricks in spades and diamonds alone, it is a contest of how many overtricks North can make. North wins the spade lead in dummy and leads the T♥︎, ducked to East's queen. East can switch to clubs but it is too late: South wins, cashes two more spades and six more diamonds, and with two tricks left leads a heart towards the AJ, finessing if West plays low for twelve tricks!
#1 D  NORTH       Jun. 22, 2026
♠︎ AQ8Dealer: E
♥︎ AJ97 NS Vul
N  WEST      ♦︎ K87N  EAST      
♠︎ T9♣︎ A95♠︎ J7542
♥︎ K863♥︎ Q52
♦︎T2N SOUTH       ♦︎93
♣︎QJ432♠︎K63♣︎K86
18♥︎T40
6HCP6♦︎AQJ6543FRK2
10♣︎T74
Tricks Available (best play by both sides)
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
by
N
1199118by
E
13415
by
S
1199118by
W
14415
Board 2 Results
North-South Pair#NS
%
NS
MP
NS
Score
Contract
& Result
Op.
Ld.
EW
Score
EW
MP
EW
%
Pair# East-West
Diane O Connor &
Seann Caldwell
X1N92 5.506603NTs+2♣︎4 0.508X1EBarbara Spitz &
Marlee Sheinin
Faye Wightman &
Diane Hardouin
X7N92 5.506604NTs+1♠︎5 0.508X5EVicki Torbett &
Myrna Halpenny
Joan Christensen &
Carol Linda Ward
X4N67 4.006405♦︎s+2♥︎Q 2.0033X6EGaye Ballantyne &
Patti Young
Amanda Hill &
David Hsu
X8N50 3.006005♦︎s=♠︎5 3.0050X7EZdenka Buric &
Marcia Smith
Alexa Allen &
Jacquie Brown
X6N33 2.001703♦︎s+3♥︎Q 4.0067X3ERuth Castellino &
Cathy Brown
Pam Tomlins &
Tim Tomlins
X3N17 1.006♦︎s–1♥︎Q100 5.0083X4EFrancesco L Piccone &
M Piccone
Eiler Eis &
Bob Hodgkinson
X5N0 0.005NTs–2♠︎J200 6.00100X8ENiamh Kelly &
Donna Bridgeman
Section A Scores (three weeks ago)
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
6♦︎n6♣︎= 1370
4Ns5♠︎+1 660
5♦︎n6♥︎+1 620
6♦︎n6♦︎-1 100
7♦︎n*6♦︎-1 200
East passes and South has a clear 2♣︎ opener. West passes and North bids 2♦︎, since it requires eight points and two of the top three to bid a suit, and North's points and hearts do not quite qualify. South rebids 3♦︎ and now North can bid 3♥︎. East doubles and South bids 5♦︎. West passes and North figures an ace must be worth something and raises to 6♦︎. All pass and East leads a trump. South has three losers in hand: the 7♠︎ is easily ruffed in dummy, and the 9♣︎ can go on the A♥︎. But once this is done, South must remember to pull the remaining trumps. Don't pull them until you have ruffed the second round of spades though!
#2 V  NORTH       Jun. 22, 2026
♠︎ 9Dealer: S
♥︎ AT97432 EW Vul
N  WEST      ♦︎ 95D  EAST      
♠︎ QJ653♣︎ J82♠︎ T842
♥︎ Q♥︎ KJ865
♦︎T2V SOUTH       ♦︎76
♣︎K7643♠︎AK7♣︎Q5
5♥︎7
8HCP6♦︎AKQJ8436FRK3
21♣︎AT98
Tricks Available (best play by both sides)
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
by
N
1069129by
E
27414
by
S
1069129by
W
17414
Board 3 Results
North-South Pair#NS
%
NS
MP
NS
Score
Contract
& Result
Op.
Ld.
EW
Score
EW
MP
EW
%
Pair# East-West
Joan Christensen &
Carol Linda Ward
X4N92 5.501103♦︎n=♠︎4 0.508X5EVicki Torbett &
Myrna Halpenny
John Fraser &
Jandi Fraser
X2N92 5.501102♦︎n+1♥︎A 0.508X2EDavid Rosenberg &
Scott Turner
Amanda Hill &
David Hsu
X8N67 4.001002♠︎e–1♦︎5 2.0033X6EGaye Ballantyne &
Patti Young
Eiler Eis &
Bob Hodgkinson
X5N50 3.003♦︎n–2♥︎A100 3.0050X7EZdenka Buric &
Marcia Smith
Faye Wightman &
Diane Hardouin
X7N25 1.502♠︎e+1♥︎T140 4.5075X4EFrancesco L Piccone &
M Piccone
Alexa Allen &
Jacquie Brown
X6N25 1.501♠︎e+2♦︎Q140 4.5075X1EBarbara Spitz &
Marlee Sheinin
Diane O Connor &
Seann Caldwell
X1N0 0.002NT*s–3♣︎7500 6.00100X8ENiamh Kelly &
Donna Bridgeman
Section A Scores (three weeks ago)
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
4♠︎eQ♦︎-2 200
4♠︎e3♦︎-1 100
1♠︎eQ♦︎+1 110
3♠︎eQ♦︎= 140
3♣︎sQ♠︎-3 150
South and West pass and North opens 1♦︎. East has a difficult hand to bid: a Michaels 2♦︎ call shows both majors, a jump to 2NT shows hearts and clubs, and a takeout double risks a heart response from partner. East decides to risk it and doubles. South responds 1NT to partner's opener and West and North pass. East now bids 2♠︎, showing a strong hand with spades. South passes and West needs a little more to invite game, so 2♠︎ becomes the final contract. If South leads the A♠︎ and a second spade, East will only be able to ruff one club in dummy and may be held to eight tricks, otherwise, East can cross-ruff many tricks and make nine or ten.
#3 N  NORTH       Jun. 22, 2026
♠︎ T85Dealer: W
♥︎ KQ72 Both Vul
V  WEST      ♦︎ KT87V  EAST      
♠︎ Q72♣︎ A8♠︎ KJ943
♥︎ J9843♥︎ A
♦︎9652D SOUTH       ♦︎A4
♣︎7♠︎A6♣︎KQ543
12♥︎T651
3HCP17♦︎QJ34FRK6
8♣︎JT9622
Tricks Available (best play by both sides)
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
by
N
54785by
E
68557
by
S
54785by
W
68557
Board 4 Results
North-South Pair#NS
%
NS
MP
NS
Score
Contract
& Result
Op.
Ld.
EW
Score
EW
MP
EW
%
Pair# East-West
Amanda Hill &
David Hsu
X8N100 6.001103♣︎s=♥︎9 0.000X6EGaye Ballantyne &
Patti Young
Diane O Connor &
Seann Caldwell
X1N75 4.503♠︎w+1♦︎5170 1.5025X8ENiamh Kelly &
Donna Bridgeman
Eiler Eis &
Bob Hodgkinson
X5N75 4.503♠︎w+1♣︎K170 1.5025X7EZdenka Buric &
Marcia Smith
Joan Christensen &
Carol Linda Ward
X4N33 2.003♠︎w+2♣︎K200 4.0067X5EVicki Torbett &
Myrna Halpenny
Faye Wightman &
Diane Hardouin
X7N33 2.003♥︎s–2♣︎5200 4.0067X4EFrancesco L Piccone &
M Piccone
Alexa Allen &
Jacquie Brown
X6N33 2.002♠︎w+3♦︎5200 4.0067X1EBarbara Spitz &
Marlee Sheinin
John Fraser &
Jandi Fraser
X2N0 0.004♠︎w=♣︎8620 6.00100X2EDavid Rosenberg &
Scott Turner
Section A Scores (three weeks ago)
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
4♦︎n4♠︎= 130
3♠︎wK♣︎+1 170
3♠︎wJ♦︎+1 170
5♦︎n3♠︎-3 300
4♠︎w*Q♦︎= 790
South has the best hand at the table but West opens 1♠︎ and East responds 2♠︎ before South can even reach for the bid-box. South chooses 3♣︎ and hopes this is not too high. West figures 3♠︎ to go down, but if North-South make ten tricks in clubs, down one might be a good result, so rebids 3♠︎ despite a minimum opener. Everyone passes and South's quest is for the magic 200 for two down, a score that beats almost any partscore. Sadly for North-South, all roads seem to lead to ten tricks for West in 3♠︎, two trumps and a heart to lose and the rest of the tricks made by crossruffing. All this on a mere 16 combined points!
#4 V  NORTH       Jun. 22, 2026
♠︎ K2Dealer: N
♥︎ J84 NS Vul
D  WEST      ♦︎ JT7543V  EAST      
♠︎ QJT98♣︎ K8♠︎ 76543
♥︎ KQ9♥︎ 752
♦︎A862V SOUTH       ♦︎9
♣︎5♠︎A♣︎AT43
8♥︎AT634
12HCP4♦︎KQ4FRK4
16♣︎QJ97626
Tricks Available (best play by both sides)
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
by
N
83898by
E
310545
by
S
83898by
W
310545
Board 5 Results
North-South Pair#NS
%
NS
MP
NS
Score
Contract
& Result
Op.
Ld.
EW
Score
EW
MP
EW
%
Pair# East-West
Pam Tomlins &
Tim Tomlins
X3N83 5.00503NTw–1♠︎6 1.0017X3ERuth Castellino &
Cathy Brown
Amanda Hill &
David Hsu
X8N83 5.00503♦︎e–1♠︎A 1.0017X5EVicki Torbett &
Myrna Halpenny
Alexa Allen &
Jacquie Brown
X6N83 5.00503♣︎w–1♠︎6 1.0017X8ENiamh Kelly &
Donna Bridgeman
John Fraser &
Jandi Fraser
X2N50 3.002♦︎e+1♣︎8110 3.0050X1EBarbara Spitz &
Marlee Sheinin
Faye Wightman &
Diane Hardouin
X7N33 2.001NTw+1♦︎5120 4.0067X2EDavid Rosenberg &
Scott Turner
Diane O Connor &
Seann Caldwell
X1N17 1.002NTe+1♠︎4150 5.0083X7EZdenka Buric &
Marcia Smith
Eiler Eis &
Bob Hodgkinson
X5N0 0.001♠︎s–2♦︎2200 6.00100X6EGaye Ballantyne &
Patti Young
Section A Scores (three weeks ago)
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
3♥︎sJ♦︎-1 100
3Nw7♠︎= 400
3Nw2♥︎= 400
3NeT♠︎= 400
3NeT♠︎+2 460
North passes and East opens 1♦︎. South overcalls a weak 2♠︎, an interesting choice. Had East been the dealer and opened 1♦︎, South would likely bid 1♠︎, hoping to have a second chance to bid and show a heart suit as well. But with partner a passed hand, South sees that it is likely an East-West hand and some pressure is required, so a jump to 2♠︎ it is, hoping there is no missed heart fit as a result. West bids 2NT and East 3NT, and nine tricks are easy. North-South do in fact have a heart fit, but six tricks are the limit there, so even 2♥︎ would be too much, down two doubled being 500 at this vulnerability.
#5 D  NORTH       Jun. 22, 2026
♠︎ 6Dealer: E
♥︎ J872 EW Vul
N  WEST      ♦︎ T8753N  EAST      
♠︎ KQ82♣︎ K32♠︎ 93
♥︎ K53♥︎ A9
♦︎J2V SOUTH       ♦︎AKQ94
♣︎JT75♠︎AJT754♣︎Q964
4♥︎QT644
10HCP15♦︎61FRK3
11♣︎A86
Tricks Available (best play by both sides)
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
by
N
46644by
E
96688
by
S
46644by
W
96688
Board 6 Results
North-South Pair#NS
%
NS
MP
NS
Score
Contract
& Result
Op.
Ld.
EW
Score
EW
MP
EW
%
Pair# East-West
Faye Wightman &
Diane Hardouin
X7N100 6.002003NTe–2♣︎9 0.000X2EDavid Rosenberg &
Scott Turner
Diane O Connor &
Seann Caldwell
X1N75 4.501003NTe–1♣︎3 1.5025X7EZdenka Buric &
Marcia Smith
Eiler Eis &
Bob Hodgkinson
X5N75 4.501002♥︎w–1♠︎3 1.5025X6EGaye Ballantyne &
Patti Young
Alexa Allen &
Jacquie Brown
X6N50 3.002♣︎e+2♥︎7130 3.0050X8ENiamh Kelly &
Donna Bridgeman
John Fraser &
Jandi Fraser
X2N25 1.502♣︎e+3♣︎3150 4.5075X1EBarbara Spitz &
Marlee Sheinin
Amanda Hill &
David Hsu
X8N25 1.502NTw+1♠︎5150 4.5075X5EVicki Torbett &
Myrna Halpenny
Pam Tomlins &
Tim Tomlins
X3N0 0.003NTw=♦︎9600 6.00100X3ERuth Castellino &
Cathy Brown
Section A Scores (three weeks ago)
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
4♥︎w5♦︎-3 300
6♣︎e7♥︎-3 300
4♥︎w5♠︎-2 200
3Nw5♠︎= 600
3Nw5♠︎+2 660
East opens 1♣︎ and South passes. West responds 1♥︎ and North passes. East resists the urge to make the 1NT rebid (which promises at least two cards in each suit, even the one partner has responded in) and bids a more natural 1♠︎. South passes and West, with a full opener opposite East's opener, must ensure the auction does not end before game. The only forcing bid left is 2♦︎, the fourth suit, which does not show diamonds. North passes and after a fourth-suit-forcing call, East's first priority is to show a stopper in the fourth suit, so East bids 2NT. West raises to 3NT and there are two spades, a heart, three diamonds and four clubs in 3NT. Easy!
#6 N  NORTH       Jun. 22, 2026
♠︎ T87543Dealer: S
♥︎ A632 Both Vul
V  WEST      ♦︎ 952D  EAST      
♠︎ Q♣︎ ♠︎ AJ62
♥︎ KQT95♥︎ 4
♦︎KQ8N SOUTH       ♦︎AT3
♣︎J542♠︎K9♣︎KQ876
4♥︎J877
13HCP14♦︎J7644FRK4
9♣︎AT931
Tricks Available (best play by both sides)
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
by
N
36243by
E
10710910
by
S
36243by
W
10711910
Board 7 Results
North-South Pair#NS
%
NS
MP
NS
Score
Contract
& Result
Op.
Ld.
EW
Score
EW
MP
EW
%
Pair# East-West
Amanda Hill &
David Hsu
X8N100 6.006204♠︎n=♦︎4 0.000X3ERuth Castellino &
Cathy Brown
Joan Christensen &
Carol Linda Ward
X4N83 5.001802NTn+2♥︎7 1.0017X4EFrancesco L Piccone &
M Piccone
John Fraser &
Jandi Fraser
X2N50 3.001403♠︎n=♥︎7 3.0050X8ENiamh Kelly &
Donna Bridgeman
Faye Wightman &
Diane Hardouin
X7N50 3.001403♠︎n=♥︎2 3.0050X1EBarbara Spitz &
Marlee Sheinin
Alexa Allen &
Jacquie Brown
X6N50 3.001403♠︎n=♦︎4 3.0050X7EZdenka Buric &
Marcia Smith
Pam Tomlins &
Tim Tomlins
X3N17 1.001302♦︎s+2♥︎A 5.0083X2EDavid Rosenberg &
Scott Turner
Diane O Connor &
Seann Caldwell
X1N0 0.001102♠︎n=♥︎2 6.00100X6EGaye Ballantyne &
Patti Young
Section A Scores (three weeks ago)
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
1♠︎n7♥︎+3 170
1♠︎n7♥︎+3 170
2♠︎n2♥︎+2 170
1Nn4♣︎+2 150
4♠︎nT♠︎-1 100
West opens 1♥︎ but it's North-South's hand; the only questions are "how high?" and "can we actually make this?" North overcalls 1♠︎, East passes, and South has enough for a raise to 2♠︎. West passes and North sees 15 points, three aces, a doubleton, and an opposing opening bid, worth two extra points at least, and probably an extra trick since North knows where all the missing honours will be. Enough to bid game? No, but certainly enough to invite with 3♠︎, and South's 9-count is enough to bid 4♠︎. Makeable? North wins the third heart and plays AK♣︎ and leads a SMALL spade from dummy, finessing the Q♠︎. When it wins, the A♠︎ drops West's doubleton king, then J♠︎, Q♣︎ pitching a diamond; home!
#7 V  NORTH       Jun. 22, 2026
♠︎ AQ543Dealer: W
♥︎ JT5 None Vul
V  WEST      ♦︎ AT9V  EAST      
♠︎ K6♣︎ A7♠︎ T92
♥︎ AK984♥︎ 732
♦︎Q5D SOUTH       ♦︎K64
♣︎J653♠︎J87♣︎T984
15♥︎Q62
13HCP3♦︎J87323FRK0
9♣︎KQ22
Tricks Available (best play by both sides)
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
by
N
10107107by
E
33535
by
S
10108107by
W
33536
Board 8 Results
North-South Pair#NS
%
NS
MP
NS
Score
Contract
& Result
Op.
Ld.
EW
Score
EW
MP
EW
%
Pair# East-West
Joan Christensen &
Carol Linda Ward
X4N92 5.504204♥︎n=♠︎K 0.508X4EFrancesco L Piccone &
M Piccone
John Fraser &
Jandi Fraser
X2N92 5.504204♥︎n=♠︎2 0.508X8ENiamh Kelly &
Donna Bridgeman
Diane O Connor &
Seann Caldwell
X1N67 4.001701♥︎n+3♠︎8 2.0033X6EGaye Ballantyne &
Patti Young
Faye Wightman &
Diane Hardouin
X7N50 3.001403♥︎n=♠︎K 3.0050X1EBarbara Spitz &
Marlee Sheinin
Alexa Allen &
Jacquie Brown
X6N33 2.00504♠︎e–1♥︎3 4.0067X7EZdenka Buric &
Marcia Smith
Amanda Hill &
David Hsu
X8N17 1.002♠︎w+1♥︎A140 5.0083X3ERuth Castellino &
Cathy Brown
Pam Tomlins &
Tim Tomlins
X3N0 0.005♥︎n–3♦︎A150 6.00100X2EDavid Rosenberg &
Scott Turner
Section A Scores (three weeks ago)
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
4♥︎n2♠︎= 420
4♥︎sA♣︎= 420
4♠︎wA♥︎-1 50
4♠︎wA♥︎-1 50
4♥︎n6♣︎-2 100
West is just short of an opener and passes, allowing North to start with 2♣︎. East passes and South is forced to bid 2♦︎; passing partner's 2♣︎ opener is only something you do if you want a new partner, and good luck getting one when word gets around that this is something you did. North rebids 2♥︎, South rebids 3♣︎ (lowest three-bid confirming that South has virtually nothing). North bids 3♥︎ and now South is free to pass: North could have bid 4♥︎ over the second negative confirming bid but chose only 3♥︎. To beat 3♥︎, East must lead a trump leaving North with two spade losers; a club ruff now beats 3♥︎. If West does open a very light 1♠︎ (not recommended), East-West may get to 3♠︎ and make it!
#8 N  NORTH       Jun. 22, 2026
♠︎ AT4Dealer: N
♥︎ AKQJT5 EW Vul
D  WEST      ♦︎ 9N  EAST      
♠︎ J7653♣︎ KQT♠︎ KQ82
♥︎ 942♥︎ 876
♦︎KQT6N SOUTH       ♦︎A42
♣︎A♠︎9♣︎J96
19♥︎35
10HCP10♦︎J87534FRK0
1♣︎8754328
Tricks Available (best play by both sides)
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
by
N
74879by
E
59463
by
S
74879by
W
59463
Board 9 Results
North-South Pair#NS
%
NS
MP
NS
Score
Contract
& Result
Op.
Ld.
EW
Score
EW
MP
EW
%
Pair# East-West
Faye Wightman &
Diane Hardouin
X7N92 5.502004♠︎e–2♣︎A 0.508X8ENiamh Kelly &
Donna Bridgeman
Amanda Hill &
David Hsu
X8N92 5.502004♠︎e–2♣︎A 0.508X2EDavid Rosenberg &
Scott Turner
Joan Christensen &
Carol Linda Ward
X4N58 3.501004♠︎e–1♦︎6 2.5042X3ERuth Castellino &
Cathy Brown
Eiler Eis &
Bob Hodgkinson
X5N58 3.501004♠︎e–1♣︎A 2.5042X5EVicki Torbett &
Myrna Halpenny
Pam Tomlins &
Tim Tomlins
X3N25 1.503♠︎e+1♣︎A170 4.5075X1EBarbara Spitz &
Marlee Sheinin
Diane O Connor &
Seann Caldwell
X1N25 1.503♠︎e+1♣︎A170 4.5075X4EFrancesco L Piccone &
M Piccone
John Fraser &
Jandi Fraser
X2N0 0.004♠︎e=♣︎K620 6.00100X7EZdenka Buric &
Marcia Smith
Section A Scores (three weeks ago)
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
4♠︎eA♣︎-1 100
4♠︎eA♣︎-1 100
4♣︎s2♠︎-1 50
3♠︎eA♣︎+1 170
6♣︎s*2♠︎-3 500
North passes, East opens 1♠︎, and South makes a pre-emptive jump overcall of 3♣︎. West and North pass and East decides to bid 3♠︎. South passes and West raises to 4♠︎, which is down one as the defenders simply cash the AK♣︎ and the AK♥︎. The important call is West's pass of 3♣︎, and its tempo. West is supposed to look at the hand for about 10 seconds following a jump bid, then make the call, whether West has zero points or is close to bidding. This ACBL rule avoids East being able to sense whether West has an obvious pass or has a few cards but decided they weren't quite enough. West's pass is authorized information to East; how long it took for West to pass is unauthorized information.
#9 D  NORTH       Jun. 22, 2026
♠︎ Q97Dealer: E
♥︎ K753 Both Vul
V  WEST      ♦︎ J43V  EAST      
♠︎ T82♣︎ Q83♠︎ AKJ543
♥︎ Q98♥︎ J2
♦︎KT975N SOUTH       ♦︎AQ2
♣︎JT♠︎6♣︎75
8♥︎AT640
6HCP15♦︎862FRK4
11♣︎AK96426
Tricks Available (best play by both sides)
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
by
N
23929by
E
59494
by
S
22929by
W
59494
Board 10 Results
North-South Pair#NS
%
NS
MP
NS
Score
Contract
& Result
Op.
Ld.
EW
Score
EW
MP
EW
%
Pair# East-West
Joan Christensen &
Carol Linda Ward
X4N92 5.506603NTn+2♦︎3 0.508X3ERuth Castellino &
Cathy Brown
Eiler Eis &
Bob Hodgkinson
X5N92 5.506603NTn+2♣︎5 0.508X5EVicki Torbett &
Myrna Halpenny
Diane O Connor &
Seann Caldwell
X1N58 3.506303NTn+1♣︎5 2.5042X4EFrancesco L Piccone &
M Piccone
John Fraser &
Jandi Fraser
X2N58 3.506303NTn+1♦︎3 2.5042X7EZdenka Buric &
Marcia Smith
Pam Tomlins &
Tim Tomlins
X3N25 1.506204♠︎n=♦︎3 4.5075X1EBarbara Spitz &
Marlee Sheinin
Faye Wightman &
Diane Hardouin
X7N25 1.506204♠︎n=♣︎T 4.5075X8ENiamh Kelly &
Donna Bridgeman
Amanda Hill &
David Hsu
X8N0 0.006003NTn=♦︎3 6.00100X2EDavid Rosenberg &
Scott Turner
Section A Scores (three weeks ago)
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
3Nn4♠︎+2 660
3Nn2♣︎+2 660
4♠︎sA♥︎+1 650
4♠︎nT♣︎= 620
4♠︎n5♥︎= 620
East passes and South opens 1♦︎, counting one for the singleton and another for good spots: one of those ten-eight combinations surely will help develop a trick somewhere. West passes and North responds 1♥︎. East passes and South rebids 1♠︎. West passes and North has options. 4♠︎ is the pragmatic call, but South might have a good hand and a slam could be missed. A fourth-suit forcing 2♣︎ might help, but it will be difficult to convince South later that there is a 4-4 spade fit. JACK's choice was a jump to 4♣︎, a cuebid implying support for spades. South then cuebid 4♦︎ and North now bid 4♠︎, implying that help in hearts was needed for a slam to be on. South passed and made eleven tricks.
#10 V  NORTH       Jun. 22, 2026
♠︎ AQJ7Dealer: S
♥︎ QJ42 None Vul
V  WEST      ♦︎ 75D  EAST      
♠︎ K965♣︎ KQJ♠︎ 4
♥︎ AK9♥︎ 765
♦︎942V SOUTH       ♦︎QJ63
♣︎874♠︎T832♣︎T9653
16♥︎T831
10HCP3♦︎AKT80FRK4
11♣︎A21
Tricks Available (best play by both sides)
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
by
N
111110109by
E
22334
by
S
111110109by
W
22334
Board 11 Results
North-South Pair#NS
%
NS
MP
NS
Score
Contract
& Result
Op.
Ld.
EW
Score
EW
MP
EW
%
Pair# East-West
Pam Tomlins &
Tim Tomlins
X3N92 5.501003♠︎e–2♦︎7 0.508X8ENiamh Kelly &
Donna Bridgeman
John Fraser &
Jandi Fraser
X2N92 5.501003NTe–2♦︎T 0.508X5EVicki Torbett &
Myrna Halpenny
Joan Christensen &
Carol Linda Ward
X4N58 3.50503♣︎e–1♦︎T 2.5042X2EDavid Rosenberg &
Scott Turner
Eiler Eis &
Bob Hodgkinson
X5N58 3.50505♣︎e–1♥︎A 2.5042X4EFrancesco L Piccone &
M Piccone
Amanda Hill &
David Hsu
X8N33 2.001♠︎e+1♦︎7110 4.0067X1EBarbara Spitz &
Marlee Sheinin
Diane O Connor &
Seann Caldwell
X1N8 0.501♠︎e+2♥︎A140 5.5092X3ERuth Castellino &
Cathy Brown
Alexa Allen &
Jacquie Brown
X6N8 0.501♠︎e+2♦︎J140 5.5092X6EGaye Ballantyne &
Patti Young
Section A Scores (three weeks ago)
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
5♣︎eJ♦︎-1 50
3♠︎eJ♦︎-1 50
3♠︎eJ♦︎= 140
1♠︎e8♣︎+2 140
4♦︎sA♣︎-3 150
Three passes precede East's decision on what to do with the big 19-count. Four quick tricks and maybe four losers is close to a 2♣︎ call. I would bid 2♣︎ based on position: in fourth seat, you have less chance of finding partner with an absolutely awful hand when neither opponent can open, so bids can be a bit light. The East-West auction now goes 2♣︎ - 2♦︎, 2♠︎ - 3♣︎ (lowest three bid shows a minimum), 4♣︎ (two-suiter) - 4♠︎ (partner may be 6-4 or 6-5, and only ten tricks are game in the major). Not a bad contract, but the A♥︎ and K♠︎ both offside spell doom for East's chances. Easy make if the North and South hands are swapped.
#11 N  NORTH       Jun. 22, 2026
♠︎ J865Dealer: W
♥︎ QT8 NS Vul
N  WEST      ♦︎ KQ6N  EAST      
♠︎ 42♣︎ 762♠︎ AQ973
♥︎ J9754♥︎ K6
♦︎954D SOUTH       ♦︎A
♣︎A94♠︎KT♣︎KQJT3
8♥︎A320
5HCP19♦︎JT87322FRK6
8♣︎854
Tricks Available (best play by both sides)
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
by
N
54583by
E
898510
by
S
54583by
W
898510
Board 12 Results
North-South Pair#NS
%
NS
MP
NS
Score
Contract
& Result
Op.
Ld.
EW
Score
EW
MP
EW
%
Pair# East-West
Joan Christensen &
Carol Linda Ward
X4N92 5.50504♠︎e–1♣︎T 0.508X2EDavid Rosenberg &
Scott Turner
Amanda Hill &
David Hsu
X8N92 5.50503NTe–1♣︎Q 0.508X1EBarbara Spitz &
Marlee Sheinin
Alexa Allen &
Jacquie Brown
X6N67 4.002NTe=♣︎4120 2.0033X6EGaye Ballantyne &
Patti Young
Pam Tomlins &
Tim Tomlins
X3N50 3.002NTe+1♣︎4150 3.0050X8ENiamh Kelly &
Donna Bridgeman
Eiler Eis &
Bob Hodgkinson
X5N33 2.003NTe=♠︎2400 4.0067X4EFrancesco L Piccone &
M Piccone
John Fraser &
Jandi Fraser
X2N8 0.504♠︎e=♣︎3420 5.5092X5EVicki Torbett &
Myrna Halpenny
Diane O Connor &
Seann Caldwell
X1N8 0.504♠︎w=♦︎A420 5.5092X3ERuth Castellino &
Cathy Brown
Section A Scores (three weeks ago)
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
3NeQ♣︎-3 150
4♠︎eQ♣︎-1 50
4♠︎eQ♣︎-1 50
3NeQ♣︎= 400
4♠︎eQ♣︎= 420
Another big East hand, and after two passes East opens this one 2NT, which shows 20-21 balanced. This hand with its three aces and no weak suits is worth a bonus point for 21. South passes and West asks about majors with a 3♣︎ call. North passes and East admits to a four-card spade suit with 3♠︎, happily raised to 4♠︎ by West. South leads the Q♣︎ lead and East counts two hearts, two clubs, a heart ruff, four trumps, and an eventual diamond winner for ten tricks, unless there is a trump loser. Which defender is more likely to have four trumps? Probably North, since South should have four or five clubs for the opening lead. So cash AK♥︎ and ruff the heart, then A♠︎, K♠︎, and finesse if needed. 
#12 V  NORTH       Jun. 22, 2026
♠︎ J643Dealer: N
♥︎ JT963 Both Vul
D  WEST      ♦︎ AK2N  EAST      
♠︎ KT87♣︎ 2♠︎ AQ95
♥︎ K4♥︎ A82
♦︎743V SOUTH       ♦︎QJ9
♣︎9876♠︎2♣︎AK5
9♥︎Q754
6HCP20♦︎T8651FRK0
5♣︎QJT434
Tricks Available (best play by both sides)
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
by
N
43555by
E
810788
by
S
43555by
W
810788
Board 13 Results
North-South Pair#NS
%
NS
MP
NS
Score
Contract
& Result
Op.
Ld.
EW
Score
EW
MP
EW
%
Pair# East-West
Pam Tomlins &
Tim Tomlins
X3N100 6.006603NTn+2♠︎8 0.000X6EGaye Ballantyne &
Patti Young
John Fraser &
Jandi Fraser
X2N75 4.506303NTn+1♥︎2 1.5025X4EFrancesco L Piccone &
M Piccone
Alexa Allen &
Jacquie Brown
X6N75 4.506303NTn+1♥︎2 1.5025X5EVicki Torbett &
Myrna Halpenny
Diane O Connor &
Seann Caldwell
X1N50 3.001802NTn+2♥︎2 3.0050X2EDavid Rosenberg &
Scott Turner
Joan Christensen &
Carol Linda Ward
X4N33 2.001503♣︎n+2♥︎K 4.0067X1EBarbara Spitz &
Marlee Sheinin
Faye Wightman &
Diane Hardouin
X7N17 1.001201NTn+1♥︎2 5.0083X7EZdenka Buric &
Marcia Smith
Eiler Eis &
Bob Hodgkinson
X5N0 0.001102♥︎n=♣︎2 6.00100X3ERuth Castellino &
Cathy Brown
Section A Scores (three weeks ago)
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
3NnK♥︎+2 660
3Nn2♥︎+1 630
1Nn2♥︎+4 210
1Nn2♥︎+3 180
1Nn2♥︎+3 180
North opens 1NT as dealer and South should invite with 2NT. There is a notion that eight points is not enough to invite game opposite a 15-17 1NT, since partner might accept with only 16. Fair enough, but South's hand has extras: a five card suit and two likely entries to bring it in. 1NT - 2NT - 3NT should be the auction, and although most would lead a heart (the king or a fourth-best 2♥︎ both result in North winning two heart tricks), a spade lead actually works better for East-West: North ducks and West wins the K♠︎ and leads the T♠︎ back, and now East will eventually get two more spade tricks. North always has at least nine by knocking out the A♣︎ first: four clubs, three diamonds, A♥︎ and A♠︎.
#13 D  NORTH       Jun. 22, 2026
♠︎ J73Dealer: E
♥︎ AJT7 None Vul
V  WEST      ♦︎ AQV  EAST      
♠︎ KT8♣︎ KQ43♠︎ Q962
♥︎ 9653♥︎ KQ82
♦︎J843V SOUTH       ♦︎T95
♣︎T8♠︎A54♣︎A2
17♥︎41
4HCP11♦︎K7621FRK1
8♣︎J97654
Tricks Available (best play by both sides)
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
by
N
987811by
E
45642
by
S
987811by
W
45642
Board 14 Results
North-South Pair#NS
%
NS
MP
NS
Score
Contract
& Result
Op.
Ld.
EW
Score
EW
MP
EW
%
Pair# East-West
Joan Christensen &
Carol Linda Ward
X4N99 5.921102♦︎n+1♣︎J 0.081X1EBarbara Spitz &
Marlee Sheinin
Faye Wightman &
Diane Hardouin
X7N79 4.75504♥︎e–1♣︎A 1.2521X7EZdenka Buric &
Marcia Smith
Pam Tomlins &
Tim Tomlins
X3N60 3.580PASS0 2.4240X6EGaye Ballantyne &
Patti Young
Diane O Connor &
Seann Caldwell
X1N40 2.424♦︎n–1♣︎650 3.5860X2EDavid Rosenberg &
Scott Turner
John Fraser &
Jandi Fraser
X2N11 0.672♥︎e+1♦︎2140 5.3389X4EFrancesco L Piccone &
M Piccone
Eiler Eis &
Bob Hodgkinson
X5N11 0.672♥︎w+1♦︎5140 5.3389X3ERuth Castellino &
Cathy Brown
Section A Scores (three weeks ago)
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
2NsJ♠︎= 120
4♥︎eA♦︎-1 50
3♥︎e9♣︎-1 50
PASSOUT00
2♥︎wQ♥︎= 110
East passes and so will many Souths. West will open 1♥︎ and it will be all about staying suitably low. North passes and East may be considering a 3♥︎ limit raise, but must remember that West opened in third seat and might be light, or even only a four-card heart suit. A good hand for Drury if you play the convention; it will keep East-West in 2♥︎, the last makeable level since North-South should win the A♣︎, two diamonds, and two spades. I think actually South has a 1♦︎ opener with two and a half quick tricks. West will overcall 1♥︎, North cuebids 2♥︎ to show diamond support, and East will certainly bid 3♥︎. Unfortunately, South will likely try 4♦︎ and turn a plus score into a minus....
#14 N  NORTH       Jun. 22, 2026
♠︎ Q86Dealer: S
♥︎ Q NS Vul
N  WEST      ♦︎ KT965D  EAST      
♠︎ JT3♣︎ AT52♠︎ K542
♥︎ AT765♥︎ KJ984
♦︎73N SOUTH       ♦︎J4
♣︎KQ3♠︎A97♣︎J6
11♥︎324
10HCP9♦︎AQ822FRK3
10♣︎98741
Tricks Available (best play by both sides)
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
by
N
76599by
E
67844
by
S
76599by
W
67844
Board 15 Results
North-South Pair#NS
%
NS
MP
NS
Score
Contract
& Result
Op.
Ld.
EW
Score
EW
MP
EW
%
Pair# East-West
Joan Christensen &
Carol Linda Ward
X4N92 5.501102♥︎s=♠︎Q 0.508X7EZdenka Buric &
Marcia Smith
Eiler Eis &
Bob Hodgkinson
X5N92 5.501102♥︎s=♠︎Q 0.508X2EDavid Rosenberg &
Scott Turner
John Fraser &
Jandi Fraser
X2N58 3.501NTw=♠︎790 2.5042X3ERuth Castellino &
Cathy Brown
Alexa Allen &
Jacquie Brown
X6N58 3.501NTw=♠︎790 2.5042X4EFrancesco L Piccone &
M Piccone
Pam Tomlins &
Tim Tomlins
X3N25 1.503♥︎s–1♠︎2100 4.5075X5EVicki Torbett &
Myrna Halpenny
Faye Wightman &
Diane Hardouin
X7N25 1.502♥︎s–1♦︎8100 4.5075X6EGaye Ballantyne &
Patti Young
Amanda Hill &
David Hsu
X8N0 0.003♣︎e=♥︎A110 6.00100X8ENiamh Kelly &
Donna Bridgeman
Section A Scores (three weeks ago)
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
3♥︎nQ♠︎-1 100
2♥︎s8♦︎-1 100
2♥︎s2♣︎-1 100
3♥︎s2♣︎-1 100
3♣︎eK♥︎= 110
Sometimes in pair games your action depends on when you play a board and how you think your game has been so far. Here, South opens 2♥︎ and West and North both pass. East bids 3♣︎, South passes, and West has eleven points, considerably more than East would expect. Options are to pass out 3♣︎, reasoning that with most good hands partner would begin with a double or with 2NT; or take a stab at 3NT. Early in the game I would be less inclined to bid 3NT, which might be a top-or-bottom decision; but later on if I felt our game was good but needed a boost to get to the top, I might try it. Here 3NT has no play and 3♣︎ was a top, beating the other four results by just 10 points in Section A!
#15 V  NORTH       Jun. 22, 2026
♠︎ A9874Dealer: W
♥︎ 53 EW Vul
N  WEST      ♦︎ A543N  EAST      
♠︎ QJ2♣︎ 53♠︎ K53
♥︎ Q864♥︎ T
♦︎K98D SOUTH       ♦︎QJ76
♣︎K62♠︎T6♣︎AJ974
8♥︎AKJ9723
11HCP11♦︎T20FRK4
10♣︎QT84
Tricks Available (best play by both sides)
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
by
N
55754by
E
77589
by
S
55754by
W
77589
Board 16 Results
North-South Pair#NS
%
NS
MP
NS
Score
Contract
& Result
Op.
Ld.
EW
Score
EW
MP
EW
%
Pair# East-West
Amanda Hill &
David Hsu
X8N100 6.009806♠︎s=♦︎6 0.000X8ENiamh Kelly &
Donna Bridgeman
John Fraser &
Jandi Fraser
X2N83 5.005203NTn+4♠︎8 1.0017X3ERuth Castellino &
Cathy Brown
Pam Tomlins &
Tim Tomlins
X3N67 4.004903NTn+3♦︎2 2.0033X5EVicki Torbett &
Myrna Halpenny
Eiler Eis &
Bob Hodgkinson
X5N50 3.004804♠︎s+2♠︎4 3.0050X2EDavid Rosenberg &
Scott Turner
Alexa Allen &
Jacquie Brown
X6N33 2.004604NTn+1♠︎7 4.0067X4EFrancesco L Piccone &
M Piccone
Faye Wightman &
Diane Hardouin
X7N17 1.004504♠︎s+1♥︎6 5.0083X6EGaye Ballantyne &
Patti Young
Joan Christensen &
Carol Linda Ward
X4N0 0.004303NTn+1♥︎3 6.00100X7EZdenka Buric &
Marcia Smith
Section A Scores (three weeks ago)
ContractLeadResultN-S ScoreE-W Score
6♠︎n3♥︎+1 1010
6Nn7♠︎= 990
4♠︎n8♣︎+1 450
3NsJ♦︎+1 430
6Nn3♥︎-1 50
Here's a new one I've never seen before! North opens 1NT (15-17) and South transfers to spades with a 2♥︎ call, then after North rebids 2♠︎ as demanded, South bids 4NT. North bids 5♥︎ showing two aces, and over 5NT North bids 6♠︎ showing three kings. What can South count in terms of tricks with this information? Three top spades, three hearts (unless North has AK♥︎ doubleton), two clubs, and two diamonds. Spades might run for more tricks, but here's the new twist: North's Blackwood responses: showing two aces and three kings — that's 17 points right there. North cannot have any queens or jacks! 6NT is the only option. Lead the J♣︎: West can cover but now the T♣︎ drops and the 9♣︎ is a trick!
#16 N  NORTH       Jun. 22, 2026
♠︎ 632Dealer: N
♥︎ AK87 None Vul
D  WEST      ♦︎ K3V  EAST      
♠︎ 4♣︎ AK73♠︎ JT87
♥︎ 964♥︎ JT53
♦︎JT965N SOUTH       ♦︎Q82
♣︎Q542♠︎AKQ95♣︎T8
17♥︎Q21
3HCP4♦︎A744FRK1
16♣︎J962
Tricks Available (best play by both sides)
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
in
NT
in
♠︎
in
♥︎
in
♦︎
in
♣︎
by
N
1313121013by
E
00130
by
S
1313121013by
W
00130

Work In Progress! This HTML page with results combines the ACBLscore results, the BridgeMate data, and the actual cards in each hand to make a page that displays nicely on most screens. I'll continue to develop it as I hear about problems from people. So far I have only really had time to test it on the large monitor I have at home. I've done a little bit of work in making it fit on my iPhone 15 screen (turned sideways), but the typical cellphone screen is not wide enough to display the hands alongside the results, so it relocates the hands below the results and you may need to scroll down a bit. The key is in the tabs at the top, which mean you don't need to scroll to get from results to Board 32! Just click or tap on what you want to see next!

Two things that may help: If your browser program is old, some of the tech in this page might not work 100%: the system of tabs at the top of the page requires a recent version. You really aren't doing your computer many favours if you avoid requests to upgrade the programs you use most often, like browsers. If the page works but there are large areas of a monitor unused, you might be able to make it more readable by adjusting the size of things with CTRL + (plus key), which upsizes text and other screen elements a bit. CTRL + (minus key) also works if you go too far, and CTRL + (zero) resets to the default. (This doesn't work on cellphone screens.)

How is a pair's matchpoint score on a board calculated? Your raw score is compared one by one with all of the other raw scores on the board made by pairs sitting in your direction. You get one matchpoint for each score you beat, and a half-point for each score that is the same as yours. The top score on a board is one less than the number of times it is played. If the board was not played as many times as other boards for some reason, the scores may be factored up to compensate, so that each board has the same top score.

How is a pair's total score calculated? The scoring program first checks all boards to see how many times they have been played. Usually this will be the same for all boards, but if there is a sitout or a glitch of some sort in the movement, or an artificially assigned score due to an irregularity, the scoring program must first FACTOR scores on boards played fewer times, so that the top score on every board is the same. Once that is done, the scoring program also checks to see that each pair played the same number of boards: some may have sat out and missed a round: these pairs will have their total matchpoints FACTORED so that they get matchpoints for the boards they missed, based on their percentage on the boards they did play. The total of all this summing and factoring is your final score.

How does this factoring work exactly? There are actually two types of factoring: the most common is to factor a pair's score that has not played as many boards as the other pairs. Their sum of matchpoints on the boards they played, is divided by the number of boards they played, and then multiplied by the number of boards most pairs played. The other type is covered in the next question.

I have the best score on a board but got slightly fewer matchpoints than tops on other boards, why is that? This is the other type of factoring, which happens when a board is played fewer times than other boards for some reason. Maybe a pair didn't get to it, or there was a artificial score assigned after an irregularity. Factoring a board has to take into account the small chance that, had it been played the correct number of times, the extra plays might have produced a score that is better than the current top, or lower than the current bottom. To do so, the ACBL and the World Bridge Federation use the Neuberg formula, which you can read about on Wikipedia if you want the complete details. It has its detractors, but is sort of like Winston Churchill's ranking of democracy as the second-worst system of government ... all the others being tied for first!

HCP and FRK, what on earth are they? HCP stands for highcard points, and the four numbers surrounding it show how many points each player has in a hand. The colour behind the word "HCP" is gray when the 40 points are evenly distributed between North-South and East-West, but turns more and more orange (North-South) or purple (East-West) if one side has a majority. FRK stands for Freakness, a way to describe just how freaky a hand's distribution is, on a scale from 0-20, with average for a hand being just slightly less than 3, and the average for a full deal, the sum of the freakness ratings of the four hands, is about 11.93 on average. A hand gets one freakness point for each card in a suit beyond the fourth, or less than three; plus a bonus if the hand contains at least one void (2 points) or at least one singleton but no void (1 point). The background colour behind the "FRK" shows whether the deal is hot (red), average (gray), or cold (blue) in terms of Freakness! Freakness was created by bridge expert Richard Pavlicek and searching for "pavlicek freakness" will get you quickly to his article on the subject.

Something New! The tabs with the board numbers now indicate which side had the bulk of the high-card points (above the board number: NS: orange, EW: purple, evenly-split: gray), and the freakness rating of the deal as a whole (below the board number: flat: blue, average: gray, freaky: red)! Want to see only the hands where N-S had the points, or the freakiest ones? Check the tabs!

What are "tricks available" and how are they calculated? Computers these days can analyze all the possible legal play lines on a deal, given a trump suit (or notrump) and a declarer, and sort all of these lines into successes and failures to come up with an optimum line of play that perfect defenders and a perfect declarer would take. The result of this line of play is the "tricks available" and is sometimes unrealistic, requiring opening leads that few if any would find, or declarer taking only the finesses that work and dropping offside singleton honours where possible. You will very quickly see from the results which deals have unrealistic "tricks available" expectations, and it is often a fun exercise to work out how you can make that many tricks. But for most deals, it is a fairly good guide as to how high a pair should bid.

Why are the masterpoints not the same as what is on ACBL Live for Clubs? This is in my view an own goal by ACBL: they have new rules for club game masterpoints but are not willing to expend the time to upgrade ACBLscore to show the masterpoints under the new rules. Luckily, most masterpoint awards actually get bigger when they go through the "engine" and are reposted on Live. The main effect is to give more masterpoints to games where the non-sitting out pairs play more boards. The problem is that the masterpoint awards that come out of ACBLscore, before being posted online, are not what you eventually get.

How can I contact McBruce to tell him what's not working for me? By e-mail: oogashawca@gmail.com (the old shaw.ca address is gone)