Since Richard is always requesting hands for the website, here is one from Leeds Swiss Teams. Myself, Pat Rhodes-Fisher, Sara Tulip and Peter Russell found ourselves playing Richard Winter, Sara Teshome, Sandra Penfold and Nevena Senior on the way down after playing on table 2 in rounds 2 and 3, and then losing by 6 imps to Mathew Hoskins and co.

Pat and I played Winter and Teshome who were NS.

In view of the opposition I opened 2D game force, after all it's too good for an Acol 2, in my view anyway. Sara Teshome bid 3C, pass, pass so I bid 4H, after all I said I had a Game force and it does show a solid suit and wastes the oppositions bidding space.

AC lead, 8 from N a second club 11 tricks.

As you can see EW can make 9,10,11 or 12 tricks depending on the defence. On a C lead N should play the KC for a S switch and rough. AS, S rough, C return, S rough - 9 tricks. AD whoops, 12 tricks.

But look at the NS hands 6C by S and 6D by N or S both roll in.

Sara and Peter were busier and bid to 5D but gave in to 5H, not surprising with 3 aces - flat board

Other tables had 5H*, 5S* and 6C* or 6D* all making, what a hand to start the millennium.