After Group One Team cut the deficit to 31 IMPs, there was still more work to be done. To complete the turnaround, they needed an even stronger set than their fifth. They got straight to work, and after just the first three boards of the final segment, the deficit had been reduced to single digits. Much like the fifth set, the first board of the segment produced another game swing in Group One Team's favor. After a straightforward auction, 3NT became the final contract. Kalit

The 2025 Chicago Bears earned the nickname "Cardiac Bears" for their uncanny ability to pull off dramatic late-game comebacks. In the Polish Premier League, Group One Team just as easily have earned a similar nickname. Having already pulled off a 41 IMP comeback in an earlier playoff match, Group One Team once again found themselves facing a daunting deficit. After losing each of the first four sets over 48 boards, they trailed by 58 IMPs with only two sets remaining. At that

This board occurred at a local matchpoint tournament. After South showed the ♣A and denied any kings, North settled in 6♠, knowing there could still be a diamond loser. This was certainly a conservative decision, as 7♠ could still make on a variety of layouts. For example, South could hold a fourth spade, a fourth heart provided the suit behaved favorably, or a strong club holding such as AQJx. However, after the king ask, South had no practical way to describe any of these p

While shuffling through the hands from the Contra Cup tournament over Memorial Day weekend, I came across what was debatably one of the most remarkable boards of the event. Sitting East, vulnerable against not, you pick up: ♠ Void ♥ AQJ9765 ♦ Void ♣ AQJ972 North passes as dealer. Are you going big or not? One tempting option would simply be to open with a slam bid, a choice that, in fact, occurred at two different tables. At one table, the auction proceeded exactly as follows

A support double, as players say, promises three-card support in a special way. Though opponents may compete and interfere, partner’s double shows their support clear. But through all the types of doubles I know, all of them seem to support something after all. So perhaps the real question is: what double does not express support? A takeout double shows support in the unbid suits, forcing partner to bid on almost zero. And if partner ends up with their suit, you suddenly are

This hand produced an interesting debate between bidding hearts naturally and immediately showing both red suits with Michaels. While some players preferred describing the strong six-card heart suit first, others felt the offensive nature of the 6–5 distribution made Michaels the more practical action. The "Other" Section should be 9% As shown in the chart, approximately 53% of the 154 voters chose Michaels, while 38% preferred a natural 2♥ overcall. The remaining votes were

After a rather aggressive and imprecise auction, you find yourself in a 6♥ contract missing three aces. Somehow, thanks to the double voids in both your hand and your partner’s hand, you have only one immediate loser. West leads the ♦K, which you promptly ruff, as shown in the diagram above. How do you plan to make this contract? There are many lines of play that might come to mind, including: a ruffing finesse in the club suit establishing the diamond suit in hopes of ruffin

In many sports, the number 21 is viewed as the magic number: the score needed to secure victory. However, this number is not one you often see in the bridge world. Of course, you may hold a 21-point hand every now and then, or win a team match by 21 IMPs. But would you believe me if I told you that 21 IMPs were swung on a single board where one side bid and made a grand slam, while the other failed to make a small slam? Read below to see what transpired at both tables. Board

In the real Gen Z world, the phrase “six seven” has become a popular yet meaningless term, a hallmark of “brain rot” humor. At the bridge table, however, the difference between playing on the six and seven level is anything but meaningless. One push too far, or one cautious stop, and suddenly the scoreboard looks very different. Looking only at the East–West hands, 7♠ might not seem particularly appealing, as there could easily be a club loser. It would require clubs to split

On the surface, this appeared to be a flat board. North–South could comfortably make 5♠, and East–West weren’t even in the neighborhood of a game contract. Somehow, at the table, this board turned from nothing into something. In one room, North–South climbed one level too high. That might seem strange at first glance. After all, they were missing two aces. Once you discover you’re off two keycards, stopping safely in 5♠ appears straightforward. So how did they end up in six?

Sometimes, reaching the best contract isn’t just about choosing the right level or the right suit. It also depends on which way the hand is being played. On this board, the West hand can make 6♣, 6♦, and 6NT, while the East hand can only take 11 tricks in all three contracts. This is because South can lead the Q♥, allowing the defense to establish two heart tricks. However, if West is declarer, it’s North on lead, and they can’t start with the ♥A in a way that sets up those

In an uncontested auction, you arrive in 4♠. West leads the ♥7. Dummy plays the ♥2. East rises with the ♥A, and you follow with the ♥Q. East continues with another heart (see image above for trick 2)… How do you ensure the contract even in the worst-case scenario: when trumps split 4-0 and clubs split 4-1? If you draw trumps early, even successfully finessing so you lose no spade trick, you may still be in grave danger. Suppose North holds all four trumps and South holds fou

On this extraordinary board, a multitude of player choices led to wildly different outcomes. Although North-South were effectively cold for 6♣, a promising slam, the contract became intangible once South chose a practical 3♥ preempt. Israel Blue vs SPS Construction: Open Room West North East South Sliwowicz Araszkiewicz Sabbah Kotorwicz 3♥ P 4 ♥ AP Konrad Araszkiewicz faced two choices over his partner’s preempt: bid 3NT or raise to 4♥. He opted for the safer 4♥, which prove

In the third quarter of the quarterfinal, the second board carried significant weight. North-South, despite holding barely half the high-card points in the deck, were cold for 6♠. Five of the eight pairs hit the bullseye, though the path to slam was unclear. How did they do it? Let’s break down the hands and the auctions. Bianchi vs Knottenbelt: Open Room West North East South Porta Norton Bianchi Tommasini P P 1NT (1) X (2) 2♣ 3♠ P 4♣ X 4♦ 5♣ 6♦ P 6♠ AP 1) 10-13 HCP 2)

Sitting south and facing favorable vulnerability, you hold ♠ Q9653 ♥ – ♦ Q642 ♣ Q943. It feels like you’re in candyland when the auction proceeds: LHO Partner RHO You 1♥ 4♠ 5♠ ? Let’s say you choose to bid 6♥. Now the auction unfolds like this: LHO Partner RHO You 1♥ 4♠ 5♠ 6♥ P 6♠ P P 6NT P P ? What’s your choice now? Do you push to 7♠, taking a potentially cheap sacrifice over a making slam or let the opponents play in 6NT, hoping to set them with careful timing? Similarly

On this Valentine’s board, many East-West pairs reached a reasonable 6♥ contract. Practically speaking, it was a promising spot as long as both AJ of hearts weren’t offside. However, with most tables leading a club, this hope quickly vanished, as South was able to get in with the ♥A and give their partner a club ruff, immediately costing East-West a crucial trick. Even after the club ruff, declarer still has to decide whether to drop the ♥J or finesse North’s hand for Jxxx. T

Welcome to Smash or Pass: Slam’s Edition! This article highlights the wildest slams from the fourth quarter. Some were textbook, easily bid and made, while others were entirely double-dummy and impossible to reach without seeing all four hands. For each board, we’ll call it a “smash” if the slam is reasonable and approachable. On the other hand, we’ll call it a “pass” if the slam is only reachable double-dummy or just too risky, where caution might have been the wiser choice.

When the cards fit, there’s only one real question: is it time to pull the trigger? Despite North’s opening bid, many East-West pairs were left debating whether slam was truly the right spot. Some of the more common auctions for tables that missed slam were: West North East South 1♣ 1♥ P 4♥ AP West North East South 1♣ 2NT(1) P 4♥ AP (1) at least 5-5 in red suits In both of these sequences, the auctions were brief, leaving very little room to explore slam. There were several w

Board 4. All Vulnerable Opponents Partner Opponents You 1 ♦ P 1♥ 2♣ 3♥ P 4♥ AP As South, you’re on lead against 4♥, all vulnerable. What’s your best shot? No lead guarantees success: A ♣ or spade lead could easily blow a trick, especially with such fragile holdings. A singleton trump might expose partner’s holding or hand declarer improved timing. A ♦ lead walks straight into dummy’s first-bid suit, potentially handing declarer an early tempo. So what did the players choose?

Board 18 in the 8th match of the Swiss looked like a dream for both sides, yet the hands refused to produce a game for either. Neither side can make a game contract, despite the shapely holdings, particularly in North and West. North-South fall short by one diamond, two spades, and a spade ruff in 4♥, while East-West lose three immediate club tricks in 5♦. Across all 39 matches, this board produced an average swing of 7.21 IMPs, even though 10 matches pushed the board. Remark