At the end of a long day the players were understandably not in the best of form. Tiredness can manifest itself in many ways. Here are two examples where it was bidding judgement that was affected.

Dealer East. NS Game 10 2 — K 10 8 7 6 5 4 2 K 9 6 J 9 6 4 A K Q 8 7 J 9 10 8 5 4 Q J A 9 3 A 10 8 4 3 2 5 3 A K Q 7 6 3 2 — Q J 7 5 West North East South 1 4 4 All Pass

Four Hearts is a practical bid that often works well on this sort of hand.

West North East South 1 2 3 Pass Pass 4 Pass Pass 4 Pass Pass Dble All Pass

Here South adopted a more subtle approach, but felt compelled to bid 4 at her second turn. East really ought to have doubled, but allowing the opponents to provoke her into bidding 4 worked well.

South led the A and when North didn't ruff and play a diamond the defenders could only come to three tricks. Whilst North should probably get it right, South might have done better to lead the K, or perhaps even the Q?

Dealer South. EW Game A J 7 4 K 3 2 8 6 10 8 5 4 K 8 2 J 9 5 4 Q 10 8 7 Q 7 4 A 10 9 2 A K 9 7 2 J 6 3 Q 10 9 6 4 3 A 6 K J 5 3 Q West North East South 1 Dble 2NT Pass 4 All Pass

North's aggressive 'good raise' worked well, making it easy for South to bid the cold game.

West North East South 1 Dble 2 Pass Pass Dble Pass 3 Pass Pass 3 All Pass

Here North was more conservative on the first round. We have a feeling that the majority choice would be 3. Even so, South's failure to bid again is remarkable. Clearly she was not aware of the advice of the American star Jeff Meckstroth, 'When you have a six card major and partner supports you - bid game!' When West doubled again, North might have redoubled to suggest he had a maximum for his previous bid, but when he subsequently bid 3 South should have raised to game, not least because her opponents could have passed the hand out in 2!