The British Bridge World

Editorial . BERNARD WESTALL (CHAIRMAN) GEOFFREY BUTLER KENNETH KONSTAM (EDITOR)

VOL. 15, NO. 7 CONTENTS JULY, 19~ Page Editorial 5-6 The Philadelphians, by Albert Dormer ... 7-13 Annuals of 's Club, by Terence Reese 14-15 The New York Olympiad (3), by Harold Franklin 17-31 The Watcher 32-34 One Hundred Up: New Problems 35 The Informatory Pass, by C. Ellwood Holmes 37-38 One Hundred Up, conducted by Alan Hiron .. . 41-50 Bridge Academy, conducted by G. C. H. Fox .. . 51-61

A I>\' E R T I S I N G : All c.nquiri"• •hould bt' addr"u"d to th": AJ>\'ERTISING ~tANAGER, TIIO~IAS DE I.A ltUE & CO. LTD. llunhill Row, 1-:.C.I •

.\1.1. OTIII-:It COitltESI'ONUENCE, INCJ.UUJNG SUIISCHWrtONS, 10 TilE t•t:IIUSIUJIS. A!'\l>HE\\'S & WAHIIUHG, I.TU .• JS 1>0\'ER STHH·:T. 1.0:'\UO:'\, W.l. T~l: :\1,\ \'IMir 119'n Annu:.~l Sub-..·ription J~ .' · 1n the centre pages of last better than others at a particular month's British Bridge World, time. It is generally accepted Terence Reese replied to recent that such tournaments as the criticism of the way in which our Pairs Olympiad, the Masters Pairs, international teams arc chosen. the Sunday Times Pairs, and so He suggested that pressure for on, arc won mostly (it doesn't have the introduction of a method to be always) by the best pairs. based directly on results comes In playing tournament bridge at from a "fringe" of "interested all, we are committed to this parties." belief, and it is nonsense to pre­ Reese was answering Frank tend that one cannot devise a Farrington, Edmund Phillips, reasonably accurate pairs trial. Harry Ingram and me, none of It is true that, in theory, good whom aspires to play in the judges might select better pairs, British open team. However, I ' but it is not certain. Selection am glad that Reese has made committees can be influenced by himself the spokesman of those professional ties, family relation­ who oppose selection by results, ships, personal friendships, and since he, in my view, is the one the like. I believe that they are playcf whose place in the team so influenced, at all levels, from is not at issue. If selection by Clubs through Counties and up­ results were introduced, it could wards. To imagine that bridge well be limited to four places, players can hold the balance leaving the selectors free to offer evenly between close friends of the remaining two places to Reese many years standing, or relatives, and his partner, or to any other on the one hand, and unfashion­ pair who happened, at a parti­ able or unlikcd players on the cular time, to be truly outstand­ other hand, is unworldly. I ing. This is the method followed believe that even the charitably­ by the Italians~ minded sec some force in this Since Reese's own position, argument. therefore, is not at stake, dis­ However, not all bridge plJycrs cussion can proceed without per­ art• charitably-minded, and among sonal involvement. the more cynical the bdicf may exist that a minority with spcciJI 'Jltc case for trials interests arc influencing team Tournament bridge itself pn:­ selection to suit thcmsc:lvcs. If supposcs that competitions ca11 this belief gains ground, the h ~1rm be made to show which pairs arc done is very much more serious s than the harm (illusory, some say) Konstam and J. Tarlo some way which might accrue if a well­ behind. Now, the three last­ conceived trial happened to pro­ named played with Reese in the duce a surprise result once in a New York Olympiad, for which while. there was no trial at all, so I can­ not sec that the fact that in 1962 The "Butler" method they won their places reflects any The "Butler" method of con­ discredit on the "Butler" method ducting pairs trials was devised as compared with the alterna­ in Britain in 1961 after lengthy tives. As for Swimer, Reese him­ consultation with a large number self said, after the I 960 Olympiad, of players and is now widely used that he had struck up a partner­ throughout the world. In Britain, ship of world class with Flint; so, it was used to determine the presumably, Swimer's success in teams for the 1961 and 1962 the 1962 trials, playing with Flint, European Championships, but did nothing to lessen faith in the then it was dropped without ex­ "Butler" method. planation. Let us review the two We are left with the 1962 trials years in which it was used and winners, Swinnerton-Dyer and sec whether anything happened Barbour. Had their subsequent to discredit the method. record been one of failure, their In 1961 the winners (Reese did easy success in the trial might not take part) were Gardener and have raised doubts, but the oppo­ Rose, Priday and Truscott, Kon­ site proved true. From then until stam and Rodrigue. I heard no Barbour went to America, they one say at the time that these were the most successful British had not played the best bridge. pair, frequently asserting th~ir They went on to take the Euro­ superiority over the other r~urs pean Championship very easily; in the trials. The fact that the admittedly in a sub-standard field, .. Butler" method allowed them but no more so than Baden Baden to get into the European Cham· last year. Nothing happened in pionship team, where they b~­ 1961 to invalidate the "Butler" longed, was greatly to its crc:J•t. method. It was something that could h:~\C In 1962, Reese still not taking been achieved only hy an dfectt\C part, similar trials were con­ trial-not by the judgment of vincingly won by a newly-formed observers with preconceived tHl­ partnership, Swinncrton-Dyer tions. and Barbour, with Swimer, Flint, (Continued on pagt' 39.) 6 THE PHILADELPHIANS Albert Dormer reports on a leading American partnership which has not yet been seen in action in Britain.

Can an electric light bulb glow-~ hips. They settle at the table, with personality? Perhaps I'm look at the opponents, size them over-imaginative. up. It doesn't make the op- The Bridge-0-Rama "fishbowl" ponents any happier if they know has gone out of fashion. Difficult Jordan's profession: he's a to soundproof; it presented little cemetery sales manager. theatrical advantage; to some it The pair seem to match paces was a distraction even. Current· in bidding and defence but Jordan, fashion is to ensconce the 'Rama 36, may be a more positi\'e players far from the madding force in dummy play. He is throng, where cheers and hisses fearless, at times brilliant. Some can't be heard. claim that Robinson, only 27 That's what they did at the New and a bridge teacher, could be York Olympiad, but sometimes or could become, a better tech­ the personalities still came nician even than Jordan. Anyway. through. Especially when the both are good enough for my players included Robert Jordan money. and Arthur Robinson of Phila- Jordan and Robinson carried delphia, mainstay of the , U.S. the brunt of battle in the world team. championship in St. Vincent last Watching a tricky defence on year. Then, according to Amcric~m 'Rama, the audience generally critics, the United States lost the jitters. Watching Jordan and 144-board match ~tgainst Italy Robinson, it's usually safe to only because John Gerber at­ relax. They'll find the right path tempted a captaincy stroke which most of the time. turned out disastrously. With They stride towards the 'Rama 32 boards to play, the Americans room, cigars clenched, menacing, were 21 points in the kad. leaning forward slightly from the Keeping Jordan and Robinson 7 as his anchor, Gerber split the Jordan and Robinson don't other two partnerships and paired open four-card majors, so Jordan the renowned Howard Schenken bid One Diamond on the North with Bobbie Nail of Texas. Result: hand. The final contract was Italy scored 44 to 5 on the next 3NT, played by the Swiss maestro 16 boards. For the remaining 16, Jean Besse. Jordan led Ace Schenken resumed his partner­ and another spade. The contract ship with Peter Lcventritt and the is easily made if declarer plays on score hardly moved, Italy winning diamonds, but it was not to be the whole match by 19 points. expected that he would do so If Jordan and Robinson after North's One Diamond open­ knocked at the door at St. ing. Instead, Besse came to the Vincent, they hammered harder Queen of clubs and ran the 9 of in the recent Olympiad. Next hearts to South's Jack. Robinson to Forquet and Garozzo of Italy, played back a spade and the they probably played as well as position, with North on lead, was: any other pair. Barring the unexpected, they seem set to NORTH figure in world bridge for years to +Q come. '\} l<. 10 7 An index of Jordan's standing 0 QJ2 is that the audience sighed heavily +IO when he "misdefended" this deal: WEST EAST '\}3 '\}AQ86 NORTH OK10876 0 A9 +A QJ 7 ·- ·­ '\}Kl072 +97 +AK 0 QJ 2 SOUTH +to 3 +9 '\}- EAST 0 54 3 • 8 3 2 + K6 "9 3 '\}AQ8654 • J 8 6 5 0 K 10 8 7 6 0 A9 There arc times when only a +097 +A K4 good player sees that there is SOUTJI something to trance about. Jordan . • 10 9 54 huddled for long, long minutes. '\}J and one felt that it was even 0 54 3 money that he'd find the winnin~ . t ··ld +JH652 play-a small diamon d 111~ \:· 8 .------

1 300 KEY HANDS from the 2nd WORLD BRIDGE OLYMPIAD Official Handbook

OUT JULY 1Sth 191 PAGES

$1 postpaid in U.S. or Canada (elsewhere, $2.50 postpaid)

NEW: For the first time, a special group of 50 dramatic deals with full commentary on the bidding and play! Selection includes hands from . the round robin, showing every country in action. Full coverage of U.S.-Britain and U.S.-Italy round robin matches. FULL COVERAGE OF the 60-deal U.S.-ITALY FINAL Ample selection of hands from: GREAT BRITAIN-ITALY semi­ final; U.S.-Canada semi-final; GREAT BRITAIN-CANADA pby-off. The swing hands from the Women's Title event. i I Order direct (rom; , AMERICAN LEAGUE 33 WEST 60TH STREET NEW YORK, IOOll

1) of cashing the Queen of spades. Only a small diamond from He didn't make it, and the North will do. audience, long since alerted by the The Jordan-Robinson escut­ high-powered panel of commen­ cheon emerged unsullied from tators, groaned. that encounter but was nearly When people arc disappointed blotted on a deal from the semi­ because you miss a play like that, final against Canada. they think highly of you. West dealt with East-West vul­ If, in the diagram position, nerable. North scores the spade and exits, he is pulped when dummy plays NORTH clubs. That is what happened. + K 8 54 If, instead of cashing the spade, \? 10 9 7 4 North ·plays a club, dummy 0 K42 scores another club and North +Q9 has to discard his spade. Now declarer plays to the diamond WFST EAST King, hearts, concedes • Q 10 2 • J 9 7 3 a heart and takes the rest. \? AQ2 \? J 5 If (still in the diagram position) 0 Q J9 6 0 8 3 . North plays a high diamond, + J 64 +A 10852 dummy wins and plays clubs, forcing a spade discard from SOUTH North. Now a small heart from +A6 the table puts North in and \?K863 declarer harvests whichever suit OAI075 he returns. + K 7 3

Jordan (/t/1) und Robinson (righl) watch on 'Rama a board 1rhich llzt"y lzarr a/rr.zJ•· playc•d in lhr clostd room. Ct"ntrt" i1 1/zt" Amcricmr captain, Frank T. Jl'c•JtCc1 tt. 10 SouTH WI:ST NORTH EAST NORTH Robin- Howell Jordan Forhes + K 8 !iOn \/10 No No No 0 K2 10 No 1\/ No . +- 2\? No No 2+ WI:ST EAST No No Dble All pass +to • J 9 Jordan's double, with a poor \/- \/- holding in the suit which was 0 QJ 9 6 08 likely to be led and no shortage +- + 8 5 in his partner's diamonds, was SOUTH distinctly adventurous. True, the Canadians trailed by 47 at this \/K point, but Jordan, a man of ·-OAI075 wrath, is not the sort to relax +-- until the last card is played. South led the 3 of hearts, If Jordan releases the King of declarer won with the Jack and . trumps too early, · declarer sails took the return . He threw home. The diagram position a diamond on the Ace of hearts is the same, except that North is on and led the Jack of clubs, which lead with two small spades and was covered by Queen and Ace. the declarer needs three of the last Declarer led the 10 of clubs and five tricks. North's best play Robinson ducked. The King of is King and another diamond, clubs won the next trick and but declarer throws a club. If Robinson played ace and another South returns a heart, declarer , dummy putting in the makes the last three tricks with Queen the second time. high trumps; if a diamond, North North ducked the second trump has to ruff and declarer O\'erruffs and the position, with declarer and draws the last trump. needing two more tricks, was: It avails declarer naught to pby low from dummy on the second (next column) trump lead, with the idea of Dummy played the Queen of winning in hand and rulling a diamonds, Jordan put on the club in dummy. This time North King and cashed the King of scores the King and puts dummy trumps. Jordan played red cards in with a spade. Declarer makes and the declarer could make only only his master trump. his master trump. Winning play for llcdan:r is lll II throw dummy's trump Queen - under South's Ace. Then he can There is still time to either ruff a club with dummy's enjoy bridge in 10 of spades or score the good YUGOSLAVIA clubs. The final hand features another POREC difficult defence which would be 23-27 SEPTEMBER academically remote for many pairs. It came up in the Olympiad final. Three Diamonds rather than rebid NORTil hearts. • 8 7 4 2 Robinson led the Queen of (j> K 3 clubs, Garozzo put on the Ace 0 A K84 and threw two clubs on the top +A82 diamonds. Three rounds of WEST EAST hearts followed, dummy ruffing +A 53 + K6 with the 8. Then came a trump (j>1075 "Q 6 4 lead in this position: 019732 OQI065 NORTH +Q3 +KI064 • 7 42 SOUTH \?- +QJ109 0 8 4 (j>AJ982 + 8 2 0- WEST EAST + J 9 7 5 +A 53 + K6 \?- '7- SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST 0 J 9 7 0QIO Garoz:o Robin- Forquer Jordan +3 + K 104 SOli SOUTJI I+ No 2+ No • Q J 10 9 2\j) No 30 No \? J 9 3NT No 4+ All pass 0- In the Neapolitan system, the +5 Two Club response need not be a Dummy's 2 of spades went to genuine suit, but the rest of the West's Ace. West returned 3 bidding was natural. Since South's club, East won and played anotha first two bids were in the canape club declarer ruffinc. South style and he had thus shown needed three tricks ~from this five-card hearts, he bid 3NT over ending: 12 NoRTH defence. Going back to the middle • 74 diagram, if, on the lead of the 2 ((}- of spades from dummy, East puts 0 84 on the King and plays King and +- another club, the contract can WEST EAST be beaten. South ruffs and plays • 53 +K a trump, but \Vest wins and returns \?- ((}- a diamond. South ruffs again 0 J 9 OQIO and has only hearts to lead. West +- +4 ruffs at trick twelve, dummy SOUTII overruffs but is left with a losing • Q9 diamond. The defence is difficult (() J 9 but well within the compass of 0- this pair. +- At the other table the contract Garozzo led a good heart and, and the first three tricks were the when West discarded, passed it in same. Declarer then led a trump dummy and made the contract. from dummy, not having touched (It is true that, as the cards lay, hearts. East, Pabis Ticci, put Garozzo could also have suc­ up the King and cashed a club, ceeded by playing a heart and but then the defenders played ruffing in dummy, this loses if declarer's game by taking a West has all the outstanding second and third round of trumps. trumps.) Declarer now set up the hearts The main interest lies in the and made his contract.

LONDON CONGRESS RESULTS Mixed Pairs: London Pairs: Mrs. Garfield and Saunders, Group A: Crowhurst and Mrs. Williams and Langiert, Mr. Wardman, Mrs. Hartil and ~trs . and Mrs. Hiron (flitch). Hiron, Mrs. Sinclair and Dr. Westminster Pairs: Sinclair. Group B: Davis and Vaz and Cundy, Ellison and Jackson, Hoffman and Adkr. Mrs. Ashcroft, Mrs. Shammon Kaye and Brunskill. and Mrs. Sopp. Piccadilly Cup: London Cup: l\trs. Gatti and T. Lederer. Beach, Scnk, Adler, Holfman; Dr. and l\trs. Sinclair, ~tr. and Mrs. Cooper, James, Gerrard, Mrs. Lamport. ~trs. Kcll and J. Pates. Westlake. 13 "Great ~Vas The Fall." An cpiaode in Terence Reese's famous seriea,

Hearing loud cries of laughter NORTH from the card room, among which Pamela he thought he detected his wife's • 8 3 girlish tones, Sir Y oicks Harka­ \? 7 54 way finished off his drink in the OAJ532 bar and with a word to William, +KQ3 the club steward, strode off to WEST EAST investigate. He found his wife Lady Harkaway Miss Sloe Mabel and Janet Sloe in play +A 10 6 + Q J 7 54 2 against Mr. Play better and Pamela <;?KQ108632<;?9 Deuccace. 010 OK74 "I say, old girl, what's the +14 +1096 racket about?" he asked, bringing SOUTH a chorus of sh . . . s from the Playbetter other tables, who had already + K9 been sufficiently disturbed. \?A J "What's this?" he went on more 0 Q 9 8"6 quietly, looking at Mabel's score­ +A8752 sheet. "You got the maestro 800 down?" points in theory, but this time I "Yes," said Mabel, as she and decided to owe myself a point, Pamela went off again into peals as most of my strength was in of merriment. "And it wasn't the minors and I had a five-card even doubled!" suit. So I opened I NT. Mabel "If the others don't mind, I'll overcalled with Three Hearts and show you the hand," said Play- now Pamela gave me 3NT.'' better. "See what you would "I expect that was a shocker," have done. We were vulnerable said Pamela, who was a com· and Janet dealt." (next column) parative novice. "I thought you'd "Just look at our hands for a probably hold the hearts, as you moment," Playbetter went on. did, and that with my 10 points "Janet dc~tlt and passed. Pam and five-card suit you might ~ and I play a no-trump of 15 to 17 able to run nine tricks." 14 "It was a bright bid and I don't NORTil sec what else you could have done • 8 3 on your hand," said Playbetter \/7 54 handsomely. "3NT was passed 0AJ532 out and Mabel Jed the King of +KQ3 hearts. won the second round, I. \VEST EAsr Miss Sloe discarding a spade. + Axx +QJxxxx What would you have done \/ KQ JOxxxx \?9 now'!" 0 Kx 0 lOx Sir Yoicks was looking at the +x +J 109x North-South cards only. "J would have played off a· couple SOUTH of high clubs for a start," he said. + K9 "And if everyone followed I'd \?A J have made five tricks' there and 0 Q 9 8 6 +A8752 perhaps got some clue about the diamond finesse." "Now you see what happens "You would have done a great if I play on clubs first? I make deal better than I did," said Play­ three clubs and finesse the Jack better. "I took the diamond of diamonds successfully, but finesse at once and never made then the diamonds are blocked. another trick. When the 'girls I am a trick short, whereas if have stopped giggling I'll . show I finesse the diamond at once I you why I played it that way." still have dummy's clubs for (Miss Sloe was actually suffering ." agonies of embarrassment over "Yes, f see," said Sir Yoicks. the whole affair.) "I pictured the "Sometimes it helps to have been hand more like this: born without any brains, like me."

THE The Governing Body for England All who desire to further the development of Contract Bridge should be members. For full details of membership write to the Secretary: Mrs. A. L. Fleming, 12 Frant Road, Tunbridge \Veils, Kent. Phone: Tunbridge Wells 30612

15 Try your h2nd at the June problems before rca~ing ~ow the experts foted. Problem r\o. 1 (10 points) . Sol1TH WEST NORTH fAst Match-point pairs, North-South vul- 1~ No ncrable, the bidding has gone: 2+ 30 No No SouTH WEST NoRnt EAST ? 1~ Dble I+ No (Wesfs 3 0 bid is strong. but not ? forcing.) South holds: South holds: +JO ~AK873 OKJ82 +KIM +K1087 J6 OAS +AI0972 What should South bid? What should South bid?

1•roblem No. 2 (20 points) Problem No.6 (10 points) Love all, the bidding has gone: I.m.p. ·scoring, love all, the bidding SouTH WrsT NORTH EAST has gone: 1~ No t+ No SOUTH WEST NORTH EAsr ? t+ No South holds: 1~ No 3NT No +S ~AQJ1064 OKQ97 . +96 ? What should South bid: South holds: (a) At match-point pairs? +1043 KQ976 0874 +AQ (b) At l.m.p. scoring? What should South bid?

Problem No.3 (10 points) Problem No. 7 (20 points) I.m.p. scoring, love all, the bidding Match-point pairs, East-West \1llncr· has gone: able, the bidding has gone: Sount WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH . WEST NORTH EAST 1~ Dble Redble t+ No tNT 2+ ? ? South holds: South holds: +10972 ~1084 074 +J832 +AKJ42 ~AK9 010832 +JO What should South bid? (a) What should South bid? (b) What should South bid if East had Problem No.4 (10 points) passed? , East-West vulnerable, the bidding has gone: Problem No.8 (10 points) SouTII WEST NoRTH EAST _ I.m.p. scoring, -Jove all, the bidding 2+ No has gone: SOUTJI WEST 'NORTII EAST South holds: 1<::/ +93 ~JI096 OQ975 +AK4 No No 4<::/ What should South bid? 3~ No No No ? l•roblem No. S (10 points) South holds: Rubber bridge, North-South vul­ +K842 ~JS OA742 +JOS3 nerable, the bidding has gone: What should South lead? 16 THE EW YOR OLYMPIADS (3)

Harold Franklin concludes his O~rmpiad Diary.

Tenth day NORTH Pride of place today must go + Q9 62 to the British Women's team. ~ K9 Mexico gave them a chance to 0 10 6 2 clinch matters by taking their + J 9 6 2 match against U.S.A. 5-2. Our WEST EAST team needed no further encourage­ +A J 8 7 + K3 ment. A smashing 7-0 victory ~ J 8 5 ~A1064 against France was followed by 0 AK 7 0 QJ 4 the second half of the Argentine + K 8 3 +AQ105 match in which we added a SOUTII further 34 points to score a maxi­ + 10 54 mum win and make sure of the ~ Q7 3 2 Championship with a full two 0 9 8 53 days' play still to come. In . +74 thirteen completed rounds we Mrs. Gordon opened I NT with had taken 89 points from a the East hand-Mrs. Markus possible 91, beating Mexico and tried Two Clubs, and having U.S.A. 6-1 and taking full points elicited the information that part­ from every other opponent. ner held a four-card heart suit. Mrs. Markus and Mrs. Gordon was encouraged to bid 6NT. were in their most devastating South led the 5 of spades, dummy mood against France and de­ played the 7 and after consid~r­ moralised their opponents when able thought North play~d th~ they made three early slams, Queen, though it is dinicult to profiting by clever play from fathom the thought proc~ss~s opponents' errors on each oc­ that led to this conclusion. ~trs. casion. East dealt with neither Gordon play~d a second spad~ to side vulnerable: the Jack and continued with 17 three rounds of clubs. \Vhen conservative to say the least, and the suit failed to break she was when partner removed to Two in some trouble, but was aided Clubs she still showed no excite­ by South's helpful discard of the ment about her holding in pan­ 7 of hearts. She crossed to ncr's two suits and marked time dummy with a diamond and led with a false preference to Two the Jack of hearts for the King Diamonds. But time had run out and Ace. Though she would and her partner did no more. have liked to lead another heart It might. have been a small from the table, it was too early consolation to know that 3.NT to take her third spade trick. was capable of being defeated. Mrs. Gordon, therefore, realising Mrs. Markus obviously also that her best chance was to realised this, for when her partner the 9 of hearts, boldly laid down responded 2NT to an opening the 10 and was richly rewarded. bid of One Diamond, she Having tasted blood, , Mrs. eschewed the obvious . raise to Markus wanted more on this 3NT in favour of a bid of Three hand. South dealt with East­ Clubs. East raised' to Four Clubs, West vulnerable: Mrs. Ma~kus cue-bid the Ace of NORTH spades and when her partner bid • Q42 Five Diamonds she went on to (\116532 Six Clubs. After a heart lead 0 8 3 she had time to develop twelve + 9 74 tricks with the help of two heart ruffs. WF.ST EAST In full cry, Mrs. Markus and +A 10 5 • J 9 7 Mrs. Gordon continued with this <\/K "9 8 7 third slam in the first six boards. 0AI0972 0 KQ6 East dealt, East-West vulnerable: + AJ 6 3 +KQ105 (See next page.) SoUTH Mrs. Gordon opened One Heart + K 8 6 3 with the East hand, clearly with <\/A .Q104 the intention of rebidding No 0 J 54 Trumps after the expected spade + 8 2 response. Partner duly responded For France, East performed in Two Spades and she bid 2NT. perplexing manner. Over her Over Three Diamonds she ~r­ partJ1er's opening bid of One severcd with 3NT and when Diamond she responded 1NT, partner went on with Four Hearts. 18 NORTH to ruff the fourth club, dummy is • Q 8 6 5 squeezed into abandonin!! the 8 6 threat in one or other suit. - 0 J 8 7 :Vfeanwhile the men, beating + 7 64 3 Bermuda 7-0 and Germany .t-3 W EST EAST before going down 5-2 to U.A.R. +AJI074 +K completed a British double by \? K Q 5 A 10 3 2 heading the qualifying Pool, of OAI052 0 Q9 3 which the final table read: +K +AJ1092 Britain 160 SOUTH Italy 153 • 9 3 2 U.S.A. 147 J974 Canada I45 OIK 64 Switzerland I40 +Q85 Australia 125 Belgium I24 she thought it safe to introduce France I23 her club suit. This encouraged Argentina I 22 West to bid Six Hearts, the final Venezuela 121 contract. Brazil I I7 South led the 5 of clubs. This Spain I I4 was won in dummy and dummy's Sweden I I4 high trumps were cashed before Philippines I I 3 crossing to hand with the King Israel I I2 of spades. The 9 of clubs was Poland I05 led and allowed to run, note Thailand I 02 being taken of South's eight-spot. S. Africa 99 The Ace of hearts left South with Rep. of China 93 a trump trick and was followed Holland 90 by the Ace and Jack of clubs, U.A.R. 89 dummy discarding a second dia­ Ireland 84 mond and a spade. South ruffed Germany 77 the fourth round of clubs, and Bermuda 76 that was a mistake, for it meant Jamaica 74 that she either had to lead a Mexico 71 diamond away from the King, Lebanon 6S or give the declarer a free spade Chile 59 fine sse and the certainty of two Netherlands Antilles .,., tricks in the suit. If South declines The climax of the e\'cning was 19 the draw for the ·semi-final. The NORTH original intention had been that +AK9876 the first team would meet the

?,'." ricturio~IJ 11'0 11/t'l:'s lea::;, . ll ' ilj;~ ·frs. Charles Solomo11 at left, Carl Alhato lrroux '11 nght, and Baron de Nexon at centre. 22 the difference of course being on board 17, but fine defence by that the psychic opener will pass Garozzo persuaded Reese to a partner's response. Reese tested wrong line of play. Forquct and Garozzo with this NORTH application: +KJ7643 WEST EAST A 9 +AKJ9765+Q 0- AQ3 \765 +K9843 OJ 06543 WEST EAST +KJ +875432 +Q2 +A 109 Reese opened One Heart with \7163 \7752 the West hand and when his OKQ10752 0 9 8 3 partner responded One Spade, +JIO +AQ76 he passed. Garozzo, on Reese's SOUTH left, who held twelve points, + 8 5 now had to balance with a double, \7KQ1084 persuaded that Reese's opening 0 A J 64 was psychic. Reese was pushed • 52 to Three Spades, ready to punish Four Spades had already failed one more bid by the Italians, but in the Closed Room when the Forquet and Garozzo, sure­ board came on the Vu-Graph footed as ever, stopped in time. . Reese played the same Nine tricks were made for a contract from the North hand useful swing, the hand having and prospects were bright after been played in Four Spades, one an of the 9 of down, in the other room. After diamonds. Reese won in dummy. another small swing to Britain discarding a club from hand and the Italians scored heavily with led a spade to the Jack. But another aggressive move. After Garozzo had already seen the Gray had made a no,rmal opening possibilities and with no more bid of One weak No Trump than normal hesitation he pl:lyed in third hand, followed by two low. Perhaps Reese ought to passes, A varclli re-opened with have considered the likelihood a double on: +KQ982 K76 of East holding up the Ace: if 098 +Q52. He was fortunate the Ace wins the decl:ln:r must enough to find partner with make the contract unkss he twelve points and that cost Britain decided to finesse the heart. and 500. there is no good reason for doing We almost recovered the deficit that. Once the Ace was hdd up an alternative, if remote, line NORTH was open to the declarer. If in + KJ 94 fact West held +AQx, if the \? K 9 5 hearts were 3-3 and if the Ace 0 J 7 3 of clubs were doubleton, declarer + K 7 5 could make by taking three WEST EAST rounds of hearts and playing a + A8 • 6 5 second spade from dummy, and \?AQI0872 \/1643 that is what he tried to do. The 0 A96 0 10 54 result was two down and the +A9 + QJ 64 Italians ended the first session of SOUTH twenty boards with a lead of +QI0732 17 i.m. p., and the audience satis­ \?- fied that they had watched bridge 0 KQ82 of a quality that matched the +10832 occasion. In the second session Reese Avarelli overcalled 1NT and Reese and Schapiro were opposed to made the conservative bid of Two Belladonna and A varelli while Spades. This was passed round Forquet and Garozzo moved to Avarelli, who bid Three Hearts, into the Closed Room where Reese competed with Three they opposed Gray and Flint. Spades, and there the · auction Italy had the first major success, ended. and were not unlucky in the Just when we seemed to need manner of it. North dealt with it most we had our first lucky East-West vulnerable: break. East dealt with both sides (Next Column). vulnerable: (Next page). In the Closed Room Garozzo In the Closed Room Flint opened Two Spades with the opened Two No Trumps with South hand. . Gray overcalled the East hand. Gray launched Four Hearts and Forquet sacri­ into Gerber and quickly settled ficed in Four Spades. This went in 7NT. On the 'Rama, Bella­ back to Gray who made the donna opened the East hand obvious double-it was cruel luck One Club and Schapiro over­ to find that there was no way to called One Spade. A varclli bid a fourth trick. Three Clubs and Belladonna Four At the other table Schapiro Diamonds and they were now made a semi-psychic opening of firmly on the way to the grand One Diamond on the South hand. slam. Once he had been ahk 24 NoRTH partner it seemed safer to Bella­ +- donna to play in the suit contract 'V 1098643 since he calculated that it mi!!ht 0 to 9 8 be necessary to develop the club + 10 7 4 3 suit by ruffing. West, Avarelli, WEST EAST however, knew that this was not +A to 3 + Q J 7 so and might therefore have \/2 \.:}A J 7 converted to No Trumps. But 0 K 3 OAQJ762 Schapiro still had to lead-after +KQJ9865 +A some thought he decided that SouTJI the opponents clearly had their +K986542 thirteen tricks and that a first \.:} K Q 5 round ruff was the one hope. He Jed a spade and Britain 0 54 recovered 20 i.m.p. Two boards +2 later they were in the lead for to locate the diamond King with the first time, but the Italians

( 'riminal Lm,·n·r l'arou.\· 1ras proji•.nional/y engaged, ccw!.l COlli<' c> n ~l' f.•r Jor:i­ jinuh and jinai. ,\/flU' Alt•.wmln• ;,,. at left, .\ln. A !rill /.andy ,\(Cllldir:g, .\lr.l. c,·,>;lrc•y /lut Ia Ill r~~ llf. 25 pressed home with two t~in having very good defence. T1:e games to take up the runnmg loss of 300 need not have proved again. fatal. The Italian lead went back into In the other room Reese opened the twenties on a board which One Diamond with the North could easily have levelled matters. hand and Schapiro bid Two North dealt with North-South Diamonds. Avarelli entered the vulnerable: auction with Two Hearts, Reese NoRTH bid Three Clubs, East, Bella­ +AJ652 donna, raised to Three Hearts \?4 Schapiro bid Three Spades and 0 9 7 4 Reese went on to game. After +A KQ2 two passes Avarelli doubled and WEST EAST his partner led a heart out of turn. + KQ 1074 This opened up interesting pos­ \?A10865 \?1973 sibilities and the position did not 0 6 3 2 ·­0 KJ deteriorate when Schapiro pro­ +J986543 hibited a heart lead and West SOUTII selected the 6 of diamonds. The ·- • 9 8 3 King lost to the Ace and the 8 of \? KQ 2 spades was led, covered by the OAQ1085 Queen which was allowed to hold. • 107 West now switched to the Ace In the Closed Room the auction and another heart: at this stage was: Schapiro knew West to be 5-5 NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST in the majors and might have Forquer Flint Garo==o Gray realised that since he needed ,. 2+ 20 2\? entries back to his own hand he 2+ No 3. No would have to rely on West 4+ 5\? Dble No holding a second diamond. In No No fact he became obsessed with the It may be open to question idea that the lead was a singleton, whether West should enter the and discarded two diamonds auction with a in partner's from dummy on the good hearts. suit and his main strength in the All would still have been wdl opponents'. From the nature had he now played ofT the Ace of of the bidding and from his own diamonds, for he would then hand East might have considered have been able to continue the the possibility of his partner suit when the Jack fell. \\'est 2(, would trump the fourth round trump break, he wisely felt that and dummy would over-ruff. A this kind of risk was necessary. low spade to the 9 would then Forquet and Garouo played in put West in difficulties from Six Hearts and the scores were which there would be no escape. almost level. After taking two diamond dis­ Italy had slightly the better of cards on the heart Schapiro led the hard-fought exchanges that the 3 of spades for the 7 and Jack. followed, and came to the very He then tried to cash the Ace of last board with an advantage of cluhs: West ruffed and the con­ 10 i.m.p. West dealt with North­ tract was two down. South vulnerable: Gray and Flint took a good NORTH penalty on the penultimate board +Q for a double swing and Britain ~10732 ended the session trailing 88-73- 0 K 12 close enough for continued hope. +Q10986 Konstam replaced Flint for the WEST EAST only change in the line-up and +3 +110972 Schapiro took a quick chance to ~AJ9654 ~KQ get back into the match when he 010876 09 took a calculated risk with a +J 4 +K7532 doubtful grand slam. SOUTH WEST EAST +AK8654 +Q93 +AK654 ~8 ~743 ~AK9652 OAQ543 OA964 07 +A +KQ4 +A This was what happened in the WEST EAST 'Rama room: Schapiro Reese WEST NoRTH EAsT SouTH 10 Schapiro Bella- Reese A rare IIi 20 3~ donna 4~ 4NT No No No t+ 50 6. I~ No 2~ 30 7~ No 4+ No 4+ Schapiro appreciated that he No 50 No 60 needed a heart picture to justify No No No accepting the grand slam invita­ The Three Diamond bid asl.;cd tion, but judging the slam to North ahout his diamond holding depend on no more than a good and the response showed the 27 Tire Executire Commillee of tire W.B.F. Back row: Leo Scell'a!d, Johannes Hammericlr (Venezuela), Darid Pigot, Carlos Ca.'wnnc (Ar~:entina), Ralph Mitroc/r (South A/rica), Tim Seres (Australia), S. A. Tuason (Philippines). Front row: Waldemar ron Zcdtll'itz, Baron de Nexon, Charles Solomon, Alrin , Geoffrey But/a. ·

King; the Four Spade bid asked but the result in the other room about the spade holding and the was already on view. Five Diamond response. showed The Italians had made a weak a singleton spade. Perhaps opening of Two Hearts in first Avarelli felt that this was a slam hand. After two passes Gray his opponents would have to forced with Three Hearts and look for on the last board. The Konstam jumped to Fi,·e Clubs. defence opened with the Ace and Gray corrected to Five Spades, another heart: declarer ruffed the but this turned out to be just one ·second round and played dumrn'y's too high. Konstam's was hot a two top diamonds. Thereafter bid of which he could feel proud, the hand collapsed and he was for partners have often been three down. A plus score in the known to make forcing bids on other room would have done it, two-suited hands. But the rres· 28 sure was considerable and he felt ' Meanwhile the U.S.A. had that if there was the chance of a made sure of their place in the slam he had to find it. finals, defeating the Canadians Though Reese especially and 133-117. They took a com­ Schapiro were outstanding for manding lead early on and the Britain and Forquet especially, gap was only narrowed when they and Garozzo for Italy, both judged it safe to introduce their teams had given a display that young and comparatively inex­ was in every respect worthy of a perienced pair, Hamman and · World Championship. And Krauss. And the British ladies though our team might have won continued on their winning way on the last board, it is fair to say by defeating the last Olympic that the edge was always slightly champions U.A.R. 6-1. with the Italians. \Vere this not so we must surely have won a The Final day match in which two grand slam It seemed that anything would swings went in our favour . be in the nature of an anti-climax

.- · ~.:~..~ -

At tlrt• rictory bwrquet: _Clrarlt•s Solomon (left), ll'cr/tcr .Awrc/1~. Camil!l' p,zflis Ticci, Gior~:io Be/ladomw, Benito Garo::o, Mrmmo D'A/e/10, S~rg10 Osd/,, (Cizpt.). General Alfred Gruentlrcr (lion. l'resiclt•nt of tire W.B.F.) and Prt·tro Ft>f!J:I(t. 29 after the excitements of the pre­ NORTH vious day, but the Americans +9 rose to their full height to produce 'VA a final almost as stimulating as 010872 the semi-final. It would not have + K Q J 10 6 3 2 been kind or practical to pitch WEST EAST their young pair into such a man's +AKJ0842 • Q 7 6 5 game, but the alternative meant 'V 9 8 5 \/Q10643 imposing a very considerable 0 Q9 0 6 53 strain on Jordan - Robinson, + 9 5 +4 Stayman-Mitchell, all four of SOUTII whom had been carrying a con­ • J 3 siderable burden for a long time. 'VKJ72 The Italians had relied on . 0 A KJ4 Forquet-Garozzo, Belladonna­ +A 87 Avarelli for the whole of the semi-final and continued to do Two Spades. Mitchell bid 3NT, so for the first forty boards of a contract which clearly would the final. When they felt one not have been disturbed by his pair might be tiring they had no partner. Pabis Ticci removed to hesitation in introducing d'Alelio Four Spades, and when Mitchell and Pabis Ticci for the final in turn bid Five Clubs, that was twenty boards, and they in turn removed to Five Spades. He went played with uncanny accuracy. , on to Six Clubs and opponents Italy led by 21 i.m.p. '~hen the sacrificed in Six Spades and were final session began and Jordan doubled for a loss of 900. The and Robinson brought U.S.A. commentators explained that Six back into the picture with an Clubs would probably have failed early grand slam on a hand on since the natural way to play the which the Italians had stayed in diamond suit was to play for the Six. The Italians recovered their · finesse-but more of that anon. initial advantage with a series of On the 'Rama Garozzo opened small swings and led by 25 when the South hand with the big bid American hopes were buoyed on of One Club. \Vest, Robinson, this hand. East dealt with North- overcalled with Two Spades, For­ South vulnerable: (Next column). quet made a of Three In the Closed Room Stayman Spades and Jordan kept up the had opened I NT with the South good work with an anticipatory hand and d'Aielio had overcalled of Six Spades. This w;ts 30 d ubi d for an C\cn board. It final margin being 15 .:~ -112 . If med at the time that Fi\e there had previously en any Spade might have been better doubts as to the ability of Jordan judged, deferring a decision as and Robinson. they ha\ e taken to whether to bid Six Spades the opportunity to e tablish the until the need arose. fact that they rank with the The commentators who decided leading British and Italian players that Six Clubs would probably as one of the world"s great pairs. fail had not the opportunity to Britain defeated Canada 10 - 9i give as much thought to the hand to take third place, and the British as the declarer would inevitably ladies finally lowered their nag have done. After a spade lead to Sweden, their fir!'t dcfc:.H in declarer draws trumps and must thirty successive rounds at Baden­ fir t of all attempt to bring down Baden and New York. This was the heart Queen in three rounds. the final table in the Ladies· When this fails, he runs his club Championship. suit, keeping the fourth heart as Gt. Britain 95 a menace in dummy. On the U.S.A. f\5 last trump East is forced to discard France 72 a diamond and it would not be U.A.R. 69 beyond the wit of declarer to Denmark 67 consider that he heJ·d the good Sweden 67 heart and that the diamonds had S.- Africa 65 been 3-2. Ireland 61 The U.S.A. had no further Belgium 51 chance, and although Stayman Mexico 44 bid a hopeful slam on the very Venezuela 42 last board, judging that this might Canada 41 ju t turn the match, the Italians Argentina 37 had been so accurate that the Bermuda 24 match was already settled, the Chile 14

W ITE TO THE WATCHER ON ANY TOPIC CONNECTED WITH BRIDGE

31 THE WATCHER

Unbridled halllcr from our Special Com­ missioner on the inside of big bridge.

This month his correspondents tozich on some delicate topics.

I was in France during the last Let's start picking teams. The week of the Olympiad, and in O}'er-fifties could begin with fire Le Bridgeur of May 15th I read players from the Olympic team, a complimentary account of the with others like Swimer, Gardener performance of the British team, and Rose as alternatires. The including a reference to "deux under-forties could select Flint, lutteurs de 10 ans." One of the Rodrigue, Hiron, Crown, Swinner­ players concerned was said, in ton-Dyer. Bit thin after that. a television interview during the Writing as a between-forty-and- tournament at Oslo six years ago. fifty neutral, I say, keep your to be then in his middle seventies. money in your piggy-bank, Isn't it nice to think that our Bonanza. re pre sen tat i ves are growing younger? * * * The British are supposed to be Senex, Brighton. And prettier. famous for understatement. You could have fooled me. A * * * British magazine published a I hal'C been left a small legacy fanciful story that Waldemar von by an aunt, and friends advise Zedtwitz tore down a soft-drink me that the safest way to invest advertisement at the New York the money is to back the under­ Olympiads, supposedly paying the forties in the proposed challenge bridge authorities 1,000 dollars match again~t the m·er-fifties (sec to compensate for the lost revenue. March t'Ciitorial). In fact, what von Zedtwitz ob­ When is the match, or series, jected to was a 25-cent price tag to take place, and where can I get at a coffee counter in the closed some action? room. Bonanza, Streatlwm. That reads to me like a 4,000 ~ -~ exaggeration. And in the same number of players simply \\TOte publication I sec that someone the words ''Prepared Club·' on I've never heard of is the best their card, and if asked for tournament director in the world. details replied with vague generali· That doesn't seem like under· tics and sometimes impatience. statement either. Yet it was played with both Who's the genius who knows so strong and weak no trumps, much about all the tournament variable diamond responses, and directors in the world? jump responses that were some­ Disillusioned, New York. times strong, sometimes pre­ This throwing around of super­ emptive. Two-bids also \'aried. lath·es is one of the less attractire To any query the stock answer journalistic habits, I agree. Honi was "Prepared Club." soit, and all that, but I sometimes For me, the Congress, enjoyable suspect that part of the intention is as it was from the social angle, to pique others who hm·e some was a complete write-off from the r£'putation in the same. line. Had bridge point of view. One doesn·t the writer said that Heredia was expect people at Congresses to the best smoker of Russian cigar­ come with rules of their own ettes m1wng tournament directors, about which they are prepared to no one would hm·e argued! be - aggressive, quoting some * * * "expert" from Grimsby as their Reports have reached the pro­ authority. l'inces that all three partnerships I am not sure what Tournament in the women's team that won the Directors can do, as matters Olympiad are breaking up. What stand. What can the E.B.U. do ~ · ould have happened if they had about it? lost? Exiled Tyke, Worcester. F.R.L., Nottingham. Don't quite see wl:at you are I lzad heard this about two of complaining about. If players 1ralll the pairs, it is true. Of course, it to bid One Club 1rlren they hare 1;o has happened before. Broken fire-card major, and are mgue hearts are often mended before about the rest of their mer/rods. tire tapes go up. /row is that worse than facing tire * * * rigid and highly artificial systems? Is the "Prepared Club" a Ten boards, I 1ragcr, System? Of the , I thought it was jus.t a bid. But Would send this Tyh• at the Scarborough Congress a /lome to 1/cckmombrike. 33 I was interested in the sugges­ show in the first place four card· tion reported by Mr. R. Franks of the intervening suit, or, i~ ("You Say," May issue) that · in they arc touching, the lower the interest of natural bidding the valued suit. A jump preference auction should be limited to two in a minor has the sense of a rounds: opening bid, first re­ delayed game raise, . with Texas sponse, rebid by opener, and operating in all sequences second response. Finish! where .... I have been devising a method Little Minor, Harroll'. to meet this ruling. Any response Stop, L.M.! We take your of a major over a minor should point.

! VISIT THE EASTBOURNE CONGRESS I fth-llth OCTOBER I CAPACITY TO BE ENLARGED THIS YEAR i ..

One Hundred Up Conducted by ALAN HIRON July Competition A ~~nel o~ experts will answer the questions and the marki~g oft_he compett_tJOn Will be determined by, though not necessarily m _stnct proportion to, the votes of the panel. ' · FIRST PRIZE SECOND AND THffiD PRIZES Two Guineas. One Guinea. . Please read these rules carefully. No competitor may send in more th.m one entry. Only annual subscribers are eligible. Answers should be sent to One Hundred Up, British Bridge World, 35 Dover Street, London, W.t, to arrive not later than first post 00 August 1. Some latitude will be given to overseas competitors. 34 Probi('JI'I :"o. J CIO points) Problem :"o. 5 ( 10 points) Match-point pairs, love all, the Rubber bridge, love all, the bidding bidding h-.s gone: has gone: Som11 WL'iT l'oRTII EAsT SoUTH WL'iT :-.:oRTH EAST I+ Dble 2+ 10 lC;E CLUB­ and Saturday evenings. East Cliff Cotta~:e, .57 Gro\·e Road, Bourne· mouth 24311. lion. Sec., Mrs. Moss. Stakes NOTTINGIJA:\l Jd. Partnership, Thurs. and SJt. aft., Sun. Nol'TlNGIIAM BRIDGE CLun--401 Mans!ieU evenin11. DupliCJte, 1st Wed., 3rd Fri. Road, Nottingham 6.5995. (Mr. and Mrs. Jack SrJuTJtAMI'TOS, SUTIIrRLANO B~tOGE CLu- Hammond.) Half-way house for Sunday matches. 2 Rockstone Place. Tel.: 25291 or 736.56. Hon. DupliCJte Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Satur· Sec Mrs. Cahalan. Stakes 2d. Partnership: day7 p.m. Tu~ . e,·e. and Wed. aft. Cut-in: Mon. and Fri. aft., Thurs. and Sat. eve. Duplicate: 3rd Mon. SURREY eve. (Sept. to May). ErsoM, MAYFIELD BRIDGE CLu-la St. Martins Wt.~sr.x Cr.un. · Lindsay Manor, lindsay Road, A\·enue, Epsom 4938. Hon. Sees. H. G. & llournemouth. Westbourne 64034. Hen. Sec., 0. M. Biggs, Stakes, 3d. (except Wed. & The Secretary. 6d. Partnership Mon. aft., Fri. aft. 6d.) Partnership, Mon., Wed., aft. Wed. evenin11. 2d. Partnership Tues. aft. and Wed., Fri., e,·e. Closed Sunday. l'ri. aft. Duplicate 1st, 2nd and 4th Friday HEATII BRIDGE CLU-The Heath, Wey­ e'cnin~: each month and 3rd Thursday afternoon. bridge. Weybridge 43620. Hon. Sec .• C. G. fod. cut-in every night except Partnership and Ainger. Always open. Visitors welcome:. Stakes Duplicate days. 2d. or lXI. cut-in every afternoon. 3d. Partnership Tues. aft., Fri. aft. Duplicate \'i,itors welcome. Mon. and Thurs. eve. Tuition available:.

JSI.F. OF \\'IGJIT SUSSEX SIIANKLJS, CI!.Air.MOKE Rn.tOGE CLUB-Howard HORSIIAM BRIDGE CLun-Sc:cretary, Mrs. M. Road, Shanklin, J.W. Shanklin 2940. Hon. E. Binney. Horsham 4921 or 2078. Partnership Sec., J. S. Danby, Stakes 2d. Duplicate Mon. Wed. and Fri. afternoons, Sun. evenings Cut-in (Oct. to May). Partnership, Tues. Mon., Thurs., Sat. afternoons. DupliCJte Tues. evenings, Chess Club Mon. evenings. Stakes 3d. KF.:O..T BOG NOR CLUB-2 Sudley Road, Bognor Rer.is. Wur KE!'-'T Cr.us-12 Boyne Park, Tunbrid~:e (Bridge section). Cut in, Mon., Tues., Thurs.. F~i. Wells. Kent. Tunbridce Wells 21.513. lion, and Sat. afternoons, Fri. evening. Par1ncrsh1p Sec., R. II. Corbett. Stakes 3d. and 6d. Partner­ Wed. afternoon and Tues. evening. Duplicate. ship,. Mon. and Wed. 6d., Wed. and Fri. 3d. the first Tues. afternoon in each month. Stakes 3d. Duplicate, 1st and 3rd Sat. (2.1 S). WHJT£11All RFSIDENTIAL BRIDGE Cu;B- SmcuP-Sidcup Rrid~e Club, Sidcup Golf 11/12 Howard Square, Eastboumc. Ea.~tbourne Club, l!urst Road, Sidcup. Hon. Sec., Mrs. 4544. Sec., Miss J. Fidler. Stakes 2d. and 3d. 'Y!· l>av.s, 24 Carlton Road, Sidcup. Telephone: Partnership, Tues. and Fri. aft., Wed. and Sat. 1-00 11!~8. Stakes 3d. Partnerships Mon., evening. Duplicate Sunday. Wed., Fn. DupliCJte Mon., Wed.

LA!IiCS w~~~~.·~~~c~~!:~RJDGE Ctun-2 Pet->ble ~till LIVII<~OOL- Li~· erpool Bridge Club, 22 Upper Road, Birmingham S. SELiy Oak 0448. StaJ..es Duke Street, Ltvcrpool. Tel.: Royal 8180. 3d. to 1/-. Cut-in or Partnership e,·c:ry aft. anJ lion. Se~ •• Mrs. II. T. Halewood. Partnerships eve. Duplicate Sun. eve., Mon. aft., and as Tue .• Fn. afternoon. Duplicate l\1on. evening. desired by Members. Visitors welcome.

Would you like particulars of your club (address, telephone, l~on. ~ec., .stak.es, partnership days, duplicate days) to be hstcd 111 th!s D1rectory every month? If so, please write to our Advertisement Manager (sec address on page 4) for very reasonable terms. - 36 THE INFORMATORY PASS

C. Elhrood 1/olmes of Newcastle discusses action by third-hand after a has heen made.

The same bid in the same mean · by the expression, Infor­ circumstances cannot have two matory Pass. different meanings, and this should Players who say that a "free also apply to a pass. Suppose West bid" shows strength argue that if holds: opener docs not fancy playing in (i) +J632 9 53 2 A 10 But if West holds instead: 010987 0 K Q96 (ii) +Q642 3 2 S765 in these circumstances should not 0 10 9 7 0 KQ6 show strength; with a strong hand + K 65 4 +AQ2 one can redouble or make a jump on· the other hand, if this is the shift. A pass should show a situation in Example (i), and East hand like (i). That is what rcdouhles, no contract "hich may 37 then be reached shows any ad­ - vantage over One Club doubled. Playing the Informatory Pass The East would stand the double, knowing that \Vest had bits and System today pieces in clubs. by TERENCE REESE and The Informatory Pass can also ALBERT DORMER be used when partner has made the 'At long last there is a genuine takeout double and next hand classic on the Acol System ... has redoubled. Suppose North A really outstanding book.' opens One Spade, East doubles Sunday Telegraph and South redoubles. West holds: 'The best exposition of good bid- ; +832

Conducted by ALAN HIRON June solutions : If you did not enter for the June competition, try your hand at the problems on page 16 before reading how the experts \'oted.

The panel for the June competition improve upon a contract of One Spade, consisted of the following seventeen for I NT will not be a happy spot if the experts: Mrs. R. Markus, M. Buckley, hands fit badly. Why then, you may E. Crowhurst, R. CroYm, G. C. H. Fox, ask·, was the question posed'! Well, J. Nunes, T. Reese, D. Rimington, C. because I thought that it would catch a Rodrigue, J. Sharples and N. Smart, all fair number of competitors. To my . of London and the Home Counties; intense surprise, some of the panelists C. E. Phillips of Cheshire; H. Filarski of were out of phase: Amsterdam; J. Besse of Geneva; J. le BESSE: "Two Diamonds. I see no Dcntu of Paris; K. Barbour of Massa­ reason to suppress my natural rebid, chusetts; and J. Vanden Borre of Ghent. just because West has inserted a double." Problem No.1 (10 pOints) SHARPLES: "INT. I think that it is Match-point pairs, North-South vul­ wrong to pass on the assumption that nerable, the bidding has gone: partner has a particular type of hand. SoUTH WEST NORTH EAST We ·are shortweight for our bid, but I Dble I + No even if partner has no second suit to show there is no reason to suppose that South holds: I NT will be an inferior contract to One +10 hort of points should by practically :Ill the panel, that a bid just make a simple rebid. But you score of the che:1pcst available suit in "hidt for bidding and making gamt•.1·, not for partner had expressed :10 interest (in level; all the more .so if he is very wea l; The new, true classic of bridge I would also bid One Spade if ~\: (Guy R1m1~11n 1111 01111 T•l•grlp/1) spades were only as strong as 6-5-3-2.:. What the cognoscenti call a "Fo,. suit," for of all the panel, Foxy is the THE EXPERT GAME most liable to introduce a suit of this by Terence Reese calibre, even when not under pressure. FILARSKI: "One Spade. The psycho­ ua.u. logical disadvantage of passing the redouble is that opponents will double any further bids by our side and we will this case spades) shows absolutely not know where to park." nothing except four cards in the suit Problem No.4 (10 points) named. The idea behind this is, of Rubber bridge, East-West vulnerable, course, that no bidding room has been the bidding has gone: taken up. Partner can pass with some SOUTH WESr NORTII EAST measure of security should he have the 2+ No suit with us; and should he have made ? a double with little support for our suit, South holds: we have done nothing to prevent him +93 Jt096 OQ975 +AK4 rescuing himself at the same level that What should South bid? he would have done had we passed. Answer: Three Clubs, 10; 3NT, 7· Note that, had the bidding proceeded, 2NT, 5. say, On~ Club-Double-Redouble, then The panel's vote: 9 for Three Clubs; 6 South would have no reason for showing for 3NT (Nunes, Buckley, Vanden his spade suit in case partner had a Borre, Besse, Crown and Rodrigue); respectable five-card heart suit into 2 for 2NT (Filarski and Smart). which he wished to rescue himself. A Here my brief honeymoon with the bid of One Spade by South after this panel must come to an end . . While I sequence would suggest the values am not entranced by the majority shown by the Culbertson scheme. Of suggestion of Three Clubs, the second course a pass would not show the old­ ranked alternative of 3NT fills me with fashioned "willingness to defend," but horror. I'll make my p(>ints first and merely nothing constructive to say, then the panelists can take over. Firstly and very probably denying four cards in responding Three Clubs to the in the cheapest available suit. opening bid, there• is a very gra\'e Ru.s[: "One Spade. Never a sign danger that partner will greatly over­ of strength but simply a measure to value a holding such as Qx or QJx in prevent partner with three spades and clubs and fondly imagine that South's live diamonds from bidding at the Two supposed club suit will furnish several level." discards. Pwtul's: "One Spade. In this situa- 1 am reminded irresistibly of a cdcbrJ- t ion I play the pass as denying four-card ted dis;~ster from the 1960 National P;lirs length in the che~1pcst suit." Final when the editor, playing with Bl ~s1.: ''One Spade. In my view it is Harrison-Gray, reached ;1 grand sl:lnl \cry Important for the doubler's partner on a three-three fit-admittedly th~.Y to !.how a four-card suit at the cheapest didn't actually play there, hut th~lr 44 sub!>equent final contract was not a What should South bid? success. In the second place, I feel Ans"·er: Double, 10; Three Spades, 6: that a jump to 3NT is unnecessarily Three Hearts, 4. cramping and obstructive and that if Tire pancl".f mrc: 9 for Double; 6 the bid exists, it should be restricted to for Three Spades (l"unes, Barbour, 4-3-3-3 hands with no Aces. I'm all Vanden Borre, Crowhurst, Cro\m and for Filarski's ideas here: Fox); 2 for Three Hearts (Buckley and FtLARSKt: "2NT. Jf partner can show Phillips). ; 1 second suit, then we arc well placed. If They're back in step again! Certainly he continues with Three Spades, South the case for the double seems very c No response. As it is we arc left with no 30 No No choice but to double. We cannot commit our side to the Four k\'CI, nM (Wc~t' s 3 0 bid is strong, but not can we support partner with only a forcing. ) doubleton. The decision to stand the South holds : double rests with partner for it oh\'il'Usly +K 10 ~ 7 (/J£. 0A5 +A IO No 3NT r-.:o afford to miss a game. Partner can have ? four spades with me or on the other South holds: hand he may have a good heart suit. +1043 y>KQ976 0874 +AQ 1 can't sec us going more than one off What should South bid? in Four Hearts and I may hit the jack­ Answer: No Bid, 10; Four Clubs, 8: pot." 4NT, 3. Fox: "Three Spades. North may have The panel's vote: 9 for No Bid; 7 four spades which he was unable to bid for Four Clubs (Filarski, Buckley, over Three Diamonds. If he converts Vanden Borre, Phillips, I.e Dentu, to Four Clubs it will be all right. I Crowhurst and Reese); 1 for 4NT (Mrs. would prefer better trumps for a Markus). double." The Ace and Queen of partner's V ANDrs BoRRE: "Three Spades. first bid suit arc vitally important cards, know partner may be weak, but I have worth far more than their nominal twelve beautiful points. There may well six points. For slam purposes on this be a problem for us on the next round, hand, an equally important feature but we'll worry about that later." will be the degree of partner's fit with According to the doublers, better South's hearts; and if North has the trumps arc the one thing that you required measure of fit, then Six can cannot have. And the last idea: be a lay-down with perhaps only 30 PmLUPs: "Three Hearts. This is a points instead of the traditional 33-34 classic problem situation-the inference necessary for a small slam. Suppose, is that partner's hearts are good, else for example, that North~ holds +AKx what was he intending to rebid had our y>Axx OAxx +KJxx-a perfectly response been in diamonds? Indeed a ordinary nineteen count without a long jump all the way to Four Hearts could suit-then twelve tricks will be there not be strongly criticised." for the taking, provided that the Perhaps this reasoning is not as water­ hearts divide amenably. This is the tight as you make it sound. Partner type of sla~ that is repeatedly missed could have been moodily regarding a by point-count operators, and about poor opening with five indifferent to half of the panel thought that the South middling hearts and perhaps three hand warranted an effort. card support for your minor suit and LE DENTU: "Four Clubs. I am not wondering whether to rebid his hearts coward enough to pass, but after this or take the bidding to the three level I am going to use all my brakes!" with a poor hand. He would have been CROWHURST: "Four Clubs. We ought overjoyed to hear West's intervention to be investigating slam prospects here relieving him of a difficult choice~ and this seems the bid best designed to especially as the butt-in would have required him to bid at a higher level. help partner. The only alternative i~ a quantitative bid of 4NT but Nothing BIJs i»roblt·m No. 6 (10 points) of this kind often leave partner in the: l.m.p. scoring, love all, the bidding dark as to what is required of hi~l.'' has gone: PIIILLII'S: "four Clubs. The ot-~"\:t 46 is to coax a Four Heart preference-a South holds: slam is likely to depend upon whether +AKJ42 \;/AK9 010332 +10 v.e can bring in our heart suit. At all (a) What should South bid'? events, 4NT should be safe." (b) What should South bid if East had MRs. MAR..::us: "4NT. Quantitative passed'? and natural. Partner must realise that An.mw to (a): Two Diamonds, 10: a fit in hearts is essential before going on." No Bid, 6; Double, 5; Two Spades, 4: RODRIGUE: "No Did. Quo vadis '? Two Hearts, 4. Partner hasn't opened 2NT, so my The panel's rote:: 8 for Two Diamonds; expectation is of nineteen points with 4 for No Did (Filarski, Buckley, Crown something in hearts to twenty-one and Crowhurst); 2 for Double (~frs . points with nothing (say xx) in my Markus and Barbour); 2 for Two suit." Spades (Reese and Vanden Borre): I don't think that a small doubleton I for Two Hearts (Smart). will deter many of our panelists from There was plenty of choice for opening 2NT-you should sec some South's optimum bid here, but the of the distributions for 2NT bids they majority settled for showing South's have been endorsing in recent months. second suit although it was only headed And for slam purposes we would prefer by the ten. It would be nice, they said, nineteen points with something in to pass and sec if partner wanted to hearts rather than twenty-one without double Two Clubs, for to collect 200 -which is why Mrs. Markus's 4NT at this vulnerability would be a pleasure. docs not receive my accolade for she is Unfortunately partner might only have likely to end in the wrong slam. a minimum response and be unable RIMINGTO!'I: "No Did. Partner cannot either to double or introduce a four have enough unless the hands arc a card suit into the auction and so perfect fit. A quantitative 4NT could action of some kind was called for. still get partner bounding into Six Two Diamonds has the edge over a with a maximum but leaving the rebid of South's spade suit for it might opponents with two Aces to cash." find partner with four or even five With which comment you strike an diamonds and still leaves him with the inadvertent blow in favour of Four option of returning to Two Spades if Clubs. After a try in a suit partner is he docs not hold four or more diamonds. less likely to go leaping into a slam NuNES: "Two Diamonds. I cannot with only one Ace in his hand. take the risk of partner passing. He SMART: "No Bid. Partners who bid must have at least three of one of mv like this always turn up with 3-2-2-5 biddable suits. If Two Clubs was goin~ di tributions and the heart tricks arc off-well, it's unlucky." there if only we could get at them." LE Dn..au: "Two Diamonds. Let's The Ace and Queen of Clubs might try something mod..:rn! If the diamond prO\C of :L sistance .... suit looks too ugly we shall haw to f•robl.-m No.7 (20 points) close our eyes." Ma:~h-point pairs, East-West vulner­ Fox: "Two Diamonds. P.1rtn..:r \\ill able, the bidding has gone: convert to Two Spad..:s if it is ~ll all S<1u1tt W1 H NoRTH EAsr possible; he knows that we arc pl.tying I+ No INT 2+ match-point pairs." Rni>RIGlJC "T\\ll Diallll'nJs. This 47 offers our best chance of competing." SHARPlf-_s: "Two Diamonds. Partner is likely to hold length in one of the red improves on Dr. Johnson. suits so this is a must. Before giving It gives the bridge player both preference on a doubleton spade he ·argument and understanding." should of course make the 'cost nothing' (Manchestu Guardian) bid of Two Hearts if he happens to hold a five

A FRIEND OVERSEAS WOULD APPRECIATE A SUBSCRIPTION TO THE BRITISH BRIDGE WORLD before I take a guess on this one. If And the final few decided that the-. you twist my arm, then I'll do somethi~g could face partner's accusing stare if h~ J\·e wanted to try for a long whtle happened to hold a high trump honour: ;md make a MUD lead." LE DE:-.TU: "Jack of Hearts. Even (Master MUD Crowhurst has dis­ if the worst happens and partner holds appointed me this month with the lead the protected Queen of Hearts there is problem.) always the chance that declarer might fJARUOUR: "Ten of Clubs. The think that I am trying to pull one across normal lead would be the card nearest him with a lead of 'VIJ from QJ bare." the thumb when in doubt. However, DUCKLEY: "Five of Hearts. Ani' the way I'm holding the hand, that is the lead is likely to give a trick away, and Three of Clubs and if I led that partner there seems no reason why any of our might eventually return the suit and other suits should be led, so I'll take my expect me to take some tricks." chance with this." G. C. H. FOX (continued) cases. Sometimes, owing to a The weak no trump also obviates perverse lie of the cards it is certain rebid problems and makes impossible to make more than it unnecessary to indulge in "pre­ seven tricks. Pairs who have pared club" bids. opened with a suit will find it Having listed the numerous difficult to stop below 2NT with a advantages you may wonder why combined 24 count. The opening anybody should ever consider of 1NT ensures a plus score. playing a strong no trump, but 6. Frequency. There are more the weak variety has its snags and hands containing 12-14 points these will be examined next than those with 16-18 points. month. RESULT OF JUNE COMPETITION A very fine score by the winner, and extremely hard tuck on the runner-up, whose !.C~re of96 could normally be expected to win. Problems 1 and 3 had a lot in com!f!on tlus month: they were both dismissed as "routine" by the panel and yet compctttors found the top-scoring solutions difficult Winn('r: · · Max. 100 . C. LuGtllo~. Ibis, 78 Glenwood Gardens, Gants Hill, IIford, Essex 9R St-cond: . Mtss J; Kt RIIY, 3/146 Great Portland Street London W.l '){! l·.qual lturd: ' ' J. T. NAYLOH, AIO lll~nheim Drive, Allestree, Derby ~~ J. Humt.RT: IS Camel Ita Place, Twickenham, Middlesex l\S Other lt·admJ:, M:on-s: D. J. DAY, D. J. WJJtTLER, 85; G. D. SIIARI'E, H.$; J. T. CIIAI'M~N. 82; Ct~coto I>IL BHII.>GE (Trieste), MRs. N.H. CoATF-'i, 81; A. A. WRIGIIT. ~ : W. 1-JJJ.J>, _J. 1: . TAYLOR, 80; J. K. KROL'i (Holland), II. S. Rontr-:so:-1, M. D. I)JJ>I>,71J;J.K.PA1Js,78;MtssP.Rttont.s 77·R WAUIIAM 1 Foc.c. A.A.Prc;con- [ AY, 76. ' ' • ' . ' . Some further good scores in the May competitions were: l·.qual M'Ctmd: CtRCOI :> 1>11. BRmt;r, Trieste, via F. Fil1i 14 •XI A. A. ltscmT·IhY, E. 11. Nu!"~. ~I so IG ACADE Y Conducted by G. C. H. FOX The noted bridge teacher and columnist continues his advice on tactics and scoring in match-point pairs contests.

What type of no trump do you outstanding. Jf his partner holds favour-weak or strong? Match his share of these or a trifle more point pairs contests probably it will pay him to compete, either provide the best conditions for by bidding or doubling. If it the usc of the weak (12-14} no transpires that most of the missing trump, irrespective of vulner­ strength is with the opener's ability. partner he will do better to The advantages can be sum­ remain silent. In other words marised as follows: he has to guess what to do and I. The pre-emptive value of the no one can guess right all the hid often enables partnerships to time. make a part score when a suit 4. The opening weak no trump opening would have permitted has a psychological effect on many the opponents to enter the bidding. players, inducing them to bid 2. The part score being in no or double on unsound values. An trumps will usually provide a example was given last month higher score and consequently of an unsound double of a no · hetter match point result. trump resulting in a lucrative 3. The fact that the partner can double by the opener's partner. ~a fely pass the opening bid with 5. The knowledge that the as many as ten points creates a opening bid cannot exceed 14 difficult situation for the op­ points often enables the hand ponent ho cannot afford to be to he played in the only makeable hut out. Suppose I NT is contract. For example, partner follov. d hy two passes and the passes I NT holding h:n points. I· t pi y r h· s 12 or 13 points. His side holds at most 24 points H tim· te ahout 25 points insuflicicnt for game in mn~t points ( Continut'd on pagt' 50). 51 PLAYING WISE Dan Burgess develops your card-play with lessons designed especially for the improver.

This month lze continues his adrice 011 ruffing.

"But," ~he said "if I trump it, NORTH declarer will only over-trump +Ax me." Now, it is true that one

The first of an instructil·e series by Arluro Jaques, Argelllinan international and magazine editor, in which he explores the higlnrays and by-ways.

Although the tired business­ Bidding is like conversation; man, at the club for the evening there is a time to speak and a time game, claims he is there only for to listen. As we shall sec in the some quiet relaxation, we all examples that follow, tactical know what his true intentions are. ,considerations frequently make a To let off steam, to Bid! And well-timed Pass more appropriate should an irate partner attempt than an inopportune Bid. to admonish him after an 1,100 hump, his curt reply comes Individual decisions to Pass quickly: "I came here to BID, All bids, whether constructive not to Pass." This, of course, is or competitive, are informatory a rather far-fetched example, but to a degree, but the recipients of the fact is that it is more difficult this information are opponents to make a good Pass than a good as well as partner. Therefore, Bid. unless the defenders have a reason· The Bridge Player is a man of able chance of competing for the action, a rugged individualist ~~t final contract, or of suggesting heart. He is inclined to put more a line of defence, or perhaps f;tith in his own decisions than pushing the opponents out of those of partner. Thus, in a their depth, it is often wise to doubtful situation he is tempted stay out of the auction completely to hid rather than pass and confide and give no information away. in his partner's judgment. Al­ An example: With nobody vul· though he realises that bridge is nerable, the bidding has gone a partnership game and that both One Spade-Pass-Three Hearts. partners should share in the joint In fourth position you hold: re~ponsihility of developing the +x \l)x OQJxxx +QIO.xxx anJ bidding, sometimes it's just too decide to brandish your ncwc~t ditlicult to keep quiet. convention as: you hid Thn:c o Trump . ow what die right there. Since We t\ ve you gained? Certainly you opening i only a hade better cannot talk the opponent out of than minimum and he cannot their slam, a~ they ha\e already judge the diamond shonal!e unl - determined their combined the suit is supported by-you. he ngth fairly accurately, and in must pa s. If, in tead, you bid ay ca , are halfway there al­ Three Diamonds West can no"' ready. But the unbalanced dis­ comfortably rebid Three Spade tribution of the defenders' hands and his panner will surely carry · likely to make the play difficult. him to Four. If declarer is forewarned as to Thus a Tactical Pass should tbe lie of the cards, he will be pay handsome dividends on thi ble to hape his plans accord- particular band, but if the un­ ingly. DON'T HELP HIM, expected happens and the op­ PASS! ponents still reach their game, Another example, this time with there is nothing to stop you taking t-We t vulnerable: a profitable save in Five Dia­ NOR Til monds. • X X CjAxxx Partnership decisions to Pass 0 K Q 10 X X A somewhat different approach +Ox presents itself on other hand , EAST where you must co-operate with A J X X X +QtOxx partner and enable him to take ~ KJ X V Qx X X the final decision. In this con­ 0 XX Ox nection, I should like to borrow X • K X X X an excellent example from Reese's SoUTH Develop your Bidding Judgment. Kx which sho\\S why you !Should Cj X X respect partner's high-level doubt~ 0 A J X X in a compctiti\"c auction. J X X X X The bidding has gone: OR 11t EAS 1 Sou 111 SouTH \V[S r Nmu 11 E. s 1 20 2. ., 1\? I. 3 I .~. u ly you have the material 4. 4. Dhk ~o to Three Diamond . ., con id r what could South hoi k ., 1.. :H~Q.I\\' y up ~ ·. On the a~:tual (\ x~ AQh biddin "'ill prohahly _, Rcc c I oinh nut th. t s,,ullt·, problem really arises _at his. first But. first let us agree on the rebid. In deciding to show his meamng of North's bid. It second suit instead of bidding seems safe to assume a stron 2 Four Hearts, he prepares the distributional hand with no mor~ ground for partner to take intelli­ than one defensive trick, if that. gent action on the following round Now we can work out the correct when (as can be foreseen) oppo­ action on the above hands: nents bid Four Spades. (a) Bid Seven Clubs. One of Having shown his distribu­ the opponents, probably East, tional two-suiter, South is in a will be void in clubs, so you can­ position to relax and pass when not reasonably hope to defeat partner doubles, whereas if he the contract. had gone straight to Four Hearts, (b) Double. You are lucky to withholding information, he have been dealt the three out­ would not have felt so confident standing trumps and this time in passing. you have the right Ace (spades). On the next deal you are sitting (c) Pass. Leave the decision South against vulnerable oppo­ to partner. If you are willing to nents, when One Spade is opened defend in spite of the favourable on your right. You bid Two vulnerability, there is a strong Clubs, West forces with Three inference that you hold a defensive Diamonds and partner produces trick. If partner also holds a an obviously defensive raise when trick, he can double or pass. he jumps to Five Clubs. Opener, These examples merely scratch unassisted by Blackwood, bids the surface of this difficult subject. Six Diamonds directly, so the But at least they offer food for bidding has heen: thought and an opportunity to EAST SOUTII WEST NORTH cultivate the habit of considering ,. 2+ 30 5+ a PASS in many situations where (,0 ., perhaps it is instinctive to take direct action. But no system C3ll Now, what would you do on help you all the way; you must l"ach of the following hands'! learn to help yourself. (a) +Jxxx ~x Oxx +AQJ IOxx (h) +Axx \?xx OQJ9 +QJ 10 9xx

(c) +Axx \?xx Oxx +KQJ 10 BIDDING WISE XX will be resumed next month MY FIRST DUPLICATE PAIRS One of the fastest and best card players in British bridge, Michael Wolach. recalls his initiation.

In 1939, at the outbreak of war, schmitt, Elcctricflare and Sauer­ lived in Poland and my ex­ kraut. They were hardened perience of bridge was very small. tournament players; while I for I knew only Polish Bridge, which my part was thought to have has been described by Norman some flair for cardplay, but to Squire as "a combination of know little about bidding and higher mathematics and murder." nothing about duplicate pro­ But the end of the war found cedure. Believe it or not, sitting my bridge or at any rate my card­ opposite Messerschmitt, this was play somewhat improved. You . my very first hand at duplicate cannot play bridge · in various bridge: Polish Army units through Russia, NORTH Persia, the Near East and Italy, +AKxxx without learning how to handle ~­ cards. By the time I had arrived OAKxxx in England I was ready for my +X X X fir t duplicate. WEST EAST The late 1940's were years of • Q X X X +IO au. terity for Britain in some ways, ~ Qxx ~Axxxxx but not in bridge. Kosky, Simon, 0 X X 0 Qx x M redith, Squire, Baron and + K XX X +X X X many others were habitues of the SOUTII old Lederer's Club in Mayfair. • J X X There it was that three other ~ K J 10 X Poles dragged me for my baptism 0 J X X in a duplicate pairs; their names . +A QJ ·on't interest you, but their nick­ t-.ty partner, North. l)pcncJ ?n.: name.. (rc::ally) were Messer- Spade and 1 made the ot)\wu.; 57 response (obvious in tl:e Polish Army, that is)-Two D1amonds. 1 envisaged 3NT on the · next Learn Bridge -! round and wanted to stop the with Reese diamond lead. The principles of bidding Now there was no holding my and play are explained in an partner. FOUR CLl:JBS came uncomplicated way that will next, an "" (devised be illuminating not only to by but little learners but also to people played nowadays). I was terrified. who play a certain amount ; without always being too · I should - I think - have re­ sure what they are doing : sponded Five Clubs, showing or why. first-round control of the "asked" Writing for beginners, · suit but no other control. - Terence Reese displays the , Naturally I did no such thing. same brilliant quality of ex- i position ··as In his famous : I only wanted to sign off and · ~ooks on advanced play. cool my partner down, so I Faber & Faber ISs. responded Four Diamonds on my Jxx. (I hated bidding dia­ monds ·again, but you must NORTH remember that I could not make +AKxxx a natural bid of Four Spades, since this too would have been ~- 0 XX taken as a conventional response to the Asking Bid.) Partner's +- WEST EAST next bid was SIX DIAMONDS. • Qx XX +IO West led the Ace of hearts and ~xxxxx there I was. ~Q · x 0- · · ~Q One thing you learn in Polish +K +- bridge which is useful at all times: SouTH play bud hands quickly and con­ • J X X fidcmly. Don't grumble and ~ K J 10 groan and tell everyone you arc OJ in trouble. In no time at all I +- ' \c' ·IJlJ rutred the opening lead, cashed played dummy s 1 ~ • OA, finessed a club, crossed to King of spades, and when Wc~t 0 K, finessed a second club and showed out my heart sang. 1 put cashed +A, leaving this position: (Continued on page 0/.) 58 HOW TO PLAY NO-TRU P CONTRACTS (2) The American alllhors, G. R. Nail (picrurnl left) and John B. llarlrorn, concludt? lasr­ mollllr's treatise on card play for the more ath•anced student.

In the next deal, declarer ad­ hearts. Declarer ducked so that hered to the correct principles of after one more heart lead he no-trump play. It is a deal worth would know which way to take studying: the diamond finesse. NORTH West overtook the 9 of hearts • AQ42 with the 10 and shifted to the <::;> 8 6 4 Jack of spades. But it was too 0 A J 2 late--declarer now had the con­ +J102 tract well under control. WJ:ST EAST Declarer won dummy's Ace of .JIOS .K9753 spades, came to his hand with \? K 10 52 <::;> J 9 7 a club, and led the 10 of diamonds. 0 Q 53 0 7 6 West covered and declarer made • 9 6 3 +A 7 5 the rest of the tricks . Note that the Queen of spades SOUTII should not be played on the Jack . • 6 If the spade finesse loses and East <::fAQ3 continued spades to drive out the 0 K 10 9 S 4 Ace, a losing diamond finessc K QS4 + would defeat the contract. By West led the 2 of hearts, and playing the Ace of spades, de­ Ea,t's Jack went to South's clarer can finesse diamonds into Queen. Following correct dummy East in perfect safety. procedure, declarer led a club to Take a look at this ncxt pair of the Jack in order to drive out the hands·. The contract is J~T as club Ace before tackling dia­ usual and West is the Jccbrcr. monds. Ea~t went in with the Ace immediately and Jed the 9 of (Nt'XI page.) WEST EAST principles pays off in ful fil d • J 9 +A 10 S contracts. When the deal was \?AK42 \/5 played everyone at the tab e 0 7 53 OKJ842 thought it was unmakeable. +A J S 5 + K 7 6 2 Actually, it was merely another case of "declarer error." North leads the 2 of spades and South's Queen holds the NORTII trick. A spade is continued to the • 9 2 Jack, King and Ace. What do \?K963 you lead from the dummy at 0 A 9 8 6 trick 3? + K Q3 Unless you said a small dia­ WEST EAST mond, you haven't been studying • 54 3 +KQl076 your lessons. Even if the clubs \? 8 54 \?AJIO were tackled successfully, a dia­ 0 7 3 0 Q J 10 4 mond trick must be made to find +JI0986 +7 nine tricks. This means declarer SOUTH must assume some sort of a + AJ 8 favourable diamond holding. If ·\?Q72 this is the case, then perhaps 0 K 52 three diamond tricks may be +A 542 taken, in which event the club After an opening bid of One fine sse need never be taken at all. Spade by East, South became After ducking the di amond, win declarer at 3NT. West opened the spade return, lead a heart to the 5 of spades and East played the Ace, and play another dia­ the Queen. Declarer allowed this mond. If North produces the to hold and won the continuation Queen or the Ace, it is all over. with the Jack. Declarer now Usually the position will have ducked a diamond to East, who clarified itself after the initial play. knocked out the spade Ace. The point is, the club finesse Diamonds didn't break and de· ~ hould be avoided; a losing club darer ended up losing three lincssc wrecks the hand. You spades, a diamond, and a heart. can al so be in trouble if you enter If declarer plays in the prop!:r the We~t hand at trick 3 with a . · c ·Jiltf'lCI. sequence, he I an d s IliS l • • . hi gh heart or the club Ace. After winning the Jack of spado. ~ . . f I h· The final deal is another ex­ cross to the Kmg o c u :. ·.·tnJ . , . UJ1\\tlh atilph: of how adherence to ba sic lead a h~:art. )fl:ast go~:. th Ace, thi gives declarer nine darer's actual play and the recom­ tricks •. o East mu!lt . After mended line is simply that in the taking the Queen of hearts, a latter declarer first goes for the diamond is ducked into East, suit in which opponents hold an ho exits with a spade. South Ace. That should nearly alwavs now ca. he. three rounds of clubs be declarer's primary line ~f and East will find it impossible attack. to discard. If he throws two In conclusion, we would like pades, declarer plays three rounds to make this vital point. The only of diamonds and East is end­ real .. secret" to successful play. played. If East throws the Jack both dummy play and defence. of hearts and a spade, South is careful and continuous counting. imply ducks a heart and drops To attempt to play or defend the Ace. If East throws a dia­ without counting dO\\·n every mond and a heart, the diamonds hand is a losing habit. Counting run. will make up for many deficiencies The difference between the de- in a player's technical skills. MICHAEL WOLACH-continued West in with OQ and he had to the Vienna System, where this I ad a heart. The Queen came up is indeed true.) On an early hand on my right and dummy's three my partner opened One Club and pade losers went away on my I had 17 points. Displaying my y>KJ 10. I had made an "im­ profound knowledge of bidding. po sible" slam in my first dupli­ I "forced'' with 1NT, but to my cate. horror he passed. I made elc,·en All e en.ing, players came up to tricks in an electric silence. me to ask, .. How did Sowh come It turned out to be quite a good to be declarer in Six Diamonds?" result since half the room went I was so excited, I could only down in slams. reply, "I couldn't sign otT!" To You may ask: "What ha\e my amazement we won the pairs these two hands to do with Bric~r.:c tourn ment by a mile. Academy?" The ksson is this: Another memory of those days. You should never gi\e up lwr.: On our way to Lederer's I had just because you an: in a h.td rd the other Poles s·ay that contract. Wh~n the biddin~ i:­ in r ponsc to One Club is ov~r. save your n.·gr~ts until afta (i r in to arne (I didn't n:alise the hand; m~anwhil~. ~~t ~' ay it but th y were talkin!! about llllllC~ out 0f th~ cards. CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS 5/- per line. Special terms for a series

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Diary of Events 1964 July 24-31 D EAUVILLE BRIDGE FESTIVAL Deauville

September 7-18 L EBANESE BRIDGE FESTIVAL •• Beirut 23-27 YUGOSLAV BRIDGE FESTIVAL Porec

October 4- (i N.E.B.A. CONGRESS Salt burn 9-12 E.B.U. AUTUMN CoNGRr:ss East bourne lli- 18 WtsT OF ENGLAND CoNGREss Weston 23 - 25 Sr. DuNSTANs CoNGREss Ilk ley Sept. 30-Nov. 1 Sur-.mAv Tt\u:s Cut• London

Novcmbcr ()- 8 N.W.C.B.A. Cor..:GRt:ss Black pool

1%5 March I X CIIARITY CltAI.U:NGE Cut• Worldwide 62