ARANA

Contract Bridge Club Inc

May – June 2005 Vol 19 No 3

From the President contingent from other clubs including Toowong where I “touted for business”. The year slips by fast, Christmas and an early Easter, now it’s Autumn. Our club is running Forest Place Pairs smoothly thanks to the old guard and I welcome The ill-fated “Forest Place” non-event was Lyn, Carol and David to our management team. successful in numbers but not in name. A letter will be sent to the directors of Forest Place to Our numbers are down on last year and therefore clarify what happened, however I won’t hold my reflect on our income. There are several reasons breath waiting for a reply. for this being the number of members on protracted holidays, relocation and resignations Partner Contact – Carol Wilson 3353-2297 due to ill health. It is therefore imperative that When your regular partner is sick, on holidays or people passing through Lorraine’s tuition are whatever; there are others in the same boat. I retained and become members. It is your duty to recently partnered Dalma Webb who was initially ensure these possible new members are treated shaking in her boots. A few slaps, a couple of with the utmost courtesy and made comfortable jokes, we came third. It is not daunting to play outside their lessons. Rest assured your committee outside your so called “comfort zone”, try it! Ring will be monitoring behaviour. In your booklet Carol – she can only help if she knows. there is clearly delineated etiquette and acceptable behaviour. If your liver is playing up and you feel To all those on the sick list, our thoughts are with confrontational, please stay home . Far better this you and we wish you a speedy recovery. than disrupt the harmony of our club. Be thoughtful, friendly and accommodating – you What can you do to entice new membership?? are among like people. Talk to your friends and invite them to visit and observe. The suggestion box is there for use. Play bridge with a smile. Please use it and be proud to sign your name. Anon.E.Mouse does nothing for me. Neil Hamilton – President

I received a lovely letter from Olga & Mort. They are moving to NZ to be near their daughter in Important Phone Numbers Tauranga (a beautiful spot). Olga, Mort, we wish you all the best in your new country and home. ♣♦ Important Phone Numbers ♥♠

Arana Swiss Teams Clubhouse Phone Number: (07) 3851 – 0299 Email address: [email protected] The Arana Swiss Teams was a success with 31 President: Neil Hamilton 3300-4840 tables. The event was fully self-funded with a Vice-President: Val Acklin 3851-3059 profit to our club. We certainly needed more help Secretary: Tony Agar 3851-1362 in the kitchen. The number of lunches to be cut left Treasurer: Gay Hull 3300-2050 us short of anticipated supplies and my sandwich Partner Contact: Carol Wilson 3353-2297 making prowess is not great, but, the sandwiches I made were substantial. I was pleased to see a Arana Club May - June 2005 Gold Coast Memories Finally, a word about those (Deep ) analyses in the hand records. Match 6 against the AFTER a week of pairs and teams at the Gold Luck team, we played the ‘kids’… Nathan Van Coast, you are bound to have a few stories to tell, Jole and Paul Gosney. 26, dealer E, all vul. so here are a few. ♠ A 9 3 ♥ Q J 8 7 5 3 One reason given for disliking Howell movements ♦ A K 5 is that people can chase the ‘bad cards’. ♣ 4 Personally, I believe that on average, this doesn’t ♠ K 10 6 5 ♠ 4 happen. Everyone has to play the same cards, ♥ 4 2 ♥ 10 6 right? ♦ J 10 6 2 ♦ Q 8 7 4 3 ♣ A 10 8 ♣ Q J 9 5 2 Except when you are struggling through the ♠ Q J 8 7 2 second session of the pairs final and are ♥ A K 9 continually getting no cards. So at 11:30 pm, you ♦ 9 sit down with the hand record and a glass of wine ♣ K 7 6 3 and add up the hcp in the hands you played. Guess what? You averaged 8.9 hcp. Worse still, at 55%, We bid to 6H which Deep Finesse says will make it’s your best session. I think there’s a message on any lead and best play/ defence (DF has the there but I just can’t see it. advantage of seeing all 4 hands). was the S4-Q-5(!)-3… it doesn’t really matter if My favourite hand was this little doozie from Nathan covers the Q, he will get a S trick. So after match 9 of the teams… board 6, dealer E, EW vul. clearing trumps, the best chance seems to be to take the 50-50 chance that the CA is with E and ♠ A Q 10 8 6 lead C4 from hand. Bad luck , 1 down. ♥ 10 ♦ K 9 8 6 Again at 11:30 and into the booze, how can this ♣ 7 4 2 make? 11:45… got it! At trick 2, a H to the A, D9 ♠ K J 3 ♠ 7 5 2 to K, D5 ruffed with the HK, H9 to Q clears ♥ 3 ♥ A K 7 5 2 trumps. Now lead DK and all your Hs. E’s cards ♦ A J 10 7 5 3 2 ♦ Q are irrelevant but W is squeezed. With 4 cards left, ♣ 8 6 ♣ J 9 5 3 he holds SK-10 (10-x if he covered at trick 1) and ♠ 9 4 the CA-10 but the lead of the last H is a killer. If ♥ Q J 9 8 6 4 he discards the C10, a C to his bare A leaves him ♦ 4 end-played for a S lead. If he throws a S, your SA ♣ A K Q 10 kills his K. Sitting S, you pick up this rather nice looking lot, only to hear E open 2H. Without so much as a So it can be done… but if the CA was with E, you blink, you quietly pass and pick up their card to are going 2 off losing the last 3 tricks, when you find out what the 2H bid means. Hmm… Hs and a could have made by simply playing as Helen did. minor, at least 5/4 either way… this could get Since this took 15 minutes with the hand record to interesting. W bids a very ‘drop dead, leave me figure out, peeking at the opponents’ cards doesn’t alone, I have a headache’ 3D which Helen help either. doubled, prompting E to bid 3H which I doubled. Richard McLauchlan Two passes saw E writing the contract in his score book only to be told by Helen that it was still his bid. When the double was pointed out to him, he FUFUFUNNYFU NNY FACTS ran, but his 3S bid was promptly doubled by ♣ Clans of long ago that wanted to get rid of Helen. Opening lead D4-A-6-Q. Next came the their unwanted people without killing them HA followed by the H2, ruffed and over ruffed, etc. The end result was rather ugly… 3Sx making used to burn their houses down – hence the 2 tricks for 2000 to the good guys. Don’t rescue expression “to get fired”. partner… 3Dx isn’t pretty but it’s a whole lot ♣ The average person falls asleep in seven better than the actual result. minutes.

Arana Contract Bridge Club 2 May - June 2005 Bridge Notes For The Advancing Player - Dr Ross Dick

Multi Two Opening Bids Examples The system of Benjamin-Two bids developed by (i) (ii) (iii) Albert Benjamin (Scotland) as a variation from AJ7 KQJ8 AKQ765 in the late 1960’s is now widely used at Club AK95 AKJ A4 level in Australia. The method has at least two KQ10 KQ96 AQJ significant drawbacks. The Weak-Two openings KQJ AK A2 (2H/2S) are easy to defend against. Also, Open 2C Open 2C Open 2C opponents are frequently able to intervene after a Rebid 2NT Rebid 2NT Rebid 2S 2C opening. A number of Multi-Two systems have been invented to overcome these problems 1. (iv) (v) Furthermore, by allocating more than one meaning AK 5 to a single two-level opening call, you are able to KQ85 AKQ3 describe a much greater variety of hand types. A4 AKJ5 Why, for example, use two separate opening bids AK1087 KQJ8 for the weak two’s when one will suffice? The pre- Open 2C Open 2C emptive nature of two-level opening bids also Rebid 3C Rebid 2H often confers advantage. (unless partner (the rebid normally promises 5+ bids hearts) hearts; but this is the best you In what follows a simple, effective and popular can do) Multi-Two system is outlined. It qualifies as a BLUE system and may be played at all Club 2. The 2D Opening sessions and Congresses where BLUE and GREEN systems are allowed. This is a Multi-Two bid and is most often used to show (a) a weak-two in hearts; (b) a weak-two in 1 The Multi-2D opening showing a weak two-bid in spades; or (c) a strong (21-22 either major appeared first about 1969. It was HCP)². principally devised by UK players Terence Reese and Jeremy Flint. Responses from partner

1. The 2C Opening 2D : 2H A weak hand with no game interest unless partner is strong. The call The 2C opening shows a hand of 23+HCP or an asks opener to pass with a weak- unbalanced holding with fewer HCP but with 10+ two hearts, to bid 2S with a weak- playing tricks. two in spades or to bid 2NT with Auctions which begin with 2C are game-forcing , 21-22 HCP, balanced. unless opener rebids 2NT (showing 23-24 HCP : 2S Shows a game invitation with balanced). Stayman and transfers may be used over support for hearts. Opener with a 2NT rebid. hearts if weak, bids 3H (6-8 HCP, 8 Responses from partner losers, 2 cover cards ³); if strong, bids 4H (9-10 HCP, 7 losers, 3 2C : 2D Artificial & negative 0-7HCP cover cards). Opener passes with : 2H 8+HCP (or 7 HCP with 1½ quick the weak-two in spades : 2S tricks) & a 5 card or longer suit. : 2NT Says: “I have a good hand – game : 3C With a 4-4-4-1 shape and 8+HCP is possible. Please tell me more : 3D bid the or 2H if holding about your holding.” 4-4 in the majors : 3H Says: “I have a competitive raise in : 2NT 8+HCP and balanced either major but not enough for game if you opened with a weak If responder has 8+HCP or 7 HCP with 1½ quick hand”. tricks (an A & K or an A-Q combination), a slam : 3C) Natural, based on a long suit. No has good prospects. : 3D) interest in a weak-two in hearts or spades. Not forcing.

Arana Contract Bridge Club 3 May - June 2005 2 Some partnerships include other strong holdings, (iv) eg 9-10 playing tricks in clubs or diamonds. A Q x x x x K x x 3 A ‘cover-card’ is an ace, a guarded K (Kx or x x x x x better), or a guarded Q (Qxx or better). 10 x x x A x x x J x x x Rebids by the Opener 2D : 3H 3S : Pass 2D:2H Shows a weak-2 in hearts

Pass (v) 2D:2H Shows a weak-2 in spades K Q x x x x A x x 2S x x K Q x x 2D:2S Shows a minimum weak-2 in hearts A x x K Q x x 3H x x x x 2D:2S Shows a good weak-2 in hearts 2D : 2NT 4H 3D* : 4S 2D:2H Shows a 21-22HCP balanced hand * A good weak-2 in spades 2NT

2D:2NT A minimum weak-2 in hearts (vi) 3H K Q x J x 2D:2NT A minimum weak-2 in spades A Q x x K x x x 3S K Q x A x x x x 2D:2NT A good weak-2 in hearts K Q x x x 3C 2D : 2H 2D:2NT A good weak-2 in spades 2NT : 3C - 3D Stayman 3H : 4H Examples

3. Opening Bids of 2H, 2S and 2NT Opener Responder (i) Each bid shows a 2-suited hand with 6-10 HCP A K x x x x x x and values concentrated in the two long suits. J x x K 10 x 2H Shows 5-5 at least (hearts & a ) x K J 10 x 2S Shows 5-5 at least (spades and another suit) x x x A J x x 2NT Shows 5-5 at least in the minors 2D : 2H Responses by Partner 2S : Pass 2H : Pass Shows 2+ hearts, no game (ii) interest x x x : 3H Says, “Bid 4H with a maximum K Q 10 x x x J x x opening, otherwise pass” Q x x A K J x : 4H Sign off Q x K J x x : 2NT Please bid your minor suit. The 2D : 2S action normally implies a or 4H : Pass singleton in hearts 2S : Pass Shows 2+ spades, no game (iii) interest Q x x K xx : 3S Says, “Bid 4S with a maximum A J x x x x K x opening, otherwise pass” x J x x x x : 4S Sign off x x x x x x : 2NT Please bid your other suit 2D : 2H 2NT : 3C To play Pass : 3D To play : 3NT To play – this bid shows a strong hand with both majors well covered and with adequate access

to opener’s minor suits

Arana Contract Bridge Club 4 May - June 2005 Opener Responder (i) “Better Bidding for Improving Players” A J x x x x x by Dr Ross Dick K Q x x x A J x x x K Q x You can arrange to purchase Ross’s book by 10 A x x x x phoning him on 3378 4999. 2S : 2NT 3H : 4H Masterpoint Movements (ii) x Q x x x NEW rankings for Arana home club members for A K Q x x x the period ending March 2005: x x A x x x Graduate Master K x x x x Q x x x Judy Wilkinson 2H : 2NT Local Master 3C : Pass Gary Cran

Christine Noakes

(iii) *Local Master x x A K x Lyn Haysom x A x x Regional Master K J 10 x x x x x Arthur Pomery A J x x x x x x x Fae Roberts 2NT : 3C *Regional Master Pass Heather Mackay State Master (iv) Alan Norman x A Q x x Peter van Edan J x K Q 10 National Master Q J x x x A x Frank Hoult A K x x x Q x x x 2NT : 3NT Robert Matthew (MP Secretary) Pass

4. Bidding after Interference Special Position – New Members/ When partner opens with a multi 2D, 2H or 2S, you can usually tell what partner’s hand is. Over Visitors Liaison Officer interference, a double is for penalties. 2NT is the The appointee for this position for the 2005 – 2006 enquiry, and suit bids are not forcing. For year is Lorraine Steele not Liz Marshall as example: previously advised. Partner Opp You

(i) 2D 2S Double = penalty (ii) 2D 3D 3H = to pla y or for partner GNOT Representative Teams to correct to 3S (iii) 2D 2H 2NT = enquiry “what is Congratulations to the following three teams who your hand?” will be representing our club in the regional finals (iv) 2H 2S 3H = to play later this year. Good luck. (v) 2H X 2NT = enquiry “please Team 1: Margaret Welldon, Helen McLauchlan, bid your minor suit” Kent Taylor and Richard McLauchlan.

Team 2: Pam Horton, Jenny Lewis, Joyce Rosser NEXT EDITION – “DONT” and Gary Lynch. A popular modern method of competing when Team 3: Carol Wilson, Judy Perkins, Rab Wright your opponents open 1NT (strong). Ross Dick. and Ray Cowie.

Arana Contract Bridge Club 5 May - June 2005 “ALERT” Partner Please ☺☺

Arana Club Teams Championship The Partner Contact is a service to members looking for a game if their usual partner is Change of Date unavailable. It is not necessary for you to actually know the Partner Contact, but how the system works. So, if you are unsure here is the process. This year’s Club Teams championship was scheduled to take place on Sunday 8 May. Ring the Partner Contact and advise the day/s you However, due to a change of circumstances the would like a game. Your name will be registered in event has been rescheduled for Sunday 21 a book for the day/s requested. If no-one is August. registered your name will remain until an enquiry is received and that person will be asked to contact you. Should there be someone looking for that particular day you will be given their name and it is then up to you to call them and arrange to play. If you feel you would not enjoy a game with the Caring Club person suggested to you then you should say so. Your wishes will be adhered to and remain entirely If you know someone who is ill or needs a confidential. In all instances matching of like warm hello, give Liz Marshall a call on standard is attempted. After all we come in 3511 7791 and she will contact them on behalf friendship to enjoy our game. of the club. Liz is also happy to organise lifts for any one If your name is on the books and you are able to arrange a partner yourself, please advise the who may have trouble getting to a session at Partner Contact so your name can be removed the Club. Give Liz a call. She will be only too thereby eliminating unnecessary telephone calls. happy to help in whatever way she can. The Partner Contact has on occasions asked the Director to announce that someone is looking for a partner on a particular day. Members are reminded that this has occurred in special circumstances Name Badges only i.e. the placement of a visitor, or absence of the contact. The committee has requested that members wear name badges whenever possible. This Partner Contact service is provided by all Bridge Clubs and something to bear in mind when travelling. Plastic name badges are available free of cost through Tony Agar; or if you would prefer a The Partner Contact at Arana Bridge Club is gold name badge with the Club insignia, Pam Carol Wilson - Phone: 3353-2297. Feehely’s son-in-law, Graeme Smith of A2Z Lasers will make you one at a cost of $10.00. You can contact Graeme on 3353 9397 or alternatively speak to Pam. FINANCIAL REPORT

Our current bank balance is $12,408.75. The sinking fund has a balance of $9,872.22. Thought for the Day It is noted that our income is down by There has never been an age that did not approximately $2,000 for the same period last applaud the past and lament the present year. Lillian Eichler Watson (Taken from the Minutes of the General Committee Meeting held on 12/04/2005. A full copy of the Minutes is posted on the notice board for members’ information.)

Arana Contract Bridge Club 6 May - June 2005 ° Intermediate spots in 4 card suits often important so defender may not be able to give . LIBRARY LINES ° Defender often has to waste an important spot card. Librarians Jan Rae & Kath Rooney ° The count may be more valuable to We would take this opportunity to thank all those declarer. members who have generously agreed to write 3. The Suit Preference book reviews and those who have already done so. High card - Strength in higher ranking side suit, We would also remind members it is a club Low in lower ranking requirement that each person must personally Disadvantage: record the borrowing and return of every book at ° Count and Attitude have priority the time. The correct procedure is listed inside the 4. Upside-Down Attitude Signals glass cabinet and is also pinned to the notice board of No.1 above for your convenience. 5. Upside-Down Count Signal ** SEE PAGE 8 - FURTHER LIBRARY INFO Reverse of No. 2 above 6. Odds-Even Signals Odd-Even (Roman) signals try to transmit three different pieces of information (Encouraging, Discouraging with suit preference for the

higher ranking suit, or Discouraging with suit Our guest book reviewer this preference for the lower ranking suit. edition is Arthur Pomery Standard Attitude signals on the other hand, only “Modern Defensive Signalling In Contract transmit two pieces of information - Bridge” by Kit Woolsey Encouraging and discouraging. Introduction Some players play Odds-Even on their first Good defensive signalling is essential for any discard. Since he has 3 suits to choose from competent bridge partnership. The proper defense there is little danger of not being dealt the right to a hand can often be found only with the aid of a spot card to give the desired signal. critical signal by partner. There has been an A brief summary cannot adequately describe this increasing trend toward the use of non-standard system. signalling agreements by more pairs, as players recognise the deficiencies in standard signalling. 7. Lavinthal Discards Defender’s first discard is from a weak suit and is Signals Normally Used a Suit preference signal. He has two suits from ° Attitude Signal which to discard. On say a spade lead to show – ° The Count Signal H strength, he discards a high D or a high C ° Suit Preference Signal D strength, he discards a high H or a low C Summary of Various Signals C strength, he discards a low D or a low H 1. The Attitude Signal 8. The Distribution Signal High card-Encouraging, Low-Discouraging. All hands contain either 3 suits of ODD length & 1 Disadvantages: suit of EVEN or 3 suits of EVEN & 1 suit of ° The possible inability to spare a high card ODD length. to signal. When defender plays HIGH-LOW in trumps, he ° The inability to signal which suit to shift shows 3 ODD length suits and 1 EVEN length to when discouraging. suit and playing LOW-HIGH shows 3 EVEN 2. The Count Signal and 1 ODD length suit. High Card shows even number of cards, Low Card It is important for all tournament players to be shows odd number. familiar with the various carding agreements Disadvantages: which are in use today. ° The top of a doubleton often cannot be spared.

Arana Contract Bridge Club 7 May - June 2005 Important Dates Missing Library Book

The Library has two copies of the following book. May

Mon 2 Labour Day “100 Winning Bridge Tips” by Ron Klinger. Wed 4 Colin Stone Teams commence - Toowong (Book Code W6a)

Fri 6 Red points Unfortunately one of the copies is missing. Please Sat 7 Surfers Swiss Teams check your personal libraries at home as someone may have overlooked returning it. Sun 8 Club Teams Championship

CANCELLED – NEW DATE:

SUNDAY 21 AUGUST 2005 Sat 14 14-15 Qld Mixed Pairs (Toowong)

Sat 21 21-22 Caloundra Teams

Sun 22 BBC Graded Swiss Pairs Northern Subs Novice Pairs (<50 MPs) Wed 25 Australia Wide Autumn pairs

Sat 28 28-29 Goondiwindi Butler Pairs Redlands Novice Pairs (<100 MPs) Sun 29 QBA Mind Games

June The Queensland Government provided Sat 4 Arana Swiss pairs $263,900 to the Arana Contract Bridge Club Sun 5 Arana Swiss teams for the development of the Ferny Grove Sports Tue 7 Tuesday Red Point Teams (week 1) and Recreation Centre to get more Queenslanders active through sport and Fri 10 10-13 Barrier Reef Congress (Townsville) recreation. Sun 12 QCBC Swiss Pairs Mon 13 QCBC Swiss Teams

Tue 14 Tuesday Teams (week 2)

Sat 18 18-19 Sunshine Coast Teams & Pairs

Sun 19 Toowong Graded Pairs

Tue 21 Tuesday Teams (week 3)

Sat 25 25-26 Gold Coast Club Swiss Teams

Sun 26 BBC Novice Pairs (<75MPs); Bowen Pairs

For July - August Issue 20 June 2005

Barbara Holmes – Editor Ph: 3300 6654 Fax: 3300 9819 Email: [email protected]

Arana Contract Bridge Club 8 May - June 2005