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Number One Hundred and Sixty April 2016 Bernard Magee’s Bidding Quiz This month we are looking at slams and strong hands. The Blackwood used will be Key Card Blackwood (same responses as normal Blackwood but including the king of trumps). BRIDGEYou are West in the auctions below, playing ‘Standard Acol’ with a weak no- (12-14 points) and four-card majors.

1. Dealer East. Game All. 4. Dealer West. Love All. 7. Dealer East. Love All. 10. Dealer East. Love All. ♠ A K 9 ♠ A K 2 ♠ A J 4 3 ♠ K Q 4

♥ K J 3 N ♥ K J 7 6 N ♥ J 7 N ♥ K Q 5 N ♦ Q J 7 6 W E ♦ A 9 4 W E ♦ 6 4 3 W E ♦ K Q J 4 W E S S S ♣ A 10 4 ♣ A 8 7 ♣ K Q 10 3 S ♣ K Q 5

West North East South West North East South West North East South West North East South 1NT Pass 1♥ Pass 3♥ Pass 1♠ Pass 3♠ Pass ? ? 3♠ Pass 4♣ Pass ? ?

2. Dealer East. Game All. 5. Dealer West. Love All. 8. Dealer West. Love All. 11. Dealer East. Love All. ♠ A J 4 3 2 ♠ K 10 4 ♠ A K J 8 5 ♠ K 9 8

♥ 3 N ♥ K Q 7 6 5 N ♥ J 6 3 N ♥ 2 N ♦ A 5 2 W E ♦ 2 W E ♦ 4 W E ♦ A K 7 6 5 4 2 W E ♣ Q J 7 6 S ♣ A K Q 4 S ♣ K Q 7 6 S ♣ A 7 S

West North East South West North East South West North East South West North East South 1♠ Pass 1♥ Pass 3♥ Pass 1♠ Pass 4♣1 Pass 3♠ Pass ? ? ? ? 1Splinter bid – showing short- age in clubs and a raise to 4♠

3. Dealer East. Game All. 6. Dealer West. Love All. 9. Dealer West. Love All. 12. Dealer West. Love All. ♠ A Q 4 3 ♠ K 8 7 6 5 4 3 ♠ A K J 8 5 ♠ J 3

♥ 4 N ♥ N ♥ Q 2 N ♥ K Q 7 6 5 N ♦ Q J 6 3 W E ♦ 7 6 W E ♦ A 6 W E ♦ K Q 4 3 W E ♣ A K Q J S ♣ A K Q J S ♣ 9 8 7 6 S ♣ A 2 S

West North East South West North East South West North East South West North East South 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass 3♠ Pass 1♠ Pass 4♣1 Pass 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass ? ? ? 2♦ Pass 3♣1 Pass 1Splinter bid – showing short- 3NT Pass 4NT Pass age in clubs and a raise to 4♠ ? 1Fourth suit forcing

Answers on page 8 Answers on page 10 Answers on page 12 Answers on page 14 Canaries Christmas & New Year

To/from Southampton

Lisbon

Madeira Casablanca Mr Bridge Tenerife Team now La Palma Lanzarote Fuerteventura La Gomera Gran on Canaria

20th December 2016 • 18 nights • Sails from Southampton • Balmoral • CRUISE ID: L1631

Date Arrive Depart Destination elebrate the festive period in the warmth and natural splendour DECEMBER 2016 Tue 20 PM Southampton of the Canaries, including a lovely Christmas Day at sea. Kick back Wed 21-Fri 23 Cruising Sat 24 early am late night Casablanca, Morocco on the pearly beaches of Fuerteventura; discover the beautiful Sun 25 Cruising C National Park of Garajonay in La Gomera; encounter bustling Moroccan Mon 26 early am late pm Arrecife, Lanzarote Mon 26 late night Puerto del Rosario, souks; and be sure to see in the New Year in thriving Tenerife, complete Fuerteventura Tue 27 late night Puerto del Rosario, with fireworks, live Latino music and salsa dancing. Fuerteventura Wed 28 early am late night Las Palmas, Gran Canaria Casablanca, Morocco Santa Cruz, Tenerife Thu 29 early am late night Santa Cruz, La Palma Gaze in awe at the dramatic Hassan II In Tenerife you can soak up the temperature Fri 30 early am late night San Sebastian, La Gomera Mosque with its 210m-high minaret, delve weather on caramel-coloured beaches, and Sat 31 early am late night Santa Cruz, Tenerife deep into the history of the city at the enjoy traditional Spanish Culture at New JANUARY 2017 intriguing Jewish Museum, and dine in Year celebrations you’ll never forget – Sun 01 Cruising sophisticated surroundings at Rick’s Café complete with fireworks, live Latino music Mon 02 early am late pm Funchal, Madeira Tue 03 Cruising – inspired by the mythical saloon from the and salsa dancing. Don’t miss tours to the Wed 04 early am late pm Lisbon, Portugal legendary 1942 film, Casablanca. Botanical Gardens, Pyramids of Guimar or Thu 05-Fri 06 Cruising breathtaking volcanic scenery surrounding Sat 07 AM Southampton Santa Cruz, La Palma Mount Teide – Spain’s highest Mountain. La Palma’s pretty capital boasts a startling Prices per person array of religious edifices, lush greenery and Funchal, Madeira Cabin type Prices from cafes that take pride in serving exquisite Funchal has a timeless charm, delightfully £2,199 Inside local cuisine. Journey to the south of the enhanced by a benign climate that fills this £2,499 Outside island and discover the stunning scenery floating garden with the year-round colours £3,999 Balcony and flora of the San Antonio Volcano, before and perfumes of subtropical flowers and £4,599 Suite learning of its history at the engaging fruit. Explore the stunning landscapes by £2,874 Single visitor centre. way of the unique levada irrigation network, Prices are correct at time of going to print, but may admire the many beautiful gardens, or try change at any time. Call for latest prices. the island’s famous wine.

Your price includes Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, 5-course à la carte dinner, late night buffet & self-service tea & coffee • Varied daytime activities • Lectures & talks • Swimming pools, Jacuzzis & gym • Choice of live evening entertainment • 4 formal nights • Bridge Programme

Contact Mr Bridge to book now on 01483 489961 or visit www.mrbridge.co.uk

Terms and conditions apply - see Fred. Olsen 2016/17 worldwide brochure.

FOC322355_MrBridge_christmasCruise_FP_Ad_W.C.18.01.16_V3.indd 1 26/01/2016 13:52 Features this month include: ADVERTISERS’ 1 Bidding Quiz by Bernard Magee INDEX BRIDGE 5 Mr Bridge 2 Canaries Christmas & New Year with Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Fred.Olsen Surrey GU21 2TH 8 Bidding Quiz Answers (1-3) by Bernard Magee 3 Clive Goff’s Stamps ( 01483 489961 10 Bidding Quiz Answers (4-6) by Bernard Magee 4 Greece & the Greek [email protected] 12 Bidding Quiz Answers (7-9) by Bernard Magee Islands with Voyages to Antiquity www.mrbridge.co.uk 13 Avoidance by Bernard Magee 5 Mr Bridge Just shop: www.mrbridge.co.uk/ Events 14 Bidding Quiz Answers (10-12) by Bernard Magee mrbridge-shop 6 Greece & the 15 Jacoby 2NT by Heather Dhondy Greek Islands with Publisher and Voyages to Antiquity Managing Editor 18 Catching Up with 7 Better Mr Bridge 19 Sally’s Slam of the Month 7 Denham Filming 2017 Associate Editor and 8 QPlus 11 20 David Stevenson Answers Your Questions Bridge Consultant 8 Travel Insurance Bernard Magee 23 Defence Quiz by 8 Designs for Bridge bernardmagee Tables @mrbridge.co.uk 24 Defence Quiz Answers by Julian Pottage 9 Bernard Magee’s Tutorial Software Cartoons & Illustrations 25 Sorry Partner! by Liz Dale Marguerite Lihou 10 Mr Bridge Playing Cards 25 More Tips by Bernard Magee www.margueritelihou.co.uk 10 Kinds of Accountant 26 Globe Trotter – Part Two by Shireen Mohandes Tea Towel Technical Consultant 10 Designs for Bridge Tony Gordon 28 Trick One by Jeremy Dhondy Table Covers 11 Bernard Magee DVDs Typesetting & Design 30 Julian Pottage Answers Your Questions Ruth Edmondson 12 Mr Bridge Tie [email protected] 32 Declarer Play Quiz by David Huggett 12 Club Insurance 33 Teachers’ Corner by Ian Dalziel 12 Duplicate Bridge Proof Readers Rules Simplified Julian Pottage 34 Declarer Play Answers by David Huggett 14 BriAn Mike Orriel Catrina Shackleton 35 Unauthorised Information by David Stevenson 14 Life’s a Game Tea Towel Richard Wheen 14 Stoke Mandeville 36 Cover an Honour with an Honour Spinal Research by Andrew Kambites Customer Services 16 Canaries & Madeira Catrina Shackleton 38 Robin Hood’s Awful Hand by Winter Warmth with [email protected] Fred.Olsen 40 Accelerated Bridge Teaching by Ned Paul 17 Madeira, Canaries Events & Cruises & Morocco with ( 01483 489961 43 Wendy Wensum’s Diaries Voyages to Antiquity Jessica Galt 44 Seven Days with Sally Brock 19 Greece & the [email protected] Adriatic Sea with Megan Riccio 46 Readers’ Letters Voyages to Antiquity [email protected] 27 Greece & the Sophie Pierrepont Adriatic Sea with [email protected] REDUCE THE COST OF YOUR POSTAGE Voyages to Antiquity Clubs & Charities 34 Mr Bridge Postage stamps for sale at 90% of face-value, Tutorial Weekends Maggie Axtell all mint with full gum. Quotations for [email protected] commercial quantities available on request. 45 Irish Christmas Markets with Fred.Olsen Values supplied in 100s, higher values Address Changes available as well as 1st and 2nd class 47 Charity Events ( 01483 485342 (eg 2nd class: 100x38p+100x16p). 48 Central America Elizabeth Bryan & the Mardi Gras [email protected] (/Fax 020 8422 4906 e-mail: [email protected] with Fred.Olsen

BRIDGE April 2016 Page 3 2114 Mr Bridge FULL page 160905BR_Layout 1 24/02/2016 23:34 Page 1

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BRIDGE April 2016 Page 5 2114 Mr Bridge FULL page 160916BR_Layout 1 24/02/2016 23:57 Page 1

ITINERARYNEW

Philippi Thessalonica Kavala Meteora GREECE Skiathos Volos Aegean Greece Sea & THE GREEK Athens Mykonos Patmos Hydra Delos

Santorini Rhodes ISLANDS Crete Heraklion Knossos

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SEPT 16 Fly to ATHENS Greece Embark Aegean Odyssey in Piraeus 10.00pm SEPT 17 HYDRA Greek Islands 7.00am 6.00pm SEPT 18 SANTORINI Greek Islands 8.00am (Akrotiri) 6.00pm SEPT 19 HERAKLION Crete, 7.00am Greek Islands (Knossos) 2.00pm SEPT 20 RHODES Greek Islands 9.00am 6.00pm SEPT 21 DELOS Greek Islands 7.00am noon MYKONOS Greek Islands 2.00pm 9.00pm SEPT 22 PATMOS Greek Islands 7.00am 2.00pm

SANTORINI SEPT 23 KAVALA Greece (Philippi) 2.00pm 8.00pm SEPT 24 THESSALONICA Greece 8.00am 7.00pm JOIN MR & MRS BRIDGE SEPT 25 VOLOS Greece (Meteora) 7.00am 10.00pm on this 12-day Aegean Bridge Cruise SEPT 26 SKIATHOS Greek Islands 7.00am 4.00pm SEPT 27 PIRAEUS Greece 6.00am Disembark and transfer to Take in the Autumn sunshine as you sail around the beautiful Athens Airport for flight home Aegean Sea. The ultimate in Greek Island cruising, this voyage AEG160916BR includes 8 sightseeing excursions ashore to the fascinating history MR BRIDGE VALUE FARES of Classical Greece, along with visits to some of the Aegean’s most Premium Inside £1,695pp legendary islands. On board you can enjoy expert guest speakers Premium Outside £2,295pp who will inform you of the places you will visit, and of course, Deluxe Outside £2,595pp duplicate bridge every evening. Call now and reserve your cabin to join Mr and Mrs Bridge on Cruise fares include a bridge holiday you’ll never forget. • Scheduled economy class flights • Expert guest speaker programme • Mr Bridge drinks party • Duplicate bridge every evening • Morning bridge seminars and afternoon duplicates when at sea • Sightseeing excursions in most ports of call CALL NOW ON 01483 489961 NO • All meals on board in choice of two restaurants SINGLE • Complimentary wine with dinner on board OR VISIT † www.mrbridge.co.uk SUPPLEMENT • Gratuities for on-board cabin and restaurant staff Cabins can be held at no obligation for 7 days • Overseas transfers and baggage handling

Odyssey Club Members enjoy an additional discount of 5% on these fares

10093

*Mr Bridge fares are per person and subject to availability at time of booking. tSingle accommodation is available only in certain categories and is subject to availability. Please see website for full terms and conditions. ABTA No.Y2206 2017 FILMING Better Hand BERNARD MAGEE Evaluation

Bernard Magee at Denham Grove near Uxbridge, Bucks, UB9 5DG. Introduction

Better Hand Evaluation is aimed at helping readers to 13-15 January 2017 add greater accuracy to their bidding. It deals with auc- £399pp Friday – Monday tions in which you and your Bernard Magee, above, will partner, against silent op- be returning to Denham £369pp Friday – Sunday ponents, can describe your Grove, Uxbridge, early next hands fully to each other 1 and, by evaluating them ac- year. There, he will deliver Full Board – No Single Supplement curately, find the best final his seventh series of six Limited places for Thursday night available. contract. The emphasis of all seminars in the course of £65pp single, £40pp double/twin. good, accurate bidding is on three bridge filled days. hand evaluation. There are two general types of The audience, drawn as it auction: a) a fit is found and b) is, from all over the country Topics no fit is found. will be encouraged by When you do not have a fit, Bernard to fully immerse MORE SIGNALLING you are aiming to describe the themselves in the subject I will be looking at different times when you and the strength of your hand as soon matter. He will do this by messages you might want to give. Using signals in new ways can as possible, most often using greatly improve your enjoyment of defence as well as pushing up no-trump bids. This book be- using his charismatic your scores. gins by discussing balanced- charm and teaching skills. hand bidding in Acol, as it 4-4-4-1 HANDS is very important that both The subject of each of the Everybody’s least favourite type of opening hand. I will be going members of a partnership talks is listed in the through the methods for choosing the right suit to open as well have an accurate knowledge of adjacent advert. At the end as coping with responses. As responder you need to be aware of the options and work out your partner’s type of hand. Strong how to show hands of different of each seminar, Bernard strengths. 4-4-4-1 hands can be just as difficult and will be dealt with too. answers questions before When a fit is found, there is going to lunch (or dinner). DRAWING TRUMPS much re-evaluation of the This seminar sounds straight forward, but we will not be simply hand to be done; point count, The audience can do drawing trumps, we will be considering the reasons for delaying. though still important, needs likewise or go to a table in Keeping control of trumps is an important part of declarer play. to be evaluated together with Knowing when to risk leaving trumps out and when not. distribution. The best way of one of the bridge rooms for reaching an accurate assess­ a session of supervised play. FIVE-CARD MAJORS ment is to use the Losing Trick The focus is on using the Popular around the world, this method is becoming more Count; this is an important new skill taught by popular here. It is not a method I would advocate for club players, method of hand evaluation and Bernard, particular to the however it is important to understand the method as you will takes up a number of chapters. need to defend against it. lecture just given. For this Finally, we move on to different forms of evaluation including part of the event you will be FUNDEMENTALS OF DEFENCE game tries and splinter bids. in the hands of an Defence is by far the hardest aspect of bridge: this seminar seeks You can never know enough experienced team, all on to show the building blocks that can start you off on a wonderful journey. If you can get the basics right then the more complicate methods of hand evaluation; hand to help guests make the more you learn, the better aspects of defence can follow. you get at judging your hand. the most of the occasion, answering and explaining SUPPORTING MINORS Although the Losing Trick at the bridge table. Minors as the name suggests are not as important as majors, but Count is used more easily in we have to bid them and it is important to know your system. tandem with your partner, a I hope that more or less Bidding more 3NT contracts will get you better scores, but being large proportion of the ideas able to spot a slam will put you cut above. in this book can be used by an explains how it works, but individual. For example, eval- if you do need to know uating your hand to be worth more, give my office a ring. 2 an extra point is going to help 6 seminar sessions with Bernard anyone you partner – as long Please be aware that the 3 as you get it right. filming takes precedence. 6 sessions of supervised play You are there to be part of Contact Mr Bridge to book your place £14 including UK postage it all and feel the buzz. or for further details: ( 01483 489961 Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 www.mrbridge.co.uk All good wishes, 1Subject to availability 2Filmed 3Not with Bernard Magee Mr Bridge

BRIDGE April 2016 Page 7 Answers to Bernard Magee’s PLUS 11 Q Bidding Quizzes 1-3 l Help and Hint buttons l Displays on HD and large screens l Comprehensive manual on the Cover l Feed in your own deals £99 l Receive QPlus 11 and a Lack of cards in the suit you bid: option now and QPlus 12 1. Dealer East. Game All. 4♥. l 5,000 preplayed when ready at the end of October ♠ A K 9 ♠ J 8 7 Your partner fits perfectly: he can win hands for teams ♥ K J 3 N ♥ A 7 4 his ♥A and take ruffs in your hand, so and 4,000 preplayed hands for W E ♦ ♦ matchpoint pairs Q J 7 6 S A K 4 3 he would bid Blackwood and eventually ♣ A 10 4 ♣ Q 9 2 settle for 6♠. Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 www.mrbridge.co.uk West North East South 1NT Pass 3. Dealer East. Game All. ? ♠ A Q 4 3 ♠ K 2 ♥ 4 N ♥ K Q 9 8 5 3 W E TR AVEL 3NT. ♦ Q J 6 3 ♦ K 9 8 S You have 18 HCP and your partner has ♣ A K Q J ♣ 7 6 INSURANCE shown 12-14. This gives you a maximum of 32 points, which is not usually enough, For your own quote from with two balanced hands, to make a West North East South slam. You do have a ten and nine, but 1♥ Pass the 4-3-3-3 shape of the hand is the ? worst you can have. You should settle for game and bid 3NT. 1♠. Your partner has the maximum 14 You have 19 HCP and should therefore HCP but there are only 9 top tricks. be thinking of a slam already. However, with three different suits to show, you should take your time. As long as you change the suit your partner will have to ( 01268 524344 2. Dealer East. Game All. bid again, and then you can bid a new www.covercloud.co.uk ♠ A J 4 3 2 ♠ K Q 8 7 5 suit later and keep the auction going. ♥ 3 N ♥ A 7 6 4 However, remember that if you do not ♦ A 5 2 W E ♦ 3 find a fit, you need about 33 points for S ♣ Q J 7 6 ♣ A 4 3 6NT which is not certain. So you respond 1♠ to leave as much room as possible, then over your part- West North East South ner’s 2♥ rebid you could bid 3♣ (a new 1♠ Pass suit at the three-level is forcing). Your ? partner now bids 3NT and you can fol- low this up with 4NT. This is not Black- 4♥. wood: it is inviting your partner to slam. You have great support for spades and He has shown about 12-15 points and the strength for game, so you might you are hoping that he is in the upper respond 4♠. However, 4♠ usually shows range. However, your partner is mini- a weaker, distributional type of hand with mum and passes 4NT. The final auction very little slam potential. Your hand will should be something like: have a good chance for slam if it fits well with the opening hand. The ideal bid is West North East South one that shows your shape and allows 1♥ Pass your partner to judge. 1♠ Pass 2♥ Pass A is perfect: it shows SPL 3♣ Pass 3NT Pass – Support (4+ cards) Points (11+ HCP) 4NT All Pass ■

Page 8 BRIDGE April 2016 BERNARD MAGEE’S INTERACTIVE TUTORIALS

BEGIN BRIDGE ACOL BIDDING ADVANCED DECLARER ACOL VERSION ACOL BIDDING PLAY l Card Play Technique MAC l Basics l Suit Establishment l Planning Card Play Compatible in No-trumps l Advanced l Bidding Balanced Basics l Suit Establishment Hands in Suits l Weak Twos l Bidding Suits l Opening Bids and Responses l Hold-ups l Responding to a Suit l Strong Hands l Slams and Strong l Ruffing for l Supporting Partner l Defence Openings Extra Tricks l Responding to 1NT l Support for Partner to Weak Twos l Entries in l Stayman l Pre-empting l Defence to 1NT No-trumps £76 l Strong Two Opening l £66 l Doubles and Response l No-trump l Delaying l Overcalls Openings l Two-suited £96 Drawing Trumps and Responses Overcalls l Doubles £66 l Using the Lead l Opener’s and l Pre-empting l Defences to Responder’s Rebids l Trump Control Other Systems l Defence against No l Minors and Misfits l Endplays & Trump Contracts l Doubles l Misfits and Avoidance l Defence against Suit l Competitive Distributional Contracts Auctions Hands l Using the Bidding

ADVANCED DEFENCE FIVE-CARD BETTER DECLARER PLAY MAJORS & BRIDGE l Lead vs Strong No-Trump l Making Overtricks No-trump Contracts l Ruffing for in No-trumps l Opening Bids Extra Tricks l Lead vs & Responses l Making Overtricks Suit Contracts in Suit Contracts l No-Trump l Doubling and l Partner of Leader Openings Defence l Endplays vs No-trump Against Contracts l Support £89 £69 l Avoidance Doubled for Partner l Partner of Leader Contracts l Wrong £81 vs Suit Contracts l Slams Contract & Strong Openings l Play and Defence l Count l Simple of 1NT Contracts Signals l Rebids Squeezes l Attitude l Minors l Counting £76 l Finding and Signals & Misfits the Hand Bidding Slams l Discarding l Pre-empting l Trump Reductions l Making the & Coups l Defensive Plan l Doubles Most of High Cards l Playing Doubled l Stopping Declarer l Overcalls Contracts l Counting l Competitive l Competitive l Safety Plays the Hand Auctions Auctions

Mr Bridge , Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH Any 6 ( 01483 489961 www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop for £299 System Requirements: Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 or 10, 8mb RAM, CD-ROM Mr Bridge Answers to Bernard Magee’s Premium Quality Cards Bidding Quizzes 4-6 on the Cover

number of aces your partner holds will 4. Dealer West. Love All. surely give you the chance to place the Standard Faces, ♠ A K 2 ♠ 7 6 5 final contract. If he shows one, you set- with or without bar codes. Unboxed. ♥ K J 7 6 N ♥ A Q 4 3 tle for 5♥, if he shows two you go for 6♥ 6 red/6 blue £19.95 ♦ A 9 4 W E ♦ K 8 7 and if he shows three, you might contem- S 30 red/30 blue only £60 ♣ A 8 7 ♣ K 3 2 plate 7♥ although he is unlikely to have ♥ Available from The London Bridge Centre. anything else so 6 will still probably be ( 020 7288 1305 www.bridgeshop.com high enough. West North East South Here, your partner shows two aces and 1♥ Pass 3♥ Pass 6♥ makes in comfort. ?

There are Three 3NT. Although you have 19 HCP, slam is not 6. Dealer West. Love All. Kinds of likely because of your shape. In fact, there ♠ K 8 7 6 5 4 3 ♠ A Q 9 2 are 7 losers in the hand using the losing ♥ Void N ♥ A J 8 Accountant . . . trick count. However, game is certainly ♦ 7 6 W E ♦ 9 8 3 2 on and you might as well describe your ♣ A K Q J S ♣ 7 6 hand by rebidding 3NT. Your partner is Those who unlikely to leave you there unless he is extremely flat himself, in which case 3NT West North East South can add up and might score better than 4♥ because there 1♠ Pass 3♠ Pass will be no ruffs. ? those who can’t. Here, your partner is 3-4-3-3 as well and might choose to pass. There are like- 4♣. ly to be ten tricks in both game contracts, You have quite a hand and, with your part- Made in the UK but 3NT gives you the extra 10 points. ner showing support, the strength of your from 100% pure cotton © Mr Bridge long suit is not such a worry. You have just four losers so there is slam potential, but it all depends where your partner’s strength 5. Dealer West. Love All. lies. If he has good diamonds, then slam ♠ K 10 4 ♠ A 2 might make, but if he has strong hearts in- ♥ K Q 7 6 5 N ♥ A 9 4 3 stead, then his strength is wasted and 4♠ ♦ 2 W E ♦ Q 7 6 is high enough. When you need to be suit- S ♣ A K Q 4 ♣ J 7 6 5 specific, then Blackwood is no good, you need cue bidding. Bidding a new suit after you have agreed to play in a major is not West North East South natural, it shows the potential to bid high- 1♥ Pass 3♥ Pass er. Above three-of-a-major, it shows slam ? potential and control in the suit bid – you should bid 4♣. You are hoping that your 4NT. partner can return the compliment and You have 17 HCP, five hearts and a show where his strength lies. If he bids singleton diamond: your hand is worth 4♦, you would be interested in a slam, but 20 total points (4 losers). Adding this if he has no strength in diamonds slam to your partner’s expected 11 gives 31 would be no good. and with a big fit 30 is your target to Here, your partner would bid 4♥ and contemplate slam. you should sign off in 4♠, expecting to You have control of every suit and the have two losing diamonds. ■

Page 10 BRIDGE April 2016 BERNARD MAGEE TUTORIAL DVDS

SET 1 SET 2 SET 3 1 Ruffing for Extra Tricks 7 Leads 13 Hand Evaluation This seminar deals with declarer’s use of Bernard takes you through the basic leads Going beyond just the point-count is ruffing to make extra tricks and then looks and the importance of your lead choice. If important. Reaching & making 3NT on 24 at how the defenders might counteract this. you start to think about your partner’s hand, HCP; and avoiding 3NT on 26 HCP when there (74 mins.) you will get better results. (95 mins.) are only 7 or 8 tricks. (110 mins.) 2 Competitive Auctions 8 Losing Trick Count 14 Pre-Emptive Bidding This seminar focuses on competitive auctions A way of hand evaluation for when you find The art of pre-empting is so important in the from the perspective of the overcalling side a fit. Bernard deals with the basics of the LTC modern game. Understanding the right hands and then from the opening side in the second then looks at advanced methods to hone your to bid up on and realising the importance of part. (86 mins.) bidding. (92 mins.) position and vulnerability. (96 mins.) 3 Making the Most of High Cards 9 Making a Plan as Declarer 15 Splinter & Cue Bids This seminar helps declarer to use his high Bernard explains how to make a plan then Splinter bids are a vital tool to add to your cards more carefully and then looks at how expands on how to make the most of your slam bidding armoury & try your hand at defenders should care for their high cards. long suits, both in no-trumps and suit Italian style cue bidding. (116 mins.) (83 mins.) contracts. (87 mins.) 16 4 Identifying & Bidding Slams 10 Responding to 1NT As declarer, an important tactic is to be in The first half of this seminar identifies when This seminar deals with Transfers and control of the defenders: avoiding a particular a slam might be on. The second Stayman in detail. The 1NT opening comes defender getting the lead. As a defender, you half covers some slam-bidding techniques. up frequently, so having a good, accurate can try to make sure the right player gets the (96 mins.) system of responses is paramount. (93 mins.) lead. (88 mins.) 5 Play & Defence of 1NT Contracts 11 Signals & Discards 17 Play & Defence at Pairs This seminar looks at the most common This seminar deals with Count, Attitude Duplicate Pairs is the game most of us play and yet most feared of contracts: 1NT. and Suit-preference signals: aiming to get and getting used to the tactics will make The first half looks at declaring 1NT and you working as a partnership in defence. a lot of difference to your performance. the second part at defending. (88 mins.) (92 mins.) (90 mins.) 6 Doubling & Defence against 12 18 Thinking Defence Doubled Contracts Bernard takes you through the basics of By far the hardest aspect of bridge, but if you The first half of this seminar explores penalty endplays before showing some hands where can improve your defence your results will doubles and the second half discusses the you can take extra tricks, then looks at how to quickly improve. Learn how to think through defence against doubled contracts. (88 mins.) avoid being endplayed. (80 mins.) the defence. (87 mins.)

SET 4 SET 5 19 Defensive Plan £25 25 Defence as Partner Looking at your own hand, then at dummy of the Leader and envisaging how partner’s hand will per DVD Defence is the hardest aspect of the game, allow you to make a plan for the defence. it is where most players can make great (112 mins.) progress. (104 mins.) 20 Further Into 26 Aggressive Bidding the Auction at Duplicate Pairs The first two bids of an auction are usually £105 Years ago, you needed 13 HCP to open the easy, but beyond that the complications bidding and rarely competed for a partscore. increase. Learn how to ‘talk’ to your partner Now its usual to open lighter and compete for during the bidding. (95 mins.) every hand. (114 mins.) 21 Weak Twos SET of 6 27 Strong Opening Bids It is important to bid more in the modern Managing your strong bids carefully can give game and weak twos are an important choice you joy, particularly when you have a neat for the competitive player. (104 mins.) bidding sequence to a lovely slam. (122 mins.) 22 Trump Control Buy a Set 28 Take-Out Doubles Handling the play of the hand when trumps Bernard deals with basic take-out doubles and break badly is an important attribute: playing Get 1 Free their responses, then progresses to talk about calmly and using a variety of tactics to pave competing for every partscore. (99 mins.) the way to success. (76 mins.) 29 Suit Establishment 23 Sacrificing in Suit Contracts An exciting aspect of the auction is Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 Long suits are powerful things: Bernard tries to outbidding your opponents and going down, get across his passion for them by showing you but gaining by doing so. Learn to bid more On-line shop: how to develop your extra tricks. (81 mins.) aggressively. (105 mins.) www.mrbridge.co.uk/shop 30 / Defending 24 Improving Bridge Memory Against a 1NT Opening Remembering every card is a dream for most Competing against a 1NT opening allows you of us. However, learn ways in which All prices include postage – UK only. to challenge for the partscore. Bernard talks to remember the important things. about competing over 1NT in general and then (90 mins.) about Landy. (85 mins.) Answers to Bernard Magee’s Mr Bridge Celebration Bidding Quizzes 7-9 Party Tie on the Cover

cards are a bit of a waste. Although your £15 7. Dealer East. Love All. king-queen will eventually make one including postage & ♠ A J 4 3 ♠ K Q 9 8 5 trick, it is rather a waste that one hand packing ♥ J 7 N ♥ A has a singleton and the other 5 HCP and ♦ 6 4 3 W E ♦ Q J yet you are still losing one trick in the suit. S ♣ K Q 10 3 ♣ A J 9 8 7 If you fit well with a singleton you can ( 01483 489961 sometimes make slams on 24 or 25 com- bined points, but without a good fit you www.mrbridge.co.uk West North East South still need the usual 30 points. 1♠ Pass The negative response to a splinter is 3♠ Pass 4♣ Pass to return to your suit: 4♠. This says part- ? ner, ‘I do not have interest in slam be- CLUB cause I do not fit well with you.’ 4♠. You respond 3♠ to show your 10-12 INSURANCE points (8 losers). Your partner then bids 4♣, which is a slam try: he should have extra strength which together with yours 9. Dealer West. Love All. Every club should be suggest 12 tricks are possible. When your ♠ A K J 8 5 ♠ Q 9 7 4 3 covered and my inclusive partner cue bids in one suit, he is usually ♥ Q 2 N ♥ A K 5 3 looking for you to show your strength in ♦ A 6 W E ♦ K 9 5 package, to suit clubs of up S the other suits. However, your strength ♣ 9 8 7 6 ♣ 2 to 100 members for less than lies only in the black suits, so you go back £75 per year, is the right to 4♠. package at the right price. Your partner instead of using West North East South Blackwood because he needed you to 1♠ Pass 4♣1 Pass Ring FIDENTIA for a quote have strength in diamonds (or shortage) ? to give slam a chance. 1Splinter bid – showing shortage in clubs ( 020 3150 0080 and a raise to 4♠ 4♦. Your partner should have 11+ HCP, 8. Dealer West. Love All. a singleton (or void) in clubs and 4+ ♠ A K J 8 5 ♠ Q 9 7 6 4 cards in spades. How does your hand fit ♥ J 6 3 N ♥ K Q 7 4 with a singleton club? DUPLICATE ♦ 4 W E ♦ K Q 8 Four low cards is a great holding – your S BRIDGE ♣ K Q 7 6 ♣ 3 partner should be able to your losers away. Furthermore, your high cards will RULES be together with his high cards and there West North East South may well be the chance of a slam. SIMPLIFIED 1♠ Pass 4♣1 Pass To show your excitement, you can cue ? bid or use Blackwood depending on the (otherwise known as the Yellow Book) 1Splinter bid – showing shortage in clubs type of hand you hold. Here, with weak- and a raise to 4♠ ness in hearts you should cue bid a suit by John Rumbelow only where you hold strength to see if your and revised by £595 4♠. Your partner should have 11+ HCP, partner has something in hearts. You David Stevenson a singleton (or void) in clubs and 4+ bid 4♦ and now your partner can take cards in spades. How does your hand fit control: he uses Blackwood and goes for Available from Mr Bridge with a singleton club? 6♠ when you show three key cards (in- ( 01483 489961 An ace is the perfect holding or even cluding the king of trumps). Just 26 HCP www.mrbridge.co.uk four low cards because your low cards between you, but with the perfect fit your can be ruffed away. However, other high slam should be straightforward. ■

Page 12 BRIDGE April 2016 Bernard Magee DVDs – Number Sixteen Avoidance

his DVD deals with this often West leads a club for his partner to win difficult declarer play tech- and a diamond switch will defeat you. ♠ A K 6 5 4 nique. Very often when you are ♥ J 10 Tdeclaring you prefer one defender to ♦ J 7 4 3 have the lead rather than the other. ♠ K 8 6 5 4 ♣ 4 3 ♥ K Q J 10 ♠ 10 9 3 2 ♠ J 7 Labelling the two defenders as the N goodie and the baddie, your aim is to ♦ 7 3 ♥ 3 2 W E ♥ A 9 6 4 avoid the baddie getting the lead. ♣ 4 3 ♦ 9 8 S ♦ K Q 10 5 The baddie will often have winners ♠ 10 9 ♠ 7 ♣ K Q J 10 2 ♣ 9 8 5 ♥ A 3 2 N ♥ 9 6 4 ♠ Q 8 in his hand, or will be able to make a W E killing switch. Look at his hand and ♦ A 9 8 6 S ♦ Q J 10 5 4 ♥ K Q 8 7 5 try to identify the goodie and baddie: ♣ Q J 10 2 ♣ K 9 8 5 ♦ A 6 2 ♠ A Q J 3 2 ♣ A 7 6 ♥ 8 7 5 ♠ K 8 6 5 4 ♦ K 2 ♥ K Q J 10 ♣ A 7 6 West North East South ♦ 7 3 1♥ ♣ 4 3 Pass 1♠ Pass 1NT Many of the techniques in the DVD Pass 3♦ Pass 3NT N W E are difficult, but then in the second All Pass S half I talk about the ideas from the ♠ A Q J 3 2 perspective of defenders, which is Instead West remembers that he is ♥ 8 7 5 even harder. An expert East might in a partnership and just because his ♦ K 2 manage to play the ♣K on trick one, suit is redundant it does not end the ♣ A 7 6 forcing declarer to win the trick and defence. He aims to find his partner’s East might then discard the ♣9 on the strength and establish some tricks in second round of trumps to suggest he his hand. Spades are out of the ques- 4♠ by South. Lead: ♣Q. held the ♣8 allowing West to win the tion and leading in to South’s heart Identifying your weakness is your first ♥A, lead the ♣2 to East’s eight and fi- suit is unlikely to be of much use, so job and that is in diamonds, but you nally a diamond switch would defeat West chooses the ♦9. This quickly should only be worried if East gets the the contract. I do not go as deep as all develops two tricks for your partner, lead because if West chooses to lead that in the DVD, but try to talk about which together with the first two clubs diamonds your king will make a trick. some ideas that are within the grasp and the ♥A defeats 3NT. East is your baddie, so you need to of club players: ducking, overtaking, By ducking the first two tricks de- keep him off lead. unblocking and switching are some of clarer is aiming to isolate the clubs The is the ♣Q which is the ideas, as well as a few signals too. in one hand. As you saw this would ducked to you, what is your plan? Here is a classic kind of deal which have worked if West continued clubs. You do not know who has the ♥A, exhibits an important part of defen- Since the defenders can see their own so if East has it you cannot keep him sive play (shown in next column). cards, they can counteract declarer’s off lead, but if West has it, then you West leads the ♣K, which wins the avoidance play. Had West held the ♥A, have a chance because the defenders first trick, and then the ♣Q which he would have continued with clubs, have allowed you to choose who wins again is allowed to win. This is the key knowing that he will get the lead later. their club trick. As so often you have to point of the play: West knows that his This DVD aims to widen the hori- be thinking at trick 1: ducking West’s club suit is redundant because he has zons of declarers – showing the power lead leaves him to play to trick 2 and no . If East had the ♣A he would that declarer holds over the defenders he cannot lead a diamond without giv- have already played it. A lot of defend- and how you can often choose which ing you your ♦K, so he continues with ers would continue with another club, defender gets the lead and thereby another club. You draw trumps and but that is pointless. Declarer wins, make sure that the fate of the contract knock out the ♥A and all West can do knocks out the ♥A and claims nine is in your control. At the same time of is take his ♦A. Had you won the first tricks: four hearts, three spades and course, defenders can be equally can- trick and played the same way, then the two minor suit aces. ny and try to outwit the declarer. ■

BRIDGE April 2016 Page 13 Answers to Bernard Magee’s Bidding Quizzes 10-12 www.brianbridge.net App-based scoring for duplicate bridge on the Cover Individual – Pairs – Teams Café Bridge rounds of diamonds ruffing the third. As l Players enter scores on their 10. Dealer East. Love All. long as trumps break 2-1 and diamonds iPad/iPhone/Android l No startup cost ♠ K Q 4 ♠ A J 10 7 6 5 3 no worse than 3-1, you make all thirteen l Play, direct or watch from ♥ K Q 5 N ♥ 4 3 tricks. (Of course, you make only twelve anywhere in the world ♦ K Q J 4 W E ♦ 9 8 if they lead hearts). S Step into the future ♣ K Q 5 ♣ 8 6 of

[email protected] West North East South 12. Dealer West. Love All. 3♠ Pass ♠ J 3 ♠ A K Q 4 ? ♥ K Q 7 6 5 N ♥ J 2 ♦ K Q 4 3 W E ♦ A J 2 S 4♠. ♣ A 2 ♣ K 6 5 4 Life’s a GAME This hand is relatively straightforward: al- though you do have 21 HCP, there is no chance that your partner can have more West North East South but than two aces and, therefore, a slam has 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass no chance. 2♦ Pass 3♣1 Pass You might contemplate 3NT, but you 3NT Pass 4NT Pass BRIDGE may well be exposed in one suit and with ? 1Fourth suit forcing aces to be forced out, your game might be in danger. 4♠ is the simple bid – going 6NT. is for the game you know you can make. You open 1♥ and then rebid 2♦, showing your 5-4 shape, but then your partner bids the fourth suit: 3♣. This does not SERIOUS promise clubs, but is simply a forcing 11. Dealer East. Love All. bid, requiring you to bid again. With a ♠ K 9 8 ♠ A J 10 7 6 5 3 stopper in clubs you bid 3NT. Now your Made in the UK from 100% pure cotton © Mr Bridge ♥ 2 N ♥ 4 3 partner bids 4NT and you have to work ♦ A K 7 6 5 4 2 W E ♦ 9 8 out what he wants. S ♣ A 7 ♣ 8 6 A 4NT bid immediately after another no-trump bid is not ace-asking, it is a quantitative bid inviting slam. It asks you West North East South to look at your hand and judge whether 3♠ Pass you are minimum or maximum. If you ? are minimum then pass, if maximum raise to slam. 4NT. You have shown a minimum opener Just 14 HCP so you might think the so your hand should be in the range of question is about whether you should about 12-15. You are certainly top of your bid game or not. However, the potential range and your ♠J in partner’s suit might of your hand is huge: a ten-card spade be of some use. You should bid 6NT. fit and surely the chance to establish six You can see your partner’s problem – tricks in diamonds. It looks as if there will he has 18 points balanced but he knows be twelve tricks available as long as your he needs about 33 combined points to partner has an ace. It has to be worth make 6NT, so he keeps making forcing bidding Blackwood and then bidding bids until he is in a position to invite you slam if your partner shows one ace. to slam. Had you held just 12 points then On a club lead, you win the ace, draw you would have finished in 4NT. Instead, trumps in two rounds and then play three you finish in the excellent slam. ■

Page 14 BRIDGE April 2016 Heather’s Private Bridge Lessons Jacoby 2NT

hat call do you make with which, despite being a raise of a no- for slam if either player has extra the North cards on the trump bid, is RKCB for hearts as this values, especially for cue bidding hand below after partner is already the agreed trump suit. Part- l It frees up a bid of 4 of the major to Whas opened 1♥? ner responds 5♦ showing one key card. be used pre-emptively. You are out of room to ask about the queen, but, holding the requisite values What call do you make with the North ♠ A 2 you can take a gamble and try 6♥. cards on the hand below after partner ♥ K 10 6 3 West leads the ♦10. How do you plan has opened 1♥? ♦ A J 7 the play? ♣ A J 5 4 ♠ N J 10 9 6 2 W E ♠ A 2 ♥ Q J 10 3 2 S ♥ K 10 6 3 ♦ Void ♦ A J 7 ♣ 9 8 7 ♣ Playing Jacoby, bid 2NT. Jacoby is used A J 5 4 N in response to partner’s 1♥/1♠ open- W E N S ing bid. It shows four-card support for W E S partner’s major and values for game. ♠ K 10 8 4 Raise directly to 4♥. Partner won’t Responses to Jacoby ♥ A Q J 9 expect you to have a good hand since There are many different variations of ♦ K Q 5 otherwise you would have used Jacoby. continuations to Jacoby, however, the ♣ 10 3 Instead you can put pressure on the following is a simple and effective, and opponents by making a pre-emptive a commonly used variation. Assume raise. This was the full deal: you have opened 1♥ and partner has Your best line is to try to ruff two responded 2NT, Jacoby: spades in dummy. Since all your trumps are high in hand, you can ruff ♠ J 10 9 6 2 l 3♣/3♦/3♠ shows a second suit, at them with the king and ten. Don’t ♥ Q J 10 3 2 least five hearts and four of the suit be tempted to draw any trumps first, ♥ Void bid. since you will need them to cross safely ♣ 9 8 7 l 3♥ shows a hand that is better than back to hand. Provided two rounds ♠ A 5 4 3 ♠ 7 minimum, but with no shortage or of spades stand up you are virtually ♥ Void N ♥ 9 6 5 W E ♦ ♦ a second suit. home. Ruff the third one high, cross A 9 5 4 3 S K Q J 7 l 3NT shows a of 15+ back to a trump, ruff the fourth one ♣ Q 10 5 4 ♣ A K 6 3 2 points and is forcing. high and cross back with a trump to ♠ K Q 8 l 4♣/4♦/4♠ are splinters. draw trumps. Unless someone holds ♥ A K 8 7 4 l 4♥ is your weakest action, saying five spades, four trumps (requiring ♦ 10 8 6 2 that you have no interest in a slam. you to play four rounds) and the ♣A, ♣ J l 4NT, of course, you can go straight you are now home. to Blackwood if you have the right sort of hand. Advantages of Jacoby You can see from the whole deal that, Returning to the hand above, your What are the advantages of using barring the miracle defence of ♠A partner rebids 3NT, showing 15+ bal- Jacoby instead of bidding four of lead, and a spade ruff followed by an anced. You now know that you have partner’s major? underlead of a club to West for another enough points for a slam, so bid 4NT l It leaves more room to explore ruff, your contract will make.

BRIDGE April 2016 Page 15 Jacoby 2NT continued What do you call with the South cards on the hand below after partner has responded 2NT to your 1♥?

Now look at what the opponents can N make. A small slam is easy, and West W E ♣ S Canaries & Madeira can even make 7 , but is it obvious for either of them to bid? ♠ A 7 6 Winter Warmth What do you call with the South ♥ K Q 7 4 2 cards on the hand below after partner ♦ A 4 2 has responded 2NT to your 1♥? ♣ K 9

N W E Rebid 3♥, showing a better than S minimum hand without any other ♠ 3 2 convenient call to make, so, for ♥ A Q 10 9 4 example, you would be denying a ♦ K Q J 6 second suit. When partner co-operates Sails from Southampton ♣ K 4 with a cue bid you can investigate aces 7th January 2017 • 13 nights and kings, but will stop in 6♥ when Balmoral • L1701 you discover a king is missing. Bid 3♦ showing a second suit and not a • Southampton • Funchal, Madeira complete minimum. Partner now cue • Santa Cruz, La Palma • Santa Cruz, bids 3♠. Knowing that partner has a ♠ K 5 Tenerife • Las Palmas, Gran Canaria spade control, you can proceed safely ♥ A 10 5 3 • Arrecife, Lanzarote • Lisbon, ♦ Q J 10 5 Portugal • Southampton to RKCB, over which partner shows two key cards and you bid 6♥. ♣ A J 4

Daily bridge on board, bridge fees N W E included. Mr Bridge welcome & S ♠ A Q 6 5 farewell drinks parties. Partners for ♥ K J 8 5 ♠ A 7 6 single players. No single supplements ♦ ♥ on selected twin grades of cabin. A 2 K Q 7 4 2 ♣ Q 6 5 ♦ A 4 2 ♣ K 9 Great value Mr Bridge fares: N W E Inside twin cabins from £949pp S Outside twin cabins from £1,139pp ♠ 3 2 West leads the ♠3. How do you plan Balcony cabins from £1,709pp ♥ A Q 10 9 4 the play? Suites from £1,949pp ♦ K Q J 6 The contract looks pretty secure, but Twin outside cabin for £1,199pp ♣ K 4 you should be careful to guard against sole occupancy a potential bad trump break. Begin with a trump to the king. When East Balmoral West leads the ♦3. You win and draw fails to follow you can still afford to trumps in two rounds. How do you draw four rounds of trumps, taking plan the play? the marked , since your third If you can guess who holds the ♣A, spade will disappear on the fourth you will be home by leading a low round of diamonds. club from the hand to the right of that What do you call with the South defender. The defender cannot afford cards on the hand below after partner to rise with the ace since this will has responded 2NT to your 1♥? allow you to score both club honours and discard a spade from hand on the ♣ N For reservations call Mr Bridge Q, yet if they , you can discard W E dummy’s remaining two clubs on the S on 01483 489961 diamonds. You may decide to play ♠ A K 6 www.mrbridge.co.uk East for the ace since there is a chance ♥ A 9 6 3 that West would have led it, if held. ♦ J 10 9 Terms and conditions apply – see Fred. Olsen 2016/17 worldwide brochure Even if you misguess this, there is still ♣ A 9 3 the possibility of the spade finesse.

FOC311297_Mr_Bridge_Adverts_261.5x57mm_W/C_27.07.15_FV.inddPage 16 29/07/2015 3 14:42 BRIDGE April 2016 2101 Mr Bridge third page ad 161106BR _Layout 1 2

Jacoby 2NT continued N W E S ♠ K Q 10 7 3 Rebid 3NT, showing a strong no- ♥ Q J 10 REVISED ITINERARY trump, 15+ points. Partner now ♦ 6 5 4 proceeds with Roman Key Card ♣ K 6 Blackwood and settles for 6♥ after discovering that you don’t hold the Madeira, ♥Q. West leads the ♥4 to East’s ♥A. East follows with the ♥K and then plays a third heart. Canaries ♠ Q J 3 You win in hand and draw trumps ♥ K J 4 2 in three rounds. How do you plan the ♦ & Morocco A K Q 8 play? ♣ K 7 hosted by

N WILL and SYLVIA PARSONS W E ♠ A 9 4 2 S with Judy and Martin Holcombe ♥ 5 3 2 ♠ A K 6 ♦ A Q 9 8 ♥ A 9 6 3 ♣ A 7 ♦ J 10 9 N ♣ A 9 3 W E S

♠ K Q 10 7 3 West leads the ♠10. How do you plan ♥ Q J 10 the play? ♦ 6 5 4 Provided you don’t lose two trump ♣ K 6 tricks your contract is secure, therefore playing teams or you should make a . Begin by You need to avoid two diamond losers cashing the ♥K and then lead toward in your spade game, which you can Join us on a magnificent journey the ♥A-9, inserting the nine if East guarantee by means of an elimination. from Andalusian Spain to Atlantic follows low. If East fails to follow, you Cash the clubs ending in hand and islands and the unique landscapes can rise with the ace and lead towards lead a diamond, inserting the nine if of the Western Sahara Desert the jack. In this way you can guard West follows low. East may win with against any 4-1 break. the ten or jack, but is now endplayed. November 6, 2016 - 15 days from Malaga to Malaga Playing duplicate pairs, things are If West puts up the jack or ten, you • Fly to Malaga (Granada) a little more complicated. If your can counter this by playing the queen. Cruise to • Cadiz (Jerez) • Funchal contract is a normal one, you should Then if East wins the king, he is • La Palma • Arrecife • El Marsa reject the safety play since it may well endplayed. (Western Sahara Desert) • Agadir • Marrakesh (overnight hotel*) • Casablanca lead to you giving up on the overtrick If the Jacoby bidder jumps to game (Rabat) overnight onboard • Tangier that the straightforward finesse will over your second suit, that is also • Malaga • Fly home give you. showing a minimum hand. When you Great value Mr Bridge fares However, here there are so many are in a game-forcing sequence, jumps Standard Inside from £1,850pp points around that some pairs will to game are often weaker than bidding Standard Outside from £2,450pp certainly reach 6NT, and others may three of the suit. This is known as the Premium Outside from £2,650pp get to 7♥, in which case the safety play principle of fast arrival. The advantage Single supplement just 10% is the best way to go for a good score is that when you have extra values, you For reservations call since you need to hope that this is can show partner your strength whilst necessary. You may need to consider still remaining at a low enough level to the quality of the other pairs. start cue-bidding. on 01483 489961 What do you call with the South cards on the hand below (see next So, after ♠1 -2NT, column) after partner has responded 4♠ is weaker than 3♠. 2NT to your 1♠? After ♠1 -2NT-3♦, www.mrbridge.co.uk Jump to 4♠. You scarcely have an 4♠ is weaker than 3♠. opening bid at all, and with no aces After ♠1 , Terms and conditions apply – see brochure or website for details you need to warn partner off. 4♠ is weaker than 2NT. ■ * No bridge on overnight hotel stay

BRIDGE April 2016 Page 17 Catching Up with Sally Brock

t has been quite a busy time from exuberant partners got the chance to had a very strong hand with, maybe, both a bridge and a non-bridge bid their hearts, often at a high level. 4-4-2-3 distribution – and I wanted to point of view. We played in the How should you play 6♥ after a club encourage her to try a chunky four- INational Point-a-Board teams in the lead? You could take a heart finesse card major so we could perhaps play middle of January. I played with Chris and then guess diamonds, but it feels in 4♠). I guess it was a bit lucky that Dixon, and Barry played with Robert better to me to play to ruff a diamond I held the nine of diamonds, but you Sheehan. We did terribly. I had an in the dummy. When the queen of need a bit of luck from time to time. enjoyable weekend and Chris was a diamonds drops, all your problems Other than bridge I have been busy charming partner but the bridge was are over. with my parents who have decided to truly awful. We were nowhere near The weekend after that was the Lady downsize and move into a retirement qualifying for the final, and even in Milne Trials in which I played with village. I think this is an excellent idea the consolation Swiss teams we were Susanna. We were leading for quite a as my mother now needs rather more nowhere near the top. lot of the event, but in the end made care than my father can provide. So This was a freak hand from the a couple of extremely costly decisions it is a time for sorting out their new qualifying stages: which meant we finished fifth – close home and helping them decide what but not close enough. I liked the way to do with all the possessions they will we bid this hand: not have room for. An ongoing project. Dealer South. Love All. I have recently been appointed head ♠ Void of the young women’s training squad. ♥ A Q J 9 7 5 4 2 Dealer East. Love All. For a long time there have been three ♦ A 10 9 7 5 ♠ 9 squads: Under 25, Under 20 and Under ♣ Void ♥ A J 15, with a smattering of women/girls ♠ A K ♠ 10 5 3 ♦ A K J 2 in each. However, it was felt that it N ♥ K 10 3 ♥ 8 ♣ A K J 8 5 3 W E would be good to give the young ♦ Q 2 S ♦ 8 6 4 3 ♠ A 10 6 3 ♠ J 8 7 4 2 women some single-sex training. We ♣ Q J 10 8 6 5 ♣ K 9 4 3 2 ♥ K Q 3 2 N ♥ 10 8 7 6 5 have been lucky enough to have had W E ♠ Q J 9 8 7 6 4 2 ♦ Q 8 7 5 4 ♦ 6 S an extremely successful women’s team ♥ 6 ♣ Void ♣ 7 6 for a number of years, and it would ♦ K J ♠ K Q 5 be a pity if that was to end when the ♣ A 7 ♥ 9 4 current team retires. So we are going ♦ 10 9 3 to have squad meetings probably three ♣ Q 10 9 4 2 times a year, as well as some online I’m sure Chris didn’t like putting that training, newsletters, etc. If any of you North hand down as dummy, but after know any young women who might be I opened 4♠ the choice was between West North East South interested in joining us (enthusiasm is passing and bidding 6♥. On a club lead Pass Pass the most important criterion), please against 4♠, I did not want to risk any 1♦ Dbl Pass 2♣ let me know ([email protected]). as the ten of spades dropping Pass 2♦ Pass 2♠ I am still helping Briony with her doubleton was a reasonable chance. Pass 3♦ Pass 4♦ various projects. Her charity is the So I won the king of clubs and played Pass 6♣ All Pass beneficiary of the Charity Challenge the ace and queen of hearts. For some Cup this year, so we have been trying reason East ruffed in with the ten of Susanna had a difficult bid to find to persuade more clubs to enter. The spades and now I was home with no after the ♦1 opening. I think I might date this year is March 17th but that more guessing. Actually, I should have tried 3NT, not wanting to double might have passed by the time you have made an overtrick because it with so few cards in the majors. As read this. Then there is The Big Bridge was unlikely to cost to play the king it happened, the double worked well Quiz which is now available (closing and jack of diamonds, hoping that when I made the rather surprising date April 30th) with a first prize of the queen might fall. When it does, response of 2♣. In response to her £1,000. In addition to that, we are I can play a third round pitching my second cue bid, my raise to 4♦ was organising a Pro-Am type of event club loser as West has to ruff with his intended to suggest a hand that on May 6th: Some Enchanted Evening trump trick. wanted to bid game but didn’t know at the Livery Halls near London Those Norths who played with less which one (I thought she might have Bridge. ■

Page 18 BRIDGE April 2016 2101 Mr Bridge third page ad 160927BR _Layout 1 2

Sally’s Slam of the Month A Good Greece & the Grand Slam Adriatic Sea hosted by BERNARD MAGEE ossibly the most exciting thing unreasonable. and team that can happen in our game is If North is uncertain that his partner to bid and make a grand slam, will understand 5♣ as showing a void, Pespecially with a very low point-count. the auction may work better if North Andy Elliot asks for advice with this rebids 3♥. After that South, with a deal from a club duplicate. semi-solid suit, should jump to 5♦, and North can raise to the grand slam.

Dealer North. Game All. ♣♦♥♠ ♠ A K Q 10 6 ♥ A K 7 2 Just to prove that it is not necessary to ♦ A 5 4 2 take masses of rounds of bidding and ♣ Void then use Blackwood, or make a lot of ♠ J 8 4 3 ♠ 7 5 cue bids in order to bid to a good slam, ♥ Q 9 3 N ♥ J 10 4 this deal was sent in by Jim Dapre. W E ♦ ♦ 9 S 8 6 ♣ A 9 7 4 2 ♣ K Q 10 8 6 5 The classics of Greece and the ♠ 9 2 Dealer East. E/W Game. beauty of the Adriatic combine ♥ 8 6 5 ♠ 6 5 ♠ A Q 7 3 2 on this fascinating bridge cruise ♦ K Q J 10 7 3 ♥ Void N ♥ 8 4 from Athens to Venice W E ♣ J 3 ♦ A Q J 10 7 3 2 ♦ K 9 5 S ♣ A K 5 4 ♣ Q J 7 September 27, 2016 - 10 days from Athens to Venice Fly to Athens to join Aegean Odyssey West North East South Cruise to • Gythion (Sparta & Mystras) 2♣ Pass 2♦ East opened 1♠ and South overcalled • Katakolon (Olympia) • Ithaca Pass 2♠ Pass 3♦ 2♥. Jim asks what he should bid. He • Corfu • Sarande (Butrint) • Kotor Bay • Dubrovnik (overnight onboard) Pass ? saw deeply into the hand. Realising • Split • Zadar • Ravenna • Venice that if he just bid 3♦, North was likely • Fly home At this stage, Andy bid 5♣, intending to raise hearts to a high level and then Great value Mr Bridge fares it as Exclusion Blackwood, but his even if East-West did bid the slam, Standard Inside from £1,895pp partner misunderstood and just rebid North-South might , Jim Standard Outside from £2,350pp 5♦, raised to 6♦ by North. jumped straight to 6♦. Premium Outside from £2,475pp Even if 5♣ is not Exclusion ‘What do you understand by that Single supplement just 10% Blackwood (and many club players bid?’ asked North. For reservations call do not play the convention), it should ‘Sounds like a dip in the lucky show a void when it is at such a high barrel!’ replied East. level. The South hand is tremendous, However, 6♦ was passed out and on 01483 489961 facing a void, and he should certainly made in comfort while teammates jump to 6♦, after which a raise to the found the cheap 6♥ sacrifice in the grand slam by North would not be other room. ■ www.mrbridge.co.uk

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BRIDGE April 2016 Page 19 David Stevenson answers your questions on Laws and Ethics

Is Our Defence to 1NT Alertable?

My partner and which my partner knew card if playing anything You are required by I play a fairly meant either 6+ clubs, very unusual. I believe this the laws to summon Qsimple defence or clubs and another defence qualifies as very A the director and to 1NT. With 16+ points suit with shorter clubs. unusual and recommend tell the opponents in his we always double. Our She did not alert it. My you to carry a system card, presence that you have two-level overcalls deal LHO bid 3♣, asking for even if no-one else does. misinformed them by not with situations where a stopper in clubs for alerting the 2♣ bid. If asked we have fewer points, 3NT, which his partner ♣♦♥♠ you explain that it is Asptro. but seven losers or had. I promptly led You are not constrained in fewer (not vulnerable) out all my diamonds After an opening any way during the bidding, and six losers or fewer against 3NT. 3NT was 1NT (12-14) since you have remembered (vulnerable). A suit the contract at two other Qon my left, my of your own accord and you at the two-level tables, and it went off partner overcalled 2♣. can now try to retrieve the guarantees 4+ cards by two both times. I forgot it was Asptro situation as best you can. in the suit bid; it also LHO called the director, (showing 5-4 or 4-5 The same is not true promises either that who ruled that there was in hearts and another of your partner. He has the suit is in fact 6+ no need to alert the 2♣ suit) so didn’t alert it. unauthorised information cards or that the hand bid as it promised 4+ I bid 3♣ to show good because after his 2♣ bid is two-suited, with a clubs. I notice that page club support, but in you did not alert, so he distribution of at least 26 of the 2008 edition of fact meaningless in must take every care not 4-5. Every two-level Duplicate Bridge Rules our Asptro system. My to gain from this. That is overcall can be passed. Simplified also says that partner bid 3♥ and at why the director should be Therefore, we believe a non-forcing overcall that point I realised called: he will warn your our two-level overcalls where the suit may my mistake. Neither partner suitably, and if are natural. But should contain only four cards of us gave anything he feels afterwards your we be alerting them? should not be alerted. away behaviourally. partner has taken any Recently I had the Gavin Wilson by email. What should I do now? advantage he may adjust. following hand in a Tell the opponents then club bridge session This defence, and there what the ♣♦♥♠ in which no-one had sometimes called original 2♣ meant? Stay a system card: A Middlesex, is not schtum until the end of Some friends really what is meant by the auction and explain whilst abroad, a natural bid. There is a before the opening Qcame across a ♠ 6 presumption with natural lead? Or should my multi, weak, but only ♥ 9 6 5 bidding that you are bidding partner do that? Can I 4-4 in the majors. ♦ A K Q J 5 your longest suit. So you now treat the 3♥ (which Is this legal in ♣ Q 10 7 6 are required to alert your if we were playing England? They two-level overcalls. While naturally would have thought it was many pairs in clubs do not been a 3NT try) as a called Norwegian After a 1NT opening by have system cards, it is rescue and pass it? or Swedish Multi. RHO, I overcalled 2♣, normal to have a system Name and address supplied. Alex Mathers by email.

Page 20 BRIDGE April 2016 Ask David continued and then doubled. I instantly my RHO bid hearts? At club level, would be interested followed suit. I accepted many players forget their in your opinion. the situation and later system agreements, but Crombie McNeil, Faversham. LHO cashed the queen surely should suffer in It is not a Multi, and my contract was some way for doing so? but it is certainly You have read the one down. Could I have Peter Courtney, A legal. Some people correct rule, but seem asked for the jack to La Viñuela BC, Spain. call it the Norwegian 2♦, A not to have believed be played instead of but the more common it! When your partner the ace at any time? Sometimes players name is Ekrens 2♦ after the doubles a natural suit bid at Dick Symonds, Market get away with such inventor. The Ekrens 2♣ the one, two or three level, Bosworth, Leicestershire. A errors because is also legal, opening 2♣ you alert it unless it is for nothing illegal has occurred. with both majors, weak. take-out. You say that in that The Law says that West has no unauthorised situation Bernard teaches if dummy plays a information because the ♣♦♥♠ you to play penalty doubles: A card that declarer question from opponents of course he does, since this, did not name then it may reminded him and any My opponent as you put it, is the normal be corrected if attention information from opponents at the club meaning for double, but that is drawn to it before each is authorised. East has Qapologised as does not alter the fact that it side has played to the next unauthorised information his partner had failed is alertable. The alerting of trick. So you can change that something is wrong to alert his double in doubles has nothing to do the card to the jack, and because of the lack of an the following sequence: with the normal meaning. tell dummy off severely! announcement, but it does 1NT-2♦-Dbl. The 2♦ bid Why not? Well, the Dummy has been not seem to matter since was by my partner and EBU tried for years to get participating in the play West has remembered was natural. I said that people to alert doubles and suggested a play. It before East does anything. it was not alertable sensibly based on common has not mattered since your The 2♥ bid by South is since I assumed that expectations and failed RHO followed suit, but if unauthorised to East and it was for penalty and dismally. The alerting of he had discarded, then the West (but authorised to we had a friendly doubles was terrible, with director might adjust to give North) but it is not clear how discussion about it. even good players continually the defence a trick because it has affected anything. My opinion is based getting it wrong, so they of dummy participating. East bid 4♥ anyway, so on the memory that decided to go for the simplest unless East might have bid Bernard Magee teaches rule possible. The only ♣♦♥♠ 6♥ otherwise, or unless that all doubles are trouble is that, despite the it affected the play of the penalty following a rule being in place for eight Who can bid hand there does not seem no-trump bid or pre- years or so, players (including what after a to be any damage. emptive bid by our side good ones) do not believe Qsystem error? and would therefore be it, and still alert wrongly. ♣♦♥♠ the normal meaning So please remember that West North East South and not alertable with it does not matter what 1NT1 Pass 2♦ 2♥ The previous only one exception ie you expect of a double, if Pass alerting rules 1♦-Pass-1NT-Dbl which it is of a natural suit bid 112-14 Qstated that bids would be for take-out below 3NT it is alertable over 3NT did not need and be alertable. if it is not for take-out. At this point, North alerting except for Looking at various asked if 2♦ was natural, artificial opening bids. EBU books (white, blue ♣♦♥♠ West said she should The current version is and orange), I can see have announced 2♦ as that, ‘An artificial suit that unless doubles Playing in 4♠, a transfer but forgot. bid on the first round is of suit bids are for I needed to The director was called alertable (the first round take-out and doubles Qfind the queen and said that South for this purpose being of no-trump are for to make my contract, l could withdraw the 2♥ the opening bid and penalty then the led the king from hand bid which she did and three subsequent calls).’ alternative meaning followed by a small passed. West then bid In the sequence 1♥- must be alerted. It spade towards the ♠A-J 2♥ raised by East to 4♥. Pass-4♣, with the 4♣ does not as far as I can in dummy, intending to Surely E/W have what bid being Gerber, does see then continue to try the finesse. Sadly amounts to unauthorised this bid qualify as an explain what happens my partner played the information and should ‘artificial suit bid’ and after a no-trump bid ace before I could say either be not permitted to therefore is alertable? is overcalled by a suit anything and almost bid, or not permitted to John Dawe by email.

BRIDGE April 2016 Page 21 Ask David continued you can play natural three- that the initial response was The Laws have not level opening with whatever 3♣ which was not alerted. As changed and the strength you like, but you before, the opening leader A directors were wrong. must let the opponents know does not ask, but leads a Once the player has led Yes, 4♣ does this. On your system card diamond against 6♥ away to the next trick the not show clubs, you should write something, from the king because he is established, the hand is A so it is artificial perhaps a range 8 to 14, or is worried the diamonds played out and two tricks and requires an alert. a little note, ‘may be stronger will go away on dummy’s are awarded to declarer than usual.’ I think you should clubs. When his partner (only one if the defence ♣♦♥♠ alert it as well, since it will not asks, he discovers that 3♣ made no more tricks after be what opponents expect. is a mini-splinter, showing the revoke trick). Perhaps Playing a weak a shortage, so there is no your directors should get no-trump (12- ♣♦♥♠ reason for a dangerous in the habit of reading Q14), can one diamond lead. May he rulings from the Law book. bid 1NT with a flat When the change it? Yes, the failure to Dummy is not allowed hand and 16 points? bidding has alert is misinformation, which to point out a revoke R Bloodworth by email. Qended, can the has come to light because of until the end of the hand, player on lead ask a partner’s question, and the but may speak then. Yes, you can. If question before he plays director will allow a change. you decide on any his face-down card? If ♣♦♥♠ A particular hand to he plays a face-down ♣♦♥♠ deviate somewhat from your lead and his partner Recently after system, and your partner asks a question, can Twice within playing the last does not know, that is fine. he change his lead as the last week Qbut one round If you do it regularly then it a result of the answer Qa revoke has of the evening, it was becomes part of your system, given to his partner? occurred. A defender discovered that the cards and you should alter your Graham Lavender by email. ruffed a trick and had been misboarded by announcement accordingly. immediately played the previous table. They Yes, he may ask a a card of the suit that had been rotated by 90 ♣♦♥♠ question, in fact this she had just ruffed. degrees so that West A is the normal time Each time, the directors played South’s cards, etc. Can you please for the defender on lead (two different clubs, The director corrected inform me if it is to ask a question. Every different directors of the board for the final Qlegal to pre-empt player except dummy may good standing) gave round to be played. as an opening bid with always ask a question a ruling to withdraw When the corrected 13 points in your hand? whenever it is his turn to call the newly played card, results were displayed, Connie Pearce by email. or play. The only time that withdraw the trump it appeared that the he may change the lead is from the previous trick, director had adjusted The simple if the answer to a question let declarer have that our score so that answer is yes, with makes it clear he has been trick, which she would E/W who played the A reservations. If you misinformed, and only if the have won without the hand were given normally have a normal director allows the change. revoke and to continue the N/S position and eight points or so, and on Perhaps two examples as if there had been scored accordingly one occasion you look at will make this clear. After no revoke (apart for that round. 13 points, perhaps with a an alerted response of 4♣ from the fact that the For future reference, singleton king or something, to a 1♥ opening, a player is trump became a major what should happen and decide to open 3♥, then on lead to 6♥. He assumes penalty card). Have when hands are that is fine. In fact expert without asking that the 4♣ the Laws changed on not returned to the advice is to vary your pre- is a splinter showing a this? Looking at the correct position? empts third-in-hand, so in shortage so decides to lead 2007 Laws, the revoke Sally John by email. that position, a pre-empt a trump. His partner asks is established in these may easily have 13 points. about 4♣ and is told it is circumstances. In one It was certainly a However, suppose you Gerber: now he realises a instance, it was dummy completely illegal and your partner decide trump is wrong and a club who noticed it but wasn’t A decision. When you that whenever you have is better. May he change sure if he was allowed played the board the cards a seven-card suit you will it? No, he has not been to draw attention to were in a different position open 3♥, even with 13 or 14 misinformed, it is his own it. None of the other with a different dealer and it points, what then? Well, it fault he did not ask. players noticed it. is not possible to compare is still perfectly legal, since Let me change it slightly, so Jake Henry by email. the score on the

Page 22 BRIDGE April 2016 Ask David continued There is the suspicion that some players can thereby intimidate DEFENCE opponents, who may board with anyone else. be inexperienced or The board should have been are playing with a QUIZ cancelled, both you and new partner or a new your opponents should get system etc, by calling by Julian Pottage average plus (usually 60%) the director. In my (Answers on page 24) since presumably you could opinion, this tarnishes not tell it was wrong so it bridge, puts players off ou are East in the defensive positions below playing was not your fault, and both duplicate and undoes the Ymatchpoint pairs with both sides vulnerable. Both sides pairs at the previous table good work some clubs are using Acol with a 12-14 1NT and 2♣ Stayman. should be penalised, and have of emphasising lectured on leaving the board ethical behaviour, in the middle of the table, courtesy, etiquette and 1. ♠ 6 4 3. ♠ 10 8 7 2 since that is the only likely politeness etc. Do you ♥ K J 7 6 4 ♥ J reason for this happening. think that my opponent ♦ K J 7 ♦ A J 3 was correct in calling for ♣ Q 8 2 ♣ 9 6 4 3 2 ♣♦♥♠ the director, not having ♠ J 10 7 2 ♠ Q ♥ ♥ to lead, having zero N 10 9 3 2 N K 10 6 3 My partner bid points and a flat hand? W E ♦ 8 4 W E ♦ K 9 4 4NT, Blackwood. Leslie Phillips by email. S ♣ A J 5 S ♣ A J 8 7 5 QI bid 5♦ to show one ace. My partner then Of course, a lot bid 5NT, which I passed depends on the West North East South West North East South as we play progressive A director doing the 1♦ 1♠ ie 5♥ would have asked correct thing. I emphasise Dbl 1♥ 1♠ 2♦ Pass 2♠ Dbl Pass for kings. An opponent calling a director when 2♠ 3♦ All Pass 3♥ 3♠ All Pass requested information something has gone Partner leads the ♣10. Partner leads the ♣10. and then called for the wrong. In this case, there What is your plan? What is your plan? director. The experienced is no evidence whatever director listened, said that anything has gone play on and come to me wrong, and as a director I if anyone is unhappy. would have warned your It was a Sim Pairs and opponent for time-wasting pressure was on time and possible intimidation. 2. ♠ Q 10 4 4. ♠ K J and we were late for the The hand he holds is ♥ 4 ♥ 10 9 8 2 next table. My partner irrelevant: the question is ♦ A Q 8 7 3 2 ♦ A J 8 2 made 10 tricks, 16 pairs whether there is any ♣ K Q 8 ♣ Q 6 2 made either 11,12 or 13 potential irregularity, but I ♠ 7 2 ♠ A 5 4 2 tricks. Looking at the can think of none. However, N ♥ 10 6 3 N ♥ A J 7 hands later, it transpired it is important that players W E ♦ K 10 4 W E ♦ 7 that the opponent who do not feel calling the S ♣ A 9 7 5 2 S ♣ A 8 7 5 3 called the director had director causes any problem: a flat hand with zero players should accept it points and got a top as part of the game, no West North East South West North East South score of 34 points. He is more surprising than when 1♠ 1♣ 1♠ known to have a habit a football referee blows Pass 2♦ Pass 2♥ 2♣ Dbl 3♣ 3♠ of calling the director, his whistle and indicates a Pass 4♠ All Pass Pass 4♠ Dbl All Pass which generally sends corner-kick. No rules have a frisson to players, necessarily been broken, Partner leads the ♣10. Partner leads the ♣10. puts pressure on and even if they have, What is your plan? What is your plan? opponents especially that is not a hanging with time constraints. offence! ■

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BRIDGE April 2016 Page 23 Answers to Julian Pottage’s Defence Quiz on page 23

West North East South For sure, you want to take the ♣A and 1. ♠ 6 4 1♠ give partner a club ruff. After that, you ♥ K J 7 6 4 Pass 2♦ Pass 2♥ are in no rush for a diamond switch. ♦ K J 7 Pass 4♠ All Pass The ♦K should not run away. You would ♣ Q 8 2 rather like to get in with the ♥K to play a ♠ A Q 9 5 ♠ J 10 7 2 Partner leads the ♣10. What is your plan? third round of clubs. With the singleton N ♥ A Q 5 ♥ 10 9 3 2 Since you can see the ♣9, you know heart in dummy, you need to get partner W E ♦ 9 5 S ♦ 8 4 that the lead is from a shortage. Do you to underlead the ♥A. You should give a ♣ 10 9 7 6 ♣ A J 5 think it is a singleton or doubleton? Some- suit-preference signal with the club you ♠ K 8 3 times the mere fact that partner chooses return. You lead the highest club you can ♥ 8 to lead the suit will incline you to think it afford, the ♣8, to ask for the higher red ♦ A Q 10 6 3 2 is a singleton. Here the only unbid suit is suit. Let us hope partner trusts you. ♣ K 4 3 clubs, so you cannot apply that inference. Indeed, as South has shown at least five spades and at least four hearts in the bid- West North East South ding, the chance it is a singleton is slim. 4. ♠ K J 1♦ The way to give partner a club ruff ♥ 10 9 8 2 Dbl 1♥ 1♠ 2♦ is duck the first trick, playing the ♣7 or ♦ A J 8 2 2♠ 3♦ All Pass even the ♣9 to encourage. Your partner ♣ Q 6 2 will soon gain the lead, either with the ♥A ♠ 8 ♠ A 5 4 2 Partner leads the ♣10. What is your plan? or the ♠K, and be able to continue clubs. ♥ 6 5 4 N ♥ A J 7 You cannot be sure whether the lead Taking the first club would fail because ♦ Q 10 6 5 4 W E ♦ 7 S is from an interior sequence or a ten- you never get in again. ♣ K 10 9 4 ♣ A 8 7 5 3 high suit. In any case, by saving the ♣A ♠ Q 10 9 7 6 3 to capture the ♣Q, you minimise your ♥ K Q 3 opponent’s tricks in the suit. When the ♦ K 9 3 ♣10 loses to the ♣K, you know the club 3. ♠ 10 8 7 2 ♣ J position. ♥ J The second club lead will come from ♦ A J 3 partner and you finesse the ♣J. You ♣ 9 6 4 3 2 West North East South can then switch to the ♠J (probably best ♠ J 9 5 ♠ Q 1♣ 1♠ to do so before taking the ♣A, in case ♥ A 8 7 5 2 N ♥ K 10 6 3 2♣ Dbl 3♣ 3♠ declarer started with a doubleton club). ♦ 10 8 5 2 W E ♦ K 9 4 Pass 4♠ Dbl All Pass S You anticipate that partner has a tenace ♣ 10 ♣ A J 8 7 5 in spades to explain the initial lead. ♠ A K 6 4 3 Partner leads the ♣10. What is your plan? ♥ Q 9 4 Expecting partner not to have raised ♦ Q 7 6 you with three clubs to the ten, you read ♣ K Q the lead as from an interior sequence. 2. ♠ Q 10 4 You must put up the ♣A to stop the ♥ 4 singleton ♣J from scoring. Should you ♦ A Q 8 7 3 2 West North East South switch to your singleton diamond? ♣ K Q 8 1♠ If partner gains the lead, you will score ♠ K 6 5 ♠ 7 2 Pass 2♠ Dbl Pass 200 and a top (or near top) even without ♥ A 9 7 5 2 N ♥ 10 6 3 3♥ 3♠ All Pass a ruff. With your four trumps, you do bet- W E ♦ ♦ J 9 5 S K 10 4 ter to play a forcing game. If you keep ♣ 10 6 ♣ A 9 7 5 2 Partner leads the ♣10. What is your plan? playing clubs each time you get in with an ♠ A J 9 8 3 Again, you can see the ♣9 and so ace, you should end up with a long trump ♥ K Q J 8 know that the lead is from a shortage. after declarer keeps ruffing. You just need ♦ 6 This time, since partner would not lead to consider one more point. You want to ♣ J 4 3 the ♣10 from K-10, Q-10 or K-Q-10, you ensure that declarer has to ruff in hand, know it is a singleton. so you should the ♠A. ■

Page 24 BRIDGE April 2016 Beginners’ Bridge Corner More Tips from Bernard Magee Sorry Partner! When you are very weak try to think of your partner

Stop, Think, Plan ou are sitting in not so long in. I would the West seat choose between hearts and by Liz Dale Ywith this hand: diamonds and generally if I am in doubt between he theatre trip panics and immediately an unbid major or minor, had been a great plays out her five winners. ♠ 7 2 I tend to go for the major.

success. Ibsen’s ‘A Now what? The game is ♥ 10 6 2 N Which heart should T W E Doll’s House’. The acting played amazingly quickly ♦ 7 6 3 S you lead? was superb. Awesome in with West going down ♣ 10 8 5 4 2 You probably go to the fact for a local company. two. ‘Sorry partner.’ text book and look up the Some of the group hadn’t lead, but better is to think wanted to go because they The Moral You are not expecting to about your ambitions. This thought it might be a little After counting the five have to do much and get is your one and only chance depressing. Mary was just top tricks West must stop, ready for a little nap, whilst to be on lead, so surely it is glad of the opportunity think and plan where the other three players play best to lead a higher card to belong to such an the extra four tricks will out the hand. It is when you to try and force dummy’s outgoing and vivacious come from whilst she hold such hands that your play. Lead the ♥10. group. There was always has stoppers in the other place in your partnership something going on. She suits. The stoppers are the can be secured. You should loved being part of the ♠A-K-Q and the ♥A-K. The be thinking: what can I ♠ A K 10 3 group. This was all new stoppers can allow West to do for my partner. Is there ♥ K 9 3 to her. When Peter was set up and establish four any way I can make his life ♦ A 9 8 alive they really had been winners. Whilst no-one easier? Clearly, he is going ♣ A J 6 very insular. They hadn’t encourages slow play, to have to do most of the ♠ 7 2 ♠ Q 9 6 5 4 needed or wanted anyone declarer is allowed to take work during the auction ♥ 10 6 2 N ♥ A Q J 4 W E else. But now, she was the time to plan the play. and the play. You are likely ♦ 7 6 3 S ♦ K 4 really grateful for the new Study both the diamond to end up defending, so ♣ 10 8 5 4 2 ♣ Q 7 friendships being made. and club suits. Can you see perhaps you can make ♠ J 8 a pattern? Don’t leave these a difference by choosing ♥ 8 7 5 West North East South suits until you recognise the best lead for the ♦ Q J 10 5 2 1NT1 Pass 2♣2 Pass how easy it is to set up partnership. Note, the best ♣ K 9 3 2♦3 Pass 3NT All Pass two tricks in each of the lead for the partnership, 112-14 minors. Yes, once the ace not for just your hand. 2 Stayman 3No 4-card major is knocked out by the king Since I set this, the lead in both suits, declarer can West North East South works like a charm allowing set up the queen and jack 1♠ Pass 1NT your side to take the first ♠ A 5 ♠ K Q 4 as two winners in each suit. Pass 3NT All Pass four hearts. Your partner

♥ K 6 3 N ♥ A 7 4 2 As soon as West wins a trick also makes the ♦K. Notice ♦ Q 8 6 2 W E ♦ K J 5 S in either hand she must You hear the auction and that a low heart would have ♣ K J 4 3 ♣ Q 6 5 set about knocking out the need to make your lead. been ducked in dummy ace in one of the minors, Your aim is to either find and left our partner on establishing two extra tricks. your partner’s suit or at lead allowing declarer West is in 3NT. The ♠J, When declarer gets in least lead through some home. Any other lead top of sequence, is led by again, she must knock out of dummy’s strength. gives declarer plenty of North. West counts her the second minor suit ace, Your partner is going to time to establish nine tricks top tricks. Three spades, establishing the third and be on lead a lot of times since East will be the only A-K-Q, two hearts, the fourth extra tricks necessary if you are going to have defender to get the lead. A-K. Total five. Four tricks to make the contract. Only a chance of defeating Most declarers will be short. Oh dear! West then can West play out her the contract. Rather than making 3NT, but it is feeling the pressure, remaining stopper winners choosing your longest was the player with no forgetting everything that in the other suits. Nine suit, choose a suit that has points at all that had the Alasdair has said. She tricks and contract made. not been bid, but you are opportunity to defeat it.

BRIDGE April 2016 Page 25 Globe Trotter Part Two

Not playing the game in accordance with the rules. Despicable.

he summer of 2015 will be re- more about the above-mentioned that the very strict rules concerning membered for the dramatic episodes, or look back at Ned Paul’s the shaking and throwing of dice, revelations that top interna- article in BRIDGE 155, page 16. combined with the lipped design of Ttional players were alleged to be con- Newsweek (23 Sept 2015) the cups used, means that it is very veying information to their partner http://tinyurl.com/gp9hxlt difficult to cheat. He added that para- with the pre-planned and deliberate The Telegraph (29 March 2014) noid players insist on the use of a ‘dice goal of achieving better results. http://tinyurl.com/nf8gpv6 Some of you will remember that back in March 2014, we learned of ♣♦♥♠ the famous ‘German Doctors’ case, and how a seemingly unlikely pair Setting aside the sweeping allegations were found to be communicating via about dodgy practices in the Olympics, coughs and gestures. The media loved football, athletics and tennis arenas, drawing parallels with ‘Who Wants I thought it would be interesting to To Be A Millionaire?’ and the use of a know what recent scandals some other cough or two. games have had.

Backgammon Millionaire Hugely popular because of the story update internet, and very accessible. It is easy to get up and running, and only two Former army officer Charles players are needed. Photo: Jürgen Vogel. Ingram published a book in But what about cheating? Is it easy? LVR - LandesMuseum Bonn January 2015 to back up his claim In face-to-face backgammon the of innocence. On TV in 2001 he shady player might try to use loaded tower’, which was used by Romans had won the jackpot, but a court dice, influence the roll of the dice, or when they played backgammon. The in 2003 ruled that his win was move pieces whilst the opponent is not internal ridges and steps serve to ran- invalid. Rory Sutherland wrote looking. Playing online, it is possible domise dice rolls. about this subject in his column in to use a computer program to help you Refer to Wikipedia for more: The Spectator, in February 2015. with the moves. Because the game has Vettweiss-Froitzheim Dice Tower. http://tinyurl.com/jxxfj5r simple rules, and relies on facts known to both players, at all times (ie unlike Scrabble bridge, where we have to suppose a ‘Last week, there was a dustup over a Such is the law regarding libel, that distribution or holding in a suit, based teen caught cheating at the National your author is taking great care not to on bidding or play), the programs can Scrabble Championship. The news repeat conjecture, or step out of line come up with mathematically expert was everywhere. Like a nun smoking in any way. The internet is another plays in fractions of a second. a Marlboro, the clash of branded matter altogether, and policed by So can online backgammon cheating rectitude with fiendish perfidy struck different authorities, or possibly by be combatted? Interestingly the a scintillating chord.’ David Bukszpan, no authorities. I am reliably informed online sites utilise move-comparison Huffington Post, August 2012. that libel is actionable online too – software to try and identify situations How? He had hidden blank tiles and the same legal authorities would where a player is playing in a style that up his sleeves. This plan was perhaps be involved – though there are clearly is too similar to a program. taking simplicity too far. There are issues around how it is enforced and Michael Crane, British Isles Back- only two blank tiles in the game of who enforces it. So do take a moment gammon Association (BIBA) Founder Scrabble. Yes, he had an advance tile to look at the links if you want to know and Tournament Director, tells me ‘up his sleeve ahead of time, ready to

Page 26 BRIDGE April 2016 2101 Mr Bridge third page ad 160511BR_Layout 1 2

Globe Trotter continued order to counter the risk of being challenged (remember that there are regional official variations, and of course, when played at home, ‘house be used’, but what on earth would he rules’), players quickly replenish their do if his opponent drew two blanks rack to up the of the game. The subsequently? And how about the bridge equivalent would be that if you Greece possibility that he himself would know you have revoked, you claim draw the two genuine ones? How quickly and score up, and play the next will he dispose of (or swap) the now- board. & the burdensome spare? Yes, strange as it may seem, in There is no bridge equivalent to bridge you don’t need to own up to Adriatic Sea this caper. In most games you cannot your own revoke. Of course, you are expect to get away with producing an required to follow suit when you can, hosted by extra ace of trumps, because one of the and a deliberate attempt to not do so is SHEILA ROGERS other players will usually notice that very wrong. and GWEN BEATTIE he also holds this card. You will, of course, have heard of Chess poker players having cards up their Dubai, 17th annual Dubai Open Chess sleeves. They are considerably less Tournament, April 2015. The media likely to be detected in private games. widely reported the case of Georgian Returning to Scrabble, you are Grandmaster Gaioz Nigalidze, a 25- allowed to play a word that isn’t really year old, who allegedly made frequent a word. Bukszpan explains that in trips to the toilet, and took the opportunity to use his smartphone which had a chess program. The most comical Just as in Backgammon, the accusation? advances in the power of computing means that such a concealed aid can The 1978 World be hugely beneficial. Chess Championship The upshot was that he was Enjoy 8 included sightseeing tours expelled from the tournament, and and daily duplicates on this The match of 1978 FIDE ruled in December 2015 that fascinating bridge cruise from deserves its he was to be banned for three years. classical Greece to Venice reputation as the His grandmaster title has been most bizarre World revoked. The judgment includes ‘… Championship match May 11, 2016 - 10 days his international master (IM) title, from Athens to Venice ever played. Karpov’s obtained already in 2009, was left Fly to Athens to join Aegean Odyssey team included a Dr. intact in recognition of his remorseful • Cruise to Gythion (Sparta & Mystras) Zukhar (a well known and cooperative conduct in the • Katakolon (Olympia) • Ithaca hypnotist), while Korchnoi adopted • Corfu • Sarande (Butrint) • Kotor Bay investigation.’ • Dubrovnik (overnight onboard) two local renegades ... There was Nigalidze was not the only person • Split • Zadar • Ravenna • Venice more controversy off the board, to have acted like this, nor was he the • Fly home with histrionics ranging from only person to be caught. But he is Great value Mr Bridge fares X-raying of chairs, protests about amongst the most accomplished and Standard Inside from £1,795pp the flags used on the board, the infamous. Standard Outside from £2,250pp inevitable hypnotism complaints Premium Outside from £2,395pp and the mirror glasses used by ♣♦♥♠ Single supplement just 10% Korchnoi. When Karpov’s team For reservations call sent him a blueberry yogurt during So looking ahead, it will be interesting a game without any request for to see how many of the bridge players one by Karpov, the Korchnoi team accused of wrongdoings in 2015 will on 01483 489961 protested, claiming it could be be able to clear themselves in court, some kind of code. They later said or in the much more punishing this was intended as a parody of court of public opinion (tougher, earlier protests, but it was taken lower standards of proof, prone www.mrbridge.co.uk seriously at the time. to speculation and sometimes ill- Source: Wikipedia founded deductions). Watch this Terms and conditions apply – see brochure or website for details space. ■

BRIDGE April 2016 Page 27 Conventions Part 16 with Jeremy Dhondy

Trick One

hen players meet and You decide to lead the ♦A and dummy discuss their agreements, goes down with: ♠ A Q 7 5 they tend to spend a lot ♥ Q 6 4 2 Wof time on the bidding and very little ♦ 7 on defending. This article covers ♠ K 9 5 4 2 ♣ Q 6 4 2 agreements at trick one. You need ♥ A K 7 N ♦ Q 6 3 agreements as to what to lead and how W E to signal. ♣ 4 3 S

N Honour leads W E Whilst your decision as to what to S Of course, on this hand, count in lead is often based on what you have diamonds is unlikely to be very useful heard in the auction, when you have so what might you do instead? A lot decided on the suit to lead you need What do you play at trick two? This of players would give suit preference an agreement with your partner as to is, of course, a ridiculous question here so that a high diamond suggests which card you will lead. If you lead as it depends on what partner plays. a heart switch and a low diamond the queen in a suit then partner is What would you like him to play? If suggests a club switch. likely to expect the jack and not the you lead an ace against either a slam or Here is another example whereby king if you have standard agreements. a pre-empt, then what you most want you have to make a sensible choice. If you lead low he is likely to expect partner to do is to tell you whether he You lead the ♥K from ♥K-Q-8-3 fourth highest in the absence of any likes it. You usually won’t have A-K in against 4♠ and the dummy has: other agreement. If he is a thinking a suit. I’m sure the opponents will have defender, he will use this information bid badly to reach 6♠ missing two aces during the hand along with other or the cashing ♦A-K, but the prime ♥ A 7 6 evidence that piles up. responsibility is to punish them if they

Let’s start at the top. What are your have. If partner plays a high card then N agreements leading from a suit headed continue with diamonds. If he plays a ♥ K Q 8 3 W E by honours? It is normal to agree to low card then try another suit (a club S lead the top honour from a sequence, on this hand). If you did have an A-K so queen from Q-J and jack from J-10 against a slam, you would lead the king and 10 from Q-10-9. With suits headed and expect partner to give you count Declarer ducks the king and you are by the A-K, some players will lead the so you know whether declarer really still on lead. Your agreement with ace and others the king. Some will lead might have two immediate losers. partner is he shows you count on the ace if they would like an attitude To make life more complicated, the the lead of the king so what do you signal and the king if they would like signal partner gives depends not only do? Declarer has probably ducked a count signal. Imagine the opponents on your lead but also what he can see. specifically to make you guess at have bid quickly and uninformatively If you lead the king, you are expecting trick two what is best. If you have an to 6♠ and you hold: a count signal but suppose your lead is agreement with partner that you will the ♦K from ♦A-K-9-6-3 and the dum- give attitude for the jack (signalling my, in a contract of 4♠, comes down high with the jack and low without) ♠ 7 6 5 with the hand in the next column. then you will not continue and give ♥ 4 3 2 N What do you play at trick two? The declarer a cheap trick. ♦ A 9 6 5 W E answer, of course, is that it depends. It’s beginning to sound as if there are ♣ Q 7 3 S You have agreed that if you lead the more exceptions than rules. The vast king, partner gives count. majority of the time, you will give the

Page 28 BRIDGE April 2016 Trick One continued included either ♠8-3-2 or ♠K-8-3. ♠ A J 5 4 What would you lead? Well, MUD from the first and low from an honour on the second. The problem is, as you N signal you have agreed on, but you do ♠ 8 7 6 3 W E ♠ K 10 2 can no doubt see, that partner will have need a little flexibility if you are to get S to guess. One solution is if you have as many situations right as you can. supported, then partner will expect If you find counting hands ♠ Q 9 three or more cards in the suit, so you exhausting, then play more attitude lead the ♠8 from ♠8-3-2 and a low and less count. card from the holding with an honour. If you lead the 3 (fourth highest), Partner would never have expected Against no-trumps partner would expect an honour and you to support on ♠8-x, so there is You are quite likely to lead an honour insert the 10. In a suit contract, your little danger of misleading him. against a suit contract, especially with winner would just have evaporated. If you have some agreements with a sequence, but against no-trumps With the lead of the 7, partner knows partner as to what you will lead and where the main aim is to develop a to rise with the king. Mind you, he still how you will signal, you can avoid suit so that you have winners with doesn’t know if you have three or four some common misunderstandings. As low cards later in the play, a standard and your second card should tell him you become more advanced, you will agreement is to lead fourth highest this. With three cards, you play the top be able to count the hand much better from length. Most players do this, but card next (MUD or Middle up down). and therefore improve your side’s I wonder how many know why or what With four or more small cards, you defence. ■ to do with the information. play the original fourth highest next, If you hold ♠ J-8-6-5-2, why do you so that if you play the 7 then the 3 in lead the ♠5 and not the ♠2? The reason this situation, partner knows you have Summary for this agreement is so that partner four (or, more unusually, two). With l Agree not only what you will can best work out what you have. A two low cards you lead the higher. lead, but also what signal you simple example is: This is standard although beware if want partner to give at trick you ever go to Poland as standard is one. low from, say, 9-3. l If you win trick one and you Dummy have led a suit where there is ♠ 10 9 6 How about the 10? a singleton in dummy, consider Is the 10 an honour? Players like agreeing with your partner Partner N You arguing about this and it may affect that his card is suit preference. ♠ 4 W E ♠ K J 5 what you lead. If the 10 is an honour S l Make an agreement as to then you lead the 2 from 10-8-4-2. If what signal you will give at it isn’t, you lead the 8. On most hands trick one (perhaps attitude on it will not make a difference but you the ace and count on the lead If you deduct partner’s card from 11 should agree with your partner. If you of other honours), but be you are left with 7. Dummy holds 3 disagree with him then your clinching aware that there are a few cards higher than the four as do you. arguments (depending on what you sensible exceptions (the singleton in dummy and the That leaves only one for declarer (11- prefer) are that partner will expect avoidance of giving a cheap 4-3-3=1). If you are counting points, more than the 10 if you lead a low card trick to the jack are two). you now know that at least two or that the lead of the 8 will destroy a and possibly four, but not more, of useful holding at trick one. You pays l If your partner leads fourth highest against no-trumps, declarer’s points are in spades. As the your money . . . Whatever you agree, then use the to hand goes on you will be able to add you can rule out some holdings which establish what is going on more evidence to help you. may aid your defence. in the suit. Sometimes, of course, your side Leading from only will have taken part in the auction. If l Lead second best from three small cards or more small cards to help partner has bid a suit, then you need partner know whether you When partner led a low spade, you also a good reason for leading something have an honour or not. knew that he had an honour because else unless your specific wish is to another standard agreement is that annoy him (having a void in his suit l Agree with partner whether the 10 is an honour or not. if you have only low cards in a suit, is an acceptable reason). What do you you lead the second best with three lead? The usual answer is that you l Consider leading top from or more, so from 8-7-6-3 or 8-7-3, you lead whatever you would have led in three small if you have lead the 7. If you lead this against a the suit if he had not bid. Suppose he supported your partner in the auction. suit contract it can help partner in a had made an overcall of 1♠ and you situation such as: had raised him to 2♠ and your hand

BRIDGE April 2016 Page 29 Julian Pottage answers your bridge questions

How Should we Have Bid to the Correct Game Contract?

I was North so an opening bid of 2♣ North probably passes 3♣. trumps in the other hand. playing by South was possible. Even with the perfect Consider these two hands: Qmatchpoint pairs Ray Burnett by email. holding in diamonds, three with a regular partner. small facing the ace, 5♣ 1. Vulnerable still needs a favourable Hand 1 Hand 2 against not with an heart position. I do not ♠ K J 5 2 ♠ A Q 10 7 ♠ Q 8 6 A eight-loser hand, think you should worry too ♥ K Q 10 8 2 ♥ A J 4 ♥ K J 3 2 West’s take-out double is much about missing a thin ♦ A 5 3 ♦ 9 6 2 ♦ 4 3 2 aggressive. East’s cautious 1♠ game at matchpoints. ♣ 5 ♣ A 9 2 ♣ K 5 4 (with a 7-loser hand) suggests With 14 HCP, a strong ♠ J 5 2 ♠ 10 9 7 4 3 a familiarity with West’s style. opening by South would ♥ A Q 9 8 ♥ 10 6 N 2. I do not know why North be unwise, despite the Playing in hearts, the 5-3 ♦ K Q J W E ♦ A 10 9 8 7 6 would redouble. An awful eight clear-cut tricks. fit, you cannot make even S ♣ 6 3 2 ♣ Void nine points – 4333 shape a small slam. You have two ♠ A K and appalling intermediates ♣♦♥♠ diamonds to lose. By contrast, ♥ 7 5 4 – is not enough. Moreover, if you play in the 4-4 spade ♦ 5 redoubling suggests a desire Why, when you fit you stand an excellent ♣ A Q J 10 9 8 7 to penalise the opponents. have a 5-3 fit chance of being able to ruff 3. After North’s redouble, Qplus a 4-4 fit in two clubs in the West hand an immediate action from the majors, is it better to make all thirteen tricks. West North East South South, even a jump, suggests to play in the 4-4 fit? Consider also these 1♣ minimal values (though the Bill Hogan, St Helens. two hands: Dbl Rdbl 1♠ 3♣ jump does indicate a long Pass 3NT All Pass club suit). South should pass There are two main (forcing). North would then reasons why a 4-4 Hand 3 Hand 4 On my rebid, I thought reopen with 1NT and South A fit usually plays ♠ K J 5 2 ♠ A Q 10 7 that 3NT would be a would then jump to 3♣. better than a 5-3 fit: ♥ K Q 10 8 2 ♥ A J 4 better punt than 5♣. It 4. Having overbid 1. Playing in a 4-4 fit, a ♦ Q 5 3 ♦ J 10 2 seemed that spades were with the initial redouble, ruff in either hand generates ♣ 5 ♣ J 9 2 the danger suit; East North should pass 3♣. an extra trump winner; led diamonds and the Now suppose the auction in a 5-3 fit, only a ruff opponents took the first starts 1♣-Pass-1♥. South in the short trump hand If the defenders start with six tricks. As it happens, has a tricky rebid. In terms generates an extra trick. two rounds of clubs, a 4-1 5♣ is the only makeable of playing strength, 3♣ is a 2. In a 5-3 fit, if trumps heart break is likely to defeat game. Four pairs out of slight underbid. It also makes break 4-1, you lose control 4♥. Declarer cannot make ten in the room bid 5♣; it hard to find a 5-3 heart fit. if you have to ruff twice with ten tricks without setting up all others stopped in a However, with only 14 HCP the 5-card holding; in a a diamond trick and will be part score. Where did we and long clubs, nothing else 4-4 fit, ruffing twice in the subject to a further club force go wrong? We play Benji, but 3♣ really appeals either. same hand still leaves four when the defenders

Page 30 BRIDGE April 2016 Ask Julian continued If the king falls on your left, hands facing each other. Yes a hand with you then lead twice up to You seem to have missed two voids certainly the queen-nine. If the ten the game because one of A is unusual. or eight falls on your left, you was using losers and The chance of picking get in with their diamonds. you finesse the seven. the other point count. up these hand types with Conversely, in 4♠, having 2. If you decide that With your hand I probably two voids is as follows: to ruff a club in the West West is most likely to hold would raise 1♠ to 3♠. hand does not inconvenience three spades, you start low Apart from the doubleton 7-6-0-0 .0056% declarer in the slightest rather than with the ace. jack, which might be waste 8-5-0-0 .0031% even if spades are 4-1. 3. When East then plays paper, everything else about 9-4-0-0 .0010% As you have asked about the eight on the first round, your hand looks good. 10-3-0-0 .00015% the majors, I have given this raises an interesting You have nice trumps and you examples involving possibility. You can play East fast winners outside. These total roughly .00985%, the majors. At slam level, for 10-8 or J-8 rather than With your partner’s hand, in other words a fraction you generally want to play K-8 (and some defenders while I would not bid 4♠ over less frequently than one in whatever suit gives you would play the king from 2♠, I would make a game hand in every 10,000. (I the best chance of making K-8). You cover with the try of 3♣. This middle action have ignored the shapes the contract, whether nine (a play known as seems reasonably clear. more extreme than these it is a major or not. an intra-finesse) and run With a seven-loser hand and because they are so rare.) the queen next time. five good trumps, passing ♣♦♥♠ 2♠ is excessively cautious. ♣♦♥♠ ♣♦♥♠ With only 9 HCP, a jump You are playing to 4♠ is overly ambitious. I was sitting in 4♠ and North, playing Qneed to bring I was North, ♣♦♥♠ Qmatchpoint in the following dealer, playing pairs with only our trump combination Qmatchpoint pairs: In a teams side vulnerable. for only one loser. match, my Qpartner finished ♠ K J 10 2 in 6♥. Cue-bidding had ♠ K ♠ A 6 4 3 ♥ A K 5 4 established we were ♥ Q J 7 3 ♦ J 6 missing first-round ♦ K 8 4 N W E ♣ A 8 6 control of clubs, so it ♣ A Q J 6 4 S

N came as no surprise N W E ♠ Q 9 7 5 that West led the ace of W E S clubs. What did surprise S ♠ A Q 9 8 7 us was that East showed ♠ A Q 1. With no other ♥ 8 7 out, thus seemingly ♥ 2 information, what is the ♦ 9 5 strangling the contract ♦ A Q J 9 7 2 best way to play the suit? ♣ K 5 4 2 at birth. Naturally, ♣ K 9 7 2 2. You decide that West followed with a West is most likely to low club and we waited hold three spades; does I opened 1♥. My for the inevitable ruff West North East South this change your play? partner responded from her partner. To 3♠ Dbl 3. If you lead low 1♠ and I raised to 2♠ our amazement East Pass 4♣ Pass 5♣ from the North hand, with my seven-loser discarded, being void in All Pass East plays the eight. hand, despite having both clubs and hearts! Simon Gottschalk, 16 points. He passed None of us at the table I made 13 tricks, Pendoylan, Mid Glamorgan. and we missed game. could ever recall being although on a heart Should I have gone 3♠ dealt a hand with two lead I would be held to Suitplay is a great or should my partner voids and apart from 12 tricks. My partner piece of software have bid game? saying the odds must told me that my 4♣ was A for analysing Martin Epstein by email. be astronomic we were wrong while I thought she suit combinations. unable to be more should have overcalled http://home.planet. If both of you used specific. Could you 3NT. Incidentally, East nl/~narcis45/SuitPlay/ the losing trick enlighten us please? had opened 3♠ with 1. Without any clues A count, you would The contract, by the ♠J-x-x-x-x-x and a bust. about the layout, it seems reach game because you way, went on to make. Flora Simons, normal to start with the ace. have a pair of seven-loser Eddie Blount, Loughborough. Onchan, Isle of Man.

BRIDGE April 2016 Page 31 Ask Julian continued We find that we have a pretty good idea as to whether we are looking DECLARER at a game, slam or Opposing pre-empts possibly a part-score PLAY do make your life as the final contract. A difficult. This is why It seems to us to be they are made. One of my very useful but nobody QUIZ teammates opened 3♥ with else appears to use a jack-high six-card it or recommend it. by David Huggett suit in the Camrose, so What do you see as the (Answers on page 34) this does happen. pros (if any) and cons? Your partner was partly John Ruddock, Kibworth, ou are South as declarer playing teams or rubber bridge. right. It is usual when Harcourt, Leicestershire. YIn each case, what is your play strategy? someone comes in over a pre-empt to assume 8 points Although the opposite. With your 16, you particular method must bid game, 4♥ or 5♣. you describe is 1. ♠ A 7 5 3. ♠ Q 6 4 2 A ♥ ♥ Having underbid with 4♣, you indeed unusual, other J 6 4 A Q 7 should have raised 5♣ to 6♣. people do or at least have ♦ 9 7 ♦ J 9 7 5 3 Yes, with a double spade played something similar. ♣ K Q 7 3 2 ♣ 2 stopper and an inability The CAB system that was to cope with a 4♥ reply to popular some 50-60 years N N W E W E a double, partner should ago used ace-showing S S have bid 3NT. With limited responses to a 2♣ opening. options over 3♠, a 3NT The system, ♠ 6 4 ♠ A J 9 7 5 3 overcall does not promise a as used by the multiple ♥ A 5 3 2 ♥ K 10 2 balanced hand. 4♦ would World Champion Italian ♦ A K 6 ♦ 2 be my second choice. , used control- ♣ A 10 9 8 ♣ A K Q Doubling with a singleton in showing responses to a an unbid major is very risky. strong 1♣ opening. ♠ Over 3NT, 4♣ from you You are quite right that You are declarer in 3NT You are declarer in 6 and ♠ ♦ ♦ would be a slam try – one the consensus view now and West leads the K. West leads the A, K. does not rescue a game is to show shape first and How do you plan the play? How do you plan the play? contract to a part score. strength later. Showing the Your partner has a great shape first certainly helps hand in support of clubs on a competitive auction. and would either bid 6♣ If opener has two suits to directly or make some sort show, it helps if responder 2. ♠ 9 5 4 2 4. ♠ K J 6 4 of cue bid. Either way you initially keeps the bidding as ♥ A 6 ♥ J 7 3 should reach the slam. low as possible. Often what ♦ K J 5 4 ♦ A J 2 matters is not how strong ♣ 8 4 3 ♣ A J 2 ♣♦♥♠ responder is but whether the values are in the right place. N N ♣ W E W E Over a 2 opener Given your preference for S S (23 plus or 8 plus showing strength first, the tricks) my various ranges you have chosen look ♠ A 6 3 ♠ A Q 10 8 7 Q ♥ ♥ partners and I play sensible. The 0-3 response K Q J 7 9 2 responses as follows: tells the partnership that a ♦ A 6 3 ♦ K 6 3 slam is very unlikely and even ♣ K J 5 ♣ K 10 7 2♦ 0-3 points a game may not be possible. 2♥ 4-6 points The 10+ response puts the ♠ 2♠ 7-9 points partnership straight in the You are declarer in 3NT You are declarer in 4 and ♣ ♥ 2NT 10+ points slam zone. ■ and West leads the 6 West leads the K followed with East playing the ♣10. by the ♥4. East wins the How do you plan the play? ♥A and returns the ♥6. How do you plan the play? E-mail your questions (including your postal address) for Julian to: [email protected]

Page 32 BRIDGE April 2016 Teacher’s Corner – Teaching Tips from Ian Dalziel Bidding Tents

lot of the teaching of nents are silent) and write paper so that my students to bid if they bid them both bidding involves the their bidding on a special could print their own tents ways. Each set has a teach- uncontested auc- pad (see later). When bid- for home use. The A5 sheet ing theme so students Ation. After the spoken les- ding is over, they open the shown is folded first along sometimes choose to ran- son, students usually prac- tent and the two hands are the red line and then along domise them so that they tise what they have been shown inside with the rec- the green line to make the don’t know what’s coming taught with prepared hands. ommended bidding and tent. This gives the same up next. The problem is that only explanation. They check rigidity as card. Note that However, my version of one side is bidding and the their bidding and, if they the dealer’s hand needs to Acol will be slightly differ- other side is bored waiting are wrong, they can see be upside down. One set of ent from yours; the differ- their turn to bid on the next why. There are 20 tents in twenty tents can be made ences will be small but no- hand; if it’s a long slam auc- a set stacked on top of each from printing ten pages of ticeable. Hence, if you like tion the other side might fall other. When they finish one A4. the tents idea, you should asleep! Then the hands are tent they put it at the bot- Each pair has a set of make up your own. I used played out which can take tom of the stack and bid the 20 tents. Of course, this MS Publisher. You can also more time than the bidding. tent now on top; the dealer method does need twice the do them in Word if your Hence it will take 10 to 15 alternates. number of tables needed for version can turn text boxes minutes per board, includ- working in fours. Even if a upside down. ing the questions and dis- pair does all 20 tents they If you would like a free cussion at the end. can do them again by swap- PDF and/or Publisher copy Even if eight boards are ping hands; ie the dealer on of my set on basic no-trump played at the class, each pair odd numbered hands be- slam bidding and the master will only be bidding four comes dealer on the even sheet to make answer pads, hands. If the lesson is about numbers and vice versa. email [email protected] responding bids, each player You can, therefore, bid 40 If you have Publisher, you will only ‘respond’ twice in hands with one set of tents. can delete my hands and the session. The best way for Tents enable you to prac- use it as a template for your the student to learn is lots of The HCP are shown on tise bidding any time, any- own hands. If not, you can practice, so this is not a very the outside and inside of where; all you need is a make your own template in efficient use of the time. the tent. This saves time and partner – some even take Word using my PDF copy as prevents errors in count- the tents on holiday. I have a guide – quite a lot of work, ing points. The teacher 17 different sets of tents so but well worth it in the long is on hand to help, but is my students have 680 hands run. ■ rarely needed – they teach themselves. The discussion is incredibly helpful; the students love it as no-one is inactive or bored. 30-45 minutes is long enough, after that they have a tea My solution is to have break which is followed by them working in pairs us- random hands (see my pre- ing bidding tents. A bidding vious column). tent consists of a folded card Initially, I produced these with a hand on either side tents on card which needed as shown (just like a tent). two runs through the print- The players bid the hand to er to print both sides. How- conclusion (assuming oppo- ever, I changed the design to

BRIDGE April 2016 Page 33 Mr Bridge Answers to David Huggett’s 2016 Play Quiz on page 32 Tutorial Eleven that East has at least ers and West shows out, you Weekends 1. ♠ A 7 5 two clubs and that West pre- must get back to dummy for a ♥ J 6 4 sumably has the missing big finesse against the ten. In case ♦ 9 7 ones and this leads to the of a bad heart break, it was ♣ K Q 7 3 2 conclusion that it would be probably right to have entered ♠ K Q J 9 2 ♠ 10 8 3 bad news to let East in. How- dummy the first time with a ♥ K 9 N ♥ Q 10 8 7 ever, with only eight tricks im- club ruff rather than a heart W E ♦ J 8 5 4 2 S ♦ Q 10 3 mediately available, you are and the second time you can ♣ 4 ♣ J 6 5 searching for the ninth and choose between either suit. Denham Grove ♠ 6 4 this might easily come from Trying to enter dummy twice Near Uxbridge, UB9 5DG ♥ A 5 3 2 diamonds, given a little luck. It with hearts would not have 1-3 July £215 ♦ A K 6 would be a mistake to finesse worked. ♣ Further Into the Auction A 10 9 8 against the queen, however, in case East holds that card. Will Parsons A safer play would be to cash 4. ♠ K J 6 4 You are declarer in 3NT and the king followed by the ace ♥ J 7 3 West leads the ♠K. How do before leading towards the ♦ A J 2 you plan the play? jack. You will find your ninth ♣ A J 2 If you think you have nine trick if West holds the queen ♠ 9 5 2 ♠ 3 easy tricks think again, for or East has the doubleton (or ♥ K Q 10 4 ♥ A 8 6 5 N even if clubs break 3-1 the suit singleton) queen when you will ♦ 10 9 7 W E ♦ Q 8 5 4 S is blocked if the jack is in the have stopped East gaining the ♣ 9 8 5 ♣ Q 6 4 3 Inn on the Prom three-card holding. lead. ♠ A Q 10 8 7 St Annes on Sea FY8 1LU Just duck the spade lead ♥ 9 2 15-17 July £199 and the continuation. Then ♦ K 6 3 Signals and Discards win the ♠A and throw a club 3. ♠ Q 6 4 2 ♣ K 10 7 from hand. Now the suit is ♥ A Q 7 Gwen Beattie unblocked. If West switches to ♦ J 9 7 5 3 another suit at trick two you ♣ 2 You are declarer in 4♠ and still have the spade ace as an ♠ Void ♠ K 10 8 West leads the ♥K followed by entry to dummy. ♥ J 9 8 6 5 4 N ♥ 3 the ♥4. East wins the ♥A and W E ♦ A K 6 S ♦ Q 10 8 4 returns the ♥6. How do you ♣ 10 8 7 5 ♣ J 9 6 4 3 plan the play? 2. ♠ 9 5 4 2 ♠ A J 9 7 5 3 You have a potential loser in ♥ A 6 ♥ K 10 2 both the minors and the con- Wyndham Garden ♦ K J 5 4 ♦ 2 tract might seem, superficially, ♣ 8 4 3 ♣ A K Q to rely on some luck in not los- Grantham ♠ K 7 ♠ Q J 10 8 ing to both minor suit queens. Marston, Lincs NG32 2HT N ♥ 3 2 W E ♥ 10 9 8 5 4 In fact, as long as trumps are S 21-23 October £199 ♦ 10 9 7 2 ♦ Q 8 You are declarer in 6♠ and not 4-0, the contract is as- Stayman and Transfers ♣ A Q 9 6 2 ♣ 10 7 West leads the ♦A, ♦K. How sured. Ruff the third heart high tba ♠ A 6 3 do you plan the play? – why not? – and draw trumps. ♥ K Q J 7 Clearly the slam depends Now, simply play three round Full Board ♦ A 6 3 on not losing a trump and of diamonds from the top. No Single ♣ K J 5 the odds dictate taking the fi- Whoever wins the queen will nesse rather than hoping for be forced to either open up Supplement* a singleton king offside. You the club suit or give you a ruff You are declarer in 3NT and have to be careful that East and discard. The ♦J in dummy ( 01483 489961 West leads the ♣6 with East does not hold all three miss- is a distraction, inviting you to www.mrbridge.co.uk playing the ♣10. How do you ing trumps, so the best line is take a finesse. Without it the

*subject to availability plan the play? to enter dummy and lead the endplay looks more obvious You know from the Rule of queen of trumps. If East cov- somehow. ■

Page 34 BRIDGE April 2016 David Stevenson answers your Frequently Asked Questions Unauthorised Information n theory, it may seem obvious that bid because of the hesitation, but you please be ethical: if you have only one you are only allowed to use partner’s are not allowed to use the hesitation obvious call then make it, but if you calls and plays in deciding what to and you must pass. have a choice please always choose the Ido, but, in practice, players find it quite That is an example of the basic rule: one least suggested by the UI. hard not to use other information when you have UI from partner you What other forms of UI are there? from partner and many players do so, must not just take no advantage, you We looked at Unauthorised Panic in quite illegally, often without realising must go further and make every effort a recent article (BRIDGE 148) where they are doing something wrong. Let possible to take no advantage. If you partner describes your agreements as us look at a simple example. Your are going to play a legal and ethical he believes them to be, you thought LHO opens 1NT, partner bids 2♣, game (and the game is much more differently and your hand is not opposition ask, and you say, ‘Both satisfactory if played ethically), you what he says! This situation and the majors.’ Partner looks shocked, and really must bend over backwards to hesitation showing doubt are the two blurts out, ‘Didn’t we agree to play that make sure you do not gain in any way commonest situations, but partners 2♣ shows the minors?’ You have five from UI from partner. do other things, like sigh deeply, spades and 11 points: what do you bid Is this easy to do? Not necessarily. I glare across the table, say, ‘Oh my after RHO doubles? If partner had just have a highly ethical partner, but she goodness!’ after some action of yours, sat there quietly, no doubt you would sometimes gets confused about what is smile happily when you make a call or have bid 3♠, so now you must bid 3♠, required in UI situations. Let me give play, frown and various other things. even if it turns out to be a disaster. you a real example: I bid 1♣, she bid These all give an impression of what Why? Because you are not allowed to 1♠, I rebid 2♣ and she decided to try he is thinking and so what he has in use what partner says, and if you do for game by showing her diamonds, his hand or what he intends to do, so not, then you have an obvious 3♠ bid. bidding 2♦. Unfortunately we had they are all UI and subject to the same Generally, in most clubs, rulings agreed to play the Bourke Relay, so 2♦ laws. Be as ethical as possible, try to about unauthorised information (I was artificial and game forcing, which take no advantage, and tell partner shall refer to it as UI for the rest of she had forgotten. I alerted it, the later to behave. On occasion, you will this article) are very rare, many clubs opponents asked, and now she had UI. be ruled against: so long as you have having about one or two a year. Is this Now I bid 2NT: what should she have done your best to take no advantage because there is not much UI being done? The answer is that she should then your actions are ethical even if a used? No, I am afraid not, use of UI is think what she would have done if director or appeals committee decides rife in clubs, but opponents very rarely she had not seen my alert or heard my that you have misjudged and done the call the director, and some directors explanation. Of course, she might have wrong thing. would not really know what to do if had a choice: in that case she should Suppose you feel your opponents they were called. Let us look at it from have made sure that she chose the one might have UI and you are worried the point of view of the player, and in not suggested in any way by the UI. they will or have taken advantage, a later article from the director’s side. In the case I have told you I think she either deliberately or accidentally, All sorts of information comes to should have passed 2NT since she was what should you do? Well, first thing you from partner during the course minimum, but she bid 3♣, trying to be is to establish the UI occurred. If you of a session of bridge. Probably the ethical, and I bid 3NT. It went one off, felt a player has hesitated, then his most common and best known is the so opponents were not damaged. partner bid, which might be affected hesitation that shows doubt: if LHO Note the problems of choice: there by the hesitation, it is reasonable to opens 1NT, and partner thinks for might be three choices you would say, ‘Do you agree you thought before some time then passes, then you know consider, and then to be ethical you calling?’ to the hesitator. If he agrees, he has a problem: what should you do? must choose the one that is least then you can say you are, ‘Reserving Well, if you have a clear and obvious suggested by the UI. Some players say your Rights,’ (to call the director at bid, pass or double, then you make that they always make the call they the end of the hand), but if he does it and do not worry. But if you have a would have made anyway. This is not agree you have to call the director borderline choice, perhaps whether to often illegal and sometimes unethical: immediately to sort out the difference make a doubtful bid or to pass, what players often consider various choices of opinion. Either way, you call (or has partner’s hesitation told you? You before a call and they cannot be recall) the director at the end of the know that he has points. If he only certain when there is UI what call they hand if you are unhappy about the had two points he would have passed would have made without it. Strangely, partner’s call. Do not accuse anyone cheerfully, without hesitating. If you players who say this always choose of anything, just tell the director what have a doubtful bid now, it is safer to the one most favourable for them. So happened and let him sort it out. ■

BRIDGE April 2016 Page 35 Improve Your Defence with Andrew Kambites Cover an Honour with an Honour

he saying: ‘Cover an honour had the spade intermediates (♠10 and with an honour’ must be seen Layout C ♠9) in his hand. He is trying to smoke as part of the same principle ♦ A 6 5 out the ♠Q. Provided East plays low Tas ‘Second Hand plays low’. This is smoothly, declarer is quite likely to N demonstrated in Layouts A to D. ♦ K 3 2 W E ♦ 10 9 8 7 overtake with the ♠K and finesse the S other way, losing to your doubleton ♦ Q J 4 ♠Q. Layout A Don’t cover a jack or ten with a queen ♠ A J 6 if declarer might have a two way finesse.

N From West’s perspective, Layout D ♠ K 10 9 W E ♠ 8 7 5 4 S looks the same as Layout C. He covers South’s honour, but that achieves Layout F ♠ Q 3 2 nothing because it is South rather than ♥ J 4 3 2 ♣ East who has the 10. Still, covering N ♥ Q W E ♥ K 7 6 5 doesn’t lose anything either because S In Layout A, if South leads the ♠2, declarer could never be prevented West must not play the ♠K. If South from taking three club tricks. ♥ A 10 9 8 leads the ♠Q West must cover with the ♠K, which promotes a spade trick for his ♠10 on the third round. Layout D In Layout F, South opens 1♥ and Provided West is careful to use his ♣ A 6 5 becomes declarer in a heart contract. ♠ ♠ ♥ K to neutralise South’s Q, declarer N He leads the J from dummy. Before ♣ K 3 2 W E ♣ 9 8 7 4 can never make more than two spade S covering, East must remind himself tricks. of the purpose of covering an honour, In Layout A, West can see his ♠10 ♣ Q J 10 namely to promote a lesser card into a being promoted. Layout B is a little winner either in his own hand or his less obvious for West because the card partner’s hand. With such poor hearts, being promoted is in his partner’s So it seems that covering an honour is East has no prospect of promoting hand. However he should follow the good bridge. Not always! We now need winners in his own hand. Also, since same path as in A. to consider the exceptions. South must have at least four hearts for his 1♥ opening, West cannot have more than one heart. Covering the ♥J Layout B Layout E with the ♥K cannot possibly promote ♥ A J 6 ♠ A J 3 2 winners in West’s hand, and if West ♥ ♥ N N has the singleton Q or A, East will ♥ K 3 2 W E ♥ 10 9 8 7 ♠ 7 6 4 W E ♠ Q 5 S S have egg on his face! Only cover an honour if you can ♥ Q 5 4 ♠ K 10 9 8 see a realistic chance of promoting an intermediate card for your side. Even if partner turns out to have a In Layout C, again, as long as West In Layout E, South leads the ♠J from small singleton, you are making it too uses his ♦K to cover either the ♦Q or dummy. East must not cover. Declarer easy for declarer by covering the ♥J ♦J he promotes a trick for his partner. would not be leading the ♠J unless he with the ♥K. Look at Layout G.

Page 36 BRIDGE April 2016 Active & Passive Defence continued ♣J, and even if East has it, then the In Example M, West starts with defenders make a club trick on the the ♦K-Q-J. Declarer wins dummy’s third round of clubs rather than the ♦A on the third round, following suit second round. from his own hand, and calls for the ♠10. Should you cover with your ♠J? Layout G ♥ J 4 3 2 Layout K ♠ N Q J 4 Example M ♥ 8 W E ♥ K 7 6 5 ♠ 10 6 2 S N ♠ 10 7 3 W E ♠ K 6 5 ♥ 6 5 3 S ♥ A Q 10 9 ♦ A 6 2 ♠ A 9 8 2 ♣ J 6 5 4 ♠ J 5 4 3 If East covers the ♥J with the ♥K, N ♥ Q 8 7 2 declarer can easily play off the Layout K is very instructive. Declarer W E ♦ 7 4 3 S remaining three heart winners. If the leads the ♠Q from dummy. ♣ A 9 ♥J wins, declarer will continue by If East covers with the ♠K declarer finessing the♥ 10. Now, he must waste can win the ♠A and run the ♠9, an entry to dummy to take another finessing against West’s ♠10. He has South North heart finesse. Maybe having to use up no spade loser. 2NT1 3NT his entries to dummy will leave him On the other hand, suppose East All Pass unable to take a successful finesse allows dummy’s ♠Q to hold. Declarer 120-22 points in another suit, or maybe he will be is powerless. If he continues with the unable to reach dummy’s winners ♠J, East covers with the ♠K, promoting You should be very wary of covering later in the play. West’s ♠10. If he continues with the a ten with a jack when declarer might ♠4, East plays low and declarer must have a choice between taking a finesse play the ♠A to prevent West’s ♠10 and playing for the drop. Declarer Layout H from winning. Thus East’s ♠K wins has no intention of taking the finesse, ♦ Q J 6 5 the third round of spades. especially as it would clearly be into the

N Layouts H, J and K also illustrate hand that has the thirteenth diamond. ♦ 8 4 W E ♦ K 7 3 2 ♠ S another theme. It is rarely right to If you cover the 10, declarer has cover the first of touching honours. an easy nine tricks. If you cherish ♦ A 10 9 Playing in a club of variable your ♠J, declarer overtakes the ♠10 standard, just occasionally you will get with the ♠A and subsequently tries caught by Layout L. unsuccessfully to drop the missing ♠J. In Layout H, declarer leads the ♦Q South has: from dummy. If East covers with the ♦K, declarer will win the ♦A, cash the Layout L ♦10-9, enter dummy in another suit ♣ A 6 5 ♠ A K Q 9 ♦ ♥ and cash the J, making four diamond N A K 4 ♦ ♣ K 8 3 2 W E ♣ J 10 9 ♦ 9 8 5 tricks. If East keeps his K, the fact S that East has more diamonds than ♣ K Q 3 South means that declarer can never ♣ Q 7 4 make more than three diamond tricks. If you wanted to cover, just ask yourself A novice declarer leads the ♣Q, what you intended to promote in Layout J sometimes called a fairy finesse partner’s hand. Declarer’s 2NT showed ♣ A 10 9 because it should never gain. (Correct at least 20 points. Dummy has 5, you ♣ N play is to lead the 5 from dummy have 7 and partner has already shown ♣ K 7 3 2 W E ♣ ♦ S towards the Q, hoping East has the up with the K-Q-J. Partner has 0-2 ♣K.) An alert West will assume South points left. Declarer would hardly play ♣ Q led has the ♣J and bearing in mind that he this way unless he had the ♠A-K-Q. has greater club length than dummy, Does he have the ♠9? Ask yourself he decides not to cover with the ♣K, what you would do with a spade Layout J is the same as Layout H with thus allowing the ♣Q to win. I am holding of ♠A-K-Q-8 opposite ♠10-6- the cards rotated by 180 degrees. South afraid it is an occupational hazard 2. The obvious play is to cash spades leads the ♣Q. West has greater length in defending well that sometimes a from the top, making 4 spade tricks than dummy so it would be unwise to novice does something absurd and if spades were 3-3 or one defender cover. South is very likely to have the comes out smelling of roses. started with the ♠J doubleton. ■

BRIDGE April 2016 Page 37 Robin Hood’s Bridge Adventures by David Bird Robin Hood’s Awful Hand

he annual individual tourna- Robin Hood gritted his teeth when points?’ he exclaimed. ‘If you are, I ment was into its last round. Meg leapt to the six-level. Did she don’t believe you.’ Robin Hood looked down at realise that his 1♠ response had ‘Don’t believe me then,’ persisted Tthe mixed results on his scorecard. promised nothing? Could she not take Friar Tuck. ‘If they were too high, we’d Why did everyone overbid so much the auction more slowly? get a top whether you doubled or not.’ when they partnered him? He need- Little John doubled the slam and led ‘The highest card in my hand was an ed aces and kings to make tricks, not the ♣A. ‘I may have overbid a bit, but eight,’ said Robin Hood. queens and jacks, and a partner look- you play the cards so well,’ said Meg. ‘Yes, but you play the hands so ing confidently towards him. If truth I wonder where I’ve heard that beautifully,’ declared Meg Jenkyns. be told, he would not be much above before, thought Robin Hood. A ‘Players like you don’t need high cards.’ average on this occasion. dummy resembling an overflowing The players changed seats, leaving For the last three boards he was treasure chest appeared before him. By Robin Hood in partnership with Friar joined by Friar Tuck, Little John and the Saints, the excellent Meg actually Tuck. Meg Jenkyns, barmaid at the Drunken had her bid! Partridge for as long as anyone could Robin Hood ruffed the club lead remember. Hoping that he might at in dummy and drew one round of Dealer East. E/W Game. least have an interesting contract to trumps with the ace. Since he might ♠ J 2 play, Robin Hood sorted through his need to ruff three times in his hand, ♥ 7 6 5 3 next hand. It contained no card higher he abandoned the trump suit for a ♦ 7 6 4 than an eight! moment and played dummy’s two top ♣ A K 6 4 hearts followed by a low heart. ♠ A 8 7 6 4 ♠ Void Friar Tuck, who held a natural ♥ K Q J N ♥ A 10 9 8 4 2 W E Dealer West. Game All. ♠ ♦ J 8 ♦ 10 9 5 3 trump trick with his J-10, discarded S ♠ A K 9 6 4 a club. It could hardly gain to ruff ♣ J 8 2 ♣ Q 10 7 ♥ A K 6 4 2 with a trump winner. For all he knew, ♠ K Q 10 9 5 3 ♦ A K 8 Little John was about to win this trick ♥ Void ♣ Void with the ♥Q. Hood ruffed in his hand, ♦ A K Q 2 ♠ Q ♠ J 10 5 returned to dummy with the ♦A and ♣ 9 5 3 ♥ Q J 9 5 N ♥ 10 8 ruffed another heart, establishing the W E ♦ Q J 2 ♦ 10 9 7 4 3 S thirteenth card in the suit. A diamond ♣ A K Q J 2 ♣ 10 9 5 to the king permitted a diamond ruff West North East South ♠ 8 7 3 2 in his hand. He returned to dummy Friar Meg Robin Little ♥ 7 3 with a second club ruff. Tuck Jenkyns Hood John ♦ 6 5 Dummy now held three trumps and 2♥ 4♠ ♣ 8 7 6 4 3 a good heart. Friar Tuck eventually Dbl All Pass claimed his trump trick but the slam was made. Friar Tuck doubled the spade game West North East South ‘Why did you double, John?’ and led the ♥K. ‘You lucky er... rascal!’ Little Meg Friar Robin protested Friar Tuck. ‘You didn’t make he exclaimed when the comely Meg John Jenkyns Tuck Hood a single trick.’ laid down the ♣A-K in the dummy. 1♣ Dbl Pass 1♠ Little John’s eyes bulged. ‘Are you ‘Could be worse, it’s true,’ replied 2♣ 6♠ Pass Pass sitting there telling me you wouldn’t Little John. Dbl All Pass double a slam when you held 18 Robin Hood maintained a

Page 38 BRIDGE April 2016 Robin Hood continued great board on her scorecard. What hand too. ‘Double!’ he said. an excellent round it had been so far. Friar Tuck ruffed the club lead Perhaps she could make it three good and cashed the ♠A, not in the least boards in a row. surprised when West discarded a club. cheerful disposition but he could guess that dummy’s ♠J might be a useful card too. Had Friar Tuck not learnt a lesson on penalty doubles from the previous board? Little John discarded a club on the first trick and ruffed the heart continuation. A club to the king was followed by a second heart ruff in the South hand. A club to the ace and a diamond to the king and ace left these cards still to be played:

♠ J 2 ♥ 7 ♦ 7 ♣ 6 4 ♠ A 8 7 6 4 ♠ — ♥ — N ♥ 10 9 4 W E ♦ — ♦ 10 9 S ♣ J ♣ Q ♠ K Q 10 9 ♥ — ♦ Q 2 ♣ — What could be done now? Dealer South. N/S Game. Friar Tuck aimed to score as many of ♠ 8 5 his low trumps as possible. He finessed Little John considered his next play ♥ A Q 10 6 the ♥Q successfully and ruffed a club carefully. If he led the ♦Q, Friar Tuck ♦ A 6 4 in his hand. After playing the king and might ruff and continue with ace and ♣ J 9 8 5 ace of diamonds, he ruffed a third club. another trump. Declarer would then ♠ Void ♠ Q J 10 9 7 A heart to the ace allowed yet another have to concede a diamond trick for ♥ K 9 3 2 N ♥ J 4 club ruff and the trump king was W E ♦ Q 10 9 2 ♦ J 5 one down. What would happen if he S then his tenth trick. Robin Hood was led the ♦2 instead at this stage? ♣ A K Q 4 3 ♣ 10 7 6 2 left staring at three side-suit winners, It seemed that he would make the ♠ A K 6 4 3 2 while Little John still held his ♠Q-J-10. contract whether West’s last plain-suit ♥ 8 7 5 ‘I was lucky to find the entries to card was a diamond or a club. ♦ K 8 7 3 take so many club ruffs,’ observed Robin Hood won the ♦2 with the ♦9 ♣ Void Friar Tuck. ‘Any lead but a club, Robin, and had no trump to play. Little John and I can’t make it.’ ruffed the heart return with the nine, ‘You see!’ cried Little John. ‘Nothing West overruffing with the ♠A and West North East South wrong with my double. You gave it to returning a trump. Little John won in Robin Meg Little Friar them with your stupid opening lead.’ his hand and ruffed the ♦Q with the Hood Jenkyns John Tuck ‘Let’s not fight about it,’ replied ♠J. The contract had been made. 1♠ Robin Hood. ‘Many players before ‘Don’t say it if you know what’s Dbl Rdbl 2♣ 2♠ me have made the mistake of leading good for you!’ proclaimed Friar Tuck, Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ from an ace-king-queen combination.’ glaring across the table. Pass Pass Dbl All Pass ‘Just look at the scores I’ve collected ‘Say what?’ asked Robin Hood. on this round!’ exclaimed Meg Jen- ‘That I shouldn’t have doubled,’ When Friar Tuck edged upwards into kyns. ‘Plus 1660, plus 590 and plus 790.’ the Friar continued. ‘With five good 4♠, Little John thumbed through his ‘You played excellently, Meg,’ said trumps I’m doubling – so is any man cards. If ever anyone had a sound Robin Hood, rising to his feet and with red blood in his veins. I’m not penalty double it was surely now. He giving her a brief hug. ‘You’ve more going to wait until I hold six trumps.’ held three certain trump tricks in his chance of winning the big prize than Meg Jenkyns entered a second hand and partner had shown a good I have. That’s for sure!’ ■

BRIDGE April 2016 Page 39 Accelerated Bridge Teaching

From Learner to Player in Three Months or Fewer by Ned Paul

English Bridge Education & Development (EBED), the charity arm of the EBU, is proposing a new learning channel for bridge, involving a much swifter transition from learner to player. As an interested outsider with a 10-year plus background in teaching in this style, I feel qualified to comment.

How Things Were unleashed a substantial improvement has worked almost exclusively to this in bidding systems and a proliferation model. This is good – up to a point! Bridge boomed in the 1960s and 1970s. of conventions. This extended the Those who have learnt this way tend At that time, many young players came apparently needed body of knowledge to be those who have benefited most into bridge, by and large untutored – to become an entry level bridge player. from extended classes. The classroom but that did not seem to matter. Those system plays to the strengths of those who wanted to improve did so by The Classroom Approach who like to learn and stick to ‘rules’ reading, by peer group conversation, to Bridge Fundamentals for their bridge. Playing this way, with but above all by playing. Most clubs a system largely learnt by rote, has were cut-in rubber bridge clubs and The 1970s was also a period of well- its plus points. It is far better to play if you joined a club you learnt as you funded adult education. Courses like this than to be a maverick or flair played. In cut-in bridge you played were available not only in academic, player who can be almost impossible with anybody and everybody in professional or vocational subjects to partner. However, it is a fact but rotation, so systems were on the whole but in leisure time activities as well. those who stick to ‘rules’ and cannot very simple and, within any one club, Bridge with its burgeoning popularity see a little further, tend to have a lower very convergent. System discussion and its apparent complexity lent ceiling to their ultimate bridge ability. more or less started and ended with an itself well to this format of teaching. The classroom route therefore tends agreement to play strong or weak no- Local authorities recruited bridge to produce players who settle at middle trump and possibly a defence to pre- teachers who quickly became used to low club level, happy to stick to club emptive bidding. to teaching bridge within academic and social bridge. Those unattracted This period also co-incided with year timetables. Bridge always offers by, bored by or unsuited to the the rise of duplicate bridge. Duplicate something new – there is always more extended class route, often get lost to bridge offers a more rigorous and system to practice, new conventions bridge completely. One of the results competitive form of club bridge which to learn, and instructional deals to has been fewer players coming through proved attractive to the younger play. Bridge teachers had no difficulty to the higher echelons of bridge. The players. Rubber bridge clubs had been filling their classes or their timetables. extended classroom system is also adversely affected by the small print of During this period, many bridge poorly adapted to younger learners. the Betting & Gaming Act 1960. The clubs changed in character and be- Those younger people who are getting , founded as a came duplicate only. While sessions into bridge have by and large ‘beaten successor body to the Duplicate Bridge were offered at different levels, novices the system’ by learning at school, Control Board, distanced itself from were not generally welcome in weekly college, or from friends or family, rubber bridge and began to promote duplicates, but were directed towards not at clubs. There is a significant itself as the National Governing Body continuing formal classes as a way of group of younger players who play for duplicate bridge and duplicate gaining their first years of experience. at county or national congresses at a bridge only. Funding for adult education eventu- good standard. A common theme is Many of today’s higher level players ally became more difficult but larger that these players quickly show a good date their involvement with bridge bridge clubs took over the role of local understanding of card play technique, from that time. They were nearly all authority classes. and also understand how bidding self-taught. It is rare to find players systems work, rather than learning from that era who actually had formal The Outcome For Clubs a single system by rote. This enables lessons in contrast to learning on the them to discuss and espouse different job. As duplicate bridge spread, it Over the last twenty years or so, bridge bidding systems and acquire

Page 40 BRIDGE April 2016 Accelerated Bridge Teaching Fast Track Bridge Gerber live on because it is simple to learn and its disadvantages are subtle. The projected ABT timetable suggests The text book for an ABT programme about three months of initial lessons. could well be entitled ‘Understanding their own taste in bidding. How many What would I try and teach in Bridge’ and would have many of the young players at national level are this time and what system would I elements of an updated version of the playing basic Standard English? I concentrate on? The first thing to teach S J Simon classic . would suggest none. is an understanding of how bidding systems work. A is an Lesson Specifics – Accelerated attempt to communicate your hand to What To Teach Bridge Teaching partner and to combine to best effect you and your partner’s resources. England is Acol-land so I would If a programme of Fast Track or It’s a team thing not a solo effort. definitely use an Acol 4-card major Accelerated Bridge Teaching could be The questions you should be asking base. I would also start with a weak successfully introduced, it would give constantly are ‘What have I shown my no-trump. This is an incredibly easy bridge a chance to attract and retain a partner?’ ‘What has my partner shown system to learn the basics of and is larger pool of both younger and higher me?’ And ‘How do these two hands effective at beginner level. The weak potential ceiling players. Running combine and where are we going?’ no-trump is especially effective at alongside the traditional model, fast A bidding system involves choices duplicate pairs. The system can also track learning would give potential to cover all the available hand patterns provide a good base to start varying players a choice of learning channels, and these choices can be simpler or into other ‘natural’ systems. It is quite and most players would self-select the more complex, better or worse. Bad easy for weak no-trump players to option best suited to their interest, choices tend to be ‘Darwin-ed’ out of transition into a strong no-trump, needs, ability and available time. existence: eg who plays 3NT for take but practice shows it is quite hard The number of players who might out of a pre-empt these days, or who for strong no-trump players to really benefit from Accelerated Bridge plays Swiss responses to one-of-a- understand the weak no-trump. The Teaching (ABT) is likely to be major openings? But conventions like same with 5-card majors: you can’t smaller than those who are suited to traditional extended teaching. This is one reason why the traditional model The Effectiveness of Transfers has persisted. It suits clubs to have settled classes with viable numbers; itself shows a 5-card suit and when it suits them organisationally and it Dealer North. E/W Vul. partner ‘completes’ the transfer, suits their cash flow. However, it is of ♠ A 10 8 the responder gets the opportunity dubious benefit to the real long-term ♥ Q 7 4 to further describe their hand by future of bridge, if the brighter people, ♦ A 6 5 2 passing, inviting or forcing to game. the potential movers and shakers of ♣ K 9 5 With game values and 5-4 in the bridge in the future, get overlooked or ♠ 7 5 2 ♠ K 6 majors South starts by bidding 2♥, turned off by the only learning system ♥ J 6 2 N ♥ 10 5 3 showing five spades. When North W E ♦ Q 7 4 3 ♦ 10 9 8 on offer. S completes the transfer, South then What specifically do we mean by ♣ A J 6 ♣ Q 10 8 7 4 bids 3♥ showing four hearts as Accelerated Bridge Teaching? A fast ♠ Q J 9 4 3 well. This new suit after a transfer track programme should concentrate ♥ A K 9 8 is forcing. The bidding should then on teaching the basic mechanics of ♦ K J advance to 4♠. bridge in as short a time as possible and ♣ 3 2 Using traditional, non-transfer then add a simple but modern bidding methods South can use Stayman and system. After this, learners should be ignore the fifth spade, or invite game encouraged to play and play and of West North East South in spades and ignore the 4-card course there are plenty of resources 1NT Pass 2♥ heart suit. Yes, there are agreements out there, both printed and online, for Pass 2♠ Pass 3♥ you can make to get round this – them to be able to study as well as play. Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ but they are more complicated than Clubs could be pleasantly surprised All Pass transfers! My thesis is why not teach at how quickly bright learners could transfers from the outset? be integrated into club games, but Using transfers in response to no- There are no problems in the it would need both a willingness by trump bids allows the responder above deal in playing 4♠ – declarer the clubs to allow new players into two chances to describe their loses just a spade and a club. the games and a willingness by better hand before a decision about game 3NT should not make on a club players to mentor and even partner the needs to be made. The transfer lead. ‘coming’ players.

BRIDGE April 2016 Page 41 Accelerated Bridge Teaching makes a bid and then through the before you run. Curiously, if players transfer mechanism effectively retains are going to play mainly social bridge the bidding to make a further descrip- with their chums and not club bridge, tion of their hand. At this second then they do need to understand and play 5-card majors without playing stage responder can show weakness be able to play strong two bids as well. negative doubles (to overcome in- (through passing), invitational values, So again, what should be taught is an tervention) so it’s easy to start with strength, two-suited shape, etc. Trans- understanding of the bids and what ‘longest-suit-first, major-before-minor’ fers effectively double the number of you are trying to achieve, not just the Acol and then add from there. bids responder has, with a resultant ‘rules’ for making the bids. The brand of Acol taught should be huge increase in the precision of the Defensive bidding. Overcalls and modern tournament-adapted Acol. responses. Consequently more accu- take out doubles are usually well The programme must include teaching rate final contracts are reached. taught but unassuming cue bids in some of the modern bidding choices The same applies to 1-of-a-suit competition again should also be from the outset. Current bridge openings. Limit bids live on, but other taught early. When partner opens, say teaching is geared to teaching players modern ideas should be included 1♥ and opponents overcall 2♣, there social bridge as played in the 1970s. alongside and taught from the outset: are two reasons to call 3♥ – offensive To progress to effective club level, the ‘weak freak’ raise to game, splinter and defensive. This should be an easy current learners who have started with bids, game-forcing 2NT are all much concept to grasp. So, direct raises Standard English, have to unlearn and better weapons than ‘traditional’ are pre-emptive level-of-the-fit type discard a lot of stuff that should not methods so why teach old stuff that bids and defensive-minded, and the have been taught in the first place. has to be replaced? UCB is value-showing, triggering the Take, for example, responding to Opening two bids the same. Acol offensive channel. a 1NT opening bid in an unopposed strong twos are amongst the most auction. Stayman and transfer re- widely misunderstood bids with club Summary sponses to 1NT should be taught as bridge players. Their effectiveness has standard. These particular conven- also really passed. When teaching two These are just some examples of how, tions are not complicated and are re- bids, I give my classes a range of strong if you explain the concepts properly, garded as standard by most club play- and candidate hands. the brightest beginners can easily ers. Just teach people that’s what you Given a choice and an understanding adopt supposedly advanced bidding do, then as beginners they accept it of how the bids work, they always methods from the outset. and espouse it. Incidentally, the full voluntarily choose weak twos over Of course, some players who find rationale for transfers is widely mis- strong twos. If strong twos are the past, their way into the ABT channel, will understood and misexplained within weak twos are the present, but we live find some of these ideas challenging, the teaching community. Nearly all in times when bidding is developing but at an ABT system should be at least you hear is that, ‘the strong hand be- rapidly and portmanteau (‘multi’) ‘bright lite’ and not just traditional comes declarer.’ This is only true when two bids are very likely the future. social basic Standard English. responder has a weak hand. The true Standard weak two bids are fine as The biggest issue is perhaps that value of transfers is that responder a beginning though – learn to walk some of the more ambitious stuff is outside traditional teachers’ comfort zone, and in some cases outside their Weak Twos in Action experience. Teacher workshops, where the issues can be discussed, may have West North East South a role here. Dealer East. N/S Game. 2♠ Pass Just at present, bridge is receiving ♠ 4 2 4♠ All Pass quite a bit of media attention and there ♥ A K 10 4 are early indications that bridge could ♦ K 10 8 5 2 East has a good weak two bid and be coming into an upturn of interest ♣ K 3 South has just too little to double. among non-players. ♠ A 9 8 3 ♠ K Q 10 7 6 5 West realises that the pre-empt must A fast track programme of bridge ♥ 7 N ♥ 8 6 3 be extended and raises directly to teaching would be an ideal vehicle W E ♦ Q 6 3 ♦ 9 ♠ S 4 , the level of the fit. This effectively to capitalise on such interest and to ♣ A 10 8 7 2 ♣ J 9 4 stops North entering the auction, capture the greatest possible number ♠ J yet given a clear run North-South of higher-ceiling players for the po- ♥ Q J 9 5 2 would most likely buy the contract tential good of the game. There will ♦ A J 7 4 in a heart contract. 4♠ makes with be challenges along the way though, ♣ Q 6 5 the aid of a double finesse in clubs both within and without bridge, but North-South can make up to to creating, installing, supporting eleven tricks in hearts. and succeeding with an ABT pro- gramme. ■

Page 42 BRIDGE April 2016 The Diaries of Wendy Wensum Episode 48: A Grand Gesture

t was a fairly casual and relaxed at- clubs was the next problem. With to dummy with a heart. This was the mosphere at the Riverside as mem- seven clubs still out, my options were position after winning the first nine bers gathered for a mixed pairs finesse and hope, or run the suit and tricks. Icompetition. Mingling cheerfully in hope. I paused to consider which to try. the bar before the bridge, most of the ‘Where am I?’ I asked. ‘Playing bridge,’ familiar faces were present. ‘I see Mar- responded Spouse inanely. ‘You clot, ♠ — jorie’s here today,’ observed Millie to hand or dummy?’ I demanded. He ♥ 7 no one in particular. She whispered in confirmed I was in hand and I led the ♦ — my ear, ‘She’s so pedantic about pro- club to the ace. I continued clubs from ♣ Q 10 9 nunciation, she can hear an H dropped the top. The jack dropped and thirteen ♠ Q ♠ — two tables away.’ Approaching the tricks arrived for six no trumps plus ♥ 10 5 N ♥ — W E start time the TD cajoled us into the one, with five club tricks, four hearts, ♦ — S ♦ J 6 bridge room. This board caused much three diamonds and the ace of spades. ♣ J ♣ 8 7 discussion as it progressed round the As it happened the club finesse would ♠ — room. also have worked; we had indeed ♥ A Q missed the grand. ‘I’m getting plenty of ♦ Q 10 practice as declarer today,’ I remarked. ♣ — Dealer North. N/S Vul. ‘You need it,’ was his reply, unworthy ♠ A 4 3 of partner and spouse. I chastised him ♥ K J 7 for the comment, but of course he was Millie led out the club queen from ♦ A K only joking. ‘I’ve been dummy a lot dummy and flamboyantly discarded ♣ A K Q 10 9 this session. It’s like watching paint the ace of hearts with a spectacularly ♠ Q 8 6 5 2 ♠ K J 10 dry,’ he pleaded in self-defence. grand gesture. Then leading out the N ♥ 10 5 4 2 ♥ 8 6 W E The kind club break meant that club ten she discarded the queen of ♦ 2 S ♦ J 6 4 3 grand slams were also making in clubs hearts in a similar elaborate manner. ♣ J 4 3 ♣ 8 7 6 2 (5-1 fit) and in hearts (4-3 fit). It was Finally, the last club was played to trap ♠ 9 7 not a major surprise to find that no pair the jack of trumps and bring home the ♥ A Q 9 3 had bid either of them. The traveller grand. Unnecessarily, she celebrated ♦ Q 10 9 8 7 5 indicated that several partnerships football style by raising both fists ♣ 5 had reached six diamonds, losing above her head, and was promptly one trick to the trump jack, thereby shown a yellow card by the TD for making their contract on the nose. exuberant behaviour. At least she Playing with Spouse, we reached the One pair, Millie and Justin, bid refrained from the spectacle of sliding small slam in no-trumps declared the grand slam in diamonds playing on her knees across the floor. This was by me as South. Marjorie as West, against Kate. As West, Kate’s partner a deal in which thirteen tricks were showing no signs of language led the five of spades, Millie as declarer available in clubs, diamonds, hearts affectation, led the spade five and won with the ace, tested diamonds by and no-trumps. Celebrating at our when dummy tabled his hand, it first playing the ace and the king and got local hostelry later with a round of looked as if Spouse and I had missed the bad news about the break. So she drinks, we congratulated Millie on the grand slam. However when I now switched to a trump reduction her declarer play. Needless to say, she tested diamonds by playing the ace strategy to cut the number of trumps accepted the praise with her usual and the king, I found East with four in her hand, to equal those in Kate’s restrained aplomb declaring, ‘If you to the jack. With spades wide open, sitting East. She played two top clubs, mess with the best, you go down with it became evident that an alternative ditching a spade on the second one. the rest.’ We all stared at her and made strategy was required. I turned to plan Then she ruffed a spade and returned no comment as she offered high fives B, and played the four winning hearts to dummy with a heart. Another spade around the table. She clearly watches and the diamond queen. The jack of was ruffed and again she returned too much reality television. ■

BRIDGE April 2016 Page 43 Seven Days by Sally Brock

Monday the Acol Bridge Club. I’m playing with bids 4♥, South is very suitable and bids I have a lot on this week – oodles of Allison. I like the Wednesday daytime 5♣ – now North’s hand is huge and he Bradt work and a fair amount of duplicates – for just £5 extra you get makes a grand slam try on his way to other stuff too. I start the week, as has an excellent lunch. Afterwards, I go 6♣. It’s not the best slam in the world, become normal, with an online session back to Shepherds Bush for my online but is improved by the bidding and, of bidding practice with Allison. Then session with Richard and Gerry. with the cards as they lie, declarer can I set off to meet Canadian friend Katie Then it is a Super League match at hardly go wrong. Thorpe who is over for a few days. She the Young Chelsea. This week we’re A few more IMPs drift out and we wanted to go to Bletchley Park, and as I up against Barry’s team (Hinden), but eventually lose by 10 IMPs. Then after had never been and it is not so far away he isn’t playing. It is a match of two a quick drink I get a lift home with Ed. from here, that is what we decided to halves. The first half is really flat. After do. I meet her at Bletchley railway 12 boards we are losing by 2 IMPs (we station and then we go on to Bletchley have 3 and they have 5). In the second Thursday Park itself. It really is a fascinating half our opponents bid and make slam I had been going to spend the day with place and we wander around happily, on three of the first four boards, and my old Nottingham friend Carol, but alternating stops for refreshments and then we bid and make 6NT on the she cancelled a couple of days ago, gossip with having a good look at all next. which is just as well as I am inundat- the wartime settings, and the amazing They do rather well on the first ed with work. I am up at 7.30am and code breaking regime. board, and it costs us a slam swing: work right through to bedtime. First I am home by late afternoon and get doing final proofs of the Peloponnese, on with work. I am expecting Brian to and then first proofs of Mauritius. stay the night after playing bridge in Dealer South. Game All. Also, today we pick up The Big Bridge London, so I stay up late waiting for ♠ 5 Quiz from the printers – and it looks him. Eventually, around 1am, I email ♥ A 8 3 great. This is a fundraising enterprise to him to see if he is hopelessly lost (it ♦ A 7 5 3 2 raise money for Briony’s charity: Stoke isn’t an easy place to find, particularly ♣ K 5 4 2 Mandeville Spinal Research. It costs in the dark). He replies that he was so ♠ Q J 9 8 4 ♠ K 6 3 £10 (all of which goes to the charity) hopelessly lost he checked into a hotel. ♥ K Q J 5 4 N ♥ 10 9 7 2 to enter, then you can take your time ♦ 10 9 W E ♦ K J 4 before submitting your entry by the S ♣ 3 ♣ J 10 9 end of April in order to have a shot at Tuesday ♠ A 10 7 2 winning the £1,000 first prize. To get After a lie-in after my late night, I drive ♥ 6 your copy, please email Briony (briony. to Aylesbury via Stoke Mandeville ♦ Q 8 6 [email protected]). (Briony had forgotten her lunch). I ♣ A Q 8 7 6 have a meeting there to discuss some possible future work. In the evening Friday after an hour’s coaching session, I West North East South Today is the start of the Senior Cam- settle down to more work. 1♣ rose Trials in Solihull. I am playing 2♣1 2♥ 4♥ 5♣ with Nicola, and Barry with Robert Pass 5♥ Pass 6♣ Sheehan. We start well with a win by 46 Wednesday All Pass 1Majors IMPs against Chris Dixon’s team. This There has been some sort of landslide is my favourite deal (see next page). affecting the trains between Hemel North-South are not a regular They do say that the one contract you Hempstead and London, so I decide partnership and North improvises should never play in is 5NT. Nicola to go to London on the tube from somewhat with his 2♥ bid, which is leads a heart which declarer wins in Chesham. It turns out to be a pretty intended and interpreted as a decent hand with the queen. He follows this efficient service and good for going to hand with the minors. So when East by running the nine of clubs.

Page 44 BRIDGE April 2016 Seven Days continued Sunday We start against Mossop, one of the best teams in the competition. The first half goes swimmingly and, Dealer East. N/S Vul. despite losing 11 IMPs for bidding a ♠ K J 8 poor, failing slam on the last board, ♥ K J we are 35 IMPs up. The second half Irish Christmas ♦ K 9 8 6 is flatter and we add another 5 IMPs Market s ♣ K J 10 3 to our tally. However, the really good ♠ Q 6 5 2 ♠ 10 7 news from our point of view is that the ♥ 6 N ♥ 10 9 8 7 5 4 2 Irens team loses to Dixon’s. ♦ Q 7 5 4 3 2 W E ♦ J The position going into the final S ♣ 5 4 ♣ A Q 6 match is that if we win by 6 IMPs we ♠ A 9 4 3 cannot be caught. As luck would have ♥ A Q 3 it that is precisely how many we are up ♦ A 10 at half-time, so it is quite exciting, and ♣ 9 8 7 2 the Irens team are piling on the IMPs against last-placed Sansom. But all is well. This is our main gain in the final West North East South set: 3♥ 3NT Sails from Southampton Pass 5NT All Pass 14th December 2016 Dealer East. N/S Vul. 5 nights • Balmoral • L1629 I win with the ace! And play another ♠ J 7 5 ♥ K 10 5 3 heart. He wins in dummy, plays a Southampton • Falmouth, England spade to his ace, a spade to the jack ♦ K 7 • Cork (from Cobh), Ireland and the king of spades. Then he plays ♣ A 8 5 3 • Dublin, Ireland • Southampton a diamond to his ace and, hoping to ♠ K Q 10 9 8 6 4 ♠ 3 exert pressure on West, cashes the ace ♥ 9 6 N ♥ 8 4 Daily bridge on board, bridge fees of hearts before playing a club to the ♦ J 9 3 W E ♦ A Q 6 5 4 2 included. Mr Bridge welcome & farewell S drinks parties. Partners for single players. ♣ J ♣ Q 7 6 2 jack and my queen. I have three more No single supplements on selected hearts to cash so that is three down. ♠ A 2 twin grades of cabin. ♥ A Q J 7 2 ♦ 10 8 Great value Mr Bridge fares from: ♣ K 10 9 4 Saturday Inside twin cabins £479pp Outside twin cabins £529pp Today we start against the Irens Balcony cabins £759pp team (Forrester, Kendrick, Selway, In the other room, Robert is left to Suites £859pp Simpson). The first half is dire and declare 4♥, a contract he makes on the Twin outside cabin we are 37 IMPs down. However, we nose. This is the bidding at our table: for sole occupancy £629pp bounce back in the second stanza to Balmoral gain 44 and eventually win by 7 IMPs. West North East South It is a similar story in the second 3♦ 3♥ match against the Manchester team 4♠ 5♥ Dbl All Pass captained by John Sansom. A pretty bad first set in our room leads to a The combination of the and deficit of 16, and in the second half we the jump to 4♠ makes life very difficult gain 17 for a tiny win by 1 IMP. We for North. When he presses on to the are undefeated at least – not that that five level, the board is lost for him. My counts for much. At the end of the day double and his partner’s misguess in we are in second place, just a few VPs the play leads to a 500 penalty and 15 behind Irens. Teammates have been IMPs for us. For reservations call Mr Bridge playing brilliantly and are heading the After the bridge I put my teammates Butler, while we wallow in the middle. on the train for London before having on 01483 489961 In the evening, we go out for a Thai a pretty miserable drive home in the www.mrbridge.co.uk meal – it’s nice to finish the bridge by pouring rain. Briony has my dinner Terms and conditions apply – 7.30pm so we can go out for a leisurely ready and I am more than ready to see Fred. Olsen 2016/17 worldwide brochure. dinner and enjoy a glass of wine. collapse in front of the TV. ■

BRIDGE April 2016 Page 45 FOC322363_MrBridge_1/3_page_ads_W.C.18.01.16_V4.indd 25/01/2016 1 13:59 A random deal could and to deal five piles of cards indeed should contain and, after the fifty-second READERS’ touching cards. I didn’t card is dealt, lift the fifth intend to imply otherwise. pile and continue dealing However, a shuffle can at hand three. This achieves only start to be random four hands of 13 cards and, when every card has been I believe, conforms to the LETTERS separated from its original rules. Self-evidently, if you neighbours. My ‘ordered start with a ‘sorted’ deck, BAD TO WORSE devoted followers that fits pack’ with every card this deal will ensure there In the Guardian’s Section 2 the bill? The Canary Islands touching was just a means are no touching pairs. In recently, there was a feature for instance? I had decided of testing this. It is perfectly practice, we find that the deploring the epidemic of to go to Croatia with you true that ‘touchers’ might method generally yields an cheating, not only in most in September, but am ‘meet again’, and if so, that’s interesting variety of hands. games at the highest level, informed that the holiday has fine. In my diagram, no two Mr Bill Aitken, but also in bridge’s top been cancelled. I am now cards had been separated Edinburgh. competitions. It went on to considering a cruise but I and met again in one minute This is just what I do and report that an investigation is prefer land based holidays. of shuffling, if they had, they the method we recom- taking place. I was shocked. Mrs Mary Ward by email. wouldn’t count as touchers mend to our bridge hosts. If this is so, could we please for the experiment. With have full coverage? AS OTHERS SEE US continued shuffling there THE STONG I am old enough to You should update the mag. would certainly be some NO-TRUMP vaguely remember the Too upper class and ageist. touching cards. This test can’t At last, what a delight it is to allegations concerning the Name & Address supplied. check a riffle shuffle – for have one of your articles, Boris Shapiro – Terence one accurate riffle shuffle this one by Jeremy Dhondy, Reese affair. The partners, DEALING will kill all touching cards, devoted to explaining the it was claimed, disclosed The article Humans Can’t but that isn’t random. attributes of the strong no- heart holdings by displaying Shuffle, see BRIDGE 159 trump and five card majors. numbers of knuckles. The page 42, contains interesting ANSWER PLEASE I hope you will continue story goes that Reese was so observations. There is, In his biography on the EBU to increase the number of amused at such a laughable however, one point I query, website, Andrew Kambites articles covering the benefits gibe from sore losers, that regarding the number of comments that most of the strong no-trump. It he published Story of an touching cards in a truly players would be better off should make your magazine Accusation, analysing every random pack. I would playing no conventions, but more balanced and attractive hand with heart holdings. welcome comment on the to depend on having an to a wider readership. From this, it emerged following which suggests this extensive system instead. Wg Cdr Patrick Cliff, that the partnership fares number is greater than the Would you please ask Uckfield, East Sussex. slightly worse from them zero as stated in the article. him to expand on these than their other hands. In a truly random pack, the views in a future article? WELL DONE Mr Harold Trace, card following any particular John Martin, I have been a reader Ashford, Middlesex. card is truly random from the Dingwall, Ross-shire. of the magazine since I remaining fifty one cards. As this is a frequently asked started playing bridge SHORT HAUL Therefore the probability question I will ask Andrew around 12 years ago. I have been on many of your that this card will be the Kambites to explain. In that time, I have always holidays and weekends, touching card is exactly one Watch these pages. found the magazine to be but because you don’t in 51. So for the complete informative and containing have a land-based holiday pack the probability of SHUFFLING a variety that offers in January or February, touching cards is significantly I refer to Ian Dalziel’s article something for everyone. I have had to go away greater than zero. on page 42 of BRIDGE 159. I I believe that the quality with another company. This does not prevent am a competent riffle shuffler has gone up another I have been writing on the design of special packs and in a series of trials notch with the addition of my end of holiday comment with zero touching cards. typically find only two pairs of Teachers’ Corner giving forms, faithfully completing Many such possibilities exist, adjacent cards remain after another and practical them after all sorts of events perhaps the simplest is where three or four shuffles (about view of bridge. over the years, that I would each card is followed by a 4-5 seconds per shuffle), and You can never please all like to go somewhere in card of a different suit. it seems to be a different pair of the people all of the time, the winter that is not long Mr John Douce, Coventry. after each set of shuffles. but you come mighty close. haul. Can you possibly Ian Dalziel replies: The method I use to Keep up the good work. set something up for your John Douce is quite correct. ensure a good outcome is Mr Reg Hull by email.

Page 46 BRIDGE April 2016 SOLVED AT LAST is willing to teach bridge No questions. But I am to a beginners’ group. Do CHARITY EVENTS rather pleased with myself you know of anyone who that at the age of 93, I have might be able to help us? MAY 2016 JULY 2016 ‘cracked’ the Pot Boiler. Mr Rob Lane by email. Obviously those bridge 6 STAMFORD BURGHLEY 8 GREAT BARFORD CHURCH ROTARY CLUB Village Hall, Great. Barford, weekends under Bernard’s SANDOWN, IOW Tinwell Village Hall, PE9 3UD. Beds. £14. tutelage have paid off! I have just returned with 1.15 for 1.30pm. Derek Fordham Mrs Betty Tompson, three friends from a most Bridge Tea. £8 pp. ( 01234 870324 Sandy, Beds. enjoyable bridge event on Rtn Alan Kinch Gill Wilkes ( 01234 870428 ( 01780 444276 [email protected] the Isle of Wight with Bernard [email protected] I’LL HAVE A LOOK Magee and his team. 17 CHIGWELL RIDING TRUST for In December 2014, a Knowing the island well and 13 TWYFORD SINGERS people with special needs. Charvil Village Hall, Charvil, Abridge Village Hall, Essex. correspondent suggested having had two Yarboroughs RG10 9TR. 1.30 for 2pm. 1.30 for 2pm start. £12 pp. putting a Bernard Magee during the course of the 5th Annual Bridge Drive. Duplicate/Chicago available. in the online weekend, I took my three Tea, raffle. £32 per table. Mrs M Walker library. Is it there yet? companions to Culver Cliff Gillian Matthews ( 02035 390387 ( 01189 479986 Mr J Jeffrey, en route to the ferry where AUGUST 2016 Portsmouth, Hants. there is a monument to the 15 CHIGWELL RIDING TRUST for Earl of Yarborough, after people with special needs. 19 ST IVES DAY CENTRE. £15 pp. Abridge Village Hall, Essex. TORCH PEN whose son an honour-free Village Hall, Hemingford Abbots. 1.30 for 2pm start. £12 pp. Don Moorman Home again after a hand is so named. That’s Duplicate/Chicago available. ( 01480 463444 wonderful happy cruise in right. A hand with no aces, Mrs M Walker spite of the various hiccups kings, queens, jacks or tens. ( 02035 390387 SEPTEMBER 2016 with the itinerary and the It was our first Mr Bridge 20 CHILDREN’S CHARITIES. 8 HUDDERSFIELD PENNINE shore excursions. A lovely, experience. The venue and Doddington Village Hall, March. ROTARY CLUB. 12 for 12.30pm. friendly bridge party hosted course content was excellent. £15 pp. Outlane Golf Club, Huddersfield. ( by a super Mr Bridge team. We will definitely return. Val Topliss 01354 653696 £50 per table (may rise to £52) including lunch, afternoon I thought you would be Margaret Thornton JUNE 2016 tea & biscuits. Raffle prizes. interested and very pleased by email. Rtn Sam Smith to know your pen/torch really 1 MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT ( 01924 402540 came in to its own last night. CLUB PLUG & DOWNHAM MARKET ( 07968 868828 FESTIVAL COMMITTEE samuelsmith396 I had put it in the passport Hart Bridge Club, having just Downham Market Festival @btinternet.com holder for the journey home moved to a larger venue, Bridge (duplicate bridge and as I walked in through can now accommodate more with afternoon tea). 18 CHIGWELL RIDING TRUST for people with special needs. my front door, the electricity players on Tuesday evenings. Town Hall. £6 pp. 1.15 for 1.30pm. Abridge Village Hall, Essex. went off. It had been on as I We are now at Fleet Methodist Ann Taylor ( 01366 388408 1.30 for 2pm start. £12 pp. arrived in my taxi as I have Church. Contact Tony Baker Duplicate/Chicago available. security lights. No problem on ( 01635 868337 or by 17 GREAT STUKELEY Mrs M Walker CONSERVATIVE CLUB ( 02035 390387 mobile on ( 07984 626118. thanks to the torch/pen! Village Hall, Great Stukeley. Turned off the alarm, left Tony Baker by email. £14 pp. OCTOBER 2016 the cases in the kitchen, Kay Brownlow checked with my neighbours CONTACT LIST ( 01480 880663 7 ST NEOTS MUSEUM. £14 pp. Sheila Stephenson St Neots Outdoor Bowling Club. We would like to suggest who told me it had gone ( 01480 457338 Jean Searle ( 01480 212298 off earlier as well, and that you introduce some kind went straight up to bed of contact page through 23 HUDDERSFIELD PENNINE NOVEMBER 2016 ROTARY CLUB. accompanied by my new which people can meet Outlane Golf Club, 24 HUDDERSFIELD PENNINE wonderful, useful pen. others in their area for a Huddersfield. ROTARY CLUB. 12 for 12.30pm. Thank you again – game, along the lines of 12 for 12.30pm. Outlane Golf Club, Huddersfield. such a clever idea. your charity bridge column. £50 per table (may rise to £52) £50 per table (may rise to £52) including lunch, afternoon including lunch, afternoon Dorothy Pickering by email. There seem to be a lack tea & biscuits. Raffle prizes. tea & biscuits. Raffle prizes. of bridge players in the Rtn Sam Smith Rtn Sam Smith VOLUNTEER SOUGHT Midlands. Since we moved ( 01924 402540 ( 01924 402540 I am a committee member here, our bridge is limited. ( 07968 868828 ( 07968 868828 samuelsmith396 samuelsmith396 of Farnborough U3A. We Colin & Helena Gill @btinternet.com @btinternet.com do not have a member who by email. ■

Write to Mr Bridge at: Ryden Grange, Knaphill, E-mail your charity events: [email protected] Surrey GU21 2TH or e-mail: [email protected]

BRIDGE April 2016 Page 47 Miami, USA Central America & the Mardi Gras th 4 February 2017 • 46 nights Southampton Sails from Southampton • Balmoral • CRUISE ID: L1703

Charleston Ponta Delgada Key West Jacksonville Tampa Hamilton Madeira New Orleans (2 nights) Port Canaveral Miami Cozumel Key West Tortola Belize City Antigua Falmouth St. Lucia Banana Coast Barbados (Trujillo)

Date Arrive Depart Destination host of incredible experiences are packed into one truly FEBRUARY 2017 Sat 04 PM Southampton stunning holiday. The Caribbean, North America and Central Sun 05-Tue 07 Cruising America: this fantastic trip takes you to some of the world’s most Wed 08 early am late pm Funchal, Madeira A Thu 09-Tue 14 Cruising beautiful, exciting and interesting destinations in a once-in-a-lifetime Wed 15 early pm late night Bridgetown, Barbados Thu 16 early am late pm Castries, St. Lucia adventure you will never forget. Fri 17 early am late pm St. John's, Antigua Sat 18 early am late pm Road Town, Tortola Visit Road Town, Tortola, rich in pirate history. mile upon mile of untouched golden beaches Sun 19-Mon 20 Cruising Here you can ride into the rugged inland and two awe-inspiring, world famous rocket Tue 21 early am late pm Falmouth, Jamaica landscapes on our Jeep Safari tour, or head launch sites – the Kennedy Space Centre Wed 22 Cruising out into the warm, crystal clear waters and and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Thu 23 early am late pm Banana Coast (Trujillo), Honduras swim with dolphins. Tortola was voted the Contrast the fiercely modern architecture Fri 24 early am late pm Belize City, Belize best port of call in the Caribbean by Fred. of Jacksonville with the gentler Georgian Sat 25 early am late pm Cozumel, Mexico Olsen guests, though Barbados, Antigua buildings of Charleston. Southern charm Sun 26 Cruising and St. Lucia aren’t bad either. marks departure from the shores of the Mon 27 late pm New Orleans, LA, USA US as the British charm of Bermuda beckons. Tue 28 New Orleans, LA, USA Honduras, Belize and Mexico all follow in MARCH 2017 quick succession: bathe in tropical sunshine, Wed 01 early pm New Orleans, LA, USA Latin culture and fascinating indigenous Thu 02 Cruising history. Little can match two nights in New early am late night Fri 03 Tampa, FL, USA Orleans though, especially as this is perfectly Sat 04 Cruising timed so you can join the colourful fun at the Sun 05 early am late pm Key West, FL, USA annual Mardi Gras. Collect symbolic colourful Mon 06 early am late pm Miami, FL, USA Tue 07 early am late pm Port Canaveral, FL, USA beads as the revellers (known as ‘krewes’) Wed 08 early am late pm Jacksonville, FL, USA parade their hand-crafted floats and Thu 09 early am late night Charleston, SC, USA costumes through the city. Fri 10-Sat 11 Cruising Sun 12 early am late pm Hamilton, Bermuda In Florida, enjoy Fred.’s maiden call into Mon 13-Fri 17 Cruising Tampa, followed by the party atmosphere, Sat 18 early am early pm Ponta Delgada, Azores relaxed mind-set and beautiful beaches of Sun 19-Tue 21 Cruising Key West, Miami and Port Canaveral. This Wed 22 AM Southampton is the chance to explore floral national parks, New Orleans Up to £250 per person On Board Spend For adult travellers only The extended length and nature of this Prices per person sailing are suited to the adult traveller, REDUCED SOLE OCCUPANCY therefore only those over 18 are able SUPPLEMENTS ON SELECTED Cabin type Prices from to join. TWIN GRADES Inside £3,999 Outside £4,699 Suites £10,499 Your Price Includes: Single £6,749 Daily evening bridge on board and bridge fees included in the fare • Morning seminars and afternoon bridge on days at sea • A bridge partner will always be found for solo travellers • Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, a five-course a la carte dinner, late night buffet and self-service Prices are correct at time of going to print, but tea & coffee • Mr Bridge Welcome and Farewell Drinks parties• Varied daytime activies, lectures may change at any time. Call for latest prices. and talks • Choice of live evening entertainment

Contact Mr Bridge to book now on 01483 489 961 or visit www.mrbridge.co.uk

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