1 THE QBA BULLETIN Published by the Queensland Bridge Association September-October 2005 Volume 31 No www.qldbridge.com Email: [email protected] 55 From the President ANC

our four teams at the Sydney ANC. All four teams could have been in the finals. The Women’s team carried the day and Queensland now holds the ANC Women’s title. Magnus Moran and Neville Kamal Keith Francis were the runners up in the Open Sanmugarasa McDonald Butler and will represent Australia in the Commonwealth Nations event to be held RECENTLY had the pleasure of before the Commonwealth Games in Decisions That Matter attending Eastern Suburbs to present Melbourne. Therese Tully and Sue Lusk I HE Queensland team performed well Shirley Woods and John Harris with first (I think we are entitled to claim Sue as in the ANC this year. On the final place for the Bridge For Brain Research one of ours) won the Women’s Butler. T stretch we had to play ACT, NSW and Challenge 2005. Dick Trollope and The 10th World Youth Bridge Cham- Victoria. Having beaten ACT by 21 and Maureen Jakes from Noosa were second pionships sponsored by the Accor Hotels NSW by 23, we were very well placed in Queensland. Clive Philips and Nicholas Group were a great success. Australia going into the final match. ACT and Horner of Eastern Suburbs were third. owes a big debt to David Stern and Queensland who were neck and neck Shirley and John were not only first Peter Gill and their wonderful committee. both lost the final match to NSW and Vic- Australia wide but first in this State.Total The closing address by the chairman of toria respectively. But ACT had a relatively funds Raised for the Prince of Wales the WBF Youth Committee, Panos smaller loss and so edged us out into the Medical Institute were $25,263 with 3,200 Gerontopoulos, was published in Bulletin final. It was heartbreak, but well-done players at 106 clubs. Queenslanders 11. All the Bulletins make interesting boys to have come this far and kudos to were very generous. Olwen Yardley, reading. They are available on the team spirit and cohesion. Tom Strong, our President, and her Committee made me ABF web site. I personally thank all npc, did excellent work, studying oppo- feel very much at home. Queenslanders for their support to this nents and pitching the right partnerships I am still on a high from the success of event. „ in the matches. Both our matches against ACT were abra- sive encounters with a total of 209 IMPs Contents scored either way. As one might expect, From the President...... 1 at this level of competition, bidding con- ANC by Kamal Sanmugarasa...... 1 ventions and play are spot on. Success Richard Wallis...... 2 or failure is often determined by decisions Cuppaidge’s Column by George Cuppaidge ...... 4 made at crucial times of bidding. We got about 60% of those decisions right, but Sunshine Coast 1-day Teams by Adrian Mayers ...... 5 to win titles we need to improve this to at Sunnybank by Andrew Pryde ...... 6 least 75%. Here are some deals from our Teacher’s Corner by Joan Butts ...... 8 matches against ACT. 25 Years Ago by Richard Wallis ...... 8 From the Manager’s Desk...... 10 Results ...... 10 Club News...... 11 December 18 Director’s Corner by Jan Peach ...... 12 GNOT by Margaret Drake ...... web version 13 Keep this date at the Butler by Trevor Strickland ...... web version 14 free for the QBA Individual QBA Contact Details forms out later in 22 Mareeba Court, Arana Hills QLD 4054 the year Ph: 07 3351 8602 Mob: 0412 064 903 Fax: 07 3351 8603 Venue: QCBC Email: [email protected] Enquiries to the manager Website: www.qldbridge.com

The QBA Bulletin September - October 2005 2 and failed to double the 6H. Oh well, if double is for penalties. Partner bid 5C but Dlr W ♠ A108542 South had the guts to bid 6H, missing the North pushed onto 5S, which was passed Vul NS ♥ 95 AQ, he deserves the extra IMPs the around for one down. ♦ A87 double brings. Anyway on the other table In the open room the bidding was similar, ♣ K8 the bidding was more orthodox and team- but West decided to bid 6C over 5S. ♠ K ♠ J76 mates were in 4H making 650. So we lost Declarer was lucky to find the jack and a few IMPs all right. ♥ AKQ862 N ♥ J10743 ten of diamonds dropping and made the ♦ W E ♦ Here is another interesting deal on which vulnerable slam. J2 S 3 ♣ J632 ♣ A1094 we lost 16 IMPs. But both West and North had crucial ♠ Q93 decisions to make on that . For East Dlr W ♠ AKQJ109763 ♥ — to make a takeout bid at 5-level after his Vul EW ♥ 5 partners’ short club opening bid, he must ♦ KQ109654 ♦ J10 hold good values in diamonds and hearts. ♣ Q75 ♣ 7 This is clear to West based on his own ♠ — ♠ 5 holdings and the 4S and subsequent 5S bids by North. So with a in spades ♥ AJ97 N ♥ K843 WN E S W E 6C is a good percentage bid. Even if 6C 4H 4S 5H 6D ♦ 986 ♦ AQ743 ♣ S ♣ fails the score would read –100, instead PP6HP AKQ863 J92 of +50 (assuming 5S goes 1 down). This P X All pass ♠ 842 variance is insignificant compared to the ♥ Q1062 1370 at stake if 6C makes on the other After my partner Darko Janzekovic opened ♦ K52 table, as opposed to our meager 50. 4H, Reynolds and Smart reached 6D. You ♣ 1054 could call it kamikaze auction, bidding in A similar argument also holds for North the dark or gambling. I couldn’t see de- who should go that one step further and fensive tricks other than the CA, so I de- bid 6S over the 6C bid. North knows that cided to in 6H. This could be a WN E S 6S doubled goes for a maximum of –500. costly decision if partner had a defensive 1C 4S 4NT* P He also knows that 5C or 6C will be bid in 5C 5S All pass trick, but I couldn’t stand the risk of letting the other room. So a –500 definitely beats through a vulnerable slam. In any case 5S the vulnerable game and at the same time * Take-out serves as a relatively small investment looked unbeatable as well, so I was con- Partner opened 1C (short club) and North to thwart a vulnerable slam score. „ vinced that 6H must be bid. Partner made jumped to 4S. I bid 4NT for take out, as 10 tricks for –300. Our teammates played in 5S doubled, making 13 for +1250 and a 14 IMP gain on the board. another great pair of results. Magnus and A few boards later in the same match I Neville now get to play in the Australian was again forced to make a decision at team at next year’s Commonwealth slam level. Nations Bridge Championships in Melbourne with Bruce Neill and Ron Dlr E ♠ K32 Richard Klinger. Vul NS ♥ J1072 Wallis I was playing in the Senior’s with Tony ♦ AK5 Jackman, and our team-mates were ♣ AJ4 HE Sydney ANC was the best series Jenny Han/Richard Morey and Kerry ♠ QJ10875 ♠ A964 Tof results for Qld players in my Wood/Charlie Howard, with Ian Afflick our ♥ AQ N ♥ 3 memory and probably ever. non-playing captain and general. It was W E ♦ 93 ♦ J76 With 1 round to play in the Teams, the a great week and although we fell at the S last hurdle, the team played very well to ♣ 1053 ♣ Q9876 QLD and NSW Women’s teams were both locked into the final, and Qld got a lose only 4 and win 10 over the double ♠ — maximum win on the last match while round-robin. ♥ K98654 NSW had a draw to take a 6 Imp carry- While our ultimate demise was felt by all ♦ Q10842 ♣ over into the final. This carry-over was to in the last match, the 13 IMPs we missed K2 prove decisive in a close final and Qld out on getting to the final could have been only got to the lead in the last set to win made by any one of us in most of the by 3 Imps. I am sure that a full report on preceding 13 matches. Especially against WN E S the Women’s Teams will be presented NSW, who got into the final at our PP elsewhere. expense and won easily against WA. We 3S X 3NT 6H In the other teams events all Qld teams only needed to pick an extra 7 IMPs as PP6SP they would have gone back by 7 IMPs. P X All pass had a chance to qualify for the final in the last match, but unfortunately they all However this time my senses told me that saved their worst until last and all finished rd st rd Reynolds could be banking on me bidding 3 . Still, 1 in the Women’s and 3 in the DID YOU KNOW? other events is a top result. 6S that could be a phantom sacrifice. But Spectators don’t have to be doing I couldn’t see two defensive tricks after In the Butler that followed the Teams, something obviously disturbing to be that auction, so despite this bad feeling Therese Tully and Sue Lusk won the asked to move. within me, I decided to bid 6S for –800. Women’s, while Magnus Moren and Oops! My partner had the AQ of hearts Neville Francis finished 2nd in the Open,

September - October 2005 The QBA Bulletin 3

The victorious Women’s Team From left: Greer Tucker, Rosa Lachman, Margaret Millar, Toni Bardon, Sandra Johnson, Jill Broad (npc) & Pele Rankin

Magnus Moren & Neville Francis - 2nd in the Open Butler Therese Tully & Sue Lusk - winners of the Women’s Butler

over which West bid 3NT. When this 3NT is an interesting contract on any lead M 1 ♠ 98642 came around to me I doubled again, and as West is squeezed in a peculiar way. Bd 2 ♥ J96 West was happy to play there with 8 tricks On a spade lead declarer appears to have Dlr E ♦ 743 in clubs and a potential trick from the 8 clubs and 1 spade for 9 tricks, but if my Vul NS ♣ 103 . hand cashes both hearts, West must ♠ KJ ♠ Q Surprisingly, Tony was not inclined to bid, throw a club winner, and is then thrown in ♥ 8 N ♥ Q1075432 but lack of discipline from East caused with a spade to conceded 2 tricks at the W E ♦ K8 ♦ 1052 her to bid again so I was able to double end and 1 off. „ S again and 4HX became the final contract. ♣ AKQJ9874 ♣ 52 The complete article and Richard’s report ♠ A10753 After I doubled 4H to confirm a good hand on the Noosa teams (July 10) and the Qld ♥ AK I think Tony should now bid 4S (which is Teams (Sept 3-4) are available on the web ♦ cold), but West might now bid 5C, which as a supplement to the Bulletin. AQJ96 is only 1 light. ♣ 6 Unfortunately I led the SA, which was the wrong one, and this set up a discard for declarer’s 3rd diamond. If I lead the DA I QBA WN E S can cash the HA and lead another dia- 3H X mond to dummy and cash the 3rd diamond, 3NT P P X which may have led to 3 off. However, I Website PP4HX had 4 certain tricks and when I ruffed a www.qldbridge.com All pass club with my winner, this set up a trick for Tony’s HJ for 2 off and +300. All the latest information from On board 2 in the first match the NT East At the other table NS went on to 5S over opened 3H and I doubled for take-out, 5C and lost 100 for 9 IMPs to us.

The QBA Bulletin September - October 2005 4 The hand provides yet another example how we respond to it is very often Cuppaidge’s of the power of running the long suit. seriously under-defined. Do we, for Declarer wins in hand and runs clubs, example, show a four-card major ahead Column coming down to this. of a longer minor and what is the point 832 range of the 1NT response? How do we J7 show primary club support? J This is a radically different set of res- 5 ponses. It is designed to make con- A764 K1095 structive use of all the slots between 1D 95 A and 3NT and to replace ambiguity with George 7 Q10 certainty, in particular by giving very Cuppaidge —— specific and separate meanings to each QJ of the available bids. It is also designed HE only reason for not leading your K108 to make the opponents’ task of competing Tpartner’s suit, said Alfred Sheinwold, A5 for their own best spot, as difficult as is being void in it. Hyperbole no doubt but — possible. obviously he wanted to make a point. The last club delivers the coup de grace Here are the proposed responding bids. Sometimes another lead works, but those Obviously East will throw a spade, but it The rationale behind them, just how they times don’t adequately compensate you doesn’t matter which spade. The defend- inter-relate and follow-up bidding is for that wrenching feeling you get having ers will not be able to take more than three explained later. These bids work well bid a suit which needs just one round to spades and the HA! whatever the NT range the partnership establish and a sure entry when declarer employs but are particularly geared to the is in a no trump contract. Your “genius” How to win a post mortem approach in which we open 1C and not attacks your entry at trick one. 1D on balanced hands outside the range It was somewhat ruefully that I accepted Dlr N ♠ A2 for 1NT. A 1C bid will often be based on defeat on the following hand. Vul None ♥ 8632 just two clubs. Whatever your system, 4- ♦ 72 card suit openings should be adopted in ♠ third or fourth position, so a 1C opening 832 ♣ AQ984 ♥ J7 ♠ ♠ is never made on a doubleton and rarely ♦ Q53 KJ1094 even, on just three. A NT range of 15-17 J6 ♥ KJ54 N ♥ AQ97 ♣ W E is assumed for this article. AQJ1075 ♦ KJ65 ♦ Q9 ♠ A764 ♠ K1095 ♣ S ♣ 1D Natural, forcing, and nominally* J10 65 6+ points ♥ 95432 N ♥ AQ ♠ ♦ W E ♦ 876 1H Natural, forcing, and nominally* 84 S Q109732 ♥ 10 6+ points ♣ 86 ♣ 9 ♦ ♠ A10854 1S Natural, forcing, and nominally* QJ ♣ K732 6+ points ♥ K1086 1NT 6-9 points 3-3-3-4 distribution ♦ AK5 2C 10-12 points 3-3-3-4 distribution ♣ K432 WN E S 2D 6-11 points 4+4+ in the majors, P! 1S P not balanced East bid 1D and my partner raised my 3S All pass 2H 6-11 points, four hearts and a 1NT to 3NT. longer minor or 1-4-4-4 Perhaps if North, as he should, had Eschewing both his partner’s suit and his 2S 6-11 points, four spades and a opened his hand, my failure to lead his longest suit, West chose the S4! I was longer minor or 4-1-4-4 suit may have rung a bell. But then there very quickly one down with East, perforce, 2NT 10+ points, 5+ clubs, no four-card is a school that regards leading partner’s winning the fourth round and cashing the suit outside suit as too pedestrian to contemplate. HA. 3C 0-9 points, 5+ clubs, no four-card I led the H10 to declarer’s ace, who played suit outside Inwardly I noted that even after the lead, a trump to the queen and North’s ace. had West’s spade suit not been so weak, 3D 0-5 points, 7+ hearts North returned the D7 which I won with 3H 0-5 points, 7+ spades he would have won the fourth round and the ace and continued with the D10 might have belatedly played diamonds 3S 10-19 points, any seven-card (McKenny for a heart). Declarer made two solid suit, no ace or king outside. allowing me to make my ninth trick with a overtricks. diamond-heart squeeze on East. I further 3NT 0-5 points 7+ clubs or diamonds wondered what would have happened if “Why didn’t you switch to a club?” said Responding hands with 12+ are bid by West had, like your writer would do, North. What could I say except possibly, showing suits in a natural order, longest woodenly led his partner’s suit. “I’m sorry my singleton was a ten partner.” first, starting as low as possible. With just Declarer could win and put the defenders Think about the result if only North opens a flat 12, responder may elect to pass a to the test by crossing to dummy with a 1C. He can McKenny, twice, for a club rebid of 1NT, particularly if 10 point club and trying to steal a heart trick. While return and give South two heart ruffs for openings are employed. Hands with 12+ this play might work against the weakest two down; just a four-trick difference! points, long clubs and a 4-card suit, are of defenders it would not work against A comprehensive set of bid by first showing the 4-card suit and later using 2NT, which is always forcing anyone else. Assuming, for his heart play, responses to 1C declarer held HK, East could see that in these methods, to create a forcing declarer would take nine tricks unless he One club is by far the most common situation and clarify. got busy. This is not the way to go. opening bid in standard systems, yet just Continued on page 13 of the web version

September - October 2005 The QBA Bulletin 5 On the other table a club was led and Sunshine Coast Dlr W ♠ 4 claim was made. This was against team Vul Both ♥ A98632 1 and that board plus one more bad result 1-day Teams ♦ — lost us that match by 27 IMPs. ♣ AKQJ95 HE field was unfortunately fairly ♠ KJ952 ♠ Q1076 Dlr S ♠ 95 small; only 24 teams. I have been ♥ 10754 N ♥ — Vul Both ♥ AJ742 told by a few players that they don't ♦ W E ♦ ♦ J98 T 3 S K7642 S like to come to the Sunshine Coast ♣ 642 ♣ 10873 ♣ 876 because of traffic delays on the highway. ♠ A83 ♠ 876 ♠ K103 N We can only hope that players from ♥ KQJ ♥ Q953 N ♥ 10 Brisbane and further south will put up with ♦ W E ♦ ♦ AQJ10985 AK63 S Q104 some delays as this problem will not be ♣ — ♣ J2 ♣ AKQ1093 fixed in the near future. ♠ AQJ42 The congress was directed by David ♥ The play was win the SA, a spade, K86 Anderson who did a great job as usual. ruff a club, play the HK and East shows ♦ J752 A special thanks goes to Anne McLeod, out. #%!!### - one down! ♣ 4 who looked after all the snacks and It was pointed out to me that it is costless refreshments and made sure that nobody to test the hearts first and I have to agree At our table this was played in a very pe- was running on empty during the day. that it was a very lazy play by me. destrian 3C after a 1S from South. The final winners were the Mayers team Our partners at the other table reached with Adrienne Kelly, Camille Fludder, 3NT after a precision 2C opening and a Rosemary Crowley, and Adrian Mayers. 2S overcall. Board 5 of the first match gave us a nice Arana CBC Deep correctly says that 3NT pick up. can’t make but who is going to find a heart Novice Teams lead from Kxx if partner never made a bid. Dlr N ♠ 4 Under 100 MPs 3NT made 11 tricks for a nice pick up. Vul NS ♥ A Going in to the last match we were trailing ♦ Q8654 October 9 2005 Gosney by 8 VPs so we needed a good ♣ win and Gosney needed to lose. KQ9632 Phone 3851 0299 ♠ 102 ♠ KQ9876 Miracles do happen as the Luck team ♥ J7432 N ♥ Q1085 or 3263 9024 managed to beat the Gosney team by ♦ W E ♦ 17 IMPs for their only loss and we had AJ97 S 102 email entries to: ♣ J10 ♣ 4 tonysharagar our good win. ♠ AJ53 We owe you one Ivy. ♥ @hotmail.com.au K96 „ Adrian Mayers ♦ K3 ♣ A875 Queensland Senior and WN E S 1D1 2S 3NT Youth Championships P4C2 P4S3 P5CP5S4 P 6C All pass November 19-20 This is a QBA event - enquiries to the manager 1 Precision 2 Gerber with CRO responses 3 Two aces - same colour 4 Two kings - same colour Playing Precision I have the option to Brisbane Bridge Centre open 2C but I decided to open 1D thinking it would be easier to show my distribution 104 Frederick St, Annerley. Ph: 3392 7933 that way. The play required no great skill and at Play Sessions Tuesday 9.30 am the other table it was played in 3NT for a 7.30 pm 12 IMP gain. Wednesday 10.30 am This board (next column) caused me Thursday 7.30 pm some pain. Saturday 1.00 pm We reached a regulation 7H and I Coaching Sessions & Monday 10.00 am received the lead of a small spade. Beginners’ Classes Tuesday 7.30 pm After looking at dummy I decided the only Enquiries for coaching & beginners’ classes: 3371 2383 risk was a bad break in clubs.

The QBA Bulletin September - October 2005 6 Sunnybank

AUL Gosney and I gave the Sunnybank Congress a try last PSunday. I phoned Anne Lovett on the Tuesday morning to be told, “you are last in the door”. As for the previous few years, some pairs had to be refused entry - 30 tables being the cut off. That wall will have to come down! We began the day at Table 1 playing against Anne Lovett and Lyn Cleary. “Now, you guys will be nice to us, won’t Winners Paul Gosney & Andrew Pryde you”. I smiled condescendingly and off we 1S - 2C; 2NT - 3NT and get a heart lead. went. Five boards later, they left the table ♠ with their 70% sending us to the far side The next hand was uneventful and Dlr W KJ9654 of the room to table 27!! Not a good start. resulted in a small minus but this hand Vul Both ♥ KQ5 was a bad one. ♦ 8 I could give you various triumphs & ♣ disasters throughout the event but it 753 seems appropriate to show you our 30%. Dlr S ♠ J1076 ♠ 7 ♠ Q8 I was sitting North. Vul EW ♥ 52 ♥ A9876 N ♥ J104 ♦ ♦ W E ♦ K762 AQ S J10953 Dlr N ♠ AKQ75 ♣ A109 ♣ AKQ84 ♣ J109 Vul None ♥ 964 ♠ AKQ53 ♠ 9842 ♠ A1032 ♦ KQ ♥ J1096 N ♥ Q874 ♥ 32 ♣ ♦ W E ♦ ♦ 932 A103 S 8 K7642 ♠ 9863 ♠ J104 ♣ Q ♣ K873 ♣ 62 ♥ 32 N ♥ A1085 ♠ — ♦ W E ♦ ♥ AJ1054 S 873 AK3 ♣ J7 ♣ K54 ♦ QJ954 WN E S ♠ 2 ♣ J6542 2C P 2D P 2H P 4H All pass ♥ KQJ7 ♦ 962 ♣ AQ1086 WN E S This is clearly a dreadful mistake by me. 1D I can only show my spades by bidding X1SX 2C 2Nt over 2C and chose not to - mistake 2H All pass WN E S No 1. Then, I was given another chance 1S P 2C over 2H - my brain was obviously in neu- P 2S P 3NT Systemically, Paul (South) should bid 3C tral here. Also, many Wests will open 1H All pass here which is simply competitive. and now the spade bid is 100%. I’d say Anne said she would bid 3H but I will now the spade save would be found by 70% Nothing very strange about the bidding compete with 4D - and we will buy the of the room - so, almost a zero for us. and we were in a normal contract. A auction there. Why do I not bid 3D over diamond lead from West saw this going 2H? I believe, in the non- seat, off. A small minus perhaps but hardly a and “knowing” partner will not pass, that Going to the Gold disaster. Our system may have helped it shows a better hand. Another minus - Coast next year? with the bad result as others will bid it but a big one this time. The Gold Coast Booking Centre manages 15 properties. The properties in Surfers are Moroccan Noosa Butler Pairs Crown Towers Chevron Renaissance Congress Imperial Surf November 26-27 St Tropez Aloha Sample the first class restaurants and quality Enderley Gardens accommodation in magnificent Noosa. Equinox Contact Judy Jessop on 5474 2484 or email the club at Website www.gcbc.com.au [email protected] Phone 1300 553 800 and this Noosa bridge Club, PO Box 40, Noosaville QLD 4566 is a local call cost.

September - October 2005 The QBA Bulletin 7

Dlr N ♠ A106432 Vul NS ♥ 982 Introducing a ♦ — ♣ AK106 Major New Sponsor ♠ 75 ♠ K8 Stores at Caloundra, ♥ J4 N ♥ AKQ105 Chermside, Gympie, ♦ W E ♦ K9763 S A42 Morayfield, Noosa Junction ♣ QJ84 ♣ 952 ♠ & Sunshine Plaza QJ9 Head office:41 Bulcock St, Caloundre 4551 ♥ 763 Ph: 07 5437 0666 Fax: 07 5437 0966 ♦ QJ1085 Email: [email protected] ♣ 73

WN E S 1S 2H 2S 2006 Gold P 4S All pass Coast I bid 4S here and of course, went quietly one down. Many Norths must have only invited and come away with a plus score. Congress Yes, it is a worry that hearts have not been raised, but I do have a 5-loser hand. February 18-25 So, there it is - 30%. As we wandered sheepishly down to Table 27 I thought briefly of the big floppy hat and dark sunglasses I had in the car - but everyone knew who Paul was playing with so I didn’t bother. We clawed our way up through the field to get back to Table 1 the round after lunch - and stayed on for the win. Directors Jan Peach and Geoff Slack- Queensland Bridge Association Inc Smith, along with caddies from Sunny- bank Club ensured the players enjoyed The QBA can produce copies of “Bridge Directing a smooth and friendly competition. Complete” by Ian McKinnon (in its 1979 format) The kitchen was staffed by Sunnybank Cost: $45.00 (including GST) Members who served up a constant supply of delicious food supplied by club This includes a postage and handling cost of $5.00 members. Orders and payment details to QBA Manager, 22 Mareeba Court, Arana Hills 4054 A fine winter’s day allowed the prize presentation to take place in the garden Ph: (07) 3351 8602 or Email: [email protected] with delicious food and drinks set out on tables under the trees. Knock out that wall Sunnybank. „ Andrew Pryde QCBC 67 Ipswich Rd Woolloongabba When it is clear that declarer Ph: 3391 3241 Email: [email protected] will make enough tricks for his Sessions: Mon 10.30 am 7.30 pm contract as soon as he gets in, Tue 10.00 am 7.30 pm the defenders must hasten to Wed 10.30 am 7.30 pm cash their quick winners. Thur 10.30 am *For evening times see below Conversely, when declarer Fri 10.00 am 7.30 pm appears to be a couple of Sat 1.00 pm tricks short that is the time Supervised: Mon 7.30 pm to play a passive defence Fri 9.30 am and give him no assistance *2nd & 4th Thursday 6.00 pm - Coaching whatever. *3rd Thursday 7.30 pm - Teams Enquiries to Toni Bardon - 3391 3241

The QBA Bulletin September - October 2005 8 the known major and if the 2NT opening Teacher’s shows weak minors, then 3C is a heart 25 Years Ago oriented takeout and 3D is the same for Corner spades. Otherwise just bid your suit naturally, and usually it becomes easy to The ANC Hobart play the hand knowing where all the HE team chosen for the trials was minors are! „ TTony Jackman, Mike Robson, George Cuppaidge, Gary Malinas, Richard Wallis and John Craig. Team practices were Play a pre-emptor who leads difficult to arrange and the lack of solid Joan his suit for a singleton trump practice was undoubtedly detrimental. Butts The team came fourth which was a good result considering everything and with ULTI-two bids are very popular in Australia. When I insisted on Mplaying ordinary old garden vari- ety Weak 2s at a national event recently, my partner said OK, but it should be QBA BEGINNERS alerted as it’s SO UNUSUAL! And we’ll be the only pair in the field playing them! TEACHING KIT Well, so what? I’ve always been quite • Student text “PLAY BRIDGE: a Workbook for the Absolute happy with Weak 2s, and I remember Eric Beginner” by Joan Butts – modern approach – starts with Mini Kokish telling me years ago that he bridge – 15-17 1NT, 5 card majors, emphasis on play. ($19.95) prefers them because there is much more • pre-emptive value to opening 2S than Teachers’ Manual chapter -by-chapter guide to effective teaching there is to opening 2D (to show spades!) methods, student-centred approach, plus hand records, and disc And there’s a lot to be said for 2S - X - 3S for dealing machines. ($14.95) (pre-emptive with three trumps) as a way • Summary of the Basics for students at the table. “A Guide by to keep opponents out of the right spot. Your Side” by Joan Butts & Kathy Johnson, covers basic bidding People say that opening Multi-2s only and card play tips. ($9.95) confuses the opposition. Really the only • “Help with Play” – 32 hands with analysis prepared for tough thing is that the opening (2D) does supervised sessions after the beginners’ course ($14.95) not promise a specific suit. However Multi openings can confuse the Multi-2ers as Up to 50% discount teachers and bridge clubs. Free copies of “:Play well, and bad results are sure to come Bridge”for school students. Buy all four items in the kit (valued at $59.80) your way if you try the 2H or 2S openings for SPECIAL price of $45.00 (showing 5 of that suit and a 4+ card Order through Joan Butts. Tel: 07 3357 4824. Mobile: 0413 772 650 minor) with weak second suits, and very Email: [email protected] Website: www.uq.net.au/cards few points. However, I’ve been asked to write obout a defence to Multis, not to complain about them! And it is essential to have a good defensive structure, to stop them “getting” you. QCBC The older defensive style was, according to Ron Klinger, and most other experts, QLD GRADED TEAMS to double showing any shape and 16+ points, or to bid 2NT (balanced 19-21) or Sunday 23 October - 9.30am start 3NT(balanced 22-24). Any suit bid in the Convenor: Marion Cooke - 3351 7625 immediate position, was natural, showing [email protected] a good suit but below 16 HCP, a strong 5-card major and a good opening at the 2-level, a strong suit and 3-losers at the QCBC SWISS PAIRS 3-level. Otherwise pass and wait for responder to bid. Sunday 6 November - 9.30am start I think that it’s a better idea to take more immediate action over the Multi 2D. It is QCBC NOVICE PAIRS after all, mostly only a weak 2, so you Sunday 27 November – 9.30am start usually need to get into the bidding early to show points yourself. A sensible idea is to play double immediately as a take- NEW YEARS EVE TEAMS out of hearts (12+pts), and 2H or 2S as 7.30pm - $60 per team natural bids, showing normal opening Enquiries to QCBC - 3391 3241 hands (not necessarily 16+). The other 2-bids are easy to defend [email protected] against, with double being a take-out of

September - October 2005 The QBA Bulletin 9 more luck and preparation it might well have reached the final. John took a view on this hand against Queensland Bridge Victoria and we came badly unstuck.

Dlr N ♠ J854 Association Vul None ♥ 873 ♦ 984 2006 Trials to select the state ♣ Q65 teams for the Australian National ♠ K3 ♠ A9762 ♥ K952 N ♥ J10 Championships to be held in ♦ W E ♦ KJ75 S 103 ♣ A43 ♣ KJ108 Adelaide from July 30 - August 5 ♠ Q10 The trials to be held at QCBC ♥ AQ64 Open March 11-12, 25-26 & April 1 ♦ AQ62 ♣ Women March 11-12, 25-26 & April 1 972 Senior April 8-9, 22-23 ***** LOW ENTRY FEES ***** WN E S Teams Ratified by the QBA Council receive: 1S! P 2NT PPXXX Airfares to Adelaide P 3C X All pass Generous Allowance Free Entry to the National Pairs and Teams & Dinner Dance After John opened 1S Jim Borin passed; I bid 2NT (12-14 and therefore forcing) TEAM MEMBERS MUST ATTEND THE which John passed round to Jim. I alerted QBA SQUAD TRAINING WEEKEND MAY 27 & 28 (as requested) that John had psyched. Enquires to Kim Ellaway Telephone: 07 33518602 After some thought Jim elected to double Fax: 07 33518603 and I had to decide whether to stick it. I Mobile: 0412 064 903 considered that I was unlikely to make more that 4 tricks on a favourable lead and Email: [email protected] less on a passive lead, thus a trump con- tract was preferable. I redoubled for take- out, hoping (expecting) a spade rebid. Coming Events However, John had a flat 4-3-3-3 hand (unsuitable for a ) and he played Oct 8 Mackay Teams in 3CX. With everything wrong he made 8-9 Gold Coast Butler Pairs & Teams the two aces only for a loss of 1300. 9 Arana Novice Teams Cleveland Bay Teams „ Richard Wallis Gympie Swiss Teams 15-16 QBA Pairs Championship - BBC 21 QBA Mixed Teams C’ship - Rd 3 - QCBC 21-23 Townsville Magnetic Teams WANTED 23 QBA Qld Graded Teams - QCBC Youth Players 29 Mackay Novice Teams The QBA would like to hear 29-30 Cairns Pairs from players under 25 Hervey Bay Pairs & Teams Please contact Kim Ellaway Northern Suburbs Butler Pairs on 3351 8602 30 Surfers Paradise Novice Teams Nov 6 Cleveland Bay Anniversary Pairs QCBC Swiss Pairs 12 Townsville Novice Teams It is important for partners Redland Graded Teams to appreciate what consti- 12-13 Coral Coast Teams - Bowen tutes a mistake in bridge. 13 Warwick Pairs Edgar Kaplan has suggested 18-21 GNOT - Sydney the following definition: 19-26 Qld-wide Pairs ‘A mistake is any action in the 19-20 Qld Senior & Youth Pairs Championship bidding or in the play, which 26 Central Qld Teams - Mackay 26-27 Noosa Butler Pairs you, in similar circumstances, 26-27 Noosa Butler Pairs 27 QCBC Novice Pairs would not have taken. Dec 2 Qld Mixed Teams C’ship - Rd 4 - QCBC Edgar Kaplan 4 Toowong Swiss Pairs (restricted <150 MPs)

The QBA Bulletin September - October 2005 10 CLUB DIRECTOR =3 M Darley D Ryan ACCREDITATION EXAM REPORT Results =3 P Gordon K Ward Plate JULY 2005 1 J Barry B Parsons Twenty-six candidates sat both papers 2 R McArthur P Penlington and a further 4 sat one paper only. Nine Mackay Pairs 3 R & S Carpenter candidates passed one paper only and July 9 Consolation have the opportunity to pass their second 1 A Butwell R Lovett A Section paper in 2006 to gain accreditation. I 2 G Rose B Tetzlaff 1 J Buckley R Palmer would like to thank Geoff Slack-Smith for 3 C Healy P Millar 2 N Bryce J Crowley check marking and Kim Ellaway for 3 K Poole A Boland despatching papers and organising Broadwater Congress B Section certificates. 1 R Thurairetam K Le Roux July 17 Congratulations go to our 18 new Club 2 T Wotherspoon E Baker 1 D Croft R Morawiecki Directors: 3 E Best M Robins J Pritchard B Barden PETER FREDERICKS ARANA 2 P Tootell H Tootell DENNIS SUTTON COOLUM Noosa Swiss Teams J Brown E Hurley CHRISTINE BRAMELD GOLD COAST July 10 3 R Slobom A Small GRACE HENRY GOLD COAST B Nightingale R Morey A Section GRAHAM HENRY GOLD COAST Plate 1 R Perry M Dakin BRYAN HUNT GOLD COAST 1 A Moroney A King C Fludder J Drake PETER STONE GOLD COAST C Bloomfield P Woods 2 I Halford M Radke 2 L DeNett D O'Hara TERE WOTHERSPOON MACKAY S Brookes V Brookes ANN MCGHEE MARYBOROUGH C Lewis E Hennig 3 T Jackman R Wallis Best Restricted MAUREEN JAKES NOOSA B Lee M Robson V Huntley R Huntley MAURICE CULLEN QCBC B Section C Roache C Moran JANN THATCHER QCBC 1 E Gilliam P Kline CAROLYN WOOLLEY QCBC M Schmidt P Carpenter Mackay Novice Pairs CHRIS WOOLLEY QCBC 2 F McKinnon P Feeney MARGARET WARREN STANTHORPE D Jones A Finney July 30 3 L Cowled A McLeod DAVID COWLS TAMBORINE MT 1 J Adair M McGuire D McKenzie A Walker TED TRIGGS TOOWONG 2 G Patterson M Batchelo C Section EDWIN WILLEY TOOWOOMBA 3 G Taylor R Miles 1 W Coman R Somerville The Tournament Committee has also J Parker B Holehouse granted Club Director Level I accreditation 2 C Regan J Boakes Moreton Bribie Congress to: JAN SMITH CLEVELAND BAY S Lee C Robinson July 30-31 3 K Taylor J Grant B Fox C Jackson Pairs News from the 1 A Mayer R Crowley Caloundra Novice Pairs 2 L Bourke G Lruz Manager’s Desk June 10 3 P Collins I Luck B Section 1 M Daines R Manester 1 P Terrace B Slaughter The QBA is proposing teaching tours 2 H Balci D Smith 2=J Eberhardt M Moffat involving two of Australia’s foremost 3 B Holmes W Holmes 2=A Jones N Mayne Bridge Teachers, Paul Lavings and Ron Klinger. The dates are yet to be confirmed Qld Graded Pairs C’ship Teams but it is hoped that Ron Klinger will July 3 1 R Parker J Mills undertake a teaching tour of North July 3 S Parker C Green Queensland (Rockhampton, Mackay, Life & Grand 2 J Eberhardt M Moffat Townsville and Cairs) in April 2006 and 1 D Anderson E Spiro G Edge N Close Paul Lavings tour the Sunshine Coast in 2 P Gosney A Hung 3=A Slater K Dawson K McDonald R Touton January 2006. 3 P Maddigan S O’Brien Below Life 3= C & C Woolley This is a fabulous opportunity for the clubs 1 L Ranke J Rohde J & J Steele and players to learn more about the game 2 P Krueger K Patrick B Section from two players with unenviable repu- 3 A Moroney A King 1=D & E Stringfellow tations - more details to follow. Below 100 MPs N & A Harington Congratulations to all teams and pairs 1 G Roberts K Dean 1=G Thomas C Adamson which participated at the ANC. 2 P Lang G Wardrop M Stoneman K Hewings 3 D Rogers L Rogers Secretaries’ Page now on the website. Toowoomba Pairs Thank you to David Anderson and Andrew Bundaberg Pairs Hooper for the continued upgrading of our July 31 website. July 16-17 1 P Gue M Walters Directors’ Workshop Tour before the end 1 K Feeney D Harris 2 C Fludder A Kelly of 2005 - organisation is in progress. 2 B Raper J Roughley 3 C Snook M Trada

September - October 2005 The QBA Bulletin 11 Plate GRADUATE Atkinson Faye Plate 1 J Erlandson W Higgins NIL MASTER Balci Hedo 1 A Brown L Pollock H Thompson B Pearson Sunnybank Swiss Pairs Toowong Novice Teams 2 B Theodore H Glatter August 7 August 14 P Gordon K Ward 1 P Gosney A Pryde 1 J Swanson G Yates Brisbane Festival Congress 2 I & J Luck K Dean G Roberts 3 Y Kilvert G Olsen 2 M Smith J Smith Sept 10-11 Plate K Pope C Wheeler Swiss Pairs 1 P Han M Kendall 3 N & R Kelley 1 S & R Parker 2 L King H Standfast J McGrath J Lindberg 2 J Peach G Slack-Smith 3 L Barua B Stuthe Rockhampton Swiss teams 3=D Cullen M Hoenig Maryborough Congress 3=S Birrer J Morris August 13-14 B Section August 6-7 1 R Lorraway J Dooner 1 C & C Woolley 2 J & P Evans Pairs C Schwabegger K Daws 2 M Allan M Saunders Swiss Teams 1 R Green M Jakes E White R Cunliffe 2 S Regan R Trollope 1 P Collins I Luck 3 J Lanham D Smith A Smith R Clayton 3 M Allan R Cunliffe V Vella J Henderson Plate 2 D Croft J Solomon Plate J Pritchard B Barden 1 P Gordon K Ward 1 J Philip L MacFarlane 2 R & S Feige 3 T Jackman M Robson G Rattenbury P Snelling A Kelly D Anderson 3 M Fitzpatrick P Rogers 2 J Palmer K Cupples B Section Teams S Dwarshuis E Maxwell 1 G Thoman J Gough 1 B Theodore H Glatter Novice P Waldrum K Robertshaw K Ward P Gordon D Turner D O’Regan 2 R Curtin M Munro 2 M Lynch J Manton A Archer H Archer R Gorman J Hay S Regan R Trollope 3 B Carroll G McCarthy 3 R Green M Jakes Qld Butler Pairs M Dyer M Ryan P Barnett D Harris August 20-21 Plate 1 J Fell I Brown 1 P Gosney D Appleton P Sykes S Lee 2 P Hainsworth R Parker Club News 2 D Turner C Healy 3 D Janzekovic J Han P Millar D O'Regan 4 C Schoutrop B Stacey If you want items about your club in 3 E Humphries I Oliver Championship titles this section, please send your news- C Farren A Muller Butler Pairs and Men’s Pairs P Gosney D Appleton letter or items to Kim Ellaway. GNOT Women’s Pairs QCBC C Schoutrop B Stacey 1 B Hunt R Lachman The CPR Life Course proved popular. Restricted Section (<150 MPs) P Rankin P Hooykaas The Qld Mixed Teams which 24 teams 2 J Leung J Solomon 1 S Solo H Kruse 2 P Schoen Y Carter entered finishes in November - provisional D Appleton P Hainsworth results on the QBA website. 3 D Brinkworth C Schoutrop Sunshine Coast Swiss M Drake D Cullen Sunshine Coast Swiss Toowong Teams August 28 James O'Sullivan Award at Geoff Slack-Smith stands for another term 1 A Mayers R Crowley of President. August 31 2005 A Kelly C Fludder RSPCA Charity Day to be held on Oct 22. 2 P Gosney A Pryde ALL GRADES Francis Neville P Hainsworth R Parker Caboolture SILVER GRAND Francis Neville 3 G Hart P Barnett Hosted the Moreton-Bribie Bridge Club on GRAND Parker Ralph M Jakes D Harris the 14th August for the Beryl Cramb GOLD LIFE Janzekovic Darko Plate Memorial Day - great food, great company SILVER LIFE Jakes Maureen 1 L Bourke J Keim BRONZE LIFE O’Dempsey Terence and a fun day. The event was won by Ruth C Cooke S Adcock Hanson and Andy Slater. LIFE Gosney Paul 2 R Perry A Smith **NATIONAL Groom Rita J Bell E De Chastel Arana *NATIONAL Moschner Ken Furniture is now available for 40 tables NATIONAL Wells Peter Qld Teams Championship due to growth of congresses. *STATE Penlington Paul *REGIONAL Gerber Paul Sept 3-4 Richard McLauclan obtained Grand STATE McCarthy Gayle 1 S Konig J Wallis Master Status - the first for the Club. REGIONAL Thompson Philip S Burgess B Haughie Surfers **LOCAL Hung Andy 2 R Ward L Vincent Tony Bernard (Treasurer of 5 years) *LOCAL Swanson Jane R Wallis T Tully LOCAL Congreve Michael 3 P Gosney D Appleton moves back to Melbourne. CLUB Hoare Rob M Moren N Francis A new bridge library has been set up.

The QBA Bulletin September - October 2005 12 After particularly harrowing sessions, one Directors’ Corner often hears the comment that the deal- ing machine had “its meter tweaked “or had been “screwed down” like a stingy

SYCHES are in the news again. There is no justification for, “Don’t turn poker machine. Interfering with the ran- New reporting requirements for your cards over, I need to think,” because domness of a dealing machine for nor- P directors mean that more reports 65A requires that they be turned face mal sessions and congresses would be are going into the QBA Psychic Calls down. contrary to Law 6A. Register. Debate sometimes rages as to whether „ Jan Peach Deliberately choosing to grossly mis-state dummy may say, “I didn’t see your card. suit length or honour strength is a legiti- What was it?” Law 42A2 gives dummy mate ploy. A very clever ploy if it keeps an absolute right, “He may keep count of the opponents out of a making game or tricks won and lost.” He cannot do this if TOOWONG slam. A psychic call should be of as much he doesn’t see the cards played. surprise to partner as it is to the oppo- BRIDGE CLUB nents. Partners of psychic callers may find Agreement as to the number of tricks won Join us to enjoy and their responses under scrutiny. They may and lost is not reached by a majority vote. celebrate 40 YEARS even have to deal with a heightened Each player is entitled to be satisfied that with a Birthday Bash awareness when playing with a chronic the score being entered is correct. I often psycher and may find conservative re- notice that players will change the And please stay for our sponses no longer an option. direction of a quitted trick simply because ANNIVERSARY Being psyched against for the first time they notice that someone else has it can be a bitter experience. pointing the other way. I pay little attention CONGRESS to the, “We three all have 9 tricks to us so GRADED SWISS he must be wrong.” The odd one out is Law 65A says, “When four cards have occasionally right. PAIRS been played to a trick, each player turns his own card face down near him on the SUNDAY 4th table.” There’s nothing to suggest that this Law 6A starts with, “Before play starts, DECEMBER 2005 is anything other than an immediate each pack is thoroughly shuffled.” 6B re- action. Plonk, plonk, plonk, plonk, turn quires dealing to be face down, one card Grades: OPEN & UNDER cards over. at a time, with “in rotation, clockwise” men- 150 Law 66A caters for players who did not tioned as the recommended procedure. Entry forms available soon sight a card before it was turned over. It Law 6E4 caters for computer dealing. [email protected] protects them from cards being flicked When computer dealt hands came into over so quickly that an important card is common usage, many noticed that they missed. “So long as his side has not led were “different” from hand dealt ones. or played to the next trick, declarer or This difference was not the fault of the Advertising Rates either defender may, until he has turned computer (assuming sufficient random- Affiliated clubs his own card face down on the table, ness was in place) but from the fact that $200 per page or pro rata require that all cards just played to the packs were being insufficiently shuffled Other bridge related ads trick be faced.” before hand dealing. $300 pp or pro rata All other ads $400 pp pro rata Ads on the web pages only An Invitation to 1/2 price The Fourth Annual Editing of Material Brisbane Festival of Bridge Contributors should note that the right (An approved QBA Red Masterpoint event) to modify submitted material is retained by the QBA. to be held at The Toowong Bridge Club Wed Dec 28 – Sun Jan 1 DEAD • A Red Masterpoint Event NOV 14 (noon) • Paul Lavings, Guest Lecturer Contributions to: • Sunday teams event for novice players 33 Royal Pde • Ashgrove 4060 Cash and other prizes Ph/Fax: 07 3366 1292 Convenor: Denise Dodd (07) 3359 1285 Email: Enquiries: [email protected] [email protected] Director: Trevor Strickland (07) 3820 6104 LINE

September - October 2005 The QBA Bulletin 13 Continued from page 4 3S to show any solid suit, not an Over a 2H or 2S response, opener can * With club shortage and weaker hands, uncommon but hard-to-describe situation, pass with support or, lacking support, bid rescue 1C to a five-card or longer suit. The will see 3NT played from the right side 3C, correctable to 3D. With a strong hand, Wolff sign-off should be employed for and slams that require a sure source of opener can raise to game or bid 2NT those situations when opener rebids 2NT. tricks easily bid. The pre-emptive res- asking responder to show his long minor ponses are very limited in strength and or bid 3H when three-suited. The rationale quite specific, the stronger hand will Auctions that begin 1C-2NT/3C With a responding hand of lesser strength usually be concealed. than 12 points, it is very rewarding to get Opener rebids on the assumption that to exactly the right part-score. Un- Auctions beginning 1C-1D/H/S 2NT shows 10-12 points with five or more balanced weak hands (6-11 points) Opener rebids 1NT (10-14) or 2NT (18- clubs. If he is minimum, he bids 3C, any opposite a minimum, balanced opening 19) if balanced, 3NT holding 18-19 with a other bid is ostensibly natural and are almost invariably better played in a strong club suit of six cards or longer and commits the side at least to game. On suit part-score than 1NT or (heaven no particularly useful holding in partner’s certain hands, opener will be able, forbid) 2NT, but it must be the right part- suit. A rebid in another suit, even at the opposite the weak 3C response, to bid score. Ignore that old bromide that part- one-level, shows 5+4 in clubs and that 3NT based upon the probability of running scores must be played in NT at pairs, it is suit or a three-suiter short in responder’s the club suit. just not true. suit. A raise of partner will usually show Auctions that begin 1C-3D/H/NT The 2D/H/S responses rely on the simple 4-card support but a simple raise may be Opener can sign off in responder’s major fact of bridge life that we will not be left to based upon three only. A raise neither at the level he chooses or, after the 3NT play in a comfortable two-of-a-minor. On shows nor denies a . The response, bid 4C/5C/6C, correctable to those unbalanced with a four-card major 2NT bid can be used to ask opener to diamonds. With particularly good support we seek out the major-suit fit first by going distinguish a 3-card from a 4-card raise. for clubs but not for diamonds, opener can directly to the two-level, if the fit does not The auction 1C-1M; 1NT-2C unequivo- bid 4D over 3NT forcing responder with exist we subside in three-of-a-minor. It is cally shows five or more in the major, long clubs to show them at the five-level. rarely wrong to play, if allowed, in a good because the initial response was not two- Auctions that begin 1C-3S fit, even with a combined fifteen count. of-the-major. The auction 1C-1M; 1NT- Generally opener will know what solid-suit Particularly well-fitting hands with a 2NT asks opener first to show three-card responder holds, in which case he can combined strength below twenty points support and second, four cards in the bid game or slam directly or bid 4C as an often make game in a suit, almost never other major. If responder continues, enquiry for responder’s shortage, if any. himself, with a new major he is showing in NT. We don’t rely on the opponents’ 4D shows low shortage or no shortage, 4-4 in the majors not 5-4. Responder does bidding to find those games for us. Our 4H middle shortage, 4S high singleton, not bid 5-4’s through 2NT. There is no often much better endowed opponents 4NT high void. If opener lacks any of the need for 2C check-back or new minor will be left to find their best spot at an top three honours in two suits he will not forcing since 2NT is available. These uncomfortably high level. Often they will know which suit responder holds, so he discover they have strayed into a mine- valuable rebids are free for use in their bids 4D to find out. Responder bids his field. Opener holds the key to unlock the natural sense. suit or 4NT if it is diamonds. very precise meanings of each of these Auctions that begin 1C-1NT/2C bids, but only if he needs to. The To follow; these responses in competition. In both cases, since responder’s hand is opponents do not. As well, these bids so exactly described, double of inter- immediately separate the classes of vention by opener is for penalty, double unbalanced weak hands with a four-card GNOT by responder simply shows a maximum. major from those with a five-card or longer major and a four-card or longer minor. Opener with just two clubs should rescue EAMS events are always Rarely will we miss the best fit. The only himself, after 1C-2C, by bidding his lower challenging and enjoyable, so time we miss a 4-4 fit in a major is when ranking four-card suit. This is never T when Di Brinkworth invited Dawn responder holds both majors and is weak forward going. If he is strong and Cullen and I to join her and Connie and balanced and opener who is balanced he bids 3NT, if strong and Schoutrop in the GNOT qualifying event balanced with four spades rebids 1NT unbalanced he bids 2NT, suggesting a at Toowong BC, we put on our Toowong over 1H. club game or slam. A re-raise, as always, hats and happily acquiesced. I belong to is pre-emptive. Invitational sequences are abandoned in many bridge clubs but Toowong was the favour of the many tactical advantages Auctions that begin 1C-2D/H/S first club I played in as a new chum and I that flow from concealing the fact that a Opener decides whether to play these have always kept up my membership. game has been bid on marginal values hands in part-score or game. Over 2D he We qualified to play off in the final which or that a stop in a part-score may have a bids 2H or 2S, non-forcing, bids game was held at the BBC rooms in August. lot of values to spare. Hands are never direct or bids 2NT, game force, for detailed Our opponent was the Hunt team who played in 2NT, so that bid is available in information. Over 2NT, responder bids 3C were happily locked into 1st place. We all auctions for one partner to glean or 3D to show a three-suiter with both were in 2nd position, one point above third additional information from the other as majors and four cards in the suit bid, he so we had to do well to make one of the 3 to exactly the right spot. The exact degree bids 3H or 3S with five or more cards in qualifiers. of club fit is often very important but simply that major and four in the other or bids This hand where Dawn made 4H was cannot be found in everyday methods. 3NT with 5+5+ in the majors. Without crucial to our final place. 1NT and 2C are, in fact, 4-card club three cards in either major, opener will raises, opener who has only two clubs can usually hold a six-card club suit, which rescue himself from a poor 2C contract, he can rebid. With 2245, he must guess see below. Five-card club raises are well, but 2H is probably best as responder shown through 2NT and 3C. The use of with 6+4 in the majors will bid 2S.

The QBA Bulletin September - October 2005 14 (goodbye to club loser). Or lead up to the the rule for the first time in his 22 years of Dlr S ♠ K96 (phantom) CQ in hand, West flies with her bridge) and was rewarded with +130 Vul None ♥ AJ10 ace and park one of the heart losers on against +50 at the other table. ♦ AJ the now good CK before the HA and HK The motto being that ‘rules are meant to ♣ AKQ63 are cashed, or a trump switch. be broken but only when it is right’. „ ♠ AQJ103 ♠ 87 Buckley’s! Scrap Plan A. ♥ 7 N ♥K652 Plan B: Get lucky with hearts and drop ♦ W E ♦ the trump queen doubleton, then come From Overseas K6 S Q9843 ♣ J8754 ♣ 102 home on dummy’s long hearts via the ♠ trump 9. Not quite hopeless. 542 F Zia comes into the office you know ♥ Q9843 So trick 1: win in dummy. you are going to get something spe- ♦ 10752 Trick 2: small to H8, won by the East’s I cial. Take a look at this deal. ♣ 9 ace - so far, so good. ♠ Q ♠ AK94 Trick 3: East fires back the H7 to her ♥ AK93 ♥ 84 partner’s king. ♦ Q54 ♦ AJ976 WN E S Trick 4: When the defence’s last heart was ♣ J10743 ♣ A5 P led, declarer was smiling (now can You are East, trying to make six diamonds 1S X P 2H succeed when East holds SQxx). Pitch 2S 4H All pass after the following auction: club loser, East ruffs - with the queen!! Don’t like this trump break: 3 tricks lost West led her SA and then her queen to WN E S dummy’s king. Dawn decided to quickly already and no way to enjoy dummy’s RobsonKampmann Zia Auken pitch her losing spade on dummy’s clubs. good hearts if West has 4 trumps. P When the CQ was ruffed it became likely Trick 5: A belated club switch, West flies 1C 1S 2D P that the trump split would not be kind. After ace, ruff. Declarer smiles again: a parking 3D P 3H X XX P 4NT P overruffing she decided to play ace and spot for one diamond, ruff two in dummy, 5C X XX P another diamond and cross-ruff for 10 eureka! 5H P 6D All pass tricks and a valuable 11 IMPs. Trick 6: ruff a low diamond in dummy. The Robson team swept into 2nd place Trick 7: Cash the CK, discarding a South leads the eight of clubs. Plan the play. but we had enough to get us into 3rd place diamond. You need to find North with the doubleton and happily on our way to the grand final king of diamonds and you might be to Banora Point in November. Trick 8: Heart from dummy, ruffed by West with the S2, overruff with 4 (no point pre- tempted to win the first club, cross to „ Margaret Drake serving it if West has longer trumps than dummy with a spade, play a diamond to dummy), East discards (as expected). the jack and cash the ace of diamonds. When the king falls you play a club, but Coup at the Butler Trick 9: Ruff another diamond in dummy North wins and plays a third club to (high this time in case West started with ensure that South scores a trick with the ♠ two). Dlr W AKJ104 ten of diamonds. Vul Both ♥ J8 Trick 10: Another heart from dummy, West Zia saw this in a flash and found the only ♦ doesn’t ruff this time, declarer discards A10954 counter. He simply ducked the club lead! ♣ last low diamond and is about to claim - 3 Now he could win the club return, cross until East ruffs with the S3! “Sorry, it was ♠ 852 ♠ Q3 to the queen of spades, finesse in hiding in with the clubs.” ♥ K106 N ♥ A7 diamonds, cash the ace, dropping the W E ♦ Q32 ♦ J876 Of course, if East ruffs with the S3 at trick king, draw the last trump and ruff a club. S 4 (rather than with the queen), Plan B ♣ AJ109 ♣ Q7654 That way he has just enough entries to would have succeeded. ♠ 976 establish the fifth club as a parking place ♥ Q95432 Footnote: Another reason to wear a Tam for his losing spade. This was the layout ♦ K O’Shanter – to stop a cunningly foiled he was playing for: declarer tearing his hair out. ♣ K82 „ Trevor Strickland Dlr S ♠ J108632 Vul Both ♥ 65 ♦ WN E S K3 P1SP 2S Breaking the Rules ♣ KQ92 P3DP 4S HERE are many bridge ‘rules’, one ♠ Q ♠ AK94 All pass Tof which is not to bid again after you ♥ AK93 N ♥ 84 W E have pre-empted (unless partner makes ♦ Q54 ♦ AJ976 Opening lead: D6 S , of course). ♣ J10743 ♣ A5 Declarer’s prospects of bringing home the Sitting S in 1st position, nil vul, holding ♠ 75 vulnerable game are not too bright: two ♠54 ♥87 ♦6 ♣AK1087642 ♥ QJ1072 heart losers and a club loser, plus the what do you bid? ♦ 1082 small matter of the trump queen and some ♣ dodgy diamonds to take care of. Our expert bid 3C (obeying another bridge 86 Plan A: Get some value from the CK. rule, which is not to pre-empt partner). Either lead up to it (how to get to hand?) This was passed round to E who bid 3D. Well, did you match the master’s play? and East doesn’t go up with her ace What now? Our expert bid 4C (breaking International Bridge Press Assn.

September - October 2005 The QBA Bulletin