BRIDGENumber Ninety-seven October 2009
Springtime Mediterranean Cruise with Bernard Magee See overleaf for further details. Springtime and Mediterranean with Bernard Magee
DISCOVERY CLUB MEMBERS SAVE AN EXTRA 5%
EE THE WORLD EUROPEAN EXPLORER S Your Voyage Includes: IN ITS TRUE COLOURS 9 MAY 2010 ~16 DAYS FROM ONLY £995PP -INOTAUR LEGENDS HIDE INLAND FROM #RETES Date Port BLEACHED SEAFRONT #REAMY COLOURED RAMPARTS 9 May Depart UK by air to ISTANBUL, Turkey s )NSPIRING DESTINATIONS AND ENLIGHTENING MARK OUT -ALTAS CAPITAL 6ALLETTA 3ICILIAN -ESSINA Embark on mv Discovery EXCURSIONS OVERLOOKS THE STRAIT WHERE /DYSSEUS FACED 10 May Cruise the Mediterranean Sea s #OMPREHENSIVE LECTURE AND GUEST 11 May HERAKLION, Crete, Greek Islands SPEAKER PROGRAMME 3CYLLA AND #HARYBDIS 4HERE ARE 6ATICAN TREASURES 12 May Cruise the Mediterranean Sea CRAFTED BY -ICHELANGELO AND 2APHAEL PLUS 13 May VALLETTA, Malta s 4RAVEL WITH AROUND LIKE MINDED .APOLEONIC ECHOES THAT RESONATE AROUND !JACCIO 14 May MESSINA, Sicily, Italy PASSENGERS IN STAR COMFORT %NLIGHTENED BY THE ON BOARD LECTURERS YOULL 15 May SORRENTO, Italy s !LL MEALS ENTERTAINMENT AND GRATUITIES GO ON UNRAVELLING THE MYSTERIES OF 0OMPEII THE 16 May CIVITAVECCHIA, (Rome) Italy ON BOARD INCLUDED WITH NO HIDDEN EXTRAS !LHAMBRA AND ,ISBONS LOVELY !LFAMA QUARTER 17 May AJACCIO, Corsica s &RIENDLY AND RELAXED ATMOSPHERE O N B O A R D 18 May Cruise the Mediterranean Sea MR BRIDGE s !LL PRICES ON BOARD IN "RITISH POUNDS 19 May ALMERIA, Spain s #APTAINS COCKTAIL PARTIES AND GALA DINNERS "ERNARD -AGEE AND HIS TEAM WILL HOST THIS DAY 20 May GIBRALTAR s &LIGHT FROM THE 5+ INCLUDED VOYAGE 4HE EVENING SESSIONS WILL BE SPLIT INTO TWO 21 May LISBON, Portugal WITH THE l RST l NISHING IN TIME FOR THOSE WISHING 22-23 May Cruise the Atlantic Ocean s !LL PORT AND PRE PAID AIRPORT TAXES TO SEE THE EVENING SHOW )N ADDITION TO BRIDGE 24 May HARWICH, England s /VERSEAS TRANSFERS BETWEEN AIRPORT AND SHIP WHERE APPLICABLE EVERY EVENING THERE WILL BE MORNING SEMINARS EXCLUSIVE MR BRIDGE FARES AND AFTERNOON BRIDGE SESSIONS WHICH ARE HELD Inside £995PP Outside £1,195PP WHILE THE SHIP IS AT SEA SO EVERYONE CAN ENJOY THE PORTS OF CALL Hurry – Last few cabins available at these fares! MR BRIDGE !LL -R "RIDGE PASSENGERS WHO HAVE PAID THE a PER PERSON BRIDGE SUPPLEMENT WILL BE PART OF THE EXCLUSIVE BRIDGE PARTY 4HIS WILL MAKE THEM ELIGIBLE FOR THE SEMINARS DRINKS PARTIES QUIZ COMPETITIONS OCCASIONAL AFTERNOON AND DAILY EVENING DUPLICATES AFTER l RST SITTING DINNER 4HE BRIDGE PROGRAMME IS FULLY OPTIONAL AND YOU MAY PARTICIPATE AS MUCH OR AS LITTLE AS YOU WISH -R "RIDGE ACTIVELY ENCOURAGES SINGLES TO JOIN THE PARTY AND THEY WILL ALWAYS BE FOUND A PARTNER FOR A GAME DUPLICATE BRIDGE GUARANTEED
01483 489961 for brochures and bookings Fares shown are per person based on two people sharing lowest inside/outside twin/single cabin category as shown and include all applicable discounts for new bookings only. All offers are capacity controlled, subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time. Cabin numbers will be allocated prior to departure. Please note that there is a bridge supplement of £30 per bridge player to be paid with cruise deposit. Terms and conditions apply, see brochure for details. Voyages of Discovery is a trading name of All Leisure Holidays Ltd. FEATURES BRIDGE 3 Bidding Quiz 46 Dave Huggett says BIDDING QUIZ by Bernard Magee Make the Long by Bernard Magee Hand Ruff Publisher and 5 ou are West in the auc - Managing Editor 47 Defence Quiz Answers Ytions below, playing 10 Bidding Quiz Answers by Julian Pottage Mr Bridge by Bernard Magee 'Standard Acol' with a weak no-trump (12-14 points) and Ryden Grange 12 Bernard Magee says four-card majors. Knaphill, Surrey ADVERTISEMENTS Leave the Master (Answers on page 10 ) GU21 2TH Trump Out 2 Springtime Mediterranean Cruise 1. Dealer West. Love All. ( 01483 489961 14 Defence Quiz on Board Discovery by Julian Pottage ♠ A K Q J 9 8 3 2 e-mail : 4 North African ♥ Void [email protected] 15 The Waiting Game Treasures Cruise © 8 3 2 by Michael Scarrott on Board Discovery website : ® 4 2 www.mrbridge.co.uk 18 No-Trump Openings 6 Tutorial and West North East South by Freddie North Play Software ? Associate Editor 19 Julian Pottage says 7 Mail Order Form Julian Pottage Watch Your Entries 2. Dealer East. Game All. 8 Bridge Weekends ♠ Q 7 5 Technical Consultant 21 David Stevenson with Bernard Magee ♥ K 8 6 2 Answers Your Questions © 7 4 2 Tony Gordon 9 Tunisia 2009/2010 ® 8 7 2 26 A Walk in the Autumn 11 QPlus 9.1 Bridge Consultant by Countryman West North East South Bernard Magee 27 Declarer Play Quiz 13 1® Pass by Dave Huggett Bridge Breaks ? Proof Readers 28 Freddie North says 14 Rubber/Chicago Danny Roth Bridge Events 3. Dealer West. N/S Vul. If One of Your ♠ A Q 5 Hugh Williams Options is 3NT, Bid it 20 Eric Hill ♥ A 7 6 2 Richard Wheen © A 9 8 29 Julian Pottage 24 Summer 2010 Cruises Answers Your Questions ® A 7 5 Software Support on Board Discovery West North East South 01483 485345 32 Double Dummy Answer 27 Single-suited ( 1♥ Pass 2♥ Pass by Richard Wheen Design Pens ? Events & Cruises 33 Heather Dhondy says 31 Charity Bid on with a ( 01483 489961 Bridge Events 4. Dealer North. Love All. Two-suit Fit Jessica Galt ♠ A Q J 6 32 Duplicate Bridge Rachel Everett ♥ 8 7 5 34 Declarer Play Rules Simplified Answers © K 7 6 5 4 Club Directory by David Huggett 36 Bernard Magee ® 2 Tips for Better Bridge and Charity Support 35 Lèse Majesté West North East South [email protected] by Dick Atkinson 38 2010 Diaries 3♥ Dbl Pass ? 37 Readers’ Letters Address Changes 39 Stamps ( 01483 485342 42 Bridge with 40 Global Travel 5. Dealer North. N/S Vul. Victor Meldrew Insurance ♠ A 9 2 All correspondence should by David Mullineaux ♥ 7 6 48 Africa and be addressed to Mr Bridge. © 4 3 44 Seven Days the Red Sea Cruise Please make sure that all ® Q J 6 5 4 3 by Sally Brock on Board Discovery letters, e-mails and faxes carry full postal addresses West North East South and telephone numbers. The views expressed in this publication are not 1♥ 1♠ Pass necessarily those of the publisher or its Managing Editor. ?
Page 3 North African Treasures Exclusive Mr Bridge fares
DISCOVERY CLUB MEMBERS SAVE AN EXTRA 5%
SEE THE WORLD NORTH AFRICAN TREASURES Your Voyage Includes: IN ITS TRUE COLOURS 2 NOV 2009 ~13 DAYS INSIDE CABIN OUTSIDE CABIN 3TAND IN %L !LAMEIN WHERE &IELD -ARSHAL FROM ONLY £995PP* FROM ONLY £1,095PP* s )NSPIRING DESTINATIONS AND ENLIGHTENING -ONTGOMERYS MEN FACED 2OMMELS PANZERS D a t e P o r t EXCURSIONS 2EDISCOVER THE TREASURES OF 4RIPOLI THE 2OMAN 2 Nov Depart London Gatwick by air s #OMPREHENSIVE LECTURE AND GUEST CITY OF ,EPTIS -AGNA 'IZAS 0YRAMIDS AND 'AUDIS Arrive ALEXANDRIA, Egypt and transfer to mv Discovery SPEAKER PROGRAMME 3AGRADA &AMILIA -ARVEL AT (ANNIBALS ACHIEVEMENTS s 4RAVEL WITH AROUND LIKE MINDED IN ANCIENT #ARTHAGE ,EARN ABOUT THE EIGHT POINTS 3 Nov ALEXANDRIA, Egypt 4 Nov Cruise the Mediterranean Sea PASSENGERS IN STAR COMFORT OF THE -ALTESE #ROSS AND WHY 0ALERMOS &ONTANA 5 Nov BENGHAZI, Libya s !LL MEALS ENTERTAINMENT AND GRATUITIES 0RETORIA WAS DUBBED THE @&OUNTAIN OF 3HAME 6 Nov Cruise the Gulf of Sirte, Libya ON BOARD INCLUDED WITH NO HIDDEN EXTRAS 2IGHT ALONG THE -EDITERRANEAN ENJOY EXTENSIVE 7 Nov AL KHUMS, Libya s &RIENDLY AND RELAXED ATMOSPHERE O N B O A R D EXOTIC MENUS COLOURFUL SOUKS AND TRADITIONS 8 Nov TRIPOLI, Libya s !LL PRICES ON BOARD IN "RITISH POUNDS THAT GO BACK CENTURIES 9 Nov VALLETTA, Malta 10 Nov PALERMO, Italy s #APTAINS COCKTAIL PARTIES AND GALA DINNERS MR BRIDGE 11 Nov LA GOULETTE, Tunisia s &LIGHTS FROM AND TO ,ONDON 'ATWICK !LEX $AVOUD ,INDA ,AZARUS AND THEIR TEAM WILL 12 Nov Cruise the Mediterranean Sea ONLY INCLUDED HOST THIS DAY VOYAGE 4HE EVENING SESSIONS WILL 13 Nov BARCELONA, Spain s !LL PORT AND PRE PAID AIRPORT TAXES BE SPLIT INTO TWO WITH THE l RST l NISHING IN TIME FOR 14 Nov BARCELONA, Spain s /VERSEAS TRANSFERS BETWEEN AIRPORT AND Disembark and transfer to airport for fl ight home THOSE WISHING TO SEE THE EVENING SHOW )N ADDITION SHIP WHERE APPLICABLE TO BRIDGE EVERY EVENING THERE WILL BE MORNING SPECIAL SINGLES PRICES SEMINARS AND AFTERNOON BRIDGE SESSIONS WHICH ARE O CATEGORY inside cabin £1,299 HELD WHILE THE SHIP IS AT SEA SO EVERYONE CAN ENJOY K CATEGORY outside cabin £1,499 II CATEGORY porthole £2,079 THE PORTS OF CALL GG CATEGORY window £2,289 MR BRIDGE !LL BRIDGE PASSENGERS WHO HAVE PAID THE BRIDGE SUPPLEMENT WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EVENING BRIDGE PROGRAMME 4HERE WILL ALSO BE A QUIZ AND EXCLUSIVE BRIDGE PARTIES 4HE BRIDGE PROGRAMME IS FULLY OPTIONAL AND YOU MAY PARTICIPATE AS MUCH OR AS LITTLE AS YOU WISH -R "RIDGE ACTIVELY ENCOURAGES SINGLES TO JOIN THE PARTY AND YOU WILL ALWAYS BE FOUND A PARTNER FOR A GAME DUPLICATE BRIDGE GUARANTEED
01483 489961 for brochures and bookings *Fares shown are per person based on two people sharing and refer to the lowest category cabins available. For all fares shown, cabins will be issued with final details or upon embarkation, excluding categories II and GG. All offers are capacity controlled and may be withdrawn at any time. Please note there will be a bridge supplement of £30 per bridge player to be paid with cruise deposit. Terms and conditions apply, see brochure for details. Voyages of Discovery is a trading name of All Leisure Holidays Ltd. BEACH CLOSING 2009 REMNANTS COVER STORY WET SUMMER As always at this time of the This year the summer year, there are only a few weather has reverted to unsold places at our something close to normal. weekend events. These I This may account for the have listed on page 13. If demand for green-covered you are interested do ring versions of my 2010 bridge before sending in your players diary. Pillar-box red, booking form and payment. navy, tan, maroon, black and Any weekends that are not Cambridge blue are all in listed, are sold out. stock and available £5.95 Listed on page 13, with the each including p&p. See remnants referred to above, order form on page 7. The Beach Hotel is to close is the Christmas programme. at the end of next year. Book for 2010 at this Rubber/Chicago is on page Bernard Magee is on BIT OF FUN delightful venue. One 14 along with the new dates Discovery, from 9 May A Spanish teacher running a weekend date not included of 2010. sailing from Istanbul all the Spanish language class is 29-31 January. This is a way back to Harwich. Blow explained that, unlike weekend for improvers SAVING SPACE away your winter cobwebs English, nouns are hosted by Ned Paul. It will No re-registration form is with a Mediterranean breeze. designated either masculine cover all types of doubles. included in this issue. This 16 days from only £995pp. or feminine. £199 full-board. The party means readers can enjoy an Bridge supplement £30. is limited to 60 guests. ‘House’ for example, is extra page of bridge. If your feminine: la casa. ‘Pencil’, is friends haven’t been in touch GOFF GAFF GATWICK ONLY however masculine: ‘el with my office in the last lapiz’. A member of the The adjacent advert has a two to three years they will group then asked ‘What snag. Connecting flights are have been deleted. gender is a computer? only available out of and NEW CARD Instead of giving the answer, into Gatwick. However, if the teacher split the group you are still interested, put With this copy of BRIDGE into two groups, men in one this magazine down now there is an insert promoting and the women in the other. and phone 01483 489961. my current credit card. These Shock, horror, alas, alack-a- ( Each group then had to are being replaced by my day. I forgot to include Clive decide whether a computer VENICE new card as they expire. Goff’s advert in the last issue should be masculine or of BRIDGE. He is a geat Neither Mrs Bridge nor I All new applications will be feminine, backing up their sponsor and supporter. have been to Venice, so issued with the new design. decision with four reasons Profuse apologies Clive. I when I saw the itinerary for their recommendation. In addition to drawing am sure readers will including sailing into Venice attention to card-playing in remember your service with The men’s group decided and then out of Venice two general and being a Christmas once again on that ‘computer’ should be of days later, I was completely conversation point so you the horizon. At least 10% feminine gender (la sold on the idea. can talk about bridge, it will off the face value of British computadora’) because: This 2010 cruise starts from have other benefits which I postage stamps. No one but their creator Malta in late September, so will spell out next time. l Telephone 0208 4224906 understands their internal it shouldn’t be too hot. ( The issuing company will be for further details and order logic; Idyllic ports along the helping to fund BRIDGE. with confidence. Croatian coast are the icing l The native language they on a really gorgeous cake. use to communicate with other computers is This cruise will be a sell- incomprehensible to out. I have already booked everyone else; my cabin and reserved a number for those of you l Even the smallest who might find the itinerary mistakes are stored in the just as irresistible as I do. long term memory for possible later retrieval; Fares start from £1199 pp sharing a twin-berthed l As soon as you make a cabin. £1399 pp outside. commitment to one, you Bridge supplement £30. find yourself spending Delay and I can guarantee half your salary on disappointment. accessories.
Page 5 BERNARD MAGEE’S INTERACTIVE TUTORIALS
ACOL MORE DECLARER ADVANCED DEFENCE BIDDING (ADVANCED) PLAY DECLARER l Lead vs l Opening Bids ACOL BIDDING l Suit PLAY Notrump and Responses l Basics Establishment l Making Contracts £72 l Slams and l Advanced in No-trumps Overtricks l Lead vs Strong Openings Basics l Suit in No-trumps Suit Contracts l Support for l Weak Twos Establishment in l Making £77 l Partner of Partner l Strong Suits Overtricks Leader vs l Pre-empting Hands £92 l Hold-ups in Suit Contracts Notrump l Overcalls l Defence l Ruffing for Extra l Endplays Contracts l No-trump to Weak Twos Tricks l Avoidance l Partner of Openings l Defence l Entries l Wrong Contract Leader vs Suit and Responses to 1NT in No-trumps l Simple Squeezes Contracts l Opener’s and l Doubles l Delaying l Counting the l Count Signals Responder’s l Two-suited Drawing Trumps Hand l Attitude Signals Rebids Overcalls l Using the Lead l Trump l Discarding l Minors and l Defences to l Trump Control Reductions & l Defensive Plan Misfits Other Systems l Endplays & Coups £62 l Stopping l Doubles l Misfits and Avoidance l Playing Doubled Declarer l Competitive Distributional l Using the £72 Contracts l Counting the Auctions Hands Bidding l Safety Plays Hand
System Requirements: Windows XP or Vista, 8mb RAM, CD-ROM
Still the very best Acol- Q PLUS 9.1 playing Software available l Friendly Interface Happy BRIDGE reader, Gill Smith writes: l Hint and Help Buttons TRADE-IN l Easy Installation I love my QPlus Bridge. As this on arriving home, OFFERS a learner, I always have a usually cross with myself, l Manual faithful partner whenever after a duplicate session. My l Rubber, Duplicate Trade-in any previous I want one. She is always faithful friend gives me a and Teams Scoring version of Q Plus. available (late at night too) sensible perspective on the Just post in the and she bids and plays matter. When playing l Instant results booklet and disk and perfectly. She has never Chicago or rubber at home, playing in teams mode a cheque for £32. kicked me under the table, at the end of the bidding l 2,500 pre-played rolled her eyes or taken a and playing a difficult hand, hands for teams Trade-in any other sharp intake of breath. If I I have opened up my laptop bid or play badly she is on and switched on QPlus. l 2,000 pre-played hands bridge software before 30 November 2009 hand with sound advice yet With fellow learn ers, I have for match-pointed pairs she doesn’t take offence if I looked at hands and seen and send it with a l Check your pairs ignore it. how our elec tronic friend cheque for £49. would have bid and played. percentage and ranking There is also a use which I We still have lots to learn. l Systems include: Order with absolute didn’t realise when I Acol, including confidence. bought the CD. It is the I bracket my QPlus disc Bernard Magee’s facility to feed in the real together with the dish- hands that we deal, and see washer – an essential lux ury system, Standard how it would have bid and that I would find difficult to American or create played them. I have done live without. your own.
Make your cheque payable to and send to: Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH
( 01483 489961 www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop Fax 01483 797302 The women’s group, PATIENCE however, concluded that ( 01483489961 computer should be It will come as a great masculine (el computador) surprise to those of you who because: know me, to learn that I have PLAYSOFTWARE developed the necessary QPlus 9.1 £82.00 ...... l In order to do anything patience to sort out computer with them, you have to problems. This service is QPlus 8.8 (second hand) £52.00 ...... turn them on; confined to the support of Trade-in any previous QPlus QPlus and Bernard Magee’s Book & Disk and just send ONLY £32.00 ...... l They have a lot of data Tutorial software. If it were but can’t think for TUTORIALSOFTWARE themselves. otherwise, I would never be able to maintain my new Acol Bidding £62.00 ...... They are supposed to help l found virtue. More Acol Bidding £92.00 ...... you solve problems, but Declarer Play £72.00 ...... half the time they are the QPLUS TIPS problem; and Advanced Declarer Play £77.00 ...... If your QPlus is running too Defence £72.00 ...... l As soon as you commit to slowly, click configuration one, you realize that if and go to playing strength, BOOKS you had waited just a little reset the memory at 9 and Duplicate Bridge Rules Simplified £5.95 ...... longer, you could have the playing level at 27. That Club Offer 10foronly£35.00 ...... got a better model. should speed it up as a powerful computer will Simple Directing at the Club – Dr Gurr £4.75 ...... DOUBLE DUMMY always spend all day Better Hand Evaluation – Bernard Magee £14.00 ...... by Richard Wheen thinking about a problem if Bernard Magee’s Bridge Quiz Book £14.00 ...... you give it half a chance. Bernard Magee’s Quiz and Puzzle Book £14.00 ...... To further enhance your ♠ 3 2 Bernard Magee’s Tips for Better Bridge £14.00 ...... enjoyment of QPlus, go to ♥ Ask Sally – Sally Brock £14.00 ...... Void Deal, then to Match Control © A 4 and put a black dot in deal 2010DIARIES ® 3 2 number. Reset the scoring ♠ J ♠ K Q method to Team by putting a Standard ♥ Void N ♥ 2 W E black dot in that box too. Maroon ..... Light Blue ..... Red ..... S © Q 10 8 © J 9 7 Finally, at the bottom of the Navy ..... Green ..... Tan .... Black ...... £5.95 ...... ® A K ® Void panel, go to comparison and Club Offer 10foronly£35.00 ...... ♠ A put a black dot in the closed ♥ A K room box, setting the Luxury © K 3 2 number of boards at 16. Bottle Green .... Ruby Red .... £12.95 ...... ® Void These adjustments will SINGLE-SUITEDBALL-POINTPENS enable you to have a result North is on lead in a no- after the play of each board. Boxed Set trump contract, and If you do badly compared to of Four North/South need to make the computer, you can (Spade, all six tricks against any always replay the hand Heart, defence. Five tricks are easy: automatically and see how Diamond, how to make the sixth? the computer had played the Club) (Answer on page 32.) hand in the closed room. This is a great way to learn £19.95 ...... HARD LABOUR from your mistakes and at All prices are fully inclusive. I enclose a cheque for £...... your own pace... all in the Labour of love, indeed. privacy of your home. Mr/Mrs/Miss ...... Just as players, new and old, ( 01483 489961. find defence the hardest Address ...... aspect of the game, so it is CRACKED for teachers...... Sometimes disks get cracked Bernard’s new interactive or scratched in the course of Postcode ...... ( ...... CD is now ready and in time. QPlus and tutorial stock. To see the subjects software can be replaced by , Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH. covered by the program, sending the disk back to us www.mrbridge.co.uk/ go to the advertisement on together with a cheque for mrbridge-shop the facing page. £10 for each replacement.
Page 7 2010 WEEKENDS BRIDGE WEEKENDS with Bernard Magee with Bernard Magee Full Board £235 per person © Full-board © Sea View Option (Beach Hotel only) No single Supplement © All rooms with en-suite facilities © Tuition with Supervised Play, bidding quiz 6 - 8 August © No single supplement and two seminars. Blunsdon House Hotel Hand Evaluation
Please book me for ..... places at £235 per person, 20 - 22 August Blunsdon House Hotel Single ..... Double ..... Twin ..... Sea View* ..... Better Defence 1 - 3 October Venue ...... The Beach Hotel Declarer Play Dates ...... The Beach Hotel, Worthing 8 - 10 October Mr/Mrs/Miss ...... The Olde Barn Hotel 1 - 3 January 2010 Game Tries The Beach Hotel Address ...... Doubles 22 - 24 October Denham Grove ...... 5 - 7 February Doubles Blunsdon House Hotel Postcode ...... Splinters and Cue-bids 29 - 31 October Denham Grove 19 - 21 March Splinters and Cue-bids ( ...... The Beach Hotel Signals and Discards 12 - 14 November Special requirements (these cannot be guaranteed, The Beach Hotel but we will do our best to oblige) 26 - 28 March Better Defence The Beach Hotel ...... Thinking Defence 26 - 28 November The Beach Hotel Please give the name(s) of all those covered by this booking 16 - 18 April Further into the Auction Blunsdon House Hotel ...... Leads and Defence 3 - 5 December The Beach Hotel Please send a non-returnable deposit of £50 per person per place 23 - 25 April by cheque, payable to Mr Bridge. An invoice for the balance Sacrificing The Olde Barn Hotel will be sent with your booking confirmation. On receipt of your final payment, 28 days before the event, a programme and full Signals and Discards details will be sent together with a map. Cancellations are not 4 - 6 June refundable. Should you require insurance, you should contact The Beach Hotel your own insurance broker. *£30 supplement per room (Beach Suit Establishment Hotel and Marsham Court Hotel only). 18 - 20 June Blunsdon House Hotel Signals and Discards 25 - 27 June The Beach Hotel Blunsdon House, Swindon Game Tries Expiry: ...... CVV ...... Issue No...... (CVV is the last 3 numbers on the signature strip)
, Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH Bernard’s New Year’s Eve Party ( 01483 489961 Fax 01483 797302 e-mail: [email protected] 29 December to 1 January 2010 website: www.holidaybridge.com The Beach Hotel £395
Page 8 CO-INCIDENCE FAILING CLUBS SAVING TREES Club committee members Several requests from with numbers falling away readers as to how to suppress should focus on why? In the junk mail. Not BRIDGE of not too far distant past it was course, but all that unwanted AT THE ROYAL cigar and pipe smoking material that you find members, then just any sort somehow dropping regularly KENZ, TUNISIA of smoking. onto your doormat. 2009-2010 Some people have personal You need the Mailing hygiene problems i.e. they Preference Service. Register Two-week stink. Members just say your name address and half-board nothing and quietly drift postcode with them and duplicate holidays Ken Rae, pictured above, is a elsewhere. most, if not all of your junk mail will die away within Scottish International bridge Almost as bad are constantly three or four months. player, a fact which only bickering partners, you know emerged after I had the sort I mean, frequently a Freepost approached him to create the husband and wife partnership. 29 LON 2077 silver pendant and earrings. London W1E 0ZT. Make your club committee address these and similar CLUB COVER problems before it’s too late. You know I’m right. Every club committee needs public liability insurance BACK COVER cover. Ring Moore Stephens for a competitive quotation. Do speak to Sylvia Donovan who will be only to pleased to help you. ( 020 7515 5270. Do let her know you 1-15 November £699* heard it from Mr Bridge. Tony & Jan Richards See his website for prices: 15-29 November £749* www.shetlandjewellery.com TRAVEL Bernard Magee INSURANCE Indeed, Ken was a member 21 Feb – 7 Mar £749* of the victorious Scottish Those needing travel Bernard Magee team, in the recently insurance can consider contested Camrose Seniors. Global Travel whose terms 7 Mar – 21 Mar £699* Co-incidence indeed. and conditions can be found Crombie & Helen on pages 40 & 41. McNeil Mombasa to the Red Sea. LUCKY DIP 21 Mar – 4 Apr £699* Another great cruise. Last The form provided is for a Chris Barrable year, on the same run, this single holiday – those wanting an annual policy picture was snapped by a *per person half-board sharing a passenger from the rear deck. should download the form twin-bedded room and is from my website or if it’s inclusive of bridge fees. Single easier, phone and I’ll post supplement £5 per night. These DIRECTORS prices are based on air travel you one. from Gatwick to Monastir. Just as the yellow book is a Flights from other UK airports real help to club directors, PLEASE MENTION are available at a supplement. Simple Directing at the Club All prices are firm until 30 MR BRIDGE November 2009. Prices for by Dr Gurr, £4.75 including seven-night stays are available postage and packing, can This publication is funded by on application. also be a great boon. advertisers and sponsors. Pay £70 per fortnight per For several years, Sally Unless you mention me or person extra and have a pool- Brock was our bridge agony TUNISIAN DATES the magazine or both, I will facing room, tea & coffee aunt, diligently answering making facilities, bath robe Try a fortnight in Tunisia, or not receive the funds to and a bowl of seasonal fruit. everyone’s questions by just a week if that’s all you develop the magazine and drawing on her experience as its associated services. These holidays have been organised for can fit in. Bernard Magee is by Tunisia First Limited, ATOL an international player. 5933, working in association with Thomas at the Royal Kenz in It’s as simple as that. Cook Tour Operations Limited, ATOL 1179. The best of these are to be November and February. Thank You found in her latest book, There’s a lot to see, a lot to DETAILS & BOOKINGS Ask Sally. 192 pages, £14 learn and lots to play in including postage. sunny Tunsia. ( 01483 489961
Page 9 ANSWERS TO THE BIDDING QUIZ ON PAGE 3 by BERNARD MAGEE
will finish much too high. 1 ® should make 4♠. Partner’s double was for take-out, 1. Dealer West. Love All. comfortably, whilst 2NT would need a lot of asking you to bid. Do not forget that it ♠ A K Q J 9 8 3 2 ♠ 7 4 luck. implies the values for a good opening hand ♥ Void N ♥ 7 6 3 and shortage in the opened suit. If you W E © 8 3 2 S © A 6 5 4 have a good hand, you should not just bid, ® 4 2 ® A 9 7 6 3. Dealer West. N/S Vul. but jump to game. Remember, you are ♠ A Q 5 ♠ K 8 2 being asked to respond with zero points so, ♥ A 7 6 2 N ♥ K 9 4 3 with ten points and a singleton, you should W E West North East South © A 9 8 S © 7 6 5 certainly be getting excited. You need to go ? ® A 7 5 ® Q J 8 for game. Furthermore, your weak hearts are likely to sit opposite a singleton in 4♠. You have eight playing tricks, but not a partner’s hand, which is perfect. Should very strong hand – whenever you think you West North East South you bid spades or diamonds? can make a lot of tricks with your suit as 1♥ Pass 2♥ Pass Your partner may very well have support trumps, but very few tricks if another suit is ? for both suits, but especially the unbid trumps, you should concentrate on pre- major – 4 ♠ is one trick fewer than 5 ©, so empting. Of course, this hand is much too 2NT. The losing trick count is a great form you should bid game in the major. If you bid good for a 3 ♠ opening: with eight solid of hand evaluation, but it is not great at only 3 ♠, your partner would pass – he has trumps, you must start with 4 ♠. 4 ♠ will evaluating balanced hands – it tends to shown his hand already – a 3 ♠ response make with your partner’s hand above; just underestimate their strength. The West could show no points at all. as important is that, since North had a void hand has just seven losers, which would in spades, your opponents could make suggest passing 2 ♥ – but you should eleven tricks in hearts! If you had opened always contemplate upgrading a hand with 5. Dealer North. N/S Vul. at a lower level, you would have allowed four aces – change all the aces to kings ♠ A 9 2 ♠ K Q J 6 3 your opponents in to the auction; over 4 ♠, and you would still get seven losers using ♥ 7 6 N ♥ 9 8 4 they have little chance to compete – you the losing trick count. W E © 4 3 S © K Q 2 might even end up making 4 ♠ doubled. You should certainly invite your partner to ® Q J 6 5 4 3 ® 9 2 game, so why not describe the hand neatly by rebidding 2NT – you both know that you 2. Dealer East. Game All. have a heart fit, but now you can say how West North East South ♠ Q 7 5 ♠ 6 4 3 flat your hand is. This rebid is unlike a no- 1♥ 1♠ Pass ♥ K 8 6 2 N ♥ A 5 W E trump rebid after a change of suit because ? © 7 4 2 S © A K 6 3 it has been made after a ‘limit bid’. Partner ® 8 7 2 ® A K 6 3 has shown 6-9 points, so with 15-16 points 2♠. One fit is nearly always enough: you there would be little chance of game, hence have six clubs on this hand, but nobody the 2NT rebid shows a little bit more: 17-18 wants to hear about them. Your partner has West North East South points. When partner has only three hearts shown five spades for his overcall and you 1® Pass or happens to be flat as well, he can opt to have good 3-card support; you must show ? play in no-trumps rather than hearts. 3NT it immediately. has a reasonable chance with these two Pass. How many points do you require to An important reason for doing this is to stop hands, whilst 4 ♥ has little or no chance. respond to an opening bid? North from making a descriptive rebid. If you bid 2 ® here, North is going to be able The answer, of course, is six: there is a to bid 2 © or 2 ♥, but, over a raise to 2 ♠, good reason for this requirement: so that 4. Dealer North. Love All. North is going to find it difficult. His partner the bidding does not go too high. You can ♠ A Q J 6 ♠ K 10 9 4 has passed and he is vulnerable so bidding break the rules when you have a good five- ♥ 8 7 5 N ♥ 2 W E at the three-level is dangerous. card suit or a six-card suit biddable at the © K 7 6 5 4 S © A Q 3 2 one-level. Here, with a balanced hand and ® 2 ® K J 10 4 The hand is a classic part-score battle with no redeeming features, you do best to both sides able to make eight or nine tricks pass. You have reasonable club support so in their suit. As often happens, the first side 1® should not play too badly. All that is West North East South to find a fit wins. 2 ♠ making scores +110, likely to happen if you respond 1 ♥ is that 3♥ Dbl Pass whilst 3 ♥ making scores -140: that difference your partner will jump in no-trumps and you ? is sig nificant in all forms of the game . ■
Page 10 Q PLUS 9.1 Still the very best Acol-playing Software available
Happy BRIDGE reader, Gill Smith of Thames Ditton writes:
I love my QPlus Bridge. As a learner, I always have a faithful partner whenever I want one. She is always available (late at night too) and she bids and plays perfectly. She has never kicked me under the table, rolled her eyes or taken a sharp intake of breath. If I bid or play badly she is on hand with sound advice yet she doesn’t take offence if I ignore it. There is also a use which I FEATURES SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS didn’t realise when I l The Usual Friendly Interface l 8mb RAM l Pentium or equivalent bought the CD. It is the facility to feed in the real (see above) CD-ROM Windows XP or Vista l l hands that we deal, and see l Hint and Help Buttons how it would have bid and – always at hand played them. I have done l Easy Windows Installation this on arriving home, Comprehensive Manual TRADE-IN OFFERS usually cross with myself, l after a duplicate session. l Rubber, Duplicate Trade-in any previous version of My faithful friend gives me and Teams Scoring a sensible perspective on Q Plus. Just post in the booklet the matter. When playing l Instant results playing in teams mode and disk and a cheque for £32. Chicago or rubber at home, at the end of the bidding l 2,500 pre-played and playing a difficult hands for teams Trade-in any other bridge software hand, I have opened up l 2,000 pre-played hands before 30 November 2009 and my laptop and switched on for match-pointed pairs send it with a cheque for £49. QPlus. With fellow learn - including 1,000 new hands ers, I have looked at hands and seen how our elec - Check your pairs Order with absolute confidence. tronic friend would have EW N percentage and ranking bid and played. We still Systems include: several have lots to learn. W NE versions of Acol, including I bracket my QPlus disc Bernard Magee’s system, together with the dish - Standard American PS. Bernard Magee’s Interactive washer – an essential lux- or create your own. Defence Software now ready, £72. ury that I would find difficult to live without. l £82 including p&p
Make your cheque payable to and send to: Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH
( 01483 489961 www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop Fax 01483 797302 Bernard Magee Says Leave the Master Trump Out
hen there is only one trump out and it is the highest ♠ 7 5 4 3 ♠ 5 4 2 Wremaining, it will often be ♥ J 7 ♥ Q 5 2 best to leave it out rather than use two of © 10 8 7 6 4 © Q J 10 7 6 your own trumps to draw it. After all, the ® Q J ® Q 9 master trump is always going to make ♠ J 10 9 8 ♠ Void ♠ Q J 3 ♠ 10 9 whether by being drawn or by ruffing. ♥ K Q 10 9 6 N ♥ 8 5 4 3 ♥ 9 7 6 3 N ♥ A K J 8 W E W E Here is a simple example: © A S © 5 3 2 © 5 4 S © 9 8 2 ® K 7 2 ® 10 8 6 5 4 3 ® 10 7 3 2 ® K J 8 4 ♠ A K Q 6 2 ♠ A K 8 7 6 ♠ K 6 4 2 ♥ A 2 ♥ 10 4 ♥ A K 7 2 © K Q J 9 © A K 3 © 6 4 ® A 9 ® A 6 5 ® J 9 3 ♠ Q J 3 ♠ 10 9 Contract: 4 ♠. Lead: ♥7. ♥ Q 10 6 N ♥ J 9 8 3 You, South, play in 4 ♠ after West has W E © Q J 10 7 S © 9 8 2 overcalled in hearts. West leads the heart ® 7 6 2 ® 10 8 5 4 king. You win the lead with your ace and East wins the first trick with the jack of ♠ A 8 7 5 play on trumps, but East discards on the hearts, continues with the king and then ♥ 5 4 first round. What happens if you play a plays a third heart, the ace. You ruff the © A K 5 3 second, third and fourth round to draw third trick and draw two rounds of ® A K Q the last trump? West wins and leads back trumps, everybody following. If you hearts, forcing you to ruff with your last choose to leave the master trump out, trump. When the defenders get in with you will go down. West North East South the diamond ace, they can take their If you leave West with his queen of 2NT heart winners too. spades and try to run your diamonds, he Pass 3®* Pass 3♠ The way to succeed is to avoid can ruff the third round and return a club Pass 6♠ End drawing West’s last trump. You win the – you end up losing four tricks. Instead, *Stayman heart, play the A-K-Q of spades and then since making the fourth and fifth rounds switch to diamonds. West takes his ace of diamonds is worth more than a spare West leads the queen of diamonds. You and can draw one of your trumps, but trump, you ‘waste’ two trumps to draw see at once that you need a 3-2 trump you do not mind. When he plays hearts, West’s master. He wins, but you can ruff split or you will have two trump losers. you ruff the third round with your last his heart return and make the rest of the How should you set about the play? trump. Then, as you have set up the tricks with five diamonds and the ®A. If you win the lead and play three diamonds already, you make ten tricks. rounds of trumps, you will finish one By not playing the fourth round of Conclusion trick short. This is because you have trumps, you have kept ahead of the game ‘wasted’ two of your trumps on drawing – given yourself a ‘tempo’ – so that you It is usually right to refrain from West’s top trump. Instead, you should have had time to set up your long suit drawing a master trump if it will save win the lead, play just your top trumps before you ran out of trumps. you from using up two of your own and then take all of your winners, You have seen two reasons not to draw trumps. It is also right if it gives you eventually cross-ruffing in diamonds a master trump: either because it uses up better timing for your plan, keeping you and hearts. You do not mind when West two of your trumps to do so, or it causes in control especially when you still need makes his trump because that will be the you to lose control of the hand. When to establish a suit. However, when you only trick he makes. He will probably would you draw it? The most common have established a side suit already and overruff when you take your second time is when you have a long suit ready have tricks ready to run, it can pay to heart ruff, but when he does so, he takes to run and an opposing ruff would draw their master trump to avoid having only one of your trumps rather than two. prevent you from running it. your long suit isolated. ■
Page 12 2009 BRIDGE Bridge Breaks BREAKS OCTOBER 2009 NOVEMBER cont © Full-board © No single supplement 16 – 18 Staverton Park 27 – 29 The Olde Barn £199 Take-out Doubles £199 Signals & Discards © All rooms with © Tuition with Supervised Improvers Ray Hutchinson en-suite facilities Play and two seminars. Alex Davoud 27 – 29 Wychwood Park 16 – 18 The Olde Barn £199 Doubles £199 Doubles Gary Conrad Please book me for ..... places at £.... per person, Alison Nicolson Single ..... Double ..... Twin ..... Sea View* ..... 16 – 18 Wychwood Park £199 Hand Evaluation Name of Hotel/Centre ...... Alan Lamb
23 – 25 Wychwood Park Dates ...... £199 Signals & Discards John Wotton Mr/Mrs/Miss ...... 30 – 1/11 Marsham Court £235 Bernard Magee Address ...... (see page 10) 30–1/11 Staverton Park Wychwood Park, Crewe ...... £150 Gentle / Just Duplicate Postcode ...... 30 – 1/11 The Olde Barn DECEMBER 2009 £199 Declarer Play 11 – 13 The Beach Hotel ( ...... Ray Hutchinson £199 Rubber/Chicago Diana Holland Special requirements (these cannot be guaranteed, NOVEMBER 2009 but we will do our best to oblige) 13 – 15 Staverton Park ...... £199 Game Tries Christmas Crombie McNeil Please give the name(s) of all those covered by this booking & New Year ...... Denham Grove Please send a non-returnable deposit of £50 per person per place Chris Barrable by cheque, payable to Mr Bridge. An invoice for the balance 24-27 December – £395 will be sent with your booking confirmation. On receipt of your 27-29 December – £199 final payment, 28 days before the event, a programme and full details will be sent together with a map. Cancellations are not 29 Dec – 1 Jan – £355 refundable. Should you require insurance, you should contact your own insurance broker. *£30 supplement per room (Beach The Olde Barn Hotel and Marsham Court Hotel only). 24-27 December Sandy Bell – £395 The Olde Barn, Marston 27-29 December Sandy Bell – £199 13 – 15 The Olde Barn 29-31 December £199 Hand Evaluation Ray Hutchinson – £199 Ray Hutchinson Expiry: ...... CVV ...... Issue No...... 20 – 22 Wychwood Park The Beach Hotel £199 Stayman and 27-29 December (CVV is the last 3 numbers on the signature strip) Transfers Rubber / Chicago , Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH Improvers Diana Holland – £199 John Wotton 29 Dec – 1 Jan ( 01483 489961 Fax 01483 797302 27 – 29 Staverton Park Bernard Magee – £395 e-mail: [email protected] £199 Overcalls (see page 10) website: www.holidaybridge.com Ned Paul
Page 13 RUBBER / CHICAGO 09/10 at The Beach Hotel, Worthing DEFENCE Hosted by Diana Holland 11-13 December (Fri-Sun) QUIZ 27-29 December (Twixmas) 12-14 February (Fri-Sun) by Julian Pottage 28-30 May (Fri-Sun) (Answers on page 47) 30 July-1 August (Fri-Sun) ou are East in the defensive positions below. It is your turn Please note there are no seminars or set hands at these events Yto play. £199 – Full-board – No Single Supplement 1. ♠ A K 8 2 2. ♠ A 9 7 2 ♥ Q J 3 ♥ 3 © K J 6 © Q 9 7 6 5 ® Q 10 7 ® Q 9 3 ♠ Q 10 9 7 4 3 ♠ K Q J 8 4 3 N N W E ♥ 9 5 W E ♥ J 5 S © A 3 S © 8 4 3 ® 8 6 5 ® 10 7
West North East South West North East South 1♥ 1NT 2♠ 2NT 1 2♠1 4♥ Pass 3®1 Pass 3©2 End End 1weak ______BOOKING FORM ______1Lebensohl, asks N to bid 3 ® 2single suited with diamonds Partner leads the ®A-K Please book me for .... places, Single .... Double .... Twin .... (®J-5 from South) and Partner leads the ♥A, ♥K continues with the six. for the Rubber/Chicago weekend(s) of ...... and ♥2. Which card do Which card do you play you play on the third trick? on the third trick? Mr/Mrs/Miss ......
Address ...... 3. ♠ A 7 4. ♠ A K Q 7 4 ♥ K Q J 8 ♥ Void ...... © Q J 10 © A K 10 9 3 ® Q 9 6 3 ® A 10 6 Postcode ...... ♠ Q J 10 ♠ 6 N N W E ♥ 10 5 W E ♥ Q 10 8 5 ...... S S ( © 8 6 5 4 3 © J 8 6 5 Special requirements (these cannot be guaranteed) ® K 7 2 ® K 9 3 2
...... West North East South West North East South Please send a non-returnable deposit of £50 per person per place 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass 4♥ by cheque, payable to Mr Bridge. An invoice for the balance Pass 1NT Pass 6♠ (!) Pass 6♥ End will be sent with your booking confirmation. On receipt of your End final payment, 28 days before the event, a programme and full Partner leads the ♠10, details will be sent together with a map. Cancellations are not West leads the ®J covered which runs to the ♠J. refundable. Should you require insurance, you should contact all around. Declarer cash - Declarer cashes the ♥A-K your own insurance broker. es the ♠K and ♥A before (West follows low and , Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH playing a second trump then discards a low 01483 489961 Fax 01483 797302 (West shows out). Next spade), crosses to dummy ( comes the ♥K for a club with a diamond and starts e-mail: [email protected] discard from hand and the playing on spades. When website: www.holidaybridge.com ♥Q. What do you do? do you ruff?
Page 14 The Waiting Game
by Michael Scarrott
twelve hour delay – you’ve got clue,’ was all he could say. ‘Well, why we aim to have a short refreshment to be kidding!’ exclaimed a don’t we find out?’ continued Marge in break about halfway through, the whole ‘A very disgruntled Dave. ‘I am a very determined tone. event should take no more than four afraid so,’ replied Marge making a hours or so. At the very least it will take determined effort to remain calm. ‘It’s a International Match? a sizeable chunk out of the waiting lightning strike by the airport time.’ maintenance staff. They have agreed to Slowly warming to the idea, Dave Luckily, one of the interested be back on duty in twelve hours’ time. It glanced around and replied in an participants was on the committee of a affects all outgoing flights. enthusiastic voice, ‘Maybe we could nearby bridge club. This person offered ‘We will get some compensation and organise something on an International to loan playing cards, duplicate boards, the airport authority has promised meal level? Just look around. There must be bidding boxes and score cards. A vouchers. It is hardly worthwhile for people from all over just hanging about specially arranged courier service anyone to go home. Most people will with nothing to do. Perhaps we could would collect the items in question. The just have to sit it out at the airport. The arrange for a message over the intercom internal catering establishments would airport administrators have promised to system inviting any interested bridge provide complimentary non-alcoholic keep passengers updated with players to meet up outside the duty free beverages. ‘Do you think that chap developments.’ shop for a friendly competition. Even Branson might provide a trophy?’ said a non-bridge players might like to watch hopeful Marge. ‘If he gets to know Lightning Strike in an effort to defeat the boredom. They what’s going on, there’s a good chance might even make a wager or two!’ he might,’ replied Dave, ‘he likes to get ‘Lightning strike you say,’ muttered an Marge grinned and offered to find involved with all sorts of quirky events irate Dave. ‘I would give them some someone in authority to organise an and doesn’t miss a chance of a bit of lightning where it hurts if I had my announcement. ‘I’ll get them to say free publicity.’ way.’ He looked around at his fellow bridge is a game without frontiers. That airport passengers and saw looks of should get some interest.’ She soon The Competition Begins anguish coupled with inevitability. ‘The came back with good news. The event twenty-first century – one of the world’s would be broadcast over the internal The final tally of players came to 40 and busiest airports – yet still a relative airport speaker system and they would a draw took place to decide the order of handful of people can bring the entire have an area of the departure lounge play. Marge extracted her cards from operation to a standstill!’ cordoned off for the event. ‘I think they the first board and took stock of her ‘What on earth are we going to do?’ really like the idea of passengers fixing opponents – a Bulgarian Professor continued Dave. ‘We’ve been travelling up something for themselves and not called Georgi in partnership with a since five o’clock this morning to make moaning continually.’ friendly Aussie from Queensland. sure we arrived in plenty of time to ‘Well, let’s just hope we get some ‘G’day mate. The name is Bruce. This is check in. Now we are well and truly response,’ replied Dave, ‘It would be a a fantastic idea. It could completely stuck for at least an extra 15 hours.’ shame if this turned out to be just a revolutionise the tedium of hanging They both listened as announcements damp squib.’ He need not have worried. around in airports worldwide. Maybe I confirmed the delay in different Within minutes of the announcement, shall get a chance to use my Boomerang languages. a good size group had congregated Coup. It is really quite easy. I throw a Marge looked around and suddenly around the meeting area. A section of trick away and, before you know it, a had an idea. ‘Just how many of these the lounge was soon ready and the couple come flying back my way in people are bridge players, do you airport authority promised to provide double quick time!’ He looked across at suppose?’ Dave gave his wife a puzzled suitable tables. ‘We ought to his learned Bulgarian partner and look and wondered what this had to do have ample time to play a 20-board added, ‘Not too bad for the old entente with their predicament. ‘Haven’t got a competition,’ said a delighted Marge. ‘If cordiale either!’
Page 15 at the Dallas Country Club. Her services The Waiting Game continued are very much in demand. She even has her own local radio show. Listeners can phone in with any type of problem.’ ‘What a super idea,’ said Marge giving Bruce opened one no-trump (strong, ‘It’s bad to fiddle,’ said Georgi giving Sue Ellen a sideways glance. ‘It keeps 15 to 17) and Georgi raised straight to Dave a stern look. The Emperor Nero me on my toes for sure,’ answered Sue game. ‘Life is far too short for fiddled – look what happened to Rome!’ Ellen. ‘I limit everything to bridge- deliberation,’ he commented in very Good-natured chatter reverberated as related queries although, just good English. These were their hands: everyone prepared to move for the next occasionally, something unusual might round. creep in. Just a month or so ago, a lady called Teri telephoned in to tell me she Georgi Moving for the Next Round had received a proposal of marriage at ´ A 3 the bridge table. What a romantic ™ K 8 4 A colourful couple from Dallas, Texas gesture, I said somewhat tongue in © 9 8 6 5 3 were soon facing Marge and Dave. ‘Hi, cheek. Was there a happy outcome?’ ® Q J 5 guys. I’m Chad and this is my wife Sue Ellen.’ Dave grinned across the table at Marriage Proposal N W E Marge as he remembered the hugely S successful television soap from years ‘Oh, yes,’ she replied. ‘I told Mike if he Bruce ago when J R Ewing and his wife Sue made the next contract I would accept, ´ K 6 Ellen were known nationwide. ‘I know but if he went off then the answer would ™ A Q 7 3 just what you’re thinking,’ said Chad in be no!’ ‘Poor chap,’ interrupted Dave. © A J 10 7 a mesmerizing southern drawl, ‘Our ‘I’d be a nervous wreck playing a hand ® K 7 2 Dallas Bridge group voted JR the most under that pressure.’ Sue Ellen reached eligible bridge partner anyone could into her holdall and pulled out a slip of have. Opponents would be bribed or paper. ‘This is the deal in question. See Dave led the queen of spades and Bruce blackmailed into throwing simple what you make of it:’ took time to count his winning tricks. contracts and putting up little or no He had six top tricks, with diamonds defence.’ looking good to produce the remainder ‘The series was a great success over Teri by means of a double finesse. here,’ said Marge. ‘We were always ´ K 10 9 3 completely amazed at how such a ™ A 7 3 A Finesse is a Last Resort dysfunctional, feuding family could all © 10 5 live and eat together in one big house. I ® Q J 7 5 He took a second or two to recall his suppose many duplicate bridge clubs Ray Cliff days spent in the outback when he are a bit like the Dallas television series. ´ A 6 ´ 5 2 would often hurry a hand in anticipation People turn up, week after week, to slug ™ K Q 9 6 4 N ™ J 10 5 of a juicy steak from the obligatory it out for a few master points. They W E © Q 3 2 S © A 9 8 7 4 barbeque always accompanied by a usually all arrive in good humour, but ® 9 6 3 ® 10 8 2 couple of cold beers! He also by the end of the evening are more often Mike remembered a recent article written by than not completely disgruntled and ´ Q J 8 7 4 one of the great Australian champions, ready to ditch their partner! ™ 8 2 which stated clearly that, ‘One should ‘Years ago, you could enjoy a game © K J 6 take a finesse only as a last resort. Far of duplicate and go home to reflect in ® A K 4 too many players blame the finesse solitude on how well or badly the when they go down without realising evening’s play had gone. Nothing so the contract could have been made on a relaxed now, I am almost sorry to say. If The auction was quite simple. Mike different line of play.’ Consequently, you don’t have the results pinned up by opened 1 ´, Teri raised to 3 ´ and Mike after winning the opening lead in hand, the door on the way out, they will went on to game. Their opponents were he played the ace followed by the queen almost surely arrive by email while you Ray and Cliff, two well-known local of hearts. Bruce played a heart to the are travelling home.’ ‘Yes,’ joined in oilmen. Ray led the king of hearts and king next, revealing the kind 3-3 break. Dave, ‘it’s no good trying to slip away Mike played low from dummy. When It remained just to knock out the ace of unnoticed. There’s always someone Cliff encouraged with the jack, Ray clubs before making a comfortable wanting to let you know what a pity it continued with the six of hearts, taken contract. was that you had to come bottom!’ by the ace. ‘You made that contract look easy,’ Then Mike led a spade to the queen commented Marge. ‘It’s a good job The Bridge Doctor and ace. Ray continued with a third Dave wasn’t playing it. I’m pretty heart ruffed by Mike in hand. He led a certain he would have fiddled with the Chad was soon speaking again. ‘Sue spade to the king in dummy next, which diamonds right from the start and maybe Ellen’s something of a celebrity back cleared the remaining trumps. Now made the outcome rather less certain.’ home. She is a practising Bridge Doctor Mike pondered the task of avoiding
Page 16 The Waiting Game continued buy. Unlike horses, they expect a fortune in wages every week and are not content with just a good feed and a warm stable to sleep in! When I was a boy growing up in the Urals, my father two diamond losers in order to seal the Russian steel magnate called Boris and often talked about the fate of whole contract and his future happiness! his wife Svetlana. ‘We heard your football teams that failed to perform for He looked across at Teri and gave a announcement in the first class VIP their patrons. Yes, coal mining in the boyish grin. She gave an anxious half- lounge,’ announced Boris in a thick Ukraine was not to be recommended in smile in return as she realised the Russian accent. He was a formidable those bad old days!’ contract might well depend on a lucky looking, heavyset man with dark, wavy As dealer on the first board, Svetlana guess. Fortunately, Mike was not a hazy hair. A diamond-studded gold Rolex opened a frisky 2 ™. Her partner thinker. He realised quickly that as Ray watch stood out prominently on his announced this as weak and Dave chose had already shown up with the ace of thick wrist. In complete contrast, to overcall 3 ©. Boris passed and Marge spades as well as the king and queen of Svetlana had a terrific head of blond bid 3 ™, asking for a stopper in the suit. hearts, yet had not bid, it was a near hair and wore a heavenly tweed hacking Dave bid 3NT duly and Boris tossed the certainty for Cliff to have the diamond jacket over an ivory silk blouse. king of hearts onto the table. This was ace. the deal: His mind made up, he led the five of The Russian Opponents diamonds from dummy and played the king confidently when Cliff played low. ‘I bet there is a minder or two keeping Marge With ten tricks made, Mike sat back and an eye on him,’ thought Dave. ‘We play ´ A K 10 2 sighed with relief. He took a small strong no-trump, weak two’s, Roman ™ 9 6 3 satin-covered box from his jacket key-card Blackwood, splinters and © 10 4 pocket, passed it across the table to Teri some other stuff I can’t remember,’ ® A J 10 8 and said in an unperturbed tone, ‘Now continued Boris giving Dave a solemn Boris Svetlana what’s that they say about diamonds look. All at once, he gave a big grin and ´ Q J 8 5 3 ´ 9 4 being a girl’s best friend!’ added, ‘In my country we always say ™ K 8 N ™ Q J 10 7 4 2 W E the road to hell is paved with good © 8 7 5 S © Q 6 2 Refreshment Break conventions!’ Not to be outdone by all ® 9 7 5 ® K 3 this bravado, Dave turned to Svetlana Dave With a firm invitation to visit Dallas and asked if she favoured the phoney ´ 7 6 made, Chad and Sue Ellen moved off club? ‘Any club will do for me darling,’ ™ A 5 to the next table. The refreshment break she replied in a playful provocative ™ A K J 9 3 came round soon and gave players a tone! Svetlana reached into her Gucci ® Q 6 4 2 chance to mingle and chat. Everyone holdall and produced an ornately agreed how uncanny it was to play in an engraved silver flask. ‘Essential open arena with so many onlookers. ‘It medicine,’ she murmured while pouring With just the single stopper in hearts, tests your powers of concentration to a generous measure of a clear liquid Dave’s main concern was to keep the full,’ remarked Dave to a studious- carefully into a matching silver cup. Svetlana’s hearts out of the game. To his looking couple from Vienna called Marge looked concerned at this and was surprise, Svetlana played the heart jack Heidi and Rudi. ‘Yes,’ replied Rudi, ‘the just about to say something sympathetic casually under partner’s king. Dave kibitzers can be a distraction, but most when Svetlana added, ‘Neat vodka. It gave an involuntary glance at Svetlana, are well behaved and realise quickly helps to keep me frosty.’ Boris boomed who raised her silver cup, gave a big you are locked mostly in a battle of luck with laughter and gave Dave a smile and took a long drink. It crossed and percentage play. This is unlike disturbing wink. Thinking of nothing his mind that if Boris started with a chess, for example, which is a game of better to say, Dave commented on the doubleton king-queen of hearts, then a perfect information where all the pieces bitterly cold weather forecast for finesse of the club king would not be a are visible.’ Heidi added, ‘I suppose that Moscow in the next day or so. ‘No problem if Svetlana won the trick. The a particularly observant declarer could problem for us,’ replied a jovial Boris. queen would block the hearts. judge whether or not a particular line of ‘Have not been anywhere near Russia play might work from the mood of the for quite some time. We are on our way False Card Noticed spectators. Are they looking relaxed to Nice to take delivery of my new or are they alert and tense?’ ‘Ignore ocean-going yacht. I stopped off in ‘This looks like a bit of false carding to them at your peril,’ joined in Marge, London only to look at a couple of me,’ thought Dave after a moment’s making an effort to lighten up the Premier Division football clubs that reflection, ‘There has to be an ulterior conversation. might be up for grabs. motive and I am just not falling for it. He decided to duck the first trick and The Final Round Premier Division Footballers won the continuation. He crossed next to dummy with the ace of spades and Play progressed smoothly and the final ‘The players are like thoroughbred ran the ten of diamonds. When this won, round saw Dave and Marge up against a horses and cost just about as much to a very relieved Dave repeated the
Page 17 The Waiting It Happened That Way by Freddie North Game continued No-Trump Openings finesse and played out his hile on many hands final nail in declarer’s coffin. diamond winners, plus the it is easy enough to Dealer West. N/S Vul. Pairs. Declarer won in dummy with spade king and club ace to Wchoose the opening the ace and then tried to set up North make nine tricks. bid, there will inevitably be the ´ A 3 the diamonds; when this suit ‘You clever boy,’ purred exception on which it is hard to ™ A 9 3 broke 4-2, he could estab lish Svetlana. ‘You saw through decide. Playing Acol, perhaps © A Q 10 7 2 the fifth diamond but had no my little ploy. Many players you pick up this: ® 6 3 2 entry left in dummy to enjoy it. see me as nothing more than West East A possible plan, as the cards a cute blonde and, when I ´ J 10 9 6 ´ K Q 8 7 2 lie, would have been to take a drink or two, they ´ A Q 10 ™ J 10 8 7 5 ™ K 6 2 squeeze East in the red suits. think I am not paying much ™ K Q 9 © 8 5 © K J 9 3 After the ace of hearts, attention.’ Boris nodded in © A J 10 9 6 ® Q 8 ® 7 declarer enters his hand with a agreement. ‘Svetlana is ® A Q South club and runs the suit to sharp as a razor and ´ 5 4 produce this ending. particularly enjoys deflating ™ Q 4 all those male egos!’ Marge Now, is your choice of opening © 6 4 decided to join in. ‘Quite bid really clear-cut? Well, there ® A K J 10 9 5 4 ´ Void right too. The Canadian are twenty-two points in a ™ Void author Charlotte Whitton balanced hand and this fits into © A 10 7 wrote, in June 1963, that your range for a 2NT opening West North East South ® Void ‘whatever women do, they (20-22); but there are also quite Pass 1© 1´ 2® ´ Void ´ Void must do twice as well as men a few plus values; a five-card Pass 2NT Pass 3NT ™ 10 8 N ™ K W E to be thought half as good.’ suit, two tens and three aces End © 5 S © J 9 (aces are undervalued slightly ® Void ® Void Successful Event in the point count system). So After a spade lead, declarer ´ Void should you perhaps promote had no trouble in collecting at ™ Q With the competition over, the hand to twenty-three points least ten tricks. © 6 Dave and Marge received a and open 2 ® prepared to rebid Things did not go quite so ® 4 standing vote of thanks for 2NT? No doubt, in an average smoothly when North opened instigating and organising pairs’ event there would be a 1NT and East decided to risk such a successful event. They dichotomy of views, but I think bidding 2 ´. South felt torn When South leads the four of also received a generous gift most experienced players between the desire to bid some clubs, dummy discards the from the duty free shop. would rate this hand as just too quantity of clubs or gamble seven of diamonds but East Dave congratulated the good for a 2NT opening. 3NT (Lebensohl not being cannot spare any of his remain - winning pair, Molly and Max What do you think about this available). Since 3 ® was non- ing cards. He has to keep the from Canada, who finished next hand? forcing, South bid 4 ® or 5 ® king of hearts or South’s queen with a very commendable invariably – and, whatever the makes and, if he discards a dia - 69%. result in 5 ®, it had to lose out mond, dummy’s ace and ten ´ A 3 to 3NT. take the last two tricks. Generous Support ™ A 9 3 In fact, the play in 5 ® was At one table – in a contract © A Q 10 7 2 not without interest, some of 5 ® – South produced a Marge thanked everyone ® 6 3 2 declarers failing after a nip- masterstroke by ducking the involved for taking part and and-tuck battle. Declarer won spade lead! West did her best praised the airport authorities the jack of spades lead in to get her partner off the hook for their generous support. Would you be happy with 1NT dummy, drew trumps and took by switching to a diamond, the She went on to say, ‘This (12-14) or, bearing in mind the a losing diamond finesse to the queen losing to the king. A proves you are never alone plus features – a five-card suit, king. East could see that if he spade then went to the ace but anywhere in the world when one ten and those three slightly cashed the king of spades he declarer was soon in control. you’re a bridge player. It’s undervalued aces – would you would then have an unenviable The ®A-K, a diamond to the like having a special prefer 1 © intending to rebid in choice of plays (unless his ace and a diamond ruff, a club passport.’ She paused and no-trumps (15-16)? Let us see partner held the queen of to the six and a second added in a very resolute tone, what happened when this hand hearts), so he escaped by diamond ruff left a winning ‘However, this is one bridge arose in a club duplicate. When underleading his spade diamond in dummy and that competition we would prefer the opening bid was 1 ©, every - honours. West won duly; the vital ace of hearts as an entry. not to have on a regular thing proceeded smoothly: heart switch proved to be the The game made thus. n basis!’ n
Page 18 Julian Pottage Says Watch Your Entries
ntries are vital. It is no good to set You are in 3NT and West leads a club. You are in 4 ´. West leads the heart jack. up a winner that you can never If you run the club to your queen, you This wins and East, who opened 1NT Ereach. Some are obvious, like an might never get back to hand. Correct is (12-14), wins the next two tricks with ace facing a low card. Others are subtler. to play dummy’s ace and drive out the the A-Q of hearts. A club shift goes to Whatever they are, use them carefully. ace of diamonds. A club may come the queen, king and ace. back, setting up your entry. Even if not, Clearly, you want to finesse East for you will have time to dislodge the king the missing kings. Start with the queen ´ Q 10 9 5 of clubs and force an entry to hand. of diamonds. If East covers, go back to ™ J 8 5 the jack of diamonds and run the spade © K J 9 jack. If the spade jack holds, you can ® 9 8 3 ´ A 8 7 6 5 repeat the spade finesse. If the first ´ K 8 4 ´ A 6 3 ™ A 8 6 3 diamond holds, you run the spade jack at ™ K 9 4 3 N ™ Q 10 6 2 © K 7 5 trick six and pick up both suits again. W E © 8 6 5 3 S © 7 4 ® K ® 5 2 ® K 7 6 4 ´ K 10 9 3 ´ Q 4 ´ J 7 2 ™ K J 7 N ™ Q 10 5 4 ´ Q 10 8 W E ™ A 7 © Q 10 6 4 S © J 8 2 ™ 8 5 4 2 © A Q 10 2 ® 4 3 ® J 6 5 2 © J 5 ® A Q J 10 ´ J 2 ® A 9 6 4 ™ 9 2 ´ 7 5 3 ´ A © A 9 3 ™ A K J N ™ 10 9 3 W E You are South in 3NT. West leads a low ® A Q 10 9 8 7 © 10 9 4 3 S © 8 7 6 2 heart to the jack, queen and seven. Your ® J 8 5 ® Q 10 7 3 2 ace wins the second round. ´ K J 9 6 4 2 With hearts wide open, playing spades You are in 3NT again. West leads a low ™ Q 7 6 does not appeal. Better is to play East diamond. You win in dummy. © A K Q for the king of clubs and aim to make If you cash the club king and come to ® K nine tricks without losing the lead. If hand with a diamond, all will be well if East has K-x-x-x, you need to finesse clubs split 3-3 or the jack is short. Better, three times. You can do it if you play since you need only five club tricks for You open 1 ´ in fourth seat and soon diamonds correctly. Lead the two to the your game, is to overtake the king with arrive in 4 ´. West cashes the ace of nine, the ten to the jack and the queen to the ace. Now you can knock out the club hearts and, when East plays the three, the king. Save the ace until later! jack and get back to hand. shifts to the ten of diamonds. The danger here is that East has the ace of spades (highly likely in view of ´ A K 8 5 2 ´ J 8 West’s initial pass) and comes in to play ™ A J 6 5 ™ K 5 2 a heart through your queen. Then you © 3 © Q J 8 5 lose three hearts and a trump. ® A 6 5 ® A 7 6 3 To avoid this you need to discard a ´ Q 10 9 3 ´ J 7 6 ´ 5 ´ K 9 3 heart on the ace of clubs before you ™ 9 3 N ™ K Q 8 4 ™ J 10 9 8 N ™ A Q 3 touch trumps. Have you spotted how to W E W E © 7 2 S © A 8 5 4 © 10 6 4 2 S © K 9 3 get to dummy? Take two top diamonds ® K 10 8 4 2 ® 9 3 ® K 9 5 2 ® J 10 8 4 and the king of clubs. Then ruff a good ´ 4 ´ A Q 10 7 6 4 2 diamond. That queen is a red herring! ™ 10 7 2 ™ 7 6 4 When dummy appears and you make © K Q J 10 9 6 © A 7 a plan to set up winners and deal with ® Q J 7 ® Q losers, make sure you can get where you want to be. Watch your entries. n
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Page 20 DAVID STEVENSON answers questions on Bridge Laws When is Eight Playing Tricks not an Acol Two?
The hand below has to be strong to be legal. playing strength’ or similar. When I made 5 ™ doubled, has eight playing A natural two opening is not If your openings are West started to complain Q tricks but I realise limited in the same way, so natural, but may include about our bidding. I said it does not satisfy the rule it is legal to play a 2 ´ pre-emptive hands, they do that, if she had an issue of 25. I am still unsure opening, for example, to not have to fit into the above with our bidding, she whether you can open an include pre-emptive hands definition, but when should have called the Acol 2 ´ on it. What are like this. However, one announcing them you Director. What would the rules and the rationale should not describe them as should say ‘Intermediate to have been the ruling if for them? ‘Acol’ (not being a hand of Strong, forcing’. she had? power and quality) nor as To answer your specific Birthe Johns, Tewkesbury. ‘strong’, if they can be questions: ´ A K Q J 10 5 4 2 outside the limits. There is no doubt ™ 7 5 Alas, this does not solve 1) Eight playing tricks never that you were right © 8 3 the problem fully as it is was the definition of a A about what to do ® 7 very hard to find a definition strong two. Pre-empts when your opponent that includes all hands of often contain eight criticised your bidding. power and quality while playing tricks. Criticising someone else’s Raymond Jenkinson, excluding all pre-emptive 2) Rule of 25 tends to show bidding is rude and a breach St Albans similar from hands. a stronger hand and is of bridge ethics. She should Terry Hatton. To call a hand ‘strong’ it thus less misleading. You either keep quiet, or call the has to have one of: can open a strong hand Director if she thinks By tradition, an that is not Rule of 25 so something is wrong. Acol Two is ‘a hand a) subject to proper long as it falls under (a) Normally, if you forget a A of power and disclosure, the high cards or (c) above. transfer, it is worrying if quality, with at least eight for a normal one-level 3) The rule aims to stop partner seems to allow for it, playing tricks.’ This hand is opening and at least eight people from gaining an there being the possibility of nothing like an Acol Two clear cut tricks, or advantage by opening partner ‘fielding a misbid’ as and is a normal 4 ´ opening. b) any hand meeting the pre-emptive hands and the EBU puts it quaintly, Unfortunately, players Rule of 25 or describing them as strong. which means allowing for have found that by including c) any hand of at least 16 the mistake probably weaker, pre-emptive type HCPs ®©™ ´ because she has seen the hands in their ‘Acol Two’ mistake a few times before! openings, or in their The example you gave is a This was our In fact, the Director might ‘Benjamin’ 2 ® openings, point short of (a), so you auction when I even adjust in such a they gain an advantage. could add a jack and say it Q (North) forgot that situation. Doing so misleads was acceptable. I think it a we do not play transfers However, with the bidding opponents into thinking that very poor bid, but legal. after an intervening call: as given, East-West have bid they have a strong hand, and If you agree that your and raised diamonds, so it thus tending to miss openings have to be (b) or West North East South was obvious from their contracts themselves. (c), you can call them 1NT bidding that you had gone The EBU has tried to ‘strong’ or ‘Benjamin’ or Dbl 2© 2´ Pass wrong. Thus, your partner address this by giving a ‘Acol’. If you include (a), 3© 3™ 4© 4™ has done nothing wrong and minimum for strong you should also say ‘can be Pass Pass 5© 5™ there is no reason to change openings. A Benjamin 2 ® quite weak with lots of Dbl End the resulting score.
Page 21 was called and he ruled should ‘sort it out for an undertaking to the Ask David continued that as the cards had been themselves’. This is opponents that they can rely replaced, there was no completely unacceptable. It on absolutely. The Law book means of checking and the is the director’s job, not the does not allow us to restrict Declarer (West) table should sort it out for players’, and much of the style. If a player wants to claimed the last themselves. trouble caused was because count extra points for some Q two tricks, with West reiterated that as the director did not do his things (such as tens, good spades as trumps. She had the cards had been job. If he thinks there is suits) and deduct points for the ´Q and the ©A in her replaced and reshuffled, it insufficient evidence to some things (for example hand, with the ´J and the could not be checked and decide there was a revoke – 4333 hands, two honours in ©J in dummy. North, who left the table. North and he does not seem to a doubleton) then that is held the ©2 and the ´3, insisted that a mistake was have bothered to find out – indeed legal. disputed the claim. The made and scored 100 then he should make a Director awarded a trick to points (for a penalty of two ruling, presumably that there ®©™ ´ North on the basis that tricks) for N/S, instead of was no revoke. ‘Leaving it to there was still a trump 420 points E/W (non-vul). the players’ is absolutely I read somewhere outstanding. Is this ruling What is the correct awful. that once the right? solution to this problem? Now we now come to Q players had Doreen Parrington, Name and address supplied. North’s scoring. There was returned their hands to the Alicante, Spain. neither an agreement that board at the end of play It is normal to claim The story you tell is there had been a revoke nor North was responsible for in bridge generally most upsetting and, a ruling from the director to the board and any request A since it is such a A of course, if I were that effect. For North to to inspect the hands. Is this waste of everyone’s time to really to give a ruling I score it as though there was no longer right? play hands out, especially would hear from all players a revoke and a revoke Mrs J Robertson, when all the remaining cards and the director. However, penalty is awful, dreadful Lundin Links, Fife. are winners. assuming what you have said and on the verge of cheating. On this occasion, the is completely accurate, this It is just unacceptable. The I am not sure who Director was quite wrong. is the situation. club authorities should warn stated that North Since North would have fol - Players make mistakes. him as to his conduct and A was responsible for lowed suit to both of West’s Sometimes they revoke. threaten him with expulsion the boards after play ends winners he cannot get a trick sometimes they think others if there is any recurrence. but this is not entirely true, I and the Director should not have revoked but, in fact, fear, despite being a well- have awarded him a trick. they are wrong. In this case, ®©™ ´ known view. North is South thought there was a responsible for moving the ®©™ ´ revoke but it seemed too late An opponent boards unless the Director to check. West should not opened 1NT with decrees otherwise. He has no East bid and made tell him it was too late since, Q 11 points, responsibility otherwise and 4™. The cards like any other infraction, it is admittedly with two tens as he has no right to allow or to Q were being not up to West to decide, it is well, which his partner forbid someone from replaced in the Board, up to the director. announced as 12-14. Is examining his own hand or some having been shuffled, Furthermore, North’s such an arrangement the travelling score-sheet. when South said that he assertion that there must legal? No player may touch thought that East had have been a mistake John Foster by email. anyone else’s cards, with or ruffed a spade at trick 10 otherwise her partner would without permission. If a and had noticed that she not have complained is also You may choose to player wishes to see other still had a spade in her somewhat out of order. Her open any 1NT range people’s hands, he must ask hand (the last two tricks partner is just as likely to A you like, so long as them to show him. Unless were not played as the have made a mistake in it shows at least nine points there is a problem over time, winners were on the table). thinking there was a revoke (ten points at holiday/novice I would expect this to West said that as the cards, as East in possibly revoking. bridge). For example, I play happen routinely. or most of them, had been It is the old story. Never 11 to 14 with several replaced in the board, it argue, just call the director. partners. It is fun to try was impossible to check. Sadly, when they something a little different. David Stevenson answers South agreed and eventually did, the director Of course, not everyone all queries based on the withdrew the complaint. failed to do his job. To say values their hands the same, facts supplied by the North (who is a trained that if the cards were back in so perhaps this pair play 12 letter writer. director) insisted that a the board, it is impossible to to 14 but count two tens as a Neither Mr Bridge nor mistake had been made, sort it out is just wrong. He point. This is legal, and they David Stevenson has any otherwise her partner could go through the play. would not think they had way of knowing whether would not have What really worries me is opened light. When you those facts are correct or complained. The director the suggestion that they announce a range, this is not complete.
Page 22 passed, as did North. I you had to guess what he cards. I (as East) said, Ask David continued asked North what he had just as much as his ‘Hold on. The bidding understood by the bid and partner. Therefore, the hasn’t finished.’ So, it he replied he did not know. Director was right, there is continued: A reply in I assumed that South was no case for adjustment – BRIDGE 95 in playing the gambling 3NT sorry. West North East South Q relation to jump with a long club suit and Your question to South … Pass overcalls surprises me. I doubled. This ended the was improper anyway and 2´ Pass Pass learnt that a jump overcall bidding. Before my partner the reply, while ambiguous, (1 ™ from RHO, 3 ® from led (a diamond), I asked was merely free extra At this point, South said, me) shows about 16 points. South if he could clarify his information to which you ‘I don’t think this is right’ The reply talked about pre- bid. He replied that he were not entitled. and called the director emptive overcalls and expected to make 3NT. I who said, ‘I see what you seemed to dismiss this suspected then that he had ®©™ ´ mean. There may have teaching. a very strong hand, been unauthorised Ken Wicks, Morden, Surrey. perhaps 23-24 points, and If the majority of information. Carry on.’ decided that I would need a club play 5-card South bid 3 ™, which ended One thing that to establish my diamonds, Q majors, but a few the auction. annoys me is the hoping to get in later with play Acol, the Acol players North was two down. A failure of many the ace of hearts. I would open on 12 points The director came back bridge teachers to explain to assumed he had ©Q-x-x when some of the 5-card and he said, ‘I do not need their students that the way and took the first two major players would pass, to make a ruling on this they teach them is by no tricks with ace and king. I particularly if they are one because the score for 1 means the only way to play then sent a third diamond vulnerable. How do you down doubled is the same bridge. I deal with many back, taken as expected by score a game that has been as two down undoubled.’ queries that arise because South’s queen. He then bid and played by those What is your opinion? players expect other people proceeded to run eight playing Acol, but would Dan Crofts, to follow what they believe clubs and made 10 tricks not be bid by those playing Edgbaston, Birmingham. is right without apparently altogether. Had I known 5-card majors? realising it is just one that he had a 1-1-3-8 Viv Tremeer by email. If the Director possibility amongst many. shape, I would have then believes he should For example, someone played the ace of hearts You score based on A adjust the score taught you that a jump instead of the low the results achieved, from 3 ™ -2 to 2 ™ doubled -1 overcall shows about 16 diamond, and beaten the A regardless of how he should do so, not say he points. Did your teacher not contract by several tricks. the players achieved them. does not need to make a say, ‘but many people play A spade was not a sensible While it is true that, on some ruling. Let us assume he, in this differently.’? He should return as dummy had deals, certain systems are fact, decided to make such a have done. A common way ´A-Q-J-x-x. more likely to produce ruling. to play the bid is weak or I called the director who particular results, this is just Now, to adjust under even intermediate. ruled that as dummy had part of the game and no unauthorised information Therefore, when I refer to not known what the bid reason for adjusting the Laws he must decide that a someone describing the jump meant, that was the end of actual scores. The director player has chosen amongst overcall as pre-emptive, that the matter. (In the heat of adjusts the score only in logical alternatives one is a perfectly normal answer. the moment, I failed to accordance with the rules suggested by the I do not ‘dismiss’ the fact mention that South had in following an infraction – unauthorised information. that other people play it as effect denied that it was the playing one legal system Frankly, I am not sure what you do, as a strong jump gambling no-trump.) Is rather than another is not an the unauthorised information overcall. I just allow for the this a correct decision? infraction. is nor what logical fact that a large number of Was South entitled to alternatives are being people in the British Isles answer my question in this ®©™ ´ considered. play a jump overcall as way? If I had been one of the weak, in other words pre- Hugh Fido, Canterbury. The bidding went: players, I would have asked emptive. the Director to explain his You are entitled to a Q ruling, which seems ®©™ ´ full explanation of incomprehensible to me. n A an opponent’s West North East South As East, third in agreements, but nothing 1™ Pass 2® hand, I opened 1 ©, more. From what you have Pass 2™ Dbl E-mail your questions Q having 11 points, written in your letter, it on bridge laws to: with ©A-K-10-x-x and the appears they had no At this point, South and davidstevenson@ ™A. South overcalled 3NT agreement over the meaning West (but not North) mrbridge.co.uk – no alert. My partner of the bid and this meant picked up their bidding
Page 23 New Summer 2010 cruise programme Mr Bridge Exclusive Launch Offers on selected cruises No-fl y cruises to Scandinavia & Northern Waters with Mr Bridge Springtime in the Norwegian Fjords 24 May 2010 – 8 days from £799pp Harwich ~ Bergen ~ Ålesund ~ Hellesylt ~ Geiranger ~ Flåm ~ Harwich - 6ÊUÊ,1--ÊUÊ/ Ê / ÊUÊ, ÊUÊ ÊUÊ-*/- , ÊUÊ," -ÊUÊ ,/ ÊUÊ, Ê Bridge Host: Ray Hutchinson , ÊUÊ / ,, ÊUÊ ,/ ÊUÊ ÊUÊ Ê- ÊUÊ ",/Ê, ÊUÊ, Ê- St Petersburg & Baltic Treasures 31 May 2010 – 13 days from £1,099pp Harwich ~ Copenhagen ~ Stockholm ~ Tallinn ~ St Petersburg (overnight) ~ Gdynia ~ Warnemünde Kiel Canal ~ Harwich Bridge Host: Ray and Liz Hutchinson Land of the Midnight Sun 12 June 2010 – 11 days from £1,099pp Harwich ~ Ålesund ~ Honningsvåg ~ Tromsø ~ Leknes ~ Flåm ~ Harwich Bridge Host: Alex Davoud British Isles Heritage Trail 22 June 2010 – 12 days from £999pp Harwich ~ St Peter Port ~ Tresco ~ Cobh ~ Dublin ~ Liverpool ~ Oban ~ Invergordon ~ Dundee ~ Harwich Bridge Host: Tony & Jan Richards The North Cape & Spitsbergen 3 July 2010 – 15 days from £1,499pp Harwich ~ Ålesund ~ Honningsvåg ~ Ny-Ålesund ~ Longyearbyen ~ Barentsburg ~ Tromsø Leknes ~ Flåm ~ Harwich Bridge Host: Alison & Norman Nicolson Baltic Capitals 17 July 2010 – 13 days from £1,099pp Harwich ~ Copenhagen ~ Stockholm ~ Tallinn ~ St Petersburg (overnight) ~ Helsinki ~ Warnemünde Kiel Canal ~ Harwich Bridge Host: Alan Lamb Fjords, Faroes, Fire & Ice 29 July 2010 – 9 days from £999pp Harwich ~ Flåm ~ Ålesund ~ Tórshavn ~ Akureyri ~ Reykjavik (overnight) F ares fr Bridge Host: Crombie & Helen McNeil om In the Wake of the Vikings *ULY n DAYS s )NSIDE FROM £2,150pp s /UTSIDE FROM £2,799pp EXCLUSIVE OFFERS Combine ‘Fjords, Faroes, Fire & Ice’ with ‘Iceland & Greenland’ for a mesmerizing 23-day cruise £549 Bridge Host: Crombie & Helen McNeil Your Voyage Includes: per person Iceland & Greenland !UG n DAYS s )NSIDE FROM £1,599pp SPECIAL OUTSIDE FARE FROM £1,849PP Reykjavik (overnight) ~ Illulisat ~ Nuuk ~ Qaqortoq ~ Kirkwall ~ Harwich s )NSPIRING DESTINATIONS AND ENLIGHTENING EXCURSIONS Bridge Host: Crombie & Helen McNeil s #OMPREHENSIVE LECTURE AND GUEST A Taste of France 20 Aug 2010 – 11 days from £999pp speaker programme SEE THE WORLD IN ITS TRUE COLOURS Harwich ~ St Helier ~ La Rochelle ~ Bordeaux ~ St Malo ~ Rouen ~ Harwich s 4RAVEL WITH AROUND LIKE MINDED PASSENGERS Combining adventure with comfort, a voyage the hardy Inuit people, as well as the ever-popular Bridge Host: Tony & Jan Richards in 4-star comfort on-board Discovery is the perfect way to explore ports in Scandinavia, the Baltic, the Black Sea and Magic of the Norwegian Fjords 30 Aug 2010 – 8 days from £749pp s !LL MEALS ENTERTAINMENT AND GRATUITIES fascinating destinations. A range of new exciting the Mediterranean. Harwich ~ Bergen ~ Ålesund ~ Hellesylt ~ Geiranger ~ Flåm ~ Harwich on board included with no hidden extras Bridge Host: Gary Conrad ports as well as old favourites are included in 4-STAR COMFORT s &RIENDLY AND RELAXED ATMOSPHERE O N B O A R D our latest programme of inspiring cruises for s !LL PRICES ON BOARD IN "RITISH POUNDS Small enough to reach out-of-the-way ports, Unique historical and cultural cruises to Mediterranean & Black Sea Summer 2010. During your voyage, you will Cruise to the Riviera with Bernard Magee s #APTAINS COCKTAIL PARTIES AND GALA DINNERS be accompanied by around 650 like-minded yet large enough to make light work of crossing 3EPT n DAYS s )NSIDE FROM £549pp s /UTSIDE FROM £649pp EXCLUSIVE OFFERS s &LIGHTS FROM AND TO THE 5+ INCLUDED passengers and a highly-acclaimed team of guest the great oceans, Discovery avoids the excesses of Harwich ~ Lisbon ~ Gibraltar ~ Almeria ~ Nice s !LL PORT AND PRE PAID AIRPORT TAXES speakers who will ensure that your time on board today’s mega-liners. Instead, she has been expressly Grand Iberia & Italy with Bernard Magee s /VERSEAS TRANSFERS BETWEEN AIRPORT AND is as memorable as your time ashore. conceived for our special brand of ‘discovery 3EPT n DAYS s )NSIDE FROM £1,399pp s /UTSIDE FROM £1,699pp EXCLUSIVE OFFERS ship, where applicable cruising’ to create an atmosphere on board that Combine ‘Cruise to the Riviera’ with ‘Italy & Sicily’ for a breathtaking 18-day journey NEW DESTINATIONS is friendly and relaxed. There are all the facilities Italian Insights with Bernard Magee 13 Sept 2010 – 11 days from £1,099pp Nice (overnight) ~ Santa Margherita ~ Livorno (Florence/Pisa) ~ Civitavecchia (Rome) Mr Bridge: Highlights of the 2010 programme include a you would expect on a ship of this size, including Sorrento ~ Palermo ~ Catania ~ Valletta call at Liverpool, a previous ‘European City of three restaurants, a choice of bars and lounges, Venice & The Adriatic Mr Bridge is pleased to confi rm that he has Culture’, and an innovative French cruise to La two pools, a well-stocked library, lecture theatre/ 3EPTEMBER n DAYS s )NSIDE FROM £1,199pp SPECIAL OUTSIDE FARE FROM £1,399PP a Mr Bridge representative on all the 2010 Rochelle, Mont Saint Michel, the Rouen of Joan cinema and internet centre. Valletta ~ Korcula ~ Zadar ~ Venice (overnight) ~ Koper ~ Split ~ Hvar~ Dubrovnik Summer Voyages. The Mr Bridge host will of Arc and the vines of Bordeaux. We will also visit Bridge Host: Sandy Bell and Graham Crane co-ordinate the bridge element of your cruise. TRAVEL WITH EXPERTS Sicilian Catania, Nauplia near the Greek citadel of Worlds of the Ancient Civilisations 3 October 2010 – 13 days from £1,399pp Even if you do not want to play bridge, you Mycenae, the island of Korcula and the city of Split A hallmark of any Discovery cruise is our Dubrovnik (overnight) ~ Cephalonia ~ Nauplia ~ Santorini ~ Mykonos ~ Piraeus ~ Volos should still book with Mr Bridge, thereby Canakkale ~ Istanbul (overnight) on the Dalmatian Coast. programme of comprehensive guest speakers. Bridge Host: Tony and Jan Richards ensuring you will be invited to attend our Complementing the talks given by our own exclusive drinks parties. This will enable you RETURN TO SOME FAVOURITE PLACES Black Sea Voyager 15 October 2010 – 11 days from £1,299pp to meet other like-minded passengers and feel lecturers, who will preview the destinations ahead, Istanbul (overnight) ~ Trabzon ~ Sochi (overnight) ~ Yalta ~ Sevastopol ~ Odessa ~ Nesebur part of a group. We will also re-visit the remote islands of the programme features historians, explorers, Istanbul (overnight) Bridge Host: Alison and Norman Nicolson Book early to secure the cabin of your /N DAYS AT SEA THERE WILL BE SEMINARS AND Spitsbergen on the fringes of the Arctic Circle, naturalists and diplomats, who will share their choice at these exceptional fares AFTERNOON BRIDGE /N PAYMENT OF THE BRIDGE Greenland, where we’ll be welcomed back by expertise, anecdotes and interests with you. North African Treasures 25 October 2010 – 13 days from £1,299pp supplement with your cruise deposit, you will be Istanbul (overnight) ~ Heraklion ~ Valletta ~ Tripoli ~ Al Khums ~ Benghazi ~ Alexandria (overnight) eligible to participate in the evening duplicate. Bridge Host: Alan Lamb DISCOVERY CLUB There will also be a quiz. Those not wishing to Egypt & The Red Sea 6 November 2010 – 9 days from £1,049pp participate in the evening bridge programme are Further combination cruises and Grand Voyages Alexandria ~ Port Said ~ Suez Canal ~ Sharm el-Sheikh ~ Aqaba (overnight) ~ Safaga (overnight) Bridge Host: Tony and Jan Richards MEMBERS not required to pay the bridge supplement. available, request a brochure for more details SAVE AN EXTRA 5% Fares shown are per person based on two people sharing lowest inside/outside twin-bedded cabin category as shown and include all applicable discounts for new bookings only. All offers are subject to availability, are capacity controlled and may be withdrawn at any time. See brochure for full terms and conditions. Please note that there is a bridge supplement of £30 per bridge player to be paid with cruise deposit. Voyages of Discovery is a trading name of All Leisure Holidays Ltd. Photo credit: Lofthus – Per Eide/Innovation Norway.
01483 489961 for brochures and bookings New Summer 2010 cruise programme Mr Bridge Exclusive Launch Offers on selected cruises No-fl y cruises to Scandinavia & Northern Waters with Mr Bridge Springtime in the Norwegian Fjords 24 May 2010 – 8 days from £799pp Harwich ~ Bergen ~ Ålesund ~ Hellesylt ~ Geiranger ~ Flåm ~ Harwich - 6ÊUÊ,1--ÊUÊ/ Ê / ÊUÊ, ÊUÊ ÊUÊ-*/- , ÊUÊ," -ÊUÊ ,/ ÊUÊ, Ê Bridge Host: Ray Hutchinson , ÊUÊ / ,, ÊUÊ ,/ ÊUÊ ÊUÊ Ê- ÊUÊ ",/Ê, ÊUÊ, Ê- St Petersburg & Baltic Treasures 31 May 2010 – 13 days from £1,099pp Harwich ~ Copenhagen ~ Stockholm ~ Tallinn ~ St Petersburg (overnight) ~ Gdynia ~ Warnemünde Kiel Canal ~ Harwich Bridge Host: Ray and Liz Hutchinson Land of the Midnight Sun 12 June 2010 – 11 days from £1,099pp Harwich ~ Ålesund ~ Honningsvåg ~ Tromsø ~ Leknes ~ Flåm ~ Harwich Bridge Host: Alex Davoud British Isles Heritage Trail 22 June 2010 – 12 days from £999pp Harwich ~ St Peter Port ~ Tresco ~ Cobh ~ Dublin ~ Liverpool ~ Oban ~ Invergordon ~ Dundee ~ Harwich Bridge Host: Tony & Jan Richards The North Cape & Spitsbergen 3 July 2010 – 15 days from £1,499pp Harwich ~ Ålesund ~ Honningsvåg ~ Ny-Ålesund ~ Longyearbyen ~ Barentsburg ~ Tromsø Leknes ~ Flåm ~ Harwich Bridge Host: Alison & Norman Nicolson Baltic Capitals 17 July 2010 – 13 days from £1,099pp Harwich ~ Copenhagen ~ Stockholm ~ Tallinn ~ St Petersburg (overnight) ~ Helsinki ~ Warnemünde Kiel Canal ~ Harwich Bridge Host: Alan Lamb Fjords, Faroes, Fire & Ice 29 July 2010 – 9 days from £999pp Harwich ~ Flåm ~ Ålesund ~ Tórshavn ~ Akureyri ~ Reykjavik (overnight) F ares fr Bridge Host: Crombie & Helen McNeil om In the Wake of the Vikings *ULY n DAYS s )NSIDE FROM £2,150pp s /UTSIDE FROM £2,799pp EXCLUSIVE OFFERS Combine ‘Fjords, Faroes, Fire & Ice’ with ‘Iceland & Greenland’ for a mesmerizing 23-day cruise £549 Bridge Host: Crombie & Helen McNeil Your Voyage Includes: per person Iceland & Greenland !UG n DAYS s )NSIDE FROM £1,599pp SPECIAL OUTSIDE FARE FROM £1,849PP Reykjavik (overnight) ~ Illulisat ~ Nuuk ~ Qaqortoq ~ Kirkwall ~ Harwich s )NSPIRING DESTINATIONS AND ENLIGHTENING EXCURSIONS Bridge Host: Crombie & Helen McNeil s #OMPREHENSIVE LECTURE AND GUEST A Taste of France 20 Aug 2010 – 11 days from £999pp speaker programme SEE THE WORLD IN ITS TRUE COLOURS Harwich ~ St Helier ~ La Rochelle ~ Bordeaux ~ St Malo ~ Rouen ~ Harwich s 4RAVEL WITH AROUND LIKE MINDED PASSENGERS Combining adventure with comfort, a voyage the hardy Inuit people, as well as the ever-popular Bridge Host: Tony & Jan Richards in 4-star comfort on-board Discovery is the perfect way to explore ports in Scandinavia, the Baltic, the Black Sea and Magic of the Norwegian Fjords 30 Aug 2010 – 8 days from £749pp s !LL MEALS ENTERTAINMENT AND GRATUITIES fascinating destinations. A range of new exciting the Mediterranean. Harwich ~ Bergen ~ Ålesund ~ Hellesylt ~ Geiranger ~ Flåm ~ Harwich on board included with no hidden extras Bridge Host: Gary Conrad ports as well as old favourites are included in 4-STAR COMFORT s &RIENDLY AND RELAXED ATMOSPHERE O N B O A R D our latest programme of inspiring cruises for s !LL PRICES ON BOARD IN "RITISH POUNDS Small enough to reach out-of-the-way ports, Unique historical and cultural cruises to Mediterranean & Black Sea Summer 2010. During your voyage, you will Cruise to the Riviera with Bernard Magee s #APTAINS COCKTAIL PARTIES AND GALA DINNERS be accompanied by around 650 like-minded yet large enough to make light work of crossing 3EPT n DAYS s )NSIDE FROM £549pp s /UTSIDE FROM £649pp EXCLUSIVE OFFERS s &LIGHTS FROM AND TO THE 5+ INCLUDED passengers and a highly-acclaimed team of guest the great oceans, Discovery avoids the excesses of Harwich ~ Lisbon ~ Gibraltar ~ Almeria ~ Nice s !LL PORT AND PRE PAID AIRPORT TAXES speakers who will ensure that your time on board today’s mega-liners. Instead, she has been expressly Grand Iberia & Italy with Bernard Magee s /VERSEAS TRANSFERS BETWEEN AIRPORT AND is as memorable as your time ashore. conceived for our special brand of ‘discovery 3EPT n DAYS s )NSIDE FROM £1,399pp s /UTSIDE FROM £1,699pp EXCLUSIVE OFFERS ship, where applicable cruising’ to create an atmosphere on board that Combine ‘Cruise to the Riviera’ with ‘Italy & Sicily’ for a breathtaking 18-day journey NEW DESTINATIONS is friendly and relaxed. There are all the facilities Italian Insights with Bernard Magee 13 Sept 2010 – 11 days from £1,099pp Nice (overnight) ~ Santa Margherita ~ Livorno (Florence/Pisa) ~ Civitavecchia (Rome) Mr Bridge: Highlights of the 2010 programme include a you would expect on a ship of this size, including Sorrento ~ Palermo ~ Catania ~ Valletta call at Liverpool, a previous ‘European City of three restaurants, a choice of bars and lounges, Venice & The Adriatic Mr Bridge is pleased to confi rm that he has Culture’, and an innovative French cruise to La two pools, a well-stocked library, lecture theatre/ 3EPTEMBER n DAYS s )NSIDE FROM £1,199pp SPECIAL OUTSIDE FARE FROM £1,399PP a Mr Bridge representative on all the 2010 Rochelle, Mont Saint Michel, the Rouen of Joan cinema and internet centre. Valletta ~ Korcula ~ Zadar ~ Venice (overnight) ~ Koper ~ Split ~ Hvar~ Dubrovnik Summer Voyages. The Mr Bridge host will of Arc and the vines of Bordeaux. We will also visit Bridge Host: Sandy Bell and Graham Crane co-ordinate the bridge element of your cruise. TRAVEL WITH EXPERTS Sicilian Catania, Nauplia near the Greek citadel of Worlds of the Ancient Civilisations 3 October 2010 – 13 days from £1,399pp Even if you do not want to play bridge, you Mycenae, the island of Korcula and the city of Split A hallmark of any Discovery cruise is our Dubrovnik (overnight) ~ Cephalonia ~ Nauplia ~ Santorini ~ Mykonos ~ Piraeus ~ Volos should still book with Mr Bridge, thereby Canakkale ~ Istanbul (overnight) on the Dalmatian Coast. programme of comprehensive guest speakers. Bridge Host: Tony and Jan Richards ensuring you will be invited to attend our Complementing the talks given by our own exclusive drinks parties. This will enable you RETURN TO SOME FAVOURITE PLACES Black Sea Voyager 15 October 2010 – 11 days from £1,299pp to meet other like-minded passengers and feel lecturers, who will preview the destinations ahead, Istanbul (overnight) ~ Trabzon ~ Sochi (overnight) ~ Yalta ~ Sevastopol ~ Odessa ~ Nesebur part of a group. We will also re-visit the remote islands of the programme features historians, explorers, Istanbul (overnight) Bridge Host: Alison and Norman Nicolson Book early to secure the cabin of your /N DAYS AT SEA THERE WILL BE SEMINARS AND Spitsbergen on the fringes of the Arctic Circle, naturalists and diplomats, who will share their choice at these exceptional fares AFTERNOON BRIDGE /N PAYMENT OF THE BRIDGE Greenland, where we’ll be welcomed back by expertise, anecdotes and interests with you. North African Treasures 25 October 2010 – 13 days from £1,299pp supplement with your cruise deposit, you will be Istanbul (overnight) ~ Heraklion ~ Valletta ~ Tripoli ~ Al Khums ~ Benghazi ~ Alexandria (overnight) eligible to participate in the evening duplicate. Bridge Host: Alan Lamb DISCOVERY CLUB There will also be a quiz. Those not wishing to Egypt & The Red Sea 6 November 2010 – 9 days from £1,049pp participate in the evening bridge programme are Further combination cruises and Grand Voyages Alexandria ~ Port Said ~ Suez Canal ~ Sharm el-Sheikh ~ Aqaba (overnight) ~ Safaga (overnight) Bridge Host: Tony and Jan Richards MEMBERS not required to pay the bridge supplement. available, request a brochure for more details SAVE AN EXTRA 5% Fares shown are per person based on two people sharing lowest inside/outside twin-bedded cabin category as shown and include all applicable discounts for new bookings only. All offers are subject to availability, are capacity controlled and may be withdrawn at any time. See brochure for full terms and conditions. Please note that there is a bridge supplement of £30 per bridge player to be paid with cruise deposit. Voyages of Discovery is a trading name of All Leisure Holidays Ltd. Photo credit: Lofthus – Per Eide/Innovation Norway.
01483 489961 for brochures and bookings Seasonal Walks with Countryman A Walk in the Autumn
his little piece of England Forgetting about dogs for a moment, the moment they sense danger. It is such where the birds are singing, the my thoughts turn to a hand that I a pity that they have taken the place of T sun shining and the air happened to be kibitzing the other their smaller and much prettier cousin, seriously intoxicating – it is all too easy evening. This was it. the red squirrel, whose numbers have to fall under its magic spell and dream dropped so dramatically, though I on, contentedly… believe in some areas the red squirrel is Is it me, as Terry Wogan would say, or Dealer West. N/S Vul. Teams. making a comeback. are the autumn tints and colours even ´ A 6 3 Now let us return to our bridge hand more beautiful than ever in this season ™ 5 3 2 where it is obvious that the diamond of mists and mellow fruitfulness? Yes, I © K Q J 9 blockage is a real bugbear. suspect it is me, captivated by the ® 8 4 3 moment, because the countryside is N almost always a joy to behold at this W E ´ A 6 3 time of year. S ™ 5 3 2 As Cindy and I (Cindy is my much- ´ 7 4 © K Q J 9 loved golden retriever) make our way ™ A K Q J 9 4 ® 8 4 3 across the fields and towards the woods, © A ´ K Q J 9 8 5 2 ´ 10 one cannot help but feeling slightly ® A 7 5 2 ™ 7 N ™ 10 8 6 spellbound by the natural beauty of the © 7 5 2 W E © 10 8 6 4 3 S surroundings. Many leaves have fallen – 4™ South. Lead ´K. ® 10 6 ® K Q J 9 the Americans do not call it ‘the fall’ for ´ 7 4 nothing – but there is still plenty of ™ A K Q J 9 4 colour left; browns, greens, yellows, West North East South © A reds and shades of gold. 3´ Pass Pass 4™ ® A 7 5 2 Just as I am thinking that perhaps in a End previous life I had been lucky enough to be an artist or a poet, able to record such I shall leave you to decide on your plan I wonder if you followed the popular events, I come back down to earth as we to make 4 ™ and we will come back to line. The chances look quite good if the meet a couple out for a ramble with their the problem a little later. trumps divide two-two or the clubs dogs. I do not know who they are but Apart from our last encounter with three-three. So declarer wins with the they have two dachshunds and a the couple and their three dogs, the ace of spades, draws trumps, noting Chihuahua with them. Cindy greets the woods seem very quiet as though Cindy there is no joy there, and tackles the trio with more than a trace of curiosity and I are the only inhabitants but, of clubs. Still no joy when they break four- and I cannot help wondering what she course, there is a certain amount of bird two. Inevitably East-West score 100 – makes of the Chihuahua. This little chap life. A rookery in the distance is just unlucky! seems a million miles away from her audible with a hoarse cawing noise and At the table I was kibitzing, a world. However, the encounter passes wood pigeons are constantly on the husband and wife partnership sat North- off without incident and after chatting move as we approach their resting South and the husband was the declarer for a few minutes, we proceed on our place. We come across several grey in 4 ™. This is how the drama unfolded. respective ways, the Chihuahua hitching squirrels and they lose no time in Declarer took ages before he a lift from Mrs X. scurrying for cover up the nearest tree committed himself to the first trick –
Page 26 sure she forgave him for Holiday Time continued giving her such a fright. From her point of view, not and then he ducked the king of knowing about the diamond DECLARER spades. West continued with blockage and problem in the queen of spades and now reaching dummy, his play of he covered with the ace and ducking the king of spades PLAY East ruffed. Dummy was (given West’s pre-empt) must watching closely and, if looks have looked completely could have killed, declarer crazy. However, all was soon QUIZ would have been dead – very sweetness and light – in fact, dead! In fact, I think if two a warm and loving smile by David Huggett men in white coats had been wafted across the table – and readily available then the wife I am sure she did not mean it (Answers on page 34) would have had her partner for me! carted off before even On our way home, a rabbit ou are South as declarer playing teams or rubber bridge. finishing the play. Luckily, scampers away long before YIn each case, what is your play strategy? this was not the case because Cindy can get close. Perhaps declarer won the club switch, it should not be out at this cashed two top hearts, time of the morning but, in unblocked the ace of any case, it has disappeared 1. ´ 8 6 4 3. ´ J 9 7 5 diamonds and entered dummy underground now, safe but ™ 7 5 4 3 ™ J 8 with that precious five of possibly a little frightened. © A Q 8 6 5 © A K 5 hearts. He was now able to Strange word that ‘under - ® 4 ® Q 10 8 3 enjoy three club discards on ground’ – I think it is the only N N the top diamonds scoring no one in the English language W E W E S fewer than eleven tricks, to begin and end with ‘und’. S +650. Well, there is a useless piece ´ A K 7 ´ A 8 3 ‘Well played!’ I said of information for you. ™ A 10 6 ™ Q 10 enthusiastically. ‘Where did When we get home and © 7 3 © Q J 10 9 7 you learn that little trick?’ settle down with a welcome ® A K 10 7 6 ® A 5 4 ‘Many moons ago,’ he drink, I say to Cindy, ‘You replied, ‘I read a most know – it is a funny old game You are in 3NT and West You are declarer in 3NT interesting article in Bridge when you set out to get your leads the ™2, East playing and West leads the ®6. Magazine written by Barry ace ruffed and that is the way the ™Q. How do you plan How do you plan the Rigal and he cited a situation to make your contract! Now I the play? play? somewhat similar to this think of it, declarer would when you actually wanted a probably have failed had East defender to ruff your winner refused to accept the bait and so that you could get to discarded a diamond. The 2. ´ 9 7 6 4. ´ 8 7 5 4 dummy with the third trump. reactions of both West and ™ K Q 10 6 ™ 7 4 3 2 It rang a bell so I thought I North would have been © 7 3 © A K J 9 would try it – thank you interesting but East might ® A Q 9 6 ® K Barry.’ well have had the last laugh.’ N N As the full artistic beauty Cindy gave a little wag of her W E W E S of declarer’s play finally tail. Perhaps she was S registered with his wife, I am picturing the scene... n ´ A 10 2 ´ A K 9 3 2 ™ J 9 3 ™ A 9 6 5 © A K Q © 2 ® J 10 8 7 ® Q J 6 Single-Suited Design Pens
West North East South West North East South Boxed Set Pass Pass Pass 1® 1´ Pass 1™ Pass 1NT 1NT 3´ Pass 4´ of Four Pass 3NT End End
£19.95 You are in 3NT and West leads You are declarer in 4 ´ and the ´K. (Spades are 4-3). You West leads the ™K. West have only five top tricks. How holds all the missing trumps. Available from Ryden Grange, Knaphill GU21 2TH do you plan the play? How do you plan the play? ( 01483 489961 www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop
Page 27 Freddie North Says
If One of Your Options is 3NT, Bid it
any maxims are obscure in The next deal required a little daring. I exactly. origin. One that isn’t – the one think South was clearly a Hamman fan. (iii) The opponents are more likely to Mat the head of this article – make a helpful lead away from an emanates from the popular American ace against 3NT. star, Bob Hamman. While I haven’t done Game All. ´ K Q 10 4 2 My final deal tested South’s play again. a recent head count, I suspect that Bob ™ 5 has won more world champion ships © J 5 2 than Zsa Zsa Gabor has had husbands. ® A 10 6 4 Love All. ´ J 10 6 3 So, when he advised, ‘If one of your ´ 5 ´ 9 8 7 6 3 ™ 4 2 options is 3NT, bid it,’ the bridge world ™ K Q 8 6 N ™ 10 9 © A J 9 5 W E sat up and took notice. © A Q 9 8 7 4 3 S © 10 6 ® 6 5 3 With only nine tricks needed for ® 2 ® Q 9 8 3 ´ A 9 ´ K 8 7 5 game, 3NT is often where you want to ´ A J ™ K Q 10 9 7 N ™ J 8 5 3 W E play, even when you have only one ™ A J 7 4 3 2 © 10 8 7 3 S © 2 stopper in your weakest suit. One false © K ® 7 4 ® K 9 8 2 move and you have bypassed 3NT or ® K J 7 5 ´ Q 4 2 stopped partner from bidding it. ™ A 6 The three deals that follow have all © K Q 6 4 been taken from pairs’ events. West North East South ® A Q J 10 Pass Pass 1™ 3© 3´ Pass 3NT Love All. ´ 4 3 2 End West North East South ™ 7 1© © J 9 8 6 5 4 The first three calls are easy. Then, since 1™ Double 1 3™ 3NT ® A 10 3 East has already passed, the range for End ´ Q 9 6 5 ´ K 8 West’s overcall is quite wide. North 1Shows exactly four spades. ™ 10 3 N ™ J 8 6 5 4 stretches to bid 3 ´, knowing that his W E © Q S © 10 3 2 initial pass limits his hand. South was not altogether happy with his ® Q J 7 5 4 2 ® K 9 8 South has a difficult rebid and there bid of 3NT. Still, it was one of his ´ A J 10 7 are snags to each contender. With such a options and he reckoned that it was then ™ A K Q 9 2 strong hand, only a game or forcing bid or never. The trouble is that you need to © A K 7 will suffice but the question is which. run nine tricks without losing the lead. ® 6 If he rebids a forcing 4 ®, there is a When dummy came down, it was clear danger of being raised in clubs and that that the club finesse would need to work could be a disaster at pairs. Either 4 ™ or – not only that, the suit would have to West North East South 4´ could be right – or very wrong. yield four tricks. 2™ Although the king of diamonds has a Declarer won the king of hearts with Pass 2NT Pass 3´ fragile look about it, only South knows the ace. The king of diamonds came next Pass 4´ End that. So, Hamman rules, OK. and then the key play – the queen of West led a low diamond and declarer diamonds overtaken by dummy’s ace. With five quick tricks and a big hand, could see nine tricks. A successful This was safe once West followed to the South should open 2 ®. However, the finesse against the queen of clubs gave a second diamond, but would have been above is how it went at one table. 4 ´ was tenth – it was pairs, after all. more of a problem without the nine in no success and duly went down. While The benefits of playing in and hence dummy. With the actual layout, it South’s bidding made 6 © too tough to bidding 3NT are as follows: mattered not that East showed out on the reach, it would have worked OK if North (i) You need only 9 tricks for game. second diamond, Declarer had the three had taken Hamman’s advice. 3NT makes (ii) If you make 10 tricks in 3NT, this entries to dummy for three club finesses eleven tricks when diamonds behave. outscores any suit game made – essential as the cards lie. n
Page 28 Ask Julian Pottage When is a Change of Suit Rebid Forcing?
If when bidding 3™? Does that show 12-15 afford to pass because, if the fast rule. With 8 points and without or 16-18 pts? partnership has game values, no singleton I would tend to Q competition, the John Hullah by email. then partner will bid again pass, expecting partner to dealer/opener’s second bid or reopen with double. make 1NT doubled more is a new suit, does You ask a good In tournament play, often than not. With a responder have to bid? question. For many many partnerships have a shortage somewhere it K G Weyers by email. A pairs, using natural conventional way of would be more attractive to methods, it is a grey area. It showing both strong and bid 2 ® (or try to show two The usual rule is depends a bit on the competing hands after the suits if the system permits) that if the response vulnerability and whether overcall. for fear that the opponents A is at the one level the initial response was 1NT will score quite a few tricks and opener’s rebid is in a or at the two level. Let us ®©™ ´ in my short suit. lower ranking suit than the suppose the auction has first, then the rebid is non- started: (1) Playing a ®©™ ´ forcing, eg 1 ™-1 ´-2 ® is 12-14 1NT non-forcing. West North East South Q opening, with 15 Is it a good idea to If the rebid is in a higher- 1™ Pass 1NT 2´ points, I open 1 © (my only play transfers ranking suit, making it a ? 4-card suit) intending to Q over 2NT? reverse, then the rebid is rebid 1NT if my partner Edward Woodward by email. forcing, eg 1 ©-1 ´-2 ™ is If you are vulnerable, 3 ™ bids 1 ™ or 1 ´. My partner forcing for one round. shows more or less what it bids 1NT. Should I pass as Yes, one advantage If the response is at the would have done without this was to be my rebid, of a transfer is that two level, then the modern the 2 ´ overcall. With hands or should I bid 2NT to A it enables the no- style is to play that a change in the 12-15 range, facing a show 15-16 points, i.e. no- trump bidder to play the of suit rebid by opener is limited response, you are trumps rebid at the lowest contract if responder’s suit forcing, even if it is not a rarely going to be missing level? becomes trumps. The reverse, eg 1 ´-2 ®-2 © is game if you pass. Nor, as (2) My partner opens stronger the opening forcing for one round. you are vulnerable, do you 1NT (12-14). Next player bidder’s hand, the greater If the response is at the expect going down in 3 ™ to doubles. I hold 8 points the positional advantage that two level and the rebid is a be cheaper than letting them with a 5-card club suit. transfers bring. It is difficult reverse, then, in the modern play in 2 ´. Should I leave the double making an opening lead style, this is game forcing, If you are non-vulnerable, in, or take out into 2 ®? when you know there is a eg 1 ™-2 ®-2 ´ is forcing to or if the response was 2 ® or Shirley Rose, 2NT opening on your right. game. 2©, you can afford to be a Camberley, Surrey. It is also difficult to defend ®©™ ´ bit more aggressive. With a when you can see little of good six-card suit, you do (1) With 15 points the opposing strength. In an uncontested not want to let the overcall facing a presumed Another advantage to auction, if I open shut you out. You might A 6-9, you should playing transfers over 2NT Q 1™ and then rebid then have 14-16 points for pass the 1NT response. You is that with a very weak 2™ it shows 12-15 pts. If I 3™. With a better hand, you are not going to have the 25- responding hand (including rebid 3 ™, it shows 16-18 either jump to 4 ™, bid 3 ´ 26 points that you need for a 5-card or longer major) pts. What happens if the (the opposing suit) or bid a game. A raise to 2NT would you can make the transfer opposition intervene and new suit. If you have a show 17-18. and pass when opener my cheapest rebid becomes minimum opening, you can (2) There is no hard and completes the transfer.
Page 29 which case neither will be in lower, in 3NT or 4 ´. The splinter, showing the club Ask Julian continued a position to double. breaks are rather unkind. shortage, would be better if the hand were good enough ®©™ ´ ®©™ ´ for a slam try. However, If partner opens especially if you play Acol 1NT (12-14) and At the table, North Could you Twos, it is very rare that you Q the next hand dealt and opened describe the best are going to have a hand passes, can you give some Q 2®. South called Q bidding sequence worth a slam try after an examples of when you 2™ and the contract was with these hands? Our auction starting 1 ´-2 ´. should rescue with a very 6NT, going four down. How sequence was not a success. weak hand? should the bidding go? ®©™ ´ Mrs E Chater, Uxbridge. ´ A Q J 8 3 ´ K 7 5 2 In BRIDGE 96, Your shape usually ´ K Q J 7 3 ™ A K Q 9 8 ™ 5 2 you talk about N determines the best ™ Void © 5 2 W E © 9 6 4 4-4-4-1 shape, S Q A course of action. © A K 10 8 6 5 ® 7 ® A 8 4 3 meaning I think 4 spades, ® A J 4 hearts, 4 diamonds and 1 ´ A 9 6 5 2 ´ 10 club: i.e. the suits top to Hand A Hand B ™ J 9 8 7 2 ™ K 6 5 4 West North East South bottom of the bidding N ladder. ´ J 7 4 3 ´ J 9 6 4 2 © 3 W E © Q J 9 2 Pass Pass Pass ™ J 7 4 3 ™ J 7 3 ® 9 4 S ® 10 8 6 2 1´ 2® 2´ Pass How can I tell whether a © J 8 5 4 © 4 ´ 8 4 3™ Pass 3´ End writer means 4-4-3-2 as.... ® 6 ® J 8 6 2 ™ A Q 10 3 any hand with two 4 card © 7 4 3™ was a trial bid. East suits, one 3 card suit and ® K Q 7 5 3 thought West’s hand was one doubleton, or... With hand A, you can bid unsuitable for this. West precisely 4 spades, 4 2®, Stayman, intending to thought East should have hearts, 3 diamonds and 2 pass opener’s rebid. So long Sheila McDougall, accepted and bid 4 ´. clubs? as you have support or at Birmingham. Huw Jones by email. Could there be an least tolerance for every suit established format say apart from clubs, you can In Acol, North is not 4-4-4-1 means a precise employ this tactic. good enough to With a 4-loser hand order and 4441 means any With hand B, you bid 2 ´ A open 2 ®. To open (or 19 points order of suits? Can you (weak take-out) or, playing 2® with an unbalanced A counting also tell me why spades transfers, 2 ™. With a five- hand, you really need five distribution), West has a come first when clubs are card or longer major, you quick tricks. This hand has clear-cut bid of 4 ´ after the first in alphabetical order? can show the suit, no matter only four (one for the ´K-Q, raise, so the question of a Ian Dalziel, Troon, Ayrshire. how weak your hand. two for the ©A-K and one trial bid should not arise. If I for the ®A). Opening 2 ® had the West hand, I would Yes, if we mean a without the requisite few not only bid 4 ´ but also be specific shape, we Hand C Hand D high cards is asking for thinking of a redouble if A use dashes; we also ´ 8 5 ´ 10 8 5 trouble whenever the deal is someone were to double. use a word like ‘shape’ or ™ Q 9 6 3 ™ Q 9 6 3 a misfit. The response should East’s bidding was ‘distribution’. © 8 4 © J 6 4 have been 3 ® rather than cautious too. With four If we do not mean a ® J 8 6 5 4 ® 10 7 3 2™, though South is always trumps (not promised), an specific shape, we omit the bidding a slam after the 2 ® ace and a ruffing value, East dashes and use a more opening. should have accepted the general word like ‘hand’ or’ With hand C, you should Playing Acol Twos, game try in any event. type’. e.g. ‘5-4-3-1 pass. As 2 ® is Stayman, you 2©-3 ®-3 ´-3NT-4 ´ seems a West’s pass over 3 ´ distribution’ means 5 spades, cannot play in 2 ® if you bid sensible start. By bidding indicates 3 ™ was not a slam 4 hearts etc whereas ‘a 5431 now. If the fourth player diamonds first and then try, though I suppose a slam hand’ could have the 5-card doubles, you can bid 2 ® spades twice, North shows could be on if East has suit anywhere. naturally at your second 6-5 (or 7-5) in the two suits. perfect cards ( ´K-x-x-x, the Since spades is the turn. With hand D, you With no fitting high cards in ©A, the ™J and at least three highest-ranking suit, it should also pass. 1NT may either of North’s suits, South clubs). I do not advise always comes at the top in a not be a good spot but you should then settle for looking for a slam that diagram (or first in a list). would need to make a trick preference to 5 ©. Facing a requires perfect cards, so This is something on which more in any two-level big spade-diamond hand, bidding 3 ™ as a slam try is both writers and publishers contract just to break even. most of South’s high cards not a good idea either. seem to agree. I ask that any Often the opponents will will not be working. Besides, when your suit is readers who submit queries have roughly half of the As the cards lie, North- this good, it is unlikely that follow the same convention, missing high cards each, in South do better to stop even partner can help with it. A 4 ® putting spades first.
Page 30 complexity. Ask Julian continued The forerunners of Keycard Blackwood, the CHARITY BRIDGE EVENTS Culbertson 4-5 NT and OCTOBER 2009 OCTOBER continued In BRIDGE 96, Byzantine, both took account you show the of kings but neither took 1 READING ASSOC. FOR THE BLIND 30 CAMBRIDGE INNER WHEEL IN AID replies to a Key account of queens or voids. St Barnabas’ Church Hall, OF PAPWORTH DAY CARE WARD Q Reading 2.30pm. Great Shelford Memorial Hall. Card Blackwood enquiry £30 per table, includes tea. 2pm. £15 for a double ticket. as follows: ®©™ ´ Paddi Lilley ( 0118 9872759 Pat Turner ( 01954 780068 2 RNLI BRIDGE DRIVE 30 CHILDREN OF BOSNIA 5® = 0 or 4 keycards Please could you Salwarpe Village Hall, Droitwich HERZEGOVINA Our Lady Queen of 10.30 for 11am. £10 per person All Creation RC Church, Hemel 5© = 1 or 5 keycards advise whether the including buffet lunch. Hempstead 9.30 for 9.45am. 5™ = 2 keycards Q East hand below is Pam Main ( 01905 381395 £12.50 per person inc lunch. Mrs Pat Henry ( 01442 391087 5´ = 3 keycards worthy of a 2 © opener. 3 RNLI. Cheltenham Bridge Club At most tables the score 11am-4pm. £14pp includes lunch. 30 MARLOW COMMUNITY ASSOC. I prefer to play Roman was 150 (1 +4); at one table Margaret Beverley Liston Hall. 7pm-10.30pm tables © ( 01242 510193 £47 inclusive of supper. Key Card Blackwood, to the score was -100 (4 ´-2). Keith Brown ( 01628 486138 which I understand the North had Q-x in both red 3 CHRITIAN AID St Andrew’s Church Rooms, NOVEMBER 2009 official replies are as suits but four spades. Preston, Weymouth. 2-5pm follows: £6 per person includes tea. 14 FRIENDS OF BROMLEY WELCARE Julia Moore ( 01305 776138 BRIDGE AFTERNOON All Saints’ Parish Church Hall, Orpington. 7 BRIDGE TEA IN AID OF HELP THE 5® = 0 or 3 keycards West East £6 pp tea & cakes. 2-5.30pm. HEROES Edward Road, Market 5 = 1 or 4 keycards Gillian Scales ( 020 8663 3173 © ´ Q 6 3 ´ A K 7 4 Harborough 2pm £30 per table. 5™ = 2 or 5 keycards ™ J 9 8 5 ™ A K 4 Ann ( 01858 465508 19 RAINBOWS CHILDREN’S HOSPICE 5 = 2 or 5 keycards + LOUGHBOROUGH Tickets £7. ´ © 6 2 © A J 10 7 4 3 7 THE BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION 2pm Thurnby Village Hall. queen of trumps ® J 9 6 2 ® Void Colsterworth Village Hall 10am Mr B Rowarth ( 01162 414807 £14 inc coffee & lunch. 5NT = even number of Carole Screaton ( 01162 415465 keycards + Liz ( 01476 860018 26 CHARITY BRIDGE AFTERNOON 9 RIDING FOR THE DISABLED useful void Howard Stevenson, Huddersfield Pennine Rotary WOODHURST GROUP 6 suit = odd number of Glenfield, Leicestershire. Club, Outlane Golf Club 12 noon Hemingford Abbots’ Village Hall. £44 per table, inc. lunch. keycards + 2-5pm includes afternoon tea. G Hancock ( 01484 516737 void in that suit In terms of playing Sally Pinnock strength and high ( 01223 874508 26 STOURBRIDGE ROTARY CLUB IN AID OF THE ERADICATION OF POLIO 13 RICHMOND SUPPORT GROUP Why are the two systems cards, East could Blakedown Village Hall 10.30am A ‘BRIDGE THE GAP’ AFTERNOON £12pp includes coffee & biscuits different? It seems useful indeed open 2 ©. Other IN AID OF ST TERESA’S HOSPICE on arrival and two course lunch. to be able to show the factors suggest not opening 1.30pm Richmond Town Hall Anita Reid ( 01384 372370 queen. 2©. The relatively weak Mary Lovell ( 01748 850208 27 MARLOW UNITED REFORMED Shirley Rose, Camberley, diamonds and strong majors 17 ST ANNE’S CHURCH, KEW GREEN CHURCH EVENING BRIDGE DRIVE 1.30pm for 2–5pm. £12.50. Surrey (similar from Bill suggest the best contract Christ Church, Marlow 7pm for Ian Lewty ( 0208 8763681 Westmeath). may well be in a major, 7.30pm start £40 per table which opening 2 © might 21 CHARITY BRIDGE DRIVE including ploughman’s & pud. IN AID OF THE NORFOLK HOSPICE Barbara ( 01628 486281 Keycard Blackwood make harder to find. Another Norfolk Lavender Centre, 27 EAST ANGLIA CHILDREN’S HOSPICE is an older and factor may have come into Heacham. 6.45pm £7.50 to (EACH) Village Hall, Hemingford include buffet and the Lynn Cup. simpler convention play at some tables: treating Abbots. 10am. £14.50. A Fundraising office Sheila Paval ( 01480 395394 than Roman Keycard the East hand as an Acol 2 © ( 01485 542891 Blackwood, which is why it is nowhere near as attractive 21 HELP FOR HEROES MARCH 2010 has a different set of replies for pairs playing Benjamin. The Old Barn Hall, Church Road, 13 MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT and a simpler name. In After a Benjamin 2 Bookham, Surrey. 10.30 for 11am. ® Bristol Bridge Club. 10.30am £15 includes lunch and wine. Keycard Blackwood, the opening and 2 © reply, East £18.50 per person, includes Patricia Granger coffee, lunch & tea. king of trumps counts as cannot show the diamonds ( 01372 453965 much as an ace but the below the three level and the Judy Hall ( 01275 877181 22 SOMERSET CHILDREN’S HOSPICE Shelagh Bower ( 01275 846512 trump queen has no special strong hand is quite likely to SOUTH WEST & SOMERSET SIGHT significance. end up as dummy. FUND CHARITY BRIDGE DAY APRIL 2010 For sure, Roman Keycard At matchpoint pairs, you Oake Village Hall 10.15am for 10.45am £15 includes coffee & 7 CHRISTIANS IN IRAQ Blackwood, in which the do not want to stretch to bid lunch with a glass of wine. and LITTLE VOICE Joint Appeal queen of trumps is thin games. 5 © is well below Audrey Pike ( 01823 256059 Jubilee Hall, Little Shore Lane, Bishop Waltham 10.30am–5pm significant, is more accurate. 50%, so you really do not Monica Greenway ( 01823 400091 £30 per person includes lunch, It can also be useful to have want to be in it. As you coffee, tea, cakes & biscuits and a way of showing a void. mention, North had a pair of 23 CHESHIRE HOMES two seminars (take-out doubles Village Hall, Hartford, Hunts. and penalty doubles) delivered However, not all players doubleton queens, which 10am for 10.30am. £13.50. by Bernard Magee. want the greater accuracy at was rather favourable for Malcolm Howarth Margaret Cochrane the expense of greater declarer. ( 01480 212910 ( 023 8069 4959
Page 31 would not show the majors Ask Julian continued in any system I know. In DOUBLE DUMMY SOLUTION Acol and most natural systems, it shows diamonds. by Richard Wheen I have just come It would seem that your (Problem on page 7) across the term partner imagined a 1 © open - Q ‘Modern Scientific ing against him and, fixated with the king of hearts. On Acol’. What is this? by the imaginary 1 © bid, put ´ 3 2 this West threw a diamond, Charles Leveson, down 1 © instead of 2 ©. ™ Void dummy a club (j.s.f. again) Poynton, Cheshire. My historical researchers © A 4 and East a diamond. Still tell me that the term ‘rubber’ ® 3 2 muttering ‘mother-in-law’ to Broadly speaking, comes originally from bowls. ´ J ´ K Q myself I led a diamond to Modern Scientific It is also in use in tennis and ™ Void N ™ 2 the ace and one back to my Acol equates to the baseball. W E A © Q 10 8 S © J 9 7 king. To my astonishment form of Acol you would ® A K ® Void and delight, the three of dia - meet if you played in a ®©™ ´ ´ A monds won the last trick. tournament. ™ A K I knew my partner would Certain conventions, such Playing transfers, © K 3 2 be happy and I mentioned as Roman Keycard Black - what do you do if ® Void my mother-in-law’s tips; I wood, Lebensohl (a way to Q you have an also commiserated with our compete after partner opens intermediate hand with opponents for having 1NT) and Michaels Cue Bids both majors but it does o there we were, in the guessed wrongly to discard (a way of competing with not have six of a major, e.g. SSouth-East Surrey Sen - diamonds. My partner was two suited hands), are more five spades, five hearts, two iors Pro-am Winter Con - furious. ‘You did not suc - or less standard amongst diamonds and a club. gress. My partner (also my ceed because of a wrong tournament players but are John Morley by email. bridge teacher) was the Pro guess or your mother-in- rather less popular for and, despite his fine tuition, I law: it was, clearly unknown typical club players. With 5-4, 4-5 or 5-5 was and always will be an to you, a double squeeze. in the majors and a am. I was South, declarer in Talk about casting pearls ®©™ ´ A wish to invite game, a no-trump contract, with before swine. On the last you can start with Stayman. the lead in dummy, needing heart, West could not throw Partner opened If opener bids a suit in which the rest of the tricks. I could a club or he would set up 1©, followed by a you have five cards, you raise sense my partner was daring dummy’s club three; like - Q pass; as I had a to game, with the known 5-4 me to fail. wise, East could not throw a weak hand, I passed as did fit. You probably bid game I had five top winners, but spade or he would set up my LHO. After the obvious too if opener’s rebid reveals a I knew there were many dummy’s spade three. Each disastrous result, he said to 4-4 fit. If you get the less high cards out against me, so had to come down to two me, ‘That was a Michaels helpful 2 © rebid, you can the chances of an extra trick diamonds, meaning your Cue Bid showing strength jump to 3 ™ or 3 ´, showing were slim. It seemed that I three was bound to win. You in both majors!’ five cards in the suit and would have to play off my need to come to my ‘basic I said sorry but did not inviting game. Partner knows winners and hope that one or double squeezes’ class continue with my opinion this is an invitational bid both opponents discarded before you insult your oppo - that the Michaels Cue Bid because you could have bid badly. Then I recalled a cou - nents again.’ He added was an overcall. 3™ or 3 ´ direct over 1NT to ple of tips from my mother- something about my moth - Also: where does the force. Of course, if you in-law: lead the senior suit er-in-law, which I will not term rubber come from?’ decide to give up on game first (and aces before kings); repeat in polite company. I BettyAnne Henderson, after the 2 © rebid, you can and discard the junior suit nearly called the director to Oxfordshire by email. rebid 2 ™ (or 2 ´ if you have first. So I led a spade to the calm him down, but my five spades but not five hearts) ace and then cashed my ace embarrassment at having Barring misbids, if to stop at the two level. of hearts. West threw a club executed a double squeeze partner opens 1 © A few people play that, and dummy did the same without knowing it soon got A and plays there, I do after 1NT-2 ®-2 ©, a (junior suit first). I continued the better of me. not see why this would lead responder’s rebid of 3 © obviously to a disaster. says ‘I have 5-5 in the Often other pairs have gone majors. Please give overboard. Perhaps the preference between them.’ DUPLICATEBRIDGE only opponents have missed This convention goes by the RULESSIMPLIFIED 95 something. A 1 © opening name extended Stayman. n £5 (otherwiseknownastheYellowBook) E-mail your questions for Julian to: by John Rumbelow and revised by David Stevenson NewEdition.Includes2008LawRevisions. [email protected] Availablefrom ( 01483 489961
Page 32 Heather Dhondy Says
Bid on with a Two-suit Fit
onsider West’s final bidding Returning to our problem, it seems As you can see from this deal, based on decision on the following deal: likely that we will lose three tricks in the both side’s double fit, you can make C minors and, if partner has a typical hand, eleven tricks in a spade contract. The probably nothing else. So our best guess opponents meanwhile can make ten is that we have ten tricks available to us. tricks in their heart contract. 1 ♠ 9 8 3 We must now turn to the opponents’ The two examples above are both ♥ 10 contract. Unless we have two tricks in ideal for bidding on. However, just ♦ A Q J 6 4 one major and a trick in the other, because you have a double fit, it does ♣ K J 10 6 (unlikely given the vigorous opposition not always follow that you should bid ♠ Q J 7 2 ♠ A K 10 6 5 bidding) their contract seems favourite on. There can be indicators that suggest ♥ A K 9 4 N ♥ Q J 8 7 3 to make. This says that we should bid on defending – for example, values in your W E ♦ 8 5 2 S ♦ 9 7 – even if we are vulnerable against not. shorter suits, or a doubleton in their ♣ 7 3 ♣ 2 We expect to be sacrificing for one down trump suit. You must also take care when ♠ 4 against their making game. there may be no two-suit fit. ♥ 6 5 2 ♦ K 10 3 ♣ A Q 9 8 5 4 2 ♠ A Q 10 9 8 5 3 ♠ A 8 6 5 2 ♥ 9 8 3 ♥ Q 10 8 ♦ 7 ♦ J 7 6 4 West North East South ♣ K 6 4 ♣ 6 1♦ 2♦*3♣ ♠ 7 ♠ J 6 ♠ 10 9 7 ♠ Q J N N 4♥ 5♣ Pass Pass ♥ A K J 6 2 W E ♥ Q 10 7 5 ♥ A K 7 6 2 W E ♥ J 5 4 3 ? *Michaels cue bid: both majors ♦ A Q 8 6 3 S ♦ K J 10 9 4 ♦ 3 S ♦ A K 8 5 2 ♣ 10 8 ♣ J 5 ♣ K J 10 2 ♣ 8 4 High-level decisions are one of the ♠ K 4 3 2 ♠ K 4 3 hardest parts of the game. You must ♥ 4 ♥ 9 decide how many tricks your side can ♦ 5 2 ♦ Q 10 9 make and how many tricks the other side ♣ A Q 9 7 3 2 ♣ A Q 9 7 5 3 can. Of course, you will rarely know how many tricks either side can make just by looking at your cards and the bidding. West North East South West North East South However, certain clues help you judge Pass Pass Pass 1♣ your hand and the bidding. For example, 1♥ 2♠*3♥ ? 1♥ 1♠ 3♦ 3♠ the vulnerability will help you decide *Weak 4♥ ? whether your opponents are sacrificing. The existence of a double fit will often Knowing whether we have a double fit You must decide whether to bid 4 ♠ as indicate that it is right to bid on. It can be vital to making the right decision North. East’s 3 ♦ shows hearts and dia- increases the likelihood that the other at a high level. Here you can help partner monds. Does this mean the deal is a two- side has a double fit also. This, in turn, by telling him about your suit. What does suit fit? No – look at your hand. Partner is will increase the total number of tricks 4♣ by you mean in this auction? Since going to be short in hearts but is unlikely available on the deal. Often when both you are a passed hand, it must include a to be short in diamonds as well, so the sides have a double fit, both can make a spade fit. You could not open the bidding opponents do not have a two-suit fit in the game. This is true of the deal above. at the one level or with a pre-empt: this red suits. You know for sure with your Even if one side goes down, it is likely means you cannot want to play in clubs. singleton club that your side does not have to go only one down, which will be Instead, you are telling partner of your a two-suit fit in the black suits. You should cheaper than losing a game. Therefore, it suit and implying a spade fit, giving him pass or maybe risk a double (though that will be wrong to take the push only the option to base his final decision on might spare declarer a trump guess). Here, when both sides are too high. whether he has a club fit. both 4 ♥ and 4 ♠ are going down. ■
Page 33 ANSWERS TO THE DECLARER PLAY QUIZ ON PAGE 27 by DAVID HUGGETT
West North East South that, if the lead was originally fourth best, 1. ♠ 8 6 4 Pass Pass Pass 1♣ then East has only one card higher than the ♥ 7 5 4 3 Pass 1♥ Pass 1NT six. Hope it is the king! Play the ♣8 from ♦ A Q 8 6 5 Pass 3NT End dummy and, if East plays the king, you can ♣ 4 make three club tricks in all after finessing ♠ Q 3 ♠ J 10 9 5 2 You are declarer in 3NT and West leads the against the jack. If East ducks the ♣8, the ♣A ♥ K J 9 2 N ♥ Q 8 ♠K. (Spades are 4-3). You have only five top will fell his king and again you will make W E ♦ K 9 2 S ♦ J 10 4 tricks. How do you plan the play? enough tricks without losing the lead. ♣ Q 9 8 3 ♣ J 5 2 It can do no harm to duck the ♠K or the ♠Q Note that you must not play the ♣3 lazily from ♠ A K 7 that follows but you have to win the third dummy assuming that East will play his ♥ A 10 6 round, noting that East follows each time. highest card. If you do, he might duck also ♦ 7 3 Even if the club finesse works, you still have after applying the rule of eleven. ♣ A K 10 7 6 only eight tricks; likewise, if you knock out the ♥A you will have only eight tricks. Since you have to play both suits, it might seem as if it 4. ♠ 8 7 5 4 West North East South does not matter whether you play clubs or ♥ 7 4 3 2 Pass Pass Pass 1♣ hearts first. In fact, it is very important that you ♦ A K J 9 Pass 1♦ Pass 3NT tackle hearts first! ♣ K End ♠ Q J 10 6 ♠ Void If you lose to the ♥A with East, he may well ♥ K Q J N ♥ 10 8 have no more spades and then you do not W E You are in 3NT and West leads the ♥2, East ♦ Q 10 3 S ♦ 8 7 6 5 4 much care whether the club finesse wins playing the ♥Q. How do you plan the play? ♣ A 10 2 ♣ 9 8 7 5 4 3 because if it does lose it is to the ‘safe’ hand. ♠ A K 9 3 2 Bidding 3NT might have seemed a good idea Now what if the heart loses to West, who then ♥ A 9 6 5 at the time but the contract is very poor. cashes the last spade? When this happens, it ♦ 2 Dummy has little to offer and the chance of is madness to take the club finesse because ♣ Q J 6 making nine tricks is slim. Indeed with only five West cannot possibly hold the ♣K. If he did, tricks ‘on top’ outside of diamonds, via two he would not have passed originally with spades, one heart and two clubs, you need to thirteen points. Instead, lay down the ♣A and make four diamond tricks to fulfil this ambitious hope for a singleton king with East. West North East South contract. At least there is a small chance. 1♠ 1NT 3♠ Pass 4♠ The lead of the ♥2 shows that hearts are 3. ♠ J 9 7 5 End probably divided 4-2 and it can do no harm to ♥ J 8 duck the first trick although this is not ♦ A K 5 You are declarer in 4 ♠ and West leads the ♥K. essential. Win the heart return and play a low ♣ Q 10 8 3 West holds all the missing trumps. How do diamond, ducking in dummy. Then, as soon ♠ K 6 2 ♠ Q 10 4 you plan the play? as you regain the lead, you play a low ♥ A 7 5 N ♥ K 9 6 4 3 2 diamond to the queen. On a good day, this W E Maybe the bidding should have gone ♦ 8 3 2 ♦ 6 4 will win and, when you play the ♦A next, the S differently but you can do nothing about that ♣ J 9 7 6 ♣ K 2 remaining diamonds will fall. In summary, now. After winning the opening lead (there is ♠ A 8 3 you need diamonds to break 3-3 with the ♦K no point in ducking when West must hold all ♥ Q 10 with West – about an 18% chance of success. the entries), you discover that you have two ♦ Q J 10 9 7 trump losers. This means you have to find a ♣ A 5 4 way of disposing of all your remaining hearts, 2. ♠ 9 7 6 hoping that your only losers will be two ♥ K Q 10 6 trumps and a club. So play a low diamond to ♦ 7 3 You are declarer in 3NT and West leads the the jack – after all, you know from the bidding ♣ A Q 9 6 ♣6. How do you plan the play? that West has the queen – and then play the ♠ K Q J 8 ♠ 5 4 3 two top diamonds, throwing two hearts. You are lucky to have escaped a heart lead ♥ A 2 N ♥ 8 7 5 4 W E but, even so, things are not looking very If on the second and third diamonds West ♦ 8 5 4 ♦ J 10 9 6 2 S hopeful. With only seven tricks ‘on top’, you contributes the ten and the queen, the nine in ♣ 5 4 3 2 ♣ K have to hope for a minor miracle and surely dummy becomes a winner on which you ♠ A 10 2 you have to try to make nine tricks before throw your last heart, while West can only ruff ♥ J 9 3 losing the lead. impotently with a master trump. ♦ A K Q ♣ J 10 8 7 The lead of the ♣6 should give rise to some All the examples this time relate to finding the optimism because the rule of eleven shows only chance, however small that may be. ■
Page 34 Lèse Majesté by Dick Atkinson
ou must think very carefully would drive them into 7NT which will my team-mate, Mr Rassendyl, opened before betting a packet on a make via the obvious double squeeze 2♠, intending to fish for heart support ‘YGoulash,’ remarked the Baron. and can be defeated only by a club lead. later before risking a slam. South ‘And that is doubly true of a Philly.’ However, in the prevailing version of decided to Pass, and West called 3 ♦. ‘You had a flutter on the Oaks, then?’ the Philadelphia or Passing Goulash, East showed his hearts, and West now ‘Not that kind of filly, for heaven’s after the deal, you passed three cards to has an easy call of 3NT—’ sake! A Philadelphia,’ he explained. your partner, with the object of ‘With 34 points!’ I jeered, somewhat ‘This was the last deal of the 1930 improving one or both hands. West’s unwisely. Ruritanian Invitation Knock-out Teams- pass of three losing spades was ‘An excellent contract, which would of-Four Final. Scoring was by total automatic, as was East’s pass of his have made exactly. Amusing, don’t you points, of course, and we were playing three minor-suit cards. South can do no think, that the chance to ‘improve’ the the common club rule of those days that better than to pass his three spades. hands reduced the East-West potential any hand not bid to game at least – when North has no prospect of improving to a from 7NT to only 3NT.’ first dealt – should be redealt as a good hand, so his tactic must be to pass ‘Surely,’ I interrupted again, with all Goulash, a Philadelphia Goulash.’ his meagre wealth on to his partner, the self-preservation instinct of a namely the three goodish clubs. lemming, ‘it’s just that the North-South A Philadelphia Goulash ‘The exchanges are so obvious that exchanges have improved their cards they were identical in both rooms, defensively.’ He handed me what appeared to be the leaving the hands you see written ‘I suggest you try defending against menu for a banquet. When I turned it below.’ 7NT with the changed North-South over, there were two bridge deals cards against the unchanged East-West recorded, of which this was the first: cards – I believe that is what Einstein North would call a Thought Experiment. As ♠ 10 9 8 7 6 5 South alone guards the minors now, ♠ 10 6 5 ♥ 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 there would be a simple squeeze. ♥ 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 ♦ Void However, West made the foolish call of ♦ Void ♣ Void 4♣, and East had to repeat his hearts.’ ♣ Q J 9 West East ‘And of course he has four losers in ♠ 4 3 2 ♠ A K Q J ♠ Void ♠ A K Q J 4 3 2 4♠ . . .’ ♥ Void N ♥ A K Q J 3 2 ♥ Void ♥ A K Q J 3 2 ‘4 ♠, of course, would have made W E ♦ A 6 5 3 2 S ♦ K 4 ♦ A K 6 5 4 3 2 ♦ Void exactly also, since South has, by his ♣ A K 6 4 3 ♣ 5 ♣ A K 6 5 4 3 ♣ Void own choice of cards, to pass, so ♠ 9 8 7 South ‘improved’ his defensive prospects that ♥ Void ♠ Void he has thrown himself in at trick one! ♦ Q J 10 9 8 7 ♥ Void North has to ruff the lead and East ♣ 10 8 7 2 ♦ Q J 10 9 8 7 discards loser on loser.’ ♣ Q J 10 9 8 7 2 ‘North isn’t forced to ruff . . ‘ ‘True, true, he can instead concede ‘It looks boring,’ I remarked, thinking one or more overtricks. But let us return furiously. ‘6NT is solid for East-West. If ‘Though I couldn’t know it yet, of to reality. West bid 4NT, natural, and they go for 7 ♠ greedily, they will be course, our other pair had a minor our pair in that room therefore recorded defeated after a Lightner Double—’ disaster on the East-West cards. a minus score. Queen Flavia is a very ‘Au contraire. The ill-judged Double Generally suits will break very badly, so beautiful creature, but has no
Page 35 Lèse Majesté Bernard Magee’s Tips continued for Better Bridge great intellect, I am afraid. where your King John went 65 invaluable tips in 160 pages Even without that small wrong, and look where it led Bidding Tips 33 A low lead usually promises catastrophe, of which I was you: Tony Blair.’ 1 Always consider bidding length and an honour of course ignorant at the time, His complexion was spades if you can 34 When declaring 1NT I estimated we were still a becoming dangerously livid, 2 Bid more aggressively try to be patient when non-vulnerable 35 Duck an early round when you few hundreds down from the but he took a sip of 3 Always double when the are short of entries first half of the match.’ Goldwasser, exhaled slowly, opponents steal your deal 36 Lead up to your ‘Well . . . I suppose if your and pronounced, ‘Ah, well, 4 A take-out double shows two-honour holding opponents bid to slam, you there’s no use crying over shortage in the suit doubled 37 Do not always assume 5 ‘Borrow’ a king a suit will break well could double them and take spilt milk. His Majesty to keep the auction open 38 Drop a high card them off 500 . . .’ exercised the Royal 6 After a penalty double, don’t to put off the defence ‘If they bid a Grand we Prerogative and passed, let the opponents escape 39 Play your highest card to could sting them for 400 whereupon East passed out 7 Halve the value of a singleton tempt a defender to cover honour when opening 40 Draw trumps first unless you under the 1929 Code the redouble with an 8 Only add length-points for a have a good reason not to (100+100+200). But that unseemly guffaw, I seem to suit that might be useful 41 Do not waste your trumps wouldn’t be enough. I was remember. I have never liked 9 Isolated honours are bad 42 Consider leaving a lone sitting South, and I had those von Henzaus. That led except in partner’s suit defensive trump winner out 10 Use the jump shift sparingly conceived the idea, to a four-figure score—’ 11 Consider passing and letting Defence Tips popularised by the Americans ‘Well, it serves you—’ partner decide 43 Keep four-card suits intact many years later, that a no- ‘—in our favour, since the whenever possible 12 You need two top honours trump call over a strong bid contract is absolutely solid.’ for a second-seat pre-empt 44 Give count on declarer’s leads 13 Put the brakes on if you have a 45 Keep the right cards in a major could hardly be I checked, and it was true. misfit rather than signal genuine. Since you would He had actually made his 14 Strong and long minors work 46 Take your time make a take-out double with 6-point 3NT! West, who was when dummy is put down well in no-trumps interest in the other major, on lead, made his two ace- 15 One stop in the opponents’ suit 47 High cards are for killing other can be enough for no-trumps high cards this alternative take-out ought kings, but nothing else. 16 Keep your two-level 48 Do not waste to show the minors. So after ‘We won the match and I responses up to strength intermediate cards the same exchange of cards, swore never again to repeat 17 Use your normal methods in 49 Pick two key suits to concentrate on during the play our auction went: the dangerous experiment of response to a 1NT overcall the Unusual No-trump, as 18 Don’t overcall just because 50 If in doubt, cover an honour you have opening points with an honour West North East South they call it these days.’ 51 If a lead is from two honours, 19 Overcalls can be quite weak, so 2♠ 2NT ‘But why? Even though be prudent when responding it is best not to cover the result was a little bizarre, 52 Keep your honour to kill Dbl Pass 3♥ 3NT 20 Weak overcalls must be based the bid actually made you a on strong suits dummy’s honour Dbl Pass Pass . . . 21 6NT requires 33 points 53 Try to show partner huge profit.’ not 4 aces and 4 kings your solid honour sequences ‘Now I redoubled, which is, He gazed balefully at me. 22 Raise immediately, if weak 54 Lead the normal card when of course, an absolute ‘Did you ever hear of the man leading partner’s suit with four-card support command to my partner to who survived the hangman’s 23 In a competitive auction, show 55 Never underlead an ace at trick support immediately one in a suit contract pick a suit.’ noose when the rope broke?’ 24 Bid to the level of your fit 56 Be wary of leading from ‘It’s not quite the same quickly with weak hands four cards to only one honour thing, Unc—’ 57 Lead a higher card from Pick Better Minor 25 With strength and support, ‘He became so obsessed use the opponents’ bid suit a suit without an honour with Both Void! 58 Lead through ‘beatable’ with his celebrity that he Declarer-play Tips strength and up to weakness ‘How on earth did he decide agreed to do it again for the 26 When your contract depends 59 Cash your winners before which minor to pick?’ I photographers! I suppose if on a finesse, think ‘endplay’ trying for a trump promotion 27 Consider what a defender 60 Be patient when defending 1NT mused, weighing up the you ever win this National might be thinking about 61 Trump leads can be safe relative merits of the two Lottery thing, you will start 28 Always take your time throughout the play voids. spending your millions on at trick one The old man shook his further tickets? No, no, you 29 Establish extra tricks before General Tips cashing your winners 62 Do not put important cards head and replied, ‘He picked must learn when to quit 30 Use your opponents’ at either end of your hand neither. He passed.’ while you are ahead, bidding to your advantage 63 Avoid being declarer when ‘Unforgivable!’ I ex - Dummkopf.’ ■ 31 Avoid the ‘baddie’ you are dummy claimed. gaining the lead 64 Before you lead ask for a 32 Use the Rule of Seven when review of the auction ‘Oh no, it was my fault, Previously published in holding up in no-trumps 65 Enjoy the Game! entirely mine. No ruling monarch worth his salt could BRIDGE 43. Reprinted to £14 including postage and packing from Mr Bridge, obey an ‘absolute command’ satisfy popular demand. Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH. ( 01483 489961 from a mere Baron. That’s
Page 36 engaging ordinary players; mailing list as I find the and master points you will reader’s letters fascinating. never see – but at least Richard Hutty, Burgess Hill, READERS’ electronic-only registration West Sussex. will save a job for the players at my clubs who just throw WORTHY OF NOTE certificates in the bin. We are the only rubber P2P is a tax on active clubs bridge club in Ramsey in the LETTERS and a disincentive on small Isle of Man. The club plays clubs. It has all the hallmarks every Wednesday and Friday of a bad tax: it is afternoon. The first outrageously poor value for Wednesday and third Friday FROM NED PAUL Fleur says the decline in money for those clubs that of each month are designated Fleur Waters (see letters, EBU membership can be are well run; it is going to partnership days. We also BRIDGE 96) seems to think explained because the world change people’s behaviour; compete for the Grand Slam that I don’t have much is changing and that fewer and it will require every club prize throughout the year. interest in the future of people are taking up bridge. to report to the snooping On Friday 19 June, a bridge. Those who have But has she not noticed that police via electronic partnership day, our actually met me will know bridge is changing too and submission to make sure the secretary John Atkinson was that there are few things that that the great majority of EBU is getting all the money partnering his wife Tokie, and I am more passionate about, active players now get all the to which it thinks it is entitled. early in the afternoon they and that I back up this tournament bridge they want In my case, I currently don’t bid and made 7 diamonds passion with a very full at their club. You don’t need, even collect some of the data non-vulnerable. After our tea programme of teaching, as you once did, to go that the EBU wants. break and with different organisation and play. outside the club unless you Fleur should think that if I opponents, they again bid 7 I run a number of want to play higher level didn’t care passionately Diamonds and made the duplicates each week and county and national bridge, about bridge and didn’t think contract, this time vulnerable. they have a reputation for and increasingly few do. The the game deserves better The odds of this happening being friendly. I am delighted EBU has reacted to this like a management policies, I twice in one afternoon we do to say that within my clubs spoilt child. Instead of asking wouldn’t be shouting not know, however I thought there are a number of players what kind of EBU ‘Emperor’s New Clothes’ in that this feat would be of players who are very happy they want, they have simply this way. In fact, I would go interest to your readers. to play with newcomers and said that if your club so far as to say that if your Mr M J Brown, Ramsey, encourage them through the members won’t join the EBU, club has signed up to P2P Isle Of Man. first difficult sessions of club then we will make you. There ‘by default’ then you should duplicate. My clubs are is no gloss on P2P that Fleur review your decision while TRAVEL INSURANCE growing. I run lessons and I or anyone else can put that there is still time, before the I was first introduced to your also organise supervised makes the scheme other scheme comes into magazine by a fellow bridge play groups that have than horrible, divisive and operation next April. player when I moaned that ambition. So I can look anti-developmental. In Ned Paul, Twickenham. no one wanted to give me about my duplicates and see London the major holiday insurance now that I players that a few years ago proprietorial clubs will not be WHOSE BENEFIT am an octogenarian, despite came to my beginner classes playing P2P; maybe in future If Jane Spence (see letters, the fact that I have no and have now graduated to years the EBU will be BRIDGE 96) is ‘fed up with medical conditions. Global be regular club players. irrelevant in London. hearing the negative Travel Insurance fitted the bill Some of them, shock, horror, Just what is in P2P for the comments about P2P’ she beautifully, plus the bonus of are in their twenties and ordinary player? As Peter can simply stop reading your most welcome thirties. Fleur, does your club Hasenson writes, if the them. I do not see anything magazine. operate an escalator of scheme is meant to be in the EBU proposals to Freda Day, bridge in this way? Do you revenue neutral then the ‘redirect resources to Bridgewater, Somerset. put yourself out to play with ordinary player is being introducing more young new players? Can single asked to subsidise people to the game’ – it POLITE REQUEST players even come to your tournament players. The seems more like a desire to Please could more bridge club unannounced? Does benefits for this? A diary subsidise county and weekends be held north of your club welcome young which is just a competition national tournament players Watford? Preferably Liverpool adults, or does your youth brochure for tournaments – at the expense of “ordinary” or Morecombe. policy consist wholly of and unlikely to produce an club players, most of whom Could a weekend be hoping someone else will upsurge of entries; a appear to have no interest in arranged on the Isle of Man? teach local school children magazine which despite such events. Anyway, please Mrs Barbara White, minibridge? many attempts is still not do not delete me from your Douglas, Isle of Man.
Page 37 READERS’ LETTERS club in Pewsey. Some of the class were completely new to THE DRY DRAYTON continued the idea of bridge whilst THREESOME – POSTSCRIPT others had been put off by here were additional applica - NEW BLOOD being taught too quickly. All Ttions of the Threesome prin - 2010 ciple which may be of interest. I write on behalf of the my pupils know that I do not When the club was in the forma - Bridge Westmeads Duplicate Bridge know all of the answers and I tive stage (1994) there were quite Group in Bognor Regis, to use the book to guide me as a number of submissions on pre - ferred evenings, period of play thank you very much for I teach. and starting time. The evening Players’ printing a notice in the June Libby Newman, was settled very quickly as the issue of your magazine, Pewsey, Wiltshire. village hall was available on Mondays. The period of play was Diaries asking for new members. It established on the basis that we has been very successful. So FREE ON REQUEST aimed to give local points, so a far we have eight new Whilst I very much wish to minimum of 18 boards was fixed continue to receive your by the EBU regulation at that members and lots of time. ( The Green Book 1998, enquiries. excellent magazine, I have masterpoint handbook now caters Miss Ray Attwells, most issues between 33 and for as few as twelve boards). A refreshment break of 15 minutes Eastgate, Chichester. the present which I will midway through the then playing happily let any reader have period gave a three hour session. THRIVING on application. Initially the organiser ran lessons I read your magazine and try Mr Michael Marshall, before sessions with practice to ♦ Acol Summary follow. Edinburgh. ( 0131 447 7039. by Bernard Magee to learn something new each The club attracted players from time. I was interested in your nearby villages and, as it became ♦ Laws and Ethics by response to the letter headed NOT WHAT IT WAS known, further afield. Finishing Mike Swanson. I'm writing after reading all time became important to older TEACHING on page 35 of players and those with longer ♦ Scoring Tables for BRIDGE 95. the letters about the EBU journeys, particularly those who Duplicate and Rubber. My mother was a rules being implemented were picked-up by friends and family. There were others who dedicated bridge player, so today. ♦ Red, navy, green, tan, returned home from their working I feel that downgrading the pale blue, black or we were taught to play cards day too late to eat and start maroon covers. almost before we could game with the present playing early. A compromise of 7.00 for 7.15 start was adopted, speak. But, as is often the announcing system will not ♦ All covers printed in largely because experience was way, she was too good a encourage young people to that if there was a large gap gold-coloured ink. player to teach us bridge. Us enter the game. between daytime and evening ♦ Individual diaries being three daughters and a In the past, when we used activity, people put other things in the time which then threatened £5.95 each inc p&p. cousin who lived with us. We verbal bidding, all bids had the aim of regular attendance. to be memorized and leads Parents of school children also ♦ Special concession to all are now bridge players of varying ability. I began with made from them. Now we did not like them being out late in bridge clubs. 10 or term time. So a further more copies £3.50 Begin Bridge and then did a have bidding boxes, where application of the Threesome was each including p&p, week at summer school at the bids must be left on the tried, an early player shared with subject to availability. Marlborough College in table until the opening lead a late player to make a triple with is made. No need to a full-time partner. 2007. I purchased book one It may also be applied to Beginning Bridge – the memorize the bids. That’s parents with babysitting complete learn and play the first downgrade. problems, provided the change - Now with the announcing over took little time requiring programme from the EBU. I homes close to the village hall also started playing at a system we have to tell each and the change taking place either friendly bridge club in other what our 1NT opening at a sit out position in a bid means. Basic Acol 1NT is movement with a half table or at Marlborough. the refreshment break. In Luxury version with super-soft I have often thought that 12-14 points, this I learned principle these applications kidrell cover, gilded page people who want to learn years ago and don't need to depend upon the full-time bridge edges and a ball-point bridge should be allowed to be told what I already know. partner and should work well in a attached. small accommodating pen If playing a strong 1NT, Ruby red or bottle green. develop card playing skills community. It is a facility which £12.95 each slowly and at a pace that people knock the table or comes under pressure when the part-time players wish to play including postage suits them. In 2008, the play an alert card. With longer. With goodwill from all and packing. Pewsey U3A was set up and these, I know what the bid and the director’s indulgence it I offered to do complete means. So, why do I need to helps keeping players and may Exclusively available beginners bridge. I now have be told. That’s the second attract more timid newcomers. from downgrade. Back the Threesome, and make it two groups, all enjoy the work for your club. ( 01483 489961. pace we are working at and I have now become www.mrbridge.co.uk completely disillusioned. Brian Copping, some are now playing at the Dry Drayton, Cambridge. newly formed friendly bridge John Hendrich by email.
Page 38 READERS’ LETTERS I opened 5 ♦. Butlins at sea! Discovery’s Concern 0207 700 8177. This I look forward to sending sister ship Minerva would be charity offers much practical continued you, in due course, the perfect though – I’d be advice. Good luck and don’t stamps I have collected. booking a Mr Bridge cruise give up. CREDIT WHERE DUE Jill Staples, on her 3 or 4 times a year. Mrs C Turley, I have received the last two Storrington, West Sussex. Elizabeth Lonkhurst, Gerrards Cross, Bucks. copies of your magazine but Folkestone, Kent. to my knowledge I have USED STAMPS I think you are being far too GREAT MEMORIES never requested a copy and The letter from Mrs Dennis, hard on Fred Olsen Lines. The last time I saw my as I do not play bridge it is a see letters BRIDGE 96, who mother was when I spent the waste sending it to me. was 'in the process of cutting GLOSSARY NEEDED weekend with her, playing One thing I would say, off the surplus paper' from As a relative newcomer to bridge at Blunsdon House however, is how good it is to the stamps she and her bridge, I find it helpful to Hotel in June. I know how see the names of your husband had saved for work my way through Q & A much she enjoyed the proof-readers mentioned in charity, reminded me of a pages to further my weekend, in no small part the editorial credits. As a quantity of postage stamps knowledge of the game. This due to the company of fellow former proof-reader myself, I I collected some time ago. works well and I understand bridge players and the Mr think I can say this is the first I carefully snipped off all the most of the answers but I do Bridge team directed by time I have ever seen an paper surrounding the find some of the jargon used Bernard Magee. acknowledgement to that stamps, but was later off-putting. The fact that I managed to fine body of scrutineers. advised to leave about an K G Lowery by email. spend my last weekend with Peter Hillman, by email. inch of paper surrounding my mother, indulging in the each stamp as that was USE A LABEL pastime that we both INCREDIBLE preferred by stamp I am a hard-of-hearing enjoyed so much but so My husband and I play collectors. bridge player (see letters rarely shared, has given me bridge on a weekly basis Edith Pleasance, BRIDGE 96), who decided to great comfort and I shall with two friends. Wymondham. learn the game some two continue to both play bridge Last Sunday cutting for years ago. and hopefully attend many who should deal first this RECOVERED I don’t think I could more Mr Bridge events with occurred. Would you be so kind as to manage at all without the memory of that last West: ♣A re-include me on your bidding boxes, which were weekend always with me. North: ♦A posting list. Only recently originally designed for deaf Name and address supplied. South: ♥A have I noticed that it has not people. East: ♠A been arriving. The reason is However, I play duplicate DOING OUR BEST What are the odds? that since the beginning of bridge and find them a I am emailing to say ‘thank Kate Wood, this year I have had health Godsend but agree the table you’ for the exceptional Ainsdale, Southport. problems plus an operation. does get slightly cluttered, customer service you Now being quite recovered what with the score cards provide. Yesterday afternoon STRANGE and back to playing bridge, I as well. I telephoned to say I had not I wondered if some of your am missing my copy of The best solution I can offer yet received my 2010 Diary. readers might be interested BRIDGE. you is to do as I do and take I spoke to Rachel, she was in the strangest hand I have Morah Sidebotham, the matter into your own very helpful and polite and I ever been dealt. Alsager, Cheshire. hands. Label yourself as duly received my diary in this hard-of-hearing by wearing morning’s post as promised. HARD LINE a badge for all the other Life would be so much more ♠ x Mr G Smith (see letters players to see. pleasant if only others would ♥ x BRIDGE 96) asks for It is part of the current Deaf provide your level of ♦ A K Q J 10 x x x x Mr Bridge parties on Fred Awareness scheme and customer service. ♣ A K Olsen ships. Heaven forbid! different designs can be Gwynneth Nalepa, Fred Olsen ships are like obtained from Hearing Killin, Perthshire. ■
REDUCE THE COST OF YOUR POSTAGE Write to Mr Bridge at: Postage stamps for sale at 90% of face-value, Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH all mint with full gum. Quotations for or e-mail [email protected] commercial quantities available on request. E-mail correspondents are asked to include their Values supplied in 100s, higher values available as name, full postal address, telephone number and well as 1st and 2nd class (eg 1st class: 100x35p+100x1p) to send no attachments. (/Fax 020 8422 4906 e-mail: [email protected] Letters may be edited for length and clarity.
Page 39 GLOBAL TRAVEL INSURANCE Amelia House, Crescent Road, Worthing West Sussex, BN11 1RL. GLOBAL TRAVEL GLOBAL TRAVEL INSURANCE ( 01903 203933 Fax 01903 211106 Email [email protected] INSURANCE Services Limited Services Limited
INSURANCE PRODUCT SUITABILITY
This insurance is suitable for persons whose Demands and Needs are those of a traveller whose: 1 Individual round trip starts and finishes in the UK and is of no more than 120 days duration, and 2 Age is 90 years or less and is a permanent resident of the United Kingdom. As this leaflet contains the Key Features of the cover provided, it constitutes provision of a statement of demands and needs. This insurance is only available to persons who are permanently resident and domiciled in the UK.
SUMMARY OF COVER
The following represent the Significant and Key Features of the policy including Exclusions and Limitations that apply per person. A full copy of the policy document is available on request.
CANCELLATION & CURTAILMENT up to £1,500 PERSONAL LUGGAGE, MONEY & VALUABLES up to £2,000 If you have to cancel or cut short your trip due to illness, injury, redundancy, jury service, the police Covers accidental loss, theft or damage to your personal luggage subject to a limit of £200 for any requiring you to remain at or return to your home due to serious damage to your home, you are one article, pair or set and an overall limit of £200 for valuables such as cameras, Jewellery, furs, covered against loss of travel and accommodation costs. etc. Luggage and valuables limited to £1500. Delayed luggage, up to £75. Policy Excess £50. Policy Excess Money, travel tickets and travellers cheques are covered up to £500 against accidental loss or theft Standard Policy Excess £50. (cash limit £250). Policy Excess £50. For persons aged 61 to 70 years the excess is increased to £100. No cover is provided for loss or theft of unattended property, valuables or money or for loss or theft For persons aged 71 to 90 years the excess is increased to £150. not reported to the Police within 24 hours of discovery. See section headed Increased Excess for Pre Existing Medical Conditions for increased excesses applicable to claims arising from pre-existing medical conditions. PASSPORT EXPENSES up to £200 PERSONAL ACCIDENT up to £15,000 If you lose your passport or it is stolen whilst abroad, you are covered for additional travel and accommodation costs incurred in obtaining a replacement. No Policy Excess. A cash sum for accidental injury resulting in death, loss of sight, loss of limb or permanent total disablement. No Policy Excess. DELAYED DEPARTURE up to £1,500 MEDICAL AND OTHER EXPENSES up to £5,000,000 If your outward or return trip is delayed for more than 12 hours at the final departure point to/from UK due to adverse weather conditions, mechanical breakdown or industrial action, you are entitled Including LIFELINE 24 HOUR WORLDWIDE MEDICAL EMERGENCY SERVICE to either (a) £20 for the first 12 hours and £10 for each further 12 hours delay up to a maximum of £60, or (b) the cost of the trip (up to £1,500) if you elect to cancel after 12 hours delay on the outward (a) The cost of hospital and other emergency medical expenses incurred abroad, including trip from the UK. Policy Excess £50 (b) only. additional accommodation and repatriation expenses. Limit £250 for emergency dental treatment and £5,000 burial/cremation/transfer of remains. Limit £1,000 for transfer of remains to your home if MISSED DEPARTURE up to £500 you die in the UK. Policy Excess £75 unless travelling within North or Central America or the Caribbean when Additional travel and accommodation expenses incurred to enable you to reach your overseas increased to £150. destination if you arrive too late at your final UK outward departure point due to failure of the vehicle For persons aged 61 to 70 years the excess is increased to £150 unless travelling within in which you are travelling to deliver you to the departure point caused by adverse weather, strike, North or Central America or the Caribbean when increased to £500. industrial action, mechanical breakdown or accident to the vehicle. No Policy Excess. For persons aged 71 to 90 years the excess is increased to £300 unless travelling within North or Central America or the Caribbean when increased to £1,000. PERSONAL LIABILITY up to £2,000,000 See section headed Increased Excess for Pre Existing Medical Conditions for increased excesses Covers your legal liability for injury or damage to other people or their property, including legal applicable to claims arising from pre-existing medical conditions. expenses (subject to the laws of England and Wales). Policy Excess £250. (b) HOSPITAL BENEFIT up to £300 An additional benefit of £15 per day for each day you spend in hospital abroad as an in-patient. LEGAL EXPENSES up to £25,000 No Policy Excess. To enable you to pursue your rights against a third party following injury. No Policy Excess.
MAIN EXCLUSIONS AND CONDITIONS Medical Screening The following represents only the main exclusions. The policy document sets out If you are travelling to North or Central America or the Caribbean or on a Cruise you must all of the conditions and exclusions. A copy of the full policy wording is available first contact the Medical Screening Line to establish whether we can provide cover for on request in writing prior to application. your trip. If you are accepted then the following levels of excess will apply. You will receive written confirmation that you are covered for the trip. The number to call is: MAIN HEALTH EXCLUSIONS: 0870 9063142 Insurers will not pay for claims arising Unless you are traveling to North or Central America or the Caribbean or on a Cruise, 1. Where You or any person upon whose health the Trip depends are undergoing tests for the there is no need to advise us of your pre existing medical conditions. presence of a medical condition receiving or on a waiting list for or have knowledge of the need for treatment at a hospital or nursing home. 2. From any terminal illness suffered by You or any person upon whose health the Trip depends. 3. From any medical condition for which You (or any person upon whose health the Trip depends) Increased Excess for Pre Existing Medical Conditions have within 12 months prior to the date of issue of this insurance been diagnosed with a medical Provision for the acceptance of pre existing medical conditions has been made by the condition or have been admitted or undergone a procedure/ intervention in a hospital. application of increased excesses in the event of claims arising. 4. If you are travelling against the advice of a medical practitioner. For claims arising from the any of your pre-existing medical conditions, other than those that are specifically excluded, the excess is further increased as follows: OTHER GENERAL EXCLUSIONS Under the Cancellation & Curtailment section – double the normal excess. Claims arising from 1. Winter sports, any hazardous pursuits, any work of a non sedentary nature. Under the Medical & Other Expenses section – 2. Self-inflicted injury or illness, suicide, alcoholism or drug abuse, sexual disease. For persons aged 60 years or less the excess is increased to £500 unless travelling within 3. War, invasion, acts of foreign enemies, hostilities or warlike operations, civil war, rebellion, North or Central America or the Caribbean or on a Cruise when increased to £1,000. Terrorism, revolution, insurrection, civil commotion, military or usurped power but this For persons aged 61 to 70 years the excess is increased to £1,000 unless travelling within exclusion shall not apply to losses under Section 3 – Medical Expenses unless such losses North or Central America or the Caribbean or on a Cruise when increased to £2,000. are caused by nuclear, chemical or biological attack, or the disturbances were already taking For persons aged 71 to 90 years the excess is increased to £1,500 unless travelling within place at the beginning of any Trip . North or Central America or the Caribbean or on a Cruise when increased to £3,000. 4. Failure or fear of failure or inability of any equipment or any computer program. 5. Consequential loss of any kind. 6. Bankruptcy / liquidation of any tour operator, travel agent, airline, transportation company or accommodation supplier. MEMBER OF THE 7. Travelling to countries or regions where the FCO or WHO has advised against travel. 8. Your failure to contact the Medical Screening Line where required.
POLICY EXCESSES: The amount of each claim for which insurers will not pay and for which you are responsible. The excess as noted in the policy summary applies to each and every claim per insured person under each section where an excess applies. ✄ Global Travel Insurance Services Ltd are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority and our status can be checked on the FSA Register by visiting www.fsa.gov.uk/register or by contacting the Single Trip FSA on 0845 606 1234. This insurance is underwritten by AXA Insurance UK plc. Registered in Travel Insurance England No. 78950. Registered address: 5 Old Broad Street, London Suitable for individual round trips up to 120 days duration EC2N 1AD. AXA Insurance UK plc is authorised and regulated by the that start and finish in the UK arranged by Financial Services Authority. Global Travel Insurance If you have a complaint about the sale of this insurance, you must first Amelia House, Crescent Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 1RL write to the Managing Director of Global Travel Insurance Services Ltd. ( 01903 203933 Fax 01903 211106 Subsequently, complaints may be referred to the Financial Ombudsman Service. If we are unable to meet our liabilities you may be entitled to SINGLE TRIP APPLICATION FORM compensation under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Please FULLY complete the following in BLOCK CAPITALS. If you would like more information or are unsure of any details contained Once complete, return the application panel direct to Global Travel Insurance herein, you should ask Global Travel Insurance Services Ltd for further with a cheque or with card details entered. advice. Insurance is not effective until a Policy has been issued. Please allow at least 5 days before you need to travel. Details of the Applicant PREMIUM RATING SCHEDULE Title (Mr/Mrs/Miss) Initials GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS 1. United Kingdom Surname England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, including all islands comprising the British Isles (except the Channel Islands and the Telephone No. Republic of Ireland). House Number/Name 2. Europe Area 1 and Continental Europe west of the Ural mountain range, all Street Name countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea (except Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya & Syria), the Channel Islands and the Republic Town Name of Ireland, Iceland, Madeira, The Canaries and The Azores. 3. Worldwide excluding North America Postcode Areas 1 & 2 and All countries outside of the above (except the continent of North America, countries comprising Central America and the Date of leaving Home Caribbean Islands). 4. Worldwide including North America Date of arrival Home Areas 1,2 & 3 and The United States of America, Mexico and other countries comprising Central America, Canada, Cuba and the Introducer Mr Bridge Caribbean Islands. Geographical Area - See Premium Panel (1,2,3 or 4)
SCHEDULE OF PREMIUMS Names of all persons to be insured Age Premium Valid for policies issued up to 31/3/2010 and for travel completed by 31/12/2010. 1 £ Areas 1 & 2 - Applicable per person up to age 90 years on the date of return to the UK. 2 £ Areas 3 & 4 - Applicable per person up to age 80 years on the date of return to the UK. 3 £ Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 1 - 3 days £13.70 £20.90 £43.90 £63.20 4 £ 4 & 5 days £16.40 £26.30 £55.10 £79.50 £ 6 -10 days £19.20 £35.50 £74.80 £107.00 5 11-17 days £21.90 £38.90 £83.10 £119.80 6 £ 18-24 days £24.60 £44.70 £93.60 £134.90 25-31 days £27.30 £50.80 £106.50 £153.40 Credit/Debit Card Details TOTAL PREMIUM £ Each + 7 days £ 4.90 £10.00 £25.10 £36.10 or part thereof (maximum period of 120 days) Card No
All premiums include the Government Insurance Premium Tax (IPT), Start Date End Date Issue No which is 17.5% and is subject to variation.
Security Code PREMIUM ADJUSTMENTS All age adjustments apply to the age on the date of return to the UK The following adjustments apply ONLY to trips in excess of 31 days DECLARATION for all persons aged 65 years and over On behalf of all persons listed in this application, I agree that this application shall Geographical Area Premium Increase be the basis of the Contract of Insurance. I agree that Insurers may exchange Area 2 Europe Plus 50% (1.5 times) information with other Insurers or their agents. I have read and understood the Area 3 Worldwide excl. North America etc Plus 100% (2 times) Area 4 Worldwide incl. North America etc Plus 200% (3 times) terms and conditions of the insurance, with which all persons above are in agreement and for whom I am authorized to sign. Infants up to 2 years inclusive are FREE subject to being included with an adult paying a full premium. Signed ...... Date ...... Children 3 to 16 years inclusive are HALF PRICE subject to being included The form MUST be signed by one of the persons to be insured on behalf of all persons to be insured. with an adult paying a full premium. Unaccompanied children pay the adult rate. is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Global Travel Insurance Group Discounts – Contact us for discounts available starting at 10 persons. Services Ltd, who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. ✄ the opposite of a 1NT opening, it is not Bridge with announced and if you use Stayman and transfers they are now alerted instead of being announced. Why can’t they stick to one method, instead of confusing those who come only to play bridge Victor Meldrew once or twice a week for pleasure? And who would want to take up bridge if they had to learn all this gobbledegook before by David Mullineaux playing in a club?’ ‘It is confusing, I agree,’ said partner. ‘Perhaps it would have been better to stick with one method rather than have t his local bridge club – which Strategy for the moment, but what is it two and, at pretty well any bridge club I looked strikingly like the Bourne that’s troubling you about the Laws and know, we did manage until recently with AClub at Farnham, with a pleasant the Orange Book?’ just alerting, but there you are. They bar and lounge – that well known, ‘Well,’ said Victor, taking a quick swig think they know best so that’s what irritable old crank, Victor Meldrew before he launched into his next tirade, we’ve got. Now, to answer the question (somehow he had infiltrated himself into ‘there’s all this announcing and alerting you asked a few moments ago, two-of-a- club membership some years back) was – I’m still confused. And do you know, I suit bids are announced as ‘strong’, sounding off to his partner in recently went on a bridge holiday ‘strong, not forcing’, ‘intermediate’, and characteristically grumpy frustration as abroad with a group? There were some ‘weak’. they sat down together and imbibed after Scottish people there, flown in from ‘I know that,’ interjected Victor a little one of the evening bridge sessions. Glasgow, very nice lot, but north of the impatiently, ‘but what about these ‘I’m confused,’ he said. ‘I only want to border they don’t do announcements. people who play other two-level play cards and enjoy it without being What a muddle it was. I didn’t know the systems? As you know, there are one or weighed down by a lot of rules that get Scots had got their independence yet!’ two pairs at the club who play funny ever more complicated and that some of By way of emphasis, this statement was things such as Lucas twos and Multi 2 ♦. the members don’t understand. If it followed by another, somewhat longer I think they go to congresses where they carries on like this, I’ll have to pay to swig, Victor intending obviously to get pay lots of money to indulge in all this bring my lawyer with me every time I the best from his drink before the extra frippery, but most club members have come to the club, even though I can block of ice diluted it. never heard of such conventions and scarcely afford the subscription as it is, ‘Yes,’ said partner in soothing tones, don’t understand them. I thought the not to mention the VAT that gets lumped ‘it is a bit strange that the EBU, after all Multi 2 ♦ had been buried by sensible on to it. The laws of bridge in that new these years of bridge, seem to have people about a decade ago. All things book are just incomprehensible to convinced themselves of the need for like that do is to muddle everybody, ordinary club players like me – they’re announcements. It is a bit confusing often including the pairs who use them. written for argumentative types at with this extra layer of complexity that It’s all too clever by half. In the club it congresses grubbing for green points has made it more difficult for the just puts people off – and then that lot at where there are non-playing TDs, and average club player to digest and the Aylesbury wonder why membership for international bridge conflicts. Why Scottish Bridge Union having different levels are dropping!’ can’t they produce something in plain rules. One can meddle too much. But let ‘Well, Victor, those sort of two-of-a- English for ordinary club members to me try and explain announcements. suit conventional bids are alerted these use instead of all this legalistic ‘As you know, the point count range of days, as they always were and you know verbiage? And that damned Orange an opening bid of 1NT is announced, that you can ask for an explanation of Book gets bigger every time they publish although at our club, because it became exactly what the convention means,’ it; some of it’s useful, but there’s a lot of so monotonously repetitive, we have replied his partner. obscure tripe that’s not the least bit decided that it needs to be announced Unconvinced, Victor nodded, took relevant to club bridge. With all that only if it is anything other than the another swig of his rapidly diminishing paperwork, it’s no wonder bridge is not Standard English 12-14 points – clubs drink and, by now in full flight, recognised as a sport. And,’ he continued can do that sort of thing, you know. Then continued unabated, ‘Yes, OK, but they to fume, ‘don’t mention the EBU there follow announcements about have now abolished alerting anything Universal Membership Strategy, which either ‘Stayman’, or transfers when you over three no-trumps. In the old days, if just means that they’re going to hijack have to say ‘hearts’ or ‘spades’.’ you didn’t alert Blackwood 4NT and so me into their organisation and claim that ‘Yes, yes, I understand all that,’ said on, you got chewed off; now they’ve they have increased membership Victor, ‘but then it gets more stopped it. And another thing. About numbers. Huh!’ complicated. What about these opening twenty years ago, that lot at the EBU ‘Calm down, Victor,’ said his partner, two-level bids? If they are two-of-a-suit stopped you, as a defender, asking who was quite used to this sort of some are announced, and some are partner if you had revoked; now they’ve outburst. ‘This is a friendly club. Would alerted. And if you open 2NT – well, brought it back again. Can’t they make you like another block of ice in your they don’t say anything about that in the their minds up? double whisky? We’ll forget the EBU Orange Book – but I believe that, quite ‘What’s more, you mentioned
Page 42 conventions. Conventions need misunderstanding and, in some cases, announce, or alert, or say nothing. convention cards, although not ‘scenes’ at the club and the less When, after the auction ended and play everybody bothers with them at clubs experienced players are intimidated by it began and nothing had been explained, because filling in one of those forms is all.’ it became obvious to me that she should worse than doing your annual income His patient partner, also by now have alerted and it was possible that we tax return. I know you’re supposed to needing the comfort of his drink to had been damaged so, as you saw, I have one and you’re supposed to deflect the barrage, continued, ‘It is called the director – better to do that exchange it with your opponents at the confusing, Victor, I agree and they do than get in an argument yourselves. And start of the round – the Orange Book keep changing things. Generally though, there’s another thing – this was only a says so. But then you read this other at the club, you need no longer alert a club evening, so we don’t call him the tome – the Laws of Contract Bridge, the Sputnik double which, to confuse you a TD. It’s not a tournament, it’s only a one they published that says 2007 on the bit more, is also sometimes called a normal club evening and we’re all trying front cover, but actually didn’t come into negative double. All doubles of suit bids to enjoy ourselves and the director, as a force until August 2008 – and it says are generally for take-out so do not need player himself, doesn’t have the time to something different. It says, in Law an alert; if they are played for penalties sort out all the ‘rectifications’ they talk 40.A.2.(b) that during this other new then they will be alerted. I hope that about in this new-fangled Law Book. thing they’ve invented – the ‘Ramifications,’ I call them.’ Clarification Period – declarer may ‘Yes, Victor, she didn’t alert when consult his system card. Well how she should have done and, like you, I can he if he’s exchanged it with his imagined to begin with that her call opponents, as he’s told to in the was probably conventional,’ agreed Orange Book? ’ partner, ‘but I would like to say two ‘I have to say, I rather agree with things to you. First, you became you,’ said his partner in empathy. ‘All extremely stroppy about all this, this chopping and changing for no which was quite unnecessary – you good reason just creates confusion in could see that she was inexperienced clubs and it does rather turn people and that she had probably got things off when they should be trying to a bit wrong, but that is no excuse for make the game more attractive.’ becoming so belligerent – this is a After a short period of rumination, friendly club and if it weren’t, we and still on his high horse, Victor wouldn’t have so many members. continued, ‘Then there’s doubling. I You’ll put people off if you carry on really don’t understand which in that abrasive manner; it’s not doubles have to be alerted or not. I pleasant. Secondly, don’t you know tried to look it up in the Orange Book that if you suspect that a conventional y and was not much the wiser r call has not been alerted you are a r b i afterwards. They talk, on page 25, l entitled to ask its meaning, so long as
e r u about doubling : ‘Suit bids that show t you have good reason to and are not c i p the suit bid’; ‘Short, nebulous, creating unauthorised information for C B B prepared, and phoney minor your partner. And you also ought to e h t openings’, and so on, none of which I f know that when the error becomes o
y could understand. So I kept on s evident and the director is called, e t r u
reading, hoping things would get o your claim to have been damaged clearer and, a few pages later, on c will fail if you were aware of its page 28, I came to something that said, simplifies things, but if you’re not quite likely meaning. That is one thing it does ‘The following doubles must be alerted,’ sure what the opponent’s double means, say quite clearly in the Orange Book, on so I thought this was just what I was you are quite entitled to ask for an page 28. Didn’t you know that?’ looking for. But it wasn’t. That didn’t explanation at your turn to call. Is that Brought to heel for a moment, Victor help either, because they babbled on OK?’ Victor harumphed again as he sulked quietly. Before he could muster a about such nonsense as ‘co-operative emptied his glass and went to the bar for reply, partner brought the evening to a and optional doubles,’ and all sorts of further strong sustenance. conclusion. ‘The bar has closed and other things I still didn’t understand. I On returning and having thought anyway we’ve had enough to drink. It’s once went to a seminar on doubles, so I about things further, he launched forth time I drove you home, Victor’. thought I understood about take-out again. ‘This evening,’ he said, ‘when we As they drove home, Victor cogitated doubles, competitive doubles, Sputnik were playing against that pair, one of then said, ‘I think we need a little booklet doubles, and penalty doubles, but none whom was a rather inexperienced in plain English that club players can of this other twaddle they print – visitor, there was a muddle. She failed to read and understand, and it should be nebulous is the right word. Why can’t alert one of her partner’s bids, although called the Tangerine Book – you know, they keep it simple for club players? All I thought at the time that it was a bit something like the Orange Book, but it does is leave people bewildered, so strange as it is usually played as a smaller and tastier. I think I’ll start they don’t know what is the right thing convention. Perhaps she was in an writing it tomorrow.’ And with that he to do and that leads to arguments and understandable muddle about whether to lapsed into silence – until next time. ■
Page 43 Sally Brock’s Blog Seven Days by Sally Brock
year to go till his GCSEs enough – I forget to tell him who balanced with a double Monday and Briony who is 13 and some bits of the system we rather than my one heart. just going into Year 10. have changed since last Dash in from the gym (I try Perhaps more excitingly, I year. Consequently we to go three times a week, have a 32-year-old, Ben, arrive in one or two ♠ J 10 9 8 7 but this visit particularly whose wife Gemma is somewhat outlandish ♥ 6 5 4 2 necessary after a week’s shortly, all being well, going contracts… ♦ J 6 holiday in France – I need to produce my first One of the consequences ♣ 8 5 to lose enough of the weight grandchild. It might be this of my new-found interest in ♠ K 6 5 3 ♠ A 4 2
I put on in order to dare to week or you might have to rubber bridge (more about ♥ 9 8 N ♥ K Q J 10 W E go to Weightwatcher’s wait until the next issue to that later) is a heightened ♦ K 5 4 S ♦ 8 3 2 tomorrow) to find the hear all about that. awareness of ‘honours’. I ♣ Q 6 3 2 ♣ A107 answer machine blinking hold, with both sides ♠ Q and a message from Mr vulnerable: ♥ A 7 3 Bridge. Actually he has left Tuesday ♦ A Q 10 9 7 a message while I was away ♣ K J 9 4 and ringing him was quite Up early because they are ♠ A 4 2 near the top of my ‘to-do’ coming to clean my oven at ♥ K Q J 10 list anyway. 8am! One of my high- ♦ 8 3 2 Would I be interested in priority luxuries! Botswana ♣ A 10 7 writing a regular blog in his more interesting than Sudan. Wednesday magazine? Apparently there At least it’s somewhere I are millions of readers out might visit. The weigh-in is South’s one diamond After an early gym visit and there interested in my life. not too bad considering it opening bid is passed more Botswana, I rush into OK … if he really thinks so. includes a week of French around to me. Without London for lunch with We are also working on a food: +2lbs. giving the matter too much Debbie, Peter and Howard. book version of the Ask In the evening I play thought, I bid one heart. Debbie is an excellent cook Sally articles that used to bridge at New Amersham South bid two clubs and so such lunches are always appear in BRIDGE. with Richard, a semi-regular North’s two diamonds eagerly anticipated, Roughly half of my partner. As usual, we have a preference is passed out. particularly when I have income comes from bridge- really good time, but don’t The full deal is in the next nearly a week before related activities. For a day do as well as usual. When column. Weightwatcher’s again! job, I typeset travel guides Nicola (Smith) and I were Partner leads a trump and Afterwards we play some for a local company called practising as hard as we now, provided we are rubber bridge (Chicago). Bradt. They specialise in could in the build-up to careful, which we are, there Usually I go to TGR’s (more slightly obscure holiday playing in Beijing last year, is no way declarer can come about that next time) and destinations. So the rest of Richard very kindly offered to more than the six tricks play for £15 a hundred but my day is spent working on to play our system with me. that are his by right. +200 to here it was just friendly and a guide to Sudan. And I start His mandate was to pretend us. On opening the traveller we play for only £1 a on Botswana tomorrow. to be Nicola! However, his we find a whole list of hundred. That is just as well A quiet evening with my knowledge of what it is like –200s from people playing because I hold no cards all kids. I have two teenage to be Nicola is not in two spades our way, afternoon and lose £32 children living at home: complete! In addition – as if which is, I imagine, what (good job it isn’t £480! plus Toby who is 15 and has a his role was not difficult would happen to anyone table money).
Page 44 Sally’s Blog continued But, I respect her integrity then I have to choose goes home (it’s just around and she thinks I need her so between continuing tidying the corner) and the other I keep going. It is quite the house and writing the eight of us play 12 deals. strange spending time with articles. Not surprisingly I I’m glad no-one pays Towards the end of the someone about whom I spend quite a lot of time attention to the score afternoon Peter gives us a know practically nothing, playing Spider Solitaire on because I am certainly minus lesson on Barbu. This is a while she probably knows the computer! (I guess it’s quite good to get game played by quite a lot of more about me than anyone bad cards when I’m not bridge players and Debbie else. playing at TGR’s). and I have been wanting to Also, finally manage to Saturday learn for a while. He writes make contact with David out the rules for us and we who proofreads my Sunday I don’t think I’ve mentioned Sunday play a few practice hands. It Times articles for me. He’d that I’m having a party does indeed seem a good rung me and I was out, I tomorrow: 20 people coming There is still quite a lot to do game, but you need to play rang him and he was out, for a barbecue. It started before guests arrive at 12.30 28 deals at one go, so not etc, etc. Just as well really as with just one family, then it so there’s no lie-in. something to be entered into I’d had a gently nagging was a good weekend for my Unfortunately, as the too casually. email from Hilary, who is in brother-in-law (Martin) to morning progresses, numbers Then out to dinner with charge of the layout of the visit, then I thought of some dwindle. Our starting point my best friend Margaret. We games page. So manage to compatible friends who was 21 but seven people cry used to play bridge together finish and send off eight would fit in, then I kept on off for one reason or another. regularly, both as partners more articles, taking me up asking people and they could At least the weather is good. and team-mates but she to the middle of October. all come, etc … It’s a good party but I have plays less now, having So the day starts with a over-catered to a ridiculous turned her attention to poker. visit to the pick-your-own degree. We’re going to be We have found it too easy to Friday fruit farm for raspberries. eating cold barbecue all let things slip so try to make Then some food shopping. week (and then still throw a a regular lunch or dinner I played in San Remo in the Around lunchtime Martin, lot away). I’m sure to make date. This time her husband European Open at the end of Briony and I take Martin’s a pig of myself which means Martin joins us too and as June and over the labrador for a walk. We go I won’t be able to go to usual, the time races by and intervening weeks have spent to Cookham, intending to do Weightwatcher’s! People I am soon running to catch some time trawling through a four mile walk, ending with leave at about five o’clock, the last train home. the hand records, score cards a pub lunch. However, the but they’ve been very good and bulletins for material for day has rather run away with at helping tidy up so there my Sunday Times column. itself and it’s one o’clock isn’t a great deal to do. Thursday Now, with no Bradt work to before we get to the start of The evening is spent with do, there is no real excuse the walk. So we start with the children and the TV, Botswana goes well and I but to turn the material I lunch, then do the walk, then watching the programmes finish it towards the end of sorted out into articles. My home for some preparatory we all like: House, The the afternoon. incentive for doing this is work for the party. Mentalist and Lie to Me. I also have an hour with small because of sending In the evening, Martin (This is separate from the my counsellor. My sister them a big batch yesterday. (who doesn’t play bridge) programmes only Briony and Amanda died in May after a But if I don’t do it now, I’ll and I have been invited to a I like: Casualty and Holby two-year struggle with a forget and won’t be able to neighbour’s house for City.) My taste in television brain tumour. There was a put all the stuff away. Still, dinner. Jenny plays bridge is nearly as low-brow as it time when she was ill that when Briony (bored to tears regularly at Burnham Bridge could be (Briony is even things got on top of me a bit, after all of five days at Club, but I know her worse than me, her especially since it wasn’t so home!) suggests we do a because she is mother of a preferences also including long since my husband major sort-out of various local friend and also my Neighbours, One Tree Hill, Raymond died. So I picked rooms in the house, she is chiropodist. She was a bit Big Brother and Britain’s the nearest counsellor to me greeted with uncharacteristic nervous about inviting me Got Talent!) geographically from the enthusiasm. So we spend but promised lots of good Yellow Pages. Although it is most of the day rearranging food, wine and company. Stop Press: Just as I put the pleasant enough sitting the kitchen, lounge, dining She certainly delivered all finishing touches to this talking about myself, I feel room, visiting charity shop three. Having arrived at article my grandson, Hayden fine now and don’t really and tip etc. She is spending 7.30, eventually dinner is Thomas Sowter, is born. feel I need her any more. the evening with a friend, so over at about 10.30. Martin More about that next time. ■
Sally Brock is a multiple women’s world bridge champion and has written many bridge books, the most recent of which is Ask Sally , published by and available by mail order £14 including postage and packing.
Page 45 Dave Huggett Says Make the Long Hand Ruff
efenders sometimes get A lot of the time, it is best to stay confused, thinking that letting ‘passive’ as a defender so as not to keep ♠ K 7 5 Ddeclarer make ruffs in his hand opening up suits to declarer’s advantage. ♥ 10 8 6 4 is bad. In fact, declarer is usually only You can often achieve this by just letting ♦ 8 5 winning tricks he would have made declarer ruff in the long hand as the ♣ A Q J 10 anyway – but at a price of shortening his following example shows. ♠ 4 2 ♠ 6 3 trump holding. This can be good for the ♥ 7 5 3 N ♥ A K J 9 defenders as this example shows: ♦ W E ♦ 10 9 7 6 2 S K Q 3 ♠ K J 9 ♣ 8 6 5 ♣ K 9 3 2 ♥ J 7 3 ♠ A Q J 10 9 8 ♠ 7 6 4 ♦ 7 5 3 2 ♥ Q 2 ♥ 9 5 3 ♣ K 6 3 ♦ A J 4 ♦ A Q ♠ 10 3 ♠ Q 7 6 5 4 2 ♣ 7 4
♣ K Q 8 6 4 ♥ K 9 5 N ♥ 4 ♠ ♠ ♦ W E ♦ A 8 3 2 5 A K Q 9 8 S J 4 ♥ K Q J 8 2 N ♥ A 7 4 ♣ Q 9 7 ♣ 10 8 5 4 Of course, you must have a reason for ♦ 8 2 W E ♦ 10 9 6 5 3 ♠ A 8 making declarer ruff; sometimes it is S ♣ 10 7 ♣ J 5 3 2 ♥ A Q 10 8 6 2 more imperative to make a switch. ♠ K Q J 10 9 ♦ 10 6 Here West leads the five of hearts ♥ 10 6 ♣ A J 2 against 4 ♠. East wins with the king and ♦ K J 7 4 cashes the ace, on which West plays ♣ A 9 upwards with the seven. West started with two top diamonds Knowing that West holds a third heart against South’s confident 4 ♥. Placing and thus that South is out of hearts, it South arrives in 4 ♠ and West leads the East with hardly any values, West would be wrong for East to persist in heart king. When it holds, he follows up continued with a third diamond, which leading the suit for two reasons. Firstly, with the queen. When this wins also, it is declarer ruffed. He now entered dummy doing so would set up the ten of hearts clear that declarer started with two with a club to the king and ran the jack as a winner in dummy; what is more, the hearts and can ruff a further round. This of hearts. West won and played another defenders would lose a vital tempo. makes it tempting to switch. diamond, forcing declarer to ruff once Declarer would ruff the third round, Now consider the effect of a third more. Declarer now had a choice of draw trumps with the ace and queen, round of hearts. Declarer has to ruff and losing options and, with both black-suit cross to the ace of clubs and discard a will be down to four spades – the same finesses offside, he suffered a one-trick club on the winning ten of hearts. Then number as West. He will, no doubt, try defeat. If, at any time, West got too a ruffing finesse in clubs would pick up to draw trumps and play the king in an ‘busy’ and switched to a black suit, this your king, resulting in not just ten tricks, effort to persuade West to win, but West would have given declarer an extra trick but eleven. So the defenders must keep a refuses. He refuses the next round also – and the contract! step ahead and East should switch to the and then declarer has to abandon playing It might seem that it is always right to king of diamonds at trick three after trumps. If he plays a third round, West reduce declarer’s trump holding. This is cashing the second heart. Then, when will win and lead a fourth heart, making not so. You may need to cash out the club finesse fails, declarer will lose declarer use up his last trump! Two quickly, in which case you do not want two hearts, a club and a diamond. This down! to lose the lead. Another time arises defeats the contract by one trick. The best declarer can do is give up on when declarer is embarking on a Making the long hand ruff is a good trumps after two rounds and play on the crossruff or your trump(s) are masters; it way to make declarer run out of trumps minor suits. West will ruff with his low is usually better to play a trump yourself and is often a good way of playing safe trump and the game will be only one to cut down declarer’s ruffing ability. – but beware of doing so without down. Notice that, with any other On the following deal, South plays in looking first into the dangers. ■ defence, the declarer will prevail. 4♠ after East has opened 1 ♥.
Page 46 ANSWERS TO THE DEFENCE QUIZ ON PAGE 14 by JULIAN POTTAGE
Partner leads the ace-king of clubs (jack-five With no more clubs to discard, declarer 1. ♠ A K 8 2 from South) and continues with the six. Which throws a diamond when you ruff this trick. You ♥ Q J 3 card do you play on the third trick? try a club anyway – no matter – partner takes ♦ K J 6 the setting trick in diamonds. In terms of preventing dummy’s queen from ♣ Q 10 7 being a winner, it makes no difference It is a different story if you let the third round ♠ J 6 ♠ Q 10 9 7 4 3 whether you ruff with the jack or the five. of hearts pass. Declarer throws diamonds on ♥ A K 10 8 2 N ♥ 9 5 W E Indeed, if South is going to follow to this trick, both the third and fourth rounds of hearts, ♦ 8 2 ♦ A 3 S it will not matter which trump you play. You losing a trump but nothing else. ♣ K J 4 2 ♣ 8 6 5 know from partner’s six of clubs (clearly not a ♠ 5 low card with the two and four missing) that ♥ 7 6 4 South has the ace of diamonds. You therefore ♦ Q 10 9 7 5 4 see very little hope of ruffing a second time. 4. ♠ A K Q 7 4 ♣ A 9 3 The time when the size of your ruff may be ♥ Void critical is when South holds no more clubs. If ♦ A K 10 9 3 West has any of these trump holdings: Q-9-x, ♣ A 10 6 West North East South K-9-x, A-9-x, Q-8-x-x, K-8-x-x or A-8-x-x, ♠ 10 9 8 5 3 2 ♠ 6 1♥ 1NT 2♠ 2NT 1 ruffing with the jack will turn it into two ♥ 6 N ♥ Q 10 8 5 Pass 3♣1 Pass 3♦2 winners after declarer overruffs. Ruffing with ♦ Q 7 4 W E ♦ J 8 6 5 End S the jack will effect a trump promotion also if ♣ Q 8 5 ♣ K 9 3 2 1Lebensohl, asks North to bid 3 ♣ partner has 10-x-x or 9-x-x-x of trumps – you ♠ J 2single suited with diamonds hope, with the king of diamonds on the side ♥ A K J 9 7 4 3 2 for the setting trick. The jack of hearts it is. ♦ 2 Partner leads the ace, king and two of hearts. ♣ J 7 4 Which card do you play on the third trick? If you do not ruff, dummy’s queen will win. You do not want this. Here, the natural play is right 3. ♠ A 7 West North East South – ruff with your lowly three of diamonds. If ♥ K Q J 8 Pass 4♥ South has a third heart, you score a cheap ♦ Q J 10 Pass 6♥ End trick. If not, you have surely lost nothing. You ♣ Q 9 6 3 do not want to ruff with the ace as that can ♠ 3 ♠ Q J 10 Partner leads the ten of spades, which runs to win later. If you play any card but the three of ♥ 9 7 6 4 3 2 N ♥ 10 5 the jack. Declarer cashes the ♥A-K (West W E trumps, you will find that 3 ♦ makes. ♦ K 2 S ♦ 8 6 5 4 3 follows low and then discards a low spade), ♣ J 10 8 4 ♣ K 7 2 crosses to dummy with a diamond and starts Having ruffed the third heart low, you switch ♠ K 9 8 6 5 4 2 playing on spades. When do you ruff? to a club (partner’s two of hearts – clearly low ♥ A – is a suit-preference signal asking for a club). On the previous deal, you ruffed in to limit the ♦ A 9 7 You make two hearts, a ruff and a trick in number of discards declarer could take. This ♣ A 5 each minor to beat the contract by one. time there is no point. Dummy has six top winners – more than enough to take care of South’s five plain cards. What is more, by not West North East South ruffing you ensure two trump tricks for 1♥ Pass 1♠ 2. ♠ A 9 7 2 yourself with your queen-ten. The only way Pass 1NT Pass 6♠ ♥ 3 you could not make two trump tricks is to ruff End ♦ Q 9 7 6 5 in and suffer an overruff. Since you cannot be ♣ Q 9 3 sure that the jack of spades is not a singleton, Partner leads the jack of clubs, covered all ♠ 10 6 ♠ K Q J 8 4 3 you should play safe and discard. around. Declarer cashes the king of spades ♥ K 9 2 N ♥ J 5 W E and ace of hearts before playing a second When South shows out on the second round ♦ 10 2 S ♦ 8 4 3 trump (West shows out). Next comes a heart of spades, you know you have done the right ♣ A K 8 6 4 2 ♣ 10 7 for a club discard and a third round of hearts. thing. You do not ruff the third round of ♠ 5 What do you do? spades either. Nor do you ruff the fourth. Nor, ♥ A Q 10 8 7 6 4 if they keep coming, do you ruff the fifth ♦ A K J You have a sure trump winner that you can round. Eventually, declarer will have to ruff ♣ J 5 make just the once. On some deals, it can be and will end up leading a trump. a good idea to wait until you get in with some other card so that you can draw two trumps As long as you wait to play your trumps on a West North East South for one. In a slam and with dummy out of trump lead (or by ruffing in fourth seat – not 2♠1 4♥ trumps, clearly this idea does not apply. Can that you are going to get the chance), you can End you see the benefit of ruffing in? You will stop be sure of making two trump tricks. In short, 1weak declarer from playing a fourth heart. the answer to the question is ‘never.’ ■
Page 47 Africa & The Red Sea Exclusive Mr Bridge fares
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