Number One Hundred and Fifty-Six December 2015 Bernard Magee’s Bidding Quiz BRIDGEYou are West in the auctions below, playing ‘Standard Acol’ with a weak no- (12-14 points) and 4-card majors.

1. Dealer West. Love All. 4. Dealer East. Love All. 7. Dealer West. Love All. 10. Dealer East. Love All. ♠ K 8 7 4 3 ♠ 10 5 2 ♠ K 2 ♠ K 8 3 ♥ K J 6 5 2 N ♥ A 8 7 6 5 N ♥ K Q 9 7 5 N ♥ J 6 2 N ♦ Q 2 W E ♦ 7 6 5 W E ♦ A 9 8 6 W E ♦ A 7 6 4 W E S S S S ♣ J ♣ Q 2 ♣ A K ♣ K 7 6

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

2. Dealer West. Game All. 5. Dealer East. Love All. 8. Dealer South. Love All. 11. Dealer West. Love All. ♠ ♠ 10 5 2 ♠ Q J 10 9 8 7 6 ♠ J 10 7 6 N N N ♥ 6 5 4 ♥ A 8 7 6 5 ♥ A 7 3 ♥ A K 5 4 2 N W E W E W E ♦ 6 5 4 ♦ K 10 5 ♦ 4 ♦ A 3 2 W E S S S ♣ K Q J 10 9 5 4 ♣ 4 2 ♣ 3 2 ♣ 2 S

West North East South West North East South West North East South West North East South 3♣ Pass 3NT Pass 1♣ Pass 1NT 1♥ 1♠ 2♣ Pass ? 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass ? 2♥ Pass 2♠ Pass ? ?

3. Dealer East. Love All. 6. Dealer East. Love All. 9. Dealer North. N/S Game. 12. Dealer North. Game All. ♠ 7 6 ♠ 10 5 2 ♠ A 9 7 6 ♠ A 5 4 3 ♥ 4 2 N ♥ A 8 7 6 5 N ♥ K J 6 5 N ♥ 8 6 N ♦ A 6 5 W E ♦ K 5 W E ♦ J 10 5 4 W E ♦ A 6 5 2 W E S S S S ♣ A K Q 6 5 2 ♣ 5 4 2 ♣ 7 ♣ A 6 3

West North East South West North East South West North East South West North East South 1♠ 3♦1 1♣ Pass 1♠ Dbl Pass 1♦ 1♥ 1NT ? 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass ? ? 1Weak jump , 6-10 HCP ?

Answers on page 9 Answers on page 11 Answers on page 13 Answers on page 17 Mr Bridge in partnership with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

Snow Shoes & Ski Doos Southampton 13 nights 5th March 2016 Balmoral L1603 From £1,169pp 1. Southampton • Molde, Norway • Tromso, Norway • Alta, Finnmark, Norway (overnight) • Bergen, Norway • Stavanger, Norway • Southampton

Rivers, Canals & City Overnights Southampton 7 nights 18th March 2016 Balmoral L1604 From £589pp 2. Southampton • Antwerp, Belgium • Hamburg, Germany (overnight) • Amsterdam, Netherlands (overnight) • Southampton

France Mini-Cruise Southampton 2 nights 25th March 2016 Balmoral L1605 From £189pp 3. Southampton • Boulogne-Sur-Mer, France • Southampton

Easter Ireland Southampton 7 nights 27th March 2016 Balmoral L1606 From £629pp 4. Southampton • Belfast, Northern Ireland • Dublin, Ireland (overnight) • Cork (from Cobh) • Southampton

Old England to New England Southampton 34 nights 16th April 2016 Balmoral L1608 From 3,499pp Southampton • Ponta Delgada, Azores • Hamilton, Bermuda • St. George, Bermuda • Norfolk, VA, USA • Baltimore, MD, USA (overnight) 5. • New York, USA (Overnight) • Newport, RI, USA • Boston, MA, USA (overnight) • Gloucester, MA, USA • Portland, ME, USA • Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada • St. Johns, Newfoundland, Canada • Ringaskiddy, Ireland • Southampton

Norwegian Festival & Fjords Newcastle 5 nights 26th May 2016 Balmoral L1610 From £569pp 6. Newcastle • Bergen, Norway • Eidfjord, Hardangerfjord, Norway • Newcastle The Wonders of Spitsbergen hosted by Bernard Magee Newcastle 14 nights 9th July 2016 Balmoral L1615 From £1,649pp 7. Newcastle • Alesund, Norway • Tromso, Norway • Honningsvag (North Cape), Norway • Pyramiden, Spitsbergen, Svalbard • Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen, Svalbard (overnight) • Barentsburg, Svalbard • Trondheim, Norway • Geiranger, Geirangerfjord, Norway • Newcastle

Baltic Capitals & Stockholm Archipelago Southampton 13 nights 30th July 2016 Balmoral L1617 From £1,309pp Newcastle • Stockholm, Sweden (overnight) • Tallinn, Estonia • St. Petersburg, Russian Federation (overnight) • Riga, Latvia • Copenhagen, 8. Denmark • Newcastle

France Mini-Cruise 9. hosted by Bernard Magee Southampton 2 nights 21st October 2016 Balmoral L1625 From £189pp Southampton • Honfleur, France • Southampton

A Caribbean Discovery Southampton 32 nights 12th November 2016 Balmoral L1628 From £2,849pp Southampton • Funchal, Madeira, Portugal • Bridgetown, Barbados (overnight) • St. George’s, Grenada • Castries, St Lucia, West Indies 10. • Basseterre, St Kitts & Nevis • Road Town, Tortola • San Juan, Puerto Rico • Philipsburg, St. Maarten • St. John’s, Antigua & Barbuda • Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel, Azores (overnight) • Southampton

Canaries & Madeira Winter Warmth Southampton 13 nights 7th January 2017 Balmoral L1701 From £949pp Southampton • Funchal, Madeira • Santa Cruz, La Palma • Santa Cruz, Tenerife • Las Palmas, Gran Canaria • Arrecife, Lanzarote • Lisbon, 11. Portugal • Southampton

Central America & the Mardi Gras Southampton 46 nights 4th February 2017 Balmoral L1703 From £3,999pp Southampton • Funchal, Madeira • Bridgetown, Barbados • Castries, St Lucia • St. John’s, Antigua • Road Town, Tortola • Falmouth, Jamaica • Banana Coast (Trujillo), Honduras • Belize City, Belize • Cozumel, Mexico • New Orleans, LA, USA (three days) • Tampa, FL, USA • Key West, 12. FL, USA • Miami, FL, USA • Port Canaveral, FL, USA • Jacksonville, FL, USA • Charleston, SC, USA • Hamilton, Bermuda • Ponta Delgada, Azores • Southampton

Benefits of cruising with Mr Bridge: • Daily evening bridge on and bridge fees included in the fare • Mr Bridge welcome and farewell drinks parties* • Each voyage accompanied by the bridge team – including two • Reduced Solo’s fares (a bridge partner will always be found) cruises hosted by Bernard Magee • Extra discounts for Oceans Members • Morning Seminars and afternoon bridge on days at sea

For more information please see ‘My Shop Window’ which is enclosed. Contact Mr Bridge to book now on 01483 489961 or visit www.mrbridge.co.uk

These terms and conditions are in addition to Fred. Olsen’s standard terms and conditions which are available on our website and on request. Prices shown are per person based on standard occupancy of the lowest grade of cabin catergory, subject to availability and can be withdrawn or amended at any time without prior notice. *Mini cruises L1605 & L1625 will offer one welcome drinks party only. E&OE

FOC316927_MrBridge_FP_Ad_W.C.26.10.15_295x210_FV4.indd 1 03/11/2015 12:02 Features this month include: ADVERTISERS’ 1 Bidding Quiz by Bernard Magee INDEX BRIDGE 5 Mr Bridge 2 2016 Cruises with Fred.Olsen Ryden Grange, Knaphill, 6 Splinters by Heather Dhondy Surrey GU21 2TH 9 Bidding Quiz Answers (1-3) by Bernard Magee 3 Clive Goff’s Stamps ( 01483 489961 11 Bidding Quiz Answers (4-6) by Bernard Magee 4 India and the Red Sea with Voyages [email protected] 12 A View of the 2015 World Championships to Antiquity www.mrbridge.co.uk from Bob Carrick 5 Festive Season 2015 shop: www.mrbridge.co.uk/ 13 Bidding Quiz Answers (7-9) by Bernard Magee mrbridge-shop 14 At the Rodent Bridge Club – Doubling Slams 7 Mr Bridge by David Holden and Roy Rowe Tutorial Weekends Publisher and 8 Bernard Magee DVDs Managing Editor 16 Declarer Play Quiz by David Huggett Mr Bridge 16 Defence Quiz by Julian Pottage 9 QPlus Trade-In

Associate Editor and 17 Bidding Quiz Answers (10-12) by Bernard Magee 9 Mr Bridge 2016 Diaries Bridge Consultant 18 David Stevenson Answers Your Questions 9 Travel Insurance Bernard Magee 20 Sorry Partner! by Liz Dale bernardmagee 10 Old England to @mrbridge.co.uk 21 Wendy Wensum’s Diaries New England with Voyages to Antiquity 22 Maid Marian’s Excellent Play by David Bird Cartoons & Illustrations 11 Bridge Events Marguerite Lihou 24 Readers’ Letters with Bernard Magee www.margueritelihou.co.uk 25 Bridge: Improving Duplicate Club Scores for Novices by Liz Dale, reviewed by David Huggett 17 Croatia with Mr Bridge Technical Consultant Tony Gordon 26 Adam ‘Plum’ Meredith, Madman or Genius? 28 France Mini-Cruises by Shireen Mohandes with Fred.Olsen Typesetting & Design 29 Defence Quiz Answers by Julian Pottage 31 Mr Bridge Just Ruth Edmondson Events [email protected] 30 Teachers’ Corner by Ian Dalziel 32 Mr Bridge Playing Cards 32 Declarer Play Answers by David Huggett Proof Readers 35 S R Designs Hugh Williams 33 Getting Back to Hand by Andy Bowles Bridge Tables Mike Orriel 34 Sally’s Slam of the Month Catrina Shackleton 37 Better Richard Wheen 35 by Bernard Magee 41 Tips for Better Bridge 36 Room for Improvisation by Andrew Kambites Customer Services 42 QPlus 11 Catrina Shackleton 38 Julian Pottage Answers Your Questions [email protected] 40 Catching Up with Sally Brock 42 Pot Boiler Tea Towel

Events & Cruises 41 More Tips by Bernard Magee 42 Life’s a Game Tea Towel ( 01483 489961 42 Christmas Party Bridge by David Stevenson 43 Club Insurance Jessica Galt ♦ [email protected] 44 A Multi 2 Opening by Jeremy Dhondy 43 Bridge Traffic Megan Riccio 46 Seven Days with Sally Brock Signs Tea Towel [email protected] Sophie Pierrepont 43 S R Designs Bridge Table Covers [email protected] REDUCE THE COST OF YOUR POSTAGE 47 Clive Goff’s Stamps Clubs & Charities Postage stamps for sale at 90% of face-value, Maggie Axtell all mint with full gum. Quotations for 47 Mr Bridge Tie [email protected] commercial quantities available on request. 47 Duplicate Bridge Values supplied in 100s, higher values Rules Simplified Address Changes available as well as 1st and 2nd class ( 01483 485342 (eg 2nd class: 100x38p+100x16p). 48 In the Footsteps of Elizabeth Bryan St Paul with [email protected] (/Fax 020 8422 4906 e-mail: [email protected] Voyages to Antiquity

BRIDGE December 2015 Page 3 2076 Mr Bridge Mar 6 ad_Layout 1 05/11/2015 13:37 Page 1

THE TREASURES OF

Amman Jordan Petra Egypt Aqaba Safaga Delhi Luxor Jaipur Agra Muscat Porbandar INDIA & Oman INDIA Red Arabian Mumbai THE RED SEA Sea Salalah Sea

Fly-cruise departs UK March 6, 2016

DATE PORT MAR 6 Depart UK MAR 7 Arrive MUMBAI India, transfer to Aegean Odyssey MAR 8 MUMBAI India, Morning sightseeing MAR 9 PORBANDAR (Kirti Mandir) India MAR 10 At Sea MAR 11/12 MUSCAT (Sultan’s Palace) Oman MAR 13 At Sea MAR 14 SALALAH (Sumharam/Tomb of Job) Oman MAR 15-20 Cruising Arabian Sea and Red Sea MAR 21 SAFAGA/LUXOR Egypt Drive to Luxor. Afternoon sightseeing overnight hotel** MAR 22 LUXOR/SAFAGA Egypt Morning sightseeing. Drive to Safaga to rejoin ship MAR 23 AQABA/PETRA Jordan

TAJ MAHAL TAJ Disembark and drive to Petra for afternoon sightseeing overnight hotel** 19- or 23-DAY EXCLUSIVE BRIDGE CRUISE MAR 24 PETRA/AMMAN Jordan WITH MR & MRS BRIDGE Morning drive to Amman for brief orientation sightseeing before flight home Join Mr and Mrs Bridge on a magnificent 4-night land tour of Cruise fares include India’s famous Golden Triangle – Delhi, Jaipur and Agra – then • Scheduled economy class flights sail aboard Aegean Odyssey from Mumbai to the magnificent • Expert guest speaker programme treasures of the Red Sea. From the Taj Mahal to ancient Egypt • Mr Bridge drinks party and Jordan, this journey is filled with incredible cultural and • Duplicate bridge every evening historic sites with shore excursions included across 4 countries. • Morning bridge seminars and afternoon duplicates when at sea Plus an expert guest speaker programme, and daily duplicates at • Sightseeing excursions in most ports of call sea – this promises to be an unforgettable and unique experience. • All meals on board in choice of two restaurants • Complimentary wine with dinner on board A unique opportunity to visit India’s Golden Triangle • Gratuities for on-board cabin and restaurant staff Depart UK on March 2 and join Mr and Mrs Bridge • Overseas transfers and baggage handling on this spectacular 4-night pre-cruise land tour. Golden Triangle also includes Fly to Delhi for a two-night stay, drive to Agra and • Flights: London to Delhi/Jaipur to Mumbai the Taj Mahal. Visit Fatehpur Sikri en route to • Hotel Stays in Delhi (2 nights)/ Jaipur and all its magnificent sights. Fly back to Agra (1 night)/Jaipur (1 night) Mumbai to join Aegean Odyssey on March 7. MR BRIDGE FARES* Please call for further details. FREE VISA Fly-cruise Cruise plus Only Golden Triangle CALL NOW ON SERVICE^ 01483 489961 Standard Inside from £2,495pp from £3,440pp OR VISIT www.mrbridge.co.uk Standard Outside from £2,850pp from £3,795pp Cabins can be held at no obligation for 7 days Deluxe Balcony from £3,795pp from £4,740pp SINGLE SUPPLEMENT JUST 10%†

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

10093

*Mr Bridge fares are per person and subject to availability at time of booking. They may be withdrawn at any time without notice. †Single accommodation is available only in certain categories and is ABTA No.Y2206 subject to availability.**Bridge not available during hotel stays. ^Free visa service applies to new bookings on 23-day cruise only, The Travel Visa Company will contact you directly to arrange your visa NOVEMBER AT SEA Standard covers in navy GREAT blue, red, maroon or green. LITTLE GIFTS £6.95 each. Luxury covers 2015 in navy blue or ruby red. My tea towel collection £14.95 each. grew out of a need to create small presentable prizes. FESTIVE They have been great fun NEW TOURIST but now they have to go, SEASON Another of my resolutions hence the final clearance. for the New Year is to learn Stocks are such that I am Denham Grove I am currently cruising on to be a tourist. This I have able to send out all orders Near Uxbridge, UB9 5DG board lovely Aegean already implemented. On without substitutions and Odyssey but there is no this cruise (you will recall I not randomly, as advertised prospect of fully enjoying am writing from the ship), on the carrier sheet. the cruise until I have I have already visited the finished writing this The price of five tea-towels, wineries of the truly vast column. Then the entire each nicely folded and sherry industry. A real Christmas issue can go to the printers. presented in an individual eye-opener for the entire 23-27 Dec £495 clear plastic self-seal bag, is Now that I send out my party, with lots of samples Further into the Auction only £12.95 inclusive of new publication, My Shop and a wonderful selection & postage. They make truly (or Just Bridge) Window, subscribers can of Tapas as served in the great little gifts and prizes. with Will Parsons reasonably expect future eponymous bars. issues to have features and Twixmas comment separate from SERVICE 2016 CHARITY 27-29 Dec £245 advertising. This the first of CHALLENGE Splinters & Cue Bids my 2016 resolutions. On board or at bridge with Bernard Magee weekend events, we hope to Heats of the 2016 event will take place on Thursday, 10 New Year AT LAST provide a team of at least four helpers. This will March at a bridge club near 29 Dec-2 Jan £445 It is now five months since ensure that there should you. The proceeds are to go Better Leads & Switches the decorators left, so when never be a duplicate with a to Stoke Mandeville Spinal with Bernard Magee I return from this cruise to half table in the movement. Research. A worthy cause. my own bright, freshly It will also ensure that all Wyndham painted office, I will set to singles can be partnered WANT STAMPS? Garden Grantham and cover the walls as and cater for most, if not If you need some for Marston, Lincs NG32 2HT before with all my lists, all, unexpected posting your Christmas charts and to-do schedules. eventualities. It will also cards, you should make use These, along with all my ensure that each session has of Clive Goff’s discounted personal clutter will make a non-playing director. stamp service. See his it really comfortable. Five advertisement on page 3. months of pristine walls is FILMING 2016 ( 0202 422 4906 or email Christmas quite long enough. [email protected] 23-27 Dec £495 January finds Bernard Signals & Discards and TAJ MAHAL Magee at Denham Grove Take-Out Doubles Conference Centre for the A BIG THANK YOU with Claude Stokes Mrs Bridge and I are going sixth session of filmed To all my lovely staff, teams Hosted by Shelia Rogers to India this coming Spring lectures. If you are keen to of helpers, writers, proof- on lovely Aegean Odyssey, be part of this event do give Twixmas readers and contributors; 27-29 Dec £215 see adjacent advertisement. us a ring. We may have a indeed, to everyone As I find the visa paper- cancellation. You never Game Tries involved in the growing with Claude Stokes work a confounded know your luck. success of BRIDGE and nuisance (as well as being especially you, the New Year expensive), I am pleased to FESTIVE EVENTS subscribers, without whom 29 Dec-1 Jan £345 report that the owners have Suit Establishment Celebrate this coming it could not be published. found a reliable company to with Claude Stokes provide this service. Christmas, Twixmas and/ I wish you all I wish for or New Year. See adjacent myself this Christmas and Back to Back bookings advert. Some of these dates DIARIES always: love, peace and save £50 (per additional event) and/or venues are sold out, blessings. Still some 2016 Bridge but still do at least give us a ( 01483 489961 Players’ Diaries in stock. ring ( 01483 489961. Mr Bridge

BRIDGE December 2015 Page 5 Heather’s Private Bridge Lessons

Splinters

hat call do you make with on the ♣K. Clearly, you could hope to Partner opens 1♣ and you hold: the North cards on the find the♦ A or ♦J with East, however, following hand? if a diamond to your king holds the W trick, you may still not be certain of ♠ 6 N ♥ K 7 3 which honour to play on the next W E ♠ A J 10 4 round of the suit, since either defender S ♦ A K 9 3 ♥ 7 could have ducked holding the ace. ♣ K J 10 8 2 ♦ 8 6 4 There is a further chance and that is ♣ A K J 3 2 that the clubs will set up for you. You need either for them to establish in Bid 3♠ splinter. N four rounds and trumps to break two- Although promising only game W E two (so that you can two hearts in values, splinter bids are made as a try S dummy), or for clubs to set up in three for slam. Splinter bids suggest slam on ♠ K Q 8 7 3 rounds. the basis of fit and distribution rather ♥ A 8 2 Begin by trying two rounds of than high cards. In other words, ♦ K Q 10 3 trumps. If they break 2-2, you can splinters will help to identify if slam ♣ 4 continue to establish clubs. If they can be made on minimal values if the break 3-1, try ace, king and a third hands are fitting together well. club to see if the queen appears. If it West North East South doesn’t, you will need to fall back on 1♠ leading diamonds towards your hand. ♠ K 8 4 Pass ? ♥ A Q J 5 3 N A splinter bid is an unusual jump. W E In response to an opening bid, it is ♦ 7 4 2 S Bid 4♥, a splinter, guaranteeing a fit a double jump since a single jump is ♣ A 8 for partner’s suit, at least the values for used to show a different type of hand; game and showing a singleton or void traditionally, it shows a strong jump in the suit in which the jump is made. shift of 16+ points and a good suit. On this hand, you open 1♥. Your South will be able to work out now Thus ♠1 -4♦ is a splinter and 1♦-3♠ is partner calls 4♦. You know that you that there are no heart losers and, if also a splinter. have a nine card heart fit, only one partner holds any two of the three Partner opens 1♥ and you hold: losing diamond and that all partner’s remaining aces, a small slam should values are in spades, hearts and clubs. be a reasonable proposition and, if he This is good news and slam may be a happens to have all three, you might ♠ A 10 7 2 possibility. Suppose partner’s hand N ♥ K Q 10 4 have a go at a grand. However, he W E opposite is: shows two key cards so you settle for S ♦ K J 4 3 6♠. ♣ 6 West leads the ♥K. How do you plan ♠ A J 3 N ♥ K 7 4 2 the play? Your only problem seems to W E be the third round of diamonds since Bid 4♣ splinter, showing game values, S ♦ 6 you can ruff two hearts in dummy four or more hearts and a singleton ♣ K 10 7 3 2 and dispose of one diamond in hand club.

Page 6 BRIDGE December 2015 Splinters continued misjudge whether the hands West North East South are fitting well. Take this 1♦ Pass 1♠ Mr Bridge example: Pass ? 2016 With as few as 25 points be- Bid 3♥, a splinter. This time, tween the two hands, slam ♠ K 8 4 you would need consider- Tutorial is a good contract. ♥ A Q J 5 3 N ably more than a minimum W E However, swap partner’s ♦ 7 4 2 S opener since you are sug- spades and diamonds … ♣ A 8 gesting the values for game Weekends facing a mere one level re- sponse. This news is good ♠ 6 You open 1♥ and your part- for South who has the ideal N ♥ K 7 4 2 ner responds 3♠ with: hand to proceed with Ro- W E S ♦ A J 3 man Key Card Blackwood, ♣ K 10 7 3 2 now that he knows there are ♠ A no heart losers. He will set- N ♥ K 9 7 2 tle for 6♠, after finding out Denham Grove W E Near Uxbridge, UB9 5DG …and a 3♠ splinter is bad S ♦ A 8 3 that one key card is missing. news, your ♠K is wasted ♣ K 10 7 3 2 How do you plan the play 1-3 July £215 ♦ opposite a shortage. As on the 7 lead to your king 4-6 November £215 you can see, game is high and East’s ace? East returns enough. You will devalue your ♠K a diamond. The contract because of the splinter bid, looks to be a virtual certain- Splinters can be but because partner has a ty, but you should always be used as follows: singleton ace, it is actually careful. Trump this return a very good card and makes with an honour in case the l Responding to an open- slam a good contract. lead was a singleton. Now ing bid. Sometimes, a single jump you can draw all the trumps eg 1♠-4♣. is sufficient to be a splinter. even if they are 3-0, since Chatsworth Hotel Take this example: you can still trump one Worthing BN11 3DU l Responding to opener’s heart in dummy and get rid 5-7 August £215 does not West North East South of the last heart and one club usually take the bidding 1♦ Pass 1♠ on the top diamonds. 28-30 October £215 above the three level and Pass ? 25-27 November £215 thus 3NT is not ruled Splinters after out. A rebid of 2♥ would be a intervention: eg 1♣-3♠. , showing a strong hand, therefore a rebid of If the opponents intervene, 3♥ is unnecessary as a natu- and one of the responses is ♠ K 7 4 ral call and would thus be a squeezed out as a result, it is ♥ K Q J N splinter. the strong jump shift that is ♦ W E K 8 6 S What call do you make sacrificed. Wyndham Garden ♣ A 9 5 3 with the North cards on the following hand? l 1♠-Pass-2♦ Grantham is a normal natu- Marston, Lincs NG32 2HT After your opening bid of ral response 12-14 August £199 1♣, a splinter bid by part- ♠ A K 8 4 ner of 3♥ allows you to ♥ 6 l 1♠-Pass-3♦ 21-23 October £199 call 3NT. ♦ K Q J 8 3 is a strong jump shift 18-20 November £199 ♣ A J 7 l Opener can splinter also. l 1♠-Pass-4♦ Full Board N is a splinter W E No Single West North East South S 1♥ Pass 1♠ l 1♠-2♥-3♦ Supplement* Pass 4♦ ♠ Q J 10 7 5 2 is a normal, natu- ♥ A 9 4 ral response ( 01483 489961 Beware of making a splinter ♦ 6 www.mrbridge.co.uk ♣ ♠ ♥ ♦ bid with a singleton honour. K 9 2 l 1 -2 -4 *subject to availability This can lead partner to is a splinter ■

BRIDGE December 2015 Page 7 BERNARD MAGEE TUTORIAL DVDs

1 Ruffing for Extra Tricks 11 Signals & Discards 21 Weak Twos This seminar deals with declarer’s use of This seminar deals with Count, Attitude It is important to bid more in the modern ruffing to make extra tricks and then looks and Suit-preference signals: aiming to get game and weak twos are an important at how the defenders might counteract you working as a partnership in defence. choice for the competitive player. (104 mins.) this. (74 mins.) (92 mins.) 22 Trump Control 2 Competitive Auctions 12 Endplay Handling the play of the hand when This seminar focuses on competitive Bernard takes you through the basics of trumps break badly is an important attrib- auctions from the perspective of the endplays before showing some hands ute: playing calmly and using a variety of overcalling side and then from the opening where you can take extra tricks, then looks tactics to pave the way to success. (76 mins.) side in the second part. (86 mins.) at how to avoid being endplayed. (80 mins.) 23 Sacrificing 3 Making the Most of High Cards 13 Hand Evaluation An exciting aspect of the auction is outbid- This seminar helps declarer to use his high Going beyond just the point-count is ding your opponents and going down, but cards more carefully and then looks at important. Reaching & making 3NT on 24 gaining by doing so. Learn to bid more how defenders should care for their high HCP; and avoiding 3NT on 26 HCP when aggressively. (105 mins.) cards. (83 mins.) there are only 7 or 8 tricks. (110 mins.) 24 Improving Bridge Memory 4 Identifying & Bidding Slams 14 Pre-Emptive Bidding Remembering every card is a dream for The first half of this seminar identifies The art of pre-empting is so important most of us. However, learn ways in which to when a slam might be on. The second in the modern game. Understanding the remember the important things. (90 mins.) half covers some slam-bidding techniques. right hands to bid up on and realising the (96 mins.) importance of position and vulnerability. 25 Defence as Partner (96 mins.) of the Leader 5 Play & Defence of 1NT Contracts Defence is the hardest aspect of the game, This seminar looks at the most common 15 Splinter & Cue Bids it is where most players can make great and yet most feared of contracts: 1NT. Splinter bids are a vital tool to add to your progress. (104 mins.) The first half looks at declaring 1NT and slam bidding armoury & try your hand at the second part at defending. (88 mins.) Italian style cue bidding. (116 mins.) 26 Aggressive Bidding at Duplicate Pairs 6 Doubling & Defence against 16 Years ago, you needed 13 HCP to open Doubled Contracts As declarer, an important tactic is to be the bidding and rarely competed for a The first half of this seminar explores in control of the defenders: avoiding a partscore. Now the norm is to open lighter penalty doubles and the second half particular defender getting the lead. As and compete for every hand. (114 mins.) discusses the defence against doubled a defender, you can try to make sure the contracts. (88 mins.) right player gets the lead. (88 mins.) 27 Strong Opening Bids Managing your strong bids carefully can 7 Leads 17 Play & Defence at Pairs give you great joy, particularly when you Bernard takes you through the basic leads Duplicate Pairs is the game most of us have a neat bidding sequence to a lovely and the importance of your lead choice. play and getting used to the tactics will slam. (122 mins.) If you start to think about your partner’s make a lot of difference to your perfor- hand, you will get better results. (95 mins.) mance. (90 mins.) 28 Take-Out Doubles Bernard deals with basic take-out doubles 8 Losing Trick Count 18 Thinking Defence and their responses, then progresses to talk A way of hand evaluation for when you By far the hardest aspect of bridge, but if about competing for every partscore. (99 mins.) find a fit. Bernard deals with the basics of you can improve your defence your results the LTC then looks at advanced methods to will quickly improve. Learn how to think 29 Suit Establishment hone your bidding. (92 mins.) through the defence. (87 mins.) in Suit Contracts 5-card suits (and longer) are powerful things: 9 Making a Plan as Declarer 19 Defensive Plan Bernard tries to get across his passion for Bernard explains how to make a plan Looking at your own hand, then at dummy them by showing you how to develop your then expands on how to make the most and envisaging how partner’s hand will extra tricks through establishment. (81 mins.) of your long suits, both in no-trumps and allow you to make a plan for the defence. suit contracts. (87 mins.) (112 mins.) 30 Landy / Defending Against a 1NT Opening 10 Responding to 1NT 20 Further Into the Auction Competing against a 1NT opening allows This seminar deals with Transfers and The first two bids of an auction are usually you to challenge for the partscore and Stayman in detail. The 1NT opening comes easy, but beyond that the complications disrupts your opponents’ conventions. up frequently, so having a good, accurate increase. Learn how to ‘talk’ to your part- Bernard talks about competing over 1NT in system of responses is paramount. (93 mins.) ner during the bidding. (95 mins.) general and then about Landy. (85 mins.)

£25 EACH. PICK AND MIX. A BOX OF ANY 6. £105

Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 On-line shop: www.mrbridge.co.uk/shop Answers to Bernard Magee’s QPLUS Bidding Quizzes 1-3 on the Cover TRADE-IN OFFER you hold and he has chosen the final Return any QPLUS CD 1. Dealer West. Love All. contract: trust your partner. and booklet with a cheque ♠ K 8 7 4 3 ♠ A 2 You have no great surprises for your ♥ K J 6 5 2 N ♥ 8 7 partner: a pre-emptive opening hand for £50 and receive ♦ Q 2 W E ♦ A J 6 5 will usually be very short in at least one wonderful QPLUS 11. S ♣ J ♣ A 7 5 3 2 suit, so your void will be no great shock. East has gambled: he hopes his ♣A Order with confidence. will help your suit run and, adding two Mr Bridge West North East South spade tricks, he counts nine tricks. The ? defenders might manage to take five ( 01483 489961 tricks first, but considering they have ten www.mrbridge.co.uk Pass. If you follow rules blindly, you spades between them, they might well might add up your points (10 HCP), add lead a spade. the length of your two longest suits (5 + 3NT is a good gamble and may well 5 = 10) and, on getting a total of 20, get the game reward. Anything above Mr Bridge think that your hand is worth an open- 3NT will not do well, with the defence ing bid. likely to take their five red-suit tricks be- 2016 Bridge Players’ Diary However, I hope most of you opened fore you can make any discards. your eyes and saw two relatively weak major suits with two wasted honours in the short suits. The ♦Q and ♣J should be downgraded and with no inner strength 3. Dealer East. Love All. in your long suits, you should certainly ♠ 7 6 ♠ A K 8 5 2 pass on the first round. ♥ 4 2 N ♥ A J 7 6 If you choose to open, you will finish ♦ A 6 5 W E ♦ 4 3 S in a game contract, probably 3NT, and ♣ A K Q 6 5 2 ♣ 7 4 your partner will not be pleased. Standard covers in navy blue, red, maroon or green. £6.95 each. West North East South Luxury covers in navy blue or 1♠ 3♦1 ruby red. £14.95 each. 2. Dealer West. Game All. ? From Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 1 ♠ Void ♠ A K 8 Weak jump overcall, 6-10 HCP www.mrbridge.co.uk ♥ 6 5 4 N ♥ J 10 7 3 W E ♦ 6 5 4 ♦ Q J 8 7 3NT. You have a lovely hand and are S ♣ K Q J 10 9 5 4 ♣ A 3 ready to respond in clubs when South disturbs you by bidding 3♦. This is a weak jump overcall: very similar to a traditional TR AVEL West North East South pre-emptive overcall, but it can be based 3♣ Pass 3NT Pass on just a six-card suit. INSURANCE ? Pre-emptive bids disrupt your auction and will often force you to make educat- For your own quote from Pass. You have the perfect type of hand ed guesses as to the best contract. With for a pre-emptive opening: a long and 13 HCP and a strong six-card suit, you strong suit with no strength outside: want to bid towards game, but the ques- you expect to make six tricks in a club tion you need to ask yourself is: what is contract, but only one, or perhaps even the most likely making game? none, against an opponent’s contract. A With a long and possibly running mi- big disparity like this should push you to nor, you should think of 3NT and with the pre-empt. ♦A to stop the run of their suit, you should However, it seems that this time you go for it. 5♣ might scrape home on these have pre-empted your partner because two hands, but 3NT is likely to have ten ( 01268 524344 he bids 3NT. What do you do now? tricks off the top, which beats the minor You have told your partner what suit game comfortably. ■ www.covercloud.co.uk

BRIDGE December 2015 Page 9 Old England to New England Statue of Liberty, New York 16th April 2016 • 34 nights Sails from Southampton • Balmoral • CRUISE ID: L1608

Southampton Boston Ringaskiddy (overnight) Gloucester St. John's Portland New York (overnight) Halifax Baltimore Cape Cod Canal (overnight) Newport Ponta Delgada Norfolk Hamilton St. George

Date Arrive Depart Destination n this unique itinerary – where each destination is the namesake APRIL 2016 Sat 16 PM Southampton of a place back in the UK – you’ll visit six American states, enjoy Sun 17-Tue 19 Cruising three overnight stays and discover three Fred. Olsen maiden calls. Wed 20 early am late pm Ponta Delgada, Azores O Thu 21-Mon 25 Cruising Explore the vibrant cities of Boston and the ‘Big Apple’; take a tour to Tue 26 early am late night Hamilton, Bermuda Washington DC from Baltimore; cruise the Cape Cod Canal; and spend Wed 27 early am early pm St. George, Bermuda Thu 28 Cruising two days on the island of Bermuda. All this and much more. Fri 29 early am late pm Norfolk, VA, USA Sat 30 early am Baltimore, MD, USA MAY 2016 Baltimore, MD, USA Cruising Cape Cod Canal Sun 01 late pm Baltimore, MD, USA In ‘Charm City’ the energetic Inner From Newport, Balmoral diverts through LanzaroteMon 02 Cruising Harbour is where you’ll find most of the the artificial waterway of the Cape Cod Canal, Tue 03 early am New York, USA big attractions, including the National to show guests a more scenic route than late pm Wed 04 New York, USA Aquarium, the Maryland Science Centre and going back out to sea and giving a little Thu 05 early am late night Newport, RI, USA the American Visionary Museum. Visit the more time in the new port of call, Boston. Fri 06 Cruising Cape Cod Canal lively waterfront area of Fell’s point or Federal Fri 06 early pm Boston, MA, USA Hill, which affords fantastic views of the city Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Sat 07 late night Boston, MA, USA skyline. Baltimore is also the gateway for Nova Scotia’s walkable capital is home Sun 08 early am late pm Gloucester, MA, USA tours to Washington DC: the backdrop to to many historic and charming sights. Mon 09 early am late night Portland, ME, USA thousands of films and TV shows over the The beautiful Public Gardens are well Tue 10 Cruising years, the capital of the US is prettier and worth a visit, as is a photo stop on Citadel Wed 11 early am late pm Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada more welcoming than first time visitors Hill. Discover the history of the Titanic in Thu 12 Cruising might expect. the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic (many Fri 13 early am early pm St. John's, of those who perished in the disaster were Newfoundland, buried here); stroll along the picturesque Canada New York, USA Sat 14-Tue 17 Cruising New York is arguably the most exciting waterfront; or take a tour to the rustic Wed 18 early pm late night Ringaskiddy, Ireland city in the world. Its legendary sights define fishing village of Peggy’s cover – its Thu 19 Cruising a larger-than-life metropolis; the sheer style lighthouse has long been an inspiration Fri 20 AM Southampton and energy surpass every expectation. The for artists and photographers. skyscrapers, yellow cabs, world-renowned stores, Central Park, the Statue of Liberty REDUCED SOLE OCCUPANCY and the Empire State Building…nowhere For adult travellers only SUPPLEMENTS ON SELECTED else matches the Big Apple – and you The extended length and nature of this TWIN GRADES have two days to enjoy it all. sailing are suited to the adult traveller, therefore only those over 18 are able to join. Prices per person Cabin type Prices from Inside £3,499 Outside £3,999 Superior Balcony £6,499 Your Price Includes: Suites £7,349 Daily evening bridge on board and bridge fees included in the fare • Morning seminars and Single £6,429 afternoon bridge on days at sea • Mr Bridge welcome and farewell drinks parties • A bridge partner will always be found for solo travellers • Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, a five-course Prices are correct at time of going to print, but a la carte dinner, late night buffet and self-service tea & coffee • Varied daytime activies, may change at any time. Call for latest prices. lectures and talks • Choice of live evening entertainment

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

FOC307429_Mr_Bridge_FP_4x_210X295_Ads_W.C.18.05.15_OctVersion_V1.indd 1 26/10/2015 13:33 Answers to BRIDGE EVENTS Bernard Magee’s with Bernard Magee Ardington Hotel Bidding Quizzes 4-6 Worthing BN11 3DZ 22-24 January £245 on the Cover Pre-Emptive Bidding Blunsdon West North East South House Hotel 4. Dealer East. Love All. 1♣ Pass Swindon SN26 7AS ♠ 10 5 2 ♠ A J 4 3 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass 29-31 January £245 ♥ A 8 7 6 5 N ♥ 4 ? Endplay & Avoidance ♦ 7 6 5 W E ♦ J 9 4 S 26-28 February £245 ♣ Q 2 ♣ A K 8 7 6 1NT. A simple start to the auction: your Game Tries partner has shown no extra strength since the bidding is still at the one level. Once West North East South again, you have a very weak hand and 1♣ Pass you are trying to pick the best partscore 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass contract. With two high cards in the unbid ? suit, it is reasonable to try 1NT. With no fit for either of partner’s suits, this seems Pass. A simple start to the auction: your a reasonable shot. You are showing no partner has shown no extra strength extra strength with this bid and your since the bidding is still at the one level. partner should not be encouraged at all. The bidding guidebook will suggest If your partner had six clubs in a weak giving false preference to your partner’s hand, he could always return to 2♣. Your Trouville Hotel Sandown, Isle of Wight first suit. However, this situation is values in diamonds make 1NT a better always clearer when the first bid suit is a contract than 1♠. 11-15 February £399 major. When the first suit is a minor (includes ferry crossing) and the second a major and the Planning Your Defence return to partner’s suit will also take you a level higher, the choice is not so 6. Dealer East. Love All. Inn on the Prom straightforward. ♠ 10 5 2 ♠ A J 4 3 St Annes On Sea, FY8 1LU Your partner’s rebid is non-forcing ♥ A 8 7 6 5 N ♥ 4 19-21 February £245 although he could have a reasonable ♦ K 5 W E ♦ J 9 4 S Suit Establishment hand (some 16-18 point hands might ♣ 5 4 2 ♣ A K 8 7 6 choose to stay low). However, even if Chatsworth Hotel your partner was unusually strong, with Worthing BN11 3DU your miserable 6 points you would still West North East South 4-6 March £245 want to stay low. 1♣ Pass Thinking Defence I prefer passing 1♠: it will work when 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass partner is weak, but could go wrong, ? 22-24 April particularly if he has six clubs. However, Suit Establishment one important factor is that the contract 2♣. A simple start to the auction: your is at the one level and also your partner partner has shown no extra strength since Denham Grove cannot go any higher. the bidding is still at the one level. Still Near Uxbridge, UB9 5DG very weak, but this should have been 15-17 April £245 easy: you have a fit in clubs and should Splinters & Cue-Bids support the suit to the level that your 5. Dealer East. Love All. strength suggests. Very weak, so bid clubs Full Board ♠ 10 5 2 ♠ A J 4 3 at the lowest level: 2♣. When you have No Single Supplement* ♥ A 8 7 6 5 N ♥ 4 two weak hands together, your job is to ♦ K 10 5 W E ♦ J 9 4 stop the auction quickly, hopefully finding www.mrbridge.co.uk S ♣ 4 2 ♣ A K 8 7 6 the best partscore at the same time. The *subject to availability emphasis should be on staying low. ■

BRIDGE December 2015 Page 11 A View of the 2015 World Championships from Bob Carrick

y wife and I had a very en- tell you what is going on. You can also of the hands it is much easier to know joyable trip to Chennai to see what happened at all other tables what to do. I found myself holding my watch the recent World and see how the other matches are breath, terrified of making any sound MBridge Championship. progressing. which might give a clue to declarer. When I told everyone that my wife You can watch selected matches on One particular hand springs to mind, and I were going, our friends simply the Internet via Bridge Base Online Andrew Robson was playing in 3NT – did not believe it. One friend of my (BBO). I found this very frustrating it looked to me like one of those hands wife said to her husband, ‘Don’t you as the Internet kept dropping out and where one is quite happy to go one off. ever do that to me!’ there were certain places in the hotel Andrew, of course, made it, but only For those of you who do not know, where you could not get it at all. after considerable thought. It did sur- the World Championship is played The last option, and for me the most prise me how long some of the pauses every two years and is played in three exciting, was to sit by the players. Un- were – six minutes on one occasion. sections: the , the main derstandably, there was a limit of one This would not have gone down well open competition; the for kibitzer per player and so to get the with my mother whose motto was, the ladies and the d’Orsi cup for the best players, you had to be there early. ‘Make your mistakes quickly.’ seniors. However, when you watch bridge of It was terrific to see the top players Due to the various alleged cheating this calibre, it is like nothing you have and put faces to names one has only scandals and the discussion whether watched before. Principally, because read about in magazines. The first per- bridge is a sport or not, bridge has been there is a diagonally across the son we met was Zia Mahmoud, whom very much in the news of late. On the table so you can see only two of the both Lois and I have met before as subject of cheating, three teams pulled players. There is a tray which contains he is a very popular member of Sun- out of the championships – Monaco, the bids made by each player. This tray ningdale Golf Club where we are long- Germany and Israel – to be replaced by is pushed through a gap at the bot- standing members. There is one nice Denmark, France and Sweden. tom of the screen to give the others story about Zia which I do not know As regards the format of the champi- a chance to bid. Once the contract is if it is apocryphal or not. One gush- onship, there are 22 countries in each decided and the made, ing member approached Zia and said, competition and initially they all play a hatch is raised so that declarer can ‘Mr Mahmoud, I hear that you are the each other in 16 board matches, three see his partner and dummy. It was best player in England.’ ‘No Madam,’ matches per day for seven days. The interesting to note that, at the end of he replied, ‘I am the best player in the top eight qualify for the quarter finals. the hand if there has been some sort world.’ This is a knock-out match played over of disaster (yes they are human and I also watched Sally Brock whom I two days. The winners go through to do make mistakes), there is no out- feel I know fairly well having read all the semi-finals which is also played pouring from partner as one is used her articles in BRIDGE. Chatting to over two days and six sessions. The -fi to such as, ‘Didn’t you see my lead?’ her, I discovered she was brought up nal is played over three days and eight or ‘Why on earth did you throw a near Wisbech in Cambridge where sessions. Therefore, if you win the heart?’ I talked to one competitor who Lois comes from. It turns out that Sal- competition you may have to play 41 said, ‘The better the player, the less the ly’s grandmother is the sister of Lois’s sessions and some 656 hands of bridge criticism.’ Wise words indeed which I great aunt. Work that one out. which will take at least 82 hours! will pass on to serial moaners in my I was very impressed with the or- We watched three days of the quali- acquaintance. ganisation of the tournament which, fying and you have three choices. I did find watching the bridge ex- from an outsider’s point of view, You can sit in the theatre tremely nerve-wracking, so what it seemed to run very smoothly. The lo- and watch a particular match, whilst must have been like playing I can only gistics of putting the correct cards out listening to two expert commentators imagine. Of course, if you can see three is difficult enough, bearing in mind

Page 12 BRIDGE December 2015 if my maths is correct, there five sessions, however, Eng- are for each match: 16 hands land fought back in the final Answers to Bernard Magee’s in two rooms for each of session and after two big the 11 matches in an indi- swings in their favour, they Bidding Quizzes 7-9 on the Cover vidual session. This makes found themselves 12.3 IMPs 352 boards for each session ahead with six boards to go. strength you need to over- totalling 1,056 for the day. Some 8,000 people, includ- 7. Dealer West. Love All. call a 1NT opening bid and Quite an undertaking. ing yours truly, watched ♠ K 2 ♠ J 7 5 quite often the response will As regards the bridge it- these final boards on BBO. ♥ K Q 9 7 5 ♥ 3 2 be 15+ points. You do need self, I did find the bidding England lost 8 IMPs on the ♦ A 9 8 6 ♦ 5 3 that strength to make a very confusing. I teach be- sixth last board but, with the ♣ A K ♣ J 8 7 6 4 2 double, but for an overcall ginners and improvers us- tension rising, there was no you are looking for a good ing Andrew Robson’s meth- movement for the next four suit and a bit of distribution ods of keeping it simple. boards and therefore, Eng- West North East South with 10+ points depending Weak no-trump, four-card land were 4.3 Imps ahead 1♥ 1NT Pass Pass on the vulnerability. majors and using Andrew’s when the last board was put ? However, this hand is not basic rules; SQOT, Rule of on the table. It looked like a thinking of a simple over- 14 etc. Not too many con- fairly routine part score. It Double. You opened 1♥ call. With a pre-emptive ventions. However, the sys- wasn’t! Poland made a con- and are surprised to hear style hand – 5-9 points with tems used by the players in tract in each room, gained North overcall 1NT and a seven-card suit – you the tournament could not 6 IMPs and won the contest have the auction passed should be thinking of pre- be more different. It was by 1.7 IMPs – fewer than 70 back round to you. You empting. Since all strong very complex and how they points. To lose the match have 19 HCP – it is true to hands start with a double, remember all the different by this minute margin af- say that North’s strength jump overcalls are reserved bids is beyond me. The bid- ter playing some 528 hands is sitting over you, but you for your pre-emptive hands. ding was also very competi- of bridge throughout the need to try to get your A bid of 3♠ here will make tive and very rarely died at competition must have been strength across to your life very difficult for North. the two level. heart breaking. Poland went partner and there is only England did pretty well on to win the Bermuda Bowl one way to do that. You but it could have been so beating Sweden after a final double, which shows a very 9. Dealer North. N/S Game. much better. All three teams which ebbed and flowed. strong opening hand. Your ♠ A 9 7 6 ♠ 3 qualified comfortably, but England must have found partner is now in position to ♥ K J 6 5 ♥ A Q 8 2 the Seniors lost to Poland it very difficult to lift them- judge the best contract: he ♦ J 10 5 4 ♦ A Q 2 in the quarter finals by 23 selves for the third place play will often pass with a bal- ♣ 7 ♣ J 9 6 3 2 IMPs which is not a huge off against USA 2, which anced hand, but with a very margin over 96 boards. they did manfully until, weak hand and a long suit, The USA 1, including Zia horror of horrors, history he can bid his suit. East bids West North East South Mahmood, won the d’Orsi repeated itself. As against 2♣ which will probably fin- 1♠ Dbl Pass trophy by a huge margin Poland, they were trailing ish the auction. ? beating Sweden in the final. for most of the match, but You should manage to The Ladies beat USA 1 made a great comeback in scrape eight tricks together 3♥. Your partner has made comfortably by 225-184 in the last session to lead by 1.7 in 2♣, whilst 1NT might a take-out double. He is the quarter finals, only to IMPs with one board to go. well make. asking you to bid your best lose narrowly to France in However, they lost 11 IMPs suit, but he also wants you the semi-finals. France went on the last board to lose the to show your strength. Be- on to win the Venice Cup. bronze medal. Almost too 8. Dealer South. Love All. cause you have to respond, England beat the Neth- much to bear. ♠ Q J 10 9 8 7 6 ♠ 2 a simple 2♥ response erlands team to win the My children simply do ♥ A 7 3 ♥ K 5 shows very little. With 9 bronze medal. not understand how excit- ♦ 4 ♦ J 9 6 3 2 HCP and a singleton, you The real drama was pro- ing all this was. I found it ♣ 3 2 ♣ A 9 7 6 5 need to get your strength vided by the English team. riveting. When discussing across, so you must jump to They qualified fairly com- the sport issue, someone 3♥: this invites your partner fortably in fourth place and from Sport England said West North East South to bid game. Remember, then continued with a very that bridge was like sitting 1NT when responding to a dou- good win in the quarter- at home reading a book. ? ble, you are being asked to final against USA 1. Poland Having watched the ‘sport’ bid, so if you have some- were their opponents in the for the last two weeks, these 3♠. Many times I have thing extra to show, then semi-final. Poland were in comments are clearly non- asked players how much you need to jump. ■ the lead throughout the first sense. ■

BRIDGE December 2015 Page 13 Bridge Adventures by David Holden and Roy Rowe At the Rodent Bridge Club – Doubling Slams

t was Wednesday evening at the The Rabbit contemplated opening ‘That’s right,’ said the Rat, and then Rodent Bridge Club, the duplicate with a game forcing 2♣, but with the added, ‘but why my partner doubled, I session had finished a little early Dormouse liable to be somewhat er- will never know. What on earth were Iand some stayed on for a few hands ratic in his responses, he settled for a you doing Janet? Don’t you know there of rubber. Roy Rat was perhaps the simple 1♠, intending to make a jump is never any point in doubling a slam strongest player, but had a reputation rebid in hearts. The Jerboa naturally that is bid freely, other than for a lead? of being very critical of his partners’ passed, and after a very long pause, the Why did you not listen to the bidding? errors, other than with his preferred Dormouse The Rabbit is no fool – if he cared how partner Ray Rabbit. Roy Rat had cut many aces his partner had he would Janet Jerboa as a partner; she was have asked. Wake up!’ a player of average ability and was ‘Sorry,’ said the Jerboa, knowing it somewhat in trepidation about play- was going to be a bad session. ing with the Rat. The Rabbit, long used to the Rat’s However, the Rabbit (always the bad manners, thought, ‘When will complete player both in skill and the Rat remember the Rule of Zero?’ manner) was partnered with David (The Rule of Zero is the number of Dormouse, a man of few words, but times you should criticise partner in a perhaps not the strongest player; one session). likely to misarrange his cards, pull The next hand was somewhat the wrong bid out of the box and spectacular. sometimes to forget what was trumps. The first deal to crop up was this: David Dormouse jumped to 3NT, (after an opening ♠ A J 10 9 8 7 Dealer South. Love All. spade bid this showed a four card ♥ 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 ♠ K 3 2 heart suit and about 13 or so points). ♦ Void ♥ J 10 5 2 The Rat, always irritated by slow ♣ Void ♦ K Q J bidding and play, tabled his pass Janet Jerboa Roy Rat ♣ K 9 2 ♠ Q ♠ K ostentatiously. The Rabbit added his N ♠ 8 5 4 ♠ 10 9 19 points to the presumed 13 in the ♥ 10 9 W E ♥ A K Q J ♥ A 6 N ♥ 4 3 Dormouse’s hand and quickly settled ♦ 10 9 8 7 6 S ♦ A K Q J ♦ A 10 8 7 4 W E ♦ 9 6 5 3 2 ♥ ♣ 10 9 8 7 6 ♣ A K Q J S for 6 . The Jerboa, who could count ♣ 8 7 4 ♣ 10 6 5 3 two aces when she saw them, doubled Ray Rabbit ♠ A Q J 7 6 and that was the end of the auction. ♠ 6 5 4 3 2 ♥ K Q 9 8 7 The play was straightforward. The ♥ - ♦ Void Jerboa led the ♦A which, much to her ♦ 5 4 3 2 ♣ A Q J dismay, was ruffed by the Rabbit. He ♣ 5 4 3 2 then played the trumps and claimed his contract, losing just the ace of West North East South trumps; 6♥ doubled and made. Jotting The Jerboa dealt and passed quickly. Janet David Roy Ray down the score, the Rabbit said, ‘That The Dormouse, never one for quick Jerboa Dormouse Rat Rabbit is 360 for the doubled tricks made, 500 action, thought long and hard. He 1♠ bonus for slam and 50 for the insult mused, ‘Only 5 points, but surely a Pass 3NT Pass 6♥ of being doubled and making the hand with two voids and only 5 losers Dbl All Pass contract. Agreed?’ must be biddable. The hearts are

Page 14 BRIDGE December 2015 Adventures continued always bid his heart suit. ‘Yes, that’s and continued to cross-ruff hearts and it – it was the Rat who told me about diamonds. the SOS redouble.’ So the Dormouse When the last diamond was ruffed, pulled out the redouble bid. This was, the situation was: longer than the spades, but if I bid of course, passed out by all. the spades first, I could always bid the hearts cheaply next round. Also, David Dormouse if I open hearts and rebid spades, ♠ J partner will think I am strong enough ♥ 8 7 6 to reverse. I guess I could open a ♦ — weak two in either major? Ah, but I ♣ — remember the Rat telling me once to Janet Jerboa Roy Rat ♠ — ♠ — never open a weak two with four cards N in the other major. If only I had seven ♥ — W E ♥ — spades, I could bid the spades first.’ ♦ — S ♦ — ‘Hurry up, David,’ said the Rat. ♣ 10 9 8 7 ♣ A K Q J ‘The bar will be closing soon, get on Ray Rabbit with it.’ Of course, the Rat with his ♠ — 33 points was only too keen to get on ♥ — with it. ‘All right,’ said the Dormouse, ♦ — petulantly, ‘We cannot all think as ♣ 5 4 3 2 quickly as you.’ So the Dormouse decided to bid 1♠, but thinking about his last wish for ‘So the contract is 7♠ redoubled,’ The Dormouse claimed the last four seven spades he pulled the 7♠ card out said the Rat and added, ‘Ho-Ho!’ tricks with three good hearts and the of the inadvertently. ‘No, 1♠ redoubled,’ said the last trump. Dormouse, but then, looking at the The Rabbit said, ‘Well played, David, bid in front of him, he realised his I think that is 840 for tricks, 1,500 for mistake. ‘Sorry, I meant to open 1♠, slam and 100 for the insult – 2,440. not 7♠.’ That’s right isn’t it Ratty?’ The Jerboa, always willing to make ‘I am afraid so,’ grumbled the Rat, allowances for simple mistakes, said, ‘I should have let him play in 1♠ ‘Let’s start again from 1♠ redoubled.’ redoubled.’ ‘Oh no! The contract has to stand The Rabbit replied, ‘Actually, that as bid,’ said the Rat, eyeing a would have been worse. That would substantial penalty. have scored 2,620. You do best to ‘Ratty is quite right, we have in 7NT doubled for only to play as bid,’ added the Rabbit, 1,400!’ dreading the outcome. The Dormouse added gleefully, So the Rat started off with the ♦A “And 700 for the rubber. I make it which, of course, was ruffed by the that we win the rubber by 4,050, at 10 Dormouse. pence a hundred we agreed.’ The Rat, more than a l i t t l e Then the Dormouse ruffed a The Jerboa said, ‘That was expensive peeved that the Dormouse had not heart in dummy, – £4.05 for one rubber,’ adding used the stop card and realising he pointedly, ‘What were you saying had no bid available to him, simply about doubling freely bid slams Ratty?’ pulled out the double card. Later, in the bar, the Rab- The Rabbit looked at his miserable bit was consoling the Rat on his holding and, greatly puzzled why it misfortune. ■ had taken the Dormouse so long to bid 7♠, passed, thinking, ‘Oh dear, this is going to be a disaster.’ It must be pointed out that any The Jerboa passed, of course and it resemblance in nature or similarity of was back to the Dormouse. Now, he names to any members of the Street recalled there was something about Bridge Club is purely intentional. a redouble being an SOS bid, getting Homage is of course due to the author partner to bid a suit or something like whose Tales from the that. He figured that the Rabbit would Menagerie were the inspiration for the probably bid a minor, but then he could returned to a hand with the trump ace above.

BRIDGE December 2015 Page 15 DECLARER DEFENCE PLAY QUIZ QUIZ by Julian Pottage (Answers on page 29) by David Huggett ou are West in the defensive positions below playing (Answers on page 32) Yteams or . It is your turn to play. Both sides are using Acol with a 12-14 1NT and 2♣ Stayman. ou are South as declarer playing teams or rubber bridge. YIn each case, what is your play strategy?

1. ♠ Q J 10 3. ♠ Q J 8 ♥ 9 5 ♥ 9 4 1. ♠ 8 6 3 3. ♠ K 2 ♦ K 8 3 ♦ A 8 3 ♥ 7 3 ♥ K 7 6 4 2 ♣ Q J 10 6 2 ♣ Q J 9 4 2 ♦ K Q J 8 2 ♦ A 9 8 7 ♠ 5 ♠ 5 2 ♥ ♥ ♣ A 7 4 ♣ 10 2 K 10 7 3 2 N K 10 7 5 3 N ♦ J 7 4 W E ♦ J 7 5 W E ♣ K 7 5 3 S ♣ K 10 6 S N N W E W E S S West North East South West North East South ♠ A 10 9 2 ♠ J 10 6 1♠ 1♠ ♥ A K 6 2 ♥ A Q J 9 8 Pass 2♣ Pass 2NT Pass 2♣ Pass 2NT ♦ 5 3 ♦ Q 2 Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ ♣ K Q 6 ♣ A K 5 All Pass All Pass

You lead the ♥3. East wins You lead the ♥5. East wins You are declarer in 3NT You are declarer in 4♥ and with the ♥A and returns with the ♥A and returns and West leads the ♣J. West leads the ♦6. How do the ♥J, covered by the the ♥J, covered by the ♥Q How do you plan the play? you plan the play? ♥Q and ♥K. How do you and ♥K. How do you continue? continue?

2. ♠ A 9 3 4. ♠ 10 7 5 2. ♠ K 5 2 4. ♠ 6 5 4 ♥ K 10 5 4 ♥ K ♥ 6 4 3 2 ♥ K Q 6 4 ♦ A Q 8 2 ♦ 8 5 3 ♦ A 5 3 ♦ 8 7 3 ♣ J 2 ♣ K Q 9 7 4 2 ♣ K 6 4 ♣ K 9 5 ♠ Q 8 5 4 ♠ A K 8 6 2 ♥ Q J 7 N ♥ 10 7 5 N W E ♦ 7 4 W E ♦ J 10 S S N N ♣ K Q 10 6 ♣ A 10 6 W E W E S S ♠ A 6 ♠ A K 2 West North East South West North East South ♥ Q J 10 9 8 5 ♥ A J 5 1♦ 1♠ Pass Pass 4♥ ♦ Q 4 2 ♦ A K Pass 1♥ Pass 2♦ All Pass ♣ A 8 ♣ A J 7 6 2 Pass 2♠ Pass 3♥ Pass 5♦ All Pass You cash the ♠A-K, East playing upwards and You are declarer in 4♥ You are declarer in 6NT You win the first two tricks South dropping the ♠Q on ♠ after West opened 1NT and West leads the Q. with the ♣K-Q, partner the second round. What is (12-14). West leads the ♠J. How do you plan the play? playing the ♣4 and ♣8, your plan? How do you plan the play? declarer the ♣3 and ♣9. How do you continue?

Page 16 BRIDGE December 2015 Answers to CROATIA Bernard Magee’s 3-17 May 2016 Bidding Quizzes 10-12 Bernard Magee HOTEL on the Cover From EDEN £1,399 ROVINJ sharing partner has now bid the opponents’ suit. 10. Dealer East. Love All. What does it mean? ♠ K 8 3 ♠ A 9 7 Your partner’s bid is a strong bid – in ♥ J 6 2 N ♥ A 9 4 3 this kind of auction it does not promise ♦ A 7 6 4 W E ♦ K Q J 3 support, but is asking you to describe any- S ♣ K 7 6 ♣ 5 2 thing else about your hand, particularly whether you can stop the run of the spade suit. That is, of course, what you can do West North East South – although your spades are not strong, 1NT Pass they are enough to stop the spade suit, ? so you bid 2NT and your partner bids 3NT. Rovinj is situated on the western coast Pass. Your partner opens a weak no- All East wanted was an assurance that of Istria in Croatia, the largest peninsula trump (12-14) and you have a balanced you can stop the spade suit and, with it, on the Adriatic coastline, a one hour hand with 11 HCP. The usual bid would you should be able to scrape together drive from Trieste, 2.5 hours from Zagreb. Boasting a rich, natural and cultural be to invite partner to bid game if he nine tricks. heritage, with beautiful landmarks such as is maximum, because with 14+11, you the old town, the Golden Cape Park Forest, have the usual 25 points needed to make protected islands and coastal area. nine tricks. The climate is warm and semi-dry, with However, you have a 4-3-3-3 hand 12. Dealer North. Game All. more than four months a year without wind. with all of your high cards isolated. I like ♠ A 5 4 3 ♠ 6 2 Hotel Eden is wedged right between a to downgrade 4-3-3-3 hands by a full ♥ 8 6 N ♥ A K J 5 3 peninsula covered by a one hundred year point and with no tens or nines to upgrade ♦ A 6 5 2 W E ♦ 9 4 old park forest and a quiet cove. The old S city centre of Rovinj is just a 20 minute the hand, I would describe the hand as a ♣ A 6 3 ♣ 10 9 8 2 walk away. ‘bad 10 points’. It is ‘bad’ because the Rooms: All rooms are equipped with a high cards are by themselves and so direct phone line, LCD SAT TV, mini-bar, more difficult to promote. Therefore, you West North East South safe, bathtub or shower, toilet, hair dryer, pass. You do have 25 points between 1♦ 1♥ 1NT balcony, air conditioning/heating. Suites are available, details on application. you but 7 tricks might be your limit. ? Singles: There is a sole occupancy supplement of £10 per room per night. If Pass. You have 12 HCP and everybody you are a single bridge player, please do not has made a bid before you. Is there worry about being on your own. We will 11. Dealer West. Love All. anything more to say? always be able to find you a partner and you can always have a game. ♠ J 10 7 6 ♠ 5 4 2 Had your partner been the opening ♥ A K 5 4 2 N ♥ 9 bidder, you would have been in a good Beaches & Pools: The playful curves of the pool offer refreshment in the summer ♦ A 3 2 W E ♦ K Q 8 position to make a penalty double of S with a salty breeze coming from the natural ♣ 2 ♣ A K Q 5 4 3 1NT. However, your partner has only stone and pebble beach only a few steps made an overcall and may well be quite away. The vast outdoor pool will cool you down after a day of lounging in the freely a bit weaker than opening hand strength. available deck chairs. West North East South Therefore, without a fit, you should just Terms and conditions apply. ♥ ♠ ♣ 1 1 2 Pass stay quiet. These holidays have been organised for 2♥ Pass 2♠ Pass As you can see, your partner has a Mr Bridge by Great Little Escapes LLP, ATOL 5933 ? reasonable hand for a 1♥ overcall, but you do not have the combined strength Details of the bridge programme 2NT. You open 1♥ and then rebid 2♥, to defeat 1NT, particularly with South ( 01483 489961 with nothing else to say. However, your advertising strength in hearts. ■

BRIDGE December 2015 Page 17 David Stevenson answers your questions on Laws and Ethics Is a Player Allowed to Open 2NT with 19 HCP?

At our local agreements because of seconds, except over a stop had seen the result of a club, my partner judgement, accident, or bid, when he is required to board which they hadn’t Qopened 2NT and intentional misleading. As do so, that would normally played, the board was West asked me what that you say, if you decide to be considered a break. Over unplayable and 40% meant. I said, ‘20-22 downgrade a 15 point hand a stop bid, it is much easier: should be awarded to points.’ I bid 3NT with 10 and open it a 12 to 14 1NT any time such as three to both pairs under Law points and she made the that is perfectly legal. four seconds or so after 12C2(a). That is what I contract. It transpired the stop card is withdrawn have done at the club that she had only 19 ♣♦♥♠ would be a break, assuming since. I understand your points and West said that that the stop card is left out point that people have if we were at a higher Measured for a normal time, say ten come to play bridge and club (by which he meant in seconds, seconds. If, as happens too not get averages, but with better players) we Qwhat period is frequently, the stop card is surely, in a case like this, would be penalised. considered a hesitation: withdrawn immediately, the it is impossible to play I always thought that a) in bidding, b) by player who withdraws it has the hand fairly when the you could assess your declarer after the first put his side in the wrong and result is already known? no-trump hand and trick has been played even twenty seconds would Shirley Pritchard by email. bid accordingly. For and c) by a defender not be considered a break. example, if you had after the first trick If the question about the The L&EC made it a very poor 15 points has been played? play refers to following suit quite clear what is when playing 12-14 no- Richard Moss, Bury. on tricks after the first, then A to be done if the trump, you could open players do not tend to take board is unplayable, but 1NT, as long as it is not A hesitation, more as long as they do over they would not presume a regular occurrence properly called a calls, so a few seconds to overrule a director’s and not agreed with A break in , delay is usually considered judgement. The law is quite your partner. is when a player takes a hesitation or break in clear, leaving it to the director Rita Cook by email. noticeably longer than is tempo, though it is still to decide whether it could normal for him to take an a subjective decision. interfere with normal play. Saying that you action. Since it is difficult to Another point is that the would be penalised judge how long is normal ♣♦♥♠ L&EC is dealing mainly A in a higher club is for a particular player, in with tournaments: more completely unethical. Your practice players, directors Your answer to a latitude is given at clubs opponent had no right to say and appeal committees tend question about in this type of situation. it and should be penalised to treat a break in tempo Qplaying a board As a director, you have a for that remark. In a higher as when a player takes when both sides have perfect right to decide the club, as he put it, no-one longer than is the norm seen the result already board is unplayable, but it would have even commented. for an average player. surprised me. I was told is pretty harsh to assume it You have agreements with Quantifying it is nearly that following an EBU is automatically and not let partner as to what particular impossible, since it is such a L&E meeting in May 2012 the board be played. Few calls show. At every level subjective decision. Certainly, where guidance was club players remember much of the game, it is perfectly if someone pauses during sought on this issue, the about results and the chance legal to stray outside those bidding for more than ten rules were that if players of seeing a collection of

Page 18 BRIDGE December 2015 Ask David continued been called before over the facts, as in this case, a hand, disrupts my the hand was played, there is no need to call the concentration. Also there or at least that N/S director during the hand. are times when dummy should have reserved mishears and either 2♦, 2♠ and 1NT contracts this right before play, ♣♦♥♠ plays the wrong card making any number of tricks but this wasn’t done. or is no longer dumb. between six and ten affecting The aggrieved party, In a recent game, When both hands are anything is pretty remote. South, did not agree. As there was a in the physical control the director and South Qminor dispute of declarer, that ♣♦♥♠ are adamant they are about when one has to cannot happen. correct and neither is play penalty cards. I Iris Clyde, Kirkwall, Orkney. A dispute has prepared to concede, said my understanding, arisen at a the matter is to be for 60 years, was they It is a law of Qregular duplicate referred to our Appeals are played on the next duplicate bridge session between a very Committee which will play of the suit. My A that declarer plays experienced pair (both discuss the issue. As I opponent said they cards by naming them and club directors) sitting am a member of this must also be discarded dummy playing them and N/S and an average Committee, I would at the first opportunity. has been for at least 15 pair sitting E/W. appreciate your views What had happened was years. It was felt it was better The hands were: on this issue. It is a pity my partner led the ♥3 than leaning across the that this has been blown which, because of failing table. After all, dummy has out of proportion but eyesight, I took to be the to collect the cards. As to Dealer North. E/W Vul. neither party is willing ♦3. When I played my ♦A, concentration, once a player ♠ K J 7 to give way, although the error was pointed gets in the habit of doing it ♥ K 10 7 4 2 they have both agreed out and it became a this way, she will find it easy. ♦ 10 7 4 to the matter going to penalty card. Dummy It is true that you get the ♣ A 8 the Appeals Committee. won the round and led occasional mishearing by ♠ A 5 ♠ Q 10 8 6 Brian Hodges by email. the ♠5, a suit in which I dummy and declarer should 4 3 2 N was void and claimed I get in the habit of checking ♥ J 8 W E ♥ Q This seems very must discard my ♦A. This that the correct card is played. S ♦ A 5 ♦ 9 8 6 3 simple. The director resulted in them making This is similar to making sure ♣ K Q 10 6 5 4 2 ♣ J A who ruled has not their game; a severe you take the correct card out ♠ 9 followed the law. If the penalty for my poor of the bidding box: when ♥ A 9 6 5 3 hesitation is agreed, then eyesight. What is the they were used initially, I ♦ K Q J 2 there is no need to call the correct position please? had to train myself to look ♣ 9 7 3 director at the time and it Name and address supplied. at the card I was putting on is completely automatic the table to make sure it to disallow the 4♠ bid, I regret that you was the right one. It is true West North East South so the result should be have been wrong that dummy may say the 1♥ 2♠ 4♥ adjusted to 4♥ making. A for 60 years! A occasional thing like, ‘What Pass1 Pass 4♠ 5♥ The basis of this is that major penalty card must be did you say, partner?’ but that All Pass certain bids become illegal played at the first available hardly matters. Otherwise, 1After accepted hesitation after partner has given opportunity, whether dummy should keep quiet. unauthorised information, following suit, leading or It is permissible for The result was 5♥ in this case a hesitation. discarding. Certainly, the declarer to play dummy’s making 10 and a bottom Law 92B gives the time penalty can seem harsh, but cards if necessary, but board. Other tables limit for asking for a ruling, that is what the law says. that refers to times when made 4♥ and one even normally 30 minutes after dummy is absent, or has a made 11, whereas tables results are posted, though ♣♦♥♠ physical infirmity that makes where E/W played in the club may decide a playing the cards difficult, 4♠ went 3 off for a different time. The principle Is it a ruling or for example, being deaf. It score of -300. After the of calling the director at a convention does not mean declarer can hand had been played, the time or reserving one’s Qnowadays for choose to play the cards N/S called the director rights is merely to establish dummy to play her own because she always has. feeling that they had facts, and players who cards on the instructions At rubber bridge, where been penalised by West’s do not do so must expect of declarer, ie is this declarer collects winning undisputed hesitation. disputes over the facts to mode of play obligatory? tricks herself, the old rule The club director ruled go against them. However, I find that having to applies and she plays the that he should have when there is no dispute speak when playing cards from dummy.

BRIDGE December 2015 Page 19 Ask David continued is weak and pre-emptive Beginners’ Bridge Corner these days. So neither 3♥ nor 4♥ requires an alert. While the alerting rules are Sorry Partner! In the article, not the same in the rest of the Attack or British Isles, I am confident Unblock High Cards QDefence, on page that these particular 6 of the October issue of bids are not alertable in BRIDGE, Ned Paul says Scotland or Ireland either. in the Short Hand that an Unassuming (UCB) by responder ♣♦♥♠ by Liz Dale over an opposition overcall, such as North My partner ove’s Labours Lost’ Total: 5 tricks. That’s four 1♥, East 1♠, South 2♠, opened 1♣ and had been shown short, but not to worry can be used to indicate QRHO doubled. ‘Llocally by satellite because once the ♣A is a strong and, therefore, I had 11 points, three from Shakespeare’s knocked out, there are attacking hand. This, clubs to the ace and Globe Theatre, London. five winners in clubs. Ned makes clear, is stops in hearts and This was the third satellite That’s more than enough an unnatural bid and spades. I thought 3NT theatre showing that for the contract. Great! so is conventional and might be on, but had Mary had been to and Declarer won the ♥K on alertable. Using this only two small diamonds. she loved them. It was table and played the ♣K convention, any high I thought about bidding not something she would immediately, which was level bid by South in but passed, waiting to have considered before won by South’s ace. South opener’s suit (3♥ or 4♥) is see what LHO and my joining the beginners’ led a small heart and the pre-emptive, indicating a partner bid, knowing group. They just made ace won on table. West defensive hand, making I could bid clubs next everything so easy to do led the ♣2 from dummy life more difficult for the time round. However, and such fun. There was to her winning queen. opposition. If you are they both passed. We always something going Good, now all she had using this form of UCB, made 9 tricks. Every- on and she thought how to do was play out the should a bid of 3♥ or 4♥ one else made 3NT wonderful it was being winning clubs from table. also be alerted? After so we got a bottom. able to see everything Oh dear! Can you see all, it is relying on a Afterwards, LHO ad- being performed exactly the problem? East’s hand convention to indicate the mitted to her partner as it is and yet you didn’t with all those winning weakness even if it still that she had forgotten have the inconvenience of clubs is blocked. One last demonstrates support in that she had to an- travelling or having to stay chance. West played a hearts. An opponent not swer a take-out dou- overnight. Extraordinary! small spade to the being aware of this would ble. She had poor clubs ♠Q and was dismayed be put at a disadvantage. and only 3 points. We West North East South to find it snaffled by West’s bid is more let it go, but could we Pass South’s king. Drat! All difficult, but they would have challenged it? 1NT1 2♥ 3NT All Pass those winning clubs be more likely to bid 3♠ Terry Gregory by email. 112-14 and no entries. The over South’s 3♥ if they contract went down. know it is a weak bid, not I am afraid not. indicating 10 to 12 points. Everyone makes ♠ A 10 8 2 ♠ Q 6 The Moral of Teddy Tulloch by email. A mistakes, in fact a ♥ 7 5 3 ♥ A K the Story renowned authority once ♦ A K 6 2 ♦ 8 7 4 Declarer should have Natural bids are reckoned that including not ♣ Q 10 ♣ K J 9 8 3 2 played the ♣2 from alerted when they playing the perfect card in dummy at trick 2. Whether A have a completely defence, every player makes South takes the ♣A on this unexpected meaning. The at least thirty mistakes per North led the ♥Q, top of trick or not, declarer must EBU, who decide alerting in session. Some of these a sequence, against the play the ♣K from dummy England and Wales, feel that mistakes do not matter and 3NT contract by West. on the next round of clubs, since this usage of 3♥ is fairly some actually gain. I am West counted her top unblocking the suit. Now common nowadays, it would afraid that is life, but there is tricks: the clubs are set up and not be considered ‘completely nothing illegal about making spades: A = 1, the contract makes with unexpected’. As for 4♥, by far a mistake in the bidding or hearts: A-K = 2, one overtrick. 5 clubs, 2 its most common meaning the play. ■ diamonds: A-K = 2, diamonds, 2 hearts and 1 clubs = 0. spade. ■ E-mail your questions to: [email protected]

Page 20 BRIDGE December 2015 The Diaries of Wendy Wensum Episode 44: The Championship Beckons

t was a critical evening for our West North East South team in the Riverside league. We Dealer South. Game All. Clare Jo Isobel Kate had not had a good season fol- ♠ K Q 5 1♣ Ilowing our promotion to the top ♥ A Q 6 4 Pass 1♦ Pass 1♥ flight and were in serious danger of ♦ A K Q J 3 Pass 6♥ All Pass being relegated back to the second ♣ 4 tier. ♠ 10 8 7 6 ♠ 9 4 3 2 Unfortunately from our perspective, N ♥ 8 7 ♥ J 10 9 The divisions were named simply 1 W E Clare found an active defence. Putting and 2, but the football mad, Norwich ♦ Void S ♦ 10 8 7 6 4 Kate with several clubs and therefore City supporting, alpha-male players ♣ Q 10 9 8 7 5 3 ♣ A Isobel with shortage, she led the three preferred the nomenclature of the ♠ A J of clubs. Isobel won the trick with the English league system, Premier and ♥ K 5 3 2 ace. Seeing the diamonds in dummy, Championship. ♦ 9 5 2 she surmised Clare might be void and On seeing me enter the bridge room, ♣ K J 6 2 returned a diamond. The ruff defeated Millie advanced towards me with a the contract, but worse followed. A glass of brandy in her hand. Quite club was returned which Kate ruffed out of the blue and without further Ken opened one no trump, announced high in dummy; here was now another explanation she announced, ‘I might as 12-14. With neither Millie nor I in heart to lose to Isobel and the contract be a bit inebriated this evening.’ ‘Why the auction, Fred bid 2♣ Stayman and was defeated by two tricks for minus do you say that?’ I inquired innocently. the sequence continued seamlessly to 200 to our team. Millie and I had to Millie looked at me in bemused the final contract of a small slam in agree it was an excellent defence. This amazement. ‘Because I have been hearts. result and several other poor scores drinking of course,’ she responded were more than sufficient to relegate with more than a hint of exasperation West North East South our team to division two. To be fair, indicating that her statement was Millie Fred Wendy Ken we found the opposition generally too obvious and my question totally 1NT strong and we deserved our fate. unnecessary. In the interests of Pass 2♣ Pass 2♥ In the pub later, Jo reminded us that partnership harmony, I thought it Pass 4NT1 Pass 5♥2 Clare and Isobel didn’t play together better to let the matter rest. Pass 6♥ All Pass much these days following their big We wandered across the room to 1RKC Blackwood squabble at the bridge table. ‘Squabble,’ join team mate Kate at our table. Jo 22 of 5 key cards without the queen interjected Millie, ‘It was more like the arrived a few minutes later. ‘Sorry I War of the Roses.’ ‘Didn’t Clare marry an was working late. I’ve come straight With limited information from the Italian?’ inquired Kate. ‘Yes, she did,’ Jo from the office. I haven’t had time auction, Millie tabled the uninspiring affirmed adding, ‘Where did she meet to change,’ she explained. ‘Wow, eight of hearts. It was not a good him?’ ‘Probably in Italy,’ announced that’s quite an outfit,’ Kate remarked move. Ken removed trumps in three Millie, ‘There’s lots of Italians there.’ enthusiastically. ‘I need to keep a rounds. He ran four diamond tricks, Millie turned to me, ‘You don’t seem high profile,’ Jo added. ‘That’s not discarding a club and ruffed the last yourself tonight. Are you OK? Cheer just power dressing; that’s blatant diamond. He played the three top up, it’s only bridge.’ The best response hostility,’ Millie confirmed. spades throwing another club. He I could find was, ‘I am smiling; my face I decided it was time to remain silent gave up a club and ruffed the last club just won’t cooperate.’ Millie grinned until bridge started, but fortunately in dummy. Making his contract with sympathetically. We will undoubtedly the TD soon called the move for the three spades, five trumps including try for promotion again next season. first round. two ruffs and four diamonds for a Maybe if all our team power-dressed We played the following board score of 1,430. At the other table, the like Kate, we would have more success against two of the county’s top players, auction took a more direct route to the in bridge and finally emerge through Fred and Ken. same contract, a small slam in hearts. its glass ceiling. ■

BRIDGE December 2015 Page 21 Robin Hood’s Bridge Adventures by David Bird

Maid Marian’s Excellent Play

’m worried about Robin and Maid Marian won the ♥9 lead with points opposite 20-22, I was worth a Nazir,’ declared Maid Marian. the ♥Q and counted her top tricks: slam.’ This was the layout. ‘They should have been back seven trumps and two hearts. So, just ‘Ifrom Peterborough three days ago one heart ruff in dummy would bring now.’ her total to ten. Excellent! What a pity Dealer South. N/S Game. ‘Those two can look after her beloved Robin was not here to see ♠ A 10 7 5 4 themselves,’ replied Little John. ‘We’ll how well she would play this hand. ♥ J 10 9 6 give them another couple of days. Maid Marian continued with the ♦ Q J If there’s no news by then, I’ll head ♥A, planning to ruff a third round of ♣ Q 6 for Peterborough and see what I can the suit. She was taken aback when ♠ 8 2 ♠ K 6 discover.’ Little John ruffed with the ♠3. He ♥ 8 5 4 2 N ♥ 7 3 W E ♦ 9 8 5 ♦ K 7 6 3 2 ‘It’s safe enough there,’ said Friar returned a trump and the contract S Tuck, dealing the cards. ‘If truth be could no longer be made. Declarer ♣ J 10 9 7 ♣ K 8 5 4 told, we’re more at danger here in the could score one ruff with dummy’s ♠ Q J 9 3 forest. Gisburne’s men would earn a ♠10 but the loss of the ♥A as a trick ♥ A K Q pretty penny for any outlaw they could would reduce her total to nine. ♦ A 10 4 capture.’ ‘What an unbelievably bad heart ♣ A 3 2 The four players, who were sitting break!’ exclaimed Maid Marian. Seven cross-legged in a sun-lit clearing, missing cards don’t split 6-1 very picked up these cards: often.’ West North East South Friar Tuck nodded politely. It wasn’t Little Alan Friar Maid such a rarity when a defender had John A’Dale Tuck Marian Dealer East. Love All. shown length in the suit with his 2NT ♠ 10 2 opening bid. In any case, couldn’t she Pass 3♣ Pass 3♠ ♥ 5 4 have made the contract? To avoid the Pass 6♠ All Pass ♦ Q 10 9 8 5 ♥A being ruffed, she should have led ♣ 9 7 4 2 a low heart at Trick 2. The defenders Marian was unimpressed by this ♠ 9 6 3 ♠ 5 would win and no doubt switch to a evaluation. Three kings were missing! ♥ 9 N ♥ K J 10 8 6 2 trump. She could then ruff her other Alan’s dummy might contain five W E ♦ K J 6 3 2 ♦ A 7 4 ♠ S low heart with dummy’s 10. If truth trumps, yes, but how was that going ♣ K J 10 3 ♣ A 8 5 be told, Little John’s ♥9 lead had been to help her? She reached forward to ♠ A K Q J 8 7 4 the only one to give declarer a chance play the ♣Q, shrugging her shoulders ♥ A Q 7 3 of making the contract. when Friar Tuck covered with the ♦ Void ‘You can’t beat a good old singleton king, forcing her ace. Now she would ♣ Q 6 lead,’ declared Little John. ‘I thought I need some luck in the other suits. would get a ruff.’ At Trick 2, Marian led the ♠Q, an The sun had just gone behind a cloud unhelpful ♠2 appearing on her left. West North East South when Maid Marian arrived in a slam. Well, she thought, when Little John Little Alan Friar Maid Little John led the ♣J and down went didn’t cover, it could hardly be more John A’Dale Tuck Marian the dummy. obvious that he didn’t hold the ♠K. 1♥ 4♠ ‘Only 10 points for you, Marian,’ The only remaining chance in the suit All Pass said Alan A’Dale, ‘but I added two was to find it singleton in Friar Tuck’s more for the fifth trump. With 12 hand. She rose with dummy’s ♠A

Page 22 BRIDGE December 2015 Robin Hood continued in progress. Marian, who had enjoyed crestfallen when East showed out, more than her fair share of the cards, throwing a heart. What now? picked up yet another good hand: Declarer could pick up the trump suit by finessing against West’s jack, and Tuck followed with the ♠6. but she would no longer be able to ruff ‘No luck at all so far,’ declared Maid Dealer South. Game All. a heart in dummy for a twelfth trick. Marian. She continued with dummy’s ♠ K Q 6 What else could she try? ♦Q, fearing the worst when this card ♥ 10 3 It seemed to Maid Marian that she was not covered. With eight diamonds ♦ 9 8 7 3 might be able to make some extra missing, it was hardly likely that West ♣ 10 7 6 5 tricks by ruffing diamonds in her hand. held a singleton ♦K. She would just ♠ J 5 4 2 ♠ Void She ruffed one diamond and then have to run the queen and hope for the ♥ J 6 N ♥ Q 9 8 7 5 2 played the ♣A-K and the ♥A-K before W E ♦ K Q J 4 2 ♦ 10 6 5 best. S Little John had a chance to ruff them. A bright smile came to Marian’s ♣ 8 3 ♣ Q J 9 4 A heart ruff with the ♠6 was followed face when the ♦Q won the trick. She ♠ A 10 9 8 7 3 by a second diamond ruff in her hand. played the ♦J next, covered by the ♥ A K 4 These cards were still to be played: king and ace, and discarded dummy’s ♦ A remaining club on the ♦10. A trump ♣ A K 2 was lost to the king but the remaining ♠ Q tricks were hers. ♥ — ‘With my five trumps I thought a West North East South ♦ 9 slam would be there!’ exclaimed Alan Little Alan Friar Maid ♣ 10 7 A’Dale. John A’Dale Tuck Marian ♠ J 5 4 ♠ — ‘You played it well, Marian,’ said 2♣ ♥ — N ♥ Q 9 Pass 2♦ Pass 2♠ ♦ Q W E ♦ — Friar Tuck. ‘Finessing in trumps S would be completely pointless. Even Pass 3♠ Pass 6♠ ♣ — ♣ Q J if it won, you would still need the All Pass ♠ A 10 9 diamond to work. Most players ♥ — around here would finesse in trumps Little John lost no time in leading ♦ — and go down.’ the ♦K and Maid Marian was happy ♣ 2 Maid Marian nodded politely. with the dummy that went down. Six Finesse in trumps when West didn’t trumps, five side-suit winners and cover? Who on earth would do that? a heart ruff. That was twelve tricks! Maid Marian crossed to the ♠Q and She would ask Robin about the hand What a pity her beloved Robin had not ruffed dummy’s last diamond with the when he came back. A shiver ran down been here to witness her fine bidding. ♠10. West had to follow suit and the her spine. If he ever did come back. Marian won with the ♦A and played ♠A was declarer’s twelfth trick. A few deals later, the last rubber was a trump to the king. She was somewhat ‘What a magnificent player my true love is.’ Maid Marian spun round. ‘Robin, you’re back safely!’ she cried. ‘My prayers were answered.’ They fell into each others’ arms, looking as if Nature had always intended them to be together. ‘How I’ve missed you!’ exclaimed Robin Hood. ‘Our trip went well, thank goodness. We return with full purses.’ Little John clapped his leader on the back. ‘That’s well timed,’ he said. ‘Grain stores in the nearby villages are near to empty.’ ‘You won’t believe the sacrifices I’ve been making,’ declared Friar Tuck. ‘For almost a week, I’ve eaten no more than a normal man.’ Hood laughed. ‘No need for such heroics now,’ he replied. ‘Not for a while, anyway.’ ■

BRIDGE December 2015 Page 23 shouldn’t have a fourth QPLUS ON MAC club as he hadn’t rebid 2♣ Mrs Linda Streeter, Readers’ READERS’ on the second round. Letters, BRIDGE 154, October, Declarer and North had asks, ‘Will there be a version never played together before; of QPlus compatible with South was actually stronger a Mac?’ I have successfully than 12-14 points, because used QPlus and all Bernard LETTERS he and his normal partner Magee’s tutorial DVDs on used a phoney club range my Mac for some time. PRE-DECIMALISATION manners, it is far better than of 12-19 points. He had not All you need is a program In BRIDGE issue 154, page allowing players, however corrected the range before called ‘Parallels’ and a copy 43, Dr Johnson could not innocently, to escape justice. play started, since he thought of the Windows operating have been playing for a Ignoring an infringement that North’s use of ‘typically’ system. It is then possible florin a 100 as the florin through ‘friendliness’ is could cover his actual 18 to run a virtual Windows wasn’t introduced until actually being unfriendly points. He had not rebid 2♣ machine on your Apple Mac. 1849 as a first step towards to the rest of the room. because he thought 1NT was Alan Davis, decimalisation (2/- or 10p). Paul Habershon, Bedford. the best he could achieve with Sevenoaks, Kent. The double-florin (4/- or 20p, a combined 24 points and known as the Barmaid’s Ruin, NOR IS IT no long suit. West protested HORSES FOR COURSES was introduced in 1887 and Perhaps the most frequently that since South had four Bernard Magee’s bidding abandoned after 4 years as it heard refrain in the bridge- clubs, he had to rebid 2♣. quizzes are very useful and was too similar to the crown room, particularly after West claimed misinfor- thought-provoking, but (5/- or 25p) which had been a disappointing session, mation because he hadn’t sometimes I think he should in circulation since the reign is, ‘Never mind, dear; expected declarer to be so add the caveat, ‘the right of Edward VI (1547-53). it’s only a game.’ We’ve strong or have four clubs. bid here depends on the Mr M J McCormick–Smith, never heard, ‘Never mind, However, he could not quality of the opposition.’ Portland, Dorset. dear; it’s only a sport.’ explain how his lead or play Two examples: Hand 4 Richard & Liz Ackland would have differed. With six of the September issue, see CLEARLY STATED by email. tricks collected, I could not BRIDGE number 153. After In your October 2015 issue, see what the original hands partner supports your 1♦ two of David Stevenson’s WORKING EXAMPLE were. In face of consider- opening to 2♦ and neither correspondents use the word I saw the remarks about able anger by West and with opponent has overcalled ‘friendly’ as an excuse for not rudeness in BRIDGE 154 17 tables waiting to move, on the first round, Bernard calling the director to their and thought I would add I directed them to play on suggests bidding 3♦ even table. I accept that there may my own recent experience. whilst I watched. Declarer with just 12 points, or else be duplicate clubs where the I was director at a charity took nine tricks for plus 2. the opponents will come in majority feeling is that rules bridge event, (18 tables of I judged that if there was and may find their fit. This and results are unimportant, Chicago, no system cards, any misinformation, it was not would certainly be right on however, surely most players social bridge players of many deliberate and not material Friday nights at Horsham want to see fair play and ability levels), when I heard a to bidding or play – E/W BC when the best players a just result. A director can heated disagreement between had not suffered damage; if usually play, but it would solve a problem impartially West and declarer at a nearby anything, I thought that E/W turn out badly on Thursday by pointing out the correct table, so I investigated. were lucky that N/S hadn’t nights when the standard procedure calmly, so there The bidding had been: bid and made 3NT. I is lower. On Thursdays, should be no hard feelings. let the result stand, but most players would say they When I infringe, I am keen West North East South suggested to South that couldn’t overcall on the to hear from the director and 1♣1 he should be aware that second round if they weren’t become better informed. Pass 1♦ Pass 1NT some might interpret range able to do so on the first, Perhaps, ‘Director, please!’ All Pass more or less strictly and so the room will play in 2♦ sounds too aggressive. 1West asked North for the to be prepared to correct and if 3♦ goes one down, Maybe the norm should be meaning and was told it was after calling the director. you will get a bottom score. something like, ‘We need a phoney club, typically 12-14 My regret is that I should Then, in Hands 4-6 in the some help here, please.’ points, could be natural club if have spoken to West about October issue of BRIDGE, Anyway, the prevailing feeling rebid on the second round. his manner and failure to you are choosing a reply to at good clubs should be call the director. However, partner’s non-vulnerable 1♣ that it is friendly to call the During play at trick 7 (after I judged that that would opening with fewer than 6 director and friendly to play three rounds of clubs), have made his anger points (your LHO has passed) to the rules. If this is done declarer led a fourth club. worse. It is only a game. and Bernard suggests bidding with a smile and impeccable West objected that declarer Graham Evans by email. to ‘find a better contract’ on

Page 24 BRIDGE December 2015 READERS’ LETTERS Bridge is a wonderful game continued and should be learnt by all. Bridge: However, in today’s hectic two of the hands when you lifestyle with so many other are short of clubs. On Fridays activities, families no longer Improving at Horsham, you could pass sit down together for a game all three hands safely and of cards, even at Christmas. Duplicate Club give partner a clear picture of This is a shame as cards your point strength, because teach numeracy skills and Scores for Novices 1♣ non-vulnerable would give hours of pleasure at never be passed out: your very little cost. This is where RHO will find some bid and I believe the problem lies by Liz Dale now partner can choose what as to why bridge fails to to do in the knowledge you attract new players. Reviewed by are weak; any subsequent Bridge has so much to David Huggett bid you make will not get offer, listening to others her too excited, which is the during the auction, assessing Available from amazon.co.uk danger of responding light. your hand at each stage of But at the less competitive the auction, being courteous I don’t know whether you remember the first time you Thursday sessions, 1♣ may at all times and gaining ventured down the bridge club to try your hand at well be passed out so it immense pleasure when duplicate, but I certainly do and a fearsome venture it would then be right to follow you make more tricks than seemed too. Although, for the most part, people were Bernard’s advice and look anyone else, as well as very kind – mainly because I was very young I suppose to improve the contract. making lots of new friends. – there seemed to be so much to get my head around I hope this shows how the It would be excellent if and the fear of appearing stupid was paramount. Liz Dale, who writes regularly for BRIDGE, has right bid can depend on bridge became part of the seen fit to address these fears with the first of what how good a standard you National Curriculum and is to be a small series on introducing newcomers to are playing at/against. could be taught in primary duplicate and, in particular, how to make indifferent Nigel Flynn, schools, carried on through scores into better ones. The first of these treatises Petworth, West Sussex. secondary education and looks at those boards when neither side is vulnerable then through university. – like the first deal in a new rubber – and when JUST A SUGGESTION Soon, it may be a part of you can get away perhaps with more aggressive I enjoy the challenge of your the Olympics, as in my bidding. In particular, she reminds the reader of: magazine once a month and opinion it is a mind sport. so I am happily renewing my Whilst waiting for the a) The value of the extra trick in pairs scoring; sub. However, I wonder if you powers that be to introduce could include some articles bridge to the National b) The need to try to bid to the highest scoring, for people who play a strong Curriculum, the EBU low level contract. For example, no-trump (16-18 points)? have set up EBED to help 1NT+1 will outscore 2♠. Mrs C Burne, with all our bridge Woldingham, Surrey. teaching needs. c) The absolute necessity to compete as much as possible. While it was considered Dave Parkin by email. impolite in the old days to bid when you had KEEP UP THE This is not how I see things, insufficient points, all that has changed and GOOD WORK Mr Parkin, and I will try to the thrust these days is to bid at all costs. I meant to write last month explain myself fully during to thank you and your team the next year or so. d) To be aware of hands that do not ‘fit’ and for a wonderful magazine. when that situation has been identified It gets better every month. ENDORSEMENT to bale out as soon as possible. Tony Cruden by email. Andy Bowles’ article, Keeping it simple, see e) To understand that slam bidding is at best a TENTATIVE IDEAS BRIDGE 154, was clear and risky business and is often best left alone. There is no downside to gave good specific advice pupils/students learning to on tackling the play. I do There are quizzes at the end of this small volume to play bridge. Here are some hope there will be more. make sure you have understood fully the very good discussion points to promote Mrs J Windle, advice that Liz Dale has imparted throughout and the game of bridge. Truro, Cornwall. ■ for any person who is tempted to try duplicate, but can’t yet summon up the courage, I would unhesi- Write to Mr Bridge at: Ryden Grange, Knaphill, tatingly recommend they read this book first. Surrey GU21 2TH or e-mail: [email protected]

BRIDGE December 2015 Page 25 A Blast From the Past 17 by Shireen Mohandes Adam ‘Plum’ Meredith, Madman or Genius?

lsterman despatching eleven glasses of green West North East South (1913-1976) was one of the few Chartreuse, a feat worthy of Dolokhov. Meredith players of his era who simply Note: Dolokhov is a character in War Pass Pass 1♣ Dbl Uannounced himself as a bridge profes- and Peace noted for his drinking. 1♠ 1NT Pass 3NT sional and was particularly partial to At the other end of the scale is All Pass the spade suit. He was tall (6’3”), good , perhaps the greatest looking and eccentric. He succeeded player of our generation, who falls After the opening lead of the ♠3, at rubber bridge and at tournament from grace after two small glasses of declarer was able to read the position bridge, starting in London and then sherry – if, that is, he can be persuaded and make four tricks in the spade suit, moving to the USA where he played to take them. (Confessions Of An to make a total of ten tricks. with his partner in life, American Addict, 1966) Normally with this holding: . With (a There are many reports of his Polish born British lawyer), he wrote psyches, and a good number of them The Baron System of . record how they backfired. Here is an Q 10 6 2 Away from the table, his passion was example from a match between Britain N ballet, specifically Ballet Nègre, which and Norway. W E S he supported financially. A 8 5 4 Teams. Ballet Nègre Dealer West. Game All. ♠ Q 10 6 2 African American Katherine Without any help from the opponents ♥ A J 9 Dunham (1909-2006) founded and the suit breaking evenly, with ♦ 9 7 a dance troupe called Ballet normal play one would make either ♣ Nègre in 1930. It was one of 9 8 6 3 two or three tricks. just a few ballet companies ♠ J 9 ♠ K 7 3 The report explains that, at the other ♥ 8 6 5 4 N ♥ 10 3 2 table, teammate Terence Reese was in available to black students at W E ♦ ♦ the time. Her ballet company Q J 8 6 5 3 S A 2 the same contract, 3NT, from South, eventually disbanded in 1960. ♣ Q ♣ K 10 5 4 2 with a ♦Q lead. As it happens, with ♠ A 8 5 4 one of the world’s best declarer players ♥ K Q 7 at the helm and some very good card I had heard that he used to like to ♦ K 10 4 reading, Reese was able to make his sit North at Table 1 and would tell his ♣ A J 7 game. The♦ A was taken at trick 1 and partner on the way to the table, ‘I’ll be the suit was continued. The report there in a moment, just deal the cards and tell the others that I open 1 spade.’ Mollo explains, ‘No man, no three Bemuda Bowl men, for that matter, have bid spades Britain won the world championship for teams in 1955 with Reese and Schapiro, so often or so devoutly as Plum.’ Konstam and Dodds, Meredith and Pavlides, beating the USA in the final. It is the (The Bridge Immortals, 1967). Mollo only Bermuda Bowl win for a British team. That 1955 event, which took place in affectionately contrasts Meredith to New York, was a head-to-head between USA and the European Champions. Reese in an uncommon way, ‘Among Eventually, it evolved to include more teams and in the modern era, the most world champions, Adam Meredith has recent was held in Chennai where Poland were the winners, with 22 teams doubtless the biggest capacity and has competing. been known to play brilliantly after

Page 26 BRIDGE December 2015 Adam ‘Plum’ Meredith continued Playing a weak no-trump, this 2015 diamonds himself, starting with the auction would reach 3NT: ♦J. American West, Milton Ellenby, won the first round and continued West North East South with the ♠9, which Meredith won in in the British Bridge World goes on to Pass Pass 1♣ dummy. Again, Meredith played a explain that Reese decided that East Pass 1♠ Pass 1NT diamond and again, Ellenby played a had either two or four diamonds, so he Pass 3NT All Pass spade. won the second round and played ace Meanwhile, look at East’s hand: two and another spade towards dummy. discards were needed on the second East won and switched to a club, and third rounds of spades, so hearts which Reese took in hand, felling the were shed. Meredith ploughed on with ♣Q held by West. By leading towards a third round of diamonds, which the ♣J-7, a club trick could be made to again West won. go along with the ace, three tricks in each of the majors, and the ♦K. So it turned out not to be a catastro- ♠ A phe at the Meredith table, but it might ♥ J 9 5 well have been if Reese had failed to ♦ — bring in the contract at his table. ♣ K 10 7 ♠ J 7 ♠ — ♥ 10 4 N ♥ Q 8 7 Heard at Eastbourne ♦ 3 W E ♦ — S ♣ Q 8 ♣ J 9 6 4 ‘She had an enormous bag full ♠ of knitting. How could I think she — was going to psyche?’ – Adam ♥ A K 6 Meredith (reported in British ♦ — Bridge World November 1960) ♣ A 5 3 2

The next deal illustrates Meredith’s Ellenby worked out that if Adam fine play and reading of the layout. Photo credit: ACBL wanted diamonds to be played, then Teams, love all, the 1955 World it could not be in his side’s interest to Championships: play them too. He reckoned that if he Sitting South, Meredith won the cashed his fourth diamond (the fourth opening lead of a small spade and defensive trick), then his partner was ♠ A Q 8 4 counted out the obvious seven top going to have to discard a club. That ♥ J 9 5 tricks (three spades, two hearts and – so far – is not catastrophic, but it is ♦ 5 4 2 two clubs). Looking at the spade the ♠A that will be truly excruciating ♣ K 10 7 suit, there’s an extra trick there (by for East. So Ellenby did not play a ♠ J 9 7 5 3 ♠ 10 finessing twice against West). Showing fourth diamond, instead, he played a ♥ 10 4 N ♥ Q 8 7 3 2 excellent technique, he postponed the spade, on which a troubled heart was W E ♦ ♦ A Q 10 3 S K 7 6 decision on where to seek the ninth discarded by East and a comfortable ♣ Q 8 ♣ J 9 6 4 trick by biding time and playing heart by South. ♠ K 6 2 ♥ A K 6 ♦ J 9 8 Public Challenge Match at Selfridges ♣ A 5 3 2 Rex Mackey, in his outstanding book, The Walk of The Oysters, describes the competitiveness of the exponents of the Acol system and the Cab system as, Contract 3NT. Lead ♠5. ‘For reasons that will always remain obscure to all but a small fanatical colony, these systems created a flutter in the expert dovecote, which to the dispassionate observer appeared a little disproportionate to their content.’ He adds that North was dealer and the 1955 auction they were, in fact, so similar that it was difficult to distinguish them clearly. was: Further on he adds, ‘The best comment on this lies in the fact that the arch- priest of Baron, Adam Meredith, even when on the World Championship team, West North East South would at the drop of a hat say he was playing either Acol or Cab without in Ellenby Leslie Rosen Adam any way altering the style of bidding.’ Of course, the solution was a public Dodds Meredith challenge match at Selfridges. Victor Mollo ‘…compared the Cab-men, Konstam Pass Pass 1NT and Dodds, to footballers playing with their boots on the wrong feet.’ Pass 3NT All Pass

BRIDGE December 2015 Page 27 Adam ‘Plum’ Meredith the ♥Q drops) and then play Ellenby had defended well a club to dummy’s ♣K (the to put him in such a position only to dummy) and by not cashing that fourth cash the ♥J. diamond winner (fratricide Meredith now crossed to However, if the layout squeeze, see BRIDGE Sep- his hand with a heart to the is as below, then the ♥J tember 2015, issue 153). As France ♥A and played a club to the has not become a winner it turned out, Meredith read ♣10. East returned a club. – it is the long club that’s the actual layout correctly. Mini-Cruises At this point in time, Mer- been established (they He won the club return in edith doesn’t know if the were breaking 3-3 all the hand and finally scored the vital ninth trick is going to time) and I can win the ♥J in dummy to make his come from a long club or a club return in dummy or game. ■ long heart. He knows/hopes hand. As long as I don’t get that East was in trouble, but stranded from my winners, isn’t certain. I will be all right.’ ‘Round about the year He thinks to himself, I934, a certain type of Departs Southampton ‘Suppose the layout is like psychic was considered 25th March 2016 • 2 nights this:’ ♠ — almost mandatory. Balmoral • L1605 ♥ J 9 East would open One Diamond, North/South • Southampton ♦ — • Boulogne-sur-Mer, France ♠ — ♣ K 7 only being vulnerable; • Southampton ♥ J 9 ♠ J ♠ — South would double, and West would view Great value Mr Bridge fares: ♦ — ♥ — N ♥ Q 10 W E something like this: ♣ K 7 ♦ 3 ♦ — Inside twin cabins from £189pp S ♠ ♠ ♣ ♣ Outside twin cabins from £219pp J — Q 9 6 4 ♥ 10 ♥ Q ♠ — Superior Balcony cabins from £339pp N ♠ 6 ♦ 3 W E ♦ — ♥ K Solos offer – S ♥ 10 8 5 N ♣ Q ♣ 9 6 4 ♦ — W E Outside twin cabin for ♦ Q 10 9 4 2 S sole occupancy from £229pp ♠ — ♣ A 5 3 ♣ J 9 8 3 ♥ K Departs Southampton ♦ — 21st October 2016 • 2 nights ♣ A 5 3 ‘But how do I know what to Hopefully, West would Balmoral • L1625 do? It seems that winning the club return in hand with say One Spade. Since he could always retreat to • Southampton Bernard ‘In this case, I need to win the ♣A is the right thing to • Honfleur, France Magee diamonds the outcome on board in hand, cash the ♥K (pray do for now…’ • Southampton L1625 was rarely expensive for Great value Mr Bridge fares: his side; on the other hand, it was the easiest Inside twin cabins from £189pp Ruth Sherman (1903-1965) thing in the world to Outside twin cabins from £219pp A research chemist with a doctorate from Vassar expose the psychic. Superior Balcony cabins from £339pp College, New Yorker Ruth learned her bridge at home Nevertheless, players Solos offer – and achieved success quickly at the highest level of still make this fatuous- Outside twin cabin for the game, including winning the Vanderbilt Cup in sole occupancy from £229pp looking call from time to 1953. ’s obituary published in Sports time, for much the same Illustrated, 31 May 1965 describes her style in this way: reason as a poker player Daily bridge on board, bridge ‘Perhaps the only chink in Ruth’s bridge armor was her may resort to childish fees included. Mr Bridge welcome very reliability. Her partners could rely upon her, but drinks party. Partners for single bluffing when the others players. Special solos offers. so could her opponents. In recent years, however, she seem to see his bets; developed a most successful bridge partnership with if the enemy can be the brilliant British international player, Adam Meredith, made to believe that and her style changed. She added to her repertoire you are capable of such such things as responses in three-card majors and other nonsense, the moment deceptive tactics, and she and Meredith compiled a For reservations call Mr Bridge may come when the good record, especially in European pair play. Through stage is set for an on 01483 489961 sheer necessity, she discovered how best to handle the exquisite double-cross.’ www.mrbridge.co.uk bombshells that Adam often tossed into the auction.’ Maurice Harrison-Gray, When Ruth died she left US$ 450,000 in her will to Terms and conditions apply – British Bridge World, see Fred.Olsen 2016 brochure or Adam, ‘to enable him to continue his bridge activities’. December 1956. www.fredolsencruises.com for details.

FOC308983_MR_BRIDGE_Mag_June_strip_ads_W.C.15.06.15_FV2.inddPage 28 25/06/2015 16:23 1 BRIDGE December 2015 Answers to Julian Pottage’s Defence Quiz on page 16

West North East South optimistic of coming to a third via the 1. ♠ Q J 10 1♦ ♣K. If partner has ♠K-10-x, a trump trick ♥ 9 5 Pass 1♥ Pass 2♦ will provide the fourth defensive trick. ♦ K 8 3 Pass 2♠ Pass 3♥ If not, you need to look elsewhere. The ♣ Q J 10 6 2 Pass 5♦ All Pass obvious place to look is in the diamond ♠ 5 ♠ K 7 6 2 suit. If partner holds the ♦K, it will sit well ♥ K 10 7 3 2 N ♥ A J 4 You win the first two tricks with the ♣K-Q, behind the ♦A and be a winner. W E ♦ ♦ ♣ ♣ J 7 4 S 10 9 5 2 partner playing the 4 and 8, declarer You need to switch to a diamond now ♣ K 7 5 3 ♣ 8 4 the ♣3 and ♣9. How do you continue? because otherwise dummy’s long clubs ♠ A 9 8 4 3 The play to the first two tricks marks allow declarer to discard diamond losers ♥ Q 8 6 partner with the ♣A. To have an open- after your side’s trumps and the ♣K have ♦ A Q 6 ing bid, South must have all or nearly all gone. ♣ A 9 the remaining high cards. Since your side cannot make the setting trick just yet, you should seek a safe exit. West North East South Dummy’s heart holding makes a heart 4. ♠ 10 7 5 1♠ switch very risky. For example, declarer ♥ K Pass 2♣ Pass 2NT might win the ♥Q with the ♥A and later ♦ 8 5 3 Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ finesse the ♥10. The spade situation is ♣ K Q 9 7 4 2 All Pass dangerous too. Declarer might hold the ♠ A K 8 6 2 ♠ J 9 3 ♠K-J and score the jack on a free finesse. ♥ 10 7 5 N ♥ 8 4 You lead the ♥3. East wins with the ♥A A club continuation, which might well ♦ J 10 W E ♦ Q 9 7 4 2 S and returns the ♥J, covered by the ♥Q give a ruff and discard, is out too. This ♣ A 10 6 ♣ J 8 5 and ♥K. How do you continue? leaves a trump, which cannot give any- ♠ Q 4 You have made two tricks and are thing away. ♥ A Q J 9 6 3 2 hopeful of making the ♣K later. If part- ♦ A K 6 ner holds the ♦A, it should make whether ♣ 3 you lead the suit now or later. If declarer holds the ♦A, the setting trick will need 3. ♠ Q J 8 to come from trumps. Although you can ♥ 9 4 West North East South see that any trump finesse is working, you ♦ A 8 3 1♠ Pass Pass 4♥ can also see that dummy is fairly short in ♣ Q J 9 4 2 All Pass trumps and that partner should have four. ♠ 5 2 ♠ 10 6 3 You should play a third round of hearts ♥ K 10 7 5 3 N ♥ A J 8 You cash the ♠A-K, East playing upwards (the ♥10), forcing dummy to ruff. This way, ♦ J 7 5 W E ♦ K 9 4 2 and South dropping the ♠Q on the S declarer cannot pick up partner’s ♠K. ♣ K 10 6 ♣ 8 7 5 second round. What is your plan? ♠ A K 9 7 4 You have made two tricks. Assuming ♥ Q 6 2 that declarer is not void, you will make ♦ Q 10 6 a third with the ♣A. You know from part- 2. ♠ A 9 3 ♣ A 3 ner’s play in spades that no spade ruff is ♥ K 10 5 4 available. A glance at your trump hold- ♦ A Q 8 2 ing tells you that a trump trick is most un- ♣ J 2 West North East South likely; even if partner has the ♥Q, it will ♠ Q 8 5 4 ♠ 10 7 6 2 1♠ drop. If partner holds a singleton club, a ♥ Q J 7 N ♥ 9 8 3 Pass 2♣ Pass 2NT ruff would do. However, if you think about W E ♦ 7 4 ♦ 9 Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ S it, no layout consistent with the bidding ♣ K Q 10 6 ♣ A 8 7 5 4 All Pass gives partner a singleton club. Indeed, ♠ K J partner, who passed your 1♠ opening, ♥ A 6 2 You lead the ♥5. East wins with the ♥A cannot hold two diamond honours in any ♦ K J 10 6 5 3 and returns the ♥J, covered by the ♥Q shape. The way to give your side a dia- ♣ 9 3 and ♥K. How do you continue? mond trick is to switch to a trump to knock You have made two tricks and are out dummy’s ♥K entry. ■

BRIDGE December 2015 Page 29 Teacher’s Corner – Teaching Tips from Ian Dalziel Playing Bridge in Your First Lesson

hile it takes years actually drop out. an auction. I have a bidding is different to become pro- My first three lessons ladder on each of the four from no bid ficient at bridge, are done, not with ‘chalk walls which can be seen by and dealer Wanyone can be taught to play and talk’, but around a gi- everyone (as shown). is different in one lesson, even if they ant bridge table. I put four They deal another hand, from declar- have never played cards bridge tables together in a which I swap for one I pre- er. before. Prior to the advent square; about 16 people sit pared earlier and we bid By this of bridge classes, people round it and the rest can the hands with the cards time, an hour learned at school, at home, stand or sit behind. I speak face up. Bidding advice has elapsed at work, or from friends – at from the corner. This makes is limited to:- bid with and it’s time their first attempt, they were it nice and informal, so they good cards, pass with poor for the tea ‘playing’, albeit badly, but are not shy about asking cards, choose trumps by break; people that didn’t matter as long as questions and, even bet- length before strength, and always mix they enjoyed it. ter, you always get some the ranking of the suits. very well. I The cards are lifted (don’t then draw for worry, they don’t remem- partners and ber them) and the hand is tables and played out duplicate style. they actually When dummy goes down, I play bridge. explain that this makes the The first card play much easier than few hands whist because you can see are bid with 26 cards instead of 13 – so if cards face up, you can play whist, you will but soon they find bridge so much easier. do it proper- After this hand is played, I ly. The cards answer questions and revise are shuffled, the terms, declarer, dummy, cut and dealt Hence, at my beginners’ jokes cracked and lots of defenders and contract. I rubber bridge first lesson, they are dealing laughter. I show them what emphasise that no-trumps style (I have the cards and playing prop- a pack of cards looks like er bridge (not ) and the four people who are after one hour of tuition. I seated centrally are ‘volun- want my students to think, teered’ as demonstrators. ‘bridge is an easy game,’ so We play a hand of whist but that they will come back the cards are kept separate next week and, if they enjoy (no choice with a huge ta- themselves, they will. There ble) and stacked duplicate is plenty of time later to teach style. Whist describes the the skills of the game but if mechanics of card play and too much theory is taught at ruffing nicely but shows the start, it makes an excit- how lucky or unlucky you ing game quite dreary. can be with the trump suit, My first five lessons are which is the last card dealt. ‘pay as you go’ so no-one I explain that bridge is so needs worry about paying much better than whist be- a large term fee and regret- cause the players decide the ting it, but very few people trump suit themselves with

Page 30 BRIDGE December 2015 Bridge on Your First Lesson much more than theory. While prepared hands are essential to consolidate JUST techniques taught in class, a shuffle cut guide as shown), they need to play random DUPLICATE but stacked duplicate style. hands too. Indeed, unless They record the bidding on they play random hands, BRIDGE 2016 my ‘yellow pages’ (see my they don’t experience the previous article); bidding real excitement of the game. boxes are not needed at this I encourage them to ar- Holiday Inn stage. Believe it or not they range home games among Newport NP18 2YG score at their first lesson themselves and teach others 4-6 March £189 because this makes it more to play. In fact, beginners interesting – the scoring is are better than experts at 11-13 November £189 duplicate (without vulner- teaching other beginners – ability) with ready reckoners they can’t blind them with Wyndham used to work out their score science because they don’t (as shown). know any. Garden Grantham Marston, Lincs NG32 2HT 29-31 January £189 Denham Grove 26-28 February £189 Near Uxbridge, UB9 5DG 13-15 May £189 18-20 March £199 16-18 September £189 10-12 June £199 14-16 October £189 21-23 October £199 4-6 November £189 18-20 November £199

Ardington Hotel Chatsworth Hotel Worthing BN11 3DZ Worthing BN11 3DU 5-7 February £199 8-10 April £199 Holiday Inn 6-8 May £199 Ashford North TN26 1AR 3-5 June £199 What about a bidding I know the fashion is to system and HCP? That, of start with Minibridge as a 19-21 February £189 15-17 July £199 course, will come later; to- more gentle introduction. I 28-30 October £189 7-9 October £199 day they have more than did try this enthusiastically enough to learn – the me- for one year but abandoned 11-13 November £189 11-13 November £199 chanics of the game. They it when I found, to my sur- enjoy their introduction prise, that it actually slowed and leave knowing they down the pace of learning. Full Board have actually played bridge It works well for children No Single Supplement* and it was a lot easier than because their time is lim- they expected. They realise, ited at lunchtimes or after- ( 01483 489961 of course, that they have school sessions. lots more to learn, but they Anyone wishing more www.mrbridge.co.uk feel confident they will get details and a PDF copy of Please note there are no seminars, there if it’s done one step at the stationery shown, at set hands or prizes at these events. a time. no charge, should email *subject to availability Beginners need practice [email protected] ■

BRIDGE December 2015 Page 31 Answers to David Huggett’s Play Quiz on page 16

You are declarer in 4♥ after West opened of spades (or if you misguess the suit), you 1. ♠ 8 6 3 1NT (12-14). West leads the ♠J. How do will have generated four losers. If, instead ♥ 7 3 you plan the play? you win the first trick, the most you can ♦ K Q J 8 2 The opening lead marks East with the ever lose are a diamond and two spades ♣ A 7 4 spade queen, making it almost certain after drawing trumps. ♠ J 5 ♠ K Q 7 4 that West started with the king of dia- ♥ J 10 5 4 N ♥ Q 9 8 monds. This means that playing up to W E ♦ ♦ ♠ 6 4 S A 10 9 7 your diamond queen for the tenth trick 4. 6 5 4 ♣ J 10 9 8 2 ♣ 5 3 just isn’t going to work. However, there is ♥ K Q 6 4 ♠ A 10 9 2 a way that might very well work. Win the ♦ 8 7 3 ♥ A K 6 2 opening lead and eliminate both black ♣ K 9 5 ♦ 5 3 suits by playing three rounds and ruffing ♠ Q J 10 7 ♠ 9 8 3 ♣ K Q 6 the third round of both in hand. Now, ♥ 7 2 N ♥ 10 9 8 3 W E exit with a trump and if East wins, you let ♦ 6 4 2 S ♦ Q J 10 9 5 the diamond return run to your ace and ♣ Q 10 8 3 ♣ 4 You are declarer in 3NT and West leads play another trump. This time, West has ♠ A K 2 the ♣J. How do you plan the play? to win (he must have the last heart for his ♥ A J 5 With six top tricks, game will be an 1NT opening) and he will be endplayed, ♦ A K easy make as long as you can come to to give you either a ruff and discard, or ♣ A J 7 6 2 three diamond tricks. Obviously, you lead away from the king of diamonds. need to preserve an entry to dummy, so it must be right to win the first club in You are declarer in 6NT and West leads hand. Perhaps, it looks tempting to lead 3. ♠ K 2 the ♠Q. How do you plan the play? a diamond to the king, but just suppose ♥ K 7 6 4 2 With eight tricks and no more coming that wins, with East, say, ducking from ♦ A 9 8 7 from the top three suits, you have to ad- a four-card suit. Then, whatever you do ♣ 10 2 dress the question of how to play the club next in the suit, you will find you are an ♠ 9 8 5 4 3 ♠ A Q 7 suit to the best advantage. Superficially, it entry short to dummy to both set up and ♥ 10 5 N ♥ 3 might look right to play low to the king and W E ♦ ♦ enjoy the remaining winners. 6 S K J 10 5 4 3 then hope to finesse against the queen, The answer, of course, is simple; you ♣ J 9 8 6 4 ♣ Q 7 3 but that plan would fail. Actually, you have just have to a diamond entirely, ♠ J 10 6 a that guarantees four tricks making the defence win. You win the ♥ A Q J 9 8 on any 4-1 break: playing the ace first return in hand, knock out the ace of ♦ Q 2 and then leading low towards dummy, diamonds and can enter dummy with ♣ A K 5 intending to play the nine if West follows the ace of clubs for the remaining low. You are fine whether it loses or not: if diamonds. East wins the suit has broken, while if West You are declarer in 4♥ and West leads shows out on the second club, you win the ♦6. How do you plan the play? in dummy and lead low towards the 2. ♠ K 5 2 I hope you weren’t tempted to play low jack. ■ ♥ 6 4 3 2 from dummy at trick one in the hope that ♦ A 5 3 West has led away from the king, be- ♣ K 6 4 cause, if you did, then I’m afraid you will Mr Bridge Premium Quality Cards ♠ J 10 9 7 ♠ Q 8 4 3 be defeated in what is essentially a cast- Standard Faces, N ♥ A 7 ♥ K iron contract. The lead cannot possibly be with or without W E bar codes. ♦ K J 10 7 S ♦ 9 8 6 fourth highest because the Rule of Eleven ♣ Q J 7 ♣ 10 9 5 3 2 would indicate that West had started with Unboxed. ♠ A 6 K-J-10-6-(x..), when he would never lead 6 red/6 blue £19.95 30 red/30 blue ♥ Q J 10 9 8 5 the six. However, it might be a singleton, only £60 ♦ Q 4 2 in which case, if you duck, East will win, ♣ A 8 return a diamond for West to ruff and Available from The London Bridge Centre. ( 020 7288 1305 www.bridgeshop.com then, if East has both the ace and queen

Page 32 BRIDGE December 2015 Andy Bowles on the Play of the Cards Getting Back to Hand

and your high ones for drawing the play a spade to his partner’s ace. East Matchpointed Pairs. enemy trumps. Hence, you win with will return a trump and, again, you Dealer West. Game All. the ♥K in dummy. What now? won’t get your diamond ruff. ♠ 9 7 2 Does that mean you have to guess ♥ K 9 3 who has ♦K? No, there is another line: ♦ 7 ♠ 9 7 2 3) Play a diamond to the ace, then ♣ J 8 7 5 4 3 ♥ 9 ruff the low diamond in dummy, ♦ 7 preserving the ♦Q-J. Later, you can N ♣ J 8 7 5 4 knock out ♦K and make another W E S diamond trick. N Are there any pitfalls with that? Let’s W E ♠ K Q J S see. You play a diamond to the ace and ♥ Q 8 7 4 2 ruff the small diamond with dummy’s ♦ A Q J 6 ♠ K Q J last trump. ♣ 10 ♥ Q 8 7 ♦ A Q J 6 ♣ — ♠ 9 7 2 West North East South ♥ — 1♥ ♦ — Dbl 2♥ All Pass You have lost a club and a heart already ♣ J 8 7 5 4 and another loser in spades is certain. Opening lead: ♣K. ♥ N You’re only in 2 , so you can afford to W E lose two diamonds, but this is pairs, S North’s raise, with only four points and where every trick matters and it would only three hearts opposite what could be nice to make an overtrick. ♠ K Q J be a four-card major, might raise some What do you know about West’s ♥ Q 8 7 eyebrows. However, he has a singleton hand? He made a take-out double of ♦ Q J and, over a take-out double, it’s a good 1♥, so he probably started with four ♣ — idea to get in the opponents’ way if you spades and ♥A-x. He probably has ei- can safely. Also, opener might have five ther ♦K or ♠A as well, or possibly both. hearts, as he does here. There are three ways that you might East still has a trump. It may look West leads the ♣K and East follows play the diamond suit: natural now to come back to hand with the two. Their 1) Ace of diamonds, queen of with a club ruff and draw it, but that says that they lead ace from A-K and diamonds taking a ruffing finesse. If might not work. You’d be down to one they play count signals. West doubled West has the king of diamonds, that trump and the opponents would still 1♥ for take-out, so he probably has will work well. If, however, East has have ♠A and ♦K. If West had both of ♣K-Q-x or ♣K-Q-x-x. it, he will win the second diamond them as well as four clubs originally, West now plays the ace and ten and play another trump, leaving you you might be in trouble. After you had of hearts. That helps to sort out the without any ruffs in dummy at all. knocked out one of these cards, he trump suit, but it means you can take 2) Diamond to the queen. If that would play a club to force you to ruff only one diamond ruff in dummy. wins, you can ruff the small diamond with your last trump. Then, when you You know you’re going to have to ruff in dummy, scoring two high diamonds knock out the other high card, he will a diamond in dummy. You should aim and one diamond ruff. If, on the other have a club to cash. to use your small trumps for ruffing hand, West has ♦K, he will win and That would give West:

BRIDGE December 2015 Page 33 Getting Back to Hand continued Sally’s Slam of the Month

♠ A x x x Two Slams from ♥ A 10 N W E ♦ K x x S ♣ K Q x x the Premier League

Can he have that? With as much as am short of offerings from In our final match, against Allfrey, that, he might have bid again, but he is readers for this month’s article we bid a good slam, not bid in the vulnerable, so he might not. – again. (Please keep them other room, but I’m not sure we en- Instead of ruffing a club to hand, Icoming.) Instead, I am going to give tirely knew what we were doing. what about playing a spade? That you a couple where my team gained avoids wasting a trump, so there’s no points in the first weekend of this risk of running out of trumps. There year’s Premier League. Dealer East. Game All. is one risk, though. If West started ♠ K 2 with ♦K-x-x-x-x, that would give East ♥ A K Q 6 2 three. You’ve played two rounds of Dealer North. Love All. ♦ 8 4 diamonds, so East would be down to ♠ A K 8 7 ♣ K 9 7 6 one. They would get a diamond ruff. ♥ 10 8 5 2 ♠ J 10 6 ♠ Q 8 5 4 Is that possible? For that to happen, ♦ J 7 5 2 ♥ 5 N ♥ J 10 8 7 W E ♣ ♦ ♦ West would have to have: Q A J 9 7 6 3 S K Q 10 5 ♠ 6 5 4 ♠ J 2 ♣ 5 4 2 ♣ 10 ♥ J N ♥ 9 3 ♠ A 9 7 3 W E ♠ ♦ ♦ ♥ A x x x K Q 8 6 4 3 S A 10 9 9 4 3 ♥ A 10 N ♣ K 10 9 ♣ J 8 6 5 4 2 ♦ 2 W E ♦ K x x x x S ♠ Q 10 9 3 ♣ A Q J 8 3 ♣ K Q ♥ A K Q 7 6 4 ♦ Void ♣ A 7 3 West North East South Some would overcall 1NT with that, Pass 1♣ but others would start with a double. 1♦ 1♥ 3♣ Dbl Let’s go back to trick one. East Our opponents had a bidding 4♦ 4NT Pass 5♥ played ♣2, playing count signals. He misunderstanding and languished Pass 6♣ All Pass wouldn’t do that from A-9-6-2. Hence in game, but our team-mates bid the you know that the danger layout isn’t spots off the cards: Here, the opposition’s bidding possible and it’s safe to play a spade. helped us. I interpreted the double of You play a spade to the king. West West North East South the 3♣ (mixed raise) bid as showing wins and plays a club to the ace, which Dhondy a decent club suit and a wish to get you ruff. You draw the last trump and Callaghan involved (we play weak no-trump knock out ♦K, making nine tricks. Pass Pass 1♥ and five-card majors, so the opening 2♦ 3♦* Dbl 4♦* bid could have been on a doubleton). Pass 4♠* Pass 4NT* The 4♦ bid made it sound likely that ♠ 9 7 2 Pass 5♣* Pass 6♦* partner had a singleton diamond so ♥ K 9 3 Pass 7♥ All Pass I bid 4NT. In minor-suit auctions we ♦ 7 play this as more encouraging than ♣ J 8 7 5 4 3 3♦ showed a good raise to 3♥, 5♣ and that is how I intended it, but ♠ A 8 4 3 ♠ 10 6 5 4♦ showed shortage, and 4♠ was partner wasn’t sure, but (a) he liked ♥ A 10 N ♥ J 6 5 W E ace-asking. After the three-‘ace’ his singleton diamond, (b) he had ♦ K 9 4 S ♦ 10 8 5 3 2 response, North asked for the queen two aces and (c) he had heart sup- ♣ K Q 9 6 ♣ A 2 of trumps. South was happy to show port. 6♣ turned out to be an excel- ♠ K Q J it, and the diamond void, enough for lent contract, not bid at the other ♥ Q 8 7 4 2 North to bid the grand slam. table. ■ ♦ A Q J 6 ♣ 10 ■ Send your slam hands to [email protected]

Page 34 BRIDGE December 2015 Bernard Magee DVDs – Number Twelve SAVE £40 0N french pelissier Endplay Tables.

he DVD starts with the subtitle West leads them you can ruff in the of the topic: avoiding losing fi- North hand and discard the ♦Q from nesses. A finesse usually gives the South hand. If West chooses a Tyou a 50% chance, but if you can get diamond, then he has to lead from your opponents to lead the suit for you, his king and allow both your ace and you can transform it into 100%. queen to score. A perfect endplay involves manipu- lating the cards in such a way that you put your opponents on lead with no ♠ K 8 6 5 4 choice but to give you an extra trick. ♥ A K Q However, I talk about giving the de- ♦ 7 3 We have just received the fenders a chance to go wrong. Before ♣ 7 6 5 final shipment from the French taking your finesse, you might contem- ♠ 10 9 ♠ 7 manufacturers of the famous plate playing a loser first and letting the ♥ 4 3 2 N ♥ J 10 9 6 W E Pelissier folding tables. ♦ K 9 8 6 ♦ J 10 5 4 2 opponents have the lead. They may not S In July, the French factory closed ♣ ♣ be forced to lead the suit you want, but Q J 10 2 9 8 3 and we will now be producing ♠ they might do it by mistake. A Q J 3 2 these beautiful tables in a new I go through the two main elements ♥ 8 7 5 English factory in Devon. of endplay: finessable suits and ruff ♦ A Q To make way for the new and discards. On this hand, you are in ♣ A K 4 English production we are 6♠ by South and the lead is the ♣Q. offering the remaining French-produced models at I go through a whole variety of end- this very low price. ♠ K 8 6 5 4 plays and then spend a little time on It’s a chance for you to own a ♥ A K Q how to avoid being endplayed. This is genuine Pelissier table at a very ♦ 7 3 not very easy at all: as a defender, you special price. ♣ 7 6 5 have so much to think about that going If you run a bridge club, phone us for a quote on larger N into declarer’s mind and predicting an W E endplay is not going to be easy. quantities of tables. Delivery is S The tactics talked about include un- £10 per table for most areas. ♠ A Q J 3 2 blocking, overtaking and switching to ♥ 8 7 5 the right suit at the right time. HURRY! ♦ A Q Look at the hand above again and ♣ A K 4 notice that if West is really on the ball, WE HAVE 0NLY A FEW having led the ♣Q, he can then throw OF THESE TABLES his ♣J under the king and then play his LEFT The two hands have great potential low club on the third round of clubs. but because of their mirrored distribu- This means that East can win the third tion, there is no ruffing to be done. You round with the ♣9 and finish the per- Chartres - mahogany finish, baize. have eleven top tricks and a success- fect defence by playing a diamond £199 £159 ful diamond finesse will give you your through South’s hand, forcing declarer twelfth trick. Whenever your contract to take the finesse and go one down. depends on a finesse, think ‘Endplay’. Defence is tremendously difficult as Call 01483 750611 to You need all the suits to either be the second half of the DVD shows. order at these special prices. ‘empty’ (void in both hands) or ‘finess- I reiterate that, as declarer, you can try able’ (diamonds). to take advantage of defenders’ mistakes. Quote ‘Mr Bridge’s magazine’. You win the ♣Q with the ace, draw Always give them a chance to go wrong: trumps in two rounds, cash your heart you might not have played a perfect SR Designs for Bridge tricks and then play ♣K and then a endplay, but if you give the defenders www.bridge-tables.co.uk third club. West wins the third club the lead and they lead what you want but is left with a nasty choice. Your them to, you will have achieved the de- clubs and hearts are now empty, so if sired result. ■

BRIDGE December 2015 Page 35 Improve Your Defence with Andrew Kambites Room for Improvisation

his is the last of my articles on unless he had very good reason to but in Layout 2, you will see dummy opening leads. In the next issue do otherwise, hence if your ♣Q wins has ♣K-5 doubleton. Now, you can of BRIDGE, I move on to de- trick 1, you should assume declarer continue with a low club rather than Tfence after the opening lead has been has the ♣K and switch suit, waiting waste your ♣Q. made. for partner to lead a club through In my previous articles, I have declarer’s ♣K. advised you on the correct card to Layout 2 lead from a sequence. However, these ♠ A 8 4 leads are not written in stone. You Layout 1 ♥ K J 10 need to work out what you are trying ♠ K 8 4 ♦ Q 10 4 3 2 to achieve and if it becomes clear that ♥ K J 10 ♣ K 5 something unorthodox gives you ♦ A Q 10 4 ♠ 9 3 2 ♠ Q J 10 5 greater chances, then you are allowed ♣ 8 7 5 ♥ A 6 N ♥ 9 8 5 4 2 ♠ 9 3 2 ♠ J 10 7 5 ♦ J 7 6 W E ♦ 8 5 to improvise. S In all these problems, the bidding ♥ 9 6 N ♥ A 8 5 4 2 ♣ A Q J 3 2 ♣ 6 4 ♦ J 7 6 W E ♦ 5 3 ♠ K 7 6 has been a simple 1NT-3NT. You are S on lead with Hands A, B, C and D. ♣ A Q J 3 2 ♣ 6 4 ♥ Q 7 3 Don’t look for traps. In each case, ♠ A Q 6 ♦ A K 9 you have no reason to look any further ♥ Q 7 3 ♣ 10 9 8 7 than the obvious club lead. The ♦ K 9 8 2 question is, which club is best? ♣ K 10 9

Hand C Hand D Hand A Hand B With Hand B, it is you who has the ♠ 9 3 2 ♠ 9 3 2 ♠ 9 3 2 ♠ 9 3 2 side suit entry, not partner. Opponents ♥ J 6 ♥ J 6 ♥ 9 6 ♥ A 6 have bid to 3NT and you have 12 ♦ 9 7 6 ♦ A 7 6 ♦ J 7 6 ♦ J 7 6 points, hence it will be an unexpected ♣ A K 10 9 2 ♣ A K 10 9 2 ♣ A Q J 3 2 ♣ A Q J 3 2 bonus if partner ever gets the lead. The good news is that you can see a potential way of defeating 3NT Leading from Hand C after 1NT- With Hand A, lead the ♣Q, top of an without needing partner’s help. If the 3NT, it is obvious to lead the ♣10. You interior sequence. You are hoping for opponents’ clubs are 3-3, it will be have no entry outside clubs so if you Layout 1. Declarer takes the ♣K and good enough for you to lead the ♣Q, have to lose a club trick, you must do when partner gets in with the ♥A, he however, you can improve on that. so at trick 1 and hope that if partner returns a club. Note that if partner had The correct lead is the ♣A. If dummy subsequently gains the lead, he still the ♣K, it would be right for him to goes down with two or three small has a club to return. You are hoping overtake the ♣Q and return a club, clubs, you will continue with the ♣Q, for Layout 3.

Page 36 BRIDGE December 2015 Room for Improvisation pending on your signalling Partner is marked with a methods) and declarer’s ♣5. singleton heart. You can Better Hand At this stage, you cannot envisage this contract going be sure that partner does off with the defenders tak- Evaluation not have a singleton club, ing the first four tricks. Bernard Magee Layout 3 but you would reason that Lead the ♥A, then ♠ A K 8 if partner’s club is indeed continue with another heart Introduction ♥ K 7 3 a singleton, you have no for partner to ruff. No doubt Better Hand Evaluation is ♦ K 10 8 4 chance of establishing club an intelligent partner will aimed at helping readers to ♣ J 8 7 length tricks so you might look at dummy and return add greater accuracy to their bidding. It deals with auc- ♠ 9 3 2 ♠ J 6 5 4 as well continue with the a diamond to your ♦A. You N tions in which you and your ♥ J 6 W E ♥ 9 8 5 4 2 ♣K. can then give him a second partner, against silent op- ♦ 9 7 6 S ♦ A 3 Incidentally, as West, I heart ruff. ponents, can describe your ♣ A K 10 9 2 ♣ 5 4 would not overcall 1NT In passing, I will men- hands fully to each other and, by evaluating them ac- ♠ Q 10 7 ♣ with 2 with Hands B or tion that the correct heart curately, find the best final ♥ A Q 10 D, even if it was played as for you to lead at trick 2 is contract. The emphasis of all ♦ Q J 5 2 natural. the ♥10 as a suit preference good, accurate bidding is on ♣ Q 6 3 My last example will test . It draws attention to hand evaluation. how good you are at pick- the fact that you want a dia- There are two general types of ing up clues from the bid- mond return after partner auction: a) a fit is found and b) Holding Hand D, your ding. What do you lead ruffs the heart, a high heart no fit is found. thought processes are the from Hand E after the bid- showing an entry in dia- When you do not have a fit, same as with Hand B. You ding shown below? Your monds, the higher ranking you are aiming to describe the strength of your hand as soon have the outside entry and opponents are good players of the other two side suits. as possible, most often using any trick partner has will so you can rely on their bid- I will consider suit prefer- no-trump bids. This book be- be a bonus. Here, you may ding. ence signals in a later arti- gins by discussing balanced- well have to do the work cle. hand bidding in Acol, as it is very important that both yourself. Certainly, if oppo- I hope you have found members of a partnership nents’ clubs are 3-3, it won’t Hand E these examples interesting. have an accurate knowledge of matter which club you lead, ♠ 7 4 My purpose is to persuade how to show hands of different ♥ N strengths. but if one opponent has a A 10 8 3 W E you that opening leads don’t doubleton club honour, it is ♦ A 8 7 S always fit a rigid formula. When a fit is found, there is essential you start with the ♣ 10 9 8 7 All sorts of criteria are tak- much re-evaluation of the ♣ hand to be done; point count, A-K. You are hoping for en into account by experts, though still important, needs Layout 4. including the bidding and to be evaluated together with South North how many entries you have. distribution. The best way of 1♠ 2♥ I will also reinforce a theme reaching an accurate assess­ ment is to use the Losing Trick Layout 4 3♥ 4♠ that has been stressed con- Count; this is an important ♠ A K 8 stantly. method of hand evaluation and ♥ K 7 3 2♥ shows five hearts. South Opening leads are diffi- takes up a number of chapters. ♦ K 10 8 has supported hearts, show- cult. Beginners’ text books Finally, we move on to different ♣ J 8 7 3 ing at least three. What does show you only hands where forms of evaluation including ♠ 9 3 2 ♠ J 6 5 4 that tell you? the lead is clearcut, but with game tries and splinter bids. You can never know enough ♥ J 6 N ♥ 9 8 5 4 2 W E most hands in real life, you methods of hand evaluation; ♦ A 7 6 S ♦ 9 3 are faced with reasonable the more you learn, the better ♣ A K 10 9 2 ♣ 6 4 Layout 5 alternatives. you get at judging your hand. ♠ Q 10 7 ♠ K 10 6 2 You won’t always find the Although the Losing Trick ♥ A Q 10 ♥ K J 9 6 5 successful lead. More to Count is used more easily in ♦ Q J 5 4 2 ♦ 9 5 the point, neither will your tandem with your partner, a ♣ Q 5 ♣ A K large proportion of the ideas partner. in this book can be used by an ♠ 7 4 ♠ 9 8 A good bridge partner- individual. For example, eval- ♥ A 10 8 3 N ♥ 4 ship has two people who are uating your hand to be worth W E an extra point is going to help If you lead the ♣10, then ♦ A 8 7 S ♦ J 10 4 3 2 sympathetic to the prob- ♣ 10 9 8 7 ♣ Q J 6 4 2 lems each other faces. If you anyone you partner – as long South will win trick 1 with as you get it right. the ♣Q and dummy’s ♣J ♠ A Q J 5 3 criticise partner for a lead ♥ will provide a second stop- Q 7 2 he makes, you are just mak- £14 including UK postage per. ♦ K Q 6 ing it more likely he will Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 ♣ ♣ On the A, you might 5 3 get the next one wrong as www.mrbridge.co.uk see partner’s ♣4 or ♣6 (de- well. ■

BRIDGE December 2015 Page 37 Julian Pottage answers your bridge questions

Should I Respond with just Four Points?

I did not know This sequence At a duplicate what to bid ♠ J 7 4 occurred on a session, my Qwith this hand ♥ A 8 4 3 Qbridge holiday. Qpartner (North) after my partner ♦ Void Please could you tell led the ♣9 against 3NT. opened a strong 2♠: ♣ J 9 6 4 3 2 me what responder’s I applied the , 3♦ rebid means? ie, there are two cards out in East’s, West’s ♠ Void With my 6 HCP, I North South and my hand higher ♥ K Q 9 4 responded 1♥; my 1♣ 1♦ than the ♣9. When the ♦ A 8 7 3 partner rebid 1NT. 1NT 3♦ East hand went down, ♣ Q 10 4 3 2 Fearing a misfit I Tony Shaw by email. I saw that this hand passed. Was I right held ♣Q-J-10-4. Ouch! to pass or should You raise a good I took the trick with I responded 2NT. I have bid 2♣? question. The bid my ♣A and led back my Partner went to 4♠ and Should I have A cannot show a weak ♣7 (my last club) hoping made 11 tricks. I was bypassed the heart hand – responder would she had a higher club, afraid that he had no suit and started with bid 2♦ with a weak hand. which she did not. Her entry. Another player 1NT (a limit bid) and The bid is certainly natural, hand was the following: said that I should have then bid my club suit showing a 6-card or longer started with 3♣ or 3NT. after his rebid, to show diamond suit. Should it be Name and address supplied. a weak 6 card suit? invitational or forcing? ♠ 9 6 5 Bernard Coffey by email. The general Acol principle ♥ A 10 6 When you are is that rebidding the same ♦ Q 3 playing strong twos, If you respond suit is non-forcing unless ♣ 9 8 6 3 2 a 2NT reply is a 1♥ and rebid 2♣, agreed otherwise. I would A N negative, denying the values partner might give prefer to play it as forcing – W E A S you held. Although the club preference to 2♥, which otherwise responder might suit is poor, I prefer 3♣ to you do not want to hear. have to invent a 2♥ or 2♠ 3NT. A jump to 3NT makes If you start with 1NT, you reverse on hands that wish to it sound as if your hand is risk missing a 4-4 heart investigate a diamond slam. I queried her lead when more balanced than it is. fit, which could be costly. In a casual partnership, we had completed the Even a 4-3 spade fit, with I would not risk bidding 3♦ play and she said that ♣♦♥♠ diamond ruffs in the short if I meant it as forcing and she had led the ‘top trump hand, should be would not risk passing 3♦ if of nothing’ to which I Can you playable (you will play in 1♠ I were the opener, in case replied that I had never comment on the if partner bids it over 1♥). partner meant it as forcing. heard of leading this Qfollowing and In summary, although With a regular partner, against a no-trump let me know if and you might not have reached you would agree between contract. Please can where I went wrong? the best contract, I think you how you want to play you help me here? My partner opened 1♦. your bidding was fine. the sequence in future. Joan Brookes, South Africa.

Page 38 BRIDGE December 2015 Ask Julian continued In the October I have been 8-x on one side but not the issue of BRIDGE told that with other. Accordingly, you start Qon page 46 Qa balanced by cashing the king (or you Bernard Magee says, 15-16 count, after could play to the king). A lead of the nine is ‘Dummy on left: lead opening one of a suit, 3. It is a guess whether not going to be through heft.’ Now I if partner replies 1NT you should play the ace or A fourth highest. am reading Andrew the correct thing to do finesse the jack. Ideally, you Any holding in which the Robson‘s Bridge is pass. It seems that should delay tackling the suit nine is the fourth highest Lessons booklet on partner often goes on until you know as much as card will involve a sequence ‘Signal & Discard’. to make nine tricks. possible about the layout. of some sort. There are only Robson says, ‘I intensely Denise King by email. Other things being equal, I five cards higher than the dislike the ditty – Lead would play the ace because nine, so possession of three through strength.’ In Playing a weak no- sometimes a defender would of them is bound to involve commenting on the deal trump opening, it is have misjudged and gone in some touching cards from in question, he says, A usual to pass with a with an honour from K-Q-x. which you would lead. For ‘Better (and essential balanced 15-16 if you open instance, with K-Q-10-9, here) to switch to one of a suit and partner ♣♦♥♠ you lead the king; with dummy’s weaker suit.’ responds 1NT. It is important, A-Q-J-9, you lead the How should I make therefore, that partner does Playing queen. In the example, sense of these opposing not respond 1NT with a good matchpoint you cite, with the Q-J-10-x views? I understand 9 points or anything better. Qpairs, N/S were visible in dummy, you were that it is always If you have a really nice vulnerable and North certain the lead was not possible to construct 16 – a 5-card suit and a (my partner) was dealer: fourth highest. a hand that supports/ couple of tens, maybe – then Some people lead the opposes a particular you could raise 1NT to 2NT. nine from J-9-8 or Q-9-8, view – but which is Assuming partner responds ♠ A Q J 5 4 3 2 treating the holding as an better in the long run? correctly, it is a losing tactic ♥ 10 interior sequence, so if you Bruce Paul by email. to raise routinely with 16. ♦ 10 5 have not discussed what ♣ A Q 9 you are leading from such When dummy is ♣♦♥♠ N a holding, then you could on your right, it is W E S consider that as a possibility. A usually correct to What are the Here in the UK, it is lead up to dummy’s weak best percentage ♠ Void more common to lead suit. You will be leading up Qplays to avoid ♥ A Q 8 6 3 ‘second highest’ from bad to partner’s strength, setting two losers with the ♦ J 8 6 suits rather than ‘top of up or cashing winners and following holdings: ♣ J 8 5 4 2 nothing’ – but the latter doing something partner 1. A-10-x-x opposite certainly has its supporters. cannot do as easily. K-9-x-x-x (I tend to You mention a possible When dummy is on your bang out the A-K). North South difference between suit left, the position is less clear 2. A-10-9-x opposite 1♠ 2♣ and no-trump contracts. cut. If partner has strength K-x-x-x-x. 4♠ All Pass In a suit contract, unless in a suit, it is better for you 3. A-J-x-x-x opposite you have supported the if the opposing strength is in 10-x-x-x after low Was I right in bidding suit, a top of nothing lead dummy on your left, hence towards the A-J at all? Should I have is going to confuse partner the ‘lead through strength produces x from LHO. bid 1NT or even 2♥? into thinking you have a suggestion’. However, Jim Dapre, Whatever I said, it would doubleton. So, even if your if both opponents have Stoneleigh, Surrey. appear my partner partner likes to lead ‘top of strength in the suit, this can was going to bid 4♠. nothing’ against no-trump nullify partner’s holding. 1. You can be sure Most tables played contracts, I recommend If dummy on your left has of only one loser by in 2♠ or 3♠; two other playing something else a collection of small cards A playing low to the pairs, like us, went against suit contracts. and you hold some length nine or low to the ten. This three off in 4♠. Many Americans lead with the queen or jack, it is caters for a 4-0 break either A G Munn, Sutton Coldfield. low from length whether usually safe to attack the side. Unless you are in a the suit is any good or not suit (by leading low). A lead particularly good contract With only 8 HCP, you against a suit contract. Over from the queen costs only if (like a low point count slam), do not really have here, second highest is the declarer has the ace, king you are unlikely to take this A enough for a two- usual lead from poor cards and jack. A lead from the safety play at matchpoints. level response. If you respond against a suit contract. jack costs even less often. 2. You can cater for Q-J- 1NT, partner should be

BRIDGE December 2015 Page 39 Ask Julian continued the other. She said that in so doing, it was telling Catching Up by Sally Brock her that I did not want to play in no-trumps. ell, I’m still At our table, East over- content with a 3♠ rebid, Does bidding 3♥ holding my called the more aggressive which you would pass. imply a desire not to breath but (I might well have done My second choice is to play in no-trump? Wit does look as if our the same – I really like 6-4 respond 2♥ because you M Jefferies by email. house sale might be go- shape) 3♠ and I bid what do have five good hearts. ing ahead. The proposed seemed to be the obvious However, it is quite likely With only 9 HCP, moving date is Novem- 3NT. West doubled and that you will end up in a the North hand ber 27th, though there is led the ♣K. At trick two, 5-0 spade ‘fit’ if you do A is not worth a plenty of time for things he switched to a spade to that, because partner will responder’s reverse. The to go wrong. the queen, king and ace. I rebid 2♠ with any hand correct response to 1♦ is 1♥ The main bridge since played on hearts and West without three hearts that is rather than 2♣. South then last I wrote has been won the third to switch to too weak for a strong rebid. rebids 1NT, which North the first Premier League the queen of diamonds. On the actual layout, if you (taking account of the decent weekend. We had a good When I ducked, he played respond at the two level, 5-card suit) raises to 3NT. first match, a terrible rest a second spade so I won, your partner’s 4♠ is correct. Whether, having decided of Saturday and a not too played a diamond to the to respond 2♣, North should bad Sunday. We finished ace and ran the hearts, ♣♦♥♠ rebid 3♥ depends on your the first weekend lying discarding a spade and style. If you follow the Mr sixth out of eight, but a club. In the end posi- I was North, at Bridge style and open 1♥ quite close behind third. tion, West had to choose duplicate, with on balanced hands with We had a pleasing win between baring his jack Qthis hand: 4-4 in the red suits, you against the Allfrey team of diamonds or his ace of are unlikely to miss a heart in the last round which clubs and it was not dif- fit by raising to 3NT. at least left us on an ‘up’ ficult to read the ending. ♠ 10 4 As it went, while 3♥ did at the end of the weekend. A board on which no-one ♥ A 8 6 3 suggest playing in a suit, This was one of our really did anything wrong good boards – it’s strange but we gained 13 IMPs. ♦ 9 4 it is very unlikely to show how the effect of aggres- The other excursion ♣ A J 9 6 4 five hearts. With a spade sive competitive bidding of interest was Briony’s lead now marked, South N can backfire sometimes. birthday treat. We flew W E should not wish to insist on S to Nice and then went to 3NT (in case North is short Grasse for a workshop ♠ A 7 2 in spades) but should not Dealer North. N/S Vul. where we made our own ♥ K Q J want to go past it either. A ♠ Q 7 perfume. Great fun. We ♦ ♠ K 10 8 2 temporising 3 (fourth suit) ♥ K Q 9 7 6 have to wait a couple of ♣ K 5 3 might be the best choice. ♦ A 6 5 4 weeks until it settles be- ♣ 8 7 fore we use it, so it’s not ♣♦♥♠ ♠ 10 9 ♠ K 8 6 4 3 2 clear yet quite how much West North East South ♥ A 8 4 ♥ 3 2 we like what we made. Pass Pass 1♦ What is a ♦ Q J 9 7 ♦ 8 We stayed overnight in a Pass 2♣ Pass 2NT setting trick? My ♣ A K J 6 ♣ 10 5 3 2 decent hotel and enjoyed Pass 3♥ Pass 4♥ Qpartner thinks ♠ A J 5 splendid weather, eating All Pass it is a common term. ♥ J 10 5 out on the terrace. The Doreen Parrington by email. ♦ K 10 3 2 following day, we went 4♥ went one off; most ♣ Q 9 4 to St Paul de Vence, an others were in 3NT Yes, the term is in old bastioned town with making. My partner common usage. lots of expensive touristy asked why I took her A The setting trick is At the other table North shops. Then we drove to out of 2NT to 3♥. I said the one that defeats (sets) opened 1♥ and East Cap d’Antibes and pre- it was to give her more the contract. So if the overcalled 2♠. South did tended to be rich and information about my opponents are in 3NT, the something to indicate famous over lunch out hand, ie, five cards in fifth defensive trick is the a good raise to 3♥ and in the sunshine. Then a first suit bid and four in setting trick. ■ there matters rested. De- bit of shopping and back clarer could not avoid los- home. It was really good ing a heart and two tricks fun and nice to spend E-mail your questions for Julian to: in each minor. One down. time together. ■ [email protected]

Page 40 BRIDGE December 2015 More Tips from Bernard Magee Bernard Magee’s Tips Disguise a strong suit with extra potential for Better Bridge 65 invaluable tips in 160 pages When you have a suit such as: Seems crazy, but what you are doing is making life Bidding Tips 33 A low lead usually promises very difficult for East. 1 Always consider bidding length and an honour spades if you can 34 When declaring 1NT, ♣ A 4 2 2 Bid more aggressively try to be patient when non-vulnerable 35 Duck an early round when N you are short of entries W E ♠ 7 3 2 3 Always double when the S opponents steal your deal 36 Lead up to your ♥ A K 7 2 4 A take-out double shows two-honour holding ♣ K Q 6 5 ♦ A 8 4 shortage in the suit doubled 37 Do not always assume ♣ K 6 5 5 ‘Borrow’ a king a suit will break well to keep the auction open 38 Drop a high card ♠ Q J 10 9 4 ♠ 6 6 After a penalty double, to put off the defence Rather than taking your A- ♥ 10 8 6 3 ♥ Q J 5 don’t let the opponents escape 39 Play your highest card to tempt N 7 Halve the value of a singleton a defender to cover K-Q quickly and hoping for ♦ K 10 W E ♦ Q J 9 3 2 S honour when opening 40 Draw trumps first unless you a 3-3 break, it will often be ♣ J 9 ♣ 10 8 3 2 8 Only add length-points for a have a good reason not to more profitable to disguise ♠ A K 8 5 suit that might be useful 41 Do not waste your trumps your strength by leaving the ♥ 9 4 9 Isolated honours are bad 42 Consider leaving a lone defen- except in partner’s suit sive trump winner out suit until later. This will leave ♦ 7 6 5 10 Use the jump shift sparingly the defenders unaware of ♣ A Q 7 4 11 Consider passing and letting Defence Tips partner decide 43 Keep four-card suits intact your holding and might cause 12 You need two top honours whenever possible the defenders to discard a for a second-seat pre-empt 44 Give count on declarer’s leads club, allowing you to make You can see East’s hand: he 13 Put the brakes on if you have a 45 Keep the right cards misfit rather than signal your fourth trick even when has to make three or four dis- 14 Strong and long minors work 46 Take your time the clubs break unevenly. cards. If ever you find yourself well in no-trumps when dummy is put down playing against a defender 15 One stop in the opponents’ suit 47 High cards are for killing can be enough for no-trumps other high cards who does not discard one 16 Keep your two-level 48 Do not waste ♠ 7 3 2 club on this hand, then you responses up to strength intermediate cards ♥ A K 7 2 are probably playing against 17 Use your normal methods in 49 Pick two key suits to response to a 1NT overcall concentrate on during the play ♦ A 8 4 a mind-reader or a player 18 Don’t overcall just because 50 If in doubt, cover an honour ♣ K 6 5 who can see through the you have opening points with an honour 51 If a lead is from two honours, it cards. 95% of defenders will 19 Overcalls can be quite weak, N so be prudent when responding is best not to cover W E surely discard a club and that 20 Weak overcalls must be based 52 Keep your honour to kill S will give you your ninth trick. on strong suits dummy’s honour 53 Try to show partner your ♠ A K 8 5 The effect of disguising 21 6NT requires 33 points not 4 aces and 4 kings solid honour sequences ♥ 9 4 your strength is powerful. 22 Raise immediately, if weak 54 Lead the normal card when ♦ 7 6 5 Clearly, if you had played with four-card support leading partner’s suit 55 Never underlead an ace at trick ♣ A Q 7 4 the ♣A-K-Q, East would 23 In a competitive auction, show support immediately one in a suit contract have held on to his ♣10 and 24 Bid to the level of your fit 56 Be wary of leading from you would probably have quickly with weak hands four cards to only one honour 57 Lead a higher card from South opens 1NT, North made only eight tricks. 25 With strength and support, use the opponents’ bid suit a suit without an honour raises to 3NT and When you are playing 58 Lead through ‘beatable’ West leads the ♠Q. cards, whether as defender strength and up to weakness Declarer Play Tips 59 Cash your winners before try- You have eight top tricks or declarer, it can be easy 26 When your contract depends ing for a and your main chance for to underestimate the value on a finesse, think ‘endplay’ 60 Be patient when defending 27 Consider what a defender an extra trick will be from a of surprise. It is difficult to 1NT might be thinking about 61 Trump leads can be safe 3-3 break in clubs. You also remember that your op- 28 Always take your time throughout the play have a chance in spades, ponents cannot see your at trick one 29 Establish extra tricks before General Tips but the opening lead does cards. It might seem obvi- cashing your winners 62 Do not put important cards not augur well for that. Do ous to you for East to hold 30 Use your opponents’ at either end of your hand not go straight for your on to clubs, but as long as bidding to your advantage 63 Avoid being declarer when 31 Avoid the ‘baddie’ you are dummy club suit; give the defend- you do not tell the defend- gaining the lead 64 Before you lead, ask for a ers a chance to go wrong. ers about your strong suit, it 32 Use the Rule of Seven when review of the auction Duck the spade lead, can be very difficult indeed. holding up in no-trumps 65 Enjoy the Game! win the second spade with Conceal your strength in £14 including postage and packing from Mr Bridge, the ace, take your ♠K and the hope of favourable dis- Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH. ( 01483 489961 then play a fourth spade. cards. ■

BRIDGE December 2015 Page 41 B OIL POT ER Christmas ♠ A Q 7 ♥ A K Q J ♦ Q J 10 9 8 7 ♣ Void ♠ K J 10 8 6 ♠ 9 5 4 3 2

♥ 5 4 3 2 N ♥ VOID W E ♦ VOID ♦ 6 5 4 3 2 Party Bridge S ♣ K Q J 10 ♣ 4 3 2 ♠ Void ♥ 10 9 8 7 6 ♦ A K ♣ A 9 8 7 6 5 by David Stevenson

Contract 7♥ by South. West leads the ♣K.

Made in the UK from 100% pure cotton © Mr Bridge t this time of year, a lot of is the highest and ace is the low- bridge clubs decide to hold est. In theory, the game is the same, a Christmas party. Last but people who have tried this find ADecember, we looked at par- it seems to be nearly impossible ties that involved players not to get their brain to work. Any- playing in pairs, but some way, people find it good fun. PLUS 11 clubs would prefer a pairs I would never suggest you play Q tournament. What are a whole evening with a strange the possibilities? rule like this. A better ap- l Help and Hint buttons Even in a duplicate proach is to have different l Displays on HD and large screens club, one solution rules on different hands. l Comprehensive manual is to play rubber A really exciting night l Feed in your own deals bridge in the form might be to have a differ- l Minibridge option of Chicago (with ent strange rule for each l 5,000 preplayed STILL ONLY part-scores hand: less exciting, hands for teams building up) or but probably more and 4,000 pre- Four-Deal practical, is to played hands for £92 bridge have some ordi- matchpoint pairs (with bo- nary boards, and nuses for some special Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 part- boards us- www.mrbridge.co.uk scores) as ing different de- coloured boards for the special scribed in ones. Then Life’s a GAME BRIDGE 129. After you can have four deals, the los- prizes, like the ing pair moves to first pair to but another table, bid and make a replacing the grand slam and losing pair there. At the end, there first player to win the last trick with BRIDGE will be prizes for the best and sec- the ♦7, but the prizes apply only to ond best overall score, worst overall the ordinary boards not the special score, first pair to bid and make a boards. Typically, a three board round is slam and so forth. Also to the pair might consist of a special board whose total score is nearest to a score coloured (say) red, followed by two sealed in an envelope until the end. ordinary boards coloured (say) buff. SERIOUS If you want real excitement, you How do the players know what the could try playing an ordinary du- special rules are? Each special board is plicate but with special rules. For accompanied by one or two envelopes, Made in the UK from 100% pure cotton © Mr Bridge example, you could have a rule that one marked clearly, ‘Open before the the rank of cards is reversed, so two hand.’ The players open this one,

Page 42 BRIDGE December 2015 Christmas Parties continued like fun but if it is a duplicate more for the less experienced player, then CLUB you should probably have only two special boards all evening and make INSURANCE read what it says, and follow it. If there them simple, such as bid and play anti-clockwise or aces count low. is another envelope, clearly marked, Every club should be ‘Open after the bidding, but before I referred to prizes earlier on the the play,’ then they do that. They must boards that were not special. These covered and my inclusive remember to put the rules back in the are quite important, giving peo- package, to suit clubs of up envelopes and pass them on at the ple a chance to win prizes. In fact, to 100 members for less than end of the hand for the next table. if you want to run a party night £75 per year, is the right Here are some special rules for your novices, then you should that have been used: have no special boards, just lots of package at the right price. 1. No-one is allowed to prizes. Here are a few examples: bid diamonds. 1. The first pair to bid and Ring FIDENTIA for a quote 2. Dealer must open 1♠ make a grand slam. whatever his hand. 2. The first player to win the ( 020 3150 0080 3. One pair sits North and West, last trick with the ♦7. the other South and East. The 3. The highest score on a board. bidding and play still goes clock- 4. The score nearest to zero wise until there are three passes but excluding pass-outs. inc£5 p&p and the player opposite declarer 5. The lowest card to win a trick: leads. Remember to resume your must not be a trump and normal seats after the board. must beat another card. 4. Threes are wild, so may be played 6. The first pair to lose 1,400. at any time and win the trick. 7. The score nearest to 270. Sometimes the rule says, ‘Open the 8. A declarer who manages other envelope after the bidding.’ to get the last two cards in Examples of rules in that case are: dummy the same rank, eg 5. The winner of the last trick (even two fours, but not honours. dummy) buys drinks for the other You should also give a prize to the three players and the director. winning pair, the pair that comes 6. Aces count low. last and the pair that gets nearest to a 7. The play must be anti-clockwise. score which is sealed in an envelope 8. Any two can be played at any to be opened at the end of the night. time whether following suit or It is important to make sure that not, but cannot win a trick, even people enjoy themselves, so be if led in no-trumps (the second warned of one or two problems. Made in the UK from 100% pure cotton © Mr Bridge card then acts as suit led). If people are playing slowly and it You can also have a hand is not going to finish in time, cut with two special rules, it short. Even if they one for the bidding are enjoying it, the Bridge Mat Special such as no-one bids strangeness will slow diamonds and some people down. then one for If the prizes the play, on ordinary such as boards are all aces count low. claimed before the Some organ- end, then you should isers prepare have one or two in hands to suit the special rules: reserve: some of the fun is taken I used just to let players deal away if there is nothing to go for. them and see what happened. Finally, have spare copies The perfect playing surface So long as people treat this as of the special rules: they have just a fun night, it usually seems been known to go missing! Introductory Offer to work. You might consider what You will see a rather longer version Just £24.99 level of player is involved: if they with considerably more suggestions SR Designs for Bridge are likely to be the club’s best play- for special boards and prizes and so ( 01483 750611 www.bridge-tables.co.uk ers, these special rules will seem forth at blakjak.org/fun_nght.htm ■

BRIDGE December 2015 Page 43 Conventions Part 11 with Jeremy Dhondy A Multi 2♦ Opening

he Multi is about 60 years old Now, you bid 2♠ (pass or correct), so and was first played by Ter- ♠ A J 10 7 5 4 you stop in 2♠ if partner has spades, ence Reese and Jeremy Flint. ♥ 4 N but compete to 3♥ if partner happens TIt caused a storm when first used in ♦ 10 9 7 W E to have hearts for his weak two. You S England and although the intervening ♣ K 7 5 might ask what he does if he has a years have dulled that somewhat, it is strong hand? Over your 2♥ or 2♠ re- still the case that in tournaments in sponse, he can bid 2NT with a strong the USA, for example, players are al- You have a six card major and 5-9 , or 3♣ or 3♦ with a lowed to consult a written defence to points, but how your partnership bid strong two in that minor. Your re- it at the table if, indeed, it is allowed at over this needs to take into account sponses over a 2NT rebid can be the all. For quite a few years, a number of that a) the opening bidder might have same as if you opened 2NT. our affiliated clubs sought to ban it. So hearts and b) the opening bidder Those who are inexperienced at the what is all the fuss about? might have a strong hand. Multi often respond 2♥ with the above A Multi, as the name suggests, is If your partner opens a Multi, then hand. This is a mistake because if part- used to shoehorn a number of possi- the first thing to do is make sure you ner does have hearts, you have made it bilities into one bid: the 2♦ opening. A alight in the right major at the right easier for the opponents to come into traditional Multi shows a weak two in level, whilst not making it impossible the auction. If you did not play a multi one of the majors or a variety of strong to reach the right contract on the small and he opened a weak 2♥, you should hands. When it started, this allowed percentage of hands where he is strong. certainly raise to the three level to make players to have weak twos and reserve The first principle of responding is to your opponents’ life more difficult. 2♥ and 2♠ for strong hands. These assume the worst. Suppose partner If you have a fit for whichever ma- days, not many want strong twos, but starts with a Multi and you hold: jor your partner has, then it’s fine to there are still good uses for the 2♥ jump. For example, you hold: and 2♠ opening bids. The Multi was extremely good at sowing the seeds ♠ Q 9 5 of confusion, not only amongst op- N ♥ 7 ♠ K 9 4 W E ♦ K J 6 5 3 N ♥ A 7 5 ponents which was intended, but also S ♣ A 8 5 2 W E ♦ 7 3 amongst partners which was not. S Here is a traditional scheme for a ♣ A J 9 5 2 Multi. 2♦ shows one of the following: You think it likely he has got hearts. l Weak two in hearts. Respond 2♥ and if he has, then you Over 2♦, you jump to 3♥ and partner l Weak two in spades. have stopped at the cheapest level. knows this is a pass or correct bid and l Strong balanced hand (21-22). This is called a ‘pass or correct’ bid, will take the necessary action. This l Strong two bid in clubs. ie, partner passes with hearts, bids 2♠ makes it quite difficult for the oppo- l Strong two bid in diamonds. with spades, or something else with a nents who could easily have a nine stronger hand. If, on this hand, part- card fit in one of the majors. Of course, the weak bids are much ner does bid 2♠, you might consider Although the Multi has a strong de- more common than the strong bids. If raising to 3♠ to stop the opponents structive tinge to it, there will be times you open 2♦, you will create some con- having an easy entry into the auction. when you want to investigate game. If fusion for your opponents as to your Suppose your hand is the same this is so, then you bid 2NT and part- suit and your strength. To take advan- strength with the majors the other way ner rebids as follows: tage, you need to spend time working round: out your responses and how to deal l 3♣ = maximum weak two in hearts with intervention. If you don’t want l 3♦ = maximum weak two in spades to do that, then stop reading right ♠ 7 l 3♥ = minimum weak two in hearts now and come back to the next article N ♥ Q 9 5 l 3♠ = minimum weak two in spades W E ♦ K J 6 5 3 which is about defending against the S Multi. Here is a classic Multi, showing ♣ A 8 5 2 An example of a hand where you a weak two. Suppose you hold: would rebid 3♦ over a 2NT relay:

Page 44 BRIDGE December 2015 The Multi continued One of our side thought 2♥ was to play. The other thought it was pass or ♠ 4 correct. Declarer played it pretty well N ♥ K J 8 3 W E ♦ Q 7 6 5 4 to go for only 1,100! Not a good feeling S to have to explain this to the captain ♣ A 4 3 ♠ A J 8 6 4 3 and other pairs. N ♥ 9 8 6 After the double, I suggest redouble W E ♦ K 7 6 ♥ S says bid your suit and a bid of 2 or Recently, some players have started ♣ 5 2♠ is natural. Pass can say I don’t playing a weak only Multi. This is mind playing 2♦. You can see why it exactly as it sounds. The strong options is a good idea to have discussed this. are left out and now you open ♦2 on With a strong opening hand rebid Saying brightly, ‘Multi, partner,’ at one any bad weak two in a major and you something higher. An invitational minute to seven may lead to a more open 2♥ or 2♠ with a sound weak two. hand opposite a Multi two that hits a exciting time than you really wanted. Because the strong hand in a multi is strong hand is likely to end in slam. Your opponents might bid a suit quite rare, it means you don’t give up Here you have three disadvantages of naturally. Suppose it starts: all that much and it means that your the Multi: opening 2♥ or 2♠ can be constructive. Partner Oppo1 You Oppo2 Partner needs to be prepared for the l Pre-empting your own side when 2♦ 2♥ ? 2♦ opening to be quite bad indeed. you have a strong hand. If your club is affiliated to the EBU l Not being able to be more specific and has a game for relative beginners in showing your weak two. You ♠ Q 7 4 or improvers, often only Level 2 can’t, for example, easily show a N ♥ 5 conventions are allowed and that W E ♦ A K 5 4 3 ♦ ■ decent weak two with a high card S forbids the Multi 2 . in diamonds. ♣ K 7 5 2 l Not being able to pre-empt as easily when you do have a fit. You want to compete if partner has Summary An example hand to demonstrate the spades, but if, oh joyful day, he has l A Multi causes confusion, but point about pre-empting is: hearts you would like to defend. What some of this is for your side you can do, therefore, is to double so you have to be prepared which is another pass or correct call. It to work on how to develop ♠ K J 4 3 says to partner if you have hearts, then hands. N ♥ 7 3 pass, but if you have spades (rather W E ♦ A J 6 5 4 3 ♠ ♠ l It makes life difficult for your S more likely), bid 2 . If he does bid 2 , ♣ 5 then it is likely you will compete to 3♠, opponents. They don’t know if necessary. the major or if you are weak If your opponent bids a minor at the or strong. ♠ ♥ If partner opened a weak 2 and the three level, then you can bid 3 as a l You use pass or correct bids next hand doubled, you would bid pass or correct bid. You hold: commonly to make sure you ♠ 4 to make them guess what to do. land in the right strain. If partner opens 2♦ (Multi) and the next hand doubles, you can’t bounce ♠ Q 7 6 5 l The Multi has the advantage around in the auction because partner N ♥ K J 8 3 that opponents find it W E ♦ 4 3 difficult and risky. If they might have hearts (indeed, that was S what you would guess he had). ♣ A 4 3 pick the wrong major, it may The opponents won’t always be be expensive. In a lot of silent. The first action they might take auctions, they won’t have a is to double 2♦. Now you have a choice Partner Oppo1 You Oppo2 cue bid to make. 2♦ 3♣ 3♥1 of passing, redoubling or bidding l You release 2♥, 2♠ and even ♥ ♠ 1 ♠ 2 or 2 . Not knowing what these Pass or correct to 3 . 2NT for other purposes. mean takes away a lot of your initial advantage. One of the England pairs If you have only one major, don’t be l It also has disadvantages. in a European Championship had an tempted to bid because the chances You can’t pre-empt easily if auction which started: of a fit are very slim, so if you hold you have a fit. The auction the following responding hand, you has more rounds and Us Oppo1 Us Oppo2 should pass over 3♣ because the therefore more opportunity 2♦ Dbl 2♥ Dbl chances are your partner has spades for the opponents to come in. All pass and you would land in a mess.

BRIDGE December 2015 Page 45 Seven Days by Sally Brock

Sunday pass? It looks a bit dangerous. Barry go to Robert’s house in Clapham for simply passes and leads the queen of a Hubert Phillips match. Again, we I have to get up early because I am diamonds, covered by the king and expect a tough match because we driving to London and want to have ace. I switch to a heart to make sure are against Chris Duckworth, Brian my suitcase packed for India before he wins his ace and he plays a second Callaghan and Joe and Gillian Fawcett. I go. I am determined to pack light. diamond, won by my jack. I play a However, they get a slam hand wrong I have persuaded someone to take third round of the suit and declarer on both of the first two sets and we are my case home for me and we will ruffs low, overruffed with the nine. 2,450 points up after two sets. manage with just one small case for We still have two club tricks and two On the second one, the bidding goes: our week’s travelling after the World spade tricks to come. Three down and Championships. Deliberately, for plus 150. West North East South the first time ever, I pack insufficient In the other room, South bids 2NT, 1♥ Pass 2♣ clothes to last me and will have to use Lebensohl, intending to continue with Pass 2♦ Pass 2♠ the hotel’s laundry facilities. 3♥ to show an invitational hand with Pass 3♣ Pass 3NT It is our Round-of-16 hearts. North bids 3♣, as instructed, Pass 4♣ Pass 4NT match at TGR’s against Sandra and East decides to put South, who Pass 6♣ All Pass Penfold, Brian and Nevena Senior, Ed has not yet shown her suit, under Jones, Glyn Liggins and Joe Fawcett. more pressure and bids 3♠ – a rather I (West) don’t have anything special, We are expecting a tough match but, questionable call. Anyway, he is judged but it sounds as if dummy’s second suit in fact, we win surprisingly easily. right when South bids 4♥, doubled by is my best shot so I lead a diamond. There are lots of interesting hands but West and that goes a couple down The slam is cold except for this suit, it is this little board from the first set after a misdefence. Actually, that is as dummy holds K-J-10-9 and declarer that catches my interest. not without interest. West leads his a small doubleton. Joe Fawcett pays singleton spade to the king and ace me the compliment of playing me to and East returns the ten, intending to have underled the ace of diamonds. Dealer West. Love All. show suit-preference for clubs (he does I don’t know whether or not I would ♠ K Q 3 not want to play a lower spade in case have found the lead had I had the ace; ♥ 9 7 5 West does not want to ruff). However, as it was, I have the queen and he is ♦ A J 3 2 West thinks that East has denied the one down. ♣ Q 4 3 jack and therefore ruffs the loser with Then, we break for food and all of us ♠ 2 ♠ A J 10 8 7 6 a trump trick and an undertrick has partake of some of Robert’s excellent ♥ K Q 10 3 N ♥ 2 gone away. wine. The final set is a bit random. W E ♦ K 8 7 6 4 S ♦ 10 5 Barry and I start by bidding a terrible ♣ 9 6 2 ♣ A 10 8 5 slam and, later on, bid a grand slam ♠ 9 5 4 Monday missing the ace of trumps. Luckily, we ♥ A J 8 6 4 I have to go home today to return do have the odd good board and hang ♦ Q 9 the car and to get myself completely on to win by 1,000 or so. ♣ K J 7 together for India, ie, all the non- clothes stuff. I’m at home for a couple of hours and then get a train back into Wednesday/ At both tables, North opens a weak no- London. I have a lot of Bradt work to trump and East overcalls 2♦ showing a do, hopefully before I fly to India on Thursday single-suited major. Barry, South, bids Wednesday evening, and spend most Up early to carry on working on a simple 2♥ and that is passed to East of the evening working. Croatia. I really want to finish it before who bids 2♠. What would you do now I go. I make good progress, eventually with the South hand? It looks normal finishing about lunchtime. Barry is to double, but that risks putting a lot Tuesday not in court today which is nice – it of pressure on partner with the sort of I spend most of the day getting on will be a couple of weeks before I see hand I actually hold. Should I really with Croatia, but in the evening, we him again. He cooks me dinner

Page 46 BRIDGE December 2015 Seven Days continued tle. After some more driving about, we REDUCE THE COST look at the beach (the second-biggest urban beach in the world), we walk OF YOUR POSTAGE around a fort and we visit a shop. and then comes with me on the bus Nothing outstandingly interesting, to Hammersmith where he helps me but at least we’ve left the hotel. struggle with my suitcase and puts me I get back, have some lunch with on a tube to Heathrow. some of the Seniors, go to the gym and The flight goes remarkably well. then for a swim (the outdoor pool is on We are ready to take off as planned at the 24th floor). 9.20pm. They give us a reasonable (in In the evening, a group of us take the circumstances) dinner and I sleep a cab to a shopping mall and go to a Postage stamps for sale at 90% of face-value, for five hours or so until breakfast. vegetarian restaurant. We start with a all mint with full gum. Quotations for Then, it is not long till we land. I have stainless steel tray with about ten small commercial quantities available on request. a few hours at Mumbai Airport but pots on it. They come with food that Values supplied in 100s, higher values not too long considering I have to get they either put into a pot, or just dollop available as well as 1st and 2nd class. my luggage, transfer it, transfer to on the tray. We try it all and finish the (/Fax 020 8422 4906 the domestic terminal and have some ones we like best, whereupon they e-mail: [email protected] lunch. The flight to Chennai is fine too. fill those up indefinitely. We also get I am standing by the carousel waiting lots of different breads and lassi-type for my suitcase when an Indian man drinks. At the end, there is jalebi and comes up to me and says, ‘Mrs Sally a boiled rice pudding. When we are all Brock?’ He is there to help me find my completely stuffed, the bill comes and Mr Bridge suitcase and then we go outside where we are required to fork out £5 each. Celebration there is another man there with a sign It isn’t so easy to get a cab back to saying ‘Mrs Sally Brock’. The first man the hotel but we manage it in the end Party Tie takes my baggage and leads me to a and so finish an extremely enjoyable place where we wait for number two to evening. pick me up in the air-conditioned car and drive me to the hotel. It is a very large, impressive hotel, Saturday £15 with excellent rooms and fabulous including postage bathrooms. I unpack quickly and then I don’t have such a good night and & packing meet the others for a glass of wine in wake up blearily at about 9.30am. Nevena’s room. Then it’s breakfast – much more Later, we go to the hotel’s Italian crowded and unsatisfactory than ( 01483 489961 restaurant for a pizza and a beer (the yesterday. Afterwards, Nicola and I go wine is prohibitive – at least £30 a through the system for a few hours. www.mrbridge.co.uk bottle). I’m quite tired by now so retire We break for lunch and then return to early after skyping both Briony and it. Usually, we do this separately but it Barry and fall asleep as soon as my seems to work better doing it together head hits the pillow. – not nearly so tedious. Let’s hope we DUPLICATE remember it all when it comes up. The opening ceremony starts with a BRIDGE Friday much better than usual show of music After an excellent breakfast, I head off and dancing. Then, there are a lot of RULES into the outside world with Heather speeches, followed by the introduction and Simon Cocheme (captain of the of all the teams and then young SIMPLIFIED Indians parading on the stage bearing Seniors team). We have hired a car and (otherwise known as the Yellow Book) a driver for four hours (cost £22) for a flags of all the competing nations. But tour of the best sights of Chennai. it does all seem to take rather a long by John Rumbelow We go to a temple – they are building time. only scaffolding around it so that they can Afterwards, there is an excellent and revised by £595 give it its five-yearly coat of paint. buffet – provided you can eat Indian David Stevenson It’s fascinating to watch as they bind food with one hand, standing up, together branches of trees with rope to while holding a bottle of beer in the Available from Mr Bridge make something they can climb up. other. Still, as always, it is good to ( 01483 489961 Then, we go to St Thomas’s Church catch up with old friends. www.mrbridge.co.uk which is built on the tomb of the apos- Tomorrow, the fun begins … ■

BRIDGE December 2015 Page 47 2077 Mr Bridge Apr 30 ad_Layout 1 05/11/2015 13:28 Page 1

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