Page 6 VBA Bulletin September 2012

BOOK REVIEW Dlr: North  J832 Vul: E/W  8654

 K87 This book is a  96 detailed  AQ95 N  K10764 exposition of the  Q7  103 W E  Q65  J1032 used by Italian  J1085 S  73 stars Fulvio  Fantoni and -  . AKJ92  This pair has A94  been remarkably AKQ42 successful at the highest level: West North East South they are still at Fantoni Nunes  it, last July Pass Pass 1   winning the Pass 2 Pass 3   teams Pass 4 Pass 6 in the USA. Pass Pass Pass

Jacobs sets out the bidding machinery in At the other table the English auction began comprehensive detail. This last adjective is the same, North dredging up a raise opposite well-merited - 95 auctions are indexed in the a non-forcing opener. His partner also  last pages. Players thinking of trying a new splintered 3 , but North, having already  and successful system can start right here. overstretched, signed off in 4 . Although auctions can become complicated, beginners can ease themselves in. Jacobs (2) the second specialty is that uses sign-posts to show where a treatment is opening 2-bids are natural (again) and show optional. a 5+-suit in the range 10-13 HCP, and unbalanced. Jacobs is convinced that they Other readers may be primarily interested in give Fantunes a remarkable edge, since they the structure of bidding systems. Jacobs lay claim to the 2-level yet are semi- certainly is. The foundations of Fantunes are constructive. The weak opening 1NT assists. (1) Natural opening bids of 1 in a suit are unlimited and forcing, though 1  contains Here is a 2-bid in action, against some balanced hands as well as clubs. This distinguished opposition: does away with the need in most natural systems to dedicate a special opening bid, Dlr: South  Q873 2, to showing a very strong hand. Vul: All  A43  J The strong natural openings give an edge  QJ864 over this artificial 2  and also the opening  AKJ104 N  965 strong 1  of systems such as Precision in  102  Q765 W E that if intervening opponents begin a  Q982  A10654 competitive auction, the Fantuner has  K10 S  2 announced his suit.  2  KJ98 This deal is the first in the book, from the  K73 very top level, the  A9753 2008. (See top of next column)

West North East South After the unlimited opening, Nunes' raise Hamman Nunes Zia Fantoni showed support and 3-6 HCP. Fantoni 2 splintered and Nunes could cue-bid, having 2 3 4 Pass shown a very weak raise. Nunes slammed. Pass D’ble All Pass

VBA Bulletin September 2012 Page 7

Nunes with a 10-card fit committed to the 4- Problem 1 level, and Zia, perhaps hoping for a Dlr: South  A misguided , competed to 4 , which Vul: E/W  10965 cost 500 against 130 for 4 . The opening bid  J9876 had obliterated the one-level, leaving East-  Q103 West with little room to manoeuvre. At the  J10973 N  KQ62 other table South opened 1 , West  J74  AQ3 overcalled 1  and North bid 1NT. North- W E  532  10 South played in the club partial.  J7 S  K8653

 Jacobs' enthusiasm for Fantunes' opening 854  bids is supported by his statistical tables on K82  pp. 140-1, which show analyses of deals AKQ4  played by Nunes - Fantoni on BBO's A94 sessions. They opened the bidding in the range 1  to 2  on 2,723 hands, and gained You should start, logically enough, by playing  an average of 0.67 IMPs per deal. Jacobs K to trick 1, passing on the good news.    adjusts this tidily for superior card play, to Declarer plays A, K, Q; partner had 3. arrive at an estimate of 0.29 attributable to What did you discard? superior bidding.  Playing Q would serve to clarify, though you It was fitting that I should write this review. could leave that a while, trick 1 told enough.  In the 1960s, when Italian teams dominated, The faster you get Q on to the table the Fred Altman and I taught ourselves better. To blazes with count/attitude, this is from a little book on the Italian systems by bridge. Partner has to be told to cling to Edgar Kaplan. This took us all the way to an clubs. Olympiad, where we had the privilege of Problem 2 meeting, and beating, Italy, who won the championship. Fantunes is a better system Dlr: North  AK6 than Blue Club, and Jacobs' book is more Vul: All  Q76 extensive.  QJ2  J974 Fantunes is the future - follow the star. I  10 N  9842 regret that a failing memory means that I am  92  A543 W E left behind.  K1087643  9  852 S  AKQ6 Fantunes Revealed is available from  QJ532 http://www.bridgeshop.com.au/ , $16.99  KJ108 digital or $22.95 softcover.  A5 … Ian McCance  103

    There is no winning defence, but you can make it very hard for declarer. Don't win Q. SETTING TRICK – SOLUTIONS K is probably best, to suggest Q in West. Ian McCance You must switch at once to that diamond. That's where the setting trick must lie. If he runs it he's dead - partner will win K and Correction: The solution I gave for last give you a diamond for 2 down. The  month’ s second problem was second-best. winning play for declarer is to win A and  Ben Thompson points out that if East cashes play 10. You would win and having no more A before exiting a club, declarer is trapped diamonds would return a . South can   in dummy and must fail. play Q, then to K and trump- clubs for a discard. If you show him AKQ at trick 1 he can rise on 9 and go for the discard. If he's good enough. If you cash 2 clubs you make it much easier. Now the winning play is much more obvious (and appealing).