FOUR ACES Could Have Done More Safely
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Number: 214 October 2020 BRIDGEJulian Pottage’s Double Dummy Problem UR ACE FO S ♠ 3 2 ♥ A 3 2 ♦ Q ♣ A Q 6 5 4 3 2 ♠ K Q J 10 9 ♠ 8 7 ♥ N ♥ K Q J 10 W E 9 8 7 ♦ 10 S ♦ K J 9 8 7 6 5 ♣ J 10 9 ♣ K ♠ A 6 5 4 ♥ 6 5 4 ♦ A 4 3 2 ♣ 8 7 Contract 3NT by South Lead: ♠K BRIDGE is ceasing publication. The last issueThe will answer be will benumber published on page 216 4 next - month.December 2020. See page 5 for more information. A Sally Brock Looks At Your Slam Bidding Sally’s Slam Clinic Where did we go wrong? Slam of the month Another regular contributor to these Playing standard Acol, South would This month’s hand was sent in by pages, Alex Mathers, sent in the open 2♣, but whatever system was Roger Harris who played it with his following deal which he bid with played it is likely that he would then partner Alan Patel at the Stratford- his partner playing their version of rebid 2NT showing 23-24 points. It is upon-Avon online bridge club. Benjaminised Acol: normal to play the same system after 2♣/2♦ – negative – 2NT as over an opening 2NT, so I was surprised North Dealer South. Game All. Dealer West. Game All. did not use Stayman. In my view the ♠ A 9 4 ♠ J 9 8 correct Acol sequence is: ♥ K 7 6 ♥ A J 10 6 ♦ 2 ♦ K J 7 2 West North East South ♣ A 9 7 6 4 2 ♣ 8 6 Pass Pass Pass 2♣ ♠ Q 10 8 6 3 ♠ J 7 N ♠ Q 4 3 ♠ 10 7 5 2 Pass 2♦ Pass 2NT ♥ Q 9 ♥ 10 8 5 4 2 W E ♥ 7 4 3 N ♥ 9 8 5 2 Pass 3♣ Pass 3♦ ♦ Q J 10 9 5 ♦ K 8 7 3 S W E ♦ 8 5 4 ♦ Q 9 3 Pass 6NT All Pass ♣ 8 ♣ Q 5 S ♣ Q 10 9 4 ♣ J 5 Once South has shown 23 HCP or so, ♠ K 5 2 ♠ A K 6 North knows the values are there for ♥ A J 3 ♥ K Q slam. It might be better (from North’s ♦ A 6 4 ♦ A 10 6 point of view) to consider 6♦, but 6NT ♣ K J 10 3 ♣ A K 7 3 2 should be OK. Alex asked if declarer should guess the ♦Q correctly. When he played the The bidding was: They bid: hand West led a spade and declarer did well to play the ♠J from dummy, West North East South West North East South which held the trick. Now declarer is 1♣ Pass Pass Pass 2♦ safe even if he loses a diamond trick. 1♠ 2♠ Pass 2NT Pass 2♥ Pass 2NT On a less helpful lead, declarer should Pass 6♣ All Pass Pass 3♦ Pass 4NT start by cashing four rounds of hearts Pass 5♦ Pass 5NT (pitching a spade and a club). If West North-South were playing Acol. The Pass 6♦ Pass 6NT throws a diamond (as is likely) I would 2♠ cue-bid showed club support, All Pass be inclined to play East for the ♦Q. and the 2NT rebid was 15-18. North could have prolonged the auction but did not want to give away any more ♣ Mr Bridge 2021 diaries information. 6 was a reasonable punt. Only £14.95 each Declarer won the diamond lead, or 10 for £55 & pro rata. ruffed a diamond, drew two rounds of trumps and ruffed his last diamond. With a ball-point pen and soft Kidrell He now played ace, king and another cover in a choice of colours; navy blue, spade. West had to either give a ruff- and-discard or broach the heart suit. ruby red, bottle green. They were the only pair to bid the ( 01483 489961 slam. Well done. n Page 2 BRIDGE October 2020 Features this month include: ADVERTISERS’ BRIDGE 1 October Double Dummy Bridge Problem INDEX TheMr Bridge Monthly Magazine by Julian Pottage 2 2021 Luxury Diaries Ryden Grange, Knaphill, 2 Sally's Slam Clinic 3 Clive Goff’s Stamps Surrey GU21 2TH 8 Double Dummy Tea 4 September Double Dummy Bridge Problem Answer ( 01483 489961 Towels by Julian Pottage 11 Duplicate Bridge Rules Simplified Mr Bridge [email protected] 4 13 Little Voice www.mrbridge.co.uk 5 BRIDGE Ceasing Publication Notice 30 Clive Goff’s Stamps shop: mrbridge.co.uk/shop 32 Q Plus 15 6 David Stevenson Answers Your Bridge Questions 33 2021 Luxury Diaries Publisher/Managing Editor 7 Bidding Quiz by Bernard Magee Mr Bridge 37 Advanced Declarer Play with Bernard Magee 9 Declarer Play Quiz by David Huggett 38 Mr Bridge Playing Cards 9 Defence Quiz by Julian Pottage 44 Acol Bidding with Associate Editor Bernard Magee 10 Acol Two Bids And Strong Bids In Benjamin Acol Julian Pottage 45 Defence with Bernard [email protected] by Andrew Kambites Magee 14 The Sheriff's Overbidding by David Bird 50 Declarer Play with Bernard Magee Accounts 16 Simple Take-Out Doubles. Part 4 by Sally Brock 51 Advanced Acol Bidding Jo Jackson with Bernard Magee 18 Catching Up with Sally Brock 52 Exploring the Capitals of 19 Simple Take-Out Doubles. Part 4 Quiz by Sally Brock the Baltic on board Fred. Olsen's Balmoral Cartoons & Illustrations 19 Acol Two Bids And Strong Bids In Benjamin Acol Marguerite Lihou www.margueritelihou.co.uk Quiz by Andrew Kambites 20 Julian Pottage explains his Double Dummy Titles REDUCE THE 21 Bridge Glossary – O by Julian Pottage COST OF YOUR Technical Consultant POSTAGE 23 Bridge Glossary – P by Julian Pottage Tony Gordon British postage stamps 32 Bridge Glossary – Q by Julian Pottage for sale at 90% of face- 33 Seven Days by Sally Brock value, all mint and with Typesetting full gum. Jessica Galt 35 Julian Pottage Answers Your Bridge Questions Quotations for [email protected] 37 Simple Take-Out Doubles. Part 4 Quiz Answers commercial quantities by Sally Brock are available on request. Proof Reading Team 39 Defence Quiz Answers by Julian Pottage Julian Pottage Values supplied in 40 Readers' Letters Mark Rixon 100s, higher values Mike Orriel 41 Declarer Play Quiz Answers by David Huggett available, as well as 1st and 2nd class. Richard Wheen 43 Acol Two Bids And Strong Bids In Benjamin Acol Quiz Answers by Andrew Kambites ( 020 8422 4906 or 07719753767 Office 45 Bidding Quiz Answers (1-3) by Bernard Magee ( 8 clive.goff@london 01483 489961 46 The Diaries Of Wendy Wensum Jessica Galt rugby.com [email protected] 47 Bidding Quiz Answers (4-6) by Bernard Magee 48 When Is A New Suit At The Three Level Forcing? by Julian Pottage Printed in the UK by 49 Bidding Quiz Answers (7-9) by Bernard Magee The Magazine Printing Company 50 Letter From Overseas by John Barr www.magprint.co.uk 51 Bidding Quiz Answers (10-12) by Bernard Magee BRIDGE October 2020 Page 3 COLD COMFORT REFUNDS Do read the notice on the adjacent page. There are only 100 or so outstanding refunds but it would be so AND SMO FF OT tidy if this painful chore RU H could be quickly completed. ♠ A J 2 ♥ 10 9 8 7 6 Readers have kindly ♦ Q contributed a further ♣ 5 4 3 2 £13,427.53 to Cancer All events, great or small, Research UK and £8,401.66 ♠ K 10 9 N ♠ 8 7 W E have a life of their own. to Little Voice Foundation. ♥ Void S ♥ 5 4 3 2 ♦ A J 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 ♦ 10 The national wind-down of Well done them. ♣ Void ♣ K J 10 9 8 7 holidays, cruises and ♠ Q 6 5 4 3 weekends precipitated by MIND SPORTS ♥ A K Q J the covid-19 pandemic CENTRE ♦ K being no exception. The ♣ A Q 6 continuous cancellations I have dedicated this are well-documented in the months carrier sheet to a national press and the synopsis of a long-overdue ♥ Mr Bridge offerings have all project. Give David Parry Contract 6 by South but disappeared. a call if you are minded to Lead: ♦A help or are in need of more This has resulted in my information. unplanned retirement and ( 07710 653 786. the redundancy of my office team. Only Jessica is left to 12. RUFF AND SMOOTH © Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961. Printed in the UK on 100% cotton. 2021 DIARIES keep BRIDGE going to press until December. These diaries are £14.95 each. They come in three RUFF AND SMOOTH TRULY SUREAL cover colours; ruby red, navy blue and bottle green. The Solution to September’s At the end of August we had an outdoor socially Double Dummy Bridge Problem distanced party which served as a goodbye 1. Since a spade switch would allow declarer five get-together for all my redundant office team. Lots easy spade tricks, West continues diamonds at of tears and love and trick two rememberances mixed up together. 2. You discard a spade from dummy, as does They each have a useful East, while you ruff in hand I was presented with a ballpoint pen in their spine. lovely sponge cake which The club offer is 10 for £55. 3. Cash three top hearts was consumed with gusto, ♠ the surplus icing and OVERSTOCKS 4. Lead a low spade and finesse the J chocolate being used to 5. Draw the last trump, discarding the low club decorate my youngest Unused stamps (41p & 24p ♠ granddaughter's 1st or 34p & 31p) 2nd class rate.