   “Trumping In” .

Waverley Bridge Club Newsletter www.waverleybridgeclub.com.au Phone: 03 9807 6502

September 2017 ABN 86 643 699 219

WAVERLEY BRIDGE CLUB BEGINNER’S ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING LESSONS Our AGM is being held this year on Monday October

23 at 9.30 am.

Meeting papers will be sent to you by Monday Lessons are starting in October - October 9. These papers will be emailed to Wednesday 7.30 – 9.30 pm – from October 18; and, members who have provided us with an email Thursday 1.45 – 3.45 pm from October 19. address and delivered by post to all other members. Saturday sessions will be held on November 11 and Papers for members with no email address will be December 9 - 9.30 am - 11.30 am. ready for collection from the clubrooms from September 21 and we would appreciate it if you We are running an eight week basic course, which would pick up from the clubrooms to help with includes ten lessons, each being run twice as above. postage costs. The course also includes two Saturday morning play sessions (9.30 am - 11.30 am) to allow students extra Please take this opportunity to update your email time to practice their new skills. details if you have recently changed your address, and to provide us with an email address if you have Beginners can book into either the Wednesday not already done so. evening or the Thursday afternoon sessions. You can swap sessions if needed. Have you considered whether you would like to serve the club as a Committee member? Also included is one supervised play session Nominations for Committee positions will open on following the completion of the classes.

Wednesday September 13 and you will find The total cost of the course is $120.00 which covers nomination forms in the carousel from that date. lessons, class book and one free supervised session which can be taken at any time following the We welcome nominations from members who completion of the course. would like to see the club grow and improve and are willing to put their point of view to a Committee that Please ask your non-bridge playing friends and operates by co-operation and consensus. Duties are relative if they would like to learn this great game. not onerous. There is a monthly meeting and We can promise beginners a fun and stress free Committee members are expected to volunteer introduction to the game. Enrolment forms are occasionally to help with club events. available at the Sales desk and in the carousel.

RANK PROMOTIONS Nationwide Pairs Congratulations to all of our members who have The NWP competition offers an opportunity for recently achieved rank promotions. players from all over the country to play the same GRADUATE MASTER 2+ MP boards and compare score. Firstly the event is run at June Buckley, Barbara Davies, Gina McCann, Stuart the club as a normal duplicate, just like an every day Peacock, Gillean Puddy, Liane Schuhen, Jenny Thomas session. Results are then submitted to the national competition. Once all of the results from all over the CLUB MASTER 5+ MP country are submitted the event is rescored with all of Jan Clough, Diane Cornish, Louis Desribes, Sue Jackson, the data.

Del Stitz, Trish Unger Nationwide Pairs sessions for September will be held on: LOCAL MASTER 15+ MP Friday September 15 and 29. Jenny Abraham, Stan Angelidis, Andries Britz, Jeanette Bruinsma, Lis Burrows, Coleen Coleman, Stewart Play starts at 10.30 pm and there will be no lunch break Franklin, Eva Hody, Liz Sully, Jenny Temple for the Nationwide section.

*LOCAL MASTER 25+ MP Table fees for the Nationwide Pairs are: $10 for Fiona Morris members and $12 for non-members.

Normal duplicate will be played as usual at this session, **LOCAL MASTER 35+ MP with a lunch break a little after 12.00 pm. Alan Sullivan COMING EVENTS REGIONAL MASTER 50+ MP Lorraine Pitaman, Faith Whitehead Waverley Bridge Club Open Pairs

Heats for our premier Pairs event for the year will be *REGIONAL MASTER 100+ MP held on: Tom Spall Monday 10.00 am: September 4, 11 and 18 *STATE MASTER 100+ MP (incl 50+ Red) Tuesday 7.30 pm : September 5, 12 and 19 Lisa Yoffa fee for heats : $33 for members; $39 for visitors LIFE MASTER 300+MP (incl 180+ Red Payable at the first session. (Normal duplicate will also and Gold be played at the Monday morning sessions.) Penny Blankfield There will be a two session final held on: RECENT RESULTS Tuesday 7.30 pm September 26 and October 3 Entry fee: $22 for members; $26 for visitors. John Witt Butler Pairs Payable on September 26.

Congratulations to the place getters in the John Witt This Honour event will award Red Points at all Butler Pairs sessions.

CHAMPIONSHIP WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

1st : Kathy Palmer, Alan Sharp A big welcome to our new members who have joined 2nd: Elaine Dickson, Sylvia Kudelka recently:

3rd: Paul Hill, Rex Livingston Robert Gunsberger, George Landau, Elizabeth Waddell, Colin Waddell, Robyn Hewson, Mark Blakey, PLATE Geoff Stanning, Shona Brown, Elizabeth Vickers, Tania Freeman, Ant Edwards, John Zutitis, Malcolm Osman, 1st : Chelliah Arul, Anne Paul Nicholas Demytko, Diane Greenhill and Rhonda 2nd : Matti Shub, John Quayle MacMahon. 3rd : Martin Willcox, Kevin Chan We hope that you enjoy many years of good bridge and good company at Waverley Bridge Club. 2

A SECTION FOR NEWER PLAYERS he may only have 4 clubs. You know that he has 5 spades, so if you have to pick a suit, you pick THE MOST UNDERUTILISED BID IN BRIDGE - ‘PASS!’ spades.

When is it OK to Pass? 3. Bid 2♥. Do not pass and leave him in 2♣. You have  When you have nothing to say. something you have not yet told partner – that you  When partner has made a non- and have six or more hearts. You have already told partner you have nothing to say. In other words: that you have fewer than 10 HCP with your 1NT  When you have described your hand already response, so your bid is ‘to play’. and partner has made a non-forcing bid.  When partner is assured of another bid, even 4. Bid 3♣. Now you have something to say. Partner’s when he has made a forcing bid, and you have bid of 2♣ was not forcing but your hand improved and nothing to say. you need to tell him that.

Let’s take it as read that you will: Incidentally, what would you do as opener with this  Open the bidding if you have 12 or more HCP; hand if you heard the auction above and which is and, repeated here?

 You will respond to partner’s opening bid with WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH 6 or more HC. 1♠ Pass 1NT In an uncontested auction, ask yourself before you Pass 2♣ Pass 2♥ make each bid – ‘Do I have anything to say that I Pass ?? haven’t already said?” If the answer is No, and partner has made a non-forcing bid, your best path is to pass. ♠AQ972 ♥5 ♦KQ9 ♣K1094

Have a look at the following hands. The auctions so far Apply the same principle to your bidding. You have are given below. told partner that you have 5 spades and at least 4 clubs,

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH and you have told him that you have fewer than 17 or 1♥ Pass 1♠ 18 points because your simple change of suit in this Pass 2♥ Pass ?? auction is non-forcing.

1. ♠Q8762 ♥Q5 ♦Q985 ♣83 So you have anything else to say? No. You have said it 2. ♠QJ9762 ♥J5 ♦K98 ♣J5 all. Do not rebid 2NT, you have no hope of the 23 HCP 3. ♠KQ852 ♥Q5 ♦A84 ♣765 you need between the two hands to make a 2NT contract. Just pass and let partner get on with it. It is 1. South should pass. He now has a fit with partner’s a pity you have only one heart, but partner is promising heart suit, and, moreover, he has only 6 points. at least six hearts. 2. South should pass. He has a fit with partner’s suit, so should not rebid his own 6-card suit. He has only 8 Try this auction: HCP. Partner’s rebid showed 12 – 15 HCP, so there is WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH no chance of game. 1♦ 1♠ 1NT 3. South should bid 3♥. This time he has 11 HCP and a fit with partner. There is a hope of game – if partner Pass 2♦ 2♥ Pass has 14 or 15 points. ??

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH You have taken no part in the auction so far. All you 1♠ Pass 1NT have said is, I can’t support spades. Now, however, you Pass 2♣ Pass ?? need to make a decision. Should you bid or should you pass? 1. ♠7 ♥J9852 ♦Q74 ♣QJ83 2. ♠Q7 ♥J9852 ♦K74 ♣QJ8 1. ♠J5 ♦5432 ♦J765 ♣Q82 3. ♠7 ♥QJ9852 ♦K74 ♣542 2. ♠J5 ♥J5 ♦98762 ♣Q985 4. ♠72 ♥AK97 ♦ 8 ♣J98754 3. ♠4 ♦A2 ♦743 ♣QJ108764

1. Pass. You have absolutely no fit with partner’s 1. Pass. You have nothing to say. You prefer hearts to spades. You have 4-card club support partner has spades. made a non-forcing bid – once you respond 1NT 2. Bid 2♠. Do not pass. Partner may have only 4 hearts. opener’s simple bid of a new suit at the minimum level You prefer spades. is not forcing. 3. Bid 3♣. You cannot abide either of partner’s suits 2. Bid 2♠. Now you do have something to say. Partner and have a splendid suit of your own. 3 has asked you whether you prefer spades or clubs. And A BRAVE NEW WORLD – The second relates to a claim or concession, whether it THE LAWS OF BRIDGE 2017 is by declarer or a defender. If any player claims, either by showing his cards, or making a statement, or both, Reprinted from the VBA Bulletin with the permission of Bill then under the old Laws, if an opponent didn’t agree Jacobs. with the claim, then the Director had to be called. All play would cease on the board, and the Director would It is August 2017, and a new set of laws is now officially rule on the claim and determine the final number of in place throughout the country. tricks.

There is no reason to panic, and with a couple of small In 2017, there is another option. An opponent can exceptions, nothing needs to change for you the contest the claim by saying: “let’s keep playing”. Then player. if all four players, including dummy, agree, any faced The golden rule is (and always has been): when in cards are picked up and play continues normally. The doubt, call the director. And when you do, don’t be claimant does not have to adhere to the words of his surprised if the director goes scurrying off to fetch the claim. new lawbook, looking worried. The laws of bridge are However if any of the four players does not want play complicated, and more so in 2017, as directors are to continue, the director is called, play ceases, and the handed more and more judgmental responsibilities. director adjudicates as he would have under the old Why is this? Well, the lawmakers, of which the VBA’s laws. chief director, and one of our own directors, Laurie Do you see where this change has come from? The Kelso is one, are on a crusade. It started in 2007 and lawmakers want to, wherever humanly possible, have continues apace in 2017. Their goal is simple: the board played normally, with a legitimate bridge wherever humanly possible, have the board played result scored. normally, with a legitimate bridge result scored. Note from Mary: Once again – if anything happens at A simple example illustrates this. Suppose you look at the table which makes you uncomfortable – call the your cards, and then notice there are 14 of them. It director!! Do not attempt to sort out problems turns out that the Q belongs to another player, who yourself. Don’t say accusingly – ‘You shouldn’t have only had 12 cards. In 2016, the board would probably done that!!’ Say ‘I think we should call the director have been scrapped, and an adjusted score awarded now.’ And do so. (typically 60% for the non-offenders, and 40% for the

offenders).

In 2017, the hands are corrected and the board is COMING WORKSHOPS played, no ifs, no buts. And at the end, the director must determine whether the result was fair or needs Coming up on October 7 we will be hosting another of to be adjusted in some way. Bill Jacobs’ great seminars. This time the topic is:

A more complicated example of the same principle – with Bill Jacobs. involves bids out of turn. In 2016, your bid out of turn was quite likely to bar your partner for the rest of the Your left-hand opponent opens 1 of a suit, and auction. That left you (and to a degree your this is passed around to you. opponents) playing a rather silly guessing game. The Do you pass, and let them play there, or do you result would typically be anything but normal. In 2017, bid? your partner will probably not be barred, or if he is, it The guidelines for this decision are quite will be only for one round of the auction. The details of how this works are too gory to state here. Normality different to other overcalling situations … in is partially returned, although again the director will this seminar, we explore what to do, and why, in have decisions to make. both this and other balancing situations.

So what changes should you, the player, be aware of? Time: Saturday 9.30 am – 12.00 pm, October 7. There are two that spring to mind. Table fee: $18 per player payable at the session.

First, if you are dummy, you are not allowed, under any Put your names on the list on the Events board or sign circumstances, to look at a defender’s hand. up online at www.waverleybridgeclub.com.au Equivalently, if you are a defender, you are not

allowed, under any circumstances, to show dummy See page 10 for a list of other workshops. your hand. There are no exceptions to this sensible change to the laws. 4 SHOULD I COMPETE OR SHOULD I PASS?? WHAT SHOULD I LEAD?

Players do not like to defend; they would rather be the Standard leads state that you should lead your fourth declaring side, so some auctions tend to go over the best of your longest, strongest suit. Is this always true? edge because bidders are so reluctant to give up. Of course not. Here are a few examples.

Bad things can, of course, happen if you persist in  You have a sequence at the top of your suit. bidding even though you are not strong enough – With ♠QJ1065 you should lead the Q, not the opponents can double, handing you a hefty penalty, or, 6. sadly, you might push your opponents into a making game level contract. (I have seen players being pushed If you are making standard leads you will note into slam level contracts and then watched, fascinated, that the first choice if you are leading from as the slam made!!) length (i.e. not a singleton against a trump contract) is to lead the top of a sequence. Take a look at this auction: Leading your fourth best is the second choice in the list. WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH  You are leading against a trump contract – do 1♠ not lead a low card from a suit headed by the 2♥ 2♠ 3♥ ?? Ace.

With minimum values South might compete with a 3♠  Partner has bid a suit during the auction. Now bid if he has a 6-card or longer suit, or if he has a two- it is preferable, unless you have a singleton in suited hand. However, with minimum values and a 5- his suit or your own suit is magnificent, to lead 3-3-2, 5-4-2-2 or even 5-4-3-1 distribution, he should his suit. pass because he has already described his minimum opener with his first bid and has nothing further to say.  Your hand is very poor – see the example As far as he knows, his best chance of a plus score below. might come from defending a 3♥ contract. You are West and hold: With maximum values, South is likely just to bid 4♠. ♠J10 ♥743 ♦852 ♣J7632

With extra values, and when game is uncertain (around And the auction has been as follows: 16 – 18 points), South should double. This is a that allows the partnership to compete in a part-score, WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH or bid game or to defend a doubled contract. 1NT Pass 2NT Pass 3NT After a double, the decision for the final contract will All pass. rest with North, who can look at his hand in terms of If you get tunnel vision and only look at your own hand, minimum or maximum and in terms of offense or you might be tempted to lead the ♣3, hoping partner defence. With: has something in the suit so that some winners can be established. What is the likelihood, however, of this 1. ♠875 ♥QJ4 ♦K73 ♣K863 being successful? He should defend, so will pass the double. The opponents stopped in game after an invitational 2. ♠Q863 ♥4 ♦J1043 ♣A762 sequence. You have only two points so partner is He should bid 4♠. marked with almost a full opening bid in his hand. Leading your fourth best club has a low chance of 3. ♠8753 ♥6 ♦Q963 ♣K732 success even if partner has one of two honours in the He should bid 3♠. suit. Should the club suit become established, you

The beauty of the double is that it is flexible – it is the have no entry card in your hand to enjoy your winners. only call that shows extra values and allows you to Instead, try to set up some winners in partner’s hand. declare or defend. There is no guarantee that all your The opponents didn’t use the , so doubles will be successful. Partner might leave it in it’s highly likely that partner has a four-card or even when he should have pulled it, or vice versa. In the long longer spade suit. Partner has an excellent chance of run, you will find that your bidding judgement is having enough high cards to gain the lead if the suit can improving and you will make more winning decisions. be established. 5 Therefore, instead of leading your fourth best club, a In a City restaurant: better choice would be the ♠J, hoping to make the OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK AND WEEKENDS. most of the combined assets in your two hands. In a cemetery: The full deal might look something like this: PERSONS ARE PROHIBITED FROM PICKING FLOWERS FROM ANY BUT THEIR OWN ♠863 GRAVES. ♥Q95 ♦A10964 Tokyo hotel's rules and regulations: ♣Q8 GUESTS ARE REQUESTED NOT TO SMOKE OR ♠J10 ♠Q9752 DO OTHER DISGUSTING BEHAVIOURS IN BED.

♥743 ♥KJ8 On the menu of a Swiss restaurant: ♦852 ♦K3 OUR WINES LEAVE YOU NOTHING TO HOPE ♣J7632 ♣A95 FOR. ♠AK4 ♥A1062 In a Tokyo bar: ♦QJ7 SPECIAL COCKTAILS FOR THE LADIES WITH ♣K104 NUTS.

Only a spade lead defeats the contract. Declarer will Hotel, Yugoslavia: win the spade lead in his hand and the THE FLATTENING OF UNDERWEAR WITH diamond. East will take his hand and return a small PLEASURE IS THE JOB OF THE spade, won by declarer’s other honour. Declarer can CHAMBERMAID. now take his four diamond winners but at some stage will have to develop tricks in clubs or hearts. When he Hotel, Japan: does this, East’s spades are ready and waiting. YOU ARE INVITED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CHAMBERMAID. WONDERFUL ENGLISH FROM AROUND In the lobby of a Moscow hotel across from a Russian THE WORLD Orthodox monastery:

YOU ARE WELCOME TO VISIT THE CEMETERY In a Bangkok temple: WHERE FAMOUS RUSSIAN AND SOVIET IT IS FORBIDDEN TO ENTER A WOMAN, EVEN COMPOSERS, ARTISTS AND WRITERS ARE . A FOREIGNER, IF DRESSED AS A MAN BURIED DAILY EXCEPT THURSDAY.

Cocktail lounge, Norway: A sign posted in Germany's Black Forest: LADIES ARE REQUESTED NOT TO HAVE IT IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN ON OUR BLACK CHILDREN IN THE BAR. FOREST CAMPING SITE THAT PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT SEX, FOR INSTANCE, MEN AND Doctors office, Rome: WOMEN, LIVE TOGETHER IN ONE TENT SPECIALIST IN WOMEN AND OTHER UNLESS THEY ARE MARRIED WITH EACH DISEASES. OTHER FOR THIS PURPOSE.

Dry cleaners, Bangkok: Hotel, Zurich: DROP YOUR TROUSERS HERE FOR THE BEST BECAUSE OF THE IMPROPRIETY OF RESULTS. ENTERTAINING GUESTS OF THE OPPOSITE SEX IN THE BEDROOM, IT IS SUGGESTED In a Nairobi restaurant: THAT THE LOBBY BE USED FOR THIS CUSTOMERS WHO FIND OUR WAITRESSES PURPOSE. RUDE OUGHT TO SEE THE MANAGER. Airline ticket office, Copenhagen: On the main road to Mombassa, leaving Nairobi: WE TAKE YOUR BAGS AND SEND THEM IN ALL TAKE NOTICE: WHEN THIS SIGN IS UNDER DIRECTIONS. WATER, THIS ROAD IS IMPASSABLE. A laundry in Rome: On a poster at Kencom: LADIES, LEAVE YOUR CLOTHES HERE AND ARE YOU AN ADULT THAT CANNOT READ? IF SPEND THE AFTERNOON HAVING A GOOD SO WE CAN HELP. TIME. 6

BITS OF INFORMATION ABOUT TRANSFERS 3. With hand three your 4-card trump support warrants some action, but you need to warn partner A recent Friday morning talk was on the topic of that you are minimum for your bid. bidding after a transfer bid and we were requested to  Bid 3♥. The jump rebid says that you have 9 reproduce it in the newsletter. Well, here it is. trumps between you, but the fast arrival shows a minimum hand. Just a quick bit of revision first. Partner will then decide what to do next in light of your The auction: bid.

Holding: WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH ♠A9854 ♥842 ♦98 ♣J85 – 1NT Pass 2♥ (transfer to ♠) Pass 2♠ Pass ??  he will rebid 3♠ after a super accept by partner, or he will pass the rebid of 3♠.

South’s choice of rebids: Holding: 1. Pass: 5 or more spades. No hope of game. ♠A10865 ♥432 ♦J752 ♣Q94 – 2. 2NT: 5 spades and 8 or 9 HCP. Invitational.  He should rebid 4♠ if partner super-accepts ♠ 3. 3 : 6 or more spades and 8 or 9 Total Points. with a 3♦ bid. He knows that partner has a Invitational. doubleton in either hearts or clubs and should 4. 3NT: 5 spades. 10 – 14 HCP. be able to get a . 5. 4♠: 6 or more spades. 10 – 14 Total Points  However, if the response to the transfer is a Once you have transferred, do not raise the transfer 2NT invitation he should be wary of bidding 4♠. suit unless you have six or more. The transfer bid Partner has said that he doesn’t have a ruffing already promised five cards, and your partner heard value, so a quiet rebid of 3♠ is probably best. you. Hopefully.  He should pass a jump to 3♠ by opener. SUPER ACCEPTS TRANSFERS AFTER INTERVENTION When your partner has made a transfer bid after you have opened 1NT, you are obliged to ‘accept the If you are planning to make a transfer bid but second transfer’ by bidding the suit implied. In most cases. hand your partner’s 1NT opening bid – Sometimes your hand is so good and your trump fit is TRANSFERS ARE OFF! so good, that you are too powerful to merely ‘accept  Any suit you bid at the two level is now ‘to the transfer.’ play’.  Suits bid at the three level are game-forcing. Say you have one of the following hands:  Double is for take-out, implying a 4-card holding in any unbid . 1. ♠KQ93 ♥A7 ♦KQ104 ♣K76 However – if the transfer bid itself is doubled (usually 2. ♠KQ93 ♥A76 ♦KQ10 ♣K96 to say –‘ hey I have length in this suit!’), there is a very 3. ♠KQ93 ♥A7 ♦KQ104 ♣J109 nifty little thing that you can do. and have opened 1NT. Partner responds 2♥ - a transfer AUCTION: to spades. Back to you. WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH 1NT Pass 2♦1 X 1. With hand one, you have great 4-card trump ?? support and two 4-card suits. Your doubleton has brought your value up to 19 TP. 1. Transfer to hearts.

 Bid your second suit. This promises 4-card West now has options, one of which is ‘Pass’. He knows trump support, maximum points and 4 cards in that partner is going to get another bid, so he can use the second suit you bid. it to give extra information.

1. Pass – any hand with fewer than 3 trumps. 2. With hand two, you once again have great 4-card trump support, but now have a 4-3-3-3 shape. 2. Accept the transfer – 3 or 4 trumps and minimum strength.  Rebid 2NT. Promising a maximum with 4 trumps but a completely balanced shape. 3. Redouble – 3 or 4 trumps and maximum strength. 7 SPLIT-RANGE MICHAELS Responder’s hands.

A reminder: A Michaels is a bid of two of 1. ♠83 ♥Q964 ♦J862 ♣73 whichever suit opponent has opened. It shows at least 2. ♠10764 ♥5432 ♦AJ52 ♣9 five cards in two other suits in overcaller’s hand. North’s raise of South’s forced 2♠ bid describes a hand

with at least 16 or 17 HCP and is strongly invitational to e.g. game. Partner, with hand 1, will pass. However, with WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH hand 2, a useful hand – remembering that his first bid 1♦ 2♦ promised nothing – responder should raise to game. Promises a hand with at least 5 hearts and 5 spades. If overcaller has an intermediate strength hand - Say: Nominally it also shows less than opening strength.

♠Q10865 ♥3 ♦K4 ♣AKJ83 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ K9872 QJ1064 6 J5 – or similar. The suggestion is to revert to normal bidding and Many pairs play a version of Michaels which can be 1♠ after an opening bid of 1♥. The plan is to described as ‘split-range’. In other words they use a rebid clubs at a later stage in the auction. Michaels bid with weak or very strong hands. Another interesting hand, and one that I had very Bidding of very strong overcalling hands is normally recently, was: started with a double, but with a strong two-suiter it is difficult to get the chance to show both suits, so ♠AK975 ♠K4 ♦K109752 ♣ - starting with the Michaels will allow both suits to be Vulnerablity was equal. I was fourth to bid, and the bid. auction proceeded: Hands in the mid-range, say 12 – 15 HCP are described WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH by bidding both suits in a natural auction. The 1♣ Pass 1♥ ?? reasoning behind this is that having an opening strength hand yourself, your opponents will be unlikely I had options, one of which was to double, but that did to have the strength to be too much of a nuisance, not appeal to me, how could I ever persuade partner of leaving you enough room to show both of your suits. my shape?

Hands with a weak version of Michaels, say: My choices were :

1. ♠QJ985 ♥7 ♦K4 ♣QJ764, or –  1♠ overcall,  2♦ overcall, 2. ♠Q98543 ♥7 ♦6 ♣Q98742  Double Bidding would appear as follows:  Michaels

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Bidding either spades or diamonds and hearing a 1♥ 2♥ Pass 2♠1/3♣2 strong heart raise from opener would probably cook my goose. Responder’s hands: 1. ♠K2 ♥QJ54 ♦QJ8 ♣8532 I chose the Michaels and we very nearly got a great 2. ♠6 ♥QJ853 ♦QJ73 ♣1095 result, partner had good diamond support, but we missed our 5♦ contract.

1. South chooses Spades. He has bid the minimum My other option was to choose an overcall, and then number, so this bid is ‘to play.’ rebid whatever number of the as-yet unbid suit I had 2. South bids 3♣. He says he cannot stand spades and to, to get the bid in. This, in fact, is quite unlikely to his 3♣ bid says to partner – pass if you have clubs, or end well. bid 3♣ if you have diamonds. The Michaels bid was ok, but I needed to follow it With a strong version of Michaels, say: through in this way. Partner passed the 3♥ rebid by opener though she could have bid diamonds. When 3. ♠AKJ98 ♥A ♦95 ♣KQ1084, or – she passed, I should have had another go - my 4. ♠KQJ98 ♥3 ♦4 ♣AKQJ87 subsequent double insisting that partner should make a bid. Bidding would proceed as follows: WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH 1♥ 2♥ Pass 2♠ 1♣ Pass 1♥ 2♥ Pass 3♠ 3♥ Pass Pass X 8

PLAN THE PLAY

CAR PARK BREAK-INS You hold

♠A9 ♥AKJ84 ♦A32 ♣642

RHO opens 1♣, and it’s your call. You are not strong enough to double and then bid your hearts, and you can’t overcall 1NT without a club stopper, so you content yourself with a 1♥ bid. LHO passes, and partner bids 2♣.

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH 1♣ 1♥

Pass 2♣ Pass NEVER LEAVE ANYTHING THAT COULD EVEN REMOTELY LOOK AS IF IT MIGHT BE VALUABLE ON What is the meaning of the 2♣ bid? It is a good raise in VIEW IN YOUR CAR. hearts – promising 10 or more points.

EVEN A PLASTIC BAG! LOCK THINGS AWAY OR It looks as if you want to be in game, but what is the LEAVE THEM IN THE BOOT, OUT OF SIGHT. right game – it might be easier to make 3NT than need to win ten tricks in a heart contract? Furthermore, UNFORTUNATELY THERE ARE ON-GOING BREAK- partner could have, say ♣QJxx, and then you would be INS IN THE CAR PARK. dealing with an opposing ruff.

A bid of 3♣ will ask partner to bid No Trumps if he has

a stopper. But no, partner rebids 4♥, which ends the THURSDAY LESSONS DURING SEPTEMBER auction.

September 7: How to intervene after the opponents The lead is the ♣Q, and dummy comes down with: have opened 1NT (Cappelletti)

September 14: Take out doubles ♠Q104 ♥K1092 September 21: Take out doubles 2 ♦KJ85 ♣87 September 28: Hand valuation ♠A9 Classes run from 12.00 pm – 1.00 pm ♥AQJ84 ♦A32 Cost: $5 for members ♣642 $6 for visitors Payable at the session. No accounts payment for this No Trumps would not have been a good idea. After the lesson. ♣Q lead, West continues with the ♣J and third club, which you ruff in dummy. What now? The afternoon duplicate starts at 1.30 so you could bring a sandwich – or have one of our quite nice frozen There are plenty of options. After drawing trumps you lunches or a cup of soup – and stay to play in the could play on diamonds. How about the ♦A and a afternoon. Bring your partner with you or come on diamond to the jack. Even if it loses, you succeed if your own. diamonds are 3-3 or a squeeze exists. Alternatively, you could work on spades to try to get rid of your The afternoon duplicate is run at a leisurely pace, so potential diamond loser. Maybe a spade to the Ace there is plenty of time for thinking. We hope to see you and a spade to the 10. If it loses to the jack, fall back soon. on the diamond finesse.

Laura will be back for the September 21 class – it will You draw trumps in two rounds and then have another be great to see her again. think. West showed up with 3 HCP – the ♣Q and ♣J. ♣ East opened the bidding 1 , and must have every 9 outstanding point for his bid, given that he has a fairly WHAT SHOULD I BID? . Therefore, he must have the ♠K. You have a 100% play. Simply lead dummy’s ♠Q and East You are dealer and hold: must cover. Now, concede a trick to the ♠J and you are home and hosed. Here is the full deal. 1. ♠ AK973 ♥ 74 ♠Q104 ♦ AQ8742 ♥K1092 ♣ - - ♦KJ85 ♣87 2. ♠ AK973 ♠87643 ♠KJ5 ♥ Q4 ♥76 ♥53 ♦ A87642 ♦76 ♦Q1094 ♣ - - ♣QJ53 ♣AK109 ♠A9 1. This is a great hand. The mere fact that you have ♥AQJ84 only 13 HCP should not deter you from quite a bit of ♦A32 enthusiasm. Partner doesn’t need much for you to ♣642 make game, or slam.

Open this hand 1♦, and plan to bid your spades twice, i.e. WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH 1♦ Pass 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass 1NT Pass 2♠

Bidding spades twice shows a 5-card suit, and the fact that you opened 1♦ now promises longer diamonds than spades.

If the two hands look like this, even with such a modest hand for partner:

COMING WORKSHOPS ♠AK973 ♠82 ♥74 ♥A632 See Page 4 for information on Bill Jacobs’ next ♦AQ8742 ♦K54 workshop for Intermediate and Experienced ♣ - - ♣9876 players. You are pretty much a shoo-in to make 5♦ and on a Further workshops will be held for Improving players good day might make 6♦. as follows: However, with hand 2 the two hands will look like this:

Saturday 9.30 am – 12.00 pm ♠AK973 ♠82 ♥Q4 ♥A632 September 16 Stayman ♦A87642 ♦K54 September 23 Transfers ♣ - - ♣9876 September 30 Reverses October 14 Negative Doubles The quality of your declaring hand is much poorer with October 28 Introduction to Signalling the queen now being in a short suit. It will take a fair November 11 Pre-emptive Bidding bit to make 5♦ - a 3-3 spade break would help a lot. If spades are 4-2, as is normal, you need the four card Table fee: $16 for members and $18 for visitors. holding sitting over the dummy or you will surely suffer an over-ruff. And trumps had better break too. Members who book in for the full six lesson With hand two, put your thumb over your sixth improvers’ series are offered a price of $85; Visitors diamond and open 1♠. You can bid and rebid your are offered a price of $95. diamonds, but you won’t be promising such a strong

hand. 10