LIBRARY CORNER BRIDGE TIP FOR MARCH

Bridge Squeezes Complete: Never surrender control of a suit Winning Endgame Strategy without a good reason for doing so. Clyde E. Love

Louis Watson The Bridge Center library has a wide variety of books with subjects ranging from the basics of bridge for the novice player to much more advanced topics for those well versed in the ba- sics and who want to take their level of play higher. The original edition of Love’s book on squeezes was published in 1959, but and DON’T FORGET updated it, and the book was re-released in 2010. Cana- dian Lee is a WBF World Master who has written books and maintains Please remember to wear your Chattanooga River a bridge blog (http://linda.bridgeblogging.com), and Pottage, also an City Regional buttons at all upcoming tournaments — author in his own right, is considered one of the world’s experts in con- We need to promote our July structing bridge problems. The original book is said to have “unlocked the mysteries of —until then the province of top players 2012 River City Regional at the only.” With this edition, a “masterpiece” is brought up to date and will Chattanoogan ! prove as valuable to today’s player as the original was in its time.

UNIT 206 CHIT CHAT Volume 3 Issue 3 Monthly Publication of ACBL Unit 206 March 2012 Editor: Sandy Cervantes Assistant Editor: Cheryl Whitfield Staff: Teresa Moore Features Editor: Marcia Lanphear Myra Reneau

FROM THE PRESIDENT DO YOU KNOW...

What’s a Sandwich NT?

From the frying [smoking] pan into the fire— Sandwich No refers to a 1NT bid when LHO more on that next month. opens, partner passes, and RHO bids a different suit. Sitting in 4 th seat, you are “sandwiched” between the Your has been exploring ways to increase two bidders. The Sandwich NT is similar to the Unusu- attendance at our Chattanooga Club. We have al NT bid, but one level lower. It describes a distribu- looked at several options, but the one with the tional hand (at least 5-5 in the two unbid suits) and generally de- most potential was moving our Tuesday game to notes a weak hand. The number of high card points required is not Monday. We have surveyed the membership, the most important factor although values should normally be be- and although I believe we would actually in- tween 5 and 10/11 high card points and should be located in the crease attendance with a change, our Tuesday two unbid suits. With a stronger hand, the option of a take out dou- players were heard LOUD and clear that they do ble is available. The two hands below illustrate this difference. not want a change. So, for now, we are NOT go- The bidding has progressed as follows: (1 ♣) — P — (1 ♥) — ***. ing to change this game. Thanks to all who par- Holding Hand A, you have a perfect opportunity to bid a Sandwich ticipated in the survey. No Trump; with Hand B, it is best to double to convey a stronger hand.

However, we have to do something to increase attendance; and the Board will continue to look HAND A HAND B at other ideas. If you have constructive ideas, ♠ KQxxx ♠ AKQxxx please e-mail me at [email protected]. ♥ x ♥ Thanks, and I will look forward to seeing you on ♦ KJxxx ♦ Axxxx Tuesday. ♣ xx ♣ xx

JohnJohnJohn Sandwich NT is an optional rather than a "standard" treatment, except by a passed hand. It should only be used under partnership agreement, and it is alertable (when bid by an unpassed hand). The Dreaded

Michael Sherman

(Note: For ease of discussion, the opponents will be silent throughout.)

With both sides vulnerable, partner opens 1 diamond, and you hold just enough to scrape up a 1 spade response:

♠ K953 ♥ 87 ♦ K85 ♣ 9842.

Partner now rebids 2 hearts: 1D – 1S; 2H ——— **. What are your thoughts?

We might wonder if partner could have a hand such as

♠ J6 ♥ AQ42 ♦ Q943 ♣ KJ3, having decided that showing the 4-card heart suit must be a priority. If so, any safe havens we might find on this hand lie back down the bidding ladder. From this point, getting out for minus 200 would be a bargain.

The good news is that partner should not have this hand. (Alas, should not and does not are not always the same thing.) He should realize that bidding 2 hearts is taking the auction dangerously high with no knowledge of a fit, and he should choose the safer and more descriptive 1NT rebid. The key ingredient in recognizing this imminent danger is observing that responder would need to bid at the 3 level just to show a preference for opener’s first bid suit . This situation arises when opener's rebid is either a jump shift or a reverse . Briefly, a jump shift by opener (jumping into a new suit) shows an unbalanced hand with game-forcing values. Here our interest is recognizing bids that are (and are not) reverses on the auction

1X — (P) — 1Y — (P) ** and then discussing the recommended requirements for making such a bid.

In reversing, opener's rebid will be:

*A new suit (not a raise of responder's suit or a rebid of opener's first suit) *At the 2 level *Not a jump (a jump shift, mentioned above, involves slightly different guidelines) *Higher ranking than opener's first bid suit

A brief quiz : Try to identify whether opener's rebid on each of the following auctions is a reverse. If opener's rebid is not a reverse, determine which of the above requirements is missing.

1) 1D - 1S; 2C 2) 1D - 1S; 2H 3) 1D - 1S; 2S 4) 1C - 1H; 1S 5) 1C - 1H; 2D 6) 1C - 1H; 2S

The Dreaded Reverse ... continued

Looking back at the auction at the beginning of the article, we note that opener's rebid is a reverse (quiz problem #2…#5 is the other reverse) and remind ourselves that this action left responder, holding minimum values and in an awkward position. To prevent a non-competitive auction from quickly escalating to an unplayable level ( oneself in the foot, so to speak), opener is expected to hold a strong hand (17+ HCP, or equivalent playing strength) in order to reverse. Opener should also have an unbalanced hand when reversing. Strong balanced hands with 18-19 HCP should rebid 2NT, except when holding 4-card support for responder's major. Other strong balanced hands should qualify for a notrump opening bid.

There is one more standard requirement for opener's reverse, which is related to the fact that all 5-5 (and 6-6) hands should be opened with the higher ranking suit. Because opener should not be 5-5 (or 6-6) when reversing (the higher ranking suit has been bid second), it follows that opener's first bid suit must be longer than the second to reverse. It is worth noting that this also means that opener's first bid suit will always be at least 5 cards in length. Responder does not need to worry that opener might have a "short club" on the auction 1C - 1S; 2H .

Because opener must have extra values to reverse and may have extra values beyond the minimum requirement, a reverse is forcing for one round . Responder must bid again, but the auction is not necessarily game forcing. Which of responder's rebids are forcing after the reverse and which are not is to some degree a matter of partnership agree- ment, and beyond the scope of this initial discussion. Feel free to contact the author ([email protected]) if you have questions related to this issue.

To conclude, we will look at some examples of hands where the decision of whether (or not) to reverse is an issue for opener:

♠7 Open 1D. If partner responds 1S, this hand qualifies for a reverse into 2H . The 6-5 distri- ♥AQ982 bution and well placed honors more than satisfy the requirements for "equivalent playing ♦AK10853 strength.” Note that if opener bids hearts again on the next round to show a 5-card suit, ♣4 this would also reveal that opener has 6+ diamonds, even though the suit has only been bid once .

1D - 1S; 2H - 2NT; 3H - .... (Opener has 5+ hearts and 6+ diamonds.)

♠K3 This hand is not strong enough to reverse. Opening 1NT will avoid rebid problems. ♥AQ74 ♦K8652 ♣K9

♠2 Open 1C. If partner responds 1S, reverse into 2H to describe this hand and force partner ♥AKJ4 to bid again. Because 2H is forcing, it is not necessary to consume valuable bidding room ♦A62 by jumping to 3H. ♣AKQ98

♠8 Open 1C. f partner responds 1S, go back to the dealing machine and request a ♥KQ62 reshuffle. If no mercy is offered, opener still should not reverse. We might debate whether ♦KQ5 a rebid of 1NT or 2C is "better" in this situation (an issue left for the reader to resolve), but ♣K7643 treating this minimum opening like a strong hand could easily lead to trouble on this auc- tion and partnership mistrust in the future.

HIGH GAMES FOR FEBRUARY In Sympathy

Chattanooga Our thoughts and prayers are Open Michael Sherman/ 71.43 with our features editor Marcia

NLM Joyce & Ray Feher 74.20 Lanphear on the death of her beloved mother,

Mildred Walters at the age of 102. We send Cleveland Dick Mellor/Barbara Creagan 71.88 our most heartfelt condolences as Marcia and Fairyland Joy & Gerry Jones 65.87 her family deal with this difficult loss.

CHATTANOOGA BRIDGE CHANGE OF RANK CENTER GAME SCHEDULE FEBRUARY 2012

Sunday 1:30 Open Game Belinda Lloyd Sectional Master Monday 6:30 Mini Lesson Russell Lloyd Sectional Master 7:00 NLM Game Marty Hershey Regional Master Tuesday 12:00 Open Game Bob Kemp Silver Life Master Wednesday 12:00 Open Game Muggs Smith Silver Life Master Thursday 5:45 Lesson

6:30 Open Game Friday 2:00 Novice Lesson/ ♦♣♥♠♦♣♥♠♦♣♥♠♦♣♥♠ Play & Practice In Memoriam

Players at the Chattanooga Bridge Center suffered an enormous loss this past February 16th, when our lovely Muriel Morton passed away at age 92. Muriel was such a positive person, al- ways helpful and warm to partners and opponents alike.

A member of “the greatest generation,” Muriel was the personifi- cation of the “steel magnolia.” Life was not always easy for this charming woman, but she unfailingly persevered in the face of difficulties and never allowed adversity to change her friendly Muriel and daughter, Betty personality nor diminish her kind manner. Jackson, at the Christmas party this past December. Muriel loved bridge and put her talents to use for the benefit of the club. For many years, she was the unit treasurer, and early on she taught the game she so loved. Always willing to partner with a new arrival or novice player, Muriel was unquestionably encouraging and optimistic, and her graciousness inevitably put partners at ease. Her trademark, “I surely do thank you” when her partner laid down his cards (no matter how happy she was to see them) will be remembered fondly.

We will miss her sweet nature, beautiful smile, affable manner, and unfailing cheerfulness. We send our most sincere thoughts of sympathy to her family at this sad time. GET WELL WISHES MARCH SPECIAL GAMES

We’re sending our warmest get well wishes to Donna Myers. Now Monday, March 5 that she’s out of the hospital, we hope that when she feels able, 12:00 Noon we’ll see her back at the bridge Senior Pairs* table. We miss her contagious $4.00 laughter and beautiful smile! Extra Points *55 and above BACK TO SCHOOL!

Michael Sherman has started his lessons again before the Thursday evening game. The lesson begins at 5:45 with the game following at 6:30. The first half of the series will focus on rais- ing partner, including inverted minor raises and Jacoby 2NT. The second part will deal with the use of . The lessons are free for those who stay for the game and $4.00 otherwise.

IN MEMORIAM Thursday, March 29 We learned recently of the death 6:30 PM of J.J. Andrews on February 1st. Grand National J.J. was not able to play with us Teams Qualifier often, but her enthusiasm and $20.00/Team competitive spirit were evident in Extra Points every hand she played. We send our condolences to her family on this sad occasion.

PUT YOUR THINKING CAP ON ♠ AQ6

♥ AKQJ On occasion, we will present an interesting hand ♦ in the newsletter for your examination. QJT987 It will be a hand that offers an opportunity to ♣ think outside the box. Our first hand is submitted ♠ T87432 ♠ KJ95 N by Marcia Lanphear. Marcia offers that this hand ♥ 5432 ♥ W E ostensibly can only be made with one line of play. Take ♦ ♦ 65432 some time to study the hand and come up with the solu- S ♣ KQJ ♣ 5432 tion. ♠ The contract is 7 Hearts by North/South. There has been no ♥ T9876 bidding by the opposition. The is the King of ♦ AK Clubs. How do you play the hand to make 7. ♣ AT9876 The solution will be in next month’s newsletter. CLEVELAND NEWS

SWAMP CRACKERS HAPPY BIRTHDAY If you played at the CBC on Wednesday or in Cleveland on Friday, you may have TO YOU! sampled Marcia Lanphear’s Swamp Crack- ers. They’re delicious — and the perfect tidbit to pre- pare when you have friends over to your house for a game of bridge. Crunchy and spicy, they’re irresistible. Better still, they’re unbelievably easy! Marcia is kind enough to share her recipe:

1-1/2 Cups canola oil* 1 Tbs. crushed red pepper Nell Morton March 2 Everett Hixson March 4 1 Tsp. ground red pepper Annette Stansel March 4 1 package ranch dressing Robert Rymer March 10 Saltine Crackers Mary Lou Miller March 16 Directions: Marion Kyle March 17 Susan Kimm March 18 Combine oil, peppers, and ranch dressing mix, and mix Kathy Ellis March 20 well. Fill gallon glass jug with saltine crackers and pour Marge Wheeler March 20 seasoned mixture over crackers. Close lid. Let sit for 30 Ann Arnwine March 21 minutes. Turn jug upside down, repeating this for 6-8 June Carlyle March 21 hours. Occasionally, roll your jug so the mixture will be Ron Brown March 22 evenly distributed. *Marcia says she uses much less oil in Elizabeth Jones March 23 her version. John Hudson March 24 Marilyn Free March 28 ALERT!! There will be no game in Cleveland on Tuesday, March 6th. The Senior Center is closed due to the upcoming elections. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. IN MEMORIAM We were saddened to learn of 5th FRIDAY TEAM the passing of Jean Hamm this GAME — MARCH 30 past February 23rd. Jean was a vital member of the Cleve- There’s a 5th Friday in March and land community and will be missed by that means a team game in Cleve- many. We send our most sincere wishes of land — a GNT, in fact. Register your team with sympathy to her family and friends. Teresa Moore at [email protected], or call her at 706-861-7105.

CLEVELAND GAME SCHEDULE: Tuesday and Friday — Game at 1:00 P.M. Second Thursday — Game at 6:00 P.M. Please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to game time. Reservations are requested.