+ ~ ) 7 t~ ,; ~ l , ..., . \ () :' 0 J S-:! + I~ (i Ill s :l + I! J .j -1 \/ IU 7 :l :.! .\ I I ~I 7 li 0 5 :1 I J ~~-~ .j + 8:; :1:.! + .\ h: \/ 1\: J H s ti 0 1\: 10 -l + .-\ jill
South t·illH' r push e~ himself, u r ;.: L' t' pus lu·d h~ - his partrwr. inln a cnntr;ll ·t .,f Six lit-art s . lin tht· It-ad u f th•· ~ in ;.: ll'lnn trump. can South makt• it ;
Sec page l ti . CHAS. BRADB URY Lll\IITED 26 SACKVILLE ST., PICCAD!li.Y LONDON, W.J . 'II Phone REG : 3123 per Mr .. Q. A. Goldenberg, The copyright of this magazine is 10 King's Mansions, Lawrence St., vested in Priestley Studios Ltd. London, S.W.3. It is published under the authority Single copies 3/- from Newsagents of the English Bridge Union. The Editorial Board is composed of, and the Editor is appointed by, the English Bridge Union. ,RIVIERA HOTEL CANFORD CLIFFS BOURNEMOUTH I • ' FACES CHINE AND S EA AMID GLORIOUS SURROUNDINGS Quality fare prepared by first class chefs P erfectly appointed b edrooms and suites Cocktail Lounge-T ennis- Golf T elephone : Canford Cliffs 285 B rochur e on Request e You ca11 always rely on a good game of Bridge at The Ralph Evans's Hotel CONT,RACT BRIDGE ·· JOURNAL OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE ENGLISH BRIDGE UNION VoLUME 4 APRIL 1950 NUMBER 6 Vale atque Ave · CONTENT S · Page NEXT month, the Co11tract Bridge ottrnal welcomes EDITORIAL .... 2 J back as its Competition Editor E.B.U. SPRING CONGRESS Hm·old Fra11kli11 4 Mr. J. C. H. Marx who created that Department when the REESE ON CRITICISM 8 magazine was founded. CAMROSE CUP CLIMAX "Alibi" .... 10 Edmund Phillips-compelled to THE " SAFE " LEAD relinquish the post owing to his C. R. B. Murray 17 betrothal (we wish him and his THE LONDON FLITCH fiancee all good fortune) and Jl!I. Harriso11-Gray 18 pressure of work-wrote generous BELOW THEIR OWN FORM ly on hearing the news and name The Editor 21 of his successor : " I am delighted :fRIENDLY ENCOUNTER 26 to hear Jack' Marx is taking over COMPETITION RESULTS 27 again; after, I hope, an efficient ORDER OF MERIT .. .. 27 regency, it is good to know the IRISH BATTLE King is returning to the Throne." Noel Byme 28 THIS MONTH'S COMPETITION In the name of our readers, and · Edmund Phillips 29 our own, we thank Mr. Phillips for ANSWER TO MARCH a truly Royal regency ; and greet COMPETITION .... 30 the return of a supreme analyst to • • • an arduous task. All Bridge Correspondence to the Editor : • • • GUY RAMSEY, .Mr. A. J. Smith, Bridge Editor 13 Cannon P lace, of The Daily Telegraph, writes to London, N.W.3. endorse whole-heartedly the condemnation of the " Howell A II Correspoudeuct 011 Subscl'iptious or Advertising to Three-Quarter Movement" pub Publishers : lished in the l\larch issue of ihe PRIESTLEY STUDIOS Ltd., Journal. Commercial Road, Glou cester. To all Tournament Directors verb. sap. l EDITORIAL T HE British Bridge League has, (despite the dropping of one of flinging a bombshell in the them for three matches on process, finally nominated the technical grounds) ; they played Men's and \Vomen's teams for the for Crockford's when that Club International at Brighton :- defeated the Americans. M. Harrison-Gray So-why? A. Meredith One reason is that, deplorably K. W. Konstam in ?ur view (and the B.B.L.'s), a L. W. Dodds spht occurred between the mem N. Gardener bers of the Paris team which L. Tarlo resolved what had been an entity into two apparently Mrs. H. H~ Renshaw irreconcilable factions. To put Mrs. F. Gordon into the field a team.at feud with Mrs. ·P. Williams itself was out of the question: for, Mrs. H. R. Evans quite apart from such a proce Mrs. A. Crisford dure's putting too much strain Mrs. P. Carr upon the players and reducing The appointment of captains what is intended to be an honour for both teams has been deferred. and an enjoyment both to an Bo~ teams contain surprising irksome duty, it would also be omisstons-not such surprising about the best way to lose the inclusions. twice-gained crown. · The presence of Gardener and The B.B.L. naturally took Tarlo in the · Open is an neither side nor part in this " expected " S)lrprise ; they have lamentable discord. It made its had a successful season ; they decision on the merits of the have impressed in Camrose circumstances with which it was contests; and they were freely faced-a decision to which ·rumoured to be undergoing a various factors contributed. It " grooming" for Brighton. Our had been our intention to congratulations go out to them. elaborate upon these " impon The discarding of Edward derables," dotting the i's, and Rayne also was not wholly crossing the t's in our often unexpected. The incisiveness criticised fashion ; but in view of which marked him at Copenhagen all the issues involved, we refrain. seemed to have deserted him in We limit ourselves to the Paris ; and bridge no longer seems endorsement of the B.B.L.'s view to engross his attention as much that mere technical supremacy is as it did-he took little part in not, and must never be, the sole practice matches, and is pre criterion for national representa occupied with business. tion. It is, of course, the dropping of With regard to the Ladies' Terence Reese and Boris Shapiro series, the B.B.L. nominations that is staggering. They were have been justified to the B.B.L.s, hailed at Copenhagen as lite pair satisfaction : Mrs. Gordon. and of the tournament ; they were Mrs. Renshaw played themselves certainly effective in Paris into the team during the first 2 CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL series of invitation matches ; apology or even explanation. Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Evans, The current issue of our after a shakier start, have contemporary omits-perhaps developed into a formidable understandably-any record of combination. this item of news. The emergence of a . " pair of Comment would, we feel, be a Provincials "-Mrs. Crisford and work of supererogation. Mrs. Carr-to absolute front-rartk is all for the good of the game. * * • Here, it is fair to say, the quality It is our great pleasure formally of this pair's partnership was to announce that, for the first decisive. in its effect upon the time since 1937, a World Bridge Selectors. They have played Championship is to be staged this together for years ; they are year. · imperturbable ; they have always After nearly two years of been to the fore in all County unflagging preliminary work, events and are known as one of undertaken in the main by the the steadiest and most consistent Chairman of the E.B.U. in Britain pairs in the whole country. and Norman Mudie-Bach, a pre This is one major reason why war International now resident they have been preferred above in the U.S.A., the initiative of more Internationally experienced, Sir Noel Mobbs recently visiting and better-known metropolitan America, bas finally clinc~ed the players-and they, too, carry engagement. with our congratulations our warm A triangular contest will be wishes for success. held (provisionally from November 13-20, 1950) in Bermuda, between * * * teams of six from the British We are once again compelled, Commonwealth and Empire, however reluctantly, to criticise Continental Europe and · the our contemporary, The Bridge United States : the winners to Magazine. carry the title of World Champions Late in 1949, this organ pro The Bermudan authorities claimed with flourish of verbal are taking a major part in trumpets, through its re-creator, the organisation and a generous publisher and Editor, Mr. Ben share in the financing of a very Cohen, that it offered, gratuitously, considerable project which, more to carry out for the International than any other single stroke, bids Congress at Brighton the whole of fair to give our game its greatest. the printing, scoring arrangements prestige. and cost of the stewards-an offer By an alteration in its Constitu estimated as the equivalent of a tion, the B.B.L. will-if the donation of £500 and one which Dominions accept an invitation was accepted very gratefully. already issued- represent at In the middle of March, after bridge the whole group of lands months of procrastination, during that accept the rule of the King. which nothing has been done by Our team for this event this Mr. Cohen and, in reliance upon year- it is to be held either tri him, little by anyone else, the offer or quinqui-ennially- will not be has been withdrawn without chosen until after Brighton. 3 E.B ..U. Si>RI~ia ·c oNGREss HARROGATE by HAROLD FRANKLIN HE large number of bridge Leeds players A. Glynne and ' T players-more than · five S. Salinsky who headed their hundred_:_who attended this section with by far the best score year's E.B.U. Spring Congress of the afternoon. at Harrogate, helped to make it It appeared that the destination an unqualified success. If one of the Queen Cup would depend is to judge by the appreciative upon the early match between remarks heard in all directions, Mrs. Lester (Mrs. Williams, the success of next year's congress l\'Irs. Gordon and Miss Pearson) will not be a diminishing one. and Mrs. Gardener (Mrs. Evans, Forty-five tables had a pre Mrs. Kremer a.Iid Mrs. · Corwen). liminary canter in Friday Mrs. Lester won that match, aftemoon's open pairs : an although the result might have opportunity for greeting old easily been reversed on this hand : friends and·an occasion when the + Jxxx bridge could be, and was, treated cy:> AQxx with a little indulgence. In the 0 Jxx evening the race was on in eamest! + Kx Twenty-six ladies' teams fought • 10 X X X • A K for the eight places in the final of cy:> K cy:> J X X ·the Queen Cup and the two 0 KQxxx 0 Axxxx favourites, Mrs. Lester's London + Qxx + xxx team and Mrs. Gardener's London + Qxx cum-Yorkshire team came through cy:> 10 X X X X safely. At the same time twenty 0- four men's teams were seeking to + A]xxx qualify for the Provost Cup. Mr. West dealt at love all. Baron's London team got through In one room East (l\Irs. in some comfort but Dr. S. Lee's Kremer) opened One Diamond powerful team . (S. Booker, J . and West (Mrs. Corwen) unmind Pearlstone, Dr. M. Rockfelt) were ful of her earlier pass, bid One an early casualty. Spade-everybody passed an~ · · · The preliminaries were re the contract went one down. In sumed ~n Saturday when eighty the other room East again bid four patrs entered for the first One Diamond and this time West "round of the " Harrogate " responded Three Diamonds which Congress Pairs Championship. East passed. South (Mrs. Amongst those who fell at the Gardener) came in pluckily with first fence were the Swedish Three Hearts which her partner, internationals T. Wohlin and l\Irs. Evans, raised to Four. East .E. Jannersten, l. Baron and A. cloubled and all passed. Mrs. Rose, J. Pearlstone and Mrs. Gardener's courageous bidding Williams, and Mrs. Gardener and was unfortunately, nut matched l\lrs. Evans. The most note by her play and the contract worthy performance was that of went one down. 4 ~ONTRACT BRiDGE JOURNAl 1\frs. Lester's team suffered two + KS7 subsequent falls from grace and· ~XX 1\'Irs. Gardener went from strength 0 X XX to strength-so much so that when + KQxxx it came to the last round, they had but to draw with Mrs. + A9x + Qx Liversedge of Blundellsands to ~ Q X X ~ JQ X X X win the cup: But Mrs. Liversedge's OKJxx OQxxx team (Mrs. Oulton, Mrs. Luiga, + Axx + Jxx and· Mrs. Sythes) who had earlier + JIOxxx distinguished themselves by ~ AKJx heading the qualifying section1 0 Ax brought the final · touch of drama + 109 to the event by a · fine win, and l\1 rs. Lester's team thus emerged followed by a Club to the King. as the new holders of the Queen A second Heart to the Ace Cu~ - followed by a third Heart The men too had their share of trumped helped declarer to make drama in the final of the Provost nine tricks. In the other room the Cup. Mr. L. Baron (A. Meredith, contract and opening lead were N. Gardener and A. Rose), the same, '.!Jut the Queen of started good favourites, but when Spades won the first trick and the bell rang for the last round two more rounds of trumps were they found themselves lying third cleared. The Declarer took the with eight points behind G. Heart finesse and lost in all two Nelson and R Dorsey (Leeds) Spades, two Hearts a Club and a who each had nine points. To Diamond-one down. Leviten's add piquancy to the situation, splendid play of the · King of Nelson and Dorsey met on the Spad.es at trick one earned a rich last round, both requiring a win dividend. and harrassed by the knowledge The Mixed Teams of Four, that a draw would probably let in played at the same time, attracted the Baron team who had the a large entry of thirty teams and best aggregate score. Mrs. Hatfield's Yorkshire team Mr. Dorsey's team (M. Leviten, (C. Vickerman, G. Fell and A. Finlay and E. Newman) won H. Franklin) and Dr. McFarlane's well. For a team comparatively Derby-Leicester team (l\Irs. new to tournament bridge this Farquhar, N. Alton and S. was a particularly praiseworthy Salinsky) qualified for the final. performance. Their success was The Congress Pairs Champion largely due to accurate card play- ship was won for the second year all four of them fought for every in succession by Dr. s. Lee and trick, as for instance in that hand, s. Booker, three points only in where South was the declarer at front of Brighton choice l\Irs. Two Spades : F. Gordon and Dr. l\L Rockfelt. See top of nexl culunm. l\Irs. D. Hopewell and N. R. C. A small Spade was led and l\lr, Frith or Nottingham were third. Leviten went up with the King Booker took run advantage of and played a Heart to the King slipshod defence on this hand: 5 CONTRACT BRIDGE JOUlWAL + 10 8 x x eventually he had to sacrifice in ~ K Q J Five Hearts, one down against 0 J 10 Five Diamonds. This bidding + J 8 x x sequence was reproduced several + K Q 3 + J 9 2 times, but Dr. M. Rushton ~ x x ~ x x x (Bradford) who was alive to the 0 x x 0 Ax x x x situation, earned a top score by + A K 9 x x x + 10 x allowing West to play in Four · + A 7 x Spades, undoubled. ~ A 10 8 x x We were amused by Meredith's O K Q 9 x tale of his own misfortune on this + Q hand: The .King of Clubs was led + KQJxx against South's contract of ~ Axx Two Hearts. A trump was led at 0 987 trick two, followed by the Knave + 9x of Diamonds which was ducked and a second Diamond won by + A x x East. A second trump was led ~ 10 x x and Booker now pl~yed a small 0 K J x Spade from Dummy, East + A Q x x carelessly played the two and The Two of Diamonds was led South's seven threw the lead to against his contract of Three No West. Booker was now able to Trumps and East's Queen was won ru;;card two Spades on the high \:vith the King. Three Spades were Dtamonds an<:l · subsequently played and on the third West trump a Spade for ten tricks and discarded a Heart. On the fourth a top score. Spade East discarded a Club- Things did not go so well for obviously, thought Meredith, the winners on this hand : designed to mislead. When, on + x x the fifth Spade, East discarded a ~ A K Q J x x x a further Club and West the 0 x x Eight of Clubs, Meredith was · + K x convinced that East had begun + Q J x x x + x with five Clubs to the King and ~ - ~ x x x that the two defenders were 0 A K Q x x 0 J x x co-operating in deceptive discards. + A 10 x + J 10 9 x x x He took the Club finesse with + A K 10 9 x confidence, but these were the ~ x x x East-West hands. OxxxX + xx + XXX + Q ~ xxx ~ KQJx At love all, Booker opened Four 0 A 10 x x 0 Q x x ~carts and after two passes, West + K J 10 8 + x x x btd Four Spades. This was passed Misled by opponentswhohad the round to South (Lee) who t 't t di d 'th 1 Doubled. He looked as if 11 e emen y o scar wt compete honesty! Three No-Trumps was cou 1d have bid his tongue off made several times by throw-in when he made the bid and play. 6 CONfRACT .BRiDGE ' jOURNAL While this was going on, there r---·-·-·-_.. -·-· was a popular victory in the mixed pairs by Mr. Nelson and Mrs. Hankin-George and Margaret to everybody in the bridge world. I distinguished myself in the LONDON mixed teams final with this hand : • K 10 X X X X CONGRESS \? K J X 0- + Q 10 X X I bid a confident Spade and my partner, C. Vickerman, responded Three Hearts. Still unworried, I It JUNE 30th- JULY 2nd bid Three Spades-my partner's next effort was Four Clubs. Not certain where we were going, I I decided to mark time with Four l Diamonds and my partner's next bid of Six No-Trumps was EARLS COURT Doubled almost before he had STADIUM made it. These were the hands : + Q Jx IL~~~...... •• .. ..._. .. ._. .. .,_ •• .J \?AQxx 0 K 10 X X partnered ]. Lander of Notting + AKx ham who persuaded me to play the One Club system peculiar to + K 10 x x x x that town. The experiment was \? K ] x eminently successful and we won 0 - the North-South line. + Q 10 x x In the Congress Teams-of-Four After being doubled in several . final all the strongest teams were other spots, we ended in Seven amongst the sixteen finalists. Spades, also doubled. Although I All the more meritorious, feel that my partner might at therefore, was the performance of some stage have produced a the winners 1\'lrs. 0. ]. B. Cole conventional bid of Four No- (Capt.), and Mrs. M. Millett of Trumps, my head is still hung in Leicester and Mrs. A. C. Bums and shame. Mrs. E. S. Holland of Nottingham. Join the Experts, played the Mr. L. Baron's London team was previous morning, had attracted second and Mr. Sarkar's Black enormous interest. Over two bum team was third. hundred players had entered in No account of this Congress the hope of drawing one of the would be complete without twenty-two masters, and most of reference to the work done by those who failed to come out of the the chief organiser, l\lajorGeoffrey hat were there to watch. East- Fell. His efforts found U1eir own West winners were l\liss Jephthson reward in the general satisfaction of Derby and K. Konstam. I with the whole week-end. 7 REESE ON CRITICISM The CoNTHACT BHIDGE JounNAL, while deprecatiug 11Ir. Reese's manifestly unjustified gibe at its co11tributor, " Alibi," · :11evertheless pri11ts this letter as academic criticism. · The ha11ds aml the divergeuce of opinion within the Acolyte ranks they 1'eveal, are i11teresting e11ough for discussio11 and debate. " Alibi " uJill rebut the charges 11ext mo11th. Sir:- On this hand, at game toN-S, The pseudonym " Alibi," East (Shapiro) opened One Spade. · adopted by your correspondent on \'Vest bid Two Spades; North, the England-Eire match, may well Three Diamonds ; South, Three be an apt one, for I can readily No-Trumps, and West doubled. believe that he was elsewhere + S was led, and East was allowed when most of the match was to hold the first trick with + Q. played ; so far do his impressions Your correspondent says that conflict with mine. South's hold-up " at least gave H~ begins by saying the Irish East the opportunity of doing found ' 1 the players they feared something eccentric. He duly most strangely ineffective and returned \:76 which ran to listles51" As Tarlo and Gardener dummy's \?9." The obviouS are later described as playing return for East at trick 2 was, of fluently and incisively, and as the . course, a low Spade. It was the Irish pre~umably feared Boris mark of an excellent player that $hapiro and myself more than the East preferred to try a Heart. My English provincial pair, the lead of + S. combined with description obviously applies to Declarer's hesitation before hold us. What a choice of epithet I ing off, marked South . with Boris listl~ss? That'll be the day I K 10 x x. Spades were, therefore, About our performance in blocked ; and there was no general, I will mention only that future here. The best hope was while we were not playing the to find West with \?A or \?10. In English team lost points ; so that _ practice, dummy's \?9 won this - the nett score while we were at the Heart return, but declarer table was (I have not the exact muddled the hand to some figures) round about 70 points for extent and still went one down. 70 boards. Not a bad record On a Spade play by East at trick against a team which, as your 2, South could not possibly have correspondent rightly points out, failed. played well apart from misjudging Say what you like about East's a few big hands. bidding and play here; but you Now let us look at one or two of cannot describe it as either listless the hands in which our play is or ineffective. criticised : Now this hand: North East. West East + 6 + AQ872 + KJ852 + A9643 \? K 9 5 \?QJ711 \? Q95 \? A4 0 A Q] 10 6 0 7 OA OK965 + K 10 7 2 + 864 + QJ96 + K7 8 CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL East opened One Spade, and I ' r------~, raised to Four Spades. As the Bridge Biddi11g Simplified leader had \/K, the slam was on. It should just about be bid, I agree. It is· borderline, but I should have THE HESTER -- forced with Three Clubs. Your "WINNING COUNT" correspondent, remarking that the hand '' brings out an elementary point in bidding technique," says SYSTEM that the early bidding should go: + Q J 9 K I+- 2+ ; 20-4 . Now a ly>KJ762 AQ5 3 response of Two Cl':bs •. pl.aying 0 1{7532 A Q J 6 ' Acol, is an old woman s bid, 1f you + - K s·3 2 like. It is all right if partner bids ---BIDDING---- Two Diamonds, or Two Hearts ; 1 CLUB 2 CLUBS but if he says Two Spades or 2 HEARTS 6 HEARTS f Three Clubs, you can never give a Four Shillings and Sixpence picture of your trump support. 4/9 PostFreefrom" The Mount" The choice is, therefore, between Church Brow, Walton-le-Dale, · responding Four Spades and Preston. Three Clubs; as I have said, I blame myself for not bidding Trade enquiries to : THE GUARDIAN PRESs Three Clubs. 127 Fishergate, Preston, ~ncs . .. Finally, the grand slam hand: North South That, to my mind, would . be '+ A K + Q J 9 6 horrible. Good : players _are . very \I Q 9 8 6 3 \I A K 10 7 5 2 wary of this type of hand. There 0 A 10 7 0 8 are, . as . a ·matter of fact, many + A 9 5 + 10 3 sound opening bids for - South The Irish bidding was : 1\/- which would produce no play for 4 NT (Culbertson); 5 NT-7\/. even a small slam. To find the In other words, North bid 7\/ on fit that in fact existed is more or the knowledge that partner had less impossible by or~ary bid an opening bid and ~A K. Your ding (although the v~ry slow correspondent descnbed Seven approachers might get there). Hearts as "a gamble fully . ~ote that if South has .()K justified at this stage of the .instead of + x there is no :play match " ; You can excuse almost ' for the grand slam : With such a any overbid by reference to the hand he would certainly bid Seven state of the match; that .co~- ifpartnerbid4N-Tandthenmade sideration apart, I noted this. m a grand slam try. . my mind as one of the worst b1ds I am not really anxious lest of the match. my partner's and my reputation In our room the bidding went : should be shaken by criticisms so 1 \/- 3 , + ; 3 \/-4 NT ; poorly documented, but the hands 5 \1-6 \I. are interesting in themselves, and Your correspondent says that I thought it worth while to add my North's hand "would appear to own analysis. Yours faithfully, be worth another effort 0 ';,er the TERENCE REESE positive response of 5\1. 9 CAMROS·E·· CuP CLIMAX . by tc ALIBI " F all the matches in the Instead of the persistent whisper O Camrose series, the clash " could have done better myself,"· . between Scotland and England every fine point in bidding or on Scottish soil is the most play is noted, quietly disc~ssed at . productive df an atmosphere of the end of the hand, and appre . good bridge ; the keeness of the ciated whether it stands to the exchange is never allowed to credit of friend or foe. detract from the admirable spirit One of the most difficult hands :in which the match is played. came up right at the start : This year's contest was + - particularly exciting, since both y> K Q 8 7 6 2 the S.B.U. and E.B.U. teams were 0 K Q 10 4 undefeated and on the result + A K 9 depended the destination of the + A 9 8 7 S 3 2 + Q J 10 .19SO • S 3 . V' A 10 4 1 · No venue could be more ideal 0 A 0 S 3 than the Buchanan Club, + 8 7 S + Q J Hl6 2 .Glasgow. The Club and the + K 6 4 S.B.U. mustered a formidable y> J 9 army of 6fficials and helpers, who 0 J 9 8 7 ~ 2 carried out their allotted duties + 4 3 with a speed and efficiency that Dealer, North. East-West approached perfection. S.B.U. Game. Chairman F. P. Edmonds was In Room 1 R. Sharples opened an outstanding match manager 2~ (Acol), his brother bid 2 NT and Noel Byrne, famous Irish and West (Manson) ventured 3+ . player-writer, the most genial of North passed and East (Hastie) referees. Clement Ellis, holder of bid 4+ which was passed out, many Scottish ·caps, performed West making 10 tricks after the dexterous feats on a ladder to lead of y> K. keep the scores posted promptly In view of the vulnerability ·(and accurately) on an imposing conditions, it seems that South score-board; the records of the might have taken advantage of hands were also turned out with the Acol Two-bid guarantee of unrivalled speed (and accuracy) ; 8 playing tricks. Safety first while the colourful personalities considerations suggested a bid of of" Johnny" Walker,]. Ferguson SO ; if North had to retreat to C. E. Dickel (where have we heard Sy> , the important y> J in the that name before ?) and others South hand would guard against a too numerous to mention all loss of more than 500, with an contributed to a memorable almost certain vulnerable game occasion. on for the opponents. ' The playing rooms were packed As it happens, SO is cold with an all-time record number of against any defence, and Sy> can spectators-and the Scottish only be defeated at double dummy. bridge enthusiast ts unique. This would have been a triumph 10 1 CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL for Acol principles, for in the other West North East South room the bidding went like this : 1~ Dble. Redble 20 North East South W est No bid No bid Dble. No bid 1~ No bid 1 NT 2+ 2~ No bid 4~ 4~ 4+ No bid No.bid This was fine bidding by E~t Dble. (Marx) and the . hands fitted so The Scottish North-South were well that .11 tricks · were . made playing Approach-Forcing, ' and with ease. . with South naturally reluctant England p~shed their lead up to to bid Diamonds at the Two level, 28 m.p.'s with a big swing on the final outcome was inevitable. board 15 : North led +K and switched to • 10 9 6 2 OK West (Harrison-Gray) now ~ J 8 4 3 made the bold shut of returning a 04 Club at trick 2. North won and + K974 endeavoured to cash OQ ; + KJ85 + Q dummy was entered with ~A and ~ K Q 10 9 ~ · 5 the Spade finesse taken ; declarer 0 9 5 2 0 Q ]' 10 ' 8 7 6 3 thus avoided the loss of a Heart ·+ A 6 + J 10 52 · and made an overtrick for a gain + -A 7 43 of 5 international match points. ~A 762 Two hands later a typical light 0 AK Acol opening gained more points + Q86 for England : Dealer; North. North-South + K643 Game. ~ 10 8 7 . In Room 1 So~th (J. Sharples) 0 AK5 . opened 1 NT which eyeryone + A52 passed, and he played finely to make 8 tricks after the lead of + Q J 2 + A 10 8 7 ~ K. At the sec.orid table East ~ KJ963 ~ AQS (Marx) opened with a typical non 0 3 0 10 6 2 vulnerable 3 0 that worked with + K1084 + QJ9 devastating effect. • 9 5 The Scottish South doubled, ~ 4 2 West (Gray) passed, and North 0 QJ9874 did not fancy the prospects of + 7(13 . defeating 3 O, although in Dealer, South. North-South practice it must go one down after Game. a timely Club attack. He there fore asked South to name his best In Room· 1 R. Sharples opened suit with a cue bid of 4 O, and I+ after two passes. This came South landed himself firmly in round to West who now bid 2~ , Gray's lap by choosing 4 ~ , which and East 's 2 NT closed the cost 800. auction, To rth- outh taking the The Sco ts reduced the lead, first H tricks aft er the lead of 0 Q. however, on the next board : \Vith In l< oom 2 West (Gray} East dealing and• East-Wcst " in opened I ~, and the bidding the zone" as the Continentals proceeded : say, 11 CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL + 10 9 5 + 107 6 \!1 ~ 10 8 6 ~ 85 4 2 0 . J 5 0 A84 + Q954 + A94 + 8 I + AQ73 + J 9 5 2 + A .K 3 2 - ~ .K 7 2 ~ Q 3 ~ 10 9 3 ~ A 0 "KQ108743 0 6 2 0 QJ97 0 K32 + 3 2 + A K 10 8 6 ]2 +KQ765 ·+ KJ642 Q8 ~ A954 ~ KQJ 76 0 A9 0 106 5 + J7 10 8 3 Dealer, East. East-West Game. Dealer, North. East-West In both rooms East opened 1+. Game. In the first case the English South overcalled with 1 + ; West well-known principle "the (Manson) bid 20 and jumped to weakest bid is the cheapest," but 50 on the next round over Eastmustsharetheblarnewithhis Hastie's rebid of 2 NT. North led failure to force with 3+ · on the + 10 to· dummy's + A, and~ Q second round; presumably ·he followed; South (J. Sharples) took it for granted that West won and played OA and 09. could not hold four cards in either The contract was now unmake- major. able, but South formed the In Room 2 Marx (East) and ·opinion that 'West's bidding Gray reached the best contract in suggested a 7-4-1-1 distribution ; spite of a 1~ overcall by South; he therefore hung on to his West and North passed, East Hearts, baring + J, ann Manson doubled, West bid I + and found got' home with a second round ~he courage to go to 4+ after a finesse of + tO. Jump raise by EasL ·n tricks In ·Room 2 South (Cohen) were made for a swing of 850 and made things more difficult by 7 m.p's. ·doubling the opening bid, West On the next hand came another eventually playing the · hand in gain for England : ·30. The best contract for East- + 53 •West is 3 NT, which can only be ~ A J defeated by an opening Heart 0 · K Q 6 5 lead ~ + J 10 8 7 4· Now· for a long spell the score + K 9 6 4 + J 8 2 remained static, until England ~ 10 6 2 ~ K 9 7 53 went further ahead on board 35 : 0 8 7 2 O J 4 2 . See top of next_column + A Q 9 + 3 2 10 In Room 1 the Scottish East- + A Q 7 West pair produced this horrific ~ ~ ~o\ sequence : 1+ - 1 NT; 3 NT. + K 6 5 R. Sharples led a Heart, to his Dealer, East. Game all. brother's pleasant surprise, and In Room 1 J . Sharples (South) West was two down. opened 1 NT which North raised The 1 NT response violated the to 3 NT. West led + 4 to East's 12 CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL + J and South's + Q. At the other table the English Sharples played the hand in West first bid 4+ to indicate a text-book style. +K was led at lead, and retreated to 50 when trick 2; West (S. Barnett) North doubled; but South ducked, but won the next Club (Cohen) bid S THE LONDON FLITCH by M. HARRISON-GRAY HE season's most exacting The Flitch is an event dear to T test of skill, stamina and the heart of Percy Charters, ex- ~ equanimity reached the final stage Honorary Secretary of the London last month when 29 married Association. While l\lajor couples assembled at the London George Gray shepherded the Club to fight for the fourth annual contestants through the convolu- Bridge Flitch. As usual, the tions of a two-session Howell fmalists had triumphed over local movement, Percy was there to rivals in qualifying heats held in keep a benevolent (if heavy- various parts of London and the lidded) eye on the proceedings. Home Counties. After sitting up several nights in 18 CON.TRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL succession with his new stencilling 7. Mr. and Mrs. T. L. Rodgers outfit, it is not surprising that he (Essex) 832 was detected indulging in frequent 8. Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Hanunond cat-naps in odd corners of the (Kent) 808 room. There were splendid recoveries The entry was an exceptionally .in the second half by the Trevor strong one; the deportment was Harrises, always a force to be incredibly correct, throughout. reckoned with in the Flitch; by The only notable assaults were the Grants and Della Portas. But madeontwofamousinternationals; the Burrows' great win must be sundry attempts to beat par in- acclaimed .as one of the finest voked an embarrassing volley of performances of all time in any questions from the feminine half form of pairs contest ; and they of the partnership to which, appar- had the additional satisfaction of ently,there was no good answer. seeing .three other pairs from the . At the end of the first session vigorous Essex Association figure Mr. and Mrs. G. B. Burrows had a honourably in the final placings. fine score of 462 match points, Throughout the contest the next best being Mr. and Mrs. husbands occupied the North and G. H. Hammond with 425 and East positions while the ladies sat Paul and Fritzi Gordon with 419. South and West. There were two The next three positions were consecutive boards that caused occupied by Dr. and Mrs. E. E. much chagrin to the East-West Herga, Dr. and Mrs. Richards · pairs. The first was a not too .I and Mr. and Mrs. Fenton. difficult slam hand: This was a magnificent perform- + 10 9 7 4 ance by the Burrows, one of the ~ K Q ] 9 8 3 youngest couples, in such a strong 0 - field. With a top of 27 on each of · + 9 4 2 the 30 boards in the last session, + A K + J "8 2 they would obviously have to play ~ 5 2 ~ A 10 7 4 well to maintain their position ; 0 K Q 9 4 3 2 0 A 8 7 what they did in fact was to + Q 8 5 + A K 10 produce such inspired Bridge that + Q 6 5 3 their lead was increased to the ~ 6 fantastic margin of 120 match 0 J 10 6 5 points I + J 7 6 3 This is how they finished: De~er, Ea~t. East-We~t Game. 1. Mr. and Mrs. G. B. Burrows A sbght mtsuhderstanding after (Essex) 990 a prepar~d I+ o~ening ~y East 2. Mr. and Mrs. Trevor Harris resulted m North s playmg the (London) 870 hand at one table in 3~ un- 3. Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Grant doubled, four down. Two other (Essex) 866 venturesome Norths were 4. Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Della doubled in 3~, losing 700 and 900 Porta (Middlesex) 860 points respectively, which 5. Mr. and Mrs. P. Gordon theoretically should have given (London) 852 them a near top. 6. Dr. and Mrs. E. E. Herga However, one East-West p~ir (Essex) 835 stayed in the poor match pomt 19 CON'fRACT BRlDGE jOURNAl. contract of 50, while four others This was the full deal: were content with 3 NT ; two of + A K 10 8 7 these declarers made 13 tricks on BRIDGE ARTICLE APPEARS EVERY FRIDAY ·j together with a WEEKLY PROBLEM I even money that Opener will stop would (de l'attdace, et toujours de '"J said bid suit ; it is also even l' attdace I) have " stood it" . j money, or a shade of odds, that unless it was Doubled when he ~ Opener will hold either Kx in would have been ·~compelled" to -~ Diamonds or, at worst, J x x with retreat to Fottr (!) Diamonds. the probability that butter-in A seven-card suit to Ace- holds the Diamond King. Queen facing a minimum of 13 Five Diamonds is a possibility ; bala11ced points is a possible Game. Four Diamonds another. The It should be bid as such. one bid not to make is Three The same player held Ace Diamonds which is obyiously Knave to five Clubs and a total competitive and no more and will count of 9 in a 5-3-3-2 shape ; the almost automatically be passed. bidding was opened by the Dealer Five Diamonds would have to his left with a Spade (his been Passed and made ; Four Doubleton) and his Partner Diamonds would have been Doubled; holder (e11core de raised to Five and made; Three l'audace !) bid Two Clubs(!). No Trumps would have been Doubler now bid 2 NT. "Three Passed and made Five ; as it was, Clubs " was the · cry. This was Three Diamonds was Passed and (immaculately) Passed, and ten "They" went rubber (and slam) tricks made (with the same next hand. number available at No Trumps). The holder said that, had And Opponents went rubber (and Opener bid Three No Trumps, he slam) next hand. (This time, 23 CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL thank heaven, it was "We.") partner, switched to the singleton The culprit, challenged, Heart (rightly, West wished to claimed he had made two volun- lead his long suit forcing tary bids. "I could have Passed Declarer, with four trumps to the 2 NT," said he. " Why didn't Knave, rather than the Heart, yott go on with 17..· poi11.ts? " hoping Dummy would.have thre~ (The 2 NT bid announced no Clubs) . fewer). East won the Heart and re- When an opponent (the present turned it; West frowned, con writer) pointed out that he had sidered, and threw a Diamond. bid as if he had si....: or seven Clubs (Palooka ruffs with joy, leads with a point-count of two or three Diamond in hope, ruffs second .'at most, the player said he would, Heart and cashes Club Ace for 'on such a holding, have Passed Two Down !) Two No Trumps in his sleep. South now led the third Heart · Do not, in your own interests, and again West chucked Diamond. .do such. A re-bid of your suit in South now banged out three this sequence announces length rounds of trumps, ending. in the with no strength whatsoever, It Dummy (he did not even con ·says : " I am Clubs only ; and sider that the refusal to ruff I cannot assist No Trumps at all marked West with J x x x as even with my Clubs." Only if clearly as if he had laid his hand Doubler has AKJx- no less-in on the table). The Ace of Hearts Clubs, plus a big Double, dare he was now led, the last Club now rebid his No Trumps to Game. going from Declarer's hand. On · Now, consider the defence this, East, who had jettisoned the ·perpetrated by two skilled useless Knave of Hearts on the Duplicate players against a third Spade, threw the Ten of Declarer well-known as a weak Diamonds. sister in his usual company. West, resignedly ruffed and led · + i K 10 x a Diamond I South now made '::) ·A 8 x x x · ·Three Spades and went rubber ·o K x x (not slam this time) with a + Q x measly Two Diamonds next hand. + J 9 x x + x x West was livid at his partner's '::) x '::) K ]' x x folly in not playing a high Club on 0 ] x x 0 A 10 x the King (thereby announcing, or ·+ A K x x x + J x x 2 implying, ability to over-ruff + A Q x x Dummy I ) ; in not refraining '::) Q 10 x from returning Heart (" I haven't O Q x x x led it; surely I cannot want to + x x ruff") ; and in not playing some By some inconceivable bidding encouraging Club, even the South, the weak sister, had got Knave subsequently. ·himself into the'highly improbable When I pointed out to him in and very improper, contract of the discussion afterwards that Three Spades. West made the Declarer's Club discard on the obvious lead of the Club King and, Ace of Hearts should have induced on the play ·Of the Two from him to lead Club Ace before the 24 CONTMCT BlUDGE JOURNAL Diamond (all Diamonds having and take a view whether to play gone unless East held both Ace Ace next time on the Diamonds ? and Queen which was improbable Or what? on the bidding, which had gone : The answer is, Duck at once. 1y> - 1+ ;-West did not bid 2+ If partner bas but two Diamonds for "it ·might go for 800 with and no entry, you are sunk. nothing on for Them! "-1 NT, If the Heart is knocked out at 2 NT, 3 + . No 1), he wailed, "I once and there are KJ and another might be setting up the Knave of Diamond behind you, you are Clubs for him!" sunk. If Partner has three At which· point, I ceased Diamonds and an entry, you are arguing; but plunged into in comfort. If partner has two mournful reverie on how tortuous Diamonds and an entry a11d of mind much misapplied Science Declarer plays on Partner's entry has made good natural card first, you are iri hope. There players to their own detriment. fore, Duck and leave Partner with Have a look at another defence: a Diamond to lead if Declarer Dummy shows up with : knocks out Partner's entry + KQxxy>QxxOx + A9xxx before yours. and you, sitting over, hear your Declarer played on Clubs and Diamond intervention disregarded partner held K Q. A second and over-bid in No Trumps Diamond was won with the Ace ; (Three) despite your holding of : and the·Ace of Hearts would have + xx y>A x OA Q 1087 xx + xx allowed the defence to limit Partner leads the Nine of ·Declarer to seven tricks-save for Diamonds ; what do you do ? the fact that the Defender went Win with Ace and play him for up with the Diamond Ace at three Diamonds (Declarer holding once on a too superficial analysis K J bare) ? Win and switch to and " They " went rubber with a Ace and another Heart ? Duck vulnerable slam on the next hand. 2nd OPEN· CONGRESS LLANDUDNO MAY 4th - 8th, 1950 (Pre-Congress Pairs May 1st - 3rd.) --·------=--=-=-=- 5 TEAMS OF FOUR EVENiiS 11 DAILY PAIRS PAR CONTEST CHAMPIONSHIP PAIRS l Write for Brochure to Major W . B. Tatlow, 22 Trinity Square, Llandudno I I ...... r..J L...... r .,.., .. r I II ...... 25 FRIENDLY -ENCOUNTER. · J N February, a team consisting In room l, + J was led, West of Dr. Sidney Lee (Capt.), ducked and Ramsey made 7. Dr. M. Rockfelt, Derrick Hirsch In Room 2, South's raise to 60 and Guy Ramsey, beat the on his absolute minimum was Northern Polytechnic by S,700 in contrast with the bidding on over 24 boards. the next hand, which was dealt The PolytecJmic changed their as follows: team every 4 boards to give as + AK32 many of their circle as possible a <\78 " smack at the cracks " ; but 0 A Q92 none of their pairs was able to + J 10 3 2 ·stem the tide. • 10 • J 54 The reason for this was twofold. <\/ Q 3 2 <\/ 10 9 7 4 Firstly, an inability to assess from 0 10876S 0 KJ43 the bidding the combined strength + K987 + Q4 of the hands ; and secondly, a • Q9876 failure to plan the play of a <\7 AKJ65 contract, leading to an " afternoon 0- whist " gambit of playing out the + A65 Aces and Kings and hoping that Room 1. (N-S S. Lee) something would happen. North East South West It seldom did. Two interesting hands from the 1. Pass 3+ Pass 30 Pass 4 NT Pass· match illustrate these points. Blackwood + AJ43 S<\7 Pass S NT Pass <\73 60 Pass 6 + All Pass 0 A Q J 10 8 4 2 Room 2. (N-S Polytechnic) + Q 1 0 Pass 1<\7 Pass • s • 10 9 8 7 6 1+ 'Pass 2+ All Pass <\7 K J 10 9 8 6 <\7 Q 54 2 0 K6 0 9 Here South apparently felt that + A 6 3 2 + J 10 8 his bid of 2+ did justice to his + KQ2 hand, a decision which pwved <\/ A 7 costly. 0 7 53 Finally, a word of advice to + K97S4 the Polytechnic. 1\'Iany contracts N-S Game ; S. dealer. were sactificed on th{' altar of the "approach " theory, and the Room 1. (N-S Ramsey and Hirsch) simple alternative of " bidding North East South West what' you think you can make " Pass 1<\7 was disregatded. Two Polytechnic 2<\7 Pass 3<\7 Db! (I) declarers (one standing in for so Pass 60 Dhl (I) Ramsey in the last stages of the All Pass match) held Room 2. (N-S Polytechnic) + A_K Q J x x <\7x OAK x + x x North East South Tf' est wtth partner holding : I+ 4<\7 . XX<\/ J XX 0 10 XX X + Q J 9 X so Pass 60• All Pass Coutiuued foot columu 1 ou page 27 26 COMPETITION RESULTS SYDNEY WOODWARD MELVILLE SMIT H A. Stockton beat W. S. Grimshaw Mrs. Markus beat W. Wolach HOSPITALS CUP NATIONAL PAIRS Queen Mary College beat South of England : · Westminster Hospital 1. Mr. and.Mrs. H. R. Evans 2. E. Bruce Parker and DUVEEN SHIELD :Mrs. A. L. Fleming Divisio11 I 3. C. Ullman and J. Albourki.rk Major North's Team wins Red Section 4. Dr. and Mrs. Richards of Division 1 . 5. Mrs. Lawson and Miss Harrison Division I. Bille Section London: R. J . T. Gibson drew G. B. Burrows 1. S. Booker and J. Pavlides R . J. T. Gibson beat H. W. Haycocks 2. Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Newman Mrs. J .D. Finlaison beat G. B. Burrows 3. J . C. Tatham and R. J. Pridie G. C. Fox beat Civil Service F INAL DAILY TELEGRAPH H. W. Haycocks beat A. Lederer Winners : Major North's Team. R. J. T. Gibson beat A. Lederer M. Kelvin, H . Koellner, C. Lester, Division II J. Nunes, B. Spiers, 108 Match Points, EA. Vincent beat P. R. G. Charters International. A. Miller beat S. G. Kirby Runners-up were : J. T. Reese, J. A. T. de Boer drew N. F . Wallis B. Schapiro, Dr. S. Lee, S. Booker, J. Lincoln beat Gloucester Club 1. Mrs. F. Gordon with 100 International N. F. Wallis, drew Gloucester Club 1 Match Points. Division III LONDON DAY Ladies' Civil Service Finals of the Sydney Woodward, tie with W . Mahon D11veen Shield and Hospitals Cup will for Division III Maroon Section · be played at The London Club, on P. C. Shepherd wins Gold Section. April 23rd. The first three to top the Ladder and ORDER OF MERIT win the Half-Guinea prizes are:- The monthly prize of Two Guineas Dr. R. MacMahon, 438 for the best set of solutions to the Froome, Kiln Road, February Competition is awarded to Thundersley, Essex. E. H. Potter, 56 St. Stephens Road, G. D. Sharpe, 435 Hounslow, Middlesex, who scored Elmcoft, London Road, 80 points out of a possible 100. Maldon, Essex. R mmers-up: Miss W. Jewson C. E . Dickel, 428 (Pevensey) 78, C. E . Dickel (Glasgow) 16 Frankfort Street, 76, R. D. Dupuis (Dollar) 73, Lt. Col. Glasgow, S.l. j G. H. F. Broad (Rugby) 72, F. B. E. Gardner (Oxford) 70, L. F. Jones Leading Scores : ] . E. Gordon 422, (Essex) and Dr. A. MacArthur 1\'liss W. Jewson 412, ]. W. Gerber 394, (Gateshead) 69. L . G. Wood 383, C. Vickerman 381, G. F. H . 1\Ience 374, E. H. Potter• 368, (Co11timud from page 26) B. B. Snell 363, L. C. Payman 362, W. H . Eva 349, J. D. L. Harmer 342, The bidding in Room 1 wen~ J. Bloomburg• 338, R. D. Dupuis 335, 2· -2 NT-3 NT, and the A. F . Wallis, 332 Brigadier W. H . Doctms Lee and Rockfelt reeled Happen• 329, Dr. 1\l. E. Weber 326, off five Heart tricks to set the E. G. Lawford* 322, Colonel G. 1\l. McCieverty 314, J. A. Parsons• 311, contract out of hand ; while in A. P. Driver• 299, C. R. B. Murray• Room 2 the auction (thanks to 281, C. H. Sturges 279, Captain partner's optimism) took the more T . W. Hills 277. profitable sequence of 2. (why not • Competitors so marked have all 2+ ?)-2 NT-30-3. -4 •. missed one or two months. 27 IRISH. B ATTLE by NOEL BYRNE HE Contract Bridge Associa- Board 53 in the wrong contract. T tion of Ireland beat the South dealt and North/South Northern Ireland Bridge Union were Vul. by 32 International match points + 7 6 4 in their Camrose Trophy match, ~ J 9 8 54 played at Dundalk on February 0 6 52 _25/26. ...t.. A K 2+ 6 4 ...t.. 9 8 5 Anxious to avenge last year's "'" "'" defeat, our Northern neighbours ~ 10 2 ~ . A Q 7 brought a strong selection along : 0 K Q 8 4 0 A J 7 Mrs. J. M. Atkinson, M. Gabbey, + Q J 10 7 + A K 9 3 D. Cohen, E. Goldblatt, B. Vard, + Q J 10 3 G~ Hanna, with George Sloan as ~ K 6 3 Captain. We were represented by 0 10 9 3 Mrs. J. M. O'Sulliv an, + 8 ._,_:;:~ ]. M. O'Sullivan, E. 0. Barry, Biddi11g, Room 1 P. P. Donovan, J. A. Kelly, D. A. Houlihan. Mrs. F. Me- South West North East Menamin was Captain. Pass 1 0 Pass 3+ Barry/Donovan and Kelly/ Pass 4+ Pass 4 NT Houlihan were new partnersl_1ips Pass 5+ Pass 6+ and the burning question was Biddi1zg, Room 2 "Would they combine success fully ? " For once the Selectors S outh W est North East were right ; the. quartette played Pass 10 Pass 3+ as if each had sat opposite his Pass 3 NT Pass 40 partner for years. Pass 5+ Pass 60 The N.I.B.U. players also Houlihan and Kelly bid the appeared in strange partnerships. hand smoothly to Si.x Clubs in We had Goldblatt & Hanna, Vard Room 1, which is cold. The & Cohen and l\Irs. Atkinson and auction started the same in Room Gabbey. 2 but West's second bid started Unlike the home team, however, the rot. East's subsequent Four the experiments were not a Diamond bid suggests that he success and it was no surprise doubted the 3 NT bid-how else when Sloan restored the " old could he make such an encourag loves," Goldblatt and Vard and ing bid as 40, knowing the Gabbcy and Hanna, at the partnership held only seven of the beginning of the final session. By suit between them? Too late this time, however, they were 45 West showed the Club fit-East points in arrears ; and, though the did not now place him with four to double change brought a big at least one honour, which he must improvement in the bidding and do , I think, on a 3 Club/4 Club play of the team, they could do no response. more than reduce the defi cit to It was Dumlalk's first oppor- reasonable proportions. tunity tu stage one of these Goldblatt and Hanna were both matches and the local Club did badly at fault in slamming everything magnificmtly. 28 . . ; ,. , - ~~·s' (o111nettlt1Jn -rha Hf.IJ11""' -r · · I~ - by Edmund Phillips Answers to EDMUND PHILLIPS, The bidding proceeds : Esq., Competition Editor, Contract South West North East Bridge Journal, 172 Chester Road, 1 ~ No bid 2 + 20 Northwich, Cheshire, not later than ? 1\lay 7th, 1950. Solutions and names What do you bid ? of prize winners in the March Competition will appear next month. PROBLEM No. ·5 (12 points) Game All. You, South, hold : This competition continues the + A 10 5 4 2 ~ 7 OK 8 4 + K 9 7 6 Ladder Contest, announced last Nov The bidding proceeds : ember. North South Prizes of lOs. 6d. will be awarded 1 . - 1 + every month henceforth to those 2 NT ? competitors who reach the top of the What do you bid ? ladder. They will then automatically fall to the bottom, starting with a score of zero. PROBLEM No. 6 (12 points) Every contestant will therefore, Love All. You, South, hold : in time, win a prize ; but the successful + Q 3 2 ~9 7 5 4 2 08 6 + Q 10 9 scorer, by reaching the top with The bidding proceeds : greater speed, will win more prizes East South West North and greater distinction. 1 ~ No bid No bid Double 2 ~ No bid No bid Double PROBLEM No. I (12 points) No bid ? Love All. You, South, hold: What do you bid? + Q 1085 ~AQ986 OAKlO + 3 The bidding proceeds : PROBLEM No. 7 (16 points) South North North-South Game. West, the 1 ~ 2 . dealer, and North pass, and East ? opens One Diamond. What do you, What do you bid ? South, bid, holding: (i) + A 7 ~K 8 OA 10 2 + A K Q 8 4 2 PRoBLElll No. 2 (12 points) (ii) + A K Q 7 4 3 ~Q ] 7 0 K 9 + A 4 ? North-South Game, You, South, hold: PROBLEM No. 8 (12 points) + J 10 8 3 ~A OA K 10 5 2 + A 9 2 The bidding proceeds : North South West North East + K85 2 1 0 1 ~ No bid 2 ~ ~ 6 ? 0 A Q 10 9 8 7 • 54 What do you bid ? East + A Q 10 7 3 PROBLEM No. 3 (12 points) ~ KJ432 East-West Game. You, South, hold : 0 J 54 + tO 7 6 3 ~K 9 OK Q 9 7 3 + A 10 The bidding proceeds : The bidding: North South East Sout/1 West North ~~ 20 1 + 3 + No bid· -30 ? No bill 4 NT No bid so What do3. you bid : No bid 6 + All Pass PROBLEM No. -t (12 points) West opens the Jack of Spades and North-South Game. You, South, North plays small. What is East's best hold : plan of defence? (South plays 4 of + J 7 6 4 ~A K J 8 5 02 + Q 10 4 Spades to trick 1). . 29 Answers to March Competition . PROBLEM No. 1 (12 points) The bidding proceeds : South West North East North-South Vulnerable. You, 1~ I + 2~ 30 South, bold : ? + A 9 54 ~J 8 4 OK 7 6 3 2 + A The bidding proceeds : What do you bid_? East South West North ANSWER 1 + No bid No bid Double 3. Double-12 points. _ ? You have an excellent chance of What do you bid ? defeating the contract and any other call would show a sad lack of apprecia ANSWER tion. East's failure to raise Spades 1. One No Trump-12 points. means almost certainly that partner is Three Diamonds-7 points. No bid- sitting over West in that suit, and will 4 points. Two Diamonds-2 points. be able to deal firmly with any rescue. There is a fair chance of defeating One Spade but, vulnerable, it is better PROBLEM No. 4 (12 points) to try for game. Three Diamonds, however, is a little fonvard, since .Both sides vulnerable. You, South, partner's fourth hand double may be hold : quite weak. Best is One No Trump, + 8 4 ~ 10 6 3 0 A 9 8 5 2 + 9 7 2 over which partner should be able to North, the dealer, opens 1 +. and produce a further bid if there is a game East doubles. What do you bid? m the hand. If he says Two Clubs, ANSWER you can conveniently go Two Diamonds; 4. No bid-12 points. a Two Heart response you will of It seems likely that opponents have course raise direct to game. the balance of strength, and your first c<;mc~rn should be to get out of the PROBLEM No. 2 (12 points) biddmg as cheaply as possible. A bid North-South Vulnerable. You, of One Dia~ond may be (was, in fact) doubled disastrously, and you will South, hold : have given up for ever the chance of + AK92~98065 + QJ764 The bidding proceeds : playing in One Club. It is true that North South the One Club may be a prepared bid on a three-card suit but in that case 1 ~ 2 + if West passes, partner can make· ~ 2 0 ? S.O.S. redouble-a call that for some What do you bid ? reason bas gone out of fashion in the States, but still has its uses. ANSWER 2. Two Hearts-12 points. Two Spades-3 points. PROBLEM No. 5 (12 points) You have 10 points, a balanced hand Love AU, You South, hold: a~d the fourth suit firmly held, but: + Q 10 54 ~A 10 7 0 Q J 9 6 + 8 3 With a complete lack of fit in the red The bidding proceeds : suits, Two No Trumps would be a South West North East distinct overbid. Two Spades is o bid No bid 1 + No bid better, but there is really no need for 1 0 Double 3 0 No bid more than a quiet preference of Two ? Hearts: you have already shown fair What do you bid ? strength by making a two-over-one response in the first place, so that ANSWER partner should not be unduly dis 5. Three Spades-12 points. Three couraged. No Trumps-7 points. Three Hearts- 5 points. You should not of course be scared PROBLEM No. 3 (12 points) by the intervening double which, by East-West Vulnerable. You, South, a player _who has passed, shows only a hold : ~and smt31ble for a simple overca\1 + 6 ~A Q j 4 0 K J 8 + A 10 9 53 m the maJors. At the same time, it is 30 CONTRACT BJtiDGE JOURNAL likely that partner's jump was based suit, there is a fait chance that oppo partly on distributional values, and an nents will only be able to run four approach bid of Three Spades is there tricks in it and that you will be able to fore better than an immediate stab at run the next nine. Three No Trumps. Some credit is also (ii) Four Hearts-a points. Three given to Three Hearts, in deference to a No Trumps-4 points. Four Diamonds member of the England team who -2 points. recommended it as a cue-bid. This sequence is generally considered forcing, and despite your minimum PROBLEM No. 6 (12 points) holding it would be inadvisable to pass. Both sides vulnerable. You, South, Three No Trumps may be on, but the best shot is Four Hearts which is likely hold: to depend, · at worst, on a three + J9652~953208+K63 three trump break. West, the dealer, bids I NT; North Doubles, and East passes. What do you bid? PROBLEM No. 8 (12 points) North ANSWER + AQ5 6. No bid-12 points. Two Spades ~ 104 -3 points. OAK8752 A double of a vulnerable No Trump + KG calls for a pass, unless fourth hand's West holding is weak and unbalanced. • 9 8 6 A meagre 4 points is borderline ~ K7 between rescuing and passing, but the 0 Q 64 deciding factor in this case is the rank + A J 10 52 of your suit. With Clubs rather than The bidding : Spades it would probably be wiser to North South rescue, but our experience in this 1 0 I NT situation is that all too frequently our 2NT 3NT suit strikes a singleton in partner's The play to the first three tricks band-a double of One No Trump does West North East South not guarantee a balanced holding and + J + K + 4 + 3 is in fact more often based on a long suit. If over Two Spades partner has 04 "'0"2 ~ 03 to take out at the three level, the cost + 10 + 6 + 7 + 8 may be greater than allowing oppo ~ should West now lead? nents to make One No Trump doubled. AN~VER . PROBLEM No. 7 (16 points) 8. Seven of Hearts-12 pomts. King of Hearts-9 points. Love All. You, South, hold: The fall of the Clubs marks declil;fer + J 7 6 ~A K 10 7 0 A Q 2 + J 9 4 with Q 9 remaining, so the set?ng The bidding proceeds : tricks must come from the I?aJors. South North A Spade shift looks attractive at 1 ~ 2 0 first glance but to be successful must 3 0 ? find partner with King and Jack-two ? specific cards-whereas the heart What do you bid, if North's rebid is shift needs only one card, the Ace. (i) Three Spades, The 7 of Hearts should be . ch~sen (ii) Three Hearts ? rather than the King, because tt gtves a rather better chance in these cases ANSWER 7. (i) Three No Trumps-8 where partner has King of Spades points. Four Diamonds-5 points. and Queen of Hearts, but not the Ace. You have already bad slightly to It is of course futile to cash th.e Ace overbid your hand and should take of Clubs in the hope of getti~g a this opportunity of suggesting a nine, revealing discard from partner smce, rather than an eleven, trick game. once the Ace of Clubs bas been play e~. the contract can only be defeated If Q x of Clubs in partner's hand will partner does in fact hold the Ace of give you a stopper ; while even if he has only two or three small cards in the Hearts. 31 ,. CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL ENGLISH BRI.DGE UNION LIST 0~ SECRETARIES BRITJSil BRIDGit · LKAGUK-Major George MIDDLESEX CONTRACT BRIDGit AssnCIATJON Gray, 23 Clydesdale Gardens, Richmond, Mrs. H. Freema!'1 The Nook, Lyndhunt Surrey. Terrace, London, N.W.3. EKGLISII BRIDGE UIIIOH-Stue/ary: Mrs. Nons CoUNTY CoNTRACT BRIDGI< AssoCIAT1DN Stem, 7 Abbey Road, London, N.W.S. -Mrs. Margery Bums, 61 Burleigh Road, Tournament Seert/ary: Major G. Fell, West Bridgeford, Nottingham. . Craven Lead Works, Skipton, Yorkshire. NoRTn EASTERN CoNTRACT BRIDGE Assocu· Rt~iflrar : H. Collins, Esq., 30 Budge Ro"'• TION- G. I. Rhodes, 5 Woodbine Avenue, London, E.C.4, Gosfortb, Newcastle·on·Tyne 3. · EsSI!X CONTRACT BRIDGE AssOCIATION- NoRTil WESTERN CoNTRACT BRIDGE Assocu F. M. Fletcher, Esq., 22 Fontayne Avenue, TION-F. Farrington, Esq., Moor Edge, Chlgwell, Essex. Chapeltown Ro:~d , Turton, Nr. Bolton. DERBVSIIIRI< CoNTRACT BRIDGE AssociATIOII OxvoRosmRE CoNTRACT BRinG£ AssociATION W. Bumstone, Esq., cfo Town Clerk's Office, -Capt. F. W. Taylor, 433 Banbury Road, Market Place, Derby. Oxford. DEVOll CONTRACT BRIDGE ASSOCIATION SOWI!:RSET CONTRACT BRIDGE ASSOCIATJON- 0 . H. Dolley, Esq., Kellsall Lodge G. Gr:~ham Wilson, Esq., Flat 2, • Kincora,' Higher Warberry Ho:~d, Torquay. Staplegrove, Taunton, Somerset. GLOUCESTERSIIIRil CONTRACT BRIDGE ASSOCIA· SOUTJlERN COUNTIES CONTRACT BRIDGit TIOII-S. E. Franklin, Esq., Belmont Avenue, ASSOCIATION-Mrs. W. J. Davy, " Culford," Hucclecote, Glos. West Overcliii Dri•·e, Boumemoutb T~l. Westboume 64406 HERTFORDSIIIR£ CONTRACT BRIDGE AsSOCIA• STAFFORDSI!IRE COliTRACT BRIDGit AISOCIA• TIOII-W. H. Weightman, Four Winds, no11-W. R. Cato, Esq., 204 Tbombill Rd., St. Andrews Avenue, Harpenden, Herts. Streetly, Sutton Cold field KENT CoNTRACT BRIDGE AssociATION SuRREY CoNTRACT BRIDGE AssoCIATION . R. H. Corbett, West Kent Club, Boyne Park, H. F. R. Phillips, ItO Banstead Rd., South, Tunbridge Wells. · Sutton, Surrey. LEICEST£RSIIIRil . CONTRACT BRIDGE ASSOCIA· W ARWICKSDIRE CONTRACT BRIDGE ASSOCU.• TIOII-L. G. Cayless, "Farm Edge" Leicester TIOK-F. 0. Bingham, Esq., 64a Greenhill Road, Tburcaston, near Leicester. Road, Moseley, Birmingham. LINCOI.NSIIIRE CONTRACT BRIDGE ASSOCIATION WoRCESTERSIIIRE CoNTRACT BRIDGE Assoc•A· -Mrs. Turner and Mrs. Brompton 51 TIOII-R. D. Allen, Esq., 28 Britannia Signbllls Avenue, Cleetborpes. · Square, Worcester. . . . LoNDON CoNTRACT BRIDGE AssoCIATION YoRKSIIIRE CONTRACT BRIDGE ASSOCIATION Mrs. B. Tarlo, 97 Chohnley Gardens, H. H. Chope, Esq., 26 Riverdale Road London, N.W.R. Sheffield, 10. CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL Regional Editors- Eire ...... NOEL BYRNE North Western A. C. DouGLASS Scotland .... H. l{ERsHAW Yorkshire MRS. L. L. BEDFORD Wales .. ,. H. J. GouLD London "Ausr'' North Eastern EwART !{EMPSON Competition Editor-EDMUND PHILLIPs The CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL is the ofiicial organ of the English Bridge Union. Publishers- PRIESTLEY STUDIOS LTD., Phone- COMMERCIAL ROAD, GLOUCESTER. Gloucester lll81{3 All Brid~e Correspondence to- EDITOR, CONTRACT BRIDGE jOURNAL, 13 CANNON PLACE, LONDON, N.\V.3 32 BRIJJGE INDEX CLASSIFIED Ll ')T OF HOTELS AND CLUBS HARROW NOTTI NGHAM HARROW BRIDGE CLUU-I!l • . .; liiWlC k CRANTOCK DRIDGE CLuo-480 ~lans6eld Park Road, HARRow, Midt.h:. 1· 1 ll.,rrow Road, Nottingham. Tel. No. Nottingham 3908. Good standard Dri L<)NDON TUNBRIDGE \\\ ELLS, KENT CROCKFORD's - 16 Carltou 11 i • rr.1cc, London, S.W.I. Tel. No. Wh •· .oil 1131. WEST KENT CLUB....;.I2 l:loyue Park, 51- Partnership, Tu~>sday Evt-u.o~ ~ · ~ . Jl.ut· Tunbridge Wells, Residential Dridge Club. fully nersbip, \Vedu~sday and Frid:1y cvrmngs. l.icensed. Stakes 3d. and 6d. Partner>hips OIL R. PRovosT, Managing Dirertnr. Monday afternoons at.3d. and Wedne•day alter· A. J. HoRSN>:LL, ~ecrotary . noons at Gd. Duplicate last Saturday in every month. For further details apply to R. H . DoRSET CLUD-- 3·5 Glcntworth Strt•t•t, Corbett, Secretary. Tel. Tunbridge Wells :!1133. llaker Street, N.W. I. Tel. \~·e lhc< · k lUJ!I. KeMular partn•n;hip and du plicate. Stakes II·, :lt6 and lOt ·· WORT HING LYNDHURST CLun-36 Finchl ey Rd., N.W.B. .hhKABELLE lb:SIDE.NTIAL BtUUG£ CLUB. 'Phones PRiinrose 5858 and 3435. Shilling Sea Front, Heene Terrace, Worthing. D~ily Partnership every afternoon. Duplicate pairs Sessions 2.30 & 8 p.m. Licensed Re!taurant. every M CUT COMPETITION ENTRY FORM N Alli E (Blor.k Capitals) ...... :...... A DDRESS ...... TowN...... This Form must accompany each entry. Printed in i.rtat Britain by ALHERT H. Sw•Tll (PRINTERS) LTD., 87 Stroud Roa~, Gloucester, and publishtd by PRJtSTUV STu oro• L To., Commercial Road, Gloucester, as the official orgaa of the Eaglish Bridge Ualon. On sale at Jeadln~ Bookstalls. oa direct from th< publlsheno. I • o ~ • • r • .. : . 0- .._...... _. .._...... _...... , r··-··--··-·· ...··--··-·--··, [ l r· ..... ··~· ..... ·---··-··-··J E. B. U-. .._ ..._ ...... _.., l l l l l l l l -l 0 l l All who d ,~ ·~ ire to further the l l 0 l l II. devekp! ;' :·· -:> f Contract Bridge l l l l as r _, should be members l l ' l l ~~:!. support the l l l 1 l l l l ENG1A;.;_;,-t: BRIDGE UNION L.J u E. E. Memoeiship of the Union may be r''1 li l obtained by : .. ;t ; (a) Direct application to L.J D LEAVER COLE & CO .. 30 Budge Row, LONDON, OE.C.4, Registrars, B..::-;i o B. .. -!' or ~·l l (b) Through Appropriate Affiliated l l L.J County Associations. nL.J u. • u. The Subscription to the Union is only 5/ I. r''1 I I per annum and entitles you to : f'l l l (a) All Literature. I I l l (b) Entry to all National Competitions. l l l l l l l l (c) A voice in the management of the l l game. I I l l l l l l 0 I l ...... _..._,._.,_,._.,, _j l ~-·-·~-" l L ...... _,..._,..._ ...... - ...... J E • B • U • L ...... _...... _...... J