1162 Mr Bridge 3itins ad Final_Layout 1 09/02/2012 13:54 Page 1

SINGLE CABIN SUPPLEMENTNO CRUISES TO CLASSICAL CIVILISATIONS * BRIDGE CRUISES - AUTUMN 2012

ISTANBUL TO ATHENS VENICE TO ATHENS ATHENS TO ATHENS ENJOY SPECIAL AUGUST 27, 2012 OCTOBER 8, 2012 OCTOBER 18, 2012 Venice CROATIA I�anbul SAVINGS ON I�anbul Zadar Mount Kornati Islands Split Athos 3 EXCITING VOYAGES Trogir Hvar ITALY Korcula Dubrovnik Skiathos Lemnos Bay of Kotor Skiathos MONTENEGRO Izmir TURKEY TO ANTIQUITY GREECE GREECE Ephesus Athens Athens Sámos Kusadasi TURKEY Corfu Mycenæ Mykonos Aphrodisias Mykonos Arta GREECE Delos Join us on Aegean Odyssey for a Nauplia Delos Preveza Nauplia Ithaca Monemvasía CYCLADES Rhodes wonderful Voyage to Antiquity and Santorini Katakolon Olympia Athens Nauplia CRETE Knossos discover the art, history and cultures of Rethimnon CRETE Rethimnon the Mediterranean, Adriatic and Aegean. Choose from three Mr Bridge Autumn DATE PORT DATE PORT DATE PORT sailings, each offering extraordinary Aug 27 Fly to ISTANBUL Turkey Oct 8 Fly to VENICE Italy Oct 18 Fly to ATHENS Greece value for money. More good news is Transfer to Aegean Odyssey Transfer to Aegean Odyssey Transfer to Aegean Odyssey Oct 9 Oct 19 that there are no single supplements* Aug 28 Cruising the Dardanelles VENICE Italy NAUPLIA Greece and all cruises are hosted by members LEMNOS Greek Islands Oct 10 ZADAR Croatia Oct 20 MONEMVASÍA Greece Aug 29 SKIATHOS Greek Islands Cruising the Kornati Islands Oct 21 RETHIMNON Crete of the Mr Bridge team. SPLIT Croatia Aug 30 IZMIR Turkey Oct 22 RHODES Greek Islands Cruise in comfort, relax in style Oct 11 SPLIT Croatia Oct 23 Aegean Odyssey is a premium class Aug 31 IZMIR Turkey Oct 12 DELOS Greek Islands KORCULA Croatia MYKONOS Greek Islands Sept 1 DUBROVNIK Croatia ship carrying just 350 passengers. The DELOS Greek Islands Oct 24 MYKONOS Greek Islands Oct 13 SAMOS Greek Islands atmosphere on is relaxed with DUBROVNIK Croatia KUSADASI Turkey Sept 2 SANTORINI Greek Islands Oct 14 plenty of passenger space, a choice of CORFU Greek Islands Oct 25 KUSADASI Turkey restaurants (with open-seating dining) Sept 3 Oct 15 RETHIMNON Crete PREVEZA Greece Oct 26 At Sea and generously-sized accommodations, Sept 4 ITHACA Greece NAUPLIA Greece Oct 27 ISTANBUL Turkey plus the comfort and attentive service Oct 16 KATAKOLON Greece Sept 5 PIRAEUS Greece Oct 28 Oct 17 ISTANBUL Turkey of boutique-style cruising. Fly home from Athens NAUPLIA Greece Oct 29 SKIATHOS Greek Islands Oct 18 PIRAEUS Greece SPECIAL FARES INCLUDE: Oct 30 10 days from £1,450 including: Fly home from Athens PIRAEUS Greece PROGRAMME OF SHORE EXCURSIONS Views of Mount Athos monasteries; visits Fly home from Athens to Ephesus and Pergamon; the Greek 11 days from £1,795 including: EXPERT ANTIQUITY LECTURE PROGRAMME islands of Lemnos, Skiathos, Santorini, Guided tour of Venice including a 13 days from £1,995 including: WINE WITH DINNER & GRATUITIES Delos and Mykonos; Minoan Crete; private evening visit to St Mark’s; the Guided tours of ancient Mycenae and classical Mycenae. Roman Forum in Zadar and Palace of Monemvasía; Minoan Knossos; the EXCLUSIVE COCKTAIL PARTY Diocletian in Split; Korcula and Hvar; Citadel of the Knights of St John, Rhodes; SCHEDULED AIR & TRANSFERS ABROAD Dubrovnik and Kotor Bay; Venetian the of Delos; Roman Ephesus; Corfu; Byzantine Arta and Ithaca; the monuments of Aphrodisias; treasures ancient Olympia and Mycenae. of Istanbul; Mount Athos monasteries.

BOOK NOW CALL ON ACCOMPANIED BY BRIDGE PLAYERS 01483 489 961 There is a supplement of £30 per person for those wishing TEAM MEMBERS to participate in the programme. Prices are per person, double occupancy, and include MR BRIDGE SPECIAL SAVINGS. *The number of cabins with no single supplement is strictly limited. Please book early to avoid disappointment. Singles are made especially welcome and a partner will always be found. The bridge programme is completely optional and Mr Bridge passengers can participate as much, or as little as they wish. This offer is subject to availability, is capacity controlled and may be withdrawn at any time.

VOYAGES TO ANTIQUITY FEATURES 47 Bill’s Bridge for Three Players 3 Bidding Quiz Bernard Magee’s BRIDGE by Bernard Magee ADVERTISEMENTS Bidding Quiz 4 Mr Bridge Ryden Grange 2 Voyages to Antiquity You are West in the Knaphill, Surrey 9 says Cruises to Classical auctions below, playing GU21 2TH Doubling a Supported Civilisations ‘Standard ’ with a weak no- (12-14) Suit is for Takeout 4 Haslemere 2012 ( 01483 489961 and four-card majors. 10 5 Christmas 2012 (Answers on page 21) e-mail: Answers [email protected] Your Questions 6 Tunisia 2012 website: 13 The End of the Auction 7 Mail Order Form 1. Dealer North. N/S Game. www.mrbridge.co.uk by David Stevenson ♠ K 7 6 4 3 8 Bridge Event ♥ K 10 7 6 4 3 2 N Publisher and 16 The Diaries of Booking Form ♦ 3 W E Wendy Wensum S Managing Editor 8 Table and ♣ Mr Bridge 17 Seven Days Tablecloths Offer by 8 QPlus 10 West North East South Associate Editors 19 Andrew Kambites says 14 Voyages of Discovery Pass 1NT Pass Bernard Magee Don’t Underlead an 2012 Summer Cruises 2♣ Pass 2♦ Pass Julian Pottage Ace at Trick One ? 20 Bridge Events 21 Bidding Quiz Answers Technical Consultant with Bernard Magee Tony Gordon by Bernard Magee 21 Bernard Magee’s 2. Dealer East. Love All. 22 Modernising the Game ♠ Begin Bridge CD 4 Proof Readers ♥ A 9 4 3 2 N 23 Defence Quiz Tony Richards 23 Mr Bridge Rubber/ ♦ A K Q 3 W E by Julian Pottage S Danny Roth Chicago Events ♣ 9 6 2 24 Defence Quiz Answers Richard Wheen 27 Mr Bridge Tutorial by Julian Pottage Bridge Breaks Hugh Williams West North East South 25 Declarer Play Quiz 31 Duplicate Bridge 3NT1 Pass Office Manager by Dave Huggett Rules Simplified ? Catrina Shackleton 25 Prize Crossword 3 1gambling 3NT: 32 Bernard Magee’s set by Sputnik solid minor, little outside Events & Cruises Tips for Better Bridge 26 Declarer Play Answers ( 01483 489961 35 Bernard Magee’s by David Huggett Rosie Baker Interactive Software 3. Dealer West. Love All. Jessica Galt 27 Lead Quiz ♠ A Q 8 6 4 3 2 36 Global ♥ A 6 5 2 N Rachel Everett by Andrew Kambites W E Travel Insurance ♦ J 2 Megan Riccio 28 Lead Quiz Answers S 38 Haslemere 2011 DVDs ♣ Void Sophie Pierrepont by Andrew Kambites 38 Mr Bridge 29 David Stevenson Clubs & Charities Playing Cards Answers West North East South Maggie Axtell Your Questions 38 Bernard Magee’s 1♠ 2♥ 2♠ 3♥ [email protected] ? 33 The A to Z of Address Changes Bridge: J, K 38 Bernard Magee’s Elizabeth Bryan by Julian Pottage Five-Card Majors CD 4. Dealer East. Love All. ( 01483 485342 39 Clubs and Clubhouses 40 Charity Bridge Events ♠ K Q J 4 by Ned Paul ♥ K Q 10 9 N [email protected] 44 Stamps ♦ J 8 W E 41 Readers’ Letters ♣ K Q 5 S All correspondence should 48 Voyages of Discovery be addressed to Mr Bridge. 43 Elegy to a Bridge Player Cruising the Timeless Please make sure that all by Richard Wheen Baltic letters, e-mails and faxes West North East South carry full postal addresses 1♦ Pass The views expressed in this publication are not ? and telephone numbers. necessarily those of the publisher or its Managing Editor.

Page 3 COVER STORY If you haven’t yet booked going forward Bernard your passage, then let’s be hearing from you, Magee otherwise the tickets at I have asked to be set aside will have to be sold Haslemere to the general public. Hall Haslemere, Surrey MORE FILMING

8-10 May 2012 While I am away with Mrs Bridge, celebrating my anniversary on board My twenty-five year mv. Discovery, Bernard landmark demands a root Tuesday Magee will be back at and branch clearout and a Haslemere Hall, see left 8 May re-allocation of resources hand advert. Just as last Mrs Bridge and I are really to prepare for the future. Morning Session: looking forward to joining year, all six seminars will 11.00 – 12.30 mv. Discovery on 27 April be professionally filmed If you require a bridge Leads for a voyage, during which I by renowned TV director, table, chairs or even a Afternoon Session: will be celebrating the 25th Hugh Dehn and his team. bridge table cloth, please 15.00 – 16.30 order them from me before anniversary of the start of I have kept the price of the Losing Trick Count 31 March 2012. Likewise, my journey as Mr Bridge. tickets to £10 per session. pen sets and refills. Our on board activities If you can, you really will resemble a festival of should come along and see I still have some 2012 bridge. The lead-in price is Bernard Magee in action. diaries to clear. Wednesday £849 per person sharing, a Send in three second class little less if you are a All bookings should be 9 May made directly with the stamps and receive one by Discovery club member. return. Navy Blue only. There is also a very good Haslemere Hall booking Morning Session: ( 11.00 – 12.30 deal for singles, especially office. 01428 642161. Finally, I have donated all Making a Plan as all bridge fees are the old software traded as Declarer included. The event is YVIE MAGEE in for the latest QPlus to Little Voice. These are Afternoon Session: exclusive, so you must book offered to you as follows: 15.00 – 16.30 through my office if you Responding to 1NT wish to join in the QPlus 7 – £10. celebrations and I do QPlus 8 – £16. hope you will. QPlus 9 – £25. Tony and Jan Richards, All are guaranteed for at Thursday freshly returned from least for one year. Cheques their 50th Mr Bridge 10 May In the evenings at the should be made payable to cruise, will be leading the same venue, Bernard’s Lucia Little Voice. Please Morning Session: team of bridge directors, sister, Yvie Magee, will be send two 2nd class stamps 11.00 – 12.30 teachers and helpers. to cover my cost in the Signals and Discards starring in a production of And it won’t all be Touch and Go, by Derek posting of them to you. Afternoon Session: bridge but it can be if Benfield. This delightful Order with confidence. 15.00 – 16.30 you want it to be. farce is a well-woven tale Endplays of suburban married life GOFF STAMPS We will be playing when and hilariously portrays the in port as well as at sea. complications encountered Mornings, afternoons and £10 per ticket when the two couples’ evenings and especially For advanced affairs catch up with them. before second sitting booking, please call dinner, which I know is So, if you live anywhere Haslemere Hall Box Office a boon for a lot of you. near Haslemere or are There will be cut-in rubber/ staying in the area to ( 01428 642161 Chicago sessions hosted attend Bernard’s seminars, Please note that all sessions by Diana Holland and you should book yourself British stamps below face will be filmed. lessons for beginners led in for one of the three value must be a bargain. by Kate Henderson. evening performances. ( 020 8422 4906.

Page 4 ANTIQUITY With more days at sea, AND ARDINGTON the bridge sessions will certainly be longer. Mr Bridge

100 ALREADY... Christmas Yet another cause for & New Year celebration. Bridge Weekly has just past the century 2012/13 In order to better cater mark this very week. for the demands of bridge Those who prefer to Denham Grove players, I have added combine bracing sea air IN PRAISE OF Near Uxbridge, UB9 5DU Voyages to Antiquity with their rubber/Chicago to my bridge cruise Mrs Pam Donaghy writes: will find full board at programme. These are ‘I love playing bridge this comfortable venue all on boutique cruise but because of a pelvis just what they want. ship, Aegean Odyssey, complaint I have not been See the advert on page 23. which usually sails with playing at my club as yet around 300 passengers. this year. This has given TABLE OFFER Duplicate bridge is played, me time to work through if there are no excursions, Bridge Weekly from 1-100. As I mentioned earlier most afternoons as well as It has been very interesting in this column, the sale Duplicate Bridge after dinner. Sessions are and helpful. I realise that of furniture ceases 31 limited to 15 or 16 boards. although I already know March. My padded, black 24-27 Dec £455 most of the tips, some had vinyl covered, metal Jo Walch As the tours are (nearly all) been forgotten. Sometimes, tables are ideal for club included in the price, they being out of action has a use, as they can serve the 27-29 Dec £215 are popular, especially the silver lining. In my case it needs of several different morning ones. The evening 29 Dec – 1 Jan £445 was your Bridge Weekly.’ groups at the same venue, meal is open sitting and a especially as most clubs choice needs to be made RUBBER/CHICAGO use green table cloths. as local wine and beer are The Olde Barn included in your fare. AT BLUNSDON For those who feel a Marston, Lincs NG32 2HT green playing surface is Our bridge groups are important, I draw the exclusive, so you should special table and cloth offer book with us and book to the attention of clubs early, singles especially, as and individuals alike. the number allocated for sole occupancy is finite. The cloths are made in Cabins are still available: the north of England of locally spun cotton velvet. Istanbul-Athens One of each for only £75. Duplicate Bridge 25 April-4 May Diana Holland (above) Athens-Venice along with her husband 24-27 Dec £455 16 May-26 May Brian, are hosting a rubber/ QPLUS USERS Chicago bridge event 27-29 Dec £215 Istanbul-Athens Regular users of any series for me at the Blunsdon 27 August-5 September of this wonderful software 29 Dec – 1 Jan £445 House Hotel, see page 23. Mr and Mrs Bridge on board should have a look at hands: Venice-Athens 3057 – 113 to 128 inclusive. 8 October-18 October Please write to let me ( 01483 Athens-Athens know what you think. 489961 18 October-30 October Mr and Mrs Bridge on board CHRISTMAS 2012 e-mail: [email protected] In the late Autumn, The 2012 festive season Aegean Odyssey sails may seem a long time away website: out of the Med to cruise Join them at this lovely but I have special deals www.holidaybridge.com the Far East. Selected Best Western hotel, £199 for both Denham and Please call if you would like a magazines have been for two days full board. 31 Marston venues, see sample copy of the programme inserted with the details. August-2 September 2012. adjacent advert.

Page 5 TUNISIA WINTER CRUISES THE PRESENT Mr Bridge The political situation In the two weeks before AT THE in Tunisia has greatly Christmas, I set out to test improved. Bernard Magee some readers’ reactions by ROYAL KENZ has just returned from randomly offering them a TUNISIA another really successful Christmas present. I offered holiday out there. You to send Bernard Magee’s are urged to book early to DVD, Ruffing for Extra Two-week avoid disappointment. See Tricks, completely free. Just half-board adjacent advertisement. send six 2nd class stamps to duplicate cover postage and handling STAFF UPDATE charges. For those who holiday Bernard Magee, pictured preferred more modern Rachel Everett, pictured above, is hosting two ways, you could order from below, has taken extended cruises, back to back, my web shop or telephone travel leave and will be from Hong Kong to Bali and provide a debit/credit out of the office for several and Bali to Bangkok on card number for the same months. Her place has board the boutique mv. cost plus a 20p handling been taken by Sophie Aegean Odyssey. Flying charge. In short, £2.36. Pierrepont. Zoe Wright out from cold old London went on maternity leave I am extending this offer on 13 January 2013 to the and we have recruited and it is now open to warmth of Hong Kong. Rosie Baker to replace her. all readers on the same Days at sea to listen to terms as outlined above as well until 30 April 2012. as play bridge, as much or as little as you like. LIVE & LET LIVE Do contact my office for full details for these

exclusive bridge parties. 4-18 November 2012 Golf available Those wanting cabins Tony and Jan Richards for single occupancy £769* really do need to enquire Meanwhile, Leanora Adds and reserve their returns from maternity accommodation quickly. 24 Feb – 10 March 2013 leave to work part-time The correspondence for Golf available until her children, Felicity and against Sally Brock’s Bernard Magee and Owen, pictured below, MORE WINTER column has now overtaken and his team are older. CRUISING Pay2Play and those it £799* On the same ship, but in does not suit should just ignore it. Those who like it *per person half-board sharing March 2013 I sail with a twin-bedded room and is Mrs Bridge from Singapore should be assured I will be inclusive of bridge fees. Single including it for the rest of supplement £6 per night. These to Mumbia, joining another prices are based on air travel bridge party as I have yet to the year, at the very least. from Gatwick to Enfidha. Flights from other UK airports are visit the Taj Mahal. If you available at a supplement. All are interested in this sailing MINERVA NEWS prices are firm until the end of April 2012. Prices for seven- do give us a call for the night stays (November only) are brochure. Again, if you available on application. want single occupancy of a Pay £70 per fortnight per person extra and have a pool-facing HOW MODERN cabin without a supplement, room, tea & coffee making get on with booking. facilities, bath robe and a bowl of seasonal fruit. Go to my website and follow me on Twitter or This lovely ship has left These holidays have been organised DIARY REMINDER dry dock following a for Mr Bridge by Tunisia First Limited, like me on Facebook. ATOL 5933, working in association Would club secretaries, major refit. She is already with Thomas Cook Tour cruising the Eastern Med. Operations Limited, ATOL 1179. who require their club’s name and logo to be Book with confidence. DETAILS & BOOKINGS printed on diary front All good wishes, covers, please send in their ( 01483 489961 2013 requirements asap. Mr Bridge

Page 6 ✄ Mr Bridge MAIL ORDER PLAY SOFTWARE TUTORIAL DVDs QPlus 10 £86.00...... Ruffing for Extra Tricks £25.00...... QPlus 10 - Trade-in £35.00...... Competitive Auctions £25.00...... Bridge Baron – Mac compatible £63.00...... Making the Most of High Cards £25.00...... Bridge Baron – Trade-in £36.00...... Identifying & Bidding Slams £25.00...... Play & Defence of 1NT Contracts £25.00...... TUTORIAL SOFTWARE Doubling & Defence £66.00 Begin Bridge – Acol Version ...... to Doubled Contracts £25.00...... £66.00 Acol Bidding ...... All 6 DVDs as a boxed set £100.00...... More Acol Bidding £96.00...... Declarer Play £76.00...... 2012 Bridge Players’ Diaries Advanced Declarer Play £81.00...... Standard: Defence £76.00...... Navy Blue ...... Red ...... Tan ...... Five-Card Majors with Strong No-Trump £89.00...... Burgundy ...... Black ...... £6.95...... SOFTWARE BUNDLE OFFER 10 or more each £3.50...... Luxury cover with ball-point pen: Any two software pieces £120.00...... Ruby Red ...... Navy Blue...... Green ...... £14.95...... BOOKS LUXURY PLAYING CARDS Duplicate Bridge Rules Simplified £5.95...... One red back / one blue back Better Hand Evaluation – Bernard Magee £14.00...... in a gold-coloured drop-lid box £10.95...... Bernard Magee’s Bridge Quiz Book £14.00...... 2 boxed pairs of luxury cards £20.00...... Bernard Magee’s Quiz and Puzzle Book £14.00...... 10 refill packs (5 red / 5 blue) £20.00...... Bernard Magee’s Tips for Better Bridge £14.00...... PENS TABLES, CHAIRS and tablecloths Mr Bridge exclusive design black metal chairs, Multi-suited covered in black vinyl Set of four £199.00...... Ball-point Pens Mr Bridge exclusive black metal table £63.50...... Boxed set of four Mr Bridge tablecloth £19.95...... green ...... dark blue ...... burgundy ...... £29.95...... Table and Tablecloth Offer both for £75.00...... Refills set of four £2.99......

Prices are inclusive of VAT and postage to UK mainland. I enclose a cheque for £......

Mr/Mrs/Miss ......

Address......

......

Postcode...... ( ......

Expiry: ...... CVV ...... Issue No...... (CVV is the last 3 numbers on the signature strip)

Make your cheque payable to Mr Bridge and send to: Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH ( 01483 489961 www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop Fax 01483 797302 ✄

Page 7 BRIDGE PLUS 10 BREAKS Q Really user-friendly bridge-playing software

♦ Full-board ♦ Two seminars* FEATURES INCLUDE ♦ All rooms with ♦ Two supervised l Updated comprehensive en-suite facilities play sessions* manual ♦ No single supplement ♦ Four duplicate sessions** l Displays on HD and large £86 screens including post and packing

Please book ..... places for me at £...... per person, l option

l 5,000 preplayed hands for Single .... Double .... Twin .... QPLUS teams TRADE-IN OFFER Name of Hotel/Centre...... l 4,000 preplayed hands for match-point pairs Return any QPlus CD and booklet with your Date(s) ...... l Improvement over two years cheque for £35 and l New save match function receive the very latest version of the wonderful Mr/Mrs/Miss ...... l Save deals QPlus 10. l Closed room – new button Order with confidence. Address...... to view other table

...... System: 8mb RAM, CD-ROM, Windows XP, Vista or 7

Postcode ...... See Mail Order Form on page 7. ( ......

Special requirements (these cannot be guaranteed, but we will do our best to oblige). BRIDGE TABLE AND ...... TABLECLOTH OFFER Please give the name(s) of all those covered by this booking.

......

Please send a non-returnable deposit of £50 per person per place by cheque, payable to Mr Bridge. An invoice for the balance will be sent with your booking confirmation. On receipt of your final payment, 28 days before the event, a programme and full details will be sent together with a map. Cancellations are not refundable. Should you require insurance, you should contact your own insurance broker.

Expiry: ...... CVV...... Issue No...... (CVV is the last 3 numbers on the signature strip) Table £63.50 SPECIAL Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH. 4 Chairs £199.00 OFFER ( 01483 489961 Table+Cloth e-mail: [email protected] Tablecloth £29.95 £75 website: www.holidaybridge.com prices include VAT and UK mainland delivery *on tutorial weekends. **6 sessions on rubber/Chicago events. See Mail Order Form on page 7.

Page 8 David Gold Says Doubling a Supported Suit is for Takeout

hen the opponents find a fit, have bid and raised, but say you do: it is more important for your ♠ J 4 side to be able to compete ♥ K Q 10 6 Wthan it is to penalise them. ♠ A Q J 3 2 ♦ 6 2 Say you pick up: ♥ 2 ♣ A Q 9 8 7 ♦ K J 10 2 ♣ J 3 2 ♠ A K J 6 5 To your surprise, LHO jumps to 3♦ and ♥ 3 there are two passes back to you. What ♦ A 9 8 3 You open 1♠ at love all. LHO do you do now? ♣ K 10 3 2♦ and partner doubles (negative). RHO Here is the thing – had LHO bid 2♦, raises to 3♦. Here, you would like to then double from you would be penalty, make a penalty double but you cannot but since LHO has jumped to 3♦, you You open 1♠ at game all. LHO overcalls do so since double is takeout. should treat this as a supported suit. 2♥, partner doubles (negative) and RHO You must pass. Now let us have a look This is because RHO has implied some raises to 3♥. What do you call? at a possible layout: length in diamonds and hence, in effect, You do not want to pass since your supported the suit. This means you can side has the balance of power. You make a . Partner bids 3♥ cannot bid 3♠ as partner will expect a ♠ 10 9 and you raise to 4♥. This makes, when 3♦ 6+-card suit and, if you bid 4♦, partner ♥ A K J 6 would be only one down. The full deal: might put you with five diamonds. The ♦ 6 answer is to double for takeout (showing ♣ Q 9 8 7 6 4 an above minimum hand). ♠ K 6 5 ♠ 8 7 4 ♠ A K 7 6 5 Partner bids 4NT, presumably asking ♥ 8 4 3 N ♥ Q 10 9 7 5 ♥ A J 9 8 W E ♦ ♦ A Q 9 8 3 ♦ 7 5 4 ♦ 5 4 you to pick a minor, so you bid 5 S dutifully. The full deal: ♣ K 5 ♣ A 10 ♣ 3 2 ♠ A Q J 3 2 ♠ 10 9 8 3 ♠ Q 2 ♥ 2 ♥ 4 N ♥ 7 5 3 2 W E ♠ 3 ♦ K J 10 2 ♦ Q 10 9 8 7 3 ♦ A K J S ♥ J 2 ♣ J 3 2 ♣ 6 5 ♣ K J 10 4 ♦ K 10 7 6 5 ♠ J 4 ♣ A J 7 4 2 ♥ K Q 10 6 ♠ 7 4 2 ♠ Q 10 9 8 Here, the opponents really are bidding ♦ 6 2 ♥ A K 10 9 8 7 N ♥ Q 6 5 4 on tram tickets, but partner should ♣ A Q 9 8 7 ♦ 2 W E ♦ Q J 4 double again for takeout and you can S ♣ Q 9 8 ♣ 6 5 leave it in and collect an easy 300. ♠ A K J 6 5 Notice that, if partner had, say, a king To clarify – if partner opens, RHO ♥ 3 less and therefore passes, you will still doubles and you redouble, that sets up ♦ A 9 8 3 go plus with no game on. penalty doubles if the opponents bid ♣ K 10 3 There is an unusual situation where without jumping. If they jump, I suggest doubling an inferentially supported suit you believe them and play takeout for takeout is a good idea. doubles from both sides. You have reached the optimum contract On our final example, partner opens So, when the opponents support each of 5♦ and you should make it by playing 1♠ with only your side vulnerable. RHO other, a double shows extra values, a for the ♣Q to be on your left. doubles and you decide to redouble desire to compete but no clear suit to What do you do if you want to double since, if the deal is a misfit, the opponents bid. Remember the maxim: Doubling a for penalty? You rarely will, since they maybe in big trouble. This is your hand: Supported Suit Is For Takeout. ■

Page 9 Julian Pottage answers your bridge questions What Should I Call with No Stopper in the Opponent’s Suit?

My partner It is rare that you can find that the top players of success seems to be opened 1♥. pick up a large penalty by make small adjustments well over the normal 50% QThe next hand doubling the opponents for on almost every hand. benchmark, so yes, you overcalled 1♠. I hold: penalties at the one level, do want to be in 6NT. so you are losing very little ♣♦♥♠ 2. South’s bidding seems in playing such doubles as impeccable. Giving point ♠ 4 3 2 for takeout. Even when the 1. Do you want count (23+) and a general ♥ A 3 is at the two level, to be in a slam picture of the hand seems ♦ J 9 6 4 you can still pick up a penalty Qon these hands? better than introducing the ♣ J 8 6 5 (playing negative doubles) mouldy spade suit. North was if you pass and partner unduly cautious in passing re-opens with a double. ♠ Q 6 3NT – indeed, quite a few I cannot bid 1NT with ♥ K 7 5 4 pairs play that a positive no spade stopper. ♣♦♥♠ ♦ J 10 response to a 2♣ opening What should I call? ♣ K J 6 4 2 forces the partnership to 4NT. Tom Power by email. Playing a 12-14 4♥ is a possible bid or, as the N 1NT, I opened W E hearts are not terribly good, S A common solution is Qa weak 1NT you could just raise to 6NT. to play that a double with this hand: ♠ K J 7 4 3 A of the overcall is ♥ A Q 6 ♣♦♥♠ for takeout (often called a ♦ A K Q ). When there ♠ A 8 6 5 ♣ A 8 My partner and is an unbid major, the double ♥ A 8 2 I bid 1♣-1♠-2♣- indicates four cards in that ♦ K 7 3 Q2♥. Is 2♥ forcing major. Here, when there is ♣ A 7 3 2. The bidding at one to 2NT or does it show a no unbid major, it suggests table went Pass-2♣-3♣- weak hand with possibly length in both minors. 3NT-End. Who, if anyone, 5/5 in the majors? Since the overcall means Did I do wrong? should have bid more? Jeff Stanford by email. partner will get a further Eddy Kent, Tring, Herts. K W Angus, chance to bid, you do not Gorebridge, Midlothian. The old-fashioned have to respond on minimal If you decide to way is to play the values. Here, the 1♠ overcall treat a hand as 1. After knocking A second of the two means partner will usually A 12-14 points when out the ♠A, you have alternatives you describe, need to rebid at the two actually it has 15, this is A 10 top tricks. A 3-3 weak and offering a choice level, so the double in this fine. Bernard Magee and I spade would see you home of partscores – with a good sequence would suggest both recommend that you in 6NT. If spades are not hand, responder would have 8+ points. With your actual downgrade hands with poor 3-3, you are likely to need a to jump to 3♥. The modern hand, I would therefore shape (4333) and poor successful club and style is to play 2♥ as . Make it a bit better – intermediates. If you read either a favourable break for one round (as opposed to say changing the jacks into tournament reports or watch in one of the rounded suits forcing to 2NT), so you could queens – and I would double. matches on BBO, you will or a squeeze. The chance stop in 2♠ but not 2♥.

Page 10 Ask Julian continued surely lead a top club. Only to be some bias – deal every possible deal in if South has shown both disputed by some. bridge, there is no doubt majors would West find a Joyce Munden, about whether the hands trump lead. 4♠ is makeable, Wheathampstead, Herts. it produces closely match even on a trump lead, if the expected probabilities. Both sides are declarer guesses the heart Typically, computers Tests of 750,000 deals vulnerable and position (unlikely I admit). use a random have proved that they do. QEast is dealer. A number generator to ♣♦♥♠ decide which cards go where. ♣♦♥♠ So long as the random ♠ 5 2 What should number generator really is What are the ♥ Void I open with random and the program advantages ♦ A K Q 10 5 4 Qthis hand? using it is sound, there should Qof a weak ♣ J 9 7 6 4 not be any bias. Any of the takeout over partner’s ♠ 8 4 ♠ A 9 6 standard dealing machines 1NT opening? What N ♥ A W E ♥ K 8 6 4 3 ♠ Void will have had rigorous testing are the requirements ♦ J 9 8 7 2 S ♦ 6 3 ♥ A 10 8 6 2 and should be fair to use. for the call? ♣ 10 8 5 3 2 ♣ A K Q ♦ Void A simple computer Paul Hobbs, ♠ K Q J 10 7 3 ♣ A Q 10 8 7 5 4 3 program uses 51 random Egham, Surrey. ♥ Q J 10 9 7 5 2 numbers per deal. The first ♦ Void determines who has the If you have a weak ♣ Void I opened 1♣, rebid 3♣ ace of spades, the second hand with a long over 1♠ and pulled 3NT who has the king of spades A suit, your hand is to 4♥. I made 12 tricks and so on. For each card, likely to make more tricks How should the bidding in 4♥ when partner had the program will make with the long suit as trumps go and what should West K-Q-x and there was the chance it goes to a than it would as dummy lead if South declares just one club to lose. particular player the same in a no-trump contract. in one of the majors? Should I have used as the number of cards still Frank Collins, the 2♣ opening with to go into that player’s hand Burley, Hampshire. such a distribution? divided by the total number ♠ Q J 10 8 4 3 ♠ 9 2 Michael Mance by email. of undealt cards. Thus for the ♥ 7 5 N ♥ A K 8 4 W E If EW play a weak ace of spades, each player ♥ J 4 S ♦ K 8 5 2 1NT opening, With only 10 would have a 13/52 (or 1/4) ♦ J 10 4 ♣ K 9 3 A a possible HCP, it would be chance of picking up the auction is as follows: A grossly misleading card. For the king of spades, to open 2♣. In any case, three of the players would If you are playing in a spade West North East South unless you find a fit, the have 13/51 chance of picking contract, you expect to make 1♥ 1♠1 hand will not play well. up the card, while the player four spade tricks. Moreover, Pass 2♦ Pass 4♠2 Opening 1♣ seems fine. who already has the ace the fact that you will be End Freak hands are always would have a 12/51 chance. able to get to your hand 1With such a freak shape, South very difficult to express. Modern software tends by ruffing something (say can afford to start slowly. Your sequence of 1♣, to be more sophisticated the third round of hearts) 2Once North bids, South cannot then 3♣ and then 4♥ than this. Ed Marzo says means you can lead up to bid hearts naturally. seems as good as any. that Dealmaster Pro, www. tenaces in partner’s hand. Realistically, you are not dealmaster.com, uses 52 You might well make eight If EW play a strong no- going to reach a slam. 5♣ 2-digit random numbers tricks with these two hands. trump, it might go like this: is the safest game since (one corresponding to each Playing in no-trumps, you might lose control in card) and a string of just by contrast, you would be West North East South 4♥ if the hearts are 4-1. over 700 random numbers. lucky to contribute more 1NT 2♣1 The program looks through than one trick. 1NT would Pass 2♠2 Pass 4♠ ♣♦♥♠ the long string for pairs of probably go three down End numbers matching those for – quite a difference. 1Landy, both majors Our local bridge a card and, when it finds a The requirements are a 22♦ would be asking for South’s club is now match, deals that card to five-card suit or better and a better major Qusing computer the next player in rotation hand too weak to be thinking dealt cards. ie going round the table as of game (a maximum of On the first auction, West Do you know how the in manual dealing. While 9-10 points). You can make a will surely lead the singleton computer deals please? there is a slight doubt as to weak takeout with no points ♥A. On the second, East will There does appear whether Dealmaster can at all.

Page 11 Ask Julian continued points, including the of bidding. It could then have ♠ Q 9 7 6 ♠ 10 5 bare ♠K, declarer started 2♣-2♥-2♠-2NT-3♦- ♥ K 6 N ♥ A Q 10 2 made the contract with 3♠-4♦, all natural apart from W E ♦ K J 4 3 2 S ♦ 9 8 7 6 an overtrick. Should the 2♣ opening. South could When I held ♣ K 8 ♣ A J 6 I have bid 2♠? then 4♥, showing the this hand, Martin Epstein by email. ♥A and agreeing diamonds, Qdealer on my after which you should reach left opened 3♠ and West North East South With an unbalanced a slam (4♥ must be a cue bid two passes followed. 1♦ 1♠ Dbl Pass hand, it is usually rather than an attempt to play 1NT Pass 3NT End A better to play there because South would than defend. So yes, you have bid 3♥ on the previous ♠ Void On a favourable should overcall 2♠. Another round with six hearts). ♥ A K Q 10 9 7 3 2 layout, this ambitious advantage of the overcall Incidentally, 6♠ is not ♦ A K Q 10 contract made. is that it makes life harder quite laydown. On a club ♣ 3 Peter Cartwright by email. for responder, who can no lead, you will lose control longer use Stayman or bid if spades are 5-1. Playing The usual rule is that a suit at the two level. teams or , Even though I play opening one of a suit you would rather finish in Gerber and Blackwood, A and rebidding 1NT ♣♦♥♠ the safer 6♦. With only 29 am I right in thinking shows a hand that is out of HCP, playing in 6♦ will be that there is no way range for a 1NT opening. In We play Benjamin no disaster, even at pairs. I can find out about other words, when you are with a 2♦ relay the ♣A? I just bid 6♥. playing a weak no-trump, Qresponse to a 2♣ ♣♦♥♠ David Wigley, a 1NT rebid shows a hand opening. North dealt. Burton on the Water, too strong to open 1NT. Partner opens Gloucestershire. Assuming your methods 1♦. The next allow a double of 1♠ with six ♠ A K Q J 10 Qhand passes. For practical points and four hearts, I do ♥ 7 3 purposes, you not see why this sequence ♦ A K J 10 9 A probably are right. should be any different. ♣ 5 ♠ J 9 7 6 5 2 If you bid 4NT, partner You and your partner ♥ Q 8 4 N would take that for the could agree to play stronger W E ♦ Void S minors. If you bid 4♣, that negative doubles or to ♣ 10 5 3 2 would be natural (or, if you play a wide-ranging 1NT ♠ 4 2 play non-, rebid, either of which ♥ A K 10 8 4 a heart/club ). would allow West to rebid ♦ Q 6 2 Should I mention my You could double with the 1NT. In the absence of ♣ Q 4 2 spades despite the intention of bidding 4NT over such an agreement, West low point count? partner’s reply. The trouble has to rebid 2♦ (or open Pamela Clover, West Sussex. is, partner might leave in 1NT in the first place). North South the double, denying you 2♣ 2♦ The textbook the chance and probably ♣♦♥♠ 2♠ 3♥ approach is to pass leaving you with a paltry 4♦ 4♠ A on hands with fewer penalty instead of a slam. The hand on my End than 6 points. That way, you The only way you might right opened will not deceive your partner reach 7♥ if partner has Qa weak 1NT. How should we have bid about your hand’s strength the ♣A is to start with 4♠ the laydown spade slam? or find yourself in a position and rebid 6♥. Even that Paul Jesper by email. of passing a ‘forcing’ bid would not be a sure thing. ♠ J 10 9 8 7 5 4 later in the auction. However, ♥ 8 6 Many pairs who use hands do come along when ♣♦♥♠ ♦ 7 5 a relay response your instincts will tell you to ♣ A K A to a 2♣ opening break the rules. With your West thought permit responder to take a void in diamonds, your LHO East should have different action when holding may hold quite a few and Qbid only 2NT, I elected to defend a five-card suit headed by be planning to pass out 1♦ while East thought West the final 1NT contract, two of the top three honours. if given the chance. If you had shown 15-17 believing I could get If South had responded 2♥ respond 1♠, this is likely to points (playing a it down. Although my rather than 2♦, this would improve the contract unless weak no-trump). partner had a few effectively have saved a round partner rebids diamonds.

Page 12 Ask Julian continued should lead up to the queen without having cashed the The End of the Auction ace. Unless you think there by David Stevenson is a singleton jack on your Please enlighten left – rather unlikely – leading fter the auction Second, this is the moment me about the the queen is never right. ends, what hap- when his partner can ask Qdifference pens next? In questions. Note that the between the ‘Odd ♣♦♥♠ Amany cases, players sweep cards are still there to Even’ and ‘Dodd’ the bidding cards into remind him of the bidding. discarding systems. My RHO opened their boxes, the player on If he has no questions (or Iain Edwards by email. 1NT (12-14) lead takes forever to find no more questions), he Qand played her pen and glasses so says, ‘No questions’. Only There are two there. I held: she can write the contract then may partner turn the differences, one down, everyone else waits lead face-up. Note that A of which is highly impatiently and declarer it is also impolite to sit significant. With Odd Even ♠ 9 6 4 decides he wants to know there saying nothing when discards, the odd cards ♥ Q J 8 3 about the defenders’ bids. partner has led face down. are encouraging. With ♦ A K 10 5 2 Now the leader makes Once the Dodd discards, the even ♣ 7 the lead and dummy has is face-up, the players put cards are encouraging. taken out his scorecard, their bidding cards away. The other difference is what so everyone waits again. This is important and it the discouraging cards mean. I led my fourth highest I think players would be is easy to get into a good With Odd Even, the even diamond. Dummy horrified if I suggested that habit. Do not spoil it for cards are suit preference. held J-x and declarer what they are doing is both other people by bundling With Dodd, the odd cards Q-x; 1NT made with rude and illegal, yet it is. your cards away too early. ask for the suit of the same an overtrick. Was my Let us consider what What should dummy colour as the one discarded. lead wrong or was should happen at the end do? Well, if the opening I just unlucky? of the auction. First, the leader takes a long time to ♣♦♥♠ Tom Boothy, Buxton. bidding cards should stay lead, it is fine if he writes out. That is a requirement the contract down, and If, as declarer, Neither side by regulation, not to puts it in the BridgeMate. I hold A-10-x-x vulnerable is a mention commonsense, so Once the lead appears, Qopposite Q-x-x, A great vulnerability anyone with questions to his job, after putting his is it better to play ace, for declaring rather than ask can look at the whole bidding cards away, is to then small to the queen, defending (anyone going sequence and consider it. put dummy down. He will or to lead the queen and down does so at only 50 Next, the first thing have plenty of time after let it run if not covered? a time), so I am not sure the opening leader does, that to enter the contract Peter Calviou by email. I would have passed over after asking any questions into his scorecard and the 1NT. I assume that you were he wants to, is to choose BridgeMate. A great piece of playing and reluctant a card and lead it. It is It is easy for the other two (free) software to bid 2♦ with only five impolite and unnecessary players to enter the con- A for analysing suit diamonds. Playing Astro, you to write the contract tract into their scorecard combinations is Suitplay. have an easy 2♣ overcall. down and make everyone and BridgeMate while the http://home.planet. Assuming I decided to wait: he can do that after opening leader decides on nl/~narcis45/SuitPlay/ pass, I would lead a high the lead while dummy is the lead and dummy is go- It says that, if you do not diamond, even though the going down and declarer ing down. They, too, must have a specific number of usual rule is to lead low with is studying it. The same leave their bidding cards tricks in mind (for example if this holding. If partner is long applies to the BridgeMate: until the lead is face up. you are playing matchpoints in diamonds, you might be if the opening leader is in Certainly this game and it is just a question of able to drop the opposing charge of the BridgeMate, needs tolerance, but it how many overtricks you honours, as in the case you he leads before entering the is easy to get into good make), you should cash the describe. If partner is short in contract in the BridgeMate. habits, so remember that ace first before leading to diamonds, you might want He must lead face down, putting the bidding cards the queen. If, however, your to switch to a heart. Leading of course, for two very away before the opening target is three tricks, you high gives you both options. ■ good reasons. First, if he lead is faced is illegal, as has made a mistake and is well as easy to get right. It not on lead, he has done is the same with entering E-mail your questions for Julian to: no harm: he just puts the contracts into scorecards [email protected] card back in his hand. and BridgeMates.

Page 13 Inspiring Summer Cruises dISCovery fareS from £549pp* fully InCluSIve fareS from £699pp** EXCLUSIVE Mr Bridge FARE ON TIMELESS BALTIC Discovery club members save an extra 5% Summer 2012 No~fly cruises Bridge Hosts Fares From BALTIC ICONS May 11, 2012 ~ 16 days Gary £2,049pp Portsmouth ~ IJmuiden (Amsterdam) ~ Copenhagen ~ Stockholm ~ Tallinn ~ St Petersburg (2 nights) ~ Helsinki Experience Voyages of Discovery’s Summer Conrad cat m Warnemünde (Berlin) ~ Kiel Canal transit ~ Portsmouth 2012 programme, encompassing 15 captivating HERITAGE of the BRITISH ISLES May 26, 2012 ~ 11 days Alison SOLD OUT cruises around Northern Europe, The Baltic, The Portsmouth ~ Isles of Scilly ~ Douglas ~ Belfast ~ Oban ~ Port of Tyne ~ Greenwich ~ Dover ~ Portsmouth Nicolson D-DAY, NORMANDY, DUNKIRK and BEYOND June 5, 2012 ~ 9 days Stan GTY £899pp Mediterranean & The Black Sea. Portsmouth ~ Cherbourg ~ St Peter Port ~ Rouen (overnight) ~ Dunkirk ~ Heligoland ~ IJmuiden (Amsterdam) ~ Harwich Powell SPITSBERGEN and the NORTH CAPE June 13, 2012 ~ 16 days Tony & Jan DF from £1,399pp next Summer, Discovery’s exciting cruise itinerary includes an around Britain Harwich ~ Trondheim ~ Leknes ~ Honningsvåg ~ Magdalenafjord ~ Ny-Ålesund ~ Longyearbyen ~ Barentsburg ~ Tromsø ~ Bergen ~ Harwich Richards NF from £1,749pp cruise taking in the impressive edinburgh Tattoo, a three day stay in glorious ALTIC REASURES June 28, 2012 ~ 15 days B T Crombie & Helen DF from £1,299pp Harwich ~ Kristiansand ~ Copenhagen ~ Tallinn ~ St Petersburg (2 nights) ~ Gdynia ~ Szczecin (Berlin) St Petersburg, with the unique opportunity of spending a day in moscow and, McNeil NF from £1,649pp Sassnitz ~ Kiel Canal transit ~ Harwich on the anniversary of d-day, an inspirational journey of remembrance and NORDIC NATURAL WONDERS July 12, 2012 ~ 14 days Alex DF from £1,199pp discovery to the landing beaches of normandy, little-visited Heligoland in Harwich ~ Bergen ~ Flåm ~ Akureyri ~ Ísafjördjur ~ Grundarfjördur ~ Reykjavik ~ Tórshavn ~ Harwich Davoud NF from £1,499pp Germany and beautiful amsterdam. A NORDIC and WHITE SEA ADVENTURE July 25, 2012 ~ 20 days Gary GTY £2,199pp Harwich ~ Bergen ~ Bodø ~ Murmansk ~ Solovetsky Islands (overnight) ~ Archangel ~ Kirkenes ~ Hammerfest ~ Trondheim ~ Ørsta Conrad Florø ~ Harwich all passengers are eligible to attend the exclusive drinks AROUND BRITAIN and EDINBURGH TATTOO August 13, 2012 ~ 13 days Alex £1,789pp parties. When Discovery is at sea there are morning seminars and afternoon Harwich ~ St Peter Port ~ Fowey ~ Cobh ~ Galway ~ Killybegs ~ Oban ~ Portree ~ Scrabster ~ Kirkwall ~ Rosyth (Edinburgh) ~ Harwich Davoud cat J † bridge sessions. Those mr Bridge passengers choosing to pay the £30 per OSLO and the MAGIC of NORWAY August 25, 2012 ~ 10 days Alison DF from £849pp bridge player supplement will be eligible for the evening duplicate bridge Harwich ~ Oslo ~ Kristiansand ~ Stavanger ~ Flåm and Gudvangen ~ Ålesund ~ Bergen ~ Harwich Nicolson NF from £1,049pp DF from £1,299pp after the first dinner sitting. The bridge programme is fully optional and TIMELESS BALTIC September 3, 2012 ~ 15 days exclusive Bernard Harwich ~ Copenhagen ~ Saaremaa ~ Tallinn ~ St Petersburg (2 nights) ~ Gdynia ~ Szczecin (Berlin) mr briDge Mr Bridge Exclusive Fare Magee you may participate as much or as little as you wish. mr Bridge actively Sassnitz ~ Kiel Canal transit ~ Harwich Fare from £1,499pp

encourages singles to join the party and they will always be found a partner DF – Discovery Fare* for a game. Summer 2012 Fly cruises NF – Normal Fare** VOYAGE to the MEDITERRANEAN September 17, 2012 ~ 8 days Sandy DF from £549pp Harwich ~ Leixoes (Porto) ~ Gibraltar ~ Cartagena ~ Barcelona Bell NF from £699pp YOUR VOYAGE INCLUDES: A PORTRAIT of the MEDITERRANEAN September 24, 2012 ~ 12 days Tony & Jan Barcelona ~ Sète ~ Rapallo ~ Livorno (Florence/Pisa) ~ Civitavecchia (Rome) ~ Castellammare di Stabia ~ Messina ~ Brindisi £1,449pp Richards • Evening bridge† • All meals, entertainment and Dubrovnik (overnight) ADRIATIC and AEGEAN ODYSSEY October 5, 2012 ~ 15 days Crombie & Helen • Afternoon bridge when at sea onboard gratuities £1,849pp Dubrovnik ~ Pula ~ Venice ~ Koper ~ Hvar ~ Kotor ~ Durres ~ Itea ~ Katakolon ~ Piraeus (Athens) ~ Canakkale ~ Istanbul (overnight) McNeil • Bridge seminars when at sea • Comprehensive lecture and BLACK SEA EXPLORER^ October 19, 2012 ~ 12 days Sandy guest speaker programme £1,649pp • Exclusive Mr Bridge drinks Istanbul ~ Trabzon ~ Sochi (overnight) ~ Novorossiysk ~ Yalta ~ Sevastopol ~ Odessa ~ Nesebur ~ Istanbul (overnight) Bell • Captain’s cocktail parties and parties EAST to the HOLY LAND and RED SEA October 30, 2012 ~ 16 days Alex £1,999pp gala dinners Istanbul ~ Canakkale ~ Antalya ~ Haifa ~ Ashdod (Jerusalem) ~ Port Said ~ Suez Canal transit ~ Safaga (overnight) Davoud Aqaba (overnight) ~ Sharm el-Sheikh (overnight)

For passengers interested in a higher grade or sole occupancy, please contact our friendly team who will gladly assist with current availability and fares. Discovery Fares Further combinations and grand voyages available ~ please call for details. available through 01483 489961 for brochures and bookings Mr Bridge* www.bridgecruises.co.uk

All fares shown are per person, based on two people sharing the lowest twin-bedded cabin category currently available, are for new bookings only, subject to availability and include all applicable discounts. Cabin number may not be allocated at time of booking. All fares shown include current fuel supplements correct at time of printing, but subject to change. All offers are capacity controlled, cannot be combined with any other offer, are non-transferable and non- refundable and may be withdrawn at any time. See brochure for full terms and conditions on Normal Fares. +Those wishing to play evening bridge, please note that there is a bridge supplement of £30 per bridge player to be confirmed at the time of booking. Only bookings made directly with Mr Bridge are eligible to be part of the Mr Bridge Group. * Discovery Fares do not include car parking or UK coach transfers, are payable in full at time of booking, incur 100% cancellation charges and your cabin number is not allocated at time of booking. They are capacity controlled, subject to availability and cannot be combined with any other offer. ** Mr Bridge exclusive fares are based on Normal Fares www.bridgecruises.co.uk and exclude Discovery Fares. Voyages of Discovery is a trading name of All Leisure Holidays Ltd.

Bridge_114_Summer 12 DPS..indd 1-2 17/02/2012 16:13:01 Inspiring Summer Cruises dISCovery fareS from £549pp* fully InCluSIve fareS from £699pp** EXCLUSIVE Mr Bridge FARE ON TIMELESS BALTIC Discovery club members save an extra 5% Summer 2012 No~fly cruises Bridge Hosts Fares From BALTIC ICONS May 11, 2012 ~ 16 days Gary £2,049pp Portsmouth ~ IJmuiden (Amsterdam) ~ Copenhagen ~ Stockholm ~ Tallinn ~ St Petersburg (2 nights) ~ Helsinki Experience Voyages of Discovery’s Summer Conrad cat m Warnemünde (Berlin) ~ Kiel Canal transit ~ Portsmouth 2012 programme, encompassing 15 captivating HERITAGE of the BRITISH ISLES May 26, 2012 ~ 11 days Alison SOLD OUT cruises around Northern Europe, The Baltic, The Portsmouth ~ Isles of Scilly ~ Douglas ~ Belfast ~ Oban ~ Port of Tyne ~ Greenwich ~ Dover ~ Portsmouth Nicolson D-DAY, NORMANDY, DUNKIRK and BEYOND June 5, 2012 ~ 9 days Stan GTY £899pp Mediterranean & The Black Sea. Portsmouth ~ Cherbourg ~ St Peter Port ~ Rouen (overnight) ~ Dunkirk ~ Heligoland ~ IJmuiden (Amsterdam) ~ Harwich Powell SPITSBERGEN and the NORTH CAPE June 13, 2012 ~ 16 days Tony & Jan DF from £1,399pp next Summer, Discovery’s exciting cruise itinerary includes an around Britain Harwich ~ Trondheim ~ Leknes ~ Honningsvåg ~ Magdalenafjord ~ Ny-Ålesund ~ Longyearbyen ~ Barentsburg ~ Tromsø ~ Bergen ~ Harwich Richards NF from £1,749pp cruise taking in the impressive edinburgh Tattoo, a three day stay in glorious ALTIC REASURES June 28, 2012 ~ 15 days B T Crombie & Helen DF from £1,299pp Harwich ~ Kristiansand ~ Copenhagen ~ Tallinn ~ St Petersburg (2 nights) ~ Gdynia ~ Szczecin (Berlin) St Petersburg, with the unique opportunity of spending a day in moscow and, McNeil NF from £1,649pp Sassnitz ~ Kiel Canal transit ~ Harwich on the anniversary of d-day, an inspirational journey of remembrance and NORDIC NATURAL WONDERS July 12, 2012 ~ 14 days Alex DF from £1,199pp discovery to the landing beaches of normandy, little-visited Heligoland in Harwich ~ Bergen ~ Flåm ~ Akureyri ~ Ísafjördjur ~ Grundarfjördur ~ Reykjavik ~ Tórshavn ~ Harwich Davoud NF from £1,499pp Germany and beautiful amsterdam. A NORDIC and WHITE SEA ADVENTURE July 25, 2012 ~ 20 days Gary GTY £2,199pp Harwich ~ Bergen ~ Bodø ~ Murmansk ~ Solovetsky Islands (overnight) ~ Archangel ~ Kirkenes ~ Hammerfest ~ Trondheim ~ Ørsta Conrad Florø ~ Harwich all passengers are eligible to attend the exclusive drinks AROUND BRITAIN and EDINBURGH TATTOO August 13, 2012 ~ 13 days Alex £1,789pp parties. When Discovery is at sea there are morning seminars and afternoon Harwich ~ St Peter Port ~ Fowey ~ Cobh ~ Galway ~ Killybegs ~ Oban ~ Portree ~ Scrabster ~ Kirkwall ~ Rosyth (Edinburgh) ~ Harwich Davoud cat J † bridge sessions. Those mr Bridge passengers choosing to pay the £30 per OSLO and the MAGIC of NORWAY August 25, 2012 ~ 10 days Alison DF from £849pp bridge player supplement will be eligible for the evening duplicate bridge Harwich ~ Oslo ~ Kristiansand ~ Stavanger ~ Flåm and Gudvangen ~ Ålesund ~ Bergen ~ Harwich Nicolson NF from £1,049pp DF from £1,299pp after the first dinner sitting. The bridge programme is fully optional and TIMELESS BALTIC September 3, 2012 ~ 15 days exclusive Bernard Harwich ~ Copenhagen ~ Saaremaa ~ Tallinn ~ St Petersburg (2 nights) ~ Gdynia ~ Szczecin (Berlin) mr briDge Mr Bridge Exclusive Fare Magee you may participate as much or as little as you wish. mr Bridge actively Sassnitz ~ Kiel Canal transit ~ Harwich Fare from £1,499pp encourages singles to join the party and they will always be found a partner DF – Discovery Fare* for a game. Summer 2012 Fly cruises NF – Normal Fare** VOYAGE to the MEDITERRANEAN September 17, 2012 ~ 8 days Sandy DF from £549pp Harwich ~ Leixoes (Porto) ~ Gibraltar ~ Cartagena ~ Barcelona Bell NF from £699pp YOUR VOYAGE INCLUDES: A PORTRAIT of the MEDITERRANEAN September 24, 2012 ~ 12 days Tony & Jan Barcelona ~ Sète ~ Rapallo ~ Livorno (Florence/Pisa) ~ Civitavecchia (Rome) ~ Castellammare di Stabia ~ Messina ~ Brindisi £1,449pp Richards • Evening bridge† • All meals, entertainment and Dubrovnik (overnight) ADRIATIC and AEGEAN ODYSSEY October 5, 2012 ~ 15 days Crombie & Helen • Afternoon bridge when at sea onboard gratuities £1,849pp Dubrovnik ~ Pula ~ Venice ~ Koper ~ Hvar ~ Kotor ~ Durres ~ Itea ~ Katakolon ~ Piraeus (Athens) ~ Canakkale ~ Istanbul (overnight) McNeil • Bridge seminars when at sea • Comprehensive lecture and BLACK SEA EXPLORER^ October 19, 2012 ~ 12 days Sandy guest speaker programme £1,649pp • Exclusive Mr Bridge drinks Istanbul ~ Trabzon ~ Sochi (overnight) ~ Novorossiysk ~ Yalta ~ Sevastopol ~ Odessa ~ Nesebur ~ Istanbul (overnight) Bell • Captain’s cocktail parties and parties EAST to the HOLY LAND and RED SEA October 30, 2012 ~ 16 days Alex £1,999pp gala dinners Istanbul ~ Canakkale ~ Antalya ~ Haifa ~ Ashdod (Jerusalem) ~ Port Said ~ Suez Canal transit ~ Safaga (overnight) Davoud Aqaba (overnight) ~ Sharm el-Sheikh (overnight)

For passengers interested in a higher grade or sole occupancy, please contact our friendly team who will gladly assist with current availability and fares. Discovery Fares Further combinations and grand voyages available ~ please call for details. available through 01483 489961 for brochures and bookings Mr Bridge* www.bridgecruises.co.uk

All fares shown are per person, based on two people sharing the lowest twin-bedded cabin category currently available, are for new bookings only, subject to availability and include all applicable discounts. Cabin number may not be allocated at time of booking. All fares shown include current fuel supplements correct at time of printing, but subject to change. All offers are capacity controlled, cannot be combined with any other offer, are non-transferable and non- refundable and may be withdrawn at any time. See brochure for full terms and conditions on Normal Fares. +Those wishing to play evening bridge, please note that there is a bridge supplement of £30 per bridge player to be confirmed at the time of booking. Only bookings made directly with Mr Bridge are eligible to be part of the Mr Bridge Group. * Discovery Fares do not include car parking or UK coach transfers, are payable in full at time of booking, incur 100% cancellation charges and your cabin number is not allocated at time of booking. They are capacity controlled, subject to availability and cannot be combined with any other offer. ** Mr Bridge exclusive fares are based on Normal Fares www.bridgecruises.co.uk and exclude Discovery Fares. Voyages of Discovery is a trading name of All Leisure Holidays Ltd.

Bridge_114_Summer 12 DPS..indd 1-2 17/02/2012 16:13:01 The Diaries of Wendy Wensum Sally’s Dramatis Episode 6: A Spanish Jaunt Personae Sally Brock lives in High Wycombe with her two Part 3: The Multicoloured Colonel teenagers, her husband Raymond having died in early 2008. She works partly as a bridge professional, occasionally here had been plen- losing diamond on the jack announced Millie serenely. playing for pay but more often ty of bridge in the of hearts. ‘Is it legal?’ the purple- writing (she is the bridge last few days, so I I followed the board to faced colonel enquired of columnist for The Sunday Times) and teaching online; the Twas happy to miss the fi- the next table where Millie the TD with some venom. rest of the time she works on nal event of the holiday, and her partner, Justin the ‘Perfectly,’ responded the the production of travel guides – hence the occasional reference the mixed pairs. I lingered handsome stranger, were director, anticipating the to rather obscure countries. over dinner on the balco- sitting. As the red-faced challenge with the Orange She has been a member of the ny and then lounged in a colonel and his wife ap- Book already open in his British/English women’s team on and off since 1979. comfortable chair, sipping proached the table, Justin hand. The full auction was: an excellent glass of Rioja reminded Millie that their Briony & Toby are Sally’s 16-year-old daughter and while watching the sunset new opponents played a West North East South 18-year-old son. Justin Colonel’s Millie Colonel over a tranquil Mediterra- Strong Diamond system in Ben is Sally’s 35-year-old son nean Sea. As darkness fell, which a bid of one diamond Wife who is married to Gemma. I returned to the bridge showed 17+ points. ‘Don’t 1♦1 Hayden is their two-year-old son; they live in Waltham Abbey. room where the evening forget we play the Univer- 1NT2 2NT3 3♦ 4♠ Pass 5♣ Pass 5♥ Barry Myers is Sally’s new session was in full swing. sity defence,’ said Millie, partner, both at and away from The hand being played at ‘Double for both majors; Pass 6♠ End the bridge table. He is a criminal the corner table was: one no-trump for both mi- 1Strong Diamond defence barrister and lives in Shepherd’s Bush. nors.’ Justin looked doubt- 2Both minors ful. ‘If it’s good enough for 310-12 balanced is Sally’s current international bridge partner. Dealer South professors, it must be OK’, They formed a last-minute ♠ 9 7 5 Millie asserted. Now he The Colonel ducked the partnership in 2008 to join the ♥ J 8 7 5 England women’s team for the looked distinctly dubious, diamond lead from West. in ♦ A J 10 7 but nodded agreement. Millie won with the king, Beijing where they won the gold ♣ A 7 ‘Director!’ called the and the declarer still had medal. Nicola has been playing international bridge since she ♠ J 6 3 ♠ Q even redder-faced colonel, a trump to lose for minus was 17, which is rather a long ♥ 6 4 N ♥ 10 9 3 2 time ago. W E ‘We can’t start. This part- one. ‘Well bid, Millie,’ said ♦ 9 8 6 S ♦ K 5 3 2 nership is still discussing Justin. Millie beamed. ‘Di- is the bridge ♣ Q J 10 8 4 ♣ 6 5 3 2 its system.’ The director rector!’ screamed the puce- columnist for the Spectator and Literary Editor of the Mail ♠ A K 10 8 4 2 was conciliatory. ‘They faced colonel, but the score on Sunday, who has been ♥ A K Q probably haven’t come stood. I asked Justin later Sally’s partner in the Lady ♦ Q 4 across the Strong Diamond Milne, the women’s home about the one no-trump international, for the last two ♣ K 9 before,’ he speculated. As bid. ‘Well, I never did fully years. South, the colonel opened understand the University Mike Scoltock is one of Barry’s one diamond. Justin over- defence, but I held more regular bridge partners. North South called one no-trump, minor cards than major Richard and Gerry are two of 2♠ alerted by Millie. ‘Direc- cards,’ he explained suc- Sally’s regular online bridge 3♠ 4♥ clients. Richard lives in North tor!’ shouted the magenta- cinctly without giving fur- London and Gerry lives in To- 5♦ 5♥ faced colonel; ‘They are ther detail. ronto. Every week, Sally plays 6♠ using their fancy defence In the bar afterwards, against them for a couple of hours, stopping to discuss already.’ ‘It’s just as well players mingled, saying problems that arise – some- On the obvious lead of the they agreed it then’, offered their goodbyes. I glanced times with Barry if he is not working, and sometimes with queen of clubs and with the director with a hint of across the room to where herself (when she usually is just a trump to lose, de- exasperation. ‘What is the he and Millie were almost flawless). clarer had no difficulty in meaning of the one no- chatting like old friends. Jack Mizel, Richard Bowdery wrapping up the slam by trump bid?’ thundered the In that moment, I knew we and Steve Eginton (Eggy), playing three rounds of colonel glowering at Mil- had not seen the last of the regular teammates particularly in Berks and Bucks events. trumps and ditching the lie. ‘It shows both minors,’ handsome stranger.

Page 16 Seven Days by Sally Brock

Catching Up particularly miss Raymond as well as Tuesday my sister Amanda, who died in 2009. The period between the world cham- We went to my parents for a couple of More of the same really. I am also pionships and the start of my Seven nights but left most of our presents at looking towards the Lady Milne trials Days has been quite successful … home to open on Boxing Day when we at the weekend. Susanna, who has Barry and I played in the Tollemache had our own mini-Christmas. On the been playing little bridge recently, for Berks & Bucks and, although 29th and 30th, Barry and I played in is anxious to get as much online we failed to qualify for the final, we the Year End Congress. We won the practice as she can manage – so we played well and headed the Butler Mixed Pairs and then, in the teams, have an hour or so in the morning. pairs scoring. In the London League, I played with Susanna (practice for While an appointment at Specsavers Nicola and I played in Kitty Teltscher’s the Lady Milne trials) with Barry and in the afternoon breaks up the work team and we won that. Then there was Mike. We finished a respectable 6th. schedule, it is mostly work, work and our second visit to Beijing… more work. This was to play in the SportAccord World Mindsports Games. To start Monday with, we had business class flights. Wake up a bit bleary eyed after driving Wednesday I have never travelled business class back from Manchester where Barry Briony has only one lesson this before and it made a huge difference. and I had played in the congress. morning and then she can come home We had oodles of space, oodles of After taking the kids to school, it is on study leave, so I go and pick her up champagne and could lie flat when we off to the gym. I have been a bit lax at 11.15, after I have had another hour wanted to. Perhaps most impressive, about this. I went a couple of times with Susanna. In the afternoon, I have though, was how speedy it was to in Beijing – there was no gym in our an online bridge session with Richard get through all the airport controls. hotel but we could use the one in the and Gerry. Barry is not working either I live about 20 miles from Heathrow hotel next door for a while, until they so we can play together against them and from the time I got into my taxi changed their minds. Then it was (High Wycombe, Shepherds Bush, to the time I got to the airport lounge too close to Christmas to get into the Muswell Hill and Toronto). This is was 35 minutes. This was a very high habit when I got back. However, after a session we all enjoy and today we standard event with just four countries lots of uncontrolled eating, the low- duff them up a bit. I double their weak represented: us, China, France and carbohydrate diet and the gym are no-trump in fourth seat, we defend the USA. It would not have been a essential. After a very quiet period, accurately and declarer is a little disgrace to come last but we managed I have masses of guidebook work: careless so we beat it five (1,100) even to finish second in the double round Jordan and Borneo, plus a small, full- though dummy has a flat 5-count. robin qualifying round, beating both colour book on the eclipses of 2012 and In the evenings, I have been working China and France (reigning world 2013. At this time of year, I also have on my laptop in front of the television, champions) and losing narrowly to another large project: the Yearbook of so, as well as getting important things the USA. This qualified us for a head- the British Guild of Travel Writers. done, I have managed to catch up on to-head final against the USA, which The children have exams this week programmes I have recorded and not we lost. The only other medal was so I am more generous than usual got around to watching (that is in when Nicola finished second in the about taking them and picking them between Briony’s choice of Big Brother, individual. Overall, we won several up from school (partly from guilt Got to Dance, etc). other minor prizes and came home about leaving them when I went with a significant profit. to China and partly because of the Then there was Christmas. This exams). When I am not ferrying them Thursday has not really been a good time for around, I am working. Stagger to bed After the gym, spend an hour with us since 2006. At this time of year, we after midnight. Susanna, then pick Briony up from

Page 17 Seven Days continued weak no-trump so East does not get 2♥ or 3♥ with her K-Q-J-x-x-x-x; she the chance to bid. Again, West leads a says that she needs more to bid against spade (from the three-card suit); this me. Of course, had I opened a minor time East switches to a low heart and, instead of 2NT, she would surely have when declarer plays low, he is home. overcalled and we would have either school. Her first exam went OK so bid the making 5♦ or else I would have she is reasonably happy. Squeeze in made 3NT. Our hands were: finishing off Luxembourg and an Friday Ethiopia reprint before another online After the school run, I do a bit of work session in the afternoon. Barry comes and then it is off to London. I work over later on. While it is good to see in the afternoon and then go to the ♠ J 4 2 him, he has a cough that is getting Young Chelsea for the first session of ♥ 10 2 worse so maybe he will come down the Lady Milne trials. Our first three ♦ K J 10 6 4 with a cold. In the evening, we have a matches are rather flat and we end the ♣ Q 4 3 Berks & Bucks knockout match. One day with a modest plus score. of our team, Jack, is in bed with the flu; N W E so instead of having Barry and I play S with Jack and Richard, we have to get Saturday a substitute: I play with Richard, Barry Four matches and then a break. It is ♠ A Q 5 with Eggy. Although it is a quarterfinal all going moderately well, a bit up and ♥ A 7 match, it is surprisingly easy. I enjoy down. We are plus thirty-something ♦ Q 8 3 2 this hand: and looking well placed if not yet in ♣ A K 10 6 the top three. This continues for a couple of matches but then we lose two matches – by around 12 IMPs each – At the end of the day, we are plus Dealer East. N/S Game. which sends us tumbling down the 11 and will need a very good day ♠ A K 10 3 field. We have not played with much tomorrow if we are going to qualify. ♥ 9 6 2 luck yet. I went down in one game I A crowd of us go out for dinner in an ♦ Q 9 5 4 should definitely have made on Friday Italian restaurant on Earls Court Road ♣ K 4 and Susanna has defended a couple and then it’s home to bed. ♠ 9 8 5 ♠ Q 7 2 of partscores poorly; other than that, N ♥ A 5 ♥ Q 10 8 4 3 generally reasonable decisions have W E Sunday ♦ 8 7 2 S ♦ A 10 6 3 often led to poor results. This is a low ♣ Q J 8 6 2 ♣ 3 point. I hold: Our good day does not materialise. ♠ J 6 4 We have our moments and at one ♥ K J 7 stage look as if we might pull through; ♦ K J ♠ A Q 5 in the end, we do not. Although we ♣ A 10 9 7 5 ♥ A 7 could certainly have played better, ♦ Q 8 3 2 luck has not been with us either. In the ♣ A K 10 6 final round, when we need a big win, West North East South Susanna fails to see my opening bid of Pass 1♣ 1♦. She thinks I passed and she opens Pass 1♦ 1♥ 2♣ I am fourth in hand at favourable 2NT. Unfortunately, a 2NT response Pass 2♥ Pass 2NT vulnerability. After three passes, to 1♦ is natural in our system; so I Pass 3NT All Pass rather than open 1♣ or 1♦ and give pass with my balanced 12-count and the defenders information about my we play a slam in a partscore. Anyway, Richard does well to avoid the heart hand, I decide to borrow a point and congratulations are due to Jane Moore lead, choosing instead the nine of open 2NT; Susanna raises to 3NT. and Gillian Fawcett, who won the spades. Declarer ducks in dummy; After the king of hearts lead, my only trials, closely followed by Frances I win with the queen and switch to hope seems to be that the defenders Liew and Belinda Bridgen, followed by the ten of hearts (a ‘surround’ play). block the heart suit; it is more likely Nicole Cook and Chris Duckworth. Declarer plays the jack and West that they will do that if I win the first Good luck for the Lady Milne in Wales the ace; a second heart establishes heart rather than make a seemingly in April. Just in case you are worried the suit. Declarer has no real option pointless at trick one. So I win about missing out on tales from this but to play a diamond and I cash my the heart and knock out the ace of year’s Lady Milne, think again. I am hearts, two down. To have any chance diamonds. Imagine my chagrin when branching out into a new field: that of of success declarer needs to duck the hearts actually break 7-2: had I ducked captain of the English team – so I shall heart switch entirely, thus blocking the the heart, I would have got home. I ask be able to report from a very different suit. In the other room, South opens a my opponent why she had not opened perspective. ■

Page 18 Andrew Kambites Says

Don’t Underlead an Ace at Trick One

ow many spade tricks do you People who underlead aces against progresses, the more logic takes over. think declarer should take in suit contracts don’t just give away tricks; On deal C, West led the queen of layout A? they induce their partners to err. hearts, covered by the king and won by H Would you like to hazard a guess as East’s ace. What should East do next? to how the defenders allowed declarer Layout A ♠ K 8 2 to make 4♠ on deal B? No, West did not Deal C ♠ K J 2 N lead a club. ♠ A 5 4 3 W E ♠ J 10 9 ♥ K 8 S ♦ A K J 10 3 ♠ Q 7 6 Deal B ♠ Q 9 4 ♣ 10 9 8

♥ Q 6 2 ♠ 10 9 N ♠ 8 7 3 ♦ Q 9 8 ♥ Q J 10 9 W E ♥ A 4 3 2 The crucial point of this layout is that ♣ A K 9 7 ♦ 8 7 6 S ♦ 5 2 ♠ K 8 5 ♠ 7 6 ♣ Q 7 6 3 ♣ A 5 4 2 West’s ace has an important role, and N it is not just to win a trick. West’s ace is ♥ A 7 3 W E ♥ K 10 8 5 4 ♠ A Q 6 5 4 sitting after South’s queen and its role ♦ A 7 4 S ♦ 6 5 3 ♥ 7 6 5 is to neutralise South’s queen. If the ace ♣ Q 8 4 3 ♣ 10 5 2 ♦ Q 9 4 wins a trick in a way that just takes small ♠ A J 10 3 2 ♣ K J spades from North and South, declarer ♥ J 9 will take two spade tricks. If the ace waits ♦ K J 10 2 patiently for the queen, declarer will take ♣ J 6 West North East South only one spade trick. West might fall 1♠ from grace in a variety of ways. Pass 2♦ Pass 2♠ 1 West can just cash the ace. West North East South Pass 4♠ End 2 West can underlead the ace. This 1♠ allows South’s queen to escape from Pass 2♣ Pass 2♦ East should ask himself how he might its clutches. The queen wins the first Pass 4♠ End find four defensive tricks. Dummy is trick and the king can take a trick strong: it is highly likely that, as soon later. I can sympathise with West’s dilemma. as declarer gets the lead, he will be able 3 West can jump in with the ace if He wasn’t keen on any of his possible to draw trumps and throw any losers he declarer leads a spade from hand. Of options. I would have started with a low has on dummy’s diamonds. course, another maxim: second hand trump, but he decided to lead the three If South holds anything like a sensible plays low applies for that. of hearts. Declarer played low from opening bid, West can have at most two For the maxim of this article, we are dummy and East had a problem. If West points to go with his queen and jack of mainly interested in the second of these had led from a holding like ♥J-9-7-3, hearts. At duplicate pairs, East might errors. Our maxim is this: at trick one, declarer held a singleton ace of hearts get this far and decide to settle for three don’t underlead an ace against a suit and it would clearly be right to withhold tricks by cashing his ace of clubs and contract (and do not lead the ace either). the king. East gave it some thought but returning a heart. Of course, a lead from a holding decided that his partner would never What should you do at rubber bridge like ♠A-8-5-4-3 against 3NT is often underlead a side-suit ace at trick one. or teams-of-four, when you can afford to an excellent lead. You might concede Therefore, he decided to keep his king give the odd overtrick in trying to beat an extra spade trick but, if you end up to deal with the queen. He played the the contract? The only real hope seems scoring two length tricks, you will regard ten and a surprised, if grateful, declarer to be to take two heart tricks and two it as ample compensation. Length tricks scooped up trick one with the jack. club tricks quickly. East should return don’t come into play when defending Notice that our maxim warns against his two of clubs at trick two, hoping against a suit contract because declarer underleading an ace against a suit West holds the queen but not the jack. If can trump them. You might lose your contract at trick one. As with all the declarer misguesses who has the ace and ace if you underlead it. defensive maxims, the more the play queen of clubs, 4♠ will fail. ■

Page 19 PROGRAMME This is the format for all Bernard Magee 2012 BRIDGE EVENTS hosted events.

FRIDAY with Bernard Magee 1500 Mr Bridge Welcome Desk open APRIL 2012 Afternoon tea/coffee 1745 to 1830 20 – 22 The Olde Barn Hotel Welcome drinks NEW £245 Squeezes SEMINAR reception 1830 to 2000 27 – 29 Inn on the Prom DINNER £245 Losing 2015 BRIDGE 1 Trick Count DUPLICATE PAIRS Inn on the Prom St Annes-on-Sea FY8 1LU SATURDAY 0800 to 0930 October 2012 BREAKFAST 5 – 7 The Olde Barn Hotel 1000 to 1230 £245 Suit Establishment SEMINAR & SUPERVISED PLAY of SET HANDS 12 – 14 Blunsdon House (tea & coffee at 1100) £245 Landy Defence to 1NT Chatsworth Hotel 1230 to 1330 Worthing BN11 3DU COLD BUFFET LUNCH 1400 to 1645 June 2012 BRIDGE 2 TEAMS of FOUR 8 – 10 Blunsdon House or FURTHER NEW SUPERVISED PLAY £245 Playing Suit SEMINAR of SET HANDS Combinations 1815 to 2000 DINNER 15 – 17 Chatsworth Hotel Blunsdon House 2015 BRIDGE 3 £245 Doubles Swindon SN26 7AS DUPLICATE PAIRS

SUNDAY 19 – 21 Chatsworth Hotel £245 Signals and Discards 0800 to 0930 BREAKFAST November 2012 1000 to 1230 SEMINAR & SUPERVISED PLAY 2 – 4 Blunsdon House NEW of SET HANDS £245 Squeezes SEMINAR (tea & coffee at 1100) 1230 to 1400 The Olde Barn Hotel 9 – 11 Inn on the Prom CARVERY LUNCH Marston, Lincs NG32 2HT £245 Declarer Play 1400 to 1645 BRIDGE 4 FURTHER SUPERVISED PLAY Full Board – No Single Supplement of SET HANDS or DUPLICATE PAIRS See booking form on page 8

Page 20 Answers to Bernard Magee’s Bidding Quiz on page 3

West North East South 4♠. To make, or as a , this must 1. Dealer North. N/S Game. 3NT1 Pass be the right bid. ♠ K 7 6 4 3 ♠ Q 9 8 ? Partner has at most one heart – this N ♥ ♥ 1 K 10 7 6 4 3 2 W E Q 8 5 gambling 3NT: solid minor, little outside means that, if he holds just K-x-x in ♦ 3 S ♦ A 8 7 spades, you may well make 4♠. With the ♣ Void ♣ K J 9 2 6♣. The first thing to notice is that, be- above layout, 4♠ will surely make – and cause you have good diamonds, your so most likely will 4♥. partner’s solid suit must be clubs. You do As you can see, our idea of sacrificing West North East South not want to leave him in no-trumps be- was right; the extra bonus is that you ac- Pass 1NT Pass cause the spade suit will be wide-open. tually make. Let them guess what to do 2♣ Pass 2♦ Pass So clubs must be the suit to play in – but over 4♠. ? at what level? That is easy: you simply add up the 4♥. You tried Stayman but not surpris- tricks. Partner has seven club tricks; you ingly had no success. Only six points, so have four top tricks and, as long as part- 4. Dealer East. Love All. you might do best to sign off in 2♥. Hold ner has more than one spade, you should ♠ K Q J 4 ♠ A 9 7 2 on a minute – this is no ordinary 6 points make a spade : 7 + 4 + 1 = 12. ♥ K Q 10 9 N ♥ J 5 4 – you have a certain 9-card fit and prob- With belief in your own addition, you ♦ J 8 W E ♦ A K 6 4 3 S ably an 8-card fit as well – put partner bid 6♣. Even if partner has a singleton ♣ K Q 5 ♣ 9 with aces in the three highest suits and spade, he might have an eighth club or you could be making a slam. Signing the ♦J – or you might set up a long card off at the two-level is too weak. No, you in one of the red suits. West North East South have enough to fly to game; since part- The play is simple. Win the heart lead, 1♦ Pass ner has denied holding four spades, you draw trumps in two rounds and play ? know that your best fit is in hearts, hence three rounds of diamonds. Away goes you bid game there. dummy’s heart loser on the third round, 1♥. Your partner has opened and you For those of you who like the losing after which you simply ruff a spade. have 17 points– time to get excited. trick count – you do have a fit, so you can Take your time – with no long suit, you use it – you have just five losers, which should just respond at the 1-level – thus explains why game is definitely the right you bid your lowest 4-card suit: 1♥. place to be. While you are not certain to 3. Dealer West. Love All. Partner will rebid 1♠, which excites you make 4♥, the odds are with you. ♠ A Q 8 6 4 3 2 ♠ K 9 7 a little more – you will then have to rebid ♥ A 6 5 2 N ♥ 8 something stronger than 4♠: either use ♦ J 2 W E ♦ Q 9 7 6 3 or even Blackwood. It S 2. Dealer East. Love All. ♣ Void ♣ J 4 3 2 is not too bad a hand for the ace-ask; af- ♠ 4 ♠ 6 2 ter partner just shows two aces, you will ♥ A 9 4 3 2 N ♥ 7 5 settle for 5♠. W E ♦ A K Q 3 S ♦ 9 2 West North East South 3NT is a poor bid (over 1♦) and could ♣ 9 6 2 ♣ A K Q J 7 5 3 1♠ 2♥ 2♠ 3♥ go down if North has the ♣A and South ? the ♥A. ■

BEGIN BRIDGE – ACOL VERSION An Interactive Tutorial CD with Bernard Magee £66 See Mail Order form on page 7.

Page 21 MODERNISING THE GAME

he EBU has been giving consid- EBU has been assured that the opponents won the auction. If this eration to bringing the game of usual programs suggestion found favour, it would bridge more into the 21st Cen- could be adapted easily to accom- probably be trialled initially in in- Ttury, to make it seem less ‘fuddy-dud- modate it. The objection that this ternational pairs events. The ben- dy’ and to appeal more to the young. would slow things down is, ac- efits of this suggestion include the It will shortly be putting out a ‘green cording to the EBU, easily met by following: paper’ canvassing specific suggestions. reducing the number of cards in l Real experts and enthusiasts Those readers who are members of the the pack they use to less than the would be playing each phase of EBU will be receiving their copies in norm (see above); and/or the game and it would save play- due course but, meanwhile, I can re- l the various dummies in the room ers from having to understand veal that the green paper will include at any one time would combine all of the bidding, declarer play a few tentative suggestions by the EBU to become a sort of composite di- and defence. The EBU’s paper itself, notably the following: rector if the director is him/her- goes on to say that, in time, this l To vary the number of cards in a self playing that evening, or as an suggestion might also be useful pack, 52 being such a strange num- appeal body if the director was for teaching beginners how to ber. Obvious candidates for replac- not playing (although no dummy play: they would not learn the ing this number would be 40 or 80 should adjudicate on any matter bidding (as this is such a difficult (ie 10 or 20 per suit), but apparently involving his own table). Deci- aspect of the game to teach and 60 is at present the EBU’s preferred sions would be by majority vote, learn initially) and would only choice. The advantage of 40, how- as with, for instance, lay magis- need to learn to play the hand, ei- ever, is that this would speed up trates; and/or ther as declarer or defender. It is the play quite a bit, which would no l to invite another club or group recognised, however, that bridge doubt please directors. The other (such as a singing club or yoga teachers might not welcome this suggestion of increasing the num- group) to share the room for the suggestion. ber of suits from four to, say five or evening, so that dummy could l The four bidders, having bid a six, did not apparently find favour go and join in with their activity hand, could go straight on to with the board of the EBU as being whenever he had nothing else to bidding the next hand, thus re- too difficult for other elderly people do. This would no doubt appeal sulting in a huge saving of time to come to grips with. to club treasurers as the rent for and, again, being very popular l To allow a contract to be played the room would be shared. with directors. partly in one denomination and l To replace the traditional pictures l In this digital age, to have your partly in another. The details of on the court cards with the faces hand displayed on a small this would need to be worked out of celebrities such as pop stars and in front of you instead of holding but, for instance, the declarer, at the footballers (not forgetting that, at cards in your hand. Just like BBO end of the bidding (say the contract the moment, one would need twice except that you are sitting round a was 3NT), could elect that the last as many males as females). And/or table. This would have many ad- four tricks be played in spades in- one could change the jacks to prin- vantages, not least that the com- stead. To be fair to all concerned cesses (keep it in the Royal Family puter would do the scoring and pre- he would, in exchange, have to give and have more female faces). Fur- vent , bids or card play out up a trick or two, and maybe this thermore, why not make the Aces of turn and certain other common choice would have to be made be- into court cards, possibly making infractions of the rules. You could fore dummy went down. them emperors (or empresses) or also programme the system to l To give some specific duties or op- even, say, Roman or Greek gods? make recommendations as to what portunities to dummy, who other- l In pairs events, to increase the card to play or bid to make, and to wise sits there doing nothing and number in each ‘pair’ from two play for you while you get a drink at gets bored. Particular possibilities to five – not as silly as it sounds, the bar. Indeed it is suggested that include: and derived from the way Ameri- the director might have a device to l on any club evening, the first can Football is played. The idea make a particular table’s computer four people to end up as dum- is that you would have two of the bid or play the cards on its own, for my on each round would go to five members of the team conduct- use when that table is running late. an empty table and play a hand ing the bidding. A third player (of- We shall be trying out some of these of their own, the results of that fence) would take over as declarer suggestions and will report back. hand being factored in to the if his team won the auction, while Register your interest with Mr ‘mainstream’ results. While this the fourth and fifth members of the Bridge and he will send you a copy of sounds quite complicated, the team (defence) would step in if the the green paper when it is ready. ■

Page 22 Mr Bridge DEFENCE RUBBER / CHICAGO QUIZ by Julian Pottage (Answers overleaf)

ou are West in the defensive positions below. It is your Yturn to play. Both sides are using Acol with a 12-14 1NT.

1. ♠ A 10 5 2 3. ♠ A K 7 6 ♥ K Q 8 ♥ A K 7 Ardington Hotel, Worthing BN11 3DZ ♦ 7 5 ♦ Q ♣ A 10 6 2 ♣ J 8 7 5 3 ♠ J 4 ♠ J 9 8 3 2 20-22 April 2012 ♥ 7 6 5 4 N ♥ 9 5 N hosted by Sheila Rogers ♦ Q 10 8 2 W E ♦ A 8 7 6 W E S S ♣ Q 8 7 ♣ 9 4 3-5 August 2012 hosted by Sheila Rogers West North East South West North East South 1NT1 3♦ 3♥ 23-25 November 2012 Pass 2♣ Pass 2♥ 5♦ 6♥ End Pass 3NT End hosted by Ann Pearson 112-14 You lead the ♦A. East plays the four and South the ten. You lead the ♦2, letting How do you continue? Blunsdon House Hotel, Swindon SN26 7AS your side take four tricks when partner has ♦A-K- hosted by Diana Holland x-x. Dummy throws one 4. ♠ A J 7 6 card from each black suit, ♥ K Q J 7 3 declarer a club. What do ♦ Q 3 you lead at trick five? ♣ K 7 ♠ 9 3 ♥ 9 5 N W E ♠ ♦ 2. J 5 2 K 10 9 7 6 S ♥ A K 8 7 4 ♣ Q 9 5 4 ♦ J 7 5 ♣ J 6 ♠ Q 9 West North East South

♥ 10 9 6 5 N 1♥ Pass 1♠ ♦ A K Q W E Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ ♣ Q 8 7 2 S End 31 August – 2 September 2012

You lead the ♦10 – three, Please note there are no seminars West North East South ace and eight. Partner re- or set hands at these events. 1♠ turns the ♦2 – jack, king Dbl 2♥ Pass 2NT and queen. How do you Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ continue? £199 Full-board End No Single Supplement You lead the ♦A-K-Q, to which all follow. How do you continue? Please see booking form on page 8.

Page 23 Answers to Julian Pottage’s Defence Quiz on page 23

West North East South You lead the ♦A. East plays the four and 1. ♠ A 10 5 2 1♠ South the ten. How do you continue? ♥ K Q 8 Dbl 2♥ Pass 2NT Could partner have a void in spades? ♦ 7 5 Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ Several things say no. With a singleton in ♣ A 10 6 2 End dummy, partner could have dropped a ♠ J 4 ♠ Q 8 6 3 huge diamond to ask for a spade switch. ♥ 7 6 5 4 N ♥ 9 2 You lead the ♦A-K-Q, to which all follow. Besides, partner could have doubled W E ♦ ♦ ♥ Q 10 8 2 S A K 6 3 How do you continue? 6 to ask for an unusual lead. Safety is ♣ Q 8 7 ♣ J 5 4 Again, you are looking for one more therefore the order of the day. ♠ K 9 7 trick. Again, you can work out that you It looks like a diamond continuation ♥ A J 10 3 will have to wait to make it. would be a ruff and discard – nearly ♦ J 9 4 Since South has shown at least 15 always a bad idea. A club is also horrible ♣ K 9 3 points, East can hold at most 2 points. A if partner holds Q-10-x or K-10-x and lead from either of your queens would be declarer reads the layout. Your safe lead highly dangerous. is a trump, say the five. West North East South If you lead from the trump queen, 1NT (12-14) declarer puts up dummy’s jack and goes Pass 2♣ Pass 2♥ on to ruff the third round of clubs. Pass 3NT End If you lead from queen, 4. ♠ A J 7 6 dummy’s jack scores; declarer can then ♥ K Q J 7 3 You lead the ♦2, letting your side take the drop your queen of spades and make the ♦ Q 3 first four tricks when partner has A-K-x-x. rest. ♣ K 7 Dummy throws one card from each black Your safe exit is a heart. Apart from ♠ 9 3 ♠ 5 2 suit, declarer a club. What do you lead the fact this is the one suit where your ♥ 9 5 N ♥ 8 6 4 W E ♦ ♦ next? partner might hold the queen, you have K 10 9 7 6 S A 5 4 2 Partner has at most 3 more points, so a safe holding from which to lead. The ♣ Q 9 5 4 ♣ A J 6 3 you will have to wait for the setting trick. five of hearts is best. After this, declarer ♠ K Q 10 8 4 A lead from either of your black honours cannot ruff a club in dummy without ♥ A 10 2 is highly risky, giving away the contract if losing a trump later. Nor is it possible to ♦ J 8 declarer reads the position correctly. You set up and cash a long heart. ♣ 10 8 2 should simply exit with a heart, which cannot possibly give anything away. The fact that South has bid hearts should not West North East South deter you from doing so. 3. ♠ A K 7 6 1♥ Pass 1♠ ♥ A K 7 Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ ♦ Q End ♣ J 8 7 5 3 2. ♠ J 5 2 ♠ J 9 8 3 2 ♠ 5 You lead the ♦10 – three, ace and eight. ♥ A K 8 7 4 ♥ 9 5 N ♥ 8 4 Partner returns the ♦2 – jack, king and W E ♦ ♦ ♦ J 7 5 A 8 7 6 S K J 9 5 4 3 2 queen. How do you continue? ♣ J 6 ♣ 9 4 ♣ Q 10 6 The crash of the jack and queen of ♠ Q 9 ♠ 10 6 4 ♠ Q 10 4 diamonds suggests that declarer and ♥ 10 9 6 5 N ♥ Q 3 ♥ Q J 10 6 3 2 dummy are now both void. A diamond W E ♦ ♦ ♦ A K Q S 8 6 4 3 10 continuation would thus be unsafe. ♣ Q 8 7 2 ♣ 10 9 4 3 ♣ A K 2 This time, you should not be looking to ♠ A K 8 7 3 play safe anyway. Look at those hearts ♥ J 2 in dummy. You should attack with a ♦ 10 9 2 West North East South low club, hoping that partner has the ♣ A K 5 3♦ 3♥ ace-jack or just the ace but declarer 5♦ 6♥ End misguesses. ■

Page 24

PRIZE CROSSWORD 3 DECLARER set by Sputnik PLAY 1 2 3 4 5 QUIZ 6 7 8

by David Huggett 9 10 (Answers overleaf)

ou are South as declarer playing teams or rubber bridge. 11 12 13 14 YIn each case, what is your play strategy?

15 16 17 18

1. ♠ K 6 4 2 3. ♠ 6 2 ♥ 8 7 3 ♥ 9 6 4 19 20 21 22 ♦ A 6 5 ♦ 5 4 ♣ Q 10 2 ♣ A Q 7 4 3 2

N N 23 24 W E W E S S

♠ A Q 10 9 3 ♠ A Q 7 3 ♥ A 6 4 ♥ A K 5 ACROSS DOWN ♦ K 4 ♦ A K 7 6 6 A type of Mitchell 1 Boris partnered Terence ♣ K 9 3 ♣ 8 5 that produces a single for many years (8) winning pair (9) 2 A sacrifice that results in You are declarer in 4♠ and You are declarer in 3NT 7 Defeat a contract (3) a greater success (6) West leads the ♥10. How and West leads the ♠5. 9 An uneven distribution 3 Almost a label for do you plan the play? East plays the ♠K. How do of opposition cards (3,5) winning players (4) you plan the play? 10 That famous road in 4 Meckstroth and Rodwell, West Hampstead (4) US experts, have a nickname (8) 11 ______ludorum , the winner of the game (6) 5 A rabbit’s frequent score (4) 2. ♠ 9 4 4. ♠ K 10 4 13 Point count minimum ♥ J 10 3 ♥ 8 7 5 for raising a weak NT 8 100 below the line (4) (6) ♦ A J 3 ♦ Q J 5 2 12 A possible call for partner ♣ Q J 10 6 4 ♣ A 5 4 15 Ordered from Dorset to run (8) (6) 14 S—t—a—y—m—a—n ? N N 17 The number of cards held (8) W E W E in a particular suit (6) S S 16 Experts achieve many, 19 Worth two ? (4) rabbits few (4) ♠ A Q ♠ A Q J 3 ♥ A 9 6 ♥ J 3 21 What accurate players 18 A historic 4NT aspire to be (8) convention (6) ♦ K Q 10 4 2 ♦ A K 6 4 ♣ 9 8 5 ♣ K 6 3 23 A term for a small card 20 Surrender the lead (4) (3) 22 Everyone in breaches of 24 Access between declarer the rules (4) You are declarer in 3NT You are declarer in and dummy may be and West leads the ♠J. 4♠ and West leads the difficult due to these (9) East plays the ♠K. How do ♥A-K-Q. How do you plan you plan the play? the play? Send your solution to Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH before the end of April 2012.

Page 25 Answers to David Huggett’s Play Quiz on page 25

You are declarer in 3NT and West leads which you can realistically generate the 1. ♠ K 6 4 2 the ♠J. East plays the ♠K. How do you other two. Since a successful club finesse ♥ 8 7 3 plan the play? will get you one extra trick only, you will ♦ A 6 5 need some luck to make this contract. ♣ Q 10 2 The lead has hit your weak spot and, Win the spade lead and duck a club ♠ 7 5 ♠ J 8 at first sight, it might seem that playing completely. The defenders will carry on ♥ 10 9 2 N ♥ K Q J 5 on clubs is the best line. Unfortunately, their attack in spades, no doubt, but W E ♦ ♦ J 9 8 7 3 S Q 10 2 you have only two spade stoppers and you can win and only then take the club ♣ A 7 5 ♣ J 8 6 4 will have to give up the lead twice to finesse. ♠ A Q 10 9 3 knock out the ace and king of clubs. If the club finesse proves successful and ♥ A 6 4 The defenders will have established too all follow, you will make eleven tricks. ♦ K 4 many spade winners by the time you Yes, you will fall dismally short of your ♣ K 9 3 have established the clubs, so you have target if the finesse fails. Still, if there is to look elsewhere for the extra trick that no other chance, you have to go for it. you need. The hearts will provide that extra trick You are declarer in 4♠ and West leads as long as East has either the king or the ♥10. How do you plan the play? queen, or both. 4. ♠ K 10 4 Win the spade, cross to dummy with ♥ 8 7 5 At first sight, it might appear that you a diamond and lead the jack of hearts. ♦ Q J 5 2 have to locate the position of the jack of No doubt, it will lose to West, who will ♣ A 5 4 clubs; in fact, this is not the case. As long knock out your remaining spade stopper. ♠ 9 8 6 2 ♠ 7 5 as the trumps are not 4-0, the contract You will then simply return to dummy and ♥ A K Q 9 6 N ♥ 10 4 2 W E is cold. Win the heart, draw trumps repeat the heart finesse. ♦ 9 3 S ♦ 10 8 7 (cashing the ace or queen first in case This line gives you about a 75% chance ♣ J 8 ♣ Q 10 9 7 2 they do break 4-0) and then eliminate of success. ♠ A Q J 3 diamonds by cashing the king and ace ♥ J 3 before ruffing dummy’s last card in that ♦ A K 6 4 suit in hand. After that, simply exit with ♣ K 6 3 a low heart. Although the defenders can 3. ♠ 6 2 take two tricks there, they will ultimately ♥ 9 6 4 have to open up the clubs or give you a ♦ 5 4 ruff and discard. In effect, you make the ♣ A Q 7 4 3 2 You are declarer in 4♠ and West leads opposition find the jack of clubs for you. ♠ J 9 8 5 4 ♠ K 10 the ♥A-K-Q. How do you plan the play? ♥ J 7 2 N ♥ Q 10 8 3 W E ♦ ♦ J 8 S Q 10 9 3 2 While playing in a suit contract with only ♣ K 9 6 ♣ J 10 seven trumps is always a bit scary, at 2. ♠ 9 4 ♠ A Q 7 3 least all your trumps are solid and there ♥ J 10 3 ♥ A K 5 is a definite threat of losing a bundle of ♦ A J 3 ♦ A K 7 6 hearts if you were in 3NT. Even so, you ♣ Q J 10 6 4 ♣ 8 5 have to be careful not to ruff that third ♠ J 10 8 7 3 ♠ K 6 5 2 heart: if you do and play out the rest of ♥ Q 5 N ♥ K 8 7 4 2 your trumps, you will be defeated if the W E ♦ ♦ 7 6 5 S 9 8 suit breaks 4-2. ♣ A 7 3 ♣ K 2 You are declarer in 3NT and West leads As you always have a club loser, just ♠ A Q the ♠5. East plays the ♠K. How do you discard a low card in that suit on the third ♥ A 9 6 plan the play? heart. Any further heart leads, you can ♦ K Q 10 4 2 ruff high in dummy; if instead they switch ♣ 9 8 5 After the spade lead, you have seven suits, you can just draw trumps and tricks on top; clubs is the only suit from claim. ■

Page 26 Andrew Kambites’ Tutorial Bridge Breaks Lead Quiz You are West, in the auctions below, playing OCTOBER continued teams or rubber bridge. It is your lead. (Answers 19-21 The Olde Barn Hotel overleaf.) £215 Signals and Discards TBA

November 2012 1 ♠ A 6 ♥ K Q 4 3 2 N 2-4 The Olde Barn Hotel W E ♦ J 7 5 S £215 Game Tries ♣ J 3 2 David Stead

9-11 Blunsdon West North East South House Hotel 1NT Ardington Hotel £245 Suit Establishment Pass 3NT End Worthing BN11 3DZ Ned Paul

16-18 Chatsworth Hotel Worthing MARCH 2012 SEPTEMBER 2012 £245 Finding Slams 2 ♠ A 6 Crombie McNeil ♥ K Q 4 3 2 9-11 The Ardington 28-30 The Ardington N ♦ J 7 5 W E £245 Hand Evaluation £245 Leads 23-25 The Olde Barn Hotel ♣ J 3 2 S Crombie McNeil and Defence £215 Playing Suit Crombie McNeil Combinations 9-11 Blunsdon TBA West North East South House Hotel OCTOBER 2012 ♠ £245 Signals and Discards 1 30-2/12 Chatsworth Hotel Alison Nicolson 12-14 The Ardington Pass 4♠ End £245 Losing Worthing 23-25 The Ardington Trick Count £245 & Avoidance £245 Sacrificing Sandy Bell Crombie McNeil Ned Paul 3 ♠ A 6 ♥ K Q 10 3 2 N 30-1/4 The Ardington ♦ J 7 5 W E £245 Landy S ♣ J 3 2 Defence to 1NT Improvers Ned Paul West North East South APRIL 2012 1NT Pass 3NT End 27-29 Blunsdon House Hotel £245 Game Tries Alison Nicolson 4 ♠ A 6 JUNE 2012 ♥ K Q 9 3 2 ♦ J 7 5 N 8-10 The Ardington ♣ J 3 2 W E £245 Endplay The Olde Barn Hotel S and Avoidance Marston, Lincs NG32 2HT Gary Conrad West North East South 1NT Pass 3NT End See booking form on page 8.

Page 27 Answers to Andrew Kambites’ Lead Quiz on page 27

I am not a great fan of tables of West North East South the position by dropping the ♥J under opening leads, although they can be 1♠ your ♥K. Ia useful summary. I prefer asking two Pass 4♠ End So what happens here? Partner plays questions: the ♥9 and declarer the ♥6. Does this i) Objective – what am I trying to Length tricks are useless if declarer has look encouraging to you? It should not. achieve? The answer does not have to be a good trump suit. This time, you really If partner had either the ♥A or ♥J, he spectacular. ‘Nothing,’ is a respectable do not want to lose the first trick cheaply should have played it. Therefore, he does answer, meaning that the aim is just to to the ♥J. Your objective is to set up a not hold either. You need to switch suit at give nothing away and make declarer quick heart trick. You possess five of the trick 2 to avoid giving away a trick. work for his tricks. thirteen hearts: somebody is bound to Switch passively to the ♠A and another ii) How likely is my lead to achieve this? hold a doubleton. Let us hope it is your spade to leave declarer to struggle for his partner. ninth trick. Leading the ♥K beats the contract with a heart trick, a heart ruff in partner’s 1. ♠ K J 3 hand, the ♠A and the ♦A. ♥ 9 8 6 4. ♠ K Q J ♦ 9 4 2 ♥ 7 4 ♣ A K Q 7 ♦ A 10 9 8 2 ♠ A 6 ♠ 9 5 4 2 3. ♠ K Q J ♣ K 9 8 ♥ K Q 4 3 2 N ♥ J 7 ♥ 8 5 4 ♠ A 6 ♠ 10 8 5 4 3 W E ♦ ♦ ♦ ♥ N ♥ J 7 5 S Q 10 8 6 Q 10 3 2 K Q 9 3 2 A 6 5 W E ♣ J 3 2 ♣ 10 6 5 ♣ A Q 4 ♦ J 7 5 ♦ 6 3 S ♠ Q 10 8 7 ♠ A 6 ♠ 10 9 7 3 2 ♣ J 3 2 ♣ 7 5 4 ♥ A 10 5 ♥ K Q 10 3 2 N ♥ 9 ♠ 9 7 2 W E ♦ ♦ ♦ ♥ A K 3 J 7 5 S 9 6 4 J 10 8 ♣ 9 8 4 ♣ J 3 2 ♣ K 10 9 7 ♦ K Q 4 ♠ 8 5 4 ♣ A Q 10 6 ♥ A J 7 6 West North East South ♦ A K 8 1NT ♣ 8 6 5 West North East South Pass 3NT End 1NT Pass 3NT End Lead the ♥3. Your objective is to set up West North East South length tricks in hearts. You really need 1NT Are you in doubt which heart to lead? partner to hold a heart honour and you Pass 3NT End Looking at all four hands, do you think do not want to block the suit. that it hardly matters? This time, your hearts are better. You Think back to hand 3. If you lead the might be able to set hearts up with the ♥K against a no-trump contract, partner loss of just the ♥A, say if declarer or will assume your hearts are headed by 2. ♠ 10 9 8 7 5 dummy has the ♥J doubleton. Lead the ♥K-Q-J or ♥K-Q-10. He will overtake ♥ 10 7 6 ♥K (top of a sequence) because you have your ♥K with the ♥A and return a heart ♦ 3 legitimate hopes of setting up the heart triumphantly. Doing that on this layout ♣ A K Q 4 suit without help from partner. gives declarer a heart stopper and blows ♠ A 6 ♠ 3 2 Look at how your partner interprets your chances. ♥ K Q 4 3 2 N ♥ 9 5 your ♥K lead. The ♥K guarantees the Really, you cannot have second W E ♦ ♦ ♥ ♥ ♥ J 7 5 S A 10 9 8 6 2 Q. It also shows either the J or 10. If thoughts here. Occasionally, dummy will ♣ J 3 2 ♣ 10 8 6 partner has the ♥A, he should clear up the have ♥J-10 doubleton and you would ♠ K Q J 4 position by overtaking your ♥K with the have done better to lead high. However, ♥ A J 8 ♥A and returning a heart. Alternatively, partner needs to rely on you so you must ♦ K Q 4 if partner has the ♥J, he will know that maintain discipline. Lead the ♥3 and the ♣ 9 7 5 your lead is from a sequence headed by defence falls easily into place. the ♥K-Q-10. Again, he should clear up Bridge is not a game of perfection. ■

Page 28 David Stevenson answers your questions on Laws and Ethics Must My Partner and I Play the Same System?

My partner Certainly: you may refer to it by a name you First, if West is prefers to open a ask the meaning of do not know, just ask them asking for his Qstrong 2♦, whilst A any call whenever it is again. They have to explain A partner’s benefit, I like the weak two. your turn to call, lead or play. the agreements fully – but this is wrong as a matter of Is it legal for each If the opponents are trying not their deductions. law. If he does so and his to use his preferred for a slam, it is wise to check partner takes advantage, the system, with proper the meaning of any calls they ♣♦♥♠ director can give an adjusted announcement by made above 3NT before score. This is communication partner in each case? making the opening lead. South was in between partners, which John Douce, Coventry. Although it seems a 6♠ with a trump is not permissible, except nuisance, having played for Qholding of via calls and plays. The law book makes many years when alerting A-K-J-10-x facing Now we come to what it a matter for the existed above 3NT, I consider x-x-x. On the way actually happened. If he A local authority the new rule far better to the slam, North asked the questions exactly whether you may play whatever its disadvantages. had bid 4NT (Roman as you said, his questions different methods from Keycard Blackwood) were illegal and I would have your partner. Neither the ♣♦♥♠ and South had bid 5♥. adjusted the score. He has English nor Welsh Bridge Before leading, a perfect right to ask the Unions permit this. If I ask a West asked, ‘What meaning of calls; there would While clubs may make defender flavour of Blackwood is have been no problem if he their own rules, few do; Qwhat suit their that?’ to be informed had asked, ‘What is 4NT?’ nearly all follow English or partner’s discard is of RKCB. West then or, ‘What does 5♥ show?’ Welsh Bridge Union rules. requesting and they asked, ‘Does South’s Specifically to ask about So the answer to your say McKenney, am I response say anything the queen of spades while question is no, you may entitled to enquire about holding the ♠Q?’ looking at it was ‘coffee- not play differently from further and request North replied, ‘South housing’, an old name for a your partner, unless you the name of the suit? does not hold the ♠Q.’ mild form of cheating; the are playing in a club that I believe in full Normally South would director should have dealt explicitly permits this. disclosure. cash the ♠A in case of a very severely with him. This Neville Layhe, singleton queen before assumes your recollection of ♣♦♥♠ Penycae, Wrexham. returning to dummy and events is right. finessing, if necessary. Can you ask I believe in full Influenced by West’s about the disclosure too; the line of questioning, David Stevenson answers all meaning of a thing is, you have declarer finessed on Q A queries based on the facts bid even if there is no no right for opponents to the first round, losing to supplied by the letter writer. alert as, for example, do your thinking for you. If West’s singleton queen. Neither Mr Bridge nor may happen when they make a discard, you Did South read too David Stevenson has any way the bid is over 3NT? have to decide what it shows much into the questions of knowing whether those Fred Sleight by email after they have explained or was West wrong? facts are correct or complete. (similar from Peter Radcliffe). their agreements. If they Name and address supplied.

Page 29 Ask David continued explained that his 2NT is said that his bid showed has difficulty getting into , as dummy is spades and another. a tight corner, the director expected to do before the Knowing this, South will allow it. If you want play when declarer has would not have bid to change so you can sit I was West in the failed to alert. The director 2♠. The director ruled over Mrs Jones who always auction below. should have allowed your that South could change overbids, the director will Q LHO to take his last pass his 2♠ bid, which he not allow the change. West North East South back and change it if he did, substituting a Note that this does not Pass Pass Pass wished. Although I expect pass. Was this right? apply to Swiss events: you 1NT 2♦1 2NT2 End he would not have changed Phil Hickman by email. may change direction 1spades and another it, the director should have between matches as you wish. 2taken as natural given him the chance. It is a sad fact that Assuming LHO does too many directors ♣♦♥♠ Before North led, my not change it, you play the A rule without looking partner explained that hand out. At the end, the in the law book (or the The North we play Lebensohl and director decides whether your yellow book) as a quick player who held that she was instructing opponents have suffered look would soon show Qthis hand has me to bid 3♣. The from the misinformation. He this ruling to be illegal. a history of making opponents called the may not assume that you Defenders should only odd bids. What do you director, who asked us bid 3♣ – trust me, he may draw attention to a failure think of this example? to play out the hand and not – you had no reason to alert or other type of call him back if need be. to bid 3♣ having forgotten misinformation at the end North led a diamond Lebensohl. The opponents of the play, not at the end of ♠ J 8 2 and I made the contract cannot have suffered the bidding. East’s actions ♥ 5 4 plus two. The opponents any damage in the play would be correct if he had ♦ 8 5 4 argued that they would because they had the right been declarer or dummy. ♣ 7 5 4 3 2 have bid on in spades if explanation before the play. Once East has said what I had alerted 2NT. I said The only way the director he did, the final call by that, over a conventional can adjust the score is the non-offenders, and West North East South bid, I thought the 2NT if he believes your RHO only that final call, may be Pass Pass 1♥ was natural. I then asked might have bid over 2NT changed. In this case, that Dbl 2♥1 2♠ 4♥ North why he did not if told it was Lebensohl. is North’s pass: South’s 2♠ End lead a spade. He said Perhaps he would have bid may not be changed. 1Sort of hesitation: went to pass, he was not going to lead 3♠. If so, the director gives an Thus the director offers changed his mind and bid 2♥. into my partner’s spade adjustment, perhaps to 4♣ or North the chance to change holding. I said that in 3♠, more likely a ‘weighted’ his final pass: if he still 4♥ went two down, with view of her explanation score with a percentage passes, you play out the 4♠ on for East-West. she was not promising of 2NT, 3♠ and 4♣. hand; the director adjusts Deirdre Fell, anything in spades. Finally, it worries me at the end, if necessary, Louth, Lincolnshire. The director ruled to hear that you argued which he may well have to. that had I bid 3♣ they with the opponent over his Bad bridge is legal. would have bid 3♠ defence. For you to do so, I ♣♦♥♠ For sure, I would not and my partner would am afraid, is unseemly and A have bid 2♥. Even so, have bid 4♣ going one illegal. Leave rulings to the Can partners there is no reason why North down. Is this correct? director and, please, never change position should not if he wants to. Like Geraldine Harland-Fisher argue with an opponent. Q(eg. swap from a psyche, it is legal to make by email. South to North) or do calls that do not agree with ♣♦♥♠ they have to sit the your system. South certainly There seems to be a same way all the way seems to have assumed that failure to understand The bidding through an event? North had heart support. A the laws by yourself, proceeded Dorothy Greaves, by email. There is one more point: if your opponents and the Qas follows, North took the pass card out director. The law says that with no alerts: You have to sit the of the , he may your opponents have a right same way unless the not change it: once the card to an explanation of any West North East South A director allows you is out of the box, the call including alerting. This 1NT 2♦ 2♠ to change. If you wanted to call counts as made; he applies even if you do not End change because one of you may change only an know the correct meaning. does not like the draught, unintended bid, not a change Your partner has correctly Before West led, East or because one of you of mind.

Page 30 Ask David continued wrong. It is perfectly normal is helping people with to dummy. There may be to adjust your bidding in any good bidding. While it is complications if dummy way you like when partner legal to open 1NT, it is just has revoked as a result. If has to pass. The director has not a very good idea. it turns up elsewhere, (at I was East and no right to adjust the score. the previous table under South was ♣♦♥♠ a scorecard for example), Qdealer. North ♣♦♥♠ the director should fine or mistakenly passed. 1. Is it accept- censure dummy for failing The director said I You have said able (or indeed to count his cards; the card could accept the pass or that revoking Qnormal) for the is deemed to have belonged insist that South open. Q‘results in a TD to adjudicate on to him throughout. Again, a I opted for the latter; penalty of giving one his or her own error? will complicate life. he also said that North trick to the opponents, 2. After completing must pass for one round. sometimes two tricks.’ 11 tricks, the players ♣♦♥♠ South opened 3♦, which You go on to say, ‘You noticed that dummy my partner doubled. never transfer tricks won had only one card left. With this hand, North-South ended in before the revoke trick.’ What should the direc- I opened 1♣ 5♦ doubled. Although Does this mean that, if tor do about this? Qand rebid 1NT they went two down for the offending side fails Name and address supplied. when partner re- +300, this was worse to win a trick on or after sponded in a red suit. for us than the game the revoke trick, there 1. Yes, it is perfectly contracts that other East- are no penalty tricks? normal. Clubs often West pairs had made. David Waldman by email A have only one direc- ♠ 10 7 4 2 South had 15 points (similar from Rex Goad). tor available; there is no ♥ A J 6 and only 6 diamonds, sensible alternative in many ♦ K Q 4 whereas their system Yes, if the side that cases. What is especially ♣ A Q 3 card said 3-level revokes does not win important is that a director openings were 6-10 A any tricks following reads rulings from the law points and a 7+ suit. (and including) the revoke, book when they are at his My partner had no South explained that she there is no revoke penalty. table. Assuming the direc- idea that I held only was ‘compensating for tor is competent, the only three clubs. Was her partner having to ♣♦♥♠ time you need access to a my opening OK? pass’. The director would second opinion is when it Brian Brooks, not accept that and said Holding a comes to a judgement rul- Cantley, Doncaster. he would adjust the score 19-point hand ing. If your director has not to give us the same result Qwith a 4432 been on an EBU or WBU Certainly, it is legal: as the other tables. shape, I decided to training course, attending there is no rule that South continued to open 1NT in fourth one would be a good idea. A you have to follow protest vociferously seat. The other players 2. When the players your agreements. Further- when the adjustment said this was wrong: discover that someone is a more, if you think you are put her partnership last. I had to open a suit. card short, Law 14 tells the likely to do it again in similar She remonstrated with Laurence Holden, director to search for the circumstances, you can have the director about this, Hoghton, Preston. missing card. If it is among an agreement with partner making uncharitable the played cards, Law 67 that 1♣ is occasionally three remarks about us in There are two sorts (Defective Trick) applies cards: this is also legal and doing so. The director of rules at bridge: and the card is restored does not need an alert. relented and removed A the first is the laws, the adjustment. which you must follow, saying John Collins by email. things like, ‘you must follow suit’ – the second is the rules, DUPLICATE BRIDGE South has no right that authorities have worked to make personal out, on the best way to play. RULES SIMPLIFIED A comments; The other players told (otherwise known as the Yellow Book) the director should you that you must bid a by John Rumbelow and only have imposed a small suit because they believed 95 disciplinary penalty, 20% that is the best way to play revised by David Stevenson £5 of a top being normal. bridge. What you did was Apart from that, South was not against the laws. Available from Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 right that the initial ruling was Much of this publication

Page 31 Ask David continued You can stop a table from starting a board if it is too late Bernard Magee’s Tips in a round. If you judge that one pair is at fault, the score for Better Bridge My RHO opens is average minus for the slow 65 invaluable tips in 160 pages 3♥. How long do pair, average plus for their I have available opponents. You can also give Bidding Tips 33 A low lead usually promises Q length and an honour to think what to do? a pair a penalty, perhaps 10% 1 Always consider bidding spades if you can 34 When declaring 1NT, Margaret Johnson, Solihull. of a top, for continuous slow 2 Bid more aggressively try to be patient play. You can nag at them. when non-vulnerable 35 Duck an early round when When opener bid Yes, you have to do 3 Always double when the you are short of entries opponents steal your deal 36 Lead up to your 3♥, a stop bid, he something. There is always 4 A takeout double shows two-honour holding was required to a worry that if you penalise shortage in the suit doubled 37 Do not always assume A 5 ‘Borrow’ a king a suit will break well put his stop card out and such players, or nag them to keep the auction open 38 Drop a high card leave it out for about ten too much, they will leave. 6 After a penalty double, to put off the defence seconds. If you do not take Remember, fast players don’t let the opponents escape 39 Play your highest card to tempt a defender to cover any longer than that to hate slow play: if you 7 Halve the value of a singleton honour when opening 40 Draw trumps first unless you call, there is no problem do nothing about slow 8 Only add length-points for a have a good reason not to whatever. In fact, you can play, others will leave. suit that might be useful 41 Do not waste your trumps 9 Isolated honours are bad 42 Consider leaving a lone defen- have your ten seconds even Having a timer, such as except in partner’s suit sive trump winner out if he does not leave the the ones sold by Streamline 10 Use the jump shift sparingly card out as he should. Technology, can help. These 11 Consider passing and letting Defence Tips partner decide 43 Keep four-card suits intact If you take noticeably show the round number and 12 You need two top honours whenever possible longer than that, say fifteen the number of minutes left. for a second-seat pre-empt 44 Give count on declarer’s leads seconds or more, your They are fully programmable 13 Put the brakes on if you have a 45 Keep the right cards misfit rather than partner will know you have and beep when there is 14 Strong and long minors work 46 Take your time a problem and must try a certain time left in the well in no-trumps when dummy is put down 47 High cards are for killing hard to take no advantage. round. These make life 15 One stop in the opponents’ suit can be enough for no-trumps other high cards Note that while your pause easier for the director; they 16 Keep your two-level 48 Do not waste is legal, it may constrain provide evidence nobody responses up to strength intermediate cards 49 Pick two key suits to concen- partner’s choice of action. will dispute. Some players 17 Use your normal methods in response to a 1NT overcall trate on during the play will speed up because of 18 Don’t overcall just because 50 If in doubt, cover an honour ♣♦♥♠ them – not all, I am afraid. you have opening points with an honour 19 Overcalls can be quite weak, 51 If a lead is from two honours, it so be prudent when responding is best not to cover Every week, one ♣♦♥♠ 20 Weak overcalls must be based 52 Keep your honour to kill or two pairs are on strong suits dummy’s honour 53 Try to show partner consistently slow. Declarer 21 6NT requires 33 points Q not 4 aces and 4 kings your solid honour sequences Can the director go up placed a card 22 Raise immediately, if weak 54 Lead the normal card when to them in the middle face up on the with four-card support leading partner’s suit Q 23 In a competitive auction, 55 Never underlead an ace at trick of playing a board and table. Before LHO had show support immediately one in a suit contract stop the play, giving followed, declarer looked 24 Bid to the level of your fit 56 Be wary of leading from them an average? If not, down and said that quickly with weak hands four cards to only one honour 57 Lead a higher card from what do you suggest? she had inadvertently 25 With strength and support, use the opponents’ bid suit a suit without an honour Derek Allum, Tring. pulled the wrong card 58 Lead through ‘beatable’ from her hand and strength and up to weakness Declarer-play Tips 59 Cash your winners before try- Once the players wished to change it. 26 When your contract depends ing for a start a board (ie. the Could she change it? on a finesse, think ‘endplay’ 60 Be patient when defending 27 Consider what a defender dealer has called), Jill Clarkson, by email. 1NT A might be thinking about 61 Trump leads can be safe you cannot stop it; so that 28 Always take your time throughout the play is not a solution. You have Declarer, having at trick one 29 Establish extra tricks before General Tips to find some other way to placed a card on cashing your winners 62 Do not put important cards encourage people to play at the table, may not 30 Use your opponents’ at either end of your hand A bidding to your advantage a reasonable . There change it, mechanical error 63 Avoid being declarer when 31 Avoid the ‘baddie’ you are dummy are a number of possibilities. or not. ■ gaining the lead 64 Before you lead, ask for a 32 Use the Rule of Seven when review of the auction holding up in no-trumps 65 Enjoy the Game! E-mail your questions on bridge laws to: £14 including postage and packing from Mr Bridge, [email protected] Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH. ( 01483 489961

Page 32 A to Z of Bridge compiled by Julian Pottage

West East If East is keen for West to gain the lead 1♥ 2NT (perhaps West has some established 3♠ 4NT winners in another suit), he could J … discard the ♦K or dump it under the ♦A. Without the information that West is short in spades, meaning that the hands fit very well, it will be hard for A little used system of opening leads JACOBY East to envisage a slam. as follows: TWO NO-TRUMP RESPONSE A conventional response to opening BIDS Against no trumps: bids of 1♥ or 1♠, showing game values Invented by Oswald Jacoby, a response Ace from a strong holding or better and primary trump support, of 2♦ (2♥) over an opening 1NT (e.g. A K J x or A K 10 x). now popular with tournament players. shows at least five cards in hearts King from a weaker holding. A common system of opener’s rebids is (spades). Opener then bids the suit Queen from Q J x as follows: that responder has shown. You can or a weak K Q x holding. make the transfer bid either with a Jack from J 10, but no higher honour. 3♣/3♦/3 of unbid major weak hand (planning to pass when 10 from an interior sequence singleton in suit bid opener completes the transfer) or with (e.g. A J 10 x or K 10 9 x). a variety of stronger hands. 9 from 10 9 x. 3 of agreed major Lowest from a suit headed by an waiting, unsuitable for other actions honour (but not one of the above Hand 1 Hand 2 honour combinations). 3NT ♠ 7 5 ♠ Q 10 7 5 3 Second highest from suits only four cards in the major ♥ Q 10 7 5 3 ♥ K 9 3 without an honour. ♦ 9 5 ♦ A Q 2 4 of new suit ♣ A 9 5 2 ♣ 7 4 Against a suit contract: pronounced two-suiter Lower of two touching honours. (good five-card suit on the side) Third and fifth from an honour With the first hand, you respond ♦2 or non-touching honours. 4 agreed suit and then pass 2♥. Top of nothing. minimum, no slam interest On the second hand, you respond 2♥ and then rebid in no-trumps (2NT JUMP BID The two big advantages of the method if 1NT was weak, 3NT if 1NT was Any bid at a level higher than necessary are: strong). to show the denomination e.g. 1♥-3♦ You can find out a singleton in or 1♣-pass-2♠. opener’s hand (like a splinter). JETTISON By agreeing the trump suit and To discard a high honour (usually ace JUMP OVERCALL creating a game-forcing situation, or king), often to create an for A single jump bid made as an overcall the partners can exchange cue bids partner or to unblock a suit. e.g. 1♠ (South) – 3♦ (West) or 1♣ without having to go beyond game. (South) – 2♥ (West). Traditionally, a jump overcall showed ♦ J 10 9 4 2 a strong hand (similar to opening one ♠ 9 ♠ 7 4 2 N of a suit and rebidding three of it) but ♥ K J 7 4 3 N ♥ A Q 10 2 ♦ Q 6 W E ♦ K 7 it is becoming increasingly popular to W E S ♦ A 7 3 2 S ♦ K 6 play weak jump overcalls (similar in ♣ A 7 3 ♣ K Q 10 4 ♦ A 8 5 3 strength to a weak two opening).

Page 33 A to Z of Bridge continued KIBITZER Hand 1 Hand 2 An onlooker at bridge, or other games. ♠ K Q J 10 9 3 ♠ A K 8 5 4 ♥ A 5 ♥ 5 4 KILL JUMP PREFERENCE ♦ 8 4 ♦ A Q 8 5 To remove the entries to a hand and To return partner to his original suit ♣ A J 4 ♣ K 4 thus render it worthless. at the same time making a jump bid. Jump preference is encouraging and KISS shows at least three-card support JUMP SHIFT REBID Acronym for ‘Keep It Simple, Stupid’. for the suit bid (exactly three-card A single jump in a new suit by opener support if it is a major). For example: e.g. 1♥-pass-1♠-pass-3♦. Normally, the KISS OF DEATH bid is forcing to at least game. A penalty of 200 points on a partscore You should have at least five cards deal at duplicate, usually a disastrous ♠ A Q 7 5 in your first suit, at least four cards in result almost certainly being worse ♥ J 9 5 your second and close to the maximum than any contract that the opposition ♦ K J 8 4 values for a one-level opening. could make. ♣ 8 2 Possible hands for this sequence are: KITCHEN BRIDGE Social bridge played using very basic, If partner opens 1♥ and rebids 2♣ Hand 1 Hand 2 natural bidding methods. over your 1♠ response, you give jump ♠ 5 ♠ K J 4 preference to 3♥. ♥ A K 10 4 2 ♥ A Q 9 6 4 KNAVE If partner opens 1♦ and rebids 2♣ ♦ A K J 7 4 ♦ A K Q 2 An old name for the fourth-highest over your 1♠ response, again you give ♣ K 2 ♣ 5 ranking card in a suit. Since the king jump preference, this time to 3♦. has a ‘K’ on it, it would cause confusion for this card to do so too, so the jack is JUMP RAISE JUNIOR the name now. A bid in the suit partner has just bid In international competition, a player at more than a minimum level e.g. 1♠- under the age of 25. KNOCK pass-3♠ or 1♦-pass-1♥-pass-3♥. 1. At rubber bridge, this is a slang Normally, a jump raise shows JUNK term for ‘Pass’. primary support and more playing A worthless hand or suit. 2. At duplicate, when partner makes strength than a single raise. a conventional bid, you might tap Example hands for the above on the table: ‘knock’ to alert the sequences are: opponents.

KNOCK OUT Hand 1 Hand 2 K To force an opponent to play a master ♠ 10 9 4 2 ♠ 9 4 card (e.g. ‘To knock out the ace’). In a ♥ A K J 2 ♥ A K J 2 no-trump contract, it is common for ♦ Q 10 2 ♦ A Q 8 5 2 each side to knock out its opponents’ ♣ 7 4 ♣ J 2 KEYCARD BLACKWOOD high cards early in the play. An improved version of Blackwood, also known as Five Ace Blackwood, in JUMP SHIFT which the king of trumps counts the ♠ K A single jump in a new suit usually by same as an ace. ♥ K Q J 10 2 responder e.g. 1♦-pass-2♠. The king of trumps and the four ♦ A 6 5 4 Normally, the bid is forcing to at least aces are all ‘key cards’. Replies to 4NT ♣ 7 6 5 game unless made by a passed hand. are almost the same as with ordinary ♠ Q 10 8 6 5 ♠ J 7 4 2 Usually, in the modern style, Blackwood: ♥ A 5 4 N ♥ 9 8 6 3 ♦ 9 8 W E ♦ K 10 2 responder has either a very good suit S or support for opener’s suit; some 5♣ Zero or Four key cards ♣ K 9 3 ♣ J 10 also allow a semi- 5♦ One or Five key cards ♠ A 9 3 with stoppers in the unbid suits. By 5♥ Two key cards ♥ 7 a passed hand, a jump shift promises 5♠ Three key cards ♦ Q J 7 3 near opening values, a fair suit and ♣ A Q 8 4 2 primary support for opener. If there is a subsequent 5NT enquiry, Example hands for the sequence the king of trumps does not count as given are: a king but the queen of trumps does. South plays in 3NT. West leads the

Page 34 A to Z of Bridge continued BERNARD MAGEE’S INTERACTIVE TUTORIALS ♠6, which ‘knocks out’ the ♠K. Declarer plays on hearts, leading high cards ACOL MORE DECLARER PLAY from dummy to ‘knock out’ BIDDING (ADVANCED) l Suit Establishment West’s ace. The defenders ACOL BIDDING l Opening Bids and in No-trumps then play a second and, if Responses l Suit Establishment South ducks, a third round l Basics in Suits of spades to knock out l Slams and Strong l Advanced Openings South’s ♠A. Basics £96 l Hold-ups l Support for Partner l Weak Twos l Ruffing for Extra Tricks KNOCK-OUT l Pre-empting l Strong Hands TOURNAMENT l Entries in l Overcalls l Defence Head-to-head competition No-trumps £76 l No-trump £66 to Weak Twos for teams of four with l Delaying Openings l Defence the losers of each match Drawing Trumps and Responses to 1NT eliminated. l Using the Lead l Opener’s and l Doubles Responder’s Rebids l Trump Control KOCH-WERNER l Two-suited Overcalls l Minors and Misfits REDOUBLE l Defences to l Endplays & Avoidance An SOS redouble named l Doubles Other Systems after its Swedish inventors, l Competitive l Misfits and l Using which asks partner to Auctions Distributional Hands the Bidding choose another suit when the opponents have doubled for penalties. ADVANCED DEFENCE FIVE-CARD The idea is that, at a low level, you should be content DECLARER PLAY MAJORS & to play in any making l Lead vs No-trump Strong No-Trump l Making Overtricks Contracts doubled contract and so in No-trumps l Opening Bids would not want to redouble l Lead vs Suit Contracts l Making Overtricks & Responses l Partner of Leader in a natural sense and allow in Suit Contracts the opponents to escape vs No-trump l No-Trump Openings into some other contract. l Endplays Contracts l Avoidance l Partner of l Support for Partner £89 West North East South l Wrong Leader vs 1♦ Contract Suit Contracts l Slams £81 & Strong Openings 2♣ Pass Pass Dbl l Simple l Count Pass Pass Rdbl Squeezes Signals l Rebids l Counting l Attitude £76 l Minors On this auction, East’s the Hand Signals & Misfits Koch-Werner redouble asks l Trump Reductions l Discarding l Pre-empting West to bid again. East is & Coups l Defensive Plan l Doubles going to have a singleton or l Playing Doubled l Stopping Declarer l Overcalls void in clubs and at least five Contracts cards in each major. ■ l Counting l Competitive l Safety Plays the Hand Auctions

Register for your e-magazine Make your cheque payable to Mr Bridge and send to: Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH Bridge Weekly ( 01483 489961 www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop www.mrbridge.co.uk System Requirements: Windows XP, Vista or 7, 8mb RAM, CD-ROM

Page 35 GLOBAL TRAVEL INSURANCE A1 Yeoman Gate, Yeoman Way, Worthing, BN13 3QZ GLOBAL TRAVEL GLOBAL TRAVEL INSURANCE ( INSURANCE Services Limited 01903 267432 Fax 01903 268946 Email [email protected] Services Limited

SINGLE TRIP SUMMARY OF COVER

The following represent the Significant and Key Features of the policy including Exclusions and Limitations that apply per person. A full copy of the policy document is available on request.

CANCELLATION OR CURTAILMENT up to £1,500 PERSONAL LUGGAGE, MONEY & VALUABLES up to £2,000 If you have to cancel or cut short your trip due to illness, injury, redundancy, jury service, the police Covers accidental loss, theft or damage to your personal luggage subject to a limit of £200 for any requiring you to remain at or return to your home due to serious damage to your home, you are one article, pair or set and an overall limit of £200 for valuables such as cameras, Jewellery, furs, covered against loss of travel and accommodation costs. etc. Luggage and valuables limited to £1500. Delayed luggage, up to £75. Policy Excess £50. Policy Excess £75. Money, travel tickets and travellers cheques are covered up to £500 against accidental loss or theft For persons aged 61 to 70 years the excess is increased to £100. (cash limit £250). Policy Excess £50. For persons aged 71 to 90 years the excess is increased to £150. No cover is provided for loss or theft of unattended property, valuables or money or for loss or theft See section headed Increased Excess for Pre Existing Medical Conditions for increased not reported to the Police within 24 hours of discovery. excesses applicable to claims arising from pre-existing medical conditions. PASSPORT EXPENSES up to £200 PERSONAL ACCIDENT up to £15,000 If you lose your passport or it is stolen whilst abroad, you are covered for additional travel and A cash sum for accidental injury resulting in death, loss of sight, loss of limb or permanent total accommodation costs incurred in obtaining a replacement. No Policy Excess. disablement. No Policy Excess. DELAYED DEPARTURE up to £1,500 MEDICAL AND OTHER EXPENSES up to £10,000,000 If your outward or return trip is delayed for more than 12 hours at the final departure point to/from Including a 24 HOUR WORLDWIDE MEDICAL EMERGENCY SERVICE UK due to adverse weather conditions, mechanical breakdown or industrial action, you are entitled (a) The cost of hospital and other emergency medical expenses incurred abroad, including to either (a) £20 for the first 12 hours and £10 for each further 12 hours delay up to a maximum additional accommodation and repatriation expenses. of £60, or (b) the cost of the trip (up to £1,500) if you elect to cancel after 12 hours delay on the Limit £250 for emergency dental treatment and £5,000 burial/cremation/transfer of remains. outward trip from the UK. Policy Excess £50 (b) only. Limit £2,500 for transfer of remains to your home if you die in the UK. MISSED DEPARTURE up to £500 Policy Excess £75 Areas 1, 2 & 3, £150 Area 4 or on a Cruise. Additional travel and accommodation expenses incurred to enable you to reach your overseas For persons aged 61 to 70 years the excess is increased to £150 Areas 1, 2 & 3, £500 Area destination if you arrive too late at your final UK outward departure point due to failure of the 4 or on a Cruise. vehicle in which you are travelling to deliver you to the departure point caused by adverse weather, For persons aged 71 to 90 years the excess is increased to £300 Areas 1, 2 & 3, £1,000 Area strike, industrial action, mechanical breakdown or accident to the vehicle. No Policy Excess. 4 or on a Cruise. PERSONAL LIABILITY up to £2,000,000 See section headed Increased Excess for Pre Existing Medical Conditions for increased excesses applicable to claims arising from pre-existing medical conditions. Covers your legal liability for injury or damage to other people or their property, including legal expenses (subject to the laws of England and Wales). Policy Excess £250. (b) HOSPITAL BENEFIT up to £300 An additional benefit of £15 per day for each day you spend in hospital abroad as an in-patient. LEGAL EXPENSES up to £25,000 No Policy Excess. To enable you to pursue your rights against a third party following injury. No Policy Excess.

MAIN EXCLUSIONS AND CONDITIONS Increased Excess for Pre Existing Medical Conditions The following represents only the main exclusions. The policy document sets out all of the Acceptance of pre existing medical conditions is made by the application of increased conditions and exclusions. A copy of the full policy wording is available on request in writing prior excesses in the event of claims arising from the pre existing condition. to application. If You have ever had a circulatory, heart or blood pressure related problem, a stroke, cancer, asthma or any breathing problems, diabetes or any psychological problem, the following MAIN HEALTH EXCLUSIONS: excess will apply (other than in respect of claims that are specifically excluded) : Insurers will not pay for claims arising Under the Cancellation or Curtailment section – double the normal excess. 1. Where You (or any person upon whose health the Trip depends) have or have had symptoms Under the Medical & Other Expenses section – which are awaiting or receiving investigation, tests, treatment, referral or the results of any of For persons aged 60 years or less the excess is increased to £500 Areas 1&2, £750 Area the foregoing, unless We have agreed in writing to cover You. 3, £1,000 Area 4 or on a Cruise. 2. From any terminal illness suffered by You (or any person upon whose health the Trip depends). For persons aged 61 to 90 years the excess is increased to £1,000 Areas 1&2, £1,500 Area 3. From any medical condition for which You (or any person upon whose health the Trip depends) 3, £2,000 Area 4 or on a Cruise. have within 12 months prior to the date of issue of this insurance been diagnosed with a medical Please note that we consider a Cruise to be a Trip by sea in a liner calling at a number of ports. condition or have been admitted or undergone a procedure/ intervention. 4. Medical conditions existing prior to the payment of the insurance premium or any consequence thereof in respect of which a Medical Practitioner would advise against travel or that treatment may be required during the duration of the Trip. Medical Screening OTHER GENERAL EXCLUSIONS Unless you are travelling to Area 4 or on a Cruise, there is no need to advise us of your Claims arising from pre existing medical conditions. 1. Winter sports, any hazardous pursuits, any work of a non sedentary nature. If You have a history of any medical condition and are travelling within Area 4 or on a 2. Self inflicted injury or illness, suicide, alcoholism or drug abuse, sexual disease. Cruise, you must first contact Towergate Medical Screening Line to establish whether 3. War, invasion, acts of foreign enemies, hostilities or warlike operations, civil war, rebellion, we can provide cover for your trip. The number to call is: Terrorism, revolution, insurrection, civil commotion, military or usurped power but this 0844 892 1698 exclusion shall not apply to losses under Section 3 – Medical Expenses unless such If you are accepted, the level of excess stated above will apply. You will receive losses are caused by nuclear, chemical or biological attack, or the disturbances were already written confirmation that you are covered for the trip. In the event that you are not taking place at the beginning of any Trip. accepted for cover having been screened, we may be able to offer you cover under 4. Failure or fear of failure or inability of any equipment or any computer program. our Single Trip “PLUS” product. 5. Bankruptcy/liquidation of any tour , travel agent, airline, transportation company or Please ask us for further details or go to our website. accommodation supplier. 6. Travelling to countries or regions where the FCO or WHO has advised against travel. 7. Your failure to contact the Medical Screening Line where required.

POLICY EXCESSES: The amount of each claim for which insurers will not pay and for which you are responsible. The excess as noted in the policy summary applies to each and every claim per insured person under each section where an excess applies.

If you have a complaint about the sale of this insurance you must first write to the Managing Director of Global Travel Insurance Services Ltd. Subsequently, complaints may be referred to the Financial Ombudsman Service. If we are unable to meet our liabilities you may be entitled to compensation under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. If you would like more information or are unsure of any details contained herein, you should ask Global Travel Insurance Services Ltd for further advice. ✄

Single Trip travel insurance is arranged by Global Travel Insurance Services Ltd who are authorised and regulated by the Single Trip Travel Insurance Financial Services Authority and our status can be checked on the FSA Suitable for for a single round trip starting and finishing in the UK Register by visiting www.fsa.gov.uk/register or by contacting the FSA and Channel Islands, is of no more than 94 days duration, on 0845 606 1234. for persons whose age is 90 years or less. This insurance is underwritten by ETI International Travel Protection (ETI) the UK branch of Europäische Reiseversicherung A.G. Munich, an Global Travel Insurance ERGO group Company, incorporated and regulated under the laws of A1 Yeoman Gate, Yeoman Way, Worthing, BN13 3QZ Germany, Companies House Registration FC 25660 and Branch Reg- ( 01903 267432 Fax 01903 268946 istration BR 007939. ETI is licensed by the Bundesanstalt für Finanz- dienstleistungsaufsicht (BAFIN – www.bafin.de) and approved by the SINGLE TRIP APPLICATION FORM Financial Services Authority to undertake insurance business in the UK. Please FULLY complete the following in BLOCK CAPITALS. Once complete, SINGLE TRIP INSURANCE PRODUCT SUITABILITY return the application panel direct to Global Travel Insurance at the address above, with a cheque or with card details entered. Insurance is not effective until a Policy has been issued. As this description contains the Key Features of the cover provided it constitutes provision of a statement of demands and needs. Title (Mr/Mrs/Miss) Initials This insurance is suitable for a single round trip starting and finishing in the UK and Channel Islands, is of no more than 94 days duration, for Surname persons whose age is 90 years or less. This insurance is only available to persons who are permanently Telephone No. resident and domiciled in the UK and Channel Islands. House Number/Name Single Trip PREMIUM RATING SCHEDULE Street Name GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS 1. United Kingdom Town Name England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, including all islands comprising the British Isles (except the Channel Islands and the Postcode Republic of Ireland). (Any British Isles or UK Cruises are rated as Area 2). 2. Europe Date of leaving Home Continental Europe west of the Ural mountain range, all countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea (except, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Date of arrival Home Lebanon, Libya & Syria), the Channel Islands and the Republic of Ireland, Iceland, Madeira, The Canaries and The Azores. (Persons Screening Ref residing in the Channel Islands need to pay Area 2 rates for UK trips). 3. Worldwide Introducer Mr Bridge All countries outside of the above (except those within Area 4). 4. North America, Central America & The Caribbean Geographical Area – See Premium Panel Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, Canada, Costa Rica, El Salvador, (1,2,3 or 4) Greenland, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, The Names of all persons to be insured Age Premium Caribbean Islands, United States of America. 1 SCHEDULE OF PREMIUMS £

2 £ The following Premiums are valid for policies issued up to 31/3/2013 and for travel completed by 31/12/2013. 3 Maximum age is 90 years. £ Maximum period of insurance is 94 days. 4 £ Geographical Areas 5 £ Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 1 – 3 days £15.60 £23.80 £49.90 £71.90 6 £

4 & 5 days £18.70 £30.00 £62.70 £90.40 Credit/Debit Card Details TOTAL PREMIUM £ 6 -10 days £21.80 £40.40 £85.10 £121.80 Card No 11-17 days £24.90 £44.20 £94.60 £136.30 18-24 days £28.00 £50.80 £106.50 £153.40 Start Date End Date Issue No

25-31 days £31.10 £57.80 £121.20 £174.50 Security Code Each + 7 days call for a quotation DECLARATION All premiums include the Government Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) On behalf of all persons listed in this application, I agree that this application shall be the basis of the Contract of Insurance. I agree that Insurers may exchange PREMIUM ADJUSTMENTS information with other Insurers or their agents. I have read and understood All age adjustments apply to the age on the date of return to the UK the terms and conditions of the insurance, with which all persons above are in agreement and for whom I am authorised to sign. Persons aged 81 to 90 inclusive are subject to a premium increase of 50% in Areas 1&2 and of 100% in Areas 3&4...... Infants up to 2 years inclusive are FREE subject to being included with an Signed...... Date adult paying a full premium. The form MUST be signed by one of the persons to be insured on behalf of all persons to be insured. Children 3 to 16 years inclusive are HALF PRICE subject to being included Mr Bridge is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Global Travel Insurance with an adult paying a full premium. Unaccompanied children pay the adult rate. Services Ltd, who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

✄ 328STI12 Bernard Magee Mr Bridge Better Hand at Premium Quality Cards Evaluation Haslemere Bernard Magee Hall 2011 Introduction Better Hand Evaluation is DVDs aimed at helping readers to add greater accuracy to their Six DVDs record the bidding. It deals with auctions seminars from Haslemere. in which you and your partner, Each seminar is divided against silent opponents, can into two halves: designed describe your hands fully to to look at subjects from each other and, by evaluating two different perspectives. them accurately, find the best final contract. The emphasis of 1. Ruffing for £25 all good, accurate bidding is on extra tricks hand evaluation. This seminar deals with declar- er’s use of ruffing to generate ex- There are two general types of tra tricks and then looks at how Standard Faces with or without auction: a) a fit is found and b) the defenders might counteract no fit is found. this. 74 mins. bar codes. Unboxed. When you do not have a fit, 2. COMPETITIVE £25 you are aiming to describe the AUCTIONS 6 red / 6 blue £19.95 strength of your hand as soon This seminar focuses on as possible, most often using competitive auctions from the 30 red / 30 blue only £60 no-trump bids. This book be- perspective of the overcalling gins by discussing balanced side to start with and then from The London Bridge Centre hand bidding in Acol, as it the perspective of the opening is very important that both side in the second part. 86 mins. ( 020 7486 8222 www.bridgeshop.com members of a partnership have an accurate knowledge of 3. MAKING THE MOST OF HIGH CARDS £25 how to show hands of different This seminar helps declarer to strengths. use his high cards more carefully When a fit is found, there is and then looks at how defenders much re-evaluation of the should care for their precious Five-Card Majors hand to be done; point count, high cards. 83 minutes. with a Strong No-Trump though still important, needs 4. Identifying to be evaluated together with & BIDDING SLAMS £25 distribution. The best way of The first half of this seminar is The Interactive Way of Improving reaching an accurate assess­ about identifying when a slam ment is to use the Losing Trick might be on – one of the hardest Your Five-Card Majors Bidding Count; this is an important topics to teach, because as soon with Bernard Magee method of hand evaluation and as you announce the topic takes up a number of chapters. everybody is looking for slams. The second half covers some of Contents (20 hands each) Finally, we move on to different the techniques used to bid slams. forms of evaluation including l Opener’s 96 minutes. l Opening Bids game tries and splinter bids. & Responses & Responder’s Rebids You can never know enough 5. PLAY & DEFENCE methods of hand evaluation; OF 1NT CONTRACTS£25 l No-Trump Openings l Pre-empting the more you learn, the better This seminar looks at the most you get at judging your hand. common and yet most feared of l Support for Partner l Doubles contracts: 1NT. The first half Although the Losing Trick looks at declaring the contract l Slams l Overcalls Count is used more easily in and the second part puts us in & Strong Openings tandem with your partner, a the defenders’ seats. 88 minutes. l Competitive large proportion of the ideas l Minors & Misfits Auctions in this book can be used by an 6. DOUBLING & DEFENCE individual. For example, eval- AGAINST DOUBLED£25 uating your hand to be worth CONTRACTS an extra point is going to help The first half of this seminar System Requirements anyone you partner – as long explores penalty doubles and the as you get it right. second half discusses the defence Windows XP, Vista or 7, against doubled contracts. 8mb RAM, CD-ROM £89 including post and packing 88 minutes. £14 including postage All 6 for £100 See Mail Order Form See Mail Order Form on page 7. on page 7. See Mail Order Form on page 7.

Page 38 Clubs and Clubhouses by Ned Paul

s your bridge club a nice place to rota’ amongst the members, or else Dealer South. Game All. play? Are the people you play with players are expected to arrange their South West North East good company? Does your bridge own partners. 1♣ Pass 2♥ Pass Iclub welcome new players? And will Some large bridge clubs have their 2♠ Pass 3♣ Pass your bridge club still be there in five, own dedicated premises. This kind 3♥ Pass 4NT Pass ten, twenty, fifty years time? of bridge club tends to have many 7♦ All Pass In this article, I am going to suggest different sessions in the week and that the places in which we play bridge probably has a teaching programme This was the deal: – our bridge clubs’ premises – are just as well. The premises can be freehold as important as the players who play or leasehold. The majority of clubs, there. I am going to raise a number of however, rent a hall or room for their ♠ A 9 questions which you might consider in bridge. A typical venue could be a ♥ A K Q 6 5 relation to your own club. You might church hall, village hall, community ♦ A K like to send the resulting profile of centre, a school, a pub room or other ♣ Q 10 5 4 your club to Mr Bridge, for a possible room hired by the session. This might ♠ K Q 10 8 ♠ 7 6 5 4 2 future series, ‘Clubs & Clubhouses’. be for a single weekly session or more ♥ J 10 9 7 N ♥ 8 Before we start, what do we mean by than one. ♦ Q 10 W E ♦ J 9 S ‘bridge club’? I would say any group of What I want you to ask yourself is ♣ K J 8 ♣ 9 7 6 3 2 bridge players meeting anywhere on a how secure is your club’s tenure of ♠ J 3 regular basis is a bridge club, whether these premises? What would happen if ♥ 4 3 2 actually formally constituted or not. the hall had to be closed, the council ♦ 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 This definition covers everything from withdrew its subsidy, the pub closed, ♣ A dedicated bridge clubs with their own the school got a surfeit of ‘elf-and- premises down to a couple of tables safety’, or the golf club got a new meeting once a week in the pub. If new secretary? Have you ever considered South took the lead of the ♠K with players can join in with your group, this? the ace, cashed the ace and king of then it’s a club. Let me put my own cards on the trumps. He then came to hand with Bridge clubs come in many models. table. I run a number of proprietorial the ♣A and played all his diamonds. Is your club proprietorial or mutual? clubs for which I rent the premises. But, On the last one, West was hopelessly By ‘proprietorial’, I mean a club that is before we go on to discuss clubhouses squeezed in three suits and ultimately owned and operated by a professional further, let me show this amusing discarded a heart, whereupon South manager or managers. A ‘mutual’ bridge hand, which I took along to one made the last four tricks in hearts. club, on the other hand, is one owned of my clubs’ Christmas party. When the opposition saw South’s and operated in common by the The story goes that a player was called hand, they called the director, who members on a not-for-profit basis, away from the Christmas duplicate on asked for an explanation of the although it can be big enough to have an emergency with the last board still bidding and got the following reply, ‘I an employed manager. A manager to play. As it was Christmas, there were was told to bid what I’ve got and I have ensures that the premises are open a number of ‘non-combatant spouses’ one club, two spades, three hearts and and paid for; all equipment is supplied; helping out with the party and one seven diamonds.’ and, to encourage extra attendance, player volunteered her husband to Now to return to the subject of usually ensures there is a host (spare replace the missing player. Despite his clubhouses. I am going to state partner). If there is no manager, one protest that he knew nothing about that, whatever the ownership or of the members, usually the secretary, the game, he was made to sit down arrangements for the premises are, has to fulfil these functions. and told, ‘Just bid what you’ve got bridge does not, except in very rare In mutual clubs, the question of and follow suit.’ He sat South and the cases, meet the real costs of occupying spare partners can be solved by a ‘duty following bidding sequence ensued: the property. Before you object, let

Page 39 Clubs & Clubhouses continued me some assurance, let us CHARITY know how it is with your club. Tell us where you play BRIDGE EVENTS and try to answer some of me lay out some facts. If the questions posed above APRIL 2012 JULY 2012 you are a mutual club using about the security of your shared premises, it is highly tenure. Who owns the 15 WESTON PARK CANCER 27 GREAT BARFORD CHURCH CHARITY – TEENAGE WARD Village Hall, Great Barford. likely you are getting a building and on what basis? Swiss teams. Derek Fordham very favourable deal. The Is your club a dedicated Calver Village Hall. ( 01234 870324 primary user of the hall will bridge club or do you use 10.30 for 11am start – 5pm Malcolm Howarth not be looking to extract a shared premises? How £80 per team (to include ( 01480 212910 lunch at 1pm). commercial hire fee from many sessions do you play a Judy Barker AUGUST 2012 you, but simply to earn some week? Do you have to set out ( 01629 813100 marginal extra income. If it the room each time you play 24 ALL SAINTS’ CHURCH is a village hall or similar, or can you leave tables out? 27 CHARITY BRIDGE DRIVE Village Hall Sawtry. Eynsham Village Hall OX29 1pm for 1.30pm. then it will be a not-for- Is there adequate storage for 4QW. 10am-4pm. Ticket Champagne ‘Ritz Tea’. £10. profit facility and for the use tables and other equipment? price includes coffee at Pat Walters of the community. You will If you use shared premises, ( 01487 830674 10am, lunch with glass of simply be paying a small does a caretaker have to wine and prizes. Malcolm Howarth Liz Ince ( 01865 300658 ( 01480 212910 contribution towards the come and open up and close [email protected] running costs. after you have gone? Are you SEPTEMBER 2012 If a bridge club has its charged by the hour (and so MAY 2012 14 ST MARY’S CHURCH own premises, then the for setting up and taking Eaton Socon, St Neots. 9 LADYWELL AFRICAN capital cost will in some down) or by the session? 10.00 for 10.30am. £13.50. MISSIONS way have been subsidised. Include a bit of the club’s Malcolm Howarth Bridge tea at Ladywell ( 01480 212910 Money may well have been history – how it started, etc. Convent, Ashstead Lane, – and some details about Godalming. 1.30pm for raised historically to buy 20 HUDDERSFIELD PENNINE 2pm to 5pm. £32 per table. the building, or in some how many active members ROTARY CLUB Sister June 12 for 12.30. Outlane Golf cases the premises gifted you have and what is the ( 01483 419393 Club. £44 per table inc to the club and the club’s typical attendance? (Many [email protected] lunch, tea and biscuits. constitution does not allow bridge clubs have an active Brian Nobel 11 CHILDREN’S CHARITIES the members to sell up membership base of at least ( 01484 427356 (March Committee). and take the money. If the twice the weekly attendance. Doddington Village Hall, OCTOBER 2012 clubhouse is on a leasehold People have holidays, real March. Tickets £14.00. or owned by a proprietor, life, dogs to take to the vet, Val Topliss 5 ST ANDREW’S CHURCH ( 01354 653696. The Mandeville then you have to hope that the family round for tea, the Village Hall, Kimbolton. the property owner doesn’t car needing servicing, or 17 HUDDERSFIELD PENNINE 10.00 for 10.30am. £14. fall out of love with bridge. funerals to go to). ROTARY CLUB Mavis Campion Some apparently secure What sort of welcome do 12 for 12.30. Outlane ( 01480 860477 Golf Club. £44 per table major clubs have closed you give new people? Are including lunch, afternoon 6 NSPCC when the property owner partners provided? What tea and biscuits. Bridge & Supper, Royal retired or moved on. The sort of refreshments are Brian Nobel 01484 427356 British Legion, Sutton. £10. Wendy Powell reason is that, in most available – a bar, a cafeteria JUNE 2012 ( 01353 664752 cases, the premises could or simply a kettle in the Silvia Farmer probably earn more money corner? And do you provide 6 DOWNHAM MARKET TOWN ( 01353 777373 with some other usage. Just any teaching or, just as HALL Margaret Law Festival Bridge with ( 01353 860334 look at the number of pubs important, supervised play afternoon tea closing if you doubt this: for newer players? 1.00pm start. Tickets £6.00. NOVEMBER 2012 the pub may turn a profit Finally, include a photo Pat Roberts and employ people but the and an interesting bridge ( 01366 382947 22 HUDDERSFIELD PENNINE ROTARY CLUB property owners close the hand if you can and tell 15 ST MARY’S CHURCH 12 for 12.30. Outlane Golf pub anyway in the hope of us about any recent or Eaton Socon, St Neots. Club. £44 per table inc selling it off as residential forthcoming special events lunch, tea and biscuits. 10.00 for 10.30am. £13.50. property. of note. The best of your Malcolm Howarth Brian Nobel ( 01480 212910 ( 01484 427356 Maybe I am being unduly responses should make pessimistic, but I would interesting reading, as like to see organised bridge well as contributing to an E-mail your charity events: [email protected] at least keeping an eye on ‘asset survey’ of bridge property issues. To give throughout the UK. ■

Page 40 Christmas party after a good time to time. Thank you lunch, bidding and/or play Sally Brock for telling us READERS’ along the following lines; about your interesting, if 1. Deal and pass four somewhat hectic, life. cards of one suit to LHO, A Grieveson by email. bid and play as normal. 2. Dealer has one bid TWO WAYS LETTERS and the hand is played. In BRIDGE 112, Marion Sadly, I cannot find any of Silverblatt suggests that the the details. Have you come possibility of confusion about across anything like this? If who deals, after shuffling, MEMORIES insurance, we immediately you have, please can you would be reduced by the I am not sure how long it took action on that front. My send them to me and if not, saying, ‘If the cards are on is since we asked to be put concern is that there may ask your readers for help. your left, they are left to you.’ on your database but, to be reasons, unknown to me Kay White by email. However, we used to say, ‘If be on the safe side, I have and others similarly placed, you are not demented quite, registered us once again. that make it advisable to AS IF place the cards upon your It is many years since adopt a constitution. It was playing with friends right.’ Quite the opposite but we discovered Mr Bridge, On the assumption that only last week that I realised meaning the same thing. 1992 I think, when we there are reasons for taking I must have been dropped Mrs J Bradley, Grantham. went to our son Richard’s action, do you have a draft off your mailing list. graduation ceremony at constitution that we could Thought perhaps you had UNWANTED Bristol University. Knowing, adopt and adapt to our folded. Please reinstate me. What should we do with from experience, how particular circumstances? Graham Midmer, our worn-out playing cards long and drawn-out these Mike Archer, Uckfield, East Sussex. – just stick them in the occasions can be, we took Wilmslow, Cheshire. bin for recycling? Or are a Mr Bridge book with us A draft of a previously SALLY… WELL DONE there specialist collectors to read. By extraordinary published constitution In BRIDGE 113, you out there somewhere? coincidence, you were sitting will be reprinted in the dismissed a reader’s criticism Anon. next to us, very probably next issue of BRIDGE. of Sally Brock’s column. In All worn out modern cards highly amused that one of the same edition, Ms Brock are only fit for the bin. your customers was reading RARE FLOWER wrote about her grandson’s a publications of yours. Thanks for including a potty training. You should tell INVITATION Best wishes for your mention of five-card majors Ms Brock to stick to the point I would like to invite your continued success. in BRIDGE 112. Rare indeed. and write about bridge and readers to visit or join the Sue Holden, Your magazine seems to not about domestic trivia. Highgate Bridge Club. We Tunbridge Wells, Kent. be totally Acol-oriented. Mr A Dunworth, are an old, established I remember it well. Although I get much pleas- Lymington, Hants. club with a reasonable The book was the first ure from most of the articles, I commissioned Mrs Brock standard of game. Bridge Plus Annual. all those pertaining to bid- to tell readers about her life Duplicate is played on ding are of little or no help. as a top international bridge Mondays at 7.25 pm, BETTER SAFE THAN... I live in Switzerland and player, warts and all… Thursdays at 1.15 pm, and The club I am chairman of I play the five-card major I think she does this very well. Saturdays at 6.55pm. is similar to that described system. When I travel, I find Teams are played on the in BRIDGE 112, page 41, I can play in most countries. SALLY SUPPORT first Saturday of each month. in that we do not have a Are there any other parts A completely free, attractive The club meets in the formal committee, nor a of the world, apart from and informative magazine Scout Headquarters in constitution. However, we Great Britain, where Acol delivered through the Sheldon Avenue, Highgate, have rubbed along quite is the standard system? door – do the whingers N6, the Aylmer Road end. happily for 15 years with Judith Munzinger, like Alan Hess, Readers’ There is no problem with a ‘secretary’, a ‘treasurer’ Switzerland, by email. Letters, BRIDGE 113, really parking and we do our and myself as ‘Chair’. Pockets can be found in believe they have a right to very best to find partners. Are there any risks parts of Holland, Denmark, complain about anything? The charge is £4 for in operating in such an Western Australia and Think again, Mr Hess. members and £6 for visitors. informal way? Should we most of New Zealand. On my part, I am Details can be found formalize arrangements? extremely relieved to know on our website at www. I hasten to add that, as ANYONE KNOW that international bridge highgate.nightowl.me.uk soon as I saw the very helpful One year, we had a series players make the same Mrs Devora Cohen, article in BRIDGE about of ‘funny’ hands at our silly mistakes I make from London, N2.

Page 41 READERS’ LETTERS ONE MAN’S MEAT and quizzes give excellent opener prefers a 2♦ rebid continued Whilst everyone has a right advice for the majority of to a pass (and responder to an opinion, the ‘want players, though one item doesn’t run away to 3♣). for nothings’ who moan caught my eye which caused I calculate that the about advertising and the me to have a think. It is in probability that you will end LITTLE VOICE other people who are so Bernard’s bidding quiz, in up in a horrible 2♦ contract Just a short note to send all rude about contributors to which he suggests 1NT is the is actually less than 7.5%. I your team a great big thank BRIDGE should be ignored ‘right’ opening bid with a think, on balance, I would you for the massive, tea if they can offer only non- certain 5422 hand with five rather have a happy partner chest size effort that has just constructive, negative views. diamonds and four hearts. than worry about that. come in through the door. People like me truly value To me, this is an expert’s Sorry, Bernard, 1NT is not Lots of names for the the contents and appreciate judgment and there is the ‘right’ bid in my book. contributors list (see below) the hard work and dedica- a significant downside Personally, I think that and a sizeable cheque. tion that goes into mak- to encouraging such a there is actually a very good I quite often get asked ing the finished product. choice for the not-quite- alternative call when you for more details of how Tricia Kern by email. so-expert partnerships. have a rotten 12 point hand ‘Little Voice’ spends the Readers should ignore those Namely, unhappy partners that is just not going to pull money. My knowledge is parts that they do not value. who find that there isn’t a its weight in almost any a little sketchy so it might Just turn over the page. balanced hand across the contract – and that is to Pass. be worth considering table when they think there Mr Mike Fisher, giving some details plus PAT ON THE BACK should be, with a challenge Woodbridge, Suffolk. a photograph or two as Just a note to thank you met with, ‘Bernard Magee Bridge teacher. time and space permit. for sending the QPlus 8 says...’ Not good for that Mr C Bamberger, software CD to match up most valuable commodity L.T.C Trimley St Mary. with my antiquated 2007 in bridge – partnership I am interested in how the version of Microsoft Office. trust and understanding. basic steps of The Losing Mrs C le Gassick, Inverurie. Mrs V Eborn, Staines. Mrs M Tricker, Alton. Mrs S Millar, My wife and I played our Unfortunately, Bernard has Trick count work, but have Paisley. Mrs A Reid, Banchory. Mrs L Tipping, Fleet. Mrs S Klaus, Altrincham. Mr Jupp, March. first hands against the offered us another contrived missed the Bernard Magee Mrs D Scott, London SW16. Ms M Fewster, Pontypool. Mrs A Robertson, Glenrothes. computer yesterday evening hand for the partner. Yes, description. I would be Mrs M Dean-Spencer, Exmouth. Mr J Pearce, Bromley. Mr J Sweeney, Wigan. Mr K Wheeler, and enjoyed it enormously this will play very well in happy to purchase a book Whitstable. Mr P Cobham, Weybridge. Mr R Mitchell, Edenbridge. Mrs Robson, Farthinghoe. Mr R Brown, Mobberley. Mrs J – the great advantage being 1NT with some pretty club where it is described. Butler, Willenhall. Mrs C Screaton, Bushby. Mr & Mrs Loten, Maresfield. Mr C Pengelley, you can discuss everything winners to be set up in Peter Branton, Ardingly. Mrs L Morrison, Toronto, Canada. Mrs M Main, Chirnside. Barrow Bridge Club, without two other humans dummy and a certain entry Burton upon Trent. Ulverston. Mrs J Staples, Storrington. Mrs P Westrip, Richmond. Ms N Lobetta, Bushey in the way. I still seemed to get to them. What a bit of This is covered in his book, Heath. Mrs P Brown, Beckenham. Mr A Carter, Bournemouth. Mrs K Adamson, Oxon. Mrs to be dummy most of the luck. Well, let’s be honest, Better Hand Evaluation, £14. D Hicks, Congleton. Mr & Mrs H Sharples, Chorley. Ms B Clyne, Bushey Heath. Miss P time so nothing changes. with that rubbish 5-card See order form on page 7. Long, Bournemouth. Mrs Y Hutchins, Taunton. Mrs Spiller, Sutton. CKT Aero & Automotive Thank you also for sorting diamond suit you need luck Engineering, Tiverton. Mrs A Pinson, Horley. Mr & Mrs D Paine, Barnstaple. Mrs N Weatherly, out my friend Mike Coleman to come to seven tricks. IMPROVED SHUFFLE Oswestry. Mr S Orlik, Dorking. Mrs C Screaton, Leicester. Sylvia Lillywhite. Mrs P Deacon, with a ‘buy one, get one However, my real concern A simple and very effective Ilkeston. Mr O Jones, Southport. Mrs A Melville, Aylsham. Mrs D Thomas, Leicester. Mrs free’. Your appreciation was with the actual merit of method of shuffling for Carter, Felixstowe. Mrs D Allgood, Petersfield. Mrs M O’Sullivan, Wimbledon. Mrs S Lake, of the value of generating this choice of opening 1NT. those of us who are less London NW1. Mr O Jones, Southport. Mrs Harris Martin, London SE22. Mrs E Matthews, goodwill in a business is The idea is that we avoid dextrous than we were. Carlisle. Mrs W Bennett, Goran Haven. Mrs P Morgan, Culcheth. Mr M Finebaum, ♦ Enfield. Mrs A Walsham, Crowborough. Mrs H obviously instinctive and your declaring 2 , which could Make a short ordinary Cornelius, Verwood. Mrs Hutty, Burgess Hill. Mrs M Turner, Bridlington. Mrs J Anderson, promptness is top-class. The be a rotten contract. So, shuffle, then deal five hands. Horsham. Oakfield Bridge Club, Oldham. Mr & Mrs D Stanton, Edinburgh. Mrs R Dawe, young lady who answers the I thought I would dust off Pick up the piles alternately. Bognor Regis. Mrs P Lock, Woking. Mr & Mrs J Kramer, Hereford. Mrs S Lake, London. Mrs R phone does so promptly and my probability theory and Make another brief shuffle Hawes, Marlborough. Mrs C Storer, Southport. Ms D Scott, London SW16. Mr & Mrs B Turner, in a very friendly manner. calculate how often this will then deal four hands. It Beaconsfield. Mr & Mrs D Milton, Beckenham. Mrs B Welsby, Wigan. Mr G Datson, Bulbeck. I congratulate you on the actually happen opposite works like a dream. Mrs C Pengelley, Ardingly. Mrs L Parker, Letchworth. Mrs C Crowdy, Bristol. Mrs M way you run your business – a 6-9pt responding hand. D Mumford, York. Partridge, Chislehurst. Mrs P Wood, Nelson. Mrs Mobberley, South Milton. Mrs C Archer, I hope you continue to thrive That would be if responder Willingale. Lady M Harrison, Stearsby. Mrs S Orlik, Dorking. Mrs Cottrell, Leatherhead. in these difficult times. has a void or singleton KEEPS ME GOING Mr M Finebaum, Enfield. Mr D Peters, Bury. Mrs P Crowe, Cheltenham. Mrs M Gentilli, Mr S Rouke, diamond and you can’t I am old and ill but I still London SW1. Mr F Lockyer, Bournemouth. Mrs S Stevens, Teddington. Mrs J Kemsley, Baltimore, Co. Cork. play in a – which enjoy reading your fine Reading. Mrs G Van der Steen, London SW19. Mrs M Gordon, Tarland. Mr & Mrs T Power, means that responder has magazine. I trust you will Downpatrick. Mr C Crittenden, Badshot Lea. Mrs P Wormleighton, Ealing. Mrs V Moore, Hyde. Mrs V Starkey, Highcliffe-on-Sea. Mrs C MODERN ACOL five spades (not enough of continue to send it to me Gate, Bexhill-on-Sea. Mr H List, Littlehampton. It was a pleasure to them to be repeated), or has as it keeps me in touch Please keep saving your unexpectedly receive and four spades but fewer than with . used stamps in support of read issue number 113 of four hearts, or has neither Mrs M Desmond, Little Voice in Addis Ababa. BRIDGE. As usual, the articles major and responds 1NT and Hayes, Middx.

Page 42 READERS’ LETTERS ENOUGH continued May I suggest an idea for 2012... ‘No more Sally Elegy to a Bridge Player Brock’. This month’s account of her life was more trivial by Richard Wheen HEADING than usual. Who finds ‘Disgruntled of Kew’ and her column interesting? Quite a ruff ♦ he might have been. John Turner, see BRIDGE B Smith, Enfield, Middx. He called a ♠ a ♠, 112, Alan Hess, BRIDGE As I said last month, she But close to the ♥ of Peter Green 113, will be amazed, as I is just like Marmite. Was the ♣ at which he played. am, that ‘Sally’s 7 days’ is now extended to 16 days NTet was too loud for him, and 4 pages. Could we David Stevenson’s answers A man of ♦ A Q have more of the diaries of on ethical points are the ♦ K 7 Wendy Wensum and her pages I always turn to first. lovely side-kick, Millie? This time, BRIDGE 113, ♦ 3 2 (led) Mr Richard Potts, even the directors seem His knowledge of the laws was slim – Belmont, Lancashire. to have made a couple of Of systems rather less. errors. Seriously, though, ANOTHER PLUG the tips on procedure etc 1♠-4NT; (1♦)-2♦; 1NT-2♣; Pass-1♥-2♣; The Perryman Bridge Club are always very valuable. He never could tell them apart. meets at the Day Centre, And I’m also a member It drove his partners wild with fury, Harpenden on Saturday of the Sally Brock fan club. I But they took him to their ♥. evenings 7.30 start. We spend some time, probably are a very small club and too much, following the top need more members to tournaments on Bridgebase He’d played for 50 years or more ensure our survival. We Online and it’s good to get Up and down the land. charge £2 per session, but some human interest to He couldn’t bid, he couldn’t score, do not have refreshment the hands. Questions and He couldn’t play the . facilities. We are not in the quizzes are fun too, so keep EBU, so it’s basically a get us on your mailing list. together for friendly bridge If you have a copy left, He’d lead his from , at all levels. Partners can I would be pleased to be found if required. receive the ‘Ruffing for And trump his partner’s winner. We have plenty of parking Extra Tricks’ DVD and You’d never realise that he and directions can be enclose the six second-class Wasn’t a total beginner. provided by the secretary. stamps as requested for Bill Kenny, postage and handling. His ♥’s now stopped, he’s paid his sub, ( 01727 854871. David Potter. He’s made his last revoke. Burton on Trent, Staffs. We think he’ll enjoy the celestial ♣: GOOD EBUTA Yes, I still have some of Poor player, but splendid bloke. Whilst Lyn Fry ‘has been these left. Just send in your teaching bridge to a small six second-class stamps. group of younger members’ For non-bridge players at her local golf club, she has MORE HELP PLEASE The ♠, ♥, ♦, and ♣ symbols are of course the suits in a recently attended a course I have asked you before pack of cards, as well as having other meanings in run by the EBU to train about Fun Bridge Games particular contexts. bridge teachers. It appears for our annual party but this In line 1, a ruff = trumping your opponent’s trick. that she was very impressed time I would like to know The first two lines of verse 2 read: “No trumpet was too with the course. It will help if you can help me with a loud for him, A man of no finesse”. her in her very commendable particular game we played The first line of verse 3 reads: “Blackwood, Michaels, efforts at the local golf club. years ago and no-one can Stayman, Drury,” all being fairly well known bridge With her background as a remember how it works. conventions, exemplified by the four bidding sequences teacher, one can appreciate The Declarer says whether shown. that she is able to recognise he/she can make ALL tricks The last word of verse 4 is of course “hand”. the quality and enthusiasm or NONE of the tricks. Then, I The first line of verse 5 is: “He’d lead his King from King, 4, of the EBUTA staff. need to know how to score it. 3” ie a holding of the King, the 4 and the 3 in a particular Sydney E Veronique Can your readers help? suit – here, hearts. by email. W Marchant by email.

Page 43 READERS’ LETTERS to say to me, ‘They’d kick He expressed an idea of which continued you out of Crockfords,’ but putting some topic-specific is sent to my son at his I would never have been hands on the DVD, which Knebworth, Herts home and there in the first place. could be played interactively which he forwards to me. BEST PRESENT Long live your magazine in a similar fashion to Whilst visiting my son over This letter is to thank you for BRIDGE and by the way, those on his tutorial CDs. Christmas, I received BRIDGE the DVD you so very kindly regarding Sally Brock, she In addition, it seemed that 113 and was pleased to sent me for Christmas. It may be a wonderful bridge an opportunity was lost by read the letter from Nicholas was the best present I had player but she certainly not adding the A4 seminar about his experiences at the and it couldn’t have gone knows her food. A woman sheet which was given out Port Stephens Bridge Club to a more deserving home after my own heart – I could on the day. This could easily in New South Wales. I am as I am the worst player go on holiday with her… and have been added since there a member of this club and in England, possibly the with you, on a ship but no was space for articles from played against Nicholas world, and love every minute one would play with me. past magazines which are on all four occasions he of the ghastly game. Mrs M Norman, actually easier accessed visited the club. My wife and I am old now (89) and Kettering, Northants. from the wonderful online I are the only pair in the grew up with draughts, Don’t you believe it. library you already provide. club who play Acol, whilst rummy and snap until one In summary: Present Nicholas adapted very well day my mother was short GET A CONVERTER seminar, plus four tutorial to to of a fourth and roped me Your bridge tutorials on CD hands, (two as declarer fit in with his partner. in – thereafter, I ‘scrabbled’ are the best I have bought, and two as defender) which Nicholas, your comments my way through the years, but I cannot use them on link to the actual seminar are appreciated and, praying I would have bad my Apple Mac or iPad. topic, plus background now that I am back in hands so I wouldn’t have I am sure you would have notes again specific to the Australia, I shall pass these to bid and worked at being a huge market if you actual seminar topic and you on to the members. ‘amusing’ at tea and biscuit made versions for Apple would have a DVD worth Should any other time in order to be asked Mac and iPads. the present asking price. BRIDGE readers visit the again. The crunch came Sue Gil, Sue Roworth, Stockport. Port Stephens area, please when someone suggested Bushey, Herts. do come along and join I join the bridge club for All those with Apple Mac AND ANOTHER… us at one of our three lessons – and I came face technology should buy For Christmas, we bought one regular weekly meetings. to face with conventions. one of the three programs another the set of Bernard’s Incidentally, my wife and None of the hands I got that allow Windows DVDs. We are delighted I did visit Stevenage Bridge fitted in with conventions. programs to function. with them. Very instructive Club whilst in the UK and I read the Daily Telegraph as well as entertaining, they were received warmly. bridge column every day but ONE DVD REVIEW… are well worth the money; Brian Hodges by email. it’s like another language. The film production we can see that we shall My beloved husband, to and editing are of go back to them time and FROM THE HEART whom I was married for excellent quality. again. Thank you for the The Costa Concordia disaster sixty-four years (until two Bernard’s delivery of magazines and for all your has made me too frightened years ago), used to say, the seminar is to his usual other services to Bridge. of going on a cruise for when I got into bridge, ‘get outstandingly high standard. John and Eileen the time being, but thanks yourself a drink, I’ll switch The content material of Jordan by email. again for the information. off the TV and you can tell the seminars are excellent. Mrs R Felstead, me how much you’ve lost.’ I However, the price of NEWS FROM OZ South Ruislip. had always lost. I always do £25 is not reasonable Although having moved Be assured, we use only real – and lost him – he died two for the total amount of to Australia 5 years ago, ships for our bridge parties, years ago. But it’s the only one seminar. Adding two I continue to receive your not floating boxes. thing I do which keeps me seminars for that price would sane and stops me worrying be closer, especially if that about what I ought to be led to a similar reduction REDUCE THE COST OF YOUR POSTAGE doing. Just holding the cards in price for the box set. Postage stamps for sale at 90% of face-value, is therapeutic and God Bless In actual fact, the best all mint with full gum. Mr Culbertson or whoever it way to make an individual Quotations for commercial quantities was who invented the game. seminar DVD come closer available on request. I met a retired GP the other to the true value of its Values supplied in 100s, higher values available as well day who used to play bridge cost would be to do as as 1st and 2nd class (eg 1st class: 100x37p+100x9p) at Crockfords – it was like Bernard mentioned at the (/Fax 020 8422 4906 e-mail: [email protected] history – my husband used seminar at Haslemere.

Page 44 CORRECTION final check before bidding. in 3NT with only 2 cards, I needed to keep my mind We have received a Bette Wilson, eg: 1NT – 2♥ – 2♠ – 3NT. active whilst my athletic number of calls over the Ropley, Alresford, 3 Invitational hands pursuits were not possible. last few days regarding Hampshire. work well, 1NT – A friend at the golf club the insurance in your 2♦ – 2♥ – 2NT. where I also play bridge, December issue of BRIDGE. PUZZLE 4 Game going, your sent my name to you to add The calls relate to the What a fabulous caption for hands with 5/4 or 5/5 me to your mailing list. article in which you state, your comment in the Feb in two suits are easy to The magazine is terrific, ‘The premium of just over 2012 issue of your magazine. describe. 1NT – 2♥ – and has proved to be £60 for the year covers a club I can’t believe some of 2♠ – 3♥ – 3NT – 4♥. very helpful to me. of up to 100 members very your readers would cancel 4♥ asks partner to play in John C Foster, nicely and there are now over your excellent magazine their three-card major. Urmston, Manchester. 500 clubs in the scheme.’ just because they didn’t 5 With a ‘forcing’ bid at The total premium this like one aspect of it. the two-level, it saves TOO MUCH SOAP year is £61.30 and this We Scots and our friends a level of bidding, Yuk! More bridge in covers clubs with up to 250 in Northern Ireland, were compared with a forcing the bridge magazine members. Perhaps in the subjected to pages and jump to three, when not please. Four pages of next issue you could add pages of bumf all about employing transfers. rubbish – what a waste. a correction, just to save EBU changes. We just In summary, transfer bids Mr V Cleaver, any further confusion. skipped these pages and give much more flexibility to Llowes, Hereford. John Pilsbury, went on to the next article. your bidding and are easy to Moore Stephens Should other readers ask use. They are employed by PAT ON THE BACK Insurance Brokers Ltd. to be deleted from your nearly all serious players and, Congratulations for your ( 0207 515 5270 mailing list, I would suggest far from being a modern fad, 25th anniversary in May. that they rearrange these they have been in use since Truly, I admire your bridge WANTED three words to make a well the convention magazine as a marketing I am very anxious to buy known phrase, ‘life get a’. 59 years ago. They can tool. I enjoy reading it and a Saitek Pro Bridge 310 Hazael Brown, be applied to all bidding wish you further success. hand computer which is Corraith, Ayrshire. systems but, as always, it Gordon Turner by email. now out of production. is for partners to agree. If anyone has one they EYE OPENER David Stead, OVER THE POND no longer use, I would I am surprised that anybody Banbury, Oxon. I was delighted to receive love to hear from them. I hates Sally Brock’s column. your ‘late Christmas present’. would also consider buying Now that I am obliged ANOTHER PLUG It was very generous of a new one if any shop to belong to EBU, I like to I wish to point out that PM you, so – many thanks. still has one in stock. read how my 36p P2P is Bridge, Bedford is not the Unfortunately, my copy of Mrs A Bearman, spent in good restaurants. only Saturday night bridge BRIDGE issue 113 has only London, N3. Michael Hill, played in Bedfordshire just arrived so I was too late ( 0208 343 1703 Shaftesbury, Dorset. and Northamptonshire. to enquire if your other offer Kettering Bridge Club has (the DVD Ruffing for Extra NEW MEMBERS BENEFITS GALORE been running a duplicate Tricks) would be available WANTED Mr Mumford raises many session every Saturday since to me – half a world away. Hart Bridge Club are interesting points in his 1992. Details of our club and I have already watched, looking for new members. criticism of transfers. He directions of how to find us made notes and passed We meet every Tuesday is correct that the (only) are available on our website. my copy of ‘Finding and at 7pm at Clarence Road, disadvantage is that you www.ketteringbridge.org.uk Bidding Slams’ to one of my Fleet. Contact either nigel. cannot play in 2♦. The same Our premises are really equally-keen-to-improve [email protected] or applies to 2♣ when using comfortable, the atmosphere bridge friends and intend [email protected] Stayman. That does not put friendly and partners to canvas the remaining six Tony Baker, off players using this most are always available. of a group of eight of us to Charvil, Reading. common of conventions. John Swan, see if we could club together On the other hand, ( 01536 770647 to buy the whole set. WINNING TIP some of the positive Kettering Bridge Club. I do agree – Bernard What will your partner advantages are: Magee is an outstanding understand by your bid? 1 The stronger hand is CONTINUATION teacher – clear, amusing, No-one has told me to usually declarer, vital I started playing bridge sympathetic and, one might ask myself that. I believe my for a weak takeout. again (after a 40 year break) even say, charismatic. bridge scores have improved 2 It allows partner to raise following a heart bypass Mrs Marion Dellow, dramatically since this is my to four of a major or play operation. It was just what Vancouver, Canada.

Page 45 READERS’ LETTERS competition and to steer chances of a grand slam are its course in BRIDGE. continued clear of using the hated about one in every five George Lafferty, arrow switch movement, thousand deals and the Poynton, Cheshire. request a pair of cups for the probability of two happening PS. I am a professor of ideas please memorial and award them in a row is about one in 25 physics at Manchester Perhaps the following annually to the North/South million. That is less likely University, so my hand would be of interest and East/West winners. than a single lottery ticket numbers should be for the magazine. scooping the jackpot, but considered reliable; It was dealt randomly not made up might have happened by I didn’t make them up. last night whilst playing Janet Miller, BRIDGE 112, chance. But if John was with friends. One of your tells us that Pearl had 37 playing casual bridge with THREE-HANDED experts might be inter- points and four spades, just a single pack of cards, Many years ago, my father ested in giving a view. with the other three jacks in it’s very likely that the pack retired to a small bungalow How do East/West Phil’s hand. John Helliwell, wasn’t properly shuffled after on a new estate in Devon bid to either 7♣, 7♥ or BRIDGE 113, bid and made the first slam. which had its own social 7♠ after an opening bid two consecutive grand slams. Alistair must be depressed club where he played of 4♦ from North? Alistair Lang , BRIDGE 113, about his cards to have bridge and I used to join has averaged fewer than 8 kept count of his points his group during my visits HCPs over 200 recent hands. over 200 hands. He should there. The group dwindled ♠ 6 3 2 What are the chances? take heart. The probability until there were only three – ♥ 8 Janet’s question is easy for this to happen in any too many for cribbage but ♦ A K Q J 8 7 5 3 to answer. In a random sequence of 200 deals is one short for bridge. My ♣ 2 deal, the probability of this under one in a billion. response was to develop a ♠ J 9 ♠ A K Q 8 7 happening would be about Alistair is almost certainly new variation of the game

♥ K Q J 10 4 N ♥ A 9 3 one in ten million million. suffering from selective for only three players. ♦ Void W E ♦ 9 6 S That’s a one followed by memory, of the type that Since my father died, I ♣ A Q J 9 6 5 ♣ K 8 7 thirteen noughts. In fact, convinces us that our hadn’t played it again until ♠ 10 5 4 Pearl would be about a childhood summers were something quite unexpected ♥ 7 6 5 2 million times more likely all warm and sunny and the cropped up. A group of us ♦ 10 4 2 to win the jackpot in the winters cold and snowy. In play on a Saturday morning ♣ 10 4 3 national lottery with a any case, the ‘law of large and normally there are 4-6 single ticket. The most likely numbers’ will rescue him players who take it in turns to explanation is that there was eventually. Past performance sit out. Then, one week, Sandy Bell by email. a practical joker among the is not a guide to the future there were only three of us players, who fixed the hand and he can still expect to and, rather than call it a day SUGGESTIONS when nobody was looking. average about 10 HCPs and return home, I A friend gave me your Alternatively, the deal was over future hands. introduced Janet and Jenny email address to help solve not random because the Alistair doesn’t say whether to three-handed bridge. a bridge problem. I am pack had not been shuffled he plays rubber bridge or Their response was very chairman of Swanland properly and the lie of the duplicate. If the former, dare positive and, afterwards, I bridge club and sadly cards reflected the pattern of I suggest that he switches reflected on how often there a member’s wife died play to the previous hand, a to duplicate, when it does must be three players suddenly. The member not uncommon occurrence. not really matter how many bemoaning the lack of a wants to dedicate a trophy Regarding John’s question, points you get? Your score fourth to play a few hands. in her memory. As we there is no precise answer. is much more to do with Therefore, I have decided have monthly scratch and The probability of a given how well you bid and play to set out the rules I handicap competitions, I pair bidding and making the meagre points that the developed to enable other do not want to have any a grand slam depends on fates have dealt you ... but people to try it out. more monthly events. I was their skill at bidding and I think that’s an argument Bill Watson, Codsall, wondering if we could have playing, as well as on the that has well and truly run Wolverhamton. ■ an event on a certain day skills of their opponents. of the year but felt a snag However, we can get when I thought about how I an approximate answer if Write to Mr Bridge at: Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH could get a single winner or we restrict to grand slams or e-mail [email protected] pair. It would be for about 9 based on a holding of 37 E-mail correspondents are asked to include to 12 tables. Can you help? or more high card points their name, full postal address, telephone Thank you in anticipation. in the two hands combined, number and to send no attachments. David Crossland by email. assuming competent bidding Letters may be edited for length and clarity. To avoid having a singles’ and play. In that case, the

Page 46 BILL’S BRIDGE – FOR THREE PLAYERS

THE RULES OF to the left of declarer must make a safe and just bid sufficient to reach the THE GAME lead before the dummy cards are 100 below the line for a game bonus. turned over. When I played recently, one player 1 The cards are cut to establish 12 Scoring is exactly the same as for had a combined point count of 34 and a dealer for the first hand. On rubber bridge except that three opened with a small slam bid which subsequent hands, the dealer columns are required. If declarer was made with an overtrick. (It would rotates between the three players. makes the contract, the defenders have required quite a sophisticated 2 Four hands are dealt as normal score no points. Depending on to reach the grand but remain facedown on the table. the contract, declarer scores above slam in a normal game.) The hand opposite the dealer is the and below a line which will result The most competitive hands are, of dummy hand. in a vulnerable or non-vulnerable course, those with a very high point 3 The dealer picks up twelve cards game bonus or a part score below count in dummy when all three players from the dummy, leaving one card the line. If declarer fails to make may have a positive bid. Knowledge on the table face down. Without the contract, he scores no points of the bidding then becomes a vital looking at them, each player is and the two defenders each have consideration for both the declarer given four cards. the appropriate score above and the defenders just as it is in normal 4 Each player looks at his four cards, their lines. (This depends on the bridge. counts the number of points and declarer’s vulnerability.) Any double must always be a penalty tells the other two players what 13 A session can end at any agreed double and, in my experience, seems their total count is (Standard A4, time. For long sessions, it is to be used more frequently than in the K3, Q2 and J1). recommended that, after one normal game. 5 Each player places their four cards player has achieved a rubber back on the table, facedown where (made a vulnerable game), the VARIATIONS TO the unseen card is. points scored by each player THE ABOVE RULES 6 Now a dummy hand has been should be totalled before the next established with a minimum point rubber starts. This avoids too I have tried lots of variations to these count. (The maximum could be 4 much checking and arguing at the rules for estimating the value of the points higher if the unseen card end of a very social session when dummy hand with varying degrees of in the dummy is an ace, but on the wine or beer has been going success and approval. The rules can average, it will be one point higher.) down well. It also allows everyone be changed after each rubber to give Each player knows exactly what to keep a check on how much they some variety; with only three players, four of the cards are. Therefore, are winning or losing if stakes it is not too difficult to get a majority each player has a similar level of are involved. (Sensibly, any stakes vote. Some variations I suggest are: knowledge of the dummy as they should be fixed at no more than All dummy’s cards can be face up so would have of a partner’s hand the least well off individual player that shape and point count are known. with a normal bidding system with is prepared to lose during the most This is an ideal starting variation for four players. disastrous of sessions. This might three beginners – very similar to 7 Each player picks up their own mean a £1 a point for bankers but the ‘Mini Bridge’ now often used to hand and it becomes a competitive £1 per thousand points for those of introduce the game to newcomers. auction between three individuals. us of more modest means.) Show dummy’s shape rather than 8 The dealer opens the bidding after point count. Each player puts their assessing how many tricks he can TACTICS cards back on the table, face down but make in either no-trumps or a suit. in four columns, (or fewer if there are 9 Bidding proceeds in the normal This format of the game requires any voids), without announcing how clockwise direction until one of the modified tactics from normal rubber many points they have seen. players is established as declarer. bridge because one’s first bid may be Combine some shape and point 10 Unless the dealer becomes the the only bid if it is passed out. If a player count. Each player announces the declarer, this will involve two of the knows that the combined point count points in their cards from dummy and players changing seats so that the of the dummy and their own hand then puts them back on the table face dummy is opposite the declarer. is say 28 points, they know that they down with only 2 or 3 of them in suit 11 Play proceeds exactly as it would in have enough for game. With nothing columns and the other/s on top of the a normal four handed game with below the line, they should bid a game unseen card. two players defending and trying contract; with a part score below the I hope that you enjoy playing three- to defeat the contract. The player line, it might be good tactics to play handed bridge with my rules. ■

Page 47 Timeless Baltic with BRIDGE If undelivered or unwanted kindly return to Bernard Magee Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey, GU21 2TH AN EXCEPTIONAL VOYAGE OF 15 DAYS DEPARTING SEPTEMBER 3, 2012

Discovery Fares from £1,299pp* EXCLUSIVE Exclusive Mr Bridge Fares from £1,499pp Mr Bridge Combining a fascinating Russian heritage with a distinctly FARES European outlook, St Petersburg is centrepiece on this voyage to discover familiar faces around Baltic shores and others as yet unknown. An icon, the Little Mermaid welcomes you to wonderful Copenhagen. Saaremaa – a fascinating glimpse of rural Estonia before Tallinn, atmospheric capital of this former All passengers are eligible Baltic State. Gdansk – perhaps the to attend the exclusive drinks parties. When best known name in Poland’s 20th Discovery is at sea there are morning seminars century history precedes Szczecin, and afternoon bridge sessions. Those Mr Bridge † a city resuming its Polish identity. passengers choosing to pay the £30 per bridge Germany’s Baltic contrasts charming player supplement will be eligible for the evening Rügen, the amazing Kiel Canal and YOUR VOYAGE duplicate after the first dinner sitting. The bridge its enigmatic capital Berlin. INCLUDES: programme is fully optional and you may participate as much or as little as you wish. Mr Bridge actively encourages singles to join the party † • Evening bridge and they will always be found a partner for a game. • Afternoon bridge when at sea • Bridge seminars when at sea EXCLUSIVE FARES • Exclusive Mr Bridge drinks An extra £100 off the brochure price in most cabin grades** parties

• All meals, entertainment and onboard gratuities 01483 489961 for brochures and bookings • Comprehensive lecture and www.bridgecruises.co.uk guest speaker programme

• Captain’s cocktail parties and gala dinners

* Discovery Fares shown are based on two people sharing lowest twin-bedded category cabin currently available, are capacity controlled and subject to availability, do not include car parking or UK coach transfers, payable in full at time of booking, 100% cancellation charges apply, cabin number is not allocated at time of booking, cannot be combined with any other offer and may be changed or withdrawn at any time. Normal fares available. † Those wishing to play evening bridge please note there is a bridge supplement of £30 per bridge player to be paid at time of booking. ** £100 off eligible in all cabin grades except for category C

Bridge_114_FBackCover-chosen..indd 1 17/02/2012 17:17:50