A NEW BRIDGE MAGAZINE Istanbul Diary Germany Calling The Ordeal EDITION 20 August 2019 A NEW BRIDGE MAGAZINE – AUGUST 2019 Istanbul I am Reviewing By any standards, the European Open Champi- the Situation onships in Istanbul were a triumph. The main Taking a break from hotel was located by the sea in a resort area and the daily broadcasts after completing their labours in the excellent on BBO, one could A NEW playing rooms, the competitors had all sorts of not avoid watching options for relaxation. Our Turkish hosts were the pulsating finish of magnificent, frequently going the extra mile, the cricket World Cup as you will discover when you read the Istanbul Final between England and New Zealand. I could Diary in this issue. not help thinking what might have happened if Rise of the Machines New Zealand had been able to call for a review BRIDGE of the incident when the umpires awarded a six As work continues on the Alpha Zero bridge when the ball went to the boundary after hitting MAGAZINE project, an artificial intelligence program has Ben Stokes’s bat. Editor: defeated leading professionals in both head-to Had they been able to do so, one trusts that a Mark Horton head and six-player no-limit Texas hold’em decision would have been made before the start Advertising: poker, the world’s most popular form of poker. of the ‘super over’. Mark Horton The program, Pluribus, developed by Carne- Photographers: gie Mellon University in collaboration with A Matter of Style Ron Tacchi Facebook AI, defeated leading professionals in ‘Zia led the king of diamonds’. Francesca Canali six-player no-limit Texas hold’em poker, the ‘In the manner of a cobra about to strike Zia Proofreaders: world’s most popular form of poker. tabled the king of diamonds.’ Monika Kümmel, Herman De Wael Pluribus defeated Darren Elias, who holds the Which of the above do you prefer? Typesetter: record for the most World Poker Tour titles, and Ron Tacchi Chris “Jesus” Ferguson, winner of six World Serendipity played a part in this month’s edi- Reviews: Series of Poker events after playing 5000 hands torial. Reflecting on more than 30 years as a Martin Cantor against them. journalist, I was wondering how to fill a page when I happened across a review of Duncan A NEW BRIDGE Magazine is published monthly. In another contest involving 13 professionals Hamilton’s The Great Romantic, Cricket and the Views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of (all winners of more than $1 million) Pluribus the Editor. Editorial contributions will be published at the Editor’s Golden Age of Neville Cardus. The reviewer, Pat- discretion and may be shortened if space is limited. played five of them at a time for a total of 10,000 No parts of this publication may be reproduced without the prior rick Kidd, pointed out that until the advent of express permission of the publishers. All rights reserved. ♥2018 hands and was again the winner. Advertisements: Although staff of A New Bridge Magazine take Cardus, cricket reports were stereotyped – a all reasonable precautions to protect the interests of readers by The programmers were elated and believe some ensuring as far as practicable that advertisements in the pages scorecard reproduced with formulaic sentences. of A New Bridge Magazine are bona fide, the magazine cannot of Pluribus’ playing strategies might change the To my mind, that is more often than not the case accept any undertaking in respect of claims made against advertisers. Legal remedies are available if redress is sought, way professionals play the game. with the report of bridge deals. One example and readers who have complaints should address them to the advertiser. Readers should note that prices advertised may not be I wonder if that might also eventually prove to Kidd quotes is of Patsy Hendren running his first accurate due to currency exchange rate fluctuations or tax changes the case with bridge. single, ‘hugging his bat in his two arms as though Page 2 A NEW BRIDGE MAGAZINE – AUGUST 2019 afraid to let it go.’ In bridge terms that might translate to ‘Robson’s cards were so close to his chest they could hear his heart beat.’ The author notes that Cardus was not afraid to ‘give reality a little push’ and mentions the delightful story that when Germany invaded Poland in 1939 Cardus said he had witnessed the bust of WG Grace being removed from the pavilion at Lords and heard a spectator remark, ‘that means war.’ A great anec- dote to be sure, but Cardus was in Derbyshire at the time! It’s a little early for a New Year’s resolution, but I would like to encour- age all bridge journalists to attempt to enliven their reports. The game has a certain romance and at times can be as dramatic as any sport you care to mention. Let us resolve to bring these facets to our audience. ‘Declarer played a club to dummy’s queen and when it held he claimed his contract.’ or ‘When declarer played a low club towards dummy’s queen Rodwell, secure in the knowledge that the contract would fail, contentedly discarded a dia- mond. When his partner failed to take the trick with the king, he shrugged his shoulders, gathered up his paraphernalia and left the table.’ Page 3 A NEW BRIDGE MAGAZINE – AUGUST 2019 In This Issue Test Your Technique 4 FUNBRIDGE — Test Your Technique with Christophe Grosset see Page 74 5 Istanbul Diary — The Editor reports from The European Open Championships IMPs. Dealer West. N/S Vul. 47 Letter From Germany — Martin Cantor 54 Crossword — Ray Lee ♠ A 6 4 3 ♥ K 7 6 3 2 59 FunBridge Misplay These Hands With Me ♦ 5 4 3 2 61 Bid72 Offer ♣ — 62 Deals That Caught My Eye — David Bird looks at the 2019 Open USBC 67 Crossword Solution ♠ J 10 69 Bid72 — Your Bid ♥ A J 9 4 73 Defend With Julian Pottage ♦ A K 8 7 74 FUNBRIDGE — Test Your Technique solution ♣ A 9 3 75 The Ordeal — Alex Adamson & Harry Smith with another tale from the Over The West North East South Rainbow Bridge Club Pass Pass Pass 1NT 81 Defend With Julian Pottage — The Answers Pass 2♣* Double 2♥ 85 Kit’s Corner — Kit Woolsey Pass 4♥ All Pass 88 Bridge With Larry Cohen 2♣ Stayman 91 Excerpt from You Have To See This West leads the ♣5 (third and fifth). How do 96 The Abbot’s Return To Sanity — David Bird you play? 100 The uBid Auction Room — Mark Horton 109 Master Point Press Bidding Battle — Moderated by Brian Senior 118 Master Point Press Bidding Battle Competition — Set 20 122 Hands for This Month’s Auction Room 123 Comments on Bidding Battle 18 — Brian Senior Page 4 A NEW BRIDGE MAGAZINE – AUGUST 2019 Istanbul Diary The Editor presents his diary from the European Open Championships in Istanbul 14 June As you can see the contract can be made after ruffing a heart high by An early morning flight to Istanbul’s magnificent new airport is followed by cashing the ♦A and then running the trumps and cashing the ♥J, squeez- what proves to be a long drive to the hotel. Although the distance involved is ing North in the minors. Bulletin Editor Brian Senior asked why would not great we run into rush hour traffic and the 100 kilometre trip takes around anyone play it that way? North did not overcall 2♥, which suggests he three hours. We are just in time for dinner but then have to complete the first has a five-card suit. He did not make a two-suited overcall, which prob- issue of the Bulletin, which goes on line at midnight. Although play does not ably rules out the possibility that he is 5-5 in the red suits. South did start until Saturday we do get a deal to discuss, as Roland Wald poses a prob- not raise to 2♥, which he might have done holding four hearts and the lem from the Asia Pacific Bridge Championships in Singapore on Facebook: ♦K (or possibly with four hearts and the ♣Q). If you conclude that North is a therefore a favourite to hold the ♦K and the ♣Q then you might opt Board 27. Dealer South. None Vul. for the winning line. (there are others but a club lead is fatal.) ♠ — At the other table E/W had a misunderstanding and played in 6♣, ♥ K 10 5 3 2 going five down so failing in the grand slam proved to be worth 5 IMPs! ♦ K J 2 ♣ Q 10 9 3 2 15 June Yesterday’s copy of The Times carried a portentous crossword clue, Blue Team ♠ A K Q 9 N ♠ J 10 8 6 4 3 ♥ Q ♥ A J 6 Player (5,6). Later on it also carried an advertisement for tickets to watch ♦ A 4 3 W E ♦ Q 10 8 the 2018/19 Premier League winners, Manchester City, describing them as ♣ A K J 8 6 S ♣ 7 Fourmidables, which is not far removed from the name of the number one ♠ 7 5 2 Indian bridge team, the Formidables. Suitable omens some might say. ♥ 9 8 7 4 Play gets under way at 10.00 and there is soon a sensational deal: ♦ 9 7 6 5 Board 4. Dealer West. All Vul. ♣ 5 4 Open Room ♠ K Q 7 West North East South ♥ A K Q 9 7 4 ♦ K J Gill Zen Hans Wan ♣ J 5 – – – Pass ♠ 10 5 4 2 ♠ 9 8 1 1 1 Pass N ♣ ♥ ♠ ♥ 10 3 2 ♥ J 4NT* Pass 5♣* Pass ♦ 4 3 W E ♦ 9 8 7 6 2 7♠ All Pass ♣ A K 4 2 S ♣ Q 10 7 6 3 Roland’s question was how should you play 7[ after a heart lead for the ♠ A J 6 3 queen, king and ace? At the table, declarer ruffed a heart and cashed ♥ 8 6 5 the ♠K.